Abstract: A centrifugal pump includes a C-shaped sealing assembly including an annular spring disposed between opposing legs of a base member. The spring biases the legs away from one another into sealing positions. In other embodiments, a vertical pump may be provided so as to include an oil recirculation system which enables an oil-based lubricant to be utilized instead of grease. In still other embodiments, the axial location of a pump shaft may be adjusted by rotating a bearing housing relative to the bearing frame where the two are threadedly connected to one another.

Abstract: A baseball type cap comprising a hemispherical shell defining an opening for reception of a head of a wearer, and a size adjustment mechanism mounted to the shell for infinitely adjusting a size of the cap. The size adjustment mechanism includes a flexible drawstring slidably disposed within a channel formed along a peripheral edge of the shell, and a shiftable clamping slide adjustably mounted to the drawstring. A middle portion of the drawstring extends from the channel through a pair of holes therein and passes beneath a retaining loop formed on an outer peripheral surface of the cap shell, forming a closed adjusting loop. The clamping slide is operably attached to the adjusting loop for controlling the size of the adjusting loop, thus operatively adjusting an effective perimeter of the peripheral edge of the cap shell that defines a size of the headwear.

Abstract: The invention concerns an immune system stimulator comprising Ganoderma Lucidum, Dioscoreae Oppositae, Chrysanthemum Morifolium, Radix Astragali, and Folium Isatidis. The composition is capable of mediating enhanced production of Interleukin-1 beta without causing an increase in the production of Interleukin-4.

Abstract: A front-face support for various components at the front end of the vehicle has a plastic body overmolded onto a reinforcement enhancing the mechanical strength of the support. The reinforcement is a fabric of fibers, for example glass or carbon fibers, or a cable advantageously composed of steel wires.

Abstract: A pulsating combustor has a plurality of annular plate elements (12), which are stacked in spaced vertical alignment so as to define a central space (14). There is a plurality of slot-like passages (18), one such passage between each adjacent pair of elements. There is at least one combustion chamber (21) in communication with at least one slot-like passage. Fuel and combustion air are fed into the combustion chambers. There is a spark plug for igniting a fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber. Preferably there is a first housing (24) defining the combustion chamber and another housing defining a collection chamber for combustion gases emerging from the passages.

Abstract: A filter assembly for a faucet includes a filtering element accommodated within a filter body. A sleeve is disposed within a neck portion of the filter body. A lock ring is sleeved threadably on the filter body, and pushes a ball to project partially from an inner surface of the neck portion so that the ball presses downwardly against a stop shoulder of the sleeve, thereby preventing upward removal of the sleeve from the neck portion. In assembly, when the sleeve is mounted into the neck portion, a curved pushing surface of the sleeve pushes the ball to project partially from an outer surface of the neck portion. Subsequently, when the lock ring is mounted on the filter body, it pushes the ball to project partially from the inner surface of the neck portion.

Abstract: An electronically controlled axle assembly having an electronically controllable valve secured to the differential case to control pressure within a hydraulically actuated clutch pack there within. The clutch pack operates to selectively couple a pair of shafts.

Abstract: A dual ball ramp actuator having a control ring acting with a pressure plates to supply an axial clutch clamping force to a differential clutch assembly where the ball ramp paths follow overlapping eccentric grooves that can be actuated in both the forward and reverse directions. The dual ramp feature doubles the effectiveness and sensitivity when compared to a single ramp system. The overlapping eccentric ball ramps increase (effectively double) the angular travel distance while reducing the ramp angle (in half). The forward and reverse feature provides clutch actuation in both the forward and reverse directions. The dual ramp, 3-piece sandwich construction permits the central control ring to roll up on two sets of balls on each side. This structure doubles the axial travel available to compress a disc pack and lock up the differential with the same ball ramp angle when compared to a single ramp system involving only two ramp plates.

Abstract: A slip clutch comprising a reaction plate, a friction disk (100), a pressure plate (11), a cover (12) fixed to the reaction plate, engaging member (13) acting between the cover (12) and the pressure plate (11), a linear wear take-up device comprising devices (14) that are provided with ramps and are adapted to cooperate with members that are provided with counter-ramps (15), teeth (19) that cooperate with an endless screw (23), members provided with ramps that are rotationally fixed to the teeth (19), rotational drive device (20) for the endless screw consisting of a ratchet wheel (20) that is rotationally fixed to the endless screw (23) and controlled by the tongue (36) of an elastic member (32), whereby the endless screw (23) and the ratchet wheel (20) are borne by a support (22), and the support (22) and the elastic member (32) are joined to the cover (12), whereby the support (22) is U-shaped with a web (24) and two wings (25) that are used to bear a shaft (27) on which the endless crew (23) and the ratch

