Abstract: A fluid diaphram valve and interconnected pilot valve apparatus for control flow of fluid discharge from a pressurized fluid distribution system. The apparatus has a primary valve with an inlet adapted to receive fluid under pressure, and an outlet adapted to discharge fluid to an outlet conduit. A diaphram chamber is provided in the primary valve which is responsive to fluid pressure controlled by a pilot diaphram valve. Upon release of fluid pressure in the pilot diaphram valve, the primary valve allows passage of fluid to the outlet conduit. Bleed fluid from the pilot valve is also discharged into the outlet conduit and is thus saved for use. Upon closure of the pilot valve, a bleed port in the primary diaphram in the primary valve allows repressurization and seating of the primary diaphram, thus terminating fluid flow through the primary valve. A novel, retrograde motion actuator is also described for use in manual operation of the pilot valve from a fixed location such as cabinets below kitchen sinks.

Abstract: A process for treatment of water via membrane separation equipment. Hardness and non-hydroxide alkalinity are removed from feedwaters to very low levels, preferably by simultaneous removal in a weak acid cation ion exchange resin. Then, ionization of sparingly ionizable components in the feedwater is substantially accomplished by increasing the pH of the feedwater preferably up to about pH 10.5, or higher. In this manner, species such as silica become highly ionized, and (a) their rejection by the membrane separation process is significantly increased, and (b) their solubility in the reject stream from the membrane process is significantly increased. Passage of weakly ionized species such as boron, silica, and TOC is reduced by a factor of ten or more. Recovery ratio of ninety percent (90%) or higher is achievable with most brackish feedwaters, while simultaneously achieving a substantial reduction in cleaning frequency. The method is particularly useful for the preparation of high purity water.

Abstract: An improved disc type rolling rock cutter, and novel cutterheads employing such cutters. A rock cutter with an improved, simplified structure, with compact bearing, and smooth, rounded blade shape is disclosed. The design incorporates a cutter ring, bearing assembly, and seal assembly. The cutter may be assembled and disassembled for rework by a single worker with simple hand tools. Replacement of worn out cutter rings is done quickly and easily by removing the old ring assembly and then sliding a new ring, bearing, and seal assembly on to the cutter shaft. This simplified assembly is achieved by using a comparatively large shaft which is normally in the range of 30-50% of the ring diameter. The shaft design is sufficiently robust to permit a cantilever mount of the cutter. The unique configuration allows 30,000 lbs. or more thrust to be applied to a 5 inch diameter miniature disc. This capacity permits single disc cutter technology to be applied to smaller bits or cutterheads than previously possible.

Abstract: A radiation shield, and a radiation shield assembly. The shield assembly is designed to allow use of conveniently fabricated radiation shield portions to provide a single completed radiation shield. The shield portions are mechanically fastened together, preferably with deck screws. A completed radiation shield assembly is coated with a flexible elastomeric epoxy coating to protect the radiation shielding material, preferably lead, from becoming dislodged. Preferably, the radiation shield is provided in a sequence of layers, with each layer having one or more radiation shield portions. In an alternate embodiment a lightweight, portable radiation shield is provided which has an inner layer with at least one sheet of solid radiation shielding material, an outer stainless steel casing, and a sealant located between at least portions of the at least one sheet of solid radiation shielding material and the outer stainless steel casing.

Abstract: A drill and forming tool centering jig. The tool is useful centering a drill, bit body, or forming tool with respect to a workpiece shaft face in which a bore is to drilled or a surface is to be shaped. The tool has a generally cylindrical tubular body having a first threaded end portion with external threads thereon, and a second, bushing end opposite thereto. Within the body are secured a first collet and a second collet. A collet compressor to inwardly urges the inner reaches of both collets radially inward toward the outer surface of the workpiece when a jam nut assembly is threadably engaged and tightened on the external threads on the threaded end portion of the body. A bushing is provided to be slideably engaged with and secured in the body. Within the bushing, a forming tool is provided that is adapted to slidingly engage and rotate within the bushing. The forming tool is adapted to shape a working face of a workpiece shaft that is brought into engagement with the forming tool.

