Abstract: A stressed modular desk system employs a core having an interior raceway and a substantially open top, whereby the raceway is accessible from above. Electronic equipment, such as computer monitors, can be mounted on a plurality of platforms, each platform being supported from a support structure which extends between opposite ends of the raceway core and which spans the raceway without significantly obstructing the open top of the raceway core. At least one of the platforms is supported in cantilevered fashion by the support structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing jaw for sealing thermoplastic materials or paper or cardboard coated with thermoplastic material, preferably packaging material. The sealing jaw is constructed from two ceramic materials, of which one is electrically insulating and the other electrically conductive: The electrically conductive ceramic material forms a continuous strand embedded in the insulating material and is, at or in the proximity of its end points, metallized so as to make good connection with an electric current source. The electrically conductive ceramic materials are treated with high pressure and heat so that they together form a pore-free, hard and abrasion-resistant body which can be applied to a steel rail.

Abstract: A swing check valve, which is adapted for automatically inhibiting back flow of fluid from an outlet thereof to an inlet thereof, includes a clapper member and a housing. The housing has a first body portion, which includes its own valve seat and its own mounting mechanism adapted to removably mount the clapper member therefrom when the first body portion is positioned adjacent to the inlet of the valve. The housing also has a second body portion, which includes its own valve seat and its own mounting mechanism adapted to removably mount the clapper member therefrom when the second body portion is positioned adjacent to the inlet of the valve. The first and second body portions are removably connected to each other in an end-to-end fashion and are interchangeable with each other, whereby each body portion may be utilized as a replacement for the other body portion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a melodic novelty party-favor article comprising a housing and an electronic circuit assembly. The housing contains the electronic circuit assembly, which comprises a power source, an integrated circuit unit, a sound production means and a switch mechanism. The switching mechanism comprises two electrically conductive ends and a resistor, wherein the conductive ends are contiguously placed on an outer surface portion of the housing and are not in contact with each other, whereby the circuit assembly is activated by simultaneously contacting the two electrically conductive ends with an electrically conductive article.

Abstract: A female receptacle adapted for electrical connection to a male plug includes a premold for housing a pair of clothes-pin type metal female contacts and a D-shaped metal female pin. The premold, which may be made from a relatively rigid material, is housed within an overmold made from a less rigid material. The premold can be of a locking variety or a non-locking variety.

Abstract: A Hydraulic Pumping Unit equipped with a flywheel, a high-slip electric motor and a reversible hydraulic pump such that during the downstroke of the Unit, the hydraulic pump operates as a hydraulic motor, accelerating the flywheel and accumulating in this way the energy of the downgoing rodstring in the form of kinetic energy.The interaction between the flywheel, electric motor and weight of the rodstring adjusts automatically the range of speed variation.The upward and downward speeds of the Hydraulic Pumping Unit can be adjusted by hand or automatically by electronically commanded step motors, in such a way that the Hydraulic Pumping Units adjusts itself to the varying conditions of the oilwell.

Abstract: A device for translating rotary to linear motion and vice versa includes a reciprocating linearly moving shuttle with a central aperture. The aperture has a pair of opposing gear racks protruding towards the center and which capture therebetween a pair of pinion sectors rotatably mounted to the crankpin of a rotatable crankshaft with the axis of crankshaft rotation perpendicular to the linear path of the shuttle. The pinion sectors are free to rotate about the crankpin and articulate independently of each other through a selected angular range. When the crankpin, including the pinion sectors, is inserted into the aperture of the shuttle with the pinion sectors engaging the racks, motion is transferable between the crankpin and the shuttle through the pinion sectors.

Abstract: A fluid filter having a hollow, molded, plastic housing with an open end, a fluid inlet port and a fluid outlet. An internally threaded, plastic, molded cap is threadedly received on the housing via mating external threads for sealing the open end of the housing. A cap seal prevents fluid contamination of the threads. A removable filter element is contained within the housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A molded, resilient, plastic retainer captured between the cap and the filter element retains the filter element in position within the filter. If the filter element is of a bag filter type, as compared with a filter cartridge type, the retainer has a plurality of resilient legs which press down upon a bag mouth seal forcing it into contact with a flared mouth of the bag support.

Abstract: A catheter system adapted for dilating a preselected stenosed region of a blood vessel having a first branch and a second branch includes an inflatable member having a first branch portion and a second branch portion. In use, the inflatable member is inserted into the blood vessel and routed to the stenosed region through the blood vessel. The first portion and the second portion are positioned in the first branch and the second branch, respectively, and then inflated, whereby the vessel is dilated facilitating blood flow therethrough. The first and second portions of the member may be inflated simultaneously.

Abstract: An actuator for actuating a valve from a first position to a second position includes a housing and a rotatable stem mounted within the housing and restricted from moving axially. The actuator also includes a non-rotatable plunger engaging the stem such that the plunger moves axially in response to rotation of the stem, whereby the valve is actuated from the first position to the second position. The actuator is also provided with a non-rotatable indicator member, which is mounted within the housing and through which the stem extends. The indicator member engages the stem such that the indicator member moves axially in response to rotation of the stem. A viewing window is formed in a wall of the housing such that the indicator member can be seen through the window for indicating the first position and the second position of the valve.

Abstract: A housing for an underwater lighting fixture includes a wet niche formed from plastic and provided with three alternative grounding pathways. A conductor strap is attached to the niche by a threaded lug which extends through the strap and an adjacent wall of the niche to permit an internal ground wire and an external ground wire to be connected to the strap. As a further grounding assurance, the lighting fixture is grounded through a bracket which attaches to the conductor strap. The bracket also serves as a current collector to receive electrical charge from the surrounding water.

Abstract: A suction nozzle adapted for use in a suction cleaning device, such as an automatic swimming pool cleaner, includes a body having a throat extending from an inlet at one end of the body to an outlet at an opposite end of the body. The body itself is split longitudinally into a plurality of discrete body portions to form the throat of the nozzle. One body portion is movable relative to the other body portion, whereby the throat automatically expands in response to the relative movement of the body portions. The resulting expansion of the nozzle allows substantially unrestricted passage of large foreign objects through the throat during the operation of the suction cleaning device.

Abstract: A device for filtering fluid includes a hollow housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A filter element formed of fluid permeable material is disposed within the housing for filtering fluid entering the fluid inlet, the fluid passing through the element and out the fluid outlet. The element has a generally cylindrical configuration with the permeable material forming a plurality of elongated, radially extending pleats. The pleats are supported by spacers having a plurality of blades attached to a web with channels therebetween. The element is used as a septum for supporting a diatomaceous earth precoat. A regeneration piston creates fluid flows within the filter that cause the element to flutter, thereby displacing DE precoat from the septum for regeneration.

Abstract: A backflush conduit for an automatic back flushing filter having an inlet portion with a symmetrical converging bell-shaped cross-section, an outlet portion with a generally cylindrical shape, and a converging and reorienting transition portion connecting the inlet and outlet portions. Converging convex surfaces of the bell shaped opening smooth fluid inflow and prevent fulid separation. The transition portion interior contour redirects the fluid flow without inducing turbulence, resulting in more efficient backflushing to clean the entire filter element even at small element pore sizes.

Abstract: A diffuser, which is adapted for use in a filter, includes a pair of tiers. Once of the tiers is supported on and is laterally movable relative to the other tier in response to contact by a closure dome as the dome is applied to an access opening formed in a housing of the filter, whereby the diffuser automatically and properly adjusts itself in relation to the access opening during its assembly in the housing.