43results about How to "Minimize build-up" patented technology

Compositions and methods include a new strain of Bacillus velezensis having growth promoting activity and activity against plant pathogens. The compositions are useful for benefiting plant growth and/or conferring protection against a pathogenic infection when applied to plant foliage, flowers, fruits, bark, roots, seeds, callus tissue, grafts, cuttings, surrounding soil or growth medium, and soil or growth medium concomitant with sowing seed and planting callus tissue, grafts, and cuttings. The compositions containing the Bacillus velezensis RTI301 strain can be applied alone or in combination with other microbial, biological, or chemical insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, bacteriocides, herbicides, plant extracts, plant growth regulators, and fertilizers. In one example, the Bacillus velezensis RTI301 strain can be delivered to the plant as part of an integrated pest management program, with other microbial or chemical insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, bacteriocides, herbicides, plant extracts, and plant growth regulators.

A personal protection system for providing a sterile barrier around medical/surgical personnel. The system includes a head unit over which a hood or a toga suspended. Internal to the head unit is a ventilation fan, a light for illuminating the surgical field and communications system for communicating with others. The head unit includes a head band. The ventilation fan is adjustably mounted to the head band so it can be positioned at a location to minimize the strain imposed on the wearer.

Container filling plant, such as a beverage bottling plant, for filling containers with a liquid beverage and for closing filled containers. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): “A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.” Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

A tool for supporting an abrasive material is disclosed. The tool may be used to abrade a surface, for example, for sanding. The tool includes a flexible base plate, a base plate curvature-adjusting device, a resilient pad with recesses, and clamps for mounting an abrasive sheet material upon the pad. The curvature-adjusting device includes a rotatable handle that engages the ends of the base plate and deflects the base plate to a desired curvature. The recesses in the pad retain abraded material and minimize build up of the abraded material on the abrasive sheet. Aspects of the invention may be used to abrade, for example, sand, any surface requiring material removal, for example, sheet rock or automobile body panels. A tool for spreading a material, such as an adhesive, on a surface is also disclosed; the curvature of the working surface of this tool may also be adjustable.

A garment for cooling the body of a wearer is described which comprises a substantially gas impermeable first substrate and a gas-permeable second substrate attached to form a cavity. At least one of the first and second substrates comprising a plurality of raised protrusions on a surface within the cavity, and the gas permeable second substrate comprising a plurality of raised protrusions on the surface external to the cavity and proximate to the body of the wearer. The cavity is adapted to be connected to a gas supply such that the gas flows into the cavity and exits the cavity through the gas permeable second substrate. The cooling garment is light weight and conformable, and may be non-tethered for portability.

A product conveying and accumulation system employs at least one product delivery conveyor which transports products from an upstream location and another conveyor which delivers products to a downstream location. Dual U-shaped accumulator conveyors in the system are positioned to accept upstream products from the delivery conveyors and to transport the products to the downstream conveyor. The dual conveyors each have straightaway conveyor sections which are aligned parallel to each other. Accumulator sections are formed at these parallel alignments. In one configuration, the two straightaway sections of one of the dual conveyors are parallel to and in adjacent alignment with the straightaway sections of the other of the dual conveyors. In another configuration, the straightaway section of one of the dual conveyors is parallel to and in adjacent alignment with one straightaway section of the other conveyor, and the other straightaway sections of the two conveyors are parallel to and in spaced relation to each other. This permits adjustment of the spacing and angle between an accumulator section of these conveyors.

Apparatus and method are disclosed for plasma synthesis of graphitic products including graphene. A plasma nozzle is coupled to a reaction chamber. A process gas is supplied to the plasma nozzle, the process gas comprising a carbon-containing species. Radio frequency radiation is supplied to the process gas within the plasma nozzle, so as to produce a plasma within the nozzle in use, and thereby cause cracking of the carbon-containing species. The plasma nozzle is arranged such that an afterglow of the plasma extends into the reaction chamber. The cracked carbon-containing species also passes into the reaction chamber, and the cracked carbon-containing species recombines within the afterglow, so as to form the graphitic products including graphene.

Method and apparatus for producing synthesis gas comprising the steps of combusting (4) a combustible gas to form hot flue gasses (7), passing the flue gasses (7) through heat storing means (1) so as to heat the heat storing means (1) to an elevated temperature, using the heat thus stored to heat biomass (2) to an elevated temperature so as to form synthesis gas, and withdrawing at least part of the synthesis gas formed, wherein following heating of the heat storing means (1) gaseous medium is circulated through the heat storing means (1), the biomass (2) and back to the heat storing means (1). Furthermore computer program product for performing the method of the invention and the use of the produced biogas are disclosed.

A monolithic semiconductor device has an insulating layer formed over a first substrate. A second substrate is disposed over the first insulating layer. A power MOSFET with body diode is formed over the second substrate. A Schottky diode is formed over the second substrate in proximity to the MOSFET. An insulation trench is formed within the second substrate between the MOSFET and Schottky diode. The isolation trench surrounds the MOSFET and first Schottky diode. A first electrical connection is formed between a source of the MOSFET and an anode of the Schottky diode. A second electrical connection is formed between a drain of the MOSFET and a cathode of the Schottky diode. The Schottky diode reduces charge build-up within the body diode and reverse recovery time of the first power MOSFET. The power MOSFET and integrated Schottky can be used in power conversion or audio amplifier circuit.

