Abstract: A route switching apparatus for conveying articles, including a plurality of lines suitable for conveying the articles along respective separate paths and a body having a polygonal cross-section and pivotable about a longitudinal axis. The body is positioned along the plurality of lines between an entry and an exit of the lines. The body has a plurality of lateral faces with transfer lines formed on respective lateral faces. The transfer lines communicate with respective lines of the plurality of lines between the entry and the exit. The body is pivotable such that the transfer lines can communicate with different respective lines so that the articles moving along one of the separate paths can transfer to another of the separate paths.

Abstract: A device for conveying objects having a neck along a given direction having at least one pressure chamber capable of projecting an air flow on the objects along the conveying direction, and a support rail oriented along the conveying direction. The device includes transport shuttles fixed to the neck of the objects and cooperating with the support rail.

Abstract: Solid reaction products with a dense nanocrystalline structure are formed from reactant particles with diameters in the nano-scale range by compacting the particles into a green body, then passing an electric current through the body causing Joule heating sufficient to initiate the reaction to form the reaction product while simultaneously applying pressure to the reacting body to density it to a density approaching the theoretical density of the pure product. Surprisingly, this process results in a reaction product that retains the nanocrystalline structure of the starting materials, despite the fact that a reaction has occurred and the materials have been subjected to highly stringent conditions of electric current, heat and pressure.

Abstract: A Medium Access (MAC) Protocol is utilized for wireless access, preferrably over a radio frequency channel, for a plurality of remote stations to a base station on a LAN. The MAC protocol is based on a reservation scheme for user data traffic and a random access technique for control and signalling traffic. There is a time division frame structure in which time is slotted. Time slots are grouped into variable length periods. The variable frame structure consists of a frame header followed by interleaved periods of different types (type A, B or C). Type A periods are allocated to the outbound channel which is used for data transfer from the base station to the remote stations. Type B periods, are allocated to the inbound channel that is used for contention-free data transfer from the remote stations to the base station. Allocation of the data slots in the A and B periods is performed by the base station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing disilane from monosilane, according to which gaseous monosilane is passed into a reaction zone where it is subject to an electric discharge generated by a high-frequency current.

Abstract: To regenerate the adsorbent which serves to purify compressed air from water and carbon dioxide, there is used residual gas from an air distillation apparatus (10), heated to a substantially constant moderate regeneration temperature between the temperature of the air entering the mass of adsorbent and a temperature which is at most about 50.degree. C. higher, preferably about 10.degree. to 20.degree. C. higher, than this entering air temperature. This gas is then sent to a water refrigeration tower (16) for cooling the compressed air.

Abstract: A process for producing disilane from monosilane comprising introducing monosilane into a reaction zone in which the monosilane is subjected to an electric discharge generated by a high frequency current. The monosilane is mixed with at least one inert gas selected from the group consisting of helium and argon. The pressure of the gaseous mixture in the reaction zone is between 0.1 and 3 bar, and the gaseous mixture is contacted in the reaction zone under electric discharge with a wall cooled to a temperature which is sufficiently low for the saturation vapor pressure of the disilane to be negligible, but not low enough for the monosilane to condense at the working partial pressure. Apparatus for conducting this process is provided.

Abstract: A device for the transferring and accumulating of packing elements in the form of a box which is open on one face, using an air conveyor on an accumulating path in a closed loop (1) to which there is connected at least one upstream machine feeding the accumulating path with packing elements and at least one downstream machine fed with packing elements from the accumulating path, characterized by the fact that said closed loop (1) is arranged substantially vertically and comprises an upper horizontal path portion (2), a lower horizontal path portion (3) located below the upper portion, and two curved end connecting portions (4, 5), certain machines being connected to the upper portion of the path and other machines being connected to the lower portion of the path.