Abstract: A method of improving natural gas release from a well via an enhanced hydraulic fracturing operation. The method includes capturing or retrieving the flow back from the well following the fracturing operation. The flow back or other source water is introduced to an electrocoagulation (“EC”) treatment process. EC treatment separates the water from other fracturing fluid components in the flow back and also removes bacteria and other contaminants. Thereafter, the EC-treated fluid is recycled for subsequent fracturing operations. The process may also be used to treat all source water, including fresh water delivered to the well before it is used as a fracturing fluid.

Abstract: Movable conveyor slats (12) have side parts (42, 44) which rest on top parts (32) of bearings (30). The bearings (30) have a generally U-shaped cross section and they fit on wings (16, 18) which extend outwardly and slope upwardly from the sides of a fixed conveyor slat (10). The movable slats (12) have web (48, 50) and lower flange portions (52, 54) which with the side parts (42, 44) form laterally outwardly opening channels. The wings (16, 18) and the bearings (30) are received within the channels (56, 58).

Abstract: A tremolo assembly includes a metallic block having an upper end near a pivoting mounting point. The lower end of the block depends downwardly into a space within a guitar body. The tremolo block has a proportionately greater mass near the lower end relative to the upper end that enhances the “vibrato” effect of the tremolo assembly.

Abstract: Movable conveyor slats (10, 10?) have side parts (14, 14?, 16, 16?) which rest on top parts (94) of bearings (92). The bearings (92) have a generally U-shaped cross section and they fit on wings (72, 74) which extend outwardly and upwardly from the sides of a fixed conveyor slat (12). The movable slats (10, 10?) have a web (22, 24) and lower flange portions (26, 28) which with the side parts (14, 16) form laterally outwardly opening channels. The wings (72, 74) and the bearings (92) are received within the channel spaces.

Abstract: A cable retraction mechanism for displaying merchandise mounted on a display post in a retail location. The cable retraction mechanism includes a cable assembly having a coiled or equivalent elastically stretchable section. The mechanism also includes a coaxial housing that is connected to a portion of the cable assembly. The reciprocating motion or action of the shuttle within the housing facilitates extension and retraction of the cable assembly in a manner that is independent of the coiled section.

Abstract: A sheet-metal header beam is constructed from a single sheet of sheet metal (10). It is folded to form an upper channel (58) having a bottom wall (12) and inner sidewalls (14, 16). The upper boundaries of the sidewalls (14, 16) form corners (24, 28) with top walls (30, 32) which in turn form corners (26, 28) with outside walls (38, 40). Lower portions of the outside walls (30, 40) and regions (50, 52) form sidewalls of a lower channel (60). Regions (50, 52) are bent at corners (42, 44) to form flanges (46, 48) which form a top for the lower channel (60).

Abstract: Opposite end sections (20, 26) of a piston/cylinder drive unit (14) are clamped to longitudinally spaced apart transverse mounting beams (10, 12), by a fixed clamp parts connected to the mounting beams (10, 12) and removable clamp parts that are connected by bolts to the fixed clamp parts. The piston rod end sections (20, 26) include longitudinal passageways having outer end openings that project outwardly from the clamps. Manifolds are secured to the mounting beams (10, 12) outwardly of the end openings in the piston rod end sections (20, 26). A detachable coupling connects ports in the manifold with the end openings in the piston rod end sections (20, 26). The piston cylinder drive unit (14) can be detached from the frame by first detaching the fluid couplings and then detaching the clamps which clamp the piston rod end sections (20, 26) to the mounting beams (10, 12).

Abstract: A cable retraction mechanism for displaying merchandise mounted on a display post in a retail location. The cable retraction mechanism includes a cable assembly having a coiled or equivalent elastically stretchable section. The mechanism also includes a coaxial housing that is connected to a portion of the cable assembly. The reciprocating motion or action of the shuttle within the housing facilitates extension and retraction of the cable assembly in a manner that is independent of the coiled section.

