Abstract: A deployable traction assembly comprising a studded mud flap mounted for retraction and extension on the vehicle by operation of a motor. The motor may have a shaft connected via spools and straps to the studded mud flaps. The studded mud flap may be mounted on the vehicle behind or in front of a set of wheels within a distance such that when the studded mud flap is extended and the vehicle moved backward or forward, the studded mud flap may extend under a set of wheels. The deployable traction assembly may include one or more sensors connected to sense position of the studded mud flap or load on a part of the deployable traction assembly, such as the shaft of the motor. A processor may be connected to receive signals from the one or more sensors and provide output for controlling the motor based on the received signals.

Abstract: A wheelchair has a frame supported on wheels, a removable seat supported by the frame, a receptacle supported by the frame under the removable seat, a lifting tower supported by the frame and a sling carried by the lifting tower. The sling is operable by the lifting tower through a lifting range to move between positions in which a person carried in the sling is raised above the removable seat so that the removable seat may be removed and a person carried in the sling is lowered to be supported over the receptacle.

Abstract: The liquid feed nozzle assemblies for a circulating fluid bed reactor comprise (i) a throttle body premixer to combine liquid feed with atomization steam upstream of a nozzle body to form a liquid feed/steam mixture comprising liquid feed droplets; (ii) a conduit connected to the venturi premixer and to a discharge nozzle body to convey a flow of the liquid/steam mixture created by the premixer to the nozzle body; (iii) a discharge nozzle connected to the flow conduit to shear the liquid feed/steam mixture to create liquid feed droplets of reduced size and (iv) a disperser at the outlet of the discharge nozzle to provide a spray jet of liquid feed having an increased surface area relative to a cylindrical jet. The nozzle assembles are particularly useful in fluid coking units using heavy oil feeds such a tar sands bitumen.

Abstract: Fouling in the scrubber section of a fluid coker unit is reduced by providing perforated baffles to improve the uniformity of the gas flow profile in the scrubber by reducing the gas velocity of the cyclone outlet gases in the scrubber section of the unit. These baffles are located with the objective of reducing the rotational component of the gas flow in the scrubber created by the alignment of the gas outlets of the cyclones. The baffles are preferably located in the shed section of the scrubber and comprise upstanding perforated plates located at the periphery of the scrubber section to disrupt high velocity gas jets in the region of the interior wall of the scrubber.

Abstract: Fouling in the scrubber section of a fluid coker unit is reduced by providing baffles to improve the uniformity of the gas flow profile in the scrubber by reducing the gas velocity of the cyclone outlet gases in the scrubber section of the unit. These baffles are located with the objective of reducing the rotational component of the gas flow in the scrubber created by the alignment of the gas outlets of the cyclones. The baffles are preferably located in the shed section of the scrubber and comprise upstanding perforated plates located at the periphery of the scrubber section to disrupt high velocity gas jets in the region of the interior wall of the scrubber.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for the maintenance of target CSF volumes in the ventricles of a patient's brain. Systems may comprise a mechanism for remote-sensing of CSF volume and/or intra-cranial pressure, a ventricular catheter, a valve and/or pump affixed in the skull and controlled by a microprocessor in response to signals from the sensing device, and an intra-osseous CSF infusion element which may be embedded in the skull near the sagittal suture or at other bone locations, for transport of the CSF removed from the ventricle to the venous system of the brain or elsewhere.