Abstract: The invention relates to clay stabilizing agents for use in an alkaline water-base fluid such as a drilling mud and the use of such clay stabilizing agents in the drilling of wells. The clay stabilizing agent comprises a polyfunctional polyamine reaction product prepared by the reaction of a polyamine base reactant with urea or a dialkylcarbonate or by reaction with urea and a dialkylcarbonate. The stabilizing agent is subject to subsequent acidification to reduce the pH thereof to a value of about 7 or less. The polyamine base reactant is selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic polyamine, a polyaliphatic polyamine, a heterocyclic polyamine, an alkylalkanol polyamine and mixtures thereof. Specifically, the base reactant comprises an aliphatic polyamine selected from the group consisting of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, tetraethylenetetramine, and tetraethylenepentamine and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Conferencing circuitry, and an associated method, for automatically conferencing together a plurality of subscriber units of a telephonic communications network. A list of directory numbers associated with the subscriber units to be conferenced together is stored in a memory device. When an initiating subscriber initiates formation of the telephonic conference, the initiating subscriber merely enters a conference code by way of an initiating subscriber unit. The conferencing circuitry detects the conferencing coded, and in response thereto automatically conferences together the subscriber units associated with the directory numbers of the accessed list.

Abstract: A method of administration of vitamin C to ensure that a continuously-saturated level is produced in the body of a taker. A dose of about 500 mg taken approximately every 12 hours produces a continuously-detectable level of vitamin C in the urine of an average healthy person, which corresponds to a sufficiently high pool of ascorbic acid in the body to provide anti-oxidant protection. The minimum dosage and regimen found to be effective are respectively substantially higher than the U.S. recommended daily allowance and more frequent than administration rates previously used in clinical trials. Also claimed are kits that permit individuals to monitor for elevated urinary excretion of useful substances which are water soluble, excreted in urine, and non-toxic at physiologically beneficial levels, such that optimal dosages and regimens can be determined.

Abstract: Apparatus and method (10, 50) for determining the value of a measurand measured by a fiber optic interferometer sensor (24, 72, 110) is provided. The apparatus includes a light source (16, 58, 102) emitting a light having a periodically modulated frequency which is injected into the interferometric sensor. A modulation cycle is initiated by the microcontroller's (12, 56, 116) generation of a trigger signal. A counter (42, 86) begins counting in response to the trigger signal. A first photodetector (20, 66) is coupled to the light source (16, 58, 102) and produces a first electrical signal proportional to the light. A second photodetector (36, 76, 114) is coupled to the fiber optic interferometer sensor (24, 72, 110) and produces a second electrical signal proportional to the light reflected by the sensor or passed through the sensor and affected by the measurand.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a replaceable blade cartridge and a compatible assembly for holding the cartridge wherein an old blade cartridge is slidably removed from the holding assembly and a new blade is slidably inserted into the holding assembly. Specifically, a replaceable blade cartridge for use in a compatible cutting head assembly of a centrifugal type slicer is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention concerns a device for confirming an official's call in a field sport, including a flag for waving to visually indicate to others that the event has occurred, a shaft upon which the flag is loosely attached, a handle to support the shaft integral therewith, a power source, an electronic signal generator and transmitter, and a receiver worn by another offical for receiving the signal in confirmation of the official's call.

Abstract: A self-steering wheel truck for use with a railway locomotive or powered transit car in which tractive force is transferred from the axles to the frame through traction rods and steering beams connecting with the end axles. The steering beams are interconnected through upstanding shafts pivotally connected to transverse frame members, control arms and resilient curved diagonal alignment arms. The resilient curved alignment arms move the end axles to equal and opposite angulation under compression for a return to parallel operation upon release of self-steering forces.

Abstract: A congealed fruit confection with a high fruit intensity comprising a mixture of a fruit concentrate, natural sweeteners, a softening agent, a humectant, water and pectin of over 1.0% by weight of the mixture where the mixture is congealed in molding material to reduce the water of the mixture to provide a water activity of substantially less than about 0.40.

