Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the selective hydrogenation of diolefins and sulfur compounds that are contained in a pyrolysis gasoline feedstream. The process includes utilizing a single hydrotreating reaction stage by introducing the pyrolysis gasoline feedstock that includes a diolefin concentration and an organic sulfur concentration into a reactor that is loaded with a high activity hydrotreating catalyst and which is operated under selective hydrogenation conditions. A reactor effluent having a reduced diolefin concentration and a reduced organic sulfur concentration is yielded from the reactor and is separated into a portion that is recycled as a reactor feed. The remaining portion of the reactor effluent is passed downstream for further processing or handling.

Abstract: A personal vehicle for transporting a user over a surface including an external combustion engine. The vehicle includes a generator for converting the mechanical energy produced by the external combustion engine to electrical energy and an energy storage device for storing power provided by the generator and for providing power to the external combustion engine and the assembly. The personal vehicle includes a controller for controlling a total power load placed on the external combustion engine providing short term regulation of external combustion engine parameters.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling the flow of a gaseous fuel from a fuel supply to a pressurized combustion chamber. A fuel pump is included in the gas train from supply to chamber. The fuel pump increases the pressure of the gas to allow efficient injection into the chamber. The pump is modulated to control the fuel flow. Both alternating current and pulse-width-modulated direct current signals may be used to control the flow. The pump may be a piston pump or a diaphragm pump. Feedback may be provided from sensors that determine operating parameters of the engine and such sensor signals may be used by the controller to maintain a parameter, such as temperature, at a specified value. An acoustic filter can be included in the gas train to significantly reduce gas flow pulsations generated by the pump. This filter improves the uniformity of the combustion process.

Abstract: A latch-based integrated circuit random access memory having selectable bit write capability that is less susceptible to disturbing data stored in unselected bits during write operations by utilizing an inhibit signal to block writing of the unselected bits.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling the flow of a gaseous fuel from a fuel supply to a pressurized combustion chamber. A fuel pump is included in the gas train from supply to chamber. The fuel pump increases the pressure of the gas to allow efficient injection into the chamber. The pump is modulated to control the fuel flow. Both alternating current and pulse-width-modulated direct current signals may be used to control the flow. The pump may be a piston pump or a diaphragm pump. Feedback may be provided from sensors that determine operating parameters of the engine and such sensor signals may be used by the controller to maintain a parameter, such as temperature, at a specified value. An acoustic filter can be included in the gas train to significantly reduce gas flow pulsations generated by the pump. This filter improves the uniformity of the combustion process.

Abstract: A latch-based integrated circuit random access memory having selectable bit write capability that is less susceptible to disturbing data stored in unselected bits during write operations by utilizing an inhibit signal to block writing of the unselected bits.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the removal of sulfur from a fuel gas stream that additionally contains diolefins and oxygen as well as organic sulfur compounds by pretreating the fuel gas stream in a pretreatment reactor in order to significantly reduce the amounts of any diolefins and oxygen contained therein prior to the hydrodesulfurization in a hydrotreater reactor wherein organic sulfur compounds are converted to hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide formed is removed from the hydrotreated gas stream by use of an absorption treatment method, such as amine treatment, to yield a treated fuel gas stream having a reduced concentration of hydrogen sulfide and an overall sulfur content that is low enough to meet stringent sulfur regulation requirements.

Abstract: A personal vehicle for transporting a user over a surface including an external combustion engine. The vehicle includes a generator for converting the mechanical energy produced by the external combustion engine to electrical energy and an energy storage device for storing power provided by the generator and for providing power to the external combustion engine and the assembly. The personal vehicle includes a controller for controlling a total power load placed on the external combustion engine providing short term regulation of external combustion engine parameters.

Abstract: An external combustion engine having an exhaust flow diverter for directing the flow of an exhaust gas. The external combustion engine has a heater head having a plurality of heater tubes through which a working fluid is heated by conduction. The exhaust flow diverter is a cylinder disposed around the outside of the plurality of heater tubes and includes a plurality of openings through which the flow of exhaust gas may pass. The exhaust flow diverter directs the exhaust gas past the plurality of heater tubes. The external combustion engine may also include a plurality of flow diverter fins coupled to the plurality of heater tubes to direct the flow of the exhaust gas. The heater tubes may be U-shaped or helical coupled shaped.

