Abstract: A method of food heating control in which the heating time length (.tau..sub.o) from a time point (t.sub.1) when the food temperature changing with the heating thereof reaches a predetermined set value (T.sub.1) to a time point (t.sub.2) when the vapor or gas liberated by heating of the food begins to increase the humidity or gas concentration is used as a basis for automatically determining a subsequent heating time length (.tau..sub.R). Since the time period (.tau..sub.R) for the subsequent heating process is determined by the heating time from the time point when the food temperature reaches a predetermined set value to the time point when the humidity or gas concentration begins to increase (unlike in the prior art method in which the heating time from the start of heating to the time point when humidity begins to increase is used to determine the subsequent heating time), the error in the heating time which otherwise might be caused by the variation in the initial food temperature is obviated.

Abstract: In capacitive systems comprising a dielectric sheet 11 having a first electrode 12 on one side, and on the other side in capacitive relation with the first electrode 12, second and third electrodes 13, 14 which are mutually spaced by a gap 15 especially for use in touch control switches, it is desired to achieve a favorable compromise between high capacitance modification as between touched and untouched condition of the first electrode 12, and the total amount of material used to form the electrodes.To this end, the third or outer electrode 14 is shaped to surround at least the major part of the periphery of the second or inner electrode 13, and the ratio of the area of the inner electrode 13 to the area of the outer electrode 14 is greater than 0.25 to 1.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for applying a succession of strips of mat to the roof of an underground mine working wherein the strips are applied by an applicator means mounted on a mining machine or other transporter means, and the lateral position of the applicator means is adjustable relatively to the mining machine or transporter means so that, despite lateral deviations of the latter when the mat is undergoing laying, each newly laid strip of mat can be brought into the desired lateral position with the nearer edges of the newly applied strip of mat and the last applied strip of mat is proximate relation. A sensing means providing an electrical output representative of the position of the last applied strip of mat serves through control means to control the operation of a pressure fluid double-acting piston and cylinder forming an actuating means for adjusting the lateral position of the mat applicator.

Abstract: A wind-up device for a vehicle safety belt, which device includes a housing, a winding system composed of a winding drum mounted in the housing for automatically winding up the belt so that a portion of the belt is wound around the drum, the drum being locked in the direction of unwinding when a given operating state occurs, and a belt braking device which includes a rotatably mounted brake roller partially surrounded by the belt and mounted for displacement between a normal position in which it is free to rotate and, when the winding drum is blocked, a braking position in which it opposes movement of the belt, movement into the braking position being effected by the tension forces acting on the belt, the braking device further including a bias spring mounted to urge the brake roller into its normal position and in which the brake roller is mounted to be displaced under the force of the belt tension to brakingly contact the outer turn of the belt portion wound on the drum.

Abstract: A mold forming tool for use in the manufacture of casting molds by compression of loose mold forming material by a process in which the final compacting is achieved by pressing, for the casting of cast pieces having undercuts, the tool having an elastically deformable portion in the region of the undercuts, and the elastically deformable portion being made of a material which is deformable, thus creating the undercut pattern, solely under the influence of the pressure exerted on the mold forming material during the final compacting.

Abstract: For displaying spoken words as color pictures on a screen, each audio frequency, i.e. each acoustic sound, is assigned a respective color hue and each audio frequency spectrum a respective color mixture, by conducting acoustic signals through a three-channel triangular filter, each channel having a different central frequency, and controlling the intensity of a respective electron beam of a color television monitor as a function of a respective filter channel output.

Abstract: A method of producing silicon comprising producing a plasma in a gas flow laden with at least one silicon compound so that the silicon compound is reduced or decomposed to silicon and transporting the silicon which may have reacted with other material if present in the plasma and reaction products out of the plasma in the gas flow.

Abstract: A cylindrical helically coiled compression spring made of a length of wire or rod having a circular cross section, the spring having interior windings providing the main spring action and end winding portions at least one of which is arranged to be supported against a spring disc, and the wire rod being formed to have a diameter which is greater in the region of the at least one end winding portion than in the region of the interior windings.

Abstract: A body formed of a plurality of individual elements is connected together via tongue and groove connections. The tongues have flanks which are inclined with respect to the base of the tongue and converge with increasing distance from the base, while the associated grooves have a corresponding shape. The flank or flanks of the tongue is provided with projections or recesses which engage recesses or projections respectively on the abutting flanks of the associated grooves.

