Abstract: A control handle (10) for operating a machine, includes a largely vertical shaft (12) that can be grasped by a person's hand and a hand rest assembly (20) that supports a lower end of the hand opposite the thumb. The hand rest assembly is slidable along the shaft and includes a clamp that clamps against the shaft to fix the position of the hand rest assembly at substantially continuously variable positions along the shaft. The hand rest assembly has front and rear sections (26, 27) that are pivotally connected together, with the rear section being pivotable between a clamping position (27) wherein it draws the front section firmly against the front of the shaft to fix the hand rest position, and a release position (27A) wherein it allows the hand rest assembly to slide to a desired position. The shaft has recesses (36) on laterally opposite sides, that form vertically-extending fixing edges (41) that face largely rearwardly.

Abstract: A process is described for reducing the NOx concentration and N2O concentration from the residual gas from nitric acid production. The process encompasses the passing of the residual gas leaving the absorption column, prior to entry into the residual gas turbine, through a combination of two stages. The first stage here reduces the NOx content and the second stage the N2O content of the gas, the NOx/N2O ratio prior to entry of the gas into the second stage being in the range from 0.001 to 0.5, and this gas being brought into contact in the second stage with a catalyst which is substantially composed of one or more iron-loaded zeolites.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of nitric acid of a concentration ranging from 68 to 76% by wt., using the mono-pressure or the dual-pressure process in which the ammonia feedstock is combusted with the aid of compressed process air. The water vapour content of the process air used for combustion and/or stripping and imported from outside the system, is reduced in this process.

Abstract: A switch has a housing (11), a pair of switching units (17, 18) with buttons (19) that can be depressed to operate each switch unit, and a rocker (23) pivotally mounted on the housing to pivot clockwise and counterclockwise from a neutral position. An elastomeric diaphragm (30) mounted on a top wall (12) of the housing, extends across an aperture (13) in the housing, with first and second lower parts (28, 29) of the rocker passing through the diaphragm to rest closely above the buttons on the switch units. The diaphragm not only largely seals the switch units, but biases the rocker towards the neutral position.

Abstract: A control has a pivotal part with an operating surface that can be depressed by a person's foot or hand, with pivoting being sensed by a pivot sensor. A spring-operated mechanism urges the pivotal part toward an initial position while allowing it to pivot in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions from the initial position, the sensor indicating the amount of pivoting in either direction from the initial position. A damping unit for limiting the speed of depression includes a cylinder that contains fluid and a plunger that is depressed by the pivotal part into the cylinder to displace the fluid.

Abstract: A control handle (10) for operating a machine, includes a largely vertical shaft (12) that can be grasped by a person's hand and a hand rest assembly (20) that supports a lower end of the hand opposite the thumb. The hand rest assembly is slidable along the shaft and includes a clamp that clamps against the shaft to fix the position of the hand rest assembly at substantially continuously variable positions along the shaft. The hand rest assembly has front and rear sections (26, 27) that are pivotally connected together, with the rear section being pivotable between a clamping position (27) wherein it draws the front section firmly against the front of the shaft to fix the hand rest position, and a release position (27A) wherein it allows the hand rest assembly to slide to a desired position. The shaft has recesses (36) on laterally opposite sides, that form vertically-extending fixing edges (41) that face largely rearwardly.

Abstract: Valve arrangement, in particular as pulse width modulated expansion valve of a refrigeration system, comprising the following elements: a valve body (1) with a passage opening (5), an armature tube (2) which is inserted into one end of the passage opening (5), an armature (3) which can be moved back and forth in the armature tube (2), a stationary armature core (4) which is inserted into the outwardly lying end of the armature tube (2), a restoring element (22) which is active between the movable armature (3) and the stationary armature core (4), a closure element (18) which is carried by the movable armature (3) and which cooperates with a passage opening (17) for opening and closing the valve arrangement as well as comprising a magnetic coil for actuating the valve arrangement, with a ring space (19) being formed between the armature tube (2) and the movable armature (3), the opening cross-section of which is dimensioned in such a manner that the space (20) which is formed between the movable armature (3) a

Abstract: A process for the production of nitric acid using the dual-pressure process in which the ammonia is burnt at an initial low pressure with the aid of compressed process air and the nitrous gases formed during combustion are at least partly absorbed by water at a second pressure which is higher than the first. This causes nitric acid to be produced and the pressure of the residual gas, which is not absorbed, is reduced to atmospheric pressure in a residual gas expander for the purpose of winning compression potential. Said process provides a solution aimed at optimising the production of nitric acid whilst improving the production parameters and the materials and energy balances. This is achieved by supplying a multishaft geared centrifugal compressor separately with process air and nitrous gas, the process air being compressed to the initial pressure and the nitrous gas being compressed to a second pressure.

Abstract: A valve arrangement is illustrated and described, in particular an electronic expansion valve arrangement, for pneumatic or hydraulic pressure media comprising a valve housing having a first medium connection and a second pressure medium connection, which are connected together by a throughflow space formed in a cavity of the housing, and a slider element which is arranged in the valve housing and cooperates with a valve seat, with the slider element being operationally connected to a positioning element of a drive and being displaceably guided parallel to the valve seat between a closed position, in which the one contact surface of the slider element closes a throughflow opening formed by the valve seat, and an open position, in which a throughflow passage formed in the slider element frees the throughflow opening.