Abstract: An assembly of a ceramic head fixed to a rod, which assembly is a component of a hip prosthesis that has improved distribution of the stresses transferred from the rod to the ceramic head. The ceramic head includes a blind recess, generally in the shape of a truncated cone, into which the male end of the rod is nested, in which this nesting together is provided without play between the ceramic head and the end of the rod in only a portion of the depth of the recess, while in the remaining portion of the recess there is no contact between the ceramic head and the end of the rod.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for use in atomizing a combustible material into a form for improved combustion comprising (i) an atomization zone, (ii) an ante-chamber connecting with the atomization zone, (iii) at least two feed inlets to the ante-chamber at least one being for said combustible material and at least one other for an auxiliry atomizing gas, and (iv) means (e.g. a mixing vane) at or in the immediate vicinity of the exit of the atomization zone for modifying the profile of atomized material exiting from the zone; and in which apparatus the atomization zone is of generally cylindrical cross-section and is provided internally with means which are adapted to impart to the streams of the combustible material and atomizing gas passing therethrough multiple shearing action and changes of rotational direction. Substantially no atomization of the fuel by the auxiliary gas occurs prior to entry into the atomization zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for the atomization of a combustible material comprises feeding at least one stream of the combustible material and at least one stream of an auxiliary gas, under pressure, through an elongated zone in which atomization of the combustible material is achieved by expansion of the auxiliary gas while causing the said streams frequently to split into partial streams, recombine, and changing their rotational flow pattern throughout substantially the whole length of the zone; and adjusting the feed of the said auxiliary gas and combustible material into the atomization zone such that the atomized product from the zone is one in which the auxiliary gas occupies an appreciably greater volume than that occupied by the combustible material. At the zone outlet is provided a nozzle for constraining the atomized combustible material in a desired predetermined profile. There is substantially no atomization of the fuel by the auxiliary gas prior to entry into the atomization zone.

Abstract: A multicylinder internal combustion engine is operated with one cylinder supplied with a fuel-rich charge and the other cylinder(s) with a lean or leaner charge so that the said one cylinder produces "rich" exhaust gas which is rich in combustible components and the other cylinder(s) produce "lean" exhaust gas which is lean in combustible components. Air is mixed with the exhaust gas from each cylinder, and the rich exhaust gas ignites. The rich exhaust gas is passed into one end of a cylindrical reactor and the lean exhaust gas into the remaining part of the reactor. A tubular member disposed concentrically within the reactor has one or more flame-trap orifices at or towards the said one end and is connected to an exhaust pipe at the other end. Burning rich exhaust gas passes through the flame trap orifices into the tubular member and entrains therewith lean exhaust gas causing combustion of combustible components therein.