Abstract: A method of and apparatus for automatic milking of animals which comprises a number of steps such as cleaning the animal's teats, connecting teat receiving cups to the animal, foremilking, the milking operation as such, stripping, disconnecting the teat cups and disinfecting the teats. For each step, there are at least two variants. With the same animal, during a milking operation or in successive milking operations, different variants are applied, the variants being selected randomly by a random generator or to change periodically. The variants include the intensity and how the cleaning members are applied to the animal's teats, the sequence in which the teat cups are connected to the animal's teats, the locations of kinking places in the liner of the teat cup, the pulsation frequency, the release-suction phase ratio of pulsation, and the force with which the teat cups are decoupled from the animal's teats at the end of the milking operation.

Abstract: A novel adjustment mechanism is provided for varying the height of a poultry drinker above a poultry feeder. The adjustment mechanism preferably includes a first portion to which the feeder is attached, a second portion to which the drinker is attached, and a structure, such as a pin, for fixing the position of the second portion relative to the first portion. The first portion includes a slot along which the second portion slides. The second portion includes a support channel which extends through the slot and the fixing structure contacts the first portion and the support channel to prevent movement of the second portion relative to the first portion.

Abstract: Acoustic devices, attached to fishing nets, reduce or avoid by-catch of marine animals during fishing operations. The acoustic devices emit a deterrent signal to a particular marine animal on actuation by the approach of the animal. At least one of the devices is an active device that detects marine animal emitted stimuli and responds with a suitable response emission.

Abstract: A variable-volume birdhouse comprises an internal nesting volume that varies in height, width and breadth to suit desired bird species. The nesting volume maintains a generally cubicle interior shape. A plurality of generally orthogonal, intersecting plywood panels form the enclosure. The base panel supports a pair of spaced-apart, side panels that removably mount an upper roof panel. A perpendicular back panel extends between the side panels in spaced relation relative to a front door panel that is hinged to the enclosure for easy user access. Hooks projecting from the panels are received within suitable slits in adjacent panels to lock them together. An internal, vertical partition is slidably fitted within selected grooves in the base and rear panels to establish internal width. An appropriately-sized shelf is fitted between the partition and the right side panel. The nesting volume rear is bounded by an appropriately dimensioned rear wall.

Abstract: A pet bathrobe for completely enclosing animal and made of one or more layers of water absorbent material. The bathrobe comprises a rectangular bag having four sides with small openings at both lower corners and an opening extending across entire longitudinal length of the upper side with one end extending into a cap like hood and other end having a small opening. The top opening can be closed with the help of a closure mechanism. The bathrobe may be covered with an optional detachable outer layer made of water impervious material and has a mechanism to hold bathrobe around animal's neck.

Abstract: An animal is trained using a remote transmitter and a collar-mounted receiver carried by the animal by selecting one of a plurality of desired stimulus levels by a stimulus level control of the transmitter. Information representative of the selected desired stimulus level is transmitted to the receiver and demodulated to produce a digital signal representative of the selected stimulus level. A microprocessor in the receiver operates to generate as an output a first stream of pulses of constant duration at a frequency representative of the selected stimulus level. The first stream of output pulses is filtered to produce a second stream of pulses the widths of which are representative of the selected stimulus level.

Abstract: The invention is a gas fired water booster comprising a holding tank, a centrifugal pump, an infrared burner enclosed by a woven ceramic fiber sleeve, a primary and a secondary heat exchanger, and a gas/air supply source. Preferably, the tank and the burner are generally annular in shape and the burner is disposed substantially within the tank. An air/gas mixture is supplied to the burner by a blower and is ignited creating a combustion surface approximately one eighth of an inch above the surface of the woven ceramic fiber sleeve. Water is continuously circulated through the heat exchange system and the burner remains on until a temperature sensor indicates that the water has attained a temperature in the desired sanitizing range.

Abstract: Highly efficient engine. The system includes an internal combustion engine having at least one piston in a cylinder, the cylinder including a cylinder head. The engine operates on an unsymmetrical expansion and compression cycle wherein the expansion portion of the cycle is greater than the compression portion of the cycle. The piston and cylinder head are lined with an insulating material having a selected thermal diffusivity. Apparatus is provided for injecting a supercritical mixture of fuel and water into the cylinder of the engine. The combination of these aspects results in a highly efficient engine.

