US08703015B2
A novel yellow phosphor of a fluorosulfide having a chemical formula of (A1-x-yCexBy)2Ca1-zSrzF4S2 and a tetragonal crystal phase is disclosed, wherein A and B are different rare earth metals other than Ce, the values of x, y, z are 0
US08703014B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose inorganic luminescent substances with Eu2+-doped silicate luminophores, in which solid solutions in the form of mixed phases between alkaline earth metal oxyorthosilicates and rare earth metal oxyorthosilicates are used as base lattices for the Eu2+ activation leading to the luminescence. These luminophores are described by the general formula (1-x) MII3SiO5.xSE2SiO5:Eu, in which MII preferably represents strontium ion or another alkaline earth metal ion, or another divalent metal ion selected from the group consisting of the magnesium, calcium, barium, copper, zinc, and manganese. These ions may be used in addition to strontium and also as mixtures with one another.
US08703012B2
To provide a liquid crystal composition satisfying at least one characteristic such as a high maximum temperature of a nematic phase, a low minimum temperature thereof, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large negative dielectric anisotropy and specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and heat, or a liquid crystal composition having a suitable balance regarding at least two characteristics; an AM device having a short response time, a large voltage holding ratio and contrast ratio, a long service life and so forth; wherein the liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having a polymerizable group as a first component, and may contain a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy and a low minimum temperature as a second component, or a specific compound having a small viscosity or a large maximum temperature as a third component, and a liquid crystal display device contains the composition.
US08703011B2
The present invention provides a class of thermotropic liquid crystalline polyesters (TLCPs) and molding compositions comprising the polyesters and glass fiber. The TLCPs consist essentially of repeat units derived from p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA), 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA), terephthalic acid (TA), and hydroquinone (HQ), and the mole percent of HBA, HNA, TA and HQ is 34-72%, 12-26%, 4-21% and 4-21%, respectively. The TLCPs have a melting temperature equal to or below 355° C., an inherent viscosity of 4.0-10.0 dL/g and a Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) in the range of 260-285° C. when compounded with 30% by weight glass fiber. The optimum compositions, selected from the above-mentioned compositional ranges exhibit a relatively low melting temperature and a relatively high HDT. Specified compositions, selected from the above-mentioned compositional ranges have low melting point, which are useful to blend with conventional polymers such as poly (ethylene terephthalate) and nylon etc.
US08703006B2
An azeotrope-like mixture consisting essentially of chlorotrifluoropropene and at least one component selected from the group consisting of a C1-C3 alcohol, a C5-C6 hydrocarbon, a halogenated hydrocarbon, methylal, methyl acetone, water, nitromethane, and combinations thereof.
US08703000B2
A slimming method includes transferring an object to be processed on which a patterned carbon-containing thin film is formed into a process chamber in an oxidation apparatus; and oxidizing and removing the surface of the carbon-containing thin film by an oxidizing gas while supplying moisture into the process chamber, to reduce widths of the protruded portions on the pattern of the carbon-containing thin film.
US08702997B2
A method of balancing a microelectromechanical system comprises determining if a microelectromechanical system is balanced in a plurality of orthogonal dimensions, and if the microelectromechanical system is not balanced, selectively depositing a first volume of jettable material on a portion of the microelectromechanical system to balance the microelectromechanical system in the plurality of orthogonal dimensions. A jettable material for balancing a microelectromechanical system comprises a vehicle, and a dispersion of nano-particles within the vehicle, in which the total mass of jettable material deposited on the microelectromechanical system is equal to the weight percentage of nano-particles dispersed within the vehicle multiplied by the mass of jettable material deposited on the microelectromechanical system. A microelectromechanical system comprises a number of unbalanced structures, and a number of droplets of jettable material disposed on the unbalanced structures, in which the droplets of jettable material balance the unbalanced structures in a plurality of orthogonal dimensions.
US08702994B2
A method for treating hydrogen sulfide in a solution includes providing the solution containing hydrogen sulfide. The method also includes adding sodium nitrite to the solution in an amount suitable to react with the hydrogen sulfide and treat the hydrogen sulfide.
US08702993B2
Amine-aldehyde resins are disclosed for removing a wide variety of solids and/or ionic species from the liquids in which they are suspended and/or dissolved. These resins are especially useful as froth flotation depressants in the separation of bitumen from sand and/or clay or in the beneficiation of clay (e.g., kaolin clay) from an impure clay-containing ore. The resins are also useful for treating aqueous liquid suspensions to remove solid particulates, as well as for removing metallic ions in the purification of water.
US08702989B2
A method and absorbent material for cleaning up contaminants, such as a petroleum-based product, with little to no water absorption. The absorbent material may include sheets, disks, or spheres of polymer-based plastic material of one to two inches thick that is manufactured and pre-conditioned to enhance absorption characteristics. The absorbent material may include smaller sieve sizes ranging from 16 to 100 that facilitate absorption and collection of a petroleum-based contaminant. Alternatively or additionally, the absorbent material may include larger sieve sizes ranging from 4 to 10 that facilitate transfer of the petroleum-based contaminant to the surface of the absorbent material. The absorbent material may be deployed at sea for a matter of minutes, and after absorbing a portion of the petroleum-based contaminant, then recovered by a recovery vessel, such as via netting, scooping, and/or vacuuming means. After which, the petroleum-based contaminant may be extracted from the absorbent material for re-use.
US08702983B2
The present invention relates to axial flow chromatography columns, methods for separating one or more analytes in a liquid by the use of such columns, and systems employing such columns. The column comprises a first port and a second port, the first port and said second port being at essentially the same level or elevation above the level of the bed space on the chromatography column.
US08702974B2
A process for desulphurizing hydrocarbons includes passing a mixture of hydrocarbon and hydrogen over a hydrodesulphurization catalyst to convert organosulphur compounds present in the hydrocarbon to hydrogen sulphide, passing the resulting mixture over a hydrogen sulphide sorbent including zinc oxide to reduce the hydrogen sulphide content of the mixture, and passing the hydrogen sulphide-depleted mixture over a further desulphurization material. The further desulphurization material includes one or more nickel compounds, a zinc oxide support material, and optionally one or more promoter metal compounds of iron, cobalt, copper and precious metals. The desulphurization material has a nickel content in the range 0.3 to 20% by weight and a promoter metal compound content in the range 0 to 10% by weight.
US08702972B2
A process is disclosed for the separation of solids from gases in a mixture which is most particularly applicable to an FCC apparatus. The mixture of solids and gases are passed through a conduit and exit through a swirl arm that imparts a swirl motion having a first annular direction to centripetally separate the heavier solids from the lighter gases. The mixture then enters a gas recovery conduit in which at least one plate radially extending from an inner wall impedes rotational motion of the mixture. The mixture enters cyclones at the other end of the gas recovery conduit without substantial swirling motion.
US08702960B2
A method for operating a measurement for a sample on an electrochemical test strip including at least two electrodes is provided. The method includes steps of applying a first voltage between the two electrodes during an interference-removal period after an incubation period succeeding a moment when the sample is detected, and applying a second voltage between the two electrodes during a test period, wherein the first voltage is larger than the second voltage, the first voltage includes one of a first fixed voltage and a first set of plural pulse voltages, and the second voltage includes a second fixed voltage.
US08702953B2
It is an object of the present invention to derive the optimum operating condition parameters for plating operation accurately and efficiently. At first, a preliminary test operation is carried out under the energized condition (S12), then in light of such result, a sequential operations such as a first test operation (step S14) in which no energization is carried out for plurality of operating pattern candidates and a second test operation (step S16) under the energized condition are carried out, and then the optimum operating conditions are registered (step S18).
US08702949B2
The solution reservoir apparatus of the capillary electrophoresis apparatus securely affixes an evaporation-preventing membrane to a container when a capillary is inserted or withdrawn, without extending the cathode end of the capillary. The solution reservoir apparatus comprises a container for reserving a sample or solution, a cover having a bore through which the capillary is passed and covering the container, an evaporation-preventing membrane having a capillary hole through which the capillary is passed, and a container holder for holding the container. The evaporation-preventing membrane has a projection provided at the periphery of the capillary hole, the projection of the evaporation-preventing membrane is engaged with the bore on the cover when the evaporation-preventing membrane is positioned on the cover, and the evaporation-preventing membrane is supported by the cover.
US08702948B2
Disclosed are a method and apparatus that use an electric field for improved biological assays. The electric field is applied across a device having wells, which receive reactants, which carry a charge. The device thus uses a controllable voltage source between the first and second electrodes, which is controllable to provide a positive charge and a negative charge to a given electrode. By controlled use of the electric field charged species in a fluid in a fluid channel are directed into or out of the well by an electric field between the electrodes. The present method involves the transport of fluids, as in a microfluidic device, and the electric field-induced movement of reactive species according to various assay procedures, such as DNA sequencing, synthesis or the like.
US08702946B1
Disclosed herein are methods and devices for dielectrokinetic chromatography. As disclosed, the devices comprise microchannels having at least one perturber which produces a non-uniformity in a field spanning the width of the microchannel. The interaction of the field non-uniformity with a perturber produces a secondary flow which competes with a primary flow. By decreasing the size of the perturber the secondary flow becomes significant for particles/analytes in the nanometer-size range. Depending on the nature of a particle/analyte present in the fluid and its interaction with the primary flow and the secondary flow, the analyte may be retained or redirected. The composition of the primary flow can be varied to affect the magnitude of primary and/or secondary flows on the particles/analytes and thereby separate and concentrate it from other particles/analytes.
US08702940B2
A mechanism for capturing molecules is provided. A nanopore through a membrane separates a first chamber from a second chamber, and the nanopore, the first chamber, and the second chamber are filled with ionic buffer. A narrowed neck is at a middle area of the first chamber, and the narrowed neck is aligned to an entrance of the nanopore. The narrowed neck has a high intensity electric field compared to other areas of the first chamber having low intensity electric fields. The narrowed neck having the high intensity electric field concentrates the molecules at the middle area aligned to the entrance of the nanopore. Voltage applied between the first chamber and the second chamber drives the molecules, concentrated at the entrance of the nanopore, through the nanopore.
US08702935B2
An electrochemical gas sensor includes a housing, a first working electrode within the housing and having a first section of gas transfer medium and a first layer of catalyst on the first section of gas transfer medium, and at least a second working electrode within the housing and having a second section of gas transfer medium and a second layer of catalyst on the second section of gas transfer medium. At least one of the first section of gas transfer medium and the second section of gas transfer medium includes at least one area in which the structure thereof has been irreversibly altered to limit diffusion of gas through the at least one of the first section of gas transfer medium or the second section of gas transfer medium toward the other of the at least one of the first section of gas transfer medium and the second section of gas transfer medium.
US08702934B2
A gas sensor including a gas sensor element that extends in an axial direction and has a detection section at a front-end side thereof, and an electrode pad at a rear-end side thereof; a connection terminal that is electrically connected to the electrode pad; and an insulated separator that extends along the axial direction and has an inserting hole into which the connection terminal is inserted. An element side section is arranged within the inserting hole and is connected the electrode pad, and an external circuit side section extends further to the outside in a diametrical direction than an outer surface of the separator through one or more first bending sections from the element side section.
US08702927B2
Provided are probes featuring multiple electrodes, which probes have diameters in the nanometer range and may be inserted into cells or other subjects so as to monitor an electrical characteristic of the subject. The probes may also include a conductive coating on at least one probe element to improve the probes' performance. The probes may also be used to inject a fluid or other agent into the subject and simultaneously monitor changes in the subject's electrical characteristics in response to the injection. Related methods of fabricating and of using the inventive probes are also provided.
US08702917B2
A water treatment system is disclosed having electrolytic cell for liberating hydrogen from a base solution. The base solution may be a solution of brine for generating sodium hypochlorite, or potable water to be oxidized. The cell has first and second opposing electrode endplates held apart from each other by a pair of supports such that the supports enclose opposing sides of the endplates to form a cell chamber. One or more inner electrode plates are spaced apart from each other in the cell chamber in between the first and second electrode plates. The supports are configured to electrically isolate the first and second electrode plates and the inner electrode plates from each other. The first and second electrode plates are configured to receive opposite polarity charges that passively charge the inner electrode plates via conduction from the base solution to form a chemical reaction in the base solution as the base solution passes through the cell chamber.
US08702915B2
Small, autonomous, low cost electrochemical gas generators containing an electrochemical cell assembly, a commercially available battery and a current controlling mechanism. Current control, which defines the gas generation rate, is achieved either electronically by means of a resistor or through mass transfer control by means of a gas permeable film of known permeability. In either case, the gas generation rates are generally from 0.1 to 10 cc/day. The gas source must contain an electrochemically active gas such as oxygen or hydrogen. Air is the preferred source for oxygen. These miniature gas generators, generally are less than 1.5 cm in diameter and length, require novel, compact, electrochemical cell assemblies. Various cell assemblies, generally 1 cm in diameter and less than 0.5 mm thick, are described. These miniature gas generators are used for the controlled release of fluids such as pheromones, fragrances, insect repellents, and the like.
US08702914B2
An oxygen generator having a honeycomb body composed of an oxygen ion conducting material is disclosed. The honeycomb body includes one or more air channels, each of which is composed of a plurality of the first channels and the first connecting holes therebetween to form a tortuous air flow path for lengthening the detention time of air, and oxygen collection channels, each of which is composed of a plurality of the second channels and the second connecting holes therebetween for oxygen passage. The first and second channels, which extend laterally through across the body and parallel to each other, are all sealed with glass members at both the front face and back face of the body. The source gas is provided and exhausted from one side face of the body to the other side face via a plurality of air inlets and air outlets, respectively, which laterally intersect the first channels. A power source are with a negative terminal and positive terminal, respectively, connected to the air channels and oxygen collection channels, respectively, to force oxygen ion flow across the oxygen ion conducting material such that gas in oxygen collection channels will become riches in oxygen than in air channels. The oxygen within the oxygen collection channels is collected from the side face of the body through a plurality of oxygen outlets which laterally connect with the second channels.
US08702912B2
The invention relates to a process for coating a substrate composed of cemented carbide, a cermet, steel or ceramic with at least one Ti1-xAlxN layer by means of a DC sputtering process. The invention further relates to a workpiece or tool which has been coated by the above-described process and to the use thereof. It is an object of the present invention to provide a process by means of which it is possible to produce coatings which combine the advantages of the sputtering process and the arc process, i.e. to make it possible to obtain a coating which has a low roughness and an advantageous (200) texture. A further object of the present invention is to provide a workpiece which has a coating having the properties mentioned. A further object of the present invention is to use tools which are particularly suitable for machining metals. The object achieved by the process is distinguished by ionization aids being used for increasing the plasma densities.
US08702904B2
Parts stuck together in a stack are separated by placing the parts in a vibratory apparatus and vibrating the stack of parts with a vibratory head of the vibratory apparatus to separate them and also constrain the parts with the vibratory head as the parts are vibrated.
US08702902B2
Device for generating a plasma discharge for patterning the surface of a substrate, comprising a first electrode having a first discharge portion and a second electrode having a second discharge portion, a high voltage source for generating a high voltage difference between the first and the second electrode, and positioning means for positioning the first electrode with respect to the substrate, wherein the positioning means are arranged for selectively positioning the first electrode with respect to the second electrode in a first position in which a distance between the first discharge portion and the second discharge portion is sufficiently small to support the plasma discharge at the high voltage difference, and in a second position in which the distance between the first discharge portion and the second discharge portion is sufficiently large to prevent plasma discharge at the high voltage difference.
US08702891B2
The invention provides a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a glass-sealed package, whereby anodic bonding of a pair of wafers is ensured over substantially the whole area of the wafers, and whereby a vacuum is ensured inside the cavity during the anodic bonding of the wafers. The invention also provides an oscillator having such characteristics. The manufacturing method of a glass-sealed package includes the step of anodically bonding a pair of wafers by applying voltage to positions corresponding to circumferential portions of the wafers stacked in layers, and the step of dividing the pair of anodically bonded wafers into individual pieces. A through hole is formed at a central portion of at least one of the wafers, and the anodic bonding of the wafers is made by applying voltage using a plurality of electrodes disposed at the positions corresponding to the circumferential portions of the wafers.
US08702880B2
A high strength and low yield ratio steel that has excellent characteristics such as low temperature toughness, a tensile strength of approximately 600 MPa or more and a low yield ratio of 80% or less. The high strength and low yield ratio steel includes, by weight percent: C: 0.02 to 0.12%, Si: 0.01 to 0.8%, Mn: 0.3 to 2.5%, P: 0.02% or less, S: 0.01% or less, Al: 0.005 to 0.5%, Nb: 0.005 to 0.10%, B: 3 to 50 ppm, Ti: 0.005 to 0.1%, N: 15 to 150 ppm, Ca: 60 ppm or less, and the balance of be and inevitable impurities, and further includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of by weight percent: Cr: 0.05 to 1.0%, Mo: 0.01 to 1.0%, Ni: 0.01 to 2.0%, Cu: 0.01 to 1.0% and V: 0.005 to 0.3%, wherein a finish cooling temperature is limited to 500 to 600° C. after the finish-rolling process. The high strength and low yield ratio steel satisfying characteristics such as low temperature toughness, brittle crack arrestability and low yield ratio, and the manufacturing method thereof may be provided.
US08702875B2
The present disclosure relates to a high strength steel sheet having good wettability, a tensile strength of 590 MPa or more and a strength-ductility balance (TS×El) of 16,520 MPa·% or more, and a manufacturing method thereof. The high strength steel comprises, in % by weight, C: 0.03˜0.1%, Si: 0.005˜0.105%, Mn: 1.0˜3.0%, P: 0.005˜0.04%, S: 0.003% or less, N: 0.003˜0.008%, Al: 0.05˜0.4%, Mo or Cr satisfying the inequality 10≦50·[Mo %]+100·[Cr %]≦30, at least one of Ti: 0.005˜0.020%, V: 0.005˜0.050% and B: 0.0005˜0.0015%, and the balance of Fe and unavoidable impurities, wherein a microstructure of the steel sheet is a multi-phase structure comprising, in an area ratio of cross-sectional structure, 70% or more ferrite phase having a Vickers hardness Hv of 120˜250 and 10% or more martensite phase having a Vickers hardness Hv of 321˜555.
US08702870B2
A method for cleaning a substrate processing chamber, including processing a batch of substrates within a processing chamber defining one or more processing regions. Processing the batch of substrates may be executed in a sub-routine having various sub-steps including processing a substrate from the batch within the processing chamber, removing the substrate from the processing chamber, introducing ozone into the processing chamber, and exposing the chamber to ultraviolet light for less than one minute. The substrate batch processing sub-steps may be repeated until the last substrate in the batch is processed. After processing the last substrate in the batch, the method includes removing the last substrate from the processing chamber, introducing ozone into the processing chamber; and exposing the processing chamber to ultraviolet light for three to fifteen minutes.
US08702869B2
A method of performing a cleaning operation with an autoclavable bucketless cleaning system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of placing a cleaning solution in an inside of an autoclavable vessel, the vessel having a first connection point and a second connection point disposed at an outside of the vessel, removably connecting an autoclavable outlet regulator assembly on the vessel at the first connection point so as to be in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel, removably connecting an autoclavable inlet regulator assembly on the vessel at the second connection point so as to be in fluid communication with the inside of the vessel, pressurizing the inside of the vessel via the inlet regulator assembly, dispensing cleaning solution from the inside of the vessel via the outlet regulator assembly to clean a designated area, removing any pressurized gas that remains inside the vessel after the designated area is cleaned, removing any cleaning solution that remains inside the vessel after the designated area is cleaned, and autoclaving each of the vessel, the outlet regulator assembly, and the inlet regulator assembly.
US08702868B2
A method for decontaminating nuclear plant surfaces, which have been contaminated with alpha emitters, is carried out subsequently to a decontamination process which is aimed at the removal of oxide layers. The surfaces are treated with an aqueous solution which contains a cationic or zwitterionic surfactant and oxalic acid. At least a part of the solution, after having acted on a surface, is conducted across an ion exchanger.
US08702867B2
A gas distribution plate that is installed in a chamber providing a reaction space and supplies a reaction gas onto a substrate placed on a substrate placing plate, wherein the gas distribution plate includes: first and second surfaces opposing to each other, wherein the second surface faces the substrate placing plate and has a recess shape; and a plurality of injection holes each including: an inflow portion that extends from the first surface toward the second surface; a diffusing portion that extends from the second surface toward the first surface; and an orifice portion between the inflow portion and the diffusing portion, wherein the plurality of inflow portions of the plurality of injection holes decrease in gas path from edge to middle of the gas distribution plate, and wherein the plurality of diffusing portions of the plurality of injection holes have substantially the same gas path.
US08702863B2
A method for the evaporative production of phenol-BPA adduct crystals in a crystallizer is provided. First, a supersaturated BPA solution is introduced into a crystallizer that includes a cylindrical vessel and a concentrically-disposed draft tube that defines an annular space between the vessel and tube. Next, the BPA solution is circulated through the draft tube and annular space while a coolant is uniformly distributed in the circulating flow by radially injecting a volatile hydrocarbon compound at between about 30% and 60% of a radial extent of the annular space of to form a BPA mixture. Phenol-BPA adduct crystals are produced in the vessel by evaporating the volatile hydrocarbon compound out of the BPA mixture. The method provides a consistent and uniform concentration of coolant across the surface of the boiling zone that prevents or at least reduces unwanted crystal nucleation.
US08702854B2
Azaphthalocyanine compounds of Formula (1) and salts thereof: wherein: MAzPc represents a azaphthalocyanine nucleus of formula (A): M is 2H, Cu or Ni; each P is independently CH or N; R1, R2 are independently H or optionally substituted alkyl; R3 is optionally substituted hydrocarbyl; y is greater than 0 and less than 4; z is greater than 0 and less than 4; and the sum of y+z is in the range of from 1 to 4; 15 provided that at least one P is N in any one of the four component rings of the azaphthalocyanine nucleus. Also compositions, inks, printing processes, printed materials and ink-jet cartridges.
US08702851B2
A heat exchanger is provided and includes a frame defining a volumetric body with substantially flat upper and lower sides, heat exchange elements disposed within an interior of the body, sorbent material disposed among the heat exchange elements within the interior of the body, retainer screens disposed at upper and lower sides of the heat exchange elements and sorbent material and structural foam layers supportively disposed between the retainer screens and the substantially flat upper and lower sides to absorb loading applied to the retainer screens.
US08702843B2
A protocol for removing condensables from a fluid. The fluid, as an example an acid gas stream captured for EOR or CCS purposes, is initially treated to condense liquids with removal to form a gas stream. The latter is then compressed and cooled. At least a portion of this is then expanded, to form a cooled low pressure stream, and mixed with the initial fluid stream to augment cooling and condensation of condensable components.
US08702835B2
A water-atomized iron-based steel powder is provided which comprises by weight-%: 0.45-1.50 Ni, 0.30-0.55 Mo, less than 0.3 Mn, less than 0.2 Cu, less than 0.1 C, less than 0.25 O, less than 0.5 of unavoidable impurities, and the balance being iron, and where Ni and Mo have been alloyed by a diffusion alloying process.
US08702832B2
A securable mounting material comprises: a mounting material comprising inorganic fibers and having a major surface; and a layer of thermally activatable adhesive inwardly disposed on the inorganic fibers proximate the major surface. The thermally activatable adhesive comprises at least one compound represented by the formula: (Mm+)d((ZpOq(OH)r)n−)e.(H2O)f M represents a cationic species other than H+; O represents oxygen; Z represents boron or phosphorus; f is a real number greater than or equal to zero; d, n, q, and r are integers greater than or equal to zero; e, m, and p are integers greater than or equal to one; and d times m equals e times n. The mounting material is useful in pollution control devices. A method of making the mounting material is also disclosed.
