Abstract: A transmitter in a process control system transmits a pressure over a process control loop. The transmitter includes I/O circuitry, compensation circuitry and an absolute pressure sensor. The I/O circuitry transmits information over the process control loop. Compensation circuitry receives a pressure related signal and responsively controls the I/O circuitry to transmit pressure information on the loop. The absolute pressure sensor includes a cavity which deforms as the sensor deflects in response to an applied pressure. A sensor in the cavity provides the pressure related signal to the compensation circuitry in response to the deformation.

Abstract: A differential pressure switch comprising an enclosure including a peripheral wall and a solid one-piece non-perforate partition wall that is integrally attached to the peripheral wall around the entire perimeter of the partition wall. The enclosure includes a sensor chamber located on a first side of the partition wall and a fluid cavity located on a second side of the partition wall. The partition wall and the integrally attached peripheral wall seal the sensor chamber in fluid-tight leak-proof isolation from the fluid cavity. A flexible diaphragm is located within the fluid cavity and forms a low-pressure fluid chamber on one side and a high-pressure fluid chamber on a second side of the diaphragm. A magnet is located in the fluid cavity and is coupled to the diaphragm such that the magnet changes position in response to movement of the diaphragm. A Hall effect sensor is located in the sensor chamber.

Abstract: A unique backside mask for the backside of a silicon wafer which is to be diced in a rectangular shape to form a silicon pressure sensor. The backside mask is shaped to extend farther towards the center from portions adjacent to corners of the rectangular shape. In one embodiment, the mask has a cross-shape. The silicon is etched to form a diaphragm, with the corners etching more due to the silicon crystalline structure. This leaves corner regions which are less sloped compared to the sides of the cavity, being substantially vertical or even recessed. A glass substrate with a hole in it is then bonded to the backside to form the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention is a real-time spatial particulate mass deposition tester. The tester is based on the principle that an anisotropic fill density distribution would result in an uneven particulate vertical pressure distribution on the inside face of the bottom surface of the die. Further, this uneven particulate vertical pressure distribution can be detected by placing multiple, sufficiently sensitive load cells on the inside surface at the bottom of the die, and analyzing the output signals acquired from the load cells using any suitable data acquisition system.

Abstract: A material testing machine includes a control system for feedback-controlling, during material testing, the operation of a servo system including an actuator for applying a load to a test piece. During the mounting of the test piece to the testing machine, a target displacement of a movable part of the actuator is corrected in accordance with the actual load applied to the test piece so as to prevent the actual load from being excessive. While the amplification factor of an amplifier for detecting the controlled variable is being changed over during the material testing, a control output value supplied from a digital controller of the control system to the servo system is maintained at a value obtained just before the changeover of the amplification factor, whereby the detection scale factor in detecting the controlled variable can be maintained at a constant value.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of measuring the volume of flowing media, especially of fuel, by means of a screw spindle volumeter, the method comprising the following steps: detecting the revolutions of a screw spindle by means of a sensor and producing pulses whose time sequence is representative of the angular speed of the screw spindle; repeatedly measuring the period of time between successive pulses; selecting, in dependence upon the respective period of time measured, a volume value predetermined for said period of time, said volume value being representative of the volume flowing through the volumeter per predetermined revolution angle of the spindle at the respective angular speed of the spindle; adding the volume values which have successively been selected for various time period measurements, and producing and preferably displaying a total volume value that is based on the sum obtained during the whole volume measurement by continuously adding the volume values.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring flow of a fluid flowing in a narrow channel. A sensor is provided, having an element sensitive to pressure, and an element sensitive to a selected chemical or physical property, both arranged at the distal end of a guide wire, for registering pressure values and values of said selected chemical or physical property. The sensor is located at a point of measurement in the narrow channel. A bolus of liquid having a property distinguishable from the selected property of the flowing fluid and detectable by the second sensitive element is injected into the fluid, and registered with said first sensitive element is a pressure pulse resulting from said injecting step. A point in time of the pulse is taken as a starting point for measuring elapsed time. Registered with the second sensitive element is the distinguishable property of the bolus in the fluid when the bolus in the fluid passes the second sensitive element.

