All The Claims

We claim:

1. An apparatus for supporting a biofilm in a liquid comprising:
a) a plurality of gas permeable hollow fibers, each hollow fiber having a lumen, an outer surface and an open end; and,
b) a header, the header having a cavity and a port open to the cavity,
wherein the hollow fibers extend from the header, with the outer surfaces of the open ends of the hollow fibers sealed to the header and the lumens of the hollow fibers communicating with the port through the cavity.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow fibers have an outside diameter of 100 microns or less.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow fibers have a hollow area of 10% or more, more preferably 30% or more.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow area is 50% or less.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow fibers are non-porous or dense walled.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow fibers comprise polymethyl pentene.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow fibers have a second end and are between 0.25 metres and 3.0 metres long.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the hollow fibers have a second end and are between 1.0 metres and 2.0 metres long.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow fibers are arranged into groups.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the groups comprise between 24 and 96 hollow fibers.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the groups further comprise second fibers that are stronger than the hollow fibers.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the group is a tow of fibers.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the group is a thread, yarn or twisted fibers.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow fibers are curled, crimped or undulating along their length.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow fibers extend along their length generally in a first direction.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising third fibers extending along their length generally in a second direction, the second perpendicular to the first direction.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the third fibers and hollow fibers are intertwined.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the hollow fibers and third fibers form a fabric.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the fabric is generally continuous across the length of the hollow fibers.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the fabric extends over a portion of the length of the hollow fibers near their open ends and does not extend over a central portion of the length of the fibers.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the hollow fibers and third fibers are woven, knitted, stitched or warp knitted together over at least a portion of the length of the hollow fibers.
22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hollow fibers have second open ends.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the second open ends of the hollow fibers are potted in a second header.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the second open ends communicate with a second port of the second header through a second cavity of the second header.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the header and the second header are spaced apart from each other and the hollow fibers are arranged into one or more flat sheets or generally parallel planar structures extending between the headers.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the flat sheets or planar structures are generally parallel to each other.
27. One or more of the apparatus of claim 25 wherein adjacent planar structures have a spacing between them of between 2 mm and 20 mm or, more preferably, of between 3 mm and 15 mm.
28. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first header and second header are held apart at a distance that applies a tensile force to the hollow fibers.
29. The apparatus of claim 25 further comprising spacers between the flat sheets or planar elements outside of the header.
30. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the flat sheets or planar structures further comprise a rigid member extending between the headers.
31. The apparatus of claim 1 having a surface area for oxygen transfer to surface area of supported biofilm ratio of about 1.6 or more.
32. The apparatus of claim 31 having a surface area for oxygen transfer to surface area of supported biofilm ratio of about 2 or more.
33. The apparatus of claim 32 having a surface area for oxygen transfer to surface area of supported biofilm ratio of about 5 or more.
34. The apparatus of claim 33 having a surface area for oxygen transfer to surface area of supported biofilm ratio of about 1 or less.
35. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the roughness of the fabric is between 0.1 and 2 mm.
36. A reactor comprising:
a) a tank for holding a liquid to be treated, the tank having an inlet and an outlet;
b) an apparatus according to claim 1; and, c) a gas delivery system for providing a gas to the port.
37. The reactor of claim 36 further comprising an agitator or aerator adapted to agitate the liquid around the apparatus.
38. The reactor of claim 36 further comprising a chemical injection system for injecting chemicals into either the lumens of the hollow fibers or a part of the reactor in communication with the outer surfaces of the hollow fibers.
39. The reactor of claim 36 having a heater to heat either the gas provided to the port or the liquid held in the tank.
40. A multi-stage reactor having two or more reactors according to claim 36, the outlet of a first reactor connected to the inlet of a second reactor.
41. The multi-stage reactor of claim 40 wherein the first and second reactors are plug flow reactors, batch reactors or continuously stirred reactors.
42. The multi-stage reactor of claim 37 wherein the apparatus of the second reactor has a lower surface area for oxygen transfer to surface area of supported biofilm ratio than the apparatus of the first reactor.
43. The multi-stage reactor of claim 40 wherein the apparatus of the first reactor has a surface area for oxygen transfer to surface area of supported biofilm ratio between of 5 or more and the apparatus of the second reactor has a surface area for oxygen transfer to surface area of supported biofilm ratio of 5 or less.
44. The reactor or multi-stage reactor of claim 36 wherein the reactor(s) have a plurality of the apparatus arranged in parallel between the inlet and outlet.
