Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cleaning and rejuvenating septic tank sewage systems. Where the septic tank has a drainfield associated therewith, the method comprises penetrating the ground near a drainfield lateral, and agitating the area near the drainfield lateral while simultaneously applying suction to the drainfield lateral. Accumulated scum and waste is thereby removed from the drainfield lateral. Where the septic tank system has a dry well associated therewith, the method comprises penetrating the bottom of the dry well and agitating the area underneath the dry well to form accumulated scum and waste into a froth or malt at the bottom of the dry well, and removing the froth or malt by suction. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a penetrating nozzle attached to an articulated boom assembly for penetrating the ground near a drainfield lateral or underneath a dry well to apply forced air or fluid or suction to agitate the area near the drainfield lateral or underneath the dry well.

Abstract: A drain field container system for use in filtering sewage water from a distribution box. A plurality of separate containers are used to receive equal amounts of sewage water from distribution pipes extending from a distribution box. Sewage water is dispensed from the distribution pipe onto a dispersal tray inside the distribution box. The dispersal tray ensures equal distribution of sewage water across a filter located below the dispersal tray and extending across a lower portion of the drain field container. Sewage water is filtered in the filter before exiting the drain field container from an outlet on the bottom thereof. The drain field containers are made of rugged waterproof materials such as fiberglass. The drain field containers have a removable top portion to allow easy servicing and maintenance. A bubble top may also be employed to prevent dirt from accumulating on top of the drain field container.

Abstract: A method and product for preparing a controlled-release composition are provided. The method comprises formation of a mixture containing at least one amphiphilic substance capable of forming a liquid crystalline phase, in contact with a liquid selected from the group consisting of water, glycerol, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof. The method includes a step of providing in such mixture a bioactive material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for cleaning and rejuvenating septic tank sewage systems. Where the septic tank has a drainfield associated therewith, the method comprises penetrating the ground near a drainfield lateral, and agitating the area near the drainfield lateral while simultaneously applying suction to the drainfield lateral. Accumulated scum and waste is thereby removed from the drainfield lateral. Where the septic tank system has a dry well associated therewith, the method comprises penetrating the bottom of the dry well and agitating the area underneath the dry well to form accumulated scum and waste into a froth or malt at the bottom of the dry well, and removing the froth or malt by suction. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a penetrating nozzle attached to an articulated boom assembly for penetrating the ground near a drainfield lateral or underneath a dry well to apply forced air or fluid or suction to agitate the area near the drainfield lateral or underneath the dry well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to crewseats for aircraft such as helicopters, and to thigh support and lumbar support mechanisms for such crewseats. The thigh support mechanism is a tilt plate hingeably attached to a base plate, and a locking tang extending downward from the tilt plate to engage a lock lug attached to the base plate. The lumbar support mechanism is a flex plate between the seat back cushion and the rigid back of the crewseat. The degree of bow in the flex plate can be adjusted by moving an adjustment lever up or down, thus rotating a cam shaft, and a lift cam attached to the cam shaft. The lift cam increases or decreases the amount of bow in the flex plate, according to the position of the adjustment lever.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for cleaning and rejuvenating septic tank sewage systems. Where the septic tank has a drainfield associated therewith, the method comprises penetrating the ground near a drainfield lateral, and agitating the area near the drainfield lateral while simultaneously applying suction to the drainfield lateral. Accumulated scum and waste is thereby removed from the drainfield lateral. Where the septic tank system has a dry well associated therewith, the method comprises penetrating the bottom of the dry well and agitating the area underneath the dry well to form accumulated scum and waste into a froth or malt at the bottom of the dry well, and removing the froth or malt by suction. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a penetrating nozzle attached to an articulated boom assembly for penetrating the ground near a drainfield lateral or underneath a dry well to apply forced air or fluid or suction to agitate the area near the drainfield lateral or underneath the dry well.

