Abstract: A collapsible spar buoy made of separable sections having a flag and requiring no conventional, additional float device. A central section and a base member entrap air to serve as a float. This central section houses all the other components when the buoy and flag are stored. The flag may be conventionally mounted or centrally mounted so that its mass is centered with respect to the mass of the buoy; thus the buoy and flag assume a vertical attitude in the water.

Abstract: An abrasive article comprising a filler distributed in a matrix or binder of polyimide polymeric material of a crosslinked combination of two linear aromatic polyimide polymers. These articles exhibit a retention of physical properties at high temperatures.

Abstract: A water reservoir tank storing a primary body of water for release to a toilet bowl for flushing houses a pressure tank that stores a minor amount of water at a pressure considerably higher than that of the primary body and is discharged during flushing to join the water released from the reservoir tank and impart increased overall energy to the water in the bowl. The pressure tank is automatically discharged and recharged during each flushing cycle.

Abstract: A centrifuge for separating liquid and solid materials, comprising an outer drum and an inner drum formed as a worm conveyor. Control means are provided for maintaining a set speed differential between the outer drum and the inner drum at a constant value through a proportional action, and in addition to the proportional action performing a corrective control action on the speed differential upon variation of the torque required.

Abstract: A crane having a boom pivotally mounted mesially thereof to a mast which is itself pivotally mounted on a base platform. A generally horizontally disposed control beam is line attached to the free, rear end of the boom and includes a hydraulic fluid-compression spring control assembly in place of conventional counterweights. Thus, all three units making up the crane have a rough "Z" profile. Mercury switches and pressure actuated switches are provided to activate appropriate warning devices and prevent further operation of the crane in the event of improper boom positioning and/or an overload, respectively.

Abstract: An electrical patch cord plug and jack assembly in which the plug is insertable into a selected one of a number of plug-receiving sockets in the jack and has a multiplicity of contact elements arranged in at least one longitudinally extending row for making and breaking various circuit connections in the jack.

Abstract: A corrugated plastic drainage pipe in which drainage holes are formed through raised reinforcing formations on the corrugated pipe periphery and in which each of the reinforcing formations is integrally joined to adjacently disposed ridges or ribs of the corrugations and protrude from the valley therebetween to bridge the valley. Each reinforcing formation terminates in an end face which peripherally surrounds the drainage hole through the reinforcing formation and which is adapted to seat against surrounding soil or other material in a buried installation. Support feet formations are integrally formed with the corrugated pipe and are adapted to seat on a pipe-supporting surface to support the pipe.

Abstract: Nitric oxide may be removed from gases which it is admixed by contacting the gases with aqueous solutions containing nitrate ions in sufficient concentration to oxidize the nitric oxide to nitrous acid and to retain it in the solution under stable conditions. Other oxides of nitrogen can also be absorbed producing nitrous acid which is retained in the aqueous solution in a similar manner. Thereafter, the scrubbing solution is regenerated under controlled conditions, producing a gas stream which contains the recovered nitrogen oxides in relatively high concentration and a scrubbing solution which can be recycled. The recovered nitrogen oxides may be used in the manufacture of nitric acid or other compounds or decomposed into harmless gases.

Abstract: A puzzle solved as a perfect square consisting of sixteen congruent, isosceles right triangles, 8 of which have their rignt-angle apices rounded, the remaining 8 having both of their acute angled corners rounded. The task is to solve the puzzle so that the periphery of the square is uninterrupted by any round corners.

Abstract: Chemical milling processes which employ a series of masking and metal removal steps. Apparatus for orbiting the workpiece in a prescribed manner about mutually perpendicular axes during the metal removal steps.

Abstract: Methods for the elimination of hydrocarbon contamination from surfaces of the earth, such as fuel oil spills on the ocean or like water surfaces, in which at least one liberated aerosol cloud containing a combination of one or more bacterial microorganisms having the property of degrading the hydrocarbons and a culture medium therefor in particulate form is formed in the atmosphere at a substantial height, typically 50m - 1000m, above an area of hydrocarbon contamination on the surface of the earth in such position and under such conditions that the cloud may settle toward and onto that area, the microorganisms undergoing substantial growth as the cloud settles.

Abstract: A stack of brittle tablets are shrink wrapped with thin rigid separator and indicator elements between each tablet group (one or several) and at the ends of the stack.

Abstract: A shaft bearing wherein axially facing slide bearing elements carry projections that extend either laterally or generally radially into interferring engagement with the shaft when incorrectly positioned in the assembly.

Abstract: A mixer is described having at least one mixing element which rotates relative to a mixing container axis. The mixing element comprises a plurality of vertical rods held by a revolving plate. The velocity and the direction of rotation of the mixing element about the container axis and the rotation of the element about its own axis are such that particles of mix material contacting the mixing element have at all points the same contact velocity.

Abstract: A saddle tree for riding saddles which is composed of a frame and a separate cantle plate. The tree has the properties of a conventional spring tree and can be more economically produced.

Abstract: A loop extender for adding a series-aiding boost voltage to a subscriber loop of a telephone system and having a d.c. boost voltage supply, an amplifier circiit having an active device connecting the voltage supply in series with a conductor of said loop for applying to the loop a magnitude of boost voltage that is dependent upon the gain of the amplifier circuit, and a further circuit, including a feedback for the amplifier circuit, for controlling the gain of said amplifier circuit in such a way that said gain is increased to cause an increase in the applied boost voltage in response to a rise in the magnitude of the loop current to a first predetermined threshold and/or in such a way that said gain is decreased to cause a decrease in the applied boost voltage in response to a decrease in the magnitude of the loop current to a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A control valve for a central heating system, the valve having an inlet, an outlet, a branch outlet, and a bypass conduit between the inlet and the outlet, the cross sectional flow area of the bypass conduit being independent of the position of either a main control valve member for controlling flow through the branch outlet or a settable valve member for limiting flow through the branch outlet.

Abstract: Apparatus for making striped or variegated soap wherein soap of one predominant color is plodded and extruded as a continuous billet of predetermined cross section with fluid of another predominant color being injected into the soap stream through pressure responsive valves in downstream oriented fixed nozzles after it leaves the plodder worm and prior to extrusion.

Abstract: A start-up system for an electroslag remelting furnace having a bottom pouring device connected to a mold in which at least one electrode is remelted to form an ingot. The bottom pouring device is positioned to receive molten slag and pass it through the lower part of the furnace mold until it rises in the mold and contacts prepositioned current conducting elements in order to complete the electrical power circuit of the furnace. The system includes a slag transfer apparatus which is either located or is shiftable to a location adjacent the bottom pouring device for controlling the transfer of molten slag into the bottom pouring device. The method of operation of the system components is also disclosed.

Abstract: A column of striated soap extruding from a plodder nozzle is subjected to torque for obtaining spiral striations in the final soap bar.