Abstract: A brush seal for use with a housing and sealing a high pressure area from a low pressure area is provided. In an embodiment, the brush seal includes a retainer and a plurality of bristles. The retainer is comprised of a thermally-sensitive material having a thermal expansion rate. The bristles are connected to and extend from the retainer. In an embodiment, the retainer is not fixedly connected to the housing, and the thermal expansion rate of the retainer is greater than the thermal expansion rate of a portion of the housing adjacent the retainer. In another embodiment, a joint associated with a plurality of bristles is permitted to move into a headspace provided above the joint. A method for making a control-gap brush seal assembly for use in connection with a shaft is also disclosed.

Abstract: A composition including one or more of elecampane rhizome (Inula sp.), fennel fruit (Foeniculum sp.), juniper berry (Juniperus sp.), licorice root (Glycyrrhiza sp.), oregano herb (Oreganum sp.), marigold flowers (Calendula sp.), rose hips (Rosa sp.), and thyme (Thymus sp.), or an extract thereof. The composition is useful for treating infectious diseases, for example viral and microbial infections, and for reducing the toxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents.

Abstract: A safety coupling apparatus which includes first and second annular coupling parts for attachment to first and second coaxial rotatable shafts. The second coupling part defines an axial chamber which has an open end facing the first coupling part, and a radially-extending recess between a collar and a flange, both extending and located radially outwardly of the axial chamber, wherein the flange is spaced from the collar. An expandable hollow body of the first coupling part axially extends through the open end and into the axial chamber. A cavity subdivides the hollow body into inner and outer cylindrical sections and can (1) be filled with, or (2) emptied of pressurized fluid to expand or contract the inner and outer sections relative to one another and cause or prevent external surfaces thereof to contact adjacent surfaces of the axial chamber and thereby prevent or enable relative rotation of the first and second coupling parts.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a frame, a pedal crank which is mounted on the frame to rotate about a first axis, a drive motor, a drive belt or drive chain for transmission of force from the drive motor to a drive wheel, with the drive wheel being mounted resiliently on the frame via a rocker. The pivot axis of the rocker in relation to the frame is coaxial with respect to the drive motor and coincides with the axis of a first gearwheel which is driven by the drive motor and about which the drive belt or drive chain is deflected.

Abstract: A screw for the creation of a metric thread in a female element, includes a load-bearing (metric) thread portion and a forming thread portion which is tapered to the tip of the screw. The flights of the tapered thread portion are sharp-edged and fully formed.

Abstract: A spray head or spray head insert is provided for use in at least one of a shower head, an industrial spray head and an agricultural spray head including a plurality of groups of nozzles, each group of nozzles having at least two nozzles that are suitable for issuing jets of fluid from a surface of the spray head or spray head insert and are dimensioned and oriented, at least in use, so that fluid exiting the said at least two nozzles under pressure collides, interacts substantially unimpeded by surrounding structures and breaks into droplets.

Abstract: The plastic container includes a hollow body of plastic material having a lower supporting base, a sidewall extending upwardly from the lower base and an upper neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall with an opening therein. The sidewall includes at least one panel having a central region and an outer boundary, with the outer boundary being depressed with respect to the central region.

Abstract: An automotive PSIR hidden chute assembly contained behind an automotive instrument panel. The PSIR may include chute forward and rearward doors, first and second chute flanges, and an instrument panel, each constructed of a first hard material, and first and second chute hinges, first and second chute sidewalls and a chute end wall, each constructed of a second tough ductile material, such that the first material and the second material have different thermal expansion properties and different elastic modulus properties.

Abstract: The invention provides a priming pump comprising a deformable envelope associated with an inlet endpiece and an outlet endpiece each fitted with a moving valve member, the endpieces being arranged in such a manner that when the valve members are in the closed position, the outlet endpiece presents a leakage rate that is greater than the leakage rate of the inlet endpiece.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ablation catheter which controls the temperature and reduces the coagulation of biological fluids on an electrode of a catheter, prevents the impedance rise of tissue in contact with the electrode, and maximizes the potential energy transfer to the tissue, thereby allowing an increase in the lesion size produced by the ablation. The electrode includes passages positioned to allow blood and other biological fluids to flow into and out of an inner cavity of the electrode. This fluid flow produced the desired cooling effect and is accomplished, for example, by a reciprocating plunger or piston, or by a balloon that is alternately inflated and deflated.

Abstract: A container for receiving a food product is formed from a shaped blank of paper, paperboard, cardboard or a similar material. A hinge arrangement comprising at least two and preferably three parts is provided between one of the side walls and one of the end walls to allow the partially formed container to be moved easily between a flat configuration suitable for transportation or storage and an erect configuration for receiving a food product. In the erect configuration one part of the hinge arrangement is sandwiched between another part of hinge arrangement and the end wail. In the flat configuration these two parts of the hinge arrangement lie in substantially the same plane. An integral lid may be provided.

Abstract: A method for providing consulting services includes assembling a plurality of solutions or recommendations designed to promote cost savings and improved operational efficiency of a business enterprise, categorizing at least a subset of the plurality of solutions or recommendations into groups, selecting client-relevant solutions, recommendations or groups from the plurality of solutions, recommendations or groups based on information received from the client, prioritizing the client-relevant solutions, recommendations or groups into a prioritized list of client-relevant solutions, recommendations or groups, and successively presenting to the client, over a predetermined amount of time, each of the client-relevant solutions, recommendations or groups from the prioritized list of client-relevant solutions, recommendations or groups.

Abstract: A system for wrapping loads includes a moving machine and a wrapping head equipped with a reel of film for covering a load, the wrapping head including sleeves which can be positioned on pegs of an external supporting frame for parking the head in a store, and blocks with slots in which pins of the moving machine can be vertically inserted to lift and move the wrapping head.

Abstract: A high power LED lamp has a GaN chip placed over an AlGaInP chip. A reflector is placed between the two chips. Each of the chips has trenches diverting light for output. The chip pair can be arranged to produce white light having a spectral distribution in the red to blue region that is close to that of daylight. Also, the chip pair can be used to provide an RGB lamp or a red-amber-green traffic lamp. The active regions of both chips can be less than 50 microns away from a heat sink.

Abstract: Actuator system comprising at least one actuator, a control unit, a power supply and an operations panel, where the actuator in a transmission between an activation element (4) and a reversible electric motor is inserted a quick release unit (13) for release of the activation element (4) from the electric motor and the part of the transmission between the motor and the quick release. The actuator comprises at least one electrical switch (30), activated with the quick release. The signal from the electrical switch(es) (30) may be used for various purposes, such as triggering a power supply from sleep mode, activating one or more actuators, or activating an external function such as an alarm etc.