Abstract: A spur holder is formed of flexible material and has a rear body and sides connecting the body to a front loop, which is stretchable over the heel of the boot to engage the front of the heel, with the rear body disposed at the rear of the boot adjacent the upper edge of the heel. The rear body has a generally oval front edge and a rear edge corresponding generally to a portion of an ellipse, while each of the front and rear edges of the loop corresponds generally to a flattened oval. A rib extends inwardly from the rear body and a portion of each of the sides, adjacent the inner edge of each and is adapted to engage a crevice above the heel when the holder is installed on a boot. A spur rowel and shank are attached to the rear body, as by a plate molded within the rear body or a cap which covers the plate and is vulcanized to the rear body. The inner edge of each of the sides may be provided with a taper opposite the rib to accommodate additional stretching of these edges.

Abstract: A convertible sleeping bag for use as a sleeping bag and an ambulatory garment having integral upper torso and lower torso portions, the upper torso portion having a front and back and at least two closeable openings, each having two sides when open and extending generally vertically of the bag and provided with closure elements on each side of the opening which can selectively open each vertical opening and engage another vertical opening closure element so as to be capable of closing each vertical opening to form at least one separate closed arm shaped portion in the upper torso portion; and the lower torso portion having at least two closeable openings, each having two sides when open and extending vertically of the bag and provided with closure elements on each side of the opening which can selectively open each vertical opening and engage the other open vertical opening closure element to close each vertical opening in a manner to leave an opening from the front to the back of the sleeping bag while form

Abstract: The underwater thermometer includes a transparent block, preferably formed of an acrylic plastic, having a planar rear surface provided with a longitudinal recess adapted to receive a fluid and tube type temperature indicator, with an enlargement at one end of the recess for receiving the bulb of the indicator. The indicator is adhesively attached to a foam pad, in turn adhesively secured to a flat, transparent layer, corresponding in shape to the planar rear surface of the block and adhered by a transparent adhesive, preferably an acrylic adhesive, to the rear surface of the block. The transparent layer is also provided, on its rear side, with one or more temperature scales and other indicia printed in reverse and visible through the transparent block, at least a portion of the front of which, such as the portion overlying the recess, is parallel to the planar rear surface.

Abstract: A gunpowder substitute which is capable of also being molded into a consumable cartridge or cartridge case comprising between 50% to 75% by weight of an inorganic nitrate and between 25% to 50% by weight of an organic acid including ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A grid which produces a vaultlike appearance on one side comprises a first series of parallel plates extending in one direction and a second series of parallel plates extending in the direction to intersect the first series of plates. At least one of the series of plates is generally concave on the one side; when only one series of plates is generally concave on the one side a tunnel effect is produced with the side edges generally concave, but when both series of plates are generally concave on the one side, a dome appearance is produced. The grid may be used as a ceiling grid and illuminated, if desired, or as an upright partition or divider placed on one edge. The opposite edges of the plates may be equidistant, including any deviations from a curve on which the edges may be laid out. A series of scallops, concave on the one side and convex on the opposite side of each plate may have the length corresponding to the distance between intersecting plates.

Abstract: A semiconductor gas sensor for use in equipment for detecting small amounts of H.sub.2 S. The method of sensor fabrication comprises spray deposition of a mixture of metal oxides mixed together with various metal and non-metal materials which serve in the finished product as activators, dopants, and/or film binder materials, and including in suspension a molecular sieve material, for enhancing and defining porosity on a scale of molecular dimensions in the finished sensor. All of the foregoing materials are suspended in a suitable solution and preferably sprayed onto a heated insulating substrate to form the finished product. The example sensor, capable of selective detection of H.sub.2 S in air and a sensitivity of less than 1 PPM (part per million), is comprised of a platinum activated alumina, tin oxide, and zeolite molecular sieve material.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon liquids are obtained from carbonaceous materials, such as coal, by contacting the carbonaceous materials with a metal carbonyl or a low valent complex of the transition metals and water gas under alkaline conditions to form a reaction mixture, and then heating the reaction mixture to a sufficient temperature and pressure to obtain the hydrocarbon liquids. In a second embodiment, the carbonaceous materials are solubilized to an unexpectedly high degree by contacting them with solvent/solute systems, such as phenolic recycle solvents containing alkali or alkaline-earth metal constituents.

Abstract: An immunoassay of a specimen of a serum or the like to determine immune complexes, includes producing on a plastic base a layer of a non-proteinaceous, non-ionic polymer which will adhere to the plastic base and has the capability of absorbing immune complexes of the specimen, placing a specimen on the layer and treating the layer to produce an indication of the amount of immune complexes. The polymer may be polyethylene glycol, dextran, polyvinyl chloride, a polymeric polyol or an adduct of polyethylene glycol. Washing with conventional solutions, addition of an antihuman IgG coupled with an enzyme and addition of a substrate reactive therewith, are similar to the ELISA test, with color measurement as by spectrophotometer. Or, the addition of anti IgG-I.sup.125 and measurement by a scintillation counter may be used. The ethylene glycol may range in molecular weight from 2,000 to 20,000, although 6,000 to 8,000 is preferred.

