Abstract: A flowmeter is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a vibratable conduit, and a driver connected to the conduit that is operable to impart motion to the conduit. A sensor is connected to the conduit and is operable to sense the motion of the conduit and generate a sensor signal. A controller is connected to receive the sensor signal. The controller is operable to detect a single-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a first process during the single-phase flow condition to generate a validated mass-flow measurement. The controller is also operable to detect a two-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a second process during the two-phase flow condition to generate the validated mass-flow measurement.

Abstract: This invention defines improvements in dynamic force measuring instruments, which allow for the acquisition of data, such as depth driven and force applied, from the driven pile with the sensor being designed to make it easier to place the sensor with respect to the pile to be driven. In particular, the invention comprehends the use of a foil sensor, which is covered with insulation. An inductive belt sensor can be wrapped around the pile anytime during the driving of the pile. The signal from the belt sensor in response to stress in the pile from the pile driver is fed to a computer in the same manner as for the coil. The belt consists of a metallic strip of aluminum or copper or other conductive metallic material covered on both sides and ends by insulation material. At one end of the metallic strip an electric cable is connected which leads through a connector to a computer. The metallic strip picks up the magnetostriction signal, which is proportional to the resistance the pile encounters during driving.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the gas amounts adsorbed on a powder which directly measures pressure changes in a gas supply chamber with the use of differential pressure sensors between the gas supply chamber and a reference chamber which gas amount is maintained constant. Calculations of the gas amounts adsorbed are based on the pressure changes in a sample cell and the pressure changes in the gas supply chamber or a gas reference chamber. The method and apparatus of this invention measures the adsorption or desorption isotherm or gas uptake at constant pressure curve of a powder with, as compared with presently available measurement techniques, increased accuracy and resolution. The experimental data can be analyzed to obtain information on the surface area, pore size distribution, pore volume, pore structure and diffusion coefficient of the powder.

Abstract: A deconstituting device for the preparation of biological samples comprising: a container (2) in the form of a cup for holding the tissue to be deconstituted; a shaft (26) mounted for rotation inside the said container (2) with a blade (28) on the end inside the container; the said shaft (26) being supported axially by ball coupling means (30, 34) and having engagement means (36) on its end outside the container for coupling the said shaft to motor means; the device being used in automatic apparatus, which includes: at least one support element (54) with a plurality of housings for receiving the container; a deconstitution station (50) which includes at least one motor (52) with a drive shaft (55) for engaging the said engagement means (36) of the shaft (26) of the deconstituting device, this motor being movable between a position disengaged from the said shaft (26) and one engaging it, and; conveyor means (66, 68 and 78) for transporting the said support element (54) to the deconstitution station.

Abstract: A linear actuator comprises rotary motion producing means (1,2,3,4,5); linear motion producing means (6,7,10,11,12) coupled with the rotary motion producing means for converting rotary motion to linear motion; a driven member (18) movable linearly by the linear motion providing means from a first position to a second position; and backdrive means (22) for returning the driven member to the first position. The arrangement is such that the linear motion producing means includes torque reaction means (13,15,16,17) which, in normal operation, is in an activated condition and provides a torque reaction path to enable the driven member to be moved from the first to the second position but which, in the event of a fault, is in a de-activated condition so that it no longer provides the torque reaction path and the back-drive means can move the driven member to the first position, without disengaging the rotary motion producing means from the linear motion producing means.

Abstract: An actuating device for a transmission of a motor vehicle has a housing and two pistons moveably arranged in the housing. A coupling part is arranged between the two pistons and is acted on by the two pistons so as to be moved by the two pistons. The coupling part is connected to a shifting part of the transmission and is made, at least on a surface of the coupling part, of wear-resistant material. The two pistons are loosely seated on the coupling part so that these parts can align themselves properly relative to one another after mounting.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: In a cork extractor for corks of bottles of champagne, sparkling wine, prosecco, cider or the like, wherein a build-up portion of said cork surrounds the front side of the bottleneck while a driving collar of the corkscrew engages the build-up portion of said cork from beneath for pulling out said cork, wherein the driving collar is liftable by means of an actuating means shaped as a lever or spindle drive in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the bottle relative to an abutment collar supported by the bottle, it is envisaged for accomplishing a simple and reliable handling that said driving collar is arranged on a first half-cylinder shell, that said abutment collar is formed on a second, complementary half-cylinder shell, and that each of said half-cylinder shells comprises a recess for the build-up portion of said cork, wherein said driving collar is liftable by means of said actuating means for pulling out said cork while said cork is guided along said second half-cylinder shell during its being lif

