Abstract: An improved method for expanding the open ends of human vessels employs an expandable cell which can be inflated a bubble at the open end of a vessel. The method is carried out with a novel closed end cell which can be connected to a source of fluidized pressure such a hypodermic syringe and, in its relaxed state can be introduced into the open end of the vessel for subsequent expansion into a bubble of the desired diameter to cause uniform length extension of the open end of the vessel. The cell may be prestressed or weakened to establish the location of bubble formation within the cell.

Abstract: Coal is gasified to produce carbon monoxide which is converted to carbon by a reverse Boudouard reaction2CO.fwdarw.CO.sub.2 +CThe carbon dioxide is recycled and reacted with coal to create more carbon monoxide by the Boudouard reactionCO.sub.2 +C.fwdarw.2COThe resulting carbon is recovered and mixed with a liquid to form a liquid slurry of particulate carbon which is useful as a liquid fuel. The liquid may be water or hydrocarbonaceous liquids. The process optimizes recovery of carbon from coal in a usable form, substantially free of sulfur, hydrogen, ash and nitrogen.

Abstract: A self-contained switch unit for controlling a remote illuminating lamp has, in a common housing, a main ON/OFF switch, and has an emergency signal ON/OFF switch in a common housing, and has a visible pilot lamp. The main ON/OFF switch controls the ON or OFF mode of the illuminating lamp. The emergency signal ON/OFF switch functions, when the main ON/OFF switch is in the ON mode, to cause the controlled illuminating lamp to flash as a signal. When the controlled lamp is lighted, the pilot lamp is dark. When the controlled lamp is dark, the pilot lamp is lighted. When the controlled lamp is in the flashing mode, the pilot lamp also is in a flashing mode.

Abstract: A car dumping apparatus intended for open top railway cars or other containers which are moved sequentially through a supporting frame and are rotated upwardly and to one side about a single horizontal axis to discharge the contents onto a dumping area located on one side. A first hydraulic piston motor rotates the frame and railroad car as a combination about the horizontal axis. Thereafter a second hydraulic piston motor advances the combination of frame, railroad car, an intermediate support member and the first hydraulic piston motor, as a combination, about the same horizontal axis until the open top of the railroad car confronts the dumping area whereby the contents of the railway car are spilled onto the dumping area. Economies of construction and operation are achieved as a result of the rotation about a single horizontal axis.

Abstract: A paper spool support and feeding device for use with a printer includes a support arm for retaining a paper spool and a paper feeding slit to restrict lateral movement of paper which is drawn from the spool. The device preferably is fabricated from rods, tubes or wires and preferably includes a flat mounting plate which can be positioned and frictionally retained beneath a printer.

Abstract: A duel feed hydrocyclone is proposed for separating an aqueous slurry of particles into a bottom stream which contains the heavy/large particles and a top stream which contains the light/small particles. The aqueous slurry is delivered through a common feed conduit and is divided into two initially parallel horizontally spaced-apart streams. The first stream enters the cylindrical chamber of the hydrocyclone through a side wall opening near the top thereof; the second feed stream is delivered around the outer surface of the cylindrical chamber and is introduced into the cylindrical chamber through a second side wall opening, remote from the first side wall opening. The heavy/large particles of the slurry descend adjacent to the inner wall of the hydrocyclone in helical paths which are distinct from one another. Some particle segregation occurs in the second passageway prior to introduction of the second partial feed stream into the hydrocyclone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing a stress index S of a subject by determining from the EKG of the subject the peak valve of the R-wave and the T-wave; determining the ratio of the R-peak to the T-peak as an initial stress value Z; determining the corresponding stress value Z after the subject experiences stress or relief of stress and establishing the stress index S as the ratio of the Z values (after/before). A stress meter is proposed to provide visual or other indications of the instantaneous stress index. Methods of exercising subjects or treating subjects in accordance with stress index values are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved froth flotation installation for separating solid particles from an aqueous slurry by delivering a stream of the aqueous slurry directly into a vortex chamber along with a supply of bubble-forming gas. The kinetic energy of the slurry creates necessary froth bubbles, and provides mechanical agitation of the contents of a froth flotation separation zone upon discharge from the bottom of the vortex chamber. In multi-zone froth flotation installations, the direction of flow of the aqueous slurry of unrecovered solid particles is deliberately changed at least twice between a first froth flotation zone and a last froth flotation zone to improve solids-froth contact and to minimize the possibility of particles adopting a short circuit path through the installation. Multiple froth flotation zones are serviced by a single slurry pump in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: An improved froth flotation installation for separating solid particles from an aqueous slurry by delivering a stream of the aqueous slurry directly into a vortex chamber along with a supply of bubble-forming gas. The kinetic energy of the slurry creates necessary froth bubbles, and provides mechanical agitation of the contents of a froth flotation separation zone upon discharge from the bottom of the vortex chamber. In multi-zone froth flotation installations, the direction of flow of the aqueous slurry of unrecovered solid particles is deliberately changed at least twice between a first froth flotation zone and a last froth flotation zone to improve solids-froth contact and to minimize the possibility of particles adopting a short circuit path through the installation. Multiple froth flotation zones are serviced by a single slurry pump in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A vortex chamber aerator is provided with a split feed conduit whereby the liquid feed is introduced into the vortex chamber through two opposed passageways to provide more even distribution of the liquid currents within the vortex chamber. This results in reduced wear in the vortex chamber and more importantly presents a uniform discharge pattern of the liquid and entrained gas bubbles.

