Abstract: There is disclosed a halter which is safer for animals to wear and disengages from the animal in case of its entanglement in the halter or when the halter becomes caught on another object. The crown piece is designed to disunite under such circumstances, and this feature is readily placed in inoperative position when desired.

Abstract: Apparatus for pulling a line, particularly a line having a low coefficient of friction such as an endless line oil mop. A pair of endless belts are positioned so that their facing portions define a converging space. A plurality of slats are positioned on each endless belt oriented transverse the longitudinal axis thereof. On each endless belts the slats are alternately of a first hardness and a second, lesser hardness, with each hard slat on each belt being opposite a softer slat on the other belt. The softer slats deform somewhat, and so the line is crimped between the alternating hard and soft slats. Idler rollers deform the endless belts and the slats into the converging space to massage the line as it passes therethrough, and this massaging is enhanced by guide rails which cooperate with the idler rollers.

Abstract: This invention is directed to novel sizing agent compositions containing urea which is chemically modified and/or combined with other materials which produce desirable sizing properties. These novel agents are used as beater additives in pulp refining for the manufacture of cellulosic products or are applied to finished cellulosic products as surface sizes. The invention is also directed to methods of making the sizing agents. In one preferred embodiment, urea is reacted with sulfamic acid and the resulting reaction product is combined with rosin and further reacted to produce a novel sizing agent.

Abstract: Novel sizing compositions comprising an aqueous mixture of ammonia, an ammonium salt, and a rosin that is modified with from about 5 to 50 percent based on the weight of the rosin, of an organic acidic compound selected from the group consisting of an .alpha., .beta.-unsaturated organic acid, an anhydride thereof, and their mixtures. In one embodiment, the ammonia and ammonium salt are produced as the reaction product of urea and an acid selected from the group consisting of sulfamic acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, methane-sulfonic acid, trichloracetic acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, stearic acid, and acetic acid. The method of making the sizing compositions and paper which is sized with the sizing compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A process is described for the production of methane from methanol by catalytic dehydration and dehydrogenation providing a high initial methane yield and a final substitute natural gas product of high calorific value. The catalytic dehydration and dehydrogenation steps may be effected simultaneously or in sequence. High efficiency in usage of raw materials and thermal requirements of the process are secured. A preferred catalyst containing both dehydration and dehydrogenation functions consists essentially of a major amount of iron oxide and minor amounts of chromium oxide and phosphate or tungstate ions.

Abstract: An electrical control system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads comprises an electrical drive unit capable of providing a plurality of separate electrical signals each at a different reference level and a fixed frequency coded electrical interrogator signal, and for each electrical load there is provided a switching unit arranged to receive the signals from the drive unit and arranged to be connected via a control link for a different part of the interrogator signal to a contactor control unit and during that part of the interrogator signal a control signal representative of the condition of the switching unit is supplied to the contactor control unit. The contactor control units are connected to respective contactors in the supply circuits of separate electrical loads and the contactor control units serve to control the operation of the contactors in response to the signals received from the associated switching units.

Abstract: A process for continuously gasifying carbonaceous material using fluidizing medium and oxygen-containing gas, under controlled feed rates and certain delivery conditions, and under selective processing conditions to produce a product rich in carbon monoxide and hydrogen is provided. If desired, the product can be produced with increased amounts of methane. Gasification is conducted under pressure in a fluidized bed to produce a gaseous reaction product, and char solids are coproduced. Additional increments of oxygen-containing gas with steam is selectively introduced. The product is passed through a dilute-phase, maintained at certain temperatures, at a certain superficial velocity, and for a certain residence time. The presence of undesirable heavy hydrocarbon by-products is precluded. Char, in removal from the bottom of the bed, is contacted with steam or inert gas to recover sensible heat. Cooled product gas is provided having less than about 4 grains of solid per scf at certain conditions.

Abstract: There is described an improved separation membrane-liquid barrier system of the type containing complex-forming, metal-containing ionic components, and an improved separation process in which the membrane-liquid barrier is employed. The membrane is in contact with an aqueous liquid barrier containing cuprous ions, such as a cuprous salt or a cuprous salt complex, e.g. a CuCl complex, preferably a CuCl--NH.sub.4 Cl--HCl complex, and the barrier is in contact with a reducing agent that retards the complexing Cu.sup.+ ion from being oxidized to Cu.sup.+.sup.2. The reducing agent is relatively stable when positioned in the membrane and is not unduly oxidized by air nor does it unduly interfere with the essential function of the cuprous ions during the separation process. Elemental copper may function as a reducing agent that retards oxidation of Cu.sup.+ ion to Cu.sup.+.sup.2.

Abstract: There is described an improved membrane-liquid barrier system of the type containing complex-forming, silver-containing ion component in an aqueous solution, and an improved process in which the membrane-liquid barrier combination can be employed to separate olefinically-unsaturated hydrocarbons. The membrane is in contact with an aqueous solution having dissolved therein complex-forming silver-containing ions, and further includes small but effective amounts of hydrogen peroxide to retard reduction of the ionic silver to elemental silver.

