Abstract: A heater for burning combustible pelletized fuel. The pelletized fuel is delivered at a controllable rate to a double-walled burn pot in an enclosed combustion chamber. Combustion air is injected into the combustion chamber at a pressure higher than the ambient air pressure surrounding the heater. Combustion air is injected between the walls of the burn pot through ports in the inner wall into the fuel at or slightly below the top of the fuel level. Additional combustion air is injected approximately horizontally across the top of the burn pot through an injection air manifold. Crossfire injection air is injected approximately vertically about the periphery of the burn pot, confining fumes and exhaust air directly above the burn pot. Heated exhaust gasses rise to the top of the combustion chamber and are drawn from the combustion chamber through a heat exchange unit surrounding the combustion chamber. The exhaust gasses are drawn from the combustion chamber by suction created by and extraction air mechanism.

Abstract: Improved combustion of liquid fuel is achieved with a porous fiber burner by forming a mixture of the vaporized fuel and all of the desired combustion air sufficiently heated to prevent condensation of the vaporized fuel, and introducing the heated mixture into the porous fiber burner to effect flameless combustion on the outer surface of the burner. The resulting surface combustion produces a high proportion of radiant heat and increased thermal efficiency while suppressing the formation of nitrogen oxides and other pollutants in the flue gas. Periodically, fuel gas may be supplied to the same porous fiber burner.

Abstract: Abutment posts and copings for use with dental implants are disclosed. The abutment post has at one end means to affix it to the implant so as to extend supragingivally from the implant through the gum tissue. The post tapers down in cross-section from a region at or near the exposed surface of the gum tissue to its free end, and has at its free end a socket for receiving the coping. The coping has at its open end a hollow flaring section dimensioned to fit over and envelop the tapered post section, and a socket section at the smaller end of the flaring section which fits over and mates with the socket on the post. The flaring section of the coping extends to the locus of the boundary between the post and the exposed surface of the gum tissue, where the coping and the post can meet along that locus and form a seal, or provide rigidity to the installed restoration.

Abstract: A child-resistant cigarette lighter having a cigarette well with a flame chamber near its bottom. Fuel and air are supplied to the flame chamber producing a combustible mixture which is then ignited, thereby producing a flame which is entirely confined to the well.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a biological sample on a support is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a hollow chamber with internal and external surfaces and a first and second end. The first and is open and is adapted for attachment to the first closure means. The second end is either closed or open. If open, the second end is adapted for attachment to a second closure means. The apparatus provides means for maintaining the support in contact with a liquid medium at all times regardless of the orientation of the apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus provides means for maintaining the original orientation of a non-integral support regardless of the orientation of the apparatus. The apparatus is useful for isolating and culturing microorganisms.

Abstract: A rabble arm adapted to be connected to a rotatable center shaft of a multiple hearth furnace includes an elongated tubular member having an open end portion and an opposite closed end portion. The tubular member has an outside surface of substantially oval cross-sectional configuration and an inside surface arranged to form a hollow interior portion connected with the tubular member open end portion. The oval cross-sectional configuration of the tubular member outside surface defines a tubular member major axis and a tubular member minor axis displaced from the major axis by substantially 90.degree. C. A socket is connected to the tubular member open end portion. The socket and tubular member may include partitions or tubes which are connected upon assembly to form a flow path through the socket and tubular member for receiving a circulating cooling medium.

Abstract: The emission of NOx, soot and particulates is minimized by combusting fuel in two sequential steps, viz. a first combustion step wherein a number of fuel jets and a substoichiometric amount of combustion air in the form of an equal number of high-velocity air jets are injected into a combustion chamber in such a manner that(a) each fuel jet merges into one high velocity air jet,(b) the characteristic mixing time of each fuel jet is less than about 10.sup.-4 sec, and(c) a plurality of separate fuel/air jets is generated forming at ignition a plurality of primary flames in which a residence time for the fuel of substantially at least 100 ms is maintained;and a second combustion step comprising introducing further combustion air into said combustion chamber for complete combustion of the fuel.

Abstract: A vehicle heater/air conditioner which includes heating and cooling coils enclosed within a housing and in flow communication with a blower member which pushes air through the housing. The housing containing the heating and cooling coils is positioned generally between the inner and outer vehicle side walls for conservation of space.

Abstract: A corrosive and errosive resistant heat exchanger which recovers heat from a contaminated heat stream. The heat exchanger utilizes a boundary layer of innocuous gas, which is continuously replenished, to protect the heat exchanger surface from the hot contaminated gas. The innocuous gas is conveyed through ducts or perforations in the heat exchanger wall. Heat from the heat stream is transferred by radiation to the heat exchanger wall. Heat is removed from the outer heat exchanger wall by a heat recovery medium.

