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An apparatus is provided for heating contained liquid, and more particularly for thawing frozen blood components which are contained in a bag. The heating apparatus includes a microwave oven which has a cavity for receiving objects to be heated. A track is mounted in the oven cavity and has a peak and a valley with respect to the cavity floor. A tray is provided for supporting the liquid container. A device is provided for pivotally supporting the tray within the cavity with the tray in engagement with the track means, and a device is located within the oven for imparting relative motion between the tray and the track. With this arrangement the liquid container can be moved in a rocking motion to cause a mixing between the warm and cold portions of the liquid, and in particular with regard to frozen blood will cause the thawed liquid portions of the blood to flow over the still frozen portions so as to dissipate heat therebetween. (RH), Supersedes PAT-APPL-506 169-83.

Disclosed is a method of microwave drying of ammonium perchlorate grinding spheres. A preferred embodiment of the method employs a tunnel oven in combination with a microwave generator having an appropriate power supply. The tunnel oven receives microwave energy through transmission ducts in communication with a channeling device to distribute microwave energy over the grinding spheres to be dried. A preheated air supply facilitates moisture removal from the tunnel oven after the moisture adhered or occluded to the grinding spheres' surfaces is evaporated from the grinding spheres as a result of molecular vibrations of the water molecules after they absorb the microwave energy. A predetermined microwave frequency range and a predetermined drying time are employed to more efficiently remove adhered or occluded moisture from carbide grinding spheres as compared to conventional convection drying. (Author), Supersedes PAT-APPL-550 435-83.

An apparatus is described for heating contained liquid, and more particularly for thawing frozen blood components which are contained in a bag. The heating apparatus includes a microwave oven which has a cavity for receiving objects to be heated. A track is mounted in the oven cavity and has a peak and a valley with respect to the cavity floor. A tray is provided for pivotally supporting the tray within the cavity with the tray in engagement with the track means, and a device is located within the oven for imparting relative motion between the tray and the track. With this arrangement the liquid container can be moved in a rocking motion to cause a mixing between the warm and cold portions of the liquid, and in particular with regard to frozen blood will cause the thawed liquid portions of the blood to flow over the still frozen portions so as to dissipate heat therebetween.

The patent relates to an improved method of producing crisp, non-rubbery, reheated french fried potatoes which are frozen for storage purposes after being fried in deep fat and subsequently reheated by means of microwave oven heating without employing additional hot air heating. The improved properties result from a partial dehydration in a hot air oven or a combination of microwave oven heating and hot air oven heating prior to deep fat frying to complete the cooking of the french fried potatoes prior to freezing thereof., Supersedes PAT-APPL-812 080-77.

Microwave technology has been used to develop a system capable of providing fast, in-line warming of blood or intravenous(IV) fluids. The first year of this Phase 11 program has resulted in the fabrication and testing of a functional engineering model consisting of four main components: (1) Microwave energy source with variable power control; (2) Heating Chamber with insertable cartridge; (3) Microwave radiometer for fluid temperature measurement; and (4) Feedback control algorithm on an EM PC computer . . he single most important technical achievement has been the integration of these major components into a functional closed-loop feedback control system. To determine the efficacy of the rapid, in-line warming of blood and IV fluids within the microwave energy field, in-vivo tests using baboons have been conducted using a technique of radiolabelling blood components prior to microwave warming. Results show no significant changes in blood component longevity between samples that were warmed with microwave energy versus control samples warmed by a heated water bath. The development work during the upcoming second year will consist of- (1) Fine-tuning the power control and temperature measurement components; (2) Optimizing the insertable cartridge of IV tubing; and (3) Introducing a microprocessor system to replace the IBM PC computer.

Effects of container geometry and material on microwave cooking performance, as measured by evenness of cooking, firmness, and moisture content were compared. Three food items were heated in round, tube, loaf, and square containers made of clear glass, amber glass, thermoset polyester, and polysulfone. Unflavored gelatin, custard, and cakes were prepared three times in each of the 13 microwave containers. Evenness of cooking was determined by comparing meltdown and temperature in gelatin, temperature and separation/uncooked portions in custard, and index to volume in cakes. Firmness was measured in custard while moisture content was determined in cakes. In analysis of the data, ANOVA and Duncan's multiple range test were performed. Significant differences were found between shapes as food items heated more evenly in tube and round containers than in square containers. Food quality was affected more by shape than by material. Foods prepared in the, plastic materials were more evenly heated than in the glass materials. Statistically, shape and material interacted with each other for three measures of microwave appliance performance temperatures and separation/uncooked portions of custards, and index to volume in cakes. The interaction of shape and material was greater as the heating time increased.

