Abstract: An extreme temperature gasket material capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 850° F. is provided. The extreme temperature gasket generally includes an inorganic filler, an inorganic fiber, and an organic binder. In some embodiments, the inorganic filler is from 75 to 90 wt % of the gasket material and can include submicron-sized talc particles. The inorganic fiber can be from 5 to 20 wt % of the gasket material and can include silicic acid fiber. The binder can be a latex emulsion and can be present in the gasket material in the range of from 1 to 5 wt % of the gasket material. The gasket material also can include additives, such as flocculant and defoamer. In some embodiments, the amount of organic material present in the gasket material is limited to less than 5 wt % of the gasket material.

Abstract: Movable conveyor slats (12) have side parts (42, 44) which rest on top parts (32) of bearings (30). The bearings (30) have a generally U-shaped cross section and they fit on wings (16, 18) which extend outwardly and slope upwardly from the sides of a fixed conveyor slat (10). The movable slats (12) have web (48, 50) and lower flange portions (52, 54) which with the side parts (42, 44) form laterally outwardly opening channels. The wings (16, 18) and the bearings (30) are received within the channels (56, 58).

Abstract: Movable conveyor slats (12) have side parts (42, 44) which rest on top parts (32) of bearings (30). The bearings (30) have a generally U-shaped cross section and they fit on wings (16, 18) which extend outwardly and slope upwardly from the sides of a fixed conveyor slat (10). The movable slats (12) have web (48, 50) and lower flange portions (52, 54) which with the side parts (42, 44) form laterally outwardly opening channels. The wings (16, 18) and the bearings (30) are received within the channels (56, 58).

Abstract: Moisture activated invisible stencil technology is created by applying a moisture blocking agent in accordance with an artwork is applied to a base substrate. The base substrate is preferably fabricated of a moisture absorbing material. When the object is subjected to moisture, moisture wets to the exposed portion of the base substrate and is repelled in the areas where the moisture blocking agent is applied thereon. The wetted portion of the base substrate changes in shade or color to expose the concealed image. The moisture activated invisible stencil technology can be applied for simple aesthetic applications or advanced for applications to identify wet objects. The advanced applications can include warnings for wet roadways, pool decks, umbrellas, etc.

Abstract: An extreme temperature gasket material capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 850° F. is provided. The extreme temperature gasket generally includes an inorganic filler, an inorganic fiber, and an organic binder. In some embodiments, the inorganic filler is from 75 to 90 wt % of the gasket material and can include submicron-sized talc particles. The inorganic fiber can be from 5 to 20 wt % of the gasket material and can include silicic acid fiber. The binder can be a latex emulsion and can be present in the gasket material in the range of from 1 to 5 wt % of the gasket material. The gasket material also can include additives, such as flocculant and defoamer. In some embodiments, the amount of organic material present in the gasket material is limited to less than 5 wt % of the gasket material.

Abstract: A multi-use kitchen appliance which can be used for dishwashing, washing produce, and dehydrating food. The appliance includes an article holding unit having article retaining means located in the interior thereof, water introduction means, air heating and air introduction means, and means for introducing a cleaning agent and/or disinfectant. Controller means can be set to cause the water to be introduced into the interior of the article holding unit at selected temperatures, pressures, and period or periods of time for dishwashing and washing produce. The controller means can also be set to introduce heated air into the interior at selected temperatures and for a selected period or periods of time to dehydrate food. The controller means can be set to introduce a cleaning agent and/or disinfectant into the interior in selected amounts and for a selected period or periods of time.

Abstract: A multi-use appliance that has the ability to wash and dry dishes, or produce, or can be used as a food dehydrator. The appliance uses various mixtures of hot and and cold water, at varying pressures, in different cycles to wash it's contents. The water temperature can be achieved either by receiving and mixing hot and cold water from a domestic source, or by just receiving cold water and heating the water by it's own water heater. It also can use different means to dry it's contents, through convection, or by use of a fan and it's own heating source. It can also incorporate means to disinfect it's contents. This can be done by injecting a disinfecting agent into the water supply or by an in-line o-zone generator. All this can be done by various preprogrammed cycles, that are either mechanically or computer controlled.

