Abstract: Apparatus for stripping a cylindrical workpiece, such as a can body, from a cylindrical supporting device, such as a punch in a can body making machine, using a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart fingers which are mounted for radial and linear sliding movement between a non-stripping location and a stripping location.

Abstract: A carton formed from a carton blank comprising a unitary sheet of material having cut out portions, cut lines, fold lines and perforations to form various panels which are folded together to form a carton wherein the perforations are located so that a person has a choice of forming an opening from a plurality of locations.

Abstract: A medical implant structure and method for making the structure. The implant structure includes a containment member preferably manufactured from collagen (particularly collagen foam) having an open top portion. A supply of a granular implant composition (e.g. hydroxyapatite, natural bone, or bioceramic materials) is positioned within the containment member through the top portion. An activator material (adhesive materials, water, or saline solution) is then added which causes the implant composition to solidify, thereby imparting rigidity to the apparatus. At least one elongate reinforcement member may be positioned within the implant composition during the production process. A cap member may also be placed on the top portion of the containment member. In use, the implant structure is inserted within a patient and positioned adjacent to and against the tissue region to be reinforced. It is then physically shaped to conform with adjacent tissue materials.

Abstract: A tamper-resistant enclosure for use in installing cable, such as a splitter for television cable, wherein a base plate is secured to a wall of a building and after a cable connection has been made a cover having an opening therein is attached to the base plate and wherein during the attachment of the cover a portion thereof is deformed over a projection from the base plate so that as the cover resiles the projection passes through the opening and a flange portion on the projection moves into contact with a portion of the cover surrounding the opening. Also, the projection has an opening extending therethrough to enable a portion of a tamper indicating sealing device may be passed therethrough.

Abstract: A bipolar interconnection plate for use between adjacent fuel cell units in a stacked fuel cell assembly. Each plate is manufactured from an intermetallic composition, examples of which include NiAl or Ni.sub.3 Al which can catalyze steam reforming of hydrocarbons. Distributed within the intermetallic structure of the plate is a ceramic filler composition. The plate includes a first side with gas flow channels therein and a second side with fuel flow channels therein. A protective coating is applied to the first side, with exemplary coatings including strontium-doped or calcium-doped lanthanum chromite. To produce the plate, Ni and Al powders are combined with the filler composition, compressed at a pressure of about 10,000-30,000 psi, and heated to about 600.degree.-1000.degree. C. The coating is then applied to the first side of the completed plate using liquid injection plasma deposition or other deposition techniques.

Abstract: An inner container and an outer container folded together to form a container having opposite gusseted side walls, planar front and back walls and a bottom wall comprising portions of the inner and outer containers not adhesively secured together and having a bottom surface comprising portions of the outer container and an outer member adhesively secured to the portions of the outer container forming the bottom surface.

Abstract: A device for providing a plurality of ways for transporting articles wherein a bag, which is relatively large and flexible, is contained in a purse, which is relatively small, so that the purse may be turned inside out to expose the bag and wherein the bag has an internal volume many times greater than the volume of the purse and wherein the bag has a top portion which may be opened so that articles can be placed in the bag and closed to retain the articles therein and wherein the purse is located inside of the bag when in use and wherein the bag is provided with webbing so that the bag may be carried as a backpack, a shoulder bag or a hand bag.

Abstract: A system for removing hydrocarbons from solid materials. Contaminated solids are combined with a solvent (preferably terpene based) to produce a mixture. The mixture is washed with water to generate a purified solid product (which is removed from the system) and a drainage product. The drainage product is separated into a first fraction (consisting mostly of contaminated solvent) and a second fraction (containing solids and water). The first fraction is separated into a third fraction (consisting mostly of contaminated solvent) and a fourth fraction (containing residual solids and water). The fourth fraction is combined with the second fraction to produce a sludge which is separated into a fifth fraction (containing water which is ultimately reused) and a sixth fraction (containing solids). The third fraction is then separated into a seventh fraction (consisting of recovered solvent which is ultimately reused) and an eighth fraction (containing hydrocarbon waste).

Abstract: This application discloses an internal combustion engine comprising a hollow cylindrical body member, two pairs of vanes mounted in said body member for rotation coaxially therewith, whereby to divide the body member into four chambers, the vanes of each pair being diametrically opposite each other, and said pairs having limited rotatability with respect to each other, means permitting rotation of each pair of vanes in one direction only, a rotary power output member connected to each of said vane pairs to be driven thereby by either vane pair as it turns, and a coaxial, gearless, crankless phasing system, said body member having an inlet port for admitting an explosive air-gas mixture as each chamber reaches an angular position diametrically opposite to that at which said mixture was admitted thereto, said chamber having an exhaust port spaced angularly in front of said inlet port by a degree equal to the minimum angular extent of each of said chambers.

Abstract: A sortation table having apparatus to gradually slow moving articles to a stop and return the articles to a position for further processing.

