Southwest Research Institute

Electric Power Research Institute Incorporated

Mary C Marshall

Ronald J Mathis

Errol M Brigance

Nicholle K Reinhardt

Christopher J Freitas

John G Franjione

Kenneth R Collins

Ralph Henry Hill, Jr

Joseph N Mitchell

Herman W Schlameus

Geronimo I Elias, Jr

Dennis S Rushforth

Christian J Schwartz

Andrew J Philips

Andrew Warren

James R Scott

Stephen Thomas Wellinghoff

Mark E Van Dyke

Donald J Mangold

William W Harlowe, Jr

Stephen J Hudak, Jr

Leon M Adams

Richard J Mannheimer

Michael G MacNaughton

Eugene L Anderson

Henry W Oviatt, Jr

William T Roberds

Nancy J Mallow, Legal Representative

Gordon D Pollard

Jill Blake

Nancy J Mallow

Herman W Schlaemus

Spring M Haby

Matthew L Alexander

An anti-traction material is disclosed which may be used as a coating on a variety of surfaces over which people and vehicles may find it difficult to traverse. The anti-traction material may include polymer particles capable of absorbing or being dissolved by a fluid and a fluid capable of absorbing or dissolving the polymer particles. The anti-traction material may include hydrophobic particles which may then control the rate and/or amount of fluid absorption of the polymer particles which may therefore improve storage capability and polymer particle flow behavior.

Anti-traction compositions

The present invention relates to a lubricious anti-traction material for effectively denying the mobility and access of personnel and vehicles to selected areas. The anti-traction material is composed of a slurry combined with water. The slurry is composed of an emulsion or dispersion and an anionic acrylamide polymer.

Easily dispensed, anti-traction, mobility denial system

The present invention relates to a lubricious anti-traction material for effectively denying the mobility and access of personnel and vehicles to selected areas. The anti-traction material includes an acrylic polymer particle mixed with water.

Anti-traction, mobility denial methods and products

A composite insulator containing means for providing early warning of impending failure due to stress corrosion cracking, flashunder, or destruction of the rod by discharge activity conditions is described. A composite insulator comprising a fiberglass rod surrounded by a polymer housing and connected with metal end fittings on either end of the rod is doped with a dye-based chemical dopant. The dopant is located around the vicinity of the outer surface of the fiberglass rod. The dopant is formulated to possess migration and diffusion characteristics, and to be inert in dry conditions and compatible with the insulator components. The dopant is positioned within the insulator such that upon the penetration of moisture through the housing to the rod through a permeation pathway in the outer surface of the insulator, the dopant will become activated and will leach out of the same permeation pathway or diffuse through the housing. The activated dopant then creates a deposit or stain on the outer surface of the insulator housing. The dopant comprises an oil-soluble dye, an indicator, or a stain compound that can either be visually identified, or is sensitive to radiation at one or more specific wavelengths. The dopant could also be formulated by a nanoparticle enabled material. Deposits of activated dopant on the outer surface of the insulator can be detected upon imaging of the outer surface of the insulator by appropriate imaging instruments or the naked eye.

Indicators for early detection of potential failures due to water exposure of polymer-clad fiberglass

A composite insulator containing means for providing early warning of impending failure due to stress corrosion cracking, flashunder, or destruction of the rod by discharge activity conditions is described. A composite insulator comprising a fiberglass rod surrounded by a polymer housing and fitted with metal end fittings on either end of the rod is doped with a dye-based chemical dopant. The dopant is located around the vicinity of the outer surface of the fiberglass rod. The dopant is formulated to possess migration and diffusion characteristics correlating to those of water, and to be inert in dry conditions and compatible with the insulator components. The dopant is placed within the insulator such that upon the penetration of moisture through the housing to the rod through a permeation pathway in the outer surface of the insulator, the dopant will become activated and will leach out of the same permeation pathway. The activated dopant then creates a deposit or stain on the outer surface of the insulator housing. The dopant comprises a dye that is sensitive to radiation at one or more specific wavelengths or is visually identifiable. Deposits of activated dopant on the outer surface of the insulator can be detected upon imaging of the outer surface of the insulator by appropriate imaging instruments or the naked eye.

