Abstract: Radiation is partially blocked by a pointlike absorber to establish a patterned flux whose intensity distribution is a function of source geometry. The flux strikes a receptor having a proper contrast to spatial frequency characteristic to map an image that is topologically equivalent to the source at an acceptable level of contrast and acuity.Apparatus is disclosed that is capable of practicing the invention in the X-ray and light regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Abstract: A detector assembly having a movable trigger adapted to adjustably activate a signaling means is removably mounted on a fixed base attached to a pipeline. A pig passing through the pipeline displaces the detector's trigger through a certain minimum distance to activate the signaling means. A calibrated jig is provided and configured to hold the detector assembly and move its trigger through this same minimum distance. The jig thus simulates the presence of a pig.A method of calibrating a pig detector is also disclosed. A detector assembly is mounted in the jig and the signaling means is adjusted until it just activates. This adjustment is fixed and the calibrated detector replaced on its permanent mount. All similarly calibrated detectors will signal when a pig reaches the same point in the pipeline.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for preventing mercury contamination during such processes as removing excess mercury from dental silver amalgam, mulling dental silver amalgam, and loading dental silver amalgam into a dispenser. The apparatus comprises a material permeable by free mercury under pressure and impermeable by dental silver amalgam. One surface of this material is enclosed by a flexible covering impermeable by either free mercury or mercury vapor. One or more voids are provided between the material and the covering for the purpose of retaining any excess mercury squeezed through the cloth. Means for enhancing retention of mercury in the void or voids may be provided.

Abstract: The invention is a disposable syringe comprising a dispensing plunger, a mulling plunger, a mercury storage chamber, an alloy storage chamber, and a passage means between the chambers. Mercury and alloy are prepackaged in their respective chambers during manufacture. Use of the apparatus involves unblocking passage means thus allowing mercury and alloy to combine in a chamber. Mercury and alloy can then be mixed into amalgam by vibrating entire syringe. Mulling plunger compresses amalgam within chamber in which amalgam was mixed. Dispensing plunger then dispenses a portion of mulled amalgam through syringe and out its tip. Amalgam remaining in syringe can then be further mulled by additional compression with mulling plunger.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus comprising a platform, a bench mounted on the platform and adapted to provide a foot space on each side of said bench, a bar transversing said bench attached at its ends to a pair of lines, a linear to rotational motion converter operably attached to said lines and adapted to convert the linear extension of said lines to rotational motion and to rewind said lines when said extension is relaxed, and a flywheel responsive to said linear to rotational motion converter and adapted so the pulling of said lines results in the rotation of said flywheel.

Abstract: A method and system for neutralizing various toxic and explosive gases, described particularly with respect to those gases which escape during the drilling of oil and gas wells, including heating the gases to reacting temperature, desulfurizing the gases with a suitable catalyst, and reacting hydrocarbon gases to form inert gases. In one embodiment exhaust gases from existing energy sources are utilized to accomplish heating and these gases are also rendered inert. A means is also disclosed for disposing of large volumes of natural gas produced in "kicks" during the drilling of oil wells.

Abstract: A plurality of different sized floats are connected into an array through nonlinear interfaces so their relative motions drive hydraulic pumping means. Floats in the array are sized to present a "black body" to the ocean waves incident upon the array. Fluid moved by the pumping means is used to drive an electric turbogenerator.

Abstract: An edger blade uniquely designed to cut into the surface of the ground thus loosening a portion of the dirt, lifting the loosened dirt from the ground, and throwing the dirt to one side. The blade is adaptable for mounting on most home garden edgers powered by internal combustion engines. The blade has a central hub portion provided with a shaft hole adapted to permit the blade to be mounted on the edger shaft. Two arms extend from opposite sides of the central hub portion to form hoe portions that perform the hoeing operations of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is a mechanical device used to remove the head and anterior exoskeleton from the posterior exoskeleton and musculature of crustaceans belonging to the genus peneus, commonly called prawns or shrimp.The apparatus comprises a holding tank for storing crustaceans, means for transporting, gueueing up and selectively aligning individual animals; and gripping means selectively capable of gripping and removing the flexible anterior portion of the animal from its relatively tough meaty posterior.

