Abstract: A power takeoff having an output shaft, an output gear and a connect-disconnect clutch mechanism for connecting the output gear to the output shaft, the clutch mechanism, including a clutch hub, a disc stack slidably mounted between the output gear and the clutch hub and a piston for compressing the disc stack-thereby to bring the output shaft into rotatable engagement with the transmission of an engine; in which the clutch hub is normally biased by a spring away from the piston but is confined by snap rings to limit the hub's movement along the output shaft in such a manner so that substantially no operational force is placed on the snap rings during compression of the disc stack.

Abstract: A desynchronizer for desynchronizing one or multiple channels of SONET/SDH data signals, which includes a first in first out (FIFO) buffer having an input coupled to said data signals and an output for outputting asynchronous data obtained from one or more of said SONET/SDH data channels. An arithmetic unit coupled to the FIFO performs all operations required for single or multi-channel desynchronization. An endless phase modulator is coupled to the arithmetic unit and to the FIFO and is operative, in response to input from the arithmetic unit, to produce a single output desynchronized clock or multiple output desynchronized clocks.

Abstract: A weight for insertion upon a drinking straw which is provided to anchor the drinking straw against the buoyant effects of escaping diffused gases in carbonated drinks.

Abstract: A lightweight carbon fiber air/gas supply vessel storing high pressure air/gas. The air/gas supply vessel output is controlled by an adjustable pressure reduction valve which varies output pressure from very high to low pressure levels. An alternative multi-valve system uses a first pressure reduction valve to reduce output pressure from the very high levels in the air/gas supply vessel to an intermediate pressure level, and a second pressure reduction valve that reduces the air/gas pressure from the intermediate level to a fine tunable low pressure level. In both embodiments, the output of the last pressure reduction valve used is connected to a high pressure cable which in turn uses a standard universal fitting which can be coupled to most pneumatically powered equipment. Additional high pressure reservoir vessels can be used to replenish the lightweight air/gas supply vessel when its supply of air/gas is depleted.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating power utilizing the flow of water from an upper water body to a lower water body in order to generate an upward buoyant force on at least one buoyant object located in a chamber. In preferred embodiments, water is recycled between at least two chambers which generate upward and downward strokes of at least two buoyant objects.

Abstract: This application discloses parts for use in constructing a curved glass block wall using regular shaped glass blocks. The assembly parts include a vertical spacer, which provides for adjustable widths of spacing to be obtained between adjacent glass blocks, as well as a horizontal connector which provides for both lateral and transverse adjustments to be made.

Abstract: Apparatus for de-feathering (i.e. picking or plucking) poultry. More particularly, picking apparatus employing a plurality of elongated picking elements which are resistant to cracking and/or micro-poring, and which are preferably flexible and/or bendable and which are of sufficiently low mass such as to decrease poundage yield loss (e.g. decrease fat loss and poultry wing damage). In some embodiments, apparatus is provided having a plurality of filaments rotatable about an axis for removing feathers from a poultry carcass.

Abstract: A converted wood article for use in combination with other converted wood articles to form composite wood products for use in general construction such as in the construction of posts, flooring, walls and support beams.

Abstract: A frame tent having a triangular-shaped perimeter frame, a flexible canopy attached to said perimeter frame, three corner posts to support the perimeter frame at corners thereof, three cables each having one end attached to an upper end of an associated one of said corner posts and a free end attached to a common junction element, and a flying pole supported at one end by said common junction element and connected at another end to an interior surface of said canopy.

Abstract: A multi-piece steering knuckle having at least one boss which is adjustable in position along an axis of a king pin. More particularly, a steering knuckle including at least one boss having a threaded surface for threading to a mating surface of a yoke arm, the threaded surface allowing the boss to be selectively positioned along an axis of a king pin in a non-finite number of incremental positions. In another embodiment, a steering knuckle boss having an outwardly threaded surface for threading to a mating surface of a yoke arm and having, optionally, an inner wall composed of, at least in part, a nickel-aluminum bronze alloy.