Abstract: A radiation shield for valves comprises separable portions of shielding composition, such as lead or bismuth, which are provided in hollow cylindrical half-round portions. The shield portions are interfitingly juxtaposed, and preferably interlocked, when installed in their operating, shielding position. The shields may be removably affixed to an existing valve or pipe. The shield has a hard shell coating, preferably of ethylene methacrylic acid copolymer, to prevent the shielding composition, e.g. lead, from contaminating the structure on which it is used. At least one locking or fastening latch mechanism is provided for securing the separable portions one to the other. Most preferably, a hinge mechanism is provided at one side of each of the of separable portions (separable half-rounds, in the ideal case), and the hinge mechanism also preferably serves to secure the pair of separable portions to each other, thus allowing rapid installation.

Abstract: A novel method for cleaning high precision optical equipment. The method involves applying a curable coating to an optical or optical forming surface which has been contaminated with undesirable foreign matter, then allowing the coating to dry to form a resilient dried film, and then removing the dried film to remove along therewith the undesirable foreign debris which has contaminated the optical surface. Preferably, the curable coating is formed from an aqueous polyurethane emulsion. The method allows foreign debris to be removed with a very high degree of reliability and completeness, so that when the method is used with compact disc stampers, the stampers are restored to a like new condition.

Abstract: A pipe laying robot for manipulating an elongated workpiece such as a pipe section. The robot is a grasping apparatus particularly adapted for placing pipe in a trench. The apparatus is designed to be suspended from a lifting device such as a backhoe, and is adapted to grasp and manipulate the workpiece for lifting, moving, or setting the workpiece. The apparatus has a first frame, and a second frame rotatably secured to the first frame for angular rotation of the second frame about a normally vertical axis of rotation with respect to the first frame. Two or more grapplers are connected to the second frame in opposing juxtaposition and are moveable between (i) an open position wherein the grasping apparatus is lowered to a position so the the grapplers straddle the workpiece, and (ii) a closed position wherein the grapplers engage and securely grasp the workpiece.

Abstract: A high strength insulated building structure. The building structure uses a rigid foam building panels having kerfs on each side. The kerfs on the rigid foam building panels are complementary in shape to pre-cured jacketed concrete posts. The pre-cured jacketed posts have a mounting attachment foot adapted for mounting on a substructure, and the building panels are securely and sealingly mounted between adjacent, substructure secured, jacketed concrete posts. The jacketed concrete posts are also provided with top attachment members which are secured to beams which run horizontally above the rigid building panels. The building panels are also provided with furring strips recessed to be flush with their interior and exterior surface, for permitting fasteners to be used for fastening other structural components thereto, such as gypsum board on the interior and siding on the exterior. The building structure provides a high strength, highly insulating structure with quick building time in the field.

Abstract: Novel power generation method and apparatus. At least partially unshrouded type supersonic ramjet thrust module(s) are provided at the periphery of a low aerodynamic drag tapered disc rotor. The rotor is affixed at a central hub to a shaft, and rotates about an axis defined by the shaft. The rotor acts as a structural member which transmits to the shaft the thrust generated by the ramjets. In the preferred embodiment, an unshrouded ramjet inlet captures and compresses an impinging inlet air stream by utilizing the thrust module inlet structures and an adjacent housing sidewall. The compressed air inlet stream provides oxygen for mixing with a fuel such as natural gas which is injected into the through flow air stream upwind of the ramjet thrust modules. Fuel is oxidized in the ramjet thrust module(s) to produce expanding combustion gases.

Abstract: A sealed container for pills on a clip such as a money clip. Preferably, the container is hermetically sealed and suitable for holding moisture sensitive pills in a fashion which prevents the sensitive substances from being adversely affected during transport. The container has a main body having a first finger and a second finger with a generally U-shaped spring forming joint therebetween. The first finger has an upper surface upon which a container base portion is mounted. The container base portion has a threaded portion along the peripheral sides thereof, and a sealing surface at the upper reaches thereof. A cap is provided with threads complimentary to those on the outside of the container base portion, so that the cap can be removably affixed to the container base portion. A sealing portion, preferably of the O-ring type, is used to form a seal between the container base portion, at the sealing surface, and the cap.

