Abstract: A topical therapeutic preparation includes capsaicin which is an extract of peppers or chiles and which is a potent local pain killer. The ointment also includes a norepinephrine inhibitor and preferably a vasodilator which act to promote blood circulation in the treatment area and thereby promote healing of tissues in the treatment area. The ointment also preferably includes a local pain killer to offset the irritating effects of the capsaicin and a promoter of transcutaneous absorption.

Abstract: A handcuff key assembly comprises an elongate housing having means to illuminate a handcuff key at one end of the housing. The key is illuminated through a light transmitting fixture holding the key. A locking pin is provided at the opposite end of the assembly on a threaded assembly. A bulb fits in the recess of the fixture and abuts a battery. An electrical circuit energizes the bulb and includes the battery, the bulb, the housing and the locking pin assembly.

Abstract: A water and fuel conditioning device includes a core or casting made of 40-66% copper, 2-30% zinc, 10-25% nickel, 2-5% tin, 0-1.5% iron and 0-2% lead, all percentages being by weight. Water flowing in contact with this core exhibits greater electrical charge than with prior art devices. The same composition is effective as a fuel conditioner to reduce emissions. In both applications, the near absence of lead has environmental advantages.

Abstract: A water soluble copper salt, preferably cupric sulfate pentahydrate, is mixed with water. A small quantity of an acidic flocculant is added to the copper sulfate solution to acidify the water and promote dissolving of the copper sulfate in the water. A 25-50% water solution of an acidic flocculant, with or without a cationic polymeric flocculant aid, is prepared and pumped into a processing vessel or tank. The acidified copper sulfate solution is added to the tank and mixed with the acidic flocculant. The algicide-flocculant solution is transported to a municipal water plant and added to raw water in the clarifier to drop out particulates in the incoming water and control algae in the clarifier.

Abstract: A pillow construction of complex shape is designed to alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux. The pillow comprises a central wedge shaped ramp on which the torso of the user is supported when lying on the back and a head support section. The head support section provides a substantial bulge immediately adjacent the ramp to support the user's head when lying on the back and lower areas on each side thereof to support the user's head when lying on one side. The ramp and head support section together provide a generally T-shaped outline. On each side of the ramp is a lower flat section providing a recess for receiving and supporting the user's shoulder.

Abstract: A plunger lift for a hydrocarbon well includes a multipart piston that is dropped into the well in separate pieces. When the pieces reach the bottom of the well, they fall into an accumulation of the formation liquid in the bottom of the well and unite. Gas from the formation pushes the unit upwardly, pushing liquid above the piston toward the surface.

Abstract: A screen assembly for a conventional vibratory screening machine includes an upper fine mesh screen which passes particles below a predetermined size and rejects particles above this size. A second or blinding screen, below the first screen, acts to dislodge particles caught in the mesh of the first screen. A load bearing assembly supports the first and second screens and includes a first support screen coarser than the screens above it, a perforate plastic mesh and a second support screen coarser than the first support screen. The assembly is placed in a heated press which softens the plastic and then bonds the screens together. In a second embodiment of the invention, an undulating screen assembly is bonded to a support which comprises one or more screens of coarser mesh.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon producing well is treated by first igniting a gas generating charge in the well to clean out perforations communicating between the casing and the formation without creating high permeability channels adjacent the perforations or fracturing the formation in a macroscopic sense. Then, a treatment liquid is injected into the wells by a gas generating propellant charge placed in the production string and then ignited. The propellant charge is designed to produce a minimum horsepower sufficient to push the liquid more-or-less equally through all of the open perforations. The propellant charge is designed to produce a maximum horsepower which is less than what is necessary to fracture the formation. Basically, the combustion rate of the propellant charge is reduced by one of a multiplicity of techniques to produce a long, relatively slow combustion rate.

Abstract: An archery bow stand provides a horizontal slot for loosely receiving the bow adjacent the upper or lower end and a base comprising a pair of legs. The bow is placed in the slot and leaned forwardly so the bow stabilizer contacts the ground. The bow stand is inclined relative to the bow so the slot inclines thereby placing the bow and bow stand in a bind. The bow stand preferably has two legs so the bow, in its supported position, is a stable tripod-like arrangement.

Abstract: An adjustable wrench provides a fixed number of positions between fixed and movable torque applying jaws, the positions corresponding to nominal wrench sizes. One scale in English units provides means to position the jaws in a series of positions corresponding to English unit wrenches. A second scale in metric units provides means to position the jaws in a series of positions corresponding to metric wrenches. A pair of operators or discs have a pointer which is used to select the desired wrench size.

Abstract: A fishing rod holder includes an elongate support that is driven into the sand or earth near a body of water. A short tube receives the butt of a fishing rod so the rod end extends upwardly generally parallel to the elongate support. An alarm is fixed to the upper end of the elongate support and provides a tether releasably connected to the rod with a spring biased clip. When the rod is straight, and no fish is on the line, the tether describes a catenary and is essentially untensioned. When a fish is on the line, the rod bends, straightening out the tether and pulling the clip from the rod. When the rod moves out of the clip, the spring biased ends of the clip close thereby completing an electric circuit energizing the alarm.

