Abstract: This invention involves the separation of clay-contaminated bitumen from sand with a solvent. The bitumen is dissolved with an organic solvent such as condensate from a natural gas well. The clay is separated from the dissolved bitumen and the solvent is recoverd and recycled. The sand is washed with water containing a carefully selected, nonanionic surface active agent to remove residual bitumen and solvent. Prior removal of the clay precludes it from unduly contaminating the water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel strut and bracket apparatus for mounting to a section of an overhead garage door, the strut and bracket combination being utilized to selectively impart the desired tensile forces to the section, thereby correcting or otherwise compensating for any misalignment or tendency for misalignment in the section. Specially shaped brackets are used along with hardened steel bolts to assure secure and safe attachment of the strut to the bracket.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electronic level apparatus wherein a hollow torus is rotatably mounted in the level. A body of ferromagnetic fluid creates a horizontal reference and is sensed to provide an audible signal when a predetermined angular orientation is detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A comminution and extrusion apparatus and method for comminuting a block of frozen food into a frozen puree and extruding the frozen puree from the apparatus. The food product is prepared from any suitable source of edible food such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and artificially produced food items. The edible food is prepared and then frozen into blocks which are shipped and stored in the hard-frozen state. The blocks are processed by comminution to produce a soft frozen food product suitable for immediate consumption. The apparatus includes an electric motor and a rotor that is mounted to the electric motor. A housing encloses the rotor and has a feed port for introducing a block of frozen food into contact with the rotor and a spout for removing frozen puree extruded by the rotor. The rotor includes rows of teeth angularly offset incrementally from parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotor to provide a longitudinal force component to the frozen puree to extrude it from the housing.

Abstract: A single-use disposable hypodermic syringe is described in which a plunger is initially coupled to a piston to permit filling of the syringe with fluid. During the filling step, the plunger is constrained to only move in the outward direction as required for filling. In order for injection to occur, the plunger must be rotated into a second position in which the plunger is irreversibly decoupled from the piston. In this position, the plunger is constrained so that it may only move inwardly as required for injection. The plunger and plunger guide also include corresponding sets of ribs and detents which cooperate in a rachet action to restrict the direction of travel of the plunger. This restriction means that the plunger can be pulled out only once (to draw liquid into the syringe) and pushed in only once (to expel the liquid from the syringe). Since the plunger can no longer be recoupled to the piston, and also since the plunger is locked in its forward position, re-use of the syringe is rendered impossible.

Abstract: This invention is an inflatable bedpan apparatus and method whereby an inflatable torus is mounted to a liquid-impervious base sheet. The torus is placed under the pelvis of a bed-ridden patient and inflated to create a waste collection reservoir on the base sheet. An end of the base sheet is secured at the inside bottom of a waste disposal bas so that the base sheet can be pulled into the waste disposal bag while the mouth of the waste disposal bag is held stationary. The inflatable torus includes an inflation system from a pressure vessel and a deflation port.

Abstract: A retainer for releasably securing devices or objects of nonuniform configuration. Clamping action is supplied by a pair of resilient synthetic sponges mounted between a pair of supports. The supports can be either hinged relative to each other or in fixed spatial relationship. A mounting means is provided for mounting the retainer to a third object such as a pole, wrist, surgical tray, drape, wall, or the like, and can include an adhesive surface or a flexible or even elastic strap.

Abstract: This invention is a semiautomatic hematocrit reader apparatus and method. A microhematocrit capillary tube is positioned under a movable cursor which is then moved along the length of the microhematocrit capillary tube. A switch is depressed to make a data entry at predetermined points along the length of a blood/plasma sample in the microhematocrit capillary tube. The relative distances travelled across the packed cell volume versus the plasma is electronically calculated and displayed automatically.

Abstract: This invention is a dual axis, continuous flow centrifuge apparatus and method. A centrifuge head rotates in a vertical orientation about a first axis which, in turn, is rotated in a horizontal plane about a second axis. The rotation of the centrifuge head is matched to the rotation of the second axis to cancel out any net rotation of flexible conduits attached to the centrifuge head. The nonrotating coupling of the conduits permits continuous flow through the centrifuge head in the absence of seals. An angled centrifuge chamber inside the centrifuge head provides a more rapid separation of the components in the liquid passing through the centrifuge head. The path of travel of a particle in a centrifuge chamber inside the centrifuge head follows a generally cycloidal path thereby undergoing a pulsatile centrifugal force component.

Abstract: A neck protective device to be worn by sports participants and including a neck roll held against the back of the neck by a pair of straps passing along each side of the neck. The straps are joined at their distal ends in a tab and include grommets to adapt the straps to being laced to other protective equipment worn by the sports participant.

