Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a substantially stoichiometric combustion of liquid fuels in a burner assembly wherein a stream of compact or atomized fuel is produced by means of an orifice or nozzle (e.g. injection, pressure, rotary atomizing nozzle) and fed into a mixing and atomizing zone in accordance with the preferably adjustable, nozzle input pressure, wherein at least part of the combustion air as an atomizing medium is introduced from the side of the axis of the fuel stream, with the flow of such air being adapted to be controlled with respect to throughput (flow rate) and flow velocity, and including a subsequent combustion of the fuel/air mixture within a combustion zone downstream of said mixing zone.

Abstract: A transition joint is disclosed for joining together tubular pieces formed respectively from a low alloy or carbon steel and a high temperature alloy composition including approximately 20% chromium, the transition joint including a plurality of tubular parts welded together and formed from standard code-approved materials of selected composition with a maximum variation in chromium content of approximately 2-5% between adjacent parts when the chromium content is below approximately 10% and a maximum chromium content variation of approximately 3-7% between adjacent transition parts when the chromium content of either part is above approximately 10% in either part, the transition parts being joined by friction welding and/or fusion welding and/or formed entirely by fusion welding deposition.

Abstract: A transition joint is disclosed for joining together tubular pieces formed respectively from a low alloy or carbon steel and a high temperature alloy composition having substantially different characteristics such as coefficient of thermal expansion, the transition joint including a plurality of tubular parts interconnected with each other by means of friction weld joints formed at an angle of 90.degree. to the axis of the transition joint, the tubular parts at opposite ends of the transition joint being selected to facilitate in situ welding to the low alloy or carbon steel and high temperature alloy respectively.

Abstract: A CO.sub.2 food freezer has an elongated enclosure through which material to be cooled is carried on an endless porous belt conveyor with an upper operating belt run vertically spaced from the lower return run to provide an intermediate region therebetween. Liquid CO.sub.2 injection means is located in an upper region to direct CO.sub.2 snow plus cold CO.sub.2 vapor downward onto material being conveyed. Blowers aimed at an angle of between about 5.degree. and about 35.degree. upward from the horizontal are located in the intermediate region, and fans in the upper region direct CO.sub.2 vapor downward onto material on the belt. The belt includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse rods and a plurality of wire sections that respectively interconnect adjacent rods in pairs. The wire sections are bent so that all segments of wire extending generally between said rods lie in substantially the same plane which constitutes the upper surface of the upper run. The rods effectively deflect cold CO.sub.

Abstract: A flat rigid pad having a central core of heat insulating material which supports two sheets of radiant heat reflecting material, such as foil, is removably located on the grate of an enclosed cooking chamber having a heat source in the bottom portion of the enclosed chamber. An uncovered cooking vessel containing food is located on the pad. The sheets of foil each have one shiny and highly reflective side, both facing in the same direction, so that the pad can be placed on the grill with both reflective surfaces directed downwardly toward the heat source in the chamber.

Abstract: An automatic bag breaking system in which a bag of powdered material is opened and emptied within a protective enclosure. The enclosure is equipped with a bag holding assembly and at least one flapper to sequentially strike the bag after the bag is cut to enhance discharge of the bag's contents within the protective enclosure.

Abstract: A control system and method for an apparatus to glow discharge treat (such as ion nitride) a workpiece. The apparatus includes a housing to receive a workpiece and a low pressure atmosphere of ionizable gas (nitrogen and hydrogen for nitriding), and connectors for establishing a glow discharge in the gas with the workpiece connected as the cathode. The control system and method automatically control the apparatus throughout the process, utilizing operator selected parameters (such as warm-up time, processing time, workpiece operating temperature and chamber pressure). The control system divides the selected operating temperature by the selected warm-up time to provide a straight line increase per unit time of the workpiece temperature. Initially the control system accumulates the increases at a rate higher than the straight line increase and then, as the workpiece approaches the selected operating temperature, the control system accumulates the increases at a rate less than the straight line increase.

Abstract: Peptides having thermoregulative and analgesic properties when administered to animals. The peptides are identified by the structure:R.sub.1 -R.sub.2 -Trp-Ala-Val-R.sub.3 -His-Leu-Met-NH.sub.2wherein: R.sub.1 is an acyl moiety selected from the group consisting of formyl, acetyl, propionyl, acrylyl and benzoyl; R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of Gly and the D- and L-isomers of Ala, Asn, Gln, His, Leu, Met, Phe, Ser, Thr and Val; R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of D-Ala and Gly. Intermediates of the peptides are also provided.

Abstract: A signal substitution system for cable television applies substitute television program signals in at least one substitute channel to the transmission cable along with singal substitution control signals. The signal substitution control signals include a plurality of different terminal command signals and a plurality of different event command signals, each of the terminal command signals including a respective panelist address signal for identifying a respective panelist receiving station, and each of the event command signals including a normal channel identification signal for identifying a normal channel into which a substitute television program is to be switched. A controller at each panelist receiving station responds to the signal substitution control signals by selectively switching a substitute television program into a normal channel.

Abstract: An improved distribution system for use in supervising and controlling temperature and other environmental conditioning equipment of a building or the like is disclosed. The distribution system is used in conjunction with a host or central computer. The distribution system includes one or more distribution panels which communicate with the host computer as well as with various control point apparatus that gather temperature, humidity, and other types of values, or gather status information regarding electrical switch states and the like. Other types of control point apparatus control electric motor starters, motors, or other control equipment for controlling environmental conditions or general energy use. The distribution panels have various function means therein which are capable of receiving digital input signals, providing digital output signals to control point apparatus, receiving frequency analog input signals, pneumatic analog input and output signals, and the like.

