Abstract: A waffle iron apparatus and method for use. A waffle iron apparatus that permits many waffles to be baked simultaneously in a conventional residential kitchen oven. The apparatus has two gridiron assemblies, which are pivotally connected, but which also may be fully and easily disconnected for cleaning. Multiple apparatuses are easily and neatly stackable for storage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a two-stroke internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder (2) and a cylinder head (4) releasably secured thereto, the cylinder (2) featuring a main exhaust port (12) and at least one auxiliary exhaust port (13) which can be covered at least in part by means of control slide members actuatable by a slide stem (16) arranged at an angle to a cylinder axis and axially actuated by an actuator (19), and the control slide members are configured integrally with a common control slide (14) coupled to the slide stem (16) and the slide stem (16) penetrating the cylinder head (4).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rapidly installing or withdrawing a sealing liner into or out of a subsurface well bore or borehole. An eversion aid, such as an open-ended cylinder, is engaged with the liner, the eversion aid serving to push the liner down the borehole during installation, and to assist in proper liner extraction during its withdrawal from the borehole. Water is transferred between the liner interior and the borehole outside the liner to regulate the disposition of borehole water, and to aid in proper sealing functions of the liner and to promote proper liner extraction during withdrawal.

Abstract: An air intake apparatus for a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine. There is disclosed an air intake apparatus including ducting members for fluidly communicating cleaned intake air, for combustion, in the direction of the internal combustion engine. The apparatus also features an air filter element arranged on the duct members, as well as a case for housing the air filter element. The communicating duct members are engineered such that the air filter element can be pivoted from the case to an open position, such as for cleaning, while nevertheless remaining upon on the air communicating duct members.

Abstract: An ergonomic worker support stand with convenience features for reducing stress and supporting either the upper or lower portion of a person's body is disclosed. The stand is designed for safety, convenience and comfort in performing worker tasks. My patent includes features that reduce stress, conserve energy, and facilitate increased work productivity are important to physically challenged persons as well an able bodied worker. The stand is separable, adjustable and foldable to make it compact for storage purposes. The ergonomic stand, in the operational position, provides a sturdy, balanced, adjustable, and ergonomic platform for the support of the worker, appliances and tools. The stand has features for lighting of the workspace, holding work related accessories, powering electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically operated tools. The stand has ports for connecting personal data assistants, wireless communications, and computers used in accessing worker instructions and information.

Abstract: Provided is a rear swinging fork (1) for a motorcycle, die-cast in one piece and featuring two longitudinal extending supporting arms (2, 3) each having three supporting walls (6, 7, 8), and a transverse cross member (4) connecting the supporting arms (2, 3). Each of the supporting arms (2, 3) has a mount for pivotal location of the rear swinging fork (1) on a motorcycle frame, and includes in the region of the ends of the supporting arms, opposite the mounts (5), a wheel mount (11) for the rear wheel of the motorcycle. The portion of the fork between the cross member (4) and the mounts (5) is openly configured, and the supporting arms (2, 3) feature in a section transverse to the longitudinal direction of the rear swinging fork (1) an upper supporting wall (6), a lower supporting wall (7), and an inboard supporting wall (8) connecting the upper (6) and lower supporting wall (7) and located in the longitudinal direction of the rear swinging fork (1), with a cavity (16) formed between the supporting walls.

Abstract: A decorative charm and fastener system and its method for use upon an item to be worn by the user or a pet animal; the item to be worn may be a shoe, an item of clothing (including shirts, hats and caps, or the like), or a pet collar. The fundamental embodiment features a charm part and a base part that may be connected together on opposite sides of the item to be worn, with the item situated between the base part and the charm part. The system also includes an elastically compressible washer member that is placed upon the charm part. The compressible washer promotes a secure, yet temporary, connection between the charm part and base part when those respective parts are installed upon an item. Assortments of different charms thus are interchangeable for temporary attachment to the base part. Specialized alternative versions of the apparatus are disclosed for use upon the shoelaces of a shoe, as a pet collar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collection of pore water samples from a subsurface geologic formation, especially a vadose zone formation having high capillary tension. The method consists of injection of a fluid with known tracer concentrations therein into the formation. The injected displacement fluid develops a wetting front which carries with it the ambient pore water. The mixture of pore water and tracer-bearing displacement fluid is absorbed by a collection system, such as an absorbent member or pumping system. The injection and collection system are attached to a sealing borehole liner for emplacement in a borehole in the formation, and for other functions. Water samples collected in the collector system may be recovered by inversion of the liner, or alternatively by pumping. Samples thus removed from the borehole may be evaluated for chemicals, such as contaminants. The use of the tracer permits pore water characteristics to be distinguished from the motivating displacement fluid.

