Abstract: A pipe probe is installed downward into the liquid contained in the tank and is connected pneumatically to a remote reporting unit located in the operator's area. An air pump pressurizes the probe, increasing the pressure up to the point at which the liquid is completely displaced from the probe and bubbles of air evolve from the end of the probe. At that point the pressure is proportional to the height of the liquid in the tank. A pneumatic connection from the probe to the reporting unit refers the pressure to a piezoresistive pressure transducer working in concert with an electronic process controller. The controller produces a voltage output which is reported as a digital numeric readout, reading in volts or in programmed engineering units. Jittery variations in the least significant figure of the numeric readout, which are associated with the evolution of air bubbles from the end of the probe, are eliminated by adding an air tank buffer to the pneumatic system.

Abstract: The bedstead storage box may be adapted as a bedstead for any regular-size bed, including king-size. It includes a shallow box to support the bed off the floor, a lid to carry a bed assembly including the springs, mattress and bedding, hinges to position the lid on the box and to serve as fulcrum when the lid is raised, gas springs disposed between the lid and box to counterbalance the weight of the load when opening the box, and a lock to secure the box in the closed position. If the bedstead storage box is to be situated with the hinged side adjacent to a wall, the use of an elevated hinge permits the bed to stand closely adjacent to that wall without interference when raising the lid.

Abstract: The clamp serves to position the mouth of an air duct against the surface of the exhaust manifold of an automotive engine so that hot air may be drawn into the duct. The clamp is a spring steel strap of U shape with shoulders at midlength of the limbs. Endwise of the shoulders the arms converge in a vee to accommodate various shapes of manifold pipes. The U neck of the clamp fits within the throat of the air duct, holding it by expansion, while the arms hold the exhaust manifold by contraction. The complete kit includes the clamp, an air duct, and a cover to enhance the collection of hot air. The kit serves to restore the hot air collection function in older vehicles which have lost original parts.

Abstract: For dispensing rolled toilet paper, the pedestal is free standing on a weighted base, to be placed at convenient reach to a toilet. From a slot in a cover at its head, the pedestal presents the pennant from a roll of toilet paper held on a spindle. Lengths of toilet paper may be torn off from the pennant as wanted. In its body the pedestal contains extra rolls of toilet paper, readily accessible to replenish the roll at the head when it is emptied.

Abstract: A pliers-like device to facilitate certain surgical procedures, such as coaptation of the surgically split sternum, for thrusting a needle having a coaxial suture through tough tissue. The device has two elongate jaws, mechanically articulated at one end for opposable action by manual operation. The free end of the upper jaw is forked and the free end of the lower jaw has a socket to hold the needle in direction toward the fork. Features of the invention include a channel to accommodate the suture and a kerf to facilitate insertion of the suture into the socket. An optional improvement on the device provides a clamp to releasibly clamp the needle in the socket by the action of a spring-biased pin controlled by an accessory lever.

Abstract: A cylindrical metal tube is provided with an outer transparent jacket, the jacket being spaced apart from the tube by bushings at each end and sealed therewith by means of o-ring type elastomeric seals positioned in grooves in the bushings. The intermediate space between the tube and the jacket is evacuated through a side tube on the jacket to reduce heat loss from the surface of the tube due to convection of air. The solar energy collector tube of this invention is applicable to flat plate type collector installations as well as concentrating collectors such as those employing parabolic trough reflectors. The flow path of the heat transfer fluid is straight through the tube, affording simple manifolding of multiple solar energy collection tubes arranged in parallel to span a specified area of collection.