Abstract: A compact and highly portable combination pressure swing adsorption apparatus and product gas conservation device for medical use, to produce efficiently a gas with a high concentration of oxygen and to deliver the oxygen concentrated gas to a user at selectable times and in selectable doses.

Abstract: In a process for the production of nitrogen by adsorption on carbons or similar molecular sieves contained in a cylinder (2), the amount of Q1 of nitrogen obtainable from the cylinder at the required purity at the cylinder pressure Pp is calculated; compressed air is fed to the cylinder which is brought to a pressure value at least equal to the pressure Pp and in any case greater than the pressure present in a collecting reservoir (3); at any cycle a fixed amount Q2 (where Q1≧Q2) of gas is transferred from the adsorber cylinder to the reservoir (3) and the cylinder is depressurised after each transfer to regenerate carbons. Also claimed are an apparatus for the production of nitrogen, the use of such an apparatus is a drink dispensing device and a drink dispensing device comprising such an apparatus.

Abstract: A method to control the performance of desiccant dryers is disclosed that senses multiple variables and optimizes the regeneration cycle to deliver the gas at the desired dew point. The length of the stripping step is reduced or eliminated depending on the desired set point and the operating conditions of the compression system. The control system has the capability to switch to high efficiency mode of operation should the dew point set point be changed. The savings come from not purging as much or any gas during stripping should the system requirements be only to meet the ISA standards for instrument air, despite the system capability of delivering far dryer air.

Abstract: A cargo or bulk product off-load system includes a compressor (10) that pressurizes air. The air is dried by a dryer (12, 14) and routed to a supply tank (16). From the supply tank, the air is either used to pressurize service reservoirs (24, 26) or to assist the off-load system. Air stored in the service reservoirs (24, 26) is used to pressurize purge volumes associated with the dryers (12, 14). The compressor (10) operates at a lower pressure when supplying air to assist the off-load system than when pressurizing the service reservoirs (24, 26). Controllers (30, 40) coordinate switching of airflow, and alternating purging and drying of the dryers.

Abstract: An oxygen concentrator system with altitude compensation includes at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system and a plenum subsystem. The at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces oxygen enriched product which is outputted to both the oxygen concentrator system output and to a plenum chamber within the plenum subsystem. The plenum chamber is trickle charged with the oxygen enriched product when the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces an excess amount of oxygen enriched product. Should the demand for oxygen enriched product exceed the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system, additional oxygen enriched product is provided by the plenum chamber until such time that the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system exceeds the demand for oxygen enriched product. At that time, oxygen enriched product is no longer provided by the plenum chamber but rather the plenum chamber is again trickle charged.

Abstract: An oxygen concentrator system with altitude compensation includes at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system and a plenum subsystem. The at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces oxygen-enriched air which is outputted to both the oxygen concentrator system output and to a plenum chamber within the plenum subsystem. The plenum chamber is trickle charged with the oxygen-enriched air when the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system produces an excess amount of oxygen-enriched air. Should the demand for oxygen-enriched air exceed the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system, additional oxygen-enriched air is provided by the plenum chamber until such time that the capability of the at least one oxygen concentrator sub-system exceeds the demand for oxygen-enriched air. At that time, oxygen-enriched air is no longer provided by the plenum chamber, but rather the plenum chamber is again trickle charged.

Abstract: A fuel vapor handling apparatus supplies a purging air to a canister by using a purge pump and purges fuel desorbed from the canister into an intake pipe. A controller intermittently operates the purge so that the canister internal temperature recovers from a reduced level caused by the latent heat of vaporization of fuel during an operating period of the purge pump. Therefore, desorption of fuel from the canister during an operating period is facilitated. Since the actual operating time of the purge pump is reduced, the life of a motor that is a power unit of the purge pump becomes longer.

