Abstract: A spray head for a coffee making apparatus having a plurality of holes at the bottom of a fluid reservoir for wetting the coffee grounds located below the spray head, the holes raised above a floor of the fluid reservoir by upwardly projecting stand pipes. The elevated hole draws water from a depth spaced from the floor where sediment and lime scaling occurs to delay clogging of the spray head. The arrangement of the holes are selected to wet the grounds evenly, and the size of the holes are preferably selected to create an impact of droplets with the grounds below while maintaining an adequate flow rate through the holes.

Abstract: This invention modifies the conventional pneumatic tire and allows the tire to inflate itself to the desired running pressure by driving the vehicle it is mounted on. It consists of a bladder (or diaphragm) or preferably two or more bladders (or diaphragms), mounted to the inside surface of the tire, with check valves and a air supply tube which is connected to the atmosphere by way of a small hole in the sidewall of the tire. The invention employs an inflation valve (new invention) which allows for over pressure relief and a the ability to set the desired tire inflation pressure. The air inflation valve allows for quick inflations and eliminates the necessity for inflating checking pressure and adjusting and checking several times.

Abstract: A bi-directional piloted solenoid-operated valve which utilizes fluid pressure to provide both pressure-assisted sealing and pressure-assisted actuation to the main sealing disc in both flow directions. The valve may include a mechanical position indicator for providing visual confirmation of the position of the main disc.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved methods of reducing the sound level caused by meshing of gear teeth in a gear box, and in particular by reducing distortion caused by heat treatment as used in the manufacturing process of the gear teeth.

Abstract: A method for forming a container (7) starting from a web (3) of heat-bondable material wound on a reel (4) comprises the following operations: forming a tubular element (5) of predetermined diameter and height; mounting the tubular element (5) over a support (16); closing one end of the tubular element (5) to form the open container (7); inserting the container (7) into a mould (12) after heating if necessary; forcing the walls of the container (7) against the inner walls of the mould (12); opening the mould and withdrawing the container (7) from the support (16).

Abstract: A snowplow control system is provided that uses the distance between the vehicle frame and the ground or wheel axle as an input to a feedback loop useable to provide increased control over the pressure exerted by the plow blade. The control system allows the plow to operate in various modes of operation including a manual mode, a float mode, and a down pressure mode. The control system interfaces with the vehicle operator by way of a controller that is preferably operable from within the cabin of the vehicle.

Abstract: Disclosed are (1) nucleic acid sequences, amino acid sequences, homologies, structural features and various other data characterizing a morphogen cell surface receptors particularly OP-1-binding cell surface receptors ALK-2, ALK-3, and ALK-6; (2) methods for producing receptor proteins, including fragments thereof, using recombinant DNA technology; (3) methods for identifying novel morphogen receptors and their encoding DNAS; (4) methods and compositions for identifying compounds capable of modulating endogenous morphogen receptor levels; and (5) methods and compositions for identifying morphogen receptor binding analogs useful in the design of morphogen agonists and antagonists for therapeutic, diagnostic and experimental uses.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adjusting at least one of the motors in an electrically driven vehicle having a first motor for controlling a first wheel and a second motor for controlling a second wheel are disclosed. The method is performed in response to input from a user control that enables an operator of the vehicle to steer the vehicle. It is determined from one or more conditions whether the operator of the vehicle is attempting to drive the vehicle straight on approximately level ground. When it is determined from the one or more conditions that the operator of the vehicle is attempting to drive the vehicle approximately straight on approximately level ground, it is then determined whether to adjust one of the motors based upon the input from the operator of the vehicle to the user control. When it is determined that adjustment is appropriate, the appropriate motor is adjusted.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling performance of electric motors in a system having two or more electric motors, the motors adapted for being coupled to two or more wheels of an electric vehicle, each of the electric motors having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, the armatures being connected in series to the voltage source include detecting a condition in the system indicating that one of the wheels is slipping, reducing power delivered to one of the motors that is associated with the slipping wheel in response to the detection of the condition, providing power to the one or more motors that are not associated with the slipping wheel after the power delivered to the motor associated with the slipping wheel is reduced, and restoring the power delivered to the one of the motors associated with the slipping wheel in response to a recovery event.

