Abstract: A simple chart recorder is described of the type which includes a strip of pressure-markable chart paper, which includes two pressure marking styluses that create traces that can be readily distinguished from one another. Each stylus has a horizontal inner portion (80, FIG. 2 ) that extends largely parallel to chart paper movement and a vertical outer portion (88), with the first stylus having an inner portion lying above the second stylus and having an outer portion lying further downpath than the second stylus. One of the styluses includes a blue pencil lead (92) whose point creates a pressure-marked trace part (116, FIG. 3 ) as well as blue lines (120, 122) on opposite sides of the trace part. Another stylus includes a wheel (180, FIG. 6) with a plurality of points spaced about its periphery to produce a multipoint trace (172). Another stylus includes two closely-spaced tips (200, 202, FIG. 7 ) that form a doubleline trace (208). Another stylus has a tip with a large radius of curvature (R1, FIG.

Abstract: A container is described which can hold multiple small articles such as earplugs, and which can be inserted into a dispenser where the contents can be readily released. The container includes a box (30, FIG. 3 ) whose bottom wall includes a pair of flaps (50, 52) having inner ends (54, 56) pivotally connected to the bottoms of opposite side walls, and having outer portions (64, 66) that lie adjacent to each other. A release device (34) holds the outer portions of the flaps together to prevent them from pivoting down until the release device is pulled out, when the flaps pivot down and the articles fall out. The outer portion of each flap includes an upstanding tab (76, 78, FIG. 5 ) with a horizontal slot (82), and the release device includes a cardboard plate which is received in the slot.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for use with a bar code scanner, to enable consistent bar code reflectance quality measurements. The apparatus includes a holder (60, FIG. 1 ) which holds a hand-held bar code scanner (20) at a predetermined distance (B) and angle (A) with respect to the surface of a sheet (12) that has been imprinted with a bar code. The holder has a lower end (66) for lying "flat" against the sheet, and has a plurality of switches (81-83, FIG. 3 ) at locations spaced around the lower end of the holder. Only when all switches are operated, is the lower end of the holder flat against the sheet, and only when all switches are simultaneously actuated is the bar code scanner operated to generate a display that indicates reflectance quality.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which can receive a large number of earplugs from a box and dispense one or two of them at a time to a worker, which avoids touching of the earplugs by any other person. The apparatus includes a wheel (22, FIG. 1 ) which is rotatable on a frame (12) and which has holes (24) that are each capable of holding a single earplug (26). As the wheel turns, earplugs fall into the holes. As each hole moves to a dispense location (30), the earplug in the hole can fall out of the hole along a dispense passage (16). A barrier (42) lying above the wheel, prevents an earplug from falling into a hole that lies at the dispense location, and sweeps away any second earplug which lies partially within a hole approaching the dispense location. A large number of earplugs are contained in a box (80) which is installed in an open top (82) of the dispenser.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for use in an industrial plant that contain machines (14) having oil reservoirs (12), which facilitates cleaning of the oil. The apparatus includes a stand (20) and equipment mounted on the stand, including input and output hoses (36,38) whose ends can be dropped into a machine oil reservoir. The equipment on the stand also includes a centrifuge (24), pump (26), valve (34), and porous filter device (40). In a first mode of operation, the pump draws oil from the reservoir to flow through the input hose into the centrifuge, and then to the output hose to flow back to the reservoir. The valve can be switched to a second mode wherein fluid from the input hose is directed through the pump to the porous filter device, for final cleaning of the oil before returning it to the reservoir. The stand has wheels to enable it to roll to another machine and clean its oil.

Abstract: A system is provided for reducing the emissions of hydrochloric acid (HCl) from solid fuel rockets, especially during ground disposal. An aqueous solution (40, FIG. 2 ) of an alkali metal hydroxide is injected as a mist (50) into the rocket chamber (32) as the rocket fuel (30) is burned. The reaction of the alkali metal with hydrogen chloride (HCl) produces a salt and thereby minimizes the presence of hydrochloric acid in the rocket exhaust. An injected neutralizing material which reduces hydrochloric acid, but which produces less thrust than an equal weight of rocket fuel, can be injected into an operating rocket which carries a payload high above the earth, with the injected material being injected only while the rocket is at a lower altitude when hydrochloric acid is most undesirable. The injected material can be produced by a small auxiliary rocket device (82, FIG.

Abstract: Systems are described for removing organic solvents such as kerosene-based solvents, from aqueous solutions, in leaching processes for recovering metal such as copper from ore. A unit for recovering small amounts of kerosene-based solvent from raffinate (which comprises acidic water with a small amount of solvent and debris) includes both a plate-type coalescing device (60, FIG. 2 ) and a granular bed (62) in series, and preferably located in the same vessel (54). The raffinate first moves through the plate-type coalescing device where much of the kerosene is removed, to greatly increase the useful period of the granular bed (before it has to be backwashed). In a unit (20, FIG.

Abstract: A window frame assembly is described which mounts a window pane (12, FIG. 2) in an opening (14) of a building wall, which minimizes the number of parts and their complexity. The assembly includes an outside frame (30) which surrounds an axis (34) of the wall opening, the outside frame having a radially outer part (40, FIG. 2) forming a flange that lies against the outside surface of the building wall, an inward arm (44) that extends inwardly against the edge (46) of the wall opening, and a radially inner part (42) that forms a window pane-supporting ledge (45). An inside frame (32) has a radially outer part (50) that lies against the inside surface of the building wall and an outward arm (52) that extends outwardly against a side of the inward arm, with the outer end (54) of the outward arm substantially abutting the window pane (12).

