Abstract: A magnetohydrodynamic electric generator is disclosed, which is so devised that the coherent light generated in it by electrical stimulation, heat induction and/or gas expansion is collected and focused towards the gas plasma moving between the magnets and the electricity-collecting plates. In this generator, the composition of the laser gas mixture is also controlled and adjusted to compensate for the unavoidable loss occurring in operation, when some of the gas molecules, especially CO.sub.2, are dissociated.

Abstract: A deer decoy particularly adapted for luring a deer confrontagion ritual. This decoy has an inclined support mounted on a tree trunk or picket and a deer head artifact pivotably mounted on the support. A cord is used for pulling one side of the deer head artifact so that the deer head pivots about the inclined support in a first direction. A spring is attached to the deer head and to a rod fixed to the trunk so that, after pulling on the cord, the deer head pivots in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: Retaining wall blocks are disclosed, which are trapezoidal in shape and have a positive interlock. These blocks can be used to construct walls, especially garden walls, that are strong and either straight or serpentine, with concave or convex surfaces. More particularly, the blocks, thanks to their structure, can be used to construct tree rings or wells, patio walls with or without corners, straight walls with curved ends, serpentine feature walls, L-shaped walls, lawn and driveway edgings, small steps, free-form shallow ponds, planter boxes, window wells and the like. Advantageously, they can be produced in the form of units comprising blocks of the same or different type, e.g. of the stacking, coping or corner type, which can be assembled in the form of very light bundles easy to store and transport.

Abstract: Disclosed is a middle splitter for use in splitting middles of processed animals. This middle splitter has a work table onto which a conveyor belt is mounted. The conveyor belt is slotted along its length. A circular saw extends in the slot of the conveyor belt to cut the middle laid on the conveyor belt as it moves forward. A guide extends parallel to the slot and above the conveyor belt. This guide holds the middle flat against the belt as it is cut. A driving wheel having a vertical axis and peripheral corrugations is driven by a motor to pull the middle towards the saw and push the spine of the middle towards the guide while exerting a pressure to it. The guide includes two proximity switches operatively connected to the pressure-exerting device in such a manner that the pressure exerted by the wheel onto the spine is varied while the middle moves forward. The guide may further include a block located opposite the saw to distance the spine from the saw.

Abstract: Disclosed is a core for use in a core-board, which consists of an embossed sheet of a light weight material comprising a central surface extending in a plane and a plurality of embossments called top and bottom cells, that are identical in shape and project from the central surface on both sides thereof. Each of the top and bottom cells is integral to the central surface and of pyramidal shape. Each of them also has an open base of regular hexagonal shape extending in the plane of this central surface and a top flat surface of regular hexagonal shape and of a smaller surface area than the base. These top and bottom cells are regularly distributed onto the central surface in such a manner that each top cell is not adjacent to another top cell but extends edge to edge to three spaced apart bottom cells, and each bottom cell is not adjacent to another bottom cell, but extends edge to edge to three spaced apart top cells.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for automatically teeing up golf balls having a hopper, a teeing up device and a control panel. The hopper is operatively connected to the teeing up device to supply golf balls to the automatic teeing up device. The teeing up device comprises a piston moving between a lowermost and an uppermost position within a guide cylinder below the ground level. Golf balls are selected and allowed on a tee one at the time. The tee is adjustable in height to simulate a tee off lie or a fairway lie. A detector is located under the tee to detect the presence of a golf ball on the tee to automatically tee up another golf ball when needed. The control panel activates, controls or deactivates the automatic teeing up device.

Abstract: A heated air-circulating oven is disclosed, having a baking chamber in open communication with one or more suction chambers. One or more blowers draw air from the baking chamber through the suction chambers. The drawn air then passes through a blowing chamber and through a plurality of blown air distributors in open communication with the baking chamber so as to reinject the air drawn and blown by the blowers back into the baking chamber. The oven also has a heater external to the baking chamber so as to heat the air drawn by the blowers.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed thermal reactor such as a boiler or gasifier, having the riser divided into a sequence of stages by a plurality of restrictions which create multiple beds dynamically suspended. Circulation occurs below transport velocity, solids distribution is substantially uniform, average bed density can be varied from near-zero to very high values, solids mobility is unrestricted, temperature is uniform. Gases follow multistage CSTR flow regime, specially suited for fuels which break down into volatiles upon heating, such as biomass, hazardous wastes and most fuels other than coal.

