Abstract: A pickup truck bed with a vertically hinged passenger door mounted in a side panel thereof. The door permits passenger ingress and egress to the bed area, and conceals a gas cap behind the door and under the bed. Access to the gas cap and ingress and egress is controlled by a locking mechanism operatively associated with the door.

Abstract: A combination corrosion probe and sampling device. The probe is flexible such that it can be inserted into a piece of operating equipment such as a distillation column and reach tray surfaces or the like which heretofore have been difficult, if not impossible, to reach with a probe. The probe allows the measurement of the rate of corrosion over a period of time and further includes a thermocouple and temperature compensation means to assure the accuracy of the amount of corrosion measured. The flexibility of the probe is enabled by a portion of the probe being fabricated from a pliant substantially cylindrical member such as a ribbed cable protector. A capillary tube runs substantially the length of the probe having an open end in close proximity to the location where corrosion is being measured. That capillary tube runs to a sampling valve near the opposite end of the probe.

Abstract: Low odor carbon and paint remover compositions useful in the removal of carbon build-ups and paint coatings and films from surfaces such as those associated with the combustion of fuels are disclosed which consists essentially of from about 45 to about 90 volume percent of a short chain chlorinated hydrocarbon, from about 3 to about 30 volume percent of a short chain dialkylamide, from about 1 to about 5 volume percent of a suitable surfactant, and from about 2 to about 20 volume percent of water. These compositions are corrosion resistant and ecologically safe, and may also include mixtures of polar and non-polar organic solvents with a blend of cationic and non-ionic surfactants and corrosion inhibitors.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for extracting the fence post and the like from the earth. The invention is preferably used in conjunction with a tractor, backhoe or other piece of mobile equipment having hydraulical controls for supplementally attached equipment. The hydraulic controls of the tractor are connected to a hydraulic cylinder on the apparatus capable of creating approximately one foot of horizontal travel within the apparatus. Through the use of a fixed length of cable and a series of sheaves, this approximate one foot of horizontal travel is translated into approximately five feet of vertical travel. There are self-clamping jaws which automatically engage a fence post or the like when the hydraulic cylinder is used to actuate the lifting mechanism. In operation, the tractor is merely backed up to a fence post and the hydraulic controls operated to actuate the hydraulic cylinder thereby engaging the fence post and extracting it all in one motion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of and apparatus for removing chemical nerve agents such as tabun, sarin and soman and chemical blister agents such as mustard gas and lewisite from a cleaning solvent such that the solvent is rendered contaminant free and safely resuable in future cleaning operations. The solvent, trichlorotrifluoroethene and the contaminants are soluble in one another and are all of non-polar configuration. Removal is effected by preferential adsorption of the contaminants from the solvent. Effective adsorbents are Fuller's Earth, activated charcoal, activated alumina and silica gel.

Abstract: A swivel flow line connector is disclosed for use in misaligned connections. The connector includes male and female flanged tubular members and a seal ring positioned therebetween. The male member and the seal ring have mating annular spherical surfaces which are respectively convex and concave. The female member and the seal ring have mating frustoconical tapered surfaces, but the outside diameter of the seal ring is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the female member frustoconical surface. Prior to drawing the male and female members together by bolting respective flanges thereof, the convex male member surface is pivotably engaged with the concave seal ring surface for alignment of the members in the desired swiveled position. Upon drawing the members together by tightening the flange bolts, the seal ring is radially compressed by axial displacement of the female member frustoconical surface with respect to the corresponding tapered surface of the seal ring.

