All The Claims

1. An apparatus that is adapted for degassing a liquid that initially contains both entrained gas bubbles and suspended solid particles, prior to transporting the de-gassed liquid to a sedimentation tank that is adapted to remove suspended solid particles from the liquid;
wherein:

said apparatus comprises a degassing chamber, one or more stand pipes, a feed trough, and one or more feed wells;
and wherein:
(a) (i) said degassing chamber comprises one or more inlets for receiving a pressurized, superheated liquid that initially contains both entrained gas bubbles and suspended solid particles; (ii) said degassing chamber comprises one or more outlets for transporting de-gassed liquid to said feed trough; (iii) the shape and dimensions of said degassing chamber adapt the degassing chamber to be positioned immediately above the sedimentation tank or within the sedimentation tank, such that, when the degassing chamber and the sedimentation tank are both in operation, the level of liquid in the degassing chamber is from about 0 cm to about 65 cm above the level of liquid in the sedimentation tank; (iv) the ratio of surface area to volume within said degassing chamber is between about 1.5 meter\u22121 and about 10.0 meter\u22121; (v) said degassing chamber is adapted to allow the pressurized, superheated liquid to boil rapidly by reducing its pressure to about 1 atmosphere, whereby the rapid boiling causes most of the entrained gas bubbles to escape from the liquid;
(b) said one or more stand pipes are affixed to the top of said degassing chamber; each of said stand pipes is open to the interior of said degassing chamber, and each of said stand pipes is also directly or indirectly open to the atmosphere; and the height and diameter of said stand pipes are adapted to allow escaping gases from said degassing chamber to be vented to the atmosphere, without allowing liquid to escape from said apparatus;
(c) said feed trough is adapted to receive de-gassed liquid from said degassing chamber via said one or more outlets, and to deliver de-gassed liquid to said one or more feed wells; wherein the positioning of said one or more outlets, the positioning of said feed wells; and the shape and dimensions of said feed trough are all sufficiently symmetric that, in operation, the flow of de-gassed liquid to each of said feed wells is equal or nearly equal, such that any imbalance in the flow rates to said feed wells is insufficient to induce turbulence in the liquid in the sedimentation tank; and
(d) said feed wells are adapted to receive de-gassed liquid from said feed trough, and to deliver degassed liquid into the sedimentation tank at a level that is below the operational surface level of liquid in the sedimentation tank.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said degassing chamber has an annular shape.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises two or more of said stand pipes, and wherein the tops of said stand pipes are connected to one another to equilibrate the pressures at each of said stand pipes.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said feed trough has an annular shape.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower end of each of said feed wells comprises a turbulence reduction device to reduce turbulence induced in the liquid in the sedimentation tank caused by the liquid delivered by said feed wells into the sedimentation tank.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each said turbulence reduction device comprises:
(a) first and second rigid plates, wherein said first and second plates are about the same size and shape, except that said first plate incorporates a central hole through which one of said feed wells may pass, so that said feed well is positioned to discharge liquid into the space between said first and second plates;
(b) one or more spacers, wherein each said spacer is attached both to said first plate and to said second plate, wherein said spacers hold said first and second plates in a fixed position relative to one another and parallel to one another;
(c) at least four baffles rigidly affixed to said second plate; wherein said baffles are positioned symmetrically relative to the axis that passes through the center of the hole in said first plate and that is also perpendicular to both said plates; and wherein spaces are present between adjacent baffles to allow some liquid to pass between adjacent baffles;

wherein said turbulence reduction device is adapted for use as follows:
(d) when liquid exits said feed well, the liquid impinges upon said second plate; said second plate diverts the flow of the liquid by about 90 degrees, from an approximately linear flow that is approximately parallel to the axis, into a radially outward flow that is approximately parallel to said second plate; and then, when the radially-outwardly-flowing liquid impinges upon said baffles, said baffles further disperse the energy of the flow of the liquid; so that, when the liquid exits the space between said first and second plates, there is essentially no turbulence in the liquid, and there is essentially no turbulence at the interface between the exiting liquid and the liquid already present in the sedimentation tank; and wherein the spaces between adjacent baffles inhibit the formation of any vortices that would otherwise tend to form within a hypothetical, otherwise-identical apparatus in which said adjacent baffles were contiguous to one another, without spaces between adjacent baffles.
7. A combination comprising the apparatus of claim 6 and a sedimentation tank, wherein said apparatus is affixed to the top of said sedimentation tank or within said sedimentation tank; and wherein said sedimentation tank that is adapted to remove suspended solid particles from the degassed liquid.