Abstract: A fuel adsorption layer formed in a canister is partitioned into an upper adsorption layer and a lower adsorption layer by a partition plate in which a heater is embedded. The relation between a heating value of the heater and thickness X of the upper and lower adsorption layers is set so that the temperature of a part closest to the heater heating face of the fuel adsorption layer is lower than a fire point of the fuel, and the temperature of a part farthest from the heater heating face is higher than the boiling point of the fuel. With the configuration, by heating the fuel adsorption layer by the heater, the desorption performance of activated carbon is improved, and almost all of the fuel vapors adsorbed can be desorbed.

Abstract: A portable air purifier system and apparatus which includes a multi-element filter pack that is replaceable as a single unit, thus facilitating health safety of maintenance personnel. By serially disposing filter elements in order of descending sizes of particulates, filtering is improved. Selectably includable within the filters are materials that are particularly efficacious in removing contaminants such as acetone, ammonia, ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, ethanol, methane, ethane, methanol, formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide and other hazardous substances. By including an ultra-violet light source directed onto an activated charcoal layer, germicidal action is facilitated, and noise is abated through the advantageous employment of an expanded plenum and multiple right angle bends in air passageways.

Abstract: System for removal of targeted pollutants, such as oxides of sulfur, oxides of nitrogen, mercury compounds and ash, from combustion and other industrial process gases and processes utilizing the system. Oxides of manganese are utilized as the primary sorbent in the system for removal or capture of pollutants. The oxides of manganese are introduced from feeders into reaction zones of the system where they are contacted with a gas from which pollutants are to be removed. With respect to pollutant removal, the sorbent may interact with a pollutant as a catalyst, reactant, adsorbent or absorbent. Removal may occur in single-stage, dual-stage, or multi-stage systems with a variety of different configurations and reaction zones, e.g., bag house, cyclones, fluidized beds, and the like. Process parameters, particularly system differential pressure, are controlled by electronic controls to maintain minimal system differential pressure, and to monitor and adjust pollutant removal efficiencies.

Abstract: A component gas concentrator includes an air compressor, an air-tight first container containing a molecular sieve bed, the first container in fluid communication with the compressor through a first gas conduit, and an air-tight second container in fluid communication with the first container through a second gas conduit. A gas flow controller such as PLC controls actuation of valves mounted to the gas conduits.

Abstract: A gas separation process incorporating the invention combines use of an adsorbent having high intrinsic diffusivity with a low pressure ratio PSA cycle. Further enhancements to the process are derived from the use of fast cycles, shallow beds and small particles—especially in a radial bed configuration. The combination of low pressure ratio, high rate adsorbents and fast cycles has been found to result in an unexpected simultaneous reduction in bed size factor (BSF) and power consumption. These benefits have been achieved while minimizing a decline in product recovery through use of the high rate adsorbent. The net result is a significant reduction in product cost.

Abstract: A regenerable air cleaning device is disclosed which comprises a filter holder supporting a regenerable filter that includes activated carbon fibers (ACF) and a control system that is adapted to determine when to regenerate the regenerable filter. The device exhibits high performance and longevity over many regeneration cycles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to detecting the state of a slide block positioned in a linear valve and using the position of the slide block to predict the health of a linear valve and provide information to a controller/monitor. An operator is provided with information before failure occurrence to allow preventative maintenance of the linear valve. The linear valve is constructed with two canister ports and a vent port. The slide block can be constructed to block the two canister ports and vent port simultaneously. The system can control the position of the block, when provided with position information, hence, using the slide block as a shutoff valve. The typical slide valve can be used as an integral slide shutoff valve, reducing system complexity and reducing system weight, which is critical to airborne applications.

