Abstract: It is described a gripping device for vials or similar containers, comprising a tubular body attached to one end of a movable supporting vertical shaft and gripping means associated to said tubular body. Said gripping means comprise non-mechanical gripping members, able to be connected with one end of a vial or container by face-to-face soft contact.

Abstract: A releasing assembly includes a lever provided with a first engaging element, a seat having a hole defined in a bottom of the seat and a cutout defined in a periphery of the seat to communicate with the hole, a releasing head having a column formed on the releasing head to extend into the hole of the seat, a second engaging element formed on a side face of the column to engage with the first engaging element and a ring formed on a bottom of the releasing head for hanging an object and a power supplying device operably connected to the first distal end of the lever to provide a force to the lever to cause the lever to pivot. When the power supplying device is activated, disengagement between the first engaging element and the second engaging element releases the releasing head.

Abstract: An elastomeric seal seals a pipe which is held in a push-in part of a plug-in coupling relative to a cylindrical interior surface of a housing of the plug-in coupling, into which the push-in part is pushed together with the pipe. The seal is in prestressed contact with the interior surface of the housing via an outward-facing annular lip and with the pipe via a radially inward-facing annular lip. The elastomeric seal is connectable by positive fitting to the push-in part, this positive fit being lockable by the assembly of the pipe to form a non-releasable connection, the pipe having a cylindrical and uninterrupted exterior circumference in the region of the seal. The joint between the seal and the push-in part is simple to assemble and is lockable by the insertion of the pipe. The connection of the seal to the push-in part may be additionally secured, with certain changes of diameter, by compression of the web-shaped connection between them.

Abstract: A tire clamp for immobilizing a vehicle including a fixed bar having a generally L-shaped configuration. The fixed bar is comprised of a horizontal segment and a vertical segment. The horizontal segment is comprised of an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portion has a plurality of sharpened teeth extending downwardly therefrom. The vertical segment has an inwardly angled lower portion. The fixed bar is positionable with respect to a tire with the horizontal segment disposed above and extending across the tire with the plurality of teeth abutting the tire and pointed thereat. A movable bar has an inwardly angled lower portion and is coupled with the fixed bar and is slidably mounted thereon. The movable bar is positionable with respect to a tire with both inwardly angled lower portions positioned against an exterior of the rim the tire is mounted on while the sharpened teeth remain oriented toward and abutting the tire.

Abstract: A door lock able to be unlocked by a key or a remote controller, has a body and a bolt provided inside the body. The bolt has a recess defined therein, and a tooth formed at a bottom side of a first end thereof. Two upper sheets and two lower sheets are respectively provided in an upper portion and a lower portion of the recess. Four links are pivotally connected end to end by four pivot pins to form a rhombic structure and respectively provided between the upper sheets and between the lower sheets. Two torsion springs are provided between the sheets and respectively mounted on two transversal pivot pins and pushing against two longitudinal pivot pins. An upper cam is mounted at an upper side of the bolt. A lower cam is mounted at a lower side of the bolt. The upper cam and the lower cam each have two tongues for pushing the upper sheets and the lower sheets inwards, and pushing the bolt to transversally move.

Abstract: A corrugated pipe joint for coupling corrugated pipes includes at least two joint components, each of which includes a joint main body made of a synthetic resin and including an arc-shaped portion and tightening projecting edges which are outwardly projected from circumferential end portions of said arc-shaped portion in a radial direction of the corrugated pipes to be coupled, and a watertightness-implementing packing made of an elastic material and assembled with the joint main body, the watertightness-implementing packing including an arc-shaped portion and flange edges projecting outwardly from circumferential end portions of the arc-shaped portion in the radial direction.

Abstract: A device for coupling together in leaktight manner two smooth tubes disposed end-to-end, the device comprising a sleeve which diameter can be reduced by a tightening action, and a sealing ring (24) suitable for being disposed inside the sleeve so as to surround the ends of the two tubes. The ring is constituted by a looped flat strip (26) having two longitudinal ends (26a, 26b) suitable for coming into contact with each other when the sleeve is tightened around the tubes (20, 22). The first longitudinal end of the ring is provided with a notch (28), while the second longitudinal end of the ring is in the form of a tongue (30) suitable for being inserted into the notch. Both the width of the tongue and also the width of the notch taper in the direction going along the strip from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end.