The present invention provides a high volume, foul-resistant electrolytic process for treating contaminated water comprising at least one upflow electroflocculation cell consisting of (i) a lower (or “bottom”) electrode (3) in form of a porous, non-fluidized bed of loose iron or aluminium granules kept in periodic motion by pulsed gas injections and (ii) an upper (or “top”) vibrating electrode (4) made of an iron or aluminium grid mesh or ribmesh. A voltage potential between the upper (4) and lower (3) electrode causes ions to be released from the moving electrodes. These ions oxydise and/or render insoluble contaminants in the ascending flow of wastewater and create easy filterable insoluble contaminants resulting in substantially cleansed water. Such moving electrodes electroflocculation cells are useful at municipal water works and commercial and industrial applications were large amounts of raw water have to be processed.

A process for electrochemically reducing a metal oxide, such as titania, in a solid state in an electrochemical cell that includes a bath of molten electrolyte, a cathode, and an anode, which process includes the steps of: a) applying a cell potential across the anode and the cathode that is capable of electrochemically reducing the metal oxide supplied to the molten electrolyte bath, b) continuously or semi-continuously feeding the metal oxide in powder and/or pellet form into the molten electrolyte bath, c) transporting the powders and/or pellets along a path within the molten electrolyte bath and reducing the metal oxide as the metal oxide powders and/or pellets move along the path, and d) continuously or semi-continuously removing metal from the molten electrolyte bath. Also disclosed and claims is an electrochemical cell for carrying out this process.

Method and device for ensuring high yields during spraying of a settable slurry composition. The slurry is conveyed through a length of hose to a nozzle spray-orifice, and a set accelerator is introduced into the slurry at a distance “D” from the nozzle spray-orifice. The level of accelerator is monitored using a sensor located in the slurry path at a point after the set accelerator is injected. A preferred sensor comprises two pairs of conductivity sensors each having an annular body with a bore corresponding to the diameter of the hose or nozzle bore. Voltage of the slurry can be correlated to yields obtained when a salt-based accelerator fluid is injected into the slurry, such that levels of accelerator can be finely adjusted, and consistently high yields of spray coatings can be achieved.

A method for improving the measurement of semiconductor wafers is disclosed. In the past, the repeatability of measurements was adversely affected due to the unpredictable growth of a layer of contamination over the intentionally deposited dielectric layers. Repeatability can be enhanced by removing this contamination layer prior to measurement. This contamination layer can be effectively removed in a non-destructive fashion by subjecting the wafer to a cleaning step. In one embodiment, the cleaning is performed by exposing the wafer to microwave radiation. Alternatively, the wafer can be cleaned with a radiant heat source. These two cleaning modalities can be used alone or in combination with each other or in combination with other cleaning modalities. The cleaning step may be carried out in air, an inert atmosphere or a vacuum. Once the cleaning has been performed, the wafer can be measured using any number of known optical measurement systems.

A transfer chute (10) for use in bulk materials handling operations, and also a methodology for designing such a transfer chute, a method of constructing the transfer chute, and a method of transferring bulk materials between two locations using the transfer chute. The transfer chute (10) comprises a chute body (11) defining a flow pathway (19), with an upper section (19a) of the flow pathway accommodating accelerating flow to maintain dense granular flow regime, an intermediate section (19b) of the flow pathway providing consolidated flow in which the flow rate is retarded in a controlled manner avoiding creation of flow turbulence, and a lower section (19c) of the flow pathway in which flow is further retarded to create a controlled accumulation and build-up of material upwardly from the lower section.

The present invention is a self-cleaning catheter designed to impede the development of biofilm within the catheter and provide a mechanism for removing biofilm within the catheter during use by a patient. The self-cleaning catheter includes an outer shell enclosing a urine lumen. The urine lumen has the ability to be opened and closed with a urine lumen closure device and is formed with a plurality of micro ports and a plurality of macro wash ports. At least one antimicrobial lumen is affixed to the exterior of and in fluid communication with the urine lumen at the plurality of micro ports. Similarly, at least one wash lumen is affixed to the exterior of and in fluid communication with the urine lumen at the plurality of macro wash ports. Antimicrobial solutions and wash solutions are introduced into the urine lumen by the antimicrobial lumen and wash lumen respectively, even during use.

High-temperature method for the treatment of lumber, the method comprising the steps of providing stacks (10) of lumber, restraining those stacks, subjecting the stacks to a first conditioning phase, drying the stacks in an air stream at a temperature of not less than 120° C., cooling the stacks and subsequently subjecting the stacks to a second conditioning phase, and further cooling the dried stacks in ambient temperature air stream. A kiln for use in the high-temperature lumber treatment method of this invention, comprises a chamber (30) for receiving stacks of lumber, heat supply means to produce and supply heated air and steam for drying and conditioning the stacks, heat exchange means (35) to provide and maintain a stable and sustained temperature environment within the chamber, humidification means to provide and maintain a predetermined equilibrium moisture content within the chamber, air stream generation means (33, 34) to provide a sustained and uniform flow of air within the chamber, and control means for monitoring and controlling various drying parameters within the chamber.

A method for coating internal surfaces of a turbine engine component comprises flowing an aluminide containing gas into passages in the turbine engine component so as to coat the internal surfaces formed by the passages, allowing the aluminide containing gas to flow through the passages and out openings in external surfaces of the turbine engine component, and flowing a volume of a gas selected from the group consisting of argon, hydrogen, and mixtures thereof over the external surfaces to minimize any build-up of an aluminide coating on the external surfaces.