Abstract: A safety syringe is disclosed and claimed. The safety syringe has a hollow barrel and a plunger. The plunger enters the barrel from one end and a needle leaves the barrel from the other end. A thin blunt sheath is positioned over the needle. The sheath has an exposed position in which the point of the needle is exposed and a covered position in which the point of the needle is covered. A connector functionally joins the sheath to the plunger so that the sheath is advanced from the exposed position to the covered position as the plunger is advanced. In operation, the safety syringe is filled like a conventional syringe by placing the needle in a vial of medication and drawing back on the plunger. Once the safety syringe is filled, the needle is inserted into the patient. The needle should be inserted a sufficient distance to insert the end of the sheath into the patient as well. The medication is then injected into the patient by depressing the plunger.

Abstract: An agent and method for inducing food search behavior in rainbow trout and other salmonids is disclosed. The agent comprises an amino acid selected from the group consisting of L-proline, L-leucine and L-alanine and combinations thereof. The agent may be applied to or incorporated within lures or fish food. When the lure or food particles are immersed in water, the agent will disperse into the water and rainbow trout and other salmonids close enough to detect the agent will be stimulated to search for food, making it more likely that the lure or food particle will be taken by the fish.

Abstract: A device and method for freezing or cooling of food or other items using cryogenic and low temperature coolants is provided. The device includes a coolant container which contains the cryogenic or low temperature coolant. The device will also include a freezing compartment with a lower surface which is immediately adjacent to the coolant container. The coolant container includes a valve for controlling the pressure within the coolant container, and thereby control the temperature of the coolant. When the materials to be cooled are placed in the freezing compartment the coolant will absorb heat from the materials via the lower surface and some of the coolant will vaporize. In a preferred embodiment the device includes a system for collecting the vapors thus created.

Abstract: An wastewater treatment system is provided. The system includes a cylindrical tank having a sidewall, a bottom, an upper portion and a lower portion. A cone-shaped hopper, open at both ends, is positioned in the tank. The hopper's upper opening is larger than the lower opening.

Abstract: A device for and a method of mixing and dispensing alginate is disclosed. The invention entails a pouch having a sealable aperture through which alginate and water may be added. The pouch also has an sealable spout. The function of these two openings may be performed by a single opening. When the alginate and water are in the pouch, a dentist will mix the two together by manipulating the pouch with his hands. When the contents of the pouch are thoroughly mixed, the spout may be opened and the pouch evacuated. When the pouch is empty, it may be discarded.

Abstract: A turf aeration device is provided, comprising a wheeled frame having a journalled drive shaft, wherein the frame is attachable to a pulling vehicle having a power take-off capability. Balanced chain and sprocket assemblies are used to transfer power from the power take-off to the drive shaft, and a plurality of aerator mechanisms are attached to the drive shaft and the frame. Each aerator mechanism comprises a link member which supports a pivotable tine holder having at least one tine, a stop member attached to the link member for contacting the tine holder and maintaining a minimum predetermined angle between the tine holder and the link member; a means for adjusting the predetermined angle between the tine holder and the link member; an elastomeric band pivotally connected between the frame and the tine holder for urging the tine holder against the stop member; a drive link attached to the drive shaft; and a connecting rod pivotally attached between the drive link and the link member.

Abstract: A portable vacuum loadable liquid-solid separator tank having a bed with a drain, surrounding sides and a dividing wall. A grate overlays the interior of the vessel, bed, and sides, and forms the dividing wall. A filter overlays the grate, extending up the sides and covering the top and the dividing wall. The separator is filled with a sludge which is then separated from the liquid it contains by gravity and hydrostatic pressure which force the liquid through the filter. Liquid is drained out of the bottom of the vessel and the solids are transported within the vessel. The solids are removed through a gate that may be provided in the tank, or by using a hydraulic lift system in much the same manner as a garbage truck empties a municipal dumpster. The filter is removed with the solids and usually discarded.

Abstract: In a solvent extraction process for the extraction of an extractive from extractive-containing material employing in an extraction zone operating under extraction conditions a process solvent, whereby a miscella comprising a portion of the process solvent and a portion of the extractive, and an extractive-depleted substrate is formed, the improvement to which comprises: (a) removing the miscella from the extraction zone under extraction conditions, (b) filtering the miscella by use of a microfiltration, an ultrafiltration, a nanofiltration, or a reverse osmosis membrane, under conditions which achieve a differential pressure across said membrane, to separate the solvent in the miscella from the extractive in the miscella, and (c) recycling under extraction conditions at least a portion of the separated solvent to the extraction zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for removing well casing from plugged and abandoned oil wells. The invention includes a unitary platform structure sufficiently small that the structure may be transported by boat to offshore well platforms and be lifted onto the well platform as a single unit. The platform also has a center station with an opening allowing the casing to pass therethrough. The device further includes at least one lifting means, which lifts the well casing through the center station.The present invention will serve many of the purposes of much larger drilling rigs or work over rigs typically employed on oil and gas well platforms. The present invention will be much quicker to transport and requires considerably less set-up time than dig rigs or work over rigs.

