Abstract: A flash boiler has a water jacket and a vertically oriented interior passage which includes water tubes or superheating tubes, or both. The interior passage is a hyperboloid surface to induce draft. Water tubes and superheating tubes can be staggered so as to create a helical path for flue gas passing through the boiler. Water tubes and superheating tubes may include, internally or externally or both, heat transfer aids such as pins, fins or vanes, which may also be helices.

Abstract: An excavator bucket has several embodiments adapted for use underwater. A first embodiment includes a front lip and a heel section, with suction ports through the heel section. Another embodiment includes a grated or skeleton bucket with apertures communicating with a suction hopper having suction ports. Yet another embodiment includes a drum grate rotating inside a fitted shroud offset from and conforming to a swept volume of the rotating grate, with the shroud having suction ports, and another embodiment includes a first hopper with rotating arbors forming a crushing screen, communicating with a second suction hopper having one or more suction ports.

Abstract: A blade system for a projectile includes a body having a front portion and a rear portion and an axis extending axially from the front portion to the rear portion. At least one blade is pivotably secured to the body. The blade includes an outer cutting edge and an inner cutting edge. The blade also includes a lever proximate a rear portion of the blade. An application of a force to the lever, for example as the lever contacts the skin, hide, or bone of an animal, pivots the blade from a closed position toward an open position. The lever has an unsharpened leading edge to prevent cutting of the target animal tissue to help ensure pivoting of the blade.

Abstract: A blade system for a projectile includes a body having a front portion and a rear portion and an axis extending axially from the front portion to the rear portion. At least one blade is pivotably secured to the body. The blade includes an outer cutting edge and an inner cutting edge. The blade also includes a lever proximate a rear portion of the blade. An application of a force to the lever, for example as the lever contacts the skin, hide, or bone of an animal, pivots the blade from a closed position toward an open position. The lever has an unsharpened leading edge to prevent cutting of the target animal tissue to help ensure pivoting of the blade.

Abstract: An immobilizing orthopedic cast includes a permanent immobilizing casting layer that incorporates a mesh design of rods aligned parallel and perpendicular to each other so as to create apertures in the surface of the immobilizing orthopedic cast. To stabilize the affected extremity, the immobilizing mesh cast is positioned around the affected extremity. The casting layer is made from a waterproof composite material that is pre-impregnated with a resin. The casting layer is cured via a reaction between the resin and a catalyst, thereby immobilizing the affected extremity to allow for healing. The apertures allow for ventilation of the affected extremity. The apertures further allow one to view the affected extremity. The apertures further allow one access to the affected extremity. The mesh design of the casting layer may be oriented in several different configurations. The casting layer may be supplied in various formats.

Abstract: A medical dressing for treating open chest injuries, or other injuries that compromise or could possibly compromise the pleural space of the chest cavity. Specifically, a medical dressing used by first responders to treat an open pneumothorax, treat and/or prevent a tension pneumothorax from developing, remove the accumulated blood of a hemothorax or re-inflating a collapsed lung without invasive procedures and in some instances act as a conduit for treating a tension pneumothorax or a collapsed lung with invasive procedures.