Abstract: An ultrasonic multi-channel flow rate measuring system provides a single ultrasonic pulse emitting transducer mounted in a circular tube in which fluid flows at a tube cross section intermediate a short straight length of tubing extending upstream and downstream from the emitting transducer location at equal distances (d). A plurality of ultrasonic receiving transducer pairs are mounted respectively in tube cross sections at upstream and downstream ends of the length of tubing at different radial distances from the pulse emitting transducer, thereby defining a plurality of measurement channels within the tubing. The flow rate in the tube is then calculated as a function of the radial distances between the emitting transducer and the receiving transducers in the different measurement channels. Increased flow velocity accuracy is achieved by increasing the number of receiving transducers, thus defining more channels.

Abstract: In a respiratory air flow measuring monitor, a tubing connector for connecting lumen tubing to the analyzer module includes a connector housing for attaching the tubing connector to the analyzer module, and a female socket in the connector housing for receiving the lumen tubing therein. A light-emitting diode and corresponding light detector detects the presence of the lumen tubing within the female socket. A second pair of light emitters and diodes discriminates different types of respiratory air flow sensors attached to the analyzer module. The female socket is configured to receive multiple lumen tubes, and to maintain polarity by discriminating different diameters of the lumen tubes.

Abstract: Several force sensor assemblies are disposed within a vehicle seat to determine seat loading and assist in safety device activation. Each force sensor assembly has a sealed body filled with a liquid or a gel. A pressure transducer, together with a supporting integrated circuit, is positioned to respond to the pressure of the liquid or gel. Loads are applied to the pressure transducer through the gel by a piston riding within the body. Compressive loads are thereby transformed into a pressure on the sensor and its support electronics, resulting in a low cost, accurate, and durable sensor. The sensor functions well for relatively low loads of less than a few hundred pounds.

Abstract: A method for positioning a workpiece comprises the steps of providing a pedestal having a chamfered portion and a generally circular portion having a first diameter and providing a table having a hole therein and a chamfered portion, the hole having a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The inventive method further includes the steps of supporting the pedestal with the table, the chamfered portion of the table contacting the chamfered portion of the pedestal and placing the workpiece on the pedestal. Next, the chamfered portion of the pedestal is urged away from the table. Subsequent to the step of urging the chamfered portion of the pedestal away from the table, the pedestal is moved in at least one of X-, Y-, and theta directions while the generally circular portion of the pedestal extends into the hole in the table.

Abstract: A bottle inspection apparatus and method are disclosed in which an improved housing contains an imaging device which is focused at a target area through an unobstructed window opening formed in a wall of the housing. The housing includes a sleeve member which may be attached to the housing in the vicinity of the unobstructed window opening and which may be positioned in close proximity to the imaging device, thus creating a restricted air path between the sleeve member and the imaging device which restricts the flow of cooling air exiting the housing. The imaging device may be mounted on a slide mount system such that it is adjustably moveable toward and away from the sleeve in order to adjustably control the amount of air restriction imposed and, thus, adjustably control the rate at which cooling air exits the housing.

Abstract: An angled holder for mounting thereon a pickup coil for detecting rotational angles of a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine is composed of a base portion, a bent portion and a reinforcing portion connecting the both of the base and bent portions. The reinforcing portion serves to suppress an excessive stress imposed on a bending line along which the base and bent portions are bent due to high vibration of the engine. Accordingly, the angled holder having the reinforcing portion can withstand high vibration and its damage or breakage due to the engine vibration is prevented. Output signals from the pickup coil mounted on the angled holder are accurate and stable because the pickup coil is positioned accurately against the engine. The angled holder is made of a metal plate by a simple presswork at a low cost.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting an elongated sensor in a partition, which is defined by a pair of spaced apart parallel walls. The sensor is supported at a predetermined angle with a sensor end on one side of the partition and an output end on the other side of the partition. The support apparatus comprises an elongated container means adapted to extend through openings in the two spaced walls with open ends on either side of the partition. The container means is open at either end and is adapted to axially and radially support the sensor therein with the sensor end of the sensor extending into a region to be sensed on one side of the partition and the output end extending to the other side of the partition. A cap and seal arrangement is provided on the output end of the container to engage the elongated container and the output end of the sensor to thereby provide an air tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: A fixture 21 for mounting a sensor 20 on a fluid pressure cylinder is composed of a proximal end 21a that is attached to a tie rod 5 of the cylinder; and a tip portion 21b that abuts a cylinder tube to establish the position of the fixture 21. The proximal end 21a has a first mounting groove 22 in which the tie rod 5 is fitted; and first set screws 26 for fixing the fitted tie rod 5. A second mounting groove 23 in which the sensor 20 can be mounted in such a way that its position can be adjusted is formed in the tip portion 21b.

