Abstract: A pick-up claw apparatus connectible to a farm truck for handling baled material, in particular baled roughage, comprising a carrier beam which when the apparatus is coupled to the truck, is at right angles to the direction of travel of the vehicle. The carrier beam is connected to one or more hydraulically operated claw members, which are connected to the carrier beam in parallel and laterally reciprocating relationship, in a direction at right angles to the beam.

Abstract: A method of building a house or the like on a previously provided foundation, starting from a packaged structure comprising a plurality of panels, wherein, after the deposition of the package on the foundation, in successive stages a superjacent part of the package is hoisted up, and in the space thus formed the panels are unfolded, and packaged structure for use in said method.

Abstract: A method for the prevention of arcing in a spark erosion process, in which a pulse-shaped voltage is applied across an electrode and a workpiece, which voltage has a first predetermined value during a variable ignition retarding period determined by the process parameters, and on the termination of this ignition retarding period a discharge takes place between the electrode and the workpiece, resulting in the flow of a pulse-shaped current and in the voltage dropping in absolute sense to a second value determined by the process. The method comprises the additional steps of determining whether the voltage pulse satisfies a predetermined criterion and discontinuing voltage pulses failing to satisfy this criterion.

Abstract: A self-supporting modular radiation attenuation system formed from a plurality of modules stacked on one another in any desired alignment to protect workers from radiation exposure. The modules include a skin assembled with a radiation attenuation medium therein and shaped to mate with one another when assembled. The medium can be lead particles or compressed lead wool. The outer module skin is sufficiently dimensionally stable to support stacking; however, flexible enough to allow the modules to conform to irregular surfaces. The modules can include a particle binder and the system can include framing to support the modules.

Abstract: A movable silage block divider, comprising a truck provided on one side with a tiltable loading member and on the opposite side with a drawbar for coupling to a tractor, and further provided with screw conveyor rolls for loosening the silage block and for supplying the fodder to the feeding location, as well as a drive or a plurality of drives for operating the loading member, the fodder loosening and/or fodder supply conveyor, while the loading member is connected to a linkage pivotally connected to the frame of the truck, which linkage is likewise connected to a hydraulic cylinder-and-piston assembly through which, with maintenance of a substantially constant height of the coupling member of the drawbar relative to the ground, simultaneously the back of the truck is movable downwardly approximately to the ground and the loading member being tiltable from a position approximately right-angled to the loading platform to a position which is approximately an extension of the loading platform, and vice versa.

Abstract: An improved modular reactor head shielding system is provided that includes a frame which is removably assembled on a reactor head such that no structural or mechanical alteration of the head is required.The shielding system also includes hanging assemblies to mount flexible shielding pads on trolleys which can be moved along the frame. The assemblies allow individual pivoting movement of the pads. The pivoting movement along with the movement allowed by the trolleys provides ease of access to any point on the reactor head. The assemblies also facilitate safe and efficient mounting of the pads directly to and from storage containers such that workers have additional shielding throughout virtually the entire installation and removal process.The flexible shielding pads are designed to interleave with one another when assembled around the reactor head for substantially improved containment of radiation leakage.

Abstract: An EKG electrode is disclosed including a conductive ring positioned around a jelled foam member which is positioned against a surface of a metal contact. The ring may be formed of a conductive medical grade plastic or may be formed by plating a non-conductive ring with a conducting metal.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the swelling or shrinkage of a specimen in a fluid consists of a container in which the fluid can be accommodated and which has a lid with a suspension device for the specimen, and a transducer which is affixed to the specimen at a location spaced from the point of suspension, for affecting a sensor connected to a recording equipment. In measuring, the movement of the transducer caused by the swelling or shrinkage of the specimen in the fluid can be continuously recorded.

Abstract: A closable ventilation grating of the type having two grids, one being slidable along the other, which is adapted for use with sealed unit insulating glass is disclosed. The grating comprises a lower, hollow member which has parallel pending flanges for mounting the grating on sealed unit insulating glass. The grating also comprises grids which are easily adaptable to a desired length as they are comprised of a number of similar, standardized sections and a standardized operating section where required.

Abstract: Used lubricating oil is rerefined utilizing hydride reducing agents. The hydride reducing agent contacts the used oil in an aqueous solution, for example. Contact with the hydride reducing agent may occur before, during or after distillation or evaporation of the used lubricating oil. The disclosed method reduces the concentration of carbonyl compounds and metals and reduces the corrosion characteristics of used lubricating oil.

Abstract: A modular reactor head shielding system formed from a plurality of flexible pads shaped to interleave with the edges of each adjacent pad around the reactor head. The shielding system is assembled to protect workers from radiation exposure in working in the area around the reactor head or when working on the reactor head during refueling of the reactor. The pads are formed by inserting a pair of blankets secured to one another inside a pair of outer covers which are secured to one another in offset relation to form an interleave or tongue and groove configuration to eliminate radiation paths between pads. The blankets are formed by quilting lead wool within the blanket covers. Each pad has a hanging plate secured to one end which can be hung from a frame around a reactor head or from the reactor head itself. The pads are secured to one another such as with straps to insure elimination of radiation paths therebetween.