Abstract: A hose clamp installation tool and a method for installing a hose assembly. A first rod engages the clamp and releases the clamp from an open position to a closed position. A sensor indicates release of the clamp.

Abstract: A ratchet wheel mounting structure comprises a ratchet wheel mounted in a box of a wrench body and meshed with a toothed stop block in said box, and a retainer ring mounted in between said box and said ratchet wheel to secure said ratchet wheel to said box, said ratchet wheel having teeth arranged around the periphery thereof, a locating block at one side of the ratchet wheel, and a locating groove being formed around the periphery of said locating block for positioning said retainer ring. Each tooth of said ratchet wheel is chamfered at one end thereof far away from the locating block; and a reinforcing bevel is provided in the valley between roots of another ends of each two adjacent teeth of said ratchet wheel adjacent to said locating block. Or each tooth is chamfered at two ends and thus no bevel slop is formed.

Abstract: A wrench includes a head with an engaging wheel rotatably received in a through hole in the head and a recess is defined in an inner periphery of the through hole so as to receive two pawls therein. A recessed area is defined in a surface of the head and a bridge portion is located between the through hole and the recessed area. A space is defined in an underside of the bridge portion and in communication with the through hole. Each pawl has a protrusion and the space allows the protrusions of the pawl to be inserted in the recess without any orientation adjustment. A control member is rotatably received in the recessed area and has a concavity for retaining the two protrusions therein.

Abstract: A ratchet wrench includes a wrench body having a drive head formed with a receiving recess, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted in the receiving recess of the drive head, a positioning member secured in the receiving recess of the drive head and secured on the ratchet wheel to retain the ratchet wheel in the receiving recess of the drive head, and an oil seal secured in the receiving recess of the drive head and enclosed around the positioning member. Thus, the positioning member is a C-shaped snap that can abut and press the oil seal so as to position the oil seal actually, so that the oil seal has a better positioning effect.

Abstract: An electronic torque wrench has inner and outer telescoping housing portions and a battery tray assembly telescopically receivable in the inner housing portion and a bezel assembly receivable in an aperture in the outer housing portion and interconnected with the housing portions and the battery support assembly by a single fastener. The bezel assembly carries torque measuring circuitry.

Abstract: A pipe cutting machine comprises a clamping device for holding a pipe to be cut and a pipe cutting apparatus for cutting the pipe by revolving a rotating disc-like cutting blade around the circumferential surface of the pipe held by the clamping device.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster has an actuator arrangement for a control valve that includes a ball that is located in a first sleeve retained in a stepped bore of a cylindrical member and a pin that is retained in the cylindrical member. The pin has a first end that is located in an actuation chamber and is connected with a first input member and a second end that extends into the stepped bore to engage the ball. The first end on receipt of a first input force initially moves the pin and ball from a position of rest to interrupt fluid communication between the actuation chamber and a reservoir and thereafter moves the sleeve to selectively initiate metered communication of pressurized fluid to the actuation chamber that acts on a first piston to effect a first brake application of a wheel brake. A second sleeve that surrounds the pin has a lip on a first end that engages the cylindrical member to position a second end thereon in an auxiliary actuation chamber within the housing of the brake booster.

