Abstract: Assemblies and methods to enhance control of a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processing assembly associated with a refining operation, may include supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to one or more first processing units associated with the refining operation. The assemblies and methods also may include conditioning a hydrocarbon feedstock and unit material samples, and analyzing the samples via one or more spectroscopic analyzers. The assemblies and methods further may include prescriptively controlling, via one or more FCC process controllers based at least in part on the hydrocarbon feedstock properties and the unit material properties, the FCC processing assembly, so that the prescriptively controlling results in enhancing accuracy of target content of materials produced by the FCC processing assembly, thereby to more responsively control the FCC processing assembly to achieve material outputs that more accurately and responsively converge on target properties.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods to enhance hydrotreating and fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes associated with a refining operation, during the processes, may include supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to a cat feed hydrotreater (CFH) processing unit to produce CFH unit materials. The assemblies and methods also may include conditioning material samples, and analyzing the samples via one or more spectroscopic analyzers. The assemblies and methods further may include prescriptively controlling, via one or more FCC process controllers, based at least in part on the material properties, a FCC processing assembly, so that the prescriptively controlling results in causing the processes to produce CFH materials, intermediate materials, the unit materials, and/or the downstream materials having properties within selected ranges of target properties, thereby to cause the processes to achieve material outputs that more accurately and responsively converge on one or more of the target properties.

Abstract: Methods and assemblies may be used for determining and using standardized spectral responses for calibration of spectroscopic analyzers. The methods and assemblies may be used to calibrate or recalibrate a spectroscopic analyzer when the spectroscopic analyzer changes from a first state to a second state, the second state being defined as a period of time after a change to the spectroscopic analyzer causing a need to calibrate or recalibrate the spectroscopic analyzer. The calibration or recalibration may result in the spectroscopic analyzer outputting a standardized spectrum, such that the spectroscopic analyzer outputs a corrected material spectrum for an analyzed material, and defining the standardized spectrum. The corrected material spectrum may include signals indicative of material properties of an analyzed material, the material properties of the material being substantially consistent with material properties of the material output by the spectroscopic analyzer in the first state.

Abstract: Methods and assemblies may be used for determining and using standardized spectral responses for calibration of spectroscopic analyzers. The methods and assemblies may be used to calibrate or recalibrate a spectroscopic analyzer when the spectroscopic analyzer changes from a first state to a second state, the second state being defined as a period of time after a change to the spectroscopic analyzer causing a need to calibrate or recalibrate the spectroscopic analyzer. The calibration or recalibration may result in the spectroscopic analyzer outputting a standardized spectrum, such that the spectroscopic analyzer outputs a corrected material spectrum for an analyzed material, and defining the standardized spectrum. The corrected material spectrum may include signals indicative of material properties of an analyzed material, the material properties of the material being substantially consistent with material properties of the material output by the spectroscopic analyzer in the first state.

Abstract: A tool is disclosed for selective honing of the outer diameter of a cylinder using an abrasive belt in semi-circular contact upon the outer-diameter of a cylindrical work-piece to perform a similar function to honing the inner-diameter of a hollow cylinder. The belt is retained within the tool body by U-shaped restraint arms, and a slot in the tool body. A clamp block retains the ends of the belt which exit the slot. Springs on the arms, and contact of the block on the outside of the tool body, force the belt into a triangular shape inside the body. A cylindrical work-piece inserted within the triangular shaped belt causes the belt to deform into three semi-circular areas of contact between the belt and work-piece. When the work-piece is rotated, the belt abrades material from the work-piece.

Abstract: A focus mechanism has a removable and replaceable cam that allows selection of different rates of rotation and total axial displacement of a lens assembly. The rate and displacement are determined by the cam profile. The rate and displacement of the lens assembly can be selected by removing a cam with one profile and replacing it with another similar cam having a different profile. Rotation of an outer ring is coupled to the cam with drive pins.

Abstract: A clamp mechanism uses a fixed spring force input caliper with friction pads in frictional contact with a variable thickness portion of a disc, where the disc thickness, thus the clamp force, varies as the disc rotates through one rotation or less.

Abstract: An improved leadscrew drive uses thrust bearings with a mechanical space between a bearing and its support allowing the leadscrew and bearings to move axially, placing the leadscrew in tensile loading, eliminating leadscrew columnar buckling and allowing the use of a smaller diameter and finer pitch lead leadscrew.

Abstract: A tool is disclosed for selective honing of the outer diameter of a cylinder using an abrasive belt in semi- circular contact upon the outer-diameter of a cylindrical work-piece to perform a similar function to honing the inner-diameter of a hollow cylinder. The belt is retained within the tool body by U-shaped restraint arms, and a slot in the tool body. A clamp block retains the ends of the belt which exit the slot. Springs on the arms, and contact of the block on the outside of the tool body, force the belt into a triangular shape inside the body. A cylindrical work-piece inserted within the triangular shaped belt causes the belt to deform into three semi-circular areas of contact between the belt and work-piece. When the work-piece is rotated, the belt abrades material from the work-piece.

