Abstract: Transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) located conveniently between the conventional plug-in watt-hour meter and its socket at a customer's location. Over-voltage means, such as one or preferably more metal oxide varistors, are supported there, as in a cylindrical housing called a meter adapter. The varistors connect electrically between power leads and an external ground lead to clip voltage transients and to shunt resulting surge currents harmlessly to ground. Varistors may be inserted into suitable holders therein or may be prepackaged and be retained therein within such prepackaging. One terminal and preferably a face of each varistor is contiguous with an extensive laminar conductor within the adapter in the pathway to ground so as to accommodate extremely surge currents and to aid in dissipating resulting accumulation of thermal energy.

Abstract: Imaging method and system useful for medical and other imaging. An image field is scanned as an array to yield a succession of values of optical density or other characteristic of interest. The resulting numerical values in preferably digital form are linked end to end to provide a large integral number, which is partitioned into a set of ordered numerical terms summing to the same number. Stored values are retrieved directly or by computation upon command and are processed and applied inversely to reconstitute the scanned values, from which a replica of the original image field is easily produced.

Abstract: Stir-wipe apparatus in the form of rotatable stirrer means fitting removably in a cooking vessel, being effective together with non-manual drive means to stir the contents slowly and to wipe the sidewall and the bottom of the vessel in doing so. The drive means is conveniently an electric motor located on a lid for the cooking vessel or in a handle of the lid or a handle of the vessel itself.

Abstract: Reinforced fence and building wall construction having upright tubular posts supporting lightweight foam wall panels extending from post to post. The vertical side edges of the panels are recessed to accommodate enough of the post circumferential extent to conceal the posts from exterior view. The panels have reinforcing members, preferably both upper and lower, extending horizontally between and to the panel vertical side edges. Each end of a reinforcing member is similarly recessed and has an adjacent lip, preferably formed from the end of the reinforcing member before its recessing, fitting closely about the post. During installation of such a wall the lips of the reinforcing members are fastened to their respective posts.

Abstract: Skin disinfectant with colorizer, plus removal of the resulting color, especially for udders of milking animals. An aqueous solution of a permanganate as colorizer, a hypochlorite as disinfectant, and an organic acid as buffer is applied in a post-milking step. The resulting color provides positive visual assurance of disinfectant application. Subsequent removal of the color can be accomplished by applyication of an aqueous solution of peroxide and an organic acid. Removal of residual color is appropriate just before the next milking not only as a cleaning step but also to ensure post-milking disinfecting, and is also effective upon the hands or other skin of persons or animals however colored with permanganate or like material.

Abstract: Thick-film varistors are made by melting and flame-spraying of precursor particulates onto circuit board substrate material already provided with conductive layers or laminae preferably on both sides. The resulting circuit boards are useful in transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS), such as in a TVSS watt-hour meter adapter.

Abstract: Varistors with modified response are made by rearrangement of electrical conductors in contact with them as on a circuit board. The rearrangement involves graduated separation of hot and ground leads so as to provide graduated paths through the varistors. The resulting circuit boards are useful in transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS), such as between a watt-hour meter and its socket for protection of the meter and downstream electrical equipment.

Abstract: Method of generating electrical power without emission of harmful substances from combustion of a water-derived fuel gas mixture. An underwater carbon arc operated in the absence of hydrocarbons results in a mixture of gases, being non-self-combustible but combustible as a fuel gas in the presence of air, and comprising gaseous hydrogen in major amount and carbon oxides in minor amount, mainly carbon monoxide. The fuel gas is adapted, along with air, to run an internal combustion engine driving an electrical generator and so to provide useful electrical power without the harmful emissions usual in combustion of fossil fuels.

Abstract: A piston fluid valve mechanism and method, wherein annular outer and core inner coaxial valve members are adapted to move to and fro slidably relative to one another and to bar upstream-to-downstream fluid flow when mutually juxtaposed into seated position but adapted to enable such flow when spaced apart in unseated position.

Abstract: Building walls comprising flanged supporting posts spaced on centers and uniform lightweight panels doubly slotted at their ends fitting between adjacent posts and engaging such flanges. The engaged post flanges are substantially concealed from view.

Abstract: Making patterned electrically conductive structures, such as circuit elements, in single or multiple laminar form. The basic laminar structure is made by forming and filling an intaglio pattern in a non-conductive sheet with solidifiable electrically conductive material in pliable form, bonding the respective conductive and non-conductive materials in place and together, and removing the sheet portion underlying the conductive pattern to leave both the conductive and the non-conductive materials bonded laterally as a single lamina. Face-to-face juxtaposition of like or unlike laminae so made provides built-up or laminated products.

