Abstract: An engine start system which may be employed in automotive idle stop systems. The engine start system includes a pinion gear to be pushed to a ring gear coupled to an engine for achieving meshing engagement with the ring gear. After the pinion gear engages the ring gear, the engine start system starts to rotate the pinion gear using a starter motor to crank the engine. Specifically, when an engine restart request is made following an engine stop request, the engine start system waits until after the speed of the engine drops below a preselected gear engageble speed and then moves the pinion gear toward the ring gear without rotating the pinion gear. This minimizes the consumption of fuel in the vehicle in supplying electric power to the starter motor and a maximum level of mechanical noise arising from the engagement of the pinion gear with the ring gear.

Abstract: An outboard motor includes an engine, an engine cover, a partitioning member, an intake device, and a fan. The engine is arranged to support a crankshaft extending along an up-down direction. The partitioning member is arranged to partition the inside of the engine cover into a lower chamber accommodating the engine and an upper chamber. In the partitioning member, a communication hole which is arranged to cause the upper chamber to communicate with the lower chamber is provided. Also, the engine cover has an air inlet arranged to cause the upper chamber to communicate with the atmosphere, and an air outlet arranged to cause the lower chamber to communicate with the atmosphere. The air inlet is arranged in an upper portion of the engine cover. The air outlet is arranged at a lower end portion of the engine cover. The intake device is connected to the engine. The intake device has an air suction port arranged to communicate with the upper chamber. The fan is arranged inside the engine cover.

Abstract: An assembly for controlling an air intake runner of an air intake manifold. The assembly includes a cartridge including a plurality of compartments. Each of the compartments has a plurality of that are joined to define a central opening and an outer perimeter. Adjacent compartments are spaced apart to define a groove between each of the compartments. The assembly also includes bushing carriers that are configured to be snap-fit into one of the grooves of the cartridge. The assembly further includes bushings configured to rotatably fit within the central openings of the bushing carriers. Each of the bushings has an outer rim and an open center. Flaps including a slot and having a shape configured to substantially adjustably seal the central opening are also included and a shaft is included that extends through the slots of the flaps and the open centers of the bushings.

Abstract: A heat insulator for an intake manifold of an air-cooled charge air cooler is a rectangular box placed inside the intake manifold housing. The charge air coming into the intake manifold is passed to the inside of the box by a liner in the housing tube. One side of the box has a plurality of openings with outwardly extending walls for abutting directly with the tubes or plates of the heat exchanger section of the cooler. The box has outwardly extending protrusions for positioning the box inside the intake manifold housing, the protrusions being such that direct heat transfer between the box and the housing is minimal and the heat conduction through the housing wall is sufficient to keep the housing temperature significantly lower than the charge air temperature. The box is not air tight to allow relatively thin material to be used since there is no pressure differential between the outside and the inside of the box.

Abstract: In an engine, an oil level sensor (47) provided in a bottom part of an oil pan (15) storing engine oil so as to stand vertically upright is placed between a mutually parallel pair of balancer shafts (27, 28) housed in a balancer housing (21) provided between a lower face of a cylinder block and the oil pan (15). This not only enables the oil level sensor (47) to be placed compactly by utilizing effectively dead space formed between the pair of balancer shafts (27, 28), but also enables agitation of engine oil to be suppressed by the pair of balancer shafts (27, 28) and any degradation in detection precision due to engine oil splashing over the oil level sensor (47) to be prevented.

Abstract: The present invention a cylinder liner which controls gap formation at the interface between the cylinder liner and a cylinder block main body for accepting the cylinder liner therein, and serves to acquire closely contacting state and enhanced bonding strength between the cylinder liner and the cylinder block main body, and to provide a cylinder block, and further to provide a process for the preparation of the cylinder liner. A plurality of circumferential grooves 15 extending in the circumferential direction is formed from a first circumferential groove 16 having a shape of “J” of the alphabet in sectional view and extending in a circumferential direction formed on an outer surface 12 of an cast iron cylinder liner 10, and a second circumferential groove 18 having a shape of “J” of the alphabet in sectional view and linking to the first circumferential groove 16.

