Abstract: A vessel having a mixer that ensures a homogeneous cell distribution in dispensed quantities. The vessel has a mixer therein for stirring contents of the vessel and an orifice in a lower wall to which a cell dispenser is attached. The cell dispenser dispenses quantities of suspended cells having a homogeneous cell distribution. The vessel may be a closed system with no option or instructions for removing a cap or other access port, whereby after manufacturing the vessel is shipped to a customer and the interior remains closed to the exterior environment and fluids are transferred through tubes.

Abstract: A vessel having a mixer that ensures a homogeneous cell distribution in dispensed quantities. The vessel has a mixer therein for stirring contents of the vessel and an orifice in a lower wall to which a cell dispenser is attached. The cell dispenser dispenses quantities of suspended cells having a homogeneous cell distribution.

Abstract: A hybrid induction welded piston including an upper piston part welded to a lower piston part is provided. The piston is produced by induction heating the upper piston part and the lower piston part, and bringing the parts together to a part growth compensated position. The method then includes rotating the upper piston part 17 to 34 degrees clockwise and then 17 to 34 degrees counterclockwise. In addition to controlling the axial position and degree of rotation, the force applied to the piston parts is controlled so that preferably no flash is formed in a narrow cooling chamber of the piston. During the rotating steps, the pressure gradually increases to a maximum level which occurs while the upper piston part is rotating in the second direction. The piston includes a homogenous metallurgical bond across the weld and no indentation on the outer surface at the weld prior to machining.

Abstract: A vessel having a mixer that ensures a homogeneous cell distribution in dispensed quantities. The vessel has a mixer therein for stirring contents of the vessel and an orifice in a lower wall to which a cell dispenser is attached. The cell dispenser dispenses quantities of suspended cells having a homogeneous cell distribution.

Abstract: An adjustable harvest valve assembly for a bioreactor system which offers all of the benefits of a harvest port, while allowing cell-free liquid to be collected at various liquid heights and multiple times throughout the run.

Abstract: A hybrid induction welded piston including an upper piston part welded to a lower piston part is provided. The piston is produced by induction heating the upper piston part and the lower piston part, and bringing the parts together to a part growth compensated position. The method then includes rotating the upper piston part 17 to 34 degrees clockwise and then 17 to 34 degrees counterclockwise. In addition to controlling the axial position and degree of rotation, the force applied to the piston parts is controlled so that preferably no flash is formed in a narrow cooling chamber of the piston. During the rotating steps, the pressure gradually increases to a maximum level which occurs while the upper piston part is rotating in the second direction. The piston includes a homogenous metallurgical bond across the weld and no indentation on the outer surface at the weld prior to machining.

Abstract: A meat product taken from one or more animals includes a first wrapper of an extendable animal organ. The meat product further includes at least a first organ meat and a second organ meat. The first wrapper substantially surrounds the first and the second organ meats.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving the quality and mechanical properties of an aluminum alloy engine cylinder block or other large or complex castings by providing sand molds bound with a soluble binder only at locations on said casting from which rapid cooling for directional solidification and/or improved localized mechanical properties are desired with said molds being otherwise bound at the remaining locations only with a more typical insoluble binder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for enabling the sensing of changes in pressure in response to uterine muscle tone changes relating to contractions, and for enabling the evaluation of contractions based thereon. The system enables a portion thereof to effectively and efficiently project at least partially below the non-compressed abdominal surface, and provides electrical isolation of the system elements. It enables ease of use and enhanced patient comfort. It also enables maximized sensitivity and minimized system loading retention pressure.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving the quality and mechanical properties of an aluminum alloy engine cylinder block or other large or complex castings by providing sand molds bound with a soluble binder only at locations on said casting from which rapid cooling for directional solidification and/or improved localized mechanical properties are desired with said molds being otherwise bound at the remaining locations only with a more typical insoluble binder.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for improving the quality and mechanical properties of an aluminum alloy engine cylinder block or other large or complex castings by providing sand molds bound with a soluble binder only at locations on said casting from which rapid cooling for directional solidification and/or improved localized mechanical properties are desired with said molds being otherwise bound at the remaining locations only with a more typical insoluble binder.