Abstract: A facility for reclaiming useful products from solid municipal and hazardous waste uses a rotary kiln to convert the material into a stream of inorganic ash and a stream of gaseous combustion products. The stream of combustion products passes in heat exchange relation to unburned waste and produces a stream of volatile carbon compounds which are deficient in oxygen. The streams of combustion products and volatile carbon compounds are converted in a plasma arc generator into a stream of hot, disassociated atoms. The stream of hot gas is cooled by passage through one or more heat exchangers that reclaim process heat. The stable compounds that are produced are hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The process is controlled by monitoring carbon dioxide in the carbon monoxide stream. The carbon monoxide and hydrogen may be used separately or combined, as in a methanol synthesis plant.

Abstract: An intestine or tripas cleaner cleans an entire tripas, without cutting the tripas into segments, thereby providing significant sanitation advantages. The cleaner comprises a rotatable accumulator onto which an unwashed tripas is wound while passing water through the inside and onto the outside. One end of the unwashed tripas is attached to a fitting which seals the tripas so water passes into the inside without leakage. Water is sprayed onto the outside of the tripas as the unwashed tripas is wound onto the accumulator. The wash water flows by gravity to the bottom of the accumulator and passes through a drain. Simultaneously with washing a tripas, a washed tripas is discharged from the accumulator through an outlet structure, preferably directly into a shipping box. Significant cost advantages are provided by reducing labor expense.

Abstract: A holder for a book, such as a paperback or hard cover book, comprises a stiff flat member creased to provide a central stationary panel corresponding to the spine of the book, and a pair of pivoted panels corresponding to the front and back of the book. A spring assembly comprises a plurality of long concave thin metal members connected together by a strip of tape and connected to the stiff flat member by a pop rivet. The ends of the springs are received by a pair of plastic sleeves which are stitched to the stiff flat member. The stiff flat member is covered by a vinyl sheet in such a way as to have a curved edge providing a radius of at least 1/16". A transparent strap connects to the opposite sides of the book holder and presses open pages of the book against the flat stiff member. The curved edge prevents the transparent strap from being cut by the book holder.

Abstract: The interactive student registration system uses a computer system having a telephone interface providing a multiplicity of incoming telephone lines, a memory, a voice synthesizer output and a data connection to a host data processor of the institution. The host data processor provides a series of information data banks including student information, course information and the like. By use of a touchtone telephone, a student calls the registration system and, by a series of interactive communications, registers for courses offered by the institution or obtains information relating to registration. A large series of operations is conducted including determining whether the student has paid property deposits, satisfying requirements such as instructor or advisor approval for particular courses, assuring that co-requisite and prerequisite requirements are met, assuring that graduate students, student instructors or scholarship students are taking a minimum number of hours and the like.

Abstract: A method of treating pain and treating ailments associated with imbalances in the somatic and/or sympathetic nervous system includes delivering electricity through a circuit in the body. The circuit includes at least four nerves leading from at least two of the patient's extremities to various nerve roots adjacent the spinal column. Electrical energy from an electrical interferential therapy device is delivered though electrodes on the extremities adjacent the nerve endings. Patients report a reduction in pain and an improvement in objective and subjective symptoms suggesting some effect on the autonomic, particularly the sympathetic nervous system, and the somatic nervous system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating kenaf into fiber and core uses a modified stick machine conventionally used in the cotton industry for removing trash from unginned cotton. Lengths of kenaf are delivered onto the periphery of a saw cylinder so the toothed wheels snag the fiber and draw the kenaf across a grate. Core is detached from the fiber, passes through the grate and is delivered to a core outlet. Fiber on the toothed wheels are removed by a doffing wheel and delivered to a fiber outlet. Multiple saw cylinder/doffing wheel assemblies are provided.

Abstract: A surface mounted thin film precision voltage divider is provided by incorporating two resistors on a single base of the same size and configuration as prior art surface mounted thin film precision resistors. Because the resistors were made at the same time, using the same materials and under the same conditions, the resistors react substantially equally to changes in temperature, aging, thermal shock, short time overload, high temperature exposure, resistance to bond exposure, moisture resistance, load life and low temperature operation. The voltage divider replaces two conventional surface mounted thin film precision resistors at a fraction of the cost.

Abstract: A female hose coupling comprises a rigid sleeve for receiving a conduit stub on a liquid tank. The female hose coupling includes a smaller diameter conduit which slips inside a flexible hose. A pair of pivoted levers are mounted on the exterior of the rigid sleeve. A cam on each of the levers extends through an opening in the sleeve to engage a shoulder on the conduit stub. A protective sleeve surrounds the end of the female hose coupling and remains in place during normal use of the flexible hose. The protector provides a passage to accommodate the pivoted elvers and allow the coupling to operate in a normal fashion.

Abstract: A front fork assembly of a motorcycle comprises a pair of hydraulic shock absorbers with a lower cylinder end attached to a front wheel assembly and an upper rod end attached to a fork frame member whereby relative movement is accommodated between the wheel assembly and the fork frame member. A mud guard assembly includes a pair of elongate mud guard elements mounted on the cylinder and extending upwardly in front of the polished rod of the hydraulic cylinder. The mud guard elements move inside a pair of slots provided by a bracket attached to the fork frame member. Telescoping and untelescoping movement of the hydraulic shock absorbers causes the mud guard elements to reciprocate inside the slots. Edges provided by the slots scrape mud off the mud guard elements.