Abstract: A species of bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., is pelleted, crumbled and sieved to a desired size. A sorbent produced therefrom has excellent sorbency and clumping, and is consequently well-suited for application as a scoopable animal litter. Alternative applications include, but are not limited to, industrial, commercial and residential sorbents, and high nitrogen content tackifiers suitable for hydro-seeding and other application.

Abstract: A fuel heater for improving the fluidity of fuel, vaporization of fuel, and combustion of fuel to thereby minimize emissions and maximize power output for an engine includes a chamber in which a manifold is disposed such that a heat exchanger can extend therearound. The manifold includes openings for introducing fluid medium into the chamber which open in different directions thereby creating a more uniform turbulence in the chamber and enhancing the transfer of heat to the fuel. The arrangement of the manifold and heat exchanger increases the amount of heated fluid medium which comes into contact with the heat exchanger by overcoming the effect of boundary layers. The fuel heater includes a fuel mixing chamber and a fluid medium reservoir which are utilized to control the temperature of fluid medium entering the chamber and, accordingly, the temperature of fuel exiting the heater. The fuel heater includes various arrangements for providing heat to the fuel heater and control arrangements therefore.

Abstract: A drive shaft assembly for connecting a drive unit to a rotary tool is disclosed. The drive shaft assembly is especially well suited for use in combination with a rotary tool having an axis of rotation at an angle with respect to the axis of the drive unit. The rotary tool and drive unit are supported on an elongated tubular support housing having substantially straight end sections inclined with respect to each other and an intermediate section forming a curved transition from one straight end to the other. A continuous length of tubular liner received within the housing produces a cylindrical bearing surface through at least the curved transition section. The liner provides a yieldable bearing surface having a coefficient of friction substantially less than that of the housing surface. A flexible drive shaft extends through the liner and support housing and is received in rotary sockets coupled to the rotary tool and drive unit, respectively.