Abstract: The invention relates to a tracheal suction catheter comprising a flexible tube whose outermost portion has a side bend forming a knee on the tube, an aperture being provided in the tube wall adjacent the knee.The object of the invention is to provide a construction reducing as much as possible the risk of the catheter being clamped to the mucosa, and according to the invention this is achieved by the tube wall immediately around said aperture being sunk with respect to the cylindrical surface of the tube. Suction from the mucosa is thus spread over a greater area, and the aperture itself is spaced from the mucosa ensuring that the mucosa is not damaged, neither during insertion nor during suction.

Abstract: The length and firmness of a cigarette rod during smoking are measured on automatic basis to determine the effects of blend, moisture and temperature on the firmness of a cigarette rod behind the coal of a burning cigarette.

Abstract: A bacterial staining composition and methods of analysis of both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria are disclosed. The composition comprises a chelating agent and a basic dye, both of which are operative at a pH above about 7.0. Bacterial staining may be effected by contacting either concentrated or fluidly suspended bacteria with the composition at a neutral or basic pH. Bacteria stained with the composition and concentrated by filtration, centrifugation or the like are readily visible and their presence in a specimen may, thus, be rapidly detected. The gradations of color of the stained, concentrated bacteria correspond to the number of bacteria and semi-quantitative analysis of the bacteria may be effected by comparison with a standard. Differentiation of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria may be accomplished by treating the stained bacteria with an organic acid wash having a pH of about 2.5 to 2.6. Such a wash completely decolorizes only stained gram-positive bacteria.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for coating frozen portions of a foodstuff with a granulated product with a conveyor carrying plates for supporting the portions and adapted to advance stepwise and sequentially to:depositing the granulated product on the plates,positioning the portions on the plates,supplying heat to the surfaces of the portions,coating the portions with granulated product anddischarging the coated portions from the conveyor.

Abstract: Perforations are made at locations spaced about the periphery of a cigarette by conducting separate parts of a laser beam through respective separate light paths which intersect such spaced peripheral locations.

Abstract: Perforations are made at locations spaced about the periphery of a cigarette by conducting separate parts of a laser beam through respective separate light paths which intersect such spaced peripheral locations.

Abstract: A curl resistant transmissively readable photoplastic film is produced having a base ply of polyethylene terephthalate to one side of which is laminated, in sequence, a light transmissive layer of electrically conductive particles, a primer layer of a dimethyl-phenylene oxide polymer, and a photoplastic layer. The latter layer may be formed from a mixture of 75% by weight of an intermediate molecular weight (800-5,000) polystyrene and 25% by weight of a polymolecular plasticizer derived from alpha-methylstyrene to which mixture has been added about 3.3% of the total weight of solids of very fine particle size copper phthalocyanine. To the other side of the base ply is laminated a layer of a solvent deposited methyl methacrylate polymer. When the photoplastic layer is about 17 to 18 microns thick the methyl methacrylate layer may be about 4 to 6 microns thick.

Abstract: The removal of so-called zip-tape from reclaim tobacco is achieved by use of an elongate vibratory conveyor having grooves extending longitudinally therewith and of longitudinal depth profile preselected from groove-containment of the reclaim tobacco, except for the zip-tape content thereof. Rollers having surface affinity for the zip-tape are arranged in overlying relation to the conveyor surface and groove rises, and are disposed in acute angle relation with the conveyor feed direction. The rollers are supported for joint movement with the conveyor so as to be maintained in fixed relation to the conveyor surface during vibration. Zip-tape encountered by the surfaces of the rollers is withdrawn from the conveyor grooves and is displaced successively transversely of the conveyor for collection aside the conveyor.

Abstract: Outflow of liquid from an elevated chamber maintained under a condition of vacuum which outflow is delivered through a dropleg conduit to a point of use at a lower level is effected by establishing a plurality of outflow courses in an upper length portion of the dropleg conduit with entry to such outflow courses being arranged at different elevations within the chamber so that flow through an outflow course cannot occur before first there occurs the filling of outflow courses having entry elevations below the said particular outflow course.

Abstract: A solar heat collector consisting essentially of metal sections. The collector may be integrated with a heat storage medium, for example a concrete slab. Furthermore the collector may be provided with separate channel systems for passing heat from the collector to the various rooms of a house.

