Abstract: A combination gravimetric and volumetric fluid dispenser which includes a scale linked to a controller. The controller is linked to a plurality of two stage valves which control the dispensing of large quantities of base materials. The controller is also linked to a plurality of nutating pumps which together with the controller controls the dispensing of smaller quantities of additive materials. The base material dispensing valves include stepper motor actuators having multiple steps per revolution and are under the control of an analog signal from a controller. The base material dispensing valve is opened or closed via a rod that is slidably raised or lowered upon rotation of the drive shaft of the stepper motor actuator.

Abstract: An applicator device for applying a cosmetic, the applicator device comprising an elongate body adapted to be held in the hand, an applicator head, a feed device adapted to feed the applicator head with cosmetic in solid form, and a heater device adapted to heat the applicator head, thereby causing the cosmetic to melt. The feed device comprises a feed duct provided in the body of the applicator device and communicating with passageways that are provided in the applicator head and that open out to the outside, and the heater device is adapted to heat said feed duct at the applicator head.

Abstract: Rotary lobe pump and circumferential piston pump designs are disclosed where the drive and driven shafts are detachably connected to their respective rotors. The rotors are disposed in a pump or rotor casing, which is sandwiched between a head cover and a gearbox. The drive and driven shafts pass through mechanical seal assemblies, which are sandwiched between the first and second rotors and the gear box respectively. The seal assemblies can be serviced or replaced by simply removing the head cover and removing the rotors from the drive and driven shafts. The pump casing does not need to be removed to replace or service the seal assemblies. Further, the capacities of the disclosed rotary lobe and circumferential piston pumps can be modified without changing the gearboxes or shaft length. To modify a pump capacity, all that needs to be changed are the rotors, the pump or rotor casing and, in some designs, the head cover or cover plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a display stand for articles such as cosmetic products. The inventive display stand consists of a vertical board (1) comprising a rear face (4) and a front face (5). According to the invention, the front face is formed at least partially by a plurality of first panels (7) and a plurality of second panels (8) which are inclined in relation to the first panels (7), said first panels (7) being designed to receive the articles (10). Moreover, at least one of the second panels (8) is equipped with a reflective surface (8a) such that an image of the articles positioned on the opposing first panel (7) are visible on the second panel (8) to a person facing the board (1).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and method for adequately securing the currently available metal and plastic containers for paint and other fluids as well as other foreseeable containers in an automated fashion without crushing or damaging the containers, without using any special adapters for particular container types and without operator intervention. To avoid crushing a plastic container, the disclosed system and method takes advantage of the compressibility of these less rigid plastic containers. It has been found that a plastic paint container can be safely clamped in place without structural damage if the clamp plate travel after engagement with the top of the container is limited to a certain value, for example, about 5/16?. When the compression amount if limited or controlled, the plastic container will not move or will move very little during a three minute violent shake cycle. Some conventional containers are not readily compressible, such a metal cans, drums or the larger (five gal.

Abstract: A method for raising a demagnetization temperature of a permanent magnet is disclosed. The method provides a ferromagnetic arrangement around the magnet to increase demagnetization thresholds for the duration of soldering, or any other process requiring high temperatures. Using the method disclosed, it is possible to apply high levels of heat directly to permanent magnets without demagnetization, and more particularly to create permanent magnetic assemblies fit for any environment.

Abstract: A non-stick coating, which inhibits frozen moisture accumulation, is applied to exterior exposed portions of heating and cooling systems where ice or other frozen moisture can accumulate and impair system design operational efficiencies; where heat exchange tubing and fins are downwardly sloped or angled; where an optional capillary tube/plate means/design, which plate has an exterior surface that is comprised of at least one of raised dots, ridges, trenches, and a flat surface is utilized; with an optional protective shell encasement which can be shaped to provide a vena contracta effect; with an optional electric fan to enhance airflow for heat exchange; with an optional electric vibrator to enhance inhibition of frozen moisture accumulation; with a downwardly sloped base to direct falling frozen moisture away from the heat exchange equipment; for use in conjunction with an air source heat pump system, an evaporative cooling system or a chiller, or as a supplement to a water-source heat pump system or to a

Abstract: The invention relates to an intervertebral disc prosthesis having an upper plate, a lower plate having an essentially-flat support surface, and an intermediate element having a base which is equipped with a rim and which is topped with a spherical cap. The upper plate and the cap define a ball and socket joint therebetween. The base of the intermediate element comes into contact with a support surface of the lower plate. The lower plate is equipped with a guide having two edges which maintain the intermediate element therebetween. The rim of the base comes into contact with the edges, the rim being circular in shape and adapted to enable the intermediate element to roll along the length of the edges.

