Abstract: In a cuvette for performing a diagnostic test on a specimen, a base defines a first chamber for receiving a reagent, and a second chamber for receiving a test specimen. The second chamber is defined by four side surfaces forming a rectangular configuration, and a base surface extending between the side surfaces. The base surface defines a frangible wall which is breakable in order to place the first chamber in fluid communication with the second chamber. A cover is coupled to the base and is moveable between an open position spaced away from the second chamber for permitting introduction of the specimen into the second chamber, and a closed position overlying and enclosing the second chamber. A self-aligning piercing member is provided on the cover and defines a tip engageable with the base surface of the second chamber upon movement of the cover into the closed position to thereby break the frangible wall, and in turn allow the test specimen to mix with the reagent in the second chamber.

Abstract: In an engine cooling system, an upper coolant chamber and a lower coolant chamber of a typical engine, such as an internal combustion engine or fuel cell, are formed adjacent to the heat-emitting components of the engine, and a substantially anhydrous, boilable liquid coolant having a saturation temperature higher than that of water is received within the engine coolant chambers. A coolant expansion reservoir defining an expansion chamber is coupled in fluid communication between the engine coolant chambers and the engine's ambient atmosphere for receiving coolant from the engine coolant chambers and permitting coolant flow between the expansion chamber and engine coolant chambers with thermal expansion and contraction of the coolant.

Abstract: An arbor for a hole saw includes a shaft and a plurality of pins having either bearing surfaces, drive portions or both for engaging the hole saw. The arbor further includes a fixed position flange and a locking plate located above the flange, to which the pins are connected. The saw is mounted to the arbor and has a cylindrical body portion having a closed end defined by a drive plate and an opposite end defining a cutting edge for performing sawing operations on a work piece. The drive plate includes apertures for receiving the drive portions of the pins which pass through holes in the flange. When assembled the drive ends of the pins extend through the holes in the flange and into the mating drive plate apertures such that the bearing surfaces on the pins engage and support the drive plate of the hole saw.

Abstract: A machine tool comprises a spindle that rotates about a spindle axis and that comprises a receptacle for toolholders. There is further provided a number of tool changers distributed around the spindle, the gripper arm of each tool changer carrying a toolholder that can be transferred, by means of the gripper arm on which it is mounted, between a magazine position spaced from the spindle above the receptacle, and a working position on the receptacle. The toolholders are arranged in their magazine position with their longitudinal axes extending at an angle relative to the spindle axis so that they point away from the spindle obliquely in downward direction.

Abstract: A hubcap vent plug is disclosed which includes a plug body having inlet vent structure for accommodating air flow into a bearing chamber during wheel end pressurization, outlet vent structure for accommodating gaseous flow out of the bearing chamber during wheel end depressurization, a first one-way check valve operatively associated with the inlet vent structure, a second one-way check valve operatively associated with the outlet vent structure, and an annular seal member mounted on the plug body for sealingly engaging the periphery of a reception port formed the end wall of the hubcap.

Abstract: The floating wrist pin coupling for a piston assembly will rotate within a bearing assembly for an oscillating connecting rod as a piston cycles through compression and suction strokes. As the wrist pin rotates through 360 degrees, the bearings within the bearing assembly are lubricated and subjected to a rotary rather than an oscillating motion as the connecting rod oscillates.

Abstract: Process for producing novel nickel superalloy bodies having increased resistance of to oxidation and corrosion at high temperatures. The process comprises applying a thin layer of a platinum-group metal and heating to an elevated temperature to diffuse or integrate the platinum-group metal into the surface of the metal superalloy. Then the superalloy body is packed into a container filled with a diffusion powder composition containing sources of aluminum and chromium metals and heated in a hydrogen gas atmosphere to an elevated temperature to codeposit and diffuse aluminum and chromium into the platinum-group metal-treated surface. Finally, the superalloy body is removed from the diffusion coating container and heated to the solvus temperature to form a ductile surface having an outer zone microstructure comprising a normally brittle PtAl.sub.2 which has been ductilized by the solutioning therein of beta chromium. This ductilized PtAl.sub.

Abstract: An environmentally controlled vending machine utilizing real-time monitoring of environmental parameters and feedback control for improved storage conditions for tobacco products such as cigars and other humidity sensitive products, is disclosed. A number of environmental parameters, such as temperature and humidity, are balanced using a closed loop feedback control process in response to measured system parameters. The vending machine includes a controller, one or more remote sensors which monitor the environmental conditions within the vending machine housing, a fan, a heater strip, a cooling unit, a humidifier, and a payment and selection system. The vending machine stores and maintains tobacco products, or other humidity sensitive products, at a recommended temperature and humidity, and includes means for continuously monitoring and controlling the environment to retain the freshness and value of the respective product.

Abstract: In an apparatus for fluid analysis, such as hematologic analysis, a plurality of reagent-mixture components are each injected by a respective pump through a valve matrix and into a flow-injection unit. The flow-injection unit defines a mixing chamber including a plurality of protuberances or nubs projecting inwardly toward the center of the chamber, and spaced relative to each other both axially and radially. As the reagent-mixture components are injected into the mixing chamber, the nubs agitate the fluid flow and create turbulence, thereby dispersing the reagent-mixture components and in turn mixing the components together to create a reagent mixture. The flow rates of the reagent-mixture components are adjusted in order to select the reagent-mixture ratio as the components are combined in the flow-injection unit to thereby create the selected reagent mixture.

Abstract: A machining center comprises a plurality of machine tools arranged along a track, each of which has a working space, accessible through an operator door, for machining workpieces present in a receptacle. In addition, a loading system is provided for transporting the workpieces between the individual machine tools and for exchanging the workpieces on the machine tools through a loading opening that can be closed off by the respective operator door. At least some of the machine tools perform different machining operations in succession on the same workpiece. The loading system comprises a transport track, arranged on the machine tools for manually moving the workpieces from one machine tool to the next.

