Abstract: A device for washing dishes and drinking utensils is provided using a faucet attached, water-powered rotating brush. Water jet action provides the motive force and the water can also be used to aid in washing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for balancing out interference caused by stray coupling between the internal circuits of a distance measuring apparatus of the phase-type in a simple manner which produces a substantial increase of the usable measuring range. At least two groups of mutually separate distance measurements are performed, with each group including at least one measurement operation. For each pair of groups of distance measurements, one measuring group is effected with the transmitter signal in a first phase and the other measuring group is effected with the transmitter unit of the transmitter section supplied with a transmitter signal in a second phase which is displaced substantially 180.degree. relative to the first phase. The mean value or the mean values of the measuring results in each measurement group are thereafter formed, with this calculation being made either by hand or automatically.

Abstract: A method for reactivation of a platinum group metal catalyst which comprises treating the platinum group metal catalyst lowered in catalytic activity as the result of having been used for the catalytic reaction of hydrocarbons optionally containing an oxygen atom with at least one agent selected from an inorganic alkaline substance and a reducing substance in an aqueous medium.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of margarine of the water-in-oil type having a low calorie value and a high content of proteins by emulsifying a water phase containing 20-24% proteins into a fat phase composed of oil and/or fats, at a temperature of about 38.degree.-55.degree. C. to provide a water-in-oil emulsion, comprised of about 35-65% fat phase and 65-35% water phase in which water phase is produced from a raw material comprising skimmed milk, skim milk powder or a mixture thereof by acidifying the raw material to a pH of 4-5 to precipitate protein therefrom, heating the acidified raw material and any admixtures in a first heating stage to a temperature of about 35.degree.-65.degree. C. and maintaining said temperature for a period of at least 15 minutes, then quickly raising the temperature of the acidified milk raw material in a second heating stage to a temperature of about 60.degree.-95.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a surface coating of a metal or metal alloy on the wall of an elongate cavity in a workpiece by means of electrolytic plating, the workpiece being used as cathode. An electrolyte containing ions of the metal intended for the coating is brought into movement inside the cavity with the aid of a conveyor, which consists of a resilient and electrically insulating material such as a perforated, net-like or fibrous strip, and which is wound helically round the anode. The strip is fringed or slit on the edge facing towards the cavity wall to form outstanding resilient fingers which are in contact with the cavity wall.

Abstract: An electro-static tobacco separator is provided in which fine tobacco particles are separated from sand particles by passing the mixture along a vibratory conveyor wherein a voltage is impressed across the conveyor and a grid disposed above the conveyor. The lighter tobacco particles are attracted by the oppositely charged grid and passed upwardly into a separate trough which is also vibrated, so that the tobacco particles and sand are separately discharged at the discharge end of the conveyor.

Abstract: A ripple bed has an upper and a lower inflatable layer. The upper layer has separate air passages which are independently inflatable and deflatable to provide the rippling effect. The lower layer is separately inflatable to provide support over any area of the upper layer which is deflated.

Abstract: A method for making a container having an outer container tube of cardboard or the like and a lining of plastic or the like within the outer container tube, one end of the container exposing an openable lining side and the opposite end intended to be filled and closed. A tubular outer container blank having bottom close flaps is provided and a separate lining blank in introduced into the outer container blank so that the upper side thereof is positioned at or adjacent the upper edge of the outer container blank. The lining blank is pressed from the openable side back some distance into itself to provide a lining rib which extends around the openable side. The lining blank is secured in the outer container blank by folding the top flaps of the outer container blank in and securing them to the lining rib.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the preparation of a complex of an element in solution, said complex including the element and an organic complexing agent, which process comprises treating a gel precipitate containing the element and an organic complexing agent to redisperse the gel precipitate into solution.

Abstract: The vault of a liquid metal cooled nuclear reactor is lined with thermal insulation. The insulation is in two layers, a first layer cladding the vault surface is of solid ceramic material while a second layer cladding the first layer is of fibrous or metallic material. In the event of a breach of the vessel leakage of liquid metal is absorbed by the second layer providing a conduction path to the first layer thereby enhancing heat loss to the concrete of the vault and maintaining the internal temperature at a safe limit.

Abstract: The device is able to detect the exceeding of a given threshold by a parameter, other than an electric voltage, capable of affecting the electrostatic force of attraction exerted between a charged electret and one, of two electrodes between which said electret is placed, said parameter being for instance an ionizing radiation. The two electrodes are at the same electric potential and the device also comprises return means for urging the first electrode and the electret permanently apart, and means for using the relative displacement of said elements, when it occurs, for desired detection purposes.

