Abstract: A spray gun cleaning apparatus for containing and collecting toxic materials resulting from cleaning a spray gun with a cleaning fluid is disclosed. The apparatus includes an interior airflow passageway, a receptacle at an inflow end of the passageway for receiving the spray from the spray gun nozzle, and an outlet at the other end of the passageway for discharging airflow into the ambient environment. At least one filter/condenser is located within the passageway for condensing cleaning fluid vapor into liquid which flows into a waste container, preferably by gravity flow.

Abstract: Manually extendable telescoping antenna for a vehicle or vessel having a continuous core provided in the interior of the antenna to reduce mechanical/wind generated vibration noises. With the antenna extended, the core loosely touches the insides of the hollow telescoping elements and thus dampens and prevents creating a propagation of eigen-vibrations into the vehicle or vessel interior. The preferred core configuration may be a plastic band, plastic coated wire, or hollow or foam-filled plastic tube formed in a helical spiral secured at its lower end to a guide tube and at its upper end to the solid rod upper antenna section.

Abstract: A sports wrist watch protector comprising a continuous band portion, dependent side portions and a central aperture transverse to the length of the band through which the watch crystal and encircling bezel may be accessed. The band portion comprises an elastomeric fabric of laminate material for universal sizing. The elastomeric fabric of nylon, lycra, terry, plush or velcro laminated on one or both sides to a neoprene core, having differential stretch, with stretch along one axis greater than the perpendicular axis. The length of the band (circumference) is oriented along the greatest stretch axis so that upon stretching the depending side edges curl around the watch band. The central aperture is perpendicular to the band axis (circumference) and is either oval or rectangular in shape in the relaxed position, so that it stretches in the operative position to a round or square shape to conform with the shape of the wearer's watch.

Abstract: Baghouse SO.sub.x /NO.sub.x pollution control process comprising injecting from 1 to 25% urea or ammonia along with dry, finely divided sodium bicarbonate or Nahcolite, a naturally occurring form of sodium bicarbonate. The process removes both SO.sub.x and NO.sub.x from the flue gases of utility and industrial plants, incinerators and the like by dry injection into a flue gas duct a sufficient distance upstream of a baghouse to collect spent reagent and additive. The sodium reagent reacts with the SO.sub.2 to form sodium sulfate and also removes NO.sub.x in the form of NO. The urea or ammonia additive prevents the conversion of NO to NO.sub.2 by the sodium reagent, and reduces the concentration of the NO.sub.2 in the exit flue gases to below the NO.sub.2 brown plume visibility threshold (about 30 ppm NO.sub.2, not corrected to 0% O.sub.2, depending on ambient conditions). The additive may be used wet (sprayed into the flue gases in a concentrated water solution) or dry.

Abstract: An all in one disposable razor assembly comprising a hollow-shafted handle having a blade-attached razor head at a first end and an opening at a second, opposite end of the handle. The handle includes a central cavity therein with an elongated cavity lip disposed outside adjacent the open end of the hollow handle to receive a reservoir of stabilized shaving material in an amount sufficient for a single use. The cavity has disposed therein a dispensing assembly comprising a piston head and an attached towing cable for manually forcing the shaving material out of the hollow handle through the open end. In the preferred embodiment, the dispensing assembly includes a cap, initially attached to the elongated lip but easily releasable therefrom by pulling on an attached tear-away tab.

Abstract: A combined protective and suspending assembly for fenders, more particularly to an abrasion and weather resistant cover for pneumatic or foam boat fenders of the cylindrical double-ended-eye type. The cover is a generally rectangular sheet of material preferably rip stop nylon, having a drawstring pocket at the bottom, and a heavy webbing along the side margins. In use, the cover wraps around the fender with one eye projecting below the drawstring. The drawstring passes through the eye and then extends to be used as the lacing to lace the cover to the fender. Extensions of the webbing form a hanger strap having grommets therein for being secured to turnbuckles fastened to the boat. The fabric cover may have a reflective exterior surface for night safety, and the strap may be used as a sling for carrying or for throwing the fender when used as an auxiliary float in man-overboard situations. The cover overlies the webbing to provide a flap to protect and hide the lacing.

Abstract: Methods for operating an inlet valve for internal combustion engines to improve fuel efficiency and reduce pollution, more particularly for operating electromagnetically operated inlet valves for optimum fuel-air mixture filling at low loads (up to about 20-25% of full throttle) by not holding the gas exchange (inlet) valve in the open position, but by re-attracting it immediately after its release from the closed position by the electromagnet allocated to the closed position. In a principal embodiment, this is achieved by de-energizing the closed position electromagnet but not thereafter energizing the open position electromagnet, then letting the anchor plate rebound from the spring compression on the open valve side of the anchor plate, and re-energizing the closed position electromagnet.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention a frustoconically shaped stopper formed of silicone rubber approved by the FDA for use in wine making (such as methylvinylpolysiloxane elastomers) can be releasably sealed to a wine barrel, but still provide for sampling of the wine and/or release of the fermentation gases. In this way, all equipment needed for venting, heating and tasting wine can be placed and used in a convenient arrangement with minimum expenditure of time and effort. In one aspect, the stopper of the invention includes a central opening attended by an integral pliant plug having a shaft of length L.sub.0. The central opening is defined by a circular cross section and a length L (measured between an annular base and a truncated tip surface) where L.sub.0 is less than L. A side wall of thickness T is defined. The thickness T varies as a function of the length along the central opening. The side wall is rigid, however.

Abstract: Nahcolite solution mining process comprising drilling at least one well into a Nahcolite bed, circulating hot barren aqueous liquor in a cavity in said Nahcolite bed for a time sufficient to produce a pregnant liquor having an increase in the concentration of NaHCO.sub.3 in the range of from about 3 to about 20% while maintaining Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 concentration in the range of about 0.25-4%, preferably less than 2.5%, withdrawing said pregnant liquor, cooling said pregnant liquor to preferentially precipitate NaHCO.sub.3 therefrom and to produce a barren liquor, recovering said NaHCO.sub.3, and reheating and re-injecting said barren liquor in said well. The cavity temperature is maintained below about 250.degree. F. and preferably below about 200.degree. F. The barren liquor is injected at a pressure of below about 150 psig. The pregnant liquor is extracted at a temperature in the range of from about 85.degree. F. to about 200.degree. F., and the cystallization occurs at a temperature of about 25.degree.-120.

Abstract: Improved low-potential electrochemical sensors and method for rapid, accurate, in vitro and in vivo measurement of the concentration of carbohydrates in organic or biological fluids by cyclic voltammetric or coulometric scan within a restricted voltage domain and identifying one or more oxidation and/or reduction current peaks, with the concentration of the carbohydrate being a linear function of the current output. Two well defined, sharp, distinctly separated, specific, reproducable and interference-free peaks have been discovered in the low-potential voltage domain of -0.9V to -0.2V, cathodic reduction Peak 1 and anodic oxidation Peak 2 in the range of -0.70V to -0.90V. The scan is pulsed or a steady sweep, and sensitivity increases with increased scan rate in the range of 30-50 mV/sec. Pulses may range on the order of 20-50 millisecond in duration, and sampling during the last 1.5 milliseconds of the pulse restricts values to pure oxidation/reduction currents.