Abstract: An acid gas burner and reactor apparatus, and method when used in the Claus process, are improved over the prior art by the provision of a substantially continuous circular slot for the flow of a reactant gas from an annular conduit into the open outflow end of a conduit that is located centrally of the annular conduit and through which flows pressure air, or air enriched with oxygen, the circular slot surrounding the open discharge end of the central conduit so as to discharge an annular curtain of the reactant gas into the flow of pressure air, or oxygen enriched air.

Abstract: The disclosed invention includes extrusion apparatus, wherein and by which ground meat replicates selected cuts of natural, unground meat. A ground meat product substantially free of bone and heavy tissue is extruded through a die having a perforated area extending sidewise of the die and constituting at least one row of a series of elongate openings extending closely end-to-end along the perforated area in preferably multilayer rows, the openings of the outer layers of which preferably intercommunicate end-to-end, or even interconnected end-to-end so that a continuous ribbon-shaped, stranded, intermediate product is extruded and may be cut transversely to make final, stranded meat products, both intermediate and final products being preferably enclosed substantially peripherally by an envelope of side by side, substantially merged, longitudinal strands of ground meat that substantially replicates a cut of natural, unground meat.

Abstract: The method and system of the invention provide especially for continuously obtaining and analyzing, on a real time basis, sweat from a selected area of skin on the body of a person, especially a neonate, being diagnosed for cystic fibrosis, by causing sweating of the selected area of skin, by placing an electrically positive iontophoretic electrode device of a set of said devices over the selected area of skin preferably within a previously placed receiving and holding device which, following the induction of sweat and removal of the electrically positive iontophoretic electrode device, receives a sweat-sensing electrode device that continuously sends electrical signals to sweat analysis circuitry for providing a digital readout of the ionic composition of the sweat. The receiving and holding device insures recovery and utilization of essentially all of the sweat being produced by the selected area of skin.

Abstract: Components of a an assembly of operatively related devices for installing a flange cover for a gas valve include a bit especially useful for engaging a corresponding access hole or opening in the face plate portion of a flange cover for transmitting torque thereto for coupling it with a matingly threaded gas valve. The bit end of the bit may have a hole extending axially therethrough and is preferably successively smaller as the end is approached. In one embodiment the bit includes a drive end of a shape differing from the bit end so that a shoulder is formed separating the two ends and providing a stop to prevent the bit from sliding into the hole in which it is engaged. In another embodiment, the drive end is circular with a square recess to accept a drive lug of an appropriate driving tool.

Abstract: A foot prosthesis comprising an elongate composite main member having a leg section and a toe section with one end of the leg section adapted to be connected to an amputation socket and the other end smoothly curving forwardly through an ankle section into the toe section and extending to a toe end, and a heel member extending from the toe end rearwardly generally along the toe section and then diverging from the toe section and extending to a heel tip. The main member and heel member are preferably of one piece construction with continuous fibers of the composite material extending through the main member and around the toe tip and through the heel member. A resilient material, such as rubber, is bonded between the toe section and heel member where the two are generally adjacent and the properties of the resilient material may be made adjustable by the wearer where the toe section and heel member diverge.

Abstract: Feeding structure for tire shredding apparatus comprises a set of studded rollers defining a feed mouth opening into a feed throat that leads into the tire shredding mechanism. Forwardly placed lower and upper rolls rotate at different speeds, the upper faster than the lower and preferably having its studs configured to provide sharp points for penetrating into the tire and positively advancing it rearwardly toward the shredding mechanism. An endless conveyor carries individual tires sequentially into the feed mouth flatwise and the throat preferably slopes downwardly to present each tire to, but tilted backwardly from, the shredding mechanism. The rolls are mounted in a protective cover for the shredding mechanism, which cover is pivoted, so as to rise and fall in accordance with tire thickness, and is mounted on shock absorbers and preferably in supplemental, pivot supporting brackets.

Abstract: A crank operated torque tool has a tool holder shaft with an offset central portion and two straight, aligned, end members forming a crank. One end of the tool is preferably formed to receive and temporarily secure a torque tool. The other end has one end of an elongate, cylindrical, handle piece rotatably attached thereto, the other end of the handle piece being adapted to removably and rotatably receive a disc-shaped, thrust piece.

Abstract: An agricultural machine for smoothing ruts, such as are produced in a field by center pivot sprinkler irrigation systems, comprises a pair of rotary tillers arranged in a unique frame for traveling over and along respectively opposite sides of the rut as such tillers are rotated toward each other to break up clods of soil ridged above the rut at opposite sides thereof and to largely fill and smooth the rut. A guide shoe carried by the frame midway between the rotary tillers is preferably provided to travel along the rut and maintain the rotary tillers at proper working positions, and a hood with outriggered side walls hinged thereto for outward swinging movement preferably covers the rotary tillers.

