Abstract: A two part plastics material horseshoe has a relatively flexible plastics strip part of generally L-shaped cross-section, shaped so as to be suitable for adhering to the side wall of a hoof, and a relatively inflexible plastics shoe-part adapted for bonding to the strip-part once the latter has been adhered to the hoof. The two parts are pre-united in the toe region, to set the relative dispostion thereof prior to adhering the strip part to the hoof. Attachment of the strip-part to the hoof is enhanced by providing a liner having a rough texture within the strip-part, and the shoe-part may be affixed to the strip-part by a heat-welding technique.

Abstract: An analysis system with which a random number of small to very small liquid specimens can be simultaneously examined side by side without hollow reaction vessels. The specimens do not mix together and do not dry out.To this end, the plates are provided with a water-repelling coating leaving free a number of circular surfaces. The individual specimens are placed between the coinciding circular surfaces of two superimposed plates. A frame ensures that there can be no reciprocal lateral sliding of the plates and that the latter do not move too close to one another. For mixing of the individual specimens, the plates can be rhythmically moved towards and away from one another within given intervals, e.g. by means of a spring-magnet system.The analysis system can be used in many immunological examinations, particularly blood group determinations, radioimmunoassays, enzyme-immunoassays, immunofluoroescent assays and in non-immunological, general chemical, biochemical and clinical chemical examinations.

Abstract: The object of the invention is an apparatus for the preliminary or final assembly of sheets of glass and/or plastic material for forming laminated glazings.The apparatus according to the invention comprises a lower pinching means following a curvature transversal to the bottom side of the rigid support of the glazing, a flexible, cylindrical pressure roller placed above the lower pinching means, means bearing on the pressure roller to give it the desired curvature, and means providing a rotational drive of the pressure roller and/or the lower pinching means.The invention is applicable to the manufacture of laminated glazings, particularly for automobile glazings or flat glass used in construction.

Abstract: A laminated glazing with electrical wires embedded in a thermoplastic interlayer is disclosed. The glazing is made of an interlayer of transparent or translucent thermoplastic material in which a network of electrical wires is embedded, the interlayer being in contact with a solid or laminated substrate containing at least one rigid sheet and with a layer of nonrigid plastic material, the thickness of which is usually less than one millimeter, this latter layer preferably being positioned on one of the surfaces of the glazing and preferably having self-healing and antilacerative properties. A prefabricated sheet containing the network of electrical wires can be used in the manufacture of the glazing. The wires can be of a relatively high resistance so that the glazing is heated when electrical current is passed through the wires or the wires can form part of an alarm system that signals breakage of the glazing.

Abstract: A climbing mechanism is disclosed that comprises a central upright post with right and left foot pedal assemblies slidably disposed on right and left lateral sides of the post. Each pedal assembly is attached to a wedge-shaped slider that travels within a complementary shaped channel lengthwise of the post. Each pedal includes a foot-supporting sole portion and has a foot restraining strap. User-controlled pivoting of the pedals controls the mechanism that locks the pedals with respect to the post. Illustrative embodiments describe locking and unlocking arrangements wherein a projecting member affixed to each pedal assembly (such as a tooth or a cambered element) is controllably mated with a selected one of a plurality of sockets or recesses located lengthwise of the post. A further embodiment describes a locking and unlocking arrangement in which a braking member on each pedal assembly selectively positions each assembly through controllably gripping a cable disposed lengthwise of the post.

Abstract: A ventilating hatch assembly for a boat deck or the like includes a square opening in the deck having a coaming extending therearound. A square frame having a hatch cover pivotally attached along one edge thereof is disposed over the opening and is demountably attached to the coaming. The frame and hatch cover may be removed from the coaming and selectively replaced at one of four ventilating positions spaced at 90.degree. intervals.

Abstract: In a carburetor the fuel jet system opening into the intake pipe of the engine comprises an emulsion well supplied with air and fuel and a device for correcting the fuel/air ratio of the mixture supplied to the engine as a function of the amplitude of the alternating pressure variations caused by the suction of the engine in the intake pipe. The correcting device comprises a movable wall defining a chamber which communicates with the emulsion well and to which the alternating pressure variations are applied through an attenuator. The device adjusts the depression in the emulsion well for increasing or reducing the amplitude of the alternating component of the pressure which is communicated thereto from the opening of the fuel jet system according as to whether the acoustic matching of the carburetor-engine manifold assembly tends to produce an excessive or insufficient fuel/air ratio under high load.

Abstract: The solenoid valve of the invention comprises a housing having a fluid flow opening passage therethrough. A movable assembly is subjected to the opposing actions of a return spring and an electromagnetic coil. The movable assembly comprises an armature whose abutment against a guide defines an end position and a needle fixed to the armature, which defines with the opening a passage of minimum non zero cross-sectional area when the assembly is in the end position.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for electro-chemical measuring systems includes an electrode member having a selectively sensitive membrane disposed in its front end and an electrical conductor extending from the membrane rearwardly through the electrode member. A holding member is provided to secure the electrode member in sealed relation with the membrane disposed within a measuring chamber. The holding member provides a spring loaded sealing force to the electrode member and can be applied and removed without rotation of the electrode member.

