Abstract: A milking cup comprising a flexible member provided with an opening for a teat on the top part thereof and pulling mechanism which is movable from a rest position in order to exert a pulling force on the flexible member for the purpose of enlarging the opening therein, wherein the flexible member is fixed to the pulling means, such that the pulling force engages at least partly evenly along the periphery of the flexible member.

Abstract: A porous surface is selectively formed on a workpiece such as a medical implant by pulsing a laser device in a controlled manner to produce a plurality of small, spaced-apart cavities of uniform or variable depth. The porous surface provides a mechanical grip with bone cement as well as a medium for bone and tissue ingrowth.

Abstract: An articulation joint for pivotally connecting adjacent sections of a vehicle. The joint includes a first slewing ring and a second slewing ring. Each slewing ring has an outer member and an inner member with a bearing race located between the outer and inner members to provide relative rotation of the members. The outer member of each slewing ring is constructed for connection to one section of a vehicle and the inner member of each slewing ring is constructed for connection to the other section of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ultrahigh-purity ferroelectric thin film of Pb-containing ferroelectric represented by the formula Pb.sub.1-x La.sub.x (Zr.sub.y Ti.sub.1-y).sub.1-x/4 O.sub.3 (where Y is 0 or 1 or a decimal smaller than 1), characterized in that the total content of alkali metal impurities therein is less than 1 ppm, or characterized in that the total content of alkali metal impurities therein is less than 0.1 ppm and the total content of U and Th therein is less than 10 ppb. It will find use as infrared sensor, piezoelectric filter, vibrator, laser modulator, optical shutter, capacitor film, nonvolatile memory, etc. owing to its very low level of leakage current.

Abstract: A paint sludge separator tank includes a sludge drain formed on an upper end of a reservoir region for discharging paint sludge floating on a surface of stored liquid, and a liquid feeder for feeding paint-containing liquid to an upper position of the reservoir region horizontally spaced from the sludge drain. The liquid feeder includes a feed hopper defining a sectional passage area progressively enlarging toward an upper delivery opening thereof communicating with the upper position of the reservoir region. The feed hopper has a liquid supply passage connected to a lower position thereof.

Abstract: A shower enclosure is provided in which the conventional shower curtain is replaced by a combination of rigid sliding panels and an intermediate pliable curtain portion. The rigid panels define an outward contour which provides additional space for movement within the shower. The enclosure of the present invention is of simple and inexpensive construction and is easy to install.

Abstract: A load sensed variable output gear pump having adjustable high pressure compensation, tuneable response, low unloading pressure and variable pressure drop adjustability. It comprises a unitary housing enclosing a pump which pumps through a main inlet-outlet passage which by-passes through a fixed control and a variable control to an outlet passage leading to a reservoir. An overload control may also be used connected to an inlet load sensing passage which tends to close said fixed and variable controls.

Abstract: A Fourier transform spectrometer for conducting Fourier transform spectroscopy. The spectrometer has a light source emitting light to a sample via a rapid scan interferometer. The transmittance of the sample varies when stimulated. A stimulus generator gives a stimulus to the sample at regular intervals of .tau.. A delay circuit produces a trigger delayed with respect to each stimulation to control a gate circuit. Radiation emanating from the sample is detected by a detector. The output signal from this detector is gated onto a low-pass filter after a given delay .DELTA..tau. with respect to each stimulation by the gate circuit. The gate circuit produces a digital interferogram. The low-pass filter passes only those frequency components which satisfy the condition:f<1/2.tau.where f is the frequency at which the radiation is modulated by the interferometer. The analog output signal from the filter is converted into digital form by an A/D converter to obtain an interferogram.

Abstract: A collection device in which the particle collection surface, tacky due to the presence of aqueous polyvinyl alcohol thereon, is periodically or continually hydrated, rehydrated or replenished. This perpetuated hydration of the polyvinyl alcohol collection surface maintains particle collection effectiveness which would be reduced upon dehydration of the aqueous polyvinyl alcohol to a nontacky anhydrous polymer. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the collection surface is kept in continuous saturation with aqueous polyvinyl alcohol by means of a wick connecting the collection surface and a reservoir of aqueous polyvinyl alcohol. Other hydration arrangements are included within the scope of the invention. The polyvinyl alcohol collection surface, with perpetuated hydration, enables reliable capture and retention of particles, and the polyvinyl alcohol itself does not interfere with analysis by SEM, TEM or other methods.

Abstract: A confection molding machine provides for continuous, multiple cavity molding and unmolding of confection figures which may be of differing configuration and mass. The mold device utilizes a self-closing and opening mold in conjunction with dedicated, independent injection nozzles and confection pumps. Two outwardly facing mold halves are carried on an independent mold assembly, and corresponding mold halves abut one another just before filling and again after unmolding the finished confection figure. An endless conveyor, preferably a pair of spaced transfer chains, carries the mold assemblies and the mold halves are clamped together when passing over an unsupported section of the endless conveyor.

