Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure probe for characterizing the pressure and/or differential pressure in a fluid, and all derivatives, like for instance, flow rate. The device comprises a front side adapted for facing an upstream direction of the fluid flow, a bulbous part adapted for creating a region of low pressure, also called wake, and a flow detachment means. The front side allows creation of a region of high pressure. It has a planar shape or the shape of a recess. The device thus allows to be substantially flow angle independent, to be Reynolds number independent in a wide range of flow velocities and to obtain a large differential pressure gain.

Abstract: A means for simultaneous determination of the radial and angular vectors of rotary motion of a body relative to a single reference axis, by measurement of the common aid differential states of three position detectors and, together with an axial position detector, thus to allow the measurable modulation of magnetic devices such as to provide measurable vector forces to support that body against the vector effects of any external forces that tend to change its position relative to the reference axis, in the absence of any contact between the rotor and the combined system of sensors and magnetic devices.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for use in a surgical procedure is described. The assembly can includes a sensor for implantation into a body part, a sensor cord attached to and extending from the sensor and a handle fastened to the sensor cord. The handle is fastened so that a force can be applied to the sensor cord via the handle. The handle comprises a force indicator to which force applied to the sensor cord is applied and which can provide an indication of the force applied to the sensor cord via the handle.

Abstract: An apparatus removes soil samples at intervals over a field of interest. The apparatus comprises a sampling assembly (60) that rotates on a track (32) riding on a plurality of idler wheels (29, 31). A probe (66) extends and retracts under the action of a scissored frame assembly (70), mechanically manipulated by passage of the scissored frame assembly (70) along a guide assembly (108). The probe (66) is extended into the ground and retracted on each revolution. An ejector (68) pushes soil from the probe (66) as it passes over a hopper (88) to retain the cores. The cores are pneumatically transferred from the hopper (88) to a plurality of sample collection containers (126). An electronic control system uses GPS location information to deposit collected cores in the appropriate container (126) based upon the current location of the apparatus in the field of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the recording of process parameters of reaction fluids in several microreactors which are continuously agitated, at least until the termination of the reaction in all the microreactors. The process parameters in the microreactor are recorded during the reaction by means of at least one sensor optical system. According to the invention, the reliability of the method may be increased, whereby, during the recording of the value of a process parameter, for example, on recording an instantaneous value of the auto-fluorescence of the reaction fluids, the sensor optical system is held stationary.

Abstract: A probe holder for a signal acquisition probe has a cradle receiving the signal acquisition probe and a pedestal adapted for receiving substrates of various thicknesses. The pedestal has a base member and an upright member with the upright member coupled to the cradle. The base member has at least a first lateral slot formed therein having a plurality of clearances for receiving substrates of varying thicknesses.

Abstract: The speed reducing mechanism comprises a housing, a power shaft, a bevel gear set, a drive shaft and a driven shaft. The power shaft, the drive shaft and the driven shaft are pivotally disposed in the housing, and the drive shaft is vertically connected to the driven shaft via the bevel gear set. The bevel gear and the bevel fluted disc of the bevel gear set are meshed with each other at a displacement angle. By such arrangements, the transmission efficiency of the speed reducing mechanism can be increased to 85-95%.

Abstract: A robot arm for an industrial robot. The robot arm includes a wrist housing, a wrist, and a turn disc. The wrist is rotatably connected to the wrist housing and the turn disc is rotatably connected to the wrist. A first motor drives the wrist and a second motor drives the turn disc. A first driving rope transmits the motor rotation to the wrist, and a second driving rope transmits the motor rotation to the drive pulley.

Abstract: A handguard assembly for a handlebar is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the handguard assembly includes an arm and a shield movably connected to the shield. A biasing member is connected to the arm and the shield.

Abstract: A device for use with a vehicle transmission system includes a housing having a clutch provided therein and a first member extending from the housing and configured for coupling to a vehicle differential. The first member includes a generally hollow tube configured to carry a rotatable shaft therein. The device does not include a second member for directly coupling the device to a transmission housing or to the differential.

