Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved process for the manufacture of ammonia from a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen and nitrogen. According to the invention, the process comprises the steps of: (a) feeding a gaseous mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen, in the proportions of about 3 moles hydrogen to 1 mole nitrogen, together with inert gases, into a converter containing catalyst(s) for ammonia synthesis; (b) conveying the reaction mixture from said converter through a water-free adsorbent to effect adsorption of the formed ammonia together with some inert gases, whereby the adsorbed gases are separated from the unreacted mixture of gases, the latter being recycled to the converter; (c) effecting desorption of ammonia from the water-free ammonia-loaded adsorbent by direct contact of said adsorbent with a concentrated hot stream of ammonia-containing gases, and (d) condensing the ammonia eliberated from the adsorbent to liquid ammonia.

Abstract: Molten alkaline earth metal halides are used to convert highly stable oxides into the corresponding anhydrous halides. Usually a third reactant, such as silica, is added in order to bind the basic oxide thus formed. The solid oxide compounds (e.g. silicates) which result are wellknown ceramic phases of a high degree of purity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new type of chromatography technique, referred to as dynamic column chromatography, for separation of one or more compounds present in a solution, which is characterized by the existence of a moving solid adsorbent bed. According to the invention, the chromatographic system comprises a piston having at its bottom a sealing element and a longitudinal channel containing the adsorbent between two barriers and a test tube having at its bottom a multiple way valve. By pushing the piston into the test tube, the desired eluent which was prior forced through said valve is entering under intrinsic pressure of the closed system through the channel moving the adsorbed compounds to be separated between said barriers, the solution obtained going out through a nozzle located at one of the end parts of the piston.

Abstract: An object-gripping device, particularly useful for gripping thin-wall tubes, comprises a first flexible gripping member formed with two loops adapted to partially enclose one side of the object, and a second flexible gripping member formed with a third loop interposed between the two loops of the first member and adapted to partially enclose the opposite side of the object. The gripping device further includes means engaging the opposite ends of the two gripping members to move them away from each other to cause their loops to grip the object, or towards each other to cause them to release the object. A sleeve is provided for each gripping member and is movable along its length to vary the effective gripping size of the loops formed by the two members. Also described is an industrial robot having a vertical arm carrying the object-gripping device such as to enable the arm to grip and release an object from above.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic cell for polarographic analysis. According to the invention said cell comprises a vessel (14) containing a nebulizer (3) for deaerating the sample to be analyzed, the deaerated sample being accumulated into a collector (16) and conveyed to a polarographic cell (15) provided with means for the removal of the sample after its analysis. The automatic polarographic analyzer is characterized by the very short time required for its analysis.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for depositing a diamond or diamond-like carbon film on at least one substrate employing a hydrocarbon gas and at least one gas which preferentially removes by chemical sputtering other forms of carbon, especially graphite from said film to thereby obtain useful carbon film coated products.

Abstract: The invention comprises a bridged, transformerless charger which will permit the use of inexpensive low power diodes and a battery saver which may be used to permit excess energy to charge batteries.

Abstract: The method of causing or promoting chemical changes involving the step of subjecting reactants to ultrasonic energy as a key treatment step, including methods of: (1) reducing aryl halides by treating a mixture of aryl halide and lithium aluminum hydride in a liquid ether medium; (2) making cycloaddition products by treating a mixture of alpha, alpha'-dibromo-ortho-xylene, zinc powder and a dienophile in a liquid ether medium; (3) making beta-hydroxyesters by treating a mixture of alpha-bromoethylacetate, a carbonyl compound, zinc dust and an iodine enhancer in a liquid ether medium; (4) making tetramesityldisilene involving treating a solution of bis(mesityl)dichlorosilane in a liquid ether medium, with lithium present in the medium; and (5) saturating organic compounds having capability of reduction at carbon-carbon bonds involving treating a mixture of an organic compound having capability of reduction at carbon-carbon bonds, and formic acid, in an alcohol medium with palladium-on-carbon present as a catal

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method which eliminates centrifugation and decantation steps, to be performed in an automatic manner for carrying out specific binding assay tests, wherein liquid and solid phases are present.According to the invention, use is made of a specially designed device, consisting of a mixing reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer separator having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator. A rack holding a number of said mixing reservoirs containing the incubated reagents and analytes, capped with the mixer separators, is placed into a press-device designed to perform at a controlled rate a downward movement. The mixer separators are pushed downwards into the mixing reservoirs at a chosen rate for a preselected distance to complete the mass transport and separation operations. The separation devices are removed and either one of the separated phases can be measured in the desired analytical instrument for a quantitative or qualitative determination.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new technique and device for mass transfer of one or more components from one liquid phase to another liquid phase, involving a physical separation of said two phases.According to the new technique, the mass transfer and physical separation are carried out in the same device. The device consists of a mixing-reservoir into which is fitted snugly a mixer-separator, having a channel in the vertical axis of the mixer-separator. The two substantially immiscible liquid solutions are introduced into the mixing reservoir, the phases are thoroughly mixed, by moving the mixer-separator in and out the mixing reservoir. After the spontaneous separation into an upper and lower phase, the upper phase is removed by pushing in the mixer-separator said upper phase being accumulated in a collecting container.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring specific force and angular rate of a moving body, particularly useful for a non-gyroscopic inertial measuring unit, comprises an orthogonal triad of rotating accelerometers, each producing an output signal "a", from which output signals are derived both (1) the angular rate vector .OMEGA. by multiplying the accelerometer output signal "a" by the function "SgnCos.omega.t" and integrating the resulting product over the cyclic period, and (2) the specific force vector F, by integrating the output signal "a" over the cyclic period, this processing of the accelerometer output signals substantially suppressing the unwanted components of these signals.

