Abstract: Electrical apparatus for removing ecologically noxious substances from gases which includes an electrical precipitator having a reaction chamber through which a stream of the gases to be cleaned passes, and which includes an elongated electrode extending into said reaction chamber for producing a corona discharge within the chamber. The apparatus of the invention includes a multi-stage Fitch generator connected to the electrode which produces a high level pulsating voltage superimposed on a constant direct current voltage. The pulsating voltage causes the electrode to produce the corona effect in the chamber, and the constant direct current voltage sets up an electrostatic field which removes unwanted products of the corona discharge from the gas stream passing through the chamber. The Fitch generator is adapted to provide pulsating voltages of sufficient amplitude and steepness to produce a high density, high energy corona discharge within the chamber.

Abstract: An elongated dovetail tongue on the top surface of the trowel blade slips endwise into a closely conforming groove formed in the base of the removable handle until its end abuts a shoulder at the end of the groove. The tongue is longer than the groove, and a keeper is adapted to slip onto and abut the end of the tongue protruding from the groove. A boss on the end of a resilient arm extending from the keeper engages a detent in the base, locking the keeper to the handle, immobilizing the tongue, and thereby securing the handle to the blade. Disengaging the detent mechanism releases the keeper and allows it to be removed and the handle readily separated from the blade.

Abstract: A method for teaching the practical application of a subject. The student is furnished an introductory body of information encompassing the subject and presented with a simulated life-like situation having a stated goal. Attaining the goal requires the completion, in order, of a series of steps utilizing the information. Each of the steps except for the first can be undertaken only upon the completion of a previous step, and once completed, a step cannot be repeated. Each completed step thus effectively becomes a part of the body of information comprising the subject. The student is able to exit any of the steps at will for the purpose of reviewing the body of information and thereafter to return directly to the exited step.

Abstract: This wheelchair incorporates a unitary supporting frame for the drive wheels and swivalable casters, and an adjustable seating assembly. The supporting frame is adjustable to change the wheelbase, track, and frame pitch and thereby shift the user's center of gravity and orientation with respect to the wheels. In a preferred embodiment provision is made for adjusting and maintaining the alignment of the wheels and casters. The seating assembly allows the seat and seat back to be positioned independently to suit the user's size, posture, balance, and other physical characteristics. A powered seat mount allows the user to raise and lower the seating assembly.

Abstract: A pair of explosive detonators are recessed in the end of a cylindrical body containing a permanent magnet, which serves as the rotor in a brushless, bi-directional torque motor enclosed in a housing. A reversible positioning current causes the motor to rotate the body between armed and safe positions and thereby establish and interrupt axial explosive transfer paths from the detonators to a corresponding pair of explosive transfer lines ported through the housing cover. An internal switching circuit disables the detonators when the body is in the safe position and passes a firing current to them when the body is in the armed position. A detent ring secured to the rotatable body, and a pair of spring-loaded detents in the housing index the rotatable body in the armed and safe positions and prevent its accidental rotation. Mechanical safing means are provided for manually overriding an electrical arming signal.

Abstract: A water conserving shower assembly utilizes a novel distributor connected to a domestic water line carrying hot and cold water combined in a predetermined ratio. A piping system carries water from the distributor and terminates in a shower head. The piping system is provided with a valve assembly which incorporates an on-off valve for interrupting the flow of water to the shower head, a flow metering device operated solely by means of a unique key, and a dump valve for bypassing the on-off valve and diverting water from the shower head while the shower temperature is coming to equilibrium at the temperature established by the hot-cold water ratio. A container captures the diverted water for later use.

Abstract: A method and means for generating a force. A flared body is enclosed in a shroud to form one or more ducts of axially diminishing cross-section for accelerating and directing the discharge of a fluid introduced into the ducts under pressure. A cambered vane is positioned at the exit of each duct, in the path of the accelerated fluid discharge. Fluid passing over and under each vane produces a force aligned axially with the body and in the direction of flow of the fluid in the associated duct. In a preferred embodiment a conically-shaped body and surrounding shroud form an annular duct for air delivered to the mouth of the duct by a compressor. The vane is an annular airfoil.