Abstract: A steel processing material comprises a dried post combustion material (PCM) and a slag foaming material.

Abstract: Provided is an aerosol method, and accompanying apparatus, for preparing powdered products of a variety of materials involving the use of an ultrasonic aerosol generator (106) including a plurality of ultrasonic transducers (120) underlying and ultrasonically energizing a reservoir of liquid feed (102) which forms droplets of the aerosol. Carrier gas (104) is delivered to different portions of the reservoir by a plurality of gas delivery ports (136) delivering gas from a gas delivery system. The aerosol is pyrolyzed to form particles, which are then cooled and collected. The invention also provides powders made by the method and devices made using the powders.

Abstract: A steelmaking process is disclosed. The process includes producing molten steel and molten steelmaking slag in a steelmaking process, the steelmaking slag including iron units and flux units, and thereafter producing molten iron in a molten bath based direct smelting process using a substantial portion of the steelmaking slag as part of the feed material requirements for the direct smelting process. A direct smelting process is also disclosed. The process includes pre-treating ferrous material including steelmaking slag and thereafter direct smelting molten iron using the pretreated ferrous material as part of the feed material for the process.

Abstract: A direct reduction process for a metalliferous material includes supplying a solid carbonaceous material and an oxygen-containing gas into a fluidized bed in a first vessel and generating heat by reactions between the oxygen-containing gas and the solid carbonaceous material and any other oxidizable solids and gases in the fluidized bed and discharging a hot off-gas stream containing entrained solids. The process also includes supplying the metalliferous material to a fluidized bed in a second vessel and supplying the hot off-gas stream containing entrained solids from the first vessel to the fluidized bed in the second vessel and partially reducing the metalliferous feed material in the solid state in the fluidized bed and discharging a product stream of partially reduced metalliferous material and an off-gas stream containing entrained solids.

Abstract: A method for producing a metal alloy includes the steps of: (A) preparing a first melt containing a base metal which has not been alloyed; (B) preparing a second melt containing a base metal and at least one alloying element, the base metals in the first and second melts being the same; and (C) mixing the first and second melts to dilute the concentration of the alloying element.

Abstract: Decapper consisting of a monopiece body, configured with a straight profile of angular section and symmetrical, whose sides have flaps that are noticeably arched inwards, ending in sharp edges, in such a way that in both directions they make it possible to retain the edges of the crown-type bottle caps, so that they may be decapped through a levering or movement of the bottle in question.

Abstract: An apparatus including an elongated rod adapted for sliding under a bottom of a locked door. The elongated rod includes a main section, a curved section, a handle end and an actuator end. The handle end, the curved section and the actuator end extend away from the main section in the same direction such that the handle end, the curve section, the main section, and the actuator end define a plane. The elongated rod is separable into a handle section, an actuator section and a center section.

Abstract: A shingle removing tool includes, among other possible things, a handle, a shaft connected to the handle, and a base connected to the shaft. A length of the shaft is adjustable. The base includes a blade portion that is configured to separate one or more shingles from a support structure to which the shingles are affixed.

Abstract: A ratchet device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted. The ratchet device includes a ratchet body having a handle and a ratchet head. The handle is reciprocably rotatable in first and second handle directions about an axis extending substantially normal to a major axis of the ratchet head. The ratchet device further includes an output member coupled to the ratchet head, wherein the output member is rotatable in a substantially constant output member direction when the handle is reciprocated between first and second handle directions.

