US08716096B2
A self-aligned bipolar transistor and method of fabricating the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a substrate and an intrinsic base are provided, followed by a first oxide layer, and an extrinsic base over the first oxide layer. A first opening is formed, exposing a portion of a surface of the extrinsic base. Sidewall spacers are formed in the first opening, and a self-aligned oxide mask is selectively formed on the exposed surface of the extrinsic base. The spacers are removed, and using the self-aligned oxide mask, the exposed extrinsic base and the first oxide layer are etched to expose the intrinsic base layer, forming a first and a second slot. A silicon layer stripe is selectively grown on the exposed intrinsic and/or extrinsic base layers in each of the first and second slots, substantially filling the respective slot.
US08716094B1
Approaches for forming a FinFET device using double patterning memorization techniques are provided. Specifically, a device will initially be formed by defining a set of fins, depositing a poly-silicon layer, and depositing a hardmask. Thereafter, a front end of the line (FEOL) lithography-etch, lithography-etch (LELE) process will be performed to form a set of trenches in the device. The set of trenches will be filled with an oxide layer that is subsequently polished. Thereafter, the device is selectively etched to yield a (e.g., poly-silicon) gate pattern.
US08716093B2
A semiconductor device can include a first gate electrode including a gate insulating pattern, a gate conductive pattern and a capping pattern that are sequentially stacked on a semiconductor substrate, and a first spacer of a low dielectric constant disposed on a lower sidewall of the first gate electrode. A second spacer of a high dielectric constant, that is greater than the low dielectric constant, is disposed on an upper sidewall of the first gate electrode above the first spacer.
US08716092B2
A method for fabricating a MOS transistor is disclosed. First, a semiconductor substrate having a gate thereon is provided. A spacer is then formed on the sidewall of the gate, and two recesses are formed adjacent to the spacer and within the semiconductor substrate. Next, the spacer is thinned, and epitaxial layer is grown in each of the two recesses. By thinning the spacer before the epitaxial layer is formed, the present invention could stop the epitaxial layer to grow against the sidewall of the spacer, thereby preventing problem such as Ion degradation.
US08716090B2
The present invention provides a manufacturing method for a semiconductor device having epitaxial source/drain regions, in which a diffusion barrier layer of the source/drain regions made of epitaxial silicon-carbon or germanium silicon-carbon are added on the basis of epitaxially growing germanium-silicon of the source/drain regions in the prior art process, and the introduction of the diffusion barrier layer of the source/drain regions prevents diffusion of the dopant in the source/drain regions, thus mitigating the SCE and DIBL effect. The use of the diffusion barrier layer for the source/drain regions can also reduce the dosage of HALO implantation in the subsequent step, thus if HALO is performed before epitaxial growth of the source/drain regions, impact on the surfaces of the source/drain regions can be alleviated; if HALO is performed after epitaxial growth of the source/drain regions, the stress release effect of the epitaxial layer of the source drain/regions caused by the implantation can be reduced as much as possible.
US08716089B1
A thermal oxide is formed in an NVM region and a logic region. A polysilicon layer is formed over the thermal oxide and patterned to form a dummy gate and a select gate in the logic and NVM regions, respectively. A first dielectric layer is formed in the NVM and logic regions which surrounds the select gate and dummy gate. The first dielectric layer is removed from the NVM region and protected in the logic region. A charge storage layer is formed over the select gate. The dummy gate is removed, forming an opening. A second dielectric layer is formed over the select gate and within the opening, and a gate layer is formed over the second dielectric layer and within the opening, wherein the gate layer within the opening forms a logic gate and the gate layer is patterned to form a control gate in the NVM region.
US08716080B2
A semiconductor device is described as including a first fin having a layer formed of a first semiconductor material and a second fin that is formed of a second semiconductor material. The first and second semiconductor materials are different. The second semiconductor material may have a mobility of P-type carriers that is greater than a mobility of P-type carriers of the first semiconductor material. The second fin includes a layer formed of the first semiconductor material below the layer formed of the second semiconductor material. The semiconductor device further includes a hard mask layer disposed on the first and second fins and an insulator layer disposed below the first and second fins. The first and second semiconductor materials include silicon and germanium, respectively. The first and second fins are used to form respective N-channel and a P-channel semiconductor devices.
US08716079B2
In a replacement gate approach, a top area of a gate opening may receive a superior cross-sectional shape on the basis of a material erosion process, wherein a sacrificial material may protect sensitive materials, such as a high-k dielectric material, in the gate opening. In one illustrative embodiment, the sacrificial material may be applied after depositing a work function adjusting species in the gate opening.
US08716076B2
Method for fabricating a semiconductor device having an epitaxial channel and transistor having same
A transistor having an epitaxial channel and a method for fabricating a semiconductor device having an epitaxial channel, the method including forming a hardmask on a substrate and forming an opening in the hardmask. The opening is geometrically characterized by a long dimension and a short dimension, and the opening is arranged in a predetermined manner relative to the channel region of a transistor. An epitaxial material is formed in the opening that induces strain in substrate regions proximate to the epitaxial material. The epitaxial material is confined to the opening, such that an epitaxial channel is formed. A transistor is fabricated in proximity to the epitaxial channel, such that the strain induced in the substrate provides enhanced transistor performance. By confining the epitaxial material to a predefined channel in the substrate, plastic strain relaxation of the epitaxial material is minimized and a maximum amount of strain is induced in the substrate.
US08716074B2
Methods are provided for fabricating a semiconductor device. A method comprises forming a layer of a first semiconductor material overlying the bulk substrate and forming a layer of a second semiconductor material overlying the layer of the first semiconductor material. The method further comprises creating a fin pattern mask on the layer of the second semiconductor material and anisotropically etching the layer of the second semiconductor material and the layer of the first semiconductor material using the fin pattern mask as an etch mask. The anisotropic etching results in a fin formed from the second semiconductor material and an exposed region of first semiconductor material underlying the fin. The method further comprises forming an isolation layer in the exposed region of first semiconductor material underlying the fin.
US08716062B1
A method of fabricating an array substrate and a display device including the array substrate are discussed. According to an embodiment, the array substrate includes a gate electrode formed on a substrate; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor layer and an etch prevention layer formed on the gate insulating layer, wherein ends of the oxide semiconductor layer and ends of the etch prevention layer are aligned with each other; source and drain electrodes formed on the etch prevention layer; a passivation layer including a contact hole formed on the source and drain electrodes and on the gate insulating layer; and a pixel electrode formed on the passivation layer and through the contact hole.
US08716061B2
In a thin film transistor which uses an oxide semiconductor, buffer layers containing indium, gallium, zinc, oxygen, and nitrogen are provided between the oxide semiconductor layer and the source and drain electrode layers.
US08716060B2
Confined resistance variable memory cell structures and methods are described herein. One or more methods of forming a confined resistance variable memory cell structure includes forming a via in a memory cell structure and forming a resistance variable material in the via by performing a process that includes providing a germanium amidinate precursor and a first reactant to a process chamber having the memory cell structure therein and providing an antimony ethoxide precursor and a second reactant to the process chamber subsequent to removing excess germanium.
US08716058B2
An organic light-emitting display device including a substrate; at least one thin-film transistor (TFT) formed on the substrate; a planarizing layer covering the TFT; a pixel electrode, which is formed on the planarizing layer and is connected to the TFT; a protective layer surrounding an edge of the pixel electrode; a pixel defining layer (PDL), which has an overhang (OH) structure protruding more than the top surface of the protective layer, covers the protective layer and the edge of the pixel electrode, and exposes a portion of the pixel electrode surrounded by the protective layer; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; and an intermediate layer, which is interposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode and includes a light-emitting layer and at least one organic layer, where the thickness of the intermediate layer is greater than the thickness of the protective layer.
US08716056B2
A three-dimensional memory array formed of one or more two-dimensional memory arrays of one-time programmable memory elements arranged in horizontal layers and stacked vertically upon one another; and a two-dimensional memory array of reprogrammable phase change memory elements stacked on the one or more two-dimensional memory arrays as the top layer of the three-dimensional memory array.
US08716049B2
Techniques for crack-free growth of GaN, and related, films on larger-size substrates via spatially confined epitaxy are described.
US08716047B2
When a p-layer 4 composed of GaN is maintained at ordinary temperature and TNO is sputtered thereon by an RF magnetron sputtering method, a laminated TNO layer 5 is in an amorphous state. Then, there is included a step of thermally treating the amorphous TNO layer in a reduced-pressure atmosphere where hydrogen gas is substantially absent to thereby crystallize the TNO layer. At the sputtering, an inert gas is passed through together with oxygen gas, and volume % of the oxygen gas contained in the gas passed through is 0.10 to 0.15%. In this regard, oxygen partial pressure is 5×10−3 Pa or lower. The temperature of the thermal treatment is 500° C. for about 1 hour.
US08716039B2
According to the invention, a monitoring device (12) is created for monitoring a thinning of at least one semiconductor wafer (4) in a wet etching unit (5), wherein the monitoring device (12) comprises a light source (14), which is designed to emit coherent light of a light wave band for which the semiconductor wafer (4) is optically transparent. The monitoring device (12) further comprises a measuring head (13), which is arranged contact-free with respect to a surface of the semiconductor wafer (4) to be etched, wherein the measuring head (13) is designed to irradiate the semiconductor wafer (4) with the coherent light of the light wave band and to receive radiation (16) reflected by the semiconductor wafer (4). Moreover, the monitoring device (12) comprises a spectrometer (17) and a beam splitter, via which the coherent light of the light wave band is directed to the measuring head (13) and the reflected radiation is directed to the spectrometer (17). The monitoring device (12) further comprises an evaluation unit (18), wherein the evaluation unit (18) is designed to determine a thickness d(t) of the semiconductor wafer (4) from the radiation (16) reflected by the semiconductor wafer (4) during thinning of the semiconductor wafer (4) by means of a method that is selected from the group consisting of a 1D-se FDOCT method, a 1D-te FDOCT method and a 1D-se TDOCT method.
US08716036B2
A method for collective fabrication of 3D electronic modules comprises: the fabrication of a stack of reconstructed wafers, comprising validated active components, this stack including a redistribution layer; the fabrication of a panel of validated passive printed circuits which comprises: fabrication of a panel of printed circuits, electrical testing of each printed circuit, fitting of the validated printed circuits to an adhesive substrate, molding of the mounted circuits in an electrically insulating resin, called coating resin and polymerization of the resin, removal of the adhesive substrate, a panel comprising only validated printed circuits being thus obtained; bonding the panel with a stack (of reconstructed wafers); cutting the “stack of panel” assembly for the purpose of obtaining the 3D electronic modules.
US08716035B2
Provided are a nonvolatile memory cell and a method of manufacturing the same. The nonvolatile memory cell includes a memory transistor and a driver transistor. The memory transistor includes a semiconductor layer, a buffer layer, an organic ferroelectric layer, and a gate electrode, which are disposed on a substrate. The driver transistor includes the semiconductor layer, the buffer layer, a gate insulating layer, and the gate electrode, which are disposed on the substrate. The memory transistor and the driver transistor are disposed on the same substrate. The nonvolatile memory cell is transparent in a visible light region.
US08716031B2
Disclosed is a convenient and effective means for quantifying an antigen-specific canine or human IgE. Specifically disclosed is a method for quantifying an antigen-specific canine IgE, which comprises the following steps (A) to (D): (A) contacting a biological sample collected from a subject with an antigen to conjugate IgE contained in the sample with the antigen; (B) measuring the quantity of IgE in a standard sample collected from an experimental animal which is different from the subject and has been sensitized with the same antigen as that used in step (A) by using a substance capable of recognizing both IgE from the subject and IgE from the experimental animal, thereby producing a standard curve; (C) detecting a conjugate formed in step (A) by using the same substance capable of recognizing both IgE from the subject and IgE from the experimental animal as that used in step (B); and (D) determining the quantity of IgE in the biological sample collected from the subject by utilizing the quantity of the conjugate detected in step (C) and the standard curve produced in step (B). Also specifically disclosed is a method for quantifying an antigen-specific human IgE.
US08716028B2
The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the amount of hydrofluoric acid in a buffered oxide etching composition. In buffered oxide etching compositions it is very difficult to measure the amount of hydrofluoric acid because it has varying equilibriums and it is toxic so it hard to handle and sample. When used to manufacture microchips however, incorrect amounts of hydrofluoric acid will ruin those chips. The invention utilizes a unique method of spectrographically measuring the hydrofluoric acid when in contact with added chromogenic agents to obtain exact measurements that are accurate, immediate, and safe.
US08716027B2
A nucleic acid tag comprising a nucleotide-support platform attached to a nucleic acid molecule, an odorant, and an encapsulant. Unique nucleic acid-containing tags containing an odorant are seeded at one or more geographic locations. Using odorant-detection systems, the person or object of interest is examined for the presence of one or more of the odorant, thereby revealing the presence of the seeded nucleic acids and eliminating the expense and time associated with unnecessary screening. The geographic location associated with each detected nucleic acid is used to backtrack the item's path or extrapolate a probable point of origin.
US08716025B2
A control device for a sample separation apparatus, the sample separation apparatus including a first separation unit and a second separation unit downstream of the first separation unit and supplied with the fluidic sample after treatment by the first separation unit. A control device is configured for controlling the first separation unit to execute a primary separation sequence within a time interval for separating the fluidic sample into fractions, and for controlling the second separation unit to execute secondary separation sequences within the time interval for further separating the separated fractions into sub-fractions, wherein the secondary separation sequences form part of a common sample separation method defined by a common specification of the sample separation involving a set of parameters, and adjusting, over a progress of the primary separation sequence, at least one parameter according to which at least one of the plurality of secondary separation sequences is executed.
US08716024B2
A method of distinguishing a control solution from a sample in an electrochemical test sensor is performed. The method includes adding a control marker to the control solution. The control solution includes the control marker and analyte. The test sensor includes working and counter electrodes, and a reagent. A potential is applied to the test sensor to oxidize the control marker and the analyte. The resulting electrical current is measured. A potential is applied to the test sensor lower than the other potential in which the potential is sufficient to oxidize the analyte and not the control marker. The resulting electrical current is measured. Determining whether a control solution or a sample is present based on the measured electrical currents. To increase the measured current, a salt may be added to the control solution in an amount sufficient to increase the electrical current by at least 5% as compared to a control solution in the absence of a salt.
US08716018B2
We disclose a particle comprising a matrix coated thereon and having a positive charge, the particle being of a size to allow aggregation of primate or human stem cells attached thereto. The particle may comprise a substantially elongate, cylindrical or rod shaped particle having a longest dimension of between 50 μm and 400 μm, such as about 200 μm. It may have a cross sectional dimension of between 20 μm and 30 μm. The particle may comprise a substantially compact or spherical shaped particle having a size of between about 20 μm and about 120 μm, for example about 65 μm. We also disclose a method of propagating primate or human stem cells, the method comprising: providing first and second primate or human stem cells attached to first and second respective particles, allowing the first primate or human stem cell to contact the second primate or human stem cell to form an aggregate of cells and culturing the aggregate to propagate the primate or human stem cells for at least one passage. A method of propagating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in long term suspension culture using microcarriers coated in Matrigel or hyaluronic acid is also disclosed. We also disclose a method for differentiating stem cells.
US08716015B2
A method of inoculating a culture medium including providing a droplet including a single cell type on a droplet actuator and inoculating a culture medium with the droplet. A method of providing a metabolically useful substance to a cell culture, including providing a droplet actuator including a cell culture droplet loaded thereon, the sample droplet including cells and a cell culture medium, and a second droplet comprising a metabolically useful substance. The method also includes conducting one or more droplet operations to combine the cell culture droplet with the second droplet on the droplet actuator. Related methods, droplet actuators, and systems are also provided.
US08716013B2
Use of a recombinant lentiviral vector comprising a polynucleotide fragment encoding at least one protein of a virus of the family Flaviviridae or an immunogenic peptide of at least 8 amino acids of said protein, for preparing a pharmaceutical composition intended for the prevention and/or the treatment of a Flaviviridae infection in a sensitive species.
US08716007B2
An instrument for fluorometric assays in liquid samples is disclosed. The instrument may include multiple optical channels for monitoring a first fluorophore associated with a target analyte and a second fluorophore associated with a control. The disclosed instrument finds utility in any number of applications, including microfluidic molecular biological assays based on PCR amplification of target nucleic acids and fluorometric assays in general.
US08716005B2
The present invention disposes a membrane between two electrical conductive walls having a height at least as great as the thickness of the membrane. The conductive walls are fabricated on an electrically insolative chip base. The chip base has one or more through hole between the electrically conducting walls. The chip is placed inside a container having a well below the through hole of the electrically insolative base. At least one passageway extends from the well to the periphery of the container. This invention probes changes of the membrane as an in-plane electric field is applied between the conductive walls. The well may include various compounds while-other compounds can be placed in contact with the top of the membrane. The passageways are used to introduce substances into and out of the well.
US08716004B2
A recombinant filamentous fungal cell (e.g. Aspergillus) having one or more inactivated chromosomal genes is provided. The chromosomal genes in some embodiments correspond to derA, derB, htmA, mnn9, mnn10, ochA, dpp4, dpp5, pepAa, pepAb, pepAc, pepAd, pepF and combinations thereof. The recombinant fungal cells may include further inactivated chromosomal genes which correspond to pepA, pepB, pepC and pepD. The recombinant filamentous fungal cells may include a heterologous nucleic acid encoding a protein of interest. Also provided are methods of producing a protein of interest in said recombinant filamentous fungal cell.
US08716003B2
The present invention provides improved polysaccharides (e.g., gellan and diutan) produced by mutant gene R Sphingomonas strains containing at least one genetic modification that favors slime-forming polysaccaride production. Methods of making the mutant Sphingomonas strains and the culture broth containing such mutant Sphingomonas strains are also provided.
US08715999B2
The present invention relates to a mutant virus of the family flaviviridae, comprising a deletion in the capsid protein of at least 20 successive amino acids, without any further deletion, substitution or insertion mutation except of the amino acids next to the deletion, which may be substituted.
US08715988B2
This invention relates to modified hydroxylases. The invention further relates to cells expressing such modified hydroxylases and methods of producing hydroxylated alkanes by contacting a suitable substrate with such cells.
US08715985B2
The present invention relates to the production of recombinant collagenases, and in particular describes a method for the production of recombinant Clostridium histolyticum collagenases CoI characterized by a yield higher than approximately 140 mg/l of culture of said collagenases in soluble and biologically active form, collagenases produced by this method, compositions comprising these collagenases and the use thereof.
US08715975B2
The invention provides variants of the Azospirillum irakense CelA β-glucosidase that have improve β-glucosidase activity, particularly improved thermoactivity, compared to the wild type enzyme. The invention further provides related polynucleotides, vectors, host cell, and methods for making and using the variants.
US08715971B2
The invention provides a non-naturally occurring microbial organism having n-propanol and isopropanol pathways, 1,4-butanediol (14-BDO) and isopropanol pathways, 1,3-butanediol (13-BDO) and isopropanol pathways or methylacrylic acid (MAA) and isopropanolpathways. The microbial organism contains at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme in each of the respective n-propanol, 14-BDO, 13-BDO or MAA and isopropanol pathways. The invention additionally provides a method for co-producing n-propanol and isopropanol, 14-BDO and isopropanol, 13-BDO and isopropanol or MAA and isopropanol. The method can include culturing an n-propanol and an isopropanol co-producing microbial organism, where the microbial organism expresses at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an n-propanol, an isopropanol, a 14-BDO, a 13-BDO and/or a MAA pathway enzyme in a sufficient amount to produce each of the respective products, under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce each of the respective products.
US08715970B2
The present invention relates to a biocatalytic method of preparing a mono-acylated polyol catalyzed by triacylglycerol lipase mutants, as for example derived from Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB); a biocatalytic method of enantioselectively preparing an asymmetric mono-acylated polyol, catalyzed by the same enzyme mutants; as well as the use of a mutated triacylglycerol lipase in a method of preparing mono-acylated polyols. The invention also provides novel mutants, coding sequences thereof, and recombinant microorganisms carrying said coding sequences.
US08715968B2
The invention features ABC1 nucleic acids and polypeptides for the diagnosis and treatment of abnormal cholesterol regulation. The invention also features methods for identifying compounds for modulating cholesterol levels in an animal (e.g., a human).
US08715963B2
Described is a method for increasing the N-glycosylation site occupancy of a therapeutic glycoprotein produced in recombinant host cells modified as described herein and genetically engineered to express the glycoprotein compared to the N-glycosylation site occupancy of the therapeutic glycoprotein produced in a recombinant host cell not modified as described herein. In particular, the method provides recombinant host cells that overexpress a heterologous single-subunit oligosaccharyltransferase, which in particular embodiments is capable of functionally suppressing the lethal phenotype of a mutation of at least one essential protein of the yeast oligosaccharyltransferase (OTase) complex, for example, the Leishmania major STT3D protein, in the presence of expression of the host cell genes encoding the endogenous OTase complex. The method is useful for both producing therapeutic glycoproteins with increased N-glycosylation site occupancy in lower eukaryote cells such as yeast and filamentous fungi and in higher eukaryote cells such as plant and insect cells and mammalian cells.
US08715949B2
A composition having: a proanthocyanidin; and a macromolecule, an assembly of macromolecules, a semi-solid, or a solid surface to which the proanthocyanidin is immobilized.
US08715946B2
The present invention relates to the discovery that specific human taste receptors in the T2R taste receptor family respond to particular bitter compounds. Also, the invention relates to the discovery of specific hT2R9 alleles and their disparate activity in functional assays with the same bitter ligands. The invention further relates to the use of these T2R receptors in assays for identifying ligands that modulate the activation of these taste receptors by specific bitter ligands and related compounds. These compounds may be used as additives and/or removed from foods, beverages, cosmetics and medicinals in order to modify (block) T2R-associated bitter taste. Also T2R ligands may be used as therapeutics to treat and modulate T2R associated gastrointestinal and metabolic functions as well as treat gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases such as eating disorders, food sensing, food absorption, obesity, diabetes, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, et al.
US08715942B2
Provided herein are methods for detecting glycated hemoglobin in, for example, human whole blood, that are not affected by the presence of variation in amino acid sequence that can exist in hemoglobin β chains. The methods detect all glycated hemoglobin in a sample, regardless of the form of the hemoglobin that has been glycated, and thus detect glycated human Hemoglobin A, Hemoglobin S, and Hemoglobin C.
US08715941B2
Anti-LRP6 antibodies and antigen-binding fragments thereof, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising such antibodies and antigen-binding fragments are described. These anti-LRP6 antibodies can be used to enhance Wnt activity and/or antagonize Dkk1 activity. Also described are methods of therapy using such antibodies and antigen-binding regions to bind modulate Wnt/LRP6 signaling to promote tissue homeostasis, regeneration and repair in diseases such as, but not limited to, bone disorders, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteolytic lesions caused by osteoarthritis and multiple myeloma, gastrointestinal disease and wound healing.
US08715938B2
The present teachings provide methods, compositions, and kits for synthesizing and sequencing nucleic acids. In some embodiments, reversible di-nucleotide compounds are employed along with cleaving reactions that remove a label and a blocking moiety. Improved sequencing efficiency is achieved by the rapid polymerase-mediated incorporation of reversible di-nucleotide compounds. In some embodiments, the di-nucleotides do not contain conventional nucleotide triphosphates, but rather employ amino acid phosphoramidate nucleotides (AAPNs).
US08715899B2
A carrier for a two-component developer includes magnetic particles, and a resin coating layer that covers the magnetic particles. The resin coating layer contains metal boride particles having a volume average primary particle diameter of from about 300 nm to about 2,500 nm.
US08715888B2
The invention relates to a method for producing novel photopolymers on the basis of prepolymer-based polyurethane compositions that are suitable for producing holographic media, in particular for the visual display of images.
US08715886B1
The invention is a novel solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack comprising individual bi-electrode supported fuel cells in which an electrolyte layer is supported between porous electrodes. The porous electrodes may be made from graded pore ceramic tape that has been created by the freeze cast method followed by freeze-drying. Each piece of graded pore tape later becomes a graded pore electrode scaffold that, subsequent to sintering, is made into either an anode or a cathode. The electrode scaffold comprising the anode includes a layer of liquid metal. The pores of the electrode scaffolds gradually increase in diameter as the layer extends away from the electrolyte layer. As a result of this diameter increase, any forces that would tend to pull the liquid metal away from the electrolyte are reduced while maintaining a diffusion path for the fuel. Advantageously, the fuel cell of the invention may utilize a hydrocarbon fuel without pre-processing to remove sulfur.
US08715882B2
A phosphoric acid fuel cell according to one embodiment includes an array of microchannels defined by a porous electrolyte support structure extending between bottom and upper support layers, the microchannels including fuel and oxidant microchannels; fuel electrodes formed along some of the microchannels; and air electrodes formed along other of the microchannels. A method of making a phosphoric acid fuel cell according to one embodiment includes etching an array of microchannels in a substrate, thereby forming walls between the microchannels; processing the walls to make the walls porous, thereby forming a porous electrolyte support structure; forming anode electrodes along some of the walls; forming cathode electrodes along other of the walls; and filling the porous electrolyte support structure with a phosphoric acid electrolyte. Additional embodiments are also disclosed.
US08715880B2
Provided is a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), including: a fuel electrode for allowing a fuel gas to be reacted; an air electrode for allowing a gas containing oxygen to be reacted; an electrolyte film provided between the fuel electrode and the air electrode; and a reaction prevention film provided between the air electrode and the electrolyte film. The porosity of the reaction prevention film is less than 10%, particularly preferably “closed pore-ratio” is 50% or more. The diameter of closed pores in the reaction prevention film is 0.1 to 3 μm. The reaction prevention film includes closed pores each containing a component (e.g., Sr) for the air electrode. This can provide an SOFC in which a decrease in output due to an increase in electric resistance between an air electrode and a solid electrolyte film hardly occurs even after long-term use.
US08715877B2
The invention relates to a burner, in particular a residual gas burner for a fuel cell system. The burner includes a combustion chamber which is bordered by a supply wall and by a heat exchanger and which is encompassed at the sides by a burner wall. The heat exchanger is a cross-current heat exchanger having a primary path and a secondary path. The supply wall has a burner zone with oxidizer openings for oxidizer gas and with combustion gas openings for combustion gas and a bypass zone with bypass openings for bypass gas. The bypass zone is arranged in a section of the supply wall which is allocated to an area of the heat exchanger adjacent to the primary path and to the secondary path at the inlet end, so that the bypass gas or a bypass gas-burner exhaust gas mixture acts upon this area.
US08715876B2
A fuel cell vehicle is provided. At the time of regeneration of electric power by a motor, an ECU places a DC/DC converter in a direct connection state under control, and stores electric power in a battery while decreasing oxygen concentration or hydrogen concentration by a gas supply unit to decrease electric power generated by a fuel cell.
US08715872B2
A fuel cell system can be initiated in shorter time while minimizing the deterioration of a fuel cell. The fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack having a fuel electrode, an oxidizer electrode and an electrolyte membrane disposed there between, the fuel cell producing electricity by an electrochemical reaction of a fuel gas and an oxidizer gas, which are supplied to the fuel electrode and the oxidizer electrode, respectively; a fuel gas supplying device for supplying the fuel gas to the fuel cell stack; an oxidizer gas supplying device for supplying the oxidizer gas to the fuel cell stack; a current controlling device for extracting a current from the fuel cell stack; and a voltage sensor disposed in at least two of the fuel cell stacks. A controller controls the current controlling device such that a minimum voltage, which is obtained from the voltage sensor after a fuel gas is supplied to the fuel electrode without supplying the oxidizer gas to the oxidizer electrode at the time of initiating, becomes zero volts or more. Then, the oxidizer gas is supplied to the oxidizer to start producing electricity.
US08715871B2
An electrochemical cell having two or more diffusion bonded layers, which demonstrates a high degree of ruggedness, reliability, efficiency and attitude insensitiveness, is provided. The novel cell structure simplifies construction and operation of these cells. Also provided is a method for passive water removal from these cells. The inventive cell, as well as stacks made using these cells, is suitable for use in applications such as commercial space power systems, long endurance aircraft, undersea power systems, remote backup power systems, and regenerative fuel cells.
US08715861B2
A bipolar secondary battery is provided with an electric power generating unit, a pair of terminal plates. The electric power generating unit includes a plurality of bipolar electrodes stacked on one another with an electrolyte layer disposed between the bipolar electrodes and separating the bipolar electrodes. Each of the bipolar electrodes includes a collector with a positive electrode active material layer formed on a first side surface of the collector, and a negative electrode active material layer formed on a second side surface of the collector. The first terminal plate is connected to a first stacking direction facing end of the electric power generating unit. The second terminal plate is connected to a second stacking direction facing end of the electric power generating unit. At least one of the terminal plates includes an electric current suppressing device that suppresses an electric current occurring when an internal short circuit occurs in the electric power generating unit.
US08715855B2
A method of producing a material capable of electrochemically storing and releasing a large amount of lithium ions is provided. The material is used as an electrode material for a negative electrode, and includes silicon or tin primary particles composed of crystal particles each having a specific diameter and an amorphous surface layer formed of at least a metal oxide, having a specific thickness. Gibbs free energy when the metal oxide is produced by oxidation of a metal is smaller than Gibbs free energy when silicon or tin is oxidized, and the metal oxide has higher thermodynamic stability than silicon oxide or tin oxide. The method of producing the electrode material includes reacting silicon or tin with a metal oxide, reacting a silicon oxide or a tin oxide with a metal, or reacting a silicon compound or a tin compound with a metal compound to react with each other.
US08715854B2
An active material with a sufficient cycle characteristic and a process for its production are provided. According to the process for production of an active material of this invention, an aqueous solution containing a metal fluorocomplex is contacted with a metal oxide to form a surface-modified layer on the surface of the metal oxide. The active material of the invention comprises a core section made of a metal oxide and a surface-modified layer covering the core section, wherein the surface-modified layer is an oxide containing a metal present in the core section and a metal not present in the core section.
US08715849B2
The invention relates to a microporous membrane which comprises polyethylene, the microporous membrane having a differential pore volume curve with an area under the curve over the range of pore diameters of from about 100 nm to about 1,000 nm that is 25% or more of a total area under the curve over the range of pore diameters of from about 10 nm to about 1,000 nm.
