Abstract: A system for feeding fibres from a fibre separation step at a first pressure to a drying step at a second, lower pressure, the system comprising a sluice feeder (3) provided between the fibre separation step and the drying step. At least an outlet (14) of the sluice feeder (3) is enclosed by a housing (4) for pressurization by means of a pressure medium in the housing (4) to a pressure that essentially corresponds to the first pressure in the sluice feeder (3). The fed out fibre from the sluice feeder (3) to the housing (4) are removable by means of the pressure medium in the housing (4) via a control valve (20), which regulates the pressure in the housing (4), to the drying step at the second, lower pressure. The pressurization in the housing (4) prevents steam to escape from the sluice feeder (3).

Abstract: Body restraint systems for vehicles that include buckles for latching and retaining latch plates associated with safety belts. The buckle of each system includes a pair of oppositely biased latching mechanisms that are operative in such a manner that an inertial force applied to release one latching mechanism from a latch plate inserted within the buckle creates an opposite and equal force against the opposite latching mechanism to thereby positively retain the latch plate within the buckle in a locked position. Release of a latch plate can only occur upon the simultaneous movement of both of the oppositely biased latching mechanisms away from one another by application of manual force on a slide release member.

Abstract: A Francis runner that includes a crown, a band and blades which extend between the crown and the band. An angle (?24) between a linear speed (U, D224) of one of the blades and a median of the blade at the trailing edge, has a value between 20 and 25°. As a result, a machine utilizing the Francis runner of the invention is efficient, while an equivalent power under high load is high.

Abstract: A tube-bending machine including a bending arm that is provided with a jaw support that moves horizontally in a direction of a bending head, whereby said jaw support is integral with a clamping jaw assembly that comprises at least one jaw for bending a tube clockwise and at least one jaw for bending a tube counterclockwise, wherein the jaws are fixed to one another. A bending roller is fixed to the bending arm and comprises at least one jaw for bending the tube clockwise and at least one jaw for bending the tube counterclockwise, whereby said jaws of the bending roller are laterally offset relative to one another and on both sides of a vertical axis XX? of the bending head. A first strip support is also provided having at least one jaw to clamp the tube as it is being bent clockwise and a second strip support that includes at least one jaw to clamp the tube as it is being bent counterclockwise.

Abstract: A method and implement for use in speech therapy to assist with teaching a patient to correctly produce sounds, especially /r/ sounds, designed to be used in a human mouth to support tongue tip and made of a palatable, non-toxic substance such as wax or candy.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector (2), such as a modular connector, comprising a first locking device (4) arranged at the connector body (6), which first locking device is elongated, whose one end (8) is fixedly arranged at the connector body and whose other end (10) is freely arranged at a distance from the connector body and at loading is resilient such that is can be moved (R) against the connector body and intended to be connected in engagement with a female connector intended for the connector, whereby the connector again is disconnectable by spring action of the first locking device inwards, that the connector (2) further comprises a second locking device (12), arranged to the connector body, comprising a movable locking pin (14), whereby the first locking device (4) can be firmly locked by displacement (F) of the locking pin (14) of the second locking device (12).

Abstract: A Francis runner and a hydraulic turbine equipped with such a runner, wherein the runner includes a ceiling, a belt, and blades which extend between the ceiling and the belt and which define liquid flow channels therebetween. A ratio (e/L) of a maximum thickness Ce) of each blade to an average developed length (L) of an average fibre of each blade is between 0.1 and 0.2. At a leading edge of each blade, the average fibre is oriented, over essentially an entire height of the leading edge, along a straight line (?23), which forms an angle (?) greater than 90° relative to a line (U) defining a direction of rotation of the leading edge of the runner.

Abstract: A female element of a quick connection provided with a closure valve, wherein the opening of the valve is controlled by a reaction force exerted by an O-ring disposed in an inner housing of a body of a male connection element adapted to be fitted in the female element. The reaction force results from the abutment of the valve on the O-ring when the male and female elements are coupled together. Upon the failure of the O-ring, the valve is not displaced so that the risks of leakages are eliminated.

