Abstract: Methods and composition are provided for deriving cement and/or supplementary cementitious materials, such as pozzolans, from one or more non-limestone materials, such as one or more non-limestone rocks and/or minerals. The non-limestone materials, e.g., non-limestone rocks and/or minerals, are processed in a manner that a desired product, e.g., cement and/or supplementary cementitious material, is produced.

Abstract: In one or more arrangements, an umbrella system includes a support pole connected to a rotating tube positioned around a center tube that extends between the support pole and a upper hub that is connected to an umbrella frame. The rotating tube has one or more helical grooves therein that are engaged by a lower hub which is connected to the umbrella frame. As the rotating tube is rotated, the lower hub is driven along the length of the rotating tube, thereby opening and closing the umbrella frame. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a rotational lock assembly configured to prevent rotation of the rotating tube when locked and permit rotation of the rotating tube when unlocked. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a counterbalance assembly that provides a counterbalance force positioned within a upper hub of the umbrella frame.

Abstract: Methods and composition are provided for deriving cement and/or supplementary cementitious materials, such as pozzolans, from one or more non-limestone materials, such as one or more non-limestone rocks and/or minerals. The non-limestone materials, e.g., non-limestone rocks and/or minerals, are processed in a manner that a desired product, e.g., cement and/or supplementary cementitious material, is produced.

Abstract: Spatially-separated heterodyne interferometer architecture is combined with monolithic glass construction techniques to provide a monolithic, spatially-separated, common-path interferometer. The monolithic interferometer includes multiple optical components bonded together into a monolithic structure. The bonded components provide both optics and structure for the interferometer, thereby producing a small, compact, and light-weight interferometry system. Beam splitters and combiners are provided on the interfaces between the optical components to direct and combine signal measurement, signal reference and local oscillator beams used in the interferometry system. The spatially-separated architecture reduces cyclic error values below those of polarization-separated interferometers. In addition, the monolithic architecture of the interferometer minimizes the impact of mechanical, thermal, and optical variations within the system.

Abstract: An InGaAs photodetector is provided having an avalanche photodiode (APD), a p-intrinsic-n (PIN) photodiode, and a microlens structure that provides high optical fill factors for both the APD and the PIN photodiodes. The photodetector can be used for both ranging and imaging applications, can be formed as a single pixel, and multiple pixels can be fabricated to form a focal plane array. A method of fabricating the photodiode is also provided.

Abstract: A modular shelving system including a number of separate, selectively inter-connectable pieces, and methods of assembling such a shelving system. The selectively inter-connectable pieces of the shelving system include vertical supports columns, cap shelves for attachment thereto, hanging rods, and adjustable shelves and drawers and selectively placeable support elements for supporting same. The shelving system is easy to assemble and disassemble with very limited or no use of separate tools. The shelving system may be customized by a user to meet certain needs, and is easily and readily reconfigured and adjusted as needs change.

Abstract: A molten-bath based direct smelting process and apparatus for producing metals from a ferrous material is disclosed. The process includes injecting feed materials being solid material and carrier gas into a molten bath at a velocity of at least 40 m/s through at least one downwardly extending solids injection lance having a delivery tube of internal diameter of 40–200 mm that is located so that a central axis of an outlet end of the lance is at an angle of 20 to 90 degrees to a horizontal axis. The feed materials injection generates a superficial gas flow of at least 0.04 Nm3/s/m2 within the molten bath at least in part by reactions of injected material in the bath. The gas now causes molten material to be projected upwardly as splashes, droplets and streams and form an expanded molten bath zone, with the gas flow and the upwardly projected molten material causing substantial movement of material within the molten bath and strong mixing of the molten bath.

Abstract: A molten bath-based direct smelting process for producing ferrous metal from a ferrous feed material is disclosed. The process is characterised by injecting pro-heated air downwardly into metallurgical vessel at an angle of 20 to 90° C. relative to a horizontal axis and at a temperature of 800-1400 ° C. and at a velocity of 200-600 m/s via at least one lance (27) . This step forces molten material in the region of a lower end of the lance away from the lance and forming a “free”space around the lower end of the lance that has a concentration of molten material that is lower than the molten material concentration in the raised bath. The process is further characterised in that the lance is located so that: (i) the lance extends into the vessel a distance that is at least the outer diameter of he lover end of the lance; and (ii) the lower end of the lance is at least 3 times the outer diameter of the lower end of the lance above a quiescent surface of the molt bath.

Abstract: A molten-bath based direct smelting process and apparatus for producing metals from a ferrous material is disclosed. The process includes injecting feed materials being solid material and carrier gas into a molten bath at a velocity of at least 40 m/s through at least one downwardly extending solids injection lance having a delivery tube of internal diameter of 40-200 mm that is located so that a central axis of an outlet end of the lance is at an angle of 20 to 90 degrees to a horizontal axis. The feed materials injection generates a superficial gas flow of at least 0.04 Nm3/s/m2 within the molten bath at least in part by reactions of injected material in the bath. The gas now causes molten material to be projected upwardly as splashes, droplets and streams and form an expanded molten bath zone, with the gas flow and the upwardly projected molten material causing substantial movement of material within the molten bath and strong mixing of the molten bath.

