Abstract: A method for purifying contaminated water involves passing contaminated water through a porous bed of steel slag. The steel slag can be used to remove various contaminants or reduce the concentration of such contaminants, such as heavy metals (for example, hexavalent chromium), chlorinated organic compounds, and certain inorganic anions. The method preferably involves placing an underground barrier of a porous bed of steel slag in a flow path of contaminated groundwater then allowing contaminated groundwater to pass through the barrier to purify the contaminated groundwater. The slag particles may be used as produced with no further grinding necessary, although the slag may be passed through a sieve or sieves to obtain a set of slag particles having a median diameter of about ⅛ inch to 1 inch, and preferably between about ¼ inch to ⅜ inch. Due to the inherent permeability of slag, no additive need be mixed with the slag.

Abstract: A separating device for separating particles from fluid in which an inlet passage is defined in the body member of the device for receiving the fluid and an outlet passage extends parallel to the inlet passage for discharging the fluid. A chamber is connected to the inlet passage for receiving the fluid from the inlet passage, and a separator is disposed in the chamber for separating particles from the fluid as the fluid flows through the chamber. A cover is connected to the chamber and the outlet passage for receiving the separated fluid, reversing the direction of the separated fluid and directing the separated fluid to the outlet passage for discharge from the body member. The cover can be a filter unit for providing additional filtering of the fluid.

Abstract: A fiber mat is formed on a screen cylinder of a pressurized fiber filtering device used to filter particles from a liquid stream. The fiber mat is a fine particle filter to remove small particles from the liquid stream. The fiber mat is formed by injecting cellulosic fibers into the liquid stream flowing into the fiber filtering device. These fibers collect on the screen cylinder as the liquid flows through the cylinder. The collection of fibers forms the fine filtering mat.

Abstract: The present invention is a screening/washing/dewatering system which utilizes a solids handling pump to vacuum solids captured from a contaminated fluid stream from the system's screening mechanism and to convey them, in a concentrated form and through a closed conduit, to the washing/dewatering mechanism. The use of a solids handling pump enables a screening, washing and dewatering system to contain the captured solids in a completely closed system from their point of capture, through a conveyance system of unlimited length and configuration, to the point that the washed, dewatered screenings are finally discharged. Secondarily, the present invention offers the advantages of being able to capture as small of a solids particle size as is desirable and of providing effective washing and dewatering of the captured particles while minimizing the number of moving parts and maximizing the overall system reliability.

Abstract: An apparatus for effecting separation of liquid from solids or solids from liquid comprising a frame supporting a belt or belts held by and between rollers with drive means so as to progress each belt through a collection zone to a compression zone, where at the collection zone the belt or belts are positioned and orientated and shaped and caused to be changed in shape from an upstream position to a downstream position, providing thereby a supporting shape to hold liquid, one part of which shape is defined at a downstream location by a coming together of facing surfaces of one or more of the belts.

Abstract: A sports ball rack connectable to a wall, the support member having an upper side, a lower side, an outer periphery which defines the upper side and lower side of the support member, and a plurality of concave areas formed in the upper side of the support member. Each of the concave areas are sized and shaped to receive a portion of at least one ball corresponding to the size and shape of the concave area. A mounting bracket is attached to the support member and extends along a portion of the back side thereof for connecting the sports ball rack to the wall.

Abstract: Display panel systems make it possible to access a wide range of information. Such systems have a stand and a support for swivel panels upon which information carriers can be placed. The present invention provides display panel systems by which information-carrying capacity of the system can be adjusted, as required. The stand is modular and has two side parts which can be combined with a variable number of intermediate parts, each of which having a support for swivel panels.

Abstract: A multiple golf club cleaning aid rack for cleaning clubs, which is a vertically arrayed, rectangular fabric sheet reinforced with a plurality of horizontal metal strips in pockets and supporting a double row of clamps for holding golf clubs vertically. The rack is suspended from clamps for cleaning by a power wash in car wash establishment. Suspending apertures are formed through the top of the rack for suspending it on a wall for use elsewhere, such as at home.

