Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of circuits and methods for capacitively coupling touchscreen electrode terminals to terminals of a flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board, without physically attaching the touchscreen electrode terminals to the flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board terminals by means of conventional electrical connection bonding materials or agents such as anisotropic conductive film or solder. The flex circuit, printed circuit or printed circuit board terminals are spaced apart from, or placed in physical contact with, corresponding ones of the touchscreen electrode terminals, but are not soldered or otherwise physically attached to the touchscreen electrode terminals by conventional electrical connection bonding materials or agents such as anisotropic conductive film or solder.

Abstract: A joint tool includes a first wrench assembly configured to be placed in gripping contact with a rod, a second wrench assembly including jaws configured to grip and rotate a rod when the second wrench assembly is rotated in a first direction and to rotate relative to the rod when moved in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction, and a drive assembly mounted to the first wrench assembly and coupled to the second wrench assembly, the drive assembly being configured to rotate the rod in the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A computing system is configured to accept bid rules from merchants for the placement of ads for a plurality of products. The bid rules comprise a bid amount, a rule definition and a priority. The bid amount may be an absolute bid or it may be relative to base advertising rate. The rule definition comprises criteria for describing products to determine when the bid rule is applied to a product for sale. The priority indicates whether the bid rule applies to a particular product when the rule definition of more than one bid rule could be applied to a product. The computing system is also configured to generate a list of product offers based at least in part on the bids. The system may also generate reports for merchants.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a mutual capacitance touchscreen comprising a first set of electrically conductive traces arranged in rows or columns and a second set of electrically conductive traces arranged in rows or columns arranged at right angles with respect to the rows or columns of the first set, where the first and second sets of traces are electrically insulated from and interdigitated respecting one another, and gaps between the first and second sets of traces form boundaries between the first and second sets of traces that undulate and that are not straight or linear. Other embodiments of a mutual capacitance touchscreen are also disclosed, such as “mini-diamond” sensor array patterns and sensor array patterns that may be manufactured at low cost.

Abstract: In a method for producing a heat exchanger tube bundle for a heat exchanger of an electrochemical energy accumulators, heat exchanger channels and an intended profile are incorporated into material strips by deep drawing. A forward-flow distribution aperture is incorporated into a first such material strip from step b) (first heat exchanger plate), and return collecting apertures are incorporated into a second such material strip, forming first and the second heat exchanger plates. The latter are aligned in such a manner that webs of the two heat exchanger plates border each other, and the heat exchanger channels form heat exchanger tubes. The heat exchanger plates arranged in this manner are joined together to form a heat exchanger tube bundle. A corresponding pressure welding apparatus, a heat exchanger tube bundle, a heat exchanger module, a heat exchanger with two or more heat exchanger modules, and an electrochemical energy accumulator with a heat exchanger of this type are also disclosed.

Abstract: A joint tool includes a first wrench assembly configured to be placed in gripping contact with a rod, a second wrench assembly including jaws configured to grip and rotate a rod when the second wrench assembly is rotated in a first direction and to rotate relative to the rod when moved in a second direction, the second direction being opposite the first direction, and a drive assembly mounted to the first wrench assembly and coupled to the second wrench assembly, the drive assembly being configured to rotate the rod in the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A locking positioning mechanism includes a first element and a second element, the first element and second element rotatable relative to one another about a common rotational axis between a locked orientation and an unlocked orientation and axially translatable relative to one another. The mechanism further includes one or more first locking surfaces of the first element and one or more second locking surfaces of the second element. The second locking surfaces are configured to clear the first locking surfaces in the unlocked orientation. The second locking surface is configured for an interference fit with a first locking surface in the locked orientation.

Abstract: A dimensionally heat recoverable tubular article (1) is made by spirally wrapping cross-linked polymeric sheet (3) a number of times, and directly fusing together overlapping layers (5) of the cross-linked sheet (3) to form a consolidated tubular article. The final article has a wall thickness of at least 2.2 mm. Articles according to the invention may be made of different diameter and different wall thickness, starting from the same thickness initial sheet material, simply by changing the circumference of wrapping or the number of spiral wraps. Articles according to the invention are particularly useful as casings over joints between district heating pipes.

Abstract: An apparatus process is provided for the destruction of a toxic organic chlorine-containing compound, especially, a chlorine- and arsenic-containing compound. The apparatus includes a main reactor into which is introduced the chlorine-containing compound, e.g., a Lewisite as a mustard gas, an oxidizing agent and a pH controlling agent, the main reactor including a hot heat exchanger and a cold heat exchanger, a source of inert blanketing gas to provide an oxidation product of the organic original chlorine-containing compound. Preferably, after completion of the oxidizing reaction, any residual oxidizing agent is catalytically decomposed. Then, the oxidation product of the original organic chlorine-containing compound, is preferably decomposed in a catalyst containing vessel at an alkaline pH, e.g., to a maximum final pH of about 11 in a liquid knockout vessel which includes a lower liquid discharge and an upper gaseous discharge connected to a vented absorber vessel to provide an inorganic compound, e.g.

