Abstract: A large capacity, self-propelled walk-behind power tool, such as a lawn mower, employs gear-operated transmissions for independently driving each drive wheel. Control handles are connected to idler pulley levers and brake levers to control the movement of the driving wheels. A constant input rate to the control handles results in a variable output rate to the idler pulley levers and the brake levers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a riding lawn mower comprising: two pairs of ground engaging wheels 2, 2 and 3, 3 disposed at front and rear portions of a vehicle frame 5; a cutter blade 9 supported by the vehicle frame 5; a drive source 7 mounted on the vehicle frame 5 and having an output shaft 8 extending downwardly; a transmission 20 including i) a casing 21; ii) an input shaft 22 substantially vertically supported by the casing 21, and iii) a pair of axles 4, 4 extending substantially horizontally in opposite directions, the pair of axles supporting each one of the two pairs of ground engaging wheels, the transmission 20 being arranged below the drive source 7 and having the input shaft 22 coupled substantially coaxially with the output shaft 8 of the drive source 7 non-rotatably relative thereto; and power transmitting members 10 and 11 for the cutter blade 9, the power transmitting members 10 and 11 being provided to rotate with the output shaft 8.

Abstract: A ground clearing machine including a mobile frame supporting a perforated drum positioned to receive debris upon forward movement of the frame. An internal driven shaft pivotally mounts flails and flexible blades alternating with the flails. The combined action of the flails and blades pulverizes the debris for rearward discharge through the drum perforations.

Abstract: A coupling system for a lawn maintenance machine having at least one cutting unit comprises a pivoting device for pivoting the cutting unit around a pivot axis parallel to a traveling direction and substantially coincidental with a point of contact between the cutting unit and a surface upon which the cutting unit is supported; and, a yoke attached to the pivoting device, the yoke configured for attachment to a motive unit.

Abstract: A picking finger assembly is insertable into and withdrawable from a canopy of a fruit tree during a mechanical harvesting. The picking finger assembly provides for, during the withdrawal, a gathering of fruit growing upon the fruit tree where a picking pressure may be applied during to sever the fruit from the tree. A finger extending from an arm producing this gathering and application of the picking pressure to the fruit. The finger is displaceable relative to the arm in response to engagement of an obstruction, such as a large branch. This displacement provides for an initial relatively strong resistance to displacement, then a significantly lesser resistance. In one embodiment a transfer shaft moves within a transfer channel to provide for this dual resistance pressure feature. An angular change in the transfer channel provides for immediate transfer of transfer shaft within transfer channel once such transfer commences.

Abstract: A large round baler bale-forming belt drive roll has cylindrical sections at its opposite ends which extend through circular holes provided in the opposite side walls of the baling chamber. The cylindrical sections are smaller in diameter than the circular holes, thus leaving clearance gaps between the cylindrical sections and the boundaries of the holes. A pair of wipers, in the form of rod or wire stock, are welded at diametrical opposite locations on the cylindrical sections and are located in the adjacent clearance gap. The wipers are angled relative to the axis of rotation of the roll so that as the roll rotates the wipers sweep through the gaps and cause any crop material engaged there to be moved inwardly from the adjacent bale chamber side wall.

Abstract: A round baler for forming crop material into cylindrical bales. The baler has a main frame, a pair of side walls, a crop pickup mounted on the main frame, and a tailgate pivotally connected to the main frame. The tailgate is operative between a closed position during which a bale is being formed in an expandable chamber, and an open position during which a formed bale is being discharged from the chamber. A sledge assembly, pivotally mounted on the main frame for movement between a bale starting position and a full bale position, has crop engaging transverse rollers for urging the crop material along a spiral path in the chamber for starting and forming a bale. A apron is supported along a continuous path on the main frame and tailgate by a plurality of rotatable guide members. The path has an inner course that cooperates with the sledge rolls on the sledge assembly to define moveable walls of the chamber. A drive roll moves the apron along the continuous path.

