Abstract: A heat spreading apparatus includes a body with an interior surface defining a void. The interior surface includes randomly configured high aspect ratio micro surface capillaries. Preferably, the micro surface capillaries are intergranular and intragranular capillaries that are less than 200 microns and have an aspect ratio of at least 1:1. All horizontal and vertical surfaces of the interior surface include the high aspect ratio micro surface capillaries. The high aspect ratio micro surface capillaries promote fluid transport and heat transfer.

Abstract: In an air conditioning condenser having a fluid tank with interchangeable cartridge the tank is screwed axially into a connecting base which is in turn brazed to a header box of the condenser. It contains an interchangeable axial cartridge and is in communication with the header box through ducts provided in the connecting base. Applications include apparatus for air conditioning the passenger space of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: Rapid cooling apparatus including a housing, a hot fluid coil disposed in the housing through which flows a product, a cooling liquid disposed in the housing which at least partially covers the hot fluid coil, and a condensing coil disposed in the housing through which flows a coolant, characterized by a reservoir in fluid communication with the cooling liquid in the interior of the housing, the reservoir being movable either towards the hot fluid coil and away from the condensing coil or towards the condensing coil and away from the hot fluid coil, so as to regulate a level of the cooling liquid which at least partially covers the hot fluid coil.

Abstract: A blade seal for a shearing blind ram designed for use in a standard ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations is disclosed. The blowout preventer has a body with an axial bore, a pair of opposing bonnet assemblies and a pair of opposing rams laterally moveable within the bonnet assemblies by a pressurized fluid source to control flow of well fluids through the blowout preventer body axial bore. The blade seal includes a generally planar shaped central member that tapers from one end to the other and is constructed of rubber. A pair of metal caps are bonded to the lateral edges of the blade seal to aid in preventing extrusion. The lower face of the rubber central member includes a groove adjacent to the metal cap to aid in preventing extrusion of the rubber. A pair of the blade seals is used in the upper ram of the shearing blind ram assembly. The opposing lower ram has a upwardly facing surface that seals against the pair of blade seals after the pipe is sheared.

Abstract: An inflatable packing device for use in a subterranean well provides a sophisticated bladder, either alone or in combination with a sophisticated cover, which results in a uniform expansion profile and exceptionally low angles of expansion propagation during inflation of the bladder to set the device, whereby well fluids between the wall of the well bore and the exterior of the cover of the device are swept away from the area of subsequent sealing of the cover. The propensity for rib kinking and rib cutting, pinching, folding, cracking and tearing of the bladder during inflation are eliminated. Correspondingly, reduced stresses and strains in cover segments combined with near ideal inflation profiles result in enhanced expansion propagation of the inflation element and improved service performance and reliability of the downhole device.

Abstract: A well screen is disclosed for positioning in a well bore to screen solid particles from the fluid produced by the well comprising a base pipe having a perforated wall and threaded connections for connecting the base pipe into a pipe string, a wire screen surrounding the perforated portion of the base pipe, a thin porous membrane comprising an inner layer of cloth of woven ceramic fibers wrapped around the wire screen and covered by a porous sleeve membrane of braided ceramic fibers, means for holding the ends of the porous cloth membranes in sealing engagement with the base pipe, and a perforated tubular metal shroud surrounding the ceramic cloth membranes to protect the membranes from damage when lowered into a well bore.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of hydrocarbons in the form of oil and gas, by means of a plant comprising several wells, a system for collecting the hydrocarbons produced and a downstream unit for treating the hydrocarbons produced, it being possible for this plant to additionally comprise a pressurized-gas system for activating the wells.According to the invention, the systems and the downstream unit having sensors for measuring physical quantities representative of their operation, each well being controlled according to an individual procedure using modifiable control parameters and data representative of the operating status of the single controlled well, the control parameters used by the individual procedure for controlling each of the wells are automatically modified, depending on the value of at least one of the measured physical quantities and on the data representative of the operating status of all the wells.The application of the invention is in the petroleum industry.

