Abstract: A shipping deck and shipping storage system is disclosed. The shipping deck is a generally rectangular tile member formed of a plastic material. The shipping deck is substantially planar to support cargo placed thereon. The shipping deck rests upon three or more adjacent cargo bars and a plurality of downwardly projecting legs extend from the tile member in order to limit the movement of the shipping deck and to allow for stacking of the shipping decks when not in use. The cargo bars secure within a track which is located on opposite walls of the shipping container. The shipping deck, the cargo bars, and the track within the shipping container form a system for shipping storage.

Abstract: An internal combustion powered tool, such as a nail or fastener driver, and a control system, spark source, and rotary valve for use in an internal combustion powered tool are disclosed. The tool may include, for example, a cylinder and a piston reciprocally moveable within the cylinder. A combustion chamber is defined at one end of the cylinder, with the piston comprising a portion of one end of the combustion chamber. The tool may have a fastener driver associated with the piston, and a magazine for feeding fasteners into registration with the driver. A fuel flow passageway extends between a fuel source and the combustion chamber, and a metering valve controls the flow of fuel to the combustion chamber. A spark source within the combustion chamber is provided for igniting the fuel, and an intake and exhaust valve that includes a pair of diametrically opposed apertures is provided.

Abstract: An additive composition is provided that comprises: (a) tris(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)isocyanurate; (b) bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl)pentaerythritol diphosphite; and (c) a costabilizer selected from the group consisting of sodium stearoyl lactylate, calcium stearoyl lactylate, calcium lactate, and mixtures thereof. Additionally, polymer compositions are provided that comprise the additive composition and (a) 2-Naphthalenecarboxamide, N,N′-(2-chloro-1,4 phenylene)bis[4-[(2,5-dichlorophenyl)azo]-3-hydroxy- and (b) a stereoregular, branched-mono-1-olefin polymer.

Abstract: An internal combustion powered tool, such as a nail or fastener driver, and a control system, spark source, and rotary valve for use in an internal combustion powered tool are disclosed. The tool may include, for example, a cylinder and a piston reciprocally moveable within the cylinder. A combustion chamber is defined at one end of the cylinder, with the piston comprising a portion of one end of the combustion chamber. The tool may have a fastener driver associated with the piston, and a magazine for feeding fasteners into registration with the driver. A fuel flow passageway extends between a fuel source and the combustion chamber, and a metering valve controls the flow of fuel to the combustion chamber. A spark source within the combustion chamber is provided for igniting the fuel, and an intake and exhaust valve that includes a pair of diametrically opposed apertures is provided.

Abstract: An internal combustion powered tool, such as a nail or fastener driver, and a control system, spark source, and rotary valve for use in an internal combustion powered tool are disclosed. The tool may include, for example, a cylinder and a piston reciprocally moveable within the cylinder. A combustion chamber is defined at one end of the cylinder, with the piston comprising a portion of one end of the combustion chamber. The tool may have a fastener driver associated with the piston, and a magazine for feeding fasteners into registration with the driver. A fuel flow passageway extends between a fuel source and the combustion chamber, and a metering valve controls the flow of fuel to the combustion chamber. A spark source within the combustion chamber is provided for igniting the fuel, and an intake and exhaust valve that includes a pair of diametrically opposed apertures is provided.

Abstract: Homopolymers and copolymers of 1-olefins are stabilized against the effects of ultraviolet light degradation by contacting a polyolefin, a hindered amine, and a metal phosphonate. Optionally the stabilizing system contains a phenolic antioxidant, an organic phosphite, and a colorant.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simulating diagenetic models, comprising passing a fluid from a fluid supply vessel sequentially through two rock sample containment vessels, each containing a rock sample. The dual-stage, flow-through apparatus will simulate temperatures, lithostatic and hydrostatic pressures, mineralogy, fluid flow and chemistry of subsurface geologic environments.

Abstract: A vial closed at one end by a septum is redundantly sealed by a shaped plug for the storage of soil gas samples.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing and testing fluid samples in which a two-phase fluid mixture passes through equipment for homogenizing the mixture with at least one isokinetic sampling device arranged to remove portions of the homogenized fluid mixture, with the portions then being passed through testing equipment. Preferably, geothermal fluid is homogenized and samples are withdrawn by the isokinetic sampling device and tested for various properties of the fluid, particularly the formation of scale. The testing apparatus is adapted for on-site operation.