Abstract: This invention relates to a new cable-twisting process for making yarns suitable for use in carpets. The process involves cable-twisting together two component yarns. At least one of the component yarns comprises two singles yarns co-twisted but not cabled together. The singles yarns may be differentially colored to provide the resulting multi-colored cable-twisted yarn with good color separation and vividness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high strength steel cord(1) for pneumatic tires, which is produced by the process of drawing high strength carbon steel with carbon content of 0.91.about.2.0% by weight, plating brass on the surface of the carbon steel so that it adheres to the rubber and repeating the drawing and stranding of said carbon steel. In particular, as the steel cord is composed of a filament of two strips, the steel cord according to the present invention is of a higher strength than conventional steel cord, and therefore when it is applied to a tire, the amount of steel cord and rubber topping used can be reduced, thereby resulting in a lighter weight tire, cost savings and lower fuel consumption rate.

Abstract: In a personal adornment band comprising a plurality of links (2) each having a pair of legs (4a, 4b), a recess (5) formed between the legs, and a projection (6) formed on the other side of the recess, the projection of each link being inserted in the recess of the adjacent link, and a connecting pin (3) being inserted into holes formed in the connecting legs and the projection of the links for connecting the links, each of the links (2) has a pin locking cylinder (7) fixed in one of the holes thereof, the connecting pin (3) has a manipulating portion (14a) slidable in the axial direction thereof, a radially projecting engaging lug (17) formed on the manipulating portion, and a spring for outwardly urging the manipulating portion, the pin locking cylinder (7) having a guide surface (21) formed at the connecting pin inserting end, a guide groove (22) axially extending from the guide surface, an engaging hole (23) formed at the inner end of the guide groove in the circumferential direction, and a stopper lug (24

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for providing a closed-loop air cooling system for a turbine engine. The method and apparatus provide for bleeding pressurized air from a gas turbine engine compressor for use in cooling the turbine components. The compressed air is cascaded through the various stages of the turbine. At each stage a portion of the compressed air is returned to the compressor where useful work is recovered.

Abstract: Internal combustion engines produce a number of emissions including oxides of nitrogen, NOx. One manner of reducing NOx production used in gas turbine engines is through the use of catalytic reactors. Catalytic reactors reduce the ignition temperatures required for complete combustion of a fuel air mixture. However, high temperatures present in catalytic reactors cause sintering of the substrate, vaporization of the catalyst, and sintering of catalyst and metal substrate. The present invention is directed at controlling the temperature of a catalytic reactor in an internal combustion engine. An exothermic catalyst coats a first side of a substrate in the catalytic reactor. An endothermic catalyst coats a second side of the substrate.

Abstract: Many government entities regulated emission from gas turbine engines including CO. CO production is generally reduced when CO reacts with excess oxygen at elevated temperatures to form CO2. Many manufactures use film cooling of a combustor liner adjacent to a combustion zone to increase durability of the combustion liner. Film cooling quenches reactions of CO with excess oxygen to form CO2. Cooling the combustor liner on a cold side (backside) away from the combustion zone reduces quenching. Furthermore, placing a plurality of concavities on the cold side enhances the cooling of the combustor liner. Concavities result in very little pressure reduction such that air used to cool the combustor liner may also be used in the combustion zone. An expandable combustor housing maintains a predetermined distance between the combustor housing and combustor liner.

Abstract: In a hydrogen combustion turbine plant employing a topping bleed cycle, a low temperature hydrogen combustion turbine bleeds part of exhaust from a third turbine to cool a first turbine, thereby achieving a high efficiency in a desired temperature range while curtailing a cost increase without involving the addition of accessory instruments.

Abstract: A ducted fan gas turbine has a fan shaft which is supported at its upstream end by a bearing. In the event of damage to the engine's fan, frangible bolts fracture to permit radial movement of the shaft. That movement is limited by the sequential engagement of the outer race of the bearing with first and second movement limiting portions on fixed structure of the engine. This alters the natural frequency of vibration of the fan, so permitting the fan to windmill without excessive vibration.

