Abstract: An improved progressive cavity (pc) pump is provided. In a first aspect, the pc-pump comprises a rotor connected to a motor via a drive shaft that is isolated from the material flowing through the suction chamber of the pump, thereby preventing the pumped material from reaching the joints of the drive shaft through faulty seals. In another aspect, the pc-pump comprises a rotor assembly comprising a rotor shaft that is joined to a rotor member by means of a connecting member featuring a thermally-induced structural failure capability that provides a tamper-proof fail-safe mechanism against overheating. In a preferred embodiment the connecting member is made of low temperature melting alloy that converts into the liquid state at a temperature beyond which the operation of the pump may no longer be safe. If the pump overheats, as a result of deadhead operation or dry pumping, the connecting member melts thus terminating the driving relationship between the rotor shaft and the rotor member.

Abstract: Anti-fungal and anti-microbial bacterial strains of Serratia are used in the preparation and preservation of animal feedstuffs made from forage. Bacterial strains of Serratia rubidaea are particularly useful for such purposes, and permit hay to be baled at higher moisture content. Mixtures of this strain with another anti-fungal bacterial, such as Bacillus subtilis, and/or lactic acid-producing bacterial strains, such as strains of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Lactococcus and Pediococcus are used in the preparation and preservation of silage.

Abstract: A method of increasing the viscosity, and the resistance to high shear induced crystallization, of a pumpable, shear thickened emulsion explosive, is provided wherein the explosive has been prepared by emulsifying an oxidizer salt phase into a fuel phase, and at least a portion of said fuel phase has been replaced with a vegetable oil. The explosives are particularly suitable for use in up-hole blasting operations because of their high viscosity and resistance to shear induced crystallization of the oxidizer salt.

Abstract: A novel initiator (blasting cap) for explosives is provided. The initiator, which may be electric or non-electric, comprises a principal tubular metal shell containing a base charge, a delay charge, a priming charge and an ignition means, wherein the base charge and priming charge are housed within a reduced diameter tubular metal shell, which reduced diameter shell is located within but separated from the principal shell by a void space. The construction results in a markedly improved resistance against shock initiation.