Abstract: A Hatschek process for the production of profiled fiber cement plates is provided. The process comprises the steps of: (i) providing an endless fiber cement multilayered slab stacking at least one monolayer of a first type having a first width and at least one monolayer of a second type of monolayers having a second width, the at least one monolayer of a second type of monolayers extending in transverse direction beyond the at least one monolayer of a first type of monolayer: (ii) accumulating at least one layer of the endless fiber cement multilayered slab on a profiled accumulator roll having a recess along at least part of its circumference whereby the at least first monolayer is provided within the recess; (iii) removing the accumulated slab from the accumulator roll; and (iv) curing the uncured fiber cement plate.

Abstract: Fiber cement material, which contains organic fibers, is used as an additional raw material for the production of cement clinker. The cement clinker is produced in a system which comprises a cyclone tower (11) and a rotating drum kiln (15). The cyclone tower (11) comprises cyclones (1-5) and a pre-calciner unit (10) wherein fuel is combusted to feed the cyclone tower with heat. The raw clinker meal is passed through the cyclone tower to preheat it. By the combustion of the fuel in the pre-calciner unit (10) a hot zone is produced in the cyclone tower wherein the raw clinker meal is calcined.

Abstract: A ball launcher has a body and a ball conveyor. The body has a sidewall defining axial bore, an attachment for attaching to a tubing string, and at least one radial port that provides access though the sidewall to the axial bore. The ball conveyor is carried by the body adjacent to an associated radial port. The ball conveyor comprises an inner bore in communication with the associated radial port and extends laterally outward from the body. A shaft extends along the inner bore, the shaft having a helical flight having at least one turn around the shaft, the flight and a bottom portion of the inner bore defining a ball receiving space large enough to receive a ball to be launched. A drive source rotates the shaft in a first direction to cause the flight to advance one or more balls toward the radial port.

Abstract: A pre-fabricated construction panel (100) for use on an external surface and/or as part of a building or construction is provided. The panel comprises at least a first layer (110) which is at least partially provided from thermally insulating material having a first surface, said panel comprising at least a second layer (120), said at least second layer being provided from fiber cement board said second layer having a second surface facing said first surface, said first and second layers being connected one to the other by a spacing means located between and adhering to said first and said second surface, which spacing means provides at least one interspace (140) between the first and second surface, said at least one interspace having at least two openings to the external of said panel for enabling air to flow into and out of the interspace towards the external of said panel. The thermally insulating material means material has a thermal conductivity (lambda) less than or equal to 0.05 W/mK.

Abstract: A method of producing an insulated corrugated fiber cement sheet (1) is described. The method comprises providing a cured corrugated fiber cement sheet, shrinking the cured corrugated fiber cement sheet, shrinking the cured corrugated fiber cement sheet and adhering a thermal insulation panel (2) having recesses (3) such that these engage with the undulations (4) of the fiber cement sheet (7) while leaving openings (5) for acclimatization. Disclosed is also an insulated corrugated fiber cement sheet (1), a thermal insulation panel (2) for producing such an insulated corrugated fiber cement sheet, and a kit of parts comprising the fiber cement sheet (7) and the thermal insulation panel (2).

Abstract: A Hatschek process for the production of profiled fiber cement plates is provided. The process comprises the steps of: (i) providing an endless fiber cement multilayered slab stacking at least one monolayer of a first type having a first width and at least one monolayer of a second type of monolayers having a second width, the at least one monolayer of a second type of monolayers extending in transverse direction beyond the at least one monolayer of a first type of monolayer: (ii) accumulating at least one layer of the endless fiber cement multilayered slab on a profiled accumulator roll having a recess along at least part of its circumference whereby the at least first monolayer is provided within the recess;(iii) removing the accumulated slab from the accumulator roll; and (iv) curing the uncured fiber cement plate.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of cellulose fibers is provided, the method comprising the steps of (i) impregnation of cellulose fibers with a solution comprising a tetraalkoxysilane and a solvent selected from monofunctional alcohols R4OH; and (ii) squeezing out the solution from in between the cellulose fiber walls; wherein the weight ratio of the solution to the dry weight of the cellulose fibers after the step of squeezing is lower than 2.

Abstract: A ball launcher has a body and a ball conveyor. The body has a sidewall defining axial bore, an attachment for attaching to a tubing string, and at least one radial port that provides access though the sidewall to the axial bore. The ball conveyor is carried by the body adjacent to an associated radial port. The ball conveyor comprises an inner bore in communication with the associated radial port and extends laterally outward from the body. A shaft extends along the inner bore, the shaft having a helical flight having at least one turn around the shaft, the flight and a bottom portion of the inner bore defining a ball receiving space large enough to receive a ball to be launched. A drive source rotates the shaft in a first direction to cause the flight to advance one or more balls toward the radial port.

Abstract: Glass fibre reinforced plasterboard comprising a gypsum matrix of high density with embedded staple glass fibres therewith forming a pressure resistant solid body frame in which are embedded a plurality of very small hollow spaces of 5-350 .mu.m diameter, produced by a fine-pore foam or at least partially by small particles of non-porous and non-water absorbing fillers. During the manufacturing process of such glass fibre reinforced gypsum board, the gypsum and the fibre pieces are given only so much water that the water/gypsum ratio does not exceed 0.6, whereafter a foam and/or pourable or free-flowing fillers are added in such quantities that the apparent density of the entire board is at least 20% smaller than the density of the bonding means component of the matrix and the paste are subjected while being formed, to a vibration.

