Abstract: An in-line filter probe for process analysis. The probe, which has a U-shaped porous tube mounted on a support and sealed at the tube's midsection, is placed in a process stream to provide filtered samples of the stream.

Abstract: Automated method and machinery for fabricating a wrought-iron fence panel. The machinery includes (a) automated programmable machinery for welding vertical pickets to horizontal runners to form a fence panel; (b) automated programmable machinery for straightening the fence panel; (c) automated programmable machinery for washing the fence panel; (d) automated programmable machinery for drying the fence panel; (e) automated programmable machinery for painting the fence panel; and (f) automated programmable conveyor machinery for conveying the vertical pickets, the horizontal runners, and the fence panel from station to station.

Abstract: A muffler for automotive vehicles. The muffler includes a passageway, an inlet at one end of the passageway, and a single outlet or dual outlets at the passageway's other end. The portion of the muffler connected to the inlet is substantially untapered. The portion of the passageway connected to the outlet or outlets tapers from wide to narrow away from the inlet and toward the outlet or outlets. This tapered geometry results in a very appreciable reduction of heat transmitted from the muffler back to the engine, increases engine performance, and produces a pleasant, deep sound while the engine is running.

Abstract: A luminescence detector with a liquid-core waveguide. For detecting photoluminescence, the exciting radiation is provided transversely instead of axially, thus eliminating the need for monochromators and focusing optics. For detecting chemiluminescence, the chemiluminescent reagents are mixed in situ in the detector, thus eliminating time loss which results in loss of chemiluminescence. A further aspect of the invention is the electrogeneration of an unstable reagent for the production of chemiluminescence. The unstable reagent is generated in such a way that there is complete separation of anodic and cathodic products without the use of a physical barrier.

Abstract: An adjustable continuous filtration system; a continuous split-stream bypass filtration system; a method for controlling the proportion of a fluid recycled through a filtration system; a method for controlling the proportion of a fluid which is routed to the filter of a filtration system, and the proportion of the fluid which is discharged from the system without passing through the filter; and a method for controlling the quality of cooking fats and cooking oils. The mechanisms for controlling the proportion of fluid routed or recycled to a filter depend on the size or width of orifices in passageways conveying the fluid, including the restriction of one or more of the orifices. A needle valve beneficially provides a continuous range of variation of orifice size. If the quality of cooking fat or cooking oil discharged from the filtration system is below industry standards, the proportion of the cooking fat or cooking oil routed or recycled to the filter is increased.

Abstract: A muffler for automotive vehicles. The muffler includes a passageway, an inlet at one end of the passageway, and a single outlet or dual outlets at the passageway's other end. The portion of the muffler connected to the inlet is substantially untapered. The portion of the passageway connected to the outlet or outlets tapers from wide to narrow away from the inlet and toward the outlet or outlets. This tapered geometry results in a very appreciable reduction of heat transmitted from the muffler back to the engine, increases engine performance, and produces a pleasant, deep sound while the engine is running.

Abstract: An adjustable continuous filtration system; a continuous split-stream bypass filtration system; a method for controlling the proportion of a fluid recycled through a filtration system; a method for controlling the proportion of a fluid which is routed to the filter of a filtration system, and the proportion of the fluid which is discharged from the system without passing through the filter; and a method for controlling the quality of cooking fats and cooking oils. The mechanisms for controlling the proportion of fluid routed or recycled to a filter depend on the size or width of orifices in passageways conveying the fluid, including the restriction of one or more of the orifices. A needle valve beneficially provides a continuous range of variation of orifice size. If the quality of cooking fat or cooking oil discharged from the filtration system is below industry standards, the proportion of the cooking fat or cooking oil routed or recycled to the filter is increased.

Abstract: A self-contained charcoal starter for barbecuing. The self-contained charcoal starter provides a bag of charcoal briquettes which includes a box or book of matches for lighting the briquettes. The matches are in a smaller bag which is stitched to the bag of briquettes when the bag of briquettes is sewn shut during its manufacture. The user tears the bag of charcoal briquettes open, then proceeds to retrieve a match from the smaller bag, and uses the match to start the fire.

Abstract: An adjustable continuous filtration system for cooking fats and cooking oils. Using a variable orifice restriction such as a valve, the amount of cooking fat or cooking oil recycled to a filter is controlled in accordance with the results of testing the discharged cooking fat or cooking oil for quality control, by changing the size of the orifice. If the discharged fat or oil is not within industry standards, the proportion being recycled is increased. If the fat or oil tests appreciably above industry standards, the proportion recycled to the filter is decreased.

Abstract: Automated method and machinery for fabricating a wrought-iron fence panel. The machinery includes (a) automated programmable machinery for welding vertical pickets to horizontal runners to form a fence panel; (b) automated programmable machinery for straightening the fence panel; (c) automated programmable machinery for washing the fence panel; (d) automated programmable machinery for drying the fence panel; (e) automated programmable machinery for painting the fence panel; and (f) automated programmable conveyor machinery for conveying the vertical pickets, the horizontal runners, and the fence panel from station to station.

