Abstract: Oily hydrocarbons which pollute the surface of water are removed therefrom by scattering over the polluted surface solid particles of nutrient salt containing nitrogen and phosphorous in a form that is readily assimilable by aqueous microorganisms capable of metabolizing hydrocarbons. The particles of nutrient salt are given a surface pretreatment with paraffine so that they are buoyant and only slowly soluble in water and lipophilic.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for holding weft yarns in a shuttleless loom with continuous weft feed and more particularly for holding the cut change thread to be folded up into the shed to form a selvedge in a fabric manufactured on said loom.The device comprises a plate, adjustably mounted to the lower cutter of the cutting device of the loom, and a leaf spring pressing against said plate, whereby the weft yarn to be cut is gripped therebetween and kept into a taut state, while the weft yarn is being cut and then gripped by the gripping hook for the folding up into the shed. The device further comprises holding means in the form of a bar cooperating with said gripping elements, by which the weft yarns are held and arranged so that all of them are starting from the same position in the hooking zone, and are prevented from becoming entangled with the other weft yarns still attached to the edge of the fabric.

Abstract: A thio-derivative of titanium, represented by the formulae: ##STR1## WHEREIN CP IS A CYCLOPENTADIENE AND R is an alkyl, aryl or cycloalkyl radical, is prepared by reacting a carbonyl derivative of titanium, represented by the formula: Ti cp.sub.2 (CO).sub.2, wherein cp has the meaning given above, with a disulfide represented by the formula: R.sub.2 S.sub.2, wherein R has the meaning given above, in an inert atmosphere.

Abstract: Isobutylene is separated from a stream of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons containing it and remarkable amounts of butadiene, and methyl tert-butyl ether is prepared, by feeding that stream of hydrocarbons and methanol to a reactor containing a catalyst consisting of an acid ion-exchange resin, maintained at a temperature in the range of from 60.degree. to 120.degree. C, at a space velocity (LHSV) in the range of from 5 to 35, the relation between the space velocity (LHSV) and temperature being correlated to correspond to the formula: LHSV = 1/2t - 25, wherein t is the temperature in degrees C, so that the isobutylene and methanol are caused to react, and then separating the methyl tert-butyl ether thus formed from the reaction mixture by distillation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bushing system, particularly adapted for the use in dusty environments, and suitable for journalling pins, shafts and the like, so as to permit them to be rotated but not to be axially displaced, comprising a supporting hollow body, rotatably receiving in the inside thereof the pin, shaft or the like, and two spaced guide bushings, made of plastic material; the two bushings are axially pressed against end collars on said pin, shaft or the like, by means of a helical spring mounted between said bushings, the spring force being selected to be higher than the yield load of the plastic material forming said bushings.

Abstract: In a device for coupling a cardan half-joint with a fixed structure, such as a device for the subsea anchoring of a structure which uses cardan joints, the improvement consisting in that the half joint is of the cross-beam type and the main forks are formed by two half shells and there is an undercut abutment having the shape of a poppet. A better distribution of the pull stresses on the members of the joint is thus obtained, means being also provided to prevent the rotation of the joint.

Abstract: The invention relates to the skeleton isomerization of alkenes and, more particularly, to the catalyst for the isomerization reaction, the catalyst being prepared by treating an oxide of a metal of the group comprising aluminium, titanium, magnesium, silicon, chrome, zirconium, iron and their mixtures, preferably an active alumina, with a silicon compound, preferably an alkyl ester of the orthosilicic acid, and then subjecting the thus treated oxide to drying and to a controlled oxidation. Thus catalyst is obtained which permits higher yields and selectivity of the isomerization reaction to be achieved, as well as a longer operative life of the catalyst before the regeneration thereof.

Abstract: Ethylene is polymerized through the use of an improved catalyst system consisting of a carrier such as neodymium oxide having a high superficial area, an aluminum compound such as triisobutylaluminum and the combination product of titanium trichloride and an isostructural chloride of another transition metal prepared by impregnating the carrier with a solution of a carbonyl derivative of the other transition metal, refluxing the impregnated carrier with titanium tetrachloride until that carbonyl derivative is converted to the chloride of the other transition metal, and then removing the excess of titanium tetrachloride.

