Abstract: The invention relates to use of trioxepan compounds of formula I 1

Abstract: A fuel composition for two-cycle engines comprising a major amount of fuel boiling in the gasoline range and a minor amount of a lubricant composition comprising a base oil of lubricating viscosity and an additive formulation comprising (1) a molybdenum/sulfur complex of a basic nitrogen compound, (2) a carboxylic acid amide, and (3) a succinimide.

Abstract: A protective device for trees and plants, used in agricultural and tree plantings to protect the shoots of young trees or plants as they grow, composed of a sheet that is rolled onto itself and has openings through which there passes a metal bar (3) that is strong enough to be embedded in dirt. The sheet is smooth, has double-layer corrugation, or is made of mesh (1) and at its lateral ends has a series of central circular or oval openings which are preferably spaced at uniform intervals, whereby a sheet (1) is equipped with an additive that protects against ultraviolet rays.

Abstract: A cover for covering a flower pot is provided. The cover includes a planar base, a sidewall extending from an outer periphery of the base, and a securing member for securing the sidewall to the flower pot. The sidewall is movable relative to the base between a substantially flattened position wherein the sidewall is in a substantially coplanar relation with respect to the base and an upright position wherein the sidewall and the base cooperate to define a pot receiving space. The sidewall has a plurality of folds formed therein so as to cause the sidewall to take a predetermined shape upon moving the sidewall from the flattened position to the upright position.

Abstract: A sealable door assembly including a frontplate which faces an opening to be sealed, a backplate operatively coupled to the frontplate, and at least one inflatable member located between the frontplate and the backplate. When inflated, the inflatable member moves the frontplate into sealing engagement with the opening. In one embodiment the inflatable member includes one or more vacuum grade bellows. A movable mechanism moves the door assembly to selectively occlude the opening. Once the door assembly occludes the opening, the inflatable member is inflated and expands forcing the frontplate in a direction normal to the opening, thereby sealing the opening. The door assembly may be mounted within a pocket formed in an outer wall of a transfer chamber, and a sealing plate may be employed to form a gas tight region within the pocket. The gas tight region may be pressurized to enhance the door's seal of the opening.

Abstract: A lightweight building construction system comprising multiple similar stressed roof and wall paneling modules (22, 122) assembled together to form a modular building envelope. Each roof module (22, 122) typically includes a double-skin panel (1,4/101) having structurally interacting inner and outer layers (4,3/104,103) joined together at mid-span and stretched in a V-shaped configuration between spaced-apart structural elements (9, 109). A linear gutter (2) can hang from the double-skin panel (22) at the junction of the inner and outer layers (4, 3) thereof to drain water, thereby preventing ponding problems. The stressed paneling modules (22) may be supported by lightweight non-rigid tensely arched members (15, 16).

Abstract: Roofing tiles and associated methods are used in the construction of multi-functional roofs. Tiles are fit together to define an internal cavity which can be sealed to maintain a gas, liquid and/or other material therein. Filling materials include such things as fire retardants, colored materials, heatable liquid or other materials to provide different functional aspects for a roof made from the tiles.

Abstract: There is provided a hip, ridge, or rake shingle, which includes a shingle panel and at least one rigid back member. The shingle panel has a substantially planar lower surface. The at least one rigid back member has a length substantially the same as or greater than the length of the shingle panel. The rigid back member is attached to the substantially planar lower surface of the shingle panel. The rigid back member includes a step in thickness in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the substantially planar lower surface and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rigid back member. In addition, the thickness of the rigid back member at the high level of the step is greater than the thickness of the rigid back member at one of its ends. There is also provided an asphaltic adhesive including from about 62% to about 99% by weight of an asphalt cement; from about 0.5% to about 15% by weight of a first thermoplastic having a glass-transition temperature in the range from about 190° F.

