Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic fluid reservoir comprising a substantially cylindrical wall (1), an upper wall (2) and a lower wall, and two tubular connection pieces (4, 5) for entering and discharging hydraulic fluid into and out from the interior of the reservoir. The two tubular connection pieces, an inlet connection piece (4) and an outlet connection piece (5) are substantially tangentially connected to the cylindrical wall (1) to preserve the momentum of a fluid fed into the reservoir.

Abstract: In the field of fluid power control, there is a need for a control scheme that supplies working fluid under pressure to a load in the event of failure of power supplies to control apparatus associated with the circuit. The disclosure relates to a control circuit 10 in which output pressure from a pump 11 is fed to a control piston 13 therefor via a pressure compensator 17. The pressure compensator 17 is biased to disconnect the supply of fluid at outlet pressure when this pressure is below a threshold value, and permit such supply when the outlet pressure exceeds the threshold value determined by the biassing force on the pressure compensator. A proportional control valve 16 may be employed further to counteract the biassing of the pressure compensator 17, whereby to control the threshold pressure at which the compensator 17 operates to feed fluid at control pressure to the piston 13. The invention is of particular use in control circuits eg. for cooling pumps and cooling fans.

Abstract: A process is set forth for the synthesis of a C.sub.2 + aliphatic alcohol from hydrogen and carbon oxides in the presence of a copper-based catalyst which has been impregnated with an alkali metal compound. The process differs from the prior art in that the catalyst is impregnated with the alkali metal compound in the same slurry reactor which is used for reacting the hydrogen and carbon oxides. By contrast, in the prior art C.sub.2 + aliphatic alcohol synthesis, impregnation of the copper-based catalyst with the alkali metal compound is accomplished by a separate step in a separate vessel. By eliminating this separate step, the present invention realizes a savings in processing and equipment costs.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for exposing biological materials to gas-phase or gas-borne agents, including the steps of providing a chamber for supporting said biological materials, said chamber including wicking means configured and arranged to hold said biological materials and provide said cells with a wetting medium while allowing said gas-phase or gas-borne agents to directly interact with said biological materials, humidifying said chamber to a humidity between 95% and 100%, inclusive, placing said biological materials in said chamber on said wicking means, exposing said biological materials in said chamber to one or more said gas-phase or gas-borne agents while maintaining said humidity between 95% and 100%, inclusive, and assessing the effect of said exposing on said biological materials.