Abstract: A composition for prolonging battery life by reducing water loss and the degradation of properties due to dendritic precipitation, is refreshingly added to a battery electrolyte. By the refreshment of the composition, battery cycle life is substantially increased while degradation of the internal battery components is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A transducer for monitoring the position of movable bodies and in particular for monitoring the position of valve flaps and other elements in connection with systems for fire extinction, is composed of a pipe (4) which is closed at one end and thus forms a hollow body with a bottom (4). The pipe is made of a magnetically inert material and accommodates an inductive sensor (5) of an ordinary type. The sensor is movable inside the pipe, but engages the internal bottom of the pipe in its normal position of use. The transducer is kept in this position by a compression spring (17) which presses against the free end of the cylindrical sensor. With its other end, this compression spring (17) engages a plug (2) at the free end of the pipe. In its position of use, the transducer is arranged such that the bottom of the pipe, and thereby the active face of the sensor, is positioned in the immediate vicinity of the body, e.g. a valve flap, whose position is to be monitored.

Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding articles to a blister band, a box-like container, situated close to said band, is fed by a delivering device with a quantity of articles such as to allow accumulation of the articles on the surface of the band. A brush strikes and pushes the articles in a direction opposite to a forwarding direction of the band. A sensor, downstream of the brush, detects the thickness of the layer of articles on the band and interacts with the brush to maintain substantially constant the thickness of the layer of articles.

Abstract: The present invention rerlates to medical techniques, in particular, to methods and apparatus applied in minimally invasive vascular surgery to eliminate occlusion of blood vessel, using grafts and to prevent rupture of abdominal aorta using grafts or stent-grafts. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for locating and securing intravascular devices, substantially grafts, through a duct specially created by the surgeon to approach the blood vessel lumen. There is suggested a new and improved method for fixating an intravascular device to a blood vessel wall in combination with a new and improved stapler design based on this method.

Abstract: A composition for suppressing appetite and cravings for substances such as nicotine, coffee, sweets or chocolate while improving energy and enhancing mood comprises theobromine or a salt thereof at an effective amount of from about 250 to 4000 mg. Using such relatively high proportions of theobromine, without added caffeine or ephedrine provides an effective method for promoting weight control or to halt substance cravings without the side effects associated with such stimulants. The composition also includes Rhodiola rosea extract to offset stress effects from reduced food or substance intake, and to further improve mood, and clarity of thought and ability to handle stress, and to also increase endurance while reducing muscle pain.

Abstract: A method and work station (SV) for checking the integrity of packages (2), in particular single-dose packages uses a first pressing device (4) for applying a reference force to one or a group of packages (2) for a predetermined time interval (Dt). The value of the force transmitted by the package (2) is detected using one or more load cells (6) positioned opposite to the first pressing device (4) with respect to the package (2). The load cells detect the force transmitted through the package. Packages are rejected when the value of the force transmitted by the package (2) is lower than a critical force value (f*) which is a value of the force transmitted to the load cells by a good package.

Abstract: According to a method for selecting and feeding articles to blisters or containers, a first hopper filled with unselected articles feeds a second main hopper with selected size-matching articles, by means of a tapered inlet section. Size non-matching articles get jammed and stopped within the tapered inlet sections and are removed by means of a shutter hinged to each inlet section. A sensor detects when the flow of size-matching articles is interrupted. According to a second embodiment the inlet sections are replaced by swinging tubular portions. The shutters and tubular portions can be operated cyclically, thus avoiding the need for the sensor. An apparatus is also described for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A system for moving and diverting trains (5) of bobbins (7) in a spinning plant with more spinning mills (1) includes a pair of rails (40,41), along which a carriage (32) moves. The carriage (32) can be stopped at a point corresponding to one spinning mill (1) and carries, mounted thereon, a motor (39), which drives the trains (5), coming from a main feeding line (3) to terminal sections (10), situated beside the spinning mills (1). Activator means (29), situated also on the carriage (32), operate the switches (20,21,22) aimed at deviating the path of the trains from the main line (3) to union sections (15) joined to the terminal sections (10). The carriage (32) is moved by a motor (42) and its position along the rails (40,41) is determined by an encoder (43).

Abstract: The invention relates to the control of the temperature of recirculated exhaust gas and oil, by means of the placement of a thermostat between an oil/water heat exchanger and a water/exhaust gas exchanger. The thermostat comprises a multifaceted casing (1), in which there is a tubular portion (2) having access to a chamber (7); and, at the bottom of the chamber (7), there is a smaller diameter by-pass passage (11), through which the chamber is linked to a connection duct (12) having access to the output channel (13) that is projected along the tubular projection (14), wherein the thermostatic valve is integrated to the casing (1) by being placed inside the chamber (7), along the tubular portion (2).

Abstract: A method for carrying out and verifying substitution and/or adjustments of mechanical components in an automatic packaging machine (1) during the size change over, said machine (1) being equipped with a computerized unit (UCC, 2, D) for verifying and storing instructions related to the operations necessary to change over the size of the articles being processed. The operations include substitution of specific mechanical components and/or adjustment of the spatial positioning of specific mechanical components. Information elements relevant to the size change over are stored in the unit (UCC, 2D) and are recalled and transferred to a palm-size computer (3, E).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composition and use of polymeric urethane esters quats as an active ingredient for skin and hair contacting personal care compositions and products related thereto. These compositions are generally produced by the reaction of a trialkanolamine with a hydroxy fatty acid to produce a trialkanolamine fatty acid ester, which is then polymerized with a diisocyanate and in preferred embodiments, further reacted with a quaternizing agent to produce preferred quaternized compositions according to the present invention.