Abstract: A burner utilizing a low pressure fan for atomizing fuel and supplying air for combustion. The burner includes an air-tube, an air-atomizing nozzle disposed in the air-tube, a conduit for supplying fuel to the nozzle, and a fan for supplying air to the air-tube. A back plate, a retention plate, and a side ring meter primary air to the nozzle and provide a chamber through which secondary air passes around the nozzle. The side ring is provided with a plurality of apertures for directing secondary air inwardly into a chamber desirably normal to the direction from which the secondary air is discharged therefrom. Also disclosed is a novel three-piece air-atomizing nozzle.

Abstract: An intermodal transportation simulation system comprising a ground transportation simulation node, a rail transportation simulation node, a maritime transportation simulation node and an air transportation simulation node. Each of these simulation nodes are interactive, interconnected and designed to provide a manned multi-sensory, e.g. visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile simulation.

Abstract: Bicycle cranks which operatively link a pedal to a bicycle sprocket. One embodiment comprises a molded, one-piece support arm connectable to a bicycle sprocket and an extension arm integrally formed with the support arm. A plurality of threaded holes are provided for removably and selectively positioning a pedal on the crank. At least one of the threaded holes is positioned through the extension arm. Alternative embodiments comprise curved cranks.

Abstract: A plate sealing means suitable for use with multi-well plates of the type used in DNA PCR chemistry, said sealing means having a resilient mat having a flat or even surface substantially free from dimples; and an engagement structure adapted to co-operate with at least two opposing edges of the plate and adapted to retain the sealing mat in a substantially fixed position with respect to the plate.

Abstract: A percussive instrument comprises two shells, each having open ends. The shells are positioned substantially end to end. Drum heads are positioned at the opposing open ends and between the two shells.

Abstract: A buoyancy assembly suitable for supporting, either alone or in combination, a load deck or other marine body, said assembly comprising: i) a first portion adapted to be connected to or form an integral part of the marine body, said portion incorporating a piston; ii) a second portion adapted to envelope the piston and thus create a variable volume chamber, the first and second portions being moveable with respect to each other; iii) sealing means adapted to form a fluid tight seal between the piston and the second portion; iv) a constant pressure source adapted to maintain a constant pressure within the variable volume chamber; v) tether means adapted to tether the second portion to the sea bed; wherein the buoyance assembly is adapted such that displacement of the marine body from its hydrostatic equilibrium position results in the generation of a restoring force, upwards or downwards, tending to restore equilibrium.

Abstract: A rotor-stator assembly includes a rotor and a stator, each of which includes at least one surface having a plurality of grooves defining a plurality of ridges and valleys. The grooves are located so that material in the rotor grooves is caused to collide with material in the stator grooves or vice versa. Ideally, the grooves have a curved cross section so that material is caused to spin in the grooves. Material spinning in a stator groove is caused to collide with material spinning in a rotor groove and vice versa. The number of times that particles are caused to collide depends on the number and length of the grooves in relation to the depth of the grooves. Shear zones are located between the grooves on the stator and the grooves on the rotor.

Abstract: A locking assembly for securing a cage door, such as a bird cage door, wherein the locking assembly includes a substantially M-shaped wire support, which may be made of a resilient material, such as a plastic or a metal, having two bottom ends which are each attached to a pivot support of the cage door. The opposite end of the M-shaped wire locking device has two foot-shaped locking feet, which may be engaged under two locking slots, or loops, provided in the bird cage adjacent to the cage door. The locking device further includes a pair of finger grips which, when squeezed together by a user, cause inward displacement of the locking feet, such that they are removed, or displaced from, the locking slots or loops of the cage. In this “squeezed” position, the door of the bird cage can be pivoted to an “open” position for allowing entry into the cage.

Abstract: A roof vent for use in a flat roof having a plurality of layers of roofing material including a waterproof membrane which includes a base flange dimensioned to fit in between two of the plurality of layers of roofing material, an upstanding hollow member coupled to the base flange, an electrical connector mounted mounted on said hollow member, and at least one moisture sensing element electrically coupled to the electrical connector and deployable on one of the plurality of layers of roofing material, wherein the moisture sensing element is in the form of a strip which is deployed like tape. All of the sensing elements are coupled via the electrial connectors of the vents to a central controller which has a display and a modem for signaling an alphanumeric pager of a leak condition.

