Abstract: A recorder/reproducer having two capstans which engage a magnetic tape passing from a delivering coil holder to a receiving coil holder of a cartridge is disclosed. At the time of loading the tape, the capstans are shifted from a rest position along a path toward the scanner which has an upper, rotatable drum. In this working position, the capstans are in close proximity to the scanner which eliminates the great lengths of the tape which generate undesired longitudinal vibrations in the tape.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an automated electronically controlled postage meter including a mail weighting means, an alphanumerical keyboard, a direct access bar code thermal transfer printer, a magnetic and IC card reader/writer, a liquid crystal display, and a double-station thermal and dot matrix printer. In accordance with the present invention, a configuration mounted on an electronic weighting device allows for the weighing of postcards, envelopes, and packages. A magnetic and IC card reader/writer is provided in order to allow for payment by debit, credit, or IC cards in addition to payment by cash or check to an employee. An alphanumerical keyboard is provided in order to allow for the entry of alphanumerical data regarding the item to be mailed, which data is further converted and printed on the item to be mailed in the form of laser readabe bar code. If direct printing is unsuitable, the bar code can be printed on a self-adhesive label to be stuck on the item to be mailed.

Abstract: A fire protection collar for one or more conduits penetrating through openings in fireproof partitions such as walls or ceilings. The fire protection collar includes at least two stable, smoke tight, fireproof coverings of a thermally insulating material sealing the space between the outer surfaces of the partition and the exterior surface of the conduit. A filling of either a plurality of sheets or particles of expanded material, with a thermal conductivity of the same order of magnitude as concrete, essentially fills up the space between the coverings, the conduit and the partition. When the fire protection collar is used for heatproof conduits, the filling is in contact with the exterior surface of the conduit. However, when the fire protection collar is used for conduits which are not heatproof, i.e.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing zip fasteners by molding sets of locking members of any length and of the staggered or slit type, the upper stop members, the coupling and the box, in a single operation. The process is achieved with a two-part injection molding tool having strips with recesses for forming locking members which are applied to both the lower and the upper part of the tool. The lower strips can be moved vertically. A transverse slide has recesses for the upper stop members, a recess for the coupling, and a mold part for a box, in which is located a mold body displaceable within the plane of the slide. In order to form locking members with slits the lower part of the tool is provided with a mechanism which removes the insert forming the slit from the slit when the finished zip fastener member is removed. Accordingly, all combinations of zip fasteners can be manufactured in a single operation without expensive subsequent processing.

Abstract: A twistable wire clamp for connecting objects has a V-shaped configuration, the lower portion of each of its two shanks forming an oblong loop having locking means consisting of the closed end of the narrower loop, on one hand, and of a locking member projecting towards the inside of the wider loop and extending in the same plane as the loop, on the other hand. On each side of the transitional portion between said two shanks, said clamp is provided with a respective shoulder. Said clamp is placed, by means of an apparatus, around the objects to be connected or the opening to be closed, after which said locking means are brought into engagement with one another by said apparatus, and said wire clamp is seized in the area of said transitional portion and twisted by a binding hook of the apparatus. Said loops are convex with respect to their plane, and said closed end portion has a thinning and is bent over towards said other loop.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic thrust, journal or combined radial and thrust bearing which may be mounted within a sealed housing assembly which can be, for example, be used to replace rolling element bearings. The bearing can be designed for mounting to either the shaft or housing. If mounted for rotation with the shaft, the bearing pads move relative to a smooth support surface. The bearing includes a bearing pad structure that may change shape and move in any direction (six degrees of freedom) to optimize formation of a converging wedge for hydrodynamic operation, equalization of load on the bearing pads in thrust bearings and to adjust for any shaft misalignment. The bearing pad may be formed so as to contact the shaft in the installed state and to deflect under fluid film pressure. The pad is separated from the support member by a support structure which includes one or more beam-like members. The support structure preferably includes a primary support portion, a secondary support portion and a tertiary support portion.