Abstract: The positioning of a score line on a flat package blank can be determined relative to a datum edge by positioning the datum edge at the zero mark of a measurement scale and moving a carriage having a magnification reading unit to a position over the score line, the distance appearing from the position of a carriage reference surface on the measurement scale as well as on a caliper unit mounted on the carriage for exhibiting the measurement of distance the reference surface has passed beyond a major increment of measure on the scale.

Abstract: A corner bracket having a cross member and mounting arms at right angles with each other is arranged to be fastened at any desired height in a corner of a room. A lamp housing interengages with the bracket snugly in the corner and has right angled rear walls and a downwardly directed configuration including an interiorly contained screw socket. A bulb for fostering plant growth fits in the socket entirely within the housing. A lamp cord depends from the rear of the housing while corner molding is provided for decoratively concealing the lamp cord between the housing and the floor of the room.

Abstract: A food product for babies of low birth weight, particularly for premature babies and a process for its manufacture are disclosed. The product is characterized in that it contains the following substances per 100 parts by weight of dry material:21-27 parts of lipids containing lactic fat, vegetable fat and medium chain triglycerides, the latter representing 30 to 50% by weight of the mixture of fats,13-16 parts of proteins, at least 50% by weight of which are soluble proteins,50-63 parts of carbohydrates,1.5-2 parts of mineral salts and1-3 parts of water.

Abstract: A process for eliminating the flatulent sugars present in soya which comprises preparing an aqueous soya suspension containing from 5 to 45% by weight of dry matter, inoculating the suspension thus prepared with at least one strain of Saccharomyces uvarum which has reached the state of growth on a medium containing at least one sugar having at least one .alpha.-D-galactopyranosyl bond and fermenting the suspension under anaerobic conditions for at least 8 hours at a temperature of from 15.degree. to 50.degree. C.

Abstract: In the course of continuous transport of filamentary material, mutually spaced portions thereof are selectively stretched, yielding articles having a longitudinal profile varying in filamentary material volume and of essentially constant filament density per unit volume. In producing cigarette filters, additive material is applied to the stretched material portions.

Abstract: A unitary pack of smoking tobacco products is provided in which a flavorant is incorporated in some of the smoking tobacco products in the form of a polymeric alcohol flavorant-release composition which has the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is selected from aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are selected from hydrogen and aliphatic, alicyclic, heterocyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon radicals; and n is an integer. These polymers release a flavorant when heated. Such polymers include polymers formed from .alpha.-substituted vinyl menthyl carbonate esters, such as poly(.alpha.-methylvinyl .alpha.-menthyl carbonate) and poly(.alpha.-styryl .alpha.-menthyl carbonate), which release menthol when heated. Smoking tobacco products which are made with tobacco which has been treated with a particular alcohol flavorant-release composition have been found to show no significant loss in delivery of flavor.

Abstract: A die casting unit employing plural die members and core members which are used in closed position for die casting shaped articles of unusual configuration and particularly articles which are comprised of two or more subcomponents arranged or joined in interconnected assembly, an example of such shaped article being the slider body and pull chain used on slide fasteners. Movement of at least the die members during the molding cycle is effected by rotation of a ring member carrying structure which cooperates with structure on the die members to slide the die members between their open and closed positions.

Abstract: Instant pasta prepared by forming a sheet of gelatinized cereal flour-dough, expanding the sheeted dough under controlled conditions to impart a high degree of essentially uniform porous structure to the sheet, subdividing the expanded dough into pieces of desired shapes, thereby exposing the porous interior of said shaped pieces along their perimeter surfaces, and drying the shaped pieces. Other features of the invention appear in the following specification.

Abstract: The terminal current of a main secondary battery is continuously monitored throughout charging and discharging by a system having a monitor cell, such as a metal gas battery, and having circuitry for conforming monitor cell terminal current in sense, and proportionally in magnitude, to the main battery terminal current. Apparatus responsive to the monitor cell state of charge may provide sensible output indication of main battery state of charge or control charging/discharging of the main battery.

Abstract: A web is electrically perforated at high hole density by applying alternating-current voltage across an electrode pair facing the web while pressurized gas is supplied to the electrode gap. Voltage amplitude level and gas flow level are selected to provide for the striking of multiple arcs per half-cycle, thereby enabling reduction in spacing between adjacent perforations in the web. Perforation practice involving preselection of cigarette filter tipping paper based on chemical composition of the paper is also disclosed as is apparatus for use in implementing the described practices, wherein electrode support members have gas flow conduits formed integrally therewith and wherein webs are taken up by a capstan drive unit resiliently biased into engagement with a web take-up roll.