Abstract: A motorcycle [1; 101; 201] includes an engine unit [2] disposed centrally in the motorcycle [1; 101; 201], front swing arms [14, 18] having rear ends operatively connected to the engine unit [2] for vertical swinging movement, with a steering arm [26] which supports a front wheel [15] being attached to the front ends of the front swing arms [14, 18], and a rear swing arm [33] supporting a rear wheel [34] on a rear end thereof and having a front end operatively connected to the engine unit [2[ for vertical swinging movement. The motorcycle [1; 101; 201] further includes a front subframe [5; 205] detachably mounted on a front portion of the engine unit [2], the rear ends of the front swing arms [14, 18] being pivotally coupled to the front subframe for vertical swinging movement. The motorcycle [101] further includes a support frame [110] attached to the front subframe [5] and supporting a steering post [8], the support frame [110] having an air cleaner case [113].

Abstract: In a magnetic disk drive in which a cantilevered arm for mounting a magnetic head slider assembly is pivoted to move the slider assembly between a loaded position adjacent a rigid magnetic disk and an unloaded position spaced apart from the disk, a mechanism is provided for limiting the extent of movement of the slider assembly relative to the arm to prevent damaging contact of the slider assembly with the disk when the arm is in the unloaded position and the disk drive is subjected to shock loads. The slider assembly is mounted in gimballed fashion at a free outer end of the arm by a flexure element having different portions secured to the arm and to the slider assembly and a gimballing protuberance engaging the arm.

Abstract: A male fluid control member for controlling aspiration flow is insertable in a standard female receptacle having an interior cylindrical recess including a vent line leading to the recess. The male member includes an open end intruding into the recess in the female receptacle and filled by a protruding resilient gasket having a central orifice. The end recess is in communication with an interior chamber that extends along the aspiration fluid flow path, but is sealed therefrom by a hydrophobic membrane of substantial cross-sectional area. In operating position the orifice in the gasket in the male member is aligned with the vent line and the gasket and membrane seal the conduit thus formed from external sources of contamination. The opening in the gasket diverges in the direction toward the membrane which, together with the interior chamber, has a substantial cross-section.

Abstract: A reliable flow rate plasmapheresis system includes a rotating enhanced vortex of membrane filter coupled to receive a flow of anticoagulated whole blood and separate concentrate and filtrate in response thereto. An anticoagulant pump is coupled to mix controlled amounts of anticoagulant with the input blood flow. Degradation of plasma flow rate during multiple extraction-reinfusion cycles is inhibited by selecting the starting anticoagulant pH value and controlling the anticoagulant flow rate relative to the whole blood to establish a final whole blood/plasma pH value in the range of 6.8 to 7.2, with an anticoagulant to blood ratio in the range of 1:6 to 1:25.

Abstract: A glass sheet shaping apparatus shapes a curved reinforced glass sheet by bending a glass sheet which has been heated by a heating furnace up to a softening point and thereafter cooling the bent glass sheet with a cooling medium and imparting a prescribed stress to the glass sheet. The glass sheet is bent by upper and lower mold members fixed to respective common plates which are interconnected by positioning rods. The unit assembly comprising these upper and lower mold members and common plates is carried on a carrier and moved by a suitable displacing device onto a lower surface plate located in a frame assembly for replacing the existing unit assembly.

Abstract: In a method for processing by heating a powder-like and/or granular substance including steps of charging the powder-like and/or granular substance as a matter to be processed into a heated and pressurized direct-heating medium stream, heating to process while transferring the powder-like and/or granular substance in a heating tube (4), and thereafter discharging the powder-like and/or granular substances from the heating tube (4), the direct-heating medium stream is forced to whirl for heating to process while spirally transferring the powder-like and/or granular substance in the heating tube (4). The powder-like and/or granular substance as heated to be processed is discharged out of the heating tube (4), through a discharge mechanism (5) adapted to control the pressure in the heating tube (4).

