Abstract: The head end surface of an optical fiber (2) and the head end surface of an optical fiber (12) are butted to each other in an alignment member (22) of an adapter (21). In the butting, because one of the members clasping the optical fiber (2) is a plate (4a) that is short, the optical fiber (2) is bent and buckled between the left end of the short plate and the right end of the alignment member. Members clasping the optical fiber (12) are a long plate (14b) and a V-grooved base plate (13), and the optical fiber (12) is therefore horizontally fixed between each of right ends of the long plate and of the V-grooved base plate (13) and the left end of the alignment member. This results that the head end surface of the optical fiber (2) and the head end surface of the optical fiber (12) are in tight contact with each other, achieving excellent optical transmission between both optical fibers.

Abstract: An intravenous oxygenator for enriching blood with oxygen, said oxygenator having a bundle of fibers, said fibers being each connected to a gas supply means through a first connection and to a gas evacuation means through a second connection, with the fiber bundle being twisted during operation by relative rotation of the first connections of the fibers relative to the second connections of the fibers about a longitudinal axis of the oxygenator. Further, an intravenous oxygenator for insertion into a vein, the connections being respectively connected to a first and to a second fiber holder and being displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the oxygenator, with the fiber holders being mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the oxygenator. Such a constellation permits particularly efficient gas exchange.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to current interrupting devices with overcurrent protection. In one embodiment, a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is disclosed having both ground fault and overcurrent protection. The GFCI has a current detection circuit that includes a switch connected across the load phase terminal and the line neutral terminal of the device. A comparator compares a predefined threshold voltage to a sensed voltage based on a current through the line and load neutral terminals of the device. If the sensed voltage exceeds the predefined threshold, the comparator causes the switch to conduct thereby tripping the device, disconnecting the load from the line terminals and preventing the overcurrent condition from causing damage to the device and/or load.

Abstract: The invention relates to a new class of ruthenium (II) complexes containing as ligands 2-(aminomethyl)pyridines and phosphines, proven to be extremely active catalysts in the reduction of ketones to alcohols via hydrogen transfer. By using 2-propanol as the hydrogen source with the ruthenium complexes, high yields of the corresponding alcohol can be rapidly obtained starting from linear and cyclic alkyl aryl, dialkyl and diaryl ketones. The conversion of ketones to alcohols can reach 100% if operating in a gaseous hydrogen atmosphere (2-3 atm). Where the phosphines used are optically active, starting from prochiral ketone compounds various types of optically active alcohols can be produced, being important intermediates in the pharmaceutical industry, in the agrochemical industry and for fine chemicals generally.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detection device for identifying objects in a material stream, preferably a cullet stream. The device comprises several light sources, which emit light in a rectilinear manner, preferably diode light sources and which are combined to form at least one optical emitter, at least one receiver that contains a lens system and a photoelectric cell, in addition to a detection section, which is located between the emitter and the receiver and is traversed by the material stream. The aim of the invention is to provide a detection device, which eliminates to a great extent the error sources that are inherent in optical lens systems. To achieve this, the light sources of an emitter are directed onto the area of intersection of the optical axis of the lens system with the lens system of the receiver that is assigned to the emitter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the contactless ignition of a welding arc, in addition to a circuit (28) for the contactless ignition of an electric arc, comprising a charging circuit (31), at least one pulse capacitor (30), a decharging circuit containing a circuit, and a high tension converter (32) which is used to inject the high frequency ignition pulses discharged by the pulse capacitor (30) via the circuit to the welding electrode (27). In order to create said type of ignition method and an ignition circuit (28) which enables the welding arc to be ignited in an exact and/or safe and rapid manner and/or to create an improved ignition quality, the charge circuit (31) is connected to a pulse compression circuit (40) comprising the pulse capacitor (30), the high tension converter (32) and the circuit, the circuit being formed by a magnetic throttle valve (41), such that a high frequency circuit of the ignition pulse can be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and kit for diagnosing hereditary diseases CMT1A and HNPP, caused by duplication and deletion in the chromosome 17p11.2-p12 region. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for diagnosing an inherited neuropathy, comprising, running the PCR amplification using microsatellites present in a chromosome 17p11.2-p12 region as markers and DNA typing the resulting PCR amplification products to determine the presence of duplication and deletion in the corresponding chromosomal region, wherein Multiplex PCR amplification is carried out using 6 loci of D17S921, D17S9B, D17S9A, D17S918, D17S2230 and D17S4A as markers, and DNA-typing of the resulting PCR amplification products is carried out to determine duplication and deletion in the corresponding chromosomal region. In accordance with the method of the present invention, the diagnosis accuracy of detecting duplication and deletion in the chromosome 17p11.2-p12 region is greater than 99.9%.

Abstract: The heating plate (1) has cavities (2), in which electrically heatable heating bodies (3) are disposed. A heat exchange medium circulated by a pump (4) transmits the heat emitted by the heating bodies (3). The heating plate is designed to obtain a uniform temperature distribution using as low a volume of heat exchange medium as possible. To this end, the cavities (2) are elongate and the heating bodies (3) are bar-shaped.

