Abstract: A laundry washing or drying machine having an outer drum (11) and an inner drum (12). The inner drum is rotatably disposed in the outer drum (11) and adapted to support laundry items to be treated in the machine. At one gable (16), the inner drum (12) is connected with a pulley (18) adapted to be drivingly connected to a corresponding drive pulley driven by an electric motor. Further, at one or at both gables, the inner drum (16) is provided with a shaft (17) journalled in a seat disposed adjacent to an opening (22) in a corresponding gable (15) of the outer drum (11). The shaft (17) is formed by one of a pressing (90) made in the associated inner drum gable (16), a pressing (71) made in the central part of the pulley (18), or joint pressings (50, 51) made in the inner drum gable (16) and in the pulley (18). The seat is formed by a central cantilevering (21; 53) in the corresponding gable (15) of the outer drum. The cantilevering (21; 53) is directed toward the inner drum (16) and defines the opening.

Abstract: The cuff (25) for connecting a tube (26) to two pipes (2) or two equipments together includes, at each end, a knuckle joint mechanism (31) bearing on a clamp (3) integral with the pipe (2) and which forces the end of the tube (26) against the mouth (4). The knuckle joint (31) is two pairs of rods (32, 35), whose interference produces a compressive stress on spring washers (37). The fixing force is consequently applied in simple and reliable manner and can be interrupted just as easily. The bearing surfaces of the connecting parts and the tube (26, 30, 43) with respect to one another, on the clamp (3) and the mouth (4) must be spherical and concentric in order to enable the pipes (2) to be angularly displaced by a few degrees relative to the tube (26).

Abstract: A storage rack for nuclear fuel assemblies and its manufacturing process.A storage rack for nuclear fuel assemblies is formed by assembling main plates (12), spacer plates (14), two end plates (16) and a base plate (18), preferably by welding. Once a first main plate (12(1)), a first end plate (16(1)) and the base plate (18) have been mounted on a tooling, a first series of housings (10) is formed by securing a first row of spacer plates (14(1)) to the first main plate (12(1)), and then mounting a second main plate (12(2)). The other rows of housings (10) are obtained in the same manner. The rack is completed by mounting the second end plate.

Abstract: A device for increasing crankcase compression in an internal combustion engine. The device includes a holder having an annular peripheral wall joined to an end wall. The holder is mounted on a crankshaft of the engine, between a main bearing and a crank portion with a counterweight. The crankshaft extends through the end wall and is surrounded by the peripheral wall. Lightweight filling bodies are disposed in the holder.

Abstract: If a user attempts to provide a protection attribute to a new message while the number of old messages which have a protection attribute and are retained is equal to the maximum number of protected messages, a portable radio terminal, such as a pager system, displays on an LCD 13 the oldest received message having a protection attribute. Only the messages having a protection attribute are displayed on the LCD 13 in chronological order of receipt by rotating a rotary switch 4. A message whose protection attribute is canceled is determined by pressing the rotary switch 4 while a message which the user desires to cancel is displayed. Simultaneously, the foregoing operation enables a new message which the user desires to protect to be provided with a protection attribute.

Abstract: A process and device are disclosed for producing a package of elongated winding material. A winding bobbin (50) has a conical winding core (52) and a first detachable flange (53) arranged at the side of the winding core (52) having the smaller diameter, and a second flange (54) arranged at the other side of the winding core (52). The winding bobbin (50) is held in a winding device by means of bobbin holding members (103, 104) which center both flanges (53, 54) and are supported on their surface opposite to the winding core (52). The elongated winding material (D) is then wound on the bobbin (50), the winding process being controlled in such a way that a predetermined type of bobbin is obtained. In particular when a plastic bobbin (50) is used, the package is easy to transport but is at the same time very resistant, so that additional packaging measures may be dispensed with. Packaging waste may thus be almost entirely avoided.

Abstract: An improved water softening process is provided which also reduces anion content. A first stream of water is passed through an anion-exchange unit to remove undesirable anions and raise the pH. The first stream of water is then provided to reactor/clarifier water softening equipment, where it acts as a source of hydroxyl ions. Preferably a second stream of water which did not pass through an anion-exchange unit is also provided to the water softening equipment. The streams of water are combined and processed through the softening equipment, where hardness ions are precipitated out, yielding softened water with reduced anion content. The anion-exchange system utilized preferably has a counter-current continuous resin train and a counter-current continuous resin regeneration unit.