Abstract: A free piston internal combustion engine having improved valve timing. A pair of oppositely disposed combustion chamber passageways extending between the combustion chamber and the earth's atmosphere, each have a combustion chamber valve for controlling the passage of gas through the passageways. The combustion chamber valves are essentially simultaneously opened and closed to permit independent variation and control of the compression ratio, expansion ratio, and stroke of the engine. When the valves are opened, the combustion chamber is purged or supercharged with combustion supporting air, and closed to initiate compression. Variable control of the piston positions at which the valves are opened and closed permits the engine to operate at a high efficiency over a broad range of power output loading conditions.

Abstract: A two-stroke internal combustion engine is disclosed having opposed cylinders, each cylinder having a pair of opposed pistons, with all the pistons connected to a common central crankshaft. The inboard pistons of each cylinder are connected to the crankshaft with pushrods and the outboard pistons are connected to the crankshaft with pullrods. This configuration results in a compact engine with a very low profile, in which the free mass forces can be essentially totally balanced. The engine configuration also allows for asymmetrical timing of the intake and exhaust ports through independent angular positioning of the eccentrics on the crankshaft, making the engine suitable for supercharging.

Abstract: The air and exhaust gas management (scavenging) system for a two-cycle internal combustion engine allows the engine to perform comparably to similar four-cycle engines, while remaining lighter, simpler and more cost-effective than its four-cycle counterpart. Scavenging is achieved by locating at least one and preferably a number of air intake valves (1) at the top of the cylinder(s) (2), and at least one and preferably a number of exhaust gas ports (51) in the lower cylinder walls, in combination with a blower (4) which drives scavenging air through the cylinder(s) during the piston downstroke once the exhaust gas ports are uncovered.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuating system of an internal combustion engine is provided. The system can hold an armature in a fully closed position or a fully opened position when the engine is started while obviating a necessity of the initial actuation and effectively reducing power consumption of the system. The system includes an engine valve which functions as an intake valve or an exhaust valve of the internal combustion engine, an armature which moves with the engine valve, an electromagnet which attracts the armature in a direction of movement of the engine valve by being supplied with a current and a spring which presses the armature away from the electromagnet. A permanent magnet, which can exert a magnetic attracting force between the armature and the electromagnet, is provided.

Abstract: A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, which precisely learns the maximum retard position thus making fine valve timing control possible. The control system includes a learning unit for learning a phase difference between the cam angle and the crank angle when a valve overlap between an intake valve and an exhaust valve is at a minimum, a learning instructions transmitting unit for transmitting to the learning unit, a learning instruction for learning the phase difference between the crank angle and the cam angle, and a valve timing control variable calculating unit for calculating a valve timing control variable, for varying the valve timing, on the basis of a deviation between the learned value and the present phase difference between the crank angle and the cam angle. The learning instruction transmitting unit is used only before shipment of a motor vehicle equipped with the internal combustion engine or upon mechanical inspection thereof.

Abstract: An internal sealing of a vane-type adjusting device comprising a drive pinion (2) connected to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine by a toothed belt or a timing chain and has a hollow space (9) into which a winged wheel (13) is inserted and rotationally fixed to a camshaft of an internal combustion engine, the drive pinion (2) comprising on the inner surface of its circumferential wall (3) at least one working chamber (5), and the wings of the winged wheel (13) divide each working chamber (5) into two pressure chambers (10, 11) and to avoid pressure medium leakage between the pressure chambers (10, 11) of each working chamber (5) and between the individual working chambers (5), each wing of the winged wheel (13) is configured as a separate wing segment (18) which is displaceable within a guide (15) in the winged wheel (13) and is sealed leak-tight radially by the radial centrifugal force which results from the rotation of the vane-type adjusting device (1) during engine operation, and axially by at

Abstract: A variable valve timing apparatus for engines. Included are a phase adjustor for adjusting the rotational phase of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft and a lift adjustor for axially moving the camshaft. The phase adjustor has a timing pulley rotated synchronously with the crankshaft and a housing fixed to the timing pulley. A vane rotor rotated synchronously with the camshaft is arranged in the housing to define a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber in the housing. Hydraulic fluid is delivered to the first and second pressure chambers through oil conduits to rotate the vane rotor with respect to the housing and change the rotational phase of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft. The oil conduits extend through the timing pulley. This prevents the axial movement of the camshaft from affecting the hydraulic pressure of the pressure chambers. Accordingly, the valve timing is varied accurately.