8. An apparatus that is adapted for degassing a liquid that initially contains both entrained gas bubbles and suspended solid particles, prior to transporting the de-gassed liquid to a sedimentation tank that is adapted to remove suspended solid particles from the liquid;
wherein:

said apparatus comprises a degassing chamber, one or more stand pipes, a feed trough, and one or more feed wells;
and wherein:
(a) (i) said degassing chamber comprises one or more inlets for receiving a liquid that initially contains both entrained gas bubbles and suspended solid particles; (ii) said degassing chamber comprises one or more outlets for transporting de-gassed liquid to said feed trough; (iii) the shape and dimensions of said degassing chamber adapt the degassing chamber to be positioned immediately above the sedimentation tank or within the sedimentation tank, such that, when the degassing chamber and the sedimentation tank are both in operation, the level of liquid in the degassing chamber is from about 0 cm to about 65 cm above the level of liquid in the sedimentation tank; (iv) the ratio of surface area to volume within said degassing chamber is between about 1.5 meter\u22121 and about 10.0 meter\u22121; (v) said degassing chamber is adapted to allow entrained gas bubbles to escape from the liquid;
(b) said one or more stand pipes are affixed to the top of said degassing chamber; each of said stand pipes is open to the interior of said degassing chamber, and each of said stand pipes is also directly or indirectly open to the atmosphere; and the height and diameter of said stand pipes are adapted to allow escaping gases from said degassing chamber to be vented to the atmosphere, without allowing liquid to escape from said apparatus;
(c) said feed trough is adapted to receive de-gassed liquid from said degassing chamber via said one or more outlets, and to deliver de-gassed liquid to said one or more feed wells; wherein the positioning of said one or more outlets, the positioning of said feed wells; and the shape and dimensions of said feed trough are all sufficiently symmetric that, in operation, the flow of de-gassed liquid to each of said feed wells is equal or nearly equal, such that any imbalance in the flow rates to said feed wells is insufficient to induce turbulence in the liquid in the sedimentation tank; and
(d) said feed wells are adapted to receive de-gassed liquid from said feed trough, and to deliver degassed liquid into the sedimentation tank at a level that is below the operational surface level of liquid in the sedimentation tank.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said degassing chamber has an annular shape.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus comprises two or more of said stand pipes, and wherein the tops of said stand pipes are connected to one another to equilibrate the pressures at each of said stand pipes.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said feed trough has an annular shape.
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the lower end of each of said feed wells comprises a turbulence reduction device to reduce turbulence induced in the liquid in the sedimentation tank caused by the liquid delivered by said feed wells into the sedimentation tank.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each said turbulence reduction device comprises:
(a) first and second rigid plates, wherein said first and second plates are about the same size and shape, except that said first plate incorporates a central hole through which one of said feed wells may pass, so that said feed well is positioned to discharge liquid into the space between said first and second plates;
(b) one or more spacers, wherein each said spacer is attached both to said first plate and to said second plate, wherein said spacers hold said first and second plates in a fixed position relative to one another and parallel to one another;
(c) at least four baffles rigidly affixed to said second plate; wherein said baffles are positioned symmetrically relative to the axis that passes through the center of the hole in said first plate and that is also perpendicular to both said plates; and wherein spaces are present between adjacent baffles to allow some liquid to pass between adjacent baffles;

wherein said turbulence reduction device is adapted for use as follows:
(d) when liquid exits said feed well, the liquid impinges upon said second plate; said second plate diverts the flow of the liquid by about 90 degrees, from an approximately linear flow that is approximately parallel to the axis, into a radially outward flow that is approximately parallel to said second plate; and then, when the radially-outwardly-flowing liquid impinges upon said baffles, said baffles further disperse the energy of the flow of the liquid; so that, when the liquid exits the space between said first and second plates, there is essentially no turbulence in the liquid, and there is essentially no turbulence at the interface between the exiting liquid and the liquid already present in the sedimentation tank; and wherein the spaces between adjacent baffles inhibit the formation of any vortices that would otherwise tend to form within a hypothetical, otherwise-identical apparatus in which said adjacent baffles were contiguous to one another, without spaces between adjacent baffles.
