Abstract: Electronic flash apparatus is provided that is capable of reducing the incidence of eyelid closure of a subject during an exposure interval when the subject is illuminated with visible light from the electronic flash apparatus immediately prior to the exposure interval. The electronic flash apparatus includes a visible light flash tube and an electrical circuit coupled thereto for controlling flash tube energization and de-energization immediately prior to and during an exposure interval. The electrical circuit includes apparatus for coupling the flash tube to a suitable source of electrical energy and for applying a trigger signal to the flash tube in order to illuminate the subject with a finite amount of visible light immediately prior to an exposure interval that will not cause the eyelids of the subject to blink in response thereto during the exposure interval.

Abstract: Processes and techniques are described for treating waste water (domestic and industrial) to remove organic matter and heavy metals. Clay and flocculating agent are added to the waste water to cause separation of a sludge. The sludge is fired at high temperature in particle form to produce ceramic particles. Organic matter is oxidized; heavy metals are bound within the ceramic particles and cannot leach out. The ceramic particles are useful as aggregate (e.g., in concrete) and in landscaping.

Abstract: A black, infrared pass filter is disposed in front of the strobe element of an automatic rangefinding camera to provide an infrared ranging wink for ranging during the pre-exposure steps of a camera cycle. As the cycle continues, the filter is temporarily displaced from in front of the strobe element to allow a visible light, flash firing for scene illumination. Once the exposure firing is complete, the filter resumes its original position in front of the strobe element such that the filter allows only infrared light to be transmitted from the strobe element except during exposure strobe firing.

Abstract: A concentric well-type extractor tube having two concentric valves retained in a valve neck for filling containers, such as beer kegs, with pressurized beverages. The length of the valve neck is reduced so that the bottom of the valve neck is horizontally aligned with the top of a movable first valve assembly. The side openings of the depending basket portion of the extractor tube are raised to a position adjacent the first valve assembly. Therefore, beer filling an inverted keg can pass directly between a first valve seat and movable first valve member of the first movable valve assembly and thereafter through the openings in the basket and into the keg. This substantially shortens the beer flow path and eliminates the passage of beer through a constricted area found in prior art extractor tubes. Also, a transverse deflector plate serves to deflect beer from the center of the keg to the sidewalls, thereby substantially reducing turbulence during filling.

Abstract: Biological stable articles are described which are especially useful as bed materials for treating waste water. Preferred articles are charred rice hulls which comprise silica and carbon.

Abstract: A packaged reagent for making Technetium-99m labelled tin colloids comprises 0.75 to 750 .mu.g stannous tin, 50 to 7000 .mu.g sodium, potassium or ammonium ion, 40 to 5000 .mu.g fluoride ion, 50 to 10,000 .mu.g of a non-toxic non-ionic surface-active agent based on poly (alkylene oxide)glycol and a container aseptically enclosing said reagent. The presence of the surface-active agent, preferably one of the Pluronic types, results in smaller sized particles being produced on addition of pertechnetate to the reagent. This results in a higher liver/spleen biodistribution ratio.

Abstract: An improved spirometer is disclosed which permits more accurate measurement of the volume of air exhaled from the lungs of a patient. The improvement comprises flow-responsive means such as a pair of vanes disposed downstream of the rotor. The vanes cause the air flow through the spirometer to stop, almost instantaneously, with the cessation of flow into the spirometer. Thus, after the patient stops exhaling through the spirometer, the rotor stops almost immediately, permitting more accurate measurements of the volume of air exhaled.

Abstract: A water sensitive cutoff valve shuts off upon detecting water to protect a gas leak detector. A transparent case threads into a base and houses a normally open valve mechanism. The valve includes a tapered post with an exit port and a shuttle that is capable of movement along the post to seal or uncover the port. A water-soluble band stretched between a finger mounted on the post and a second finger mounted on the shuttle holds the valve open against the bias of a spring that acts between the shuttle and the post. The presence of water dissolves the band and frees the shuttle to close under the bias of the spring and prevent water from entering and damaging the gas leak indicator. The base has an inlet port for a gas probe, a passage into the case, and an exit port to the gas leak detector. The passage into the case includes a tube extending into the case with an exit in close proximity to the band.

Abstract: A method for determining the operability status of heart valves IN VIVO. Accoustical data emanating from a heart valve to be analyzed is gathered. The data are divided into time slices, and the power, energy, and frequency relations for each time slice are calculated. The energy ratio of known peak frequencies is compared between the analysis data as gathered and known energy levels for a properly operating valve. The energy ratio of known frequency bands is also compared between the analysis data as gathered and known energy levels for a properly operating valve. Valve malfunctioning is indicated by the presence of a high change in the power and/or energy ratio at the selected key frequencies and bands.

