Abstract: Measurement of the deviation of a laser beam from a straight line, where the laser beam is of a type which causes thermal blooming, is used to determine the integrated effect which wind will have on an article traveling through airspace, for example, to enable an adjustment in the aim point of the article. The invention includes correcting the aim point of a gun firing a projectile, correcting the flight path of an aircraft, and correcting the path of a watercraft. The invention includes a method and means for measuring the flow of fluid in a conduit or as a free mass, for purposes other than adjusting the path of a projectile or the like.

Abstract: A window covering for a window having a window casement, or other opening in a wall, such as a doorway or a case-less window opening, with an inside portion adjacent to the window and an outside portion adjacent to the inside portion, the outside portion having a left side portion and a right side portion is disclosed. The window covering comprising includes a support assembly configured and arranged to attach to an inside portion of a window casement and a window treatment suspended from the support assembly and overlapping at least a portion of a left side portion and a right side portion of an outside portion of the window casement whereby the window treatment covers the window.

Abstract: A method for treating wastewater in a leaching field comprises forming and burying in soil a continuous curve arch shape cross section injection molded thermoplastic leaching chamber. The chamber has inwardly curving sidewalls perforated with closely spaced horizontal slots and peak corrugations which are closely spaced apart on about 8 inch center-to-center distance or less. The chamber configuration in combination with certain plastic material properties and thickness provide strength sufficient to meet regulatory requirements when the soil above the buried chamber is subjected to load.

Abstract: A handle assembly for adjusting a window treatment is disclosed. A wand is included and is configured and arranged to adjust a window treatment. The handle includes a grip on the wand, and has at least one engagement surface thereon. Further, the handle includes a cleat having at least one reciprocal mating surface configured and arranged to selectively interlock with the at least one engagement surface of the grip.

Abstract: Drainage units comprise lightweight aggregate held within a perforated sleeve having an exterior surface, where at least a portion of the exterior surface comprises a barrier material which is substantially impervious to solids.

Abstract: A septic tank or storage tank has a corrugated thermoplastic wall which has a composite layered structure. A tank wall comprises an inner layer of solid plastic for containing liquid; an outer layer made of solid plastic, for resisting external mechanical forces, and a middle layer of closed cell foam plastic for both resisting liquid flow which penetrates the inner or outer layer and for heat retention which encourages biological processes. In an embodiment, the middle layer has less than about 55 percent of the density of the inner and outer layers, and the inner layer is substantially thinner than the outer layer. The three layers are integrally attached at the time of formation of the tank by rotational molding. The tank has good resistance to mechanical forces and provides insulation.

Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for improving the treatment of wastewater in a dispersal drainage trench by facilitating the direct aeration of wastewater passing through a drainage unit.

Abstract: A molded thermoplastic tank for use as a septic tank or storage tank when buried in soil has a combination of transverse peak and valley corrugations in combination with one or more lengthwise peak corrugations, to provide in effect a molded-in beam structure. The lengthwise corrugations may be at the top, between spaced apart access ports, along the bottom. In one embodiment, the top has an H-shape pattern beam structure. In another embodiment separately formed plastic beams and or a combination of vertical and horizontal struts are inside the tank.

Abstract: A riser system for use at the access opening of a wastewater treatment tank includes an adaptor ring affixed to the top of the tank, and a mating riser. The adaptor ring and riser have ends with mating circumferential L-shape sections. There are horizontally projecting tabs spaced apart around the upper end of the adaptor. The tabs engage a corresponding number of L-shape slots which are spaced apart around the circumference of the bottom end of the riser. When ring and riser are mated, rotation of the riser relative to the adaptor causes each tab to move circumferentially to a recess in the slot, which locks the tab in position. Micro-ridges on horizontal mating surfaces of the L-shape sections help form a seal between the two parts.

Abstract: A plastic leaching chamber has an arch shape cross section, corrugations, and one or more hollow pillars extending downwardly within the interior of the chamber, to support the top of the chamber when the chamber is under load during use. Chambers nest within one another to form a stack of chambers for transport or storage. Chambers have peak corrugations which are substantially wider than the intervening valley corrugations. Chambers having different widths and profiles have common size connectors.