14. A combination comprising the apparatus of claim 13 and a sedimentation tank, wherein said apparatus is affixed to the top of said sedimentation tank or within said sedimentation tank; and wherein said sedimentation tank that is adapted to remove suspended solid particles from the degassed liquid.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of increasing the elasticity of moisture-cured elastomers, comprising adding to an alkoxy-cross linking one-component composition comprising
at least one alkoxysilane-terminated polymer (A) containing end groups of the formula (1)
-A-Si(R)a(CH3)3-a\u2003\u2003(1),
at least one silane (B), of the formula (2)
X\u2014CH2\u2014Si(R)2(CH3)\u2003\u2003(2)
where
A each, independently, is a divalent hydrocarbon radical,
R each, independently, is a methoxy or ethoxy group,
X each, independently is a group R\u2032O\u2014, R\u2032\u2014O\u2014CO\u2014NH\u2014, R\u2032\u2014NH\u2014CO\u2014NH\u2014, or halogen,
R\u2032 each, independently, is an optionally halogen-substituted C1-18 hydrocarbon radical, and
a each, independently, is 1, 2, or 3.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the alkoxysilane-terminated polymer (A) comprises end groups of the general formula (5),
\u2014NR1\u2014CH2\u2014Si(R)a(CH3)3-a\u2003\u2003(5)
wherein R1 is hydrogen or an optionally halogen-substituted C1-18 alkyl group or an optionally halogen-substituted C6-18 aryl group.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein from 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of silane (B) are used per 100 parts by weight of polymer (A).
4. A one component moisture curable elastomer composition, prepared by the process of claim 2.
5. A cured elastomer, prepared by curing the one component moisture curing elastomer composition of claim 4.
6. A one component moisture curable elastomer composition, prepared by the process of claim 3.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein from 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of silane (B) are used per 100 parts by weight of polymer (A).
8. A one component moisture curable elastomer composition, prepared by the process of claim 3.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising incorporating a condensation catalyst for curing.
10. A one component moisture curable elastomer composition, prepared by the process of claim 9.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymers (A) are selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyether, polyester, polyacrylate, polyvinyl ester, ethylene-olefin copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, polyolefin, and mixtures thereof.
12. A one component moisture curable elastomer composition, prepared by the process of claim 11.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymers (A) comprise polydiorganosiloxane polymers.
14. A one component moisture curable elastomer composition, prepared by the process of claim 13.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one silane (B) is selected from the group consisting of butylaminomethyl-methyldimethoxysilane, cyclohexylaminomethyl-methyldimethoxysilane, methoxymethyl-methyldimethoxysilane, ethoxymethyl-methyldiethoxysilane, methylcarbamatomethyl-methyldimethoxysilane, ethylcarbamatomethyl-methyldiethoxysilane or chloromethyl-methyldimethoxysilane.
16. A one component moisture curable elastomer composition, prepared by the process of claim 15.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one silane (B) is selected from the group consisting of methylcarbamatomethyl-methyldimethoxysilane and ethylcarbamatomethyl-methyldiethoxysilane.
18. A one component moisture curable elastomer composition, prepared by the process of claim 17.
19. A one component moisture curable elastomer composition, prepared by the process of claim 1.
20. A cured elastomer, prepared by curing the one component moisture curing elastomer composition of claim 19.

1. A unitary mechanical injector-vitrector hand tool comprising:
a housing body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a variable volume cavity in the housing body for establishing a negative pressure;
a needle connected to the proximal end of the housing body, the needle having a central bore extending therethrough and an aperture extending into the central bore from a radially outer surface;
an inner reciprocal cutter fitted in the central bore of the needle and having a cutting edge adapted for travel across the aperture;
a first manually actuatable lever pivotably mounted to the housing body and coupled in driving relationship with the reciprocal cutter; and
a valve assembly operatively positioned between the needle and the variable volume cavity and arranged to open to apply the negative pressure to the needle central bore when the reciprocal cutter travels across the aperture.
2. The hand tool of claim 1 and including a pressurized source of fluid and a conduit coupling the source of fluid through the central bore of the needle.
3. The hand tool of claim 2 and including a second manually operable lever pivotally mounted to the housing body and operably associated with the conduit for controlling the flow of fluid through the conduit.
4. The hand tool of claim 3 wherein the second manually operable lever includes a protrusion for engaging the conduit and a spring for urging the protrusion into engagement with the conduit, the conduit being flexible so as to be crimped by engagement with the protrusion to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough.
5. The hand tool of claim 1 wherein the variable volume cavity comprises a tubular opening extending from the distal end of the housing body and a spring loaded plunger seated in the opening, the plunger being urged in a direction to increase the volume of the cavity so as to create the negative pressure therein.
