Abstract: In a method in the operation of a firing plant of the type comprising a combustion furnace and heat exchanger means to transfer thermal energy from the flue gas of the furnace to its combustion air, wherein a vaporizable liquid, such as water, is added to the combustion air of the furnace, the combustion air pressure is reduced in the portion of the heat exchanger means where the said liquid is caused to evaporate, the necessary evaporation heat being taken from the flue gas of the furnace before the flue gas is discharged to the atmosphere. A plant for performing the method is characterized by containing a pump (11) which has a relatively small inlet opening (10) so that the pump (11) creates a negative pressure in the portion (12) of the heat exchanger (9) where the liquid, fed by means of a nozzle (13), evaporates. This allows large amounts of water to evaporate, and flue gas, which flows through the heat exchanger portion (14), is cooled to a low temperature.

Abstract: A system for mixing different kinds of grains comprises a plurality of tanks respectively containing different kinds of grains therein. Each of the tanks has a discharge port. A volumetric weight measuring device measures volumetric weights of the respective grains delivered to the tanks to input the volumetric weight signals to a computer. The computer supplies control signals based on the volumetric weight signals to drive devices for valve devices each of which controls a flow rate of the associated grain discharged from the discharge port of the associated tank. The drive devices are respectively operative in response to the control signals respectively supplied thereto from the computer to respectively drive the valve devices so as to allow the respective grains discharged by the valve devices to be controlled in terms of weight unit. The respective grains discharged by the valve devices are mixed at a mixing station.

Abstract: A carding engine comprises a carding cylinder (1) rotatable between bends (2a) at each side of the carding engine. A series of flats (20) are provided, each flat having opposite end sections, the flats being movable over an arc of the cylinder surface. Each bend comprises a stationary section (2a) and a plurality of rollers (9, 13, 14) each mounted on the stationary section for rotation about axes parallel to the cylinder axis. The rollers are located such that the radially outermost parts thereof relative to the cylinder form a support path substantially co-axial with the cylinder, the rollers forming a support for the end sections of the flats as they travel over the arc of the cylinder surface.

Abstract: A glass fiber, strand or a product made of glass fibers is made to pass through a chamber irradiated with high-frequency radiation, so that, if the electrically conductive matters are contained, a high-frequency electric discharge occurs in the chamber accompanied by generation of light. The presence of the electrically conductive matters is made known by detecting this light by a photosensor.

Abstract: An adaptor which is positionable within the base of an air cooler and which has L-section flanges extending outwardly and depending therefrom which locate the adaptor with respect to a supporting duct work, the adaptor having retention barbs which snap into and engage surfaces of an air cooler to retain the adaptor in position.

Abstract: A method of severing fibre from a fell comprises moving a fell in a longitudinal direction and traversing the fell with a laser beam focused onto the fibre adjacent the skin of the fell.

Abstract: An intraocular lens with a medial light-focusing lens body includes oppositely disposed position fixation members having seating portions that are respectively resiliently retained between opposed groove portions of the eye. Each of the position fixation members is formed of at least two different materials for beneficial cooperation with the respective portions of the eye.

Abstract: A gas-diesel dual fuel engine operative with both a gaseous fuel and a diesel fuel oil. The engine has an electronic governor circuit adapted to receive both a speed signal representing actual speed of engine and a set speed signal representing a predetermined command speed of the engine, electric actuators adapted to actuate a diesel fuel injection pump and a gaseous fuel regulating valve, respectively, in response to the signal from the electronic governor circuit, and a mode switching control circuit connected to the electronic governor circuit and adapted to switch the operation of the electric actuators between a diesel fuel operation mode and a gaseous fuel operation mode.

Abstract: A method for determining the optimum thickness of an ophthalmic lens comprises the steps of applying data indicative of the kind of a lens suitable for a spectacle wearer and the contents of a prescription as inputs to a computer, executing necessary computation by the computer according to a predetermined program on the basis of the various input data thereby drawing a map of an equi-thickness line group of the ophthalmic lens on the basis of the result of computation, and placing a spectacle frame at a predetermined position on the map of the equi-thickness line group to find out the outermost equi-thickness line within the extent of the frame.

Abstract: A surgical operating room structure having prep room, operating room and post-operative room around a central core and separated by flexible curtains. The core comprises independently movable sections each having an arm supporting an operating table which is rotatable about the core from one room to the next adjacent room through the curtains.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting cracked rice grains. The apparatus has conveyor means by which the rice grains to be examined are moved in at least one row extending in the direction of movement, a light-transmitting window formed in the conveyor means and adapted to pass a coherent light beam of a width smaller than the diameter of the rice grain, a light source means adapted to apply the coherent light, light-receiving means including light-receiving elements adapted to detect the quantities of lights transmitted through the leading half part and trailing half part of the rice grain when the latter passes over the light-transmitting window, and a circuit means adapted to measure and compare the quantities of light received by the light-receiving means in comparison with predetermined reference threshold values.

