Abstract: A ring communication system comprises distribution panels (13) for inserting extension lines (15) and attached stations (19) into the communication ring (11); insertion is requested and controlled by DC signaling from the station via a phantom path. To allow attachment of several stations via additional extension lines (25) to a single basic extension line (15), extension distribution panels (23) are provided comprising line insertion modules (31) like the basic distribution panels. Insertion of a station and its additional extension line (25) up to the EXP is still controlled by DC signaling from the station, but insertion of the basic extension line (15) is controlled by a tone signal transferred from the EXP to the basic distribution panel via a phantom path. The EXP (23) needs no own power supply because DC power is provided from the basic distribution panel (13) via the phantom circuit of the basic extension line.

Abstract: Referring to a process for the reconditioning of quench water or scrubbing water obtained as effluent from plants for the pressure gasification of solid or liquid fuels it is intended to provide for a method which eliminates the need of cooling and expanding large volumes of quench water for the purpose of solids separation. This is achieved by pressurizing the solids-laden quench water withdrawn from the quench chamber and admitting it to a high-pressure solids separator at a temperature substantially equal to the quench chamber temperature.

Abstract: In a communication system providing multiple access to transmission facilities for a plurality of stations (17, 21), two separate networks (11, 13) are provided: One is a token ring (11) on which access tokens and data are transmitted, the other is a high-speed optical fiber transmission ring (13) on which only large-volume data blocks are transmitted between particular stations (21) which are attached to both rings, but no access information. A token manager (27) in the token ring (11) provides at regular intervals particular tokens that are only used by the particular stations (21) for obtaining access to the high-speed ring (13), but also provides other tokens for regulating access to the token ring (11) for other stations (17). Special access nodes (23) are provided which allow to connect the particular stations (21) to the high-speed ring (13) without extending its length.