Abstract: Divergent petal for a gas turbine engine nozzle. This petal (2) is articulated in its front edge to a convergent petal (1), by means of a cylindrical joint (4) while its back surface is articulated at an intermediate point to a compression bar (5) by means of the cylindrical joint (6), the cylindrical joints (4 and 6) being perpendicular to the engine axis.Petal (2) is composed of a traction bar (11) and a aerodynamic base plate (10) which forms the nozzle duct, both components being related one to the other by a front joint (13-16) which coincides with cylindrical joint (4) between convergent (1) and divergent (2) petals, and a rear joint (14-18) which coincides with with joint (6) between divergent petal (2) and compression bar (5), with said rear joint (14-18) being displaceable a certain distance in a direction functionally parallel to the base plate (10).

Abstract: An afterburn device for a turbojet engine comprises a flame arrester formed by a plurality of radial arms distributed evenly around the rotational axis of the engine at the upstream end of the afterburn chamber. Each arm consists of a fixed rear part, and a front part which is separable from the rear part in a circumferential direction along a median joint plane, the front parts being carried on a ring which is rotatably mounted on the outer casing of the engine. Drive means is provided for rotating the ring between a first position for dry operation, and a second position for afterburn operation. In the first position the front and rear parts of the arms are aligned and joined to provide the arms with a streamlined, low-drag, zero angle of incidence profile suitable for dry operation.

Abstract: An Infra-Red suppression device composed of systems designed to alter the infra-red spectrum bands produced by the exhaust plume and airframe friction in order to render infra-red seekers, both active and passive, and infra-red homing missiles ineffective, therefore substantially increasing air-craft and crew survivability, and the BET or battle extension time.

Abstract: An improved pressure-compensated hydraulic system includes a separate valve section which feeds hydraulic fluid from a variable displacement pump to one of several hydraulic actuators. Each valve section has a main valve spool and a pressure compensating poppet. The main valve spool has a metering orifice that controls the flow of fluid to the actuator. The poppets in the valve sections collectively apply a pressure to the pump pressure control input which is a function of the greatest to a load pressure among the hydraulic actuators.

Abstract: An engine is provided including a heat exchanger capable of providing a first temperature and a second temperature, wherein the first temperature and the second temperature are different so as to define a temperature differential. A component of the engine includes a chamber with liquid/vapor therein. In use, the heat exchanger is capable of subjecting the chamber to the first temperature source and the second temperature source in a reciprocating manner for affording a change in pressure which may be harnessed as work output.

Abstract: A tube-line pressure sensor of a medical-appliance driving apparatus detects the interior pressure of a tube line. If the pressure detected by a tube-line pressure sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a first solenoid valve is closed, while a second solenoid valve is opened, whereby a gas is supplied from a secondary gas tank to the tube line. The amount of gas supplied to the tube line is calculated based on a pressure change in the tank detected by a tank pressure sensor. In actual use, natural gas leakage during normal operation can be clearly distinguished from abnormal gas leakage due to an accident. The interior pressure of the tube line is detected at a time when the balloon is about to inflate from the deflated state, and a gas supply system supplies the driving gas to the tube line so that the detected pressure becomes a preset pressure value. A controller can change the preset pressure value.

Abstract: A premix burner for a gas turbine engine having a pair of partial conical bodies stacked inside each other to form a conical interior chamber is disclosed. The conical bodies are offset laterally to form tangential air flow openings. The width of the openings is varied in a prescribed manner to induce rotational disorder.

Abstract: A premixing, tangential entry fuel injector (10) for a gas turbine engine features a secondary fuel-air injection insert (40) positively secured to a centerbody shell (38) by a braze joint (98). A secondary fuel supply tube (42), positively secured to both a centerbody base (36) and to the insert (40), is curved in at least two dimensions. In an exemplary embodiment, the tube is coiled into a spiral shape covering a single 360.degree. cycle. During engine operation, the centerbody expands axially in response to elevated temperatures in the engine's interior, causing the insert (40) to be displaced away from the base (36). The curvature of the tube allows the tube to flex slightly to accommodate the displacement. Ideally the curvature of the tube is such that the tube's natural frequency is well above the maximum vibratory frequency that the tube will experience during engine operation.

