Abstract: A process for in situ production of shale oil comprises fracturing the target zone 10 of an shale oil formation using a two step approach. First, an initial set of fractures 18 is developed in the formation by using high pressure gas pulses. Second, a secondary set of fractures 28 extending and further fracturing the initial set of fractures 18 is created using a modified ANFO mix 22 wherein rubber particles acting as solid fuel are blended in with ammonium nitrate and fuel oil. The solid fuel enhances the fracturing characteristics of ANFO while minimizing its crushing and compacting tendencies. Hot high pour point oil is then injected into the formation and forced into the receptor well 16 where it is pumped to the surface. By circulating oil in the formation at carefully controlled temperatures, kerogen can be decomposed at the optimum rate to maximize the amount of oil recovered and yield high quality shale oil.

Abstract: A pendulum vacuum gate valve comprised of a housing for enclosing a valve plate assembly having a pair of air pressure actuated floating seal plates disposed on opposite sides of the valve plate assembly which is actuated by a gate arm to reciprocate between open and closed positions and intermediate stop positions for controlling gas flow between intake and exhaust conduits connected to the housing.

Abstract: A grill assembly for cooking food items over a heat source includes a grill body capable of holding the food items and at least one grill body handle having a grip end and a grill body engagement end. The grill body is provided with a handle engagement structure which is adapted to rotatably hold the grill body engagement end of the grill body handle so as to allow the grill body to be turned over on the handle while holding the grip end of the handle. The handle engagement structure of the grill is preferably provided in the form of handle insertion structure such as one or more insertion sleeves on the periphery of the grill body. Suitably two spaced apart handles are provided which rotatably engage the grill body whereby the grill body can be turned over on the two handles without the user altering his or her grip on the handles.

Abstract: An rf pulse compressor has a single high Q cavity resonator fed by a four port hybrid coupler which is connected to the resonator at coupling ports located at the intersection of two of the resonator's orthogonal axes with the resonator cavity walls. The hybrid coupler divides pulse power from an rf pulse power source and excites two space and phase orthogonal modes in the single cavity, the stored energy of which aids in producing compressed pulses at the output of the hybrid. On-axis perturbations in the cavity walls can be used to lock the orthogonal orientation of the modes excited in the cavity.

Abstract: A method for treatment for conditions in human beings associated with either or both reactive arthritis or bursitis comprising administering a combination of a member from each of the following groups of medications: (1) synthetic purine nucleoside analog antiviral drugs, (2) antibiotic drugs, and (3) imidazole drugs. Alternate embodiments of the invention include dual combinations of (A) a member of the synthetic purine nucleoside analog group of antiviral drugs and a member of the antibiotic group of drugs, (B) a member of the antibiotic group of drugs and a member of the imidazole family of drugs, and (C) a member of the synthetic purine nucleoside analog group of antiviral drugs and a member of the imidazole group of drugs.

Abstract: A side frame for a loudspeaker rigging system has a frame structure mountable to the side of a loudspeaker, and links associated with the frame structure for linking together the corners of the frame structures of vertically adjacent side frames. The links associated with each side frame structure include a pivot link and splay adjustment link, each of which has a top extended end and a base end. Stow channels, which are preferably located in the bottom corner regions of the frame structure, contain the pivot link and splay adjustment link in the frame structure. A gripping structure associated with at least one, and preferably each link of the pivot and splay adjustment links allows a user to easily maneuver a link from its stowed to its deployed position.

Abstract: A mobile cargo container handling buffer crane having a bridge crane mounted thereon for transferring cargo containers between a ship and land transportation with an intermediate transfer position at which a suspended container can be noninvasively inspected by a longitudinally reciprocating container traversing nonintrusive inspection apparatus.

Abstract: A thermal control unit (TCU) for maintaining the set point temperature of an IC device under test (DUT) has a thermoelectric module (a Peltier device), a fluid circulation block, a lower pedestal assembly containing a thermal sensor, and an upper cover housing arranged in a stacked relationship along the z-axis of the TCU. A z-axis compliant force is supplied from the TCU's cover housing by means of a spring-loaded pusher mechanism that supplies a compliant spring force to the stacked arrangement of the fluid block, peltier device, and pedestal assembly. The z-axis compliant force provided by the spring-loaded pusher mechanism produces efficient thermal contact between the peltier device and the stacked components of the TCU containing the peltier device and allows the peltier device to expand and contract within the TCU to extend the life of the peltier device.