Abstract: A fail safe control circuit for supplying gas to a burner is disclosed and includes a plurality of timers, two of which set upper and lower bounds on a window or acceptable time interval during which a third timer must issue a control signal for that signal to be valid. The timers are operated from at least two different sources of timing signals so that a failure of either source of timing signals as well as a malfunction of any one of the three timers will result in an invalid control signal and the control will lock out to preclude burner operation.

Abstract: A biochemical reactor including a vessel, a support material matrix in the vessel and particles containing cells entrapped within the matrix is disclosed. In this manner, biological cells that are ordinarily too small to incorporate into a support material matrix can be retained in the matrix by virtue of being grouped into larger particles. Also disclosed is a method for preparing such a biochemical reactor and a process employing the biochemical reactor.

Abstract: A light source having a single glass bulb housing and a multiple of three electrically interconnected fluorescent tubes. The tubes are located outside of the focal point of a smooth curved mirror. The phases of the fluorescent bulbs are electrically overlapped so as to substantially eliminate flickering of the light and to maximize the light intensity.This is a file wrapper continuation of application Ser. No. 166,783, filed Mar. 2, 1988; which is a file wrapper continuation of application Ser. No. 859,614, filed on May 5, 1986, both now abandoned.

Abstract: A lightweight support for one or more solar panels is disclosed. A compression frame is mounted to the supporting surface, and tension members extend laterally from the frame in opposite directions to the supporting surface. The solar panels are attached to one of the tension members in a fashion which allows the solar panel to rotate and so that the panels can follow the sun throughout the day.

Abstract: A fin tube heat exchanger is internally provided with a plurality of plate-shaped and regularly spaced fin members, a plurality of heat exchanger tubes inserted into through-holes defined in each fin member and a plurality of raised pieces formed in each fin member in a plurality of rows. The raised pieces in the same row are raised from a fin base in a direction opposite to the direction in which the raised pieces in adjacent rows are raised. The number of the raised pieces in each row is gradually increased as their row is located farther from a common center line of the through-holes. The raised pieces are integrally formed with and raised from the fin base between adjacent heat exchanger tubes so that two slits defined between the fin base and each raised piece may be open against the air flow.

Abstract: A gas burner (20) disclosed has general utility but has particular utility when utilized in a closely spaced relationship to roller conveyed glass sheets to provide forced convection heating. The burner (20) includes a combustion member (38) in which gas and air are introduced in a tangential relationship with respect to its inner surface to provide a swirling motion that mixes the gas with the air for combustion prior to discharge through outlets (46) to provide the forced convection heating. A glass sheet heated by this gas burner forced convection on the roller conveyor and subsequently cooled has reduced roll-wave distortion and reduced edge distortion as compared to radiantly heated glass sheets.

Abstract: There is disclosed a container for storing a reagent and then for reacting the reagent to produce a signal representative of the presence of an analyte, or of the amount of that analyte. The container is disposable and comprises at least one compartment having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion comprises a stored reagent and means for retaining for observation on an indicator surface a reaction product of such reagent following a reaction of the reagent with a liquid sample. The lower portion includes means for absorbing liquid extracted from the upper portion through the retaining means. The absorbing means is configured with a shape that contacts the confining means only at locations spaced inwardly away from at least two of the side walls of the upper portion, whereby the reaction product of the liquid sample and the reagent is induced to flow into the confining means away from the two side walls to produce a uniform signal.

Abstract: A gas fuel torch assembly is provided for attachement to a portable pressurized gas fuel cylinder. The assembly includes a housing and a gas delivery system in the housing. The system delivers gas fuel from the cylinder within an adjustable operating pressure range to a burn tube connected to the housing. The gas delivery system includes a gas passageway, an on/off valve and a pressure regulator valve assembly. The pressure regulator valve assembly includes a regulator body slidably received in the housing and an adjustable regulator valve stem. A metering orifice provided in the gas passageway of the regulator body defines a maximum pressure at which gas fuel is fed into the burn tube. Both the on/off valve and regulator valve include spring biased resilient ball members loosely held within enlarged valve chambers.

Abstract: According to the invention, a combustion apparatus includes an upright type combustion chamber having a bottom, conduit means extending below and along the bottom of the combustion chamber and having a nozzle which passes upwardly through the bottom and opens into the combustion chamber, a ringed body supported in the combustion chamber with a gap formed between the lower edge of the ringed body and the bottom of the combustion chamber, air blasted from the nozzle passing through the ringed body, a heating medium contained in the combustion chamber. Particles of the heating medium blasted by the action of the nozzle from the lower part of the ringed body are circulated through the inner bore of the ringed body.

Abstract: Apparatus for extracting cleaning bodies from a cooling liquid after flowing through the tubes of a heat exchanger as a pipe section casing with at least one layer of screens arranged in a V-shaped manner mounted to be pivoted for through-washing includes a device for receiving the cleaning bodies collected in a strip-like section from both screens and a guide member arranged above the device for aligning the cooling fluid flow more parallel to the screen surfaces directly upstream from the strip section. The apparatus is characterized in that the guide member is provided with two vortex members running parallel to the strip section with each vortex member being associated with one of the two screens to form one vortex zone with at least one point within the vortex zone terminating in an opening of a pipe for sucking off the cleaning bodies.

