Abstract: An applicator instrument for dispensing surgical fasteners includes a housing, an elongated shaft, surgical fasteners disposed in the elongated shaft, a firing system for dispensing the surgical fasteners, a firing rod disposed within the elongated shaft and movable within a first plane, and an advancer disposed within the elongated shaft and moveable within a second plane. An actuator is coupled with the advancer for moving the advancer back and forth between retracted and extended positions. A staging assembly at the distal end of the elongated shaft aligns a leading surgical fastener with the first plane. The staging assembly includes a biasing device that is configured to be deflected away from the first plane by the advancer when the advancer is in the extended position and the staging assembly is configured to spring back into alignment with the first plane when the advancer returns back to the retracted position.

Abstract: The manufacture of Portland cement clinker by (1) forming an intimate mixture by intergrinding (a) unsintered Portland cement raw materials and (b) a low volatile carbonaceous fuel such as coke breeze having a high ignition temperature, (2) passing the intimate mixture through a set of preheating cyclones wherein it is preheated prior to passing into a calcining zone, and (3) passing the mixture into said calcining zone wherein said intimate mixture (a) is maintained in a substantial fluidized condition, and (b) is heated rapidly up to a calcination temperature to accomplish calcination of the Portland cement raw material and the ignition of the carbonaceous fuel.

Abstract: A combination burner has a burner pipe for pulverized fuel beside a burner chamber for fluid fuel. A plurality of retractable nozzles mounted in a retractable housing inside the chamber are connected to a plurality of fluid fuel sources. Primary air may be controlled in varying amounts to both burner pipe and burner chamber. Nozzles may be angled with respect to burner pipe to provide supportive flame.