Abstract: Underwater breathing apparatus with improved ease of handling comprises a cylinder, a meter and a quick coupling on the cylinder and on the meter, together with a flexible hose having quick couplings at its ends.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for automatically analyzing the degradation of processed leaf tobacco are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a conveyor system for diverting a sample of leaf tobacco from an operating tobacco processing line, supplying the tobacco to a degradation analyzer and returning the tobacco to the processing line after the degradation analysis has been performed. The degradation analyzer comprises a weigh conveyor for receiving the tobacco sample, weighing it to insure it is within prescribed limits and delivering it to a vibratory screen separator where the tobacco is separated into a plurality of fractions of different-sized tobacco particles. The separated fractions are collected in weigh buckets, electronically weighed and discharged to the conveyor system for return to the tobacco processing line.

Abstract: A smoking article such as a filter cigarette can have an adjustable delivery air dilution while exhibiting a reduced pressure drop decrease during air dilution thereof. The pressure drop decrease is controlled during various stages of air dilution by providing a mouthpiece which exhibits greater effective length at a low or non-air dilution setting than at a high air dilution setting. Filter cigarettes of this invention are capable of exhibiting a somewhat constant smoking character at various air dilution levels.

Abstract: A unique pipe configuration including a magazine in which a supply of tobacco may be stored, so that a smoker will not be required to waste excess time and effort to continuously replenish the pipe with new tobacco when a plug of tobacco therein has been exhausted. A desired amount of the tobacco supply is moved from the magazine into a hollow cutting and smoking chamber by means of a manually operated piston. A plug of tobacco is cut from the supply thereof by means of a tobacco cutter and transport device having a cutting surface formed at one end thereof. The cutter and transport device is adapted to ride through the cutting and smoking chamber so as to cut off and move the tobacco plug through the cutting and smoking chamber to a particular location thereof wherein the tobacco plug is smoked. The pipe location at which the tobacco plug is smoked is separated and spaced apart from the communication of the pipe stem with the cutting and smoking chamber.