Abstract: Systems are provided for separating oil from blow-by gases in an internal combustion engine. In one example, a system comprises a camcover configured to be mounted on a cylinder head, and a baffle positioned between the camcover and the cylinder head. The baffle may include at least a first and a second baffle plate, the first baffle plate including a first through-hole on a first face of the first baffle plate, the second baffle plate including a second through-hole on a second face of the second baffle plate. Further, the first and second faces may be positioned opposite one another, and offset such that the first and second through-holes are not fully overlapping.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine has an engine block including a crankshaft which is mounted on the engine block by at least a first and a second main bearings, wherein the main bearings each include a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion, the second bearing portion being part of a bearing cap, wherein at least the first bearing cap is connected to the engine block or to the second bearing cap by at least one dampening structure, the structure including a first support portion fixed on the bearing cap, a second support portion fixed on the engine block or on an adjacent bearing cap, and a dampening portion including an elastomeric material which connects the two support portions.

Abstract: An engine system and method of its operation are described. The method includes: operating the combustion chamber in a four stroke cycle by repeatedly opening a first exhaust valve of the combustion chamber once every four piston strokes while holding closed a second exhaust valve of the combustion chamber; after operating the combustion chamber in the four stroke cycle, operating the combustion chamber in a two stroke cycle by repeatedly opening the first exhaust valve once every four piston strokes and repeatedly opening the second exhaust valve once every four piston strokes during a different exhaust stroke than the first exhaust valve; and after operating the combustion chamber in the two stroke cycle, operating the combustion chamber in the four stroke cycle by repeatedly opening the second exhaust valve of the combustion chamber once every four piston strokes while holding closed the first exhaust valve of the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A piston top surface (23) has a depression. A center region (28A) is formed at the center of the depression to secure the diameter of a center tumble flow to be large. A side region (28B) is formed on both sides of the piston top surface to generate a side tumble flow that is not influenced by a cylinder bore inner wall and has a flow line generally parallel to that of the center tumble flow.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle having an emergency running device, there is the problem that, in the event of certain fault symptoms occurring, an emergency running function is initiated and the torque of the engine is in the process limited to an unsuitable low value. In the worst case, this can lead to insufficient acceleration, for example during an overtaking maneuver, and to an accident occurring. It is therefore proposed that the determination of an optimized emergency running function be defined as a function both of the present driving state of the motor vehicle and also of the type of fault symptom depending on which the risk and the level of danger are graded into classes and an optimized emergency running function is then determined and initiated. Thus, sufficient torque and rotational speed can be provided for reliable vehicle control even in an unfavorable traffic situation without damaging the endangered components.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a throttle control device includes an axel 43 for opening and closing a throttle valve 41, an axel sensor 52 for detecting an operation amount of the axel 43, a throttle control portion 71 for controlling the throttle valve 41, a memory portion 72 for storing a plurality of control modes 81, 82, and 83 in which a targeted throttle opening degree for the operation amount is determined, a change-over switch 122 for instructing the changing of the control mode, a judgment portion 73a for judging whether or not the operation amount of the axel 43 is equal to or less than the predetermined operation amount, and a changing portion 73b for changing the control mode when the switch 122 is operated and the operation amount of the axel 43 is equal to or less than the predetermined operation amount.

Abstract: A control device for an internal combustion engine in which controls can be simplified, and being capable of performing high-performance control by appropriately mediating a plurality of requirements. The device includes an emission control unit, a fuel consumption control unit and an idle stability control unit. Those units output requirements for the internal combustion engine on the basis of their respective aims. An efficiency mediation unit that mediates requirements from those units is provided. Furthermore, an actuator instruction value calculation unit, which determines instruction values for the plurality of actuators installed in the internal combustion engine on the basis of a result of mediation performed by the efficiency mediation unit, is also provided. The requirement is a requirement concerning torque efficiency, which indicates a ratio of a required torque to a reference torque that is obtained when operating points of the plurality of actuators are optimized.