Abstract: An assembly consisting of a first building construction block with a substantially parallelepipedal shape and a second building construction block with a substantially parallelepipedal shape, said first and second blocks being able to fit together by mortice and tenon, each block comprising a first opening in the form of a splayed U on each of the transverse sides of the parallelepiped and a second opening extending over at least part of the surface of the longitudinal side, the first and second openings being joined together in the top part of the splayed U, at least one edge forming the junction between the longitudinal side and the top part of the legs of the splayed U of the first block forming a recess intended to receive a predetermined quantity of mortar binder and the second block comprising at least one protuberance situated at the base of the splayed U enabling the construction block to nest and slide, the protuberance on the second block coming into contact with the mortar binder and participating

Abstract: A structural member including a web portion having a plurality of triangular regions to provide additional strength and stiffness. The triangular regions are recessed from the web and may have a floor area or the floor may be cut out to provide apertures with lip portions. An additional element secures a flanged bracing panel in the opening between the studs and the top and bottom plates of a building frame and clads both sides of the braced frame.

Abstract: A protective cover for a column base connector having a lower portion set in a body of concrete and an upper portion in the form of spaced-apart, upstanding, first and second flanges extending upwardly from an upper surface of the body of concrete, each one of the first and second flanges defining a respective one of first and second flange bolt holes for use in bolting a column to the column base connector. The protective cover takes the form of an inverted pot having a lower edge and a size such that the inverted pot fits over the upper portion of the column base connector with the lower edge atop an upper surface of the body of concrete. The inverted pot includes a first that defines a first cover bolt hole disposed in a position to align with the first flange bolt hole, and a second side of the inverted pot opposite the first side that defines a second cover bolt hole disposed in a position to align with the second flange bolt hole.

Abstract: A diaper disposal system for packaging odorous waste objects in individual sealed (substantially air-tight) packages includes a body, base, hinged lid, flexible material, and a first sealing member and second sealing member. The sealing members are operable to seal or form a substantially air-tight seal in the flexible material to prevent the odor from escaping. The sealing members move between an open position and closed/sealing position by twisting an inner lid, closing the lid, or moving an activation arm. The sealing members preferably seal the tubing by thermally fusing the tubing. A method is also provided.

Abstract: The invention describes a filter device having filter elements (2 through 6; 12 through 20; 22 through 25) made of ceramic material which are combined into at least one filter element group (1, 11, 21) in which the filter elements (2 through 6, 12 through 20; 22 through 25) lie side by side next to one another and can be flowed through in parallel, which is characterized in that only some of the filter elements (2, 12, 22, 23) of each filter element group (1, 11, 21) have electrical terminals for connection with an electrical energy source, and at least that/those filter element(s) (2, 12, 22, 23) is/are made of electrically conductive ceramic material.

Abstract: A lawn mower with a vehicle body; an engine mounted on the vehicle body; caster-type front wheels; a rear wheel unit having a left rear drive wheel and a right rear drive wheel; a mower unit disposed between the front wheels and rear wheel unit; a left stepless transmission for transmitting drive, switched between forward drive and backward drive, to the left rear wheel; and a right stepless transmission for transmitting drive, switched between forward drive and backward drive, to the right rear wheel; wherein the right and left stepless transmissions are operable independently of each other. A caster-type auxiliary ground wheel unit (9) is disposed rearwardly of the rear wheel unit and supported by a support member (24) to be vertically movable relative to the vehicle body, A braking mechanism (30) is provided for braking an upward movement of the support member.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing metal cords includes a supporting structure, a rotor engaged with respect to the supporting structure, a cradle fastened to the supporting structure, feeding devices operatively fitted on the cradle to feed a plurality of elementary wires from respective feeding spools, and at least one preforming device operatively engaged with the cradle and operating on at least one of the elementary wires in a section upstream with respect to a first end section of the stranding path. The elementary wires are driven onto the rotor according to a stranding path. The stranding path has end sections coinciding with the rotation axis of the rotor and a central section distanced from the rotation axis of the rotor. The at least one preforming device provides the at least one of the elementary wires a substantially sinusoidal deformation lying in a plane.

