Abstract: A piston displacement condiment pump for pumping viscous fluids, especially condiments such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, relish, sauces and the like, is disclosed. The pump is constructed mostly of stainless steel and includes an inflow chamber with a check ball valve, an outflow chamber with a another check ball valve, and a spout. The pump includes an optional method for limiting the amount of condiment delivered with each stroke of the pump. The spout is held in place with a unique pin and L-slot arrangement, and by the unique position of the outflow chamber in relation to the cover. The spring and inflow check ball is attached to the piston and the outflow check ball is attached to the spring wire clip. The novel spring wire clip restrains the check ball valve in the outflow chamber.

Abstract: A longitudinal balance test circuit connects to the tip and ring lines of a pair of telephone wires. It also connects to a shield conductor that extends with the tip and ring lines. The test circuit includes a transformer which has two windings. One winding connects to the tip and ring lines, and it also connects to the shield conductor. The other winding connects to a signal generator that provides an alternating current test voltage with which to test longitudinal balance of the tip and ring lines. A method of testing a telephone line for longitudinal balance comprises: measuring an alternating current test signal applied to a telephone line under test; measuring stressed noise of the telephone line in response to the applied. alternating current test signal; calculating, in response to the measured alternating current test signal and the measured stressed noise, an adjusted value related to longitudinal balance regardless of the length of the telephone line under test; and displaying the adjusted value.

Abstract: A bio-magnetic system for moving a constituent of a human body includes at least one magnetically responsive member having an attachment mechanism including collagen which is bound with an epithelium of a moveable constituent in the human body. A bio-magnetic drive system for moving a constituent of a human body includes a plurality of magnetic microbeads connected in vivo to a moveable constituent of a human body, and it also includes a magnetic field source disposed in operative association with the microbeads but remote from the microbeads and the moveable constituent to provide a magnetic field to move the microbeads. A method for moving a constituent in a human body includes transmitting a signal to interact with a plurality of microbeads connected to a constituent in a human body such that the connected microbeads and constituent in the human body move in response.

Abstract: A process for removing dissolved uranium from water is provided. The process basically comprises (a) mixing phosphoric acid or particulate bone ash with the water, (b) mixing calcium hydroxide with the mixture produced in step (a) to thereby form calcium hydroxy phosphate or calcium hydroxy apatite which reacts with and complexes at least a portion of the uranium in the water to form a precipitate thereof, and (c) separating the precipitate from the water.

Abstract: An improved process for producing titanium dioxide wherein gaseous titanium tetrachloride and oxygen are reacted at a high temperature to produce particulate solid titanium dioxide and gaseous reaction products is provided. The titanium dioxide and gaseous reaction products are cooled by passing them through a tubular heat exchanger along with a scouring medium for removing deposits from the inside surfaces of the tubular heat exchanger. By this invention, the particulate scouring medium, the particulate titanium dioxide and the gaseous reaction products are caused to follow a spiral path as they flow through the tubular heat exchanger whereby the scouring medium more thoroughly removes the deposits and the titanium dioxide and gaseous reaction products are cooled more efficiently.

Abstract: A lid opening apparatus for opening a lid on a container. The apparatus may be used for both pop-on lids and threaded lids. The apparatus comprises a domed upper portion which can be engaged by the hand of a user without the requirement of gripping by the fingers of that hand. The apparatus further comprises a lower portion defining a laterally opening lid receiving channel therein adapted for receiving at least a portion of the lid laterally. A recess may be formed in the channel to extend outwardly from the sides thereof By engaging a lid of a container on the sides of the channel, the lid may be rotated with respect to the container to remove a threaded lid, and by positioning at least a portion of the lid in the recess, the apparatus may be tilted with respect to the container to remove a pop-off lid.

Abstract: A road-cutting apparatus for creating grooves or impressions in a road surface. The apparatus comprises a tool carrier with a rotatable cutter positioned adjacent thereto. A positioning control arm is hydraulically actuated to place the cutter in an operating position just above the road surface, and an operating control arm is hydraulically actuated to move the cutter into and out of cutting engagement with the road surface. The cutting is automatically carried out in response to a signal generated as a result of the distance traveled along the road surface by the apparatus. The road-cutting apparatus also comprises a transport wheel which can be placed into engagement with the road surface such that the cutter is spaced therefrom for transport of the apparatus to a desired location for cutting the grooves or impressions and raised above the road surface for the cutting operation.

