Abstract: A compact, multi-stage, co- or counter-current liquid-liquid extraction apparatus is described having two or more stages. Each stage lies adjacent at least one other stage and comprises a mixing chamber having an agitator mounted therein, upper and lower settling chambers, and upper and lower bafffles between the mixing chamber and the upper and lower settling chambers respectively. Vertical partitions at the corners of each stage strengthen the structure and divide off preferably triangular compartments which act as downcomers or risers as appropriate for the liquid media. The liquid media to be contacted in each stage are supplied to the mixing chamber from which dispersion flows upwardly and downwardly into the upper and lower baffles. Disengaged lighter medium flows out from the upper settling chamber over a weir to the next stage, while disengaged heavier medium flows out of the lower settling chamber of one stage to the corresponding next stage.

Abstract: Prostanoid compounds are described having the formula: ##STR1## where A is a cyclopentane ring, which is substituted by oxo and/or hydroxy or etherified hydroxy and may be saturated or unsaturated; X is --CH.dbd.CH-- or --(CH.sub.2).sub.2 --; R is alkyl having a terminal --COOH or ester grup; and Y is amino or substituted amino, particularly heterocyclic amino.The compounds have bronchodilator activity and/or inhibit blood platelet aggregation.The preparation and pharmaceutical formulation of the compounds is also described.

Abstract: A process for treatment of a liquid stream, optionally comprising solids such as minerals, comprises passing at least two different treating reagents through contactors each comprising a drum with a rotor having axially spaced discs compartmentalizing the drum interior and carrying receptacles which rotate with the rotor and cause transfer of portions of one phase in the contactor to the other phase as the rotor turns. The liquid stream being treated is caused to flow along a path including, in succession, parts of each contactor so that the liquid stream is brought into contact with the reagents successively and in rotation.

Abstract: A roll press includes two coacting rolls arranged to form briquettes by engagement of coacting surfaces having suitable depressions formed therein. Each of the rolls includes a central arbor of polygonal cross section including a plurality of flat faces each having a dovetail slot therein, a plurality of segments each slidably received in a corresponding dovetail slot, and retaining plates on each side of the arbor for engaging the ends of the segments and to limit axial displacement. The mounting arrangement for the retaining plates provides for thermal expansion of the segments in one axial direction. Each segment is mounted in its dovetail slot with a slight space between the inner face of the segment and the bottom wall of the slot so that precise machining of the inner face of the segment and the bottom of the dovetail slot is not necessary. A cooling arrangement is provided which comprises a plurality of spaced axially extending passages connected by diagonal passages.

Abstract: Apparatus for contacting immiscible or partly miscible liquids, for example in an extraction process in the form of a container through which the liquids flow having a plurality of discs arranged to rotate and dividing the container into connected compartments, a ring of foraminous material, capable of receiving and temporarily storing liquid, being arranged between at least one pair of discs, so that, in use, liquid is carried from one phase and shed in the other phase.

Abstract: An external operation device for electronic timepieces having a switch unit made up of an array of a plurality of electric switches is inserted in an external member of a timepiece and said electric switches being electrically connected to an internal module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a retractor for the correction of dental misplacement comprising two wire members overlapping each other and displaceable relative to each other in a longitudinal direction against the action of a helical pressure spring, the first of said wire members carrying said pressure spring between the end overlapping the second wire member and a guiding member comprising an opening to hold said guiding member displaceably on said first wire member, and said second wire member being displaceably guided along said first wire member by means of said guiding member which is in the form of a tube.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for treating a downwardly moving, compact bed of solid particles by contact with a flooding liquid, e.g., corn solids are treated with an aqueous solution of lime. Means are provided to obtain relatively uniform, gravity flow of the compact solids through the bed to provide for relatively uniform treatment of the solids with the liquid.

Abstract: A fan control system for cooling apparatus such as cooling tower in which water and air are brought into contact together. According to this system, the running speed of the fan is continuously and proportionally changed responsive to the temperature of the cooling water or the external atmospheric conditions, to substantially control the cooling capacity of the cooling apparatus. The control system consists of a main fan motor, an electronic adjustment circuit and a power transmission means consisting of a variable pitch diameter belt speed changing means and a constant pitch belt reduction device, whereby the speed changing ratio of the belt speed chaning means is continuously and proportionally changed depending upon the control signals from the adjustment circuit. Further, the adjustment circuit may have a soft-start control circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the condensation of sulphur vapor and for the separation of sulphur droplets from a gas flow, preferably from the reaction gas flow from a Claus catalyst. Such apparatus comprises a vessel, a nest of tubes arranged in the vessel between tube plates, pipe connections at the vessel for the supply and discharge of a coolant flowing around the nest of tubes and an inlet pipe connection and an outlet pipe connection for the gas flow at the vessel, upstream and downstream of the said nest of tubes, respectively. Positioned in the vessel is a sulphur separation unit through which the sulphur-containing gas flows and on the surfaces of which sulphur vapor condenses and/or liquid sulphur collects and agglomerates. Sulphur discharge openings are provided in the bottom of the vessel on both the upstream and downstream sides of the separation unit.