Abstract: A steel cord is formed by compactly twisting steel filaments together, the steel filaments including a plurality of zigzag filaments and optionally a nonzigzag filament, the zigzag filament being zigzaged two-dimensionally and made up of straight segments each extending between the zigzag peak points, the nonzigzag filament being straight. In case the cord is composed of only the zigzag filaments, the zigzag filaments include at least two kinds of zigzag filaments having different zigzag pitch lengths. In case the cord is composed of both the zigzag filaments and nonzigzag filaments, some of the zigzag and nonzigzag filaments are first loosely twisted together into a bunch, and then a plurality of bunches are twisted together into the cord. In any case, the zigzag pitch length and zigzag wave height of each zigzag filament are substantially constant along the length thereof.

Abstract: A control system is provided for use in controlling fuel supply to at least two sets of burners of an engine. The control system comprises two or more fuel pumps, each of the pumps being driven, in use, by a respective variable-speed motor. A control arrangement is provided for controlling the speed of the motors so as to regulate the rate of flow of fuel to each of the sets of burners.

Abstract: A control method for an internal combustion engine has multiple cylinder groups with at least one control device positioned between an intake manifold and a cylinder group. The engine operates the cylinder groups at different air/fuel ratios and uses the control device to balance torque produced by the different cylinder groups. In one aspect of the invention, one cylinder group is operated rich and another cylinder group is operated lean thereby providing heat the an exhaust system located downstream of the engine.

Abstract: A hydrogen-containing gas producing system of an onboard type, for producing hydrogen-containing gas to be used for purification of exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The hydrogen-containing system comprises a fuel supply source for supplying fuel as a raw material of the hydrogen-containing gas. A carrier gas supply source is provided for supplying a carrier gas for carrying the fuel. A device is provided for vaporizing the fuel so as to form a vaporized fuel serving as a reaction gas. The fuel vaporizing device is connected to the fuel supply source and the carrier gas supply source. Additionally, a reforming section is connected to the fuel vaporizing device, for reforming the reaction gas so as to produce the hydrogen-containing gas.

Abstract: In the case that an engine is operated in a state where an in-cylinder air/fuel ratio is lean in a stratified combustion region and a fuel cut control is performed under a predetermined condition, when catalysts are in a low temperature state where a purification performance is deteriorated or when a NOx absorptive amount of the lean NOx catalyst, a control procedure for exhaust air/fuel state at a recovery timing from the fuel cut control so that a driving sensation is improved while maintaining the exhaust purification performance by the catalysts. When the fuel cut control is terminated and the engine shifts into the stratified combustion region, if a catalyst temperature is at or below a set temperature or a NOx absorptive amount is at or above a set amount, the in-cylinder air/fuel ratio of the engine is correctively enriched and the exhaust air/fuel state is enriched.

Abstract: An upstream catalyst and a downstream catalyst are disposed in series in an exhaust pipe, and first through third sensors for detecting the air-fuel ratio or an adsorption amount of hazardous components on the rich/lean side of exhaust gases are disposed on the upstream and downstream sides of the upstream catalyst and the downstream side of the downstream catalyst, respectively. An ECU for controlling an engine controls the air-fuel ratio so that when the adsorption amount of the hazardous components on the rich side of the downstream catalyst is large, that of the hazardous components on the lean side of the upstream catalyst is large. Similarly, the ECU controls the air-fuel ratio so that when the adsorption amount of the hazardous components on the lean side of the downstream catalyst is large, that of the hazardous components on the rich side of the upstream catalyst is large.

Abstract: In a diesel particulate filtering device 1A, 1B which is provided with a diesel particulate filter units 10, 20, 30 for cleaning exhaust gas, and in which cleaning of the exhaust gas and the recovery thereof are performed, diesel particulate filter controllers 60, 62 for determining a recovery time based on detected values PI, PO0, PO1, PO2 of exhaust pressure sensors 51 to 55 in an upstream side of said diesel particulate filter units 10, 20, 30 and a downstream side thereof are provided with determination-value update means 60a, 62a resetting determination values R0, R1, R2 for determining a recovery time by comparing said detected values, PO0, PO1, PO2 with a standard exhaust pressure value P0.

