Abstract: A machine for planting grass sprigs having a superstructure supported on wheels for moving over the earth's surface a sprig storage bin supported by the superstructure, a distributor for moving grass sprigs contained within the storage bin towards an opening in the floor surface, a plurality of paralleled discharge troughs each having a wide upper open end for receiving grass sprigs therein from the sprig storage bin and a reduced width lower opening providing a relatively narrow discharge slot through which grass sprigs are deposited in an in-line pattern on the earth's surface, trenching disc in alignment with each discharge trough for forming a narrow trench in the earth's surface upon which grass sprigs are deposited, and a planting disc in alignment with and rearwardly of each discharge trough for forcing grass sprigs into the narrow trenches.

Abstract: A system for separating a mixed phase stream into gas and liquid includes an elongated sloped vessel having a vortex tube cluster therein through which the mixed phase process stream is introduced and by which liquid is extracted from the gas, the vessel having a gas outlet adjacent an upper end of the sloped vessel, a liquid outlet adjacent a lower end of the slope vessel and a weir within the vessel establishing a liquid level above which gas accumulates, the cross-sectional area within the vessel above the liquid level increasing in the direction towards the gas outlet, and the cross-sectional area within the vessel below the liquid level increasing in the direction towards the liquid (oil and water) outlets.

Abstract: A high voltage splice box formed of non-conductive material having a back wall and an integral side and end walls around the full periphery of the back wall and providing an enclosed area within open front having a front peripheral edge. A post is formed of electrically non-conductive material extending from the back wall and spaced from the side wall and has a top attachment surface at a height less than the depth of the side wall, the attachment surface providing a place where multiple conductors can be interconnected. A cover has a circumferential lip sealably attached to the box front peripheral edge. The post attachment surface is spaced from the box back wall, side walls, end walls and cover at distances to prevent arching between a conductor secured to the post attachment surface and conductive objects exterior of the box.

Abstract: A system and a method for separating interdispersed gas and liquid components of an inlet stream includes introducing the inlet steam into a vessel having a dry gas outlet and a liquid outlet, passing the inlet stream into at least one vortex tube supported within the vessel, the vortex tube having a gas outlet and a liquid outlet, rapidly rotating the inlet stream within the vortex tube to separate entrained liquid and passing reduced moisture outlet gas from the vortex tube into the interior of the vessel and passing the outlet gas through a mist eliminator within the vessel to provide gas that is passed out the vessel dry gas outlet.

Abstract: A system for making a picture puzzle collage from a collection of individual photographs each having a picture displaying front surface and a rear surface including a board, a plurality of removable mating contiguous puzzle pieces that fit together in a format to cover the board, adhesive covering the front surface of each puzzle piece and a removable film covering each adhesive covered puzzle piece front surface that when removed from each puzzle piece permits the rearward surface of each of the individual photographs to be affixed thereto and permits excess of each photograph affixed to a puzzle piece to be trimmed away leaving each of the puzzle pieces with a portion of one of the individual photographs thereon, the puzzle pieces when trimmed can then be assembled in a contiguous format on the board.

Abstract: An underground watering system including a reservoir having a water inlet and a water outlet, a float control connected to the water inlet for maintaining a water level in the reservoir, a fertilizer container supported on the reservoir having an opening therein communicating with reservoir by which fertilizer may be added to water within the reservoir, and at least one water soaking hose connected to the reservoir water outlet.

Abstract: Apparatus for tapping a hole in a pipeline adapted to be attached to a support assembly having sealed communication with the exterior of a pipeline and having a tapping machine body with a boring bar rotatably supported therein with a circular cutter at the lower end thereof, a feed screw rotatably supported by the tapping machine body for axially positioning the boring bar, a hydraulically powered boring bar drive assembly within the tapping machine body driving the boring bar, a hydraulically powered feed screw drive assembly within the tapping machine body driving the feed screw and an auxiliary drive shaft affixed to rotate the feed screw drive assembly extending exteriorly of the tapping machine body and adapted to receive supplementary mechanical rotary energy for rotation of the feed screw so the boring bar can be retracted if hydraulic power is lost. A pressure compensation system permits the apparatus to be operated in a subsea environment.

Abstract: A method and system for treating crude oil to improve its flowability includes operating an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust gas, reducing the temperature of the exhaust gas, injecting cooled exhaust gas into a separator in which water is extracted to provide dry exhaust gas, pumping crude oil at an elevated pressure into a treatment vessel, compressing the dry exhaust gas to provide pressurized exhaust gas that is introduced into the treatment vessel and intimately mixing the crude oil and the pressurized exhaust gas in the treatment vessel to provide treated crude oil having a substantial portion of the exhaust gas absorbed therein to thereby provide crude oil having improved flowability.

Abstract: A method of filing an endodontically prepared root canal includes the steps of applying filler material to a distal portion of an elongated shaft formed of heat conducting material, inserting the proximal portion of the shaft having the filler material thereon into the root canal, heating the shaft to decrease the surface tension of the filler material and removing the shaft leaving the filler material in the root canal. An obturator system for practicing the method of filling an endodontically prepared root canal employs an elongated heat conductible shaft having proximal and distal portions with filler material on the distal portion, the distal portion of the shaft with the filler material thereon being insertable into a tooth root canal and a heat source serving to selectably heat the shaft allowing it to be removed while leaving the filler material in the root canal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a container formed of five rectangular metal panels including a bottom panel, opposed side panels and opposed end panels, each panel having peripheral edges there around, including the steps of forming spaced apart notches leaving interpositioned tab portions in peripheral edges of the panels, positioning the bottom panel horizontally, positioning the two side panels and two end panels vertically around the periphery edges of the bottom panel forming four vertical and four horizontal panel intersections with tab portions aligned with mating notches at each of the panel intersections and welding the four vertical and four horizontal panel intersections to physically interconnect the five panels to provide an open top rectangular container.