Abstract: This invention is an ultrasound apparatus for determining hematocrit. A sample of blood in a microhematocrit capillary tube is acoustically coupled to an ultrasound transducer which creates a standing wave in the blood sample. Red blood cells in the blood sample are packed in bands that correspond to the nodes of the standing wave. The thickness of the bands as a function of the thickness of the remaining plasma is an indication of the hematocrit of the blood sample.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel anchor cone and winding cone apparatus and method for mounting a coil torsion spring to an overhead door. Indicia are provided on the cones to assure proper orientation of the cones to the spring and the cone/spring assembly to the overhead door. The winding cone includes arrow indicia to clearly indicate the direction of rotation for the winding cone to increase tension on the coil torsion spring. A groove break is provided in each cone to substantially reduce chafing and wear of the corresponding coil of the coil torsion spring.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel, pediatric suction system and method whereby a liquid-impervious filter prevents liquids aspirated into the chamber through a suction tube from traveling into a vacuum tube. Correspondingly, the filter prevents reverse travel of contaminants from the vacuum tube to the suction tube. The filter is liquid impervious and porous with sufficient porosity so as to not interfere with the sensitivity of a partial vacuum applied to the vacuum tube by a physician. The suction tube and vacuum tubes are releasably connected to the container and provision is made for transport of the aspirated liquids.

Abstract: This invention relates to the ultrasound enhancement of sedimentation of particulates in a particulate-bearing fluid medium while the fluid medium is undergoing centrifugation. The ultrasound energy forms standing waves in the fluid and cause particulates in the fluid, whether solids, liquids, or gases, to agglomerate in bands. The bands approximate either the nodes or antinodes of the standing wave, depending on the density of the particulate relative to the fluid. The banded or agglomerated particulate enhances the rate of sedimentation as well as the reverse flow of suspernatent by removing particulate which would otherwise impede this flow.

Abstract: This invention involves replacing the link plates in the hydraulically actuate linkage mechanism of a backhoe apparatus with a pivotal cantilever. The cantilever mechanism forms a movable lever arm against which objects can be clamped by the bucket. The length and curvature of the lever arm is selectively predetermined to minimize interference with normal operation of the bucket while providing a support against which objects can be clamped by the bucket.

Abstract: A sterilization, storage, and presentation container, the container including a tray and a cover which can be inverted to form a second tray. Instrument support means are provided through insert boards, dividers, clip retainers and open-cell, synthetic foam devices. The insert boards include holes for the passage of the sterilizing medium and the holes in the lower insert board can receive pegs to further support the instruments.

Abstract: A hand-held centrifuge apparatus for sedimenting a fluid suspension in a sample tube, the sample tube being subjected to centrifugation at an acute angle to the axis of rotation. An electronic circuit activates an electric motor for a preselected time period as a function of voltage supplied by a battery to the motor to provide a predetermined degree of centrifugation to the sample. A voltage tester periodically tests the voltage in the circuit to assure that adequate voltage is being supplied by the battery. A deactivation circuit is actuated if inadequate voltage is sensed and a disabling circuit disables the electronic circuit until adequate voltage is again available. The disabling circuit is masked during acceleration to preclude deactivating the circuit when the motor is in acceleration.

Abstract: A snowshoe having a flexible framework demountably engaged in a fabric shell. The individual elements of the framework are rigid but are releasably joined together through rotatable joints so as to provide the flexible framework. The fabric shell forms the deck for the snowshoe and holds the various rigid elements together into the flexible framework. A shoe clamp on the top surface of the fabric deck is mounted to a cleat on the bottom surface of the fabric deck.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel rain fly for a tent wherein the rain fly is readily mountable/demountable to the tent through a unique spar system and lanyard system. The spar is flexible and can be formed from segments so as to reduce the overall size of the tent rain fly when the rain fly is in its folded configuration. The length of the spar is sufficient to provide a unique gable/eave over the door/window of the tent.

Abstract: A tent apparatus and method, the tent apparatus including a fabric tent shell having a plurality of side walls joined in seams along adjacent edges and a fabric floor joined to the bottom edges of the side walls. A tent pole-receiving sleeve is formed as an integral part of each seam. The tent shell is supported inside a foldable frame having a plurality of tent poles joined in a coupling at an apex and ribs extending laterally between the tent poles. Each tent pole is inserted in a sleeve and the fabric tent shell is mounted to the foldable frame by a unique cord/pulley system which places the fabric tent shell under tension adjacent the coupling and adjacent the base of each tent pole when the frame is extended while providing ample slack when the frame is folded. The fabric tent shell and foldable frame are thus integrally joined into a unitary, man-portable, and erectable tent structure.