US08715841B2
A glass substrate for information recording medium, said glass substrate being composed of an aluminosilicate glass containing 60-75% by mass of SiO2, 5-18% by mass of Al2O3, 3-10% by mass of Li2O, 3-15% by mass of Na2O and 0.5-8% by mass of ZrO2 relative to the entire glass components. The glass substrate for information recording medium contains neither As (arsenic) nor Sb (antimony), while containing at least one substance selected from the group consisting of SO3 (sulfurous acid), F (fluorine), Cl (chlorine), Br (bromine) and I (iodine), as a refining agent. The molar ratio of the total amount of the refining agent to the amount of ZrO2 is within the range of 0.05-0.50.
US08715834B2
A strip of multiple seals, each seal for sealing around overlying courses of strapping material to form a seal of the strapping material onto itself at the overlying courses includes an elongated strip of ductile metal. The strip has a longitudinal direction having edges and defining a longitudinal axis parallel to the edges, and a transverse direction normal to the longitudinal axis. Each seal defines a respective transverse axis. The strip has a plurality of substantially identical slots formed in the transverse direction to define the respective seals. The slots extend toward, but not to, the edges of the strip and define connecting portions between ends of the slot and the respective edges. The slots are equally spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction to define the respective seals.
US08715824B2
According to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, an appliqué coating is provided for a substrate. The appliqué coating includes a metal foil and a first polymer film underlying the metal foil. A topcoat overlying the metal foil may be provided as a layer of paint or as a second polymer film. An adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, underlying the first polymer film may be provided to affix the appliqué coating to the substrate. If desired, fibers may be dispersed throughout the second polymer film to provide anti-static properties. Also, an ink layer may be provided between the metal foil and the second polymer film, if desired, for aesthetic and/or anti-static purposes.
US08715816B2
A multilayered film is shown and described that is used in particular for packaging, which comprises at least one first layer A and at least one second layer B, wherein layer A contains thermoplastic polyester and layer B contains thermoplastic starch. The multilayered film according to the invention is characterized by excellent barrier properties, low sensitivity to moisture, and good mechanical strength.
US08715815B2
The present invention provides an intermediate film for laminated glass which can improve sound insulation. The intermediate film has a layered structure including at least two layers, comprising: a first layer containing a polyvinyl acetal resin and a plasticizer; and a second layer positioned on a first surface of the first layer. In a phase diagram of three values including a degree of acetalization, a degree of acetylation, and a hydroxyl group content of the polyvinyl acetal resin contained in the first layer, the values of the degree of acetalization, the degree of acetylation, and the hydroxyl group content each fall within a region surrounded by a line including four straight lines connecting first, second, third, and fourth coordinates, which respectively have a degree of acetalization:degree of acetylation:hydroxyl group content of 70 mol %:30 mol %:0 mol %, 34 mol %:30 mol %:36 mol %, 94 mol %:0 mol %:6 mol %, and 100 mol %:0 mol %:0 mol %.
US08715814B2
A method, apparatus and material produced thereby in an amorphous or crystalline form having multiple elements with a uniform molecular distribution of elements at the molecular level.
US08715810B2
A coated article is described. The coated article includes a substrate, a magnesium oxide-alumina compound layer formed on the substrate, and an anti-fingerprint layer formed on the magnesium oxide-alumina compound layer. The anti-fingerprint layer is a layer of magnesium-aluminum-oxygen-fluorine having the chemical formula of MgAlOxFy, wherein 0
US08715807B2
A mixture of fused grains mainly comprising or composed of an oxide phase of pseudo-brookite type and comprising titanium, aluminum and magnesium, the fused grains having the following chemical composition, in weight percentages on the basis of the oxides: less than 55% of Al2O3; more than 30% and less than 70% of TiO2; more than 1% and less than 15% of MgO, the fused grains also corresponding to the following composition, in molar percentages and on the basis of the single oxides Al2O3, TiO2, MgO: 180≦3t+a≦220, a≦50, m=100−a−t, in which: a is the molar percentage of Al2O3; t is the molar percentage of TiO2; m is the molar percentage of MgO. A ceramic product obtained from such fused grains.
US08715801B2
A hose for transporting refrigerant includes an inner tube layer having a gas barrier layer and a rubber layer adjacent to the outer surface of the gas barrier layer. The gas barrier layer is formed using a thermoplastic resin composition comprising a polyamide resin and a modified rubber having an acid anhydride group or an epoxy group, the modified rubber being obtained by modifying a modified raw rubber having an acid anhydride group or an epoxy group with a hydrogen bond-forming compound having a functional group which reacts with the acid anhydride group or the epoxy group and a functional group which is able to form a hydrogen bond with an amide bond or a hydroxyl group. The rubber layer is formed using a rubber composition comprising from 1 to 15 parts by mass of an alkylphenol-formaldehyde resin per 100 parts by mass of a raw rubber.
US08715798B2
A resin composition includes a polyolefin resin. A viscosity of the resin composition is within a range of not less than 500 Pa·s and not more than 2300 Pa·s under measurement conditions of a measurement temperature of 170° C. and a measurement frequency of 1 Hz. A strain hardening rate of the resin composition in uniaxial elongational viscosity measured under measurement conditions of a measurement temperature of 150° C. and a strain rate of 3.0 s−1 is not less than 800%. A foam insulated wire includes a conductor, and a foam insulation of the resin composition extruded on an outer periphery of thereof. A diameter of the conductor is 3.5 to 18 mm, and an outer diameter of the foam insulation is not less than 8 mm.
US08715791B2
A method for forming porous insulating film using cyclic siloxane raw material monomer, includes forming porous insulating film using the mixed gas of a cyclic organosiloxane raw material and a compound raw material including a part of chemical structure including the cyclic organosiloxane raw material. The compound raw material may include a compound including a part of side chain of the cyclic organosiloxane raw material.
US08715786B2
The invention relates to methods for producing fiber-reinforced building-material coatings in that building-material coating agents containing mineral binders, optionally fillers, and optionally additives, are sprayed by means of a spray nozzle to form a building-material coating agent stream and one or more fibers are introduced into the building-material coating agent stream, and the fiber-modified building-material coating agent stream thus obtained then strikes a substrate, characterized in that the building-material coating agents additionally contain one or more polymers based on ethylenically unsaturated monomers.
US08715774B2
A liquid droplet ejection method comprises: ejecting a liquid droplet of a functional liquids onto a substrate while scanning relatively the substrate and an ejection head. A plurality of kinds of functional liquids have different drying rates and are ejected onto respective different positions in respective scanning directions during the same scanning operation. Scanning regions of the plurality of kinds of the functional liquids at least partly are overlapped each other.
US08715772B2
A process for the thermal deposition coating of a workpiece is provided that comprises the steps of: thermally depositing a coating on a metallic surface of a workpiece from a deposition head wherein at least one condition selected from the group of: coating deposition rate onto said surface, relative motion between the surface and said deposition head, and cryogenic coolant application rate onto said workpiece is controllable; substantially simultaneously measuring temperatures at a plurality of locations over the metallic surface of the workpiece; determining an average temperature of the temperatures measured in step (b); comparing the average temperature to a preselected minimum temperature and a preselected maximum temperature for the workpiece; and adjusting at least one of the controllable conditions if said average temperature is not between the preselected minimum temperature and the preselected maximum temperature for the workpiece.
US08715768B1
A snack-making process for manufacturing jujube snacks includes the following steps. Jujube fruit is harvested from a certain elevation above sea level. The fruit is air dried for between 30 and 120 days with substantially daily exposure to sunlight. The fruit is rinsed with water and air dried naturally between 30 and 60 minutes. The seeds are removed from the fruit and sliced into annular slices. The slices are baked for between 240 minutes to 360 minutes at a temperature of between 142 and 194 degrees F. The slices are cooled for between 30 minutes to 60 minutes at a temperature of between 50 and 60 degrees F. The slices are then cooled to below 15 degrees F. while maintaining the water content of the slices to less than 5%. The snack-making process may include the step of introducing a flavoring substance to the slices.
US08715765B2
A process of treating biomass such as sugar cane bagasse utilizing practically all components of the biomass to produce livestock feed and fuel biomass. Raw bagasse is ensiled for 50-60 days, dried, mechanically separated from soil particles and ground together with plant-derived lignocellulosic materials, pelletized feed material, agricultural processing residues, or by-products at a ratio of 2:1. The resultant ground material is used as cattle feed, feed additives, fuel pellets and for other purposes.
US08715764B2
Disclosed are methods for producing esterified propoxylated glycerols and eutectic mixtures containing one or more esterified propoxylated glycerols and one or more digestible fats. Food products containing the eutectic mixtures are also disclosed.
US08715756B2
Methods and systems for grouping, recovering, and processing ice obtained from an ice source, i.e., a glacier, ice sheet, ice cap, etc., are described herein. In particular, the ice obtained from the ice source is separated and grouped according to common unique properties and processed as a beverage for consumption having the same unique properties.
US08715751B2
The invention relates to the treatment of kintoplastid infections by administering a pharmaceutical composition containing an extract from the plant Artemisia annua. The invention also relates to isolated, semi-synthetic and synthetic artemisinins that show improved efficacy in treating kinetoplastid infections. This invention also relates to a method of treating kintoplastid infections with artelinic acid and artemisinins and where Artelinic acid is administered orally.
US08715750B2
A resin extract from the Ficus pertusa L.f and/or Ficus eximia Schott tree and method of use as an active principle in the production of a pharmacologically active product for the treatment of acute and/or chronic tissue lesions in both bone tissue and soft tissue. A method for obtaining the extract is also disclosed.
US08715744B2
The invention relates in particular to a hydroxyl apatite/silica granular material of defined morphology, a highly porous bone substitute material based on this granular material and a glass ceramic material based in turn thereon as bone substitute material which is characterized by a variable mechanical strength, and shaped bodies of this material, materials of different mechanical strength being preferably used in the shaped body. The bone substitute materials according to the invention are characterized by a high resorbability in vivo.
US08715742B2
A method is provided for reducing weight in a subject by administering an effective amount of a composition comprising omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), at least one of L-arginine, L-ornithine, an L-arginine precursor and an L-ornithine precursor, and at least one of a nucleobase, a nucleoside and a nucleic acid. The method can also be used to treat obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes and/or hypertension and for improving diathesis, or treating adult disease or disposition to adult disease.
US08715734B2
A novel process for preparing stable granulate which comprises amoxicillin trihydrate and a sugar, and to novel stable granulate comprising amoxicillin trihydrate and the sugar as well, for reconstitution with water into fine stable homogeneous aqueous suspension is described. The novel process omits preliminary process step for preparing fine particle size of micronized amoxicillin trihydrate used subsequently in the granulation process known in the art, for example grinding or micronizing of said antibiotic. In a preferred aspect of the invention the novel stable granulate comprises amoxicillin trihydrate and the sugar, preferably sucrose, free of any pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. Novel granulate, which is easily dissolved in water to form smooth aqueous suspension immediately, is used for treating bacterial infections in humans or animals, especially in pediatric patients and in the geriatrics.
US08715733B2
An enhanced adipose tissue containing native adipose tissue and a concentrated amount of an active agent derived from adipose tissue, wherein the enhanced adipose tissue is preferably injected into the intervertebral disc of a patient suffering from degenerative disc disease.
US08715724B2
A process for producing a compressed solid dosage form containing an active ingredient. The process includes a step of preparing core elements containing the active ingredient. Optionally the core elements are coated with a pharmaceutically acceptable coating layer to form coated pellets. The core elements or pellets are treated with an anti-static agent and compressed with suitable excipients to form the compressed solid dosage form. Preferred anti static agents are starch, microcrystalline cellulose, kaolin, bentonite, silicates, silicon dioxide, cellulose, stearic acid, sodium stearyl fumarate and glyceryl behenate.
US08715716B2
This invention provides methods and compositions for producing reduced cholesterol animal foodstuffs and products by feeding livestock and other food-producing animals with feed supplemented with microbial cultures containing hypocholesterolemic compounds produced by microorganisms comprising said microbial cultures. The invention provides low cholesterol poultry, eggs, meat, whole milk, and dairy products.
US08715706B2
A device for drug delivery to an orifice of a subject, comprising a shell which is elastically stressed by an active pharmaceutical ingredient, said shell containing and being substantially impermeable to said active pharmaceutical ingredient, wherein said shell has at least one hole sized for in-vivo release of said active pharmaceutical ingredient as a result of elastic stressing.
US08715703B2
Disclosed is a method for the preparation of cosmetic compositions having the texture of a cream. Said preparation is made at the time when the composition is used and includes bringing into contact with each other (A) a liquid phase, (B) a powder containing a gelling agent for the liquid phase (A), and (C) an active cosmetic ingredient, whereby the elements are brought into contact by adding phase (A) to phase (B), subjecting a solid powder containing phase (B) and phase (A) in an immobilized form to mechanical stress to release phase (A). Further disclosed are compositions comprising phase (B) and phase (A) in an immobilized form (which are transformed into a cream when applied to the skin).
US08715699B2
The presently described technology provides a novel class of prodrugs of quetiapine that can be synthesized by chemically conjugating amino acids to quetiapine. The present technology also provides methods of treating patients, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of synthesizing conjugates of the present technology.
US08715698B2
The present invention relates to an isolated truncated form of the secretory aspartyl proteinase 2, as well as to nucleic acid molecules encoding same. The present invention also relates to a composition comprising an isolated truncated form of the secretory aspartyl proteinase 2, as well as to nucleic acid molecules encoding same.
US08715697B2
The invention relates to the field of combating leishmaniases. Said invention results from the isolation, from wild isolates of Leishmania major, of a protein-coding gene known as LmPDI which has two regions that are identical to the sequence (Cys-Gly-His-Cys) of the potential active site of the protein disulphide isomerase (PDI). The LmPDI protein is predominantly expressed in the most virulent isolates of the parasite. Said protein forms a novel therapeutic target for developing anti-leishmaniasis medicaments and a novel element that can be used in the composition of immunogenic, and possibly vaccinating, preparations which are intended to protect a human or animal host against Leishmania.
US08715688B2
Described is a method for identification, isolation and production of hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens from a specific pathogen, a tumor, an allergen or a tissue or host prone to auto-immunity, said antigens being suited for use in a vaccine for a given type of animal or for humans, which is characterized by the following steps: providing an antibody preparation, providing at least one expression library, identifying antigens which bind, screening the identified antigens, identifying the hyperimmune serum-reactive antigen portion of said identified antigens and which hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens bind to a relevant portion of said individual antibody optionally isolating said hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens and producing said hyperimmune serum-reactive antigens by chemical or recombinant methods.
US08715686B2
Isolated immunogens including a HIV-1 gp120 polypeptide or immunogenic fragment thereof stabilized in a CD4 bound confirmation by crosslinked cysteines, and methods of their use are disclosed. The immunogens are useful, for example, for generating an immune response to HIV-1 gp120 in a subject.
US08715682B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide for novel peptides of use for detection and/or inhibition of anti-β1-adrenergic receptor antibodies. Certain embodiments concern uses of cyclic and/or linear peptides. In other embodiments, the present invention relates to novel peptides of use in diagnostic and/or pharmaceutical compositions. Some embodiments concern diagnosing and/or treating cardiac conditions. Cardiac conditions of the instant invention can concern infectious heart disease, non-infectious heart disease, ischemic heart disease, non-ischemic heart disease, inflammatory heart disease, myocarditis, cardiac dilatation, idiopathic cardiomyopathy, idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, immune-cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and any cardiac arrhythmia condition.
US08715681B2
Minimal Motifs of linear B-cell epitopes in L1 structure protein from human papillomavirus type 58 (HPV 58) and their applications are disclosed. Eighteen linear epitope motifs and their extended 8-mer peptides in the L1 protein from HPV 58 are described, which can be used as antigens separately or in combination to specifically detect the serum from subjects with HPV 58 infection, or to develop preventive or therapeutic multi-epitope peptide vaccines against HPV 58 by inducing humoral immunity. Of the eighteen B-cell epitope motifs, ten of them are 100% conservative and one is highly conservative among many homologous proteins of high-risk HPVs. They can be used as candidate “universal” epitopes to develop preventive or therapeutic HPV vaccines. The amino acid sequences of the epitope motifs and the 8-mer peptide formula of the invention are shown below in SEQ ID No. 1-2, 2B, 3, 3B, 4-18, 18B, 19, 19B, and 20-32.
US08715679B2
The present invention relates to pili obtained from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, methods of producing the pili and the use of the pili for inducing an immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The present invention also provides proteins and peptides which are constituents of the pili. Antibodies which bind to the pili are also provided.
US08715673B2
The present invention provides antagonizing antibodies that bind to S. aureus alpha-toxin. The invention further provides a method of obtaining such antibodies and antibody encoding nucleic acids. The invention further relates to therapeutic methods for use of these antibodies for the treatment and/or prevention of staphylococcal disease, including, for example, pneumonia, bacteremia, sepsis, eye infection, and abscess.
US08715666B2
According to the invention there is provided use of an anti-TrkA antibody capable of inhibiting the binding between NGF and TrkA combined with at least one opioid analgesic for the preparation of a medicament for treating and/or preventing pain.
US08715664B2
The invention describes methods of treating erosive polyarthritis comprising administering a TNFα antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof. The invention also describes a method for testing the efficacy of a TNFα antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, for the treatment of erosive polyarthritis.
US08715663B2
Compositions and methods relating to epitopes of sclerostin protein, and sclerostin binding agents, such as antibodies capable of binding to sclerostin, are provided.
US08715661B2
Provided herein are methods and compositions for treating a subject suffering from a deficiency in arylsulfatase A in the CNS. The methods include systemic administration of a bifunctional fusion antibody comprising an antibody to a human insulin receptor and an arylsulfatase A.
US08715656B2
The present invention deals with a ligand comprising each of the complementary-determining regions (CDRs) set forth in SEQ ID No. 1, SEQ ID No. 2, SEQ ID No. 3 SEQ ID No. 4, SEQ ID No. 5 and SEQ ID No. 6 or sequence having either number of substituted aminoacids within said sequences as indicated in the following, from 0 to 3 in CDR1(SEQ ID No. 1), from 0 to 2 in CDR2(SEQ ID No. 2), from 0 to 2 in CDR3(SEQ ID No. 3), from 0 to 1 in CDR4(SEQ ID No. 4), from 0 to 4 in CDR5(SEQ ID No. 5), from 0 to 2 in CDR6(SEQ ID No. 6), or aminoacids substituted with other aminoacids having equivalent chemical functions and properties, within said sequences SEQ ID No. 1 to SEQ ID No. 6.
US08715649B2
Embodiments herein illustrate methods and compositions for treating medical disorders. In certain embodiments, compositions and methods relate to reducing, inhibiting or treating graft rejection, transplant rejection or diabetes in a subject. Other embodiments herein relate to compounds including naturally occurring and synthetic mutant compositions of alpha-1 antitrypsin, wherein the alpha-1 antitrypsin has no significant serine protease inhibitor activity.
US08715648B2
Combinations of one or more anti-obesity drugs with mixtures of an omega-3 fatty acid formulation containing about 90% or more omega 3 fatty acids by weight comprised of a combination of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in a weight ratio of EPA:DHA of from 5.7 to 6.3, wherein the sum of the EPA, DHA and DPA comprise about 82% by weight of the total formulation and about 92% of the total omega 3 fatty acid content of the composition for the reduction of body weight in cardiovascular disease patients (CVD) and diabetics.
US08715647B2
The use is provided composition as a feed additive which comprises one or more endoglucanases, and 0-20% by weight, based upon the content of cellulase proteins in the composition, of a cellobiohydrolase. The endoglycanases may be one or more of EGI, EGII, EGIII and any functionally active derivative of any thereof. Such endoglucanases may be obtained from a genetically modified strain of the fungus Trichoderma. Also provided is an enzyme-based feed additive which comprises EGI and/or EGII which lack the cellulose binding domain, and 0-20% by weight, based upon the content of cellulase proteins in the additive, of a cellobiohydrolase. A further enzyme-based feed additive is provided which comprises a cereal-based carrier, one or more endoglucanases, and 0-20% by weight, based upon the content of cellulase proteins in the additive, of a cellobiohydrolase.
US08715641B2
The present invention relates to amoebae (slime molds) and uses thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of amoebae or their environmentally stable spores to treat microbial infections and other uses.
US08715634B2
The invention relates to compositions for keratin materials (hair or eyelashes) such as mascaras, topcoats and basecoats containing (a) at least one phosphate surfactant; and (b) at least one polyamide resin.
US08715628B1
A cosmetic composition formulated for topical application to skin is provided. The composition includes a safe and effective amount of cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol; a safe and effective amount of an N-acyl amino acid compound; and a dematologically acceptable vehicle.
US08715623B2
A dispersible powder composition comprises aminoglycoside for delivery to the lungs. The composition is effective to provide a therapeutically effective therapy via administration of less than 6 respirable unit doses by inhalation, wherein each unit dose comprises a volume of 0.30 to 0.95 mL.
US08715621B2
The present invention provides a variety of radicals, which are useful as polarizing compounds. Exemplary radicals are represented by compounds of Structural Formulae (I), (II), (III) and (IV) as described herein.
US08715619B2
The disclosure relates to methods and compositions effective in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of human hematopoietic cancers. In particular, the disclosure provides tumor-associated genes that encode for cytokine receptors that are differentially expressed in hematopoietic tumor cells of myeloid origin compared with other cells, e.g., normal stem cells.
US08715609B2
Apparatus to produce carbon nanotubes (CNTs) of arbitrary length using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process reactor furnace is described, where the CNTs are grown axially along a portion of the length of the furnace. The apparatus includes a spindle and a mechanism for rotating the spindle. The spindle located within a constant temperature region of the furnace and operable to collect the CNT around the rotating spindle as the CNT is grown within the furnace.
US08715596B2
An apparatus is disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripper and a cold stripper. The cold stripper and the hot stripper are contained in the same vessel. A barrier prevents material from the hot stripper from entering into the cold stripper.
US08715593B2
The present invention is a pipette tip device for extraction of liquid, semi-solid or solid solutions to be chemically analyzed and the methods for their use. The pipette tip extraction device contains a screen or filter at its lower narrow end to contain solid particulate matter and a barrier at its upper wide end. The optional upper frit is to be made of material that permits liquid solutions to flow through it. In addition to the barrier and screen, the pipette tip extraction device may contain solid-phase sorbent. Through the use of a removable cap, the pipette extraction tip may also serve as a sample collection container or tip in which samples can be delivered to the top of the tip (e.g., for direct collection of samples, including solid samples). A new method for DPX extraction using liquid-liquid-solid-phase extraction is also disclosed.
US08715588B2
A fluid sensor comprises a formed plastic body and a reagent. The body has a top face with an integral first surface. The body also has a bottom face opposed to the first surface and a sidewall that extends from the periphery of the top face. The first surface is adapted to accept a fluid sample. The reagent is disposed on the integral first surface and causes a color change detectable on the bottom face when the reagent reacts with an analyte in the fluid sample.
US08715574B2
A system for managing bulk liquids for an automated clinical analyzer. The system comprises (a) at least one local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use, (b) at least one container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir, and (c) a controller for monitoring the level of a bulk liquid in a local reservoir. The local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for impending use can be a trough. The use of troughs for storing a reagent, a diluent, or some other treating agent for impending use enables an aspirating/dispensing device having a plurality of pipettes to aspirate and dispense the reagent, diluent, or other treating agent at a high rate of throughput. The controller can monitor the level of a liquid in (a) a local reservoir for storing a bulk liquid for imminent use and the level of liquid in a (b) container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir. In the laboratory automation system described herein, the container for holding a bulk liquid before the liquid is transferred to a local reservoir can be a bottle. Other desirable features in the system include, but are not limited to, pump(s), valves, liquid level sensors.
US08715566B2
An installation for the dry transformation of a material structure of semifinished products, particularly for dry bainitization, includes a quenching chamber and heating and/or cooling mechanism for setting the temperature prevailing on the inside of the quenching chamber, wherein the heating and/or cooling mechanism is developed as heating or cooling mechanism of a wall that borders on an inner chamber of the quenching chamber.
US08715560B2
The present invention provides a method for controlling the thickness of composite laminates cured on closed angle tools. The invention utilizes a peel ply rather than a breather during the preparation for cure of laminate parts having a substantially uniform initial thickness. This method allows composite parts to be formed with greater uniformity and without the need for extra hardware. The composite part formed by the above method may find use in a wide variety of applications, including, for example, automotive and aerospace applications. Thus, for example, a composite part formed in accordance with the present invention is ideally suited for use as a shear tie in a commercial aircraft, which are used to secure the inner framework of the aircraft to the airplane skin.
US08715558B2
A seamless microchannel with aligned microelectrodes structure can be prepared to include a polymeric body defining a surface of a seamless microchannel. The microchannel is seamless in that it is formed by a single body of material having a conduit that is open at one surface and extends to another opening aligned with microelectrodes in another surface of the body. The rest of the microchannel is closed and defined by the single body of material. The seamless microchannel structure can be used in methods that include biosensors, coupling waveguides, capillary electrophoresis chips, microreactors, polymerase chain reaction-chips, and solving mathematical problems.
US08715551B2
A plastic product having patterns in three dimensions includes an injecting base and a first film adhered to one side of the base. The first film includes a first pattern away from the base and a thickening layer attached to the first pattern. The first pattern is positioned between the thickening layer and the first film. A first raised portion is formed on the first film and inserted into the base.
US08715545B2
The present systems and methods utilize a polyamic acid solution as a precursor to form a polyimide bead having desired properties. The polyamic acid solution may be formed into a polyamic acid droplet. The polyamic acid droplet is then processed to form a polyamic acid bead, such as by extraction of solvent to concentrate the polyamic acid or by partial chemical imidization of the polyamic acid. The polyamic acid bead is then better able to retain its shape during subsequent processing steps, such as drying and pressurizing, before final thermal imidization.
US08715542B2
An optical waveguide is cut by moving a heated knife blade across the optical waveguide with the knife blade maintained at a predetermined angle. At that time, by maintaining the temperature of the knife blade at a temperature not lower than the glass transition point of the optical waveguide, a portion, in contact with a bevel plane of the knife blade, of the optical waveguide softens to be planarized along the bevel plane. In this way, an optical path conversion mirror constituted of a planarized cut plane is formed in a region through which the bevel plane has passed.
US08715539B2
The present invention provides a positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery comprising a compound represented by the following Formula 1: LiMn1-xMxP1-yAsyO4 [Formula 1] wherein 0
US08715536B2
An electrically conductive material includes a plurality of nanowires and a plurality of nanoconnectors. The ratio by weight of the plurality of nanowires to the plurality of nanoconnectors is in a range of from 1:9 to 9:1. Nanoconnectors can be heated by thermal energy or light energy so that the nanoconnectors can be closely interconnected to each other and to nanowires, resulting in significant increase of the electrical conductivity of the electrically conductive material.
US08715529B1
The present invention is a class of fluorescent compounds derived from hydrazine-2-yl-pyridine containing a triazaborolopyridinium core. The compounds are prepared using a stepwise procedure that begins with a reaction of a hydrazinylpyridine with an aldehyde or ketone to produce a hydrazine. A general formula for the invention is
US08715524B2
The invention provides a polishing liquid for polishing a barrier layer of a semiconductor integrated circuit, the polishing liquid comprising: a diquaternary ammonium cation; a corrosion inhibiting agent; and a colloidal silica, wherein the pH of the polishing liquid is in the range of 2.5 to 5.0. According to the invention, a polishing liquid capable of achieving a superior barrier layer polishing rate, as well as suppressing the occurrence of scratching due to the agglomeration of solid abrasive grains can be provided.
US08715522B2
A refrigerator oil composition contains base oil and polyalkylene glycol (PAG) block copolymer. The PAG block polymer is represented by the following formula (1). R1[(OR2)m(OE)nOR3]1 (1) In the formula: R1 represents a hydrocarbon residue having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 represents an alkenyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms; E represents an ethylene group; R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; m and n each represent a positive integer, a ratio of m to n (m/n) being 99/1 to 50/50; and l represents an integer in a range of 1 to 100.
US08715509B2
A tanning wastewater treatment and reuse apparatus includes a coarse filter, a regulation pool, a hydraulic sieve, a desulfurization pool, a first nanocatalytic electrolyzer, a flocculation pool, a first settling pool, a flotation device, a biochemical pool, a second settling pool, a second nanocatalytic electrolyzer, a fine filter, and a compressor. Also provided is a tanning wastewater treatment and reuse method includes the steps of desulfurization, first nanocatalytic electrolysis, flocculation, biochemical treatment, second catalytic electrolysis, and filtration. The invention allows high CODCr removal rate, reduced chemical agent consumption, reduced sludge formation, thorough treatment, and high water reuse rate.
US08715499B2
A method of operating chromatography column apparatus comprising a column tube (101) and first and second discrete end cell structures, associated with the respective ends of the column tube and positionable to close off the column tube and define therein a column space for retaining chromatography medium in use of the apparatus. The first end cell portion comprises a piston portion (106) fitting slidably in the column tube. The column tube and the second end cell structure are separated to provide an access spacing between them. The piston portion (106) of the first end cell structure is advanced through the column tube to expose it at the open second end of the column tube, for maintenance of the piston portion thus exposed. Corresponding chromatography apparatus is another aspect of the disclosure.
US08715493B2
A filter arrangement for filtering liquids has a central tube and a first filter element flowed through in radial direction outwardly and disposed on the central tube. A downstream second filter element is disposed on the central tube and flowed through in radial direction inwardly. The first filter element is moveable along the central tube from a basic position into an extended position. In the basic position a connection between the inlet line and a clean side of the first filter element is provided by the first filter element. In the extended position a bypass between an inlet line and the clean side of the first filter element is provided to bypass the first filter element. A spring element, applying a restoring force in a direction of extension of the central tube, is arranged on the first filter element at a side facing away from the second filter element.
US08715480B2
An electrokinetic pump achieves high and low flow rates without producing significant gaseous byproducts and without significant evolution of the pump fluid. A first feature of the pump is that the electrodes in the pump are capacitive with a capacitance of at least 10−4 Farads/cm2. A second feature of the pump is that it is configured to maximize the potential across the porous dielectric material. The pump can have either or both features.
US08715477B2
A device and process are disclosed for the separate removal of oppositely charged ions from electrolyte solutions and recombining them to form new chemical compositions. The invention provides the ability to create multiple ion flow channels and then form new chemical compositions therefrom. The process is accomplished by selectively combining oppositely charged ions of choice from different electrolyte solutions via the capacitive behavior of high electrical capacity electrodes confined in insulated containers.
