Abstract: A dry papercrete mix is formed by preparing a wet pulp of fiber material such as newsprint and sharp sand by mixing sand, fiber material and water in a batch or continuous mixer, drying the pulp to a moisture content below that which will cause a reaction with Portland cement and adding additional sands and/or pumice and Portland cement. The resulting dry, granular mix can then be handled stored and used in the manner which is conventional for concrete. The dry papercrete mix can also be applied by pouring the dry papercrete mix into a desired volume such as a form in a dry state and injecting water into the dry papercrete mix until the mix is sufficiently wetted without a requirement for mixing in the manner common for concrete. Structural modules and a technique for joining them into a structure are particularly appropriate to the use of dry application papercrete.

Abstract: A dry papercrete mix is formed by preparing a wet pulp of fiber material such as newsprint and sharp sand by mixing sand, fiber material and water in a batch or continuous mixer, drying the pulp to a moisture content below that which will cause a reaction with Portland cement and adding additional sands and/or pumice and Portland cement. The resulting dry, granular mix can then be handled stored and used in the manner which is conventional for concrete. The dry papercrete mix can also be applied by pouring the dry papercrete mix into a desired volume such as a form in a dry state and injecting water into the dry papercrete mix until the mix is sufficiently wetted without a requirement for mixing in the manner common for concrete. Structural modules and a technique for joining them into a structure are particularly appropriate to the use of dry application papercrete.

Abstract: A separator for separating liquids in a fluid stream generated by blow-by gases produced in a crankcase of an internal combustion engine wherein the fluid stream includes both gasses and liquids. The separator including an inlet in fluid connection with the engine for receiving the fluid stream and an outlet in fluid connection with the engine to return a gas stream to the engine. The separator further including a fluid path fluidly connecting the inlet to the outlet and a containment vessel in fluid connection with the fluid path. The separator having a fluid stream accelerator in the fluid path and the accelerator accelerating the fluid stream to at least partially separate the gasses from the liquids in the fluid stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy efficient housing and to a method of providing an energy efficient housing wherein building material and house structure aim to provide a system effectively using external temperature for house needs. The house is built of multilayered blocks having layers of concrete and layer of mixture of concrete, cellulose fiber and sand surrounded with exterior and interior stucco finish layers prepared by a simplified process. The concrete layer has a plurality of air passages with baffles used for transferring of hot and cool air which change the temperature from the house walls and roof heated with sun radiation or cooled by cold outside air. The hot air is transferred to a hot air reservoir for further household needs and cool air is transferred to a cold air reservoir.

Abstract: A separator for separating liquids in a fluid stream generated by blow-by gases produced in a crankcase of an internal combustion engine wherein the fluid stream includes both gasses and liquids. The separator including an inlet in fluid connection with the engine for receiving the fluid stream and an outlet in fluid connection with the engine to return a gas stream to the engine. The separator further including a fluid path fluidly connecting the inlet to the outlet and a containment vessel in fluid connection with the fluid path. The separator having a fluid stream accelerator in the fluid path and the accelerator accelerating the fluid stream to at least partially separate the gasses from the liquids in the fluid stream. A deflector, which is also in the fluid path between the accelerator and the outlet, changes the direction of the liquid to direct at least part of the liquids in the fluid stream into a containment portion of the vessel and directs the gas stream to the outlet.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting tool has a shank portion for coupling to a tool driving device and a cutting portion to which is attached at least one support member for retention of a replaceable cutting element. The support member is so arranged to permit displacement of at least the portion thereof retaining the cutting element whereby the position of the cutting element relative to the body of the cutting tool may be changed by such displacement. A totally enclosed hydraulic force multiplier is mounted within an internal cavity of the cutting tool. The force multiplier is responsive to a control force to effect the displacement of the support member, the control force advantageously supplied by application of pneumatic pressure.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting tool has a shank portion for coupling to a tool driving device and a cutting portion to which is attached at least one support member for retention of a replaceable cutting element. The support member is so arranged to permit displacement of at least the portion thereof retaining the cutting element whereby the position of the cutting element relative to the body of the cutting tool may be changed by such displacement. A totally enclosed hydraulic force multiplier is mounted within an internal cavity of the cutting tool. The force multiplier is responsive to a control force to effect the displacement of the support member, the control force advantageously supplied by application of pneumatic pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming and measuring a bore includes a rotating shaft with one or more metal cutting tools disposed on a cutting head and a non-contact, pneumatic gaging device mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. The measuring device is advanced into the bore formed by the tools so that it measures the inner diameter of the bore as the rotating shaft is advanced into the bore during the cutting stroke. Accordingly, a single stroke of the boring apparatus serves both to form a desired internal diameter and to measure the diameter formed during the cutting stroke. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tools are held by a positioning device which allow the tools to be moved radially with respect to the shaft so that the diameter of the bore formed by the tools may be varied. If the measured diameter deviates from the desired diameter, the positioning means repositions the tools as necessary to achieve the desired bore diameter on a subsequent cutting stroke.

Abstract: Nanoparticles are produced by exposing microparticles to an energy beam, particularly to a beam of laser light, above the ablation threshold of the microparticles. Nanoparticles are produced having a narrow size distribution.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for transferring data in an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) system. Certain system information bits are displaced into time slot zero to permit the transmission of the B2 channel bits in the same assigned time slots as the B1 channel. D channel bits are also assigned to unused time slots.

