Abstract: A process for producing ethanol or fermented beverages such as beer or wine wherein a suitable fermentable substrate (e.g., brewers wort, must) is contacted in a batch process with particles comprised of yeast cells encapsulated or immobilized within an insoluble, porous, semi-permeable matrix material at conditions effective for fermentation and maturation. The process employs means for maintaining efficient contact of substrate and yeast-containing particles.

Abstract: A clip for use in a hinged border wire assembly, such as a border wire assembly used in a mattress, joins border wire portions together in a manner that permits one border wire section to rotate with respect to the other. This permits folding of a large border wire of the type that would be used on a king-size mattress, for example, in order to pass the mattress through small areas such as doors and stairways. The disclosed embodiment has two border wire sections which are generally U-shaped and which abut along portions formed at the ends of each U. The clip has a pair of adjacent sleeves within which respective abutting border wire portions are received. A barb is formed inwardly of a sleeve to secure the barbed sleeve in place on its border wire portion while allowing the other abutting portion to rotate within its sleeve in hinged fashion.

Abstract: A distributing device for placing intermediate elements onto a layer of elongate material such as aluminum sections or the like to form a material stack (3) in a stacker, comprises a stacking table (1) adapted to be lowered relative to the stacking plane and a roller bed (5) which includes spaced rollers (8) between two lateral chains for conveying the material (20) onto the stacking surface. At the head (7) of the roller bed (5) there is provided an intermediate-element distributor (12) adapted to be taken along thereby, said distributor being adapted to automatically and successively place intermediate elements (15) on the material layer (20).

Abstract: A method and composition for the preservation of plants. The composition comprises a preservative and a facilitator to increase the rate of aspiration of the preservative by the plant. The preferred preservative is glycerine and the preferred facilitator is dimethyl sulfoxide. Two processes for systemic application of the preservative composition are disclosed.

Abstract: A greeting card having a confetti delivery system which is triggerable is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the card includes a rupturing adhesive on the inside of a leaf opposite a confetti packet attached to a different leaf. A removable protective coating or covering prevents the confetti packet from contacting the rupturing adhesive when the untriggered card is opened. Removal of the covering triggers the card so that when it is opened thereafter the confetti packet ruptures.

Abstract: A method of adding a high intensity sweetener such as thaumatin, monellin and the like to chewing gum ingredients. The method comprises forming an emulsion comprising the high intensity sweetener, water, an emulsifier, and a hydrophobic ingredient which is preferably a flavor. Once formed, the emulsion is admixed with the chewing gum ingredients in any suitable manner.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a modular storage and dispensing rack for dispensing articles are disclosed. The first embodiment is a rack with a top and bottom shelf, while the second embodiment is a rack with only one shelf. The shelves normally have between five and nine discrete tray modules, wherein the tray modules are fixed in a side-by-side relationship to form the shelves. The tray modules each have a top side for storing articles and a bottom side having saddles that are designed to receive connecting members. The first embodiment has connecting members fabricated from square steel tubing. These connecting members pass through the saddles of the tray modules in opposite directions and overlap. The overlapping connecting members are fixed relative to the tray modules so that the tray modules remain fixed in a side-by-side relationship to form a shelf. The top shelf is supported above the bottom shelf with spacing members fabricated from square tubing.

Abstract: A highway barrier includes a collapsible guardrail assembly and a rotatable beam which is mounted between the rearward end of the guardrail assembly and a roadside hazard. The collapsible guardrail assembly includes a plurality of overlapping panels, adjacent ones of which are secured together by fasteners riding in slots. The fasteners are designed to retain the panels together after the impact and the fasteners are positioned with respect to the panels to cause the panels to tend to rotate away from the roadside during the impact, thereby redirecting the vehicle away from the roadway. The beam is rotatably mounted to the roadside hazard by a band and the forward end of the beam as well as the forward end of each of the panels is supported above the ground on a respective slip base designed to release in response to axial forces and to resist lateral forces.

Abstract: A photoelectric measuring system for detecting an oscillation pattern produced by a light measuring apparatus and generating harmonic free electrical output signals up to a predetermined band width. Any number of harmonics may be eliminated by selecting the size, shape, and position of a plurality of photoelements with respect to the oscillation pattern detected.

Abstract: An apparatus is described which is adapted to simultaneously heat and display a plurality of food products each on a stick, such as corn dogs. The apparatus includes a cabinet with side wall means that are at least partially transparent so as to allow operators and customers to readily see within the cabinet. The apparatus also includes a shaft which is rotatably mounted within the cabinet. Associated with the shaft means is a plurality of stick retaining means which serve to releasably retain the sticks of the food products on the shaft. Rotating means are provided for rotating the shaft within the cabinet. The apparatus further includes heating means for maintaining the food products at the serving temperature desired.