Abstract: An improved jack for horizontally extending trailer tongue including a bracket attached to the trailer tongue, a longitudinal shaft pivotally supported to the bracket and pivotal between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position, a wheel housing supported at a lower end of the shaft, a wheel rotatably supported by the housing, a lower portion of the shaft being rotatable about a shaft longitudinal axis, a crank arm rotatably extending from said wheel housing and having a drive gear thereon, and a driven gear affixed to the wheel, the driven gear being coupled for rotation when the drive gear is rotated to cause the wheel to rotate for moving the trailer when the wheel is in contact with the earth's surface.

Abstract: An adjustable depth fishing bobber having a hollow bobber housing for upright floatation having a top and a bottom opening, an elongated stem extending displaceably through said housing openings and having provision for the attachment of a fishing line to an upper end and a fishing leader to a lower end, a top cap affixed to the stem above the housing that normally engages the housing to sealably close the top opening, and a coiled spring surrounding the stem within the housing urging the stem downwardly with respect to the housing to normally close the top opening, the stem being upwardly displaceable relative to the housing whereby a quantity of water can be admitted into or drained from the housing to vary the buoyancy of the bobber.

Abstract: A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a gas stream employing a vessel having a wet gas inlet, a gas outlet and a liquid outlet. At least one vortex tube is supported within the vessel and has a liquid outlet end and a wet gas inlet tangential to its sidewall and arranged so that wet gas rotates within the vortex tube to cause the liquid components to be forced against the interior wall surface by centrifugal action. An orifice plate closes the vortex tube first end and has a concentric gas outlet opening therein. A vortex finder tube is affixed to the orifice plate in communication with the gas outlet opening and extends concentrically within the vortex tube, the vortex finder tube providing an annular area between itself and the vortex tube internal wall. A gas deflector positioned within the annular area, the gas deflector having a downwardly spiraled surface that diverts wet gas downwardly away from the wet gas inlet.

Abstract: An indexer system for a plastic pipe butt-fusion machine of the type having a machine super-structure, parallel horizontal support shafts affixed to the super-structure, a first clamp system for removably grasping an end portion of a first length of plastic pipe, a second clamp system for removably grasping an end portion of a second length of plastic pipe and an actuator system for moving the plastic pipes toward and away from each other, the indexing system having an indexer shaft mounted on the super-structure spaced from and parallel to the support shafts, an indexer carriage slidable on the indexer shaft, a facer and a heater pivotally secured to the indexer carriage, a translation mechanism for laterally positioning the indexer carriage to thereby locate the facer and heater between lengths of plastic pipe and a structural beam secured to the super-structure and parallel to the indexer shaft, the indexer carriage being slidably secured to the structural beam so that it is retained in predetermined orien

Abstract: A highly flexible instrument particularly useful in medical applications is elongated and formed of a plurality of flexible metallic strands, at least one strand being spirally wound and having a scraping edge thereon.

Abstract: A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a wet gas stream, the system including a vessel having an interior in communication with a wet gas inlet, a gas outlet and a liquid outlet, at least one vortex tube supported within the vessel interior, the vortex tube having an inlet end and an outlet end and a tubular wall having an internal wall surface through which fluids pass as the gas flows between the vessel wet gas inlet and gas outlet, a vortex generator supported within the vortex tube near the inlet end, the vortex generator causing gas within the vortex tube to rotate to thereby cause at least some of the liquid component to be forced against the interior wall surface of the vortex tube by centrifugal action, a circumferentially positioned liquid outlet in the vortex tube downstream of the vortex generator configured to strip liquid and bypass gas from the stream flowing through said vortex tube, stripped liquid and bypass gas entering a central chamber of the vessel and a rec

Abstract: An electric actuated explosion detonator for use to detonate a confined explosive charge capable of being detonated by heat and/or shock, including an electrical resistor positioned in engagement with the confined explosive charge, the resistor having two electrical contacts and having a predetermined maximum electric current carrying capability and subject to receiving, by the application of an electrical energy source, sufficient voltage and wattage that an instantaneous current flow causes the resistor to instantaneously disintegrate.

Abstract: A method of decreasing the viscosity of crude oil including the steps of injecting into the crude oil CO2 alone or CO2 mixed with N at an elevated pressure of about 600 psi to about 1800 psi and intemently mixing the CO2, or CO2 mixed with N, with the crude oil at the elevated pressure.

Abstract: A lawn mower rack is formed of a structural base for resting on a support surface. First and second spaced apart longitudinal rails supported by the base and adapted to receive wheels of a lawn mower thereon. A first manually operated lifter is provided for elevationally supporting rearward portions of the longitudinal rails above the base and a second manually operated lifter, independent of the first lifter, is provided for elevationally supporting forward portions of the longitudinal rails above the base so that thereby only approximately one half of the weight of a lawn mower need be lifted at a time.

Abstract: An apparatus for massaging toes having a plurality of massaging fingers which provide the massaging effect on and between the toes of a user. The massaging fingers are powered by a drive mechanism means, such as an electric motor and a motion transfer apparatus.