Abstract: At the time of shifting a fuel property value associated with a first imaginary passage cell as a fuel property value associated with a second imaginary passage cell located on the downstream side thereof, the fuel property value associated with the second imaginary passage cell is corrected in a controller by computing a difference between the fuel property value associated with the first imaginary passage cell and the fuel property value associated with the second imaginary passage cell and multiplying the difference by a correction coefficient. A stoichiometric air/fuel ratio is computed in the controller based on the fuel property value, which is associated with a last one of the imaginary passage cells. Fuel injection of an injector is controlled by the controller based on a computed injection quantity of fuel, which is computed based on the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio.

Abstract: In fuel injection system having at least one fuel injector and a control unit for triggering the injector, each injector has a piezoelectric actuator, a nozzle element having at least one nozzle opening and at least one movable nozzle needle for selectively closing and opening the at least one nozzle opening, a hydraulic coupling element, which is connected between the piezoelectric actuator and the nozzle needle, and at least one stroke stop, against which the nozzle needle rests in its completely open and/or completely closed position. To be better able to ascertain when the stroke stop is reached in such injectors, the needle stroke stop is ascertained during an energization pause of the piezoelectric actuator by analyzing a voltage signal applied to the piezoelectric actuator. Oscillations of the voltage signal during the energization pause are preferably analyzed.

Abstract: A device and a method for operating an internal combustion engine having at least one cylinder and a tank ventilation system with a line designed to provide pneumatic communication between the tank ventilation system and the at least one cylinder. The line has at least one sensor for determining a hydrocarbon content of a gas flow. A determination, as a function of a measurement signal from the sensor, of a hydrocarbon content of a gas flow flowing from the tank ventilation system to the at least one cylinder is performed. At least one characteristic variable for a fuel quantity to be metered is determined as a function of the determined hydrocarbon content. A metering of fuel into the cylinder is determined as a function of the at least one determined characteristic variable.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for operating at least one inductive load, for example a solenoid of a fuel injection valve, is configured to feed back electrical energy into a storage capacitor in a freewheeling phase after driving the load. In order to avoid an unwanted voltage increase on the capacitor, the circuit arrangement includes a DC/DC converter with the output-side storage capacitor to provide an operating voltage for the load. A drivable circuit arrangement optionally connects the load to the capacitor, and a freewheeling diode arrangement feeds back electrical energy into the capacitor after the circuit arrangement has been switched off. A protection circuit, which is connected in parallel with the capacitor, provides a current path for limiting the charging voltage on the capacitor in the event of an excessively high voltage on the capacitor.

Abstract: Secondary fuel filter (143) provided downstream of a fuel pump (92) has a smaller pore size than a primary fuel filter (141) provided upstream of the fuel pump. The secondary fuel filter is covered with a case member (171) and positioned along a center frame (23) of the vehicle. The secondary fuel filter is made of non-woven fabric and formed in a bag shape, and fuel is filtered by the secondary fuel filter as it passes from the interior to the outside of the filter.

Abstract: A fuel module for a vehicle has a module housing in fluid communication with a fuel tank of the vehicle and supporting a fuel pump. A pressure regulator is in the module housing and the regulator receives fuel from the pump. An orifice is disposed in a fluid path between the pump and the intake of the regulator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating an internal combustion engine in the form of a spark-ignition engine (2) having the following method steps: pre-compressing the air supplied to the combustion chambers (15A-15D) of the internal combustion engine (2), directly injecting fuel into the combustion chambers (15A-15D) of the internal combustion engine (2), and adjusting the valve overlap of the gas exchange valves corresponding to the load range in which the internal combustion engine (2) is operated, characterized by the following method step: carrying out the pre-compression in a charging device in the form of an exhaust-gas turbocharger having a turbine (5) with variable turbine geometry (VTG), wherein the engine exhaust gas is supplied to the turbine (5) via separate spiral ducts (17A, 18A; 17B, 18B) of a multi-flow turbine housing (16A; 16B).

