Abstract: Sorption means are provided for sorbing radioactive gases, as in the exhalations of a living subject, especially for nuclear diagnostic test studies, comprising means for adsorbing the radioactive gas onto activated carbon, the carbon being contained in a plurality of independent, series-connected, chambers. The sorption means are especially adapted for the adsorption of radioactive inert gases such as xenon-133 (.sup.133 Xe). There can also be provided indicator means for indicating the flow-through of xenon comprising an indicator which changes color upon contact with xenon, such as dioxygenylhexafluoroantimoniate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a Derailleur block comprising a sleeve adapted to be secured to a bicycle wheel hub, a sprocket carrier mounted on the sleeve with interposed ball races and free wheeling mechanism, and a number of sprockets having different numbers of teeth secured in axially spaced relationship on the carrier. At one end of the block there is a cone for adjusting the ball-race clearances in co-axial screw threaded engagement in the carrier, and in screw-threaded engagement with the protruding end of the cone, there is a lock nut. The lock nut serves not only to secure the cone after adjustment, but as an abutment for the sprocket assembly which is thereby readily removable. Both cone and lock nut are accessible for manipulation externally of the block.

Abstract: There is disclosed a device for finishing joints between tegular elements applied to a surface. The device consists of a support and at least one head the support being suitable for gripping by the hand and the head being specially shaped to enable the jointing material between the adjacent elements to be finished formed. The head is shaped so that when the device is applied to the adjoining edges of adjacent tegular elements it makes limited contact with the adjoining edges of the elements and has a constantly diminishing transverse dimension in at least one direction along the joint. The head together with the jointing material fully occupies the space between the elements between the regions of contact and if the device is moved along the joint in the direction of the diminishing dimension of the head a smooth and regular surface contour of the jointing material between the edges of the elements is achieved.

Abstract: A multi-disc hydraulically operated friction clutch is provided with valve means in the form of longitudinally split plugs received in the drain openings of the plunger and varying the flow passage area of these openings, depending on the position of the plunger. Said plugs of the valve means are displaced, on the one hand, by the contact thereof with the pressure disc of the clutch, and, on the other hand, by their abutting against the housing of the clutch. By selecting the ratings of the valve means, i.e., the dimensions of the drain slit in the plugs, it is possible to ensure any required degree of smoothness of engagement of the clutch, the pressure disc acting upon the package of the friction discs with a gradually varying effort, proportional to the rate of draining of the working fluid through the plunger.

Abstract: An apparatus for stimulating the anal sphincter is provided in order to maintain the anal sphincter in a substantially continuously contracted condition. The apparatus includes a plug which is inserted in the anus such that a portion of the plug is surrounded by the anal sphincter. Electrodes are mounted on the plug in contact with anal sphincter and a signal generator generates a biphasic output signal having a positive pulse portion, a negative pulse portion and a zero output portion. The output signal is applied to the anal sphincter through the electrodes, thus causing the anal sphincter to contract and remain in a substantially contracted condition. The signal generator comprises a timer circuit which is used to operate a counter and an output driver which is controlled by the counter. The output signal from the output driver is applied to the anal sphincter through the electrodes.

Abstract: Automatic control apparatus and a method for controlling the active power flow distribution in power transmission lines and a controller for effecting same. The control of active power flow in a power transmission line is effected by the selection of either a proportional-plus-integral or integral control is carried out by comparing the sum of the nearest maximum extrapolated difference between the preset and actual values of active power flow and its preset value with the permissible value of active power flow. If the sum is greater than the permissible value of active power flow, a proportional-plus-integral control is effected, whereas an integral control is carried out if the sum is smaller than the permissible value.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding weft thread carriers through successive sheds of a loom of the progressive shedding type includes a closed endless guideway which guides the weft thread carriers through an endless path with the shed forming area comprising only a small part thereof. The closed endless guideway accomodates a moving endless chain conveyor supporting thereon two kinds of members, the members of the first kind cooperating with the thread carriers as they move along this guideway outside the shed, while the members of the other kind cooperate with these carriers as the latter move within the shed. Mounted exteriorly of the guideway in accordance with the shape thereof is a side wall adapted to be engaged by the lateral side of a weft thread carrier and to preclude rotation of this moving weft thread carrier in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A gear hub for a bicycle has two co-operating epicyclic gear trains selectively connectable together to a drive input means and to the gear hub under the control of an axially fixed, manually actuable rotatable cam operating on various pawls through axially shiftable cam followers to give a requisite drive transmission path through the gear trains appropriate to the gear ratio selected.

Abstract: A hand-held mechanized electrically heated windshield cleaner for removing snow, ice and other material from a motor vehicle windshield includes a hollow pistol-like housing having a gripping portion and a barrel portion extending at right angles thereto. A bearing member at the front of the barrel portion slidably supports an outwardly extending driving shaft. A scraper blade of resilient rubber-like material is secured to the outer end of the shaft. An electric motor in the gripping portion reciprocatingly drives the shaft through an arrangement including a disk rotated by the motor and eccentrically connected to the shaft by means of a connecting rod. An electric heating coil is provided in the blade adjacent the edge thereof. The heating coil and motor are energized by an electric cable adapted to be plugged into the vehicle cigarette lighter socket.

Abstract: This invention provides a differential pressure-activated control system having non-mechanical, remotely controllable, biasing means. The system comprises a differential pressure sensing means, having opposing first and second pressure sensing portions, a conduit between one portion of the sensing means and a system to be monitored and a second conduit means between a second portion of the pressure sensing means and the system to be monitored; the second conduit comprising in intermediate fluid flow pressure connection, a pressure regulator which limits the maximum pressure, in accordance with a desired predetermined pressure, conducted to the second portion of the pressure sensing means. Such pressure regulator can be remote from the system and from the pressure sensing means and is connected thereto only by non-moving, pressure-connecting means.