Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for separting a refrigerant from oil and/or impurities contained in components of a compressor cooling system. When retrofitting a compressor cooling system using a CFC refrigerant into use of a chloride HFC refrigerant, the mineral oil mixed into the CFC refrigerant has to be seperated. It is thereby a problem that the oil is spread in all the components of the system and that existing cleansing technique is not efficient, since it does not cleanse all the components as the technique used involves that some of the components are by-passed. According to the invention these problems are solved by temporarily connecting an oil removal device in series with the compressor cooling system without having to by-pass any components. The compressor cooling system is filled with refrigerant, e.g. R134a.

Abstract: A first measurement unit for untrasonically measuring a flow velocity, a river depth, and an ultrasonic velocity is mounted on floating members. The floating members are connected with a travelling unit for automatically travelling a propeller flowmeter which is used in advance, to thereby measure vertical average flow velocities and river depths at a plurality of positions while moving along a river width. The floating members are provided with ultrasonic vibrators in the center thereof for measuring a river depth and an ultrasonic velocity as well as with ultrasortie vibrator pairs for measuring flow velocities. A second measurement unit for measuring an ultrasonic pulse propagation time period has a unit for calculating an ultrasonic velocity, a river depth, a partial flow quantity and an entire flow quantity, and a unit for controlling movements of the floating members and a distance between the ultrasonic vibrators.

Abstract: Improved paint striper control, speed and quality is achieved by articulating a motor driven push tractor unit to a steerable walk behind paint striping unit. In a preferred embodiment, a two wheeled rear push tractor unit supporting a drive motor and driver's seat is coupled through a quick release ball-socket pivot joint behind a three wheeled handlebar steered push-to-paint manual striping unit. The articulation joint with help of a hydrostatic trans-axle transmission in the tractor unit produces a sharp turning eighty degree radius. Also the transmission unit functions to drive the assembly in straight lines. The user controls steering to deviate from a straight line at the handlebar grips in substantially the same manner as if walking behind the paint striper. Thus the user rides quickly along the striping path with a good view at the paint spray jets to monitor performance and achieve higher output volume and quality.

Abstract: There is provided a recoil starter for starting an internal combustion engine which has a simple and compact structure with a reduced number of parts and which can be manufactured at a reduced cost.

Abstract: A hand-held and operated, instantaneous readout, portable electronic instrument is disclosed, which may be used by an observer from the grandstands to determine the speed of racers such as racing cars, horses, athletes, etc. over a lap of a race-track and to comparatively display the speeds of one racer over different laps and the speeds of different racers.

Abstract: Improvements to keyboards for electronic pianos and the like, wherein a support, preferably made of sheet metal, with a U-shaped section and a flat section and provided with a number of hammers equal to the number of keys, which hammers are made integral with the support by means of specific pivoting elements. These hammers are preferably made of metal and suitably shaped and balanced for actuation by the keys. An elastic escapement member is carried by the portion of the hammer making contact with the key typically by coated with a rubber element provided little step which, when the key is depressed and the thrust element inside the key comes into contact with the step, produces a slight release, similar to the feeling of escapement one perceives when playing a conventional piano.

Abstract: An electrical module for carrying electrical components is plugged into an opening in the wall of electrical apparatus, preferably from the inside. Mounting grooves on either side of the module engage corresponding edges of the wall opening in response to lateral movement which overcomes elastically yielding structure on the groove bottom of one side comprises latching structure for stably affixing the module in place in the opening so that entry from the outside of the electrical apparatus is precluded.

Abstract: An apparatus and its mechanism, and more specifically to a reactor that comprehends in combination, one or several continuous walls made with glass and non ferrous metallic separating plates, which converge in its upper part, which are partially placed inside a box, in which interior additionally are placed a transformer, a reflecting mirror, and a fan by means of which air is forced through the walls; the invention also combines a plurality of accessories, including a long cushion, seat cushions and car seats interconnected to the reactor's body and over which any one may rest to benefit his or her cells, molecules and genes for the operation of the reactor. It also includes one or several rotating pointers, sliding transmitters and a platform with spheres, interconnected to the pyramid by means of plugs, making it possible to massage one person's skin.

Abstract: A receptacle storage box ideally suited as a night storage safe for receiving, isolating and storing windshields has a front panel flap hinged to the front of a top lid hinged at the back, and an accompanying fail-safe stop mechanism for holding the lid and flap in a stable open access position. Thus, the lid provides easy to grasp and raise structure which locks into the open access position out of the way to permit a low front threshold over which windshields are lifted for storage in an internal rack exposed by the access opening encompassing both the front flap opening area and a top lid opening area. Advantages are provided of an easy and safe manual opening characteristic with lid resident in a fail-safe locked-in-place position presenting a large top and front work window area for entry of a windshield into the box over a low threshold front panel member.

