Abstract: A molded body for improving the cultivating conditions of plants includes at least one tapering projection. The molded body is disposed such that the projection extends into a plant substrate from the bottom. The projection is a highly porous material for providing an exchange of water by capillary forces and/or air, between the interior and the area surrounding the projection. The molded body comprises a depression provided opposite the projection and serving as a water reservoir that is spaced apart from the plant substrate.

Abstract: A ground material, obtained by grinding mineral materials, is mixed with matured compost and/or sludge, obtained by the elutriation of mature compost and is matured under controlled conditions, in particular at a temperature limited to 60° C., for several weeks or several months. During the maturing process, the mineral material decomposes and biological activation occurs by means of the microorganisms that have formed during the activation phase. The product thus obtained has an improved action for promoting plant growth.

Abstract: A molded body for improving the cultivating conditions of plants includes at least one tapering projection. The molded body is disposed such that the projection extends into a plant substrate from the bottom. The projection is a highly porous material for providing an exchange of water by capillary forces and/or air, between the interior and the area surrounding the projection. The molded body comprises a depression provided opposite the projection and serving as a water reservoir that is spaced apart from the plant substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a conveying system for powdery products, particularly cement, which are placed in packages, preferably sacks. The aim of the invention is to improve this conveying system whereby simplifying the handling when obtaining and providing the products in packages. To this end, a holding unit is provided to which the unopened packages containing the product can be supplied. A comminution machine is connected down from said holding unit and serves to comminute the packages. A conveying device and/or a conveying unit is/are located down from said comminution machine and serve(s) to convey the product together with the package parts leaving the comminution machine.

Abstract: A molded body for improving cultivation conditions for plants, which is suitable inter alia for arrangement in a plant holder. The molded body has a tapered projection and is arranged in such a way that the projection protrudes into the plant substrate in the plant holder. The projection has elements allowing an exchange of substances between the interior and the surroundings of the projection. This allows the targeted introduction of air, water, nutrients and auxiliary substances into the plant substrate and the root conglomerates. The molded body has a recess which acts as a water reservoir that is separate from the plant substrate. The molded body is water-permeable in the upper part and essentially impermeable to water at the bottom, in the tip of the projection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ground material, obtained by grinding mineral materials. Said ground material is mixed with matured compost and/or sludge, obtained by the elutriation of mature compost and is matured under controlled conditions, in particular at a temperature limited to 60 ° C., for several weeks or several months. During said maturing process, the mineral material decomposes and biological activation occurs by means of the micro-organisms (fungi etc.) that have formed during the activation phase. The product thus obtained has an improved action for promoting plant growth. In a preferred embodiment, a plant seed cultivation is carried out on the activated substrate, in particular a thin layer cultivation. The green matter that has been formed, in addition to the substrate with interspersed roots, can e.g. be ground to produce an enriched product.

Abstract: A moulded body for improving cultivation conditions for plants, which is suitable inter alia for arrangement in a plant holder. The moulded body has a tapered projection and is arranged in such a way that the projection protrudes into the plant substrate in the plant holder. The projection has elements allowing an exchange of substances between the interior and the surroundings of the projection. This allows the targeted introduction of air, water, nutrients and auxiliary substances into the plant substrate and the root conglomerates. The moulded body has a recess which acts as a water reservoir that is separate from the plant substrate. The moulded body is water-permeable in the upper part and essentially impermeable to water at the bottom, in the tip of the projection.

Abstract: Organic materials, more particularly wood and woody parts of plants, are intensely crushed, defibrated, heated and physically broken up in a thermal screw press, an impregnation with previously added auxiliary substances being simultaneously effected. The thus prepared material has a peat-like appearance and provides optimal physical, chemical and biological properties for its use as a peat substitute and substrate component. Inter alia, it is suitable as an additive for the physical upgrading of strongly decomposed peat varieties and for drawing out and better aeration of peat and culture substrates produced on the base of peat. When vaccinated with suitable fungi or microorganism, it is also very advantageously used for the mycorrhization of mycotrophic plants and as an additive for the production of high-grade composts.

