Abstract: A fluid drain for wounds includes a tube having one end insertable under the patient's skin into the wound, with the opposite end of the tube extending externally of the patient's skin; and a valve assembly at the opposite end of the tube. The valve assembly includes a first port for connection to a vacuum source, a second port connected to the opposite end of the tube, a third port for outletting the drained fluid into a container, a first one-way valve permitting the fluid to flow freely therethrough only from the second port to the first port, and a second one-way valve permitting the fluid to flow freely therethrough only from the first port to the third port.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the concentration of a first substance in a first liquid by: (a) subjecting the first liquid to natural osmosis, via a first semipermeable body, with respect to an intermediate liquid, which intermediate liquid is a solution or suspension of a second substance in a second liquid, the second liquid being the same as the first liquid and passing through the first semipermeable body, the second substance being of larger molecular size than the first substance and not passing through the first semipermeable body, whereby the quantity of the second liquid in the intermediate liquid is increased; and then (b) subjecting the intermediate liquid to reverse osmosis under pressure via a second semipermeable body to pass therethrough the second liquid.

Abstract: Electronic slot machine system comprises a central computer unit, and a plurality of portable game units, each including a credit memory for storing a predetermined credit available for playing, a manual operator manipulatable by the player for playing the game according to a predetermined amount, a computer for determining any winnings earned by playing the game and for updating the credit memory by the predetermined amount played and by any such winnings, and a display for displaying the results of the game played, the earnings if any, and the current amount in the credit memory. The central computer unit may be coupled to a selected one of the portable playing units to credit the memory of the coupled portable game unit with the predetermined credit available for playing, and to read out the current amount in the credit memory of the coupled portable game unit.

Abstract: A valve particularly useful for flushing a fluid line includes a spring-biased cylinder movable with respect to a fixed piston to control the discharge of flushing fluid through a housing outlet. The piston is fixed to the housing by a stem having a passageway in alignment with the housing outlet to thereby vent the interior of the cylinder to the atmosphere, and also to permit an instrument to be manually inserted through the housing outlet, the piston stem, and the piston, to engage the cylinder and to move it to its open position in order to manually flush the fluid line.

Abstract: A liquid material dispenser includes a rigid housing having a flexible partition defining first and second compartments on opposite sides of the partition, and an electrolytic cell in the first compartment capable of generating a gas when energized by a source of electric current in order to expand the first compartment and thereby to contract the second compartment. The second compartment contains the liquid material which is dispensed via a discharge opening in accordance with the rate of generation of the gas.

Abstract: A method of extinguishing a fire by generating an intense electric field and/or a gaseous plasma constituted of a body of electrically-charged particles, and directing the electric field and/or plasma to the base of the fire until the fire is extinguished.

Abstract: A cleaning system for cleaning tubing by means of balls circulated with the fluid through the tubing includes a separator having a grid structure in a separator conduit, and an arrangement to move balls tending to accumulate on the upstream face of the grid structure towards a ball outlet at the separator conduit where they may be more effectively drawn into a recirculating conduit by a negative pressure at the inlet thereof.

Abstract: A cover for a motor vehicle includes a panel of still sheet material having a length and width sufficient at least to cover the vehicle roof and formed with a plurality of longitudinal fold lines to permit folding it in accordian fashion and thereby to adjust its width to the width of the vehicle roof to which it is applied, and a plurality of anchoring members extending from opposite sides of the panel for anchoring it to the vehicle roof when applied thereover.

Abstract: A helical cutting tool having a plurality of cutting inserts of quadrilateral configuration removably attached to seats formed in the cutting tool, with each insert including a cutting edge extending in the axial direction bounded on opposite sides by a pair of parallel, radially-extending edges. The cutting inserts are disposed in a helical array in which the cutting edge of each insert is spaced in the circumferential direction from the seat of the next adjacent insert and is in overlapping relationship in the axial direction with the cutting edge of the next adjacent insert, and in which the radially-extending edges of each insert are in overlapping relation with the radially-extending edges of the adjacent inserts, such that the cutting edges of all the inserts define a continuous, non-interrupted, cutting line of stepped configuration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a liquid mixture to separate a clarified fraction therefrom leaving a concentrated sludge fraction involve injecting a flocculent material into the liquid mixture; and inletting the liquid material and the flocculent maerial tangentially into a vertical tank having a perforated plate spaced from its upper end dividing the tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a to produce a flow in the lower chamber having a rotational velocity in the horizontal direction adjacent the outer periphery of the lower chamber, and a lower rotational velocity in the horizontal direction adjacent the center of the lower chamber. The holes in the perforated plate define reduced-area passages from the lower chamber to the upper chamber producing a vertical flow of low velocity in the lower chamber and of higher velocity through the passage in the perforated plate.

