US07887091B1
An inflator that includes a quantity of gas generant housed within a chamber. A liquid including at least one of a fuel soluble in the liquid or an oxidizer soluble in the liquid and a piston are housed within another chamber of the inflator. This chamber is sealed. Upon actuation, movement of the piston hydraulically expels the liquid through an opening in the piston such that the liquid contacts the gas formed by combustion of the gas generant and cools the same. The fuel and/or oxidizer in the liquid can react to form additional gas.
US07887084B2
Ski binding heel unit includes lateral release cams and a vector decoupler mechanism that provide lateral shear release of the heel of a ski boot from a ski. The ski binding heel unit includes an independent vertical heel release mechanism, independent lateral release mechanism and a forward pressure compensator. The lateral release cams have laterally outwardly flaring contact points. The vector decoupler mechanism restricts heel unit lateral rotation and translation to a control path. The shape of the lateral release cams dictates the control path. The vector decoupler mechanism redirects the non-lateral forces without effecting the vertical heel release, lateral heel release or forward pressure compensator. The lateral release cams and vector decoupler mechanism avert non-lateral, benign loads from the lateral heel release, and avert non-vertical, benign loads from the vertical heel release thereby reducing the incidence of inadvertent pre-release of a boot from a ski.
US07887078B2
A lightweight vehicle frame, such as a bicycle frame, is disclosed. A first tube, which can be a cured hollow reinforced resin composite tube, is connected to a second part by a tab. The tab is tapered and is affixed to the first tube. The tab is bonded to the second part by an epoxy. The taper of the tab allows the angle at which the parts are connected to be controlled through a wide range.
US07887077B2
A steering mechanism for a wheel of a vehicle defining a wheel centerline comprises a four-bar linkage. The four-bar linkage includes a ground link, a coupler link and a spaced pair of follower links. The ground link is connected to the vehicle. The coupler link is connected to the wheel and is located aft of the ground link. The follower links pivotally interconnect the ground link to the coupler link. Each of the follower links defines a link axis. The follower links extend aftwardly from the ground link at diverging angles such that the link axes intersect one another at a steering axis which is positioned forward of the wheel centerline. The steering mechanism may be fitted to a motorcycle having front and rear wheels wherein the four-bar linkage is housed within a wheel hub of the front wheel.
US07887070B2
The invention relates to a vehicle which can tilt in turns, and comprises a three-wheeled vehicle, which has a rear wheel (6) which is arranged on the longitudinal axis of the three-wheeled vehicle as well as two front wheels (3, 4) which are arranged at a distance from one another and can be steered indirectly by means of a steering element with intermediate connection of a steering column (2), wherein the two front wheels (3, 4) and the frame (1) of the three-wheeled vehicle can be inclined proportionally as a function of the direction of rotation of the steering column (2).
US07887043B2
In a feeding apparatus, a control device determines whether a brake roller is rotating based on the result of detection by a rotating-state detection sensor while a medium is being transferred by a separator roller. When determining that the brake roller is not rotating, the control device sets a pickup roller to non-contact state where the pickup roller is not in contact with a medium on a feed tray while a medium is not being transferred by the separator roller.
US07887030B2
An atmospheric cooling tower apparatus includes a housing structure having an air inlet and an air outlet, a first evaporative heat transfer media disposed in the housing, and a closed coil heat transfer media disposed in the housing. A water distribution assembly is disposed above the evaporative heat transfer media and configured to distribute water onto the evaporative fill heat transfer fill media. A collection basin is disposed beneath the evaporative heat transfer media configured to collect water that has passed through the evaporative heat transfer media. A first control valve controls an inflow of water to supply water to one or both of the evaporative heat transfer media and the closed coil heat transfer media. The closed coil heat transfer media and the evaporative heat transfer media are disposed laterally next to each other.
US07887027B2
A fence guard mountable to a chain link fence includes a generally elongated shield and a mounting clip. The mounting clip includes a clip-to-fence attachment for attaching the clip to the fence and an adjustable shield-to-clip attachment for adjustably attaching the shield to the mounting clip. The shield-to-clip attachment allows for vertical adjustment of the position of the shield relative to the position of the mounting clip. The vertical adjustability of the shield relative to the mounting clip provides vertical adjustment of the position of the shield relative to the position of the fence lower edge when the shield is mounted to the mounting clip and the mounting clip is mounted to the fence.
US07887024B2
A ball valve includes a valve element and a single piece packing that seals the valve element within a valve cavity. The single piece packing is pulled over the valve element at room temperature or may be molded on. The valve element may include a flow control element such as a ball and upper and lower trunnions. The lower trunnion may extend past a lower end of the packing.
US07887013B2
A fixing mechanism includes a base, a stud and an elastic clamping member. The base is arranged at a side of an object. The base includes a through hole defined therein. The stud includes a threaded hole defined therein. The stud includes a cap portion received in the through hole and a main body passing through the through hole. An engaging groove is defined in a surface of the main body. The elastic clamping member includes an annulus end surface, and a truncated cone surface extending from an inner edge of the annulus end surface. The annulus end surface is pressed against onto with the base. A number of gaps are radially arranged in the truncated cone surface thereby defining a number of clamping portions between the gaps. The clamping portions are engaged with the engaging groove thereby cooperatively clamping the stud.
US07887003B2
Described herein is a rewinding machine for the production of rolls (L) of weblike material around winding cores, including a path for the weblike material (N) and a winding area, in which said weblike material is wound in rolls. The machine moreover comprises a feeder for feeding a sheetlike material (F) towards the path of the weblike material, and forming members (13, 15) for rolling a length of said sheetlike material and forming therewith a winding core around which a roll of weblike material is formed.
US07886997B2
A machine for quenching, crushing and feeding material that includes a continuous loop drag chain conveyor. A first portion of the conveyor travels through a quenching tank and a second portion travels beneath the tank's bottom wall. Large blocks of hot material are dropped onto the conveyor inside the tank. A rotary crusher is positioned to crush the cooled blocks into sized pieces as they exit the tank. The sized pieces drop through an opening in the conveyor's frame and onto the second portion of the conveyor. The pieces dewater on the second portion of the conveyor and drop through a discharge opening and into a removal device for transfer to a remote location for further processing.
US07886992B2
A fluid effects apparatus to produce a fluid display or effect. The apparatus includes a base with a center point gimbal. A fluid outlet manifold is provided with an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet device such as a nozzle for dispersing the received fluid. The fluid outlet manifold is supported upon the center point gimbal to pivot with the gimbal in all directions. A drive assembly is provided with first and second drive mechanisms such as submersible servos that each drive input arms attached to the fluid outlet manifold at an angular offset such as about 120 degrees. The drive mechanisms are separately and concurrently operable to move the input arms to pivot the fluid outlet manifold on the center point gimbal to selectively position the outlet device such as to articulate it in arcs of 110 degrees or more in all directions about a nozzle center axis.
US07886983B2
A method of preventing condensation on equipment inside a temperature-controlled enclosure comprises measuring the temperature in at least one location inside the enclosure. The temperature inside the enclosure is compared with a safe temperature, at which the risk of condensation is reduced. The temperature inside the enclosure is increased until the safe temperature is achieved. A user is then notified that it is safe to access the enclosure.
US07886977B2
Optical sensor for detecting a code on a substrate which, in use, moves with respect to the optical sensor. The sensor comprises an optical detector for determining a value of a reflective property of the substrate, wherein the optical detector views the substrate along an optical axis, a code analyser for determining the detected code on the basis of a variation of the value of the determined reflective property in time, a first illumination source for illuminating the substrate along the optical axis, a second illumination source for illuminating the substrate in a direction at a non-zero angle with respect to the optical axis, and a control unit having a first operational mode wherein the first illumination source switched on and the second illumination source is switched off, and having a second operational mode wherein the first illumination source is switched off and the second illumination source is switched on.
US07886976B2
A payment terminal including a magnetic card reader, a decoder receiving analog signals from the magnetic card reader and providing a digital data output to utilization circuitry and data integrity assurance circuitry operative to eliminate spurious data due to Electromagnetic Field (EMF) interference.
US07886973B2
The present invention is related to methods and systems for waste disposal. In one embodiment, a waste pickup apparatus comprises a network interface configured to communicate with a networked waste disposal unit associated with a first user, a data store containing user rules, processor executable instructions configured to read a user-specified waste pickup rule for a first user from the data store, determine if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied based at least in part on the status information, if the user-specified waste pickup rule is not satisfied, to again determine if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied when a predetermined period has elapsed, and if the user-specified waste pickup rule is satisfied, cause a waste pickup entity to pickup the waste, wherein the waste pickup entity is selected based at least in part on a preference of the first user stored in computer readable memory.
