Abstract: Heavy duty weather and actinic resistant protective blanket for pool covers which is attachable at the leading edge of a pool cover so that upon furling the cover, the blanket surrounds, both longitudinally and laterally, the pool cover. Fastening means to secure the blanket to itself in the furled condition is provided, preferably cooperatingly disposed strips of VELCRO.TM. hook and loop material. The leading edge of the pool cover is secured to the trailing edge of the blanket by stitching, grommets, barbed plastic rivets, straps, line or the like. The blanket is at least 1/8th the length of the cover and an embodiment for free form pool cover is shown.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cyclic control of both potential and current in electrolysis, called Cyclic, Controlled-potential, controlled current Electrolysis. The method can be used with a two-electrode cell (W and C), or a three-electrode set-up using a reference electrode R to form two half cells. The method involves supplying a controlled current, preferably a constant current, to the W and C electrodes to operate the electrolysis within well-defined upper and lower potential limits. In a first embodiment (called the constant-current, preset-voltage mode), when a predetermined voltage is reached, the current is reversed until a second predetermined voltage is reached. The cycle is then repeated continously. In a second embodiment (called the preset-voltage, preset-time mode) the current is maintained constant until the predetermined voltage is reached. Then the voltage is maintained constant by reducing the current until a predetermined time of operation has elapsed.

Abstract: Improved low-potential electrochemical sensors and method for rapid, accurate, in vitro and in vivo measurement of the concentration of carbohydrates in organic or biological fluids by cyclic voltammetric or coulometric scan within a restricted voltage domain and identifying one or more oxidation and/or reduction current peaks, with the concentration of the carbohydrate being a linear function of the current output. Two well defined, sharp, distinctly separated, specific, reproducable and interference-free peaks have been discovered in the low-potential voltage domain of -0.9V to -0.2V, cathodic reduction Peak 1 and anodic oxidation Peak 2 in the range of -0.70V to -0.90V. The scan is pulsed or a steady sweep, and sensitivity increases with increased scan rate in the range of 30-50 mV/sec. Pulses may range on the order of 20-50 millisecond in duration, and sampling during the last 1.5 milliseconds of the pulse restricts values to pure oxidation/reduction currents.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cyclic control of both potential and current in electrolysis, called Cyclic, Controlled-potential, controlled current Electrolysis. The method can be used with a two-electrode cell (W and C), or a three-electrode set-up using a reference electrode R to form two half cells. The method involves supplying a controlled current, preferably a constant current, to the W and C electrodes to operate the electrolysis within well-defined upper and lower potential limits. In a first embodiment (called the constant-current, preset-voltage mode), when a predetermined voltage is reached, the current is reversed until a second predetermined voltage is reached. The cycle is then repeated continuously. In a second embodiment (called the preset-voltage, preset-time mode) the current is maintained constant until the predetermined voltage is reached. Then the voltage is maintained constant by reducing the current until a predetermined time of operation has elapsed.

Abstract: An implantable biologically acceptable miniature fuel cell that is intermittently refuelable through one or more percutaneously positioned refueling ports. Refueling occurs by injection, preferably by hypodermic, typically annually. No transcutaneous leads or refueling stoma or tubes are employed. The cell is a bio-oxidant cell, as distinct from being a bioautofuel cell, having a silicone membrane coating over at least one external cathode surface permitting oxygen and water molecules to diffuse there through while preventing exit of organic fuel or oxidation-reduction by-products. Carbohydrate fuels are disclosed with glycerol being preferred from among it, glucose, sorbitol and mixtures. A variety of cathode and anode compositions are disclosed with Pt-black anodes and carbon-black cathodes being preferred. A high fuel to O.sub.2 concentration ratio is important to prevent O.sub.2 -parasitic effect on the anode. A high IS buffer is employed as the electrolyte, in the range of above 0.2 M, preferably 0.3-1.