Abstract: A method for purifying raw caprolactam containing, as impurities, primary amides of the formula ##STR1## R being a hydrocarbon radical having 1-14 carbon atoms, and other by-products is described. The operations, carried out in the following order, consist in (a) treating a solution of raw caprolactam in a water insoluble organic solvent with water to extract most of the caprolactam in purified form, (b) separating the aqueous caprolactam solution and isolating the caprolactam, (c) treating the remaining organic solution with mineral acid to cause the formation of two phases, (d) separating these phases into a heavy phase containing the mineral acid, dilution water and most of the amides and by-products and a light phase containing the organic solvent and any residual amides and by-products, and (e) preferably recycling the light phase to (a). Further object of the invention is the purified caprolactam thus obtained.

Abstract: A low viscosity unsaturated polyester resin for making buttons is described, which comprises an alkyd prepared by esterification of maleic anhydride and/or acid and/or fumaric acid, optionally together with phthalic anhydride and/or acid and/or adipic, sebacic, azelaic or dodecanedioic acid, with one or more glycols, essentially comprising dipropylene glycol, and further comprises 20-30% by weight of the total resins of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with the alkyd, essentially chosen among styrene and vinyl toluene, the alkyd having a molecular weight/double bond factor between 300 and 390 and an amount of free functional groups between 80 and 100 mg of KOH per g of alkyd inclusive. The buttons obtainable from said resin are also described. The disc blanks made from said resin have better workability and cause less wear of the tools than those of the prior art and the finished buttons have greater impact strength, and better lustre, greater color stability when exposed to sun light.

Abstract: Heat sealable plastic films coated with a coating composition in the form of an aqueous dispersion containing specific copolymers in particulate form and which have good heat-sealing properties.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting market survey data from universal product type code bearing market items is provided in which a lenseless data recorder is employed for collecting the universal product type code encoded market data. The data recorder comprises a housing with the housing having an exposure aperture therein for admitting a source of light therethrough, such as ambient light or artificial light. A photographic recording medium, such as a film having photographic emulsion on opposite sides thereof to permit recording on both sides, is disposed in the housing adjacent the exposure aperture. The exposure aperture is optically alignable with the universal product type code on a market item for which the survey data is to be collected. A keyboard is provided in the housing for enabling the insertion of ancillary market survey information corresponding to the market item whose product code has been recorded.

Abstract: A tripolar catheter apparatus employing an automatic electronic switch is adapted for use with a conventional bipolar demand cardiac pacer for converting a bipolar pacing system into a tripolar pacing system in which stimulation can be applied between two intra-ventricular electrodes, such as ones located in the right ventricular apex, while sensing of ventricular depolarization may be obtained by an intra-ventricular apical electrode and an extra-ventricular electrode located outside the ventricle, such as in the right atrium or vena cava. The tripolar catheter apparatus comprises a pair of catheter terminals connected to the output terminals of the bipolar demand cardiac pacer and three output electrodes, namely a proximal electrode, a medial electrode and a distal electrode, which are provided to the heart.

Abstract: There disclose stable and non-aqueous microbicidal compositions which are useful for controlling slime in pulp and paper manufacturing processes and industrial cooling water systems and which comprise 4,5-dichloro-1,2-dithiol-3-one as the active ingredient, and specific surfactants and hydrophilic organic solvents.

Abstract: A touch control switch suitable for fluorescent lighting, or reactive load, as well as incandescent lighting, or resistive load, installations without modification to the control circuit. The control circuit is connected between the lamp load, either resistive or reactive, and the supply circuit in the lighting installation for alternating current and comprises a semiconductor switching element, such as a TRIAC, having a gate electrode. A counting circuit with a forward stepping input and a digital control output is connected to the gate electrode of the TRIAC via a trigger pulse generating circuit for controlling the conduction of the TRIAC in accordance with the condition of activation of the digital control output. A control pulse shaping circuit has its output connected to the forward stepping input of the counting circuit and first and second input terminals connectable to a touch sensitive impedance, such as a manually controllable capacitive reactance, to enable turn on or activation of the lamp load.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a mechanism for loosely folding a strip of assembly of a synthetic resin semipermeable membrane and a spacer in pleats of uniform or uneven width, and a mechanism for completely folding the folded portion of the assembly within a holding case. A plurality of such holding cases are utilized to prepare completely folded portions of assembly in succession as individually held in the cases to obtain pleated semipermeable membrane elements by a continuous operation.

Abstract: Aquarium filtration apparatus having a generally trough-shaped filter housing, the rear wall having a bracket portion for hanging on an aquarium, an impeller assembly having a drive magnet being positioned within the bottom of the filter housing with a motor assembly coupled to the undersurface of the bottom with a power driven magnet on the motor assembly in spaced proximate relation to effect magnetic coupling with the magnet of the impeller assembly. An intake assembly is provided in fluid communication with the impeller assembly and with the aquarium water for drawing water from the aquarium into the filter housing. In a first embodiment, the intake assembly is an intake tube having a portion within the filter housing. In a second embodiment, the intake assembly includes a filter chamber within the filter housing in fluid communication with the impeller assembly with an intake tube coupled to the filter chamber for drawing water from the aquarium into the chamber.

Abstract: A frost-proof fire hydrant of the type wherein the valve is biased to its closed position by the fluid pressure in the shoe. The fire hydrant includes improved means disposed in the bonnet and cooperating with the valve stem for maintaining the valve in the closed position in the event of decreased water pressure in the shoe.