Abstract: A system for regulating reticle temperature is provided. The system includes a reticle for use in a lithographic process and a chuck assembly for supporting the reticle. The chuck assembly includes: a backplate having front and back surfaces, the front surface engaging with a backside of the reticle; and a thermoelectric cooling system operatively coupled to the backplate for regulating temperature of at least a portion of the reticle via heat conduction through the backplate. The chuck assembly also includes a temperature sensing system coupled to the backplate for sensing temperature of at least a portion of the reticle via heat conduction through the backplate; and a heat sink operatively coupled to the thermoelectric cooling system. A voltage driver operatively is coupled to the thermoelectric cooling system, the voltage driver provides a bias voltage to drive the thermoelectric cooling system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for regulating, for example, the temperature of high temperature superconducting (HTSC) thin film filters. A multi-stage temperature controller comprises a first loop and a second loop. The first loop is used to regulate the cold finger temperature of, for example, a Stirling cycle cryocooler, and the second loop is used to set a reference for the first loop based upon a comparison between a reference signal and a signal received from a cold stage temperature sensor. A filter loop also may be used to regulate the temperature of independent HTSC thin film filter carrier packages.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a frozen product or a freeze-dried product therefrom of, in particular, a material susceptible to denaturing due to existing enzymes, oxygen and heat, such as living organisms, organic compounds, vegetables, foods, fruits, drugs, biological samples, fodders and industrial raw materials while preserving the original qualities and properties, by recourse to a technique including the steps of mixing and crushing the material to be processed together with dry ice to thereby attain freezing of the material while replacing of the surrounding atmosphere by the thereby liberated carbon dioxide gas.

Abstract: A retractable type temperature control panel apparatus for a refrigerator capable of advantageously preventing malfunctions thereof caused by inadvertent contact with a temperature control section thereof, which includes, in a freezer compartment door of a refrigerator, having a curved and elongated rear wall and having a pair of end walls; a downwardly and forwardly opened rotation guide member engaged to the recess and having a curved and elongated rear wall and a pair of end walls each having hinge openings therein; a triangular section rotation member rotatably engaged to the rotation guide member by a pair of hinge pin protrusions formed on each end thereof and having a front surface, a bottom surface and a rear surface; and a temperature control switch plate engaged to a temperature control switch groove formed on the front surface of the rotation member and having a plurality of temperature control switches carried thereon.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining whether leaks are present in a discharge check valve of a refrigeration system. The method includes steps of establishing a pressure difference between a high pressure side and a low pressure side of the refrigeration system, temporarily stopping compression of a refrigerant, allowing the refrigerant to flow to the low-pressure sides, and then determining the discharge pressure changes with time.

Abstract: In an air conditioning system in which outdoor units and indoor units of plural air conditioning units are connected to one another through a single bus line, when signals of at least two air conditioners are output onto the bus line substantially at the same output timing, the signal output timing of at least one air conditioner is changed by timing changing means so that the output timings of the signals of the air conditioners are different from one another. Further, each of the outdoor units of the air conditioners is provided with operation data recording means for recording the operation data of the outdoor unit, operation data output means for outputting the operation data of a desired outdoor unit, and operation data transmitting means for transmitting the operation data recorded in the operation data recording means to another outdoor unit through the bus line.

Abstract: A ventilation system for an absorption refrigerator having a condenser and an absorber and located in a slide-out room of a recreational vehicle. The ventilation system includes a generally vertical air passage in which the condenser and the absorber are located, a lower vent for the intake of ambient air into the air passage, an upper vent for exhausting heated air from the air passage, and an air assist system for forcing air flow through the air passage only when the temperature of the ambient air is too high for an efficient natural draft. Both the lower and upper vents are in the side wall of the slide-out room.

