Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining an orientation of magnetic domains currently being irradiated by a laser having two orthogonal linearly polarized modes of operation is described. The orientation of the currently irradiated magnetic domains determines which linear polarization mode is currently active and can be used as a readout technique for signals encoded in a magneto-optic medium. This polarization switching technique for the reading stored information is dependent on adjusting the parameters of the extended laser cavity so that excitation of each polarization mode is substantially equally probable. When the parameters of the extended laser cavity are substantially equally probable, then the difference in the attenuation of circularly polarized radiation resulting from interaction with oppositely oriented magnetic domains in a magneto-optic material determine the current polarization mode.

Abstract: A bicycle pump which has a pivoting footpeg on which the user may stand to secure the pump against the ground. The pump has a pivoting handle which includes a spring which forces apart the base and handle of the pump so that the pump can be secured in tension on a bicycle frame.

Abstract: A combined packing nut and rod guide for piston paint pumps has a body with a central bore therethrough and at least one relief extending axially along the bore providing a lubricating passageway and paint leakage path. An annular reservoir is formed at an interior end of the nut body for lubricating fluid. The nut body has axial and radial surfaces to axially and radially position the combined packing nut and rod guide in the pump housing to locate and maintain the position of the piston rod with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A small single cylinder hermetic refrigeration compressor has a flat valve plate extending across the end of the cylinder. A discharge port is formed in the valve plate with a spherical valve seat and a spherical poppet member is moveable to and from the valve seat. A flat leaf spring and valve stop member fit over the poppet to control its motion and the spherical head of the popper, when closed, extends beyond the surface of the valve plate in alignment with a mating recess on the piston head to minimize the clearance space of the compressor.

Abstract: A liquid pumping system adaptable for connection to either an electrical drive motor or an internal combustion engine, wherein a generator and clutch is coupled to the driving source, and a pressure sensing switch is connected to the generator rotor to selectively provide voltage to a rectifier circuit and field winding for the clutch. The energization of the field winding causes the clutch to actuate and thereby causes a mechanical coupling to a reciprocable pump for developing liquid pressure.

Abstract: A sense amplifier which is tolerant under differences in layout orientation, power supply variations and process variations is presented. The sense amplifier, operates between first and second power supplies and has two MOS transistors, each of which has a drain effectively connected to its gate to operate as functional diodes, connected in series between the first and second power supplies. The input terminal of the amplifier is connected to a node in series between the two MOS transistors and an inverter has its input node connected to the series node. The inverter's output node is coupled to the output terminal of the sense amplifier. The inverter, being responsive to a voltage at the input node, is set into one of two logic states so that a current at the sense amplifier's input terminal determines a logic state at the output terminal.

Abstract: A double diaphragm leakproof sealing device for electric windscreen washer pumps has a directing chamber housing two very resilient diaphragms which may be provided with compensating elements for loss of resilience. When there is no leaning liquid pressure, the two diaphragms permanently block, by way of their own resilient action and, as the case may be, by the action of the resilience loss compensating elements, the corresponding discharge ports of the chamber. Depending on the direction of rotation of the pump impeller, the cleaning liquid will cause the resilient deformation of the corresponding diaphragm, allowing the cleaning liquid to flow through the associated discharge passage. When the impeller stops rotating, the diaphragm reestablishes the sealing action on the discharge port.

Abstract: A peristaltic pump having a first and second shoe mechanism being slidably mounted on a pump body is provided to allow the placement of two flexible tubes therein. The pump preferably includes tube holding mechanisms to prevent the flexible tube from moving while engaged by the pump. The pump exhibits dual feed capabilities that allow the simultaneous pumping of two distinct fluids at a measured and precise flow rate.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying thick matter is provided including a delivery line, a thick matter pump connected to the delivery line for conveying thick matter from the pump through the delivery line in an output direction, and a restraining member positioned in the delivery line. The restraining member includes a first group of finger lamellae that are radially arranged and have openings therebetween. Each of the finger lamellae of the first group includes an end secured on the inner surface of the delivery line and an unattached end extending diagonally in the output direction and toward the inside of the delivery line. The finger lamella thereby define a pass-through opening therein for enabling flow of thick matter through the restraining member such that the pass-through opening increases in size when thick matter flows in the output direction and decreases in size when there is no flow of thick matter or when thick matter moves in a direction opposite to the output direction.

Abstract: A fuel pumping apparatus for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine has a drive shaft which is coupled to a rotary part of a high pressure pump. A low pressure pump for supplying fuel to the high pressure pump has a rotor mounted about the drive shaft, a stator and side plates on opposite sides of the stator. The stator has an internal surface engaged by vanes carried by the rotor and one end plate has an arcuate outlet port which is connected to a transfer port formed in the side plate but inwardly of the outlet port. The transfer port is connected by passage means in the rotor with a fuel supply passage in the drive shaft.

Abstract: A radial piston pump includes a plurality of radially arranged cylinder-pger assemblies having suction valves and pressure-regulating valves, with the plungers being controlled by an eccentric disk which eccentrically circulates relative to a housing accommodating the cylinders. In order to provide a radial piston pump of this type with a simple design and to allow a digital operation of the pump for controlling the flow rate, the space between the end faces (12) of the cylinders (9) and the pertaining plungers (7) is connectable with a pressure manifold (19) of the pump by a randomly controllable valve (21, 22), with the plungers (9) of the pump preferably having different diameters.

