Abstract: The invention is relative to weather-resistant polyamides and to methods of their production in which the polymerization or polycondensation of the polyamide-forming monomers (I) is carried out in the presence of 0.02 to 0.7% by weight 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetraalkylpiperdine (II), 0 to 0.5% by weight of an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diamine (III) carrying a primary and a tertiary amino group and 0.02 to 0.7% by weight of a 2,6-dialkylphenol (IV) functionalized in 4-position to the OH group and with the formula ##STR1## in which R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different alkyl groups with 1 to 6 C atoms, R.sup.3 is either a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, functional group A represents either a free carboxyl group or a carboxyl group esterified with C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: A self-propelled agricultural harvester (1) is equipped with a fold up crop gathering attachment (6) having at least two sections which are adjustable for road travel. The adjustment narrows the harvester to a permissible width for road travel while maintaining adequate operator visibility to comply with governmental regulations.

Abstract: The present invention offers a commutation assembly for an electrical motor, whereby a constant optimal pressure is maintained upon the commutator of the motor.

Abstract: A vented closure is provided in which a PTFE membrane layer comprises a vent for releasing accumulated gas pressure. The membrane is carried on a structural support which may vary from a fabric type backing to a porous plastic stem, the support permitting a variety of improved vent architecture to be utilized including vents with reduced material requirements, improved geometry, and better handling characteristics.

Abstract: There is provided a method for discriminating a tire class which can improve discrimination grade of the tire class by detecting error of decoding, in case the decoding of a character is erroneous. A train of symbols is composed of a multiple arrangement of discrimination symbols, and the discrimination symbols are composed of a character code portion that is indicated according to existence of a length and breadth, and a parity check porion indicating truth and falsity of said character code portion with existence of multiple dots. A CCD camera photographs a train of symbols, and the train of symbols in the photograph is made of two dimensional image data; according to a control unit, the existence of each discrimination symbol dot at the train of symbols of the image data is recogonized, and the character code is decoded due to the length and breadth arrangement of the character code portion of the discrimination symbols.

Abstract: A constrained space camera assembly which is intended to be lowered through a hole into a tank, a borehole or another cavity. The assembly includes a generally cylindrical chamber comprising a head and a body and a wiring-carrying conduit extending from the chamber. Means are included in the chamber for rotating the body about the head without breaking an airtight seal formed therebetween. The assembly may be pressurized and accompanied with a pressure sensing means for sensing if a breach has occurred in the assembly. In one embodiment, two cameras, separated from their respective lenses, are installed on a mounting apparatus disposed in the chamber. The mounting apparatus includes means allowing both longitudinal and lateral movement of the cameras. Moving the cameras longitudinally focuses the cameras, and moving the cameras laterally away from one another effectively converges the cameras so that close objects can be viewed.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester has a header connected to a conveying unit for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis to adjust for changes in ground contour. An endless conveyor is supported in the conveying duct of the conveying unit in a manner permitting its forward end to move vertically and a mechanism is provided to prevent contact between the conveying chains of the endless conveyor and the discharge doorway of the header unit when a predetermined pivotal movement of the header unit occurs.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of analyzing an article having an entrance and an exit in communication with the entrance. The apparatus comprises: a spectrometer having an emission source with a focal point; a plurality of mirrors; and a detector connected to the spectroscope. The emission source is positioned so that its focal point is substantially coextensive with the entrance of the article. The mirrors comprise: a first mirror positionable adjacent the exit of the article and a second mirror positioned relative to the other of said plurality of mirrors. The first mirror receives scattered emissions exiting the article and substantially collimates the scattered emissions. The second mirror substantially focuses the collimated emissions into a focused emission. The detector receives the focused emission from the mirrors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing partially aromatic copolyamides from polymeric esters of aromatic dicarboxylic acids by amidation of the ester groups with diamines, removal of the split-off alcohols or diols and after-condensation of the low-molecular precondensates as well as by the following compounding to polyamide molding materials.

