Abstract: A foldable wheelchair includes a cross brace assembly having first and second brace members pivotally secured to one another. First ends of the brace members are clamped to respective side frames of the wheelchair. Second ends of the brace members are removably secured to respective seat rails so that the cross brace assembly can be adjustably positioned forwardly and rearwardly along the side frames and seat rails. This provides for ease of seat depth adjustment that accommodates growth of the wheelchair user without having to purchase additional components.

Abstract: An acoustic oxygen sensor is provided which can be used in the output lines leading from the sieve beds. This sensor can be used in communication with a microprocessor to control the production and evacuation cycles of the sieve beds, i.e., for example to determine the period for which a bed is supplied with compressed air and communicates with the reservoir as well as to determine the pressure of the compressed air and to determine the amount of time that the product gas is fed through the flow equalization path to supply an aliquot of purging gas to a used bed. In the feedback loop, the microprocessor utilizes the measured oxygen concentration and flow rate to optimize the settings necessary to achieve maximum oxygen concentration and flow rate efficiency. Since the microprocessor has the ability to make incremental changes and compare relative values, the optimum values can be determined empirically eliminating the need to perform complex theoretical calculations.

Abstract: Composites from a semi-crystalline polyolefin and nanometer sized fillers with improved modulus, tensile strength and crack growth resistance are disclosed. The nanometer sized fillers are first functionalized with an aminosilane. Thereafter, a carboxylated or maleated polyolefin is grafted to the filler through an amine-carboxyl reaction. The resulting modified filler is dispersed in a semi-crystalline polyolefin (eg. polyethylene or polypropylene). Co-crystallization between the carboxylated or maleated polyolefin and the semi-crystalline polyolefin can improve interaction between the filler and semi-crystalline polyolefin.

Abstract: An oxygen concentrator is provided which has a first molecular sieve bed connected to a four-way valve (i.e., a cross-over valve) which either joins the sieve bed to a pressurized air source (compressed air) or alternatively vents it to atmosphere. A second molecular sieve bed is also joined to the four-way valve in a corresponding manner. The sieve beds are joined at the outlet end to a product reservoir. The sieve beds are also in fluid communication at the outlet end by a pressure equalization flow path. A concentration equalization valve regulates the flow in the pressure equalization flow path. In accordance with the present invention, the microprocessor uses a closed-loop feedback circuit to evaluate the amount of time that the output product gas is allowed to flow into the used sieve bed. Specifically, an incremental step advance is used assuming a peak value of the time of flow one direction as compared to the time of flow in the second direction.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention a process is provided for achieving a phase-pure BSCCO or lead doped BSCCO powder or precursor of the 2201, 2212 or 2223 phase. In this process a cation solution is intimately mixed with an anion solution and precipitation is caused at a carefully controlled pH in the range from about 10 to about 12.5. The resulting product is filtered and dried or heat-treated at a temperature of from about 400.degree. to about 500.degree. C. for a period of from about 8 to about 12 hours. The heat-treated powder is then subjected to a second heat treatment at a reduced oxygen of from about 3 to about 10 torr and a temperature of from about 700.degree. to about 800.degree. to form a precursor powder. The precursor powder is heat-treated at ambient pressure in CO.sub.2 -free air from about 12 to about 31 hours or more at a temperature of from about 800.degree. to about 850.degree. C.

Abstract: A lubricant composition is disclosed which comprises, a triglyceride oil lubricant and an oil soluble copper compound antioxidant. The oil soluble copper compounds are particularly effective antioxidants for triglycerides. The lubricant composition can include soluble zinc compounds which reduce wear and/or soluble antimony compounds which reduce wear and can function as adjuvant antioxidants reducing the amount of oil soluble copper required. Preferred zinc and antimony compounds are zinc dithiophosphate antiwear/antioxidant, and antimony dialkyldithiocarbamate antioxidant adjuvant.

Abstract: A tubular blank for producing golf club shafts comprises a butt section having a uniform cross-sectional configuration along its length, a tip section also having a uniform cross-sectional configuration along its length, and a tapered section interconnecting the butt and tip sections. Metallurgically formed rifling on the interior surface of the blank extends throughout the entirety of the butt, tip and tapered sections. The golf club shafts produced from these blanks have increased strength and stiffness which is a direct result of the interior rifling. A set of golf club shafts preferably is produced from a group of these tubular blanks with each blank of the group having the same length and the same natural frequency. Predetermined portions are then selectively removed from the tip and butt sections.

Abstract: A wheelchair includes a frame having first and second longitudinal sides connected by a bridge and a seat module carried by the frame. A first power drive assembly is disposed on the frame first longitudinal side. The first power drive assembly includes a first swing arm pivotally secured to the frame, a first motor mounted to the first swing arm and a first wheel operably connected to the first motor. A second power drive assembly is disposed on the frame second longitudinal side. The second power drive assembly includes a second swing arm pivotally secured to the frame, a second motor mounted to the second swing arm and a second wheel operably connected to the second motor. A first resiliently biased anti-tip assembly is secured to both the frame first longitudinal side and the first motor. A second resiliently biased anti-tip assembly is secured to both the frame second longitudinal side and the second motor. A power supply is mounted on the frame for powering the first and second motors.