Abstract: An oral hygiene work station includes a work table which includes a wash basin and a spray fitting and at least one cabinet which can receive additional components. A table top is pivotally mounted underneath and approximately in the center of the work table. The table top is pivotally mounted between a first position where the table top is disposed between the work table and the cabinet and extends so that the table top faces away from the wash basin to a second position where the table top has pivoted approximately 90.degree. so that the table top extends beyond the frontal edge surface of the work table and avoids interference with access to the cabinet.

Abstract: An outdoor-type gas lamp is provided with a photovoltaic solar cell means, a rechargeable battery connected to the solar cell means, a normally-opened electromagnetic gas valve means, and an ignitor means connected to both the photovoltaic solar cell means and the rechargeable battery means, with the photovoltaic solar cell means generating a bins voltage that closes the flow of illluminating gas through the gas valve means and blocks the flow of energy from the battery means to the ignitor means when energized by daylight.

Abstract: An illuminated tool or key, in which a light source is detachably secured to a surface of the tool or key. Additionally, the emitted light can be modulated to perform an additional keying function when received by the lock. A three-color light emitter is preferable.

Abstract: Gas range with at least one burner covered by a glass ceramic plate, wherein the burner has a gas cock and a timed-ignition and monitoring device, such that the output of the burners is adjustable. A gas cock is used with plugs rotatable between a high and a low position with the aid of a knob and a knob shaft, with a spindle connected to the knob shaft, with a valve plate under the gas inlet opening in the plug housing, with a microswitch for the ignition device and with the use of an electromagnet under the valve plate, in the area of the gas supply connection of the further housing. The knob with the knob handle and the spindle is pressable against the action of a return spring in the high position of the plug. This way, the microswitch for the timed ignition device becomes actuatable and the valve plate becomes pressable on the electromagnet against the action of a return spring, thereby opening the combustion gas inlet opening.

Abstract: A plurality of centrifugation vials having a common base form a cluster tray suitably shaped for receipt by a standard multiwell or cluster tray carrier for a centrifuge. The tray base is segmented into individual vial bases to facilitate separation of a given vial from the cluster tray if desired. The bottom surface of each vial directly under the vial's interior chamber is recessed from the bottom supporting surface of the cluster tray to avoid scuffing or scratching. A skirted snap-plug cap is also provided for improved sealing means and to decrease the risk of contamination upon opening and closing of the vial. The vials and cluster trays thereof are preferably formed from transparent polymeric materials which can support anchored cell growth.

Abstract: A fail safe redundancy circuit for controlling a gas valve relay in a gas fired furnace or similar burner is disclosed. The status of the relay contacts is monitored and if those contacts are in the position for enabling the gas valve prior to an ignition attempt, a gate is enabled to shunt the control side of a circuit breaking device such as a fuse to overload that device causing it to kick out or open and interrupt power to the circuit thus disabling the burner. The burner combustion chamber is purged of any accumulated gas after the circuit breaker has been opened.

Abstract: A table-mounted barbecue cooker is provided which has a grill, gas burner or coals, grease pan, smoke collection system and greaase collection system including a grease filter. The grill, burner or coal box, and grease pan are all easily removed for cleaning through the top of the barbecue cooker and the filter from underneath. The burner is so located as to prevent flames from reaching grease collection areas. Coals or charcoals may be used in place of a gas burner depending on the local fuel supply and for flavoring and appearance.

Abstract: A system for metering nutrient media to cell culture containers includes a media flow conduit which defines at one end means for substantially aseptic communication with the source of the media. In a preferred embodiment, sterile connectors may be used for essentially sterile conditions. A branch conduit extends from the flow conduit at a location spaced from the ends. The branch conduit communicates with means for receiving a predetermined-volume aliquot of media through the media flow conduit from said one end. The flow conduit also defines a portion downstream from the branch conduit, which communicates with at least one cell culture container, each container being a flexible bag. At least part of the flexible bag is made of a material capable of providing at least 2 times the oxygen diffusion and at least 2 times the carbon dioxide diffusion between the bag interior and exterior, compared with an identically-sized, sealed bag having polyethylene walls 0.013 inch thick.

Abstract: Rack and pinion steering gear with hydraulic power assist that is reduced as the vehicle wheels approach their positive wheel stops so that hydraulic loads on the steering gear and linkage are reduced and the power steering pump is not forced to excessive operation in relief.

Abstract: A fluidized bed combustor wherein a combustion chamber and a regeneration chamber are both contained in a single hollow body is provided. These two chambers are formed by vertically partitioning the body by a partition wall, which has an upper opening and a lower one, and also each have a perforated plate at the bottom part thereof on which a heat transfer medium containing a desulfurizing agent is placed and fluidized. The desulfurizing agent is transferred from the combustion chamber through the lower opening to the regeneration chamber and circulated by overflow through the upper opening again to the combustion chamber. Various modifications of the above-mentioned fundamental embodiment are proposed. Combustion and desulfurization are automatically and effectively carried out in a single apparatus to give a high percentage desulfurization, make the apparatus compact, and reduce the initial cost and the running cost thereof.