Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved means particularly adapted for supporting combustible material in a preferred geometrical relationship during the combustion thereof, said means being especially suited for burning logs, tightly rolled newspapers, or the like, characterized by few, if any, surface texture irregularities. Said geometrical relationship generally comprises disposing a first coplanar tier of combustible material over a substantially identical second tier of combustible material in substantially parallel relationship therewith and spaced apart from each other at a preselected vertical distance. Said means comprises a plurality of spaced pairs of log supporting members aligned relative to each other such that said tiers of combustible material may be supported thereupon in stacked fashion and spaced apart said preselected distance.

Abstract: A method is disclosed herein for treating the gaseous effluents emitted from a nuclear reactor, said method being adaptable for treating either gaseous effluents produced during normal reactor operations or combustible and fission product gases released as the result of a nuclear reactor system failure. The treatment comprises sequential direction of the gaseous mixture through a multiplicity of adsorbent beds, each of said beds being preferentially adsorptive towards at least one component of said gaseous mixture, whereby to effect the desired separation by substantially either thermal-swing, cryogenic, or rapid cycle adsorption techniques.

Abstract: An articulable training device, particularly adapted for continuously reinforcing proper stroking or serving techniques necessary to successfully play various racquet sports such as tennis, is disclosed herein and comprises a tennis racquet having an elongated handle member and a member which includes a ball rebounding surface or net face at one end thereof. The device for connecting said handle and said member having a ball rebounding surface for free relative pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said handle and generally parallel with said ball rebounding surface. Further included are means for limiting the range of relative pivotal movement of said members to thereby minimize the likelihood of accidental injury to the player using the racquet.

Abstract: Optical elements for vessel navigation lights, providing improved and inexpensive means for achieving uniform, luminous intensity over a sharply bounded horizontal arc of visibility, and also for achieving a desired vertical arc of visibility, comprise means for projecting light from a diffuse source or an array or mosaic of point sources into a field the horizontal and vertical arcs of which can be precisely defined. The disclosure encompasses two geometric configurations for projecting light, symmetrical and asymmetrical, compound parabolic concentrators, each of which may be constructed as either a reflective cavity or a refractive dielectric, thereby to provide four basic designs for achieving uniform illumination over various horizontal arcs of visibility. In addition, the disclosure encompasses three modes of diffuse light projection to achieve uniform illumination over various vertical arcs of visibility.

Abstract: An improved laser apparatus is provided wherein a laser and a pump source comprising an array of GaAs or GaAlAs light emitting laser diodes or of excimer fluorescors or lasers which emits a large cross section beam of generally collimated pumping radiation are coupled by flux concentrating means comprising a compound parabolic concentrator.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for removing airborne particulates from an aerosol stream by first humidifying said aerosol with steam, and then cooling said aerosol with water to saturation temperature. Thereafter, the saturated aerosol is adiabatically cooled to a supersaturated state and maintained at supersaturation for a time sufficient to permit the growth and removal thereof of said particulates. Further disclosed is an apparatus adapted for practicing the method of the present invention and employing charged droplet scrubbing techniques to remove said particulates.

Abstract: A rotatively manipulable arm, hand and wrist exercise device comprising at least two grippable handle elements surmounted upon a longitudinally extended shaft having means at one end thereof to retain said handles in abutting relationship. Said shaft further projects beyond the handle assembly, and is threaded along a portion of its projecting or distal end whereby to conformably accommodate thereon an axially adjustable housing. By manually adjusting said housing, friction-producing means are caused to engage and sufficiently compress the handle elements whereby to create torsional resistance opposing the relative counter rotation of said handles.

Abstract: A device adapted to receive and store all manner of currency, comprising an exterior housing providing security for the currency collected therein, a coin receptacle, a bill receptacle for stacking paper currency in a compact and aligned bundle or stack, means for vertically supporting a received bill upon a minor portion of the supported lateral edge thereof, means for engaging said received bill from an engagement position proximate said supported lateral edge, and means for articulating said bill engagement means whereby to deliver the bill into said bill receptacle.