Abstract: A system that facilitates the efficient transfer of digitally encoded messages comprising an enhanced service exchange device in combination with an enhanced service message handler. The system provides alternate delivery paths for digitally encoded messages after first attempting a point-to-point connection between the sending and receiving communicating devices. The system provides re-routing functionality for both the sending and receiving of data. For sending data, the enhanced service exchange monitors point-to-point message transfer failure parameters (such as device busy signals, no answer, or telephone network re-order signals). When such conditions are encountered, it re-directs the transfer attempt to an enhanced service message handler, which may then be used as a store-and-forward switch. For receiving data, messages are redirected to the enhanced service message handler if message transfer failure parameters are detected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to analytical methods for determining the composition of a material that undergoes a transition as a function of a driving variable. As applied to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), a first preferred embodiment comprises (1) decreasing the heating rate when deviations from a baseline signal are detected; (2) establishing a minimum heating rate; (3) forcing the heating rate to a predetermined maximum whenever the rate of change of the weight change with respect to the temperature falls below a predetermined value; and (4) adjusting the heating rate according to the rate of change of the weight of the sample to track a predetermined rate of change of the weight of the sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to differential analytical techniques for determining the composition, phase, structure, identification or other properties of a material that undergoes a transition as function of a driving variable. As applied to differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DSC), the preferred embodiment comprises: (1) heating a sample of the material with a linear temperature ramp that is modulated with a sinusoidal heating rate oscillation; and (2) deconvoluting the resultant heat flow signal into rapidly reversible and non-rapidly reversible components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the thermal conductivity of materials using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). Two MDSC heat capacity measurements are made consecutively. One measurement is made under conditions which ensure obtaining a fairly accurate value for the heat capacity of the material ("quasi-ideal conditions"). Another measurement is made under conditions such that the measured effective heat capacity differs from the accurate value of the heat capacity due to thermal conductivity effects. Generally, the non-ideal conditions differ from the ideal conditions by one parameter, such as the size of the sample, the modulation frequency used to measure the heat capacity, or, for thin films, the presence or absence of a specimen on the thin film. The thermal conductivity of the material is then calculated from the difference between the heat capacity measured under quasi-ideal conditions and the effective heat capacity measured under non-ideal conditions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing autostereograms using ultraviolet radiation-curable thermosetting polymers. A stereoscopic image is printed upon a plastic or paper sheet, which is fed directly onto a surface having an inverse lenticular pattern relief. As the sheet is fed onto the surface, a flow of ultraviolet-curable thermosetting polymer resin is directed at the surface. Ultraviolet radiation is directed at the polymer layer, curing the polymer and forming a lenticular array on the front surface of the polymer layer. During this process, the sheet carrying the stereoscopic image is bonded to the back surface of the polymer lenticular layer in precise registration with the lenticular array. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the inverse lenticular pattern relief is on the outer surface of a transparent cylinder. The polymer layer is cured as it is flowed onto the relief pattern by an ultraviolet lamp placed within the transparent cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention is a tubular structure which inflates upon side or oblique impact to protect the occupants of a vehicle such as an automobile. The structure is mounted in its undeployed state along the periphery of the vehicle's window. The primary component of the present invention is a braided tube containing a gas generator. When a side impact is detected, the gas generator is ignited, inflating the braided tube. As the braided tube inflates, the diameter of the tube increases and its length decreases. The tube then pulls out of its storage location and forms a taut, semi-rigid structural member across the vehicle's window.

Abstract: The present invention is a thermogravimetric instrument having a ceramic sample support and a ceramic balance beam. The ceramic platform is rigidly attached to the hot end of the ceramic balance beam. An inert metal liner is press fitted into the ceramic sample platform. In a preferred embodiment, a thermocouple is directly attached to the inert metal liner. The thermocouple wires are routed through the length of the ceramic balance beam and are attached to the cold end of the ceramic balance beam with adhesive. The inert metal liner could be fabricated from platinum or from platinum alloys.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for waste disposal by hydraulic embedment in a subterranean formation. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises the steps of drilling into stable geologic formations thousands of feet below ground, fracturing those formations, pumping a mixture of hazardous waste in solid, liquid, or sludge form and a selected transport medium into the fractured formations, and preventing migration of the waste. Although a suitable transport medium can be selected based on a number of factors, transport media selected in accordance with one aspect of the present invention prevent migration of the waste by reacting chemically or to either heat or pressure or both to become highly viscous or solid.

Abstract: The present invention is a single site or multiple site chemotaxis test apparatus or chemotaxis chamber for measuring the effect of concentration gradients of diffusible chemicals upon the directional response of biological cells. The chemotactic test apparatus of the present invention comprise two compartments separated by a thin passage. The dimensions of the thin passage are selected such that cells cannot flow through the thin passage, but must deform themselves by flattening out and then "crawl" or migrate through the passage. These chambers can be used to study the migration or orientation of mobile adherent or non-adherent cells.

Abstract: There is provided a broker workstation for managing orders in a market for trading commodities, securities, securities options, futures contracts and futures options and other items including: a device for selectively displaying order information; a computer for receiving the orders and for controlling the displaying device; and a device for entering the orders into the computer; wherein the displaying device comprises a device for displaying selected order information about each incoming order, a device for displaying a representation of an order deck and a device for displaying a total of market orders.

Abstract: A differential thermal analysis sensor consisting of two low-impedance differential thermopiles. Each thermopile consists of a series of thermocouples joined in series, with the measuring junctions of the thermocouples arranged around a uniform temperature measuring region, and the thermoelectric reference junctions of the thermocouples arranged around a uniform temperature thermoelectric reference region. The differential thermal analysis sensor can be used for single-sample heat flux differential thermal analysis measurements, dual-sample heat flux differential thermal analysis measurements, or power compensation differential thermal analysis measurements.

Abstract: A simple chemotaxis apparatus and method wherein surface tension, capillary action, and hydrophobic forces are used to hold cell suspensions, chemotactic factors, and control fluids in place on both membrane filters and chemotaxis plates. In one embodiment, chemotactic factors and controls are placed at preselected areas on the top surface of a bottom plate, while a membrane filter topped with cell suspensions is placed above the bottom plate so that the drops of chemotactic factors and controls contact the filter membrane directly below the locations of the cell suspensions. In another embodiment, the preselected locations on the bottom plate are rimmed wells that are filled with chemotactic factors and controls. Hydrophobic coating is used to limit fluid movement on the filter membrane and on the bottom plate. Occluding materials or monolayers of cells are used to further limit the gravitational fluid flow in the preferred embodiments.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of making autostereographic images of an object, comprising the steps of inputting to a computer a predetermined number of planar images of the object, each of the planar images being a view of the object, from one of the predetermined number of different viewpoints; interleaving the predetermined number of planar images in the computer; and printing the interleaved images with a high-resolution output imaging device on a spacer, a selected edge of each interleaved image being aligned with a predetermined direction on the spacer.