Abstract: Refinery sludge, including centrifuge filter cake and/or thermal desorption unit powder and glycerin byproduct, including glycerin byproduct from a biodiesel process are blended together. Moisture together with any methanol and any light hydrocarbons are removed and the resulting blend is burnt in a cement kiln.

Abstract: Embodiments of a gimbaled system with an optical coudé path and method for transferring data are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the gimbaled system includes optical coudé path to provide a data communication path with a gimbaled payload, an on-gimbal communication laser to transmit modulated camera data via the coudé path, and an off-gimbal communication detector to detect the camera data received via the coudé path. In some embodiments, the optical coudé path may include at least two mirrors to provide a bi-directional communication path through an azimuth axis and an elevation axis of the gimbaled payload.

Abstract: Embodiments of a gimbaled system with an optical coudé path and method for transferring data are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the gimbaled system includes optical coudé path to provide a data communication path with a gimbaled payload, an on-gimbal communication laser to transmit modulated camera data via the coudé path, and an off-gimbal communication detector to detect the camera data received via the coudé path. In some embodiments, the optical coudé path may include at least two mirrors to provide a bi-directional communication path through an azimuth axis and an elevation axis of the gimbaled payload.

Abstract: An emergency patient support and transport apparatus that is designed to be used in emergency response situations to treat patients that have been exposed to hazardous biological, chemical or radioactive materials. The patient support and transport apparatus is in the form of a rail system that allows a patient and the patient's support bed to be transported across the rails to a medical treatment zone, such as a decontamination zone, where decontamination of the patient and support bed occurs. The support and transport apparatus is formed of a patient support track formed of individual track sections that are collapsible for ease of transport and storage. The individual track sections are adapted to be interconnected to form at least two continuous rail surfaces. The patient support track is used in combination with a patient gurney having a base portion and a removable stretcher portion for supporting the patient.

Abstract: A system for enclosing an article includes a packaging apparatus for enclosing an article in a pouch configured as part of a packaging structure having first and second ends and an opening for the pouch. The packaging apparatus includes a platform with front and rear sides and a support surface therebetween, a heat sealer and a framework for positioning the sealer forward of the platform with an open space therebetween and with an open area under the platform. In use, a bundle of packaging structures, joined at the first ends, is coupled with the platform rear side, and then extended under the support surface, around the rear side through the open space and onto the support surface with the pouch openings supported above the surface. An article is inserted in the topmost pouch through the opening which is then sealed by the sealer. Filled structures are suspended below the platform rear side until all of the pouches have been filled.

Abstract: An antenna for transmitting and/or receiving circularly polarized (CP) electromagnetic radiation throughout a substantial portion of a sphere. A cylindrical waveguide (3,5) is associated with a transmit portion and a receive portion of the antenna, respectively. The outer surface of each waveguide (3,5) is covered with several conductive radiating patches (30,50) equidistant axially and circumferentially arranged. The patches (30,50) may be fed by elongated apertures (51,52) or by coaxial transmission line (41,42). In the former embodiment, CP is present within the waveguide (3,5), while in the latter embodiment, linear polarization is present within the coaxial transmission line (41,42). The individual patches (30,50) radiate CP in a direction normal to the patch (30,50) to produce CP in the broadside direction.

Abstract: Apparatus for dividing and combining electromagnetic energy, particularly at microwave frequencies. An input port (4) is positioned generally equidistant from each of n output ports (5,6;31,32,33 . . . ), where n is a finite integer greater than 1. n quarter-wavelength impedance transforming conductors (20;41,42,43 . . . ) couple the input port (4) to the n output ports (5,6;31,32,33 . . . ), respectively. Positioned between each pair of adjacent output ports (5,6;31,32,33) is an isolation resistor (7). A pair of half-wavelength unity impedance transformers (21) couples each isolation resistor (7) to its two associated output ports (5,6;31,32,33 . . . ), respectively. The invention allows greater geometrical freedom than prior art splitters, and offers a lower loss for a given frequency.

Abstract: A generally planar antenna for generating circularly polarized electromagnetic signals, particularly useful at microwave frequencies. Each antenna element comprises a single excitation aperture (7) cut in a planar conductive ground plane (9). Spaced apart from the ground plane (9) by means of a dielectric layer (11) and covering the excitation aperture (7) is a planar conductive radiating patch (5) having slightly different dimensions along each of two orthogonal axes. The radiating patch (5) may have the shape of a near square or an ellipse. Exciting the aperture (7) with linearly polarized electromagnetic energy causes the radiating patch (5) to generate a circularly polarized electromagnetic signal consisting of two orthogonal components that have substantially the same amplitude and are 90.degree. offset in phase from each other. Several antenna elements can be combined to form a large aperture array.

Abstract: An electronic aligner head is mounted on one rear wheel of a vehicle. The aligner head projects a light beam toward the front wheel on the same side of the vehicle. A centering gage is adapted to contact lower points on the inner flanges of each of the rear wheel rims. A lateral arm is connected to a housing on the centering gage. The lateral arm extends past the one rear wheel and carries a centering gage head on the free end. The arm is adjustable in length to place the centering gage head at the same lateral distance from the chassis centerline as the light beam projector. The centering gage is removed from the position between the rear wheel rims and placed in a similar position between the front wheel rims. The centering gage head is configured to either reflect the beam back to a light beam detector on the aligner head or alternatively to direct the beam to a detector in the gage head. The detector provides a signal indicative of the toe of the one rear wheel.