Abstract: A recoil starter is provided which prevents malfunction, such as disengagement of a claw, after the engine is started repeatedly even if the starter is not made of a material of high intensity. A spring can be wound substantially precisely circularly. It is quite easy to mount a friction plate to the starter. Furthermore, this subassembly does not loosen after long-term usage. A rope guide can be easily mounted to the starter case, thus reducing the fabrication cost. The recoil starter can be placed and locked in position relative to a fan cover with high accuracy. When the ratchet is in its protruded position, the pivotal point of the ratchet is located radially inside a pulley around the position where the pulley engages the ratchet. A ratchet support portion is formed radially outside the pulley on the reel. The ratchet forms a beam supported at its both ends. The beam acts against a force exerted by the pulley due to a resistance produced when the engine is started.

Abstract: Intrapalmar orthosis to protect and give stability to the carpus' zone of the hand, without limiting normal the hand's movement, which consists of one semiflexible or rigid support splint arranged on a gauntlet to put on the hand' palm, the splint forming a whole body. Once incorporated to the hand, the splint functions only if the hand is working, then a firm pressure is exerted over the palmar face of the carpus.

Abstract: Basket for machines for mixing and grinding a number of substances in order to produce uniform mixes, such as those used for paints, with the basket in question featuring along its perimeter a circular ring (1) bound at the inner and outer edges by micro-perforated walls (2 and 3), and with this ring functioning as a channel inside of which microspheres made of glass or of other suitable materials are placed; the central portion of the basket, when viewed from below, appears empty in the middle, with this space being bound along its perimeter by the circular channel (1).

Abstract: The present invention provides a carrier tape for storage use of super-miniaturized electronic components, by which the reflection of irradiated light which might cause detection errors cab be prevented, the product inspection can be performed easily and quickly, and number of stored pieces and remaining un-used pieces can be easily and quickly counted, when the presence or absence of deformation--which might take place on the lead portion of the electronic components being stored in the carrier tape--is examined by the optical equipment on the lead portion kept on the carrier tape. The surface of said base component can be treated to form a film to prevent the light reflection or to absorb the light, such as by painting with resins or ink which doesn't reflect the light, or by immersion. Alternatively, the color of the base component is selected to be black.

Abstract: A brake lever for an automotive S-cam drum brake has a toothed conical clutch (14) for transmitting torque in one direction between two coaxial members (4, 10) rotatably arranged relative to each other. Each tooth in this clutch is asymmetrical, its torque transmitting flank forming a greater angle with the normal than its opposite flank.

Abstract: A wide range interactive two way communication video system operable nation-wide over satellite links has comprehensive local data processing stations for network subscribers that give a wide range of choices for customizing system features. In particular the system is soft-ware controlled by a programmable computer that comprehensively interconnects one or more interactive features or modes of operation in a local subscriber's unit that may be licensed to or chosen by individual subscribers. Such optionally selected features include data bases, audience response, instantaneous purchase and billing, channel and program selections, restructuring of system operation, and video games. Multiple slot software capability for receiving chips, discs or other software storage units are provided for customizing data bases, fiscal transactions, access to network facilities and remote stations, operational menus and program selection menus from broadcast, and cable or satellite communications.

Abstract: A cutting head member for a vegetation trimmer such as a lawn edger or hedge trimmer has a rotatable blade holding jig journalled between two disc-like members clamped by a bolt onto a rotary shaft drive mechanism. The rotatable blade in one embodiment comprises a quick change removably mounted nail. The preferred embodiments provide an option of mounting either a rigid steel cutting blade or a string cutting blade.

Abstract: The carrier of the screen printing stencil is mounted onto an auxiliary frame which holds the entire structure stable in the shape of a plate. Due to specific design of the longitudinal profile bars of the frame as bendible metal profile bars which return on their own into the outstretched shape, made e.g. of a springy sheet metal, a cylinder can be shaped from the relatively stable plate at any time.

Abstract: This invention is directed to apparatus for purification of water and liquids for human, agricultural and industrial consumption. A non-ferromagnetic metal body houses graphitized electrodes and a magnetic switching mechanism activated by fluid flowing through the system to change valences of mineral in the fluid and eliminate bacteria, thus purifying and softening the liquid.

Abstract: A recoil starter casing is made from a plate. The plate has a polygonal top face and a plurality of rectangular side faces integral with and extending from respective edges of the top face. Each of the side faces includes a recess in its edge, and a pair of projections at opposite ends of the recess. A plurality of air inlets are formed in the side faces. The side faces are bent from the top face along the respective edges of the top face. A fan cover has slots. The projections are inserted into the corresponding slots. The free ends of the projections are then bent so as to secure the starter casing to the fan cover. The inside of the starter casing is cooled through the air inlets and the recesses or air vents.

Abstract: A mailbox accessory for indicating mail delivery frictionally grips the entry flap on a mail box of the type having a downwardly tilted entry flap for opening the box to receive mail. The accessory provides bistable positions for a mail delivery flag when the mail box flap is closed, one such position set by the box user when closing the flap after picking up mail cocks the flag into an uppermost position and the other such position pivots the flag into a lowermost position when the entry flap is opened to remove delivered mail.