Abstract: An animal restraining harness includes first and second straps connected at opposed ends to connectors. A center chest strap extends between the first and second straps. A flexible restraining strap is looped between the connectors and is attachable to a leash. The restraining strap enables the first and second connectors to be pulled together reducing the diameter of the second strap as a result of a pulling movement of an animal wearing the harness which applies pressure on the rib cage of the animal.

Abstract: An odor adsorption agent, in particular for use in a hygiene article, is formed of a thermoplastic granulate and a zeolite bonded to the thermoplastic granulate by means of a welded bond.

Abstract: A quick change shock absorber for providing for the quick and easy removal of a shock absorber from a fixture of an industrial machine. The quick change shock absorber provides a housing having a smooth, outer bore and a blind bore adaptable to hold a fluid. A piston is slidably disposed within the bore of the housing and is engageable with a driver for movement between an extended position, wherein the piston has a portion extending outwardly from the housing, and a retracted position, wherein the piston is disposed within the housing. The outer periphery is receivable by the fixture which has a bore for complementarily receiving the outer periphery of the housing. A rubber retaining ring seated within a recess of the housing of the shock absorber creates a level of friction between the outer periphery of the housing and the fixture that constitutes a snug fit for quick change removal and replacement of the housing from the fixture.

Abstract: A process to fracture connecting rods and the like, that are made of high strength materials, comprises of the following mechanisms: (a) Fatigue: fluctuation of stresses in a pre-notched connecting rod due to the use of harmonic excitation will extend the notch tip in the connecting rod and will weaken the predetermined fracture plane by creating micro-cracks, (b) Resonance: resonance occurs when the frequency of the used harmonic excitation matches a natural frequency of the connecting rod, idealized as a structural system, (c) Pre-stressing forces: by applying pre-stressing forces acting in the same loading mode, the stresses in the connecting rod due to several force components can be superimposed, (d) Dynamic force: applying a dynamic force will raise the stress intensity factor, exceeding the fracture toughness of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting and adjusting a satellite antenna in the azimuth and elevational planes. The present invention provides a base having a longitudinal axis adaptable to adjustably receive a mounting pole. A rotational mount is rotatably connected to the base and has a longitudinal axis extending at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the base. A satellite antenna support is adaptable to receive a satellite antenna, and the satellite antenna support is adjustably coupled to the rotational mount for adjustment about a rotational axis wherein the rotational axis is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rotational mount. A first adjustment mechanism is coupled to the base and the rotational mount for providing fine azimuth adjustment of the satellite antenna. A second adjustment mechanism is coupled to the rotational mount and the satellite antenna support for \providing fine elevational adjustment of the satellite antenna.

Abstract: A cam phaser is disclosed for adjusting the angular position of a camshaft relative to a crankshaft. In a first embodiment, a rotatable camshaft has an interior passageway and at least one cam operative to effect actuation of an engine valve. A first drive member is connectable to the crankshaft for rotational movement therewith. The first drive member is independently rotatably associated with the camshaft. A piston member is axially moveably disposed within the camshaft interior passageway and associated with the camshaft for rotation therewith. The piston member is further associated with the first drive member for rotation therewith and axial movement relative thereto. Axial movement of the piston member effects a change in the angular position of the first drive member. In a second embodiment, a rotatable tubular member has an interior passageway.

Abstract: A spraying device such as an atomizer mounted to a painting robot of an installation for the serial spraying of work pieces contains both the color change valve arrangement and a metering pump located between the color changer and the spray head. The metering pump is preferably a valveless rotary piston pump, and for the color changer a suitably miniaturized arrangement and construction for the valve assemblies is preferred.

