Abstract: A single-person spacecraft includes a pressurized crew enclosure, an external equipment bay, and an overhead crown assembly.

Abstract: A process disclosed herein is related to the isolation and purification of substantially pure chemicals, including silica gel, sodium silicate, aluminum silicate, iron oxide, and rare earth elements (or rare earth metals, REEs), from massive industrial waste coal ash. In one embodiment, the process includes a plurality of caustic extractions of coal ash at an elevated temperature, followed by an acidic treatment to dissolve aluminum silicate and REEs. The dissolved aluminum silicate is precipitated out by pH adjustment as a solid product while REEs remain in the solution. REEs are captured and enriched using an ion exchange column. Alternatively, the solution containing aluminum silicate and REEs is heated to produce silica gel, which is easily separated from the enriched REEs solution. REEs are then isolated and purified from the enriched solution to afford substantially pure individual REE by a ligand-assisted chromatography.

Abstract: An elongate rail (2) for use in a sliding support assembly (1), the sliding support assembly comprising a slide member (3) slidable in a longitudinal direction relative to the elongate rail and first (4a) and second locating assemblies, the elongate rail comprising a channel section defined by a first web, a first flange, and a second flange; a first wall (7a); and a second wall; wherein the first flange and the first wall (7a) define a first channel for retaining the first locating assembly (4a) and the second flange and the second wall define a second channel for retaining the second locating assembly.

Abstract: An enclosure is disclosed for transporting articles upon a satellite. The enclosure is composed of a plurality of interconnected walls coupled via elongated edge connecting members to define an internal space shaped and dimensioned for receiving an article to be transported upon a satellite. The walls are honeycombed aluminum sheets or solid aluminum panels and the edge connecting members are lightweight high strength members shaped and dimensioned for secure attachment to the walls without the use of mechanical coupling members.

Abstract: A stack of electrochemical cells for wastewater treatment is disclosed comprising at least one electrochemical cell having a solid polymer membrane, an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer adjacent to each side of the membrane, an open pore mesh placed next to each of the catalyst layers and a compression frame placed next to each open pore mesh. A cover is placed between the compression frames of two neighbouring electrochemical cells in the stack thereby forming an enclosure which spans the distance between the two neighbouring electrochemical cells thereby isolating the cathode catalyst layer or the anode catalyst layer from the solution in the reactor tank in which the stack is immersed.

Abstract: A system and method for converting indications of interest to trade a private security into a firm order or intent to trade the security in a trading marketplace. The indications of interest can be converted into the firm order upon receipt of authorization information. The indication od interest is non-binding upon the parties until the trade is completed, and whereupon an economic fee is due. If the firm order is created and placed in the trading marketplace, then once a counterparty to the trade has been identified, the parties are obligated to close the trade. If the trade is not completed, then one of the parties pays the economic fee that is typically associated with the trade.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for aligning at least one injector body to be installed into an engine block along a first direction. The alignment apparatus includes a first alignment member configured to swing between a clearance position and an alignment position, wherein the first alignment member is configured to align the at least one injector body along a second direction when in the alignment position. The apparatus further includes a second alignment member configured to align the at least one injector body along a third direction by contacting the at least one injector body via a first and second contacting portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for designing an efficient chromatographic separation process for a multicomponent mixture, such as a mixture of rare earth elements (REE), a production mixture from a pharmaceutical manufacturing or biotechnology production process, employing the concept of constant pattern mass transfer zone length (LMTZ,CP) in a non-ideal system having significant spreading of the concentration waves. This present invention can be used for ligand-assisted displacement chromatographic (LAD) as well as conventional displacement chromatographic separation processes. Since this method uses dimensionless groups, it can be used for the design of various scales of separation. This method may also find applications in a continuous process as a “multi-zone LAD process” using multiple columns.

Abstract: An elongate rail (2) for use in a sliding support assembly (1), the sliding support assembly comprising a slide member (3) slidable in a longitudinal direction relative to the elongate rail and first (4a) and second locating assemblies, the elongate rail comprising a channel section defined by a first web, a first flange, and a second flange; a first wall (7a); and a second wall; wherein the first flange and the first wall (7a) define a first channel for retaining the first locating assembly (4a) and the second flange and the second wall define a second channel for retaining the second locating assembly.

Abstract: A blade driving assembly includes a blade-supporting shaft disposed to rotate parallel to, but laterally offset from, the axis of a food processor's drive outlet. A planetary drive system conveys rotational drive to the blade-supporting shaft, so that the blade-supporting shaft rotates around its own axis, thereby spinning the blade or blades, while at the same time the blade-supporting shaft rotates bodily around the drive-outlet axis, describing a locus, centered on the drive-outlet axis but separated therefrom by a radial distance corresponding to the lateral offset.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for aligning at least one injector body to be installed into an engine block along a first direction. The alignment apparatus includes a first alignment member configured to swing between a clearance position and an alignment position, wherein the first alignment member is configured to align the at least one injector body along a second direction when in the alignment position. The apparatus further includes a second alignment member configured to align the at least one injector body along a third direction by contacting the at least one injector body via a first and second contacting portion.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell for wastewater treatment is disclosed comprising a catalyst coated membrane, an open pore mesh placed next to the catalyst coated membrane, on each side of the membrane, and a compression frame placed next to each of the open pore meshes. The open pore meshes and the compression frames are made of a conductive material. Each compression frame has compression arms spread within the area delimited by the perimeter of the frame to apply a uniform compression force across the anode and cathode active areas through fasteners which protrude through the compression arms, the open pore meshes and the catalyst coated membrane. A stack comprising at least one such electrochemical cell is immersed in a reactor tank containing the wastewater to be treated.