Abstract: A rack is provided for dispensing and storing spooled material. The rack has at least one platform for storing spooled material, a support for maintaining the platform above the floor level, and an axle for rotatably receiving the spools. The axle is at least substantially horizontally displaced from the peripheral edge of the platform.

Abstract: This invention is titled “Bottle for hot filling use, equipped with vacuum absorption panels in the bottle portion.” The purpose of this invention is to provide a PET bottle having structurally improved vacuum absorption panels in the bottle portion so as to increase the panels' resistance to the constricting force of the shrink label, to secure the force of restitution for the panels, and thereby to allow the liquid level in the bottle to lower when the cap is opened.

Abstract: The thermal head fabricating method forms a lower protective layer made of ceramics for protecting a plurality of heat-generating resistors and electrodes, subjects the lower protective layer to etching processing by a plasma and forms a carbon protective layer on the thus subjected lower protective layer. The etching processing is performed using a mask which defines an area where the carbon protective layer is formed, a protective layer is formed on a surface of the mask, and the protective layer is made of a material which is etched at an extremely slow rate or substantially not etched compared with ceramics composing the lower protective layer and/or which does not impart an adverse effect to the carbon protective layer that is subsequently formed.

Abstract: The method deals with plasma-structuring by etching, in particular with the plasma-structuring of materials at high temperatures. The application of a chemical etching process at high temperatures is made possible by the prior deposition of a polyimide mask.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for simulating a standard wafer in semiconductor manufacturing equipment. The apparatus includes a support layer suitable for being handled by the semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Applied to the support layer is a mixture including a process agent and a material. During use, the present invention simulates a standard production wafer including material similar to that in the mixture of the present invention.

Abstract: A high plasma density etch process for etching an oxygen-containing layer overlying a non-oxygen containing layer on a workpiece in a plasma reactor chamber, by providing a chamber ceiling overlying the workpiece and containing a semiconductor material, supplying into the chamber a process gas containing etchant precursor species, polymer precursor species and hydrogen, applying plasma source power into the chamber, and cooling the ceiling to a temperature range at or below about 150 degrees C. The etchant and polymer precursor species contain fluorine, and the chamber ceiling semiconductor material includes a fluorine scavenger precursor material. Preferably, the process gas includes at least one of CHF3 and CH2F2. Preferably, the process gas further includes a species including an inert gas, such as HeH2 or Ar. If the chamber is of the type including a heated fluorine scavenger precursor material, this material is heated to well above the polymer condensation temperature, while the ceiling is cooled.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resistance welding power supply apparatus which comprises a large-capacitance capacitor for storing resistance welding energy in the form of electric charges, a charging circuit for charging the capacitor to a predetermined voltage, four switching elements or means electrically connected between the capacitor and a pair of welding electrodes, and a control unit for allowing selective switching operations of the switching elements during a weld time to provide a control of welding current. Diodes are connected in parallel with the switching elements, respectively, with current polarities opposite thereto. The control unit terminates a switching pause period for polarity switching in a very brief time and initiates a switching control in the next current-supplying mode in the middle of fall of the welding current.

Abstract: A resistance welding power supply apparatus comprises a large-capacitance capacitor for storing resistance welding energy in the form of electric charges, a charging circuit for charging the capacitor up to a predetermined voltage, a switching element electrically connected between the capacitor and one electrode of a pair of welding electrodes, and a control unit for allowing an switching operation of the switching element via a drive circuit during the supply of welding current to thereby provide a control of a welding current. If the welding current is less than a set current value at a point of time on the leading edge of a clock, then the control unit holds a control pulse for the switching element active or high from that point of time till the time when the welding current exceeds the set current value without being affected by the cycle of the clock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating a phase-change recording medium for depositing particles of phase-change recording material onto a substrate to form a phase-change recording layer thereon. Here, a disk-like substrate is loaded into a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber is filled with sputtering gas, and then the substrate is rotate. Sputtering particles struck out of a sputtering target are deposited onto the substrate to form a phase-change recording layer. When the sputtering particles are deposited on the substrate up to a predetermined thickness, a crystallization energy supply mechanism irradiates the sputtering-particle-deposited substrate with a laser beam having energy necessary for initial crystallization. Alternatively, the crystallization energy supply mechanism irradiates a just-formed phase-change recording layer with a laser beam having energy necessary for initial crystallization.