US08715473B2
Method for determining ion concentration or concentration of a substance in a solution by means of an ion selective, field effect transistor or an ion sensitive sensor having an EIS structure. The method comprises steps as follows: at least at a predetermined point in time of a first measuring phase, the potential lying on the electrode is sensed relative to a reference potential; before beginning a sterilization- and/or cleaning phase following the first measuring phase, the last voltage sensed during the first measuring phase is stored; and at the beginning of a second measuring phase following the sterilization- and/or cleaning phase, is the voltage stored during the sterilization phase is applied on the electrode.
US08715472B2
A substrate processing method may include forming a plasma; extracting ions from the plasma and accelerating the ions to have uniform or substantially uniform directivity using a grid system; irradiating the ions at a reflector, wherein the reflector includes a plurality of reflecting plates each having a metal plate and an insulating layer on the metal plate, wherein the reflecting plates are parallel or substantially parallel such that the insulating layers are exposed to the ions; reflecting the ions incident on the reflecting plates away from the insulating layers of the reflecting plates; colliding the ions reflected away from the insulating layers with the metal plates to convert the ions into neutral beams; and irradiating the neutral beams onto a substrate to process the substrate.
US08715467B2
This invention provides a method for purifying a chlorine supply that includes a chlorine component, a bromine component, and nitrogen trichloride. The method includes the steps of introducing the chlorine supply into a vaporizer, heating the chlorine supply in the vaporizer to form a vapor, and introducing the vapor into a distillation system to provide purified chlorine gas, a distillate that includes liquid chlorine and the bromine component, and a bottoms component including the nitrogen trichloride. The method also includes the steps of condensing the vapor in a reflux condenser, heating the condensate in a reboiler, removing the purified chlorine gas from the distillation system, and removing the distillate from the distillation system.
US08715466B1
A method and system for reducing waste water from a paper machine system. The system involves splitting a flow output from a seal water tank. With a portion of the flow output being used to maintain a fluid level within a wire pit, and the balance being recycled to the system as substantially clean water.
US08715455B2
A treatment system is described for exposing a substrate to various processes. Additionally, a gas distribution system is configured to be coupled to and utilized with the treatment system in order to distribute process material above the substrate is provided. The treatment system includes a process chamber, a radical generation system coupled to the process chamber, a gas distribution system coupled to the radical generation system and configured to distribute reactive radicals above a substrate, and a temperature controlled pedestal coupled to the vacuum chamber and configured to support the substrate. The gas distribution system is configured to efficiently transport radicals to the substrate and distribute the radicals above the substrate.
US08715448B2
A method for producing a laminate for configuring an image display device is provided, capable of realizing simultaneously unevenness followability and anti-bubble reliability. A method for producing a laminate for configuring an image display device is proposed, comprising the following steps (1) and (2): (1) The step of forming an adhesive composition into the form of a monolayer or a multilayer sheet, and by UV-crosslinking, primary-curing this thereby forming a pre-secondary curing transparent double-sided adhesive sheet. (2) The step of layering two image display device-constituting members via the pre-secondary curing transparent double-sided adhesive sheet and then irradiating ultraviolet light from at least a first image display device-constituting member side, UV-crosslinking through this member and secondary-curing the pre-secondary curing transparent double-sided adhesive sheet.
US08715445B2
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display element, includes: providing a long sheet material including a laminate of an optical film containing a polarizer, a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and a carrier film temporarily bonded to the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer; cutting the long sheet material at predetermined intervals, while maintaining the continuity of the carrier film; peeling off the carrier film by a tensile force; and continuously bonding the resulting optical film pieces to liquid crystal panels, respectively, through the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer exposed by the peeling off, while feeding the resulting optical film pieces, wherein the cutting is performed to such a depth as to substantially reach the carrier film, and the carrier film is cut to a depth less than half of the thickness of the carrier film at least both end portions in the width direction of the carrier film.
US08715437B2
A composite foam product comprising a foam core surrounded by a gas-impermeable film. The gas-impermeable film retains the gas formed from the blowing agent so that the pressure inside the foam core is above ambient pressures.
US08715435B2
In certain embodiments of the present disclosure a method for modifying a composite article is described. The method includes positioning a plug made from composite material at a site on the composite article. The method further includes rotating at least one of the plug and the article at a rate of speed sufficient to form an inertia bond between the plug and the site of the composite article. The plug and the site are engaged to effect an inertia bond therebetween.
US08715432B2
The present invention provides high temperature strength and fire-resistant steel superior in weld joint reheat embrittlement resistance and toughness which is produced using steel of a room temperature strength of the 400 to 600N/mm2 class containing as main ingredients C: 0.010% to less than 0.05%, Si: 0.01 to 0.50%, Mn: 0.80 to 2.00%, Cr: 0.50% to less than 2.00%, V: 0.03 to 0.30%, Nb: 0.01 to 0.10%, N: 0.001 to 0.010%, and Al: 0.005 to 0.10%, limiting the contents of Ni, Cu, Mo, and B, and satisfying the relationship of 4Cr[%]-5Mo[%]-10Ni[%]-2Cu[%]-Mn[%]>0.
US08715427B2
The present invention is related to a steel composition, a process for producing a steel product having said composition, and said steel product itself. According to the invention, a cold-rolled, possibly hot dip galvanized steel sheet is produced with thicknesses lower than 1 mm, and tensile strengths between 800 MPa and 1600 MPa, while the A80 elongation is between 5 and 17%, depending on the process parameters. The composition is such that these high strength levels may be obtained, while maintaining good formability and optimal coating quality after galvanising. The invention is equally related to a hot rolled product of the same composition, with higher thickness (typically about 2 mm) and excellent coating quality after galvanising.
US08715412B2
Systems for processing thin films having variable thickness are provided. A crystalline film includes a first crystalline region having a first film thickness and a first crystalline grain structure; and a second crystalline region having a second film thickness and a second crystalline grain structure. The first film thickness is greater than the second film thickness and the first and second film thicknesses are selected to provide a crystalline region having the degree and orientation of crystallization that is desired for a device component.
US08715404B2
Herein disclosed are a water-reactive Al composite material which comprises 4NAI or 5NAI containing added In in an amount ranging from 2 to 5% by mass; and added Si and Si as an impurity in a total amount ranging from 0.04 to 0.6% by mass on the basis of the amount of Al; a thermally sprayed Al film prepared using this material; a method for the production of such an Al film; and a constituent member for a film-forming chamber, which is provided with this thermally sprayed Al film on the surface thereof.
US08715403B2
The invention relates to an acidic, aqueous, chromium-free composition (A) for the anti-corrosive treatment of steel and/or galvanized steel surfaces comprising metal ions (M) selected from ions at least of the elements nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, iron or tin and a multi-stage method applying the composition (A) for the anti-corrosive pre-treatment of metal components which have steel and/or galvanized steel surfaces. The invention further relates to metal surfaces of zinc or iron having a passive layer system comprising at least 30 mg/m2 nickel and at least 10 mg/m2 zircon, titanium and/or hafnium and sulfur, wherein nickel is present in metallic form at up to at least 30 At. %, obtainable in a method according to the invention.
US08715400B2
A double vacuum pump apparatus (Y2) includes positive displacement vacuum pumps (40A, 40B) and lines (52, 60). Each of the vacuum pumps includes a suction port (41) and a discharge port (42), and a pressure detector (80) is provided in the vicinity of the suction port (41) of the double vacuum pump apparatus (Y2). The line (52) connects the discharge port (42) of the vacuum pump (40A) to the suction port (41) of the vacuum pump (40B). The line (60) has an end (E6) and an end (E5) that are connected to the connection line (52), and includes a buffer tube (Z1) and an on-off valve (61) located between the tube (Z1) and the end (E5). A pressure detection signal from the pressure detector (80) is used as an on/off signal for the on-off valve (61).
US08715398B2
An apparatus for the purification of fluids includes a material exchange apparatus which contains a more volatile fluid and a less volatile fluid. The material exchange apparatus contains a structured packing, with the structured packing containing a first packing layer (10) and a second packing layer (100). The first packing layer (10) and the second packing layer (100) have corrugations, with open channels (12, 14, 16, 112, 114, 116) being formed by the corrugations. The channels (12, 14, 16) of the first packing layer (10) cross the channels (112, 114,116) of the second packing layer, wherein the channels (12, 14, 16, 112, 114, 116) can be flowed through by the less volatile fluid so that the channel is wettable by the less volatile fluid, wherein a film of the less volatile fluid is formed on the surface of the channel, so that a purification can be carried out either of the more volatile fluid or of the less volatile fluid by a material exchange between the more volatile fluid and the less volatile fluid. The first packing layer (10) is in touching contact with the second packing layer (100) via spacer elements (24, 34, 44, 134, 144).
US08715392B2
Disclosed are membranes and methods for making the same, which membranes provide improved permeability, stability, and cost-effective manufacturability, for separating CO2 from gas streams such as flue gas streams. High CO2 permeation flux is achieved by immobilizing an ultra-thin, optionally catalyzed fluid layer onto a meso-porous modification layer on a thin, porous inorganic substrate such as a porous metallic substrate. The CO2-selective liquid fluid blocks non-selective pores, and allows for selective absorption of CO2 from gas mixtures such as flue gas mixtures and subsequent transport to the permeation side of the membrane. Carbon dioxide permeance levels are in the order of 1.0×10−6 mol/(m2sPa) or better. Methods for making such membranes allow commercial scale membrane manufacturing at highly cost-effective rates when compared to conventional commercial-scale CO2 separation processes and equipment for the same and such membranes are operable on an industrial use scale.
US08715388B2
The present invention relates to a process for recovery of a precious metal catalyst from an organosilicon product-containing liquid reaction medium containing precious metal catalyst.
US08715377B2
Liquid suspensions are disclosed comprising a suspending medium, small particles of biomass, and small particles of an inorganic material. The inorganic material stabilizes the suspension, so that it may be transported by pipeline or tank car without developing a sediment.The suspension may be used in manufacturing a bio-fuel.
US08715367B1
The apparatus of the invention comprises a mechanical joint that is adapted for use on a user's anatomical joint which has a proximal area, a distal area, a lateral side and a medial side. The preferred mechanical joint comprises a proximal body that is disposed adjacent to the proximal area of the user's anatomical joint and a distal race that is disposed adjacent to the distal area of the user's anatomical joint. The preferred mechanical joint also comprises a release plate, an iris, a roller bearing pin, a resilient tube and a drive pin that are substantially disposed in the proximal body. The preferred mechanical joint further comprises a pivot screw that is adapted to pivotally connect the proximal body and the distal race and a cable pull assembly that is adapted to permit the distal race and the proximal body to move relative to each other.
US08715349B2
An intervertebral spacer device includes a first plate and a second plate, each plate having an outer surface for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces. The device includes a ball captured in a central opening of a coupling element, the coupling element being maintained against the first plate by a retaining ring coupled with the first plate.
US08715344B2
A wholly implantable non-natural heart for humans includes a pumping unit, a power generating unit, and a controller. An I beam type chassis with matching holes is provided for supporting valve mounting bodies of the non-natural heart.
US08715340B2
Embodiments of a uniformly porous membrane covering an endoprosthetic device, for example, a stent used to treat an aneurysm, are described. Some embodiments have a pore size and spacing that provides a material ratio of between 70-80% in the deployed state. Material ratio is the proportion of the total porous segment of the membrane that corresponds to membrane material, the remainder being pores. In some embodiments, pore size ranges from about 10-100 μm. In some embodiments, pores are equidistantly spaced with pore spacing in a range of about 40-100 μm. The combination of pore size and spacing are effective to provide a membrane that substantially prevents flow to the aneurysm, while maintaining flow to perforator vessels. In some embodiments the membrane includes permanently attached agents that promote attachment of endothelial cells or progenitors and healing of the aneurysm, or reduce immune responses detrimental to the healing process.
US08715337B2
An implantable endoluminal prosthesis for replacing a damaged aortic valve is provided. In one embodiment, the prosthesis includes a balloon-expandable stent, a tubular conduit that extends into the ascending aorta, and a self-expanding stent. The tubular conduit extends across the balloon-expandable stent. The tubular conduit includes an artificial valve. The self-expanding stent extends across the tubular conduit into the ascending aorta. The balloon-expandable stent, the tubular conduit, and the self-expanding stent are coupled to provide unidirectional flow of fluid into the aorta and further into the coronary arteries. Also provided is a method for implanting the endoluminal prosthesis.
US08715336B2
A stent graft includes at least one aperture extending through the main body thereof, into which an extension portion may be deployed for positioning within an adjacent branch flow lumen. The extension portions include self biasing features, wherein the extension is biased into engagement with the main body to seal the interface thereof. Additionally, the extension portion may be configured for tortuous or deviated anatomy, to enable sealing of the extension portion with the body while extending the extension portion in a substantially non-radial direction from the main body.
US08715326B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a distal interphalangeal (“DIP”) fusion device for connecting a first bone of a patient to a second, adjacent bone of the patient. The device may include an anchor assembly and a compressor assembly. In another embodiment, a separate compressor base assembly is included. In yet another embodiment an access port assembly is included. The anchor assembly is rotationally coupled to one end of the compressor assembly, such that the compressor assembly may rotate about the anchor assembly within a semi-spherical zone (three degrees of rotational freedom) and translate axially (one degree of translational freedom). In an operative position, the anchor assembly is anchored in an intermediate phalanx of a digit of a patient, the compressor assembly is contained in a distal phalanx of the digit, and the distal phalanx is flexed relative to the intermediate phalanx to create a joint angle. The joint angle is then fixated for fusion by compressing the phalanges together in the flexed position by counter-rotation of the compressor assembly. An advantage of an embodiment of the invention is the screw threads may be matching which eliminates the need to pre-drill two different diameter pilot holes.
US08715325B2
Provided is a bone joining device suitable for joining a first bone piece to a second bone piece. Also provided is a method of joining a first bone piece with a second bone piece in a living mammal. The method comprises inserting the above bone joining device between the first bone piece and the second bone piece.
US08715312B2
An apparatus for treating vascular aneurysms includes an occlusive support device comprised of one or more support members. The occlusive device has, an end cap member and an anchoring member. The end cap member is comprised of at least one of one or more of the support members. The end cap member has openings and the end cap member comprises a reactive material that is configured to hydrate upon delivery of the device and to reduce the size of said openings. The device is configured so that the occlusive members can be positioned in the blood vessel proximate the neck of a vascular aneurysm, the reactive material hydrates and increases the resistance to blood flow into the aneurysm, and the anchoring member anchors the device in the blood vessel without occluding flow through the blood vessel.
US08715311B2
A surgical guide wire or K-wire and method of use are provided. The K-wire or guide wire has opposite end portions and a shank portion in between. One end portion has a deformable end portion that, once outside of a confining guide passage, can be deformed to present a projected forward facing area that is larger than the transverse cross section of the K-wire or guide wire while in the passage. The increased area will provide increased resistance to additional forward axial movement into the surgical site.
US08715310B2
A non-compliant fiber-reinforced medical balloon comprises a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer embedded in a continuous matrix of thermally-weldable polymer material defining a barrel wall, cone walls and neck walls. The fibers of the first fiber layer run substantially parallel to one another and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fibers of the first fiber layer have a pattern of different lengths and are divisible into a first group and a second group based on length.
US08715303B2
In accordance with the present invention there is provided apparatuses and methods for using a medical instrument including a sizing and positioning adapter. The apparatus comprises an adapter for a medical instrument, the adapt having a body having a shim portion and an instrument holding portion adjacent the shim portion, wherein the shim portion provides an enlarged peripheral surface adjacent the medical instrument such that when the medical instrument is held in the instrument holding portion and the medical instrument and body are inserted through an opening in a patient tissue, at least a portion of the enlarged peripheral surface is in contact with at least a portion of the periphery of the opening in the patient tissue.
US08715298B2
Integrated systems and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating diseases or disorders or other purposes. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device configured to deploy and implant anchoring devices for such purposes.
US08715297B1
A surgical tensioning device for holding separated tissues in contact with one another. The device comprises a frame having two opposing first and second sides and a lower surface and an upper surface, and a band for extending through and around said separated tissues to be held together in conjunction with said frame. The band has two ends releasably attached to the sides of the frame. When the ends are secured to the sides of the frame, the band holds separated tissues together and establishes a path of tension along its length that extends linearly between the two ends of the band.
US08715280B2
A magnetically-guided catheter includes a tip positioning magnet in the distal electrode assembly configured to interact with externally applied magnetic fields for magnetically-guided movement. A magnetically-guided mapping catheter includes an electrically-conductive capsule in the form of a casing that includes a distal ablation surface and isolates the positioning magnet from bio-fluids to prevent corrosion. An open irrigation ablation catheter includes an isolated manifold that isolates the positioning magnet from contact with irrigation fluid to prevent corrosion.
US08715278B2
Methods, systems and devices for endometrial ablation. In accordance with a method, a working end of an RF ablation device is positioned in a patient uterus to contact endometrial tissue, the working end comprising a dielectric. Radiofrequency energy is applied for a first interval of time at constant power, the power being sufficient to capacitively couple current across the dielectric to the contacted endometrial tissue. A voltage parameter measured within the first interval, and radiofrequency energy is applied at a constant voltage over a second, treatment interval to ablate endometrial tissue, the constant voltage being related to the recorded voltage.
US08715272B2
A device for machining the human cornea with focused laser radiation includes controllable components for setting the location of the radiation focus, a control computer for controlling these components, and also a control program for the control computer. The control program contains instructions that have been designed to bring about, upon execution by the control computer, the generation of incisions in the cornea in accordance with a predetermined incision figure, the incision figure defining a corneal bed, a flap situated on the bed and also at least one tissue strip situated in the region of the peripheral edge of the flap between the bed and the flap and extending along the edge of the flap. After the flap has been folded away, the tissue strip has to be removed and enables a creaseless post-ablative close fitting of the folded-back flap against the surface of the bed. In this manner, microstriae which may impair the visual capacity can be avoided.
US08715271B2
A linear body drive device capable of safely and reliably operating a linear body is provided. A linear body insertion device includes a drive portion, an operation portion, a sensor portion and a processing portion serving as a measurement portion, and an output portion serving as a notification portion. The drive portion drives a linear body having flexibility. The operation portion includes an input member (an operation lever) operated by an operator for controlling performance of the drive portion. The sensor portion included in the measurement portion detects compressive force in a direction of longitudinal axis applied to the linear body, based on a degree of bending of the linear body driven by the drive portion. The output portion provides notification of data of compressive force detected by the measurement portion.
US08715269B2
Embodiments of the invention disclose a system for controlled oral drug delivery. The system comprising a removable device comprising a drug to be delivered, wherein the drug is delivered based on osmotic pressure generated in the removable device. Further, the system comprises a receptacle to hold the removable device in an oral cavity, and a base station configured to dock the removable device for determining information about one or more characteristics of the removable device.
US08715255B2
A fastening device for fastening an outer container (1) of a drainage container comprises a snap lock (12). Said snap lock (12) has a slot/slot pin connection (42, 13). A leaf spring (12) having a projecting nose (12′) is arranged at a lower end of the connection and engages behind a lower edge of the slot (42) or the slot pin (13). The fastening device according to the invention allows the drainage bag to be replaced in a simple and reliable manner. The corresponding drainage container is inexpensive to produce and allows a reliable operation.
US08715252B2
A clamp and handle is designed exclusively for holding purchased containers of rub on and roll on pain killers, deodorants and any other substance that is in a container with a built in applicator. The handle is for applying these substances to hard or impossible places to reach due to anatomy or injury. The clamp, handle and knob are constructed from PVC that has a smooth glossy finish for the purpose of not causing any injury. The PVC can move smoothly over skin. The knob is flower shaped to make it easier to grip. The knob and clamp body prevent the stainless steel screw from scratching any skin. The screw will never rust.
US08715248B2
A vascular access device for communicating with the vascular system of a patient may include a status indicator. The status indicator may detect and signal that a period of time has elapsed in relation to the use of the vascular access device.
US08715246B2
The present invention relates to a medicament container holder arrangement comprising a medicament container holder 16 and a medicament container 18 wherein the medicament container holder 16 is provided with distally arranged support surfaces 25 for flanges 24 arranged on a distal part of the medicament container 18 to be placed in said medicament container holder 16, which medicament container 18 is arranged with a needle shield 20 to the proximal end thereof, wherein said needle shield 20 has a diameter generally equal or larger than the diameter of said medicament container 18, wherein said medicament container holder arrangement further comprises holders arranged on the container holder for holding said medicament container 18 around a proximal shoulder portion 22 thereof and a resilient support element 23 arranged between the flanges 24 and the support surfaces 25 whereby the holders and the resilient support element 23 absorb and spread forces between the medicament container and the container holder.
US08715240B2
A system for convection enhanced delivery of therapeutic comprises one or more flexible, biocompatible microcatheters that are directed to a target location to deliver a therapeutic agent. The microcatheter is releasably coupled to a guide tube and directed to the desired location. The microcatheters are small and flexible in order to reach the target areas, minimize trauma at the injection site, and minimize reflux of the injectable therapeutic.
US08715238B2
A pumping device is disclosed, as for use with an enteral feeding assembly. In one form the pumping device is a diaphragm pump including a first dome portion, a second dome portion, and a flexible membrane located between the first and second dome portions. A pressure differential is created between the two chambers thus created by membrane, so as to meter fluid (to be delivered) to a patient. The fluid to be delivered may be located in one of the chambers. A portable fluid pump is also provided including a syringe and spring pump drive mechanism mounted in a casing. The spring pump drive mechanism has two piston devices in fluid communication with each other. As one piston device moves in one direction within its associated driving barrel, it serves to drive the other piston device.
US08715233B2
A vascular access device is provided with a needle assembly, a catheter assembly configured to slidably receive the needle assembly, and a light emitting assembly configured to couple to the needle assembly. The light emitting assembly and the needle assembly cooperate to shine a beam of light down the bore of the needle to assist with aligning the needle with a penetration site on target tissue. Systems and methods associated with these devices are also disclosed.
US08715231B2
A hinged cap device for use with a syringe includes a base defining an interior cavity for mounting onto a tip and a cap connected to the base by a living hinge. The cap is moveable from a ready position to an open position to expose a needle, and from the open position to a secured position to prevent relative rotation between the cap and the base. A first latching mechanism is on the cap for engaging the needle, the first latching mechanism locatable on a first side of the needle in the ready position and locatable on a second side of the needle in the secured position. The needle is disengageable from the first latching mechanism in the ready position, and the needle is not disengageable from the first latching mechanism in the secured position.
US08715230B2
Devices and methods for balloon delivery of rapamycin and other hydrophobic compounds to the wall of blood vessels. Balloon catheters, such as those used for balloon angioplasty, are modified with the addition of a reservoir of dry micelles, disposed at a suitable location within the balloon or catheter. The reservoir may be installed within the angioplasty balloon, within a lumen in communication with the angioplasty balloon, either as a loose or packed powder or as a film coating. The micelle preparation is reconstituted and the micelles are mobilized when the aqueous solution used to inflate the balloons is injected into the catheter. The micelles are infused into tissue surrounding the balloon when pressurized fluid within the balloon leaks through the wall of the balloon.
US08715218B2
An improved vascular graft having increased patency is disclosed herein. The graft may comprise a central or other stenosis. In addition, in some embodiments, the graft may comprise an internal reservoir and a collapsible portion configured to self-adjust the stenosis based on blood flow pressure. The graft may comprise an endothelial lining, one or more drug eluting materials, or both to increase patency by respectively reducing clots and preventing unwanted cellular or fibrin growth. The endothelial lining may be formed from one or more endothelial cells artificially grown or harvested from a patient's vascular system.
US08715213B2
The present invention has as an object to provide a bone metabolism improving agent that improves bone metabolism in a chronic renal failure patient receiving blood purification therapy such as hemodialysis, hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration. An acetic acid- and/or acetate salt-free bone metabolism improving agent that contains citric acid and/or a citrate salt as electrolytes and further contains another/other electrolyte/electrolytes and glucose solely or in combination is provided. A bone metabolism improving agent formulated into a dialysate or a substitution fluid having effects of improving bone metabolism including bone metabolism improvement in adynamic bone disease and especially in bone agenesis is also provided.
US08715211B1
A cushioning device is capable of conforming to a variety of areas on the human foot. The device includes a thin, transparent, circular body of compliant material and a notch with angled sides and an extended base. The shape and placement of the notch allows the body to fit complex contours.
US08715209B2
In some embodiments, sympathetic nerves surrounding arteries or leading to organs are targeted with energy sources to correct or modulate physiologic processes. In some embodiments, different types of energy sources are utilized singly or combined with one another. In some embodiments, bioactive agents or devices activated by the energy sources are delivered to the region of interest and the energy is enhanced by such agents.
US08715193B2
The invention relates to the determination of the clinical state of a subject. In order to bring about an uncomplicated method for monitoring the clinical state of a subject and for accomplishing a diagnostic scale, such as a nociception scale, on which a certain reading corresponds to the same level for all patients, a normalization transform is applied to a measurement signal containing physiological data obtained from a patient, whereby a normalized measurement signal having a predetermined value range is obtained. The normalization transform is dependent on predetermined history data, such as previous signal data of said measurement signal. A diagnostic index dependent on the normalized measurement signal is then formed, the diagnostic index serving as a measure of the clinical state of the patient. The diagnostic index may be formed based on one or more normalized measurement signals.
US08715192B2
A system and method for providing a high voltage ultrasonic drive signal from an ultrasound transmitter are disclosed herein. An ultrasound transmitter includes a first driver and a second driver. Each of the drivers includes an N-type device and a P-type device. The N-type device and the P-type device of each driver are serially coupled. Activation of the first driver drives an ultrasound transmitter output to a first voltage. Activation of the second driver drives the ultrasound transmitter output to a second voltage. The driver activations produce an ultrasonic drive signal at the ultrasound transmitter output.
US08715186B2
A method and system uniquely capable of generating thermal bubbles for improved ultrasound imaging and therapy. Several embodiments of the method and system contemplates the use of unfocused, focused, or defocused acoustic energy at variable spatial and/or temporal energy settings, in the range of about 1 kHz-100 MHz, and at variable tissue depths. The unique ability to customize acoustic energy output and target a particular region of interest makes possible highly accurate and precise thermal bubble formation. In an embodiment, the energy is acoustic energy. In other embodiments, the energy is photon based energy (e.g., IPL, LED, laser, white light, etc.), or other energy forms, such radio frequency electric currents (including monopolar and bipolar radio-frequency current). In an embodiment, the energy is various combinations of acoustic energy, electromagnetic energy and other energy forms or energy absorbers such as cooling.
US08715185B2
A first ultrasound pulse is applied to biological tissue to create shear waves in the biological tissue, a focused ultrasound pulse is transmitted into the biological tissue, one or more ultrasound signals is received from the biological tissue, and shear waves are detected in the biological tissue based on the received one or more ultrasound signals. At least one propagation property associated with the detected shear waves is determined, and the determined at least one propagation property is displayed.
US08715174B2
A method for grasping and holding tissue employs an apparatus including flexible sheet having walls that define adjoining top and bottom chambers which move together as a unitary part during use. The top and bottom walls of the flexible sheet conform to tissue and have corresponding first and second sets of holes. The method supplies suction to the top chamber and the first set of holes via the first fluid path to engage and hold tissue adjacent the top wall by suction forces applied through the first set of holes, and also supplies suction to the bottom chamber and the second set of holes via the second fluid path to engage and hold tissue adjacent the bottom wall by suction forces applied through the second set of holes.
US08715165B2
A seal is provided for effectively inhibiting the egress of fluids from the working channel of an endoscope when an elongate device having a region with a non-circular cross-sectional shape is disposed therein. The seal has a body portion with a proximal end adapted for insertion of the elongate device, a distal end adapted for connection to the proximal end of the endoscope, and a wall defining a lumen adapted to receive the elongate device and to provide access to the working channel of the endoscope. The seal includes a sealing element for sealing the region of the elongate device with a non-circular cross-sectional shape. The sealing element conforms to the profile of the non-circular region.
US08715163B2
A processing device (2) includes an analog circuit block (6), a digital circuit block (7), a casing (12) which houses elements including (6) and (7) and serves as a conductive shield member, and a connecting connector (13) which has functions, for example, of electrically connecting the casing (12) and a first ground terminal (6a) provided in the analog circuit block (6). Level of noise signals generated from the analog circuit block (6) is lower than the level of noise signals generated from the digital circuit block (7). Therefore, when the casing (12) is electrically connected to the first ground terminal (6a) provided in the analog circuit block (6), the casing (12) can maintain a stable potential thereby more effectively working as the conductive shield member. Thus, leakage of the noise signals generated at driving of internal electronic circuitry is effectively suppressed in an electronic apparatus such as a receiving apparatus.
US08715161B2
An apparatus and method for adult oriented massage is presented. The apparatus includes a housing unit. An upper stimulation source is disposed within the housing unit. The upper stimulation source is operable for transferring a first percussive stimulation to a woman's lower abdomen proximate a top of a pubic bone. A lower stimulation source is disposed below the upper stimulation and is operable for transferring a second percussive stimulation to a region proximate a bottom of the pubic bone. A drive unit is disposed below the lower stimulation source for driving the upper and lower stimulation sources. A support unit supports the housing unit. At least one flexible unit enables an angle between the housing unit and the support unit to be adjusted, where the first percussive stimulation and the second percussive stimulation combine to enable the woman to achieve a beneficial stimulation.
US08715160B2
The present disclosure is directed to an external cardiac basal annuloplasty system (ECBAS or BACE-System: basal annuloplasty of the cardia externally) and methods for treatment of regurgitation of mitral and tricuspid valves. The BACE-System provides the ability to correct leakage of regurgitation of the valves with or without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass, particularly when the condition is related to dilation of the base of the heart. This ECBAS invention can be applied to the base of the heart epicardially, either to prevent further dilation or to actively reduce the size of the base of the heart.
US08715158B2
The present invention provides a system for attaching a fluid access port to a patient. The system generally comprises an implantable access port with a bottom exit port and method for attaching an access port to a patient. In addition, a tube guard, flexible tube exit port, tissue guard, and porous coupling member are disclosed.