Abstract: A traction aid for snow and ice covered surfaces and method of use are disclosed. The preferred traction aid composition for highways comprises about 90% by weight of between 1/4 inch and 30 mesh hard, crushed limestone and about 10% by weight of 6/30 mesh heat treated ground clay. The preferred composition for sidewalks comprises about 80% by weight 4/30 mesh hard, crushed limestone and about 20% by weight of 6/30 mesh heat treated ground clay.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the load bearing capacity of a surface by continuously transporting a known load along the surface and measuring the resulting deformation thereof. In one embodiment a contactless laser transducer is mounted directly in front of and behind a loaded wheel for measuring the elevation of the surface before and after the load. A computer determines the difference between the measured elevations which is indicative of the load bearing capacity of the surface. Conventional recording, display, and storage equipment are provided for recording, displaying, and storing the elevation values and the corresponding differences. The load velocity and longitudinal position may also be determined and stored with the corresponding elevation and difference values.

Abstract: A new pilot valve for spool-type valves and cartridge-type valves is disclosed. In both types of valve, the valve body (spool or cartridge) is provided with a cylindrical bore and first and second radial bores on opposite sides of a land on the valve body. The valve body is slidable within the axial bore of a valve housing. The valve housing is provided with a pressure inlet port, at least one service port, and usually at least one pressure return port, the ports being axially spaced apart. In a central position, a land of the valve body isolates the pressure inlet port from the pressure inlet port and/or the service port, one of the radial bores is in fluid communication with the pressure inlet port, and the other radial bore is in fluid communication with either a pressure return port or service port. A control rod is inserted in the cylindrical bore of the valve body and rotatable therein.

Abstract: In a photoelectric measuring arrangement two grids operating as a scale and a scanning plate are built up of several component phase grids which define periodic graduations having differing grid constants. The periodic signals of differing periodicity arising through diffraction are optically or electrically summed.

Abstract: A stackable grid material for soil confinement is disclosed. The grid material comprises repeating pattern of cell structures with thin cell walls in between cells and open cell tops and bottoms. The cell wall material of the grid is notched such that the top edges of the cell wall material on the perimeter of a lower layer of grid material overlaps with the bottom edges of cell wall material on the perimeter of an upper layer of grid material. The internal cell walls are able to rest on top one another in spite of the overlap at the perimeter walls due to the positioning and shape of the notches.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively shuttering a light aperture or channel which includes a shutter blade that is rapidly moved by magnetic force between spaced apart end positions. The shutter apparatus maintains the shutter blade stable in either of the two end positions by magnetic attraction, and preferably provides a third stable position for the shutter blade which is intermediate the two end positions, such that the shutter blade has three stable positions corresponding to full, partial and no shuttering of the aperture or channel. In one embodiment, the shutter blade is part of a flag carried by a torsion beam which is fixed at one end in a mount in a cantilever arrangement, and is free to twist about its longitudinal axis. An elongated permanent magnet extends transverse to the flag and presents poles of opposite polarity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing disilylmethanes, wherein the magnesian reaction is carried out between methylene chloride and at least one chlorosilane in a donor solvent.

Abstract: In a length measuring apparatus for measuring the relative position of two objects movable relative to each other a scanning unit fastened to the first object scans the graduation of a scale fastened to the second object. The scale is connected to the second object at both ends by means of two fastening elements. Each fastening element has a length compensation element allowing translatory movement of bearings at the ends of the scale in the measuring direction. The fixing of a reference point on the scale with respect to the second object is accomplished by means of a fixing element which renders one of the length compensation elements ineffective in its functioning.

Abstract: A stacking device for rigid elongated goods, such as metal bars, pipes, sectional materials, and the like, comprises a stacking section, in which at least one set of rollers for conveying the goods are provided. The rollers are arranged to extend with their axes horizontally and transversely underneath the goods for supporting and conveying the same and are adapted to be driven for linear movement selectively in and opposite to the conveying direction direction of the goods by means of linear drive chains, such that all the rollers may be removed from the stacking section in order to transfer the goods onto supports arranged at the stacking section under said rollers and adapted to be raised and lowered to take over the goods into a transportation frame. Moreover, the rollers may be driven by a rotation drive chain, while the linear drive chains stand still such that in a conveying mode the roller axes are kept at rest and the rollers are rotated about their axes to convey the goods.