Abstract: An improved apparatus for agitating and pumping a liquid slurry, such as manure slurry. The apparatus includes a vertical column mounted for rotation about its axis in a pit or vessel containing the liquid slurry. A motor-pump unit is mounted for rotation about the axis of the column and is also mounted for vertical sliding movement relative to the column. To guide the motor-pump unit in vertical movement on the column, a generally C-shaped guide on the motor pump unit rides on a flat plate-like track on the column. The upper end of the track terminates at a level slightly above the pit, so that by elevating the motor pump unit, the motor-pump unit can be freely removed from connection with the column. The upper end of the pit is enclosed by a closure plate having a central opening, and a rotary deck plate carried by the column encloses the opening and rotates with the column relative to the closure plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing free descent of a motor-pump unit. The motor-pump unit is mounted within a manure-containing pit for vertical sliding movement on a fixed column, and an elevating mechanism is employed for raising and lowering the pump within the pit and includes a cable having one end which is coiled on a drum while the opposite end of the cable is connected to the motor-pump unit. The weight of the motor-pump unit normally applies substantial tension to the cable. A mechanism is incorporated which is responsive to slackening of the cable and acts to arrest free descent of the motor-pump unit, as well as discontinuing operation of the cable drum mechanism.

Abstract: Optical devices utilizing multicapillary arrays such as beam splitters, calibrated beam attenuators, collimators, beam steering devices, beam modulators and phase shifters and lens.

Abstract: A medium density, high strength lignocellulose composition board comprises on a dry weight basis from 60 to 95% lignocellulose particles and from 5 to 40% exhaustively hydrated cellulosic gel binder, the gel binder being characterized in its gel condition by a TAPPI drain time of at least 350 seconds.

Abstract: Cellulosic pulp is made in 85% yield by mechanically defiberizing lignocellulose in a steam atmosphere, mixing the resulting aqueous fibrous pulp with a lignocellulose-pulping quantity of finely divided lime, and digesting the pulp in the presence of the lime to a predetermined degree of pulp digestion. The resulting digested fiber can then be mechanically beated in aqueous medium until it is substantially converted to a hydrated cellulosic gel product.

Abstract: A fire resistant bauxite composition board comprises, in percent by weight, from 10 to 85% lignocellulose particles, from 65 to 20% bauxite particles, and from 5 to 25% binder, particularly a hydrated cellulosic gel binder. The bauxite, (aluminum oxide dihydrate), is characterized by containing a large amount of water of hydration, by stability below 200.degree. C., and by release of its water of hydration at above 200.degree. C. Accordingly, the bauxite-containing board is stable during its manufacture, storage and use. However, in a fire situation the substantial amount of released water of hydration materially supplements the inherent non-combustible character of the bauxite in increasing the fire resistance of the board.

Abstract: A fire resistant vermiculite composition board comprises, in percent by weight, from 40 to 90% heat expanded vermiculite particles; from 5 to 20% ceramic clay particles; from 10 to 30% hydrated cellulosic gel having a TAPPI drainage time of at least 900 seconds; from 1 to 20% defiberized wood; and from 1 to 20% starch. The vermiculite is in an incompletely expanded condition of a degree predetermined to permit its further expansion upon subsequent exposure to heat. This results in a corresponding expansion of the composition board of which it is a component when the board is exposed to fire, preventing the formation of cracks and insuring continued fire protecting coverage of the area across which the board is applied.

Abstract: A slotted stud comprising two elongate, spaced-apart, parallel stud portions connected to one another at a point substantially intermediate their ends, and a partition formed by a plurality of such studs arranged in spaced-apart coplanar array and opposed panels mounted on respectively opposed stud portions, and in some embodiments, slotted plates respectively connected to aligned opposite ends of said studs, all of the above configurations contributing to or forming partitions with reduced sound transmission.