Abstract: The invention relates to a holding element made of plastic, with at least one dish-shaped holding area 2, 2', 2"and 2'", for at least one tube-shape element, with an attachment area 3 with engagement parts 4 for fastening to a support, such as a body of a motor vehicle. According to the invention, the attachment area 3 is connected with a frame 6 by at least two elastic connection areas 5, 5', arranged at spaced axial distances from each other. The frame 6 includes cross-pieces with at least one of the cross-pieces of the frame constituting part of the holding areas.

Abstract: A molten metal pump for transferring molten metal from a first vessel to a second vessel. The pump is constructed of a base member including a pumping chamber, a motor supported by at least one post, a rotatable shaft secured at a first end to said motor and at a second end to an impeller disposed within said pumping chamber. The pumping chamber includes an outlet to a first end of an elongated refractory tube having a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the shaft. The tube has a second end passing through an opening in the platform. The tube includes a metallic cladding attached to an outer wall adjacent it's second end. A releasable fastening member is used to secure to the portion of the tube having the metallic cladding to the platform.

Abstract: A self-adjusting electric tappet switch includes a slider linearly guided in a housing for activation or closure of one of several electrical contacts and a tappet which is selectively rotatable relative to the slider for adjustment of the travel limit of the switch. The slider has a first engagement portion provided with engagements parts, and the tappet includes a corresponding second engagement portion having an oblong cross-section provided with spaced apart circumferential grooves. The switch is self-adjusted by relative rotational movement between the slider and the tappet to lock the pair together. In an installation and adjustment position of the tappet and slider system, the slider is held in a predetermined fixed switching position in the housing to permit relative longitudinal slidable movement between the tappet and the slider for adjustment of the tappet without causing any movement of affecting the position of the slider within the housing.

Abstract: A control system and method for operating an automobile window to provide anti-trap protection in an AUTO UP mode, wherein a switch assembly communicates switch signals representative of operator commands by disposition in distinct positions. A sensor that detects when an object is trapped between the window and the frame, and transmits an anti-trap signal representative thereof. A logic circuit receives the switch signals and the anti-trap signal and controls the drive assembly for the window in response thereto. The switch assembly includes a switch to override the anti-trap sensor for closing the window even when an obstruction is sensed during the closing operation.

Abstract: An optical sensor for determining an index of refraction of a substance being monitored includes a light source (20). An optical element (24) having a coupling surface (30) and a measuring surface (26) is arranged such that light directed into the optical element (24) through the coupling surface (30) is partially reflected twice from the measuring surface such that it is directed to and exits through the coupling surface (30). The measuring surface (26) is preferably spherical. An input optical fiber (22) having first and second ends directs light emitted from the light source to the coupling surface of the optical element. The first and second ends of the input optical fiber (22) are optically coupled to the coupling surface (30) of the optical element (24) and the light source, respectively. An output optical fiber (28) has first and second ends and directs light expelled from the coupling surface (30) of the optical element (24) to a photodetector (50).

Abstract: A process for depositing diamond crystals onto a field emission cathode. The process involves providing a cathode having a substrate, a gate layer and a plurality of emitters electrically insulated from the gate layer. An electric bias is applied to the gate layer and a ground potential is applied to the emitters. A heat source is positioned adjacent the cathode, and the cathode is exposed to a field of ions for a sufficient period to at least partially clean the emitters. A carbon containing gas is added to the atmosphere adjacent to the cathode such that carbon ions are dissociated from the gas and deposited on the emitters to form a "soot". The temperature of the cathode is then adjusted to a level which allows formation of diamond film.

Abstract: Stepping motor comprising a rotor (4) and two, one above the other and with respect to each other angularly offset, stators (2) which are comprised of coils (30) and stator plates (20), wherein the stator plates (20) respectively have a planer U-shaped form with two essentially parallel extending arms (22, 25), the end of arms (22, 25) each exhibits on the inside for the formation of a polar pair an arch shaped recess (23, 26) such that the rotor (4) extending therebetween, in top view, is encompassed along its circumferential segment corresponding to the contour without, however, making contact.

