Abstract: A temperature control apparatus for controlling the temperature of a plurality of cuvettes consisting of an annular sealed chamber containing a refrigerant, means fixed to the sealed chamber for receiving the sample cuvettes, a heater in thermal contact with the sealed chamber, and a temperature sensor in thermal contact with the sealed chamber. The sealed chamber may include a plurality of thermally conductive posts fixed to the chamber, the spacing between adjacent ones of the posts being adapted to receive the sample cuvettes.

Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor and operating process is disclosed, the reactor including a distributor plate to provide distribution of fluid passing upwardly into a fluidized bed; a mixing chamber positioned below the distributor plate; fluid entry conduits, preferably at the base of the reactor, for the passage of fluid into the reactor; and a flow deflector associated with the entry conduit for providing at least an upwardly fluid flow path and an outward fluid flow path along the wall of the mixing chamber to inhibit the accumulation of solids and liquid in the mixing chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus are provided which automatically add diluent/quench reagent in such a manner as to enable adequate mixing as well as a short period for further mixing in automated immunoassay techniques. The probes for adding the diluent/quench reagents are offset from the optics module probe so that reagents are being added to a second row while the optics probe aspirates solutions from a first row.

Abstract: Means are described for positively engaging a key in a keyway in a pipette and its support, to insure that proper dispensing position is maintained and that the pipette stays in the support. Preferably spring means are provided on the key for pressing against the keyway.

Abstract: A catalytic converter utilizing a resilient, flexible shot-free ceramic fiber containing mounting mat for mounting a monolith with a metallic casing is disclosed. The mounting mat may be comprised of shot-free composite of shot-free ceramic fibers in combination with an intumescent sheet material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically pipetting reagents which avoid contamination of the reagents. The reagents are withdrawn from a reagent bottle via a pipette tip which is unique to a particular reagent. The pipette tip is moved to a cuvette where the reagent is dispensed and then returned to rest in the cap of the reagent bottle. The apparatus for carrying out the method includes a pump, pipette pick-up device, reagent bottle cap and bottle rack.

Abstract: A non-cylindrical carbon black reactor for consistently and efficiently producing high tint carbon black. A plurality of flat sides defines the inner surface of the carbon black reactor. The flat sides provide a planar surface for the introduction of feedstock hydrocarbon into the reactor, thereby eliminating or substantially reducing impingement of the feedstock hydrocarbon on the inner surface of the reactor chamber and the consequent erosion of the inner surface. The flat sides of the inner surface of the reaction chamber also provide a hot gas flow with a cross-sectional area that substantially conforms to the spray pattern of the feedstock hydrocarbon, thereby providing a minimum flame length within the reactor and a more efficient use of hot gas.

Abstract: The molecular concentration of a constituent such as oxygen of an anesthetic agent in a gas is measured by contacting the gas with the surface of a solid body, momentarily heating the surface so that the constituent reacts at the surface to alter a property of the surface such as reflectivity, and determining the degree or rate of alteration occasioned by the heating step. The momentary heating operation may be performed by light from a laser focused on to a small localized region. The body surface can include a thin film of a material such as a metal reactive with the gas constituent of interest at elevated temperatures. The preferred methods provide extraordinarily rapid response, and also form a permanent record of each measurement. Where the gas is at substantially constant pressure, the measured molecular concentration can be interpreted as an indication of the proportion of the constituent in the gas.

Abstract: A succession of low profile catalyst chambers each housing a reservoir of catalyst are alternately connected in sequence by openings below the levels of the catalyst reservoirs and openings thereabove. The catalyst in all reservoirs is fluidized by a gas moving upwardly therethrough. Separate portions of the sequence of chambers are operated as reactor and regenerator sections according to the gas used to fluidize the catalyst in those sections. Other portions of the sequence of chambers are used to create inert atmospheric seals between the reactor and regenerator sections. The entire apparatus is configured as a low-profile catalytic cracker wherein the fluidized flow of the catalyst moves throughout the apparatus in an alternating lifting and dropping sequence.

Abstract: A monolithic catalyst converter for use with a car, motorcycle or the like for purifying exhaust gas emanating therefrom. A cylindrical casing is made up of longitudinally divided cylindrical casing halves and stores a catalyst carrier which is wrapped in a retainer member. Flanges extend on each of the casing halves in the lengthwise direction of the casing. Predetermined magnitudes of load are applied in predetermined directions to the cylindrical casing to mate the flanges to each other and, in the mating position, the flanges are rigidly connected to each other.

Abstract: A general and versatile method for quantitation of a variety of analytes which supplies a directly observable result not requiring instrumentation is disclosed. The method is based on competing enzymic reactions, wherein one of the reactions is capable of forming a directly observable product, which is a colored product. Direct quantitation is obtained by altering the relative amount of competing reaction catalyst with respect to control reaction catalyst. Materials capable of analysis using this method include enzyme substrates, enzymes, immunogens, and specific affinity binding partners.

