Abstract: A drinking water filter assembly has a filter cartridge which includes a filter element contained in a pressure vessel for unitary disposal, the cartridge received on a base containing attachment fittings for ease in installation and replacement with limited exposure to contaminants during a filter change. A flow powered flow meter is provided which measures the quantity of flow through the filter for alerting the user to replace the filter cartridge.

Abstract: A fluid delivery powered toothbrush utilizes a removable/disposable neck assembly that contains a fluid reservoir, a fluid delivery system and a fluid path therein leading to a brush receptacle. No fluid is used in or passes through the toothbrush handle. Preferably a pump is located in the neck assembly and activated at the same time as the brush drive such that fluid is delivered during brushing. In one embodiment of the invention, the brush is replaced with a nozzle for providing fluid prior to or after brushing. The components for the neck assembly are disposable to minimize cross-contamination while enhancing fluid delivery to the teeth during brushing.

Abstract: A dental scaling system includes a scaling instrument with a handpiece and a scaling tip at the end of the handpiece. An ultrasonic transducer is connected to the scaling tip, and there is an irrigant outlet in the scaling tip. A cable is attachable to the handpiece and includes an irrigant passage and two lead wires for supplying irrigant and electrical energy to the handpiece. An irrigant supply bottle is releasably attachable on a housing, and the cable is attachable on the housing. The housing includes an air pump to pressurize and transfer irrigant liquid from the irrigant supply bottle through the cable to the handpiece. The housing also includes electronics to power and control the ultrasonic transducer. Each irrigant supply bottle includes a mounting member with a pair of wings, received in a forked docking assembly on the housing, with the mounting member lockable in the docking assembly.

Abstract: A marine propulsion system for use as a driving means and a progressive hull resistance characteristic changing means is herein described. The drive can develop a separation of the jet water stream flow field from the vessel hull, as well as separate the supporting ocean water flow field from the hull. The jet system air cavity doors also act as trim planes and hull planing (hydrodynamic) surface structures, and as thrust vector application control valves (in this capacity, they have the capacity to reduce drag . . . and make a vessel go faster, as well as increase it . . . by varying Coanda effect and hull plate fluid friction). The unit can be used in conjunction with an automated controlling device (such as a computerized control linked to servo motors, feedback potentiometers, and linkages) wherein a specific power-up and power-down sequence can be followed in response to sensor information.

Abstract: An Integrated Circuit (IC) card is powered by an array of photovoltaic cells with an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) with associated electronic to read the EEPROM and generate a serial bit stream that modulates a Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) RF system employing a Dielectric Resonant Oscillator (DRO) and a matched dipole antenna. The IC card is totally passive and derives its energy from an external source of radiant energy upon the array of photovoltaic cells resident in the IC card. The IC card is capable of remote interrogation which enables the IC card to be used for traffic and personnel monitoring as well as credit card applications.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for imparting fire retardancy to upholstery fabrics formed principally of polypropylene fibers and involving the use of known fire retardant compositions comprised of a mixture of bromochlorinated paraffin and antimony oxide. The exceptional fire retardancy of the known composition is realized without imparting to the fabric an oily surface characteristic by further incorporating into the mixture a substantial quantity of metal hydrate, such as aluminum oxide trihydrate, in the form of a fine powder. The aluminum oxide trihydrate, in addition to having some fire retardant characteristics of its own, provides an enormous surface area for adsorption of the oily composition forming the primary fire retardant material. This new composition, advantageously in the form of a foam, is applied only to the back surface of the fabric. Two major advantages are realized: First, the oily composition is isolated from the front surface of the fabric.

Abstract: A jaw assembly for apparatus for gripping pipes, the apparatus being of the type having automatic means for exerting increased gripping force upon application thereto, is provided with a member having a concave surface which cooperates with a gripped pipe to override the automatic means for exerting increased gripping force. Having such a member, the jaw assembly of the present invention can exert a predetermined maximum gripping force on a gripped pipe notwithstanding amount of torque applied to the apparatus. Considering angular relationships involving jaw cam angle, the present invention can be manifested in an increasing cam angle jaw for power tongs.

Abstract: An engine or motor is attached in a driving relationship to a water moving device, such as a pump, and a thrust outputing portion, such as a nozzle. Heat generated by and rejected by the engine or motor is passed into the pump base for dissipation into the outputtted jet stream. A supply of gas, such as air, and/or exhausted gases from the motive source is ejected around the outputted water stream in a critically defined boundary layer to reduce (1) against-the-hull turbulence induced by the ejected water flow, (2) water jet stream or thrust energy losses (3) vessel afterbody wake losses, (4) propulsion system underwater noise created by the ejected water stream (acoustical isolation), and (5) the contact friction of water born debree against the vessel hull.