Abstract: Wearable systems for providing situational awareness in battle or combat type conditions. More specially, modular, wearable, weapon integrated computer systems for gathering and transmitting data, wherein the systems include components tailorable for specific conditions or missions. Further provided are hardware and software for controlling such wearable systems and for communicating with remote system wearers.

Abstract: An auxiliary lift axle suspension of the parallelogram type is constructed for heavy duty operation by providing longitudinal control arms at the corners of a parallelogram configuration extending between the axle connecting member and the frame hanger bracket. A lift bellows is then located between two opposing rigidity providing, U-shaped members (called paddles or stabilizer members) located within the three dimensional parallelogram space, wherein the legs of one U-shaped member are connected to the axle connecting member and the legs of the opposing U-shaped member are connected to the hanger bracket, such that the lift bellows is located between the bases of the opposing paddles and expands bi-directionally to lift the wheels of the suspension from the road surface.

Abstract: A parallelogram lift axle suspension system includes an in-line lift bellows located between and vertically aligned with a pair of upper and lower control arms so as to provide bi-directional expansion and contraction of the lift bellows for raising and lowering the suspension while increasing the space available between the longitudinal frame rails enabling use of the suspension in certain vehicles by avoiding interference with other vehicle components of the vehicle located in this space.

Abstract: There is provided an adjustable device for supporting a lighting element of a lighting fixture, and which provides for adjusting the spatial configuration of the lighting fixture by adjusting, in particular, the position of a lamp-holder with respect to a supporting body; the lamp-holder is connected to the supporting body by an electric cable, and by a flexible conducting first rod secured at opposite ends to the lamp-holder and the supporting body; a flexible second rod is fixed to the lamp-holder and to the supporting body by respective attachments; and adjusting means are provided for adjusting the length of the second rod to selectively adjust the distance between the respective attachments and, therefore, the position of the lamp-holder with respect to the supporting body.

Abstract: A control method for an electric pump adapted to supply pressurised operating fluid to actuators of an automatic transmission in order to cause the opening/closing of the clutch and the selection and engagement of the gears, in which the stage of supply of a voltage to the motor of the electric pump is carried out in order to cause the electric pump to rotate. The method comprises the stage of regulating the supply voltage as a function of actual operating conditions monitored in the vehicle using the automatic transmission.

Abstract: A dual clutch transmission unit for a motor vehicle is adapted to transmit the movement to an automatic gear change provided with two ranks of gears; the transmission unit has a rotary movement input member adapted to be driven in rotation by the engine of the motor vehicle and two output shafts which are adapted to be rigidly connected to respective input shafts of the gear change and bear respective clutch devices which are adapted to receive the movement from the rotary member and are each associated with a relative rank of gears of the gear change; one of the clutch devices is disengaged and the other is engaged in sequence by an actuator device provided with a single actuator and a movement sleeve coaxial with one another.

Abstract: A method for the performance of the gear disengagement in a servo-controlled manual gear change, according to which an oscillation is generated with respect to the angular speed of a primary shaft of the gear change by abruptly opening the relative clutch and the disengagement of the gear is performed around the maximum amplitude of an oscillation half-wave, when this oscillation has caused the angular speed of the primary shaft to be relatively close to the angular speed that the primary shaft has to assume to carry out the engagement of the subsequent gear.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating power utilizing the flow of water from an upper water body to a lower water body in order to generate an upward buoyant force on at least one buoyant object located in a chamber. In preferred embodiments, water is recycled between at least two chambers which generate upward and downward strokes of at least two buoyant objects.

Abstract: This application discloses a horizontal spacer for rectangular and non-rectangular glass blocks, which enables non-rectangular glass blocks to be connected to adjacent non-rectangular or rectangular glass blocks such that any configuration of wall may be formed using such blocks. The horizontal spacer has elongated tabs and receiving holes which extend from opposing sides. The elongated tabs engage the receiving holes of adjacent horizontal spacers.

Abstract: This invention provides a bus interface to connect SONET/SDH termination devices with payload processing devices while utilizing a minimum number of signals. The bus interface of this invention can scale with future advances in bandwidth in serial link technology.