Abstract: A diffractive optical element contains a multiplicity of binary blazed diffraction structures, which substantially extend mutually parallel in a longitudinal direction. Perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction, the diffraction structures have a width g which is greater than the effective wavelength of electromagnetic radiation for which the diffractive optical element is designed. The diffraction structures respectively comprise a series of individual substructures, which produce a blaze effect and have a maximum extent p in the longitudinal direction which is less than the effective wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation, at least on average over a diffraction structure. In a plan view, the individual substructures respectively have the shape of a closed geometrical surface, which has an extent parallel to the longitudinal direction that varies perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reclaiming polyesters or polyester mixtures from polyester or waste containing polyester. The aim of the invention is to reclaim polyesters or polyester mixtures of good quality in a cost-effective manner. To achieve this aim, the polyester and/or waste containing polyester is heated in a bath of dicarboxylic acid dialkyl ester to temperatures in excess of 150° C. In this process, polyester is dissolved in the dicarboxylic acid dialkyl ester or a dicarboxylic acid dialkyl ester mixture and subsequently extracted from the solution by means of solid-liquid separation.

Abstract: A compression bone screw device for fixating a fractured bone. The device includes a constant compression lag screw, a side plate having a moveable rollerball for receipt of the lag screw and a compression member engageable with the lag screw and rollerball to impart a constant compressive force across the bone fracture.

Abstract: An apparatus having a smart material actuator, a support structure and at least one temperature compensating material insert, either externally mounted to the support structure, integrally formed with the support structure, or any combination thereof. The apparatus includes a mechanically leveraged electrically stimulated smart material. The support structure and actuator are susceptible to the effects of differences in thermal coefficients of expansion of the materials used in the construction. The smart material typically displaces less than 0.001 inches and is leveraged up to fifty times to obtain useful movement. The temperature effect on the smart material is therefore leveraged and amplified producing undesirable motion in the apparatus with ambient and/or operating temperature changes. A method for dimensioning and placement of a compensating insert with respect to the support structure provides an accurate and cost effective compensating insert.

Abstract: A check fixture for electrical connectors, including a pin nest made of a rigid plastic such as Delrin, having parallel slots and bores contiguous with said slots formed therein to receive one piece contact pins in precise arrangements and orientations to fit a connector to be checked. The contact pins are spring biased into the bores with blade portions extending outwardly from the slots. Wires are soldered into the butt ends of the contact pins and run to a conventional indicator. The pin nest is held within an outer body having a keyed opening to accept the connector in the proper orientation to be checked.

Abstract: An apparatus for assembling an automotive body on an assembly line having a right-hand body subassembly line, a left-hand body subassembly line and an underbody subassembly line, for delivery to a pallet transport system for movement through a body framing subassembly line. The apparatus includes an overhead transport system for transporting automotive components along at least one of the subassembly lines and for conveying the automotive components along a pallet transport system on the body framing subassembly line. The overhead transport system includes a trolley movable along a single overhead rail, a carriage slidably movable relative to the trolley, and a plurality of antler nests. Each antler nest is individually engageable with the carriage. The apparatus also includes a lowerator for transferring components from the overhead transport system to a geometry fixture at a workstation along the subassembly line.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of compensating for differences in the rate of thermal expansion in one or more elements of an electro-mechanical actuator. The electro-mechanical actuator can include one or more elements such as a piezoelectric ceramic multilayer actuator (CMA) and a mechanism to amplify the motion of the CMA. A difference in the rate of thermal expansion or coefficient of thermal expansion, CTE, between the materials in the CMA and the amplifying mechanism can cause the two components to vary in size at differing rates as the ambient temperature varies. Since the amplifying mechanism provides substantial amplification of the motion of the CMA, the relative variation in size of the components due to temperature can be translated by the amplifying mechanism as motion of the CMA. This can result in substantial motion of the amplifying mechanism.

Abstract: A drive line apparatus has a pair of tubular shafts configured to fit telescopically. The outer shaft has internal splines and the inner shaft has outer splines so that the shafts rotate in unison. Each of the outer and inner shaft has one partially closed end for coupling to a universal joint, wherein the joint connected to the partially closed end of the inner shaft is disposed within the inner shaft for further reducing the length of the drive line apparatus.

Abstract: A variable orifice valve for balancing the flow of particulate coal in an air stream 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 housing for electrical devices such as connectors, circuit breakers, and face panels. A cable outlet port member is separate from the housing to provide unidirectional resistance to movement of a cable relative to the housing. The non-integral relationship permits the members to be replaced in the event of damage. A busbar formed by a stamping and bending operation is also disclosed for use in combination with conventional circuit breakers.