Abstract: The cycle times of an automatic single station residual unbalance measuring arrangement for a tire-wheel assembly are improved by the application of servo control to the vertical displacement drive of an elevator. Information relating to a particular tire-wheel type is obtained by direct measurement and/or correlation with data associated with predetermined tire-wheel types. A computer controls the operation of a servo motor that controls the vertical displacement of the tire-wheel assembly onto and off of a precision spindle and chuck on which the residual unbalance measurement is performed. The arrangement affords rapid acceleration onto and off of the precision spindle and chuck, but a gentle engagement between the wheel-tire assembly and the precision chuck to avoid tire bounce and damage to the precision balancer tooling.

Abstract: A work holder support arm for supporting a work article at a desired orientation with respect to a support structure is provided with a first clamp having clamped and unclamped states for coupling with the support structure. The first clamp has an opening therethrough for accommodating the support structure, and there may be provided a through-hole arranged transverse to the opening. A shaft portion is coupled to the first clamp, the shaft portion having a longitudinal bore therethrough arranged to be axially in registration with the through-hole of the first clamp. Additionally, a second clamp couples with the work article and has clamped and unclamped states. A tube portion is coupled to the second clamp for accommodating telescopically therewithin the first shaft portion. An expansion portion is arranged coaxially with the shaft portion within the tube portion, and is provided with a threaded section.

Abstract: A metal gasket assembly includes first and second gasket layers each having at least one sealing port defined therein. Each sealing port has an embossed bead formed about the periphery thereof which extends from a planar surface of the gasket layer. A stopper layer is disposed between the respective planar surfaces of the gasket layers and it has at least one bore extending therethrough which circumscribes the embossed beads. The stopper layer is of a sufficient thickness to prevent over-compression of the embossed beads during installation of the gasket assembly. A method is also disclosed for constructing a gasket assembly in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the subject invention.

Abstract: A machine for determining dynamically a residual unbalance in a workpiece having a conical surface is provided with a plurality of support elements, such as roller elements, that communicate with the workpiece at the conical surface thereof. The roller elements are arranged circumferentially equidistant about the workpiece and may have cylindrical or conical configurations. Further support elements, such as roller elements, can be applied against an annular surface of the workpiece, such as on a flange portion thereof. At least one of the support rollers that communicates with the conical surface is arranged to rotate about an adjustable axis of rotation that can be oriented with respect to the workpiece to achieve good rotative communication therebetween.

Abstract: A wear adjusting arrangement compensates for the wear of a clutch disc that is interposed axially between, and communicates frictionally with, a pressure plate and a flywheel of a vehicle. The pressure plate is urged by a diaphragm spring toward the clutch disc and the flywheel, and is pivotable about a fulcrum ring. The axial relationship of the fulcrum ring with respect to the pressure plate varies as the clutch disc wears. A fulcrum support element which is axially displaceable with respect to the pressure plate supports the fulcrum ring in fixed relation thereto. The arrangement also includes a bias actuator mechanism that communicates mechanically with the fulcrum support element. The bias actuator mechanism establishes an axially spatial relationship between the fulcrum support element and the pressure plate. The arrangement additionally includes a resilient biasing element arranged in communication with the fulcrum support element for applying a resilient biasing force to the fulcrum support element.

Abstract: A flexible lighting system and method of making same is disclosed. The flexible lighting system includes a flexible translucent rod and an attachment flange. Preferably, the outer casing and the attachment flange are integrally formed to facilitate installation. The flexible translucent rod includes an outer casing and a lighting core. The lighting core is disposed within an axial aperture defined by the outer casing and contains a series of lighting elements. In the preferred embodiment, a texture, such as axial grooves, is applied to a surface of the flexible translucent rod. This texture may be applied to the outer surface of the lighting core or the inner surface of the outer casing to diffuse the light emitted by the discrete lighting elements, thereby providing an appearance similar to a solid bar of light.

Abstract: Less toxic agents for reversal of heparin or low molecular weight heparin anticoagulation which are synthetic protamine-like polycationic peptides having a total cationic charge which is less than that of n-protamine. In preferred embodiments, arginine residues of n-protamine are replaced with lysine residues for ease of manufacture. Selective positively charged arginine residues have been replaced with an uncharged amino acid residue or its analog, such as glycine or glutamine, in order to reduce the total cationic charge on the polycationic peptide to the range of about ?+14! to ?+18!, preferably ?+16! to ?+18!. In specific embodiments, there are sequences of 29 and 32 amino acid residues wherein 4 to 5 clusters of 2 to 4 positively charged amino acids are separated by 2 to 6 neutral amino acids. The C-terminus and the N-terminus can be modified to mitigate against in vivo degradation by carboxypeptidases and aminopeptidases. Another modification, specifically use of .alpha.