Abstract: A multi-valve internal combustion engine having a plurality of valves having skewed axes that are operated by cam lobes of a single cam shaft. The cam shaft operates the valves through rocker arms each of which are pivoted independently about axes that are skewed relative to the cam shaft axis so as to minimize bending stresses on the valve during its actuation. This also avoids scuffing between the rocker and the valve stem. At the same time, good contact is maintained between the cam lobe and the follower surface by machining the cam lobe so that it will have a slight concavity at least in its tip portion so as to ensure constant line contact with the follower.

Abstract: A hydraulic tappet (5) comprises an inverted cup-shaped element with an upper disk (51), welded to a cylindrical body (52) of the tappet which is internally provided with a flange (54), forming a tubular guide sleeve (55) for the axial movement of an internal assembly comprising a movable reservoir portion (57) for low-pressure oil. The tappet has interposed, between an internal surface (51s) of said upper disk (51) of said tappet (5) and a rim (57) of the reservoir portion, an elastic device (A), comprised of two elements (10,20), in order to achieve a rapid recovery of lift loss of said tappet (5) so as to improve the contact between the cam (2) of the cam shaft (1) and the disk (51) of the tappet (5). One result is to eliminate undesirable, early opening of the poppet valve (4) whenever the fuel injector cam (6) deflects under load.

Abstract: A spark plug (1) has an outer tube member (11) that covers the outer peripheral surface of the projecting part (2a) of an insulator (2) beyond a metallic shell (3), with its front end being coupled to the metallic shell (3). A hexagonal tool engaging portion (13) is formed in the rear end portion of the outer tube member (11). No tool engaging hexagonal portion is formed in the metallic shell (3). Accordingly, even if a plug hole (PH) of a smaller diameter is formed, the outside diameter of the insulator (2) need not be reduced accordingly since the heretofore required hexagonal portion is eliminated. As a result, the mechanical strength and withstand voltage of the insulator (2) can be ensured at adequately high levels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restarting a locomotive engine based on the lubricating oil temperature Toil at the time of shutdown and an average oil cool down rate R. The average cool down rate R may be a function of the ambient air temperature TAIR at the time of shut down. The method and apparatus of this invention allows the engine to be shutdown during periods of inactivity to conserve fuel, but prevents the engine from cooling below a predetermined temperature in order to avoid excessive wear in operating limitations upon restart.

Abstract: An oil scavenging system for a vehicle engine, which has at least one upward-facing air inlet opening and at least one upward-facing air/oil discharge opening to draw air into the housing through the inlet as the balance shaft rotates and expels air/oil to the engine through the outlet. The inlet opening and the discharge opening are arranged so as to provide for rapid purging of oil from the housing, minimizing oil aeration, heating and motoring losses.

Abstract: A piston for use with an internal combustion engine is disclosed in one embodiment of the present invention as including a crown having an exhaust valve area, an intake valve area, and means for moving exhaust toward the exhaust valve area. The exhaust moving means includes means for homogenizing the air/fuel mixture. The homogenizing means may also include means for creating eddies within the air/fuel mixture. In addition, the piston may include means for concentrating the air/fuel mixture toward the area of ignition. In one presently preferred embodiment, the structure used to accomplish the invention includes a raised portion formed on the crown of the piston. The raised portion increases in height from the center of the crown toward the perimeter of the crown. Moreover, the raised portion also has an arcuate shape declining in height along the arcuate shape. The presently preferred raised portion includes a plurality of dimples formed therein for creating eddies within the air/fuel mixture.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine with a piston arranged in a cylinder bore, a pair of intake passages to the cylinder bore, and having a piston crown provided with a crescent-shaped depression. The inlet passages are arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis of symmetry running through the center of the cylinder bore between the two intake passages. The crescent-shaped depression formed in the piston crown extends across and is symmetrical with respect to the axis of symmetry.