Abstract: A grease purgeable dynamic labyrinth sealing device is disclosed which includes a stator having an annular engagement flange on a radially inner portion thereof and a rotor having an annular engagement flange on a radially outer portion thereof. The stator annular engagement flange and the rotor annular engagement flange have coacting means for mechanically interlocking the stator and the rotor. In one embodiment, means, such as, for example, a plurality of apertures, are operatively formed in the stator for allowing excess grease applied to the bearing housing to move through the stator and out of the stator such that the grease purgeable dynamic labyrinth sealing device maintains proper position relative to the bearing housing and is rotatable with the shaft.

Abstract: A bearing isolator seal having a shaft seal assembly that includes a stator housing comprising two components, an interior and an exterior component, the two stator housing components being selectively connectable, and axially positionable (relative to the radial faces of the rotor), disconnectable via screw threads on similar structures formed thereon to enable a perishable rotor component to be readily replaced with the stator components being reusable with a new rotor, the assembled stator housing, having an inner radially extending face with a pair of spaced concentric annular flanges of substantially frusto-conical shape extending from a larger diameter end that is fixed to the inner radially extending face to a smaller diameter free end, and a rotor having a peripherally extending radial flange that is fixed to a hub of the rotor and has a contact sealing surface that contacts the free end of the annular flanges of the stator housing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for collecting, processing, and storing blood components, such as plasma. The method involves collecting the blood component in a flexible storage bag manufactured from ethylene vinyl acetate EVA, having a composition of between about 9% and about 18% vinyl acetate by weight of total EVA co-polymer. The EVA bag is sealed, and the sample is frozen in the bag at a temperature of at least as low as -30.degree. C. to form a substantially solid pellet contained in the storage bag. The bag then is fractured and the pellet is removed in its intact, frozen form. The co-polymer bag may have an inner surface with an etched or embossed pattern of sufficient dimensions to permit removal of the plasma in a frozen state from the storage bag.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for collecting, processing, and storing blood components, such as plasma. The method involves collecting the blood component in a flexible storage bag manufactured from ethylene vinyl acetate EVA, having a composition of between about 9% and about 18% vinyl acetate by weight of total EVA co-polymer. The EVA bag is sealed, and the sample is frozen in the bag at a temperature of at least as low as -30.degree. C. to form a substantially solid pellet contained in the storage bag. The bag then is fractured and the pellet is removed in its intact, frozen form. The co-polymer bag may have an inner surface with an etched or embossed pattern of sufficient dimensions to permit removal of the plasma in a frozen state from the storage bag.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for collecting, processing, and storing blood components, such as plasma. The method involves collecting the blood component in a flexible storage bag manufactured from ethylene vinyl acetate EVA, having a composition of between about 9% and about 18% vinyl acetate by weight of total EVA co-polymer. The EVA bag is sealed, and the sample is frozen in the bag at a temperature of at least as low as -30.degree. C. to form a substantially solid pellet contained in the storage bag. The bag then is fractured and the pellet is removed in its intact, frozen form. The co-polymer bag may have an inner surface with an etched or embossed pattern of sufficient dimensions to permit removal of the plasma in a frozen state from the storage bag.

Abstract: Peristaltic pump means for pumping dialysate solution through a dialysate solution flow circuit in a hemodialysis system. The pump comprises four rollers mounted on a rotatable base member with a relatively long segment of flow circuit tubing tensionally extended around the pump head so as to be simultaneously engaged and compressed by at least two of the rollers, the rollers being mounted for longitudinal movement of the points of compression along the tubing during rotation of the pump head assembly to advance dialysate solution through the flow circuit. The disclosed pump means provides a substantially uniform dialysate solution flow rate under conditions of varying dialysate solution negative pressure and is particularly suitable for use in a unitary, portable hemodialysis module of a type adapted for coupling with either a single-pass proportioning system or a batch dialysate solution supply.

Abstract: A 2:1 compensating rotor is used in a continuous-flow centrifuge system, thereby allowing the dynamic loading and unloading of biological suspensions and processing solutions in a "closed" fashion without resort to rotary seals. Improved performance is obtained by relieving the mechanical stresses associated with the 2:1 relative motion between rotary components. In zones of high flexural and torsional stress low-friction bearing mounted tube constraint fittings are utilized to minimize tubing loop wear and risk of rupture. Similarly, in regions of high centrifugal force a tube guide insert is utilized to separate and constrain the discrete fluid-carrying tubes, thereby minimizing abrasion induced by the relative motion between the discrete tubes, as well as minimizing abrasion induced by the relative motion between the discrete tubes and the inner walls of the tube guide assembly.