Abstract: Two or more flow control valves may be used to provide redundant flow control for a hydraulic actuator or servoactuator. The flow control valves include a sleeve, a bypass control spool, and a primary control spool. Under normal operating conditions, each bypass control spool is stationary relative to the sleeve and the flow control valve functions as a four-way hydraulic flow control valve. Each flow control valve is connected to a bypass-shutoff valve including a bypass spool that is moveable from a shut-off position to a bypass position. Upon supply pressure failure to one flow control valve, the bypass spool moves to the bypass position, reducing pressure in the corresponding actuator piston chambers. When a primary control spool becomes jammed, the corresponding bypass control spool moves within its sleeve allowing a bypass groove to port control pressure to the return line, thereby reducing pressure in the corresponding actuator piston chambers.

Abstract: A movable cylinder (20) is provided with an inner cylinder chamber (21) and an outer cylinder chamber (31) which surrounds the inner cylinder chamber. The inner cylinder chamber is provided with an inner piston (22) inserted therein, which is integrally secured to the stationary rods. The inner cylinder chamber is also provided with an inner front inlet (25), an inner rear inlet (26), an inner rear outlet (27) and an inner front outlet (28), for working fluid to move the movable cylinder. The outer cylinder chamber is provided therein with an outer piston (32) having a front operation member (33) which is moved close to or away from the front stationary table and a rear operation member (34) which is moved close to or away from the rear stationary table. The outer cylinder chamber is also provided with an outer rear inlet (35) which is connected to the inner rear outlet and an outer front inlet (36) which is connected to the inner front outlet, for the working fluid to move the outer piston.

Abstract: A Method and Integrated system for brewing and dispensing beverages that must be brewed hot but are dispensed cold, such as coffee, tea and the like, is disclosed. The system comprises a dual purpose brewer adapted to both brew a hot concentrate and accept chilled water for cooling and dilution. The system allows for a hot beverage to be brewed directly into a containing vessel at room temperature. A hot brew concentrate at a temperature of approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit is effectively lowered to 70 to 90 degrees during the brew stage. The vessel may next be immediately sealed, purged of oxygen, then provided to a standard manifold feeding multi-tap dispensing system. Subject invention eliminates any oxidation and exposure to the elements that would occur if the hot brewed beverage were allowed to be cooled and stored in an open container.

Abstract: A food processor includes a base, a lower cap, a blade unit and a top cap. The top cap has a fixed tube extending from an underside thereof and a sleeve is movably mounted to the fixed tube. A board is sandwiched between the sleeve and the blade disk of the blade unit so as to move the sleeve upward which then fixed to the fixed tube by an adhesive layer such that a gap with a fixed width is defined after the board is pulled away. The food can be cut into tiny particles and juice can be squeezed via the gap.

Abstract: Apparatus for engaging and folding the limbs of a tree in a tree baling apparatus features opening and closing by means of concentric part circular tubes of a frame. When gaps of the nested tubes are in alignment, a tree trunk can be received within the frame then closed in by rotating the gaps out of alignment. The closed ring, horizontally engaged about a tree, is then drawn upwardly deflecting the limbs of the tree into a folded configuration for tying. No pivot arms are used as in conventional equipment, avoiding the problems of wear and distortion at pivot linkages.

Abstract: A gapped or seamed cylindrical offset printing blanket having pre-made blanket material mounted on a cylindrical sleeve, and a method for making same, are disclosed, wherein conventional, manufactured blanket material in flat form made by methods known in the art is adhered to a cylindrical sleeve to economically produce a blanket. The leading and trailing ends of the flat blanket material are joined in close proximity such that a small gap is formed. A seam may be made with a filler material that fills the remaining gap resulting in a seamed sleeved blanket. In use, the seam is aligned with non-print area on the adjacent printing plate, or the adjacent plate cylinder gap of the printing press. Being narrower than the plate cylinder gap, no loss of print length results from the seam.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing patterns on a surface of a substrate. The apparatus includes a rigid support such as a rigid tubular structure having first and second opposed ends and a fluid flow passageway extending therethrough. A printing stamp is attached at one of the opposed ends of the rigid support. The printing stamp has a flexible diaphragm portion which has an outer surface which is coated with one or more materials in a pre-selected pattern. A pneumatic pressurizing mechanism communicating with an inner surface of the flexible diaphragm portion through the fluid flow passageway is used to bias the flexible diaphragm portion outwardly into intimate and uniform contact with the surface of the substrate for transferring the pre-selected pattern onto the substrate surface. The rigid tubular supports are attached to a robotic positioning mechanism for providing control of positioning of the stamp relative to the substrate surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of imaging a printing plate precursor in which a printing plate precursor including a substrate and an image forming layer is imagewise contacted with a catalyst, for example, by imagewise ink-jet application. The image forming layer is then heated and developed in a suitable developer liquid such that portions of the image forming layer that are contacted with the catalyst resist development while portions of the image forming layer that are not contacted with the catalyst are removed during development.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to aid the loading and unloading of flexographic plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a magazine containing a plurality of compartments each for holding a single flexographic plate, the compartments arranged vertically, and movable in a vertical direction, a lifting mechanism to lift and lower the compartments; and a control system to control the lifting and lowering by the lifting mechanism. The control system is such that a particular compartment is moved from its rest vertical position at a rest horizontal position to a loading vertical position and a loading horizontal position at which the particular compartment is at a height for loading onto the imager.

