Abstract: Disclosed is a non-polluting high temperature combustion system which comprises in combination a graphite-lined combustion chamber fueled by a controlled-burn thermite fuel, wherein the fuel burns a temperature of up to 6000 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein the resulting gases are essentially pollution free; the system also include a means of passing a substrate into and out of the combustion chamber and/or a turbine powered by gases from the combustion products, means of injecting a working fluid into the combustion gases upstream of the turbine, a heat recovery means that comprises a geo-thermal hot rock bed, a steam generator utilizing heat from the geo-thermal hot rock bed, a working fluid separation means which comprises a condenser, and means of liquefying the remaining gases for commercial use.

Abstract: A thermite composition for pyrotechnics having high heat transfer charactistics comprising a strongly reducible metal oxide, a thermally decomposable heat transfer agent consisting of Cu2O, and a strong reducing agent. It is desirable that the stoichiometerics and mechanics of the thermite reaction is such that there is a substantial excess of oxygen. Also, other ingredients may be added to the composition such as gas generating compounds, binders, diluents and supplemental oxidizing agents.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for operating a wheelchair with an occupant's use of one arm comprising a first member having structure to be engagably attached to the frame of the wheelchair and a second member movably attached to the first member such that when the device is attached to a wheelchair, the second member is cabable of frictionally engaging the surface across which the wheelchair is operated by frictionally engaging said surface in the periphery of the front of the wheelchair. The further embodiment of the device comprises an urging device which urges the second member away from engagment with the surface across which the wheelchair is operated.

Abstract: A portable, foldable liesure or utility mat comprising a plurality of elongated flexibly or hingedly connected ribs individually formed from a flat rigid core sandwiched between a lightweight insulating cushion material, said ribs of substantially equal dimensions and in parallel and foldable relationship with each other such that the mat can be rolled up and rolled out flat without curling.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of cleaning sediment from the bottom of a large storage container of clean water comprising sanitizing a cleaning person and a suction pump to remove the majority of skin viruses, germs, bacteria and dirt from the surface of his skin and/or apparel and the suction pump; the cleaning person going underwater and slowly submerging; the cleaning person turning on the suction pump before reaching the bottom of the container; the cleaning person removing sediment from a spot on the bottom of the container before any part of his body disturbs the sediment; the cleaning person attaining footing in the clean spot; and the cleaning person removing the remainder of the sediment on the bottom of the container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a carbon black product having a controllable aggregate particle size distribution comprising forming in a first zone of the carbon black reactor combustion gases at a high temperature and having a gradient of increasing turbulence in the downstream direction, injecting substantially radially into the first zone a carbon black feedstock into more than one of the "zones of increasing turbulence" before the gases reach maximum turbulence, cracking the feedstock to carbon black in a second (reaction) zone, quenching the carbon black reaction, and collecting the carbon black product. Also discussed is a method for making a carbon black product having varying physical characteristics as a result of modifying reaction kinetics at any position of oil injection into the "zones of turbulence".

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of increasing and maintaining high concentrations of potassium chloride in a refinery process stream of brine containing potassium chloride, sodium chloride and a minor amount of salt impurities by mixing with a first process stream potassium chloride crystallized from a pond wherein a brine from a second process stream is concentrated by solar evaporation and/or cooled by low ambient air temperatures.

Abstract: A process useful for the production of a carbon black useful as an ingredient in dry cell battery compositions is disclosed which comprises heating a carbon black feedstock having a dibutylphalate absorption (DBP) ranging from 200 to 250 cc/100 g, nitrogen surface area ranging from about 30 to about 60 m.sup.2 /g, an average stacking height (L.sub.c) of ordered graphitic layer segments ranging from about 1.1 to about 1.5 nm, and a wide aggregate size distribution with a range of measured aggregate volume from about 5.times.10.sup.4 to about 1.times.10.sup.9 nm.sup.3, a geometric mean aggregate volume (Log Vg, nm.sup.3) of about 6.2 to about 7.5, and geometric standard deviation (for Log Vg, nm.sup.3) of about 0.7 to about 1.0. This feedstock is heated to a temperature ranging from 1400.degree. C. to 2400.degree. C.

