Abstract: A video signal recording and reproducing system having image pick up means for converting an optical image to electrical signals, forming means for forming video signals from the electrical signals obtained from the image pick up means, recording and reproducing means for recording video signals on a recording medium and reproducing the video signals from the recording medium, delay means for producing input signals with a prescribed length of delay time, and change over means for incorporating the delay means into the forming means or the recording and reproducing means selectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring ionic activity has a nozzle connected to a reservoir containing a reference solution. The reference solution is pumped up from the reservoir without coming into contact with air, so as to be quantitatively dripped through the nozzle when a slide-type ionic activity measuring device is located at a position below the nozzle. After the reference and sample solutions are spotted on the ionic activity measuring device, at least one pair of probes comes into contact with the device so as to measure potential difference corresponding to ionic activity difference of at least one ion between the reference and sample solutions.

Abstract: A thermal cracking process for producing petrochemical products from hydrocarbons which comprises the steps of: burning hydrocarbons with oxygen in the presence of steam to produce a hot gas of from 1300.degree. to 3000.degree. C. comprising steam; feeding a mixture of methane and hydrogen to the hot gas in such a way that a methane/hydrogen molar ratio is over 0.05; further feeding starting hydrocarbons to the hot gas comprising the methane, hydrogen and steam so that the starting hydrocarbons containing hydrocarbon components of higher boiling points are, respectively, fed to higher temperature zones; subjecting the starting hydrocarbons to thermal cracking while keeping the cracking temperature at 650.degree. to 1500.degree. C., the total residence time at 5 to 1000 milliseconds, the pressure at 2 to 100 bars, and the partial pressure of hydrogen, after thermal cracking of a hydrocarbon comprising hydrocarbon components whose boiling point exceeds 200.degree. C., at least 0.

Abstract: The disclosed automatic focusing device operates with cameras, or the like, in either a first mode in which a range finding operation and a lens drive operation occur alternately or in a second mode in which the lens is driven during the range finding operation. The mode is automatically selected depending on the conditions of an object to be photographed so as to optimize the focus adjustment for a given photographic situation.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring ionic activity is comprised of a rotatable turret and at least one pair of vertically movable probes. The turret intermittently conveys slide-type ionic activity measuring devices, one by one, on each of which are spots of reference and sample solutions, to a measuring section where the probes come into contact with the measuring device so as to measure the potential difference corresponding to the difference in ionic activity of a specific ion between the reference and sample solutions. After measurement the turret further conveys the device to a discharging section where the device is automatically discharged.

Abstract: A cheese kettle (1) is used for the separation of whey from the cheese mix and the comminuting of the cheese mix into curd particles takes place. The cheese kettle (1) is composed of two side-by-side, substantially cylindrical parts (3), located so that they partly interpenetrate, and each provided with rotary tools (2) treating the cheese mix. It is essential that the cylindrical parts (3) of the kettle (1) are inclined towards each other so that their interpenetration increases in the upward direction. The kettle bottom (7), includes circular segments substantially at right angles to the axes (4) of the cylindrical parts (3), and slope towards the draining aperture (10) in the center of the bottom, whereby the kettle is emptied without any need to tilt it specifically, and the tools (2) in the kettle can be so shaped that their sides follow, during rotation, the bottom and sides of the kettle, whereby the cheese mix is given a complete mixing and comminuting treatment covering all parts of the kettle.

Abstract: A voltage detecting device for a camera for detecting whether or not the voltage of a power source has a prescribed value or a value higher than the prescribed value. A device which makes intermittent voltage detections after the leader screen of a shutter starts running and terminates the voltage detecting action as the follower screen of the shutter runs.

Abstract: An expansion dowel arranged to be anchored in a borehole includes an axially extending dowel member having a leading end and a trailing end and being partly sleeve-shaped extending from the trailing end. A wedge-shaped recess is formed inwardly from the outside surface of the dowel with the depth of the recess decreasing toward the leading end of the dowel member. A complementary shaped wedge member is located in the recess and is displaceable therein toward the leading end of the dowel member. An annular groove formed in the dowel member from the leading end toward the trailing end. The depth of the annular groove increases for at least a part of the axial length from the leading end of the dowel member. An expansion member is seated in the annular groove and extends around the dowel member. The expansion member has a stop shoulder located in the path of the wedge member as it is displaced toward the leading end.

Abstract: A singeing apparatus comprises a guide drum for guiding a cloth to be singed and a singeing gas burner which blows flame against the cloth guided by the guide drum and is located opposite the guide drum. A structure is provided so that warm water can be made to flow in the guide drum and the temperature at a surface of the guide drum is maintained at the dew-point temperature of ambient air.

Abstract: A setting device arranged to use caseless propellent charges for driving fastening elements, such as bolts, nails and the like, into a hard receiving material, includes a casing containing an axially slidable barrel forming a feed element at its rearward end. A counterpressure member is slidably movably supported within the casing in axial alignment with the barrel. The feed element and counterpressure member combine to form a combustion chamber for the caseless propellent charges. A frusto-conical surface is formed on the counterpressure member and seats in sealing contact with a complementary frusto-conical surface in the casing.

