Abstract: A vaporized driving fluid generator and engine unit are associated in open communication with each other with driving fluid being injected, in synchronized relation to the cyclic operation of the engine, into an externally heated casing which contains heat conductive elements that displace a substantial portion of the casing volume to vaporize the driving fluid. A cyclically operable expansible chamber engine is used and where such engine includes a reciprocable piston the piston may carry a tapered metering probe which reciprocates in the open communication between the generator and engine to increase the size of the open communication as the engine piston moves away from the open communication toward exhaust porting in the wall of the cylinder containing the piston.

Abstract: The detection of "significant bacteriuria" in a urine sample is accomplished by measuring the head space gas oxygen consumption in a closed vial system. A sample to be tested is introduced into a sealed vial containing a growth medium and the head space gas oxygen concentration initially measured. After a suitable incubation period, the oxygen concentration above the sample is again measured using a closed sample loop. A decrease in the head space oxygen concentration below a predetermined level indicates the presence of a significant quantity of oxygen consuming microorganisms in the sample.

Abstract: A water collection device is disclosed which provides a source of usable water from collected surface and waste water, and comprises three concentrically arranged compartments which function as a septic tank. The innermost compartment performs a settling function and delivers clarified water through a liquid seal to the intermediate compartment, from which it is drawn for use. Excess water in the intermediate compartment overflows into the outermost compartment, from which it is discharged as waste.

Abstract: Tying apparatus for holding concrete form panels in spaced relation has an elongated tie and clamping means attachable to a concrete form panel which is engageable with the tie to anchor the tie so as to restrain relative movement between the tie and the form panel wherein the clamping means comprises a bearing member fixedly connectible to the form panel and a clamping member pivotally secured in its preferred form to the bearing member by means of an axially and laterally yieldable pivot connection so that the clamping member can pivot and swing relative to the plane of the bearing member by way of a ball and socket type joint on mating surfaces of the bearing and clamping members to compensate for misalignment between the tie and the form panel or misalignment between opposing form panels. A positive lock retains the bearing and clamping members together when the clamping member is in its closed position.

Abstract: A vibratory device operable as a two mass vibrating system for driving a work member as used in feeders, screens, conveyors and the like, employs a motor driven eccentric weight exciter attached to one mass which is spring coupled to a second mass with the entire device being supported by isolator springs. The spring coupling is adjustable in a generally vertical plane to vary the direction of application of the exciter forces transmitted from the first mass to the second mass to fix this direction as conditions of use call for, the second mass being vibrated with the work member forming a part of such second mass to perform the work produced by the vibratory device in driving the work member. A D.C. brush or brushless motor is particularly useful to drive the exciter for driving relatively small work members to achieve ease of changing the rotative speed of the eccentric weight exciter as conditions dictate.

Abstract: A nonclumping, delayed action viscosity increasing agent comprising core particles of xanthan gum and an encapsulating coating of a fat derivative selected from the group consisting of fatty acids and mono and diglycerides of fatty acids and a surfactant wherein the coating has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance from 3.5 to 10. Methods of forming the encapsulated particles are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrolytic process and an electrolytic cell for recovering metal values from low grade concentrates. The said concentrate is introduced into the cell containing an aqueous electrolyte so that it is retained in proximity to an anode or anodes and kept out of contact from the or each cathode. The cell is energized so that electrolysis takes place and acid is released at the anode(s) which dissolves the metal values which form cations which migrate to and are discharged at the cathode(s). The impurities in the concentrate form fine particles which are separated from the concentrate by screening, e.g. by means of a grid or grids separating the anodes from the cathodes.

Abstract: A furnace for the combustion of solid fuel is disclosed comprising two juxtaposed grate portions and a passageway for conducting combustion gases from the area above one grate portion to the fuel contained on the other grate portion. One grate portion is steeply inclined, and the other is spaced therefrom and has a facing first, mainly upright part and a second, mainly horizontal part extending backwards below the first grate portion to receive fuel residues therefrom. The combustion gases are conducted from the second, mainly horizontal part of the second grate portion to the upper part of the first grate portion.

Abstract: A container consisting of a flexible body, base and cover and having flexible discharge and filling tubes in the base and cover, respectively, and flaps attached to the exterior of the base; the discharge and filling tubes and flaps having releasable securing means. The container may be provided with means to control the rate of discharge of the contents of the container from the discharge tube.

