Abstract: A method of enhancing growth of aquatic organisms in an aqueous mineral-containing electrolyte such as sea water which comprises:(a) installing a cathode and an anode in the electrolyte,(b) applying a steady, pulsed or intermittent direct electric current across the cathode and the anode to effect electrolysis,(c) providing accreted mineral material on the cathode,(d) recruiting aquatic organisms on or in the vicinity of the cathode, and(e) creating by electrolysis conditions of higher alkalinity in the electrolyte in the vicinity of the cathode than in the electrolyte remote from the cathode to cause growth of the aquatic organisms in the conditions in the vicinity of the cathode, the placement of the anode being done in such a way as to minimize the effects of hydrochloric acid produced at the anode.The method is particularly described with reference to the growth of organisms which deposit calcareous substances, such as corals, for the creation of artificial reefs or coastal defence structures.

Abstract: A method for dispensing a product which comprises electrochemically generating a gas and utilizing the pressure of the gas to dispense the product. More specifically, the method may comprise electrochemically generating a gas by providing an electrolyte mixture which will react in the presence of an electrical current to form at least one gas, providing an electrical current through the mixture to cause reaction to form the gas, using the gas to form an internal pressure against a confined product to be dispensed thus forcing the product through a passage to an area having an exterior pressure lower than the internal pressure. The apparatus for accomplishing the method may comprise an electrochemical gas generator, a container containing a product and structure for utilizing pressure of gas generated by the generator to dispense product from the container. The gas generator comprises an electrolyte mixture which will react in the presence of an electrical current to provide at least one gas.

Abstract: A device for electrically nucleating a supercooled melt of heat storage medium to artificially induce crystallization. The device includes a metallic electrode to which a rigid cover member is secured in tight mechanical contact therewith. A trace of a hydrate of salt forming the heat storage medium is retained in the form of molecular clusters between the electrode and the rigid member. Upon application of an electric voltage, the molecular clusters grow into crystal nuclei to trigger crystallization. A method of making the electrode assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of disinfecting a contact lens is disclosed and comprises placing the contact lens to be disinfected into a liquid electrolyte containing chlorine dioxide precursor, e.g., stabilized chlorine dioxide, and forming a disinfecting amount of chlorine dioxide in the liquid electrolyte by passing an electric current through the liquid electrolyte.

Abstract: An method for cleaning and disinfecting a soft contact lens, characterized by immersing the soft contact lens in a treating solution which does not generate any hypohalite during electrolysis, supplying a direct current, and raising the temperature of the treating solution; and a treating solution for a soft contact lens, characterized by containing a treating agent mainly composed of boric acid and borax in a concentration of at most 2.2 w/v % and having an electrical conductivity of at most 8 mS/cm are disclosed.

Abstract: An method for cleaning and disinfecting a soft contact lens, characterized by immersing the soft contact lens in a treating solution which does not generate any hypohalite during electrolysis, supplying a direct current, and raising the temperature of the treating solution; and a treating solution for a soft contact lens, characterized by containing a treating agent mainly composed of boric acid and borax in a concentration of at most 2.2 w/v % and having an electrical conductivity of at most 8 mS/cm are disclosed.

Abstract: An improved high-efficiency electrochemical motor is disclosed that uses hydrogen gas in a gas-tight pump housing to convert electrical energy to mechanical work. The motor consists of an electrolytic membrane with pervious electrodes on both sides separated by the thickness of the electrolytic membrane such that the gas, being electrochemically reversibly active, enters into an anodic reaction on one side of the membrane where the gas molecules are converted to ions transportable through the electrolytic membrane and a cathodic reaction at the opposite electrode where the ions are reconverted to gas molecules. By applying a reversible electric current to the electrodes to transport the ions through the electrolytic membrane, the gas is pumped reversibly from one gas-tight chamber to another. A diaphragm disposed in a gas-tight motor housing moves from one motor housing partition to the other in response to an imbalance in the pressure of the gas.

Abstract: A method of disinfecting a contact lens is disclosed and comprises placing the contact lens to be disinfected into a liquid electrolyte containing chlorine dioxide precursor, e.g., stabilized chlorine dioxide, and forming a disinfecting amount of chlorine dioxide in the liquid electrolyte by passing an electric current through the liquid electrolyte.

