Abstract: This invention provides an improved injection molding apparatus which includes a check valve assembly mounted at the forward end of a feedscrew, the valve assembly being characterized by forward and rearward valve seat surfaces which co-act in a first position to allow a plasticized polymeric material to enter and flow through the valve into an injection chamber and which co-act in a second position to stop any additional material from entering the valve assembly. The second valve position is effected by a feedscrew injection stroke which generates a backpressure to close the valve, the backpressure moving a check ring of the valve assembly into a position to block entry into the valve. The valve seat surfaces are coated with a bonded metal, metal alloy, or ceramic material which effectively increases the abrasion resistance of the valve seat surfaces and thus also increases the wear service life of the check valve assembly. Other wear surfaces of the valve assembly may also be coated for abrasion resistance.

Abstract: An electronically controlled syringe system for connection to a balloon catheter or other balloon-type member and for automatically monitoring, displaying and recording inflation data when the syringe system is used to inflate the balloon catheter or other balloon-type member. A syringe having a barrel and a syringe plunger is selectively operable to increase fluid pressure applied to the balloon catheter or other balloon member by sliding the plunger further into the barrel. Positive pressure applied to the balloon catheter or member can be released by withdrawing the syringe plunger toward the rear of the barrel. A piezoresistive semiconductor transducer housed on the barrel of the syringe senses positive fluid pressure applied by the syringe.

Abstract: A syringe and method for use which may be selectively operated between a free position and a locked position. A triggering device configured with a trigger attached to the plunger of the syringe is employed. The triggering device includes a set of threads located on the plunger and a corresponding set of threads on the barrel of the syringe. Upon actuation of the trigger, the threads on the plunger are retracted from their position of engagement with the threads on the barrel, thereby placing the syringe in position for free movement of the plunger with respect to the barrel. The threads are biased in the engaged position. Thus, when the trigger is released, the threads on the plunger return to their position of engagement with the threads on the barrel. In the locked position, the plunger may be screwed into or out of the barrel by rotating the plunger, enabling the operator of the syringe to maintain strict control over the amount of pressure in the syringe.

Abstract: A syringe and method for use which may be selectively operated between a freely reciprocating position and a restricted position. A triggering means configured with a trigger attached to the plunger of the syringe is employed. The triggering means includes threads located external of the plunger and corresponding threads internal of the barrel of the syringe. Upon actuation of the trigger, the threads on the plunger are retracted from their position of engagement with the threads on the barrel, thereby placing the syringe in position for free sliding movement of the plunger with respect to the barrel. The trigger is biased to the engaged position so that if the trigger is released, the threads on the plunger return to their position of engagement with the threads on the barrel. In the restricted position, the plunger may be screwed into or out of the barrel by rotating the plunger, enabling the operator of the syringe to maintain strict control over the amount of pressure in the syringe.

Abstract: A filament winding system includes a head that selects the number of tows to be within a winding band while winding and positioning the winding band directly on the mandrel according to contours of the mandrel. Half of the tows are conveyed in an upper portion of the head and the remaining half are conveyed in a lower portion of the head with both halves meeting at an applicating roller at the discharge end of the tows. The head includes cut and add assemblies wherein the individual tows are selectively cut and later can be added to the band.

Abstract: An elongate smoking article for releasing an aerosol into the mouth of a smoker comprises, a fuel rod having a light-up end adapted to be lit by a smoker; a tube extending from the fuel rod to a mouth end of the article thereby defining a condensation chamber between the fuel rod and the mouth end of the article; ventilation means to permit the passage of ventilating air from the light-up end of the fuel rod to the condensation chamber, and a porous ceramic cylindrical element impregnated with an aerosol precursor surrounding the fuel rod and in intimate contact with at least a portion thereof. A permeable fire-proof sheath surrounds the ceramic element, the sheath being adapted to provide physical integrity of the whole assembly, to allow the inward diffusion of air to maintain and propagate combustion of the fuel rod and to allow outward diffusion of combustion products.

Abstract: A water conserving system for plumbing installations in buildings, for instance in homes, institutions, industry, etc., facilitates saving of water during adjustment of volume and temperature and precludes the need for water shut-off and subsequent readjustment to accomodate suspensions of actual water use while saving, for reuse, the water that otherwise flows unused to drain and into the sewer system. The water conserving system provides water outlet fixtures having diverter valving means for selective diversion of water through return conduits to storage means, whence it is returned to the water supply for reuse, so that water adjustment may be performed with least water waste and water flow may be left turned on (and adjusted) without it being wasted to drain when actual use is temporarily suspended.

Abstract: A filament winding system includes a head that selects the number of tows within a winding band while winding and positions the winding band directly on the mandrel according to its contours.

Abstract: This invention relates to industrial manufacture of composite tubes in a continuous fashion. The invention utilizes a segmented mandrel which proceeds as a train of endwise joined segments through a composite tube forming machine. Segments are added to and subtracted from the mandrel during manufacture of the tubes.

