Abstract: A method of liquefying a coal formation in situ wherein the coal formation has been preheated as by a coal gasification project, includes the steps of establishing injection and removal passages connecting the coal formation to the surface, injecting water having a temperature below the formation temperature into the formation to gradually lower the temperature of the formation while forming synthesis gas, injecting a solvent material, having the capability of dissolving the coal, into the formation after it has been reduced to the desired temperature, injecting synthesis gas into the formation to hydrogenate the coal, allowing the formation to subside as the coal is dissolved therein so that more surface area of coal is exposed to the solvent, and removing the admixture of coal and solvent material from the formation as a synthetic crude oil.

Abstract: The method of collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes the steps of absorbing solar heat on a collector surface wherein the collector surface is insulated from the ambient environment, passing air across the collector surface in a heat transfer process whereby the heat absorbed by the collector surface is transferred to the air, passing the hot air leaving the collector surface through a horizontal duct disposed at a lower elevation than the collector surface, and passing the hot air flowing from the duct into an elevated storage chamber containing material with heat absorbent and heat retaining characteristics whereby the heat in the hot air is transferred from the hot air to the material and retained by said material until it is removed therefrom by a relatively cool air flow.

Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes an elongated insulated housing in which a quantity of heat retaining material is confined and a collector on one face of the housing which has a multi-layered glass face through which solar heat may pass and be collected upon a unique heat-collecting bed which is insulated from the ambient environment by the glass face. Conditioning pump means are provided within the housing to circulate conditioning air through the collector and the heat retaining material in the housing so that heat is transferred from the collector to the material in the housing. Specially designed and positioned ducts connect the collector to the interior of the housing in a manner such that air interchange between the collector and the interior of the housing is prevented except during operation of the conditioning pump.

Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for collecting, storing and transmitting solar heat includes an elongated insulated housing in which a quantity of heat retaining material is confined and a collector on one face of the housing which has a multi-layered glass face through which solar heat may pass and be collected upon a unique heat-collecting bed which is insulated from the ambient environment by the glass face. Conditioning pump means are provided within the housing to circulate conditioning air through the collector and the heat retaining material in the housing so that heat is transferred from the collector to the material in the housing. Specially designed and positioned ducts connect the collector to the interior of the housing in a manner such that air interchange between the collector and the interior of the housing is prevented except during operation of the conditioning pump.

Abstract: A tire chain device includes a backing plate mountable between the wheel and brake drum of a vehicle and having a continuous circular anchor rod as part thereof. A plurality of cross chains are connected at one end to a main chain member extending around the outer face of the vehicle tire with the opposite or inner ends of the cross chains having a hook thereon adapted to be releasably anchored to the circular rod on the backing plate. The main chain includes a tensioning hook adapted to tighten the main chain to draw the cross chains tightly across the periphery of the tire.

Abstract: A switch adapted to cooperate with the pull-down claw of a silent movie camera for transmitting an electrical signal each time a frame of movie film is advanced past the shutter of the camera includes an insulating base adapted to be positioned within the film receiving compartment of a movie camera so as to fit around the film gate, the base having a grounding contact arm engaging the gate so as to be grounded through the camera and a contact finger insulated from the gate and disposed for intermittent engagement with the reciprocating pull-down claw which serves to close the switch each time a frame of film is advanced past the shutter.

Abstract: A ski boot includes a foot portion and a leg portion extending upwardly along the calf of the leg from the foot portion and being pivotally connected to the foot portion for movement about a generally horizontal axis extending transversely of the boot. The pivotal connection of the leg portion to the foot portion is selectively adjustable to allow vertical sliding movement of the leg portion relative to the foot portion whereby the leg portion can be inclined laterally relative to the foot portion. A connection unit interconnecting the foot portion to the leg portion along a rear portion of the boot includes double acting resilient means for cushioning both forward and rearward pivotal movement of the leg portion relative to the foot portion. The connection unit is connected to the boot by quick release means whereby the unit can be quickly removed allowing free pivotal movement of the leg portion relative to the foot portion if desired.