Abstract: A steering assembly for a motor vehicle includes a trailing arm pivotally supported on a pivot shaft extending substantially transversely of the motor vehicle and rotatably supporting a wheel at a rear end thereof, at least three links each having one end pivotally coupled to said trailing arm and extending substantially transversely of the motor vehicle, and a steering gear box for steering the wheel. One of the three links, i.e., the first link, has an opposite end operatively coupled to said steering gear box. The other two links are coupled to the trailing arm by respective joints interconnected by a straight line serving as a kingpin axis serving as a steering center of the wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle leveling system employing pneumatic leveling units has a valve unit and a control device therefor for supplying a gas pressure from a gas pressure generator unit to and discharging it from the pneumatic leveling units. The control device comprises switches and a pressure sensor for detecting the gas pressure in the pneumatic leveling units and issuing a signal indicating the detected gas pressure, the control device including a central processing unit. The control device is operable in response to commands applied by the switches and the output signal from the pressure sensor, and has various control modes.

Abstract: Precision makeup at high speed of the most used forms of pipe and casing for production wells is assured by a novel coupling system. A pipe collar is provided with an internal precision makeup ring whose length along the pipe axis assures precise positioning and engagement. When the nose of the pipe is engaged with metal-to-metal contact against a reference shoulder on the precision ring a side surface on the nose end of the pipe engages a center seal ring disposed in the side wall of the collar between the reference shoulder and the threaded portion. This seal constitutes an effective barrier against the leakage of high internal pressures into the thread engagement region. End seals are mounted in grooves in the end recess portions of the collar, outside the threaded engagement region, to provide seals against external pressure, which can also vent internal pressures that are in excess of a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An illumination system, particularly suitable for use with automatic vision systems employing an image sensing device or system, illuminates an object under analysis with the cone of light that may cover 360.degree. or only an arc segment about a part of the object under analysis. Light from a ring source is directed toward a curved parabolic surface on a light collector ring that substantially collimates the light and fans it out radially out toward a toroidal reflector surface on an encompassing ring, the relative position of which determines the angle of incidence of a cone of light formed to fall in the region of the object, so as to illuminate particular features with optimal efficiency. To change the angle of incidence while maintaining focus, a differential drive mechanism moves the parabolic collector ring and the toroidal angle generator ring in differential fashion concurrently.

Abstract: In a toothbrush having a pair of adjustable bristle-mounting tabs which pivot relative to the bristle-mounting base so that the bristles mounted on the tabs may deflect in order to conform to varying tooth surfaces, a metal plate formed within the head of the toothbrush has opposite lobes thereof which extend into and form part of the tabs to provide better hinging action for the tabs and to prevent the tabs from breaking off and possibly being swallowed. The toothbrush is made using an injection mold, the lower half of which has a pair of dowels which are inserted in apertures within the opposite lobes of the metal plate to initially position the metal plate therein. The lower half and an opposite mating upper half together provide opposite mating pins which engage the opposite sides of the metal plate so as to precisely position the plate within a cavity defined by the joined opposite halves of the mold.

Abstract: Heat build up is reduced in x-ray film illuminator apparatus by transferring excess heat from the sources thereof to the exterior of the unit and then into the surrrounding environment. A heat dispersing surface contacts the hottest part of the ballast employed within the unit, with a back wall of the unit itself being spaced from an associated wall, on which the apparatus may be detachably mounted on a special hanger so as to permit a vertical air flow path between the back wall and associated mounting wall surface. A viewing area of the unit is formed by a translucent face plate retained in position along at least the top or upper peripheral portion thereof by a resilient element also capable of retaining in place the film transparency or other media that is being viewed.