Abstract: A container for pastes, gels, creams or the like comprising a flexible tubular body having a neck portion enclosing an outflow passage, a closure connected to the tubular body and extending across the outflow passage, a spout extending outwardly from the closure and a cover for the spout. The orientation of the cover and the design of the spout facilitates the clean and easy removal of the contents of the container.

Abstract: New compounds and a process for making the same, for use in inhibiting aggregation in human blood and inhibiting the growth of tumors, said compounds being of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen, alkanoyl, substituted alkanoyl, aralkanoyl or aroyl and represents .alpha. or .beta. steric position or .alpha. and .beta. position, with the provision that if R stands for p-phenyl-benzoyl then methoxy in the position 2 may stand only in .alpha. or only in .beta. steric position.

Abstract: An improved household type sewing machine having a needle bar and a feed dog wherein an actuator adjusts the transverse position of the needle bar and the positional displacement of the feed dog in response to control signals provided thereto, in which a microcomputer integrated circuit is provided for controlling the machine in response to keyboard selectable pattern and control information stored in a static memory which is interchangeable with other memory configurations to provide different patterns, such as alphabetic stitch patterns. The keyboard contains a numeric display with each of the patterns having a corresponding numeric equivalent which is displayed on the keyboard to indicate which pattern is selected.

Abstract: A bipolar electrode insertion apparatus (20) in which a common needle (34) is employed for selectively placing both a heart stimulating fluid (62) and a bipolar electrode pair (40) into the heart. Verification of entry into the heart chamber prior to placement of the fluid or bipolar electrode pair (40) in the heart is also provided. The apparatus (20) of the present invention includes a syringe (22) capable of injecting the fluid (62) into the ventricular cavity (60) for restarting the heart function. The needle (34) is a hollow needle having an inlet end and an outlet end for insertion into the heart with a bifurcated chamber (32) being disposed in flow through communication between the syringe (22) outlet end and the needle (34) inlet end. The fluid (62) is selectively injectable into the chamber inlet end (42) through the syringe (22) outlet end and therefrom through the common needle (34) into the ventricular cavity (60) of the heart.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved electronic type sewing machine in which a microcomputer integrated circuit arrangement, such as a master/slave microprocessor configuration, is employed to effectuate stitch position coordinate servo control for both bight and feed through digitally closing the position servo control loop. The sewing machine includes actuator means for adjusting the transverse position of the needle bar means and the positional displacement of the feed means in response to control signals provided thereto and static memory means, such as a read-only-memory, for retrievably storing a plurality of different predetermined stitch patterns each having associated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding to predetermined positional coordinates of the needle bar and feed means for defining associated stitch position coordinates for the stitches comprising the stitch patterns.

Abstract: Ampoule-packed reference liquids for electrochemical measuring instruments, especially blood measuring instruments, are transferred from the ampoule to the measuring instrument pneumatically by providing a discharge conduit from the liquid in the ampoule, and providing, at the surface of the liquid in the ampoule, an elevated pressure so as to discharge liquid from the ampoule through the said conduit, and introducing the liquid in the measuring instrument. This pneumatic way of transfer is shown to give less distortion of the data of the reference liquid and to be less operator-dependent than the known methods. Invention also concerns a dispenser for performing the method, typically comprising an adaptor for receiving an opened ampoule and a pump for establishing the elevated pressure.

Abstract: Exogenic porcine interferon for administration in human beings. The porcine interferon shows antiviral protecting activity on cultured human cells and is substantially free of any immunoelectrophoresis bands which are not identical or partially identical with bands in human leucocyte interferon or human agammaserum. A process for preparing the porcine interferon by harvesting, isolating and, if desired, priming porcine leucocytes, treating them with an interferon inductor and incubating them and obtaining the interferon formed, the process being characterized in using, as added protein source in any of the said stages, a source which is substantially free of immunoelectrophoresis band which are not identical or partially identical with bands in human agammaserum.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pre-casting box-like reinforced concrete modules on assembly line. Apparatus includes pair of movable interior forms for defining the interior surfaces of side walls and ceilings whereby one interior mould at a time can be removed when concrete is in semi-cured condition. Method includes casting floor with short upstanding side wall portion to serve as guide for interior forms when moving forms onto floor slab. Method also includes use of integral multiples of four serially arranged casting beds on which various procedures for forming modules proceed simultaneously and progressively.

Abstract: Air vent particularly suited for incorporation in rainwear comprising a base portion having a hole therein; and an elongate member secured to the base portion, the elongate member having a passage therethrough in communication with the hole, at least a portion of the elongate member being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the hole. Raincoats and other articles incorporating the air vent are also disclosed.

Abstract: A golf putting aid apparatus for a visually handicapped person which is capable of use with a standard type golf cup is provided in which an audibly distinguishable electronic sound emission is provided for audibly indicating to the visually handicapped person the location of the golf cup or hole and a second audibly distinguishable electronic sound emission is provided for audibly indicating to the visually handicapped person that a putt has been successfully completed. The putting aid apparatus comprises a housing, such as one removably insertable in the golf cup so that it may be transferred from hole to hole during regulation play on a golf course. The housing has a golf ball receiving portion and an audible electronic sound emitting portion with the ball receiving portion having an entrance portion alignable in the golf cup for receiving a golf ball putted thereinto.