Abstract: A metering valve, preferably electromagnetically actuatable, for the successive delivery of precisely measured volumes of fluid irrespective of inlet fluid pressure, including a valve core, slidably mounted in a cavity in the valve body, the top of the core closing a normally open fluid inlet when the core is moved to an uppermost position, and the bottom of the core closing a fluid discharge outlet when in its normal lowermost position, the volume of fluid discharged being the volumetric difference between the volume of the cavity and the volumetric displacement of the core.

Abstract: Ultrasonic energy is transmitted to sewage, including, inter alia, liquid or waste water, organic solid matter and aerobic bacteria, to reduce the liquid particle size and enrobe the reduced water particles with air to enhance the air to liquid absorption of the liquid and thereby provide (a) the aerobic bacteria with additional oxygen to utilize in the process of oxidation whereby the aerobic bacteria convert the organic solid matter to a more stable form or compound; (b) the effluent of sewage treatment plants with a higher oxygen content sufficient to aid or sustain desirable aquatic life. In a further embodiment, the liquid is first coverted to a thin film and then subjected to ultrasonic energy. In a still further embodiment, the sewage is first preheated to enhance the aerobic organism or bacteria activity.In a still further embodiment the air is preheated and/or hydrated to diminish heat loss and thus a temperature drop, by the liquid.

Abstract: An improved chimney stack of the type having at least one flue through which gases flow and an outer shell for establishing an insulating space surrounding the flue wherein the present improvement includes heat exchanger means secured to the flue and having first and second ports with the first port extending through the outer shell and communicating with the outside air and with the second port communicating with the insulating space surrounding the flue and wherein the heat exchanger means admits and heats outside air and discharges heated outside air into the insulating space surrounding the flue during cool down of the chimney stack whereby minimization of condensation of flue gasses during cool down of the chimney stack is achieved.

Abstract: A floatable ball, a plurality of which floatable balls are for providing a gapless floating ball blanket, wherein the floatable ball includes a modified spheroid constructed of a floatable material and which modified spheroid is provided with a plurality of flat surfaces around the equator which flat surfaces provide the modified spheroid with an equatorial cross-section the outline of which is a closed plane figure comprised of interconnected straight lines equal in number to the plurality of flat surfaces, and a plurality of which floatable balls are engageable in flat surface-to-surface contact at the flat surfaces around the equators thereof to provide the gapless floating ball blanket. The floatable ball may further include means for absorbing and transferring radiant energy whereby the floatable ball can be utilized to heat liquid covered thereby.

Abstract: Integrally molded plastic clamping apparatus including a body portion having a plurality of recesses formed therein for receiving longitudinally extending members and including a mounting member and a hinge portion formed between the body portion and the mounting member and wherein the plastic of which said body portion, hinge and mounting member are integrally formed is sufficiently flexible to permit said body portion to pivot away from said mounting member by said hinge portion to permit said recesses to receive said longitudinally extending members and to permit said body portion to pivot toward and in engagement with said mounting members whereby upon a fastener extending through a bore formed in the body portion and an aperture formed in the mounting member and placed in engagement with a support surface the longitudinally extending members are clamped in said recesses and secured to the support surface; the clamping apparatus may also include a plastic tab formed integrally on the mounting member and b

Abstract: This invention relates to oil burner installations which include a storage tank for the oil and a pump for delivering oil from the storage tank to a burner. When the storage tank is refilled with oil, sediment at the bottom of the tank is stirred up and placed in suspension. If the pump is operated while such sediment remains in suspension, the sediment may be drawn into the fuel line. Upon reaching the burner, such sediment may disable the oil burner installation by clogging the burner orifices.By preventing the oil pump from operating for a predetermined period of time after commencing to transfer oil into the oil storage tank, sediment is allowed to settle once again to the bottom of the tank. After the predetermined interval of time has elapsed, the pump and burner are once again permitted to operate, and the system then draws sediment-free oil into the fuel line and thence to the burner.

