Abstract: A high pressure nitrogen pipeline, oxygen or plant air is diverted around a pressure letdown station to liquefy the gas or a portion of the gas for storage or air separation assist, with the remaining unused gaseous portion being returned to the pipeline downstream the letdown station. One or more heat exchangers and one or more expanders are used to cool down the gas and liquefy it. A generator or compressor may be coupled to the expanders employing companders for generating power or for further compression of the pipeline gas. In a further embodiment, natural gas is cooled to assist in liquefying the nitrogen by drying the natural gas and forming two streams wherein carbon dioxide is removed from a smaller stream which is applied to cascaded heat exchangers and the larger stream is expanded to further cool it. The two streams are applied to the heat exchangers for cooling and liquefying nitrogen gas or other merchant gas applied to the heat exchangers from a pipeline or other source.

Abstract: A cane with an arm cuff C-clamp and a lateral handle has an accessory article carrying sack comprising a cloth or other material drawstring sack attached to the C clamp with a loop of the drawstring. Clips attach the sack to the leg of the cane to hold the open bag top closed and to keep the sack from moving about as the person using the accessory walks. Various embodiments of clips and fasteners are disclosed for attaching the sack to the cane leg and for precluding lateral displacement of the sack during walking of the user.

Abstract: A bone fixation device, e.g., a pedicle screw or hook, having a threaded head is secured to a rod by a coupler comprising a pair of elements, one having a bifurcated body with rod receiving bores and a flange with a bore for receiving the threaded head. A second element has a body between the bifurcated body portions hinged to the other element by a pivot pin. A flange with a head receiving bore extends from the second element body juxtaposed and aligned with the other element flange bore. The second element body has a rod receiving bore offset relative to the rod receiving bores of the body portions. A nut screwed to the head clamps the overlying pivoting flanges together clamping the pivoting offset rod bores to the received rod. In a second embodiment, the second element body is a hook. The hook and body portions form offset rod receiving openings pivoting about the received rod and which clamp the rod when the flanges are clamped together via the nut and head.

Abstract: A trailer safety chain has a connection link member in the form of either a double S-hook or a single S-hook, the double S-hook cooperating with a unique matching slot for providing enhanced safety securing of the hook to a towing vehicle. A securing bracket for the chain is attached to a vehicle rear and includes two like unique openings which straddle a central tow hitch tongue and coupler ball for receiving two like trailer safety chain hooks. Each opening, which is T-shaped has intersecting slots, which accommodate either of the two hooks of different dimensions, and does so, without diminishing the enhanced locking security of the double S-hook.

Abstract: An implant for repair of a tissue defect comprises a plurality of physiologically compatible load-bearing sutures for securing under tension tissue adjacent to the defect to be repaired, the sutures for supporting a tissue reparative cell mass in the defect and a tissue reparative cell mass supported thereby. The sutures have a central portion encapsulated in a cell containing matrix which is contracted under a tensile load by the cells thereof and formed into a mat sheet during the contraction. Spring metal wires hold the sutures in tension during the contraction. The matrix is a collagen gel or other material which the cells contract, the cells comprising human mesenchymal stem cells. The mat sheet is then rolled into a spiral roll with the sutures extending from opposite roll ends to form the desired implant. Different embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: An adaptor for a dental syringe handpiece has a central bore forming two chambers one of which receives a disposable syringe tip and the other selectively applied pressurized water and/or air from the handpiece. The adapter in one embodiment has a shoulder in the central bore acting as a stop for the tip to form the two chambers. In another embodiment, a tube attached to the adaptor in the adaptor bore serves as a stop for the tip. In another embodiment the tube has a sharp edge which engages the tip in the adaptor bore. The tip is urged against the edge by a gripping member and nut as the nut is tightened over the adaptor. The tip has several embodiments wherein a central passageway is surrounded by a plurality of outer passageways, the outer passages being arranged in arrays on different diameter circles. The outer passageways may be of different diameters and shapes.

Abstract: A mixing element for a screw extruder comprises an element including opposing lobes and a central portion having common opposing broad surfaces; one lobe broad surface being formed into a taper. The elements may be used individually or combined in blocks, with the elements of a block oriented in various combinations. The blocks may comprise two or more elements. The tapered lobes provided reduced pressure and temperature of the process as compared to prior art mixing elements. Also, more graduated control over temperature and pressure are provided according to the value of the taper magnitude, the number of elements used in a process and the relative lobe orientations in a machine.