45. The multi-stage reactor of claim 40 wherein the fibers of the apparatus of the first reactor are formed into a sheet along their entire length while the fibers of the apparatus of the second reactor are unsupported by perpendicular fibers over a portion of their length.
46. A process for treating a liquid comprising the steps of:
a) contacting an apparatus having a port in communication with one or more inner surfaces of a gas permeable biofilm support medium with the liquid; and,
b) providing a gas to the port of the apparatus, the gas permeating to outer surface(s) of the medium to support a biofilm growing on the outer surface(s).
47. The process of claim 46 wherein the liquid comprises wastewater.
48. The process of claim 46 wherein the gas comprises oxygen.
49. The process of claim 46 wherein the gas comprises hydrogen.
50. The process of claim 47 wherein the biofilm is maintained in an aerobic state adjacent the outer surface(s) and in an anoxic or anaerobic state adjacent the liquid.
51. The process of claim 46 wherein the liquid is contacted with the apparatus in a batch or continuous process.
52. The process of claim 46 wherein the liquid is generally continuously or intermittently stirred.
53. The process of claim 46 wherein the liquid moves past the outer surface(s) in a generally plug flow.
54. The process of claim 46 wherein the biofilm is maintained in a state of generally endogenous growth.
55. The process of claim 54 performed in a septic tank or shipboard system or to treat a wastewater taken generally directly from one or more houses or businesses or parts of a ship.
56. The process of claim 46 wherein the biofilm is maintained at a thickness between 0.05 mm and 2 mm, more preferably between 0.1 mm and 1 mm.
57. The process of claim 46 further comprising the steps of maintaining a least a portion of the biofilm so that its thickness alternately increases and decreases, the biofilm increasing in thickness over first periods of time and, between the first periods of time, reducing the thickness of the biofilm.
58. The process of claim 57 wherein the thickness of only a portion of the biofilm is reduced at a time.
59. The process of claim 57 wherein the thickness of the biofilm is reduced by air scouring or agitating at least a portion of the liquid.
60. The process of claim 57 wherein the thickness of the biofilm is reduced by contacting at least a portion of the biofilm with a second liquid containing worms or other animals which digest the biofilm.
61. The process of claim 57 wherein the thickness of the biofilm is reduced by applying ozone to at least a portion of the biofilm from the lemen side of the fibers or from the outside of the biofilm to oxidize the portion of the biofilm and then maintaining the biofilm to digest the oxidized portion.
62. The process of claim 61 wherein the thickness of the biofilm is reduced by introducing ozone gas into the port followed by supplying oxygen to the port.
63. The process of claim 57 wherein the thickness of the biofilm is reduced by supplying air to the port while the liquid is removed from contact with the biofilm or provided at a loading of less than 0.1 kg CODs per kg MLSS per day to digest the biofilm aerobically.
64. The process of claim 57 wherein the thickness of the biofilm is reduced by applying a control agent to at least a portion of the outer surface of the biofilm.
65. The process of claim 64 wherein the control agent is clean water.
66. The process of claim 64 wherein the control agent is heated clean water, preferably heated to between 40 and 60 C.
67. The process of claim 64 wherein the control agent is ozone gas.
68. The process of claim 64 wherein the control agent is an alkali solution with a pH between 8 and 13, more preferably between 9 and 11.
69. The process of claim 64 wherein the control agent is an acid with a pH between 1 and 6, more preferably between 3 and 4.
70. The process of claim 64 wherein the control agent is a second liquid and the second liquid is agitated or aerated while in contact with the biofilm.
71. The process of claim 64 wherein the biofilm is digested aerobically after the control agent is applied.
72. The process of claim 57 wherein the thickness of the biofilm is reduced by draining the liquid away from contact with the biofilm.
73. The process of claim 57 wherein the thickness of the biofilm is reduced by stopping or reducing the supply of oxygen to the port from time to time or periodically to create alternating aerobic and anoxic or anaerobic conditions in a portion of the biolfilm.
74. The process of claim 57 wherein the thickness of the biofilm is reduced by physically removing a portion of the biofilm.
75. The process of claim 74 wherein the biofilm is physically removed by spraying it with a third liquid or scraping it with a brush or scraper.
76. The process of claim 57 wherein the liquid is removed from a portion of the biofilm while the thickness of that portion of the biofilm is being reduced.
77. The process of claim 46 wherein the amount of oxygen supplied to the port is increased during a period of time when the CODs of the liquid is increased.
