Abstract: An industrial waste anaerobic digester is disclosed having separate sections therein, in which the acid forming and gas forming phases of the digestion process can occur separately under conditions optimized for each phase. A rotating biological contactor is provided in each section for increasing the liquid/gas interface to facilitate the anaerobic reaction. A series of partitions is provided in each section to create zones in which the waste concentration is extremely high and on which the biota can react at maximal reaction rates. The CO.sub.2 produced in the acid forming phase is used in both acid and gas forming sections to mix and achieve pH adjustment, and the methane can be used in the gas forming sections for mixing. A thermophilic chamber in the center of the tank is surrounded by the mesophyllic chamber to minimize and utilize conductive heat loss.

Abstract: A rotor, for a vane-type fluid pump or motor, having upper and lower vane contact edges formed in each slot thereof is disclosed. The upper and lower vane contact edges substantially eliminate wear of the slots by the vanes reciprocating therein, thereby enabling pumps or motors employing the rotor to operate with low viscosity liquids for commercially useful periods of time.

Abstract: Each face of the disc for sewage aeration includes a multiplicity of recesses. The recesses of one face have no communication with those of the other face and are precisely dimensioned so that the sewage, which is essentially water, flows into and out of each recess without leaving an accumulation of deposits in the recess. This is accomplished with no reduction of and possibly an increase in the aeration efficiency of the disc.

Abstract: The casing of a pump defines a threaded hole into which is inserted an outer block for reacting radially directed forces transmitted by a second inner block from a movable, pressurized cam ring surrounding the pump rotor. The blocks have mutually parallel mating surfaces arranged generally tangential to the ring. Onto one of such surfaces is bonded an anti-friction bearing material, such as a woven fabric or metal, to facilitate sliding action between them. The eccentric position of the cam ring is partly established by the action of system pressure acting on control pistons while the guided motion of the inner block further positions the ring to optimal adjustments made to the outer block.

Abstract: A press assembly having an improved frame including a crown, bed, cylinder, and ram assembly tied together by tie rods and compression members in which a platen assembly secured to the ram assembly guides directly on the inward facing surface portions of the tie rods. Associated compression members juxtaposed around the outward facing surface portions of the tie rods provide stability to the whole press assembly and form part of an enclosure about the press assembly. Washers having outwardly tapering transverse portions are mounted on each tie rod to prevent bending of the tie rods at their ends.

Abstract: A slip friction drive for powered roller conveyor apparatus which minimizes coupling of forces between the driving engagement and the bearing surfaces and additionally provides an adjusting means for compensating for the varying frictional forces caused by changing loads.

Abstract: A press crown having a central plug characterized by having a greater stiffness than the surrounding transitional region connecting the plug to a plurality of lugs. The shape of the press crown transfers a significant portion of the deflection to occur in the transitional region. This substantially reduces the possibility of the deflection causing undesirable lateral forces to act upon the tooling apparatus.

Abstract: In the activated sludge process for treating wastewater loss of biologically active microorganisms from the aeration-mixing tank to the clarifier is reduced and the biological process whereby wastewater is treated is made more efficient by the addition of inert solid particulate matter to the liquid while in the aeration tank to provide mobile sites upon which the organisms will attach and grow.

Abstract: A process for removing colloidal and soluble contaminants from impure water moving through a hollow, cylindrical microscreen under a positive head pressure, comprising dispersing insoluble, finely divided particulate matter into the impure water and rotating the microscreen at a rate that will form, during each rotation thereof, an intermixed layer of contaminants and particulate matter over substantially the entire inner surface of the microscreen through which the impure water is passing. The intermixed layer forms a filter substantially impermeable to contaminants and particulate matter of a size that could pass through the microscreen pores, but it is not impermeable to water. Preferably, the finely divided particulate matter can be a sorbent material, e.g. powdered activated carbon, so that contaminants are both filtered and sorbed from the water.

Abstract: Equipment sets for the sequential administration of medical liquids wherein a primary liquid can be administered at a flow rate independent of the flow rate of a secondary liquid, and including a barrier substantially impervious to air to prevent the inadvertent administration of air when the secondary liquid is depleted. The equipment sets of this invention have a primary tube valve controlled by pilot liquid diverted from the secondary liquid flow path.

Abstract: Equipment sets for the sequential administration of medical liquids wherein a primary liquid can be administered at a flow rate independent of the flow rate of a secondary liquid, and including a barrier substantially impervious to air to prevent the inadvertent administration of air when the secondary liquid is depleted. The sets of this invention employ a novel flexible diaphragm valve as the air barrier.

