Abstract: A letter whose letter card consists of one or more plates of hard-paste china bearing one or more messages in the form of images, handwritten notes, proverbs, verses or the like. The envelope for the letter card consists of relatively stiff and shock-absorbent material, such as corrugated cardboard. Prior to introduction into the envelope, the letter card is placed into a recess formed in one side of an insert which snugly fits into the envelope and is also made of corrugated cardboard or a like shock-absorbent material to reduce the likelihood of chipping, breakage and/or other damage to the letter card during mailing or other mode of shipment to the recipient(s). The letter card can be assembled of two plates which are pivotally connected to each other by one or more flexible strips so that they can pivot relative to each other between first positions of full overlap preparatory to introduction into the envelope and second positions in which they are located in mutually inclined planes.

Abstract: An electronic organ has a digital control circuit with a sampling circuit (3) which generates key identification signals (B) in the form of pulse series wherein the pulses denote the actuated keys (2) of the keyboard (1). Such pulses cause a tone selector or evaluating circuit (12) to transmit tone signals to a voicer circuit (15). A shift register (16, 116 or 216) is provided to delay the key identification signals so that the tone signals which the voicer circuit receives do not correspond to those normally expected on actuation of certain keys. The non-delayed key signal can be superimposed upon the delayed signal or signals (V1, V2) in a suitable summing circuit (17) to thus achieve transpositions, interval couplings and other tonal effects.

Abstract: The invention sets forth a method and apparatus for improving the injection and mixture of fuel and air in air-compressing combustion engines. The fuel is admitted into a rotationally symmetrical combustion chamber in such a manner that all droplets of the fuel stream are finely atomized at all speed and/or load ranges of the engine, and that the complete spray on entering the combustion chamber is so broken up that, from the combustion chamber wall to a point approximately one third of the combustion chamber radius, the broken-up spray matches the combustion chamber geometry, the injection of the fuel being effected in such a manner as to match the velocity and/or density distribution of the combustion air which rotates in the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A laminate for conversion of X-rays into radiation that darkens X-ray films has a flexible plate which is disposed between a fluorescent layer and a ferromagnetic layer. The latter enables the plate and the fluorescent layer to bear against an X-ray film in a cassette or at an exposure station for X-ray films by being attracted to a plate-like permanent magnet. The ferromagnetic layer is permanently bonded to the respective side of the flexible plate or is simply confined between the plate and an outer layer which is permeable to X-rays and whose marginal portions extend beyond the ferromagnetic layer and are bonded to the respective marginal portions of the plate. Alternatively, the ferromagnetic layer can be inserted into a sealable envelope or bag which is bonded to the respective side of the plate, namely, to that side of the plate which faces away from the fluorescent layer.

Abstract: The casing of a centrifugal pump has a shell with a cylindrical periphery having one or more recessed facets with flat or spherical surfaces which are welded to end portions of pipes by circumferentially complete machine-made seams each of which is intersected, in its entirety, by at least one imaginary plane that is normal to the axis of the respective pipe. This renders it possible to use automatic welding equipment and to readily inspect the quality of the connection between the shell and a pipe. The surface of the facet can be formed with a circumferentially complete groove to receive a transducer serving to generate signals denoting the intensity of penetrative radiation which has penetrated through the seam from a source of such radiation in the interior of the respective pipe and in register with the respective seam. The shell is suspended on the arms of a foundation and such arms extend into additional facets which are recessed into the periphery of the shell.

Abstract: A miniature mechanical switch wherein an elongated tubular housing has a depressible pushbutton at one end and several terminals for connection to a control panel or the like at the other end. The housing confines a fixed contact and a pivotable second contact which is moved into engagement with the fixed contact in response to depression of the pushbutton through the medium of a restoring spring and a bell crank lever which is further biased by a resilient element to move the second contact away from the fixed contact in response to relaxation of pressure upon the pushbutton or in response to renewed depression of the pushbutton, depending upon whether the switch is a so-called momentary switch or a latching switch. The pivots for the lever and for the second contact are defined by a common carrier which forms part of a conductor connecting one of the terminals with the second contact.

