Abstract: A row composed of reaction vessels is arranged on a turntable and one unit of sample dispenser mechanism as well as one photometer and a plurality units of reagent feeding mechanism are arranged near the turntable. After a sample is added to one specified reaction vessel, the turntable is rotated by 180.degree. or more and stopped so as to advance the reaction vessel containing said sample by half a revolution plus one cell. During this rotation, approximately half of all the vessels cross the light path of the photometer for the absorbance of fluid in each vessel to be measured.A reagent is added to the specified reaction vessel at the next stop position after sampling in order to start reaction. The turntable is again rotated and stopped so as to advance the reaction vessel by half a revolution plus one cell. During this rotation, the reaction vessel crosses said light path of the photometer for the absorbance of the reaction fluid to be measured.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved method for stripping hydrocarbons from spent catalyst which has been used in effecting hydrocarbon conversion reactions prior to the regeneration of this catalyst by combustion of carbon deposits upon the catalyst. The invention is described in terms of its use in FCC processes, since such processes are the most common application of the invention. In order to better distribute stripping gas, which is normally steam, so that the gas contacts and passes through substantially all of the catalyst, distribution ports are added to the skirts of the stripper baffles which direct catalyst flow in a generally side-to-side manner as it moves downward through a stripping vessel. The ports are sized to vary penetration of the stripping gas into the stream catalyst that moves past the grids. Use of these ports increases the amount of hydrocarbons removed from the spent catalyst and/or decreases stripping gas requirements.

Abstract: Nozzle designs and processes introducing the regeneration air into a catalytic cracking unit are disclosed which reduce the probability of erosion induced nozzle failures. Novel features include nozzle length, tip design, and orientation with respect to the air headers.In one aspect of the invention at least one of the nozzles is positioned substantially vertically downwardly. In another aspect of the invention at least one of the nozzles has a length greater than the outside diameter of the pipe. In another aspect of the invention at least one of the nozzles is provided with a beveled tip. In still another aspect of the invention, at least one of the nozzles is provided with a baffle on its tip.

Abstract: An analytical element and method using the element for measuring a specific component in a fluid sample such as blood, serum, plasma, urine, sweat etc. The fluid sample is applied on the element with a labeled-material formed by binding the specific component or the analogue of it with a labeling material causing a signal. The element comprises a reaction layer and an absorption layer. The reaction layer contains a material which is capable of specifically binding with the component to be measured and the absorption layer contains a material which capable of binding with the labeled material and decreasing a signal caused by the labeling material. A strength of the signal caused labeled-material in the reaction layer is determined to measure the specific component.

Abstract: An automatic chemistry machine particularly suitable for the automatic sequencing of DNA on the microliter scale including a source of reagents, a common means to transfer by contact microliter quantities of reagent, below 5 microliters, and a rotatable reaction surface to which said quantities of reagent are transferable, means to control the transfer means to access and contact specific spaced areas of the reaction surface, and means to control the rotation of the surface with regard to the transfer means action, the surface being formed to constrain flow of transferred reagent quantities over the surface and in a reaction area to mix under centrifugal action on faster rotation of the surface.

Abstract: A new method and apparatus for detection and analysis of substrates in a sample is described. The apparatus consists of a rigid or semi-rigid strip having a reaction site, a sample collector or metering site and color blocks to indicate the presence or amount of a substance in the sample. In another embodiment of the apparatus, useful for analysis of gases, a vessel is provided to wet the reaction site and prepare this site for analysis. The components of this device are all located on the same strip and bound together as a one piece test kit.

Abstract: A chemical reaction apparatus having a plurality of capillary tubes and a conveying device for holding the tubes substantially horizontal such as to convey the tubes. A feeding device for reagent and the like is mounted on the conveying device and feeds a reagent and the like for use in a chemical reaction to the interior of the capillary tubes. Thereafter the reagent and the like remains in a stable condition with these discharged into the entire length of each of the tubes.

Abstract: A machine for transferring liquids to and from the wells of assay trays in a controlled, automated manner and a solid phase assay tray for use with the machine. The machine includes a horizontally translatable table (15) that holds the tray (46), a plurality of liquid dispensing manifolds (54) for dispensing liquids into the tray wells (50) and an aspirating manifold (65) for aspirating liquid from the well. The dispensing and aspirating manifolds are mounted on a vertically translatable head (16) above the table. Each dispensing manifold is equipped with a row of dispensing tubes (56) and is connected via a pump (58) to a liquid container (62). The aspirating manifold is equipped with a row of aspirating tubes (66) and is connected via a pump (69) to a waste liquid receptacle (73). A microprocessor (85) controls the movements of the table and manifolds and operates the pumps.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively and precisely placing a chemical analysis probe (such as a fiber optic probe): (1) in a liquid sample contained in an open-mouthed sample vessel positioned on a sample support, or (2) in a wash collection chamber. Any residual sample remaining on the probe can be washed from it with a stream of volatile wash liquid when the probe is in the wash collection chamber and jets of gas can be directed onto the washed probe to speed the evaporation of any residual wash liquid from the probe. A latch can be used to hold the probe in the wash collection chamber.