Abstract: Communicating relative to a subterranean well includes encoding information in an amplitude and a duration for a pulse. A detectable change in response to both the amplitude and duration communicates the information. Two distinct items of information can be encoded wherein the information encoded in the amplitude is distinct from the information encoded in the duration. A single, more highly resolved, item of information can be defined in that the amplitude and the duration can together represent one aspect of the information to be communicated. Particular application is found in a subterranean well having three-phase power conductors connected to a three-phase motor in the well with the amplitude and duration being communicated through the power conductors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing the content of nitrogen oxides in the flue gases produced by the combustion of fuel gas and combustion air introduced into a burner connected to a furnace are provided. The methods basically comprise the steps of conducting the combustion air to the burner, providing a chamber outside of the burner and furnace for mixing flue gases from the furnace with the fuel gas, discharging the fuel gas in the form of a fuel jet into the mixing chamber so that flue gases from the furnace are drawn into the chamber and mixed with and dilute the fuel gas therein and conducting the resulting mixture of flue gases and fuel gas to the burner wherein the mixture is combined with the combustion air and burned in the furnace.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing the content of nitrogen oxides in the flue gases produced by the combustion of fuel gas and combustion air introduced into a burner connected to a furnace are provided. The methods basically comprise the steps of conducting the combustion air to the burner, providing a chamber outside of the burner and furnace for mixing flue gases from the furnace with the fuel gas, discharging the fuel gas in the form of a fuel jet into the mixing chamber so that flue gases from the furnace are drawn into the chamber and mixed with and dilute the fuel gas therein and conducting the resulting mixture of flue gases and fuel gas to the burner wherein the mixture is combined with the combustion air and burned in the furnace.

Abstract: An interactive electronic shopping system and method create a virtual shopping facility from an actual shopping facility, such as a grocery store, restaurant, or office. A shopper at a computer or other suitable display device can move through the virtual shopping facility and see replicas of what would be seen in moving through the actual shopping facility. Various lists of items selected for purchase can be made, and predetermined lists and information can be displayed. Changes in the actual shopping facility, such as a change in a display of goods, can be accommodated by replacing prior data with new data so that the virtual shopping environment is kept current with the actual shopping facility.

Abstract: The invention relates to a clamping ring for connecting cylindrical units of a missile, which have each a circumferential projection and a flat-conical engagement surface. The clamping ring comprises a circumferential portion bent to a arc of a circle and having two ends, which can be tightened together by means of a turnbuckle. The clamping ring has cheeks along its rims. The cheeks have flat-conical engagement surfaces corresponding to the flat-conical engagement surfaces of the circumferential projections of the cylindrical units to be connected. The clamping ring extends with the cheeks over the circumferential projections of the units. In order to increase the strength of the clamping ring by suitable shaping within a predetermined space, the inner surface of the clamping ring is free from edges and guided tightly about the outer contours of the circumferential projections.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a motorcycle onto another vehicle. The motorcycle loader comprises a wheel saddle positionable on a bed of the vehicle, a yoke assembly connectable to front forks of the motorcycle, an auxiliary winch mounted on the wheel saddle and having a cable connected to the yoke assembly, and a remote control switch for controlling the winch. The remote control may be temporarily clamped nto the handlebars of the motorcycle, and an operator sitting on the motorcycle may energize the auxiliary winch by alternately pressing and releasing a push-button switch on the remote control. The winch thus gradually pulls the front wheel of the motorcycle into the wheel saddle so that the motorcycle can be subsequently tied down to the bed of the vehicle. A strap retainer for retaining a loose end of a strap in the yoke assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A localized heat applying medical device is provided for applying heat to tissue adjacent a patient's tubal ostia in order to close the patient's fallopian tubes and sterilize the patient. Procedures of performing sterilizations are also disclosed.

Abstract: Processes for reacting high flow rates of one or more gaseous reactants in tubular reactors. The improved processes allow such reactions to be carried out with a low pressure drop across the reactor and without excessive erosion due to solid particles carried with or picked up by the gaseous reactants. A process of this invention is basically comprised of the steps of swirling a gaseous reactant which may contain or pick up solid particles in a first annular plenum chamber followed by a second larger diameter annular plenum chamber and then introducing the gaseous reactant and solid particles into a reactor by way of two or more radial slots whereby the gaseous reactant and solid particles are caused to flow into the reactor and are uniformly distributed therein.

Abstract: The invention provides a filter apparatus for removing air entrained particles comprising a collapsible filter media. The filter media has a periphery. A continuous frame extends around and attaches to the periphery of the filter media whereby the filter media and attached frame together can be lengthwise collapsed.

Abstract: A waler clamp assembly for a concrete wall form. The waler clamp assembly comprises a waler clamp and a wedge engageable with the clamp to clamp a waler in place on the clamp. The clamp comprises an upper plate, a parallel lower plate, an end web interconnecting outer ends of the upper and lower plates, and a reinforcing leg interconnecting the upper and lower plates adjacent to the inner ends thereof The leg is preferably integrally formed with the lower plate. The leg extends upwardly away from the lower plate and outwardly toward the end web. The leg is preferably fixedly attached to the underside of the upper plate, such as by welding. The reinforcing leg strengthens the clamp so that there is no significant bending or twisting thereof due to driving the wedge in place.

Abstract: A method of forming clamshell shaped ground meat food article comprising the selective alignment of the meat fibers thereby producing a clamshell shape when cooked. The meat fibers are aligned through the extrusion of the ground meat through a closed channel to an aperture. The ground meat is briefly detained at the aperture while the aperture is closed resulting in a realignment of the fibers. The aperture is then opened allowing a predetermined amount of meat to pass through the diaphragm, upon which the diaphragm is closed to sever the predetermined amount. The severed portion is then cooked whereby the contraction of muscle fibers form the desired shape.