Abstract: A wheel mounting assembly for installing a transmission-based anti-lock braking system sensor thereon has a stub axle. An anti-lock braking system sensor is mounted relative to the stub axle. A hub is rotatably mounted on the stub axle. A disc is mounted for rotation with the hub. The disc has a plurality of apertures circumferentially spaced on a face thereof for passing the anti-lock braking system sensor as the disc rotates.

Abstract: A cooling tower water treatment system removes contaminants include chlorine, calcium carbonate as calcite, and microorganisms from water in the system with redox media in a fluidized bed. The treatment system includes a treatment bed, in the form of a column, having a reaction chamber of a first diameter and a retention chamber of a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter. Redox media, in the reaction chamber, is fluidized by water flowing in a direction countercurrent to gravity and is held in place, without the use of screens or filters, by a reduction in flow rate of the fluidizing media resulting from the larger diameter of the retention chamber. Preferably, the treatment system includes a physical filtration unit, such as an automatic backwashing sand filter, to prevent entry of particulates and scale into the reaction chamber.

Abstract: A pick-up truck vehicle is provided with an elevatable cargo box to facilitate cargo loading and unloading. The vehicle includes a U-shaped cargo area within which the cargo box is located, thereby requiring removal of all suspension assemblies to the outer sides of the vehicle to permit the cargo box to be movable between elevated and lowered positions. The side-mounted suspension assembly employs a leaf spring coupled to a pivoting wheel carrier. A pair of integrally formed longitudinal members couple the wheel carrier pivotally to the frame, and a transverse, upwardly directed arm is pivotally coupled to the leaf spring by a dual pivot arrangement. Pivoting action therefore is present relative to the frame and the leaf spring. The wheel carrier is integrally formed with the longitudinal members and the upwardly directed arm and is disposed beneath the leaf spring.

Abstract: A cooling tower water treatment system removes contaminants include chlorine, calcium carbonate as calcite, and microorganisms from water in the system with redox media in a fluidized bed. The treatment system includes a treatment bed, in the form of a column, having a reaction chamber of a first diameter and a retention chamber of a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter. Redox media, in the reaction chamber, is fluidized by water flowing in a direction countercurrent to gravity and is held in place, without the use of screens or filters, by a reduction in flow rate of the fluidizing media resulting from the larger diameter of the retention chamber. Preferably, the treatment system includes a physical filtration unit, such as an automatic backwashing sand filter, to prevent entry of particulates and scale into the reaction chamber.

Abstract: Carbomer or cross-polyacrylate polymers which are conventionally provided in a powdered form are converted to a granulated, pelletized or tablet form for subsequent use, in combination with a liquid medium, to form a gel from which products such as liquid detergents, cosmetics and toiletries can be produced. Conversion of the polymer into a granular, pelletized or tablet form has been demonstrated to improve handling of the dry polymer, thereby mitigating against many of the problems incurred with the use of conventional powders, as well as to improve the rate of blending of the polymer with a liquid medium. In some embodiments, the polymer is blended with an electrolyte which may be a salt, acid or acid salt having a pK which is at least 1 unit, and preferably 2 units, greater than the pK of the polymer.

Abstract: A system for stacking cylindrical or coiled materials includes a plurality of interengaging modules for supporting and storing the cylindrical materials. Each module includes a base having four corners. Each module further includes four stanchions disposed at respective ones of the four corners of the base. Each stanchion is connected to the base at a lowermost end thereof and additionally includes a guide protuberance that in certain embodiments is tapered or arranged at an angle with respect to the associated stanchions. The four stanchions are arranged in two pairs such that the two pairs of stanchions are disposed on opposing sides of the base. The modules also comprise two lifting members, each such lifting member being disposed between the paired stanchions and includes an arrangement for distributing load. Each module is provided with a plurality of slots in the base for interengaging with guide protuberances associated with another of the modules.

Abstract: A positron microscope system utilizing image enhancement to overcome problems associated with low positron source flux can be operated in transmission and reflection modes. In the practice of the invention, slow positrons which are emitted after moderation of a positron source are focused, as a source beam, on a specimen target. In some embodiments, the source beam is swept over the specimen target, to effect scanning thereof. Image enhancement is effected by a channel electron multiplier array (CEMA) which may have a plurality of plates. The cloud of electrons which is generated by the CEMA in response to each incident positron is accelerated toward a long persistence phosphor screen. Image acquisition is achieved by a low light video system which delivers its signal to a memory which stores the data. The data is subsequently subjected to an image analysis algorithm which facilitates accumulation and signal averaging.