Abstract: An instrument (10, 100) for locating an axis of a blocking screw is disclosed. The instrument (10, 100) is applicable for a retrograde installation of a femoral intramedullary device or an antegrade installation of a tibial intramedullary device. The instrument (10, 100) includes a drill jig (11, 105) with a radiolucent frame portion (14, 120) and a mounting portion (12, 110). The mounting portion (12, 110) is adapted to connect to an intramedullary device (204), and the frame portion (14, 120) has at least one aperture (18, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29, 126, 137, 337) for locating the axis of the blocking screw (210). The drill jig (11, 105) is adjustable to locate the aperture (18, 22, 24, 25, 28, 29, 126, 137, 337) in a longitudinal or rotational direction relative to the intramedullary device (204).

Abstract: The invention relates to an orthopedic implant made of a ceramic metal composite. The composite (28, 48, 54) includes one phase that is a biocompatible metal or metal alloy and a second phase of ceramic particles examples of which include carbides, nitrides and/or oxides. In some embodiments, the implant comprises a homogeneous ceramic layer (24) as part of a multi-layered composition. In some embodiments, the multilayered composition comprises a homogeneous metal layer (32).

Abstract: An apparatus for beveling an end of a pipe includes a base member operatively attached to a ring member by a plurality of ring support members and a plurality of blade support members. A removably attached blade has a top edge, a bottom edge and a longitudinal axis. The first edge and the second edge of the blade are helical along the longitudinal axis of the blade. The method includes engaging an end of the pipe with the rotating pipe bevel cutting apparatus and shaving material from the end of the pipe to form a bevel thereon having a preselected angle.

Abstract: A water diversion apparatus for a standard toilet tank having a fitting connected to a discharge tube and a water supply, such that the discharge tube discharges into an aesthetic container. The aesthetic container may be an aquarium or a cascade and pool. When the toilet is flushed, water is partially diverted from the toilet to the aesthetic container.

Abstract: An improved lighted traffic sign having an adjustable and portable seat, a portable urinal having an enclosure, a liquid applicator, a hinge, and a sign and warning device is disclosed. The improved lighted traffic sign can be used at the workstation to prevent gaps in traffic control.

Abstract: Chain conveyors in an agricultural harvesting machine can be tensioned by means of a tension adjusting device including an adjusting unit which is coupled to a displaceable shaft via a linkage means or connector members. The adjusting units are advantageously hydraulic cylinders controlled in synchronism. The hydraulic cylinders can be mutually independently pressurized via bypass lines incorporating control valves.

Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine for removing and separating grain from harvested crop has a threshing zone and at least one separation zone for separating the grain. The axial separating rotor is at least partially encased by a separating housing having a plurality of sections. At least one of the sections is displaceable in the axial direction of the at least one axial separating rotor to increase the opening and ensure separation when a correspondingly large proportion of grain are in the outer region of the rotating crop stream and the proportion of admixtures is small.

Abstract: A foot lifter orthosis including a dorsal leg shell, extending over the rear foot, which can be fixed by a strapping means to the calf of the orthosis wearer and which has a forefoot shell section constructed in one piece which extends to a point below the foot sole region, wherein the leg shell exhibits a low resistance in dorsal foot bending and a high resistance compensating for the foot and shoe mass in plantar foot bending with at least one resilient inlay, which extends approximately parallel to and at a short distance from an edge of the leg shell from the calf region thereof to a point below the forefoot shell section. An associated method of formation is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for monitoring and detecting seat belt usage, having an enforcement device with an enforcement circuit board and a vehicle device with a vehicle circuit board. Each of the enforcement circuit board and the vehicle circuit board has a transformer and a receiver and a pair of antennas for transmitting and receiving a first signal and a return signal. The enforcement device and the vehicle device communicate a properly fastened state or an improperly fastened state for a seat belt.

Abstract: A turbine power plant utilizing buoyant force is disclosed. This turbine power plant includes a turbine wheel having a vane, wherein the turbine wheel is rotatably attached to a shaft, wherein the vane includes a housing having a chamber for receiving air to propel the at least one turbine wheel, wherein the shaft is operatively attached to an electrical generator for producing electricity through rotation of the shaft. Although the preferred design for the turbine wheel is a quad vane, e.g., fin, design, a wide variety of other vane designs may suffice including dual fin and wing designs. Preferably, there is a weighted portion located within the housing of a fin for the turbine wheel for pulling the turbine wheel downward to facilitate rotation. Moreover, a duct is preferably located within the chamber of the fin to assist the air to rise to the top of the chamber and increase the effectiveness of the buoyant force supplied by the air.

Abstract: A combine harvester having a blower for spreading the discharge mixture of chopped straw, chaff and like materials over a wide area utilizing the kinetic energy obtained through the medium of a chopper or feed device located prior to the blowers to save on drive power. Specifically, the material outlet opening of the chopper or the feed device is positioned in the same plane as the inlet opening of the blower.

Abstract: The invention provides a means of deriving highly reliable diagnostic information from the signals and data of medical measuring systems without first reducing the measuring data to individual characteristics and then associating these using decision trees in order to form a diagnostic conclusion. To this end, a comparator compares the measuring data recorded by a patient and provided by the sensor channels of a measuring system with measuring data which is stored in measuring databases and which is provided by comparable sensor channels of reference measuring systems. The data is compared in such a way that the reference measuring systems selected from the measuring databases are those which bear the most similarity to the measurements taken by the patient in terms of the measuring data of comparable sensor channels and which have a greatest possible number of the sensor channels which best match in terms of measuring data and which best correspond to each other.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing higher efficiency and good exhaust gas performance. To this end, a fresh-gas is compressed in a first cylinder chamber having a first piston during successive compression strokes and compressed in one of at least two combustion chambers, in which combustion of a mixture consisting of the compressed fresh gas and an at least partially evaporated fuel is started after the combustion chamber has been closed in relation to the first combustion chamber. Subsequently, the combustion chamber is opened relative to a second cylinder chamber and a second piston in the second cylinder chamber is impinged upon by the combustion gases expanding form the combustion chamber to perform a working cycle. After the working cycle has been completed, the exhaust gases are expelled from the second cylinder chamber.

Abstract: A coupling device for mounting an agricultural implement on a tractor equipped with a belt drive, which includes two coupling halves which are connected to each other by several coupling rods, designed in such a way that no components working on the linear drive principle are needed. The lower right and left coupling rods include in each case a lower front and a lower rear rod section which are connected to each other, and which are freely movable relative to each other. One end of the lower rear rod section carries an expanded portion, which is located inside a housing of the end region of the lower front rod section. A plurality of elastically deformable equalizing bodies are inserted between the inner surfaces of the housing of the end region and the outer surfaces of the expanded portion, limiting the movement of the lower rear rod section in relation to the lower front rod section.