Abstract: A chemical laser nozzle blade support system which incorporates therein at least two continuous flexure member to secure the nozzle blades of the laser to the laser body. The blade and flexure member are formed with a radius, R, and each side of the member is supported by a surface having a radius, R.sub.1. Under nonstress conditions the blade and member are subjected to the same pressure and have the same radius of curvature. During operation of the laser, axial deflections occur which cause the blade end of the member to deflect in a radial manner which induces bending in the member. The magnitude of the bending stress is limited by establishing the value of R.sub.1 such that the change in radius of curvature cannot exceed a desired value. The resulting blade load is therefore primarily in tension with the only bending being that induced by the structural deflection.

Abstract: Mobile sand de-oiling apparatus can be transported along beaches to cleanse sand contaminated by oil and other liquid petroleum products washed onto the beach. The contaminated sand is conveyed into one end of the apparatus and deposited as a layer onto a specially constructed inclined laminated perforate tray. The tray osculates vigorously so that the sand is not only conveyed along the tray where it is exposed to a multiplicity of overhead steam jets, but also clumps of sand are bounced up and down with the result that the individual sand particles separate from one another and turn and spin so that their entire surfaces are exposed to the hot steam. The steam thins the oil which is driven from the sand particles by the steam jets through the tray into a sump. The clean sand is discharged from the opposite end of the tray onto a conveyor which transports it to a storage site.