Abstract: A coupling has a plastic socket part having a connection nipple fitted into an end of one of two tubes to be joined and having an outer surface engaging the lining of the one tube, a socket having an inner surface, and a conductive metallic lining layer on and extending between the inner and outer surface. A plastic plug part has a respective connection nipple fitted into an end of the other of the tubes and has an outer surface engaging the lining of the other tube, a plug having an outer surface and fittable in the socket, and a conductive metallic lining layer on and extending between the outer surfaces of the plug part. An electrically conductive seal ring is fixed in the socket and engages the outer surface of the plug part. The parts are made of polyoxymethylene and/or a fiber-reinforced polyamide.

Abstract: A faucet assembly has a conduit defining a flow path between a supply of water and an outlet, a mechanical valve in the conduit and having an open position and a closed position, and a lever coupled to the mechanical valve for shifting it between its open and closed positions. A proximity detector has a detection field adjacent the outlet and a controller connected between the proximity detector and an openable and closable servo valve is activatable for opening the servo valve on detection of an object in the field of the proximity detector. A position-detecting switch associated with the mechanical valve is connected to the controller for activating this controller on shifting of the mechanical valve into its open position and for deactivating the controller on shifting of the mechanical valve into its closed position.

Abstract: A cutting insert is formed with a cutting edge, a cutting corner at an end of the cutting edge, a cutting surface, and a row of raised scales extending along the cutting edge. Each scale is formed with an arcuate apex line transverse to the cutting edge and forming at the cutting edge relative to a perpendicular to the cutting edge an angle between 55.degree. and -5.degree., a steep flank to one side of the apex line, and a shallow flank to the other side of the apex line. The apex line is concave toward the other side.

Abstract: A cooking assembly has a main burner, a pilot burner mounted in it and having a vent, a gas valve having separate main and pilot gas outlets, and a main-burner controller including a temperature sensor on the main burner, a control unit on the valve capable of varying gas output from the main gas outlet, and a capillary tube connected between the sensor and the control unit. This controller can vary gas flow from the main outlet in accordance with the temperature of the main burner as sensed by the sensor. An electrical igniter on the main burner can be energized by a switch on the valve. A pilot-burner controller connected to the switch includes a thermoelectric sensor in the pilot vent and blocks gas output from the gas outlets when insufficient heat is detected by its sensor and the switch is not closed.

Abstract: A conveyor-storage system for moving bobbins in a spinning plant between a fly frame, a ring-spinning frame, and a bobbin cleaner has an annular track having a first section extending from the fly frame to the ring-spinning frame, a second section extending from the ring-spinning frame to the cleaner, and a third section extending from the cleaner to the fly frame. A single large-capacity storage area immediately adjacent the track has respective first, second, and third feed tracks extending to the respective track sections. Respective first, second, and third three-point intersections connect each feed track with the respective track section for two-way movement of bobbins between each feed track and the respective track section.

Abstract: A synthetic-resin article is molded by plastifying a virgin granulate into a fluent stream and plastifying a recycle granulate into another fluent stream. The recycle stream is then filtered while still plastified to removing particulate impurities from it. Then the filtered recycle stream while still plastified is combined with the virgin stream to form a combined stream and the combined stream is fed into a mold. The stream is mechanically filtered.

Abstract: A slicing machine has a housing, a rotatable blade on the housing having an edge defining a blade plane, and an input table on the housing displaceable parallel to the plane past the blade edge and having a holder adapted to hold a foodstuff to be sliced by the blade. The foodstuff is movable from a starting position by the table and holder toward the blade to slice the foodstuff. An abutment plate on the housing is displaceable between a shield position lying generally on the blade plane and a retracted position offset away from the table from the blade plane. An actuator connected between the housing and the plate sets the plate in its positions. A sensor generates an output when the foodstuff is moved out of the starting position. A control unit connected between the sensor and the actuator displaces the plate out of the shield position when the output is generated.

