Abstract: A damper for movement between covering and uncovering positions with respect to a fireplace opening for draft control, includes a pair of rigid plates, one larger and one smaller in peripheral dimensions than the opening to be covered. These plates are carried loosely on a rod with a flexible disc, preferably of insulating material and of the same size as the larger rigid plate therebetween. The rod is movable either axially or pivotally to bring the flexible disc into and out of contact with the structure defining the opening through which draft is to be controlled.

Abstract: A device for generating an electric output signal in response to the positioning of a mechanical member. The mechanical member carries an optical fibre, and the optical fibre coacts with one of several, preferably two, phototransistors in response to the setting position of the mechanical member. The phototransistors are connected to an amplifier generating the electric output signal corresponding to the member's position.The device may be used in control equipment for controlling the draught in a boiler, preferably an oil-fired boiler.

Abstract: A control mechanism for a gas-fired hot water heater, which operates without a permanent burner pilot, has an electrical circuit for selectively operating an igniter in response to gas pressure in the heating system. The water heater has a main chamber for providing gas to the igniter pilot and the burner element, and a secondary chamber for providing gas to a safety pilot. Circuitry responsive to a high gas pressure in the main chamber activates the igniter and circuitry responsive to a high gas pressure in the secondary chamber interrupts operation of the igniter. Continuous operation of the igniter element is thereby prevented, for example, due to a low gas pressure condition.

Abstract: A solar energy collector is disclosed including a housing forming a receptacle across which a fluid to be heated can flow and which is divided into a pair of chambers in the direction of fluid flow by a heat exchanging mat including a layer formed partially from an absorbent material and partially from a material having capillarity so as to retain a liquid fed into the layer and cause heating of the liquid by radiation impinging into the receptacle of the housing. A fluid medium, such as air, can be passed through the chamber formed below the aforementioned heat exchange mat to pick up heat from the mat for distribution as desired.

Abstract: An integrated system and the process of its manufacture for the absorption of solar energy and for the release of that energy for utilization as required using modular elements that are pre-cast out of low-cost building materials and which can be designed for use with others of the like kind to form structural components of buildings, patios and walkways, and other areas of human activity. Each of the modules has labyrinthine integral passageways cast therein through which a fluid is circulated for the transfer of absorbed energy therefrom. The modules can be combined into a system forming walls of a building in which the outer elements act to absorb solar energy which is transferred to intermediate elements for thermal storage with means being provided to transfer stored energy on demand into interior elements for release of the energy into the interior of the building.

Abstract: A solar collector having a lens array serving as a light incidence surface that focuses the light energy onto radiation passages in a coating located in the focal plane of the lens array, the coating having a radiation reflecting surface on the side away from the incident light and the radiation passages being enabled through energy that is locally effective through focusing of impinging light.

Abstract: An inflatable solar concentrator comprising an elongate hollow member of relatively thin flexible material inflatable to an upright position in which it is generally in the form of a cone convergent from its upper to its lower end. The inflated member has a substantially transparent top of a material which transmits incident solar radiant energy, and a highly reflective inner conical surface which reflects downwardly and thereby concentrates the radiant energy. A rigid collar on the lower end of the member has a passage through it in communication with the interior of the member for supply of gas under pressure into the member to inflate it and for exit of gas from the member to collapse it. The member is mounted with its lower end above a heat absorbing surface for impingement on the surface of concentrated radiant energy.

Abstract: A passive solar assistance device for use with a heat pump having a heat transfer fluid inlet and outlet, with means for circulating the fluid, a tank for containing an amount of the fluid, and at least one solar heat pipe having one end extending into the tank and adapted to be in contact with the fluid. At its opposite end the heat pipe is provided with a solar receiving device, such as an enclosed box having one or more transparent walls facing the sun or a plate construction comprising an extension of the heat pipe itself. In its heating mode, heat pipe is mounted at an angle of at least 30.degree., with the end associated with the solar receiving device in the lowermost position so that the heat pipe acts as a one way heat valve conducting heat from the solar receiving device to the fluid in the tank but not in the opposite direction. The heat pipe may be pivotally mounted to provide for either a heating mode or cooling mode.

