Abstract: A method of in vivo monitoring the condition of an internal body repair in which an imageable, non-absorbable repair device having non-absorbable, particulate imaging material substantially uniformly dispersed therein has been surgically inserted, including: in vivo sensing of dimensional deformation of said repair device during the post-surgical healing process; comparing the sensed values with a previously developed correlation between said sensed values and the values at which failure occurs of comparable repair devices; wherein said sensed values relative to the repair device's failure values, considered in conjunction with the anticipated time for complete healing of said repair, provides information as to the condition of the repair.

Abstract: A method of in vivo monitoring the condition of an internal body repair in which an imageable, non-absorbable repair device having non-absorbable, particulate imaging material substantially uniformly dispersed therein has been surgically inserted, including: in vivo sensing of dimensional deformation of said repair device during the post-surgical healing process; comparing the sensed values with a previously developed correlation between said sensed values and the values at which failure occurs of comparable repair devices; wherein said sensed values relative to the repair device's failure values, considered in conjunction with the anticipated time for complete healing of said repair, provides information as to the condition of the repair.

Abstract: A method of in vivo monitoring the condition of an internal body repair in which an imageable, non-absorbable repair device having non-absorbable, particulate imaging material substantially uniformly dispersed therein has been surgically inserted, including: in vivo sensing of dimensional deformation of or imaging material concentration changes in said repair device during the post-surgical healing process; comparing the sensed values with a previously developed correlation between said sensed values and the values at which failure occurs of comparable repair devices; wherein said sensed values relative to the repair device's failure values, considered in conjunction with the anticipated time for complete healing of said repair, provides information as to the condition of the repair.

Abstract: A compartmented bag with at least two pouches that can be separated along a tear line. Each pouch has front and back panels and a standing base formed of a base gusset panel constituted of a separate piece of film that is fastened by welds to the front and back panels.

Abstract: A method of in vivo monitoring the condition of an internal body repair in which an imageable, non-absorbable repair device having non-absorbable, particulate imaging material substantially uniformly dispersed therein has been surgically inserted, including: in vivo sensing of dimensional deformation of or imaging material concentration changes in said repair device during the post-surgical healing process; comparing the sensed values with a previously developed correlation between said sensed values and the values at which failure occurs of comparable repair devices; wherein said sensed values relative to the repair device's failure values, considered in conjunction with the anticipated time for complete healing of said repair, provides information as to the condition of the repair.

Abstract: A film bag has a pair of longitudinally extending film face panels having longitudinal edges and first and second folded film gussets having longitudinal edges welded at longitudinal seams to respective longitudinal edges of the face panels and formed with two spaced throughgoing cuts forming a handle loop. A separate film inner liner panel lies against an inner face of the first gusset, extends a full transverse width of the first gusset, and is fixed at the longitudinal welds of the first gusset to the front panels so that the liner prevents leakage from the bag through the cuts.

Abstract: A film bag has a body formed by a plurality of panels. All but one of the panels of the bag body is formed of an inelastic film, and the one panel of the bag body is formed at least partly by an elastic film that can be elastically stretched in at least one direction.

Abstract: A dual compartment pouch for wipes and liquid is formed as a pouch body made of a pouch film. The pouch body has a front wall and a rear wall, side seals which run on at least a portion of a circumferential pouch edge and a parting seal connecting the front wall and the rear wall and separating a first compartment from a second compartment in a fluid-tight manner. A first fitting on the first compartment and a second fitting on the second compartment have a complementary shape to one another. The complementary shapes of the first fitting and the second fitting, after a separation of the compartments along the parting seal, enable fluid communication of the first and the second fittings with one another.

Abstract: A polyamide suture includes an elongate core formed of multiple twisted and heat set filaments formed of a first polyamide material and a sheath formed of a second polyamide material surrounding the core along its length, the second polyamide material having dispersed therein non-absorbable radiopaque nanoparticles comprising 15-25% by weight of the second polyamide material. The melting point of the first polyamide material is at least 30° C. greater than the melting point of the second polyamide material. The core may also include or be formed of previously extruded bundles of first polyamide filaments overcoated with a second polyamide sheath. The suture is made by coextruding the core and a molten organic material formed of the second polyamide material and dispersed radiopaque nanoparticles. Desirably, the first polyamide material is Polyamide 66 and the second polyamide material is Polyamide 6.

Abstract: A side-gusseted bag has two front walls which are joined by a side gusset at a longitudinal side provided with a reclosure. The side gusset is folded-over outwards in the region of the reclosure in such a manner that the side gusset ends at its folded-over section at the associated longitudinal side. The reclosure running in the longitudinal direction is fastened to an inner surface of the side gusset at the folded-over section. A method for manufacturing a side-gusseted bag is also provided.

Abstract: A bag has a panel made of film and having an inner face and an outer face and formed with at least two throughgoing and spaced attachment holes. A carry handle has a pair of spaced ends each having an adhesive-coated face engaging the outer face over a respective one of the holes. Respective inner patches each have an adhesive-coated face engaging the inner face over a respective one of the holes and engaged through the respective hole with the end face.

