Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method of fabricating tank wrap of desired thickness having fibers oriented generally in the thickness direction from lengths of insulation material having fibers oriented generally in the length direction. The method comprises several sequential steps. The first step is positioning the lengths of insulation material lengthwise along a first movable track conveyor, such that the fibers are oriented generally parallel to the direction of conveyance as the lengths progress downstream in a longitudinal direction along the conveyor. Second step is severing the insulation material completely across the length, at intervals equal to the desired thickness of the tank wrap to be fabricated. Next the cut lengths of insulation material are positioned lengthwise across a second movable track conveyor such that the fibers are now oriented generally perpendicular to the direction of conveyance, and in an abutting relationship.

Abstract: Transponders in or with a shallow water seismic cable emit acoustic signals for acoustic ranging on command from a transceiver aboard a seismic exploration vessel. The acoustic ranging data together with navigational data cna be used to identify cable location. The transponders are activated by individual identifying digital codes. Each such digital code is a data word of suitable length composed of a distinctive frequency sent in bursts for a specific time for successive pairs of bits, or di-bits, in the data word. The time spacing between sending the frequency bursts is also used to carry other di-bits of the data word.

Abstract: An automatic feeding system for applying multiple plant nutrients utilizing multiple nutrient pumps and a central mechanism to inject each nutrient individually into a flowing irrigation line during irrigation, allowing thereby for selecting the desired nutrient ratio by adjusting the output setting of each pump.

Abstract: A latch circuit receiving the system reset signal and the error signal from a coprocessor provides an output indicating the presence of the coprocessor. The latch circuit provides the output for computer systems which cannot connect the coprocessor error signal to a coprocessor error input on the processor.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simultaneously testing the permeability of a plurality of core specimens is disclosed. The apparatus includes a reservoir to contain a fluid and a plurality of permeameters in fluid communication with the reservoir. The apparatus also includes valves for individually controlling the supply of fluid to the permeameters and a buret and flask for measuring the amount of fluid passing individually through each core specimen in each permeameter. The apparatus also includes a pressurized gas source for pressurizing the fluid in the reservoir with gas and a pressure regulator to allow multiple permeability tests to be conducted simultaneously but at a different pressure than other concurrent permeability tests.

Abstract: An apparatus for fixed-bed coal gasification is described in which coal such as caking coal is continuously pyrolyzed with clump formation inhibited, by combining the coal with a combustible gas and an oxidant, and then continually feeding the pyrolyzed coal under pressure and elevated temperature into the gasification region of a pressure vessel. The materials in the pressure vessel are allowed to react with the gasifying agents in order to allow the carbon contents of the pyrolyzed coal to be completely oxidized.The combustion of gas produced from the combination of coal pyrolysis and gasification involves combining a combustible gas coal and an oxidant in a pyrolysis chamber and heating the components to a temperature of at least 1600.degree. F. The products of coal pyrolysis are dispersed from the pyrolyzer directly into the high temperature gasification region of a pressure vessel.

Abstract: A small arms projectile has a body that includes a larger cylindrical main body section and a smaller generally frusto-conical front body section with a plurality of curved veins or ribs mounted thereon that define the frusto-conical shape of the front body portion as generated during rotation of the projectile. The front body section has an annular concave surface and each of the curved ribs or veins extends between the concave surface and an outermost edge. The projectile can be used with standard pistol and rifle cartridges such as .22, .38, .45, 9 mm and the like. In a second embodiment, a shot shell sabot-projectile assembly that can be used with smooth bore guns as well as with shot guns of various gauges such as .410, .28, .20, .16, .12 and .10 for example.

Abstract: An oil well tubing joint coated with a carbide blast coating provides an elongated, hollow tubing section having an open ended continuous cylindrical internal bore and a continuous carbide coating over substantially all of the tubing section outer surface. An internally threaded connection portion of the bore at a first end of the tubing section is provided with an externally threaded connection member being positioned at the second end of the tool bore. The tubing section has a larger constant external diameter that extends over a majority of its length and three reduced external diameter portions that extend a distance from each end of the tubing, including one reduced diameter portion adjacent one end of the tubing joint and two of the reduced diameter portions being adjacent the second end of the tubing joint.

Abstract: A method if disclosed for decreasing the flow resistance of a subterranean formation surrounding a well. A high fluid pressure is suddenly applied to the formation and fluid is pumped into the high pressure fractures. The fluid may contain proppant particles.

Abstract: An improved multi-lance cleaning apparatus for cleaning the interior of heat exchanger tubes, the apparatus having a lance housing, a slidable manifold within the lance housing, a single conduit connecting the manifold with a high pressure, high volume fluid source, a spool for storing the conduit permitting it to be advanced and retracted, means for moving the manifold within the housing, a plurality of lances removably attached to the manifold and adapted to fit within a heat exchanger tube and tube guides to guide and support the lances. The lances include a plurality of flexible lances attached to rigid lances and adapted to fit within a heat exchanger tube which are capable of traversing a curved path within the tube bundle.

