Abstract: Toxic wastes and other contaminants are removed from soil which is fed through a passage in an agitating means into a retort (10, 110) where the soil is agitated and brought into contact with the retort walls (11, 111, 111A) (at a temperature preferably above 500.degree. C.) to cause the toxic wastes or contaminates to be desorbed. The "off-gases" from the soil may be mixed with air/fuel in a combustion chamber (31, 131), to heat the retort; may be burnt in a secondary burner (40) to preheat and/or dry the soil feed; or be condensed in a condenser (41) and stored.

Abstract: A support device configured to support and enclose one or more supply lines, such as hoses, cables and leads, employed to deliver a fluid, gas or electrical power to an end-of-arm tool mounted to a robot. The support device is particularly suited for use with arc and spot welding robots and mechanical handling robots, which may require multiple fluid, gas and electrical lines. The support device is adapted to be mounted to a moving member of the robot, enabling supply lines to be safely routed along moving members from a suitable source to the end-of-arm tool. The support device serves to protect the lines from the working environment of the robot, and facilitates the repair and maintenance of the robot by permitting ready access to the lines. The lines can be correspondingly installed in segments, such that a limited segment of damaged line can be removed for repair or replacement, as opposed to the entire length of line being replaced.

Abstract: In a bottle crate for plastic bottles, for non-returnable bottles in particular, having location members formed at the crate bottom for each bottle location department, at least one perferably annular contact member made out of a material softer than that of the carrier is arranged on at least the crate-side contact faces between each location member and bottle of the lower stack layer.

Abstract: A clip configured to secure a floor mat to the interior floor of an automobile. The clip includes a recess in which a peripheral edge of the floor mat is captured, and a lip which engages an aperture provided in the floor mat. The clip is able to accommodate a wide variety of floor mats in a manner that essentially eliminates the potential for the floor mat to shift on the floor of the automobile, substantially without regard to the thickness of the floor mat. In an alternate embodiment, the clip is anchored to the interior floor of the automobile in the same manner but is provided with a post member which is adapted to be secured within an aperture provided in the floor mat. In addition, extensive flexing and bending of the clip is not necessary to secure the floor mat, such that the clip is capable of repeated use. The structure and manufacture of the clip is uncomplicated, such that the clip is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Abstract: A work station is disclosed comprising: an envelope (20) having a top section (30), a bottom section (31), first (32) and second (33) end sections, and first (34) and second (35) side sections to shelter workers and to contain debris, each section being suspended between a supply means and a take-up means on a plurality of support means (63) about a structure that are mounted in a first motive means (21) on the structure to permit the envelope to be repositioned from time to time, scaffolding means (80-81) suspended by cables on a second motive means to permit a vertical degree of freedom and on a third motive means on a transverse beam (84) for a lateral degree of freedom, each beam being mounted on a fourth motive means on the support means to permit a longitudinal degree of freedom of movement.

Abstract: A method for providing a decorative surface on a standard steel wheel, without requiring the use of the wheel in the production of the decorative surface. The decorative surface of this invention is provided by an overlay composed of a panel which is assembled to the surface of the wheel and which closely conforms to certain portions of the wheel, while being spaced apart from other portions of the wheel in order to form exterior surface contours which contribute an aesthetically pleasing appearance to the wheel. The overlay further includes a spacing feature disposed on the inboard surface of the overlay. The spacing feature is configured to mate with portions of the axial surface of the wheel so as to fill voids between the inboard surface of the panel and the axial surface of the wheel. In doing so, the spacing feature prevents moisture and dirt from becoming trapped within the void between the overlay and the wheel.

Abstract: A satellite embodying at least one surface intended mainly for exposure to solar radiation and extending away from the satellite in a predetermined direction (Y), an onboard computer having connected thereto an attitude sensing system, an orbit control system for imparting thrust to the satellite along predetermined axes, and an attitude control system. The satellite further embodies a device for controlling the tilt of the surface in parallel with a plurality of planes containing the predetermined direction; and, therefore, particularly in parallel with the plane of a solar panel forming the surface. The tilt control device is controlled by the onboard computer. The tilting can generate a moment of pitch or relocate the center of gravity onto the axis of the orbit control system.

Abstract: A method for making lignocellulose fibers, which may be optionally coated with a suitable thermoplastic, wherein the starting materials may be chosen from a wide variety of generally non-recyclable contaminated wood, paper, and/or plastic products. A mixture of the preferred lignocellulose material characterized by a relatively low moisture content and the desired thermoplastics is refined and comminuted in a steam atmosphere which is at a temperature, pressure, and duration sufficient to soften both the lignin within the wood chips and the thermoplastic polymer. The temperature of the steam atmosphere is relatively high because of the use of dry wood chips which do not result in excessive vaporization during heating. The comminution of the mixture occurs by auguring the mixture between counter-revolving dual refining discs in the elevated temperature, pressurized steam atmosphere.