Abstract: Method (100) for controlling the operation of a refrigerator (1) comprising: a cabinet (2) defining a refrigeration and/or freezing area; an isolating door (3) that opens and closes the refrigeration and/or freezing area of the cabinet (2); a door opening sensor (31); and a cooling system (5) configured to modify the temperature of the refrigeration and/or freezing area; the method (100) comprising the steps of: monitoring the opening and closing of the door (31) by means of the door opening sensor (31) during a determined period; generating (206) a door opening probability distribution (206a) at the time monitored in the previous step; and maintaining or modifying the operation of the cooling system (5) according to the door opening probability distribution (206a).

Abstract: A method of joining two portions of an underwater pipeline for conducting fluid and/or gas on the bed of a body of water, the method including the steps of: joining a telescopic sleeve, having a first coupling head, to a first end of a first pipeline portion above the body of water; positioning the first end, the telescopic sleeve, and the first coupling head in a first given position on the bed of the body of water; joining a second coupling head to a second end of a second pipeline portion above the body of water; positioning the second end and the second coupling head in a second given position, close to the first coupling head, below the body of water; and connecting the first and second coupling head hermetically below the body of water.

Abstract: A method of joining two portions of an underwater pipeline for conducting fluid and/or gas on the bed of a body of water, the method including the steps of: joining a telescopic sleeve, having a first coupling head, to a first end of a first pipeline portion above the body of water; positioning the first end, the telescopic sleeve, and the first coupling head in a first given position on the bed of the body of water; joining a second coupling head to a second end of a second pipeline portion above the body of water; positioning the second end and the second coupling head in a second given position, close to the first coupling head, below the body of water; and connecting the first and second coupling head hermetically below the body of water.

Abstract: A surgical procedure (partial hepatectomy) in the nonhuman primate allows repeated removal of large liver tissue samples from a single animal for the preparation of liver tissue slices and primary cell culture of hepatocytes. The open biopsy procedure, alternating non-anatomic and anatomic partial liver resection monthly on the same liver lobe, follows a surgical protocol allowing animal welfare, survival, and multiple sampling (at least 8) from the same animal, thus reducing considerably the number of animals needed for research purposes.

Abstract: A surgical procedure (partial hepatectomy) in the nonhuman primate allows repeated removal of large liver tissue samples from a single animal for the preparation of liver tissue slices and primary cell culture of hepatocytes. The open biopsy procedure, alternating non-anatomic and anatomic partial liver resection monthly on the same liver lobe, follows a surgical protocol allowing animal welfare, survival, and multiple sampling (at least 8) from the same animal, thus reducing considerably the number of animals needed for research purposes.

Abstract: A muffler includes a pair of internal plates that are formed to define an array of channels and at least one chamber. The internal plates are connected in face-to-face relationship such that the channels define tubes that communicate with the chamber. At least one short section of conventional tube may be disposed between the plates to achieve a selected exhaust gas flow pattern. The connected internal plates is slid longitudinally into a tubular outer shell and end caps are secured to opposed ends to substantially enclose the muffler. The internal plates can be remanufactured prior to insertion into the tubular outer shell, and can be slid into tubular external shells of different lengths for significantly altering the acoustical tuning of the muffler.

Abstract: A muffler includes a pair of internal plates that are formed to define an array of channels and at least one chamber. The internal plates are connected in face-to-face relationship such that the channels define tubes that communicate with the chamber. At least one short section of conventional tube may be disposed between the plates to achieve a selected exhaust gas flow pattern. The connected internal plates is slid longitudinally into a tubular outer shell and end caps are secured to opposed ends to substantially enclose the muffler. The internal plates can be remanufactured prior to insertion into the tubular outer shell, and can be slid into tubular external shells of different lengths for significantly altering the acoustical tuning of the muffler.

Abstract: An exhaust muffler is provided with first and second internal plates formed to define an array of tubes and a reversing chamber. A pair of external shells are engaged to the internal plates and define one or more chambers surrounding the tubes defined by the internal plates. A pipe extends across the reversing chamber defined by the internal plates and to the outlet. A portion of the pipe may be perforated to enable expansion of exhaust gas into a high frequency tuning chamber.

