Abstract: A rod guide 10 for positioning on a sucker rod includes a sleeve-shaped guide body 12 and two or more spiraling vanes 14, 16 each extending radially outward from the sleeve-shaped body, with each vane spiraling about the body and defining a flow path between circumferentially spaced vanes. Each vane has a forward portion 24 spiraling in a forward direction, and a backward portion 26 spiraling in a backward direction rotatably opposite the forward direction. The rod guide may be used for either reciprocating rod or rotating rod applications.

Abstract: An injection moulding assembly includes a male moulding member surrounded by a female moulding member forming a void between them that upon injection of molten plastics into the mould a container can be formed. The moulding assembly includes a guide rod and ejection flange and a pair of ejection flange guide rods, an air vent valve and an injection passage. The male member includes in this embodiment eight grooves unevenly spaced so that the partially hardened container formed in the injection mould can be pushed from the mould using the ejection flange while the container is sufficiently green to enable the ribs formed in the grooves to move over the surface of the male mould during the ejection process.

Abstract: Solid imaging apparatus and methods for use are disclosed that reduce the amount of uncured solid imaging build material remaining on a completed build object following the completion of the solid imaging build process. The amount of uncured build material is reduced through the use of either an uncoating web that removes excess build material from the build object during the course of the building process or an ink jet source of build material that uses only as much build material as is necessary for the fabrication of the build part. Also disclosed is an imager assembly for use with such a solid imaging apparatus that incorporates two or more individual imagers in an array and accounts for variations in the intensity and alignment of adjacent imagers. The apparatus can be modified for semi-continuous operation and for integrating into a manufacturing operation, if desired.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for an enclosure is provided. The enclosure comprises a base including a locking groove formed therein, and a lid pivotally coupled with the base having a lock bore formed therein. The lock mechanism is mounted in the lock bore and includes a pin that is selectively positioned within the locking groove to secure the lid to the base. Also provided is a molding device and method for forming the lock bore. The mold device includes a base member with a pair of arms having a mold protrusion and a lower cam surface. The molding device also includes a housing having a pair of mold protrusion openings. The mold protrusions selectively extend outwardly through mold protrusion openings when a wedge engages the lower cam surfaces on the arms, wherein the arms spread apart from one another to form a pair of snap grooves in the lock bore.

Abstract: A nanoimprinting configuration includes a UV light diffuser that randomizes a collimated UV light beam so as to diffuse the shadowing effect from any defect object that resides in the UV optical path. In addition, a combination center circular pad and outer ring-shaped pad form a donut-shaped “non-contact” area between the two pad pieces. The size and shape of the two pad combination are designed to avoid direct gel pad contact above the patterned imprint zone on the disk substrate. The purpose of the gel pad, non-contact configuration is to eliminate any possible surface deformation incurred along the loading column and thereby avoid the elastic propagation of any deformations to the stamper resist surface.

Abstract: Stents and methods of manufacturing a stents with enhanced fracture toughness are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are couplings for use in devices positioned in a molten metal bath. One is a rigid coupling that may include a counterweight, the coupling to reduce nonconcentric movements during rotation of a shaft, particularly a rotor shaft. Another coupling uses magnetic force, rather than a direct physical connection, to form a driving connection between a drive shaft (such as a motor drive shaft) and a driven shaft (such as a rotor shaft). In the event the rotor is jammed, the increased torque creates an overload that disconnects the drive shaft from the driven shaft in order to help prevent damage to the rotor, driven shaft, drive shaft and other components. Also disclosed is a coupling to transfer gas into a shaft, the coupling having a non-threaded internal surface to help prevent gas leakage and thus assist in preventing any resulting damage to the coupling and shaft.

