Abstract: Freeze-dried products of high quality produced from materials to be freeze-dried in a freeze-drying apparatus comprising a sealed vessel enclosing a processing chamber provided therein with a rotary cage receiving a gas-permeable container containing one or more frozen products of the said material, prepared by freezing the said material with dry ice, and a heating device for heating the frozen product by radiant heat rays, wherein the freeze-dried product is produced by a process which can attain efficient sublimating removal of large amount of carbon dioxide gas evolved from dry ice and of moisture included in the material, while preventing adhesion of the frozen products to each other and while permitting reduction of the sublimation duration, wherein the frozen product retained in the gas-permeable container placed in the rotary cage is heated uniformly by the heating device under vacuum condition while holding it under rotational movement to thereby facilitate the sublimation of dry ice and of the frozen

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for blinding the administration of nonsolid pharmaceutical presentations. The device is in particular an opaque container which has at least two attachments, one of which is intended for connection to a dispenser for the pharmaceutical presentation, and the other of which is intended for connection to an applicator, the inside of said container having means for holding back the pharmaceutical presentation.

Abstract: Freeze-dried products of high quality produced from materials to be freeze-dried in a freeze-drying apparatus comprising a sealed vessel enclosing a processing chamber provided therein with a rotary cage receiving a gas-permeable container containing frozen pieces of the said material, prepared by freezing the said material with a refrigerant, and a heating device for heating the frozen material by radiant heat rays, wherein the freeze-dried product is produced by a process which can attain, even when dry ice is used as the refrigerant, efficient sublimating removal of large amount of carbon dioxide gas evolved from dry ice and of moisture included in the material, while preventing adhesion of the frozen pieces of the said material to each other and while permitting reduction of the sublimation duration, wherein the frozen material retained in the gas-permeable container placed in the rotary cage is heated uniformly by the heating device under vacuum condition while it is being maintained under rotational mov

Abstract: A medical device for placing an embolic coil at a preselected location within a vessel comprising a positioning catheter having a distal section for retaining the embolic coil and an aperture for purging air from the device. The aperture is sized to allow air under fluid pressure to freely escape from within the catheter but to highly restrict the flow of more viscous fluids. At higher fluid pressures, the wall of the distal section expands outwardly to release the coil.

Abstract: A method for controlling differential shrinkage during drying of ceramic honeycomb substrates by heating the ceramic honeycomb substrate with a vapor-insulating guard disposed substantially about the ceramic honeycomb substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for drying a product comprising placing the product on a first side of a support surface, and directing dry radiant heat toward the second side of the surface to heat the product. A sensor can be included to measure at least one characteristic of the product, such as the temperature or moisture content thereof. The temperature of the heat source can be regulated as a function of the measured characteristic. The support surface can also be made so as to be movable relative to the heat source. In an alternative embodiment, a plurality of control zones are defined and through which the product is successively passed. Each of the control zones has at least one associated heat source and an associated sensor so as to regulate the temperature of the heat sources associated with each control zone independently of those associated with another zone.

Abstract: The invention concerns a connecting device (1) comprising a base (5) mounted on the receptacle (2) and extended by a flange (9) forming an inner bore (A) and a piston (10) capable of sliding in said inner bore (A) between a released position relative to a plug (4) and a transfer position wherein a hollow needle (11) borne by the piston (10) passes through the plug (4). A scaling lip (22) is arranged on an internal surface (8d) of the bore (A) opposite the piston (10) or a surface of the piston, said lip (22) being shaped to be urged to press sealingly against the piston (10d) or against an internal surface of the bore, in the transfer position.

Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a metal article. The system is used to employ a method that comprises placing the article in a means defining a chamber; subjecting the article to a gaseous atmosphere in the means defining a chamber, where the gaseous atmosphere consisting essentially of carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine; and subjecting the article to the gaseous atmosphere at a temperature in a range from about 815° C. to about 1100° C. to clean the article.

Abstract: To provide a substrate transfer apparatus capable of forming a hermetically-closed space integrated between a normal substrate processing apparatus which is not integrated with a substrate transfer unit and a substrate transfer container, the substrate transfer apparatus includes a main body in a box-like shape containing a substrate W, an upper opening (first opening) provided at the main body and connected to a bottom opening (substrate transfer port) of a container while maintaining an air tight state against outside air, a side wall opening (second opening) provided at the main body and connected to a substrate transfer port of the transfer processing apparatus while maintaining the air tight state against outside air, an exhaust pipe connected to the main body, an opening/closing mechanism for opening and closing a bottom lid relative to the bottom opening in a state in which the upper opening and the bottom opening of the container are connected and transfer mechanisms installed in the main body for tra

Abstract: A heat recovery system for an air curtain incinerator includes a transportable box defined by a plurality of walls and has an open top and an open bottom. The walls are lined with a refractory material operatively associated with the open bottom to form a combustion chamber. The system also includes a source of high velocity air and a manifold for directing an effective curtain of high velocity air across the top opening and down into the combustion chamber. The heat recovery system comprises a system of tubing for conveying a heat conductive medium through the tubing during the combustion process. The tubing may be mounted to the walls, mounted inside the walls, or formed integrally in the walls.

