Abstract: There is disclosed a novel cellulosic web and a method for its manufacture. The web is fabricated of fibrous material and is characterized by one of its surfaces being nubby. Such web is formed by the deposition of fibers from an aqueous slurry onto the surface of a multiplex forming fabric defining pockets in one surface thereof, under conditions of flow and rate of water removal that establish high shear fluid flow and result in the orientation of fibers and/or fiber segments at an angle with respect to the plane of the forming fabric. The resultant web has a high apparent bulk and good absorbency and strength properties.

Abstract: A conveyor loader for loading railroad cars or the like with coal or other crushed, ground or particulate material includes a support providing a guideway extending along the line of railroad cars and a line of segmented carriages rollably mounted upon the guideway. An endless belt of elastomeric construction is supported by the line of carriages for movement of an upper run of the belt between the ends of the carriage lines. Motors are associated with each of the line of carriages and the conveyor belt for moving the carriage line and the belt in either of two directions relative to its supporting structure. During a loading operation with the loader, coal or other particulate material is delivered to the upper run of the belt from a central loading station and conveyed to an end of the belt where it is directed into a railroad car to be loaded.

Abstract: A chain link having a pair of spaced sidebars provided with a set of aligned bores and a round pin positioned within so as to extend through the aligned bores utilizes sidebars and a pin which cooperate in a manner which positively secures the pin in position within the bores and which accommodates a removal of the pin from the bores in a manner which prevents damage to the link components. The pin has a head on one end and an annular rib on its other end, and the sidewall of one of the aligned bores possesses a diameter which tapers in size from one end of the bore to the other end thereof and is adapted to flex outwardly to accommodate the passage of the annular rib therethrough.

Abstract: The specification discloses a staple remover for removing staples from an object. In one embodiment, the staple remover comprises a plastic handle having an elongate gripping portion, a projecting head on a first end of the gripping portion, a cavity extending through the gripping portion from a second end thereof to an opening to the second end, and a passageway communicating between the cavity and the exterior of the handle at a position adjacent the projecting head. The gripping portion and the head are integrally formed together as a unitary, one-piece construction. As a second part, the staple remover includes a metallic clip having a first end which extends into the passageway so that the clip is supported on the handle. The clip has a second end which projects out of the passageway into the head and which is configured to provide a projecting end for being urged under a staple to enable removal of the staple from the object by the application of a force through the clip from the handle.

Abstract: A method and medicament for the treatment of bovine retained placenta membrane. The medicament comprises at least one proteolytic enzyme and in the preferred method, the medicament is administered via at least one of the blood vessels serving the umbilical cord of the host.

Abstract: A multiple-ply tire carcass building apparatus is described. A collapsible/expandable tire band applier is used to sequentially apply a plurality of cylindrical tire bands onto a collapsible tire building drum to form the multiple-ply tire carcass. An air nozzle or a plurality of air jets are longitudinally extend over a portion of the longitudinal surface of the tire building drum and any tire bands thereon and is spatially separated therefrom for facilitating the placing of the tire band onto the tire building drum. Preferably, a selectively positionable light sensing means carried by an expandable with the band applier is utilized to automatically and accurately provide the band applier with an outer diameter slightly less to slightly greater than that of the tire building drum and any tire band thereon so that the tire band can be displaced from the band applier onto the tire building drum.

Abstract: A method for the enrichment of the natural water in the components of heavy water such as D.sub.2 O and/or HDO being the source of deuterium. The method utilizes the passing of water through semipermeable hydrophobic membranes on which phase transition occurs. The latter is caused by vacuum or neutral carrier gas on the vapor side of the membrane. Lighter isotopes preferentially pass through the membrane leaving the original water enriched in heavy water components.

Abstract: A method of obturating an extirpated root canal utilizes two types of filler material, one type of which is in the form of a gutta-percha point and the other type of which is a thermoplasticized gutta-percha having a melting temperature of about 15.degree. to 20.degree. C. less than the melting temperature of the gutta-percha point. The steps of the method include the introducing of an initial amount of thermoplasticized gutta-percha in a heated and softened condition into the root canal so that the initial amount fills the bottom of the canal. A gutta-percha point is then positioned within the root canal and another amount of thermoplasticized gutta-percha is introduced in a heated and softened condition into the canal. The thermoplasticized gutta-percha is then manipulated into contact with the portion of the gutta-percha point positioned within the root canal so that the gutta-percha point is fed into and compacted within the root canal with the thermoplasticized gutta-percha.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus for performing two-handed exercises includes a frame to which weights are connected and a pair of hand grip assemblies with which the frame is moved by the user between two positions of movement during an exercise routine. Each hand grip assembly includes a ring and an elongated grip joined to so as to extend generally across the center of the ring. Each ring is pivotally connected to the frame in a manner which permits the ring to pivot relative to the frame about a pivot axis which is fixed in position relative to the frame and disposed across the ring and arranged generally perpendicular to the grip. When the frame is moved between two positions of movement with the hands grasped about the elongate grips, the rings are permitted to pivot relative to the frame to accommodate an adjustment in position of the wrists of the grasping hands.

