Abstract: A numerically-controlled electromechanical precision drive system in which a plurality of low-current servomotor units are arranged in a circle around the driven shaft or push rod of an intermediate gear-wheel in such a way that pinion gears linked with its driven shaft engage with the intermediate gearwheel. The motor units are each driven in synchronism and are each independently linked with an emergency power supply and drive electronic system which receives the control pulses from a joint electronic control system, thus producing a multi-torque drive which provides the operating shaft with a rotational and/or translatory movement.

Abstract: A device for transmitting electric energy to electric equipment, primarily computers and data nets, which device is intended to be connected between a voltage source and the electric equipment. The invention is characterized in that it is provided with a generator (30,31) comprising a piezo-electric element, which generator is intended to be connected to said voltage source and to generate a high-frequency mechanical wave motion, that a bar-shaped transmission member (32) is provided to transmit said motion to a receiver (33-35), which transmission member comprises a non-magnetic and electrically insulating material, in which the mechanical wave motion can be conducted, that said receiver, which is intended to be connected to the electric equipment, is capable to convert said mechanical wave motion into an electrically varying voltage by means of a piezo-electric element (33), which is in mechanical connection with said transmission member.

Abstract: A thread meter comprising a holder for a thread reel, a counter provided with a rotary measuring wheel and guides for a thread, and an outer casing for enclosing said details. The invention is characterized in that a first guide (19) for a thread (20) is located between said holder (13) and said measuring wheel (16), that a second guide (26) for the thread is formed by said casing (4,6), which consists of a first portion (4) and a second portion (6), which are hingedly interconnected, that in the first portion (4) a recess (26) extends from an edge (27) of the wall of the first portion (4), and the second portion (6) of the casing is arranged to bridge the opening (28) of the recess (26) along said edge (27), so that a hole with closed periphery is formed, and that said wheel (16) is located along a line extending between said guides (19', 26, 30').

Abstract: An orthodontic device for use in applying a constant calibrated force to certain teeth or groups of teeth so as to cause the teeth to change position within the mouth over a period of time. The device includes a spring module having a telescope mechanism with inner plunger portion and outer tube portion, and with a calibrated compression coil spring concentrically positioned on the inner plunger portion within the tube portion. The telescope plunger is of a bent arm configuration to assist in providing clearance relative to other installed orthodontic means. A notch is provided in the forward inner wall of the telescope tube to assist in controlling operation of the spring. A bifurcated yoke on the plunger end and a ball and socket type anchor pin on the tube end are employed to secure the device to brace wires mounted on the teeth of a patient.

Abstract: A transversely mounted, single pneumatic spring, and dual bell crank and idler link assembly providing a compact counterbalance for hinged closures such as automobile trunk lids. In an automobile trunk installation, the assembly is installed with the spring in lateral disposition in the forward upper portion of the trunk, thus being effectively concealed. Alternative pneumatic spring enhancements, e.g., a multi-output force feature and a pressure decay compensation feature may be incorporated in the spring unit to enhance opening of the lid and to improve life expectancy of the pneumatic spring by minimizing and effectively negating pressure loss due to leakage of gas past the shaft seal. Excess spring cylinder length can provide space or volume zones used for the enhancement features.

Abstract: A urethral catheter comprising a tube having openings at both ends and at least a portion of the tube having a flexural wall formation permitting compliance of the wall with the urethral shape in use. Longitudinal flexion in the oval-shaped tube is reduced optionally by incorporating a thickened wall portion extending along the catheter about the minor axis thereof, and/or flexural compliance in the lateral direction is reduced optionally by providing a thickened wall portion about the major axis. The catheter is suitable for male patients, and the wall formation can be selected for satisfactory performance under a number of different conditions.

Abstract: A liquid storage tank and flanged valve attachment for the tank are disclosed. The storage tank includes a double bottom wall, with the inner bottom wall formed to slope downwardly from all corners of the tank toward a discharge member. Such a downward slope is provided by forming a downwardly sloping channel from each corner of the tank toward the point of discharge, and with the planar surfaces of the upper wall between the channels being also sloped accordingly. Between the two bottom walls, a structural, insulating or vibration dampening material is provided so as to make the inner and outer bottom walls integral for superior strength and vibration resistance. A flanged discharge arrangement is provided for the discharge member in one embodiment. The flanged discharge includes a casting attached to the inner and outer bottom walls, and with holes for receiving bolts to secure a valve to the casting.

Abstract: An internal thermal exchanger engine which, in one embodiment, includes a cylinder having side walls and an enclosed lower end, with a piston mounted for reciprocal movement within the cylinder, and with a heat exchanger reciprocally mounted within the cylinder between the piston and the lower end of the cylinder. A gas phase fluid is enclosed between the piston and the lower end of the cylinder. The heat exchanger, which has perforated end portions, contains a foraminous heat conductive material distributed throughout the entire volume of the heat exchanger, thus allowing the gas phase fluid to pass freely through the heat exchanger as the heat exchanger moves between the piston and the lower end of the cylinder. A solenoid mounted on the piston operates an exchanger rod secured to the heat exchanger so as to cause the heat exchanger to move reciprocally within the cylinder. A combustion chamber is provided at the lower end of the cylinder to provide a source of heat.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switching device for use in a series loop circuit, and more particularly to a switching device for uncoupling defective circuit components from the series loop circuit, for conducting quick trouble-shooting procedures to locate breaks or shorts in the circuit, and for enabling efficient preventive maintenance programs of the circuit components in order to keep them in good repair, with minimal shutdown time of the circuit or interruption in the supply of power to remaining circuit components. The device according to the invention includes a multi-position selector switch which permits in-situ testing of the circuit components so that down-time of the circuit is significantly reduced, and ease of maintenance is enhanced.

