Abstract: An interior wall system formed from two opposing walls. Each opposing wall is assembled from a plurality of composite wall panels, each wall panel having an exterior surface material and an interior layer of insulating material bonded to one side of the exterior surface material. Each opposing wall is anchored to top and bottom U-shaped support members and adjoining wall panels of each wall are connected by a plurality of retaining clips. The retaining clips may be adjusted in length to accommodate various widths between the opposing walls. Additionally, splines are inserted between the first and second walls along the seams between adjoining wall panels. The wall system also includes a door frame comprising first and second jamb members and a lintel member, each having a spacing member attached to approximately the center thereof. The spacing members are inserted between the opposing walls and are used to anchor the door frame in place.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the concentration of various components in a fluid sample. The apparatus comprises a chemically sensitive field effect transistor (CHEMFET) having a semiconductor substrate and a pair of diffusion regions formed at the surface of the substrate. An electrical insulating layer is positioned adjacent the substrate and a fluid pervious bridge member is mounted to the insulating layer so as to form a gap between the bridge member and insulating layer. The apparatus also includes means for imposing an electrical charge on the bridge member, means for imposing an electrical potential between the diffusion regions, and means for detecting current flow between the diffusion regions. The fluid sample to be analyzed is introduced through the fluid pervious bridge member and into the gap where various components of the fluid sample are adsorbed by the bridge member, and in another embodiment, also by an adsorptive layer which is applied within the gap.

Abstract: A novel process for separating high viscosity bitumen from tar sand. The process includes grinding the tar sand to obtain phase disengagement of the bitumen phase from the sand phase and thereafter using flotation techniques to obtain phase separation of the bitumen phase from the sand phase. Phase disengagement is assisted by using a suitable wetting agent during the crushing step while the phase separation step is assisted by the inclusion of a promoter oil for the flotation step.

Abstract: A combination physical separation process and thermal fluidized bed process for recovering products from tar sands. The process includes initially separating a portion of the sand from the tar sand through a physical separation process, yielding a bitumen-rich concentrate. The bitumen-rich concentrate is introduced into a heated fluidized bed and products are recovered and distilled into their respective fractions. A coked sand is removed from the fluidized bed and placed into a combustor where the carbonaceous residue on the sand is burned to produce a hot burnt sand, a portion of which may be recycled to provide heat to the bitumen-rich concentrate in the fluidized bed. The coked sand and a certain fraction of the distilled products may be recycled to the physical separation process to improve the separation efficiency thereof.

Abstract: A modular pyrolysis inlet apparatus and method for pyrolyzing compounds preparatory to an analysis thereof by a mass spectrometer. The pyrolysis inlet includes a telescopic insertion probe having a ferromagnetic wire bearing the sample to be analyzed, and a reaction chamber mounted to the insertion probe so as to encompass the wire and sample. The insertion probe/reaction chamber assembly is inserted into the pyrolysis inlet apparatus and the voids surrounding the assembly are evacuated. The sample is cooled at a first position within the reaction chamber while a heating mantle preheats the reaction chamber at a second position therein. The telescopic insertion probe/reaction chamber assembly is then inserted further into the pyrolysis inlet, moving the sample to the second heated position within the reaction chamber. At the second position, a high frequency coil is activated to energize and heat the wire, and rapidly pyrolyze the sample thereon.

Abstract: A novel implantable, peritoneal injection catheter apparatus and method, the apparatus including an open top, fluid-receiving reservoir mounted to one end of a hollow stem and a penetrable membrane covering the open top of the receiving reservoir. The hollow stem is configurated to extend into the peritoneal cavity and includes a retaining flange system for retaining the hollow stem in fluid communication with the peritoneal cavity. The penetrable membrane serves as an injection site for inserting a hollow needle into the receiving reservoir. The penetrable membrane also includes a dome configuration that may be depressed to expel injection fluids from the reservoir into the peritoneal cavity. A substantial portion of the injection catheter is covered with a velour coating to accomodate tissue ingrowth for further securement of the catheter in the tissue of the abdominal wall.

Abstract: A novel implantable, peritoneal injection catheter apparatus and method, the apparatus including an enlarged target surface, fluid-receiving reservoir mounted to one end of a hollow stem. The hollow stem is configured to extend into the peritoneal cavity and includes a retaining ring system for retaining the hollow stem in relationship to the peritoneal cavity. A penetrable membrane covers the enlarged target surface of the receiving reservoir and serves as an injection site for inserting a hollow needle into the receiving reservoir. A substantial portion of the injection catheter is covered with a velour coating to accommodate tissue ingrowth and further securement of the catheter in the tissue of the abdominal wall.

