Abstract: A method for converting solid carbonaceous materials to liquid products. The solid carbonaceous material is first treated with a aqueous composition of a metal carbonate or bicarbonate. This results in the metal being atomically dispersed in the carbonaceous material. The treated solid carbonaceous material is then subjected to liquefaction conditions. The preferred metal is iron.

Abstract: A containerized prefabricated building kit comprises a cuboidal frame having eight corners and twelve edges the corners being provided with standard container handling equipment components, allowing the kit to be transported as a standard shipping container. The structure of the container kit consists substantially only of components of the prefabricated building kit. The cuboidal frame is used in the building, either after separating it into its components, that is into separate beams or by using the open sided frame as the frame work for a side room or other part of the building.

Abstract: A bottle stress analysis system using polarized light for determining stress levels of a transparent plastic bottle includes a rotation assembly for rotating the bottle. A polarized light source assembly is insertible into the bottle cavity to direct plane polarized light through the bottle wall and an analyzer assembly is positioned outside the bottle for measuring intensity of light passing through the bottle wall. In order to measure changes in polarization, the analyzer assembly has a polarization analyzer positioned to transmit the light to a photodetector. A mechanism for rotating either the polarized light source or the analyzer to determine maximum and minimum polarized light intensity at the photodetector facilitates determination of stress at a plurality of points along the bottle wall.

Abstract: A slip ring includes a rotor and a stator. Stator contacts are connected to a data acquisition unit. The rotor contacts are connected to an amplifier circuit mounted in a housing connected to and rotatable with a rotating member. A sensor mounted on the rotating member to which the rotor is also fixedly mounted generates an electrical output signal corresponding to a sensed operating parameter of the rotating member. The sensor output signal is amplified by the amplifier in the housing before being transmitted through the slip ring to the data acquisition unit. Vibration isolation is provided when required for the slip ring and the circuit board in the housing carrying the amplifier to dampen vibrations generated by the rotating member. Resilient pads are mounted on the circuit board and engage the housing attached to the rotor.

Abstract: A portable building may be assembled from kit comprising portable wall frames (2) and a portable foundation to which the wall frames can be secured.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for inspecting the surface of an object S moving in the direction of travel 23 relative to the apparatus comprises a modular sensing head assembly 11 including a plurality of sensing head modules 12, 13, each of which includes a number of sensing stations 16-21. Each sensing station includes a light source 77, 81, 84 for generating a line of light extending across substantially the width of the surface of the object and a plurality of optical detector means for detecting light scattered from the line of light by the surface of the object. The optical detectors are positioned and oriented to receive scattered light scattered along paths lying in detection planes which are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the surface of the object.

Abstract: A slowly turning rotating mass, such as a wind turbine rotor, is balanced in situ by measuring the magnitude of a phenomenon, such as acceleration, created by rotor unbalance at a location on a mass support shaft which is close to the mass. The measurement of the phenomenon is made along a line selected to be insensitive to the bias of gravity on the mass. The measurement is made while the mass turns at its usual operating rate. The structure which supports the shaft is fixed as rigidly as possible in space while measurements of the phenomenon are made.

Abstract: Process for the regeneration of an activated carbon or activated coke product comprising loading the activated product into a reaction vessel having two ends, initiating a flame front at one end of the vessel, introducing an oxidant to the other end of the vessel, and allowing the flame front to move through the activated product toward the end through which the oxidant is introduced.

Abstract: The magnet filter (10,100) has a frame for supporting a plurality of elongated, non-magnetic tubes (20, 108) in a regular, spaced-apart array. A plurality of magnetic bodies (38,112), which can take a variety of forms, are situated in the spaces between the tubes of the array, for imposing a magnetic field within each tube over substantially the full length of each tube. The upstream end of each tube is adapted for receiving a fluid to be magnetically filtered and the downstream end is adapted for discharging such fluid. As the fluid passes through each tube, the magnetic field imparts a force to the magnetizable particulates, which are drawn toward the magnetized internal structure within the tube where they are deposited, thus filtering the fluid. The magnetic bodies may produce a field that is oriented either substantially parallel to the tube, or transverse to the tube.