Abstract: A fishing reel includes an oscillating main shaft, a spool attached to the main shaft through a drag assembly and a rotor for winding fishing line onto the spool. The fishing reel includes an oscillating assembly including a rotating oscillating member having a cam that slides along a camming surface in a slider coupled to the main shaft. The recessed area of the slider has a first cam surface with a substantially figure-8 configuration and a second cam surface spaced from the first cam surface. The cam assembly coupled to the oscillating member has a first cam member that contacts the camming surface of the first recessed area and a second cam member contacting the camming surface of the second recess to produce an axial movement of the slider at a substantially uniform speed throughout rotation of the oscillating member. The cam assembly provides a constant ratio between the oscillating speed of the main shaft and the winding speed of the rotor.

Abstract: This invention provides a safety mechanism for a winch assembly when storing a load, such as a tire under a vehicle or a boat on a trailer, in a raised or stored position. The invention finds particular application to a spare tire, but those skilled in the art will appreciate the broader benefits of such a structure when used with a winch assembly for other uses such as a boat winch for a trailer or any analogous use wherein it is desirable to secure a load in the raised or stored position. A unique actuator is described with an improvement of the invention, which includes a control path therewith to control a rod end and thereby actuates in a preferred embodiment a latch by converting rotary motion to linear motion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for accurately applying a cord to a rotatable mandrel utilizes control of cord length, rather than cord tension, as the control parameter. The apparatus includes a mandrel with an inflatable diaphragm mounted on an outer surface of the mandrel. The diaphragm is selectively inflatable via a control valve and source of pressurized fluid for dynamically adjusting a circumference of the mandrel in response to a control input. The control input reads a tension in the cord being wound. The cord is positively fed to the mandrel according to a defined algorithm based on the mandrel's shape, circumference and rotational speed, rather than by demand feed of the cord. The apparatus includes a positive feed control capstan which is electronically geared. The apparatus further includes a cord-laying wheel which isolates radially directed forces from circumferentially-directed forces.

Abstract: A human power amplifier includes an end-effector that is grasped by a human operator and applied to a load. The end-effector is suspended, via a line, from a take-up pulley, winch, or drum that is driven by an actuator to lift or lower the load. The end-effector includes a force sensor that measures the vertical force imposed on the end-effector by the operator and delivers a signal to a controller. The controller and actuator are structured in such a way that a predetermined percentage of the force necessary to lift or lower the load is applied by the actuator, with the remaining force being supplied by the operator. The load thus feels lighter to the operator, but the operator does not lose the sense of lifting against both the gravitation and inertial forces originating in the load.

Abstract: A method for processing a mass of solid fine particles including Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (“NORM”) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the material is sampled and classified into fractions based upon one or more selected criteria such as particle size or particle density. The level of radioactivity associated with each fraction is determined, leading to separation of the mass of fines into selected fractions based upon one or more selected criteria and the activity levels of the fractions. Selected fractions are chosen for chemical treatment, thereby reducing the volume of material to be treated. By reducing the volume of solid material to be treated, the amount of chemicals used for treatment is reduced, along with the size and capacity of the processing equipment required to treat the material.

Abstract: In a fishing reel, a spool (200) can be easily and firmly assembled with a housing (100) and is not unexpectedly separated from the housing after assembled, and the rotation of the spool in one direction can be braked without moving a main shaft (110) relative to the housing. The fishing reel has a housing and a spool. A main shaft is fixed to a hub (130) of the housing. The spool has a winding drum (210) disposed at a center thereof. The winding drum contains a one-way clutch integrally fixed thereto. A sleeve surrounds a central portion of the main shaft with being in contact with the central portion. The sleeve is fitted in the one-way clutch and permitted to rotate in only one direction by the one-way clutch when the spool has been assembled with the housing. The spool can rotate in only one direction relative to the housing when the frictional force between the main shaft and the sleeve is adjusted to be maximum. The spool can rotate in either direction more freely as the frictional force is decreased.