Abstract: A panelist response scanning system includes a plurality of product scanning units for location at respective stores, a targetable television system, a plurality of panelist identification means for identifying respective panelists, and a central processor for coupling to said product scanning units. The targetable television system head end transmits normal and substitute television program signals and signal substitution control signals to a plurality of panelist receiving stations. The control signals include panelist address signals corresponding to respective panelist identification means. Each panelist receiving station selectively substitutes substitute program signals in lieu of normal television program signals upon receipt of a respective panelist address signal. The product scanning units receive panelist identification from a purchaser of products from the respective store and receive product identification corresponding to such products and produce signals indicating the panelist and the product.

Abstract: A belt for a trough belt cleaning apparatus in which the objects or articles to be cleaned are tumbled within the trough of a rotating endless belt and subjected to the action of a blasting agent during their tumbling motion, to become cleaned thereby wherein said endless belt comprises cross bars having extending between them links of a resilient material, with the ends of said links having on either side thereof a partially open end eye each for receiving said cross bars and for facilitating replacement of a link without removing a cross bar, which end eyes fully or partially embrace the (associated) cross bar, and wherein the edges of the eyes are adapted to be expanded to the width of a cross bar under spring-back resilience.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for plasma generation, confinement and control such as Tokamak plasma systems are described having a two layer field shaping coil system comprising an inner coil layer close to the plasma and an outer coil layer to minimize the current in the inner coil layer.

Abstract: Off-gas produced by a blast furnace is treated by scrubbing and cooling the gas with water and then settling solids from the liquid effluent. The liquid effluent is cooled following settling, and a major portion of the cooled effluent is recirculated for another pass through the scrubbing and cooling steps. The remainder of the effluent is chemically treated, and heavy metals are precipitated and settled as sludge. The clarified effluent is filtered and then treated with a cation exchange resin in a sodium cycle. A substantial part of the ion-exchange-treated effluent is returned to the scrubbing and cooling steps, and another substantial part is discharged as blowdown. Return of water which is of adequate quality to prevent scaling significantly reduces the make-up requirements. By discharging the ion-exchange-treated effluent to blowdown while ammonium ions are being removed from solution by a given charge of ion-exchange resin, the standards for maximum blowdown discharge of ammonia are satisfied.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a multi-purpose adjustable table and bench device having a table top and benches all with adjustable heights so that the device can be used, for example, either as a table with benches attached on either side for sitting, or as a platform. Means are provided to secure two or more table and bench devices together to create larger table and bench arrangements, or stage areas in various configurations.

Abstract: Relatively dry hydrogen iodide can be recovered from a mixture of HI, I.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O. After the composition of the mixture is adjusted so that the amounts of H.sub.2 O and I.sub.2 do not exceed certain maximum limits, subjection of the mixture to superatmospheric pressure in an amount equal to about the vapor pressure of HI at the temperature in question causes distinct liquid phases to appear. One of the liquid phases contains HI and not more than about 1 weight percent water. Often the adjustment in the composition will include the step of vaporization, and the distinct layers appear following the increase in pressure of the vapor mixture. Adjustment in the composition may also include the addition of an extraction agent, such as H.sub.3 PO.sub.4, and even though the adjusted composition mixture contains a significant amount of such an agent, the creation of the distinct liquid phases is not adversely affected.

Abstract: A reusable thermally actuated linkage arrangement includes a first link member having a longitudinal bore therein adapted to receive at least a portion of a second link member therein, the first and second members being sized to effect an interference fit preventing relative movement therebetween at a temperature below a predetermined temperature. The link members have different coefficients of thermal expansion so that when the linkage is selectively heated to a temperature above the predetermined temperature, relative longitudinal and/or rotational movement between the first and second link members is enabled. Two embodiments of a thermally activated linkage are disclosed which find particular application as actuators for a grapple head positioning arm in a nuclear reactor fuel handling mechanism to facilitate back-up safety retraction of the grapple head independently from the primary fuel handling mechanism drive system.

Abstract: A pressure indicating system for continually monitoring tire pressure in a moving vehicle in which a pressure sensing means attached to the wheel activates an alarm to alert a driver that the pressure in one of his tires is abnormally low. A magnet is shifted by the pressure sensing means to activate a Hall effect switch located on a non-rotating portion of the vehicle to trigger the alarm.The pressure sensing means also acts to relieve high pressure above a predetermined pressure from the tire to prevent over pressurizing of the tire. The alarm indicates which of the tires is at low pressure and preferably comprises an inexpensive electronic system having a flashing light for indicating which tire is at low pressure.

Abstract: Double-leaflet heart valves having improved flow through the orifice defined by an annular valve body include a pair of leaflets which may be arcuate or flat in cross section. Guides protrude oppositely from the leaflets and are received in complementary depressions in the interior wall surface of a pair of standards which extend downstream from the annular valve body at generally diametrically opposite locations. The depressions are preferably elongated so that, as the leaflets pivot between the open and closed positions, the guides move from one end of the elongated depressions to the other. Eccentric pivot axes provide for quick response of the leaflets, and the location of the depressions in the standards moves the leaflets out of the annular valve body, reducing resistance to the free flow of blood therethrough.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving substantially simultaneous dilution or mixing and dispensing is disclosed wherein the diluent or carrier is supplied by a syringe including a relatively large diluent reservoir and a pipette including a replaceable tip for containing a specimen or concentrate, the syringe including a nozzle or tube extending into the interior of the replaceable tip to produce a jet of diluent directed toward an outlet opening formed by the replaceable tip, the specimen being intermixed with the diluent jet for substantially simultaneous dispensation. In a preferred embodiment of the syringe which may be employed by itself or within the above noted diluting dispenser, a replaceable cartridge provides a relatively large volume of the diluent or other material for delivery by the syringe.