Abstract: Locks for the transportation industry are programmable with a keypad and with handheld activators, the activators being programmable by a central system and activators via IR transmitters and receivers. Operator PIN numbers and access codes manifesting the supervisory level of authority are encoded in each lock which are programmed to open a given number of times in a given time period with or without entry of a code and include a lockout feature for disabling the lock in case of invalid code entry. Each lock has a log history containing the number of complete and incomplete opening transactions, when they occurred and the operator codes associated therewith. The locks are opened by IR transmission of the appropriate codes or by keypad entries. One or more individuals at different levels of authority may open one or more locks in a given time frame a given number of times. Each lock records its transaction history which is displayed and downloaded for system evaluation.

Abstract: An inner vertically upright perforated conduit is concentric within an outer vertically upright conduit. The chamber between the conduits is separated by fluid impervious rings forming sub-chambers. Hot curd cooking water is injected into the various sub-chambers in controlled amounts through corresponding valves to provide cheese at 135.degree. F. at the bottom exit port of the cheese passageway formed by the inner conduit. The water and curd/cheese together form a pressure head of at least about 2 psi at the bottom of the conduits. Raw curd is fed in a continuous process to the top of the inner conduit producing finished cheese at the bottom without moving parts. A shredder at the bottom automatically shreds the cheese. The shredder includes a rotating blade with blow out apertures for ejecting shredded cheese from a fixed shredding plate. The shredded cheese is automatically cooled and salted in a single continuous process.

Abstract: A platinum alloy has a white finish and comprises platinum, rhodium and ruthenium, with the platinum being present at a concentration of about 95% by weight, the rhodium being present at a concentration from about 2.5% to about 3.5% by weight, with increasing whiteness and workability at 3.5% Rh, and the ruthenium being present at a concentration correspondingly from about 1.5% to about 2.5% by weight, with the preferred composition being at about 1.5% by weight. In addition, methods of preparing the alloy and aesthetic items made with the alloy are included.

Abstract: Apparatus for aiding in the identification of tissue type for an anomalous tissue in an impedance image comprising:means for providing an polychromic immitance map of a portion of the body;means for determining a plurality of polychromic measures from one or both of a portion of the body; anda display which displays an indication based on said plurality of polychromic measures.

Abstract: Two mating L-shaped steel sheet casing members in one embodiment for sliding doors are secured to a corresponding door and have overlying front walls in the closed state. Each member has a plurality of corresponding locking keeper elements. In the closed state the keeper elements are in interdigitated juxtaposed and preferably welded to the casing members via through optional bores in the casing members, or extend through the side walls of the casing formed by side wall sections. The keeper elements in one subassembly are slotted to allow for misalignment with the other keeper elements for receiving a locking bolt seal shaft. The keeper elements optionally have tongue projections for engaging a gap between the closed doors. An angle iron member shields the rear of the chamber below the lowermost locking element to protect the seal locking body. Other embodiments are disclosed and include cast assemblies with no weldments and a single casing and hasp for use with swinging doors or a rail car plug door.

Abstract: Lower and upper covers permanently secured together form a vial enclosing chamber in a cap assembly which encloses the top of a bone cement mixing apparatus mixing chamber having prepackaged premeasured bone cement powder. The vial contains a monomer bone cement liquid and may be glass. The vial has two valve seats in corresponding ports on opposing vial side walls sealed by a releaseably secured preferably glass valve member threaded to a nozzle attached to the cap assembly. The vial ports are aligned with a mixing chamber liquid inlet port to permit the cement liquid to flow into the mixing chamber from the opened valves. The vial may be supplied enclosed in a separate package and includes valves on a valve stem attached to the package for opening and sealing the vial. In the alternative, the vial is frangible glass and may be opened by fracturing it and retaining the fragments in the vial receiving chamber to release the liquid to the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A length of fabric or other sheet material for use as a decorative hair decorative has a pocket in which a conventional pipe cleaner, i.e., a ductile wire with a cushioning fiber covering, is secured. A gripping member is attached medially the length of fabric for gripping a hair bundle. The gripping member can comprise Velcro type hook member, high friction elastomeric material or other high friction material for is securing the device to the hair to preclude sliding of the device off of the bundle. The pipe cleaner serves as a twist tie member so that the device ends can be quickly and easily secured and released from the hair bundle. The device is wrapped about the bundle and secured thereto with a twist of the device ends.