US08715157B2
A structure that can be used as a gastric band (and that may also have other uses as an implant elsewhere in a patient) includes a plurality of magnetic elements in a serial array that can be implanted so that the array extends in a circumferential direction around the patient's stomach (or other body tissue structure in the patient). Circumferentially adjacent magnetic elements magnetically attract one another to apply radial pressure to the tissue structure encompassed by the array, but those elements can also move apart in response to sufficient outward pressure from the encompassed tissue structure and/or the contents of (e.g., food in) that tissue structure. When used as a gastric band, the device can provide resistance to excessive food intake, which can help promote weight loss.
US08715156B2
Materials, devices and methods for the treatment of congestive heart failure are disclosed. In these methods, the volume of the left ventricle is reduced, thereby increasing the efficiency of the pumping action of the heart. Volume reduction is accomplished by introduction of biocompatible materials into the wall of the left ventricle, or into the ventricle itself. Suitable biocompatible materials include those that undergo a phase transition within the ventricle or within the wall of the ventricle, and are thereby converted from a substantially liquid state to a substantially solid state. Such materials also include those which increase in volume during the transition from the liquid state to the solid state. Also disclosed is a method for ventricular geometry reduction wherein flexible, elastic bands are attached to the external surface of the heart to effect a decrease in the volume of the left ventricle. Finally, disclosed are devices including catheters and elastic bands that are usable in these treatments.
US08715150B2
The present invention relates to a system for the physical manipulation of free magnetic rotors in a circulatory system using a remotely placed magnetic field-generating stator. In one aspect, the invention relates to the control of magnetic particles in a fluid medium using permanent magnet-based or electromagnetic field-generating stator sources. Such a system can be useful for increasing the diffusion of therapeutic agents in a fluid medium, such as a human circulatory system, which can result in substantial clearance of fluid obstructions, such as vascular occlusions, in a circulatory system resulting in increased blood flow. Examples of vascular occlusions targeted by the system include, but are not limited to, atherosclerotic plaques, including fibrous caps, fatty buildup, coronary occlusions, arterial stenosis, restenosis, vein thrombi, arterial thrombi, cerebral thrombi, embolisms, hemorrhages, other blood clots, and very small vessels.
US08715142B1
Embodiments of a user-adjustable resistance mechanism, and embodiments of an exercise apparatus employing such a user-adjustable resistance mechanism, are provided. In one embodiment, the exercise apparatus includes a support structure, a user-manipulated element movably coupled to the support structure and configured to be moved by a user during the performance of an exercise in opposition to an output resistance, and a user-adjustable resistance mechanism. The user-adjustable resistance mechanism includes, in turn, an input resistance assembly and a lever assembly comprising a first plurality of levers rotatably coupled in series between the user-manipulated element and the support structure. The input resistance assembly is configured to be selectively coupled by a user to the lever assembly at any one of a plurality of locations to determine the cumulative load arm length of the first plurality of levers and the output resistance opposing movement of the user-manipulated element.
US08715141B2
The invention relates to a fitness device for exercising the lower limbs, characterized in that the pedals (112), the frame (12) and the various means (13) for articulation, pressure resistance and pedal-restoring, are designed as a single component, consisting of at least one single plate (1) in an elastic material in a V shape with a rounded apex or a U shape with parallel or flared branches, one of the branches (11) thereof being provided with an opening (111) opening up at the base of the “V” or the “U”, for forming the two pedals (112), the other branch (12) thereof forming the frame for the two pedals, and each rounded apex (13) thereof that connects each pedal (112) to the frame (12) forming, as a single component, the means for articulation, pressure-resistance and restoring each pedal.
US08715126B2
A propulsion system for a vehicle has output shaft (2) of a combustion engine (1), which is connected to a first component (9) of a planetary gear so that they rotate at a first speed (n1). An input shaft (3) of a gearbox (4) is connected to a second component (11) of the planetary gear so that they rotate at a second speed (n2). An electrical machine is connected to a third component (10) of the planetary gear so that the third component (10) rotates at a third speed (n3). A control unit (17) estimates in appropriate operating situations a desired speed (n2) for the gearbox input shaft (3). The unit receives information about the speed (n1) of the engine output shaft (2). It causes the electrical machine to give the third component (10) of the planetary gear a speed (n3) which in conjunction with the speed (n1) of the engine output shaft (2) results in the gearbox input shaft (3) assuming the desired speed (n2).
US08715115B2
A game apparatus comprising a mount and a goal can be attached to basketball hoops and serve as a target. This allows a basketball court to be used for an entirely new game using said game apparatus and flying sport discs. The method of playing includes two teams of players, each attempting to score on one target while preventing the opposing team from scoring on a separate target. Players may move with, pass, and shoot the flying sport disc. Points are accumulated for goals scored when the flying sport disc is thrown through a target. The basketball court provides ready markings used for shots, throw-ins, and defining out of bounds in the present game method.
US08715107B2
A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a face portion or strike-face wall comprising a top inner boundary, an intermediate inner boundary, and a bottom inner boundary having a bottom-inner-boundary toe portion and a bottom-inner-boundary heel portion. The strike-face wall may further include a first uniform-thickness region, adjoining the top inner boundary, and a variable-thickness region adjoining the uniform-thickness region and a majority of the bottom inner boundary. In another example, the variable-thickness may adjoin a majority of the top inner boundary and the uniform-thickness region may adjoin a majority of the bottom inner boundary.
US08715101B2
An iron golf club has a club length L measured in accordance with 60-degrees method of at least 36.5 inches, and it includes: a carbon shaft; a weight attached to said carbon shaft; a grip attached to one end of said carbon shaft; and a head attached to the other end of said carbon shaft. Sum total of mass of the carbon shaft, the weight, the grip and the head is at least 0.3996 kg and at most 0.4197 kg. A value r/L, where r represents a distance from an upper end of the grip to the center of gravity of the iron golf club, is at least 0.765 and at most 0.795. Thus, an iron golf club realizing improved easiness of swing can be provided.
US08715096B2
A golf club including a swing analyzer includes an accelerometer that measures acceleration in three directions, a magnetometer/gyroscope unit, a processor unit that converts the measured acceleration and golf club movement during a non-ball-striking or ball-striking swing into an estimated carrying distance of a golf ball when struck by the golf club based on swing position and a type of the golf club, and a display that displays the estimated carrying distance as a function of swing position to the golfer. The accelerometer, magnetometer/gyroscope unit, and processor unit may be mounted in a handle at a grip end of the golf club. The estimated carrying distance calculation may be performed at a unit separate from the golf club and capable of performing this calculation for several golf clubs with which it communicates via cooperating communications unit.
US08715092B2
A compact disc spring torque limiting clutch has an input hub and an output hub having a friction pack that is removable from the input hub as an entire unit to facilitate servicing and repair. The force actuator of the torque limiting clutch is a Belleville spring or machined disc spring that is operatively interposed between the input hub and the friction pack. The deflection of the Belleville spring during the useful life of the friction pack is within the flat portion of the force vs. deflection curve and establishes a characteristic breakaway torque for the torque limiting clutch. The use of a Belleville spring significantly reduces the axial dimension of the torque limiting clutch, adapting it for use in applications where space is at a premium.
US08715091B1
A server device connected with a player terminal used by a player when performing a game operation over a network includes: a rental unit; a providing unit; a storage unit configured to store player information in which the rental game content rented from the rental unit is set as game content temporarily possessed by the player, and the game content provided by the providing unit is set as game content possessed by the player; a parameter varying unit; a game content determination unit; a parameter setting unit configured to set a parameter of the game content based on a parameter of the rental game content varied by the parameter varying unit; a condition determination unit configured to determine whether a return condition of the rental game content is satisfied; and an update unit configured to update the player information stored in the storage unit.
US08715088B2
An entertainment device comprises means to obtain a set of GPS co-ordinates describing the location of the device, means to initiate reverse geocoding responsive to the co-ordinates to obtain a hierarchy of geographical names, means to request, from a leaderboard server, leaderboard data corresponding to one of the hierarchy of geographical names, and means to display some or all of the leaderboard. A leaderboard server comprises means to host multiple leaderboards either linked together according to a geographical hierarchy or each associated with a geographical name, means to obtain a hierarchy of geographical names generated by reverse geocoding, means to identify one or more leaderboards either in a hierarchical sequence corresponding to one or more of the geographical names or whose associated geographical name matches one or more of the geographical names in the hierarchy of geographical names, and means to provide to the client data of selected identified leaderboards.
US08715078B1
An advertising and golf training device is provided with a ball impact detector, image display, a database of advertising images, controller for selecting an image from the database for display and displaying the image upon display in response to signal from the ball impact detector, and confirmation system.
US08715072B2
Various metrics as may be deployed in an active, passive, or hybrid validation architecture are disclosed. A computing device configured to monitor network game activity may identify an inconsistency between user game data and a particular game metric governing a particular aspect of the network gaming environment. Upon identification of an inconsistency between game data and a game metric, which may indicative of illicit game play, a validation process (e.g., active, passive, and/or hybrid) may be implemented to further confirm the existence of illicit game. Alternatively, an action to maintain integrity of the gaming community may be executed without further confirmation whereby a purportedly illicit game device may be ejected from the network.
US08715065B2
Described herein are processes and devices that utilize non-volatile memory on a wagering game machine. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can receive a request to activate a first wagering game on a wagering game machine, receive critical data for the first wagering game and store the critical data to a fixed-size block within a non-volatile memory store so that the non-volatile memory store includes critical data for only that wagering game. The wagering game system can then copy the critical data for the wagering game to a backing store, verify that the copied critical data on the backing store matches the critical data in the non-volatile memory, activate the first wagering game, present results for the wagering game, and update the backing store with changes made to the critical data on the non-volatile memory store during a game session.
US08715059B2
A display unit displays symbols in a plurality of columns, and in particular arranges the symbols in the same order in two or more of the columns. A game controller unit determines an arrangement of symbols at random on a condition that symbols are arranged in the same order and at the same positions in the two or more columns. A display controller unit causes the display unit to spin the two or more columns of symbols from the same position in synchronization with each other, and stop the two or more columns at the same position to display the arrangement of symbols determined by the game controller unit.
US08715057B2
A system and method for playing a game of chance, either as a primary or secondary game offering, having a first winning criterion associated with matching player indicia on a player card to house indicia selected or otherwise determined by operator calls include awarding a first prize for every player card that satisfies the winning criterion after each operator call less than or equal to a first number of operator calls and awarding a subsequent prize for every player card that satisfies the same winning criterion after each call up to and including a second number of operator calls and continuing the game until at least all calls up to and including the second number of calls have been made.
US08715053B2
In various embodiments, a clock hand bonus game is provided. Moreover, in various embodiments, a system, method and apparatus is provided for a bonus gaming machine. The bonus gaming machine operates with a face and two clock hands which rotate about the face. The bonus gaming machine operates in conjunction with a base gaming apparatus. The face displays a set of indicia which the two clock hands may point to as indication of a prize. The prize may be awarded in conjunction with a prize of the base gaming machine or independently.
US08715047B2
A ceiling-mounted air conditioner is provided. The ceiling-mounted air conditioner includes a main body which is fixed onto a ceiling of a room where the ceiling-mounted air conditioner is installed and includes an air intake formed at the bottom thereof; a door panel which is connected to the bottom of the main body so as to be able to be attached to or detached from the main body and shuts or opens the air intake by being lifted up or down; a plurality of moving elements which are fixed onto the top surface of the door panel, are a predetermined distance apart from one another, and are lifted up or down so as to be able to lift up or down the door panel; and a plurality of rotation elements which are disposed at the main body so as to be able to rotate and thus to lift up or down the moving elements, wherein each of the moving elements includes a vertical portion having a cavity portion extending vertically therein and protruding vertically from the top surface of the door panel, a driving force transmitting portion formed on one side of the cavity portion and contacting a corresponding rotation element, and an elevation guide portion formed on the other side of the cavity portion and guiding the elevation of the vertical portion. Therefore, it is possible to improve the exterior appearance of the ceiling-mounted air conditioner.
US08715042B1
A device designed to assist in the removing shellfish meat from the shell includes a frame that supports a removable handle assembly having a blade. The blade includes a sharp pointed end which presses against the hinge of the shellfish, thus forcing open the shell. The supporting frame includes a plurality of differently positioned slots to position the handle so as to accommodate different sizes of shellfish. The shellfish is placed between the blade and the frame and the handle is pressed to guide the blade into the hinge opening to separate the two halves.
US08715039B2
A machine tool providing a large grinding area includes a tool body, a rotary bracket driven by the tool body and a plurality of grinding portions coupled to the rotary bracket. The tool body includes a driving motor and a spindle driven by the driving motor to spin axially. The rotary bracket is coupled to and driven by the spindle to rotate and includes a plurality of connecting portions equally spaced from each other on the circumference formed by rotation of the rotary bracket. The grinding portions are coupled with the connecting portions and have grinding zones at the same horizontal level and are driven by the rotary bracket to rotate synchronously therewith to jointly form a grinding plane. Thereby a larger grinding area can be achieved through smaller grinding discs.
US08715038B2
Disclosed is a deburring apparatus. The deburring apparatus includes a transfer module installed on a base to form a transfer path of transferring a workpiece to be deburred, a deburring module provided on the transfer path of the workpiece installed on the base to deburr the workpiece, and a blocking cover installed on the base to reciprocate thereon to selectively prevent the transfer module and the workpiece on the transfer module from being exposed to an outside, and to prevent dust and noise, which are produced when a deburring work is performed for the workpiece by using the deburring module, from being delivered to the outside. The burrs, which are produced when a metallic produce or a non-metallic produce having a 3-D shape is molded or cut, are easily and rapidly removed.
US08715036B2
The invention relates to a grinding center for the simultaneous grinding of multiple main bearings and rod bearings and/or central sections of crankshafts (22). Two rod bearing grinding spindles (14, 15), wherein the first can be displaced only in the Z direction and the second can be minimally displaced only in the X direction, are mounted on a common rod bearing crosslide (11). In the final phase of the grinding, a correction of dimension deviation between the two machined rod bearings is carried out via a separate control of the second rod bearing grinding spindle (15), as a dimension or roundness correction. The deviations are detected by measuring devices.
US08715031B2
An interactive amusement device and a method therefor are disclosed. The device plays a musical soundtrack in a first game iteration corresponding to a learning mode. A sequence of user input actions received during this learning mode is detected, and timestamps for each is stored into memory. In a second game iteration corresponding to a playback mode, the musical soundtrack is replayed. Additionally, an output signal is generated on at least one interval of the user input actions based on the stored timestamps, and is coordinated with the replaying of the musical soundtrack.
US08715030B2
The toy building block has a top board, four sideboards, an open bottom and four holding spaces. The top board includes multiple rectangular protrusions and each protrusion has four side surfaces, four recesses and four positioning posts. The recesses are formed respectively in the side surfaces of the protrusion. Each positioning post is formed between two adjacent recesses of two adjacent side surfaces of the protrusion. Each sideboard includes multiple ribs. Each holding space is formed between two adjacent ribs of two adjacent sideboards. To assemble the toy building blocks, the open bottom of one toy building block is used to cover the protrusions of another toy building block to make the holding spaces of the one toy building block hold the positioning posts of another toy building block. Thus, the toy building blocks are securely assembled against rotation relative to each other.
US08715021B2
The invention relates to a service space of a retractable propulsion device or corresponding system in a vessel or corresponding floating structure, which service space (11) comprises a closed or closable space limited by walls, a top structure and a bottom in which an access has been arranged for the crew (C) from the other parts of the vessel or corresponding floating structure. The service space (11) is constructed into connection with the bottom (2) of the vessel or corresponding floating structure so that the propulsion device (4) or corresponding system is retractable from an operating position into a service/storage position within the service space (11) and correspondingly lowerable from the service space (11) down into the operating position. According to the invention, the service space (11) is located at least mainly below a waterline (WL) of the vessel or corresponding floating structure and is provided with watertight closing devices (14) arranged on the level of the bottom (2) of the vessel or corresponding floating structure. When opened, the closing devices (14) constitute a direct access from the service space (11) to water via the bottom (2) of the vessel or corresponding floating structure for lowering the propulsion device (4) or corresponding system from the service space (11) to water into the operating position i.e. operating mode and correspondingly for lifting it from water within the service space (11) into the service/storage position i.e. service/storage mode. When closed, the closing devices (14) constitute together with the top and wall structures of the service space (11) a watertight space from which water is removable after closing the closing devices (14).
US08715018B2
In a terminal structure, at least one pair of left and right clamp pieces are formed in a terminal in which an electrode is slide-inserted. The left and right clamp pieces elastically press the electrode from both right and left sides when the electrode is inserted in the terminal. A contact piece is formed on at least one of left and right sides of the terminal, and is separated in the slide-insertion direction by a slit from a clamp piece-formed portion where the clamp piece is formed. The clamp piece is elastically deformed to contact the contact piece when the electrode is inserted in the terminal.
US08715016B2
An electrical connector includes a connector housing having at least one contact cavity and an interchange port. A power contact is held by the connector housing within the contact cavity. The power contact is configured to conduct electrical power. An interchangeable signal module is separably mounted to the connector housing such that at least a portion of the signal module is held within the interchange port of the connector housing. The signal module includes an insulator holding a signal contact that is configured to conduct electrical data signals.
US08715015B2
A spring contact, including: an upper contact pin having a contact portion, a head, a neck, a body and two spring holding protrusions; a lower contact pin having a construction that is the same as or similar to that of the upper contact pin and being coupled to the upper contact pin while crossing at right angles; and a spring fitted over an assembly of the upper and lower contact pins, wherein to increase the strength of the upper contact pin and increase the surface area of the contact portion, the head forms a cylindrical or square column shape or a part of the contact pin within the range from the contact portion to the spring holding protrusions has a thickness greater than the thickness of the body, thereby increasing the strength of the upper contact pin and increasing the surface area of the contact portion.
US08715008B2
A modular fuse holder includes a cover that is movable from a closed position to an open position relative to a base along two different paths of motion to prevent inadvertent opening or closing of the cover.
US08715003B2
An electrical connector is provided that includes a connector housing supporting a plurality of electrical contacts. The electrical contacts are edge-coupled along a column direction, and spaced apart along a row direction so as to define a space that is defined by adjacent electrical contacts along the row direction. The electrical connector includes at least one rib disposed in the space. The rib has a dielectric constant greater than air such that the dielectric constant of the space is increased with respect to a substantially identical space that is filled only with air. The increased dielectric constant reduces the impedance of the electrical connector.
US08715001B2
An intelligent network patch field management system is provided that includes electronic hardware, firmware, mechanical assemblies, cables, and software that provide visible and audible cues for connecting and disconnecting patch cords in an interconnect or cross-connect patching environment. Systems of the present invention also monitor patch cord connections in a network.
US08714998B2
Device for the external electrical connection of a photovoltaic panel (1), which comprises a male connector which is arranged on the edge of the photovoltaic panel (1) and which comprises a plurality of external connection strips (5, 5′, 5″) which are electrically connected to the electricity-generating cells, a bar for electrically interconnecting the external strips, comprising electrical junction runners with respect to the external connection strips and electrical circuits which are suitable for the interconnection of the electricity-generating cells, a first external connector which comprises an electrical junction plate with respect to a first external connection strip and a second external connector which comprises an electrical junction plate with respect to a second external connection strip and a sleeve for retaining the assembly of the male connector, the interconnection bar, the first and the second external connector.
US08714983B2
Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses, computer media, and methods for supporting lifestyle-reward health games, in which execution is altered based on health behavior of the participant. Input data indicative of the health behavior is obtained and converted into a gaming parameter. The gaming parameter is applied to the lifestyle-reward health game in order to alter the execution of the lifestyle-reward health game. A reward parameter for the participant may be determined based on a utility function, and the reward parameter is invoked when the participant is playing the life-reward health game. Feedback to the participant may be incorporated during the execution of the lifestyle-reward health game, where the feedback is indicative of the participant's health behavior. An avatar may be depicted during execution of the lifestyle-reward health game to illustrate a predicted health condition, in which the depiction is altered by changing the timeframe of the predicted health condition.
US08714970B2
A combustion control system, including a first set of sensors for generating sample data including data representing a sequence of detected images of different samples of a fuel made up of solid particles; a fuel analysis module for controlling a processor of a computing device to: (i) determine attributes for one or more predetermined physical characteristics of the particles in each said sample based on the sample data, and (ii) generate an index value for each said sample based on said attributes, said index value representing a level of combustibility of the particles in each said sample; and a combustion control module for controlling a processor of a computing device to adjust one or more parameters for controlling a combustion process based on changes to said index value over time.
US08714968B2
An oxygen fueled integrated pollutant removal and combustion system includes a combustion system and an integrated pollutant removal system. The combustion system includes a furnace having at least one burner that is configured to substantially prevent the introduction of air. An oxygen supply supplies oxygen at a predetermine purity greater than 21 percent and a carbon based fuel supply supplies a carbon based fuel. Oxygen and fuel are fed into the furnace in controlled proportion to each other and combustion is controlled to produce a flame temperature in excess The integrated. pollutant removal system includes at least one direct contact heat exchanger for bringing the flue gas into intimated contact with a cooling liquid to produce a pollutant-laden liquid stream and a stripped flue gas stream and at least one compressor for receiving and compressing the stripped flue gas stream.
US08714963B2
An apparatus and method for simultaneously forming and filling a plastic container is provided. A mold cavity defines an internal surface and is adapted to accept a preform. A pressure source includes an inlet and a piston-like device. The piston-like device is moveable in a first direction wherein liquid is drawn into the pressure source through the inlet and in a second direction wherein the liquid is urged toward the preform. A blow nozzle may be adapted to receive the liquid from the pressure source and transfer the liquid at high pressure into the preform thereby urging the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and creating a resultant container. The liquid remains within the container as an end product.
US08714961B2
A press with a pressure chamber and a lid. The chamber is filled with a substantially incompressible medium and the medium at least partially encloses an elastomeric pressure vessel. The vessel is filled with a substantially incompressible fluid that is in fluid communication with a pressurized source of the fluid.
US08714953B2
A vulcanizing mold manufacturing method, and a tire vulcanizing mold are disclosed. Tubular bodies each formed by oppositely arranging the inner peripheral surfaces of both end portions of a plate-shaped body are each arranged so that the gap between both opposite end portions thereof is narrowed and that the tips of both end portions come in contact with the surface of the plaster mold, by inserting and fitting both opposite end portions into a fitting portion of a plate-shaped metal fitting protruding from the surface of the plaster mold. Molten metal is poured over the surface of the plaster mold to embed the tubular body in a mold while exposing the tips of both opposite end portions at the tire molding surface of the mold. The metal fitting is removed from the mold, so that a mold having a small gap between both opposite end portions is manufactured.
US08714952B2
A system may include a die, an outlet adaptor and a die outlet. The die may include a die flow channel extending from a first end to a second end of the die and coupled to a die housing of an extruder. The outlet adaptor is receivable within the die flow channel and includes first and second ends and an outlet flow channel. The first end of the outlet adaptor cooperates with the die flow channel at the second end of the die to retain the outlet adaptor. A diameter of the outlet flow channel expands at the second end of the outlet adaptor to create a pressure drop to form the foamed article. The die outlet assembly is coupled to the outlet adaptor and includes a bore that receives a polymer from the outlet adaptor. The die outlet assembly produces a cylindrical foam article having a natural skin.
US08714946B2
A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes an electro-magnetic spring and a casing that defines a chamber. A piston is received within the chamber of the casing. The electro-magnetic spring can apply a non-linear force to the piston such that a total spring force applied to the piston during a compression stroke is substantially linear.
US08714944B2
A pump having an undulating diaphragm mounted for undulating between two end plates under drive from at least one electromagnetic actuator in order to transfer a fluid between an inlet of the pump and an outlet of the pump. The pump includes adapter means connecting the diaphragm support to a movable portion of the actuator in order to shorten the stroke of the movable mass of the actuator such that its stroke is shorter than the stroke of the diaphragm support.
US08714942B2
A fluid pumping system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine includes a housing, an electric motor, a controller to control the speed of the electric motor, a planetary gearset including a first member adapted to be driven by the internal combustion engine, a second member driven by the electric motor and a third member. A pump is driven by the third member of the planetary gearset. The housing contains the electric motor, the pump and the controller.
US08714940B2
A liquid pressure generating apparatus including a pump; and two one-way clutches arranged coaxially with the pump's drive shaft. Inner races of the respective two one-way clutches are integrated with each other to form a common inner race. Outer races of the respective two one-way clutches are formed independently from each other and are driven respectively by pump driving members different from each other. The common inner race includes a coupling portion coupled to the pump drive shaft and extending in the radial direction and a cylindrical body portion extending from the coupling portion in a second axial direction opposite from the first axial direction on the radially outside the pump drive shaft. The body portion includes a depression indented radially outward on an inner peripheral surface thereof. A lubricant supply portion for the depression is provided radially inside the depression.
US08714939B2
A water pump includes a housing, a pumping mechanism, and a pulley that receives an input torque. Rotation of a clutch disk provides a rotational force to the pumping mechanism. A ferromagnetic clutch ring rotates in unison with the pulley. The clutch ring moves between a disengaged position and an engaged position to selectively rotate the clutch disk in response to the input torque. A magnet disposed on the clutch disk attracts the clutch ring toward the engaged position, and an electromagnetic coil is operable to selectively diminish the attraction of the clutch ring to the magnet to move the clutch ring between the engaged and disengaged positions.
US08714936B2
Methods and mechanisms for fluid sealing are provided. The disclosed mechanisms include a tool having a cavity configured to form a toroidal vortex and a fluid sealing element to induce an azimuthal variation of the toroidal vortex (a “dynamic seal”). The fluid sealing element may include a sharp change in the axial symmetry of the cavity to induce the azimuthal variation. Some exemplary shapes of the fluid sealing element may include a notch in a cavity, a step shaped cavity, or an angular cavity in the tool. Methods for manufacturing such a dynamic seal is also provided as well as methods for producing hydrocarbons with a plunger having the dynamic seals. The tool may be a plunger, a pig, an in-flow control device, or other cylindrical device traveling through a conduit or tubular member.
US08714935B2
A method of running a down hole rotary pump using a top drive, sucker rod or any drive shaft from surface. A first step involves providing a gear box having an input end and an output end. The gear box is being capable of receiving an input of a first speed at the input end and producing an output of a second speed which is one of either faster or slower than of the first speed at the output end. A second step involves positioning the gear box down hole with the input end coupled to a remote lower end of a sucker rod and the output end coupled to a rotary activated pump. A third step involves applying a driving force to the sucker rod to rotate the sucker rod at the first speed, with the rotational force being transmitted to the rotary activated pump through the gear box which rotates the rotary activated pump at the second speed.
US08714927B1
A casting system for forming an airfoil portion of a turbine engine component is provided. The casting system includes a main body core for forming at least one internal cavity in the airfoil portion, a microcircuit skin core for forming a cooling microcircuit embedded in a wall of the airfoil portion, and a trailing edge core for forming a cooling passage in a trailing edge of the airfoil portion. The microcircuit skin core has at least one cut-back portion which is sized so as to provide said cooling microcircuit embedded in the wall with a length which allows heat-up of the trailing edge core from a gas path.
US08714925B2
An aerodynamic brake assembly for use with an airfoil such as the blade of a wind turbine rotor comprises deployable upper and/or lower spoiler plates incorporated in or attached to the airfoil. The spoiler plates can deploy under the influence of centrifugal forces when the rotating airfoil or rotor blade reaches a pre-determined rotational speed. The aerodynamic brake assembly may be integrated within the airfoil or attached to the tip of the airfoil such that, when not deployed, the upper and lower spoiler plates have a profile that approximately conforms to the profile of the part of the airfoil to which it the brake assembly is attached. Thus in a non-deployed state, the spoiler plates have a non-detrimental effect on the performance of the airfoil, and may even contribute to its aerodynamic lift properties. A weighted arm linked to the spoiler plate mechanism can be held in position electromagnetically or by solenoid, until an electrical signal from a controller causes it to release, leading to deployment of the spoiler plates. Failsafe deployment of the spoiler plates can occur either upon loss of power to the mechanism, or when the centrifugal force associated with an overspeed condition of the rotor overcomes the holding force of the electromagnet or solenoid.
US08714923B2
A shrouded fluid turbine comprises an impeller and a turbine shroud surrounding the impeller. The inlet of the turbine shroud is flared. The shroud includes alternating inward and outward curving lobe segments along a trailing edge of the turbine shroud. The inward and outward curving lobe segments have exposed lateral surfaces, or in other words do not have sidewalls joining the inward and outward curving lobe segments. This allows for both transverse mixing and radial mixing of air flow through the turbine shroud with air flow passing along the exterior of the turbine shroud.
US08714920B2
A turbine airfoil (31) with an end portion (42) that tapers (44) toward the end (43) of the airfoil. A ridge (46) extends around the end portion. It has proximal (66) and distal (67) sides. A shroud platform (50) is bi-cast onto the end portion around the ridge without bonding. Cooling shrinks the platform into compression (62) on the end portion (42) of the airfoil. Gaps between the airfoil and platform are formed using a fugitive material (56) in the bi-casting stage. These gaps are designed in combination with the taper angle (44) to accommodate differential thermal expansion while maintaining a gas seal along the contact surfaces. The taper angle (44) may vary from lesser on the pressure side (36) to greater on the suction side (38) of the airfoil. A collar portion (52) of the platform provides sufficient contact area for connection stability.
US08714918B2
A shroud segment for a turbine stage of a gas turbine engine forms an endwall for the working gas annulus of the stage. The segment also provides a close clearance to the tips of a row of turbine blades which sweep across the segment. In use a leakage flow of the working gas passes through the clearance gap between the blade tips and the segment. The segment has a plurality of cooling holes and respective air feed passages for the cooling holes. The cooling holes are distributed over that part of the gas-washed surface of the segment which is swept by the blade tips. The cooling holes deliver, in use, cooling air which spreads over the gas-washed surface. The feed passages are configured such that the delivered air opposes the leakage flow of the working gas.
US08714916B2
A variable vane assembly for a compressor having a plurality of vanes is disclosed. The variable vane assembly may generally include a synchronizing ring and a plurality of attachment studs secured to the synchronizing ring. The variable vane assembly may also include a plurality of lever arms, with each lever arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of each lever arm may be attached to one of the vanes. Additionally, a plurality of rotational attachment devices may be configured to rotatably couple the second end of each lever arm to one of the attachment studs so as to define a rotational interface therebetween. Further, each of the attachments studs may be rigidly attached to one of the rotational attachment devices at the rotational interface such that there is substantially no relative radial and circumferential sliding motion between the synchronizing ring and the plurality of lever arms during rotation of the synchronizing ring.
