Abstract: The specification discloses a smoker oven for cooking and smoking food including a housing with an uppermost and lowermost cooking chamber. Hot, smoke laden air is produced and circulated inside the housing, and means are provided for directing the flow of circulating air horizontally through each chamber, passing the air through the uppermost and lowermost chambers in essentially opposite horizontal directions. Means for baffling and diffusing the airflow into each cooking chamber provide uniformly distributed horizontal airflow through each cooking member.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the monitoring and control of a microbial population in a biotechnological system. The method involves the identification of at least one critical subpopulation and determining the optimal level for said subpopulation. A controlled variable is determined which can be adjusted to alter the level of the subpopulation. The method employs nucleic acid hybridization in the microbial population. This involves the preparation of a labelled probe from nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence substantially complementary to a nucleotide sequence in the nucleic acid in the subpopulation. A representative sample of the microbial population is obtained and treated to free nucleic acids and to denature double-stranded nucleic acids. The resulting sample nucleic acids are contacted with the labelled probe under appropriate conditions to form duplexes.

Abstract: A padding is disclosed for an orthopedic support device including a resiliently deformable foamed plastic layer and a fabric layer laminated to at least one surface of the foam layer to provide an inner surface of the padding for placement against a body member. A plurality of dimples are provided in the inner surface to form air spaces adjacent the body member. Openings are provided in the dimples which extend through the thickness of the foam layer and the fabric to provide airflow between the air spaces and the outside air. In a preferred embodiment, the foam layer comprises a non-clickable ester foam, and the dimples are dimensioned and arranged so that at least a portion of the dimples merge with adjacent dimples to facilitate air movement between the air spaces of the merged dimples.

Abstract: A measuring instrument includes a U-shaped probe that senses temperature and is useful for sensing the level of a liquid in a tank. A main probe unit has first and second legs disposed in a side-by-side, parallel relationship and a heater cable is contained within and along the length of the first leg. Heated sensors are disposed inside the first leg in positions proximate to the heater cable for sensing temperatures at a plurality of positions along the first leg, and non-heated sensors are disposed in the second leg for sensing temperatures at a plurality of positions along the second leg. An electrical circuit is connected to the heated temperature sensors and the non-heated temperature sensors for producing at least one signal indicating the temperatures of the heated sensors and preferably indicating the temperatures of the heated sensors relative to the non-heated sensors.

Abstract: An improved signaling system for command and information signaling over a power system interconnection comprising the utilization of pseudo-random binary pulse code with frequency modulation to overcome the extraordinarily high noise ambient while providing a way of achieving practicable transmission within the constraints typically inherent in a large interconnected power system.

Abstract: An air processing apparatus is disclosed having a feed roll pulling yarn from a source and feeding it to an air entangler at a feed rate. The yarn is entangled by a high pressure air stream in the air entangler, and a delivery roll pulls the yarn from the entangler at a delivery rate. The rolls are driven independently and independent controls are provided to independently vary the feed rate and the delivery rate to achieve a desired overfeed or underfeed of the yarn. A display shows the ratio of the feed rate to the delivery rate. A slub making apparatus feeds yarn to the entangler from a second source of yarn and includes a tensioner for tensioning the yarn as it is fed to the air entangler. An actuator selectively releases tension on the yarn from the second source so that it is rapidly overfed and the air entangler produces a slub in the entangled yarn.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting leaks in a liquid-containing tank. The method and apparatus employ an internal reference cell immersed in the liquid in the tank which contains a volume of the liquid isolated from flow communication with the liquid in the tank while having a surface which is exposed to the ambient conditions above the surface of the liquid in the tank. The level of the fluid in the tank and in the reference cell are monitored over a period of time. Level changes in the tank which do not correspond to level changes due to the temperature and evaporative effects observed in the reference cell are indicative of a leak in the tank.

Abstract: A tire building machine is disclosed that includes an adapter for use between a tire building drum and a drive mechanism that would otherwise be incompatible. In one form of the invention a tire building drum has collapsible outer drum segments that are movable between extended and retracted positions, and a rotatable shaft is connected to extend and retract the segments in response to rotation of the shaft. A drive mechanism rotates the drum and also includes an actuation mechanism that moves reciprocally between first and second displaced positions. The adapter rotates the rotatable shaft in response to reciprocal movement of the actuation mechanism and, thereby, extends and retracts the segments. In this construction, a drive mechanism that provides a reciprocating actuation movement can be combined through the adapter to drive a drum which requires a rotating actuation movement.

Abstract: An adjustable string contact system is disclosed for a musical instrument and, in a preferred embodiment, includes an elongate neck member which provides a means for supporting musical strings and an elongate member having frets located thereon for providing means to shorten the vibrating length of the strings to produce variations in musical pitch. In this preferred embodiment, these members comprise a neck body with a fingerboard mounted on its upper surface. The fingerboard has a plurality of transverse slots for receiving a fret into each of the slots so that the frets are generally perpendicular to, and below the strings. The frets are connected to a pair of longitudinally extending, spaced-apart rails located generally in the neck body. The frets are movable in the slots and provision is made for moving the rails toward and away from the strings at selected positions permitting adjustment of the distance of the frets from the strings.