Abstract: A rotary wrench structure including a main body and a working head. The main body has a handle section at one end and two lugs at the other end. The two lugs define therebetween a holding space. A split communicates with the holding space and extends therefrom to the handle section. The working head has a receiving space in which a ratchet head is accommodated. A stopper member is mounted at a bottom end of the ratchet head for locating the ratchet head. At least one cavity is formed on a sidewall of the receiving space, in which at least one pawl unit is mounted. The pawl unit includes a pawl block, a slide block and a resilient member. The pawl block has several ratchets and the slide block has an arced face. The pawl block and the slide block are interconnected by the resilient member. The ratchets of the pawl block serve to engage with the ratchets of the ratchet head for driving the ratchet head.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for an electric jack, wherein an electrically powered jack is provided for at least partially raising and lowering an automobile off a ground surface. The apparatus may be utilized in conjunction with a conventional portable car jack, wherein the apparatus comprises a power drill, a rod, and a plurality of jack adapters. Each jack adapter is specifically designed to attach to a particular type of car jack, thus providing an apparatus that may be utilized with an assortment of car jacks.

Abstract: A surgical device can include a torque limiting device or system. The surgical device can include a rod attached on one end to a rotatable handle and attached on the opposite end to a surgical implement. A first torque limiting element can be connected to the handle, and a second torque limiting element can be operably connected to the rod and surgical implement and releasably engageable with the first torque limiting element. When the first and second torque limiting elements are engaged, rotation of the handle can cause rotation of the rod and surgical implement. When a rotational force that exceeds a predetermined torque limit is applied to the handle, the first torque limiting element can disengage from the second torque limiting element, so that the handle is rotatable without rotation of the rod and surgical implement. The first and second torque limiting elements can be re-engageable so that further rotation of the handle can cause rotation of the rod and surgical implement.

Abstract: A securing tool for securing a two-wheeler component to a handlebar comprises a body, a bracket connected to the body for securing the two-wheeler component, a clamp band clamping the handlebar and a control knob in the form of a ring provided in a rotatable manner with respect to the body. An end of the clamp band is secured to the body. The clamp band passes through the inside of the ring of the control knob. The inner diameter of a loop formed by the clamp band is varied by rotating the control knob.

Abstract: A wood product assembly includes a cutter and skewing assemblies. A cutter positioning body is movable by the slewing assembly along a slewing axis. A spindle housing is mounted to the cutter positioning body for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. A spindle, to which a cutter, such as a sawblade or chipper head, is affixed, is mounted to the spindle housing for rotation about a spindle rotation axis by a drive assembly. The drive assembly includes a fixed position drive motor and a drive shaft assembly. The drive shaft assembly comprises a hollow drive shaft sleeve and a drive shaft. The drive shaft sleeve extends at least part way through the drive motor and is rotatable by the drive motor. An end of the drive shaft is slidably housed within and rotated by the drive shaft sleeve. The skewing assembly is coupled to the spindle housing to position the spindle rotation axis to a selected angular orientation to position the cutter at a selected skew angle.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that cuts pattern work material pieces without rotating a housing tube for orientation of the cutting knife. The apparatus utilizes a tangential axis drive motor to orient the cutting knife. Consequently, any inertia caused by the housing tube that slowed the angular acceleration of knife orientation is eliminated, and the speed of knife orientation is increased. The apparatus is not limited to motor reciprocation to drive the motion of the cutting knife. Other means of reciprocating the knife are possible with this apparatus.

Abstract: Cutting assembly comprising a blade or two half-cutting blades (40a, 40b) each composed of a point (43, 43a, 43b) of generally triangular form, located in a plane forming substantially a right-angle with a reference plane P, a sole (42, 42a, 42b) of given length (r), located in a plane substantially parallel to the reference plane P, and a cutting edge (41, 41a, 41b) located in a plane forming a given acute angle (?) with the reference plane P. Assembly process intended for the production of tires, comprising a cutting device enabling sets of pre-assembled profiled elements to be cut and for joints to be produced by superposition in which the products of the same nature are superposed directly on one another.

Abstract: A drum includes a shell, which is made of environment friendly materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polycarbonate (PC), Polystyrene (PS), and Polypropylene (PP); furthermore, after shaping, the drum shell is printed, plated, and decorated with stickers on the surface so as to be bright-colored and capable of varying in colors.

