Abstract: In a method for determining the deviations of the actual position of a track (6) with respect to the desired position a first measuring unit (1), movable on the track, and a further second measuring unit (2) are placed at the two end points of a track section to be measured, and their positions as an actual track position are defined relative to track reference points (11). The second measuring unit (2) is moved in stages from a starting point in the direction of the first measuring unit (1) to the end point, wherein at every stop for implementing a measuring procedure, the measurement data of the actual track position are compared with the measurement data of the desired position and a corresponding differential value is calculated and stored. The position of the two measuring units relative to one another are determined in a coordinate system as a result of the reception of a position signal from surveying satellites.

Abstract: A wellhead flange assembly 12 is provided for interconnecting the threaded end of an upwardly projecting screwed wellhead 16 with a lower flange of the blowout preventer 24. The flange assembly comprises a threaded adapter 40 including a thin-walled portion 54, a flange support portion 56, and an upper stop portion 52. A wellhead flange 42 includes a plurality of bolt holes 44 and an upper surface 51 for engagement with the lower flange of the blowout preventer. A plurality of securing members 48 are provided for selectively connecting and disconnecting the wellhead flange 42 and the threaded adapter 40. An adapter-to-flange seal 60 is provided for sealing engagement between the threaded adapter 40 and the wellhead flange 42. According the method of the invention, the threaded adapter may be easily heated to facilitate removal from the screwed wellhead, or may be cut off the screwed wellhead without damaging the screwed wellhead, thereby permitting the reuse of the wellhead flange on a new well.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously producing a particulate filled bag or barrier. The apparatus includes a frame having terrain engaging members, such as runners. A wound coil of sheet material is mounted on the forward end of the frame, and located to the rear of the coil is an open bottom hopper that contains a particulate material, such as sand or gravel. The sides of the hopper are composed of spaced double walls and the rear surface of the hopper is formed with an outlet. The sheet material is unwound from the coil and continuously folded into a generally U-shape by a pair of lower rollers and two pair of upper rollers, which are mounted on the frame forwardly of the hopper. The bottom surface of the folded sheet extends across the open bottom of the hopper, so that the particulate material will be in direct contact with the bottom surface, while the side surfaces of the folded sheet extend upwardly in the spaces between the double side walls of the hopper.

Abstract: A dual channel monopulse transceiver is described for use at millimeter wavelengths and for the detection of targets for vehicle collision avoidance. A microstrip antenna is located on one side of a plate and a transceiver microstrip circuit coupled to the antenna is located on the other side of the plate. The transceiver includes a reflective balanced mixer, an isolated balanced mixer and a hybrid circuit for connecting the mixers to antenna feed points. Sum and difference signal generating circuits are employed to provide single and split antenna beams for the detection of targets.

Abstract: A system for controlling the flow of data cells through a packet switch combines both input and output buffers in a feedback loop. The fullness level of output buffers is continuously monitored and reported to an access device on the input side of the switch. The access device includes input buffers and a throttling device to stop the flow of data cells, and hold them in the input buffers, when the fullness level of the output buffers exceeds a predetermined level. A status message of output buffer fullness is compared to an access message indicating which output buffers are addressed by cells in the input buffers, and only those cells addressed to overfull output buffers are stopped by the throttling device. The efficiency of the packet switch is improved over switches using input buffers alone. The required capacity of the output buffers is reduced, thereby making it easier and less expensive to provide the required bandwidth.

Abstract: A process for the production of an aluminum hydroxide with rounded grain surfaces. An alkaline solution of a specific composition derived from the Bayer process is inoculated and adsorptively precipitated with an aluminum hydroxide with a specific grain distribution. The aluminum hydroxide obtained according to the new process is especially suitable for the flameproof finishing of polyesters.

Abstract: A propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine predominantly operating in a steady-state mode and a driving engine operating in a transient mode, which act on the output shaft of a planetary gear train by first and second drive shafts. To obtain independent speed and torque values at the driven shaft, an additional transiently operating engine is provided which has a fixed r.p.m. ratio with the first drive shaft or the driven shaft of the planetary gear train. The two transient engines are configured as hydraulic engines or electric engines connected to a control device, a unit being provided for hydraulic or electric power flow between the two transient engines, which in turn is provided with an energy storage.

Abstract: A pull-out guide assembly for a drawer or the like includes a support rail to be fastened to a furniture side wall, a pull-out rail to be fastened to the drawer and an intermediate rail. Rollers transfer the load of the drawer from one rail to another. A cable is fastened to the support rail and is connectable to the pull-out rail, such cable running on pulleys mounted at front and rear ends of the intermediate rail. A coupling device is provided for releasably coupling the cable to the pull-out rail. The coupling device includes an inner elongated coupling member fastened to the cable and an outer coupling member fastened to the pull-out rail and embracing the inner coupling member. Both coupling members are provided with at least one rack member or arrangement of teeth that engage each other when in coupling position.