Abstract: A faucet apparatus is provided for dispensing heated liquid from an urn interior. The faucet includes an insulated foamed plastic body made from foamed polypropylene or the like and has a liquid flow bore defined therein. The foamed plastic body has a plurality of gas-filled insulative bubbles dispersed through the walls thereof and is adapted for connection to an urn with the liquid flow bore in fluid communication with an interior portion of said urn. The faucet includes means connected to the body for controlling the flow of liquid through the bore to a liquid outlet of the faucet.

Abstract: Racks (20) supported on a transfer cart (38) in a decontamination area (18) are loaded with contaminated articles. The carts are wheeled to a washer (14) into which the racks of contaminated articles are placed for washing. After washing, the racks are removed from the washer in a preparation and packing or clean room (12) and unloaded. The empty racks are moved through a rack return (28) back to the decontamination area. The rack return includes a rack supporting surface (32) on which glide strips (42) are mounted for sliding the racks from the clean room to the decontamination area. Guide strips (44) guide the racks to a pair of vertically pivoted polycarbonate doors (34) which the racks push open by engaging bumpers (58). After the rack has passed through the doors, a self-closure mechanism (60) closes the doors automatically. The rack return assembly includes stops (76, 78) on both sides for aligning a rack carrying cart of any of a plurality of sizes accurately with the rack return assembly.

Abstract: A closure element is provided made of plastic, particularly for sealing off at least one opening 2, 3 in at least one support member 20, 30, in particular, in a automotive body, the closure element including a head section 4 located above the support, and a basic body portion 5 extending through the support 20, 30. At least one region of the closure element is made of a material which expands under the influence of temperature. The basic body portion 5 and the head section 4 of the closure element 1' is preferably formed of a single piece of thermal plastic material, which, is with increased thermal influence, media-tight bondable via a gluing action within the openings 2, 3.

Abstract: A load handling dolly (1) assists in the transportation of a load P, such as a piano. A pair of cross-pieces (11, 12) are selectively slid beneath the load, either directly or using an intermediate support plate (17). A pair of side frames (3, 4) are disposed on either side of the load above free ends of the cross-pieces. The cross-pieces are received within extremities or eyelets (13b) of tie rods (13a) which are supported by the side frames for vertical movement by rotating a nut (15). As the nuts are turned, the tie rods, cross-pieces, and the load are lifted, transferring the load to two sets of wheels (5, 6, 7; 8, 9, 10) that rotatably mounted in the side frames.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for detection of radiation directed through an object. A phosphor converter disposed to receive the radiation pattern generates visible light representative of the radiation pattern. A plurality of light sensors are disposed to define a sensor array for receiving the visible light and generating a pixel signal pattern representative of the radiation pattern. A plurality of reflectors are disposed at locations for reflecting a portion of the visible light radiating in a direction to avoid being received in the plurality of light sensors. The light is reflected back into the phosphor converter where a diffuse reflection of the reflected light redirects the light back towards the sensors.

Abstract: A gas riser apparatus having an O-ring sealing arrangement according to the present invention provides improved sealing between an inner pipe and an outer pipe of the riser apparatus. The riser apparatus includes an inner plastic pipe having one or more grooves for receiving resilient sealing members. A plurality of O-rings are disposed within one annular groove and an outer metal pipe is telescoped over the plastic pipe. An annular crimp extends around the outer metal pipe at a location of the plurality of O-rings and forms a seal between an inner surface of the metal pipe and an exterior of the plastic pipe by compressing the O-rings. This O-ring seal configuration provides substantially improved low temperature sealing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single-ended discharge lamp comprising a discharge tube bordering a discharge space and sealed in a gas-tight manner at its ends and also comprising electrodes, wherein the discharge tube has at least two straight tube portions and a bent connection member between at least some of the adjacent straight tube portions. The bent connection member has an arc-shaped outer and an arc-shaped inner bordering wall, an indentation narrowing the cross-section of the discharge space is formed in the outer bordering wall and the bent connection member has bulged dome portions between its ends connecting to the straight tube portion and the narrowing indentation. The solution is characterized in that the largest cross-section (A2) inside the tube wall of at least one of the dome portions (11d) is at least 1.8 times but at maximum 2.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided for transferring power and communication signals through a wireless coupling device in a vehicle steering column. The device can include a rotary transformer having a primary and secondary magnetic structure respectively associated with the wheel side and column side of the steering column. A squib power circuit transforms a high energy power signal suitable for firing an air bag from the column side to the wheel side. A low energy power circuit generates a signal from the column side to the wheel side suitable for operating isolated wheel side electronics, such as cruise control and the like. A tone encoder and decoder circuit communicates low level control signals suitable for signaling wheel side commands from the wheel side to the column side. The low energy power circuit and the tone encoder circuit operate simultaneously and continuously without signal debilitating interaction.

