Abstract: Rock slabs or pieces are broken from larger rocks or from rock formations with reduced cracking of the broken rock slabs or pieces by drilling bore holes along the desired break lines, placing detonating cord into the bore holes, filling the bore holes with a shock transmitting and moderating composition, and detonating the detonation cord. The shock transmitting and moderating composition is preferably a gel with shock absorbing material such as microspheres or micro gas bubbles suspended therein. Openings in rock can also be formed by drilling at least one bore hole within the desired opening and drilling a plurality of bore holes along the desired periphery of the desired opening.

Abstract: A stabilizing vane for use with an archery arrow includes an elongate vane body with an inclined surface attached thereto. The inclined surface is confined substantially within the upper portion of the vane body spaced from the arrow shaft so as to be cooperable with an arrow rest. The inclined surface can be oriented to optimize arrow rotation and centering.

Abstract: For measuring the tread depth of the tyre of a motor vehicle by means of a measuring head containing a laser (67), the laser measuring head is positioned relative to the tyre of the motor vehicle in such a way, that a reference surface or plane adopts a well-defined position with respect to the tyre. The laser beam (66) of the laser (67) is directed through the reference surface (68) at an angle (.alpha.) to the bottom (64) of the tyre tread, whereby a light spot (78) is generated on this bottom (64) of the tyre tread. The position (e) of the light spot (78) is observed by an image resolving sensor (82). Therefrom, a measure (t) of the depth of the tyre tread is gained.

Abstract: A retorting device for mercury containing material, with an oven, mercury trap and condensers capable of operation at pressures from atmospheric pressure down to 50 Torr with simultaneous temperatures up to 1500.degree. F. A dam within the mercury trap permits removal of liquid mercury separate from condensed solid amalgams, sludges and the like. The trap has provisions for removal of the sludges and amalgams from beneath the surface of water within the trap.

Abstract: A locking assembly in a launcher for missiles comprises a pivotally mounted blocking latch which is provided with two blocking lugs for extending over a shoe provided on the missile. The blocking latch is biased by a spring toward a blocking position, in which the shoe of the missile is retained by the blocking lugs. A locking lug is provided on the blocking latch. In the blocking position the locking lug engages a safety lever having a contact surface, when inertial forces of the missile act on the blocking latch such that the blocking latch is retained in the blocking position, in which the blocking lugs extend over the shoe of the missile. The safety lever is pivotable about a pivot axis out of the pivotal path of the locking lug. The safety lever comprises means for reducing the distance between the contact surface and the pivot axis during the pivotal movement of the safety lever, such that the contact surface is removed from the locking lug during the pivotal movement.

Abstract: A method of kidney dialysis by operation of a kidney dialysis machine includes use of unique AVF or a AVG sets or needle-like venous catheter whose blood-flow tubes are equipped with respective injection/administration port structures or fittings for the introduction of required or desired drugs or other additives into the body of a patient through an A-V access fistula or graft during operation of the machine or following disconnection from the machine while still emplaced in the body of a patient.

Abstract: A coupling for attachment to the end portion of a pipe (1) having circumferentially directed shoulder (3a) in such end portion includes a coupling body (6) which receives the end portion of the pipe (1) therein and a set of jaw members (24E-27E) which, after the end portion of the pipe (1) is received in the coupling body (6), move to a closed position to engage the shoulder (3a) so that the coupling is locked onto the end of the pipe (1) and the pipe cannot be pulled from the coupling because the jaw members (24E-27E) acting against the shoulder (3a) prevent such movement. The coupling can be provided with sets of jaw members (24E-27E) at each end to couple together two pipes (1, 2) each with end portion shoulders (3a, 4a) or have jaw members at one end and conventional connectors such as threads (64, FIG. 6), ridged inserts (121, FIG. 12), flanges, or other types of connectors at the other end. Valves (FIG. 5) or other fittings may be incorporated into the coupling.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing an advanced fibrous composite, concrete-reinforcing bar device by laying down a continuous band of tow or tows, yarn or yarns, or strand or strands of very fine filaments and liquid bonding material along at least an elongate, removable, form piece as a band member of endless belt formation through a delivery eye that reciprocates longitudinally along such form piece, which form piece is removed after setting of the bonding material to provide an empty space between a pair of load-bearing tandem portions of such band member.

Abstract: A screw gauge and indexed drill holder for use with sheet metal or wood screws has a base with a series of progressively smaller gauging holes into which a user can insert a screw of unknown gauge, the gauge of which is determined by the smallest hole into which the screw will fit. A series of holes sized to accept and hold body (clearance) drills of specific sizes is coordinated with the gauging holes such that once the gauge of a screw is determined, the proper body drill is referenced and immediately available. Another set of holes sized to accept and hold pilot drills of specific sizes may also be present and coordinated with the gauging holes to indicate and provide the proper pilot drill for a screw of a particular gauge. Indicia may be provided which shows the screw gauge corresponding to a particular gauging hole, the screw body diameter, the corresponding body drill size, and the corresponding pilot drill size. A set of drills may be provided with the device.

Abstract: An audio tremolo producing system uses a rotating horn as a tremolo producing device for mid and high frequency audio signals, and an electronic tremolo producing device capable of both phase and amplitude modulation for low frequency signals.

