1. A strap tension retaining device for use with a bulk unit load secured by a strap under tension, the bulk unit load having a corner, the bulk unit load having a perimeter, the strap tension retaining device comprising:
a fixed base element, the fixed base element being fixed to the bulk unit load;
a floating element, the floating element being movable relative to the fixed base element, the floating element having a strap traversing region;
a biasing element operably mounting the floating element and the fixed base element, the biasing element exerting a force in a bias direction; and
a guide element operably mounting the floating element to the fixed base element to guide movement of the floating element relative to the fixed base element, wherein the strap tension retaining device is positioned at the corner of the bulk unit load and the strap is positioned around the bulk unit load, around the perimeter, the strap traversing over the strap tension retaining device, over the floating element strap traversing region, and wherein when the strap is tensioned, a force exerted by the strap on the floating element urges the biasing element against the bias direction, and wherein a change in the bulk unit perimeter is accommodated by movement of the floating element.
2. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a negative change in the bulk unit perimeter is accommodated by the floating element moving in the bias direction to preclude slack in the strap.
3. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 1 wherein a positive change in the bulk unit perimeter is accommodated by the floating element moving against the bias direction to preclude over-tensioning the strap.
4. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 1 including two guide elements fixedly mounted to the fixed base element, and including two biasing elements.
5. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 4 wherein the biasing elements are springs disposed about the guide elements, between the fixed base element and the floating element.
6. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 1 including means for constraining movement of the floating element to a plane defined by the fixed element.
7. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 6 wherein the means for constraining are posts extending from the fixed base element.
8. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the floating element includes openings for receiving the posts.
9. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 8 wherein the posts are threaded into the fixed base element.
10. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 1 including means for limiting movement of the floating element relative to the fixed base element.
11. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 10 wherein the guide element is a post and wherein the means for limiting movement of the floating element is a spacer disposed on each post outwardly of the floating element.
12. The strap tension retaining device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the floating element includes a strap traversing region formed as an inclined surface.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-12. (Cancelled)
13. A system for reducing a concentration of sulfur-containing compounds in a liquid fuel, comprising:
a metering pump for adding a precipitating agent to said fuel at a first location; and
a filter for removing a precipitate from said fuel downstream of said metering pump, said filter comprising:
a thin-walled hollow housing body defining a chamber therein;
an inlet connected to the housing body and in fluid communication with the chamber thereof;
an outlet connected to the housing body and in fluid communication with the chamber thereof; and
a liquid fuel filter media disposed in the housing chamber for filtering precipitate from said liquid fuel and for thereby removing sulfur-containing compounds therefrom.
14. A method of filtering fuel, comprising the steps of:
a) transferring the fuel from a reservoir through a fuel line and to a liquid fuel filter;
b) treating the fuel by passing it through the liquid fuel filter and over a liquid fuel filter media housed therein, said liquid fuel filter media comprising a reactant selected for its ability to react with thiophenes and reduce the concentration thereof in said fuel;
whereby the concentration of sulfur-containing compounds in the fuel is reduced.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the liquid fuel filter media comprises a plurality of shaped fibers having hollow channels formed therein.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein a plurality of solid particles are disposed within the hollow channels of the fibers.
17. The method of claim 14, wherein said liquid fuel filter media comprises a plurality of substrate particles comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, zeolites, clay, silica gel, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide and mixtures thereof.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said substrate particles are operatively associated with a substance selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, metallic salts, organometallic compounds, catalysts, and oxidizing agents.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said liquid fuel filter media further comprises a reagent selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, metallic salts, organometallic compounds, catalysts, and oxidizing agents.
20. A method of reducing a concentration of sulfur-containing compounds from a liquid fuel, comprising:
adding a precipitating agent to said fuel at a first location between a fuel storage tank and a fuel application, whereby a sulfur-containing compound in said fuel is precipitated out of solution therein; and
passing said fuel through a liquid fuel filter to remove said precipitate from said fuel.
21. A method of filtering fuel of a reservoir in fluid communication with a liquid fuel filter, comprising:
transferring fuel from the reservoir to the liquid fuel filter;
passing fuel through a liquid fuel filter media disposed within the liquid fuel filter, said liquid fuel filter media comprising: a sulfur-treating composition operatively associated with said liquid fuel filter media and for reacting with sulfur-containing compounds, wherein the concentration of sulfur-containing compounds in the fuel is reduced by passing the fuel through said liquid fuel filter media.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the liquid fuel filter media comprises a plurality of shaped fibers having hollow channels formed therein.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein a plurality of solid particles are disposed within the hollow channels of the fibers.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein said liquid fuel filter media comprises a plurality of substrate particles comprising a substance selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, zeolites, clay, silica gel, silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide and mixtures thereof.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein said substrate particles are operatively associated with a substance selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, metallic salts, organometallic compounds, catalysts, and oxidizing agents.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein said liquid fuel filter media further comprises a reagent selected from the group consisting of metals, metal oxides, metallic salts, organometallic compounds, catalysts, and oxidizing agents.
27. A liquid fuel filter for removing sulfur-containing compounds from a liquid fuel, comprising:
a hollow housing body defining a chamber therein;
an inlet connected to the housing body and in fluid communication with the chamber thereof;
an outlet connected to the housing body and in fluid communication with the chamber thereof; and
a liquid fuel filter media disposed in the housing chamber for filtering liquid fuel and for removing sulfur compounds therefrom; the liquid fuel filter media comprising:
a reactant selected for its ability to react with thiophenes and reduce the concentration thereof in liquid fuel.