Abstract: An expandable mesh frame is disclosed for stretching and holding a mesh fabric. The frame consists of four frame rails held together by four corner pieces. The corner pieces fit within the ends of the frame rails to construct the frame and in action with the frame rails provide a selective locking mechanism. When the frame rails are rotated in one direction, as when a fabric mesh is in place on the frame and tension is applied to the mesh, the corner pieces and the frame rail are in an alignment that allows for zero tolerance locking; however, when the frame rails are rotated in the oppposite direction, as when the frame is being disassembled, there is an excess of tolerance between the frame rail and corner pieces. The selective locking mechanism allows for a frame that is easily assembled and disassembled because of the excess tolerance when the frame is in the slack position.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a conveyor roller tube for a belt conveyor about a fixed shaft which includes a housing to which a roller tube is attached, an end cover positioned on the fixed shaft adjacent one side of the housing, and a bearing interposed between the housing and end cover permitting rotation of the housing relative to the end cover. The end cover completely covers the end of the shaft about which it is positioned and cooperates with the housing for effectively protecting the bearing from exposure to contaminants. During conveyor operation, the end cover prevents migration of contaminants along the shaft from the end thereof and the housing centrifugally expels contaminants which may enter the space between the housing and the end cover. In addition, the housing, bearing end cover, and shaft cooperate to limit axial shifting of the assembly components relative to one another.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high speed gel electrophoresis employing elevated voltage values and relatively short time periods. There is disclosed a gel block having special geometry and including sample wells of triangular cross-section. Visual indication of the adherence of the procedure to temperature parameters is also provided for.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring moving vehicular traffic, especially adapted for the detailed profiling and counting of airport usage by aircraft employing Doppler radar and sound generated by target aircraft. A primary parabolic reflector operated in the Cassegrainian mode with respect to Doppler radar radiation, employed in combination with a hyperbolic sub-reflector constructed so that it will reflect the radar radiation but remain transparent to sound waves is used to propagate and receive radar radiation, and to receive sound waves emanating from a target aircraft. Sound waves emanating from the target are received by the parabolic reflector and directed toward the parabolic reflector's primary focus where they strike a microphone placed at the primary focus of such reflector. The signal from the microphone and the information from the Dopple radar unit are processed by a central processing unit to provide a variety of information relating to the aircraft.

Abstract: A semi-flexible back support belt with selective rigidity control. The belt is formed primarily of a multiple-ply webbing of woven polymeric material. The plies in this webbing are joined together by longitudinally extending binder yarns in a weave pattern which ties together the plies of the webbing in such a manner as to provide a hinging action within the webbing during the application of a longitudinally applied tensile loading on the webbing as provided by the tightening of the belt about the waist of the user which effectively increases the rigidity of the belt. The loosening of a previously tightened belt will decrease the rigidity of the belt. By selectively varying the user applied tensile loading on the webbing, the belt is provided with a wide range of rigidity levels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying gutta-percha to a shank-like carrier with which the gutta-percha is introduced into an extirpated root canal utilizes an elongated hollow barrel for holding an amount of gutta-percha and a plunger fitted within the barrel for sliding movement along the length of the barrel. The barrel is provided with a discharge opening at one end thereof into which one end of the shank-like carrier may be inserted. Upon heating the gutta-percha contained within the apparatus to a softened condition, inserting one end of the shank-like carrrier through the discharge opening, and then using the plunger toward the discharge end of the barrel to dispense gutta-percha therefrom while withdrawing the carrier from the discharge opening, the surface of the carrier is coated with the gutta-percha.

Abstract: A handle and cooperating cover for a moveable lighting fixture, particularly a lighting fixture of the type utilized in surgical operating rooms or like environments. The handle is provided with an elongated body that is attachable at one end thereof to the light fixture and includes a circular shoulder radially projecting from the elongated body near the end thereof that is attached to the light fixture. The cover comprises an elongated hollow tubular section having a closed end and an open end and which fits over the elongated body of the handle and includes a radially extending flange section adjacent the open end of the tubular section. Latch means are carried by the flange section for engaging lip means defined by the radial edge region of the circular shoulder to removably secure the cover in position on the handle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a hole in webbing constructed of thermoplastic material utilizes a clamping assembly for holding the webbing in a stationary condition for working thereon, a rotatable drilling tool having an elongated shank with a leading end and a flute spiraling along the shank from the leading end, and a burner for heating a portion of the drilling tool shank adjacent the leading end. The drilling tool is supported adjacent the clamping assembly for rotation of the tool about a rotation axis which corresponds with the longitudinal axis of the shank and for movement of the leading end of the tool along a linear path corresponding with the rotation axis into and out of the webbing held by the clamping assembly.

Abstract: The specification discloses a desulfurization process for use in a fossel fuel combustion process involving the generation of a flue gas product containing sulfur oxides and halogen compounds wherein an alkali metal compound is contacted with the gas resulting in the removal of sulfur oxides from the gas and formation of a water-soluble residue comprising alkali metal sulfates and alkali metal halides, which residue is collected from the gas before the gas is released to the environment. The process is adapted to recover the alkali metal ions from the collected residue for use in supplying the alkali metal ions that are contacted with the gas and for limiting the presence co-collected halogen ions within the recovered alkali metal ions. The process comprises dissolving the collected residue in water to form an aqueous solution thereof having a pH of less than about 8 so that sulfate ions, halogen ions and alkali metal ions are present in the solution.

Abstract: A method for the enrichment of natural water in oxygen-18. Permeation followed by phase transition of lighter isotopes of water across a hydrophobic semipermeable membrane are employed to enrich the natural water in O-18 isotopes. Unexpectedly large fractionation factors have been found.