Abstract: Highly efficient carbon fuels, exemplary embodiments of a high temperature, molten electrolyte electrochemical cell are capable of directly converting ash-free carbon fuel to electrical energy. Ash-free, turbostratic carbon particles perform at high efficiencies in certain direct carbon conversion cells.

Abstract: A system for the detection of contaminates of a fluid in a conduit. The conduit is part of a fluid distribution system. A chemical or biological sensor array is connected to the conduit. The sensor array produces an acoustic signal burst in the fluid upon detection of contaminates in the fluid. A supervisory control system connected to the fluid and operatively connected to the fluid distribution system signals the fluid distribution system upon detection of contaminates in the fluid.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods are described. In one aspect, an ink layer having an electrorheological fluid composition including a suspension of colorant particles dispersed in an electrically insulating carrier fluid is formed on a surface of an electrically conducting substrate. A charge image is projected onto the ink layer to selectively form charge-stiffened regions adhering to the electrically conducting substrate and representing respective regions of the projected charge image. Non-charge-stiffened ink layer components are physically separated from the charge-stiffened regions.

Abstract: Bipolar, tilted embodiments of high temperature, molten electrolyte electrochemical cells capable of directly converting carbon fuel to electrical energy are disclosed herein. The bipolar, tilted configurations minimize the electrical resistance between one cell and others connected in electrical series. The tilted configuration also allows continuous refueling of carbon fuel.

Abstract: A dough cutting and decorating tool that includes a generally flat base with a continuous raised cutting edge defining a shape extending from one side of the base. A raised printing surface extends from the other side of the base, with the printing surface having a pattern configured to fit within the shape defined by the raised cutting edge on the other side of the base. In certain preferred embodiments, the cutting edge coincides with the peripheral edge of the base, while the printing surface is made of a resilient material, such as a compressible cellular foam material.

Abstract: Highly efficient carbon fuels, exemplary embodiments of a high temperature, molten electrolyte electrochemical cell are capable of directly converting ash-free carbon fuel to electrical energy. Ash-free, turbostratic carbon particles perform at high efficiencies in certain direct carbon conversion cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for baking letters of the alphabet and/or numerals. The apparatus includes a cake pan blank foldable into a cake pan, a grid insert template and one or more space-occupying insert blanks foldable into space-occupying inserts. The grid template insert contains removable grid-defined sections which sections are selectively removable so as to leave openings in the grid template insert. The space-occupying inserts are interfitted with the openings and the grid template insert and space-occupying inserts are then placed into the cake pan so that the volume of the cake pan not occupied by the space-occupying inserts takes the shape of a letter or numeral for receiving batter.

Abstract: An integrated system for destruction of organic waste comprises a hydrolysis step at moderate temperature and pressure, followed by direct chemical oxidation using peroxydisulfate. This system can be used to quantitatively destroy volatile or water-insoluble halogenated organic solvents, contaminated soils and sludges, and the organic component of mixed waste. The hydrolysis step results in a substantially single phase of less volatile, more water soluble hydrolysis products, thus enabling the oxidation step to proceed rapidly and with minimal loss of organic substrate in the off-gas.

Abstract: Electro-osmotic (or electrokinetic) transport is used to efficiently force a solution (or water) through the interior of the fibers or yarns of textile materials for wet processing of textiles. The textile material is passed between electrodes that apply an electric field across the fabric. Used alone or in parallel with conventional hydraulic washing (forced convection), electro-osmotic transport greatly reduces the amount of water used in wet processing. The amount of water required to achieve a fixed level of rinsing of tint can be reduced, for example, to 1-5 lbs water per pound of fabric from an industry benchmark of 20 lbs water/lb fabric.

