Abstract: The tetraphosphorus polysulfides of the formula P.sub.4 S.sub.x, wherein X is at least 3, especially tetraphosphorus decasulfide, P.sub.4 S.sub.10, are prepared by (a) establishing a continuously circulating closed loop of a liquid reaction mixture which comprises desired final product tetraphosphorus polysulfide, (b) continuously introducing liquid phosphorus and liquid sulfur into such continuously circulating reaction mixture and therein continuously reacting the liquid phosphorus with the liquid sulfur, and (c) continuously separating desired final product tetraphosphorus polysulfide, in gaseous state, from such continuously circulating reaction mixture.

Abstract: A new method of inducing spatiotemporal structures in systems characterized by activation/inhibition kinetics through the action of a differential bulk flow of the key species is disclosed. As Turing predicted, a homogeneous and otherwise stable steady state of a reactive system may lose its stability and form inhomogeneous patterns due to the interaction of diffusion and reaction. This mechanism is believed to form the basis of biological morphogenesis. The Turing instability only arises in systems wherein the diffusion coefficient of the inhibitor is sufficiently greater than that of the activator. The method of the present invention avoids this constraint by using a differential flow between the activation and the inhibition species rather than a differential diffusivity. In one aspect of the invention, this differential flow is achieved by immobilizing one of either the inhibitor or activator species in the flow system containing the other species.

Abstract: A device for separating undesired exhaust gas components from a fluid comprises a reactor with a reaction chamber and having a top and a bottom. The top has a device for introducing a granular adsorption medium. The bottom comprises first and second oppositely slanted sidewalls arranged parallel to one another and forming between them a gutter open in an upward direction. Sections of the gutter form removal funnels with a funnel mouth for removing the granular adsorption medium. The bottom further has fluid inflow openings for admitting the fluid into the reaction chamber, whereby the funnel mouths and the fluid inflow openings are arranged alternatingly in the gutters. The funnel mouths are arranged to form a grid structure. The bottom also has distributing elements for covering the fluid inflow openings. The distributing elements have a pyramid, a cone, a pyramid sector, or a cone sector shape.

Abstract: A fluidized bed scrubber for use in gas cleaning systems, comprising means for introducing a quantity of polluted gas into a first chamber; means for removing a portion of the pollutants from the polluted gas in the first chamber; means for introducing the polluted gas into a second chamber; and means for removing additional pollutants from the polluted gas in the second chamber. The invention also provides an improved method for cleaning polluted gas, comprising the steps of passing the polluted gas from a combustion source through a fluidized bed scrubber, removing a plurality of pollutants within the fluidized bed scrubber, passing the fluidized gas through a reactor, passing the fluidized gas through a filter in order to remove further quantities of pollutants, and emitting the now-clean gas into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A germicidal air purifier for trapping and destroying airborne microorganisms is disclosed. The air purifier includes an ultraviolet radiation source and a juxtaposed filter medium. A one of the ultraviolet radiation source and the filter medium is fixed and the other is displaceable so that at least an upstream side of the filter medium is systematically exposed to germicidal levels of radiation. In a first preferred embodiment, a fixed ultraviolet lamp irradiates a cylindrical air filter which is rotated on its longitudinal axis in close proximity to the lamp so that the upstream side of the filter is systematically irradiated. In a second preferred embodiment, a radiant lamp fixture is moved reciprocally across an upstream side of a planar filter to systematically irradiate the filter. In a third preferred embodiment, a radiant lamp fixture is rotated about an axis which is orthogonal to its longitudinal midpoint so that a circular area of a planar filter is irradiated.

Abstract: A method of identifying a particular optical cable C1 out of a set of optical cables C1, C2 by applying an external signal by means of a signal applying apparatus 16 while an optical signal is transmitted from means for transmitting optical signals and monitoring changes in the signals received by means for receiving optical signals. Since the difference in the frequencies and the levels of the higher harmonics generated by the external signal in the particular cable and the other cable(s) that are laid so close to one another that the phenomenon of cross talk remarkably appears, the optical cable in question can be identified almost without fail.

Abstract: Record document may be authenticated against reference grain data obtained from the document at a prior time. The body of the document is formed by base medium bearing the record entries such as text within record site. Grain seal site is located at a predetermined location within the base medium. The unique grain structure within the seal site are microscopic and function as a seal for authenticating the document. The seal site is initially scanned to provide a stream of reference data generated by the surface reflection of the grain structure. This reference grain data is stored in memory for future authentication use. The seal site is then currently scanned to generate a stream of current grain data for comparison to the reference grain data.

