Abstract: Individual groups of inflatable cushions forming an air mattress are supplied with pressurizing air through a common feed duct having an upstream on/off valve and individual on/off valves in branch ducts leading to individual groups of cushions. When the upstream valve is open, it exhausts pressure air from the branch ducts so that if any one of the branch duct valves is also open, its associated group of cushions are subjected to reduced pressure. The individual valves may be operated to isolate groups of cushions from each other while the upstream valve is closed and thus subject a particular group of cushions to system pressure. A single pressure sensor measures the pressure to which the particular group of cushions is subjected and the whole system may be programmed though a computer for automatic control dependent upon individual user requirements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container grab comprising co-operating jaws attached to a frame, between which jaws a container rim is to be accommodated, characterized in that the under jaw is attached to a carriage slidable along a frame column comprised in said frame and the upper jaw is attached to one end of a lever pivotally attached to said carriage, the other end of said lever being coupled via a link with said frame column. Preferably said carriage is provided with a hook element that co-operates as such with a material strip attached to said frame, that on sliding said carriage along said frame column as to bring the jaws in the closed position, said hook element hooks behind said strip locking the pair of jaws against an undesired opening.

Abstract: A magnetometer made of thin film ferromagnetic material measures a component of an extraneous magnetic field which lies within the film at right angles to the direction of a magnetic field which is periodically excited within the film in opposite directions at sufficient intensity to saturate the film, in the presence of unidirectionally flowing current within the film along a path preferably extending at an angle of about 45.degree. to the axis of anisotropy lying within the film.

Abstract: A method of forming a sleeve of circular cross-section from a flat plate of predetermined shape is provided by which in a very simple, reliable and cheap manner a sleeve can be manufactured, the shape of which corresponds with a desired shape without an additional pre- or post process.In order to achieve the objects mentioned above a method as mentioned is provided in which the plate is pressed through a shaft enclosing the plate against and along a hollow mould wall having a shape corresponding to the shape of the sleeve to be made.Furthermore a device for carrying out the aforesaid method is provided characterized by a gap-shaped shaft, the width of which is smaller than twice the thickness of the plate, the outlet end of said shaft adjoining a fixed, hollow mould wall having a shape matching the shape of the sleeve to be manufactured, while at the inlet end it co-operates with means for pressing the plate through the shaft.

Abstract: A cabinet for cut-off flowers comprising at least one table to support flower boxes, a flower space bounded by cabinet walls and said table and means for cooling said cabinet.

Abstract: To inspect objects which are symmetrical, as for example the rims of bottles, the video signal representing a field of view within which the rim is imaged is divided into portions which should contain mirror image portions of the rim image. These two image portions are compared electronically to determine the deviation, if any, from such mirror image symmetry. If the deviation is sufficiently great, the object being inspected is earmarked for rejection. The division into image portions is by the top and bottom of a strip of the composite image in which the strip is perpendicular to the raster lines of the field of view and by left- and right-hand portions of the composite image on either side of the strip. The electronic comparison is effected by counting the scanning points along a raster line, line by line, containing the image of the rim and comparing the counts obtained from the two image portions to each other. The image of the rim should be centered within the field of view.

Abstract: A device for closing a transport duct for a liquid with the aid of said liquid, for example, a siphon, said device mainly comprising a housing (1) with a liquid chamber, a tube stub (4) connected in airtight manner with said housing (1) and reaching at the most up to the liquid chamber and a drain stub (5) opening out above the liquid chamber for connection with the transport duct (15), wherein around the pipe stub (4) there is arranged a body (8) capable of floating on the liquid, while airtight means (10) are arranged between the floating body (8) and either the pipe stub (4) or the wall of the housing (1), whereby it is no longer necessary to have the pipe stub (4) reaching into the liquid in the liquid chamber so that, when liquid is drained, a stream can directly flow beyond the liquid chamber towards the transport duct (15).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for checking containers, e.g. bottles or pots by means of a transport apparatus for transporting the containers along a predetermined path and a lighting apparatus positioned at a side of said path, e.g. at least one flash light means, and a sensing apparatus, e.g. at least one video camera positioned on a corresponding position, said transport apparatus being provided, in the area of said lighting apparatus and said sensing apparatus a part, in which the containers are hung by their collars. The invention proposes to adapt an apparatus of the type mentioned in the preamble in such a way that in said part of said transport apparatus the path is rectilinear, thus avoiding the need of using means to counteract the oblique position necessary in prior art apparatus, in which the path is curved, and avoiding mechanical load due to centrifugal forces.

Abstract: A method of making a double-walled element utilizing a hollow tube for the inside and another hollow tube with greater dimension for the outside and a cell-structure to fill up the space between the two.

Abstract: A device comprising a frame composed of lengths of tubing and coupling pieces interconnecting the same, coupling piece and coupling piece parts for the same, each coupling piece having a cubical body provided on each outer face with a recess with undercut engaging rims for receiving a base part of an arm connected with a tubing and having complementary engaging rims in a manner such that the arm is fixed in place at least in the direction transverse of the outer face. The edge of the body is equal to the thickness of the tubings, the body consists of two identical parts having a square head face, each part having complementary connecting means for joining a body part by a base face to the base face of the other body part in a direction transverse of the head face, while each side face has a recess which is accessible only from the base face for the base part of the arm and which forms, together with a corresponding recess in the other body part, the recess for receiving the base part of an arm.