Abstract: This invention is directed toward apparatus and methods for gathering liquid samples from a reservoir of liquid using a submersible pump and subsequently retrieving the samples for analysis. The invention is more specifically directed toward the gathering and preparing of water samples for analysis for tritium content, where the samples are collected from underground formations penetrated by a borehole or collected at varying depths in surface canals and the like. The samples are subsequently transferred to the surface of the earth for analysis. The submersible pump is operated by means of a surface valving system and solenoid systems mounted on the submersible pump. The pump inlet valve is set to open or "crack" at a predetermine pressure, however the pump is not filled until a vacuum is applied to the pump. After filling, the pump is purged thereby transporting the sampled liquid to the surface by applying pressure.

Abstract: A system for enhancing steam distribution in a thermal stimulation phase, and for reducing the production of particulate matter with hydrocarbon fluids in a production phase, has a base pipe with a limited number of spaced-apart holes. The spaced-apart holes are sized and located so that steam is uniformly distributed in the reservoir. A collar is disposed around each hole to deflect the steam into an annulus between the base pipe and a wire-wrap screen section to avoid erosion and deterioration of the wire-wrap screen, which is required in the production phase. Mobilized hydrocarbon fluids flow to the wire-wrap screen section, which acts to filter particulate matter so that the production of particulate matter with hydrocarbon fluid is limited. The open area in the base pipe is significantly reduced, as compared with conventional methods, so that at the design injection rates, the pressure drop through the spaced-apart holes is larger than the pressure drop along the base pipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for perforating and stimulating a subterranean formation which is penetrated by a well bore having casing positioned therein so as to establish fluid communication between the formation and the well bore. Substantially rigid, flexible, or liquid propellant is interposed between the casing and at least one shaped charge in a subterranean well bore and is ignited due to the shock, heat and/or pressure generated from the detonated charge. Upon burning, the propellant material generates gases which clean perforations formed in the formation by detonation of the shaped charge(s) and which extend fluid communication between the formation and the well bore.

Abstract: A sand removing apparatus which is intended to be used in the lower area of underwater wells and is suspended from the end of a pipe string, includes a container having a closeable inlet for allowing a flow of liquid accompanied by sand thereinto. The container has a separate outlet assigned a suction side of a pump constituting the drive device for the apparatus. The drive device is kept going until a degree of filling of the container has been achieved. Between a separate inlet provided with a one-way valve and the separate outlet, a filter is disposed, so that sand remains in the container while the carrier liquid exits the container. In one embodiment, the drive device is a liquid-driven jet jump.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for directing a first and a second object into a primary and a secondary borehole respectively from a main borehole communicating therewith at a borehole junction. The apparatus includes a deflector for positioning at the borehole junction to direct the first and second objects into the primary and secondary boreholes. A retainer holds the objects relative to each other such that when the first object is aligned to be directed into the primary borehole, the second object is aligned to be directed into the secondary borehole. A retainer orienting mechanism orients the retainer relative to the borehole junction so that the objects are aligned to be directed into the boreholes. The method includes positioning the deflector at the borehole junction and inserting the objects and the retainer into the main borehole. The retainer is oriented relative to the borehole junction so that the objects are aligned to be directed into their respective boreholes.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for completing a wellbore junction. In one embodiment described herein, a lateral wellbore junction is sealed utilizing an apparatus assembled within the well. The apparatus may include multiple housings which are engaged with each other to form a sealed assembly with flow passages extending into the lateral wellbore, and upper and lower portions of a parent wellbore. Associated sealing devices and flexible couplings are also provided.