Abstract: An air conditioner which includes an evaporator module and a condenser module. The evaporator and condenser modules are adapted to be mounted into a structural base pan for supporting both modules when used as a room air conditioner. Refrigerant tubing and appropriate electrical wiring interconnect the units in such application. The evaporator module and condenser module may also be installed in a split air conditioner application wherein the condensing module is located outdoors and the evaporator module is mounted on an inside wall of the room to be conditioned. The evaporator module is adapted to be mounted in a reversed, top to bottom, orientation when used in the split application.

Abstract: A heat pump housing made from plastic is disclosed herein. The housing is preferably two-piece including a wall plate and a shell. The wall plate may be secured to conventional wall studs and provides outside air intake and exhaust openings. The wall plate additionally provides supports for the temporary support of the shell while the shell is being secured to the wall plate. The shell includes chambers for conditioned and unconditioned air, a removable drain shelf separating the two; and shelves for support of the compressor, blowers and other conventional heat pump features.

Abstract: A beverage chiller which chills the liquid through the desorption of gas from an adsorbent within a vessel, wherein the chiller comprises a plurality of heat transfer elements, formed of thermally-conductive material and in direct thermal contact with the adsorbent and adapted to transfer heat between the vessel walls and the adsorbent therein, and wherein the elements are configured so as to cooperate in use in order to conduct desorbed gas from the adsorbent to the vessel walls and thence along the vessel walls prior to its exit from the vessel. The chiller provides more effective heat transfer and fully utilizes the chilling capacity of the desorbed gas by channeling it to and along the vessel walls.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling at least one fluid includes at least one fluid system comprising at least one fluid line, and a metallic unit. The fluid system is arranged in the shape of a concavely depressed coil with a top and a bottom. At the bottom of the coil an opening is defined. The metallic unit incorporates the at least one fluid system. The metallic unit has an upper surface in which is defined a concave depression, and the concave depression has defined therein a drain which extends through the metallic unit. The concave depression of the metallic unit is aligned with the concavely depressed coil, and the drain defined in the metallic unit passes through the opening at the bottom of the at least one fluid system.

Abstract: In constituting an air conditioner case by bonding a first case member having a cooling air intake chamber and a second case member that is not provided with a cooling air intake chamber, the cooling air intake chamber is formed in a direction that is perpendicular to an air intake port and a blower mounting hole, opening via an opening portion. A mounting plate provided with a regulator is mounted at the opening portion. Thus, since a partitioning wall and barrier walls defining the periphery of the cooling air intake chamber can be formed at the same time as the formation of the case main body of the first case member, it is not necessary to further divide the first case member.

Abstract: An absorption chiller that uses an aqueous salt solution as an absorbent and water as a refrigerant, the absorption chiller including an evaporator that allows the water to trickle or flow downward onto the outer surface of a heat exchanger tube installed horizontally or approximately horizontally, an absorber that allows the aqueous salt solution to trickle or flow downward onto the outer surface of a heat exchanger tube installed horizontally or approximately horizontally, and a condenser that allows the water to be supplied onto the outer surface of a heat exchanger tube installed horizontally or approximately horizontally. At least one of the heat exchanger tubes is provided, on the inner surface thereof, with protruded threads formed in a spiral fashion. A plurality of rows of projections of a height of 0.2 to 0.4 mm with flat portions on the top is provided on the outer surface of the tube successively at a pitch of 0.4 to 0.8 mm between projections.

Abstract: A liquid injection type scroll compressor is used to a refrigerating apparatus using hydrocarbon fluoride refrigerant which does not contain chlorine (HFC-125/HFC-143a/HFC-134a) as an operating fluid and an amount of an injected liquid is controlled according to a discharge temperature of the compressor. Further, ester oil and/or ether oil is used as refrigerator oil and a dryer is disposed in a refrigerating cycle. With this arrangement, a refrigerating cycle operation can be stably realized in a wide range without almost changing the arrangement of a conventional refrigerating apparatus.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a single motor drives both oil and refrigerant pumps in a refrigeration chiller, the motor and oil pump being disposed in the chiller's oil supply tank and the refrigerant pump being disposed exterior thereof. The refrigerant pump pumps liquid refrigerant to the chiller's compressor section so as to cool the motor by which the compressor is driven while the oil pump pumps oil to chiller locations that require lubrication when the chiller is in operation. A uniquely designed impeller permits low pressure liquid refrigerant in its liquid state to be reliably pumped to a location of use, without significant flashing, from a source location which is at a height only a short distance above the pump inlet. A stand alone refrigerant pump embodiment is also described.