US07886968B2
Portable wireless devices and methods for conducting at least part of an electronic transaction with a target electronic device are disclosed. The portable wireless device includes a detector configured to ascertain whether the portable wireless device is in close proximity with the target electronic device and a data transmission circuit configured for transmitting data between the if the close proximity is detected, the transmitting is performed by one of wireless data transmission method and direct contact data transmission method.
US07886952B2
The present disclosure provides for a surgical stapling apparatus and/or a loading unit for use with and/or supportable on a distal end of a surgical stapling apparatus. The loading unit includes a housing portion including a distal end and a proximal end, a drive assembly slidably supported within the housing portion of the loading unit, and a locking mechanism supported on the housing portion of the loading unit. The locking mechanism has a first position wherein the locking mechanism engages the drive assembly and maintains the position of the drive assembly in a ready-to-load position relative to the housing portion of the loading unit. The locking mechanism is pivotable to a second position wherein the locking mechanism disengages the drive assembly and enables the drive assembly to move relative to the housing portion.
US07886935B2
Hot melt adhesive pellets are melted and pressure pumped in a controlled application pattern on the substrate at the application site. The high frequency power supply, induction heated melting susceptor, pressure pump, and pattern control electronics are all contained in a single unit within adhesive projection distance.
US07886932B2
A vending machine has a support part that has a first support member extending in the right and left direction on the inside of a commodity storage chamber and a second support member extending in the front and rear direction on the inside of the commodity storage chamber, and supports a commodity column so that the commodity column is movable in the front and rear direction on the first and second support members. In the vending machine, when a support receiving part is detached from the first support member, the commodity column can be moved in the front and rear direction via the second support member, so that replenishment of commodities to the commodity column and maintenance of the commodity column can be accomplished. Both of the first support member and the second support members are located under the commodity column, and support the commodity column from the downside. Therefore, spaces for arranging support members at the right and left of the commodity column are unnecessary.
US07886927B2
A container cover comprises a central dome, a peripheral rim portion surrounding the central dome, wherein the central dome extends upwardly from the peripheral rim portion, a skirt extending downwardly from an outer edge of the peripheral rim portion, and a plurality of grippers. Each gripper comprises a flange extending downwardly from a lower surface of the peripheral rim portion and at least two gripping fingers extending downwardly from the flange. The skirt and the grippers form a space for receiving an edge protrusion, for example a curled edge, of a container body. Each of the at least two fingers has a protrusion extending toward the skirt and the fingers are adapted to provide a gripping force to an edge protrusion of a container received in the space. The plurality of grippers are spaced from one another around the peripheral rim portion. The container cover may be combined with a container body having an edge protrusion at its opening.
US07886925B2
A modularized bamboo frame member set is disclosed in which bamboo poles are cut into straight bamboo strip elements and then the bamboo strip elements are processed into -shaped, L-shaped and arched bamboo rod members through a compression molding press so that the -shaped, L-shaped and arched bamboo rod members are selectively used and connected end-to-end to construct rectangular, circular and oval bamboo frame members for making bamboo baskets.
US07886922B2
The invention relates to a plastic closing device comprising a bottom part, a closing cap, and a cutting ring which is mounted inside the neck of the bottom part so as to be helically movable. A driving cam (16) which is axially disposed in the closing cap acts upon the non-continuously circular cutting ring when the closing cap is unscrewed such that the cutting ring perforates and cuts through the receptacle in a helical cutting movement. The cutting ring forms a ventilating concavity (6) which cooperates with the driving cam (16). The non-circular cutting ring, the bottom side of which is provided with a sharp cutting edge extending at an obtuse angle relative to the bottom edge of said ring, performs a helical cutting movement similar to an advancing knife when the closing cap is unscrewed such that the receptacle wall is easily cut by applying a minimum amount of force because a new sharp point constantly attacks the packaging material, thus preventing shredding. The recess (6) that is provided on the non-circular cutting ring acts as a ventilation duct (26) when the content is poured, obtaining an extremely steady, non-gushing pouring action.
US07886921B2
The invention generally relates to a closure having a cap coupled to a sleeve defining a frangible connection between the cap and the sleeve. A preselected geometry is provided between the cap and the sleeve proximate to the frangible connection which allows for formation of a clean break between the cap and the sleeve when the cap is broken away from the sleeve. An extended bead is also provided with consistent material distribution on the bead proximate to a juncture of the cap to the sleeve after the cap is broken away from the sleeve. A projection is additionally provided on the cap which projects at an angle. The projection has a generally tapering leg of reduced thickness that terminates in a vertical wall segment. The projection also has the bead that is formed located on an outer corner of the projection after the frangible connection is broken.
US07886914B2
A received banknote processing apparatus having no temporary reserving section has a failure recovery processing unit. The failure recovery processing unit securely recovers the number of banknotes of an accepted transaction together with the determination of the fitness of the banknotes of the accepted transaction in failure recovery processing that is performed when a failure, such as a jam, occurs.
US07886908B2
An allergy testing tray assembly has an outer tray and an inner tray fitted in the outer tray. Each one piece tray is molded to have three longitudinal areas separated by two rows of spaced posts. A plurality of allergy testing needles are removably held between the adjacent posts. These syringes each have needle protective housing and a sheath that covers the needle prior to use color coded to reflect the gauge of the needle of the syringe. The plunger end of each of the syringes is capped so that each syringe is isolated from the environment. The trays are sealed by a cover sheet that may also have markings in the same color as the color of the housing and the sheath, so that a clinician can readily tell the gauge of the needle of the syringes stored in the trays, without having to remove the cover sheet. Once the tray assembly is sterilized, the sterility of the syringe are doubly protected by the sealing of the needle end and the plunger end of the syringe as well as the sealing of the trays from the environment by the cover sheet.
US07886900B2
A hinge-lid pack of smoking articles such as cigarettes comprises: a box portion; a lid portion hinged to the box portion; and at least two longitudinally offset tiers of smoking articles mounted in the box portion. Each of the at least two tiers comprises a separately wrapped bundle of smoking articles. In one embodiment, the smoking articles in each of the at least two tiers are of substantially the same length and the upper ends and the lower ends of the separately wrapped bundles of smoking articles are longitudinally offset relative to one another. In another embodiment, the smoking articles in each of the at least two tiers are of different length and the upper ends of the separately wrapped bundles of smoking articles are longitudinally offset relative to one another.
US07886897B2
A protective cover for deployment within the interior of a conveyor truss of a conveyor belt-driven bulk material handler. The protective cover comprises an apical support member configured for resilient attachment to an upper, central truss member of the conveyor truss such that the apical support member hangs above the conveyor belt when the cover is deployed. The cover comprises a pair of parallel support members, each configured for fixed attachment to opposite lateral conveyor truss members. The apical support member and the parallel support members together form a triangular arrangement of support members within the conveyor truss when the cover is deployed. Also provided is a rectangular sheet of protective material having a means for attachment of opposite sides thereof to a corresponding member of the pair of parallel support members. The rectangular sheet is centrally stretched over the apical support member to form a triangular cover structure disposed above the conveyor belt when the cover is deployed.
US07886890B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a coin processing system includes a coin input area that receives coins from a user, a coin processing module that counts the received coins, and a foreign object detection system that detects a foreign object within the coin processing module subsequent to counting substantially all the received coins.
US07886876B2
Apparatus and method for on-board lubrication of a paint pumping piston including a reservoir for lubricant and a lubricant dispensing mechanism for delivering a predetermined repeatable amount of lubricant upon manual actuation of the lubricant dispensing mechanism. In one embodiment, a section of tubing acts as the reservoir, and in another embodiment, the reservoir is formed by a transparent or translucent chamber located adjacent an aperture in a pump housing to enable visual inspection of the level of lubricant in the reservoir. A lubricant delivery piston is actuated by an extension thereof projecting through an aperture in the housing, and a lubricant discharge nozzle is located adjacent the paint pumping piston proximate a bushing supporting the paint pumping piston. A breather valve prevents a vacuum in the reservoir as the lubricant is dispensed.
