Abstract: A method and device for controllably combusting combustible material, including a combustion device comprising an elongate combustion tube having an inlet section including an inlet for combustible material, an ignition section, including an igniter displaced along a length of the tube from the inlet section to ignite the combustible material, and at least one energy extraction device operatively coupled to the combustion tube and configured to extract energy from combustion of the combustible mixture.

Abstract: A molecular drag vacuum pump configured for pumping a gas stream from an inlet to an outlet, the pump including a high-speed spinning disk or rotor disposed within a housing. A passageway is formed inside the housing adjacent the disk, and gas comes in contact with surfaces of the spinning disk in successive stages, conformable wipers being disposed adjacent the spinning disk to direct the gas stream to the successive stages. The disk can be powered by an integrated motor, comprising permanent magnets associated with the disk and cooperating coils associated with the housing. The wipers can include parallel ridges on a contacting face to facilitate creation of a conformable fit with the rotor. Seal rings may be disposed against the disk between gas passageways to reduce leakage therebetween, and the pump may include regenerative pumping pockets to help prevent backflow. The housing may have a modular configuration to allow two or more pump modules to be connected and operate in series.

Abstract: A molecular drag vacuum pump for pumping a gas from an inlet to an outlet includes a high-speed spinning disk disposed within a housing. Gas flows through passageways in the housing adjacent the disk, where it comes into contact with surfaces of the spinning disk. Conformable wipers direct the gas to successive stages adjacent the disk. The pump can be powered by an integrated motor, comprising permanent magnets in the disk and cooperating coils in the housing. The pump can include various features, such as ridges on the wipers, seal rings, and regenerative pumping pockets, to reduce leakage and prevent backflow. The housing can have a modular configuration to allow two or more pump modules to be connected and operate in series. Successive modules may be independently or commonly powered, and may counter-rotate.

Abstract: An appliance for protecting the bottom end of a human lower limb, and in particular the foot, from propagation of the blast wave and the heat generated by an explosive device of the mine type exploding. The invention provides an ammunition type boot whose sole is constituted by an assembly comprising a dispersion boat-shape, an antifire barrier, and support studs. The assembly provides simultaneously an optimum dispersion effect and satisfactory use for walking and running on any type of ground. It also withstands the explosion, and the heat, and it does not create puncturing projectiles because it constitutes a homogeneous assembly.

Abstract: A method and device for controllably combusting combustible material, including a combustion device comprising an elongate combustion tube having an inlet section including an inlet for combustible material, an ignition section, including an igniter displaced along a length of the tube from the inlet section to ignite the combustible material, and at least one energy extraction device operatively coupled to the combustion tube and configured to extract energy from combustion of the combustible mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a luminaire comprising a housing (1) which defines an internal space containing at least one light source formed by a light-emitting diode (LED) (2) and optical means (4) for guiding the light emitted by the LED (2) to the exterior of the housing (1). The LED (2) is mounted to a support (3) connected to the housing (1), and the optical means (4) are held between a retaining element (10) connected to the housing (1) and the support (3) of the LED (2).

Abstract: A molecular drag vacuum pump configured for pumping a gas stream from an inlet to an outlet, the pump including a high-speed spinning disk or rotor disposed within a housing. A passageway is formed inside the housing adjacent the disk, and gas comes in contact with surfaces of the spinning disk in successive stages, conformable wipers being disposed adjacent the spinning disk to direct the gas stream to the successive stages. The disk can be powered by an integrated motor, comprising permanent magnets associated with the disk and cooperating coils associated with the housing. The wipers can include parallel ridges on a contacting face to facilitate creation of a conformable fit with the rotor. Seal rings may be disposed against the disk between gas passageways to reduce leakage therebetween, and the pump may include regenerative pumping pockets to help prevent backflow. The housing may have a modular configuration to allow two or more pump modules to be connected and operate in series.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting energy from an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes a chamber having a primary piston and a secondary piston with a combustion portion of the chamber situated adjacently between the primary piston and secondary piston. The secondary piston includes a substantially lesser mass than that of the primary piston. The chamber includes at least one fluid port for supplying fuel to the combustion portion and an out-take port for releasing combustive exhaust. The chamber includes a controller for controlling the combustion therein at selected cycles of the primary piston. With this arrangement, the secondary piston is configured to draw a portion of energy from combustion controlled by the controller in the chamber. Such portion of energy is provided with a rapid response to an energy transferring portion interconnected to the secondary piston, which in turn, transfers and/or converts the energy for acting on a load or external application.

Abstract: A cosmetic composition containing an extract of the plant Terminalia catappa is found to be useful for combating skin ageing and the phenomena of irritation, inflammation, allergic reaction and hyperpigmentation. It also has been found to have a slimming effect and is useful in the treatment of freckles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a luminaire comprising a housing (1) which defines an internal space containing at least one light source formed by a light-emitting diode (LED) (2) and optical means (4) for guiding the light emitted by the LED (2) to the exterior of the housing (1). The LED (2) is mounted to a support (3) connected to the housing (1), and the optical means (4) are held between a retaining element (10) connected to the housing (1) and the support (3) of the LED (2).

Abstract: A fluid mixing device comprising at least one mixing element specifically oriented with respect to the direction of fluid flow through the device. This novel orientation of the mixing element results in improved fluid mixing.

Abstract: The invention concerns intraspecific hybrids of Agaricus bisporus capable of bearing fruit at relatively high temperature and without roughing-in, and the method for obtaining them consisting in a step of cross-breeding in particular between a first and a second Agaricus bisporus, one of which at least belongs to the burnettii variety, and a step of selecting the resulting hybrids having the characteristics mentioned above. The cultivation of the resulting hybrids is easier and less expensive than the standard method of cultivating mushrooms.

Abstract: The invention relates to injection of fluids (gas, liquid, suspension or other mixtures) in a controlled typically uniform way within a vessel containing another fluid or fluidized medium. Said injection device consists of pipes or channels that are connected in a hierarchical fashion so that the fluid entering a first channel is divided into channels of the same or different diameter and length, each or some of which are further divided into channels of the same or different diameter and length, and so on. The injection system can also consist of combinations of such tree-like or fractal-like elements, embedded in the plane or in space. The embodiment depends upon the nature of the fluids and the application. The invention can be used for gas/solid fluidized bed and a gas/liquid and other processes. A typical application is the reduction and uniformization or otherwise control of bubble sizes to optimize the operation of fluidized bed, slurry and gas/liquid reactors.

Abstract: A method of treating a human body for delaying effects of ageing on skin thereof, by applying to a part of the skin in need thereof of a cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition containing an amount of an extract of Cordia dichotoma effective to inhibit activity of elastase in the skin, obtaining thereby the delaying of the effects of ageing on the skin.

Abstract: Oligonucleotides of the formula: 5'(U).sub.n -3' in which U is an identical or different radical of a natural or a synthetic nucleoside and n is a number from 2 to 200 comprising at least one structural unit of two consecutive nucleosides wherein one of the nucleotides is substituted in the 2'-position or wherein the nucleotides are substituted differently in their 2'-position and wherein the backbone is modified.

Abstract: A wear layer is provided for each of a piston and cylinder of an internal combustion engine in which ash-producing fuels of solid-liquid mixtures are combusted. Each layer consists of a hard phase and a second phase of lower hardness and greater toughness. Each wear layer has a minimum thickness of one millimeter; the hard phase has a minimum hardness of 1900 HV with a mean chord length in the running direction of from 30 to 200 microns. There is a metallurgical bond between the phases in the wear layer as well as between the wear layer and the substrate. In addition, the hard phases of the respective wear layers have an almost equal hardness value.