Abstract: Novel calix[4]arene dibenzo crown ethers useful to selectively extract cesium are represented by the formula: wherein R is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 normal alkyl, a phenyl or a methoxyphenyl, R' is hydrogen, p-tert-butyl or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 normal alkyl, R" is a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 normal alkyl, and n is an integer of 0-2. The novel compound is prepared at high yields by introduction of benzene rings into the crown ether ring of calix[4]arene crown-6-ether. The calix[4]arene dibenzo crown ethers are superior in selective absorptivity for cesium ions by virtue of their 1,3-alternate conformational structure and thus, can be used as selective extractants able to separate cesium ions at a high efficiency.

Abstract: A method for dehydrating a waste hydrocarbon sludge, includes the steps of: (a) providing a waste hydrocarbon sludge in the form of an emulsion of water and oil having a water content greater than or equal to about 10% vol; (b) providing a solution of a clarifying agent in formation water; (c) mixing the waste hydrocarbon sludge with the solution so as to provide a sludge-water mixture having a ratio of water to hydrocarbon of at least about 1:1; (d) adding a demulsifier to the sludge-water mixture to provide a sludge-water-demulsifier mixture; (e) heating the sludge-water-demulsifier mixture to a sufficient temperature and holding for a time sufficient to provide a hydrocarbon phase having a water content of less than or equal to about 1% vol.

Abstract: A kneader mixer comprises at least two axial-parallel rotating shafts, each of the shafts having a plurality of kneading-transporting elements axially spaced on the shaft and separated from each other on the shaft by a tubular section.

Abstract: Improvements in service valve heads which may be connected to soft drink bottles or the like, wherein a valve body is obtained, a liquid circulation channel being provided between the spout and the fishing tube, said channel having a check valve. The rod of said valve is actuated by a command means whose the articulated arm is foldable over the valve body, having folding stops and having a strap provided with a retainer. Folding stops of the valve body and corresponding recesses of the articulated arm prevent that the latter being lowered by any accidental pressure, in which case the valve rod would be displaced and an unwanted release of liquid would be produced. For delivering the carbonated liquid it is first necessary to release the folding strap. In this way the articulated arm may be unfolded until it displaces through the command channel existing on the head walls.

Abstract: In a communication system, a transmitter device encrypts variable-length data having a data length corresponding to a kind of information to be transferred or a communication capacity, using a natural random number, to produce a variable-length random number sequence. Then, the transmitter device performs an exclusive OR operation per bit between the variable-length random number sequence and the information to produce transfer information, and transmits the transfer information to a receiver device. The transmitter device further transmits the variable-length data and the natural random number in an encrypted manner to the receiver device. The receiver device reproduces the variable-length data and the natural random number transmitted in the encrypted manner, and then encrypts the variable-length data using the natural random number to produce a variable-length random number sequence which is identical with the foregoing variable-length random number sequence produced at the transmitter device.

Abstract: In a process for determining the solids content of a gas flow, in particular for regulating the firing of a boiler with coal dust in a coal-fired power plant, electromagnetic waves are sent from a transmitter (20) to a receiver (21) through the solids-laden gas flow. The attenuation of these electromagnetic waves due to the absorption of part of them by the solids is then determined.

Abstract: A molded article ejection device for use in conjunction with a multistation molding machine. The multistation molding machine has at least a first molding station defined between a first mold platen and a second mold platen and a second molding station defined between the second mold platen and a third mold platen, a mechanism for opening and closing the molding stations, and tie bars for connecting the first, second and third mold platens. Ejection devices are used for ejecting molded articles from each of the first and second molding stations and a linkage is used for connecting a plurality of the ejection devices and translating movement of at least one ejection device to at least one other ejection device. A motive mechanism is used for actuating the ejection devices, wherein the motive mechanism is independent of the mechanism for opening and closing.

Abstract: A contactless position and displacement measuring device includes at least one light source and at least one photosensor adapted to move relative to each other. When illuminated by a light beam emitted by the light source the photosensor generates at least one electrical signal representative of the position of the light source relative to the photosensor. The sensor includes a plurality of layers deposited onto a support, namely at least one resistive first layer to form a potentiometer track, at least one photosensitive second layer to deliver electrical charges when it is illuminated by the light beam emitted by the source and at least one metallic third layer to collect the electrical charges generated by the photosensitive second layer.

Abstract: A device opens and closes the trunk lid and the rear crossmember of a convertible vehicle having a foldable hard top to enable the hard top to be moved into the trunk and removed therefrom. The trunk lid opens by rotation from the front towards the rear. The opening and closing device rotates the rear crossmember forwards and downwards on rotation on the trunk lid from the front towards the rear and rearwards and upwards when the trunk lid rotates in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A guide apparatus for orthodontal and dental instruments used in producing cavities in bone tissue includes and instrument holder for receiving the orthodontal and dental instruments in a guide apparatus which is displaceable in three co-ordinate directions (x, y, z) and rotatable about at least one pivot axis (A).