Abstract: The invention of the present application provides a method and a device to optimize the combustion of a liquid fuel by means of gasification of said fuel. Gasification of liquid fuel through the method and the device of the present invention is achieved by atomizing liquid fuel that is converted in very fine liquid particles, and wherein the atomization of said very fine liquid particles is done in a closed camera of an adequate volume, and wherein in said closed camera a vacuum has been generated, and wherein in said closed camera there is an adequate flow, and wherein the adequate flow is achieved by means of a flow control mechanism, and wherein the very fine liquid particles, due to the effect of the vacuum, to the proper environment generated by the existence of an adequate volume of the camera, and the adequate flow, are gasified without need of increasing temperature, nor using any mechanical mean inside the camera.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes an IGBT, a constant voltage circuit, and protection Zener diodes. The IGBT makes/breaks a low-voltage current flowing in a primary coil. The constant voltage circuit and the protection Zener diodes are provided between an external gate terminal and an external collector terminal. The constant voltage circuit supplies a constant gate voltage to the IGBT to thereby set a saturation current value of the IGBT to a predetermined limiting current value. The IGBT has the saturation current value in a limiting current value range of the semiconductor device.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine, including an air/fuel ratio sensor in an exhaust passage detecting an air/fuel ratio in a heated state, implements a technique improving emission at a starting time, by eliminating splash of water droplets early in the exhaust passage at the starting time to advance the heating starting timing of the air/fuel ratio sensor. At the starting time, opening/closing timing of a valve is advanced from a reference opening/closing timing or the reference of the opening/closing timing of the exhaust valve after the warming-up was ended, which continues until the wall temperature of the exhaust passage near the air/fuel ratio sensor becomes equal to or higher than a water droplet disappearing temperature, at which water droplets disappear. Then, change of the opening/closing timing of the exhaust valve responding to the running state by a variable valve mechanism is started.

Abstract: A stratified scavenging two-cycle engine that has a simpler structure than conventional stratified scavenging two-cycle engines and that has an excellent blow-by prevention effect etc. In an air intake stroke, lead air passes a lead-air port (12) etc. to flow into an inner space of a piston (6) during a period from the instant at which a lateral groove (21b) starts to superpose on the lead-air port (12) until the superposing between the lateral groove (21b) and the lead-air port (12) disappears after the piston (6) passes its top dead center. Further, in a scavenging stroke, lead air passes a scavenging path (17) etc. to flow into a cylinder (4) from a scavenging port (18) during a period from the instant at which a scavenging connection opening (20) and a scavenging inflow opening (19) start to superpose on each other until the superposing between the scavenging connection opening (20) and the scavenging inflow opening (19) disappears after the piston (6) passes its bottom dead center.

Abstract: A dart gun having a plurality of darts removably connected about a circumferential area of a cylindrical barrel. A spring-biased gear assembly includes an engagement member that is rotatably aligned with the circumferential area of the cylindrical barrel. The spring-biased gear assembly further includes first and second rotary gears having offset teeth. A trigger bar is operable between a first position in abutting contact with the teeth of the first rotary gear and a second position in abutting contact with the teeth of the second rotary gear. A trigger is operably connected to the trigger bar. The trigger includes a forward position that locates the trigger bar in the first position and a rearward position that locates the trigger bar in the second position. Operation of the trigger causes the spring-biased gear assembly to intermittently rotate, thereby causing the lever to disconnect one of the plurality of darts from the circumferential area of the cylindrical barrel.

Abstract: A system for interchanging barrels on a gun includes a barrel having a first end, a second end, and a shaft between the first end and the second end. The barrel includes a clamping screw notch and a barrel indexing surface formed on the shaft. The system further includes a breech block having a barrel housing formed therein having a first end, a second end, and a hollow core therebetween for receiving the barrel, and an indexing pin positioned to engage the barrel indexing surface upon receipt of the barrel through the barrel housing. The first end of the barrel housing is adapted to engage the receiver of the gun The second end of the barrel housing includes a clamp and a clamping screw orifice formed therein for receiving a clamping screw. Tightening of the clamping screw within the clamping screw orifice removably joins the barrel to the barrel housing.

