Abstract: A bowling ball having an internal weight whose position along a spin axis is adjustable by operation of a drive means which in turn is operative to rotate a threaded nut sleeve that supports the weight. The rotation is about a threaded, non-rotatable weight shaft that extends along the spin axis. This threadably advances the nut sleeve and the weight along the length of the weight shaft, thereby altering the center of gravity and path of the ball after it is released by the bowler.

Abstract: A dual inlet air gap having an air gap body comprising a pair of inlet ports having substantially the same size, rate of flow, and pressure drop to accept waste water flow from a pair of waste water sources for emptying into a single outlet port located between the pair of waste water sources.

Abstract: A modified or retrofitted air gap body to vent the waste water discharge from a source such as a household dishwasher in such a manner that it also vents the waste water discharge from a reverse osmosis system.

Abstract: A chemical foam applicator for fighting shipboard fires, and including a foam mixing nozzle assembly connectable to a pressurized source of water to develop a vacuum for drawing foam concentrate from a jacket worn by the fire fighter. The jacket comprises a one-piece sheet of material folded over to define a fire resistant exterior enclosing a one-piece, continuous bladder for holding foam concentrate. The unitary nature of the bladder enables it to be easily fabricated and drained using a hose located interiorly of the bladder.

Abstract: A bowling ball having an internal weight whose position is adjustable by a remote controller for altering the path of the ball after it is released by the player.

Abstract: An apparatus and method employing a syringe mounted splittable needle insertable through body tissue to provide a percutaneous passage through the body tissue and into a cavity such as a trachea. After insertion of the needle, the syringe is separated from the needle and a dilator is fitted in its place. The distal extremity of the dilator includes a leader which extends through the needle and into the trachea. The midportion of the dilator supports the distal extremity of a flexible, ultra thin trachea tube. The tube is large enough in diameter that it can be fitted over the distal end of the dilator and moved in a proximal direction toward the dilator midportion. Further movement onto the dilator is prevented by engagement of a smaller diameter distal extremity of the tube with a larger diameter stop section located on the dilator midportion adjacent its distal extremity.

Abstract: A steam cleaning system for ridding a workpiece of contaminants by directing a jet of steam onto the workpiece. The system includes a steam generator characterized by a central cavity having walls for containing water fed into it from a water inlet conduit. The steam generator includes a heating element for heating the cavity walls to vaporize water located in proximity to the walls. At least a portion of the cavity walls are provided with a thin porous layer of non-corrodible material to form a surface substantially free of major surface irregularities. The porous layer promotes water vaporization, flashing it into steam. Steam formed in the cavity may be superheated for discharge onto the workpiece through an external nozzle. The system components, including the water pump, are made of non-corrodible, preferably non-lubricated materials to prevent contamination of the workpiece and increase the service life of the pump.

Abstract: A vacuum breaker having inlet port arrangements for accepting either a single input flow or multiple input flows, and adapted to vent multiple input flow substantially independently of one another, and further adapted for mounting within the open upper ends of waste standpipes of different diameters.

Abstract: Method for reducing the viscosity of clogging hydrocarbons in an oil well. The method utilizes a tube type heat exchanger enabling heated gases to pass through feed water coils to heat the water to a predetermined temperature and at a pressure which prevents any flashing or phase change of the feed water within the heat exchanger. From the heat exchanger the heated feed water passes through a conduit which empties into the oil well. The well is open to atmosphere so that the feed water undergoes a phase change or flashing when it is introduced into the oil well. The resulting combined steam and hot water reduce the viscosity of the hydrocarbons sufficiently to facilitate their flow out of the oil well.

Abstract: An accumulator for use in a reverse osmosis (RO) system of the type in which the RO reject water is routed through a backflow prevention device, and then through a conduit section to a drainage conduit for eventual emptying into a sewer system. The accumulator is mounted around the conduit section to define a water collection chamber. Any backflowing water form the drainage conduit that flows into the conduit section is allowed to pass from the conduit section into the water collection chamber, and to drain out of the water collection chamber into the conduit section when there is an absence of backflowing water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizing a low voltage level actuator and a signal processing device such as a microprocessor to selectively electrically couple an electrical appliance with a switch circuit associated with a power source of relatively high voltage. The microprocessor is responsive to low level electrical signals from the actuator to control operation of the switch circuit and the appliance without posing a shock hazard to the user. One form of actuator includes a piezoelectric element.