Abstract: An improved solar collector for heating space air comprising a concentric arrangement of an inner cylindrical shell around which is coiled heat transfer tubing. Around the tubing is mounted a plurality of refractors arranged side-by-side in a plurality of directions so that as the sun moves across the sky during the day, successive groups of refractors bend the sunlight upon the coiled tubing. Air forced within the cylindrical shell is heated up by being in thermal contact with the solar heated tubing.

Abstract: Two identical bag-in-bottle bellows assemblies are provided for separately receiving and discharging breathable oxygen/air and oxygen/air/Xenon gas mixtures. An adjustable piston/cylinder gas pump is connected with the bellows assemblies through a system of conduits and valves for selectively operating the bellows of either assembly. Hoses are interconnected between the bellows and a patient mask to form inspiratory and expiratory paths. The expiratory path includes a PEEP valve, a pressure actuated exhalation valve, an O.sub.2 concentration analyzer, and a CO.sub.2 absorber. The apparatus is capable of being instantaneously switched between the isolated oxygen/air and oxygen/air/Xenon delivery systems while continuously ventilating the patient and maintaining ventilation parameters (ventilation rate, inspiratory time, oxygen concentration, end-expiratory pressure, and tidal volume) substantially constant.

Abstract: A flexible, tubular extension guide has its one open end fixed to a control section housing constituting a grip or operation section of an endoscope and its external free end connected to an eyepiece section of an observation system. The guide can be bent in any direction such that the eyepiece section can be set in any desired position, and self-retained at that bent position. The base end portion of an optical fiber bundle of an observation system is introduced into the guide and the base end of the bundle is directly optically connected to the eyepiece section.

Abstract: This implantable penile prosthesis may be surgically implanted in human males to cure erectile impotence. The prosthesis includes a pair of rigid portions joined by a hollow tubular section, all of which are implanted inside and along the length of a penis. The tubular section is connected to a pump means which controls erection of the penis by controlling the supply of fluid pressure to the tubular section. The tubular section includes a chamber means which undergoes only a small change in volume and therefore requires minimal fluid displacement as the prosthesis goes between a nonerect and an erect condition.

Abstract: In abstract a preferred embodiment of this invention is an improved spine board and head stabilizer system for transporting injured persons in a relatively stable position. The present invention provides for a short spine board that can be attached to both the back and the head of the patient while he is in a sitting position such as an injured party who remains in an upright position on the seat after an automobile accident. Once the patient is removed from the location of the accident, he can be placed on a full length spine board without disconnecting or otherwise loosening the head stabilizer of a short board. The quick engaging and releasing features of this invention are not only convenient to use but also greatly reduce the time required in properly strapping the injured party for removal and transport.

Abstract: An intranasal device for filtering nasal air and dispensing medication to be inhaled comprises a pair of approximately cylindrical resilient containers joined together by a bridging member. The containers are adapted to be positioned within the nasal passages with the bridging member extending across the septum. The lower end of each container is formed of a filter material and a washer shaped plug saturated with a medicament is located within each container downstream of the filter. The washer shaped absorptive plug is conveniently inserted into and removed from each container through an access opening formed in the sidewall of the container. The plug is retained within each container at the end by a pair of cross members which permit axial flow-through of air. The device may be provided with at least one temperature sensor or other measurement probe to monitor characteristics of air flow within the nasal passages.

Abstract: Valve apparatus for use in connection with a respirator or like apparatus, suitable for use in resuscitation, the valve apparatus providing a stepless or continuous adjustment of the counter-pressure presented to expiration by the patient.

Abstract: A method of flushing a medical liquid into a system that is continuously monitoring a patient's blood pressure. A parenteral liquid, such as saline, is flushed through a valve that has an elastic tube encasing a flow restrictor having a flow passage. The method includes passing the liquid through the flow passage at a predetermined rate, squeezing the tube to temporarily create an enlarged flush passage, and then releasing the tube to seal off the flush passage to force liquid through only the flow passage of the restrictor. This method of flushing can be conveniently carried out with one hand.

