Abstract: A magnetic novelty item is disclosed for use as a plaything, toy, amusement, diversion, game piece, or instructional aid. The item includes an enclosed container having magnets secured at opposite ends thereof with opposite magnetic poles facing the interior of the container (north at one end and south at the other). At least one additional magnet is received in the container in such a way that its magnetic poles are always oriented toward like magnetic poles of the magnets at the ends of the container while yet remaining movable in the space between the ends.

Abstract: A surface cleaning apparatus and method is disclosed for disbonding, removal and collection of undesired matter from product surfaces, particularly in controlled process environments. The apparatus includes a negatively chargeable staging surface for receipt thereat of a product having a surface or surfaces to be cleaned, a gas stream nozzle having an electron generation source, usually a negative ion source, adjacent to its outlet, and a positive electrostatic field generator having a collector surface spaced from the staging surface. The electrostatic field generator may optionally include pulse generating circuitry for generating pulsations of selected frequency within the positive electrostatic field. Controls are provided for selectively controlling negative charge at the staging surface, ion output, field strength and, when provided, field pulsation frequency.

Abstract: A device for dispersing a substance, for example, dry particulate material, in a liquid is disclosed having a funnel eductor for distributing and carrying the substance in a flow stream and a cyclonic dispersal eductor for inducing the flow stream and introducing the flow stream having the particulate matter therein into a spirally moving liquid flow stream. The dispersal eductor preferably includes first and second liquid input ports defining first and second dispersal stages, respectively, with the substance, in liquid, output from the first stage being introduced into the liquid being input through the second liquid port at the second stage, each port being positioned so that a spiralling liquid flow is imparted, liquid flow at the second stage being counter-rotational relaive to liquid flow in the first stage.

Abstract: Air moving apparatus and method are disclosed for use in vehicles having an engine providing a source of relatively high pressure bleed air. The apparatus includes a pressurized air input connected with the high pressure source of bleed air at the engine, a conduit having an inlet and an outlet, and an ejector positioned in the conduit adjacent to the pressurized air input for directing the pressurized air toward the conduit outlet at a velocity sufficient to induce movement of a larger volume of air through the conduit inlet. By selective configuration of ejector outlet port size, the temperature of air moved through the conduit is controlled so that the apparatus can be utilized with vehicle compartment cooling, ventilating, and/or air circulation systems.

Abstract: An optical interconnecting device and method are disclosed for selectively directing signals from an array of optical inputs to an array of optical outputs through an optical medium. The input signals are angularly multiplexed and redirected by dynamic gratings of the appropriate spatial, or grating, frequency. Spatially periodic optical index perturbations propragated in the medium are utilized to achieve the dynamic gratings. The angles at which light is input to the gratings (input angles) and angles at which light is collected from the gratings (output angles) are selected to allow each grating frequency to connect signals at only one input angle to one output angle and thus only one optical output. The number of resolvable gratings required is the product of the number of inputs and the number of output. For the interconnection of an equal number of inputs and outputs connected in a one to one permutation, only a number of gratings equal to the number of inputs need be present simultaneously.

Abstract: A high-T.sub.c superconducting unit is disclosed having low contact resistivity between a substantially non-degraded surface of the superconductor and a surface of a contact pad in engagement with the substantially non-degraded surface of the superconductor, with contact resistivity of less than 1000 .mu..OMEGA.-cm.sup.2 at high-T.sub.c superconductor operating temperatures being disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating effluents is disclosed for selective solids control and/or dewatering of effluents, for example drilling fluids (or mud), slurries or sludges, or other clean up involving solids removal from a hydraulic system where flocculation would be employed. The apparatus is compact and portable for ease of on-site delivery and hookup and includes a plurality of mixers for mixing polymer materials with water and/or the effluent, a plurality of pumps for controlling the flow of effluents, water and mixed liquids, and a plurality of conveniently located valves and pump controls for control of the various functions of the apparatus from a centrally located control panel. An improved mixing device is provided for blending of shear-sensitive fluids which includes multi-port injection sites and a series of geometrical flow altering elements.

Abstract: An aircraft, for example, helicopters, windshield defogger and/or deicer system is discussed which is connectable with a high pressure, high temperature air supply from the compression stage of a turbine engine. The system utilizes a Coanda-type ejector method to mix and distribute high temperature bleed air and cabin air to an existing defroster dispersal shroud fixed adjacent to the aircraft windshield.

Abstract: A masonry structure reinforcing and confinement apparatus is disclosed for enhancing the structural integrity under stress of masonry structures formed of a plurality of stacked masonry units. The apparatus includes a plurality of interconnected reinforcing members and is positionable between adjacent surfaces of tiers, or courses, of masonry units so that some members extend between the opposite walls of the masonry units with selected portions of the apparatus being secured in the horizontal mortar joint thereat.