Abstract: A movable block geometrical puzzle having eight core pieces and having rotatable pyramid pieces connected to plane surfaces formed by surfaces of at least two of the core pieces. The block puzzle employs the 2.times.2.times.2 configuration for the core blocks and exhibits the same movements of the 2.times.2.times.2 puzzle, i.e., movement of any one block along with three other blocks about any of three mutually perpendicular axes passing through the center of the device. In addition, the present puzzle device provides rotatable movement of pyramid blocks about an axis which is perpendicular to the plane surface to which the pyramid blocks are secured and provides for movement of the pyramid blocks along with the supporting core block or blocks when the core blocks are moved relative to other core blocks. Connection means for core blocks of 2.times.2.times.2 puzzle are provided along with connection means for pyramid blocks of the present puzzle.

Abstract: A liquid-filled polyurethane elastomer gel is fabricated from water, organic glycol and a polyisocyanate prepolymer. The prepolymer is formed from organic di-isocyanate and organic diol or triol having a molecular weight of 3,000 to 10,000 and containing at least 40 percent by weight ethylene oxide adducts. The prepolymer is mixed with 3 to 20 times its weight of aqueous reactant including 25 to 65 percent by weight water and 75 to 35 percent by weight organic polyol. The resulting stable gel contains aqueous solutions or emulsions dispersed therein as small droplets comprising 75 to 95 percent of the weight of the resulting article. The liquid-filled polyurethane elastomer gel can be cast into shapes or can be formed into globs of random shape.

Abstract: A method for assembling multi-unit, party wall residential buildings employs fire-resistant structural panels which are manufactured off-site and installed in the structure as completed party walls. The individual units are assembled side-by-side and thereafter the factory-assembled, fire-resistant party wall panels are introduced into the building covering the contiguous walls of the individual units. Satisfactory fire ratings for the resulting buildings can be achieved. The fire-resistant wall sections are fabricated from a frame which is covered with fire-resistant panels on both surfaces and filled with acoustical insulation.

Abstract: A temperature verification device employs a coiled bimetallic strip having its temperature responsive, rotatable outer end engaged with an indicator flag which is connected with a finger-like projection spaced outwardly from the indicator flag. A stop member is provided in the path of the distal end of the finger-like member and is adapted to engage the distal end when the flag member is moved in one direction, for example, clockwise. Movement of the flag member in the opposite direction can be achieved because the resilient finger-like member will slide past the stop member. All of the structure is confined in a casing having an opening through which the flag indicator may be observed under certain conditions. The stop member can be positioned at any selected location about the periphery of the casing to function as a holding means for the flag indicator at a preselected temperature threshold.

Abstract: Improved corrugated steel decking of the type having plural crest surfaces, plural valley surfaces and plural sloping web surfaces connecting each crest surface to the adjoining valley surface. An inwardly depressed groove is provided in each of the sloping web surfaces adjacent to the crest surface.

Abstract: A method for fastening rock bolts in geological strata and a two-compartment package containing expansible resinous composition including unsaturated polyester resin syrup, aluminum chlorohydroxide and activator for the resin syrup. The method introduces an expansible composition into an opening in the geological strata, and foams the composition in engagement with a rock bolt. The preferred method introduces a two-compartment package of the composition into the opening in the geological strata, ruptures the package with the rock bolt, and mixes the composition by mechanical motion of the rock bolt.

Abstract: A fluid-solids contacting device is provided in tanks which can be essentially filled with particulate solids treating medium. An improved fluid distributor element is provided in such vessels including a tube-defining-frame such as a helix which is anchored to a fluid inlet or outlet pipe and which is covered with a fabric sleeve secured annularly to the pipe end. Where the pipe is an inlet pipe, all of the fluid must flow through the sleeve and is distributed over the area of the sleeve within the fluid-solids treating vessel. Where the pipe is an outlet pipe, the fluids leaving the tank must pass through the sleeve before entering into the outlet pipe. In both cases the flow distribution of the fluid within the tank is improved.

Abstract: Containers of chemical hazardous waste materials can be permanently vaulted by distributing the containers on a base surface apart from one another and thereafter filling the space between the deposited containers with a cementitious substance and covering the containers with a slab of cementitious substance whereby each individual container is isolated within a structural skeleton of the cementitious substance. The cementitious material will retain its structural integrity after the container has deteriorated or corroded. Multiple tiers of containers may be accumulated in this fashion and encapsulated within a permanent disposal vault.

Abstract: A permanent storage vault for hazardous waste materials provides a water-confining basin liner for an excavation basin, a liquid collection system to collect liquids from the basin liner and a double encapsulation for the waste materials including a water-impervious film encapsulation and, surrounding that, an encapsulation of water-impermeable cementitious material. A sump is provided to collect liquids accumulating on the basin liner.

Abstract: A permanent bin for temporary storage of non-volatile chemical hazardous wastes is provided. An excavation basin is lined with a water-impervious film and a water-impermeable cementitious covering. The bin is formed from perimeter walls which are positioned within the rim of the water-impervious cementitious covering. A liquid collection system is provided to retain any drainage from the system for prompt detection, appropriate analysis and for effective disposal if required.