US07886872B2
A stepladder having a front side, a rear side and a top. The stepladder can include a conduit holder attached to the front side for holding conduit. The stepladder can include a first wire spool holder attached to the front side and a second wire spool holder attached to the rear side though which a conduit having a wire spool extends. The stepladder can include a hacksaw hook attached to the front side. A method for cutting a conduit. A method for using a hacksaw. A method for obtaining wire.
US07886869B2
An acoustic device including a first acoustic waveguide having two open ends; a second acoustic waveguide; and an acoustic driver having a first and second radiating surface positioned so that the first: radiating surface radiates into the first waveguide and the second surface radiates into the second waveguide. An acoustic device including an acoustic driver and an acoustic waveguide with two open ends. A method for making the acoustic device.
US07886866B2
An improved system and method for ignition of a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is provided where a gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is supplied to a detonator tube having a fill point and an open end and an igniter placed at an ignition point within the detonator tube is ignited while the gaseous or dispersive fuel-oxidant mixture is flowing through the detonator tube. A detonation impulse is produced at the ignition point that propagates to the open end of said detonator tube where it can be supplied to a detonation tube having an open end, to an internal combustion engine, a combustion chamber, and to a pulse detonation engine.
US07886858B2
An integrated electric motor hub drive 1 that combines an electric motor subassembly (30), a sunless differential planetary gear drive subassembly (20), and a hub bearing assembly (10) together in a coaxial assembly to provide a compact high gear reduction electric hub drive system.
US07886857B2
A vehicle includes a charging inlet for connection with a ground line and a pair of power lines used to charge an electrical storage device from outside the vehicle; a terminal of the charging inlet for connection with the ground line; and a GND relay that connects the terminal to a body earth of the vehicle. Desirably, the vehicle further includes an ECU that controls charging of the electrical storage device. Before charging of the electrical storage device is started after the pair of power lines and the ground line are connected to the charging inlet, the ECU opens the GND relay and then determines whether there is a disconnection in the ground line.
US07886851B2
A drill bit comprising a body intermediate a threaded shank and a working face with the working face comprising a plurality of blades converging towards a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the working face. Junk slots comprising a base are formed by the plurality of blades. At least one blade comprising at least one culling surface with a carbide substrate is bonded to a diamond working end. At least one high pressure nozzle is disposed between at least two blades and within a nozzle bore formed into an elevated surface extending from the base of the junk slots. The elevated surface is disposed adjacent the diamond working end of the least one blade.
US07886849B2
A system and method for drilling a well bore with an under-balanced hydrostatic pressure. The system used in the method includes a tubular member containing a first port, a compression member disposed about the outer portion of the tubular member and having an internal sliding mandrel extending therefrom with a second port, an external sliding sleeve having a third port and being in contact with the internal sliding mandrel and operatively associated with the internal sliding mandrel, and a compressible seal disposed about the external sliding mandrel that is responsive to a longitudinal weight transferred to the compression member. In a closed position the first, second and third port are misaligned and in an open position the first, second and third ports are aligned.
US07886844B2
A method includes obtaining a first set of survey data at a first point along a wellbore, estimating a present wellbore position based on at least the first set of survey data, determining a related ellipse of uncertainty at the present wellbore position, comparing the related ellipse of uncertainty of the present wellbore position to a threshold, and selecting a methodology for a subsequent survey based on a comparison of the related ellipse of uncertainty to the threshold.
US07886837B1
An external sprinkler system for use on homes is herein disclosed. It is designed to prevent the ignition of the roof structure from glowing ashes or embers from a nearby wild fire or structure fire. The sprinkler system would use a series of nozzles connected to a common manifold and integrated therein a building structure's roof vents. The piping connecting the manifold is connected to a water supply via a control valve mounted at grade level. Control equipment provides switching between a public water supply and home cisterns. Runoff water is captured by the existing gutter system and recycled through the system. During activation, the system soaks the roof and house and makes it very difficult for ignition from an external source to take place. The system provides manual activation and remote activation from a cell phone or fire station.
US07886831B2
An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a tubular support, sliding sleeve, rupture disc, and expansion cone. The tubular support has a first internal passage, wherein the sliding sleeve is disposed, and a flow passage, wherein the rupture disc is seated. The sliding sleeve has a second internal passage and is moveable by fluid pressure between first and second positions. In the first position, the second internal passage is fluidicly coupled with a first annulus surrounding the tubular support. In the second position, the second internal passage is fluidicly isolated from the first annulus. The rupture disc fluidicly isolates the first internal passage from a second annulus surrounding the tubular support and is adapted to rupture, whereby the first internal passage and the second annulus are fluidicly coupled. The expansion cone is disposed in the second annulus and moveable under pressure from fluid in the second annulus.
US07886827B2
An apparatus for, and method of, lowering items from a drilling rig to a well located below it through the use of a landing string comprised of drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section with a shoulder, in combination with upper and lower holders having wedge members with shoulders that engage and support the drill pipe at the shoulder of the enlarged diameter section, the shoulder of the drill pipe and the shoulders of the wedge members being rotatable with respect to each other.
US07886817B2
One embodiment includes an apparatus comprising a pack off material to be positioned in an annulus between a casing along sides of a borehole and a drill tubing in the borehole. The pack off material further includes surface instrumentation for communication with downhole instrumentation.
US07886816B2
A method for cooling a semiconductor including passive cooling including transferring heat via passive cooling components; active cooling including transferring heat via active cooling components; and controlling the active cooling based on temperature of the semiconductor. A cooling system for a semiconductor including: a passive component in thermal contact with the semiconductor; an active cooling component in thermal contact with the semiconductor; and a controller controlling the active cooling component.
US07886815B2
A vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system includes front and rear HVAC systems. A controller receives data from front and rear control panels and controls the front and rear HVAC systems. Actuating a rear manual button on the front control panel allows control of the rear HVAC system via the rear control. Engine coolant temperature is used to judge if the vehicle has been inoperative for a long time. If the vehicle has not been inoperative for long, and the rear manual button was actuated prior to the vehicle shut down, rear manual control over the rear HVAC system is enabled. If the vehicle has been inoperative for a long time, or if the rear manual button was not actuated immediately prior to vehicle shut down, rear manual control is not enabled, thereby preventing operation of the rear HVAC system by the rear control panel.
US07886810B2
A heat exchange device includes a first flow path for a first fluid and a second flow path for a second fluid, and the components of the inventive heat exchanger are interconnected by a connection material. Connections that are substantially directly exposed to the flow of the first fluid are formed of a first connection material and connections that are not directly exposed to the flow of the first fluid are formed of a second connection material. The composition of the first and the second connection material is different.
US07886808B2
A substrate heating chamber and a substrate cooling chamber each capable of simultaneously holding a plurality of substrates are provided in a thermally separated state in a heating and cooling apparatus with a single vacuum processing chamber. The substrate heating chamber is equipped with a plurality of communicating or non-communicating substrate holding spaces. The substrate cooling chamber is also equipped with a plurality of communicating or non-communicating substrate holding spaces. The communicating substrate holding spaces allow the batch heat treatment of substrates, while the non-communicating substrate holding spaces allow the batch or individual processing of substrates.
US07886807B2
A method for monitoring and/or controlling a die casting operation using the rate of coolant flow through cooling lines of a die and the amount of heat being removed from the die by the cooling lines.
US07886804B2
Folding partitions and related methods and components are provided and may include accordion-style folding doors or partitions having multiple folding panels. In one embodiment, a folding partition includes one or more baffling devices. A baffling device may include an elongated enclosure having a first opening proximate a first longitudinal end of the elongated enclosure, a second opening proximate a second longitudinal end of the elongated enclosure, and a flow path extending from the first opening to the second opening. A sound attenuation chamber may be disposed adjacent at least a portion of the flow path. In one embodiment, one or more baffling devices may be disposed in, or otherwise associated with, a jamb component of the partition. In another embodiment, one or more baffling devices may be disposed in, or otherwise associated with, the hinged connection of panel sections of a partition panel.
US07886802B2
Apparatus and method for applying thermal energy to a sealing member. Electrical current is applied to a heating assembly to generate thermal energy, and a heat conductor transfers the generated thermal energy to a seal member adjacent a housing. The heating assembly is configured to substantially prevent a magnetic field generated by the applied electrical current from extending to the housing.
