Abstract: An apparatus for deactivating medical instruments and devices. The apparatus has a housing structure and a drawer disposed in the housing structure. The drawer has a recess formed therein and a planar surface formed about the periphery of the recess. The recess is dimensioned to receive medical instruments and devices to be microbially deactivated. A circulation system is provided within the housing structure to circulate a microbial deactivation fluid through the recess. A drawer-sealing assembly is located in the housing structure. The drawer-sealing assembly is operable to engage the drawer assembly and fluidly seal the recess to create a decontamination chamber.

Abstract: An assembly comprising a unit dose element (4) of soluble or dispersible composition useful in ware washing, and a chamber (2) therefor, the chamber having an inlet for water at a upper position of the chamber, and an outlet for water at a lower position of the chamber, the inlet comprising or being in communication with water directing means (34) whereby water is directed to the mid-region of the upper end of the unit dose element, the unit dose element being undersized relative to the interior of the chamber such that there is a gap between the or each exterior surface of the unit dose element and the opposed internal surface or surfaces of the chamber.

Abstract: An elongate body including a proximal and distal anchor, and a bridge between the proximal and distal anchors. The bridge has an elongated state, having first axial length, and a shortened state, having a second axial length, wherein the second axial length is shorter than the first axial length. A resorbable thread may be woven into the bridge to hold the bridge in the elongated state and to delay the transfer of the bridge to the shortened state. In an additional embodiment, there may be one or more central anchors between the proximal and distal anchors with a bridge connecting adjacent anchors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing thermal energy, wherein, by means of a plasma arc which is located between a cathode and an anode, light initial material that is suitable for fusion processes is put into the plasma state by supplying electric energy. Use is made of a cathode made of a metal that is suitable for allowing the particles which are produced in the plasma to be diffused and for allowing a fusion process to take place in the metal grid. The invention has a high degree of efficiency in corresponding systems such that said methods can be used anywhere where fossil and/or renewable and/or chemical fuels are used, in order to use the thermal energy directly or by conversion.

Abstract: A device for treatment of mitral annulus dilation is disclosed, wherein the device comprises two states. In a first of these states the device is insertable into the coronary sinus and has a shape of the coronary sinus. When positioned in the coronary sinus, the device is transferable to the second state assuming a reduced radius of curvature, whereby the radius of curvature of the coronary sinus and the radius of curvature as well as the circumference of the mitral annulus is reduced.

Abstract: An article comprises a rack of solid sticks (12) of dishwasher detergent, retained on a backing material (16) and being formable into a nested, preferably cylindrical, form. The nested article is inserted into a holder, which is a plastics body, rigid and substantial. The holder is a permanent article located in use in a dishwasher but the article is a refill. Wastage of material when it is exhausted is minimal.

Abstract: A method for dyeing a textile substrate, in particular for dyeing a textile substrate with reactive dyes, is described in which the textile substrate is brought in contact with a dyeing liquor containing at least one dye and after a predetermined dyeing time has elapsed, the dyed textile substrate is rinsed. The at least one dye which has not been fixed by the textile substrate and is present in the dyeing liquor is destroyed by a chemical and/or physical treatment to such an extent that the dyeing liquor is largely colourless hereafter, whereby the textile substrate being rinsed with the largely decolourised liquor. A device for carrying out the method comprises a vessel for receiving the textile substrate to be dyed and a circulation system for the dyeing liquor, where a reactor through which the dyeing liquor flows is assigned to the vessel and/or the circulation system and where inside the reactor the chemical and/or the physical treatment of the liquor to be decolourised is carried out.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle, having a shifting claw transmission and an electric motor connected to a countershaft of the transmission to facilitate central synchronization for gear speed changes, a transmission controller is connected to the electric motor for sensing the electric motor speed and, together therewith the rotational speed of the countershaft based on the induction values present in at the electric motor and sensed by the transmission controller for use in adjusting the energization of the electric motor.

Abstract: A free standing detergent dispensing device removably insertable into an automatic washing machine, the device comprising a cartridge having a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition, a directing means to direct wash liquor selectively into a chamber of a cartridge to contact the detergent composition therein, wherein the directing means is movable relatively to the cartridge to bring an opening in the directing means selectively into alignment with an inlet opening in each chamber.

Abstract: A dishwasher detergent delivery cartridge comprises a plurality of unit dose elements of a dishwasher detergent composition, the composition being a substantially coherent mass and comprising at least 20 wt % of methyl glycine diacetic acid and/or a salt thereof and/or of glutamic diacetic acid and/or a salt thereof. Such compositions have been found to have excellent stability and/or performance in multi-dose applications.