Abstract: In a drying apparatus equipped with a light source to dry a drying matter of a print by irradiating light of the light source to the print, a correlation between information relating to the time for which the light source is lit and information relating to the amount of light of the light source is preset. Then, the information relating to the elapsed time for which the light source is lit during the light source is lit is detected so that light of the light source is controlled to a constant amount, regardless of the elapsed time for which the light source is lit, based on information relating to a reference amount of light, which information is obtained from the preset correlation between the information relating to the time for which the light source is lit and the information relating to the amount of light with reference to the information relating to the elapsed time at the time of the detection.

Abstract: A projectile launch assembly includes a launch tube having distal and proximal ends and an inwardly extending dimple structure therebetween, the proximal end being configured to receive a firearm muzzle, a receiver disposed on the distal end of the launch tube and having connector structure at a distal end thereof for connection to a projectile, an energy absorbing plug disposed in the launch tube and having a proximal end portion adjacent the dimple and a body portion extending distally, and an energy transfer piston disposed in the launch tube and having a proximal end configured complementarily to the plug and having a distal end configured complementarily to a proximal end of the receiver. A bullet leaving the firearm muzzle is absorbed by the plug which is thereby moved with the piston distally in the tube, the piston engaging the receiver to propel the launch assembly and projectile from the firearm muzzle.

Abstract: A grenade dispensing mechanism for non-spin or low spin dual purpose improved conventional munition launched from inside a projectile. At a pre-determined point along the trajectory, the projectile time fuze which is set at the gun functions to provide initiation output to the payload expulsion charge assembly. The payload expulsion charge assembly contains a propellant which when ignited, produces a gas pressure acting on a pusher plate which acts as a piston. The gas pressure increases with time until the forces of the gas pressure acting on the pusher plate through the grenade payload to the base/tail assembly are sufficient to shear the thread attachment of the base assembly to the projectile body section. An obturator band serves to seal the expulsion gas pressures to prevent excessive gas blow-by as the payload canister assembly travels through the rifled projectile body section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unloading long ribbon rails which are carried on a transport car on bunks which hold the rails in four or five different tiers each containing eight to ten rails. A special railcar is equipped with a gantry crane which feeds the rails from the bunks into power driven thread boxes. The thread boxes grip the rails and feed them rearwardly onto the railway bed. After the first two rails have been unloaded side by side, the next pair are fed into the thread boxes. The thread boxes feed these rails out of the bunks as the train is moved forwardly at the same speed as the rails are fed rearwardly so that the rails are unloaded end to end with the first pair of rails. The railcar has retractable over the road wheels that allow it to be towed on the roadway to the site of the rail transport car.

Abstract: A portable massage table including two abutting table top sections hingedly connected together. Each top section has a pair of legs pivotally attached thereto. A truss member is hingedly connected to one of the top sections. Table support cables extend from each of the outer corners of one of the top sections to the diagonally opposite corner of the other top section through the truss member. First leg support cables extend from a mid-portion of the inner end of the top sections to the lower half of each of the legs attached to that top section. Second leg support cables extend from each of the corners of the top sections to a mid-portion of the adjacent leg. Third leg support cables extend from the top of each leg to the top of the adjacent leg of the adjacent table top section.

