41results about How to "Simple and inexpensive and reliable" patented technology

An apparatus for restraining a mobility aid in the interior of a vehicle includes two or more retractor spools contained within a common housing. The retractor spools carry flexible webbed belts, and are operated by common actuator mechanism having a direct mechanical attachment to the spools. The various elements of the apparatus are contained within a common housing which is easily mounted to a bulkhead or under a foldable seat. A third retractor is mounted in opposition permitting both the front and rear of the mobility aid to be easily secured by the occupant of the mobility aid without assistance of the operator of the vehicle. The operative portions of the retractor are designed to be positioned so as not to present an obstacle to other users of the vehicle in which the apparatus may be installed. A timing mechanism is provided for at least one of the retractor spools to allow at least one of the retractor spools to be freely manipulated during a predetermined time interval.

This invention relates to a lighting or indicator device, in particular for motor vehicles, comprising at least one light source and at least one output optical system in order to form a lighting or indicator lamp beam consistent with regulations. In accordance with this invention the device comprises at least one input optical system comprising a collimating element receiving light rays emitted by the source and transmitting a beam of parallel rays towards an output optical system which forms a lighting or indicator lamp beam.

A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) return air system actuator device which could, among other things, be employed to notify a user of a clogged air filter and/or disperse a fragrance into a forced air HVAC system is disclosed. In one embodiment the actuator device has a movable actuator mounted within a housing. The movable actuator moves in response to a user pre-set pressure differential. When the pre-set pressure differential is reached, the movable actuator impacts a lever which activates a switch. The switch could be connected to a host of items such as a light emitting device to notify the user to a clogged air filter condition and/or to activate a pump to release a fragrance into the HVAC system.

Toweling dispenser apparatus including a toweling support roller carrying a movable cutter blade. A switch is actuated after a user pulls on toweling to rotate the toweling support roller and transport the toweling. After some rotation of the roller has occurred, an electric switch is closed and energizes an electric motor to drive the roller and reduce the force required by the user to rotate the roller and actuate the cutter blade to sever a towel from the toweling.

There is disclosed a wristwatch (21) including a middle part (22) defining a middle plane (Y), conductive means (35, 36) for attaching the wristband (32) to the middle part, a radio-frequency module (27) arranged inside the middle part and connected, on the one hand, to a ground plane and, on the other hand, to a radiating element, insulated from each other and forming an antenna. The ground plane includes at least one conductive surface portion (37) of the wristband connected to the wristband attaching means and the middle part which is conductive, the latter being connected from the inside to the radio-frequency module. The radiating element includes a first conductive surface element (25) arranged in a substantially parallel plane to the middle plane defined by the middle part.

A power train for use in motor vehicles has a friction clutch including a housing which rotates with the output shaft of the engine and a clutch disc which transmits torque to the input shaft of a change-speed transmission in the engaged condition of the clutch. The clutch can be engaged and/or disengaged by one or more slave cylinders which is or are rotatably mounted on and is or are being held against axial movement relative to the clutch housing. At least one release bearing can be installed between the piston(s) of the slave cylinder(s) and the diaphragm spring of the friction clutch, and a second bearing is or can be installed between the slave cylinder housing(s) and the clutch housing.

A mechanical transmission (14) having a plurality of ratios (first-twelfth) and an automated system (10) utilizing same, has an upper group of ratios (seventh-twelfth) having a relatively small average ratio step (13%) compared to the average ratio steps (30%-40%) of comparable transmissions. This allows high-speed operation (35-70 mph) at or very nearing desired engine speed (112), emulating the characteristics of a CVT.

System and a method for automatically topping up an internal combustion engine (4) with lubricant. A lubricant container that includes a (1), a pipe (2) which connects the container to the internal combustion engine (4), a level pipe (5) which defines the oil level in a sump (6) and an apparatus (3) for transferring lubricant. The apparatus (3) for transferring lubricant makes it possible to transfer lubricant both from the container (1) to the internal combustion engine (4) and from the internal combustion engine (4) to the container (1).