Abstract: A wrapping machine wherein a wrapping device is supplied with an orderly succession of products by a transfer device which, at an input station, successively removes the products off a feed device traveling through the input station in a given direction. The transfer device presents at least a gripping device in turn presenting jaws moving in a plane for gripping a respective product at the input station, and which rotates about an axis for selectively positioning the plane of the jaws in a first position substantially parallel and in a second position substantially perpendicular to the traveling direction of the feed device.

Abstract: A device (1) for coating and/or impregnating a band (2) in continuous movement (3) with a liquid or pasty product, including an applicator (4) for depositing a layer (5) of the product, at least partially on one face (6) of the band. The device includes applicators (4) which are constituted by a reservoir (7, 70, 407) having a perforated area (8, 21,), brought into contact with the face (6) to be coated and/or impregnated, around which the band is deflected, having on a portion of its shell a set of orifices (9, 90, 409) opening externally and communicating internally with a product feed chamber (10, 110, 410), the surface and/or permeability of which are adjustable.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting when peaks occur in an amplitude modulated electrical signal, and for measuring in real time the amplitudes of the detected peaks. The circuit delays the input signal a short time, and then notes when the input signal and its delayed version have the same amplitude, thereby to detect when a peak has occurred. The amplitude of the peak is then measured. This circuit and technique have particular advantages when used as part of a servo control system that positions a read/write head to accurately follow moving tracks of recorded data on magnetic tape, magnetic disks, optical disks, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides an expression vector adapted for expressing heterologous proteins in plants susceptible to a polyprotein-producing plant virus. The vector utilizes the unique ability of viral polyprotein proteases to cleave heterologous proteins from viral polyproteins. Also provided is a method for expressing heterologous proteins in plants using these unique expression vectors.

Abstract: A gravity sedimentation unit for thickening or clarifying a solids containing liquid is disclosed. The unit comprises a settling basin for receiving the feed and permitting the suspended solids to settle. A pump moves around the basin to discharge solids accumulating at the bottom. Support and vertical positioning of the pump is effected by a pump suspension which comprises a winch and a solids level detector. Horizontal positioning of the pump is effected by a bridge-type crane including a traverse with a drive for moving the traverse over the basin and a motorized trolley for moving the pump suspension back and forth along the traverse. Control of the pump travel is effected by a controller programmed to carry out regular search patterns through the basin.

Abstract: Isoparaffins and olefins are alkylated in the liquid phase by contact with a solid superacid such as sulfated zirconia containing heteropolyacids or polyoxoanions. High octane number blending components for motor fuel and other valuable products are obtained, with important advantages over processes using liquid acid catalysts, and over vapor phase alkylation with solid superacid catalysts.

Abstract: Organic compounds are dehydrogenated by contact with a catalyst prepared by oxidizing and then sulfiding a composition comprising Group VIIIA (first or second row) catalytic metal on a nonacidic porous support, for example alumina, to produce compositions which have good dispersion of a catalytically active metal component and of sulfide species over the surface of the compositions and high activity as catalysts for the dehydrogenation of organic compounds. In one embodiment of the invention the catalyst used in the process of the invention has ratios of nickel, and/or sulfide species to peak areas of aluminum in the support, as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which improve their activity and stability for use as dehydrogenation catalysts.

Abstract: A barge for the commercial shipping of cargo along an inland waterway having an economically optimized bow, a stern, elongated sidewalls extending between the bow and the stern, and a bottom interconnecting the bow, stern and sidewalls. The bow has a profile within a longitudinal centerline plane of symmetry defined by a fullness which is defined by a block coefficient. The bow also has a corresponding radius within the longitudinal centerline plane. The fullness and the radius of the bow are optimized for economic performance of the barge, which is dependent upon revenue generated by shipping cargo in the barge along a waterway, fuel costs associated with overcoming resistance to propel the barge along a waterway, and maintenance and repair costs associated with propelling the barge along a waterway. The barge has a block coefficient in the range of about 0.96 to about 0.988, with a corresponding radius ranging from about 10' to about 22'.

Abstract: The invention provides novel methods for the oxidation of hydrocarbons with oxygen-containing gas to form hydroxy-group containing compounds and for the decomposition of hydroperoxides to form hydroxygroup containing compounds. The catalysts used in the methods of the invention comprise transition metal complexes of a porphyrin ring having 1 to 12 halogen substituents on the porphyrin ring, at least one of said halogens being in a meso position and/or the catalyst containing no aryl group in a meso position. The catalyst compositions are prepared by halogenating a transition metal complex of a porphyrin.