Abstract: In a pedestrian-controlled lift truck or stacker, a spring mounted drive wheel is provided between two laterally arranged support wheels. The initial stress on the spring, which determine the ground pressure, is increased on actuation of a brake.

Abstract: A solid state switching system for use with solenoid operated control valves, especially control valves for dangerous machinery including a light screen guard fitted for personnel protection. The switching system comprises two transistors in series with the solenoid coil. A self-checking monitoring system for monitoring the state of the two switches is provided. The monitoring system has a plurality of switching elements arranged in such a way that no single electrical fault can result in an inadvertent energization of the control valve. Specifically in the event that one of the switches is off while the other is still conducting, the monitoring system inhibits switching on of the switch that is off. The monitor system verifies that no fault has occurred during any one cycle of operation which might not otherwise be apparent. Every component in the switching and monitoring circuits functions during each on/off cycle.

Abstract: A thermal cracking process for producing olefins from hydrocarbons which comprises the steps of burning hydrocarbons with less than the theoretical amount of oxygen in the presence of steam to give a hot gas of from 1400.degree. to 300.degree. C. comprising steam and hydrogen prior to reaction; feeding to the hot gas comprising the steam and hydrogen, a mixture of methane and hydrogen so that a methane/hydrogen molar ratio in said hot gas is over 0.05; further feeding a starting hydrocarbon to the hot gas mixture comprising the methane, hydrogen and steam; subjecting the starting hydrocarbon to thermal cracking while keeping the partial pressure of hydrogen at least 0.1 bar at the outlet of a reactor, the temperature at 800.degree. to 1200.degree. C., and the residence time at 5 to 300 milliseconds; and quenching the resulting reaction product.

Abstract: In profiling the surface of a metal strip, particularly pressed strips for use in double band presses, the pressed strip is provided with graduations on a surface outside of the surface to be profiled. The graduations on the strip correspond to graduations on a tool used to profile the strip surface. With the graduations on both strip and tool in register, synchronized movements of the strip and the tool is effected with the strip being rolled into surface contact with the profiling surface of the tool so that the profiling surface of the tool is reproduced on the strip.

Abstract: A hand lever mechanism for turning fastening devices particularly for a spindle, axle or the like, wherein a fastening element made of hard material may be rotated by a hand lever made of material softer than the fastening element, with a coupling element affixed to the hand lever and adapted to engage the fastening element to connect the fastening element and the hand lever in rotative engagement being formed of a material harder than the material of the hand lever and being anchored or embedded in the material of the hand lever so as to be rotatable therewith.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image pick-up device which uses a charge transfer type solid state image pick-up device, and a shutter so as to form a high quality picture signal in which smear is prevented by prohibiting the incidence of the light on the device while the charge is transferred in the device. The device is driven by a clock signal for still photography in order to assure high quality picture information for one frame. The photographic parameters are automatically changed or the monitor is changed between the motion picture photography mode and the still photographing mode.

Abstract: The self-emulsifiable silicone composition of the invention comprises (a) an organopolysiloxane having polyoxyalkylene moieties and perfluoroalkyl-containing organic groups and represented by the average unit formula ##STR1## in which R is hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, G is polyoxyalkylene residue represented by the general formula ##STR2## and (b) an organopolysiloxane having perfluoroalkyl-containing organic groups represented by the average unit formula ##STR3## The composition is useful as an antifoam agent and, despite the high self-emulsifiability and stability, exhibits excellent defoaming activity even at relatively low temperatures around room temperature in contrast to conventional silicone-based antifoam compositions.

Abstract: The disclosed camera includes a view finder whose visual field displays a mark indicative of a focused condition. A display which extinguishes the mark either immediately after the detection of the in-focus condition or a predetermined time after the detection of the in-focus state condition, and generates an audible or visual mark outside the view finder's visual field.

Abstract: A compact industrial vehicle, for example in the form of a compact loader, has four steered wheels may be swiveled through 180.degree. between two end positions. The vehicle has a straddling or gantry chassis and the wheels are mounted on straddling axles, whose axle members are placed towards the top of the wheels. Running down from the axle members there are oblique wheel mounting legs ending at the space inside the wheels, in which there is a drive for the final drive step down gearing. Therefore the vehicle is optimally maneuverable while the ground and the tires are not subjected to heavy wear, there are good running characteristics and the driver is able to board the vehicle easily.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of polyesters of improved dye affinity by reacting dicarboxylic acids or their reactive derivatives with a mixture of diols, consisting of a predominant amount of an alkylene glycol and 0.1 to 20 weight percent, based on the polyester, of a polyoxyalkylene ether of formulaR.sup.1 CH.sub.2 O--(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O--).sub.n (C.sub.3 H.sub.7 O--).sub.m CH.sub.2 CHR.sup.3 CH.sub.2 --SO.sub.3 Xin which ##STR1## R.sup.2 =CH.sub.3 --, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 --, C.sub.3 H.sub.7 --, R.sup.3 =H-- or CH.sub.3, X=H--, alkali or ammonium ion, n=0 to 100, m=0 to 50 and n+m is not less than 1, and polymers prepared therefrom.