Abstract: A priority encoder (PE) for a CAM, comprising a plurality of PE blocks, each receiving a plurality of match results corresponding to data entries in a corresponding data array block and, for determining an address of a highest priority data entry based on a physical location in the data array block during a CAM search-and-compare operation a register for storing a user defined priority value assigned to each PE block and means for evaluating priority values and the address determined by the plurality of PE blocks to select a PE block having the highest priority data entry.

Abstract: An improvement in or relating to spectacles comprising a frame made of a formable material that may be shaped at elevated temperatures, and lenses that are attached to the frame so as to cover a major part of a user's visual field, wherein the formable material is fixed in form and soft and bendable when in an unformed, original state, and is formable at elevated temperatures to form the frame in a configuration that is shaped to the user'face. When the material returns to a temperature of the original state, the frame retains the configuration and is somewhat bendable. The frame includes attachments for positioning the lenses in a predetermined position on the frame to obtain a predetermined distance relative to the eyes and eye lashes of the user.

Abstract: A security locker is for securing articles externally on a vehicle. The locker comprises a locker having at least one opening facing the exterior of the vehicle when the locker is fitted thereto, wherein the opening provides access to the interior of the locker. A door is moveable between an open position in which the interior of the locker is accessible through the opening from outside of the vehicle when the locker is fitted thereto, and a closed position in which the locker is inaccessible. The locker includes locking device that, when activated, locks the door in a closed position to prevent unauthorized access to the locker, and when deactivated unlocks the door to enable access to the locker. An input device is operatively connected to the locking device, wherein the locking device is accessible from outside the locked vehicle and it deactivates the locking device when an identifiable code is entered to thereby allow keyless entry to the locker.

Abstract: A pair of spectacles includes a main frame having a magnetic bridge piece. An auxiliary inner frame is secured by a magnetic member to the bridge piece and an outer auxiliary lens is similarly secured by a magnet to the bridge piece and at lateral locations onto edges of the main frame. The auxiliary outer lens is secured by a magnetic button which is inserted through an aperture in the outer lens and has a magnetic member an a head which is sized to overly the aperture. The magnetic member embedded in the button attracts the magnetic bridge piece thereby attaching the button to the main frame, the head overlies the aperture and secures the outer frame to the main frame.

Abstract: Self-ligating orthodontic brackets which are at least partially formed of materials exhibiting shape memory each of which includes a base from which extends two spaced and opposing pairs of tie wings each pair of which define an archwire guide slot therebetween. Each of the opposing tie wings include portions which are normally spaced to retain an archwire within the archwire guide slot but at least a portion of one of each pair of opposing tie wings is yieldable relative to the other to permit insertion and/or removal of the archwire relative to the archwire guide slot. Portions of the brackets may be coated to reduce friction between the archwire guide slot and the archwire and to promote aesthetics and overall bracket appearance.

Abstract: A member for guiding harness cords of a Jacquard loom harness wherein the member is substantially planar and is provided with holes defining passages for the cords. At least one of these passages extends in a direction that is oblique with respect to a principal plane of the member. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce frictional forces undergone by the harness cords, particularly at the upper and lower edges of the holes.

Abstract: A set of humeral components for a total shoulder prosthesis, wherein each component is formed by an anchoring stem and a metaphyseal part which defines a concave surface of articulation in the form of a portion of a sphere. The offset between an axis of symmetry of this surface and a central axis of the metaphyseal part varies between the different components of the set. This makes it possible to limit or to avoid, by a reasoned choice of the humeral component used, an interference with the pillar of the scapula during a movement of adduction.

Abstract: Body restraint systems for vehicles that include buckles for latching and retaining latch plates associated with safety belts. The buckle of each system includes a pair of oppositely biased latching mechanisms that are operative in such a manner that a force applied to release one latching mechanism from a latch plate inserted within the buckle creates an opposite and equal force against the opposite latching mechanism to thereby positively retain the latch plate within the buckle in a locked position. Release of a latch plate can only occur upon the simultaneous movement of both of the oppositely biased latching mechanisms toward one another by application of manual force and thus release of the latch plate cannot occur by inertial forces that may be encountered in a vehicular accident.