Abstract: A method of recovering chromium values and potential energy from liquid and solid leather tannery wastes comprising pyrolyzing the tannery wastes to produce a burnable fuel product comprising gases and liquids and a substantially solid chromium-containing residue, recovering chromium compounds from the solid residue and using the fuel to supply energy for the system.

Abstract: Active chitin is recovered from shellfish waste in a mechanical process without chemical additives. Shellfish waste is subjected to drying followed by grinding and treatment in an air classifier to separate the same into two major components, one being predominately active chitin and the other being a heavier component of predominately protein and calcium carbonate, which is an enhanced protein meal. A screening process for the first major component further separates most of the calcium salts from the active chitin, and all components are then packaged and stored for further use.

Abstract: A flexible acoustic coupler includes a pair of muffs and at least one acoustic-electrical transducer located in one of the muffs. Each of the muffs is arranged to support either the mouthpiece or earpiece of a conventional telephone handset. The muffs, in turn, are joined by a flexible coupling element which normally supports the muffs spaced apart so as to be mated in acoustic coupling relation with a conventional telephone handset. The flexible coupling element, however, is capable of flexing so that one muff can be rotated 180.degree. with respect to the other muff and mated therewith to thereby reduce the space taken up by the coupler when not operating. In implementation, the flexible coupling element and both muffs are integrally molded providing an attractive and efficient low cost acoustic coupler.

Abstract: A self-contained and internally powered shock, temperature and relative humidity acquisition and recording device particularly adapted for the rapid, accurate and automatic analysis of material handling and transportation facilities and procedures. The apparatus includes transducers which are used to sense shock, temperature and humidity in analog form. The analog signals generated by the transducers are converted to digital signals, i.e., binary multi-bit words which by means of digital logic and solid state memory devices, statistical and time dependent information are stored for an operating interval as long as two weeks. Thereafter the device is coupled to an interrogation system which generates output records from the collected data in operator selected density profiles or time histories.