Abstract: A bead having an exterior surface which is at least partially coated with a material that under illumination and in the presence of air is capable of accelerating the oxidation of organic compounds floating on water. The coated bead is water floatable and has an equivalent diameter of less than about 2 mm, preferably on the order of 10-30 microns. These coated beads can be used to accelerate under illumination oxidation of a floating oil film (e.g. from an oil spill) by dispersing the coated beads in the film and allowing them to be exposed to solar illumination and oxygen.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining the dimensional accuracy of workpiece surfaces, for example, of essentially cylindrical workpiece surfaces, wherein a measuring sensor scans the workpiece surfaces in accordance with a predetermined relative movement pattern between sensor and workpiece. The sensor is a pneumatic measuring head, so that the measuring procedure can be incorporated in the production process. The pneumatic measuring head travels over the workpiece surface along a continuous path which covers the surface area of the workpiece. The pneumatic measuring head is maintained at a constant basic or measuring distance from the workpiece surface, so that the measuring range of the measuring head is not exceeded when the measuring head travels over the workpiece surface. The measuring head continuously produces measurement signals, so that the measure procedure can be directly integrated in the production sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the transportation of golf balls, particularly at a driving range, which includes one or more tanks remote from a range house and in proximity to a driving target, in which golf balls can be separate from other objects and mixed with a fluid. This mixture is then pumped to a central location, during which the balls remain immersed in the fluid which is made to flow at high velocity, providing a cleaning action. The balls can then be subjected to further cleaning, if desired, separated from the fluid and the fluid returned to the tank in a substantially closed system. A high capacity ball cleaner is provided to furnish the further cleaning which is particularly adapted to be used with the ball processing system and method.

Abstract: A device and method for etching a body are provided capable of etching fine geometry patterns utilizing the high selectivity of wet etching and the anisotropic etch characteristics of dry etching. The body to be etched is placed in a reduced pressure etching chamber. An inert carrier gas is bubbled through heated liquid etchant producing a vapor stream of liquid etchant. A non-reactive gas is chilled producing a cold gas stream. The vapor stream and the cold gas stream are combined in an aerosol generation nozzle producing a high concentration of fine aerosol particles by homogeneous nucleation. The fine aerosol particles enter an aerosol growth chamber and form larger particles through thermal coagulation. The larger particles are accelerated out of the growth chamber through an expansion nozzle positioned within the reduced pressure etching chamber and directed toward the body to be etched. This aerosol jet of etchant impacts the surface of the body to be etched.

Abstract: A bead having an exterior surface which is at least partially coated with a material that under illumination and in the presence of air is capable of accelerating the oxidation of organic compounds floating on water. The coated bead is water floatable and has an equivalent diameter of less than about 2 mm, preferably on the order of 10-30 microns. These coated beads can be used to accelerate under illumination oxidation of a floating oil film (e.g. from an oil spill) by dispersing the coated beads in the film and allowing them to be exposed to solar illumination and oxygen.

Abstract: A circuit for the remote control of solenoid operated valves in an irrigation system reduces by one half the amount of wire required for the system. At least one pair of first and second solenoids are connected to a source of supply of alternating curent, typically through a low voltage circuit. A switching circuit selectively connects the source to the solenoids through a conductor having a diode network at either end of the conductor. One of the diode networks comprises a pair of diodes connected in anti-parallel relation across the switching circuit, and the other of said diode networks comprises a pair of oppositely poled diodes respectively connected between the conductor and a corresponding one of the solenoids.

Abstract: A device and method for etching a body are provided capable of etching fine geometry patterns utilizing the high selectivity of wet etching and the anisotropic etch characteristics of dry etching. The body to be etched is placed in a reduced pressure etching chamber. An inert carrier gas is bubbled through heated liquid etchant producing a vapor stream of liquid etchant. A non-reactive gas is chilled producing a cold gas stream. The vapor stream and the cold gas stream are combined in an aerosol generation nozzle producing a high concentration of fine aerosol particles by homogeneous nucleation. The fine aerosol particles enter an aerosol growth chamber and form larger particles through thermal coagulation. The larger particles are accelerated out of the growth chamber through an expansion nozzle positioned within the reduced pressure etching chamber and directed toward the body to be etched. This aerosol jet of etchant impacts the surface of the body to be etched.

Abstract: A wettable spray box for dispensing wettable agricultural spray powders in a tank of spray equipment so as to protect the operator from exposure to the powders is disclosed. The spray box comprises a box (10) with a lid (12) for attachment to the spray tank. The bottom of the box is fitted with a main pipe (18) which extends into the spray tank. A fill pipe (24) extends part way down the interior of the main pipe (18) and is connected to a source of water. One or more knives (34) within the box (10) are positioned to slit a bag of wettable powder which is inserted into the box. A water injector (40) extends into the slit bag, and a spray head (48) is positioned near the top of the box. An inserted bag is prevented from falling to the bottom of the box (10) by a rack or screen (28). In use, an unopened bag of wettable spray material is inserted into the box (10) and the lid (12) is closed to seal the box.