Abstract: A modular multi-channel automated medical analyzer device is disclosed, characterized by use of an ion selective electrode and/or enzymatic electrode/wash cell system which permits rapid analysis of various substances of interest contained within undiluted body fluids such as whole blood, serum and/or plasma. The ion selective electrode and/or the enzymatic electrode are disposed upon a probe which automatically axially reciprocates downwardly in a simple manipulative motion between an open-ended reference wash cell and a sample cup bearing the body fluid specimen to be analyzed. The wash cell includes an inlet port and one or more outlet ports through which is circulated an aqueous solution bearing a known concentration of the substance to be measured to provide a reference calibration medium as well as a probe washing medium.

Abstract: An automatic urinalysis system which can be readily installed at an excretion site such as a toilet and by which means a subject itself can test its urine easily at any time and can obtain results of such test. The system comprises a sample collecting means for collecting a sample of urine within a stool or the like at an excretion site, a guiding means for introducing the collected urine sample into a testing area within a body of the system, a urine testing element located within the system body, a contacting means for automatically contacting the urine testing element with the urine sample in the testing area, a urine testing means for automatically testing the urine testing element contacted with the urine sample by the contacting means, a display means for displaying test data from the urine testing means, and a discharging means for discharging the urine sample into the stool after the urine sample has been contacted by the urine testing element.

Abstract: A process for dry sterilization of medical devices and materials in which these materials are subjected to an electrical discharge in a gaseous atmosphere to produce an active plasma for surface sterilization of the devices and materials.

Abstract: In a fast fluidized bed reactor having, in a lower region, downwardly and inwardly inclined walls, a change in the direction of the wall surface or a ledge or protrusion is provided to change the direction of the particles flowing downwardly adjacent the wall for directing the particles inwardly away from the wall and into the region acted on by the nozzles providing the fluidizing gas. The change of direction, abutment or projection is preferably provided along the refractory wall surface at an elevation 200-1100 mm above the grid plate. In this manner, clogging of the nozzles is prevented and more efficient and effective fluidization and combustion processes occur.

Abstract: A process for determining the degree of saturation of a solution comprising a solvent and a compound of limited solubility which involves the steps of (1) diluting a feed solution of the compound of limited solubility, (2) passing a sample of the diluted feed solution through a bed of a solid solution of the compound and a tracer in which the tracer is intrinsically incorporated into the crystal structure of the compound, so that the diluted feed solution being tested becomes saturated with the compound by dissolution of a portion of the solid solution in the bed, (3) measuring the concentration of the tracer in the sample after passage through the bed of solid solution, thus measuring the amount of the compound dissolved from the solid solution to saturate the diluted feed solution, and (4) determining the degree of saturation of the compound in the feed solution from the measured values

Abstract: An automatic chemical analyzer has a compensation coefficient calculating section and a light-path-length-based compensating section. The calculating section obtains the ratio of the absorbancies measured of reaction cells filled with a sample of the known absorbancy to the absorbancy measured of each cell, thereby calculating compensation coefficients for the respective cells. The compensating section multiplies the absorbancies measured of the cells refilled with samples of different unknown absorbancies by the compensation coefficients calculated by the calculating section, thereby compensating the absorbancies for the light path lengths of the cells. The compensated absorbancies, i.e., the absorbancies of the samples, are used in analyzing the samples.

Abstract: The filter assembly includes a filter unit disposed in a vertical tank and includes a first end plate or drain head having an opening in fluid communication with a filtrate port in the tank, a longitudinally movable second end plate or compression head spaced in generally parallel relationship to the drain head and an elongated sleeve of flexible filter material, such as a woven fabric, connected to and extending between the drain and compression heads to define a filtrate chamber. When the filter tube is in an expanded or extended condition (filtering position), a portion of the fluid, such as a wash water from a vehicle washing facility, entering the tank passes through the filter tube into the filter chamber and the thus-filtered water exits therefrom through the filtrate port. Excess wash water in the tank overflows through an overflow outlet.

Abstract: A carrier transporting apparatus for use in an automatic chemical analyzer for measuring given substances in samples in accordance with an enzyme-immuno-assay includes a carrier supply device for supplying the predetermined number of carriers from a carrier container into successive reaction vessels and a carrier discharge device for discharging the carriers from the reaction vessels, in a simple and accurate manner. Moreover, the carrier container from which the carriers can be put out one by one in an accurate manner is also disclosed.

Abstract: A vapor phase reaction apparatus includes a reaction chamber defined by first and second walls fixed opposite each other. Third and fourth walls are introduced into the reaction chamber already having affixed to them a substrate for deposition. A reactive gas is introduced into the reaction chamber for chemical vapor deposition onto the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for the insertion of carrier elements with comb-like titer strips into a microtiter plate and to provide a convenient holder for washing the titer strips. The apparatus provides a container and a changing insert with guide lamellas and space rods for holding the carrier elements.

Abstract: A capacitive chemical sensor is disclosed that uses an ion exchange layer to detect analyte ions in a liquid medium. An exchange mechanism occurs on the surface of the ion exchange layer, wherein a portion of the counter-ions are removed from the surface in favor of analyte ions. The resulting movement of counter-ions from the surface of the ion exchange layer alters the dielectric constant of the liquid medium along the surface of the ion exchange layer. This change in dielectric constant produces a change in capacitance of the capacitive chemical sensor.