Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing carbon black under fine-tuned conditions which comprises measuring a property of the black produced in a tangential introduction of hot gases to produce a vortex operation and adjusting introduction of the hot gases and/or the make oil or gas responsive to said property until it has a desired value. In one embodiment, the adjustment is made manually. In another embodiment, it can be made by a computerized operation. The point of introduction of hot gases can be adjusted by providing at least one movable orifice-carrying element in the conduit supplying the hot combustion gases. The discharge end of the make oil or gas supply pipe can also be relocated according to the measured property.

Abstract: A selective hydrogenation process wherein at least two catalyst beds in series is controlled by predicting the inlet temperature to the first catalyst bed in the series required to maintain the concentration of the component being selectively hydrogenated in the effluent flowing from the second reactor within a desired concentration limit. This prediction is biased by a comparison of the actual concentration to the concentration limit. The thus biased prediction is utilized to manipulate the inlet temperature to the first reactor in the series. The inlet temperature to the second reactor to the series is controlled by establishing a prediction of the differential temperature across the second reactor in the series.

Abstract: In a selective hydrogenation process wherein at least one catalyst bed is utilized, the temperature of the feed stream to the catalyst bed is controlled so as to maintain a desired reaction temperature in the catalyst bed. Primary control is based on an analysis of the feed stream. An override control based on the differential temperature across the at least one catalyst bed is provided to prevent fast changes in the composition of the feed stream from causing the temperature of the catalyst bed to change rapidly.

Abstract: The invention relates to combustible gas detectors of the kink in which a heatable wire filament exhibits a change in resistance due to a change in its temperature caused by the oxidation of a combustible gas passing over it. In order to avoid poisoning the heatable wire filament is embedded in a pellet consisting of a homogeneous mixture of an oxidation catalyst material and zeolite material the latter preferbly of type X, Y, L or mordenite of large pore size. Additionally layers of catalytically active material and/or inactive non-catalytic porous material may be provided around the outside of the pellet.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring the concentration of a gas carried in a medium such as air comprising, an indicator tube having material therein which progressively changes color along its length as it is exposed to the gas to be measured. A flow device is connected to the indicator tube for drawing or pushing the carrier with gas therethrough to cause the progressive change in color in the indicator tube material. A light barrier in the form of a light source and detector facing each other and on either side of the indicator tube is provided and mounted to slide along the axis of the indicator tube and in a direction of propagation of the progressive color change. A reference light barrier is provided in the area of the indicator tube which is not exposed to the progressive color change to produce a reference signal which is compared to a signal produced by the movable light barrier.

Abstract: In the automatic liquid sample diluter disclosed herein, an excess of the sample liquid is drawn into the apparatus through a path which includes a conduit section of precisely predetermined volume. Valving means then switch this conduit section into the diluent discharge path so that accurate dilution ratios are obtained merely by controlling the discharged diluent volume.

Abstract: A monitor determines the yields of constituents of a product provided by a fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) receiving fresh feed and recycle feed. The monitor includes sensors providing signals corresponding to sensed operating parameters of the FCCU. Analyzers analyze the fresh feed and the recycle feed and provide signals corresponding to the API gravities of the fresh and recycle feeds and to the viscosities of the fresh and recycle feeds. A circuit provides signals corresponding to the Watson K factors associated with the fresh and recycle feeds and the catalyst in accordance with the signals from the analyzers and sensors. A network provides signals representative of the yields of the constituents of the product from FCCU. Display apparatus provides a visual display of the yields.

Abstract: A solid state sensor that is ideally well suited for detecting the presence of ozone in an atmosphere under ambient conditions. A metal oxide semiconductor is placed upon a glass substrate by heating the substrate to about 1200.degree. F. and then depositing molten granules of the metal oxide upon the heated substrate whereby the granules become fused to the substrate and each other to form a rough textured coating. The oxide coating is machined to a desired thickness using any one of many suitable machining operations.

Abstract: A method is described of making a catalytic combustion type gas detector, the sensitivity of which to alcohol vapors and to tobacco fumes is decreased by utilizing a mixture of powders. The mixed powders is composed of at least one metal oxide selected from TiO.sub.2, ZrO.sub.2, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, HfO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2, La.sub.2 O.sub.3, NiO Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 and a substance which presents an N-type semiconductor characteristic by gas adsorption. The mixture is coated directly on a wire coil of Pt or the like and a current is applied to the metal wire coil in an oxidizing atmosphere to sinter the coated mixed powder thereon.