Abstract: An electrostatic plate type precipitator is provided with plural alternately disposed, vertically arranged, and equally spaced apart discharge and collector plates in a housing support structure with an inlet and outlet, enabling passage of gases between the plates, the discharge plates and the collector plates being electrically insulated from each other. An elongate drag hammer assembly, for each of the set of collector plates and the set of discharge plates, extends through the plates normal to their parallel planes. Each drag hammer assembly includes a drag rod and a plurality of pivotally hanging hammers mounted along the drag rod. Tracks mount the drag rods for reciprocation back and forth relative to the plates to move the hanging hammers past a selected number of the associated plates.

Abstract: A captive ball in a socket joint made with a minimum number of units capable of mass production and readily assembled with minimum labor. The ball and socket structure enables easy connection of the ball component to a machine element via open access to the ball component for a power driven tool, such as a pneumatic, rotary driver. The socket unit is a single unitary lug-shaped stamping made from flat sheet metal in which a socket recess with a spherical bottom is stamped or formed with a slotted aperture therethrough. The ball unit is a single unitary screw the head of which is ball-shaped and includes an integral drive device in the ball head. The screw-threaded shank of the ball unit projects through the socket unit aperture with the ball-head received in the socket recess. The slotted aperture permits universal swiveling movement of the ball unit relative to the socket unit. A nut, on the ball unit renders the ball unit captive in the socket unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for surface treatment, especially for etching and/or coating workpieces by ion bombardment is described. This apparatus comprises at least one ionization chamber having at least one hot cathode, gas atoms being introduced into this chamber for the low-voltage arc-discharge between the ionization chamber and at least one anode inside the treatment chamber connected to a vacuum pump. At least one magnet coil mounted within the treatment chamber is used to control the ion density of the low-voltage arc-discharge and is mounted inside the treament chamber. The workpieces to be treated are arranged outside these magnet coils. Homogeneous surface treatment of the workpieces is ensured by the selected arrangement of magnet coils and workpieces.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring the topography of a surface, comprising a light transmitting device for transmitting a light beam onto the surface; a light receiving device for receiving light reflected by the surface; a detector for detecting the position of the received light relative to the optical axis of the light receiving device; and means for providing relative movement between on one hand the light transmitting (10,L1,L2) and light receiving (L3,L4,8) devices, and on the other hand the surface (2) to be measured. According to the invention the optical axis (11) of the light transmitting device (10,L1,L2) is arranged to form a small angle (.gamma..sub.1) with the normal to the median plane (13) of a workpiece surface (2) to be measured. The angle (.gamma..sub.1) is smaller than about 15.degree.. The optical axis (9) of the light receiving device (L3,L4) forms a right angle, or substantially a right angle (8) with the optical axis of the light transmitting device.

Abstract: A non-mechanical refrigeration system particularly for use in a large insulated container such as a truck or railroad car for maintaining perishables at a desired low temperature during shipment. A cryogenic material such as liquid CO.sub.2 is used in a plurality of modes to permit or prevent exposure of the foodstuffs to CO.sub.2 vapors.

Abstract: An indicator or lighting system for bicycles or other vehicles. The indicator system includes a turn signal system, a hazard flash system and a running light system employed in conjunction with a timer and utilizing a convenient battery pack as well as a pair of light and cross bar assemblies. each of the turn signal, hazard flash and running light system employs a double-throw double-pole switch having a pair of movable contacts both ganged together to move in unison from respective neutral positions to either a left hand or right hand position. In one active position, the running light switch initiates steady illumination of the lights to provide a running light system. In the other active position, the running light switch allows activation of the hazard flash or turn signal system.

Abstract: A method of heating glass tubes, particularly quartz tubes for the manufacture of optical fibres, where the tube is pre-heated, preferably by means of a gas flame, whereafter the tube is heated by means of microwave energy generated by a microwave generator (1), by introducing the tube axially into a microwave cavity (3) comprising in its end walls (6,7) or end surfaces openings for the tube. According to the invention, at least one electrical field is given a field image according to a TM-0n0-mode, preferably according to the TM-020-mode, which mode has a maxima (10) along the central axis (9;c-c) of the cavity (3) and a minima (11,12) on each side of and radially spaced from the central axis (9;c-c), where the electrical field portion located between the minima (11,12) is used for heating the wall of the glass tube (8).

Abstract: A golf bag protective cover composed of plastic sheet material having slit openings therein which are covered by a plastic skirt which circumvents the entire cover, thus preventing dislodgment by wind while protecting the interior of the golf bag against ingress of rain.