Abstract: Hitch mount for hydraulically driven snow blades or other accessories that includes a mount assembly for mounting to the vehicle and a hitch mount assembly readily removably coupled to the mount assembly. The mount assembly is shaped to form a trapezoidal wedge to receive and align the hitch. One or more latches can be used to engage a bar mounted on the vehicle to further secure the assembly.

Abstract: There is described a conditioning composition for conditioning, lightening and highlighting hair which comprises: (i) a peroxygen compound; and (ii) a conditioning agent, said composition having a pH of 5 or less. There is also described a method for conditioning lightening and highlighting hair which comprises treating said hair with a composition of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous cleansing composition which comprises a combination of short and long chain anionic surfactants that provide mild cleansing and good lathering.

Abstract: Hitch mount for hydraulically driven snow blades or other accessories that includes a mounting frame for mounting to the vehicle chassis and a one piece plow assembly and lift frame readily removably coupled to the mounting frame, the plow assembly preferably including a blade trip frame and a snow blade removably coupled to the trip frame. A optional power operated jack can be used to raise or lower the lift frame relative to the vehicle chassis.

Abstract: The present invention makes available methods and reagents for inhibiting aberrant growth states resulting from hedgehog gain-of-function by contacting the cell with a hedgehog antagonist, such as a small molecule, in a sufficient amount to aberrant growth state, e.g., to agonize a normal ptc pathway or antagonize hedgehog activity.

Abstract: A sprayhead for example for an aerosol or pumpspray container comprises a support, a fluid outlet mounted on the support, a passageway connected to the fluid outlet at a first end and connectable to a fluid source at a second end, the passageway being movable between a first non-operative position and a second position in which, in use, it is connected to a fluid source such that fluid can pass through the passageway to the fluid outlet, a member secured relative to the support, the member being movable between a non-operative position and a further position in which it allows the passageway to attain its second position, and a lock selectively operable to lock the member in its first position, thereby preventing the member from urging the passageway to its second position unless the lock is released.

Abstract: Cosmetic composition for use in personal care applications comprising a carrier and a polymeric biguanide, characterised in that the polymeric biguanide is in the form of its salt with an organic acid containing from 4 to 30 carbon atoms.

Abstract: In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of restoring charge to a battery operating with a predetermined terminal voltage, including: determining an expected rate of degradation of a plate or plates of a battery in terms of decrease of capacity per unit time and temperature of operation of the battery to determine a degree of degradation of capacity of the battery; and providing sufficient charge to the battery to restore a predetermined degree of the capacity of the battery. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, including: restoring a theoretical amount of charge to a partially depleted battery; and examining how the battery responded to the step of restoring a theoretical amount of charge to the partially depleted battery to determine the state of health of the battery.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a shaft sensor for a machine, the shaft sensor including: first and second disks, fixedly orthogonally attached to a portion of a shaft of the machine, the portion of the shaft being subject to torsion, and the first and second disks being operatively attached to the portion of the shaft at spaced apart locations along the portion of the shaft; and a sensor assembly, including first and second sensors, disposed in sensing relationship with the first and second disks to sense relative position of the first and second disks resulting from torsion of the portion of the shaft and to output a signal representative of at least one parameter related to torsion of the shaft. In another preferred embodiment, the shaft is discontinuous and the first and second disks are attached, respectively, to first and second portions of the shaft and have a resilient member disposed therebetween.

Abstract: The invention relates to aqueous hair care compositions including conditioners, shampoos, and mousses. The invention also relates to methods of treating hair, and more particularly to treating hair with aqueous hair care compositions which contain one or more elastomeric resinous materials. These materials when tested at the same concentration that could be incorporated into a product exhibit a G′ modulus between 1×102 and 1×105 dynes/cm2. Furthermore these resins when mixed with a hydrophilic or hydrophobic diluent at a ratio of 1:95 to 95:1% and this mixture then incorporated into an aqueous emulsion in the range of 0.1 to 10% have been demonstrated to deliver a consumer perceptible increase in hair body without sacrificing conditioning attributes.