Abstract: A liquid melt becomes converted to crystalline form at a particular temperature either spontaneously or when artificially nucleated. The liquid releases heat at crystallization. An additive is dissolved in the liquid melt. The additive has properties of forming a metastable solid solution together with the warm crystalline compound formed from the melt. When the additive exsolves, the crystalline aggregate is weakened and is easily decomposed into fragments of small size. The additive materials may include disodium hydrogen phosphate, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate, or their ammonium or sodium analogs. The additive may be dissolved in small amounts in the liquid to be crystallized, amounts to two percent (2%) to four percent (4%) being typical. The amount of the relative metastability of the additive in the solid solution contributes to control the size and intergrowth of the crystals which are ultimately produced when the cooling or supercooled fluid crystallizes.

Abstract: Improvements in heat exchanging head pieces for cooling or heating the entire hair bearing (scalp) area of the human head; improvements in a blank form for such product and purposes for filling with heat exchanging materials; a heat exchanging head piece for cancer chemotherapy patients to cool the scalp to prevent hair loss during chemotherapy injections; devices and processes for heat exchanging the human scalp including variable headband constriction and limitedly variable whole upper skull compression for full, holiday free cooling or heating.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing articles which generate heat at a substantially constant temperature for an extended period of time and which are able to remain in a stable state until such time as the generation of heat is desired. The method also relates to supercooled fluids produced by such methods. The method involves the processing of supercooled fluids such as hypo to produce this stable state. As a first step, a suitable material such as ethylene glycol may be added to the supercooled fluid to stabilize the supercooled fluid and to decrease the generation of heat in the supercooled fluid to obtain a desired temperature. The mixture is then heated to a relatively high temperature considerably above the melting temperature of the supercooled fluid. With the mixture at the high temperature, water is added to provide a particular specific gravity and an alkali is added to provide a particular pH.

Abstract: A liquid melt becomes converted to crystalline form at a particular temperature either spontaneously or when artificially nucleated. The liquid releases heat at crystallization. If the liquid is in a supercooled state when it begins to crystallize, its temperature will rise from the particular temperature at which it is nucleated.Another liquid material is mixed with the liquid to be crystallized. The liquid additive has properties of forming a metastable solid together with the crystallizing material. When the liquid additive exsolves, the crystalline aggregate is weakened and is easily decomposed into fragments of small size. The liquid additive materials may include monohydric alcohols, diols and triols. The liquid additive material may be included in the liquid to be crystallized, in small amounts, amounts to two percent (2%) to five percent (5%) being typical.

Abstract: In a method for splicing cables, a first cable is connected to a second cable to form a junction and a heat shrinkable sleeve is positioned over the junction. A portable hot pack having properties for developing a temperature in excess of 250.degree. C. is conformed around the sleeve to shrink the sleeve around the junction and thereby seal and insulate the junction. The hot pack can include first and second chemicals which react to initiate a series of heat producing reactions which occur at different temperatures to incrementally elevate the temperature of the hot pack.

Abstract: In a method for splicing cables, a first cable is connected to a second cable to form a junction and a heat shrinkable sleeve is positioned over the junction. A portable hot pack having properties for developing a temperature in excess of 250.degree. C is conformed around the sleeve to shrink the sleeve around the junction and thereby seal and insulate the junction. The hot pack can include first and second chemicals which react to initiate a series of heat producing reactions which occur at different temperatures to incrementally elevate the temperature of the hot pack.

Abstract: In a system for converting heat energy to mechanical energy, a working fluid is vaporized and then permitted to expand in an expander. The vaporized working fluid is introduced to a condenser including a container and a conduit for guiding the working fluid through the container. A condensing medium in a generally solid state is disposed in the container in contact with the conduit to absorb heat from and thereby condense the working fluid. In response to the absorbed heat, the condensing medium liquifies, in which state it can be supercooled at ambient temperatures and stored for an extended period of time. The supercooled condensing medium can be triggered at a predetermined time to release the absorbed heat to the system. The provision of a super-coolable condensing medium in the condenser minimizes the heat loss thus providing a significant increase in the overall efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A flexible container having a substantially planar configuration encloses a first chemical having characteristics for being supercooled to maintain a liquid state even at temperatures below its melting point. A second chemical can be mixed with the first chemical in the container to initiate the crystallization of the first chemical at the substantially constant temperature of the melting point of the first chemical. The container can be enclosed in an insulation envelope to moderate the temperature of the device. The first chemical may include sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate which provides a desirable constant temperature of 48.degree. C. The second chemical may include sodium borate pentahydrate or sodium sulfite which provides the first chemical with a desirable sandy configuration during crystallization in the .alpha. pentahydrate form.