Abstract: A vibration dampening system for an air gun charging system includes a rear guide tube and a forward guide tube that are received within opposite ends of an air gun power spring, and a sleeve that fits concentrically over the power spring. The rear guide tube and the sleeve cooperate to reduce the free length of the power spring allowed to vibrate, which reduces vibration and improves firing performance.

Abstract: A method of producing gemstones includes obtaining a plate of chemical vapor deposition formed diamond. The plate is cut into a plurality of geometrically optimized preforms. The preforms may be finished and cut into diamond gemstones.

Abstract: Provided is a cooker. A carbon heater used as a convection heater is supported by a heater bracket and heater supporters, and light and heat generated from the carbon heater are transferred to the inside of a cooking chamber through convection, conduction, and radiation.

Abstract: Provided is an air injection nozzle, which is used for a heat treatment such as the heating, cooling or thermal insulation of a running sheet (or film) with injected air. In the air injection face, a number of air injection holes are so arrayed at an interval (Py) in first and second rows that the air injection holes of a first row and the air injection holes of a second row are staggered. The first row and the second row are positioned at an interval (Px). The air injection face and the sheet running face confront each other at a distance (L). The air injection holes in the air injection face have a diameter (D). The interval (Px), the interval (Py), the distance (L) and the diameter (D) satisfy Formula (1): 6?(L/D)/(Px/Py)?9, and Formula (2): 4?L/D?8. This air injection nozzle is employed as a resin film heat treating apparatus in a tenter oven to be used for manufacturing the resin film.

Abstract: A stackable charcoal starter for use in lighting charcoal comprises a base having a continuous wall extending upward therefrom, the wall having a plurality of air inlet openings near its lower end and an opening at its upper end. In a preferred embodiment, the wall extends frusto-conically from a larger upper end to a smaller lower end. A handle assembly located near an upper end of the wall has a first section extending outward from the wall and a second section extending downward from the first section. A shield for protecting a user's hands from the hot surface of the wall extends downward from the first section between the wall and the second section. The first section comprises an aperture of a size sufficient to receive a handle assembly and heat shield of an identical charcoal starter with the result that identical charcoal starters can be stacked on top of one another in close relation.

Abstract: A portable barbecue device includes a heating chamber, a base portion and a plurality of food supporting elements. The food supporting elements may be a plurality of sticks. The heating tube is disposed inside the heating chamber. A plurality of slots are provided on one side of the base portion so as to hold the sticks in place. The motor of the barbecue device may be turned on so that the sticks with food thereon may be rotated around automatically. The output axle of the motor is connected with a set of cogwheels. The cogwheels may mesh with each other or a transmission wheel may be provided between each pair of the cogwheels. Hence, the motor may be turned on to rotate the sticks.

Abstract: A field ration packaging assembly includes a ration housing and a food tray. The ration housing includes a lid panel having at least one air exhaust vent and a wall panel having at least one intake vent. The food tray may be positioned above a heat source. The at least one air exhaust vent and at least one air intake vent may be in fluid communication such that upon activation of the heat source, air enters the ration housing through the at least one air intake vent, passes over the heat source and exits the ration housing at the at least one exhaust vent by natural convection.

Abstract: A vent system for a cooking appliance is disclosed. The appliance has a cooktop surface supporting a plurality of surface heating units. The vent system includes a vent box mounted beneath the cooktop surface; a telescopic vent assembly telescopically mounted relative to the vent box, the telescopic vent assembly being movable between a retracted position proximate the cooktop surface and an extended position above the cooktop surface; a retention unit configured to releasably hold the telescopic vent assembly in the retracted position; and a stored energy mechanical drive unit configured to move the telescopic vent assembly in a first direction to the extended position upon release of the retention unit.