US07886800B2
Embodiments of the invention may provide an apparatus and method for applying a tape such as a seam tape onto a surface such as a roof. The apparatus may include one or more supply wheels and a powered or motorized paper or backing wheel having one or more collapsible or moveable paper or backing hinge bars. The hinge bars may be moved to a standing position to wind up paper or backing produced by the supply wheels when the tape is applied onto the surface, and may be moved to a collapsed position to allow the paper or backing be removed from the paper or backing wheel.
US07886799B2
A laminating device includes first and second rollers, a motor, a first drive element associated with the motor and configured to be driven thereby, a second drive element associated with at least one of the rollers, and adapted to engage the first drive element so that the motor may drive the rollers to rotate in respective first directions, and a support arrangement which at least partially supports at least one of the rollers and the second drive element. The support arrangement is movable with respect to the first drive element between a first position, in which the first and second drive elements engage one another, and a second position, in which the first and second drive elements are disengaged from one another, allowing rotation of the rollers in respective second directions without this motion being transmitted to the motor.
US07886784B2
A coping apparatus facilitating a coped or straight cut through molding by using a stylus to trace the molding being cut to guide the cutter with adjustability for wall-to-ceiling, wall-to-floor, wall-to-wall, and/or backcut angles is presented. The apparatus includes a rotatable holder assembly, a rotatable cutter assembly, a rotatable platform, and a base element. The rotatable holder assembly includes a two-axis positioning system and allows for adjustment to left or right, straight or coped cuts and wall-to-wall angles. The rotatable cutter assembly is attached to the two-axis positioning system and allows adjustment to the left or right, straight, or cope cuts and backcut angle and further includes a motor driven spiral cutter, a cutter holder, and at least one stylus. The rotatable platform allows adjustment to the wall-to-floor or wall-to-wall angle and is movable so as to rotate or swivel about a vertical axis substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the holder and cutter assemblies. The base element is attached to and supports the rotatable holder assembly, rotatable cutter assembly, and rotatable platform in a substantially perpendicular arrangement.
US07886777B2
As an example of a specific fabric, the fabric would comprise 52 yarns per inch of 350 denier polyester in the warp and 132 yarns per inch of 150 denier in the fill. Using the above density calculation, this would result in a cloth having a warp density of 973 and a fill density of 1617. When viewed at high magnification, the warp yarns (41) are relatively uncrimped as compared to the textured fill yarns (43), as illustrated by the scanning electron microscope photo shown in FIG. 5 and the densities are sufficient to provide a fabric having good stretch resistance along the bias and the warp (see e.g., FIGS. 1 and 2).
US07886776B2
A bandage with lengthwise elasticity in the warp direction, comprising a textile expanse woven in leno weave and having weft threads, leno threads and elastically extensible warp threads. The warp threads are cotton-elastic threads.
US07886774B1
The present invention relates to a corrugated foundation drain. The drain is comprised of a plurality of segments attached in an end to end fashion. Each segment has a first end and a second end, wherein the second end of one segment can be attached to the first end of an adjacent segment. The drain is corrugated. The drain has sections of corrugations separated by spacers for longitudinal stability. A web is provided within the interior of the drain segments. The web can be vertically centered. In the preferred embodiment, the web can be removed from the first end to provide clearance for receipt of the second end. The second end further can have cleats that interface with the corrugations in the first end.
US07886773B2
A low pressure directional stop bypass device including a saddle fitting having an axially extending tubular connection element having a connection element wall forming a lateral bypass port, a valve assembly connected with the axially extending tubular connection element having a first valve port in fluid communication with the lateral bypass port and having a second valve port, and a stuffing box connected with the second valve port. A launch tube assembly is inserted through the stuffing box and the valve assembly into the axially extending tubular connection element. The launch tube element includes an outer tubular member, an inner tubular member disposed within the outer tubular member, and a stopper supply tube having a leading end and a trailing end and disposed within the inner tubular member. A flexible inflatable stopper plug connected with the leading end of the stopper supply tube. Connected with the outlet end of the outer tubular member is at least one guidance pin which ensures insertion of the flexible inflatable stopper plug into a pipe fitted with the saddle fitting in a predetermined direction.
US07886772B2
Trim disk assemblies for use in fluid flow control devices include a first disk and a second disk. An elongated void is formed in a surface of each of the first disk and the second disk. The second disk is aligned with the first disk to provide fluid communication between the void of the first disk and the void of the second disk, the void of the first disk being offset or staggered from the void of the second disk. The void of the first disk and the void of the second disk at least partially define a fluid passageway having a cross-sectional area characterized by increases and decreases in cross-sectional area, which define an expansion/contraction mechanism of the fluid passageway.
US07886770B2
A gas panel assembly having at least one U-shaped MSM interconnection component is disclosed where the interconnection component straddles at least a pair of adjacent modular inserts and is fastened to planar support plate such that the fluidic inserts are held immobile.
US07886765B2
An application for a living-hinge air vent valve connectable to a sewer conduit includes a base and a cover sealed to the base forming a cavity between the cover and the base. A fluid inlet shaft depends from a roof of the base and is connected to external air passages passing through a side of the base and through vents in a side of the cover. A living-hinge flapper is situated above the fluid inlet shaft and within the cavity. The living-hinge flapper allows air to flow from the fluid inlet shaft into the cavity and prevents sewerage gasses from flowing from the cavity out through the fluid inlet shaft. One or more connecting shafts in the base fluidly connect the cavity with a sewer system.
US07886764B2
A metallic separating plate 6 is arranged between the sealing rings 5 and the synchronizing plate 7 to prevent mutual wear of the sealing rings 5 and the synchronizing plate 7 in an annular valve having sealing rings 5 as sealing elements and a synchronizing plate 7 to synchronize and dampen the ring opening movement.
US07886761B2
A method and apparatus for non-interruptible change out of a gas meter utilizing the meter set assembly swivel connections to create a bypass of the meter. The apparatus is machined to conform to the swivel and the threads of the meter inlet and outlet. A clamping mechanism maintains the meter and the apparatus in place while internal mechanisms create a gap between the swivel and the inlet or outlet of the meter. A sliding mechanism disengages the swivel gasket normally disposed between the meter inlet or outlet and the swivel for replacement during the meter exchange. Once the gap is created, a second apparatus similar to the first apparatus is attached to the other of the meter inlet or outlet. A hose providing fluid communication between the two apparatuses acts as the bypass during change out of the meter.
US07886756B2
An umbrella handle quick-release structure includes a positioning member, a spring, and an inner sleeve. The positioning member is fixed at a lower end of an umbrella rod. The inner sleeve is secured to a mounting hole of an umbrella handle. The inner sleeve has an axial insertion hole for insertion of the umbrella rod, an axial side groove at a side wall thereof for the positioning member to slide therein along with the insertion of the umbrella rod, a transverse groove for the positioning member to slide therein along with turning of the umbrella rod, and an axial positioning groove for positioning of the positioning member after being turned. The transverse groove has a first end interconnected with a lower end of the axial side groove and a second end interconnected with the axial positioning groove. An upper end of the axial positioning groove is higher than the transverse groove. The spring is located between a bottom of the mounting hole and a lower end of the umbrella rod. The present invention is convenient, easy and safe to be disassembled, can satisfy the consumer's demand for diversification, and is advantageous for recycle and environmental protection.
US07886752B2
A filter having a filter body with a plurality of filter openings, each having a passage cross-section which varies automatically in response to a characteristic inherent to a medium flowing through the openings to filter the medium.
US07886751B2
A cleaning apparatus capable of being used in dental procedures is disclosed. The cleaning apparatus comprises an elongated handle and a cleaning member. The elongated handle comprises a first end portion and a second end portion. The cleaning member comprises a stretchable member and a brush. The stretchable member has a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The proximal end of the stretchable member is removably coupled to a connecting point between the first end portion of the elongated handle and the second end portion of the elongated handle. The distal end portion of the stretchable member is slidably engaged to the second end portion of the elongated handle. The brush is attached to the distal end portion of the stretchable member.
US07886742B2
A surgical drape, system and method of using comprise a surgical drape having a fenestration to be placed over a surgical site of a patient. The surgical drape includes a barrier removably attached to the surgical drape and adapted for placement over a portion of the fenestration to prevent the start of the surgical procedure. Upon verification of a set of predetermined conditions, the barrier is removed by a member of the surgical staff in order to begin the surgical procedure.
US07886741B2
Methods and apparatus provide for: coupling an elongate guide substantially at a first end to at least one vertebral body of a spinal column of a patient; and extending a second end of the guide to a structure of the patient spaced in an anterior direction away from the at least one vertebral body towards an entry incision.