Abstract: A PIT FURNACE CLOSING SYSTEM is provided having two beams laid across the border of the furnace and square iron bars supported over the beams, and pieces of cloth wrap for high temperature are used for closing the furnace or a box in a stainless steel screen, folded and having a ring, and filled in with remains of wraps, or a bipartite lid in a thin plate with wraps fixed to it and a cut for the upper part of the supporting device of the parts to pass, which is “cage”-like, and suspended inside the furnace and supported on the two beams, not resting on the floor of the furnace, and the furnace has thermopairs, and their heating ends are located in the central direction of each heating zone.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing valve metal anodes of electrolytic capacitors by deoxidizing the anodes using Mg vapor in a deoxidizing furnace, removing the anodes from deoxidizing furnace, placing them in sintering furnace, sintering at temperature lower than the temperature conventionally used for sintering in vacuum, and leaching of Mg oxide off the anode surface. The process limits free oxygen and improves morphology of valve metal anodes, which results in improved performance of electrolytic capacitors with these anodes. The process does not require any special equipment or maintenance operations and, thereby, is highly productive due to performing deoxidizing and sintering separately in traditional deoxidizing and sintering furnaces.

Abstract: A method for producing a breech slide of a firearm in a metal injection molding process. The process includes the following steps: a green body is injected in an injection mold. The green body is cooled. The binder is removed from the green body to form a brown body. Then the brown body is sintered.

Abstract: An austenitic stainless steel improved in creep strength, creep ductility, weldability and also hot workability. The steel, consisting of, by mass %, C: 0.05-0.15%, Si: not more than 2%, Mn: 0.1-3%, P: 0.05-0.30%, S: not more than 0.03%, Cr: 15-28%, Ni: 8-55%, Cu: 0-3.0%, Ti: 0.05-0.6%, REM: 0.001-0.5%, sol. Al: 0.001-0.1%, N: not more than 0.03%, and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities. This steel may contain one or more of Mo, W, B, Nb, V, Co, Zr, Hf, Ta, Mg and Ca. It is preferable that REM is Nd.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low alloy steel and a weld joint thereof excellent in hydrochloric acid corrosion resistance and sulfuric acid corrosion resistance, said low alloy steel containing, in mass, C: 0.001 to 0.2%, Si: 0.01 to 2.5%, Mn: 0.1 to 2%, Cu: 0.1 to 1%, Mo: 0.001 to 1%, Sb: 0.01 to 0.2%, P: 0.05% or less, and S: 0.05% or less, with the balance consisting of Fe and unavoidable impurities; and the acid corrosion resistance index AI of said low alloy steel being zero or positive. Here, said AI is given by the following expression, AI/10,000=0.0005+0.045×Sb %?C %×Mo %, where % means mass %.

Abstract: Formats for the optical testing of fluids are manufacturing using modular format components. The format components are constructed so that matching format components can be mated together to form a single format for optical testing. Formats may be manufactured using pin-and-hole construction so that pins on optical format components mate with holes on opposing format components. Optical read surfaces provided on optical format components oppose each other in a completed optical format to form a read area.

Abstract: A reagent container assembly adapted for being installed in a cavity of an analyzer. The reagent container assembly comprises a housing having an upper opening and defining at least one circular array of chambers, each chamber being adapted for receiving a reagent container, a cover for closing the upper opening of the housing, and a locking mechanism arranged within the housing. The locking mechanism is adapted for locking the cover and for preventing rotation thereof. The locking mechanism is further adapted for locking the housing and thereby preventing rotation thereof when the reagent container assembly is removed from its position in the analyzer. The locking mechanism is further adapted for cooperating with a pin arranged at the bottom of the cavity of the analyzer when the reagent container assembly is installed in the analyzer, the housing being unlocked by the cooperation and thereby allowed to be rotated within the cavity of the analyzer.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for dispensing sample holders for use in an automated sample analyzer is disclosed herein. The apparatus for dispensing sample holders includes a rotating carousel for housing stack of sample holders. Stacks of sample holders from the rotating carousel are fed into a chute where sample holders contact a set of rotating members having helical threads thereon. The helically threaded rotating members engage the sample containers and separate each sample holder from the remaining sample holders in the stack by rotation of the helically threaded rotating members. The sample holder can then be transferred for use in an automated sample analyzer.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a body fluid testing device (10) for analyzing a body fluids, comprising a test media tape (30) adapted to collect the body fluid, a supply portion (100) storing an uncontaminated section of the test media tape, a storage portion (110) for storing a contaminated section of the test media tape, an exposure portion positioned between the supply portion and the storage portion, the exposure portion being adapted to expose a section of the test media tape to the body fluid. An important aspect is a tip portion (20) for exposing a test medium to body fluid application. The application further concerns a test media cassette for housing test media. Another aspect is a testing device and method that employs illumination of a test medium at the site for body fluid application.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for enumerating one or more specific elements within a biologic fluid sample are provided. An embodiment of the method includes the steps of: a) providing a chamber formed between a first planar member that is transparent and a second planar member, which members are separated from one another by a substantially uniform height; b) introducing the biologic fluid sample into the chamber, wherein the chamber height is sized such that the sample extends between the first and second members, and sized relative to the specific elements within the sample such that the specific elements non-uniformly distribute within the sample upon introduction into the chamber; c) examining substantially all of the sample within the chamber and enumerating all of at least one of the specific elements; d) determining the volume of sample contained within the chamber; and e) determining the number of the at least one of the specific elements per unit volume.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor device for detecting a substance contained in a fluid comprising a first photonic crystal region, a second photonic crystal region, a first channel which is connected to the first photonic crystal region, and passes the fluid containing the substance therein, a second channel which is connected to the second photonic crystal region, and passes a fluid for reference therein, an optical waveguide which is connected to the first photonic crystal region and the second photonic crystal region, and guides light, and a detecting section for detecting a difference between a light which has passed through the optical waveguide and the first photonic crystal region and a light which has passed through the optical waveguide and the second photonic crystal region.

