Abstract: A milking apparatus and method for improved lactation, the apparatus including means for applying suction to at least the nipple portion of a mammary gland while simultaneously and/or selectively imparting a constrictive, manipulatory force to the nipple and/or the mammary gland adjacent the nipple. An inflatable toroidal member is adapted to be placed in encirclement of the nipple portion of the mammary gland. The manipulatory force is supplied by selectively inflating the inflatable toroidal member. Inflation of the toroid causes an inner wall surface to be distended inwardly thereby imparting a constrictive force to the nipple and/or adjacent, underlying mammary gland. The toroidal member may also be provided with an inner wall thickness which is selectively predetermined so as to be preferentially distended during inflation of the toroidal member.

Abstract: An aerial projectile including a skeletal shell and a baffling material confined and/or supported by the skeletal shell. The skeletal shell is fabricated from a resilient, durable, light-weight and deformation resistant material such as nylon or other suitable plastic. The skeletal shell is formed with a predetermined shape generally defining a spatial configuration which may be spherical, ovoidal, ellipsoidal, hemispherical, or the like. The baffling material is in the form of a lightweight, resilient material such as plastic foam or the like. The baffling material forms at least a part of the external contour of the aerial projectile and may even be used to form protruding vanes or fins for the aerial projectile.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing continuous flushing of intravascular catheters. The apparatus consists of a small block having passages which define a continuously open path through which flushing solution is introduced into a catheter. A flow resistor is placed in the continuously open path in order to limit the flushing solution to a desired small amount. At least a portion of the block consists of a resilient sleeve which surrounds the flow resistor. The resilient sleeve provides a by-pass passage around the flow resistor. A disk placed in the by-pass passage cooperates with the resilient sleeve selectively opened to permit relatively large amounts of flushing solution to be introduced into the catheter when desired.

Abstract: An isothermal compressor apparatus and method, the apparatus including a compression chamber, a piston operable in the compression chamber and an evaporation chamber disposed in heat exchange relationship with the compression chamber, the evaporation chamber being interconnected with a closed refrigerant system. Valves control the flow of compressible gas through the compression chamber while heat exchange coils carry the compressed gas from the compression chamber through the evaporation chamber. The method includes compressing a gas and rapidly removing thermal energy imparted to the gas by the compression process with a refrigerant in the evaporation chamber.

Abstract: A heat storage apparatus and method including a heat storage medium encapsulated within a container and heat exchange apparatus for exchanging thermal energy with the heat storage medium. The heat storage medium may include a salt having a relatively high latent heat of reaction at a relatively low temperature range. The dehydration reaction of sodium sulfate decahydrate appears to the most promising reaction for this application. Other suitable salts and salt mixtures for other temperature ranges may also be used. The apparatus includes, where necessary, techniques for stirring the heat storage medium to inhibit stratification of the salt during cycles of dissolution and recrystallization or fusion.

Abstract: A solar collector panel and method of making same are disclosed. The solar collector panel has four layers of fiberglass mat which are each saturated with a catalyzed liquiform resin. Between the first two layers, unimpregnated Kraft honeycomb paper having an open cellular structure is placed so as to form a resinated honeycomb core between these first two layers. A black gel coat is sprayed onto the second layer of resin-saturated fiberglass mat and a plurality of copper tubes are then placed onto the black gel coat so as to be bonded in heat-transfer relation thereto. The third layer of resin-saturated fiberglass mat is draped over the copper tubes so as to insulate them. A second layer of Kraft honeycomb paper is then placed between the third and forth layers of resin-saturated fiberglass mat, and a clear gel coat mixed with an ultraviolet inhibitor solution is rolled out over the top of the solar collector panel to partially screen out ultraviolet rays.

Abstract: A fire-resistant, cellulose insulation and method, the cellulose insulation including a predetermined quantity of talc to impart the desired degree of fire-resistant characteristics to the cellulose. If desired, limited quantities of boron compounds can be added with the talc. The method includes directing ground cellulose from the primary grinding stage into a surge bin to accommodate metering the talc with the cellulose to thereby assure the appropriate distribution ratio of talc in the cellulose.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for elemental analysis and non-invasive measurement of the mass flow rate and/or density distribution of a multiple-phase system. The apparatus includes at least two X-ray sources, transmission detectors for the X-ray sources, fluorescence detectors, and collimators all of which are suitably indexed and multiplexed to provide information corresponding to the density distribution, elemental composition, phase composition, and/or flow rate of the system. Energy selective detectors are included in the apparatus to provide selective fluorescent radiation detection for fluorescence emitted by elements excited by the X-rays as a technique for obtaining an indication of the elemental composition of the system. X-ray sources and transmitted X-ray detectors are used to detect the density of the multiple-phase system at each point in a cross-section of the system.

Abstract: A cannula and method for bidirectional blood flow, the cannula being constructed so as to provide a bifurcated flow path, each branch of the flow path independently communicating through telescoping cannulae and a venipuncture needle initially projecting beyond the exterior cannula to facilitate venipuncture and thereafter being displaceable away from the venipuncture site to permit unobstructed simultaneous fluid flow in opposite directions through each of the bifurcated flow paths.

