Abstract: A submerged combustion melter includes a floor, a roof, and a sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof defining an internal space. A first portion of the internal space defines a melting zone, and a second portion defines a fining zone immediately downstream of the melting zone. One or more combustion burners in either the floor, roof, the sidewall structure, or any combination of these, are configured to emit the combustion gases from a position under a level of, and positioned to transfer heat to and produce, a turbulent molten mass of glass containing bubbles in the melting zone. The fining zone is devoid of combustion burners or other apparatus or components that would increase turbulence above that in the melting zone. The melter may include a treating zone that stabilizes or destabilizes bubbles and/or foam. Processes of using the melters are a feature of the disclosure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling insulating glass units with one or more insulating gases (e.g., Argon and Krypton gas). The insulating gases are supplied to gas filling tubes that are inserted into one or more interpane spaces of the insulating glass units. Each interpane space may be filled with more than one insulating gas. A control unit controls the injection of the insulating gases in accordance with gas filling data received by the control unit.

Abstract: Processes and systems for producing glass fibers having regions devoid of glass using submerged combustion melters, including feeding a vitrifiable feed material into a feed inlet of a melting zone of a melter vessel, and heating the vitrifiable material with at least one burner directing combustion products of an oxidant and a first fuel into the melting zone under a level of the molten material in the zone. One or more of the burners is configured to impart heat and turbulence to the molten material, producing a turbulent molten material comprising a plurality of bubbles suspended in the molten material, the bubbles comprising at least some of the combustion products, and optionally other gas species introduced by the burners. The molten material and bubbles are drawn through a bushing fluidly connected to a forehearth to produce a glass fiber comprising a plurality of interior regions substantially devoid of glass.

Abstract: A method of forming a clear ink jet coating or a colored ink jet image on a substrate is disclosed. The coating or colored image provides antibacterial and antifungal protection. The method includes providing a source of ink jet ink having a mixture of solvent and a silver salt biocide including a silver sulfate biocide having a concentration range of 0.0005 to 0.5 weight %, applying the clear ink or colored ink in an image wise fashion to a substrate, and fixing the clear or colored ink to the substrate whereby an effective coating or image article is formed that provides antibacterial and antifungal protection.

Abstract: Ink for use in an ink jet printer for forming a clear ink jet coating or a colored ink jet image on a substrate is disclosed. The coating or colored image provides antibacterial and antifungal protection. The inks include a mixture of solvent and a silver salt biocide including a silver sulfate biocide having a concentration range of 0.0005 to 0.5 weight %.

Abstract: A method of forming a clear toner overcoat or a colored toner image on a substrate is disclosed. The overcoat or colored image provides antibacterial and antifungal protection. The method includes providing a source of toner having a mixture of polymer agent and a silver salt biocide including a silver sulfate biocide having a concentration range of 0.0005 to 10 weight %, applying the clear toner or colored toner in an image wise fashion to a substrate, and fixing the clear or colored toner to the substrate whereby an effective coating or image is formed that provides antibacterial and antifungal protection.

Abstract: Provided are devices, systems, and methods for targeted administration of therapeutic agents to a subject. For example, provided are devices, systems, and methods for targeting the administration of peri-urethral bulking agents.

Abstract: There is provided a method for designing a garment having a particular certification based on the visibility characteristics of the garment. The method takes into account various factors including manufacturing tolerances, occlusion by logos, etc. to calculate a certification level for the garment visibility. This certification level is calculated dynamically as the design features are amended.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling insulating glass units with one or more insulating gases (e.g., Argon and Krypton gas). The insulating gases are supplied to gas filling tubes that are inserted into one or more interpane spaces of the insulating glass units. Each interpane space may be filled with more than one insulating gas. A control unit controls the injection of the insulating gases in accordance with gas filling data received by the control unit.

