Provided are a gasket for a muffler, having mechanical strength and sealing ability which do not degrade even if the gasket is used for a long period of time in a use environment subjected to a frequent occurrence of vibration, and a muffler joint. A gasket (1) for a muffler is provided with a metallic mesh material (3) expanded in a flat plane, and also with a band-like seal material (5) layered on the metallic mesh material (3) so as to overlap with the metallic mesh material (3) in a part of the range of the metallic mesh material in the longitudinal direction (Y) thereof. The metallic mesh material (3) and the seal material (5) are compressed in the axis direction (G) in a state in which the metallic mesh material (3) and the seal material (5) are rolled in the width direction (X). By this, the gasket (1) is formed in a state in which the gasket (1) is split in the axis direction (G) into a hard layer (7) consisting only of the metallic mesh material (3) and a soft layer (9) consisting of the metallic mesh material (3) and the seal material (5). A metallic mesh material (3A) applied to a superposed section (11) at which the metallic mesh material (3) overlaps with the seal material (5) is formed so as to have a lower density than a metallic mesh material (3B) not included in the superposed section (11).

An automatic rainwater collection and dispensation system for a building comprises at least one water pump (11) operable by a water pump control unit (12), at least one rainwater storage tank (30) as well as interconnecting pipes, fittings and electrical controls. A section of a gutter (20) is cut to accommodate a main unit (10) which includes the water pump control unit (12) and a rainwater reservoir (13). The rainwater storage tank (30) is disposed under the roof of a building. Inlet pipe (31) connects the main unit (10) to the rainwater storage tank (30). Outlet pipe (32) from the rainwater storage tank (30) allows rainwater to be used preferably for non- drinking purposes. Rainwater in the rainwater reservoir (13) is pumped to the rainwater storage tank (30). The water pump (11), after a time delay, starts pumping only when there is sufficient rainwater in the rainwater reservoir (13) and the rainwater storage tank (30) is not full. The water pump (11) stops pumping when there is insufficient rainwater in the rainwater reservoir (13) or the rainwater storage tank (30) is full.

A method (13) for hydro-conveying cum washing and separating of unwanted matters from the unwashed and\or un-cleaned fresh loose fruits and\or fresh fruit bunches of oil palm or other kinds of fruif\foodstuffs (the fruits\food stuffs) prior to the sterilization process which method use a specifically designed truck or trucks unloading ramp (3) or an existing but specifically redesigned storage bay (2) for directly unloading the fruits\foodstuffs into the prefabricated or in-situ constructed pond, trough or chute or vessel (1) containing warmed water and as equipped with the embodiments of the invention (4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12) and which use in sequence or at a predetermined stage washes and separates the unwanted matters from the fruits\foodstuffs which are then sent for further processing. An apparatus (14) for use in the method (13) is also disclosed.

There is provided a partial vacuum sterilizing method (14) for sterilizing fresh loose fruits or fresh fruit bunches of oil palm or other fruits\foodstuffs, the method comprising directly feeding them into a sterilizer (A); purging (A) of water, condensate, oil, gas, steam, sand and other unwanted materials; introducing pressurized steam in a gradual-to-rapid and homogenous manner to faster start the sterilizing process in partial vacuum or in the negative pressure of air or at near negligible air; depressurizing (A); evacuating the fruits\foodstuffs from (A) for further processing; and evacuating water, condensate, oil, gas, steam, sand and other unwanted materials for further processing and\or recycling. An apparatus for use in the method (14) is also disclosed.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a massage belt adapted to be wrapped around a body part, the massage belt including: at least one first massager with a force imparting portion that extends towards the body part to be massaged, wherein the force imparting portion is movable along a plane in alignment with a portion of the body part to be massaged.

A valve device (40) for regulating the flow rates of a cold refrigerant and a warm refrigerant which are used to regulate the temperature of an electronic part is provided with flow paths (52a-52c) in which the cold refrigerant and the warm refrigerant can flow, and also with a collecting section (65) to which the flow paths (52a-52c) collect.  The collecting section (65) has therein a valve shaft (70) in which a first groove (72) is formed.  The valve shaft (70) causes the first groove (72) to face at least two of the flow paths (52a-52c) to connect the at least two flow paths (52a-52c) to each other.

A storage device testing system (100) includes at least one robotic arm (200) defining a first axis (205) substantially normal to a floor surface (10). The robotic arm is operable to rotate through a predetermined arc about and extend radially from the first axis. Multiple racks (300) are arranged around the robotic arm for servicing by the robotic arm. Each rack houses multiple test slots (310) that are each configured to receive a storage device transporter (550) configured to carry a storage device (500) for testing.

A storage device testing system (100) includes at least one robotic arm (200) defining a first axis (205) substantially normal to a floor surface (10). The robotic arm is operable to rotate through a predetermined arc about and extend radially from the first axis. Multiple racks (300) are arranged around the robotic arm for servicing by the robotic arm. Each rack houses multiple test slots (310) that are each configured to receive a storage device transporter (550) configured to carry a storage device (500) for testing. A transfer station (400) is arranged for servicing by the robotic arm. The transfer station includes multiple tote receptacles (420) that are each configured to receive a storage device tote (450).

A storage device transporter (400, 400b, 400c), for transporting a storage device (600) and for mounting a storage device within a test slot (500, 500b), includes a frame (410, 410b, 410c) configured to receive and support a storage device. The frame includes sidewalls (418, 425a, 425b, 429a, 429b) configured to receive a storage device there between and sized to be inserted into a test slot along with a storage device. The frame also includes a clamping mechanism (450) operatively associated with at least one of the sidewalls. The clamping mechanism includes a first engagement element (476, 700, 750) and a first actuator (454, 710, 760) operable to initiate movements of the first engagement element. The first actuator is operable to move the first engagement element into engagement with a test slot after a storage device being supported by the frame is arranged in a test position in a test slot.

High-capacity extrusion die assemblies (20, 90, 130, 140, 180, 252) each having a tubular sections (44, 146, 162, 268) and an elongated, axially rotatable, helically flighted screw section (56, 56a, 152, 168, 276, 278) which cooperatively define frustoconical, outwardly diverging material flow paths (75, 160, 291) at constant or differing divergence angles of from about 1-11°. The use of diverging tubular sections (44, 146, 162, 268) and screw sections (56, 56a, 152, 168, 276, 278) permits the use of larger die plates (76, 118, 292) with an increased number of die openings (80, 124, 296). This allows significant increases in extrusion production rates. The die assemblies (20, 90, 130, 140, 180, 252) can be used in the production of a wide number of human foods or animal feeds, and particularly aquatic feeds of the floating or sinking variety. Tn another aspect of the invention, an extruder (210) is provided having diverging and converging sections (212, 214) along the length thereof and defining corresponding flow paths (230, 246).