Abstract: A waste dispensing device for recreational vehicles includes an elongate longitudinally compressible and extensible hose which is connected to the waste outlet fitting of a recreational vehicle. The dispensing device includes an exterior housing structure which is secured to and positioned around that end portion of the hose which is connected to the recreational vehicle. The hose may be longitudinally retracted and contained within the exterior housing structure when the vehicle is being moved, and conversely, the hose may be longitudinally extended for connection to a waste disposal system, when the vehicle is stationary.

Abstract: A perforated basket containing live bait is immersed in a tank of water. Upon selection by the consumer, the basket is lifted clear of the water and gravity causes the bait to fall into and fill a bait receiving pocket. The basket is then lowered leaving a predetermined amount of bait in the bait receiving pocket. At this point the bait receiving pocket is opened thereby dispensing a predetermined amount of live bait into the fisherman's bucket along with a predetermined amount of water.

Abstract: A prosthetic check valve which allows unrestricted fluid flow in a forward direction and is capable of being repeatedly pulled open to allow reverse fluid flow. The valve comprises a valve body having an extensible section which houses a valve seat and a valve support. A resilient member is attached to the valve support and resiliently supports a valve member so as to force the valve member towards the valve seat. When the extensible section is contracted, the valve acts as a check valve to allow fluid flow only in a forward direction from a supply tube, through the valve support and valve seat, to a demand tube. When the extensible section is extended, fluid is allowed to flow both in the aforesaid forward direction and in a reverse direction through the valve.

Abstract: A precision machine tool vise includes a body having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw mounted thereon. An actuating nut, operated by an actuating screw, engages the movable jaw and shifts the movable jaw towards and away from the fixed jaw. A cylinder housing is mounted on the vise body and bears against the outer face of the fixed jaw. The actuating screw extends through the cylinder housing and has a piston mounted thereon which is positioned within the cylinder housing. A control valve controls the flow of fluid to the cylinder housing and when actuated shifts the piston and screw towards the movable jaw. The reaction forces resulting from forward movement of the piston are transmitted from the cylinder housing to the fixed jaw and thereby prevent deflection of the fixed jaw.

Abstract: Pressure-regulated artificial sphincter apparatus for controlling vesicular incontinence is disclosed herein. The apparatus preferably comprises a generally toroidal cuff member for constricting a vessel to be opened and closed in response to fluid pressure, a squeezable fluid supply pump bulb in communication with the cuff, and a fluid pressure regulator for maintaining substantially constant fluid pressure within the cuff. The pressure regulator preferably comprises a variable volume, distensible balloon which is in fluid flow communication with the cuff. Check valve means are provided to maintain correct fluid flow throughout the apparatus. One form of this invention includes a low pressure fluid reservoir interconnected with the fluid supply bulb.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning coal of extraneous matter such as gravel and the like includes a stratifying and classifying oscillating screen submerged in a liquid confining tank wherein stratification is produced by motion of the oscillating screen. The screen bottom slopes downwardly and water flow is induced from either end of the screen to aid in the stratification. The coal which rises to the top is removed by several skimmers powered by a vacuum controlled materials handling pump.

Abstract: A grain bin loading and unloading system has a vertical auger located in the center of the bin, the vertical auger being in communication with a horizontal auger disposed beneath the floor of the bin. The novel sweep auger drive has a double row sprocket rotatably mounted about the center auger column. The sweep auger proper is rotatably mounted about the center column and is driven at its inner end by a gearbox which is also rotatably mounted. The input shaft of the gearbox extends vertically downwardly and has a sprocket located thereon. That sprocket is connected to one row of the double row sprocket located about the center column such that when the double row sprocket is driven the sweep auger assembly will rotate about the center column as well as be driven so as to transport the grain to be unloaded radially inwardly.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis water purifying device is provided with a flush water restrictor which serves to provide a suitable back pressure on the reverse osmosis membrane in order to affect the purification process. The device is designed for attachment to any source of pressurized water. The restrictor device consists of a capillary tube sized to provide a suitable ratio of flush water to purified water. A ball-type check valve surrounds the capillary tube at its point of exit and the ball valve may be dislodged in order to flush the membrane. The core of the membrane assembly is filled with activated charcoal in order to provide for a more efficient and complete purification.

Abstract: A solar heating and humidifying device for use with a building wall having a window therein is attached to the wall and extends from above the window to the ground where the edges of the outer housing are buried. The outer housing is formed of a transparent plastic and is of multiple layers to provide an insulating effect. A heat storing frame conforms generally to the shape of the outer housing and extends from ground level to just beneath the window, and the frame is covered with a heat absorbing material such as black canvas. An air flow controlling baffle is located above the frame and at the bottom of the window so as to control the exit flow of heated air from the heating chamber located therebeneath. An air filter and inlet valve is located near the bottom of the heating chamber for intake of outside air into the chamber.