Abstract: An apparatus T.sub.1 for sealing a well tubing 12 including a housing 20, 21, 22 which has a channel 68 communicating with the bore of tubing 12 and a chamber 43 connected with channel 68. A seal 62 is slidably mounted in the housing and is disposed in a retracted open condition in chamber 43 to enable fluid flow through channel 68. AN actuator 41, 42 also disposed in chamber 43, includes a shape memory alloy material which is responsive to the temperature thereof rising to a predetermined level corresponding to the transition temperature of the shape memory alloy for transforming in shape to extend the seal into an extended condition within channel 68, thereby blocking fluid flow therethrough.

Abstract: Conventionally, cooling systems are drained and flushed out with a gravity flow of water added through the radiator cup. The present device permits power back scrubbing and flushing through the heater core, through the engine and then through the radiator core thus removing far more scale, rust and sludge than the usual system. It can incorporate a pressure test and then can add the correct amount of antifreeze to the water within the system.

Abstract: A disposable test pack for monitoring the efficacy of steam or ethylene oxide sterilization cycles includes a fiber board housing for a bioligical indicator. The housing includes an outer tube and a shorter inner tube. The outer tube has upper and lower portions which define a seam or gap at their adjoining open ends. The inner tube extends past the seam and telescopes into the upper and lower portions. The seam and the close tolerance between the inner tube and the upper and lower portions of the outer tube provide a tortuous path for the entry of sterilant into the interior of the housing. The tortuous path has a moisture absorbent surface and is dimensioned to promote intimate contact between the sterilant and the absorbent surface. The exterior of the housing can be lined with foil to prevent sterilant from permeating the housing, thereby preventing entry of the steam by any path other than through the seam.

Abstract: An electrical valve having three paths, of the type comprising a valve body which is in permanent communication with an apparatus, controlled by fluid, notably by pneumatic partial vacuum, and is in alternate communication with either a fluid source of energy or with an outlet region, the passage from source to such outlet region and back being controlled by the plunger of an electromagnet permanently subjected to the action of a return spring urging the plunger to close such source. The valve body forms a control chamber of small dimensions, located on the outside of the electromagnet parts, wherein which communicates with the three paths. An extension of the electromagnet plunger provided with a single stopper seal which controls alternatively the source of energy and the orifice of the outlet region extends into the control chamber.

Abstract: A regenerative burner includes a chamber containing heat storage bodies which extract heat from hot products of combustion flowing through the burner during one part of a cycle of operation and yield up that heat to incoming air during a further part of the cycle.

Abstract: A portable barbecue grill includes a bowl (12) and a cover (14) having a gripping handle (44) with a carrying handle (50) pivoted on the bowl to lock the cover to the bowl. A latch member (60) cooperates with the carrying handle to define a cradle for the cover. The gripping handle includes two pieces that can be snap-fitted together.

Abstract: A vessel has a central longitudinal axis, a pair of trunnions defining a tilting axis, and a fixed bottom and a false bottom. The false bottom comprises at least one screen. At least one of the screens is affixed to the vessel by a plurality of hinges so as to allow the screens to freely swing from a first position to a second position as said vessel is tilted about the tilting axis.

Abstract: A forced air gas fired heating device may be utilized as a stove insert for a conventional open fireplace or in an alternative embodiment may be formed with a double walled construction for use as a free standing unit. In both embodiments a gas burner adjacent a bottom portion of the housing heats an air space within the housing. A room air inlet conduit traverses back and forth across the heated air space and communicates with an air distribution chamber in an upper portion of the housing. A plurality of room air outlet conduits extend outwardly from the distribution chamber through a front wall of the housing. A heat exchanger is suspended from each of the room air outlet conduits and includes a hollow body portion in fluid communication with the associated air outlet conduit. Each of the heat exchangers has an enclosed longitudinally extending corrugated heat conductive metal plate and terminates in a bottom heat conducted metal plate deposed adjacent the gas burner.

Abstract: A portable field cooker is taught which enables a user to heat food in an inner vessel thereof while the user remains on the move. The cooker includes a tubular body having an outer housing, and an inner, food containing vessel. Insulation means are provided between the housing and the vessel. A heating chamber is removably secured to the base of the housing for holding a fuel-containment-dish which is removably received in the heating chamber. The fuel-containment-dish is operable to carry an ash-producing fuel supply therein, in an ignited condition, and to retain the ignited fuel supply therein, thus preventing the escape of ignited material from the heating chamber.

Abstract: A cutting tool include a shank having a head, a groove which is formed on the outer face portion of the head only in the dextrally spiral form, and hard abrasive grains-attached section formed on the outer face portion of the head except for the groove. The total sum of the width of the groove in the section normal to the axis of the head of the shank is in a range of (1/50 to 2/5).times..pi.D, except for the endmost terminating portion of the head, wherein D is the diameter of the section normal to the axis of the head.

Abstract: A ribbon gas burner for use in a baking oven has a row of gas apertures disposed between two rows of air apertures through which air is forced under pressure. The streams of air issuing from the two rows of air apertures are inclined inwardly towards the gas stream, thereby lengthening the ribbon flame produced by the burner and improving the uniformity of heating within the band oven.