Abstract: A method which enables the sulphur and/or hydrogen contained in a low quantity in hydrogen sulphide to be prepared:1) the H.sub.2 S is oxidized at a temperature and for a duration selected to obtain full oxidation of the H.sub.2 S into SO.sub.2 and at least two products are obtained at the end of this step: SO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O,2) The two products SO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O obtained at the end of step 1) are separated,3) the isotope of the sulphur contained in the sulphur dioxide obtained during step 2) is measured and/or4) the H.sub.2 O obtained during step 2) is brought into contact with an agent capable of reducing the water to hydrogen form and5) the isotope of the hydrogen is measured.

Abstract: A process and plant for the combined production of carbon monoxide and an ammonia synthesis from a feed gas mixture containing essentially hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other constituents including methane. The process comprises subjecting the feed gas mixture at high pressure to partial condensation through a heat exchanger followed by separation to produce an impure hydrogen flow and a condensed fraction rich in carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide is cryogenically purified from the condensed fraction by separation and removal of dissolved hydrogen. The hydrogen is sent to a washing column, and is then cryogenically purified by washing with nitrogen in the washing column while drawing off a liquid fraction rich in carbon monoxide at the base of the washing column. An ammonia synthesis mixture is produced by adding a nitrogen supplement taken from a high-pressure nitrogen stream, and from the hydrogen flow produced at the head of the washing column.

Abstract: A process for separation of gases into two components of different boiling points, for example in the separation of ethane from natural gas, comprises a first separation tower V1 and a second separation tower V2. Liquid in stream 5 from a bottom of the first tower is expanded and cooled and is then communicated in stream 6 to the second tower at a lower pressure. Gas from the second tower is communicated back to the first tower so that the first component in stream 10 is extracted from the top of the first tower and the second component in stream 11 is extracted from the bottom of the second tower. A third tower V3 acts as a recycle fractionator upon the gas in stream 7 extracted from the top of the second tower with that gas being compressed into the third tower which is at high pressure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for forming glass article from sheet glass. More specifically the apparatus comprises a mold, a plunger being cooperative alignment with the mold, wherein the mold and the plunger form a cavity exhibiting the shaped of the glass article, an outer trimmer for separating the glass article from the surrounding excess sheet glass, and an inner trimmer for forming the aperture in the glass article, and the method involves forming the aperture during the hot-forming process, therefore eliminating a post-formation step.

Abstract: A neck ring arm assembly for a glass container forming machine of the individual section type comprising a horizontally extending invert shaft and a vertically extending cylinder with a rack that engages a spur gear attached to the invert shaft to oscillate the invert shaft. The invert shaft has an inner annular sleeve keyed to it, and the inner annular sleeve has a polygonal exterior, preferably a hexagonal exterior. First and second outer annular sleeves surround the inner annular sleeve to be oscillatable therewith, but reciprocable with respect thereto. Each of the first and second outer annular sleeves has a polygonal interior which is complementary to the polygonal exterior of the inner annular sleeve, and each is provided with a plurality of replaceable wear pads each of which is adjustable toward a surface of the polygonal exterior of the inner annular sleeve to provide for close, low backlash engagement of the inner annular sleeve by the outer annular sleeves over a prolonged duration.