US08714915B2
An exemplary axial flow steam turbine is disclosed which includes a motor, a turbine casing and at least first and second turbine stages, with the second turbine stage being located adjacent to and downstream from the first turbine stage. A radially outer static diaphragm ring of the second turbine stage includes an annular axial extension extending in an upstream axial direction and carrying a circumferential tip sealing device which cooperates with shrouds of a circumferential row of moving blades of the first turbine stage. An upstream end of the annular axial extension is axially spaced from a radially outer static diaphragm ring of the first turbine stage such that a circumferential passage is defined between the upstream end of the annular axial extension and the radially outer static diaphragm ring of the first turbine stage. Solid particles are diverted from steam flow by a circumferential passage during operation.
US08714914B2
The invention relates to filtering molten metal and more particularly, to a pump, pump base and filter for filtering molten metal, wherein the filter is preferably comprised of a ceramic foam material. The ceramic foam material may be buoyant in molten aluminum. In one embodiment, a molten metal pump includes a pump base configured to receive the molten metal pump filter without using cement.
US08714913B2
A gas turbine engine has a fan and a turbine having a fan drive turbine rotor. The fan drive turbine rotor drives a compressor rotor. A gear reduction effects a reduction in the speed of the fan relative to an input speed from the fan drive turbine rotor that drives the compressor rotor. The compressor rotor has a number of compressor blades in at least one of a plurality of rows of the compressor rotor. The blades operate at least some of the time at a rotational speed. The number of compressor blades in at least one row and the rotational speed are such that the following formula holds true for at least one row of the compressor rotor turbine: (number of blades×rotational speed)/60 s≧5500 Hz, and the rotational speed is in revolutions per minute. A method of designing a gas turbine engine and a compressor module are also disclosed.
US08714908B2
A method and system for improving performance of a compressor section of a gas turbine by diverting leakage air flowing from high pressure downstream of a stator vane assembly to low pressure upstream of the stator vane assembly from disrupting design flow patterns at a leading edge of stator vanes. A cover is provided at a forward face of an inner shroud assembly to prevent the leakage air from impinging on the leading edge. The cover may be provided at an outlet channel of a flow diverter mounted on the forward face of the inner shroud assembly.
US08714898B2
A manually installed fastener includes a fastener body having parallel first and second plates, the second plate having an aperture. A bend member integrally joins the first and second plates. The bend member has an outer deflectable leg integrally connected to the first plate and an inner deflectable leg integrally connected to the second plate. A first barb is integrally connected to the first plate and extends through the aperture of the second plate. A second barb is integrally connected to the second plate and is oppositely oriented with respect to the first barb. The second barb and the second plate are elastically displaced with respect to the first barb and the first plate to change a clearance diameter between the first and second barbs.
US08714897B2
A drop-in anchor includes a tubular sleeve having a first end and an expandable second end, the sleeve including one or more indicator surfaces offset from the first end along a sleeve axis of the sleeve. A plug is insertable in the sleeve such that when the plug is driven into an installed position in the sleeve, the second end expands and an installation tool interacts with the first end to provide a visual indication, due to contrast in appearance with the one or more indicator surfaces, of engagement of the drop-in anchor to a workpiece.
US08714894B2
A fender assembly for a vehicle transport trailer includes a fender positioned over a side wheel of the transport trailer and a spring is coupled between the fender and the trailer frame. The spring urges the fender upward into an uncollapsed position wherein a portion of the fender is a first distance above the trailer platform. The spring also allows the fender to move downward to a collapsed position wherein the portion of the fender is a second, smaller distance above the trailer platform when the weight of a vehicle is placed on the fender. The fender assembly thereby allows the trailer to have a lower deck than conventional vehicle transport trailers.
US08714890B2
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a drill bit including a drill bit body having a central axis. A first cutting edge is disposed on the drill bit body at a first radial distance from the central axis as measured within a plane normal to the central axis. And a second cutting edge is disposed on the drill bit body at a second radial distance from the central axis as measured from within the plane. The first radial distance is less than the second radial distance.
US08714889B2
The problem of penetrating through nets and other objects is solved by cutting the object using concentric cutters in which a rotatable cutter having floating teeth rotates concentrically about a stationary cutter having fixed teeth. The object is cut by a severing action caused by the floating teeth of the rotatable cutter sliding against the fixed teeth of the stationary cutter. Embodiments of the invention include a UUV system for penetrating through fishing nets and other objects, concentric cutting assemblies for use in the UUV system and other systems, and a method for penetrating through fishing nets and other objects. A UUV system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention has a concentric cutting assembly at the forward end and a propulsor at the aft end. The concentric cutting assembly integrates seamlessly within the UUV housing and is deployed from the forward end of the UUV, enabling the UUV to quickly and efficiently penetrate through objects blocking its path.
US08714888B2
A power drill can comprise a housing having a motor that includes an output member. A rotary output spindle can be journaled in the housing. A transmission can be disposed in the housing and include a first output gear and a second output gear. The transmission can selectively couple the output member to the output spindle through one of the first output gear or the second output gear for rotating the output spindle at one of a first speed or a second speed, respectively. A speed shift assembly can include a guide plate and a user engageable member. The guide plate can selectively influence movement of the first and second output gears. The user engageable member can be movable between a first speed position and a second speed position. Movement between the first and second positions can cause the second output gear to at least partially nest into the first output gear.
US08714875B2
The invention is for a mooring device (11) for a flap-gate breakwater (1) having a water blocking door body (2) that pivots about a horizontal axis. The mooring device (11) comprises a mooring hook (15) that controllably engages and disengages a gate mooring member (2b) of the door body (2) during mooring and raising operations. The mooring hook (15) is operated by a control device (21), making it possible to adjust the mooring hook position in a short period of time.
US08714869B1
A pneumatic compactor includes a frame and a compacting member rotatably coupled to the frame and configured to rotate in contact with a substrate of paving material. The compacting member is a tire. The compactor further includes a heating element located within the compacting member, a sensor thermally coupled to the heating element, and an electronic control module. The electronic control module is in communication with the heating element and the sensor and is configured to energize the heating element.
US08714867B1
A manhole cover assembly configured to behave as a relief valve in an explosion event, opening so that fluid, such as air or explosive gas, may vent from an underground area. The manhole cover assembly may include a manhole cover and a frame, and may be configured to limit movement of the manhole cover with respect to the frame in response to increased pressure on the manhole cover. In one embodiment, the manhole cover may include legs having angled surfaces adapted to substantially center or guide the manhole cover in the frame while the manhole cover displaces to release pressure. In another embodiment, one or more legs may be at least one of pivotable with respect to the manhole cover and slidable within the manhole cover to enable configuring the manhole cover between a restraint mode and a removal mode.
US08714862B2
A ball joint comprising: a housing having an inner cavity defined inward of a seat end, a side wall and a closure end having an opening, an edge about the opening in an assembly position extending upwardly; a ball stud having: a lower ball end with an outer convex spherical surface, a middle portion, and a connector end; a first bearing, slidably housed within the cavity, having an inner concave spherical surface; a retention plate, housed within the cavity inward of the edge about the opening, wherein the edge of the opening extends inwardly engaging an outer surface of the retention plate in a closed position; and a first disc spring disposed in a disc annular recess in at least one of: an outer surface of the first bearing; and an inner surface of the retention plate.
US08714858B2
A shaving brush assembly includes a plurality of bristles, a base with a first side coupled to and supporting the plurality of bristles, a second side opposite the first side, and defining a passageway from the first side to the second side, the passageway dimensioned to receive at least a portion of a nozzle of a shaving cream container. The assembly also includes a sleeve coupled to and extending from the second side of the base, with the sleeve having an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of a standard-sized container of shaving cream.
US08714848B2
A conveyance mechanism includes a first conveyed material storage section and a second conveyed material storage section that respectively store a first conveyed material and a second conveyed material. When a position of the first conveyed material storage section is changed to a conveyed position where the first conveyed material is to be conveyed, a discharge destination of a discharge member is switched to a first conveyed material discharge section. When the position of the first conveyed material storage section is changed to an evacuation position evacuated from the conveyed position, the discharge destination of the discharge member is switched to a second conveyed material discharge section.
US08714847B2
A tape printer which prints an inputted character string on a tape includes: an input unit receiving input of the character string; a detecting unit detecting a keyword which contains a first character string expressing a number from the character string received by the input unit; and a printing unit performing sequential number printing which repeats printing while sequentially changing the first character string when the detecting unit detects the keyword.
US08714841B2
A camera pod for an aircraft includes a housing with a plurality of camera compartments configured to downwardly angle a camera therein and a port for the lens of a camera. A pliant member is configured to quickly and easily retain a camera in a compartment biasing the camera in the downwardly angled position and absorbing vibration. A back plate is secured to the housing sealing it.
US08714831B2
An outer ring, an inner ring and a roller serving as a bearing component that adopts as a source material a steel ensuring a large fracture toughness value and also having an alloy element added thereto in a reduced amount and also provides sufficient wear resistance, are configured of a steel containing 0.15-0.3% by mass of carbon, 0.15-0.7% by mass of silicon, and 0.15-1.0% by mass of manganese, with a remainder of iron and an impurity, and have a raceway/rolling contact surface included in a region having a carbon enriched layer and a nitrogen enriched layer. In the nitrogen enriched layer the raceway/rolling contact surface has a nitrogen concentration equal to or larger than 0.3% by mass.
US08714826B2
A bearing assembly and wind generator. The bearing assembly includes a plurality of bearing segments defining a sliding member and a bearing body, with the sliding member and bearing body being joined together, and the plurality of bearing segments being coupled together to define an annular bearing structure. Also, a wind generator includes a wind rotor supported upon a tower, a hydraulic pump coupled to the wind rotor, and with rotation of the hydraulic pump pressurizing a hydraulic fluid, and a hydraulic motor in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump, and an electrical generator driven by the hydraulic motor to produce electrical energy.
US08714816B2
Thermometric apparatus includes at least one body-surface sensor, which is configured to be placed at a location on a body surface of a patient and generates a sensor output that varies according to a body-surface temperature at the location. Analog conversion circuitry is coupled between the at least one body-surface sensor and a connector for coupling to a patient monitor. The circuitry is configured to convert the sensor output into an output resistance across the connector that is indicative of a corrected temperature of the patient.
US08714813B2
A watch winder includes a housing, a power supply disposed in the housing, a transmitter coil mounted at one side of the housing and electrically connected with a circuit board of the power supply, and a receiver coil mounted at another side of the housing and electrically connected with a circuit board of the power supply. The fist coil can be actuated by the power supply to transmit a signal, and the receiver coil can be used to receive a signal and convert the signal into an electrical current that can be transmitted to the circuit board for charging the power supply. Therefore, the electrical energy of the watch winder can be wireless transmitted through a non-contact interface.
US08714810B2
Biomass feedstocks (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) are processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can convert feedstock materials to a sugar solution, which can then be fermented to produce ethanol. Biomass feedstock is saccharified in a vessel by operation of a jet mixer, the vessel also containing a fluid medium and a saccharifying agent.
US08714806B2
An input shaft of a sealed kneading apparatus and an output shaft of a drive apparatus can be coupled together in a mutually eccentric state of both shafts and the apparatus life is prolonged.A coupling apparatus 6 for coupling between an input shaft 16 of a batch type kneading apparatus 1 and an output shaft 19 of a drive apparatus 2 for driving the kneading apparatus 1, the coupling apparatus 6 comprising a gear coupling section 5, the gear coupling section 5 being capable of coupling the input shaft 16 of the batch type kneading apparatus 1 and the output shaft 19 of the drive apparatus 2 with each other in a mutually eccentric state of both shafts, gears 24 meshing with other so as to slide relatively in the face width direction with rotation of the gear coupling section 5, and an oil bath type lubricating section 46 for lubricating the gears 24.
US08714802B2
The present invention discloses an input device with multi pattern layers including an input interface, a first light emitting element for generating a first light beam, a first light guiding plate, a second light emitting element for generating a second light beam, a second light guiding plate, a first circuit board and a second circuit board. The input interface is stacked on the first light guiding plate, and the first light guiding plate is stacked on the second light guiding plate, such that a first space and a second are formed individually at the two ends of the first light guiding plate and the second light guiding plate. The first circuit board and the second circuit board block the first light beam and the second light beam individually by inserting into the first space and the second space individually.
US08714787B2
There is provided a low bay lighting apparatus secured to an elevated horizontal surface. The low bay lighting apparatus including a light fixture and a mounting bracket to which the light fixture is to be removable attached. The light fixture includes a plurality of posts disposed on opposite ends of opposing outer side surfaces of the light fixture. The mounting bracket includes a plurality of slots configured to mate respectively with the plurality of posts to removably secure the light fixture to the mounting bracket. When being serviced, the light fixture is configured to freely hang from a first set of slots.
US08714779B2
An independent friction joint structure including: at least one plug part having a connection to a device, the device comprising a lamp head; at least one joint part holding the at least one plug part in place, the at least one joint part having at least one holding structure; at least one side part having the ability to generate frictional rotational resistance to keep the at least one plug part in a predetermined position; at least one electrical contact between the at least one side part and the at least one holding structure of the at least one joint part; and at least one screw to fit all the components of the independent friction joint structure together.
US08714774B2
A greenhouse lighting fixture includes a Light Emitting Diode (LED) base support having a plurality of spaced-apart LEDs extending along a longitudinal axis of the LED base support. An optical element is coupled with the LED base support and has optical characteristics that result in at least 50% of the light produced by the LEDs being projected sideways from the fixture in oppositely directed side zones that flank a central zone wherein light is substantially blocked from projecting below the fixture. A greenhouse is encompassed that may include one or more of the LED lighting fixtures.
US08714771B2
An illumination apparatus includes an elongate chassis, a plurality of light emitting devices, a plurality of lenses, an elongate populated board, an elongate holding member, and a heat radiation member. The chassis includes a supporting portion supporting the opposite, longer-side ends of the populated board and a first engagement portion fitting and securing the holding member to the chassis. The holding member includes a plurality of second engagement portions fitting and securing each lens to the holding member and a resilient biasing portion resiliently biasing the longer-side ends of the populated board toward the supporting portion. The populated board is pinched and secured by the resilient biasing portion and the supporting portion and the heat radiation member is sandwiched and thus secured by the populated board and a bottom wall in contact with the populated board and the bottom wall.
US08714770B2
A lighting device (1) is configured to include: an elongated flat substrate (2); a plurality of semiconductor light sources (3) arranged on the flat substrate in a longitudinal direction of the flat substrate; and a lens plate (4) disposed to face the semiconductor light sources, wherein the lens plate includes a lens-light-incident surface facing the semiconductor light sources and includes a lens-light-emitting surface, a first lens section (5) is formed on one of the lens-light-incident surface and the lens-light-emitting surface and distributing the light emitted by the semiconductor light source in the longitudinal direction, a second lens section (9) is formed on the other one of the lens-light-incident surface and the lens-light-emitting surface for distributing the light emitted by the semiconductor light sources in a width direction, and the first lens section has a curvature surface unit including two or more convex section curvature surfaces having different curvature radii and formed adjacent in the longitudinal direction, each convex section's curvature surface is disposed inside a facing area facing an area corresponding to a width of each semiconductor light source in the longitudinal direction.
US08714757B1
The present disclosure is directed to lamina(e) comprising cube corner elements, a tool comprising an assembly of laminae and replicas thereof. The disclosure further relates to retroreflective sheeting.
US08714753B2
A projector includes: a light source device; an optical modulation device configured to modulate a luminous flux emitted from the light source device in accordance with image information, forming an image; projection optical device configured to project the image; a shutter device including a light shielding plate which can move into and out of an optical path of the luminous flux ranging from the light source device to the optical modulation device, shields the luminous flux by the light shielding plate moving into the optical path; and a light control device which being disposed on the optical path's upstream side of the shutter device, changes the area of a light passage through which the luminous flux passes, controlling the quantity of the luminous flux.
US08714752B2
A projection display device has an illumination optical system that includes a light-intensity equalization element, a first optical system, and an aperture regulation member. The aperture regulation member is disposed at a position that is not optically conjugate with the screen, and the aperture regulation member has at least one of the following, using measured or calculated relative illuminances at each of multiple segments of the image formation region or screen: an aperture expansion part provided at a position corresponding to a segment with a low relative illuminance, the aperture expansion part being a cutout that narrows the light-blocking section and widens the aperture section; an aperture contraction part provided at a position corresponding to a segment with a high relative illuminance, the aperture contraction part being a protrusion that widens the light-blocking section and narrows the aperture section.
US08714750B2
The status of a ceiling mounted projector is provided. Status is provided wirelessly to a remote control (RC) of the projector. Or, status is projected on the screen using a separate projection method such as a laser or light emitting diode (LED), which projects a color corresponding to status or which projects the status using words.
US08714744B2
A stabilizing controller to balance, support and orient a device. The stabilizing controller includes a gimbal assembly positioned at the center of balance of the stabilizing controller with the device attached, A handle is disposed around the gimbal assembly. A center post is coincident with at least a portion of the centerline of the gimbal apparatus and has a longitudinal balancing axis Z. Motion about at least one of the mutually perpendicular X-axis, Y-axis, and the Z-axis is isolated from the motion of the other axes via one or more assemblies comprising resilient components.
US08714738B2
The present invention relates to aqueous processes for the production of silicone hydrogel contact lenses.
US08714734B2
An inkjet printer includes: a transfer path configured to transfer a recording medium therein: an inkjet head disposed with a gap from the transfer path, and configured to discharge ink toward the recording medium being transferred in the transfer path; a gap adjuster configured to adjust the gap; a guide disposed upstream of the inkjet head in a transfer direction of the recording medium, and configured to prevent the recording medium from being uplifted from the transfer path; and a guide mover configured to move the guide toward the inkjet head in the transfer direction in response to an increase in the gap by the gap adjuster.
US08714730B2
A printing process identifies conditions for operating an image receiving member to transfer a plurality of ink images from the image receiving member to a plurality of media sheets between applications of release agent to the image receiving member. The printing process transfers a first ink image from the image receiving member to a first media sheet, identifies a size of a second ink image, and forms the second ink image entirely within a portion of the surface of the image receiving member that carried the first ink image. The printing process enables printing with acceptable quality while reducing the consumption of release agent and wear on components in the printer.
US08714729B2
A modular roll bar assembly for use in a continuous web imaging device includes a plurality of roll bars, a support frame configured to operatively support the plurality of roll bars such that the plurality of roll bars define a web path having a non-linear shape with an entrance end and an exit end, the entrance end being configured to receive a substantially continuous web of substrate material, the plurality of roll bars being configured to guide the continuous web past the exit end, and a temperature control system having a source of thermally controlled air that is configured to supply air at a predetermined temperature and velocity, and a plenum positioned in the support frame that is configured to guide the thermally controlled air from the source to the plurality of roll bars to heat or cool the plurality of roll bars to a predetermined temperature.
US08714720B2
An ink container for an inkjet print head includes a substantially rigid body of polymer material, the body including a base and a side wall integrally formed with the base at a perimeter of the base, the body containing ink in a low pressure chamber, and the polymer material having moderate to high air permeability. A flexible film is sealed over the low pressure chamber, inwardly flexible in response to a decrease in pressure and ink volume in the low pressure chamber, and outwardly flexible in response to an increase in pressure and ink volume in the low pressure chamber. A metal is coated on a perimeter of the polymer body and on an outer exposed surface of the flexible film, the metal to form a metal coating configured to decrease the air permeability of the polymer body, the metal coating being formed from at least copper.
US08714718B1
In one example, a fluid flow structure includes a flow path configured to simultaneously move a liquid up a slope and move a bubble down the slope. In one example, a fluid flow structure includes a horizontal conduit, a reservoir to hold a liquid above the conduit, an inlet into which liquid from the reservoir may enter the conduit, an outlet through which liquid may leave the conduit, and multiple capillary channels in the conduit extending continuously from the inlet to the outlet.
US08714706B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid supplying unit that supplies the liquid, a head unit that has a nozzle row, in which a plurality of nozzles for ejecting the liquid is aligned, a control unit that forms a raster area, in which a plurality of ejection dots in units of the nozzle rows is aligned in a main scanning direction, an ejection amount calculating unit that calculates ejection amounts of the liquid needed for forming the ejection dots, and a division scanning unit that divides the raster area so as to be formed by performing a plurality of head scanning operations in accordance with a transitional change in the ejection amounts that is formed by aligning the ejection amounts calculated by the ejection amount calculating unit in the order in which the ejection dots in units of nozzle rows are formed.
US08714700B2
An inkjet printer has a valve unit in a moisture supply path that connects a moisture tank and the fluid nozzles of a moisture discharge head. The moisture discharge head has an operating lever for opening and closing the valve unit, and when the cap approaches the moisture discharge head to seal the fluid nozzle faces of the moisture discharge head, a wiper unit that moves with the cap depresses the operating lever and opens the valve unit. Because the valve unit is open while the fluid nozzle faces are sealed by the cap, moisture leakage and backflow are suppressed.
US08714699B2
An image apparatus includes a carriage, a first recording head, a second recording head, and a maintenance assembly. The carriage is movable in a main scanning direction. The second recording head is displaced from the first recording head on the carriage in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction. The maintenance assembly includes a frame member, a first maintenance device, and a second maintenance device. The frame member has a guide portion, a first contact portion, and a second contact portion. The second maintenance device is reciprocally movable along the guide portion in the sub scanning direction between a first position to oppose the first recording head and a second position to oppose the second recording head. The second maintenance device stops at the first position in contact with the first contact portion and at the second position in contact with the second contact portion.
US08714696B2
A liquid collection device includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid, a suction-delivery unit that sucks the liquid from the liquid ejecting head and delivers the sucked liquid, a liquid collection unit that collects the liquid delivered from the suction-delivery unit, and a gas delivery unit that delivers gas to the liquid collection unit.
US08714695B2
Ink on a transportation roller that touches the printing surface of a recording medium can be regularly removed without affecting media transportation performance. The cleaning mechanism has a cleaning lever that is pivotably supported with one end extending to above the discharge follower roller downstream from the printing position and the other end urged upward. When a cover attached to the roll paper loading opening is closed, the cleaning lever is held in resistance to this urging force at a position not touching the discharge follower roller by the fixed knife and movable knife of a cutter disposed downstream from the discharge follower roller. When the cover starts to open, the movable knife on the platen unit moves and the fixed knife separates from the cleaning lever, and the cleaning lever contacts the discharge follower roller.
US08714693B2
An inkjet printer is provided, which is configured to acquire gap information related to a gap between an ink discharging surface and a recording sheet in each individual position of top-formed positions and bottom-formed positions within a predetermined wave-shape generating range, identify, when the predetermined wave-shape generating range includes a partial range in which the recording sheet is not placed, a top-formed position where the gap information has not been acquired and a bottom-formed position where the gap information has not been acquired, within the partial range, complement the unacquired gap information in the identified top-formed position with a value determined based on the respective pieces of gap information acquired in other top-formed positions, and complement the unacquired gap information in the identified bottom-formed position with a value determined based on the respective pieces of gap information acquired in other bottom-formed positions.
US08714688B2
When a label printer detects the paper width, the paper width detection operation scans the transportation path in the paper width direction by the paper width detector not once but twice, and conveys the recording medium transportation distance L, which is longer than the gap length of the gap between labels and is shorter than the label length of each label, between the first and second paper width detection operations. Of the two positions detected as the left edge of the recording medium in the first and second detection operations, the position that is farthest left is used. Likewise, of the two positions detected as the right edge of the recording medium in the first and second detection operations, the position that is farthest right is used.
US08714682B2
An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a conveyance belt, a reverse passage, and a charger. The belt is looped around at least two rollers to adhere a recording medium thereto by electrostatic force and convey the medium. The belt defines a normal conveyance area in which the medium is conveyed in a first direction with the medium facing the head. The reverse passage sends the medium back again to a portion of the belt upstream from the head in the first direction. The reverse passage includes an opposite conveyance area of the belt in which the medium is conveyed in a second direction and a bypass passage to guide the medium separated from the opposite conveyance area toward the normal conveyance area. The charger is disposed between the bypass passage and an outer surface of the belt to charge the outer surface of the belt.
US08714681B2
An inkjet printer is configured to acquire gap variation information related to a variation of a gap between a specific portion of an ink discharging surface and a recording sheet as a function of an inkjet head position, the specific portion located within a usage nozzle disposed area where usage nozzle rows to be actually used are disposed, determine representative gap variation information related to a variation, as a function of the inkjet head position, of a representative gap representing actual gaps between the usage nozzle rows and the recording sheet, by multiplying the gap variation information by a correction coefficient dependent on a width of the usage nozzle disposed area in a head moving direction and a wavelength of a wave shape of the recording sheet, and determine ink discharging timing based on the representative gap variation information, assuming that the actual gaps are equal to the representative gap.
US08714680B2
Gradation data for each color to be input to a recording apparatus includes dot-recording-position information for every unit pixel and information for determining a nozzle position in a recording head for recording a dot. The information for determining the nozzle position makes determination in accordance with image data of an ink with resin and image data of an ink without resin. In a region where the ink with resin and the ink without resin overlap with each other, the ink without resin can land first.
US08714677B2
A stationary pagewidth inkjet printhead has one or more nozzle rows extending along a longitudinal axis of the printhead. The printhead is comprised of a plurality of printhead modules having first and second opposite ends butted across a width of a page. Each butting pair of printhead modules defines a common join region, wherein a nozzle pitch across the join region exceeds one nozzle pitch, one nozzle pitch being defined as a minimum longitudinal distance between a pair of nozzles in a same nozzle row. A first nozzle positioned at the first end of a first printhead module in a butting pair is configured to fire ink droplets into a respective join region.
US08714662B2
A hydraulic brake system includes a braking state switching device which selectively realizes: a high-pressure-source-pressure dependent braking state in which a brake force is generated with a magnitude that depends on a pressure of brake fluid supplied from a high-pressure-source device; and an operation-force/high-pressure-source-pressure dependent braking state in which a brake force can be generated with a magnitude that depends on both of the pressure of the brake fluid supplied from the high-pressure-source device and a brake operation force of a driver which is applied to a brake operating member and that is larger than the magnitude of a brake force which can be generated in the high-pressure-source-pressure dependent braking state. The brake system may be equipped with a high-pressure-source device having a relatively small capacity, thereby allowing the high-pressure-source device to be compact and low-cost.
US08714653B2
A supporting structure of a headrest bracket is disclosed comprising attaching portions (flat areas in the frontal view) provided on an upper frame of a vehicle seat, with attaching wall portions formed on both ends of each flat attaching portion, whereby one side of the headrest bracket is put onto the attaching portion, so that welding points made between the free ends of the attaching wall and on the sides of the headrest bracket are provided, and the free ends are welded, and the welding point made between the upper and/or lower ends of the attaching portion and on the sides of the headrest bracket is horizontally welded.
US08714635B2
A front body of a vehicle includes left and right front side frames and a subframe attached to the front side frames. The subframe includes front arm connecting parts and rear arm connecting parts configured to support lower arms of respective suspensions at left and right ends of the subframe, an engine contact part disposed in an upper part of the subframe and facing toward an engine, and rear fastening parts each disposed in a continuous part between the engine contact part and the corresponding rear arm connecting part and fastened to the corresponding front side frame. The rear fastening parts each are formed in a branch part disposed between the corresponding rear arm connecting part and the engine contact part and protruding from a rear branch member toward the rear of the vehicle.
US08714625B2
The invention relates to a profiled decorative molding for the window area of a motor vehicle, comprising a profiled part which is shaped preferably from plastic as a support for at least one decorative element. According to the invention, each decorative element is back-molded with the plastic provided for the profiled element such that at least an area of the profiled part, which is not covered by the decorative element, protrudes the lateral edge thereof. The protruding area of the profiled part is designed as an elastically deformable lip. Each decorative element is a blank from a film and each elastically deformable lip is designed as an injection of the profiled part which, as a result, comprises a hard and a soft material component. The back-molded profiled part is fixed to a dedicated location of the window area by means of connecting auxiliary means, such as for example adhesives or latch elements.
US08714621B2
A visor is provided which pivots downwardly away from the windshield and includes a movable pivot axis that moves the visor toward the vehicle windshield and away from the operator as the operator lowers the visor. This moves the visor to a comfortable and functional position for the operator.
US08714615B2
A motor vehicle interior structure comprises a receptacle having an opening; a door for covering the opening; a pivot connection of the door to the receptacle for movement around a first axis of rotation; and a member for impeding the displacement of the door. The member includes a movable piston carried by a body that is attached to the receptacle. The structure further includes a link pivotally mounted on the receptacle and interconnecting the piston and door via first and second connecting points, respectively. The link pivots about a second axis of rotation and the first and second connecting points are located relative to the second axis of rotation so that a rotary movement in the counter-clockwise direction of the first connecting point around the first axis of rotation drives the second connecting point into rotation around the second axis of rotation in the clockwise direction.
US08714609B2
A material handling system includes a body including a first member and a second member. The first member and the second member define a hollow cavity within the body, and a gap disposed between the first member and the second member. The body is in flow communication with a first gas source to provide pressurized gas flow through the gap to generate a lifting force on an object placed adjacent to the body. The body has channels disposed within a central region of the body in flow communication with a second gas source. The channels are arranged to controllably disengage the object from the body.
US08714597B2
A welded joint of a lined pipeline has a main pipe and an extension piece having a generally tubular shape, an inner wall and an annular weld connecting the extension piece to the main pipe. A liner extends through the main pipe and partially into the extension piece. A compression ring includes a flange and a compression portion. The compression portion engages the liner internally and compresses the liner radially outwardly against the extension piece so that the liner is sealed with the compression ring.
US08714592B1
A system for securing a vehicle during transport comprises in combination a vehicle having a frame with at least one deformation zone, multiple tie-downs affixed to the frame at spaced-apart locations, a supporting surface with multiple anchor points at spaced-apart locations, and multiple ties extending between each tie-down and a respective anchor point. Each front and rear side of the frame has at least two tie-downs, and each left and right side of the frame has at least one tie-down. At least two anchor points are located on the supporting surface outwardly from each side of the vehicle. Each tie extends between one tie-down and a respective anchor point at a corresponding side of the vehicle. The ties are selectively arranged in relation to one another to retain the vehicle substantially against movement on the supporting surface but without deforming the deformation zone of the vehicle frame.