Abstract: A device and method for safely cutting through the outer body or case of a round of ammunition to recover the internal components thereof by providing a cutting implement on an operable device sized to receive the round when closed and engage the cutting implement.

Abstract: A positively locking snap utilizing a conventionally shaped snap hook having a normally open hook end portion which is opened and closed to receive and discharge a line or other fixture by movement of a U-shaped spring biased closure pivotally connected to the snap body at a position remote from the open hook portion, the U-shaped spring biased closure extending beyond the body of the snap hook on the side opposite to the open hook end and capable of being moved in a direction away from the hook end portion about the pivot to open the snap hook end portion when a locking member received between the snap hook body and the spring biased closure on the hook side of the snap hook body is moved from a position where it interferes with the movement of the spring closure to a position where is does not interfere with that movement, the movement of the locking member being facilitated by the provision of an exposed lateral extension of the member extending beyond the spring biased closure toward the end of the snap h

Abstract: An aluminum container scrap alloy is processed by a modified chill roll cast process into a highly formable sheet material suitable for use as a container end stock, by employing at least a 60% cold reduction followed by an anneal for about two hours at a temperature of from about 825.degree. F. to about 900.degree. F., followed by cold reduction to final gauge.

Abstract: Active dried yeast is treated to beneficiate subsequent fermentation activity and/or fermentation products of the yeast and to produce a beneficiated active yeast product by heating the dried yeast to a temperature of about 30.degree. to about 60.degree. C. for at least about 2 hours prior to utilization of the yeast in a fermentation process.

Abstract: Wood is beneficiated by treating the wood with an agent capable of forming a borate ester linkage between hydroxyl groups of the cell wall constituents of the wood, and thereafter treating the wood with an aldehyde to effect aldehyde cross-linking of cell wall structural constituents of the wood. Suitable borate ester forming agents include boric acid, lower polyalkyl borate esters, mono- and di-substituted derivatives of boric acid and/or the borate esters, and compounds capable of forming these agents in situ under the prevailing reaction conditions.

Abstract: A well effluent stream passes into a high pressure separator tank where liquids separate from gas. A very small amount of gas from the well effluent is fed through a thermostat to a glycol seal pot to control a closed glycol heating system for the high pressure separator. The closed glycol system receives its thermal energy from heat exchange from a separate process glycol system.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous heat transfer of ink images onto the outer surfaces of continuously moving articles, for example, generally cylindrical articles, from a length of continuously moving heat transfer sheet material having thereon a series of uniformly spaced heat transferable ink images. In the case of cylindrical articles, an elongated wrapping and heating tube is used for continuously wrapping a portion of the sheet material into intimate contact with the outer surface of each cylindrical article as the sheet material and the cylindrical members move through the tube and for heating the wrapped portion of the sheet material and the cylindrical articles during movement through the tube to cause transfer of the ink image to the articles within the tube. The sheet material is thereafter unwrapped and disassociated from the decorated cylindrical members after passing through the tube during continuous movement of the sheet material and the printed cylindrical members.

Abstract: A roasted yeast product having the characteristic texture, color, flavor, aroma and mouth-feel of cocoa powder is produced by roasting a food yeast under conditions producing a yeast temperature of about 175.degree. C. to about 225.degree. C. for a sufficient amount of time to develop texture, color, flavor and aroma characteristics of natural cocoa powder. The product may be used as a food flavoring agent generally and particularly as a cocoa extender, substitute or replacer in foodstuffs employing natural cocoa and/or chocolate.

Abstract: A sigh producing mechanism in a blower type positive pressure respirator. In breathing, a normal person will occasionally take a deep breath, a sigh, to break the monotony of regular breathing. In artificial respiration, such occasional sighs are also desired. The sigh is produced by an increase in the speed of the blower for a few breathing cycles. To produce the sigh, the resistance to the blower motor is reduced and this is accomplished with the aid of a timer to space the sigh intervals and limit the duration of the sigh cycles.

Abstract: In an artificial respiration apparatus, especially in positive pressure types, it has been found that an extension lead for a respirator alarm system is desirable. This lead will extend beyond the respirator to permit a patient to initiate an alarm when help is needed. The lead is connected to the alarm initiating circuit in the respirator in a manner which makes its connection or disconnection optional with the alarm system in the respirator working in its regular manner when the extension lead is disconnected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enriching the iron carbonyl content of a recycle gas stream produced in an iron carbonyl decomposition or reaction process to enable reuse of the recycle gas stream in the iron carbonyl decomposition or reaction process by cooling the recycle gas stream, adding carbon monoxide to the recycle gas stream, compressing the recycle gas stream to a pressure of about 20 to about 38 atmospheres under conditions suitable to prevent substantial decomposition of residual iron carbonyl, and contacting the compressed gas stream at a temperature of about 65 to about 160.degree. C. with a reduced iron containing material in the presence of hydrogen sulfide under conditions suitable to produce substantially condensed iron carbonyl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in the portable, positive-pressure artificial respiration apparatus and, more particularly, to improvements in the air passageway systems of such apparatus by using a dual control valve.