Abstract: An oil recovery apparatus in which oil to be recovered is allowed to pass over the leading weir edge of an oil skimmer mounted transversely across a flotation platform and with the leading weir edge positioned in the region of the center of buoyancy of the flotation platform. Oil passing over the leading weir edge is sucked through a slotted flow equalizing baffle plate mounted within the oil skimmer and removed to a collection location or vessel.

Abstract: Structural elements which are each formed by two sectional members of substantial length are mounted in juxtaposed relation in the line of extension of each other. The two sectional members of each structural element are engaged one inside the other with a small clearance space between their parallel faces. A flexible packing of metallic material is enclosed between the sectional members so as to ensure that they are capable of working in pairs both along the length of said members and in the direction of engagement of these latter.

Abstract: A thermal insulation structure mounted within the annular space between the primary vessel and the inner vessel of a liquid metal cooled fast reactor is constituted by a plurality of heat-insulating elements extending circumferentially around the common axis of the two vessels and consisting of half-casings each formed by two interengaged L-section members packed with flexible and compressible heat-insulating material.

Abstract: A method for treating animals afflicted with a viral infection comprising the administration to the animal of a platinum coordination compound.This is a Continuation, of application Ser. No. 350,924, filed Apr. 13, 1973, now abandoned.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for defining a vertical axis by means of a reely suspended optical system acting as a plumb line. In equilibrium, the optical system has a vertical optical axis about which real images can be detected at distances of the order of a thousand feet above or below the optical system. The apparatus is capable of considerable accuracy in generating a vertical axis for alignment purposes.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a plurality of constituent components within a semiconductor body such that the device in combination with one of a plurality of different possible metallization patterns of conductors forms a desired circuit arrangement, is provided in a semiconductor body having an epitaxial layer of one conductivity type on a substrate of the same conductivity type and suitable to be employed as a conductive plane, and is manufactured by a method which includes the diffusion step of providing simultaneously within the epitaxial layer regions of opposite conductivity type of the constituent components of the device and a network of conductive tracks, it being possible, for example, for the device to include bipolar transistors of the so-called collector-diffusion-isolation construction or isoplanar construction.

Abstract: A method of processing porous metal filters used for separating isotopes of uranium hexafluoride, so as to improve the mechanical strength and resistance to corrosion of the fiters.The filters are placed in the presence of an aluminum-based cement in a closed heat-resistant and oxidation-resistant vessel, the interior of the vessel is disposed in a inert gas atmosphere and the vessel is heated to between 800.degree. and 1,000.degree. C in a furnace for about 1 hour.The filters are used for separating uranium isotopes.

Abstract: Principal movable elements are mounted for displacement on a first rolling track and coupled together in pairs by a flexible link of constant length. Auxiliary movable elements are mounted for displacement on a second rolling track. The spacing between the first and second rolling track is variable along at least a part of the path of travel. Each flexible link passes over two deflecting members each mounted integrally on one of the principal movable elements. A central portion of each flexible link is always positioned substantially in the direction of displacement and the two extreme portions of each link are respectively secured to an auxiliary movable element without rigid part between a principal and an auxiliary element.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a hydraulically driven impactor in which the operng cycle of a reciprocating piston is determined by the retraction velocity and displacement of the piston itself. Energy is conserved and heat dissipation minimised by the utilization of hydraulic spring accumulators to decelerate the piston. The drive to the piston is switched into a forward direction at such a point in each displacement cycle that the rebound energy of the piston is always re-absorbed into the drive fluid. The impactor operates at optimum acceleration and frequency at all times, whether or not impact occurs, and this feature combined with high energy conservation makes the impactor particularly suitable for use in a full-face tunnelling machine where high power density is required and individual impactors are often constrained to operate without impacting the rock face for considerable periods.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for heat-insulating the top part of the annular space separating the main vessel from the safety vessel from a fast-neutron nuclear reactor, the two vessels having a common vertical axis and being open at their top part and covered by a horizontal slab in which the ends are fitted so as to be suspended by the slab.According to the invention a substantially cylindrical heat-insulating ring is mounted under the slab and cooperates with the slab and with the facing walls of the vessel to bound the region to be insulated. The ring extends through the annular space in a horizontal plane and is carried by the slab by means of tie-rods, and a top insulating ring divided into two coaxial elements rests on the bottom ring and is secured to the walls of the two vessels respectively by an assembly of spacing springs disposed radially and bearing against the two elements.

Abstract: A football place-kicking device for holding a football at any desired kicking position on a playing surface to practice place-kicking. The device includes a base, an L-shaped arm extending laterally from the base arranged to pivot on the base in a vertical plane, and a semi-rigid horizontal ball-engaging arm extending horizontally from the upper end of the L-shaped arm to support a football between the base and the ball-engaging arm.