Abstract: Stabilization apparatus for aiming an instrument such as a camera at a target object. Rotational rate sensors mounted on the camera platform detect rotation of the platform from an initial position about roll, tilt and pan axes. The sensor output signals are applied to torque motors for rotating the platform back to its initial position. A hub assembly supports the camera platform for rotation about roll and tilt axes, and a yoke supports the hub assembly for rotation about a pan axis. The yoke is adapted for suspension from a support vehicle such as a helicopter, and it supports the platform for unimpaired rotation within windowed outer and inner domes. The outer dome is rotatable about a pan axis and the inner dome is rotatable about an inclined tilt axis. The arrangement reduces the size of the window opening from the camera to the exterior, which correspondingly reduces wind loads acting against the interior of the domes.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis drain coupling and a method of installing it in an existing drain pipe. The drain coupling includes one or more extremities made of flexible, resilient material so that the material can be rolled or folded back upon itself to shorten the coupling. The shortened coupling is inserted between the cut ends of the drain pipe, and the flexible material is then unrolled onto the adjacent cut end or ends to establish a fluid tight relation.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly that is especially useful in a damp or moisture laden atmosphere. It can be used to operate remotely located electrical equipment, including household garbage disposers, hot tubs, spas and swimming pools. The assembly includes a receptacle and a piezoelectric element that is carried by an insert slidably fitted within the receptacle. Conductive wires in engagement with the element extend into a recess in the insert for engagement with a plug in the recess. Resiliently deformable potting material is poured through passageways in the insert to fill the insert and the receptacle, and to surround the element and the plug to prevent moisture entry. An end wall of the receptacle can be depressed to deform the element to generate electrical signals which are picked up by the plug and transmitted to an exterior control to operate the electrical equipment.

Abstract: An enclosure for housing and protecting a device adapted to be continuously aimed at an external target object. The enclosure includes inner and outer windowed portions which are movable relative to one another in response to movements of the device. The outer window is elongated and oriented around the tilt axis of the device to provide a line of sight to the target object at all times in response to tilting rotation of the device. The inner window is smaller and extends transversely of the outer window. Because the outer enclosure portion or dome overlies the inner enclosure portion or dome it blocks the line of sight to the target object except when the inner window is in registry with the outer window. When this occurs a relatively small opening affords a clear line of sight. The opening is small enough to limit wind loads to an acceptable level, so the opening is preferably left uncovered.

Abstract: A portable soldier fighting cover having a pair of adjacent relatively rigid frames attached to an underlying waterproof flexible anchorage sheet, and defining a structure resistant to bending for spanning a military trench or foxhole, and further having a load bearing sheet attached to and overlying each frame for transmitting loads to the frame resulting from the weight of protective material such as sandbags or timber placed on the cover, and also from ballistic fragments and blast overpressure from near misses, and further having a pair of elongated straps attached to each frame and extending beyond the ends of the frames for securement to the ground for transmitting loads from the frame to the ground and for supporting the cover in the event of collapse of the foxhole side walls. Curtain sheets can be attached to the straps for service as revetments.

Abstract: An air gap anti-siphon system designed for high flow rate drainage of waste water from household water softeners and the like, but adapted to be converted for low flow rate drainage of waste water from household reverse osmosis units. The system includes escape passages to shunt to atmosphere any backflow from the drain system.

Abstract: An attachment frame for mounting camera equipment to an aircraft such as a helicopter. The frame is adapted to be readily detachably mounted to attach points located adjacent the rear seat support within the rear passenger compartment. For added strength, the frame can also be mounted to the helicopter skid. The frame is adapted to rest upon the seat support and is elongated for projection through the compartment and out its opposite sides for mounting a camera pod and an accessories package at its opposite extremities, respectively. The frame includes extensible elements such as turnbuckles which are pivotally mounted to the frame and to bearing pads adapted to rest against the rear bulkhead of the rear passenger compartment. Extension of the extension elements urges the frame against the seat support and urges the bearing pads against the rear bulkhead to snugly hold the frame in position.

Abstract: A burner capable of burning low pressure combustible gas with minimum pollutant emissions. The gas is preheated to hydrocarbon cracking temperatures in a heat exchanger located directly within an elongated water jacketed combustion chamber of the burner. The heated, expanding and rapidly flowing gas from the heat exchanger passes through a nozzle to further accelerate the gas for passage into an air intake system together with aspirated air. The nozzle and intake system are adjustable to meter in proper amounts of gas and air for a stoichiometric mixture. The gas/air mixture is laterally directed into the combustion chamber to induce turbulence and continued mixing for optimum ignition and burning. The resulting heated gases are useful in various end applications, such as in steam generating boilers. The burner is also adapted to inject steam into the preheated gas or into the intake system or into both to increase mass flow of air and to promote low pollutant emissions.

Abstract: A series of image sensors is spaced along a roadway at particular intervals to provide images of the traffic and an identification signal associating those images with the location of the particular sensor providing the images. A main station receives the images from all cameras and broadcasts an information signal comprising segments of those images and the identifications in a particular sequence in accordance with the predominant direction of travel on the roadway. User units include a receiver which displays the images so that the user may preview the roadway ahead to make route choices. In systems covering multiple roadways, the user may select images of the particular roadway to view. The receiver is also responsive to a local broadcast of the camera's identification signal to thereby determine the geographical location of the user and alert the user when particularly pertinent images are being displayed and when decision points are reached where the user must make a route change choice.