Abstract: Uniform zinc pellets are formed for use in batteries having a stationary or moving slurry zinc particle electrode. The process involves the cathodic deposition of zinc in a finely divided morphology from battery reaction product onto a non-adhering electrode substrate. The mossy zinc is removed from the electrode substrate by the action of gravity, entrainment in a flowing electrolyte, or by mechanical action. The finely divided zinc particles are collected and pressed into pellets by a mechanical device such as an extruder, a roller and chopper, or a punch and die. The pure zinc pellets are returned to the zinc battery in a pumped slurry and have uniform size, density and reactivity. Applications include zinc-air fuel batteries, zinc-ferricyanide storage batteries, and zinc-nickel-oxide secondary batteries.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the remote detections of subsurface liquid contaminants using in combination a geophysical technique known as ERT and an EKS. Electrokinetic transport is used to enhance the ability of electrical resistance tomography (ERT) to detect position and movement of subsurface contaminant liquids, particles or ions. ERT images alone are difficult to interpret because of natural inhomogeneities in soil composition and electrical properties. By subtracting two or more ERT images obtained before and after field induced movement, a high contrast image of a plume of distinct electrokinetic properties can be seen.

Abstract: Economical, pollution-free treatment of textiles occurs in a low voltage electrochemical cell that mercerizes (or scours), sours, and optionally bleaches without effluents and without the purchase of bulk caustic, neutralizing acids, or bleaches. The cell produces base in the cathodic chamber for mercerization and an equivalent amount of acid in the anodic chamber for neutralizing the fabric. Gas diffusion electrodes are used for one or both electrodes and may simultaneously generate hydrogen peroxide for bleaching. The preferred configuration is a stack of bipolar electrodes, in which one or both of the anode and cathode are gas diffusion electrodes, and where no hydrogen gas is evolved at the cathode.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell providing full consumption of electrochemically active particles in a nonpacking, electrolyte-permeable bed has a tapered cell cavity bounded by two nonparallel surfaces separated by a distance that promotes bridging of particles across the cavity. The gap/particle size ratio is maintained as the particles are consumed, decrease in size, and travel from the point of entry to the narrower end of the cell. A cell of this configuration supports a bed of low packing density maintained in a dynamic steady state by alternate formation and collapse of particle bridges across the gap and associated voids over the entire active area of the cell. The cell design can be applied to refuelable zinc/air cells and zinc/ferrocyanide storage batteries.

Abstract: A composition useful in copying and printing is described. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a purified fraction of uintaite and a thermoplastic polymer. Preferably, the composition comprises a maltene-enriched fraction of uintaite derived by solvent extraction, a thermoplastic polymer and a colorant. In another embodiment, the present invention is an electrophotographic method comprising the steps of generating a latent electrostatic image; developing said latent image with a toner comprising a purified fraction of uintaite; and fixing said toner. The present invention is also a printing ink emulsion comprising a maltene-enriched fraction of uintaite.

Abstract: An easel and pad pack and method including first and second generally rectangular, planar panels constructed of a unitary, folded paperboard to provide relatively stiff surfaces and having two pairs of opposite sides, tape closing the first and second panels temporarily on two opposite sides to provide an openable holder, the first and second panels being integral on the other two sides, an easel pad removably confined within said panels the first panel being equipped with a generally L-shaped cut defining a stand and arranged for pivotal movement out of the plane of the first panel to provide support for the holder, the first panel also being equipped with a generally C-shaped cut adjacent the L-shaped cut and defining brace means for stabilizing said stand means in non-planar relation to said first panel and an opening in said first panel for hand insertion to carry the pack.

Abstract: A composition useful in copying and printing is described. In one embodiment, the composition comprises a purified fraction of uintaite and a thermoplastic polymer. Preferably, the composition comprises a maltene-enriched fraction of uintaite derived by solvent extraction, a thermoplastic polymer and a colorant. In another embodiment, the present invention is an electrophotographic method comprising the steps of generating a latent electrostatic image; developing said latent image with a toner comprising a purified fraction of uintaite; and fixing said toner. The present invention is also a printing ink emulsion comprising a maltene-enriched fraction of uintaite.