Abstract: The seismic mass is fixed to the mounting base by a tension bolt. This bolt passes with an important play through an opening of the piezoelectric transducer arranged between the mounting base and the seismic mass. Under the influence of inertial forces which act perpendicularly to the axis of the bolt on the seismic mass, bending loads occur which result in an increase of the pressure at one side and in a decrease of the pressure at the other side of the piezoelectric transducer. The transducer has halves polarized in opposite directions and subjected to pressures varying in opposite sense and electrodes covering the top and bottom surfaces of the halves, signals of the same polarity being induced under the bending loads. External influences which act uniformly on the transducer are compensated.

Abstract: The device comprises essentially a body or shaped piece of cylindrical form and of a circular or polygonal cross section, comprising tubular cavities of different diameters for receiving the bars to be machined of different diameters. The tubular cavities can comprise longitudinal distribution channels for feeding oil under pressure to the bar to be machined. The cylindrical body further comprises indexing grooves at its external periphery, means of distribution of oil at the rear part of the device, an oil collector located at the front part of the device and cavities permitting the return of the oil to a hydraulic group. Reinforcing ribs are provided between the tubular cavities and between the latter and a mantle of the cylindrical body so that the latter has a great moment of inertia which ensures a good stability of the device. The tubular cavities may comprise tubes aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cavities and rotating freely with play in these tubular cavities.

Abstract: A sealed bearing assembly for downhole drilling motors, which has a modular drop-in type construction. The sealed bearing assembly includes a housing portion which is secured to the drilling shaft and a housing portion which is secured to the casing. A bearing assembly extends between the two housing portions and the housing portions encase the bearing assembly and include a sealed construction which prevents the entry of drilling mud into the sealed assembly. A number of flow passages are provided in the rotating housing portion and/or the stationary housing portion so as to allow fluid to freely pass the sealed bearing assembly such that there is a negligible pressure drop across the sealed bearing assembly. The assembly also includes sealing portions on either side of the bearing assembly which preclude the entry of mud into the sealed bearing assembly.

Abstract: A bone cement exhibiting superior mechanical strength and body compatibility, as well as shortened polymerization time and reduced peak polymerization temperature, includes a conventional polymethyl methacrylate bone cement to which has been added up to about 4% by weight of carbon fibers and from about 1 to about 30% by weight of the mineral components of natural bone tissue (apatite).

Abstract: A drilling apparatus having progressive cavity drive train which includes a progressive cavity device and a coupling for converting the complex motion of the rotor into simple rotation. The coupling includes a sealed universal joint assembly coupling yokes formed on a first stub shaft to yokes formed on the second stub shaft. The sealed universal joint assembly includes a cross member assembly having a cross member and a sealing cup. The cross member has a central body and two sets of pin portions extending from the body. Each set of pin portions includes two pin portions having coincident axes. The pin portions of one set are transverse to the pin portions of the other set. The sealing cup is fixed to each of the pin portions of the cross member. The sealing cup includes connecting sleeve portion fixed to the pin portion of the cross member, a flexible elastomeric section secured to the sleeve portion and a hollow upon portion enclosing the end of the pin portion.

Abstract: A guiding tube is mounted on the buffer cylinder at the rear end of an automatic firearm. On this guiding tube, a safety ring is fitted in non-rotatable but axially displaceable manner. In a forward operating position the safety ring prevents depressing the trigger, and thus, any firing. In a backward operating position of the safety ring the trigger may be freely actuated. This safety arrangement is simple in design and operation, and it may easily be mounted on existing weapons.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing constructed entirely of non-newtonian fluidic materials such as rubber, plastic and the like. The bearing is extrudable and includes a bearing pad support structure and a plurality of bearing pads formed with bearing pad support structure. The bearing pads may be formed of a material which is softer than the support structure. The bearing may also include a number of deflection control members fused to the bearing pads and/or the bearing pad support structure.The method of making the bearing inlcudes the steps of extruding one or more materials to form an uncured tubular extrusion, curing the tubular extrusion, cutting the tubular extrusion into bearing segments and sizing the bearing segments by machining the individual segments to the desired inner and outer diameters.

