Abstract: A method and plant for the purification of polluted water by the activated sludge method is provided in that a mixture of polluted water and recycled sludge is subjected to biological treatments in at least two treatment zones, and maintaining for a period such conditions in one of the treatment zones that a sludge precipitation occurs therein, supplying in a subsequent period the mixture of polluted water and recycled sludge directly or indirectly to the zone which, during the preceding period, served as a sludge precipitation zone prior to further treatment thereof in one or more treatment zones, and passing the treated water to a permanent clarification zone and separating it into a water fraction and a sludge fraction, at least a part of the sludge fraction being recycled and mixed with polluted water.

Abstract: A method of separating water from an aqueous emulsion using a minimum of energy includes heating the aqueous emulsion in a sump, conveying concentrated emulsion from the sump to a heat exchanger so as to pass therethrough back to the sump, circulating water vapor and non-condensable gases from the sump through a compressor to raise its temperature and passing the heated water vapor and non-condensable gases through the heat exchanger to condense and heat the concentrated emulsion therein and evaporate water therefrom, a thermostat filled with water and water vapor, together with first and second pressure switches respectively communicating with the sump and the external atmosphere and the heat exchanger and the external atmosphere, maintaining a temperature differential between 0.5.degree. and 3.degree. C. between the aqueous emulsion in the sump and the temperature of the compressed water vapor and noncondensable gases.

Abstract: A clutch assembly enabling a free turn of an outer handle of a door with respect to a latch assembly of a lock is able to allow the outer handle to rotate to open a door when the door is unlocked and to rotate freely when the door is locked, so that internal mechanism will not be damaged.

Abstract: An industrial robot comprises a stand mounted on a foot and being rotatable about a first, vertical axis, said stand supporting a first robot arm which is rotatable in relation to the stand about a second, horizontal axis. The stand comprises an underbody with two projecting parts which support an intermediate part which is rotatable in relation to the stand. The intermediate part comprises two parallel supporting elements, at the upper ends of which the first robot arm is journalled. The lower ends of the supporting elements are rotatably attachable to the underbody. The robot may thus be tilted forwards or backwards and be fixed in these positions during the robot operation, so as to obtain different types of operating ranges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a squirrel-cage induction motor for frequency converter use, in particular, which squirrel-cage induction motor comprises a stator, a stator winding arranged in its axial grooves, divided into at least two coil groups for each phase of the supplying alternating current and connected to the supplying alternating current in such a manner that the sum of basic frequency groove currents is substantially zero at each moment. In accordance with the invention, one half of the coil groups of each phase is connected to the supplying alternating current at one end of the stator and the other half of the coil groups of each phase at the other end of the stator.

Abstract: A hand pump spray bottle does not leak the liquid contents through the air inlet port during operation when the bottle is oriented so that the inlet port is covered with liquid. The air inlet port is in circuit with an optional void volume which in turn is in fluid communication with the interior of the bottle through a tubular section. The void volume, where present, and the tubular section act as a reservoir to store the liquid from the bottle that would normally reach the air inlet port. When the hand pump is operated, liquid is removed from the bottle and the pressure therein decreases.

Abstract: A first buckle having a slot therethrough is connected to the garment at a first location. One end portion of a takeup strap is connected to the garment at a spaced second location. A second buckle has a pair of slots formed therethrough with a bar therebetween. The takeup strap extends from the second location through a slot in the second buckle, around the bar, through the other slot in the second buckle, through the slot in the first buckle, and the opposite end portion of the takeup strap is connected to the second buckle.

Abstract: A controllable inductor comprises at least a tubular core (13) a main winding (5) surrounding the core, a control winding (13) passing substantially axially through the core, a ground part (15) arranged inside the main winding and an element surrounding the core and adapted to carry the main winding wound outside thereof at a distance to the ground part while creating a voltage taking air gap between the main winding and this part. The main winding has a first end (10) thereof on high potential and the potential falls towards the second opposite end (11). The element carries the main winding at the first end (10) at a larger radial distance to the ground part than at the second end.

Abstract: This invention is a spray bottle having unique flow passages that when wetted provide restrictions that allow only liquid to be dispensed either in the upright or inverted position. A gas rejection device of numerous configurations are incorporated into the spray bottle with minimum or no additional cost to manufacturing the spray bottle. Liquid rejection devices permit air to replace the dispensed liquid in order to prevent the collapse of the plastic bottle without leaking liquid in the inverted position.

Abstract: A packaging box assembly includes a box including a bottom plate having a first side and a second side, a first plate having a first end portion foldably extending from the first side of the bottom plate and a second end portion, a first cover foldably extending from the second end portion of the first plate and defining a first elongate slot, a second plate having a first end portion foldably extending from the second side of the bottom plate and a second end portion, and a second cover foldably extending from the second end portion of the second plate and defining a second elongate slot aligning with the first elongate slot. A receiving barrel is detachably received in a space defined between the first plate and the second plate, and a suspension ring is pivotally mounted on a top portion of the receiving barrel and extends through the first elongate slot and the second elongate slot.

Abstract: Three plant support discs supported by a housing and are rotated so that the intermediate disc is rotated in one direction and the other two discs on either side thereof are rotated in opposite directions so that portions of plants on adjacent discs which overlap one another move in the same direction to cause such portions to gently mesh with one another and avoid damage. A solar cell array provides electrical power for driving an electric motor which in turn drives the discs through a drive train. The discs have projections which pass through slots in gears of the drive train to provide a slidable drive connection between the discs and the gears, while the lower ends of the projections support the discs on a support surface of the housing, thereby minimizing the loading on the gears.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the concentrations of n hemoglobin derivatives in a sample of undiluted, unhemolyzed whole blood provided in a cuvette, employs a device producing a primary light beam formed of at least n substantially monochromatic, narrow-band components of different wavelengths. Further provided is a detection device for measuring of the radiation passing through the cuvette. At least two measuring geometries are provided for spectral detection of a collimated central beam and at least one scatter beam, and detection of the central beam departing from a first measuring location in the cuvette takes place in a first measuring position on the axis of the primary beam, and detection of the scatter beam takes place in a second measuring position if it departs from the first measuring location in the cuvette, or in the first measuring position if it departs from a second measuring location in the cuvette, whereby the axes of the central beam and the scatter beam(s) enclose angles .alpha..sub.

Abstract: A method of producing a rotor structure for an electrical machine includes heating a plurality of annular plates and then placing the heated plates around an axle such that the plates shrink and attach to the axle, the plates buckling into the general shape of a truncated cone as they cool. The heated plates can be positioned on the axle individually or as a group, thus forming a rotor core packet of stampings around the axle.