Abstract: The invention relates to keyboard devices using optical switching and includes novel light distribution means to multiple fiber optics, switching means between fiber optics, and collection means from multiple fiber optics to a single point.

Abstract: Zearalenone is recovered from an aqueous mixture including zearalenone, water, and undissolved solids by a method comprising dissolving the zearalenone by contacting it with a zearalenone-dissolving mixture of water and a water-miscible, organic solvent, removing the undissolved solids, increasing the proportion of water to organic solvent to precipitate the zearalenone, and recovering the precipitated zearalenone.

Abstract: Flue gas containing CO.sub.2 and CO from a fluidized cracking unit catalyst regenerator is fed to a combustor in which CO combustion is completed. The CO combustion can be enhanced by injection of air or oxygen-containing gas into the combustor. The combustor may include CO combustion promoters such as oxidation-promoting catalyst grids, and may also include auxiliary fuel injection or other means to initiate or facilitate the combustion. The process of this invention further comprises indirect or direct recovery of the heat resulting from the combustion of CO in the flue gas by the cracking catalyst particles, which may be returned separately to the regenerator bed or transferred to the cracking reactor with or without fresh catalyst, or may be recycled to the CO combustor inlet or combined with other catalyst particles passing to the regenerator.

Abstract: A method for microbiologically reducing zearalenone and related compounds comprising cultivating a ketone-reducing microorganism in a nutrient medium and exposing the compound being reduced to the enzyme action of said microorganism.

Abstract: (10'R)-Zearalanone is prepared from (10'S)-zearalenone by opening the lactone ring of the zearalenone in an alkaline medium to provide a hydroxy acid, esterifying the hydroxy acid to provide a hydroxy ester, tosylating the hydroxy ester, reacting the tosyl ester with a tetraalkyl ammonium alkyl ester to invert the (S) structure to the (R) structure, and reforming and hydrogenating the lactone to provide (10'R)-zearalanone. (10'R)-Zearalanone, when present in admixture with (10'S)-zearalanone, enhances the uterotropic activity of the latter compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a toy ball which behaves in a crazy-like manner to the extent that its path of movement is erratic or unpredictable. The present toy ball comprises an outer ball constructed of light weight rubber and an inner ball constructed of a high bounce or very resilient rubber material. The greater degree of bounce of the inner ball within the outer ball causes the assembly to behave erratically.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for separating a fluid including a plurality of fluid components of different viscosities. The fluid is centrifugally accelerated and contacts a solid viscosity differentiating adhesion means. The degree of adhesion of the different viscosity fluid components to the solid viscosity differentiating adhesion means varies proportionally with the viscosity of the fluid component. The trajectory of each fluid component on emerging from the solid viscosity differentiating adhesion means varies in accordance with the degree of adhesion of each fluid component to that adhesion means. The fluids are physically separated by placing between the trajectories of each of the fluid components a partition which defines a receptacle for collection of each of the component fluids.

Abstract: A furnishing article such as a seat, pouffe, sofa or cushion comprising at least one block of foam which reproduces the general shape of the article and a covering made of fabric which is elastic in at least one direction, the said covering being fitted with closure means.

Abstract: A crop harvesting apparatus particularly suited for harvesting fruit and nuts from crop-bearing trees. A plurality of crop severing devices are mounted on rotatable drive shafts. The crop severing devices can take any of several forms. In one illustrative form of the present invention, the crop severing devices can be arcuate members mounted on a drive shaft by two or more support members such as support discs, with each arcuate member including a crop engaging portion and a crop passage portion terminating in a crop severing edge. Alternatively, the crop severing devices can be one or more crop severing rods mounted onto a drive shaft by support members, with the crop severing rods straight, slightly spiralled or wavy in configuration.

Abstract: In a fluidized cracking unit, the cracking catalyst regeneration vessel is specially adapted for high temperature operation to permit essentially complete combustion of coke on the spent catalyst particles and, in addition, the essentially complete combustion of carbon monoxide produced thereby, within the dense phase zone of the regenerator. A partition in the regenerator divides the lower dense phase zone operating at high temperatures from the upper dilute phase zone which may be cooled, for instance, by boiler tubes, water sprays and the like. The partition contains one or more rough separation catalyst knock-out means such as cyclone separators whereby hot catalyst particles are separated from the rising combusted gases and returned to the dense phase regeneration zone. In one embodiment, the regeneration vessel is elongated to facilitate recovery of most of the extra heat produced by complete carbon monoxide combustion by the catalyst particles returning to the dense phase zone.

Abstract: A composition of cysteamine and a compound represented by the formula ##SPC1##Where R is hydrogen, --CHO or ##EQU1## useful for the treatment of an animal infected with a virus.