US07886737B2
An edge guard for use adjacent an edge. The edge guard comprises a cushion member and an edge attachment. The cushion member includes a first face, a second face, and a cushion edge portion disposed between them. Both faces have inner portions extending away from the cushion edge portion towards end portions. The inner portions are positioned adjacent surfaces surrounding the edge. The edge attachment includes an upper surface, an attached end, and a distal end. The attached end is attached to one of the end portions of the cushion member. The edge attachment is stiffer than the cushion member. The upper surface of the edge attachment is separated a distance from the surface it is positioned adjacent that tapers from a larger distance at the attached end to a smaller distance at the distal end.
US07886726B2
The present invention relates to an arrangement for recirculation of exhaust gases of a supercharged combustion engine. The arrangement comprises an exhaust line intended to lead exhaust gases out from the combustion engine, an inlet line intended to lead air which is at above atmospheric pressure to the combustion engine, a compressor adapted to the inlet line so that it is possible, via the return line, to recirculate exhaust gases from the exhaust line to the inlet line. The arrangement comprises a first EGR cooler in which the recirculating exhaust gases in the return line are cooled by the air in a portion of the inlet line which is situated downstream of the compressor in the inlet line with respect to the direction of flow of the air in the inlet line.
US07886725B1
A fuel vaporizer for an internal combustion engine having a closed pressure chamber defining a volume, to be heated, and a liquid fuel supply system disposed to emit a liquid fuel spray. The closed pressure chamber may be constructed and arranged relative to the heat-transfer surface to establish between the at least one outlet and the heat-transfer surface a mixing domain in which the fuel spray, as it progresses through the volume from the outlet, is substantially heated and vaporized by mixing with re-circulated, heated fuel vapor that previously has moved over and received heat from the heat transfer surface. The fuel vaporizer may be associated with a vapor outflow passage through which pressurized vapor exits the closed pressure chamber for supply to said at least one combustion region. The heat-transfer surface may be arranged to be heated by engine coolant circulating around the exterior of the closed pressure chamber.
US07886723B2
In this multipurpose engine, a fuel gas evaporated within a fuel tank of the engine is drawn out of the fuel tank and is adsorbed by an adsorbing material, the fuel gas is separated from the adsorbing material, and then the fuel gas separated from the adsorbing material is suctioned into an intake system of the engine by using negative pressure inside the intake system. The adsorbing material is accommodated in a canister, and two connection ports used for connection with the canister are respectively provided at a heat-insulating intake pipe between a carburetor and the engine and at a clear section of an air cleaner.
US07886718B2
A fuel injector includes a body piece that defines a nozzle supply passage and a chamber in fluid communication therewith and configured to contain a fluid pressure within the fuel injector. The body piece has a threaded segment and a second, unthreaded segment that includes an outer surface of the fuel injector. A tip piece is clamped via a clamping piece to the body piece to form a fluid seal therewith, and a needle check extends within the body piece and the tip piece. The body piece is configured to contain fluid pressures, for example up to and exceeding 200 MPa, and has a wall thickness between the chamber and the unthreaded segment that is linked to a fluid pressure of fuel passing through the chamber. The fuel injector is configured via integrating portions of a nozzle case and a body guide to contain the extremely high fuel pressures.
US07886711B2
An oil drain passage that guides, to an oil pan, lubrication oil in a space surrounded by a side wall of an engine block and an inner wall of a chain cover is formed with a partition formed by contacting a rib provided on the inner wall of the chain cover and a rib provided on the side wall of the engine block. An opening is provided in a portion of the partition.
US07886704B2
An apparatus (10) for the variable setting of control times of gas exchange valves (9a, 9b) of an internal combustion engine (1), having an inner rotor (23) and an outer rotor (22) which is arranged such that it can rotate relative to the former, and the inner rotor (22) has a constant phase relationship to a crankshaft (2) of the internal combustion engine (1). The apparatus (10) has one or more coupling elements (44), into which a drive shaft (12) of an additional assembly (11) can engage, and wherein torque can be transmitted from the apparatus (10) to the drive shaft (12) by the coupling element (44) or coupling elements (44). It is provided here to connect the coupling element (44) or coupling elements (44) fixedly in terms of rotation to the inner rotor (23) or to configure it/them in one piece with the inner rotor.
US07886694B2
A pet booster seat for seating a pet on a vehicle seat in an elevated position is provided. The pet booster seat includes a base and four walls projecting upwardly from the base to define a pet seating portion. An L-shaped lap section and a supporting portion each extend downwardly from the base to define a groove for receiving a lap-style seatbelt. The pet booster seat preferably includes a removable cushion, a heating element for heating the removable cushion, a removable cover, and a strap for attachment to a pet's collar or harness.
US07886693B1
A pet bed having an upright column removably attachable at one end to the edge of a desk top, table top or other similar horizontal surface. The support column extends vertically upward from the desk top and supports a horizontal support member at an elevated position above the desk top. A cushion is attached to the support member and substantially covers an upper surface thereof, providing a comfortable resting place of an animal. The column is eccentrically attached to the support member and the support member is rotatable in a plane normal to the vertical axis of the column permitting the support member to be rotated above the desk top into a position where a maximum portion of the support member is positioned above the desk top and through various positions until a minimum portion of the support member is positioned above the desk top. The support member and attached cushion are removable from the column and can be used in a remote position as a self-supporting, free standing pet bed.
US07886691B2
A method is disclosed for calculating a transition monitor value for one or more milk-producing animals so as to enable its use in evaluating and optimally managing the health and productivity (i.e., the transition performance) of those individual animals and of their herds. An expected milk production is calculated for a given time period of a current lactation based both on the individual's performance in her previous lactation and on her current state. Transition monitor values are calculated as the difference between actual and expected milk production values. The transition monitor values can then be used to evaluate and to optimize the health and productivity of both individuals and herds of individuals and to make comparisons of transition monitor programs both within and between herds.
US07886678B2
A watercraft includes a plurality of outboard motors. Each of the outboard motors has a generator and a rudder deflecting system driven by an electric motor. The outboard motors are turned by the rudder deflecting systems thereby steering the watercraft. Electric power can be supplied from the generators of others of the plurality of outboard motors to the rudder deflecting system of an arbitrary outboard motor among the plurality of the outboard motors. Using this arrangement it is possible to provide a watercraft in which electric power for operation is stably supplied to the rudder deflecting system without increasing the size of the generators.
US07886677B2
The present invention is for an apparatus for use on a personal water craft having a hull, a deck disposed on the hull, a hood movably connected to the forward portion of the deck, an engine position within the hull, a seat mounted atop the deck for accommodating at least one rider and comprising: at least one multi-purpose rack is clamped to the personal water craft; wherein at least a portion of the multi-purpose rack is disposed forward of the seat; wherein at least a portion of the multi-purpose rack extends outwardly from the hood to a peripheral edge of the water craft; and wherein the multi-purpose rack has a surface for carrying one or more items. Wherein the multipurpose rack can hold and store items such as fishing equipment, camping equipment, water skies, wake boards, scuba diving equipment, and inner-tubes on the personal water craft.
US07886676B2
A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. The catamaran hull arrangement provides longitudinal flexibility in a quartering sea state due to the unique universal joint and hinge placement between the frames or trusses and the hulls or barges. Each of the frames extends upwardly in an inverted u-shape, providing a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames. In this fashion, an object that has been salvaged from the seabed can be placed upon the marine vessel that is positioned in between the barges and under the frames. Alternatively, a package that is to be lifted from the deck of a marine vessel, workboat, supply boat or the like can be lifted from the deck of the workboat, vessel, barge, etc. if it is to be then placed in the marine environment such as upon an existing jacket or other under support.
US07886664B2
A printing unit is comprised of at least two side frame parts whose distance, relative to each other, can be modified in a horizontal direction. Each printing unit receives at least one printing group or parts of a printing group. At least one of the side frame parts can be moved between a closed functional position, in which the side frames are moved together and are fixed relative to one another, and an open position, in which they are spaced from each other. In order to fix or to secure the side frame parts relative to one another, at lease one closure device is provided. The at least one closure device is comprised of a cylinder that can be used to pretension the side frame parts into the closed functional position. The cylinder carries a piston rod that is adapted to carry out a stroke movement. The closure device is configured as a swivel tensioning element. The piston rod is arranged such that it carries out a pivoting movement about a longitudinal axis of the piston rod, in addition to the stroke movement. The piston rod may also be pivoted about a longitudinal arm of the piston rod, in addition to the stroke movement.