Abstract: The present invention provides back-up power tongs for holding a tubular member against rotation of a connected tubular member. The back-up power tongs comprise a body with a front section for receiving the tubular member and a plurality of jaw members for engaging the tubular member. The jaw members are positioned to form a substantially closed perimeter around the tubular member and at least one of the jaw members is a pivotal jaw, moving in a pivotal path to engage the tubular member. An alternate embodiment provides two pivoting jaws and a locking mechanism attached to the end of the pivoting jaws such that the pivoting jaws can be securely interlocked. The improved back-up tongs should not require that the tong body to virtually enclose the pipe and thus will allow the improved back-up tongs to be considerably smaller. The smaller size of the tongs will allow more versatile use since the tongs can operate in areas with less clearance than prior art tongs.

Abstract: In a waste water treatment system having a container and waste water disposed therein, an apparatus for treating a sludge blanket comprising at least one spray assembly, the spray assembly fluidly connected to a source of fluid, the spray assembly having a spray head positioned above the waste water, the spray head being adapted to spray fluid such that when fluid is sprayed from the spray head, the sprayed fluid will suppress a sludge blanket on the waste water.

Abstract: A circular loop type fastener is disclosed. It has a body made of a long flexible material that has teeth either on the top or along the sides. A buckle is located at one end. The buckle is parallel to the body of the fastener. The buckle contains channel that is appropriately sized to allow the tail end of the body to be passed through. Inside the channel is an arm with a lip that will engage the teeth of the body and prevent the body from backing up. By depressing the arm, the lip and teeth can be forced to disengage so that the body may be removed from the buckle. When the body is inserted into the buckle, a circular fastening loop is formed. The buckle will lie flat on the loop.

Abstract: A tube securing device, and methods for using same, for preventing tug trauma to an intravenous or intracavity insertion site caused by movement of tubing is provided which comprises a flexible member, preferably disk-shaped, having a tube-securing structure affixed to one side and an adhesive applied to the opposite side wherein the tube-securing structure preferably extends from the perimeter area of the flexible member to the center area of the flexible member and is provided with parallel passageway and tube insertion slot extending throughout the length of the tube-securing structure sized to mechanically grip the tubing which is placed in the passageway to prevent its lateral movement in the passageway.

Abstract: A valve/actuator combination to operate off of low pneumatic pressures for use on tanker railcars including a valve having a valve body with a tank end, a valve seat near the tank end of the valve body, the valve seat having a valve sealing surface; a stem chamber extending through the valve body, the stem chamber having an actuator port, a seat port, and an outlet port; a valve stem slidably positioned in the stem chamber, the valve stem having a plug end and a plug attached to the plug end, the plug having a plug sealing surface to sealingly contact the valve sealing surface; an actuator having a hollow housing with a valve end, the valve end attached to the valve body; a plurality of piston assemblies, each having a piston slidable in the housing and a partition fixed in the housing, the piston and the partition defining an actuator chamber; piston spacers joining the pistons so that each piston is fixed in position with respect to the others; the pistons being operatively joined to the valve stem; a helic

Abstract: An accumulator insertable into a well fishing string for delivering upward forces to stuck objects in a well having a cased portion. The accumulator has a housing with a top and a bottom, the top and bottom being attachable to a fishing string. A slippage member is positioned on the housing for engaging the cased portion of the well so that when so engaged, the accumulator is supportively connected to the cased portion against downward movement but the accumulator can move upwardly in the well. An activator connected to the slippage member is provided for engaging the slippage member against the wellbore.

Abstract: Present invention provides back-up power tongs for holding a tubular member against rotation of a connected tubular member. The back-up power tongs comprise a body with a front section for receiving the tubular member and a plurality of jaw members for engaging the tubular member. The jaw members are positioned to form a substantially closed perimeter around the tubular member and at least one of the jaw members is a pivotal jaw, moving in a pivotal path to engage the tubular member. An alternate embodiment provides two pivoting jaws and a locking mechanism attached to the end of the pivoting jaws such that the pivoting jaws can be securely interlocked. The improved back-up tongs should not require that the tong body to virtually enclose the pipe and thus will allow the improved back-up tongs to be considerably smaller. The smaller size of the tongs will allow more versatile use since the tongs can operate in areas with less clearance than prior art tongs.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved solids removal and concentrating unit. The solids removal and concentrating unit comprises a tank, an inlet line, an outlet line, and a sludge removal line communicating with the tank. The solids removal unit further has a plurality of linear baffles positioned in the tank forming a baffle row, with the baffles being positioned in a substantially vertical orientation. Finally, the tank further has a plurality of baffle rows. The baffles operate to reduce the velocity of a carrier liquid behind the baffles. The baffles also operate to form slight vortexes in the carrier liquid behind the baffles and thereby facilitate the downward movement of solids.

Abstract: A fishing lure for largemouth bass and other fishes within the family Centrarchidae is described. The lure comprises a body member having incorporated therein a sufficient quantity of an agent in a manner such that the lure will emit effective concentrations of the agent when said lure is within the mouth of the fish. The agent comprises, L-arginine and L-lysine individually, any combinations or mixtures of L-arginine and L-lysine, any mixtures or combinations containing L-arginine and/or L-lysine, and any compounds and/or mixtures of compounds which, in combination with water, will release L-arginine and/or L-lysine.