Abstract: A piston-type internal-combustion engine has an apparatus for shifting the crankshaft axis to vary the compression ratio. The apparatus has eccentric rings rotatably supported in the engine block. The crankshaft is eccentrically supported in the rings whereby the crankshaft axis is radially spaced from the ring axis. A setting arm, carrying a toothed element, projects from each ring. A setting shaft is rotatably supported on the engine block parallel to the crankshaft. Pinion elements are provided, each having a first pinion fixedly secured to the setting shaft and meshing with the toothed element of one of the setting arms and a second pinion rotatable relative to the first pinion and meshing with the toothed element of one of the setting arms. A resilient connecting member couples the first and second pinions to one another and resiliently resists a rotation of the first and second pinions relative to one another.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes hydraulically-controlled cylinder deactivation and has an engine block with a plurality of cylinders formed therein. At least one-half of the cylinders are deactivatable by collapsible lifters. An individual hydraulic circuit module is positioned adjacent each deactivatable cylinder. Each hydraulic circuit module includes a valve and is configured to receive a supply of oil from the engine block and to selectively provide pressurized oil to the respective collapsible lifters for cylinder deactivation. A solid cover plate is positioned adjacent each cylinder which is not deactivatable.

Abstract: A vehicle gaseous fuel supply system includes a high pressure filter, a primary pressure-reducing valve, a solenoid cut-off valve, safety means, and a secondary pressure-reducing valve. A regulator is formed by disposing the high pressure filter, the solenoid cut-off valve, and the primary pressure-reducing valve on a common regulator body that has a passage providing a connection between the high pressure filter and the solenoid cut-off valve, a passage providing a connection between the solenoid cut-off valve and the primary pressure-reducing valve, and an exit passage having one end connected to the primary pressure-reducing valve. Between the safety means and the secondary pressure-reducing valve which are connected to the other end of the exit passage, at least the secondary pressure-reducing valve has its valve housing formed as a body separate from the regulator body.

Abstract: In a water discharge mode (heat storage mode) for discharging low-temperature cooling water from a heat storage tank to a side of a heater core that heats air using cooling water from an engine as a heating source, a cooling water amount discharged from the heat storage tank is made smaller as a necessary heating capacity for heating air becomes larger. For example, as an amount of air flowing through the heater core becomes larger, the cooling water amount discharged from the heat storage tank becomes smaller. Further, as the temperature of the cooling water flowing into the heater core becomes higher, the cooling water amount discharged from the heat storage tank is increased.

Abstract: An air-intake manifold includes a plurality of air-intake pipes connecting between a collector and an air-intake pipe mount. Each air-intake pipe 3 is bent to have a predetermined shape. Each air-intake pipe 3 is fabricated by bending a substantially straight double metal pipe that has an outer pipe 3a and an inner pipe 3b with a clearance 3c therebetween equal to or less than 0.2 mm, such that the outer pipe 3a and the inner pipe 3b locally contact with each other at an intermediate region. Accordingly, while the outer pipe 3a and the inner pipe 3b of the air-intake pipe 3 locally contact with each other at the contact point 3e (in the relatively slidable relationship), an air layer having a thickness equal to or less than about 0.2 mm is formed between the outer pipe 3a and the inner pipe 3b at portions except for the contact point 3e.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine is provided which is capable of controlling ignition timing, fuel injection timing and a fuel injection amount in a stable manner at any time even in an engine, or in an operating range or in an operating condition thereof, in which there are great variations in the number of revolutions per minute of the engine.

Abstract: A build control is disclosed, for controlling the thickness of a coating on different sides of an elongated member such as a wire. The build control is a tube which is positioned around the wire as the wire passes through a fluidized powder. The end of the tube which is in the fluidized powder is notched so that the build of powder on each of the sides of the elongated member is more or less than would otherwise result.

Abstract: A developing material applicator for use in a photoelectrostatic copying machine to apply or depost a uniform layer of toner particles on the electrostatic latent image carried on a photoreceptor surface. The developing applicator comprises a housing structure having two compartments divided by a partition wall. Within a first one of the compartments, there is provided an impeller and a supply roll assembly for transferrence of the developing material from the first one of the compartments to the other second compartment. Within the second compartment and adjacent the supply roll assembly, there is positioned a clipping roll assembly for clipping the developing material carried by the supply roll assembly. An applicator is positioned within the second compartment at a developing zone where the photoreceptor surface is moved. The applicator applies the developing material over the photoreceptor surface after it has received the developing material from the clipping roll assembly.

Abstract: Microfield donors used in a xerographic process in which the donor is spaced from the photoconductive surface by a spacer element along their interracting surfaces to preclude background deposits of toner from forming in the development of an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive surface.

