Abstract: A bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement comprises a flexible frame (1) having a ring-shaped base (2) and at least a pair of upstanding posts (3), which divide the base into at least two portions (2A, 2B) of varying flexibility, together with animal tissue leaflets (4) each having a periphery consisting of a free portion (4A) extending between the tips (3X) of posts (3) and a fixed portion (4B) secured and sealed to corresponding sides of the posts and the adjacent portion of the base. A bicuspid mitral valve replacement has a pair of posts (3) disposed at opposite ends of a diameter of the undistorted base (2), or displaced therefrom towards the portion (2A) of lesser flexibility to accommodate leaflets (4) of unequal size. The frame (1) is formed of Delrin covered with Dacron cloth, the Delrin having differing thicknesses to either side of the posts (3) which merge into the base (2) by way of a continuous curve (6) on each side.

Abstract: An adaptive control system for a bulk material dryer measures the thermal demand of bulk material to be dried in a dryer and adjusts the thermal output of the dryer to match the measured demand. The system contemplates that the dryer will require a response period to fully meet a change in demand and coordinates the introduction of material into the dryer with that response time. The system is automatically responsive to changes in both the moisture level and mass flow rate of the bulk material to be dried, adjusting the thermal output of the dryer to changes in each of these variables. The system preferably includes a feedback sensor used to make final adjustments in the dryer output.

Abstract: A rock drill is provided including a flap valve allowing high cutting speed operation over a range of compressed air pressures. The rock drill further includes a wear sleeve secured to a back head with a chuck to the opposite side, an inner cylinder within the wear sleeve, a valve seat at the inner end of the cylinder with a valve stem extending into the cylinder, and a piston within the cylinder reciprocable from one position where the valve stem engages a bore in the piston to a position where the stem enters a bearing in the cylinder to strike a drill bit held by the chuck. The ratio of the piston head area to its bore area is 9.9/9.95 to 1. The ratio of the piston head length to the stem length is 1.5/1.52 to 1. The ratio of piston head diameter to stem diameter is 1.4/1.43 to 1 and the ratio of piston stem length to the length of stem within the bearing at the point at which the piston strikes the bit is 1.4/1.45 to 1.

Abstract: A reinforcing strip for a concrete coating for oil or gas pipes consists of wires (1) welded together to form four-sided meshes (2) inclined to the length of the strip, and a straight selvedge wire (4) welded thereto to form along only one edge of the strip triangular meshes (6) incapable of being elongated by tension applied in a pipe coating and winding machine. The four-sided meshes (3) may be diamond-shaped with longer diagonals (7) longitudinal or transverse, or they may be squares. Welded mesh may be used or zig-zag wires welded to each other at adjacent peaks (9) and troughs (10) which may be interengaged or merely overlapped, and the zig-zags may extend longitudinally or transversely.

Abstract: An adjustable drive mechanism for reciprocating a pair of sealing jaws in a packaging apparatus and controlling the stroke length includes a drive belt operatively connected to move the carriage and jaws in the up and down direction. A movable pulley assembly interconnects the drive belt ends and is attached to a working arm oscillated by a linkage arrangement. The linkage arrangement includes a rocker oscillated with a crank and connecting rod. A control link pivotally connected to the rocker completes the linkage and deflects to allow raising of the working arm and driving the sealing jaws on a downward draw stroke. The upper end of the control link constitutes an adjustable pivot to vary the degree of movement imparted by the working arm to the drive belt. The adjustable pivot is carried by an annular adjustment ring mounted within an annular guide groove of a mounting plate.

Abstract: A fluidic flow control device includes at least three terminals with two of the terminals being connected to input nozzles opposing each other in axial alignment. An interspace is provided adjacent the point of intersection of the two streams from the nozzles and a radial diffuser is provided encircling the interspace. The third terminal communicates with the radial diffuser. The variable relationship between the flows produced at the nozzles is effective to control the flow at the third terminal. The diffuser is formed by planar faces separated by a constant width gap. The gap opens into an annular plenum to which the third terminal is connected. The entry area to the radial diffuser is sized to be substantially equal to the sum of the areas of the nozzle throats. In one embodiment, a mixer region may be provided between the diffuser and at least one of the nozzles. A fourth terminal acting as a vent may communicate with the mixer region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assisting in turning or reorienting cartons during transition between conveyors is disclosed wherein a moving finger engages one side of the carton adjacent the leading edge of the carton. The moving finger initiates the turning action and assists in the final turning action generated by a friction plate and pressure brush. The finger is mounted in a horizontal plane for rotation about a vertical axis and engages the side of the carton within leading 15%-35% along the length of the carton. The finger provides sufficient turning assist action to assure reorientation of a carton through at least 90.degree.. The finger should be flexible in order to provide shock absorbing action.

Abstract: A slurry pump is provided having a self-flushing piston assembly mounted in a mating cylinder. The piston assembly includes a first piston having a peripheral sealing member and a reciprocating piston rod for driving the first piston for pumping action. A second piston mounted adjacent to the first piston includes a sealing member and forms an enclosed chamber with the first piston. A lost motion coupler connects the pistons together and varies the size of the chamber. On the return stroke of the piston assembly, flushing liquid on the non-slurry side is sucked into the chamber as the chamber expands. On the power stroke, the flushing liquid is forced past the second sealing member to remove slurry particles and prevent wear of the cylinder. The disc on the first piston has sufficient flexibility to allow filling of the chamber and an accumulator is provided to control the back pressure after the chamber has been filled on the return stroke.