Abstract: A starter assembly for starting an engine is provided incorporating a mechanical diode in the drive train between the starter motor and the engine, including two coaxial plates with facing surfaces that are linked by pivoting members. The pivoting members are recessed into a facing surface of the first plate. They pivot outward under spring force from the facing surface of the first plate to engage slots in the facing surface of the second plate. This allows the first plate to drive the second plate, but also allows the second plate to overrun the first plate.

Abstract: A corresponding pair of male and female screw members includes alternately disposed rising and falling sloped surfaces on threads of the male and female screw members along a sliding direction of the threads. Depressions and projections are disposed continuously in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction. One of the depressions or one of the projections resides between each adjacent pair of the sloped surfaces. A lubricating oil is placed between the threads of the male and female screw parts. An incline angle of the sloped surfaces is selected appropriately to increase a wedging action of the sloped surfaces against the lubricating oil film which occurs when the male screw member is rotated with respect to the female screw member.

Abstract: A multi-speed transmission for bicycles, comprising: a housing including spaced, opposing face plates, each face plate having a pedal shaft opening and a secondary shaft opening; a pedal shaft rotatably disposed within said pedal shaft openings; a secondary shaft disposed within said secondary shaft openings, wherein the secondary shaft is spaced from the pedal shaft and substantially parallel thereto; and a pedal shaft set of gears mounted on the pedal shaft between the face plates, comprising: (1) a first set of pedal shaft gears mounted on the pedal shaft, (2) a second set of pedal shaft gears rotatably mounted on the pedal shaft, and (3) a third set of pedal shaft gears rotatably mounted on the pedal shaft including first means for selective driving engagement with the second set of pedal shaft gears, the third set of pedal shaft gears including a drive gear means.

Abstract: An angular transmission using magnetorheological fluid (MR fluid) to transmit movement between two (2) shafts not aligned on the same axis to each other to provide an infinite variable ratio instead of the fixed ratios present in known prior art gear driven angular transmissions by controlling the magnetic field applied to the magnetorheological fluid (MR fluid) through the use of one (1) or more electric coil(s) generating a magnetic field. In particular, the angular transmission using magnetorheological fluid (MR fluid) in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of conical shaped hollow heads, one connected to an input shaft and one connected to an output shaft, the input shaft, the output shaft and the conical shaped hollow heads being assembled inside of a housing where the input shaft and the output shaft are mounted at an angle to each other (i.e.

Abstract: In a gearing stage, a driving first wheel has a ferromagnetic profiled rib which is circumferential in one thread, whereas a second driven wheel has permanently magnetic profiled ribs which are disposed in a multi-start manner and which extend only over a fraction of the circumference and are opposite the ferromagnetic profiled rib with a small air gap. The driving wheel drives the driven wheel via a magnetic reluctance coupling.

Abstract: A ball screw unit comprising a screw having a helical ball rolling groove on the outer peripheral surface thereof, a nut assembly having a load zone formed of a helical load rolling groove opposing to the ball rolling groove of the screw and a no-load zone forming a ball endless track by establishing communication between the starting end and the terminating end of the load zone, a number of balls rolling within the endless track of the nut assembly and a ball coupler comprised of coupling members for retaining the balls to rotate in their aligned state, wherein guide grooves for guiding the coupling members of the ball coupler are formed in the load zone of the ball endless track such that the coupling members of the ball coupler are moved by each of the balls in the no-load zone of the endless track while each of the balls is guided to move by the coupling members of the ball coupler in the no-load zone of the endless track, and guide sections for guiding the ball coupling members of the ball coupler along