Abstract: A method and system for determining the television consumption habits of a test population by obtaining data relating to the program being viewed and/or recorded and transmitting the data through telephone connection to a central computer for evaluation. The data is obtained in a manner which enables the elimination of intervention or supervision by specialized person in the data acquisition process. Any data that is not decoded or is decoded with uncertainty can be determined or verified by means of a dialog with the central computer.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is disclosed a microprocessor for a sewing machine which can be changed over from a normal service mode for controlling sewing operations to a diagnostic mode for controlling diagnostic programs. The drive of the diagnostic programs takes place by actuation of already present selector switches of the sewing machine and the display of the diagnostic results takes place through already present displays of the sewing machine. In order to facilitate the diagnostic, a mask is provided which can be placed on the control and displaying panel of the sewing machine and which contains indications relating to the drive of determined programs and the reading of the results. At least in one case, means are provided in order to enter and store correcting information according to the results of the diagnostic. This provides a simple and multilateral diagnostic capability and the possibility of intervention in the electronics of the sewing machine.

Abstract: An arcuate paving block assembly comprising two outer transitional blocks (1) with four arcuate sides, wherein two adjacent sides (10, 18) are curved inwards and the other two sides (19, 20) are curved outwards in order to form a continuous transition from one arc to another; adjacent thereto on both sides an equal number of arc blocks (2, 3, 4; 2a, 3a, 4a) constructed to be mirror images of each other and symmetrical or mirror image shaped keystones of apex blocks (5, 6, 5a, 6a; 7, 7a, 8) which together make up the entire length of an arc, the whole being such that when laid the two outer edges (10) of the transitional blocks (1) enclose an angle of 90.degree. and the height (H) of all the blocks measured at right angles to an imaginary baseline (S) through the lower corner of the transitional blocks (1) is the same.

Abstract: A cylinder for an internal-combustion two-stroke engine, having multiple intake ports, multiple intake valve ports and multiple exhaust ports. The cylinder enables a two-stroke engine to run on gasoline without premixing it with lubricating oil and, due to its optimal volumetric efficiency and good separation of air-fuel mixture and exhaust gases, provides the possibility to satisfy requirements for high fuel efficiency, high power output and low emissions released into the atmosphere. An engine using this cylinder construction will be lightweight, will not require valve trains and camshaft and can be manufactured with any number of cylinders. Utilizing a slightly different process and slightly different configuration, the present invention will also enable a two-stroke engine to run on diesel fuel and produce significant benefits in comparison to existing two-stroke diesel engines.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process and an apparatus for machining axially symmetrical parts on lathes or rotary broaching machines in which the workpiece is held at each end by an axial clamping pin and a clamping jaw assembly, the clamping pins and clamping jaw assemblies cooperating such that the clamping jaw assemblies may be retracted relative the clamping pins when the ends of the workpiece are being machined and may be extended relative the clamping pins when additional support for the workpiece is desired, as, for example, when the central portion of the workpiece is being machined. The clamping pins and clamping jaw assemblies are movable relative each other and relative the workpiece such that machining of both ends of the workpiece may take place simultaneously or sequentially, followed by machining of the central portion of the workpiece, on a single apparatus and as part of a continuous, uninterrupted machining sequence.

Abstract: Hard metal cutting blades are inserted into grooves of the rotor body. Each cutting blade is provided at both ends thereof with a cylindrical or conical clamping surface, to which a conical surface of a conical screw is applied which clamps the blade within the groove by a clamping force. The cutting blades are thus securely held in a definite position not only radially and circumferentially, but also axially. The shape of the cutting blades and the grooves as well as the clamping means, having the shape of conical screws, are simple and unexpensive, and their handling is simple. A soiling of the cutting blade clampings is virtually excluded.