Abstract: A coupling for attachment to the end portion of a pipe having a circumferential groove includes a coupling body which receives the end portion of the pipe therein and a circumferential open ended resilient ring held by the coupling body. The ring is expanded by the larger outer diameter of the pipe as the end portion of the pipe is pushed into the coupling body but contracts back to its original diameter into the groove. With the ring in the groove, the coupling is locked to the end of the pipe and the pipe cannot be pulled from the coupling. The coupling is also provided with means to expand the ring mechanically so that the pipe can be released from the coupling or so that, while the pipe is being received by the coupling, the pipe does not encounter the ring until the ring is mounted into the groove of the pipe.

Abstract: The separations resulting from capillary electrophoresis performed in a microbore capillary tube are detected on-line by focusing a light beam in the form of a line or sheet of light on the capillary passage in which the separations take place so that the width of the sheet of light encompasses the length of the passage in which separations of interest are expected to take place. The separations form concentration gradients in the capillary passage encompassed by the light beam and cause refraction of portions of the light beam and variations in the intensity of the light beam due to such refraction. Alternately, the separated components may absorb light of certain frequencies so if the light beam includes light of the certain frequencies, variation in the intensity of the light beam is caused by such absorbance.

Abstract: A reusable lightweight folding screen or partition is composed of slim shallow panels interconnected in edge-to-edge abutment by a plurality of elastic thread means. The elastic thread means are disposed within each panel and extend between adjacent panels through corresponding apertures in the contacting edge wall of neighboring panels. The elastic thread means are adapted to maintain said panels in abutment and to permit the screen to fold along said edges. An anchorage flap adapted to anchor one end of the elastic thread means and to facilitate rigidity in the panel by spreading the load developed in the elastic thread means over an area of the panel is provided within each panel. Said anchorage flaps are positioned such that the elastic thread means extend without abrupt changes in direction between their anchorage points. Each panel comprises a rectilinear backing frame overlaid by a rectilinear cover sheet to provide a neat sharp edge about one face of the panel.

Abstract: A device for holding and selectively tipping a container of a liquid into which an implement, such as a brush, is periodically inserted, for removing a portion of the liquid contents, includes a base to be placed on a surface, a receptacle for holding the container, and a hinge joining the receptacle to the base substantially along a side of the receptacle adjacent the base when the receptacle is in upright position on the base. The receptacle can be rotated or tipped about the hinge means to tip the container held in the receptacle. The tension on the hinge is preferably adjustable to adjust the resistance to rotational movement of the hinge. The receptacle is preferably lined with a resilient and compressible material such as plastic foam so that containers of various shapes and sizes may be inserted into the receptacle and held by compressed material.

Abstract: Concrete structures, such as beams, columns, decks, walls, and the like are reinforced by advanced fibrous composite, concrete reinforcing devices, embedded in concrete, the devices comprising, respectively, at least one continuous band of tow, yarn, or strand of high strength, high modulus, fibrous laminate material having a multitude of very fine structural filaments as laminae bonded together in endless belt formation, such band or bands forming a bar of endless belt formation having at least two length portions extending longitudinally in substantially coextensive spaced relationship as load-bearing tendons, with end portions continuing around opposite ends of the device in unbroken continuity. The tendons of the bar may be either straight or deflected and may be pre-tensioned or post-tensioned. A band may be interlaced as a continuous perimeter, mesh shell.

Abstract: Air flow in a hollow wall, ceiling, or floor is created by forcing air into or drawing air out of the wall, ceiling, or floor through a hole around a pipe through which the pipe extends from the wall, ceiling, or floor. The apparatus of the invention includes a body that fits around the pipe to position an end against the wall, ceiling, or floor surrounding the pipe and hole and provides for the connection of an air flow hose thereto. The air flow hose provides a source of pressurized air or a source of vacuum to force air into the wall, ceiling, or floor or draw air therefrom.

Abstract: An annular throughflow photoreactor for oxidative photopurification includes an elongate radiation source surrounded by a transparent wall in the form of a spacer tube at a radial spacing of more than 3 cm, preferably in the range of more than 3 cm to 13 cm. The irradiance, i.e. the radiant flux per irradiated area is thereby reduced in comparison to a classic annular photoreactor. At unchanged irradiation power, this results in considerably increased quantum yields or extent of photoconversion in cases in which such conversion is dependent upon the square root of the irradiance, and thus enables enormous savings in radiation energy. Under such conditions, the photoconversion may be additionally increased by using low absorber concentrations and infeeding further absorber on the inside of the outer wall of the photoreactor as well as by working in the presence of gaseous oxygen at an oxygen pressure up to 3 bar and, preferentially, at pH 3.

Abstract: A vending machine for vending computer software comprises, a bill acceptor for receiving money, an optical disk for storing a selection of programs to be vended, a hard disk drive for storing operating software, accounting information, and updates to the software vended, a diskette dispenser, and a disk drive all under control of a processor. The invention further comprises a device for indicating a program selection to the processor such that the processor may direct the writing of a customer-selected program to a diskette after money has been received.