US08702822B2
Methods and reactors for producing a fuel are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the method uses a biomass feedstock and alkane and/or alcohol feedstock, which can be contacted with a metal-containing catalyst to form products including a bio-oil. In some embodiments, oxygen-containing functional groups can be removed from a bio-oil using one or more zeolite thin films.
US08702810B2
The present invention generally relates to implantable devices for producing insulin in diabetic animals and to methods of making same. Some embodiments include amphiphilic biomembranes for use in biological applications (e.g., as an alternative and/or supplemental insulin source). Some embodiments also include live insulin-producing cells contained within one or more amphiphilic membranes so as to prevent or diminish an immuno-response and/or rejection by the host.
US08702806B2
A cotyloid implant including a screwable cup receiving an articular insert. The cup is provided with screwing elements (11) on the periphery thereof and more particularly in the equatorial area (2) thereof, the elements being used to penetrate the bone material of the acetabular cup during screwing. The cup includes an osteointegration-facilitating coating such as a selective calcium hydroxyapatite coating. The coating (16) is a thick coating on the convex parts of the outer surface of the cup, including areas or valleys or hollow thread elements which are left free in the screwing elements. The coating is not as thick (17) on raised areas or screw thread areas.
US08702802B2
A joint assembly incorporated into a reconditioned end surface established between upper and opposing lower bones. At least one first component is anchored into a first of the reconditioned bone end surfaces and exhibits a rotatably supported wheel. A second component is anchored into a second opposing reconditioned bone end surfaces and exhibits a second exposed support surface in contact with the rotatably supported wheel. The first component includes a supporting well anchored into the reconditioned bone end surface for supporting the wheel in rotatable fashion. A laterally inserting pin displaces relative to a side of the wheel well and into an interior thereof and includes a central axial through hole which receives the pin for supporting the shaft.
US08702800B2
An implant assembly for re-establishing a glenohumeral joint between a scapular and humerus. A ball is adapted to being mounted to a reconditioned glenoid cavity defined in the scapula along with a receiver mounted to a reconditioned humeral head associated with the humerus. A substantially spherical shaped element is interposed between the ball and receiver and establishes first and second articulating surfaces. A concave recess is defined in an exposed face of the ball for seating in articulating fashion a portion of the spherical element. A concave recess is defined in the spherical shaped element for seating in articulating fashion an exposed portion of the scapula mounted ball. Each of the ball, spherical element and receiver is constructed of an alternating material including at least one of a polymer, polymer composite, metal, metal composite or polymer/metal admixture.
US08702793B2
Disclosed is an implantable one-piece heart prosthesis having a driving artificial ventricle and a driven artificial ventricle. A main actuator is configured to transmit to the driving artificial ventricle diastolic and systolic flow rates having desired respective values for the driving artificial ventricle. An auxiliary actuator is configured to transmit to the driven artificial ventricle correction systolic and diastolic flow rates that correct the systolic and diastolic flow rates transmitted by the main actuator to the driven artificial ventricle.
US08702792B2
A device delivers a chemical or biological agent, the device comprises an imprint molecule (IM) to be delivered by the device; an electroactive molecularly imprinted polymer (EMIP) imprinted with the imprint molecule, the EMIP having a plurality of binding sites capable of binding the imprint; and an electric potential producing member (EPM), the EPM being capable of producing an electric potential between the EPM and the EMIP; whereby when the EMIP has a predetermined density of imprint molecule bound at the binding sites, and whereby when a sufficient potential is produced between the EPM and the EMIP, the imprint molecule is released from the binding site and thereby delivered by the device.
US08702782B2
A stent deployment device over which a stent is securable for the purpose of delivery into an operative position in a human body is provided. The device comprises a plurality of elongate wings, each of which has a length consistent with the length of a stent to be deployed using the deployment device, the wings being arranged circumferentially about a central body which extends from, and is operable through, a catheter. The wings are movable between a radially withdrawn delivery position and expanded positions in which they are displaced radially outwards of the body. A flow path is defined internally of the wings in the expanded positions thereof and a temporary valve is provided in such flow path to permit the flow of blood though the flow path predominantly in one direction. An inflatable annular balloon is preferably provided over the wings to cause final expansion of the stent. Locator arms are deployable from the body to assist in locating the body within a natural heart valve.
US08702780B2
An endovascular delivery device (1) has a portion, such as the nose cone dilator (8), being formed from a radiopaque material and that portion has a selected transverse profile such as a notch (26) so that in a selected rotational orientation of the endovascular delivery device the nose cone dilator can be observed by radiographic means during an endovascular procedure to be in that selected rotational orientation. The selected transverse profile can be a notch, protrusion or aperture. The notch or aperture can be filled with a radio-transparent material to provide a sooth outer surface.
US08702779B2
Apparatus and method are provided for treatment of a bifurcation of a body lumen. The apparatus includes an elongated catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end. A balloon is associated with the distal end of the balloon catheter. The balloon includes a main vessel balloon for treating a main vessel of the bifurcation, and a branch vessel balloon for treating a branch vessel of the bifurcation. The branch vessel balloon includes an accordion configuration capable of being expanded from an unexpanded collapsed accordion configuration to an expanded accordion configuration extending into the branch vessel.
US08702777B2
A stent includes a first flaring portion including first and second sets of cells that flare outwardly when the stent is expanded from a contracted to a flared condition, and a second main portion connected to the first flaring portion. During use, the stent is introduced into a main vessel in the contracted condition and positioned with the first portion adjacent an ostium. The first portion is flared, causing first struts of the first set of cells to move from an axial towards a radial and partial circumferential orientation and causing second struts of the second set of cells to move from an axial towards a radial orientation. The second portion resists expansion when the first portion is flared. The stent is expanded further such that the second portion expands within the branch body lumen, and the first and second struts move towards a more circumferential orientation.
US08702772B2
A device and method for dermatological use with one or a plurality of active components and a failsafe control. The device includes a light source configured to be toggled between an activated state and an inactivated state, a photosensitive detector configured to detect incoming light and a processing unit for the failsafe control. The processing unit is configured to concurrently determine whether light detected by the photosensitive detector is indicative of a safe operating proximity and is indicative of a safe operating skin tonal range; and activate the active components only when the processing unit determines that the device is within the safe operating proximity, and that the light reflected from the surface is indicative of the safe operating proximity and safe operating skin tonal range.
US08702770B2
The invention concerns a scanning device for focusing a beam of rays in defined regions of a defined volume, comprising an input optics wherein the beam of rays penetrates first, having at least one first optical element; a focusing optics for focusing the beam of rays exiting from the input optics; and a deflecting device arranged between the first optical element and the focusing optics, for deflecting the beam of rays after it has passed through the first optical element, based on a position of the focus to be adjusted in lateral direction. In order to adjust the position of the focus of the beam of rays in the direction of the beam of rays, and optical element of the input optics can be displaced relative to the deflecting device.
US08702766B2
A receiving member has a primary socket for a fixation mechanism and a secondary socket for a locking device. The secondary socket has a first bore intersecting a portion of the primary socket and forming an arcuate cut-out. The secondary socket has a chord member extending into the secondary socket first bore that forms a radial undercut in the secondary socket. The secondary socket has a detent extending from the radial undercut into the chord member. The locking device is rotatable in the secondary socket between an unlocked position in which an engagement surface of a cap of the locking device is angularly displaced from the arcuate cut-out, and a locked position in which the cap engagement surface occupies the arcuate cut-out and engages the fixation mechanism, and the arm engages an underside of the chord member, thereby preventing the fixation member from disengaging the receiving member primary socket.
US08702757B2
An interspinous process spacer for implantation in an interspinous space between a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process includes a balloon-like body, a first deployable protrusion and a second deployable protrusion. The body has a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends. The spacer is arrangeable in an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration. The first deployable protrusion is mounted proximate the proximal end and the second deployable protrusion is mounted proximate the distal end. The first and second deployable protrusions are oriented generally parallel to the longitudinal axis in the unexpanded configuration and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis in the expanded configuration.
US08702755B2
A dynamic spine prosthesis (such as a facet joint prosthesis having an articulation surface configured to articulate with a corresponding facet joint element) that has a fixation element with an elongated bone entry portion defining a longitudinal axis and a dynamic spine prosthesis component connected to the fixation element at a connection location by an adjustable connection. The adjustable connection has first and second washers each rotatably supported by the fixation element and each having an angled contact surface in a plane not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fixation element, with the connection location being between the bone entry portion and the first and second washers.
US08702750B2
A method and apparatus for closing a vascular wound includes a guidewire and/or other surgical implement extending from the wound. A hemostatic material is advanced over the surgical implement and into contact with an area of the blood vessel surrounding the wound. The surgical implement is removed. Blood soaks the hemostatic material, and blood clotting is facilitated by the hemostatic agent within the material. A sealing layer of adhesive can be applied to the hemostatic material, confining the blood flow to the material. The vascular puncture wound is sealed by natural blood clot formation.
US08702748B2
A laparoscopic surgical instrument includes a shaft and a head having a distal end to which a variety of surgical instruments are attached. The laparoscopic surgical instrument also includes a flexible joint installed between the shaft and the head; a longitudinal-driving unit including a longitudinal-driving wire connected with both longitudinal ends of the head and a longitudinal-driving roller turning the longitudinal-driving wire and a transverse-driving unit including a transverse-driving wire connected with both transverse ends of the head and a transverse-driving roller turning the transverse-driving wire. The longitudinal-driving unit turns the flexible joint in the longitudinal direction, the transverse-driving unit turns the flexible joint in the transverse direction, and the shaft has a small diameter.
US08702742B2
Systems and methods for using a trocar system are disclosed. The system generally includes a handle having a first end a second end, a trocar disposed adjacent the first end of the handle, cannulas disposed on the trocar, and a drive system. The drive system is disposed for forward movement of the cannulas in a longitudinal direction away from the second end of the handle.
US08702728B2
A ligature device and method of use are disclosed. More specifically, a ligature device capable of maintaining a ligature band in an elongated position, applying a preformed ligation band to an object to be ligated, manually releasing the ligation band from an elongated position, and securing a ligation band in a tensioned position is described. The ligation device may be used to apply ligation bands to various body parts of various animals.
US08702727B1
A delivery catheter with a plug ejection mechanism with a fluid filled actuator incorporated in the catheter's handle is disclosed. After delivery of RF energy, the clinician deploys the plug within the region of the lesion by activating the plug ejection mechanism.
US08702720B2
An improved wire guide and method for cannulating a bodily lumen, such the biliary tree are provided for procedures such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ECRP). The wire guide and cannulation method minimizes the potential for trauma to the ducts while reducing the chances of disconnecting the wire guide from newer access devices. Generally, the wire guide includes an atraumatic tassel tip which is operable between delivery and deployed configurations.
US08702708B2
A connecting member insertable, at a fracture, inside a bone structure of a human or animal body to immobilize at least two bone portions. The connecting member has at least one radioactive source located at a predetermined reference point.
US08702702B1
A mechanical cutting device that makes use of mechanical (rotary) motion and suction to engage tissue also applies a cutting energy sufficient to vaporize the tissue. The rotation and suction are used to engage the tissue (sucking tissue into cutting windows when the cutting windows of inner and outer blades are aligned), and then the cutting member(s) function as an electrode(s) by having an electrical cutting signal applied thereto so that the cutting member(s) electrically cut the tissue as the cutting members relatively rotate. The electrical cutting signal is only applied as the windows become aligned up until the cutting of the tissue is completed. The cutting signal preferably is stopped after the cutting windows become misaligned. While the cutting windows are misaligned, a coagulation signal can be supplied to the cutting member so that the device functions as an electrocautery device.
US08702700B2
A surgical treatment device which is used together with an endoscope, includes a sheath, a treatment portion which is arranged at the distal end portion of the sheath and includes first to third electrodes configured to treat a living tissue by using electrical energy, an operation portion which is arranged at a proximal end portion of the sheath and which is configured to operate the treatment portion, and a switching portion which is configured to switch between a first mode in which a treatment is given by using the first electrode and at least one of the second and third electrodes in the treatment portion and a second mode in which a treatment is given by using the second and third electrodes.
US08702697B2
Devices and methods for shaping an ablation treatment volume formed in fluid enhanced ablation therapy are provided. The devices and methods disclosed herein utilize the interaction of fluids to create ablation treatment volumes having a variety of shapes. In one embodiment, a method for forming an ablation treatment volume having a desired shape includes delivering therapeutic energy to tissue to form an ablation treatment volume and simultaneously delivering a first fluid and a second fluid to the tissue. The first and second fluids can convect the therapeutic energy in a desired direction such that the ablation treatment volume has a desired shape.
US08702690B2
Disclosed herein are ablation systems and methods for providing feedback on lesion formation in real-time. The methods and systems assess absorptivity of tissue based on a degree of electric coupling or contact between an ablation electrode and the tissue. The absorptivity can then be used, along with other information, including, power levels and activation times, to provide real-time feedback on the lesions being created. Feedback may be provided, for example, in the form of estimated lesion volumes and other lesion characteristics. The methods and systems can provide estimated treatment times to achieve a desired lesion characteristic for a given degree of contact, as well as depth of a lesion being created. The degree of contact may be measured using different techniques, including the phase angle techniques and a coupling index.
US08702686B2
The present invention relates to an adaptable therapeutic, diagnostic or surgical guide for an intra-operative adjustment of a guidance element to a pre-planned position. An advantage and innovation of the present invention is that it provides a template or guide that adapts in a controlled way to a changed intra-operative anatomical situation compared to the default planned situation. This adaption maybe purely positional but it may also include force feedback. Feedback, either visual feedback or force feedback that results in an adjustment of a guidance element is also an aspect of the present invention. For example, the feedback can contain information either about the fit of the guide or template onto a bone (in case the guide or template fits onto one bone) or about the relative position of two bones of bone fragments (e.g. ligament tension between the femur and tibia).
US08702683B2
A dermal or transdermal drug-delivery skin patch has a blood pressure sensor structurally integrated or built into it. The skin patch when attached to a skin portion of an individual determines a blood pressure of the individual and in response needle-lessly delivers a treatment drug to the individual if necessary.
US08702676B2
Method and surgical instrument for treating prostate tissue including a surgical instrument having a main body, a needle deployment port, a needle, first and second handles and a lockout release mechanism to limit needle extension. Additionally, a kit includes the surgical instrument, together with a cystoscope, and optionally a syringe and reservoir of ethanol. The method includes needle-less injection and visualizing the ethanol injection by delivering both an echogenic agent and ethanol either by needle or needle-less injection or by providing an ultrasonically visible marker near the tip of the ethanol delivery cannula. The method also includes extending the needle transversely of the instrument housing using a link assembly.
US08702674B2
A medication and identification information transfer system is provided that includes a medication vial, a secondary medication container (syringe) and a medication information transfer apparatus. The medication information transfer apparatus, when coupled to a vial, can transfer information indicative of the contents of the vial to an intelligent injection site. The medication information transfer apparatus has a shape and size enabling it to be connected to a vial adapter for removal of medication from the vial transfer it to a syringe for delivery to an injection site while simultaneously transferring information about the medication in the vial to the injection site. In some implementations, the medication injection site can be placed on a fluid delivery line for infusion into a patient. Related apparatus, systems, and kits are also disclosed.
US08702668B2
A catamenial device. The device has a topsheet having a body facing surface, a backsheet joined to said topsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet, wherein the absorbent core having three zones differing in stiffness, at least one of the zones including laterally-oriented portions where material from the core has been removed, the portions defining slots.
US08702664B2
By providing a non-liquid drug reservoir layer 2 having first and second principal surfaces and containing a drug and a polymer that is to be a base, a drug permeation layer 4 disposed at the first principal surface side of the drug reservoir layer 2 and being lower in permeability of the drug than the drug reservoir layer 2, and a first backing 3 with a bending resistance of 10 to 80 mm that is formed so as to cover a side surface of the drug reservoir layer, skin irritation can be reduced.
US08702662B2
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a debris removal system is provided for a body-space drainage system having one or more body tubes with a body tube lumen disposed therein. The debris-removal system comprises an elongated cleaning member and a cleaning head adapted to be advanced distally at least a portion of a length of the body tube lumen to dislodge debris therein. A collapsible sheath can be used to maintain a sterile field in the body tube lumen while the cleaning member is being used by enclosing at least a portion of the cleaning member that is not contained within the body tube lumen, and permitting external digital manipulation of the cleaning member through the sheath to advance and/or retract the cleaning member, and cleaning head, in the body tube lumen.
US08702659B2
Drug delivery device, comprising a body unit having a first opening and a second opening, a plunger arranged such that its distal end is positioned inside the body unit, wherein the plunger is moveable in the distal direction with respect to the body unit, a needle assembly, with a proximal end and a distal end comprising a needle, wherein the proximal end of the needle assembly and the distal end of the plunger are configured such that they can get into an adhesion connection.
US08702655B2
A reservoir and a plunger head contained within may be configured to move relative to each other in response to at least one of the reservoir being detached from a base, the base and/or the reservoir being removed from a packaging, and the base and/or the reservoir being moved relative to each other. A first layer may be configured to define a reservoir, the first layer, which may be made of a material compatible with fluidic media in the reservoir, may be adjacent a second layer for inhibiting a diffusion through the second layer. A first layer that may be less than 0.3 mm and made of a cyclic olefin copolymer may be configured to define a reservoir. A reservoir may be defined by a wall made of a cyclic olefin copolymer and the wall may be for substantially preventing light from passing through the reservoir.
US08702648B2
This invention relates to the field of balloon catheters and more particularly to catheter balloons having controlled failure mechanisms for the prevention of catastrophic failure of the balloon during overpressure conditions.
US08702640B2
Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively-controllable disinfecting implantable device configured to, for example, treat or prevent an infection in a biological subject.
US08702638B2
A method and apparatus for controlling blood withdrawal and infusion flow rate with the use of a pressure controller. The pressure controller uses pressure targets based upon occlusion limits that are calculated as a function of flow. The controller has the ability to switch from controlling withdrawal pressure to controlling infusion pressure based upon the detection of an occlusion. The controller distinguishes between partial and total occlusions of the withdrawal vein providing blood access. Depending on the nature of occlusion, the controller limits or temporarily reverses blood flow and, thus, prevents withdrawal vessel collapse or reverses blood flow to quickly infuse blood into the vessel without participation from operator.
US08702629B2
The present invention relates to a movement disorder monitor, and a method of measuring the severity of a subject's movement disorder. The present invention additionally relates to a treatment delivery system for treating a subject in response to changes in the severity of a subject's symptoms. The present invention further provides for a system and method, which can accurately quantify symptoms of movement disorders, utilizing continuously obtained kinetic information to be analyzed, accurately distinguishing between symptoms of movement disorders and activities of daily living, relating quantified symptoms to a standard clinical rating scale, and correlating a subject's symptoms with certain physiological and environmental factors. The present invention still further provides for home monitoring of symptoms in subjects with these movement disorders in order to capture the complex fluctuation patterns of the disease over the course of days, weeks, months, or years.
US08702608B2
Disclosed herein are a method for estimating acoustic velocity of an ultrasonic image and an ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus using the same. The method for estimating acoustic velocity of an ultrasonic image includes: (A) dividing each of the ultrasonic images into a plurality of blocks; (B) extracting contours of ultrasonic images for each block of one frame among the ultrasonic images; (C) calculating and analyzing average luminance values of each block; (D) determining the optimal block number using the average luminance values and selecting the optimal blocks; and (E) estimating and applying the real acoustic velocity, whereby the acoustic velocity is estimated in real time and is applied to the ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus.
US08702599B2
An improved laryngoscope that is useful in endotracheal intubation. The laryngoscope includes an inner magnetic element that is situated at an end of the laryngoscope's blade and an outer magnetic element that is positioned on a patient's throat in such a manner that the interaction between the inner and outer elements attracts the end of the blade toward the patient's epiglottic vallecula when the blade is moved into the patient's throat. The blade also includes a magnetic bed located along its longitudinal axis. The magnetic bed is designed to interact with a metallic spiral tube and, by means of this interaction, guide the tube properly in the patient's inner air tract. The blade also includes at least three coplanar elements that able to rotate relative to each other. The adjustment of these elements increases the blade's usefulness for moving the patient's tissues and opening a passage to the patient's trachea.
US08702596B2
A valve apparatus device provides surgical instruments with sealable access to an inlet port of an endoscope instrument channel. The valve has a hollow body with a distal end that releasably attaches to the inlet port, and a flexible diaphragm seal dividing the body into a proximal chamber and a distal chamber. An instrument opening extends through the diaphragm seal for the passage of instruments therethrough, and connects the chambers together. The diaphragm seal is configured to seal with a surgical instrument inserted into the instrument opening. At least one fluid transfer member is provided to fluidly interconnect the proximal chamber to the distal chamber when the surgical instrument is sealed within the instrument opening.
US08702593B2
Disclosed herein is a maneuverable capsule endoscope. A capsule body is input into an internal organ to take images of the inside of the internal organ. A fan unit is mounted on the body. A fan position-changing device changes a direction in which the fan unit discharges fluid. The fan unit is mounted inside a duct without damaging the inner wall of the internal organ. When input into the internal organ, the capsule endoscope can concentrically take images of a specific portion inside the internal organ, and can freely take images of a portion that is intended to be photographed.
US08702581B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for stimulating a healing process comprising a coil arrangement which is coupled to a functional power generator in order to generate an electromagnetic field in an affected body region, a control unit for influencing a voltage curve generated by the functional power generator in accordance with signals transmitted to an input interface of the control unit, a sensor array for sensing a characteristic of the affected body region, transmission device which is coupled to the sensor array in order to transmit a signal characteristic of the detected characteristic of the affected body zone to the control unit.
US08702577B2
A centrifuge comprising a zonal rotor, a centrifuge chamber having a side wall and a bottom wall to contain the zonal rotor, an upper shield to cover the top of the centrifuge chamber and enclose the zonal rotor, and an annulus in the centrifuge chamber that is laterally spaced apart from the zonal rotor. The annulus has a channel with a base and a lip, where the channel has an open end facing the direction of the upper shield to collect liquid sample leaked during loading or unloading the zonal rotor.
US08702575B2
A variably configured exercise device is provided. The exercise device can include a vertical support member having a longitudinal axis, a sliding member configured to move along the vertical support member in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, a pair of rails each having first and second end portions. The first end portion of each rail can be pivotally connected to the sliding member on the vertical support member. The exercise device can further include an actuation mechanism coupled to the sliding member where the actuation mechanism can be configured to selectively adjust the position of the sliding member relative to the vertical support member.
US08702574B2
A method and system for performing linear and circular movement patterns is provided. The method and the system include a limb-activated linearly and circularly moveable apparatus comprising a rotatable platform coupled to a slideable base. A limb gripping the apparatus can slide the apparatus across a surface while rotating the platform. The apparatus is designed to constantly realign the joints involved in the movements and without straining the joints of the body to maximize productivity and promote joint comfort.
US08702572B1
The nature of this invention is that it is an exercise ring and accessory wand that is twirled by the wrist, ankle or with wand to strengthen various body parts. The ring weighs one to twenty pounds, has an inside diameter of 8-18 inches, an outside diameter of 10-20 inches and is one to two inches thick depending on design and materials. The wand has two knobs for retaining the ring as it is twirled by hand and is one inch thick and 12 to 18 inches long.
US08702568B2
The present invention relates to an exercise system for giving feedback to a user thereof and to a method for communication between different devices in the exercise system. The exercise system comprises at least two body coupled communication modules (14) for forming a body area network and at least one exercise device (2) comprising at least one sensor (6), feedback means (8) and one of the at least two body coupled communication devices. The exercise system further comprises a processing unit (4) for collecting and processing user data from the at least one sensor (6) and output the processed data on the feedback means (8) via the body area network in order to give the user feedback on his exercise.