Abstract: An improvement is provided to a pressurized close-cycle machine that has a cold-end pressure vessel and is of the type having a piston undergoing reciprocating linear motion within a cylinder containing a working fluid heated by conduction through a heater head by heat from an external thermal source. The improvement includes a heat exchanger for cooling the working fluid, where the heat exchanger is disposed within the cold-end pressure vessel. The heater head may be directly coupled to the cold-end pressure vessel by welding or other methods. A coolant tube is used to convey coolant through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The present invention provides electrochemical detection devices useful for conducting diagnostic tests. The devices of the present invention can be used to detect a wide range of target agents, and is useful in analyzing biological samples (including blood and other bodily fluids), as well as air, water, soil and other environmental samples.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for using high-density arrays of diverse chemical entities. In preferred embodiments, small volumes of multiple liquids are delivered to multiple reaction sites on a single substrate where the liquids are constrained to localized reaction sites. The substrate need not be cut apart prior to being used for analysis. Accordingly, the area of the substrate on which analysis may be performed is maximized. In many embodiments of the present invention, constraining regions hinder the transport of liquids between adjacent reaction sites.

Abstract: An improvement is provided to a pressurized close-cycle machine that has a cold-end pressure vessel and is of the type having a piston undergoing reciprocating linear motion within a cylinder containing a working fluid heated by conduction through a heater head by heat from an external thermal source. The improvement includes a heat exchanger for cooling the working fluid, where the heat exchanger is disposed within the cold-end pressure vessel. The heater head may be directly coupled to the cold-end pressure vessel by welding or other methods. A coolant tube is used to convey coolant through the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling the flow of a gaseous fuel from a fuel supply to a pressurized combustion chamber. A fuel pump is included in the gas train from supply to chamber. The fuel pump increases the pressure of the gas to allow efficient injection into the chamber. The pump is modulated to control the fuel flow. Both alternating current and pulse-width-modulated direct current signals may be used to control the flow. The pump may be a piston pump or a diaphragm pump. Feedback may be provided from sensors that determine operating parameters of the engine and such sensor signals may be used by the controller to maintain a parameter, such as temperature, at a specified value. An acoustic filter can be included in the gas train to significantly reduce gas flow pulsations generated by the pump. This filter improves the uniformity of the combustion process.

Abstract: A device and method for controlling the flow of a gaseous fuel from a fuel supply to a pressurized combustion chamber. A fuel pump is included in the gas train from supply to chamber. The fuel pump increases the pressure of the gas to allow efficient injection into the chamber. The pump is modulated to control the fuel flow. Both alternating current and pulse-width-modulated direct current signals may be used to control the flow. The pump may be a piston pump or a diaphragm pump. Feedback may be provided from sensors that determine operating parameters of the engine and such sensor signals may be used by the controller to maintain a parameter, such as temperature, at a specified value. An acoustic filter can be included in the gas train to significantly reduce gas flow pulsations generated by the pump. This filter improves the uniformity of the combustion process.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are disclosed for using optical sensors to determine the position of a movable flow control element in a well control tool. A housing has a movable element disposed within such that the element movement controls the flow through the tool. An optical sensing system senses the movement of the element. Optical sensors are employed that use Bragg grating reflections, time domain reflectometry, and line scanning techniques to determine the element position. A surface or downhole processor is used to interpret the sensor signals.

Abstract: A system is provided for the simple image capture and address recognition of mail, flats or parcels that does not require complex support or equipment and can be practiced on machinable and non-machinable mail pieces. The method described herein allows for further downstream processing of the scanned items by automated or manual mail or parcel systems. A simple OCR device can be used to read information on a piece of mail, flat or parcel using a hand held camera or fixed mounted camera. The image data is analyzed with OCR software or pattern recognition software, and a bar code label is printed representing the ZIP code or other relevant information and applied to the mail piece. A unique identification tag is printed on a label for those mail pieces captured but with no ZIP code results determined for later recall of the image and processing either on-line or off-line.

Abstract: A method of processing unsorted mail pieces for delivery includes the steps of sorting mail pieces destined for delivery to a single delivery point into a group, printing human readable destination information corresponding to the delivery point of the group on a section of wrapping material, and wrapping the group of mail pieces with the wrapping material bearing the human readable destination information in a complete or abbreviated form. A machine readable code, such as a bar code may also be printed on the wrapping material and subsequently scanned to insure proper sequencing of the bundles of wrapped mail pieces.

Abstract: A thermal cycle engine having a heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy across the heater head from a heated external fluid to the working fluid. The heat exchanger has a set of heat transfer pins each having an axis directed away from the cylindrical wall of the expansion cylinder. The height and density of the heat transfer pins may vary with distance in the direction of the flow path, and the pin structure may be fabricated by stacking perforated rings in contact with a heater head. Ribs are provided interior to the heater head to enhance hoop strength and thermal transfer.

Abstract: A sorting system using multiple sorters operating as part of a single, multi-sorting machine unified system. The system according to the invention includes a plurality of input sections capable of operating in parallel, each including a feeder that takes in mail pieces one at a time and a scanner that scans each mail piece for destination indicia, a plurality of stackers each comprising at least one row of pockets, a control system that determines a destination pocket in the stacker for each mail piece based on a predetermined sort scheme and the destination indicia, and a routing system effective to route mail in accordance with the sort scheme from any input section to any pocket of a stacker.