Abstract: A glass blank is sent to a heating zone where it is softened region by region and drawn continuously in a controlled manner as a drawing bulb is formed. Estimates of at least one controlled variable are predicted free of dead time; in addition, at least one geometric variable of the component which can be correlated with the controlled variable is measured continuously, and the measurement values thus obtained are used to adjust the predicted estimates. On the basis of the predicted estimates thus adjusted, the nominal-actual deviation of the controlled variable is determined and converted to a change in a controlling variable. To ensure the production of a component with especially high dimensional accuracy, a geometric variable is measured at a first measurement site in the area of the drawing bulb for the prediction of the estimate, and the temperature of the drawing bulb be measured and used as a controlled variable.

Abstract: In the method of drawing fiber continuously from preforms for manufacturing an optical fiber, a first preform is displaced along a fiber-drawing axis and is drawn into an optical fiber through a fiber-drawing furnace disposed on the fiber-drawing axis, and a second preform is displaced along the fiber-drawing axis, which second preform is butt welded to the first preform so as to be drawn into an optical fiber following on from the first fiber. The two preforms are butt welded, i.e. they are welded together end-to-end, by displacing at least one power laser along the fiber-drawing axis, and by servo-controlling the displacement of said laser to the displacement of the two preforms so as to maintain a laser beam emitted by the power laser at the same height as the two ends to be welded together, thereby making it possible to reduce considerably the size of the zone affected by the welding, and to avoid polluting the side surfaces of the two preforms upstream and downstream from the weld.

Abstract: A wash tank adapted for use with a carbon dioxide cleaning medium has a body member having a front opening formed therein, the body member having side walls and a back wall opposite the front opening. The side walls terminate in a front body member edge portion that defines the front opening. The edge portion serves in the sealing mechanism, as discussed below. A substantially cylindrical basket is disposed within the body member for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. The basket has a front opening formed therein, and has a side wall and a back wall opposite the front opening. The basket side wall terminates in a front basket edge portion defining the basket front opening. The said basket edge portion is spaced forward from the body member edge portion when the basket is positioned in the body member, serving to prevent loose garments or materials placed within the basket from becoming caught in the seal and interfering with seal integrity.

Abstract: A manual shift lever locking structure including a knob moveable up and down relative to an axle of the shift lever; a lock in the knob for locking and fixing the knob and the axle of the shift lever relative to each other; and a restraining element provided under the knob for restraining the lower end of the knob wherein the axle of the shift lever are restrained from movement.

Abstract: The invention concerns a closure with a closure cylinder whose cylinder core (33) can be moved by a key into different operating positions. The object of the invention is for at least one microswitch (50) to be actuated by switching cams (42) only once, even if the switching cam (42) continues to be moved when the microswitch (50) has been actuated. During the return movement, this microswitch (50) should not be triggered by the switching cam (42) again, and so faulty switching is avoided. To that end, a control member (40) cooperates via a separable coupling (35, 45) with a control member (40) on which the switching cam (42) is located. The control member (40) is acted upon by a restoring spring (46) which endeavors to move the control member into an initial position and simultaneously subject it to a force (43) in the coupling sense by the cylinder core (33).

Abstract: A lock for safes and other security devices is disclosed having a case mountable on the inside of a safe door. A locking bolt in a slidable relationship within an opening in the case, moves between locked and unlocked positions. A gate, constrained in slidable relationship by and with the locking bolt, normally prevents the locking bolt from moving out of the locked position. An internal case extension obstructs the gate, when the lock is not activated, preventing the locking bolt from moving towards the unlocked position. A camming member, pivotally attached to the locking bolt, repositions the gate allowing the locking bolt to move out of the locked position. A solenoid driven armature, linked to the camming member and connected to the locking bolt, pivots the camming member and moves the locking bolt to the unlocked position. The locking bolt is held in the locked position when not activated by a spring.

Abstract: A convertible lock structure includes a main body including a lock core received therein and a latch rod extending from an end thereof. The main body includes a transverse hole defined therein for receiving an end of a spring-biased control latch. A casing receives the main body and includes an end wall through which the latch rod extends. The casing further includes at least two positioning holes one of which is selected to receive the second end of the control latch. A second end of the control latch is operable by a proper key so as to move between a retracted position inside the main body which allows the main body to move in the casing and an extended position beyond the transverse hole to retain the main body in position.