Abstract: A smoking device for releasing an aerosol into the mouth of a smoker comprises in combination, a chamber into which a mixture of air and a liquid aerosol precursor is introduced, a heat source surrounding the chamber, a first duct providing communication between the chamber and a smoker's mouth, whereby the contents of the chamber may be drawn into the smoker's mouth, a container for the aerosol precursor, a second duct means leading from the aerosol precursor container into the chamber whereby aerosol precursor may pass from said container into the chamber, and a third duct means providing communication between ambient air and the chamber whereby ambient air may be drawn into the chamber by the smoker, the arrangement being such that in operation liquid aerosol precursor entering the chamber is converted into a condensation aerosol.

Abstract: A hand operated device for applying cigarette paper to a preformed tobacco rod comprises a forming roller arranged to rotate the rod about its longitudinal axis, a mechanical applicator for applying a pregummed sheet of cigarette paper to the rod as the rod is rotated about its axis, wherein the forming roller is provided along its length with a pair of circumferential helical grooves of opposite chirality, there being further provided a manually operable spigot device adapted to cooperate with the grooves and constrained to travel linearly parallel to the axis of the roller whereby manual movement of the spigot in either linear direction rotates the roller in a constant angular direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a smokeable cigarette from a preformed inherently unsmokeable rod of tobacco and a separate sheet of cigarette paper provided with a strip of contact adhesive comprises an open-ended smooth bore resilient tube provided with a longitudinal slit defined by a pair of lips one of which is radially further spaced from the axis of the tube than is the other lip and is tangential to the circumference of the tube. In operation, the rod is inserted axially into the tube, the paper is then inserted into the slit and the rod rotated so as to wind the paper onto the rod. The user squeezes the tube so as to control the friction between the rod and the sheet. The sheet finally adheres to itself by means of the strip of adhesive. The invention also includes a booklet of cigarette papers which are mounted on the backing card by strips of contact adhesive. On removing a sheet from the card the strip of adhesive remains attached to the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for making cigarettes from preformed rods of tobacco and precut sheets of cigarette paper comprises a rotatable fluted drum, a hopper for feeding the preformed rods to flutes in the drum, means for presenting to each rod when each flute reaches a predetermined position a precut sheet of cigarette paper that is provided along an edge with a strip of adhesive, and means for rolling the rod in the flute so that the cigarette paper is thereby wrapped round the rod and adheres to itself by means of the adhesive to form a cigarette.

Abstract: A filter for a smoking article employing a resilient valve assembly in the path of the smoke. The valve assembly being movable in a first position in which the flow ventilating air is permitted and a second position in which the flow of air is prevented. The valve assembly being resiliently biased towards the first position and being displaceable towards the second position when a particular pressure differential is exceeded.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in filament winding large, hollow, tubular structures having significant axial reinforcement in their thick walls by means including (a) using a hollow, light weight mandrel adapted to expand radially at elevated temperatures and windings of alternate layers of filamentary materials positioned substantially axially and substantially circumferentially relative to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel wherein the alternate layers are preferably in a certain thermosettable resin matrix and wound in certain fashion and (b) heating the filament wound mandrel to cure the thermosettable resin wherein heat from inside and out of the mandrel controls the cure and expansion during the heating step. The thick walls preferably incorporate graphite fibers for significant strength in the reinforcement provided by the filamentary materials.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in filament winding large, hollow, tubular structures having significant axial reinforcement in their thick walls by means including (a) using a hollow, light weight mandrel adapted to expand radially at elevated temperatures and windings of alternate layers of filamentary materials positioned substantially axially and substantially circumferentially relative to the longitudinal axis of the mandrel wherein the alternate layers are preferably in a certain thermosettable resin matrix and wound in certain fashion and (b) heating the filament wound mandrel to cure the thermosettable resin wherein heat from inside and out of the mandrel controls the cure and expansion during the heating step. The thick walls preferably incorporate graphite fibers for significant strength in the reinforcement provided by the filamentary materials.

Abstract: A jig for use in stitching together two layers of material on a stitching line defining a corner. The jig has a lower plate (1) having a slot (4) through which stitching may be effected, the slot including at least one corner. An upper plate cooperates with the lower plate and a fulling plate (3) is positioned between the lower and upper plates and has fulling means (6 to 8) on its upper surface for defining pleats in a fabric layer placed over the fulling means. At least one of the fulling means has an upstanding, pleat-forming member (11) which is positioned so that the pleat formed thereby extends towards the slot (4) at a line that intersects the slot at a location lying ahead of the associated corner (13).

Abstract: This invention relates to industrial manufacture of composite tubes in a continuous fashion. The invention utilizes a segmented mandrel which proceeds as a train of endwise joined segments through a composite tube forming machine. Segments are added to and subtracted from the mandrel during manufacture of the tubes.

Abstract: This invention relates to industrial manufacture of composite tubes in a continuous fashion. The invention utilizes a segmented mandrel which proceeds as a train of endwise joined segments through a composite tube forming machine. Segments are added to and subtracted from the mandrel during manufacture of the tubes.

Abstract: An improved construction is provided for a transverse passageway and a nozzle of a drilling sub of the type used to eject drilling fluid from the transverse passageway to create a vortex in an annulus surrounding the drilling sub.