Abstract: A cactus cleaning tool comprising a handle and a cleaning section at one end of the handle for safely, quickly and easily cleaning a section of cactus. The cleaning section has a body member with a proximal end at the handle and a distal end outwardly disposed from the handle. The handle is angled upward relative to the body member. The tool has a scooping tip with an edge configured to allow the user to scoop out thorns. The tool has a slicing section with a slot defining a pair of longitudinally disposed sharpened cutting edges for removing the cactus skin. The top of the body member is open. The tool has a outwardly disposed tapper near its distal end to allow the user to tap the tool against a hard surface and dislodge cactus debris stuck on the tool. The tool is particularly useful for cleaning mission cactus.

Abstract: A cactus cleaning tool comprising a handle and a cleaning section at one end of the handle for safely, quickly and easily cleaning a section of cactus. The cleaning section has a body member with a proximal end at the handle and a distal end outwardly disposed from the handle. The handle is angled upward relative to the body member. The tool has a scooping tip with an edge configured to allow the user to scoop out thorns. The tool has a slicing section with a slot defining a pair of longitudinally disposed sharpened cutting edges for removing the cactus skin. The top of the body member is open. The tool has a outwardly disposed tapper near its distal end to allow the user to tap the tool against a hard surface and dislodge cactus debris stuck on the tool. The tool is particularly useful for cleaning mission cactus.

Abstract: The cactus cleaner is a lightweight one piece tool designed with two sharpened blades for removing thorns from cactus in both directions, and a tubular handle for usage with either hand. The front of the cleaner is also tooled for removing thorns with a scooping manner.

Abstract: A procedure for the synthesis of titanium nitride (TiN) thin films on metal substrate by vapor deposition using a magnetized sheet plasma source is disclosed. TiN films on metal substrate exhibiting the stoichiometric TiN and Ti2N were synthesized in a mixed N2/Ar plasma with initial gas filing ratio of preferably 1:3 under the following conditions: total initial gas filing pressure of at least about 40 mTorr, plasma current in the range of about 2A to 3A and plasma discharge potential in the range of about 125V to about 150V.

Abstract: An exhaust valve for threading into a street elbow threaded into an exhaust port of a conventional steam radiator that includes a base portion, a cap portion supported by the base portion, and a bimetallic arm contained in the cap portion. The base portion has a ledge that provides a broad surface onto which condensate in exhaust steam from the conventional steam radiator is attracted and deposited as it passes through the base portion so as to prevent the steam condensate from interfering with the exhaust steam from the conventional steam radiator. The base portion further has only one central throughbore that is coaxial with the bimetallic arm so as to provide a direct path for the exhaust steam from the conventional radiator without any bends that can produce obstructive eddy currents.