Abstract: An improved combination lock mechanism including a dial adapted for removable securement thereto. Mechanically connecting a conventional wheel pack and drive cam combination to a lock cam is a locking lever pivotally secured at a point intermediate the opposite ends thereof to said lock cam, said lever having a first end adapted for engagement by said drive cam and wheel pack and a second end conforming to at least a portion of the peripheral geometry of said wheel pack. Finally, there is included a relock plate and means for biasing said relock plate against lock bolt connective members. Fence members are formed on said relock plate and spaced apart a distance slightly less than the distance between the ends of said connective members when said connective members are in an extended position. Thus, the urging of said relock plate against said extended members upraises said fence members to a position proximate the ends of said extended connective members whereby to inhibit the retraction of the locking bolts.

Abstract: A sputtered thin film coating characterized by a stepwise and/or variable refractive index as a function of film depth. By means of an in-line assembly of planar magnetrons, each magnetron essentially isolated from the others but for a region of sputtering overlap, select materials and combinations of said materials with reactive gases can be continuously deposited upon a dynamic substrate whereby to obtain pre-determined refractive index gradients. Substrates coated with an inhomogeneous thin film exhibit superior non-spectral reflective characteristics particularly desirable for architectural designs and applications.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an amusement game wherein coins are dropped onto a flat surface over which a vertical dam is horizontally translated. The vertical dam translates over a portion of the flat surface and will thus drop certain of the accumulated coins over the edge. The coins, as they drop over the edge, are collected in a counting chute to be synchronously counted in a memory which is then synchronously unloaded to vend out a corresponding number of tokens.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus is provided for imparting chemically bonded fluorocarbon finishes to textiles. In the process, the textiles are contacted with a gaseous mixture of fluoroolefins in an inert diluent gas in the presence of ultraviolet light under predetermined conditions.

Abstract: A roof structure wherein a water impermeable membrane is fabricated upon a roof deck and a thermal insulation layer affixed upon the membrane. The insulation layer is thereafter coated with a suitable adhesive material and particles of inorganic particulate attached thereto, whereby a toothing surface is formed upon which is applied a mortar based insulative-protective layer.

Abstract: An amusement device wherein coins may be controllably deposited upon a surface having a multiplicity of surface interruption means thereon. A vertical dam synchronously translates over at least a portion of said surface and pushes said deposited coins against an accumulated random pattern of like coins, thereby causing some of said accumulated coins to fall over an edge into collecting and counting means.

Abstract: An anesthetist's device for inducing constant positive pressure within the airway passages of a patient, adaptable for use with a mouthpiece, a mask, or in conjunction with an endotracheal tube. Said device comprises a hollow, cylindrical channel serving as a conduit for gases either spontaneously or mechanically aspired by a patient. Interposed into said channel is a narrow diameter nozzle venting compressed gas in the direction of inspired flow. By regulating the mass flow rate of compressed gas through said nozzle, variable levels of constant positive airway pressure can be produced.

Abstract: An improved method for the fabrication of a reinforced composite. The method includes assembling rigid rods into a geometric structure such that all interstitial voids are interconnected, infiltrating the geometric structure with particles, impregnating the infiltrated geometric structure with an appropriate liquid matrix binder or precursor, and treating the impregnated geometric structure such that the binder solidifies to form the reinforced composite.

Abstract: An apparatus for the concentration of solar energy upon a fixed array of solar cells. A transparent material is overlayed upon the cell array, and a diffuse reflective coating is applied to the surface area of the transparent medium in between cells. Radiant light, which reflects through the transparent layer and does not fall directly incident to a cell surface is reflected by the coating layer in an approximate cosine pattern. Thereafter, such light undergoes internal reflection and rediffusion until subsequently it either strikes a solar cell surface or is lost through the upper surface of the transparent material.

Abstract: A security wallet be attached to the waistband of a person's garment for disposition between the person's body and the garment is securely but detachably mounted to the waistband by a locking device comprising an inverted U-shaped clip, at least one latch member on said clip interiorly thereof having a serrated edge thereon, and means comprising a rotary shaft for moving each said latch member from a first open position adjacent one wall of said clip to a second closed position wherein said serrated edge thereof is adjacent the other wall of said clip. The latch member or members in open position permit easy attachment of the clip to and easy detachment of the clip from a waistband, and in closed position confine waistband material between each latch member and said other wall of said clip so that attempted removal of said clip from the waistband results in the serrations on each latch member digging into the waistband material and preventing removal of said clip and wallet from the waistband.