Abstract: A lithotripter comprises a transducer for generating focussed ultrasonic shock waves, and having an axis, a focus on said axis, the focus being positionable on a concretion or tissue which is to be destroyed, at least one diagnostic X-ray imaging system for locating the concretion of tissue including an X-ray emitter having an axis and an image intensifier, and at least one ultrasonic locating transducer having an axis, the X-ray emitter and the ultrasonic locating transducer being connected to the shock wave transducer in such a way that the axes of the locating systems intersect at said focus, with the axes of the locating systems preferably being offset from the axis of the shock wave transducer.

Abstract: In a lithotriptor a shock wave transducer is provided with a focussing cup and with a forward section containing a coupling medium shut off by means of a diaphragm for application to a patient's body. In the wall of the cup there is mounted a locating system comprising an x-ray emitter the outlet of which is located in the coupling medium. The outlet is closed by means of a balloon which can be filled with gas and which can be evacuated. When the balloon is filled with gas, it expands in the direction of radiation of the x-rays up to or almost up to the diaphragm of the forward section.

Abstract: Apparatus for spatial location and destruction of an object inside a patient's body by means of ultrasound transmitted to the patient's body via a coupling fluid, the apparatus comprises a focusing transducer for generating the ultrasound piezoelectrically to destroy the object, at least two transmitting and receiving locating transducers for locating the object under visual observation, said at least two locating transducers being incorporated, installed or mounted in said focusing transducer and being operable to generate B-images which are displayed optionally individually and/or in combination as a spatial image on at least one monitor, there being preferably, three such locating transducers for generating the B-images.

Abstract: Apparatus for the detection and destruction by means of ultrasonic shock waves of an object within the body, comprises a transducer operated by a pulse generator for emitting shock waves which are focussed on the body of the patient by way of a fluid coupling medium. A location system connected to the transducer comprises at least one monitor as a display device. The monitor has a screen for depicting an image of the object and an aiming or sighting mark which can be placed in coincidence with the object by relative displacement between the patient and the transducer to position the focus of the transducer on the object and to authorize the operation of the pulse generator. A signal level corresponding to the brightness value of the object depicted on the screen, and obtained from a video signal of the location system, is established as a reference value. A selected target area including the object, can be scanned automatically by displacement of the transducer.

Abstract: A silo for pulverulent and other loose materials has outer silo walls, a lower circular silo base, a conical cover in the center of the lower circular silo base, and an upper intermediate circular silo base arranged between the outer silo wall and the conical cover and above the lower circular silo base. An annular space is formed between the upper and lower silo bases to act as a collecting chamber for receiving loosened material from the silo upper storage area and collecting and feeding the lossened material to discharge outlets in the lower silo base. The loose material passes via radially directed slots formed in the intermediate silo base from the upper silo area into the collecting chamber. The slots are adustable and pneumatic mechanisms are located adjacent the slots for fluidizing and ensuring proper mass flow of the materials from the upper silo area into the collecting chamber. Outlets are located in the lower silo base for discharge of loosened material held in the outlet chamber.

Abstract: A focussing transducer for the destruction of objects internal to a patient's body by pulses of ultrasonic waves. The transducer comprises a concave transducer surface which is divided into areas and there is a control means which can selectively activate the areas of the transducer so that the waveform arriving at the focus can adjusted.

Abstract: A device for locating and disintegrating concretions and stones in bodily cavities by means of a shock wave generator comprises a reclining surface for the patient, with an opening therein below which the generator, including a flexible precursor section, is so arranged that the fluid sealed off from the outside is in contact via the opening with the body section to be treated, either directly or indirectly via a diaphragm sealing off the precursor section. To this end, the reclining surface and the shock wave generator are displaceable with respect to each other.

Abstract: A device for spatial location and destruction of concretions in bodily cavities by application of pulsed ultrasonic shock waves generated by a shock wave transducer focussed on the concretion in question, the shock waves being transmitted to the patient by a coupling fluid. This transducer may also be operated under reduced power if appropriate during the locating operation, as an A-scanner, according to the pulse echo mode. A B-section image of the bodily tissue traversed by the ultrasonic field is generated on a monitor by means of at least one B-scanner, so that the concretion present in the section image may be placed in coincidence with a target mark present on the monitor and indicating the position of the transducer focus by a relative displacement between the patient and the device, and the shock wave transducer may thereafter be placed in operation under corresponding high power for destruction of the concretion.

Abstract: The emptying device for a bulk silo (1) with flat or slightly inclined silo bottom (8) comprises an outer slope (2) and open air transport grooves (7) distributed over the silo bottom (8). The air driven conveying chutes (7) extend radially to a ventilated annular chamber (3) located inside the outer slope (2) of the silo bottom (8), the bottom of which annular chamber is provided with open air driven conveying chutes (4) and is inclined toward the discharge opening (5). The bottom of the annular chamber (3) is located lower than the silo bottom (8).

Abstract: A device for spatial location and destruction of concretions in bodily cavities by application of pulsed ultrasonic shock waves generated by a shock wave transducer focussed on the concretion in question, the shock waves being transmitted to the patient by a coupling fluid. This transducer may also be operated under reduced power if appropriate during the locating operation, as an A-scanner, according to the pulse echo mode. A B-section image of the bodily tissue traversed by the ultrasonic field is generated on a monitor by means of at least one B-scanner, so that the concretion present in the section image may be placed in coincidence with a target mark present on the monitor and indicating the position of the transducer focus by a relative displacment between the patient and the device, and the shock wave transducer may thereafter be placed in operation under corresponding high power for destruction of the concretion.

