Abstract: In a support element with a flexible or inclinable head portion which faces a surface which is to be supported, the head portion is able to adapt to any changes in shape or position in order to maintain a parallel gap between the surface and the head portion. In order to support the head portion towards the surface which is to be supported, at least one pressure chamber is provided which can be acted upon by a pressure medium so that the force produced by this action of pressure medium acts on the head portion in the direction stated. A measuring device is provided, for measuring the size of the gap between the head portion and the surface to be supported. The pressure in the pressure chamber is regulated as a function of the measured size of the gap.

Abstract: In an apparatus for treating a layer of material, particularly in a number of successive thermal treatment phases with different treatment temperatures and durations, for carrying out at least two successive treatment phases, there is provided a roller with a roller shell, on to the outer wall of which the layer of material is applied, and which is rotatably mounted about a stationary carrier. Mounted on the carrier are a number of heat-conducting lines at least equal to the number of treatment phases to be carried out. The lines extend parallel to the roller shell and are mounted behind one another in the direction of rotation of the roller shell. They comprise elements which are connected to feed ducts for tempered media and each carry a tempered or cooled medium towards the inner wall of the roller shell.

Abstract: A transmission cable using optical fibre for conveying the information consists of fibres loosely laid in helical grooves of a core so that the fibre will undulate within the groove due to over-length given by pretwisting of the fibre and curvature of the groove flanks. Reduction of the contact surface between the fibre and the core improves the electrical characteristics and reduces the sensitivity of the cable to mechanical stress.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a procedure for replacing a worn bolster ring on a freight car truck bolster which utilizes a motorized circle cutting and welding machine which rests upon the bolster and is centered by supporting structure positioned by locating pins which engage two pairs of mounting holes for the side bearing cages. The worn ring is cut from the bolster by a cutting torch driven around the circumference of the ring by the motorized machine. Then, the replacement ring is placed on the cut bolster surface, centered with respect to the axis of the motorized machine and tack welded, and finally welded to the bolster by a welding head which traverses the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the ring under the control of the motorized machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment of aqueous materials such as clarified sludge. Disposal of such materials in large quantities is difficult and expensive. The present invention is directed to a treatment method that is economical and results in products which are at least as useful as the starting material. According to the invention, a treatment method comprises mechanical dewatering followed by drying in a fluidized bed drier and burning in a fluidized bed boiler. The heat generated in the boiler is at least sufficient to fulfill the requirements of the drier. The heat generated in the boiler is normally used directly in the drier.

Abstract: Mounted on the rotor 1 is a plate 10 which is connected to the rotor at a point 11 so as to be immovable in the direction of support but tiltable relative to the rotor 1. On one side, the plate 10 carries the sliding surface 4 for the mounting member 5 comprising the support surface 6 and, on its other side, the plate 10 forms the cross sectional surface 12 of a pressure cushion 13. The support surface 6 and the cross sectional surface 12 are located opposite each other and are substantially the same size. The pressure in the pressure cushion 13 and the pressure in the space between the sliding surface 4 and the support surface 6 are kept substantially the same as each other. As a result, the plate 10 and hence the sliding surface 4 remain flat even when deformation of the rotor occurs.

Abstract: A centrifuge screen, more particularly for a thrust-type centrifuge, having screen bars consisting of a hard material and extending axially of the centrifuge drum, said bars being fixed on a supporting frame, wherein the screen bars extending axially of the centrifuge drum bear over the entire length on the supporting frame and are connected to the supporting frame by an adhesive bonding which extends over the full length of the screen bars.

Abstract: Hydrostatic support apparatus for a movable part comprises a bearing plate and a support member which are movable relatively to each other and to a base and define a pressure chamber. The plate has a bearing surface containing a bearing pocket connected by a choke bore with the pressure chamber, is urged toward the movable part by pressure in that chamber, and is urged toward the support member by a spring. The support member is urged toward the movable part by a second spring or by a second spring and a hydraulic cylinder. The construction enables the bearing plate to be resiliently pressed toward the movable part during normal operation, but causes retraction of that plate upon a loss of pressure in the pressure chamber, to thereby prevent wear.

Abstract: The invention relates to the thermal treatment of flowable material using heated contact surfaces in a fluidized bed. Known processes use a gas, often air, to fluidize the bed. This imposes limits on the temperatures that can be allowed to be reached as higher temperatures can cause the material to be treated to burn. It also often produces sterilization of the material. Further there is the problem of disposal of the gases generated in the treatment process. In an attempt to alleviate these problems, the present invention proposes a process generally of the above kind but in which the fluidizing gas comprises gases generated in the bed itself. This is economical as it reduces the heat losses, environmentally desirable as it reduces the amount of gas discharge and more efficient as these gases are generally inert, thus enabling higher temperatures to be generated in the bed without risk of the material burning, thus also facilitating sterilization of the material.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a removable, rigid cover system for railway hopper cars. The system employs a set of welded, steel roof sections which are bolted together end-to-end through upstanding flanges, and which are attached to the car by J-bolts which engage the outturned flanges at the upper margins of the side and end walls of the car. The sections have depending exterior skirts which, in the aggregate, envelope the car and serve to prevent entry of water and to shield the J-bolts from damaging impacts. The section may also have depending interior skirts which act as dams to minimize escape of grain from the car. The system also includes hatchways with hinged covers which facilitate loading of the car, and a walkway.