US08702566B2
Disclosed herein are training devices useful for improving the agility and/or speed of a trainee, systems comprising same, and methods of improving a trainee's agility and/or speed. In one embodiment a training device comprises a first sensor operatively associated with a control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is optionally configured to enable the device to move (a) randomly, (b) in a predetermined movement pattern, or (c) in relation to a second sensor.
US08702563B1
A system and method for controlling a start-stop system for an engine in a vehicle includes automatically stopping the engine with a transmission gear lever of the vehicle in DRIVE. The engine is automatically restarted when the vehicle is shifted out of DRIVE and at least one condition is met. The at least one condition includes a final position of the gear lever. Automatic restarting of the engine is suppressed when the vehicle is shifted out of DRIVE and at least one other condition is met; the at least one other condition also including a final position of the gear lever.
US08702559B2
A system and method for controlling a power source when a transmission malfunctions in a hybrid vehicle is disclosed. In particular, a control unit confirms a speed of a transmission output is 0 rpms, detects whether the transmission is in park or neutral, and limits a speed of an engine and a motor in response to determining that the transmission is in park or neutral and that the transmission output is 0 rpms.
US08702558B2
A planetary gear transmission unit (10) includes a ring gear (17), a sun gear (18) and a planet carrier (19) driving a plurality of planet shafts (12) onto which planet gears (11) are rotatably mounted by way of planet bearings (13). The planet shafts are flexpin shafts (12) and each flexpin shaft (12) includes a pair of planet gears (11), each planet gear (11) of the pair being of the single helical type having a helix angle opposite to that of the other planet gear (11) of the pair. A gearbox (20) including a planetary gear transmission unit (10) according to embodiments of the invention and a wind turbine including such a gearbox (20) are also described.
US08702556B2
[Object] A unidirectional clutch can reduce a backlash without increasing the number of components, and also can improve silence and durability.[Means of Solving Problem] In a planet gear member 4 including a planet gear 4a which meshes an internal gear 2b of an outer member 2, locking teeth 4b are provided coaxially and integrally relative to the planet gear through a flange 4c. In an inner member 3, U-shaped wall portions 3b receiving the locking teeth 4b are provided. In the U-shaped wall portion, an engaging portion 5 is provided so that teeth of one portion of the locking teeth can engage. A locked state is attained by the locking teeth, so that even if the planet gear receives a restriction of the number of teeth, the number of the teeth (pitch) of the locking teeth can be finely set arbitrarily. Accordingly, an interval of the locked state accompanied by a rotation of the planet gear member becomes fine so as to be capable of reducing the backlash in the unidirectional clutch without increasing the number of components.
US08702549B2
A vehicle drive unit includes an axle formed of an output shaft of a motor, and a first support shaft and a second support shaft arranged at both ends of the output shaft. A stator is held on a first holding plate and a second holding plate. The second holding plate and a bearing block form a carrier of planetary gears. The second holding plate includes a bearing holding portion. The second support shaft is supported on the bearing holding portion. The first support shaft is supported on the first holding plate. The output shaft is supported at one end on the first holding plate and the other end on the bearing holding portion.
US08702531B2
A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head may include a ball striking face, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region. The hosel region may have a free end configured for receiving a shaft having a longitudinal axis. When the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position, at least a portion of the free end of the hosel region may extend above the adjacent crown surface. When the club head is in a 60 degree lie angle position, the vertical distance between the horizontal projections of the outermost points of the sole and the crown may be greater than the vertical distance between the horizontal projections of the outermost points of the sole and the hosel region.
US08702530B2
A device for changing the mass characteristics of a golf club may include a first movable mass. The device may also include a first movable mass guide configured to accommodate longitudinal travel of the first movable mass along the golf club shaft. The first movable mass guide may not extend beyond the distal end of the golf club shaft. The golf club head may include a second movable mass and a second movable mass guide that accommodates travel of the second movable mass.
US08702520B2
A network gaming system and method including a server having plural regular games for selection, and plural tournament games for plural players. The system also has plural gaming devices each in communication with the server to conduct a selected regular game upon receipt of a regular wager, and to enter a first tournament game upon receipt of a first tournament wager, and to simultaneously enter a second tournament game upon receipt of a second tournament wager. The system also has a payout system to award a regular game winning player a regular prize, and to award a tournament winning player a tournament prize.
US08702519B2
A video gaming device includes a game computer which is connected to a central computer and a plurality of player stations connected to the game computer. Connection of the player stations may be effected using an interface device which includes at least one serial port which has a transmit line for transmitting data to a player station and a receive line for receiving data from a player station, input port means and output port means for communication with the game computer, and processing means for routing data between the said serial port and the input and output port means.
US08702506B2
In a geographic location based game (geogame), players, utilizing wireless devices, are required to continuously physically move within a defined boundary throughout the geogame. The wireless devices, with the aid of a location system, such as GPS, track the movements of the players. As players move, virtual tails are generated behind each player, and their locations are determined and geocast, via a wireless geographic broadcast protocol, to all players of the geogame. Each player observes all players movements and tail locations on his/her wireless device. If a player stops moving, the player is expelled from the game. If a player exits the confines of the boundary, the player is expelled from the game. If a player crosses a virtual tail, the player is expelled from the game. If two virtual tails cross, both players are expelled from the game. The last player remaining is the winner.
US08702474B2
A method of regenerating a polishing pad for polishing semiconductor wafers is described wherein the polishing pad is removably stacked, aligned and fixed by a fitting ring to a polishing pad supporting surface of a polishing pad sub plate mounted on a central surface of a sub plate main body on an upper surface of a polisher rotation table and wherein the regeneration may include dressing, as well as cleaning, or regrooving the polishing pad surface.
US08702470B2
An improved encasement for underwires for use in brassieres that allow for more efficient sewing, better durability, and improved wearer comfort is disclosed.
US08702459B2
A floating technical hollow body (1), in particular for covering open liquid areas, comprises a shell, which is formed by at least two interconnected shell parts (1A, 1B), which at least comprises one opening (2.2) for filling the shell interior with liquid, and in which at least a fluid-in particular an air-tight inner hollow body (4; 4′) is arranged.
US08702439B1
Electrical connectors suitable for wet environments and even underwater mating are provided. A replaceable gel filled cartridge affixes over sockets of a female plug. Water channels and radial holes in the receptacle combine to form a pathway for water ejection during connection formation. A coupling nut secures the female plug to the male connector. A spring housed within the coupling nut allows the coupling nut to further rotate, after pins are seated in respective sockets, to seal water holes. The cartridge is filled with hydrophobic gel and has a diaphragm sandwiched between a front and a rear housing. Contact pins pass through the diaphragm and pass through the gel filled rear housing before mating with respective sockets. Trapping of water is minimized with the escape of water via channels in the receptacle. Contaminated or lost gel is readily replaced via the cartridge affording multiple wet-mateable connections for a given connector.
US08702434B2
An offensive player operates input means (32) to display on a display screen (31), one or more associated problems from a plenty of problems stored in a memory (42), so that the offensive player and a defensive player both input answers. According to the results (correct or incorrect) of the inputted answers, a damage point is given to the player who has lost. When the damage point of the partner player reaches a predetermined value, a plurality of associated problems are represented. Moreover, two areas (11, 12) are displayed on the display screen (31) for the offensive player and the defensive player. A card (3) for representing the problem this time is placed in the area (11 or 12) of the player who has won. Only when the area (11) is full of cards (3) and the area (12) has a card, a plurality of associated problems may be represented. The present invention enables players to get a systematic knowledge while enjoying a match, thereby increasing the learning effect.
US08702432B2
Interactive electronic training systems and methods are described herein. Certain embodiments provide preprogrammed video, audio, and/or textual presentations of training materials which provide information related to skills/information to be trained. A scenario including real or animated actors is presented, simulating an interaction. The training system presents related queries for the trainee who audibly responds. The training system stores a score based in part on a comparison of the trainee's response with an answer stored in training system memory. Optionally, the scores are substantially immediately presented by the system to the trainee.
US08702430B2
A sports electronic training system, and applications thereof, are disclosed. In an embodiment, the system comprises at least one monitor and a portable electronic processing device for receiving data from the at least one monitor and providing feedback to an individual based on the received data. The monitor can be a motion monitor that measures an individual's performance such as, for example, speed, pace and distance for a runner. Other monitors might include a heart rate monitor, a temperature monitor, an altimeter, et cetera. Feedback provided to a user typically includes, for example, training information such as whether the user is satisfying specific workout and/or training criteria. In an embodiment, the functionality of the sports electronic training system is enhanced by enabling the portable electronic processing device to interact with other devices and applications, for example, using the Internet.
US08702427B1
The present invention features a method of teaching a child the letters of the alphabet, the numbers, the shapes, and the primary colors by a caregiver. The method features obtaining a teachable clothing system featuring a teachable clothing article of clothing having a character attached thereon. The character is located in view of a wearer when worn. The character is reachable by a hand of the wearer when worn. The system features a teachable clothing game book. The method features outfitting the teachable clothing article of clothing on a child, verbalizing a character name, verbalizing a character color, pointing to an object in an occupied room having the same character color as the character, and reading the teachable clothing game book to the child at a child's end of the day and playing a game described in the teachable clothing game book with the child.
US08702423B2
A method is provided that includes advancing a drill having a distal end through an occlusal cortex into trabecular bone of an alveolar ridge, and ceasing the advancing of the drill when the distal end of the drill reaches an occlusal surface of a superior cortex of the alveolar ridge. Other embodiments are also described.
US08702419B2
An automatic candle blower having a main housing with a base and a back member. The back member has a plurality of vent holes therethrough, each of the vent holes providing an air flow path from the interior of the main housing. A candle support surface is formed adjacent to the back member to support a candle. A blower is positioned to direct air to the vent holes. An air channel is formed within the main housing between the blower and the vent holes. An alternative embodiment of the invention further includes a control circuit, which has a processor, a timer, and a processor-readable medium, is electrically connected to the blower. A user input device is electrically connected to the control circuit.
US08702413B2
An extrusion process incorporates a forming manifold where a tubular flow of a second material is intermittently interrupted while a core flow of a first material is discharged substantially continuously. Subsequently, the core flow is severed to form individual food items or treats for humans, animals, and the like, where the tubular flow results in an outer component surrounding an inner component which protrudes from one or both ends of the outer component. Material of the core flow is bone-like, while material of the tubular flow is meat like. Material of the tubular flow may include material from the core flow subjected to mixing in a static mixer to achieve a marbled texture of the outer material.
US08702409B2
Screw compressor (1) comprising: a male (2) and a female rotor (3) rotating respectively around a first axis (01) and second axis (02) of rotation, said rotors (2;3) showing, in cross section, meshing lobes (4) and valleys (6) and having profiles generated by enveloping a rack profile (p) including a first curve (z1) of the rack profile (p) extending between a first point (H) and a second point (Q) in a Cartesian reference frame (X, Y) and having a convexity in the positive direction of the axis of abscissa (X), said first point (H) lying on the axis of abscissa (X) at a distance from an origin (0) of the Cartesian reference frame (X, Y) equal to an addendum (hi) of the male rotor (2).
US08702397B2
A method of assembling a rotor blade for use with a wind turbine. The method includes coupling a first sparcap to at least one first panel wall to form a first blade section, wherein the first sparcap has a first chordwise width. A second sparcap is coupled to at least one second panel wall to form a second blade section. The second sparcap has a second chordwise width that is larger than the first chordwise width. The first blade section is coupled to the second blade section to form the rotor blade.
US08702394B2
An air boost device such as a turbocharger, wherein the compressor wheel thereof is re-designed to permit die inserts (20), which occupy the air passage and define the blades (4, 5) during a process of forming a wax pattern (21) of a compressor wheel, to be pulled without being impeded by the blades. This modified blade design enables the automated production of wax patterns (21) using simplified tooling. The compressor wheel improves low cycle fatigue, withstands high temperatures and temperature changes, and permits operation at high boost pressure ratio while, on the other hand, having low weight, low inertial drag, and high responsiveness.
US08702388B2
A method of calibrating one or more load sensors of a blade of a wind turbine, said wind turbine comprising a main generator, a power electronic converter connected with the main generator, and a rotor operationally connected with the main generator and carrying the blade. The method comprises acting on the power electronic converter to operate the main generator as motor to set the blade in at least one predetermined condition. The method further comprises measuring loads in the predetermined condition using the load sensors of the blade and calibrating the blade load sensors taking into account the measured loads.
US08702387B2
The present invention relates generally to propulsion systems, and, more particularly, to a propulsion system including an axial flow water pump assembly and a laminar flow box assembly for generating a streamline laminar slipstream of water velocity that is used in aquatic therapy, aquatic sport fitness rehabilitation, aquatic rehabilitation, swimming, and a variety of other functional therapy and training modalities.
US08702386B2
A fan includes a frame and an impeller. The impeller is disposed in the frame and the impeller has a plurality of blades. Each blade has a wing part and a flap part, and the wing part and the flap part form a predetermined angle. A blade is also disclosed.
US08702383B2
A switchgear cabinet for a wind turbine has a cabinet housing with a ventilation hole defined therein. A fan is disposed in the cabinet housing and supported on the cabinet housing so as to be disposed in front of or in the ventilation hole. A circumferential coaming is disposed on the outer side of the cabinet housing surrounding the ventilation hole. A pan-shaped cover has a closed front and a rim. The cover is disposed over the coaming with the rim extending around the coaming. The cover is spaced from the coaming so as to define at least one air-permeable connection between the fan and the surroundings of the cabinet.
US08702380B2
A clamping assembly comprising a bearing support member (16), the bearing support member being clampable to a shaft (2) by virtue of a clamping member (24) adaptable to tighten the bearing support member to the shaft, wherein at least a portion (16′) of the bearing support member (16) is disposable between a first abutment surface (28) provided on the clamping member and a second abutment surface (25) provided on the shaft; and wherein the portion (16′) of the bearing support member (16) comprises one or more protrusions (30) and one or more depressions (32) provided on an end face (16a, 16b) of the portion of the bearing support member, the protrusions and depressions being arranged to interface with one or more corresponding depressions (36) and protrusions (34) provided on one of the first abutment surface of the clamping member and the second abutment surface of the shaft, the respective protrusions and depressions being disposed so as to resist relative rotation between the shaft and the bearing support member.
US08702379B2
A blower assembly including a motor, an impeller and a volute that is configured such that an inlet chamber of the volute and an outlet chamber of the volute are divided from one another by an airtight membrane and the membrane is configured to allow the transmission of pressure waves between the inlet and outlet chambers.
US08702377B2
A gas turbine engine rotor tip clearance and shaft dynamics system and method are provided. The system includes a gas turbine engine that is disposed within an engine case and includes a rotor. A rotor bearing assembly disposed within the engine case rotationally mounts the gas turbine engine rotor. Vibration isolators mounted on the engine case are coupled to the rotor bearing assembly, and are configured to provide linear and independently tunable stiffness and damping. A method includes determining the location of a gas turbine engine rotor rotational axis, disposing the gas turbine engine rotor in an engine case at the rotational axis location, mounting a plurality of vibration isolators that include a plurality of adjustment devices on the engine case, coupling each vibration isolator to the gas turbine engine rotor, and locking the gas turbine engine rotor at the rotational axis location using the plurality of adjustment devices.
US08702375B1
A stator vane for an industrial turbine, the vane includes a serpentine flow cooling circuit for cooling of the airfoil, and two separate purge air channels to supply air to the rim cavities. The purge channels are formed as separate channels from the serpentine flow channels so that the purge air is not heated by the hot metal and has smooth surfaces so that pressure losses is minimal.
US08702373B1
The present disclosure is applicable to all gear trains using a journal bearing as a means of supporting gear shaft rotation. It is related in some embodiments to a system and method for supplying lubricant to the journal bearings of a gear-turbofan engine gear train when the fan rotor is subjected to a wind-milling condition in both directions, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.
US08702369B2
A load handling system includes a load movement assembly, a lift cylinder, a load holding member, a release control member, a load movement assembly control device, and a load sensing device. The load sensing device includes a housing having a first port and a second port, and a piston movable between the first and second ports, the first port fluidly connectable to the lift cylinder and the second port fluidly connectable to a source of fluid at a third pressure. The piston is operatively connected to the release control member. When the lift cylinder is at the second pressure the piston is driven to a first position which permits the release control member to be actuated to release the load. When the lift cylinder is at the first pressure the piston is driven to a second position which prevents the release control member to be actuated to release the load.
US08702364B2
A screw fastener, for fastening a workpiece to a fixed member, including a screw having a head having circumferential knurling and a stem having a first stem portion abutting the head and second stem portion abutting the first stem portion, the first stem portion having a smooth surface and the second stem portion having threads; a fixed member having a countersink bore section for accommodating the head and a threaded bore section for engagement with the second stem portion, the countersink bore section having a larger diameter than the threaded section; and a plastic washer having a hole that allows the washer to engage with the threaded section and an outer diameter larger than the diameter of the bore; the second stem portion passing sequentially through the workpiece to be fastened, the plastic washer, the countersink bore section and engage with the threaded bore section of the fixed member.
US08702343B1
Methods and compositions for improving the strength and longevity of secondary roadways through environmentally sound practices are disclosed herein. A composition for road sealing includes acrylic and vinyl acetate powdered polymer mixed with native soil.
US08702342B2
In various embodiments, a multi-application apparatus with two or more applicators may be used to form markings on a driving surface A profileable material may be applied to an area of the driving surface by one of the applicators during a pass of the apparatus by the area to create a first marking. More of the profileable material may be applied to at least a portion of the area by another of the applicators during the same pass to create a second marking. The second marking may have a more varied profile than the first marking. In embodiments, various parameters may be independently controlled during operation of the multi-application apparatus. In embodiments, the markings may be applied such that the profileable material forming the second marking is at least partially fused with the profileable material forming the first marking.
US08702337B2
A lamellar rotational flexure pivot may include a first pivot end, and second pivot end, and a divider layer positioned therebetween to allow first and second pivot ends to pivot relative to one another. The first and second pivot ends may include a plurality of spring layers and spacer layers that are stacked in alternating fashion to form the lamellar rotational flexure pivot.
US08702336B2
An adjustable assembly for a bicycle includes a first support having an interior surface and a second support slidably positioned within at least a portion of the first support. One of the first support and the second support is adapted to attach to a first bicycle portion, and the other of the first support and the second support is adapted to attach to a second bicycle portion. Further, the second support comprises an expansion portion configured to be moved between an expanded position and a retracted position. The expansion portion is configured to engage the interior surface of the first support when the expansion portion is in an expanded position. In addition, the first support is configured to be selectively moved relative to the second support when the expansion portion is permitted to assume a retracted position.
US08702335B2
An apparatus and method of employing modified twist-to-engage bolts that attach a photovoltaic (PV) module to an extrusion rail or channel within a rail are disclosed. In addition to a modified twist-to-engage bolt (e.g., “t-bolt”), a complementary bracket portion having alignment tabs locks in place and clamps the modules to the rail. The anti-rotation locking system prevents twist-to-engage bolts from disengaging without the removal of the complementary bracket.
US08702315B2
A radial cage in which side rings have a material thickness of a starting material for the radial cage, straight side sections of each axial crossbar are implemented with a greater material thickness that increases their strength, and an axial center section of each axial crossbar is implemented with a smaller material thickness than the material thickness of the side rings, thus reducing centrifugal mass.
US08702310B2
There are provided a hydrodynamic bearing assembly and a spindle motor including the same. The hydrodynamic bearing assembly includes: a sleeve including a shaft hole to have a shaft rotatably installed therein; and a cover member covering the shaft hole at a lower portion of the shaft hole in an axial direction, wherein an inner surface of the sleeve is provided with depression parts depressed in an outer diameter direction between upper and lower portions of the sleeve and portions in which radial bearings are formed, such that the portions in which the radial bearings are formed are provided with bearing closure adhesion parts allowing the portions in which the radial bearings are formed to be closer to the shaft than portions other than the portions in which the radial bearings are formed.
US08702309B2
A linear motion bearing assembly comprising a ball retainer structure having at least a portion of a plurality of open axial ball tracks formed therein. The ball tracks include an open load bearing portion, an open return portion and turnarounds interconnecting the load bearing and return portions. A plurality of bearing balls are disposed in the ball tracks. A plurality of load bearing plates are axially positioned adjacent the ball retainer structure for receiving load from the balls disposed in the load bearing portion of the ball tracks. A bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure comprises a plurality of pieces and defines at least two spaces in between the pieces. The bearing plate to housing intermediary load structure extends circumferentially around the ball retaining structure. An inner arc of the pieces have a radius of curvature corresponding to a radius of curvature of the ball retainer structure.
US08702308B2
The present invention is directed toward an improved construction of an elastic drawstring trash bag. The elastic drawstring trash bag described herein is comprised of a plastic bag made from two panels. An elastic drawstring is provided within hems running along the top of the two panels. The upper opening of the elastic drawstring bag is reduced (when the bag is in a relaxed state) by decreasing the distance between the interior edges of the short seals used to weld the drawstrings and bag together. Like an ordinary non-elastic drawstring bag, the elastic drawstring is pulled through access cutouts centrally located along the upper edge of the bag. When the bag of the present invention is in a relaxed state, the reduced upper opening width of the elastic drawstring bag is therefore less than bag proper width, allowing a consumer to pull the elastic drawstring bag over the lip of a trash receptacle and allowing the elastic drawstrings to snugly fit around the trash can.
US08702302B2
A combustion gas measurement apparatus mounted in a gas turbine including: a tunable laser generating a radiation beam passing through a combustion gas path; a controller tuning the laser to emit radiation having at least a first selected wavelength and a second selected wavelength which both correspond to temperature-dependent transitions of a combustion species of the gas, wherein the first selected wavelength and the second selected wavelength are not near absorption peaks of neighboring wavelengths; a detector sensing the radiation beam passing through the combustion gas and generating an absorption signal indicative of an absorption of the beam by the combustion gas at each of the first wavelength and the second wavelength, and a processor executing a program stored on a non-transitory storage medium determining a combustion gas temperature based on a ratio of the adoption signals for the first wavelength and the second wavelength.
US08702301B2
A timepiece bearing has a bearing member of unitary construction that is provided at least at one end portion of a shaft member for undergoing rotation around an axis and that regulates movement of the shaft member in axial and radial directions of the shaft member. An elastic member applies an urging force in an axial direction of the bearing member to hold the bearing member in contact with the shaft member. A frame member supported by and fixed to a support member contains the bearing member. The elastic member is provided so as to establish connection between the bearing member and the frame member. The shaft member is configured to undergo rotation around the rotational axis while the shaft member and the bearing member are held in contact with each other by the elastic member.
US08702296B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel which receives a light and displays an image, a bottom chassis which accommodates the display panel, and a top chassis which faces the bottom chassis with the display panel therebetween. The top chassis overlaps a portion of the display panel and includes a first thru-hole which extends through a thickness of a side portion thereof. The display apparatus includes a printed circuit board and a coupling member. The printed circuit board applies an electrical signal to the display panel, is under the side portion, and includes a second thru-hole which corresponds to the first thru-hole. The coupling member extends through the first thru-hole and the second thru-hole, and couples the top chassis and the printed circuit board to each other.
US08702295B2
A flat light source module including a light guide plate, a flexible circuit board and a light emitting device is provided. The light guide plate has a light incident surface, a light exit surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light exit surface, wherein the light incident surface further includes a light incident curved surface, and the light incident curved surface is connected with the light exit surface and the bottom surface. The flexible circuit board is disposed beside the light incident curved surface along the light incident curved surface of the light guide plate. The light emitting device is disposed on the flexible circuit board, and the light emitting device has a light emitting surface facing the light incident curved surface.