Abstract: A temperature-controllable automated reaction housing comprised of a reaction chamber and a jacketed column extending upwards from such chamber and including heat-exchange fluid inlet and outlet lines. The reaction chamber projects at least partially into a controllably heated bath means and includes an outlet nozzle at the bottom of such chamber which is controllable by an automatically controllable valve means for selective removal of contents within such chamber.

Abstract: A means for detecting and/or measuring the presence of ozone in an atmosphere such as air. A solid state sensor that is capable of changing its conductivity in the presence of ozone is located within a housing along with an ultraviolet lamp and a stream of the sampled atmosphere caused to pass over the sensor. After exposure to ozone in the atmosphere, the sensor is restored to its initial or start of sensing state by flooding it with ultraviolet radiation produced by the lamp.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the pH in a continuous flow vessel into which process material is fed through a feed channel and controlling chemical solution is fed through a control channel and in which the pH is measured at an output part of the vessel in order to effect the control by controlling the control chemical feed according to the feedback method, the value of a reference variable being given by a pH number.

Abstract: A reagent holder for fluoro immunoassays with two examination surfaces on opposite sides and a resiliently deformable detent operable to retain the reagent holder in an examination location regardless of which side is being examined.

Abstract: A method for the determination of sulfur by which sulfur is reduced to volatile hydrogen sulfide gas and swept into a D.C. plasma where it is detected by vacuum ultraviolet atomic emission spectrometry at 180.7 nm. The method makes possible the determination of trace levels of sulfur in samples where the matrix would normally result in spectral and/or chemical interferences.

Abstract: Blood specimen indexing means. A rack for test tubes having a lower solid plate, a center plate and an upper plate, the center and upper plates having a plurality of holes for receiving test tubes. The upper plate has a plurality of peg holes to receive the one or more pegs. The test tube holes in the upper plate are numbered with consecutive two digit numbers and the peg holes are numbered with consecutive three digit and four digit numbers.

Abstract: A laboratory centrifuge for producing suspensions, sediments and the like, and for carrying out washing and similar processes, in which a motor-driven vertical shaft is arranged in a housing, said shaft carrying a shaft head on which magazines or such are pivotably mounted for receiving sample containers. The shaft head can be driven in either of two opposing directions and has two brackets arranged symmetrically to the axis of rotation the outwards extending arms of said brackets carrying an axle on which the magazines are pivotably mounted with axial play. The width of the magazines is slighter than the distance between the two bracket arms, and a locking device is present between the bracket arms and the magazines, becoming effective when the magazine abuts the respective bracket arm.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is an apparatus for precise mutual dilution and dosage of liquids, which apparatus comprises a dilution and dosage unit consisting of two cylinder spaces of different volumes and cross-sectional areas, as compared with each other, and connected to a common intake and exhaust tip, as well as of pistons arranged into said cylinder spaces. According to the invention, in each dilution and dosage unit, the lower part of the smaller cylinder space forms the intake and exhaust tip and the piston in the smaller cylinder space consists of a tubular component whose upper part is opened into the lower part of the larger cylinder space of the dilution and dosage unit concerned.

Abstract: Ozone generated for chemiluminescent reaction in an analyzer for the measurement of oxides of nitrogen, for example, is purified by passing the ozone through a bed of silica gel, thereby removing substances that interfere with the analysis.

Abstract: In an automatic chemical testing apparatus in which radiant energy readings are taken from a liquid sample of reacted contents comprising reagent and one or more aliquots, one per channel, of a sample fluid, a statistically large number of readings are taken on each sample. For example, in a readout cycle, 32 readings are taken on each channel for a sample. For an end point chemistry, calculation of an output value is based on the mean of a plurality of readings which are a subset of all readings. For a kinetic chemistry, the output reading is based on a slope of a curve defined by subsets of successive readings.

Abstract: The assembly includes a horizontally disposed sample transfer arm which is mounted to and extends radially outwardly from a vertically positioned cylindrical support member. A drive shaft is coupled by a drive mechanism to the cylindrical member for rotating the cylindrical member a predetermined arcuate distance to move the transfer arm between a first position over a first receptacle and a second position over a second receptacle. Locating stops associated with the cylindrical support member define and limit the arcuate movement of the arm. The drive mechanism includes a lost motion clutch assembly including a flat cam member which has a generally rectangular cross-section, which is fixed to the top of the drive shaft and which is received in a slot in the cylindrical member that extends axially inwardly from one end of the cylindrical member and that has a generally rectangular cross-section greater than the rectangular cross section of the cam member.