Abstract: A litter screening and separating machine including a storage compartment, a loader at one end of the storage compartment for picking up encrusted litter material from the floor of a chicken house, a conveyor including a pair of chains for moving the encrusted litter from the loader to the storage compartment. A baffle plate adjacent to and beneath the conveyor chain prevents contamination of the conveyor chain. Vibrator rollers adjacent the pair of chains for engagement with tabs on spaced links of each chain for vibrating the loading flights. Trap doors beneath the upper run of the conveyor may be opened to permit some of the material collected to fall back to the floor of the poultry house. One can regulate the amount of material thus recycled by independently opening and closing the trap doors.

Abstract: In a process for the application of a vat dye, preferably indigo, to a thread bundle (1), before thread bundle (1) enters a dye liquor (3) it is run through a steam lock (5). Steam lock (5) is separated from a chamber (20) through which thread bundle (1) is run after leaving dye liquor (3) via a holding section (21) in an essentially oxygen-free atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of reprogramming memory storing program instruction code for controlling operation of a microprocessor in which new data can be written to the memory by the microprocessor only in a write cycle and stored data can be read from the memory by the microprocessor only in a read cycle, the memory preventing the read cycle and said write cycle occurring at the same time is disclosed. The memory has first and second sectors for storing code, the first sector storing boot code for controlling operation of the microprocessor. The disclosed method includes the steps of erasing code stored in said second sector, writing new code including the boot code to the second sector, erasing the first sector, writing new boot code in the first sector preceded by an instruction to jump to said second sector and then rendering the jump instruction ineffective so that the next boot of the microprocessor will cause the microprocessor to be controlled by the new boot code in the first sector.

Abstract: The invention concerns a drive arrangement (1) for the combustion of fuel, with an internal combustion engine (2), an intake air compressor (4) and an exhaust gas turbine (5) which drives the latter. An intake-air distributor (7) is provided between the compressor (4) and the internal combustion engine (2) and an exhaust gas chamber (8) is disposed between the internal combustion engine (2) and the exhaust gas turbine (5). Further provided are a container (12) and a nozzle (18) which is connected thereto via a first water-conveying pressure line (13), the nozzle injecting water into the scavenging air in front of the compressor (4). The internal combustion engine takes the form of a diesel engine (2), and the first pressure line (13) and the nozzle (18) are connected to the intake line (9) in front of a compressor (4) such that the atomizing water is injected into the compressor (4).

Abstract: Catalyst particles are separated from the wax in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor by feeding a portion of the reactor slurry to a dynamic settler which does not require any pump. As the slurry flows down a pipe in the center of the settler, the slurry flows into the surrounding annular region at the bottom of the settler. The heavier catalyst particles settle down and are removed as the slurry at the bottom of the settler is recycled back to the reactor. The wax rises up in the annular section and this clarified wax is removed by a wax outlet pipe. In an embodiment with an expanded diameter section above the Fischer-Tropsch reactor an additional dynamic settler can be placed inside this section. The Fischer-Tropsch catalyst can be regenerated by purging the catalyst with an inert gas for a period of time and by treating the catalyst with naphtha.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling energization of a take-up motor driving a take-up spool of used ink ribbon in thermal printing apparatus. Prior to a printing cycle, the take-up motor is energized to rotate the take-up spool until ternsion in the ink ribbon caused rotation of an ink ribbon supply spool. The take-up spool is then rotated a predetermined amount and resultant rotation of the supply spool is determined by sensing means. A function dependent upon the rotation of the supply spool is determined and used during subsequent operation of the apparatus to control energization of the take-up motor such as to wind the used riobbon onto the take-up spool with a desired amount of tension in the used ribbon.

Abstract: A postage meter includes a memory including an ascending credit register to store an accumulated value of credit and an ascending tote register to store an accumulated tote value of postage charge dispensed by the postage meter in franking mail items. Accounting means of the postage meter determines whether the sum of a required postage value to be applied to a mail item and the accumulated tote value is equal to or less than the accumulated total value of credit stored in the ascending credit register and, if the sum of the required postage value and the accumulated tote value is equal to or less than the accumulated credit value, operates printing means to print a franking impression on the mail item and increments the accumulated tote value stored in the tote register by an amount equal to the required postage value.

Abstract: The plastic ski coating contains a filling material mixture of fluorographite and soot. By way of this combination the sliding characteristics of the coating on snow is surprisingly improved.