Abstract: A tunable semiconductor laser which is formed on a substrate 2 which has a first contact 14 on one surface and a third contact 16 on the opposite surface so as to supply the operating current which is laterally limited to a laser-active stripe through a barrier layer 4 l and including a second contact 15 on a ridge waveguide 11, 12, 13 so as to inject charge carriers into a tuning layer 9 mounted adjacent an active layer 6 and which is separated from the active layer by highly doped central layer 10 so as to allow tuning of the laser.

Abstract: In the manufacture of laser diodes having a stripe-shaped, active layer, a problem arises upon application of lateral layers, particularly of blocking pn-junctions for lateral current conduction, in that these layers are undesired above the active layer. By applying a protective cover layer that will dissolve in super-cooled melts of the material of the lateral layers, before the growth of the lateral layers, the growth of the lateral layers, particularly blocking pn-junctions, above the active stripe is avoided since the cover layer dissolves in the melt given epitaxial application of the lateral layers.

Abstract: A treating device for mechanically treating the outer circumferential surface of tubular components. The treating device includes a grinding tool and is rotatably mounted on an internal chuck. The internal chuck is chucked by means of chuck jaws concentrically relative to the inner diameter of the tubular component. The grinding tool includes a drive shaft and a drive motor and is eccentrically mounted in a bushing which can be swivelled by means of a worm drive. By swivelling the grinding tool, the grinding tool is moved toward the tubular component for the appropriate processing depth. Subsequently, the outer surface of the tubular component is treated by rotating the treating device about the internal chuck.

Abstract: A tool for forming a pipe joint of the type wherein a ring with a frusto-conical inner surface is forced over the belled one of two telescopically assembled pipes includes a jaw assembly having two pairs of jaws which are axially movable toward each other, one pair to engage the bell shoulder and the other to engage and push the ring. A pressure clamp has two forks shaped to engage the ends of the jaw assembly and a piston and cylinder assembly to linearly move one fork toward the other, thereby moving the jaws and forming the joint. The size of the jaw assembly can be selected according to pipe diameter.

Abstract: A set for the hydroculture of plants comprising a plant-receiving vessel and at least one ancillary device such as a water-level indicator, structure being provided on said vessel and said ancillary device for removably connecting the ancillary device to the vessel wall from the exterior, it being thus possible to attach or remove the ancillary device at any time whether a plant be contained in the vessel or not.

Abstract: A die head has replaceable radially slidable threading dies moved by a bushing with cams. As the workpiece is threaded to the desired length, its end contacts cam surfaces which move a sensor bolt and a control pin to disengage the bushing from a locked position. The bushing can then move axially to radially retract the threading dies from the workpiece.

Abstract: Method and apparatus which increases the available volume for a nutritive solution contained in a hydroponic receptacle.Hollow shells are placed on the bottom of the receptacle reaching a level just above the maximum level of the nutritive solution, the hollow shells being then covered with a layer of substratum. The hollow shells are made of a material without capillarity for preventing the evaporation of the nutritive solution, the shells being, for instance, cylindrically shaped, thin-walled and having openings at each end thereof.Due to the low rate of evaporation, several days or even weeks can go by before the refilling; it is possible to install hydroponic receptacles outdoors.

Abstract: To simplify the apparatus and reduce handling, a pipe threading section and a pipe cutting section are axially aligned with respect to a pipe clamping apparatus, both located at the same side of the pipe clamping section. A guide is provided, extending parallel to the axis of the pipe, to guide the clamping section on the apparatus for movement in selected positions, the moving distance of the clamping section being greater than the distance between that side of the threading tool of the pipe threading section and the cutting tool of the cutting tool section which faces the clamping section.

Abstract: The invention concerns an accessory unit for plant receptacles for hydroponics, this accessory unit forming the water-level gauge-channel and the pouring-in-and emptying-channel, both of the channels being placed close to each other, rigidly connected together but separated along their whole height by a partition wall.