Abstract: A process for the transesterification of fat and/or oil of biological origin by means of alcoholysis comprises the following steps: provision in a vessel of fat and/or oil of biological origin to be transesterified, and implementation of alcoholysis by addition of an alkanol, in particular of a monohydric alkanol, and of a catalyst to the fat and/or oil that has been provided. with a view to eliminating the disadvantages of traditional transesterification processes, a metal salt of an amino acid or of an amino-acid derivative is used as catalyst, said metal salt being insoluble in alkanols.

Abstract: A suspension lug has a ring shaped elastomer body in which two fixing parts are arranged opposite each other, and a flexible insert shaped like a loop which is embedded in the elastomer body in such a way that it transmits tensile forces from one fixing part to the other when the suspension lug is subjected to tensile loading. At least one of the fixing parts has attachment areas on which the insert is hung in such a way that the insert extends essentially radially away from this fixing part. As a result, the structural height of the suspension lug is relatively small.

Abstract: In a working vehicle such as an agricultural tractor, a front wheel change speed device for transmitting drive to front wheels includes an equal speed clutch for driving the front wheels substantially at the same speed as rear wheels, and an accelerating clutch for driving the front wheels substantially at a higher speed than the rear wheels. In the front wheel change speed device of this invention, the equal speed clutch and accelerating clutch are arranged coaxially. The front wheel change speed device further includes a shift member axially shiftable for selectively operating the equal speed clutch and accelerating clutch, and an actuator for axially shifting the shift member.

Abstract: A multi-function lever for an industrial truck has a lever that can be pivoted around at least a first axis and at least one control element located on the lever. By pivoting the lever around the first axis and by actuating the control element, it is possible to actuate at least one function each of the industrial truck. The invention teaches that the control element can be actuated by pivoting around a second axis, wherein the second axis is substantially parallel to the first axis. The control element can be actuated with the index finger of a hand gripping the hand grip. By pivoting the lever, a vertical movement of the load holding device can be controlled, and by pivoting the control element, a tilting of the load holding device can be controlled.

Abstract: A propelling transmission for an agricultural tractor includes a main change speed mechanism, an auxiliary change speed mechanism, and a high/low change speed mechanism for providing two, high and low, speeds with a smaller transmission ratio than a transmission ratio between speed stages of the main change speed mechanism. The main change speed mechanism, auxiliary change speed mechanism and high/low change speed mechanism are arranged in series. Speeds in a low-speed range for an operational run among speeds provided by the main change speed mechanism and auxiliary change speed mechanism are combined with the two speeds provided by the high/low change speed mechanism.

Abstract: A solar-cell watch dial to be disposed on or above a solar cell housed in a watch, the solar-cell watch dial including an alumina of the formula Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 whose purity is at least 99.90% and exhibiting a light transmission ranging from 40 to 60%. The invention also includes a process for producing a solar-cell watch dial, which includes the steps of: mixing together an alumina of the formula Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 whose purity is at least 99.90%, an organic binder and water to thereby obtain an Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 mixture (A); drying and granulating the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 mixture to thereby obtain a granular material (B); molding the granular material into a plate dial precursor (C); firing the dial precursor at 700 to 1500.degree. C. in atmospheric environment to thereby obtain a preliminary firing product (D); and firing the preliminary firing product at 1500 to 1800.degree. C. under a pressure of 1.times.10.sup.-2 to 1.times.10.sup.-5 torr for 1 to 10 hr to thereby obtain a solar-cell watch dial (E).

Abstract: A driver for use in orthopedic surgery having a generally elongate housing adapted for single-handed gripping operation. The driver includes an engagement mechanism associated with the housing for releasably engaging the proximal end of a longitudinally extending driven member and includes a driven member, such as a flexible drive spindle, for rotatably driving the engagement mechanism. The driver further includes shield that is supportingly connected with an end of the housing so as to extend co-axially with and fully circumscribe the driven member. The distal end of the shield terminates in an end portion adapted to be placed against a surface of a body part into which the member is driven. The driver also includes a mechanism to permit relative movement in an axial direction between the engagement mechanism and the end portion for advancement into and retraction from the surface so that, in use, single-handedly, the driven member is always fully shielded and supported.

Abstract: A bi-directional operating automated guided transit system such as a people mover including a vehicle having at least one pair of opposing axles, each axle having a wheel with its own drive system. The vehicle is capable of providing torque controlled steering to the vehicle. Sensors mounted on the vehicle detect the path of a guide track and, through a controlling system, direct the motors to provide a constant torque to both wheels, thereby directing the vehicle along a straight path or, in the alternative, direct the motors associated with each wheel to provide differing torques, thereby causing the vehicle to turn. The system also permits a vehicle operator to bypass the sensor signal and to manually steer the vehicle.

Abstract: Useful ingredients are extracted from a mycelium-containing culture medium by the steps of inoculating basidiomycetes in a solid culture medium containing bagasse as a substrate and proliferating mycelium, and then squeezing the solid culture medium containing proliferated mycelium to obtain a squeeze liquid (i), separately, adding water and beta 1,3, glucanase and at least one enzyme selected from the group consisting of chitinase, cellulase and protease to a mycelium-containing solid residue having been separated from the squeeze liquid (i), stirring the resulting mixture with maintaining the mixture at 30 to 60.degree.0 C. to lyse mycelial cell walls, and heating the resulting cell wall lysis product-containing liquid (ii) up to a temperature of 95.degree. C. to inactivate the enzyme and perform sterilization. The cell wall lysis product-containing liquid (ii) contains .beta.-glucan in a high concentration and shows excellent antitumor effects.

Abstract: A flexible disc is arranged between first and second flanges each designed to be secured to a shaft, the flexible disc being alternately fixed at angular spacings to one each of the flanges. A torsional vibration suppressor is associated with one of the two flanges and has a suppressor collar integrally formed with the flange, a gyrating mass, and a rubber spring suspension system which is secured by vulcanization to the suppressor collar and the gyrating mass. A centering device having a centering collar formed integrally with the flange, a centering body rigidly connected to the other flange, and a rubber spring suspension system secured by vulcanization to the centering collar, is provided for mutually centering the two shafts. This obviates the need for expensive fits or matches and facilitates the assembly of the shaft coupling.

Abstract: A submersible camera is releasably attached to a fishing line so that the submersible camera can observe the bait receiving end of the fishing line when the submersible camera and the bait receiving end of the fishing line are submerged in a body of water. The submersible camera is connected to a video monitor via video cable. By observing the bait receiving end of the fishing line on the video monitor a fisherman can obtain real time information regarding the fishing environment enabling the fisherman to make better informed decisions regarding the presence and desirability of fish, the attractiveness of the bait or lure to the fish, whether the fish are striking the bait, the appropriate time to apply a hooking yank, whether the fish is hooked and how aggressively should the fish be reeled in. This enables the fisherman to catch more desirable fish.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for dividing a piece of meat containing at least one elongate bone structure, for example a spinal column, such that this elongate bone structure is also divided. The apparatus includes for this purpose a positioning assembly for positioning the piece of meat and a continuously movable knife for dividing a positioned piece of meat. The invention also relates to an apparatus for removing marrow from at least one piece of bone.