Abstract: A detergent dispensing device for an automatic washing machine, the device having a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition, a selecting means to selectively expose each chamber to wash liquor allowing the detergent, in use, to be washed out of the chamber; a manual operating means being movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating means, and a return motion prevention means to retain the operating means in the second position, the return motion prevention means being arranged to move when subjected to a condition prevailing in an interior of the machine during a wash cycle, thereby moving the operating means to the first position or releasing the operating means to return to the first position during a single wash cycle; the operating means being arranged to move the selecting means and cartridge relatively to one another to advance the selecting means to an adjacent chamber as it moves

Abstract: An anesthetic evaporator with a pressure control circuit has a differential pressure pick-up (18) can be calibrated in a simple manner. A switchover device (20) is provided according to the present invention at a bypass gap (3), which is designed to connect the gas inlet (4) directly with the gas outlet (5) via a first bypass line (23) and to bridge over the bypass gap (3) via a second bypass line (26) connected to a ventilation duct (27) in a first switching position. The gas flow from the gas inlet (4) to the gas outlet (5) is established via the bypass line (2) in a second switching position. The calibration of the differential pressure pick-up (18) with the pneumatic connections (16, 17) is performed in the first switching position of the switchover means (20) via the ventilation duct (27), which is open toward the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A clutch unit including at least one friction clutch having a pressure plate and an opposed pressure plate between which the friction linings of a clutch disk are clampable. A lever system pivotable in an axial direction is provided on an opposite side of the opposed pressure plate and can be actuated to engage the clutch. The lever system is tiltable about an annular-shaped bearing that is supported by the opposed pressure plate. The lever system is also connected radially outwardly to the opposed pressure plate via a spring. The bearing is supported on an adjusting ring of an adjusting device to compensate at least for the wear that occurs on the friction linings of the clutch plate, which is rotatable relative to the pressure plate.

Abstract: In a shifting claw transmission for a motor vehicle including a main shaft and a countershaft and an electric motor for rotating the countershaft or being rotated thereby with freely rotatable gear wheels supported on the counter shaft and engageable with the countershaft by claw engagement structures, the speed of the countershaft is adjustable by the electric motor to be close to, but somewhat different from, the speed of the freely rotatable gear wheels to be engaged in order to facilitate shifting but avoid a tooth-on-tooth problem which would inhibit shifting.

Abstract: A detergent dispensing device for an automatic washing machine, the device having a cartridge with a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition, a selecting means to selectively expose each chamber to wash liquor allowing the detergent, in use, to be washed out of the chamber; a manual operating means being movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating means, and a thermal element to retain the operating means in the second position, the thermal element being arranged to move when subjected to an elevated temperature prevailing in an interior of the machine during a wash cycle, thereby moving the operating means or releasing the operating means, the operating means being arranged to advance the selecting means to an adjacent chamber as the cartridge remains stationary.

Abstract: A clutch unit having at least one friction clutch including a pressure disk joined to a housing in a rotationally fixed but axially displaceable manner. A lever system that can pivot axially is arranged between the housing and the pressure disk and can be impinged upon by an actuation device to engage the clutch. An adjusting device that at least partially compensates wear and tear of the friction lining of the clutch engages between the lever system and the housing. The lever system is axially supported on the housing by a rotatable adjusting ring and can be impinged upon in an axial manner in the direction of the adjusting ring by spring elements to produce an axial supporting force that is opposite to the clutch closing pressure applied to the lever system. A force-path characteristic is produced that reduces at least in the working area, wherein the spring elements are deformed for the at least partial wear and tear compensation.

Abstract: Laundry or dishwasher detergent elements (5) are of elongate shape. They may be set into an array which is which is the refill of a multi-wash dispensing device for use in a cleaning machine.

Abstract: A low-foaming composition for cleaning a ware-washing machine comprises water, an alkoxylate, an acid (preferably citric acid), and preferably a phase separation promoter (for example a polyethylene glycol or an ionic salt). The composition is in two separate layers under ambient conditions.

Abstract: A closure for a container. The closure comprises a channel which extends therethrough. The channel is filled with a composition capable of being dispersed in an aqueous medium at an elevated temperature. The dispersible composition comprises a fragrance.

Abstract: A detergent dispensing device for an automatic washing machine, the device having a cartridge with a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition, a selecting means to selectively expose each chamber to wash liquor allowing the detergent, in use, to be washed out of the chamber; a manual operating means being movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating means, and a thermal element to retain the operating means in the second position, the thermal element being arranged to move when subjected to an elevated temperature prevailing in an interior of the machine during a wash cycle, thereby moving the operating means or releasing the operating means, the operating means being arranged to advance the selecting means to an adjacent chamber as the cartridge remains stationary.