Abstract: An improved guitar pick or plectrum for use with a stringed musical instrument. The improved pick has a substantially planar central gripping portion and at least one and not more than four substantially planar picking wing portions peripherally extending, one each in a respective different longitudinal direction from the central gripping portion. In application, only one of the wing portions may be used at any one time. The wing portions can include an end surface having a different jagged or serrated picking edge formed of at least two and not more than four peak members adapted for strumming or plucking the strings of a stringed instrument so that each of the peak members strike the string in rapid sequence.

Abstract: Disclosed is a musical accessory, equipped with a tuner for stringed instruments and/or a metronome, capable of generating power by itself, which is convenient to use. In an aspect, the musical accessory comprises a casing housing a sensor, an amplifier, an A/D converter, an indication unit, a microprocessor, and a power supply unit, wherein the power supply unit includes a driver pivotably installed on one side of the casing, a power generation module for generating electromotive force by receiving rotary power from the driver, and a charger connected to the power generation module and storing some amount of the electromotive force, wherein the musical accessory is operated by receiving power from the charger.

Abstract: A protective cover for an electric string instrument including a generally U-shaped cradle having a flexible front member connected to a flexible back member by a flexible edge member. An upper fin-engaging portion of the edge member can be adapted to fit over the upper fin of the electric string instrument. A flexible loop can be attached to the back member and adapted to fit over a lower fin on the instrument to hold the generally U-shaped cradle to it. An upper fin-engaging portion of the edge member can fit over the upper fin of the electric string instrument. A flexible loop can be attached to the back member and adapted to fit over the instrument's lower fin to hold the generally U-shaped cradle to it. The flexible edge member can also include at least one strap button opening to fit over any strap buttons located along the peripheral edge the instrument. A pick guard can be fixed to the front side of the instrument. A back plate can be fixed to the back side of the instrument.

Abstract: Adjustable hand rest post for a musical instrument, wherein the hand rest post is constructed to provide multiple adjustments of the position of the hand rest on which the hand or hands of the musical performer rest when playing a musical instrument, such as a bassoon or contrabassoon. The adjustable hand rest post incorporates an articulated hand rest post to allow for varying angles of adjustment. The adjustable positioning of the hand rest, achievable through adjustment of the articulated and adjustable hand rest post, reduces discomfort for the player and reduces injury with overuse. A bassoon is equipped with a key mechanism that is constructed using a tube that consists of a tenor joint, a boot (also known as a double) joint, a long joint, and a bell joint. A bassoon weighs approximately 8 pounds and is over 4 feet in length so that support of the instrument by the hands while playing without undue discomfort or fatigue is a significant concern.

Abstract: A percussion practice pad assembly, comprising a support, multiple pads carried by the support to be selectively struck, the pads characterized as producing different sounds, when struck, as during practice.

Abstract: This invention is a new and useful method and apparatus for counter-weighting a bass drum to prevent slippage while in use on hard, slick floors in a traditional rock or jazz-style percussion arrangement. This method and apparatus utilizes the weight of a percussion player sitting on his or her percussion stool or chair as a counter-weight to keep the bass drum from slipping forward as it is played by connecting the forward spurs on the front of the bass drum to the leg or center pole of a drum stool via an adjustable guy-strap system radiating from the center pole or leg of the stool in an arrangement designed with adjustments and hardware for ease of use.

Abstract: A finger alignment device for a musical instrument, the alignment device includes an enclosure having a mounting surface and at least one open end, the enclosure arranged to substantially cover a fore end of a finger and a releasable fastening means for engaging with the instrument. In some embodiments, the musical instrument includes at least one valve and the releasable fastening means arranged on the mounting surface to releasably secure the enclosure on one of the at least one valve.