Abstract: A flattened tubular knitted wire mesh is passed through a bath of a slurry comprising a vermiculite binder and a high temperature lubricant powder with optional metal fibers suspended in water to form an impregnated moving slurry filled web. The slurry filled web is passed between metering bars to remove excess slurry to reduce the web to the desired thickness and then dried in an oven at a temperature in the range of about 200-400.degree. F. The web is conveyed at about 5 feet/minute and forms a continuous sheet of flexible preform with a dried filler which is wound on a take up roller driven by a motor via a controller which also operates the web drying oven. The preform is then formed into discrete preforms for article manufacture such as seals and the like by conventional die compression.

Abstract: An automobile exhaust gas ceramic catalytic element support device mounts the element in a metal housing and cushions the element from radial shock loads. The device is compressed knitted wire mesh and includes crimped corrugations formed into a cylinder. The cylinder end has a conduit containing a knitted compacted wire mesh rope formed by drawing knitted wire mesh through a die until the formed rope is compacted into a gas seal. The device at the rope end has a radially inwardly extending lip for engaging an end face of the element. The rope may include non-metallic fibers to enhance sealing action of the rope. The device is axially retained by an annular channel in the converter housing with the rope substantially gas sealing the interface region between the ceramic element and the housing.

Abstract: Eyeglasses for use in applying makeup includes an adjustable length nosepiece extension which sets the lenses a distance sufficiently spaced from the face to permit the application of makeup including fingers and implements to the eye and face regions including the cheeks and nose between and about the lenses and face while at the same time permitting the user to have corrected vision with the glasses in placep. Temple members have a bend to provide finger and implement access to the eyebrows, cheeks, nose and eyes from the side of the face without interference. The temple members also have a length that is adjustable to accommodate different users. The lenses are provided focal ranges and corrections for corrected vision to the user in the spaced apart position so that the user can clearly see the eye and face regions simultaneously while being made up.

Abstract: A lower steel plate casing has a housing attached to a back plate secured to a door and defines an enclosed chamber defining a channel portion through which a portion of an operating handle of a swing door keeper bar passes. An upper steel plate casing has a housing and is pivoted to the back plate. The upper casing housing defines a further enclosed chamber having a further channel portion through which a portion of the handle passes in cooperation with the lower casing channel portion in a housing locking position. A bolt seal has a head fixed to a shank and a lock body releaseably attached to the shank for locking the two housings together. The shank is laterally protected by the enclosed chambers and axially protected by the head at one shank end and the lock body at the other shank end and by various housing plates having apertures in which the head, lock body and the bolt shank are received.

Abstract: A steel plate hasp is permanently fixedly attached to a door keeper bar, the bar for rotating about its longitudinal axis between door closed and open states. A casing has a plurality of walls forming a housing cavity in which the hasp is received through an opening in a housing wall with bolt seal shank apertures aligned in the hasp and housing. The casing may be permanently secured to the door by bolts or welds or may be selectively attached and removed from the hasp in a locked and unlocked state without fixed attachment to the door. A bolt seal has a shank with a head at one end wherein the head engages a housing wall and a locking body engages and locks to the shank other end and to a further housing wall. The shank between the head and lock body is fully enclosed by the housing and door to preclude access to the shank by tampering tools. The casing when secured to the hasp cooperates with the door to prevent the keeper bar from rotating open.

Abstract: A thermoplastic housing has a chamber open at one end and a bottom wall at the other end. A thermoplastic rotor is locked axially in the chamber by a snap fitting ridge and groove. A one or more bores are in the housing bottom wall in communication with the chamber. The rotor has a central boss with one or more bores aligned with the housing bores in an initial position of the rotor and includes an outer ring with axially depending radially flexible pawls which engage housing ratchet teeth in the chamber. The pawls and teeth rotationally lock the rotor relative to the housing in one direction while seal filament segments inserted in the aligned bores are twisted about each other or about a post in the cavity. The rotor is rotated relative to the housing manually by finger gripped-flanges attached to the rotor and to the housing. The rotor ring and boss are spaced by a weakening groove which causes the boss to permanently separate from the ring when the filament is pulled in an attempt to defeat the seal.