Abstract: A method of forming an artificial snow layer is disclosed. Water content is added to to atmosphere above a floor by a humidifying device, or water mist is added to the atmosphere by a water-mist supplying device. The water content or the water mist is frost-frozen by a refrigerating device 6 incorporated at the floor, thus forming on the floor an accumulated frost layer as an artificial snow layer. A method of maintaining the formed artificial snow layer is also disclosed. After the formation of the artificial snow layer, an atmosphere refrigerating device is stopped or reduced in its operation so as to release the maintenance of the atmosphere below the freezing point. Then, the refrigerating device of the floor is operated to prevent melting of the formed artificial snow layer so as to prevent coagulation of water content in said atmosphere on a surface of the artificial snow layer through humidity adjustment of the atmosphere by a humidity adjusting device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrode for use in measuring low level signals amidst competing noise signals. The electrode includes an electrically non-conductive substrate having a closed loop of electrical conductive and adhesive material carried by the substrate which defines therein an open area on the substrate. A first electrically conductive terminal is embedded within the closed loop of electrically conductive and adhesive material. Within the open area is an inner mass of electrically conductive and adhesive material. The inner mass of electrically conductive and adhesive material is spaced from the closed loop. The electrode also includes a second electrically conductive terminal which is embedded with the inner mass of electrically conductive and adhesive material. The electrode includes a first contact device for making electrical contact with the first terminal and a second contact device for making electrical contact with the second terminal.

Abstract: A hydraulic system including a pump having a discharge line and a number of hydraulic energy consumers connected to the pump discharge line. A controller for the load-independent distribution of a pressure medium from the pump to the consumers includes a multiway valve located in the discharge line between the pump and each consumer to actuate the consumers. A pressure compensator for determining the flow of pressure medium to each multiway valve is located in the discharge line upstream of each multiway valve. Each pressure compensator is actuated as a function of a first pressure difference resulting from the pressure upstream of a multiway valve and the pressure downstream of the multiway valve and of a second pressure difference resulting from the discharge pressure from the pump and the highest load pressure of the consumers. At least one pressure difference of at least one pressure compensator is adjustable.

Abstract: A drying cloth for transportation receptacles is disclosed, which cloth is composed of multilayer sheet material, the two outer sides of which are, in each case, formed by an absorbent layer. An intermediate layer which is impermeable to moisture is arranged between the absorbent layers. The two absorbent layers and the impermeable intermediate layer are permanently interconnected to form a composite material.

Abstract: A method and means is provided whereby a vehicle travelling between two fixed points may be controlled either automatically or by prompting a driver to accelerate, coast and brake when required to meet a predetermined time of arrival at the finish point such that any period of coasting is maximized. Use of this method maximizes fuel efficient usage by the vehicle. The progress of the vehicle is monitored and will translate into a velocity/distance curve. The time to COAST and BRAKE is determined from knowing and approximating the vehicle's coasting and braking characteristics along the route path ahead and in conjunction with the real time velocity/distance curve provides intersection points. Those points represent COAST and BRAKE times and means to indicate the action of COAST and BRAKE are then actuated.

Abstract: A device for damming and diverting liquid on a spill surface has an elongated, pliable dike having a first end, a second end and an exposed surface. The exposed surface is inherently tacky so that it is adherable to the spill surface to prevent flow of liquid past the dike. The dike is preferably triangular and made from a substance, such as polyurethane, so that all exposed surfaces on the dike are inherently tacky, including those created when a portion of the dike is severed to tailor the dike for specific damming needs. The device also includes a joint housing which may be engaged on abutting ends of adjacent dikes to seal the joint. A method for creating a liquid control zone on a spill surface utilizing the dike of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is a holder for an electrical outlet safety cap. The holder includes a body having a prong receiving device therein for receiving the prongs of the electrical outlet safety cap to hold the safety cap when the electrical outlet is being used. The prong receiving device is electrically insulated from the outlet's source of electrical power.

Abstract: A running control system for a vehicle having a stepless transmission includes a displaceable drive arm connected to the stepless transmission, a control member such as a pedal shiftable within a predetermined range, a transmission mechanism for transmitting a shift of the control member to the drive arm, and a forward-backward selecting lever switchable between a forward mode and a backward mode. The drive arm has a forward range to one side of a neutral position, and a backward range to the other side of the neutral position. When the selecting lever is switched to the forward mode, the drive arm is displaced within the forward range by the shift of the control member within the predetermined range. When the selecting lever is set to the backward mode, the drive arm is displaced within the backward range by the shift of the control member within the predetermined range.