Abstract: A method for separating a reactive gas from a feed gas mixture is disclosed. The method includes reacting the reactive gas with a bed of reactive solid in an exothermic reaction to create a second solid and a product gas from which the reactive gas is depleted. The product gas is removed and the heat from the reaction is used to liberate the reactive gas from the second solid in an endothermic reaction which yields the reactive solid. The reactive gas is removed and sequestered. Heat reservoir material is included in the bed to retain the heat in support of the endothermic reaction. A device for executing the method having an insulated chamber holding the bed, as well as process units formed of multiple beds are also disclosed. The process units allow the method to be operated cyclically, providing a continuous flow of feed gas, reactive gas and product gas.

Abstract: A tool for dispensing plastic fasteners from a fastener clip includes a housing, a trigger pivotally mounted in the housing, a hollow slotted needle slidably mounted in the housing, an ejector rod disposed to insert back and forth through the hollow needle and an indexing mechanism for advancing the cross-bar of a fastener in the fastener clip into axial alignment behind the needle. The indexing mechanism includes a feed slide coupled to the trigger and a pivotally mounted feed cam connected to the feed slide, the feed cam including a pair of spaced apart projections. A metal feed pawl includes a ratchet shaped tooth and is disposed against the feed cam in a fitted relationship between the pair of projections. A spring mounted on the feed pawl resiliently urges the ratchet tooth into continuous contact with the fastener clip to prevent a jamming condition.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to acid-based polymeric dispersants containing 2-[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]acetic acid for dispersing metal oxide nanoparticles in organic solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and butyl acetate.

Abstract: A process for selectively separating hydrogen from at least one more strongly adsorbable component in a plurality of adsorption beds to produce a hydrogen-rich product gas from a low hydrogen concentration feed with a high recovery rate. Each of the plurality of adsorption beds subjected to a repetitive cycle. The process comprises an adsorption step for producing the hydrogen-rich product from a feed gas mixture comprising 5% to 50% hydrogen, at least two pressure equalization by void space gas withdrawal steps, a provide purge step resulting in a first pressure decrease, a blowdown step resulting in a second pressure decrease, a purge step, at least two pressure equalization by void space gas introduction steps, and a repressurization step. The second pressure decrease is at least 2 times greater than the first pressure decrease.

Abstract: A device for dispensing individual plastic fasteners from a continuous supply of 0.1875 inch pitch ladder stock includes a head assembly that is designed to receive the supply of ladder stock, sever an individual fastener from the supply ladder stock and eject the individual fastener during a single stroke of its actuation cycle. The device also includes a stepper motor for driving the head assembly through its actuation cycle, a DC power switching supply for regulating the power supplied to the stepper motor from an AC input power source, and a controller for collecting historical data relating to usage of the device and for regulating operation of the stepper motor. The device further includes a switch for regulating the operation of the device between a single stroke or continuous stroke actuation cycle. The device additionally includes a switch for regulating the output speed of the stepper motor during its actuation cycle.

Abstract: A device for dispensing individual plastic fasteners from a continuous supply of 0.1875 inch pitch ladder stock includes a head assembly that is designed to receive the supply of ladder stock, sever an individual fastener from the supply ladder stock and eject the individual fastener during a single stroke of its actuation cycle. The device also includes a stepper motor for driving the head assembly through its actuation cycle, a DC power switching supply for regulating the power supplied to the stepper motor from an AC input power source, and a controller for collecting historical data relating to usage of the device and for regulating operation of the stepper motor. The controller is programmed to enable certain operational characteristics, such as stroke speed and mode, to be regulated through a user interface which includes a screen display and a plurality of control buttons.

Abstract: A process for producing a high temperature COx-lean product gas from a high temperature COx-containing feed gas, includes: providing a sorption enhanced reactor containing a first adsorbent, a shift catalyst and a second adsorbent; feeding into the reactor a feed gas containing H2, H2O, CO and CO2; contacting the feed gas with the first adsorbent to provide a CO2 depleted feed gas; contacting the CO2 depleted feed gas with the shift catalyst to form a product mixture comprising CO2 and H2; and contacting the product mixture with a mixture of second adsorbent and shift catalyst to produce the product gas, which contains at least 50 vol. % H2, and less than 5 combined vol. % of CO2 and CO. The adsorbent is a high temperature adsorbent for a Sorption Enhanced Reaction process, such as K2CO3 promoted hydrotalcites, modified double-layered hydroxides, spinels, modified spinels, and magnesium oxides.