Abstract: In order to more accurately control the radiation characteristics of microwaves to improve the controllability of processing in radial and circumferential directions of an article, there are disclosed a microwave applicator and a plasma processing apparatus using the applicator, which comprise a circular waveguide having a surface provided with a plurality of slots for radiating microwaves, wherein the centers of the plurality of slots are offset in a direction parallel to the surface with respect to the center of the circular waveguide.

Abstract: A method for laser scribing a semiconductor substrate with coatings on top. The method comprises the steps of focusing a laser beam on a top surface of the substrate coating; absorbing energy from the laser into the coating layer; forming a first set of scribe lines in a first direction on the substrate by scanning the laser beam across the surface of the substrate to evaporate portions of the coating layer; and forming a second set of scribe lines in a second direction on the surface of the substrate substantially orthogonal to the first set of scribe lines to evaporate portions of the layer.

Abstract: A light-tight laser enclosure system is provided including an enclosure, a robotic laser, first and second pass through partitions, first and second rotary positioners and a controller. The robotic laser is positioned within an interior volume of the enclosure and defines a processing or operating envelope. The first pass through partition defines a first passage in selective communication with interior and exterior volumes of the enclosure. The first pass through partition is configured to maintain a light-tight configuration as the first passage is placed in selective communication with the interior and exterior volumes of the enclosure. The second pass through partition defines a second passage in selective communication with interior and exterior volumes of the enclosure. The second pass through partition is configured to maintain a light-tight configuration as the second passage is placed in selective communication with the interior and exterior volumes of the enclosure.

Abstract: According to the present invention, when controlling a heater in an air-fuel ratio sensor, a crack of sensor element due to an exhaust condensed water is certainly avoided. To this end, an element temperature is detected by measuring an impedance of the sensor element and a power supply amount to the heater for heating the sensor element is feedback controlled so that the element temperature reaches a target temperature. Here, the target temperature is set to a lower side temperature, compared to other conditions, on a condition that a wall temperature of an exhaust system is low and a water content in the exhaust is condensed in the exhaust system. Or, an initial value of the power supply amount is set corresponding to the element temperature before the start of power supply to the heater.

Abstract: A ceramic heater that is used in a toner-fixing system comprising a ceramic heater and a heat-resistant film, that reduces the degree of deformation of the heat-resistant film, that lightens the load applied to the film at the time of revolution, that prevents the fracture of the film, and that enables fixing at a high rate exceeding 24 ppm. A ceramic base material 11 of the ceramic heater attached to a heating cylinder comprises aluminum nitride or silicon nitride. A heating element 12 and current-feeding electrodes are made of heat-resistant metal such as tungsten and molybdenum or heat resistant alloy and are formed on the ceramic base material. In the ceramic heater, at least one part of the face (the fixing face) that contacts the heat-resistant film is curved when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of a copying sheet.

Abstract: A ceramic heater includes a silicon nitride ceramic substrate and a heating member embedded in the silicon nitride ceramic substrate. An Al-thickened layer is formed in a surface layer portion of the silicon nitride ceramic substrate. The Al-thickened layer has an Al concentration higher than that of an internal layer portion of the silicon nitride ceramic substrate. The Al-thickened layer assumes such a graded composition structure that the Al concentration increases toward the surface of the silicon nitride ceramic substrate.

Abstract: A heater cable is wired in combination with a lead cable, the two cables are formed such a pattern that the heater cable and the lead cable are spaced by a predetermined distance L from each other and are capable to be supplied with opposite flows of current. The heater cable has a core thread, a heating element wire wound in a spiral on the outer surface of the core thread, a fusing layer provided over the heating element wire, a signal wire wound in a spiral on the outer surface of the fusing layer and a protective coating provided over the signal wire. The lead cable has a conductive wire covered at its outer surface with an insulating coating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a damper apparatus for a microwave oven by which the production cost and the reliability of the operation can be obtained by simplifying the structure of a damper apparatus for controlling the air flow supplied into the cavity of a microwave oven, which comprises an air duct for guiding a cooling air from the machinery compartment of the microwave oven into the cavity; a damper rotatably installed in the air duct for opening or closing the air flow in the air duct; a motor which includes a shaft directly connected to the damper to drive the damper; and a micro switch installed at one side of the air duct for detecting the opening and closing states of the damper by contacting one side of the damper.