Abstract: A tubular post for a light or other electrical device is mounted in soil with the use of an anchor which is comprised of a vertical sleeve and a flange which extends horizontally from the lower end of the sleeve. A flat bottom excavation is made in soil, to receive the anchor. Electrical conductors are run across the top of the flange, through ports in the sleeve and up the interior of the post. A stop within the bore of the sleeve limits downward movement of the post which is inserted into the top of the bore, to enable the running of the conductors through the ports. The excavation is then backfilled. When the anchor has been installed in soil so that top of the sleeve is near the surface, the post may be lifted from the sleeve and replaced without making a new excavation.

Abstract: An arch shape cross section thermoplastic leaching chamber, having sidewall slot perforations which flare inwardly, is made using a mold comprised of a mold cavity part and an inwardly retractable mold core part. The core part has opposing side slides with projections that define the perforations; they are separated by a center block. The center block moves downwardly and the slides move inwardly, under action of slide rods built into the mold core, to enable a molded chamber to be removed from the mold.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the amount of sediment carried into and deposited within an underground stormwater-receiving system comprises a high surface area float that moves up and down within a chamber of the system. A rod extends upwardly from the float and is slidably contained within a tube that runs from the top of the chamber and to the soil surface. The top of the rod is visible to a worker on the surface. When storm water drains away, the float comes to rest on such sediment as has accumulated in the bottom of the chamber. Thus, the amount of sediment is determinable according to the changed rest-position of the rod.

Abstract: A leaching chamber has sidewall perforations which flare inwardly, so that the smallest perforation dimension is on the exterior surface of the sidewall. The basic axes of the perforations run downwardly toward the chamber base, as the axes run from the inside to outside of the chamber. Mold cores having inwardly retracting slides, and which move in complex ways, are used to form the chamber. Thus, perforations are present down near the base flange of the sidewall, even though the base flange has an upwardly extending fin.

Abstract: An actuator, which find exemplary use in connection with a safety system which aims to stop powering of a boat by an engine or sail if a person falls overboard. The actuator stores energy in a main spring which is manually created by pushing linearly on an actuator rod which extends from the actuator housing. The main spring is captured between two concentric sleeves one of which sleeves is fixed to the housing. A low power coil is energizes a magnetic shuttle to cause linear motion of a shuttle against urging of small spring contained within the bore of the shuttle. Movement of the shuttle enables radial motion of balls from a position where the sleeves are locked together to one which enables one sleeve to move under force of the main spring, and thereby move the push/pull rod and act on an object to which the actuator is connected.

Abstract: A safety system, which stops the motion of a sail boat when a person falls off the boat, is comprised of a wireless transmitter carried by the person, a receiver-controller, an actuator, and a separable member which ordinarily holds a sail or a sail assembly in its working position. When the person falls off the boat and or the boat moves away, the diminution in wireless signal causes the actuator to separate the connecting member which holds sail in place, thus reducing the propulsive power and altering the motion of the boat. A preferred actuator stores manually input energy, to enable the use of a compact and low power solenoid type coil.

Abstract: An injection molded plastic corrugated leaching or storm water chamber has a peak corrugations segment with a flattened and thickened web. The web is the portion of the corrugation which runs from the peak to the floor of the adjacent valley. Preferably, flattened web segments are at the apexes of adjoining corrugations, to create an increased thickness band region, running lengthwise along the chamber from an injection nozzle location or sprue. The flattened web segments enable better melted plastic flow during molding, without increasing nesting height.

Abstract: A continuous curve arch shape cross section leaching chamber made of molded thermoplastic has closely spaced corrugations and sidewalls, portions of which are perforated with horizontal slots. Either or both of the slot height and the local wall thickness of the sidewall portion which defines the slots may vary with slot elevation from the base. The chambers are free of interior and exterior strengthening ribs. They provide high interior storage volume and high leaching area in combination with low mass or weight of plastic material. An exemplary 34 inch wide chamber has more than 1.5 cubic feet of water storage volume per foot, less than 4 pounds weight of thermoplastic material per foot, and at least 30 square inches of slot-provided leaching area per foot.

Abstract: A safety system, which stops the motion of a boat or other craft when a person falls off the craft, is comprised of a wireless transmitter carried by the person, a receiver-controller, an actuator, and a rotary on-off switch, such as a common ignition switch. When the person falls off and moves away, the diminution in wireless signal causes the electromechanical actuator, attached to the control panel, to rotate the key which is in the ignition switch. A linear actuator either pushes or pulls on the grip portion of the key, with or without the use of an end cap which receives the key grip portion, for better connection or mechanical advantage. The actuator stores manually input energy, to enable the use of a compact and low power solenoid type coil.