Abstract: A method of detecting oil aerosol in an air flow. The contaminated air is passed between an electrode (11) and an electrically conductive catalyst (14), and an electrical discharge therebetween causes electrostatic precipitation of oil on to the catalyst. Air flow and discharge are stopped, and the catalyst is heated with the air substantially stagnant until the catalytic combustion temperature of the oil is reached. The heat generation due to such combustion is sensed and used to produce an output signal indicative of the quantity of deposited oil.

Abstract: A reagent of the type comprising an acid, a molybdate salt, a non-ionic surfactant, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The reagent is characterized in that it further comprises an enhancing amount of at least one sugar alcohol. Also, a method for assaying inorganic phosphorus of the type which comprises mixing a sample of biological fluid with a reagent and measuring the absorbance of the resulting solution. The method is characterized in that the above reagent is employed therein. The method can further be characterized in that the measurement can be made via a rate technique.

Abstract: An automatic analysis apparatus of small size which meets the needs of regional hospitals or medium- or small-sized hospitals, and which is easy to handle and simple in construction. The apparatus employs reaction vessels of the disposable type so as to substantially completely prevent a problem of cross contamination while enabling a low running cost.

Abstract: Liquid is applied to a thin sample on a first surface (e.g., a specimen on a microscope slide) by maintaining a second surface parallel to the first to provide a gap therebetween and contacting an edge of the gap with a discrete aliquot of liquid. The liquid can migrate by capillary action into contact with the thin sample, preferably upward from horizontally extending linear edges of the surfaces. Liquid can also be removed by contacting the gap edges with absorbent material. Also disclosed are apparatus for holding a plurality of such surfaces in a vertically extending array and apparatus for holding a plurality of liquid droplets beneath the array. One apparatus can be moved relative to the other to contact the lower gap edges with droplets.

Abstract: A vertical autoclave for carrying out operations involving a medium having a liquid phase and/or a solid phase includes:(a) a concave autoclave bottom;(b) a shaft along a vertical axis of said autoclave, said shaft passing through said bottom of said autoclave; and(c) stirrers for driving said medium with a centripetal motion about said concave autoclave bottom.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of hydrogen polysulfide to hydrogen sulfide in liquid sulfur and removal of hydrogen sulfide from said liquid sulfur comprising a multistage process in which the sulfur is supplied to a holding zone, passed to a treatment zone where it is given multiple contact with a solid catalyst adapted to convert hydrogen polysulfide to hydrogen sulfide and removed from a third zone after treatment for hydrogen sulfide removal.Apparatus for carrying out the method is disclosed and described.

Abstract: A device for performing a plurality of immunochemical assays simultaneously comprises a waste reservoir about which are positioned at least two assay tubes connected in series by conduits formed in the base and top of the reservoir structure. A compound syringe is insertable into an opening formed through the top of the waste reservoir, the syringe being held in place by a receiving structure formed in the base of the reservoir and connected to the entrance end of the series of assay tubes. The various compartments of the compound syringe are emptied in sequence to cause the flow of sample and assay reagents to flow through the assay tubes. The device is structured to allow for the reflow of sample through the tubes if desired.

Abstract: A horizontal solid-bed polymerization reactor which is divided into a plurality of zones, for example a reaction zone, an after-reaction zone, a heating zone and a product discharge zone and possesses inlet and outlet openings for feeding substances into the zones and/or removing substances from the zones, the zones being separated from one another over a part of the reactor cross-section by means of weirs, wherein two drive shafts which are independent of one another and possess mixing elements are introduced into the solid-bed polymerization reactor in the middle.

Abstract: A blood analyzer is provided with means to automatically pierce the sealed closure of a vacuum container or to aspirate through an aspirator tip blood samples to be analyzed. The samples are drawn serially through a repositionable valve structure, preferably of rotary form, and having three members in layers with aligned ports in one position to receive the blood that is drawn through the valve by a syringe type aspirator. Another position of the valve connects diluent supplies providing measured amounts of diluent to wash out the bores of the middle member of the valve containing amounts of blood measured by the size of the bores. In the case of the red blood cell measurement, where the bore is extremely small, a larger by-pass port is provided in parallel with the sample containing bore to allow more rapid flow simultaneously through both.Blood analysis is performed by separate conventional cell counter arrangements for each of the red and white counts.

Abstract: Apparatus for carrying out a multiplicity of different sequential chemical syntheses on solid-supports simultaneously comprises a multiplicity of complementary support plates each formed with a reaction chamber opening through the plate and containing the solid-support together with at least one by-pass channel through the plate. The by-pass channel or channels and reaction chamber are disposed equi-angularly and at the same radial distance about an axis of the plate. The plates are rotatably supported in compression in face to face contact between end plates complementary to the plates and each formed with a blank position and passages for at least one reactant stream. Means is provided for independently rotating each plate whereby each reaction chamber of each plate may independently be isolated or positioned in the or a selected reactant stream.

Abstract: A stirrer for biochemical reactions comprising a magnetically permeable vessel for containing a solution of biochemically reacting substances, at least one magnetic bead placed in the vessel, and a magnetic device which is installed outside the vessel and generates an oscillating magnetic field acting on the bead. The stirrer is advantageous for stirring the solution of biochemically reacting substances for biochemical reactions without direct contact.