US08702281B2
A light fixture unit can include a light source having an optical axis and a light guide body. The light guide body can include a light incident portion at a front of the light source protruding from a first surface, a light exit portion formed to be elongated in a first direction on a second surface, and a light guide portion. The light incident unit can be configured to make light enter into the light guide body while converting the light into parallel light in a second direction. The light guide portion can include second reflection surfaces disposed to provide a recess on the second surface, each of which is inclined at 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis outward in the first direction individually, and third reflection surfaces which make light reflected internally on the second reflection surfaces in the first direction reflected internally in the second direction toward the light exit portion.
US08702278B2
The present disclosure involves a street light. The street light includes a base, a lamp post coupled to the base, and a lamp head coupled to the lamp post. The lamp head includes a housing and a plurality of LED light modules disposed within the housing. The LED light modules are separate and independent from each other. Each LED light module includes an array of LED that serve as light sources for the lamp. Each LED light module also includes a heat sink that is thermally coupled to the LED. The heat sink is operable to dissipate heat generated by the LED during operation. Each LED light module also includes a thermally conductive cover having a plurality of openings. Each LED is aligned with and disposed within a respective one of the openings.
US08702272B2
A LED light bulb includes a light bulb adapter; a housing fixed on the light bulb adapter and having an accommodating space, wherein the housing has at least a vent hole; a convective heat dissipation piece including a first heat dissipation part and a second heat dissipation part connected under the first heat dissipation part; a light-emitting module disposed on a top surface of the convective heat dissipation piece; and a light bulb cover disposed on the top surface of the convective heat dissipation piece and covering the light-emitting module.
US08702269B2
An outdoor lamp. The outdoor lamp includes: a plurality of frame members rotatably connected to each other by hinge members so as to change relative rotation angles; optical source modules each comprising an optical source for emitting light, each of the optical source modules installed attachably to and detachably from the frame members; and rotation restriction units each combined to the frame members to restrict the relative rotation angles of the frame members so as for the frame members to be fixed at desired angles. According to the outdoor lamp, the optical source modules are installed to the rotatable frame members so that optical angles may be easily controlled according to an installation condition for the lamp.
US08702265B2
An improved light emitting diode (LED) illuminating assembly is provided with a multiple sided LED lighting bar, also referred to as a multi-sided LED light bar, comprising a non-curvilinear LED luminary for enhanced LED lighting. The LED illuminating assembly can be used for overhead ceiling lighting, menu boards and other LED illuminating signs, as well as for other uses.
US08702261B2
The present invention provides connecting element, which includes mold frame and back plate; side of back plate disposed with convex bump unit having a bottom surface, side of mold frame disposed with opening having elastic latch unit inside, latch unit having latch hook part with top surface; wherein bottom surface of convex bump unit contacting to push top surface of latch hook part to make latch unit and convex bump unit fitly engaged, side of top surface of latch hook part near free end of latch hook part higher than bottom surface of convex bump unit. The invention also provides backlight module and disassembly method. Through designing different latch unit and convex bump unit, the invention effectively prevents latch hook part from springing back and damages caused by repetitive flipping latch hook part during disassembly. The invention ensures easy assembly/disassembly and reduces cost.
US08702259B2
A light converting device is described for receiving source light within a source wavelength range, converting the source light into a converted light, and reflecting the converted light to a desired output direction. The lighting device may use a color conversion occlusion to receive the source light and reflect a converted light in the desired output direction. The converted light may be intermediately reflected by the enclosure, or alternatively passed through the enclosure, as it is directed in the desired output direction.
US08702257B2
An LED bulb having a bulb-shaped shell, a thermally conductive plastic material within the bulb-shaped shell, and at least one LED within the bulb-shaped shell. The bulb also includes a base, wherein the base is dimensioned to be received within a standard electrical socket.
US08702256B2
The invention relates to an emergency light device for marine use comprising a housing accommodating an electronic circuit, a least one transparent dome, and a first and a second shell member, said electronic circuit comprising at least one light emitting diode provided in the at least one transparent dome, an electrical power supply comprising at least one battery of the AA, AAA or AAAA type, and at least one operating switch, said emergency light characterized in that the housing has a width which is substantially larger than the height, preferably the width is at least double or triple the height.
US08702254B1
An adjustable mirror mechanism includes a first connection section, a mirror lens carrier or support having a second connection section receiving and/or engaging the first connection section, and a mirror housing having a third connection section receiving and/or engaging the second connection section of the mirror lens carrier. The first connection section and/or the mirror lens carrier are fastened and/or secured to the mirror housing, and the mirror lens carrier is configured to receive a mirror lens. In some embodiments, the mirror lens carrier engages the rim of the mirror housing for added stability on one or more sides.
US08702252B2
An optical imaging apparatus operable to form a sharp stereo image in the air beside an observer, includes a flat plate-shaped light-controlling panel having numerous light-reflecting elements disposed side by side, each of which allowing light from the object to pass therethrough by reflecting the light by a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface disposed in a crossed arrangement with respect to the first reflective surface, wherein the light-controlling panel has a plurality of segment light-controlling panels in which the first reflective surfaces and the second reflective surfaces included are parallel, respectively, centerlines P of the respective segment light-controlling panels, when viewed from thereabove, intersect at a point O on the light-controlling panel, and bisectors which bisect crossing angles between the first and the second reflective surfaces of the light-reflecting elements existing on the centerlines P coincide with the centerlines P when viewed from thereabove.
US08702251B2
Disclosed is a light-collecting heliostat using flat mirrors of enhanced light-collecting efficiency. The gradients of low-price flat mirrors are adjusted when reflecting sunlight by the heliostat equipped with the flat mirrors, thereby causing reflection focal areas having the same size as each of the mirrors to overlap, in the same number as the number of the reflective plates constituting the heliostat, on a heat collecting unit of collecting lights, so that a high temperature light-collecting focal area with a uniform temperature distribution is obtained.
US08702234B2
An apparatus for performing multiple procedures involving the eye. The apparatus includes a data collection apparatus and a data analysis module. The data collection apparatus for collecting a data set corresponding to at least a portion of an eye of a patient is configured to provide data indicative of at least two neurological disorders selected from the group consisting of glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, dyslexia, multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis, LDS, head trauma, diabetes, and inappropriate responses to contrast sensitivity patterns. The data analysis module interrelates the data indicative of at least two neurological disorders to provide an interpretive result.
US08702229B2
A modular printing apparatus has a printing device with an inkjet print head and a box-shaped module that urges items toward the print head, for printing thereon. In an operating mode, the box-shaped module is inserted into the printing apparatus via a mechanical connection and can be removed from the printing apparatus in a service mode. A triggering mechanism acts on a locking mechanism with first and second force components that couple the locking mechanism and the mechanical connection element to one another in the operating mode to lock the box-shaped module in a bay of the printing apparatus at the printing apparatus. The second force component acts in an opposite direction in the service mode, to disengage the locking mechanism and the mechanical connection element to unlock and remove the box-shaped module.
US08702225B2
An inkjet recording apparatus and an image forming method in which ink curing defects caused by differences in the activation energy absorption characteristics due to differences in the inks are avoided, and a desirable curing process can be achieved.
US08702218B2
The aqueous ink composition according to the invention includes at least a water-insoluble coloring agent, a glycol ether having an HLB value calculated by a Davies' method in the range of 4.2 to 8.0, a 1,2-alkyldiol having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, resin particles, and water.
US08702215B2
There is provided an inkjet apparatus capable of adjusting pressure in an inkjet head to a predetermined slightly negative pressure without limitations on the installation location of a pressure adjustment unit and without stopping the flow of liquid. The inkjet apparatus includes an inkjet head for discharging ink droplets and an ink tank for retaining liquid to the inkjet head. The inkjet apparatus further includes a liquid feeding unit communicating with the inkjet head and configured to feed the liquid in the ink tank to the inkjet head by reducing the pressure in the inkjet head, an open-close valve configured to open or close a flow channel connecting the inkjet head and the liquid feeding unit, and a pressure adjustment unit configured to open or close the open-close valve according to a pressure difference between inside and outside of the flow channel to adjust the pressure in the inkjet head.
US08702214B2
A liquid cartridge detachably loadable in a cartridge loading section of a liquid supplying device is provided. The liquid cartridge includes: a main body defining therewithin a liquid accommodation chamber storing liquid therein, the liquid accommodation chamber having a light-transmission portion transmitting light therethrough; a moving member disposed within the liquid accommodation chamber and configured to move in accordance with an amount of the liquid; a light-emitting element configured to emit light and move in conjunction with the movement of the moving member; and a light outlet configured to irradiate the light emitted from the light-emitting element toward outside of the main body via the light-transmission portion.
US08702205B2
A printhead assembly includes an ink distribution assembly including an ink distribution molding, the ink distribution molding including a plurality of first ducts; at least one printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink distribution assembly; and a rotary platen having at least three surface, each surface for providing one of a platen surface, capping portion, and a blotting portion. The ink distribution assembly further includes a plurality of second ducts acutely angled with respect to the plurality of first ducts, a plurality of transfer ports facilitating fluid communication between the plurality of first ducts and the plurality of second ducts, and a plurality of ink inlet ports facilitating fluid communication between an ink cassette and the plurality of first ducts.
US08702202B2
An apparatus and method for liquid-phase dispensing of layers onto a substrate of an electronic device. An absorbent material reduces or eliminates splatter of printing material on the substrate during continuous printing operations. The absorbent material can be regenerated by exposure of new surface area or vacuum drawing of printing material through the absorbent material.
US08702191B2
A method and apparatus for controlling firing energy in a printer pen of a thermal inkjet printer are described. A digital voltage value representative of a voltage output by a printer-pen power supply is obtained. The printer-pen power supply is electrically coupled to a switch. The switch is electrically coupled to a nozzle resistor and is controlled using a switch logic signal. A voltage level of the switch logic signal is set based on said digital voltage value and a voltage drop due to a parasitic resistance between the printer-pen power supply and the switch.
US08702187B2
A printer comprises: a vacuum table for supporting a jig which holds a medium; a printer head for discharging droplets; and a relative movement means for moving the printer head relative to the medium; a registration mark detection unit and barcode detection unit for acquiring holding platform information and support position information for the jig; and a controller for controlling the movement of the printer head by the relative movement means and controlling the discharge of droplets from the printer head on the basis of the holding platform information, the support position information and information pertaining to the desired pattern. As a result of this configuration, it is possible to generate image data without aligning the jig with a reference position on the vacuum table.
US08702180B2
A motor and pump assembly for providing pressure to a brake actuating device of a motor vehicle brake system is described herein. The assembly comprises an electric motor and a double diaphragm pump. The pump includes a pump housing, two opposed working diaphragms, and crank drives each being coupled between the electric motor and a respective diaphragm for moving the diaphragm. A working chamber is defined between the pump housing and a working chamber cover. Each working chamber including an inlet channel, an inlet valve associated with the inlet channel, an outlet channel, and an outlet valve associated with the outlet channel, wherein the outlet channels are defined in the covers of the working chamber and in the pump housing to direct air displaced from the working chambers into an inside space of the pump housing. An air outlet unit is provided for exhausting the air from the inside space.
US08702176B2
The present invention relates to a floor latch (200) for connecting a vehicle seat base portion (204) with a vehicle floor portion, the floor latch (200) comprising an attachment means (301) and a riser (300), the floor latch (200) providing centering of the attachment means (301) for clamping the riser (300) with the seat base portion (204) or with the vehicle floor portion.
US08702167B2
A bicycle frame, particularly a racing bicycle frame, comprises two bars. The bars are connected to a head member for connection to a saddle member. In their frame-side end region, the two bars are formed as a hollow profile. In this region, the two bars have a semicircular cross section so that a common contact face is formed.
US08702166B2
A chair support apparatus includes partially affixed first and second flexible panels with a first and second outer periphery portion respectively, also a plurality of channels are formed between the first and second flexible panels bounded by the partial affixment. Also, a plurality of straps are disposed within each one of the channels, wherein each of the straps has a pair of extensions that extend beyond the first and second outer peripheries, each strap has a slip fit engagement within each channel allowing relative movement between the first and second flexible panels and the strap. Operationally, each of the strap extensions is engaged to a beam of a chair for drawing taut a plurality of portions of the first and second flexible panels resulting in a remaining plurality of portions of the first and second flexible panels drooping from the relative movement as between the taut portions to retain accessories.
US08702159B2
The invention relates to a vehicle body comprising at least one longitudinal member (1) and an elastomer bearing (3) arranged thereon for supporting a vehicle component. Said elastomer bearing (3) consists of a first stable bearing part (4) attached to the body and a second stable bearing part (5) connected to the component, and an elastomer body (6) is arranged between the bearing parts. According to the invention, the elastomer bearing (3) is arranged at least partially in a receiving cavity (2) on the longitudinal member (1), and the first bearing part (4) attached to the body spans the receiving cavity (2) in the form of an impact bridge fixed to the edges of the cavity.
US08702156B1
A connecting structure for a fender apron may include a fender apron; a cowl side member that has the same cross-sectional shape as a part of the fender apron and is coupled with the fender apron; and an A-pillar of which the inside is coupled with the cowl side member.
US08702153B2
Provided is a vehicular door including a load transfer member. The load transfer member includes a transfer member body disposed in a wide-thickness portion in a door body, and a projection projecting downward from the transfer member body. The transfer member body has a lower region whose surface on a door-outer-panel side abuts on, or comes close to, the inner surface of the door outer panel, and an inclined region whose door-outer-panel side surface is inclined to come apart from the door outer panel and whose surface on a door-inner-panel side abuts on, or comes close to, the inner surface of the door inner panel. The thickness of the lower region and the inclined region in a door-thickness direction is set narrower than the width of an insertion portion between the door inner panel and a door beam.
US08702147B2
A vehicle safety seat system includes a seat, and a frame and support surface that are movable with respect to each other between rest and attenuated positions, wherein the frame and support surface are respectively a first and second distance apart. A biasing mechanism biases the frame and support surface to the rest position between blast and slam down phases. A damper coupled between the frame and support surface has blast and rebound recovery resistance settings. The blast resistance setting is set to a predetermined value based on a weight of a seat occupant. The damper, during the blast phase, resists motion between the frame and support surface toward the attenuated position based upon the blast resistance setting, and after the blast phase and prior to the slam down phase, resists motion between the frame and support surface toward the rest position based upon the rebound recovery resistance setting.
US08702134B2
A door lock device for an electric household appliance with movable latch, in particular a dryer, where the latch is carried by the door of the electric household appliance rotating on a plane, normally perpendicular to a door rotation axis, including a frame carried in use by the casing of the electric household appliance and provided with striker means for the latch; where the striker means are obtained on a pair of opposite jaws carried by the frame adjacent to each other and movable against the bias of elastic means and where the frame is provided with guiding means for the jaws adapted to cause the jaws to be driven apart from each other in response to a traction exerted in use on the latch, said elastic means and guiding means being arranged so that the movement of the jaws occurs on a plane arranged perpendicular in use to the rotation plane of the latch.
US08702128B2
A bound system including a plurality of pages and a cover and/or divider including a bound outer edge and a plurality of free outer edges. The cover and/or divider may be bound to the plurality of pages along the bound edge. The cover and/or divider may include one or more discreet tabs extending generally outwardly relative to one of the edges. Each tab may be integrally formed from a single piece of material with the rest of the cover and/or divider. Each tab further may have an opening formed therethrough and is configured to receive at least part of a binding device therethrough to thereby couple the cover and/or divider to the binding device.
US08702127B2
Sheets are bound to form a bound document by fastening together the sheets and a binding strip. A spacer is applied to a back sheet adjacent to the feet of the fasteners. A wraparound portion of the binding strip is folded around the spine edges of the sheets so that adhesive on the strip contacts the spacer or the back sheet farther from the spine than the feet of the fasteners. The adhesive is affixed to the back sheet. The binding strip includes a spacer adjacent to the heads of the fasteners, protruding above the face-attachment portion at least as far as the heads of the fasteners do.
US08702125B1
An exemplary embodiment can be an inflator module assembly. The inflator module assembly can include a module housing having a plurality of gas discharge openings; an inflator housed within the housing, the inflator, upon actuation, emitting gas from one lateral side or end thereof, and a gas treatment assembly mounted within the housing external the side or end of the inflator from which gas is emitted. The gas treatment assembly can include a first strainer element nestled within a second strainer element. The first and second strainer elements each have a side wall including a plurality of gas passage apertures, with at least either 1) the gas passage apertures of the first strainer element offset relative to the gas passage apertures of the second strainer element or 2) the gas passage apertures of the second strainer element offset relative to the module housing gas discharge openings.
US08702120B2
An active bolster is integrated within a seat for a transportation vehicle by covering an inner inflatable bladder with an outer cushion layer to provide a seating support surface. Seating loads are borne on the support surface from the weight of an occupant by elastic deformation of the bladder. When a vehicle crash event is detected, at least a portion of the bladder is inflated to extend a seat surface to protect the occupant. Size and weight of the seat are reduced as a result of the bladder contributing significantly to the normal cushioning of the seat in everyday usage.
US08702111B2
A stackable and collapsible trolley assembly having at least one collapsible transport container, and a support structure on which the transport container rests. The support structure is moveable on wheels. Additional transport containers can be rested on the assembly, and preferably, are arranged so that a recessed edge at the bottom of a second transport container fits within the open perimeter of the first transport container. The wheels on the support structure are all located inside of the recessed edge, so that the trolley assembly wheels will be located within the opening of a transport container when the trolley assembly is positioned on top of a transport container.
US08702107B2
The invention relates to a tool-holder mandrel for fitting to a rotating machine, comprising: a body comprising a rear portion designed to be attached to a drive shaft of the rotating machine and a front portion in which housing are arranged converging toward the front; jaws mounted so as to slide each in a housing of the body and having an inner thread; a ring for moving the jaws, mounted so as to pivot relative to the body, having a peripheral thread interacting with the inner thread of the jaws so that the rotation of the ring closes or opens the jaws.
US08702101B2
A playing card handling device is disclosed. The device includes a first side and a second opposite side. Components of the device include a card infeed tray, a card output tray and a card handling zone. The card infeed tray and card output tray are on the same first side of the device and an upper surface of the card infeed tray and an upper surface of the card output tray are in the same plane. Card handling devices of the present invention also include a touch screen display, as well as a movable card gate.
US08702094B2
According to aspects illustrated herein, a system, a printmaking device, and a method for pre-curling and registering media are provided herein. The system includes a media curler system and a deskew mechanism. The media curler system pre-curls at least one of lead edge and a trail edge of a sheet before delivery to a media hold-down transport. The deskew mechanism is coupled to the media curler system for pivoting the media curler system about a pivot axis to deskew the sheet. The pivot axis extends perpendicular to the media transport path. In operation, as the lead edge enters the pre-curling and registration system, the media curler system pre-curls the sheet towards the media hold-down transport. As the sheet is being pre-curled, the deskew mechanism pivots the media curler system about the pivot axis to correct any skew errors in the sheet.
US08702092B2
A sheet feed device has a tray with holding surface for holding sheets, a feed unit for feeding sheets from the tray, and a separation plate. The separation plate has an inclined surface and two or more separation portions that separate a sheet from the sheets held in the tray. At least one of the separation portions projects a first distance from the inclined surface. The separation plate also has a projection positioned on the inclined surface that projects a second distance from the inclined surface. The second distance is greater than the first distance. A first of the separation portions is positioned upstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction, and a second of the separation portions positioned downstream of the particular projection in the sheet feed direction.
US08702090B2
A modular placement device for a feed station of a mail processing apparatus, wherein the feed station includes an ejection roller, has a housing that is separate for the modular placement device located upstream, in terms of the mail flow, of the feed station. The housing has a cavity therein to receive a stack of mail items, and a pressure element mounted so as to be pivotable and so as to be plugged into the cavity. The pressure element exerts a pressure force on the stack of mail items in the cavity, with a bottommost item of mail being pressed against the ejection roller so that the bottommost item of mail is propelled in the mail flow direction. The weight loss of the stack due to removal of the bottommost item of mail therefrom is counteracted by the pressure element.
US08702086B2
A sheet post-processing apparatus includes a discharge portion configured to discharge a sheet having a folding portion, a conveyance portion configured to abut on a lower surface of the sheet discharged by the discharge portion, to convey the sheet downstream in a sheet conveyance direction of the discharge portion, a pressing portion arranged at a position opposing the conveyance portion, configured to press an upper surface of the sheet discharged by the discharge portion, and a moving portion configured to move the pressing portion in the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance portion, in which the moving portion moves the pressing portion upstream in the sheet conveyance direction of the conveyance portion, to move the pressing portion from a position where the sheet discharged by the discharge portion is not pressed to a position where the sheet discharged by the discharge portion is pressed.
US08702081B2
A clamping device having at least three jaws for clamping a plurality of elongated workpieces with the workpieces forming predetermined angles therebetween. Each of at least two jaws has clamping surfaces that are oriented to correspond to a respective angle. Each of the at least two jaws is connected to a first endportion of a respective arm. A holding element has the at least two arms pivotally movable mounted thereto such that the at least two jaws are movable between an open position for placing the clamping device and a clamping position for clamping the workpieces. An actuator is connected to the at least two arms for moving the at least two arms and for holding the at least two arms in the clamping position.
US08702078B2
A magnetic tool to enable a robot arm to grip a metallic workpiece includes a hollow housing having a coupling member adapted to attach the tool to the robotic arm. A sleeve depends from the housing having a shaft slidably received therein. The shaft has a first end disposed in the housing and a second end extending axially outwardly from an open end of the sleeve. A magnetic member is disposed on the second end of the shaft. The magnetic member includes a main body having a cavity formed therein. A magnet is slidably disposed within the cavity and attached to an actuator adapted to adjust the distance between the magnet and an inner surface of a magnetic face of the main body of the magnetic member to vary the magnetic attraction force at the magnetic face.
US08702069B1
Apparatus and method for providing a guard rail adjacent an access aperture extending through a floor surface, such as in an attic space of a residential structure. A guard rail assembly includes a top rail portion which extends adjacent at least one side of the access aperture to provide a guard rail. An angled portion extends at a non-orthogonal angle to provide a hand grip surface for a user passing through the access aperture. A front leg segment supports an end of the angled portion opposite the top rail portion. Preferably, a rear leg segment supports the top rail portion to form a first side rail assembly. A second, nominally identical side rail assembly adjoins the first side rail assembly to form a substantially u-shaped top rail surface that surrounds the access aperture on three sides. The guard rail assembly is further preferably adjustable to accommodate different access aperture dimensions.
US08702068B2
An animal-resistant fence preventing entry of animals includes a first post, a second post, and a first panel member extending between the two posts. The fence further includes a second panel member extending from an upper portion of the first panel member above the ground level, and a third panel member extending from a lower portion of the first panel member beneath the ground level.
US08702065B2
The present invention discloses a quick tightener, which addresses the problems existing in the conventional tighteners such as inconvenient operation or failure in use under extreme conditions. The quick tightener includes a support, a handle, a ratchet wheel and a half-moon shaft. The half-moon shaft is composed of a first half-moon shaft and a second half moon shaft. Said first half-moon shaft could be fixedly connected with the ratchet wheel. Said second half-moon shaft could be fixedly connected with the ratchet wheel in the circumferential direction and axially move relative to the ratchet wheel. A clutch device is located between said first half-moon shaft and second half-moon shaft to connect the second half-moon shaft to the first half-moon shaft or disengage the second half-moon shaft from the first half-moon shaft. Such a quick tightener is equipped with the advantages such as preferential reliability and a high practical value.
US08702058B2
The present disclosure provides a valve for controlling the flow of abrasive particles along a predetermined path from the outlet of a hopper to a conveying line in a particle collection or transportation system. The design of the valve reduces the occurrence of erosive wear resulting from contact with the flow of abrasive particles. A method of making the valve that enhances the hardness of localized areas in the valve that are subject to high wear conditions is also disclosed.
