Abstract: In a gas generation method in which liquid fuel is catalytically reacted with air at elevated temperatures to form a fuel gas, several plates each having a multiplicity of passage openings are arranged in tandem in spaced fashion within the reaction chamber of the gas generator and are embedded in a bed of packing material with the thermal conductivity of the plates higher than that of the packing material in order to obtain more uniform heating of the reaction chamber and better mixing and distribution of the reacting media permitting the gas generator to be loaded more heavily.

Abstract: A gripping device for lifting and depositing slabs which are disposed on one edge thereof in an upright position is mounted in a mobile crane which is displaceable across a plurality of such slabs and comprises a row of support rods which are vertically displaceable in unison and each of which is provided at its lower end with a support member which is selectively rotatable into a position in which, when the rods are lowered into a position adjacent one side of a slab, the support member engages under the lower edge of the slab, and into another position in which it is disengaged from the said edge; furthermore a gravity operated holder member is provided which comes into engagement with the upper edge of the slab while the support rods are being lowered, and secures the slab against tilting during lifting and conveyance thereof.