Abstract: The method comprises using a transmitting unit and at least two receiving units (8,10) arranged in two different places along well equipment (2). Each receiving unit forms an image or signature of wall portions which pass it. The signatures of wall portions formed by the lower receiving unit (8) when the well equipment is being lowered into the well are stored and the upper receiving unit (10) stores signatures coming from the wall portions which were previously stored by the lower receiving unit. A comparison (for example a correlation) of the signatures respectively coming from the two receiving units allows a common wall portion which has produced two substantially identical compared signatures to be identified. The time interval between the formation of the two substantially identical signatures is measured and the rate of penetration is calculated. As application of the invention is for the measurement of the true rate of penetration of a well tool or of a measuring sonde.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the presence of a gas in an ambient atmosphere comprises a multiple quantum well structure; a thin mesh of a transition metal formed on the multiple quantum well structure; and an arrangement for monitoring transmission of electromagnetic radiation through the mesh and the multiple quantum well structure.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for the manufacture of activated carbon wherein a carbonaceous raw material impregnated with a chemical activating agent is treated by controlling the rate of heat transfer to the particles via indirect heating of the activation furnace and simultaneously introducing a flow of independently controlled sweep gas at spaced intervals along the path of travel of the particles through the furnace to more precisely control the activation reaction and the level of densification of the particles during certain stages of treatment. In a more preferred embodiment, the particles are processed in a plurality of treatment stages related to the rate of evolution of water and/or the evolution of water and the chemical activating agent and the rates of heat transfer and the volume flow rate of sweep gas are closely controlled relative to achieving predetermined levels of densification of the particles during each treatment stage and selected levels of activation properties in the end product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting deviation of an examined surface from a reference plane, by: generating first and second beams of radiation, directing the first beam along a first fixed path and focussing it at a first spot on the examined surface, directing the second beam along a second fixed path intersecting the first path at a point in the reference plane and focussing the second beam to a second spot on the examined surface, and detecting the deviation of the centers of the first and second spots with respect to the intersection point in the reference plane to provide an indication of the deviation of the examined surface from the reference plane.

Abstract: Substrates having a surface coated with fullerene and a substance attached thereto are disclosed. Cell culture substrates having a fullerene-coated surface are useful in methods of growing cells on the fullerene-coated surface. Methods of preparing cell culture substrates for cell attachment and growth by coating a surface with fullerene are provided. Cells can be grown on a fullerene-coated surface in the presence of a substance such as a cytokine, growth hormone or a drug, to evaluate the interaction between the substance and the cells. Methods for increasing cell membrane premability and for introducing a substance, such as a DNA or RNA vector, into a cell are also provided.

Abstract: A fiber optic refractometer is disclosed for use in on-line measurement of the refractive index of a process fluid. The refractometer does not require light to pass through the process fluid and is hence unaffected by the presence of light diffusing particulate matter in the process fluid. A particular application for which the refractometer is well-suited is the on-line measurement of the hydrogenation state of edible oils (which correlates with refractive index) during the partial hydrogenation process.

Abstract: A surface undulation inspection apparatus for detecting a defect of a fine undulation including a change of a gentle profile or the like on a suitable surface of a specimen to be inspected, wherein a patterning light source is opposed to an image pickup lens having a pin hole with a specimen interposed therebetween to pin-hole image pickup the patterning light source through the specimen to be inspected whereby a ray passing through the specimen to be inspected is specified as a principal ray, and a local surface undulation defect on the surface of the specimen is stressed and a defective part is specified.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method for measuring crude oil contained in a gas flowing in a gas line which incorporates the steps of obtaining a sample of gas from the gas line, passing the sample of gas through a selective crude oil trap, measuring the volume of the sample of gas, and measuring the volume of trapped crude oil. The selective crude oil trap includes a cooled coil and at least one cylinder filled with a fluid which is non-soluble with oil and which is preferably refrigerated. The selective crude oil trap may alternatively include a filter device which has a cylinder filled with a polymerized porous medium bound with a phenolic resin. The apparatus for carrying out the method has inlet and outlet connectors which allow the apparatus to be releasably connected to a gas flow line to obtain a sample of gas and to be disconnected and physically transported to a remote facility for completion of the testing.

Abstract: A filtration device has a particulate filter element and a sorbent filter element having different flow properties. When viewed in cross section, the particulate filter element has inner and outer legs that form generally the shape of a W and define a space between the outer legs. The sorbent filter element is disposed in the space within the first filter element.

Abstract: A compact lime slaker has an inner vessel forming an initial slaking chamber disposed in an outer vessel forming a final slaking chamber, with agitators provided In both chambers. Slaked lime from the final slaking chamber is pumped to a collection trough where slaked lime and grit are removed therefrom, while a major portion of slaked lime, with grit removed is returned to the final slaking chamber. The slaked lime in the final slaking chamber, at an elevated temperature due to the slaking exotherm, insulates the lime being slaked in the initial slaking chamber and provides heat thereto to aid in the initial slaking. Removal of grit from the portion of slaked lime recycled to the final slaking chamber prevents clogging or attrition of components of the slaker.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the wetting preference of particulate solids, for example sand, dispersed in a multiphase liquid medium having a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase, for example a water-in-oil emulsion. A dispersion of the particulate solids and the liquid medium is passed through an electroacoustical cell and the electroacoustical signal is measured for varying solids content. If the signal remains substantially constant this indicates a wetting preference for the continuous phase, whereas if the signal decreases this indicates a wetting preference for the discontinuous phase.

Abstract: The method of imparting antimicrobial activity to a contact lens composition by adding to the composition an effective amount of 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.

Abstract: A metal substrate contains a barrier which functions as an electrical insulator. One can thus use the substrate to make an electrically heated catalytic converter, in which one must electrically isolate a catalyst-bearing strip from adjacent strips. One forms the substrate by first coating the substrate with a thin first layer of alumina washcoat and heating the substrate to a temperature of about 800.degree. to 1000.degree. C. This heating step produces the barrier, which may constitute a spinel. One can then apply a catalyst to the substrate, either by applying one or more secondary layer(s) of washcoat, having greater thickness than the first layer, and impregnating the second layer with the catalyst, or by coating the substrate with a washcoat which already contains the catalyst. Alternatively, one can omit the step of applying the catalyst, and can use the strips to form a heater for a stream of gas. One can use the heater in conjunction with a main catalytic heater, or as a stand-alone heater.