Abstract: Capillary flow of a principal fluid is controlled through the medium of a control fluid. The two fluids are capable of forming fluid/fluid interfaces therebetween in which the potential energy states of the two fluids on either side of the interface are different. Flow control of the principal fluid is effected by changing the kind of fluid/fluid interface by reversing the potential energy states of the two fluids at the interface or interfaces therebetween.

Abstract: A resonant cavity device--particularly a magnetron oscillator--has a separate resonator coupled to a resonant cavity of the device. The separate resonator consists of a resonant transmission line within which are two multipactor discharge arrangements, one being positioned at a distance along a resonant transmission line which is approximately 3.lambda./4 from the end of the transmission line adjacent the cathode and the other of which is positioned at a distance along the resonant transmission line which is .lambda./4 from the same end of the transmission line. By controlling the multipactor discharges of the multipactor discharge devices appropriately three different frequencies of operation are available.

Abstract: A collapsible, drawn freight car having a central longitudinal girder is disclosed. The central girder has a towing connection at its forward end and side girders pivotally connected to each side by pivotal arms. A transverse beam is fixed to the center girder and has lock bolts for engaging and locking the pivotal arms in a transport position.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for packaging a row of mutually coaxially placed disc-shaped lids, in a sheet of packing material, comprising successively in the direction of progress of packaging: a feeding station for the row of members; a wrapping station for wrapping the row of members in the sheet; a folding station for the folding of the wrapped sheet; a sticking station for the sticking of the folded flaps to the package; further transportation members for transportation of the row of members; and a unit for supplying the packing material, situated between the feeding station and the wrapping station, characterized in that the feeding station is provided with at least two feeding units for the lids, and with a feeding table which is slidable between each of the two feeding units and the wrapping station.

Abstract: A so-called round baler has baling and wrapping chambers (3, 4), defined in part by flexible endless belts (1, 2). A bale formed in the chamber (3) may be transferred to the chamber (4) after separating the juxtaposed portions (12, 22) of working runs of the belt (FIG. 5).

Abstract: A pair of sections each has a thin main body portion with male and female interlocking means along opposite side edges. The male interlocking means of one section is connected with the female interlocking means of the adjacent section in dovetail interlocking fashion to provide an intimate fit therebetween. The terminal ends of the inwardly turned flanges of the female interlocking means of one section are disposed closely adjacent the opposite sides of the main body of the adjacent section. A trough is defined within a recess in the female interlocking means and has sealing means disposed therein.

Abstract: An urinary receptacle having an inlet connection for connection with a feeding duct and an outlet connection that can be closed with at least one container arranged in the receptacle and to be opened from the outside of the receptacle and containing a material having an effect on the urine. The container is made from a fragile synthetic resin, which may be broken to introduce the material into the urine. The material may be a disinfectant or a diagnostic agent, to reveal the presence of protein for example.

Abstract: A binder for multi-leafed devices has a pair of spaced brackets each of which has a plurality of prongs extending toward the other bracket. The prongs of one bracket are longer than those of the other bracket and are spaced so as to permit the prongs to be inserted into a multi-leafed device. A stop member is swingably mounted adjacent the bracket with the longer prongs for engaging the prongs and preventing inadvertent release of the multi-leafed device. The stop member is locked in operative position by a projection thereon snugly received in a recess formed in a portion fixed relative to the binder. A folder is provided with a notch therein permitting one of the shorter prongs to be inserted within the folder even though the folder is of greater length than conventional multi-leafed devices used with the binder. The folder defines a first pair of open-ended pockets, a pair of integral flaps on the folder overlying the open ends of the pocket.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for deriving a calibrated deformation signal from a signal produced by a strain gauge bridge on a rotating shaft involves two further strain gauge bridges, one which approximates the deformation bridge signal in the absence of torque and the other which approximates the deformation bridge signal in the presence of a known torque. The signals are all processed by the same entities and the calibrated signal is derived from a straight line plot determined by the latter two signals. In addition, an axial loading of the shaft is detected by a further strain gauge. Control of power input and of power consumed is from the calibrated deformation signal and the axial loading signal. The further strain gauges are mounted outside the shaft but in good thermal contacting relation thereto.

Abstract: The shut-off valve (1, 40, 85) comprises a valve housing (2) having at least two chambers (3, 4, 5) adjoining one another in axial direction. The chambers are communicating with one another through a passage bounded by a valve seat (6, 7). A valve body (15) is axially movable in the housing and co-operates with each valve seat for closing the associated passage. The valve body is guided with sealed passages through the walls of the axially outer chambers opposite the valve seat (6, 7). The passages and each valve seat have substantially the same diameters. The valve body can be composed of an upper valve body and a lower valve body part both being provided with a sealing ring co-operating with the same cylindrical valve seat.