Abstract: A friction material and process of forming a friction material embodies a slurry of aramid, acrylic and carbon fibers, together with kaolin clay and aluminum oxide used as fillers in a phenolic resin binder. The matrix formed by the fibers entraps a relatively large quantity of carbon particles. The carbon particles comprise more than forty or fifty percent of the weight of the material. During the process of formation, the slurry is de-watered to reduce moisture content to the order of two percent before the resin binder is cured under heat and pressure.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan apparatus for installation in an air plenum adapted to provide pressurized air to a ventilating system includes a centrifugal fan rotor having front and rear sidewalls and a number of blades extending between these sidewalls. The platform has a horizontal base frame on which wheels are rotatably mounted. The front sidewall has a central opening for receiving air while the rear sidewall is attached to a rotatable drive shaft that extends rearwardly from the rotor. A motor is connected to the shaft in order to rotate it and the rotor. A linearly movable platform supports the rotor, shaft and motor and an actuator moves this platform forwardly or rearwardly in order to control the volume of air flowing out of the rotor. An air inlet member is mounted rigidly at the central opening and has a generally cylindrical section that can extend into the rotor when the rotor is moved to a forward position.

Abstract: A method of making a dental restoration is provided wherein preforms based on impressions of actual human teeth of varying sizes are employed. The method consistently yields dental restorations having excellent aesthetics and does not demand a high level of technical and artistic skill of the individual dental technician.

Abstract: A recycling apparatus which preferably treats used antifreeze/coolant in four cycles is disclosed. The recycling apparatus includes a number of tanks for storing the antifreeze/coolant during the various treatment cycles, a number of containers for storing chemical reagents used to chemically treat the antifreeze/coolant and a number of filters used to capture impurities suspended in the treated antifreeze/coolant. During a fill cycle, the used antifreeze/coolant is introduced into a treatment tank and the concentration of the antifreeze/coolant is adjusted, if necessary, to a predefined range. During a mix cycle, the used antifreeze/coolant is mixed with various reagents to adjust the pH value, as well as to coagulate and flocculate the impurities. A reverse mixing and aspiration of the antifreeze/coolant in the tank during the mix cycle ensure that the reagents will mix well and react with the impurities in the used antifreeze/coolant to form a sludge.

Abstract: Electrochemical machining (ECM) techniques utilizing real-time parameter monitoring, alarms and feedback control for improved machining of a workpiece are disclosed. The ECM device utilizes one or more cathodes, an electrolyte and a positively charged workpiece to achieve electrolytic action. A number of controlling variables, such as cathode feed rate, electrolyte flow rate and voltage, are balanced in response to measured system parameters. The following parameters are preferably monitored in order to adjust the controlling variables: the drive parameters of feed rate and cathode depth; the pump parameters of flow rate and pressure; and the power components of voltage and current. The flow rate in each of the cathodes, or a corresponding Reynolds number, is preferably utilized to provide an alarm to the operator if a statistically significant change in flow is detected.

Abstract: A transmission comprises an input shaft and a variator having an infinitely variable transmission ratio. The variator has a variator input being driven by the input shaft and has a variator output. A planetary gear train is configured as a summing gear train with a first input, a second input and an output. The first input is adapted to be drivingly connected to the input shaft and the second input is driven by the variator output. An output shaft is driven by the planetary gear train output. A first clutch is provided for drivingly connecting the first planetary gear train input to the input shaft, whereas a second clutch is provided for drivingly connecting the variator output to the output shaft.

Abstract: A drain-and-fill machine is disclosed that can accommodate a cooling system having an inlet-side thermostat. The drain-and-fill machine includes a reservoir of fresh or recycled antifreeze/coolant and a reservoir to receive used antifreeze/coolant. The drain-and-fill machine introduces the fresh or recycled antifreeze/coolant into the cooling system of an automobile while simultaneously draining the used antifreeze/coolant into the used coolant reservoir. When the engine is cold, the engine's inlet side-thermostat will prevent new antifreeze/coolant from entering the cooling system, thereby making it possible to drain the used antifreeze/coolant from the cooling system, without simultaneously replenishing the cooling system with fresh or recycled antifreeze/coolant. The present drain-and-fill machine includes a thermostat disposed in the reservoir drain line having similar operating characteristics to the engine's inlet-side thermostat.

Abstract: The compact five ring stuffing box packing assembly includes high density metal inserted braided end rings of graphite which have each been die formed to have angled facing surfaces. Three low density graphite preform rings having angled facing surfaces are contained between the high density braided end rings. The facing surfaces of the preform rings extend at a different angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the packing assembly than do the facing surfaces of the braided end rings. The braided end rings provide a support function for the preform rings as well as a stem wiping function.

Abstract: A collapsible tube is obtained by heat bonding a head to a polyolefin sleeve, the head comprising a composition which comprises a polyolefin resin (A), a saponified product of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (B) having a melting point of at least 135.degree. C., and a saponified product ethylene-vinyl acetate. copolymer (C) having a melting point of not more than 130.degree. C.

Abstract: A workpiece gripper has a housing part on which is arranged a gripper element actuated by external force for gripping workpieces. Also provided is a joining part, for attaching the workpiece gripper to a tool holder, that can be transferred by means of a tool changing device between a magazine position on a machine tool and a working position on a receptacle in a spindle. Provided on the housing part is a connecting element that, when a tool holder is present in the receptacle, is in engagement with a joining element, to deliver energy for actuation of the gripper element, in such a way that the housing part is held nonrotatably with respect to the spindle head. An adapter is provided which is rotatably mounted on the housing part and to which the gripper element can be attached.