Abstract: A dual-lamp headlight for use in underground mines or the like being capable of continuous output of illumination without exceeding an external surface temperature of 150.degree. C. including improved housing means and heat dissipation means associated therewith.

Abstract: A fitted bed sheet and a method of making the sheet from a rectangular blank of sheet material are disclosed. Resiliently extensible strips having catches positioned at predetermined locations along the strips are enclosed within longitudinal, open-ended sheaths extending along opposite marginal edges of the blank. One end of each strip extends out of the open end of the sheath and the other end is anchored to the sheath. The blank is folded inwardly upon itself along fold lines to dispose the sheaths in a spaced apart, generally parallel relationship on the blank to form laterally opposed double-layered panels. Seams are then formed diagonally across the corners of the panels from adjacent the end of the sheaths to points along the fold lines so that a fitted sheet is formed. When the sheet is placed on a mattress, it is drawn into fitting engagement by pulling on the extended ends of the extensible strips and placing the catches over edges of the open ends of the sheaths.

Abstract: A portable knockdown decontamination chamber is disclosed for use with a liquid decontaminant supply to apply a confined liquid decontaminant wash to a subject located in the chamber. A base of the chamber includes an upwardly opening channel formed generally around its periphery. A wall construction having arcuate corner panels and planar panels therebetween includes a lower edge shaped to fit in the channel so that the corner and planar panels are supported on the base with the lower edge residing in the channel. The base is formed by a subbase and a liner that have interacting rib structures, and the ribs are configured to provide a drainage network so that liquid accumulating in the channel is drained into a sump formed at one end of the base. A top has a downwardly opening groove extending generally around its periphery for receiving an upper edge of the wall construction so that the top can be placed in a supporting relationship on the wall construction.

Abstract: The specification discloses an apparatus and method for measuring the velocity of a moving mass. A noncontact heat source, such as a high powered infrared laser, intermittently heats and creates a hot spot on the moving mass in a first position in space. The heat source remains out of contact with a moving mass while heating it. A noncontact detector, such as an infrared heat detector, detects the hot spot at a second position in space and remains spaced apart from second position while detecting the hot spot. The second position is spaced a predetermined distance from the first position and, with respect to the first position, is disposed in the direction of the travel of the moving mass. The noncontact detector generates a detection signal when the hot spot is in the second position, and a monitor is responsive to the detection signal to determine when the hot spot is in the second position.

Abstract: The specification discloses improvements in axial flow filters of the type having filter elements constructed of spirally wound tissue layers and having planar fluid entry and exit surfaces located at their opposite axial ends. Entry and exit filtration stages are provided in the form of annular webs of filter media covering the entry and exit surfaces the filter elements to provide additional filtration of fluid entering and exiting the elements. The filter media comprising the entry filtration stage is specially adapted for distributing the flow evenly across the entry surfaces of the filter element to minimize the formation of bypass flow channels between the tissue layers, and for plugging any bypass flow channels that form to effect a distribution of the flow to areas on the entry surfaces where bypass flow channels do not exist.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air supply apparatus for open pit incineration for supplying a curtain or layer of combustion air into an open pit. A plenum is provided for being positioned alongside of the pit and a fan and conduit provide air to the plenum. An elongate nozzle directs air from the plenum into the pit in a curtain or layer. Means are provided for selectively exhausting air from the conduit to adjust the volume of air being directed by the nozzle into the pit. Also disclosed is a secondary air supply for air curtain incineration in permanent or semi-permanent pits having walls provided by refractory panels. The plenum and nozzle are positioned adjacent one wall to direct the air curtain so that it primarily impinges upon an opposite wall. The secondary air supply introduces air into the pit at the wall adjacent to the plenum.

Abstract: A headrest includes recessed suction cups for detachably attaching the headrest to a support surface to substantially prevent the headrest from sagging away from the surface, and limit relative movement between the headrest and the surface.

Abstract: A sculpture is constructed by defining a seed having a plurality of algebraic in which the sum (M) of the orders of the surfaces is five or greater and having a plurality of edges at the intersection of the surfaces. The seed is physically modeled and the edges of the seed model are extended into space in accordance with the algebraic equations that define them. All intersection points of the edge extensions are determined and at least one rod is extended from the seed model along at least one of the edge extensions for a predetermined distance. Then, a unique algebraic adjoint surface having a maximal order of M-4 and including all of the intersection points is determined and physically modeled. The combination of the seed, at least one rod and the adjoint surface model comprises the sculpture.

Abstract: A system including a method and apparatus for treating waste containing organic contaminants which includes a direct fired, countercurrent, rotary kiln providing a soaking zone having an oxidizing atmosphere through which the materials being treated are passed after the unwanted organics are removed, and a secondary combustion chamber for oxidizing gases containing vaporized or pyrolyzed organics in which the organics are burned and are subjected to high temperatures for a holding time sufficient to effect destruction of the organic contaminants. The system includes means to minimize off-gas so as to make possible a reduction in size of the equipment employed.

Abstract: The specification disclosed a plastic shoe for being worn on a human foot. The shoe includes a transparent plastic sole and an upper for securing the sole to the foot. At least one opaque scuff pad is disposed on the lower surface of the transparent sole to absorb scuffing when the sole is walked upon.