Abstract:
A syringe guide includes: a syringe receiver including a receptacle configured to retain a syringe therein; a depth guide defining a reference surface; and a depth adjustment mechanism interconnecting the syringe receiver and the depth guide, and operable to change a distance between the receptacle and the reference surface.
Abstract:
Software that causes browser windows and other windows to instantly disappear from a computer screen upon activation of a function activator. Preferably, when a user activates the function activator, the software also causes any open browser applications to shut down as well. The function activator may comprise an icon displayed on the computer screen or a physical switch coupled to the software. Moreover, the software may be incorporated into an Internet Service Provider's browser software or be installed separately from the installation of the browser on the individual user's computer.
Abstract:
This invention is a packing for use in a packed tower. The packing has four axes and six webs and is symmetrical around each axes. The packing is of a geometrical configuration that with one of the axes pointing downwardly and the other three axes pointing upwardly and above the downwardly pointing axes the fluid can flow towards the center of the packing into an opening at its center. In the configuration with the three axes pointing downwardly and the one axis pointing upwardly the fluid is directed away from the center of the packing and flows off of the webs. With this geometrical configuration the flow of the fluid is evenly distributed throughout the packed bed.
Abstract:
A spacer element (1) is disclosed having an integral screen for use in filled cell electrodialysis. The spacer (1) has a continuous portion (2) impermeable to flow and a screen (3) which spans a centrally-located flow treatment region that contains active treatment material, such as ion exchange beads. The screen (3) may perform a structural function, allowing operation at elevated pressure, and may also define a minimum gap between adjacent membranes and enhance mixing along the flow path and at cell boundaries. The spacer element (1) may be configured to enhance hydraulic filling of the cells, and cell architecture is readily implemented in a wide range of useful flow path geometries utilizing the screen spacer element (1).
Abstract:
A fluidized spray vessel. A vessel design is provided for recovering heat from gaseous heat streams. The vessel utilizes a semi-fluidized bed for obtaining desirable liquid/vapor contact times. A spray section is provided in which liquid is sprayed through nozzles designed to provide a mean droplet size having a terminal velocity of from about sixty percent to about ninety five percent of the superficial upward gas velocity. These spray tower design criteria enhance spray tower performance, and thus enables more efficient heat recovery to be practiced, particularly in systems where relatively low grade heat sources are encountered.
Abstract:
An electrodeionization, (EDI) apparatus has flow cells with a sparse distribution of ion exchange (IX) material or beads. The beads extend between membranes defining opposed walls of the cell to separate and support the membranes, and form a layer substantially free of bead-to-bead dead-end reverse junctions. The beads enhance capture of ions from surrounding fluid in dilute cells, and do not throw salt when operating current is increased. In concentrating cells, the sparse bead filling provides a stable low impedance bridge to enhanced power utilization in the stack. A monotype sparse filling may be used in concentrate cells, while mixed, layered, striped, graded or other beads may be employed in dilute cells. Ion conduction paths are no more than a few grains long and the lower packing density permits effective fluid flow. A flow cell thickness may be below one millimeter, and the beads may be discretely spaced, form a mixed or patterned monolayer, or form an ordered bilayer, and a mesh having a lattice spacing comparable to or of the same order of magnitude as resin grain size, may provide a distributed open support that assures a stable distribution of the sparse filling, and over time maintains the initial balance of uniform conductivity and good through-flow. The cells or low thickness and this resin layers relax stack size and power supply constraints, while providing treatment efficiencies and process stability. Reduced ion migration distances enhance the ion removal rate without reducing the product flow rate. The sparse resin bed may be layered, graded along the length of the path, striped or otherwise patterned. Inter-grain ion hopping is reduced or eliminated, thus avoiding the occurrence of salt-throwing which occurs at reverse bead junctions of prior art constructions. Conductivity of concentrate cells is increased, permitting more compact device construction, allowing increases in stack cell number, and providing more efficient electrical operation without ion additions. Finally, ion storage within beads is greatly reduces, eliminating the potential for contamination during reversal operation. Various methods of forming sparse beds and assembling the stacks are disclosed.
Abstract:
EDI apparatus for demineralizing a liquid flow is assembled in a housing having a cylindrical shape, and includes two metal electrodes, and one or more leafs, each leaf comprising a pair of selectively ion-permeable membranes arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart by spacing elements that allow liquid to flow in the interstitial space between membranes, thus forming an arrangement of dilute and concentrate cells in a desired flow configuration. Spacing elements between membranes, as well as between leaves, can be formed of inert polymer material, ion exchange beads, ion exchange fibers, a combination of two or more these elements, or a porous media incorporating one or more of such elements as an intrinsic part. An inner or central electrode and an outer or perimeter electrode establish a generally uniform and radially-oriented electrical or ionic current between the inner and the outer electrodes, across the helical flow spaces defined by the membrane/spacer windings. One or both electrodes may include a pocket, and the adjacent flow cells lie parallel to the electrode and free of shadowing and field inhomogeneity around a full circumference of the electrode. Flow paths within the helical cells are defined by barrier seals, which may form a path-lengthening maze, while unfilled cell regions may disperse or collect flow within a cell and define pressure gradients promote directional flows. Impermeable barriers between membranes further prevent the feed and concentrate flows from mixing. In various embodiments, seals along or between portions of the flow path may define a multi-stage device, may define separate feed and/or concentrate flows for different stages, and/or may direct the feed and concentrate flows along preferred directions which may be co-current, counter-current or cross-current with respect to each other within the apparatus.
Abstract:
A central air conditioning and ventilating system has an exterior air intake duct and a plurality of dampers for opening and closing air ducts. One damper is positioned in the exterior air intake duct and a second damper is positioned in the interior of a return air duct and a third damper is positioned in the interior return air duct escape air duct. The first damper can be opened while the second damper is closed and a third damper opened to convert the air conditioning system to a whole house ventilation system.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is provided to retain elements of the spine or pelvis or both in a desired spatial relationship. A plurality of fasteners are connected with a plurality of the elements. A longitudinal member is connected with the fasteners by a plurality of connector members. The longitudinal member and fasteners are movable relative to each other to adjust the distance between the longitudinal member and fasteners to thereby obtain the desired spatial relationship between the longitudinal member and elements to which the fasteners are connected. Once the longitudinal member and fasteners have been positioned in the desired spatial relationship, clamps are engaged to hold the longitudinal member, fasteners and connector members against relative movement. To provide for the adjustability of the longitudinal member relative to the fasteners, oblong openings are formed in the connector members. In one specific method of adjusting the position of the longitudinal member relative to the fasteners, the longitudinal member is rotated about an axis which extends through a portion of the longitudinal member.
Abstract:
Apparatus for connecting a bendable elongate rod with a vertebra. The apparatus comprises a body portion having an opening for receiving the rod. A connector portion is fixed to and extends from the body portion for connecting the body portion with the vertebra. A pair of spaced apart arcuate surfaces are located in the opening in the body portion for engaging the rod at axially spaced locations.