Abstract: An apparatus for transferring fluid including a pipet or other similar vessel having an open top end and an open bottom end; a pipet-operating assembly including means for retaining the top end of the pipet; a flexible suction and pressure tube operatively connected to the pipet retaining means; vacuum-operated syringe means connected to the suction and pressure tube for aspirating a preselected amount of liquid into the pipet and for discharging the liquid from the pipet; tubular means for supplying a partial vacuum to the syringe means; and flexible, tubular means for selectively venting the supply of partial vacuum to the syringe means, the pipet-operating assembly including venting valve means for opening and closing the tubular venting means.

Abstract: Compositions for inhibiting the corrosion of metals which are contacted with water containing a chloride contaminant will comprise a mixture of a salt of a dicarboxylic acid and an aliphatic amine with a cyclic amine or a mixture of cyclic amines. The composition is exemplified by a salt of a dicarboxylic acid and oleylamine with a volatile cyclic amine comprising a mixture of pyridine, picoline, lutidine, aniline, quinoline, isoquinoline, toluidine, and heavy pyridine.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a soiled surface comprising rubbing the surface in the presence of water with a fibrous cleaning material characterized in that a fibrous carrier is impregnated with a rubber latex of at least one member selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, butadiene rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber and a high molecular weight substance selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetate-ethylene copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer, polychloroprene and acrylic resin and thereafter drying.

Abstract: A sterility indicator comprising a backing strip of a dimensionally stable material e.g. aluminum foil having mounted thereon an organic compound containing oxygen or nitrogen in intimate contact with a wicking means and a cover strip bonded to the backing strip overlaying the organic compound and wicking means. The cover strip is a polymeric rate controlling film which permits water vapor to pass through at a rate sufficient to make the device operative at a temperature to be monitored.

Abstract: A backwash system including a dispensing cylinder and valve arrangement for directing diluent as a backwash from a source to a sampling valve utilized to make dilutions thence to a sampler in the form of an aspirator tube. The sampling is performed by means of the aspirator tube introduced into a fluid for sampling and a vessel is provided for catching the backwash fluid and aspirating same to waste. The vessel and the tube are positioned relatively to enable the backwash to be caught in the vessel only when diluent is dispensed as backwash. The aspirator tube and collector vessel are returned to their normal relative condition either by movement of the tube relative to the collector vessel or vice versa. Suitable controls are provided to assure that backwash occurs only when the tube and vessel are conditioned to receive same.

Abstract: A solvent system composed of ethanol-acetonitrile-water dissolved certain membrane proteins of biological origin. The solvent system was optically transparent to ultraviolet radiation from 200 to 400 nanometers (nm). This transparency permitted ascertainment of spectral characteristics of membrane proteins at these wavelengths.

Abstract: A method of treating air containing odoriferous substances of both large and small molecular weights includes the step of establishing a flow of the air containing the odoriferous substances. The stream of flowing air is exposed to a bath in the form of a fine spray or mist of a concentrated solution of potassium permanganate at a first treatment zone to primarily oxidize the odoriferous substances having the smaller molecular weights and wash the air. The air is then passed through an adsorbing medium in the form of a bed of activated carbon at a second treatment zone to substantially adsorb and remove the remaining odoriferous substances having the larger molecular weights. Advantageously, the mist or droplets of the spray solution are removed from the air subsequent to movement from the first treatment zone and prior to movement into the second treatment zone. With the method, the air is substantially free of odoriferous substances upon removal from the second treatment zone.

Abstract: A retorting tray for sterilizing material sealed in flexible pouches. The tray comprises a base portion which forms a conduit for circulation of a heating medium therethrough. The base portion has edges extending therefrom terminating in a stackable feature whereby one tray can stack on the other. The base also has protuberances therefrom for spacing apart the flexible pouches in a substantially unmovable manner to control the maximum cross-section of the pouch and for providing a space for circulation of a heating medium about the flexible pouches to sterilize the contents.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to pre-sterilize the filling. tube of a packaging machine which produces filled flexible packages. The pre-sterilization is carried out by generating ozone within the confines of a tubular web of packaging material and recirculating the ozone through the filling tube while generating more ozone for sufficient time to pre-sterilize the machine.

Abstract: A method for analyzing sea water, raw water supplies, domestic sewage or industrial wastes for the presence of ionic surfactants, such as detergents, and the determination of whether surfactant is anionic or cationic. The method employs the back titration of a sample to which an excess of cationic surfactant has been added.

