Abstract: A portable metabolism container for ecological testing. A substantially air and water tight container having continuous inner walls includes a diffuser unit mounted within the container and operated from a portable power source. The diffuser unit is operable to ingest and discharge water within the container and to set up a uniform water velocity simulating natural flow conditions over a substrate placed within the container.

Abstract: A portable cooler which may be carried in back-pack style is adapted to store and automatically dispense a number of cans of beverage. The cooler is comprised of a box-like chamber having self-supporting thermally insulative material on its exterior surfaces. One or more removable coolant-confining containers are positioned within the chamber, each container having a serpentine contour of horizontally elongated recesses adapted to hold beverage cans and permit their vertical descent to a door positioned adjacent the bottom of the chamber. The chamber is held within a snug-fitting fabric carrying jacket having a zippered lid and closure for the door, and carrying straps.

Abstract: An apparatus for withdrawing liquid from a receptacle which is closed with a penetrable cover, which comprises a puncturing tool for creating an aperture in the receptacle cover, a cannula for entering the receptacle through the aperture and withdrawing liquid from the receptacle, a holding arm to which the puncturing tool and cannula are affixed in parallel and at a certain distance apart, and a motor drive for effecting horizontal and vertical movements of the holding arm relative to the covered receptacle to align, lower and raise the puncturing tool and cannula in succession through the cover.

Abstract: A bottle filling machine having a rotatable head containing reservoir with a plurality of downwardly extending bottle engaging filling mechanisms is provided with a tappet vertically slidable in the head adjacent each bottle filling mechanism. Each tappet is provided with a prehensile bottle gripping device at the lower end thereof for gripping a bottle and a curved cam plate is provided for raising each tappet and the bottle held thereby to the bottle filling position whereupon the latch pin will be moved into engagement with a bore in the tappet to hold the tappet and bottle in filling position without the assistance of the cam plate. Upon completion of the filling operation the latch is released to allow the filled bottle to be lowered under the influence of gravity.

Abstract: A valve activated by inserting a fuel nozzle in a fuel tank fill line allows hydrocarbon vapors from the tank to be displaced into an adsorbent canister. The valve closes when nozzle is withdrawn. The valve prevents loss of liquid when fuel tank is accidentally inverted.

Abstract: An accessory for use in hatchback automobiles and station wagons is dimensioned to fit within the rear interior area of the automobile, and is intended to restrict movement of small articles during transportation. The accessory comprises a base, back flap swingably attached to the base, and at least two side flaps swingably attached to the back flap. When the back flap is positioned in an upright position, and the side flap extended outwardly from the back flap, there is formed open-topped enclosures for retaining the small articles in restricted positions during movement of the automobile.

Abstract: A fuel filler member for vehicles is disposed between and fluidly connects a fuel filler inlet on the vehicle with the vehicle fuel tank. The fuel member includes a first corrugated filler pipe placing the inlet and tank in fluid communication, and a second corrugated breather pipe contained within the first pipe, for conveying air present in the tank towards the fuel filler inlet. The first and second pipes are made of nylon, while the sleeves and/or members connecting the pipes to the filler inlet and tank are made of an acetal resin.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing sterilized prefilled plastic syringes avoiding plastic deformation and distortion. The plastic barrels are subjected to repeated water jet washing steps to remove contaminants and depyrogenate the barrels. Tip seals and pistons are subjected to removal of debris and pyrogens and destruction of microbial contaminants. After the tip is assembled on the nozzle of the barrel, the barrel is filled with contrast media through its open end, after which the piston is assembled in the open end to seal the syringe and its contents. The assembled and sealed syringe is then subjected to autoclaving to sterilize the syringe and its contents, without deformation of the plastic syringe or a loss of integrity to the closed media/syringe system.

Abstract: A lightweight water-resistant portable luggage carrier for pickup trucks that is securely locked in the bed of a pickup truck to be used to carry luggage. It is flexible and can be easily and quickly removed and compacted into a portable size to be stored behind a pickup seat.

Abstract: Gaseous mixtures are formed by introducing plural gases into a container with a predetermined dilution ratio of one gas in the other, withdrawing the gases from the container and admixing them in a pump, and returning the admixed gases to the container. Further dilutions according to the same or a different dilution ratio can be performed, thereby to obtain a highly dilute gas in accurately predetermined proportions. The gaseous mixtures have utility in inhalation therapy and other processes, and may for example comprise mixtures of oxygen or ammonia in diluents such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc.