Abstract: A floatation cell for treating wastewater in order to remove solid in suspension in the form of a floating sludge. This cell has a container which is rectangular in shape. A feed compartment in which the wastewater is fed, is located at one end of the compartment. A chute through which the floating sludge is collected and evacuated, is located at the other end of the container. The feed compartment has an outlet defined by a baffle that extends at a such height with respect to the top surface of the wastewater, as to generate a draining flow which directs the floating sludge towards the chute. The container also comprises scrappers mounted on its internal walls so as to be movable in an alternative, back and forth movement in order to avoid that the sludge accumulates on the walls and holds up the flow towards the chute. This system of evacuating the sludge is much simpler than the existing systems and the maintenance of the floatation cell is much easier to carry out.

Abstract: The device is used for cosmetic and relaxation treatment involving physical factors acting synergistically, including magnetic field, electrostimulation and photostimulation. The device has a plurality of magnets mounted on a rotor, which is mounted on a shaft driven by a motor. The motor and the rotor are within a housing. The rotor and the magnets extend close to an aperture in the housing and preferably closed by a device head. In use, when the motor is off, the magnets generate a static magnetic field. When the motor is on, the magnets generate a dynamic magnetic field. Such magnetic fields have benefic relaxing effects over the body by improving microcirculation of blood vessel. The device may also comprise electrodes and light emitting diodes mounted on its head and connected to a generator of electrical impulses for electrostimulating and photostimulating the body. This device, preferably made of plastic material, is of light weight and has the advantage of being portable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for preparing a culinary base product from the meat-containing heads, carapaces and small claws of shell-fishes, especially lobsters, crabs and shrimps. In a first step, the meat-containing heads, carapaces and small claws of raw shell-fishes are taken off. In a second step, the heads, carapaces and small claws are cooked, preferably in a dry heat oven after having been sprayed with an edible oil. In a third step, the cooked heads, carapaces and small claws are chopped and ground in order to form a concentrate. During this step, an edible thickener, such as guar gum, is added to the concentrate, together with a concentrated liquid extract obtained from steam cooking of full shell-fishes. In a fourth step, the thickened concentrate is processed in an emulsifier in order to obtain the culinary base product in the form of a paste. In a fifth step, the paste is packaged and optionally frozen, preferably in the form of elongated, sausage-like units.

Abstract: A burner is provided for heating a stream of combustion supporting gas, like air. The burner has a main feed pipe extending across the stream of combustion supporting gas. The main feed pipe has an inlet for receiving a fuel gas from a fuel gas source, and at least one outlet for producing a main jet of fuel gas substantially in the direction of the stream. The burner also has two parallel auxiliary feed pipes extending across the stream of combustion supporting gas, at a predetermined distance downstream from the main pipe and on each side of the main jet. Each of the auxiliary feed pipes has an inlet for receiving fuel gas from the fuel gas source, and at least one outlet for producing an auxiliary jet of fuel gas in the direction of the stream. The burner further has two bluff-body devices in front of the outlets of both the auxiliary feed pipes respectively.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for in situ purification by aeration and biofiltration of water from a water body. According to this method, polluted and/or oxygen deficient water is drawn through a conduit into a submerged chamber held adjacent to the surface of the water body. Water is oxygenated from three sources: air injected into the conduit to draw the water into the submerged chamber, air diffusing from the surface of the water body; and air injected in a lower portion of the chamber. The oxygenated water flows downwardly from the chamber through a submerged biofilter having a filter bed made of filtering media which may be preinoculated with beneficial microorganisms and essential nutrients. Rafted or floating vascular plants can be inserted into the chamber to enhance purification by fixing metals.