Abstract: A shifting device for an automatic transmission of a vehicle has a manual shift mode which permits a driver to manually change a speed ratio by displacing a shift lever in an upshift direction or a downshift direction in a manual operation lane from its neutral position. The shifting device is provided with a switch for detecting that the shift lever has moved to the manual operation lane, a switch for detecting that the shift lever has moved in the upshift direction from its neutral position, and a switch for detecting that the shift lever has moved in the downshift direction from its neutral position. All these three switches comprise a traveling contact and two contacts. The traveling contacts of the three switches are earthed, and the six contacts of the three switches are respectively connected to six input terminals of a control unit. Due to this, the control unit can determine a fault in any of the switches based on the signals input into the input terminals.

Abstract: A pedal arrangement for a motor vehicle having a bulkhead (10) which forms a barrier between an engine compartment (C) and a passenger compartment (H) for a driver and passengers. The pedal arrangement includes a transverse brace (32) which is rigid in bending, a mount (12) for a pedal (14) which is secured to the bulkhead (10) on the passenger compartment (H) side of the bulkhead (10) and at least one rigid force-transmission element (30). The pedal (14) has a lever (16) with a first end articulated to the pedal mount (12) and a second end with an operating shoe (18) attached thereto. The force-transmission element (30) has a first end (28) articulated to the transverse brace (32) and a second end (34) which extends between the pedal mount (12 and lever (16).

Abstract: In a motor vehicle operating pedal unit with a pedal lever pivotally mounted in a pedal housing and a return spring connected to the pedal lever which is pivotally supported by a bearing sleeve inserted into a bearing bore of the pedal housing, a pedal position sensor unit including a sensor housing having integrally formed therewith a slide cylinder is mounted onto the pedal housing such that the slide cylinder is received within the bearing sleeve. The slide cylinder includes a sensor shaft having an end extending into the sensor housing for cooperation with sensor components determining the angular position of the sensor shaft which is interconnected with the pedal lever for movement together with the pedal lever.

Abstract: A rotational vibration damper, especially for arrangement in a drive train of a motor vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine, comprises first and second damping components that are rotatable together as well as relative to each other around a common rotational axis. The first and second damping components are connected to each other for rotational force transmission by a coupling mass arrangement. The coupling mass arrangement is connected to the first damping component so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis that is offset substantially axis-parallel to the center of gravity of the coupling mass arrangement and to the rotational axis. The coupling mass arrangement has two contact surface regions arranged at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction relative to the pivot axis and face away from each other.

Abstract: A connecting structure between a bicycle pedal and a cleat, comprising hooks pivotably supported by a pedal body for engaging and releasing the cleat, and an urging device for urging the hooks toward engaging positions. The object is to allow the cleat to be released with increased reliability when, for example, the cyclist falls over with his shoe becoming obliquely inclined relative to the pedal. A first cam mechanism is provided between each of the hooks and the cleat for causing the hook to pivot in a releasing direction when the cleat is inclined about a first imaginary axis extending substantially along a direction of pivotal movement of the hooks. The first cam mechanism includes a first pressed edge defined on one of the hooks and opposed to the cleat, and a first pressing edge defined on the cleat and opposed to one of the hooks for slidable contact with the first pressed edge.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a drill bit or other drilling-related structure used for drilling into subterranean formations is herein disclosed where a blank is formed by placing a ferrous metal powder such as steel into a mold, sintering the ferrous metal powder to form a preformed blank, packing an abrasion- and erosion-resistant material such as tungsten carbide powder around the preformed blank, and infiltrating the preformed blank and tungsten carbide with a common binder such as a copperbased binder. For some materials, during sintering, the preformed blank may shrink in size relative to the mold enough to provide space between the mold and the preformed blank for a layer of abrasion- and erosion-resistant material. With other materials, a separate blank mold may be used to form the sintered blank which can then be inserted into the mold for infiltration.

