Abstract: A compressed briquette or other solid shape, object, or article useful as a coke substitute in blast furnaces disclosed as being manufactured so as to comprise a reaction product of fine carbonaceous material (such as coke breeze, coke fines, or petroleum coke), a reactive tar, and polymeric binder.

Abstract: Novel connector-removing devices and method are disclosed which facilitate the disconnection of a connector from a receptacle or another connector, the devices being capable of being wrapped around the connector to firmly hold the connector within the device. One connector-remover apparatus includes a band, a strap, and fasteners attached to the band and strap. The band may be firmly positioned about a connector by wrapping the strap around the band. In a preferred embodiment, the band has attached to its ends a tether to facilitate pulling the connector. Additionally, the band may have apertures formed in the face thereof for receiving the prongs of an electrical connector.

Abstract: A bull nose corner marking apparatus includes a body having a first section and a second section joined perpendicularly relative to one another for placing about an outside corner of a wall. The first section and second section define an internal area corresponding to the shape of a bull nose corner end molding piece. Through utilization of the marking apparatus, proper markings can quickly be made on an outside corner of a wall. In addition, a bull nose corner end molding piece can be quickly measured and marked for completing the construction of a bull nose corner molding location.

Abstract: A mining system and related methods for recovering gold and/or other heavy metals at multiple sites along a continuously hydrated ore processing route. The gold-bearing ore and primary or carrier water are dynamically and circuitously displaced to segregate the gold, and precipitate the gold particles into predetermined recovery sites along the flow path of the mix. Boil box recovery sites are selectively provided for recovery of nuggets and smaller gold particles. Secondary water churns and disrupts the primary carrier flow of the mix through each boil box. The master stream of gold-sized ore-primary water mix is subdivided into several separate streams or substreams. The sub streams are violent in nature, with one exception, and are typically contained in man-made canal-forming troughs or multiple recovery sits. Recovery sites have one or more drop slots. A downward draw caused by flow of secondary water in a conduit located below each slot enhances recovery.

Abstract: Iron-rich material waste products, such as electric arc furnace dust, are formed with an organic binder into discrete shapes, such as briquettes and/or other solid shapes. The shapes can then be used in iron and steel making processes and the iron and heavy metal values in the waste product recovered.

Abstract: A modular game call system including generally a mouthpiece assembly, a tubular portion, and a resonance producing end. The mouthpiece assembly can be completely removed from the call to enable the tubular section and resonance producing end piece to be used separately with any other type of call. The mouthpiece assembly includes a detachable snap-on diaphragm that insures accurate, consistent tension of the membrane to allow high quality tones to be produced. Alternatively, a sheet of membrane material can be attached to the end of the mouthpiece assembly to create high quality tones. The resonance producing end piece allows the call to produce a resonant sound highly similar to a bugling bull elk.

Abstract: A cushioning and protection apparatus for a chair armrest includes a cushion body having a central cavity and an opening leading thereto. The opening is defined by a pair of jaw projections that are resiliently deformable to enlarge the opening to enable an armrest to be inserted into the central cavity. An attachment device secures the cushioning and protection device to the armrest. The device can easily be installed on and removed from a chair armrest with little effort. The cushioning apparatus is lightweight, easily transportable, and particularly suitable for use in outdoor seating environments.

Abstract: A convertible ballistic optimizing system includes a main body portion adjustably secured to the muzzle end of a firearm. A retainer, such as a lock nut, is utilized to secure the main body portion in a particular axially position to change vibrational characteristics of the firearm barrel so that the bullet exits the muzzle end of the firearm when the barrel is undergoing the least amount of transverse movement. The main body portion includes a plurality of apertures that function as a muzzle brake when a weight element is attached to the outlet end of the main body portion. Alternatively, in place of the weight, a sleeved end piece can be secured to the outlet end of the main body portion to cover the apertures, thereby disabling the muzzle brake feature, without adversely affecting the inherent accuracy of the firearm.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for cooking foodstuffs by conveying the foodstuffs through a cooking chamber comprising:an oven section and at least one integral conveyor section, the oven section comprising a bottom wall, top wall, two side walls, a front wall, and a rear wall defining a cooking chamber, the front wall having a front aperture and the rear wall having a rear aperture horizontally aligned with the front aperture, an electrical heating means comprising radiant heaters disposed within the cooking chamber to heat a foodstuff in the cooking chamber;a conveyor section removably attached to the oven section and comprising a continuous heat-resistant flexible belt formed into an elongated continuous loop with an essentially horizontal upper flight, a front reverse curve at a front end, a lower flight and a rear reverse curve at a rear end, drive means for advancing the belt around the continuous loop to convey foodstuffs along the top flight, the drive means attached to the conveyor section in a manner and

Abstract: Novel apparatus and related methods are disclosed by which plaque is connected to the head of a removal instrument for removal of a unitary segment of plaque from an artery intact to increase blood flow through the artery.