Abstract: A latching tester for testing continuity of wires in a system has an array of pin electronics cells, where each pin cell couples a signal to a row sense line and a column sense line when a change in current flow through a pin occurs; apparatus for detecting the signal on the row sense line; and apparatus for detecting the signal on the column sense line. The array of pin electronics cells may also operate as a capacitively coupled neural network, where a signal coupled onto the row and column lines from a stimulus line varies with the load on each pin of the pin electronics cells. An alternate mode of operation permits stimulus of the network and attached loads, and generation of a signature based upon the response of the network to the stimulus, as observed on the row and column sense lines. In yet another mode of operation, the tester may serve to recognize particular signals.

Abstract: Sizing screen apparatus is provided with mechanism for enabling the extent of spacings, longitudinally of an elongate sizing screen between transversely extending, individual rows of spacing members, to be adjusted individually. Each transversely extending row of sizing members is mounted on a rotatable shaft journaled at its opposite ends in the lower end portions of a pair of mounting arms that are pivoted at their upper end portions to opposite longitudinal side members of a supporting frame and hang downwardly for back and forth space adjusting movement. The mounting arms of the pair are pivotally interconnected adjacent their lower ends with an elongate connection member of an operating device that is manually or power operated.

Abstract: The invention concerns a two-stroke internal combustion engine and a method of operating a two-stroke internal combustion engine which includes at least one cylinder (10) with a piston (20) reciprocating therein and with at least one inlet (40) and exhaust duct (70), wherein the inlet duct (40) is arranged in relation to the exhaust duct (70) in accordance with the uniflow scavenging process in such a way that the inlet duct (40) opens into the cylinder in the region of the combustion chamber (30) and wherein a regulating element (50) is provided in the mouth opening region of the inlet duct (40). In that arrangement the regulating element (50) of the inlet duct (40) can be adapted to be controllable and a controllable regulating element (80) can also be arranged in particular in the mouth opening region of the exhaust duct (70).

Abstract: A self-releasing latch arrangement is applied to a conventional rubbish container having hinged lid and being liftable and dumpable by the usual automated garbage truck. The latch arrangement comprises one or more keeper members attached to the container outwardly thereof and overhanging therefrom and at least one heavy latching member swingably suspended from the lid of the container directly above a corresponding keeper member or members for being swung thereinto or therefrom under the influence of gravity. The latching arrangement is effective to secure the container lid closed in high winds and attempted openings by animals pushing on the lid or anything pushing the container over sidewardly or backwardly. The latch automatically releases when the container is tilted toward and into the dumping position, thereby allowing emptying of the contents into the garbage truck. Manual release of the latch to gain access to the container is accomplished by manually swinging the weight away from the keeper.

Abstract: An elongate stabilizer for an archery bow includes an elongate housing having a plurality of separate internal chambers suitable to receive damping material or damping devices therein. One end of the stabilizer may be mounted on a bow riser in normal manner. In a preferred embodiment of the stabilizer, separate chambers extend inwardly from opposite ends of the elongate housing and are closed by end pieces secured to the opposite ends of the housing. The chambers are separated by an intermediate portion of the housing. Damping material or devices may be contained in one or more of the chambers and when more than one chamber contains damping material or devices, such damping material or devices may be of different types.

Abstract: Tar sand and Gilsonite are preferably crushed together so that the Gilsonite overcomes the stickiness of the tar sand and the tar sand alleviates Gilsonite dust, the relative proportions and the character of Gilsonite being such as to produce an additive product for an asphalt, usually refinery asphalt, and a resulting modified asphaltic cement for paving purposes to simulate Trinidad Lake Asphalt. One embodiment of the additive composition of the invention results in an asphaltic cement that outperforms that produced by use of Trinidad Lake Asphalt as the additive, while a second embodiment of the additive composition of the invention contains additional tar-sand-extracted bitumen and the resulting asphaltic cement more closely matches the performance of that containing Trinidad Lake Asphalt as the additive. The invention includes a system for extracting bitumen from tar sand and in one form provides for adding Gilsonite to the extracted liquid bitumen so it will effectively solidify when cooled.

Abstract: A limb mounting system for archery bows provides limb mounting pockets which receive and restrain the bottom, sides, and top of received limbs. The mounting system is particularly suited to bow limbs made up of a pair of spaced, side-by-side limb elements. With the top restraint provided by the pockets, the pockets, when pivotally mounted to the riser, can include a rotation limiting device to limit rotation of the pockets and prevent unintentional disassembly of the bow upon unintended release of the pockets.

Abstract: A multi-use flow control and pressure reducing valve includes an inlet chamber, an intermediate chamber, and an outlet chamber. An hydraulic gate member forms the outlet chamber and controls communication between the intermediate chamber and outlet chamber to control flow of fluid through the valve. The hydraulic gate also establishes a control or actuating chamber for receiving fluid therein to control the position of the hydraulic gate. The valve is separable in the axial direction into at least two parts for removal, cleaning, or repair with the two parts coupled and held together during use preferably by an easily operated coupling device.

Abstract: A fishing lure comprises a natural stone as a lure body and has fracture surfaces randomly oriented. Preferably a pair of fishing hook and fishing line attachment fittings are securely fastened to opposite ends of the lure body, and a feather may be optionally glued to the lure body.