Abstract: A swivel flow line connector is disclosed for use in misaligned connections. The connector includes male and female flange tubular members and a seal ring positioned therebetween. The male member and the seal ring have mating annular spherical surfaces which are respectively convex and concave. The female member and the seal ring have mating frustoconical tapered surfaces, but the outside diameter of the seal ring is slightly larger than the inside diameter of the female member frustoconical surface. Prior to drawing the male and female members together by bolting respective flanges thereof, the convex male member surface is pivotably engaged with the concave seal ring surface for alignment of the members in the desired swiveled position. Upon drawing the members together by tightening the flange bolts, the seal ring is radially compressed by axial displacement of the female member frustoconical surface with respect to the corresponding tapered surface of the seal ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is a personal sun shield device for attachment directly to the facial area of the wearer. The shield has a primary shield member preferrably positionable immediately above the wearer's line of vision and a lower shield member which extends downward from the primary shield member to provide a slot such that the wearer's line of vision is through the slot between the primary shield member and the lower shield member. The lower shield member can be folded upward to reside in abutting position immediately behind the primary shield member so that the wearer has the option of using or not using the lower shield member. The primary shield member attaches to the face of the wearer by means of suction cups or two-sided tape preferrably in the area of the wearer's temples. This direct attachment allows the wearer to manipulate the primary shield member slightly upward or downward by means of merely raising or lowering his brow.

Abstract: A plunger lock with a readily removable core is disclosed. The lock has a cylindrical housing and a core. The core is provided with a detent which is retractable when the proper key is inserted in the keyway of the core to permit rotation of the core within the housing. The rotation and longitudinal movement of the core within the housing is defined by the cooperation of a stop in a locking/unlocking groove formed on the core to permit the core to move longitudinally between locked and unlocked positions. The keyway opens to the surface of the core adjacent the locking/unlocking groove. A core insertion/removal groove is formed on the core adjacent the keyway on the opposite side from the locking/unlocking groove. A normal operating key which is inserted in the keyway permits retraction of the detent so that the core may be moved between the locked and unlocked positions, but prevents passage of the stop between the locking/unlocking groove and the core insertion/removal groove.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mixing valve for use in sludge treatment and solidification of sludge ponds. The valve has a main body into which the sludge suspension is pumped. Located within the main body of the valve is a flexible hose through which the sludge treating and solidification agents such as lime, cement, quicklime and sand is delivered pneumatically into the main body of the valve. The turbulence created by the discharge of air and solids into the sludge suspension causes the component to mix thoroughly with one another. Mixing is enhanced by allowing the open end of the flexible hose to be free. Thus, when blowing in the treating and solidification agents, the free end of the hose is allowed to flap within the main body of the valve thereby enhancing turbulence and mixing.

Abstract: Garments contaminated with radioactive, toxin, biological and/or chemical contaminants are deposited in a cleaning drum and the drum is agitated during a wash cycle. A dry cleaning solvent is added to the drum during the initial wash cycle and then drained to a distillation means. Within the distillation means, there is a neutralizing agent which deactivates the biological and toxin contaminants and chemically breaks down the chemical contaminants removed with the dry cleaning solvent from the cleaning drum. Dry cleaning solvent is then continuously added to the drum during the secondary wash cycle and continuously removed from the drum. After the dry cleaning solvent is removed from the drum, and before it is pumped back to the drum, the dry cleaning solvent is filtered to remove remaining trace particulate contaminants. The dry cleaning solvent is also passed through an absorber where remaining trace chemical contaminants dissolves in the dry cleaning solvent are removed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing polychlorinated biphenyls from electrical apparatus, particularly transformers, to achieve concentration levels of 50 ppm or less as required by the EPA. A dielectric fluid having a relatively low boiling point as compared to polychlorinated biphenyls and other contaminants and in which PCB's are soluble is selected. There is an external cooling loop through which the dielectric fluid is circulated maintaining the temperature and pressure of the transformer within its design limits. There is an external distillation loop where the liquid removed from the transformer is heated to boiling point of the selected dielectric fluid thereby vaporizing the dielectric fluid and leaving the polychlorinated biphenyls in liquid phase in the distillation vessel. The dielectric fluid vapor is then condensed and returned to solubilize remaining PCB's in the transformer.