Abstract: The invention relates to an analysis system which, by means of a reagent cartridge opening module, permits automatic opening of reagent vessels which are closed by screwing. The reagent cartridge opening module for this purpose has catch elements which can lock securely against rotation in correspondingly configured catch elements of a reagent vessel lid. In addition, the reagent cartridge opening module and the reagent vessel lid are connected via snap-in elements, so that transport of the reagent vessel lid perpendicular to the plane of the rotational movement is possible.

Abstract: A liquid discharging device includes a plurality of liquid discharge sections. Each liquid discharge section includes a reservoir, a nozzle that discharges a solution supplied from the reservoir, and discharge energy generating means that generates energy to discharge the solution from the nozzle. The number of the liquid discharge sections corresponds to the number of probe types to be formed. The nozzles are two-dimensionally arranged. Using this liquid discharging device, probe liquids are discharged from the corresponding reservoirs onto a solid-phase substrate to form a predetermined two-dimensional probe array of high-purity probes on the substrate. This process exhibits high reproducibility and processability, and the resulting probe array has high array density.

Abstract: An apparatus produces a probe carrier by discharging plural kinds of liquids respectively containing plural kinds of probes capable of specifically bonding to a target substance on a carrier. The apparatus includes a liquid discharge device, a positioning device for determining a position between the liquid discharge device and the carrier, and moving the carrier in the scanning direction, an application information detector to detect application information of discharged liquids, and a defective spot detector to detect defective spots where the liquids are not applied. Also included are a discharge data forming device for forming data on the defective spots, a processor for counting a number of redrawings, and a secondary scanning direction driver for relatively moving the carrier in a secondary scanning direction. In the apparatus, redrawing is performed according to discharge data, and when the number of redrawings exceeds a prescribed number, a message of abnormality is outputted.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes an input port for inputting a particle-containing liquidic samples into the device, a retention member, and a pressure actuator. The retention member is in communication with the input port and is configured to spatially separate particles of the particle-containing liquidic sample from a first portion of the liquid of the particle containing fluidic sample. The pressure actuator recombines at least some of the separated particles with a subset of the first portion of the liquid separated from the particles. The device can also include a lysing chamber that receives the particles and liquid from the retention member. The lysing chamber thermally lyses the particles to release contents thereof.

Abstract: A device and a process for testing a sample liquid in which especially the ELISA process can be carried out very easily, rapidly and with high precision. To do this, a sample liquid and a dilution liquid are each supplied to several metering chambers of different volumes, so that the sample liquid can be diluted into assigned reaction chambers in one dilution step in different dilution ratios. Different liquids can be supplied in succession to the reaction chambers by means of a common receiving chamber. The liquids are transferred from the reaction chambers into the assigned test chambers to stop the detection reaction.

