Abstract: An oil-and-water mixture is supplied to a tank which is closed at the bottom and open at the top, generally midway between top and bottom. A closed vessel envelops the upper portion of the tank. A vacuum is drawn at the top of the tank and vessel. An oil coalescer is placed between the mixture supply and the open tank top and a water coalescer between the supply and the closed tank bottom. Separated oil spills over the open tank top into the vessel, and is discharged from there. Separated water is discharged from the closed tank bottom.

Abstract: An improved ground stake apparatus for the support of small garden fences used to protect flower beds, seedlings and the like. The invention is comprised of a stake adapted with a plurality of incrementally spaced apertures through which one or more removable U-shaped bridge members are inserted to form channels for the retention of horizontal wires of conventional fencing. Hour-glass shaped clips are also provided to secure the bridge members in place at the desired elevation along the elongate shaft of the stake. Additional features of the invention include an enlarged head having elevated nubs to reduce hammer slippage while driving the stake and a ventral fin attached along the bottom of the shaft for the prevention of both axial and lateral movement of the stake once inserted into the ground.

Abstract: A collapsible artist's water color palette comprising a plurality of rectangular trays non-fixedly attached to one another such that simple manipulation into a stacked, compact configuration for transport, or alternatively, a side-by-side, planer, configuration for mixing may be accomplished. In the stacked configuration, an upper tray serves as a lid for the tray below and, thus, prevents spillage of wet, runny paints and contamination of individual paint receptacles. A lid is provided to cover the uppermost tray when in the stacked configuration, and doubles as an additional working surface when in the planer configuration. Moreover, the subject invention provides a unitary structure so arranged with its integral components that paint receptacles and mixing surfaces may remain in an upright position during use and manipulation from one configuration to another, thus further reducing the possibility of paint spillage and contamination.

Abstract: A method of producing weldless resonating monolithic cavity comprising the steps of: arranging a die which can be disassembled into sectors and having the form of the internal cavity of the resonator; spinning a foil by using said die so as to provide a monolithic weldless body of metal sheet which coats exactly and completely the die; and disassembling and removing the sectors of the die through one opening of the resonator.

Abstract: A balloon inflation device with a light source involving a tube with internal electrical conducting wire such that a power source can be attached to one end of the tube, a light bulb can be attached to the other end of the tube and the power source will illuminate the light bulb. The tube also has a radially projecting flange with a chamfered edge on its outer surface such that the tube can be inserted into a balloon, light first, and the stem of the balloon can be stretched over the flange, holding the tube in place and creating a mechanical seal that prevents gas from passing between the flange and the balloon stem. The power source of the light bulb can be removed from the tube and a gas stream can be projected into the balloon, inflating it, but the tube is arranged and configured such that the gas in the balloon cannot flow out of the balloon through the tube.

Abstract: An improved ground stake apparatus for the support of small garden fences used to protect flower beds, seedlings and the like. The invention is comprised of a stake adapted with a plurality of incrementally spaced apertures through which one or more removable U-shaped bridge members are inserted to form channels for the retention of horizontal wires of conventional fencing. Hour-glass shaped clips are also provided to secure the bridge members in place at the desired elevation along the elongate shaft of the stake. Additional features of the invention include an enlarged head having elevated nubs to reduce hammer slippage while driving the stake and a ventral fin attached along the bottom of the shaft for the prevention of both axial and lateral movement of the stake once inserted into the ground.

Abstract: A generally vertical tube communicates at its lower end with a reservoir containing the heavier of two liquids to be separated (water in the case of oil and water separation). A vacuum system is used to create at the top of this tube a lower pressure than at the bottom. The mixture of the liquids to be separated is injected into the tube at an intermediate location between top and bottom with relatively low velocity and turbulence, and close to, but below the level of the interface between the two liquids, which becomes established as they separate. The interface level location is maintained by controlling the top-to-bottom pressure difference and the evacuation rate of the lighter liquid.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of this invention entraps liquids within wax and transforms naturally occurring or synthetic waxes into a state characterized by the fact that when the waxes solidify, they do so in forms different from those forms into which they would solidify except for the transformation. The entrapment and transformation is achieved by subjecting the waxes to force. As examples of apparatuses which can supply the force to effect the transformation, a piston apparatus and an ultrasonic apparatus are disclosed. The triglyceride waxes are one type of wax which may be transformed by the method and apparatus of this invention. Transformed triglyceride waxes are superior hosts for liquids entrapped within their matrix. The subject method is particularly effective for minimizing loss of liquids due to volatilization the entrapment process.