Abstract: A membrane module for an immersed operation has a fiber bundle of hollow fiber membranes which are cast into a headpiece and in immersed operation are surrounded by a liquid to be filtered. The module has a permeate collection chamber connected to the headpiece with an outlet for permeate draining from the interior of the hollow fiber membranes, and a gas supply having a pipe guided by the headpiece. The pipe terminates in the interior of the fiber bundle and has a gas outlet for a gaseous medium, which after the transfer from the pipe to the liquid to be filtered rises as bubbles between the hollow fiber membranes. The fiber bundle is divided into sections and free spaces remain between the sections which extend from the pipe to the outer circumference of the headpiece and promote an inflow of the liquid into a foot area adjoining the headpiece.

Abstract: An opposed path joint comprising an inner hub, which is provided with first inner grooves and second inner grooves, and comprising an outer hub, which is provided with first outer grooves and second outer grooves that respectively form a pair with the first and second inner grooves. The opposed path joint also comprises an annular cage, which is placed between the inner hub and the outer hub and which has a radial openings whose number corresponds to that of the groove pairs. Balls that engage inside the grooves are guided inside these radial openings. According to the invention, the outer hub of the opposed path joint is a single-piece closed ring, in which the outer grooves are formed without cutting. Alternatively, the outer hub has at least two elements that are located one behind the other on the outer hub axis and, together, center the cage.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for machining on the face side a negative mold for a profile element (1) which is made of thermoplastic foamed material, forms the branch of a channel of a shaft floor and can be applied in an interlocking manner to a profile strand for the main channel, comprising a table (3) for receiving the profile element (1) to be machined and with a support (5) which is movable along a predetermined planar path for a curved heating wire (4) extending in one plane along the profile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switching valve (1) for controlling a gas flow in a gas line of an internal combustion engine, in particular in a motor vehicle, comprising a line section (2) for installation in the gas line, an actuator drive (3) for rotational adjustment of a butterfly valve (11) about an axis of rotation (13) running across the direction of flow inside the line section (2). In the closed position of the butterfly valve (11) a throttle sealing gap (17) is formed radially between a butterfly valve edge (16) and a sealing surface (14) facing the butterfly valve (11) and belonging to a sealing section encompassing the butterfly valve (11) along the butterfly valve edge (16) in the circumferential direction. To simplify the manufacture of a high quality throttle sealing gap (17), the sealing section may be formed by a sealing body (15) which is manufactured separately from the other line section (2) and can be added directly onto the line section (2).

Abstract: The electrostatic separation of ground crude potassium salts containing kieserite is accomplished by mixing the ground crude potassium salt with a conditioning agent containing a combination of an aromatic carboxylic acid or its derivatives, an ammonium salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid, as well as an unbranched fatty alcohol having a chain length of C10 to C15, and subsequently triboelectrically charging the mixture at a relative humidity of 1-10%. The mixture is then separated into a crude kieserite fraction and a crude potassium fraction by means of an electrostatic separation method. This method increases kieserite yield and the selectivity of a subsequent treatment by means of flotation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piston ring whose running surface is provided with a coating containing a plastic material. Said piston ring is characterized in that the coating is composed of at least one polyamide-imide and/or at least one polyether ether ketone with embedded particles which can be embodied as hard material particles, solid lubricant particles, or metallic particles. The invention further relates to a piston/piston ring arrangement comprising at least one inventive piston ring and an agent for coating at least the running surface of the piston ring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hose that comprises at least one inner layer (1) produced from an elastomer material, an embedded reinforcement carcass produced from a textile and/or metal material, an outer layer produced from an elastomer material and a coupling having a flange section inside the hose end. The inventive hose is characterized in that the coupling comprises a fitting, a supporting flange and at least one annular lamina. A first reinforcement carcass, consisting of at least one reinforcement layer, extends along the entire inside of the fitting and changes in the flange area from the axial to the radial direction of extension. The radial area of the first reinforcement carcass is mounted between the supporting flange and the annular lamina(e). A second reinforcement carcass, likewise consisting of at least one reinforcement layer, partially or completely holds the outside of the fitting, especially by way of fastening means.

Abstract: A device for processing material by mixing and/or plasticization or agglomeration has a screw housing, in which at least two screws are situated adjacent to one another. The screw channels are engaged with one another. The screws are driven to rotate by at least one motor. The screws are supplied with the material through an intake opening of the screw housing and the processed material leaves the screw housing through at least one outlet opening. An apparatus is provided, which in operation of the device provides the gap which exists between adjacent screw channels of the screws alternately with a periodic enlargement or reduction, which is superimposed on the rotational movements of the two screws. In the method for material processing, the material, in addition to the compaction which is caused by the conveyance action of the screws, is subjected to periodic squeezing by the screws.