Abstract: A method for the in situ separation of viscous crude oil from a reservoir such as, oil sand, or tar sand is disclosed. Hot water is introduced to the top surface of the reservoir while steam is injected into the reservoir through drill holes. The hot water and steam may contain a surfactant. The bouyancy of the crude oil creates an artificial water drive which causes the water and oil to "flip-flop" so that the oil rises to the top of the reservoir and separates from the remainder of the reservoir material. If the overburden is deep, underground mining techniques may be used to reach the reservoir prior to applying the present method.

Abstract: A needle valve placed in series with the hydraulic drill feed motor, and responsive to fluid flow in the hydrualic system subject to the operation of a pressure relief valve therein, causes the thrust to increase and the feed rate to decrease as the drill enters a difficult drilling material, a proportional flow divider interposed between the pressurized hydraulic fluid source and the hydraulic drill rotation motor and the hydraulic feed motor splits the flow and maintains a fixed proportion between the flows to the two motors to cause the rotational motor to slow down as the feed motor slows down. A pressure compensated flow control valve bypassing the proportional flow divider to the drill rotation motor insures a fixed amount of fluid flow to the rotational motor regardless of the difficulty of material being drilled to maintain a minimal rotational speed of the drill rotation motor.

Abstract: A droplet impact sampler based upon the stain technique for measuring airborne droplets comprises a magnesium oxide coated, graphite target located within a cylindrical sampler head below a pneumatically operated shutter. The shutter is opened for a predetermined time period to expose the target to the specimen droplets which stain the target upon contact. Droplet size is determined by measuring the stain diameters and compensating for a flattening effect of the droplet that occurs upon impact as a function of several parameters, such as contact angle, water density and surface tension. Rate of deposition is determined by correlating the number of stains counted on the target with the operating speed of the shutter.

Abstract: In an in situ uranium leaching process, a method of detecting presence or absence of leach solution escaping from a desired leaching zone involves monitoring the electrical impedance of a zone just outside the desired zone to detect high ionic concentration indicative of leach solution. Electrical impedance is measured by locating monitor wells just outside the leaching zone and positioning pairs of current and voltage probes within the monitor wells and closest injection wells. Low frequency, constant current is generated by each pair of current probes between corresponding injection and monitor wells to develop a zone impedance-dependent voltage drop that is measured by each set of voltage probes and correlated to presence or absence of escaping leach solution. In an alternative embodiment, electrical impedances are measured between a single, central recovery well and a series of distributed, monitor wells to reduce the total number of probes required.

Abstract: An extensometer anchor for use in a mine borehole. The anchor has an anchor body that, when in an operative mode, is placed in the borehole. Extending at least partially around the outer surface of the body are one or more grooves whose major plane is generally perpendicular to the length of the borehole. Seated within each groove is a compressible resilient anchor member, like a ring, which remains loaded by a retaining device, such as a cotter pin, extending through it. Upon being pulled from outside of the borehole, the retaining device unloads the compressed anchor which then moves to expand outwardly in the borehole and firmly anchor the anchor body and attached extensometer within the mine borehole.

Abstract: An improved drafting instrument is provided for scribing small dots on a drafting medium comprising a substrate provided with a removable surface coating. The drafting instrument includes a drive motor and rotatable cutter which are slidably mounted as a unit for vertical movement toward and away from the drafting medium. A manually operable actuator is provided for moving the drive motor downward to bring the cutter into engagement with the surface coating of the drafting medium. A control switch responds to downward movement of the drive motor and cutter by a predetermined distance for automatically actuating the drive motor before the cutter is moved into engagement with the drafting medium. The drafting instrument includes an adjustable depth limit feature to control the depth of penetration of the cutter into the surface coating of the drafting medium. The operation of the drive motor and rotation of the cutter are automatically terminated when manual pressure on the actuator is released.

Abstract: A method for immunizing fish against disease by spraying with vaccine or bacterin.

Abstract: A trigger device for an explosion barrier includes a pressure sensor and at least two flame sensors. The pressure sensor energizes the flame sensors in response to a predetermined pressure rise, and the explosion barrier is triggered when a flame is detected by both flame sensors. The flame sensors are oriented at different angles in order to prevent false firing by miner's lamps, etc.

Abstract: A system for radar remote sensing of near surface ocean currents in coastal regions. The system employs a pair of low power, transportable high frequency radar units to scatter signals from the shore off to the ocean waves. Underlying surface currents impart a slight change in velocity to the ocean waves which is detected by the radar units. Each radar unit can determine the angular direction of arrival of the radar echo signals by comparing the phase of the signals received at three short antennas on the shore. Signals scattered from the same point on the ocean by each of the two geographically separated radar units are used to construct a complete current vector for that point. The radar pair takes simultaneous measurements over an ocean area with a predetermined grid pattern. Vectors are constructed for each square section of the grid, and a map of the near surface current field is output in real-time by an on-site minicomputer.

Abstract: In an orthophotograph recorder, a three dimensional optical model of a terrain produced by a stereo pair of aerial transparencies is projected onto an imaging plate. The optical model is scanned by an optically produced reference point while the height of the viewing plate is manually adjusted by the operator to maintain the reference on the apparent ground level of the terrain. The scanning motion of the reference point, as well as the height of the imaging plate, is digitally encoded and formatted into data blocks. Each block of digital data represents an individual scan line on the optical model, and is characterized by a starting coordinate and incremental coordinate data. This data format minimizes storage requirements and permits editing of individual scan lines. The encoded data are scaled and stored on magnetic tape to be used to control exposure of a photosensitive sheet in an orthophotograph printer. The printer comprises a light projector located above a platen carrying the photosensitive sheet.