Abstract: A sequential process is provided for the destruction of a toxic organic chlorine-containing compound, especially a chlorine- and arsenic-containing compound e.g., a Lewisite or a mustard gas. The process includes the first step of carrying out an oxidizing reaction between the chlorine-containing compound, and an oxidizing agent, especially hydrogen peroxide, while maintaining the temperature and the pH within preselected ranges e.g., about 50.degree. C. to about 90.degree. C. and the pH starting at about 1 to about 2 during the oxidation and terminating at about 5 to about 8 to provide an oxidation product of the original toxic organic chlorine-containing compound, original toxic chlorine- and arsenic-containing compound. After completion of the oxidizing reaction, any residual oxidizing agent is preferably catalytically decomposed. Then, the oxidation product of the original toxic organic chlorine-containing compound, is decomposed at an alkaline pH, e.g.

Abstract: A method is provided for the treatment of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil by chemical hydrolysis and/or oxidation of said hydrocarbons on the hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. The method includes conditioning lime with a particularly defined fatty-acid activator. The so-conditioned lime is blended with physically-preconditioned, moist, hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, the degree of dispersion being at least near microscopic level. A charge of the such blended lime/soil is conveyed to an enclosed reaction vessel, where hydration of the lime is carried out. The heat of the hydration reaction is retained within the vessel, so that hydrolysis of the fatty acid conditioner and/or hydrocarbon contaminants in the soil is effected. Air or oxygen-enriched air is substantially-simultaneously introduced into the reaction vessel together with steam and/or water as required by the chemical reactions, thereby to effect a flameless, intermediate-temperature oxidation of the hydrocarbons or their hydrolyzed degradation products.

Abstract: A method is provided for the treatment of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil by chemical hydrolysis and/or oxidation of the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon-contaminated soil. The method includes conditioning lime with a fatty acid hydrophobizing agent. The fatty acid treated lime is preheated to a temperature of about 50.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C. to provide conditioned lime.

Abstract: A novel hydrophobizing agent is provided for use in a composition for rendering waste substances harmless. The agent comprises a liquid blend of a specified mixture of liquid fatty acids having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms and a specified mixture of glycerides of fatty acids having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A novel hydrophobizing agent is provided for use in a composition for rendering waste substances harmless. The agent comprises a blend which is liquid at room temperature and is readily-atomizable of a specified mixture of liquid fatty acids having from 6 to 12 carbon atoms and a specified mixture of glycerides of fatty acids having from 8 to 18 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Articles including a thin laminar heating element composed of a sintered conductive polymer, and electrodes attached to the heating element so that current flows in the plane of the element. The article can be placed between and in contact with two substrates, and then heated to join the two substrates together. Preferably at least one of the substrates is polymeric and becomes melt-fused to the article.

Abstract: A hazardous waste incinerator is provided herein. The incinerator includes a sealed, inner incineration chamber which is either made from, or which is lined with a non-porous, impervious corrosion-resistant lining, the inner incineration chamber including a means for supporting hazardous waste to be incinerated, and a recirculating blower. An insulated outer combustion chamber is provided in sealed, spaced-apart relationship to the inner incineration chamber. The heat produced in the outer combustion chamber induces incineration of hazardous waste in the incinerator chamber, the products of incineration of the hazardous waste being separate and distinct from the products of combustion in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A thermoelectric air conditioner having a fiber reinforced plastic water box made of two identical halves, each of which has a serpentine groove with a plurality of openings that receive a first heat transfer plate and an array of semiconductors of both P and N type and a second heat transfer plate which is finned, the heat transfer plates bridge the semiconductors to form a single series for the whole assembly.

Abstract: A stepping commutator is provided for supplying power to a plurality of electrode plates mounted on a rotating shaft. The commutator comprises a central annular plate which is fixed to the shaft. The plate has a ring of cylindrical stationary contacts mounted therein concentrically about the shaft, so that they rotate with the shaft. Means are provided for connecting the contacts with the electrode plates. A pair of annular second plates bracket the central plate. Said pair of second plates are free to rotate on the shaft. Each such second plate carries a ring of horizontally slidable cylindrical contacts arranged to correspond with the central contacts. Said slidable contacts are connected with a power source. Means are provided for biasing the slidable contacts into or out of engagement with the central contacts, when appropriate.

Abstract: A clarifier is provided for simultaneously treating a plurality of bodies of liquid-solid suspension in a vertically stacked fashion, with the aim of separating the particulate solids from the liquid, by process steps involving a combination of electrophoresis and reverse osmosis. The clarifier comprises a conical shell which is mounted on a shaft for rotation. The shaft extends through the apex of the shell and is disposed at an upward angle, so that the base of the shell is tilted. A plurality of nested, spaced apart, truncated, conical bands are secured to the inner surface of the shell. The bands each carry an elongate anode electrode on the upper surface and an elongate cathode electrode on the lower surface. Thus there are formed a plurality of vertically stacked, endless, arcuate treatment chambers, with an elongate anode extending along the base and an elongate cathode electrode extending along the top of each chamber.

Abstract: An aqueous suspension of fine mineral solids, for example oil sand tailings sludge, is separated into separate solid and liquid components by first chemically conditioning the suspension with the addition of lime, and thereafter passing an electrical potential between electrodes submerged in the suspension. The electrical potential causes the solids to migrate toward, and deposit on, the positive of the electrodes. The lime pre-treatment allows the electrode deposit to dry, through electroosmosis, to render it sufficiently dry by disposal. The chemical conditioning step preferably includes adding a carbonate- or bicarbonate-forming reagent after the lime addition.