Abstract: The plant for producing a product stream includes, mounted in series, several modules adapted to perform successive and distinct elementary treatments. At least two elementary treatment modules each include at least two treatment apparatuses mounted in parallel. The plant furthermore includes a device for controlling the various treatment apparatuses as a function of the product stream desired at the outlet of the plant. The control device includes sensors for measuring at least two variables representative of the product stream, and a fuzzy logic regulator adapted for controlling, in at least two distinct treatment modules, at least two treatment apparatuses of the same module, on the basis of the same measured representative variable.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating high purity oxygen is described which comprises a linear actuator, a dual acting air cylinder, two molecular sieve beds, and valving. The linear actuator drives the air cylinder back and forth, compressing air on both the forward and return stroke. On each stroke, fresh air is compressed into one of the beds, generating oxygen. Simultaneously, the opposite bed exhausts to ambient pressure and the non-compressing side of the cylinder draws in fresh air. The cylinder then reverses, which compresses air into the opposing bed and allows the first bed to exhaust.

Abstract: An air supply system for a vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that powers the vehicle and a compressor that receives air from the intake manifold of the engine or from an air filter. The compressor operates in either a loading or unloading mode and supplies air to the vehicle braking system. During the loading mode, air flows from the compressor through a dryer and is stored in a reservoir that supplies air to the brakes when the brakes are actuated. The dryer removes moisture and contaminants from the compressed air before the air is stored in the reservoir. A valve independently controls the compressor and dryer. A first sensor produces a fueling status signal in response to monitoring the fueling status of the engine and a second sensor produces a reservoir pressure signal in response to measuring the air pressure in the reservoir.

Abstract: Device and method for the regeneration of a drying agent in compressed air system. The wetting degree of the drying agent is estimated and recorded by a control unit. The control unit ensures that the drying agent is dehumidified as soon as the wetting degree has reached a certain wetting degree. This certain wetting degree may be set to different levels for different operational condition.

Abstract: A control device for molecular sieve on-board oxygen generating systems measures both temperature and pressure of the inlet air of an oxygen generating system. An electronic control unit applies pressure limits to a pressure measurement signal and combines it with a temperature measurement signal to produce a composite analog signal responsive to both temperature and pressure inlet air conditions. This analog signal is linearly converted to a frequency signal, whereupon the frequency signal is divided by a constant in order to produce a drive signal for control of the absorb/vent bed cycle valves. Composition control is achieved by venting product mixture as required. Inlet air pressures down to 5 PSIG (pounds per square inch gauge) produce correct system operation, and the quantity of conditioned air required is automatically limited so that system efficiency is higher than prior art systems.

Abstract: A vacuum swing adsorption apparatus for separating a gas mixture includes a pipeline along which the vacuum is able to be drawn. The apparatus is provided with a plurality of eductors each connected to the pipeline 6 and in parallel with the other eductor respective stop valves. The stop valves are arranged and operable so as to select the number of eductors in communication with the pipeline. Thus the degree of vacuum to which the apparatus is subjected may be varied.

Abstract: A portable PSA oxygen generator that includes first and second filters for filtering inside air; a fan motor for passing through the air; a third filter for filtering the air intaken through the fan motor; a compressor assembly for compressing the air supplied; an oxygen concentrator for adding/eliminating oxygen to/from the compressed air supplied from the compressor assembly to generate the highly concentrated oxygen; an oxygen tank for storing the oxygen generated in the oxygen concentrator; an oxygen filter for filtering oxygen exhausted; a nitrogen filter for filtering and exhausting nitrogen; a pressure sensor installed inside the oxygen tank and outputting a signal indicating an internal pressure state; a failure alarming circuit made of buzzer connected with the pressure sensor in series, and a light emitting diode; a timer for limiting an operation time; an oxygen sensor for estimating the concentration of the oxygen exhausted through the oxygen filter; a control knob for controlling the concentratio

Abstract: A gas drying canister housing for a desiccant canister in a gas dryer system includes a main portion having an upper base and a lower portion having a lower base. A canister bore is defined between the upper and lower bases when the main and lower portions are fastened to each other. The main portion defines a supply port through which a stream of moisture-bearing gas is directed into the housing for passage through the desiccant canister during a drying mode of operation of the gas dryer system. The main portion also defines a delivery port through which a stream of dried gas is directed from the housing during the drying mode. The lower portion defines a purge port through the lower base through which a stream of remoisturized gas is expelled from the housing during a purge mode of operation of the gas dryer system. The upper base of the main portion features a sealing flange against which an outer rim portion of a top of the desiccant canister is seatable so as to make an air tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption apparatus (10) is provided with actuator air via a reservoir (40) which draws its supply either from one or more of the process vessels (12) after it has been dried thereby or directly from the system compressor (32). Controls are provided to ensure actuator air is preferentially drawn from the dried source and for ensuring instrument air is available even on start up of the apparatus.