Abstract: The two end members (1, 4) are locked by a self-retractable hook (15) which engages in a groove (23) in the female end member (1). The hook (15) is connected to an actuating lever (11) biased by a spring (14) and provided with a push-button (20). Pivotally mounted on the other arm of the lever (11) is a yoke (6) mounted on the male end member (4). When the transfer has finished, the hook (15) is retracted by depressing the button (20) so as to unlock the coupling. In the event of frosting, by depressing the button (20) still further, the yoke (6) upwardly urges the female member (1) and separates the two end members. Application in the transfer of liquid oxygen from a storage container to a portable container for domestic oxygen treatment.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for manipulating small quantities of liquid, comprising at least one test tube for accommodating the quantity of liquid, a cannula which can be inserted into the vessel, and a control arrangement for controlling the system vessel and cannula in relation to one another in a manner such as to bring the cannula to the bottom of the vessel. In accordance with the invention, the cannula is provided with a suspension structure which is connected to a mechanical or electronic sensor arrangement which records pressure acting axially on the end of the cannula. When pressure is detected, the control arrangement halts further insertion of the cannula into the vessel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the containment of dust within a bulk cargo container such as a ship or barge hold. A horizontal stream of ambient air is directed across the hatch opening by a plurality of interconnected air curtain modules which captures fugitive dust along its path. A plurality of interconnected dust collector modules withdraw the entrained dust particles at an opposite side of the hatch opening and exhaust the filtered air stream therefrom and deposit the filter cake back into the hold. The clean exhaust air from the dust collector modules may be used to form a vertical air curtain to deflect crosswinds.

Abstract: A device for connecting two or more bulk compounding systems for mixing hyperalimentation solutions is described. The device allows electrical signals from each bulk compounding system to be connected to one another so that each bulk compounding system may act in concert with other bulk compounding systems to fill an individual receiving container with minimal modifications to the internal circuitry of an individual bulk compounding system.

Abstract: A liquid storage and delivery system for use with protective masks having hand-operable bulb siphon pumps in line with conduits extending from a canteen assembly to the drinking mouthpiece of the protective mask. The system includes structure to allow a user to drink directly from a central storage/dispensing reservoir by connecting the conduits directly thereto, and also allows the canteen assembly to be refilled from the reservoir while maintaining the system's protective integrity.

Abstract: Bicycle pump apparatus includes a cylinder portion, a piston portion, a handle portion, a seat mounting portion and an air discharge portion. The cylinder portion includes an elongated tubular section, the tubular section having an external diameter slidably engageable snugly with a seat post receiving section of a bicycle frame. The piston portion includes an elongated rod member having a length slightly longer than the tubular section. A transverse plunger member is affixed adjacent one end of the rod member, the plunger member having a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the tubular section to provide a snug fit therebetween A transverse guide section is disposed adjacent an opposite end of the tubular section aligning and maintaining the rod member along the centerline thereof.

Abstract: A drink dispenser assembly used for filling receptacles when placed into a position to receive liquid dispensed from a nozzle comprises a valve which is controlled by a solenoid connected to an electric circuit, a switch operated at the will of the operator to actuate the electric circuit and the solenoid to open the valve and initiate a filling cycle, an assembly operative to suspend the receptacle below the nozzle, and an arm positioned proximate the receptacle when the receptacle is placed into a position to receive liquid, the arm operative to sense the filled condition of the receptacle and deactuate the electric circuit and the solenoid to close the valve and terminate the filling cycle.

Abstract: An air supply and control apparatus for an inflatable mattress 2 has several air compressors 1 which are operated in turn, during normal operation, to inflate the mattress 2. In the case of the pressure in the mattress 2 falling below an upper preset value the air supply is provided by having more than one air compressor 1 operate simultaneously. The apparatus has electronic circuitry for effecting this alteration of the mode of operation when pressure sensing means 4 detects a fall in mattress pressure. In the case of a more severe drop in mattress pressure a valve 16 in an air outlet of the mattress 2 is closed under control of the electronic circuitry. The apparatus is particularly suitable for use with a mattress 2 having a plurality of separately inflatable regions, air being supplied to the regions from the air compressors 1 via a distributor 3.

Abstract: A filling device for cans is provided with a cylindrical filling tube having a valve member moveable coaxially therein with complementary projections on the interior surface of the filling tube and the valve member to define a fluid shut off and to define related surfaces to provide the circumferential laminar flow of fluid into a can whereby the residual fluid remaining after the closing of the valve will not drip due to surface tension. A cylindrical valve member is slidably mounted in a housing surrounding the filling tube and is provided with a sealing ring at the lower end for engaging the rim of a can to be filled. Depending on the diameter of the cylindrical valve member a bearing sleeve having an appropriate radial thickness can be inserted in the housing to take up the slack.

Abstract: A system and method for filling or refilling a drinking container with a carbonated beverage pre-mix in outer space. The drinking containers are refilled from a master supply tank which is maintained at a substantially constant pressure which keeps the carbonation of the pre-mix in the tank in solution.