US08714587B2
The curtain airbag includes: a curtain bag section configured with cloth panels joined in a bag shape, housed prior to use in a folded state in a vehicle roof side edge section and deploying and inflating downwards when injected with deployment gas; a collision detector for detecting a collision and/or signs of an imminent collision of the vehicle; a gas generator for supplying the deployment gas to the curtain bag section in response to a detection result of the collision detector; and a guide member configured with a cloth panel, rolled up from the bottom of the curtain bag section that has been folded prior to use, via the vehicle width direction inside towards the top of the curtain bag section, the guide member being disposed at a position overlapping with the vehicle front-rear direction position of an interior member provided inside the vehicle compartment.
US08714580B2
A kit for modifying a wheeled apparatus comprises a set of caster unit mounts, a set of caster units, a subframe mounting structure, and a subframe. Each caster unit mount has a caster unit mounting structure and a main frame engaging structure attached to the caster unit mounting structure. The main frame engaging structure is attachable to a main frame and/or a load support structure of the wheeled apparatus. Each caster unit has a mounting portion configured for being secured to the caster unit mounting structure of a respective caster unit mount such that a first-size wheel thereof can rotate about of a rotational axis thereof and pivot about a pivot axis thereof. The subframe mounting structure, which is attachable to the main frame, has a first end portion pivotably attached to the subframe mounting structure and a second end portion having a second size wheel mounting structure integral therewith.
US08714578B2
Safety binding for the practice of ski touring, including a baseplate having a rear end and a front end, the baseplate being adapted to be pivotally mounted relative to a ski; a rear base adapted to be fixed to the ski; a heel lift capable of taking at least a support position in which the heel lift limits the rotation of the baseplate, and a storage position in which the heel lift does not limit the rotation of the baseplate; and a mechanism enabling the baseplate to be alternatively fixed to and released from the rear base. The mechanism includes a locking device capable of switching from a first closed position to a second open position. The binding also includes a release member having an actuation surface adapted to be manipulated by the user, the bias of the actuation surface thereof driving the locking device toward the second open position; and a return member biases the locking device toward their first closed position. The first closed position of the locking device is the only stable position of the mechanism.
US08714577B2
Flexible binding wedges are provided with flexion slots cut in a widthwise direction to allow flexibility when mounted to a sportsboard such as a snowboard. “T” inserts through the wedges provide a mount for boot bindings. Flex adjustment bushings may be inserted into the slots to adjust the flexibility of the wedge when mounted on a sportsboard, e.g., a snowboard. The flexible wedges may be mounted under a top surface of the sportsboard, or even on top of the finished upper surface of the sportsboard.
US08714576B2
The teachings provided herein are generally directed to compact vehicle drive mechanisms that can be used in the design of a foldable, carry-on vehicle. The compact drive mechanisms presented herein, for example, have contributed to the advent of the compact, carry-on bicycles set-forth in the teachings which include drive-and-steering units and drive-and-chassis units.
US08714573B2
A first side-face spline of a hub spindle and a second side-face spline of a constant velocity joint each has a tooth tip formed by tip tilted surfaces tilted from tooth flanks constituting a tooth chevron, an internal angle of the tooth tip is set to be less than 180 degrees, and a tooth tip-side perpendicular distance, which is a perpendicular distance between a tooth tip virtual intersection and a first virtual plane is set larger than a bottom land-side perpendicular distance, which is a perpendicular distance between a bottom land virtual intersection and a second virtual plane.
US08714559B2
A cartridge-type bearing seal includes removably connected stator and rotor sections. The stator section supports a distribution ring that divides an internal annular volume into radially outside and inside portions. The ring has at least one tangentially oriented duct. When pressurized purge fluid is supplied to the outside portion, the fluid flows through the ducts to induce tangential fluid flow within the inside portion, which causes circumferentially uniform fluid pressure in the annular volume adjacent the rotating shaft. The pressurized fluid traverses a flow path along the shaft and eventually out of the bearing housing, to prevent contaminant ingress between the rotating shaft and the bearing housing. This bearing seal eliminates the need to machine a tangentially oriented passage in the bearing housing.
US08714557B2
A mechanical face seal housing includes an annular seal-receiving section, a seal force transfer section that extends axially from the annular-seal receiving section, and an annular contact section axially spaced from the seal-receiving section. An annular spring between the contact section and a support wall provides a bias force against the contact section. The contact section transfers the bias force to the seal-receiving section to provide a sealing force between a graphitic carbon ring and a rotatable seal surface.
US08714551B1
A raffle gaming system having the steps of establishing a desired monetary goal; assigning a monetary value to each of a plurality of raffle tickets; selling the plurality of raffle tickets to at least meet the desired monetary goal; collecting payments from sale of the plurality of raffle tickets; selecting a first raffle ticket of the plurality of raffle tickets sold as a first winner; allocating a first percentage from the payments collected from the sale of the plurality of raffle tickets to an organizer; allocating a second percentage from the payments collected from the sale of the plurality of raffle tickets to the first winner as a first cash prize; and allocating a third percentage from the payments collected from the sale of the plurality of raffle tickets to the first winner as a conditioned prize for unemployment insurance, business development, and/or real estate investment.
US08714546B2
In an image forming apparatus, a paper discharge roller of a paper discharge unit has an upper roller as a driving roller and a lower roller as a driven roller. The lower roller has a nip roller which is fixed to a shaft and holds paper between the nip roller and the upper roller, and forming rollers having a diameter larger than that of the nip roller and arranged on both sides of the nip roller. Since a conveyance speed of the paper is constant, the number of revolutions of the forming roller having a large outer diameter is smaller than that of a nip roller having a small outer diameter. The friction between the forming roller and the paper is lower than that in conventional art. Attachment and accumulation of ink are suppressed, and inconvenience of contamination of the paper with ink upon paper discharge hardly occurs.
US08714535B2
A machine tool comprising a machine column, a work spindle moveable in guides along the machine column in two coordinate axes by a motor and adapted to receive a cutting tool, a machine bed arranged on the front end of the machine column and on the top side of which a horizontal linear guide for a workpiece table is arranged, and a linear motor for moving the workpiece table in the horizontal linear guide in a further coordinate axis. A channel-like chip space for collecting chips accumulating when the workpiece is machined extends on the top side of the machine bed in the direction of the further coordinate axis. The linear motor is arranged on the top side of the machine bed laterally and parallel to the channel-like chip space, wherein first and second guide rails of the horizontal linear guide are arranged on opposite sides of the linear motor.
US08714534B2
A support assembly for servicing a stator frame of a power generator includes a plurality of rails and a trolley. The rails are supported on frame rings of a main housing of the stator frame. The rails have upper surfaces that provide temporary support for lower support surfaces of second laminations of a second stator core once the second laminations are inserted into desired axial positions within the main housing. The trolley is provided for axial movement on the upper surfaces of the rails for inserting the second laminations into the main housing. The trolley includes a lamination-engaging portion including a lamination support surface for supporting upper support surfaces of the second laminations and a plurality of rail wheels provided for axial movement of the trolley within the main housing on the upper surfaces of the rails.
US08714530B2
A fluid-filled vibration damping device including: a partition member having first and second partition plates overlapping, and a holding area formed between overlapping surfaces of center parts of the two partition plates; and a movable membrane held and arranged in the holding area. A claw-shaped part and a perforation window are formed at respective corresponding positions of outer circumference parts of the two partition plates, and a fixing mechanism is constituted with the claw-shaped part latched in a circumference edge part of the perforation window. A widening area is provided between an outer circumference surface of the movable membrane and an inner circumference surface of the holding area by partially making a large distance therebetween. At least one of the two partition plates has a first air vent hole piercing a part constituting a wall part of the widening area.
US08714517B2
Bonnet apparatus to provide live-loading to a seal are described herein. An example bonnet assembly includes a housing having a recessed opening to define a shoulder and a sealing disc disposed within the recessed opening. A biasing element is disposed in the recessed opening between a flange of the sealing disc and the shoulder of the housing to provide a load to a seal to be disposed between the housing and the fluid device. The biasing element biases the sealing disc away from the housing and the biasing element enables the sealing disc to move within the recessed opening relative to the housing when the bonnet assembly is coupled to the fluid device.
US08714513B2
Embodiments of a mold insert assembly and methods of use are disclosed herein. A mold insert assembly includes, but is not limited to a driving member that moves between a retracting position and an extending position, a plurality of first-segment members engaging the driving member and moving between a first retracted position and a first extended position and a plurality of second-segment members proximate the plurality of first-segment members and configured to move between a second retracted position and a second extended position as the driving member moves to the extending position. The plurality of first-segment members and second-segment members cooperate to form a substantially liquid-tight periphery when the driving member is in the extending position. The plurality of first-segment members second-segment members are configured to move towards the first and second retracted positions, respectively when the driving member moves towards the retracting position.
US08714510B2
A case for an electronic device such as a tablet computer includes book configuration and stand configuration. In the stand configuration, the back panel of the holder, against which the electronic device is held, is disposed at an incline with respect to the front panel. The stand configuration is achieved through folding seams in the front panel and pockets in the back panel such that the front panel is folded back such that the front panel exterior surface generally faces the back panel exterior surface and respective front panel corners are folded along the folding seams and disposed within the back panel pockets.
US08714507B1
A trivet having three or more lobes connected serially to one another by elastomeric connectors, such that each lobe is coupled to an adjacent lobe on each side to form a continuous loop of the three or more lobes, where the trivet can be converted from a closed configuration with the lobes directed inwardly to an open configuration, with the lobes directed outwardly, by rotating the lobes 180° on the connectors.
US08714504B2
Arrangement for attaching a base (10), a tray, a platform or a similar support to a wall with the help of turning arms (4), (5) attached to the mentioned wall in which case the mentioned base can be moved with the help of the arms (4), (5). The base can be moved outwards from the wall in horizontal direction at the first stage of the moving in which case the first arm (4) and the second arm (5) of the arms are both hinged to be turning out of the wall in horizontal direction and the mentioned base (10) is attached to the moveable ends of the arms (4), (5) and that in the arrangement when the moving of the base (10) sideways is further continued, an elevation adjustment bar (7) belonging to the second arm (5) and sliding in the height direction is arranged to slide downwards and at the same time to set the support elements of the base (10) lower at the location of the second arm (5) in order to achieve a tilted position for the base (10).
US08714503B1
An exemplary quiver mount permits a user to stably mount various quivers to a tree stand. The quiver mount includes a mounting body having spaced mounting body flanges extending from a mounting body base and defining a mounting body valley sized to receive a tree stand limb. Threaded members extending into the mounting body valley engage the limb and help secure the mounting body to the tree stand. The mounting body base preferably includes pairs of equally-spaced quiver bracket mounting apertures (e.g., 1.3125 inches apart). Various quiver brackets that removably receive different quivers may be secured to the mounting body via the quiver bracket mounting apertures. A quiver bracket mount between the quiver bracket and the mounting body allows rotation of the quiver bracket without its removal and replacement. Quiver gripping arms extending from the mounting body form a quiver gripping mouth for removably securing differently-configured quivers.
US08714490B2
A floor module with roller conveyors which define an aircraft cargo hold floor with a loading level is provided. The floor modules have cross-members to which the roller conveyor is attached. A rail with two side pieces is provided, between which rollers are rotatably mounted in such a way that they protrude above upper edges of the rails. The side pieces are joined to one another by a floor section. To improve the strength of the floor module, the floor section has a bent region inclined in cross-section at an angle to the loading level, the bent region dividing the floor section into one partial section lying higher and one partial section lying lower relative to the upper edges.
US08714472B2
Registration and inspection systems and methods for use on a winder are disclosed. The systems and methods include scanning a region proximate a winding module with one or more sensors to determine a product defect. The product defect is then associated with a winding process parameter, such as percent roll build information or the identity of the particular sensor to first detect the defect. The winding process parameter is used to classify the defect into one or more defect profiles. The defect profiles can be based at least in part on segmenting the roll build of a web onto a winding module into a plurality of inspection windows and segmenting a plurality of sensors into a plurality of inspection sensor segments.
US08714468B2
The plastic scrap extruding apparatus has a simple structure and is capable of suitably crushing plastic scraps and sending them to a heating cylinder 10. The extruding apparatus comprises: a housing 12 holding a rear part of the heating cylinder 10 and having a material inlet 13; a large rotary blade 20 for crushing the plastic materials and rotatable with a screw 11; small rotary blades 21, 22 being located on the axially front and rear sides of the large rotary blade 20 and rotatable with the large rotary blade 20; and a fixed blade 30 being fixed to the housing 12 and capable of working with the rotary blades. A large rotary blade 20 passable groove 40, through which the large rotary blade 20 can be rotated, is formed in a lower part of the housing 12.
US08714465B2
A valve for atomizing fluid is specified, in particular an injection or metering valve for fuel injection or exhaust-gas systems of motor vehicles, which valve has a valve seat body (11) with a valve seat (14) which surrounds a valve opening (13), a perforated injection disc (17) which bears against the front side of the valve seat body (12) downstream of the valve opening (13) and has at least one spray hole (18) which is offset radially with respect to the valve opening (13), and an inflow cavity (19) which is present between the valve opening (13) and the at least one spray hole (18). For the inexpensive and reproducible production of a stable, corrosion-resistant perforated injection disc (18) with improved atomization of the ejected fluid, the inflow cavity (19) is formed by at least one depression (20) which is made in that disc face of the perforated injection disc (17) which faces the valve seat body (12), in such a way that part of the depression (20) protrudes into the valve opening (13) and the remaining part of the depression (20) is covered by the valve seat body (12). The at least one spray hole (18) is made in that part of the depression (20) which is covered by the valve seat body (12), close to the depression wall, which faces away from the valve opening (13), into the bottom (201) of the depression (20).
US08714464B2
Various embodiments provide a bicycle misting system or apparatus. Example embodiments include a manual (e.g., trigger-activated) or automated (e.g., valve-activated) system that is sell-contained, small, and light-weight. Various embodiments improve safety, allow convenient interchangeability of the fluid reservoir, and enable easy installation on a bicycle with or without a mounting system on the bicycle itself. Embodiments also allow the rider to select a variety of spray types, stream, spray, or mist depending on the intended use or amount of fluid desired for each release. The various embodiments provide for an improved cooling fluid delivery system of design simplicity, ease of use, and interchangeability that allows a cyclist an evaporative cooling concept safely, efficiently and conveniently, while riding in conditions of elevated or extreme temperatures.
US08714462B1
A method of making a special track assembly for supporting a train, including providing a special track segment, and attaching a number of ribs made of a resilient material to exterior surfaces of the special track segment. Adjacent ones of the ribs are spaced apart from each other by predetermined distances to define gaps therebetween respectively. The method also includes attaching one or more wall portions of the resilient material to the ribs, for bridging each gap to at least partially define a number of cavities between the adjacent ribs respectively. Each wall portion is deflectable for dissipating energy transmitted by movement of the special track segment relative to the supporting material which supports the special track assembly.
US08714460B2
A valve unit for adjusting gas flow to a two-stage combustion apparatus includes a valve member that is moved by a magnetic field generated by a coil to vary gas flow rate through the valve unit, and first and second connectors configured to receive a high-stage activation signal and a low-stage activation signal, respectively. The valve unit includes a valve controller that is configured to control the coil to establish a high-stage gas flow rate while the high-stage activation signal is present, and configured to control the coil to establish a low-stage gas flow rate while the low stage activation signal is present up to a predetermined low stage time limit. The valve controller is further configured to establish at least one gas flow rate between the low-stage and high-stage gas flow rates when the low stage activation signal is present beyond the predetermined low stage time limit.
US08714456B2
The aim is to reduce the influence of the filming environment of an image that represents a two-dimensional code when determining a color that has been added to a cell in the two-dimensional code. Disclosed is a two-dimensional code (100) in which a mark is added to each cell group in an information color or a combination color that is correlated with the information indicated by the cell group, and the mark for each cell (C) in the cell group is added in a specified coordinate color within a component domain from among a component model representing the distribution of color components, that is disposed in a positional relationship void of mutual interference.
US08714455B2
There is provided an external illumination apparatus capable of increasing flexibility of illumination, the external illumination apparatus including a CPU and a memory so as to control lighting of a plurality of illumination LEDs with reference to a lighting pattern stored in the memory, wherein this lighting control is executed by a lighting command from an optical information reading apparatus.
US08714425B2
A bag configured to be worn or carried on the back by a user having a cinched top and including padded straps which extend over the user's shoulders. Each of the straps includes a strap member which may be a cord or a drawstring which is attached to the bottom of the bag and loops around the perimeter of the top of the bag. Each of the straps also includes a padded member which encircles a portion of the strap member to provide additional comfort to the user by cushioning the strap member and distributing the weight of the bag over a larger surface area.
US08714423B1
A holster for accommodating a handgun having an attached, offset accessory, including walls defining a cavity for receiving the handgun and the attached accessory, a retention means that is capable of retaining a handgun and accessory in the holster, wherein the retention means includes a lever that is pivotally connected, via a pivot pin, to the first side wall approximately between a finger button end and an engagement end, wherein the engagement end includes a locking portion, formed on a second side of the engagement end, wherein the lever is pivotable between an engaged position and a disengaged position and wherein the lever is biased, via a spring means, to the engaged position, such that when the lever is in the engaged position, the locking portion may extend inside the cavity and inside the inner surface of the trigger guard of a handgun that is secured into the holster.
US08714421B2
A wearable assembly for carrying a device is disclosed. The wearable assembly has a plurality of adjacent staggered bands in which each band is engaged with at least one adjacent band such that the bands slide relative to the adjacent band. The wearable assembly may have a locking mechanism for securing the bands in place, and a platform for holding a device. The user may then move and position the platform that holds the electronic device relative to the bands, and may rotate and swivel the electronic device to a desired angle of orientation.
US08714419B2
A novel and improved automobile spare tire securement and anti-theft system having a cable a yoke and a sheath covering the cable from the underside surface of the automobile to the yoke. The sheath provided in several example embodiments, including a unitary piece, separate pieces, adjustable height, and combinations of the same. The current invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and accomplishes the surprising result of effective anti-theft protection, ease of access to the tire, reliable access to the tire, in an uncomplicated and cost effective manner.
US08714410B2
A dispenser (20) for consumable products uses a single motor (40) to both drive a spinner (75) to mix the product and move a valve assembly (42) to open and close the dispenser (20). The valve assembly (42), which is axially aligned with the motor shaft (44) may be opened and closed by fixing an externally threaded shaft (46) on a drive shaft (44) extending from the motor (40) and then rotatably mounting an internally threaded flywheel (50) on the threaded shaft (46). A valve stem (64) may then be fixedly attached to the flywheel (50). When the motor (40) energizes, the flywheel (50) and valve stem (64) axially translate along the nut (46) to open the valve assembly (42). When the motor (40) de-energizes, the flywheel (50) and valve stem (64) axially translate along the nut (46) in an opposite direction to close the valve assembly (42).
US08714402B2
An assembly for forming a container that contains food product and including a thermoformed sleeve and a base. The sleeve includes a frustoconical side wall, an upper lip, and a lower lip. The side wall defines an inner surface, an outer surface, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced handling features including an outer surface indentation and a corresponding inner surface protrusion. The upper lip projects generally radially inwardly from an upper end of the sleeve and the lower lip projects generally radially outwardly from the lower end. The base is formed apart from the sleeve, and is assembleable to the lower end for closing off the lower opening. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of handling features are wedge-shaped. In yet other embodiments, the base is a thermoformed part, and is ultrasonically welded to the lower lip.
US08714400B2
A pressure vessel having reduced weight while satisfying required design conditions has polygonal upper and bottom walls, a side wall between the upper and bottom walls, an upper curved surface portion connecting the upper wall's peripheral edge and the side wall's upper end wall by curved surfaces convexed outward, and a lower curved surface portion connecting the bottom wall's peripheral edge and the side wall's lower end by curved surfaces convexed outward. The upper wall center portion is thicker than the upper curved surface portion, which is thicker than an upper wall annular portion formed between the upper wall center portion and the upper curved surface portion. The bottom wall center portion is thicker than the lower curved surface portion, which is thicker than a bottom wall annular portion formed between the bottom wall center portion and the lower curved surface portion.
US08714392B2
A lid includes a first surface defining a cavity, a first joint defining an inlet, a second joint defining an outlet, a center hole communicating with the inlet, a circular channel communicating with the outlet and extending along a periphery of the first surface, and a number of branch channels radially extending from the center hole to the circular channel. The first surface includes a screen plate retained within the cavity, capable of letting the side-effect particles adhere thereon. Each of the plurality of branch channels communicates with the center hole and the circular channel, allowing liquid of a predetermined temperature to circulate within the lid.
US08714378B2
A method for manufacturing a railcar coupler knuckle includes providing a first mold section having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a first coupler knuckle mold cavity. The method includes providing a second mold section having internal walls defining at least in part perimeter boundaries of a second coupler knuckle mold cavity. The second coupler mold cavity of the second mold section is offset from the first coupler mold cavity of the first mold section. The method includes closing the first and second mold sections and at least partially filling the first and second coupler knuckle mold cavities with a molten alloy, the molten alloy solidifying after filling to form the coupler knuckle.
US08714377B2
An energy absorbing coupler for railway vehicles includes a coupler anchor, a coupler mechanism supported to the coupler anchor by a deformation tube and draft gear element, and a plurality of energy absorbing devices associated with the coupler anchor. The energy absorbing devices each include two mating components in frictional engagement with one another. Sliding movement between contacting surfaces of the two components occurs when energy is applied to the coupler mechanism, thereby creating friction and dissipating the applied energy at least in part in the form of heat. The two mating components may include a male part, such as a mounting bolt, in mating engagement within a female part, such as a collar. An inside diameter of the collar may be slightly smaller than an outside diameter of the mounting bolt to create a press-fit engagement.
US08714370B2
The invention generally relates to a footwear clamp bag accessory used to clamp a pair of shoes together and couple the clamped shoes to some other object using a claw-lock/clip. The footwear clamp bag accessory can include a base, at least two clamps, a locking mechanism, and a claw-lock/clip. The base can be the main structure that at least a portion of the clamps ride and that the claw-lock/clip is affixed to via a strap/cord. The at least two clamps can be a left clamp and a right clamp. Each of the left and right clamps can include a portion that rides a portion of the main structure. Further, clamp pads can couple to the left clamp and right clamp.
US08714364B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a rotor for a screening apparatus and a rotor structure for a screening apparatus. The rotor structure is particularly suitable in screening fiber suspensions of the pulp and paper industry. The apparatus relates to a novel rotor construction, and especially to a novel means of fastening a turbulence element on the rotor surface. The rotor is provided with easily replaceable turbulence elements so that at least a part of the rotor has at least one area —having a surface configuration different from the remaining rotor surface, on which area the turbulence element is fastened.
US08714359B2
[Problem] To provide a rotating classifier which can keep classification performance high and which can prevent blockages caused by biomass and the like.[Means for Resolution] The rotating classifier is characterized in that: comb teeth-like protrusion portions protruding toward a fixed member side are provided on top of rotary classification fins at intervals along the circumferential direction of the rotating classifier fins; a first gap is provided between an upper end portion of each of the comb teeth-like protrusion portions and a lower surface of the fixed member; a second gap formed between a protrusion portion and a protrusion portion adjacent to the protrusion portion is connected to the first gap; and an air stream flowing from the radial outside to the radial inside of the comb teeth-like protrusion portions through the first gap and the second gap is formed due to the rotation of the rotary classification fins.
US08714351B2
A protective cover for a tablet computer includes a front board, a back board having a hinge, and a spine board. A cradle assembly affixed to a first portion of the back board releasably grips the tablet computer. A riser board is attached to the back of the cradle assembly. Attachment means removably attach the riser board to the back board to provide an adjustable angle between the cradle assembly and a second portion of the back board. The attachment means may be a mechanical stopper, a magnet, a clasp, a rivet, or an adhesive. The protective cover may include a wrapping that conceals the front board, the back board, and the spine board and that provides a pattern, a logo, or a pleasing image.
US08714349B2
A mechanical device for the disposal of consumed chewing gum includes a base having a recessed flanged collar at its top to accommodate a cap. The device further includes a rubber gasket, optional securing clips, a plug on the underside of the base, a paper tray, a locking insert, and a dispensing paper pack. The cap is fitted to the base by placing, snapping, or screwing the cap over the recessed flanged collar on the base. The cap has an opening traversing its top to allow the withdrawal of a single paper sheet to wrap consumed chewing gum for disposal. The paper tray is attached to the inside bottom portion of the cap. A gasket is mounted to the top inside portion of the base below the flanged collar for disposal of gum into the base cavity. The case can be emptied by removing the plug on the underside of the base.
US08714345B2
A looped material band (100) which includes at least one flat strip (2) having two reversible splice areas (3) in which the serrations (3a, 3b) only extend along a part of its width so that, when the material band is assembled in a loop around two pulleys (10a, 10b), the strands of the material band, which extend respectively between the two pulleys, are continuous and without any splice at least along a portion (9) of their width, regardless of the rotational position of the looped material band.
US08714342B2
A method for gapping substrates conveyed through a vacuum chamber is disclosed. The method may include positioning an upstream substrate outside the vacuum chamber as a downstream substrate is conveyed within the vacuum chamber, detecting a position of the downstream substrate within the vacuum chamber and conveying the upstream substrate into the vacuum chamber at a conveyance rate greater than a conveyance rate of the downstream substrate to set a gap between the downstream substrate and the upstream substrate.
US08714339B2
A device and a method for transferring printed products conveyed in a stream of individual products from a feed unit to a removal unit makes it possible to divert the printed products from a feed direction to a removal direction. The feed unit includes a first conveyor and a transfer region, and the removal unit includes a takeover region with a support surface for the printed products. The transfer region is located higher than the takeover region. The removal unit of the device includes at least a second conveyor which forms the support surface. A pressing element is arranged above the support surface which can be lowered toward the support surface or toward a printed product moving in the direction of the support surface. The pressing element can be lifted up from the support surface or a printed product positioned thereon.
US08714338B2
A handrail (2) for an escalator or a moving sidewalk is designed such that the same consists only of a handle rail (3a) and a fitted tractive means (91, 9b) and has guiding surfaces (11h-11n) which are complementary to guiding surfaces (5f-5m) on a top side (7) of the balustrade. The handle rail (3a) or a cover of the handle rail (3a) is made of tire-resistant, non-flammable, or flame-retardant material.
US08714335B2
A method and device for evaluating currency bills using a strapping unit that allows a currency evaluating device to automatically strap stacks of currency bills. Currency bills are placed in an input receptacle and an evaluating unit processes each currency bill one at a time. The currency bills are then transported to a plurality of output receptacles. A stack moving mechanism transports a stack of currency bills, which contains a predetermined number of currency bills, from each of the plurality of output receptacles to the strapping unit or a strapping position. Each stack of currency bills is strapped using strapping material.
US08714306B2
The present disclosure relates to a perimetric protection system for buildings undergoing construction including at least two masts (1) spaced from one another and each formed by two vertical U-profiles (1); a horizontal platform (3) supported on at least two horizontal beams (300) attached to the masts by means of first attachment elements or anchors (130). The system further comprises: at least two inclined beams (100) parallel to one another, which are attached: to the masts (1) by means of at least two second attachment elements (110) forming a first angle (α); to the horizontal beams (300) by means of at least two third attachment elements (310) forming a second angle (β); and, the at least two inclined beams (100) having a free end (100a) in the third attachment elements (310), such that their height is greater than the height of the horizontal platform (2); an inclined protective panel (120) attached to said at least two inclined beams (100).
US08714300B2
A silencer for a firearm has a substantially cylindrical external housing with an attachment part, an intermediate part with a number of elements, and an outer muzzle part. The silencer can be releasably connected to an attachment element mounted on the barrel of a firearm. The silencer's attachment part is provided with a number of cut-outs round its circumference. The cut-outs are composed of a first portion extending longitudinally and a second portion extending over the circumference of the attachment part. The two portions are connected by an intermediate portion. In the first portion, at least one of the cut-outs will be provided with at least one bead and at least one slot is provided adjacent to the first portion extending over the circumference of the attachment part.
US08714299B2
A rigid removable case for a portable electronic device may have an acoustic isolation mechanism between the rigid removable case and an acoustic component on the electronic device. The acoustic isolation mechanism may be a compressible component that may provide an air seal between an interior surface of the removable case and an exterior surface of the electronic device. The acoustic isolation mechanism may be constructed of several different materials and several different manufacturing processes.
US08714293B2
A constant velocity joint includes an outer housing and an inner race disposed inside the outer housing and spaced therefrom. The outer housing and inner race are respectively rotatable about a first and second rotation axes, and moveable relative to one another to change an angle between the rotation axes. A cage, disposed between the outer housing and the inner race, has cage windows defined therethrough. A plurality of balls, each retained in a corresponding cage window roll along corresponding outer housing grooves and inner race grooves, respectively defined on an inner surface of the outer housing and an outer surface of the inner race. Rotation of one of the outer housing and the inner race about their respective rotation axis, causes rotation of the other. A cooling member disposed on the outer housing contacts at least a portion of its outer surface. Powertrains and vehicles are also disclosed.
US08714292B1
A motorized wheeled chair assembly facilitates movement by a person while seated on a chair. The assembly includes a frame and a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame. A seat and a motor are coupled to the frame. The motor is operationally coupled to one of the wheels defining a motorized wheel wherein the motor rotates the motorized wheel. A handle is coupled to the frame by an arm having a first end coupled to the handle and a second end removably coupled to the frame. A motor control is coupled to the handle and operationally coupled to the motor.
US08714291B2
A cleaning machine having two front wheels and two rear wheels supporting a chassis, the chassis having a central spine, the cleaning machine including a first electrical cell for propelling the cleaning machine, said first electrical cell being positioned between one of the front wheels and one of the rear wheels and outboard of the central spine.
US08714288B2
The present invention relates to a hybrid variant automobile drive which improves a fuel efficiency of the automobile while retaining an acceleration profile of the automobile. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an engine, wheels, and/or a supplemental motor. The engine primarily drives the wheels, but can be aided by the supplemental motor. An amount of force supplied by the engine can be dependent on an amount of force supplied by the supplemental motor. The supplemental motor uses alternative energy sources aside from the fuel used by the engine to drive the wheels. The supplemental motor can be powered by a capacitor which is charged by an energy generation unit. The energy generation unit can generate energy using, for example, solar panels, a ram induction generator, a regenerative braking unit, and/or a heat exchange unit.