Abstract: An improved cable feeder uses tractor type drive belts and compressed air to propel cable through a conduit. The axial force applied to the cable is sensed with a strain gauge near the conduit or a pressure detector in a hydraulic system powering the drive belts. If excessive force is applied, hydraulic fluid is diverted from the drive belts. The radial force applied to the cable is limited by a calibrated spring. The feeder can also be arranged in a mid-assist configuration. Conduits and the cable are sealed to maintain air pressure. A by-pass pipe is provided to convey pressurized air from a first conduit to a succeeding conduit.

Abstract: A surgical boot assembly for an operating room table includes a surgical boot, an adjustable support arm securable to the table, and an adjustable clamping assembly attaching the surgical boot to the adjustable support arm. The adjustable support arm includes an attachment, a support rod having an end pivotally attached to the attachment such that the support rod is pivotable about the end relative to the attachment, and a locking cylinder having a first end pivotally attached to the attachment and a second end pivotally attached to the support rod. The locking cylinder is infinitely adjustable over a range and can provide an assisting lift force. The locking cylinder preferably includes a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder and having an integral valve, and a separating piston within the cylinder. The piston and the separating piston divide the cylinder into first, second, and third portions.

Abstract: An insulated composite hot water heater is disclosed. The heater comprises an inner plastic pressure vessel for storing and heating water. The pressure vessel has an access opening provided with a removable closure plate. A heat exchanger unit is provided within said pressure vessel and retained therein by the closure plate. An outer housing surrounds the inner plastic pressure vessel and a thermal insulating material is interposed between the vessel and the housing.

Abstract: A conductive slit screen is placed between a corona gun and the surface of a semiconductor wafer. The charge deposited on the wafer by the gun is controlled by a potential applied to the screen. A chuck orients the wafer in close proximity to the screen. A desired charge is applied to the wafer by depositing alternating polarity corona charge until the potential of the wafer equals the potential of the screen.

Abstract: Device for the protection of an electrical load. A branch (4) connects an input terminal (1) to an output terminal (2). The branch includes in series:a channel of a first transistor (10) of the "normally on" type anda channel of a second transistor (20) of the "normally on" type of a second conductivity type. A gate (10g) of the first transistor (10) is connected to the output terminal (2) and a gate (20g) of the second transistor (20) is connected to the input terminal (1) by means of a third "normally on" transistor (30) of the first conductivity type. A gate (30g) is connected to a node (6) between the channels of the first and second transistors. The device has application to the protection of electronic components.

Abstract: Process for the renovation of a nuclear fuel assembly storage rack.For the renovation of a nuclear fuel assembly storage rack, whereof the bulkheads (10) incorporate a neutrophage material sheet held between the partition (16) and a plate (18) welded to said partition, the plate (18) is cut, the sheet extracted and is replaced by a new neutrophage material sheet. This process obviates the need for replacing the rack when the sheets have dissolved in the water of the pool containing the rack.

Abstract: A method of treating cellulose pulp which is subjected to an oxygen-delignification stage (3), a washing stage (4), an ozone-bleaching stage (1) and a further bleaching stage, for instance a peroxide-bleaching stage (7). A gas mixture of oxygen and ozone is delivered to the ozone-bleaching stage (1). The used gas mixture is regenerated, i.e. freed from carbon dioxide, and returned to the oxygen-delignification stage (3) and/or to a bleaching stage (7).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of controlling welding conditions of a resistance welder, in which the nugget generating state can be estimated with general-purpose properties, and in which accurate and high-quality resultant welding can be obtained. Through a process of using a heat conduction simulator for performing simulation of a welding portion on the basis of heat conduction calculation, estimating the status quantity expressing the state in which a nugget is formed in the welding portion during welding, comparing the status quantity with reference status quantity led out of a physical phenomenon generating during welding at the time of estimation, and correcting the heat conduction simulator on the basis of the comparison result, it is possible to control the welding conditions accurately, and it is possible to obtain accurate and high-quality resultant welding.

Abstract: This invention relates to a telephone handset transformable into a telephone headset. The assembly includes a main unit (10) fitted with a first receiver and a microphone and a unit (12) movable in relation to the main unit that can incorporate a second receiver. The movable unit (12) is connected to the main unit (10) by a connecting component (14) made up of at least two arms (26, 28) adjustable in length and at least partially retractable. They are connected by at least one articulation boss. The microphone is retractable or is integrated into the main unit and then articulated in relation to the connecting component. When the telephone unit passes to an open position, it is transformed into a telephone headset without interruption of reception or transmission.

Abstract: An upholstery nozzle for a vacuum cleaner including an inlet part, an outlet part (12) and an intermediate channel (13) extending between the inlet and outlet parts. The inlet part includes an elongated nozzle opening (11a) and a spot suction nozzle 11(b). The spot suction nozzle (11b) is arranged close to the nozzle opening (11a) and is in direct communication with the intermediate channel (13).