US08702057B2
A bellows seal assembly and bellows valve equipped therewith. The bellows seal assembly includes an internal bellows, an external bellows, a hollow upper bellows seat, a first hollow lower bellows seat, and a second hollow lower bellows seat. One end of the internal bellows is fixed to the upper bellows seat and the other end is fixed to the second lower bellows seat. One end of the external bellows is fixed to the upper bellows seat and the other end is fixed to the first lower bellows seat. The external bellows is sheathed around the internal bellows. The first lower bellows seat is sheathed around the second lower bellows seat. The bellows valve includes the bellows seal assembly.
US08702056B2
A plug valve and stem sealing assembly capable of preventing leakage under demanding environmental and operating conditions while also improving the reliability of the valve seal. The valve includes a body, a flow-element, a bonnet and a self-adjusting stem sealing assembly. The body has a first port and a second port with a passage configured to flow a media extending between the first port and the second port. The flow-element is positioned between the first and second port and has a stem configured to actuate the flow-element between a closed position and an open position. The bonnet may be secured to the valve body and configured to secure the flow-element and stem sealing assembly in position. The self-adjusting stem sealing assembly is positioned adjacent to the stem and is configured to prevent media leakage from the valve.
US08702055B2
In some cases, a portable electronic device holder may include a holding member, a first arm attached to the holding member, a second arm attached to the holding member, a first mounting member attached to the first arm, and a second mounting member attached to the second arm. In other cases, a portable electronic device holder may include a holding member attached to a support member, and one or more mounting member attached to the support member. The one or more mounting members may be for mounting a portable electronic device. The holding member may include a slot and finger grooves for permitting a user to hold the portable electronic device holder.
US08702053B2
A vehicle seat interface assembly having a track including a web having a substantially uniform thickness and one of a key and a key slot. A seat bracket is operably connected with a vehicle seat. The seat bracket includes a support that has the other of the key and the key slot disposed thereon. The key includes first and second side portions. The space defined between the first side portion and the support is greater than the thickness of the web. The space defined between the second side portion and the support is less than the thickness of the web, such that the key may be inserted into the key slot and laterally translated until the web is frictionally secured between the second side portion and the support.
US08702052B2
A retention structure for retaining a heat generating component to a heat dissipating substrate. The heat generating component has a heat transfer surface and an opposing biasing surface, and the heat dissipating substrate has opposing first and second sides. The retention structure has a generally U-shaped retention body including an elongated base having opposing ends, and legs extending from the ends of the base. Each of the legs includes a positioning slot. The substrate includes a pair of passages for receiving the legs therethrough, and a pin structure is positioned on the substrate and extends through the positioning slots in the legs to locate the base of the retention body adjacent to the biasing surface and effect a biasing of the heat transfer surface toward the substrate.
US08702043B2
A rail vehicle control communication system includes a vehicle management device capable of being coupled with a conductive pathway extending along a track and of forming an instruction to control an operation of a rail vehicle travelling along the track, the vehicle management device transmitting the instruction to the rail vehicle through the conductive pathway; and an on-board communication device capable of being coupled with the rail vehicle, the on-board communication device configured to receive the instruction communicated through the conductive pathway from the vehicle management device, the on-board communication device configured to change the operation of the rail vehicle based on the instruction.
US08702042B2
A flow body is disclosed, particularly for aircraft. The flow body includes an outer side impinged on in a predetermined manner by a fluid in a direction of impinging flow, the flow body having on its outer side at least one flow control device including micro-perforations arranged in at least one segment of the outer side, at least one connecting passage communicated with the micro-perforations via at least one suction chamber so fluid flowing through the micro-perforations flows via the suction chamber into the connecting passage, at least one suction device having a first inlet communicated with the connecting passage, a second inlet communicated with at least one ram fluid feed line, wherein the ram fluid feed line is in a region of the flow body opposite to the direction of impinging flow of the flow body, and an outlet device for discharging the fluid.
US08702039B1
An airplane leading edge de-icing apparatus having a heat diffuser for heating the leading edges of an airplane is provided. The heat diffuser has a first heat diffuser side having a concave shape and a second heat diffuser side having a convex shape. The heat diffuser is joined to the leading edge of an airplane. A counter current heat exchanger is provided and heats a heat transfer fluid with heat energy absorbed from hot gases. The heat transfer fluid is pumped in and out of a reservoir tank with a first pump. A second pump pumps the heat transfer fluid in and out of the heat diffuser. The heat energy in the heat transfer fluid housed in the heat diffuser is transferred to the convex surface of the second heat diffuser side and prevents and/or melts ice build-up.
US08702026B2
The present invention includes an expandable hose reel, which may include: a housing defined by at least one or more base members; a spool rotatably disposed within the housing, wherein the spool is adapted to connect to a flexible hose; a winding mechanism to rotate the spool and to coil the flexible hose around the spool; and an expansion mechanism to modify a length of the spool.
US08702025B2
The present invention is directed to an improved rewind apparatus for a flexible member. Specifically, the invention provides a retractable spool and a mechanism which allows a user to move a switch so that he/she has a choice of having the spool always pulling on the flexible member, a Tension mode of operation, or using a No Tension mode of operation that allows the flexible member to relax, and then, with a brief tug on the flexible member, retraction forces of a spring causes the flexible member to be wound around the spool.
US08702021B2
A thermally controlled coffee grinder and method are disclosed. In some embodiments, a thermally controlled coffee grinder may have a heating or cooling element to adjust the temperature of a component of the coffee grinder in response to a measured thermal state of a component in the grinder in order to improve dosing consistency, ground coffee quality, etc. In other embodiments, a thermally controlled coffee grinder may detect a thermal state in the coffee grinder and utilize a computer control to adjust for consistent dosing amounts.
US08702009B2
The present invention discloses a biochip measuring system. The cytometer system includes a biochip and a biochip measuring apparatus. The biochip includes a substrate, for carrying bio-molecule droplet, and a stamp marking area, for receiving or displaying a stamp for identifying whether the biochip is used. The biochip measuring apparatus includes a controller, a driver circuit, a driver interface, a light, a light detector, and a stamp marking unit, for marking the stamp on the stamp marking area of the biochip after the biochip measuring apparatus completes measurement of the biochip.
US08702003B2
Bar code readers and methods of reading bar codes are described herein. One device includes a camera configured to produce a motion invariant image of a bar code while the bar code is in motion and a processor configured to deblur the motion invariant image of the bar code.
US08701999B2
A method and apparatus for reading optical indicia. The method includes generating calibration light, and measuring an intensity of the calibration light reflected into a detector system. The method also includes determining an optimum exposure level for the imaging system based on the measured intensity of the calibration light reflected into the detector system, and generating an illumination light with an illumination system. In addition, the method includes capturing an image of the optical indicia with the imaging system subjecting to the optimum exposure level.
US08701996B2
A decoding system, with a decoding engine, runs on a mobile device. The decoding engine decodes signals produced from a read of a first party's financial transaction card. The decoding engine accepts and initializes incoming signals from a read of the first party's financial transaction card until the signals reach a steady state, identifies peaks in the incoming signals and digitizes the identified peaks into bits. A transaction engine is coupled to the decoding engine. The transaction engine receives, as its input, decoded first party's financial transaction card information from the decoding engine, and serves as an intermediary between the first party and a second party. The first party does not have to share his/her financial transaction card information with the second party. The transaction engine is configured to be coupled to a payment system and a first party's financial transaction card institution or a first party's financial account.
US08701969B2
The present invention relates to a technique for producing a jointed member by subjecting two to-be-jointed members which are contacted each other to friction stir welding. The method for producing a jointed member executes a dwelling step in which a probe is rotated only for a predetermined period at at least one of a probe starting point position which is a position of the probe for forming a joint starting point in the to-be-jointed member and a probe end point position which is a position of the probe for forming a joint end point in the to-be-jointed member.
US08701968B2
The present invention provides a friction stir welder that includes a stage on which at least two material pieces to be welded are mounted and stacked, a pressing member that covers and presses end faces of the material pieces to be welded that are mounted and stacked on the stage, and a rotary tool that is inserted into the stacked material pieces to be welded while rotating, so that a plastic flow is generated at an interfacing portion as well as in the vicinity thereof between the rotary tool and the material pieces to be welded, thereby to joint the material pieces to be welded to each other.
US08701967B2
A method for coating the base element of a cooling element used in connection with a metallurgical furnace or the like, said base element being mainly made of copper, at least partly with a metal coating involves a step wherein the metal coating is explosion welded to the base element of a cooling element mainly made of copper. A cooling element, particularly to be used in connection with metallurgical furnaces or the like, includes a base element mainly made of copper, in which base element there is arranged a cooling water channel system, said base element of the cooling element being at least partly coated with a metal coating. The metal coating is explosion welded to the base element that is mainly made of copper.
US08701965B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides a vehicle floor production system, in which a carrier is moved through a loop formed by a return line provided at the top of the system and a welding line provided at the bottom, and the carrier is horizontally moved by the frictional force of a horizontal movement driving means. Preferred systems can reduce the manufacturing cost and required installation area.
US08701951B2
A vehicle includes a high voltage traction battery, a front door trim including a removable trim panel, a removable/portable bag integral to the removable trim panel for storing inside the front door trim when the removable trim panel is attached to the front door trim. A charge cord kit is contained in the removable/portable bag, and includes a charge cord for connecting to an electrical power supply to charge the high voltage traction battery.
US08701942B2
A disposable dispensing system includes a collapsible container for liquid material sealingly connected to a pump. The pump includes a housing forming a chamber and a dispensing opening, wherein the pressure in the chamber may be varied for pumping liquid from the container to the chamber, and from the chamber to the dispensing opening. A regulator is fixedly arranged in the chamber for regulating flow of liquid between the container and the chamber, and between the chamber and the dispensing opening. The pump may assume a closed position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the container to the chamber by a negative pressure created in the chamber, and a dispensing position, in which a volume of liquid is drawn from the chamber to the dispensing opening.
US08701936B2
Dispensing systems facilitates formation and dispensation of a use solution from a solid concentrate. The dispensing system may include a cartridge attached to a spray bottle or other dispensing apparatus. The cartridge defines a reservoir configured to store a solid product concentrate. A diluent, such as water, is placed in a fluid reservoir of the dispensing apparatus. Activation of a dispensing mechanism, such as a trigger, creates a vacuum in the cartridge reservoir, opening a valve and drawing diluent from the fluid reservoir into the cartridge reservoir and onto the solid product. The flow of diluent onto the solid product causes a portion of the solid product to be dissolved, eroded, and/or otherwise mixed with the diluent to form a use solution. Actuation of the dispense mechanism may further draw the use solution from the cartridge reservoir and dispense the use solution through the nozzle.
US08701927B2
A superhydrophilic thin film is formed on a metal surface of a boiler vessel to alter the wettability and roughness of the surface, which, in turn, changes the boiling behavior at the surface. The superhydrophilic film is formed by depositing a layer of a first ionic species on the surface from a solution. A second ionic species having a charge opposite to the that of the first ionic species is then deposited from solution onto the surface to produce a bilayer of the first ionic species and the oppositely charged second ionic species. The depositions are then repeated to form a plurality of bilayers, on top of the preceding bilayer. The bilayers are then heated, leaving the second ionic species on the metal surface to form a superhydrophilic film.
US08701925B2
A mobile machine, in particular a counterweighted fork lift truck, has at least one pressurized tank, in particular to carry fuel that is in a gaseous state under normal conditions. The tank has an at least approximately rectangular external contour in at least one cross-sectional plane.
US08701924B2
A method of storing material includes placing material in a storage container and removably positioning a magnetic device in a cap. The magnetic device includes a gasket including a magnet. Moreover, the method includes removably fastening the cap to the storage container to form a storage device and magnetically attaching the cap to a metal surface.
US08701923B2
This disclosure is generally directed toward containers with improved anti-buckling performance by incorporating one or more structural reinforcement features into the containers. The container may include a bottom wall, opposing sidewalls each including a plurality of ribs, and opposing end walls interconnecting the sidewalls. The sidewalls may include at least one reinforcement protrusion having a geometric center disposed in the upper half of the sidewall. The container may also include a non-planar top rim to redistribute top load so that the anti-buckling performance of the container can be improved.
US08701919B2
The plastic container has a lid and a receptacle, the receptacle and lid having corresponding engagement portions matingly shaped for the lid and receptacle to be maintained in a closed configuration by a resilient effect. In one embodiment, the lid has a handle lip extending vertically downwardly from a horizontal edge of the lid, the handle lip being shaped to allow overcoming the resilient effect when manually pulled upwardly; the receptacle having a barrier strip covering the handle lip and preventing manual pulling access thereto, but being tearable to allow its manual removal. In an other embodiment, the receptacle has an upwardly protruding receptacle rib providing sealing abutment support to the lid closure, a gutter surrounding the receptacle rib, and the receptacle wall portion has an engagement portion matingly shaped to resiliently receive the outwardly protruding rib of the lid and inclined so as to face both inwardly and downwardly.
US08701911B2
An electrical enclosure for use in poured concrete construction having a peripheral wall with opposed longitudinally extending walls longer than opposed laterally extending walls and at least one physical support located substantially midpoint along the opposed longitudinally extended walls to resist deflection of the opposed longitudinal walls caused by the hydraulic pressure of concrete poured around the enclosure. The physical support can be a crossbar extending across the opening of the electrical enclosure with the ends of the crossbar fixed to the longitudinally extending walls. The physical support can also be fastening sleeves extending along at least a portion of the width of the longitudinal walls for receiving elongated fasteners which extend into the concrete form thereby resisting deflection of the opposed longitudinally extending walls.
US08701902B2
To be able to connect and mount a rack mount device having a rack loaded device loaded thereon to a rack easily, and to be able to release and detach the rack mount device easily from the outside of the rack. The rack mount device has a pair of mount kits for holding the rack loaded device arranged to oppose to each other, which are detachably connected to four mount angles configuring the rack. Each mount kit is configured with a front mount and a rear mount, which are freely slidable with respect to each other in the longitudinal directions thereof. A kit connecting mechanisms for connecting each mount kit to the mount angles are provided to both ends of the mount kits, respectively. A connection releasing mechanism for releasing the connection between the mount kits and the mount angles is provided to each of the kit connecting mechanisms.
US08701896B2
A variety of improved hydroclone based fluid filtering systems are described. The hydroclones generally include a tank having an internal chamber and a filter (preferably a surface filter) that is positioned within the internal chamber. The filter defines a filtered fluid chamber within the internal chamber of the tank. The hydroclone may be operated such that a vortex of flowing fluid is formed between the chamber wall and the filter with the filter being located in the center of the vortex. With this arrangement, the filter acts as a cross-flow filter. In one aspect of the invention, a circulating cleaning assembly is provided in the hydroclone region. In yet another aspect of the invention, improved hydroclone intake structures are described.
US08701889B2
A container includes a base portion (11), a lid portion (12), and a hinge portion (13) connecting the base portion to the lid portion. The lid portion and/or the base portion are movable about the hinge portion between an open configuration and a closed configuration in which the lid portion overlies the base portion substantially in the form of a book. The base portion has a shell (40) attached thereto to form a sheath for receiving one or more articles (20). The sheath has an open end or outlet (44) and allows one or more articles to slide relative thereto in the direction substantially parallel to the base portion between a storage position and one or more dispensing positions.
US08701887B2
A container adapted to be stacked on top of a second container is provided. The container includes a first end wall and a sidewall having a first end and a second end. The container includes a first seam coupling the first end wall to the first end of the sidewall, the first seam including a shoulder extending inwardly from an outer surface of the first seam. The container includes an alignment feature extending from the shoulder away from the first end wall. The alignment feature is adapted to align the container relative to the second container and to resist lateral movement of the container relative to the second container when the container is stacked on top of the second container.
US08701886B2
The present invention teaches a packaging box and a related manufacturing method. The packaging box contains a top cover and a bottom cover. The top cover is an assembly of a first member and a second member embedded in a first indentation of the first member. The first member directly supports the packaged objects and has a better buffering capability than that of the second member. The bottom cover is an assembly of a third member and a fourth member embedded in a second indentation of the third member. The third member directly supports the packaged objects and has a better buffering capability than that of the fourth member. As such, the present invention can effectively reduce the material cost as well as product cost for the packaging box.
US08701881B2
A container comprising a housing defining a main storage space and a lid attachable to the housing to close said main storage space is disclosed. The lid includes a central recess and a cover attachable to the lid to close the central recess so to define a secondary storage space. Furthermore, the cover is magnetically detachable from the lid.
US08701871B2
A belt conveyor having snagless retractable flights. The flights rotate from a retracted position generally parallel to a top conveying surface on the conveyor belt to an extended position standing up and away from the top surface. In one version of the flight, a distal edge of the flight is bent downward into a cavity in the top surface of the belt when the flight is retracted. In another version, rollers at the distal end of the flight extend upstream of the distal edge of the flight. The flight rollers are rotated when the flight is retraced to lift and propel conveyed articles over the edges of the flight. Thus, both flights avoid snagging articles with discontinuous bottoms.
US08701870B1
A slat for use in an agricultural harvester including a web securable to a material moving system. A first and second leg extending outwardly from one side of the web, the first leg providing primary impetus for movement of crop material in a first direction by the material moving system. A third leg extending outwardly from an opposed side of the web and providing secondary impetus for movement of crop material by driven movement of the material moving system. In response to the slat encountering a foreign object that becomes wedged between the first leg, the third leg and structure of the material moving system and preventing driven movement of the material movement system in the first direction, upon application of force urging movement of the material movement system in an opposed second direction, the third leg facilitating a rotational movement of the slat for dislodging the foreign object.
US08701865B2
The invention includes a machine for handling and unscrambling empty containers provided with a bottom and with an opening. The machine comprises a carousel rotating about an axis of rotation and is provided with a plurality of pockets. Each of the pockets is provided with a respective channel for descent of the containers through gravity towards a handling area below. The machine further comprises a carousel feeding device equipped with a detecting system which detects the orientation of the containers before the containers are unscrambled. A respective unscrambling station of the containers is provided for each pocket which is controlled on the basis of information supplied by the detecting system and designed to arrange said containers correctly unscrambled with said opening facing upwards.
US08701863B2
Diverter disc for a conveyer system, comprising a circular outer periphery and an grip opening formed in the periphery of the diverter disc, where the grip opening is adapted to hold and divert a puck comprising a circular slide ring at the contact region and that the grip opening is shaped in a non circular shape such that a plurality of discrete contact points are formed in the grip opening. The advantage of the diverter disc is that it will be able to hold the slide ring of a puck in a more secure way due to the reduced contact surface compared with a conventional diverter disc.
US08701857B2
A method of processing documents includes receiving a stack of documents including currency bills and substitute currency media. Each substitute currency medium has at least one barcode. The method further includes transporting the stack of documents via a transport mechanism, one document at a time, along a transport path and denominating with a currency detector each of the currency bills in the stack of documents. The currency detector is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes scanning with a barcode scanner a barcode on each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents. The barcode scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes imaging with an image scanner each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents to generate a raw image file of the substitute currency medium. The image scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path.
US08701853B2
A housing for use with a clutch assembly includes an annular wall disposed around an axis and extending between an open end of the housing and a floor of the housing with the floor extending toward the axis. A plurality of splines are spaced around the annular wall and extends between the open end and the floor. The splines define a work surface for engaging teeth of a clutch plate with the work surface being fractured from the annular wall providing a substantially normal relationship to the annular wall.
US08701844B2
The invention relates to a brake dust collector (10) for a disc brake (12) comprising a brake disc (18) and a brake caliper (16) clasping the latter. The brake dust collector (10) includes a housing (24) designed to clasp a portion of the brake disc (18) directly adjoining the brake caliper (16) in the main direction of rotation (R) of the brake disc (18). Provided arranged in the housing (24) is a brake dust retainer comprising a plurality of brake dust intake ports. To ensure practically total retainment of the resulting brake dust without detrimenting, indeed, even improving the cooling of the disc brake (12) the housing (24) features a plurality of air intake ports (34; 38) separate from the inner brake dust intake ports, making it possible to direct the inflow of air in the direction of the brake disc (18) and into the inner brake dust intake ports.
US08701837B2
A chain-type driving force transmitting apparatus includes a case having a lower space accumulating therein lubricating oil, an input shaft rotatably supported by the case, an output shaft arranged in parallel with the input shaft and rotatably supported by the case, and a chain wound around the input shaft and the output shaft and lifting up the lubricating oil accumulated in the lower space of the case. The chain-type driving force transmitting apparatus further includes a separator positioned adjacent to the chain and dividing the lower space of the case into a first chamber housing the chain and a second chamber. The separator has an inclined portion formed at an upper end of the separator and inclining towards the chain so as to receive the lubricating oil lifted up by the chain, wherein the lubricating oil received by the inclined portion flows into the second chamber.
US08701824B2
The inside of a muffler main body formed from an outer plate into the shape of a cylinder is divided into an upstream-side expansion chamber and downstream-side expansion chambers by partition walls. A catalyst is contained in the upstream-side expansion chamber having a larger volume, and a cylinder-shaped reinforcement member is attached to an inner surface of the outer plate of the upstream-side expansion chamber.
US08701822B2
A noise-attenuating covering configured for example for a pipe for guiding gases along a gas path. The covering includes a wall defining the gas path and at least one resonance cavity, the wall being pierced with holes for fluid communication between the gas path and the resonance cavity to attenuate noise. The holes have substantially identical diameters and, since the pipe is arranged to guide the gases in the downstream direction, a number of the openings per wall surface unit decreases continuously along the gas path in the downstream direction, such as to confer on the wall substantially constant acoustic resistance along the gas path, for which the noise attenuation is optimized along the gas path.
US08701818B2
A working vehicle includes an engine, a hydraulic pump, a first hydraulic motor, a vehicle speed detecting unit, a parking brake, a parking brake operating member and a control unit. The control unit is configured to determine whether the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold when the parking brake operating member is operated. The control unit is configured to execute a brake control that decreases a displacement of the first hydraulic pump and increases a displacement of the first hydraulic motor without activating the parking brake when the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold in a state when the vehicle is traveling, and to activate the parking brake when the vehicle speed falls below the predetermined threshold.
US08701801B2
An electric vehicle which includes in-wheel motor driving devices and an independent-steering apparatus and is capable of making pivot turns within a minimum-required parking space, having a structure without a chassis and a part of the body protruding out of a minimum-required circular space necessary for the wheels to make pivot turning. In a case where the electric vehicle has four wheels including left and right front wheels and left and right rear wheels, an in-wheel motor driving device is incorporated only in the left and right front wheels, only in the left and right rear wheels, or in all of the wheels. An independent-steering apparatus serves for all of the wheels. A kingpin axis in each of the wheels makes an intersection with a road surface on a circle inboard of a vehicle chassis.
US08701800B2
A solar electric vehicle (SEV) with large foldable surface area that can be oriented towards the sun for peak generation of electricity. The surfaces of the SEV are mounted on a flexible chassis for elevation tracking, while the drive train provides azimuth tracking. The SEV also integrates the conversion of power from various sources, to various storage or power consumption devices.
US08701799B2
A pocket restitution assembly comprises a pocket formed in a surface that includes a central axis, an anchor seated in the pocket and aligned with the central axis, a tool attachment comprising an end for connection to the anchor, and a hollow bit slidably and rotatably sitting on the tool attachment. The hollow bit may fit within the pocket. Weld material may be deposited within the pocket to form an interior of the pocket. The weld material may be shaped by the hollow bit to accept a cutting element.
US08701798B1
Some embodiments relate to cutting element assemblies including a superabrasive cutting element that may be axially compressed to enhance the damage tolerance thereof, enclosed in an enclosure that exposes the superabrasive cutting element therethrough, enclosed in an enclosure that restricts rotation of the superabrasive cutting element, or combinations of the foregoing. Additionally, some embodiments relate to cutting element assemblies in which a superabrasive cutting element is mechanically fastened to a base, such as a substrate or directly to a bit body of a rotary drill bit. Some embodiments also relate to cutting element assemblies including one or more superabrasive cutting elements that are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the cutting element assembly, that may be axially compressed to enhance the damage tolerance thereof, that may be enclosed in an enclosure that exposes the superabrasive cutting element therethrough, or combinations thereof.