US07886661B1
Radial compression mechanism includes a base member and a plurality of elongated compression dies. The dies are arranged in a generally circular orientation on the base member with a contact surface of each die in sliding contact with a base surface of an adjacent die. A portion of each base surface of each die cooperates with portions of base surfaces of adjacent dies to define a generally cylindrical central cavity moved between open and closed positions by a driving mechanism. The dies are cammingly coupled to the base member and to the driving mechanism so that rotation of the driving mechanism about the central axis causes each die to move generally arcuately about a point of camming engagement with the base member.
US07886647B2
A synchronously timed fused is installed into ordnance the ordnance is delivered to a target area, in a shaped charge formation and a simultaneous explosion event occurs.
US07886638B2
A pliers includes first and second pliers parts and an articulation that pivotably connects the pliers parts. The articulation is arranged on at least one of the pliers parts between its ends. First and second handle elements associated with the first and second pliers parts. The first pliers part is connected rotation-fast to the first handle element. The second pliers part is pivotably connected to the second handle element. A coupling element that is pivotably attached to the second handle element has a hinge point arranged on the second handle element spaced apart from the hinge point of the second pliers part on the second handle element. The coupling element is also pivotably attached to the first pliers part or to the first handle element. The hinge point of the coupling element is arranged on the first pliers part or on the first handle element spaced apart from the articulation that connects the pliers parts. A first imaginary connecting line running between the articulation and the hinge point of the second pliers part on the second handle element is largely parallel to a second imaginary connecting line that connects the hinge point between coupling element and first handle element and the hinge point between coupling element and second handle element.
US07886637B2
A universal socket that forms around a fastener to drive the fastener received by the universal socket generally includes a socket housing including a circumferential wall that defines a chamber having an inner periphery and an opening. The inner periphery extends through the socket housing along a longitudinal axis. A plurality of pin members is operable to be disposed in the chamber. A plate member has a first surface and a second surface that define through holes formed between the first and second surfaces. The through holes accommodate a cross-sectional diameter of a middle portion of the pin members but each of the through holes is too small to accommodate a cross-sectional diameter of a first end portion of the pin members. The plate member is operable to connect in the chamber to hold the plurality of pin members in the socket housing. A plurality of pin cap members includes frangible connections with an adjacent pin cap member. The plate member has a frangible connection with at least a part of the plurality of pin cap members. A first end portion of each of the pin cap members defines an aperture that is operable to accept the second end portion of the pin members.
US07886631B2
An adjustable steering column assembly including a column jacket moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a raking direction is disclosed. First and second gears are coupled to a rake bracket and mesh with each other with the first gear rotatable about a first pivot axis transverse to a longitudinal axis and the second gear rotatable about a second pivot axis transverse to the longitudinal axis and spaced above the first pivot axis such that rotation of the first gear causes rotation of the second gear. A cam mechanism is coupled to the rake bracket and to each of the first and second gears with the cam mechanism movable along the first and second pivot axes during rotation of the first and second gears for selectively engaging the rake bracket to prevent movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping and raking directions.
US07886628B2
A shift lever assembly designed to isolate vibrations including an outer can having a bore and an outer wall, an inner can disposed within the bore, a vibration absorbing material positioned within the bore and around the inner can; and a sleeve extending from the outer wall of the outer can. The method of making the shift lever assembly includes positioning an outer can having a bore and an attached sleeve in a mold, positioning an inner can in the mold, within the bore of the outer can, injecting a vibration absorbing material into the mold, thereby filling the space within the bore of the outer can around the inner can, and allowing the vibration absorbing material to cure, thereby securing the inner can within the outer can.
US07886627B2
A coupling device for coupling rotatable bodies together includes first and second rotatable bodies, a plurality of coupling members for selectively coupling the first and second rotatable bodies together to transfer drive between the rotatable bodies, and an electro-magnetic actuator for controlling engagement of the coupling members. The coupling device can be incorporated into a transmission system, which includes first and second drive shafts, first and second gear sets mounted on the shafts for transferring drive between the shafts, a selector for selectively transferring drive between the first shaft and either the first or second gear set, and an electro magnetic actuator for controlling engagement of the engagement members and the drive formations.
US07886626B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, a dual clutch assembly, a countershaft, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, a plurality of interconnecting members, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include synchronizer assemblies.
US07886621B2
A displacement sensor element and a haptic sensor arrangement using two or more displacement sensor elements are provided. The arrangements can be used for real-time capture of the shape of haptic deformation of the sensor arrangement. Although examples described in detail herein are primarily directed to tactile applications, the sensor can be used in the machine, robotic and medical fields where a sensor of this type can usefully be applied where only machine or computer controlled robotic elements are interacting, particularly if the machines or robotic elements are being used in human like applications but other force measurement applications are possible.
US07886620B2
A method and apparatus for measuring the force applied by a first member coupled to a second member by a connecting body, by: transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the connecting body from a first location thereon to a second location thereon; measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from the first location to the second location; and utilizing the measured transit time to produce a measurement of the force. In the preferred described embodiment, the connecting body is a fastening plate which fastens a drive shaft to a driven shaft and measures the torque output of the drive shaft.
US07886602B2
An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one physical or chemical, process variable of medium having at least one oscillatable unit, which produces, and/or receives, mechanical oscillations. Included is at least one tuning unit, whose stiffness is changeable and which is embodied in such a manner and connected in such a manner with the oscillatable unit, or is a part of the oscillatable unit in such a manner, that at least the resonance frequency of the oscillatable unit is changeable via the tuning unit. A corresponding method is also noted.
US07886593B2
To provide a highly accurate flow meter. A Flow meter comprising an inflow opening into which a measurement fluid flows, an outflow opening from which a measurement fluid flows, and a flow path connecting the inflow opening and the outflow opening, wherein the flow path is bent at a first bend portion, wherein: a first porous plate is disposed in the first bend portion of the flow path at an angle relative to the direction in which the flow path extends before and after the first bend portion, and a flow sensor for detecting the flow speed or flow volume of a measurement fluid that flows in the flow path, disposed on the inner wall of the flow path on the outflow opening side of the first bend portion.
US07886590B2
An apparatus and method for measuring the drying rate of a liquid or liquid film in air or other gaseous media by either: a) measuring changes in the print density of the liquid; b) measuring changes in the dynamic surface tension of the liquid; c) measuring the differential pressure between an inert gas required to displace a sample of the liquid drawn into a capillary tube from a reservoir of the liquid and the pressure required for a bubble of the gas to form in the reservoir; and d) measuring the electrical conductance or resistance of the liquid.
US07886589B2
An electronic unit for measuring operating parameters of a vehicle wheel, including an electronic module (1) and an inflation valve (2) comprising a body (6, 7) designed to extend through an orifice arranged in a wheel rim, and an assembly head (4) separated from the body by a shoulder forming a face for locking the inflation valve against the rim. The electronic module (1) includes an outer wall (13, 14) defining a lateral housing for the assembly head (4) of the inflation valve (2), delimited by a metal plate (11) made in one piece with the electronic module, for pressing of the locking face of the assembly head, and furnished with a notch for the body (6, 7) of the inflation valve to pass through.
US07886588B2
The invention relates to a method for determining the actual oxygen load of a 3-path catalyst of a lambda-controlled internal combustion engine, whereby a value for the actual oxygen load is calculated from the signal of a pre-catalyst lambda probe and the measured air mass flow rate by integration over time, whereby the post-catalyst lambda probe is initialized when the signal is interrupted.
US07886587B2
A method and a device for detecting the exchange of sheathed-element glow plugs (GPE) in a combustion engine, in which at least one electric characteristic quantity of at least one glow plug is measured at the beginning of a driving cycle, an instantaneous value of this characteristic quantity is determined and compared to at least one stored value of the same electric variable quantity of this glow plug, which was determined at the beginning of at least one preceding driving cycle, and if the deviation of the instantaneous value from the stored value exceeds a specifiable threshold value, an exchange of the glow plug (GPE) will be inferred.