Abstract: A shelving system having at least four posts with upper and lower traverses between the posts joined by dovetails on the posts and post connectors connecting the posts. A metal core forms the posts surrounded by plastic. A support post underlies at least one of the traverses having a metal interior portion and an exterior plastic with a foot at the base and an end cap distal from the foot for engaging the traverse.

Abstract: In a two-stage wet waste burner, a first-stage combustion chamber has a symmetrical grate arrangement. The grate comprises spaced individual upright air supply tubes with flat horizontal upper surfaces swept by ash-removal plates. The height and width of the air supply tubes are selected to provide an upper surface profile approximating the natural angle of repose of the waste. Twin waste feed distribution augers span the chamber and rotate in mating troughs. The axis of rotation of each auger is sloped so that the discharge end of the auger is higher than the feed inlet end, and the trough sidewalls are inclined downwardly from the inlet end to the discharge end; these attributes promote even discharge of waste across the span of the chamber. Vertical walls of the air supply tubes are provided with air ports for supplying combustion air, the vertical orientation of the apertures and a degree of shielding of the upper surfaces of the air supply tubes inhibit clogging of the air ports.

Abstract: A method to reduce mercury in gas emissions from the combustion of coal is disclosed. Mercury emissions can be reduced by staging combustion process and/or reducing boiler excess oxygen. Fly ash formed under combustion staging conditions is more reactive towards mercury than fly ash formed under typical combustion conditions. Reducing boiler excess oxygen can also improve ability of fly ash to adsorb mercury.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing particulate matter includes a hollow elongate body having sidewalls extending between opposite first and second ends. First and second end seals seal the first and second ends respectively. The first end seal has an orifice through which the particular material, when stored in the body, is dispensed. A baffle is mounted within the first end, generally abutting against one side wall of the body. The baffle at least partially occludes the orifice and forms a pocket between the orifice and the baffle. A convoluted dispensing flow path is thereby formed for dispensing the particulate material from the body, around the baffle and out of the dispenser through the orifice.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sewing machine with work edge cutting mechanism having an upper blade 13a which is operated to cut the work edge in cooperation with a lower blade 1a during stitching operation, the upper blade being stopped and retreated to an inoperative position below the needle plate 30 in case the stitching operation is performed without necessity of cutting the work edge, the sewing machine substantially comprising a main drive shaft 2 which is rotated to vertically reciprocate a machine needle 31, a device for converting the rotation of the main drive shaft into vertical movement, a device for transmitting the vertical movement to the upper blade, a device for intercepting the transmission movement of the transmitting means, wherein the intercepting device is operated to cause the upper blade to retreat from the operative position to the inoperative position below the needle plate.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a thread take-up lever and a thread tension regulator each disposed along a predetermined needle thread passage from a thread bobbin to a needle, an arm having a front face, and a movable controller disposed in the front of the arm so as to be movable at least within a predetermined range. The movable controller does not protrude out of the front face of the arm when moved in the predetermined range. The needle thread is engaged with at least one of the thread take-up lever and the thread tension regulator when the movable controller is moved within the predetermined range while the needle thread has been drawn from the thread bobbin near to the needle substantially along the predetermined needle thread passage.

Abstract: A rigid concavity is formed in the underside of a hull of a water craft. Air enters into the concavity when the water craft is moving forward. Supplemental air is introduced into the concavity by an air scoop mounted to the bow. A one-way valve in an air passageway between the air scoop and the concavity prevents air from flowing from the concavity to the air scoop. A first stern plate mounted at a slight downward angle causes air to flow under the stern in the form of small bubbles and increases the back pressure presented to the flow of water and air through the concavity. A pair of adjustably mounted stern plates may also be provided on opposite sides of the motor to control the amount of back pressure. The airflow through the rigid concavity reduces drag so that the water craft can travel at higher speeds.