Abstract: Disclosed is an equalization vent usable for venting and drying a roof. In accordance with example embodiments, the equalization vent may include a base, a cup arranged in the base, a flexible membrane arranged in the cup, an airflow guide arranged on the base and the cup, and a cover on the air flow guide, wherein the flexible membrane allows air to flow through the vent when the pressure outside of the vent is less than the pressure inside the base and prevents air from flowing through the vent when the pressure outside of the vent is greater than pressure inside the base.

Abstract: Disclosed is an equalization vent usable for venting and drying a roof. In accordance with example embodiments, the equalization vent may include a base, a cup arranged in the base, a flexible membrane arranged in the cup, an airflow guide arranged on the base and the cup, and a cover on the air flow guide, wherein the flexible membrane allows air to flow through the vent when the pressure outside of the vent is less than the pressure inside the base and prevents air from flowing through the vent when the pressure outside of the vent is greater than pressure inside the base.

Abstract: A stack of electrochemical cells for wastewater treatment is disclosed comprising at least one electrochemical cell having a solid polymer membrane, an anode catalyst layer and a cathode catalyst layer adjacent to each side of the membrane, an open pore mesh placed next to each of the catalyst layers and a compression frame placed next to each open pore mesh. A cover is placed between the compression frames of two neighbouring electrochemical cells in the stack thereby forming an enclosure which spans the distance between the two neighbouring electrochemical cells thereby isolating the cathode catalyst layer or the anode catalyst layer from the solution in the reactor tank in which the stack is immersed.

Abstract: A football tackling practice assembly for learning a safe tackling method includes a pair of tubes, a crossbeam, and a dummy. Each tube comprises a plurality of nested sections so that the tube is selectively extensible. The crossbeam is coupled to a top of each tube and extends between the tubes. Each of a pair of bases is coupled to and extends perpendicularly from a bottom of a respective tube. The bases are configured to support the tubes perpendicularly to a surface. A first fastener is coupled to the crossbeam. A second fastener is coupled a helmet that is coupled to a head of the dummy. The second fastener is complementary to the first fastener and is positioned to reversibly couple to the first fastener to couple the dummy to the crossbeam so that the dummy is configured to be tackled by a user.

Abstract: A football tackling practice assembly for learning a safe tackling method includes a pair of tubes, a crossbeam, and a dummy. Each tube comprises a plurality of nested sections so that the tube is selectively extensible. The crossbeam is coupled to a top of each tube and extends between the tubes. Each of a pair of bases is coupled to and extends perpendicularly from a bottom of a respective tube. The bases are configured to support the tubes perpendicularly to a surface. A first fastener is coupled to the crossbeam. A second fastener is coupled a helmet that is coupled to a head of the dummy. The second fastener is complementary to the first fastener and is positioned to reversibly couple to the first fastener to couple the dummy to the crossbeam so that the dummy is configured to be tackled by a user.

Abstract: A system and method for converting indications of interest to trade a private security into a firm order or intent to trade the security in a trading marketplace. The indications of interest can be converted into the firm order upon receipt of authorization information. The indication of interest is non-binding upon the parties until the trade is completed, and whereupon an economic fee is due. If the firm order is created and placed in the trading marketplace, then once a counterparty to the trade has been identified, the parties are obligated to close the trade. If the trade is not completed, then one of the parties pays the economic fee that is typically associated with the trade.

Abstract: A process disclosed herein is related to the isolation and purification of substantially pure chemicals, including silica gel, sodium silicate, aluminum silicate, iron oxide, and rare earth elements (or rare earth metals, REEs), from massive industrial waste coal ash. In one embodiment, the process includes a plurality of caustic extractions of coal ash at an elevated temperature, followed by an acidic treatment to dissolve aluminum silicate and REEs. The dissolved aluminum silicate is precipitated out by pH adjustment as a solid product while REEs remain in the solution. REEs are captured and enriched using an ion exchange column. Alternatively, the solution containing aluminum silicate and REEs is heated to produce silica gel, which is easily separated from the enriched REEs solution. REEs are then isolated and purified from the enriched solution to afford substantially pure individual REE by a ligand-assisted chromatography.

Abstract: The instant invention provides for a kit and method of raising inlet temperature of a water supply by utilizing thermodynamic properties associated with difference in temperatures across a gradient and friction. In particular a portion of an inlet supply pipe is disposed in a sewer line such that the opposing flow of waste water and related material interacts with the inlet piping by increasing the temperature thereof.