Abstract: A split cycle engine apparatus and method, the apparatus including a combustion engine, a novel compressor apparatus driven by the combustion engine, a closed-cycle refrigeration system in cooperation with the compressor apparatus, and a pneumatic motor driven by compressed air from the compressor apparatus. Refrigerant in the compressor absorbs thermal energy from compressed air and assists in compressing the air. High pressure air from the compressor is stored in a storage tank and may be used to drive the pneumatic motor or other auxiliary equipment in addition to providing high pressure combustion air for the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A pollution control system including a smokestack placed at a substantially elevated location on adjacent mountainous terrain and a tunnel interconnecting the smokestack with a source of airborne pollutants. A water-operated scrubber is placed in a part of the tunnel to remove some of the pollutants from the gaseous effluent stream. A heater and a blower increase the upward velocity of the residual effluent stream to assist in impelling it out of the top of the smokestack for dispersal into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A heat-powered water pump apparatus and method, the apparatus including a reservoir, a pumping chamber, an evaporator, metering apparatus for metering a volatile liquid to the evaporator and a vapor standpipe for delivering vapor from the evaporator to the pumping chamber. The metering apparatus includes a metering cup and a siphon tube in the metering cup. The evaporator is configurated as a metal block having known heat capacity characteristics so as to store sufficient thermal energy to suitably evaporate the metered volatile liquid delivered thereto. Thermal energy for the evaporator may be provided by solar energy or by a conventional combustion source. The method includes heating the evaporator and delivering a metered quantity of volatile liquid from the pumping chamber to the evaporator to produce a predetermined quantity of vapor thereby displacing water from the reservoir with the vapor.

Abstract: An improved dietary supplement for mammals, the dietary supplement includ the essential dietary trace metals, iron, copper and molybdenum. These metals are provided in a highly bioavailable state such as peptide and polypeptide chelates. This invention also includes a method for using natural proteinaceous starting materials for producing the peptide and polypeptide ligands for the chelates. The proteinaceous starting materials are obtained from a primary grown yeast, an isolated vegetable protein, dessicated tissues of animal origin and the like which, upon hydrolysis, yields the peptide and polypeptide ligands suitable for forming chelates with the iron, copper and molybdenum. The metals are each separately chelated with the peptide and polypeptide ligands and thereafter combined in the suitable ratios to form the dietary supplement. The dietary supplement is adsorbed on a suitable food product and provided in an effective amount for consumption in iron deficiency anemia.

Abstract: A solar energy collector and method including an insulated, box-like enclosure having a transparent wall on one side thereof for the transmittance of solar energy into the enclosure. An energy absorption plate is placed in spaced relationship in the enclosure where it will be exposed to incident solar radiation passing through the transparent wall. An insulated divider behind the solar energy absorption plate separates the remainder of the enclosure into a heat chamber adjacent the solar energy absorption plate and a return air chamber. Air duct means and a plurality of water conduits are mounted in heat exchange relationship on the solar energy absorption plate to provide means for collecting the absorbed heat. The surfaces of the ducts, conduits, and solar energy absorption plate are selectively coated with a heat-absorbing black for improved solar energy absorption and conversion to heat.

Abstract: A router guide assembly adapted to be releasably or semipermanently attached to the work face of a router. The router guide assembly includes a circular base plate having a central aperture through which the cutting bit of the router extends. A pair of guide posts may be adjustably mounted to the base plate on each side of the cutting bit perpendicularly to the base plate and are laterally adjustable relative to the cutting bit. The guide posts may also be removed from the base plate so that the base plate can serve as the work face of the router.

Abstract: A heat-powered water pump including a flexible diaphragm as the pumping element with a volatile liquid as a working fluid. The flexible diaphragm is enclosed within a vessel and isolates the working fluid from the water to be pumped. One-way valves control the direction of water flow through the pump. A U-shaped siphon tube acts as a temporary reservoir for the pumped water and is siphoned empty after being filled. A portion of the water siphoned from the U-shaped siphon tube is recirculated through the vessel in heat exchange relationship with the working fluid to condense the working fluid. A reservoir of warm water is maintained in thermal contact with the flexible diaphragm to minimize condensation of the working fluid by thermal contact with the water through the diaphragm.

Abstract: A distillation/absorption engine including apparatus for utilizing a lower boiling point, working fluid and a higher boiling point, absorption fluid, the absorption fluid having a relatively high degree of absorptivity for the working fluid. The apparatus includes a distillation column for separating the working fluid from the absorption fluid and a condenser/storage system for storage of the separated working fluid which is condensed and stored as a condensate. An absorption reboiler is used to revaporize the condensed working fluid. The revaporized working fluid is superheated in a superheater before producing mechanical energy in a mechanical expansion engine such as a turbine or the like. Thermal energy for the absorption reboiler is obtained from the heat of absorption generated by absorbing with the absorption fluid the spent working fluid from the mechanical expansion engine. Absorption of the spent working fluid also lowers the backpressure for improved efficiencies.

Abstract: A flowmeter apparatus and method for use in measuring the quantity of liquid beverage passing through a tubing, the apparatus including a flowmeter wheel adapted to be turned by the flow of beverage through the tubing. The flowmeter wheel is interposed in a light path between a light source and a light detector with a plurality of apertures in the flowmeter wheel permitting light passage through the light path to the light detector. Rotation of the wheel creates a series of light pulses that are detected by the light detector and are electronically counted to thereby provide an indication of the amount of beverage passing through the flowmeter and, correspondingly, the tubing.