78. The process of claim 46 wherein the liquid is periodically removed from the biofilm and replaced with a fresh batch of liquid and the supply of the gas is continued while the liquid is being removed, while the biofilm is not in contact with the liquid or while a fresh batch of liquid is being replaced in contact with the biofilm.
79. The process of claim 46 wherein the liquid, after being treated, has less than 10 mgL of suspended solids and less than 50 mgL of CODs.
80. The process of claim 46 operated in a two stage process wherein the first stage of the process reduces the CODs of the liquid to less than 300 mgL, more preferably to between 200 and 300 mgL.
81. The process of claim 46 wherein the liquid, before treatment, has a CODs of 1000 mgL or more and the apparatus has a surface area for gas transfer to surface area of attached biofilm of 1 or more, more preferably between 1 and 10.
82. The process of a claim 46 wherein the liquid, before treatment, has a CODs of 1000 mgL or less and the apparatus has a surface area for gas transfer to surface area of attached biofilm of between 0.2 and 2.5.
83. The process of claim 46 wherein the liquid, before treatment, has a CODs of 300 mgL or less and the apparatus has a surface area for gas transfer to surface area of attached biofilm of 1 or less, more preferably between 0.1 and 1.
84. A method for cutting the ends of fibers in the apparatus of claim 18 comprising the steps of gluing a potting resin around the open or looped ends of a plurality of the fibers and then cutting through the resulting block of hardened resin and fibers.
85. A method of producing an apparatus according to claim 18 comprising the steps of and adhering spacers to the planar member(s) parallel to but displaced from the open ends of the hollow fibers, a first edge of the spacers being nearer the ends of the hollow fibers and a second edge of the spacers being farther from the ends of the hollow fibers, inserting the planar member(s) into a header cavity, and applying a potting resin over the second edge of the spacers extending from the planar member(s) to walls of the header cavity.
86. The process of claim 57 wherein the thickness of the biofilm is reduced at least every 10 days or after the biofilm has digested between 20 and 200 grams of CODs per square metre of biofilm area since the last reduction.
87. The process of any of claims 46 operated as a batch process having steps of draining the liquid from a tank containing the apparatus, the draining step further comprising a step of draining a first part of the liquid containing settled solids to a first treatment system and draining a second part of the liquid to a second treatment system.

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. A valve actuation system for a poppet valve, which is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position, the valve actuation system comprising:
a reservoir operable to contain a fluid;
a first hydraulic device in selective fluid communication with said reservoir;
a second hydraulic device operable to bias the poppet valve toward the open position from the closed position, said second hydraulic device being in selective fluid communication with said reservoir and said first hydraulic device;
an accumulator in selective fluid communication with said first hydraulic device and said second hydraulic device;
wherein said first hydraulic device is operable to communicate said fluid to said accumulator for at least a portion of the movement of the poppet valve from the closed position to the open position; and
wherein said accumulator is operable to communicate said fluid to said second hydraulic device to bias the poppet valve toward the open position from the closed position.
2. The valve actuation system of claim 1, further comprising:
a solenoid valve operable to allow selective communication of said fluid between said first hydraulic device, said accumulator, said second hydraulic device, and said reservoir.
3. The valve actuation system of claim 1, further comprising:
a camshaft having base circle portion and a lobe portion;
a rocker arm disposed between said camshaft and the poppet valve;
wherein said camshaft rotatably engages said rocker arm; and
wherein said camshaft is operable to selectively open the poppet valve as said camshaft rotates from said base circle portion to said lobe portion.
4. The valve actuation system of claim 3, wherein said rocker arm is a roller finger follower.
5. The valve actuation system of claim 2, further comprising:
an electronic control unit; and
wherein said solenoid valve is controlled by said electronic control unit.
6. The valve actuation system of claim 1, further comprising:
a spring operable to bias the poppet valve into a closed position.
7. The valve actuation system of claim 3, wherein said second hydraulic device is mounted with respect to an end of said rocker arm opposite the poppet valve and said first hydraulic device is mounted with respect to said rocker arm between the poppet valve and said second hydraulic device.
8. A method of re-opening a poppet valve that is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position by rocker arm engaged with a rotatable camshaft, having a base circle portion and a lobe portion, the method comprising:
communicating a fluid from a first hydraulic device, in selective communication with a reservoir containing said fluid, to an accumulator for at least a portion of the rotation of the lobe portion of the camshaft into engagement with the rocker arm to facilitate the opening of the poppet valve;
blocking communication of said fluid between said first hydraulic device and said accumulator after a predetermined time;
communicating at least a portion of said fluid within said first hydraulic device and a second hydraulic device to said reservoir, wherein said second hydraulic device is operable to engage the rocker arm to bias the poppet valve toward the open position from the closed position; and
subsequently, communicating said fluid from said accumulator to said second hydraulic device to facilitate the re-opening of the poppet valve.