US08714287B2
According to the present invention, since a rotor shaft of a motor can be connected/disconnected with/from an input shaft of a transmission, it is possible to reduce or block vibration and noise between the motor and the transmission, thereby improving durability of the motor and achieving smooth gearshift. Further, when a vehicle is driven with the engine directly connected with the input shaft of the transmission, it is possible to easily implement driving sub-control and regenerative braking control by the motor, thereby achieving good properties against noise and vibration.
US08714284B2
An apparatus and method for producing pressure signals which indicate when weight-on-bit, during the drilling of a wellbore, exceed a predetermined, upper limit. The apparatus includes a first mandrel and a second mandrel that inserts into and is axially moveable within the first mandrel. The position of the second mandrel may be dependent upon the balance of a biasing member's biasing strength and the weight-on-bit exerted on the drill bit. If weight-on-bit values overcome the biasing strength of the biasing member, the second mandrel may move uphole within the first mandrel and create a pressure signal that is detectable at surface so that the operator is made aware that weight-on-bit values exceed the upper limit.
US08714273B2
A seal system for forming a fluid seal from an inner tubular member outwardly against an outer tubular member. The seal system includes a packer element that is radially expandable from a reduced diameter, unset condition to an enlarged diameter, set condition; and a radially expandable seal element surrounding the packer element and creating a fluid sealing engagement outwardly against the outer tubular member.
US08714270B2
An anchor assembly (400) for anchoring a downhole tool in a wellbore tubular. The anchor assembly (400) includes a plurality of slip arm assemblies each having first and second arms (412, 414) hingeably coupled together. The first and second arms (412, 414) each have teeth (418, 426) on one end. A first sleeve (402) is rotatably associated with each of the first arms (412) and a second sleeve (404) is rotatably associated with each of the second arms (414) such that the anchor assembly (400) has a running configuration in which the slip arm assemblies are substantially longitudinally oriented and an operating configuration in which the first and second arms (412, 414) of each slip arm assembly form an acute angle relative to one another such that the teeth (418, 426) of the first and second arms (412, 414) define the radially outermost portion of the anchor assembly (100).
US08714269B2
Hydraulically actuated standoffs for downhole tools are described. An example apparatus includes a downhole tool having a body defining an outer surface and a plurality of standoffs distributed about the outer surface. The example apparatus also includes a hydraulic circuit operatively coupled to the standoffs. The hydraulic circuit includes a plurality of hydraulically actuated pistons, each of which is operatively coupled to a respective one of the standoffs to extend and retract the respective standoff. The pistons are hydraulically coupled and sized to extend or retract the respective standoffs at substantially the same rate in response to a hydraulic control signal.
US08714261B2
A technique for subsea operations utilizes a surface vessel to perform the installation and retrieval of submersible pumps or other tools with respect to a subsea well. A submersible pump is conveyed from a surface vessel to a subsea installation which is used to temporarily secure the submersible pump. Subsequently, the surface vessel is again used in cooperation with a conveyance to deliver the submersible pump to a desired location in a wellbore beneath the subsea installation.
US08714256B2
Apparatus and methods of treating a subterranean formation including introducing a coiled tubing string into a wellbore to a lowest wellbore zone, wherein the string comprises a single packer on a bottom hole assembly; setting a packer at the lowest zone; introducing an acid fracture treatment through the string at a single zone; introducing bridging fluid comprising polyacid particulates through the string; reducing fluid injecting to unset the packer; circulating a portion of fluid in the wellbore while moving the string in the wellbore; introducing a final portion of fluid with a higher concentration of polyacid particulates to further bridge packer formation and consolidation wherein the concentration of particulates in the final portion of fluid is higher than when introducing bridging fluid comprising polyacid particulates through the string; squeezing the bridging fluid to isolate a perforation into the zone; moving the string to next zone; and repeating introducing and moving.
US08714252B2
A perforation tool assembly comprises an energy train, a first perforation gun, and a second perforation gun. The energy train comprises a moderator to reduce the speed of propagation of a detonation in a direction parallel to the axis of the perforation tool assembly. The first perforation gun comprises a plurality of explosive charges coupled to a first portion of the energy train. The second perforation gun comprises a plurality of explosive charges coupled to a second portion of the energy train, wherein the second portion of the energy train is coupled to the first portion of the energy train.
US08714248B2
Gravel packing a region of a wellbore is carried out using one or more hydrophobically-surfaced particulate materials as the gravel. Placing the gravel pack is carried out using an aqueous carrier liquid, with hydrophobic particulate material suspended in the liquid and a gas to wet the surface of the particles and bind them together as agglomerates. The presence of gas lowers the density of the agglomerates relative to the particulate material in them, so that transport of the particulates is improved. The invention enables the placing of longer, uniformly packed, gravel packs, especially in horizontal and near horizontal wellbores.
US08714241B2
An apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a borehole in an earth formation includes a carrier configured to be deployed in the borehole and a shape memory device disposed at the carrier that includes a shape memory material having a glass transition temperature. The shape memory material is configured to modify the glass transition temperature to a temperature lower than a borehole temperature in response to a trigger, and change from a glass state to a rubber state in response to the borehole temperature to prevent fluid flowing through the shape memory device.
US08714239B2
The present invention is directed to processes (methods) for harnessing flow-induced electrostatic energy in an oil and/or gas well and using this energy to power electrical devices (e.g., flowmeters, electrically-actuated valves, etc.) downhole. The present invention is also directed to corresponding systems through which such methods are implemented.
US08714236B2
A zone-control unit for use in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the zone-control unit includes a heat exchanger, an inlet piping assembly coupled with the heat exchanger for supplying fluid to the heat exchanger, an outlet piping assembly coupled with the heat exchanger for receiving fluid from the heat exchanger, a bracket that maintains the inlet piping assembly and the outlet piping assembly in positional relationship, and an ancillary component coupled with the heat exchanger.
US08714225B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for bonding wafers by use of microwave energy. Various components that facilitate relatively quick and efficient bonding provided by microwave energy are disclosed. In certain embodiments, devices and methods for applying desirable compression to the wafers can be implemented. In certain embodiments, devices and methods for providing a controlled gas environment such as vacuum can be implemented. In certain embodiments, devices and methods for maintaining the integrity of microwave mode of operation during the bonding process can be implemented. In certain embodiments, devices and methods for increasing throughput of the bonding process can be implemented.
US08714219B2
Methods of repairing tire portions have steps that include removing at least part of the damaged portion of the tire to form an aperture or opening through the tire; forming one or more grooves in the tire adjacent to and extending from the aperture; placing at least one repair reinforcement within each of the one or more grooves; placing a patch on the tire to cover the aperture and each repair reinforcement; and, applying material to fill the remainder of the opening.
US08714218B2
A pneumatic tire is configured such that: paired first main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction are provided on the two sides of a tire equator line in a tread portion, respectively; a distance between a center position of each first main groove and the tire equator line is set at 8% to 20% of a ground contact width W; a first land portion is defined between these first main grooves; multiple sub-grooves each having a curved shape are formed in each of both edge portions of the first land portion at intervals in the tire circumferential direction; one end of each sub-groove is opened to the corresponding first main groove, and the other end of the sub-groove is terminated inside the first land portion; a rib portion continuously extending in the tire circumferential direction is formed in an area of the first land portion on the tire equator line; and a relation between a length (L) of a center line of each sub-groove and a pitch length (P) of the sub-grooves in the tire circumferential direction satisfies 1.1×P≦L≦2.0×P.
US08714216B2
Various exemplary implementations of the principles described herein provide a cover for a golf club. The golf club may include a head and a shaft, the head having a heel end and a toe end, and the shaft connected at the heel end. The cover may include a toe portion substantially shrouding the toe end of the club head and a heel portion substantially shrouding the heel end of the club head and a first length of the shaft. The cover may include a sleeve portion extending from the heel portion and substantially shrouding a second length of the shaft, the second length being greater than the first length. The sleeve portion may have an opening opposite the heel portion. The cover may include a first pull member on the heel portion.
US08714206B2
Coatings for protecting and insulating fluid and/or gas transport conduits, such as off-shore oil and gas pipelines operating at temperatures of up to 100° C. in water depths above 1,000 meters. The outer surface of the conduit is provided with at least one layer of thermal insulation comprising polystyrene or styrene-based thermoplastic, having low thermal conductivity, high thermal softening point, high compressive strength and high compressive creep resistance.
US08714205B2
A delayed degradability drip irrigation pipe including a water conduit at a water conduit pressure and a plurality of drip irrigation outlets, each communicating with the water conduit and providing a water output at a pressure below the water conduit pressure, at least the water conduit being formed at least partially of a degradable material and also including a degradability delayer which provides a desired delay prior to failure of the water conduit but permits eventual degradation of the degradable material under predetermined conditions.
US08714204B2
A free venting pipe and method of forming same, comprising a permeable tubular core member with at least one permeable hoop reinforcement layer around the core member; a substantially non-permeable membrane layer positioned outside of the hoop reinforcement layer and at least one permeable tensile reinforcement layer positioned outside of the membrane layer whereby a free volume annulus does not exist between any of the layers of the free venting pipe. The hoop and tensile reinforcement layers are comprised of a laminate construction.
US08714190B2
A metal plate for a dual plate check valve includes a substantially circular segment shaped plate member of a predetermined substantially uniform thickness and is pivotally mounted to enable rotation about an axis substantially parallel and adjacent to a chord. The plate member has a central portion and two extreme end portions distal to the central portion. The end portions are provided with reinforcements thereby increasing the thickness of the plate member in the end portions, the reinforcements being located so that when the plate member of the check valve is in a closed position, the end portions with reinforcements are in a radially outward direction from the valve seat of the check valve. When back pressure acts on the plate member, the reinforcements enable the plate member to distort substantially uniformly to maintain sealing contact with the valve seat.
US08714184B1
An improved ball type valve rotator is provided that includes a ball cage that may include an inner flange and outer walls that are connected to opposing inner and outer portions of a middle flange from which multiple ramps extend. The inner flange and outer walls may define respective boundaries of pockets that hold bearing balls and springs so that the bearing balls and springs are transversely confined between components that may be formed from a single piece of material.
US08714182B2
Disclosed is a valve for use in in-floor pool cleaning systems. The valve has a housing with an inlet port, an internal cavity and multiple outlet ports. A drive source, which can be an impeller positioned in the cavity and in fluid communication with the inlet port, is directly or indirectly (such as by a gear assembly) connected to a fluid control plate that has one or more apertures. As fluid enters the cavity through the inlet port the drive rotates the fluid control plate. As the plate rotates the aperture(s) rotate to allow the fluid to pass through the aperture(s) and into the respective outlet ports.
US08714179B2
A solenoid valve wherein a valve sleeve and a solenoid case can easily be formed coaxially and manufacturing costs are reduced. The solenoid valve of the present invention comprises a valve sleeve 41 provided with a spool 60 axially movable in said valve sleeve 41, a solenoid case 21 mounted to a case mounting groove 43 formed near an axial rear end of said valve sleeve 41, and a molded body 23 mounted inside said solenoid case 21 and provided with a coil 22 in said molded body 23, and a case opening portion 25 formed at an axial end of said solenoid case 21 is engaged with said case mounting groove 43, and a concave portion 29 is formed at an axial end of said molded body 23 and said axial rear end of said valve sleeve 41 is fitted to said concave portion 29.
US08714176B2
The invention provides a protection system for a fluid compartment of variable volume. The protection system comprises a detection means for detecting when the volume of the fluid compartment is outside a predetermined acceptable limit. The protection system also comprises a valve arrangement mountable on at least one port that is in selective fluid communication with the fluid compartment. The protection system further comprises an actuator, wherein the detection means is coupled to the valve arrangement via the actuator. When the detection means detects that the volume of the fluid compartment is outside the predetermined limit, the actuator causes the valve arrangement to change state and alters the volume of the fluid compartment. The protection system can be used with a compensator to protect a movable part of the compensator from damage.
US08714161B2
The present invention relates to an electronic cigarette with solid tobacco substance, which includes a shell with a mouthpiece at one end; a reservoir in the shell for storing tobacco substance; an atomizing device in the shell having an atomizing cup, an atomizer in the atomizing cup for vaporizing tobacco substance; and an aerosol passage connecting the mouthpiece with the atomizing cup; and a guiding unit for drawing tobacco substance from the reservoir to the atomizing device. The atomizing cup is accommodated in the reservoir, the guiding unit penetrates sidewall of the atomizing cup and extends in the reservoir, and solid tobacco substance encases the atomizing cup and guiding unit therein. The present invention solves the problem of solid tobacco substance melting slowly and uneasy assembly of the cigarette; and obtains to improve the melting efficiency of solid tobacco substance and facilitate the assembly.
US08714160B2
An apparatus for performing a transesophageal cardiovascular procedure includes an elongated tubular main access device having a first lumen with an open proximal end and a distal side opening, and a second lumen with a rigid outer wall and a collapsible inner wall. The second lumen is adapted to receive an elongated probe or surgical device. The apparatus further includes an inflatable sealing component on the outside of the main access device above and below the side opening, and a first fluid conduit extending along the main access device for inflating the sealing component so that when the main access device is inserted into a patient's esophagus and the sealing component is inflated. The portion of the esophagus opposite the side opening is isolated from the remainder of the esophagus above and below the side opening.
US08714156B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of ventilators, and, more specifically, to a ventilator system that addresses respiratory distress due to the onset of an epidemic or pandemic disease state. In particular, the present invention is a ventilator system that can be manufactured quickly with minimal skill requirements and employed rapidly in response to epidemic respiratory disease conditions.
US08714155B2
A liquid trap cup and a liquid trap assembly using the same are provided. The liquid trap cup comprises a hollow cup tube with a upper portion and a lower portion, a piston element with a top portion and a tail portion and a liquid discharge structure, in which the piston element is arranged airtight in the lower portion and is movable between a start point and an end point of the lower portion so as to control the opening and the closing of the liquid discharge structure. The liquid trap assembly includes the liquid trap cup and a multi-necked adapter tube with an expanded-plate structure, in which expanded-plate structure can be tightly sealed with the liquid trap. The liquid trap assembly is useful to a breathing system.
US08714150B2
An apparatus including a first cartridge, a sensor, and a controller. The first cartridge can include a first release device configured to release a first substance into a housing. The controller can be configured to receive data from the sensor. The controller can determine an amount of first substance released by the first cartridge based on the data and estimate a remaining amount of first substance in the first cartridge based on the determined amount of first substance.
US08714148B2
A locking apparatus for locking a cooking device door is provided that includes a locking element, a motor for moving the locking element, and a stop in the cooking device door which restricts the movement of the locking element in a locking position. In order to provide a locking apparatus for locking a cooking device door with improved properties in terms of reliability of the lock, the locking apparatus includes a device for detecting a core variable for a movement path covered by the locking element.
US08714144B2
A system and related methods for interchanging barrels on a gun and packaging such components is described herein. Preferably, the system includes a barrel having a first end, a second end, and a shaft between the first end and the second end. In one embodiment, the barrel includes a clamping screw notch and a barrel indexing surface formed on the shaft. The system further includes a breech block having a barrel housing formed therein having a first end, a second end, and a hollow core therebetween for receiving the barrel, and an indexing pin positioned to engage the barrel indexing surface upon receipt of the barrel through the barrel housing. The first end of the barrel housing is adapted to engage the receiver of the gun. The second end of the barrel housing includes a clamp and a clamping screw orifice formed therein for receiving a clamping screw. Preferably a portion of the clamping screw extends partially into the barrel housing to engage the clamping screw notch upon receipt of the barrel through the barrel housing, although alternatives such as a set screw are also disclosed. Tightening of (1) the clamping screw within the clamping screw orifice or (2) the set screw removably joins the barrel to the barrel housing.
US08714140B2
A method and system for controlling an injection valve has the following steps: recording a voltage curve of a voltage present at a piezoelectric actuator of the injection valve and a time characteristic curve of an electric charge which is shifted in a circuit with the piezoelectric actuator during a reference injection, computationally determining a force curve of a force applied by the piezoelectric actuator to a moving closing element of the injection valve during the reference injection from the voltage curve and the time characteristic curve of the electric charge, determining a location of a maximum of the force curve,—specifying an activation time instant and/or an activation duration and/or an activation pulse intensity for at least one subsequent injection as a function of a time offset between an activation time instant selected for the reference injection and the maximum of the force curve.
US08714139B2
A dual-phase spring assembly configured for use with a fuel injector system includes a metal main body and a rubber ring. The main body includes a base integrally connected to a circumferential wall having a radially-canted lip. The base defines a central opening. The radially-canted lip angles away from a center of the main body. The rubber ring secures over the base and to an internal surface of the circumferential wall. The rubber ring covers a ledge of the base, while the radially-canted lip is exposed. The rubber ring is configured to directly abut at least a first portion of the fuel injector system, and the radially-canted lip is configured to directly abut a second portion of the fuel injector system.
US08714134B2
A reciprocating piston mechanism comprises a crankcase and a crankshaft having at least a crankpin The crankshaft is rotatable about a crankshaft axis. The mechanism comprises a crank member which is rotatably mounted on the crankpin, and comprises at least a bearing portion which is eccentrically disposed with respect to the crankpin. The bearing portion has an outer circumferential wall which bears the big end of a connecting rod such that the connecting rod is rotatably mounted on the bearing portion of the crank member via the big end. The crank member is provided with a crank member gear which meshes with a first auxiliary gear being an external gear. The first auxiliary gear is fixed to a second auxiliary gear via a common auxiliary shaft The auxiliary shaft is mounted to the crankshaft and rotatable with respect thereto about an auxiliary shaft axis which extends parallel to the crankshaft axis. The second auxiliary gear meshes with a central gear having a center line which coincides with the crankshaft axis. The crank member gear is an internal gear.
US08714125B2
A valve drive system of an engine includes a camshaft that is supported by a cylinder head of the engine and on which a plurality of cams having different valve lift characteristics are arranged at predetermined intervals, a rocker shaft that is supported by the cylinder head so as to be parallel or substantially parallel to the camshaft, and a rocker arm that is swingably supported by the rocker shaft. The rocker arm is arranged between one of the cams and an intake valve or an exhaust valve and is arranged so as to be movable in an axial direction of the rocker shaft. A presser of the rocker arm that presses the intake valve or the exhaust valve extends in the axial direction and has a length greater than an interval between the cams. The valve drive system includes a drive unit that moves the rocker arm toward one side or toward an opposite side in the axial direction by the interval between the cams.
US08714123B2
Systems and methods for modifying oil pressure for a variable cam timing system are provided. In one example approach, a method comprises, in response to an operating condition, adjusting a valve coupled to a hydraulic variable camshaft timing actuator to initiate camshaft phasing and adjusting an oil pressure supplied to the valve based on a camshaft phaser position. If a camshaft phaser locking pin is in a home position, the method may further comprise reducing the oil pressure supplied to the valve for a predetermined time interval to a threshold amount to unlock the locking pin but not move the camshaft phaser and then increasing the oil pressure supplied to the valve to move the camshaft phaser.
US08714119B2
The disclosed invention includes a heat engine where combustion, expansion, and compression are independent, continuous, parallel cycles. The disclosed engine includes a crankcase situated between two axially-aligned, opposed cylinder blocks. Each opposed cylinder block contains zero-clearance cylinders. An oscillating two-headed piston separates each cylinder into expansion and compression chambers. A connecting rod connects the piston heads of opposed cylinder pairs, and articulates with a central, linear-throw, planetary crank mechanism. A single, rotary disk valve mates with each external expander face of the paired, opposed cylinder blocks to regulate expansion and exhaust functions. Controllable intake and outlet valves, integrated within each internal compressor face of the paired cylinder blocks, regulate intake, compression, and regenerative engine braking functions. A separate combustion chamber with heat regeneration capabilities and at least one compressed-air storage reservoir are included.
US08714108B1
A litter box enclosure assembly provides a method for diminishing litter box odor within a dwelling space. The assembly includes a dwelling space having an outer wall. The outer wall has an interior surface and an exterior surface. An enclosure has a sidewall positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of the outer wall defining an enclosed interior space. A top of the enclosure has a perimeter edge positioned adjacent to a top edge of the sidewall. The top also has an outer edge abutting the exterior surface of the outer wall whereby the interior space is configured for holding an animal within the interior space. A litter box is positioned in the interior space. An opening is positioned in the outer wall. The opening extends between the dwelling space and the interior space. A door is coupled to the outer wall selectively covering the opening in the outer wall.
US08714104B2
A dual-purpose facility of continuous hot-dip coating and continuous annealing is configured so as to be switched between a continuous hot-dip coated material production line and a continuous annealed material production line, and includes a gas discharge path that discharges atmosphere gas in an annealing furnace from a gas discharge port provided in an outlet side of the annealing furnace out of the annealing furnace and a path opening and closing unit for opening and closing the gas discharge path. The path opening and closing unit opens the gas discharge path when the dual-purpose facility is used as the continuous hot-dip coated material production line and closes the gas discharge path when the dual-purpose facility is used as the continuous annealed material production line.
US08714099B1
A pontoon framing system using complimentary cross members and pontoons to form a pontoon frame. Making the pontoon is done by providing a flat sheet of material that has lateral edges. Rectangular notches extending inwardly at lateral edges are located opposite each other. The sheet is rolled into a cylinder so the notches in the sheet form a notch into the final cylinder that forms a central portion to the pontoon. The lateral edges are joined, and this is typically done by welding. A cross member having a rectangular cross section is placed into the notch formed in the cylindrical central portion. The cross member is then joined to the cylinder.The complimentary shape of the cross member and pontoon may also be produced by having a cylindrical central portion and then removing an arcuate portion of material in the cross member to match the shape of the pontoon.
US08714085B2
A surface, especially a galvanically molded transport cylinder sleeve, has a surface structure for contacting printing material, in particular sheets of paper. The surface structure includes first structural elevations spaced apart from each other by a minimum distance A1 and having a height B1 and second structural elevations spaced apart from each other by a minimum distance A2 and having a height B2 with B2
US08714084B2
The present invention provides a screen printing apparatus and screen printing method which, in screen printing that is to be performed on the upper surface of a circuit board, and the bottom surfaces of recess openings in the upper surface, can efficiently perform a printing work while ensuring an excellent printing quality. In a screen printing apparatus which prints a paste for bonding an electronic component on an upper surface and a bottom-surface of a recess, a printing apparatus 2(1) and a printing apparatus 2(2) which sequentially 10 print the paste in two steps on the circuit board are placed in series. The printing apparatus 2(1) on the upstream side includes a bottom-surface printing mask which is provided in correspondence with the bottom surface of the recess, and a closed squeegee mechanism 36A which butts against and slides over an upper surface of the bottom-surface printing mask to 15 pressurize and supply the paste. The printing apparatus 2(2) on the downstream side includes an upper-surface printing mask which is provided in correspondence with the upper surface and an opened squeegee mechanism 36B which butts against and slides over an upper surface of the upper-surface printing mask to fill the paste into pattern holes.
US08714081B2
A safety device for a press having a head for applying force, a single fixed pressure source for actuating a low force pressure driven actuator and a high force pressure driven actuator for the head, wherein the operation of the head is limited to only with the low force actuator until the head is in a safe position, when the head is determined to be in a safe position the high force actuator's use is permitted.
US08714078B2
An apparatus for spacing and aligning triangular-like shaped pieces of food dough in one direction, which pieces are arranged so that they form a plurality of columns, wherein the directions of the pieces of the adjacent columns are alternately opposite each other, by rotating the pieces clockwise and counterclockwise at 90 degrees.The apparatus continues to alternately rotate the pieces 9 clockwise and counterclockwise at 90 degrees, which pieces 9 are cut and separated from a sheet 7 of food dough and are carried sequentially downstream from upstream by conveyors 3, 5, comprising pin-holding members 67 fixed to rotating rods 63, which rods 63 can move vertically and rotate clockwise and counterclockwise at 90 degrees, wherein the pieces 9 can be aligned so that one of the apexes of the triangular-like-shaped pieces 9 is oriented toward the upstream side of the direction for carrying the pieces 9.
US08714066B2
An apparatus for holding a plate-like material during a separation process. The apparatus includes a separating device that is movable, during the separation process, in a first axial direction that is transverse to a second axial direction that the plate-like material is conveyed in during the separation process. The apparatus also includes first and second transport tables. The first transport table has a first contact surface and the second transport table has a second contact surface. The first contact surface and the second contact surface are spaced apart by a gap along which the separating device is movable. The apparatus also includes at least one holding device that is operable hold the plate-like material relative to the first and second contact surfaces such that the plate-like material is movable along the first and second contact surfaces. The holding device is configured to support the plate-like material such that a first surface of the plate-like material, on which a cutting beam of the separating device impinges, faces toward the first and second contact surfaces during the separation process.
US08714063B2
A cutting and transferring apparatus configured to from a second sheet by cutting a continuous body of second sheets and to transfer the second sheet onto a continuous body of topsheet. The cutting and transferring apparatus includes a blade roll having a blade; a bed knife; and a transfer roll configured to transfer the second sheet onto the continuous body of topsheet. The transfer roll receives an edge portion of the continuous body before cutting. The blade and the bed knife cut the continuous body of the second sheets, in a state where the machine direction MD and a vertical direction coincide with each other.
US08714062B2
Cutting device, method and use are for cutting of a line extending from a floating vessel. The cutting device is structured for placement on the vessel. The cutting device comprises: at least one guide structured for directional steering of the line past a cutting area for the line; and at least one of the following cutting-promoting devices: at least one induction coil device directed inwards toward the cutting area and structured for heating, hence weakening, of the line within the cutting area; and at least one moveable cutting knife with an opposite contact surface directed inwards toward the cutting area and also structured for cutting of the line within the cutting area.
US08714059B2
A band saw blade has a plurality of teeth defining a pitch pattern and first and second set patterns within each pitch pattern. The first set pattern includes a plurality of offset teeth that are each offset at approximately the same set magnitude as every other set tooth within the first set pattern. The second set pattern includes a plurality of first offset teeth that are each offset at approximately a first set magnitude, and a plurality of second set teeth that are each offset at approximately a second set magnitude that is greater than the first set magnitude.
US08714057B2
An electronic torque wrench including a wrench body, a wrench head configured to engage a workpiece, a first sensor producing a first output signal, that is proportional to an amount of torque being applied to the workpiece, a grip handle, a second sensor producing a second output signal that is proportional to an amount of rotation being applied to the workpiece, a user interface including an input device for inputting a preset torque value, and a processor for converting the first output signal into a current torque value, comparing the current torque value to the preset torque value, and converting the second output signal into a first angle value through which the workpiece has been rotated after the current torque value exceeds the preset torque value.
US08714056B2
A torque limiting mechanism used for securing fasteners is described. The torque limiting mechanism consists of a shaft, a torque gear having a plurality of ball bearings, a threshold bearing and a variable force applying subassembly. The torque limiting mechanism further consisting of a lock bushing and retaining ring placed circumferentially around the proximal end of the shaft. The lock bushing and retaining ring reduce structural misalignments and increase the accuracy of the device.
US08714050B2
A faucet handle includes a handle having a containment space, the containment space having an assembly aperture on a top surface, the assembly aperture accepting a limiting member, with two limiting ribs disposed adjacent to two opposite sides of the assembly aperture. A plurality of adjusting members respectively have a through aperture and two engaging columns adjacent to sides of the through aperture. Each engaging column is inserted between the two limiting ribs of the handle. The adjusting member also has two engaging slots adjacent to another side of the through aperture and an assembly device having an assembly base. The assembly base has an assembly space and two positioning columns adjacent to the assembly space, and each positioning column engages with an engaging slot of the adjusting member.
US08714044B2
A horizontal multijoint type robot is so constructed that it comprises a first arm connected through a first joint shaft to a base, a second arm connected through a second joint shaft to the first arm, and a working shaft provided rotatably and movably up and down on the distal end of the second arm, and that the arm length L1 of the first arm and the arm length L2 of the second arm are equal to each other so that the second arm is able to overlap the first arm.
US08714041B2
A transmission that is able to perform shift operation and select operation using the driving force of a single electric motor is provided. A shift/select actuating device includes: an electric motor; a first conversion mechanism; a second conversion mechanism; and a changing unit that changes a destination, to which the rotational driving force of the electric motor is transmitted, between the first conversion mechanism and the second conversion mechanism. The changing unit includes: a first electromagnetic clutch that transmits the rotational driving force of the electric motor to the first conversion mechanism or interrupts the rotational driving force; and a second electromagnetic clutch that transmits the rotational driving force to the second conversion mechanism or interrupts the rotational driving force.
US08714038B2
A tool has a flange attached to an engine housing. A primary cam is rotated to advance segments into the housing and a second rotational cam causes the segments to turn relative to each other as they are being inserted into the housing. This causes the segments to follow a predetermined path as they extend into the housing to bring a sensor at the end of the segments into a sensing position.
US08714036B2
A dummy for testing whether sizes of receiving spaces for receiving electrical elements in an enclosure are suitable or not. The dummy includes a frame and a handle attached to the frame. The frame includes a bottom wall. A number of wheels are rotatably attached to opposite ends of the bottom wall. Thereby, the frame is slidably received in the enclosure. A width and a height of the frame are respectively equal to minimum values of a width and height of one of the receiving spaces.
US08714032B2
A universal force measurement apparatus has a top plate onto which a first test object is mounted. The top plate is connected to a middle plate via a sliding member, for example a linear ball slide having a one dimensional degree of freedom. A first load cell is connected to the top plate and the middle plate, hereby preventing them from moving relative to one another in the direction of the degree of freedom of the sliding member. The mid plate is then connected to a second load cell which registers forces in the vertical direction. The second load cell is also connected to a base plate which is placed on a rigid surface. Forces from another object or media acting on the first test object will now be registered by the first and second load cells in the horizontal and vertical directions.
US08714030B1
An ultrasonic flow meter permitting easy insertion and removal of a tube or conduit. A partial ring transducer or partial cylinder transducer is used to permit easy insertion and removal of a flexible tube in an ultrasonic flow meter for measuring fluid flow. In another embodiment a split ring or split cylinder transducer is used to facilitate easy removal and insertion of a tube or conduit in which fluid flow is to be measured. In another embodiment a clamping system is used to securely hold and couple a tube or conduit within the ultrasonic flow meter system. The present invention is conveniently adapted to hold flexible tubes and in particular disposable flexible tubes often used in the medical industry.