Abstract: A thimble insert for placement in a thimble eye of a cable, the thimble insert including a rigid body having a groove therein for engagement with the thimble and a slot for receipt of an anchor device engaged by the thimble eye. The body can be prepared with either a cylindrical or a tear drop profile and may be fabricated as a two-piece assembly.

Abstract: A gas-sparged hydrocyclone apparatus and method for achieving separation by flotation in a centrifugal field. The hydrocyclone apparatus is suitably modified so that a gas phase may be dispersed into the liquid vortex created in the hydrocyclone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating particles from a fluid, particulate suspension by flotation in a centrifugal field. The apparatus includes a vertically oriented, cylindrical vessel having a tangential inlet and a tangential outlet. The particulate suspension is introduced into the vessel through the inlet and swirls around the inner surface of the vessel in a thin fluid layer. Air is sparged through a porous wall formed in the vessel and into the thin fluid layer of the particulate suspension. Small bubbles are generated at the surface of the porous wall. The directed motion of the particles in the thin layer of particulate fluid suspension results in a high probability for collision and a rapid flotation. The air bubbles and particles form bubble/particle aggregates which migrate towards the axial center of the apparatus and into a froth phase in the core of the apparatus.

Abstract: An improved ring laser gyroscope is disclosed that uses two counterrotating beams separated in frequency by an amount that is large compared to lock-in thresholds. The two beams are heterodyned together to obtain a beat frequency whose magnitude is proportional to rotation rate. In the preferred embodiment, the gyroscope utilizes an optical fiber waveguide as the laser cavity. The two countercirculating beams are generated via the mechanism of stimulated Brillouin scattering within the cavity. The two Brillouin ring lasers are pumped by two beams derived from an external pump laser. The derived beams are shifted in frequency by acousto-optic modulators. Lock-in is eliminated at all rotation rates. Other error sources common to ring laser gyroscopes are eliminated or greatly reduced.

Abstract: A novel apparatus and method for time-domain tracking of high-speed chemical reactions. The apparatus of this invention includes a feedback system for controlling the RF frequency of an RF radiator system to thereby provide the optimum RF frequency for heating the reaction. The apparatus and method of this invention are particularly useful in the recovery of products from oil shale wherein the oil shale is heated by RF dielectric heating and the feedback system adjusts the RF frequency as the permittivity of the oil shale changes during the heating process.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for classifying and separating larger or more dense particles from fine particulate material entrained in a stream of air. The apparatus has a helically-shaped air chamber with a truncated frusto-conically shaped circumferential periphery. A series of extraction ports are disposed at spaced intervals along the truncated apex of the periphery. An adjustable blade means disposed at each extraction port segregates the outer fraction of particles from the air stream and diverts it into an extraction chamber surrounding the extraction port. The extraction chamber is pressurized to prevent the outflow of air from the helically-shaped air chamber through the extraction port and to remove the extracted particles to a collection point for further processing.

Abstract: An auxiliary drive traction system for an automated guideway transit (AGT) vehicle. Remotely controlled hydraulic or electrically powered auxiliary drive systems are used to drive the AGT vehicle's lateral guide wheels, which are biased against a running surface, thus providing an auxiliary drive and braking system. A remotely controlled clutch may be added so as to selectively couple the auxiliary drive system and the guide wheels. A protective skirt is attached to the edges of the guideway assembly along its entire length in order to shield the guide wheel running surfaces from adverse weather conditions.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfur from sulfide-bearing ores by reacting water vapor with the sulfide-bearing ore forming hydrogen sulfide while simultaneously regenerating water vapor by reacting the hydrogen sulfide with lime. Advantageously, the process occurs in the absence of a net consumption or production of gaseous species so that the process can be carried out in a closed system with respect to the gaseous species. Sulfide-bearing ores which can be treated using the process of this invention include sulfide-bearing ores of molybdenum, zinc, iron, mercury, and copper. Advantageously, the molybdenum oxide so produced from the sulfide-bearing ore of molybdenum can be reacted further with lime and water producing calcium molybdate and hydrogen. The chalcopyrite form of the sulfide-bearing ore of copper produces bornite and magnetite.