Abstract: An epicyclic steering differential for use with a vehicle that is driven by tracks provides steering control and differential action to the vehicle by way of a set of differential cluster gears disposed about the pitch circle of the control gears with which the cluster set mates, engaging concurrently each of two adjacent cluster gears of the set, and driving two oppositely disposed drive gears that ultimately transmit power to the tracks. Each cluster gear has a pitch diameter equal in size to that of the control gears. The clusters are arrayed about the control gears so that the pitch diameter of adjacent clusters are mutually tangent and tangent also with the control gear pitch circle. In this way cluster gear transmits power at two points of meshing contact.

Abstract: A press assembly having an improved frame including a crown, bed, cylinder, and ram assembly tied together by tie rods and compression members in which a platen assembly secured to the ram assembly guides directly on the inward facing surface portions of the tie rods. Associated compression members juxtaposed around the outward facing surface portions of the tie rods provided stability to the whole press assembly and form part of an enclosure about the press assembly.

Abstract: Equipment sets for the sequential administration of medical liquids wherein a primary liquid can be administered at a flow rate independent of the flow rate of a secondary liquid, and including a barrier substantially impervious to air to prevent the inadvertent administration of air when the secondary liquid is depleted. The sets of this invention provide parallel flow paths for the secondary liquid to insure that the flow of primary liquid is interrupted while the secondary liquid is flowing. A 3-way valve is provided in the first parallel branch to facilitate priming of the set.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic control valve having means for preventing rotational spinning of the spool caused by flow within the valve that impinges on the outer surfaces of the spool. A washer having a tang that abuts the valve body to prevent rotation is mounted on the flattened surface of a stem extending from the spool fixing the washer and spool against relative rotation but allowing axial displacements therebetween. A second embodiment provides a pin, one end of which extends through an eccentric hole in a washer similarly mounted on the valve stems but lacking the tang. The pin is fixed at one end to a non-rotating member or to the valve body. An alternate configuration has a rectangular slot formed in the valve stem parallel to its longitudinal axis, into which slot a diametrically disposed pin mounted at each end in a non-rotating part is fitted to prevent spool rotation.

Abstract: Equipment sets for the sequential administration of medical liquids wherein a primary liquid can be administered at a flow rate independent of the flow rate of a secondary liquid, and including a barrier substantially impervious to air to prevent the inadvertent administration of air when the secondary liquid is depleted. The sets of this invention employ a combined air barrier and liquid sequencing valve controlled by a common flexible membrane.

Abstract: Gravitational flow system and equipment sets for the sequential administration of medical liquids wherein a primary liquid can be administered at a flow rate independent of the flow rate of a secondary liquid, and including a barrier substantially impervious to air to prevent the inadvertent administration of air when the secondary liquid is depleted. The sets of this invention provide parallel flow paths for the secondary liquid to insure that the flow of primary liquid is interrupted while the secondary liquid is flowing.

Abstract: A resilient ring is fitted over a shoulder and onto the bail band indent of a bottle by an apparatus having means for supporting and locating the resilient ring, means to locate and align the bottle with the ring, and ram means for relatively displacing the ring and bottle to force the ring over the shoulder of the bottle, the ring support means engaging the shoulder of the bottle under radially inwardly directed biassing forces while supporting the ring as it is deformed to pass over the shoulder means. Preferably, the support means has a multiplicity of circumferentially spaced jaw elements displaceable under spring biassing in respective guides.

Abstract: A novel valve employing hydrophobic and hydrophilic membranes and providing a combined air barrier and liquid sequencing valve. The novel valve is useful in gravitational flow systems and equipment sets for the sequential administration of medical liquids, wherein a primary liquid can be administered at a flow rate independent of the flow rate of a secondary liquid, and includes barriers substantially impervious to air to prevent the inadvertent administration of air when the liquids are depleted.

Abstract: The casing of a pump defines a threaded hole into which is inserted an outer block for reacting radially directed forces transmitted by a second inner block from a movable, pressurized cam ring surrounding the pump rotor. The blocks have mutually parallel mating surfaces arranged generally parallel to a plane tangential to the ring. Onto one of such surfaces is bonded an anti-friction bearing material, such as a woven fabric or metal, to facilitate sliding action between them. The eccentric position of the cam ring is partly established by the action of system pressure acting on control pistons while the guided motion of the inner block further positions the ring to optimal adjustments made to the outer block.