Abstract: L-2-Amino-4-methylphosphinobutyric acid (L-MPGA) which is useful as bactericide and herbicide can be prepared by optical resolution of its racemic mixture, D,L-MPGA with the action of a microbial acylase. The process comprises providing D,L-MPGA in the form of its N-acyl derivative, reacting N-acyl-D,L-MPGA in an aqueous medium with a microbial acylase having an optically specific hydrolytic activity, whereby selectively eliminating the acyl group of N-acyl-L-MPGA to give a mixture of L-MPGA and N-acyl-D-MPGA and isolating L-MPGA from the mixture. The acylase is produced by cultivating a microbial strain belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, Streptomyces or Aspergillus, particularly Pseudomonas maltophilia BN-233, Streptomyces violascens SF 2072, Streptomyces diastatochromogenes SF 2073, Aspergillus sp. KS-101 or Aspergillus sp. KS-102.

Abstract: In a rotary engine comprising a casing defining an oval working chamber and a rotor mounted in the chamber, the rotor is mounted for simple rotation about the chamber axis and resilient sealing means are provided in the rotor to cooperate with the curved chamber wall to provide suction through an inlet port in the casing, compression and expansion, and exhaustion through an outlet port in the casing during rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: The present invention provides aromatic peroxyacids containing at least two peroxyacid groups and a total of at least three peroxyacid or carboxy acid groups, which can be incorporated in detergent or bleaching compositions.The aromatic peroxyacids can be desensitized by intimate contact with a diluent e.g. magnesium sulphate or lauric acid, and coated to reduce destructive interaction with other components of the detergent or bleaching composition. Preferred aromatic peroxyacids include triperoxy trimellitic acid, triperoxy trimesic acid and tetraperoxy pyomellitic acid.The aromatic peroxyacids are especialy suitable for washing white fabrics or cleaning hard surfaces, particularly at a temperature of from 30.degree. to 60.degree. C.

Abstract: A vapor deposition process which is carried out in a gaseous environment. The homogeneous nucleation of the vapor species in the gaseous environment is suppressed by heating the gaseous environment.

Abstract: A transit isolator which comprises: (i) a first frame including (a) a pair of spaced generally parallel horizontal members, from which is slidably suspended an isolator in the form of a flexible film envelope having a plurality of sleeves in the sides thereof, (b) a basal structure, preferably comprising a stretcher, adapted to support said horizontal members, and (c) an end frame defining a closable port through which a patient may be conveyed into and out of the flexible film envelope; and (ii) a second frame comprising an end section adapted to slide along the horizontal members of said first frame and to which is attached that end of said flexible film envelope remote from the closable port, whereby movement of said end section along the horizontal members of the first frame causes the flexible film envelope to become compressed in the manner of a concertina in the direction towards said closable port.

Abstract: The apparatus for vaporizing LNG comprises a heat exchanger of the intermediate fluid type and a multitubular heat exchanger, both heat exchangers using estuarine water or warm effluent water as a heat source. The process for vaporizing LNG comprises the heat exchange steps between LNG and a heating medium and between the heating medium and estuarine water or warm effluent water in an intermediate fluid type heat exchanger, and the heat exchange step between the vaporized natural gas and estuarine water or warm effluent water in a multitubular heat exchanger.

Abstract: A liquid metal cooled fast breeder nuclear reactor wherein the fuel assembly includes some breeder fuel sub-assemblies having electromagnetic brakes and fluidic valves of the controlled vortex kind for controlling the coolant outlet temperature. The coolant flow through each breeder sub-assembly is divided into a major flow fraction by way of the fluidic valve and fuel pins a minor flow fraction by way of the electromagnetic brake which is sensitive to the temperature of coolant flow. A control component of force for the fluidic valve is derived from the back pressure of the brake so that as the power output of the sub-assembly increases the braking effect diminishes and flow of coolant through the fluidic valve is increased.

Abstract: The core tank of a liquid metal cooled fast breeder reactor of the pool kind has thermal insulation cladding its inner wall surface. The thermal insulation comprises a plurality of spaced layers of stainless steel sheet material each layer comprising rectilinear panels in spaced array in vertical and horizontal rows. Closure members of cruciform shape close the spaces between adjacent panels.

Abstract: An opto-electronic ignition system for an internal combustion engine in which radiation falls on to and is cut off from a photo-transistor in timed sequence with the engine, and in which between the photo-transistor and the primary winding of the ignition coil there is a plurality of switching Darlington pairs, each Darlington switching in inverse relation to its neighbor, and the first Darlington switching in inverse relation with the photo-transistor. The circuit is designed so that it will reliably operate in engine compartment temperatures above 125.degree. C.