Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cooling and cleaning gases containing tar-like or other impurities, and to a reactor. In the method, process gas is first fed into a hot fluidized bed (4), where the tar-like impurities contained in it crack into smaller fractions, whereafter the process gas is passed onward, the fluidized bed material entrained in the process gas is separated from the process gas and returned through the cooler (8) into the fluidized bed and into the process gas stream, whereby the process gas cools under the influence of the cooled fluidized bed material. The reactor comprises a cooler (8) above the fluidized bed (4) and an annular conduit (7) outside the cooler (8), through which conduit the process gas flows into the upper portion of the reactor after the fluidized bed (4).

Abstract: A method for adjusting the sulphur/sodium ratio in a soda recovery boiler when strong sulphurous odour gases are burned therein. According to the method, sodium is introduced into the soda recovery boiler in an amount proportional to the amount of sulphur either as sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate compounds or soap, whereby the sodium and sulphur react, forming sodium sulphate, which can be removed from the flue gases together with fly ash.

Abstract: A system which improves coverage in overlapping coverage areas between two type-A or type-B cellular radio telephone systems is able to direct a subscriber unit in the overlapping coverage area to the home or primary system, thereby minimizing the subscriber unit's roaming-type expenses. The system includes a control channel receiver, a control unit, and a control channel transmitter/receiver pair, in combination with a transmit/receive antenna. The system transmits a control channel, which is associated with the home system, into the overlapping region. The control channel is intended to be the strongest channel in that region. Any subscriber units in the region associated with the home system which respond to that control channel will be directed to other control channels associated with the home system. Those subscriber units will receive service from the home system, as opposed to the foreign system which may provide other strong control channels in the overlapping coverage area.

Abstract: A combustion-powered, fastener-driving tool comprises a structure defining a combustion chamber and defining a driving piston cylinder, which has a wall and defines an axis. A nosepiece is mounted to said structure and communicates with the driving piston cylinder. A driving piston mounting a driving member is arranged to be axially driven within the wall of the driving piston cylinder upon combustion of a fuel in the combustion chamber, so as to drive the driving member from an uppermost position wherein the driving member is retracted from the nosepiece into a lowermost position wherein the driving member is extended into the nosepiece. A combusted gases-actuated mechanism is employed for feeding fasteners from a collated strip of fasteners individually and successively into the nosepiece. Combusted gases are diverted from the driving piston cylinder so as to actuate the feeding mechanism when the driving piston is driven.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a plastic closure particularly to facilitate orientation of the closure so that a manufacturing process, such as vertical scoring, can be effected at one of at least one predetermined portion of the closure. Such orientation is achieved by the provision of an orientation mandrel on to which the closure is moved. The closure is initially rotated relative to the orientation mandrel, with a stop mechanism of the mandrel thereafter engaging the closure and stopping such relative rotation. The stop mechanism of the mandrel is configured in a predetermined orientation with respect to an associated component of the apparatus, which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a vertical scoring mechanism. By this manufacturing technique, a closure having a tamper-indicating pilfer band can be scored and cut at a particular portion of the band, such as between container-engaging projections of the pilfer band.

Abstract: A fire alarm system utilizes outputs from different types of fire sensors, such as photoelectric smoke sensors or ionization type smoke sensors and combines those outputs by subtraction so as to establish a delay interval during which one or both of the sensor output values must exceed a predetermined threshold value to cause the system to go into an alarm condition. Prior to subtracting the outputs from one another, each of the outputs can be raised to a predetermined exponential value so as to emphasize the effects of larger sensor output values. Where the two types of fire sensors each are generating outputs indicative of a fire condition, the calculated delays will be relatively short. In instances where only one of the two sensors is generating an output indicative of a fire condition, the calculated delay will be longer, so as to inhibit false alarms.

Abstract: In a machine for dispensing stackable roofing washers individually and for driving fasteners through such washers, a shuttle is actuatable to displace a lowermost washer of one from a stack, either a small, circular or large, square washer. A gate is biased toward a lowermost position wherein it provides sufficient clearance for the lowermost washer but not any overlying washer to pass beneath it. A pawl mounted pivotally to the gate is biased to a lowermost position wherein the pawl engages a small washer displaced by the shuttle so as to restrain it against backward movement. A stop is adjustable so as to limit movement of a washer of whichever size is being displaced. A measuring bar is mounted via the stop. A screw gun, which provides a primary handle, and a secondary handle are mounted to an upright element so as to be independently adjustable.