Abstract: Transient voltage surge suppression (TVSS) meter adapter status indication perceptible by a nearby observer. When TVSS over-voltage protective means is on-line, a visible and/or audible signal is generated within the meter adapter housing and is transmitted to the exterior. Light emitted by an indicating lamp connected in series with the over-voltage protective element is transmitted to the exterior by means of a translucent rod to which the lamp is juxtaposed extending through the meter adapter housing wall and terminating just outside. Sound emitted by a buzzer similarly located is transmitted through the housing wall upon demand of an an observer outside, who actuates a normally open switch in series with the buzzer by juxtaposing a small magnet against the housing wall.

Abstract: Converting wet-process phosphoric acid operations, to minimize and nearly eliminate discharge of contaminants to the environment, by generation, use, and treatment of new and unique process waters. Fluorides and other contaminants soluble under acidic conditions are insolubilized, and substantially all phosphoric acid is recovered. Acid pond water from conventional wet-process phosphoric acid manufacturing is replaced by neutralized gypsum stack water having a pH closely matching that of the surroundings. Both air and ground water contamination are reduced to essentially negligible levels.

Abstract: Patterned laminar electrical interconnection, such as in the form of wiring harness, preferably including integrally formed end connectors, and made of individual patterned electrically conductive laminae, each lamina having electrically conductive portions and non-conductive portions contiguous side-by-side from end-to-end thereof, and being respectively substantially homogeneous electrically through the lamina thickness face-to-face. Like and/or unlike laminae are juxtaposed and bonded together face-to-face for overtly three-dimensional interconnecting laminated structures.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for dispensing lids, such as plastic lids for soft-drink cups, one-by-one from a stack of such lids supported initially underneath by resting on the lower of two pairs of members adapted to grip and ungrip individual lids, the upper pair being in ungripping configuration and the lower pair being in ungripping but supporting configuration. Operating the method, as by depressing a handle, causes the member pairs first to grip, respectively, the bottommost lid and the next overlying lid, and then to lower the bottommost lid while gripped, as the next overlying lid remains at its original level gripping and thereby supporting the stack of overlying lids.

Abstract: Generation, use, and treatment of new and unique process waters in or for wet-process phosphoric acid manufacturing to substantially eliminate discharge of contaminants to the environment. Acid pond water from conventional wet-process phosphoric acid manufacturing, contaminated with compositions containing fluorine, heavy metals, and radioactive elements such as radium-226, plus residual P.sub.2 O.sub.5, is superseded. Substantially all contaminants from the wet-process are insolubilized and removed, whereas P.sub.2 O.sub.5 normally lost is recovered. Decontaminated gypsum stack water with a mildly acidic pH results from stepwise raising of wastewater pH, with clarification, and subsequent re-acidification, to provide a decontaminated process water with slightly acidic pH adapted to match the pH of environmental ground water. The process is made more economical, while enhancing protection of surrounding air, soil, and water from contaminants.

Abstract: Balanced piston fluid valve, wherein annular outer and core inner coaxial valve members are adapted to move to and fro slidably relative to one another and to bar upstream-to-downstream fluid flow when mutually juxtaposed into seated position but adapted to enable such flow when spaced apart in unseated position.

Abstract: Mineral aluminosilicates enhanced as ion-exchange media for separating diverse ionic materials are provided by dry heating. A hydrated mineral alumino-silicate is irreversibly dehydrated in part, to improve the ratio of its affinity for preferred ions, relative to non-preferred ions, even though doing so reduces its affinity for both types of ions. Such dehydration is accomplished by heating the aluminosilicate until a temperature is reached at which its affinity for non-preferred cations is reduced enough that the ratio of its affinity for preferred ions to its affinity for non-preferred ions is greatly increased. Such aluminosilicates may be zeolites, such as clinoptilolite, or layered clays, such as vermiculite or smectite. 850.degree. C. is an example of such temperature.

Abstract: Coastal stabilization with multiple flow control of water to and from foraminous pipes and adjacent subsoil. Offshore underwater subsoil is fluidized by injection of water via underlying foraminous piping, thereby increasing the concentration of subsoil suspended in the overlying water during its onrush onto the shore. Under normal conditions beach subsoil is dewatered by withdrawing water therefrom via adjacent foraminous piping, and under stormy conditions subsoil further onshore is dewatered via foraminous piping adjacent thereto, inducing deposition of the suspended subsoil onto the adjacent land. Water collected by such dewatering can be stored temporarily and be discharged by use in such fluidization or be discharged to the sea.