Abstract: A supplied air respirator having a detachable air flow baffle therein, the baffle having increased air flow efficiency with a low noise operating level. The baffle is formed from a flexible plastic tubing having openings spaced laterally and circumferentially therein and having a foam layer sealingly secured there around and preferably having a cover thereover. The baffle can be formed in a partial or substantially complete loop within the respirator and is detachably secured therein with clips or loops.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for economical and efficient composting. The apparatus includes a manifold with lances coupled thereto for even fluid distribution throughout the compost. The manifold is designed to direct fluid flow to a portion of the lances while simultaneously removing fluid flow from the other portion of lances. This creates substantially uniform patterns of fluid injection and evacuation for uniform composting, reduced energy requirements and greater control of process conditions. Further, reversal of the fluid flow enhances control of process conditions and adds an automatic self cleaning aspect to the apparatus.

Abstract: Aqueous compositions for the ambient temperature or cold disinfection of soft contact lenses during non-wearing periods is provided. The composition includes water and a disinfectant composition comprising an effective amount of an ascorbic acid compound for killing bacteria, generally between about 0.1% and 20% by weight of the total aqueous composition, calculated as ascorbic acid. The disinfectant composition may also include a potentiating agent to further enhance the kill factor of ascorbic acid with respect to fungi, yeasts and viruses. A method is provided for treating the lenses to kill bacteria associated with the lenses.

Abstract: A portable self-supporting modular radiation attenuation system formed from a plurality of modules secured to one another in any desired alignment to protect workers from radiation exposure. The modules are hollow containers shaped to mate with one another when secured thereto such as by strapping. The modules can be a single height or stacked and include ports for filling the modules with attenuation fluid when assembled and emptying them when they are to be removed. The modules mate with one another to eliminate radiation paths between the assembled modules. The modules can be formed from fiberglass and can include internal reinforcing to maintain the mating shapes.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a process is provided for removing impurities from heavy and light lube oil fractions that have been obtained from waste lubricating oil. The impurities in the light lube oil fraction are removed utilizing tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol in an extraction column (10). An oil-rich raffinate has the solvent removed therefrom by steam distillation and stripping at reduced pressure in a distillation tower (20). The heavy lube oil fraction is purified in a manner similar to the purification of the light lube oil fraction. Alternatively, most of the tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol can be removed from the oil-rich raffinate by mixing the raffinate with methanol in an extraction column. The last of the tetrahydrofurfuyl alcohol is then removed from the oil by steam distillation and stripping at a reduced pressure.

Abstract: Aqueous compositions for the ambient temperature or cold disinfection of soft contact lenses during non-wearing periods is provided. The composition includes water and a disinfectant composition comprising an effective amount of an ascorbic acid compound for killing bacteria, generally between about 0.1% and 20% by weight of the total aqueous composition, calculated as ascorbic acid. The disinfectant composition may also include a potentiating agent to further enhance the kill factor of ascorbic acid with respect to fungi, yeasts and viruses.

Abstract: Used oil is rerefined by distillation and extraction with tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. In accordance with the process, used oil is rerefined by distillation to remove a volatile forecut followed by further distillation with recirculation provisions to obtain the desired fractions of lubricating oil products while reducing the vaporization temperature of the oil. The recycle effect tends to reduce coking and cracking while providing a greater recovery of lubricating oil products through the carrier effect of the light ends. After the desired fractions of lubricating oil have been obtained by the distillation phase of the process, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is utilized in an extraction process to remove impurities remaining in the distilled oil. The tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol-lube oil mixture is separated into a raffinate and extract stream for distilling and steam stripping the tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol therefrom.

Abstract: An aqueous composition for cleaning rinsing and cold disinfecting of soft contact lenses during non-wearing periods is provided. The composition comprises a polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymer having a molecular weight between about 1,100 and 14,000, a water solubility in excess of about 10 grams per 100 milliliters, a cloud point in 1% aqueous solution above about 32.degree. C. and a foam height in excess of 30 millimeters; a physiologically acceptable nonionic surface acting agent having a water solubility in excess of one gram per 100 milliliters, a cloud point in 1% aqueous solution of from about 65.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. and a foam height in excess of 25 millimeters; a humectant, preservative, antimicrobial and fungal growth inhibitor composition which is physiologically compatible and compatible with soft and semi-hard contact lenses which includes ascorbic acid in a concentration of from about 0.1 percent to about 10.0 percent of the total aqueous composition.

Abstract: Used oil is refined by distillation to remove a volatile forecut followed by further distillation with recirculation provisions to obtain the desired fractions of lubricating oil products while reducing the vaporization temperature of the oil. The recycle effect tends to reduce coking and cracking while providing a greater recovery of lubricating oil products through the carrier effect of the light ends.In one embodiment of the invention, a waste oil feedstock has water, gasoline and other similarly volatile components removed in a first stage evaporator (16). Heavier fuel, such as fuel oil is then removed in a second stage evaporator (28). A light lube oil fraction is then obtained by distillation with a third stage wiped-film evaporator (40). Finally, a heavy lube oil fraction is obtained by distillation of the bottoms from the evaporator (40) with a fourth-stage evaporator (64).