Abstract: A torque converter comprises an impeller shell, a pump impeller integrally formed with the impeller shell, a turbine runner, a stator, a front cover, and at least one of a flanged portion through which a driving power of an engine is transmitted and a ring gear for a starter. The flanged portion is formed on an outer peripheral portion of an outer hull that includes the impeller shell and the front cover. A pilot boss portion is disposed at an axial portion of the front cover and is adapted to be fitted to a crank shaft of the engine, and a sleeve-like oil pump driving shaft is disposed at an axial portion of the impeller shell and is adapted to drive an oil pump. The pilot boss portion is formed integrally with the front cover through a plastic working operation, and the flanged portion formed at a front portion of the outer periphery of the front cover is increased in thickness through a plastic working operation that forms the flanged portion as a lamination.

Abstract: The neutral override circuit of this invention includes a variable displacement pump controlled by a servo fluidly connected to a displacement control that is biased to a neutral position. A charge pump is connected to the pump and the displacement control. A solenoid-operated neutral override brake control valve is connected to the charge circuit upstream of the displacement control valve and is normally biased to an open position. However, the solenoid urges the valve to a closed position in a response to a signal indicating that the brake has been released. In the open position, the valve dumps charge flow to the pump case until the supply pressure to the displacement control is inadequate to overcome the centering bias of the displacement control. The characteristics of the brake control valve can be set so that some minimum charge pressure and lubricating flow are still provided to the rotating elements of the pump.

Abstract: A system for damping incipient oscillation in a linkage such as a backhoe assembly includes a crossover valve that connects the two supply lines that provide hydraulic fluid to a linkage actuator such as a boom swing hydraulic cylinder. The crossover valve is configured to open in response to the deceleration of the backhoe assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combustion chamber head for a gas turbine with at least one combustion chamber wall 2,3, a metering panel 1, at least one heat shield 4, at least one sleeve 5 and a cowling 6, characterized in that the metering panel 1 forms one part with the combustion chamber outer wall 2 and the combustion chamber inner wall 3, in that the heat shield 4 is mounted onto the metering panel 1 from the downstream side of the metering panel 1, in that the sleeve 5 is mounted to the metering panel 1 from the upstream side, and in that the cowling 6 is separably attached to the metering panel 1.

Abstract: A compact self-contained thermoelectric cooler (TEC) is provided by utilizing a DC to DC active power supply to provide compact size. The compactness and flatness of the DC to DC active power supply allows the unit to be completely self-contained. The compactness and flatness of the DC to DC active power supply allow the power supply assembly to be located on the hot side of the TEC. A non-planar barrier between the hot side and cold side of the TEC also provides compactness and allows the TEC to be completely self-contained. A mounting frame is disposed between the hot and cold side. The mounting frame includes a power pack cutout allowing a non-planar barrier between the hot and cold side. Electrical components of the power supply are mounted to a power pack heat sink. The power pack heat sink is attached to the mounting frame with electrical components protruding through the power pack cutout.

Abstract: A reciprocating compressor with a linear motor, having a piston (1) reciprocating inside a cylinder (2); a cylinder head (5) provided with suction and discharge orifices (5a, 5b), and a valve means (10) mounted inside the cylinder (2) and having an operative position, seated against the discharge orifice (5b), defined when the top of the piston (1) is within a certain distance (D) from the cylinder head (5), said distance being defined, so that, at the end of the compression stroke of the piston (1), be reached inside the cylinder (2) a determined pressure that will result in a force on the piston (1) opposite to that force which is impelling said piston (1) and which is sufficient to interrupt its compression stroke before impacting the cylinder head (5).