Abstract: A DC-to-DC converter charges a capacitor connected to the secondary of a transformer having a primary connected to a low-level power supply through an input control circuit which, when triggered, connects the power supply to the primary for only a predetermined time interval whereby current flows in the primary establishing a magnetic field that stores energy derived from the power supply. When the current in the primary is interrupted, the field collapses, inducing current to flow in the secondary thereby transferring energy from the field to the capacitor. The control circuit is triggered by a voltage sensor that detects the collapse of the field to zero. The voltage sensor includes a sensor inductively coupled to the magnetic field for developing a sensed voltage having a first level during collapse of the field and a second level after the field collapses to zero, the breakpoint between the levels defining the instant at which the field collapses to zero.

Abstract: An inductor alternator having a stator formed from an annular yoke with laminated pole pieces secured to the internal periphery thereof by welding through slots in the yoke. The rectifiers for rectifying the alternating current are located in a detachable compartment at one end of the housing containing the stator. The rotor is journaled within the stator by bearings supported in said detachable compartment.

Abstract: A process for the production of welded mesh suitable for the reinforcement of concrete. Rod exiting from the finishing stand of a hot mill is superficially cooled in a water quench to an equalization temperature of between 300.degree. C. and 700.degree. C. The rod is then further cooled in air to temper the bainitic or martensitic outer surface layer so produced, and is then arranged to form a mesh and welded at the overlaps. No drawing or mechanical working of the rod takes place between cooling and forming the mesh.

Abstract: A water sensitive probe valve shuts off upon detecting water to protect a gas leak detector. A barrel and a cap of the probe valve secure together through a coupling ring and house a normally open valve that is spring biased toward a closed position against a seat of the cap. A water soluble band stretched between a hook on the valve and an anchor holds the valve open. The presence of water dissolves the band and frees the valve to close under the bias of the spring against the seat and prevent water from entering and damaging the gas indicator. A lock keeps the valve open during arming with the water soluble band. The anchor valve and lock all mount on the coupling for ease of disassembly for cleaning and arming. A gas duct on the coupling extends out from the body of the coupling to avoid water entering the duct by runoff across a face of the coupling.

Abstract: A low reflection coating for windows. A coating of silicone rubber is applied on one surface of the window and preferably also on the other surface. Each coating preferably has a thickness of several wavelengths of light and has a minimum thickness of two microns. The coating is low cost and is suitable for large areas, for instance solar heat collectors. Reflectivity is reduced by approximately one-third. The coating has no relation to a quarter wavelength or any multiple thereof of incident light.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved barium carbonate prepared by precipitating barium carbonate on an inert core to effectively increase its sulfate scavenging utility by providing enhanced reactivity and dispersibility. This invention is especially useful in the prevention of efflorescence and scumming of bricks or ceramic tile caused by the migration of soluble sulfates during their manufacture.

Abstract: Roofing means including a roof panel. Means are provided for securing the roof panel onto a roof frame including elastic clamping means joining the panel in tensioned relation to the frame and a deformable elastic sealing member secured between the clamping means and the panel and covering the clamping member. The roof panel may be a thin translucent plastic sheet.

Abstract: Electronic flash apparatus for a camera having automatic focusing with sonic ranging has a charge control system which inhibits charging of the flash tube capacitor during at least the automatic focusing operation of the camera. The flash apparatus thus schedules capacitor charging to occur at times other than the sonic ranging for automatic focusing, and thereby avoids the likelihood that spurious radiation from the capacitor-charging oscillator interferes with the sonic ranging operation.

Abstract: A self-developing camera with automatic focusing has a charge control system which charges the flash tube capacitor while other camera functions are inactive, and which disables capacitor charging during automatic focusing and during the film-related operations of exposure, transport, and processor-spreading. An enabling stage allows flash-illuminated exposure only when the storage capacitor is properly charged. The charge control system thus schedules high current operations to occur one at a time so that a single battery can power all camera operations. Further, it inhibits exposure under conditions of inadequate flash readiness. The control system affords the user of an SLR camera with a viewing interval between automatic focusing and exposure.

Abstract: An auxiliary system for cooling a solar collector of the type having circulating fluid when normal circulation fails, comprising direct mechanical temperature responsive means for admitting domestic water to the collector automatically when a predetermined safe temperature is exceeded.

Abstract: Electronic flash apparatus for a camera having automatic focusing with sonic ranging has a charge control system which inhibits charging of the flash tube capacitor during at least the automatic focusing operation of the camera. The flash apparatus thus schedules capacitor charging to occur at times other than the sonic ranging for automatic focusing, and thereby avoids the likelihood that spurious radiation from the capacitor-charging oscillator interferes with the sonic ranging operation.