Abstract: A vehicle coupling device is disclosed that includes a coupling plate provided with a slot for reception of a waisted portion of a king-pin of a trailer, a pivotally mounted coupler jaw for holding the king-pin in the slot and a locking bar for locking the coupler jaw in its closed position. The coupler jaw includes a sensor arm extending in a different (lower) plane to a hook. The arm, in use, is contacted by a lower flange of a correctly aligned king-pin, and causes the jaw to pivot so that the hook engages the waist of the king-pin. By this dual alignment of hook and arm, there is achieved a failsafe means of preventing a king-pin, which enters the slot at the wrong height, from causing actuation of the jaw and the lock bar.

Abstract: A clamshell container having an improved hinge for reducing container rear wall buckling when the container is opened and closed is disclosed. The hinge includes first and second offset partial hinge portions, each extending inwardly from one side of the container for less than the full width of the container. The partial hinge portions include fold line portions near the container side walls and parallel slit portions in the central area of the rear wall. A blank for forming the subject container is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved sleeve for insulating a user's hand from a hot beverage cup is disclosed that includes first and second wing portions extending outwardly from the container side wall and spaced apart therefrom by spacer elements to form air gaps between the wing portion and the cup. A blank for forming the subject sleeve is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electric lamp, especially energy saving lamp, comprising a discharge tube, a lamp head or socket extending into a rear cover in which an electronic ballast for operating a discharge tube is arranged at least partly, said lamp head having a first and second contact connected to the ballast, and the lamp head comprises a screw plastic part covered at the external surface with a layer of conductive metal film providing the first contact, a contact-point plastic part connected to the end of the screw plastic part, and a metal contact-point fixed at the center of the rear end of the contact-point plastic part providing the second contact.

Abstract: A fuel injection port 21 formed in a seat 20 is opened and closed by a movable valve 14 supported by a flat spring 16. The movable valve 14 is biased by an elastic force of a coil spring 26 in a direction that closes the fuel injection port 21. When electric power is supplied to a solenoid coil 4, the movable valve 14 is moved to a direction that opens the fuel injection port 21 as a result of an electromagnetic attraction force between a magnetic circuit M for generating an electromagnetic attraction force and the movable valve 14. Air gaps G0, G1 and G2 are formed within the fuel injection port and permeance ratios between the air gaps may be set to optimal valves.

Abstract: A sign board for displaying an image so that the image can be viewed from various viewing angles without appearing distorted is disclosed. The sign board includes a first layer of material having light transmitting portions and light blocking portions arranged over a second layer of material bearing multiple distorted copies of the image. The copies are distorted by being compressed near their edges. The first layer is arranged over the second layer so that the image is visible to a viewer through the light transmitting portions substantially idependently of the angle at which the sign board is viewed.

Abstract: Signal cable for transmission of optical signals, especially in oil and gas wells, includes at least one elongated optical fiber, and an elongated, generally tubular container within which the optical fiber is disposed, the container having an inner wall and an outer wall, a space being defined between the optical fiber and the inner wall. At least one of the inner wall and the outer wall has a thin continuous surface coating of gold or a gold alloy.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel fluorescent conjugates of nucleosides or nucleotides which can be used especially for detecting, locating and/or isolating nucleic acids or molecules of biological or clinical interest which have a nucleoside structure or are capable of interacting with nucleic acids. The invention further relates to the polynucleotides comprising at least one fluorescent conjugate of a nucleotide.

Abstract: The invention concerns on the one hand a gripping device (10), particularly for automatic printing and/or inserting machines, with a first and second gripping element (22, 24) of which at least one gripping element (22) can be moved relative to the other gripping element (24) to grab sheet-like materials such as printed pages as well as with a measuring device (42) for the recording of at least one position of the gripping elements (22, 24) towards each other, and on the other hand a method for recording a relative position of gripping elements within a gripping device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a spur assembly having a spur body (2) and a spur bit (20). The spur body provides a plurality of spur bit locations (12, 14). Such that the location of the spur bit (20) relative to the spur body (2) may be varied. A further aspect of the invention relates to a new method of interattaching the spur bit (20) and the spur body (2), such that a variety of different spur bits (20) may be used with the same spur body (2).