Abstract: Interconnectable formwork elements for casting vertical concrete structures adapted to interconnect to one another along their longitudinal sides to create a formwork for casting concrete to form a wall other vertical structure.

Abstract: The diaphragm (10, 12) for creating an artificial pupil aperture is functionally decoupled from a capsule bracing ring. Together with an artificial lens, it can be implanted substantially without stress in the lens capsule sac of an eye.

Abstract: A dual clamping adapter for securing a vehicle body undercarriage having both horizontal pinchwelds and vertical jack tabs to a vehicle repairing device includes a generally L-shaped clamp bracket having a generally upright upper leg and a generally horizontal lower leg, a first pair of clamps for releasably clamping a horizontal pinchweld of a vehicle body undercarriage and a second pair of clamps for releasing clamping a vertical jack tab of a vehicle body undercarriage. The first and second clamping plates are adjustably mounted on the upper and lower leg of the clamp bracket, respectively and the clamp bracket is height adjustable. A vehicle repairing device utilizing the aforementioned dual clamping adapter is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a locking device including a slider arranged in a housing in such a fashion that it is slidable between a locking position thereof and a lock releasing position thereof, the slider having a bolt adapted to selectively lock an article to which the locking device is applied, a rotating member mounted in the housing in such a fashion that it is rotatable between a locking position thereof and a lock releasing position thereof while being always urged toward an initial position defined between the locking position thereof and the lock releasing position thereof, a cylinder mounted in the housing in such a fashion that it is rotatable between a locking position thereof and a lock releasing position thereof, the cylinder having an engagement rod adapted to selectively move the slider between the locking and lock releasing positions thereof, a plurality of key plates hingably mounted in the housing, the key plates respectively having guide channels which are misaligned from one another at an initial pos

Abstract: Privacy inserts for chain link fences comprising at least two portions which are movably connected by a connecting portion so that at least one portion is movable from a first position where it does not overlap another portion to a second position where at least two portions of the fence insert overlap. Also disclosed are methods of inserting these fence inserts into a chain link fence comprising the step of moving at least one portion from a non-overlapping position relative to another portion to a position where the portions overlap prior to inserting the fence insert into a fence.

Abstract: A dual clamping adapter for securing a vehicle body undercarriage having both horizontal pinchwelds and vertical jack tabs to a vehicle repairing device includes a generally L-shaped clamp bracket having a generally upright upper leg and a generally horizontal lower leg, a first pair of clamps for releasably clamping a horizontal pinchweld of a vehicle body undercarriage and a second pair of clamps for releasing clamping a vertical jack tab of a vehicle body undercarriage. The first and second clamping plates are adjustably mounted on the upper and lower leg of the clamp bracket, respectively and the clamp bracket is height adjustable. A vehicle repairing device utilizing the aforementioned dual clamping adapter is also disclosed.

Abstract: A tripod type constant velocity joint is disclosed. A tripod housing defines an opening, and is formed with three track grooves which are communicated with the opening and are uniformly spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction. Each track groove has a contact groove formed in a side wall section thereof, and the contact groove has a bottom wall part which defines a guide surface. A spider is disposed in the opening of the tripod housing. The spider has three trunnions which project from an outer surface thereof to be inserted into the three track grooves, respectively. Three pairs of a needle roller, a spherical roller and a cylindrical roller are sequentially and diametrically fitted around the three trunnions of the spider, respectively.

Abstract: A multifunctional air gun, designed to be operable in a sucking mode, a blowing mode or a sucking and blowing mode, is disclosed. In the air gun, a tubular body has an on/off valve unit in addition to upper and lower openings communicating with each other. A fixed spool is set within the upper opening of the tubular body and connects the air supply tube to an air jet pipe while controlling the flowing direction of compressed air. A vacuum valve unit is set within the lower opening of the tubular body and is assembled with suction and exhaust nozzles at both ends while allowing the two nozzles to communicate with each other. The vacuum valve unit vacuumizes the interior of the two nozzles due to the compressed air. A first control knob is assembled with the fixed spool to control the compressed air for the vacuum valve unit, thus controlling the suction force generated by the compressed air for the vacuum valve unit.

Abstract: Illumination devices and light distribution systems utilizing overlapping joints, connector rings, end caps, assemblies for mounting light tubes to a ceiling or wall, and protective tubes.