Abstract: The within invention improves on the indirect evaporative cooling method and apparatus by making use of a working fluid that is pre- cooled with and without desiccants before it is passed through a Wet Channel where evaporative fluid is on the walls to take heat and store it in the working fluid as increased latent heat. The heat transfer across the membrane between the Dry Channel and the Wet Channel may have dry, solid desiccant or liquid desiccant and may have perforations, pores or capillary pathways. The evaporative fluid may be water, fuel, or any substance that has the capacity to take heat as latent heat. The Wet Channel or excess cooled fluid is in heat transfer contact with a Product Channel where Product Fluid is cooled without adding any humidity. An alternative embodiment for heat transfer between adjacent channels is with heat pipes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a power-saving apparatus and method for a display portion of a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a power-saving apparatus and method for a display portion of a refrigerator in which brightness of the display portion is controlled only when a user utilizes the refrigerator. That is, the present invention aims to monitor whether the user utilizes the refrigerator and to control the brightness of the display portion of the refrigerator such that the display portion can be kept bright only when the user utilizes the refrigerator. To this end, the present invention is characterized in that whether the user utilizes the refrigerator or remains in the vicinity of the refrigerator is determined by using operating signals of function keys inputted by the user, a door switch, an infrared sensor and the like. Further, it is characterized in that the operation of a backlight portion is controlled in response to the result of the determination.

Abstract: A two-stage reciprocating compressor is provided. The compressor includes a block with a single cylinder and associated single compression chamber and single piston. The compressor further includes a crankshaft. The crankshaft has an eccentric crankpin that is operatively connected to the piston. A reversible motor is provided to rotate the crankshaft in a forward direction and in a reverse direction. An eccentric cam is rotatably mounted on the eccentric crankpin. The eccentric cam is held stationary with respect to the crankpin when the crankshaft is rotating in the forward direction. When rotating in the forward direction, the crankshaft drives the piston at a full stroke between a bottom position and a top dead center position. The eccentric cam rotates with respect to the crankpin when the crankshaft is rotating in the reverse direction. When rotating in the reverse direction, the crankshaft drives the piston at a reduced stroke between an intermediate position and the top dead center position.

Abstract: A vapor-compression distiller includes a rotary heat exchanger. A reciprocating compressor (26) maintains a pressure difference between the compressor's evaporation chambers (46) and its condensation chambers (44). The compressor is assembled in a common rotating assembly with the compressor, so the distiller does not need rotating seals between the compressor and heat exchanger. The compressor includes two pistons (56 and 58) driven in opposite directions in a rotating piston chamber (54). The directions in which they thereby reciprocate are substantially parallel to the rotating assembly's axis.

Abstract: There is provided an ornamental chain of the “Omega” type used for the production of necklaces, bracelets and other articles of jewelry. This chain has two faces having different colors and/or different workmanship corresponding to the two faces. The chain may be worn showing one or the other face. The disclosure also covers the process of production of the chain.

Abstract: Fluorine-containing synthetic quartz glass is produced by feeding silica-forming material, hydrogen, and oxygen gases from a burner to a reaction zone, flame hydrolyzing the silica-forming material in the reaction zone to form particles of silica, depositing the silica particles on a rotatable substrate in the reaction zone to form a porous silica matrix, and heating and vitrifying the porous silica matrix in a fluorine compound gas-containing atmosphere. During formation of the porous silica matrix, the angle between the center axes of the silica matrix and the silica-forming reactant flame from the burner is adjusted to 90-120° so that the porous silica matrix has a density of 0.1-1.0 g/cm3 with a narrow distribution within 0.1 g/cm3. The resulting quartz glass has a high transmittance to light in the vacuum ultraviolet region below 200 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an image display device in which a panel member constituting a panel of an image display device is transferred to a plurality of processing chambers each comprising a temperature control unit, and subjected to a plurality of processing steps under temperature control. The temperature of the panel member in each of the processing chambers is set to be not more than the set A temperature of the panel member in the previous processing chamber by the temperature control unit.

Abstract: A heat-resistant pipe is arranged so as to traverse below a glass ribbon in a float bath of molten tin, and bubbles emanate from the heat-resistant pipe, thereby making the bottom surface (which is in contact with the tin) uneven. Alternatively, the bottom surface is made uneven with a roller for lifting the glass ribbon out of the float bath into an annealing furnace. In addition to these operations for making the glass surface uneven, a film can be applied to the top face of the glass ribbon (i.e. the surface that is not in contact with the tin) by CVD, supplying a mixed gas of raw material from coaters. Thus, the invention makes it possible to manufacture a glass sheet having an uneven surface efficiently, using a technique for processing the surface of a glass sheet that is suitable for a production line for float glass.