9. The method of re-opening a poppet valve of claim 8 further comprising:
communicating said fluid from said second hydraulic device to said reservoir to facilitate the closing of the poppet valve subsequent to the re-opening.
10. A valve actuation system for an internal combustion engine comprising:
a poppet valve selectively movable between a closed position and an open position;
a spring coaxially disposed about said poppet valve and operable to bias said poppet valve into said closed position;
a camshaft having a base circle portion and a lobe portion;
a rocker arm having a first arm portion and a second arm portion, said first arm portion being operable to bias said poppet valve;
wherein said camshaft rotatably engages said rocker arm, between said first arm portion and said second arm portion;
wherein said first arm portion biases said poppet valve from said closed position to said open position as said camshaft rotates said lobe portion into engagement with said rocker arm;
wherein said spring biases said poppet valve from said open position to said closed position as said camshaft rotates said base circle portion into engagement with said rocker arm;
a reservoir operable to contain a fluid;
a first hydraulic device in selective fluid communication with said reservoir;
a second hydraulic device mounted with respect to said second arm portion and operable to bias said poppet valve toward said open position from said closed position, said second hydraulic device being in selective fluid communication with said reservoir and said first hydraulic device;
an accumulator in selective fluid communication with said first hydraulic device and said second hydraulic device;
wherein said first hydraulic device is operable to communicate said fluid to said accumulator for at least a portion of the movement of said poppet valve from said closed position to said open position; and
wherein said accumulator is operable to communicate said fluid to said second hydraulic device to bias said poppet valve toward said open position from said closed position.
11. The valve actuation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 10, further comprising:
a solenoid valve operable to allow selective communication of said fluid between said first hydraulic device, said accumulator, said second hydraulic device, and said reservoir.
12. The valve actuation system for an internal combustion engine of claim 10, further comprising:
an electronic control unit; and
wherein said solenoid valve is controlled by said electronic control unit.

1. A bicycle front derailleur comprising:
a base member configured to be fixedly coupled to a bicycle frame;
a movable member having a chain guide portion; and
a linkage assembly coupled between the base member and the movable member to move the chain guide portion between a retracted position and an extended position,
the chain guide portion including an inner chain guide member, an outer chain guide member non-movably coupled to the inner chain guide member and a pushing element with a contact surface, the outer chain guide member being spaced laterally outwardly from the inner chain guide member to form a longitudinally extending chain receiving slot between opposing inner and outer laterally facing surfaces of the inner and outer chain guide members,
the pushing element being rotatably coupled to the chain guide portion and contacted and activated by a chain to move relative to the inner chain guide member from a first position with the pushing element at rest to a second position in response to activation by the chain, the contact surface moving laterally outwardly into the chain receiving slot toward the outer chain guide member as the pushing element moves from the first position to the second position.
2. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein
the pushing element is normally biased toward the first position from the second position by a biasing element such that the contact surface is located laterally further from the outer chain guide member in the first position with the pushing element at rest than in the second position.
3. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 2, wherein
the pushing element is rotatably attached to inner chain guide member for rotation about a rotation axis.
4. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 3, wherein
the rotation axis extends in a substantially vertical direction relative to the bicycle frame.
5. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein
the pushing element is coupled in a non-cable operated arrangement.
6. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein
the pushing element is not attached to the base member and is not attached to the linkage assembly such that the pushing element moves independently of movement of the linkage assembly.
7. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein
the pushing element is rotatably to the chain guide portion for rotation about a rotation axis that extends in a substantially vertical direction relative to the bicycle frame.
8. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein
the contact surface is a cam-shaped surface configured to move laterally outwardly as the pushing element rotates to the second position from the first position.
9. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 8, wherein
a portion of the contact surface projecting into the chain receiving slot moves in a longitudinally forward direction in an area adjacent the inner chain guide member as the pushing element rotates to the second position from the first position.
10. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 8, wherein
the pushing element is normally biased toward the first position from the second position by a biasing element.
11. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 10, wherein
the pushing element includes a cam-shaped control surface that engages the biasing element such that the pushing element is normally biased toward the first position from the second position by the biasing element.
12. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 11, wherein
the pushing element rotates from the first position to the second position and back to the first position in a single rotational direction.
13. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 8, wherein
the pushing element rotates from the first position to the second position and back to the first position in a single rotational direction.
14. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein
the pushing element rotates from the first position to the second position and back to the first position in a single rotational direction.
15. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 2, wherein
the pushing element includes a cam-shaped control surface that engages the biasing element such that the pushing element is normally biased toward the first position from the second position by the biasing element.
16. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 15, wherein
the pushing element rotates from the first position to the second position and back to the first position in a single rotational direction.
17. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein
the contact surface of the pushing element is laterally spaced toward the outer laterally facing surface from the inner laterally facing surface when the pushing element is in the first position at rest in order to be activated by the chain moving in the chain receiving slot.
18. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 1, wherein
the inner laterally facing surface of the inner chain guide member has a forward most edge and a rearward most, and the entire contact surface is longitudinally disposed between the forward most edge and the rearward most edge of the inner laterally facing surface.
19. The bicycle front derailleur according to claim 18, wherein
the pushing element is longitudinally disposed closer to the forward most edge than the rearward most edge of the inner laterally facing 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. A method of making a winged absorbent article having a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core sandwiched between said topsheet and said backsheet, wherein said method comprises:
(a) feeding at least one web of wing-making material, said web having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface,
(b) attaching a plurality of landing zones in spaced apart relationship, on one surface of said web,
(c) attaching at least one wing tab on the edge of said web,
(d) longitudinally folding said web in a generally Z-fold configuration and forming a releasable bond on said longitudinal fold,
(e) feeding said chassis in one direction, and
(f) severing individual folded wing portions from said web and attaching 1-4 individual folded wing portions to 1-4 edges of the wing of said chassis at predetermined spaced intervals, while causing said web and said chassis to travel in the same direction at said point of attachment.
2. A method as in claim 1 wherein each of said wings is attached to said topsheet.
3. A method as in claim 1 wherein each of said wings is attached to said backsheet.
4. A method as in claim 1 wherein each of said wings is attached intermediate said topsheet and said backsheet.
5. A method as in claim 1 wherein said landing zones are perforated.
6. A method as in claim 2 wherein said landing zones are perforated.
7. A method as in claim 3 wherein said landing zones are perforated.
8. A method as in claim 4 wherein said landing zones are perforated.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
10. The method of claim 2 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
11. The method of claim 3 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
12. The method of claim 4 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
13. The method of claim 5 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
14. The method of claim 6 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
15. The method of claim 7 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
16. The method of claim 8 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
17. A method as in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 wherein each of said folded wings is folded over the top surface of said topsheet and is releasably bonded to said topsheet.
18. A method as in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 wherein each of said folded wings is folded under the bottom surface of said backsheet and is releasably bonded to said backsheet.
19. A method of making a winged absorbent article having a chassis comprising a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core sandwiched between said topsheet and said backsheet, wherein said method comprises:
(a) feeding at least one web of wing-making material, said web having an upper surface and an opposed lower surface,
(b) attaching at lest one wing tab on the edge of said web,
(c) longitudinally folding said web in a generally z-fold configuration and forming a temporary bond on said longitudinal fold,
(d) feeding said chassis in one direction, and
(e) severing individual folded wing portions from said web and attaching 1-4 individual folded wing portions to 1-4 edges of the wing of said chassis at predetermined spaced intervals, while causing said web and said chassis to travel in the same direction at said point of attachment.
20. A method as in claim 19 wherein each of said wings is attached to said topsheet.
21. A method as in claim 19 wherein each of said wings is attached to said backsheet.
22. A method as in claim 19 wherein each of said wings is attached intermediate said topsheet and said backsheet.
23. A method as in claim 19 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
24. A method as in claim 20 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
25. A method as in claim 21 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
26. A method as in claim 22 wherein said wings are at least partly elasticated.
27. The method of claims 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 26 wherein each of said folded wings is folded over the top surface of said topsheet and is releasably bonded to said topsheet.
28. The method of claims 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 26 wherein each of said folded wings is folded under the bottom surface of said backsheet and is releasably bonded to said backsheet.
29. A method as in claim 5 wherein each landing zone is perforated after attaching the landing zone to the web.
30. A method as in claim 6 wherein each landing zone is perforated after attaching the landing zone to the web.
31. A method as in claim 7 wherein each landing zone is perforated after attaching the landing zone to the web.
32. A method as in claim 8 wherein each landing zone is perforated after attaching the landing zone to the web.
33. A method as in claims 29, 30, 31 or 32 wherein each landing zone has a top surface and a bottom surface and wherein said bottom surface is coated with adhesive.