Abstract: Techniques for processing cocoa mass are provided. In general, the techniques involve solvent extraction of cocoa fat from cocoa mass, to achieve a desirable cocoa butter and low-fat cocoa powder. In one preferred process, the cocoa mass is the result of grinding cocoa nibs, with absence of a mechanical pressing and heating step, to advantage. Preferred products and uses are characterized.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a method and system for electronically displaying information, comprising the steps of: (1) displaying a grid to a user, wherein each column and each row of the grid represents a category of data, wherein each column-row element of the grid corresponds to column-row data, and wherein each column-row element of the grid comprises a visual indicator relating to the column-row data; (2) receiving a request from the user to have selected column-row data displayed; and (3) displaying the selected column-row data to the user. Preferably, the color of the visual indicator relates to a quality of said column-row data, such as how important the data is. Also, the size of the visual indicator preferably relates to the quantity of the column-row data.

Abstract: The invention provides a tablet of compacted particulate cleaning composition comprising at least one cleaning ingredient selected from the group consisting of organic surfactant, detergency builder and bleach, wherein the tablet or a discrete region thereof comprises water-swellable disintegration-promoting particles comprising a) disintegration material selected from the group consisting of (i) cellulosic material from a plant source other than timber and (ii) plant material which contains both cellulose and lignin, obtainable by fragmentation of plant material without separation of its fibers into a liquid dispersion, and b) carrier material having a solubility in deionised water at 20° C. of about 1 gram per liter or less. The tablets have an aesthetically acceptable colour and exhibit good disintegration and strength properties. The disintegration-promoting particles are also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously presenting a sample from a stream of particulate material which contains crystalline substances and for effectively continuously analysing the sample by X-ray diffraction are provided. An extracted sample flow is fed onto a continuously moving carrier and its surface smoothed and flattened for X-ray diffraction patterns to be detected and analysed to provide a compositional analysis for the crystalline substances. The sample is continuously removed from the carrier prior to further sample being fed onto the carrier. The invention is particularly applicable for phase composition analysis of cement and cement clinker and provides an effectively continuous analysis substantially in real time in contrast to prior art laboratory analyses of discrete samples.

Abstract: A gravity separator including a vessel within which a mixture containing oil and water can separate under gravity to form vertically discrete oil and water layers, the vessel having an inlet assembly including a cyclone separator for separating an oil-containing inlet flow into gas and liquid phases, that assembly including ducting for receiving the underflow of cyclone separator and conducting that underflow into that region of the vessel which, in use, is above the water layer.

Abstract: A tablet of compacted particulate cleaning composition comprising:

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and a process capable of reducing the sulphur content of the gasoline product resulting from the cracking of a high molecular weight hydrocarbon feed comprising sulphur which comprises at least three concurrent steps: (a) passing input fluid comprising pollutant through at least one adsorber to produce a polluted adsorber and a purified fluid stream (of reduced pollutant content), which leaves the adsorber, stopping the flow into said adsorber to leave residual fluid therein, and separating said residual fluid from said adsorber to leave the polluted adsorber of reduced residual fluid content, (0) heating a polluted adsorber with a heated regeneration gas to produce a hot adsorher (of reduced polutant content) and cooler regeneration gas (of increased pollutant content), (c) contacting a heated adsorher (of reduced pollutant content) with a regeneration gas (of a lower temperature than that of said adsorber) to produce a cooler adsorber and a warmer regeneration gas, w

Abstract: A fluorinated phenyl compound having the general formula [1]: wherein each of s, v and x=0 or 1, each of t and u=1, 2 or 3, and each of y and z=0, 1 or 2; A, B and C are independently selected from conjugated cyclic moieties including heterorings and fused rings; R1 and R3 may be independently cyano, or (C1-C12)alkyl, (C1-C12)alkoxy, (C1-C11) alkoxycarbonyl or (C1-C11)alkylcarbonyloxy which may be fluoro- and/or cyano-substituted; R2=H or F; R4=H or F; and R5=H or F. Such compounds have high transverse dipole moments and are potentially useful in liquid crystal compositions and in devices including same.

Abstract: Techniques for processing cocoa mass are provided. In general, the techniques involve solvent extraction of cocoa fat from cocoa mass, to achieve a desirable cocoa butter and low-fat cocoa powder. In one preferred process, the cocoa mass is the result of grinding cocoa nibs, with absence of a mechanical pressing and heating step, to advantage. Preferred products and uses are characterized.

Abstract: A microwave resonator, particularly for use in cellular telecommunications, comprising a hollow electrical conductor defining a resonant cavity and a substantially cubic member located within the cavity. The substantially cubic member has a high dielectric constant compared with the remainder of the cavity.