Abstract: A lubricating device for four-stroke engine consists of a cylinder block, a crankcase, an oil sump, a piston, a crankshaft, a connecting rod and an oil dipper, the crankcase contains an upper crankcase body and a lower crankcase body, the bottom of the crankcase extends downward to form an oil trough with a hole in it, an oil dipper is able to operate in the oil trough, an oil box is formed for oil containing by the lover crankcase body and the oil sup, when an engine is running on a normal inclination, a shall amount of oil can only get into the oil trough through three hole in it, movement of the oil dipper atomizes the oil to provide lubrication, if the engine is running on an abnormal inclination or bumping condition, oil will not flow into the crankcase, and this design is able to ensure nor-al operation of an engine on any inclinations.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine having fuel injection with a protrusion placed between a fuel injection nozzle and a spark plug in the combustion chamber. The protrusion shields the core nose of the spark plug, but not the gap between the center electrode and ground electrode of the spark plug. In this fashion, combustion is enhanced and carbon buildup on the porcelain body of the spark plug is prevented, thereby lessening the likelihood of a malfunction by the spark plug.

Abstract: A direct injection combustion engine includes a combustion chamber that includes a fuel intake port, an air intake port and a spark plug insertion opening. A spark plug includes a firing electrode, a ground electrode, and an insulator core nose. The spark plug is installed in the spark plug insertion opening so that the firing electrode, the ground electrode, and the insulator core nose extend into the chamber. A shield is positioned between the fuel intake port and the spark plug insertion opening and reduces the flow of fuel from the fuel intake port to the insulator core nose without preventing the flow of fuel to a spark gap formed between the firing electrode and the ground electrode.

Abstract: A fuel injection control assembly for a cylinder-injected engine includes a mean fuel pressure calculating element for calculating mean fuel pressure, a fuel pressure regulator for adjusting the fuel pressure, an injection pulse calculating element for calculating an injection pulse duration for an injector based on the mean fuel pressure, and a cycle modifying element for modifying the calculation cycle for the mean fuel pressure in response to the running speed of the engine or of a high-pressure pump, the cycle modifying element setting the calculation cycle to a length greater than or equal to a running cycle of the high-pressure pump to ensure that the number of times that fuel pressure is detected within each calculation cycle of the mean fuel pressure calculating element is greater than or equal to a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A device for use in an intake path of an internal combustion engine includes a body portion having an upper surface and a lower surface. The body portion includes at least one passage surface defining at least one passage about an axis from the upper surface to the lower surface. The passage surface further defines a plurality of channels about the axis of the passage. Each channel extends from a channel opening in the upper surface to a channel opening in the lower surface. Further, the device may include a passage surface that is a continuous surface from the upper surface of the body portion to the lower surface of the body portion. The continuous surface extends from a first opening of the passage inward towards the axis of the passage and then further extends away from the axis towards a second opening of the passage at the lower surface of the body portion forming a venturi through the device.

Abstract: An electronic throttle valve for an engine includes a throttle plate with upper and lower reliefs that allows for tight closed in bore sealing and allows the throttle plate to rotate past the maximum airflow position. A unidirectional spring force is used to reduce feedback control problems.

Abstract: An electronic control unit for an internal combustion engine is able to accurately identify cylinders even in such a case as starting an engine while the engine is still cold or with a deteriorated battery or even if the engine is started hurriedly, or hastened start is repeated. In the electronic control unit that measures the cycle of a signal issued from a crank angle sensor and identifies a cylinder according to a calculated value based on the cycle to control the internal combustion engine, the ratio of a present signal cycle and a previous signal cycle is compared with a judgment value, and cylinder identification is effected based on a time series pattern of the ratio, and the judgment value is changed on the basis of at least one of the temperature of the engine and battery voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing desired operational characteristics of an engine having a positionable throttle and a plurality of cylinders wherein data representing the same gross amount of fuel to be injected into all of the cylinders at any given throttle position and engine RPM setting is provided to obtain a gross optimization of the desired engine operational characteristics and the data representing the gross amount of fuel to be provided to each cylinder is adjusted for each cylinder individually at any given RPM setting to provide data representing a specific amount of fuel to be provided to each cylinder individually to optimize the desired engine operational characteristics with respect to fuel injection.

