Abstract: A storage pillow is provided having a flexible casing formed by two body panels joined together with an unjoined portion in the form of a mouth that communicates with an interior. The body panels may be constructed of a water resistant material and the casing mouth may have an associated closure. There may also be a cushioning layer interposed between the body panels. The pillow also includes an inflatable bladder that is removably disposed inside the casing. The bladder may be filled with air via an inflation valve that communicates with an array of inflatable cells in communication with one another. The inflated bladder provides protection for the storage of items or may be used as a cushioned support. The bladder has an associated closure to enable it to retain personal items within its interior.

Abstract: The present invention provides a container which has multiple protective characteristics integrated into the container. The protective container for containing a material and protecting against adverse exposure to the material includes a durable outer casing; an inner casing in direct contact with the material, which is less durable than the outer casing; and at lease one layer of a preventative agent disposed between the inner and outer casings for disabling the material upon failure of the inner casing. The protective container provides improved active control to prevent accidental adverse exposure to the container contents.

Abstract: An elongated extruded plastic corner post for protecting a packaged product. The corner post comprises two elongated legs joined along an inner corner and forming a spring-like profile. The spring-like profile compresses to absorb lateral shocks.

Abstract: A corrugated container for shipping products includes a product storage compartment mounted and an integral pallet for lifting the container with a forklift vehicle. The container side walls include opposed end panels and opposed side panels. One pair of panels extends to the bottom of the product storage compartment and is integral with storage compartment bottom panels. The other pair of panels extends further than the bottom of the storage compartment to a container bottom and is integral with container bottom panels. The distance between bottoms is sufficient to accommodate the tines of a forklift vehicle. In one embodiment, the side walls are collapsible for storage and transport when empty. Stacking blocks formed of wrapped honeycomb material are positioned between the container bottom and the storage compartment bottom to support the storage container bottom above the container bottom. The blocks are spaced apart to permit insertion of forklift tines.

Abstract: A frame of a wafer boat is retrofitted with brace assemblies. The frame has left and right vertically extending, horizontally spaced supports. Each support has a plurality of slots above one another. A plurality of substantially horizontal wafers are horizontally insertable above one another with respective left edges of the wafers in respective ones of the slots of the left support and respective right edges of the wafers in respective ones of the slots of the right support. Each brace assembly includes a plurality of braces. Each brace has a respective upper surface in a respective position to support a lower surface of a respective wafer between and distant from the slots in which the left and right edges of the wafer are inserted.

Abstract: A merchandise display system for use in promoting retail consumer products, such as baking goods, includes a supporting element and individual product receptacles which are designed to effectively display the retail products. Each of the individual product receptacles, are removable from the main display and printed with indicia that is related to the particular consumer product or promotion being offered. An incentive or promotional product that has been selected and packaged based on a particular theme or message, such as a holiday or sporting event, is provided in conjunction with the retail product to stimulate sales of the retail product during periods where such retail products are not normally purchased.

Abstract: A fuel for a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine having a 95 V% distilled temperature by boiling point measurement in the range of about 35° C. to about 350° C., a cetane number in the range of about 2 to about 120, and an octane number in the range of 10 to about 110.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the invention relates to a method for reducing coke agglomeration in petroleum streams derived from coking processes. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a method for mitigating filter fouling from a coker gas oil wherein an oxygen scavenger is employed to remove molecular oxygen and peroxides.

Abstract: A channel geometry for monolith and honeycomb catalysts used in two- and three-phase catalytic reactions or gas-liquid mass transfer processes features a desirable channel shape that enhances liquid/structure contacting efficiency and gas/liquid catalytic reaction activity. Gas/liquid catalytic hydrogenation or hydrotreating processes carried with these catalysts use efficient liquid/channel surface contacting and mass transfer of reactants from bulk liquid onto the channel surface to achieve high conversion efficiencies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for desulfurizing naphtha boiling-range hydrocarbons such as cracked naphtha. More particularly, the invention relates to hydrotreating the naphtha under selective hydrotreating conditions, and then removing mercaptans from the hydrotreater effluent using a caustic extractant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition and method for treating liquid hydrocarbons in order to remove acidic impurities, such as mercaptans, particularly mercaptans having a molecular weight of about C4 (C4H10S=90 g/mole) and higher, such as recombinant mercaptans.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating and upgrading a hydrocarbon containing acidic species such as mercaptans, comprising:

Abstract: Mesoporous crystalline alumina compositions and process for the preparation thereof are described. The compositions are useful as catalysts and absorbents.

