Abstract: A unitary device for purifying water and other fluids embodying an annular filter surrounding an elongate tube which in turn surrounds and cooperates with an elongate ultraviolet lamp to form a flow channel for fluid to be irradiated. Fluid passing through the filter is conveyed through the flow channel along the length of the lamp to effect sterilization. The lamp is encased in a film of material having non-stick characteristics with respect to the fluid being treated, such as fluorinated ethylene propylene, to prevent buildup of scale and other contamination on the surface of the lamp which would otherwise reduce transmission of ultraviolet rays to the fluid. The lamp assembly is constructed as a replaceable removable unit which is adapted to be mounted in reversed endwise position to accommodate the device for different types of installations.

Abstract: A walking cane for the blind, visible during the day or night, having an elongated tubular main shaft of light conducting material with a ground engaging tip secured to one end and a tubular handle to the other end. A cover of translucent white light transmitting material envelops most of the outer surface of the shaft and outer surface of the handle, but a portion of the shaft above the ground engaging tip is exposed to provide a window for the emission of light. This window may be dyed with a red translucent material. A solid rod of light conducting material resides within the tubular shaft and has a roughened outer surface portion which diffuses light directed axially along the shaft toward the exposed portion of the shaft. A spirally wrapped layer of pliable light transmitting plastic film envelops the rest of the outer surface of the rod and diffuses the light toward the white cover.

Abstract: A spring rewound tagline device in which a cable reel has a fairlead with a cable guide means for guiding a cable to and from the cable reel as the cable is payed out and retrieved. The fairlead according to the present invention is self-adjusting and includes a support arm on which the cable guide means is pivoted for rotation, and the support arm is mounted on the tagline device for pivotal swinging movement, so that the support arm and the cable guide means are free to adjustably change their operative positions in response to the changes in the lead-off angle of the tagline or other cable, whereby to minimize acute cable bends and undesirable binding in the cable guide means.

Abstract: Novel pectin derivatives having important and useful gel properties are made by direct amidation with high levels of ammonia at low temperatures.The desirable pectin derivatives have not more than 39% carboxyl groups and at least 27% amide groups. The most desirable pectin derivatives have from 56 to 70% acid plus amide groups, based on the total level of anhydrogalacturonic acid units as 100%, and the preferred amide level is between 30 and 35%. The pectins form 20 to 40% soluble solids gels that are improved in texture and less prone to syneresis over the gel pH range 3 to 4 with a wide range of added calcium ion when compared to gels made with currently known pectins.

Abstract: A tapered, generally triangular, rigid housing in which one angle forms a leading edge and the opposite side of the triangle forms a trailing edge. A vacuum attachment nozzle extends into the housing from the trailing edge toward the leading edge. A pliable suction cup is mounted and fixed in said housing by the vacuum nozzle which extends therethrough and is in fluid communication with the interior of a chamber in the suction cup. The exposed portion of the cup comprises a tapered, pliable, generally circular lip which extends slightly beyond one face of the housing. A plurality of wafer-contacting surfaces are located loosely adjacent the periphery of the lip, each spaced 120.degree. from the adjacent suface. A lifting finger may be attached to the leading edge of the housing in order to pick up wafers which are stored on a horizontal surface and move the wafers onto the lip for grasping thereby.

Abstract: A manually portable casing equipped with suitable handle means has an outer end opening and a sandblasting hood mounted in the casing has a corresponding outer end opening which fits into the outer end opening of the casing. A rotary blaster nozzle inside the hood is supplied with a stream of air entraining grit particles. A rim of the hood has a continuous resilient seal to contact a worksurface that is to be processed thereby to cut off the hood both from the atmosphere and the interior of the casing. The hood and its seal are shaped to cooperate with a particular worksurface configuration which may be concave, convex, angular, etc. Different hoods are used interchangeably to fit different worksurface configurations.

Abstract: To remove particles of debris from a floor surface, a hood is mounted on wheels to move over the floor with the open side of the hood facing downward to form a traveling chamber. An air jet nozzle inside the hood is directed downward and is moved in a circular horizontal orbit by a variable speed motor to agitate the debris particles as the hood travels. A pump is attached to the hood to maintain a vacuum therein and to withdraw from the hood a high velocity air stream entraining the agitated debris particles. The hood is manually steered and is driven by a variable speed motor.

