Abstract: A device for the grasping, moving and/or turning of articles having axial symmetry, preferably round and/or tubular articles, consisting of a drive unit and a plurality of gripper elements connected with it which are each arranged on a pivotally movable part the parts being movable together with the gripper elements either annularly in the same direction and simultaneously concentrically towards the center or in likewise manner towards the outside. In order to provide a device for the dependable grasping and moving of articles having axial symmetry, preferably round and/or tubular articles, which, upon central grasping, makes possible also the turning of the article grasped, the gripper element (18, 19, 20, 41) is fastened in the outer edge region of a planet wheel (11, 12, 13) of a planet gearing mechanism which has at least two planet wheels and one sun wheel (10) and that the planet wheels (11, 12, 13) and the sun wheel (10) and frame are arranged on a shaft (16) which is connected to the drive unit (6).

Abstract: An interactive transportation information system provides schedule information to a caller utilizing a Touch-Tone type telephone. The system includes a database storing a digital code specific to each station, schedule information and a plurality of speech files for generating messages to the caller. Voice messages prompt the caller to press keypad buttons for a departure station, an arrival station, and a desired departure or arrival time. The database is then searched for a transportation vehicle departing the departure station at the time closest to the desired time, whereupon a voice message is generated identifying its departure and arrival times. The system also resolves station name ambiguities and simplifies dialogue for travel to and from the stations.

Abstract: The present invention is a squeeze switch device (10) for use in plush toys wherein the device housing is comprised of upper (14) and lower (16) sections secured together by protrusions (44) and slots (24) and wherein springs (62) bias the device for activation by applying a squeezing pressure to the stuffed toy in any one of a plurality of directions. A device (36) for reducing battery drain during device manufacture, storage and shipping are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical discharge circuit between two electrodes. The circuit includes switch means connected in parallel between the electrodes and constituting a switch that is closed for low frequency currents and that is open for high frequency currents. The discharge circuit may be used to detect and correct the position of an electrode at will, in manner that is simple, reliable, cheap, and suitable for being automated.

Abstract: An article of wheeled luggage having a pair of rear wheels for rolling engagement with an underlying support surface further includes a control rod located in close proximity to the front wall of the luggage and carrying a freely-rotatable front wheel at its bottom end and a pivotally-attached pull-handle at its top end. The control rod extends substantially vertically along at least a portion of the front wall and is axially rotatable so as correspondingly vary the orientation of the front wheel which is maintained in rolling engagement with the support surface. The control rod has a generally L-shaped construction including an upper leg extending along the front wall and a lower leg disposed proximate the bottom wall of the article of luggage, the front wheel being mounted in a predeterminately-fixed orientation on the lower leg.

Abstract: A working cylinder which operates without a piston rod, comprising a cylinder tube, a piston which is displaceable therein and is provided with a pulling means, and a force transmission element which is connected with the pulling means and guided in axial displacement on the cylinder tube. In order to minimize the mounting work for the external attachment of the pulling means and at the same time increase the dependability of operation, the pulling means (1) is provided on the ends thereof connected to the force transmission element (2) with clamping pieces (3) which are provided with a toothed surface (5) on at least one outer side (4) and the force transmission element (2) is provided with a correspondingly toothed surface (6) against which the side (4) of the corresponding clamping piece (3) having the toothed surface (5) can be pressed via a pressing element (7). The corresponding toothed surface of the force transmission element (2) is longer than the clamping pieces (3) to allow for adjustment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the deleterious effects of interference on the focus error signal when focusing interferometric optical systems using triangulation or astigmatic techniques. These interference effects are eliminated by using the phase relationship between the differential error signal and the total intensity of the beam incident on the differential detector to identify and recover a unique focus position of a surface under test.

Abstract: The risk of electrocution by first contact with a hovercraft is eliminated by first establishing an alternate path for electric charge between the hovercraft and earth ground via an electrically conducting liquid stream.

Abstract: Apparatus for introducing rolled steel into the entrance of a processing machine such as a cold shear or straightening machine including a roller path for carrying the steel sections at a speed of transport in a direction of transport toward one of the shear and straightening machine.

Abstract: A furnace for cracking of hydrocarbons, comprising one or several tubes through which the hydrocarbons flow during intensive heating and subsequent cracking. The starting material for the process can be e.g. naphtha or propane, mixed with a small amount of steam. When gases flow through the tube or tubes in the furnace, its temperature is increased up to about 850.degree. C. In order to achieve this, the temperature in the furnace compartment is 1100.degree.-1200.degree. C., and the temperature of the gases in the tubes in the furnace can then exceed 1100.degree. C. The tubes are made from an alloy comprising 15-30 weight % chromium, 3-10 weight % aluminum, the remainder of the composition being mainly iron. This alloy allows significant extension of the possible duration of operation without exchange of the tubes. A further improvement can be achieved by the formation on the inner walls of the tubes of a layer of aluminum oxide, obtained by oxidation of the tubes before the furnace is first used.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the raising and lowering of a door comprises a speed reduction gearing, a high speed input shaft and a low speed output shaft connected to the gearing, a governor mounted on the input shaft for regulating the input shaft's rotational speed whereby also regulating the output shaft's rotational speed, a first mechanism for operatively connecting the input shaft to a second mechanism for rotating the input shaft, a mechanism for operatively connecting the output shaft to a slatted retractable door, a brake for preventing rotation of the output shaft, and a release-mechanism the brake to permit rotation of the output shaft.

