Abstract: The viability of a pack of stored blood platelets is monitored by gripping the pack between two plates (6) and (7) which are closed to pinch together the walls of the bag (10) along an L-shaped seal (14), leaving a channel (17), squeezing a part (15) of the bag by means of a reciprocating plunger (19), so that the platelets continually flow to and fro between the part (15) and the part (16), through the channel (17), and passing a beam of light from an LED (27) through the channel (17), to a photoresistor (29). The AC signal from the photoresistor corresponds to the fluctuations in the intensity of the light passing through the channel (17) and the amplitude of this signal is representative of the viability, and hence the clinical acceptability, of the platelets.

Abstract: A cabinet comprising an enclosure with a front surface in which there is an opening. A tambour door is slidably attached to the enclosure. The tambour door is movable between an open position, in which the opening provides direct access to the enclosure interior, and a closed position in which the opening is closed by the door. The cabinet further includes a rear brake means for exerting a force opposing the movement of the tambour door from the open to the closed position when engaged by the tambour door. The tambour door engages the rear brake means at a first selected distance from the closed position that is sufficiently great so that the rear brake means can exert an adequate opposing force on the tambour door so that the tambour door gently closes.

Abstract: An activated carbon product such as a charcoal cloth or felt has, in addition to any activating material, a metal uniformly dispersed therein. The metal may be catalytic or bactericidal, and a particularly preferred product of the invention contains silver and is suitable for use as a surgical dressing. Such products can be produced by a conventional activation procedure using a mixture of halides, even if the further metal halide is substantially insoluble in the impregnation solution used for activation, by incorporating in the solution ammonia and a sequestering agent such as citric acid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a seat for vehicle which is pneumatically controlled for a desired body pressure distribution of a person seated in the seat, comprising: a plurality of air bags embedded in a seat; an air pressure source; a single first conduit connected the air pressure source at its one end and branched off into a plurality of second conduits leading to the air bags at its other end; a plurality of on-off valves each provided in the corresponding one of the second conduits leading to the air bags; an exhaust valve connected to the first conduit at its one end and to the atmosphere at its other end; a single pressure sensor provided in the first conduit; and control means connected to the air pressure source, the on-off valves, the exhaust valve and the pressure sensor; the control means comprising means for storing predetermined air pressure values for the air bags, means for selectively opening and closing the on-off valves and the exhaust valve, and means for preventing the valve opening and closing means fo

Abstract: The fuse comprises a first striker member which is movable within the body of the fuse and is able to come into contact with a detonator to cause it to explode, and a slide which is movable in a direction substantially orthogonal to that in which the striker member is movable and which carries the detonator; within the said slide there is disposed a second striker member which is movable from a first position, in which it elastically deforms a spring and is held at a predetermined distance from the detonator, to a second position in which it comes into contact with the detonator to cause it to explode, the movement of the second striker member being delayed by delay means operable to allow the movement of the striker member itself from the first-defined first to the second position only after a predetermined time.

Abstract: A combined alternator-compressor including a brushless excitation structure for the alternator. The magnetic flux field for the alternator is generated by a rotating permanent magnet ring structure and a stationary toroidal control coil which is arranged concentrically with and between the rotating permanent magnet ring and an alternator base. The control coil is mounted in additive and subtractive magnetic relationship with the permanent magnet ring for control of the magnetomotive excitation field of the alternator.

Abstract: A suction accumulator including a casing for defining a liquid storage vessel. The casing includes an upper and lower end cap. A baffle is disposed in an upper portion of the casing adjacent the upper end cap whereby refrigerant flowing into the inlet will be deflected by the baffle from an axial entry direction to flow in a horizontal plane and will be confined by the baffle until the fluid flows generally tangentially to the casing wall. At this point, the fluid leaves the baffle and flows into the liquid storage vessel. An elongated conduit is disposed in the casing whereby gaseous refrigerant flows through a tortuous path to enter the conduit and then flows through the conduit to the fluid outlet of the suction accumulator. The baffle and conduit may be molded or extruded from plastic material.

Abstract: A mallet for a percussion musical instrument which includes a shaft and a head portion. The head portion includes a cylindrical core and an annular sound ridge and a yarn covering encasing the core and sound ridge. Both the core and sound ridge are constructed of laminar layers of sheet material alternating with layers of adhesive tape. The yarn covering fills in the discontinuities between the sound ridge and the core to form a substantially spherical smooth surface for the mallet head.

