Abstract: The invention concerns a hydraulic axial piston machine (1) with a cylinder body (3), at least one piston (9) to be axially displaceable in the cylinder body (3), said piston (9) resting on a swash plate (13) by way of a slide shoe (11), with a pressure plate (14) loading the slide shoe (11) in the direction of the swash plate (13), and a hold-down part (16), which bears with a contact surface (18) on a counter surface (20) of the pressure plate(14) facing away from the swash plate (13). It is endeavoured to operate the machine with as little wear as possible. For this purpose, it is ensured that the contact surface (18) is formed by a circumferential surface section of a cone, whose peak (19) is directed towards the swash plate (13).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing substantially monodisperse micro particles mainly of heat sensible material using a carrier gas and a drying gas. Relatively dense micro particles with diameters in the range 1-120 ?m with a very narrow span can be obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a particulate material containing an inflammable component, such as ethanol or another solvent, comprises a fluidized bed chamber with a perforated bed plate arranged therein. The particulate material may be fluidized on the bed plate by supplying fluidizing air upwardly through perforations in the bed plate. In order to reduce the risk of explosion in the fluidizing air after its passage through the fluidized bed formed on the bed plate, dilution gas is fed into the fluidized bed chamber. The dilution gas is introduced into the fluidized bed chamber at least at one position spaced from the side walls of the chamber and preferably located centrally within the fluidized bed chamber in order to obtain a substantially uniform mixing of the dilution gas with the fluidizing air including the inflammable component immediately above the fluidized bed. The explosion safe gas mixture may be discharged from the upper part of the processing chamber.

Abstract: A gas distributor and heating device for a spray dryer which includes a feed liquid atomizer in a drying chamber, a gas distributor for supplying a uniform flow of gas, a guide duct for conveying the flow of gas from the gas distributor and to an outlet providing a flow of processing or drying gas to contact liquid droplets dispersed by the atomizer. A gas heater is located in the device between the gas distributor and the guide duct outlet to heat the gas just prior to its introduction into the spray chamber. This provides a high temperature drying gas close to the atomizer and avoids problems encountered in attempting to transfer a gas that has been heated at a location remote from the spray chamber. A guide duct in the form of an annular guide duct provides an annular flow of heated gas concentric with the atomizer. A gas burner extends circumferentially around the interior of the guide duct and is disposed to emit the gases of combustion in the direction of the outlet.

Abstract: A heated wood sample (46) having a water content exceeding 20 percent is compressed axially in the direction of the grain or fibres of the sample in a compression mould (10). Oppositely directed compressive forces are applied not only to the end surfaces of the sample, for example by means of a hydraulic cylinder (18), but also to side surface parts of the sample as frictional forces. The sample may be arranged within a compression chamber which is at least partly defined by longitudinally overlapping side wall parts (30, 37, 47, 48), which are mutually displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the chamber, and these side wall parts may be pressed into frictional engagement with the sample (46) for example by means of an inflatable bag or an inflatable hose section (32, 34), and means may be provided for mutually displacing the side wall parts so as to apply frictional compressive forces to the wood sample.

Abstract: A fluid bed dryer for processing a particulate material includes a series of chambers separated by longitudinally extending common walls and connected by turn-around sections to provide a serpentine path for the material. Each turn-around section is open to adjacent chambers at one end of one of the common walls to receive and turn particulate material distributed across the width of one of the chambers through an arcuate path and deliver the material to the other chamber. Each of the chambers and turn-around sections have a base including a number of gas introduction openings oriented to introduce gas in a specific direction to fluidize and move the particulate material in that direction. The gas introduction openings in the turn-around sections are oriented to successively receive and turn incremental vertical columns of the particulate material in accordance with the distance each incrmental vertical column is spaced from the common wall.

Abstract: Particulate granules of a high water content food such as cheese are frozen in a freezing chamber having a perforated bottom plate. The bottom plate is vibrated to develop an oscillating movement while simultaneously introducing a chilled gas through the perforated plate to partially levitate the granules as they are moved through the freezing chamber by the combined action of the oscillating bottom plate and the chilled gas.

Abstract: A method for preparing free-flowing, particulate fuel components for use in solid propellant systems, which comprises dispersing fine-sized solid fuels in a latex of a polymer or polymer mixture, and spray drying the resultant dispersion.

Abstract: Corrosion and sulfuric acid formation in an integrated spray-drying and calcining operation is inhibited by operating the calciner at a temperature so that the exit gases from the calciner provides sufficient heat to the spray drier to keep the exit gases from the spray drier at a temperature above the dew point of the SO.sub.3 /H.sub.2 O vapors present in the spray drier exit gas.

Abstract: A heat-distributing winding for the equalization of uneven heating of the winding parts of an annular core transformer including a winding concentric with the core and made from juxtaposed turns of wire-shaped heat-conducting material substantially perpendicular to and in heat-conductive contact with, but electrically insulated from the winding parts extending along the cylindrical external surface of the core and mainly in the generatrix direction of said core. The heat-distributing winding is applied to the inner side of or on either side of said above mentioned winding parts of the transformer and consists of turns electrically insulated from each other and consisting of wire of for instance rectangular cross-section.

Abstract: A variable transformer comprising an annular core with a winding which at the end surface of the core is provided with a circular contact path to be connected with a current brush mounted on a rotor (7). The current brush consists of a contact roller journalled on a shaft pin (11) which from the rotor (7) is directed obliquely downwardly towards the end surface of the core and inwardly towards the axis thereof. The contact roller includes a double-curved contact path (17) for punctiform contact with the contact path (18) of the winding. The reactive pressure provided by said contact urges the contact roller upwardly along the shaft pin (11) which where secured to the rotor (7) is provided with a contact plate (14) that is in heat-conducting communication with the rotor (7). The contact plate (14) includes a plane circular surface (15) against which a correspondingly plane, circular surface (15') of the contact roller about the bore (12) thereof abuts.

Abstract: An aqueous sucrose solution is evaporated continuously while being subject to vigorous mechanical agitation to produce a sucrose suspension which is spray dried immediately, after which the spray dried product is post-crystallized and post-dried. A complete recovery is obtained of the sucrose present in the solution, in a process which is simple and economical since injection of sucrose crystals in the drying gas in the spray drier is omitted.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for producing agglomerated powders such as coffee powder, coffee substitutes such as chicory and other highly hygroscopic and thermoplastic powders in which powder is made to fall down against a central area of a rotating disc. The powder is moistened during the fall against the disc by the supply of steam or finely atomized water across the central area of the disc at such a distance above the same that practically all the powder is moistened before it hits the disc.