Abstract: A chamber filter press embodying movable filter plates suspended for movement along horizontal guides by an endless transporting assembly driven by a reversible motor and carrying dogging members which cooperate with cams on the filter plates as the press is opened. A switch connected to a time control device reverses the motor when the filter plate which has just been moved rests against the previously moved filter plate and at the end of a preset time the time control device switches the motor from reverse to forward motion. The motor is stopped by a limit switch which is operated by a dogging member at the end of a preset time after the last filter plate has been moved forward.

Abstract: An electrically powered mechanical ventilator for use in medical applications. The ventilator comprises a bellows-form expansible chamber which communicates with a gas inlet/delivery port and at least one electric motor which is energised to effect cyclic expansion and compression of the chamber by way of a motion translating mechanism. In a preferred form of the ventilator, two electric motors are mounted to a common shaft and means are provided for effecting cyclic energisation of the respective motors whereby the shaft is driven cyclically in opposite directions to effect the expansion and compression of the chamber.

Abstract: A simplified testing apparatus comprising a test board assembly and an information display sheet. The board includes correct and incorrect answer circuits which are completed by placing a signal manually positionable answer selector unit through a selected aperture in the board. Each aperture registers with an associated answer terminal. Inserting the answer selector, through the selected aperture energizes an answer indicator. The invention display sheet contains a multiple answer format, with apertures being provided in the answer sheet for association with the apertures in the test board. The answer sheet is arranged so as to disguise the fact that there is a prearranged correct/incorrect answer circuit contained in the board. In a preferred form, a portion of the answer sheet consists of a plurality of flaps, the reverse side of which contains information explanatory of the answers.

Abstract: A device for separating water from diesel fuel is adapted to be used with conventional fuel filter fittings and consists of a conical screen-like member which serves to separate the water from the fuel and in which the inlet providing the fuel which may have water therein is interior of the downwardly diverging conical member. A quiet zone is provided at the base of the cone to reduce turbulence and allow the water to be drained off by an automatically operated valve which operates in conjunction with the air compressor already on the truck.

Abstract: Filter frame (1), intended to be inserted in filter cloths of flexible materials shaped as bags, which bags during filtration are percolated by the treated fluid from the outside and inwards, the frame comprising two perforated and corrugated plates (2) placed against each other so that the ridges of one plate are in contact with the valleys of the other plate and linear contact between the plates is formed and between which lines and the surfaces of the plates channels for the filtrate are formed and an outlet (5) for collecting the filtrate, whereby the outlet opens out into one of the channels. The perforations are, in order to obtain a good flexibility and separating effect, formed as holes in a net of expanded metal.

Abstract: A motor driven cup member is mounted on a support structure for rotation about a vertical axis. The support structure also houses and supports the motor and the power supply for the motor. The cup is divided into two sections, the upper section including a brush element lining the interior wall thereof and the lower section being adapted to contain a supply of nail polish remover solution. An electric switch supported by the support structure is operated with one hand while the fingers of the other hand are inserted, one at a time, into the cup to remove the nail polish from the nails thereof. A cover adapted to enclose the support structure includes a seal which seals against the top of the cup thereby preventing evaporation of the solution.

Abstract: The stack assembly (FIG. 9) is formed by identical plates (P) of rectangular shape alternating with semi-permeable membranes (12). A face of each plate is formed with a plurality of transversely extending flow-conveying beds, each of which has a through-aperture at each of its opposite ends. The membrane is affixed to the other face of the plate by means of plug members to provide a modular unit, some of the plug members in the stack assembly being "open" (13a) and the other being "blind" (13b). Hydraulic connections in "series", in "parallel" and in "series/parallel" are obtainable by properly distributing the open and blind plug members.

Abstract: An asymmetrical ultrafiltration membrane based on cellulose triacetate, optionally substituted by up to 30% cellulose diacetate, is made wettable without tendency to embrittlement or shrinkage by adding hydrophobic synthetic silicic acid to the casting solution.

Abstract: Printed matter is positioned behind a reflective and transparent surface. A lamp illuminates the printing. A student is instructed to copy the material on a typewriter. When a student begins typing, the lamp turns off and remains off until a predetermined interval after typing has stopped. The lamp relights, displaying the printed matter through the printed matter screen and when the student begins typing again the lamp turns off, hiding the printed matter. The process is repeated until the task is completed or a preselected time expires.The student is encouraged to type more during each successive interval, which encourages the student to remember words and groups of words and to comprehend.

Abstract: In the manufacture of wound hollow fiber dialysis cartridges, rigid preliminary tube sheets are formed near each end of the winding, outwardly of the area of the winding which will ultimately be used in finished cartridges. The preliminary tube sheets are then cut transversely to the winding mandrel to expose the hollow fiber ends. The cut preliminary tube sheets, mandrel, and fibers now form a unitary structure which can be washed and treated to make the fiber surface easily adherable to the potting material from which the permanent tube sheets are thereafter formed. After forming the permanent tube sheet, the winding is cut into individual cartridges, and the preliminary tube sheets are discarded.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a support for hair to be used when drying and fashioning same comprising a plastic element in the form of a truncated cone which has been flattened along opposed sides and is provided with ventilation openings along the main body thereof. The top face of the cone is open and is provided with an irregular surface to serve as a nesting area for hair rollers disposed thereon, and a notch on the top edge thereof to provide nesting of a second hair fashioning element. The bottom edge of the cone may have a curvilinear surface to conform to the contour of a person's head if so desired.