US07886581B2
The invention provides an oil-based ink composition for ink jet recording, which is best suited for printing onto polyvinyl chloride substrates, and improved in terms of both the stabilities of ink on storage and jetting, and a method for inspecting the same. The oil-based ink composition for ink jet recording comprises as a main solvent at least a specific polyalkylene glycol dialkyl ether and containing at least a specific quinacridone pigment component. That composition should be such that when a measuring sample comprising it is analyzed by means of high speed liquid chromatography under specific measuring conditions, the concentration of a component having a peak at the holding time of 10.3 minutes is 0.4 ppm or less.
US07886578B2
A sensor element for gas sensors for determining the concentration of particulates in gas mixtures, in particular soot sensors having at least one first measuring electrode applied to an electrically insulating substrate and at least one second measuring electrode, a voltage being applicable to the first and second measuring electrodes. The first measuring electrode is at least partly covered by a porous material open to diffusion of the particles to be determined.
US07886577B2
An ionic liquid bound on an exposed surface of a device such as for detecting organic chemicals, preferably a gas sensor is described. The gas sensor can operate at high temperatures with a fast linear response which is also reversible. At high temperatures, the frequency change (Δf) versus concentration (C) curve mirrors the Henry's gas law, such that the concentration of a gas sample in liquid solvent is proportional to the concentration or partial pressure of the sample in gas phase. A single gas sensor, or an array of sensors, can be used for the detection and quantitative analysis of gas vapors.
US07886569B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus for shaping an article may comprise a plurality of movable dies arranged to form a chamber whose size may be varied by moving the dies. Each of the dies may have a contacting surface for contacting the article to be shaped. The chamber may have a first portion having a first cross-section and a second portion having a second cross-section. Either portion may include a taper. The first portion may have a differently shaped cross-section than the second portion. The first portion may have a cross-section of greater area than the second portion. The longitudinal axis of the first portion may be offset from the longitudinal axis of the second portion.
US07886561B2
To provide a elongating method for elongating an optical fiber parent material with high reliability by implementing a high precision control for the outer diameter in short time. This elongating method includes a process for switching a control method for at least one of the control items of measurement object, based on at least one of a difference between measured value and target value and a change rate of the difference per unit time, in measuring the outer diameter of a glass parent material elongating portion and making a feedback control for the elongating conditions based on the difference from the target outer diameter.
US07886557B2
A water producing system adapted to condense water from the air and collected in a storage tank were the water is purified and bacteria is killed. An additive device is configured to supplement additives to the water such as minerals. An additive control system supplements the water and controls the amount of additives therein. One form of killing the bacteria is utilizing an ozone injection system with a filter system to remove the ozone before the water is dispensed.
US07886555B2
A mobile communications shelter comprising a personnel accessible chamber containing racks of stacked electronic communications equipment positioned along or adjacent to interior walls of the chamber, and a refrigeration apparatus mounted outside of the chamber and configured to supply cooled air to the chamber, is characterized by an air distribution assembly having a plurality of air ducts configured for directing cooled air supplied by the refrigeration apparatus to a plurality of selected vertical levels of the equipment.
US07886549B2
If the degree of opening of an electronic expansion valve (14) continues to remain below a specified degree of opening or if the degree of superheat of an evaporator (15) continues to remain above a predetermined degree of superheat, it is determined that the refrigerant circulation amount is in short supply in the water-cooled operation mode, and an air-cooled condenser fan (21) is tuned on.
US07886547B2
The invention provides machines and methods for extracting water from atmospheric air. Also provided are bladed core heat exchangers.
US07886544B2
A propeller or propeller drive, the propeller being carried by a support shaft (3) which projects from the body (53) of the missile or vehicle and about which the propeller rotates, the drive unit for the propeller being situated in front of the propeller (23) in the propulsion direction or in the propeller spinner (1). According to the invention it is provided that the drive unit has at least one gas turbine (55), optionally a multiple-stage gas turbine, which is secured to the drive shaft and which drives it or jointly rotates with it, and that the drive shaft (6) is traversed by the support shaft (3) or is mounted thereon in a rotating manner and drives the propeller (23), optionally by way of a gear mechanism (14) situated between the turbine (55) and the propeller (23).
US07886539B2
A gas turbine combustion system is provided comprising a combustion chamber (16) having a central axis (44), a primary combustion stage (28) located at a front end (32) of the combustion chamber (16) for injecting fuel, air, or mixtures thereof substantially along the central axis (44), a plurality of secondary combustion stages (30A-D) spaced apart in flow series along a length of the combustion chamber (16), wherein each of the plurality of secondary combustion stages (30A-D) comprises a plurality of circumferentially-spaced secondary injectors (48) for injecting fuel, air, or mixtures thereof, toward the central axis (44), and wherein an internal diameter of the combustion chamber (16) decreases from at least a first one of the plurality of secondary combustion stages (30AD) to at least a second one of the plurality of secondary combustion stages (30A-D).
US07886534B2
A hydrostatic transmission mountable to a vehicle frame as a unit. The hydrostatic transmission has a nose cup to which a motor module is mounted. Passageways in an end block connect the pump element and motor module in a closed loop. The end block also has passageways for connecting a charge pump to the closed loop for supplying make-up flow thereto. An isolation plug is provided for separating flow between two intersecting passageways in the end block.
US07886523B1
A controlling method for adjusting concentrations of, for example, individual cylinder's exhaust gas constituents to provide engine functions such as catalytic converter diagnosis, increased overall catalytic converter efficiency and rapid catalyst heating, before and/or after initiating closed loop fuel injection control, using a selected temperature sensor location within a low thermal mass catalytic converter design.
US07886512B2
A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain.
US07886497B2
A system for forming a flooring includes rectangular floorboards (1, 1′) including first and second types of floorboards (A, B), on which first and second locking devices are arranged in pairs on opposing short edges (5a, 5b) and long edges (4a, 4b), respectively, and on which the locking device of the first type of floorboard (A) along one pair of opposing joint edges is mirror inverted relative to the corresponding locking device along the same pair of opposing joint edges of the second type of floorboard (B). The system includes a third type of floorboard (C), which is so designed that a first one (5b) of its two short edges presents the first locking device (12) and both its long edges (4a, 4b) and its other short edge (5a) presents the second locking device.
US07886471B2
A system for activating a weapon to a state of readiness to fire includes an identification mechanism which is carried by the user of the weapon. The identification mechanism includes a sensor configured to input an identification code, a store configured to store the identification code and a transmitter. A receiver is provided in the weapon. The transmitter sends an activation signal to the receiver upon a positive identification code comparison. The activation signal activates the weapon to a state of readiness to fire. To maintain the weapon in this activation state, the transmitter continuously emits a signal to the receiver. The receiver controls a processor which is configured to maintain the weapon in the activation state based exclusively on the strength of the signals continuously being received by the receiver. To maintain the weapon in this state, the strength of the received signals must be equal to or greater than the strength of the signals received by the receiver when the identification mechanism is at a specified distance from the weapon.
US07886467B2
A sign frame assembly having journally connected frames and appearing as an inverted “V” when deployed on a surface. Each frame has legs connected by a panel, and upper and lower crossbars which are parallel to each other and connect the legs. A receptacle defined by a plane including the panel and which is parallel to and separated from a plane formed by surfaces of the legs, and the upper and lower cross bars is provided to hold a flat object which may be used as a sign. The flat object may be inserted and removed without the use of tools or fasteners.
US07886463B2
A pipeline padding machine includes two control station locations. One location is for controlling operation of the machine while the machine is operated on one side of a ditch, and the other location is for controlling operation of the machine while the machine is operated on an opposite side of the ditch. Another pipeline padding machine includes a material escalator assembly for elevating material, and a material conditioning assembly for conditioning the material. Another pipeline padding machine includes a main frame attached to a transport assembly for transporting the machine, a material escalator assembly for elevating material, and a cutting edge for cutting through the material prior to the material being elevated by the escalator assembly. The escalator assembly is pivotable relative to the main frame, and the cutting edge is pivotable relative to the escalator assembly.
US07886462B2
A padded shoe, such as a kicking boot, is disclosed that is lightweight and padded for use in mixed martial arts and other related activities. The padded shoe may be formed from a flexible, resilient sole; a shoe upper adjoined to the sole, wherein at least a portion of the shoe upper has padding disposed therein; a padded tongue attached to the shoe upper; an outer protective flap attached to the shoe upper; and an engagement structure for securing the outer protective flap to the shoe upper, the engagement structure being located substantially under the outer protective flap such that the outer protective flap substantially covers the engagement structure. The wearer can strike a target with the shoe, and the target and the wearer are protected from injury caused by direct impact with at least one of the engagement structure and the wearer's instep.