Abstract: An inner barrel is slidably inserted into an outer barrel, chuck pieces which hold a stick-shaped material is provided at a tip end portion of the inner barrel, a chuck ring is inserted between the chuck pieces and the outer barrel, an elastic member receiving part is provided at part of an inner peripheral surface in a circumferential direction of the outer barrel, an elastic member receiving part is provided at part of an outer peripheral surface in the circumferential direction of the inner barrel, and a coil spring is placed at part in a circumferential direction of the outer barrel and the inner barrel between the elastic member receiving part and the elastic member receiving part, and urges the inner barrel with respect to the outer barrel.

Abstract: A bumper pad for use in cushioning and protecting packaged articles is provided. The bumper pad is made primarily from paper and comprises an arced top member glued or otherwise affixed to a flat base along longitudinal edges. The bumper pad can be placed around the packaged article between the article and the outer packaging, which can be a cardboard sleeve, stretch wrap film or other packaging material. The arced top member preferably is formed using a linear draw process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restraining cargo in a trailer is provided. The apparatus has four components: a mobile cargo stop, a chain, means for anchoring the chain to the trailer floor near the trailer front wall, and a front wall liner mounted to the trailer front wall. The chain runs from the anchoring means near the trailer front wall, under the cargo, and is affixed to the cargo stop with a turnbuckle hook. The cargo is restrained between the front wall liner and the cargo stop by tightening the chain using a cinching device mounted on the cargo stop.

Abstract: The invention concerns a nebuliser with nanometric flow rate of a liquid effluent in a nebulising gas comprising at least arranged substantially concentric, a capillary tube for intake of the liquid effluent and a nebulising needle including a central channel fed with liquid effluent through the capillary tube, a chamber for intake of the nebulising gas feeding a nozzle for expelling the nebulising gas, the nebulising needle passing through the intake chamber and the nozzle expelling the nebulising gas, the nebulising needle including a outlet for the liquid effluent whereof the aperture diameter is less than 20 ?m, the ratio of the diameter of the outlet of the nozzle expelling the nebulising gas and the outlet of the nebulising needle being more than 10 The inventive nanometric flow rate nebuliser and nebulising installation are applicable in mass spectrometry of trace elements contained in intracellular or microbiological medium for example.

Abstract: A sub-surface tubing arrangement for use in a direct exchange (DX) geothermal heating/cooling system includes a primary sub-surface liquid refrigerant transport line, a primary sub-surface vapor refrigerant transport line, at least one sub-surface heat exchange refrigerant transport line functionally connecting the primary sub-surface liquid refrigerant transport line to the primary sub-surface vapor refrigerant transport line, and either vertical or horizontal supplemental sub-surface refrigerant line connected to one of the primary sub-surface liquid or vapor refrigerant transport lines.

Abstract: A direct expansion geothermal heat exchange system with spacer fins attached to at least one of a sub-surface refrigerant transport tubing containment pipe and to sub-surface refrigerant transport tubing, so as to ensure the sub-surface pipe/tubing does not come into direct contact with the ground and is surrounded/encased by a thermally conductive grout that is resistant to corrosive sub-surface elements.

Abstract: An encasement assembly for installing sub-surface refrigerant tubing in a direct exchange heating/cooling system includes a weighted and protective encasement tube for lowering the bottom distal U-bend portion of the refrigerant tubing into a well/borehole. The encasement tube has a main body portion and a rounded or cone-shaped nose. The U-bend portion of the distal end of the refrigerant transport lines is encased within a cementitious grout inside the tube. The grout inside the encasement tube has a flat top portion to prevent upward flotation and at least one eyebolt for securing a trimmie tube with an expendable wire during installation. An optional nose ring is attached to the lower distal end of the tube for marker float attachment in water.

Abstract: A method of increasing the collection of debts owed a government agency by collecting additional names associated with a debtor, verifying that an additional name represents the same person as the debtor, and providing those additional names to the government agency that is owed by the debtor. After the additional names are added, future payments to the debtor can be offset by the amount owed.