Abstract: A stick inserter for inserting flat sticks into partially frozen confections in the molds of a confection machine forms a packed column of sticks in face to face engagement above a row of molds, a row of spaced thin blades is lowered and each blade forces a stick out of the column and into a confection. Upon retraction of the blades, pivotally mounted lower guide rails for the column, which have been lowered to accommodate stick insertion, are raised to restore displaced sticks back to their original positions in the column. In order to insure stick singulation, a jogging mechanism partially lowers the blades ad then retracts them slightly and a blade deflection plate releases previously deflected blades so that they spring against the faces of sticks adjacent to those to be inserted.

Abstract: An absorber for increasing the concentration of oxygen in a solution has a pressure chamber therein which receives oxygen under pressure as well as a liquid to be oxygenated within an upper portion thereof. A shaft on which a turbine blade agitator is mounted is located in the upper portion of the chamber. The shaft is driven rotationally by a motor through a rotary seal in the pressure chamber cover. A baffle plate is mounted within the pressure chamber to define a lower portion therebeneath, which is in communication with the upper portion, but isolated from the agitation in the upper portion. The oxygen-liquid solution which drains into the lower portion is subsaturated and relatively quiescent, so that large oxygen bubbles therein disengage and rise into the upper portion, and entrained small bubbles therein dissolve in the subsaturated oxygen-liquid solution.

Abstract: An activated sludge sewage treatment process which includes a mixed liquor tank and a pressure vessel much smaller in size than said mixed liquor tank. At least a portion of the influent to said tank is directed to the pressure vessel where oxygen is dissolved therein under superatmospheric pressures. The pressure is then released and said portion of the influent gently transferred into said mixed liquor tank so that substantially all of the dissolved oxygen remains in solution until said influent portion is mixed with the sewage in the mixed liquor tank to thereby raise the dissolved oxygen concentration in the tank.

Abstract: A wheel alignment measuring system for measuring front wheel toe including a laser beam light projector mounted on a front wheel of a motor vehicle which projects a beam of light onto a pivotally mounted front mirror on the projector which oscillates back and forth through a ten degree angle about a reference line. The beam of light reflected from the oscillating mirror swings ten degrees on either side of a central reference beam line, and during its swing the beam strikes a fixed roof mirror mounted on the opposite front wheel of the vehicle. The thus reflected beam sweeps back and forth across the light projector and is successively intercepted by each of a pair of closely spaced photocells on the light projector, the cells being equally spaced on opposite sides of the reference beam line. The cells develop signals when they intercept the light beam which signals control and up/down counter through a flip-flop.

Abstract: A light projector mounted on a front wheel of a vehicle uses a single laser to develop a beam which is split into a pair of light beams. The first light beam is projected to a calibrated mirror mounted on an adjacent rear wheel and is reflected to a target mounted near the projector on the front wheel of the vehicle so that the front wheel may be aligned with the rear wheel. The second light beam is projected to a mirror mounted on the other front wheel and is reflected to a target mounted adjacent the projector to check the toe of the front wheels. The target comprises a multichannel encoder which develops a plurality of Gray-coded binary signals in response to the position of the return beam. A rotating prism causes the light beams to sweep repetitively in a vertical plane so that the beams will strike the mirrors and the targets even when the projector is not mounted in a level position.

Abstract: Lighting apparatus for architectural usage wherein the lighting structure can be permanently placed in predetermined disposition to render relatively trouble-free and long service life. The apparatus consists of a tubular lighting element, which can be fabricated in any desired length of whatever the selected wattage rating, that is utilized in combination with a seating structure that may be permanently secured in or about the architectural structure utilizing such lighting design. The lighting element consists of a clear tube containing a selected plurality of low wattage light bulbs as used in combination with a retaining structure which is adapted for captive retention within a molded cementitious structure of the like, while defining a groove or insert portion for selective retention of the lighting element thereby to focus or direct light at selected angles to illuminate the desired surface or area.

Abstract: A static vehicle wheel balancer has a base which is supported on the floor and which mounts a vertical post. A wheel balance head is provided for receiving and centering a tire and wheel assembly to be balanced and has a level for indicating unbalance. A universal pivot between the balance head and the post is provided wherein the pivot point of the balance head is maintained coincident with the post axis, even when the post axis is inclined from the vertical. In one embodiment, the pivot assembly is formed by an upwardly facing spherical anvil surface that supports three equal diameter balls. The balancing head mounts a single pivot ball that is supported by the three support balls. Resilient means are provided for cushioning the pivot ball. In another embodiment of the invention, the universal pivot action is obtained by the use of a Hooke universal joint. Another embodiment embodies a universal joint of the Hooke type wherein the spider arms are made in the form of flexible blades.

Abstract: A static vehicle wheel balancer has a base which is supported on the floor and which mounts a vertical post. A wheel balance head is provided for receiving and centering a tire and wheel assembly to be balanced and has a level for indicating unbalance. A universal pivot between the balance head and the post is provided wherein the pivot point of the balance head is maintained coincident with the post axis, even when the post axis is inclined from the vertical. In one embodiment, the pivot assembly is formed by an upwardly facing spherical anvil surface that supports three equal diameter balls. The balancing head mounts a single pivot ball that is supported by the three support balls. Resilient means are provided for cushioning the pivot ball. In another embodiment of the invention, the universal pivot action is obtained by the use of a Hooke universal joint. Another embodiment embodies a universal joint of the Hooke type wherein the spider arms are made in the form of flexible blades.