Abstract: There is provided a developer for use in a one-step process for the development of exposed film resulting in an exposurewise pattern of silver particles which are large enough to be used as printing elements in ink-printing techniques, providing a wide range of densities in the developed film. The developer is based on a buffered system of a developing agent, a sulfinic acid salt of the type HO-R-SO.sub.2.M..times.H.sub.2 O where R is a hydrocarbyl group and M is a cation, and a formaldehyde source, with conventional adjuvants such as anti-fogging agents and the like. Instead of the sulfinic acid salt defined above there may be used any compound which upon dissociation in a aqueous medium results in the same active ionic species.

Abstract: A forage or picking harvester unit includes a cylindrical cutter followed by an impeller fan with a crushing device in the path between the cutter and the fan. In the cylindrical cutter, the cutting wheel shaft is arranged perpendicularly relative to the shaft of the impeller fan. The crushing device is formed of crushing rollers with the roller axes extending parallel to the cutting wheel shaft. The crushing rollers are positioned in the path of the material flowing from the cylindrical cutter into the impeller fan. The circumferential surfaces of the crushing rollers are fluted in the direction parallel to the roller axes. The fluted surfaces form alternating teeth and recesses so that the circumferential surfaces of the crushing rollers can intermesh.

Abstract: In order to prolong the life of incandescent electric light bulbs, an arrangement is provided which consists of two bulbs, one of which constitutes a resistance for the second one.The lamp holder which accommodates the two bulbs comprises two sockets into each of which the base of one bulb is inserted, the two sockets being interconnected in series.

Abstract: Corn-earlage is processed so that the kernels and corn-cobs are finely chopped while the husks retain their raw fiber structure. The mixture of the finely chopped kernels and corn-cobs along with husks is placed in a silo to produce ensilage. If the ensilage is to be used to feed hogs, it is removed from the silo and passed through a screen or separating drum for adjusting the fiber content of the material. Depending on the fiber content desired, the material is introduced into the screen drum provided with a number of serially arranged rows of screen plates. Each row has a removable plate which can be replaced with other plates having larger or smaller openings for achieving the desired fiber content in the ensilage to be fed to the hogs. The drum axle is inclined to the horizontal and is adjustably supported at the inlet end of the drum so that its height relative to the outlet end can be varied.

Abstract: A conversion type varifocal lens system comprising a master lens which has a front assembly of positive power and a rear assembly of negative power, and a supplementary lens upon insertion into, or removal from, the space between the front and rear assemblies to change the focal length of the entire system.

Abstract: A measuring system comprises ion-selective electrodes adjoining a measuring passage, which has an inlet and an outlet. The measuring passage has bends, which are adjoined by the sensing electrodes, which are flush with the boundary surface of that measuring passage. Said bends extend also before and behind each electrode. The sensing electrodes are provided at the outside surface of each bend so that they will be effectively rinsed and errors due to entrained impurities will be avoided. The measuring passage is suitably substantially circular but has entrance and exit portions offset from the circular line. The electrodes are provided on the outside particularly in a star-shaped array. The measuring system is provided with a shield consisting of a closed, electrically conducting covering, which preferably consists of a metallic cover. Contact and contact pressure springs are subjected to a uniform stress because the cover is mounted with play by means of a hinge so that self-alignment will be effected.

Abstract: An electromagnetic drive device for a focal plane shutter having a tubular yoke and a cylindrical permanent magnet concentrically fixed to the yoke by clamping apparatus. A moving coil in a space between the permanent magnet cylinder and the yoke rotates about the axis of the permanent magnet and is drivingly connected through a shaft to blades of a leading or trailing curtain of the shutter, wherein a pair of holes are formed in one of the end surfaces of the permanent magnet cylinder symmetrical with respect to the axis thereof. The running characteristic of the shutter blades can be adjusted when the distribution of magnetic flux density is previously adjusted by turning the permanent magnet with the use of a tool engaged in the holes.

Abstract: An expansion dowel assembly consists of an axially extending sleeve and a spreading element. Tongues are pivotally displaceably connected to the sleeve and are located one after the other along the axial direction of the sleeve. The tongues are split in the axial directions and can be pivoted inwardly and outwardly relative to the sleeve. Lugs are formed on the radially inner surface of the tongues and project axially beyond one end of the tongues. The lugs afford axial support for the tongues pivoted outwardly relative to the outside surface of the sleeve. The spreading element holds the tongues in the outwardly pivoted condition so that the tongues provide a mechanical lock for the sleeve within a hollow space within a structural member.

Abstract: A hip joint socket includes a plastic socket member and an outer metallic ring member laterally closely enclosing the socket member. The socket member has a conically shaped outer surface in closely fitting engagement with a corresponding conically shaped inner surface on the ring member. Outwardly projecting parts on the socket member fit in a dovetail fashion in corresponding recesses formed in the ring member. The socket is self-fixing within the ring member during any cold flow of its plastic material so that relative movement between the socket member and the ring member is prevented.

Abstract: In the disclosed device a film loader loads film sheets of different length to be exposed by X-rays. A transport arrangement transports the sheets to positions at which they are to be exposed. A holder keeps the upper edge of the film sheets at the same height in the exposure position regardless of the sheet length.