Abstract: An electronically controlled compressed air system (10) includes an air dryer (16) which dries compressed air before the compressed air is communicated to a reservoir (26). The air dryer (16) includes a desiccant (18) which is purged by using air stored in the reservoir (26). A pressure transducer (13) is installed on the reservoir (26) and transits an electrical signal, indicative of the pressure in the reservoir (26) to an electric controller (11). Electric controller (11) transmits signals at various selected pressure levels to solenoid value (28) to control loading and unloading of the compressor (12), to solenoid valve (36) to control purging of the air dryer (16), and to the warning light (40) to alert an operator of a low air pressure condition.

Abstract: Fuel vapors leaving the fuel tank of a motor vehicle are recovered with a filter cartridge inserted between the tank and the intake manifold of the engine. An atmospheric connection duct of the cartridge can be selectively connected to the intake partial vacuum with a pneumatic distributor. The leaktightness of the device is thereby tested.

Abstract: An air drying mechanism for a compressed air braking system includes a housing containing desiccant material, and a purge volume which stores air for backflowing through the desiccant to purge the latter of its moisture content. A flow regulating control valve is located between the purge volume and the desiccant to provide a constant flow rate of purge air through the desiccant during purging.

Abstract: A compressed air system includes an air drying subsystem which can be configured either in an intermittent mode, in which a separate purge volume intermittently purges the desiccant used by the air drying systems when the compressor goes off load, or in a continuous flow mode, in which the purge volume is replaced by a second desiccant cartridge and the two desiccant cartridges are alternatively purged and used to dry the compressed air.

Abstract: An operating system for dual-sieve oxygen concentrators, as used by invalids, provides a method and apparatus for controlling the purging and release of product gas and the cycling period in response to the pressure build-up in each sieve column. The cycling period is thereby self-adjusting to changes in the capacity of the columns. Restricting flow of product gas and purge gas to the higher-pressure part of the adsorption period provides product gas of higher purity and reduces the loss of oxygen in the purge.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for the production of a purified product gas at a user specified product gas demand from a feed gas containing impurities which includes at least one treatment zone having an inlet and outlet region, a sensing device for detecting a change in product gas demand, a device for generating a first signal, a device for translating the first signal and comparing the same to a standard, and a device for converting the translated signal to a second signal which operates a valve to vary the feed rate of the gas entering the system.

Abstract: A photographic light-sensitive material having a photographic layer containing a copolymer of a styrene component, a maleic acid component and an acrylamide component in which the content of the acrylamide component is about 3 to 30 mol%.

Abstract: A photographic element comprising a support, a layer containing certain photographically useful fragments and a layer containing a dye mordant composition comprising a polymer having recurring units of the formula: ##STR1## wherein: A comprises polymerized units of ethylenically unsaturated monomers;R is H or alkyl;R.sup.1 is H, alkyl or is a group containing at least one atomatic nucleus;Q is a linking group;Y is H or an inert group;X is a leaving group;E and F are the atoms necesary to complete a 5-7 membered heterocyclic ring;N is 0 to 2;M is 1 to 3;P is 0 or 1;X is 0 to 90 weight percent; andY is 10 to 100 weight percent of the polymer.The polymeric mordants covalently bond with dyes or dye precursors and are especially useful in diffusion transfer processes.

