Abstract: Unmanned aircraft for telecommunicative or other scientific purposes, which is stationed at a determined height, in particular in the stratosphere. The aircraft includes a gas-filled balloon carrying a platform and equipment that maintains the platform in a position relative to the ground. The balloon carrying the platform is disposed in the interior of an external balloon of aerodynamical shape, particularly in the stratosphere. At least one low or high pressure insulation chamber filled with a medium is arranged between them and encircles the inner balloon. The medium used in the insulation chamber is a gas having a low thermal conductivity. The negative effects of the temperature differences are largely compensated so that the inner balloon can be produced from a lighter and cheaper material, thereby increasing durably its longevity.

Abstract: Unmanned aircraft used as a platform for telecommunication or other scientific purposes at a predetermined altitude in the stratosphere. The unmanned aircraft includes a pressurized balloon filled with gas and that supports the platform. The pressurized balloon is arranged within an outer balloon provided with an aerodynamic external shape in the stratosphere and forms a low-pressure or high-pressure insulating chamber around the pressurized balloon. A heating and cooling system circulates medium in the insulating chamber and electrically driven propellers are located outside the outer balloon to maintain the position of the platform relative to the Earth. The negative effects that extreme differences in temperature have on the gas pressure in the pressurized balloon are thus largely cancelled such that the pressurized balloon can be made of a lighter and cheaper material and the service life thereof is effectively extended.

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible multi-layer material that can be used in particular for an inflatable balloon casing, a blimp, an airbag, a sail, a flexible solar cell, or a flexible antenna. At least one layer (11, 13) is provided, which is particularly made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), or of ultra high molecular weight polypropylene (UHMWPP). The same is surrounded on each of the two sides by a layer, or a film (10, 12; 12, 14) made of polyethylene or polypropylene, and connected thereto, wherein the layers, or films (10-14) placed on top of each other can be connected to each other by means of heating. Such a material layer is lightweight and has high stability, or tear resistance, and a high modulus of elasticity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an unmanned aircraft for telecommunicative or other scientific purposes, which is stationed in determined height, in particular in the stratosphere. The aircraft comprises a gas-filled balloon (11) carrying a platform (10) and means for maintaining the platform position relative to the ground. The balloon (11) carrying the platform (10) is disposed in the interior of an external balloon (12) of aerodynamical shape, particularly in the stratosphere. At least one low or high pressure insulation chamber (20; 20?; 20?) filled with a medium is arranged between them and encircles the inner balloon (11). The medium used in the insulation chamber is a gas having a low thermal conductivity. The negative effects of the temperature differences are largely compensated so that the inner balloon can be produced from a lighter and cheaper material, thereby increasing durably its longevity.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to position an unmanned aircraft (1) that is used as a platform (10) for telecommunication or other scientific purposes at a predetermined altitude in the stratosphere. Said aim is achieved by an unmanned aircraft (1) comprising a pressurized balloon (11) which is filled with gas and supports the platform (10). The pressurized balloon (11) is arranged within an outer balloon (12; 12?) which is provided with an aerodynamic external shape in the stratosphere and forms a low-pressure or high-pressure insulating chamber (20; 50) around the pressurized balloon (11), said insulating chamber (20; 50) being optionally filled with a medium. Furthermore, heating and cooling means are provided for the medium circulating in the insulating chamber (20; 50) while means encompassing electrically driven propellers (15) or similar located outside the outer balloon (12, 12?) are supplied for maintaining the position of the platform relative to the Earth.

Abstract: A method for electronically accumulating market survey data from inherently interested Internet users or TV viewers. Various market survey questions can be disseminated to Internet users and TV viewers, and the answers are processed at a central location. In exchange for his answers, the responder receives free access to the Internet or cable TV for a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: In a heating apparatus for the heating of a solid or fluid medium, several permanent magnets are arranged on the periphery of a rotor which produce a magnetic field in whose region an electrically-conducting medium is arranged. The magnetic field from the permanent magnets is radiated approximately radially. By rotation of the rotor, a relative motion arises between the permanent magnets and the electrically-conducting medium, and eddy currents are effected within the medium, thereby causing heating of the same. Electrically-conductive water can be provided as the medium to be heated. In this embodiment electrically-conductive water is fed through a helical conducting coil, with an inlet and outlet side arranged around the rotor in proximity thereto, and is connected to a line which feeds to a user from the outlet side and back to the inlet side in a closed cycle. With this heating apparatus, heat is transferred to the medium with an improved efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention is a universal shredder for shearing and cutting bulk material into pieces of a predetermined size. The apparatus has rotating shearing members that pull the bulk material down between the shearing members and shearing it into sheared pieces. Grooves formed by helically-shaped members extending from the bodies of the shearing members carry the sheared material downward to a main cutting member where the sheared material is cut by cutting teeth removably attached to the helically-shaped members as the cutting teeth pass through notches in the main cutting member. The cut pieces fall or are pushed through the notches in the main cutting member and pass through apertures in a screen positioned beneath the shearing members. The size of the apertures can be adjusted by moving the screen which is supported by a series of parallel ribs with lugs attached in a pattern that matches the pattern of the apertures of the screen.

Abstract: Waste material, consisting of collected nickel-cadmium or nickel-hydride cells, after a preliminary reduction in size, is subjected to a subsequent grinding reduction in size and is then screened. The screen coarse fraction (G) is separated into a light fraction (L) and a heavy fraction (H) by means of an air separation, and the later fraction (H) is magnetically separated. The light fraction (L) and the non-magnetic portion (HN) are dried and screened in order to free the non-metallic components (P,PPW) from the predominantly metallic fine portion (S) and so that they can be divided out as a harmless product. The magnetic portion (HM) is mechanically scoured (8) and possibly washed, whereby one obtains a smeltable Ni--Fe mixture. The screen fine fraction (F) and the fine portion (S) resulting from the processing of the coarse fraction (G) are dissolved in thinned acid (HCL).

Abstract: Scrap goods (S), for example, electronic and electrical apparatus, components, cables and the like are intermittently and alternately mechanically crushed (1,3), magnetically separated (2) and mechanically-physically separated, for example, by means of electrostatic separators (5, 10-12). With the crushing, the dust produced is pneumatically gathered and filtered out (22,9). A non-metal fraction (A) as well as a magnetic (B) and non-magnetic fraction (C) are produced separately as granules and dust. The metal fractions (B, C) are suitable for further pyrolysis-free, wet chemistry and/or electrolytic separation. The non-metallic fraction is capable of being precipitated. The method is noted for its minimal energy consumption and high environmental compatibility.