Abstract: A scraper tool particularly useful for hand deburring holes as well as concave and straight surfaces includes a scraper blade being integrally formed with a front part, an intermediate part, and a back part joined to a shank at the back end of the scraper blade, which shank is fixed to the handle. The front, intermediate and back parts are all of triangular section and define three exposed, continuous sharp edges extending axially of the scraper blade. These sharp edges converge toward each other at the front part and coming to a point at the front tip of the scraper blade, are parallel to each other at the intermediate part, and converge toward each other at the back part to the juncture with the shank.

Abstract: A hand tool for aiding in the detachment of one member from another member includes a pair of lever arms pivotally mounted to each other and carrying handles at one end, and bifurcated, Y-shaped prying elements at the other end such that pressing the handles together moves the prying elements apart. A spring normally urges the handles apart and thereby the prying elements together.

Abstract: An optical viewing system includes an optical viewing device in a housing having a socket at its inner end for application to a person's finger, a focussing lens at its outer end for focussing images in the region in front of the focussing lens, and an image sensor for transforming the images to electrical signals. A remote monitor unit receives the electrical signals and displays the images received by the image sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously cooling and scanning an infrared detector assembly, by mounting the infrared detector assembly on the cold surface of a cylinder-piston type cooling device in the image plane of an optical assembly, and driving the cylinder through reciprocations with respect to the piston to also reciprocate the infrared detector assembly perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical assembly. The disclosed cooling device is a Stirling cooler having a compressor section and an expander section, and the cold surface, which is reciprocated and on which the infrared detector assembly is mounted, is the cold tip on the outer face of the cylinder in the expander section.

Abstract: A sewing machine bobbin includes a mini-spool rotatably mounted on the bobbin for receiving a predetermined length at the inner end of the thread such that when the bobbin stops rotating, the mini-spool may continue to rotate to pay out a part of a predetermined length of thread in order to finish a stitching operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a connector for the elongated elements of a structural space frame, and to a space frame employing the connectors. The connector consists of a base element and up to two elongate connector members. The base element includes both first and second bores lying along first and second axes, and first and second pairs of parallel faces intersecting with the first and second axes respectively at right-angles. The first and second elongate connector members are housed within the first and second bores of the base element, and each connector member includes outwardly extending threaded portions at both ends, the threaded portions being parallel screw threads. The threaded portions respectively engage adjacent primary elongated frame elements, by means of tightening these elements in opposite axial directions against the base element. The first and second axes are arranged in substantially parallel planes, spaced apart by substantially the diameter of a single elongate connector member.

Abstract: A collector electrode for an electrostatic precipitator for collecting charged particles suspended in a gas flow includes a planar base parallel to the gas flow, and a plurality of spaced projections projecting into the gas flow. Each of the projections includes an outer non-perforated section which is substantially planar and parallel to the planar base, and a perforated juncture section joining the outer section with the base.

Abstract: A method of designing a holographic optical element (diffractive grating) that transforms a set of waves into another set of waves in order to minimize aberrations in the phase of the output wavefront, includes the steps: (a) define continuous input parameters that characterize the propagation vector components of the incoming wavefront and the desired output wavefront; (b) formulate integral equations for the optimal grating vector components; and (c) solve the integral equations for the optimal grating vector components to minimize the difference between the actual and desired output wavefronts.

Abstract: A traction splint particularly useful for supporting a fractured leg in traction includes a rigid frame having a pair of longitudinally-extending frame members attachable at the inner end to the fractured leg and connected together at their opposite ends to receive the outer end of the leg. The outer end of the frame includes a pair of attachment jaws formed with a concave configuration for receiving the lower ends of the tibia and fibula and for limiting against the internal and external malleolus; the attachment jaws being carried by the supporting member extending transversely across, and slidable longitudinally of, the pair of frame members at the outer end of the frame.