Abstract: Sun flower plants that produce seeds with an extractable oil having an oleic acid content of more than 40% by weight and a stearic acid content of more than 12% by weight are disclosed, together with products containing the oil and methods for selecting plants containing the oil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic and non-transgenic plants that produce oil having high levels of saturated fatty acids and medium to high levels of olecic acid. More specifially, the invention relates to a sunflower plant, seed, and the extractable oil having increased stearic acid content and increased oleic acid content relative to the normal sunflower oil level of stearic acid and oleic acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to plant seeds that contain an oil having an oleic acid content of more than 5% and less than 65% by weight based upon the total fatty acid content, a linoleic acid content of more than 1% and less than 65% by weight based upon the total fatty acid content, a palmitic acid content of more than 20% and less than 40% by weight based upon the total fatty acid content, a stearic acid content of more than 3% and less than 15% based upon the total fatty acid content, and wherein the palmitoleic acid content is less than 4% based upon the total fatty acid content, and the asclepic acid content is less than 4% based upon the total fatty acid content. The invention further relates to the oil that can be obtained from the seeds, the use of that oil and to plants grown from the seeds or producing the seeds.

Abstract: A double valve assembly for regulating the feed of particulate material to or from a pressure vessel comprises a valve casing containing a flow-regulating valve and pressure sealing valve in series. Particulate material is fed to the valve assembly through a feed tube located at the top of the casing. The flow-regulating valve comprises a dish-shaped valve member swingable from a first position wherein it confronts the bottom of the feed tube and blocks flow of material therethrough to a second position at one side of the feed tube. The bottom of the feed tube is constructed and arranged to guide the particulate material away from the second valve position and thereby facilitate swinging movement of the swingable member from its first to its second position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the percentage reduction of iron ore in a reduction reactor of a multiple reactor gaseous reduction system. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the flow and composition of the reducing gas fed to the reduction reactor and the flow and composition of the reactor effluent gas after cooling are measured and the measurements are fed to a computer along with data on the initial weight of the charge to the reactor, the moisture content of the charge and the initial reducible oxygen in the charge. The computer is programmed to compute the rate of oxygen removal from the charge, integrate the rate of removal with respect to time and compare the integral with the initial oxygen content of the charge to evaluate percentage reduction thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring and controlling the percentage reduction of iron ore in a vertical shaft, moving bed, gaseous reduction reactor. Reducing gas comprising hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is fed from a source of such gas to the bottom of the reduction zone of the reactor and is heated to an elevated temperature before being introduced into the reactor. The flow and composition of the reducing gas are determined at a first location before the gas enters the reactor. The effluent gas from the reactor is cooled and its flow and composition determined at a second location after the gas has been cooled. The measured flows and compositions are correlated with the rate of sponge iron production to obtain a measurement of percentage reduction of the ore and this measurement is used, either manually or automatically, to regulate the rate of removal of sponge iron from the reactor to maintain the percentage reduction at a predetermined desired value.