Abstract: An instrument for ultrasonics lithotripsy comprises a probe which is applied to the stone which is to be disintegrated, which may be placed in oscillation by means of a piezo-electric sound transducer which is assembled from ceramic discs. The transducer is energized into oscillation by an electrical generator and the transducer oscillations are transmitted to the probe via a distal transducer closure. A particularly effective operation of the instrument is the result if the transducer is energized only intermittently by pulsed operation of the generator, no specific natural resonance frequencies of the system being intended to occur within the preset range of operating frequency.

Abstract: Bulk silo with essentially centrally located aerated mixing or homogenizing chamber whose wall comprises a plurality of permanent passage openings for the material from the main silo area and is connected to an inspection area. In order to improve inspection and service, the inspection area is formed by a hollow column which is accessible from below, is located inside the chamber and comprises observation openings into the chamber as well as comprising the vent line.

Abstract: Bulk silo with an outlet chamber, from whose upper area a generally open ventilation line runs which is provided with a closing valve for protection against flooding. The closing valve is constructed as a float valve. In order that this closing valve does not become inoperable due to clogging or being inundated with bulk material, its float cage is provided in the area below the float with an aeration device which can be made closed like a plate in order to protect the valve from the direct surge of the material.

Abstract: Double silo with an inner silo part and an outer silo part which surrounds it annularly. A central mixing chamber for the material emanating from the inner silo area and an annular mixing chamber for the material emanating from the outer silo area are located within the silo dividing wall separating the two silo parts and at the bottom in the inner silo part.

Abstract: Mixing silo for pneumatically homogenizing fine-grained or dust-like material, the bottom of which comprises groups of aeration zones which can be alternately supplied with compressed air in such a manner that in each group a bottom zone partially limited by the outer limit of the silo bottom is heavily aerated and a bottom zone located between the heavily aerated bottom zones is aerated only weakly. An even, progressive circulation of the entire silo contents with little expenditure of energy is achieved by separating the heavily aeratable bottom zones from each other with a star-shaped, exclusively weakly aeratable bottom zone and by constructing the outlet as an overflow.

Abstract: A silo for bulk material in which a cover defines at least one de-aerated space constituting a conveyor area accessible to the material to be conveyed, with at least one pneumatic conveyor chute extending at least partially in the conveyor area and toward an outlet opening, and an air-draining area above the conveyor area and beneath the cover, separated from the conveyor area by a partition that is permeable to air and checks the passage of the material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mixing apparatus for mixing particulate bulk material. The apparatus consists of a cylindrical housing having distributed thereabout equidistantly a plurality of vertically disposed tubes. The tubes possess a series of vertically displaced entranceways that communicate with the housing containing the material and internally of the tubes for delivery of the material to a centrally located homogenizer in the lower portion of the apparatus. Entrance into the homogenizer is also accomplished directly from the bottom of the zone containing the material and means may also be provided at the top of the homogenizer for introducing therethrough the to-be-mixed material. The material is maintained in a highly fluidized condition by suitably positioned blowers having introductory orifices at strategic locations. The mentioned tubes are charged with the material through an air fluidizing means, which air is then deaerated so that the material may then be further transported to the homogenizer.

Abstract: A mixing silo for pulverulent material has a main silo chamber with a floor and a mixing chamber with a conical roof substantially centrally arranged on the floor of the silo chamber. A discharge for the material leads from the mixing chamber through the wall of the silo, and inlet openings for the material lead from the bottom of the silo chamber through the bottom of the wall of the mixing chamber. Additionally inlet openings for the material lead from different elevations within the silo chamber through the conical roof of the mixing chamber, for supply of material into the mixing chamber from different elevations in the silo chamber, thus achieving increased mixing and improved flow of the material.

Abstract: A blending chamber silo for pulverized bulk material has a main silo chamber with an inlet in its uppermost region, and a centrally located blending chamber on the floor of the silo has a roof and side walls with bottom apertures therein for the influx of the material from the main silo chamber into it. Aeration apparatus and air inlets are provided for the silo floor, and separate homogenization aeration apparatus is provided for the floor of the blending chamber, which operates under a pressure higher than that of the silo aeration apparatus. The roof of the blending chamber is spaced well below the top of the silo, and the blending chamber has a diameter substantially smaller than the diameter of the silo, whereby the lower portion of the silo wall and the wall of the blending chamber define a semi-annular narrow space having a height to width ratio greater than 1:1 and which breaks up material compacted or formed into bridges in its downward path toward the bottom apertures of the chamber.

Abstract: An upright storage silo for fluid materials, such as comminuted, powdered and granulated livestock feed, flour, grain, spices, sugar, cement, fertilizer and similar, has a mixing chamber centrally located within the silo; a discharge chamber within the silo in communication with the mixing chamber, and defining an area separate from the silo interior; a plurality of aeration orifices within the floor of the silo; a lifting tank in conduit connection with the mixing chamber and discharge chamber; a shut-off mechanism, and a dosage mechanism for conveying the material from the silo. Flow control apparatus of the pressure of aeration is employed for lifting, pulverizing and discharge of the material by utilizing the increased discharge pressure of the pulverized material for the lifting thereof. The material rises under the increased pressure in communication with the silo discharge aperture and thereafter the pressure is relaxed.