Abstract: A device for dispensing predetermined quantities of, for example, spaghetti, includes a hopper containing a supply of the pasta. An outlet in the hopper deposits the spaghetti at the upper end of a vibrating slide. The vibration causes the spaghetti to move toward a chute at the slide's lower end. An arm hinged to the upper end of the plate carries an axially moveable blade and an end plate. Rocking the arm positions the blade intermittently to interrupt the movement of the spaghetti to the chute and alternately positions the end plate to allow the batch of spaghetti accumulated in the chute to drop into a batch container positioned below it. The position of the blade on the arm determines the quantity of pasta in each batch. An articulated carrier moves the loaded batch container to a dispensing location and discharges its contents.

Abstract: An electro-explosive initiator which may be either a coaxial or floating case type, for example, and which is constructed to be immune from the effects of electrostatic discharges. The initiator includes a bridgewire and contact pins for carrying an electric igniting signal to the bridgewire. The initiator has a discrete capacitor connected across the contact pins to shunt out the energy resulting from an electrostatic discharge pulse, and for preventing such energy from reaching the bridgewire.

Abstract: A monolithic upper section contains a boiler surrounding an initial cooking chamber. A lower section contains a final cooking chamber aligned vertically with the upper chamber. Superheated water is piped from the boiler into the upper chamber. Valve controlled piping transfers steam from the upper chamber to the lower chamber and discharges steam and cooking water from the lower chamber, to maintain predetermined temperature and pressure levels within the two chambers. Ball valves in the lower ends of the two chambers allow the partially cooked product and cooking water to drop from the upper chamber into the lower chamber, and the drained fully cooked product to drop from the lower chamber onto a serving plate.

Abstract: A camera case comprising two mating shells. A swivelable mounting device on the first shell allows a camera to be mounted to that shell for taking photographs. In their mated relationship, the shells fully enclose the camera. The shells are connected by a flexible or hinged strap, or by the swivelable camera mounting device itself, whereby the second shell can be rotated so as to serve as a stable base supporting the first shell, with the camera mounted to it for taking photographs, on any convenient generally horizontal surface.

Abstract: In this invention, a breather device for a tank comprises a closed reservoir above the container but having a conduit which depends into the container and has an opening which determines liquid level in the container. The container comprises air inlet means which will allow entry of air into the container from above liquid level, and a breather tube which opens into the container below liquid level (or vice versa) so that liquid normally closes the air flow path to the breather tube, but the depth of water level is so small that a slight pressure differential only is required to cause sufficient displacememt of water to open that air flow path.

Abstract: The radio transmitter in a miniaturized transceiver concealed on a person to be located, such as a lost child, is activated and transmits a coded UHF radio homing signal upon receipt of an initiating signal containing the child's address code. The initiating signal is automatically transmitted by a repeater station in response to an audible "panic signal" containing the address code and contains the identical address code. The panic signal is a pulse tone produced by a hand held tone generator activated by the child's parent and is transmitted to the repeater station by telephone. Tracking vehicles are provided with automatic UHF radio direction finding and distance measuring equipment for locating the source of the homing signal. Stored information concerning the child can be transmitted to the tracking vehicles.

Abstract: In this invention, both a grape juice concentrate and a grape juice drink are produced by first preparing the raw material for a year's production during vintage, transferring grape juice so produced to a vacuum concentrating column before it ferments, heating the grape juice in the column and subjecting it to a low pressure (vacuum) to separate it into a distillate and a first stage grape juice concentrate which has a Baume of about 35, separate storing the first stage grape juice concentrate, remixing some of the stored concentrate with the distillate to produce a low calorie grape juice drink and further concentrating the first stage concentrate to produce a food product having a Baume above 35.

Abstract: A computerized data-bearing card which includes an internal microcomputer chip which includes a random access memory, a read-only memory and a programmable read-only memory, and which is constructed so that digitized data may be read from and written into the microcomputer by an independent reader/writer unit. Communication between the card and the reader/writer unit is by means of interactive photoelectric transducers provided in the card and the reader/writer unit. The circuitry within the card is electrically energized by electromagnetic induction from the reader/writer unit, thereby obviating any need for internal batteries, electrical connections to external power supplies and electric switches. Clock signals from the microcomputer are also supplied to the reader/writer unit by interactive photoelectric transducers.