Abstract: A deformable, reinforced tubular door member for absorbing energy occasioned by an impact force exerted thereupon is disclosed, having a deformable tube having an open space therewithin, and a spiralled stiffening element positioned within the open space of the deformable tube and having a plurality of surface elements which are arranged such that when the impact force is exerted upon the tubular member, the elements exert a resisting force against the tubular member. In one embodiment, the stiffening element is a coiled or spiral spring. In another embodiment, the stiffening element is a strip which is twisted about its lengthwise axis so that the surface elements are arranged in a double helix. In a still further embodiment, the strip is twisted in order that it have one twist per centimeter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the treating of fiber suspensions in the pulp and paper industry and particularly to a method and apparatus for washing fiber suspensions.The method is characterized in that the fiber suspension is fed into the treatment apparatus, the desired process is carried out and the suspension is discharged from the apparatus in such a way that the fiber suspension is fed directly from the conduit to the treatment ducts mounted between the end plates of the rotational parts of the washer thus forming substantially extensions of the conduit. The fiber suspension is treated in the ducts and thereafter the treated suspension is discharged from the ducts by feeding yet untreated suspension to the apparatus.The apparatus includes a plurality of axially elongated treatment ducts (9) arranged in the form of a ring around an axis of rotation. The ducts are radially limited by filter surfaces (10, 11) and in the direction of the end walls divided by partition walls (8).

Abstract: The mold continuous casting of metals includes a stationary base frame; a support plate within the base frame, the support plate including first and second opposed sides; a metallic shaping wall mounted on the support plate and having a longitudinal axis in the direction of casting; a carrier plate attached to the base frame; a plurality of spring elements each having two ends and being uniformly distributed over and fastened at one end thereof to the first side of the support plate, the other ends of the spring elements being fastened to the carrier plate, the first side of the support plate facing away from the shaping wall, the spring elements extending in a direction transverse to the direction of casting and having a stiffness which is substantially less in the direction of casting than in the two directions transverse thereto.

Abstract: An oscillating device for a continuous-casting mold is disclosed. The device includes a generally retangular base frame, two eccentric shafts arranged in parallel on the base frame and arranged to be driven in rotation. Each of the two eccentric shafts is connected to a respective pair of eccentrics that are arranged on corners of the base frame and by which oscillation can be imparted to the mold. The device includes a support plate having a centrally arranged opening in which the mold is fastened. A respective wear plate is positioned at each corner of the support plate, below the support plate. The wear plate rests on a respective eccentric outer ring that, in turn, is mounted for rotation on one of the pair of eccentrics that is driven in rotation. The device further includes spring bars arranged parallel to edges of the support plate and having connections at corner points to the base frame and, between the corner points, to the support plate.

Abstract: A device for cleaning a bag filter, closed on one side, is arranged on a supporting grid within a housing traversed by the fluid to be cleaned and is provided on the clean-gas side with an injector which is directed into the inside of the fabric filter and is connected to a source of gas of higher pressure than the pressure of the fluid to be filtered. In order to develop the breaking up of the filter cake upon the cleaning of fabric filters in such a manner that as few components as possible of the filter cake are placed in suspended condition and therefore the greatest possible proportion of the filter cake can be removed as a coherent unit, it is proposed that on the clean-gas side (14) of the supporting grid (2a) there be arranged a bag (3) which is expandable by gas pressure, the bag (3) be attached in pressure-tight manner to the injector (10) and the bag (3) be so dimensioned that its circumference corresponds at least to the inside circumference of the supporting grid (2a).

Abstract: A child-resistant screw-on closure is provided with the closure having an audible close indicator signal and formed as a three-element closure. The outer cap is arranged for rotation relative to the centrally located middle cap and cooperates in a torquing manner with the middle cap so that, as the closure is rotated to close the container, the frictional engagement means engages the camming surface of the middle cap and until the frictional engagement means is rotated past the front end of the cam surface over the abutment point and onto the trailing end to produce the audible closure-state indicating "click" signal. Thus, the closure provides the user with a readily apparent audible indication as to whether the container closure is in its fully closed or container-sealing condition.

Abstract: A valve device and method for controlling the operation of the valve device, in particular a proportionally acting solenoid valve, consisting of a valve housing in which several pressure fluid chambers provided with pressure fluid connections are present, having two valves which are arranged within the valve housing and are providing with moveable valve members, the valve members being connected to a valve rod which serves for actuation.In order to simplify the construction of the valve, and provide reliable and reproducible detection and control of the valve opening cross section, two valves members (4, 5) and (12, 13) of the two valves are arranged coaxially and are jointly connected to a valve rod (20), actuatable simultaneously with it. A pressure fluid chamber is arranged between the valves.

Abstract: A facing material spray apparatus including a first tank for housing a facing material and regulating its concentration, first agitating means for agitating the facing material in the first tank, a second tank, for receiving the facing material from the first tank, provided in the vicinity of the first tank with its bottom positioned below the bottom of the first tank, second agitating means for agitating the facing material in the second tank, a connecting pipe for connecting the first and second tanks to each other and causing the facing material in the first tank to naturally flow into the second tank, a valve attached to the connecting pipe for opening and closing a facing material supply passage, a facing pump removably attached to the second tank for sucking the facing material in the second tank, a nozzle attached to the facing pump through a hose for spraying the sucked facing material on a mold, and a facing material receiving base provided in the vicinity of the second tank for receiving the facing