Abstract: A system and method of instructing a user to read musical notation through interaction with a graphical user interface and an input instrument representative of a stringed instrument comprising a plurality of modes of instruction which progressively direct and alter characteristics of the user interface to more closely resemble standard musical notation. The graphical user interface includes a virtual fingerboard having linear arrays representing frequency ranges and note positions. The note positions and linear arrays may be coded indexed to a chromatic scale and may directly correspond to fingerboard positions on an input instrument. A game object is directed toward the virtual fingerboard in accordance with a music file is incorporated in the graphical user interface which contains data corresponding to notes in sequence that have a rhythmic pattern of arrangement coinciding with the virtual fingerboard. An evaluation of the user's performance is provided based on striking the input instrument.

Abstract: A game console capable of operating with a variety of electronic musical instruments is provided. Such a system is especially useful for downloading different musical video games for a variety of musical instruments and capable of changing the level of difficulty during play. In one embodiment, the electronic musical instrument includes a positional sensor which can be one or more of a solid state gyroscopic sensor, a magnetic compass sensor and an accelerometer. The position of the electronic musical instrument can be used by the game console to select from two or more strategy files or to change the level of play difficulty. The game console has a network connection for sharing player responses with other remote players, and can also be used to download new musical and strategy files.

Abstract: Dynamics value is acquired intermittently at predetermined time periods, and a waveform data set for a sustain tone, corresponding to the acquired dynamics value, is specified from among waveform data sets stored in a memory. To generate a tone waveform while switching to the specified waveform, a waveform switching time is used which is modified suitably in accordance with a dynamics value variation amount from a predetermined time earlier than the current dynamics value acquisition time to the current dynamics value acquisition time. Such arrangements not only can variably control a tone, having a tone-color-variation realizing characteristic, in accordance with the input dynamics value but also permits a tone color variation with an enhanced responsiveness without causing the tone color variation to impart a feeing of undesired step-like unsmoothness, thereby synthesizing a tone with a high quality faithfully reproducing a desired tone color variation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for assessing a performance of a musical composition in relation to a model performance of the same composition. In particular, as even a model performance does not follow a score of a composition precisely, the present invention initially correlates the model performance to a score of the performed composition. This allows for an accurate assessment of the timing of the assessable performance, relative to the timing of the model performance. The invention is of particular use where the assessable performance is performed along with the model performance, but the two perforrnances are remote from each other.

Abstract: A sound-processing apparatus is provided that is capable of creating a sound effect without having to worry about changes in parameters such as the beat of the input sound source. The sound-processing apparatus comprises: a delay unit DB that generates at least one or more new synchronized sound signal that is synchronized with a sound signal Si to be modulated; parameter-detection unit 6 that detects a parameter that indicates an attribute of the generated synchronized sound signal; a signal-conversion unit 8 that generates a converted signal Sdm based on the detected parameter; and a modulation unit that modulates the sound signal based on the generated converted signal Sdm.

Abstract: Disclosed are a portable multimedia player detachably coupled in a microphone case and a microphone-type video-song accompaniment apparatus. The apparatus includes a microphone case and a portable moving picture multimedia player. The microphone case has a head part in which an external microphone is installed, a grip part having a coupling groove, and a microphone connection terminal, an audio line terminal and a video line terminal formed in the coupling groove. The portable moving picture multimedia player has connection terminals formed on an outer circumference thereof to electrically contact the microphone connection terminal, the audio line terminal and the video line terminal, switches the external microphone and an internal microphone in response to coupling or decoupling thereof, operates in a video-song accompaniment mode when coupled, and operates in a portable multimedia player mode when decoupled.

Abstract: Acceleration data outputted from an acceleration sensor provided in an input device is acquired and a magnitude of an acceleration is calculated. Next, based on the calculated magnitude of the acceleration, at least one piece of track data representing a target music to play is selected from music piece data including a plurality of pieces of track data stored in memory means. Then, based on the selected track data, data for controlling a sound generated from a sound generation device is outputted.