Abstract: This invention relates to a unitized air line filter and lubricator that includes provision for a pressure regulator therebetween that can either be by-passed or rendered operative by simply opening certain preformed passages in the manifold that connect same in series with the previously-mentioned components. The manifold houses nearly all of the working parts of both the filter and lubricator and their arrangement is such that the manifold can be reversed end-for-end to accommodate opposite directions of air flow. The subassembly that includes the bowls for the filter and lubricator along with the regulator spring therebetween in the three-component version will accommodate the manifold in either of its two positions and is, therefore, reversible relative thereto. Special sets of mounting brackets permit use of a single combination unit with air line piping of various sizes.

Abstract: A golfing aid for improving a golfer's swing plane and putting stroke includes a base member with an elongated rod connected to the base member by a pivotal support arm wherein the elongated rod is movable between a first position wherein it inclines upwardly and outwardly away from the golfer in a forward direction and a second position wherein it lies parallel to the ground in closely spaced relationship therewith. In the first position, the elongated rod visually suggests an inside-out path of movement for the club head and physically prevents an outside-in path so that the golfer is assisted in establishing the proper swing plane. In the second position the elongated rod can be pointed toward a cup on a practice putting green to assist in developing a putting stroke wherein the putter is maintained in close relationship to the ground throughout the entire stroke as is desirable for consistent putting.

Abstract: A shoe box includes a lower receptacle portion of generally rectangular horizontal cross section having downwardly convergent side walls and end walls so as to be nestable with like receptacles. A hollow partition is disposed internally of the receptacle to serve as a divider between a pair of shoes or the like to eliminate contact between the shoes. The partition opens downwardly through the bottom of the receptacle so as not to inhibit the nesting capabilities of the receptacle. A top member is hingedly connected to the upper edge of the receptacle by a living hinge, and latch means along an opposite edge serves to releasably secure the top member in closed relationship over the open top of the receptacle. The top member has a pair of raised rims along opposite sides thereof so that when the shoe box is closed, a plurality of the boxes can be stacked in a reliable manner and yet can be slid off an underlying container to facilitate easy removal from a storage shelf.

Abstract: An assembly line method of prefabricating brick panels in a factory for shipment to the intended site of use includes the steps of mixing a supply of mortar in one area of the plant, placing the mortar in a plurality of pressurized containers which are mounted on a rack located adjacent to the mixing area, delivering each of the pressurized containers and a supply of bricks as required for placement on a horizontally and vertically movable platform, advancing the platform in a direction along the side of a workbench, placing a first row of bricks on the workbench as the platform is advanced in the first direction, reversing the movement of the platform so that it returns in a second direction opposite to the first direction, dispensing under pressure a continuous flow of mortar from each pressurized container along the top of the bricks in the first row, again reversing the movement of the platform to advance in the first direction, and placing a second row of bricks on the previously dispensed mortar.

Abstract: A light bulb container is made of a plastic foam material and includes a lower open topped receptacle portion with a downwardly opening top member pivotally connected to the receptacle portion along one edge thereof. The receptacle portion has a raised partition therein defining areas in which light bulbs can be received. The partition has a horizontal cross section defined by two continuous arcuate sections having their centers on opposite sides of the partition so that the partition continuously engages each light bulb in the container to prevent damage to the bulbs either from external or internal sources.

Abstract: A bacteria filter includes a pair of generally conical housing sections having confronting marginal flanges adapted to be welded together to seal the sections into an integral filter housing. The flanges have a pair of tongue-in-groove connectors to facilitate alignment of the sections during assembly and to automatically stretch a filter element between the two sections during assembly to optimize the filtering capacity of the filter. Each section of the filter device has a co-axial tubular neck extension defining an inlet and outlet of the filter device.

Abstract: The method of the invention includes the steps of positioning a support member having a substantially vertically extending recording surface thereon in the doorway for which the door is being sized, recording the contour of each side door jamb of the doorway on the recording surface by transposing the contour with a tracer mechanism having a follower adapted to be advanced along each side door jamb and a marker for recording on the surface information corresponding to the contour of the side door jamb, placing the recorded information in a cutting apparatus having means for controlling a cutter device in correspondence with the recorded information so that the cutter device is advanced along each side of the door member to cut the sides of the door to match the contours of the associated side door jambs.