Abstract: An engine generally performs compression, explosion, exhausting and scavenging strokes sequentially, and includes an engine driving control apparatus including a detector for detecting a position of an explosion stroke, a detector for detecting instantaneous rotation speed of the crankshaft, and a control unit which receives input from the explosion stroke position detector and the rotation speed detector. The control unit performs the steps of judging a combustion state from an increasing rate of a rotation speed of the crankshaft in each explosion stroke, intentionally increasing or reducing an amount of fuel injection, calculating variation in said combustion state and correcting said amount of fuel injection so as to enhance the combustion state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a quantity control valve for a fuel injection system, used in internal combustion engines, which includes a longitudinal slide that is movable in a valve housing between a first and a second control chamber and that allocates the fuel, flowing in from at least one low-pressure pump, to at least one high-pressure pump. For driving the longitudinal slide, the inflowing fuel is delivered into the first control chamber via a throttle or baffle valve, past the longitudinal slide. In the second control chamber, there is either a restoring spring that urges the longitudinal slide in the direction of its closing position, or the longitudinal slide there has an effective face-end surface area upstream of which a control line containing a throttle valve ends; this end face is smaller in surface area than the effective surface area of the face end in the first control chamber.

Abstract: A device for fixing a fuel injector (12) in an internal combustion engine cylinder head (1) whereon is set a camshaft bracket (4) top surface delimiting with this surface a chamber (8) containing valve-actuating mechanical members. The injector (12) passes through the camshaft bracket (4) and the cylinder head (1) supported on the base (18) of a recess (14) in the cylinder head by a fork (20) fixed by a screw (26) to the cylinder head (1). The fork (20) is arranged in the chamber (8) under a camshaft (6) extending perpendicular to said shaft (6) and comprises two branches (20a, 20b) which are supported on either side of the injector body (12), in useful fixing position, on two wings (21, 22) symmetrically arranged on the injector (12) body periphery.

Abstract: A fuel injection control system for an internal combustion engine can enhance the starting performance of the engine while avoiding restriction in respect to the degree of freedom in design of peripheral structure of fuel injector.

Abstract: An integrated internal combustion engine control system in combination with an automotive emission control system, comprises an exhaust-gas recirculation valve (EGR valve) employed in an EGR system. A target EGR amount is calculated as a function of an intake-air flow rate measured by an air-flow meter and a target EGR rate based on engine operating conditions such as engine speed and engine load. The opening of the EGR valve is adjusted by a command from a control unit so that the target EGR amount is attained. The target EGR rate is preferably calculated depending on an intake pressure as well as the engine speed and the engine load. In combination with the above-mentioned EGR control, a throttle valve disposed in the induction system is effectively controlled in response to an actual valve lift of the EGR valve and a differential pressure between an exhaust pressure and the intake pressure. A fuel-injection amount is accurately controlled in consideration of a variation of an excess-air factor.

Abstract: A fuel system provides first and second conduits that draw fuel from first and second positions, or locations, within a fuel reservoir. If water exists in the fuel reservoir, the second position is selected to be lowered in the fuel reservoir than the first position so that accumulated water will be drawn through the second conduit under certain conditions, such as when the engine is operating at a speed above the minimum threshold. The fuel reservoir can be a fuel tank or auxiliary fuel tank of a vehicle or watercraft or, alternatively, it can be the housing of a fuel/water separator.

Abstract: A cylinder head and high pressure mechanical fuel pump drive for an overhead cam shaft internal combustion engine. The cylinder head in the area of one of its cam shafts is formed with an extending ledge to which a fuel pump mounting member is affixed. This ledge and the mounting member are formed with a bore that receives a cylindrical portion of the housing of the fuel pump and which portion journals the pump driveshaft. A simple O-ring seal seals the pump mechanism in this area from the cam shaft chamber and facilitates a driving connection between the end of the cam shaft and the pump driveshaft.