Abstract: This invention relates to surgical instruments used, for example, in approximation of the sternum after median sternotomy. The device according to this invention is utilized to tighten applied sternal sutures, such as wires, by first winding up the sutures on a spool, then twisting the sutures for fixation and to provide an appropriate final tension. A cutting mechanism is included for severing the sutures so as to leave a short twisted segment, resulting in a joint secure against slippage. Waste sutures are stripped from the spool against a stripping plate by axial translation of the spool. A crank and sleeve may be included to facilitate twisting the sutures for fixation and final tensioning. An optional ratchet or similar mechanism may be used to prevent unwinding of the sutures from the spool during operation.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer or portion thereof, that includes only one main phase-locked loop. The phase-lock loop includes a digital divider that can effectively divide in fractions, thus, permitting use of a higher reference frequency than normally required for the same degree of frequency resolution in integer divisor synthesizers. This, in turn, increases the short-term stability and reduces phase-noise. The fractional divider includes a secondary phase-lock loop that tends to introduce an unwanted ramp signal which causes spurious sidebands in the output signal. These spurious sidebands, when objectionable, are effectively suppressed by a circuit that generates a second ramp signal of similar frequency, duration and shape to the unwanted ramp signal but of opposite phase.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for separating bituminous constituents from bituminum-bearing sands, commonly known as "tar sands" in which the composition comprises the product resulting from the addition of ammonium hydroxide with an aqueous solution of tannic acid the method comprising the efficient intermixing, preferably by agitation, of the said tar sands with said composition until the desired separation of the sand from the bituminous fraction is achieved, the rate of separation being increased by increasing the temperature of the composition, and separating the bituminous fraction from said composition.

Abstract: A catheter assembly for establishing independent electrical connection between a signal generating means and the surfaces of the atrium and ventricle of a heart is disclosed to include an atrial catheter conductor and a ventricular catheter conductor. The conductors are jointly mounted for concurrent introduction into the vicinity of the heart. The atrial catheter is slidably received within an insulating means the terminal end of which is displaced from the distal tip of the ventricular catheter conductor so that the ventricular catheter conductor first may be positioned in electrical contact with the ventricular surface whereafter the atrial catheter conductor may be slidably extended from the insulating means to a position in electrical contact with the surface of the atrium.

Abstract: An automatic feeder for infusing solid solutes into liquid solvents at an adjustable, predetermined, controlled rate to maintain an adjustable, predetermined, controlled concentration of solute in a solvent reservoir, the feeder including means for adjustably controlling the rate of infusion of solute into a circulating, solvent stream within a chamber by controlling the quantity of solvent in the chamber as well as surface area of solute immersed in the solvent, means for feeding solute into the solvent in the chamber in a programmed fashion over a relatively long period of time without attendance, means for preventing accidental syphoning of all of the solvent from the feeder, and means for automatically breaking contact between the solute and the solvent in the feeder during periods of dissolution; the feeder comprising a housing having solvent inlet and outlet ports, a float valve for adjustably controlling the level of solvent circulating in the housing; and an anti-syphoning device on the float valve to

Abstract: A track pad for the support and propulsion of track propelled vehicles (e.g. asphalt paving machines) comprising a support plate having a longitudinal axis which is greater than its transverse axis, a coating of heavy duty polymer (e.g. a thermoplastic urethane elastomer resin) which substantially encapsulates the support plate, and a means for securing the track pad to the track. The support plate is provided with suitable openings to accommodate the positioning therethrough of a securing means (e.g. flat head carriage bolts), said securing means for removably attaching the track pad to the track. The track pad of this invention is manufactured by pre-assembly of the securing means and the support plate whereafter the pad material is injection molded such as to substantially encapsulate the support plate.

Abstract: Metal support apparatus including a plurality of structurally interrelated metal members with each metal member being of a predetermined configuration. Also disclosed is a metal (e.g. aluminum) platform tennis court including a plurality of such above-mentioned metal support apparatus on the deck or playing surface of the court, such metal deck or playing surface providing, over the entire area thereof, a more uniform deflection in response to the weight or force of a running player than a wooden playing surface or deck of a wooden platform tennis court.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing the consumption of power by controlling the application and removal of power to and from a plurality of load circuits connected to AC power sources of the same or different phases in response to the movement and absence of movement of an object within a prescribed area.