The purpose of this study was to investigate an alternative procedure for determining the water content of fresh concrete to replace or provide an alternate to the method now used in evaluating concrete mixer performance. A series of laboratory tests was conducted in which a microwave oven was used in parallel with an electric hot plate. Mortar samples of known water content and mortar samples sieved from concrete mixtures were dried in the microwave oven and on the hot plate. Water content was calculated and the results obtained through use of the two methods were compared. The results obtained indicated that a microwave oven is satisfactory for use in determining the water content of mortar samples taken from fresh concrete for concrete mixer performance tests. On the basis of the tests conducted, it is recommended that the microwave oven be designated as an alternate drying apparatus in the method of test for evaluating concrete mixer performance. (Author)

A new concept for improved medical food service was adapted and tested by the U. S. Air Force. Meal components were prepared, packaged, frozen, and then stored in conventional food storage freezers in the hospital. When needed, foods for the patient tray service were thawed in the kitchen microwave oven, arranged on dinner plates, transported under refrigeration to the wards, and heated in a portable microwave oven immediately before being served. Foods for the cafeteria service were likewise thawed, heated in the kitchen microwave oven, and then placed immediately on the serving line. Among the advantages of the new system were: increased variety in food and a la carte selection for the patients; higher temperatures of hot foods served on the wards; improved control of food portions; increased food safety; and more effective management procedures. Opinions of the food by bed patients, ambulatory patients, and hospital staff were highly favorable. Savings in manpower and in food costs are itemized. (Author)

Film negatives, 4 x 5 in., "Triangle Sales & Serv Harold Hoffelt"--Handwritten on envelope containing negatives, Title created by staff., William E. "Bill" Shemorry was a native of Williston, N.D. who began work in the newspaper industry as a newsboy selling the Williston Herald and the Williams County Farmers Press. In 1953, he started to publish the Williston Plains Reporter, which he operated for 25 years before selling to the Williston Herald. Shemorry then began to concentrate on his own writing and photography. In addition to writing many books on the history of Williams County, he also collected photographs of early North Dakota photographers. Shemorry was an active member of the Williston Fire Department, was Civil Defense Chief of Williams County for three years in the 1950's, and was a combat photographer in World War II. Shemorry's photograph of the discovery of oil in North Dakota on April 4, 1951 at the Clarence Iverson No. 1 is one of the most famous oil photographs ever taken, and was published in many national publications.

Film negatives, 4 x 5 in., "Triangle Sales & Serv Harold Hoffelt"--Handwritten on envelope containing negatives, Title created by staff., William E. "Bill" Shemorry was a native of Williston, N.D. who began work in the newspaper industry as a newsboy selling the Williston Herald and the Williams County Farmers Press. In 1953, he started to publish the Williston Plains Reporter, which he operated for 25 years before selling to the Williston Herald. Shemorry then began to concentrate on his own writing and photography. In addition to writing many books on the history of Williams County, he also collected photographs of early North Dakota photographers. Shemorry was an active member of the Williston Fire Department, was Civil Defense Chief of Williams County for three years in the 1950's, and was a combat photographer in World War II. Shemorry's photograph of the discovery of oil in North Dakota on April 4, 1951 at the Clarence Iverson No. 1 is one of the most famous oil photographs ever taken, and was published in many national publications.

"Nevin Kather, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Erich Kather, pioneer residents of Williston, was the inventor who was responsible [for aiding the development of the microwave]. From college days on he had pursued an extensive and successful career in electrical engineering and electronics. In 1946, he was senior engineer in the Magnetron Development Laboratory, a subdivision of the Raytheon Manufacturing Company of Waltham, Mass. Willistonites who knew Kather, will recall that even before he entered high school he was interested in radio and electrical apparatus, and that he used to talk back and forth with other electrically inclined friends, using crude static wireless buzzers adapted from ignition coils taken out of a Model T automobile. Later on h e began to use more complicated apparatus, and by the time he graduated from Williston High School in 1932, was often enjoying national and international conversations with other 'radio hams,' [as the wireless amateurs were called]. Their scope carried them all over the U.S., and many foreign lands as well. Nevin's many radio contacts with amateurs throughout the United States proved very helpful in 1932, during the great depression, when he 'bummed' his way via freight trains to California to enroll in college. He stopped to visit 'hams' all along the way, only a few who turned out to be inhospitable. But he completed his journed without any serious trouble. In California he enrolled in Chaffey Junior College and then two years later went on to Iowa State University from which he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. He continued his education at the University of Tulsa and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Following this, from 1937 to 1943 he was employed as a consulting engineer with Electric Advisers, Inc. in New York City. He joined electronics manufacturer 'Raytheon' in 1973 and served in thei Microwave and Power Tube Division as an engineering section head, a production, Photographic prints, 8 x 10 in., "Nevin Kather"--Handwritten on front of print "Nevin Kather"--Handwritten on back of print "Portrait of Kather Nevin Kather and the Radarange May 22, 2001 Best Little Stories Shemorry"--Handwritten on paper taped to back of photograph, Title created by staff., William E. "Bill" Shemorry was a native of Williston, N.D. who began work in the newspaper industry as a newsboy selling the Williston Herald and the Williams County Farmers Press. In 1953, he started to publish the Williston Plains Reporter, which he operated for 25 years before selling to the Williston Herald. Shemorry then began to concentrate on his own writing and photography. In addition to writing many books on the history of Williams County, he also collected photographs of early North Dakota photographers. Shemorry was an active member of the Williston Fire Department, was Civil Defense Chief of Williams County for three years in the 1950's, and was a combat photographer in World War II. Shemorry's photograph of the discovery of oil in North Dakota on April 4, 1951 at the Clarence Iverson No. 1 is one of the most famous oil photographs ever taken, and was published in many national publications., The quoted description is from Shemorry's caption that was not published with the photograph in the article "Kather Helped With Development of Microwave" in The Williston Daily Herald, 2001-05-22, p. 1A. The article was part of Shemorry's series, "The Best Little Stories of the 20th Century" written weekly for The Herald.