Abstract: Fluid is lifted from a well with a continuous loop of fibrous material, such as rope. The rope loop is formed around a drive sheave on the surface with a return sheave down inside of the well. The drive sheave has ridges along the side surfaces of a groove. The rope lays in the groove in contact with the ridges. A motor rotates the drive sheave so as to lift the oily rope from the well. Guides and wipers are provided to direct the rope into the drive sheave and to the wipers. The wipers are slotted cards that scrape a quantity of oil from the outside surface of the rope. The oil falls down into a bottom of a housing for collection purposes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for drilling, completion, well workovers and well control, combining an integrated lifting unit and a coiled tubing unit, the method and apparatus permit running jointed pipe and coil tubing in combination, and standing multiple joints of pipe near the unit. The invention combines a hydraulic pipe hoisting system, pipe handling systems and pipe racking containment apparatus. A hydraulic workover jack is combined with a multifunction injector head and a standpipe for fluid circulation. The invention may also include a rotary table for rotating pipe and/or a rotating power swivel to allow fluid circulation during pipe rotation. Also included are a gin pole, a winching system for jointed pipe, and a traveling head with traveling slips and stationary slips to allow pipe movement in the well. Hydraulic systems allow insertion and extraction of tools in a work string.

Abstract: Artificial aquifers for hydrologic cells are used to recover hydrocarbons from carbonaceous formations. Artificial aquifers of a hydrologic cell for primary or enhanced oil recovery are constructed through the use of a conventional hydrofrac technique to make a pair of vertical extensional fractures across two parallel horizontal boreholes. Hydrocarbons move under a pressure gradient from a source aquifer to a sink aquifer. In another arrangement, artificial aquifers for exploitation of tar sands and gas hydrates are constructed through the removal of hydrocarbons which plug the pore space of the host rock. Hydrocarbons are induced to move vertically across a very large cross-sectional area from a source aquifer to a sink aquifer.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting a horseshoe for a horse comprises preparing a series of horseshoe sets, each set based on the requirements a horse may have for a specific horseshoe and uses to which a horse may be put. Each horseshoe (20, 30, 40, 50) is a distinctive color (22, 32) and/or pattern (42, 52). The color and/or pattern correlates to the requirements a horse may have for a specific horseshoe and the uses to which the horse may be put. A user determines the particular requirements a horse may have for a specific horseshoe and the uses to which a particular horse will be put, correlates the particular requirement or use to a color and/or pattern and selects a horseshoe or number of horseshoes.

Abstract: A fire suppression method and apparatus has a sprinkler head support bracket which is installable immediately above a ceiling tile. The support bracket is configured with a plurality of openings such that multiple locations for the sprinkler head may be used and the exact "center of tile" installation of the sprinkler head can be accomplished with a wide variety of suspended ceiling assemblies and sprinkler heads. The support bracket rests on grid support members and arches over the ceiling tile. Hold down clips are provided to maintain the bracket in position relative to the grid support members. A pipe clamp is provided which is insertable within the bracket to retain a drop nipple within it. The drop nipple is adjustable relative to the horizontal to move it upwardly or downwardly relative to the ceiling tile. In this fashion, the vertical location of the sprinkler head can be adjusted depending upon the elevation of the ceiling tiles used and the style of sprinkler head used.

Abstract: An actuator is provided for a check valve, having particular utility in a dry fire control system. The check valve is responsive to a drop in the system air pressure occasioned by opening of one or more sprinkler heads in the fire control system. The movement of the actuator to its open position, establishes a water drain line therethrough, while advantageously also opening a previously sealed vent outlet for the pressurized air within the actuator. The seal for the vent outlet may be manually adjustable to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. The actuator may respond to either the magnitude of system air pressure drop, or the rate of system air pressure drop.

Abstract: A portable fire-fighting container is comprised of a box with a top opening and compartments on its sides. A liquid receptacle is positioned inside the box under the top opening thereof. An interior liner is positioned inside the liquid receptacle. An open top of the liquid receptacle is covered with a removable lid. Sling attachments arranged around the box enable the container to be airlifted by a helicopter. The lid is removed and positioned vertically on top of the box to provide directional stability in flight. When placed at a fire location, leveling jacks around the box provide stability on uneven ground. Trapezoidal frames are hinged along the edges of the top opening of the box. The frames are pivoted upward and supported at an acute angle by braces extending between the frames and the top of the box, thus forming an inverted truncated pyramid.

Abstract: A nozzle includes a housing defining a fluid passage. A member is positioned to block the fluid passage when the nozzle is not spraying fluid. A retainer attached to the housing retains the member in the disposed position. The surface of the housing has one or more marks. The number of marks indicates the spray profile produced by the nozzle. The member is disposed within the fluid passage and bursts under the flow of fluid.