Abstract: A lubricious glass-coated metal cooking article capable of withstanding repeated heating and cooling between room temperature and at least 500° F. without chipping or cracking the glass coating, wherein the glass coating includes about 0.1 to about 20% by weight of a homogeneously distributed dry refractory lubricant material having a particle size less than about 200 ?m. The lubricant material is selected from the group consisting of carbon; graphite; boron nitride; cubic boron nitride; molybdenum (FV) sulfide; molybdenum sulfide; molybdenum (IV) selenide; molybdenum selenide, tungsten (IV) sulfide; tungsten disulfide; tungsten sulfide; silicon nitride (Si3N4); TiN; TiC; TiCN; TiO2; TiAlN; CrN; SiC; diamond-like carbon; tungsten carbide (WC); zirconium oxide (ZrO2); zirconium oxide and 0.1 to 40 weight % aluminum oxide; alumina-zirconia; antimony; antimony oxide; antimony trioxide; and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A solar tracking and concentration device, including a reflecting unit, a receiving unit, a controlling device, and a plurality of photo sensors, is provided. The receiving unit is used to receive the sunlight reflected and reflected by the reflecting unit. The receiving unit and the reflecting unit face each other. The receiving unit is adapted to move along a first direction. According to the position and the time of the reflecting unit, the controlling device controls a rotation angle of a support element and controls a first moving position of the receiving unit moving along the first direction, in which the support element supports the reflecting unit and the receiving unit. The photo sensors are used to detect the sunlight reflected by the reflecting unit to the receiving unit, and are adapted to output a first feedback signal to calibrate a direction of the receiving unit facing the reflecting unit.

Abstract: Provided is a high-effective concentration photovoltaic solar tracking device and method; and, more particularly, to a concentration photovoltaic solar tracking device and method, which maximize concentration efficiency by concentrating solar light using a Fresnel lens and moving a solar panel based on focus information formed when the concentrated solar light is irradiated on a photodiode.

Abstract: An integral storage-collector solar water-heating system is disclosed. The system includes a tank and two absorbers, wherein the entire system is full of water. The water circulation goes from the bottom of the tank trough a fine-tube absorber plate, which is located between a transparent cover exposed to the sun and an insulated plate. The heated water passes through a second absorber that heats them to a usage temperature and cause them flows into the tank's space. The second absorber is created between the exposed wall of the tank, by a grid of tunnels that are grooved in a thermally insulated layer that are attached to the inside walls of the tank. The second absorber is covered with transparent cover too. The water flow into the upper part of the tank and a thermo-siphon valve prevents the back flow. After a double heating, the water is stored inside the tank and ready for use.

Abstract: A two-axis solar tracker that orientates and adjusts the angular position of associated solar collector panels. The tracker may be hydraulically operated all movements of the tracker may be produced by three hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: A man-made island adaptable for land-based operation holds solar energy collection facilities and is rotatable to optimize the angular orientation thereof relative to the position of the sun. A platform includes a large outer ring that floats on a fluid and a flexible cover is attached to the ring to define an airtight volume below the cover. A plurality of rows of solar radiation collector modules are located above the cover and carry steam generating heat pipes. The rows of modules are supported laterally above the cover by an upper support structure, either a space frame, a plurality of cables, or a honeycomb. A compressor creates an over-pressure within the enclosed volume to vertically support the cover and the other components mounted thereabove.

Abstract: The invention provides a solar hot water heating system including one or more solar energy absorbers (102) having at least a first fluid circulation path wherein, an over temperature path (119) is provided, the over temperature path including a pressure vessel (120) which is normally closed to atmosphere, the over temperature path being connected to the first fluid circulation path (108) so that, in the event that fluid in the solar energy absorber vaporizes, the fluid is forced out of the solar energy absorber and into the pressure vessel. The present invention also provides a temperature sensitive valve leaving a flow path and a valve member operated by a thermal element having thermal expansion characteristic the valve including a support member against which the thermal element expands to force the valve element to close the flow path.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus is characterized by an intubation-tube placement device; and an intubation tube secured to the intubation-tube placement device. In another embodiment, an apparatus is characterized by an intubation-tube placement device; and an anti-perforation device coupled to the intubation-tube placement device. In another embodiment, an apparatus is characterized by an intubation-tube placement device; and at least one tactile-accentuator flap coupled to the intubation-tube placement device. In another embodiment, an apparatus is characterized by an intubation-tube placement device; and a handle affixed to the intubation-tube placement device.

