Abstract: An apparatus for the isolation of cell clusters that are either embedded or transported is preferably used for the isolation of the insulin-producing pancreatic islets of Langerhans, but it also can be used for the isolation of other types of cell clusters and particles in fluids as well. The apparatus employs digital imaging of the cell suspension on either a plane surface or in a capillary tubing, wherein a digital camera scans the cell suspension.

Abstract: A floating hull for a spar-type offshore oil and gas drilling and production platform comprises a plurality of parallel tubular cells that are subdivided into compartments having a buoyancy controlled by one or both of fixed and variable ballast. The cells may be fabricated in a variety of ways and shapes and include side wall openings for admitting and discharging seawater and petroleum ballast with pumps. Fixed and/or variable ballast may be disposed on or in the cells to adjust buoyancy, trim, and stability. Lower and upper portions of the cells may extend above or below the others for trim or stability. Longitudinal recesses may be formed in an exterior peripheral surface for routing of mooring lines and piping. Stepped helical strakes can be disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the platform or some of the cells to reduce vortex-induced vibrations of the platform. Methods are described for efficient construction of the floating hull in water.

Abstract: A ventilating device for ventilating through a ridge, preferably through a top ridge of a roof, includes a ridge member configured extending longitudinally along and beneath the ridge. The ridge member has a rigid part that includes two opposed panels and a number of cross pieces extending between the opposing panels. The ridge member also has passages extending from a lower part of the ridge member to an upper part of the ridge member. In a first embodiment, the cross pieces extend from the lower part to the upper part of the ridge member transverse to a longitudinal direction of the ridge member, and ventilating passages are formed in spaces between the two opposing panels and between the cross pieces. In a second embodiment, the cross pieces extend between the lower part of the ridge member to the upper part of the ridge member parallel to a longitudinal direction of the ridge member, and ventilating passages are formed as holes penetrating the cross pieces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for prevention of clashing between multiple conduits spaced closely together and to methods of installation of multiple conduits at the same time. Various aspects of the invention are provided involving separating the at least two transfer conduits, and allowing relative motion between the at least two transfer conduits.

Abstract: A body protection device in the form of an inflatable vest includes an inflation mechanism that is actuated upon separation or removal of the wearer from a vehicle. A compressed gas cartridge is held in an interior pocket of the vest and attached to an inflatable bladder. The compressed gas cartridge communicates with the interior of the bladder through a cartridge actuation mechanism and an inflation tube. The cartridge actuation mechanism includes a triggering device that operates an actuation lever to open the cartridge. The actuation lever is actuated in response to a pulling force of predetermined magnitude that detaches the triggering mechanism from the actuation mechanism. The actuation lever is connected to the vehicle by a lanyard, which lanyard, when a wearer of the vest is forcibly separated from the vehicle, actuates the triggering device before detaching from the actuation mechanism, thereby opening the cartridge to inflate the vest.

Abstract: A two-wire controlling and monitoring system for in particular irrigation of localized areas of soil according to a aspect of the invention comprises a water pipeline, a first plurality of controllable irrigation valves, a second plurality of field sensors measuring specific irrigation parameters, and a third plurality of localized irrigation control units. The third plurality of localized irrigation control units each comprises a sensor decoder connected to a specific field sensor of the second plurality of field sensors and/or a line decoder connected to a specific controllable irrigation valve of the first plurality of controllable irrigation valves. The two-wire controlling and monitoring system further comprises a controller and power supply unit having a set of schedules of instructions and supplying power by applying a first alternating DC voltage signal to a two-wire cable interconnecting the controller and power supply unit and the third plurality of localized irrigation control units.

Abstract: A device for fixing a showerhead in a position on a wall slide bar includes a casing having top and bottom surfaces each extending transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of the bar and having cylindrical bore through the casing for receiving the bar. The device includes a brake pad that is engageable with the bar, and first and second pushbuttons, each of which is operable on the pad to engage the pad in a first position to engage the bar to fix the device in a specific position on the bar, and in a second position to disengage the pad from the bar, allowing the device to be moved longitudinally along the bar. The first pushbutton is in the top surface of the casing and is pressed in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bar and toward the bottom surface of the casing to move from its first position to its second position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ornamental display assembly which includes a base, first and second coaxially arranged support members, a common drive mechanism mounted on the base and coupled to the first and second coaxially arranged support members, wherein the drive mechanism includes a music box mechanism and a rotating device, a first ornament supported and driven by the first support member, and a second ornament coupled with the second support member. When the common drive mechanism is actuated, the first support member is rotated by the rotating device while the second support member is rotated by the drive mechanism, thereby respectively causing the first and second ornaments to rotate in different manners.

