Abstract: A pulse width modulated solenoid control valve is described, wherein the valve includes a polymer fluid control body. The body includes a segmented fluid flow path for providing strength to the fluid control body assembly. Stand off ribs are provided to improve assembly into a control manifold. A casing forms an integral flux tube. A tapered push rod is used to reduce flux shorting.

Abstract: An isolated myeloid cell, progenitors and progeny thereof, and populations of such cells are described. The cells have the phenotype of CD11b+, CD11c−/low, MHC ClassII−, and mediate thymus-dependent immune responses, including IL-4 associated responses, and priming of B cells for MHC Class II signaling, expansion and proliferation. Also described are methods of making the cells and using the cells in therapeutic vaccines. Also described are methods of using the cells to identify agents, such as adjuvants, that are effective inducers of thymus-dependent immune responses, and particularly for priming of B cells.

Abstract: A solenoid control valve is described wherein the valve employs a precision molded plastic valve seat member, a corresponding control valve body which includes flying buttresses for supporting and distributing loads on the control valve body, and armature vent features.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of a body assembly of a refuse vehicle includes forming a first, second and third components of the assembly. A first and second locating constructions are formed in the first component. The second component is formed so as to have a first mating structure which is adapted to mate with the first locating construction in the first component so as to uniquely locate the second component with respect to the first component. The third component is formed so as to have a second mating structure which is adapted to mate with the second locating construction in the first component so as to uniquely locate the third component with respect to the first component.

Abstract: A heliostat which comprises a reflector element and a carrier that is arranged to support the reflector element above a ground plane. A drive means is arranged to impart pivotal drive to the carrier about a fixed, first axis that is, in use of the heliostat, disposed substantially parallel to the ground plane. The heliostat further comprises a means mounting the reflector element to the carrier in a manner which permits pivotal movement of the reflector element with respect to the carrier and about a second axis that is not parallel to the first axis. A drive means arranged to impart pivotal movement to the reflector element about the second axis. The reflector element, which may be flat or curved, may be constituted by a plurality of sub-reflector elements. Also, a plurality of the reflector elements may be supported by a single carrier.

Abstract: A bag primarily for fishing includes two bag portions each having a bottom, an inner side, an outer side and two ends connected together to form a hollow rectangular container with an open top through which rigid tackle boxes can be inserted. The portions each have a flap type cover connected at one end. A connecting fabric flap with four corner straps is connected to each of the first and second bag portions at the inner side thereof and extends therebetween to form a bridging portion dimensioned to rest upon a seat of a chair with each of the bag portions located on a respective side of the chair and depending downwardly from the seat. The two bag portions each have cooperating connecting elements in he form of a zipper which engage one another to hold the inner sides of the two portions together side by side with the connecting member folded therebetween to form the bag into a common structure for common transportation.

Abstract: A cooler comprising a container having a container bottom wall and upstanding side walls standing upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall and defining an open top and a cover wall hingedly connected to one of the side walls and attachable to at least one other of the side walls so as to close the open top. Each of the side walls and the cover wall being formed of a flexible fabric material with a layer of insulating material thereon such that the side walls can be folded to allow collapse of the container from an expanded position for receiving articles to be maintained cooled to a collapsed storage condition. A bottle for receiving liquid has two opposed side walls and a peripheral wall with one side wall shaped to substantially match the shape of the bottom wall such that the bottle is arranged to be located at the bottom of the container with the side wall lying against the bottom wall to provide stiffening for the bottom wall and the other side wall facing into the interior of the container.

Abstract: A control module for a vehicle transmission. The control module includes an electronic transmission control unit attached to a cooling plate. Control solenoids are attached to the cooling plate. The cooling plate is operably secured over a “worm trail” manifold in a transmission for controlling the transmission.

Abstract: The invention relates to improvements in cell-free systems for initiating DNA replication under cell cycle control. The system comprises a synchronous population of G1 nuclei which have been released from G0; and S phase cytosol. In a preferred aspect, a polypeptide is supplied to the system, wherein the polypeptide is Cdc6 and/or at least one MCM protein. The system is suitable for DNA replication assays, for example to test substances which modulate DNA replication.

Abstract: A cooler comprising a container having a container bottom wall and upstanding side walls standing upwardly from a periphery of the bottom wall and defining an open top and a cover wall hingedly connected to one of the side walls and attachable to at least one other of the side walls so as to close the open top. Each of the side walls and the cover wall being formed of a flexible fabric material with a layer of insulating material thereon such that the side walls can be folded to allow collapse of the container from an expanded position for receiving articles to be maintained cooled to a collapsed storage condition. A bottle for receiving liquid has two opposed side walls and a peripheral wall with one side wall shaped to substantially match the shape of the bottom wall such that the bottle is arranged to be located at the bottom of the container with the side wall lying against the bottom wall to provide stiffening for the bottom wall and the other side wall facing into the interior of the container.

Abstract: A control module for a vehicle transmission. The control module includes an electronic transmission control unit attached to a cooling plate. Control solenoids are attached to the cooling plate. The cooling plate is operably secured over a “worm trail” manifold in a transmission for controlling the transmission.