Abstract: An automatic bar code label applying apparatus is characterized by comprising at least a test tube containing section (1) for containing test tubes (11) of a same type to be applied with respective bar code labels, a collection device (2) for collecting the test tubes from the test tube containing section, a transfer device (3) for transferring the collected test tubes to a bar code label applying station (41), a printing/application device for printing characters and bar codes on the labels and applying the printed labels to the respective test tubes and a delivery device for delivering the test tubes with applied bar code labels.

Abstract: Ratchet wrench gears, for use in standard and pneumatic ratchet wrenches include adjustable jaws that may grip a fastener on at least four sides. The jaws travel on tracks or rails and open and close by means of threaded, floating-cams, which urge upon a protruding cam portion integral to the jaw body. The cams are driven axially by turning a threaded-stem-disc, which may comprise a hollow center, thus allowing for a "through-hole" feature. Various, optional compression-spring means are included to continually bias jaws toward an open position.

Abstract: A game including a game board is provided with two recesses and including two sets of pieces which may be assembled to reconstitute two similar pictures, one picture within and filling each recess, the pieces of the two sets being of the same shape and size but each piece belonging to one set only and not the other by virtue of the pieces bearing non-interchangeable elements of pictures to be reconstituted. The puzzle may be played competitively, with two players racing against one another to complete pictures.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for obtaining samples of liquid and gas from subsurface soil is provided having filter zone adjacent an external expander ring. The expander ring creates a void within the soil substrate which encourages the accumulation of soil-borne fluids. The fluids migrate along a pressure gradient through a plurality of filters before entering a first chamber. A one-way valve regulates the flow of fluid into a second chamber in further communication with a collection tube through which samples are collected at the surface. A second one-way valve having a reverse flow provides additional communication between the chambers for the pressurized cleaning and back-flushing of the apparatus.

Abstract: The method for laser-assisted image formation in transparent specimens consists in establishing a laser beam having different angular divergence values in two mutually square planes, followed by focusing the lase beam at a present point of the specimen. In the course of image formation the specimen is displaced with respect to the point of radiation focusing in order to change an angle between the plane with a maximum laser beam angualr divergence and the surface of the image portion being formed so as to suit the required contrast of the image portion involved.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel hot-melt masses consisting of a statistically built-up copolyether ester based on terephthalic acid and a mixture of aliphatic diols. Terephthalic acid is used as the single acid component and its molar amount, relative to the total amount of acid, is 100 molar %. A combination of butane diol, diethylene glycol, polyethylene and optionally triethylene glycol is present as diol component. The molar amount of butane diol is less than 75 molar %, the amount of diethylene glycol is between 5 and 60 molar %, the amount of triethylene glycol between 0 and 40 molar % and at least 2 and at the most 10 molar % of a higher-molecular polyethylene glycol component with a molar mass of 600-4000 g/mole is used, relative to the total acid amount and total diol amount of 100 molar % in each instance. The melting point of the copolyether ester adhesive masses is between 90.degree. and 190.degree. C.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cold starting assistance for diesel engines including use of a sheathed-element glow plug in the combustion chamber and a heater plug in the air intake, which plugs are operated by a control device (15) responsive to engine operating parameters, particularly engine temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides an artificial dura mater comprising a sheet made of bioabsorbable synthetic polymers formed from copolymers of lactic acid and .epsilon.-caprolactone.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for vapor compression distillation is provided comprising a heat exchanger, a vapor compressor, and a liquid-vapor separator. The heat exchanger is preferably of the plate and frame type, with the plate faces being spaced apart to allow for the microscopic movement of the plates during the distillation process. This movement aids in the breaking off of hard scale which has accumulated on the plates. The process involves passing pressurized vapor and liquid into the heat exchanger, the pressurized vapor condensing to form a distillate, the liquid being heated to form a heated liquid and a non-pressurized vapor, the heated liquid and non-pressurized vapor being passed into a liquid-vapor separator where they are separated, the heated liquid being passed back into the heat exchanger and the non-pressurized vapor being passed into a vapor compressor for passage back into the heat exchanger.