Abstract: A disc mounting system includes the attachment of each disc to a disc gang bar via a dedicated leaf spring. Each of the leaf springs, which can be generally U shaped, are attached at a top end to the gang bar and at a lower leg to a disc spindle such that the disc is positioned at least partially alongside the spring lower leg. The mounting system allows the disc to deflect vertically, laterally or torsionally when the disc encounters an obstacle. An optional shield can be attached to the leaf spring to prevent soil and debris thrown out by adjacent discs from entering the spring. A disc scraper blade can also be attached to the shield.

Abstract: A cultivator component clamping assembly for attaching a component to an implement crossbar having a plurality of faces includes a pair of generally C-shaped members each having a throat opposing a first face of the implement bar. Each C-shaped member also include a first leg and a second leg attached to and extending from the throat for placement about the implement crossbar. A retaining member is attached near the distal ends of the first and second legs and opposite a second face of the implement crossbar. The clamping assembly also includes a wedge inserted between the inclined face of the retaining member and a second face of the of the implement crossbar. A first keeper member attached between the first legs and a second keeper member attached between the second legs.

Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to increase the inner width between left and right main frames without increasing the entire width of a vehicle, to reduce the weight, and to improve the productivity. For this purpose, in a main frame structure for construction equipment including a pair of left and right main frames, a cross member connecting the front portions of the pair of left and right main frames and vertically swingably supporting an equalizer bar for coupling a pair of left and right track frames, and lift cylinder supporting elements rotatably supporting one end of a lift cylinder for raising and lowering a working machine frame mounted with a working machine, the pair of left and right main frames (1a, 1b) are respectively composed of a straight plate provided along a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, and each of the lift cylinder supporting elements is integrally fixed on the outside in a lateral direction of the vehicle body, of the pair of left and right main frames (1a, 1b).

Abstract: An impact mechanism, such as an impact wrench is provided and includes a motor, a shaft rotatable about an axis and coupled to the motor and having a first shaft groove with first and second axial ends and a hammer disposed about the shaft and having a first hammer groove. A ball is disposed in the first hammer groove and in the first shaft groove and couples the hammer to the shaft for relative axial and rotatable movement, with the ball moveable along the grooves. The wrench also includes a rotatable anvil for coupling to a load, a bias member resiliently biasing the hammer axially into engagement with the anvil and stop structure disposed along the shaft for engagement with the hammer to limit axial movement of the hammer away from the anvil so as to prevent the ball from contacting the second axial end of the first shaft groove.

Abstract: An impact breaker has a sleeve which slidably receives an end portion of a tool. The tool is formed over its end portion with a groove extending completely around the end portion of the tool for receiving lubricant for lubricating movement of the tool in the sleeve.

Abstract: A hand-held pneumatic rotary drive tool having an adjustable exhaust. The tool has an elongate housing containing a pneumatic motor. The housing has an inlet passage for pressurized air at the rearward end of the housing and air delivery passaging for flow of pressurized air to the motor. A rotary connector on the housing at the inlet passage permits connection to an air hose. The housing also has an air exhaust passage for exhausting air from the motor. An air deflector for exhausting air exiting the exhaust passage is rotatable around the connector for deflecting exhaust air laterally outward in a selected direction away from a user holding the tool.

Abstract: An actively controlled rotary steerable drilling system for directional drilling of wells, the system having a rotary drive component rotatable within a tubular sliding tool collar that incorporates elastic anti-rotation members to maintain a coupled relation with the borehole wall during drilling. An offsetting mandrel is supported within the tool collar by a knuckle joint for pivotal movement and for rotation relative to the tool collar and has a lower end extending from the tool collar and supporting a drill bit. To achieve controlled steering of the rotating drill bit, orientation of the tool collar is sensed and the offsetting mandrel is maintained geostationary and selectively axially inclined relative to the tool collar by orienting it about the knuckle joint.