Abstract: A support assembly for use with truck bed comprises first mounting frame 5, second mounting frame 6, first horizontal arm portion 11, first vertical arm portion 12, first arm mounting holes 13, second horizontal arm portion 21, second vertical arm portion 22, first mounting end 24 of second vertical arm portion, distal, open end 25 of second horizontal arm portion, first support bracket 30, first vertical sleeve 40, second support bracket 50, second vertical sleeve 60, first brace 70, second brace 90, outer sleeve 100, first hitch pin assembly 110, and second hitch pin assembly 120.

Abstract: A support assembly for use with truck bed comprises first mounting frame 5, second mounting frame 6, first horizontal arm portion 11, first vertical arm portion 12, first arm mounting holes 13, second horizontal arm portion 21, second vertical arm portion 22, first mounting end 24 of second vertical arm portion, distal, open end 25 of second horizontal arm portion, first support bracket 30, first vertical sleeve 40, second support bracket 50, second vertical sleeve 60, first brace 70, second brace 90, outer sleeve 100, first hitch pin assembly 110, and second hitch pin assembly 120.

Abstract: A system for assessing an automated call routing system's performance is structured to present a caller calling into the automated call routing system with a call that includes an interactive voice response (IVR) portion and, at an option of the caller, an caller/agent dialog portion. The system operates to monitor calls coming into the automated call routing system and to record end-to-end calls from among the calls coming into the automated call routing system. A sequence of events for the recorded calls is transcribed, including events occurring in the IVR portion and in the caller/agent dialog portion, to identify predetermined call events of interest. The transcribed calls are analyzed to infer a complete event sequence of each of the recorded calls. From the analysis, parameters are calculated corresponding to cost effectiveness and usability of the automated call routing system, based at least in part upon information obtained by the caller during the IVR portion.

Abstract: A cellular material, preferably a low density foam material, having an initial average normal incidence sound absorption coefficient for a selected frequency range is perforated to form a perforated cellular sound absorption material. The perforated cellular sound absorption material formed has an average normal incidence sound absorption coefficient for the selected frequency range greater than the initial average normal incidence sound absorption coefficient of the cellular sound absorption material. The depth(s), diameter(s), shape(s) and pattern of the perforations provide the cellular sound absorption material with the improved sound absorption properties that are reflected in the increased average normal incidence sound absorption coefficient of the material.

Abstract: A fibrous, non-woven thermal insulation comprises synthetic polymeric resin microfibers, staple fibers and bonding fibers which are randomly oriented and randomly intermingled in a single layer. The microfibers comprise between 0% and 95% by weight virgin synthetic polymeric resin and between 5% and 100% by weight recycled polyethylene teraphthalate. In one embodiment the microfibers have an average diameter between 1 to 10 microns and comprise between 5% and 80% by weight of the insulation; the staple fibers have an average diameter between 10 and 30 microns and comprise between 5% and 90% by weight of the insulation; and the bonding fibers have an average diameter between 0.9 and 15 denier and comprise between 5% and 95% by weight of the insulation. The bonding fibers have thermoplastic surfaces with a lower temperature softening point than the microfibers and staple fibers and bond the fibers together to form the insulation material.

Abstract: An afterburning, gas turbine aircraft engine with an annular duct for carrying bypass airflow is provided with a sliding valve type of rear Variable Area Bypass Injector (VABI) system. This rear VABI varies the direction and volume of the flow of bypass air into separate regions at an afterburning section of the engine. The system includes a sliding valve mounted in the bypass duct that is translated axially to open and close slots leading to core engine exhaust flow in the afterburning section. The unique structure of the injector system enables the axial translation of this sliding valve to simultaneously control bypass airflow into: first, a mixer just upstream of the afterburning section; second, a plurality of slots leading to the afterburning section; and third, an exhaust nozzle cooling liner that is cooled with the remaining portion of the bypass air.

Abstract: A design technique, method and apparatus for controlling the bypass gas stream pressure and varying the bypass ratio of a mixed flow gas turbine engine in order to achieve improved performance. The disclosed preferred embodiments each include a unique mixing device for combining the core and bypass gas streams which includes means for varying the area at which the bypass stream is injected into the core stream. The variable area mixing device permits the static pressures of the core and bypass streams to be balanced prior to mixing at widely varying bypass stream dynamic pressure levels.