Abstract: Apparatus and methods for locating and catching certain fish species known as Largemouth Bass and Striped Bass, by locating those zones within a body of fresh water having a pH within the range of from about pH 7.5 to about pH 8.0, followed by fishing for these species in those zones. The invention further includes, as another of its aspects, the raising of the same species of fish by maintaining the pH of a selected aquatic environment within said pH range during the growth of the fish.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfur dioxide from a mixture of gases and converting the removed sulfur dioxide to elemental sulfur. The sulfur dioxide is first contacted in a scrubbing zone with a scrubbing agent which is an aqueous solution of an alkali metal sulfite. The pregnant scrubbing solution is then contacted with an organic transfer reactant which is a water-immiscible long chain aliphatic amine to effect a transfer reaction in which the amine combines with sulfite ions to form organic amine sulfite, and regenerate the alkali metal sulfite scrubbing agent. In the final step of the process, the long chain aliphatic amine sulfite is heated to decompose the sulfite, releasing sulfur dioxide and regenerating the amine. The regenerated amine, as well as the regenerated alkali metal sulfite scrubbing agent, are recycled in the process, and the sulfur dioxide product can be optionally further reduced to elemental sulfur.

Abstract: Isotopically enriched helium-4, that is to say, helium-4 which is low in helium-3, is useful as a nuclear reactor coolant. It is produced from liquefied natural gas source helium by removing helium-3 therefrom.

Abstract: A system for loading, transporting and feeding hay comprising an automotive vehicle including a rearwardly extending bed, contoured bale-retaining fences located at opposite sides of said bed, a rearwardly extending bed extension pivotally connected to the rear end of said bed for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, a bale moving conveyor extending from the front of said bed to the rear end of said bed extension, a lateral bale pick-up cradle assembly pivotally mounted on one side of said bed adjacent the forward end thereof and pivotable about a horizontal axis, a bale cutting and disintegrating assembly mounted adjacent the forward end of said bed for receiving hay moved on said bed by said bale moving conveyor and a reciprocating, foldable pusher plate assembly mounted on one of said contoured fences over said bed for pushing bales into said bale cutting and disintegrating assembly.

Abstract: A trench excavating machine which includes a self-propelled vehicle having a front end and including a prime mover drivingly connected to an auger mounted forwardly of the vehicle and extending in a generally vertical direction. The auger is rotatably mounted concentrically within a dirt shield of arcuate or generally semi-circular cross-sectional configuration, and is positioned within the dirt shield so that a leading side of the auger projects forwardly of the dirt shield. A helical blade constituting part of the auger is made to extend into a location immediately above, and at the forward side of, a very thin keel structure.

Abstract: An aircraft hangar construction which includes a plurality of horizontally extending transverse roof frame members; a vertical supporting member supporting the central portion of each of the transverse roof frame members and contacting the lower side thereof; horizontally extending roof frame members secured to the opposite ends of each of the transverse roof frame members and extending in substantially the same plane as the transverse roof frame members; and at least two vertical supporting members supporting each of the last-mentioned roof frame members at locations spaced inwardly therealong from the opposite ends thereof and collectively defining the spaced planes of opposed parallel sides of the hangar.

Abstract: A trotline reel having a support on which a shaft is rotatably mounted. Mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith together with a spool on which a trotline is wound and unwound is a hook-retaining disc provided with slots disposed for receiving the fishhooks of leaders connected to the trotline and having a layer of resilient material arranged on the radial face of the disc disposed farthest from the spool for detachably storing the hooks when the trotline is wound on the spool.

Abstract: Improved power cycles for improving the production of power and refrigeration and for conserving thermal energy, utilizing as a common basic characteristic, a hydride-dehydride-hydrogen power cycle in which hydrogen is reversibly combined with a hydride-forming material at a relatively low temperature and pressure, the hydrided material is then heated at constant volume to chemically compress the hydrogen, and finally the material is dehydrided by further heating the material to release hydrogen gas at relatively high pressure and temperature. The pressurized high temperature hydrogen gas as thus developed is used in various ways for producing power and refrigeration, including functioning as a low temperature heat sink for certain auxiliary or ancillary power cycles, prior to recycling the hydrogen gas for reuse in the described hydride-dehydride-hydrogen cycle.

Abstract: A horse trailer and corral structure which includes a horse trailer having opposed side walls and having doors at the rear side thereof. An electric power source is mounted on the trailer, as are brackets which support a plurality of insulator-carrying fence posts. The fence posts are demountably supported in the brackets on the trailer during transport of the trailer. A cable reel is mounted on the trailer and has an elongated electrical conductor reeled thereon for use in cooperation with the fence posts when a corral is to be set up using the fence posts.

Abstract: A spring fastener or clip of generally V-shaped configuration and including a first, substantially monoplanar leg joined to a second, substantially monoplanar leg through a bend portion so that the legs define between them an acute angle from about 43.degree. to about 48.degree.. The second leg has a circular aperture formed through a central portion, and the first leg has a tongue or tine pressed out of a central portion of the first leg and projecting generally toward the center of the aperture in the second leg, and at an acute angle of from about 22.degree. to about 28.degree. to the plane of the first leg. The tongue projects a distance from the plane of the first leg, as measured normal to that plane, and so as to include the thickness of the first leg, which is from about one-half to about two-thirds of the total distance of projection of the bend portion of the fastener from the plane of the first leg, also as measured normal to the plane of the first leg, and so as to include the thickness thereof.