Abstract: A process for upgrading a heavy hydrocarbon feed includes the steps of: providing a hydrocarbon feedstock including a fraction having a boiling point greater than or equal to about 320.degree. C.; mixing the feedstock with steam so as to provide a reaction feedstock; providing a catalyst including a first metal selected from the group consisting of Group VIII non-noble metals and a second metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, the first and second metals being supported on a support selected from the group consisting of kaolin, alumina, silica, carbon, petroleum cokes and mixtures thereof; and contacting the reaction feedstock with the catalyst at steam conversion conditions so as to provide a reaction product including an upgraded hydrocarbon fraction.

Abstract: Method and equipment for the detection and identification of particles in a suspension with the aid of acoustic signals, directed at at least one measurement volume within the suspension, via reception of acoustic reflection signals, conversion of the acoustic reflection signals into electrical reflection signals, counting the number of electrical reflection signals which have an amplitude in excess of a predetermined value and converting the count into numbers of particles which are larger than a certain size, at least one curve being composed on the basis of a cumulative count of the number of reflection signals which have an amplitude in excess of a specific value as a function of the amplitude and the at least one curve being compared with predetermined standard cumulative count curves and material properties, particle concentration, particle size distribution and/or particle characteristics, such as particle shape, particle size and standard deviation thereof, are deduced from the comparison.

Abstract: A sound effect adding device includes an instruction storage section in a DSP for storing a main routine including a program for controlling an input and an output of an audio signal, and a plurality of selected sound effect adding routines transferred from a master CPU from among selectable sound effect adding routines when necessary and operable when accessed by the main routine. The main routine has a function to assign the input audio signal to the selected sound effect adding routines and collect sound effect added signals outputted from the selected sound effect adding routines so as to provide an output signal. By changing coefficient data transferred from the master CPU and stored in the DSP, the main routine performs change in connection between the input and output signals so as to change a combination of the sound effects without altering the main routine.

Abstract: A power-split gear consists of a hydrostatic unit and of a mechanical gear unit which are accommodated in a common case with a cover. So that the components can be easily mounted and exchanged, a distributor shaft coupled to an engine is mounted in the case, a gearwheel for driving the hydrostatic unit and the mechanical gear unit being in each case arranged fixedly in terms of rotation on the distributor shaft, the hydrostatic unit is fastened to the inside of the cover, the cover has, on the inside, a fitting face which cooperates with at least one counterface of a bearing pedestal of the mechanical gear unit, fluid ducts provided in the cover opening out in the fitting face, and control elements connected to the fluid ducts are arranged on the outer face of the cover.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lightning protection device comprising a ground plate having a plurality of parallel grooves machined therein. Each of the grooves has spaced apart, sharp edges for bleeding electrical discharges from a lightning strike to ground. The ground plate may be connected to an air terminal secured to a structure or a marine vessel via a down conductor. The ground plate may be buried in the ground or may be joined to a structure, such as the hull of the vessel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microelectrode arrangement for leaking, with local resolution, electrical cell potentials, or for electrical stimulation of networks of biological cells such as for example cell cultures, tissue slices "in vitro" or biological tissue "in vivo". In order to attain high local resolution and high temporal resolution, the invention suggests that, as microelectrodes (M.sub.1 to M.sub.n), in each instance a contacting electrode (K.sub.1 to K.sub.n) be placed above a pad electrode (A.sub.1 to A.sub.n) onto a substrate (S); with light-sensitive elements, preferably in the shape of a continuous layer (P) arranged between the said contacting electrodes and the pad electrodes. By illuminating the light-sensitive layer (P) in the region of individual microelectrodes (M.sub.1 to M.sub.n), these microelectrodes are selected. Selection is preferably by the transmitted-light process through the substrate (S). In this case, substrate (S) and pad electrodes (A.sub.1 to A.sub.n) must be translucent.

Abstract: A method for making iron-alloy briquettes, includes the steps of: providing hot metallized iron particles having a temperature of at least about 650.degree. C. and an initial degree of metallization of at least about 90% (wt.); providing an additive selected from the group consisting of ferroalloy powder, metal-containing ash and mixtures thereof, wherein the additive contains an alloying metal; mixing the iron particles and the additive to provide a mixture of the particles and the additive; and forming the mixture into briquettes containing the alloying metal.

Abstract: A material in powder or wire form on a nickel basis for the production of a coating with a high level of resistance to corrosion and wear by means of a thermal coating process is of the following composition (in percent by weight):______________________________________ C 0.005-1.0; Cr 10.0-26.0; Mo 8.0-20.0; Fe 0.1-10.0; Si 3.0-7.0; B 1.0-4.0; Cu 0.1-5.0; Ni Balance. ______________________________________The material in powder form can be alloyed and sprayed out of the melt or agglomerated out of different alloyed and non-alloyed metal powders. The coating material can also be used in the form of a filling wire or an alloyed and cast bar material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stack mold linkages for creating unequal strokes for use in an injection molding machine for making different sized molded parts. The stack mold linkages comprise linkages for moving each of at least two mold assemblies between a mold closed position and a mold open position and for separating the mold halves forming the mold assemblies by unequal stroke lengths.