Abstract: In an apparatus for removing NOx from a flue gas comprising an ammonia injection tube in a flue gas duct, an NOx removal reactor containing a catalyst at the downstream side of the ammonia injection tube, and a bracket casing catalyst test pieces being provided in the reactor and fixed to the reactor in a detachable manner from the outside of the reactor apart from the catalyst, deterioration of catalyst can be monitored during the operation of the boiler plant and sampling of catalyst can be carried out through the catalyst sample pieces without discontinuing the operation of the apparatus for removing NOx.

Abstract: A high pressure mixing head for mixing reactive components in reaction injection molding includes a mixing chamber discharging into a quieting chamber and an injection valve for injecting reactive component into the mixing chamber. Recirculation passages for the reactive component are provided in the mixing chamber and internally of the injection valve. The recirculation passage internally of the injection valve is selectably opened and closed as is the outlet from the injection valve into the mixing chamber. Both the injection valve outlet and the recirculation passage internally of the injection valve are selectably throttleable.

Abstract: A flow through type liquid analyzer hasan analytical portion;a peristaltic pump connected to the analytical portion for supplying various kinds of liquids to the analytical portion, a passage-change over valve mechanism for controlling the kinds of liquid supplied to the analytical portion,an air bubble adding mechanism for adding air bubbles to the liquid sent to the analytical portion from the passage-change over valve mechanism,a detecting device for detecting movement of the air bubbles from the air bubble adding mechanism to the analytical portion, and a controller connected to the detecting device and to the pump for determining the flow rate of the liquid being sent to the analytical portion from the detected movement and controlling the speed of rotation of the pump in response to the determined flow rate for automatically maintaining the flow rate of the liquid sent to the analytical portion at a predetermined desired value.

Abstract: A fluid treating device for carrying out chemical and/or physical reactions in a flowing fluid stream in contact with a stationary corrugated thin metal member. The converter comprises a housing and fluid inlet and outlet means associated therewith to define an enclosed housing. The metallic element is an accordion folded thin ribbon having perforations through which fluid may pass through the metal strip for ingress or egress and contact with zig-zag corrugations. Catalysts may be supported on the corrugated metal element whereby the device is especially useful in treating exhaust gases. The device with or without catalyst is useful as a particulate trap, especially for diesel engines.

Abstract: An automated analysis system includes a pair of sample selection subsystems whose operations are coordinated by a host computer pursuant to developing analytical data useful to a process computer in controlling an industrial process. Each subsystem includes a sample selection computer operating to control one or more multiport valves in extracting fluid samples on a scheduled or demand basis from sample loops connected with the various process streams involved with the process. The extracted samples are injected into a spectrometer for analysis. An instrument computer converts the spectrometer responses to analytical data indicative of the constituent concentrations found in an analyzed sample.

Abstract: A mass/heat exchange device for use as blood oxygenator, dializer, heat exchanger and the like, includes a rectangular or cylindrical elongated housing with first and second opposite axial ends. The interior of the housing is subdivided into three chambers, including an inlet chamber located at one axial end, an outlet chamber located at the opposite axial end and a central mass/heat transfer chamber located therebetween. A plurality of parallel tubes extend through the central chamber and connect the inlet and outlet chambers to provide passageways for treating medium to flow therebetween. The outer surface of each tube has the shape of a series of spherical lobes, connected end-to-end. Further, adjacent tubes are offset from one another to allow internesting of their lobes in a tight orderly packed manner. The treating medium, for example oxygen, flows through the tubes while a medium to be treated, for example blood, flows through the interstitial spaces between the tubes.

Abstract: Several types of new microelectronic devices including diodes, transistors, sensors, surface energy storage elements, and light-emitting devices are disclosed. The properties of these devices can be controlled by molecular-level changes in electroactive polymer components. These polymer components are formed from electrochemically polymerizable material whose physical properties change in response to chemical changes, and can be used to bring about an electrical connection between two or more closely spaced microelectrodes. Examples of such materials include polypyrrole, polyaniline, and polythiophene, which respond to changes in redox potential. Each electrode can be individually addressed and characterized electrochemically by controlling the amount and chemical composition of the functionalizing polymer. Sensitivity of the devices may be increased by decreasing separations between electrodes as well as altering the chemical environment of the electrode-confined polymer.

Abstract: A porous structure through which at least one fluid flows, consisting of a plurality of honeycomb blocks each of which has partition walls defining a multiplicity of parallel channels. The plurality of honeycomb blocks adjacently located in stacked packings, the stacked packings being superposed on each other such that the parallel channels formed in honeycomb blocks in two superposed stacked packings communicate with each other. The parallel channels in one of the honeycomb blocks are inclined with respect to the parallel channels in the corresponding honeycomb blocks such that the honeycomb blocks cooperate to form a multiplicity of zigzag fluid passages extending through the porous structure.

Abstract: Buret apparatus of the type including a buret conduit terminating at one end in a siphon, characterized in that the siphon includes a siphon passage formed on a stopper that is removably mounted in the buret conduit. The improved siphon structure is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and is less susceptible to breakage than the conventional circular glass siphon devices. The improved apparatus is particularly suitable for use as a precision titrator or dosing device where measurements in the microliter range are required.