Abstract: A two-way valve for use in breathing apparatus comprising a valve chamber having a supply end and a mask end, both ends having openings, a valve plate member of thin lightweight material freely movable within the valve chamber between the supply end and the mask end for closing respective openings, the valve plate member defining a flow axis and a generally circular opening centered on the flow axis, a plurality of support arms extending radially inwardly from the perimeter of the circular opening, the support arms defining and being joined together at a solid central hub, a plurality of stub members extending radially inwardly from the perimeter of the circular opening, a fastening boss extending from the central hub towards the mask end of the chamber, retaining flanges on the boss spaced from the valve plate, a flat planar flexible valve membrane attached to the valve plate member, the membrane having a central opening fitting elastically over the boss, and fitting between the valve plate member and the fl

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a cutting head for a cigarette filter attachment machine, for cutting a filter attachment web at regular intervals in cooperation with a cutting drum, comprising a rotary member which carries one or more knives, an arrangement for urging the rotary member towards the cutting drum with a predetermined force, and a damping member arranged to resist movement of the rotary member towards the cutting drum, at least along part of the range of such movement. Each end of the rotary member is preferably supported by a separately movable carrier member, each carrier member having its own urging arrangement and its own damping member. The or each damping member may comprise a dashpot or a rubber pad or sleeve.

Abstract: A rod-like smoking article with a rod-like mouthpiece core at the mouth end of a tobacco rod, the entire periphery of the mouthpiece core being enveloped by an adhered wrapping paper which is suitable for contact with the lips and which overlappingly follows a covering paper surrounding the tobacco rod and with secondary air channels covered by the wrapping paper on the periphery of the mouthpiece core and an apparatus for producing such an article.

Abstract: An apparatus for pneumatically feeding tobacco to a number of cigarette making machines having a plurality of conveyors. The conveyors feed tobacco onto a circular feed table where the tobacco is distributed to each of the cigarette machines. The table is arranged to convey the tobacco along a circular path around the vertical central axis of the table. The apparatus further includes a number of suction pipes which are circumferentially spaced with respect to the table and are arranged to pick up tobacco for delivery to respective cigarette making machines. Each cigarette making machine has a hopper for accumulating tobacco including detectors for detecting the quantity of accumulated tobacco. In addition, there is a drive mechanism associated with each pipe for moving each pipe substantially radially with respect to the table to control the rate at which tobacco is picked up from the table. Such control is responsive to the detectors.

Abstract: A swimming apparatus that permits an individual with a laryngectomy to be able to swim. The apparatus comprises a mouthpiece, a throat sealing member and an air tube intercoupling the mouthpiece and sealing member. The sealing member is securely disposed to cover and seal about the throat stoma while having an opening to permit air passage to the throat. The mouthpiece is controlled by the swimmer as a valve to control airflow through the unobstructed air tube. Also included are first and second valves associated with the air tubes, a first valve being positioned at the mouthpiece and the second valve being disposed intermediate the ends of the air tube. The first valve is a one way valve permitting air flow through the air tube on an inhalation. The second valve is also a one way valve permitting air exhaust from the air tube during exhalation.

Abstract: Apparatus for ejecting cigarettes, comprises a conveyor (10) arranged to carry a sideways-moving row of cigarettes (14) through an ejection station at which there is a nozzle (20) arranged, when a cigarette is to be ejected, to direct a jet of air (32, 34) transversely past the cigarette and onto an air-deflecting surface (26) on the conveyor which deflects the air jet onto the cigarette so as to blow the cigarette transversely off the conveyor.

Abstract: A cushion for pressing an element of grafted skin against the body surface, wherein the portion (2) to be applied to the body has a window or opening (4) the dimensions of which approximately equal that of the graft. The edges (6) of the window (4) are attached to the skin so as to be impervious to air or liquids. The filling medium of the cushion (air or a liquid) is maintained under pressure.

Abstract: A unique pipe configuration including a magazine in which a supply of tobacco may be stored, so that a smoker will not be required to waste excess time and effort to continuously replenish the pipe with new tobacco when a plug of tobacco therein has been exhausted. A desired amount of the tobacco supply is moved from the magazine into a hollow cutting and smoking chamber by means of a manually operated piston. A plug of tobacco is cut from the supply thereof by means of a tobacco cutter and transport device having a cutting surface formed at one end thereof. The cutter and transport device is adapted to ride through the cutting and smoking chamber so as to cut off and move the tobacco plug through the cutting and smoking chamber to a particular location thereof wherein the tobacco plug is smoked. The pipe location at which the tobacco plug is smoked is separated and spaced apart from the communication of the pipe stem with the cutting and smoking chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting urine from laboratory animals includes a collector for accumulating the urine and a mounting plate which is adhered to the abdomen of the animal with a quick-drying adhesive. Preferably, the collector is releaseably connected to the mounting plate by screw threads. When the collector is not being utilized, a gnaw-resistant protective block is mounted over the mounting plate to protect the mounting plate from gnawing by the rat.The process for practicing the instant invention includes the steps of adhering the mounting plate 14 to the animal's abdomen with an adhesive applied so as to effect a seal around the opening of the animal's urethra in order to prevent contamination of the urine. Thereafter, the container is coupled to the mounting plate and urine collected.

Abstract: A tobacco leaf mixture containing lighter and heavier fractions is fed into one side of a housing while an airstream flow is introduced at the other side of the housing and in an upwardly directed flow course so as to cause it to entrain the lighter fraction of the mixture therein, with the heavier fraction falling to the bottom of the housing. A suction lift is maintained at the top of the housing to increase the velocity of the lighter fraction containing air flow outwardly from the housing. The lighter fraction containing air flow is then delivered to a separator unit to recover the lighter fraction. The lighter fraction can, for example, be the laminae material from which shredded cigarette tobacco filler is made.