Abstract: A memory device and method is disclosed wherein positions of ions associated with a film are varied locally with respect to the film's surface by an electric field. A writing and erasing field is created by voltage modulating the film's conducting substrate in synchronization with low intensity electron bombardment of a local area of the film's surface by a scanning electron beam.The ion's position in the film varies the film's surface potential and alters the angular distribution imparted by its surface to primary diffracted and secondary emitted electrons. In the invention's read mode a scanning electron beam, combined with a detector discriminator, analyzes these emitted electrons to determine the surface potential at each address on the film thus reading out data stored in the film. A second means of reading out stored information utilizing detection of low energy electrons selectively diffracted by ions near the film's surface is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a communications and tone control system for use between safe and hazardous areas. The invention's field terminals operate in hazardous areas and are limited to low, intrinsically safe power levels by the use of zener barriers and current limiting resistors. The limited D.C. electrical power supplied to the field terminal's amplifier is modulated by field initiated communication and control signals. The resulting duplex transmission allows a strong information carrying signal and amplifier power to pass through a single twisted pair at intrinsically safe power levels. All field stations are connected in parallel to a central control system in a safe area allowing the communication system to operate redundantly. The field stations can be selectably connected to a plurality of output devices by tone controlled switching circuits.

Abstract: A memory device and method is disclosed wherein positions of ions associated with a film are varied locally with respect to the film's surface by an electric field. A writing and erasing field is created by voltage modulating the film's conducting substrate in syncronization with low intensity electron bombardment of a local area of the film's surface by a scanning electron beam.The ion's position in the film varies the film's surface potential and alters the angular distribution imparted by its surface to primary diffracted and secondary emitted electrons. In the invention's read mode a scanning electron beam, combined with a detector discriminator, analyzes these emitted electrons to determine the surface potential at each address on the film thus reading out data stored in the film. A second means of reading out stored information utilizing detection of low energy electrons selectively diffracted by ions near the film's surface is disclosed.

Abstract: A disk rotatably connected to an associated vehicle's speedometer cable has a plurality of holes evenly spaced around its circumference. The number of holes is a function of the number of revolutions the speedometer cable makes in a given distance traveled by the vehicle. The holes allow a beam of light to fall on a phototransistor. The phototransistor generates electrical pulses per unit time numerically proportional to the angular velocity of the disk and thus to the speed of the vehicle. The function relating the number of holes on the disk to the number of revolutions made by the speedometer cable per a given distance is chosen to make the number of pulses generated per a given time equal to or an integral multiple of the speed of the vehicle expressed in some standard system of speed measurement. Logic circuits divide the output pulses by said multiple and store the resulting number. This stored number is then directly displayed and is equal to the speed of the vehicle in terms of the standard system.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in the modular construction of games to be played with marbles comprising a plurality of each of two members. The second member is channel shaped and adapted to contain and direct the rolling movement of small spheres, such as marbles, under the influence of gravity. The first member is a hollow supporting structure of cylindrical or regular polygonol cross section, each said first member having one small end and one large end whereby a plurality of said first members may be securely mounted one on top of the other. Said first member is provided with openings in its surface adapted to receive an end of a said second channel shaped member. Many different games played with marbles can be constructed by connecting a plurality of said first and said second members in varying configurations.

Abstract: A memory device and method is disclosed wherein positions of ions associated with a film are varied locally with respect to the film's surface by an electric field. A writing and erasing field is created by voltage modulating the film's conducting substrate in syncronization with low intensity electron bombardment of a local area of the film's surface by a scanning electron beam.The ion's position in the film varies the film's surface potential and alters the angular distribution imparted by its surface to primary diffracted and secondary emitted electrons. In the invention's read mode a scanning electron beam, combined with a detector discriminator, analyzes these emitted electrons to determine the surface potential at each address on the film thus reading out data stored in the film. A second means of reading out stored information utilizing detection of low energy electrons selectively diffracted by ions near the film's surface is disclosed.