Abstract: A pipette, comprising a pipette casing which has disposed therein a seat, a piston seat in an accommodating body, mounting devices for reversibly fixing the mounting portion and syringe piston of a syringe within the seats and piston adjusting devices for displacing the accommodating body, wherein the mounting portion and syringe piston are adapted to be slid to their mounting positions through axial apertures, the mounting devices have radially advanceable gripping devices, the gripping devices have syringe gripping levers pivotally supported within the pipette casing and piston gripping levers pivotally supported within the accommodating body, the syringe gripping levers and piston gripping levers have two arms, the syringe gripping levers, at the insides of their actuator arms, having contact points which when their actuator arms are actuated are adapted to be externally pivoted against the actuator arms of the piston gripping levers, the syringe gripping levers have inwardly projecting release levers on t

Abstract: A reaction surface array diagnostic apparatus and method of making the same includes a substrate carrying a plurality of reaction surfaces, a plate and a gasket, each having a plurality of through bores, alignable with one of the reaction surfaces and forming a fluid tight well about each reaction surface when the gasket and the plate are sealingly affixed to the substrate to form a stack. Clamp members engage opposite side edges of a stack to compress the gasket. A plurality of side-by-side disposed clamped stacks of plates, gaskets and substrates are mounted in a tray in the standard footprint of a microtiter plate. Alternately, the plate and the gasket are combined into a single plate formed of a flexible material having an adhesive on one surface.

Abstract: A microfluidic mixing assembly includes at least first and second liquid sources, a microfluidic manifold, a first capillary valve between the first liquid source and the manifold, and a second capillary valve between the second liquid source and the manifold, wherein the first capillary valve is configured to open and provide a first liquid flow to the microfluidic manifold in response to an external force and the second capillary valves is configured to be opened by the first liquid flow.

Abstract: A fluorination reactor having a reaction zone, an inlet for supplying an organic compound to be fluorinated to the reaction zone, an inlet for supplying elemental fluorine to the reaction zone, and an outlet for recovering a fluorinated reaction product, wherein the reaction zone includes a fluoride-adsorbing composition for adsorbing any HF produced as a byproduct of the reaction between the organic compound and elemental fluorine.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is provided an evaporator/calciner in which hazardous materials, such as radioactive liquids, are converted into chemically stable, solid forms by evaporating, drying and calcination within a single vessel, that can then be sealed and used for long term storage.

Abstract: The present invention incorporates new and useful improvements in the carbon dioxide sequestering mechanism. The ejector systems are rearranged in a manner that lowers the frictional effects of the resultant flow pattern after the flue gas and ejector spray have impacted in the receiver mechanism. The sequestered carbon dioxide resulting from the collision is retained in the scrubber water matrix for a prolonged period by adding a wedging mechanism designated as a compression band which extends the duration of the sequestering operation for a sufficient period of time for the absorbed gases to exit the receiver with the scrubber water flow into a separator vessel.

Abstract: An infection control device includes a plurality of air inlets spaced around the device's peripheral skirt. A negative ion ozone generator having a plurality of spaced pointed projections is inwardly of the peripheral skirt with a ground disk inwardly of the generator. Air flows through the inlets to the generator, to the disk and to a catheter exit site.

Abstract: Pollutant decomposition device, including at least one outer transparent sheet and at least one inner transparent sheet being arranged such that a gap is formed between them and such that the gap is in communication with a surrounding gaseous composition on one side of the device such that the gaseous composition can pass through the gap. The device further including a photocatalyst arranged in the gap for depolluting the gaseous composition that pass through the gap. To obtain optimum decomposition efficiency the outer transparent sheet has a high degree of ultraviolet transmittance compared with the inner transparent sheet.

Abstract: A method of charging catalyst tubes of a bundle of catalyst tubes in a structured fashion, in which uniformly predispensed portions of formulations of shaped catalyst bodies are used for producing a section of charge.

Abstract: The present invention provides a heat exchange reactor comprising a reaction tube for obtaining a product (B) by exothermic reaction while passing a starting compound (A) therethrough and a reactor shell covering the surrounding of the reaction tube and having its interior divided into a plurality of regions along the passing direction of the starting compound (A), each of which regions is filled with a heat medium for carrying out heat exchange between the inside of the reaction tube and the heat medium independently for the respective separate regions; wherein the reactor is provided with a heater for heating the heat medium charged in the most upstream region among the separate regions independently from the heat media charged in other regions.