Abstract: Carbon black products useful as an ingredient in dry cell battery compositions are disclosed which have a wide aggregate size distribution with a range of measured aggregate volume from about 5.times.10.sup.4 to about 1.times.10.sup.9 nm.sup.3, a geometric mean aggregate volume (Log Vg, nm.sup.3) of about 6.2 to about 7.5, geometric standard deviation (for Log Vg, nm.sup.3) of about 0.7 to about 1.0, a dibutyl phthalate absorption ranging from about 210 to about 270 cc/100 g., a nitrogen surface area ranging from about 30 to about 60 m.sup.2 /g, an average stacking height (L.sub.c) of ordered graphitic layer segments ranging from about 2.7 to about 3.7 nm. Novel furnace carbon blacks are disclosed which have the same characteristics but have an average stacking height (Lc) of ordered graphitic layer segments ranging from about 1.6 to about 3.7 nm.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing carbon black by subjecting to a separation step a hydrocarbon feedstock containing a meltable solid, clarifying the hydrocarbon of the meltable solid and thereby making a concentrate of hydrocarbon and the meltable solid, and whereas the clarified hydrocarbon is introduced into the oil furnace process reactor to be converted to carbon black. The improvement lies in introducing the concentrate into the reaction zone of the reactor at a point where the temperature is below the melting point of the meltable solid. Carbon black is produced from the clarified oil and the oil concentrated with the meltable solid without substantially depositing the melted solid on the interior walls of the reactor.

Abstract: A receptacle device comprising a tapered container having an opening and a cover pivotally attached to the opening in such a manner that the cover opens free of the opening so that a series of containers can be nested one within another without interference with the attachment of the covers and secondarily allowing easy placement and removal of sacks, bags or liner inserts.

Abstract: A receptacle device useful for receiving material, comprising a container having an opening, a covering pivotally mounted on the opening, and a substantially U-shaped operating member straddling the container and having at least one end rotatably connected to the covering so that the container can be opened and closed in response to actuating the operating member.

Abstract: Geothermal energy is recovered by (1) introducing into a subterranean heat exchange medium which is in heat exchange with a high temperature formation a liquified vapor which will vaporize at the conditions of the medium; (2) vaporizing the liquified vapor; (3) confining the liquified vapor until pressurized; and (4) recovering pressurized vapor having thermal and pressure-volume energy converted from the high temperature formation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of connecting two or more subterranean cavities in a deposit having a potassium chloride-rich stratum which contains sodium chloride and which is disposed above a potassium chloride-lean, sodium chloride-rich stratum. The method comprises drilling at least two adjacent wells into the sodium chloride-rich stratum, establishing a chimney filled with insulating fluid at the bottom of at least one of the wells, extracting ore from the potassium chloride-lean stratum with solvent, raising the roof of the cavities by incrementally raising the insulating fluid level and allowing the cavities to grow laterally until the cavities connect.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of solution mining the mineral content of a subterranean cavity containing a rubble pile positioned on the floor thereof and the subterranean cavity communicating with the surface by at least two boreholes, by drilling a liner through a cased borehole into the rubble pile, disconnecting the drill string from the liner, withdrawing the drill string from the borehole, introducing into the borehole a sealing meant to seal the annular space between the liner and the casing, introducing a solvent into the cavity and withdrawing from the cavity a solution enriched in the mineral contained in the rubble.

Abstract: A new and improved method of forming a color graphic display from seismographic input data is disclosed. The input data sequence is processed to obtain the absolute value of each amplitude value and to select the maximum amplitude value of each oscillation of the waveform. A predetermined number of the largest selected values are classified into a first range of values, the remaining values are scaled according to magnitude into a preset number of ranges and an assignment table is formed with each range being represented by a primary or secondary color. Data corresponding to a first group of ranges of input data is processed to form a representation for a particular color. Similarly, the remaining data groups, corresponding to the remaining ranges, are processed to form a representation of the remaining colors. The image of each representation is sequentially transferred to a sheet and the images are colored with their respective colors, thus producing a color display of the seismic data.

Abstract: A receptacle device useful for receiving material, comprising a container having an open end, a closure or lid detachably and pivotally mounted on the open end of the container and an operating member connected to the closure so that the closure can be raised to and from a closed position in response to operation of the operating member.