Abstract: Photovoltaic cell comprising two heterojunctions between three component semiconductors Ga.sub.1-x AL.sub.x As with x varying from 0 to 0.9, GaAs, and Ge which have respective bandgaps of 0.66, 1.43 and 2.4 eV, lattice constants matching at 0.07% and expansion coefficients matching at 1.7%. The cell is mounted in a cell device comprising a parallelepipedal unit, a Fresnel lens, a tapering cavity within said unit, partially filled up with a lens shaped antireflecting transparent material and a radiator, said device forming a sunlight concentrator.

Abstract: In anesthesia apparatus for supplying oxygen and an anesthesia gas through respective flow control valves to a patient breathing circuit a low oxygen flow alarm system is provided. The alarm system includes a restrictor in the pipeline of the oxygen flow control valve and a restrictor in the pipeline of the anesthesia gas flow control valve. A differential pressure sensing unit including a diaphragm assembly responsive to the pressure in the oxygen pipeline and another diaphragm assembly responsive to the pressure in the anesthesia gas pipeline is coupled to the restrictor pipelines. The diaphragm assemblies are opposed to each other and coupled together by a displaceable linkage. Electrical switch means are provided coupled to the linkage to provide an alarm signal when the linkage has been moved to a predetermined position indicating that the oxygen concentration has dropped below a predetermined value. The differential pressure sensing unit includes spring biasing means.

Abstract: An annular chamber in a housing has inlets at both ends. A central segment of the changer has on its inside wall a groove tapering toward the inside and leading at its base to a centrally located output passageway. Disposed in the groove and central segment of the chamber is an annular gate ring which has a T-shaped radial cross-section. There is sufficient clearance between the ring and the walls to permit the ring to move freely a short distance axially within its confinement. Pressure from one or the other direction of the chamber causes the ring to deform itself against one or the other side of the groove so that the top part of the T-shaped radial cross-section closes off the chamber to the other side.

Abstract: A magnetic circuit comprising a fixed core, yokes having flat portions in parallel planes, and an armature comprising a permanent magnet provided with pole pieces having end portions projecting on either side of the magnet, a flat portion of a first one of said yokes penetrating into the space between two end portions of the pole pieces located on one side of the magnet axis, the air gap surfaces of said yokes and of said pole pieces extending normally to the magnet axis and, one the other side thereof, at least one projecting end portion of said pole pieces penetrating between two flat portions of second and third yokes carried by a same free end of the core. Such a magnetic circuit is suitable for monostable or bistable operation in relays, contactors or solenoid valves.

Abstract: A rotor driven for an axial flow gas turbine engine compressor is formed as a composite structure of inner and outer skins with a core therebetween and a set of tensile reinforcing rings each located in a respective groove of a corrugated outer surface of the drum. In the completed drum the drum body is preferably under compressive prestress while the reinforcing rings are under tensile prestress.

Abstract: This invention relates to the thermal production of magnesium, using, as source of magnesium oxide, a residual slag from the manufacture of certain carbon-containing chrome irons and, as reducing agent, a ferro-silico-aluminum for carrying out the MAGNETHERM process. Magnesium is obtained with a high degree of purity and in excellent yields, with the recovery of a residual alloy containing chromium and silicon, and the production capacity of a given furnace is increased by about 16% compared with that obtained when using calcined dolomite.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting a petroleum-oil supply line mounted on a marine column to a receiver conduit mounted on an oil-tanker, said column a head being mounted pivotally about the axis of said column at its upper end and including a rotary turret with a boom extending radially therefrom, wherein the improvement comprises a single-turn rotary pulley mounted on the head of the column and adapted to receive the upstream length of a hose-pipe, apparatus for permanently connecting the upstream end of said hose-pipe to the downstream end of the oil-supply line of said column, and apparatus for supporting and guiding the downstream length of the hose-pipe from the pulley to the end of said boom in such a manner that a connecting member provided at the downstream end of the downstream length has its outlet opening constantly directed downwards at the end of the said boom.

Abstract: A device for checking the complete sealing of filters to cigarettes by subjecting cigarettes being transported by a rotary transfer drum to an axial air flow to displace acceptable cigarettes. The unacceptable ciagarettes are unable to be displaced and are impinged upon by an outwardly directed air flow to expel these cigarettes from the transfer drum.