Abstract: A molten bath-based direct smelting process for producing ferrous metal from a ferrous feed material is disclosed. The process is characterised by injecting pre-heated air downwardly into metallurgical vessel at an angle of 20 to 90° C. relative to a horizontal axis and at a temperature of 800-1400° C. and at a velocity of 200-600 m/s via at least one lance (27). This step forces molten material in the region of a lower end of the lance away from the lance and forming a “free” space around the lower end of the lance that has a concentration of molten material that is lower than the molten material concentration in the raised bath. The process is further characterised in that the lance is located so that: (i) the lance extends into the vessel a distance that is at least the outer diameter of the lower end of the lance; and (ii) the lower end of the lance is at least 3 times the outer diameter of the lower end of the lance above a quiescent surface of the molten bath.

Abstract: A lance (5) for injecting a feed material, preferably a solid feed material, into a metallurgical vessel, is disclosed. The lance comprises: an inlet (21) for introducing the feed material into the lance; an outlet (23) at a forward end of the lance (5) for discharging the feed material from the lance (5); a hollow elongate member (25) that defines a passageway (33) for the feed material between the inlet (21) and the outlet (23) and is adapted to be cooled by a first cooling fluid; and an outer jacket (35) positioned around a section of the length of the member (25) and is adapted to be cooled by a second cooling fluid.

Abstract: An X-ray examination apparatus includes a collimator unit (4) with a diaphragm (8) for limiting the X-ray beam (2), the circular aperture (31) of the diaphragm (8) having a first diameter for a first diaphragm and a second diameter for a second diaphragm setting. The collimator unit (4) also includes an X-ray filter (20) with detachable filter elements (21).

Abstract: A metal roof truss for building construction includes top and bottom chord members. Each member is of U-shaped cross-section with each leg of the U having a radiused or rolled hem at the end of the legs of the U. The radiused or rolled hem provides stiffening to the members. In addition, the outward facing surface of the web of the U has dimpled knurling to reduce screw wander.

Abstract: Metal vapor, for example zinc fume in the offgas of a smelting furnace, is captured by bringing the stream into direct contact with a fluidized bed of solid particles having a particulate loading of greater than 10 kg/m.sup.3 and preferably greater than 400 kg/m.sup.3. The thermal mass and temperature of the bed is such as to rapidly quench the vapor in the case of zinc from above 960.degree. C. to below 419.degree. C. in less than 100 milliseconds, whereby the vapor condenses in the bed and is recovered as zinc metal in acceptable yield.

Abstract: Prereduced iron oxides are supplied to a smelting vessel (1) for the production of iron or steel by directing a hot reducing offgas from the vessel (1) into a vertical riser duct (8) without substantial cooling of the offgas and by way of inlet (16), particulate iron oxide containing material is entrained in the hot reducing offgas as the gas is conveyed upwardly through the duct (8). The hot gas heats the entrained material to a temperature at which partial reduction of the iron oxide occurs, the hot gas thereby losing sensible heat. Additional materials may be introduced to the duct (8) for entrainment in the gas. Particulate material is separated in a cyclone (9) from the gas and the separated partially reduced material is introduced to the smelting vessel by way of passage (12).

Abstract: Prereduced iron oxides are supplied to a smelting vessel (1) for the production of iron or steel by directing a hot reducing offgas from the vessel (1) into a vertical riser duct (8) without substantial cooling of the offgas and by way of inlet (16), particulate iron oxide containing material is entrained in the hot reducing offgas as the gas is conveyed upwardly through the duct (8). The hot gas heats the entrained material to a temperature at which partial reduction of the iron oxide occurs, the hot gas thereby, losing sensible heat. Additional materials may be introduced to the duct (8) for entrainment in the gas. Particulate material is separated in a cyclone (9) from the gas and the separated partially reduced material is introduced to the smelting vessel by way of passage (12).

Abstract: A method of carrying out a chemical reaction in a fluidized bed reactor is provided wherein the reactants include at least one finely sub-divided reactant having a particle size substantially smaller than that of the particles constituting the fluidized bed. The reactor includes a downcomer compartment and a riser compartment operated such that the fluidized bed particles circulate by moving down the downcomer compartment and up the riser compartment. The finely divided solid reactant is introduced, either as such, or in an agglomerated form, into the central or upper region of the fluidized bed in the downcomer compartment such that it becomes entrained in the downwardly moving fluidized bed in the downcomer compartment and moves countercurrent to the fluidizing gas towards the lower end of the riser compartment. The reaction products which may be, or include, fine divided solids are carried out of the top of the reactor from the riser compartment.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the liquefaction of coal. The comminuted coal is slurried in a solvent or pasting oil and digested, normally under hydrogen pressure, e.g. of 50 to 250 atmospheres partial pressure, under catalytic conditions, at temperatures between about 380.degree. and 500.degree. C., preferably 400.degree. to 470.degree. C. and residence times between about 10 and 100 minutes. The solvent or pasting oil is obtained wholly or mostly by recycling from the distilled fractionation of the reaction products. The solvent system comprises a light fraction in the boiling range up to 200.degree. C. and a heavy residue fraction, boiling mainly above 450.degree. C., there being a more or less well-defined lack of solvent in a boiling range intermediate between 200.degree. and 450.degree. C. Preferably less than 20%, e.g. 5% or less of the solvent system boils between 200.degree. and 450.degree. C. The ratio of low boiling to high boiling solvent is preferably from about 3:1 to 1:3.