Abstract: An in-situ method for thermal desorption, extraction, and destruction of dense nonaqueous organic contaminants in fractured bedrock is accomplished through the use of thermal wells, a flameless oxidizer, and hot carbon adsorption chambers.

Abstract: An ice access and discharge apparatus for an ice bin including an access opening for access to ice in the bin and a slidably disposed ice baffle for baffling ice within the bin away from the access opening and metering ice flow to an ice discharge spout and to provide ice on a first in-first out basis. The ice discharge spout has a slidably disposed ice discharge gate for manually metering ice into an ice container.

Abstract: A trigger safety lock system is provided which provides ease in operation by authorized users by utilizing a sequence of buttons for combinational locking of the trigger or firing mechanism without the need for attachment of external accessories. The buttons act within a key way structure to permit or block movement of the trigger or firing mechanism. Such trigger devices can be used in various apparatus, such as firearms, tools and machines.

Abstract: An in-situ thermal desorption system which combines thermal desorption and vacuum extraction to separate organic compounds from in place contaminated soils is disclosed. A "heating blanket" desorption unit is applied directly to the surface of the hydrocarbon contaminated soil. The heating blanket assembly comprises of four basic components: a surface heating element, a thermal insulating mat, a vacuum collection system, and a vapor barrier. The surface heater, when energized, initiates a thermal front which moves down through the soil by thermal diffusion. As the soil is heated, organic compounds and water vapor are desorbed and removed from the soil matrix. A vapor collection system including a blower is fitted to the vapor barrier to establish a slight negative pressure inside the modular heating blanket units.

Abstract: A caddy for needle punch needles, a needle threader and spools of threads including a base, a backwall secured to one end of the bases and rising upwardly therefrom, a plurality of receptacles in the backwall for receiving needle punch tools, such as needles and the like, a plurality of vertically arranged rods secured to the base for receiving spools of thread, and a needle threader receptacle secured to the backwall, said receptacle so formed that when the needle threader is inserted thereinto, the body of the needle threader is caused to bend slightly along its length to create a biasing force between the receptacle and the needle threader thereby preventing free relative movement between the needle threader and the receptacle.

Abstract: An article of clothing prevents transmission of sexually-transmitted diseases, such as infestation of Phthirius Inguinalis to the pubic area of the wearer. The article of clothing includes a codpiece-like element that has snaps thereon for releasably attaching a condom mounting plate assembly to the codpiece-like element. A condom is held in the plate assembly.

Abstract: An optical fiber waveguide resistant to ionizing radiation having a glass core of predetermined refractive index surrounded by glass cladding having a lower predetermined refractive index. The glass core and glass cladding are each composed of high purity silica incorporating gallium as a constituent. The gallium is present in the form of Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 in a concentration of about 0.01 to 0.15 mole percent ratio to the silica. The glass of the optical waveguide can further include phosphorus in the form of P.sub.2 O.sub.5 as an additional constituent in the amount of from about 5 to 16 mole percent ratio to the total amount of all constituents.The waveguide of the invention is preferably manufactured by using GaCl.sub.3 in combination with an internal vapor phase process to produce a silica soot (16) containing Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3 on the interior surface of a high purity silica tube (10). The soot is then consolidated and the tube collapsed to form a substantially voidless solid rod preform of high purity SiO.

Abstract: Metal-coated optical fibers are often employed in high temperature optical communications applications. However, such optical fibers have been found to evidence a substantial decrease in optical transmission as a function of increased temperature. Optical fibers having a temperature-insensitive optical transmission are obtained by annealing a metal-coated optical fiber at a temperature at which optical transmission is substantially the same as that observed at room temperature. Aluminum-coated optical fibers annealed at 560.degree. C. evidence an optical transmission independent of temperature between about -200.degree. C. and at least about 560.degree. C.