Abstract: A snowplow mountable on a track or similar vehicle includes a displaceable trip edge that enables the plow to pass over trip hazards without transferring significant impact forces to the plow. The plow mold board includes one or more trip plates that are coupled to the mold board through compression spring elements and linkages. The linkages cause the trip edge to swing up and away from the pavement to avoid "undercutting" when a trip hazard is encountered. This helps keep the plow from jumping. The linkage also automatically reduces the moment arm defined by the compression spring element, the trip plate and the mold board so as substantially to compensate for an increasing restoring force generated by the compression spring member as it is progressively compressed. The trip plate can thereby be displaced over its entire range without significantly increasing the contact force between the trip plate and an encountered trip hazard.

Abstract: A catheter clamp comprises a base (1) for securing by adhesion to the skin, a hole (2) in the base for passage of a catheter tube (3), a curved tube support surface (14) for supporting the tube which is bent in use through about 90.degree., and an arm (6) pivoted at (8) between parallel upstanding side walls (4) on the base. The arm (6) has a curved portion (22) extending eccentrically of the pivot (8) which urges a tube portion (23) above the hole (2) into a vertical channel provided in a post (12), and grips the tube when the arm is pivoted to an operative clamping position. The arm is held by retention means (24, 25) in the clamping position. In another embodiment (FIGS. 8, 9) the manually operable clamping means is provided by a slider (50).

Abstract: A system and method for mechanically forming a ceramic superconductor product. A system for making the ceramic superconductor includes a metallic channel portion having a cross section for receiving a ceramic superconductor powder, a roll to mechanically reduce the channel cross section and included superconductor powder and a cap portion welded to the channel portion using a localized high energy source. The assembled bar is then mechanically reduced to form a tape or wire end product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compressing magnetic flux to achieve high levitation pressures. Magnetic flux produced by a magnetic flux source travels through a gap between two high temperature superconducting material structures. The gap has a varying cross-sectional area to compress the magnetic flux, providing an increased magnetic field and correspondingly increased levitation force in the gap.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for sealing a loose tail of wound material against a log using an infeed and log reject station, a tail separator station and a tail ironing and log discharge station. The apparatus and method receives a log on a pair of rider rolls and directs one or more air jets against the log to cause the tail to extend away from the log and captures the tail on a vacuum table as controlled by an optical sensor monitoring the table. The log then progresses to a glue table where a stripe of glue is applied through an aperture in the table by a glue transfer bar rotating out from being submerged in a glue reservoir. The log is then received between three ironing rolls which compress the tail against the log and discharge the log from the ironing rolls by moving an ejector arm from a rest position between two of the ironing rolls towards the third ironing roll to an ejecting position intermediate all three ironing rolls.

Abstract: A chipper vacuum shredder system and apparatus includes a chipper mechanism, a shredder mechanism and a vacuum mechanism carried by a mobile platform. The vacuum mechanism is coupled to a passage having a nozzle. The nozzle includes an adjustable baffle structure for varying the velocity of air flow for delivering yard waste to the chipper-shredder mechanism. The mobile platform includes a bellcrank height adjusting mechanism which varies the height of the nozzle over a surface to be vacuumed, thereby increasing performance on varying surface conditions, particularly when used in conjunction with the adjustable baffle structure. An adjustable deflector is coupled to an exhaust portion of the vacuum mechanism for directing a stream of air to move yard waste and the like as desired. The chipper system is accessed through a cone-shaped inlet through which branches to be chipped can be inserted.

Abstract: A flywheel energy storage device including an iron structure disposed for rotation adjacent a stationary superconductor material structure and a stationary permanent magnet. The stationary permanent magnet levitates the iron structure while the superconductor structure can stabilize the rotating iron structure.

Abstract: A wet-blast machine (1) with a closed-cycle re-use system (2) incorporates apparatus (3) for conveying loose particulate (abrasive) wet-blast material (4) present in a body of water (5). The apparatus (3) comprises a longitudinally extending trough (6), for containing the water (5) and particulate material (4), a support structure (7) movable in a reciprocating manner within the trough (6), and a row of longitudinally spaced flap members (8) attached to and depending from the support structure (7). When the support structure (7) is reciprocated, wave motions are created in the water (5), which move the loose particulate material (4) in a predetermined direction along the trough (6), namely toward a collection point provided by a chute (10).

Abstract: A method for aerobic composition of organic waste material including high flow-rate aeration to provide beneficial soil amendments, fertilizers, and supplemental heat sources.