US08701795B2
A technique facilitates the drilling of deviated wellbores. A steerable drilling system is formed with a pair of components pivotably mounted with respect to each other. A removable strike ring is mounted to one of the steerable drilling system components and is positioned to engage a corresponding strike ring in a manner which limits the maximum pivot angle between the steerable drilling system components. By interchanging the removable strike ring with other removable strike rings, the maximum pivot angle can be adjusted in the field to accommodate drilling of a wider variety of deviated wellbores.
US08701789B2
The invention relates to a compressed air foam producer, wherein a fire or decontamination specific additive is injected directly into the foam forming flow supplied to the main water flow and/or the main water flow. A mixing pump for the foaming agent draws off an auxiliary and motive water flow, wherein initially the additive and then the foaming agent is injected. The foaming agent-additive-water mixture, which is produced directly on site, is mixed well together and with the main water flow ensuring a fine, uniform distribution of the additives in the compressed air foam. The thus produced compressed air foam ensures optimal, economical and environmentally friendly fire-fighting and decontamination.
US08701778B2
A downhole tester valve (100) includes a housing assembly (106) and a mandrel assembly (172, 174) that define therebetween an operating fluid chamber (176), a biasing fluid chamber (184) and a power fluid chamber (180). A valve assembly (126) disposed within the housing assembly (106) is operable between open and closed positions. A piston assembly (146) is operably associated with the valve assembly (126) such that annulus pressure entering the power fluid chamber (180) pressurizes operating fluid in the operating fluid chamber (176) which acts on the piston assembly (146) to shift the valve assembly (126) from the closed position to the open position and such that predetermined travel of the piston assembly (146) opens a bypass passageway (162) for the pressurized operating fluid to charge biasing fluid in the biasing fluid chamber (184), thereby enabling closure of the valve assembly (126) upon reducing annulus pressure by a predetermined amount.
US08701774B2
An improvement over known hydraulic fracturing fluids. Boundary layer kinetic mixing material is added to components of fracturing fluid wherein kinetic mixing material is a plurality of particles wherein at least 25% of particles are several types, i.e., having surface characteristics of thin walls, three dimensional wedge-like sharp blades, points, jagged bladelike surfaces, thin blade surfaces, three-dimensional blade shapes that may have shapes similar to a “Y”, “V” or “X” shape or other geometric shape, slightly curved thin walls having a shape similar to an egg shell shape, crushed hollow spheres, sharp bladelike features, 90° corners that are well defined, conglomerated protruding arms in various shapes, such as cylinders, rectangles, Y-shaped particles, X-shaped particles, octagons, pentagon, triangles, and diamonds. The resulting fluid exhibits improved dispersion of additives as well providing stabilization to a hydraulic fracture by reducing incidents of proppant grain column collapse and by reducing proppant flow back.
US08701771B2
A downhole heated fluid generation system includes an air subsystem having at least one of an air compressor and an air flow control valve; a fuel subsystem having at least one of a fuel compressor and a fuel flow control valve; a treatment fluid subsystem having a fluid pump; a combustor fluidly coupled to at least one of the air subsystem, the fuel subsystem, or the treatment fluid subsystem, and operable to provide a heated fluid into a wellbore; and a controller operable to receive an input representing a heated fluid parameter; determine a virtual heated fluid generation rate based at least partially on the heated fluid parameter; and control at least one of the air subsystem, the fuel subsystem, or the treatment fluid subsystem by the virtual heated fluid generation rate.
US08701764B2
A plant for generation of steam for oil sand recovery from carbonaceous fuel with capture of CO2 from the exhaust gas, comprising heat coils (105, 105′, 105″) arranged in a combustion chamber (101) to cool the combustion gases in the combustion chamber to produce steam and superheated steam in the heat coils, steam withdrawal lines (133, 136, 145) for withdrawing steam from the heat coils, an exhaust gas line (106) for withdrawal of exhaust gas from the combustion chamber (101), where the combustion chamber operates at a pressure of 5 to 15 bara, and one or more heat exchanger(s) (107, 108) are provided for cooling of the combustion gas in line (106), a contact device (113) where the cooled combustion gas is brought in countercurrent flow with a lean CO2 absorbent to give a rich absorbent and a CO2 depleted flue gas, withdrawal lines (114, 115) for withdrawal of rich absorbent and CO2 depleted flue gas, respectively, from the contact device, the line (115) for withdrawal of CO2 depleted flue gas being connected to the heat exchangers (107, 108) for heating of the CO2 depleted flue gas, and where the rich absorbent is regenerated an absorbent regenerator (116), the regenerated lean absorbent is recycled to the absorber (113), and a gas withdrawal line (121) connected to the absorber for withdrawal of CO2 and steam from the regenerator (116), is described.
US08701761B2
Disclosed are systems and method for servicing a wellbore and otherwise triggering a downhole tool. One method includes arranging an assembly within a lubricator coupled to a tree. The assembly includes at least one downhole tool and a signal receiver subassembly. A signal is communicated to the signal receiver subassembly before the assembly is introduced into the wellbore, the signal being configured to activate a timer. The assembly is then introduced into the wellbore and advanced until reaching a target depth. At the target depth, a trigger signal is transmitted to the at least one downhole tool using the signal receiver subassembly, the trigger signal being configured to initiate actuation of the at least one downhole tool.
US08701760B2
A method for using RF energy to facilitate the production of oil from formations separated from the RF energy source by a rock stratum comprises operating an antenna to transmit RF energy into a hydrocarbon formation, the hydrocarbon formation comprised of a first hydrocarbon portion above and adjacent to the antenna, a second hydrocarbon portion above the first hydrocarbon portion, and a rock stratum between the first hydrocarbon portion and the second hydrocarbon portion. The operation of the antenna heats water in the hydrocarbon formation to produce steam in the hydrocarbon formation, and the steam heats hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon formation and fractures the rock stratum to produce fissures in the rock stratum. The heated hydrocarbons in the second hydrocarbon portion flows into the first hydrocarbon portion through the fissures in the rock stratum.
US08701753B2
An apparatus and method for cooling a planar workpiece, such as a substrate of a recording disk, in an evacuated environment has a heat exchanging structure with at least two heat sinks having substantially parallel facing surfaces disposed within a vacuum chamber. A drive arrangement is connected to the heat sinks to controllably and dynamically drive the parallel facing surfaces of the heat sinks towards and away from each other.
US08701748B2
A novel outlet fitting for use in connection with a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is used in the role of a quench exchanger for cooling cracking effluent and solves particular problems associated with gas-oil cracking applications and other heavy feed based applications wherein differences between process outlet temperature and coolant temperatures are larger than in, for example, naphtha and gas cracking applications. The specific solution is achieved through a novel outlet fitting for the quench exchanger that eliminates the need for a steam purge, addresses thermal stress issues and reduces pressure drop within the system. The outlet fitting includes internal insulation to avoid the need for a steam purge. In addition, the outlet fitting includes a low-angle diffuser with an angle of less than 7 degrees and preferably less than 5 degrees.
US08701742B2
The embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for counter-gravity formation of BMG-containing hollow parts. In one embodiment, the BMG-containing hollow parts may be formed by first feeding a molten metal alloy in a counter-gravity direction into a mold cavity to deposit the molten metal alloy on a surface of the mold cavity and then solidifying the deposited molten metal alloy.
US08701739B2
Partition systems comprise a track and at least one partition configured to hang from and move along the track. A control box configured to contain at least a power supply for supplying power to a drive system, a floating jamb, and a trolley configured to attach to the floating jamb and rollingly engage with the track are also included. The trolley comprises at least one frame member comprising a jamb attachment portion configured to attach to the floating jamb, a distance from the jamb attachment portion to a rearmost surface of the at least one frame member opposite an end of the at least one frame member configured to face the at least one partition being less than or equal to a thickness of the control box in a direction at least substantially parallel to a direction of movement of the trolley. At least one support roller is attached to the at least one frame member and configured to engage with the track.
US08701738B2
The present invention provides a cord controller to be mounted on a top rail of a window covering. The cord controller includes a base, a cord controlling device, and a cord regulating device. The base has a chamber therein and an inlet and an outlet on opposite sides of the chamber, and the cord controlling device and the cord regulating device are received in the chamber. The cord controlling device has a gap between the inlet and the outlet for the cord to pass through. The cord regulating device is adjacent to the outlet and has cord pressing bar to form a passageway between the cord pressing bar and the base for the cord to pass through. Therefore, the cord controller may avoid the cords twisting and keep a smooth movement of the cords.
US08701726B2
A self-inflating tire assembly includes an air tube connected to a tire and defining an air passageway, the air tube being composed of a flexible material operative to allow an air tube segment opposite a tire footprint to flatten, closing the passageway, and resiliently unflatten into an original configuration. The air tube is sequentially flattened by the tire footprint in a direction opposite to a tire direction of rotation to pump air along the passageway to an inlet device for exhaust from the passageway or to an outlet device for direction into the tire cavity. The inlet device is positioned within the annular passageway 180 degrees opposite the outlet device such that sequential flattening of the air tube by the tire footprint effects pumping of air along the air passageway with the tire rotating in either a forward or reverse direction of rotation. The invention further includes an inlet device for regulating the inlet flow of the air tube pump.
US08701725B2
A tire for a motor vehicle includes a tread and two shoulders. The tread includes a first circumferential row of blocks disposed between first and second circumferential grooves. Each of the blocks is delimited by a section of the first circumferential groove and by first and second transverse grooves that extend from the first circumferential groove and terminate at a first common vertex spaced from the second circumferential groove. The tread further includes a second circumferential row of blocks disposed between the second circumferential groove and a third circumferential groove. Each of the blocks of the second circumferential row of blocks is delimited by a section of the second circumferential groove and by third and fourth transverse grooves that extend from the second circumferential groove and converge and terminate at a second common vertex. The first common vertex is separated from the second circumferential groove by a circumferential tread rib.
US08701711B2
A rotary flow valve apparatus and associated systems and methods, comprising: a front plate (11) comprising a plurality of fluid entry ports (14) running therethrough; a rear plate (12) comprising one central fluid exit port (30) running through a substantial center thereof and P peripheral fluid exit ports (31-36) running through a substantially circumferential periphery thereof; P flow selector bars (91) integrally connecting the front plate (11) with the rear plate (12) and fixing the front plate relative to the rear plate; P inter-bar flow channels (92) defined between rotationally-adjacent pairs of the flow selector bars (91); and a selector cylinder (13) seated over and freely and continuously rotatable around the flow selector bars and relative to the front and rear plates.There are twice as many entry ports (14) as peripheral exit ports (31-36). When peripheral flow channel (62) aligns with two such ports, flow to central exit port (30) is blocked by a selector bar (91) and fluid exits only through the selected peripheral exit port. When the peripheral flow channel (62) aligns with a blank on plate (12) radially aligned with a flow channel (92), flow is allowed through channel (92) and fluid exits only through the central exit port (30). When the peripheral flow channel (62) is in an intermediate position fluid exits through both a peripheral exit port and the central exit port.
US08701697B2
A pneumatic system includes a first line, a second line, and a valve. The first line is configured to be connected to a container, and to convey a flow of gas from a source to the container. The second line is arranged co-axially with the first line and is in communication with gas in the container. The valve is connected in series with the first line, between the source and the container. Furthermore, the valve is in communication with the second line and is configured to control the flow of gas through the first line as a function of a characteristic of the gas in the container, as communicated by the second line.
US08701693B2
A check valve includes a valve body having a valve seat, a diffuser, a disc coupled to the diffuser, and a compression spring. The diffuser is positioned inside the valve body and has a forward face. The disc is coupled to and movable relative to the diffuser and has an upstream face and a downstream face. The compression spring biases the disc into a normally open position during forward flow. A check valve apparatus further comprises at least one test bore through the valve member in communication with the disc. A method for testing the operation of a passive check valve is also disclosed.
US08701691B2
A portable and collapsible multi-person layout hunting blind. The blind includes a head end, a foot end, a first side and a second side. A pivotal foot panel is movably mounted on the blind at the foot end of the blind. First and second pivotal side doors are provided at the head end of the blind. The blind has a width sufficient so that at least two, and perhaps more, hunters may position themselves in the blind.
US08701690B2
The present invention relates to horizontal frame tensile structures (“HFTS”) of the kind employing corner elements to interconnect beams and posts. The corner elements of the invention comprise 1) two arms that engage the ends of adjacent beams, and 2) a leg that engages the top of a post. The arms are splayed so as to produce canted corner angles. Optionally, or additionally, the leg angle of the corner element is canted. Canting the corner angle and/or the leg angle causes the beams to bow upwards and/or outwards, thereby effectively increasing the angle in the horizontal plane between adjacent beams. This bow in the beams is reduced or eliminated when the membrane is attached to the frame, thereby providing straight beams and an aesthetically pleasing profile and introducing beneficial increased tension into the frame.
US08701684B2
The present invention pertains to a brush (1), in particular for the application of colors, dyes or any other composition onto a surface, in particular onto hair. The brush includes a handle (2) for the brush to be held by a user and a brush head (3) including bristles (32) for the application of colors, dyes or other composition onto the surface, the brush head being connected to the handle. The handle (2) includes at least one gripping section (20) showing a substantially polygonal cross-section.
US08701680B2
A novel cigar is provided with an elongated cigar puller device which extends into the interior of the cigar. By removing the cigar puller from the device, the tobacco fill material of the cigar is disrupted so as to improve the draw of the cigar. Some of the cigar puller devices can be used to infuse flavorants into the cigar to alter the taste and/or aroma of the cigar.
US08701668B2
A nasal assembly includes a patient interface including a hollow body that defines an air chamber and a pair of nozzles supported by the hollow body. Each nozzle includes a conical tip structured to sealingly communicate with a respective nasal passage of a patient's nose in use. Headgear is provided to the patient interface so as to maintain the patient interface in a desired position on the patient's face in use. The hollow body is bendable to adjust a position of the nozzles in use.
US08701666B2
An adapter for connecting, in particular, respiratory implements such as tubes, tube extensions, filters, breather bags, or artificial noses to a tube having a particularly conically tapered connector. the adapter has a clamping section that may be fixed to the connector in a frictionally engaged manner. The clamping section of the adapter may be radially expanded from a first clamping position in which the inner diameter of the clamping section is less than the outer diameter of the connector into a second release position in which the inner diameter of the clamping section is greater than the outer diameter of the connector.
US08701661B2
An inhaler is disclosed. It comprises a housing to receive a strip having a plurality of blisters, each blister having a breachable lid and containing a dose of medicament for inhalation by a user, an indexing wheel mounted in the housing rotatable to drive a strip to sequentially move blisters into alignment with a blister piercing member, a control element pivotally mounted to the housing and a drive mechanism configured to couple the control element to the indexing wheel during part of the rotation of the control element by a user so that the indexing wheel rotates together with the control element.
US08701653B2
A novel thermal storage device includes a container of metallic phase change material (MPCM). The MPCM has a high latent heat of fusion and a high thermal conductivity in its solid state. A thermal energy receiver is adapted to receive thermal energy from a thermal energy source and transfer the thermal energy directly to the MPCM, without the need for an intermediate thermal transfer fluid. A thermal energy discharge mechanism transfers thermal energy directly from the MPCM to a device that uses the thermal energy. In a solar energy embodiment, the thermal energy receiver is formed from a material (e.g., polished copper) that has a relatively low absorptivity value and a relatively low emissivity coefficient, which unexpectedly results in the attainment of a highly efficient solar receiver.
US08701648B2
The invention provides a block splitter assembly comprising first lower and second upper opposed splitter blade assemblies. The splitter blade assemblies have a splitting blade and two or more first forming blades. One forming blade is disposed to the right of and one forming blade is disposed to the left of the first splitting blade. The forming blades have forming edges. The splitting blade has a splitting edge that is straight, and the splitting blade has a greater maximum vertical dimension than the maximum vertical dimension of the forming blades. The splitting edge of the first splitting blade is opposed to the splitting edge of the second splitting blade.
US08701640B2
The present disclosure is directed to specialized flying discs and launching devices having a launching arm that can be held by a user, the arm being coupled to a flying disc via a coupler disposed at the launching end of the arm, and an attachment member disposed on the periphery of the flying disc. When swung by the user with appropriate force, the disc becomes un-coupled from the arm and takes flight. In some examples, the attachment members define distinct attachment nodes disposed within attachment openings. In some other examples the attachment member defines a concentric ring disposed on the periphery of the disc.
US08701638B2
The invention relates to a method for igniting a fuel-air mixture in an internal combustion engine. An electric transformer excites an oscillating circuit connected to a secondary winding of the transformer. A capacitor is formed by an ignition electrode together with the wall of a combustion chamber through which it extends. The excitation of the oscillating circuit is controlled by generating a corona discharge igniting the fuel-air mixture. Before each ignition time the voltage applied to a primary winding of the transformer is incrementally increased, and the intensity of the current flowing in the primary winding is measured repeatedly at the same primary voltage. The variation of the values of the related primary current is determined, and the incremental increase in the primary voltage is aborted at a value thereof at which the variation of the primary current intensity reaches or exceeds a predetermined limit.
US08701635B2
A supercharger system is disclosed herein having a front end, a rear end, an inlet and an outlet, the system contained within a housing, wherein the supercharger system includes a rotor assembly, and a plurality of intake runners that comprise an interlaced cross-runner pattern, wherein the supercharger system comprises a front drive, front inlet configuration and an inverted orientation.
US08701634B2
A zero-governor fitting structure for a gas engine, configured in such a manner that the lower half of a fuel tank for a gasoline engine is utilized as a support box for supporting the zero-governor in which a gas supply inlet pipe and a zero governor can be reliably mounted with vibration and heating of the zero-governor avoided. A zero-governor mounting structure for a gas engine equipped with a zero-governor is provided with a support box fixed to the upper part of the gas engine. The support box is formed as a box having two depths. The zero-governor is supported, through a vibration insulation gasket, on the bottom plate of the shallower depth space of the support box. A gas supply inlet pipe and an elbow joint which is connected to the gas supply inlet pipe and can be bent the direction of the gas flow at a right angle toward the zero-governor are received in the deeper depth space, and the elbow joint is connected to the bottom inlet of the zero-governor.
US08701631B2
A valve member of a pressure relief valve has a shaft portion, a pressure receiving portion, and a guide portion, wherein the valve member is axially movable in a fuel return passage. When a forward end of the shaft portion is seated on a valve seta, the fuel return passage is closed, while the shaft portion is separated from the valve seat the fuel return passage is opened. A notched portion is formed at an outer wall of the guide portion to thereby form an outer-surface passage. A fuel inlet port is formed in the valve member for communicating a fuel inlet chamber to the fuel return passage at a downstream side of the valve member.
US08701630B2
Methods and systems are provided for improving fuel usage while addressing knock by adjusting the use of spark retard and direct injection of a knock control fluid based on engine operating conditions and the composition of the injected fluid. One or more engine parameters, such as EGR, VCT, boost, throttle position, and CMCV, are coordinated with the direct injection to reduce torque and EGR transients.
US08701623B2
A multi-link, adjustable-stroke type engine includes: a timing gear provided on and concentrically with a crankshaft; an eccentric gear provided on an eccentric shaft and meshing with the timing gear so that rotation of the timing gear is transmitted to the eccentric gear; a lubricating oil passage provided in a cylinder barrel for supplying lubricating oil to lower shaft end portions of the crankshaft and eccentric shaft; and an ejection section provided in the lubricating oil passage for ejecting lubricating oil toward a meshing engagement section between the timing gear and the eccentric gear.
US08701611B2
A system for an engine drive that engages a timing band with a camshaft and a crankshaft is provided. The system further includes a coupling device that couples the camshaft to another camshaft that is not engaged with the timing band. The coupling device and the camshafts are in such a configuration that the camshafts rotate in opposing directions.
US08701606B2
A variable compression ratio V-type internal combustion engine joins the cylinder blocks of two cylinder groups together and makes the joined cylinder blocks move relative to a crankcase. The variable compression ratio V-type internal combustion engine includes a first relative movement mechanism and a second relative movement mechanism. The first relative movement mechanism and the second relative movement mechanism can be independently controlled, and a first relative movement distance at one cylinder group side of the cylinder block in the direction of the centerline of the engine which passes through the center of the crank shaft as seen in the front plan view caused by the first relative movement mechanism and a second relative movement distance at the other cylinder group side of the cylinder block in the direction of the centerline of the engine caused by the second relative movement mechanism are able to made different.
US08701605B2
A spark ignition type internal combustion engine of the present invention is provided with a variable compression ratio mechanism able to change a mechanical compression ratio, a variable valve timing mechanism able to control a closing timing of an intake valve, and a supercharger. At the time of engine low load operation, the mechanical compression ratio is made higher compared with at the time of engine high load operation. At the time of engine medium load operation, the supercharging action of the supercharger is used to make the pressure inside the intake pipe rise so that the intake air amount fed into a combustion chamber is increased, compared with at the time of engine low load operation, and the mechanical compression ratio is lowered to make the actual compression ratio fall.
US08701603B2
A control valve unit for a liquid circuit of an internal combustion engine, includes a valve housing (1) having at least one inlet opening (2) or outlet opening (2′) and at least two outlet openings (31, 32, 33) or inlet openings (31′, 32′, 33′) and at least two closing elements (41, 42, 43) actuated by a control device (22). The closing elements selectively open or close an associated outlet or inlet opening. The closing elements may be continuously adjusted between maximum open and closed positions. The control device (22) includes at least one displaceable or rotatable cam (6) and includes at least two cam tracks (71, 72, 73), each of which is assigned to a closing element (41, 42, 43) and acts on at least one driving pin (11) that is in contact with said closing element (41, 42, 43). The cams (6) are adjusted by an actuator (8).
US08701598B1
A dog bone carrier adapted for receiving and holding various sizes of hollow dog bones, that allows for chewing satisfaction for the animal, while protecting household surfaces for the owner. The carrier includes an elongated shaft having opposite ends attached to first and second end piece balls. The shaft has a length greater than the length of the dog bone for providing a chewing space. A chewing space allows the dog to engage the side of one end of the bone with his or her mouth and also allows space for additional chews. The diameter of the shaft is less than an interior diameter of the hollow bone to allow the dog bone to slide back and forth on the shaft. This difference in diameters forms a treat space. The diameter of the first and second balls is greater than an exterior diameter or width of the dog bone. This difference in the diameter of the end piece balls and the exterior diameter of the dog bone provides for a non-contact zone to prevent the exterior of the dog bone from engaging and scratching a surface, when the carrier is dropped and rolled thereon.
US08701596B2
A method for the mass production of fish belonging to the order of Cypriniforms, notably to the family of Cobitidae, from spawners which are raised in closed circuit.
US08701586B2
A magnetic wear saving device including a resilient member and a magnetic member for protecting a wear surface on a material handling device. The magnetic wear saving device further including a release means provided within a bore formed through and along the central axes of the resilient member and the magnetic member for removing the magnetic wear saving device from the wear surface of the material handling device. There may be a single shear plate with several recesses for the magnetic wear saving devices, or the wear surface of the equipment itself may be integrally formed with recesses for the magnetic wear saving devices.
US08701583B2
A catamaran (10) has two spaced demihulls (12) which are connected by an upper superstructure above the waterline. The catamaran (10) includes a main hydrofoil (26) extending between the demihulls at keel level slightly forward of the longitudinal center of gravity LCG (22) of the catamaran. Each demihull (12) defines an aft swept step formation (28) located slightly forward of the LCG (22) and extending transversely relative to a longitudinal center line CL defined between the demihulls. Each step formation (28) defines a step extending along a straight line and having a height dimension which tapers from an inner position at the keel (18) of the hull towards an outer position at the chine (20) of the hull. Each demihull defines a planing region immediately in front of the step formation (28), which has a concave hydrodynamic profile configured to generate lift on a wetted area of the hull.
