Abstract: The specification sets forth a mouthpiece for use with a snorkel with or without a purge valve for use in diving. The mouthpiece is attached to a snorkel by a conduit and terminates in upper and lower lip flanges for seating within the upper and lower lips. Extending between the upper and lower lip flanges is an upper plate web that conforms to the palate area of a user's mouth. Within the palate web is an opening toward the frontal area for receipt of user's upper front teeth. The mouthpiece incorporates a lower web that extends along the inner jaw region overlying the inner portion of a user's lower teeth. The lower web can include an opening for receipt of the user's lower front teeth or can be split in its conformation with a gap therebetween formed by two tabs that are rounded at their ends. The entire mouthpiece conforms and holds the snorkel in a user's mouth in a facile manner without the requirement of excessive biting and eliminates prior art lugs or bits.

Abstract: A hygiene splint for supporting the wrist and forearm and holding the fingers in an extended position, including a hand grip extending transversely-across the palm, a hand and wrist support adapted to contact the ulnar and ventral side of the hand, a forearm support having a generally triangular configuration for contact with the underside of the forearm. A soft moisture absorbent strap encloses the hand grip and is wrapped several times around the hand and forearm prior to securement. Foam slip-on tubes of increasing diameter can be slipped over the hand grip to gradually open contracted fingers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for balancing the discharge of liquified gases from a multi-orifice manifold. The manifold includes at least one main conduit each having a central axis, and two or more discharge conduits each having a central axis. Each discharge conduit projects from the main conduit in a manner whereby the central axis of each discharge conduit extends from the central axis of the main conduit. The discharge conduits are positioned about the central axis of the main conduit such that each central axis of a discharge conduit provides with respect to a substantially horizontal plane passing through the central axis of the main conduit, an included angle in the range of about -30.degree. to about -60.degree. relative to the horizontal plane. A discharge orifice is attached to each discharge conduit and is oriented to provide downward discharge.

Abstract: The specification herein shows a swimmer's fin having a foot pocket and a blade portion wherein the blade portion is offset from the foot pocket to compensate for the natural supination during a flutter kick, stroke or beat, regardless of whether or not it is a backstroke, kick, or a crawl stroke kick. The fin can be molded in a symmetrical manner so that it can be interchanged between the feet and provided with an offset ankle strap in order to create a more comfortable relationship during the swimming movement. The fin also includes an improved blade end having inner and outer curves wherein the outer curve from the body is of a larger radius than the inner curve. The offset of the foot pocket from the blade can be such wherein the axis of the blade and the axis of the foot pocket intersect within the foot pocket area to provide for improved performance.

Abstract: The specification herein sets forth a combination buoyancy compensator, backpack and suspension system for divers. The suspension system incorporates a spider which is made of elastomeric foam and a knitted material that conforms closely to a user's body. The backpack is formed from an inverted T, the lateral portions of which surround a user's waist and the upright portion is adapted for receipt of a cylinder of breathing gas. The buoyancy compensator is attached to the spider at the shoulder portions and the waistband portions. The attachment is by means of adjustable loops which allow for independent suspension of the buoyancy compensator so that when it is filled it does not bind a diver. The straps interconnecting the spider, shoulder portions and the waistband portion are in a crisscross configuration to allow for freedom of movement of a diver's arms.

Abstract: A superplastic forming machine having ceramic platens which are oriented to each other with heating elements of each platen arranged at a substantially right angle relationship to the heating elements of the other platen. The heating elements are formed as wires in rectangular sections which overlie each other to permit the increased preferable heating of the areas of greatest heat loss, such as the corners and the periphery of a superplastic metal forming heated platen.

Abstract: A modular unit for use in constructing a framework of a building consisting of a plurality of modular units in connected relationship having a floor portion with longitudinal and lateral perimeter members. The longitudinal and lateral perimeter members are joined by joists interconnecting the perimeter members and welded thereto with a corrugated metal decking overlying the joists. The joists are made from a sheet steel configuration which has been bent into a Z shaped configuration with upturned lateral portions. Plywood sheeting overlies the corrugated metal decking. The entire structure incorporates wheel wells for the enplacement of wheels so that the modular unit can be towed into place. Trusses in the roof are support the roof and are attached at the cord sections to upright structural columns. The modular unit are held together by bolts which can be later secured by welding between the perimeter members, the columns, and the truss areas.

Abstract: A process for dry fiber winding in the absence of resin and subsequent resin impregnating of objects such as projectile bodies having a recessed area for receiving the windings. The process includes winding the projectile body with dry glass or other dry fibers in the absence of resin, placing the wound projectile body into a heated mold, applying a vacuum, pressure injecting a metered amount of resin into the mold, applying pressure to the resin by means of a pressurized ram to impregnate the fibers, allowing the resin to cure to the gel stage within the mold, removing the projectile body from the mold without distrubing the gel surface, and completing cure of the resin at room temperature or in a curing oven.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the ultrapurification of cryogenic low boiling liquified gases such as oxygen and nitrogen which contain trace impurities. The impure gas is introduced into a first distillation column and is substantially at its liquid-gas equilibrium temperature at the pressures within the first distillation column. Here the gas is separated by distillation into a first vapor fraction containing low boiling point impurities and a first liquid fraction containing high boiling point impurities. The first vapor fraction is withdrawn and introduced into a second distillation column. The first vapor fraction is substantially at the liquid-gas equilibrium temperature at the pressures within the second distillation column. Here the vapor fraction is separated by distillation into a second vapor fraction containing high boiling point impurities and a second liquid fraction free of trace impurities which is withdrawn as product.