Abstract: Provided is, among other things, a system of musically interacting devices. A first device has a first identification code, a first wireless communication interface and a first audio player, and a second device has a second identification code, a second wireless communication interface and a second audio player. The first device and the second device are configured to participate in an interaction sequence in which: the first device wirelessly communicates using the first wireless communication interface, the second device wirelessly communicates using the second wireless communication interface, a musical composition is selected based on both the first identification code and the second identification code, and the first device and the second device cooperatively play the musical composition, with each of the first device and the second device playing a different part of the musical composition.

Abstract: Provided is a music information calculation apparatus capable of recognizing a structure of a piece of music based on an acoustic signal of the piece of music.

Abstract: The disclosure presented here involves an effect device that can easily connect with other effect devices in parallel. A preferred embodiment of this device is equipped with a number of components including an effect add means that adds effects, a mixing means that mixes the musical signals, a mode switching means that configures the operation from parallel mode to serial mode, and a phase reversal means that reverses the phase of the musical sound signals. Various combinations using the above means are possible and are presented in this disclosure. The output terminal outputs the musical sound signals that were selected, mixed, and or treated by the enabled features of the underlying embodiments.

Abstract: A testing system is incorporated in an automatic player piano for specifying a half pedal point of a damper pedal at which the loudness of tones is lessened, and an automatic player moves the damper pedal to the half pedal point so as to lessen the loudness of tones in an automatic playing; the testing system accumulates pieces of experimental data expressing relation between the loudness of tones and a current pedal position of the damper pedal, and searches the pieces of experimental data for points of reflection; and the testing system determines the half pedal point through an internal division on the line between the points of reflection.

Abstract: A system and method of enhancing guitar instruction based on Tablature Plus encoding of playing techniques within a MIDI file or other data structure, that may be rendered on an associated player application that provides multimedia output of the piece being played including a number of playing techniques. The system hardware for encoding the information includes string motion monitoring, and optionally a hand motion and finger positioning sensor, such as a data glove or a video motion capture system, for simultaneously registering the actions of the guitarist while playing the piece. The software comprises algorithms for determining note pitch and duration, and for extracting playing techniques from the data being collected. Multimedia player software is also described which renders a visual and audio output for the Tablature Plus encoded file, wherein the encoded playing techniques are represented within the display output. The system is adaptable to instruction for any instrument.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device by means of which it has been made possible, without gas discharge to the surrounding environment, to accelerate the speed of a powder-gas-driven projectile from zero to a speed which gives the projectile free-flying characteristics. According to the invention, this has been made possible by utilizing at least some of the expansion force from the propellant powder charge, which discharges gas when it is initiated, for, by a displaceable piston, driving a countermass out of the rear part of the projectile in the direction opposite to the desired flying direction of the projectile.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compressor, which has a bolt-cooling part formed between a suction chamber and a bolt fastening hole formed at a position, where the suction chamber and a discharge chamber of a housing are partitioned from each other, for allowing for a flow of refrigerant toward the bolt fastening hole to reduce an influence of temperature of discharged refrigerant, thereby preventing loosening of a bolt due to a thermal expansion, and improving durability.

Abstract: A hydraulic tool including a motor; a hydraulic pump comprising only one reciprocating piston pump member; and a transmission connecting the motor to the hydraulic pump. The transmission includes a wobble plate and at least one spring. The wobble plate includes a front end pivotably connected to a frame of the pump. A rear end of the piston pump member is located against the front end of the wobble plate. The spring is spaced from the piston pump member and applies a biasing force against the front end of the wobble plate.

Abstract: A telescopic lifting assembly designed particularly for the hydraulic height adjustment of a medical treatment table includes two antiparallel juxtaposed linear drives (2, 3) connected functionally one behind the other in the direction of actuation (1) whereby the inner components (6) are connected to a coupling piece (7) which is provided with guide surfaces (14) cooperating with the outer components (5) in the direction of actuation (1). A secure and stable guiding mechanism is made possible thereby along the entire lifting range.