Abstract: There are provided a connection structure and process for connecting a eye-joint and a slender metal pipe, which is enabled by making the welding operation completely unnecessary to eliminate the working troubles and a fear of cracking or breakage, as might otherwise be caused by deteriorations in the mechanical properties in the vicinity of the connection end portion, which can use the eye-joint body and the metal pipe, as plated with a corrosion-resistance substance or coated with a resin in advance, to improve the productivity drastically thereby to ensure the connection with neither axial nor circumferential movement, and which can connect a metal pipe, if necessary, as having a diameter larger than the width of the eye-joint body.

Abstract: A connector is provided for a small diameter pipe that has been formed to include an annular swelled part near the end of the pipe. The connector includes a body with a communication hole extending axially therethrough. A chamber extends axially into one end and joins the communication hole. A window is formed through portions of the connector body defining the chamber, and a pawl extends across the window. The pawl includes a central portion that projects into the chamber. The pawl is configured to engage the annular swelled part of the pipe for holding the pipe in the connector body. The connector further includes a releasing member rotatably mounted around the connector body in proximity to the pawl. Outer circumferential portions of the releasing member define a cam wall configured such that rotation of the releasing member into a selected rotational orientation will deflect the pawl outwardly to enable release of the pipe.

Abstract: A fitting is provided for a high purity gas system. The fitting includes first and second components having fluid passageways extending therethrough. Each of the first and second components includes a sealing face having a toroidally generated sealing bead extending unitarily thereabout. At least one nut is provided for urging the sealing faces toward one another. A metallic gasket is disposed between the respective sealing faces. The gasket includes opposed surfaces having annular grooves formed therein. The grooves are dimensioned such that a radially inner circumferentially extending surface on each groove engages a radially inner circumferentially extending surface on a respective toroidal sealing bead. As a result, dead spaces between the fitting and the gasket are eliminated. Additionally, any debris generated as the toroidal sealing beads slide over the gasket are urged outwardly and away from the fluid passages.

Abstract: A universal production ball grid array socket is provided for use with a ball grid array package. The socket will receive a ball grid array package and in turn can be mounted or plugged into an underlying circuit board. One embodiment of the socket includes a tulip-shaped contact which is capable of receiving ball grid array ball leads of various diameters. Another embodiment of the socket includes a ball receiving contact capable of clasping an inserted ball grid array ball lead. In still another embodiment the universal production ball grid array socket is translucent allowing for visual inspection of a ball grid array package and ball grid array socket combination. Methods are provided for mounting a plurality of ball leads onto the bases of a plurality of ball receiving contacts after the contacts have been mounted within the universal production ball grid array socket.

Abstract: A fuel injection pipe for a diesel engine which can sustain high internal pressure is provided. The inventive fuel injection pipe of a thick doublet pipe structure comprising an inner pipe and an outer pipe and having a thin inner diameter is arranged such that the inner pipe is formed out of a seam welded pipe made of a high tension steel plate and having a thickness of 0.4 to 1.5 mm and the outer pipe is formed out of a thick steel pipe made of the same material with the inner pipe or of carbon steel. Because the fuel injection pipe thus obtained allows inner facial wrinkles of the inner pipe to be suppressed to 25 .mu.m or less in depth, it can fully sustain high internal pressure of 1200 bar or more.

Abstract: To position a wire-connected terminal TW and cope with a multitude of kinds of wire-connected terminals TW, a block 30 is provided for each wire-connected terminal TW. The block 30 includes recesses 34, 37 for detachably accommodating the wire-connected terminal TW. A part of the accommodated wire-connected terminal TW is exposed such that it can be gripped by hands 51, 52. The block 30 also includes a positioning means 38 for positioning the terminal TW accommodated in the recesses 34, 37 with respect to the hands 51, 52. Since the terminal TW is securely positioned in a transferring step of transferring the wire-connected terminal TW to the hands 51, 52, the succeeding step performed by the hands 51, 52 can be securely performed.

Abstract: A cutting head for a string trimmer is provided which accommodates any string gauge thickness and may be easily and quickly re-threaded upon failure of a string previously disposed therein. Clamping members are provided to clamp the strings within the cutter head, with the clamping force being provided by springs and centrifugally generated moments. The clamping members are capable of generating two degrees of clamping force. The lesser degree of clamping force can be overcome by a string forcibly inserted into the cutting head. Alternatively, the clamping members can be formed to pinch the string, with a constant degree of pinching force being applied to the string.

Abstract: A lever 30 is mounted on a female connector housing 20 such that a part of the lever 30 is accommodated in a receptacle 11 of a male connector housing 10 together with a female connector housing 20 in a connected state of the male and female connector housings 10, 20. Thus, a movement of the lever in its opening direction is restricted by an outer wall of the receptacle 11, eliminating the need to provide a protection wall for preventing the disengagement of the lever 30 in the connected state. This results in a reduced size of the lever connector. Further, the lever 30 is formed in its outer surfaces with cam grooves 33 in the form of recesses. Thus, a mold for the lever 30 can be pulled outward, enabling the simplification of the construction thereof.