Abstract: A screening module for a screening assembly includes a substantially rectangular, planar screening member having a plurality of screening apertures extending through it the member having a pair of sides extending parallel to a direction of flow of material over the member and a pair of sides extending transverse to a direction of flow of material over the member. A mounting means is formed integrally with the screening member as a one-piece unit for securing the member to an underlying structure. A part of the mounting means is arranged along each side of the screening member and only the parts of the mounting means associated with one pair of sides having reinforcing with the parts of the mounting means associated with the other pair of sides being without reinforcing.

Abstract: The invention concerns an automatic selective sorting device (10), for simultaneously loading, transporting and placing objects having very different characteristics in receiving containers, comprising a frame (11) bearing two toothed wheels (12, 13) arranged at each end of the frame (11), and whereon is stretched an endless conveyor (15). The loading mechanism consist of a line of conveyor belts (32) made up of a belt for manual insertion (32a) two accelerating belts (32b) and a belt for automatic insertion (32c). The acceleration belts (32b) are arranged respectively beneath two columns of a buffer storage and untiering system (33) which bring the objects to be sorted (8) and set them onto the acceleration belts which then place them on the automatic insertion belt (32c) to bring them onto the transporting mechanism.

Abstract: A fluid path control element which when stacked alternatively with a fluid porous sheet can be formed into a filtration module. The fluid path control element comprises a porous membrane having sealed to a portion of its periphery a thermoplastic element that extends into an opening either through the membrane or in an opening through the thermoplastic element. The portion of the thermoplastic element that extends into the opening can be heat sealed with a second thermoplastic element to prevent fluid flow between the opening and the membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid supplying manifold having multiple ports. The manifold has an inlet device for fluid inflow and an outlet device for fluid outflow. The inlet and outlet devices include first and second valve assemblies, respectively. A solenoid of the first valve assembly is turn on/off in response to a control signal from a controller. The outlet device is provided with a chamber. The second valve assembly includes an electromagnetic valve, and a sealing block is disposed in the chamber. The sealing block is defined with a pair of guide holes which extend in a longitudinal direction and a T-shaped flow passage. A flow path switchover member functions to divert fluid flowing through the chamber into a first or second outlet port. The flow path switchover member includes a hollow cylindrical body, a pair of bars, a pair of holes and a stopcock. A spring is placed between the flow path switchover member and a bottom surface of the chamber.

Abstract: An integrated fuel filter and calibration tube for a fuel injector is preferably made from a filtration element comprising filtration media insert-molded into a thermoplastic frame member; and a metal calibration tube rigidly attached to the filtration element. The calibration tube is sized so as to fit inside of a fuel injector flow channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a resinous filter for an ink-jet recording apparatus, which is obtained by a process comprising: adding common salt to a melt of a resin comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyethylenes having a number-average molecular weight of from 30,000 to 80,000 and polypropylenes having a number-average molecular weight of from 50,000 to 100,000; kneading the resultant mixture to prepare a melt to be molded; molding the melt to be molded to obtain a molding; and washing the molding with water to remove the salt therefrom.

Abstract: A filter construction is provided having a packing density of at least 300 square meters of active membrane filter area per cubic meter of external volume of said filter construction, said filter constructed of materials characterized by less than 250 mg of extracted contamination per m2 of wetted material.

Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane, wherein an inner diameter (Id) is within the range of 100 to 200 &mgr;m, the ratio (Mt/Id) of a wall thickness (Mt) to the inner diameter (Id) is the range of 0.9 to 1.1, a bubble point (Bp) is at least 0.5 MPa, and the ratio (Di/Do) of the maximum major axis (Di) of the pores existing in the layer of up to 10 &mgr;m thick from an inner surface to the maximum major axis (Do) of the pores existing in the layer of up to 10 &mgr;m thick from an outer surface is within the range of 10.0 to 15.0; a hollow fiber membrane module formed of the hollow fiber membranes; and a water purifier formed of the hollow fiber membrane module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to polymer membranes for separating olefins from paraffins which have the similar molecular size and close boiling point. More particularly, it relates to a silver salt-containing facilitated transport membrane for olefin separation, and also a method for producing the same. An object of the present invention is to provide a silver salt-containing facilitated transport membrane for olefin separation having improved stability, and also a method for preparing the same, which exhibits no deterioration in membrane performance even when operated for an extended period of time.