Abstract: A cable duct includes a hollow body having a length dimension, open ends, side walls and an end wall structure closing off the open ends. The cables which project through the end wall structure are arranged in at least one layer within the hollow body. The end wall structure comprises a filler material surrounding each layer; parallel spaced support bars positioned within the hollow body along opposite side walls thereof; a transverse bar positioned over each cable layer and extending transversely to the length dimension of the hollow body and between the support bars transversely thereto; and an arrangement for securing opposite ends of the transverse bar to a respective support bar.

Abstract: A balanced adjustable support in which the plane of the support surface for an object or piece to be machined can be altered with great precision. The adjustable support comprises a table, a base, a central leg rigidly fixed to the base and jointed to the underside of the table, and four corner telescopic legs, the length of which is adjustable by means of a pneumatic jack. Each end of each of the legs is fixed to the base and to the underside of the table with a ball and socket joint immobilized by means of a pneumatic joint.

Abstract: A hand-held and hand-operated condiment grinder-dispenser includes a housing adapted to be held by an encircling grip of the user's hand, a grinding mechanism having a rotary grinding wheel and a driving mechanism having an operating lever coupled to the grinding wheel and arranged for a reciprocating motion composed of a manually-induced forward motion and a spring-induced return motion. An overrunning clutch couples the driving mechanism to the grinding wheel for transmitting a torque from the driving mechanism to the grinding wheel solely during the foward motions of the operating lever. The operating lever is positioned with respect to the housing such that it is included in the encircling grip of the user's hand.

Abstract: An image intensifier device is provided with color filters on its input and output surfaces so as to intensify a color image without losing the color content. Each filter consists of an array of red, green and blue elements and these elements are precisely aligned in both input and output filters to avoid degradation of the color content. A method of producing the output filter in situ is described to provide the required accuracy of alignment.

Abstract: A porous soft material sealing gasket comprising an asbestos fiber web with a multiplicity of perforations. The perforated web is impregnated with an impregnating agent that at least partially fills the free pores of the web by penetrating through the perforations.

Abstract: An asphalt binder composition useful with mineral aggregate particles to form a patching composition for the repair of roads. The asphalt binder composition comprises: (1) a medium curing liquid asphalt, (2) from about 0.1 to 13.5% by weight tall oil based on the weight of the medium curing liquid asphalt, and (3) 0.0001% to 0.05% by volume of organopolysiloxane fluid, based on the volume of medium curing liquid asphalt plus tall oil. A patching composition is also provided which comprises from about 3 to 8% of asphalt binder composition, defined above, and from about 97 to 92% by weight of a mineral aggregate, based on the weight of asphalt binder composition plus mineral aggregate. A coating or sealing composition comprises: (1) a rapid curing liquid asphalt and (2) from about 0.1 to 13.5% by weight tall oil, preferably 1% by weight tall oil, based on the weight of rapid curing liquid asphalt. Methods are provided for preparing the compositions and for repairing roadways.

Abstract: An elastic covering for closing off a nozzle outlet area containing at least one nozzle orifice of an ink printing head filled with an aqueous liquid comprising a polar elastomer, a hydrophilic additive, and at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of cross-linking agents, activators, and accelerators.

Abstract: A drive aggregate for a heat pump includes a cylinder block defining cavities for forming at least one cylinder of an internal combustion engine and at least one cylinder of a compressor driven by the engine; a common crankshaft passing through the cylinder block for serving both the engine and the compressor; and a plurality of bearings mounted in the cylinder block and supporting the crankshaft. The cavities all have the same height dimension. There is further provided a valve plate sealingly secured in each cavity which forms a compressor cylinder. The valve plate which defines an end of the compressor cylinder formed by the respective cavity, is recessed with respect to the height of the cavity in which it is situated.

Abstract: An antenna arrangement is provided with a phase lock loop so that the phase of microwave energy radiated by an antenna element can be precisely controlled. The phase lock loop provides compensation for phase errors introduced in the feed to the antenna element and includes a controllable local oscillator. In practice, a large number of individual antenna channels could be provided, each having its own phase lock loop, so that together a directional microwave beam could be radiated. Such a requirement can exist in connection with pulsed radars.

Abstract: The manufacture of foam rubber having improved set and deflection properties at low foam densities is provided.

Abstract: Process for inhibiting the corrosion of equipment made of titanium or of alloys containing titanium by a solution containing a peroxy compound. To effect the inhibition, a solution containing calcium, strontium or barium ions is used.