Abstract: A lightning surge resistor network includes a ceramic substrate and a thick-film resistor deposited onto the substrate. To prevent material spatter and to contain and isolate any arcing that can occur in the event the thick-film resistor opens during a severe over voltage condition, a ceramic cover is mounted over the thick-film resistor. The thick-film resistor is thus fully contained between the ceramic substrate and the ceramic cover. Preferably, the ceramic cover is adhered to the ceramic substrate by means of an adhesive film deposited onto either the cover or the substrate adjacent the outer periphery of the cover. Preferably, the mount of adhesive is reduced at preselected locations along the outer periphery of the cover to form weakened areas in the seal between the cover and the substrate. The weakened areas permit gasses to escape in a predetermined direction in the event excessive pressures are formed under the cover when the thick-film resistor opens under an over voltage condition.

Abstract: A self-actuated vacuum grip includes a piston mounted for back and forth movement within a chamber or cylinder. When the piston moves in one direction, it creates a partial vacuum in the chamber that can be used to grip an article. When the piston moves in the opposite direction, the partial vacuum is destroyed and the article is released. The piston is controllably moved back and forth by means of a second piston mounted in a second chamber or cylinder coaxially aligned with the first chamber and piston. The second piston is coupled to the first piston so that both pistons move as a unit. Compressed air is applied to opposite sides of the second piston to cause the second piston to move back and forth in its respective chamber. When the second piston is driven in one direction, it pulls the first piston in the same direction to create the partial vacuum. When the second piston is driven in the opposite direction, it pushes the first piston in the same direction to destroy the partial vacuum.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously partitioning a metal oxide and silica from a material containing silica and the metal oxide, using a biphasic aqueous medium having immiscible salt and polymer phases.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing diamond film. The method involves forming a fullerene vapor, providing a noble gas stream and combining the gas with the fullerene vapor, passing the combined fullerene vapor and noble gas carrier stream into a chamber, forming a plasma in the chamber causing fragmentation of the fullerene and deposition of a diamond film on a substrate.

Abstract: A low fat cheese curd product including an unripened cheese curd in contact with whey solution which has calcium dissolved therein, said curd having a fat content of about 0.1-3% by weight, a pH of about 4.7-5.5 and a calcium to protein ratio less than conventional skim milk curd.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for forming a wall on a footing. U-shaped and H-shaped channels coupled at their sides by rigid links hold foam panels in a desired spaced relationship. The channels and panels are stacked to a desired height, and concrete is poured between the channels and panels where it hardens to form a structural wall. The planar surfaces of the U-shaped and H-shaped channels enable the channels to be extruded, thereby substantially reducing channel production costs. Furthermore, widely available conventional foam panels are used, reducing panel production costs.

Abstract: A packaging system for a model vehicle and a trading card. The model vehicle and trading card bear matching serial numbers. Another preferred embodiment includes a display stand for the model vehicle beating a matching serial number.

Abstract: p-Sulfoxy cinnamic acid isolated from methanolic extracts of the eelgrass Zostera marina having significant antifouling aquatic properties. p-Sulfoxy cinnamic acid was synthesized in the laboratory from p-coumaric acid, and antifouling activity was identical to the natural compound in laboratory bioassays. In addition, sulfate esters of other phenolic acids showed similar antifouling activity, suggesting that the sulfate ester was responsible for the antifouling effect.

Abstract: A tire pressure detector includes a casing that receives a battery unit and a signal generating unit therein and that is provided with an adaptor to engage an inflating valve of a tire. A switch unit is mounted in the adaptor for connecting electrically the battery unit and the signal generating unit, and includes a resilient disc member with a peripheral portion secured to an inner wall of the adaptor, and a central portion moving in accordance with pressure inside the tire. An annular conductive piece is disposed on an inward protrusion of the adaptor and is connected to the signal generating unit. A conductive tubular body is disposed on the central portion of the disc member and extends slidably through the inward protrusion of the adaptor. The tubular body has a peripheral flange projecting outwardly from an upper end thereof and extending above the conductive piece. A hollow conductive seat member is mounted in the adaptor above the tubular body. The seat member is connected to the battery unit.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a tag gas identifier to a nuclear fuel rod and analyze escaped tag gas to identify a particular failed nuclear fuel rod. The method and system include disposing a unique tag gas composition into a plenum of a nuclear fuel rod, monitoring gamma ray activity, analyzing gamma ray signals to assess whether a nuclear fuel rod has failed and is emitting tag gas, activating a tag gas sampling and analysis system upon sensing tag gas emission from a failed nuclear rod and evaluating the escaped tag gas to identify the particular failed nuclear fuel rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for casting sheets of metal from molten metal. The apparatus includes a containment structure having an open side, a horizontal alternating magnetic field generating structure and a ferromagnetic dam. The magnetic field and the ferromagnetic dam contain the molten metal from leaking out side portions of the open side of the containment structure.