Abstract: An apparatus for disinfecting lenses includes a single hand-held case with a lens compartment and a power supply compartment. A battery powered unit disposed within the power supply compartment responds to activation of a switch on the case to generate an electric current which is coupled to a pair of electrodes within the lens compartment to electrolyte a solution in the lens compartment and thereby disinfect lenses submerged in the solution. Disinfecting proceeds using a buffered solution to retain solution pH within predefined limits while enabling electrolysis with a large current of shorter duration to decreased disinfecting time. A lip circumscribing an upper opening of the lens compartment is covered with a single hinged cover member that lifts directly away from the lip, and a slidable retainer member is used to retain the cover member in a closed position. Ribs on the cover member retain the lenses submerged in the solution, and a hydrophobic element discharges gases produced by electrolysis.

Abstract: An article comprising a non-conductive substrate having a sub-micron thickness of an oxidizable conductive first metal coating thereon, and a second (promoter) metal which is galvanically effective to promote the corrosion of the first metal, discontinuously coated on the first metal coating. Optionally, the second metal-doped, first metal-coated substrate may be further coated with a salt, to accelerate the galvanic corrosion reaction by which the conductive first metal coating is oxidized. Also disclosed is a related method of forming such articles, comprising chemical vapor depositing the first metal on the substrate and chemical vapor depositing the second metal on the applied first metal coating, and of optionally applying a salt by salt solution contacting of the second metal-doped, first metal-coated substrate. When utilized in a form comprising fine-diameter substrate elements such as glass or ceramic filaments, the resulting product may be usefully employed as an evanescent chaff.

Abstract: A magnetic recording member with a thin metallic antifriction protection overcoat formed over a magnetic layer. The overcoat is soft ductile and low stress and includes a metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, silver, gold, cadmium, indium, tin and lead or an alloy of one or more of these metals, and may include less than 20 percent by weight of antimony, bismuth, thallium or copper to improve wear resistance or impede corrosion. In one preferred embodiment the antifriction overcoat is an alloy of silver, lead and antimony formed with N layers where 10.ltoreq.N.ltoreq.40. The even layers are richer in a selected metal of the alloy than the odd layers in order to produce adjacent layers with different lattice or microstructural and associated mechanical properties so that there tends to be parallel shear between adjacent layers under sharing stress of head impact or friction.

Abstract: A single assembly of a water heating system for heating the water and air in a room, and an electrochemical reactor which activates a gas alarm for human safety upon detection of a predetermined dosage of gas, such as, for example, a fatal dose of a gas such as carbon monoxide, and which detoxifies the gas.

Abstract: Ceramic precursor compositions, such as metal hydroxides and oxides, are electrochemically deposited in a biased electrochemical cell. The cell typically generates hydroxide ions that precipitate metallic or semimetallic ions to form insoluble solids that may be separated from the cell, then dried, calcined and sintered to form a ceramic composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring the temperature in an ultra small area by determining the electrical resistance, or changes in electrical resistance in an electrical circuit. The system utilizes a temperature sensory element comprised of a microcapillary tube containing an ionic liquid and an electrical circuit capable of measuring the electrical resistance, or the changes in the electrical resistance, of the liquid. The temperature sensory element is of a size useful to measure the temperature in ultra small areas. The temperature sensory element ranges up to about 2.0 microns in outside diameter, and more preferably has an outside diameter between about 0.1 and about 1.0 micron, and most preferably between about 0.5 and about 1.5 micron. Minute changes in the electrical resistance of the liquid within the temperature sensory element reflect minute temperature changes in the immediate area of the temperature sensory element.

Abstract: A process for depositing a salt by applying an electric current or voltage to at least one pair of electrodes placed in a supersaturated aqueous solution or supercooled molten liquid of an inorganic or organic salt, whereby the supersaturation or supercooling can be broken or prevented and the crystallization or solidification of the salt can be efficiently made. The process of the invention is advantageously utilized in an air-conditioning system.

Abstract: A cell changes conductivity by electrodeposition of a metal in response to an applied voltage pulse. The cell can be used as a variable resistance device to provide a broad frequency switching or modulating device that operates to switch dc as well as microwave energy. The cell also functions as a variable reactance device.

