Abstract: There is disclosed a plating process that involves the application of a soft metallic coating, composed of substantially pure metal or alloy, to resilient metal seals utilizing a high-volume, high-energy electro-deposition plating process. The process basically includes supporting a predetermined quantity of metallic seals at non-sealing surface locations with the metallic seals disposed in series on a conveyor having a predetermined processing path, and continuously moving the seals in series through an electro-plating stage of the processing path to electro-deposit a metallic coating on the seals using a high current density and a high chemical flow rate. The seals of this process are applicable to any application or industry where a large quantity of high vacuum/high purity seals are required and where traditional electro-deposition processes would not yield a sufficient quantity of finished parts or would not produce them at an acceptable cost.

Abstract: A pressure-energized, annular metallic seal is provided that includes a central annular portion and a pair of annular leg portions extending from the central portion. Each leg portion includes a convex sealing surface lying in sealing plane. One of the leg portions preferably has an annular flange offset from its sealing plane in an axial direction towards the sealing plane of the other leg portion. One of the leg portions preferably has at least one radially extending tab projecting further than adjacent parts of the seal. The seal is preferably manufactured by first cutting a first annular edge in a metallic sheet material, then bending the sheet material substantially into the shape of the seal, and then cutting a second annular edge to complete the shape of the seal. The second annular edge preferably defines the annular flange and/or the at least one tab.

Abstract: Therapeutic and drug delivery systems are provided in the form of medical devices with coatings for capturing and immobilizing target cells such as circulating progenitor or genetically-altered mammalian cells in vivo. The genetically-altered cells are transfected with genetic material for expressing a marker gene and a therapeutic gene in a constitutively or controlled manner. The marker gene is a cell membrane antigen not found in circulating cells in the blood stream and therapeutic gene encodes a peptide for the treatment of disease, such as, vascular disease and cancer. The coating on the medical device may be a biocompatible matrix comprising at least one type of ligand, such as antibodies, antibody fragments, other peptides and small molecules, which recognize and bind the target cells. The therapeutic and/or drug delivery systems may be provided with a signal source such as activator molecules for stimulating the modified cells to express and secrete the desired marker and therapeutic gene products.

Abstract: A modular container for the storage or display of articles, formed from a foldable unitary blank of sheet material. The container has a base panel, opposed first and second side panels and an end panel. A container-locating aperture is located adjacent the second side panel and is formed on the end panel, together with a tab-locating aperture that is located adjacent the first side panel. A container connecting tab projects from the first side panel, and may selectively be folded to locate in the tab-locating aperture, or to locate in the container-locating aperture of another container and thereby connecting the containers together in side-by-side relationship.

Abstract: An improved screening apparatus for fiber suspensions is provided comprisingat least one stationary, generally cylindrical screen drum into which the fiber suspension is fed having a central axis and a plurality of apertures through which rejectable material from the suspension cannot pass and is retained on a reject side of the drum and through which accepted fibers from the suspension can pass to an opposite side of the drum;a generally cylindrical rotor, co-axial with the axis of the cylindrical screen drum;the rotor supporting a series of blades arranged circumferentially about the rotor and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the rotor, with the lateral extent of each blade being adjacent the surface of the cylindrical screen drum; andeach blade in the series of blades having opposing ends and being inclined in the opposite direction to any adjacent blade relative to a line in the circumferential path of the blades which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rotor and the cylindrica

Abstract: A paper pulp refiner for refining high consistency stock characterized by two virtually identical refining zones connected in series which have an interstage device to remove excess steam and whose axial loads can be varied independently thus producing two stage pump from a single refiner.