Abstract: A conveyor having a single row of receptacles to seat individual fruit of a corresponding row of citrus fruit moves the fruit in succession past a station where it is required that the major axis of each fruit, i.e., the axis through the stem and blossom ends of the fruit be parallel to the direction of travel of the fruit. In each receptacle the individual fruit rests on a pair of parallel power-actuated spool-shaped rollers the axes of which are parallel to the direction of travel of the receptacles, which rollers spin the fruit to cause the major axes of the fruit to be oriented parallel to the direction of travel. Each receptacle is detachably mounted to transverse rods.

Abstract: A shut-off valve in a fluid line closes by spring pressure and incorporates a control chamber wherein pressurized control fluid acting on a piston opens the valve in opposition to the spring pressure. A control system for the shut-off valve comprises a 3-way actuator pilot of the present invention in cooperation with a monitor pilot. The actuator pilot has a valve spool and four ports, namely, a supply port connected to a source of pressurized control fluid, a pilot port connected to the monitor pilot, a control port connected to the control cylinder of the shut-off valve, and an exhaust port for venting the control chamber of the shut-off valve. When the control system is in service and the monitor pilot senses an undue change in the pressure in the fluid line, the monitor pilot vents the actuator pilot to shift the valve spool therein to cut off the control fluid from the control port and simultaneously to place the control port in communication with the exhaust port to cause the shut-off valve to close.

Abstract: A shut-off valve in a fluid line closes by spring pressure and/or line pressure and incorporates a control chamber wherein pressurized control fluid acting on a piston opens the valve in opposition to the spring pressure and/or line pressure. A 3-way actuator pilot normally places the control fluid in communication with the control cylinder but when vented cuts off the control supply fluid and releases the pressurized control fluid from the control chamber to cause the shut-off valve to close by spring pressure and/or line pressure. A monitor pilot responsive to pressure changes in the fluid line incorporates a relief valve and opens the relief valve by cam action to vent the actuator pilot whenever the pressure in the fluid line makes a predetermined departure from a normal pressure range.

Abstract: A housing structure confines a ball-shaped valve member with a flow passage therethrough. One end of the flow passage serves as a cavity to receive a pipeline scraper in the form of a pig ball and a grid retains the pig ball while permitting fluid flow through the passage. The valve ball cavity may register with the chamber of a normally closed magazine to receive a pig ball therefrom or to release a pig ball thereto. The valve ball cavity may also register with one of the two ports of the housing structure to launch or retrieve a pig ball therethrough. The valve ball is completely enclosed by the housing structure with a seal at the entrance to the magazine. The magazine has a bleeder valve to the atmosphere and also has a by-pass valve to equalize the fluid pressure in the magazine with the fluid pressure in the pipeline. The valve ball has compensating freedom to move towards and away from the seal. Manually operable gearing rotates the valve ball 90.degree. between its two alternate positions.

Abstract: A control chamber of a float valve is formed in part by a diaphragm which is integral with an elastomeric main valve member that opens and closes the supply port of the float valve. A small tube to supply water to the control chamber is mounted in the main valve member and extends upward through and beyond the supply port. The upper end of the small tube tapers to an inlet opening that is sufficiently restricted to keep large solid particles out of the control chamber. The control chamber has a lower bleeder port which is controlled by a fixed upright pilot valve member on a float. A hood integral with the bottom wall of the control chamber extends downward to form a float chamber enclosing the float, the hood having ample vent ports for siphon prevention. Water is discharged from the bleeder port into an expansile chamber, the outlet of which is sufficiently restricted to cause the expansile chamber to depress the float thereby to increase the volume of water released on each float cycle.

Abstract: To rebuild the interior of a shell of a volute-type centrifugal dredge pump, a radial arm carrying a welding torch swings about the axis of the shell to repeatedly traverse the interior of the shell and automatically shifts the welding path at the end of each traverse. The radial arm advances or retracts radially as it rotates to follow the eccentricity of the volute configuration. The advance or retraction of the radial arm in response to its rotation is accomplished by a sprocket chain that walks around the periphery of a fixed sprocket on the axis of rotation, the diameter of the fixed sprocket being selected in accord with the eccentricity of the volute configuration.