Abstract: A vertically extending support for supporting a plurality of stacked discs includes an elongated extruded plastic pipe having a bottom end attached to a cap and a top end receiving a molded plastic coupling therein. The molded plastic coupling is provided with a threaded end for threadably connecting to a threaded portion of a handle.

Abstract: Bioremediation of waste water traveling through a sewer system is accomplished by suspending in selected manholes a self-powered feeder device for delivering a desired amount of a solid microbial wastewater treatment preparation. The feeder device is preferably a) sealed to prevent moisture from causing caking or clumping of the solid microbial treatment preparation, b) controlled by a programable microprocessor and c) powered by a self-contained battery pack that allows the device to function for a desired period of time without maintenance or manual handling.

Abstract: A method for inhibiting the adverse effects on settling and compaction in aqueous systems such as biological waste treatments systems is disclosed. The method comprises adding to the aqueous system a treatment comprised of a combination of a biologically active surfactant and a divalent metal active species. The preferred biologically active surfactants are alkyl ethoxylates.

Abstract: A water softening apparatus (10) comprises a regeneration tank (12) and a brine tank (14). An ion exchange resin (26) is located within the regeneration tank (12) and salt (38) is located within the brine tank (14). Water mixes with the salt (38) in the brine tank (14) to form a brine solution. A tube (56) is connected with the brine tank (14) and receives a flow of brine solution from the brine tank (14). A sensor (86) is mounted in the tube (56) for sensing the conductivity of the brine solution as the brine solution flows through the tube (56). The sensor (86) generates a signal indicative of the conductivity of the brine solution. The conductivity of the brine solution is indicative of an amount of salt in the brine solution.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for flotation separation. The method has the steps of feeding an influent stream containing liquids and solids to a vessel, while removing clarified liquid at the same time as the feeding process. The method employs a step for emptying the solids from the vessel based on the solids having formed a float blanket of a predetermined depth. The solids are removed from the vessel through a bottom nozzle as opposed to being skimmed off the top surface with mechanical separators. The depth of the float blanket can be monitored. Once it is determined that the float blanket has reached the predetermined depth, the feed to the vessel is stopped and the vessel is emptied of liquids and solids through a suitable outlet other than the feed inlet, by an arrangement of valves and lines.

Abstract: There are provided a nitrogen treating method and system for a nitrogen compound, which can treat the nitrogen compound efficiently and which can reduce the size and cost of an apparatus. The gist is that, in a nitrogen treating method wherein a nitrogen compound in for-treatment water is treated according to an electrochemical technique, a cathode reaction region and an anode reaction region are defined by a cation exchange membrane interposed between a cathode and an anode, and the for-treatment water treated in the cathode reaction region according to the electrochemical technique is treated with hypohalogenous acid, or, ozone or active oxygen according to a chemical technique.

Abstract: A chemical decontamination apparatus an oxidizing solution reservoir for storing oxidizing agent decontamination agent of a decontamination tank subsequent to oxidizing decontamination, a reducing solution reservoir for storing reducing agent decontamination agent of the aforementioned decontamination tank subsequent to reducing agent decontamination, and a transfer pump for mutual transfer of decontamination agent between the aforementioned decontamination tank and reservoir; and is designed to permit repeated use of decontamination agent.

Abstract: A method for removing biofilm from, and/or for preventing biofilm from forming on, an interior surface of a conduit that receives a supply of water, is performed by disabling the supply of water to the conduit, and passing an ozone-containing gas to the conduit. The ozone-containing gas can be generated from an oxygen-containing gas that is exposed to either a corona discharge or ultraviolet radiation. In an alternate embodiment, the water is disinfected by the ultraviolet radiation. The invention is especially suited for use with dental equipment.

Abstract: A system for transferring blood product between a blood storage bag and a processing bag. The system includes an airtight containment chamber for supporting therein one or more blood storage bags. A door is provided for access to the chamber and there is included an airtight fixture that allows tubing from the blood storage bag to exit the chamber. A fluid pump is coupled to the containment chamber for establishing either pressure or vacuum within the containment chamber. A controller controls the air pump to, in turn, control the transfer of a blood product.