Abstract: A cigarette combustion unit for the use in a hand-held cigarette smoke filtering device for filtering sidestream smoke emitted from a cigarette burning in the unit comprising: i) an elongate closed combustion chamber for a burning cigarette, a lower wall portion of the combustion chamber at least having an air porous portion to permit air to enter the combustion chamber, ii) a cigarette holder in an end of the combustion chamber for holding a cigarette in the combustion chamber with its burning end spaced from chamber interior wall surfaces, and iii) a sidestream smoke outlet in the end above the cigarette holder.

Abstract: The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for the second purpose as the casing that is permanently installed in the wellbore for the final completion of oil and gas wells. The rotary drill bit is attached to the drill string, the well drilled, and the well is completed leaving the drill bit attached to the drill string to make a steel cased well. The steel coiled tubing attached to a coiled tubing conveyed mud motor driven rotary drill bit is used to drill oil and gas wells that is used for a second purpose as the tubing that is permanently installed in the wellbore to make a tubing encased well for the final completion of oil and gas wells.

Abstract: A subassembly electrical isolation connector for interconnecting adjacent tubular drill rods of a drilling system used in drilling bore holes in earth formations electrically isolates the inner connection of the drill rods. The connector comprises a housing, a mandrel, a connector for connecting the housing to a first tubular drill rod, a connector for connecting a mandrel to a second tubular drill rod and a device for interconnecting the housing and the mandrel in a manner to electrically isolate the housing from the mandrel with the housing overlapping at least a portion of the mandrel. The housing has an isolated end which is electrically isolated from the mandrel and the connector for connecting the mandrel to a second tubular drill rod. Such arrangement provides enhanced strength to resist bending moments along the connector and resisting drilling forces.

Abstract: A downhole drilling assembly including a housing having an upper end for connection to a drill string and a lower end, a fluid passage extending through the housing from the upper end to the lower end, a power unit contained within the housing, a drive assembly extending within the housing between the power unit and the lower end of the housing such that a mandrel chamber is defined between the drive assembly and the housing, a radially movable stabilizer associated with the housing, and an axially movable mandrel contained within the mandrel chamber, the mandrel being associated with a stabilizer actuator for causing radial movement of the stabilizer in response to axial movement of the mandrel.

Abstract: A core sampler, particularly for oil prospecting, including a coring bit (2), an outer barrel (3) for rotating the coring bit (2), and an inner barrel (5) for receiving the core sample (7) in its internal space (8) during coring, the inner (5) and outer (3) barrels being substantially coaxial, and further comprising an intermediate barrel (15) coaxially arranged between the inner (5) and outer (3) barrels and defining a first longitudinal coring fluid channel (16) with the outer barrel (3), and a second longitudinal coring fluid channel (17) with the inner barrel (5), as well as said longitudinal channels (16, 17) and valving for at least temporarily selectively causing and/or cutting off coring fluid communication between the rear end (17B) of the second longitudinal channel (17) and/or the rear end (16B) of the first longitudinal channel (16) and/or the rear end (8B) of the internal space (8).

Abstract: An apparatus for powering the crawlers of a crawler vehicle. The apparatus comprises one or more hydraulic drive motors mounted on the vehicle, car body, a track drive gear box mounted on the crawler, and one or more mechanical drive shafts connected between the hydraulic drive motors and the track drive gear box to transmit power from the drive motors to the track drive gear box. The mechanical drive shafts are disconnectable from between the hydraulic drive motors and the track, drive gear box so as to permit the disassembly and removal of the crawlers from the car body.

Abstract: There is provided a stair-climbing vehicle for transporting a wheelchair with a person sitting on. The vehicle comprise a crawler device including a pair of endless belt crawlers disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle; a vehicle body including a driving motor for driving the crawler device to enabling the stair-climbing vehicle to climb up or down a stairway; a load-carrying platform for mounting a wheelchair, said load-carrying platform being provided above the vehicle body capable of pivoting in vertical direction about one end thereof. The load-carrying platform is provided with a inclination sensor. The inclination sensor includes a first inclination sensing element and a second inclination sensing element, each inclination sensing element is a tubular member containing a flowable electrically conductive material and a pair of electrically conductive terminals.