Abstract: A system for continuously administering parenteral liquid, such as normal saline, to a patient while blood pressure fluctuations are continuously monitored. The system includes a flushing valve with a manually squeezable and distortable elastic tube surrounding a flow restrictor. The flushing valve is connected through a flexible tube segment to a T-connector of the system to provide for convenient one hand flexible operation. The flushing valve, flexible tube segment, and T-connector are joined as a unit for assembling into the system.

Abstract: A valve for an arterial monitoring set which continuously supplies a small flow of parenteral liquid, such as normal saline, into a patient's artery while arterial pressure is being continuously monitored. The valve has a flow restrictor providing a normally slow continuous flow rate and an elastically distortable tube which is manually squeezable to provide a fast flush rate. The valve is convenient for one hand operation. A method for assembling the valve by twisting the tube is also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for injecting fluids into patients at a controlled rate from an ampule with a tubular side wall closed at one end with a penetrable plug and a sliding piston in the side wall to force the fluid through an opening in the penetrable member using either a long duration injector with an expelling means to move the ampule piston, drive means for operating the expelling means, and control means for incrementally and successively connecting and disconnecting the drive means to the expelling means or a short duration injector with a spring drive or a fluid pressure drive to move the ampule piston and meter the fluid through a metering device.

Abstract: This invention is directed to apparatus and a method for monitoring the collection of blood from a donor so as to minimize trauma to the blood so collected. The system closely monitors the rate of collection of blood and regulates the rate of mixing of anticoagulant therewith so as to maintain a substantially constant ratio of anticoagulant to blood throughout the collection process. The system also includes built-in warning devices for indicating when the collection process is not proceeding according to a prescribed pattern.

Abstract: An electrical pulse acupressure treatment device which provides for the use of a housing which is to be located in a preselected position upon the human body. Embedded within the surface of the housing that is located next to the skin of the human body is a protruding nodule. This nodule is metallic and will normally be spherical in shape. The nodule is to press against an acupuncture point of the human body. An electrical conductor passes through the housing and it attached to the nodule. This electrical conductor is connected to a source of electrical energy. This source of electrical energy is to transmit pulses of electrical energy in a preselected wave pattern to the nodule. This source is electrically adjustable to vary the current to the nodule.

Abstract: A forcep-like instrument is provided for mounting and ejecting either an elastic band or a hood for an occlusion procedure.

Abstract: A grounding electrode useful in electrosurgery and easily contoured to body surfaces which comprises a flexible, perforated metal sheet, the lower side of which is coated with a conductive adhesive and the upper side of which is adhesively secured to a fenestrated film, said fenestrated film being adhesively secured to an open cell polymeric foam, and a conductive snap or button for conducting an electrical current secured to said metal sheet and extending through said fenestrated film and said polymeric foam.Preferably, the metal sheet is aluminum foil, the conductive adhesive is a quaternary polymer and said open cell foam is polyurethane.

Abstract: A nail matrix trephine includes clamping head for clamping the trephine to a nail plate and a guide head for guiding a trephine cutter. The clamping head and guide head are interconnected by means of an adjustment device so that when the clamping head is clamped to the nail plate the guide head is adjusted relative thereto so that the trephine cutter is guided to remove preselected nail matrix cells.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device for joining together separated arteries, lumen or the like. The device includes an innertube of substantially cylindrical configuration having end portions which taper somewhat and terminate at opposed extremities in a fine feathered end. Attached to the center cylindrical portion, is a sleeve grip mechanism which extends over the tapered portions as well so that when an artery is slidably disposed over the tapered portions of the innertube, the sleeve grip can wrap around the central cylindrical portion and the tapering portion, and opposed ends of the sleeve grip can be fastened together to securely affix the dissociated artery to the central cylindrical portion thereby repairing the artery and allowing the flow of blood to recommence therethrough.

Abstract: A programmable cardiac pacemaker pulse generator utilizing digital circuitry for controlling the provision of cardiac stimulating pulses. The pulse generator is capable of having the rate, the pulse width, the pulse amplitude, the refractory period, the sensitivity and the mode of operation programmed. In addition, the pulse generator can have the output inhibited and can respond to programming signals causing a threshold margin test to be performed, effects of closure of the reed switch overridden, a hysteresis function added and a high rate exceeding the normal upper rate limit programmed. Many of the programmable functions of the pulse generator can either be programmed on a permanent or a temporary basis. The pulse generator further includes means for signaling the acceptance of a programming signal, and means to reset the program acceptance circuit if extraneous signals are detected as programming signals.