Abstract: A thermostatically regulated mixing valve having a housing and a stem extending along an axis in the housing and axially displaceable to adjust the thermostatically regulated temperature of the valve has a control knob that has a nut threaded on the housing, axially linked to the valve stem, and rotatable about the axis in one direction to move axially inward and move the stem axially inward and in the opposite direction to move axially outward and move the stem axially outward. An inner knob part formed with an angularly extending and axially throughgoing slot is axially coupled to the housing and rotationally coupled to the nut so that the inner knob part rotates with the nut but does not move axially therewith.

Abstract: A latch for retaining together two parts of a piece of luggage has a latch element projecting from one of the parts, a housing mounted on the other part and shaped to receive the latch element, and a latch dog movable in the housing between a retaining position preventing the latch element, when engaged in the housing, from withdrawing from the housing and a freeing position permitting the latch element to withdraw from the housing. At least one operating element in the housing is displaceable in first and second nonparallel directions between an actuated and unactuated positions for, on displacement in the first direction and thereafter in the second direction, displacing the dog into the freeing position and for, on displacement in only one of the directions, leaving the dog in the retaining position. Thus if the operating element is accidentally hit by something the latch will not open.

Abstract: A dump sitting on the ground is isolated by first driving a tunnel longitudinally through the ground underneath the dump, then cutting from at least one side of the tunnel with a longwall-mining machine a longitudinally and transversely extending slit having a lower end opening into the tunnel and an upper end opening at ground level, and providing a liquid barrier in the slit underneath the dump. The material dug by the machine to form the slit is first conveyed downward along the slit into the tunnel and thence along and out of the tunnel. Stowing material is brought into the slit from the upper end thereof to backfill behind the machine. The cutting machine itself can be a standard cutter head with a longwall conveyor and a set of following props that hold up the roof behind the cutter until this area is backfilled.

Abstract: A single-lever mixing valve has a housing, a cartridge fixed in the housing and having an actuating element pivotal about an element axis for adjusting flow through the cartridge, and an actuating shaft centered on the element axis, fixed in the actuating element, and having a first end formed with an axially open threaded bore and an opposite second end formed with an axially oppositely open grooved seat. The ends of the shaft are generally flush with an outer surface of the cartridge. An actuating lever has first and second connecting pins extending along the element axis and juxtaposed with the respective ends of the shaft. A screw projecting through the first pin and threaded into the bore of the first shaft end fixes the first pin to the first shaft end relative to the element axis. An adapter has an inner end nonrotatably fitted but axially displaceable in the grooved seat of the second shaft end and an outer end juxtaposed with the second pin of the actuating lever.

Abstract: A stepper drive for a step-type transformer has an upper geneva wheel rotatable about a wheel axis, a lower geneva wheel spaced below the upper wheel and also rotatable about the axis, and a driver rotatable about a driver axis adjacent the wheels and having an upper abutment engageable with the upper wheel and a lower abutment engageable with the lower wheel and offset by about 180.degree. relative to the driver axis from the upper abutment. A selector abutment is provided on the upper wheel offset from the axis thereof. A selector lever pivotal about a selector axis offset from the wheel axis is engageble with the selector abutment in end positions of the upper wheel. A blocking plate shiftable radially on the lever between an actuated position and an unactuated position is urged by a spring into the unactuated position.

Abstract: In a packaging system where a pasty material is dosed as portions into individual containers to form individual packages, at least one dimension of the portions is measured to produce actual-value outputs that correspond to the volumes of the respective packages and that are compared with a set point corresponding to a desired volume. The dosing of the portions is altered on deviation of the volume outputs from the volume set point so as to bring same into agreement. In addition the packages are weighed downstream to produce actual-value outputs that correspond to the weights of the packages and that are compared with a set point corresponding to a desired weight.

Abstract: An electrical conduit for wires or cables is formed by a tube extending along a longitudinal axis and having an inner wall formed with a plurality of longitudinally throughgoing ridges each formed by a plurality of longitudinally joined sections with every other section inclined oppositely relative to the axis to the intervening sections. In other words the ridges run alternately along a right-hand helix and then a left-hand helix. The sections may be of varying pitch and part circular in section. They can also be substantially identical in which case they are straight, meet at corners, and are all of the same pitch.

