Abstract: A process for the recovery of nickel, cobalt or manganese from their oxides or silicates wherein such process, which requires the application of heat, is improved by utilizing microwave energy as the source of heat. The microwave energy may be utilized to cause the reduction of these values enabling such reduced values to then be recovered by conventional leaching processes. The microwave energy may also be used in conjunction with the chlorination of such values to produce their chlorides which are subsequently separated from the gangue and then processed by conventional means to obtain the metal values.

Abstract: An adjustable device is provided for supporting articles, such as lamps and potted plants. The device includes a stationary support member which is fixedly attached to a wall or other upstanding foundation. A coupling mechanism is movably connected at a first end to one end of the stationary support member. A swivel member is connected to a second end of the coupling mechanism by means of a pivot member to permit rotation of the swivel member along an arcuate path in a generally horizontal direction. In addition, a chain or cord interconnects the swivel member and the stationary support member to permit vertical movement of the swivel member relative to the stationary support member. Thus, a lamp or plant holder may be secured to the chain for convenient movement to a number of desirable, alternative positions.

Abstract: A form tie lock tool is provided which includes the combination of a cam lock member for use with hand set concrete panels and an anchor lock member for use with gang form concrete panels. The tool includes a frame having a first opening and a second opening formed therein. A tie lock member, including the cam lock member and the anchor lock member, is connected to the frame. A form tie having a pair of looped ends is insertable between a pair of the hand set form panels. In one embodiment, each of the looped ends is receivable through a slot in one of the hand set panels to be grippingly engaged by the cam lock member which is then rotatable in a first direction to secure the form tie between the hand set panels. Similarly, a form tie having a pair of looped ends is insertable between a pair of gang form panels.

Abstract: An aircraft is provided with a wing in the form of an annulus having an airfoil shape in radial section, the wing being concentrically mounted on a vertical axle shaft which in turn is rotatably carried by a mounting on the fuselage. Rotation of the wing drives air centrifugally across the upper and lower surfaces to energize the boundary layer, enhance laminar flow, and produce lift. Vanes may be mounted on the inner portion of the surface to increase the flow and thus produce greater life. The vanes may be attached to a stabilizer ring which is eccentrically adjustable by a controlling mechanism to vary the extension of the vanes into and out of the wing at various points in the cource of rotation and thus vary the degree of lift produced. The wing may also be provided within its inner perimeter with airfoil lifting blades which produce additional lift, and the blades may be swung by a stabilizer ring to positions producing a desired thrust in a desired direction as the wing rotates.

Abstract: A pneumatic vibrator is provided which operates without the use of bearings. The vibrator includes a generally cylindrically formed housing and a cylindrical shaped rotor contained within the housing. The housing includes an inlet for receiving pressurized fluid and an outlet for discharging the fluid. The rotor has a number of jets formed adjacent the periphery of the rotor and extending through the outer longitudinal surface thereof. The rotor also includes an axle member extending from the rotor and which engages a recess formed in an end of the housing. In operation, the inlet of the vibrator is connected to a source of pressurized air. At least a portion of one of the jets is aligned with the inlet to receive the pressurized air. The air discharged from the jet produces a thrust driving the rotor about the inner wall of the housing.

Abstract: In a process for beneficiating one or more mineral values of sulfide ores by treating the sulfide ore with a metal containing compound under conditions such as to selectively enhance the magnetic susceptibility of the mineral values to the exclusion of the gangue in order to permit a separation between the values and gangue, the improvement comprising pretreating the sulfide ore by heating it to a temperature of at least about 80.degree. C. for at least about 0.1 hours.

Abstract: One or more mineral values of sulfide ores are beneficiated by cotreating the sulfide ore with a metal containing compound and a reducing gas under conditions such as to selectively enhance the magnetic susceptibility of the mineral values to the exclusion of the gangue in order to permit a physical separation between the values and gangue.

Abstract: A process for recovering aluminum from clays associated with coal or bauxite containing iron, siliceous material and titanium which comprises: (a) chlorinating the clay or bauxite in an oxidizing atmosphere to selectively chlorinate and vaporize iron chloride from the remaining chlorides, (b) chlorinating the residue from step (a) in a reducing atmosphere or carbon monoxide and vaporizing the chlorides of aluminum, silicon, titanium, and the residual iron, (c) separating and recovering the formed vaporized chlorides by selective condensation. Silicon tetrachloride may be added to step (b) to suppress the chlorination of silicon. If the clay contains alkali or alkaline earth metals, then the residue of step (b) is treated with sulfuric acid to convert the soluble chlorides, e.g., gypsum, to sulfates and to regenerate a chloridizing and binder solution for pelletizing the clay or bauxite.

Abstract: A combustion products detection apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus is powered by an energy source which provides a relatively low DC output voltage. This DC voltage is multiplied by a voltage multiplier circuit in conjunction with a first oscillator having an output of a first predetermined frequency. The output voltage of the voltage multiplier circuit is applied to a combustion products sensor circuit. Upon detection of a predetermined concentration of combustion products in the region being monitored by the sensor circuit, a second oscillator is enabled. The second oscillator has an output of a second predetermined frequency which is a greater frequency than the first predetermined frequency. The second predetermined frequency output controls the voltage multiplier circuit when the predetermined concentration of combustion products is present.

Abstract: An underground method for in situ leaching of mineral resource bodies is used to recover the mineral. The method comprises running a drift close to the resource body in such a manner as to minimize any effect on subsurface water; drilling long holes from the drift into the resource body at intervals which are determined by the character of the resource body; perforating the long holes and capping the long holes at the drift end with valves; injecting a recovery solution into a portion of the long holes and recovering the recovery solution from another portion of the long holes. The entire development of the drifts and long holes and the conduction of the recovery solution are done in such a manner as to minimize any effect on the subsurface water table or hydrostatic pressure. The spacing of the long holes is selected so as to maximize the exposure of the resource body to the recovery solution.

