Abstract: A flexible plastic nipple for coupling a sprinkler head to a sprinkler system pipeline. The nipple includes an elongated plastic tube having a resilient center section and a pair of end sections. The center section has a uniform set of annular undulations which provides both rigidity and flexibility to the nipple. Each end section includes a rigid portion, a flexible threaded section, and a snub portion for mating the nipple with a connector fitting on the sprinkler head or pipeline. The threaded portions have sufficient flexibility to prevent rupturing or stripping when a force is transmitted to the nipple. In addition, the center section will bend before the force transmitted to the threaded portions becomes excessive and will rebound to its original position when the excessive force is removed.

Abstract: Foundary binder, substantially free of inert hydrocarbon solvents, is comprised of a mixture of low molecular weight methylolated phenolic components and a reactive diluent. The binder is mixed with sand and cured with a polyisocyanate in the presence of a catalyst.

Abstract: A pad of synthetic grass is slidably mounted within a rectangular frame by resilient members which connect the front and rear portions of the pad to the frame. The pad is adapted to slide on a horizontal surface, and return to its original position when a golf ball is struck therefrom. The resilient members may be cloth covered rubber cords which are attached to a center portion of the frame by a pivotedly mounted pulley.

Abstract: A phenol-aldehyde resin useful in such applications as a cold-set binder for cores and molds used in the foundry industry and reactive prepolymers used in reaction injection molding compositions produced by the steps of reacting a phenol and aldehyde in a mole ratio of 1 to 1-2.3 in the presence of catalytic amounts of an organic compound of aluminum, zirconium or titanium.

Abstract: An improved percussion mallet for musical instruments is described. The percussion mallet includes a shaft member, a tubular rubber shock absorber mounted on the head end of the shaft member, a wooden disc surrounding the shock absorber, and a rubber band secured to the outer surface of the wooden disc. These elements combine to produce a cleaner standard tone upon striking a musical instrument. In addition, the rubber band has three outer surfaces which enable the improved percussion to make either a forte or piano sound, depending upon the angle of the mallet as it impacts a musical instrument.

Abstract: A vaporizer cooperating with a recirculating water system humidifies air before it enters the carburetor of an automobile engine. The vaporizer is generally a hollow tube which includes an evaporating pad that distributes liquid such as water. As air moves through the vaporizer, vapor moves into the air stream. Excess liquid is collected at the bottom of a larger portion of the vaporizer, whose air outlet is elevated from that bottom to prevent liquid phase water from leaving the vaporizer. The recirculating system drains collected excess water.

Abstract: Described herein is the combination of a fluid pulse generator for generating a sequence of periodic fluid pulses of substantially equal fluid volume in response to a corresponding sequence of periodic digital signals, and a fluid pulse smoother which receives the fluid pulses from the generator and integrates or smooths those fluid pulses to provide a continuous flow of fluid whose volume and rate of flow correspond to the volume and rate of flow of fluid associated with the pulses received from the pulse generator. A workpiece may be driven smoothly and continuously over a predetermined distance by the steady flow of fluid from the pulse smoother merely by providing the necessary number of electrical signals to the pulse generator.

Abstract: An anti-buckle ring is described for preventing buckling of beer-can tops during pasteurization of the beer. The anti-buckle ring is mated with each beer can such that the ring captures the double-seamed top of the can. The ring prevents radial displacement at key points of the top and, hence, buckling of the top end of the can, when the heat applied during pasteurization causes the internal pressure of the can to increase.

Abstract: Wheat germ oil is treated by degumming with phosphoric acid and water, bleaching with activated clay and distilled in a centrifugal molecular still at 140.degree.-200.degree. C. at pressures below 50 milli-torr. The free fatty acids which are removed by the distillation step may be recovered as valuable by-products. The phospholipids removed in the degumming step may be recovered as valuable by-products. A vitamin E concentrate may be prepared by further distilling the purified wheat germ oil at 220.degree.-300.degree. C. at pressures below 25 milli-torr.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sprayable hydromulch which is effective in reclaiming land, and which is particularly useful in planting seed to establish ground cover on reclaimed strip mining areas.