Abstract: A high-power laser head has a neodymium-doped glass rod as its active material and a source of light for exciting the glass rod to make it amplify laser radiation at 1.06 microns wavelength. The light source tends to illuminate the outer portions of the rod better than its axial zone thereby exciting the rod un-evenly. However, the outwardly directed light from the light source is collected by a spherical reflector and refocussed on a ruby laser which is aimed along the axial zone of the glass rod to increase its excitation in that zone and provide a more evenly excited glass rod. A mirror is placed between the glass rod and the ruby laser on the axis of the rod. The mirror reflects laser light at 1.06 microns wavelength but allows it to pass at the ruby wave length.

Abstract: A device to secure and insure the tightness of vanes of a turbine is an alar plate which carries on the side toward its external edge a plurality of studs and toward its internal edge a plurality of hangers. The disk of the rotor has on its lower edge a series of teeth or indentations, the top of the teeth having a configuration to cooperate with the inner surface of the hangers. The vanes have on their rims a plurality of grooves. Two adjacent vanes form a groove into which the studs enter when the hangers cooperate with the teeth. The studs are borne by tongues cut radially into the annular plate.

Abstract: A pork-like flavorant which comprises the reaction product of a mixture of(a) a source of amino acid,(b) a lower aliphatic mercaptocarboxylic acid or a salt thereof, and(c) oleoresin sage;said mixture containing from about 5 to about 300 parts by weight of amino acid source per part by weight of mercaptocarboxylic acid and from about 0.005 to about 0.3 part by weight of oleoresin sage per part by weight of mercaptocarboxylic acid, said mixture being substantially free from added monosaccharide.Other features of the invention appear in the following description.

Abstract: A powder-actuated fastening tool is provided with a return pawl slideable within a pawl-holder fixed to the barrel-holder, between a piston engaging position, wherein the pawl, protruding through a longitudinal slot in the barrel engages the piston during the opening of the tool, while at least one boss, formed on the pawl, engages a first plane milled surface of the barrel, and a cocked position, where a second plane milled surface of the barrel, more remote from the barrel axis than the first surface, engages the boss to retract the pawl, the two milled surfaces being connected by a transverse groove which the boss can engage to maintain the barrel in its locked and non-cocked position.

Abstract: A flexible fluid collection bag is described having an upper sampling compartment of predetermined volume and a lower collection compartment partially separated by a heat seal portion, yet remaining in fluid communication with each other. To obtain a fluid sample from the bag, the bag is inverted to fill the sampling compartment, then pivotably held at the connection of the compartments while the collection compartment is returned to its original position. The fluid remaining in the sample compartment then is discharged into a specimen collection container.

Abstract: A hemostatic clip useful in the strangulation of tubular members and formed of elongate deformable material is disclosed. The clip consists of a pair of arms coupled at one end and open at the other, the arms being separated in a substantially opposed relationship and each having a flat surface facing inwardly. Located in the flat surfaces of the arms are diagonal recesses. The recesses in opposing surfaces are arranged so as to be angularly displaced with respect to one another such that when the surfaces are brought into contact the recesses on opposing surfaces form a cross-hatched pattern.

Abstract: Identification plates are produced by applying retroreflective material upon a male die member and subsequently pressing a plate blank over the retroreflective material to adhere the material to the blank. The blank is then lifted from the male die member and the retroreflective material, in the form of characters to be formed upon the identification plate, has pressure applied thereto to remove air bubbles. The blank is then replaced on the male die member which is formed with male die elements also in the form of the characters to be produced, and by applying a compressive force to the plate blank, an identification plate is formed with indented retroreflective characters devoid of air bubbles or the like.

Abstract: There is disclosed a machine for automatically forming a knot around an article such as a sausage and the like. The object to be tied is introduced into aligned tubes, and a thread, a cord or the like is interlaced around the tubes by the following operations: rotation and translation of a cord pressing member which first presses and then releases the cord, a forward and back movement of a member for retaining the cord, and the forward and back motion of a separator. The tightening of the cord is brought about by the action of a gripper carried by the separator and by a means for tensioning the cord, while the cord is deposited upon the object by reason of the separation of the tubes. A cutting means which operates at the end of the cycle cuts off the end of the cord upstream of the knot. The invention can be used to tie a number of different objects as well as sausages.

Abstract: A device for folding preshaped pieces of cardboard advancing in a stepped manner along a support surface and towards an intermittent machine for packaging cigarettes into hinged lid packets, the device including folding means arranged at a folding position along said support surface to fold a peripheral portion of that of said pieces which is arranged at said folding position about a preshaped folding line parallel with said advancement direction and coinciding with a free lateral edge of a folding bar coplanar with said support surface, said folding means being disposed facing said free edge and being movable to engage said peripheral portion to bend the same underneath said folding bar about said free edge.