Abstract: The present invention provides gas turbine reheat combustion apparatus for aircraft propulsion. The apparatus includes means for producing a flame stabilization zone in a stream of combustion supporting gas flowing in a duct, said stabilization zone having a recirculatory flow region therein, an injector for introducing a fluid comprising an inert diluent such as, for example, nitrogen, into the recirculatory flow region, and means for supplying the fluid to the injector.

Abstract: A primary member for a linear induction machine comprises a magnetic core having four parallel limbs with a respective pole face on each limb. Thus the core is similar to an E-core with an additional limb. Windings are preferably disposed only on the inner two limbs so that there are effectively no end windings, all windings coupling with the core.

Abstract: In a non-gold-doped TTL device to be energized by a potential supply of at least 4.5 volts; the charge carrier concentration within a NPN multi-emitter input transistor is reduced by connecting together the base and the collector; undesirable emitter-to-emitter transistor action is prevented, by reducing the inverse current gain factor of the input transistor, and preventing this transistor from saturating, by providing a diode within the phase splitter stage, to ensure that the input threshold level of the device is at least two forward biased diode potentials above the least positive supply rail; and providing a suitable pull-up stage for the output transistor, which pull-up stage may comprise a modified Darlington pair of transistors, including a resistor between the emitter of the first transistor and the base of the second transistor, and a resistor between the base and the emitter of the second transistor.

Abstract: A process for making a heavy walled pipe coupling wherein pre-formed thermoplastic pipe stock is heated to a soft pliable condition and blow-molded into a desired configuration. The molding step is accomplished in a mold cavity having openings in opposite ends thereof to receive retractable pistons which expand and seal ends of the pipe before blow air is injected. The coupling produced has an inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of the pipe stock blank, has a central stop element, and has spaced receptacles for receiving self-energizing seals to provide increased sealing capability as pressure is increased.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for calibrating a cigarette inspection device, whereby known defects, such as perforations, are placed in the wrappings of certain cigarettes as they pass through the cigarette inspection device, including a test drum for receiving the cigarettes to be inspected and associated with a pressure-responsive device to be connected successively to the interior of each cigarette at a test point, as it is moved about upon the periphery of the drum past the test point. In operation, a calibration control circuit is actuated to place a defect, in the form of a perforation, into three test cigarettes. Defects, of a magnitude greater than the acceptable limit, are placed in the first and third test cigarettes, and a defect within the acceptable limit is placed in the second test cigarette.

Abstract: The furnace comprises a hearth for the longitudinal displacement of pellet containers, means for injecting gas at both ends of the furnace, for sucking gas between preheating and sintering zones and for condensing the binder, means for displacing the containers from an introduction lock-chamber to an extraction lock-chamber, a conveyor belt which passes through a glove box and provides a leak-tight connection between the lock-chambers. A station for loading containers with pellet sub-containers prior to sintering and a station for unloading the pellet sub-containers after sintering are juxtaposed within the glove box.

Abstract: In a surface inspection system a detector responds to light received from the surface to give a detector signal including disturbances due to surface faults, and includes an equalizer circuit to control the gain of a photomultiplier, and therefore signal amplitude, in response to a peak level detector, to control the level of the signal in relation to the amplitude of the disturbances and a band-pass filter to compensate for variations in the signals due to changes in the optical gain of the detector. The equalizer circuit is an amplifier and the control is achieved by way of feedback and feedforward control loops. In a modification the system may comprise a row of detectors and the equalizer circuit may be arranged to accommodate changes in the amount of light received at the junctions of detectors.

Abstract: Scum skimmer apparatus having a skimmer blade slideably disposed on support rods extending downwardly from an oscillating bridge which is moveable over the clarifying tank in a biological waste treatment plant. An air tight ballast chamber is secured to the skimmer blade having a source of air communicating with the ballast chamber, the source having a valve for controlling the air flow. As the bridge moves toward the scum trough at one end of the clarifying tank the air is evacuated from the ballast chamber, allowing the blade to engage the surface of the liquid. Upon moving away from the scum trough air is pumped into the ballast chamber providing a buoyancy force which raises the skimmer blade away from the surface. When the opposite end of the clarifying tank is reached the skimmer blade is lowered back to the water by venting the air out of the ballast chamber.

Abstract: A direct current power supply for manual arc welding having a steeply drooping, adjustable characteristic, comprising a polyphase transformer and a polyphase rectifier system including triggered rectifier means and a control system therefor providing both welding current and welding voltage feed-back. The welding current feed-back is substantially fixed. The welding voltage feed-back is adjustable for adjustment of the slope of the characteristic.