Abstract: A reaction canister of a PSIR airbag system includes a U-shaped body closed at its ends by a pair of end plates. Mounting slots are formed in the end plates and cooperate with a pair of associated latching devices for mounting the canister on a cross-car beam of a vehicle.

Abstract: A mixer valve (10) includes a valve housing (12) that mounts a cartridge (26). The ball valve element (24) is vertically affixed within the cartridge housing (56) by a pin (60) extending through the ball valve element and having its distal ends (62) received in a pair of circumferentially extending slots (68). A gasket (98) having generally square cross section seals the upper section (99) of the ball valve element from water leakage and provides operating resistance to the ball valve element. The optional ring member (140) is biased against the ball valve element (24) by the sealing gasket (98) to add to the operating resistance of the ball valve element (24).

Abstract: A recyclable automotive headliner consists 100% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material and includes reverse ribs of varying density of PET fibers filled with reinforcements of full density PET material. A method of manufacturing such headliners includes forming the reverse ribs in the PET fibers and either preforming the full density reinforcements and bonding them between the ribs or forming the ribs and then injecting molten full density PET material therebetween.

Abstract: An interface for incorporation between an articulated arm robot and a cutting nozzle for cutting a circular opening in a workpiece. The interface includes apparatus for moving the cutting nozzle independently of the arm robot. The interface includes a first moving mechanism for moving the cutting device linearly to an offset position with respect to an axis extending through a center of the opening to be cut, and a second moving mechanism for moving the offset cutting nozzle in a circular path around the axis to cut the opening.

Abstract: Sperhical particles having a diameter between 0.007" and 0.040" are formed from melt extruded thermoplastic material formed of blended and melt extruded thermoplastic and pigment.

Abstract: In a system of packaging of foodstuffs in containers (12), each container (12) has a closure of aluminium/LDPE laminate formed with a central tear panel (322) which either has a pull-tab (402) rivetted thereto or is connected to a pull-tab (321) at an, edge of the closure (1) by a narrow tear strip (323) extending up, over and down the rim of the container (12). The closures (1) are conveyed in horizontal positions pneumatically from a closure-manufacturing machine towards a downwardly inclined, vibrating, tranpsort box (110) and tilted pneumatically into vertical positions as they approached the box (110) for stacking in the box (110).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing laminated rotor cores in which lamina thickness variations are compensated for without disturbing the relative alignment of lamina shaft holes throughout the rotor core. The rotor core includes several truing laminas which are rotated to compensate for the lamina thickness variations and which include a central opening larger than the lamina shaft holes. The enlarged central opening in the truing laminas prevents overlap between the central opening and the shaft holes after rotation in spite of a lack of concentricity of the lamina shaft holes and central openings with respect to the laminas.

Abstract: A pulse width modulated solenoid purge valve for an on board fuel vapor recovery system of an automotive vehicle is operated by a solenoid that has a pole piece and armature that are shaped to operate at high frequencies. More specifically, the pole piece and the armature have an air gap interface that is defined by a protrusion of one that always intrudes into a recess of the other by a substantial amount to reduce response time of the armature and permit operation of the solenoid at the high frequencies.

Abstract: Described is a substantially purified human breast epithelial cell (Type I HBEC) displaying the following characteristics: variable cell shape; smooth cell colony boundary; deficiency in gap junctional intercellular communication; positive expression of epithelial membrane antigen and keratin 18; negative expression of keratin 14, .alpha.6 integrin and gap junction genes for connexins (Cx26, Cx32 and Cx43); growth promotion by fetal bovine serum; induction by cholera toxin to differentiate into Type II HBEC (prior art); and acquisition of anchorage independent growth by Semian virus 40 transfection. Also described is a method of obtaining the above-identified epithelial cells comprising the steps of: a) development of a mixture of human breast epithelial cells from reduction mammoplasty tissues using the MSU-1 medium; b) eliminating stromal fibroblasts by a trypsin (0.002%) and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (0.

Abstract: A fan shroud and receptacle arrangement for use adjacent a vehicle radiator and around one or more engine cooling fans. The arrangement includes a shaped hollow body of a predetermined depth and having a front face, a rear face, a top wall, a bottom wall, oppositely disposed side walls, at least one opening formed through the body with a cylindrical wall therearound. Oppositely disposed recesses are formed in the front and rear faces to form a wall for dividing the hollow body into two or more internal chambers. Filler necks and/or other openings are formed in the top wall for communicating with the two or more internal chambers.

Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery system has a control valve that is solenoid operated by a fuel filler pipe access door to control fluid communication between a fuel tank and a fuel vapor storage canister. The fuel tank includes a refueling valve that is open when the fuel tank is being refueled to provide a large unrestricted flow passage to the canister via the control valve. The refueling valve closes or restricts gas vapor flow at a predetermined fuel fill level in the tank to create a dome pressure, that is, a pressurized volume of gas in the space at the top of the tank above the fuel. This dome pressure causes the fuel level to rise in the filler pipe and automatically shut off the fuel filler nozzle in a well known manner. The fuel tank also has vent valves that provide restricted flow passages to the canister via the control valve for ordinary emissions of fuel vapors from the fuel tank.

Abstract: A potential distributor is disclosed which comprises a two-layer, flat base rail having a plurality of flat plug tongues which project from the base rail and are oriented transversely with respect to the course of the rail. The two layers of the base rail are made from two folded limbs of an integral strip which are pressed flat against one another. Catch parts on the outer edges of the two folded limb located in longitudinally staggered relationship are used to produce a third layer of sheet metal material in the base rail. Extensions of the edge parts are bent and produce the flat plug tongues.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer with phonon sensitive cryogenic particle detector determines the masses of macromolecules, proteins, large peptides, long DNA-fragments and polymers. The kinetic energy of the electrostatically accelerated charged macromolecule is absorbed in the cryogenic particle detector thereby exciting phonons which are detected by phonon sensors. The macromolecules are detected in the single particle counting mode with a sensitivity independent of their respective masses. The mass spectrometer contains a single-channel cryogenic particle detector providing high sensitivity. The mass spectrometer contains a spatially resolving multi-channel cryogenic detector array providing both high sensitivity and high throughput. The mass spectrometer consists of a vacuum vessel in which is a magnet, a mass separator, a feed through and a phonon sensitive cryogenic detector array. The cryogenic detector array consists of an absorber and a specified number of phonon sensors.

Abstract: A carton end panel folding mechanism for forcing both the leading and trailing panels of a gable top carton inwardly prior to the sealing of same. The folding mechanism includes four equally spaced blades, wherein each blade is shaped along its leading and trailing edges so as to be engaged at its trailing edge by a leading panel, forcing the leading panel inwardly and the blade forward, causing the leading edge of the next blade to engage the trailing panel and urge same inwardly.

Abstract: A sign (10) includes a sign housing (16) defining an internal cavity (32). The sign housing (16) includes front and rear faces (18, 20) having indicia or an instruction thereon and slotted apertures (22) defining the indicia. A lens housing (60) is secured within the cavity (32) and includes raised surface portions (26) which protrude through the slotted apertures (22). Light emitting diodes (28) are positioned within the lens 15 housing (60) to illuminate the indicia. The sign housing (16) and lens housing (60) are sealed to protect the LEDs (28).

Abstract: A cover for covering an air bag in a motor vehicle has a thin elastic plastic skin, a rigid substrate and an intermediate layer of soft plastic foam. The skin has a tear seam and the substrate includes a door that is impacted by the inflating air bag and presses outward against the foam layer and the skin to tear the foam layer and the tear seam and then swing outward with a torn section of the foam layer and skin to form an opening in the cover for deployment of the air bag into the passenger space in the vehicle. The tear seam in the skin is formed with extremely small laser machined holes that are not observable to a person of normal vision when viewed from a normal viewing distance in the passenger compartment by having a maximum hole size dimension at the outer side of the skin that does not exceed about 0.0005 inches.

Abstract: A coupling is provided between a flex hose and a rigid pipe by a lap joint with an end of the rigid pipe inserted into an end of the flex hose to form an overlap region. The flex hose has at least one slot through its wall extending axially of the flex hose and spanning the helical strip in a convolution which is in the overlap region. The slot is spaced inwardly from the end of the flex hose. A clamp disposed around the flex hose covers the slot and clamps the flex hose and pipe together collapsing the overlap region of the flex hose by circumferential slippage of adjacent convolutions of the helical strip to cause close engagement of the flex hose with the pipe and with the band clamp.

Abstract: An electronic compass is described for use in vehicles. The compass employs a magnetoresistive sensor for sensing the earth magnetic field and the sensor is operated in alternate set/reset bias modes. In a first embodiment, the compass is provided with deviation compensation by a closed loop system including measurement of the sensor output signals and an offset current strap for nullifying the vehicle deviation field. In a second embodiment, deviation compensation is provided by operation in an initial calibration mode and by operation in a normal calibration mode to adjust compensation, as needed, on a long term basis during normal operation of the compass. In the initial calibration mode, while the vehicle is being driven, the signal peak values are adjusted to a nominal earth field level by changing the offset current. Then, compensating signal reference values for each axis are determined as each peak for that axis is determined.