Abstract: A text processing system comprises a keyboard, a printing unit, a display unit having the capacity of displaying up to a line of entered text and a control unit which updates the display unit upon each entry of a character from the keyboard, and enables the printing unit to print the last entered line upon reception of an end of line signal from the keyboard. An auxiliary buffer is provided for storing the line last entered via the keyboard. The keyboard includes a line preceding key operative during entry of a line on the keyboard for conditioning the display unit to display at least a portion of the line of text stored in the auxiliary buffer.

Abstract: Expanded porous tobacco stems with a low apparent density and an excellent quality of smoking taste are obtained by heating under a pressurized atmosphere tobacco stems separated from tobacco leaves, as such or after moisturization, at a temperature of 150.degree. to 300.degree. C. and a pressure of 3 kg/cm.sup.2 (gage) or more in the presence of superheated steam for a period of 30 seconds or less and suddenly releasing the pressure to effect expansion of the stems. The resulting expanded stems are shredded into cut tobacco stems or made into reconstituted tobacco sheet to provide a tobacco material of excellent filling capacity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the instruction sequence in a stored program data processing system is described. An interrogation instruction causes the execution of a conditional check. As a result of this conditional check, one or the other of two bistable circuits is activated in dependence on the presence or absence of the prespecified condition. In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus can be modified to permit activation of both bistable circuits. One of the bistable circuits, when set, prevents execution of the next instruction in the instruction sequence. The setting of the other bistable circuit prevents execution of the next jump instruction occurring in the instruction sequence. A control signal in the interrogation instruction indicates which of the bistable circuits is to be set.

Abstract: There is disclosed a portable barbecue cooking stove having scissor action support legs pivotally joined together and pivotably joined to a cooking and support surface by pivot pins and an over-center link arrangement so that in the erected position the cooking and support surface is in a horizontal position and is easily foldable by unlatching of a catch disconnecting the four bar linkage structure. The barbecue includes wheels for mobility.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of aqueous sulphuric acid solutions containing dissolved ferrous sulphate comprising forming such a solution containing from 140 to 220 grams/liter free sulphuric acid in a first zone; adjusting the pH value of the solution in this zone to one in the range 3 to 4 by the addition of finely-divided calcium carbonate thereby precipitating calcium sulphate; passing the slurry thus produced to a second zone; adding to the second zone an aqueous solution of sulphuric acid containing from 3 to 80 grams/liter of free sulphuric acid; adjusting the pH value of the mixture in the second zone to one in the range 3.5 to 6 by the addition of finely-divided calcium carbonate thereby precipitating calcium sulphate and thereafter recovering from the second zone calcium sulphate suitable for use in the manufacture of plasterboard.

Abstract: A dispenser for flexible sheet material having a reserve roll that automatically moves into the dispensing position when the dispensing roll is almost exhausted. The sides of the reserve roll guide tracks are angled inwardly to engage the reserve roll spool at an off center point, so the spool is pushed downwardly into contact with a driving roller during rotation. The leading edge of the reserve roll towel engages the remaining portion of the almost exhausted dispensing roll and is moved therewith to be threaded through the dispensing mechanism. The perforating mechanism is assisted through the perforating stroke by a spring mechanism. The sensing roll is halted by a roll stop mechanism including a pivoted stop link and an anti-reverse pawl.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a holographic interferometer for measuring the deformation of an object or mechanical structure by exposing one or more hologram plates to a light source and a reference beam. In particular, the invention is directed to a method and apparatus for moving the hologram plate during and between exposures to thereby obtain exposures on different portions of the hologram plate. Each of these different exposures is taken in a short time interval in response to light reflected by the object from the light source as well as light from the reference beam. The image on the hologram plates is then reconstructed in a manner generally known in the art to determine the deformation of the object or mechanical structure. In order to obtain these exposures on different portions of the hologram plates, a screen having one or more apertures is positioned in front of the hologram plates to restrict the size of the short time interval exposures on the hologram plates.

Abstract: In a device for encoding and recording digital signals on a magnetic recording medium, precompensation in respect of errors which arise with high bit packing densities is effected by selectively advancing and delaying the signals. The delay or advance is obtained by presetting a counter according to the value of following and preceding signals.

Abstract: A switching arrangement for converting analog signals into digital signals, and vice versa, is described. Conversions between pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) and pulse code modulated (PCM) signals are performed. In telecommunication systems having subscriber stations equipped to transmit and receive analog signals it is necessary to carry out these conversions to facilitate PCM transmission. An analog to digital converter is thus provided at each subscriber station for converting received digital signals into analog signals and analog signals to be transmitted into digital signals; the converter utilizes the iterative principle.