Abstract: Stacks which consist of nested cuplike objects and have the basic shape of elongate cylinders are inserted in the form of a plurality of layers consisting each of a plurality of stacks into containers. The stacks are first moved in their longitudinal direction as they are fed to the container above the same and are subsequently transversely pushed in a juxtaposed condition into layer-forming means, which are mounted over the container, until the layer-forming means contain a complete layer consisting of the stacks. Thereafter the layer-forming means together with the layer of stacks are lowered from above as far as the bottom or as far as to a previously formed layer. The bottom of the layer-forming means is then pulled out under the layer and is deflected and pulled up so that the layer is deposited in the container while the mutual orientation of the stacks is maintained.

Abstract: A device for the thermal spray application of welding materials comprises a jet focussing nozzle having an axis and defining an elongated, axially extending jet focussing channel having a feed-in end, and a burner nozzle in the pinch nozzle for directing a flame into the feed-in end. The jet focussing nozzle is divided into two connected parts along a plane extending transversely to the jet focussing nozzle axis in the area of the feed-in end and dividing the jet focussing nozzle into a front part and a rear part receiving the burner nozzle, and the front nozzle part is adjustable with respect to the rear part between an operating position wherein the nozzle parts have contacting end faces in this plane and the jet focussing channel extends continuously through the nozzle parts, and an ignition position wherein the front part clears the burner nozzle for access thereto.

Abstract: A method of producing an amplitude- or intensity-modulated fiber-optical reflection sensor comprising an optical fiber and a light-reflecting surface, the optical fiber being arranged to transmit light to the light-reflecting surface, to receive the reflected light from the surface and to conduct the light for further processing, and the optical fiber having an end with an end face spaced a predetermined distance from the light-reflecting surface, which method comprises the steps of introducing the optical fiber end in a through bore of a block having an end face, placing a hardenable adhesive mass in the through bore around the optical fiber end to fix the optical fiber end in the block, permitting the hardenable adhesive mass to harden, and together grinding the end faces of the optical fiber end and of the block. The end face of the block may be concavely ground and a membrane may span the concavely ground end face and carry the light-reflecting surface.

Abstract: A sintered, microcrystalline abrasive material consists of at least 99.5%, by weight, of .alpha.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 crystallites having a size of less than 2 .mu. and the material having a density of at least 97% of the theoretical density. This abrasive material has a very high abrasive property and can be used in grinding bands or discs.

Abstract: A mobile ballast cleaning apparatus comprises a first and a second work vehicle. A track lifting device and a vertically adjustable ballast excavating and conveying chain are mounted on the first work vehicle, and a ballast screening installation for separating waste from cleaned ballast and a waste conveyor means for removing the waste are mounted on the second work vehicle.

Abstract: For use in the making of slivers from a lap, an apparatus is proposed which comprises a plurality of tooth-carrying carding drums (3, 4, 5, 6), which succeed each other in the direction of travel of the lap. Each carding drum (4, 5, 6) which succeeds another constitutes a worker roller for cooperating with the preceding carding drum (3, 4, 5). The fibers which fly from the carding drums (3, 4, 5 and 6) into ejection ducts (10) are deposited in the form of strips on a collecting surface (7), to which a vacuum is applied only in zones.

Abstract: A track leveling and ballast tamping machine comprises a standard vehicle capable of being coupled to a train, two undercarriages supporting the frame for movement in an operating direction along a track and a drive for moving the frame along the track. A ballast tamping unit is connected to the frame between the undercarriages and a track lifting unit is connected to the frame between the undercarriages ahead of the ballast tamping unit in the operating direction, a track leveling reference system controlling the lifting of the track by the track lifting unit. A ballast receiving and storage container is mounted on the frame ahead of the ballast tamping and track lifting units in a forward portion thereof, the container having adjustable outlet ports for distributing ballast in respective ones of the cribs, and a ballast conveyor is arranged on the frame for conveying ballast to the ballast receiving and storage container in the forward portion of the frame, in the operating direction.

Abstract: A method for sequentially exchanging selected consecutive groups of old ties for groups of new ties while retaining groups of old ties between the selected old ties in a railroad track consisting of two rails fastened to the ties supported on ballast, which method comprises advancing at least one elongated bridge-like work vehicle along the track, sequentially operating a succession of different individual devices mounted on the advancing work vehicle to remove rail fastening elements whereby the selected ties are detached from the rails, to remove tie plates positioned between the detached ties and the rails, to withdraw the detached ties laterally from the track, to scarify the ballast where the detached ties have been withdrawn whereby shaped recesses are formed in the ballast under the rails, to insert new ties in the shaped recesses, to place new tie plates between the new ties and the rails, to tamp ballast under the new ties, and to fasten the rails to the new ties.

Abstract: A metallurgical plant comprises a tiltable metallurgical vessel (1) and an enclosure surrounding said vessel. The vessel is provided with a cover (6), which is adapted to be lifted and to be horizontally pivotally moved away from the vessel (1) so as to permit the vessel to be charged by means of a charging box (5), which is suspended from a charging crane disposed outside the enclosure. To simplify the access to the metallurgical vessel (1) and substantially to prevent or minimize an escape of flue gas from the enclosure, a charging opening (8) which is adapted to be closed, is formed in the enclosure in a side wall (2) thereof which extends transversely to the horizontal axis about which the vessel (1) is tiltable, and the enclosure is formed in its top wall (4) with a top wall opening (11), which opens into the charging opening (8) and extends from the latter in the direction of said horizontal axis and is adapted to receive the crane ropes (10).