Abstract: A method and system for modifying a conventional furnace are disclosed whereby greatly improved furnace operating efficiency is obtained. The temperature of the structure, the outside temperature, and the temperature of the heat exchange fluid are measured. The rate of flow of fuel to the furnace is adjusted as a function of the difference between the outside temperature and the desired temperature of the structure. The fuel rate flow is further adjusted as a function of the difference between the furnace's heat exchange fluid temperature and the actual interior temperature of the structure. A further adjustment to fuel rate flow is effected as a function of the difference between the temperature of the interior of the structure and the desired structure temperature. A novel gas pressure valve is also disclosed for altering the rate of gas flow to the furnace.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the continuous high temperature treatment of sulfur-containing carbonaceous particles in an electrothermally heated fluidized bed is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, a fluidizing stream is passed through carbonaceous particles introduced into a fluidizing zone at a velocity sufficient to fluidize said carbonaceous particles. The carbonaceous particles are heated in a fluidized state, and controllably fed into and discharged from the fluidizing zone at a rate sufficient to assure that the sulfur content of the particles are reduced below 0.5%. In another aspect of the invention, at least a portion of the carbonaceous material is transformed from a relatively amorphous molecular state, into a graphite crystalline state.

Abstract: A valve is disclosed which receives a fluid such as gas at an input port and varies the fluid pressure at the output port in response to an electrical control signal. In one embodiment, a magnet-coil combination responds linearly to a control current to vary the bias on a fluid restriction device to thereby modify the pressure of the fluid at the outlet. In another embodiment, a flexible bellows transmits the force generated by the magnet-coil combination to the fluid restriction device.

Abstract: A vertical-axis water sprinkler with a reversibly rotating spray head has an internal control shell rotating with the spray head in a fixed housing. Adjustably fixed in the housing are a plurality of pattern defining plates. A pattern sampling disk with a specially contoured aperture therein is carried on a control shell within the housing and communicates from a water inlet in the housing to the spray head. The aperture sweeps across the face and edge of each of the pattern defining plates as the control shell rotates in the housing. The positions of the pattern defining plates control or limit the volume of water flow to the spray head, thereby generating a ground coverage pattern conforming to the relative positions of the plates.The speed of rotation of the spray head is made constant despite changes in the output flow rate by design selection of a friction bearing and of the surface areas of the control shell exposed to pressure forces in upward and downward directions.

Abstract: An improved cell culture medium supplement comprising a sterile solution of Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline solution along with amino acids of such constitution and concentration sufficient to supplement growth of the cells to be cultured, and whereby the cell culture medium properties of blood serum are simulated.

Abstract: A water sprinkler develops any of several predetermined patterns of water coverage of regular or irregular shape and of varying sizes. The sprinkler includes first a plurality of pattern-defining apertures which are contoured to pass varying but predetermined amounts of water from a fixed sampling aperture as a sprinkler nozzle rotates in either or both angular directions about a vertical axis.Pattern size is incrementally adjustable in one embodiment by a member having tapered apertures of varying sizes interposed between the fixed sampling aperture and the pattern-defining apertures. Pattern size and shape are finely adjusted by a parallel flow line including a valve for providing small additional or slightly reduced flow volumes. Rounded patterns are effected entirely through the parallel flow line.

Abstract: An extruded defatted wheat germ food product has an expanded open-cell structure with a crisp, crunchy palatable nut-like flavor is stable in the presence of air at room temperatures. The product is produced by defatting wheat germ, increasing the moisture to 12-25% by weight, and extruding the moist wheat germ into atmospheric pressure, where the wheat germ is permitted to expand. The extruded product is dried to a moisture level below about 8%.

Abstract: A method is described for preventing buckling of beer-can tops and bottoms during pasteurization of the beer. Prior to the pasteurization, an anti-buckle ring is mated with each beer can such that the ring captures the base portion of the can's bottom. The ring permits the bottom's panel to bulge outwardly while preventing radial displacement of the bottom's base area and, hence, buckling of the can bottom, when the heat applied during pasteurization causes the internal pressure of the can to increase. To prevent buckle of the beer can's top, another anti-buckle ring may be mated with the top of the can such that the latter ring captures the double-seam area on the top of the can to prevent radial displacement at key points of the top. After pasteurization, both rings are automatically removed from the can for use with another can.

Abstract: A fluid pulse smoother is described which receives pulses of fluid to provide a continuous drive for a workpiece. The pulse smoother receives a sequence of periodic fluid pulses, as from a pulse generator, and integrates or spreads each received fluid pulse over the time duration of each pulse. Consequently, a workpiece may receive a driving fluid flow which is continuous but whose rate of flow is substantially equivalent to the rate of fluid flow associated with the fluid pulses. Hence, the pulse smoother provides a fluid control system for converting a sequence of fluid pulses to a continuous fluid flow of a known volume and flow rate for precisely driving a fluid controlled workpiece.

Abstract: A Japanese Yew plant has been discovered and asexually reproduced which is resistant to "winter burn" from severe winter weather in cold extremes of temperate zone climates. The plant has flat needles, shiny green on top and paler green below, the terminal ends having single sharp points. The bark of the stems is reddish brown and glossy. The buds are ovoid oblong, green in the spring and summer, and change to brown in the fall. The foliage is dense and tends to spread.