Abstract: An article carrier is formed from an elongated blank having overlapping bottom panels to support articles in at least one row. One of the bottom panels has a plurality of spaced tongues at its terminal end. A plurality of separate locking tabs are longitudinally aligned with each tongue. The other of the bottom panels has transversely elongated apertures with each of the apertures receiving one of the tongues. Each of the tongues has engagement with one transverse edge of the aperture and one of the plurality of separate locking tabs has an edge to edge overlying engagement with the opposite transverse edge of the aperture. Each of the apertures is increased in size in accordance with which of the separate locking tabs overlies the opposite transverse edge of the aperture. Each of the separate locking tabs are selected for use in accordance with the dimensions of the adjacent article or articles supported by the carrier.

Abstract: A nickel containing catalyst composition of high thermal stability and outstanding resistence to carbon deposition is provided for use in the steam reforming of hydrocarbons. The catalyst is derived from a precursor having lanthanum ions incorporated into a layer structure by means of coprecipitation from a solution containing soluble salts of the catalytically active components. The precursor is of approximate chemical composition Ni.sub.6 Al.sub.x La.sub.y (CO.sub.3).sub.x+y /2(OH).sub.12+2(x+y) nH.sub.2 O. A range of atomic ratios for the component is disclosed. Additional embodiments of the precursor are disclosed wherein anions other than carbonate are present and various proportions of the nickel content are replaced by magnesium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming flat cut carton blanks into erected cartons with debowed carton side panels is disclosed. The apparatus includes a forming head receiving and directing a carton blank through forming guides, side walls engaging and supporting the carton side panels that bend into upright position relative to the carton bottom panel during descending movement through the forming guides. Presser fingers pivotally secured to the forming guides project inwardly into the forming head path. The presser fingers bend the side panels into cutout openings provided in the side walls to overbreak the side panels at fold lines between the carton side and bottom panels. An inclined surface with a sharp creasing edge abutting the fold lines enables the presser fingers to initially crease the fold lines and thereafter bend the carton side panels inwardly onto the inclined surface for controlled overbreaking movement.

Abstract: The internal combustion engine performs the thermodynamic cycle partially inside the cylinder, with the piston connected to the crankshaft, and partially in a turbo-supercharger in which there takes place the final stage of the expansion of the burnt gases and, simultaneously, the suction and the first phase of compression of the air. The said compression is completed afterwards in the cylinder, continuously and without any partialization.

Abstract: A tool adapted to align and interact with a radiator cap to assist in the removal of the cap from a radiator has a pliers type arrangement of levers with uniquely constructed end effectors. One of the end effectors includes a substantially planar alignment plate with a depending skirt extending less than 180.degree. about a peripheral sector of the alignment plate. The alignment plate orients the tool with the top of the radiator cap, and the skirt angularly orients the tool to positively abut a lug on the radiator cap with the skirt sidewall. The other end effector is a relatively narrow gripping jaw which cooperatively interacts with the alignment plate and skirt to compressively engage an interposed radiator cap as the handle on the levers are manually moved toward each other. The levers mechanically multiply both compressive force manually applied to the levers to firmly grasp the cap, and the torque applied to unscrew the cap from the radiator.

Abstract: A transmission coupling 1 for location between an electric motor 2 and a gearbox 3, comprises a rigid housing 4, an input shaft 5 rotatably supported within the housing 4, an output shaft 6 also rotatably supported within the housing 4 and connectable to the input shaft 5 by operation of a hydraulically actuated, multi-plate clutch 11, the output shaft 6 also carrying some elements of a multi-plate brake 22, other elements being carried by the housing 4, the brake 22 being spring loaded into operative position and hydraulically displaceable into a non-operative position, a constant pressure pump 31 to provide hydraulic pressure fluid to effect operation of the clutch 11 and brake 22, in accordance with the fluid volume demanded by clutch and brake operation, the pump volume output automatically being adjusted in response to such demand, and at least one control valve 35 to control the flow of the hydraulic fluid to the working circuit 39.

Abstract: A hosiery handling apparatus for separating individual hosiery articles from a continuous tubular hosiery string and thereafter transporting the separated articles to a remote location includes a control circuit for interrupting operation in the event of a malfunction in the separation of the hosiery string. The control circuit preferably includes an advance switch for detecting passage of a separated article to the remote location and a stop action switch connected in series with the advance switch and responsive to movement of the separating assembly. When a separated article fails to be transported to the remote location, the control circuit terminates operation of the machine.

Abstract: A continuous casting nozzle has a relatively narrow dispensing slot reinforced against flexing along its length by intermittent supporting structure. The nozzle may be a tubular insert member to be received in a mounting means, such as a support plate and providing the reinforcement. The nozzle may be formed from a hollow tubular member with longitudinally aligned sectors or openings formed in the side wall to provide passage of the molten metal to the dispensing slot. The relatively narrow slot is formed in the side wall opposite the openings. The reinforcement ribs are integrally formed between the openings. The end portions of the nozzle member are plugged to direct the molten metal through the dispensing slot. With the nozzle member inserted into the bore in the mounting plate of the crucible, the nozzle assembly is supported along its entire length. The mounting plate may include reinforcement ribs aligned with the ribs of the nozzle member when fully inserted in the plate.