Abstract: There is disclosed a steering assembly for a two-track vehicle, such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), including a rider saddle and vehicle frame, the steering assembly comprising arranged on a steering column (14) a handle bar bridge (10) and a handle bar (2) and provided at the steering column (14) a steering arm (20) coupled by tie rods (31) to transmit a rotary motion of the steering column (14) to the vehicle wheels (26), and the handle bar bridge (10) and the steering arm (20) are defined by means of a releasable connection to the steering column (14) and provided at the steering arm (20) is an extension arm (23) for coupling with a steering damper (25).

Abstract: A motorcycle frame, and motorcycle with the frame as disclosed. There is disclosed a motorcycle frame having tubes extending away from a steering head tube in a three-dimensional trellis composite assembly of frame main tubes, interconnected by frame struts, paired upper and lower frame main tubes oriented, along at least a portion of their lengths, substantially parallel to each other. A single tube is oriented parallel to the lower frame main tubes, and arranged between the upper frame main tubes and the steering head tube.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pressing apparatus for fabricating a dense, rigid, durable panel from a molten composite material, such as a composite of wood fibers and thermoplastic. The apparatus features a first platen in spaced and angled relation to a second platen to define a gap between said platens. The gap decreases uniformly from first ends of the platens toward second ends of the platens, and conveyer belts, movably disposed along opposing surfaces of said platens, move molten composite material through the decreasing gap to compress the molten composite material between the platens, while substantially simultaneously the material undergoes first passive and then active cooling into a rigid sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for evaluating chemicals of interest in a subsurface bore hole, such as a groundwater sampling well. An absorbent member is attached to a flexible liner, and the liner is everted by fluid pressure down the borehole. The everted liner presses the absorbent member against the wall of the borehole. Any chemicals of interest are absorbed into the absorbent member from the media surrounding the borehole. The liner, with associated absorbent member thereon, is then extracted from the borehole. The absorbent member may then be subjected to any suitable laboratory analysis to evaluate the type, spatial distribution, and concentration of chemicals of interest, such as water contaminants occurring in the borehole.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for pyrolyzing solid wastes to recover there-from useful hydrocarbon distillates, carbon black, and other potentially commercially valuable by-products. Pyrolysis and distillation may be performed substantially continuously, rather than by batch processing. The pyrolysis unit including a distillation array featuring two or more parallel, heated, conveyors, arranged in alternative switch-backs, through which a feedstock is moved during pyrolysis. The feedstock moves from conveyor to conveyor, and thus may pass through zones of different temperature to optimize the distillation of various constituents from the feedstock. Friction-reducing components, such as rollers, are situated between adjacent pairs of conveyors so that temperature differentials, and the resulting contract or expansion of system components, are accommodated and associated stresses ameliorated.

Abstract: An off-road motorcycle apparatus. There is provided is an off-road competition motorcycle comprising an internal combustion engine (2), having at least one cylinder, and a front wheel (3) as well as a rear wheel (4), a tubular trellis frame (5) and a self-supporting fuel tank configured as a rear tank (11) mounted at the rear end of the off-road competition motorcycle, releasably secured to the tubular trellis frame (5), wherein the rear tank (11) is the sole fuel tank of the off-road competition motorcycle and a lower portion of the rear tank (11) extends by its bottom (16) in the yaw axis direction of the off-road competition motorcycle (1) into the region of one end of the tubular trellis frame (5).

