Abstract: A self-closing vent intended for use in attics, crawl spaces, joist cavities, exterior walls, interior walls, or other structural element which allows for the free flow of air from outside a building to interior spaces during normal use. The vent includes a damper blade pivotally connected to, and disposed within, the vent housing, which is held in an open position by a temperature sensitive fusible link. Two, and preferably three, permanent magnets provide the force for driving the damper blade into a closed and locked position. A first magnet disposed in a side of the vent housing and a second magnet disposed on the damper blade are disposed with opposing (repelling) polarities when the damper blade is held in the open position. A third magnet disposed proximate the back of the vent housing is oriented so as to attract the magnet disposed on the damper blade.

Abstract: A self-closing vent intended for use in attics, crawl spaces, joist cavities, exterior walls, interior walls, or other structural element which allows for the free flow of air from outside a building to interior spaces during normal use. The vent includes a damper blade pivotally connected to, and disposed within, the vent housing, which is held in an open position by a temperature sensitive fusible link. Two, and preferably three, permanent magnets provide the force for driving the damper blade into a closed and locked position. A first magnet disposed in a side of the vent housing and a second magnet disposed on the damper blade are disposed with opposing (repelling) polarities when the damper blade is held in the open position. A third magnet disposed proximate the back of the vent housing is oriented so as to attract the magnet disposed on the damper blade.

Abstract: A method and system for vehicle emission testing measures pollutant concentration, but then provides for conversion of the measured pollutant concentration into its corresponding pollutant mass, thereby allowing for the calculation of a vehicle's emission test scores for one or more common pollutants in units of mass per distance. Through the use of the method and system of the present invention, significantly more accurate results can be obtained as compared to prior art test methods, and without the implementation, operating, and maintenance costs of comparable test methods.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing loss of drilling fluid and for stabilizing a wellbore during drilling through depleted sands in a subterranean formation comprising depleted sands. The method comprises introducing into said wellbore and into said depleted sands an aqueous fluid comprising silicate or siliconate and resilient graphitic carbon in an amount effective at substantially plugging pores in said depleted sands.

Abstract: A method is provided for reducing loss of drilling fluid and for stabilizing a wellbore during drilling through depleted sands in a subterranean formation comprising depleted sands. The method comprises introducing into said wellbore and into said depleted sands an aqueous fluid comprising silicate or siliconate and resilient graphitic carbon in an amount effective at substantially plugging pores in said depleted sands.

Abstract: A hinge includes a first hinge leaf with two axially spaced knuckles and a second hinge leaf having a knuckle extending between and axially aligned with the knuckles of the first hinge leaf. The knuckles of the two hinge leaves have bores extending therethrough and that of the second leaf has a counterbore at each end thereof. Seated in the bore at each end of the second leaf knuckle is a bearing assembly including a collar portion seated in the counterbore. The bushing has an axial bore extending therethrough and a counterbore at its outer end. A metallic thrust bearing has a generally axially extending body portion disposed in the counterbore of the bushing, and a peripheral collar at the outer end overlies the outer end of the bushing and provides a thrust bearing surface for the adjacent knuckle of the first hinge leaf. In one embodiment, the bushing bore has channels to allow flow of electroplating solution if the hinge is electroplated after assembly.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, the stemming of blast holes, i.e. the covering (with peviously removed earth materials) of explosive charges placed in receiving boreholes drilled downwardly from generally horizontal surfaces in open-pit mines, involves the proper manipulation of a special vehicle relative to earth material cuttings that collect concentrically about the mouth of such a borehole during the drilling operaton. The vehicle carries a combination of earth-moving blades that can be raised and lowered as a unit and that comprises a transverse pusher blade mounted on one end of the vehicle and a pair of elongate auxiliary blades pivotaly mounted on and in mutually spaced relationship transversely of the pusher blade as arms which can be swung toward and away from each other. The auxiliary blades have respective tip portions turned toward each other, and are preferably arranged to stop short of meeting when swung together so as to accommodate the blast cord between such tip portions.