Abstract: A trocar consisting of a trocar in a central opening in a cannula. The cannula is provided with at least one separate passage running parallel to the central passage. The separate passage is connected to a source of cleansing fluid and a pumping means for pumping fluid through the separate passage. The separate passage terminates in an orifice near the distal end of the central opening of the cannula. In operation, when the cannula is used to provide access for a laparoscope or other viewing instrument, the end of the viewing instrument may become clouded with moisture and other debris. In this case, the end of the viewing instrument may be withdrawn into the distal end of the cannula adjacent the fluid orifices. The pumping means is actuated and cleansing fluid is forced over the end of the instrument cleaning away the obstructing matter without removing the instrument from the cannula.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the modification of the physical properties of polymers through pressure processing techniques. The apparatus is comprised of a piston device which acts on the polymer substrate charged within the confines of a compression chamber. The piston delivers an abrupt pressure change to the substrate for the purpose of effecting the desired modification of physical properties including altered thermal, viscosity, solubility, turbidity and hardness profiles. Predictable characteristics may be imparted to the substrate through variation of pressure duration and intensity as well as the number of piston strokes applied. Modification of the physical properties of starch and gum arabic, in particular, is disclosed.

Abstract: A carrier or receptacle for a computer disc and printed matter relating to its contents is disclosed. It is comprised of a sheet of semi-rigid, durable material such as paperboard or spunbonded olefin fabricated to a specific configuration and having score lines at various locations such that flaps and hinges are formed to enable folding of the sheet into a multi-pocket storage apparatus. The pocket designated for the storage of the computer disc is dimensioned so as to permit its easy insertion and removal and to further permit the user to view the identification label of the disc when stored. One or more additional pockets for the retention of information cards or other media, containing printed matter, are also provided and have open or transparent windows to enable viewing of the printed information when inserted. The dimensions of the subject device closely conform to those of the disc stored therein such that storage of both, within conventional disc storage cabinets and the like, is made possible.

Abstract: An alarm apparatus immediately alerts mail recipients of postal deliveries made through a mail slot opening. The device is mounted adjacent the mail slot and has an activation lever, the distal end of which is in contact with the hinged, swinging door of the mail slot, and the proximal end of which has a contact switch retention means. As the door is opened, the activation lever rotates causing the retention means to release the contact switch resulting in the completion of a circuit and the sounding of an alarm. The alarm may be a buzzer, beeper, radio or other suitable means of producing an audible alert which can be immediately detected. In another embodiment of the invention, completion of the circuit can activate a light for the hearing impaired. In still another embodiment of the invention, the subject device can be further adapted to trigger the activation of alarms at remote locations.

Abstract: A sliding door which is moveable back and forth by a stationary drive motor nit, which has a drive pinion meshing with a gear rack attached to the door or the door's bottom rail, the gear rack being made of a series of adjacent rack segments extending in the sliding direction of the door and inserted in a retaining channel affixed to the door, the segments being manufactured as finished molded pieces and attached to each other with uniform tooth pitch along the rack, whereby the rack is low in cost, adaptable to various door displacement distances, and parts which are subject to heavy wear are readily replaceable.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor for the collection and measurement of ferrous particles through the use of an electronic tuned circuit is disclosed. The sensor contains an electrical inductance coil along with an integral magnet to attract ferrous particles suspended in the fluid. The ferrous particles collecting on the magnetic surface of the sensor causes a change in the inductance of the integral coil which is measured by an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit operating in conjunction with the sensor utilizes a series resonant circuit. A measurement of the voltage across the series resonant circuit is responsive to changes in temperature of the inductance coil. A microprocessor is used to determine the change in period of the resonant oscillation with change in inductance of the coil. The microprocessor uses the data on temperature variation to correct the observed change in oscillator period for the effects of temperature.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of this invention permit quality review by medical insurers of ambulatory patient care by gathering medical data on each and every ambulatory visit and by providing a unique data transmission system to timely and accurately report the data for analysis. Negotiable medical data drafts are provided to participating medical care providers, who are authorized to issue the draft to themselves and sign the draft at the conclusion of each patient's visit. In exchange for immediate partial payment for services rendered, the medical service provider is required to enter the requested medical data summarizinq the patient's visit on the data entry portions of the negotiable medical data draft. Deposit in its bank of the medical data draft by the medical care provider returns to the provider immediate cash and places the medical data in a transmission system designed and monitored for accurate and reliable handling.

Abstract: A method of providing a thin film for lining quarter-wave resonant cavities of copper comprises the deposition of a superconducting material, in particular niobium, in the form of a micro-layer having a substantially constant thickness covering both the cylindrical surface of the cavity and its bottom formed of a plane plate, by biased-diode d.c. sputtering through emitting cathodes in a form fitting geometrically the surfaces to be lined.

Abstract: Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) is an effective computer implemented methodology of 3D-QSAR employing both interactive graphics and statistical techniques for correlating shapes of molecules with their observed biological properties. For each molecule of a series of known substrates the steric and electrostatic interaction energies with a test probe atom are calculated at spatial coordinates around the molecule. Subsequent analysis of the data table by a partial least squares (PLS) cross-validation technique yields a set of coefficients which reflect the relative contribution of the shape elements of the molecular series to differences in biological activities. Display in three dimensions in an interactive graphics environment of the spatial volumes highly associated with biological activity, and comparison with molecular structures yields an understanding of intermolecular associations. CoMFA will also predict the biological activity of new molecular species.