1. A ring-type tensioner comprising:
a housing having an end surface and a plunger-accommodating hole with an opening in said end surface, the plunger-accommodating hole having a longitudinal axis;
a plunger protruding from said plunger-accommodating hole and slidable along said axis in a protruding direction and in a retracting direction opposite to said protruding direction, whereby the plunger can maintain tension in an endless flexible transmission medium in a transmission;
means for biasing the plunger in said protruding direction;
a circumferential ring-accommodating groove in a wall of the plunger-accommodating hole;
a cut-out portion in the housing that extends axially from said end surface to the ring-accommodating groove, said cut-out portion having opposed, circumferentially facing, wall surfaces; and
an elastic ring disposed in the ring-accommodating groove and the cut-out portion and surrounding the plunger;
the elastic ring having an annular portion disposed in the ring-accommodating groove, and a manipulating portion continuous with the annular portion and disposed at least in part in the cut-out portion, said manipulating portion being operable by a manipulation tool to expand or contract the annular portion; and wherein:
the plunger has a set of external circumferential grooves, each of said external circumferential grooves being engageable by said annular portion of the elastic ring to restrict axial movement of said plunger;
the manipulating portion of the ring is composed of manipulation elements with counterface portions that are disposed respectively in facing relationship with, and spaced from said opposed circumferentially facing wall surfaces of the cut-out portion whereby a gap is formed between each said wall surface and a counterface portion of one of said manipulation elements;
the ring is configured so that, when said gaps are enlarged, said annular portion can expand to a condition in which its internal diameter is larger than the maximum diameter of the external circumferential grooves of the plunger whereby the annular portion clears the external circumferential grooves thereby releasing the plunger for axial movement in said retracting direction;
at least one of each counterface portion and its opposed wall portion has a bulged part; and
the bulged parts are shaped such that, proceeding in an inward direction toward the plunger, each bulged part gradually bulges in the circumferential direction whereby a manipulation tool that is moved inward through one of said gaps toward said plunger while in contact with a bulged part moves the counterface portion of a manipulation element in a direction to cause the annular portion of said ring to expand.
2. The ring-type tensioner according to claim 1, wherein each of said manipulation elements includes a portion extending outward through said opening in said end surface of the housing, whereby said outward extending portion can guide a manipulation tool toward a bulged part in one of said gaps.
3. The ring-type tensioner according to claim 2, wherein said bulged parts are formed in said manipulation elements, and said wall surfaces of the cut-out in said housing have concave portions which the bulged parts can enter when the annular portion is contracted to a condition in which it clears the ring-accommodating groove.
4. The ring-type tensioner according to claim 2, wherein:
the manipulation portion is composed of first and second manipulation elements;
said bulged portions are formed respectively in said first and second manipulation elements;
the first and second manipulation elements have first and second straight portions that connect the annular portion of the ring with the bulged parts, said straight portions extending in tangential relation to the circumferential direction of the annular portion;
the first and second straight portions are in substantially parallel relationship, in contact with each other, and in overlapping relationship when viewed in a direction parallel to said axis; and
the first and second straight portions can slide relative to each other when the manipulation elements are moved in a direction to expand said annular portion of the ring.
5. The ring-type tensioner according to claim 3, wherein the manipulation elements are formed into a shape having substantially rotational symmetry when rotated through 180\xb0 about a straight line.
6. The ring-type tensioner according to claim 1, wherein said wall surfaces have inclined surfaces adjacent the opening of the cut-out portion of the housing, whereby the circumferential width of the cut-out becomes greater proceeding outward from the interior thereof toward said opening.
7. The ring-type tensioner according to claim 1, wherein the manipulation elements have holding portions for holding a manipulation tool by engaging the manipulation tool when the tool is inserted into said gaps.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A biomass treatment system, comprising;
at least one tube having an inlet, an outlet, and a first bore being defined by a curvilinear surface and a longitudinal axis;
a waste stream being communicated from a waste source to said inlet of at least one tube;
a plurality of conductors each having a first surface and a connection bore, and said plurality of conductors being disposed in said inner shell and being generally in engagement with said first bore;
a plurality of insulation members each having a pair of end portions and an intermediate portion and being disposed in said inner shell and generally in engagement with said first bore, said intermediate portion defines a second surface, one of said pair of end portions being in mating engagement with said connection portion of one of said plurality of conductors, and another of said pair of end portions being in mating engagement with said connection portion of another of said plurality of conductors;
a channel having a pair of side walls being formed by said first surface, said second surface, and a pair of arcuate portions of said first bore, said channel adapted to pass said fluid through said inner shell;
a power source;
a pump adapted to communicate said waste stream over at least a portion of said plurality of conductors, said waste stream having a conductive characteristic enabling electrical communication between a pair of said plurality of conductors, and said pump having a first predetermined flow rate; and
a control box having an amp meter adapted to measure a magnitude of electrical current at said pair of plurality of conductors, at least one phase controller adapted to vary said magnitude of electrical current, and at least one pump controller adapted to vary said first predetermined flow rate based on said magnitude of electrical current.
2. A biomass treatment system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said waste stream being generally derived from animal waste.
3. A biomass treatment system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said waste stream being generally derived from plant waste.
4. A biomass treatment system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said waste stream being generally derived from human waste.