Abstract: Process for the treatment of a hazardous material containing a thermochemically destructible component comprising contacting the material with a carbon char, thereafter loading the carbon char into a reaction vessel having two ends, initiating a flame front at one end of the loaded vessel, introducing an oxidant to the other end of the vessel, and allowing the flame front to move through the carbon char in the direction of the end through which the oxidant is introduced and away from the end at which the flame front was initiated.

Abstract: A system, including apparatus and methods, which facilitates the use of dutch ovens, usually combined with a charcoal heating source, in outdoor cooking. The first apparatus is a safe, independent, time-efficient device which quickly preheats charcoal briquettes contained in a portable hopper, accomplishing the same by means of a self-contained, transportable, propane-fueled burner. A second apparatus is a sturdy, portable cooking stand, which, in the "as used" position, provides a safe, elevated site whereupon the charcoal heating source and a plurality of dutch ovens can be conveniently placed for cooking purposes, and which, in the "as transported" position, is disassembled and may be carried facilely to more desired locations. The third apparatus is a T-handled dutch oven and dutch oven lid lifting device whereby said ovens and/or lids may be conveniently and safely removed from and replaced on the heating source.

Abstract: A self-feeding dog feeder that has a capacity for several days feeding, constructed in such a way that the feed is protected from inadvertent contamination or loss, while still allowing easy access by the desired dog only.

Abstract: A Hall device is formed from a generally rectangular body of material exhibiting the Hall effect, with two excitation electrodes disposed along opposite edges of the device. Two Hall output voltage electrodes are disposed along one of the remaining edges of the main body and at least one additional output electrode is disposed on the edge of the main body opposite the first pair of electrodes. At least two of the output electrodes are offset from a centerline drawn through the electrical midpoint of the main body. By deliberately offsetting the Hall voltage output electrodes from the centerline the first and second order voltage offsets due to inhomogeneities of the Hall material and mask misalignment are eliminated or easily compensated.

Abstract: A resilient tie-down device interposed between a hook connected to a vehicle frame and a chain connected to a transporter and characterized in that the resilient tie-down device includes a strap which is pretensioned and encapsulated in a rubber jacket.

Abstract: For interrupting all values of electric current in a high voltage circuit which cause operation of a fuse within one hour, a plurality of parallel connected helically configured fusible elements formed of cadmium are embedded within quartz sand in granular form disposed within a housing structure which includes a tubular member of insulating material to the ends of which terminal caps are secured and connected to the ends of the fusible elements respectively so that currents of a high order of magnitude are interrupted in a fraction of a half cycle in a current limiting fashion and so that currents of a low order of magnitude and which are slightly in excess of normal rated load current of the fuse cause the temperature of the fusible elements to rise to the melting point within a longer predetermined period of time and then to establish a gap sufficient to withstand the recovery voltage.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is for novel polyols and a method of making said polyols which comprises interconnecting polyols with epihalohydrin in the presence of substantially an equimolar amount of base based on the epihalohydrin thereby forming an extended polyol with terminal hydroxyl groups and at least one hydroxyl group attached directly to the backbone chain internally. These resultant polyols can be used to make polyurethane foams having high resiliency.

Abstract: The invention disclosed is for novel polyols and a method of making said polyols which comprises interconnecting polyols with epihalohydrin in the presence of substantially an equimolar amount of base based on the epihalohydrin thereby forming an extended polyol with terminal hydroxyl groups and at least one hydroxyl group attached directly to the backbone chain internally. These resultant polyols can be used to make polyurethane foams having high resiliency.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a polyurethane foam having good wet strength. The foam is prepared by reacting a urethane prepolymer with large amounts of water containing a poly(amino)urea and optionally other ingredients, e.g. surfactants. The poly(amino)urea is characterized as being the water soluble reaction product of a polyamine with a urethane prepolymer, said reaction product being further reacted with a crosslinking agent, e.g. epichlorohydrin.