Abstract: A combined catalytic converter and muffler is provided. A catalyst is securely mounted in a canister which in turn is mounted intermediate a pair of formed internal plates. The plates are further formed to define an array of tubes therebetween. The tubes comprise an inlet to the muffler and an outlet from the muffler and communicate with the inlet and outlet of the catalytic converter. Selected tubes may have perforations or other apertures through which exhaust gases may communicate. At least one external shell is mounted to the assembled internal plates. The external shell is formed to define a plurality of chambers which communicate with apertures in the internal plates.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for forming an air gap pipe are provided. Inner and outer pipes are bent or deformed into comparable configurations such that the inner pipe can be mounted within the outer pipe. The outer pipe then is split longitudinally by a preprogrammed cutting apparatus. The cutting of the outer pipe terminates just short of the complete longitudinal length of the pipe to facilitate rematching later in the process. The cutter includes a follower to trace the actual configuration of the pipe and thereby to offset differences from one pipe to the next. An array of clamps are provided to align the outer pipe halves relative to one another and to facilitate the reattachment.

Abstract: A muffler is provided with a pair of internal plates stamp formed to define an array of tubes therebetween. An external shell, which may be stamp formed, surrounds and encloses at least selected portions of the internal plates. The array of tubes stamp formed in the internal plates includes at least two tuning tubes. One tuning tube terminates at a tuning aperture in one of the two internal plates, while the other tuning tube terminates at an aperture stamp formed in the other of the two internal plates. Thus, one tuning tube will communicate with a low frequency resonating chamber on one side of the pair of internal plates, while the other tuning tube will communicate with a low frequency resonating chamber on the opposite side of the assembled internal plates.

Abstract: An exhaust muffler is provided. The muffler may be formed from a pair of internal plates that are secured in registration with one another and are formed to define an array of tubes through which the exhaust gages may travel. Selected portions of the tubes in the internal plates may be formed to include perforations. The muffler may further include at least one external shell formed to define at least one chamber which may at least partly surround the perforations in the internal plates. At least one inlet or outlet may lie on the seam between the formed plate members. However, at least one inlet or outlet may also be provided through a portion of the muffler spaced from the seams. The inlet and/or the outlet may be angularly aligned to the longitudinal axis of the muffler and may further be angularly aligned to one another.

Abstract: A muffler is provided including a pair of internal plates formed to define an array of tubes. At least one external shell is formed to define at least one chamber which will surround and enclose a selected portion of the array of tubes. Selected portions of certain tubes will be formed to include perforations. Portions of certain tubes will further undergo cross-sectional changes to control the flow of exhaust gases through the muffler. Certain channels between adjacent chambers of the external shell will be disposed to extend substantially continuously from peripheral portions of the adjacent chambers formed in the external shell. In certain embodiments, a controlled communication is provided between a low frequency resonating chamber and an adjacent expansion chamber. In other embodiments, additional formed layers are provided to enhance either heat or noise insulation.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a heat shield for an exhaust system component. The exhaust system component preferably is of tubular nonlinear configuration. The heat shield is formed from a larger pipe having an internal diameter greater than the outer diameter of the exhaust system component. Appropriately dimensioned inwardly directed supports are formed in the larger pipe. The larger pipe then is bent into a nonlinear configuration substantially identical to the configuration of the exhaust system component. The outer pipe then is cut longitudinally in half along its entire length to define a unitary nonlinear heat shield which can be mounted to the exhaust system component. A portion of the remaining half of the larger pipe can be reattached to the heat shield to provide an air gap pipe along a portion of the length of the exhaust system component.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for forming an air gap pipe are provided. Inner and outer pipes are bent or deformed into comparable configurations such that the inner pipe can be mounted within the outer pipe. The outer pipe then is split longitudinally by a preprogrammed cutting apparatus. The cutting of the outer pipe terminates just short of the complete longitudinal length of the pipe to facilitate rematching later in the process. The cutter includes a follower to trace the actual configuration of the pipe and thereby to offset differences from one pipe to the next. An array of clamps are provided to align the outer pipe halves relative to one another and to facilitate the reattachment.