US07886457B2
An apparatus for cooling bulk material with a grate flowed through by cooling gas. The apparatus comprises a plurality of planks configured to move forward and back in the direction of conveyance and, between the planks, a sealing device having spatially separate outer and inner sealing elements. The sealing device has between the sealing elements a conveying duct, which runs along the length of the planks and on which a gas supply is configured to produce a gas stream along the length of the conveying duct. Bulk material which has infiltrated through the outer sealing element can be transported away before it can reach and migrate through the inner sealing element. The accompanying sealing effect can considerably reduce the undesirable material through-fall, while enabling the use of low-wearing seals, which provide excellent wear resistance.
US07886449B2
A laser processing system in which a laser beam propagates along a beam axis and through a lens for incidence on a work surface of a target specimen mounted on a support. The lens forms a focal region of the laser beam. The support is operatively connected to a multiple-axis positioning system that moves the laser beam and the target specimen relative to each other to position the laser beam at selected locations on the work surface. An assembly includes at least one flexure that supports the lens and guides movement of the lens along the beam axis in response to a motive force to adjust the focal region of the laser beam relative to the work surface.
US07886448B2
Archery range finders and lenses for archery range finders, the archery range finders being intended to be mounted on an archery bow. The archery range finders allow for the archer to place the lens on the target and obtain an immediate reading of the distance that the target is from the shooter and enables the shooter to place the proper distance pin on the target without having to do any mechanical adjustments and without having to guess the distance of the target from the shooter.
US07886445B2
A utility knife has a receiving cavity which opens through the body. A cartridge comprising a magazine of blades is removably insertable into the receiving cavity. A carrier within the body is manually operable for receiving a blade from the cartridge and positioning the blade for extension through the opening to present a cutting edge. The cartridge may be released from the utility knife body by depressing a button and withdrawing the cartridge. The cartridge is releasably held in place within the knife body and releasable when the blade carrier is in its retracted position and the release button is depressed. When the thumb button moves the blade carrier into its extended position to expose the knife blade, the cartridge is rendered unreleaseable even if the release button is depressed. The release button, which will enable removal of the magazine when depressed and blade carrier is in its retracted position, also serves to release of the blade from the blade carrier to permit removal of a used blade from the knife body when the blade carrier is in its extended position.
US07886439B2
Apparatus for bleeding electrical charge and methods for installing a ground stud in a composite structure. The apparatus includes a ground stud and a composite structure including a hole. In one embodiment the ground stud engages the hole in the composite structure in a transition fit. In another embodiment the ground stud is countersunk within the composite structure. Embodiments of the present methods include drilling a hole in the composite structure; inserting the ground stud into the hole such that the ground stud is in electrical contact with conductive fibers within the composite structure; securing the ground stud to the composite structure; and attaching a connective device to the ground stud such that the connective device is in electrical contact with the ground stud. In some embodiments the ground stud and the composite structure engage one another in a transition fit. In some embodiments the ground stud includes a pin, and a portion of the pin that contacts the composite structure is non-threaded. In some embodiments the ground stud is countersunk within the composite structure.
US07886434B1
A method for fabricating a signal controller, e.g., a filter or a switch, for a coplanar waveguide during the LIGA fabrication process of the waveguide. Both patterns for the waveguide and patterns for the signal controllers are created on a mask. Radiation travels through the mask and reaches a photoresist layer on a substrate. The irradiated portions are removed and channels are formed on the substrate. A metal is filled into the channels to form the conductors of the waveguide and the signal controllers. Micromachined quasi-lumped elements are used alone or together as filters. The switch includes a comb drive, a spring, a metal plunger, and anchors.
US07886433B2
A component-embedded PCB and a method of manufacturing the PCB are disclosed. Using a method that includes perforating a cavity in a core substrate; inserting a component in the cavity; stacking a film layer over the core substrate; forming at least one post by selectively leaving behind the film layer in correspondence to a position of at least one electrode of the component; covering an insulation layer over the core substrate such that the post penetrates the insulation layer to be exposed at a surface of the insulation layer; and forming at least one via hole by removing the post, can provide increased precision and finer pitch. Also, since laser is not used when processing the vias, damage to the component that may occur due to the laser is prevented. Furthermore, tolerance defects may be decreased, as well as defects caused by residue left after processing.
US07886427B2
A suction-and-holding face for a component in a suction nozzle is formed from a semiconductor ceramic so that the suction-and-holding face to be brought into direct contact with the component in suction and holding has the characteristics of a semiconductor. Thus, detrimental effects due to static electricity on the suction nozzle as well as detrimental effects due to electrical conduction between the suction nozzle and the component can be prevented from occurring.
US07886421B2
A method for manufacturing an integrated circuit device having antenna conductors is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a wafer with a plurality of integrated circuit components; forming a first antenna conductor on the surface of each integrated circuit component; forming a plurality of metal bumps above the first antenna conductor; coating an insulating layer to encapsulate the plurality of integrated circuit components and to cover the plurality of metal bumps; removing a portion of the insulating layer to expose a top portion of each metal bump; and forming a second antenna conductor on the insulating layer by screen printing.
US07886414B2
A method of manufacturing a capacitor-embedded PCB is disclosed. The method may include fabricating a capacitor substrate having at least one inner electrode formed on one side of a dielectric layer; aligning a semi-cured insulation layer with one side of a core layer, and aligning the capacitor substrate with the semi-cured insulation layer such that the inner electrode faces the semi-cured insulation layer; and collectively stacking the core layer, the semi-cured insulation layer, and the capacitor substrate.
US07886408B2
An example furniture hinge includes a damping device having a linearly movable damping cylinder, which is hingably connected to a door stop element and a damping guidance element. When closing the furniture hinge, the damping guide element can be pivoted against a pivot stop on the body fastening element.
US07886388B2
A mattress constructed with multiple foam layers joined together provides reclining support with pressure redistribution for heavy weight persons, particularly those weighing over 350 pounds. The mattress includes: a core layer having a substantially planar top surface and at least two spaced apart regions in a bottom surface from which foam material has been extracted to leave cavities separated by an interconnected network of foam walls, a top layer of viscoelastic foam with an air permeability above 60 ft3/ft2/min, and a bottom layer of stiffer supporting foam. The open cavities of the core layer are directed away from the body supporting top surface of the mattress.
US07886383B1
A contoured infant nursing pad includes a base, multiple retaining walls on the perimeter of the base for retaining an infant on the base, and a front safety ridge on the base perimeter for retaining the infant in an optimal nursing position and for preventing a mother from rolling onto the infant. First and second breast planar shelves are located on the base and are each on an opposite side of the front safety ridge and located at an opening in the base perimeter between the front safety ridge and one of the multiple retaining walls. Each breast shelf is tilted downward away from the opening to align the infant's mouth for breastfeeding. An infant placed on the base and facing the breast shelf can access a breast placed on the breast shelf. The infant nursing pad is reversible allowing flexible orientation of the mother and infant.
US07886382B2
The present invention provides a pillow inexpensively, in which a portion where the head of a user is rested is a hollow section which is evenly sloped and deformable bending of the neck or the tossing of the user. The pillow may have a sloped a sloping partition enclosing stuffing and located inside a pillow casing where the head of a user is rested, the sloped partition extending from the top cloth to the bottom cloth. The height of the sloping partition is slightly less than the clearance between the top and bottom cloths. A portion enclosed by the sloping partition on the top cloth side is a size in which the head of the user fits. The sloping partition is spaced from the neck side cloth inside the pillow casing.
US07886381B2
A reconfigurable support pillow system is disclosed. The system includes a base pillow, a first accessory pillow, and a second accessory pillow. The accessory pillows are removable, with the first accessory pillow being configured to connect to the second accessory pillow to form a nursing pillow that supports an infant. The system may be utilized as a prenatal pillow, comfortably supporting an expectant mother, or may be utilized as a postnatal pillow, supporting a nursing mother and/or her infant.
US07886379B2
An adjustable bed comprises a patient support surface supported by a patient support framework that adjusts vertices along the perimeter of the patient support surface. Through adjustments that raise and contract the perimeter of the patient support surface on either side of the lower torso and/or hip-area of the patient, the framework is operable to cradle a patient's waist and hips. This mechanism not only distributes the patient's weight across a larger surface area, reducing the need for lateral rotation, but also helps to maintain a patient in place when the patient is rotated from side to side.