Abstract: A male incontinence device is provided including a flexible, thin sheet including a rim positioned along the outer edge of the sheet and a covering layer overlying the space within the rim. The rim comprises a first surface and a second surface with a foam layer connected therebetween. The rim also includes an inner and outer periphery. Portions of the inner periphery are positioned in the coronal sulcus of the penis. A drainage tube is placed adjacent the urethra opening. Portions of the rim, togehter with the covering layer, are folded over the head of the penis. Portions of the rim are joined together along the first surface thereof to tightly secure the device and drainage tube to the penis so that the escape of urine, other than through the drainage tube, is greatly minimized.

Abstract: A precast building construction unit is provided for forming a substantially complete building. The unit includes a wall tree unit having a vertically extending wall segment and at least one cantilever member joined at right angles thereto. Pairs of wall tree units are spaced apart and their cantilever members are coaxially directed toward each other so that a base slab unit is connected therebetween. The wall segments thereby form the vertical walls and the cantilever members and base slab units comprise the floors and ceilings of the building. Additional wall tree units can be connected above each of the spaced wall tree units as well as laterally adjacent each of the wall tree units so that building structures of various heights and widths can be provided. A hoisting eye is provided at an end of each of the wall segments to permit carrying and lifting of the wall tree units and to enable the connecting of vertically adjacent wall tree units together.

Abstract: A tool is provided for installing a tag in an element to be tagged, such as an animal's ear, wherein the tool releasably holds a tag on one side of the ear and a blade on the other side of the ear is moved so as to pierce the ear to form an incision therein and to grasp the locking head of the tag on the other side of the ear and pull it back through the incision during the return movement of the cutting element and subsequently release the locking head of the tag after it has been pulled back through the incision. Since only the cutting blade or the locking head of the tag are in the incision at one time, tearing of the incision is minimized.

Abstract: In a process for beneficiating one or more mineral values of sulfide ores and/or metal oxide ores selected from the group consisting of bauxite, taconite, apatite, titanium oxides and the metal oxides of Groups IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, VIIIB, IB, IIB and IVA by treating the ore with a metal containing compound under conditions such as to selectively enhance the magnetic susceptibility of the mineral values to the exclusion of the gangue in order to permit a separation between the values and gangue, the improvement comprising removing at least a portion of any elemental sulfur present from the ore prior to the treatment with a metal containing compound.

Abstract: A hydrometallurgical process is used to recover lead from a lead-bearing ore concentrate. The lead-bearing ore concentrate is leached with a solution of cupric chloride in order to precipitate lead as lead chloride, produce elemental sulfur and substantially leave the balance of the ore concentrate sulfides in unreacted form. The residue of the cupric chloride leach is leached with a brine solution in order to solubilize the lead chloride to the exclusion of the balance of the residue. Thereafter, the lead chloride is crystallized from the brine solution. Elemental lead may be obtained by the reduction of the lead chloride crystals.The present process avoids air pollution problems inherent to smelting processes, allows for a high recovery of lead of 97% or greater and allows for the direct production of a high purity lead.

Abstract: A nose splint is provided which has a resilient layer having an adhesive coating on one side and a malleable metal layer permanently attached to the opposite side. The splint is applied after a traumatized nose has been taped with adhesive tape by applying the adhesive surface of the splint to the bridge of the nose and forming the splint around the nose so as to press any edema fluid between the incised skin and the bone and cartilage out of this area so that the skin tightly engages the bone and cartilage and is held thereagainst by adhesive contact with both the incised area and the untreated area so as to minimize swelling of the tissue and separation of the tissue from the bone and cartilage during the initial healing process.

Abstract: A delineator pole is provided which pivots when a force is applied thereto and returns to its original position upon release of the force. The pole includes upper and lower segments with a biasing spring completely housed within the lower pole segment which is held in a support structure. The upper and lower pole segments are joined together by the spring and are held in axial alignment by the mating cooperation of a rounded edge lip portion adjacent the lower pole segment and a rounded grooved flange adjacent the upper pole segment. Whenever the upper and lower pole segments are moved out of axial alignment, the force of the spring together with the rounded edge lip portion and the groove of the flange interact to guide the segments back into axial alignment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for initially anesthesizing the vas deferens of a male patient and then cauterizing the vas deferens to thereby permanently sterilize the male. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a container to house an anesthetic fluid and which is removably attached to a first electrode. The first electrode includes a hollow needle having a tip formed at one end. The apparatus further includes a second electrode having a conducting probe with a distal end and which is slidably insertable through the hollow needle.In operation, the needle is inserted through the scrotum wall and the tip positioned within the vas deferens. The anesthetic is forceably moved from the container through the hollow needle to desensitize the vas deferens. The container is removed from the first electrode and the second electrode is inserted into the first electrode. The distal end extends beyond the tip of the hollow needle and is positioned within the vas deferens.

Abstract: A device is provided for removing and containing debris present in a fluid as the fluid moves through the device. The device includes a cover member attachable to an inlet pipe for receiving the fluid-carrying debris and an outlet pipe for removing the debris-less fluid. A receptacle is removably secured to the cover member while a replaceable trap bag is housed therein to contain the debris that is deposited by the fluid. The trap bag has a longitudinal seal portion which includes a flat seal portion to overlie a portion of the rim of the receptacle. A gasket member underlies the cover member to engage that portion of the trap bag which overlies the receptacle rim, including the flat seal portion. The flat seal portion substantially eliminates leakage of fluid along the longitudinal seal portion of the trap bag since there is virtually no difference in width between the flat seal portion and other portions of the trap bag overlying the rim.