Abstract: A firing kiln, especially a tunnel kiln, in which ceramic components, especially tiles, are fired, with a roller conveyor with a large number of fixed but rotating rollers with a small diameter and at short intervals, for moving tiles into the kiln and out of it, and particularly through the firing zone of the kiln, wherein each of the rollers is constructed from a ceramic section with a metal cover, and each of the rollers is driven separately.

Abstract: A plasma jet ignition plug wherein a film of semiconductor or a semiconductor oxide defines together with a first rod-shaped electrode and a second electrode a plasma cavity.

Abstract: A chimney cowl has a vertically-spaced series of five annular vanes centered on a common vertical axis. The vanes are carried by three supports equi-spaced around the inner peripheries of the vanes, the supports mounting co-axially with said vanes and between the uppermost vane and the vane immediately subjacent thereto a device provides upper and lower aerofoils. The uppermost and lowermost vanes are parallel and are of frusto-conical shape and the three intermediate vanes are parallel and are normal to the vertical axis of the vanes. The upper aerofoil is a wall of conical shape parallel to the uppermost vane and the lower aerofoil is a wall of inverted conical shape seating within and secured to the wall of the upper aerofoil. Means for clamping the cowl in position in a chimney outlet is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying in rapid sequence excitation voltages of significantly different amplitude to a flow transducer having a resistive temperature sensor in circuit with a reference resistor, analyzing the resetting output signals from the flow transducer and reference resistor under the two states of excitation, and computing a physical characteristic of a material such as its mass flow rate through a conduit from those resulting output signals.

Abstract: A clearance adjusting mechanism comprises a first member having an external thread, a second member having an internal thread screwed with said external thread of said first member, and a locking coil for locking the relative movement between said first and second members only in case of a predetermined rotation direction thereof.

Abstract: An intake control system comprising a mode selector which receives a first control pressure and a second control pressure, and, according to the temperature inside and outside the vehicle, adapted to supply selectively a plurality of different combinations of the first and second control pressures to a pressure activated actuator to switch an air intake system between at least an outside air position and a recirculating air position. An air intake changeover switch receives the pressure output by an air control switch, a first reference pressure and a second reference pressure, and supplies a certain combination thereof as the first and second control pressures, when operated, to the mode selector, thereby causing the actuator to switch the air intake system to the recirculating air position, irrespective of the switching state of the mode selector.

Abstract: A photoelectric control system for parts orientation for automatically checking attitudes of individual parts which are successively transferred along a parts feeding track of a parts feeder. The system includes at least one photoconductive detecting element mounted at one side of a predetermined detecting position on the feeding track and normally exposed to light incident thereon across the feeding track. The system includes an adaptable circuit means for activating a parts rejecting means to remove a part from the feeding track depending on the signals from the detecting elements. The system also includes a spacing means for spacing apart the parts which successively pass the detecting position.

Abstract: A protection device for a vehicle-mounted air conditioner compressor wherein an electric current for engaging the electro-magnetic clutch of the air conditioner compressor is also fed through a PTC ceramic resistor disposed between a starter contact of the ignition switch and a terminal of the electro-magnetic clutch during the starting operation of an engine in addition to an operation of the conventional circuit including a compressor relay and a compressor switch.

Abstract: For the dehumidification of a cavity preferably the intermediary space (3) between the glass sheets (1, 2) of a window, the dehumidifying device comprises a cell (5, 6, 7) shaped as a cartridge to be inserted in an opening in one of the glass sheets and so arranged as to absorb and by electrolysis to dissociate the water molecules from said cavity (3) by application of external energy. (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A sub-assembly for detecting leaks of a liquid metal circulating in a component of a circuit such as a conduit or a valve or contained in a storage means such as a reservoir, comprising electrically conductive elements arranged inside an electrically insulating material, wherein said insulating material consists of a rigid shell the inner surface of which is adapted to the outer surface of said component, while open grooves are formed on the inner surface of the shell for receiving said electrically conductive elements, the grooves having a widened portion remote from the inner surface of the shell, receiving the electrically conductive elements, and a portion of reduced width located between the widened portion and the inner surface of the shell and maintaining the electrically conductive elements at a spacing from said inner surface.

Abstract: A water bed employing a mattress in the form of a water-tight bag of flexible sheet material and having means for restricting swelling deformations in the peripheral portion of the top sheet of the bag.