Abstract: A method for identifying an unknown gas using a diffusion limited sensor providing an electrical signal output when exposed to the gas. According to the method, a sensor is disposed in a chamber of fixed volume and having a gas input and gas output through which the gas flows, and the chamber is connected to a source of a known test gas of known concentration and known diffusion coefficient Dk. The input to the chamber is opened, causing the sensor to be exposed to the known test gas until a steady state electrical signal output from the sensor is obtained. The time Tk necessary for the sensor to attain a predetermined percentage of the steady state output is determined. The chamber is then connected to a source of unknown gas, and the input is opened, and time Tu necessary for the sensor to attain the predetermined percentage of a steady state output for the unknown gas is determined.

Abstract: Powder product for the protection of molds for centrifugal casting of cast iron tubes, and a method for its production. The powder contains a mixture of a silicon-based inoculating agent and a mineral powder, the silicon-based inoculating product comprising waste masses from synthesis of alkyl- or aryl- halosilanes, from which tin and optionally copper has been removed. The mineral powder may contain at least one material selected from the group consisting of carbon and a fluoride.

Abstract: A process for regulating a furnace which includes a sequence of sections, cooling sections, baking sections, and preheating sections, in which the preheating sections at the tail are fitted with exhaust pipes for combustion gases, and in the transverse direction with a series of flue walls and pits in which blocks containing carbon to be baked are stacked, in which gas streams circulate through the flue walls. The mass flow in each of the streams of combustion exhaust gases is regulated by measuring this flow and the temperature in order to obtain a predetermined set value of energy flux.

Abstract: A reinforcing web constituted by substantially parallel and spaced-apart warp threads and by pairs of reinforcing threads, each shaped in the form of successive half-loops alternating in a weft direction. The successive half-loops of the reinforcing threads in each pair extend in opposite directions, and the pairs of threads are spaced apart from one another in such manner that the half-loops of the threads corresponding to two successive pairs overlap and together define closed loops which are set by means of flexible binding stitches formed in the overlap zones between the two half-loops and the warp threads. At least some of the reinforcing threads are constituted by metal tows. The reinforcing web is suitable for application to the seats of public transport vehicles.

Abstract: An impeller 16 has a plurality of blade grooves 16a formed along a perimeter thereof. A pump casing 17 has an inlet port 22, a discharge port 24, a first circumferential groove 20 contiguous with the inlet port 22, a second circumferential groove contiguous with the discharge port 24 and a partition 25 between a groove inlet portion 23 and the discharge port 24. An opening end face of the discharge port 24 on the side of the pump casing 17 that faces the impeller has a tapered portion 24a and a damping portion 24b. The tapered portion 24a has an opening width W that gradually decreases along the direction of rotation of the impeller 16. The damping portion 24b has an opening width that is substantially constant along the direction of rotation of the impeller. In one embodiment, a corner portion, which is defined by wall surfaces 24c, 24d defining the tapered portion 24a and the damping portion 24b of the discharge port 24, respectively, and a lower surface 9a of the pump casing 17, is chamfered.

Abstract: An external device for the drainage of biological fluid, particularly cephalorrhachidian fluid, utilizes a catheter (1, 2), one end of which is disposed in the area to be drained and the other end of which is connected to a drainage bag (3). This device includes a pressure measuring device (4) for measuring the pressure in the area to be drained and external flow control valve (5) on the catheter. An electronically controlled power supply (10) is provided for actuating the valve when the pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A pipe wrench is provided having a elongated housing, a motor disposed within the housing, and a pipe attachment structure connected to the housing. A rotatable shaft extends from within the housing, transverse to the axis of the housing, and is rotated by the motor. A pair of drive rollers are mounted on the shaft. The pipe wrench further includes a support structure on the housing, a curved retaining arm pivotally mounted on the support structure, and a plurality of free-spinning rollers mounted on the retaining arm. In use, a pipe is placed within the retaining arm in contact with the free-spinning rollers and the handle is moved to bring the drive rollers into contact with the pipe. The motor causes the shaft to rotate which then rotates the pipe.