Abstract: Processes are described for the selective extracorporeal precipitation of low density lipoproteins or beta-lipoproteins from whole serum or plasma, wherein a treating agent comprising heparin or a polyanion, such as dextran sulfate or sodium-phosphorus tungstate, in a buffer is added to the whole serum or plasma and the beta-llipoprotein-complex which thereupon forms with the treating agent is precipitated at the isoelectric point at a pH value in the range of from about 5.05 to about 5.25, and is then separated. Optionally, the precipitate or respecively the filtrate is further analyzed for diagnostic purposes. When heparin is employed, the process may be employed therapeutically.Apparatus is described for the continuous therapeutic practice of such a process, employing heparin, including means for flushing to reduce clogging of the filter employed to separate the precipitated lipoprotein-complex.

Abstract: Improved performance is obtained in a multi-tube reactor for oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide by providing a distribution zone for the coolant located downstream of the catalyst and a contiguous cooling zone. The effluent gases from the oxidation are cooled in the cooling zone by a fluid, which has been only slightly preheated and distributed uniformly in the distribution zone by contact with tubes in which the effluent gases are in low-turbulence flow. Uniform distribution of the coolant provides substantially equal cooling of the effluent gases in each tube, thus minimizing the variation in effluent gas temperature among the tubes. Preferably, the tubes in the cooling section are packed with inert particles to facilitate heat transfer, while the tubes are empty in the distribution section to reduce heat transfer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for automatic microbatch reaction including a reactor having a reaction chamber, such as a 1.5 milliliter plastic centrifuge tube having a conical bottom. An automatically actuated injection valve is used to inject less than 1 milliliter of a sample into the reaction chamber. One or more automatically actuated reagent valves are used to introduce respective pressurized reagents into the reaction chamber to process the sample. The volume of the reagent(s) introduced into the reaction chamber is less than 1 milliliter and controlled by the on time of the respective reagent valve. The automatically actuated valves are controlled by a computer based timer. A sensor positioned in the chamber, such as a pH electrode, can be used to analyze the processed sample in place or the processed sample can be analyzed by flowing it from the reaction chamber through a flow-through detector, such as a flow-through spectrophotometer.

Abstract: A method of predetermining the exact weight ratio of the reactants to produce a product and maintain the weight ratio of the reactants to obtain a maximum yield of the product. The method combines weight ratio measurement with infrared absorbance measurements to determine the maximum yield of an alkenyl succinimide product.

Abstract: An apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon with hot particulate solids wherein a curtain of hot particulate solids is delivered to a thermal reactor through peripheral openings and hydrocarbon feed is delivered to the reactor through the curtain of hot particulate solids at an angle.

Abstract: The automatic analyzer relating to the invention is characterized in that since drive and control of the automatic analyzer and storage of the measuring data are realizable on the IC card, operability of such kind of automatic analyzer is sharply simplified, the system can be miniaturized substantially to a low cost, moreover, in case the automatic analyzer gets damaged, portion and cause of the damage can be found easily and quickly.

Abstract: In a chemical analysis system a sample liquid is passed through a non-wetting porous membrane from a reservoir of sample liquid to a flowing stream of diluent which is constantly flowing when the sample liquid penetrates the membrane under positive pressure differential from the sample side of the membrane. The pressure differential is suitably obtained both by means for exerting pressure on the sample liquids as for example on a stream of sample liquid on the entry side of the membrane as well as a reduction in pressure on the exit side of the membrane. The passage of the sample liquid through the non-wetting porous membrane requires a minimum liquid entry pressure differential across the membrane to cause enough penetration to give a sample liquid which provides in an analyzed diluent stream a detectable presence of the sample liquid in an analytical detector receiving and measuring the stream.

Abstract: In conventional devices for feeding an analyzing apparatus with different media, comprising a feeder unit with fittings for the media to be introduced, the individual media travel different paths between the input opening and the measuring chambers, which will result in different conditions of measurement for calibrating media and sample media. The invention eliminates this drawback by providing the feeder unit 1 with input elements 6, by placing the sample input opening 4 on a supporting piece 3 which may be moved by a control unit 17, and by providing that each input element 6 may be brought into sealing contact with the sample input opening 4 subsequent to a rotatory motion of the supporting piece 3.

Abstract: A culture medium used for cultivating mushrooms is sterilized by a sterilizing apparatus. The sterilizing apparatus comprises a sterilizing container in which the culture medium is placed, a steam supply pipe for supplying steam in the sterilizing container, an exhaust pipe for exhausting steam and air in the container, and a drain pipe for draining condensate from the container. The drain pipe includes a main pipe having a relatively large diameter and a bypass pipe provided with a trap. The amounts of steam supplying and exhausting and the amount of condensate draining are controlled in accordance with a predetermined mode during the sterilizing processes by regulating valve means mounted to the respective pipes. Two exhaust pipes having different exhausting capacities may be provided in consideration of environmental conditions.