Abstract: An apparatus for towing motorcycles behind a vehicle. The apparatus includes a frame with a front stop plate, a bottom plate, first and second guide members extending downwardly from the left and right sides of the front stop plate to the respective sides of the bottom plate, and an attachment bar on the forward side of the front stop plate. The attachment bar is preferably in the form of an insert to a tubular type trailer hitch mount and is adapted to be fixedly secured therein. An adjustable wheel clamp with first and second prongs extends rearwardly from the front stop. The wheel clamp is adjustable from a first width W.sub.1 between the first and second prongs to a second width W.sub.2 between such prongs, to accommodate wheels of different width. The prongs further include a plurality of slots which are adapted for passage therethrough of releasably securable fasteners therethough, so that wheels of different widths may be firmly secured for towing.

Abstract: An abrasive paste composition. The abrasive paste is made up from an aqueous suspension of water insoluble abrasive particles of from about forty five percent (45%) to about sixty five percent (65%) by weight, from thickeners of natural or synthetic clay of from about three percent (3%) to about fifteen percent (15%) by weight, from liquid detergent of from about two percent (2%) to about twenty percent (20%) by weight, and from water of from about twenty percent (20%) to about sixty percent (60%) by weight, and optional ingredients such as dyes, humectant, and perfumes. The water based abrasive paste has abrasive particles sized to provide adequate cut without surface gouging for use in automotive painting and body repair.

Abstract: A method for enhancing solvent extraction of organic wastes from contaminated waste mixtures. A contaminated waste mixture is contacted with a solvent with high driving force for solvation of water, and most preferably with a solvent which is both anhydrous and which has an appreciable affinity for solvation of water. While the solvent is in contact with the contaminated waste mixture, a portion of the organic waste is dissolved in the solvent. Then, the solvated organic waste and residual solvent is removed from the contaminated waste mixture. Solvent is recovered, preferably by distillation, and is then dehydrated, prior to repeating the cycle. The technique substantially improves the degree of removal of certain organic wastes from contaminated waste mixtures, and has been demonstrated to be particularly useful for removal of pesticides from organic waste mixtures.

Abstract: An improved salt basket for dewatering solids, particularly salts resulting from evaporation of industrial wastewaters. The salt basket system includes a pressurizable vessel having a screen floor situated above a bottom liquid collection head, an inlet for the brine/solids slurry from which solids are to be separated and dried, an inlet for air, an inlet for steam (the latter two inlets may be combined, where convenient), an inlet for solids free feed, and a drain outlet (these two may be combined where convenient into a combination feed/drain connection). Preferably, an automated system for introducing feed brine and for removing the solids product is provided. For safety, a pivotally attached lower door has a hydraulic failsafe closure mechanism and locking safety latches to prevent the door from inadvertently opening.

Abstract: A method for complete treatment of septic tank effluent or other contaminated liquid by contriving for it to flow in an ultra-thin film over a surface treatment medium such as fabric or sand. It provides diffusive aeration, biological reaction and physical filtration on a molecular scale.The device transfers contaminated water, or other liquid, from a container to a final collector completely purifying the liquid in the process. The purified effluent can then be reused for household, industrial, irrigation or other uses, or disposed of as normal surface run-off in streams or lakes.To increase efficiency, said container encloses a progressively more finely pored media precisely situated with effluent seeping gradually through progressively finer pores to provide uniquely effective pretreatment.

Abstract: A flexible heating and vacuum pad sealer. The heating/vacuum pad is used to hold heat sensitive decalcomania between the pad and the substrate for application of a decal to the substrate by heat and pressure. The sealer is normally used in combination with a reverse image type sublimation decal system to facilitate application of decals to solid objects such as urns or monuments. The heating pad includes a manifold portion having passageways for drawing a vacuum, a heating pad body portion having heating elements embedded therein, a porous lower compliant skin portion to contact the decal being applied, and a peripheral sealing lip. The heating elements and vacuum are interconnected with a control box.