Abstract: The technology described in this document can be embodied in systems and computer-implemented methods for determining a score representing an amount of staining of the cornea. The methods include obtaining a digital image of the cornea stained with a tracer material, receiving a selection of a portion of the image, and processing, by a processing device, the selection to exclude areas with one or more artifacts to define an evaluation area. For each of a plurality of pixels within the evaluation area, a plurality of Cartesian color components are determined and a hue value in a polar coordinate based color space is calculated from the components. An amount of staining of the cornea is then determined as a function of the hue value. The methods also include assigning a score to the evaluation area based on the amount of staining calculated for the plurality of pixels.

Abstract: The present invention provides a telescopic hoist comprising a series of telescopically arranged tubular sections wherein the tubular sections are made in nitrided steel.

Abstract: An expansion device for doing work comprised of a housing including first and second selectively expandable sections defining an internal chamber which contains a chemical motor. Upon activation of the chemical motor, the first and second chamber are driven apart with sufficient force to allow the device to do work. The chemical motor is generally an irreversible reaction which causes the expansion device to be maintained in an expanded position.

Abstract: A firewood splitting machine is composed of a support frame, a cutter mounted on one end of the support frame, an oil pressure cylinder mounted on another end of the support frame, and an oil injecting device mounted in the support frame. The oil pressure cylinder consists of a cylindrical body, a piston, a rod member, a subsidiary piston, and a subsidiary rod member. The piston is located in the cylindrical body such that an oil pressure space is formed between the piston and a rear end cover of the cylindrical body. The rod member is fastened at one end thereof with the piston such that another end of the rod member is jutted out of a front end cover of the cylindrical body. A pivoting hole is extended along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the rod member such that the pivoting hole is in communication with the oil pressure space.

Abstract: A double acting reciprocating intensifier uses a single low pressure fluid stream as both the power supply and the source of fluid the pressure of which is to be intensified. The entire device, including flow paths, is confined within a compact cylindrical housing. Tandem drive pistons minimize operating frequency, while maximizing intensification ratio and output volume flowrate. Placement of both high pressure cylinders downstream of the drive cylinders permits simple routing of flows through the centers of the low and high pressure pistons. A check valve connected between the high pressure pistons eliminates one of the four high pressure check valves required in the prior art. A single reciprocating valve, whose state is determined by drive and high pressure piston position, coordinates all of the drive side flows. Various components perform multiple functions to permit the compact shape.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic log splitter which includes a hydraulic reservoir formed integrally with a frame of the log splitter. Hydraulic fluid from the reservoir is supplied by a pump to a control valve. A fluid passage is open through the control valve to a hydraulic intensifier which includes a cylinder and a piston extendable from the cylinder. The piston pushes a log against a stationary splitting wedge. The piston is urged toward a retracted position by a return spring internal to the cylinder. When the control valve is in other than an "extend" position, hydraulic fluid supplied to the control valve is allowed to flow into a return conduit back to the reservoir. In this condition, the pressure the hydraulic fluid develops insufficient force to overcome the force exerted by the return spring, and the ram remains retracted.

Abstract: A wood splitter comprises a fixedly mounted splitting wedge 2 and a pressure plate 4 driven by a hydraulic ram 5,6 so as to feed pieces of wood 3 onto the wedge. Hydraulic fluid is delivered to the ram through the intermediary of a hydraulic-pressure control valve 14. Feed movement of the pressure plate is initiated only when the hydraulic pressure applied to the valve rises above a predetermined value. The pressure plate is returned to its starting position by a spring 23 when the hydraulic pressure falls below the predetermined value.

Abstract: A telescoping fluid actuator assembly including a housing having a plurality of concentrically disposed fluid actuators disposed therein. Each fluid actuator includes a cylindrical housing enclosing a piston and piston rod. Fluid passage means is provided for alternately directing fluid pressure to the front and back piston faces of each piston to effect forward and rearward movement of the pistons and the associated piston rod. The innermost concentric fluid actuator has a piston rod extending from the housing for engaging a workpiece for movement thereof. All of the concentrically mounted fluid actuators, except the innermost fluid actuator, is provided with a hollow piston rod which forms the cylinder housing for adjacent concentric fluid actuators.

Abstract: A multi-stage hydraulic actuator including a cylinder body having an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder provided in the outer cylinder, first and second pistons inserted in the outer cylinder to independently move and provided with first and second working members, and third and fourth pistons inserted in the inner cylinder to independently move and provided with third and fourth working members.

Abstract: A pneumatically actuatable linear drive for automatic spot welding machines includes a cylinder, a piston rod with segments and pistons and an intermediate bottom between the pistons for dividing the cylinder into pressure chambers. An axial conduit in the segments has a check valve. Radial conduits communicate between the axial conduit and the pressure chambers. Air line connections and a throttle valve lead into the pressure chambers. One piston on one segment moves toward and away from the closed end into end and terminal positions for closing and opening the radial conduits. The end and terminal positions of the one piston are determined by a cap screw of the check valve having an axially parallel conduit and by a spring on one of the segments. A connecting conduit contains the throttle valve. The intermediate bottom has a peripheral annular conduit communicating with one of the air line connections and through the connecting conduit with one of the pressure chambers.

Abstract: A valving mechanism for use in machines such as internal combustion engines, steam engines, gas compression engines or air compressors. The mechanism employs a piston valve reciprocating within a cylindrical chamber under the direct action of cam surfaces carried upon a gear-driven flywheel. The cylindrical valve chamber carries a plurality of spaced apart ports, which are interconnected with the cylinder of the machine and with intake and exhaust systems. The machine has a piston reciprocated within the cylinder by means of a crank shaft which carries a crank shaft gear which interconnects with and drives the flywheel gear. One side of the flywheel gear carries cam surfaces which move the piston valve between the several positions required during the compression and exhaust and intake cycles of the machine. The valve chamber is mounted, transversed to the cylinder and in parallel with the crank shaft.

Abstract: An opposed piston fluid motor having a pair of angularly related cylinders rigidly joined at adjacent ends in a common plane is mounted above a base with the common plane normal to the base and the cylinders inclined downwardly from the common plane toward the base in the manner of an inverted V. A crankshaft is rotatably supported above the base with its axis parallel to the base and lying in the common plane below the cylinders. A piston is reciprocably mounted in each cylinder, and an expansible working chamber is provided within the cylinders between the pistons. Working fluid is supplied to the working chamber through a fluid port located at the apex of the cylinders under the control of a rotary motor control valve driven by the crankshaft. The crankshaft has a pair of cranks which are displaced 180.degree. apart. Each piston is connected to a different one of the cranks by a piston rod and a connecting rod.