Abstract: In order to provide a cost-effective plastic fuel tank and a method for producing same, which can be carried out in a simple way, the plastic tank is produced from two halves which are to be connected to one another. The halves emanate from a plastic casing produced by a blowing method and are severed along a line provided for this purpose.

Abstract: A bin carrier attachment is provided for a portable waste container. The attachment includes a mounting member adapted for securing the attachment to the waste container. A bin support member is attached to the mounting member, and is adapted for supporting a separate bin used for containing articles outside of the waste container. The waste container and bin are movable together in a single trip between a storage site and a waste collection site.

Abstract: The invention relates to a closure device for a fuel tank in a motor vehicle. The closure device has a filling-level transmitter and a blocking element which both together form a constructional unit. The blocking element is adjustable so that is it movable to a position in which the blocking element closes an opening in the tank.

Abstract: A fitment is described for use with a container such as a paperboard carton, having an operable section such as a removable disc surrounded by a pre-scored track. The fitment comprises a housing (2) secured to the container surrounding the removable disc (15). A tab (9) with a panel (10) is attached to the disc (15), and pivots with respect to the housing by means of lugs (13). To open the carton, the user grips a handle (11) pivoting the panel (10) to sever the pre-scored track (14). Further movement of the handle (11) fractures the lugs (13) allowing the complete removal of the disc (15) from the carton. The panel (10) is preferably smaller than the disc, leaving a free region (16) which can flex and/or form hinge lines during operation of the tab.

Abstract: A container includes a container body with an accommodating space including central and surrounding regions. A plurality of coolant vessels are retained detachably in the surrounding region by a plurality of retaining members against falling towards the central region. The vessels can be filled with coolant so as to keep the accommodating space, in which wine bottles are received, in a cool condition. A bottom wall of the container body is provided with a plurality of spacers so as to space the wine bottles from the bottom wall.

Abstract: A straw device for a beverage or drink vessel comprises a support element which can be introduced into the vessel and a straw, telescopically tightly housed inside the supporting element, the supporting element being of a floating type and designed for moving upward inside the beverage to allow the straw to be accessed through an opening of the vessel as a sealing element is detached from the opening.

Abstract: A newspaper vending machine provides a display newspaper at a height and angle resembling a lectern so that a customer can easily read the display paper from a standing position. The newspaper vending machine comprises a housing having a front wall, a back wall, two side walls, a top, and a bottom, and a storage compartment therein for storing a plurality of newspapers. The top of the housing is generally curved downwardly toward the front wall. A portion of the top in contact with the back wall is higher than the portion of the top in contact with the front wall. A viewing area is provided within the top of the housing through which at least a part of a display newspaper can be viewed. A newspaper display rack is mounted within the top of the housing under the viewing area at an angle from vertical ranging from about 40° to about 70°. The display rack has an upper surface through which at least a part of the display newspaper can be viewed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a tissue dispenser being a box which is cylindrically shaped whereby the box can be stored in commercially available receptacles designed for holding cylindrical containers, such as found in a motor vehicle. The box is designed to have a central slot in its top through which the tissues are dispensed.

Abstract: A cap for use with a pump spray container, the cap having a body with an internal passageway to receive a spray mechanism, and having a side wall surrounding the passageway, a flange extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the side wall of the cap, the cap extending outwardly for a distance sufficient to act as an abutting member for a finger of a user's hand. The cap correctly positions the fingers of the user and prevents slippage of the container within the hand of the user.

