Abstract: In a steam turbine having a main inlet pipe which introduces steam to a nozzle chamber through the turbine casings and a bell seal assembly for sealing the inlet pipe relative to the casings and the nozzle chamber, the bell seal assembly including a bell seal disposed in the nozzle chamber, and a retainer nut sleeved by the bell seal and threadedly engaged in the inlet pipe, the improvement which comprises: the bell seal being replaced by a ring carrier, a stack of inner and outer sealing rings loosely sleeved on the ring carrier, the material of the inner rings having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than the material of the ring carrier and the outer rings being made from a material having a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the material of the nozzle chamber.

Abstract: A fat sparing composition, and cremes, particularly cookie filler cremes, utilizing the fat sparing composition. The composition includes a soft fat blend, and an emulsifier which is preferably a phosphated mono- or diglyceride or polyglycerol polyricinoleate. DATEM esters and lecithin may also advantageously be used. The fat sparer may be used to extend vegetable fat in cookie filler and other cremes.

Abstract: A soft start circuit for a high-power module permits trickle-charging of the capacitor bank prior to power switch actuation, and avoids large current surges or inrush at power up. Positive temperature coefficient thermistor devices, or PTCs are place in shunt across the switch elements or poles of the actuator or other power switch. In a power module that is powered by three-phase AC, the three power conductors are coupled through a three-pole contactor to AC inputs of a polyphase rectifier bridge, which has DC outputs coupled to the capacitor bank and to a load device, such as a high-power RF amplifier. The PTCs are connected, one per pole, in shunt across each pole of the contactor. Alternatively, metallized film capacitors can be employed in lieu of the PTCs.

Abstract: An efficient method of producing phytosphingosine-containing ceramide one comprising: (a) obtaining a phytosphingosine base from tetraacetylphytosphingosine (TAPS) by a deacetylation reaction wherein the TAPS is produced by fermentation of cells of the F-60-10 mating type strain of Hansenula ciferrii using a fed-batch mode and a non-fermentable carbon source; and (b) coupling together the phytosphingosine base and a fatty acid/.omega.-hydroxy fatty acid component wherein the .omega.-hydroxy fatty acid component is prepared by a process which includes Kolbe synthesis.

Abstract: A food-grade vector is provided which is suitable for transforming a food-grade host cell and is incapable of replicating autonomously in the host cell due to deletion of the replicase gene.

Abstract: A pallet assembly for supporting and protecting a load during transportation of the load. The pallet comprises two elongated members spaced apart and oriented substantially parallel so as to be located on opposite sides of the load. A plurality of support members support the load with a clearance space between the support members and the ground. The support members are removably attached to the two elongated members. An adjusting mechanism adjusts the support members relative to the two elongated members to lower the support members toward the ground and reduce the clearance space between the support members and the ground.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus providing an object focal plane for original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable carnage further includes an automatically-positioned alignment grid for aligning original documents, such that the grid is visible at the surface and moves with the scan carriage.

Abstract: The present invention is related to new oral hygiene compositions that have improved foam, viscosity, clarity and good taste due to the inclusion of a new type of alkyl aldonamide compound, specifically heteroatom containing alkyl aldonamide compounds.

Abstract: A composition and method for inhibiting lead corrosion of fine tableware washed in automatic dishwashers is disclosed. The detergent composition comprises an aluminum-sequestrant complex formed by binding the aluminum by a sequestrant in a premix, which is then processed with other detergent components. The composition has a pH of less than about 10 and is substantially free of silicates.

Abstract: A water-continuous spread having a structuring amount of oligofructoses, from 0.1 to 15 wt % of mono- or disaccharides and 0.1 to 7 wt. % of fat in the form of small globules or crystals having a volume weighted mean diameter of less than 20 .mu.m.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for customizing a facial foundation product at point of sale to a customer. Three essential elements are that of a skin analyzer for reading skin properties, a programmable device receiving the reading and correlating same with an optimal formula from a preprogrammed set of formulas, and a formulation machine for preparing the facial foundation product from various cosmetic chemical compositions. The formulation machine receives instructions from the programmable device on the optimal formula. This formula is then dosed and blended from a series of dispensers containing separate cosmetic chemical compositions into a receiving bottle. The optimal formula may be altered through customer preferences by manual alteration of the selected optimal formula.

Abstract: A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier.

Abstract: A triglyceride oil containing a membrane lipid in a concentration effective for crystallization modification the membrane lipid having a formula:C.sub.13 H.sub.27 --CH.dbd.CH--CH(OH)--CH(NHCOA.sub.2)--CH2--OA.sub.4,wherein C.sub.13 H.sub.27 -- is an unbranched alkyl chain, A.sub.2 is an unbranched C.sub.23 H.sub.47 -- hydrocarbon chain, and A.sub.4 is a sugar moiety selected from the group consisting o a monosaccharide residue, a disaccharide residue or an oligosaccharide residue, including glucose, fructose, galactose, saccharose, lactose and maltose. Said membrane is utilized to separate solid fatty materials from triglyceride oils by heating the oil in an inert solvent until a substantial amount of the solid material is no longer present, adding the membrane lipid as the crystallization modifying substance, cooling the oil to crystallize a solid stearin phase in combination with a liquid olein phase, and recovering the stearin phase by separating it from the olein phase.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed focal planes for transmissive and reflective original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. The resolution of the digitized representation of the scanned original document can be determined by rotation of at least one lens about an axis substantially perpendicular to its optic axis.

Abstract: A pitting knife drive assembly for mounting in a fruit pitting apparatus to drive pitting knives of the pitting apparatus. The pitting knife assembly includes a box cam, a drive assembly for rotating the box cam, a pivot unit which undergoes reciprocating pivoting motion in response to the rotating box cam, and a set of one or more shafts which reciprocate longitudinally in response to the reciprocating pivoting motion of the pivot unit. Preferably also, the pitting knife assembly includes a subassembly for causing the shafts to undergo reciprocating motion in directions perpendicular to their longitudinal axes. A preferred implementation of this subassembly includes a carriage driven by a rotating eccentric, where the eccentric and the box cam are mounted along a common drive shaft, and the drive assembly includes a motor for rotating the drive shaft.

Abstract: Mesomorphic phases of edible surfactants can advantageously be added to food products to provide for example structuring or fat-replacement. Preferably the mesomorphic phases are present as bulk phases in finished or ready to eat food products. The compositions include lactose.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods for preparing 5-aroyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrrolo-[1,2-a]pyrrole-1-carboxylic acids represented by formula (I): ##STR1## In a first embodiment, the method comprises the sequential steps of cyclizing, via a free radical ring closure reaction, and hydrolyzing a compound represented by formula (IV): ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is lower alkyl.

Abstract: A fiberoptic velocity transducer for use in determining the rotational speed of an object and comprising a magneto-optic material coated with a dielectric material that operates to selectively pass light energy having a first range of wavelengths, and to reflect light energy having a second range of wavelengths, so as to make the light energy with the second range of wavelengths available as a reference signal, the magneto-optic material functioning to cause a Faraday rotation in the light energy having the first range of wavelengths that is characteristic of the speed of the rotating object.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process image-wise exposes an imaging element with a high intensity short time scanning exposure. The imaging element comprises on a support in the order given a silver halide emulsion layer and a layer containing physical development nuclei. A thus obtained image-wise exposed imaging element is subsequently developed in the presence of a developing agent and silver halide solvent. The image-wise exposure is focused substantially within the silver halide emulsion layer of the imaging element. The present invention further provides an apparatus for carrying out the above method.