Abstract: A process for making sheets of plastic material of high optical quality by casting the plastic material or a mixture of its components on a flat, moving substrate is disclosed. According to the invention, a stable pocket of material is formed on the moving substrate upstream of the zone at which the plastic material flows from the casting apparatus onto the substrate. The material in the pocket moves in predetermined paths and leaves the pocket to form the lower portion and the edges of the sheet. A direct stream of material is simultaneously formed downstream of the zone of delivery of the plastic material onto the substrate in a tangential relation to the meniscus, to form the upper portion of the sheet.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing particles from sheet materials, particularly plastic materials that are to be laminated to other materials, are disclosed. The sheet is destaticized, wiped and lightly scraped to dislodge particles from the sheet. The dislodged particles are removed from the sheet by suction. Scrapers with single fixed blades and scrapers with multiple movable blades are used to dislodge particles that are embedded in or adhered to the sheet. The process and apparatus are particularly useful for cleaning sheets of plastic material that are used in laminated glazings having stringent optical requirements.

Abstract: A musical chord system includes a pedal console comprising a plurality of foot-actuated pedal switches, a chord selection switch console comprising a plurality of chord selection switches associated with said pedal switches, and diode matrix logic means interconnecting the chord selection switches with the tone generating circuitry of a conventional electronic musical instrument such as an electric organ whereby chords are sounded upon depression of the foot pedals. By adjustment of the corresponding chord selection switch, each foot pedal can be set to produce any desired one of a multiplicity of possible chords. Switches are also provided to permit the chords to be sounded on different octaves and keyboards or combinations thereof. A priority interconnect circuit prevents more than one chord from being played when two pedals are simultaneously depressed. A lower musical keyboard sustaining circuit permits the upper manual keyboard to be pulsed with alternating partial and full depression of a pedal.

Abstract: A cutter and cutting method for cutting synthetic resin sheets or ribbons in a manner that avoids the formation of particulates from the cutting operation are disclosed. The cutter includes a blade and associated sheet holding structure for creating a sharp bend in the sheet. The sharp bend creates a zone of high stress in the sheet. An element for rapidly heating the sheet is brought near the edge of the blade where the fold in the sheet exists. The localized stress in the fold cause the sheet to rupture along the fold after the sheet has been heated to a sufficient extent.

Abstract: A fuel injection nozzle and holder assembly of conventional construction is made leakless by eliminating the leakoff passages from the spring chamber. An unreasonable buildup of leakage fuel pressure in the spring chamber is prevented by relieving the pressure in the fuel delivery passages between injection intervals to permit leakage from the spring chamber and a stabilization of the spring pressure. A continuously open passage is provided between the spring chamber and the valve bore to prevent a sealing of the spring chamber by the nozzle valve during the injection interval and thus provide a predictable spring chamber pressure augmenting the nozzle closing force of the spring.

Abstract: A plastic sheet is laminated to a glass sheet for the manufacture of laminated safety glass by means of an elastic membrane rigidly held at its periphery and subjected to increasing gas pressure, the membrane thereby pressing the plastic sheet against the glass sheet progressively from the center out toward the edges of the latter.

Abstract: A self-contained underwater breathing apparatus wherein surface air is delivered through a float-supported hose to a compressor carried by the diver and powered by the diver's exhalations. The compressed air is stored in reservoirs and inhaled by the diver through a demand regulator. An auxiliary manually powered compressor is provided for startup, emergency use and to make up system losses.

Abstract: A high speed unit printer comprising an intermittently rotating ink disc having a substantially horizontal surface on which a supply of ink is deposited. A collecting blade continuously directs the ink into a narrow stream near the periphery of the disc. An adjustable metering blade continuously spreads the ink stream from the collecting blade into a band of uniform thickness. An inking pad and a transfer pad are mounted on a common slide assembly which reciprocates to transfer ink from the disc to an adjacent plate or type, and an image from the plate or type to the article to be printed. The slide assembly is mounted on a pivotally mounted slide arm assembly which is raised during reciprocating movement of the slide assembly by a rotating cam.

Abstract: A self-cleaning valve plug and seat assembly for use within a valve chamber comprises a seat member extending into the chamber and having an inwardly converging frustconical seating surface thereon. A cylindrical skirt portion extending inwardly coaxially from the seating surface includes ports therein connecting with a fluid passage extending axially through the seat member. A valve plug includes a cylindrical bore extending partway thereinto and adapting the plug for sliding movement over the seat member skirt portion. The plug includes a surface intersecting the bore at an actute angle to provide a circular cutting edge at the open end of the bore. Means are provided for moving the plug axially toward and away from the seat member so that the plug is disposed clear of the seat member ports in the open valve position and covers the ports in the closed valve position with the plug cutting edge engaging the seating surface of the seat member in fluid-tight sealing relation.

Abstract: A single plunger distributor type fuel injection pump for multi-cylinder internal combustion engines having improved features for preventing cavitation in the fuel distribution passages upon fuel cutoff and for providing a uniform residual fuel pressure in the idle fuel distribution passages. The pump does not have the usual delivery valve for maintaining a high residual fuel pressure in the distribution passages. Instead, the passages upon injection termination drain into a spill chamber, the pressure within which builds up to resist fuel flow from the passages and minimize cavitation therewithin. The spill chamber pressure is relieved by a bleed passage opening into the low pressure fuel supply chamber. The pressure in the idle fuel distribution passages is maintained at a low predetermined level by connection of the passages to the fuel supply chamber between injection intervals.

Abstract: A positioning device for holding a human limb in a fixed position on a table for examination and/or X-ray photography. The device secures the limb against movement in any direction and is thus particularly adapted for stress arthrogram examinations. A lever actuated suction cup assembly selectively positionable on a table carries a horizontal limb support plate in spaced relation above the table. A pair of opposed upstanding clamp assemblies are slidably mounted on the support plate and are selectively adjustable into a fixed clamping position in engagement with a human limb placed therebetween on the support plate. The limb engaging surfaces of the clamp assemblies have a concave configuration and are selectively angularly adjustable to accommodate the taper of the secured limb.