Abstract: In a plasma spraying system in which a main plasma gun electrically coupled to a workpiece or target and equipped with apparatus for introducing a spray powder therein provides a plasma stream to the target at high temperatures and supersonic speeds with an accompanying transfer arc between the main plasma gun and the target in a given polarity relative to the target, apparatus is present for simultaneously providing a second transfer arc at the target which has an opposite polarity relative to the target from the polarity of the transfer arc provided by the main plasma gun. The second transfer arc which is provided by a separate second or clean-up plasma gun electrically coupled to the target acts to reduce oxides at the target during melting of the target, spraying of the target with metallic powders and other plasma operations.

Abstract: An all digital feature based pattern recognition tone detection system distinguishes one or more tones from speech or other background noise and provides extremely reliable, low cost DTMF tone detection. The system includes a digital signal processing system which uses a modified PARCOR signal analysis technique to efficiently calculate inverse filter coefficients defining in functional form a smoothed LPC spectrum from a received frame of digital pulse code data. A Fourier transform provides high resolution evaluation of the LPC data at frequencies of interest to permit evaluation of the spectral response in accordance with known features of an expected tone signal.

Abstract: A mausoleum for cremated remains includes linear and columnar displays of arrays of transparent display vessels which are relatively small but illuminated to have individual prominence as well as a pleasing aesthetic effect. The vessels rest on linear and columnar displays in secured positions but can be rearranged if desired. The enclosure may be of cruciform outline so as to provide visual variety and to permit expansion in a natural manner.

Abstract: In a color printer in which a shuttle assembly containing a plurality of impacting print hammers is reciprocated in bidirectional fashion relative to an opposing platen to impact a print paper against the platen through the different color zones of an ink ribbon to print in color, the different color zones of the ribbon are arranged in a repeating pattern along the length thereof enabling the lightest color to be printed first followed by successively darker colors as the ribbon is advanced bidirectionally between the opposite ends thereof. A pair of barrier zones having a blank ribbon zone therebetween are disposed between each adjacent pair of color zones on the ribbon to prevent ribbon contamination due to bleeding of ink between adjacent color zones when the ribbon is wound on a reel. Ribbon contamination is further prevented by the blank ribbon zones which absorb ink that rubs off onto the ribbon guides.

Abstract: A ribbon fault detection system within an impact printer has a pair of resilient electrical contacts disposed in spaced-apart relation across the width of an ink ribbon within each of a pair of ribbon guides located between the opposite ends of a print station and a pair of spools for receiving the opposite ends of the ink ribbon and driving the ink ribbon. Each of the electrical contacts which is silicone coated to minimize ink migration and which is normally held out of engagement with a mating contact due to engagement by the ribbon is coupled in parallel with the other resilient electrical contacts so that closure of any one of the resilient electrical contacts onto its mating contact will generate an indication of a ribbon fault condition.

Abstract: A gas pressure transducer has a voltage stabilizer for supplying a piezoelectric crystal in a gas with an AC constant-voltage signal corresponding to an applied AC signal and having a constant peak amplitude. An alternating output current from the piezoelectric crystal is converted by a current-to-voltage converter into an AC voltage, which is shifted in phase by a phase shifter so that the impedance of the piezoelectric crystal is minimal or nearly minimal under the resonant condition. The shifted AC voltage is then applied to the voltage stabilizer. The piezoelectric crystal, the voltage stabilizer, the current-to-voltage converter, and the phase shifter jointly constitute a self-excited oscillation loop. Since the amplitude of the AC voltage from the current-to-voltage converter is uniquely dependent on the pressure of the gas, the gas pressure can be known from a DC voltage produced by rectifying the AC voltage.

Abstract: In a disposable biomedical system for processing fluids in a closed environment such as a plasmapheresis system, comprising a plastic rotor mounted for rotation on a pivot pin bearing and a seal, particularly a silicone lubricated O-ring seal, between the rotor and pin, the improvement wherein said pivot pin is a molded pivot pin of a hard plastic material having a low coefficient of friction and lubriciousness, and which is capable of being irradiated by gamma radiation for sterilization and modification of the plastic material without degradation or loss of lubricious properties. The pivot pin bearing preferably comprises an injection molded polyamide based resin.