Abstract: A high strength, engineered collapsible support has separate shear bearing surfaces and pivot elements which permit efficient manufacture and higher strength. Unitary brace attachment is achieved with designs which can be molded and yet both efficiently manufactured and made acceptably strong such that heavy items such as performance or commercial speakers can be mounted stably. An extendible sleeve permits adjustment; a semiautomatic as well as manual clutch assembly permits quick securement of the top mast to the tripod; compression rings allow a secure fitting to be established between various pieces; leg upper end caps allow the legs of the tripod to be coupled to the main mast of the tripod; an end plug can serve to reduce the number of parts necessary to couple the various leg braces to the bottom of the main mast. Strength is achieved through multiple shear surfaces located at a distance from a pivot retention element and with parallel braces.

Abstract: Apparatus is described which is useful for determining the water content of a petroleum product. The apparatus includes a reaction vial disposed within a tubular member containing a fluid. As the petroleum product reacts with a reactant in the vial a gas is produced in proportion to the amount of water present in the sample. The gas displaces a liquid from the tubular member, and the amount of liquid displaced is proportional to the amount of water which was present in the petroleum sample.