Abstract: A valve has a housing, a valve spindle projecting outward from the housing and centered on and rotatable about an axis, and an actuating handle. Radially inwardly projecting and axially extending ridges are formed in the handle. An overload protecting coupling is formed by a sleeve fitted over the spindle and formed unitarily with a skirt having an inner surface spaced radially outward from the spindle and an outer surface formed with radially outwardly projecting and axially extending ridges meshing with the ridges of the handle. The skirt is formed with a plurality of axially inwardly open slots subdividing it into a plurality of ridged segments and it is elastically inwardly deflectable. Thus this sleeve forms a slip coupling that allows the handle to rotate the valve spindle until same is arrested, for instance at the end of its stroke, and thereafter turn independently of the spindle to prevent overloading it.

Abstract: A storage and transport container for a fluent material has a stiff outer vessel having an upright side wall formed of a grid of steel bars and a floor. The floor is inclined with respect to the horizontal downward to a predetermined low point at the side wall. An elastically flexible liner in the vessel has a side and a base respectively generally corresponding to the side wall and floor of the vessel and is provided at the low point with a drain fitting. The base is inclined when the liner is only partially filled with the fluent material to the horizontal to the low point at an angle substantially greater than that between the vessel floor and the horizontal but forms the same angle and lying on the floor when fully filled with the fluent material.

Abstract: A box for the storage and display of elongated objects has a base part and a cover part that is recessed in the base part. More particularly the base part has a floor having a pair of parallel side edges and an end edge bridging the side edges, respective side walls projecting upward from the side edges and in turn having upper edges, and an outer end wall bridging the side walls and projecting upward from the end edge. The cover part has a face plate, is hinged on the base part, and is pivotal thereon between an open position projecting upward from the base part and a closed position with the face plate lying wholly within the base part below the upper edges of the side walls. In addition the cover part is formed with a laterally projecting grip tab coplanar with the face plate. A frangible latch element connected between the cover and base parts in the closed position of the cover part retains same therein so that the cover part can only be moved into the open position after breaking of the latch element.

Abstract: A power door-lock actuator has a housing adjacent the lock, a reversible electric motor in the housing having an output shaft extending along a motor axis, and an input gear fixed on the output shaft and rotatable thereby about the motor axis. A threaded spindle extending in the housing along a spindle axis adjacent the motor axis carries an output gear and a nut threaded on the spindle is movable along the spindle axis on rotation of the spindle between a pair of axially offset positions. A link connected between the nut and the lock can move the lock between its locked and unlocked positions on displacement of the nut between its end positions. A manual actuator, for instance an inside door-lock button, is coupled to the nut for manually displacing the nut between its end positions. A rocker pivotal about the shaft axia at the input gear carries a pair of connecting gears flanking and meshing with the input gear.

Abstract: A hypodermic-syringe assembly comprises a hard tubular body centered on an axis and having an axial front end formed with a radially inwardly projecting annular ridge and an axial rear end, a piston axially slidable in the body and normally adjacent the rear end, and a soft plug fitted in the front end in tight engagement with the ridge. The plug is formed with an axially rearwardly open blind passage having a front floor, and a front face defining with the passage floor a relatively thin membrane. Thus a needle can be poked through the membrane.

Abstract: An apparatus for grinding a disk having a center cup and a flat rim having a pair of opposite faces has a frame and an inner holder part rotatable relative to the frame about and displaceable on the frame along a holder axis and having a head formed with an outer holding face and with a central seat. An outer holder shaft rotatable relative to the frame and displaceable on the frame along the holder axis has an inner end turned toward the inner holder part and carrying a coupling in turn having an inner face and itself permitting biaxial movement between its inner face and the shaft. An outer holder part carried on the inner coupling face has a head formed with an inner holding face confronting the outer holding face and with a central projection engageable axially into the seat of the inner holder part. The inner and outer holder parts can be moved axially toward each other to clamp the center of the cup between the holding faces and to insert the outer-part projection into the inner-part seat.