Abstract: A multiple liquid metering device of the type used in liquid analysis assemblies includes a valve block having an intermediate liquids storage vessel and a moving piston measurement burette. The valve block is provided with a plurality of inlet and outlet nozzles each of which is independently controlled by a valve. Internal passageways in the valve block allow the inlet nozzles to be selectively placed in communication with the burette and the burette to be selectively placed in communication with the intermediate receptacle. Stroke length of the piston and the burette is controlled by a program generator via a piston rod carried perforated disc supplying counting pulses to the program generator in response to activation of the piston motor to move the piston.

Abstract: A method of the quantitative measurement of antigens and antibodies by reacting antibody- or antigen-sensitized insoluble carrier particles with a corresponding antigen or antibody or a mixture thereof in a sample, irradiating the reaction mixture with light of a specific wavelength to measure the transmitted light at two or more points of time as the reaction proceeds, and then evaluating an increase in absorbance or percent absorption of the reaction mixture for a given period of time, and an apparatus for use therein.

Abstract: A dilute mixture of a large organic parent compound in an inert diluent is formed using a specially designed diffusion cell to control the amount of parent compound that is taken up by the diluent gas. The dilute mixture flows through a hot pyrolyzing tube where the parent compound is decomposed solely and totally by a gas phase unimolecular reaction into equimolar amounts of reactive gas and a stable reaction product. The method produces an internal standard for determining the concentration of the reactive gas since the stoichiometry of the reaction requires that the concentration of the reactive gas be equal to the concentration of the other reaction product, which can be easily calibrated by standard methods.

Abstract: Method and device for continuous flow-through analysis with a non-segmented laminar carrier flow, to which reagents are added at programmable intervals. The programming can be done by switching in various loops with valves, interchangeable connections or by composing the apparatus of different prefabricated modules to produce the desired reaction conditions.

Abstract: Pre-coated microscope slides are produced on a large scale by spraying a dyestuff solution on to microscope slides which are passed at a constant speed under a spray nozzle, the pattern of which is kept rectangular by means of a mask. Apparatus for carrying out the process includes a conveyor belt, a regulatable spraying device positioned above the conveyor belt and a mask positioned between the spraying device and the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Improvements in a backwash system for diluting apparatus wherein a rinse solution is directed to and through a sample pick-up probe to a receptacle and therefrom to a waste depositary. Either the probe or the receptacle in turn is movable between a first uncoupled condition, along a predetermined or fixed path first to place the receptacle and the delivery end of the sample probe proximate, and second, to establish a fluid tight sealed coupling therebetween. The receptacle includes an entrance recess accommodating an apertured resilient insert which engages the delivery end of the probe to define the sealed coupling. A sensing switch is employed to assure that the rinse solution will not be dispensed as backwash unless the sealed coupling is known to have been established.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of a foreign gas in a gaseous medium of known combustion properties uses the fact that the percentage lower or upper explosive limits (LEL or UEL) of mixtures of any flammable gas in any other gas all have approximately the same varying relationship to the percentage LEL or UEL of the mixture as a whole when a known percentage of a reference gas of known combustion properties is added to the mixture. The method comprises the steps of mixing a sample of a possibly contaminated gaseous medium with known combustion properties in a fire-safe container (12), actuating ignition means (17) in an attempt to ignite the gaseous mixture in the container (12), and using detection means (18) to detect ignition or otherwise of the gaseous mixture to enable the presence of a foreign gas above a predetermined concentration in the gaseous medium to be detected.

Abstract: An incubator is provided for use with a chemical analyzer of the type in which a fluid sample is metered onto a test slide which is analyzed after a suitable period of incubation. The incubator includes a temperature-controlled chamber having a conveyor mounted therein which comprises a plurality of slide holding members. A drive means for the conveyor is adapted to successively advance the slide holding members past load and unload slots located adjacent slide transfer mechanisms.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for automatically extracting compounds of clinical significance from a plurality of biological samples simultaneously by elution using a multi-channel system with common sources of wash reagents and eluent and common pre-programmed controls for all channels including means to purge wash and dry the channels between stages and means to inject essentially inert gas plugs as the interfaces between subsequent liquid phases. The extracted compounds can be mixed with reagents, mechanically agitated and examined qualitatively and/or quantitatively as by spectrophotometry to yield output readings for all channels. The flow patterns within the channels are determined by liquid-apportioning means and fluid distribution and metering, including both liquid and gaseous is accomplished by valves which respond to single control inputs to effect flow in all channels simultaneously.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing and dispensing a continuous band of medical reagent test strips is disclosed which includes chambers for the storage of used and unused portions of the continuous strip separated by barrier member to prevent cross-contamination there between. A substantially flat interim space is provided between the accesses to the chambers wherein tests may be run utilizing the samples in conjunction with the strips. Mechanical means is provided for advancing the band of medical test strips as necessary. The apparatus may be fabricated of suitable, moldable plastic material which may be discarded after the band of unused medical reagent test strips is exhausted.