Abstract: A method for removing metals from waste liquids without the use of an externally supplied source of current. The method consists in (i) immersing in the waste liquid at a pH of less than 3.5, two materials which are different from each other and the metal to be removed, one of the immersed materials being electropositive, the other being carbon or electronegative, (ii) connecting the two immersed materials to each other, thus giving rise to an electric current, (iii) precipitating the metal or metals to be removed, and (iv) recovering the purified waste liquid.

Abstract: In a valve-actuating mechanism of the kind which is manually manipulated for actuating the valve-actuating member, the combination of a helical cam surface formed on a friction ring, a follower solid with the handwheel shaft and two confronting cylindrical surfaces carrying clutching dogs, a spring being inserted therebetween. Frictional forces are exploited for causing the axial displacement of the handwheel overcoming the spring bias.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel oligomer derivatives of aluminum hydride having the general formula:(XAlNR).sub.x (XYAl).sub.y (NHR).sub.y.

Abstract: Compounds having at least one olefinic unsaturation (e.g. isoprene) are polymerized in the presence of a catalyst system consisting of a transition metal compound such as TiCl.sub.4 and an aluminum hydride derivative which is either (a) an oligomer N-alkylaminoalane of the type: ##STR1## or (b) an oligomer derivative having the general formula:(XAlNR).sub.x (XYAl).sub.y (NHR).sub.y.

Abstract: Weft-cutting apparatus for a shuttleless loom of the type having a continuous weft supply and in which a selected weft thread coming from a fixed bobbin mounted at a point spaced from the fabric prepared on the loom remains attached to the edge of that fabric during the movement of a picking needle inside the shed and until after it has been beaten into the fabric, is constructed of an upper L-shaped lever and a lower L-shaped lever, fulcrumed at their midpoint on a common pin to provide a gap between them which is located in the path of the weft thread. Each lever supports a transverse cutting blade at one end and, at its other end, a sliding roller which rides on an associated control cam.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process for the separation of acetylenic compounds from saturated, olefinic and dienic hydrocarbons by etherifying the acetylenic compounds with an alcohol or a glycol in the presence of an acid ion-exchange resin containing mercuric ions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system which protects against excessive pressure or overpressure being applied to a silicium wafer sensor fixedly mounted in a differential pressure transmitter between two wave separation membranes. The differential pressure arising between the two zones located astride and rigidly mounted silicium wafer sensor is controlled, so as to not exceed prefixed dangerous values, by a protection system having an expansion bellows located between the said two zones and polarized by a single pre-charged spring which is compressed when the bellows move. In one embodiment, the bellows is movable towards the low pressure so that the separation membrane is moved onto its respective seat which is part of the body of the transmitter only when the said differential pressure exceeds the precharge value of the said spring.

Abstract: A mineral or synthetic lubricating oil is protected against oxidation by dissolving therein, at a temperature not higher than 80.degree. C, a 3-aza-6a-thio-thiophthene or a 3,4-diaza-6a-thio-thiophthene represented by the general formulae: ##STR1## wherein, R, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, the same or different, represent hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl or aminoaryl.

Abstract: A class of soluble polymers of high molecular weight is disclosed whose members are: copolymers of polycyclic polyenes containing two conjugated double bonds which are members of the group consisting of a) polycyclic polyenes having an endomethylenic system orthocondensed with another hydrocarbon ring wherein the two common carbon atoms form a part of a conjugated diene system whose double bonds are located inside the non-endomethylenic ring, b) polyenes presenting an alkylidene group conjugated with a double bond of a ring which forms a part of an endocyclic system, and c) orthocondensed polycyclic polyenes substituted with an alkylidene type ring whose double bond is conjugated with a double bond of one of the cycles; and homopolymers of at least one of said polycyclic polyenes with at least one other conjugated diene.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a certain class of octenenitriles is disclosed, which uses as the starting compound the 3,7-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-6-octenenitrile: the reaction is a simple dehydration reaction or, in certain cases, an esterification or etherification. The method as disclosed is very simple and cheap and the product thus obtained can be used in the perfume and cosmetic industry.

Abstract: For conveying a fluid from or towards a subsea duct by means of a buoy having universal type joints, the improvement consisting in that the joint pins and the buoy legs have hollow spaces or bores therein to allow fluid flow therethrough.

Abstract: A process is described whereby carbonic acid esters, i.e., alkyl, aryl and cycloalkyl carbonates, are prepared by reacting an alcohol with oxygen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst selected from copper complexed with an organic molecule.