Abstract: A fiber optic vibration sensor utilizes two single mode optical fibers supported by a housing with one optical fiber fixedly secured to the housing and providing a reference signal and the other optical fiber having a free span length subject to vibrational displacement thereof with respect to the housing and the first optical fiber for providing a signal indicative of a measurement of any perturbation of the sensor. Damping or tailoring of the sensor to be responsive to selected levels of perturbation is provided by altering the diameter of optical fibers or by immersing at least a portion of the free span length of the vibration sensing optical fiber into a liquid of a selected viscosity.

Abstract: A device for controlling the pouring of a molten material from a crucible or other container. The device (10) includes an annular retainer ring (12) for mounting in the drain opening in the bottom of a conventional crucible (16), the retainer ring defining a opening (14) therethrough. The device (10) also includes a plug member (22) having an annular forward end portion (24) for force-fit reception in the opening (14) of the retainer ring (12) to selectively seal the opening (14) and for being selectively forced through the opening (14). The plug member (22) has a rear end portion (26) for being positioned within the crucible (16), the rear end portion (26) including stop means for prohibiting the rear end portion from passing through the opening (14) in the retainer ring (12) when the forward end portion (24) is selectively forced through the opening.

Abstract: A solvent composition for displacing greasy and oily contaminants as well as water and/or aqueous residue from metallic surfaces, especially surfaces of radioactive materials so that such surfaces can be wiped clean of the displaced contaminants, water and/or aqueous residue. The solvent composition consists essentially of a blend of nonpolar aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent having a minimum flash point of about 140.degree. F. and 2 to 25 volume percent of a polar solvent having a flash point sufficiently high so as to provide the solvent composition with a minimum flash point of at least 140.degree. F. The solvent composition is nonhazardous so that when it is used to clean the surfaces of radioactive materials the waste in the form of paper or cloth wipes, lab coats and the like used in the cleaning operation is not considered to be mixed waste composed of a hazardous solvent and a radioactive material.

Abstract: A manual-type braille writer that provides for both writing and reading in a normal left-to-right manner. In the preferred form, this braille writer has a clip board type base, and in the preferred embodiment a guide plate assembly can be moved to, and releasable fixed at, selected vertical locations along this base. The guide plate assembly is provided with a plurality of character cells uniformly spaced along rows across the guide plate assembly as well as in uniformly spaced rows. This guide plate assembly has a lower portion to be placed under a sheet of paper positioned on the clip board base and an upper portion to be positioned on top of the sheet. This upper portion is hinged with respect to the lower portion. Each character cell is typically made up of six appropriately spaced pins extending up from the lower portion that are aligned with a rosette-shaped cutout in the upper portion.

Abstract: A process for removing, from spent electroless metal plating bath solutions, accumulated byproducts and counter-ions that have deleterious effects on plating. The solution, or a portion thereof, is passed through a selected cation exchange resin bed in hydrogen form, the resin selected from strong acid cation exchangers and combinations of intermediate acid cation exchangers with strong acid cation exchangers. Sodium and nickel ions are sorbed in the selected cation exchanger, with little removal of other constituents. The remaining solution is subjected to sulfate removal through precipitation of calcium sulfate hemihydrate using, sequentially, CaO and then CaCO.sub.3. Phosphite removal from the solution is accomplished by the addition of MgO to form magnesium phosphite trihydrate. The washed precipitates of these steps can be safely discarded in nontoxic land fills, or used in various chemical industries. Finally, any remaining solution can be concentrated, adjusted for pH, and be ready for reuse.

Abstract: A thermosetting mixture for use as an adhesive, as well as other applications, that is substantially nonmutagenic. This mixture is based upon a thermosetting resin selected from polyurethane and epoxy resins, using an improved curing agent that does not contain mutagenic components. Specifically, the curing agent is a multi-mixture of substituted alkylanilines produced by an improved process. These alkylanilines are formed by condensation of at least two 2,6-dialkylanilines with a formaldehyde in an acid solution. Upon purification, at least three aromatic diamines are formed that are used for the curing agent with the polyurethane and epoxy resisn. Pot life, green strength and ultimate strength are comparable to adhesives of the prior art that contain mutagenic constituents. Although several dianilines are described, the preferred curing agents are formed using 2,6-diethylaniline (DEA) and 2,6-diisopropylaniline (DIPA), where the mole % of DEA and DIPA is 38-48 and 62-52, respectively.