Abstract: An integrated, miniaturized, imaging assembly, comprising microscope sized and arranged video camera lenses having the objective lens thereof in a mount that is preferably a blackened sphere and that is pivotally mounted in a supporting structure rearwardly of the objective lens, so at least the forward end of the lens mount can be placed within a concave viewing dome of unusually small and shallow size, with the supporting structure substantially wholly outside of and behind the, concavity of such viewing dome and so that the imaging assembly can be tilted and panned to sweep over a broad viewing area with minimum intrusion of the viewing dome thereinto. The imaging assembly includes an electronic image-acquisition device in line with the optical axis of the lenses, and can include electronic camera circuitry.

Abstract: A keyboard for data entry or control purposes includes a plurality of sets of two or more keys arranged for receving the tips of the finger of a hand of an operator, the keys of each set have such a small superfical touch area and are clustered together so as to be substantially comprehended and selectively operated by a single finger tip of an operator. Additional keys having their superficial touch area spaced from but sufficiently close to the superficial touch area of a set of the sets may be provided to be conveniently operable by a finger tip of user operating the keys of the adjacent set. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the superficial touch area of each key takes the form of a roller and each set of keys is made up of two keys. In some embodiments, the relative spacing between sets of keys or between keys may be adjustable.

Abstract: A process for froth flotation for the recovery of sulfide minerals, or sulfidized oxide minerals, from their ores utilizing a methylene bisxanthate as a collector reagent, either alone or in combination with other known collector reagents in the froth flotation of an aqueous pulp of such ores.

Abstract: A fertilizer injection implement has a flat, smooth, and unfluted coulter blade followed by a smooth-surfaced injection tube reinforced longitudinally and preferably slotted upwardly at the rear from its open discharge end. Apparatus for travel across cropland has a series of these implements mounted side-by-side, the coulter blades being rotatably mounted in respective forks that are articulatively attached to a frame in common by hanger bars and yoke bars. Press wheels are advantageously pivoted rearwardly of the respective implements for helping to close the cuts made in the soil.

Abstract: A slat for insertion in receiving channels of the wire mesh fencing fabric of a chain link fence has its longitudinal margins provided with respective fringes that are relatively thin and flexible for hugging the knuckles of the fencing fabric. The fringes are preferably a medium or low density polyethylene plastic or the like, and are preferably made up of transversely extending, flexible, but substantially position-maintaining strands, though they could be of transversely unbroken fin formation.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for recovering oil from so-called depleted oil fields and also from tar sands. A pressurized, heated, non-aqueous gas, such as carbon dioxide, is continuously flowed through a channel which is in heat exchange relationship with an oil-bearing matrix, thus reducing the viscosity and mobilizing the oil in the sensible boundary region. Mobilized oil flows to a collection reservoir from which it is then produced.

Abstract: The bowstring drawback and release device of the invention has a handle member that is advantageously of comfortably contoured T-formation in which the stem of the T extends forwardly and is connected by ball and socket joinder to a support for a bowstring catch. The support is in the form of a housing that is desirably open at its forward end and along its bottom, the catch being a lever within and pivoted to the housing intermediate its ends so as to drop open upon release effected by pulling a resiliently biased trigger that is pivoted within the housing and extends outside for convenient pulling, as by the thumb of the hand of an archer holding the handle.

Abstract: An integrated, miniaturized, imaging assembly, comprising microscope size and arrangement, video camera lenses having the objective lens in a mount that is preferably a blackened sphere and that is pivotally mounted in a supporting structure rearwardly of but adjacent to the objective lens, so the forward end of the lens mount can be placed within a concave dome of unusually small and shallow size with the remainder of the imaging assemby outside of and behind the concavity of such viewing dome, and can be tilted and panned to sweep over a broad viewing area with minimum intrusion thereinto. The imaging assembly includes an electronic image-acquisition device, in line with the optical axis of the lenses, and electronic camera circuitry preferably remote therefrom. An easily movable, tripod type of mount for the imaging assembly is adapted to rest on ceiling or other structure in which the viewing dome is mounted.

Abstract: Provision for mounting a television receiving set behind the ceiling of a room, such as a bedroom, for viewing by a person reclining or sitting with head back, is made by a support portion of a protective housing positioned or adapted to be positioned behind a viewing opening in the ceiling of the room and sloping upwardly from such opening. The viewing opening is normally closed by a ceiling panel hinged as a door along its forward end, but can be opened for viewing of or projection by the television receiver by remote-controlled mechanism operative to raise and lower the panel door on its hinging axis, which is preferably free. The mechanism is arranged to pull a flexible draw line for raising the panel door and to slacken such line so the panel can return to closed position by the force of gravity.

Abstract: Provision for mounting a television receiving set behind the ceiling of a room, such as a bedroom, for viewing by a person reclining or sitting with head back is made on a support positioned or adapted to be positioned behind a viewing opening in the ceiling of the room and sloping upwardly from such opening. The viewing opening is normally closed by a ceiling panel hinged along one of its ends to the ceiling structure, but can be opened for viewing television by remote-controlled mechanism operative to raise and lower the ceiling panel on its hinge axis. The mechanism is arranged to pull a flexible draw line to raise the ceiling and to slacken such line so the panel can return to closed position by the force of gravity.