Abstract: A midsole for an athletic shoe made by a process comprising, forming a plastic board using a composition containing polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyester fiber, acrylic fiber, nylon fiber and cotton fiber, overlaying at least one layer of woven fabric on said plastic board, and punching needle holes at intervals in the full area of the superposed board and fabric layer, whereby the fibers in the board and the fabric layer are interlinked binding the board and the fabric layer, and vents are formed in the bonded board and the fabric layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning and transferring stator coil leads in a dynamoelectric stator assembling machine. The apparatus includes holding devices for positioning and retaining the stator coil leads after the coils are wound and before they are inserted into the stator core. The apparatus also includes lead pullers for transferring the leads, during insertion of the coils into the stator core, from the inserting equipment to a stator carrying pallet having lead retaining devices therein. The apparatus further includes lead catchers for capturing the leads from the stator pallet lead retaining devices and for transferring the leads from the stator pallet to a lead finishing apparatus.

Abstract: A washing apparatus for processing and cleaning highly contaminated fibrous suspension made from waste paper and containing a high proportion of lightweight contaminants such as foils. The apparatus includes a generally circular rotation chamber and a good half-stuff chamber separated from the rotation chamber by a substantially planar strainer. A revolving rotor is fitted within the rotation chamber in front of the strainer. An entry chamber for receiving fibrous suspension in washing water communicates with the rotation chamber. The entry chamber is of a substantially smaller diameter than the rotation chamber and includes a washing water connection. A waste matter extraction line leads off from the rotation chamber.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a tap or valve body (10) having a bore (11) to receive a tube which is locked in the bore by means of a collet form tube coupling (21) and is sealed to the bore by O-ring seals 17, 18. The collet is encircled by a plastics insert sleeve (22) located in a counter-bore (19) at the end of bore 11 and held therein by a spring ring (39) embedded in the sleeve. The insert sleeve has a tapered bore (27) which converges towards the end of the tape or valve body and with which resilient fingers (32) of the collet engage to be compressed around the tube by the convergent bore to grip and hold the tube in the body.

Abstract: A plasma generator arrangement for applying material to an electrical conductive substrate and method for utilizing the same. The generator arrangement comprises a generator for creating and extending towards the substrate a plasma stream containing the material. The plasma generator arrangement further including structure for selectively controlling the electrical potential of the substrate relative to the generator anode so as to vary with time the extension of the plasma stream past the generator.

Abstract: A system for wastepaper processing which uses a newly developed wash filter of a simple design. The wash filter includes a generally round agitating space and an accepted stock space. The accepted stock space is separated from the agitating space by an essentially flat screen. An agitating wheel is positioned within the agitating space and in front of the flat screen. An entrance space for receipt of fibrous suspension and wash water is also included in the wash filter. The entrance space has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the agitating space. Flow of the suspension from either a primary pulper or a secondary pulper is received in the entrance space of the wash filter. A tailing removal line is in communication with and extends from the agitating space of the wash filter.

Abstract: A change spur gear of reducer unit design features two paths of force. The first path of force comprises a unit which provides gearing to high speed, a hydrodynamic torque converter and, following it, a multiple shift gear. The second path of force comprises as well a unit which provides gearing to high speed, on the high speed shaft of which there is a hydrodynamic servoclutch arranged. The secondary vane wheel connects through appropriate reducers with the transmission output. In shifting from one gear to another, the servoclutch is filled first, then the respective shift detent is disengaged under no load, the servoclutch is adjusted to the slip corresponding with the next gear thereby enabling a no-load shifting of the detent of the next gear. Upon emptying of the servoclutch, the engine moment is again assumed by the first path of force without any interruption of the traction force.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for controlling the flow of mediums, specifically of gases or liquids in pipelines or similar conduits comprising an on-off valve, a throttle positioned downstream of the on-off valve, and a pressure sensor arranged between the on-off valve and the throttle. An actuator is also provided which upon a pressure increase at the pressure sensor causes the immediate or retarded closing of the on-off valve, and at pressure drop the immediate or retarded opening of the on-off valve.

Abstract: An impulse mercury relay with magnetic interlock switch is provided comprising a first electrode member containing a body of a liquid conductor therein, a second electrode member received and secured inthe first electrode member, and a displacement plunger movable in the first electrode member to cause contact between the liquid conductor and second electrode member. A magnet device is movable with the displacement plunger, and a magnetically-actuable switch externally disposed of the first electrode member is actuated by the magnet when moved with the displacement plunger. A holding device is also provided to magnetically hold the displacement plunger at the desired position when the coil device is deenergized.

Abstract: A process for surface-treating copper products, for example, a copper foil to be used for a copper-clad laminate, the resulting surface-treated copper product having a superior bond strength to a base material, resistant to etching solution, acids, etc., is provided, which process comprises electrically depositing a binary alloy consisting of 95 to 20% by weight of zinc and 5 to 80% by weight of nickel, on the surface of a copper product to form a coating layer, followed by laminating the resulting copper product onto a base material under heating and pressure, said binary alloy being converted during the lamination into a ternary alloy of zinc, nickel and copper constituting a boundary layer having a superior bond strength between the copper product and the base material.