Abstract: Fuser apparatus for fixing toner images to substrates comprising a heated fuser roll structure and a backup roll structure forming a nip through which the substrates pass with the toner images contacting the heated fuser roll structure to thereby soften the toner images. A cleaning roll structure for removing toner offset to said fuser roll structure comprises an outer layer of silicone rubber containing relatively high surface energy filler particles (i.e. surface energy on the order of 30-95 dynes/centimeter when utilized with a fuser roll structure surface comprising polytetrafluoroethylene) which have a high affinity for the offset toner.

Abstract: The developer storage capacity of a development system for an electrostatic processor is increased by adding a passive reservoir to supplement the system pump. Provision is made for maintaining a more or less continuous flow of developer into and out of the reservoir, including means for feeding developer from the reservoir to the sump whenever the supply of developer within the sump drops below a predetermined level. In a cascade development system, a hopper having a constricted discharge orifice leading to the development zone of the processor is filled to overflowing with developer so that there is a substantialy constant head causing the orifice to meter developer into the development zone at a substantially uniform rate. The reservoir is, in turn, positioned to intercept the overflowing developer and to feed developer into the sump whenever the supply of developer therein drops below the bottom of the reservoir.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the development of electrophotographic or electrosensitive paper comprising a tank having a curved bottom and capable of holding a liquid developer at a constant level; metallic roller means situated in the tank so that the level of developer in the tank is located at a zone wherein the distance between the metallic roller means and the tank wall is the least and does not exceed 5/10mm, a first pair of rollers for feeding said paper into the tank and a second pair of roller means for wiping the papers as they leave the developer and carries them to a receiving point and means for inducing to the metallic roller an electrical potential while grounding tank.

Abstract: A developer unit in which buckets in a cylindrical member advance particles from a first region to a second region. The particles are moved from the second region to a latent image rendering it visible.The foregoing abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Microfield donors used in a xerographic process and the methods for manufacturing them. The donor is provided with means for establishing a plurality of electrostatic microfields on the donor surface to attract and hold toner particles so they can be transported to a developing station. The polarity of the established microfields are continuously reversed to alternately repel and attract toner particles to the doner surface during their transportation in order to agitate the toner particles to prevent agglomeration of the particles from forming and to effect nullification of the microfield attracting the particles adjacent a photoconductor to form a high density image free of background deposits in uncharged area of the photoconductive surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for lubricating and/or cleaning a heated fuser roller in a heat-pressure fusing system for electrophotographic copying. The apparatus includes a lubricating and/or cleaning means in contact with the heated fuser roll, the means including a cross-linked polymeric material on its outer surface. The polymeric material may have a leachable lubricating material dispersed therein, for controlled lubrication of the fuser roller. After depletion of the lubricating material, the cross-linked polymeric material then functions to remove and collect the toner particles from the surface of the toner fuser roller. The apparatus is preferably mounted in contact with the fuser roller by a means which permits easy removal and replacement in the field, after the lubricant has been depleted or the polymeric material has become saturated with toner particles.

Abstract: A blender for blending a mixture of flowable materials, such as the carrier and toner components of a developer for an electrostatic processor, comprises a rotatable chamber having radially angulated passageways extending through its periphery for guiding the materials into and out of the chamber. The passageways are open, but the mixture tends to at least temporally dwell in the chamber and is, therefore, subjected to a tumbling action, because the radial angulation of the passageways exceeds the angle of repose of the mixture. Continuous and discontinuous blenders embodying these principles are disclosed.

Abstract: A developing device for electrophotographic copying machines using a powder developer avoids the problems associated with a flap-controlled distribution aperture in a hopper holding powder for transfer to an image transfer drum by using a sliding plate-type shutter to control the powder flow. The aperture lies adjacent to the apex of the drum and in a plane inclined to the horizontal. The shutter in its sliding movement is guided against the lower longitudinal edge of the aperture, and the leading edge of the shutter, in its closing movement, moves in an upward path slicing into the powder stream. The shutter is preferably held against the guide of the aperture by the force of spring means acting on the shutter.

Abstract: A transfer device especially adapted for transferring electrographic toner powder images to plain paper, the transfer device including an apertured, electrically conductive support member overlying which is a surface layer in the form of a pile fabric having a multiplicity of electrically conductive fibrous loops, and vacuum means cooperating with the apertures for drawing copy paper into intimate clinging engagement with the surface layer.

Abstract: Cleaning imaging material from a xerographic imaging surface with a cleaning blade with reduced friction between the blade and the surface is provided without image degredation by an appropriately roughened surface, which roughness is formed on the photoconductive surface by substrate preetching to provide a final or post coated roughness pattern of 3 to 5 microns and less than 20 microns.

Abstract: A tissue processor provides a closed system for sequentially immersing light microscopy tissue specimens in treating fluids preparatory to embedding or in staining fluids. Treating or staining fluids, including paraffin, are drawn into the processing chamber by use of vacuum and are forced back to their respective containers by use of pressure and the specimens remain substantially stationary throughout the fluid treatment.