Abstract: A fracture reduction apparatus comprises a first holder for holding first set of bone fixation pins, and a second holder for holding a second set of bone fixation pins, the first and second sets of bone fixation pins being located, in use, with the site of the fracture intermediate them. Each of the holders is rotatable about a respective set of three orthogonal axes, the three axes of each set intersecting one another at a respective point located in the bone, the two respective points being spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the bone.

Abstract: A disposable oil filter for an internal combustion engine, the filter having means to produce a magnetic field in an area of the filter which is not subject to the full flow of oil, so that the attracted magnetic particles are not liable to be swept away by the oil flow.

Abstract: An arm suspension mitt immobilizes and positions a patient's arm for shoulder arthroscopy. The mitt includes outer and inner flexible portions which together define a package having an open end adapted to removably receive a hand inserted into a space radially inward of the inner flexible portion. An inflatable chamber is provided between the outer and inner portions. The inflatable chamber is sealed from the ambient atmosphere. A valve is provided in communication with the inflatable chamber for inflating same thus causing the inner flexible portion to collapse in a direction away from the outer flexible portion so as to conform the inner flexible portion around a hand within the space.

Abstract: A device for administering medicaments to patients comprises a housing containing a cylindrical chamber. A support is arranged inside the chamber to support a carrier, such as a blister pack. The blister pack has a plurality of containers or blisters arranged in a circle. When a blister pack is located on the support its blisters are located in holes in the support member. A plunger is arranged to enter the chamber through a hole to engage and open a blister registered with it. When the blister is opened, medicament can be withdrawn by a patient inhaling through a mouthpiece. An external member is provided to rotate the support member to register the blister with the plunger in turn. Air can conveniently enter the chamber through a hole in a cover which is removable to permit blister packs to be loaded into the chamber onto the support member.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for and a method of treating a plurality of zones of a processing line with a liquid, the liquid comprising a treatment liquid and a carrier liquid, wherein the treatment liquid is introduced into pipes conveying the carrier liquid to each zone as discrete slugs, and wherein the volume of each slug is selectively variable or wherein each slug may be introduced into the pipes at a selectively variable frequency. Preferably the treatment liquid is applied to all zones from a single source, and the slugs, upon discharge at least at one zone, remain substantially concentrated. The invention particularly concerns the lubricating of conveyors as in bottling lines.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine having a plurality of radially aligned cylinders collectively supported for common rotation about a shaft member having one portion with a first axis, with a piston block including a piston for each of the cylinders slidable within each cylinder and supported for rotation about the shaft member having another portion with a second axis which is displaced from and parallel to the first axis, the cylinders being linked with the piston block to rotate the cylinders about the first axis with the pistons and the piston block while moving the cylinders transversely of the first axis for rotation of the cylinders and pistons together thereby producing relative reciprocal motion of each piston with respect to its cylinder.

Abstract: A memory comprises a multilayer film (1) in which each layer (2) is capable of carrying a charge, built up by successive deposition of a plurality of monomolecular layers (2), at least one of which has been deposited by a process of chemisorption and a photo-injector layer (D) is located on one side of the film for introducing charges into the film in a time sequence which corresponds to the information to be carried. Means (6) are provided for applying a voltage between the faces of the film to cause the charge carried by any layer to be transferred to the adjacent layer. The sequence of charges carried by the film may be read out by a photon-emitting electron arrival detector (F) on the opposite side of the film, or by a method of current differentiation. The film (1) is preferably formed of a polydiacetylene.

Abstract: A table leg locking plug is provided with a planar stop member, a tubular member receptive of one end of the table leg and extending outwardly from one surface of the stop member with the longitudinal axis thereof perpendicular to the one surface and two resiliently deformable ears extending outwardly from the periphery of the tubular member and on which a table top lies during use.

Abstract: This invention provides a shade umbrella which is tiltable about a horizontal axis and which can be rotated about a vertical axis. A resiliently placed cam button protrudes through an opening adjacent each end of two annularly mated shaft portions supporting the umbrella. The button can be manually depressed to release the outer shaft, permitting removal of the umbrella or rotation for shaft control. A plurality of openings around the circumference of the outer shaft permits indexing of the shade control and the outer surface of the cam button is so shaped as to permit easy interconnection of the two shaft portions and secure locking thereof together.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a gusset to manufactured articles, and especially articles such as panty hose and other similar products, involve the use of a funnel-like element having an upper edge which has a shape and dimension corresponding to the gusset to be applied and includes projecting acicular teeth. The product to which the gusset is to be applied is supported over the mouth of the funnel-like element by the teeth. The gusset is applied and clamped into place and a sewing machine secures the gusset to the finished product. When the operation is completed, the teeth can be retracted and the finished product drawn down through the funnel-like element by a pneumatic transfer device.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated impact-action self-propelled mechanism for driving holes in the earth is disclosed. The mechanism comprises a cylindrical housing with an anvil member located at the forward end thereof. An impact piston is reciprocal in the housing to deliver successive impacts to the anvil member and shapes with the housing a forward chamber of variable volume. A control assembly comprises a forwardly extending sleeve which is slidably received within a rear space of the impact piston to form a rear chamber of variable volume. A central passage is connected to the sleeve for continuous supply of compressed air into the rear chamber and therefrom into the forward chamber through apertures in a side wall of the rear chamber of the impact piston. An arrangement is provided for lockably locating the sleeve longitudinally with respect to the apertures for providing forward or reverse movement of the mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving and forming a cut pile of sheets which are received in joined form from a processing station, and includes a dragging device to control the feed of the joined sheets, a guide to move the uncut sheets past a cutting mechanism in an accordian-like fashion, and a plate to receive the cut pile of sheets; and a temporary support and separator between the receiving plate and the guide to provide for the cutting of the sheet material in pre-fixed sheet lengths.

Abstract: A tap for a urostomy or similar bag has a first valve member which includes a male valve element located in a cap. The cap has at least one drainage hole. A second valve member including a tubular female valve element is engageable with the male valve element to close the tap, but is disengageable from the male valve element to open the tap. Flexible and/or extendible diaphragm or sheath is secured to and encloses part of the female valve element in a fluid-tight manner and is also connected to the cap in a fluid-tight manner. The diaphragm or sheath permits relative movement between the two valve members.

Abstract: In a matcher mechanism for verifying a match of a set of subject points having positional parameters against a set of reference points having positional parameters, the improvement of employing a set of Group tables derived from the difference table. Each line entry on the difference table constitutes a lead entry of a separate Group table. The Group table are overlapping subsets of the entries on the difference table. The members of the Group table are limited to only one line entry representing each reference point. That line entry is the one which is closest to the lead entry on the difference plane. In addition, all line entries within a Group are limited to those that are within a predetermined window on the difference plane around the lead line entry for the group. A quality score is determined for each of the Group tables based on a weighted proximity value between each pair of line entries in the Group involved.

Abstract: A process for preparing a cyclic N,N'-dimethyl urea derivative by reacting a cyclic urea compound with formaldehyde, in a medium, in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst. The reaction is carried out in the presence of a solid acid obtained by calcining sulfuric acid and aluminum oxide or sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and aluminum oxide.