Abstract: A method of increasing the viscosity of photographic coating solutions which comprises adding polymers having therein the repeating unit represented by the following formula (but having a maleic acid content of more than about 40% by mol' ##STR1## wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a t-butyl group, and M.sub.1 and M.sub.2 each represents a cation, which may be identical or different from each other, to gelatin containing photographic coating solutions.

Abstract: Polymers containing pendent substituted ethylsulfonyl, vinylsulfonyl or styrylsulfonyl groups are useful as gelatin hardeners or can be crosslinked by bis-nucleophiles or by exposure to ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A color diffusion transfer photographic unit is disclosed which contains a silver halide photosensitive element having a support and at least one silver halide emulsion layer thereon and an image receiving element having a support and an image receiving layer thereon wherein the unit contains a polymer having a first monomer which contains a tertiary nitrogen atom wherein at least 5 mole % of said first monomer is grafted and/or graft-copolymerized with a second monomer which is a vinyl monomer having a tertiary or quaternary nitrogen.

Abstract: A photographic binder prepared by heating a mixed aqueous solution of styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer, isobutylene-maleic anhydride copolymer and polyvinyl alcohol in acidic state makes it possible to coat a photographic coating liquid for forming photographic layers in the same manner as in the case of using gelatin and furthermore gives excellent physical properties to the resultant photographic layers.

Abstract: A copolymer containing 0.1 to 20 mol-% of recurring structural units of the formula ##STR1## is a valuable peptising agent for the precipitation of silver halide. Sensitivity, onset of development and silver coating power are advantageously influenced.

Abstract: A method of forming a photographic image which comprises image-wise exposing a silver halide photographic element containing at least one compound having a degree of polymerization of about 10 to about 8,000 and represented by the following general formula (I):--a).sub.x (B).sub.y (I)whereinA represents ##STR1## or --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 --O--, R represents ##STR2## or --OH, m is an integer of 3 to 7, R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms;B represents a monomer unit derived from styrene, methacrylic acid ester, acrylic ester, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, vinyl alcohol, vinyl chloride, vinyl ether, acrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, potassium styrenesulfonate, N,N-dialkylaminoalkyl methacrylate, vinylimidazole or vinylpyridine; andX and y represent the mole%, respectively, of A and B, with x + y = 100 and in which x .gtoreq.

Abstract: Physical and photographic characteristics of silver halide emulsions containing salts of multivalent metals are improved by adding synthetic water-insoluble terpolymers of acrylic esters, glycidyl acrylates and acrylamides as emulsion additives. The crosslinkable terpolymers are highly compatible with silver halide emulsions containing multivalent metal salts when an acrylamide is a polymer component at less than 15 wt% and an anionic sulfate surfactant of the formula ##STR1## where R.sub.5 is a straight or branch-chain alkyl group of C.sub.4 -C.sub.12, R.sub.6 is a straight of branch-chain alkyl group of C.sub.8 -C.sub.20, n is an integer of 8 to 40, and M.sup.+ is an ammonium ion or, a monovalent metal ion such as potassium, sodium or cesium, is the dispersing agent during emulsion polymerization.

Abstract: A method for forming images which comprises processing a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive element containing in the uppermost layer thereof a matting agent composed of methyl methacrylate-methacrylic acid copolymers having a methyl methacrylate/methacrylic acid molar ratio of 6:4 to 9:1 at a temperature above about 30.degree. C. The matting agent is capable of being dissolved into alkaline processing solutions and does not adversely affect the transparency and graininess of the images formed.

Abstract: Photographic additives in particular water insoluble photographic additives are rendered easier to incorporate into photographic layers by finely dividing them, mixing them with a finely divided water soluble substance and preparing granules of the mixture using a hydrophilic colloid as the binder. The granules which contain from about 1 to 50% by weight of the photographic additives are then dissolved in the coating composition and this disperses the water insoluble additive uniformly throughout the coating composition.

