Abstract: An improved waste collecting device is disclosed for dogs and like animals. The device comprises an adjustable harness constructed to fit about the torso of a variety of dog sizes having a back strap intended to extend from the neck to the rump area of the dog and a pair of lateral straps attached along the back strap to releasably fasten the harness about the neck and waist of the dog. A tail strap assembly is further provided on the harness and is adapted to be adjustably fastened along the rearward length of the back strap for holding a waste receptacle assembly in proper position. The waste receptacle assembly is fastened to bifurcated support straps around the tail of the dog and includes a disposable collection bag and a specially configured bag holder intended to support and maintain the bag in a position freely resting immediately adjacent to the dog's rectum.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for preparing zinc polyphosphate in a stable, concentrated solution, for water treatment purposes having a pH above 7.0 and in a preferred range of pH between 8.0 and 10.0. Without any acid solubilization required, an approximate 60% solution of tetrapotassium pyrophosphate (TKPP) is formulated and mixed thoroughly in a tank or similar container. Under constant stirring, a predetermined aqueous solution of a normal zinc salt, such as zinc chloride, gradually injected and mixed together into the TKPP solution at a preferred rate of about 5% of the zinc salt solution per minute and in a sufficient amount determined to add about 1 part of zinc to between 5-8 parts of TKPP by weight for maximum corrosion protection.

Abstract: An improved personal watercraft launcher is disclosed having a deployable carriage mounted upon a dock surface and movable in a guided path between a stowed and deployed position. A cradle assembly affixed to the dock surface near to the water is equipped with a pair of opposed rollers inwardly directed to engage open channels of longitudinal rails on each side of the carriage. Guided by the roller engagement of the side rail channels and limited in travel by roller stops fixed along the side rails, the carriage is moved longitudinally through the cradle assembly along the dock surface from its stowed position with the watercraft carried directly upon adjustable support members secured to the carriage.

Abstract: A protective gel composition is disclosed for coating skin surfaces, particularly the hands of the surgical attendants prior to covering the hands with standard surgical gloves. In one example, the composition comprises controlled proportions in mixture by weight of lanolin, a liquid silicone, polypropylene glycol mono-oleate, polytetrafluoroethylene powder in microspherical form and zinc oxide powder. Anti-microbial and anti-viral agents may be further added to fortify the coating of the composition, with a preferred such agent being nonoxynol-9. The sterilized composition is applied to the hands after scrubbing and just prior to insertion into the gloves. The coating is water-repellent to prevent skin contact with body fluids, such as blood and blood products, that may penetrate the gloves and otherwise expose the skin to harmful microbial and viral infections. When the gloves are removed following the surgical procedure, the coating is easily removed with an alcohol and liquid detergent wash.

Abstract: An electro-optical signaling system and associated method is disclosed for communicating numerical information, such as time of day or ambient temperature, to an observer. The signaling system comprises a linear array of flashing lights, established in a vertical direction, each light being connected in parallel to the output of a microprocessor for controlling the energization of the lights and the sequence thereof. With individual lights being normally "off" and under the control of the microprocessor, energization signals are delivered to the light array in accordance with a control algorithm to turn selected lights "on" and then "off" in a predetermined, serial sequence so that the array as a whole may display a coded message indicative of numerical digits.

Abstract: A cooling tower system and associated method is disclosed for controlling an aqueous coolant circulated through a cooling tower without requiring discharge of the coolant during recirculation. The coolant pumped from the cooling tower is filtered and monitored for characteristics. Generally acceptable levels of pH, temperature and TDS are maintained in the coolant to reduce the corrosive and scale-forming tendencies thereof and with those levels being maintained and monitored, the calcium content of the coolant is then adjusted in order to balance the Langelier Saturation Index (Sl) at a zero level. A computer is programmed to resolve control algorithms for Sl=0 and, using stored tabular data corresponding to the respective values of the monitored characteristics of pH, temperature, alkalinity and TDS, the computer calculates the value of calcium necessary to maintain a zero index.

Abstract: An improved electro-optical detection system is disclosed capable of use in a fluorescent polarization instrument. In a single or dual channel system, an integrated photodetector/amplifier is combined with a linear charge-balancing voltage-to-frequency converter to produce a digital frequency indicative of the intensity of polarized fluorescence emmited by a chemically treated body fluid sample, such as blood, upon light excitation thereof. A chopper-stabilized amplifier is further connected to the input of the voltage-to-frequency converter for automatically correcting input offset currents and temperature drift. The digital frequency is counted and the data corresponding thereto is transferred via bus connection to a microcomputer for evaluation and display.

Abstract: An improved gas-fired radiant heater is disclosed, particularly useful in drying continuous web materials, wherein a partially compartmentalized manifold chamber is formed beneath an extended series of porous ceramic tiles for evenly distributing a predetermined gas-air mixture of fuel so that upon ignition there is provided a continuous burning surface along the entire length of the tiles. A plurality of baffle members are disposed throughout an elongated manifold housing to compartmentalize lower portions of the manifold chamber and thereby permit the proper flow of fuel through the heater to generate a more uniform radiant heat field. An air jacket assembly surrounding the manifold chamber is further provided and includes an outer casing into which cooling air is injected and circulated throughout the length of the heater.