Abstract: Phenylalanine level in blood or another medium is considerably reduced and can even be annulled by causing blood or the other medium to flow through a mass of porous fibers in which the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia lyase has been occluded: the fibers have been previously made biocompatible, if necessary.

Abstract: A filter press includes a plurality of plates made of a rigid material resting on a pair of parallel horizontal supports by means of lugs extending from opposite sides of the plates. The supports are attached at one end to a fixed headstock having a liquid inlet and at the other end to a hydraulic ram assembly, each plate supporting a sheet of filter material, and being mounted in a row so that they can be arranged in a first, working, configuration wherein they are all clamped together and a second, cleaning, configuration wherein there is a gap between a selected two of the plates to allow removal of residue therefrom. The filter press has a drive which operates to move the plates one by one into abutting relationship adjacent the headstock before they are clamped by the ram action and which can be reversed to separate the plates and move them one by one to positions remote from the headstock for cleaning so that the gap between any selected two of the plates is constant.

Abstract: A membrane pressure filter comprises a pressure chamber divided into non-intercommunicating first and second compartments by a substantially upright impermeable elastic membrane, said first compartment containing a filtering surface, and said impermeable elastic membrane either being constructed in a manner such that or co-operating with means such that, in use, when the material in said first compartment has a specific gravity which is greater than the specific gravity of the material in said second compartment, said membrane is constrained to adopt a shape such that the surface of the membrane opposite the filtering surface is substantially parallel to the filtering surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for the cross-flow filtration of liquids or gases, such apparatus having disc-shaped filter elements which are located concentrically around a filtrate collecting pipe and within a tubular jacket, and an inlet and outlet pipe extending parallel to the filtrate collecting pipe, each inlet and outlet pipe having an aperture between each filter element to ensure that the liquid to be filtered is supplied tangentially thereby assuming a helical flow across the filter elements. The filter elements are provided on both sides with a microporous membrane and are provided with a supporting layer having sealed passages in order to supply the filtrate to the central collecting pipe.

Abstract: A device and method for separating particulate material from earth drilling fluids is disclosed, wherein the earth drilling fluids containing such particulate material is introduced into a container. A major portion of the particulate material separates out of the earth drilling fluid, and the fluid then passes over a baffle and through a screen, with the movement past the screen being such, combined with the screen orientation, to provide a screen which is somewhat self-cleaning in nature. The screen is periodically scraped by carrying members, and is urged against the carrying members so that the initial contact of the carrying members with the screen causes vibrations which improve the self-cleaning characteristics of the screen.The particulate material which settles out of the drilling fluid, and the particulate material which is screened out of the drilling fluid, is collected in the bottom of the container and is removed therefrom by the carrying members up an inclined wall to a discharge point.

Abstract: A haemofiltration apparatus includes a combined blood pump (1a) and filtrate pump (1b). The pressure on the inlet side of the filtrate pump may be adjusted by a cone valve (14) mounted on a diaphragm (12) which opens to admit air when the inlet pressure falls below a predetermined value which is set by a valve spring (16) provided with an adjustment screw (15). The other side of the diaphragm may be connected to the atmosphere or to an air trap (6) in the blood pump circuit.

Abstract: Periodically operating pressure filter for the concentration of a solid matter suspension, comprising a filtering tank with an input conduit for introducing the suspension to be filtered under pressure, and a drain conduit for removal of the concentrated sludge, and a number of filtering elements suspended from the ceiling, through which the filtrate flows and which are internally in communication with a filtrate collecting tank located above and which thereby collect sludge on their outer surface. The sludge has been arranged to be periodically detached by making the pressure inside the filtering element higher than on its outside. The filtrate is under atmospheric pressure in the collecting tank.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the diffusion of substances between two fluids. The apparatus comprises at least one semipermeable membrane having first and second opposing surfaces, first conducting means for conducting a first fluid along the first surface of the membrane, and second conducting means for conducting a second fluid along a second surface of the membrane. The membrane is permeable to a portion of the first fluid so that at least a part of the portion of the first fluid is diffused through the membrane into the second fluid during conduction of the first and second fluids along the opposing surfaces of the membrane. Mixing means are provided for directly mixing the first fluid into the second fluid after conduction of the first fluid along the first surface of the membrane. In the preferred embodiment, this mixing means comprises apertures at the downstream end of the membrane for introducing the first fluid directly into the second fluid flowing on the opposite side of the membrane.

Abstract: In the illustrative embodiments of the invention disclosed, an installation for mixing and separating two non-miscible liquids includes, inter alia, an improved pump structure for raising the liquid dispersion from the mixing tank to the inlet level to the decanting tank, a low flat chute for conveying the dispersion from the mixing tank to the remote end of the decanting tank, height-controlling means for controlling the level of the interphase within the decanting tank, and provision for recycling the lighter liquid phase to the mixing tank.