Abstract: An electric bottle or jar lid opener which loosens threaded lids from jars or similar containers having screw-type lids. A base member supports a vertical support which supports a travel arm, which in turn supports an electric motor. The motor 38 is positioned over the base such that a bottle may be manually positioned below the motor, which is provided with a direct drive mechanism which transfers torque through a shaft to a gripping member affixed thereon. The gripping member, made of a non-slip material, such as rubber, is placed onto the lid of a bottle. The travel arm has height adjustment knobs allowing the user to position the opener on various sized bottles. The motor is controlled by a variable power button which torques the gripping member in turn loosening the lid.

Abstract: A combination wire stripper, which includes two pressure bars each having a fixed end pivoted to each other and a free end, two wire stripping cutter assemblies symmetrically provided at the free ends of the pressure bars for stripping the insulator of a two-line electric wire, and an elongated cutter blade fastened to one pressure bar and moved to act V-notches at the other pressure bar for stripping the insulator of electric wires of different diameters, the wire stripping cutter assemblies each having two symmetrical pairs of movable wire clamping plates respectively supported on a respective spring element, and forced by the respective spring element for holding down a two-line electric wire in position for stripping positively.

Abstract: Adjustable size saddle type single loop belt wrenches are disclosed which do not bite sharply at a corner or the like into the side of an object comprising a flexible, non-metallic belt, both ends of which are free, but one end being equipped with a clasp-engaging stop. At least two ends of the belt pass in substantially parallel relation through the clasp which is also eyesight, in conjunction with a turning tool, to bias the belt circularly around an object to be turned. The rotation of the clasp with the tool is along an axis generally parallel to but offset from the axis of the object. Only a small angle of rotation is required whereby the stop engages the clasp and a flat or continuous surface of the clasp imposes a distributed load across the belt onto the object to be turned.

Abstract: A wrench is provided including a handle and at least one end extent coupled to an end of the handle. The end extent includes a cut out defining an inner periphery formed of an inboard portion with a smooth substantially arcuate configuration with a predetermined diameter. The inner periphery of the end extent has an engagement outboard portion defined by a pair of linear parallel edges spaced a predetermined distance less than the predetermined diameter.

Abstract: A tool is provided for removing and replacing an engine mount in a vehicle that can fit between an air conditioning compressor and the upstanding stud on the engine mount to unscrew the nut on the stud and remove and replace the engine mount without removing other components from the vehicle. The tool has an elongate shaft with a transverse handle at one end and a transverse member at the other end fitted with a thin twelve point closed box end wrench head.

Abstract: An adjustable wrench including a fixed jaw, a movable jaw, a gear, an engaging block, a switch button and a grip. When tightening or untightening a nut with the adjustable wrench, it is unnecessary to repeatedly draw up the wrench and fit the wrench onto the nut. The nut can be continuously rotated. In addition, the switch button can be switched to change the rotational direction without reversing the adjustable wrench so as to facilitate operation and increase working efficiency.

Abstract: An adjustable wrench includes a handle having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw disposed on one end and having a shank extended from the fixed jaw and a beam extended from the shank. The shank and the beam each includes one or more weight reducing depressions or apertures or orifices or notches. A sleeve is engaged on the beam and includes one or more studs and projections engaged into the orifices and notches of the beam for allowing the sleeve to be solidly secured to the beam. The beam includes a tapered structure for further securing the sleeve to the beam.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench having an open end (18) defined by front (20) and rear (22) jaws, in relation to a driving direction. The jaws are linked by an intermediate arcuate web (24). Each jaw includes an engagement surface (30, 36) for engaging the front half of a front surface (32) and a rear surface (38), respectively, of the head of a part to be turned. A projection (42) is provided on the arcuate web for engaging a bearing point (43) on an intermediate head surface (44) located immediately ahead of the rear surface (38) when no torque is applied and over the full range of applied torques. The bearing point (43) of the projection (42) is located in the front half of the intermediate surface (44). The entire arcuate web (24) is spaced apart from the head (28), except at the bearing point (43), when torque is applied as well as when no torque is applied.

