Abstract: In a fluid sealing structure having an annular sealing member and a backup ring which supports the annular sealing member, for sealing a fluid charged in a working chamber formed by two relatively rotatable members, the backup ring is formed with at least one communication cavity for discharging fluid, charged from outside to between the sealing member and the backup ring when pressure within the working chamber drops, after pressure within the working chamber rises, so that the sealing member is not deformed into damage due to expansion of the charged fluid at high temperature.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an improved wear compensating stem sealing apparatus. The elements thereof include a unitarily formed or separably formed O-ring separator disposed upon a valve stem. A first, or "wiper" O-ring is disposed on the stem in a space provided on the O-ring separator. A second (and in some embodiments, a third) O-ring is disposed about the stem in a similar space on the O-ring separator above the level of the first O-ring. The second and/or third O-ring provide a subsequent sealing of the stem from pressurized fluid migrating upwardly upon wear of the first O-ring. The first O-ring may be made of a material which will wear more rapidly and/or wipe more efficiently than the second and/or third O-ring, or provide less radial squeeze, such that the second and/or third O-ring is subjected to increased compressive pressure from the pressurized fluid upon the wearing of the first O-ring.

Abstract: A heat conducting support having electrodes is located in a chiller block. The electrodes form a temperature sensor, a heater electrode and electrodes for the measuring of the conductivity. The electrodes are covered by an electrically insulating layer, which layer limits or defines, respectively, over a length L a bedewable surface. The chiller block is encased in a heat insulation and its temperature is measured by a second temperature sensor. The cross-sectional area of the heat transfer between chiller block and bedewable surface is substantially smaller than the bedewable surface itself. This makes it now possible that the temperature at the bedewable surface during the forming of the condensate is determined substantially by the temperature of the condensate at the bedewable surface such that increasing formation of condensate a plateau is determinable at the dew point temperature.

Abstract: A steel laminate gasket of the invention is used for an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder hole and through hole therein. The gasket comprises a first plate, a second plate and at least one third plate situated between the first and second plates. The first plate is provided with a first sealing device formed around the hole corresponding to the cylinder hole of the engine. The third plate is provided with a hole, the diameter of which is larger than that of the diameter of the first sealing device so that the first sealing device is located inside the hole of the third plate when assembled, and sealing layers formed on both sides of the third plate. The gasket further includes a second device for at least covering the first sealing device, and a third sealing device formed on at least one of the first, second and third plates for sealing around the through hole. Leakage around the cylinder hole and through hole is effectively prevented.

Abstract: A device for sealing a refueling opening has an elastic sealing member. The elastic member seals the gap between a tubular casing disposed in a refueling pipe and a refueling nozzle inserted into the casing during a refueling operation. The elastic sealing member is disposed within a seal supporting member mounted within the casing. The elastic sealing member is loaded with liquid-oil-containing porous particles mixed therein, and allows part of the liquid oil contained in the porous particles to exude to the surface of the sealing member.

Abstract: The present invention discloses apparatus and method for centering the steering wheel of a vehicle prior to alignment of the vehicle wheels using a wheel aligner. A portion of the apparatus is mounted to the vehicle steering wheel for sensing deviation in the position of the steering wheel from a centered position. This portion of the apparatus can be mounted on vehicle steering wheels having different configurations and can wirelessly transmit signals corresponding to the deviations. The apparatus can be used with differently configured steering wheels by virtue of a linked cam assembly in which rotation of either of a pair of cams causes rotation of the other cam in an opposite direction of equal magnitude. In operation, the deviation in the position of the steering wheel from a centered position with a pre-selected tolerance is determined. When the deviation is greater than the pre-selected tolerance, alignment of the vehicle wheels by the wheel aligner is prevented.

Abstract: A gasket for use on ventilation louvers of buildings. The gasket fits snugly over the sidewall of the ventilation louver and has a circumferential radially inwardly facing concave side surface terminating in a narrow lip which presses against the louver sidewall. The gasket also has a circumferential concave rear surface which presses against siding or the like which abuts against the louver sidewall, to provide some degree of seal. The concave surfaces also help maintain the gasket's orientation. The gasket position can be manually adjusted on the louver sidewall to suit different siding thicknesses, or the gasket can be removed and discarded.

Abstract: A strip of resistive carbon is deposited on a longitudinal plastic film and a strip of conductive copper is deposited on a second film. The two film strips are glued together with the resistive and conductive strips opposing to form a sealed envelope having a longitudinal cavity. This sandwich is placed in a flexible extruded tube membrane and the whole inserted in a longitudinal slot in a frame, with a channel communicating with the slot and the exterior of the frame. Liquid in a tank compresses the envelope, causing the copper and carbon strips to contract at a point depending on the level. The change in resistance of the carbon-copper circuit with level produces a changing voltage which is processed to provide a signal indicative of the level of in the tank. Temperature sensors in the frame provide the temperature of the at various levels.

Abstract: An automatic reading gauge is provided and consists of an elongated flexible measuring member having a scale thereon with a float affixed to one end and a counterweight at other end. The measuring member is disposed within an O-shaped body having a weep hole, an air check valve and a top sight area. When the body is placed through a filler hole to extend to bottom of a tank, the amount of fluid within the tank will be indicated at the top sight area.