Abstract: A wire section of a machine for making a fiber web, with two continuous wires forming together a twin-wire zone. A dewatering element is pressable on the inside of the wire with at least one surface. The dewatering element features in the direction of travel of the fiber suspension, in interaction with the wires, two dewatering zones. The first dewatering zone is defined by an essentially flat surface, while a second dewatering zone is defined by a surface curving about an axis of curvature in the direction of travel of the fiber suspension. Coordinated with the dewatering element are at least two support axes on which support elements are arranged. Coordinated with the dewatering element is a pivot axis. The pivot axis is stationary as regards the tilting operation, and extends parallel to the separation plane between the first and second dewatering zones and parallel to the wire. The pivot axis is arranged in the area of the axis of curvature.

Abstract: Football holding devices for assisting in place kicking football are disclosed, including a stand and a pivotable arm attached to the top of the stand, in which the pivotable arm can pivot from first position in which it holds the football in its proper place kicking configuration, and a second vertical position.

Abstract: A high-voltage resistor integrated on a semiconductor substrate with opposite sign conductivity, and being of a type with one end connected to the substrate and another end connected to a lower electric potential than the substrate, further comprises at least one thin layer of the field plate type covering at least a section of the resistor.

Abstract: A disk for use in a bearing assembly of an open end spinning machine having four disks arranged in two pairs and which operate at up to 15,000 RPM's while the rotor shaft turns at up to 125,000 RPM's. The disk pairs are arranged to form a wedge shaped gap supporting the shaft of a spinning rotor for rotation. Each disk comprises a metallic hub which mounts a synthetic ring. The synthetic ring has a spinning rotor contact surface comprising a shoulder arranged atop a helically disposed rib which extends around and across the contact surface. The shoulder imparts an axial thrust against the spinning rotor during operation of the spinning machine.

Abstract: Pigments for use in paper are comprised of structured aggregate clays which are reaction products of kaolin clays and colloidal silicas. Silica modified clays of low treatment level can under certain high-shear mixing conditions be attritioned back to their starting clay particle size consequently yielding silica coated clay particles that provide unique properties. Also provided are structured aggregate clay products produced by the reaction of kaolin clay, colloidal silicas and spacer particles such as titanium dioxide, which products have improved porosity and light scattering characteristics. Also provided are clay slurry products which comprise mixtures of the reaction product of kaolin clay and colloidal silica, and optionally titanium dioxide, blended with other clay products.

Abstract: A system and method for processing and analyzing telephone calls in a telephone exchange is disclosed. A general analysis program (40), comprising a plurality of high-level analysis primitives (78), performs at least one analysis on a set of data (54). An analysis control data (42), comprising a plurality of control-level analysis modules (70), controls the analysis of the data set. The present invention further provides low-level analysis primitives which may be used to build low-level analysis modules. The low-level analysis primitives and low-level analysis modules, in turn, may be used to build high-level analysis modules. Both the high-level analysis primitives and the high-level analysis modules can be used to build different types of control-level analysis modules. Each of the control-level analysis modules has a predetermined structure which controls a certain part of a particular analysis, such as analyzing one digit of a telephone number in destination analysis.

Abstract: A micro-mechanical shutter array using micro-mechanical technology and silicon-on-transparent-substrate technology. The micro-mechanical shutter array is operated by using electro-static forces. Two basic types of shutter movements are described, viz. an electric force/electric counter-force and an electric force/mechanical (spring) counter-force.

Abstract: Organic hydroperoxides are decomposed by drying a reaction mixture containing the organic hydroperoxide and an organic solvent such that said dried reaction mixture comprises approximately 1 weight percent or less of water and contacting the dried reaction mixture with a metal organic ligand catalyst under hydroperoxide decomposition conditions. An organic co-solvent for the hydroperoxide may also be used. Particularly effective catalysts are cobalt acetylacetonates and ruthenium acetylacetonates and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A rotary lock has a shank with a latch at each end mounted to be rotated in a housing. The latch has three positions with a basic position with both latches in a locking position being disposed between the other two positions in which one latch is locked and the other latch is unlocked. The lock includes a handle connected to the shank to move the lock from the basis position to the other two positions against a force of a single spring which biases the latches and shank back toward the basis position.

Abstract: A headbox for a paper machine is characterized by having: at least one machine-wide channel region which defines a main direction of flow; a region for the production of turbulence; a plurality of feed lines distributed over the machine width and discharging into the headbox channel region; an adjusting device in each feed line for controlling the quantity of flow; an angle .alpha. between the main direction of flow and the feed line; and the angle .alpha. being selected in such a manner that, regardless of the amount fed by the feed line, the total volumetric flow in the region directly downstream of the feed line remaining constant.