Abstract: Presented in an advanced high speed air cushioned marine vehicle that incorporates retractable land drives for operation over beaches or other hard surfaces. The land drives retract into air cushion hull recesses when the vehicle is waterborne so as not to add water resistance at high waterborne speeds. Power for water propulsion as well as land drive is normally supplied from the same propulsor motor(s) for simplicity. Land drives may incorporate tracks, tires, or other land contact mechanisms.

Abstract: Horizontally disposed fins are located in a plane in alignment with a raised trolling plate with fin trailing edges proximate the leading edge of the raised trolling plate. A mounting bracket of a trolling plate assembly serves to mount the fins superjacent the anti-cavitation plate of a propulsion unit.

Abstract: A bow eye for marine use including a U-shaped bolt having two threaded legs. Two metal plates are located respectively on either side of a watercraft hull. A first pair of nuts are threaded onto the legs with one plate being positioned adjacent the nuts. A second pair of nuts is used to secure the bow eye to the hull. A sealing gasket is located on the side of the outside plate that is between the outside plate and the hull. The sealing gasket has apertures that are smaller than apertures located in the hull. The gasket apertures are smaller than the diameter of the legs causing the gasket to pucker around the legs when mounted on the legs. When the bow eye legs are inserted into the hull, the puckered portion of the gasket partially fills the hull apertures. The bow eye nuts are tightened, forcing the gasket further into the hull apertures to seal the bow eye in the hull.

Abstract: An illuminated pointer includes an outer pointer that surrounds an inner pointer. The outer pointer extends from a base and is generally elliptical. The inner pointer extends from the base into the void of the outer pointer. The illuminated pointer utilizes a single light source for illuminating both the outer and inner pointer. The inner pointer provides easier reading of a dual scale gauge such as with a speedometer having both English and Metric speed scales.

Abstract: The present invention is related to an apparatus for forming diamond via a chemical vapor deposition process using hot metal filament based on hydrogen and methane gas, and a method thereof. In particular, the present invention provides an apparatus for using the hot filament repeatedly without breakage, in comparison with the conventional apparatus that the filament is limited in one use, and a method thereof. The apparatus that the filament is limited in one use, and a method thereof. The apparatus includes a base substrate wherein diamond is synthesized by heating filament due to supply of voltage, a pair of electrodes being located above the base substrate, and a plurality of hot filaments being placed over the both electrodes. The top portion of the electrodes has a flat surface that is parallel with the filament, and the side portion has a curved surface. A plurality of filaments is smoothly hanged to both electrodes according to the flat surface and the curved surface without fixing.

Abstract: A milk metering apparatus having a metering chamber 7 which is repeatedly filled and emptied many times in the course of milking an animal is provided with a probe 15 which extends down into the metering chamber 7 and which includes a sampling tube as well as conductivity and light absorption sensors. Milk samples can be taken and conductivity and light absorption measurements can be made during each filling and emptying cycle so that data from the sample analysis and the measurements over the whole period of milking can be compared with corresponding data from previous milkings of the same animal thereby providing valuable information for herd management purposes.

Abstract: A vehicle for automatically milking dairy farm animals which carries a milk reservoir having milk lines which connect to a set of teat cups that are automatically connected to animals' teats by a milking robot. The vehicle is supported from the underlying surface by wheels, caterpillar tracks, or an air cushion, and includes navigational equipment which controls the vehicle so that it positions itself under the animals' teats whereupon the teat cups automatically placed on the relevant animals' teats one by one or in pairs. The vehicle also has its own propulsion power source. The vehicle including all its components is movable and displaceable as a whole. A gripping mechanism for connecting the vehicle to an animal may be included. In a variation, a central station carries a milk reservoir and a plurality of satellite milking units as described above seek out and milk the dairy farm animals.

Abstract: A milking claw for a dairy animal has a bottom having an outlet tubular member having a flow passage of a first vertical height, and a nozzle having an opening passing milk therethrough from the claw bottom to the flow passage. The nozzle opening has a second vertical height less than the first vertical height, such that milk level in the claw bottom need only rise to the level of the second lower vertical height of the nozzle opening rather than to the level of the first higher vertical height of the flow passage of the outlet tubular member, to provide a pressure differential between the vacuum in the outlet and the vacuum in the claw, whereby to draw milk from the claw in smaller more frequent slugs as compared to higher volume less frequent slugs while otherwise waiting for milk level in the claw bottom to rise to the level of the first vertical height.