Abstract: An electrochemical detection system is disclosed for measuring the amount of carbon monoxide or similar oxidizable gases present in a gas phase mixture wherein the gas phase mixture is brought into contact with a liquid electrolyte through a gas-permeable measuring electrode. The improved electrode is formed of a porous membrane of chemically-inert non-wettable material, on one side of which a layer of gold is specially deposited for contact with an electrolyte of a substantially pure aqueous solution of perchloric acid. An electrical readout system is connected to the electrode for deriving a signal from the resulting oxidation current, which corresponds to a quantitative measure of the oxidation of the gas at the electrode-electrolyte interface.

Abstract: A system for the continuous dielectrophoretic separation of mixtures of particulate and granular materials by passing the materials through a divergent electric field created in a fluid dielectric medium by applying a voltage to an electrode configuration including a rotatable cylindrical-shaped electrode having a non-uniform conductor surface and a stationary perforate electrode spaced therefrom to define a contact zone. The particles having dielectric constants lower than that of the fluid medium are collected through the perforate electrode while those particles having dielectric constants higher than that of the fluid medium are attached to and separated by the rotatable electrode.

Abstract: An articulated shaft assembly particularly useful in forming a flexible drill for drilling vertical holes in a mine shaft roof employs interengaging shaft sections whose opposed ends form a ball and socket mating surface connection with a plurality of driving members interposed between opposed spherical surfaces and with the driving members locking the shaft in axial alignment for torque transmission in one direction while permitting torque transmission in the other direction with the shafts angularly misaligned.

Abstract: A torquer/thruster with a hydrostatically actuated chuck assembly configured to drivingly engage a flexible roofdrill for applying rotational torque and longitudinal thrust to the roofdrill shaft. The chuck assembly is mounted within a rotatable and longitudinally movable piston assembly, the chuck and piston assemblies fixed against relative movement with respect to one another. The piston assembly is mounted within a rotating barrel assembly, the piston and barrel assemblies being fixed against relative rotational movement and being constrained for limited longitudinal movement with respect to one another.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a clog-free grout emplacement gun particularly adapted for use in coal or similar mines for retaining roof bolts in bore holes, and includes a first conduit for conveying a gaseous medium along a first path, a second conduit for conveying grout material along a second path, a mixing chamber for admixing the gaseous medium and the grout material, a passage for directing the admixed gaseous medium and grout material along a third path toward and beyond a discharge orifice of a nozzle toward a predetermined point, a tube for directing a liquid medium along a fourth path paralleling the third path outwardly of the discharge nozzle, and a control device for controlling the flow of the media and material to effect admixture thereof at a point beyond the orifice of the discharge nozzle.

Abstract: An image-bearing medium (negative or positive) is located over and in close proximity to a light-sensitive film. During exposure, the film is moved in circular orbits parallel to the medium to cause spreading of image lines projected onto the film. To ensure uniform line spreading, the diameter of each successive circular orbit is increased toward a predetermined, maximum diameter, and the film is exposed during each orbit. The film is supported on a mobile table which is mounted, through a frictionless bearing, to a horizontal platform. The platform in turn is keyed to a vertical rotor. As the rotor is rotated by a drive motor, the table is caused to move in a circular orbit about the axis of rotation of the rotor. The diameter of the orbit, determined by the eccentricity of the axis of rotation of the horizontal platform with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor is precisely controlled by a vertical rack and pinion mechanism.

Abstract: A current limiting circuit for direct current power supplies comprises first and second transistor switches connected in series between the power supply and a load which control the passage of current therebetween, third and fourth transistor switches which control the first and second switches, respectively, and first and second control circuits which control the third and fourth switches.

Abstract: A system for the continuous dielectrophoretic separation of mixtures of particulate and granular materials by passing the materials through a divergent electric field created in a fluid dielectric medium by applying a voltage to an electrode configuration including a rotatable cylindrical-shaped electrode having a non-uniform conductor surface and a stationary perforate electrode spaced therefrom to define a contact zone. The particles having dielectric constants lower than that of the fluid medium are collected through the perforate electrode while those particles having dielectric constants higher than that of the fluid medium are attracted to and separated by the rotatable electrode.

Abstract: The deflection of a subterranean tunnel is measured with a rod-like, self-contained instrument that is adapted to be inserted into a radially extending bore of the tunnel adjacent an end of the tunnel where the tunnel is being dug. One end of the instrument is anchored at the end of the bore remote from the tunnel wall, while the other end of the intrument is anchored adjacent the end of the wall in proximity to the tunnel wall. The two ends of the instrument are linearly displaceable relative to each other; the displacement is measured by a transducer means mounted on the instrument. Included in the instrument is a data storage means including a paper tape recorder periodically responsive to a parallel binary signal indicative of the measured displacement.

Abstract: A mining machine is provided which incorporates a detachable cab construction. The mining machine includes a clamping mechanism including a pair of a clamping hook assemblies for releasably clamping the cab body, and a lift cylinder for raising and lowering the cab body. In operation, the cab is detached from the mining machine in a safe area and the mining machine trammed into a mining position. The cab is equipped with remote controls so that operation of the mining machine can be controlled from the cab while the latter is located in a safe area. A safety interlock system prevents operation of local machine-mounted controls until the cab is re-mounted on the mining machine.