Abstract: A noise-reducing casing member for oil-containing elements of interval combustion engines. The walls of the casing member are converging stepped plates containing inward depressions and/or grooves for frequency detuning.

Abstract: A calender roll wherein a stationary shaft is spacedly surrounded by a cylindrical shell and carries a row of bearing elements which are movable by pairs of cylinder and piston units and have convex surfaces formed with pairs of fluid-filled pockets adjacent to the internal surface of the shell. Each pocket receives pressurized hydraulic fluid from the cylinder chamber of a different unit, and the cylinder and piston units for each bearing element are adjacent to each other, as considered in the circumferential direction of the shell. Those portions of the pockets which are remotest from a symmetry plane including the axis of the shell and extending between the pockets of each pair are bounded by arcuate lands. The lands which extend circumferentially of the shell are parallel to each other, and the pockets of each pair are separated from each other by a land which is halved by the symmetry plane.

Abstract: A mixing tower for concrete or the like has a series of superimposed prefabricated modules which are connected to one another and include a cylindrical lowermost module, a frustoconical intermediate module with several outlets which is integral with the top of the lowermost module, and several larger-diameter cylindrical modules above the intermediate module. The modules contain prefabricated mixers, controls, scales and/or analogous aggregates which are assembled with the respective modules at the manufacturing plant and are coupled to each other at the locus of erection of the tower, preferably by coupling devices each of which is disposed at the level of connection between the respective modules.

Abstract: A positive engagement clutch between the serially connected coaxial first and second crankshafts in an internal combustion engine is activated upon acceleration of the second crankshaft to the speed of the first crankshaft and after the second crankshaft assumes a predetermined angular position relative to the first crankshaft. The acceleration is performed by a friction clutch which is interposed between first and second camshafts which are respectively driven by and drive the first and second crankshafts. The first crankshaft and the associated camshaft form part of a normally operative first section of the engine wherein the first crankshaft is rotatable by one or more cylinders whenever the engine is running. The second crankshaft and the associated second camshaft form part of a second section of the engine wherein the crankshaft is rotatable by one or more additional cylinders upon direct coupling of the two crankshafts to each other.

Abstract: A combustion apparatus has a combustion chamber which is divided into combustion zones respectively communicating with individual mixing zones in a mixing chamber. Combustion air enters the mixing zones and then flows into the combustion zones. The concentration of NO.sub.x in the combustion products of each of the combustion zones is measured and water vapor is fed into each mixing zone in an amount which depends upon the NO.sub.x concentration for the corresponding combustion zone. The amount of water vapor fed into a mixing zone is such as to maintain the combustion temperature below a value at which substantial quantities of NO.sub.x are formed. The water vapor is fed into the mixing zones generally countercurrent to the combustion air entering the combustion zones and the water vapor and combustion air flow into the combustion zones together.

Abstract: A transverse cutter for a running web of paper or the like has two rotary drum-shaped holders disposed opposite each other at the opposite sides of the path for the web. Each holder carries at least one knife with an elongated cutting edge extending transversely of the path of movement of the web, and each knife of one holder cooperates with a knife of the other holder to sever the web once during each revolution of the holders. One of the knives is adjustable with reference to the respective holder so that its cutting edge can be shifted relative to the cooperating cutting edge of the other knife. The adjusting mechanism for the adjustable knife includes a row of closely adjacent wedge-like retainers which are recessed into the peripheral surface of the respective holder and are movable radially of such holder by threaded fasteners which can move the associated retainers radially inwardly against the opposition of dished springs in the respective holder.

Abstract: Tone amplitudes of signals which are generated in an electronic organ are converted into digital values and such values are cyclically memorized by a RAM storage at locations which are selected in accordance with a first function. The locations in the storage are then scanned in accordance with one or more second functions which differ from the first function in dependency on time, the thus ascertained or read-out digital values are thereupon converted into analog values, and the analog values are consolidated into processed tone signals. The second functions are or can be derived from the first function.