Abstract: A support structure comprises image formers, weapons and sighting systems. An image former system is completely practicable by individuals of short stature or limited mobility, especially those in wheelchairs. Ordinary telescope optics and extremely rigid and simplified mechanical structural system allow the imagers incident optical axis to move through three-dimensional space while the eyepiece image moves in one plane. Elevational rotation of the imager about the eyepiece allows the observer to view 360 degrees in elevation without eye movement. A main tube tangential to the objective and parallel to the incident optical axis concentrically receives optical supports which retain the optics. The optical elements may be installed, removed, replaced and cleaned without realignment of the optics. The optical support design receives reflective or refractive optics of varying focal lengths; the objective support accommodates cameras without focal adapters.

Abstract: A support structure comprises as image formers, weapons and sighting systems. An image former system is completely practicable by individuals of short stature or limited mobility, especially those in wheelchairs. Ordinary telescope optics and extremely rigid and simplified mechanical structural system allow the imagers incident optical axis to move through 3-dimensional space while the eyepiece image moves in one plane. Elevational rotation of the imager about the eyepiece allows the observer to view 360 degree in elevation without eye movement. A main tube tangential to the objective and parallel to the incident optical axis concentrically receives optical supports which retain the optics. The optical elements may be installed, removed, replaced and cleaned realignment of the optics. The optical support design receives reflective or refractive optics of varying focal lengths; the objective support accommodates cameras without focal adapters. The structural elements may receive ordnance and sighting means.

Abstract: A system and a method for extracting wax from pulp fibers an-d/or paper products are provided. The system and method may implement a continuous extraction vessel that can have one or more extraction stages. A single or multi-staged continuous extractor would provide solvent flow which counters the cellulosic materials within the vessel so that the solvent becomes more concentrated with the dissolved wax. This will reduce the volume of solvent necessary to achieve the same extraction efficiency and reduce the energy necessary to remove the solvent from the wax. In another embodiment, the temperature of the solvent can be increased by operating the extractor under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A system and a method for extracting wax from pulp fibers and/or paper products are provided. The system and method may implement a continuous extraction vessel that can have one or more extraction stages. A single or multi-staged continuous extractor would provide solvent flow which counters the cellulosic materials within the vessel so that the solvent becomes more concentrated with the dissolved wax. This will reduce the volume of solvent necessary to achieve the same extraction efficiency and reduce the energy necessary to remove the solvent from the wax. In another embodiment, the temperature of the solvent can be increased by operating the extractor under a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for removal of non process elements from a Kraft bleach plant producing lyocell pulp. In the method the bleach plant filtrate is passed through at least one centrifugal cleaner. The non process elements are reduced by at least 20 percent of their original levels in the bleach plant filtrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved rural mailbox apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a lower housing and an upper, pivotally mounted upper shell. The lower housing has an opening for passing mail into and out of the housing. The upper shell is pivotally connected to the lower housing with the upper shell being vertically and rotatably moveable between a lowered, closed position and an upper, open position. In the lowered, closed position, the shell sufficiently covers the housing opening to protect contained mail from normal environmental conditions. When the shell is in the upper, open position, access is provided for a user to deposit mail into or extract mail out of the housing.

Abstract: Reproductive performance and growth of non-human animals is enhanced by administering betaine to the animals. Betaine is administered to animals living under nutritional or lactational stress. Animal feeds for the enhancing of reproductive performance of animals contain betaine in addition to ingredients conventionally used in animal diets.

Abstract: A milling machine is disclosed, which machine includes a frame, a drive mechanism for advancing the machine across a surface to be milled, and a milling assembly mounted on the frame of the machine for cutting a width of material from the surface in the path of the machine. The milling assembly includes a generally cylindrical milling drum having a plurality of cutting teeth, which drum is mounted for rotation about its axis. The milling assembly also includes a vibratory assembly which is mounted so as to impart vibration to the milling drum. The vibratory assembly includes an elongate shaft, a drive mechanism for rotating the shaft, and an eccentric weight that is mounted on the shaft. The eccentric weight has a non-symmetrical distribution of mass about the shaft so that vibration will be created upon rotation thereof. Also provided is a vibration isolator for isolating the vibratory assembly so as to limit the transmission of vibration created thereby to the frame of the machine.

Abstract: A screed assembly is disclosed for an asphalt paving machine that is used to pave the surface of a roadway with asphalt concrete paving material. This screed assembly includes a frame portion that is adapted for attachment to the paving machine, and a vibratory screed portion that is adapted for attachment to the frame portion. The vibratory screed portion includes a screed plate that is disposed towards the surface of the roadway, and a vibratory assembly which is mounted to the screed plate so as to impart vibration thereto. This vibratory assembly includes an elongate shaft, means for rotating the shaft, and an eccentric weight that is mounted on the shaft, which weight has a non-symmetrical distribution of mass about the shaft so that vibration will be created upon rotation thereof. The screed assembly also includes means for isolating the vibratory assembly so as to limit the transmission of vibration created thereby to the frame portion.