Abstract: A fuel delivery module for an automotive fuel delivery system includes a reservoir and a fuel pump. The fuel pump delivers fuel from the tank to the reservoir via a fuel tank inlet and reservoir outlet and from the reservoir to the engine via a reservoir inlet and engine outlet. The reservoir is formed with a plurality of contaminant traps for collecting contaminants contained in the fuel as the fuel is pumped through the reservoir such that the contaminants settle unto said contaminant traps thereby reducing the amount of contaminants entering the reservoir inlet.

Abstract: The invention concerns a relief device for a high-pressure direct-injection pump supplying petrol to an automobile vehicle engine injector manifold, the pump being supplied with fuel by a low-pressure electric fuel pump communicating with a fuel tank and the high pressure delivered being regulated by a pressure regulator, said pressure regulator taking the form of a three-way valve supplying fuel to the manifold via the fuel pump below a predetermined engine rotation speed threshold and then supplying the manifold via the top part of the injection pump when the engine speed is above the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine braking system which may provide compression release braking and/or exhaust braking, methods and systems are disclosed of controlling the overlap between an exhaust gas recirculation event and an intake valve event to optimize engine braking at various engine operating speeds. Optimization may be achieved by selectively advancing and retarding the opening and closing of an exhaust valve for exhaust gas recirculation. The opening and closing of the exhaust valve may be carried out responsive to the monitored levels of such engine parameters as: exhaust manifold pressure, exhaust manifold temperature, cylinder pressure, and/or cylinder temperature. Various engine parameters may be monitored. Control of exhaust gas recirculation may be responsive thereto, such that a monitored parameter does not exceed a predetermined level.

Abstract: A method and system for determining future cylinder air-charge of an internal combustion engine having a throttle plate and an intake manifold includes a throttle position sensor for sensing a current position of the throttle plate. Control logic determines a future position of the throttle plate based on the sensed current position. Based on a model governing a change in pressure of the intake manifold and the future position of the throttle plate, the control logic then determines the future cylinder air charge.

Abstract: An electric EGR module has a main flow passage containing a valve member operated by a movable actuator wall of a fluid pressure actuator to control exhaust gas flow through the passage. The movable actuator wall bounds a portion of a variable volume chamber space to which regulated vacuum from an electric vacuum regulator (EVR) valve is communicated to position the movable actuator wall, and hence the valve member. An internal pressure sensing passage, which includes a tube that also functions as a shaft for coupling motion of the actuator wall to the valve member, communicates pressure at one side of an orifice in the main flow passage to a pressure sensor. The tube communicates with a variable volume chamber space that forms a portion of the sensing passage and that varies in volume with the positioning of the tube by the actuator wall. The pressure sensor and the EVR valve are integrated with the body of the fluid pressure actuator.

Abstract: A pneumatic spear gun (11) comprising a barrel (27) having an open end (33) through which a shaft (15) of a spear (13) can be received. A first piston (35) is slidingly and sealingly received in the barrel (27) for movement towards and away from a retracted position. A retaining means (41) is provided for releasably retaining the piston (35) in the retracted position. A source of compressible fluid such as air is contained in a reservoir (59) and is arranged to undergo compression upon movement of the piston (35) into the retracted position and to propel the piston along the barrel (27) from the retracted position upon release of the piston thereby to propel the spear (13). A control means is provided for selectively increasing the pressure of the compressible fluid for varying the propulsive force applied to the piston (35). The control means includes a cylinder (43) forming part of the resevoir (59) and having a second piston (45) slidingly and sealingly mounted therein.

Abstract: A concrete cutting saw and the process of using the concrete cutting saw for making a 45° chamfer cut at an edge of a 90° cut through a concrete wall. The process includes the steps of cutting a 90° cut through a concrete wall with a 90° saw mounted on a trolley riding along a track affixed to the concrete adjacent the cut. The 90° blade is lifted so that it is above the wall surface and a chamfer saw assembly is affixed to the frame. Next, the chamfer saw motor is started and the saw is lowered into a cutting position and the trolley is once again moved along the track, thereby forming a 45° chamfer along the edge of the cut. The apparatus utilizes a chamfer saw frame affixed to the trolley frame after the 90° saw blade has been lifted. The chamfer saw frame is mounted so that it is directly in the position which the 90° saw occupies when the 90° saw blade 16 is in a cutting position.

