Abstract: A wiper arrangement for the windscreen of a motor vehicle includes a screwless securing device which enables the arrangement to be attached to a vehicle. The securing device includes at least three securing members arranged at a distance from each other, whereby two members are situated on a connecting line. The third securing member is arranged at a distance from the connecting line. The securing device also includes receiving devices with which the securing members can engage. The securing direction of at least one securing member and the corresponding receiving device is orientated in a substantially parallel position to the transversal extension of the windscreen in order to receive moments occurring while the wiper arrangement is in operation in an optimum manner.

Abstract: A variable orifice valve for balancing the flow of particulate coal in an airstream relative to other parallel conduits. The valve comprises a section of conduit which changes in area along its flow axis and a variable position valve element mounted within the conduit section. The valve element has a shape which proximates that of the conduit section and is movable axially to vary the annular area of the flow path around the valve element. There is no valve seat and, therefore, the valve is always open to some degree.

Abstract: A spring-driven permanent magnet generator comprising a bobbin-mounted coil, inner and outer frame members defining diametrically opposite pole pieces and a structure which cages or essentially surrounds the bobbin and coil combination. A rotor comprising the integral combination of disc and shaft portions carries a two-pole permanent magnet and is, in the assembled structure, located such that the shaft portion extends through the frame structure and the caged coil to place a permanent magnet between the pole pieces which are defined by the caging frame structure. A flat wound spring drives the shaft portion relative to the frame structure to induce a short duration voltage in the coil which can be used, by way of example, as an electronic fuse in an explosive device such as a hand grenade.

Abstract: An airbag arrestor mountable about a vehicle steering column carrying a steering wheel and a airbag module is non-axially movable with respect to the vehicle steering wheel and steering column during airbag inflation by containing and redirecting airbag inflation gasses oppositely from the steering wheel through apertures in the sidewall of the airbag arrestor enclosure secured about the steering column. The airbag arrestor includes a flexible, ballistic grade material enclosure having a sidewall extending between an open end and an opposed closed end. An attachment in the form of a strap constructed of a ballistic grade material is tightenable about one end of the sidewall of the enclosure adjacent the open end to non-axially movably secure the enclosure about the vehicle steering column.

Abstract: An apparatus for programmably controlling the operation of a water heater having a programmable timer coupled to the water heater for establishing predetermined times of when the water heater should operate. The programmable controller allows for the operation of a solenoid valve which controls the flow of natural gas to a burner. The present invention may utilize a conventional 110/120 volt power source as provided in a power vented gas water heater or an electrical water heater, or the present invention may utilize a thermopile as a mini generator by which to power the programmable timer and solenoid.

Abstract: A collection safe is provided, especially for charitable donations, for installation in a wall of a building. The collection safe has a rectangular box formation and includes a first door on one side of the box for receiving donations and a second door on the opposing side of the box to provide access to the interior. The first door is connected to a pair of side walls which extend into the interior of the box. A baffle extends and is connected to the side walls so that the baffle is oriented 90° relative to the first door. The baffle has a free end with a jagged edge such as sharp teeth that terminates less than one inch from the first door to deter the retrieval of the donations from the first door. The space between the jagged edge of the baffle and the first door provides a slot for receiving the donation past the baffle to the floor of the collection safe.

Abstract: A rectangular box for transporting multiple pizza pies in a stacked formation formed by a single cardboard blank having scoring and cut-outs for assembling into a multiple pizza box. The box has a bottom wall, four side walls and a lid hinged to one of the side walls. When assembled the box has a pair of corner shelf supports and a removable shelf for positioning a second pizza pie. The shelf supports also provide a stop for the lid of the box to prevent crushing the contents. Both the rectangular box and a removable shelf can be stored flat when not in use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling motorcycle frames includes a conveyor defining a path of travel and at least one pallet movable along the conveyor through at least one workstation. The pallet supports at least one rotatable frame for receiving individual components and/or sub-assemblies in fixed relationship with respect to one another in a geometry fixture. The angular position of the rotatable frame and supported geometry fixture can be reoriented about an axis of rotation by engagement with a drive motor. The rotatable frame is normally locked in an angular orientation with respect to the pallet. When the movable section of the conveyor and supported pallet are moved, the movable section of the conveyor is guided between raised and lowered positions with respect to the workstation, and the support pallet is accurately and repeatably positioned with respect to the workstation for automated processing operations at the workstation.

Abstract: A programmable limit switch includes output channels for receiving position data, each position value of the position data representing an incremental advance of a workpiece through a production field, and for producing actuation signals. The channels are connectable to respective output devices responsive to the respective actuation signals and located in the field. Each output channel has an output controller, which is individually programmable to change the state of respective actuation signals in response to reaching selected position values. Preferably, the PLS includes input connectors coupled to a respective channel and connectable to respective input devices located within the production field. Each channel operates its own inputs and outputs according to a variety of programmed functions depending upon system conditions seen by the output controller.

