Abstract: A hand tool of the ratchet type is provided with a planetary gear system to enable the user to vary the output speed of the tool. In the preferred embodiment a ratched type socket wrench is provided with a planetary gear system and a hand grip in the form of a cap covering the system, with the sun gear coupled to the output, the tool handle coupled to the planet carrier and the hand grip coupled to the ring gear. If the hand grip is held against rotation by the operator while the handle is turned, the output will be driven at a speed greater than that of the handle, thus over-running the ratchet. If the resistance offered by the driven object, e.g. a nut, becomes large enough so that the hand grip may not conveniently be held, the operator may release the hand grip or slacken his hold thereof thus allowing the ratchet to engage and lock the handle to the output so that the handle will directly drive the output.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating a liquid with a gas wherein a liquid feed is introduced to the initial stage of a multi-stage device for dissolving the gas in the liquid. Efficient mass transfer is achieved by effecting a gas-liquid counter flow in serial stages of the dissolution device. The effluent from the dissolution device exhibits a relatively high dissolved gas concentration which gas is subsequently consumed by the liquid in a reaction tank. A liquid recycle line is provided for returning and combining treated liquid with the incoming feed thereby enabling further dissolution of the gas in the liquid. In the course of treating wastewater with ozone, a flotation clarifier may be provided with the initial stage of the dissolution device to enable the surface coagulation of impurities in the wastewater feed. The coagulants may be skimmed prior to introducing wastewater into subsequent stages of the dissolution device, thereby substantially reducing the ultimate ozone demand of the wastewater.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating wastewater, such as municipal sewage, are provided in which an oxygen enriched feed gas is supplied to an oxygenation chamber wherein oxygen is efficiently dissolved in wastewater (mixed liquor) by means of a static mixing device. The chamber is preferably submerged in a large body of wastewater being treated, such as is commonly found in the secondary stage of an activated sludge wastewater treatment system with the chamber being adapted to receive such wastewater from a location slightly below the surface thereof. Oxygenated wastewater is discharged from the chamber in either a radial or multi-directional pattern at a sufficient velocity to effect a thorough mixing of the oxygenated wastewater and the large body of wastewater contained in the secondary stage treatment tank.

Abstract: A valve is provided for use in an anesthesia breathing circuit and is located between the breathing bag or ventilator and the remaining parts of the circuit. The valve comprises a housing having an inlet connectible to the bag or ventilator and an outlet which is connectible to the remaining circuit. The valve has essentially two parallel flow paths for gas; in one path there is a check valve to allow gas to pass only in a direction away from the bag or ventilator, and in the other path is located a diaphragm valve which is spring biased to a closed position and is opened at a predetermined pressure in that path. The valve allows the retention at all times of a predetermined pressure within the patient circuit and thus the operator can select the lowest pressure which the patient's lungs will reach during ventilation to insure the lungs will always be expanded to more than their normal resting state.

Abstract: A method for recovering a usable alloy consisting of 2.5 - 3.5% aluminum, 1.7 - 2.50% tin and balance titanium from titanium scrap is disclosed. The method comprises cleaning the scrap, charging the cleaned scrap into an electron beam furnace and refining the charge under a hard vacuum so as to attain a predetermined composition.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing and distributing a slurry of finely divided unagglomerated carbon dioxide particles suspended in liquid carbon dioxide include the production of liquid CO.sub.2 from carbon dioxide gas. A CO.sub.2 slurry is then formed in a reactor by introducing liquid CO.sub.2 therein, agitating the same and concurrently controlling the rate of evaporation. The slurry so formed is pumped to a storage vessel wherein the solids concentration of the slurry may be increased. Slurry is subsequently pumped into a trailer for transport to a customer location with excess CO.sub.2 liquid within the trailer being decanted and returned to the storage vessel thereby increasing the solids content of transported slurry to 60-80 percent. During transport, the slurry is permitted to settle within the trailer and upon reaching a customer location, the settled slurry is reslurried prior to discharge from the trailer.

Abstract: Aliphatic ether compounds of the formula ##EQU1## wherein Z is CH.sub.3 or Cl, and n is zero when Z is CH.sub.3 and is one when Z is Cl, are useful as inhalation anesthetics.

Abstract: Methods for providing an expendable refrigerant which is emitted from a snow horn at a low velocity thereby enabling snow agglomeration at a close proximity to the horn exit and accurately delivering a charge of snow with minimum vapor loss. The desired snow is produced by introduction of the relatively warm liquid refrigerant into an insulated compartment and in heat exchange relation with a tube therein having a plurality of length/diameter ratios. The liquid refrigerant is effective to warm the tube walls and results in a slight cooling of such liquid which is then passed to a sub-cooler and returned to the tube inlet for expansion in several stages therein to form the snow. The product snow is emitted from this horn at a relatively low velocity and may be accurately directed into cavities of such products as eviscerated fowl.