Abstract: A shopping cart detection apparatus and reward dispensing mechanism for inclusion therewith for providing a patron reward in the form of a ticket, coupon, or the like, to a patron for their returning a shopping cart to a cart collection area. The shopping cart detection apparatus includes a control interface connected electrically to at least one sensor that senses proper cart passage through the apparatus into a cart collection area. With that passage to generate a radio frequency interrogation of a chip maintained in a card that is attached to the cart, and with that cart data transmitted to a control interface that directs dispensing of a ticket as a patron reward for their cart return. Additionally, the control interface also passes cart data as it receives to a communications interface that, in turn, passes that information to a computer, micro processor, or the like, for tabulating and maintaining information concerning cart usage.

Abstract: A device for endless coiling of strip material has a support and two coil drums which are spaced from one another and move synchronously along the support in opposite directions. The first and second coil drums are displaced alternately to an initial position, wherein each of these drums rotates to receive a leading edge of a respective coil of strip material. Thereafter, each of the coil drums is displaced to a respective finish position where the coil drums each receive the remainder of a respective coil. The finish positions are spaced from the initial positions in opposite directions. The first and second coil drums are displaced alternately to a coil removal position, at which a respective wound coil of strip material is removed from each of the coil drums.

Abstract: A lip seal union fitting attaches to a female boss associated with a hydraulic component. The female boss includes a bore, a first threaded portion located on an inner surface of the bore and a seat. A body of the lip seal union fitting is constructed of a first material and includes a tube-side end, a boss-side end, and a central portion. A second threaded portion is located on an outer surface of the boss-side end. A lip seal is constructed of a second material. The lip seal extends from the central portion of the body towards the boss-side end. The lip seal includes an outer surface that engages the seat of the boss to create a fluid seal as the first and second threaded portions are rotatably engaged. The first material has a greater material hardness than the second material. The first material includes at least one of steel, stainless steel, an titanium alloy and the second material includes at least one of aluminum and aluminum alloy. The lip seal is attached to the body using inertia welding.

Abstract: A spincast fishing reel has a reel frame to which front and rear covers are attached. The rear cover includes a pivotable thumb button which is depressed by a user when fishing line is to be cast. The front cover closes the face of the reel, but defines a forward opening through which the fishing line extends. A normally nonrotatable line spool is located inside of the front cover on a mounting hub of the reel frame. Fishing line is wound onto the line spool by a rotatable pickup head located forward of the line spool. An annular shroud element at least partially covers the outer circumferential surface of the pickup head when fishing line is being wound. As a result, the fishing line will travel between the pickup head and the inside surface of the shroud element to facilitate engagement thereof by the pickup head.

Abstract: A coil is formed by winding a conductive wire around a winding frame that is being rotated about a rotational axis of the winding frame. Guide members contact the conductive wire being wound around the winding frame to define the winding position of the conductive wire. The guide members are supported by a link mechanism that is provided coaxially with the rotational axis so as to rotate synchronously with the winding frame. As a third actuator moves a driving link in the direction of the rotational axis, the guide members are moved in directions of a diameter of the winding frame. As a first actuator moves a holding link in the direction of the rotational axis, the guide members are moved in the direction of the rotational axis together with the holding link. As a second actuator extends or contracts an arm, one of the guide members is moved independently of another one of the guide members. The first, second and third actuators do not need to rotate together with the winding frame.

Abstract: A method of stopping of a winding machine that hoists and lowers an object prevents abrasion of the electromagnetic brake and the descent of load. The winding machine, which winches a load up or down in response to a torque command TREF to the electric motor M produced by the speed controller ASR in accordance with the a speed command NREF generated by the speed command generation circuit NRC, operates at the stopping of the machine to cease the motor control if the motor speed NFB is zero after the torque command to the motor M is brought to zero for a predetermined length of time following the issuance of a brake command to the electromagnetic brake which is coupled directly to the motor M.

Abstract: A spinning reel has a reel body and a color rotor attached to the reel body and rotatable about a longitudinal axis for retrieving a fishing line. The spinning reel also has a balancer attached to the rotor for restricting an imbalance amount of rotation of the rotor substantially within 200 g-mm bail and a balancer attached to the rotor at the base end portion of the rotor for facilitating counterbalancing of the bail in a line retrieving position. The balancer and the bail in its line retrieving position are located on a first side of a reference plane defined through the longitudinal axis.