Abstract: The color level in milkfat is reduced by heating milkfat to 200 degrees C. and 300 degrees C. for a period of less than tern minutes, preferably using an intimate thermal contact between the heater and the milkfat. The heater may in one embodiment have a heated inner core which may include a plurality of longitudinal or spiral or other grooves of channels on its outer surface to provide elongate flow paths for the milkfat.

Abstract: A submersible vehicle comprising a plurality of rigid submersible vessels 2, 3, some of which, 2, include propulsion means and some of which, 3, do not include propulsion means, the rigid submersible vessels being coupled by resilient couplings which are adapted to transmit pulling and braking forces between adjacent rigid submersible vessels and also to limit the maximum angle between the axis of adjacent submersible vessels to 10.

Abstract: An acidic organics-containing waste water stream (12) derived from for example plant for the production of an aromatic carboxylic acid such as terephthalic acid is treated to allow recovery of alkali and water for recycle to the production process. The treatment comprises adjusting the pH of the waste water stream using an alakaline medium, oxidising (10) the organics content of the stream to convert the same to water, carbon dioxide and (bi)carbonate ions, and supplying the treated stream to a reverse osmosis membrane (28, 30) to produce a retentate containing (bi)carbonate ions and cations derived from the alkaline medium and a permeate which is substantially free of those components. The retentate (46) is recycled for use in adjustment of the pH of the waste water stream and, if desired, water-consuming facilities which can tolerate less pure water.

Abstract: An electro-magnet array for use in a sputtering apparatus. The array has a magnetisable core member extending substantially horizontally and having magnetisable outward projections arranged as at least two pairs of symmetrically opposed projections projecting outwardly from the core member. A pole member is associated with each projection and vertically displaced with respect thereto. A magnetisable coupler is arranged to couple each pole piece magnetically to its respective projection. A magnetising coil around each projection is arranged for producing a magnetic field aligned substantially with a horizontal axis of symmetry of its respective projection in dependence upon the direction of flow of electric current through the magnetising coil.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is provided with a pair of substrates (12, 16) containing a liquid crystal material (22). A wall structure comprising, for example, a plurality of walls (14) is provided between the two substrates. The wall structure provides mechanical strength to the device and resistance to flow of liquid crystal material which can cause deterioration in the device performance. The walls may extend in two mutually different directions (FIG. 8, 40) to provide mechanical strength and resistance to flow in two directions while the device can still be readily filled. The device is particularly applicable to a ferroelectric liquid crystal device.

Abstract: Compounds of formula ##STR1## are provided which may be used in a variety of devices including liquid crystal devices, piezoelectric devices, pyroelectric devices and in optical recording media, wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 are independently selected from H, CN, COCH.sub.3, CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3, m=at least 5; X.sub.3 and X.sub.4 are independently selected from formula (IA), ##STR2## wherein Y is selected from COO, OCO, O, S, CHOH, CHF, CH.sub.2 ; Q=(CH.sub.2).sub.n wherein one or more non-adjacent methylenes may be replaced by O and n=1-20; Z is selected from O, S, single covalent bond, COO, OCO; when Y is CH2 then n may also be O; formula (A) ##STR3## represents any mesogenic group; X3 and X.sub.4 are also independently selected from H, OH, OCOR.sup.1, COOH, CO.sub.2 R.sup.1 (CH.sub.2).sub.p OH, (CH.sub.2).sub.p CO.sub.2 H, --(CH.sub.2).sub.p OR.sup.1 or --(CH.sub.2).sub.p CO.sub.2 R.sup.1 and p=1-20, R.sup.1 =H or C.sub.1=16 alkyl, when R.sup.1 =C.sub.2-16 alkyl the terminal Ch.sub.

Abstract: Techniques for processing cocoa mass are provided. In general, the techniques involve solvent extraction of cocoa fat from cocoa mass, to achieve a desirable cocoa butter and low-fat cocoa powder. In one preferred process, the cocoa mass is the result of grinding cocoa nibs, with absence of a mechanical pressing and heating step, to advantage. Preferred products and uses are characterized.

Abstract: A liquid crystal device is provided with a pair of substrates (12, 16) containing a liquid crystal material (22). A wall structure comprising, for example, a plurality of walls (14) is provided between the two substrates. The wall structure provides mechanical strength to the device and resistance to flow of liquid crystal material which can cause deterioration in the device performance. The walls may extend in two mutually different directions (FIG. 8, 40) to provide mechanical strength and resistance to flow in two directions while the device can still be readily filled. The device is particularly applicable to a ferroelectric liquid crystal device.

Abstract: A ring oscillator comprises a ring of delay stages in which the output of each stage is input to the next stage in the ring. Tuning of the oscillation frequency of the oscillator is achieved by additionally taking outputs from delay stages elsewhere in the ring as one or two secondary inputs to each delay stage and mixing this or these in variable proportions with the primary input.

Abstract: Liquid crystal phases containing components of the formulae I and III have an acceptable combination of threshold steepness, viewing angle and temperature dependence at a low threshold voltage.