Chemically-doped composite insulator for early detection of potential failures due to exposure of the fiberglass rod

An apparatus comprising multiple heating, cooling, and/or cleaning zones. The apparatus produces a jet flow of solvent/cleaning fluid onto an article to be cleaned without the need for a pump or compressor. The jet flow provides more effective contaminant removal. The multiple zones result in increased residence time for increased efficiency in separating the solubilized contaminant from the solvent/cleaning fluid.

Apparatus for contaminant removal using natural convection flow and changes in solubility concentrations by temperature

Apparatus and methods are described for removing contaminants from an article using a supercritical or near supercritical solvent fluid held at substantially constant pressure in a pressure vessel. The article to be cleaned is first contacted with a solvent fluid in which the contaminant is soluble at a first supercritical or near-supercritical temperature. The contaminant-containing fluid is then cooled or heated to a second supercritical or near supercritical temperature to lower the solubility of the contaminant in the supercritical fluid and thereby precipitate or phase separate the contaminant. The contaminant is then recovered. Movement of the solvent fluid within the pressure vessel is preferably by convection induced by heating and cooling means in the vessel.

Apparatus for contaminant removal using natural convection flow and changes in solubility concentration by temperature

The invention relates to pumpable heat transfer compositions wherein a solid polymeric porous structure having absorbed therein a polar or non-polar phase change material is incorporated with a heat transfer carrier liquid, with the phase change material being present in an amount sufficient to increase the heat capacity and/or heat transfer coefficient of the carrier liquid. The invention also relates to the method of increasing the heat capacity and/or heat transfer coefficient of a heat transfer carrier liquid by adding thereto a solid polymeric porous structure having absorbed therein a polar or non-polar phase change material.

Pumpable heat transfer composition

Apparatus and methods are described for removing contaminants from an article using a supercritical or near supercritical solvent fluid held at substantially constant pressure in a pressure vessel. The article to be cleaned is first contacted with a solvent fluid in which the contaminant is soluble at a first supercritical or near-supercritical temperature. The contaminate-containing fluid is then cooled or heated to a second supercritical or near supercritical temperature to lower the solubility of the contaminant in the supercritical fluid and thereby precipitate or phase separate the contaminant. The contaminant is then recovered. Movement of the solvent fluid within the pressure vessel is preferably by convection induced by heating and cooling means in the vessel.

Method for contaminant removal using natural convection flow and changes

Disclosed is an apparatus and method of removing contaminants from an article utilizing a supercritical or near supercritical fluid. The article to be cleaned is first contacted with a fluid in which the contaminant is soluble at a first supercritical or near temperature. The contaminate solubilized fluid is then cooled or heated to a second supercritical or near supercritical temperature to lower the solubility of the contaminant in the supercritical fluid and thereby precipitate the contaminant. The contaminant is then recovered.

Apparatus for cleaning articles utilizing supercritical and near

Apparatus and method for cleaning articles utilizing supercritical and

A microcapsule for use in degrading a hydrocarbon comprising a core material, a coating material, and at least one microorganism capable of degrading said hydrocarbon, said core material comprising a lipophilic material containing nutrients necessary for the sustenance of said microorganism, said coating material being water-insoluble, and said capsule having a density such that said microcapsule is kept in close proximity to said hydrocarbon to be degraded whens said microcapsule is applied thereto; and the method of using the microcapsule to degrade hydrocarbons.

Microcapsules and method for degrading hydrocarbons

A biodegradable composition comprising a polymer matrix having distributed substantially uniformly therethrough hollow sphere-like inclusions or microcapsules, said polymer matrix consisting essentially of a water-soluble polymer/polymer-compatible salt complex with said salt present in an amount sufficient to render said polymer insoluble in water and products made by shaping such composition.

Biodegradable composition and products

A process for collecting microcapsules containing a liquid fill formed by an encapsulation head comprising maintaining a rotating substantially uniform layer of a cushioning powder between a capsule forming zone and a capsule collecting zone, expelling capsules as formed from the capsule forming zone onto a uniform layer of cushioning powder, and moving the capsules radially along said layer and the capsule collecting zone. The invention also comprises the apparatus involved which comprises an encapsulation head for expelling capsules, a powder-coated platform located below the encapsulation head for receiving said expelled capsules, means for rotating said platform to cause said capsules to move radially and fall from said platform, and a moving surface located below said platform to collect said capsules falling from said platform.

Growing community of inventors

San Antonio, TX, United States of America

Mary C Marshall