Abstract: In a motor driven drilling or chipping device, a housing forms a sealed housing space containing a gear arrangement and an air cushion propulsion mechanism driven by the gear arrangement. The housing space is partially filled with lubricating oil. A pressure equalizing nozzle has a bore connecting the interior of the housing space to the ambient atmosphere outside the housing. The port at the end of the nozzle bore communicating with the housing space is enclosed by wall members forming a stilling chamber. The stilling chamber is in communication with the sealed housing space and is arranged so that regardless of the position of the drilling or chipping device, it is not flooded by the lubricating oil and the lubricating oil does not flow out of the stilling chamber through the nozzle bore.

Abstract: In a method of vacuum treating metal melts, especially steel melts, a vacuum syphon vessel (1) is used with its suction pipe (2) dipping into the melt (4) in a ladle (3) so that a portion of the melt is drawn into the vessel (1) and is varied between levels (A) and (B), and oxygen surrounded by a protective medium is blown horizontally into the melt in the vessel (1) below the surface of the melt through one or more nozzles (6) immediately above the bottom (5) of the vessel (1) and/or in the upper part of the suction pipe (2).

Abstract: An electrically-driven camera performing film winding and rewinding with a motor is arranged to automatically perform a film rewinding operation after finishing an unfinished charging portion of a film winding and shutter charging process in carrying out the film rewinding operation when a roll of film comes to the end thereof halfway in the winding and charging process.

Abstract: A superconducting compound cable which comprises a plurality of strands each having therein at least one filament of a superconducting compound material in the lengthwise direction of the strand, said strands being of an elliptical or flat shape in cross section, arranged in layers and stranded at a predetermined pitch in the axial direction of the cable, and the total cross-sectional area of all the strands in the cable being more than 50 percent of that of the rectangle or trapezoid circumscribed about the periphery in a cross section of the cable.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a floating bed reactor which is used for biological purification of fibre-containing liquid suspensions and for simultaneous clarification. The reactor comprises a floating bed (8) composed of finely divided particles floating in an ascending flow, above it being formed a fibre agglomerate layer (9) which binds to itself fibres present in the suspension being treated. What is essential in the invention is that the removal of fibre agglomerate from the reactor has been arranged with the aid of an open-top collecting vessel (11) placed in the reactor and disposed to collect fibre agglomerate in itself so that the top margin of the agglomerate layer (9) positions itself in the reactor substantially on level with the top end of the collecting vessel. The agglomerate then moves into the collecting vessel (11) by effect of a trailing vortex, for the generation of which the top end (13) of the vessel is bordered by a flow guiding member projecting laterally therefrom, or encircling it.

Abstract: A rotating head assembly comprises a fixed lower drum; a rotating member which has at least one head and also has a void hole in a position corresponding to the axis of rotation; supporting means which is disposed in a position farther away from the axis of rotation than the void hole and is arranged to support the rotating member rotatably relative to the fixed lower drum; and at least one composing means which is arranged by utilizing the void hole to compose at least a portion of the rotating head assembly.

Abstract: A universal joint wherein torque-transmitting balls are engaged between complementary grooves formed in an inner and outer joint member, with the balls being supported by a supporting element which is arranged in a jaw-like opening formed on one side of the universal joint through which the balls may be inserted in operative engagement within the joint. The invention is directed toward the curvature of the grooves which are arranged in such a way that a connecting line extending between the center of the radius of curvature of the grooves and the center of the torque-transmitting balls forms an angle relative to the central axis of rotation of the joint which is smaller than or equal to 85.degree., the angle being taken in accordance with the arcsine of the projection of the center of the radius of curvature of the grooves and the ball center onto a vertical plane extending perpendicularly relative to the axis of rotation of the joint, divided by the length of the radius of curvature.

Abstract: In a multi-span bridge support system, the superstructure includes a row of elongated single-span girders arranged end-to-end and supported at their ends on vertical support columns. At least two adjacent girders in a row are provided with fixed bearings at the juxtaposed ends over a common support column. The opposite ends of the girders are mounted on horizontally movable bearings. The location of the fixed bearing and the common support column forms a fixed point. At the fixed point the ends of the girders are notched so that the vertical and horizontal surfaces within the notched region face corresponding surfaces on the top of the support column. A vertical bearing for transmitting horizontal forces extending in the elongated direction of the girders, is located between the top of the support column and the juxtaposed vertical surface within the notched region of the adjacent girders.

Abstract: A mechanical mounting for a zoom lens in which a range of angles of rotation of a focusing actuator and a range of angles of zoom actuator are limited by a common stopper member.

Abstract: In a pressed-type clutch for a motor vehicle the clutch disc with its friction linings is located axially between a pressure plate which is nearer to the driving disc and an anti-pressure plate which is more remote from the driving disc. The pressure plate is axially movable with respect to the driving disc and connected therewith for common rotation. The anti-pressure plate is stationary with respect to the driving disc. A spring force transmitting structure is fixed to the pressure plate and has a bottom on the side of the anti-pressure plate which is remote from the driving disc. A diaphragm spring is located between the anti-pressure plate and the bottom of the spring force transmitting structure. The clutch release bearing is moved into engagement with the tongues of the diaphragm spring and towards the driving disc in view of clutch disengagement.