Abstract: In an orbal wastewater treatment process including a plurality of concentric, annular basins or channels having surface aeration means, wastewater and recycled activated sludge are mixed in a first channel by a combination of the surface aeration means and introducing an oxygen-containing gas such as air into the lower portion of the zone under conditions which produce a complete mix reaction and sufficient oxygen is supplied to meet the biological oxygen demands of the mixed liquor. The gas is introduced, preferably by a plurality of fine bubble membrane diffusers, in the form of fine bubbles having a diameter of less than about 4 mm. The mixed liquor is sequentially oxidized in second and third channels by a combination of surface aeration means and introducing an oxygen-containing gas into the lower portions of the channels, preferably by fine bubble membrane diffusers.

Abstract: Optically responsive films comprising birefringent nematic and/or birefringent chiral nematic liquid crystal microdroplets dispersed in electron beam cured polymeric reaction products are disclosed.

Abstract: Wastewater and recycled activated sludge are homogeneously mixed in a first aeration zone by injecting an oxygen-containing gas such as air into the lower portion of the zone under conditions which produce a complete mix reaction and sufficient oxygen is supplied to meet the biological oxygen demands of the mixed liquor. The gas is introduced, preferably by a plurality of fine bubble membrane diffusers, in the form of fine bubbles having a diameter less than about 4 mm. The bubbles provide both the mixing to keep solids in suspension and the oxygen required to maintain the overall dissolved oxygen content in the first aeration zone as close to 0 as possible. The mixed liquor is sequentially contacted with an oxygen-containing gas in second and third aeration zones under conditions which produce a complete mix reaction, preferably by fine bubble membrane diffusers, clarified and a portion of the settled sludge is recycled to the first aeration zone.

Abstract: In an optical device containing material which is dielectric wherein the device is switchable between an inactive relatively opaque state and an activated relatively transparent state in response to the application of a driving electric field of sufficiently low frequency, a problem may arise in that the switching time between the inactive-opaque state and the activated-transparent state is increased and/or the light transmissivity in the activated-transparent state is decreased when the device is at a relatively low temperature. This problem is alleviated by applying a heating electric field of sufficiently high frequency as to heat the dielectric material while not switching the device to the activated-transparent state thereby raising the temperature of the device to decrease the switching time between the inactive-opaque state and the activated-transparent state and/or to increase the light transmissivity in the activated-transparent state.

Abstract: A method of forming a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film is disclosed which consists of forming a solution of LC dissolved in a monomer, photopolymerizing the solution to form a film having a dispersion of LC bubbles therein, establishing a correlation between the LC bubble size and selected characteristics of the film, selecting a LC bubble size corresponding to desired film characteristics, and controlling the conditions of photopolymerization to achieve said LC bubble size. The LC bubble size is controlled by means of the UV exposure intensity, exposure temperature, exposure wavelength, LC concentration and/or concentration of polymerization initiator. Correlations are noted between LC bubble size and the resulting film's threshold and operating voltages for optical transmission, contrast ratio, absolute transmissivity and electro-optical response times.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the presence of magnetic particles in a fluid is described. The apparatus uses a magnet which is mounted so that its field is transverse to the fluid flow, so that the magnetic field imparts a transverse velocity to any magnetic particles in the fluid. An ultrasound transducer mounted adjacent to the magnet. The ultrasound transducer is used to direct ultrasound energy into the moving fluid and to detect any particles having a velocity which is not in the direction of the main fluid flow, i.e., the velocity of a particle affected by the magnetic field will be detected by the ultrasound transducer as a result of the Doppler shift in the transmitted and reflected ultrasound frequency.

Abstract: In an automotive vehicle having a visual glass pane subject to collecting vision obscuring moisture in the form of ice, frost, mist, fog, etc., apparatus is provided for removing the collected moisture. Specifically, the apparatus comprises a transparent layer of dielectric material underlying the glass pane in heat conducting relationship thereto, and means for producing dielectric heating of the dielectric material to thereby heat the glass and remove the collected moisture. Preferably, the layer of dielectric material is a polymer film and the means for producing dielectric heating includes a pair of transparent electrodes extending over the layer of dielectric material. For ease of fabrication, the pair of electrodes may be interdigitated on the same side of the layer of dielectric material.