Abstract: Process for removing metal(s) and water from used hydrocarbon lubricating oil characterized in that the said used oil is treated with an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and anions which form an insoluble salt or insoluble salts with at least one metal present in the said used oil followed by separation of an oil layer of reduced metal and water content.The oil so treated is suitable for refinery feedstock, and also as fuel oil or as blendstock for other hydrocarbon products, or as rerefining feedstock.

Abstract: A self-propelled water winch for spraying water over an area and moving down a predetermined path defined by a cable. The water winch includes a frame member having wheels for supporting the frame member and for allowing movement along the path defined by the cable. A rotatable nozzle member is connected to a water source under pressure sufficient to rotate the nozzle member and spray the water over a predetermined area for irrigation purposes and the like. A reel member is carried on the frame member and connected to the rotatable nozzle member by a drive mechanism for reeling in the cable thereby pulling the winch over the predetermined path. A clutch mechanism is included between the rotatable nozzle member and the reel to disengage and engage as desired the drive mechanism with the reel.

Abstract: A protective carrier for fragile containers which includes a domed lid which snap-fits onto a ribbed, generally cylindrical carrier body, a ribbed, flattened bottom, and an interlocking handle, and method of manufacture.

Abstract: A solids/liquid contactor comprises a drum through which a slurry phase and a treatment liquid phase pass, a rotor within the drum including a plurality of axially-spaced discs dividing the drum interior into a series of compartments, the edges of the discs being spaced from the wall of the drum to form an annular passage for the movement of the phases from compartment to compartment, for each of at least some of the compartments, a plurality of receptacles mounted to rotate with the rotor and designed to receive material of one phase and to shower it into the other phase as the rotor turns, and at least one blade which is carried by the rotor, which penetrates into the annular passage, and which is operable to maintain the passage at least partly clear of stationary solids.

Abstract: A continuous liquid/liquid or liquid/solids contactor consists of a rotary contactor having a near horizontal axis. The interior of the drum is divided axially into a number of compartments by spaced discs secured to the drum wall and having openings through which the materials to be contacted can pass from one end to the other of the drum. In each compartment, there are a number of buckets which are carried by the discs and which in operation serve to cause intermingling of the materials to be contacted. At the ends of the drum are inlet and outlet passing through rotary joints in the drum ends and carrying the streams to be brought into contact.

Abstract: A hydroformylation process is disclosed utilizing a rhodium complex catalyst and an excess of a triorganophosphine wherein active rhodium catalyst and triorganophosphine can be separated from inactive rhodium, "heavies" and triorganophosphine oxide in partially deactivated reaction medium by extraction into concentrated phosphoric acid or aqueous solutions containing at least 40% by weight phosphoric acid. By neutralization of the phosphoric acid extract in the presence of organic solvent, e.g. aldehyde trimers, a solution of active rhodium catalyst and triorganophosphine can be produced that is suitable for re-use in the hydroformylation reaction.

Abstract: A material is separated from a fluid mixture by contacting the mixture containing the material with a first side of essentially solid, water-insoluble, hydrophilic, semi-permeable membrane in contact with an aqueous liquid barrier having ions which combine with the material to be separated to form a water-soluble complex. The partial pressure of the material on a second side of the semi-permeable membrane is sufficiently less than the partial pressure of the material in the mixture to provide separated material on the second side of the membrane. The separated material can be removed from the vicinity of the second side of the membrane by a gas stream. The second side of the membrane is contacted with an aqueous liquid medium to reduce the loss of the aqueous liquid barrier from the membrane which may otherwise decrease in separation efficiency during use due to water losses. The gas stream used to remove the separated material may be supersaturated with the aqueous medium, e.g.

Abstract: Resorcylic acid lactone compounds of the formula: ##STR1## wherein -A- is either --CH.sub.2 --CH.sub.2 -- or --CH.dbd.CH; >Z is either >CH.sub.2, >C.dbd.0 or >CH-OH; and R and R.sub.1 are either H or a C.sub.3 group selected from propyl and --CH.sub.2 CH.dbd.CH.sub.2, and are different from each other. Such compounds and their derivatives are provided as growth promoting agents for animals, e.g. ruminants and poultry.

Abstract: A continuously moving supply conveyor delivers articles to be separated or batched to a sorting conveyor. The sorting conveyor includes a first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged to move about common spaced axes. The first conveyor includes an endless belt mounted on rollers and arranged to follow a first path. The second conveyor includes sprockets mounted on shafts of the rollers and having a diameter greater than that of the rollers. Chains engage the sprockets and support a belt for movement along a path outside that of the first conveyor. The first conveyor comprises a continuous belt extending the full length thereof. The second conveyor includes a belt extending through only a portion of the total length of the second conveyor. Means are provided for driving the first and second conveyors in the same direction but at different speeds.

Abstract: Screw machine for processing materials of solid, liquid and pasty consistency. In a housing several rotatable, interengaging screw shafts are mounted with their axes being parallel to each other. For each screw shaft the housing is provided with a cavity and the combination of these cavities defines a cross-section in the form of overlapping circles being concentric to the screw shaft axes. In a longitudinal area of the cavities each of the screw shafts is formed of a core shaft and of several non-circular disc sections arranged consecutively in axial direction on this core shaft and opposite the disc sections of the adjacent screw shaft.