Abstract: A rotatable positioning apparatus for cutting timbers to a predetermined length and a predetermined angle is provided. The rotatable positioning apparatus supports a saw. The rotatable positioning apparatus comprises a base frame and a rotatable turntable mounted to the base frame. A support frame is mounted to the rotatable turntable with the support frame having a predetermined length. A saw-supporting frame is movable along the length of the support frame with the saw being secured to the supporting frame. A locking mechanism releasably secures the rotatable turntable in a predetermined position relative to the base frame.

Abstract: A refractory nozzle is provided having upper and lower members. According to an embodiment of the invention, the upper member has an axial passage having a mouth at a top end and an enlarged diameter section at its bottom end. The lower member has a top fitting into the enlarged diameter section of the upper member and a tapered bore, tapered throughout its length, matching a bottom of the axial passage of the upper member.

Abstract: A pail and lid with an integral handle molded with the lid includes a pail side wall extending upwardly from the pail bottom to an upper peripheral edge. The lid includes a cover portion shaped to cover the open top and a peripheral skirt depending from said cover portion, said skirt having an upper annular portion and a lower annular portion and both shaped to surround an outer surface of the pail side wall at or adjacent the upper edge and separated by a peripheral tear strip. The handle is integrally formed with said lower portion for carrying the pail. The skirt and pail have co-operating upper and lower pairs of retaining lips shaped to snap over each other by downward movement of the cover portion onto the pail to hold the cover portion on the pail. The skirt is sufficiently stiff to allow both snap actions to be effected simultaneously be pressure downwardly from the cover.

Abstract: The distributed video communications system includes a plurality of nodes (10). Each of the nodes interfaces with a network that is comprised of a messaging layer (16) and a data transmission layer (14). Data is transmitted from each of the nodes to the data transmission layer in a multicast protocol such that all of the other nodes have access to the information transmitted thereto. Each of the nodes has configuration information stored in a conference configuration block (22) which is received through the messaging layer (16). A conference can be initiated by any of the nodes (10) by transmitting information as to the conferees in a conference to the other of the nodes in the conference. Each of the nodes (10) independently determines from the configuration information associated therewith the manner in which data is to be extracted from the messaging layer (14) and the manner in which it is displayed.

Abstract: A solar energy collection system which includes n groups (13, 14) of arrayed reflectors (15) and n+1 target receiver systems (10, 11, 12) which represent absorbing surfaces to solar radiation that is reflected by the reflectors (15). The receiver systems (10, 11, 12) are elevated relative to the reflectors (15) and the reflectors are pivotally mounted to support structures (19) in a manner such that they may be positioned angularly to reflect incident radiation (I.sub.1, I.sub.2) toward one or the other of the receiver systems (10, 11, 12). The collector system is characterized in that a majority at least of the reflectors (15) within each group (13, 14) are arranged to be driven simultaneously to pivot through the same angle (.o slashed.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved gasket for use in a wide variety of sealing applications. The gasket comprises a continuous, form-in-place gasket element, comprising layers of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, that has significant tensile strength in both the longitudinal and the transverse directions. As such, the gasketing element of the present invention provides all of the operational advantages of PTFE, while being dimensionally stable, resistant to creep relaxation and providing form-in-place dimensions, thus satisfying a wider range of sealing applications than conventional sealing materials.

Abstract: An instrument heater for heating a surgical instrument. The instrument heater includes a sheath having an inner and outer wall. The inner wall forms a bore through which the optical scope is inserted. A chemical solution fills the space between the inner and outer wall of the sheath. At one end of the sheath is an activator disk having a chemical substance attached to its surface. When the activator disk is flexed, it ejects the chemical substance and interacts with the chemical solution to initiate an exothermic reaction. The exothermic reaction results in the generation of heat within the sheath, which is transmitted to the surgical instrument. Once the surgical instrument is sufficiently heated to a temperature close to the temperature of a body, the optical scope is inserted into the body. A natural tendency for the instrument to fog up is prevented by the equalizing the temperature of the instrument with the body.

Abstract: A solar energy collector system which includes n groups (13, 14) of arrayed reflectors (15) and n 1 target receiver systems (10, 11, 12) which present absorbing surfaces to solar radiation that is reflected by the reflectors (15) within the groups. The receiver systems (10, 11, 12) are elevated relative to the reflectors (15) and the reflectors are pivotally mounted to support structure (19) in a manner such that they may be positioned angularly to reflect incident radiation toward one or the other of the receiver systems (10, 11, 12). The collector system is characterized in that at least some of the reflectors (15) within each group (13, 14) are arranged to be pivoted to an extent such that they may be oriented selectively to shift the direction of reflected incident soar radiation form one to another of the receiver systems.

Abstract: A method and a device for setting backlash between gears in a gear train. The device comprises a gear device. When the gear device is located in a gear train with a drive gear and a driven gear and brought into mesh therewith, the drive and driven gears mountings can be fastened to secure the positions of said drive and driven gears. The gear device can then be removed and is replaced by an idler gear designed to mesh with the drive and driven gears with an amount of backlash with each predetermined by the gear device. The gear device may comprise a gear oversized by a preset amount. Alternatively, it may comprise a pair of rods pivotally secured together.