Abstract: A composite structure comprising a preformed flexible laminate in adhering contact with at least a first and second transparent or translucent panel members such as would be useful as an insulated glass unit. The flexible laminate contains an undulating spacer element either partially or totally embedded within a core material and has a polymeric coating on at least one surface thereof. The flexible laminate effectively seals the interior of the panel structure from air and/or moisture and maintains a desired distance between the panels. A multi-cavity extrusion die for forming the preformed flexible laminate has a core cavity for receiving the core material as well as the undulating continuous spacer element. Converging walls within the core cavity serve to embed at least one side of the spacer element in the core material and a land area forms a desired shape or configuration wherein the spacer element undulation is maintained.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a lightweight wheelchair having adjustable wheel camber, adjustable toe-in/toe-out positions, and front-to-rear adjustment of the wheel assembly relative to the frame. The wheel camber is changed by removable camber tubes having plugs in opposite ends with different angular relationships. The camber tube is removed from an axle tube, rotated through one hundred eighty degrees, and reinserted to change the wheel camber. The location of the angular recesses in the camber plugs addresses minor toe-in/toe-out adjustments while rotation of an axle tube provided with indicia assures that proper toe-in/toe-out adjustment is provided for larger wheel camber adjustments. The front to rear location of the wheels relative to the frame can be adjusted via a single fastener on each side. Moreover, the track width of the rear wheels can be adjusted in response to the change in wheel camber.

Abstract: A mid-wheel drive or front wheel drive power wheelchair includes a front stabilizer extending from the frame. It includes a first arm pivotally mounted to the frame at a first or upper end and a stabilizer wheel is mounted adjacent a second end. A second arm of the stabilizer assembly is pivotally connected at opposite ends to the stabilizer wheel axis and lower end of the shock assembly associated with the suspension arm. The first arm includes a dampening cylinder surrounded by a spring. The spring force preload can be selectively altered and, independently, the height of the stabilizer wheel may be adjusted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a respiratory gas dispensing apparatus for delivering a precise volume of respiratory gas to a patient within less than about half of an inspiratory effort comprising a source of respiratory gas in operative communication with a valve means capable of releasing a pulsed dose of respiratory gas in synchronization with the initiation of the inspiratory effort wherein the volume of the pulsed dose is constant throughout an entire pulse period. The invention further relates to a method of using the subject apparatus, and to the valve means contained in the subject apparatus.

Abstract: A movable subframe for tractor-trailers, commonly referred to as a slider, includes an improved retractable pin mechanism for locking the movable subframe in a selected position relative to the tractor-trailer body. A manually operated handle is used to pneumatically actuate the pin mechanism, or in the event that the mechanism is unable to be pneumatically actuated, to manually actuate the pin mechanism. Conversion between the pneumatic and manual actuation modes is accomplished without modification to the retractable pin mechanism. More specifically, a handle assembly, which in the pneumatic mode operates generally independent of the other parts of the pin mechanism, is manually moved from a starting position in which the pins are in an extended locked position, to a first position to engage a button valve thereby opening the valve to supply air to an air chamber, which in turn causes pneumatic actuation and retraction of the pin mechanism.

Abstract: Thermoplastic carbon black concentrates are provided by blending reclaim carbon black with either a prime thermoplastic or a reclaim thermoplastic wherein the amount of carbon black is generally from about 20 to about 70 parts by weight based upon 100 parts by weight of the carbon black and the thermoplastic. The use of reclaim carbon black is environmentally friendly in that the reclaim carbon black is not disposed in a landfill or a dump but rather is used as an inexpensive source for pigmenting, tinting, or reinforcing thermoplastics.

Abstract: A low noise tire tread includes a base pitch sequence circumferentially extending about at least a portion of the tire. A bias pitch sequence is embedded within at least one of the base pitches and desirably in a majority of, or preferably in each base pitch. The bias pitches extend generally at a lateral angle with respect to the circumferential base pitch and desirably extends across the full tread arc. One or more bias pitch sequences have different lateral pitch locations than the pitch locations of another bias pitch sequence.

Abstract: Internal seals including gaskets and the like of a hydraulic and other enclosed fluid systems can be conditioned with an ester composition desirably an acetate ester. The composition can be combined with a system's fluid, or used itself as a system fluid alone or in combination with other additives. Conditioning includes softening said internal seals and gaskets so they are more effective at sealing.

Abstract: A lubricant composition is disclosed which comprises, a triglyceride oil lubricant and an oil soluble copper compound antioxidant. The oil soluble copper compounds are particularly effective antioxidants for triglycerides. The lubricant composition can include soluble zinc compounds which reduce wear and/or soluble antimony compounds which reduce wear and can function as adjuvant antioxidants reducing the amount of oil soluble copper required. Preferred zinc and antimony compounds are zinc dithiophosphate antiwear/antioxidant, and antimony dialkyldithiocarbamate antioxidant adjuvant.

Abstract: A method for producing a pultrusion product having a variable cross-section using a specially adapted temperature controllable pultrusion die includes the steps of pulling reinforcing fibers which have been impregnated with a heat curable thermosetting polymeric resin composition through a temperature controllable die, heating the temperature controllable die to a temperature sufficient to effect curing of the thermosetting resin, cooling the temperature controllable die to a temperature which is sufficiently low to prevent any significant curing of thermosetting resin passing through the pultrusion die, pulling the cured material and a predetermined length of uncured material from the die, reshaping the uncured material, and curing the reshaped material. The reshaping step can be used to provide off-sets, flanges, bosses and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustable, flexible cover for a container such as a trash or garbage receptacle comprising a flexible film which is impervious to water and odors and has a central portion bounded by a peripheral edge to cover the top opening of the trash receptacle whereas the peripheral edge contacts the sidewall or walls of the receptacle. The cover further has an adhesive sealing member which gathers the peripheral edge of the film to seal the top opening against the intrusion of precipitation and the leakage of odors. Optionally, the top surface of the central portion may include indicia such as holiday or sports designs. An alternative embodiment relates to a flexible bag having an adhesive sealing member on the peripheral edge thereof for application of the bag edge to the external side of the container.