Abstract: Air-conditioning is carried out using a "hydrogen heat pump" driven by waste heat. The hydrogen heat pump includes at least two and preferably four units, wherein hydrogen passes between low-temperature and high-temperature porous metal hydride compacts, each unit having a pair of heat exchangers associated therewith.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic, non-contacting end-face seal for a rotary machine comprises a rotor mounted on the machine shaft and a ring-shaped stator facing the flat and smooth surface of the rotor at a short distance. The stator encloses the machine shaft, is eccentrically positioned in respect of the rotor center, and is urged towards the rotor surface by a helical spring.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving a soil structure by stabilization of aggregates. According to the invention it is applied to the soil a graft polymer substantially free of monomer, having an intrinsic viscosity below 1dg/l and a molecular weight below 100,000. The graft polymer is obtained by the exothermic reaction of a water soluble lignosulfonate with a member selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof. The graft polymers have been found to be also useful as binding reagents for agglomerating single particles of particulate materials.The graft polymers according to the invention are obtained in the form of an aqueous solution, which may be transformed into a powder by spray drying. As soil conditioners they may be applied by spraying, alone or admixed with fertilizers or pesticides and also combined with the operation of planting and soil stabilization.

Abstract: An improved micromethod for the quantitative determination of endotoxins with Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (L.A.L.) reagent is based on the discovery that if L.A.L. reagent and a sample containing microquantities of endotoxin are incubated in a capillary tube, a clot will be formed in the plug preventing any outflow of liquids when low hydrostatic pressure is applied. Increasing the pressure will eventually force out the clot plugging the capillary and the liquid will suddenly erupt giving a clear yes-no indication of the presence of endotoxin. The hydrostatic pressure indicated to cause this eruption is a relatively precise indication of the extent of clotting which, in turn, is indicative of the concentration of endotoxin in the liquid. A kit which can be used to perform this test is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving a soil structure by stabilization of aggregates. According to the invention it is applied to the soil a graft polymer substantially free of monomer, having an intrinsic viscosity below 1 dg/l and a molecular weight below 100,000. The graft polymer is obtained by the exothermic reaction of a water soluble lignosulfonate with a member selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and mixtures thereof. The graft polymers have been found to be also useful as binding reagents for agglomerating single particles of particulate materials.The graft polymers according to the invention are obtained in the form of an aqueous solution, which may be transformed into a powder by spray drying. As soil conditioners they may be applied by spraying, alone or admixed with fertilizers or pesticides and also combined with the operation of planting and soil stabilization.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for improving a soil structure by stabilization of aggregates and to the reagents used therefor. The reagents used are graft polymers obtained from crude lignosulfonate and monomer selected from the group consisting of vinyl cyanide (acrylonitrile), vinyl acetate, hydrolized vinyl acetate and acrylamide or combinations thereof, at a pH range of between 2 and 6 in the presence of an initiator.The reagents obtained according to the invention are true solutions and are characterized by their low viscosity. They can be used in solution, emulsion or suspension either by spraying alone or admixed with fertilizers, pesticides or combined with the operation of planting and soil stabilization.The reagents can be easily manufactured, being stable for prolonged periods of time. They possess outstanding properties as soil conditioners.

Abstract: Kerogen and other combustible matter can be extracted from an area of oil shale or tarsand by drilling boreholes in a selected pattern through the overlying soil and rock without removing it. Each borehole mouth is tightly closed by a cover provided with an air inlet pipe and a gas exhaust pipe. In the covers of one or several boreholes, the inlet pipe is centrally guided and longitudinally movable in an upward and downward direction, and a laser beam generated by a laser source is inroduced into the upper end of the pipe and directed centrally to its bottom where it is diverted toward the borehole wall by a mirror assembly. The laser beam moved along the borehole wall irradiates the oil shale or tarsand and ignites the combustible matter contained therein which liquefies and evaporates. Combustion spreads from the initially ignited bore to the remaining bores in the area through the fissures in the formation and likewise serves to liquefy and evaporate the kerogen there.

Abstract: A transcutaneous pain reliever which utilizes a plurality of battery powered inductive energy generators, which are sequentially and individually activated, a clocking system which has means for automatically inhibiting pulsing of an energy generator until a previous energy generator has delivered its energy, and an antiadapt system to prevent a patient from becoming acclimated to the sensations. The invention also includes an energy absorption sensor which will indicate the amount of energy not absorbed by the electrodes, a bridged, transformerless battery charger which will permit the use of inexpensive low power diodes and a battery saver which may be used to permit excess energy to charge batteries.

Abstract: A test pack kit for assaying for a ligand in a liquid medium. The kit comprises specially designed assay tubes, each tube having a cylindrical side arm which can be interconnected with the side arm of another assay tube. In addition, the pack kit contains antiserum; a conjugate of a metal labelling substance with the ligand; assay calibration standards--in vials containing known concentrations of unlabelled ligand; a separation agent in vials containing material used for separating the bound antibody--metal labelling complex from the unbound metal labelling substance and instrument calibration standards--in vials containing several known concentrations of the metal--labelling substance. Errors caused by pipetting or transferring of reagents from one container to another are practically eliminated.