Abstract: An apparatus for dynamically positioning a rotary actuator that positions an objective lens in three dimensions relative to the surface of an optical disk. A first voice coil motor positions the actuator generally in two dimensions parallel to the surface of the disk and a second voice coil motor positions the objective lens generally along an arcuate path orthogonal to the surface of the disk.

Abstract: A tool for dispensing fasteners from a fastener clip having a runner bar comprises a housing shaped to include a handle portion, a barrel portion and a guide channel for receiving the used portion of the runner bar. A trigger assembly is pivotally mounted in the handle portion. The tool also includes a needle slide slidably mounted in the barrel portion, a needle coupled to the needle slide, and a needle slide link coupling the needle slide to the trigger assembly. An ejector slide is slidably mounted within the needle slide and adapted to receive an ejector rod which is insertable back and forth through the hollow needle. The needle slide and the ejector slide are independently coupled to the trigger assembly. An anvil extends out in front of the barrel portion and is adapted to receive a removable brush, the needle being aligned to selectively project into the brush.

Abstract: A tool for dispensing plastic fasteners from a fastener clip includes a housing, a trigger pivotally mounted in the housing, a hollow slotted needle slidably mounted in the housing, an ejector rod disposed to insert back and forth through the hollow needle and an indexing mechanism for advancing the cross-bar of a fastener in the fastener clip into axial alignment behind the needle. The indexing mechanism includes a feed slide coupled to the trigger and a pivotally mounted feed cam connected to the feed slide, the feed cam including a pair of spaced apart projections. A metal feed pawl includes a ratchet shaped tooth and is disposed against the feed cam in a fitted relationship between the pair of projections. A spring mounted on the feed pawl resiliently urges the ratchet tooth into continuous contact with the fastener clip to prevent a jamming condition.

Abstract: A cover for use with a tie-down anchor mounted in a locking track in an air pallet, the locking track having a channel which includes spaced upper flanges shaped to define a series of spaced apart enlarged openings separated by relatively smaller slot segments and the tie-down anchor having a pair of fixed locking studs and a movable spring-loaded locking stud. The cover comprises in one embodiment a first piece and a second piece. The first piece has a front portion sized and shaped to fit into one of the enlarged openings in the locking track and a rear portion sized and shaped to fit over the spring loaded locking stud. The first piece includes a pair of male locking parts. The second piece has a pair of studs sized and shaped to fit into two pairs of enlarged openings but not small enough to move vertically upward through the space defined by a pair of slot segments in the locking track and also includes a pair of female locking parts.

Abstract: Continuously connected fastener stock and a method of making same. The method, in one embodiment involves providing a rotating molding wheel, the wheel being provided with a peripheral impression comprising a pair of peripherally-extending side members interconnected by a plurality of cross-links. Molten plastic is extruded into the peripheral impression of the wheel, with a layer of controlled film overlying the peripheral impression. The molten plastic is then allowed to solidify. A knife in substantially elliptical contact with the peripheral impression is then used to skive excess plastic from the rotating molding wheel. The knife is provided with a pair of cut-out portions along its bottom edge, each cut-out portion being aligned with one of the peripherally-extending side members so as to augment the transverse cross-sectional size thereof. The continuously connected fastener stock thus formed is then removed from the rotating molding wheel.

Abstract: A cover for use with a tie-down anchor mounted in a locking track in an air pallet, the locking track having a channel which includes spaced upper flanges shaped to define a series of spaced apart enlarged openings separated by relatively smaller slot segments and the tie-down anchor having a pair of fixed locking studs and a movable spring-loaded locking stud. The cover comprises in one embodiment a first piece and a second piece. The first piece has a front portion sized and shaped to fit into one of the enlarged openings in the locking track and a rear portion sized and shaped to fit over the spring loaded locking stud. The first piece includes a pair of male locking parts. The second piece has a pair of studs sized and shaped to fit into two pairs of enlarged openings but not small enough to move vertically upward through the space defined by a pair of slot segments in the locking track and also includes a pair of female locking parts.