Abstract: A computer-aided process is disclosed for automatically generating a camera-ready hardcopy of a graphical plot upon command instructions inputted via a conventional storage tube graphics display terminal having an addressable cross-hair cursor and a keyboard. In accordance with an interactive graphics code or program, tabular data coordinates stored in computer file form are retrieved and plotted on appropriately titled and scaled axes with the plotted coordinates being interconnected along curves formed of a smooth or linear nature by interpolation. The graphical plot viewed on the display terminal is further enhanced by inclusion of labels, shaded areas, and reference symbols and characters prior to printing out the hardcopy of an associated hardcopy unit coupled to the display terminal.

Abstract: A webbing system is disclosed for use as an aircraft barricade wherein a rality of rectangularly-shaped engaging loops are arranged in an alternating, multi-planar array and suspended across a landing area in the path of an approaching aircraft upon an assembly of support loops stretched between a pair of stanchions and connected on either side to an energy absorbing device. Slidably connected along upper and lower horizontal components of the support loops, the engaging loops are free to move laterally along the support loops toward the longitudinal axis of the aircraft when penetrated by the fuselage so that the aircraft is ensnared about its wings by the loops with equalized loading and its forward motion arrested.

Abstract: A fiber optic sensor system and associated technique is disclosed for measuring an electric field wherein a sensor arm of optical fiber cable is wound about a core member of piezoelectric material. A reference arm of optical fiber cable substantially equal in optical path length to the sensor arm is isolated and connected in parallel to the sensor arm so that coherent light generated by a single mode laser source may be split through the fiber-optic arms and recombined after passage therethrough for phase comparison. When subjected to a local electric field, the core member of piezoelectric material varies in dimensions and thereby causes a change in the strain in the optical fiber cable of the sensor arm. Relative phase changes in the coherent light caused by the resulting optical path length change of the strained sensor arm are detected by a passive homodyne demodulator and determinative of the value of the local electric field.

Abstract: An air bag restraint system is disclosed for protecting an occupant in a t during ejection from a vehicle, particularly an aircraft. In one preferred embodiment, an air bag member is deployed from a stored position frontally to the chest of the occupant and guided upward and downward along tracks on either side of the seat so that the upper body of the occupant is enclosed within the seat just prior to ejection. In another preferred embodiment, the air bag is stowed within a cover about a semicircular hoop releasably connected to the seat about the chest of the occupant. At the initiation of the ejection sequence, the cover is released and the air bag inflated, expanded into the proper shape by external restraint straps, so that the head, arms and torso of the occupant are encapsulated at the time of ejection.

Abstract: A harness system is disclosed for releasably restraining the torso of a cman in a seat aboard an aircraft. The harness system includes an upper torso restraint adapted to engage the seat at points on either side thereof and wherein a pair of chest straps connected to either side of a backpad are slidingly routed through respective roller fittings in a criss-cross fashion across the crewman to permit upper torso rotation. A separate lower torso restraint is coupled to the upper torso restraint and adapted to engage the seat at the same points of engagement as the upper torso restraint. A single-action release mechanism, actuated manually or automatically by water immersion, disengages both the upper and lower restraints from the seat thereby divesting the crewman of the harness system.

Abstract: A rubber-modified epoxy adhesive and the method of making the same is dissed for use in bonding graphite-epoxy composite structures. The adhesive comprises a two-part formulation, one part being a reaction product of a carboxyl terminated reactive liquid rubber prereacted with a bisphenol A epoxy resin so that linear epoxy-rubber chains are developed. The second part of the adhesive is an amine curing agent. One effective example of the adhesive is formulated as follows: approximately 4 parts by weight of the bisphenol A epoxy resin is mixed per part of a carboxyl terminated butadiene acrylonitrile rubber and heated to 170.degree. C. At 160.degree. C., a catalyst of approximately 0.01 parts by weight of triphenyl phosphene per part of the rubber is added and the mixture stirred for one hour at 170.degree.-175.degree. C. to provide the reaction product.

Abstract: An optical system is disclosed wherein light is transmitted through fibertic members orthogonally configured in a triaxial arrangement for measuring the magnetic field vector preset in the environment. In one preferred embodiment, a set of three fiber-optic coils positioned coaxially along respective orthogonal axes and having predetermined lengths and diameters are coupled to a source of polarized light for transmitting the light subject to Faraday rotation of its plane of polarization. In another preferred embodiment, light, not necessarily polarized. is transmitted along respective orthogonal axes through a set of three bifurcated fiber-optic cables each formed having a reference branch and a substantially equilaterally sensor branch on which a magnetostrictive material is intimately connected to produce optical path length changes related to the magnetic field component along the respective axes.

Abstract: A gated fiber optic sensor system is disclosed for increasing the effective ptical path of a length of optical fiber cable. A pulse of polarized light having a known optical wavelength is directed into a length of optical fiber cable for propagation therethrough in a cyclic path. A planar semiconductor member is mounted in the path of the polarized light pulse at the Brewster angle to permit continuous transmission of the polarized light pulse through the cable until a light pulse of a second optical wavelength is made to impinge upon the semiconductor member, changing the reflectivity characteristics thereof and causing the polarized pulse to be extracted from its cyclic path for detection and processing.