Abstract: The invention provides a dry-powder inhaler device 10 comprising at least one air inlet 13, a flow chamber 11 and an air outlet 16 leading to a mouthpiece 12, the flow chamber 11 further comprising at least one compressed-powder volumes 19 and a multiplicity of scraping surfaces 18; wherein the inhalation action of the patient applied at the air outlet 16 causes air to flow from the at least one air inlet 13 through the flow chamber 11, the air flow generating relative motion between the compressed-powder volume 19 and the scraping surfaces 18 such that fine particles of powder are scraped from the compressed-powder volume 19 and inhaled by the patient.

Abstract: A mouthpiece for an inhaler for administering a drug in the form of substances, substance formulations or substance mixtures that can be inhaled comprises an inhalation channel (4) for coupling to a chamber for receiving the drug. At least one component (10) having an aerodynamic cross-section is arranged in the inhalation channel (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to an inhaler (1) for inhaling a formulation (2), said inhaler comprising a filiform support (4) for metering and/or conveying the formulation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sheet driver for use in a drug dispenser including a drug carrier (100) having a plurality of pockets (102, 103, 104) for containing drug wherein said pockets are spaced along the length of and defined between first (106) and second (105) sheets secured to each other and separable by drivable pulling action, the sheet driver comprising a base (220); ascending from the base, a shaft (230) defining a rotational axis; on the base, a drive surface (225) for receipt of drive to rotate the base about the rotational axis; about the shaft, a torsion spring (240) defining first (242) and second (244) spring legs; mounting about the shaft and the torsion spring for rotation about the rotational axis, a hub (250) defining a hub surface for receipt of a sheet of the drug carrier.

Abstract: A breathing gas delivery system is provided. The system includes a nasal cannula having a lumen and a nasal prong configured to deliver a gas from the lumen and into at least one nare of a patient through the nasal prong. At least one of the lumen and the nasal prong includes an amount of an antimicrobial agent effective to kill or inhibit growth of microorganisms on one or more surfaces of the nasal cannula. A method of delivering a breathing gas to a patient using the nasal cannula is also provided.

Abstract: A dry-steam inhaler permits extraction of the active principles of plants or oils, especially of medicinal plants and oils, by heating, more particularly by using a flame as the source of heat. The inhaler includes a heating element (1) and an aspiration device, the heating element (1) having a base (3) and side walls (4) that project from the base (3) and delimit an aspiration chamber (5) communicating with the aspiration device, the base (3) of the heating element (1) being traversed by at least one air aspiration channel (6), of which one end (6a) opens out on the side walls (4) of the heating element (1), and of which the other end (6b) opens out in the aspiration chamber (5).

Abstract: A gas delivery system that includes a housing and a flow generator that includes a blower assembly and an isolation assembly for coupling the flow generator to the housing. The isolation assembly includes at least one elastomeric isolation member having first and second portions, and the blower assembly is coupled to the isolation assembly through the at least one elastomeric isolation member. The first portion is able to shear in a first direction and the second portion is able to shear in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction to permit the blower assembly to move relative to the housing in three dimensions. Also, a gas delivery system that includes a housing and a flow generator provided within the housing, wherein the gas delivery system generates no more than about 30 or 35 dB(A) of noise regardless of the physical orientation of the housing.

Abstract: A brushless DC motor including a rotor, a magnet provided to the rotor, a pair of bearings to rotatably support the rotor, a stator assembly that at least partly surrounds the rotor and magnet thereof and adapted to control movement of the rotor, and a bearing tube having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines a tube interior. The stator assembly is provided along the exterior surface of the tube and the bearings are provided along the interior surface of the tube to support the rotor and magnet within the tube interior. The motor has sample application for use in PAP devices for delivery of positive airway pressure therapy for users or patients.