Abstract: An erosion control system that uses massive hollow reinforced concrete blocks that can contain bulky fill material such as sand, mud, shell or concrete rip rap. The blocks can be arranged in desired geometric patterns at coastal areas subject to erosion control.

Abstract: A tomographic flow imaging system comprising three or more capacitance electrodes positioned around a pipe through which a flow to be monitored passes. The capacitance between each pair of the electrodes is measured, and an output is derived from the measured capacitances which is representative of the distribution of material within the pipe. A predetermined voltage signal is applied to one electrode at a time, and the electrodes other than said one electrode are connected to sources of equal fixed potential. The capacitance of each pair of electrodes is measured by measuring charge flowing between the said other electrode of the pair and the source of potential to which it is connected.

Abstract: A surgical spinal fixation system includes a bone bolt having first end portions that are adapted to be surgically implanted into a patient's spine at first and second spaced apart positions and a central portion of the bone bolt defining a load transfer surface, the bone bolt having a second upper threaded sections for threadably receiving a nut at a shaped, countersunk interface. As an alternate embodiment, a bone screw provides an upper enlarged head with a lower coarsely threaded shank. A plate having upper and lower surfaces and outer opposed edges is provided with an elongated slot for accommodating a selected bone bolt or bone screw. The plate edges carry fine adjustments extending between the upper and lower surfaces of the plate and a load transfer washer interfaces the plate and the selected bone bolt or bone screw for distributing load (and reducing stress) from the bone bolt (or screw) to the plate.

Abstract: A refuse compacting system including a plurality of containers, each of the containers being substantially square and when placed in groups of four, forming four compacting stations, adjacent one another for occupying a reduced amount of space. In addition, the four containers would be set upon a manually rotatable platform, that would be rotatable upon a central axis for rotating the containers to a specific point when that particular container would be the point of compaction. The system would further include a single ram movable between a single preferably hydraulically operated ram movable between upper and lower positions, so that when a particular container removed directly beneath the ram, the turn-table would be manually placed in a stop position, and the ram moving to the down position in order to crush and containerize any waste materials in the container.

Abstract: The present invention describes package units for medical purposes, in particular for receiving and/or storing sterilizable preparations for parenteral uses or dialysis solutions, comprising a container having at least one discharge spout and consisting of polyamide 66 or a laminate of polyamide 66 sheet and polyolefin sheet, the polyolefin sheet being disposed on the side facing the liquid to be stored and the sheet of polyamide 66 being disposed on the outside and the two sheets being bonded together in usual manner by means of an adhesive. The package units may further comprise an inner container or an outer container. The package unit is made in that a container having at least one discharge spout is made from polyamide 66 or the aforementioned laminate, said container filled with the liquid to be stored, then sealed and sterilized and possibly subsequently surrounded after cooling and drying with an outer container of polymeric material.

Abstract: A pressure difference relief valve, viz. a pressure relief valve or a vacuum relief valve, for a liquid container has a valve body which opens or closes a valve opening of a valve housing in response to the pressure difference between the interior of the valve housing and the ambient atmosphere. The valve body is connected to a slidably mounted stem. The valve is constructed with spring elements which are clamped against the stem from opposite sides thereof at a controlled force to create a frictional resistance to sliding movement of the stem. Hereby any tendency of the valve to vacillate between the closed position and a fully open position under the influence of fluctuations of the gas or air flow, e.g. caused by turbulence, is eliminated or reduced.

Abstract: A transportable container for carrying refrigerated products in frozen (sub zero) or refrigerated (for example, 40.degree.) temperatures inlcudes a structural container having an insulated outer shell with an access doorway. The upper portion of the container includes a transverse perforated baffle and positioned above the baffle are a pair of spaced apart canisters containing liquid refrigerant (CO.sub.2, for example). A gas or liquid feeder tube penetrates each bottle and communicates with an on/off valve. A feeder tube can draw liquid to dispense for cooling, or it can release gas and pressure within the canister to boil the CO.sub.2. When CO.sub.2 reaches its boiling point, the canister, its bracket, and the cold plate reach very cold tempertures to cool the cargo area. The gas is released through copper tubing over the cold plate to act as a method for convection. A temperature regulator valve dispenses CO.sub.

Abstract: A memory expansion board capable of holding up to 16 Mbytes of memory devices, using primarily 1 Mbit chips, in 2 Mbyte module increments, on a single IBM PC/AT compatible size board. The circuit board is so designed that when the memory expansion board is populated by modules and placed in a computer system it does not interfere with any of the other expansion slots within the computer system, all of the expansion slots being normally spaced apart. The memory expansion board also includes a means of protecting the memory expansion board and modules from damage due to misalignment when inserting the board and/or modules. When certain of the modules are inserted rotated 180 degrees the circuit board cannot be properly installed in the system board because of physical interference. Lastly, the memory expansion board includes a means for providing reduced length addressing memory lines to memory devices appearing on opposite sides of a circuit board.