Abstract: A system for accepting fluid from a source supply, then ejecting it along a substantially non-radial laterally oriented locus such that the fluid enters a cup with a mixing effect but with only minimal splashing, typically including a restriction element frame which substantially bisects the cup serves to control access thereto and a float based automatic flow restricting element; and methodology for its use in the liquid feeding of animals such as piglets.

Abstract: In ovo injection apparatus include an egg carrier configured to hold a plurality of eggs and to provide external access to the eggs, a plurality of injection devices positioned above the carrier, and an egg support assembly positioned beneath the carrier that is configured to support each egg in the carrier during contact therewith by a respective injection device. The egg support assembly includes a frame, a plate having an array of openings attached to the frame, and a plurality of pedestals removably secured within a respective one of the openings. The egg support assembly is operatively associated with the plurality of injection devices such that each pedestal moves upwardly through a respective opening in the carrier to support an egg as a respective injection device makes contact with the egg.

Abstract: This invention features a combination squeeze toy and chew toy for an animal, such as a dog, comprising an assemblage of a first formed material and second formed material, having different material properties. Said first material forming article body portion, hereinafter named as “toy body portion,” comprised of resiliently deformable, soft elastomeric latex, vinyl or like material. Said second material forming article chew portion, hereinafter known as “toy chewable portion” comprised of substantially rigid or semi rigid thermal plastic polymer, nylon or like material. The toy body portion is hollow, having interior space and preferably spherical in shape. The toy chewable portion is substantially solid in form and preferably cylindrical in shape. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, said toy body portion has said toy chewable portion located centrally through said toy body portion and protruding through each side thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operation of an internal combustion engine running under a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) mode with fuel partially reformed by an onboard fuel reformer. In one embodiment, the onboard fuel reformer is a plasmatron fuel converter. The temperature and composition of the gaseous charge into the cylinders of the engine can be adjusted by mixing the charge into the cylinder (which contains air, exhaust gas and/or unreformed fuel) with hydrogen rich gas from the onboard reformer. The fuel reformer transforms the fuel to a mixture of hydrogen, CO and other light hydrocarbons. By adjusting operation in the reformer, the composition of the reformate can be altered. In addition to thermal management of the cylinder charge, the reformate can be used as a fuel blending agent in order to adjust the octane/cetane number of the air charge and thus control the ignition timing of the overall fuel/air charge to the cylinder.

Abstract: A cylinder head, for an internal combustion engine, enhances engine efficiency while ensuring favorable coolant flow. The cylinder head includes a main casting body 41 having a hollow water jacket formed therein, to allow coolant flow therethrough. The main casting body 41 includes a plurality of cylindrical plug hole walls 91 which have plug holes 90 formed therein inside a head-side water jacket 60. The cylinder head also includes partitions 100, formed inside the head-side water jacket 60, and these partitions connect the plug hole walls 91 together form a dividing wall, which divides the water jacket into an exhaust port section and an intake port section. Coolant entering the water jacket is divided into two substreams, which flow initially in substantially opposite directions, and which are reunited after flowing around opposite ends of the dividing wall.

Abstract: A setting tool for driving fastening elements and including a setting piston (20) axially displaceably arranged in the hollow chamber (14) of a piston guide (13), and a piston stop device (30) for the setting piston (20), arranged in setting direction end region of the hollow chamber (14) and having a damping element (31) supported against a stop (15), and a stop member (32) adjoining the damping element (31) in a direction of the hollow chamber (14) and operationally connectable with the piston band (22), and having a cylindrical bushing (33) for the piston stem (21), with the bushing (33) having an inner diameter (DS) that amounts to from 70% to 90% of a size of the maximal outer diameter (DB) of the prison band that has a conical surface engageable with the inner surface of the bushing.