Abstract: In opposition to a lower electrode (31) fixed to a frame (3), an upper electrode (29) is carried by an upper pressing base (23), which is engaged with a vertical guide rail (25) and joined by a resilient slide mechanism to a piston rod (35L) of a hydraulic cylinder (35) connected to a hydraulic circuit operable for an increased distance (L3) between electrode shanks (15, 7) and fastened at a head end thereof to a lower pressing base (33), which is engaged with the guide rail and joined to a piston rod (37L) of an air cylinder (37) fastened at a head end thereof to the frame and connected to a pneumatic circuit operable for supplying a balancing pressure to have the piston rod (37L) thereof contracted to stand with a total load and for relieving the pressure when a mechanical valve (85) is operated with a pedal arm (49) stepped down for starting a welding, while the pneumatic circuit is changed over by a limit switch (57) to force down the lower pressing base.

Abstract: An interventional medical device has a capability to sense cardiac dysrhythmias and to selectively respond with one among a hierarchy of therapies appropriate to terminate the sensed dysrhythmia and return the heart of the patient in whom the device is adapted to be implanted to normal sinus rhythm. The device includes a therapy generator having a housing and electronics for conducting bidirectional communication with the patient. The bidirectional communication is carried out by detecting the occurrence of a predetermined dysrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation, to alert the patient of such occurrence, and by responding to instructions from the patient following such alert for addressing the detected predetermined dysrhythmia. The detection is performed by electrodes mounted directly on the header of the device housing to both detect occurrence of the atrial fibrillation and for alerting the patient thereof by stimulating body tissue such as pectoral muscle in the vicinity of the header electrodes.

Abstract: A rotary channel pump apparatus for compressing solids that have an initial bulk density which is substantially lower than their structural density; the apparatus comprises a flow channel having an inlet and an outlet and includes: (i) an annular drag flow channel segment (L1) formed between a stationary outer wall member and a rotating circular inner wall member; and (ii) a straight channel segment (L2) formed between a first planar and stationary wall portion and a second planar and stationary wall portion; no axial cross-section of the flow channel between the inlet and the outlet is smaller than the axial cross-section at the inlet; a rotary feeder is connected to the flow channel near the inlet thereof for precompacting the particulate solid which is then passed through the flow channel to substantially increase the bulk density and to avoid melting and/or thermal degradation of the particulate solid when passing through the flow channel.

Abstract: A method for cutting and separating from a piece of sheet metal a product, comprising a first step for contouring the product while leaving a small joint such as a connecting web or micro-joint which connects the product to the sheet metal, a second step for forming a protrusion on or adjacent to the small joint by lancing, embossing, or semi-shearing, and a third step for pressing the protrusion in order to shear the small joint.