Abstract: A tool for dispensing plastic fasteners from a fastener clip, each plastic fastener in the fastener clip having a cross bar coupled to a common runner bar by a stub. The tool comprises a gun shaped casing having a front, a rear and a top. A guide groove extends down from the top for receiving the fastener clip. A hollow slotted needle is mounted in the front of the gun shaped casing, the hollow needle having an inlet opening in communication with the guide groove and an outlet opening. The hollow needle includes an anti-back and a knife edge. An ejector slide is disposed within the gun shaped casing and movable back and forth therein. A feed slide is disposed within the gun shaped casing and movable back and forth therein. A feed cam is disposed inside the casing is rotably mounted at one place onto the casing and pivotally mounted at another place onto the feed slide. The feed cam includes a front surface having a pair of outwardly extending spaced apart pins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for dynamically positioning the objective lens in an optical disk drive to maintain focus despite loss of perpendicularity between the light beam and the information layer of the optical disk. Loss of perpendicularity may occur as a result of any number of factors, including irregularities in the manufacture of the disk, manufacturing tolerances and assembly of the disk drive components, bearing defect frequencies, shock and vibration. Failure to maintain perpendicularity may interference with the ability of the optical pick up unit of the drive to accurately read and write. The tilt focus mechanism of the present invention utilizes a rotary actuator that positions the objective lens in three dimensions relative to the surface of the optical disk.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the plastic fastener comprises a flexible filament having a length of about 4.3 mm and a tensile strength of about 2 pounds, a first transverse bar located at one end of the flexible filament, and a second transverse bar located at the opposite end of the flexible filament. The fastener clip, which preferably does not contain a runner bar, comprises a plurality of identical fasteners of the aforementioned type, each of the fasteners being arranged in a parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship. A connector post connects the first transverse bars of adjacent fasteners, and a connector post connects the second transverse bars of adjacent fasteners. An extra transverse bar is connected by a connector post to the first transverse bar of the last fastener, and another extra transverse bar is connected by a connector post to the second transverse bar of the last fastener, the extra transverse bars not being interconnected by a flexible filament.

Abstract: An electric motor controllable to operate at a number of distinct output speeds. The electric motor includes a single set of mechanical parts in combination with a multiple sets of electromagnetic parts having different configurations, where the number of electromagnetic parts corresponds to the number of distinct output speeds of the electric motor.

Abstract: A needle assembly for a tagger gun includes a needle carrier slidably disposed within the tagger gun casing, a needle removably mounted into a needle bore in the needle carrier, and a needle lock snap-mounted into a needle lock bore in the needle carrier. The needle lock includes a locking post having a first end and a second end, and an enlarged head formed onto the second end. The locking post is shaped to include a longitudinally-extending slot which bifurcates the first end into a pair of parallel fingers. A ratchet-shaped tooth is formed onto each finger, each tooth including a tapered surface for guiding the needle lock into needle lock bore and an engagement surface for retaining the needle lock mounted in the needle carrier. In use, the needle lock can be rotated about its longitudinal axis to selectively lock the needle in place within the needle bore.

Abstract: A process for producing a high temperature COx-lean product gas from a high temperature COx-containing feed gas, includes: providing a sorption enhanced reactor containing a first adsorbent, a shift catalyst and a second adsorbent; feeding into the reactor a feed gas containing H2, H2O, CO and CO2; contacting the feed gas with the first adsorbent to provide a CO2 depleted feed gas; contacting the CO2 depleted feed gas with the shift catalyst to form a product mixture comprising CO2 and H2; and contacting the product mixture with a mixture of second adsorbent and shift catalyst to produce the product gas, which contains at least 50 vol. % H2, and less than 5 combined vol. % of CO2 and CO. The adsorbent is a high temperature adsorbent for a Sorption Enhanced Reaction process, such as K2CO3 promoted hydrotalcites, modified double-layered hydroxides, spinels, modified spinels, and magnesium oxides.

Abstract: An electric motor controllable to operate at a number of distinct output speeds. The electric motor includes a single set of mechanical parts in combination with a multiple sets of electromagnetic parts having different configurations, where the number of electromagnetic parts corresponds to the number of distinct output speeds of the electric motor.