Abstract: A method and device for loading a catalyst into a chamber. The catalyst loading is well suited for production of hydrogen producing microreactors. The catalyst is coated onto a strip which is mountable within the chamber.

Abstract: A fixed bed reactor for gas-phase catalytic oxidation, the fixed bed reactor, comprising a reaction tube filled with a gas-phase oxidation catalyst, wherein a solid acid is placed in an end portion(s) of the reaction tube or between catalyst layers of the catalyst, or mixed in the catalyst; the solid acid is an oxide or a complex oxide containing at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), titanium (Ti) and zirconium (Zr), and has a shape of sphere, cylindrical column, cylindrical tube, star, ring, tablet or pellet; the catalyst is a complex oxide containing molybdenum (Mo) and bismuth (Bi) or a complex oxide containing molybdenum (Mo) and vanadium (V); and acid strength(H0) of the solid acid meets an inequality: ?5.6?H0?1.5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for recovery of waste.

Abstract: A process for sequestration of carbon dioxide comprising the following steps: (a) dispersing solid waste material comprising calcium oxide and a calcium-comprising mixed oxide in water to dissolve at least part of the calcium oxide and to form calcium oxide-depleted solid waste material in a calcium hydroxide solution; (b) separating the calcium hydroxide solution from the calcium oxide-depleted solid waste material; (c) converting the calcium hydroxide in the separated calcium hydroxide solution in precipitated calcium carbonate; and (d) contacting an aqueous slurry of the calcium oxide-depleted solid waste material with carbon dioxide for mineral carbonation of the carbon dioxide to form carbonated solid waste material.

Abstract: Exhaust air containing particulate and carbon monoxide gas contaminants is withdrawn from a confined environment, such as a food cooking area, by a circulation system which liquid scrubs particulate contaminants from the exhaust flow, removes liquid mist from the flow, and then catalyzes or neutralizes the carbon monoxide gas contaminants into benign carbon dioxide before discharging the flow back into the confined environment. Removing contaminants in this manner allows a substantial amount of the thermal energy content of the exhaust air to be saved and reused within the confined environment, rather than discharging the thermal energy into the ambient environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for simultaneously producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide consisting in generating a synthesis gas and in processing it by decarbonising and removing water and remaining carbon dioxide by passing said gas through a bed of adsorbents, in separating remaining components by forming at least one H2 rich flow, a CO flow containing at least one type of impurity selected from nitrogen and argon, a methane-rich purge gas flow and a flash gas flow. The inventive method also consists in regenerating the bed of adsorbents by passing a regeneration gas comprising at least one non-zero proportion of the formed H2 flow and in recycling at least the purge and flash gases for feeding the synthesis gas generation stage.

Abstract: A group of at least two gas-flow reactors (21, 22, 2?2, . . . , 2n, 2?n) preferably with an ascending gas flow (3), are supplied in parallel with gas and with a chemical neutralization and/or sorption agent of the pulverulent material type capable of adsorbing effluents present in the gas flow by bringing the chemical neutralization and/or sorption agent in contact with the gas flow, the at least two reactors having elements (10) for collecting the chemical neutralization and/or sorption agent after contact with the gas flow. At least one of the two reactors has elements (11) for discharging the chemical neutralization and/or or sorption agent, after contact with the gas flow, these discharge elements being connected to the collecting elements, and members (7, 16) for injecting the chemical neutralization and/or sorption agent into at least one other of the at least two reactors.

Abstract: Methods of reducing agent control in an exhaust gas aftertreatment system of a combustion engine with an exhaust gas pipe in which in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas there is an SCR catalyzer. A reducing agent generating system has an NOx and CO/H2 generating unit, an oxidation catalyzer, and a combined NOx storage/ammonia generating unit in the standard gas path of the reducing agent generating system. Ammonia is introduced as a reducing agent for the reduction of nitric oxides before the SCR catalyzer of the reducing agent generating system. Precursor materials for generation of ammonia are directed at least temporarily to the NOx and CO/H2 generating unit through a fuel feed and an air feed. A CO/H2 reducing agent stream is temporally modulated during a rich phase. A CO/H2 concentration is primarily held constant at a high level.