Abstract: A beet juice treatment method in which reaction products are recycled. Beet juice is first prelimed with lime and CaCO.sub.3 to produce first and second juice fractions. The second fraction contains flocculated materials, and is combined with CO.sub.2. Solid flocs and calcium carbonate reaction products are removed from the second fraction. The second fraction and first fraction are then recombined to produce a third juice fraction which is combined with lime in a main liming stage for additional purification. The third fraction is then supplied with additional CO.sub.2 to generate a CaCO.sub.3 sludge product. The sludge product is divided into first and second portions. The first portion is reused in the preliming stage. The second portion is converted to regenerated lime for reuse in the main liming stage and possibly the preliming stage. These steps reduce waste production and provide economic benefits.

Abstract: A specialized process for producing purified iso-alpha-acids from hop extract. Hop extract is first combined with a metal salt isomerizing agent. The mixture is preferably boiled to ensure complete isomerization. First organic and aqueous phases are produced, followed by washing of the first organic phase with a primary acid. These materials are preferably boiled during washing. A second organic and aqueous phase are produced, with the second organic phase being washed with a primary alkaline washing agent. Optimum results are achieved if boiling temperatures are maintained during washing. Third organic and aqueous phases are then produced, with the third aqueous phase being washed using a secondary acid to generate fourth organic and aqueous phases. The fourth organic phase (containing purified iso-alpha-acids) may then be stored and subsequently treated with a secondary alkaline washing agent to produce an aqueous concentrate used in brewed beverage production.

Abstract: A treatment system for removing metal ions from liquids. A metal ion-containing liquid (e.g. water or an acidic mining leachate) is first passed through a nanofiltration membrane system to produce a metal ion-rich retentate and a permeate. The retentate may be saved for metal recovery or discarded. To purify the permeate and remove residual metal ions therefrom, it may thereafter be passed through one or more columns containing metal ion-extracting materials. Specifically, the permeate is passed through at least one and preferably multiple columns filled with porous polymer beads having metal ion extracting agents therein (e.g. biomass materials). As a result, purified liquid is produced. When saturated with metal ions, each bead-containing column is successively cleaned with acid solutions.

Abstract: A therapeutic treatment apparatus for use in the middle and inner ear. The apparatus includes a tubular stem portion attached to a medicine-retaining reservoir with an internal cavity. The reservoir includes multiple pores therethrough or an opening having a semipermeable membrane therein which enables medicine delivery from the reservoir. Such delivery occurs when the reservoir comes in contact with selected middle-inner ear interface tissues. A conductive member for receiving electrical potentials from ear tissues is affixed to the apparatus. Alternatively, the apparatus may include tubular first and second stem portions secured on opposite sides of a reservoir along with a conductive member attached thereto of the type indicated above. This apparatus is surgically inserted so that the first stem portion is placed within the inner ear. At least part of the apparatus (the second stem portion) resides within the external auditory canal.

Abstract: Motion control apparatus is provided for permitting movement of a slidable member in one direction relative to a fixed support while releasably preventing movement in the opposite direction or for releasably preventing movement of the slidable member in either direction using one or more locking arms pivotally mounted on the slidable member and resiliently urged into the locking position with a release rod slidably mounted on the slidable member to overcome the resilient urging to permit sliding movement of the slidable member. Also, movement preventing apparatus is provided to hold at least one locking arm in a non-locking position.

Abstract: A therapeutic treatment apparatus for use in the middle and inner ear. The apparatus includes a tubular stem portion attached to a medicine-retaining reservoir with an internal cavity. The reservoir includes multiple pores therethrough or an opening having a semipermeable membrane therein which enables medicine delivery from the reservoir. Such delivery occurs when the reservoir comes in contact with selected middle-inner ear interface tissues. A conductive member for receiving electrical potentials from ear tissues is affixed to the apparatus. Alternatively, the apparatus may include tubular first and second stem portions secured on opposite sides of a reservoir along with a conductive member attached thereto of the type indicated above. This apparatus is surgically inserted so that the first stem portion is placed within the inner ear. At least part of the apparatus (the second stem portion) resides within the external auditory canal.

Abstract: A first lever and a second lever are hinged to each other by a pivot. Each lever includes a handle at the bottom end and a jaw at the top end. The jaw at the top end of the first lever includes a curved portion and a tip portion, as does the jaw at the top end of said second lever. The pivoting arrangement of the first and second levers is such that the handles are squeezed together to move the respective jaws of the first and second levers together to surround and compress the plurality of fingers on the spring retainer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for packaging articles, such as container ends, using a product having a plurality of interconnected compartments formed in two continuous superposed sheets by a lengthwise extending seam and a plurality of spaced apart widthwise extending seams so that each compartment has one open end, by moving one of the compartments to a predetermined location, gripping the widthwise extending seams of the one compartment, moving one of the gripped seams toward the other of the gripped seams, applying a force to the open end to move apart the portions of the superposed strips forming the one compartment, holding a plurality of articles at a location aligned with the open end, pushing the articles into the one compartment, at least partially closing the open end to form a partially closed compartment having articles confined therein, moving the partially closed compartment to move another compartment into the predetermined location and repeating the process to form a plurality of interconnected partia