Abstract: A power supply system 10 with a stack of fuel cells 20 and a storage battery 30 includes a remaining charge monitor 46 for measuring the remaining charge of the storage battery 30. The remaining charge monitor 46 detects the remaining charge of the storage battery 30 at the time of stopping operation of the power supply system 10. In case that the remaining charge of the storage battery 30 is not greater than a predetermined level, the fuel cells 20 continuously charge the storage battery 30 until the remaining charge reaches the predetermined level. The power supply system 10 is stopped after the charging operation of the storage battery 30 has been accomplished. At a next start of the power supply system, the storage battery 30 functions as a primary power source to supply electric power to a loading until the warm-up of the fuel cells 20 is completed.

Abstract: A battery carrier for a traction battery of an electric vehicle includes a battery container which is fastened to the vehicle body by holding devices that are clamped around a longitudinally extending sliding tube mounted on the vehicle body. The sliding tube is displaceable relative to the holding devices along a limited distance in the axial direction, so that the battery container can be accelerated relative to the vehicle body in the event of a frontal impact. Energy absorbing devices for controlling the transmission of kinetic energy from the battery container to the vehicle body, while partially consuming energy, may be formed by deformation tubes which are arranged on the sliding tube, and are made, for example, of a fiber composite material.

Abstract: An off-road vehicle has an undercarriage and a superstructure and a tilting mechanism for levelling the superstructure. The tilting mechanism comprises upper and lower members coupled to tilt about a tilt axis by a hinge. The lower member is pivotally mounted to the undercarriage. A brake allows the orientation of the tilt axis relative to the undercarriage to be locked. The tilt mechanism allows the superstructure to be levelled by a method which includes the steps of releasing the brake, rotating the lower member until the tilt axis is horizontal, and tilting the upper member about the tilt axis until the superstructure is level. The tilting mechanism is simple and provides a full range of tilt in all directions. A tilting mechanism may be retrofitted to existing vehicles.

Abstract: A ground effect flying craft utilizing a pressure cavity (10) for low speed support on a static air cushion. The cavity is bounded by a streamlined aft body (18), a fore body (24), and side plates (22) which allow for low drag and high lift at cruise speed on a dynamic air cushion. Static lift pressure and dynamic thrust are provided by a fixed dual purpose propulsor (20'). Flow diverting devices or auxiliary power units are not needed for transition from static lift to dynamic flight.

Abstract: An electrically driven automotive vehicle including an electric motor for driving the vehicle, an electric energy storage device for storing an electric energy for operating the electric motor, the storage device having a plurality of storage portions which can be charged and discharged independently of each other, and a fully discharging device for fully discharging at least one of the storage portions, when an amount of electric energy stored in at least one of the other of the storage portions is larger than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A motor-assisted pedal tricycle has two parallel rear wheels mounted on corresponding first and second axially-aligned axles via overriding clutches. The axially-aligned axles are connected to a differential which is driven by an electric motor, and which allows the first and second wheels to rotate independently of one another. Power may also be applied to one of the rear wheels via a pedal mechanism, which is connected to the wheel via an overriding clutch. The tricycle may be operated using pedal power and motor power independently or in combination. Moreover, the rear wheels may rotate in a forward direction independently of the differential, the motor, and the pedals when the motor and the pedals are not in use, or when the vehicle is travelling at a speed faster than that which can be attained under power of the motor and the pedals either independently or in combination.

Abstract: A motorcycle (1) is disclosed wherein a crank shaft (56) is disposed in a lower portion of a power unit case (55), a clutch shaft (57) is disposed in parallel to and higher than the crank shaft (56), and a transmission shaft (58) and an electric motor shaft (59) are disposed in such a manner as to extend from one end of the clutch shaft (57) in a longitudinal (fore and aft) direction of the vehicular body. That is, the clutch shaft (57), transmission shaft (58), and electric motor shaft (59) are disposed in series and also in parallel to and higher than the crank shaft (56). Since the transmission shaft (58) and the electric motor shaft (59) are disposed in series in the longitudinal direction of a vehicular body, the direction of a force applied to the power unit case (55) becomes simple. This makes the designing of the power unit case easy.

