Abstract: Heating and cooling of dwelling houses and other confined spaces is facilitated by a system in which thermal energy is transported between an air heating and cooling system in the dwelling and a water heat storage sink or source, preferably in the form of a swimming pool or swimming pool and spa combination. Special reversing valve circuitry and the use of solar collectors and liquid-to-liquid heat exchangers on the liquid side of the system, and special air valves and air modules on the air side of the system, enhance the system's efficiency and make it practical in the sense that systems employing the invention can utilize existing craft skills and building financing arrangements and building codes, and the like, without major modification.

Abstract: An ion selective electrode capable of production in miniaturized form suitable for in vivo monitoring is produced by coating a metal-metal salt half cell with a layer of hydrophilic material containing electrolyte with an over-layer of an ion selective membrane. The coatings may be applied by a dipping and drying process. Stability is enhanced by addition of silver black and platinum black to the half cell and those materials may be added as layers in a similar dip and dry process. A companion reference electrode half cell is made of the same materials that are used in making the "half cell" portion of the selective electrode, except that the reference half cell is coated with a protein layer. Special packaging and a special procedure facilitate calibration.

Abstract: Water purification is accomplished in a swimming pool, spa or decorative pool body of water by adding salt in quantities sufficient to make the water slightly conductive and by circulating that water through the electric field between a pair of electrode plates where the dissociated ions of salt and water are converted to oxidizing agents capable of destroying organic matter and are converted to substances that can be removed in such a mechanical filtration system. That process results in economical and effective purification which is augmented in one form of the invention by the inclusion in the water circulation path of dissimilar metals which aid in the destruction of organic matter. The process is facilitated by the use of a special electrochemical processing unit in which the electrode dissociation is accomplished.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube is fitted with a leak preventing cuff. The cuff encompasses the tube and is made self-inflating by opening a respiratory gas flow passage through the tube wall from the interior of the tube to the interior of the cuff. The function of the tube is enhanced, and safety is improved, by molding the distal end of the tube.

Abstract: A fire starter having a relatively short chimney extending upwardly from a skirt in the form of a truncated cone is made more effective by the use of a venturi at the junction of skirt and chimney, and by the use of radial flow directors at the underside of the skirt, and by giving the chimney a truncated conical form.The short chimney, which unfolds, and division of the skirt into two generally semi-circular sections facilitates assembly and disassembly and adds portability.

Abstract: A lighting system for toys such as floating disc toys wherein a plurality of point light sources are spaced apart in the plane of movement and are energized intermittently by a battery through a circuit which utilizes a single multi-NAND gate chip and finger resistance for switching.

Abstract: A general purpose apparatus for measuring the chemical and physical state of flowing liquid materials and chemical additives and for introducing chemical materials to the stream uses a Venturi or other apparatus in which differential pressure is developed as an incident to fluid flow. It is arranged to be used both as a sample pump, a chemical additive pump, and as a differential pressure meter for use in calculating flow rates. The process method includes chemical addition at rates determined by pressure differential at the Venturi and for times which bear a selected relation to that differential pressure, temperature and the chemical state of the liquid. It also includes special temperature comparisons and flushing of chemical addition lines on an optional basis.

Abstract: A heat conductive material in solid form which is readily excoriated whereby it can be applied by rubbing on the surface to which it is to be applied is formed, in the preferred form, by mixing finely divided heat conducting solids in a waxy material. That material is formed of waxes, or certain fats, and is solid in the range of normal room temperatures. In preferred form it becomes molten at temperatures in that range just above normal room temperature at which heat generating electronic semi-conductor devices often operate.The mixture is applied at normal room temperature by rubbing, or at elevated temperature by painting. It is applied to the surfaces to be mated and across which heat is to be conducted whereupon the surfaces are mated with the coating between them.

Abstract: An improved method for finding the refractive properties of lenses includes placement of the test lens in an optical system such that its image lies in a plane at which light passes through at least two spaced areas. The beams passing through those areas fall on respectively associated targets. The amount and angle of separation and the positions of the points of impingement of the beams are used to find the magnitude of spherical lens power component and magnitude, and angle of any prismatic and cylindrical power components. That information can be found by computation or by the use of means for displacing the targets and light source until the beams strike reference points on the targets. The amount of target or source displacement is then a function of the magnitude of the several optical powers and the orientation of the prismatic and cylindrical powers.An apparatus for practicing the method is described. It accomplishes target and source displacement with servo-mechanisms.

Abstract: A device for inclusion in the ignition current circuit of internal combustion engines in which a body of electrically conductive, irregularly shaped metal granules forms a flowpath in the form of a labyrinth between a pair of end terminals. Compaction pressure and, preferably, inclusion of non-electrically conductive granules is employed to adjust the direct current conductivity of the body of granules.

Abstract: Water purification is accomplished in a swimming pool, spa or decorative pool body of water by adding salt in quantities sufficient to make the water slightly conductive and by circulating that water through the electric field between a pair of electrode plates where the dissociated ions of salt and water are converted to oxidizing agents capable of destroying organic matter and are converted to substances that can be removed in such a mechanical filtration system. That process results in economical and effective purification which is augmented in one form of the invention by the inclusion in the water circulation path of dissimilar metals which aid in the destruction of organic matter. The process is facilitated by the use of a special electrochemical processing unit in which the electrode dissociation is accomplished.

Abstract: A variable ratio, or adjustable ratio, mechanical drive mechanism employs a rotatable driving element the effective diameter of which may be changed. The driving element is segmented to permit effective diameter change by an alteration in the relative position of the segments.Alteration is effected by forcing a change in the separation of the axis of driving element and the point of engagement of the driving element with the driven element.

Abstract: Conventional mechanical positioning in which an input member is moved in a position field which is an enlarged representation of the output position field and conventional motorized positioning in which distance is represented by time of travel are modified and combined. The result is a method, and apparatus, in which movement but not position are represented mechanically on a field which represents any portion of the output field at which the output element is positioned. Input motion and direction are converted to digital or time duration signals. The result is apparent motion of the output element along whatever line is traversed mechanically by an input element. Input motion may be introduced at variable velocity. The input is introduced much as it is in a pantograph system but, unlike the pantograph system, the field of input motion is not a reproduction of the output motion field but represents, instead, any portion of the output field.