Abstract: A surgical instrument, illustrated as an endoscopic surgical stapler, includes first and second operating linkages respectively operatively connected with first and second operating levers pivotally mounted on a frame of the instrument. An improved mounting arrangement is provided for the operating levers in the form of first and second mounting bosses. The mounting bosses are formed separately in order to isolate forces exerted thereon by the operating levers attendant to use of the instrument.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of preparing the isoflavone genistein. Genistein is prepared by fermenting the bacteria Saccharopolyspora erythraea in the presence of a soy-based substrate. A process of recovering genistein from a bacterial fermentation medium using alkaline, organic solvent extraction is also provided.

Abstract: An electronic fluid flowmeter includes an LSI digital device and an LSI analog device. The digital device drives a pair of acoustic transducers to transmit acoustic waves within a fluid, the flow of which is being measured. The acoustic waves are received within the analogue device, the moment of arrival being determined by envelope detection associated with the phase of the received signal. The reception of a signal stops a counter within the digital device, the value in the counter representing the time of flight of the acoustic signals within the fluid. Fluid flow data can be stored on an EEPROM from which meter data can be read using a liquid crystal display or via an interface port to an external device.

Abstract: In a railroad track comprising a railroad rail having a lower flange and a railroad tie made from concrete, a polyurethane pad is mounted between the lower flange of the rail road rail and an upper surface of the railroad tie. A bonding layer at least as flexible as the polyurethane pad is bonded to a lower surface of the polyurethane pad. An adhesive layer is bonded to the upper surface of the railroad tie. The bonding and adhesive layers are bonded to each other, whereby the polyurethane pad and the railroad tie are bonded to each other via the bonding and adhesive layers. Preferably, the adhesive layer comprises a methacrylate ester composition, and the bonding layer comprises either a product of polymerizing a solution of methyl methacrylate copolymer in n-butyl acrylate monomer with an addition of cumene hydroperoxide to the solution or a product of curing or drying a water-based acrylic emulsion.

Abstract: In a railroad track comprising a railroad rail having a lower flange, a railroad tie made from concrete, and a polyurethane pad mounted between the lower flange of the railroad rail and an upper surface of the railroad tie, a particulate layer is interposed between the polyurethane pad and the railroad tie and comprises particles bonded to the polyurethane pad. Preferably, the bonded particles are polycarbonate, acrylic, or nylon particles, either granules or fibers. Alternatively, the bonded particles are particles of quartz, silica sand, silicon carbide, or aluminum oxide. An adhesive layer is interposed between the polyurethane pad and the railroad tie, comprises a methacrylate ester composition, and is bonded to particles among the bonded particles and to the railroad tie, whereby the polyurethane pad and the railroad tie are bonded to one another via the particulate and adhesive layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a filter element that comprises a center core and at least one layer of ion exchange yarn wound about the center core. In a preferred embodiment, more than one winding layer is wound about the core. The present invention also provides a method for purifying liquids, the method comprising providing a filter unit that contains a filter element that comprises a center core and at least one layer of ion exchange yarn wound about the core, and passing a liquid to be purified through the filter element.

Abstract: In a railroad track, a composite pad is useful between a lower flange of a railroad rail and an upper surface of a railroad tie, particularly but not exclusively a concrete tie. The composite pad comprises a bonding member, preferably a plate made from galvanized, powder-coated steel and a polyurethane pad. Such a plate, if used, may be powder-coated with a composition comprising a polyester, acrylic, or epoxy resin. The pad is cast onto the member so that the member is bonded directly to the pad. An adhesive layer comprising a methacrylate ester composition bonds the member to the upper surface of the tie, at the lower surface of the member, so as to resist relative movement between the member and the tie and so as to retard infiltration of sand, water, or debris therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a galenic form of 5-nitroimidazole derivatives which is characterized in that it comprises a combination of microgranules of 5-nitroimidazole derivatives consisting, on the one hand, of gastroresistant microgranules and, on the other hand, of prolonged-release microgranules, the pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and the microgranules as intermediates in the preparation of the form according to the invention.