Abstract: Energy producing apparatus comprising an imbalance wheel mounted for energy producing rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, and which is substantially in rotational balance and defines at least two peripherally located and substantially equally circumferentially distributed electrochemical cell zones for conversion of liquid to gas, each zone having operatively opposed cathode and anode devices and operatively disposed imbalance imparting captive gas collection spaces for collecting corresponding conversion gas therein, plus a liquid feed system for feeding liquid to the zones, electrical conductor devices arranged for selectively providing a circuit of current from a source to the corresponding cathode and anode devices of each successive zone when at a selective imbalance imparting lower location in the lower half wheel portion, and a gas delivery system arranged for delivering conversion gas from the corresponding collection space of each successive zone when at the substantially uppermost locati

Abstract: An apparatus for the electrochemical development of damage tracks in dielectric transparent material sheets comprises a first elongated prismatic vessel within which an axial cavity is provided extending over most of the prism length and communicating with a circular transverse cavity which extends from an opening on one face of the prism thereinto for less than one half of the prism thickness; said longitudinal and transverse cavities being so dimensioned that when enough liquid is supplied thereinto for abundantly flooding the transverse cavity with the vessel upright and the transverse cavity lowermost, the same liquid will not reach the bottom of the transverse cavity when the vessel is set horizontally with the transverse cavity opening up.

Abstract: An apparatus for electrolytically disinfecting an object which comprisesan electrolytic cell containing at least one pair of electrodes, said electrodes being positioned within said cell such that when said cell receives an electrolyte containing solution therein, said electrodes will be at least partially immersed in said solution,an electrically conductive substrate having means for holding said object to be disinfected, said electrically conductive substrate being of sufficient size so as to be capable of being immersed into the solution, when said cell receives said solution, between said electrodes, and wherein said substrate functions as a bipolar electrode when a potential is impressed across said electrodes, and wherein said holding means is capable of holding the object to be disinfected completely submerged in said solution, and between said electrodes.

Abstract: An underwater acoustic reflector and method for making an acoustic underwater reflector is described herein whereby electrodes are immersed in an aqueous electrolyte solution and thereafter connected to a supply of electrical current. The electrodes are selected such that bubbles form on at least one of the electrodes, providing a layer of acoustic reflective bubbles. Control of the reflectivity properties according to the intensity of the electrolyzing current is also described.

Abstract: A cellulose containing vegetable material is bleached by the steps of chlorinating said material, followed by ammonia treatment and post bleaching with washing stages between said steps. Waste waters resulting from the washing stages are purified by subjecting said waste waters to electrodialysis and recovering ammonium chloride from the purified waste waters. The recovered ammonium chloride is used to pre-treat the cellulose material prior to chlorination thereof and the purified waste waters are reused in the washing stages.

Abstract: A lubricant applicator including a container having an outlet to be connected to the lubricating system of a bearing, a separator in the container movable to force lubricant out through said outlet, a gas chamber behind the separator and in communication with the container, a cathode and an anode in the chamber and forming part of an electrical circuit, a switch for breaking and making the circuit, and an electrolyte in contact with the anode and cathode for generating gas when electrical current flows through the circuit, the generated gas applying pressure to the separator to force lubricant out through the outlet.

Abstract: An improvement in a grease box comprising a casing having a closed expandable hollow body, the hollow body containing an electrolytic fluid into which a galvanic element is advanceable to produce gas under pressure to effect expansion of the hollow body which, in turn, effects dispensation of a lubricant out of a chamber into the grease box, the improvement lying in the galvanic element which comprises a galvanically positive member and a galvanically negative member currently conductingly connected to one another has at least one of the members covered by a non-electrolytic non-electrolyte soluble covering material, both the positive and negative members having at least one surface uncovered and in contact with electrolyte when the galvanic element is advanced into the electrolytic fluid.

Abstract: A gas generator is disclosed which will simply and reliably effect a gas producing reaction between a gaseous and a liquid reactant. The generator can operate at elevated temperatures and has heat exchange means incorporated. The gas generator is applied as a hydrogen generator to an energy conversion system in which hydrogen from the hydrogen-producing reaction powers a fuel cell and the reaction heat from the hydrogen producing reaction powers a thermal engine, thereby enhancing the energy conversion system relative to one in which the hydrogen generator is merely cooled and its heat is rejected as waste heat. Other possible energy conversion systems based on this gas generator are disclosed.