Abstract: A device for taking and plotting magnetic bearings which includes an elongated straight edge device having numerical graduated indicia along one edge thereof, and a housing receiving said straight edge. A magnetic compass is mounted on the straight edge, and the housing includes folding portions adapted to enclose and protect the magnetic compass. A pair of sight pins are removably attachable to the compass and straight edge to provide a line of sight extending through the pivot point of the magnetized needle of the compass.

Abstract: An improved plant support structure formed of relatively rigid, bent steel wire. In one form, the plant support comprises a plurality of wire elements each formed into a plurality of diamond-shaped segments with each element mutually interconnectable to a like element by means of a plurality of rigid, frictional, releasable wire interconnections. In an alternate form, the plant support of the present invention is formed of a longitudinal wire fabric web comprising a single strand of wire formed into a plurality of mutually interconnected transverse strand segments each bent into a zig-zag shape and interconnected to the next adjacent strand segment by means of frictional twisted wire connections. The plant support structure may be open fence-like trellis structures or closed substantially cylindrical structures.

Abstract: An improved chain drive sprocket or the like in the form of a sprocket member. The composite sprocket member includes a metallic hub portion having T-shaped lands and T-shaped grooves formed on the outer periphery thereof coaxial with the axis of rotation of the hub portion, and a toothed ring formed of synthetic resin material having an aperture formed therein with T-shaped lands and T-shaped grooves formed on the inner periphery thereof sized and shaped for close sliding coaxial engagement with the corresponding lands and grooves of the hub portion. The hub portion is preferably formed of sintered steel powder impregnated with cupreous alloy. The toothed ring portion is preferably formed of nylon. The drive sprocket may be employed in combination with the power output shaft from a motorcycle power transmission. The composite member may be slightly modified to form a composite spur gear or the like.

Abstract: A method for transporting one tractor and semi-trailer combination on another tractor and towed semi-trailer which comprises reducing the wheel base of the transported tractor-semi-trailer combination, positioning the transported tractor and semi-trailer on the transporting semi-trailer with the tractor at the rear of the transporting semi-trailer and facing rearwardly, and with the rear end portion of the transported semi-trailer elevated from its normal position and extending over the cab of the towing tractor used for transport. Apparatus is provided on a tractor-semi-trailer combination to facilitate the described wheel base shortening, and the elevation of the rear end portion of the transported semi-trailer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a coupling assembly by which sections of well casing disposed beneath the floor of the sea or ocean can be detached from each other at a time when a well is to be cemented in, and it is desired to remove the wellhead structure and the sections of casing extending thereabove to a drilling platform. The coupling assembly comprises an upper casing section, a lower casing section, and an external coupling sleeve slidably telescoped over the lower end of the upper casing section and the upper end of the lower casing section. An internal collar is slidably positioned within the external sleeve at a location between the casing sections, and includes an annular ring projecting over and around an end portion of the lower casing section within the external coupling sleeve. An expandable locking element is positioned between said annular ring and the upper end portion of the lower casing section.

Abstract: The combination of a spring metal retainer ring with a pipe or conduit fitting having an annular seat for accommodation of the retainer ring, and further having a cylindrical passageway therein coaxial with the ring for receiving a pipe or conduit through the ring. The retainer ring includes an annular band which has a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs projecting radially outwardly at an obtuse angle with respect to the plane of the band and projecting axially with respect to the axis of the band. The retainer ring further includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially inwardly directed tabs connected thereto, and extending in the opposite axial direction from the direction of axial extension from the band of said first mentioned tabs.

Abstract: An improved rotary valve comprising a valve body having a flow passage extending therethrough and a rotary valve stem journaled in said valve body transversely intersecting the flow passage. The valve stem includes at least one spring biased spherical valve member carried in a radially aligned cavity formed in the valve stem. A valve seat is formed in the valve body coaxial with the flow passage and is conformed to sealingly receive the spring biased valve member therein when the valve is placed in the closed position. The valve stem is pressure equalized within the valve body. In one form the valve stem is provided with an external configuration adjacent the valve member and flow passage to maintain a constant flow rate through the open valve. In another form this external configuration is modified to provide for varying the flow rate through the open valve through manipulation of the valve stem.

Abstract: A molded synthetic resin open-sided box mountable in walls and ceilings for enclosing terminals and connections for electrical conductors extended through walls of the box, and providing access through a switch plate secured over the open side of the box. The box has integrally molded break-out windows extending between several of the intersecting walls of the box. Each of these break-out windows includes a removable panel retained in a surrounding opening by frangible interconnecting strips or bridge webs on opposite sides of the panel. Mounting screw holes are formed in the synthetic resin of the box at locations adjacent the open side thereof, and spring metal screw retaining clips are mounted in the box adjacent these holes so that parts of the clips project into the path of the shank of a screw extended into the holes to engage the threads on the shank.

Abstract: An improved radio frequency cautery instrument comprising a radio frequency signal generator for supplying both monopolar and bipolar radio frequency signal outputs for medical applications. A control unit is interposed between the radio frequency outputs of the signal generator and the hand-held electrode assembly, and further interposed between a finger-operated switch on the electrode assembly and the power circuit of the signal generator, whereby the application of radio frequency energy to the electrode of the electrode assembly can be controlled by the user through manipulation of the finger-operated switch on the electrode assembly.