Abstract: The invention relates to the formation of an article which is wholly formed with a thread formation or includes a portion which is threaded. The threaded portion is formed by winding a wire in a helical path around a series of spaced support members. The wire forms the thread and also forms a slot in a helical path between adjacent portions of the wound wire. A suitable threaded member can then be introduced to the article and selective rotation causes relative movement of the threaded member along the threaded portion. The article can be used as a filter medium, a securing means and the like and the wire used is typically triangular in cross section and known as wedge wire.

Abstract: A self-cleaning fuel oil strainer, coupled to a continuous fuel flow, that includes a pair of canisters, each having a cylindrical wedge wire fuel oil filter screen. An elongated brush running the length of the screen is disposed between two confining walls also running the length of the screen to form a chamber. A elongated partition, including two sets of apertures, is used, along with the elongated brush, to divide the chamber into two particulate dislodge chambers and a drain subchamber. A drain is in fluid communication with the drain subchamber. During cleaning, the drain is opened and the screen is rotated against the brush for liberating the particulate contaminants and a limited amount of fuel oil into the two dislodge subchambers. The particulate contaminants and the limited amount of fuel oil then pass through the apertures at a high velocity and into the drain subchamber which exits through the drain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a separating system with hollow fiber membranes and an operating method. A dual backwash loop which is a pipeline connecting a top port of the said membrane assembly to a cleaning pump through a first branch and a second branch. The first branch is designed to fill a small amount of cleaning liquid into the said membrane assembly; and the second branch is designed to fill a relatively large amount of cleaning liquid in order to clean the membrane adequately. The said system operates in the following procedures: operation status, cleaning status 1, cleaning status 2, drain status, returning to the operation status. The technology of the present invention may be used to enhance the cleaning effect to the membrane system, further save water for the cleaning process, shorten the cleaning time, thus benefiting the continuous large scale industrial production and having higher efficiency.

Abstract: An elongated support member having upraised attachment means for threadably yet removably receiving various types of garden hose attachments thereon.

Abstract: A portable rack is provided to store one or more fishing rods. A group of elongated modular elements are strung end-to-end to form two associated, vertical, horizontally spaced columns. Each modular element is an integrally molded plastic bar having at its top an integrally molded member and at its bottom an integrally molded construction that includes a hook opening upwardly. The integrally molded construction at the bottom of each modular element forms a quickly attachable and detachable coupling with the integrally molded member at the top of the next succeeding lower modular element. Horizontally aligned hooks support fishing rods. An attachment on each column mounts the vertical column on a mounting structure.

Abstract: A holder for creamers having a tapered side wall, the holder comprising a housing having supporting members or feet extending downwardly therefrom, a plurality of openings in the housing, each being sized to retain a dairy creamer inserted therein, and a central opening located in a central portion of the housing such that a carrier may be used to transport a plurality of holders and the holder may be placed on a display stand at the table.

Abstract: An adjustable frame for carrying vehicles between elongate upright sides includes, on each side, a forward end and a rearward end, each end including an upper and lower rail section joined by elongate brace members, where the respective ends are separated from one another and a length-adjusting insert is carried between such ends to selectively permit adjustment of the position of the forward end relative to the rearward end while maintaining the ends in end-to-end alignment. On each side of the frame, preferably at least one of the upper rail sections has an end portion defining an open-ended hollow tube extending lengthwise of that side within which an elongate arm of the length-adjusting insert is slidably moveable so that structures on the outside surfaces of the rail sections will not interfere with length adjustment.

Abstract: A shelving which may be easily hung or installed on a fence and similar objects and which may be used for a variety of different purposes has a pair of support arms which are coupled to the upright support. A body section is adjustably coupled to the support arms. The body section has a bottom pan section. The bottom pan section funnels down to a common area. An opening is drilled through the bottom pan section in the common area in order to aid in draining contents in the bottom pan section. A platform is generally placed in the bottom pan section for providing a level surface for holding items placed on the shelving.

Abstract: A closure for a container, e.g., a tube, for a sample, e.g., a biological sample. The closure comprises a seal and an adapter to mount the seal onto the container. In one embodiment, the adapter is a cap that is inserted over the mouth of the container. The adapter is typically cylindrical in shape and is characterized by having a circular top with a cylindrical side wall projecting from the top. The top of the adapter has an opening formed therein. The opening generally surrounds the axis of the cylindrically-shaped adapter. The opening has dimensions sufficient to accommodate a sampling device for obtaining access to the contents of the container. The seal depends from the surface of the top of the cap that faces the interior of the container. The seal has a peripheral portion enclosing an interior portion. The peripheral portion has a side wall and a bottom wall.

