Abstract: Apparatus and method for enabling viscous fluids to be discharged from a container. The container is provided with an outlet positioned for gravity discharge of the contents. Microwave energy is delivered to an inlet opening of the container for the purpose of heating the stored fluids in a controlled area which includes the inlet and outlet. The microwave energy is effective to heat the viscous fluids to a flowable state while fluids are simultaneously discharged from the outlet. The energy level can be controlled based on the level of viscous fluid in the tank so that the viscous fluid is not overheated.

Abstract: A microwave antenna formed with a conductive patch supported over and facing a ground plate beneath a support sheet overlapping the ground plate and spaced therefrom. An electrical lead to the patch is passed up through the ground plate to a hole through the patch and support sheet through which a solder joint is formed.

Abstract: A circularly polarized microstrip antenna for microwaves has a two layer substrate with a first layer of dielectric material spaced above the ground plate by an air gap comprising the second layer of the substrate, so arranged that the effective dielectric constant of the substrate in the range of 1.25 to 1.4 (for an infinite ground plane) and 1.25 to 1.6 (for a finite ground plate).The preferred values of the effective dielectric constant are respectively 1.3 and 1.5 for the infinite and finite ground plane forms of the antenna.