Abstract: In the determination of the quantity of carbon present in water in the form of organic compounds the carbon-containing water is first evaporated in the presence of oxygen at a temperature of about 900.degree. C. Care must be taken that the oxygen does not exceed 1 to 5 volume %, calculated on the quantity of steam. Then the CO.sub.2 content is measured with a CO.sub.2 analyzer. In a second step the carbon-containing water is measured without oxygen under identical conditions. The quantity of carbon present in water in the form of organic compounds is determined from the measured CO.sub.2 concentrations.

Abstract: A flame ionization detector is disclosed that is particularly useful for liquid chromatography. The detector is preferably utilized with a disc transport assembly with flame jets being positioned at opposite sides of the solute-bearing periphery of the disc. Hydrogen and air are injected through the flame jets and coaxial cables are connected to make electrical contact with the flame jets so that a flame ionization response occurs when organic compounds on the disc of the disc transport assembly are combusted in a potential field. When so combusted, a current is caused to flow from the flame jets through the coaxial cable to an electrometer where the current is amplified for display on a strip chart recorder or other output device.

Abstract: In the dry quenching apparatus for red hot coke, the amount of quenching gas to a cooling chamber is controlled by controlling the speed of rotation of a blower in order to fix a diverging point between the positive pressure and the negative pressure at one point. The pressure around the diverging point is controlled so that the pressure is maintained at 0.+-.5 mm in Aq.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating a stream of flowing liquid in a conduit into segments separated by gas bubbles of a known or at least controllable size includes a chamber communicating with the interior of the conduit and a duct of smaller cross section than the chamber, which projects into the chamber and is connectable to a source of gas under pressure: the size of the gas chamber, can be adjusted to change the rate at which the gas bubbles are injected and thus vary the length of the liquid segments.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a high grade fertilizer from pressing residues obtained from wine and fruit juice production is disclosed wherein the residues are first stored under anaerobic conditions and are then loosely mixed with air to produce a mass which then undergoes intense aerobic degradation to produce heat, carbon dioxide, moisture and a finely divided high quality fertilizer. Apparatuses for carrying out this process are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for collecting emissions rising from a quenching car of a battery of coke ovens which device is displaceable on rails parallel to the battery of coke ovens and a collecting conduit for the emissions of the quenching car. The device includes a withdrawal connection for the emissions which is connectable to desired spots of the collecting conduit. The device also includes a first hood above which there is provided a collector for the emissions which extends in the longitudinal direction of the first hood. At one end of the first hood the collector is provided with a transition or conveying member from the first hood to the collector. This transition or conveying member has associated therewith a pre-adjustable throttle flap.

Abstract: A flue gas analyzer including a probe module to condense water vapor, a sampling module, and a titration module including an SO.sub.2 scrubber, a thermal oxidation device and a coulometric titrator.

Abstract: A system for measuring radioactivity of labelled biopolymers which comprises an electric drive to ensure stepwise travel of a set of containers, a means for acid precipitation of biopolymers for proportioned feeding of biopolymers to the containers with a biological sample of a coprecipitator and a suspension of diatomite in an acid solution, a means for taking precipitated samples from the containers, and a means for filtering precipitated biopolymers. The system also includes a program unit with a control unit to interact with the above means. The mixture is fed to a detection chamber of a radioactivity measuring device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a container for liquids, especially urine, with a lid which includes a spout. The upper and lower ends of the container are shaped complementarily to facilitate nesting of successive containers on top of one another. The spout is guarded by an upper nesting container, and, in some embodiments, may be or form part of the upper nesting formation.

Abstract: An automated system to aid the diagnosis of neuromuscular diseases by producing fiber size histograms utilizing histochemically stained muscle biopsy tissue. Televised images of the microscopic fibers are processed electronically by a multi-microprocessor computer, which isolates, measures, and classifies the fibers and displays the fiber size distribution. The architecture of the multi-microprocessor computer, which is iterated to any required degree of complexity, features a series of individual microprocessors P.sub.n each receiving data from a shared memory M.sub.n-1 and outputing processed data to a separate shared memory M.sub.n+1 under control of a program stored in dedicated memory M.sub.n.