Abstract: Apparatus for simplified heat-treatment in making aluminum alloys castings of the type improved by aging, especially for automotive engine heads, etc. The newly solidified castings have an end product (workpiece) portion and a riser portion (ultimately cut off as waste). The apparatus transfers the casting oriented to selectively quench the workpiece portion from solution temperatures down to about 120° C. (e.g. by water misting the workpiece, while maintaining the essentially unsprayed riser portion at relatively significantly higher temperatures). After the quench, the residual heat retained by the riser portion reheats the workpiece portion (by internal heat conduction) and maintains it for an effective time within the temperature range for artificial aging (obviating any need for the prior art's aging furnace).

Abstract: Simplified heat-treatment in making aluminum alloys castings of the type improved by aging, especially for automotive engine cylinder heads and motor blocks. The castings, after solidification and extraction from their molds, each have an end product (workpiece) portion and a riser portion (the latter being ultimately cut off as waste). The workpiece portion of the casting is selectively quenched from solution temperatures down to about 120° C. by spraying water or other appropriate liquid preferably as a gas driven mist onto the surfaces of the workpiece while maintaining the riser portion of the casting essentially unsprayed at relatively significantly higher temperatures. After the quench, the residual reservoir of heat thus retained by said riser portion, by internal heat conduction, reheats the workpiece portion and maintains such workpiece portion for an effective time period within the temperature range for artificial aging, thus obviating any need for the aging furnace used by the prior art.

Abstract: Method and simplified apparatus for manufacturing aluminum alloys castings, for example those cast aluminum parts utilized in the manufacture of automobile engines: cylinder heads, engine blocks and the like; whereby the castings are cast in a plurality of semi-permanent-type molds, said molds each being movable to a plurality of processing positions along one of a plurality of preferably straight line paths (five in the preferred embodiment), wherein the operations of cleaning, core setting, casting, and casting extraction are performed on each mold at predetermined positions along its respective path and alternating said operations among the molds in order to permit minimization of the number of robot equipment and to increase the aggregate productivity of said molds, since any one processing operation can be handled by only a few (and preferably only one) robot arm moving across a plurality of mold paths (preferably seriatim), so that a given process step is performed at any one time only at one (or at lea

Abstract: Aluminum parts are cast in a plurality of permanent-type or semi-permanent-type molds, the molds being preheated to a predetermined temperature before starting the casting operation, and being provided with temperature sensors and a logic device which produces a blocking signal for the casting system when the temperature of the mold is below a predetermined casting temperature in order to minimize the number of scrap castings due to uneven or low mold temperature. Hot gases are created and flowed through the interior of the mold, by a burner and hood shaped to fit over at least some mold openings.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for simplified heat-treatment to harden aluminum castings made from heat-treatable aluminum alloys, especially with a copper content of up to 5%, such as the 300-T6 series, for example those cast aluminum parts utilized in the manufacture of automobile motors: cylinder heads, engine blocks and the like; whereby the castings are directly quenched before cooling below 400.degree. C. (and preferably immediately after demolding) without undergoing the conventional steps of natural cooling followed by a re-heating "solution" heat treatment (typically of at least 470.degree. C. for at least two hours, or for a shorter time at higher temperatures) which "solution" heat treatment requires excessive and expensive equipment, energy, and production time. This invention also has the unexpected beneficial effect of avoiding development of silicon spheroidization in the alloy matrix thereby resulting in improved machining properties.

Abstract: Method and simplified apparatus for manufacturing aluminum alloys castings, for example those cast aluminum parts utilized in the manufacture of automobile engines: cylinder heads, engine blocks and the like; whereby the castings are cast in a plurality of semi-permanent-type molds, said molds each being movable to a plurality of processing positions along one of a plurality of straight line paths (five in the preferred embodiment), wherein the operations of cleaning, core setting, casting, and casting extraction are performed on each mold at predetermined positions along its respective path and alternating said operations among the molds in order to permit minimization of the number of robot equipment and to increase the aggregate productivity of said molds, since any one processing operation is handled by only one robot arm moving between the plurality of lines seriatim, so that a given process step is performed at any one time only at one of the plurality of lines.

Abstract: A folding surgical light handle is made from an inexpensive light weight material and can be made as a single part including a handle body with a grip portion, a flange, and an integral connecting member which links the handle body and flange together through a pair of hinged connections. The hinged connecting member enables the light handle to be folded for convenient storage and to be quickly unfolded when the light handle is needed. A threaded head integral to the flange portion provides a way for the light handle to be installed on a surgical light fixture.