Abstract: An electromagnetic valve comprising a housing having fluid containing region and first and second ports in communication therewith, an electromagnet carried by the housing located external to the region, and a thin fluid impermeable diaphragm barrier hermetically isolating the electromagnet from the region. An armature in the housing is movable within a body of magnetically permeable material and has a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by the electromagnet and has a valve portion located for opening and closing one of the ports to place the ports in fluid communication through the region in one state of the valve and to block fluid communication between the ports in another state of the valve. The armature is moved from a rest position through a forward stroke when attracted by the electromagnet and is returned by a biasing spring to the rest position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating articles such as batteries in a manner permitting safe disposal thereof, each of the articles comprising a casing having reactive material therein, wherein the article casing is opened to allow access to the interior thereof, fluid is introduced to the interior of the opened casing, and any evolved gas is removed. The steps of opening the casing, introducing fluid and removing gas are performed simultaneously in a reaction vessel which is supplied with the fluid and which is in communication with gas collecting and scrubbing means. The reaction vessel preferably comprises a deluged hammermill and a tank. The hammermill is supplied with articles by a remotely fed conveyor and which discharges into a tank, fluid is supplied to the hammermill and to the tank, and the gas collecting and scrubbing means is in communication with both the hammermill and tank. The fluid preferably is water or an alkaline neutralizing solution.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pump comprising a housing having a fluid receiving chamber in communication with an inlet, a pair of fluid chambers connected by a fluid bypass passage to accommodate bubbles, one in communication with the fluid receiving chamber and the other in communication with an outlet, an electromagnet carried by the housing located external to the fluid chambers thereof, and a barrier in the form of a thin diaphragm of fluid impermeable material which hermetically isolates the electromagnet from the fluid chambers. An armature in the housing is movable within a body of magnetically permeable material which contains the bypass, has a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by the electromagnet, and has a piston portion, preferably of smaller cross-section than the pole portion, for forcing fluid from the fluid chambers and through the outlet.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pump comprising a housing having fluid receiving and pumping chambers in communication with an inlet and an outlet, respectively, an electromagnet carried by the housing external to the fluid chambers, and a barrier in the form of a thin diaphragm of fluid impermeable material which hermetically isolates the electromagnet from the fluid chamber. An armature in the housing is movable within a body of magnetically permeable material and has a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by the electromagnet and has a plunger portion in the pumping chamber for forcing fluid out of the chamber through the outlet. The armature is moved from a rest position through a forward pumping stroke when attracted by the electromagnet to force fluid out of the pumping chamber through the outlet, and the armature is moved by biasing spring in an opposite direction through a return stroke back to the rest position.

Abstract: An electromagnetic pump comprising a housing having a fluid receiving chamber in communication with an inlet, a pair of serially-connected fluid pumping chambers, one in communication with the fluid receiving chamber and the other in communication with an outlet, an electromagnet carried by the housing located external to the fluid chambers thereof, and a barrier in the form of a thin diaphragm of fluid impermeable material which heremetically isolates the electromagnet from the fluid chambers. An armature in the housing is movable within a body of magnetically permeable material, has a pole portion located for magnetic attraction by the electromagnet, and has first and second plunger portions in respective ones of the pumping chambers for forcing fluid out of the chambers and through the outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating rheumatoid arthritis by direct injection of electrically generated gold ions into the patient's joint. The gold ions are electrically generated by anodal corrosion of a gold electrode, such as by passing a constant electric current through the gold electrode which can be a thin wire and which is surgically placed in contact with the arthritic joint. The apparatus comprises a source of direct current including a battery and a constant current generator, a gold electrode connected to the source electrically as an anode and adapted to be placed surgically in operative contact with the arthritic joint, and an indifferent electrode connected to the source electrically as a cathode and adapted to be placed in operative contact with the patient's body spaced from the joint. The entire apparatus can be implanted in the patient's body.