Abstract: A direct contact water heater comprises a cylindrical column having a plurality of heat exchange bodies disposed in the upper portion thereof, a spraying device disposed above the heat exchange bodies for discharging water thereon, and a heating device disposed in the lower end of the column. The heating device comprises a burner oriented into the column and tangentially relative to the inner surface thereof. A shield extends across a portion of the column and above at least the initial path of the burner flame as it follows the contour of the column.

Abstract: A towline is mounted on a pulling vehicle and at one end of the towline a hitching member is secured; the towing vehicle includes a bracket for receiving the hitching member and a locking pin for securing the hitching member in a socket of the bracket; with the locking pin removed, the winch can play out the cable to connect the hitching device to an implement to be towed or pull an implement toward the pulling vehicle.

Abstract: Saving fuel in the operation of a motor vehicle by providing an increased resistance to depression of a gas pedal at increased velocities in a predetermined speed range from a lower velocity up to a predetermined upper velocity. A piston is urged against the pedal by a spring in a cylinder. Adjustments in vacuum in the cylinder are utilized to adjust the spring force constituting the resistance to pedal depression of the piston.

Abstract: A surface finish, displacement and contour scanner is disclosed which effectively protects its stylus from damage even if the stylus meets an obstacle, such as a wall, a major ridge or a crack. The surface finish, displacement and contour scanner further includes a unique transducer designed to provide true displacement transducer operation with or without traverse, a magnetic attach-release mechanism disposed median between the stylus and a transducer, and a ball-and-notch seating structure formed about the point of flexing of the stylus support.

Abstract: A mud flap holder assembly adapted to be secured to a vehicle in the proximity of the rear of a tire or wheel which is to be serviced by the mud flap, the assembly comprising a first bar adapted to be secured to the vehicle, and a second bar secured to the first bar by clamp members whereby the second bar may be clamped against the first bar for clamping the mud flap therebetween and readily released from the clamped position for removal or replacement of the mud flap from the assembly, arm members extend outwardly from one of the bar members for limiting the movement of the clamped mud flap in a direction away from the outer periphery of the tire or wheel thus assuring an efficient operation of the mud flap as the vehicle moves over a roadway, or the like.

Abstract: Phase locking of the output signal of a magnetron with a frequency source signal is obtained by a phase comparison of the output signal and source signal to obtain an error signal which energizes a winding of the magnetron magnet to thereby change the flux experienced by the magnetron tube operating in conjunction with frequency pulling of the magnetron output signal by the source signal coupled to the magnetron by a three-port circulator.

Abstract: A rotary rectifier assembly including a shaft adapted to be rotated. Three equally angularly spaced phase conductors are disposed about the shaft and insulated with respect to each other and with respect to the shaft and each has opposed, axially opening recesses. Diode wafers are received in each of the recesses and each recess further receives an electrically conductive load shoe. A pair of end conductors sandwich the phase conductors, wafers and load shoes and each end conductor has three equally angularly spaced curved recesses for matingly receiving the curved portion of the corresponding ones of the load shoes. A single biasing device is employed to bias one end conductor towards the other to thereby establish good electrical contact between the various components while occupying a minimum of space and minimizing the overall weight of the assembly.

Abstract: An optical matrix multiplier using two linear modulating arrays in which the columns of the first matrix to be multiplied control the modulation of one array and the rows of the second matrix control the other array. Light is directed through all combinations of elements on the two arrays and the resultant beams measured by individual elements on a two-dimensional detector array. The detecting elements time integrates the intensity of light falling on each of them, which value corresponds to an element of the product of the two matrices. The invention may be implemented among other ways with two linear electrooptical arrays, a linear array of light emitting diodes and a linear electrooptical array, or two Bragg cells and a pulsed light source.