Abstract: A roller for transport and/or guidance of flexible webs or sheets of radiation-sensitive material has a grounded shaft and an antistatic cylindrical member which is coaxial with and surrounds the shaft and has a web- or sheet-contacting cylindrical peripheral surface. The cylindrical member consists of hard polyvinyl chloride, fine crystalline polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene or a mixture of two or more such plastic materials. Pulverized silver or another pulverulent metal is embedded in the material of the cylindrical member. If the roller is rather long, the cylindrical member surrounds a hollow cylindrical metallic core whose end portions confine inserts which surround the respective end portions of the shaft.

Abstract: A device for dispensing two or more substances by pushing against the slidable bottoms of respective containers, includes an arrangement for varying the ratio at which the substances are being dispensed relative to one another.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic reversing transmission wherein each of the forward and reverse drive trains between the input and output shafts has a starting torque converter with a stationary housing, a rotary turbine wheel and a set of adjustable guide vanes. The draining lines of the torque converters have inlet portions which are connected with the respective housings and are oriented in such a way that the direction of fluid flow therein is identical with or closely approximates the direction of fluid flow between the adjacent blades of the turbine wheel when the respective torque converters are operated within the counterbraking range. Each inlet portion has an aperture which is in permanent communication with the sump. The ratio of the outer diameter to the inner diameter of each turbine wheel is between 1.1 and 1.25, and the ratio of distances between the tips of neighboring blades of the turbine wheel to the outer diameter of the turbine wheel is between 0.06 and 0.09.

Abstract: A calender wherein the uppermost and lowermost rolls of the roll train have hollow cylindrical members with inserts which cooperate with corresponding shaft-like carriers to confine the cylindrical members to vertical movements relative to their carriers. The end portions of the carriers are mounted in bearings which are movable along vertical guides in the stand of the calender. The cylindrical members contain rows of hydraulic cylinder and piston units which urge the cylindrical members against the neighboring rolls of the roll train, and the inserts in one of the cylindrical members cooperate with the corresponding carrier to hold the respective cylindrical member against movement from a fixed end position which the cylindrical member assumes when the calender is in use.

Abstract: A calender wherein the lowermost roll of the roll train has a hollow cylindrical member spacedly surrounding a shaft-like carrier whose end portions are mounted in bearings movable up and down along guide rails on the stand. The end portions of the cylindrical member contain inserts serving to confine the cylindrical member to vertical reciprocatory movements relative to the carrier. The cylindrical member further contains a battery of cylinder and piston units which maintain the cylindrical member in an upper end position relative to the carrier. Additional cylinder and piston units maintain the carrier in an upper end position relative to the stand by urging shoulders which are provided on the bearings against stationary stops on the stand.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine wherein a first crankshaft is driven by a first group of cylinders and a second crankshaft which is coaxial with the first crankshaft can be driven by a second group of cylinders upon acceleration to the speed of the first crankshaft. The first crankshaft drives a first camshaft which is coaxial with a second camshaft serving to drive the second crankshaft in the absence of a direct connection between the two crankshafts. A friction clutch between the two camshafts gradually accelerates the second crankshaft to the speed of the first crankshaft and is thereupon disengaged whereby a positive engagement clutch connects the second crankshaft to the first crankshaft. The second crankshaft can be coupled to the first crankshaft only when the two crankshafts are held in predetermined angular positions relative to each other.

Abstract: A copier has a movable housing which accommodates a support for an original to be copied, a source of illumination for the original, a lens system for forming an image of the original and a support for photosensitive material which is to receive the image. The housing has an opening in one of its sides and carries a hinged lid for lighttight sealing of the opening. A reflector is pivotally mounted inside the housing in the vicinity of the opening and can be moved between an operative position in which it intercepts the image from the lens system and an inoperative position in which it does not. When an image of normal size is required, the reflector is in its inoperative position and the image is projected onto the photosensitive material located inside the housing. When an image of large size is required, the reflector is brought into its operative position and the opening in the housing is uncovered.