Abstract: A truck comprising a pair of longitudinal side frames with axle assemblies located at opposite ends thereof. Diagonal braces extend between the side frames to provide the truck with a lateral stiffness and a yaw stiffness. The diagonal braces include struts extending between the side frames and connected thereto by elastomeric members. The elastomeric members provide controlled flexibility in shear for the truck and are chosen so that the yaw stiffness and lateral stiffness lie on the characteristic curve of maximum critical velocity. In this way maximum stability of the truck is obtained.

Abstract: The use of a radical initiator of azo compound type represented by the following general formula (I) enables polymerization of an inorganic acid salt of monoallylamine, whereby a polymer of an inorganic acid salt of monoallylamine having a high polymerization degree can be obtained in a high yield, ##STR1## [In the above formula, A and B independently are an alkylene group of 2 to 3 carbon atoms which may have one or more substituents on the carbon atom or atoms; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 may be same or different and independently are a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group; and X is a monovalent anion selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br, NO.sub.3, HSO.sub.4, H.sub.2 PO.sub.4, HSO.sub.3, HCOO, CH.sub.3 COO, ##STR2## and CH.sub.3 SO.sub.4.

Abstract: A motor vehicle has a radiator for the liquid of the engine cooling circuit supported by the front part of the motor vehicle bodywork, and a conveyor for air for cooling the radiator having a part which is movable resiliently towards the front part of the bodywork in the case of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

Abstract: Methanol is made in a liquid-phase methanol reactor by entraining a methanol-forming catalyst in an inert liquid and contacting said entrained catalyst with a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Abstract: A unit fuel injector for internal combustion engines having a fuel injecting pump portion and a fuel injection valve portion which are assembled as a unit in a single injector body (6). The injector body (6) has an upper section into which a check valve (9), barrel (5), plunger (3), and so forth are inserted from the upper side of the injector body. The check valve, barrel, plunger and so forth are secured by means of a barrel holder (7) screwed into the upper section of the injector body. Also a nozzle spring (13), nozzle body (19), nozzle valve (18) and so forth are assembled and placed within from the lower side of the injector body. The nozzle spring, nozzle body, nozzle valve and so forth are fixed by a nozzle nut (20) screwed to the lower section. This arrangement permits the diameter of the unit fuel injector to be reduced to facilitate the mounting in the limited space on a cylinder head of the engine.

Abstract: An N.sup..alpha. -protected-N.sup.G -protected-arginyl-p-nitro-anilide with high purity can be produced in high yield by reacting an N.sup..alpha. -protected-N.sup.G -protected-arginine with p-nitroaniline in pyridine in the presence of a condensing agent.

Abstract: A corneal implant and method of making the same utilizes a corneal plug removed from an eye, frozen solid, and centrally bored to, but not through, its Bowman's or its Descemet's membrane. An artificial plug which is optically clear is inserted in the bore of the corneal plug and attached thereto. The corneal plug with the artificial plug therein is thereafter implanted in a corresponding opening in the cornea of the patient's eye providing a transparent window free of fluid leakage.

Abstract: A filter element comprises coaxial inner and outer relatively rigid, permeable cylinders (5, 8), each cylinder being circumferentially continuous and sandwiched between the two cylinders, a spirally-wound cylindrical filter structure comprising a plurality of layers of microporous non-woven fibrous material (9), each pair of adjacent layers being separated by a layer of strong, fluid-permeable, flexible support material (10), the filter structure being under substantially uniform radial compression over the whole of its area. The compression is preferably such as to compress the filter structure by from 25% to 45% of its original thickness, and materially increases the efficiency of filters incorporating the structure. A method of effecting the compression during manufacture is also described.

Abstract: A smokable, coherent sheet of disintegrated vegetable materials and/or tobacco waste, said sheet being provided with a water-insoluble film on one surface and being obtained in that the vegetable materials and/or tobacco waste are pressure-formed with binding agents and water, the share of which is lower than that of the dry substance employed, between forming elements, the formed, coherent and still moist sheet is coated at a moisture content of 30 to 50% with a solution or suspension having at least one water-soluble, modified pectin from the group of low-esterified pectin with an esterification degree of below 40% and/or amidified, low-esterified pectin with an amidation degree of over 15%, the modified pectin is contacted with bivalent and/or trivalent metal ions and the coated sheet is dried, with the concentration of the modified pectin on the sheet surface being at least 0.5 percent by weight, as referred to the dry weight of the finished product.