Abstract: An electro-optical medical instrument is provided for measuring the presence of bilirubin in skin tissue. The instrument is preferably hand-held and self-contained and utilizes a source of flash light to provide sufficient energy in the desired wavelength spectrums. The medical instrument can be automatically activated at a predetermined pressure against a patient's skin to provide a pair of measurement electrical signals. These electrical signals can be processed to provide an output signal representative of the bilirubin value which can be conveniently displayed.

Abstract: A device and method are described for precisely measuring pulmonary ventilation without the need for mouthpiece, face masks or other inhibiting devices subsequent to calibration. Anterior-posterior and lateral displacement of both the rib cage and abdomen are measured during breathing by at least 4 sets of magnetometers. The signals from the magnetometers are fed along with an initial signal from a breath volume measuring device to a microprocessor which correlates these signals by a least squares analysis to give constants defining the relationship between the magnetometer signals and readouts of total ventilation; respiratory rate, tidal volume and relative proportion of rib cage versus abdomen volume. Once the device is calibrated, these parameters can readily be determined independently of any direct measurement of breath volume. It has been found particularly important that calibration be performed during rebreathing at volumes of 1-2 liters of air, breathed 3-6 times to reduce the noise to signal ratio.

Abstract: A syringe useful for taking samples of blood includes a barrel with a hollow needle at one end and a plunger positioned inside the barrel for regulating the amount of fluid inside the barrel. In order to control the volume inside the barrel which receives and contains the blood sample, a control element is associated with the plunger and the barrel to control the distance which the plunger can move in both inward and outward directions.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a smoking material additive which is a smoke-aroma precursor comprises the steps of removing surface gum, preferably surface gum only, from Nicotinia plant leaves or flowers and subjecting the gum to a partition or purification process whereby a diterpene fraction constituting the said precursor and a fraction containing undesirable lipids are obtained, the latter fraction being discarded. The gum may be removed by solvent washing, suitably with chloroform. The partition or purification step may be a two-phase solvent partition process, for example using a hexane/aqueous methanol system.

Abstract: A method and a device for conditioning tobacco leaves or parts thereof in a coil or bobbin in which the tobacco material is conducted towards or away from a stretched belt portion of a reel, wherein a conditioning medium is continuously fed to the windings of the bobbin containing the tobacco material and to at least part of the belt portion extending away therefrom in order to control the tobacco leaf material already during winding on or off respectively of the bobbin so that the aforesaid storage and treatment conditions respectively can be better controlled.

Abstract: A cigarette holder includes a pair of compartments for receiving filtering material, the holder being joined in the middle by a sleeve carrying a retrieving member having a hook on one end and a tamping handle at the opposite end. For taking the cigarette holder apart and replacing of filtering material, the sleeve is removed and is suitably utilized as a holding handle with respect to which the retrieving member is extended in a first direction for retrieving cotton material, and extended in the reverse direction to provide a tamping end for forcing new cotton material into the cigarette holder.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a frosting cap, particularly adapted for use on long hair (10 inches and above), formed of flexible material, such as plastic or rubber, having an interior and an exterior surface which collectively defines a wall terminating in an upwardly curled rim, a plurality of first apertures disposed through the walls for pulling therethrough groups of hair from an interior of the cap to an exterior thereof whereby each such group of hair can be individually treated and at least one further aperture substantially larger than anyone of the first-mentioned apertures for receiving therethrough a single mass of hair exposed exteriorly of the cap in the manner of a "ponytail" whereby the groups of hair are individually drawn from the mass of hair in an inward direction from the larger aperture along a portion of the interior of the cap and thence outwardly through selected ones of the first apertures incident to treating the individual groups of hair.