Abstract: The invention described and claimed in the specification relates to the discovery that effective addition of Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 to a lead phosphate glass results in a glass having enhanced chemical durability and physical stability, and consists essentially of the glass resulting from melting a mixture consisting essentially of, in weight percent, 40-66 percent PbO, 30-55 percent P.sub.2 O.sub.5 and an effective concentration up to 12 percent Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: A multilayered thermal insulating composite is formed of a first layer of zirconia-bonded zirconia fibers for utilization near the hot phase or surface of a furnace or the like. A second layer of zirconia-bonded metal oxide fibers is attached to the zirconia fiber layer by a transition layer formed of intermingled zirconia fibers and metal oxide fibers. The thermal insulation is fabricated by vacuum molding with the layers being sequentially applied from aqueous solutions containing the fibers to a configured mandrel. A portion of the solution containing the fibers forming the first layer is intermixed with the solution containing the fibers of the second layer for forming the layer of mixed fibers. The two layers of fibers joined together by the transition layer are saturated with a solution of zirconium oxynitrate which provides a zirconia matrix for the composite when the fibers are sintered together at their nexi.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a highly pure, partially stabilized, fibrous zirconia composite for use as thermal insulation in environments where temperatures up to about 2000.degree. C. are utilized. The composite of the present invention is fabricated into any suitable configuration such as a cone, cylinder, dome or the like by vacuum molding an aqueous slurry of partially stabilized zirconia fibers into a desired configuration on a suitably shaped mandrel. The molded fibers are infiltrated with zirconyl nitrate and the resulting structure is then dried to form a rigid structure which may be removed and placed in a furnace. The structure is then heated in air to a temperature of about 600.degree. C. for driving off the nitrate from the structure and for oxidizing the zirconyl ion to zirconia. Thereafter, the structure is heated to about 950.degree. to 1,250.degree. C. to fuse the zirconia fibers at their nexi in a matrix of zirconia.

Abstract: A combination top water and under water fishing lure resembling a frog is described. The lure has a buoyant body portion moveably joined to a weighted hind leg portion which simulates a live frog at rest. The body portion is weighted at its posterior end whereby the anterior end or head end is maintained at an upright position in the water. A plastic dive plate attached to the anterior end of the body portion provides realistic kicking and diving action together with erratic head movement of the simulated frog being retrieved beneath the water's surface. The invention simulates the natural appearance of a frog in both swimming and at-rest modes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a safety device for standard table-mounted saws whereby a board is firmly restrained thereon while the sawblade rotates to saw the board in a longitudinal plane. The device utilizes a pair of vertically oriented, spring-loaded, hold-down assemblies to maintain the board in longitudinal alignment with the rotating blade. The hold-down assemblies are of a generally rectangular configuration and may be conveniently mounted perpendicular to and at longitudinally spaced apart locations with respect to the board. The device of the invention is a significant improvement in safety equipment designed to prevent the sawed sections of a board from kicking back onto the operator of conventional table saws.

Abstract: A holder for mounting gasoline or kerosene lanterns on canoes which comprises a trapezoid-shaped retentive base designed to slip over and be retained in a horizontal plane in the tapered end of the canoe and having a compressible cylindrical receptacle sized to fit said lantern base and attached fixedly to said retentive base and means for securing said lantern therewithin. The holder is readily adjustable to fit canoes having different bow or stern configurations.

Abstract: A top water fishing lure having a keeled and buoyant head expressly designed to represent a snake or lizard, and which buoyant head is adapted to receive at the posterior end thereof commercial dressings such as plastic grubs, pork rind and plastic skirts. The invention may be selectively weighted whereby, on retrieval, the lure assumes any desired angle between 10.degree. and 45.degree. to the horizontal and which thereby, from the combination of factors of said angle, the surface appearance and shape of the buoyant head, and the motion of the posterior commercial dressing, simulates the natural swimming movement and appearance of a live snake, lizard, eel, frog or minnow.

Abstract: A device is described which provides egress for persons trapped in burning buildings. The invention comprises a portable supportive base structure having attached thereto a plurality of interconnected channel members which are manually extended to reach the upper levels of multi-storied buildings wherein trapped victims of fire may be located. Winches attached to the device enable an operator to position the extendable members in front of an upper level window whereupon the person being removed enters a personnel receptacle attached to the terminal end of the final extendable member and is thereupon lowered safely to the ground.

Abstract: A device is described whereby persons required to take one or more doses of a plurality of medicines, over a span of hours and days can keep track of times said dosages should be taken, by means of an apparatus which comprises a thin sheet member having an array of apertures arranged in a multiplicity of mutually perpendicular rows, a plurality of removable color-coded pegs conveniently rounded to be rotatably secured in the holes, arrangement of said holes being indicative of the time of day on one axis and indicative of the medicine to be taken and the dosage on the second axis. Thus, where a person is required, for reasons of health, to take a variety of medicines at differing times of the day or night, then it is a simple matter to program the subject invention whereby the medicine, the dosage and the time are readily and conveniently known.

Abstract: An entertainment apparatus is described for simulating the basic play options of the game of college football. The apparatus includes a gameboard to simulate a football field and includes thereon: space at each end for run or pass options to be indicated thereupon, a football-shaped ball position yardline marker, a first down indicator, an individual down indicator, and two play designation markers. Two decks of cards provide a plurality of play situations whereby two persons representing offensive and defensive quarterbacks can match wits to move a simulated football back and forth upon the gameboard. A multiplicity of down cards are controlled by the player starting on the offense while a multiplicity of kick cards are controlled by the defensive player. The offensive player, using a shield to hide his choice from view, chooses either a run or a pass and places a play designation marker on the appropriate space on the gameboard to so indicate.

Abstract: A device is described for concentrating solar radiation upon the surface of a helicoidal tube assembly containing a circulating heat transfer medium whereby the energy of said radiation may be collected and utilized. The device consists of a rectangular container wherein is supported a longitudinal plurality of aligned curved reflectors for gathering and concentrating incident solar radiation, multiple vertical relectors to gather low-angle radiation, a convex radiation concentrating reflector beneath said helicoidal tube and a means for damping excess solar radiation. A method is given for the utilization of said solar radiation collector whereby the heated circulating medium provides the means for heating and cooling buildings.