Abstract: A toothbrush that is provided with the usual elongate handle having the usual hang-up hole in the free, hang-up end portion thereof, has a dental floss receiving slot leading from the outer periphery of the hang-up end portion of the handle into the hang-up hole. This enables an end of a length of dental floss to be held pressed against a face of the brush handle by one hand of a user while the opposite end of the length of floss is grasped by the other hand of the user and pulled taut, with a relatively short length portion thereof being pressed into the slot. Neither hand of the user need enter the mouth for flossing purposes, and both are pre-positioned for immediate and effective conjoint use in the flossing of the user's teeth following attachment of a length of dental floss to the user's toothbrush.

Abstract: A fuel cell system for use in vehicles has a hydrogen electrode assembly, an oxygen electrode assembly, and a body of liquid electrolyte between the hydrogen electrode assembly and the oxygen electrode assembly. The hydrogen electrode assembly has a hydrogen sparger that releases fine bubbles of hydrogen gas into the electrolyte, and a hydrogen catalyst electrode having pores through which flow the electrolyte and bubbles of hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A hanger of steel for guiding a missile in a launcher has arcuate flanges matching the shape of the missile an a guiding element of substantially T-shaped cross section. A longitudinal recess is defined on the outer side of the transverse bar of the "T". The surfaces of the transverse bar facing the flanges define rest surfaces and the adjacent lateral surfaces of the vertikal bar of the "T" serve as lateral guiding surfaces for the missile. A longitudinal, rounded recess is provided between each of the lateral surfaces and the adjacent rest surface, in order to increase the notch radius. The surface of the material is treated to generate internal compressive stress in the regions of the recesses.

Abstract: A muffler for reducing acoustic noise contained in a gas flow, such as created by internal combustion engines, air compressors, and blower manifolds. The muffler consists of a conventional sheet metal casing which has an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends thereof. A flow of gas containing acoustic noise flows from inlet to outlet. A plurality of spiral acoustic traps, each of which extend from bottom to top of the casing, have a central axis positioned perpendicular to the gas flow. An opening in each spiral acoustic trap extends into the gas flow to divert some gas into the trap, wherein the gas flows in a circular path so as to degrade and randomize the sound waves into heat, by utilizing a circular mixing process with increased gas retention time.

Abstract: Rock slabs or pieces are broken from larger rocks or from rock formations with reduced cracking of the broken rock slabs or pieces by drilling bore holes along the desired break lines, placing detonating cord into the bore holes, filling the bore holes with a shock transmitting and moderating composition, and detonating the detonation cord. The shock transmitting and moderating composition is preferably a gel with shock absorbing material such as microspheres suspended therein.

Abstract: Prior art bottle closures having a stationary closure member applicable to the top of a bottle and a closure member that is movable relative to the stationary closure member are improved by incorporation, between said closure members, of mutually cooperative, fluid sealing members extending transversely of the pouring axis of the bottle closures and separable therefrom for preventing escape of gaseous ingredients, such as carbonation, of drinkable liquids contained by bottles to which the bottle closures are applied.

Abstract: A shoe providing a massaging effect for a wearer of the shoe includes a sole bladder containing a fluid which can flow within the bladder as a wearer shifts weight in the shoe and at least one flow passage extending from the bladder into a shoe upper adjacent a portion of a wearer's foot and arranged in conjunction with the bladder so that fluid from the bladder will flow through the passage upon at least a particular weight transfer on the bladder. Preferably a flow passage is provided around the heel portion of the shoe and also at locations forwardly of the heel portion of the shoe. The fluid in the bladder is replaceable so that a cooling fluid or a warming fluid can be placed in the bladder. The bladder can also contain recessed portions positioned to relieve pressure on particular areas of a wearer's foot.

Abstract: A single crystal silicon sheet is formed from a polycrystalline sheet by melting a relatively small portion of the sheet at an initial location and defining a single crystallographic orientation for the silicon by placing a small silicon seed crystal in contact with the melted silicon at the initial location. The melted portion is then moved from the initial location throughout the sheet to move impurities in the sheet to the edges of the sheet and to extend the crystallographic orientation of the silicon established at the initial location to the whole sheet, inwardly of the edges. The edges containing impurities and any remaining polycrystalline structure are removed to produce a sheet of single crystal silicon. A polycrystalline sheet may be formed by spreading a slurry of a silicon powder, a binder, and solvent on a surface and allowing the solvent to evaporate to form a sheet. The sheet is moistened to cause it to expand and sheer clear of the surface.

Abstract: A novel fuel pretreater apparatus and method for pretreating an alternate fuel to render it usable as the fuel source for fuel burning equipment such as internal combustion engines, furnaces, boilers, and turbines, includes a volatilization chamber into which the alternate fuel is received. An exhaust plenum may enclose the volatilization chamber so that thermal energy supplied by exhaust from the fuel burning equipment can be used to help volatilize the alternate fuel. A bypass stream of exhaust may be diverted through the alternate fuel in the volatilization chamber to help in volatilizing the alternate fuel and help carry the volatilized fuel through a heated reactor prior to its being introduced into the fuel burning equipment. The reactor is preferably interposed in the exhaust conduit and is formed by a reactor tube having a reactor rod mounted coaxially therein in spaced relationship. The exhaust passing through the exhaust conduit provides thermal energy to the reactor to pretreat the alternate fuel.