Abstract: A joint type minnow having a body which is formed so as to imitate a bait fish and divided into a main body portion and a tail portion so that the main body portion and the tail portion are mutually swingably joined to each other through a latch structure, is further equipped with a structure for regulating the mutual swing motion between the main body portion and the tail portion. The structure regulates the swing motion of the tail portion at a casting time to reduce air resistance, thereby avoiding reduction in flight distance of the lure.

Abstract: A joint type minnow having a body which is formed so as to imitate a bait fish and divided into a main body portion and a tail portion so that the main body portion and the tail portion are mutually swingably joined to each other through a latch structure, is further equipped with a structure for regulating the mutual swing motion between the main body portion and the tail portion. The structure regulates the swing motion of the tail portion at a casting time to reduce air resistance, thereby avoiding reduction in flight distance of the lure.

Abstract: A track maintenance vehicle having a workhead that is pivotally mounted to the superstructure at its upper end. The workhead includes a blowing tube mounted at its lower end and a vertical cylinder that is selectively extendable and retractable to control the height of the blowing tube. The vehicle includes a control system that controls the height of the blowing tube as well as the left/right and fore/aft positions of the workhead. The track maintenance vehicle further includes an automated height control system that automatically extends and retracts the vertical cylinder to position the blowing tube at a uniform height despite its lateral disposition.

Abstract: A stone metering system for a railroad track maintenance vehicle providing improved accuracy in stone delivery. The system includes a surge hopper, a number of metering augers, and a corresponding number of splitters. The metering augers convey ballast stones from the surge hopper to the corresponding splitters, which divide the stones evenly between a number of blow tubes. The pitch of the auger screw flights is increased from the inlet end of the screw to "expand" the stone and reduce the production of fines. In addition, the diameter of the final screw flight is reduced at the outlet end of the auger to provide a consistent and even flow of stone into the splitters. The splitters are dynamically adjustable to provide even distribution between the blow tubes regardless of the cant to the rails. The desired amount of stone is delivered to the tubes by rotating the auger screw the number of full or partial revolutions associated with the amount.

Abstract: A transducer for use in a railroad track maintenance chord reference system for measuring the vertical and horizontal position of the rails of the track. The transducer is carried by a carriage riding on the rails and provides a signal indicative of the offset between the reference chord and the rails. Each transducer includes a uncounterbalanced arm mounted to the transducer housing by a low friction carriage. The arm engages and follows a reference chord causing the arm to move as the carriage moves with respect to the chord. A linear displacement transducer is mounted within the housing to provide a signal indicative of the arm position and therefore indicative of the position of the rails.

Abstract: A maintenance vehicle and associated method for measuring and correcting the level of a railroad track in a single pass. An instrument carriage, or frog, is towed by and in fixed relationship to the maintenance vehicle. The frog carries at least one inclinometer to measure at least one of longitudinal level and crossfall. As the vehicle periodically stops to work the track e.g. tamping or stoneblowing), the inclinometers are provided with the settling time necessary for accurate readings. In an additionally disclosed method, the track is measured and modeled prior to working using a primary measurement system and is then measured and modeled a second time while the track is worked using the frog.

Abstract: A stone metering system for a railroad track maintenance vehicle providing improved accuracy in stone delivery. The system includes a surge hopper, a number of metering augers, and a corresponding number of splitters. The metering augers convey ballast stones from the surge hopper to the corresponding splitters, which divide the stones evenly between a number of blow tubes. The pitch of the auger screw flights is increased from the inlet end of the screw to "expand" the stone and reduce the production of fines. In addition, the diameter of the final screw flight is reduced at the outlet end of the auger to provide a consistent and even flow of stone into the splitters. The splitters are dynamically adjustable to provide even distribution between the blow tubes regardless of the cant to the rails. The desired amount of stone is delivered to the tubes by rotating the auger screw the number of full or partial revolutions associated with the amount.

Abstract: A stoneblower having a workhead and associated blowing tubes that adjust to skewed ties and to nonvertical tie faces. The workhead provided several degrees of movement to the blowing tubes, enabling them to be individually aligned with each tie along the length of track being worked. The blowing tubes can be pre-tilted to match the face angle of the ties. Proper location of the blow tubes is detected by monitoring the tilt change of the tube engendered when the tubes engage the ties. The blowing tubes include an elongated stone exit opening that extends both above and below the tie when the tube is inserted into the ballast. The opening therefore provides a stone discharge below the tie and an overflow above the tie. A finger extends from the lower end of the blowing tube to enable the stoneblower to sense the location of the railroad track ties without scooping ballast into the tube openings.

Abstract: A rail clip applicator for automatically positioning and installing spring clips into the shoudlers of rail ties for securing rails to the ties. A superstructure rolls along the track from tie to tie carrying a large supply of clips. The superstructure carries two carrier frames. Each carrier frame carries two applicator assemblies disposed on either side of a track rail. Each applicator assembly carries a clip magazine and a head assembly, the head assembly carrying a clip shuttle, a drive block, and a backup block. Clips are loaded into the magazine. From the magazine, clips are serially dispensed to a clip grasping means at the end of a clip shuttle arm. The arm extends to hole the clip in position for being driven into a tie shoulder. The backup block presses against the rear of the shoulder, and the drive block moves the clip from the clip graspign means into the shoulder.