Abstract: An hydroelectric machine is disclosed wherein the rotor of an electric machine is arranged around the rotor of a hydraulic machine, the internal rotor comprising the turbine blades which engage the external rotor to transmit torque therebetween. Each of the internal and external rotors is mounted in a separate radial bearing and the turbine blades of the internal rotor are connected to the external rotor by means of an articulated coupling which permits relative radial movement therebetween. It is preferred to include force compensating means for transmitting circumferential forces between the rotors. Suitable such means comprise an hydraulic servo-motor associated with each blade of which the pressure chambers are interconnected by means of a ring conduit.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a collector for solar heating apparatus which is adapted for vertical mounting and utilizes air as the heat exchange medium. The collector comprises a glazed insulated box containing a group of energy transfer units, each of which is formed by a pair of similar open top metal foil pans having flat bottom walls which are in abutment and outwardly flaring conical side walls. The pans carry a black energy-absorbing coating and preferably their abutting walls contain registering air flow openings. The energy transfer units are stacked in interfitting relationship in rows and columns, with the axes of adjacent interfitted units in each row and in each column extending in mutually perpendicular directions. The collector may be combined with a fan unit adapted to fit a standard window, thereby providing a portable, economical, auxiliary heater for a room of a building.

Abstract: A process and tooling to carry on said process for producing direct from extrusion an open groove plastic cylindrical section which consists in extruding the material around cylindrical pins arranged along a circle and protruding downstream with respect with the die opening and drawing the deformable structure along inner cutters located in the ducts formed by the pins to cut the material between the duct and the outside and further drawing said still deformable structure around flexible wires free to fill said slitted ducts.

Abstract: The electro-optic converter is designed to terminate optical fiber cables consisting of a mechanical core surrounded by a helically grooved sheath in which an optical fibre is loosely placed in the grooves. It consists of an hybrid circuit conversion matrix made of a substrate with a central bore cooperating with a bore in a standard multi-pin casing base for positioning the cable core; a star shaped conductive film on said substrate serves as a common electrode for the plurality of discrete opto-electronic devices also connected each to a different pin of the base and in centering and locking means for the cable.

Abstract: In a support member for a deflection-correcting, pressure compensating or pressure adjusting roller which is provided between a stationary carrier and a roller shell mounted so as to be rotatable about the carrier, in order to support the roller shell by being designed to receive a force acting radially from the carrier to the roller shell and transmit this force to the roller shell via its head portion facing the roller shell and a film of fluid located between the head portion and the roller shell, a space is left free beneath the head portion and is bridged by the head portion so that a flux of the force which is to be transmitted is guided around the free space to the head portion outside the line of action of the force.As a result of this guiding of the flux of force, the bridge-shaped head portion is elastically adapted to the radius of the roller shell which may increase during operation of the roller.

Abstract: In a hydrostatic support member with at least one pressure pocket in the head portion of the support member, the or each pressure pocket opening opposite a surface which is to be supported, the inner side of the lining wall which defines the pressure pocket relative to the environment of the support member is inclined relative to the pressure axis of the support member, so that the profile of the pressure pocket becomes larger towards its base. The outside of the lining wall extends relative to the inner side in such a way that when this wall is lowered towards the base the hydrostatically effective surface of the head portion, facing the surface which is to be supported, increases in size.A method of producing or finishing the support member according to the invention is proposed: The support member is first prefabricated with the head portion having a relatively small hydrostatically effective surface, compared with an operational one, the walls having been made higher.

Abstract: A centrifuge screen, more particularly for a thrust-type centrifuge, having screen bars consisting of a hard material and extending axially of the centrifuge drum, said bars being fixed on a supporting frame, wherein the screen bars extending axially of the centrifuge drum bear over the entire length on the supporting frame and are connected to the supporting frame by an adhesive bonding which extends over the full length of the screen bars.

Abstract: In a process for producing a foodstuff, more particularly a fodder from cereal, it is disclosed to saccharify the starch contained in the cereal to form dextrose by enzymatic degradation of the starch in the cereal grain. All the cereal substances, both those containing starch and those not containing starch, are treated together in the process of enzymatic degradation of the starch in the cereal grain until the starch has been converted to dextrose in the cereal grain. The product is then dried.

Abstract: To obtain optical effects, particularly dye pattern effects, a treatment is proposed for a web of material or a number of webs of material guided side by side in the nip between treatment rollers, more particularly a web of material impregnated with or containing dye or other finishes, wherein the treatment pressure is set differently in individual longitudinal portions of the nip or is set intermittently, so that the web of material is exposed to different treatment pressures at different points, with the result that, in particular, the dye or other finish is forced out of the parts of the web of material subjected to the greatest pressure, and into those parts subjected to least pressure. An apparatus is proposed for carrying out this treatment, wherein one of the treatment rollers which form the nip is a deflection adjustment roller and comprises support members which are associated with controllable pressure regulators for regulating the pressure in the support members.

Abstract: A head for laying optical fibres in a helically grooved cable core consists of a freely rotating mount assembly carrying fibre guides inclined on the axis of travel of the core with an angle smaller than 45.degree.. The fibre guides are elastic hollow tubes ended by a bevel maintained on the bottom of the associated groove. An optical control unit is provided for correct positioning of the mount when starting to lay.