Abstract: Solid-fueled torches, wherein the metallic material of a thermal lance provides the solid fuel for the torch flame, are ignited by a substantially self-contained igniter not requiring any source of electrical energy. These torches are particularly well-suited for specialized types of manual on-site cutting or welding. The igniter is designed to be activated by sudden exposure of a pyrophoric material (disposed within the sealed interior of the igniter) to a flow of substantially pure oxygen. The igniter can be either pre-attached to an ignitable tip of the thermal lance, followed by activation (the oxygen gas flows through the interior of the lance), or simply placed on a firm surface so that an ignitable tip of the thermal lance can be used to break the seal on the igniter and thereby introduce the flow of oxygen into the interior of the igniter.

Abstract: A device and method for counting particles on a sample surface. The device includes a scanner having a surface for interfacing with the sample surface. The scanner is connected to one end of a tube which has two canals. The other end of the tube is connected to the particle counter. One of the tube canals supplies air from the particle counter through holes in the scanner surface for dislodging and fluidizing particles on the sample surface. The other tube canal returns air with the sample surface particles to the particle counter. After the particles are counted they are removed from the air stream by a filter. The air is then recycled back through the supply canal of the tube to facilitate additional particle counting. The method for using the device involves passing the scanner over the sample surface for predetermined periods, and collecting, counting and computing the average relative number of particles per unit area.

Abstract: A flexible layered membrane comprising a chemically inert microporous support layer coated on one surface with a thin continuous selective permeability pellicle of cured polysulfide polymer having a separation factor favoring hydrogen sulfide. The resulting article is suitable for removing hydrogen sulfide from a mixture of gases.