Abstract: A unit for sterilizing instruments in a chemical germicide solution having a container for holding the solution and a cover for closing the container. A tray having slots formed in the bottom thereof receives the instruments. A support for the tray is attached between the cover and the bottom of the container and moves the tray and instruments from a first position of immersion in the solution to a second position above the solution as the cover is pivoted upwardly from the container. The slots in the tray allow the solution to drain from the tray and the instruments.

Abstract: A system for providing a large volume flow of sterilized air through a serviced medical service facility for significantly reducing sources of airborne contamination in the facility comprises a closed circulation loop connected between an output plenum of the medical service facility and an input plenum of the medical service facility. A compressor in the closed collection loop imparts flow energy to the air circulating in the closed circulation loop and simultaneously raises the temperature of that air. The compressed, heated air is maintained at sterilizing temperature for a sufficient time to achieve substantially complete sterilization and then flowed to the medical service facility.

Abstract: A continuous reactor for viscous materials that give off volatile matter during operation has two rows of agitation rotors mounted staggeredly and with a phase angle of 90.degree. to each other on a parallel pair of shafts. Each of the agitation rotors consists of a pair of annular brackets arranged symmetrically across the axis of one shaft in a figure eight pattern, and a pair of scraper plates attached edgewise to the free ends of the brackets, one for each, at right angles to the brackets and in parallel with the shaft. The shafts are spaced apart so that the rotors on each shaft can revolve with their free ends passing close by the other shaft as well as part of the surrounding wall of the casing.

Abstract: A sterilization method for fiberoptic scopes for proctologic use having a hand-eye piece and an elongated flexible body member having an open end, an exterior surface and an interior first fluid conveying channel comprising the steps of immersing said flexible body member in a sterilizing solution, positioning the open end of said flexible body member to direct solution to emerge towards the exterior surface of another portion of said flexible body member and circulating said sterilizing solution through said fluid conveying channel in said flexible body member for a time sufficient to sterilize said fluid conveying channel and the exterior surface of said flexible body member of said fiberoptic scope.

Abstract: The wire-like, severed welding seam burr is removed from a, possibly, coiled pipe by filling the pipe with water under pressure the water containing solid particles and removing the burr with removal of the water as a column from the pipe.

Abstract: A disinfector for heating and disinfecting contact lenses in which a main plastic housing is provided having a lens well recess from the top thereof dimensioned for receiving a standard lens carrier, and a vented lid covering the well opening. The lens well has a downwardly facing annular recess on the bottom surface thereof for receiving the top edge of an annodized aluminium cup reservoir. The top lid portion is dimensioned for the measurement of water which is poured into the lens well and hence into the aluminium cup reservoir through a plurality of apertures in the bottom of the lens well. These apertures also serve to allow steam from the water in the reservoir to enter the lens well which is in itself a steam compartment. A annular flat electric heater coil is glued to the bottom of the aluminium cup reservoir leaving a circular section exposed in the center thereof.

Abstract: A device for sparging carbon dioxide from an acidified aqueous stream for use in a system for quantitatively determining the organic carbon content of the stream has a body with vertically extending cavities formed therethrough and passageways which connect the cavities in series so that the aqueous stream travels the length of a cavity before passing into the next. Dispersion tubes are mounted in the cavities for dispersing fine bubbles of sparging gas into the aqueous stream. The gas and carbon dioxide which has evolved from the aqueous stream is collected and discharged through the cavities.

Abstract: Method for cleaning a suction catheter including providing a sterilized environment for the catheter prior to use and convenient vessel for cleaning the catheter between each use with a single patient. The method further includes the steps of cleaning the catheter before each use by securing the suction catheter depending from a holder into an opening in a vessel, the opening mating with the said holder, after using said catheter in connection with treating a patient; flowing a cleaning solution into said vessel to the level of soil on said catheter suspended therein; and suctioning substantially all of said cleaning solution from said vessel through said catheter prior to disposing of both catheter and cleaning system after their use in connection with a single patient.

Abstract: An inert gas generator arrangement in which a rotationally symmetric burner is substantially vertically oriented with respect to a cylindrical housing having within it a heatresistant steel cylindrical wall enclosing a firing chamber, the cylindrical housing having a funnel-shaped bottom and the lower edge of the firing chamber wall being disposed thereon. A cooling jacket surrounds the firing chamber wall to form a cooling arrangement. The cooling jacket is constructed in the form of a washing cooler.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing dew from various surfaces, such as golf greens, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a flexible elongated body, and means for maintaining a first end of the flexible body at a substantially fixed location on the surface as a second end of the flexible body is rotated about the first end. The method disclosed includes moving such a flexible elongated body across such surfaces in a direction transverse to the flexible body, while maintaining the body substantially in contact with the surface to be swept.