Abstract: An integrated digital electronic encoder that converts mechanical movement of a device input into a signal that can be applied to particular purposes is described. The encoder and associated signal conditioning and processing circuitry are embedded together as a single unit for simplicity of assembly into particular applications, and reliability. The integrated digital electronic encoder includes a substrate with first and second substantially opposed major surfaces, and a digital encoder formed on the first major surface of the substrate. The encoder comprises an actuation shaft, and the encoder is configured to generate electrical signals in response to movement of the actuation shaft. Electronic circuitry is attached to the second major surface of the substrate, preferably using surface mount technology. The electronic circuitry is electrically connected with the digital encoder to process the signals produced by the encoder.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement is designed for sealing a space that extends between high and low pressure areas and that is defined between a first apparatus part and a cylindrical surface of a second apparatus part, the first and second apparatus parts being mutually moveable in a reciprocating manner along the axis of said cylindrical surface. The sealing arrangement includes an annular sealing member of resilient material having a radially outer peripheral surface extending between axially opposite first and second end surfaces facing the high and low pressure areas, respectively, and a radially inner peripheral surface for providing a sealing engagement with the cylindrical surface of the second apparatus part at a contact area, and for defining with the cylindrical surface a first space widening or diverging from the contact area toward the low pressure area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing fish in a food processing unit (72), which method comprises the following steps: thawing (44, 62) during a thawing period by ejecting steam and water within the food processing unit (72) while continuously re-circulating air, cooking (46, 64) during a cooking period by firstly discontinuing ejecting water while continuing ejecting steam into the food processing unit, and secondly re-circulating air to maintain the ambient temperature at a predetermined temperature, cooling (48, 66) during a cooling period by discontinuing ejecting steam while ejecting water and continuously re-circulating exterior air communicated to the food processing unit (72). The food processing unit (72) is calibrated for determining the duration of the thawing, cooking, and cooling periods by using a temperature sensitive device to measure a core temperature of the fish and to establish the duration of the three periods according to the core temperature.

Abstract: An electronic trip meter for a bicycle is provided. The electronic trip meter for a bicycle includes a signal generator and a main unit. The signal generator is used for generating a signal each time the bicycle travels over a specific distance, and the main unit is used for receiving the signal, evaluating and displaying the riding data, and generating an alert signal to remind the rider to execute a maintenance operation when the riding distance or the riding time exceeds a preset riding distance or a preset riding time.

Abstract: A position sensor (25) includes both a position potentiometer (90) and a turns count potentiometer (92). The position potentiometer (90) includes a pair of wipers (12 and 14) positioned on a rotor (10) which each contact both a resistive track (46) and one of two different commutator tracks (48 and 50) on element (26). The sensed percentage of total voltage output, which is a function of the position the wiper (12 or 14) contacts the resistive track (46), corresponds to the angular position between 0.degree. and 360.degree. of the shaft on which the position sensor (25) is mounted. The turns count potentiometer (92) comprises a turns count rotor (66) which is incrementally advanced via a cog (18) on rotor (10) using a gear or geneva type mechanism. The turns count rotor (66) includes a wiper (64) which either contacts both a resistive track (150) and commutator track (152) or contacts one of a plurality of switch pads (154).

Abstract: An electrically conductive polymer film composition includes a polymeric resin, an electrically conductive substance intimately mixed in sufficient quantity with the polymeric resin to render the polymeric resin electrically conductive, and particles, such as fibers or spheres of appropriate size, admixed with the polymer composition in sufficient quantity so that in the cured polymer film the particles protrude from the surface of the film and render the surface uneven on a micro scale. The cured polymer film composition of the invention is incorporated in potentiometers and similar electric and electronic devices as a thick film where a contact wiper rides substantially continuously in contact with the protruding fibers.

Abstract: A surface mount variable resistor includes a rotor assembly rotatably mounted on a substrate having an arcuate resistive element thereon. The rotor assembly includes a thermoplastic rotor and a conductive metal slider. The slider is a rivet having a flat head that is insert-molded into the plastic rotor, and a shank extending axially from the head, terminating in a tail end. A conductive metal wiper is welded to the head so as to be exposed from the rotor, thereby to establish electrical contact with the resistive element. A conductive metal collector element is disposed on the surface of the substrate opposite the resistive element. The substrate and the collector element have registering apertures through which the shank is inserted.

Abstract: New 5-hydroxy-2-furanone compounds have anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive and anti-proliferative activity and are useful in treating psoriasis and modifying calcium homeostasis.

Abstract: In a miniature, single-turn potentiometer, a fluid-tight seal is formed between the rotor and the housing by the interference fit between an annular ridge on the peripheral edge of the rotor and a conforming groove in the interior wall surface of the housing cavity in which the rotor is installed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two parallel ridges and grooves, and they are configured to form a "chevron" seal, in which the ridges have a substantially saw-tooth shape in axial cross-section, with the grooves having a complementary shape. The chevron seal provides a direct, rotor-to-housing seal that is fluid-tight, without the use of an O-ring, while also restraining the rotor from axial movement with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A wiper assembly for a potentiometer, particularly a rotary potentiometer having a rotor for carrying the wiper assembly along a resistive element, includes a metal plate attached to the rotor. A strip of metal formed integrally with the plate is bent back over itself out of the plane of the plate to form a cantilevered spring arm having a free end. Attached to the free end is an array of resilient, conductive wires arranged in a parallel, side-by-side relationship, each of the wires forming a resilient, cantilevered wiper finger. The spring arm and the array of wire wiper fingers attached to it form a hybrid wiper arm assembly. Preferably, the plate includes a first such hybrid wiper arm assembly arranged to function as a wiper for the resistive element in the potentiometer, and a second such wiper arm assembly arranged to function as a wiper for a conductive collector element in the potentiometer.