Abstract: A water removal device for placement in the fuel line of an hydrocarbon fueled engine between the fuel tank and the engine. The device includes a hermetically sealed housing which has an inlet end and an outlet end, respectively, for receiving and discharging flowing fuel. Within the interior of the housing a quantity of hygroscopic material is tightly packed. The grain size and shape of the grains of the material is selected so that substantially no particulate matter will enter the fuel stream. In a preferred embodiment conventional filters are utilized downstream of the device. A screen filter or filter made from a fibrous material may be used upstream of the device. Also, a screen may be attached within the housing adjacent the inlet and outlet ends to prevent granules of the hygroscopic material from passing out of the device and into the fuel stream. A viewing port may be incorporated in the housing to allow the operator of the vehicle to visually determine whether the chemical needs replacement.

Abstract: A binder ring has folio stops affixed to the end of at least one binder ring section. When the binder ring is in the open position the folio stop impedes a folio sheet from inadvertently sliding off the ring section. The folio stop slips on when the binder ring is opened and slips off when the binder ring is closed to be unobtrusive.

Abstract: A method of producing stiff polymeric plastic slats incorporates the steps of (a) feeding a reel of planar polymeric plastic film into a roller system which includes at least one pair of rotatable entrance guide rollers; (b) guiding the polymeric plastic film through at least one pair of rotatable line marker rollers; (c) passing the film through at least one pair of truncated rollers to produce a bend in said film of 100 degrees or more; (d) passing the film through a pair of nipping rollers to convert said bend to a fold of between 120 and 180 degrees to thereby produce tension and compression in a ridge region; and, (e) flattening said film out to its final, fixed shape by drawing through a pair of soft, rotatable wheels.

Abstract: Three-level ECL or four-level CML are feasible when a low drop current source is incorporated in the series-gated arrangement. The low drop current source consumes less than one-tenth of the voltage span between V.sub.CC and ground. A greater portion of the voltage span between V.sub.CC and ground, up to 4 volts, is therefore reserved for the three ECL levels or four CML levels of logic. Conventional power supplies are utilized yet the number of logic functions is increased.

Abstract: A plastic bag opening device has a flexible U-shaped member which can be slipped over the slit edge of a plastic bag. Adhesive means which are affixed to the inside of the ends of the U-shaped member contact the sides of the plastic bag when the U-shaped member is forced to a closed position. As the U-shaped member is flexed to an open position the sides of the bag adhere to the respective adhesive means and are pulled apart from each other. The ends of the U-shaped member are held apart by inwardly facing protrusions yet a positive clamping action of the adhesive means on the sides of the plastic bag is obtained by a pair of inwardly facing tips.

Abstract: An exercise machine for exercising the forward and backward muscles in the upper and lower muscle groups. A first bidirectional exercise unit is attached to a frame to permit stand-up pedalling against resistance. A second exercise unit is attached to an upstanding vertical section of the frame, and is of adjustable height so that the person who is standing and pedalling on the lower exercise unit may adjust the upper unit to the height of his hands or to a height at which certain muscles may be conveniently exercised. To promote the optimum exercise of certain muscles in the lower muscle group a shank of which produces a significant but yielding resistance to the forces of the body weight and muscular activity of a person pedalling in a standup position is provided for the first bidirectional exercise unit. The upper and lower muscle groups may be exercised in synchronization or at will.

Abstract: An expandable structure has a core structure which may be expanded on a selected side into a composite structure incorporating the core structure and a contiguous expanded section. The selected sidewall of the core structure rotates up to become the roof of the expanded section. The sidewall, endwalls and floor section of the expanded section are hinged to the frame of the core structure and stacked vertically against the selected sidewall/roof but do not take up significant floor space within the core section. Expansion is accomplished by power beams housed within the roof and subflooring of the core structure.

Abstract: A power beam converts a linear force into a torque. The beam is slideably positioned transverse to a structural member to be rotated and adjacent a hinged connection of the structural member to a frame. The beam is driven in a linear direction by a motive means such as a hydraulic cylinder, cable network or threaded shaft and actuation nut. A cable extends from its connection to the structural member at a set distance from the hinged connection, over the end of the slideable beam and then to a bias means, typically a spring. To rotate the structural member, the slideable beam is driven transverse to the structural member to impart a force along the cable the spring travels to its limit and thereafter a significant force is applied to the structural member to rotate the structural member.

Abstract: A wall mounted hair dryer has an outlet for dispensing heated air which is movable to multiple positions and in multiple directions. The degrees of movement include translational and rotational degrees of freedom. Translational movements are provided by the outlet itself while an extension tube may be provided to permit additional translational degrees of freedom of movement as well as a rotational degree of movement. The translational degrees of freedom of movement permit the position of the outlet to be proximate the head of the person whose hair is being dried; the rotational degree of freedom of movement permits the selection of the direction in which the heated air is directed. The person whose hair is being dried may accomplish collateral tasks as his hair is being dried.

Abstract: A device for testing and calibrating treasure hunting metal detectors is provided. The device includes an enclosure which contains a quantity of background material of the type expected to be encountered in the search environment of the metal detector. Elongated cross members are positioned across the housing at varying distances from the top. Each cross member has an open interior region into which a slide containing a simulated metal treasure may be placed. When the search coil of a metal detector is placed on top of the device it senses the presence of the metal treasures in the slides within particular ones of the cross members. By varying the type of metal and the location of the simulated metal targets the capabilities of the treasure hunting metal detector can be tested and calibrated.