Abstract: A cooking pot for the preparation and dispensing of food. The pot can be operated at atmospheric pressure, at higher pressures as a pressure-cooker, or under vacuum as a vacuum tumbler. The pot is rotatable about both its longitudinal axis and its lateral axis. A dispenser connected to one end of the pot enables the food preparer to dispense a definite and desired amount of the prepared food.

Abstract: A self-contained charcoal starter for barbecuing. The self-contained charcoal starter includes a bag containing charcoal briquettes and a box or book of matches. The box or book of matches is attached to the inside of the bag by an adhesive. When the fire is to be started, the briquettes are deposited in a barbecue pit, and the box or book of matches is detached from the bag and used to ignite the charcoal.

Abstract: A pulseless, reversible, precision piston-array pump. The pump head has a cylindrical body which rotates inside a cylindrical casing. A cam cap closes one end of the pump body, and a port cap the other end. The cam cap has on its interior surface a groove which controls the timing and depth of the piston strokes. The port cap has on its interior surface an inlet valve groove and an outlet valve groove to provide the valving action which controls the direction of fluid flow. At all times during the operation of the pump, at least one piston is in a compression mode; At least one piston is in a suction mode; and at least one piston is in a null mode, performing neither compression nor suction while moving across the port cap. This design decouples the rotary movement of the cylindrical body from the linear movement of the pistons, to provide pulseless flow for the pump.

Abstract: A solid-sediment retainment plumbing trap devised primarily for a sink from which substantial amounts of solid material are discharged; e.g., eyeglass manufacture and dental plastic grinders. The plumbing trap is connected to the sink, and collects sediment in a bottle having a fill line. When sediment collecting in the bottle reaches the fill line, the bottle is exchanged for a similar bottle, and the plumbing trap is once again in service. Because the bottle is connected to the rest of the trap by threads, bottle exchange is rapid and easy.

Abstract: A utensil for cracking the shells of crabs, lobsters, and other shellfish. A pair of handles are pivotally connected, each handle having a jaw with a tapered cutting edge for cracking the shells without severing the meat which the shells contain. The handles are bent in such a way as to prevent complete closure of the jaws, so that the shell is cracked while leaving the meat of the shellfish intact. This construction also facilitates using the bent ends of the handles for extracting the meat from the cracked shell. For this purpose the bent ends of the handles are bevelled, and taper from wide to narrow in a direction away from their jaws and toward their free ends. When the crab cracker is ready for storage, the bent handles are locked by forcing them apart and placing them in a parallel position. This enables the crab cracker to be easily and neatly stored in a minimum of space.

Abstract: An automatic self-locking differential wherein the improvement is made by the independent function provided by a geared integral locking mechanism. This independent function allows either axle to become unlocked and "freewheel," while the opposite axle becomes locked due to a set of gear cam locks. Drive axles are mounted with bevel gears within a rotating differential casing. The bevel gears mesh wit gear cam locks which are mounted on shafts.

Abstract: A method for merging and/or ratio-blending aliquants from two different streams in a first channel, and utilizing a second channel to propel merged and blended aliquants through a separate, pumped carrier channel by providing a pump comprising a plurality of pistons, a plurality of inlet ports, a plurality of outlet ports, a cam cap having cam profiles which controls timing and depth of strokes of the pistons, and a port cap having a plurality of valve grooves which control a direction of fluid flow.

Abstract: A fence erected on a supporting surface, and a method for erecting the fence. At least two adjacent fence posts are firmly and vertically mounted on a supporting surface such as the ground. Several blocks are fastened to each of the fence posts at predetermined heights. A fence panel is used to connect the fence posts to one another and in so doing erect the fence. The fence panel includes at least two horizontal runners and several vertical poles fastened to the horizontal runners. Notches are formed in each end of the horizontal runners, and the blocks are inserted in the notches, so that the fence panel is supported by the blocks and connects the fence posts to one another, thus erecting the fence.

Abstract: An automatic self-locking differential wherein the improvement is made by the independent function provided by a geared integral locking mechanism. This independent function allows in a vertical manner for the relative resistive axial motion of either of two axial moving pinion shafts to occur in an intermittent fashion. Drive axles are mounted with bevel gears within a rotating differential casing. The bevel gears mesh with pinion gear sets which are mounted on shafts.

Abstract: A mechanized cable puller. By combinig a hydraulic track-mounted excavator with a winding spool the present invention provides underground machinery for pulling underground electrical cable from an underground conduit into an underground cable vault, without requiring the temporary installation of direction-changing pulleys in the cable vault. By using a square bar as part of the underground machinery, the cable can be pulled from any of four different directions, spaced ninety degrees apart, in a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree span.