Abstract: A flexible bore hole liner, such as may be used to line or seal a hole drilled into the earth's surface, and featuring a diffusion barrier to prevent undesirable cross-contamination during, for example, sampling of subsurface fluids. The sampling liner includes a flexible diffusion barrier so as to reduce diffusion transport of contaminant(s) into and/or out of the interior volume of a bore hole liner. This flexible diffusion barrier may be incorporated into the construction of a portion of known borehole liner systems. The diffusion barrier is attached by a suitable means to the liner and/or the “spacer” accompanying the liner. The diffusion barrier prevents diffusion into and/or out of the liner in the sampling interval subtended by the spacer length, preventing cross-contamination of fluid samples obtained by the liner systems currently in use.

Abstract: An electrical shorting stick and method of using it. The apparatus and method allow the user to work on or about high-voltage equipment at tremendously reduced risk of accidental electrocution. The apparatus permits the user to secure a reliable short-circuit of the equipment to the absolute ground, so that current cannot be directed through the bodies of the service crew. The apparatus is placed into contact with the equipment of interest. While in contact with the equipment, the apparatus is manipulated by the user to safely discharge to absolute ground all potentially hazardous electrical current. The apparatus has a handle assembly movable upon a main road assembly. When the handle assembly is placed into a first position, current is directed from the equipment to the absolute ground via the apparatus including a resistor.

Abstract: A liquid propelled rocket engine comprising a unique pintle injector, radial injector plate and ablative insert to improve combustion stability and reduce harmonic disturbance within the chamber. The injector plate is generally in the shape of a ring surrounding a combination spud and pintle injector, the two allowing at least one liquid propellant and one liquid oxidizer to be injected into the chamber. The injector plate has an array of injectors for injecting liquid propellant into the chamber and a series of cavities within allowing the harmonic disturbance to be damped and providing a more stable combustion environment. The number of cavities and the unique pintle injector's length and width are chosen to reduce harmonic disturbance in the longitudinal, radial and lateral modes. A method for designing engine components and tuning harmonic frequencies within a combustion chamber is also disclosed.

Abstract: A barbecue grill stand. A stand is provided for supporting a barbecue grill. The stand has a top section and a bottom section. The top section may be independently used without the bottom section to provide for a compact apparatus that may be rested on a table, the tailgate of a pickup truck, or the like. The top section may be engaged upon the bottom section to provide a full-size barbecue grill stand that may free-stand upon the floor or ground. The top section connects and disconnects with and from the bottom section simply and without the use of tools or complicated fasteners. The apparatus employs one or two sets of wheels to provide for easy movement, and can be easily and quickly collapsed into a small space for transportation and storage between uses.

Abstract: A sampling system and method for use in pipes or in boreholes beneath the earth's surface, including the use of flexible borehole liners, the liners provided with a diffusion barrier to prevent contamination of fluid samples obtained by the system and method. There is provided a flexible diffusion barrier in the construction of a flexible fluid sampling liner, so as to nearly eliminate concern for diffusion transport into or out of the liner. The flexible diffusion barrier may be incorporated into and constructed with known devices, called spacers, in use with flexible borehole liners. The diffusion barrier according to the present disclosure is attached or secured by a suitable means to the interior surface, or the exterior surface, or both surfaces, of the flexible borehole liner. In one embodiment, a spacer with a diffusion barrier prevents both the diffusion into the liner, and the diffusion out of the liner, in the interval subtended by the spacer length.

Abstract: A conveyor feeding system for reliably and continuously supplying particulate matter as feedstock, such as rubber tire chips, to a reactor or distillation unit. The feeding system includes a pair of inclined spiral augers having their lower ends submerged in oil or other liquid to provide a liquid seal, thereby preventing undesirable back flow of distillation gases through the feeding system. The push auger acts to push lightweight feedstock downward, submerging it through the liquid seal. The material thereafter is taken up by the partially submerged feed auger, for withdrawal up out of the liquid seal for delivery to further processing, such as a pyrolytic reactor. Buoyant material, which otherwise might float upon the liquid of the seal reservoir, accordingly may be effectively processed through the system.