Abstract: In articulated machines it has long been a desire to provide a steering system that will permit the incorporation of machine controls into a steering wheel assembly and yet provide the operator with mechanical feedback through the steering wheel. The present invention accomplishes this goal by providing a steering wheel assembly on a first frame of the machine and a control valve on the second frame that articulates with respect to the first. The steering wheel assembly and control valve are connected by a shaft assembly that includes a pair of constant velocity U-joints interposed along the length thereof. The shaft assembly translates substantially equal amounts of rotation between the steering wheel assembly and the control valve. The control valve is operable in a first and second condition, depending upon the amount of rotation of the steering wheel assembly, to provide different modes of steering that compliment the operation of the machine.

Abstract: In a power steering apparatus according to the present invention, a threshold ITH of a motor electric current for actuation of an oil pump is set at a lower level when a working oil has a high viscosity resistance at a low oil temperature, so that the oil pump can be actuated at an earlier stage. Conversely, when the working oil has a low viscosity resistance at a high oil temperature, the threshold ITH of the motor electric current for the actuation of the oil pump is set at a higher level because there is no need to actuate the oil pump at the earlier stage. Thus, the electric motor can be actuated without any problem even at an extremely low temperature, so that an entrapped feeling can promptly be mitigated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a muffler which has an outlet tube with a funnel shaped element having a large diameter end positioned in an expansion chamber and conically tapering to a junction with a cylindrical neck element extending into an inlet end of an outlet tube. An inlet tube is supported by an outer shell which also supports the outlet tube. The inlet tube is attached to the outer shell by a first partition and a first end cap, forming a tuning chamber. The outlet tube is attached to the outer shell by the funnel shaped element and a second end cap, forming an outlet chamber. A space defined by the distance between the first partition and the second partition and the geometry of the outer shell forms an expansion chamber. The three different chambers serve to either tune or quiet the exhaust coming from an internal combustion engine, and the funnel shaped element serves to smooth the flow of exhaust from the inlet tube to the outlet tube.

Abstract: To prepare an absorption muffler for motor vehicles with a sound-absorbing material arranged in a hollow space of an exhaust muffler body in the form of glass wool (2), which is introduced into the hollow space in the form of an expanded, endless glass fiber roving, it is proposed that the exhaust muffler body (1) be completely prefabricated and assembled before the glass wool (2) is introduced into the prefabricated, assembled exhaust muffler body (1) from the outside.

Abstract: A personal safety device comprising a harness, a positioning strap attached to spaced apart region on the harness by way of a transfer strap. The ends of the positioning straps disconnect from the harness on the application of a force exceeding a predetermined limiting value.

Abstract: A peak hook includes a pair of spaced-apart, elongated, hook-shaped members in which each of the hook-shaped members has a rear downwardly-depending leg for extending over a rear surface of a roof and a front downwardly-depending leg for extending over a front surface of the roof. A roof-engaging member having a length substantially equal to a width of the ladder attaches to the rear downwardly-depending legs for engaging the rear surface of the roof. A rung-engaging member attaches to the front downwardly-depending legs for supporting portions of a rung adjacent to opposite sides of the ladder. A slidable rung-engaging member having apertures through which respective front downwardly-depending legs extend cooperates with the rung-engaging member to releasably attach the peak hook to the ladder.

Abstract: An expandable safety guard for a scissor lift is disclosed. The safety guard has a plurality of pivoting plates or blades which expand to create a barrier preventing insertion of objects and body parts between the arms of the scissor lift. A method of preventing pinching at the joints connecting arms of a scissor lift is also disclosed.

Abstract: An attachment for use on the upper end of standard sized extension ladders. The attachment includes an angularly adjustable tray for supporting tools and other equipment when the ladder is positioned against a wall of a building. The tray is secured to a pair of box-shaped structures which are telescopically positioned over the upper rail ends of the ladder. Cushioning devices are provided on the front end of the tray for engagement with the wall of the building.