Abstract: A hand splint which leaves the volar wrist free and which can be used alone or as a foundation splint for the attachment of various permanent and removable hand and finger corrective devices. The splint includes a manually bendable support medium having a substantially C-shape including a palmar piece which fits into the palmar arch of the hand, a proximal dorsal forearm piece adapted to contact the dorsal wrist and at least a portion of the dorsal forearm, and a dorsal hand piece extending between the palmar piece and the proximal dorsal forearm piece. Adjustable tension means is provided on the dorsal side of the wrist. Detachable thumb, finger and metacarpophalangeal support as well as an interphalangeal assist are provided separately and in combination. A novel hinge and adjustable strap attachment means are also provided.

Abstract: The specification sets forth a mouthpiece for use with a snorkel or regulator of the type used in diving and life support systems. The mouthpiece is attached to a snorkel or regulator by a conduit and terminates in a lip flange for seating within the upper and lower lips. Extending between the lip flange is an upper palate web that conforms to the palate area of a user's mouth. Within the palate web is an opening toward the frontal area for receipt of a user's front teeth. The mouthpiece incorporates a lower web that extends along the inner jaw region overlying the inner portion of a user's lower teeth. The lower web can be split in its conformation with a gap therebetween formed by two tabs that are rounded at their ends. The entire mouthpiece conforms and holds the snorkel or regulator in a user's mouth in a facile manner without the requirement of excessive biting and eliminates prior art lugs or bits.

Abstract: An improved wafer cleaning process wherein a novel oxidant solution comprising ultrapure sulfuric acid, peroxydisulfuric acid, and ultrapure water used in a semiconductor wafer cleaning process is continuously withdrawn after use. The withdrawn oxidant is reprocessed continuously by contacting with alumina to remove fluoride ions. Water is continuously separated or stripped from the oxidant solution by heating the solution and bubbling an inert gas therethrough. The separated oxidant is continuously distilled and condensed to form a purified stream of sulfuric acid. The major portion of this stream is continuously returned to the wafer cleaning process. The remaining minor portion is continuously cooled, subjected to analysis for purity, and diluted with ultrapure water prior to electrochemical treatment in the anode compartment of an electrochemical cell. This converts at least a portion of the dilute sulfuric acid to peroxydisulfuric acid.

Abstract: A thermocouple containment chamber for use in conjunction with a high pressure vessel wherein such thermocouples are emplaced within an elongated conduit which receives a plurality of thermocouples for sensing temperatures to determine the temperature or reaction rate within the high pressure vessel in which they are emplaced. The conduit is secured to the vessel by means of a flanged securement that in turn is welded to a concentric reducer with the thermocouples extending therefrom into a containment chamber of this invention. The containment chamber of this invention incorporates at least one access cover in the form of a high pressure flanged cover permitting access to the containment chamber for the thermocouples so that they can be changed and serviced, and incorporates a valve for relieving pressure, as well as a pressure gauge.

Abstract: A method for the substantial separation of at least one gas component from a gas mixture to generate a residue gas substantially depleted of the gas components to be separated. A semipermeable membrane is provided which has a feed gas side and a sweep gas side. The feed gas side is contacted with a feed gas mixture containing at least one gas to be retained and at least one gas to be separated therefrom. The sweep side is simultaneously contacted with a sweep gas having a pressure lower than that of the feed gas. The partial pressure of certain gas components present on both sides of the membrane are balanced to cause the remaining gas components to diffuse in either direction across the membrane depending upon their differential partial pressures. Apparatus for the gas separation is also provided.

Abstract: A continuous process and apparatus for the repurification of ultrapure liquids. An oxidant solution comprising ultrapure sulfuric acid, peroxydisulfuric acid, and ultrapure water is continuously withdrawn from a process after use. The withdrawn oxidant is reprocessed continuously by contacting with alumina to remove fluoride ions. Water is continuously separated or stripped from the oxidant solution by heating the solution and bubbling an inert gas therethrough causing the water to vaporize from the solution. The separated oxidant is continuously distilled and condensed to form a purified stream of sulfuric acid. The major portion of this stream is continuously returned to the process. The remaining minor portion is continuously cooled, subjected to analysis for purity, and diluted with ultrapure water. The diluted sulfuric acid is further cooled prior to electrochemical treatment in the anode compartment of an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: The specification sets forth an ultrasonic wire bonding system for bonding wire to an underlying electronic circuit or terminal. The system incorporates a bonding tool connected to a transducer which causes the bonding tool to ultrasonically vibrate and when impressed against a wire lying thereunder, bond said wire to an underlying electronic circuit. The transducer is driven by a generator which generates either a constant current or constant voltage to the transducer while it is bonding. The constant current mode accommodates thick films and stitch bonding which require substantially more force, while the constant voltage mode provides for thin films and ball bonding which requires substantially less ultrasonic force.