Abstract: The microwave apparatus for processing dielectric materials includes a number of tunable cavity devices arranged vertically one above the other, each having a movable piston. Dielectric conduit means extend downwardly through all of the cavity devices, passing through the various movable pistons. Each tunable cavity device has a microwave generator associated therewith so as to supply controlled amounts of power at frequencies depending upon the type of material being processed. The processing is monitored by additional cavity devices, each having a movable piston. Whereas the pistons of the power cavity devices are positioned so as to cause the material being processed to absorb a maximum amount of microwave power, the pistons in the monitoring devices are positioned so that a detectable amount of power is reflected. The amount of reflected power is indicative of an electrical characteristic, such as moisture.

Abstract: A variable power transmission mechanism including a first disc rotatable about a first axis and having a flat surface perpendicular to the first axis, a second disc rotatable about a second axis and providing a flat surface perpendicular to the second axis, apparatus positioning the first and second discs in spaced apposition so that the flat surfaces define planes intersecting at an acute dihedral angle and including a ratio varying arrangement for causing displacement between the discs in a direction aligned with the vertex of the dihedral angle, a ball which makes contact with the surfaces along circles concentric with the respective axes and is resiliently urged toward the vertex of the dihedral angle, a guide for causing displacement of the ball in a direction aligned with the vertex, and an interconnection between the ratio varying arrangement and the ball guide for causing displacement of the latter simultaneously with and proportional to displacement between the discs.