Abstract: A washing machine, with an inner tub designed to be linearly reciprocable along its vertical axis in addition to being rotatable on the vertical axis during the washing or rinsing process, is disclosed. In the washing machine, a washing tub is suspended within a cabinet forming the profile of the washing machine and having an openable cover at its top end. The washing tub consists of an outer tub suspended within the cabinet and containing water therein, and a perforated inner tub set within the outer tub. This inner tub contains laundries therein, and washes or rinses the laundries during the washing or rinsing process. A drive unit is mounted to the bottom of the outer tub, and rotates and vertically reciprocates the inner tub within a predetermined stroke. The washing machine of this invention thus forms vertical moving currents of water in addition to active swirling currents of water within the inner tub, and prevents laundries from being twisted during the washing or rinsing process.

Abstract: A panic door lock includes a housing and a dead bolt that is movable in the housing between an extended position and a retracted position. The dead bolt is spring-loaded and tends to be moved to the extended position. The dead bolt has a slot defined in place therein. A detent has an inner claw adapted to enter the slot and retain the dead bolt in the retracted position as long as the dead bolt is moved to the first retracted position. In addition, a spring-loaded trigger having a tip normally extended out the housing is provided. The trigger is engagable with the detent so that the inner claw may exit the slot and release the dead bolt from the retracted position when the tip of the trigger is pressed into the housing.

Abstract: The invention is a novelty golf club and steering wheel lock made up of a club head, shaft, hand grip, and two opposing attachment hooks. The shaft is made up of a lower standard portion and wider upper sleeve portion. The shaft has a lower standard portion attached to and extending from the club head and sliding into an upper sleeve portion which continues to extend upward to form the hand grip. The length of the novelty golf club and steering wheel lock is adjusted by selectively adjusting the upper sleeve relative to the lower standard. This is done with a plurality of holes formed on the lower standard, a hole near the edge of the upper sleeve, and a locking pin designed as a golf tee to be inserted in the hole near the edge of the upper sleeve and a selected and aligned hole from the plurality of holes on the lower standard.

Abstract: The invention relates to forming equipment for rolling and profiling disk-shaped and ring-shaped parts of a metallic material, e.g., of steel, of super alloys, aluminum alloys, etc., whereby a pressure rolling device without its own axial drive designed as a transportable and replaceable construction unit that it can be replaceably mounted in a conventional forging press between a press ram and the press bed plate for axial rolling. Because of this, the investment costs for otherwise conventional pressure rolling machines is reduced considerably and current forging presses can be used without remodeling for axial rolling by integrating a pressure rolling device according to the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extrusion tool for an extrusion press for manufacturing seamless, eccentric pipe sections (12)—in particular pipe sections with circular outer and inner contours—from extrusion blocks (2), in particular from extrusion billets.

Abstract: Tooling and a method of employing tooling to produce beneficial stress waves in a substrate to provide high fatigue life structures. Stress waves are provided to work a substrate, causing dimples in the workpiece, along a uniform pressure profile in the workpiece. By use of the method, uniform beneficial residual stress is provided at surface and midplane apertures in a workpiece, so as to improve overall fatigue life. An improved tool shape is described, having a smooth curve, rather than a flat punch. Also, the use of a consumable wafer provides additional uniform stress profile benefits.

Abstract: Apparatus for joining metal sheets by punch riveting or penetration staking (clinching) with the die (10; 20), wherein the die (10; 20) at least partly has been coated with a carbon layer, preferably a “diamond-like carbon”-(DLC)-coating or a carbon layer applied by plasma-coating or sputtering.

Abstract: A balance (1) has a weighing compartment (3) and a balance housing (4). The balance housing (4) contains a weighing cell (15) and forms a rear wall (13) and a floor (8) for the weighing compartment (3). A weighing-load carrier (2) is arranged on a cantilever arm (30) of the weighing cell (15). The cantilever arm (30) also holds a weight-receiving element (6) for calibration weights (7) of a calibration device (5). The weighing-load carrier (2) is releasably attached to a coupling arrangement (11) protruding from the cantilever arm (30) through passage openings (12) in the rear wall (13). The floor (8) extends without openings between the weight-receiving element (6) for the calibration weights (7) and the weighing-load carrier (2).