US08701565B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a first door assembly operable to at least partially cover an opening of a rail car. The system also includes an actuator. A first common linkage is coupled to the actuator and is operable to reciprocally move in a longitudinal direction relative to the actuator. In particular embodiments, a first secondary linkage is coupled to the first common linkage and is coupled to an exterior surface of the first door assembly, wherein the first secondary linkage cooperates with the first common linkage to move the first door assembly between an open position and a closed position over the top hatch of the rail car.
US08701562B2
On-board model railroad speaker enclosure designs are presented that allow maximum sized speakers, improve impedance matching of sound to the outside of the locomotive, and isolate back and front speaker waves while maintaining the standard horizontal drive-train in model train locomotives.
US08701558B2
A device for enabling safe/arm functionality in a gravity dropped weapon detachably connected to an airframe. The device including: an elastic element disposed in a shell of the weapon; a releasable connection between the weapon and the airframe to release a stored and/or generated energy in the elastic element; and a piezoelectric member connected to one end of the elastic member for converting the one or more of the stored and generated energy to an electrical energy. Wherein the releasable connection includes: a link having a movable connection for movement of the link relative to the shell between a first position constraining the elastic element from movement and a second position releasing the elastic member to generate the electrical energy; and a lanyard for tethering the link to the airframe such that the link is moved to the second position upon the weapon being released from the airframe.
US08701556B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a handheld stamp assembly. The handheld stamp assembly includes a stamp mount having a top member with an opening and a bottom member capable of being slid into the top member along a first direction through the opening, wherein the top member and the bottom member form an enclosure when the top member slides into and is secured with the bottom member; and a handle coupled to the stamp mount in a detachable manner along a second direction.
US08701543B2
This application discloses a firearm gas system that includes a gas block that defines a gas port and a passage that receives a gas tube and an orifice plate that defines at least two orifices, where the orifice plate is positioned between a gas port in the barrel and the gas port on the gas block and where the orifice plate is movable with respect to the gas ports in the barrel and gas block to selectively position one of the orifices between the gas ports in the barrel and gas block where the orifices in the orifice plate have different orifice sizes.
US08701540B2
An armor includes a metallic matrix; a plurality of ceramic rods disposed in the metallic matrix, the plurality of ceramic rods and the metallic matrix forming a core; and a spall liner disposed adjacent a rear face of the core. The metallic matrix places a compressive stress on the plurality of ceramic rods. A method for making an armor includes the steps of providing a plurality of ceramic rods in a desired configuration and embedding the plurality of ceramic rods in a metallic matrix to form a core, such that the metallic matrix provides a compressive stress to the plurality of ceramic rods. The method further includes providing a spall liner and disposing the spall liner adjacent a rear surface of the core to form an armor.
US08701538B2
Multiple embodiments of a system are disclosed for defeating enemy missiles and rockets by the use of a non-lethal cloud of pellets that collide with the missile a certain distance away from the target causing premature detonation of the missile, and/or possible severe damage to the missile, and/or deflection of the missile, and/or a deformation to the ogive cones to cause a short in the fuze circuit, and/or deposition of conductive material to cause a short in the fuze circuit.
US08701537B2
A cutting tool that includes a base body including at least one deformable clamping element and at least one bit seat in which an insert is positionable, and at least one control element positioned in a recess of the base body. The at least one control element is positionable to bias the at least one deformable clamping element against the insert to hold the insert in the at least one bit seat.
US08701533B2
According to one embodiment, a sheet material cutting device includes a rotatable blade including a blade unit, which extends from one end of the rotary shaft to the other end thereof and defines a predetermined angle relative to an axial direction of the rotary shaft, provided on the outer circumference of a rotary shaft rotatably supported by a support frame. The sheet material cutting device further includes a fixed blade mounted on the support frame so as to be opposed to the rotatable blade and configured to cut a sheet material in a transverse direction perpendicular to the feed direction of the sheet material that is perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotary shaft. The sheet material cutting device further includes a sheet-suspension prevention unit configured to prevent a rear edge of the sheet material in its feed direction from being suspended within the support frame.
US08701532B2
A method includes removing material from a die and thereby changing a location of a cutting edge of the die in a punch entry direction and changing a cutting edge cross-section of the die; and assigning a punch and/or a workpiece thickness to the die based, at least in part, on the change in the cutting edge cross-section of the die.
US08701530B2
A method is provided to cut a thin-walled member without causing chattering vibration, without using a chattering vibration preventing retainer, that performs the following: (A) preparing a material having much stock for obtaining a thin-walled material, (B) while rotating the material about a center axis, cutting the inner round surface of the material within a predetermined range by feeding a cutting tool relative to material by the desired distance from one end side to the other end side of the material along the center axis, (C) while rotating the material about the center axis, cutting the outer round surface of the material within a predetermined range by feeding the cutting tool relative to the material by the desired distance from the one end side to the other end side of the material along the center axis, and (D) alternately repeating (B) and (C) to finish cutting the material.
US08701529B2
A method of grooving a work-piece of superalloy uses a grooving cutting insert at least partially covered with a Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) layer and having one or more interior ducts formed therein which open out to the insert's rake face at one or more corresponding openings. One or more coolant fluid streams, conveyed via these interior ducts at a pressure of no less than 200 bars, are directed upwardly and outwardly toward an interaction area between a cutting edge of the cutting insert and the work-piece, to thereby limit lengths of work-piece chips created during the grooving operation. The openings of the cutting insert's interior ducts may be located between 0.5-3.0 mm from the insert's cutting edge.
US08701525B2
A nut driver bit is designed to install nuts onto threaded shafts, such as all-thread rods and bolts. The nut driver bit may be driven by a power drill which causes a driver end of the nut driver bit to rotate. The driver end may contact a nut, thereby causing the nut to rotate. The driver end may be covered in with a contact grip for gripping the nut during use. A worker may install and spin a nut on a threaded shaft without requiring their fingers to manually rotate the nut. The nut driver bit may drastically reduce the time required to install nuts onto threaded rods.
US08701498B2
A device for determining material properties includes a bottom panel extending from a first end to a second end of the device, for supporting a material to be tested. A closed loop flexible wall extends upwardly from the panel and is in operational engagement with a flexible wall idle means towards the first end of the device and a flexible wall driving means in spaced relation with the flexible wall idle means. The flexible wall driving means causes movement of the closed loop flexible wall along a predetermined closed loop path. The flexible wall driving means and the means of driving it are arranged at a position outside of a material containment area of the device.
US08701496B1
Systems and methods for a pressure sensor are provided, where the pressure sensor comprises a housing having a high side input port that allows a high pressure media to enter a high side of the housing and a low side input port that allows a low pressure media to enter a low side of the housing when the housing is placed in an environment containing the high and low pressure media; a substrate mounted within the housing; a stress isolation member mounted to the substrate; a die stack having sensing circuitry bonded to the stress isolation member; a low side atomic layer deposition (ALD) applied to surfaces, of the substrate, the stress isolation member, and the die stack, exposed to the low side input port; and a high side ALD applied to surfaces, of the stress isolation member and the die stack, exposed to the high side input port.
US08701495B2
An apparatus for remote inspection of fire extinguishers at one or a system of fire extinguisher stations includes, e.g., at each fire extinguisher station: a detector for lack of presence of a fire extinguisher in its installed position at the fire extinguisher station; a detector for out-of-range pressure of contents of the fire extinguisher at the fire extinguisher station; a detector for an obstruction to viewing of or access to the fire extinguisher at the fire extinguisher station; and a device for transmission of inspection report information from the fire extinguisher station to a remote central station.
US08701494B1
An apparatus and method for testing composite structures in which ultrasonic waves are used to detect disbonds in the structures are described. The apparatus comprises a flexible structure carrying acousto-optical transducers such as fiber Bragg gratings. During use, the apparatus is mechanically and conformally coupled to the structure under test.
US08701491B2
A method of performing near-field acoustic holography comprises the following steps. Establishing (102) acoustic data representing a set of near-field acoustic holography measurements at a first set of positions. Extrapolating (204) acoustic data using a model-based extrapolation to obtain extrapolated acoustic data relating to a plurality of positions outside the aperture. Applying (108) a spatial frequency transform to the padded acoustic data to obtain data in a spatial frequency domain. Propagating (110) the Fourier transformed acoustic data. Applying (112) a regularization in a wavenumber domain. Performing (114) an inverse spatial frequency transform.
US08701484B2
A measurement system for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The measurement system comprises a capacitor, a signal generator, a digital counter, counter register, a digital clock, a digital timer, and a data register. The sensor of the measurement system is the capacitor. The measurement system generates a repeating signal having a measurement cycle that corresponds to the capacitance of the capacitor. The capacitor comprises more than one capacitor mechanically in series. Electrically, the capacitor comprises more than one capacitor in parallel. In one embodiment, the capacitor includes a dielectric layer comprising polyimide. A force, pressure, or load is applied to the capacitor that elastically compresses the device.
US08701483B2
A measuring device is for determining a separating layer or a mixing ratio in a container. The measuring device comprises two fill-level measuring apparatuses that acquire the echo curves in a standpipe and outside the standpipe, respectively. Solely from these two echo curves the position of a virtual boundary layer or the mixing ratio of the two different liquids can be determined.
US08701482B2
A system for monitoring wind characteristics in a volume including a plurality of non-coherent laser anemometers operative to measure wind characteristics in a plurality of corresponding sub-volumes located within the volume and a data processing subsystem operative to receive data from the plurality of non-coherent laser anemometers and to provide output data representing the wind characteristics in the volume.
US08701468B2
A method for determining the flow of an anode gas out of an anode sub-system. The method includes providing pressure measurements at predetermined sample times over a predetermined sample period and using the pressure measurements to calculate a slope of a line defining a change of the pressure from the beginning of the time period to the end of the time period. The slope of the pressure line is then used in a flow equation to determine the amount of gas that flows out of the anode sub-system, which can be through a valve or by system leaks.
US08701464B2
A gas chromatography system comprising a sample introduction device, an oven coupled to the sample introduction device and a detector coupled to the oven is disclosed. In certain examples, the oven may be configured to receive a chromatography column in a space in the oven. In some examples, the oven may be constructed and arranged to provide a substantially constant temperature to the space during an analysis stage of the gas chromatography system.
US08701462B2
A shim stack testing apparatus and method of determining a stiffness of the shim stick may be employed to assemble a shim stack kit. The apparatus includes a testing jig that receives either a compression or rebound shim stack. The testing jig may be used with a variety of testing machines capable of determining force versus deflection. The test jig includes a simulated piston rod coupled to a simulated piston valve having apertures. The shim stack being tested may be coupled to the piston at a selected location and then deflected by a pre-determined amount by a loading fixture having elongated prongs. Once the pre-determined deflection is achieved, a corresponding force is identified and then an overall stiffness value for the shim stack is obtained. Tested shim stacks may be assembled into kits with each having an identified stiffness that may be compared to a baseline stiffness value.
US08701458B2
A gas regulating device for use in calibration of a gas analyzer has an inlet and an outlet, a valve arrangement comprising at least one valve, and valve regulator for regulating the at least one valve. The gas regulating device is intended to be connected between a calibration gas supply and a gas analyzer that is to be calibrated and the valve regulator is configured to regulate the at least one valve such that gas is allowed to flow through a gas flow path between the inlet and outlet only when a gas pressure in the gas flow path, between the at least one valve and the outlet, falls below a predetermined threshold value. The gas regulating device is used when calibrating side-stream gas analyzers in which case it reduces calibration gas consumption, prevents discharge of calibration gas into the ambient environment and prevents leakages jeopardizing correct calibration.
US08701457B2
The present invention concerns a process and an apparatus for positioning blanks in a tool provided with at least one die, at least one locating device for centring the lamination and at least one stripper element for separating the blank from the locating device. The locating device has an engaging portion having shape and dimensions so as to engage the contour of a centring hole placed inside the profile of the lamination obtained as final product and having the shape of a portion previously blanked.
US08701456B2
A roll stand with at least one pair of rolls mounted in a stand column and drive shafts, particularly cardan shafts, for the rotary drive of the rolls. A coupling for coupling the drive shafts to the rolls. Axial roll displacement is based on a drive shaft which has an actuating arrangement. Further, a method for axial roll displacement is disclosed.
US08701454B2
An apparatus includes a mandrel having a first end and a second end, the mandrel including a cavity formed therein, a pilot disposed in the cavity formed in the mandrel, a portion of the pilot extending outwardly from the first end of the mandrel, and an insert disposed in a channel formed in the mandrel and through an exterior surface of the mandrel, wherein a portion of the pilot abuts the insert and radial outward movement of the insert is caused by an axial movement of the pilot.
US08701452B2
A security device to secure a computer may include a substantially vertical pedestal, a fixed platform mounted on the pedestal, a clamping table to cooperate with the fixed platform to secure the computer and a locking assembly to allow the clamping table to be moved to allow the computer to be attached and released from the fixed platform in an unlocked state and to prevent the clamping table from being moved to hold the computer in a locked state, The locking assembly may include a locking knob to operate the locking assembly between the locked state and the unlocked state, and the locking knob may rotate freely in the locked state and rotates to allow the clamping table to be moved in the unlocked state.
US08701451B2
A laundry treating appliance having a drum, defining a treating chamber, with a lifter and a balancing system having at least one balancing ring and a reservoir located in the lifter and a liquid supply system fluidly coupled to the reservoir. Liquid may be supplied to the ring and to the reservoir through the ring to offset an imbalance in a laundry load located within the drum.
US08701449B2
Disclosed herein are a water level/vibration sensing apparatus and a washing machine having the same. The water level/vibration sensing apparatus includes a housing provided with a pressure chamber communicating with an air inlet, a diaphragm unit moving forward and backward according to the variation of a pressure in the pressure chamber, a core and a coil forming a frequency varied according to the forward and backward movement of the diaphragm unit, and a collision member striking the diaphragm unit according to the movement of the housing. Therefore, the water level/vibration sensing apparatus simultaneously senses the washing water level and the vibration of the washing machine.
US08701447B2
A method of manufacturing an optical fiber base material includes: forming a porous glass base material by depositing glass particles; providing a vessel which employs a composite tube, the composite tube including a portion formed by jacketing a first quartz glass containing aluminum equal to or less than 0.01 ppm with a second quartz glass containing aluminum equal to or more than 15 ppm; introducing dehydration reaction gas and inert gas into the vessel; heating the jacketed portion in the vessel which contains the dehydration reaction gas and the inert gas; and inserting the porous glass base material into the heated vessel to dehydrate and sinter the porous glass base material.
US08701441B2
A process for making inorganic, metal oxide spheres that includes exposing solidified, molded microparticles that include a glass precursor composition to a temperature sufficient to transform the molded microparticles into molten glass and cooling the molten glass to form inorganic, metal oxide spheres.
US08701438B1
A band has a major section of a major length with first and second free ends spaced by an opening of a minor length. First and second minor sections in a generally J-shaped configuration are coupled to each free end. The minor sections have lower, upper and intermediate segments. Each upper segment ends in a semicircular free tip. An opening is formed at each free tip. A decorative gem stone has an upper region in a generally dome-shaped configuration projecting above the upper segment. A topper is removably positioned within the opening and has a decorative center and opposed ends. The opposed ends include similarly configured first and second rings adapted to be removably coupled to the first and second minor sections of the band.
US08701433B2
A heat exchanger door system includes a heat exchanger and a first rotatable member, proximate to the heat exchanger, that rotates about an axis of rotation. The system includes a first door member rolled around the rotatable member and movable from a rolled position to an unrolled position in which the first door member covers more of the heat exchanger than when the door member is in the rolled position.
US08701431B2
An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner includes: an indoor device installed at indoor; an outdoor device connected to the indoor device using a refrigerant pipe; a ventilation unit for exchanging heat of outdoor air and indoor air while ventilating indoor air and outdoor air; and a guidance duct for communicating the ventilation unit and an air inhalation portion of the outdoor device in order to guide indoor air exhausted from the ventilation unit to an air inhalation portion faulted in the outdoor device. Therefore, the number of ventilation holes to form in an outer wall of a building can be minimized, a construction cost can be reduced, and performance of the air conditioner can be improved.
US08701430B2
A refrigeration unit body (31) is mounted to a trailer (20). The refrigeration unit body (31) includes a refrigerant circuit (40), an engine (50) and an electric generator (51). The refrigeration unit body (31) has a condensation side passage (70) formed from the front surface of the refrigeration unit body (31) to the top thereof. In the condensation side passage (70), a condenser (42) and an electrical component box (54) are disposed in series with condenser fans (44) for the condenser (42) and a radiator (55) in order from upstream to downstream of air flow. In addition, the refrigeration unit body (31) has an evaporation side passage (71) formed therein. The condenser fans (44) in the condensation side passage (70) and evaporation fans in the evaporation side passage are disposed alternately in the width direction of the refrigeration unit body (31).
US08701415B2
A turbine system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the turbine system includes a transition duct. The transition duct includes an inlet, an outlet, and a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet and defining a longitudinal axis, a radial axis, and a tangential axis. The outlet of the transition duct is offset from the inlet along the longitudinal axis and the tangential axis. The transition duct further includes an interface member for interfacing with a turbine section. The turbine system further includes a flexible metallic seal contacting the interface member to provide a seal between the interface member and the turbine section.
US08701406B2
A system, in certain embodiments, includes an accumulator having a first plate with a first wire guide and a second plate with a second wire guide. The second plate is positioned at an offset from the first plate, and the second plate is moveable relative to the first plate to adjust a fluid pressure. The accumulator also includes a plurality of shape memory alloy wires extending between the first and second plates, wherein the plurality of shape memory alloy wires extend along the first and second wire guides.
US08701401B2
A first target engine speed is set in response to a command value commanded by a command unit and a second target engine speed lower than the first target engine speed is set based on the first target engine speed. A reduction range from the first target engine speed to the second target engine speed is set according to a type of a hydraulic actuator operated by an operation lever or a combination of plural hydraulic actuators operated by an operation lever.
US08701394B2
An electrically heated catalytic device includes an electrically heated catalyst accommodated in an outer casing provided on an exhaust pipe. A heater ring made of an insulating material is provided adjacent to an outer peripheral edge portion of an upstream end face of the electrically heated catalyst. The heat of the electrically heated catalyst is transferred to the heater ring by generating resistive heat in the electrically heated catalyst. When the soot in exhaust gas accumulates on the surface of the heater ring, the deposits of soot is removed through combustion by the heat from the surface of the heater ring.
US08701392B2
An internal combustion engine wherein an exhaust purification catalyst and a hydrocarbon feed valve are arranged downstream in an exhaust passage. A first NOX purification method, which removes NOX by making a concentration of hydrocarbons that flows into the exhaust purification catalyst vibrate within predetermined amplitude and period ranges and a second NOX purification method which utilizes an adsorption action of NOX to the exhaust purification catalyst are used. A high pressure exhaust gas recirculation system (HPL) causing recirculation of high pressure exhaust gas and a low pressure exhaust gas recirculation system (LPL) causing recirculation of low pressure exhaust gas are provided. When performing an LPL recirculation while performing an NOX purification action by the second NOX purification method, if an acceleration operation occurs, the NOX purification action is switched to the NOX purification action by the first NOX purification method and recirculation is temporarily switched to the HPL recirculation.
US08701390B2
A vehicle has an exhaust aftertreatment system including an LNT. The vehicle operates through a series of ignition cycles, deNOX cycles, and deSOX cycles. DeNOX operations begin when the LNT reaches a loading threshold. The applicable threshold depends on operating conditions, such as mean LNT temperature and mean exhaust flow rate. The thresholds are adapted based on NOX removal efficiency data. The data is compared to target values. The target values depend on the operating condition range, but remain fixed while the thresholds are adapted. NOX removal efficiency is measured over intervals corresponding to entire deNOX cycles. The data is sorted into bins according to operating conditions. The adaptations are only made if a bin has several data points accumulated over a minimum interval that is at least one ignition or deSOX cycle, preferably several. The method provides stable adaptations that compensate for aging.
US08701388B2
A method of controlling an exhaust treatment system, comprising: selectively determining a first control state from a plurality of control states based on an exhaust temperature and a plurality of activation temperatures; estimating a reductant dose based on the control state; and controlling an injection of a reductant to the exhaust treatment system based on the reductant dose.
US08701385B2
A method and an apparatus is disclosed for the operation of a turboprop aircraft engine provided with pusher propellers. In order to reduce thermal loading of the pusher propellers impaired by the hot exhaust-gas flow of the engine and increase the service life of the pusher propellers, cold air from the environment outside of the aircraft engine is fed into, and mixed with, the hot exhaust-gas flow passing the pusher propellers and their connecting structure before the hot exhaust-gas flow reaches the pusher propellers.
US08701375B2
A container treatment plant, with a discontinuously working container treatment machine and having a feed conveyor and/or a discharge conveyor each for individual containers, and in the feed conveyor and/or the discharge conveyor, at least two continuously driven, circulating conveyor means supplying each other with individual containers, and where the conveyor means being closer to the discontinuously working container treatment machine in the conveying direction exhibits a closer conveying pitch than the conveying pitch of the conveyor means which is further away. In this manner, a container acceptance and/or transfer interruption caused by the respective cycle standstill of the discontinuously working container treatment machine is compensated by the conveying pitch difference to be able to continuously supply individual containers for the discontinuously working machine or continuously discharge them from the discontinuously working container treatment machine.
US08701370B2
A structural element for constructing an auxiliary means for the manufacture of a reinforcement includes at least one coupling point for coupling the structural element to another structural element. The structural element is formed from a basic element. The structural element may further include a holding means for holding a reinforcement rod. A method for constructing an auxiliary means and a method for manufacturing a reinforcement are also provided.
US08701363B2
The specification discloses a window or door, and glazing assemblies therefor, wherein the glazing assemblies include a first pane of glass with an exterior surface coated with a smooth, hardened silica-containing coating, and an opposite surface coated with at least one layer of a low emissivity coating. In one embodiment, a second pane of glass is joined to and spaced from the first pane of glass by a polymeric spacer. In a second embodiment, a third pane of glass is laminated to the second pane, and in a third embodiment, a third pane of glass coated on its interior surface with a low emissivity coating is joined to and spaced from the second pane by a polymeric spacer.
US08701358B1
A system for setting and securing metal plate on an outer wall of concrete masonry, includes upper and lower masonry blocks with side walls and end walls forming an inner grout cavity. The metal plate has Nelson studs extending from it, each having a head on its outer end The studs extend from the plate, through a masonry side wall, into the grout cavity. A spring clip in the grout cavity compressed between a masonry block side wall and the stud head urges the stud and plate inward to secure the plate against the masonry as the grout cavity is filled with grout.
US08701356B2
A movable enclosure is configured to selectively enclose an area. The enclosure includes at least one side wall and an end wall attached thereto. The side wall comprises a number of individual panels that are independently movable along a track secured to the ground. The panels are selectively collapsible such that they may travel along the track and overlap one another when in a collapsed or stowed position. The enclosure may be configured in any number of intermediate positions wherein the panels are partially collapsed. Roof panels may be attached to the side walls for movement therewith, or alternatively, the roof panels may operate independent of the side walls to extend and retract between an open and collapsed configuration.
US08701350B2
A window draft blocker uses resilient elements held in spaced parallel relationship within a rectangular envelope and also has at least one impervious sleeve surrounding one of the resilient bodies protecting it from the elements.