Abstract: A hair curling device including a heatable rod having a plurality of longitudinal channels. A non-conductive roller having a cage-like body is provided with a plurality of mating strips or bars. When the roller is slidably mounted on the rod, a sufficient heated surface area of the rod remains exposed for applying heat directly to a wound tress. The rod may be removed from the formed curl leaving the roller to support the hair while it cools to operate as a hair setter. If the rod remains mated to the roller and left in the hair while the hair cools, the device operates as a curling iron or styling wand.

Abstract: The method and compositions for enhancing the growth and strength of fingernails and toenails.

Abstract: A gas pipe including a tube of expansible material defining a passage for gas and capable of expansion, when heated, to close the passage upon carbonization. The tube is surrounded by a cylindrical noninflammable member.A joint for connecting gas pipes which includes a tube of expansible material contained in a metallic tubular member and defining a passage for gas. The tube is capable of expansion, when heated, to close the passage upon carbonization.A method of manufacturing thermally expansible rubber tube for the gas pipe and the gas pipe joint. About 2 to 30 parts by weight of oxidized, thermally expansible graphite powder is mixed with 100 parts by weight of raw rubber, and a predetermined quantity of a curing agent and a cure accelerator are added to the rubber and graphite mixture, followed by its formation into a tubular shape.

Abstract: A flood valve adapted to close an opening through a barrier wall separating a fluid from a space, the valve having a plastic body with a bore therethrough, a piston slidable in the bore, a heating element carried by the body and having a section extending across the bore to restrain the piston against movement out of the bore, and a spring urging the piston against the restraining section of the heating element, the piston normally sealing the bore and the heating element, when energized, burning through the plastic body material to release the piston for admission of fluid through the bore to the space.

Abstract: A pneumatic vacuum regulator (10) is disclosed for supplying a modulated vacuum output signal proportional to an input pressure signal. Upper (18) and lower (20) diaphragms mounted within a housing (14, 16, 36), cooperate therewith to define a fluid chamber (46), a control chamber (58), and an atmospheric vent (104). A spacer (22) between the diaphragms allows the diaphragms to move as a unit in response to sensing subatmospheric pressure in the fluid chamber, atmospheric pressure on one side of the upper diaphragm, and fluid pressure in the control chamber. A valve member (92) is integrally molded into the upper diaphragm and is engageable with an atmospheric valve seat (96) formed around an opening (98) in an upper diaphragm plate (88). A vacuum valve seat (52) is aligned with opening (98) such that the valve member is engageable with either or both valve seats, thus permitting pressure in the fluid chamber to be modulated proportional to the pressure in the control chamber.

Abstract: A fluid oscillator is shown for producing pulsations in a flow of fluid. The oscillator has a housing which includes a fluid inlet channel for connection to a supply of fluid under pressure, a fluid outlet channel, and a valve chamber located between and communicating with said channels. A valve element is movably located in the valve chamber to alternatively block and unblock the outlet channel to produce the pulsating flow. The valve element moves to a blocking position by a reduction in fluid pressure at the valve element adjacent to the outlet channel. This reduction in pressure is partly caused by the fluid flowing past the valve element from the inlet channel to the outlet channel. The outlet channel is dimensioned so that the inertia of the fluid therein produces a further reduction in fluid pressure at the valve element adjacent to the outlet channel, which further reduction in pressure also holds the valve element firmly in the blocking position.

Abstract: A plug body is moved through a duct system by a pressure differential across the plug body. Cooperating members between the duct system and plug body retain the plug body at a number of different locations. The plug body is released from each of such locations by increasing the pressure differential across the plug body.

Abstract: A pressure relief mechanism seated within a wall of a pressure vessel features a novel flexible seal. The vessel pressure acts against both a spring and an internal valve pressure created by the flexible seal. The pressure relief mechanism can be designed to release over a wide range of critical vessel pressures due to the combination of the resistive spring force and the resistive internal pressure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gas valve for use in gas-fired appliances such as space and water heaters in which the gas inlet port of the valve housing has a permanently installed protective screen. The protective screen shields against debris and other foreign material which, in its absence, can be discharged into the interior chamber of the valve housing and, additionally, serves as a deterrent to insertion of tools and levers into the valve inlet port by workmen and owners during installation and servicing of the valve. If such insertion occurs with a valve having the permanently installed protective screen of the invention, the screen will be ruptured and there will be a permanent indication that the valve seat or valve member may be damaged by the tool.