Abstract: Apparatus 10 for measuring permeability of a material 12 includes a substantially constant vacuum source 14 coupled via duct 11 to a fluid capacitance vessel 16 which contains pressure transducer 18 coupled by conductors 20 to an amplifier and display 22 for monitoring the source 14. Fluid impervious disc 24 is provided with placement on surface 26 on the material 12 to define, between disc 24 and surface 26 a fluid flow cavity 28. Disc 24 is coupled by conduit 32 to a restriction tube 30 which provides a high impedance to fluid flow. An opposite end of the restriction tube 30 is in fluid communication with vessel 16. A transducer 34 is coupled across restriction tube 30 to provide a measure of fluid flow. Fluid impervious seal 60 forms a seal about the periphery of disc 24 and extends radially outwardly on the surface 26. Assuming the material 12 has some degree of permeability, air will be able to permeate through the material 12 from beyond the periphery of the seal 60 and to the cavity 28.

Abstract: Method to determine the quality of a seal of a sealed container in a short period of time in an accurate manner. The method includes a first step for measuring the position of a center portion of said lid in the height direction prior to said retort sterilization process; a second step for exposing said sealed container to a pressurized air at least once in said retort sterilization process; a third step for taking out said container from a retort autoclave after the second step and measuring-the position of the center portion of said lid in the height direction which was measured in the first step; and a fourth step for determining the quality of seal from a result obtained by comparing the measured value obtained in the first step with the measured value obtained in the third step.

Abstract: A compact, robust, and inexpensive magnetically coupled pressure gauge includes a spiral-faced or helical bellows coupled for rotating a magnetic field source (permanent magnet) within a pressure vessel the orientation of which is externally sensed and correlated to pressure within the pressure vessel. Mechanisms of extraneous magnetic field compensation are discussed Applications contemplated include measuring pressure in pressure vessels and pressure of pneumatic vehicle tires without breaching the integrity of the particular pressurized vessels. Embodiments included a visual, manual tire pressure monitoring system.

Abstract: A water-monitoring apparatus includes a frame installed by water. A reel is mounted on the frame. A cable including lower and upper ends is wound on the reel. A buoy is connected with the cable. At least one sensor is used to detect a water quality parameter and to produce a signal representative of the water quality parameter. The at least one sensor is carried via the buoy and electrically connected with the lower end of the cable. The reel can be rotated to adjust a length of the cable extending from the reel so that the at least one sensor can always be immersed in the water. A signal relay includes a first block electrically connected with the at least one sensor and a second block electrically connected with a monitoring station wherein the first and second blocks are connected with each other in a non-contact electric manner.

Abstract: A fluid-level indicating device comprises a tube having an upper section provided with a visible, movable structure which indicates when a container is filled with liquid. In a first embodiment, the indicator is a solid bead positioned above a venturi section formed in the tube. In a second embodiment, the indicator takes the form of an indicator fluid forming a plug or seal disposed in a continuous loop section formed in the tube.

Abstract: A sensor assembly 40 for measuring seatbelt forces includes a first structural member 50 anchored to a vehicle structure and a second structural member 54 mounted for movement relative to the first structural member 50 in response to a seatbelt force (FIG. 2). A thin member 56 is mounted between the first 50 and second 54 structural members and provides a mounting surface for a sensor 58. The thin member 56 responds to movement of the second structural member 54 to provide high strain levels for the normal working range of the sensor 58. The thin member 56 is mounted between the first 50 and second 54 structural members such that the sensor 58 is isolated from movements due to non-axial loads. The first 50 and second 54 structural members are inter-related to define a maximum range of movement between the first 50 and second 54 members. Thus, overload protection is provided to prevent separation of the first 50 and second 54 structural members when a predetermined load limit is exceeded.