Abstract: A new control is described for controlling the temperature of hot water or other fluids supplied to rooms of an apartment building or the like, which replaces a prior control. The new control acclimates tenants to the change in temperature resulting from the installation of the new control. The new control includes an acclimating circuit which is used during an acclimating period of a duration such as ten days, which controls the hot water supply system to produce a supply temperature (60, FIG. 2 ) which is between the temperature (46) that would have been supplied by the prior control, and the temperature (44) that will be supplied by the new control after the acclimating period. The acclimating circuit makes the fluid temperature progressively closer to that which would have been set by the new control, at times progressively closer to the end of the acclimating period.

Abstract: A wastewater flotation separation system is provided, which operates effectively with a minimum of maintenance. The apparatus includes a container (12) for holding wastewater, an inlet (14) located at a lower portion of the container, and an aerator (24) adjacent to the inlet for generating air bubbles that cling to waste particles to bring them to the water surface. A skimming apparatus (30) which skims particles off the surface of the wastewater into a sludge receiver (44) includes a beach device (42) with an inclined upper surface (40), and a belt device (34) that moves a series of scrapers (32) along the surface of the water and along the beach device into the sludge discharge. Each scraper includes a flap of resilient material which is bent as it scrapes along the inclined beach surface.

Abstract: A fluid swivel, of the type that carries oil, natural gas, or other fluid between an undersea well or pipeline and a weathervaning ship, wherein the seal arrangement that prevents leakage of fluid is constructed to increase the seal lifetime and reduce the cost of the fluid swivel. The seal arrangement includes a recess (44, FIG. 2) in a first of the swivel parts and a seal assembly (46) therein which includes a pressure seal (50) and a backup ring (56). The backup ring has a dynamic side (64) lying adjacent to the portion (54) of the second swivel part that is sealed against, and has an opposite distal edge portion (72). The dynamic side of the backup ring has a tapered downstream portion (80) that is tapered at an angle A of no more than 30.degree. to the axis of rotation (16) of the fluid swivel, with the downstream edge (82) of the tapered portion lying on a downstream wall (86) of the first swivel part rather than overhanging it.

Abstract: A system is provided for enabling use of a password or PIN (personal identification number) to prove authority for access to a data base, where the PIN cannot be safely transmitted to a verifying authority. The PIN is entered into a calculating circuit which produces a TPIN (translated PIN) which can be safely transmitted to the verifying authority. The TPIN has fewer digits than the PIN to avoid a one-to-one correspondence of each PIN to each TPIN. For example, a six digit PIN may yield a three digit TPIN. The present time is also entered into the calculating circuit and an algorithm for generating the TPIN uses the present time, so for a given PIN the TPIN repeatedly changes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reducing pollutants and especially nitrogen oxides, or NOx, in the exhaust gases of an engine. The apparatus includes a device for injecting ammonia into a conduit that extends between cylinder exhaust valves and a catalytic converter, to mix the ammonia with the exhaust gases. Ammonia injection occurs at a location a plurality of inches downstream of the exhaust valves to avoid burning of the ammonia by flames. The injection preferably occurs at a location where the exhaust gases are at a temperature of at least about 1200.degree.F. to cause considerable reaction of the ammonia with NOx in the exhaust gases prior to the gases reaching the catalyst, so less NOx must be removed along the catalyst. To minimize ammonia use, it is injected only for a limited period such as a minute after a cold engine is started when the catalyst is too cold to cause significant reactions, and during operation of the engine at high power levels when the greatest amounts of NOx are produced.

Abstract: A marker is provided for use by emergency service personnel entering a room of a building, to keep the door from latching closed while he/she searches the room, and later help him find the door to exit the room, and to indicate to other rescuers that a search is in progress or has been completed. The marker includes a housing (12, FIG. 1) and a door clamp (14) mounted on the housing and constructed to fit on a door to prevent complete closing of the door. The housing holds an audible alarm generator (20) which generates sound beeps to help a searcher find the door in an environment of thick smoke. With the door clamp holding the door ajar, the sound beeps can be heard from outside the room, so another searcher can determine that a search is in progress. The alarm is settable to generate a different pattern of sound beeps, to indicate that a search is in progress, or has been completed. It also generates light flashes. The door clamp can include a length of wire that extends around the outer edge of a door.

Abstract: A rotary filtration apparatus is provided, of the type which includes a multiplicity of membrane packs arranged in a stack on a rotor frame, which facilitates replacement of membrane packs. A membrane pack assembly (16, FIG. 1) includes a multiplicity of membrane packs arranged in a stack between a pair of stack plates (70, 72), and held in compression by several tension members (80) spaced about the pack and coupled to the plates. The rotor frame (14) has top and bottom frame plates (50, 52) and a plurality of tying members (40) tying peripheral portions of the plates together. A sufficient number of the tying members are removable to leave an opening in the frame periphery that is large enough to allow the precompressed membrane stack assembly (16) to be moved radially into the rotor frame, at which time the removed tying members are replaced. The membrane packs can be stacked within a group of tying members (234, FIG. 10 ), and can be compressed by a compressor (280, FIG.

Abstract: A shoelace is described for use by young children or the handicapped, which facilitates tying of a bow by providing a moderately stiff end portion; the stiff end portion can retain a loop shape when a pair of spaced locations on the stiff end portion are temporarily fastened together as by a pair of Velcro retainers. The shoelace is formed of a flexible shoelace core with first and second opposite end portions, and with the first end portion penetrated by a solidified, originally-liquid stiffening material. The shoelace can be made only long enough to leave ends for bow tying, when it projects directly between the uppermost eyelets of a shoe, to train a child rather than to also lace his shoes. The length is small enough that the distance (B) between the middle of the shoelace and the closest Velcro retainer (26) is less than the distance (C) between two Velcro retainers.