Abstract: A tennis playing apparatus utilizes a hollow base, an upright rigid post member having a bifurcated receiver at its upper end, and an elastically flexible wand member that carries a tennis ball at its upper end and which is movable from a nesting position against the receiver to a second position spaced from the receiver in response to striking of the tennis ball by a tennis racket. Magnetic attraction between the wand member and the post member decreases oscillation of the wand member and releasably retains it against the receiver. The wand member includes an upright shaft and a cap unit at the upper end of the shaft with the tennis ball being fixed to the housing of the cap unit. The cap unit is slidably movable relative to the shaft to move between upper and lower displaced positions and is spring loaded to return to an equilibrium position intermediate between the displaced positions, thereby closely simulating the movement of a free ball when the tennis ball is struck by the racket.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting and storing energy includes a thermal energy storage cell having a single-piece steel inner core provided with external thermal insulation. A unit for collecting and converting non-electrical energy into electrical energy, such as a solar cell unit, is connected to electrical resistance heating elements within the inner core for heating the latter to a temperature in excess of 1,000.degree. F. Heat energy stored in the inner core is transferred to a heat transfer liquid, such as synthetic oil, which is circulated through a conduit having heating coils within the inner core. The heat transfer liquid, which remains in a liquid condition when heated to a temperature in excess of 1,000.degree. F., is used in heat utilizing systems such as the heating system of a house.

Abstract: A conventional portable microfilming camera having a generally fixed exposure is improved for use with slower films which are required for x-ray duplication. The improvement consists of placing a neutral density filter over the exposure controlling photocell thereby reducing the amount of light reaching the photocell. This in turn results in a longer period of time being required for the pre-set amount of light to reach the photocell thereby causing a longer exposure time as required by the slower film. A light table is provided for back-lighting the x-rays and selectively sized masks are hingedly affixed to the light table for selective masking of the unused portion of the light table. A beam restrictor is used in conjunction with the neutral density filter to ensure that the photocell does not view the uncovered portion of the light table.

Abstract: A safety clamp slidably mounted on a vertical safety rail in proximity to a ladder is attached to a workman's belt by a pivotal actuating arm which shifts a wedge plate into clamping engagement with a safety carrier immediately under free fall conditions encountered if the workman falls from the ladder. The rail is spaced from the ladder mounting brackets by circular sleeves.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for roasting a product with a heated granular bed are disclosed. A granular bedding, heat transfer material such as salt or the like contained within a rotatable heating chamber is directly exposed to a heat source which directs heat into the interior of the heating chamber. Heated granular material is then conveyed to a separate product roasting chamber and mixed with incoming particles of a product to be roasted. Internally disposed auger and flighting means facilitate movement of the commingled granular material and product through the roasting bin in response to rotation thereof. Separation means at the output of the roasting bin separates the processed product from the granular heating medium, and continuously returns the granular material to the heating bin for repetition of the process cycle. In one form of the invention the heating chamber is coaxially disposed internally of the rotatable roasting chamber to maximize thermal efficiency.

Abstract: An adjustable shelf device is used with a conventional filing cabinet, shelving or the like to readily form the cabinet space into various sized compartments to thereby permit efficient use of the cabinet space. The shelf device includes a pair of shelf structures which have overlapping vertical and horizontal shelves that are longitudinally shiftable relative to each other to permit adjustment of the overall length of the shelf device to thereby accommodate cabinets or shelving of various sizes. Vertical dividers project into registering openings in the overlapped portions of the shelf structure to releasably lock the shelf device in an adjusted position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for diagnostic evaluation of the urinary tract. The method comprises the steps of generating a urethral pressure profile and simultaneously monitoring and recording electrical signals derived from the urinary tract thereby generating an electrical or electromyographic profile. As fluid is inputted into the urethra the catheter is mechanically withdrawn therefrom at a constant velocity. Fluid pressure within the urethra is derived and recorded thereby providing a urethral pressure profile. Simultaneously, urethral electrical signals derived from one or more electrodes mounted on the catheter are amplified and graphically displayed, thereby plotting urethral electrical activity and urethral fluid pressure at given points along the urethra. The apparatus comprises an interface unit for withdrawing the catheter and for enabling measurement of the various diagnostic parameters.

Abstract: A hand supported skinning device for removing the skin from animal carcasses includes a housing having a handle attached thereto. A stationary blade is mounted on the housing closely adjacent a driven revolvable feeder roll which grips and pulls the animal skin against the blade to permit the skin to be progressively moved from the carcass.

Abstract: A pallet is formed by folding and gluing two pieces of corrugated board. A first or base piece is formed of three parallel spaced channel sections connected by platform reinforcing portions. A second or platform piece is formed mainly of a platform resting upon the platform reinforcing portions of the first piece and has flaps depending perpendicularly downwardly into each end of each of the channel sections. Tabs hinge outwardly from the flaps and are secured to the sides of each of the channel members by gluing.

Abstract: A game device includes a circular, somewhat rigid game structure having a substantially flat upper playing surface and a lightweight ball which is movable along the upper surface. The game structure has a central opening therein and is adapted to be positioned upon and is revolvable with the turntable of a phonograph. A plurality of circumferentially arranged spaced apart posts are affixed to the game structure adjacent the periphery thereof, the spacing between each adjacent pair of posts being slightly less than the diameter of the ball. A plurality of small deflector elements project upwardly from the upper surface for the purpose of deflecting movement of the ball. Indicia is located between adjacent pairs of posts.

Abstract: The invention relates to pharmaceutical preparations comprising calcium lactate, calcium chloride and calcium levulinate. The solutions contain 7 to 28 grams of calcium ion with 10% to 30% of the calcium provided from calcium chloride, 20% to 60% from calcium lactate, and 20% to 60% from calcium levulinate and serves as an effective treatment for hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia and downer cow syndrome.