Abstract: A screwdriver for driving collated screws including a slide body coupled to a housing for reciprocal displacement in a cycle including a retraction stroke and an extension stroke. A lever pivotably mounted to the slide body carries at one end a cam pin received in a cam slot in the housing with the other end of the lever advancing successive screws in the screwstrip, the cam slot having first and second camming surfaces for selective engagement by the cam pin to vary the relative positioning of the lever to be different for the same position if the slide body in the housing in the retraction strokes than in the extension stroke.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a screwdriver in which a shaft lever with polygon socket is inserted into the central hole of the screwdriver handgrip so that a turning shaft to facilitate force application is plugged from the rear end of the handgrip into the socket in order to perform a rapid rotation of the shaft lever; the other end of the shaft lever can be connected to a extension shaft to be in a coupled state while an application shaft for screwdriver head can be plugged into the inner hole of the extension shaft, and the screwdriver head is inserted into the socket of the application end of the application shaft to perform screwing, wherein the application shaft for screwdriver head can be designed to be section-type, and the application shaft can be stretched inside of the connection inner hole of the extension shaft and shaft lever by means of an engaging member fitted to the outer circumference of the extension shaft so that the exposing length is adjustable; in addition, a freely turning slee

Abstract: A multi-purpose blind cut-down apparatus for cutting a blind having a head rail and closure elements. The cut-down apparatus has a blind holding plate with a blind component opening and a closure element opening for holding the head rail and closure elements in position for cutting. The cut-down apparatus uses a closure element cutting bar moveable relative to the holding plate for cutting the closure elements extending through the holding plate. The cutting bar has an die opening for receiving a cutting die on a cutting die plate. The die opening and cutting die receive the head rail of the blind and cooperate to cut the head rail by moving the cutting die plate relative to the holding plate. The cutting bar moves in a linear path while the die plate moves in an arcuate path, both the cutting bar and die plate are moved by a transmission element moveable relative to the holding plate.

Abstract: Previous methods of bucksawing logs slow the throughput of a sawmill in that the conveyor line is stopped while a given log is bucksawed to length. The present invention provides an apparatus for bucksawing a log which improves the throughput speed by a) advancing the log endwise along an infeed conveyor; b) raising the log above the level of said infeed conveyor while advancing the log; c) measuring the advance of the log while raised; d) stopping the log at the desired length; e) sawing the log to produce a forward log segment; and f) advancing the forward log segment onto an outfeed conveyor while advancing the remaining log segments.

Abstract: A cutter assembly which traverses across a media path to make a linear cut on the media includes a pair of cooperative rotary cutting blades. An upper rotary blade is mounted for passive rotation while a lower rotary blade is directly coupled to a lower drive wheel which engages the undersurface of a media guide member. The blades are slightly overlapping at their peripheral edges, with the lower blade in a fixed position, and the upper blade spring biased in an axial direction against the lower blade. An additional media-contacting wheel is mounted on the cutter assembly to be substantially vertically aligned with the lower drive wheel, and is spring biased downwardly toward the uppersurface of the media guide member in order to assure constant rotational engagement of the lower drive wheel with the media guide member during cutting.

Abstract: A paper punch has an inner punch and an outer punch movably received with respect to each other. The outer punch has a first contour punch so as to be able to punch a hole in a piece of paper with the same contour as that of the first contour punch, and the inner punch has a second contour punch so as to punch a small hole in a piece of paper with the same contour as that of the second contour punch. Because the second contour punch moves first and the first and the second contour punches are placed concentrically, a piece of paper is then able to be punched twice by the first and the second contour punches to have an attractive shape.

Abstract: A cutter rotatably drivable about a rotational axis for cutting articles including printed products and lengths of flexible materials including paper, plastic, fabric, leather, and metal, includes a drive shaft; a circular knife holder which has a hub, which is removably connected to the drive shaft, and which has defined therein a plurality of guide grooves having a dovetail shape; a plurality of knives which are adjustably positioned within respective guide grooves, which are distributed across the circular knife holder, which have a clamping cross section that is movable within the guide grooves and is locked in place, which project beyond the circumference of the circular knife holder, and which have respective knife ends projecting beyond the circumference of the knife holder and forming a cutting plane that is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the cutter; and a clamping arrangement which extends conically from the hub to the circumference of the circular knife holder, which includes a clamping pla

Abstract: A porous barrel, projectile passageway, or tube as a type of supersonic nozzle for projectile propulsion therein and method for optimizing projectile velocity therethrough. The porous barrel features a barrel wall containing holes, passageways, or otherwise porous material through the barrel wall that allows gas, fluid, or other matter to exit or move in a direction away from the barrel interior. The flow of gas, fluid, or other matter away from the barrel interior allows gas within the barrel to expand in a direction transverse to the projectile path. The amount of transverse expansion of the gas in the barrel interior can be controlled by the porosity of the barrel wall to cause any desired amount of gas expansion. Transverse expansion allows axial gas velocities within the barrel to exceed the local speed of sound as if the gas had passed through a converging diverging nozzle.