Abstract: An emergency lock type retractor for a passive safety belt assembly of a vehicle includes a housing (1) mounted on the vehicle body, a reel (3) for the belt (4) rotatably supported by the housing and a ratchet wheel (7) secured to the reel. An inertia device (16) detects an emergent deceleration of the vehicle and causes a pawl (9) to engage with the ratchet wheel to lock the reel and prevent unwinding of the belt. The inertia device includes a first inertia member (19) perpendicularly suspended by the housing to assume a constant angle with respect to the vehicle body. The first inertia member supports a more sensitive second inertia member (22) which displaces relatively to the first inertia member as the vehicle is emergently decelerated. When the mounting angle of the housing varies with respect to the vehicle body, the first inertia member swings to stably maintain the second inertia member at a constant angular position with respect to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A system for draining a wound including an elongated flexible catheter tube, an evacuated collection container and an adapter connecting the catheter tube to the container. The container has a pierceable stopper, and the adapter includes a projecting hollow needle and a pair of arcuate guide flanges disposed along opposite sides of the needle. As the adapter is moved into position on the container, the arcuate flanges move along the periphery of the stopper and the needle pierces the stopper. A graduated translucent protective tubular housing receives the container, the housing having arcuate internal surfaces frictionally engaging external surfaces of the guide flanges to retain the adapter in the housing. The adapter includes gripping portions extending beyond the housing and gaps exposing the stopper, so that the adapter may be removed from the container while the stopper is held in place.

Abstract: A fully-automatic antenna driving device comprises a radio switch consisting of a push type switch which is on only during being pushed, a self-holding circuit for self-holding an excited condition by the turning on of the push type switch, and a further push type switch which is off only during being pushed, thereby preventing an antenna from being extended only by turning on an ignition switch.

Abstract: A rotational speed measuring system comprises a rotatable member with calibration segments and a marker portion both provided along the periphery of the rotatable member, pick-ups for producing a pulse train signal in response to passage of the calibration segments and the marker portion when the rotatable member rotates, an electrical circuit for producing calibration pulses and marker pulses in response to the output signals of the pick-ups, a monostable multivibrator responsive to the marker pulse to produce a pulse signal of a predetermined pulse width, and a counter responsive to the calibration pulses for a period of time defined by the pulse width of the pulse signal from the monostable multivibrator. The counter counts the number of the calibration pulses corresponding to calibration segments which are equidistantly spaced from each other, thereby producing an output signal indicative of the rotational speed of the rotatable member with high accuracy.

Abstract: In an aerial transport system in which a carriage approaches a station or other fixed parts of the system, a device for stabilizing the carriage as it approaches the station or the other parts, comprising a pair of outward-facing bumping elements on the carriage, and a pair of bars in a V-shape, open towards the direction of approach of the carriage, in between which the bumping elements enter and are restricted as the carriage approaches the station and the other parts. The bars are supported so that they can be moved apart by the impact of the bumping elements, against a resilient restoring force.

Abstract: A plasma jet ignition system wherein a plasma jet energy storage system is used in conjunction with a spark energy storage system to provide energy to a plasma jet ignition plug. For the purpose of suppressing noise due to the spark discharge, a spark energy delivery cable takes the form of a high tension resistance cable and a plasma jet energy delivery cable takes the form of a lead including a coil and having a distributed inductance.

Abstract: A collapsible flat bed knitting machine having a foldable needle bed and a carrying case for receiving therein the folded needle bed and other instrumentalities of the machine to facilitate transportation of the machine as of a portable sewing machine. Three parts or sections constituting the needle bed are foldably connected by an improved connector assembly having three plate members fixed respectively to the bed parts. The assembly connects the bed parts in their assembled position in sufficiently exact alignment to assure smooth traverse of a carriage on the thus completed needle bed.

Abstract: An air conditioner of an automatic temperature adjusting type used particularly for controlling the air temperature within a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle. According to the present invention, the air conditioner controls simultaneously the air flow rate of a fan providing the air supply, and an air mixing door which controls the flow of air through either a heater or a bypass around the heater. The control is such that over an intermediate portion of the adjustment range the fan and air mixing door are operated together whereas at end portions of the adjustment range the fan is adjusted without moving the air mixing door. This is achieved by use of a particularly convenient gear mechanism of novel design.