Abstract: A cattle dehorner (10) comprises a power source (12), a power converter and control unit (14) and an operating unit (16). The power source (12) comprises an automotive-type storage battery. The power converter and control unit (14) comprises an electric motor (108) actuated by the power source (12), a pump (110) driven by the electric motor (108) and a hydraulic fluid reservoir (120). A valve (112) is provided for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the pump (110) in the reservoir (120). The operating unit (16) includes a blade frame (22), a fixed blade (24) and a movable blade (34). A hydraulic cylinder (50) is secured to the blade frame (22) and functions to reciprocate the movable blade (34). The hydraulic cylinder encloses a spring (90) for retracting the movable blade (34) and a sleeve (92) for limiting the advance of the movable blade (34) under the action of pressurized hydraulic fluids supplied from the pump (110).

Abstract: Pileups of tobacco particles at or between the inlet of the draping mechanism and the stream forming station in a cigarette maker are ascertained by a device which monitors the density of successive increments of the cigarette stream prior or subsequent to trimming or the extent of deformation of the finger which compresses the trimmed stream in the garniture of the cigarette maker. The monitoring device generates signals which are utilized to automatically interrupt the admission of tobacco particles into the stream forming channel.

Abstract: An electro mechanical system for stimulating the human scalp. The system includes a rigid helmet adapted to be placed upon the head of a patient to be treated, which helmet includes an internal pad comprising integral, stimulating finger members which directly contact the scalp of the patient. A vibration motor housed within the helmet communicates mechanically with the pad to gently vibrate same to stimulate the scalp. Remote means for generating a vacuum are inter-connected with the helmet through an elongated vacuum hose, and a vacuum input orifice is defined within the helmet. Preferably the vibration motor is housed within the vacuum inlet orifice, and vacuum is distributed interiorly of the helmet during vibration to stimulate the scalp.

Abstract: An air supplying hood has a top wall, to which the upper edge of a flexible plastic front wall is connected, with the upper portion of the front wall forming a transversely curved front window. A flexible back wall behind the window is connected with the top wall and the sides of the window to form with the window an open-bottom enclosure for a person's head. The lower portion of the flexible back wall and the front wall below the window form areas shaped to fit over a person's shoulder and lie against his chest and back. Above those areas is a hollow band extending around the hood and communicating with the lower ends of circumferentially spaced hollow vertical struts with which the wall of the head enclosure is provided. The band and struts are inflatable by an air tube extending through the back wall for supplying air to the head enclosure.

Abstract: An improved bone cement nozzle and method for use in filling a long bone medullary canal with bone cement. The nozzle includes an expandable shield which scrapes the canal wall and pressurizes the cement as it enters the canal so that it flows into interstices in the bone.

Abstract: A computed tomography stereostactic frame is disclosed designed for use with a CT Scanner. The frame comprises a platform or support including an area thereon for supporting a patient's head and for maintaining the patient's head in position. An inverted substantially U-shaped frame is selectively movably mounted on the support. A probe holder is selectively movably mounted on either of the leg portions or the base portion of the frame and is designed to permit a twist drill bit or probe to be extended therethrough.

Abstract: A continuous twin rod cigarette making machine operable to permit the simultaneous formation of two continuous rods of cigarette starting from two layers of tobacco supported by suction beneath respective suction conveyors located above respective ascending shafts, the flow of tobacco along the ascending shafts being adjusted in dependence on signals emitted by sensors of the density or weight of the layers by adjustment elements including two channels coupled to respective vibrators, the frequency of which is adjustable, and communicating on one side with respective descending shafts extending from a carding unit to the ascending shafts, and on the other with a recycled tobacco particle supply device.

Abstract: A high efficiency rigid or semi-rigid air filter cartridge for use in the helmet of a powered air respirator comprising a lightweight, open-topped, trough-shaped frame having an entrance at one end for attachment to an air discharge port of a fan motor housing assembly, filter media sealed about its periphery to close said frame, said frame and said filter media enclosing a contaminated air plenum bounded by the inside surfaces of the bottom and side walls of said frame and the under surface of said filter media, such that contaminated air from said air discharge port is channeled under pressure through said plenum and distributed under pressure to and through said filter media and provides purified air, is disclosed. The filter media may be a sorbent particle loaded web, an electrically charged filter, or pleated fiberglass paper. A high efficiency powered air respirator for providing filtered air to a wearer, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A swimming apparatus that permits an individual with a laryngectomy to be able to swim. The apparatus comprises a mouthpiece, a throat sealing member and an air tube intercoupling the mouthpiece and sealing member. The sealing member is securely disposed to cover and seal about the throat stoma while having an opening to permit air passage to the throat. The mouthpiece is controlled by the swimmer as a valve to control airflow through the unobstructed air tube. In one version of the invention there are first and second valves associated with the air tube, a first valve being disposed at the mouthpiece end and a second valve being disposed intermediate the ends of the air tube. The first valve is a one way valve permitting air flow through the air tube on an inhalation. The second valve is also a one way valve permitting air exhaust from the air tube during exhalation.

Abstract: A novel tobacco feed device (10) and method of use thereof for the direct feed of tobacco to rod formation in a cigarette making machine are described. The device (10) includes a reservoir tube (42) containing a reservoir of opened cut tobacco, metering rolls (54) to meter required amounts of cut tobacco from the reservoir tube (42) to discharge metered tobacco to the cigarette maker. Internal hoppers, carding drums and picker wheels are avoided by the structure of the invention giving rise to greatly enhanced tobacco filling power.