A platform system (5) for use in a cargo compartment of a truck, lorry or trailer. The platform system (5) is provided with a plurality of elevation platforms (20) with a substantially rectangular outline, onto which, in use, goods can be loaded. The elevation platforms (20) can be elevated when loaded. Each elevation platform (20) is guided by horizontally spaced and vertically extending guides. Each elevation platform is suspended from a set of cables, each of these cables being associated with each of the vertically extending guides and a first end of each of the cables in the set being associated with one corner of the rectangular elevation platform. The platform system is also provided with a plurality of actuators (25) with one actuator associated with each elevation platform (20). The second end of the cables in the set being operably connected one of the actuators (25).

A method and system for electrolysis of water to increase the dissolved oxygen content, raise oxidation reduction potential, and perform direct oxidation of dissolved contaminants in situ. This is accomplished by an electrolytic catalytic oxidation (ECO) cell having an innovative configuration of electrodes in a cartridge designed to maximize water contact with an efficiently designed affecting system. The cartridge consisting of multiple mesh electrodes arranged transversely to imposed water flow electrolyzes passing water when energized. The mesh construction of the electrodes allows water flow to be essentially through the electrodes, with a narrow gap set up between cathode and anode to reduce voltage requirements of the system. The cartridge anodes are preferably plated with a mixed metal oxide such as iridium oxide and ruthenium oxide to catalytically improve the production of oxygen. The electrode cores are constructed of titanium, combining low electrical resistance with low activity, reducing metal loss during system operation.

An apparatus for conveying products comprising at least one conveyor device being drivable by a drive shaft in order to supply the products to each of a plurality of output regions, wherein said conveyor device comprises a support structure which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation of said drive shaft for individually changing said output region. Said support structure is pivotably supported by a jointed arm arrangement at a support element spaced apart from said drive shaft such that, by moving said jointed arm arrangement, said support structure is pivotable about said axis of rotation of said drive shaft.

The interior of a vessel containing fluid is protected against undesirable chemical corrosion and/or mechanical erosion caused by the fluid due, for example, to changes in the chemistry of the fluid, by an electrically conductive, chemically corrodable sacrificial member having an internal section disposed within the tank and an exposed exterior portion connected to an electrical corrosion/erosion detection circuit operative to create and maintain a flow of electrical current through the sacrificial member. When the internal section of the sacrificial member is subjected to a predetermined combination of fluid exposure time and fluid chemical corrosivity within the vessel a chemical corrosion gap is formed within the internal sacrificial member section. Creation of this gap terminates or at least substantially reduces electrical current flow through the sacrificial member and responsively causes the detection circuit to output a corrosion/erosion detection signal indicating the need for corrective action.

A folding convertible top for a convertible vehicle includes a rotational angle detection device disposed in a rotary hinge (1) for detection of the rotational angle between linkage arms (2, 4) of a convertible top frame that are pivotably connected with each other by a bearing pin (10; 22). A rotational angle encoder (8; 18; 30) is connected with one linkage arm so as to rotate therewith and a sensor element (6; 20; 32) is connected with the other linkage arm so as to rotate therewith. The rotational angle encoder and/or the sensor element is/are disposed adjacent to the bearing pin on respective surfaces of the linkage arms facing towards each other or within housing parts (24, 26) connected to the respective linkage arms.

The invention provides porous matrices that comprise one or more anionic surfactants that can be used in non-aqueous environments.

An electronic status detection device for wireless detection of at least one status of an apparatus, wherein the status detection device comprises at least two resonant circuits, of which at least one resonant circuit is active and one resonant circuit is passive, wherein the active resonant circuit comprises at least one control device. A status detection device such as this makes it possible, for example, to reliably detect the presence or the absence of belt clips in safety belt locks.