Abstract: A variable valve actuating device and method are disclosed, the device including a rotatable cam having a selectively configured cam face engagable with a worm drive at an outer engaging surface of the cam, the worm drive being configured for both rotary and axial movement, rotary movement imparting rotational motion to the cam face, and axial movement changing relative valve timing. The device preferably includes a plurality of such rotatable cams engagable with different ones of a plurality of worm drives to thus provide selective variation of valve opening and valve closing times independently of one another, with open-valve duration being variable to occur at any point in an overall operating cycle of the system.

Abstract: A retrofitable or original equipped device for tank type toilets having a pull strap 40 which is held in place by a beam section 10 in a fixed position by a lock and release 12 that will allow a toilet operator to quickly and easily interrupt the flushing process of the toilet to prevent an overflow, to ease cleaning or to prevent a young child from drowning. In addition, a device that can be easily installed without tools and will remain in a ready to use state without interfering with normal toilet operations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selective environmental conditioning of a substantially enclosed utilization area is disclosed for removal of undesired matter therefrom while more readily establishing predetermined naturally occurring environmental characteristics therein. The apparatus includes negative ion generators and positive electrostatic field generators positioned relative to each other so that the field generators are adjacent to, and spaced a preselected distance from, the ion generators to enhance more even distribution of the positive electrostatic field and negative ions within the enclosed area and particularly adjacent to units and structural surfaces, such as walls, work surfaces, people, equipment, and the like in the area.

Abstract: A covering apparatus is disclosed which is adaptable to cover any one of a plurality of similarly positioned motor vehicle compartment closures, for example engine compartment hoods, where such closures are of unlike size and/or shape such as would be the case on vehicles of different manufacture, model year or the like. The apparatus includes a pliable cover having preselected dimensions so that when the cover is positioned on the outwardly facing surface of the closure to be covered portions of the cover extend independently of one another substantially beyond the edges of the closure.

Abstract: A selectively positionable scraping apparatus is disclosed for scraping matter from the sole of articles of footwear, for example ski boots or shoes. The apparatus is mountable, for example, on the upper surfaces of a ski adjacent to the ski boot binding toe piece and includes a mounting portion and a scraper connected with the mounting portion and movable with respect thereto between stored and operative positions. A spring biases the scraper toward the operative position abutting the binding toe piece and a retainer connected with the mounting portion is provided for releasably securing the scraper in the stored position.

Abstract: A safety enhanced pivoting door operator is disclosed which includes an apparatus for selective restraint of the swing door to resist movement of the door in a first direction beyond the fully closed position during routine use while yet allowing movement of the door in the first direction beyond the fully closed position when sufficient force is applied to the door in non-routine situations, for example to allow emergency exit or the like. The operator includes a motor and a drive train connected with a rotatable pivot upon which the door is movable. The apparatus includes a mounting member having a deflectable bar connected therewith.

Abstract: A presence detecting apparatus and method are disclosed, the apparatus including an emitter array and receiver array configured, oriented and shielded to provide an effective detection area characterized by a truncated elliptical footprint, a background compensation network for automatically compensating for variations in environmental conditions in the detection area to provide a substantially constant detection sensitivity, and discriminating circuitry for discriminating signals indicative of a body in the detection area from transient and steady state signals. The emitter circuits and receiving and detecting circuits are capable of asynchronous operation, and the receiver array and detector array are housed so that the receiver array is substantially isolated from selected electromagnetic signals from the detector array.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing selected environmental characteristics in a substantially enclosed area is disclosed for removal of undesired matter therefrom while establishing selected predetermined desired environmental characteristics therein. The apparatus includes structure establishing the substantially enclosed area, the structure having units for negative ion production and positive electrostatic field establishment positioned therein. The electrostatic field establishing unit includes a field collector and pulse generating circuitry for pulsating the positive electrostatic field at a selected frequency, the field collector preferably having a collector surface which is removable and subject to processing to enable analysis of matter collected thereat.

Abstract: An apparatus for covering selected portions of a vehicle body is disclosed having a plurality of cover sections with each section being configured to cover different selected portions of the vehicle body, for example portions of the front fenders, bumper area, engine compartment hood, and headlamp housings of an automobile. Some cover sections are provided with resilient securing and conforming cords engageable with the covers, with the cords being adjustable in overall length to provide for the continued ability to secure and conform the covers to the vehicle body over time. The cover sections are quickly and simply securable to the selected portions of the vehicle body utilizing a minimum of direct attachments thereto.

Abstract: A system and method for distribution of heated air in a selected area, for example the cabin of an engine powered craft such as a helicopter, is disclosed. The heat distribution system includes a main hot air supply conduit connected to the engine compressor of the engine for receipt therethrough of hot bleed air from the engine, a zone supply conduit having a plurality of outlets, a main control valve connected between the main supply conduit and the zone supply conduit for controlling the volume of hot air passing therethrough from the main supply conduit to the zone supply conduit, and a plurality of heated air distribution units for selectively controlling the volume of hot air released into the units through the zone supply conduit outlets and for mixing the hot air with air at ambient temperature received at the units for thus distributing heated air from the units to different zones in the selected area.