Abstract: A brake booster which permits an axial relative movement between a power piston and a valve body is disclosed. An arrangement is made which prevents a brake reaction from being transmitted to a brake pedal. As an alternative therefor, pseudo-reaction imparting means transmits a pseudo-reaction to a brake pedal. A rear end of the valve body is covered by a tubular cover and bellows connected thereto, and its internal space is maintained in communication with a constant pressure chamber. The bellows has an effective diameter which is chosen to be of an equal size to the diameters of a vacuum valve seat and an atmosphere valve seat. This allows a pseudo-reaction and a brake pedal stroke to be obtained which depend on the force with which a brake pedal is depressed if a negative pressure within the constant pressure chamber varies, thus imparting a better brake feeling to a driver.

Abstract: The straightness of the piston of a water jet loom plunger pump for discharging water under a high pressure is maintained to allow its smooth movement with respect to the cylinder. For this, a roller guide is arranged at a reciprocal piston actuating mechanism unit. By forming a bent tube at a water discharging passage from the cylinder to a conduit, moreover, the resistance to the water to be discharged from the cylinder is reduced. The piston is given a degree of freedom to move with respect to a drive member connected to a pump cam and a lever. This enables the piston to move with the least resistance in the cylinder.

Abstract: A piston (3) for a hydraulic dashpot for motor vehicles, mounted on one end of a piston rod (1) and dividing a cylinder (5) into a two compartments (6 & 7), with two groups of lines (8 & 9) arranged more or less in concentric circles and more or less paralleling the piston rod and conveying hydraulic fluid in opposite directions, and with disk-shaped check valves, to some extent in the form of stacks (15 & 26) of cup springs, at each end that block one group of lines in one direction at a time, whereby the valve that blocks the inner lines (8) comprises either two separated springs (11), one above the other, or a stack (15) of springs, whereby the springs or stack nearer the outlet (10) from the inner lines maintain or maintains one cross-section open for the fluid to flow through, and whereby, when the pressure of the fluid increases, the spring or stack at the other end opens another cross-section for the fluid to flow through and the valve that blocks the outer lines opens intakes into the inner lines.

Abstract: A machine that is set up with the required potatoes, milk, butter and other seasonings for mashed potatoes and that when turned on proceeds to boil the potatoes, add the flavoring ingredients and whip the potatoes to a degree set by the user.

Abstract: A household electric flat bread making appliance has a heated lower pressure plate fixed to a frame, an upwardly biased upper heated pressure plate pivotally mounted on the frame, and a heated skillet mounted on the frame in general vertical alignment with the pressure plates. A handle is connected to the upper pressure plate to enable the upper pressure plate to be manually pivoted downwardly toward the lower pressure plate to flatten a mass of dough between the two pressure plates.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for cooking food. There is a plastic housing with air flow holes, heating elements, a metal conductive pan with additional holes to allow airflow to enter the cooking chamber, a cylindrical riser, and a lid.

Abstract: A temperature sensing device for a food storage container accurately detects the internal temperature of a storage chamber to achieve an accurate on/off control for heating and cooling cycles by minimizing a temperature fluctuation existing in the storage chamber. The temperature sensing device includes a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the storage chamber and generate an electrical signal representative of the sensed temperature; a control unit, having a microprocessor, to control the cooling system based on the electrical signal generated by the temperature sensor; and a metallic fixing bracket for fixing the temperature sensor to the inner liner at a position near an inlet portion of an evaporator receiving a cooled refrigerant from a condenser, such that the temperature sensor is in close contact with the outer surface of an inner liner of the storage chamber, to establish a thermally conductive path between the inner liner and the temperature sensor.