A laser lowering device for mounting a laser, which in one embodiment includes: at least one laser support for mounting the laser; a mount having a line receiving portion, the mount being connected to the at least one laser support; an elongated member having a first end and a second end, the first end being removably connected to a pole and the second end being pivotally connected to the mount; and a mount control line connected to the line receiving portion and extending towards the elongated member. The mount control line is manipulable to cause the mount to pivot relative to the elongated member. The laser lowering device allows a laser to be remotely lowered into a non-traditional manhole and inserted into pipes.

A method for assembling a dual-head pulling rod involves attaching pulling heads to two ends of a rod body through threaded connection using a system that includes a foundation, on which a rod dispensing device, an inclined guiding plate, a conveying flap, a head dispensing device, a head mounting unit, a clamping device, an assembling device and a V-shaped output channel are provided. The inclined guiding plate is inclined and uses its ramp to guide a rod body falling thereon. The conveying flap is swingable between an input position and an output position. The conveying flap at the input position receives the rod body coining from the inclined guiding plate and outputs the rod body to the clamping device.

A method for assembling a dual-head pulling rod involves attaching pulling heads to two ends of a rod body through threaded connection using a system that includes a foundation, on which a rod dispensing device, an inclined guiding plate, a conveying flap, a head dispensing device, a head mounting unit, a clamping device, an assembling device and a V-shaped output channel are provided. The inclined guiding plate is inclined and uses its ramp to guide a rod body falling thereon. The conveying flap is swingable between an input position and an output position. The conveying flap at the input position receives the rod body coining from the inclined guiding plate and outputs the rod body to the clamping device.

A method for producing a connecting rod for an internal combustion engine, having a small connecting rod eye for holding a piston pin and having a large connecting rod eye for holding a crank pin, wherein at least one connecting rod eye has at least one geometric deviation from a cylindrical inner contour. It is provided according to the invention that the at least one connecting rod eye is formed by creating a bore with a cylindrical inner contour, and coating the bore with a coating comprising a resin with solid lubricant particles embedded therein. The coating forms the at least one geometric deviation from the cylindrical inner contour of the at least one connecting rod eye.

A method for producing a connecting rod for an internal combustion engine, having a small connecting rod eye for holding a piston pin and having a large connecting rod eye for holding a crank pin, wherein at least one connecting rod eye has at least one geometric deviation from a cylindrical inner contour. It is provided according to the invention that the at least one connecting rod eye is formed by creating a bore with a cylindrical inner contour, and coating the bore with a coating comprising a resin with solid lubricant particles embedded therein. The coating forms the at least one geometric deviation from the cylindrical inner contour of the at least one connecting rod eye.

A connecting rod (10) has a pin bearing eye for attaching the connecting rod (10) to a crankshaft, a connecting rod bearing eye (12) for attaching the connecting rod (10) to a piston of a cylinder, and an eccentric adjusting device (13) for adjusting an effective connecting rod length. The eccentric adjusting device (13) has eccentric rods (15, 16) that act on an eccentric lever (14) of the eccentric adjusting device (13). The eccentric adjusting device (13) also has an eccentric (36) with a bore for receiving a gudgeon pin (37). Lubricating oil bores (38, 39, 40, 41) in the connecting rod bearing eye (12) and in the eccentric (36) enable a lubricating oil film to be built up between the connecting rod bearing eye (12) and the eccentric (36) and also between the eccentric (36) and the gudgeon pin (37).

The apparatus includes a first tie rod end component having a first threaded surface and a second tie rod end component having a second threaded surface. The first and second tie rod end components are configured to rotatably couple to a center component in opposite directions. The tie rod end components each include a groove designed to assist a user in determining whether the tie rod ends are properly coupled to the center component. If the groove is visible to a user then the tie-rod end is not screwed in far enough. In contrast, it the groove is hidden that indicates that the tie rod end component and the center component are properly assembled to each other.

The apparatus includes a first tie rod end component having a first threaded surface and a second tie rod end component having a second threaded surface. The first and second tie rod end components are configured to rotatably couple to a center component in opposite directions. The tie rod end components each include a groove designed to assist a user in determining whether the tie rod ends are properly coupled to the center component. If the groove is visible to a user then the tie-rod end is not screwed in far enough. In contrast, it the groove is hidden that indicates that the tie rod end component and the center component are properly assembled to each other.

There is disclosed a system and method for diagnosing plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome, associated primarily with in infants) from photographs of the head. The method and apparatus may involve the use of a processor circuit, for example an application server, for automatically identifying the contour of the head in a plurality of images, then computing geometrical measurements in order quantify plagiocephaly. Photographs are acquired from an overhead view of a head, where the images may be rotated manually or automatically to a standard orientation. For each image, an optimal head contour is identified as minimizing a mathematical cost function combining local image filter responses designed for edge detection and a global model of head contour shape combining smoothness and convexity constrains. Length measurements are then computed from the identified contour, e.g. head diameter, diagonal diameter, and used to quantify the degree of head asymmetry and diagnose plagiocephaly.

In an example, a compliant shaft enclosure support system for coupling to a shaft enclosure surrounding a shaft includes a bar having a first member slidably coupled to a second member. The bar is oriented along the pitch axis of the shaft. A first bar end of the bar is rotatably connected, around the roll axis and pitch axis of the shaft, to the shaft enclosure at a first connection. A second bar end of the bar is rotatably connected, around the roll axis and pitch axis, to the structure at a second connection. A link is rotatably connected, around the roll axis, at a first link end to the bar, at an intermediate location spaced from the first and second bar ends. The link is rotatably connected, around the pitch axis, at a second link end to the shaft enclosure at a third connection spaced from the first connection.