Abstract: A pressure exchanger for transfer of pressure energy from one fluid flow to another in a housing having inlet and outlet ducts for each fluid flow and a rotor adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis within the housing. The rotor is formed with a plurality of rotor ducts arranged around the axis of rotation, the rotor ducts extending from one end of the rotor to the other and having openings at the ends which alternately connect the inlet and outlet ducts of the respective fluids to one another during rotation of the rotor. The rotor is frusto-conical in shape and the openings at the larger diameter end of the rotor are spaced from the axis of rotation at a distance which is substantially greater than the radial spacing of the openings at the smaller end of the rotor. The openings at the smaller end of the rotor are located in proximity to the axis of rotation of the rotor and the openings at the larger end of the rotor are disposed in a narrow annular region in proximity to the periphery of the rotor.

Abstract: An improved evacuation pump system uniquely designed to evacuate both lidded rigid containers and sealable flexible containers. A vacuum cup fixed to one end of a reciprocating piston pump attaches to the lid of rigid containers for their evacuation and a flexible probe connects to the pump for flexible container evacuation. To achieve this dual function a inlet passage in the pump has a cross bore that slidably and/or rotatably receives a two position valve that selectively connects the pumping chamber with two outlets, one associated with each mode. The flexible probe connects directly to this valve reducing the need for separate passageways.

Abstract: A balloon pump includes a cylinder having an outlet end and a piston adapted to reciprocate within the cylinder. One-way outlet and inlet valves are associated with the pump for allowing air to exit the cylinder outlet end only when the piston moves toward the outlet end and enter the cylinder only when the piston reciprocates away from the cylinder outlet end. An elongated piston drive member or base is connected at one end to the piston with the other end extending out of the cylinder at the end opposite the cylinder outlet end. A biasing arrangement acts between the cylinder and the piston to bias the piston away from the outlet end of the cylinder. With the pump positioned vertically and supported on the elongated piston drive member, the biasing arrangement raises the cylinder to perform a return stroke so that the pump may be operated simply by pushing down on the cylinder.

Abstract: A powered line fishing device, which can also be used as a vacuum or a blower. The device includes a thin-walled container having a bottom, side walls and a mouth. A top plate is positioned over the mouth and an intermediate plate is positioned in the thin-walled container between the mouth and the bottom and is adjustably attached to the top plate. The vacuum/blower unit is positioned between the top plate and the intermediate plate. When the assembled top plate, intermediate plate, and the associated vacuum/blower unit is inserted into the thin-walled container, the intermediate plate seals against the inside surface of the walls. The intermediate plate provides support to prevent the thin-walled container from collapsing when the device creates a vacuum. The vacuum/blower unit, retained between the top plate and intermediate plate, are retained entirely within the thin-walled container to protect the vacuum/blower unit and lower the center of gravity of the device to provide greater stability.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for supplying compressed air to both an engine and an air suspension of a motor vehicle. The assembly comprises a direct current electric motor, a centrifugal air pump, and a piston pump. The motor has a shaft extending outwardly from opposite sides of the motor, with the centrifugal pump being driven by one end of the shaft and the piston pump being driven by the other end of the shaft. The centrifugal pump produces high volumes of air at low pressure required by the engine, while the piston pump produces low volumes of air at high pressure required by the air suspension. Bypass valves are provided to selectively divert the air provided by the pumps to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A drawer loading cassette system for a surgical instrument includes a control cabinet and an assembly head disposed therein which includes a plurality of rollers mounted in circular pattern with each roller having a rotation axis generally parallel to an assembly heads central axis. The assembly head is mounted in the cabinet for rotation about the assembly head central axis and a drawer, configured for engagement with a tubing management cassette, is movably attached to the cabinet in order to provide an open position for loading the the cassette and a closed position for engaging a section of tubing supported by the cassette with the rollers.

Abstract: The combined shock absorbing seat post and air pump assembly is for use on a bicycle or the like. The assembly comprises two hollow tubes inserted one into the other defining a compression chamber from which the compressed air may be sent to an inflatable device such as a tire. A shock absorbing mechanism is further provided for attenuating jarring conditions while operating the bicycle on a rough surface. The shock absorbing mechanism comprises an helicoidal compression spring in which the tension can be adjusted by hand upon rotation of a screwed element. The assembly provides a very practical and very compact assembly that combines the advantages of an air pump in the seat post and the advantages of an easily adjustable shock absorber mounted on the seat post.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vacuum feeding apparatus for causing a working device such as a suction pad to communicate with a vacuum port so as to enable the working device to attract and hold a work or feed it to a desired position. In the vacuum feeding apparatus, components such as a valve section, a vacuum section, a filter section, a pressure detecting section, a manifold section, etc. are produced in blocks or units respectively. These blocks indicative of the above components can selectively be used in combination. In addition, a plate mounted on a corresponding block can be used to selectively make the changeover of any one of a plurality of fluid passages defined in the block and to cut off the selected passage.

Abstract: The filter of a compressor is located in the casing of the compressor. The fluid path includes passages in the casing such that brazed connections are not required between the filter and the parts requiring lubrication.