Abstract: A small elastic band designed to slip over a wine cork to allow one to get a good grip on the cork and ease removal without having to use costly, cumbersome, frustrating contraptions that usually result in a damaged cork and/or cork bits in your wine.

Abstract: A molded polymeric container includes a body portion having a sidewall and an integral champagne type base. The base includes a lower end that defines an annular contact ring for supporting the container with respect to an underlying surface. An annular step ring is defined immediately radially inwardly of the annular contact ring and has a radial length LS. The base further has a central push-up area and a generally concave transition region interposed between the central push-up area and the annular contact ring. The transition region further includes a plurality of integrally molded radially extending ribs, each of the ribs having a length LR. According to one advantageous aspect of the invention, the ratio LR/LS is within a range of about 1.0 to about 4.0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming a product sensor, and a product sensor. The product sensor is formed on a substrate and provided with at least one electric circuit comprising at least one capacitor and at least one coil. At least part of the electric circuit is formed by evaporating a first metallization layer at least at the electric circuit in the product sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a production process which, in the production of an electronic component by wet etching of an insulating layer in a laminate, is low in cost, does not use any organic solvent, which poses a problem of waste treatment, and can produce the electronic component with high accuracy and with significantly increased productivity.

Abstract: A method of processing specimens, an apparatus therefor, and a method of manufacture of a magnetic head are provided wherein a complicated conventional post processing step for removing corrosion products is eliminated by a corrosion prevention processing for removing only a residual chlorine compound produced in the gas plasma etching. More specifically, the method is comprised of the steps of: forming a lamination film including a seed layer made of NiFe alloy, an upper magnetic pole made of NiFe alloy connected to the seed layer, a gap layer made of oxide film in close contact with the seed layer, and a shield layer made of NiFe alloy in close contact with the gap layer; plasma-etching the seed layer with a gas which contains chlorine using the upper magnetic pole as a mask; and after that removing the residual chlorine compound by a plasma post treatment with a gas plasma which contains H2O or methanol.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a nano-sized diamond whisker includes the steps of depositing a diamond film on a substrate, forming a nano-sized mask pattern on the deposited diamond film, and etching the diamond film by using the nano-sized pattern as an etching mask. The nano-sized diamond whisker can be used as a new field emission cold cathode device, thereby advancing a practical use of a field emission device having high performance, and can also be applied to various fields such as a new composite material and a mechanical device.

Abstract: The object of the process according to the present invention is to fabricate active and passive optoelectronic components of a high quality, and having a high level of integration and high packing density.

Abstract: Optical waveguides can be made accurately using conventional semiconductor processing and equipment by forming an opening in a suitable substrate, conformally depositing a first cladding layer in the opening, filling the opening with a core material, removing excess core material, as by chemical mechanical polishing, and depositing a second cladding layer thereover, said first and second cladding layers and said core material each having a different index of refraction. Such optical waveguides can be connected, horizontally and/or vertically, to other devices formed in or on the substrate.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus has a chamber having a substrate transport to transport a substrate onto a substrate support in the chamber, a gas supply to provide a gas in the chamber, a gas energizer to energize the gas, and an exhaust to exhaust the gas. A detector is adapted to detect a first intensity of a first wavelength of a radiation emission from an energized gas in the chamber and generate a first signal in relation to the first intensity and to detect a second intensity of a second wavelength of the radiation emission and generate a second signal in relation to the second intensity. A controller receives the first and second signals from the detector, performs a mathematical operation on the first and second signals to determine a value related to a condition of the chamber, and treats the chamber in relation to the value by providing instructions to operate one or more of the substrate transport, substrate support, gas supply, gas energizer and gas exhaust.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling aperture etching in an alternating aperture phase shift mask is provided. The system includes one or more light sources, each light source directing light to one or more apertures etched on a mask. Light reflected from the apertures is collected by a measuring system, which processes the collected light. The collected light is indicative of properties including the depth, width and/or profile of the openings on the mask. The measuring system provides such depth, width and/or profile related data to a processor that determines the acceptability of the aperture and/or the mask. The system also includes a plurality of etching devices associated with etching apertures in the mask. The processor may selectively control the etching devices so as to regulate aperture etching.