Abstract: Plastic test tube for taking blood samples, comprising a hollow tubular body and an adhesive protective film able to adhere to the tubular body. The tubular body is made of polyethylene terephthalate and has: a tubular wall which delimits a working volume and defines an outer surface; an open mouth for insertion of liquids at a first end of the wall; and a bottom for closing a second end of the wall. The adhesive protective film is able to adhere to the wall of the tubular body over at least a portion of the outer surface. The test tube is characterized in that the wall of the tubular body has a thickness in the range of 1 to 3 mm and in that the protective film is defined by a layer of polypropylene, polyethylene or copolymers thereof. The layer has a thickness in the range of between 40 and 60 ?m and is able to form a liquid barrier.

Abstract: There is provided a downhole hammer including a drill bit (2) retained by short (4) and long (5) drive pins in the bore of a driver chuck (1). The chuck (1) and bit (2) shank have machined longitudinal grooves (3), every second bit shank groove being blind and connected to the adjacent open groove by a short-pin length relief. The shorter pins (4) are inserted into the visible holes formed by the alignment of the open drill bit grooves and driver chuck grooves (3). The chuck (1) is then indexed which shunts the short pins (4) sideways until the longer pins (5) are insertable. The driver chuck (1) and drill bit (2) are engaged rotationally. The bit (2) slides by the desired distance due to the shorter pins (4) being entrapped in the blind grooves. The arrangement does not require a bit shank extension to accommodate a conventional bit retainer ring.

Abstract: A closure assembly has a closure cap adapted to be fitted to the neck of a container to close the container. The cap has an upper wall and a cylindrical skirt depending from the upper wall. A reservoir is formed on the underside of the upper wall radially within the skirt and has a dispensing opening. A sealing member is fitted into the closure cap to close the dispensing opening in the reservoir. When the assembly is fitted to the container the sealing member fits into the neck of the container with an interference fit such that when the closure cap is removed from the container, the sealing member remains held within the neck of the container and is separated from the closure cap so that the dispensing opening is opened and material contained therein is dispensed into the container.

Abstract: The invention relates to a yarn-tensioning device for producing a specific thread pull on a thread (5) that is unwound from a winding point (7) of a creel (2) and is guided to a warping machine arrangement (1). Said yarn-tensioning device comprises a rotating body (18) which is at least partially wound round by threads and an electric motor (19) which is connected to the rotation body. Said motor (19) is equipped with at least one brake transistor (20) for discharging excess energy produced when the generator of the motor is operated, said brake transistor being able to convert generator energy, arising when the generator is operated, into heat.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting the reproductive status, in particular the oestrus cycle, of a mammal, comprising detecting means (10) to detect a blood amount perfused in a predetermined region of the vagina canal of a mammal, and generating a corresponding main signal (20); the apparatus (1) further comprises a processing unit (40) associated with said detecting means (10) to determine the reproductive status of said mammal depending on said main signal (20). Also disclosed is a method of detecting the reproductive status, in particular the oestrus cycle, of a mammal.

Abstract: A conveyor line for fruit or vegetables has a plurality of rollers defining seats for the products therebetween. At a selection station, a first member detects at least one feature of the product, and at a sorting station, a second member diverts similar products toward the same destination. Upstream of the selection station, the direction of rotation of the rollers is controlled to cause each product to settle correctly in its seat or shift into an adjacent seat, so that during detection of the features of the products, the products remain properly seated.

Abstract: An adjustable lever assembly for a motorcycle master cylinder includes a first element pivotally connected to the master cylinder, and a manually operable second element pivotally connected to the first element. An adjuster rotatably mounted on the second element can be turned to adjust the angular rest position between the first and second elements.