Abstract: Methods of artificially lining a vessel, especially an artery, of a medical patient to address the existence of a flow-inhibiting atheroma and to significantly alleviate the probability of restenosis, and the resulting products.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing ceramic filter media for water filters involves the steps of mixing a plurality of raw ceramic materials and a plurality of extrusion-aid materials to form a mixture of constituent materials, extruding the constituent materials to form tubular filter media, drying the tubular filter media, and firing the tubular filter media to create ceramic tubular filter media. The step of drying the tubular filter media preferably comprises placing the tubular filter media on top of rotating rollers which dries the tubular filter media evenly and preserves the desired characteristics of the tubular filter media.

Abstract: An ostomy support belt includes a main pocket for supporting the weight of a conventional pouch for holding bodily drainages. A secondary pocket is provided on the inside of the ostomy support belt in which a support plate is inserted for providing additional lateral support to the areas of the skin and abdomen surrounding the stoma and to increase adhesion where the pouch attaches to the skin surrounding the stoma and to prevent leakage, skin irritation, mounding, and herniation. A guard may be attached to the outside of the belt at a location corresponding to the stoma to prevent the stoma from damage due to external forces.

Abstract: A medication delivery and monitoring system and methods whereby drugs are safely delivered to a patient, monitored in real-time during delivery and crucial events are recorded during delivery to provide real-time, on-line information and detail for an audit trail. A novel safety label cradle unit is disclosed. Safety label cradles (SLC's) are provided in a plurality of sizes to match varying sizes of syringes which are disposed on a cradle of the SLC to provide a constant needle height on the SLC unit independent of syringe volume (barrel diameter). A selected SLC is securely affixed to a syringe by an adhesively backed label wrapping. The label is preprinted to provide drug identification indicia and drug preparation information. The information is automatically read into the system from the label. A novel delivery station of the system monitors drug delivery as a plunger of the syringe is pushed to deliver a drug to a patient.

Abstract: A modified beverage fill valve cam assembly and related methods are disclosed, which provide for a quick, inexpensive, and effective solution to fill valve cam rotational eccentricity. A supplemental support is provided for the camming end of the cam which eliminates sole reliance on cantilevered support and prevents eccentric cam rotation. The supplement support comprises an end plate having an interior cone-shaped projection with contiguous mates with corresponding cone-shaped recess formed in the end edge of the camming end of the cam.

Abstract: Disposable intra-arterial augering and dottering instruments for use in patients in clearing pathways at obstructed or nearly obstructed arterial sites are disclosed. A number of augering tips used on the instruments are disclosed along with a method for releasibly affixing augering tips to the instruments. In addition, a dottering tip is disclosed for use in procedures where it is desired to open a pathway without excising material from the obstructed site. A combined augering and dottering tip is disclosed for a procedure in which material displacement followed by excising of material from within an artery is accomplished without removal of the combined augering and dottering tip until the procedure is complete.

Abstract: Disposable intra-arterial augering and dottering instruments for use in patients in clearing pathways at obstructed or nearly obstructed arterial sites are disclosed. A number of augering tips used on the instruments are disclosed along with a method for releasibly affixing augering tips to the instruments. In addition, a dottering tip is disclosed for use in procedures where it is desired to open a pathway without excising material from the obstructed site. A combined augering and dottering tip is disclosed for a procedure in which material displacement followed by excising of material from within an artery is accomplished without removal of the combined augering and dottering tip until the procedure is complete.

Abstract: A removable archery bow storage rack for vehicles includes a first frame half and a second frame half. A pair of tensioning adjustment straps secure the first frame half to the second frame half. Opposed hood anchor assemblies, in combination with the tensioning adjustment straps, secure the first and second frame halves to the hood of a vehicle without any modification or alteration of the vehicle. A plurality of leg rest assemblies are disposed between each of the frame halves and the top surface of the hood. The leg rest assemblies include a damping device to dampen vibrations and absorb shock imparted to the first and second frame halves during transit. Pairs of limb rest assemblies and string support assemblies on each frame half allow an archery bow to be secured to each of the frame halves in part by the draw weight of the particular bow.