Abstract: Garments contaminated with radioactive, toxin, biological and/or chemical contaminants are deposited in a cleaning drum and the drum is agitated during a wash cycle. A dry cleaning solvent is added to the drum during the initial wash cycle and then drained to a distillation means. Within the distillation means, there is a neutralizing agent which deactivates the biological and toxin contaminants and chemically breaks down the chemical contaminants removed with the dry cleaning solvent from the cleaning drum. Dry cleaning solvent is then continuously added to the drum during the secondary wash cycle and continuously removed from the drum. After the dry cleaning solvent is removed from the drum, and before it is pumped back to the drum, the dry cleaning solvent is filtered to remove remaining trace particulate contaminants. The dry cleaning solvent is also passed through an adsorber where remaining trace chemical contaminants dissolves in the dry cleaning solvent are removed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drill bit for use downhole in oil and gas wells. It is particularly adoptable for use in removing obstructions such as well packers which may become jammed within the casings of oil and gas wells. Cutters are arranged on the cutting face of the drill bit in arc-like patterns of decreasing radius. The shear angle of each cutter combined with the arc-like pattern in which the cutters are arranged serve to direct the cuttings and drilling debris inward toward the central bore. Fluid can be pumped down through the well casing and circulated about the drill bit through longitudinal channels provided in the main body of the drill bit. In such manner, the fluid circulates downward within the casing and across the cutting face of the drill bit carrying the cuttings and drilling debris up through the central bore thus preventing the cuttings in drilling debris from building up within the casing or causing the drill bit to jam within the casing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for stabilizing an air spring dumping trailer during dumping operations. Suspension hangers are affixed to the main support frame in front of the rear axle. Arm members are pivotally connected to the hangers and extend rearward past the rear axle. An axle seat is mounted to each of the arm members and air springs are provided between the axle seats in the main support frame. The section of the arm member which cantilevers past the rear axle is provided with a chock. A second chock is mounted to the main support frame. During trailer dumping operation, the air springs are deflated allowing the first and second chocks to interact with one another thereby creating a load transfer means between the main support frame and the arm member thereby bypassing the air springs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of rapidly and inexpensively converting an ocean deck or cargo barge so that it may be used as a U.S. Coast Guard approved manned service and construction barge. This is accomplished by providing the cargo barge with modular components mounted to the deck of the barge. Such modular components include crew living quarters modules, a kitchen module, a mess module, storage module and a central services module. The central services module functions to distribute the utilities required for manned use. Such utilities include electrical power, potable water and fire water. The barge is also provided with generators, fuel tanks, bulk storage potable water tanks and a crane.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved grip for tennis rackets. The grip is inversely tapered such that it narrows moving along the axis of the handle away from the head of the racket. Further, the grip is hexagonal in cross-section. In other words, the grip is substantially a truncated hexagonal pyramid. This design is structurally compatible with the skeletal and muscular structure of the human hand, wrist and arm. The inverse taper allows for more comfortable gripping by allowing the wrist to automatically go into dorsi flexion which results in permitting the fingers to flex more easily. The mobile ring and little finger metacarpals are allowed to oppose the thenar emminence thus bringing the ring and little fingers into more advantageous contact with the grip thereby making the holding of the grip less fatiguing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an underwater seismic energy source which includes a plurality of airguns. Each of the airguns has substantially the same size, weight and external configuration, but the internal capacities are configured such that when the guns are fired the primary pulses interfere constructively and the bubble pulses interfere destructively. Each of the airguns is connected in the same way to an individual tow line, each having the same length. When the airguns are towed, they are maintain substantially the same depth, even without flotation devices such as Norwegian buoys or rigid floats.

Abstract: An improved seat belt to be coupled to and used in conjunction with the existing seat belt in an automobile or other motor vehicle. The connecting means is attachable to and detachable from the strap of an existing seat belt. The pivotable movement of the connecting means is enabled through the use of a base plate having a belt plate pivotably connected thereto. The base plate contains a slot means for affixation to the existing seat belt in the automobile. The belt plate includes a slot means for connection to the supplemental seat belt. The pivotable connecting means allows the wearer of the improved seat belt greater versatility and freedom of movement while maintaining full safety and restraint. Particularly, the wearer of the improved seat belt will not be restrained from rotational movement such that the wearer may rest horizontally on the seat.

Abstract: An improved drumstick comprising a body and an end, a longitudinal axis extending through said body and said end, a knob means extending from said end and which is engaged by a percussion means fitting thereover, the external dimension of said percussion means when measured laterally through the longitudinal axis being no greater than the lateral dimension of said stick when measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, at the point of abutment between the stick and the percussion means so as to facilitate handling of the stick and to enhance the physical durability thereof.