Abstract: An LED light string employs a plurality of LEDs wired in block series-parallel, where the one or more series blocks, each driven at the same input voltage as the source voltage (110 VAC or 220 VAC), are coupled in parallel. The LED light string interfaces to the source voltage using a common household plug; it may also include a corresponding common, household socket, coupled in electrical parallel, to enable multiple light strings to be connected to each other from end to end. In order to directly drive a network of diodes without current-limiting circuitry, the voltage of each series block of diodes must be matched to the input source voltage. This voltage matching requirement for direct AC drive places fundamental restrictions on the number of diodes on each diode series block, depending on the types of diodes used. For the voltage to be “matched,” in each series block, the peak input voltage must be less than or equal to the sum of the maximum diode voltages for each series block.

Abstract: A universal differential bearing preload tool includes a pair of opposite cylindrical discs simulating differential bearing cups, a disc spreading device for adjusting a distance between the discs, and a force measuring device associated with the disc spreading device. The opposite cylindrical discs are removably fastened to the preload tool and selected from a plurality of discs having assorted external diameters simulating differential bearing cups of different sizes and manufactures. The bearing preload tool is used for mounting a differential case in a differential housing with a predetermined bearing preload.

Abstract: A novel arrangement of a quick release bracket holder for supporting a pair of conga drums on a floor-standing stand through a conga drum holder bracket. The bracket holder comprises a stationary base plate, and a clamp plate disposed parallel to the base plate and movable toward and away therefrom between an open position and a clamping position. The base plate is provided with two pairs of mounting posts adapted to be inserted into corresponding holes in the holder bracket. The clamp plate is provided with two pairs of cylindrical clamping members complementary to the mounting posts of the base plate. The bracket holder further includes a cam actuator provided to apply an axial force to the clamp plate for moving it toward the base plate in order to clamp the drum holder bracket between the base plate and the clamping members of the clamp plate.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine including at least one cylinder having a central axis and a variable ration crankshaft assembly employed to extend a dwell point of a piston and improve connecting rod leverage. The crankshaft assembly comprises a gear set having a gear ratio 1:1 and including a first gear member non-rotatably mounted to an engine block and meshing a second gear member drivingly coupled to an eccentric member rotatably mounted between to a crankpin of the crankshaft assembly and a connecting rod, defining an offset lever extended between axes of rotation of the eccentric member and a lower end of the connecting rod connected to the crankshaft assembly. The eccentric member is positioned on the crankpin so that the offset lever is perpendicular to the central axis when the piston reaches TDC. Such an arrangement allows extending a dwell point of a piston and improving connecting rod leverage, thus increasing efficiency of the mechanical conversion process.

Abstract: A paper machine felt having at least one nonwoven layer made of plastic fibers, wherein there is present in the nonwoven layer or in at least one of the nonwoven layers a fiber combination in which a portion of the plastic fibers is made of a material A that has a water uptake of more than 10 wt % (saturation value, 23° C.) and in which the majority of the plastic fibers is made of a material B that has a water uptake of no more than 10 wt % (saturation value, 23° C.).

Abstract: A brake cylinder device with an effective adjustment bolt processing and with an improved air bleeding effect, wherein an adjustment bolt (40) as a component of an automatic shoe clearance adjustment mechanism, wherein an external thread stem (40a) makes an irreversible engagement with a piston (22), performing brake shoe expansion, and a brake fluid feeding groove (40b) is formed on a periphery of the external thread stem (40a) is designed to be spiral.

Abstract: The device for adjusting an endplay of an axle shaft in a differential assembly includes an axle shaft supported in a differential case for rotation about a longitudinal axis, and an endplay adjustment member threadedly mounted on a terminal shoulder provided at an inboard end of the axle shaft. The axle shaft has external splines adapted to mate with internal splines of a differential side gear and an annular groove located adjacent to the terminal shoulder. The annular groove receives a retainer ring provided to limit an axial displacement of the axle shaft in an outboard direction. The endplay adjustment member is selectively positionable on the terminal shoulder along the axial direction of the axle shaft to variably limit an axial movement of the retainer ring within the annular groove, thus adjusting the axle shaft endplay.

Abstract: The air-treatment housing of an air-conditioning apparatus includes, in an upper face, an air outlet for demisting and aeration. A diffusion module is arranged between this upper face of the dashboard. This diffusion module features a demisting vent and aeration vents in its upper front region. The aeration vents are directed towards the passenger compartment and extend over the major part of the width of the dashboard.