Abstract: Submicron iron nuclei for growing graphite fibers by pyrolysis of a gaseous hydrocarbon compound, preferably methane, are formed by controlled decomposition of iron pentacarbonyl vapors.

Abstract: Optically responsive films comprising birefringent nematic and/or birefringent chiral nematic liquid crystal microdroplets dispersed in UV-cured polymeric reaction products of di- and/or triallyl ethers and esters and suitable polythiols are disclosed.

Abstract: A side channel clarifier for use in wastewater treatment devices employing the circulation of water in a tank having a circuitous path for the purposes of aeration and biological digestion of wastes, wherein the clarifier is mounted in the wall of the channel so that the main flow of water in the tank is undisturbed, and that a portion of that flow is diverted into as quiescent clarification zone, where an inclined baffle collects settled sludge and returns that sludge to the main flow for further decomposition. Siphoning means are provided to ensure the return of a substantial portion of the sludge to the main flow before stagnation occurs and without disrupting the inflow of wastewater into said clarifier. Means are also provided to separate the clarified effluent for further treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in an activated sludge process for treating wastewater wherein raw sewage or the like is mixed with activated sludge and the resulting mixture is circulated in a confined aerated tank (usually in the form of additional subsurface aeration) so that the mixture follows a predetermined vertical flow cycle through a plurality of flow passageways created by gas impermeable baffle means in order to optimally increase the retention time of aerating air in the tank. The retention time of the air is increased by means of at least one secondary horizontal baffle means specifically designed to collect large bubbles of air trapped beneath said gas-impermeable baffle means and to be permeable to gases, so as to provide additional air/liquid surface area to escaping air. The secondary baffle is situated adjacently above and substantially parallel to the gas impermeable flow directing baffle means.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly comprises a fixed carrier or torque member 2 upon which is mounted by way of pins 14 a clamping or caliper member 13. The opposite sides 16,21 of the caliper 13 are interconnected by integral webs of metal 19,20 which are disposed symmetrically with respect to the central plane of clamp of the assembly and which are the circumferentially extreme of the parts of the assembly which span the periphery of the disc. This enables a relatively large diameter disc to be used and enables the caliper to be made from low grade or light weight material.

Abstract: A nematic liquid crystal display device exhibits dielectric anisotropy when the device is in a normal operating temperature range. By placing electrodes on either side of the layer of liquid crystal material and applying across the material an electric field insufficient to change the molecular orientation in the material, the capacitance and therefore the dielectric constant of the material is measured. A similar measurement of dielectric constant is made with a strong electric field applied across the material such that the molecules are re-oriented unless the device is so cold that the molecular change cannot occur and the device is inoperative as a display. By comparing the dielectric constants, it is determined whether the device is at a suitable operating temperature and a heater for the device is controlled accordingly.

Abstract: A twisted nematic liquid crystal device contains a liquid crystal material having dielectric anisotropy .DELTA..epsilon. which is positive for certain values of temperature and frequency of an electrical signal applied across the material and negative for other values of these parameters. The device includes a heater and a test area (separate from the display area of the device) at which transmittance of light is monitored by a heater control circuit. A test frequency chosen to give .DELTA..epsilon..apprxeq.0 at the minimum desired operation temperature of the device is applied across the test area and the light transmittance is monitored to assure that the temperature is high enough. When the temperature is too low, the heater element is automatically energized to increase the temperature of the liquid crystal device.

Abstract: A liquid crystal cell having an internal resistance-type heating means for rapid cell warm-up, and for maintaining the cell at a predetermined temperature while it is operating as a visual display. The heating means comprises electrically symmetrical transparent films of resistance material on facing surfaces of transparent members sandwiching the liquid crystal material. The resistive films are covered with an insulating film, on which is disposed the control electrodes for the electro-optic display of the liquid crystal cell. Heating voltages, higher than those required to operate the visual display, can be safely applied in parallel across the films without interfering with a concurrent visual display.

Abstract: The center clarifier of an endless channel type activated sludge sewage treatment plant is provided with a steep conical floor, a conical baffle and a circular effluent launder. The upper periphery of the baffle includes an overflow trough to receive the scum which is allowed to collect between the trough and the tank wall. The feed to the clarifier is directed through a circular series of spaced submerged ports in the tank wall and toward the conical baffle below the scum collection zone to promote and allow separation of the scum which is removed by overflowing into the scum trough.