Abstract: To make a variable phase shifter at low cost and that is easy to manufacture, two propagation paths for a high frequency signal are provided in parallel between the input and the output of the phase shifter. These two paths are of different lengths. An intermediate node on one of the paths is connected to an intermediate node on the other path by a PIN diode. The diode is connected to the paths by a segment of line further enhancing the length difference. By biasing the diode to a desired level, it is caused to present a particular impedance to propagation. It is shown that by acting in this way the diode can vary the phase shift between the input and the output without needing to use harmful reactive components.

Abstract: A process is described for reducing the viscosity of heavy hydrocarbon oils which comprises separately heating a stream of heavy hydrocarbon oil and a stream of gas, mixing the hot gas and hot heavy hydrocarbon oil under pressure and immediately thereafter passing the heavy oil/gas mixture through a small nozzle or orifice such that a substantial pressure drop occurs across the orifice and the heavy oil/gas mixture is ejected from the orifice as a spray in the form of fine oil droplets entrained by highly turbulent gas flow. This spray is discharged into a confined reaction zone from which the oil of reduced viscosity is collected.