Abstract: A child-resistant fluid delivery device, comprising a container for storing fluid to be dispensed by the fluid delivery device and a wand assembly connected to the container. The wand assembly having a nozzle at a distal end through which fluid may be dispensed and a child-resistant connector at a proximal end. A ratchet mechanism is formed on the exterior of the child-resistant connector to permit attachment of the connector to the container and thereafter prevent removal of the connector from the container. The nozzle is sealed by a removable, child-resistant cover that includes at least one member that engages the nozzle to resist removal therefrom.

Abstract: A pump comprising a support-forming assembly for securing to a receptacle containing a substance to be dispensed, a moving member co-operating with the support-forming assembly to define a pump chamber of variable volume, and an elastically deformable diaphragm secured to one of the support-forming assembly and the moving member, the diaphragm being arranged so as to deform elastically when the moving member is displaced relative to the support, the pump further comprising a suction valve-forming element arranged to oppose any return of substance towards the receptacle while the volume of the pump chamber is decreasing, and a delivery valve-forming element arranged to oppose any entry of air into the receptacle while the volume of the pump chamber is increasing. The delivery valve-forming element is made by means of a shutter-forming element that is separate from the diaphragm.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser is provided with a dispenser member, a container (1) with a neck (10), and a fixing member (2) for fixing the fluid dispenser member to the neck of the container. The fixing member comprises a skirt (20) defining an inside wall. The fluid dispenser has an inside wall provided with at least two longitudinal ribs (23) extending over the height of the skirt. The ribs (10) cooperate by plastic deformation with an outside portion (11) of the neck (10).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device for collecting and absorbing drips on an exterior of a fluid container comprises an elongated strip of laminated construction. A material substantially impervious to the fluid in the container is adhesively bonded to a layer of absorbent material. A further layer of adhesive is applied to the other side of the absorbent material so that the strip may be secured to the exterior of the fluid container. In another embodiment, an absorbent material is applied to an elongated strip and an adhesive is applied in regions adjacent to the ends of the strip so that it can be wrapped around and secured to a fluid container. In another embodiment, a band of absorbent material is secured to the neck of a fluid container within a “capsule” which encloses the spout of the container prior to opening.

Abstract: A pushbutton for actuating a dispenser member, the dispenser member having a moving element that is movable between two positions, the pushbutton having a base, a head defining both a bearing surface for a user and a dispensing orifice, and an elastically-deformable portion interconnecting the base and the head, the head being suitable for being secured to the moving element. The elastically-deformable portion is arranged so as to deform in the sense of rolling onto itself when the head is depressed and is suitable for returning the moving element into an initial position by resilient return.

Abstract: A novel apparatus for compressing viscous material through openings in a stencil is disclosed. The novel apparatus has a compression head cap which provides a contained environment to direct and to aid the flow of pressurized viscous material through the openings in the stencil. The apparatus further includes a selectively expandable diaphragm which selectively and expandably allows the viscous material to be dispensed into the compression head cap.

Abstract: A spout for a liquid container, such as a gasoline container, as well as a container equipped with the spout. The spout comprises a fluid passage and a vent passage fluidically parallel with the fluid passage. The fluid passage has an inlet, an outlet, and an S-shaped portion between the inlet and outlet. The vent passage has an inlet adjacent the outlet of the fluid passage. The S-shaped portion of the fluid passage is configured to entrap a liquid therein, causing a liquid lock to form, when a liquid is dispensed through the spout and air is prevented from flowing through the vent passage. In this manner, the spout is capable of preventing the overfilling of a receptacle tank being filled with fluid dispensed from a container equipped with the spout when the fluid level in the receptacle tank blocks the flow of air into the inlet of the vent passage.

Abstract: A tap for dispensing liquids, essentially constituted by a body (1) for mounting in the outlet of a receptacle and for dispensing liquid, in a rigid manner, by a flap or a sealing closure member (2) for an opening (3) for dispensing the liquid, provided with a control member (4) and disposed in the portion of the body (1) opposite that for mounting in the outlet, and by an actuating device (5) for the control member (4) . The body is made of a composite material by conjoint injection or co-molding in a single molded piece integrating the actuating device (5) for the control member (4) of the flap or of the sealing closure membrane (2) of the opening (3) for dispensing the liquid, by spring force, via a resiliently deformable membrane constituted by a flexible material with permanent spring effect, the rest of the body (1) being constituted of a rigid material.