Abstract: A vial for the storage of soil gas samples comprises a chamber having a passage extending away therefrom which serially defines a generally annular shoulder and a generally frustoconical surface each facing away from the chamber. A resiliently pierceable septum is positioned against the shoulder and a shaped plug is positioned against the generally frustoconical surface to provide a redundant seal.

Abstract: An electric spark type light source for producing light for spectroscopic analysis, comprising an analytical spark gap, an energy storage capacitor, a charging and discharging circuit for alternately charging the capacitor and causing the capacitor to discharge across the spark gap to generate sparks which produce light for spectroscopic analysis, such circuit including at least one inductance coil for causing the discharge current through the spark gap to be oscillatory and pulsating in waveform, the circuit including rectifier means for causing the discharge current through the spark gap to have at least a unidirectional component, and time gate pulse generating means for deriving time gate pulses from the circuit in synchronized relation with the oscillatory pulsating spark gap current for use in selecting repetitive segments of the light from the sparks for spectroscopic analysis. The time gate pulses may be derived from the rectifier current, the capacitor discharge current or the spark gap current.

Abstract: A nonwoven fabric is comprised of a blend of fine staple fibers and coarse staple fibers randomly oriented with the fine staple fibers having a higher melt flow than the coarse staple fibers. In the manufacture of the nonwoven fabric, same is needled whereby the needles select the fine fibers and portions of same are positioned in a plane generally transverse to the plane of the fabric. Infrared heat is used to fuse the fine fibers at overlapping portions thereof to provide integrity for the fabric. The coarse staple fibers are held in the interstices of the fabric at least partially by frictional engagement with the fine staple fibers.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for producing an electrical arc which is stabilized by a stream of metastable argon, or some other stabilizing gas. The arc may be employed to vaporize a sample material so as to produce light for spectroscopic analysis. The vaporization is rapid so that the constituents of the sample material can be determined very quickly and accurately. The arc is highly stable so that it operates without sputtering, dancing or showing other signs of instability. Thus, the results obtained with the arc are highly accurate and repeatable. The arc is produced between a cathode in one end of an arc chamber and an anode outside the opposite end of the chamber. The arc passes out of the chamber through an orifice in a gas shaping nozzle. Argon gas is supplied to the chamber through a plurality of gas inlets, which preferably are directed at angles having peripheral components so that a whirling motion is imparted to the gas as it enters the chamber.

Abstract: The disclosed spark source is adapted to generate electrical sparks to produce light for spectroscopic analysis of materials placed on the spark gap electrodes or introduced into the sparks. The disclosed spark source comprises a high voltage transformer having a secondary winding for supplying alternating current at a high voltage, a storage capacitor, a charging circuit including a rectifier connected between the secondary winding and the capacitor for charging the capacitor, spark gap electrodes having a spark gap therebetween, a discharge circuit including an electronic switching device connected between the capacitor and the spark gap electrodes for discharging the capacitor across the spark gap and control means for supplying a sequence of variably spaced triggering pulses to the input means of the electronic switching device for producing a sequence of spark cycles in which the capacitor is charged to substantially the same voltage for all of the spark cycles.

Abstract: A spark source is disclosed having an analytical spark gap, a capacitor, a power supply for charging the capacitor, and an electronic switching tube connected in a series circuit between the capacitor and the spark gap. When the tube is rendered conductive by a triggering pulse or other signal, the capacitor is discharged through the spark gap and the switching tube, which carries the entire discharge current.

Abstract: A capacitor is charged to a high voltage, and then is discharged through a circuit comprising an analytical spark gap and first and second inductive elements, whereby the discharge current is oscillatory. The waveform of the discharge current is modified by a diode rectifier shunted across the series combination of the analytical spark gap and the second inductive element. To provide for adjustment of the waveform over a wide range, the second inductive element is adjustable in inductance. The first inductive element is also preferably adjustable in inductance. Provision may also be made for changing the capacitance of the capacitor. A reversing switch makes it possible to reverse the polarity of the diode rectifier. One or more control spark gaps may be connected in series with the analytical spark gap. An electronic switching device may be connected across one of the control spark gaps to initiate the discharge of the capacitor.