Abstract: A slotted upper track (10) has double-thick sidewalls (34, 36 and 40, 42) through which the slots (54, 50 and 52, 56) extend. The sidewalls (34, 36 and 40, 42) and an interconnecting web (38) form a central channel in which upper end portions of the studs (12) are received. The upper track or header (10) includes secondary channels outwardly of the central channel that are formed by the flanges of the central channel (34, 36 and 40, 42) and auxiliary flanges (30, 46) and auxiliary webs (32, 44). The header or upper track (10) is of a one-piece construction, making it relatively economically to construct. Upper end portions of wallboard panels (WP) are positioned outwardly of the sidewalls (34, 36 and 40, 42) of the central channel. Trim panels (TP) of wallboard are connected to the auxiliary flanges (30, 46) and are positioned laterally outwardly of the upper end portions of the main wallboard panels (WP).

Abstract: A trailer (T) and a dock (D) are provided with substantially identical slat conveyors (10, 12). Each conveyor (10, 12) has alternating conveyor slats (36, 36?) and lifting/holding slats (38, 38?). The trailer (T) is backed up to the dock (D). Upper portions of the lifting/holding slats (38, 38?) are coupled together at their ends. The confronting ends of the conveying slats (36, 36?) are also coupled together. A mechanism carried by the dock (D) raises and lowers the upper portions of the two sets of lifting/holding slats (38, 38?) a drive mechanism carried by the dock (D) where it reciprocates both sets of conveying slats (36, 36?).

Abstract: Corner studs (10, 10?) have webs that are folded into two parts (16, 18) separated by an angle of between about 150° and 270°. These studs are used at corners formed where two framing walls meet. The first wall has upper and lower channel members with continuous flanges. The second wall has upper and lower channel members with squared ends that abut continuous flanges of upper and lower channels of the first framing wall. Studs (10, 10?) are provided which webs that include flange-receiving slots (12, 28) that extend from the ends of the studs (10, 10?) longitudinally inwardly along a bend line (14) between the two web parts (16, 18). The flanges (36, 52) are received within these slots (12, 28) so that a first portion of the studs (10, 10?) can be installed into the channel space of the first channel member and the remaining portion of the studs (10, 10?) can be installed into the channel space of the channel members of the second wall.

Abstract: A rocket with a high pressure propellant module, comprising a toy bottle rocket that uses gases generated from the reaction between baking soda and vinegar. A mechanism controls the release of the gas formed by the chemical reaction and allows the gas to reach a high pressure inside the rocket prior to release.

Abstract: A door security device operative to secure the door in a fully closed and partially opened state is disclosed. A vertically oriented housing mounted close to the handle side on the inside surface of the door contains a coaxial brace bar, the bottom end of which extends out of the housing, but does not reach the floor. A second vertically oriented brace bar is slideably mounted onto horizontal rods, which are affixed proximate to the bottom of the vertical brace bar. To lock the door, the bottom end of the slideable brace bar is inserted into one of two different floor plugs, the first of which is positioned adjacent to the location of the closed door (bracing the door in a fully closed position) and the second of which is positioned slightly interior to the first (bracing the door in a manner that allows it to be partially opened). If no security is desired, the entire device may be lifted in the housing, rotated into planar contact with the door, and locked in an inactive position.

Abstract: The invention is a drive-in pallet racking system for a large transportation vehicle like a railcar or truck trailer. The racking system includes a plurality of center posts which define two drive-through passageways along the length of the vehicle. Pallet-supporting rails are mounted on each side of the posts. One rail is mounted to the posts and the other is mounted on the sidewall opposite the posts. The rails are spaced apart so that a forklift can drive in between them. However, the spacing is sufficiently narrow so that the rails can support the edges of the pallet without any intermediate support.

Abstract: The invention is a method for using flexible packaging in connection with incubating a sample in a liquid culture medium. A flexible, gusseted bag is first presterilized by irradiation. Then, the bag is prefilled with a presterilized liquid culture medium. The bag is self-supporting and takes on the characteristics of a rigid container when filled. Prefilling and sterilizing it enables it to be shipped to a laboratory. The bag is easy to open and reseal for introduction of a culture sample at the laboratory. After introduction, the sample is incubated in the bag.

Abstract: A method of melting solid materials while controlling melt shape, without the expenditure of energy to melt unwanted quantities of surrounding materials, and an apparatus to effect the method. The method comprises the use of a planar starter path between electrodes so as to initiate melting and/or vitrification in a plane rather than in a discrete linear path between electrodes. Because melting is initiated along a significant portion of the linear dimension of the electrodes, creating a melted zone that is deeper than it is thick, the aspect ratio (depth "Y"/width "Z") of the melted mass is greater than 1.0.