Abstract: Mass producible, compact packets disposed in a moisture impermeable container adapted to store and dispense the packets for use in receiving and disposing of solid human waste in a sanitary manner in disaster areas or under other conditions in which normal sanitation facilities are unavailable; the exterior of the packet is a water impermeable outer wrapper systematically closed upon itself and adapted to be used to contain solid waste; the wrapper possesses substantial tensile strength and burst resistance when wet, and in its open laid-flat state is about one foot or longer in each direction, sized to receive all solid waste from a person discharging waste from a squatting position; a portion of toilet tissue is disposed within the packet in a position protected by the outer wrapper; and the packet includes closure means retaining the outer wrapper in its compact form, protecting the toilet tissue prior to use, and adapted, after the outer wrapper has received the waste and has been closed upon itself in a

Abstract: An alien liquid detector employs a monitoring element and an energizing circuit for maintaining the temperature of the monitoring element substantially above ambient temperature. For this purpose an electronic circit controls a flow of heating current to the monitoring element. The presence of an alien liquid is detected by sensing a predetermined change in heating current flow to the monitoring element, e.g., to distinguish between water and oil.In preferred embodiments the monitoring element is a thermistor whose resistance is compared with a reference resistance and heating current through the thermistor is controlled in accordance with the difference. In one embodiment a bridge circuit senses the resistance difference; the difference may be sensed by an operational amplifier arrangement.

Abstract: An alien liquid detector employs a monitoring element and an oscillatory electronic circuit for maintaining the temperature of the monitoring element substantially above ambient temperature. The output wave form, e.g., frequency of oscillation or wave shape, of the oscillatory circuit depends upon the temperature-dependent electrical characteristic of the monitoring element. A predetermined change in the output waveform allows water to be discriminated from another liquid, e.g., oil. Features of the invention employing two thermistors in two oscillatory circuits include positioning one thermistor for contact with water and the other thermistor above the oil-water interface to detect a layer of oil if present. Unique oscillatory circuit arrangements are shown that achieve effective thermistor action with an economy of parts and energizing power. These include an operational amplifier employed in an astable multivibrator circuit, a discrete transistor-powered tank circuit, and use of an integrated circuit chip.

Abstract: Detecting conditions related to the heat absorptive characteristics of a surrounding medium by heated thermistors exposed for heat transfer to the medium, and connected to a restorative energizing electronic circuit that supplies heating power. The restorative circuit responds to differences between the resistance of the sensing leg containing the thermistors and a reference value to vary the power flow through the leg and thus to restore the resistance of the leg toward the reference value. With two or more thermistors in the leg, the thermistors are heated in unison by the single energizing circuit, each thermistor is disposed in a different relationship to the conditions to be discriminated and differences between the individual thermistor resistances, reflecting differing rates of heat loss to the medium provide indications of the various conditions. When one thermistor is used, the power flow through the overall leg can serve as a measure of conditions of the surrounding medium.

Abstract: Detecting different fluids, such as oil at the surface of water, by a heated monitoring element exposed for contact with the fluid, the element having a resistance characteristic that changes as a function of temperature, in preferred embodiments being the mere filament of a light bulb. One system employs circuitry for periodically applying a pulse of electrical heating current to the monitoring element, to heat and produce a change in its electrical resistance, and output circuitry responsive to change in electrical resistance to indicate the nature of the fluid. In another system the resistance of the monitoring element is controlled by comparison to a constant reference, the heating current required serving to indicate the nature: e.g. oil, water or air, of the fluid contacting the element.