Abstract: A method for achieving the flame retardancy of polypropylene fiber and for fabrics which include such fibers has been devised which has a low add-on finish. The finish comprises a mixture containing a bromochlorinated paraffin having a high concentration of bromine, up to 80% by weight, but, notwithstanding low add-on, the invention will produce an extremely effective fire retardancy where the bromine and chlorine constituents equal 20% and 40% respecively by weight of the bromochlorinated paraffin. Antimony oxide, preferably a antimony pentoxide is used, having a preferred particulate size in the range of 30-50 millimicrons. The quantity of antimony oxide to be used may be 1/3 mole to 1 mole of bromine. After the bromochlorinated paraffin is combined with emulsifiers to form a stable premix, the premix and antimony pentoxide are preferably combined with a binder consisting of an ethylacrylate latex.

Abstract: A rotary power tong for use in well drilling operations to make up and break out drill strings or similar axially elongated objects having a housing receiving a rotor assembly therein for actuating jaw members into the drill string for rotation of the drill string. The rotor assembly has a generally annular rotor with a plurality of axial bores therethrough positioned in a generally circular pattern adjacent the outer periphery of the rotor. Each axial bore receives a roller assembly comprising a shaft received through the axial bore and secured to the rotor and a roller bearing secured to the bottom of the shaft extending below the rotor. The roller bearing rotates relative to the shaft and rotor. The rotor assembly is received within a circular guide track within the housing such that the rotor assembly load is balanced evenly within the housing providing for a smooth rotational operation of the power tong.

Abstract: An improved rotating head having an inner barrel disposed within and rotatingly supported on an outer barrel wherein a rotary drive member is connected to the inner barrel. A kelly is extendable through the inner barrel and the rotary drive member is adapted to grippingly and sealingly engage the kelly so that rotation of the kelly causes rotation of the rotary drive member and the inner barrel connected thereto, the engagement between the rotary drive member and the kelly providing the sole source for rotating the rotary drive member and the inner barrel connected thereto. The rotary head also includes a bearing adjustment assembly which facilitates the rotatability of the inner barrel.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of plugging the open end of an intramedullary bone canal with an inflatable bone plug which is capable of restricting the flow of bone cement during the insertion of bone cement, particularly during the pressurized injection of such a cement, during an operative procedure involving the fixation of the stem of an artificial joint prosthesis to the end of a bone such as in the fixation of a hip joint prosthesis to the proximal femur. The inflatable bone plug is inflated with a fluid which is capable of escaping from the plug within a relatively short period of time after the bone cement holding the prosthesis in place has hardened to avoid possible weaking of the cortical bone surrounding the inflated plug. This invention also relates to an inflatable bone plug of the above type which is preferably constructed from a silicone elastomer and is pressurized with carbon dioxide gas.

Abstract: A mechanism for agricultural chemical formulation including a mixing tank and a dispersion tank. A rotatable shar blade is mounted within the dispersion tank which has a bottom wall and a side wall. The formulation is transferred from the mixing tank into the dispersion tank through an opening in the bottom wall with the shar blade being in close adjacency to the opening in order to permit the shar blade to strike the formulation as soon as it enters the dispersion tank. The formulation is re-circulated back into the mixing tank and the re-circulation between the two tanks is continued until it reaches the correct consistency.

Abstract: A tong assembly for makeup and break out of tool joints including a power tong and a backup tong which is rotatable through a limited rotation with respect to the power tong. During a torquing operation a single, self energizing free jaw and die grips the lower tubing of the tool joint in cooperation with two surfaces of a hardsurfaced bushing. The tool joint is gripped eccentric to the longitudinal centerline of the backup tong, and aligned with the longitudinal centerline of the power tong.

Abstract: A marine jet propulsion system for use as an inboard engine for boats is herein described. An engine or motor means is attached in a driving relationship to a pump and thrust output means. Heat generated by and rejected by the engine or motor is passed into the pump base for dissipation into the outputted jet thrust stream. Air and/or exhaust gas from the engine is ejected around the jet output stream to reduce against-the-hull and jet stream or thrust energy losses. Streamlining hull closures for the jet pump intake and output ports are provided to reduce system hull drag when not in use and to limit marine organism growth inside the pump.

Abstract: The input, driven and counter shafts journaled in a gear transfer case are drivingly interconnected by constant mesh gearing and under control of a clutch mounted on each of the split power shafts. Fluid power controls effect selective engagement and disengagement of the clutches to transmit torque at high and low drive ratios for either two wheel or four wheel drive of a vehicle.