Abstract: The invention specifies a catheter for artificial fertilization, which is provided with a flexible hose-like catheter section insertible into the uterine cavity of a womb via the cervical cavity. In a terminal portion allocated to a cervical passage, there is provided a conical attachment enlarging rearwardly. A passage in the other terminal portion facing away from the attachment, is closed off at the forward and end, is rounded off or made in spherical cap form. The passage is provided rearwards of the rounded-off terminal portion with two peripherally staggered and radially extending outflow openings. The hose-like catheter section has a flexible hose-like rearward extension extending from the conical attachment. The length of the hose-like extension corresponds substantially to the length of a vagina.

Abstract: A hearing aid comprises a microphone, a battery-operated earphone, and amplifying circuit connected to the microphone output, the amplifying circuit including a frequency-selective circuit component and a sound level adjustment circuit component connected to the frequency-selective circuit component, and a remote sound wave control signal emitter circuit separate from the microphone, earphone and amplifying circuit and emitting sound wave control signals within the range of the microphone input.

Abstract: An abrasive material of great hardness and high tenacity particularly suitable for high-pressure grinding consists essentially of a sintered, microcystalline .alpha.--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 abrasive material having a purity of least 98.5% and a density of at least 95% of theoretical density, the .alpha.--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 crystallites of the material being smaller than 4.mu., preferably smaller than 3.mu..

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of rare earth metals and alloys thereof. The process exploits the known advantages of metallothermal reduction techniques while decisively enhancing their reduction process. Rare earth halides and/or rare earth oxides are reduced in an electric arc furnace by means of one or several alkaline earth metals, preferably, calcium. Additives such as iron metals or other alloying elements, alkali- and/or alkaline earth metal salt, may be added to the electric arc furnace in a two-phase furnace operation. The reduction takes place in an atmosphere inert to rare earth metals, rare earth compounds, and alkaine earth metals. Agitation is produced in the metal in the furnace by eletromagnetic forces caused by a suitably selected current-to-voltage ratio for the electric arc, in order to achieve reduction in the shortest possible time and as completely as possible.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding a sheet metal element comprises a frame, two carriers carried by the frame, and two gripping platens which are secured to respective ones of the carriers and at least one of which is movable in unison with the associated carrier transversely to the sheet metal element gripped between said platens. At least one bending tool is provided, which is movable generally parallel to the sheet metal element and is also movable transversely to the sheet metal element and is operatively connected to drive means for moving the tool in said two directions. The tool cooperates with one of the gripping platens, which constitutes a backing tool. In order to prevent a deflection of the gripping platens during the folding operation, those drive means which serve to move the bending tool generally parallel to the sheet metal element is supported by the carrier which carries that gripping platen which serves as a backing tool.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for loading, transporting and laying an assembled track section comprises a track section carrier comprising an elongated carrier frame, track section gripping and holding devices mounted on the elongated carrier frame, and two pairs of transversely opposite lifting jacks arranged on the carrier frame for lifting and lowering the carrier frame, the jacks of each pair being fixedly connected to each other and the pairs of jacks being widely spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction to provide a high stability during lifting and lowering of the carrier frame. A self-propelled auxiliary vehicle is movable independently of the track section carrier and comprises a flatbed frame having two opposite ends and capable of receiving and supporting the carrier with the assembled track section gripped and held thereon, and a track-bound undercarriage and an off-track undercarriage at each end of the flatbed frame.

Abstract: In a dental articulator for simulating movements of a mandible relative to an upper jaw, comprising an upper part (2, 4) adapted to carry an upper jaw model (7), a lower part (1) adapted to carry a lower jaw model (8), and a hinge (13, 13) connecting said upper and lower parts, the hinge defining an axis (A-B) extending substantially horizontally in a plane extending substantially perpendicularly to the upper and lower parts for articulating said upper part with respect to the lower part about the hinge axis: the invention provides two pins (18) displaceably mounted in a first laterally extending slot (22) in the upper part (4), the pins extending downwardly from the upper part and being adapted to be fixed in said first slot, a constraining bar (19) fixed to said lower part (1), the constraining bar having a constraining edge in front of said plane and facing rearwardly towards said hinge axis, and the constraining edge being engageable with said pins (18) and spaced from the axis a distance corresponding to

Abstract: In order to ensure that a sample can be taken continuously from a reaction chamber with a minimum of maintenance work, the sample gas is extracted from the reaction chamber in two identical extraction lines in alternation and at a rate which exceeds the rate required for the analysis and surplus gas which has been extracted by one extraction line is branched from the sample gas and is blown back to the reaction chamber through the other extraction line.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a yarn (6) comprises two juxtaposed, closely spaced apart twisting drums (1, 2), which rotate in the same sense and between themselves define a generally triangular twisting space (4), to which a vacuum is applied, fiber-feeding means and withdrawing means (7) for withdrawing the yarn (6) which has been formed in that the fibers fed to said twisting space have been twisted together in said twisting space.

Abstract: A conveyor arrangement for assembly parts, which comprises a rectilinear vibratory conveyor track comprising at least two detachably mounted conveyor track parts arranged in different planes and constituting guide members for the assembly parts, a device separate from the conveyor track for feeding the assembly parts thereto, and a vibrating drive for the conveyor track.

Abstract: A device for continuously preparing a hydraulically setting mass comprises a tubular housing having a downstream outlet opening and an upstream supply station for a dry component material of the mass, the supply station including a storage bin for the dry material. A driven rotating shaft extends from the storage bin through the tubular housing towards the outlet opening, rotation of the shaft causing a feed flow in the direction of the outlet opening, and the rotating shaft is equipped with a dosing screw feeding the dry material out of the storage bin, a plurality of radially projecting mixing blades for mixing the material fed by the dosing screw, and an implement for finely granulating the mixed material downstream of the mixing blades, the granulating implement being comprised of at least two interdigitating comb-like elements, one of the comb-like elements being carried by the shaft for rotation therewith and another comb-like element being affixed to the tubular housing.