Abstract: A boot is provided for the therapeutic or cosmetic treatment of the human foot. The boot has an impervious outer covering and includes a medicament supply network which provides a continuous supply of medicament to an absorbent lining around the inside of the outer covering. The medicament supply network contains a medicament reservoir located adjacent the opening of the boot and a series of supply fingers which extend along the inside of the contours of the outer covering to the extremities of the boot. A medicament of choice may be continuously supplied through the medicament supply network and transferred by the absorbent lining to the skin of the foot of the wearer.

Abstract: A charged particle beam lithography machine includes a beam source and beam steering and forming elements within an evacuated column. A stage assembly for supporting a semiconductor wafer or mask is positioned in ambient and proximate the exit end of said beam steering and forming elements. A vacuum envelope apparatus is affixed to the exit end of the beam steering and forming elements so that the outer surface or tip of the vacuum envelope apparatus rests in spaced apart, close coupled opposition to the wafer or mask supported on the stage. The vacuum envelope apparatus includes internal structural members which define an internal vacuum processing zone and at least one surrounding intermediate vacuum zone. A graded vacuum seal is formed between the tip of the vacuum envelope and the mask or wafer. The seal extends from the internal vacuum processing zone to the external ambient.

Abstract: An automated solar still is disclosed which incorporates a system of valves and other controls that halts production when the level of solar insolation is not adequate to support evaporation, admits water for treatment only when the still requires resupply, operates at nominal pressure by gravity flow and flushes out suspended and dissolved contaminants automatically. Production is halted under conditions of inadequate solar insulation by means of a temperature sensitive valve which is exposed to the received sunlight. In one embodiment, heating and evaporation occur directly in a central chamber. In another embodiment heating occurs in external panels and evaporation occurs from trays in an evaporation chamber. With changes in dimensions and proportions the system of controls may be used in solar stills for desalinating sewater.

Abstract: A plastic bag opening device has a flexible U-shaped member which can be slipped over the slit edge of a plastic bag. Multilayer adhesive strips are affixed to the inside of the ends of the U-shaped member so as to contact the sides of the plastic bag when the U-shaped member is forced to a closed position. As the U-shaped member is flexed to an open position the sides of the bag adhere to the adhesive substance on the end of each exposed layer so that the sides of the bag are pulled apart from each other.

Abstract: A mechanism and process for lifting the tailgate of a pick-up truck when the truck is being coupled to a fifth wheel vehicle. The mechanism comprises a cable that connects with the tailgate, passes over pulleys on the side of the truck, spans the open bed of the truck and passes over pulleys on the other side of the truck. As the truck is backed underneath the forward section of the fifth wheel vehicle, the pin box which depends from the forward section engages the cable where it spans the open bed of the truck. As the pin moves toward engagement in the fifth wheel mount on the bed of the truck, the cable gradually rotates the tailgate from the open to the closed position. In decoupling the process is reversed.

Abstract: A step gauge for setting up wood working power tools. The gauge has a planar surface on which a series of measurement steps is arranged in opposition to a reference edge. The surfaces of the steps are located at known fixed distances from the reference edge. In use the reference edge is placed against the table, fence or guide of a wood working power tool. When the tip or side of the blade or bit is rested against the edge of a given step the associated known fixed distance becomes the desired measurement. Specialty notches are provided interspersed with the series of measurement steps in order to allow the setup of specialty lumber processing; in the reference edge to permit the setup of joiners; and in the reference edge in aligned opposition to one of the measurement steps to function in cooperation with the reference edge as a square.

Abstract: An apparatus for the uniform thermal treatment of semiconductor wafers by gas conduction holds the wafer in place over a gas filled cavity in opposition to a thermal mass maintained at an appropriate temperature. Gas is introduced behind the semiconductor wafer adjacent its periphery to produce a near-constant gas pressure across the backside of the wafer. The constant pressure produces constant thermal conductivity. Consequently, heat conduction is uniform, the temperature of the wafer is uniform and uniform processing is accomplished across the wafer.

Abstract: A process for packing narrow bore chromatographic columns and the resulting product are provided. A flexible column, preferably of fused silica, of inner diameter less than 500 .mu.m is selected. A slurry is formed in a reservoir from a mobile solvent and particles of specified diameter. For liquid chromatography the particle size ranges from 3 .mu.m to 10 .mu.m; for gas chromatography the particle size ranges from 3 .mu.m to 100 .mu.m. An end restriction is placed in the end of the column to permit the flow of mobile solvent and to restrict the passage of particles out the end of the column. The reservoir is attached to the column and the slurry is caused to flow under pressure into the column. A two-step pressure sequence is used to first set up the bed of particles and then to compress the bed. First, an initial pressure is maintained for an initial period, preferably less than 10 minutes.

Abstract: A magnetic note holder incorporates a hologram or xogram as the artwork of choice. A standard note holder structure is disclosed which includes a clear laminate adhered to the surface of the artwork, a section of stainless steel tape adhered to the underside of the artwork, a double-sided tape tape adhered to the underside of the stainless steel tape, and a section of magnetized rubber sheet adhered to the underside of the double-sided tape. A base note holder structure is disclosed which has no section of stainless steel tape. A special note holder structure is disclosed which has two separate sections of stainless steel tape.

Abstract: An artprintography kit includes a collection of tools and materials within a convenient container for the purpose of readily preparing, storing and displaying artprintographs or artpictographs.