Abstract: A flexible cutting tool includes a substantially cylindrically-shaped housing having a first end and a second end. The first end includes a hollowed region. A substantially cylindrically-shaped bushing, having a first face and second face and including a flexible material, is sized such that the first face and at least a portion of the bushing are secured inside the hollowed region of the housing. The bushing includes a bore extending through the first face, the second face, and an axis of the bushing. A cutting tool includes a cutting edge, a stop, and a shaft between the cutting edge and the stop. A diameter of the stop is larger than a diameter of the bore for allowing the stop to enter the second face of the bushing, frictionally pass through the bushing and exit the first face of the bushing. A diameter of the shaft is smaller than the diameter of the stop and larger than the diameter of the bore such that the bushing frictionally engages the shaft.

Abstract: An image display device which is compact on the whole and low in cost, and which uses a plurality of projection lens systems each of which is constituted by five lens groups including a first aspherical lens group, a second aspherical lens group, a third biconvex lens group, a fourth aspherical lens group and a fifth aspherical lens group which are arranged in this order successively from a screen side, the third lens group having refractive power of not lower than 70% of the total power of the projection lens system, the respective peripheral shapes of the first and second aspherical lens groups being set to have a predetermined relation, a low-dispersion high-index glass material being used for a convex lens of a green projection lens system, a high-dispersion high-index glass material being used for convex lenses of blue and red projection lens systems.

Abstract: A method and system accumulates an error from an error diffusion process used for rendering continuous images. A scan from an original document generates a plurality of original pixel values which are adjusted by an accumulated error value corresponding to the total effect of neighboring pixels. The adjusted pixel error value is determined between the adjusted pixel value and an output. The adjusted pixel error value is weighted by a predetermined weighting technique and diffused among a plurality of neighboring pixel locations to generate a plurality of intermediate pixel error values. Intermediate pixel errors are accumulated and stored in an error buffer before being combined with an original pixel value. Repetitive access to a memory location associated with the adjusted pixel value is obviated by accumulation of the intermediate pixel values in intermediate registers. A compressor compresses the diffused error values before storage in a buffer as accumulated error values.

Abstract: An apparatus (A) for sterilizing medical instruments and other articles includes a tray (12) with an article receiving area (14). An article to be microbially decontaminated is positioned in the receiving area (14) and a microbe blocking lid (10) is closed. A water electrolysis apparatus (30) receives water, splits the water into two separate streams that pass respectively through an anode chamber (34) and a cathode chamber (36), and exposes the streams to an electric field that results in the production of a catholyte solution for cleaning and an anolyte solution for sterilization. The anolyte and catholyte are selectively circulated through the article receiving area (14) by a pump (66) to clean and microbially decontaminate the external surfaces and internal passages of an article located therein. The anolyte or deactivated anolyte provides a sterile rinse solution. A reagent dispensing well (60) receives an ampule (80) or the like.

Abstract: In a method of fabricating a high resolution low voltage flat panel radiation imaging sensor having a radiation transducer having a radiation conversion layer of amorphous semiconductor and an electrode on one side thereof and an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns on an opposite side thereof, each pixel including a pixel electrode and storage capacitor and a charge readout device connected to the pixel electrode and the storage capacitor, the improvement comprising the step of shining light on selected regions of the radiation conversion layer which are aligned with the pixel electrodes to thereby crystallize the regions, resulting in a plurality of low resistivity and high charge mobility crystallized regions where the semiconductor material has been exposed to the light surrounded by high resistivity and low charge mobility regions where the semiconductor material has not been exposed to the light, for preventing lateral charge diffusion between respective ones of the low resistivity and high char