Abstract: A ball-valve having an apertured ball which is rotated to connect or close off inlet and outlet passages from one another and a replaceable resilient liner encasing the ball and filling the body cavity around the ball and its stem. The liner may include a portion to wipe the ball surface clean as the ball is rotated.

Abstract: A mobile watering apparatus has a framework which is provided with wheels and supports a watering nozzle as well as a drum forming rotary magazine for a pipe, one end of which is connected to the nozzle. The other end of the pipe, leaving the drum, is adapted for connection to a water supply station on the land. A hydraulic motor, actuated by water under pressure, allows the traveling of the apparatus and the joint winding of the pipe on the drum, with however, a slip clutch in the second case. This slip clutch is preferably controlled by a means responsive to the tension being exerted on the pipe.

Abstract: A process for the production of xylan and fibrinous material from vegetable raw material by treating the raw material with saturated steam at a temperature of from 160.degree. to 230.degree. C. for a period from 2 minutes to 4 hours.

Abstract: A gardening tool has a straight handle and a tool head, such as a spade blade, gardening fork or weeding fork, pivoted to its lower end about a transverse axis, stops limiting the pivotal movement of the tool head in one direction beyond normal working position, aligned with the handle, and in the other direction beyond a second position at an obtuse angle to the handle. A spring biases the tool head to working position and a pedal at the lower part of the tool enables foot pressure to be applied to the tool head. A catch may be provided to hold the tool head releasably in its second position, and the tool head may be interchangeable with others.

Abstract: A hanger assembly to support fill strips in a cooling tower wherein the assembly includes headers and wire mesh hangers mounted on the headers. Each wire mesh hanger assembly includes vertical wires which have clamp portions formed at each end which extend through openings formed in the headers to suspend the wire mesh hanger from the header. The clamp portions include a cam surface which is compressed in the header opening when the clamp is moved to its operative position.

Abstract: In apparatus having an endless pressing band, formed of a layer of rubber with a steel-wire fabric connected thereto, passing around a heating drum, two associated guide rollers and a hitch roller, the relative positions of advancement of the opposite ends of a transverse weft wire of the steel-wire fabric are sensed by photoelectric cell arrangements and, upon sensing of a lagging of one end behind the other, control means are activated to move the bearing at one end of the hitch roller towards or away from the heating drum while retaining the axes of the hitch roller and the heating drum in a common plane.

Abstract: Process and apparatus are disclosed for converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide by subjecting the carbon dioxide to radiation in the presence of carbonaceous material such as coal to form carbon monoxide. The preferred form of radiation is solar energy, and the process is preferably carried out in an atmosphere essentially free of oxygen. The invention also include subjecting carbon monoxide to radiation to form purified carbon and useful heat energy. The two procedures can be combined into a single process for converting solar or other energy into useful thermal energy with the production of useful products. The reactor apparatus is specifically designed to carry out the radiation-induced conversions. Coal can be desulfurized and its caking characteristics altered by solar radiation is the presence of suitable gases.

Abstract: Apparatus for the preparation and extrusion of plastics material or rubber, comprising a planet rolling extruder and a feed portion disposed upstream thereof with a main shaft of the planet rolling extruder being surrounded by planet shafts and being driven jointly with a feed-screw of the feed portion, in which some of the planet shafts at their ends adjacent the feed-screw are reduced in section to form transfer shaft portions and thereby receiving chambers for material fed to the planet rolling extruder by the feed portion. The transfer shaft portions may be cylindrical with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the root circle of the planet shaft gearing or may have, adjacent the feed-screw, a diameter smaller than the root circle of the planet shaft gearing and increase in diameter in a direction away from the feed-screw until they achieve the full shaft outline.

Abstract: A bush assembly for a radius rod or rocker arm includes an eye at an end of the rod or arm oscillatable on a pin the ends of which are engaged in a bracket, a pair of resilient outer bushes being engaged on a pair of tubular outer spacers on the pin and in openings in the bracket, and a pair of resilient inner bushes being engaged on a pair of tubular inner spacers on the pin and in the eye of the rod or arm, the inner bushes being frictionally bonded to the eye and to the inner spacers, which are freely rotatable on the pin.

Abstract: A ball valve has a body with opposed coaxial inlet and outlet passages leading to and from a ball chamber containing an apertured ball which may be turned by a handle to open or close the way between the inlet and outlet passages, a pair of sealing rings at the inner ends of the inlet and outlet passages bearing against the ball, the inlet sealing ring being backed by a fixed annular flange, the outlet sealing ring being backed by an annular insert screwed into the inner end of the outlet passage to press the sealing rings firmly against the ball. The inlet and outlet passages have tapered threads, but the inner part of the outlet passage in which the insert is screwed has a cylindrical thread.

Abstract: Metallic articles, for instance, ferrous strips are metallized, for instance, zinc coated by passing the heated article through a coating chamber and applying thereto a continuous stream of the molten coating metal so as to uniformly and evenly metallize said article. Thereafter, excess molten coating metal is removed from the coated article by hot gas blasting and the hot gas blasted article leaving the coating chamber is immediately cooled. Wiping means may be provided before applying the molten coating metal so as to deflect any molten coating metal dropping from the metallic article passing therethrough, while rollers may be arranged between the coating metal applying means and the hot gas blasting means. Said rollers serve to remove the major part of excess coating metal from the coated metallic article and to stabilize movement of the metallic article passing through the coating chamber.

Abstract: A carboxyl-group-containing polyester having an acid number of from 30 to 150, a hydroxyl number of from 20 to 150 and a Patton alkyd constant of from 0.9 to 1.

Abstract: An incurved capitulum type of chrysanthemum plant which is a sport of the non-commercial cultivar Arcade, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,659, granted Nov. 26, 1974, Starcade being distinguished from the parent cultivar by its taller height, larger flower size and slower flowering response.

Abstract: A chrysanthemum plant known by the cultivar name Cambria and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; spider capitulum type; ivory white ray floret color, devoid of pink discoloration; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 175 to 225 mm. at maturity; uniform eight weak photoperiodic flowering response to short days; and tall plant height.

Abstract: A chrysanthemum cultivar particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form, pompon capitulum type, red-bronze ray floret color, diameter across face of capitulum up to 40 mm., short plant height, spreading branching pattern, average natural season flowering date of September 27, and average flowering response period of seven weeks in photoperiodic controlled short day programs.

Abstract: A daisy capitulum type of chrysanthemum plant which is a sport of the cultivar Circus, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,188. Cirbronze is distinguished from the parent cultivar by its medium bronze ray floret color.

Abstract: A chrysanthemum plant known by the cultivar name Moonwind and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; spooned daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color, devoid of pink discoloration; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 65 to 75 mm. at maturity; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched spray pot; semi-spreading branching pattern, and minimum pollen production.

Abstract: An African violet plant known by the cultivar name Missouri and particularly characterized by the combined features of vigorous and compact growth habit; intensive red-violet flowers with frilled edges; strong and upright flower stems; long blooming period, and an abundant flower display at first flash.

Abstract: An African violet known by the cultivar name Oregon and characterized by the combined features of large, non-dropping pink flowers with frilled edges, with a few flowers tending to semi-double; strong upright flower stems, and up to nine flowers per stem with the first flash of flowers, which occurs approximately eight weeks after potting.

Abstract: An African violet known by the cultivar name Iowa and particularly characterized by the combined features of single, violet-shaped flowers having an intensive blue-violet color; strong and upright flower stems rising from the center of the plant so as to carry the bouquet centrally and well above the foliage; and by its vigorous growth and compact habit.