Abstract: Polymeric derivatives of tetrazole-5-thiols are useful in conjunction with photosensitive silver halide elements as interlayers to provide interimage control, as dispersants for dye image-forming materials or as silver scavengers.

Abstract: A photographic element is disclosed having coated on a support a hydrophilic colloid layer containing an activator precursor and loaded polymer particles of from 0.02 to 0.2 micron in average diameter. The polymer particles consist essentially of a hydrophobic polymer of which at least 2 percent by weight is comprised of ionizable repeating units, at least half being cationically ionizable, and a hydrophobic developing agent present in a weight ratio to the polymer of from about 1:4 to 3:1. Silver halide is present in the hydrophilic colloid layer or in an adjacent layer, and the activator precursor is present in a concentration of from 1 to 4 equivalent for each mole of silver halide. The photographic element is capable of being thermally processed.

Abstract: A photosensitive silver halide emulsion wherein the silver halide peptizer comprises a halogenated acrylate polymer or copolymer.

Abstract: A dye mordant composition containing a polymer comprising repeating units with at least 20 mol % of the repeating units having the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 represents an alkyl group containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aralkyl group, an aryl group or an allyl group; R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aralkyl group, an aryl group or an allyl group, where the total number of carbon atoms contained in the main chain and/or ring of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is less than 16; n represents an integer from 2 to 20; and X.sup..crclbar. represents an anion.

Abstract: Polymeric color couplers with improved light stability comprising in addition to color coupler units, competing coupler units and one or more copolymerized non-coupling monomeric units, thereof the weight ratio of the color coupler units to the competing coupler units is between 10:1 and 1:2 and the weight ratio of the copolymerized non-coupling monomeric units is at least 5%.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are non-pressure sensitive, heat sealable adhesive compositions having high bonding strengths at temperatures below 75.degree. C which consist essentially of a mixture of a block copolymer of a vinylbenzene and a conjugated diolefin, and a copolymer of an alkene and vinyl acetate. These adhesives are useful in a variety of radiation sensitive materials, but particularly in photographic materials such as photographic film units. In such units, they are particularly useful to bond barrier timing layers to other layers or substrates, but also may be used to bond other layers or substrates.

Abstract: A color photographic light-sensitive material having at least one silver halide photographic emulsion layer containing a hydrophobic coupler, in which the color photographic material additionally contains both a polymer having a recurring unit represented by the following general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 each represents a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic hydrocarbon group, an aromatic hydrocarbon group, an alkyl-substituted amino group or an aryl-substituted amino group, with the proviso that both of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are not simultaneously hydrogen atoms, the total number of carbon atoms in R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is 4 to 12, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 do not contain an acidic group, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 can combine to form a ring;And a polymer having a recurring unit represented by the following general formula (II); ##STR2## wherein R.sup.4 has the same meaning as R.sup.1 ; and Q represents (1) --(CH.sub.2).sub.

Abstract: A photosensitive silver halide emulsion wherein the silver halide peptizer comprises a cyanoalkyl acrylate polymer or copolymer.

Abstract: Static resistance of a light-sensitive silver halide photographic material is improved by treating said material with a solution or dispersion of a polymer containing quaternary ammonium groups, and which also acts as an antifoaming agent in processing solutions. The polymeric moiety of the polymer has the formula ##STR1## WHEREIN R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, and R.sub.4 are individually a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; A and B are individually an alkylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a hydroxymethylene group, a phenylene group or a mere bond; X.sub.1.sup..crclbar. and X.sub.2.sup..crclbar. are individually an anion; and n is an integer of 10 to 30.

Abstract: Diffusion transfer photographic products are disclosed which comprise a support carrying at least a photosensitive silver halide emulsion layer, a dye image-forming material and a layer comprising polymeric derivatives of tetrazole-5-thiols. Associated with this photographic product is a multivalent metal cation which diffuses to the layer comprising the polymeric derivatives of tetrazole-5-thiols to increase the permeability of said tetrazole-5-thiol containing layer to the dye image-forming material.