Abstract: A load responsive fluid power multiple load control system using load responsive direction and flow control valves in combination with pump control responding to highest system load. Each direction flow control valve is equipped with a load responsive pressure control which automatically regulates valve inlet pressure to maintain a constant low pressure level at the motor exhaust and a load responsive negative load control to control a constant pressure differential at the motor exhaust. The load responsive control of each direction control valve blocks the pump flow to the motor while controlling negative load, providing the motor inlet with fluid from the motor exhaust.

Abstract: Fluid transfer valves having a first and a second actuating means are functionally assembled from a common valve housing having coaxial aligned opposed inlet and outlet ports and a hollow cylindrical interior having four stepped bores, concentrically aligned on a housing cylindrical symmetry axis. A cylindrical sealing solid piston is disposed in the cylindrical deep bore of the housing. A concentric bore in the screw cap secures and provides a close linear alignment path for the sealing solid piston. The cap has multiple concentric radial apertures disposed in an interior integral cap collar, providing a flow path for fluid transfer. A concentric piston channel uniformly disposed in and around the axis of symmetry of the piston provides fluid transfer through the valve on controlled positioning of the piston. A first aperture connects the inlet port to the annular bore surrounding the piston, and a second aperture can connect the outlet port to the piston channel.

Abstract: A four-way directional control air valve having a valve body in which is formed a valve spool bore having a valve spool movably mounted therein. The valve spool bore has a pair of longitudinally spaced apart air supply chambers formed in the wall thereof. An exhaust chamber is formed in the wall of the valve spool bore in a longitudinal central position between the pair of air supply chambers. A first cylindrical chamber is formed in the wall of the valve spool bore in an intermediate position between the exhaust chamber and one of said air supply chambers. A second cylinder chamber is formed in an intermediate position in the wall of the valve spool bore between an exhaust chamber and the other air supply chamber. The valve spool has a pressurized air flow chamber formed therethrough, and it is connected to the air supply chambers formed in the valve spool bore to provide an air supply flow path through the valve spool.

Abstract: A tube made from a rigid material such as PTFE is surrounded by a rigid tubular sheath. The ends of the synthetic material tube are provided with collars which emerge from the rigid sheath, the sheath having on its inner face, adjacent to each collar, a locking member. The locking member forms a substantially annular relief and penetrates a correspondingly shaped groove on the outer surface of the tube of synthetic material.

Abstract: A fabric suitable for use in making sandbags and the method of making the same wherein the fabric is woven from a yarn of twisted staple acrylic fibers having a fiber length of about 7 to 20 cm and a denier per filament of about 5 to 15, preferably 10 to 15, the yarn having a total denier of about 200 to 2650. The yarn is wrapped with a continuous filament yarn of a type which is degraded by ultraviolet light, with the wrapping being done in such a manner that fuzziness of the yarn is reduced to the point where the yarn can be woven into fabric without the use of size and at a weaving efficiency of at least about 70%.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing coils in the course of a process for the production of binding coils which are to be introduced directly into a row of holes in a pack of sheets. The apparatus has a winding spindle which is surrounded by the coil produced, from which the coil lifts when the front end of the coil is stopped, the winding spindle being driven continuously. A cutting device, for example in the form of scissors is provided for cutting the coil. A device for stopping the front end of the coil periodically is provided between the winding spindle and the cutting device, the stopping device being arranged to operate with a timing correlated with the operation of the cutting device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for filling a capsule under rotation and a machine for carrying out the method. The capsule is rotated at a variable speed during the filling so that the centrifugal force at the inner surface of powder present in the capsule is essentially equal to the gravity. The centrifugal machine comprises a holder for the capsule and a drive structure by which the holder is driven at variable speed. The amount of supplied powder is measured and the speed is controlled in dependence on the output signal generated by the measurement.

Abstract: The present device is for fixing a wheel upon a turntable which is rotatingly driven below the tools of a device for fitting and removing a vehicle tire from the wheel. Means are provided to move the jaws along radial arms fixed on the turntable and to drive this table in rotary motion.