Abstract: A two-piece system for use with a child carrier or backpack. One piece is a hand-held mirror unit 10 having at least one reflective, or mirrored surface and at least two pieces of hook and loop material, one piece being placed above the mirror, and the other below. The second piece is an attachment strap assembly 12. The mirror unit 10 has smooth, rounded edges for comfort, and also has a notched or indented area on the edge for ergonomic efficiency in removing the mirror unit 10 from the attachment strap 12. The outer-facing side of the mirror housing 32 may be coated with a reflective paint to provide for safety in low-light conditions where vehicular traffic may be present. The attachment strap 12 has an outward-facing side made entirely of loop fastener 14. It has two strap ends 16, 18 which wrap around the backpack shoulder strap to provide for a custom fit on any backpack regardless of the dimensions of the shoulder strap.

Abstract: A protective case to be worn by an individual for carrying a medical device that may be required in case of allergic or asthmatic reactions or diabetic reactions. The case includes a rigid receptacle to protect the medical device. The case can be worn on a person's belt or it may be permanently fixed to a belt or a band that can be worn around the waist, an arm or a leg. For a standard syringe, the receptacle comprises an elongated, rigid cylindrical tube which fits closely about the syringe. The receptacle further includes an open end that is covered by a cap that can be readily removed to provide easy access to the syringe inside the tube and which protects the syringe from contamination. The case is unobtrusive in appearance and does not hamper the individual's movements thus allowance it to be worn at all times.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably mounting a vehicle accessory to the floor attachments of a motor vehicle having a floor panel and removable seats. The apparatus includes an attachment mechanism adapted to releasably engage the floor attachments of the motor vehicle and a frame coupled to the attachment mechanism The frame is adapted for contacting the floor of the vehicle to steady the device and for mounting the vehicle accessory thereto.

Abstract: A firefighter's mountable, releasable, rope deployment bag, comprising a bag with an opening through which a rope can be deployed, a rope stowed in the bag, with the bag removably coupled to a firefighter's personal equipment.

Abstract: A motor-operated stapler capable of narrowing the range of a home position zone of a cam, is provided. The motor-operated stapler includes a driver 36 which reciprocates and drives out a staple toward a sheet bundle and a drive-out mechanism 30 which causes the driver 36 to operate. A driver cam 32 is mounted on a driving shaft 31 in the drive-out mechanism 30 and the driver 36 is reciprocated once by rotation of the driver cam 32. A brake mechanism 60 is used which applies a brake mechanically to the rotation of the driving shaft 31 when the driver 36 returns to its home position.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated washer feeding attachment for use with a fastener driver of the type having a driver stroke axis and an exit barrel. A delivery channel has an acceleration chamber at one end for receiving washers one at a time from a magazine, and a retention region at the other end to which washers are pneumatically driven. The retention region has an exit aperture aligned with the fastener driver exit barrel and with the exit aperture. The attachment is powered by collected exhaust gas from the fastener driver. Some embodiments require no moving parts.

Abstract: A circular stapler for side to end, side to side or end to side anastomosis includes an actuating head portion attached to an elongated tubular body with a handle on the opposed end of the body from the head. The head includes an anvil and associated stapling mechanism, wherein the anvil and the associated stapling mechanism are positioned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the head. The anvil is releasably attached to the head and may be attached to the head through an anvil applicator. The anvil may include an extendable stem.

Abstract: An image pickup camera is mounted on a soldering head for projecting a laser beam in such a manner that its optical axis coincides with that of the laser beam. An image of the object to be soldered, which is taken by the camera, is displayed on a monitor screen, and a projection spot, which is positioned on an optical axis of the laser beam, is displayed on the screen. While the positional relationship between the object to be soldered and the projection spot is observed on the monitor screen, the soldering head and the object to be soldered are moved relative to each other and the projection spot is positioned. Subsequently, the laser beam is projected from the soldering head, thus, performing soldering.