Abstract: An electrically resistive heating element for liquids and a method of fabricating same. The heating element comprises a substrate formed of an electrically insulating material or formed of an electrically conductive material provided with an electrically insulating coating, whereby in both cases the substrate presents an electrically non-conductive surface on at least one side. First and second laterally spaced contact areas are disposed over the electrically non-conductive surface and a thermally sprayed resistive oxide layer is applied to the electrically non-conductive surface and disposed over or under parts of the contact areas to enable an electric current to be passed through the resistive oxide layer via these first and second contact areas.

Abstract: A main tube provided with a channel is mounted in a fuel rail and has a peripheral wall. One or more holes extend vertically through the peripheral wall and are in communication with the channel. Each hole forms a dished seat portion having either a staircase-like cross section or an inclined surface. The enlarged portion is formed near one end of the branching connector and extends to the inclined wall toward the front end. A connection head portion is formed at the front end of the enlarged portion. The connection head portion totally conforms in cross-sectional shape with the seat portion. The head portion is brought into abutting engagement with the seat portion. The engaging portions of the abutting portions are brazed and connected together.

Abstract: Placing tables 28, film adhering tables 27 and connector mounting tables 24 are individually formed and rearranged so as to conform to a desired wiring path. A plurality of wires 11 are linearly placed in parallel with each other on each placing table 28, and a wire length adjusting tool 14 formed with steps 15 with a specified inclination is brought into contact with the wires 11 to push them down, thereby setting different loosened lengths for the respective wires 11. Films 12 are adhered to the linear portions of the wires 11 to hold the different loosened lengths unchanged.

Abstract: To effect accurate positioning and avoid interference of a terminal fitting with a wire guide member. By lifting and lowering guide members 112, 113 formed with Y-shaped wire guide slots 112F, 113F, respectively, a wire W is brought to a terminal mounting position. The wire W and the terminal fitting mounted on the wire W will not interfere with the guide members 112, 113, and the wire W can be more accurately positioned by the Y-shaped wire guide slots 112F, 113F.

Abstract: A method and knowledge-based system for generating a holistic health index for diagnosis and decision support in operational management of biological treatment of waste water with a microbial population; measured parameters of an operating biological treatment employing a microbial population are compared with benchmark values in a data base to generate a comparison value and a holistic health index of the operating microbial population is generated from the comparison values which provide an evaluation of the operational management of the biological treatment. Based on such evaluation the operating parameters of the treatment may be adjusted to maintain the treatment at an optimum level.

Abstract: A microdispensing ophthalmic pump is provided for repeatedly delivering doses as small as 5 microliters within an angular operating range. The pump basically comprises a reservoir, a dispensing cap, an actuator and a pump body with a pump mechanism disposed therein. The pump mechanism is regulated by a limited-travel inlet check valve and a biased-closed outlet check valve. A failsafe mechanism is formed between the actuator and dispensing cap to prevent operation of the pump outside the operating range.

Abstract: A hydraulic fan coupling comprises a hermetically sealed case that is driven by the engine. The case is made of metal. Fan blades made of resin are molded onto elongated outer portions of the case.

Abstract: A toy animal is provided with an electrically powered motor which drives a curled tongue through a generally orbital motion that realistically resembles a licking motion. A switch for actuating the motor may be pressure responsive and may be disposed at a location on the body and/or the head of the animal that may be petted or squeezed. The toy animal may further include a sound chip for generating an appropriate noise when the switch is actuated. Portions of the head near the tongue are formed from a soft deformable material to achieve facial movement simultaneously with the licking motion.

Abstract: To restrict a fitting length of an inserting side tubular member such as a corrugate tube into a receiving side tubular member having a flexible portion such as a rubber boot when the inserting and receiving side tubular members are connected. Projections 16 are formed on the inner surface of a fitting end portion 13. When a corrugate tube 20 is fitted into the fitting end portion 13, a leading end 20A thereof comes into contact with the projections 16, thereby restricting any further insertion of the corrugate tube 20. This prevents the entry of the corrugate tube 20 into the flexible portion 12. Accordingly, there is no likelihood that the smooth deformation of the flexible portion 12 is hindered by the entry of the corrugate tube 20 into the flexible portion 12. Further, since there is no need for a consideration as to an excessive insertion of the corrugate tube 20, the connection can easily be performed.

Abstract: A multi-row pipe bending apparatus has a plurality of rows of pipe bending devices each including a pipe bending unit having at least one bending die, and clamping and pressure dies for securing to the bending die a pipe to be bent. Each bending device includes also a pipe twisting unit having a twisting plate having an opening for holding the pipe, and rotatable with a predetermined twisting angle about the longitudinal axis of the pipe for moving it to a position conforming to the shape into which it is to be bent. The bending and twisting units are movable longitudinally of the pipe. A pipe transfer device is provided for transferring the pipe from one row to another, so that the pipe may be bent close to one end thereof in one row, and close to the other end in another.

Abstract: Joint endoprostheses, disclosed in the context of a total knee prosthesis, incorporate a first element for rigid connection to a first bone, the first element having an articulating surface; a second element for rigid connection to a second bone, the second element having a bearing surface which engages the articulating surface; wherein the engagement of the articulation surface with the bearing surface at any degree of relative rotation therebetween is reflected by a substantially constant contact configuration, the relative rotation of the device being accompanied by displacement of the bones toward and away from each other.