Abstract: A cooking surface that is made of glass or glass ceramic and at least one atmospheric gas burner and arrangement for attachment of a gas burner to an opening for guiding the burner includes an attachment arrangement that is used in the cooking area which comprises a burner with a circumferential collar that is molded onto burner body above the cooking surface for tight seating on the cooking surface top side. The connection is made by friction or tension of the burner body with at least one spring element disposed below the cooking surface. Cooking areas with this arrangement require fewer components and less time for assembly and are easy to clean.

Abstract: An air control system (33) for an exhaust system (32) of a commercial or institutional kitchen (12) of a facility (10) in which the volume rate of air exhausted may be increased to improve the comfort, health, and safety conditions in the kitchen (12) and the rest of the facility (10). Comfort, health or safety may be determined by sensing a parameter in the ambient air environment (28), such as temperature and/or gas level. With the exhaust system (32) operating at a first volume rate to handle the activity of the cooking units 18, the air control system (33) causes exhaust system (32) to increase the volume rate toward a second, higher volume rate to exhaust more air from the ambient air environment (28) thereby reducing the temperature or gas level in the facility (10) to improve comfort and reduce load on a HVAC system (30) or to improve air quality which has health and safety benefits as well.

Abstract: A prefabricated open-ended fireplace box for use in fireplace assemblies is molded from a slurry of refractory ceramic fibers and a non-organic binder. The prefabricated fireplace box is preferably formed in or over a mold which provides an accurate shape to the green or semi-rigid open end box which must be dried or partially fired while on the mold to avoid warping or distortion while being removed from the mold. A rigid surround trim in the form of a C-shape is placed in or on the mold at the open ends of the fireplace box. At least one attachment flange of the surround trim is integrally molded into walls of the fireplace box so that at least the open end of the semi-rigid fireplace box is made rigid when removed from the mold.

Abstract: This invention relates to an inhalation apparatus for dispensing substances for inhalation and, in particular, but not exclusively, for dispensing medicinal products in aerosol form from a pressurized dispensing container. The inhalation apparatus comprises an inhaler apparatus for dispensing a product comprising a housing having a portion adapted to receive a pressurized dispensing container of a product and a mouthpiece. The apparatus further comprises duct means communicating with the container, said duct means having an outlet defining the direction of flow of the product towards the mouthpiece section. Air inlet valve means are provided comprising at least one air inlet for allowing air into the housing and an airflow controller is biased to seal said air inlet. The airflow controller is manually movable to unseal the air inlet to allow air to flow into the housing when a user applies suction to the mouthpiece.

Abstract: Self-contained diving equipment comprising means (10) for refilling a compressed air tank (40) connected via a flexible air tube (1) to a snorkel and a breathing nozzle (70). The refilling means are deactivated when underwater, and an external air intake (61) is connected via a tube to the nozzle to feed air directly from the surface (10) when the swimmer is not underwater. The equipment further comprises a moisture removal device (20) and a filter (21) between the compressor (13) and the tank (40), as well as means (30) for controlling the activation and deactivation of the refilling means.

Abstract: An approach for providing a female contraceptive device is disclosed. The contraceptive device has an upper portion that contacts the cervix and an outer wall. A lower portion of the contraceptive device has corrugated inner walls that form a hollow petal-shaped sections with the outer wall. Each of the petal-shaped sections has a curled edge and is capable of storing semen. The inner wall of the lower portion forms a cavity that receives the penis. The outer wall of the lower portion has surface protrusions that creates a barrier to the flow of semen, yet permits the flow of vaginal secretion. The contraceptive device occupies the upper portion of the vaginal canal, leaving the lower portion of the canal exposed to enhance sensitivity. The bulbous shape of the contraceptive device provides additional sensual stimulation for the female, while the corrugated inner walls enhance simulation for the male.