Abstract: The invention addresses problems with liquid absorbent pads having at least about 50% of their absorption capacity represented by water absorbent (including water-swellable) material capable of absorbing at least about 5 times its own dry weight of aqueous liquid. By openings of specified area, present in undulating layer(s) of such absorbent material in specified numbers and total area per unit area of said layer(s), and/or through forming such openings as hinges and displaced flap members for locking the layers of a moving composite together for bending into said undulating configuration, and/or through use of sheath members of material which substantially retain their structural integrity in contact with aqueous liquids, and have open or openable portion(s), pads are formed with both high absorption rate and capacity and/or ready disposability and/or rapid production characteristics, ideally suited for urinary incontinence care and other uses.

Abstract: A structure (47) is rotatable 360.degree. about a vertical azimuth axis and 90.degree. or more about an orthogonal elevation axis. The structure (47) is mounted upon a rotating turret (6) in the general shape of an inverted pyramid, with a vertical generally cylindrical torque tube (11) protruding from the bottom of the turret (6). A drive wheel (12) is attached to the bottom of the tube (11) and provides a mechanical advantage for azimuthal rotation because it is larger than the wheel (25, 26, 30) connecting the top of the tube (11) with the bottom of the turret (6). The turret (6) rotatably turns about tripod base (46) by means of wheels (29) mounted beneath the rim (30) of said upper wheel (25, 26, 30). Elevational motion is provided by means of a lead screw (16) connecting rotating turret (6) with structure (47), which can be a modular mass-producible solar radiation reflector consisting of many identical reflective panels (1), each having the shape of a portion of the surface of a sphere.

Abstract: The disclosure is of a method for stimulating growth in a foliage plant. The method comprises potting the plant in a conventional potting medium to which there has been added a humate which was previously associated with a titanium sand deposit. The disclosure is also of improved potting mediums for foliage plants, which include titanium sand deposit derived humate.

Abstract: A multipurpose crew and resupply vessel for use in resupplying off shore installations with men, food and supplies, as well as fuel, water and all of the suplies needed by that offshore installation. The vessel is characterized by a wide, flat boat supporting a continuous precise lift hull structure that rides substantially horizontally in the water with a shallow draft both when loaded and unloaded so as to operate in a very wide variety of types of water and serves as a transfer platform for moving materials, supplies and men from one offshore installation to another and the vessel has fire fighting and other rescue capabilities.

Abstract: A conduit inspection sled comprises: a cage including longitudinally spaced adjustable collars for removably clamping a camera therein and a plurality of peripherally spaced and outwardly extending, elongated upper and lower struts connecting the collars on the upper and lower sides thereof; supports including elongated runners arranged on the lower side of the cage and elongated skids mounted on the upper struts; cables connected to opposite ends of the sled for transporting the same forwardly and rearwardly along the conduit; fore and aft links pivotally connecting the front and rear ends respectively of each lower strut and runner for relative movement toward and away from each other into retracted and extended sled positions respectively; inclined tension springs connecting the cage with the runners beyond the front end of the cage, and normally biasing the cage and runners into an extended sled position, wherein the runners slidably contact the inner periphery of the conduit and thereby normally center t

Abstract: Novel amino-phenyl-thiadiazoledioxides and related compounds and processes for preparing such compounds are disclosed. The compounds are useful for suppressing gastric acid secretions in mammals.

Abstract: An industrial painting method and system utilizing a washer, dry-off oven, spray booth, and bake oven, in which solvent paint vapors from the spray booth are concentrated in a filter which is subsequently degassed by a flow of hot air from the dry-off oven, and the degassed vapors admixed with the atmosphere of the bake oven. The bake oven atmosphere is continuously circulated to the washer and burned in the burner of the washer to incinerate solvent vapors, and the gasses produced by incineration are transported to the dry-off oven to form the atmosphere thereof. The principal exhaust from the system occurs from the dry-off oven and is substantially free of solvent vapors and of low temperature.

Abstract: A dwarf nandina having densely foliaged and ascending branches, resulting in a rounded, compact shape.

Abstract: A freely branching dwarf nandina plant having a compact, globose habit.