Abstract: A liquid containment system for an ocean-going vessel. The liquid containment system includes a tank having converging upper walls. The converging upper walls of the tank contain a substantial portion of the liquid therebetween and reduce the free surface area associated with the liquid. The upper converging walls of the tank extend above the horizontal deck of the vessel, but still allow sufficient deck space for supporting various required equipment. In one embodiment, the liquid containment system is a prismatic membrane tank designed to receive and hold liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Abstract: Techniques for monitoring of storage usage and trends in a document image processing and storage system are described. A storage and retrieval monitor resides on a storage server and monitors the status of volumes and units on which data is stored, completed storage requests and pending storage and retrieval requests. The storage and retrieval monitor analyzes completed and pending storage requests in order to project usage trends over time, and also analyzes the storage status in order to determine the used and available space and the space dedicated to various units and classes of data such as documents and families of documents. The storage and retrieval monitor generates alerts when the available storage space falls below a predetermined limit. The alerts and the usage and status information are presented to a user through a user interface allowing easy access to the storage and usage information and the ability to select desired information for display.

Abstract: A liquid containment system for an ocean-going vessel. The liquid containment system includes a tank having converging upper walls. The converging upper walls of the tank contain a substantial portion of the liquid therebetween and reduce the free surface area associated with the liquid. The upper converging walls of the tank extend above the horizontal deck of the vessel, but still allow sufficient deck space for supporting various required equipment. In one embodiment, the liquid containment system is a prismatic membrane tank designed to receive and hold liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Abstract: Techniques for monitoring of storage usage and trends in a document image processing and storage system are described. A storage and retrieval monitor resides on a storage server and monitors the status of volumes and units on which data is stored, completed storage requests and pending storage and retrieval requests. The storage and retrieval monitor analyzes completed and pending storage requests in order to project usage trends over time, and also analyzes the storage status in order to determine the used and available space and the space dedicated to various units and classes of data such as documents and families of documents. The storage and retrieval monitor generates alerts when the available storage space falls below a predetermined limit. The alerts and the usage and status information are presented to a user through a user interface allowing easy access to the storage and usage information and the ability to select desired information for display.

Abstract: A system which allows identification of a consumer as belonging to a designated category and makes special offers available to consumers who are members of the designated category is described. The system comprises a database of offers accessible through connection by consumer operated computers upon authentication of consumer registration, an offer presentation module for controlling access to the database of offers and a consumer registration module allowing registration of a consumer for access to the database of offers. The consumer registration module allows registration of a consumer upon submission of identifying information provided to the consumer by a party who has identified the consumer as belonging to a designated category and used to identify the consumer as belonging to the designated category.

Abstract: The present invention is a gelatin composed of a high molecular weight fraction (>250,000) of from 0 to 25 wt %, a beta fraction (150,000-250,000) of from 0 to 20 wt % and an alpha fraction (50,000-150,000) of from 15 to 55 wt %. The gelatin has a Gel strength of from 150 to 350 g Bloom and a concentration of protease of greater than 10 ppb and an absorbance of at least 0.069 at 420 nm. The present invention also is a process for the manufacture of photographic gelatin. The process begins by liquefying or slurrying the residual ossein. Protease is added to the gelatin solution or ossein slurry to a concentration of at least 10 ppb to form a mixture. The mixture is reacted for a time sufficient to achieve a viscosity of less than 9 cps (6.16% gel concentration at 104.degree. F.) and the protease is inactivated. The mixture is clarified to form a gelatin solution wherein the gelatin is of high quality.

Abstract: An impact absorber, particularly for automobile fenders, comprising a cylinder, a piston on one end of a piston rod and slidable in the cylinder, an annular partition slidable on the piston rod, and a valve carried by the piston and allowing, on compression of the impact absorber, flow from the chamber beyond the piston to the annular chamber between the piston and the partition. The valve is biased in the closing direction by a spring and has a valve member with opposed differential areas which are exposed to the pressure in the said chamber and are selected to bias the valve in the opening direction.