Abstract: Disclosed are micronized synthetic calcium silicates in the form of fluffy particles of needle-like calcium silicate crystals having a particle size of about 0.5 to 50 microns and an average particle size d.sub.50 of from 5 to 25 microns, and preferably of from 7 to 15 microns, obtainable from micronized, approximately spherical synthetic calcium silicate hydrate aggregates having a diameter of from 10 to 150 microns. They are preferably used in filled and unfilled liquid resin systems.

Abstract: Asbestos-free brake lining comprising phenolic resin and usual fillers and in addition an amount of a synthetic hydrated calcium silicate particle of xonotlite with a substantially spherical morphology and a mean diameter of 50 to 70 .mu.m with an open inner structure and an outer shell with a close limited crystal structure with pore openings of up to 10.sup.-7 m in the outer shell.

Abstract: In synthetic, substantially spherical crystal aggregates of xonotlite having a particle size of more than 20 microns, and preferably up to 150 microns, up to 30% of the silicon atoms can be replaced by titanium or zirconium atoms, and inert particles can be incorporated in the crystal aggregates.

Abstract: Lightweight insulating boards in accordance with the present invention comprise Portland cement, fibers and fillers including:(a) 50-75% by weight of cement,(b) 0-5% by weight of cellulose fibers,(c) 0.5-4% by weight of alkali-resistant fiber material,(d) 5-20% by weight of mica,(e) 5-20% by weight of light filler and(f) 8-25% by weight of hydrated lime.They are shaped into boards from a suspension and are set at least 15 days, and preferably 28 days. The insulating boards of the present invention meet all of the requirements set for such materials regarding flexural strength, incombustibility, and the like.

Abstract: Amorphous, substantially spherical silica particles obtained by acidic hydrolysis of substantially spherical synthetic crystalline calcium silicates having a size of from 20 to 120 microns are coated with a layer comprising silica and alumina. The silica particles obtained may be directly employed as catalysts for the oligomerization of olefins and, having been loaded with platinum, as hydrocracking catalysts.

Abstract: Amorphous, approximately spherical silica particles prepared by the acidic hydrolysis of an approximately spherical synthetic calcium silicate having a uniform microgranular structure on their external surfaces and a structure in the interior thereof which structure only weakly recall the original crystal needle structure of the starting material. The average external particle size is from 15 to 80 .mu.m, the apparent particle volume is from 1.3 to 3 cm.sup.3 /g, and the specific surface area is from 250 to 800 m.sup.2 /g. The silica particles are particularly suitable for use as catalyst supports.

Abstract: Immobilized enzymes covalently bound to an inorganic carrier by an amino group through a bifunctional spacer have improved properties when the carrier is formed of amorphous, approximately spherical silica particles obtained from synthetic calcium silicate. The silica particles have an average particle size of from 15 to 80 .mu.m, an apparent particle volume of from 1.3 to 3 cm.sup.3 /g, and a specific surface area of from 250 to 800 m.sup.2 /g.

Abstract: A material of the board type for various thermal shielding applications preferably contains 10 to 50% by weight of a mineral substance based on silica or silicates in fibrous form prepared from the fused substance, 10 to 70% by weight of clay, if necessary 10 to 60% by weight of a mineral having a needle-like crystal structure, and a small proportion of an organic binder for maintaining the mineral constituents in a coherent structure at least during fabrication, conversion and utilization of the end product. The total quantity of organic substances does not exceed 8% by weight of dry substances. The material has high temperature strength by virtue of the combination of an organic binder with a mineral binder and also has good dimensional stability.

Abstract: The colored composite material is manufactured from materials based on a hydraulic binder and dispersed reinforcing elements, for example fibrous. To obtain a colored material, a composition comprising a baked clay such as chamotte is used generally by replacing at least in part the silica in products preferably hardened under steam pressure. The materials obtained are useful particularly as covering elements for frontages in the building industry.

Abstract: The cutting action in a rotary slicer is provided by a pair of circular disc blades, which are mounted in apertures in a circular plate, which is rotated within an outer casing. The plate rotates adjacent a feeding chute at one side of the casing and the depth of the slice is adjusted by varying the distance of the blade in front of the circular plate. The cut slices pass between the blades and apertures into the rear of the casing, which discharges them downwardly. The blades are mounted on a lobular bracket supported on a central shaft in a fixed longitudinal position. The depth of cut is varied by moving the apertured plate back and forth along the shaft to a position governed by a C-shaped stop ring with a calibrated shaft extending outwardly from the rear shaft bearing. The plate is detachably secured to the shaft by a thumb screw accessible through an ample cut-out in the top of the rear casing.

Abstract: A device for slicing tomatoes and other soft food objects has a hollow triangular enclosure frame with three vertical sides disposed about an open interior into which tomatoes are inserted. The longest vertical side or hypotenuse side of the vertical frame enclosure carries a tensioned rack of parallel blades with sharp cutting edges facing inwardly. The opposite intermediate length side of the frame has a pusher sliding back and forth along it with spaced fingers inserted between the opposite cutting blades. Insertion of tomatoes is facilitated by a vertically movable loading platform mounted within the frame which can be manually raised by a push rod at the top to receive a tomato and then lowered below the path of movement of the pusher to permit the pusher to traverse the tomato along and through the cutting edges of the blades to slice it. The loading platform has a table rotatably mounted at the top of a lifting lever which is rotatably mounted at the bottom of the frame.