Abstract: Flue gas of boiler is introduced through gas inlet part of flue-gas desulfurization apparatus, and absorbent liquid sprayed from spray nozzle is trapped in recirculation tank. There, agitation is performed by oxidation agitator to thereby oxidize SO2 absorbed from the flue gas into gypsum. In the tank, oxidation air is fed from posterior air pipe and anterior air pipe behind and ahead of liquid propulsion by the propeller. Thus, even when the amount of oxidation air must be increased in accordance with an increase of boiler load, the oxidation efficiency can be enhanced without increasing the number of agitators. Then the apparatus with which even when the amount of oxidation air fed to the liquid trapping section is increased, highly efficient oxidation can be performed without increasing the number of agitators installed and the operating cost.

Abstract: A method by which ceramic nanowires with diameters ranging from several to several tens of nanometers can be synthesized with improvements in the shape retention of the nanowires and the yield of conversion to ceramic, which method comprises the steps of forming a thin film of a silicon-containing polymer usable as a ceramic precursor, irradiating the thin film with ion beams to form cylindrical crosslinked portions, extracting the un-crosslinked portions with a solvent to produce nanowires of the silicon-containing polymer, irradiating the nanowires with an ionizing radiation so that they are crosslinked again, and firing the re-crosslinked nanowires.

Abstract: A process for silanizing carbon nanotubes, wherein the carbon nanotubes are oxidized and subsequently exposed to a saturated gas phase including one or more organosilane derivatives which form covalent bonds to the carbon nanotubes with siloxane formation.

Abstract: Methods of aligning single walled carbon nanotube structures into selected orientations for a variety of different applications are achieved by initially dispersing the nanotube structures in aqueous solutions utilizing a suitable dispersal agent. The dispersal agent coats each individual nanotube structure in solution. The dispersal agent may be substituted with a suitable functional group that reacts with a corresponding binding site. Dispersed nanotube structures coated with substituted dispersal agents are exposed to a selected array of binding sites such that the nanotubes align with the binding sites due to the binding of the substituted functional groups with such binding sites. Alternatively, crystalline nanotube material is formed upon deposition of dispersed nanotube structures within solution into channels disposed on the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a carbon nanotube assembly including the steps of: forming metallic fine particles, having a predetermined particle diameter, on a substrate; heating the metallic fine particles to a predetermined temperature of 300° C. to 400° C. in a reducing atmosphere to cause reduction at surfaces thereof; heating the metallic fine particles to a predetermined reaction temperature in a reactor; and introducing an organic compound vapor into the reactor to grow carbon nanotubes on the metallic fine particles in such a way that a time during which the temperature of the metallic fine particles exceeds 450° C. is 600 seconds or fewer for the period of time before the growth of the carbon nanotubes is started after the heating of the metallic fine particles is started.

Abstract: This invention relates to adsorbents useful for storing hydrogen and other small molecules, and to methods for preparing such adsorbents. The adsorbents are produced by heating carbonaceous materials to a temperature of at least 900° C. in an atmosphere of hydrogen.

Abstract: Methods of processing nanocrystals to remove excess free and bound organic material and particularly surfactants used during the synthesis process, and resulting nanocrystal compositions, devices and systems that are physically, electrically and chemically integratable into an end application.

Abstract: An insulating target material for obtaining an insulating complex oxide film represented by a general formula AB1-XCXO3, an element A including at least Pb, an element B including at least one of Zr, Ti, V, W, and Hf, and an element C including at least one of Nb and Ta.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel form of titanium oxide. The titanium oxide is characterized in that it has the crystallographic structure of rutile with an orthorhombic lattice and a Pnmm space group, it has a platelet morphology, the platelets being of rectangular shape with a length between 3 and 10 nm, a width between 3 and 10 nm and a thickness of less than 1 nm and it has a specific surface area, determined by nitrogen adsorption/desorption, of 100 to 200 m2/g. Applications: self-cleaning glazing, photovoltaic cells.