Abstract: A push-pull valve for gas sampling is formed by assembling a body including a receptacle having a bore and a plug having a nose which seats in the bore. The plug has a through bore with a shoulder at its lower end serving as a lower stop and defining a hole at the bottom of the through bore. A hollow stem slides in the through bore, between an extended, closed position, and a retracted, open position. The stem has ports set above the foot of the stem a distance such that, in an upper position of the stem, the port is blocked by an O-ring, and in a lower position of the stem, gas can flow through the stem, the ports, an annular space around the stem, and out through the hole at the bottom of the through bore.

Abstract: A bracket for supporting a fence rail includes a hollow body having an open-topped cavity and an end wall with a cross-shaped aperture through which a bolt is passed into a fence post. The angularity of the body with respect to the post surface is adjusted by installing one or more tapered spacers between the body and the post. The spacers have nesting bosses and recesses, and offset slots through which the bolt passes. One surface of the end wall has a spherical shape so that the head of the bolt seats flat, regardless of the angularity which has been established.

Abstract: Novel utilizations of strontium aluminate, a by-product of the manufacture of strontium, are disclosed in connection with the art of steelmaking. It is useful as a synthetic slag covering for molten iron or steel, as well as in the foaming slag practice, as a backfilling material for spaces between the safety lining and the working lining of a ladle, as a major component for a blend from which are made pellets or briquettes useful as a slag conditioner, as an additive to calcium aluminate which has the effect of substantially lowering the melting point of calcium aluminate, as a tracer material to determine the source of impurities, and as a binder to recycle metal-containing dust.

Abstract: A threshold cover, made of aluminum or similar material, which is retrofit over an existing door threshold by sizing the cover to exactly match the exposed portion of the existing threshold, and then attaching it directly over the threshold. The threshold cover preferably has a non-skid surface, and may have an internal flange of its vertical leg to mechanically interlock with the front edge of the threshold. The cover may be formed in two articulating parts to accommodate non-planar thresholds. Weep channels in the bottom surface cover serve to drain water which may get under the cover.

Abstract: A metal ring binder is improved by adding at least one auxiliary spring for supplementing the spring action of the spine upon the blades to which the rings are attached, so as to increase the closing force of the rings.

Abstract: A self-acting locking bolt for doors or the like, more particularly furniture doors, comprising at least one receiving part on one door leaf or frame, and at least one locking part on the other door leaf or on a door leaf, the locking part having a control connecting-link for a pin of a bolt guided so as to be movable vertically in the locking part, the said pin projecting sideways out of the locking part, in that the locking part is substantially flush with the top edge or bottom edge of the door leaf, in that the bolt does not project, or projects only slightly, beyond the top edge of the locking part when the door leaf is in an open position and projects beyond the top edge into a matching location in an associated frame part when the door leaf is in a closed position, and in that the receiving part has a recess with which the pin of the bolt may be brought into engagement in the locking operation and is pushed along the connecting-link guide and in wich the pin is located when the door leaf is closed.

Abstract: A one-piece blank construction for a flip-lid box includes a rectangular bottom panel, rectangular top panel, panels bridging between the bottom and top, and two flip-lid panels foldably connected to one of the components of the respective side walls. The overall "footprint" of the blank is small because the blank is approximately rectangular, thus effecting the maximum saving of material. The one-piece construction is easy to set up, cuts the wastage of material, and increases strength so as to allow a smaller material thickness to be utilized.

Abstract: A method is described for the continuous disintegration of microbial sludge in a sewage clarification or sewage treatment plant wherein the microbial sludge is decomposed biologically by bacteria and the resultant sludge (5) is exposed to sonic radiation in a treatment vessel (1) in order to split the cell walls of the microorganisms. With that, the sonic radiation shall be generated asymnetrically in the treatment vessel (1). The intensity of the sonic exposure lies in an area of 500 to 1500 W/m2 and the sludge (5) is fed with a mean dwell-time of 2 to 4 minutes in counter-flow through the treatment vessel (1). The device for carrying out the method possesses a treatment vessel (1) with an eccentrically arranged sonic resonator arranged within (7).

Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement for electronically detecting an X-ray image, the arrangement comprising a converter (4), in particular a scintillation foil (3). A visible image is generated on the display surface (5) of the scintillation foil (3) by X-rays. At least two mirrors (7) are provided which produce images of segments of the display surface (5). In addition, electronic camera systems (8) are provided for converting the image segments reflected by the mirror (7) into electrical signals. The beam path (9) between the camera systems (8) and mirrors (7) is approximately parallel to the display surface (5).

Abstract: A golf driver head has a double-walled hosel contained wholly within the head. The hosel includes an inner tube into which a club shaft may be inserted, and an outer tube situated around the inner tube and having a clearance defining an annular space between the inner tube and the outer tube. An annular bridge extends across the annular space, interconnecting the inner tube and the outer tube, and the space between the inner and outer tubes is filled with an elastomeric damping material.