US08701345B2
A greening system is disclosed for enabling plants/vegetation to grow only with natural rainfall, enabling a garden to be constructed on building rooftops, minimizing the applicable loads on the building and risk of leakage. Planting container 1 comprises box 2 with stickers 3 to carry perforated partition panel 4. The lower half of the container is constituted as water storage 5, and drain holes 6 are opened on sides of the container. Soil layer 7 placed on partition panel 4 is formed of light woody soil-based on charcoal 9 and humus timber chips for absorbing moisture transported from the water 8 stored in water storage 5 by evaporation or difference in humidity, to increase water capacity and reduce amount of water evaporating into the air. Charcoal 9 absorbs water from the air inside the lower half of the container to water the plants.
US08701344B2
To provide a plant cultivating substrate which satisfies e.g. the water absorptivity required for plant cultivation, shape retentivity and flexibility and a method of manufacture thereof. In the plant cultivating substrate and the method of its manufacture, at least water-retentive filling material, water, urethane prepolymer and polyol are reacted with each other.
US08701338B1
The automated vacuum-based pest control system features a clear tube into which a sensing means and baiting means are located sequentially along the length of the tube. The tube attaches to the hose of an existing vacuum cleaner, and upon turning on said vacuum cleaner shall suck in and trap a pest allured via the bating means. The vacuum system includes a waste bin, which can be accessed to remove the trapped pest regardless of whether the pest is exterminated or relocated. The sensing means includes a plug that plugs into a standard wall outlet and is wired engaged to a switch that turns on or off the vacuum cleaner upon detection of a pest via the sensing means.
US08701329B2
A method for disassembling a pistol that includes the steps of coupling a tool to the pistol so that a portion of the pistol is interposed within a retaining aperture formed within the tool, removing a second portion of a slide stop from a notch formed within the frame, removing a first portion of the slide stop from an aperture formed within the frame of the pistol and rotating the second portion of the slide stop to an axis defined by the first portion of the slide stop as the second portion of the slide stop is permitted to contact the tool to prevent a scratch on a portion of the pistol that is prone to being scratched by the second portion of the slide stop.
US08701322B2
A sign cube system having a substantially square-shaped box portion having four substantially planar side surfaces, one closed end and one open end, and a wire support having a substantially square-shaped portion which is inserted into the open end of the box portion and a stem extending perpendicular to and vertically downward from a center of the square-shaped portion. The wire support may be attached to an upright bracket and inserted into a substantially hollow upright member of a retail merchandise display or the wire support may be attached to a stringer which extends horizontally between two upright members of the retail merchandise display.
US08701321B2
The invention is related to an automatically activated z-shaped model totem pole type display apparatus, used for visual communication, advertising and propaganda, for provision of information on products and services at points of sale and events, comprised by only four pieces, including two internal devices that form a Z-shape upon automatic activation and two external panels with the optional addition of a base and top plate for outdoor use, which apparatus may be easily assembled and disassembled by the end user, where in order to facilitate the transport and storage thereof upon disassembly, the apparatus may be flattened and folded one or more times to thereby assume what practically amounts to the shape of a folded plate and enabling the accommodation thereof in a carrying case.
US08701320B2
Disclosed herein is a display device for use on transportation vehicles. The device can be easily altered or removed by the user. The display device contains a mounting bracket which can be permanently or releasably attached to the vehicle and a display which may be permanently or releasably attached to the mounting bracket. The angle of the display may be altered to provide easier viewing from the road.
US08701319B2
A channel letter has a rear surface for mounting against a raceway, wall, or a structure for supporting the signage, and sheet metal sides defining the figuration of the letter or shape to be depicted. A lighting element is positioned against the rear surface of the enclosure, and a lens is retained to the open front of the enclosure. The lens is secured with a retainer cap and a plurality of retainer clips. Each of the retainer clips comprises as least one side including an outwardly extending leg for retention with the retainer cap.
US08701318B2
An angle adjustment apparatus of an image display module includes a display panel configured to have image display devices arranged and disposed therein; fixture frames disposed on the upper and lower sides of the display panel, respectively; rotation frames disposed on one side and the other side of the display panel, respectively; and step angle adjustment units disposed between the auxiliary frames of the display panel and the rotation frames and configured to adjust an angle of the rotation frames by stepwise moving the rotation frames at a constant angle when the rotation frames are rotated. The angle adjustment apparatus can reduce the time taken to install and dismantle image display modules because the angle adjustment work of an image display module is easy and can adjust the angle of the image display module precisely by moving the image display modules at a constant angle stepwise.
US08701317B2
The auricular livestock identification tag comprising a male portion having a head at an end of a narrower stem, the head protruding laterally from the stem by an abutment ledge, and a female portion having an annular body with an axial aperture, and an insertion side opposite an exposure side, and a plurality of resilient abutment members extending inwardly from the annular body into the axial aperture, the abutment members being flexible to allow penetration of the head through the axial aperture from the insertion side to the exposure side, and resilient so as to return toward its original position, and under the abutment ledge, after said penetration, to thereafter prevent retraction of the head through the axial aperture.
US08701314B2
A fluid jet apparatus includes a body having a fluid flow path defined between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A thrust device is mounted within the fluid flow path to direct in use a flow of fluid along the fluid flow path. At least a portion of the fluid flow path includes a duct. The thrust device includes a propeller mounted within the duct. The apparatus further includes a plate spaced from the fluid inlet defining a space therebetween. A plurality of elongate pivotable vanes is positioned in a generally circular orientation in the space and about the axis of the flow path and with their pivoting axes aligned with the axis of the flow path. The thrust device is adapted to rotate in a direction opposite the direction of flow of fluid through the vanes into the space.
US08701307B2
A method for improving the manufacture and reliability of new, remanufactured, repaired or reconditioned Fire Control Radar APG-68 tactical radar systems (FCR) utilized in military aircraft and providing such units with extended useful life expectancies equivalent to or better than new of the FCR APG-68 unit high frequency, high voltage dual mode radar transmitters that are deployed in over 1000 state-of-the-art military aircraft such as the F-15, F-16 and F-18 fighter aircraft, and B-1 bombers. The novel method extends the mean lifetime of previously repaired and repairable FCR APG-68 tactical radar units and radar units and ageing transmitters from about 100 to a few hundred hours to about five hundred or more hours by the process of removing embedded moisture and absorbed moisture from the heterogeneous electronic components and preferably also removing contaminants from the heat transfer surfaces of the cold plates and heat exchangers in the FCR APG-68 tactical radar unit.
US08701306B2
An air flow deflector for use with a hood-type hair dryer is a thick, resiliently compressible, unitary halo with an inner perimeter of length suited to surround and abut, preferably with tension, against the subject's head when the halo's inner perimeter is contoured approximately immediately below the subject's hair line. The halo deflects the flow of warm air away from exposed skin portions of the head, neck and shoulders. An arcuate upturned extension on its front portion deflects air flow back to the interior of the hood of the dryer. The unitary halo may be continuous or split for adjustability and hinged for increased manipulability.
US08701287B2
For shaping the leading edge (1) of blisk blades (2), the shape, amount and disposition of the material to be removed in a subsequent grinding and polishing process is determined beforehand over the entire blade length. The blade leading edge is milled such that an elliptical profile (3) has a material allowance (7) which over the length of the leading edge exactly corresponds to an expected material removal during the grinding and polishing process, so that a blisk blade is produced whose leading edge features an aerodynamically advantageous shape.
US08701284B2
A method of manufacturing an electrical connector comprises steps of providing a series of generic lead frames each having an array of contacts arranged in a common generic pattern, removing from one of the generic lead frames a first subset of the contacts to form a first pattern of contacts having a first spaced-apart relationship, removing from another of the generic lead frames a second subset of the contacts to form a second pattern of contacts having a different second spaced-apart relationship, wherein the first and second patterns are selectively obtained from the generic pattern, and loading the first and second patterns of contacts into a housing.
US08701279B2
An electronic device is provided. The device may include a plate placed behind a screen formed from a window and a display module to provide the screen with additional stiffness (e.g., resist dropping events).The window may be maintained in the electronic device by trapping the window between a bezel and the display module. In some embodiments, the window may include a chamfered edge operative to be received by a recessed edge in the bezel. In some embodiments, the input mechanism of the electronic device may be metallic and need to be grounded, but may be surrounded by plastic or other non-grounding components. The device may include screws operative to pass through a circuit board to reach a frame, which may serve as a ground, where the screws are located in proximity of the button. In some embodiments, the circuit board may include an additional component for grounding the button.
US08701278B2
A device is provided to attach a connector having an internally threaded base and external threads to a cable having a casing. The device includes a body having a bore therethrough. At least a portion of the bore is threaded and the external threads on the connector are threaded into the threads of the bore until a stop surface in the bore is engaged by a portion of the connector. The device may then be turned to thread the base onto the casing of the cable.
US08701276B2
The invention provides for a placement head for a die placing assembly of an assembler for assembling dice on a carrier. The assembler has an enclosure with a support assembly for operatively supporting a wafer with dies thereon, a die picking assembly for picking dice from said wafer, a die placement assembly for placing the dies onto the carrier, a die conveyance mechanism operatively conveying the dies from the die picking and placement assemblies, and a control system controlling the assembler. The placement head includes a first translation stage mounted on the die placement assembly, said first stage operatively displaceable along a first axis relative to the die placement assembly. The placement head also includes a second translation stage mounted on the first stage, the second stage displaceable perpendicular to the first stage. The placement head further includes a third translation stage mounted on the second stage, the third stage displaceable orthogonally to the first and second stages, as well as a die placer head mounted to the third stage, the placer head shaped and dimensioned to operatively receive a die from the dice conveyance mechanism and to place the dice onto the carrier.
US08701270B2
Methods of making squirrel cage rotors of aluminum based material end rings joined with high conductive and durable material (such as copper) conductor bars for use in electric motors. The methods include forming conductor bars by casting or other metal forming methods in the slots of laminate steel stack, or positioning the preformed or premade solid conductor bars in the longitudinal slots of the stacked laminated steel, with bar ends extending out of the laminated steel stack ends, optionally coating the extended part of the conductors (bars) with a latent exoergic coating containing Al and one or more conductor bar chemical elements, positioning the laminated steel stack having conductors (bars) in a casting mold that forms the cavity of both end rings of the rotor, filling the end ring cavities with aluminum melt, and allowing the end rings to solidify under pressure. Alternatively, the conductor bars and end rings can be made separately and mechanically joined together.
US08701255B1
Crimp-imbalanced protective fabric is accomplished by varying the levels of yarn crimp within and across a layer or layers of a multi-layer fabric armor system. The method includes developing a crimp in the yarn (utilized for producing a fiber layer) by pulling the yarn through a solution that substantially coats the yarn. The removable coating has a thickness that ensures a proper amount of crimp in the yarn. The tension in the yarn is controlled; the yarn is weaved; and a crimp is applied in the yarn. Once the crimp is applied, families of the crimped yarn are utilized as a layer or layered to produce a soft armor form.
US08701254B2
A clamp structure includes a base plate, a pair of first jaws, and a pair of second jaws. The first jaws extend respectively from two sides of the base plate in a face-to-face manner and form a first jaw opening at their ends. The first jaws are also formed with a pair of cutouts that face each other. The second jaws extend respectively from the pair of cutouts towards the base plate and form a second jaw opening at their ends. Each second jaw has a hook-shaped configuration composed of a first arc near the second jaw opening and a second arc away from the base plate, wherein the first arc has a greater curvature than the second arc. A junction box and a solar panel which are bonded together can be inserted into and thus clamped by the clamp structure so as to be secured against lateral shifting.
US08701251B2
A hinge for a door, flap or similar pivotal wings of a motor vehicle is provided. The hinge includes a column-side hinge part and a door-side hinge part, which can be pivoted about a hinge pillar relative to each other, and with an integrated door retaining device, which includes a retaining element arranged on the side of the one hinge part, which cooperates with a retaining contour on the side of the other hinge part. The retaining element is formed as clamp element cooperating with a clamping surface of the hinge pillar, the clamping force of which can be adjusted by means of a transmission element as a function of the retaining contour.
US08701247B1
A hinge pin includes a shaft defining a clearance surface and joined at one end to a head. A channel between the head and the clearance surface is configured to provide a lubricant path between the head and the clearance surface. In one embodiment, the head has an annular outer portion and a concave central portion, and the channel is provided by a radial slot extending from the central portion through the annular outer portion, and a contiguous axial slot extending downward from the radial slot to the clearance surface. The central portion of the head is configured to receive a small volume of lubricant, while the channel provides a path that allows the lubricant to flow from the head to the clearance surface of the shaft.
US08701246B2
A grommet device and method of using a grommet device is provided. A top structure has a top surface. An aperture having a central axis is positioned interior of the top structure. A sidewall is formed around the aperture and connected to the top structure. The sidewall is positioned substantially perpendicular from the top surface of the top structure. At least two upper protruding structures are connected to the top structure at different locations along the top structure, wherein each of the upper protruding structures extends into the aperture. At least two lower protruding structures extend from the sidewall at different locations along the sidewall, wherein each of the lower protruding structures have a flexing portion extending into the aperture, wherein each of the upper protruding structures are substantially radially aligned with the flexing portion of each of the lower protruding structures, respectively.
US08701243B2
An apparatus and methods for collecting swept waste material are described herein. The apparatus includes a dustpan having a base and a wall, a handle, and a plurality of protrusions. The base is configured to be placed in contact with a surface to be cleaned and includes a front lip over which debris can be swept. The wall extends upwardly from at least a portion of the base other than the front lip and is configured to contain debris in the dustpan. The handle is coupled to a top edge of the wall opposite the front lip and extends away from the wall and downwardly from the top edge so that an end of the handle is disposed approximately even with the base. The plurality of protrusions extend inwardly from the wall and are configured to remove debris from bristles of a broom when the broom is swept across the plurality of protrusions.
US08701240B2
A lens cleaning mechanism according to the present invention comprises: a cleaning unit (1a) that covers a standby area being a part of the surface of a front lens element (11), as the standby area is pressed, the cleaning unit (1a) being rotationally moved along the surface of the front lens element (11) to slide over the entire surface of the front lens element (11), including a remaining part of the surface and the standby area; a drive unit (3) connected to a holding member (1b); and a control unit (2) for rotationally moving the cleaning unit (1a) by driving the drive unit (3).
US08701234B2
A pig receiver and method retrieve pigs in pipeline pigging operations. In one embodiment, a pig receiver includes a pig receiver unit. The pig receiver also includes a pig gate valve assembly disposed on the pig receiving unit. The pig gate valve assembly includes a gate valve. The pig gate valve assembly also includes a first actuator and a second actuator. The pig gate valve assembly further includes a cylinder guide. In addition, the pig gate valve assembly includes a tie bar. Actuation of the tie bar actuates the gate valve. An end of the tie bar is attached to the first actuator, and an opposing end of the tie bar is attached to the second actuator.
US08701233B2
A sealing element for a pipeline pig includes rigid first and second cup supports having outer peripheral edges. A resilient sealing element protrudes beyond the outer peripheral edge of each of the first cup support and the second cup support. Means are provided for clamping the sealing element between the first cup support and the second cup support.
US08701225B1
A reusable, washable, absorbent under pad has built-in handles to aid in the transfer and accommodation of bedbound or chairbound patients, for example. The under pad can have at least two handles on each side thereof to facilitate transfer of patients by caregivers and to facilitate proper body mechanics, thereby preventing work related and home injuries by caregivers.
US08701218B2
A protective garment including a body portion shaped to be worn on the torso and arms of a wearer. The body portion has a front surface, a rear surface, and lower edge. The protective garment further includes at least one pocket portion coupled to the front surface, wherein at least part of the pocket portion is located below the lower edge.
US08701216B1
A grip-it golf method for releasably supporting a golf glove and for maintaining the golf glove in a readily accessible location consists of providing a golf glove, a supporting member, a primary connector, and a supplemental connector, then coupling the primary connector to a recipient member and finally coupling the supplemental connector to the recipient member.
US08701215B2
A body covering gown which is secured on the user by one or more stretchable strips which extend across an opening in the gown.
US08701213B2
A body-shaping intimacy garment for a woman has an upper portion that supports or at least contacts undersides of the breasts while leaving the breasts exposed, a torso portion extending from the upper portion, a lower portion that encircles the waist, buttocks and hips while defining a crotch opening through the garment for access during intimate encounters, and leg portions that extend to below the knee. The torso portion, lower portion and leg portions each include respective portions of inner and outer layers of stretchable fabrics. The inner layer fabric is worn stretched about the torso, waist, buttocks, hips and legs, with tension in shoulder straps maintaining some inner layer stretch along the torso portion while worn. The outer layer fabric has a lesser elasticity than the inner layer fabric, and the two fabric layers are connected at the bust but are otherwise disconnected throughout front and sides of the torso and lower portions, and throughout the leg portions to at least below the knee, such that the outer layer is configured to slide over the inner layer, and to flow over local curvature fluctuations of the inner layer, during movement.
US08707450B2
Methods, apparatuses and storage medium associated digital rights management (DRM) using DRM locker is disclosed herein. In embodiments, a DRM locker is provided to a client device. The DRM locker may be configured to store a number of DRM licenses or keys for a number of DRM protected contents. The DRM locker, on presentation of an associated locker key, may respond to a request for one or more of the stored DRM licenses or keys, to enable consumption of the corresponding DRM protected contents using the client device. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
US08707448B2
A technique for distributing media data in a secured fashion that mitigates unwanted or illegal copying/distribution of such data. An initial, degraded version of the media data is sent to one or more recipient(s). After confirming identity of a recipient at a receiving system, a supplemental version of the media data is sent to the receiving system which augments the degraded version such that it can then be played by the recipient(s). The degraded version of the media data has a reduced quality that is obtained by removing portions of the data and filling in the removed portions with dummy data. During a subsequent rebuilding of the media data, a supplemental version of the media data is sent to the receiving data processing system where it is merged/combined with the degraded version to form a copy that corresponds to the original, high-quality version of the media data.
US08707443B2
A circuit is operable in a normal operating mode and a test mode. The circuit contains a privileged information supply circuit (12) coupled to the testable circuit (10). A test access circuit (19) provides access to the testable circuit (10). A test control circuit (18) controls switching of the test access circuit (19) to the test mode. A multiplex circuit (16) couples the privileged information supply circuit (12) to the testable circuit (10) for access to privileged information in the normal mode. In the test mode the shadow information supply circuit (14) is coupled to the testable circuit (10) instead.
US08707436B2
A system and method for defining code by its functionality is disclosed. The technology initially accesses a portion of code. Once the portion of code is accessed at least one functional operation embedded in the code is determined. When the functional operation in the code is determined, the portion of code is then defined by the functional operation. In so doing, the portion of code can be defined by functional operation without requiring the consideration of any semantics related to the portion of code.
US08707429B2
Systems and methods for resolving domain name system (DNS) queries are provided herein. Methods may include receiving a DNS query from a DNS client via a DNS server, responsive to the DNS query, generating the DNS response utilizing the at least one policy associated with the view, providing the DNS response to the DNS client from which the DNS query was received, and storing the DNS response in a shared cache, the shared cache including previously generated DNS responses that are available to the DNS server, wherein previously generated DNS responses may be provided to DNS clients upon receiving a DNS query corresponding to at least one of the previously generated DNS responses.
US08707424B2
A method for making secure execution of a computer program includes the following steps: stacking a predetermined value in a pile of instructions of the program; and stack popping the pile, the stack popping step being adapted, as the case may be, to enable detection of an anomalous execution.
US08707423B2
A programmable display device includes a communication driver, a file system process unit that accesses the portable storage medium storing backup/restore target information that includes a target control device and target setting information respectively specifying the control device on which the backup/restore process is performed out of the control devices connected to the programmable display device and setting information, and a setting-information obtaining/writing process unit that accesses the control device via the communication driver based on the backup/restore target information and performs the backup/restore process of the setting information by accessing the portable storage medium via the file system process unit.
US08707417B1
A virtualization platform includes a number of virtual machines, one of which is configured as a driver domain and includes the network service control for routing network traffic between the other virtual machines. The privileged domain does not include the network service control. The network service control includes network backend interfaces and a virtual switch or bridge. The driver domain includes a PCI driver for direct communication with a network interface card. The driver domain includes hooking software and an inspection agent. Packets passing between the other virtual machines pass through the driver domain, are hooked, and are inspected by inspection agent to determine if they are malicious or not. Malicious packets are blocked. The driver domain may also utilize a PCI driver of the privileged domain for access to the network interface card. Platforms with or without pass-through mode may be used.
US08707411B2
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing user credentials over a network to a remote computer application. User credentials for the remote computer application are stored in a central repository that is accessible through the network. A request is sent to a service to perform, on behalf of a user, a particular task involving the remote computer application. It is determined whether the service has been granted permission to act on behalf of the user with respect to the remote computer application. When the service has permission to act on behalf of the user, the service is used to retrieve the user's credentials for the remote computer application from the central repository and to supply the retrieved user credentials to the remote computer application.
US08707408B2
Systems and methods are provided for authentication by combining a Reverse Turing Test (RTT) with password-based user authentication protocols to provide improved resistance to brute force attacks. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for user authentication, the method including receiving a username/password pair associated with a user; requesting one or more responses to a first Reverse Turing Test (RTT); and granting access to the user if a valid response to the first RTT is received and the username/password pair is valid.
US08707404B2
Various embodiments of a system and method for transparently authenticating a user to a digital rights management entity are described. In various embodiments, a digital rights management server may be configured to receive an authentication token from a first remote computer system. Such authentication token may indicate that a particular user of the first remote computer system was authenticated by a first content provider of one or more content providers. In various embodiments, the digital rights management server may also be configured to verify the authentication token by determining that one or more portions of the authentication token were generated based on respective authentication information issued to the first content provider. In various embodiments, the digital rights management server may also be configured to, in response to verification of the authentication token, issue to the first remote computer system one or more credentials.
US08707400B2
A system and method for consumer-side authorization and authentication is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a request for a credential from a business-side party, matching the credential request to a set of available credentials, the available credentials comprising consumer-side information. The credential is retrieved from a credential store, and the authorization of the business-side party to receive the credential is evaluated before returning a response. In another embodiment, the system comprises a receiver module adapted to receive credential requests from business-side parties. The credential request is passed to a selection and matching module for matching against consumer-side credentials. The credential is retrieved from a storage and retrieval module, but is not passed until an authorization module allows a sender module to return a credential response to the business-side party.
US08707383B2
A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing computer workloads with security policy enforcement. When a determination is made that a component in a data processing system has failed to meet processing requirements, a candidate host to where the component may be migrated based on performance considerations is identified. A first security policy associated with the component is compared to a second security policy associated with the candidate host to determine if the first security policy is equivalent to or stronger than the second security policy. Responsive to a determination that the first security policy is equivalent to or stronger than the second security policy, the component is migrated to the candidate host.
US08707379B2
A network module receives network global positioning system (GPS) signals and that transmits a video signal to a remote device that includes time stamps that are based on the network GPS signals. The network module receives a device parameter from the remote device that indicates that local GPS signals are available to the remote device. The network module reduces a frequency of the time stamps when the device parameter indicates that local GPS signals are available to the remote device.
US08707363B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for recommending items in a video series to a group of viewers. In general, video series item recommendations are generated for a viewer group detected within a viewing area of a media device based on personal viewing histories of users in the viewer group. In one embodiment, the video series item recommendations are recommendations for video series items that: (a) are from one or more video series historically viewed by at least a first predefined minimum threshold number of users in the viewer group and (b) have not yet been viewed by any of at least a second predefined minimum threshold number of users in the viewer group. The video series item recommendations are then provided to the viewer group.
US08707362B2
A data broadcast receiver includes a broadcast signal receiving unit receiving broadcast signals corresponding to a selected channel, a signal separating unit separating the broadcast signals received through the broadcast signal receiving unit into video signals, audio signals, and data signals, a data parsing unit parsing the data signals separated by the signal separating unit and extracting data carousel, and a middleware engine partially gathering the data carousel extracted by the data parsing unit according to a preset priority.