Abstract: A drier for commercial printers comprises an air receiving and discharging member having end walls, side walls, and a bottom wall and characterized by air receiving slots formed in the side walls and air discharging slots formed at the intersections between the side walls and the bottom wall. A lamp support frame having an imperforate top wall is positioned within the air receiving and discharging member. A fan support plate positions a fan above the top plate of the lamp frame for directing air onto the top plate thereof then downwardly along the side walls of the air receiving and discharging member and out through the air discharging slots thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for cleaning a pressurized container having at least one chemical contained therein. More specifically, the container may store a quantity of a chemical that is reactive with water and forms dangerous reaction products, such as, for example, acids. The pressurized container may be any type of container able to store chemicals under pressure. Preferably, however, the container may be a rail tank car. The system includes the container that may have a plurality of valves for adding or removing gaseous or liquid material to or from the container. The container may be connected with a nitrogen tank or a fan for blowing air that may be heated via a heater. A vacuum pump is utilized for removing the contents of the container. The container may further be connected to a reaction tank for neutralizing the chemical that is be removed from the container.

Abstract: A flash chamber having a self-closing valve for use with a catheter is described. The flash chamber, which is connected to the catheter, precludes blood leakage as a needle is removed from the catheter and an IV unit is coupled to the catheter. The flash chamber permits the practitioner to visually verify that a blood vessel has been punctured and includes a self-sealing valve that prevents blood from flowing out of the flash chamber as the needle is removed and the IV unit is attached.

Abstract: A system for drying sludge includes a shaftless spiral feed screw for moving sludge through a drying chamber. An high energy inductor is located at a output of the drying chamber for drawing hot gases through the chamber to dry the sludge as it advances from the input end to the output end of the chamber. The high energy inductor also aspirates the dried sludge from the chamber. The drying system can be used in conjunction with a waste-to-energy furnace for incineration of sludge and municipal waste. In such an arrangement, the dried sludge can be aspirated from the drying chamber directly into a combustion zone of the furnace. Hot gases from the furnace can be used in drying the sludge.

Abstract: A method for operating a boiler using oxygen-enriched oxidants includes introducing oxygen-enriched air, or oxygen and air, in which the oxygen concentration ranges from about 21% to about 100% by volume. Fuel and oxygen-enriched air are introduced into the combustion space within the steam-generating boiler. The fuel and oxygen-enriched air is combusted to generate thermal energy. At least a portion of the flue gases are collected and at least a portion are recirculated through the boiler. In the steam-generating boiler, the oxygen-enriched oxidant is introduced at one or more locations within the radiation zone and the convection zone of the boiler. Additionally, flue gas is collected and recirculated into one or more locations within the radiation zone and/or the convection zone of the boiler.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes radiation reflectors on the refractory wall of a fired furnace opposite the spaces between adjacent tubes. The radiation reflectors focus the reflected radiation from the flame onto the dark side of the tubes. The invention increases the overall heat transfer of the tube by increasing the heat flux rate for the backside of the tube, and also decreases the flux and temperature differentials between the front and rear sides of the tubes.

Abstract: An internal catheter has a flexible plastic inner tube with an integrally formed protruding head with an axial channel. The internal catheter extends through an axial channel in an exterior catheter. With the internal catheter head withdrawn within the foam or spiral tip of the exterior catheter, the assembly is advanced into a sow cervix, and the internal catheter is then advanced through the tip of the catheter and remaining portion of the cervix and into the uterine body and possibly into a uterine horn. Semen or embryos are then introduced through the axial cavity. The tip of the exterior catheter may have a protective flap which is not penetrated until the inner tube is advanced therethrough. The internal catheter axial channel may have a constricted portion within the head, to engage a semen or embryo containing straw.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically resetting a printed-wiring-board supporting device including a supporting table and at least one supporting member which is set on a supporting surface of the supporting table to support a back surface of a printed wiring board, the apparatus including a storing device in which the supporting member is stored, a holding head which holds the supporting member, a moving device which moves the holding head relative to each of the supporting table and the storing device, and a control device which controls, according to prescribed control information, the moving device so that the holding head takes the supporting member from a storing position in the storing device and sets the supporting member at a setting position on the supporting surface of the supporting table, and takes the supporting member from the setting position and stores the supporting member at the storing position.

Abstract: Roll and drying section of a machine for producing a material web and process for drying a material web. The roll includes a jacket having a plurality of throughput openings, a device for supplying gas through the jacket, and a second jacket located within the jacket being arranged to form a ring chamber with the jacket. The second jacket is gas tight to seal the ring chamber in a gas-tight manner from an interior of the second jacket.

Abstract: A method of treating the upper urinary tract of a mammal having a urethra extending to a bladder and a ureter extending from the bladder to a kidney. The method comprises initially extending a catheter system into the upper urinary tract, the catheter system having a urethral catheter infusion tube section extending through the urethra for infusion of a liquid; a urethral catheter drain tube section extending through the urethra for drainage of a liquid; a ureteral catheter tube section extending through a ureter into the kidney and having a first tube portion for infusion of a liquid connected to the urethral catheter infusion tube section, and a second tube portion for drainage of a liquid.