A seat secured to one end of a horizontal beam whose opposite end is secured to a vertical support column for horizontal rotation of the seat in a circular path, with propelling means in the form of a ringlike track, arranged beneath the seat, and having a curved upper surface forming peaks and valleys and interconnecting ramp portions. A propulsion wheel rides upon the track and is rotatably connected to the lower end of a lever connected between its ends to a pivot on the seat, so that rearward pulls upon the upper end of the lever, while the wheel is upon a descending ramp portion, causes a reaction to propel the seat forwardly.
Apparatus is described for simultaneously supplying the oxygen demands for microbial growth in a biological growth system and controlling the temperature of the system. The growth system contains a quantity of liquid medium for the growth of microorganisms and means are provided to sense the dissolved oxygen content of the liquid medium and to sense the temperature thereof. Each of these parameters is used primarily to control the introduction of one of two different gases to the growth system (and thereupon to the liquid medium) thereby satisfying both the oxygen and the temperature demands of the microorganisms. In practice at least one of the incoming gas flows will be an oxygen-containing gas, e.g., air, and the other gas flow will be pressurized steam, pressurized oxygen, pressurized nitrogen, etc. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A process is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,462,275 -- Bellamy (incorporated by reference) for the growth of thermophilic microorganisms in a liquid medium feeding on solid (or dissolved) organic biodegradable waste materials containing cellulose at temperatures from 45.degree.C to 80.degree.C with agitation while introducing an oxygenating gas to the mixture. The Bellamy patent describes the need for both oxygen input to, and temperature control, for the biological system. Commercial fermentations generally are conducted in large metal tanks that are surrounded externally by heating jackets and are provided internally with agitating means, means for introducing air flow and a cooling coil. The cooling coil is a substantial portion of the cost of a fermentation reactor. Also, means to circulate a cooling agent through the cooling coil and means for removing heat from the cooling agent must be provided. It would be of considerable advantage to discover means by which removal of the heat released in a thermophilic biological reaction can be satisfactorily controlled by the use of less costly equipment, whereby a lower cost product may be produced. Terms such as "gas" and "gaseous" are intended to encompass similar terms indicative of a vapor. The term "growth system" includes the growth medium and those enclosed or defined volumes in flow communication therewith from which gas or gas mixtures maybe made available for mixing with the growth medium. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-noted objective has been achieved in the instant invention wherein apparatus is provided for simultaneously supplying the oxygen demands for growth in an aerobic biological growth system and controlling the temperature of the system. The apparatus comprises in combination: means for defining a growth system containing a quantity of medium for supporting the growth of microorganisms; means for agitating the growth medium; first means for introducing a first gas into the growth system; first means for controlling the rate of flow of the first gas to the first gas introducing means, being connected thereto; second means for introducing a second gas into the growth system; second means for controlling the rate of flow of gas to said second gas introducing means, being connected thereto; means for sensing the dissolved oxygen content of the growth medium; means for sensing the temperature of the growth medium, the first flow rate controlling means being connected to and responsive to signals from the oxygen-content sensing means; and the second flow rate controlling means being connected to and responsive to signals from the temperature-sensing means. At least one of the incoming gas flows is an oxygen-containing gas, e.g., air, and the other gas flow is pressurized steam, pressurized oxygen and/or pressurized nitrogen, etc. The apparatus of this invention is particularly useful in that it enables conduct of thermophilic fermentation processes at reduced costs of operation.
A roundabout adapted for play or exercise in the yard using one or a plurality of bicycles secured by top and bottom mounting assemblies to a mounting post rotatable about a fixed post solidly implanted in the ground. The bike or bikes are fastened to mounting assemblies by straps and can be readily disassembled by simply unbuckling the straps. The ground post can be removed and the same placed in another area of the yard. Motive power is supplied by a small wheel placed exteriorly of the front bike wheel and fastened on the bottom mounting assembly.
A rotary and rocking toy device has four bottom seats, four roller wheels, four support frames, and four carriers. The support frames are connected together to form a cross shape. Each roller wheel is disposed on the respective bottom seat. Each support frame is connected to the respective roller wheel pivotally. Each carrier is connected to the respective support frame stably.
The device for simulating longitudinal and transverse accelerations on a vehicle compartment has a first motion level for longitudinal displacement of the compartment and, placed on top of the former, a second motion level for transverse displacement of the compartment. To simplify the construction in the interests of low production costs and to allow large mechanical loads to be applied while keeping the height of the assembly low, a pair of bogies configured at a fixed longitudinal distance from one another can run in each level on the appropriate one of two parallel tracks. Each track of the mutually perpendicular pairs is at least in the front and rear track regions uniformly ascending. The second motion level directly accommodates the vehicle compartment.
The present invention is a toy vehicle upon which a child may ride and propel the vehicle forwardly by merely oscillating a swingable lever. The toy vehicle incorporates a drive operated by oscillating a swingable lever, and wherein forward propulsion is applied to the drive wheel by swinging the lever in both directions as the lever is being oscillated. The swingable oscillatable lever rotatably oscillates a drive pulley connected to an endless belt. When turned in one direction, the pulley tightens and drives the somewhat slack belt and propels the drive wheel forwardly. When the pulley is turned in the other direction, the pulley again tightens the belt and again propels the drive wheel forwardly.