6. The hand tool of claim 1 wherein the variable volume cavity comprises a closed cavity formed between an end wall at the distal end of the housing body and a flexible membrane attached within the housing body spaced from the end wall, the flexible membrane being coupled to the first lever so as to be moved to increase the volume of the variable volume cavity when the lever actuates the reciprocal cutter to create a negative pressure therein.
7. The hand tool of claim 6 and including a flexible tube coupling the closed cavity to the central bore of the needle.
8. The hand tool of claim 7 and including a pair of one-way valves operatively associated with the closed cavity, one of the one-way valves being coupled in fluid flow relationship with the flexible tube so as to allow flow from the tube into the closed cavity, another of the one-way valves being coupled in fluid flow relationship with the closed cavity so as to allow fluid flow out of the closed cavity when the cavity volume is decreased.
9. A sutureless intraocular manually operable surgical tool for removing material from an eye of a patient and replacing removed material with other fluid comprising;
(a) a housing body having a proximal end and a distal end;
(b) a hollow needle coupled to said proximal end of said housing, wherein said needle is of a size sufficient to fit through an opening in the eye small enough to heal without sutures, said needle having a sidewall defining a longitudinal bore, said sidewall being provided with an aperture;
(c) an inner cutter having a cutting edge telescopically received in said longitudinal bore of said needle and adapted for travel of said cutting edge across said aperture;
(d) a pivoting lever having a first arm extending outward of the housing body and a second arm extending into the housing body, said second arm being drivingly coupled to said inner cutter for effecting reciprocating motion of said inner cutter upon manual movement of said first arm;
(f) a suction tube provided in operable communication with said longitudinal bore;
(g) an injection tube provided in operable communication with said longitudinal bore; and
(h) valve means operably couple to each of said suction tube and said injection tube to control the application of suction to said longitudinal bore and the injection of fluid into said longitudinal bore.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A quick release vise, comprising:
a first jaw;
a second jaw moveable relative to the first jaw;
a threaded shaft rotatably fixed to the second jaw; and
a shaft receiver fixed relative to the first jaw, the shaft receiver comprising a boss defining a first channel, and a boss cover moveable relative to the boss and defining a second channel, wherein the channels cooperatively define an at least partially threaded shaft-receiving bore.
2. The quick release vise of claim 1, wherein the second channel comprises a threaded surface for engaging the threaded shaft.
3. The quick release vise of claim 2, wherein the first channel comprises a smooth surface.
4. The quick release vise of claim 1, wherein the boss cover is pivotable relative to the boss between a first position wherein threads of the shaft engage threads within the shaft-receiving bore, and a second position wherein the threads of the shaft disengage from the threads within the shaft-receiving bore.
5. The quick release vise of claim 4, wherein the boss cover is biased toward the first position.
6. The quick release vise of claim 5, including a spring for biasing the boss cover toward the first position.
7. The quick release vise of claim 6, wherein the spring extends from the boss cover to the boss.
8. The quick release vise of claim 5, including an actuator for selectively moving the boss cover from the first position to the second position.
9. The quick release vise of claim 8, wherein the actuator comprises a pin that engages the boss cover.
10. The quick release vise of claim 9, wherein the pin is slidably supported by the first jaw.
11. The quick release vise of claim 10, wherein the pin is biased away from engagement with the boss cover, but is selectively moveable into engagement with the boss cover.
12. The quick release vise of claim 11, including a spring for biasing the pin away from engagement with the boss cover.
13. The quick release vise of claim 1, wherein the second jaw includes an arm that slidably extends through the first jaw.
14. The quick release vise of claim 13, wherein the threaded shaft is substantially coextensive with the arm of the second jaw.
15. The quick release vise of claim 13, wherein the shaft receiver is attached to the first jaw.
16. The quick release vise of claim 13, wherein the arm slides past the shaft receiver.
17. The quick release vise of claim 16, wherein the receiver is substantially positioned within the arm, and wherein the arm is disposed substantially within the first jaw.
18. The quick release vise of claim 17, including a pin slidable relative to the first jaw, wherein the arm comprises a slot and the pin is selectively movable into engagement with the boss cover through the slot.
19. The quick release vise of claim 18, including a button fixed relative to the pin, wherein the button is positioned outside the first jaw.
20. The quick release vise of claim 18, wherein the boss cover comprises a chamfer, and the pin is selectively moveable into engagement with the chamfer.