Abstract: The beach caddy rack insert is an accessory that increases the hauling capacity of a wagon or beach caddy. The beach caddy rack insert may be placed into the wagon and may be retained in place by side walls of the wagon. The beach caddy rack insert may comprise front and rear end sections separated by four detachable longitudinal braces. Cargo may be carried in the wagon by placing the cargo into the wagon between the front end section and the rear end section. Cargo that will not fit into the wagon may be carried by placing the cargo above the wagon on top of the front end section, the rear end section, and/or two of the longitudinal braces. Cargo carried above the wagon may optionally be lashed in place using one or four uprights provided for that purpose.

Abstract: Fluid treatment elements substantially inhibit electrical charge imbalances and/or build-ups of electrical charges. A fluid treatment element may comprise a multilayer composite including an electrically conductive fibrous matrix, having an upstream side and a downstream side, disposed on a porous substrate, also having an upstream side and a downstream side, which supports the fibrous matrix. The fibrous matrix may include a combination of conductive and nonconductive fibers, wherein the conductive fibers include metal fibers and substantially inhibit an electrical charge and/or build-up of electrical charge. The conductive metal fibers of the electrically conductive fibrous matrix may comprise less than about 50% by weight of the conductive and nonconductive fibers and may have diameters in the range from about 1 ?m or less to about 10 ?m.

Abstract: A detection system including an eddy current inducing unit; at least one magnetic field data sensor electrically coupled to a biasing unit, wherein the biasing unit is adapted to maintain the at least one magnetic field data sensor within a predetermined operating range when applied to selected locations of a workpiece as a function of residual magnetic field of the workpiece; and a scanner to position the at least one magnetic field data sensor at the selected locations on the workpiece at various resolutions is disclosed. Methods for identifying an area of interest in a material are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pleating apparatus comprises a support surface, first and second pleating surfaces, and a driver for compressing a portion of a filter material between the first and second pleating surfaces to form a pleat, where at least one of the pleating surfaces is curved or extends at an acute angle with respect to a support surface.

Abstract: Coalescing and/or separating arrangements for separating a discontinuous phase liquid from a continuous phase liquid may comprise two or more of a coalescer (30), a separator (50) and a flow director (70).

Abstract: A retractor for a vehicle safety restraint which comprises web locking wedges (49a, 49b) which grip the seat belt webbing (19), under certain predetermined load conditions, so as to more securely restrain the vehicle occupant at the beginning of a crash pulse and which includes a load limiting arrangement so as to allow a limited and controlled pay out of webbing at the beginning of the crash pulse. The web locking retractor thus comprises a wedge (49a, 49b) which has an inner gripping surface with a predetermined coefficient of friction relative to the seat belt webbing so that, at a predetermined loading, the webbing slips past the friction surface of the wedge. This may be achieved by using double thickness webbing along a predetermined portion of the seat belt, for example two layers of webbing, or coating the wedge or a part of the webbing with a material (322) which is erodible or deformable and which may be cut into or eroded by the friction surface of the wedge, or by teeth (320) on that surface.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt retractor has a frame, a spool rotatably mounted to the frame and a spool locking device for locking the spool against rotation. The spool locking device includes actuating means for actuating the locking device. The actuating means is a support carrying a mass and a pawl, the mass being arranged to move from an initial position to an actuating position to actuate the pawl into engagement with the ratchet on the spool. The actuating means is an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the distance between the pawl and the ratchet. The adjustment mechanism may adjust the support relative to a housing, and adjust the tip of the pawl relative to the pawl body or a deformable pawl tip.

Abstract: Microorganisms capable of co-metabolizing methyl tert-butyl ether are disclosed, along with methods for selecting microorganisms possessing such activity. Methods for bioremediation of MTBE-contaminated media and biofilter systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A vehicle safety apparatus has a 3-point seatbelt, with a buckle head, and a crash sensor. A pretensioner is connected at the buckle head of the seatbelt for pulling in a length of seatbelt webbing in response to the crash sensor detecting a crash. The pretensioner has a force reservoir and a piston located within and for movement along a pretensioner cylinder under the force of gas from a gas generator. The piston is connected by a cable to the buckle head of the seatbelt. A cable bracket has an inner and outer guide, and wherein the pretensioner cylinder is attached to the inner guide and the buckle mounting is connected to the outer guide.

Abstract: A web-locking retractor comprising a spool (16) about which seat belt webbing is wound, the spool (16) being rotatably mounted on a spindle which is slidably mounted in a frame (12), at least one sensing mechanism (200) responsive to conditions indicative of a crash to cause the spool (16) to lock to prevent further protraction of the seat belt webbing, a web-clamping mechanism (46) operable in response to vertical movement of the spool (16), sensing mechanism (200) and retraction spring (180) relative to the frame (12), to clamp the seat belt webbing against further protraction of the belt, wherein vertical movement of the spool (16), sensing mechanism (200) and retraction spring (180) take place subsequent to locking of the spool (16). Preferably the spool (16) is supported for rotational movement on a spindle, the ends of which are received in a slot in the frame (12).

Abstract: A web clamping retractor comprising: a stationary frame (12) and a reel assembly (14), the reel assembly includes a mounting member (22) that is slidingly mounted to the frame via a U-shaped needle member (150). An upper leg (154) of the U-shaped needle member functions as an activation bar to move a clamping wedge (49a) into clamping engagement about a seat belt (19) after a spool or reel member has been pre-blocked. The lower leg (18) of the U-shaped needle member serves as a shaft about which the reel rotates.