Abstract: A weld gun for performing a welding operation on a workpiece includes a pair of opposing arms, at least one arm movable relative to the opposing arm to apply pressure to the workpiece during a welding operation. A pair of identical or mirror image side plates support components of the weld gun to establish critical dimensions of the components relative to one another, while preventing tolerance buildup of critical dimensions at critical points. A guide block is connected to one of the opposing arms. The guide block has a non-circular aperture formed therein. An electrode adapter has a non-cylindrical rod portion slidably received in the non-circular aperture formed in the guide block for preventing rotation of the electrode adapter. A hose fitting is attachable directly to a rear end of the electrode adapter for communicating with an inlet water port and an outlet water port formed in the electrode adapter for providing a routing of coolant directly through the electrode adapter only.

Abstract: A fluid heater apparatus supplies heat to wash fluid via a continuous, labyrinthian flow path in a thermally conductive body. A heat source is disposed in the thermally conductive body for imparting heat to the body. Fluid flowing through the thermally conductive body substantially envelopes the heat source to absorb heat from the body.

Abstract: An actuating device, specifically to actuate locking differentials on vehicles, having an actuating shaft, a drive unit to drive the actuating shaft, where the drive unit comprises an armature core non-rotatably mounted on the actuating shaft and a commutator non-rotatably mounted on the actuating shaft, having an electromagnetic brake unit to brake and/or to hold the actuating shaft, where the brake unit includes a brake hub flange non-rotatably mounted on the armature, and having a single- or multi-piece housing tightly enclosing the drive unit and the brake unit, where the free end of the actuating shaft extends from the housing.

Abstract: A workstation for sealing the spar of an aircraft. A robotic arm can be positioned on a platform with a sealant application system. The platform can be moved along a path adjacent the spar to move the robotic arm. The robotic arm can move the applicator of a sealant applying system to a portion of a spar that is to be sealed. The sealant system can be positioned on the platform to be moveable along the path. The robotic arm can be moveable relative to the platform. The path can be positioned overhead of the spar. The spar can be rotated by a rotating fixture so that the platform can be moved in opposite directions relative to the path. A controller can control the movement of the platform along the path, movement of the robotic arm relative to the platform, movement of the applicator by the robotic arm, and the application of sealant by the sealant applying system.

Abstract: A weld gun including a frame structure, a weld arm mounted on the frame structure, an electrode mounted on the weld arm and including an electrode cap at one end of the electrode, a transformer, and a shunt fixedly secured at one end thereof to another end of the electrode and fixedly secured at another end thereof to the transformer.

Abstract: A fluid quick connector adapted to be releasably mounted in a bore in a fluid use component. The quick connector includes a housing having a through bore releasably receiving a tubular endform. A retainer is mountable in the housing to latch the endform in the housing. A latch member carried on the housing is releasably engagable with a complementary latch receiver in the fluid use component. In one aspect, a latch member is carried on the end of at least one arm extending from the housing. Seal members are mountable in the bore in the fluid use component and retained in place by a top hat mountable in the quick connector housing. The top hat maintains the latch member in engagement with the latch receiver an the fluid use component.

Abstract: An electrical capacitor is disclosed that includes a mixture of electrically conductive particles and non-conductive particles placed between two parallel conductive plates. The electrically conductive particles are also magnetic. By exposing the mixture of particles to a magnetic field, the electrically conductive particles have been oriented to provide a conductive network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to simultaneously measure electric and thermal fields with a single probe. Using an electrooptic semiconductor probe, the Pockels effect is employed to measure electric field magnitude and phase, and the effect of photon absorption due to bandtail states in the semiconductor is used to measure temperature. Techniques to scale relative electric-field measurements to absolute units (volts/meter), stabilize electric-field phase drift, and calibrate electric-field data that is corrupted when the probe is used in regions where temperature gradients exist are provided.

Abstract: A device for connecting hollow organs and/or sealing wall defects in hollow organs, has a base mounting for replacement on a hollow organ. The base mounting has at least one recess on a first surface and at least one guidetrack for at least one spiral needle in which the spiral needle is movable forwards in a rotatable fashion. The guidetrack for the spiral needle is disposed at least partially along the edge of the recess in such a manner that the track of the spiral needle during a revolution extends partially in the base mounting and partially in the recess.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for the quantitative gas analysis in which the gas analysis of a sample atmosphere is implemented by means of a sensor device, a diffusion seal being produced between the sample atmosphere contained in a sample system and a measuring chamber and the gas analysis of the sample atmosphere which is diffused into the measuring chamber being implemented with the sensor device, the sensor head (5) being able to be coupled to the measuring adapter (4) and the radiation source (16) and the detector device (17) being fixed to the measuring chamber (9) in a defined orientation and the measuring radiation (24) emitted from the radiation source (16) traversing at least once through the measuring chamber (9) and being detected by the detector device (17) after leaving the measuring chamber (9).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid conduit, and to a multi-conduit umbilical for use in the transportation of chemicals with small molecular size and shape e.g. methanol ethanol and other hydrocarbon fluids used in the oil industry. The conduit comprises a flexible fluid hose encapsulated by at least one metallized layer which is formed and arranged to minimize permeation of a fluid being transported in the fluid hose. In use in a multi-conduit umbilical the metallised layer minimizes permeation into adjacent fluid hoses containing chemicals. The invention is characterized in that the fluid hose(s) have differing levels of encapsulation and thereby permeation, along a given length according to the operational requirements of the fluid conduit/umbilical. Typically such fluid conduits/umbilicals will have lengths in excess of 100 km.