Abstract: A caddy for holding a generally conical pastry bag comprises a tapered receptacle sized to receive at least a dispensing end portion of the pastry bag, and a flange arranged externally about the tapered receptacle. The flange may be a circular flange located about an entrance end of the receptacle and having a peripheral lip for sealing the caddy on a correspondingly sized container in which ice water or some other heat transfer medium is placed. Alternatively, the flange may be hollow for improved buoyancy and stability in a liquid heat transfer medium. The tapered receptacle may include a closed tip portion at its narrow end for receiving a dispensing tip of the pastry bag such that the dispensing tip does not contact the walls of the tapered receptacle. The caddy provides a barrier between the pastry bag and the heat transfer medium, whereby the pastry bag and its contents may be kept clean and chilled during periods between dispensing applications.

Abstract: A device with a body and a central opening through which the pastry bag may be inserted. The opening has at least one projection extending from a perimeter of the opening arranged to engage the bag. The device may include a sidewall, and may further include a flange extending from the sidewall. The device may also have slits separating a plurality of projections which extend from the perimeter of the opening. In further embodiments, the flange may be tilted or the sidewall may include support ribbing to increase peripheral rigidity of the device. A method of using the device with a pastry bag.

Abstract: Device for studying physical properties of a solid sample (S) in the presence of fluids, at relatively high temperature and pressure. The device comprises an elongate rigid body (1) closed at the opposite ends thereof by two covers (2, 3), a flexible sheath (9) around the sample, cooperating with two end pieces (7, 8) so as to delimit, inside the rigid body, a containment vessel, injection means for displacing fluids under pressure through the sample in its sheath, measuring means for measuring various parameters of the sample and means (P) for injecting a fluid under pressure around flexible sheath (9) so as to exert a radial pressure and possibly an axial pressure around the sample, means for heating the fluid under pressure associated with at least one of the two covers (3, 4) and means including a turbine (12) for example, for homogenizing the temperature around the sheath by circulation of the fluid heated on contact with the heating means. The body is preferably made of a composite material.

Abstract: The invention is a device for separating a mixture of fluids (conducting fluid, non-conducting fluid, gas), suited to measure the volumes of the various fluids by means of a capacitive measuring process.