Abstract: A bellows-type mechanical seal construction having a rotating carbide face ring provided with a vibration damper mounted thereon. The vibration damper comprises a carbon ring which is fixedly mounted within the carbide face ring, as by a press fit. The carbon vibration dampener ring is of substantial axial extent, and provides a close clearance with a shaft to effectively dampen vibrations of the rotating seal parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a freeboard measuring device which comprises an elongated housing having a rectangular cross-section form, a central part of the device body. A pair of fins fixedly connected to the housing on each of its sides extend substantially the length of the hosuing and have at least slightly greater lateral dimensions than the lateral dimension of the housing. The fins are triangular in cross section, with the tops of the triangles facing outwardly and providing the device with streamlined characteristics. The base of the triangles does not exceed in length the depth of the housing. The central portion has a main chamber for housing a gauging stick. The main chamber is divided into a lower and upper secondary chamber with the lower chamber having water ingress and separated from the upper chamber by a separation wall with openings to allow water to enter the upper chamber. The lower chamber has a packing of fibrous material to prevent water turbulence.

Abstract: A vehicle distress signal includes a rigid banner which has attention attraction coatings or lights on the banner's surfaces. The signal is attached to a vehicle door or window at one end of the banner by a combination clamp and spacer. The clamp overfits the edge of a door of a vehicle and the spacer holds the banner away from the door in a plane perpendicular to the door, so that when the clamp is placed over the edge of a door and the door is closed, the distress signal is held firmly to the vehicle with the banner's attention attraction surfaces facing approaching traffic.

Abstract: To unvisualize the mechanical indicating instrument for an automotive vehicle when the ignition switch is turned off, the pointer is covered by a pointer cover below zero indication when the meter is deactivated, or a semitransparent front cover is disposed in front of the dial. In this case, the meter is offset by an offset magnet from a zero position to under the pointer cover when deactivated. On the other hand, to visualize the same instrument, when the ignition switch is turned on, lamps disposed in front and/or back of the dial are illuminated and a colored transparent pointer is illuminated by another or the same lamp in linkage with the ignition switch.

Abstract: A method for measuring the dew point according to patent application P 36 33 015 is expanded so that an automatic zero point correction can be carried out. For this purpose, the heating power on the heating device is raised to a point, at which the dew evaporates and the sensor-specific property, for example the capacity, is measured and supplied to the evaluating unit as a calibration signal.

Abstract: An electrical switching mechanism has a pair of arcuate spring contact members which are mounted in a casing. An aperture is formed in the casing for receiving an actuator member which may comprise a screw or other similar actuator member. A camming member is slidably mounted in the casing with one portion thereof abutting against one of the spring contact members. The camming member is urged by the spring contact member such that it is resiliently urged towards the aperture. The spring contact members are retained in the casing by means of casing guide elements in a position such that when a screw or other member is inserted in the aperture, the camming member is urged outwardly by the screw so that it retains its associated spring contact member in a non contact position with the other spring contact member.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for use in measuring the softness of a fibrous product comprises a piezoelectric polymer film sensor, preferably polyvinylidene (di)fluoride with adhered opposed electrode surfaces, a sample of the fibrous product in direct contact with one of the sensor electrode surfaces, acutation components acoustically activating the fibrous product sample to cause the film sensor to generate an output electrical signal, and a spectrum analyzer for characterizing the fibrous product softness from the output electrical signal.

Abstract: A simple, yet fluid tight seal for a cryogenic enclosure. The seal between two portions of the enclosure becomes tighter as the temperature is lowered because both portions contract against a third member which does not contract with temperature to the same degree. Further, this contraction is elastic and therefore the enclosure may be disassembled and reassembled numerous times without damage to the seal. This is particularly advantageous for sealing lids or containers for cryogenic electronic components.

Abstract: A split labyrinth seal comprises a stator and a rotor, each comprising a pair of halves. The rotor halves each comprise a hook and a further protrusion extending from the edge on one side of a central aperture and on the other side of the central aperture a recess in the edge for receiving the hook and the further protrusion. The hook and further protrusion and the recess to receive the same, each extend from adjacent the central aperture to the periphery of the half. The rotor halves are identical so that the hooks and protrusions of one half matingly engage the recess of the other half. The stator has a planar mounting wall and a peripheral wall extending axially to house the rotor therewithin. The edge of the stator on one side of the central aperture is recessed on the exterior side of the planar wall and on the other side of the central aperture is recessed on the interior side. The stator halves are identical at their edges, whereby the recessed edges overlap.

Abstract: A marker device for body scanning which permits the location of internal parts of a patient's body by reference to image reference points produced by marks on the device attached to the surface of the patient's skin during the scanning process. The device comprises a flexible tape which includes a substrate with marks, usually lines, thereon, the substrate being relatively transparent to the scanning waves, while the reference lines are relatively opaque with respect thereto. The substrate is conveniently formed from plastic, while the reference lines are advantageously metallic in character, preferably copper strips. The substrate is ordinarily coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive to allow its attachment to the patients outer skin, and it may be perforated with holes to accommodate insertion of biopsy needles.

Abstract: An apparatus (9) is disclosed for determining the volume of liquid (18) in a container (1) which is being provided with an in flow and an out flow of liquid such that there normally remains an ullage volume (8) in the container filled with gas. A timer (13) actuated valve (11) is provided for interrupting one of the in flow and the out flow of liquid. A pressure sensor (10) detects the pressure of the gas in the ullage volume (8) of the container (1) during the interruption of the one of the in flow and out flow of the liquid, and a microprocessor (14) calculates the volume of liquid (18) in the container (1) from the detected change in pressure of the gas during the interruption.