US08714028B2
A fluid flow meter includes a fitting attachable to a waterworks valve or pipeline so as to extend at least partially through an insertion aperture thereof. A measurement cylinder is pivotally attached to the fitting, and includes a fluid vortex generating obstruction. A sensor body extends through the fitting and has a sensor element at an end thereof disposed in the measurement cylinder and generally aligned with the obstruction to detect fluid vortices generated by the obstruction. The measurement cylinder is selectively movable from a position generally aligned with the fitting, to a position generally parallel to the fluid flowing through the valve or pipeline.
US08714026B2
One or more mechanical parameters of a structure subjected to a force or condition are measured using distributed, optical fiber sensing technology. At least a curved portion an optical fiber having is attached to an object. A distributed, optically-based, strain sensing technique is used to determine strain information associated with multiple points along the curved portion of the fiber. The determined strain information is processed to generate one or more representations of one or more of the following: an expansion of the object, a thermal gradient associated with the object, or a stress-induced strain at multiple locations on the object corresponding to ones of the multiple points. An output is generated corresponding to the representation.
US08714024B2
A device for axial load measurement on a mechanical control device having a rotating shaft may be used to derive a torque measurement. A mechanical control device may comprise a valve actuator for fluid flow control devices. The load measurement device may include a beam operatively connected to a rotatable shaft and configured to deform under axial displacement of the shaft. A sensor may be coupled with the at least one beam and configured to produce an output signal related to the axial displacement of the shaft. The beam may be retained between two bearings on the rotatable shaft at a first end, and fixed to a housing of the mechanical control device at a second end. The first end of the beam may displace axially with the rotatable shaft. The beam may comprise a discrete segment of a uniform width and thickness.
US08714019B2
The invention relates to a measuring cell with a casing for housing a sensor, in particular a pressure transducer, in which the casing has a pressure compensation vent for the sensor; and is provided with a sealing element with an axisymmetrical circumferential surface arranged proximate an internal surface of a casing bore formed operably and complementary hereto, and that the pressure compensation vent is formed as at least one gap resistant to ignition flashovers by interaction of a strip-shaped and plane surface section extending along the casing bore on the circumferential surface of the sealing element with the internal surface of the casing bore.
US08714018B2
The non-destructive testing of a test object by way of ultrasound includes: (a) radiating directed ultrasonic pulses into the test object at an irradiation angle β wherein the irradiation angle β is set electronically, (b) recording echo signals that result from the ultrasonic pulses radiated into the test object, and (c) determining an irradiation position X0 in which echo signals can be recorded that can be associated with an error in the volume of the test object. The method also includes (d) determining the irradiation angle βmax for which the ERS value of the error reaches its maximum at position X0, (e) changing the irradiation position X0→X1 on the surface of the test object, the change of the irradiation position being captured, and (f) electronically adjusting the irradiation angle β in such a manner that the ERS value of the error reaches its maximum in the changed irradiation position X1.
US08714012B2
A microelectromechanical gyroscope includes a body and a driving mass, which is movable with respect to the body according to a driving axis and is capacitively coupled to the body. The gyroscope moreover includes a driving device, which forms a microelectromechanical control loop with the body and the driving mass and is configured for supplying to the driving mass driving signals having a common-mode component and respective differential components so as to maintaining the driving mass in oscillation according to the driving axis. The driving device is provided with an actuation stage configured for inverting in a controlled way the sign of the differential components of the driving signals.
US08714009B2
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. The capacitor is shielded from parasitic coupling and parasitic capacitance.
US08714007B2
A precipitation sensor including a cantilevered sensor member having a cantilevered portion and an upper and a lower surface extending on opposite sides of the cantilevered portion. The sensor member can receive falling precipitation on the upper surface and vibrate when struck by such precipitation. The cantilevered portion can have outer perimeter edges that are sloped downwardly for shedding the precipitation off the cantilevered portion. An electromechanical sensor can be incorporated with at least a part of the cantilevered portion of the sensor member for sensing the vibrations of the sensor member caused by the precipitation, and generating an electrical response from which precipitation properties can be determined. A support structure can be connected to the lower surface of the cantilevered portion at about a central region of the sensor member for supporting the sensor member. The cantilevered portion extends outwardly beyond the support structure.
US08714003B2
A wind tunnel with a closed section for aeroacoustic measurements with an anechoic coating including: a) a first cavity having a thickness D1 in a range of 20≦D1≦50 mm filled with a fibrous material with a flow resistance R in a range of 10≦R≦50 kRayl/m; b) a first microperforated panel having a thickness t1 in a range of 0.25≦t1≦0.75 mm and with a perforation percentage p1 in a range of 15%≦p1≦30%; c) a second air cavity having a thickness D2 in a range of 10≦D2≦30 mm; d) a second microperforated panel having a thickness t2 in a range of 0.25≦t2≦0.75 mm and with a perforation percentage p2 in a range of 15%≦p2≦30%. The perforations of the panels can be circular or longitudinal slot-shaped having a diameter d or width w in a range of 0.2≦d, w≦0.5 mm.
US08713979B2
A coiling device (1) for coiling or uncoiling a strip (2), has at least one coiler (5), an optional drive roll (7) associated with the coiler (5), and a control device (10) for the coiler (5) and the optional drive roll (7). The control device (10) operates the coiling device (1) in such a way that a current strip temperature and/or a current microstructure property of the strip is/are determined by taking measurements or calculating a model, the control device (10) determines a current desired torque value (MH,MR) from the actual value or a variable derived therefrom, and the control device (10) operates the coiler (5) and the optional drive roll (7) by the current desired torque value (MH,MR). The coiling device (1) has the advantage of improving the coiling quality as well as the strip quality in terms of the strip thickness and width.
US08713977B2
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.
US08713958B2
A triple-pipeline type first outdoor unit 2 provided with a first compressor 20 and a first outdoor heat exchanger 21, a plurality of indoor units 4A to 4D are provided, a second outdoor unit 3 provided with a second compressor 30, a second outdoor heat exchanger 32, and a second expansion valve 33, the first outdoor unit 2 is provided with a first four-way valve 60 that makes a refrigerant discharge pipe 25 of the first compressor 20 and a high-pressure gas pipe 7 capable of communicating with each other and if all the indoor units 4A to 4D perform a cooling operation at the same time, the first four-way valve 60 shuts off the communication between the refrigerant discharge pipe 25 and the high-pressure gas pipe 7, while a third four-way valve 51 is switched so as to connect a gas pipe 35d to the high-pressure gas pipe 7.
US08713953B1
The salad carrier is a mobile cart having an internal space organized via a plurality of adjustable and removable shelves. The internal space is accessible via one of a plurality of doors located thereon. The internal space is refrigerated via a refrigeration unit located on a side of the mobile cart, and of which is powered via a rechargeable battery pack. The mobile cart is mobilized via a plurality of caster wheels and a telescoping handle that can extend and retract and of which can rotate up or down.
US08713949B2
A refrigerator includes a sensing system for detecting a level and quality of ice cubes in an ice cube storage bin. The sensing system employs a digital image capture device that is coupled to a digital image analyzing system which scans digital images of the ice cube storage bin captured by the digital image capture device to determine a level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin. Digital images of the ice cubes are contrasted against a reference image which provides a point of comparison for determining the level of ice cubes in the ice cube storage bin and controlling ice production cycles of the ice maker. The sensing system also analyzes edge portions of the ice cubes to determine ice cube quality.
US08713948B2
A drilling system including a motor that produces a sonic, linear oscillatory motion is provided for removing a frozen biological sample from a stored frozen specimen and methods of use thereof without thawing the remainder of the specimen. The stator and slider assembly is operated by a servo controller which can communicate and be programmed through a port of a PC equipped with software.
US08713946B2
Gas turbine and method for controlling an operating point of the gas turbine that includes a compressor, a combustor and at least a turbine. The method includes calculating an exhaust temperature reference curve of the turbine as a function of a turbine pressure ratio; determining whether condition IGVmin+ΔIGV1≦IGVset point≦IGVmax+ΔIGV2, and condition ttx≧ttxh+Δttx3, are true; and changing, if both conditions are true, a split fuel quantity from a first value to a second value or otherwise maintaining the first value, the first value characterizing a lean-lean steady state mode and the second value characterizing a premixed secondary mode of a premixed mode.
US08713940B2
A method of using geothermal energy to produce electricity by lowering a geothermal generator deep into a pre-drilled well bore below the Earth's surface. A self contained geothermal generator includes a boiler, a turbine compartment, an electricity generator, a condenser and an electric cable. The condenser includes a distributor chamber, a peripheral chamber and plurality of tubes disposed within the peripheral chamber. The peripheral chamber of the condenser surrounds the turbine, electric generator and distributor chamber departments and is cooled with a separate closed loop system. The condenser cools and converts exhausted steam back in liquid state and returns it back into the boiler for reheating. Water contained within the boiler is converted to high-pressure, super heated steam due to heat from hot rocks contained within a pre-drilled well bore. The steam is used to produce electric energy which is transported up to the ground surface by the electric cable.
US08713927B2
A water displacement apparatus is provided which uses water as a means for transferring energy from the wind and sun into electricity. Wind and the sun may be used to displace water from a water container means. The water container means has a water container member which may be partially submerged in a water supply or reservoir, or it may be connected remotely. The water container means also has a water transport member connected to it, through which water from the water reservoir may move into the water container member. The water from the supply or reservoir will move into the water container member as the water displacement process begins. A conventional windmill system may be used to mechanically displace the water, or an evaporation system utilizing one or more lenses may be used to evaporate the water. An electric generator means may be operatively connected to the water container means in such a manner that the movement of the water through said water transport member may be used to generate electricity. In an alternate configuration, a water condenser means may be connected to the water container means in such a manner that the evaporated water may be transformed back into liquid form and returned to the reservoir or collected for possible residential, commercial, or industrial uses. The various components of the water displacement means and electricity generation means, along with the water condenser means, may also be used in various combinations to displace larger amounts of water.
US08713926B2
A hydrodynamic machine has two blade wheels disposed opposite each other and together forming a toroidal working space. The space can be filled with a working medium to transmit torque hydrodynamically, by circulating the working medium in the space, from the first to the second blade wheel. The first blade wheel rotates about an axis of rotation. The second blade wheel rotates about the same axis of rotation in the same rotation direction as the first blade wheel or opposite thereto, or is held stationary. The blades of each blade wheel extend in an arc from a radially inner blade end on a radially inner wall of the working space to a radially outer blade end on a radially outer wall of the working space, and in plan view in the direction of the rotation axis the arc is in the shape of a circular arc on each blade wheel.
US08713925B2
The present invention relates to a sliding seat for mounting a thermally impacted pipe on a structural part so as to be axially movable, in particular in an exhaust gas system of a combustion engine, with a bearing material which is radially supported against pipe on the outside thereof and which is fixed on structural part via a retaining pipe fastened on structural part.
US08713924B2
A device and a method for producing electrical energy from an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine include a generator with an exhaust gas inlet, an exhaust gas outlet and a heat exchange portion therebetween. The heat exchange portion includes a plurality of flow paths for the exhaust gas. The flow paths are at least partially surrounded by thermoelectric elements which are in thermally conductive communication with a cooling device on a side facing away from the flow path. A motor vehicle having the device or carrying out the method, is also provided.
US08713923B2
An exhaust system for a motorcycle includes a plurality of exhaust pipes connected respectively to exhaust ports of cylinders of a multi-cylinder engine; a manifold portion connected to the exhaust pipes; and a muffler connected to a downstream side of the manifold portion, the manifold portion being disposed below the engine, wherein the manifold portion is disposed sideways of an oil pan disposed below the engine so as to overlap the oil pan when seen in a side view of the motorcycle, and the exhaust pipes are connected to the manifold portion from a front side of the motorcycle.
US08713922B2
In an exhaust filter, a urea hydrolysis catalyst is supported on a first portion of an inner wall of a cell passage on the inlet side, and a first NOx reducing catalyst is supported on a second portion of the inner wall of the inlet-side passage downstream of the first portion. A second NOx reducing catalyst is supported on a third portion of an inner wall of a cell passage on the outlet side where the third portion overlaps with the first portion in a direction of intersection with the exhaust flow into the exhaust filter or is downstream of the first portion. An oxidation catalyst is supported on a fourth portion of the inner wall of the outlet-side passage downstream of the third portion where the fourth portion overlaps with the second portion in the direction of intersection or is downstream of the second portion.
US08713917B2
A control system includes a temperature module that determines a temperature of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst, a derivative module that determines a derivative of the temperature, and a dosing module that regulates a dosage of a reductant supplied to the SCR catalyst to regulate an engine out NOx level. A control module generates control signals based on the temperature derivative, wherein the control signals regulate an amount of reductant accumulated within the SCR catalyst to reduce reductant release from the SCR catalyst during thermal transients.
US08713910B2
Assembly for supporting a gas turbine engine comprises a support member including mounting sites for attachment to an associated aircraft. The support member includes integral slider tracks disposed on opposed sidewalls for selective engagement with a translatable cowl. The translatable cowl is translatable along the slider tracks to selectively cover and expose a cascade thrust-reversing structure. The cascade structure includes arcuate segments mounted in hinged relationship to the support member. Rearward translation of the translatable cowl to a service position permits the cascade structure to be opened for access to the core engine.
US08713909B2
A panel for use in a gas turbine engine exhaust case is disclosed. The panel has an airfoil section and a flow diverting structure adjacent a leading edge, wherein the flow diverting structure directs fluid flow into an area of the airfoil that lacks sufficient internal pressure for cooling fluid flow.
US08713903B2
A braking system stopping the rotational movement of a spindles used in power equipment may have brake pads that engage the spindle. The braking system has a brake arm that pivots at one end and has a brake pad at the other end. The brake arm is connected to a spring which, when the brake system is engaged, causes the brake arm to pivot upwards and the brake pad comes into contact with a rotating spindle or pulley. For example, the pulley may be attached to a lawn mower blade. The combination of the spring pivoting the brake arm upwards as well as the rotation of the pulley towards the brake arm causes the pulley to cease rotating, bringing the rotating member to a stop.
US08713896B2
A modular tower structure is described herein. The modular tower uses a cost-effective, efficient design that reduces the amount of steel necessary for tower structures for wind turbines. The modular tower is constructed from sections. The sections are constructed from panels. The panels comprise a curved or arcuate shape. The panels include vertical edges and horizontal edges. A vertical connection connects or secures the panels at the vertical edges of the panels and forms the sections. The sections have a generally circular shape. A horizontal connection connects or secures the sections at the horizontal edges of the panels.
US08713887B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for reinforcing building structural components. The system includes a rigid continuous stirrup elongated along a longitudinal axis. Portions of the stirrup may be inserted from a lateral direction into cells between webs of the building structural component in an unobstructed fashion. The system also includes at least one reinforcing member situated within a corridor along the length of the stirrup.
US08713884B2
A metal roofing system includes at least one roof clip including a base portion secured to the upper portion of the at least one purlin, and flanged legs extending from opposite sides of the base portion, and a thermal spacer washer assembled between the at least one roof clip and the at least one purlin.
US08713877B2
Edging strips for concrete floors employ parallel strips as lost formwork secured to removable timber formwork using a nailing bracket that has a horizontal plate section 32 and a vertical plate section 35, the horizontal plate section slides underneath one of the strips as the strips separate due to concrete contraction and supports a filler by bridging under the filler, the horizontal plate section comprises an elongate section of the horizontal plate section having lobes 33 and 34 at each end. These lobes are welded to the underside of one of the strips 11 or 12 with the other strip located on top of the elongate section. The vertical plate is a fixing plate 35 with predrilled holes for nailing to the timber form, the elongate section having tapered corners opposite each lobe and the vertical plate extending in a plane located between the lobes.
US08713870B1
A thermal management surface system comprises a substantially flat sheet and a plurality of support members. The sheet has a plurality of open funnel-like channels therethrough with a larger upper opening and a smaller, spout-like lower opening. The support members lie on a support surface in a spaced-apart arrangement with the sheet resting on the support members substantially parallel to and offset vertically above the support surface; the support surface and the sheet thereby define a containment space. Each of the spout-like lower openings is canted to impart lateral momentum on gas flowing into the upper opening and out of the lower opening. Groups of multiple contiguous channels can have spout-like lower openings canted substantially along a common direction, so that gas flowing out of those lower openings flows along the common direction through the containment space.
US08713866B2
A frame assembly includes an elongate frame jamb and an elongate hinge reinforcement member, the elongate hinge reinforcement member being secured to the elongate frame jamb such that the elongate frame jamb may be vertically supportable by the elongate hinge reinforcement member at a reinforcement member base end. The elongate hinge reinforcement member is retained within a jamb longitudinal channel formed by the elongate frame jamb. The elongate hinge reinforcement may be configured to include mounting holes located substantially equidistant between side reinforcement walls of the elongate hinge reinforcement member.
US08713859B2
An advanced system for the installation of wire-climbing lifting devices on hollow towers is presented. This system allows two positions easily alternated by the operator of the installation: a resting position, in which the wires (5) are hidden inside the tower (1) and a maintaining position in which wires (5) are safely set up outside the tower (1) to allow a lifting device climbing on them. At the resting position the wire terminals are at ground level so the operators are able to inspect the conditions of them before their use and the safety of the system is improved.
US08713858B1
A roof attachment flashing system for preventing water penetration when utilizing an L-foot to attach a structure to a roof. The roof attachment flashing system generally includes a flashing member which is adapted to be utilized to seal penetrations of a roof which are necessitated by the installation of an L-foot for securing a roof attachment such as solar panels to the roof. The flashing member includes a receiver member at its first end which includes a raised portion defining a slot on its lower surface that will sealably cover the horizontal portion of the L-foot. A mounting bracket extends upwardly from the receiver member for securing the flashing member to the vertical portion of the L-foot. When installed, the flashing member will prevent water from leaking into the roof through any penetrations into the roof caused by installation of the L-foot.
US08713852B2
A sliding door may include a rail slidably supported by a rail anchor, a body part fixed to the rail, a main arm hinge-connected with the body part, a driving bar hinge-connected with the body part, a first link hinge-connected with the main arm and the driving bar, a second link hinge-connected with the main arm and a first slot of the driving bar, a door part hinge-connected with the main arm and having a second slot hinge-connected with the second link through the first slot, a gear part of the main bar, a first drum engaged to the gear part, a first cable connected with the first drum and the rail anchor, a second drum rotatably mounted at the rail, a second cable wound around the second drum and connected with the first drum, and a third cable connected with the second drum and the rail anchor.
US08713851B2
A gate apparatus that includes a gate, an elongate member or gate base for the ends of the gate, and a stairway post adapter such that a wooden stairway post can serve as a base for a gate without harming the wood of the stairway post. The stairway post adapter includes a vertical or longitudinally running channel for receiving the gate base, a horizontally or laterally extending channel for receiving a strap, and a recess or receptor or face for confronting a section of a stairway post. The gate base includes an upper and lower eyelet. Each of the ends of the gate includes upper and lower pins for engaging the upper and lower eyelets of the gate bases. On the hinge side of the gate, the pins are relatively long and remain in the eyelets as the gate is lifted and swung. On the latch side of the gate, the pins are relatively short such that that latch side of the gate can be lifted and disengaged from the eyelets and then swung open. The gate is extendable and retractable in length, and is reversible.
US08713845B1
A method and apparatus involve collection of radiation with a radiation collector that allows entry of external radiation. The exterior of the collector has mutually exclusive first, second, third and fourth surface portions oriented so that they each effect total reflection of the majority of radiation within a waveband that impinges thereon while propagating within the collector. The first and second surface portions are spaced and approximately parallel. The third and fourth surface portions extend at a first angle with respect to each other, and respectively extend at second and third angles with respect to end portions of the first and second surface portions.
US08713839B2
A firearm with a barrel that uses an ammunition discharge chamber that includes improved throat located between the chamber's free bore and the rifle bore. The improved throat includes a relatively short, inward aligned first step, an intermediate elongated cylindrical body, and a longer, inward aligned second tapered step. Formed on the inside surfaces of the first step, the elongated body and the second step are rifling grooves and lands that gradually their depths and heights from rear to front direction. The two steps are tapered inward between 1.0 to 1.5 degrees. Using a short first step, an elongated cylindrical body with straight sidewalls, a longer second step with continuous grooves and lands that begin gradually in depth and height from rear to front directions, chamber pressure is reduced thereby enabling more gun powder to be used and bullet misalignment in the rifle bore is reduced.
US08713836B1
A retrofit able Trigger Guard assembly is the invented embodiment, which is attached permanently to an existing firearm or can be integrated to any firearm during manufacturing. This assembly is attached permanently under the muzzle of any firearm, typically a hand gun. In general, the invented mechanism operates under the force of gravity and certain relevant lever action extends guard plates on both side of the trigger assembly, thereby making it in operable. The guard plates are extended over the trigger guard of the firearm as soon as the gun is pointed downward. This mechanism is locked inside the assembly by an electrical miniature solenoid, which release the lock in order to facilitate the retraction only if the firearm is leveled and the bio metrics of the user matches the pre stored finger prints in the memory of the assembly, therefore, only authorized user can activate the trigger.
US08713833B2
Disclosed is a bolt assembly that may include several lands that extend along the forward end of the bolt assembly that occupy only about 1 percent to about 12 percent of the surface area of the forward end. Also disclosed is a bolt carrier that defines a cam path that includes an increased unlock dwell time of approximately twice the unlock dwell time provided by a cam path shaped like a standard M-16 cam path. Also disclosed is a bolt carrier that includes a protrusion at a forward end of the bolt carrier with a bore that extends through the protrusion and the bolt carrier at a substantially constant bore diameter, where the protrusion is sized to be received in the barrel extension extends approximately one hundred thousandths of an inch from the end of the bolt carrier.
US08713828B2
A label (200) is configured to be disposed in an installed position on a vending machine (100) vendable-product support shelf (104). This label has a horizontally-oriented first portion (201) and a vertically-oriented second portion (202). The horizontally-oriented first portion can be oriented directly beneath an area that vertically corresponds to a given row of vendable products (106). This first portion has first promotional content (203) (comprising, for example, graphic content such as alphanumeric material and/or images) that is visible to a consumer viewing the interior of the vending machine through the transparent front portion (at least when the given row of vendable products is empty). The second portion can similarly have second promotional content (204) (again comprising, for example, graphic content such as alphanumeric material and/or images) that is visible to the aforementioned consumer regardless of whether the given row of vendable products is empty.
US08713825B2
A voice control electric fireplace comprises a housing, an imaging screen installed in the housing, emulating coal disposed in a lower front of the imaging screen, a flame shape board disposed in a lower back of the imaging screen, a reflecting module, and a first light source. A second light source is disposed under the emulating coal, a sound generator is installed in the housing for controlling illumination of a simulate flame of the fireplace, and the sound generator is connected to the second light source. A dynamic variation on the simulate flame is attained, which results in an attractive performance of the simulate flame.
US08713818B2
A shoe construction including a shoe upper, an intermediate composite structure and an outsole. The composite structure underlies at least a portion of the upper and overlies at least a portion of the outsole. The composite structure includes cushion members with one cushion member being positioned to underlie a heel of a wearer and another cushion member being positioned to underlie the ball of the foot. The cushion member underlying the ball may be perforated. The composite structure can also include a relatively rigid lower member which can be perforated in the area of the ball of the foot underlying the cushion member for the ball of the foot. The composite structure can provide a flexure discontinuity in the shoe forward of the midfoot zone of the shoe.
US08713817B2
An article of footwear includes a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion and an outsole having a bottom surface including a primary ground contacting surface. The bottom surface of the outsole includes a forefoot bulge and a heel bulge which provide the footwear with controlled instability for providing dynamic conditioning of the wearer's muscles during the gait cycle.
US08713808B2
A temporary line projection system designed to be grasped by hand and moved, by a single human operator, into a desired location as, for example, along the sidelines of a football field adjacent to where a first down line is to be projected. The system comprises a movable structure that is dimensioned and arranged to be supported by and project upwardly from an athletic field surface. A laser source is supported by the movable structure and is maintained by the movable structure at an elevated location relative to the athletic field surface. This allows the laser source to direct optical energy downward upon the field while the movable structure is maintained substantially in a first orientation relative to the athletic field surface. A sensing arrangement is operative to determine when the movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation and a switch is operative to disable the laser source when the movable structure is no longer maintained substantially in the first orientation.
US08713807B2
A selective light assembly for a sighting device associated with an archer bow or the like has a plurality of light collectors, such as optical fibers, that serve as sight points. An artificial light source is adapted for projecting radiant energy in a direction toward the light collectors and a base member is operatively associated with the light source. The base member has at least one window adapted for alignment with at least one of the light collectors. At least one of the light source and base member is adjustable between first and second positions, such that the radiant energy projects through the base member and onto first and second light collectors for selectively illuminating a sight dot associated with one of the light collectors.
US08713787B2
A select spring coupler structure is outfitted upon a flat finisher assembly or apparatus so as to enhance the user's ability to maintain the flat finisher apparatus. The flat finisher apparatus essentially comprises at least one (tension) coil spring removably held in tension between opposing anchor structures. The select spring coupler structure according to the present invention is outfittable upon the coil spring at the first spring end of the coil spring. The spring coupler structure comprises certain radially extending structure for engaging the first spring end and certain finger engaging structure for enabling manual alteration (i.e. via one's digits) of spring tension so as to disengage the first spring end from respective anchoring structure. The spring coupler structure may be twisted into engagement with the first spring end(s) via the helical structure of adjacent loops of the coil spring to couple therewith.
US08713783B2
This invention provides a method a method of manufacturing a bed support for a chromatography column is disclosed. The method includes: placing the outer ring of the bed support on a support plate of a machine having a transitional stage; placing the mesh disk into the above ring, pressing another support plate on the mesh disk; rotating the transitional stage; providing a roller attached to the transitional stage with a certain force that is applied over the rim of the ring; and continuously applying the force of the roller onto the ring until a rim of the ring bends then assembles into the mesh disk.
US08713781B2
A decorative trim assembly and the process of manufacturing includes providing a clip, supplying an elongated metal bright strip, and inserting the clip inside the metal bright strip. Subsequently, bending the assembled bright strip with the clip along its longitudinal extent provides a final conformation of the structure. It is subsequently secured to a weatherstrip by snap-fit operation. The end customer maintains the ability to service the decorative trim piece independently of the weatherstrip system.
US08713772B2
A fastening device for manufacturing a fastening system is disclosed. The fastening system includes a first connecting member, a second connecting member, a rivet riveting the first connecting member and the second connecting member together, and an elastic member compressed by the rivet. The fastening device includes a rivet head forming tool, a positioning assembly positioning the first connecting member, a first driving assembly driving the rivet head forming tool to move, a second driving assembly driving the second connecting member to rotate, and a force measuring module. The force measuring module is configured for measuring the positive pressing force between the first connecting member and the second connecting member, and generating a control signal to stop the first driving assembly and the second driving assembly when the positive pressing force between the first connecting member and the second connecting member reach the predetermined force.
US08713766B2
A thread removal tool for getting rid of loose thread pieces, thread ends, etc. from textiles, fabric, cloth and the like, for example, after ripping open a previously produced seam, contains a thread removal head (3). The thread removal head can be located at one end of a shaft or a handle part (1) and is configured to take hold of loose thread pieces or thread fragments, without itself becoming attached to an underlying textile item, a piece of cloth or the like. The thread removal head can have an uneven surface, e.g., contain bumps (5), to grasp loose thread pieces and thread fragments. Furthermore, or alternatively, it can be made of or have a surface layer made of a material which has a certain sticking or fastening action on such loose thread pieces and thread fragments.
US08713762B2
A magnetic tie clip is provided, which includes a first component that is fastened with a button on a shirt and a second component which is fastened on a tie. The second component includes a magnet which is magnetically coupled with the first component in order to secure the tie to the shirt. The first component further includes a button fastener which attaches with the button, a magnetic member which is magnetically coupled with the second component, and a connector which flexibly connects the button fastener and the magnetic member. The connector may be set to a length which provides for flexible movement of the magnetic member relative to the button fastener, such that the tie is secured close to the shirt but is permitted to move as the wearer moves.
US08713756B2
The present disclosure discloses a door closer stopper, comprising a housing mounted around a door closer, a finger press block assembly and a stop assembly disposed in the housing. The housing is provided with a slot and an opening; The finger press block assembly comprises a press block and a rotary press block hinged to the slot of the housing, and a positioning mechanism limiting the rotary press block at a position propping a catch plate; The stop assembly comprises the catch plate with a central through hole to allow the pull rod of the door closer to extend therethrough, the catch plate is perpendicular to the pull rod and has a top end in a scope of movement of the rotary press block, the rotary press block can abut against the top end of the catch plate to make the catch plate incline when the rotary press block rotates to a certain position. The present disclosure is overly compact and reasonable in structure, simple and easy to operate, and practical, safe and reliable. The user does not need to replace the original door closer and only needs to additionally install the present disclosure to perform an easy switch between several working states. The door can be positioned and remain an open state at any opening angle, and can quickly resume an auto door closing function. The present disclosure is adapted for various ordinary tubular door closers and has a broad application prospect.
US08713753B2
Provided is a nozzle for a vacuum cleaner. The nozzle for the vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle body defining an outer appearance thereof, a vibration member disposed in the nozzle body, the vibration member separating foreign substances from a surface to be cleaned, a driving motor providing a driving force to the vibration member, and a power transmission unit configured to convert a rotation movement of the driving motor into a linear movement of the vibration member. The vibration member repeatedly strikes the surface to be cleaned by the driving force of the driving motor. The nozzle for the vacuum is advantageous in that it can easily suck dusts scattered during cleaning.
US08713751B2
A surface cleaning apparatus is disclosed. In some embodiments, the surface cleaning apparatus comprises a member having a dirty fluid inlet. A fluid flow path extends from the dirty fluid inlet to a clean air outlet of the surface cleaning apparatus and includes a suction motor. At least one cyclone is positioned in the fluid flow path and has at least one material outlet and a divider plate associated with the material outlet. A material collection chamber is in flow communication with the at least one cyclone. The apparatus further comprises a liner bag retaining member.
US08713749B2
A cleaner spotter tool for a wet/dry vacuum cleaner having a fluid containing tank, an extractor nozzle housing coupled to the tank, a fluid delivery pump mounted in the nozzle housing, a tubing fluidly coupled to both the tank and the pump for delivering fluid from the tank to the pump, and a spray nozzle on the nozzle housing coupled to the pump for spraying fluid out of the pump.
US08713748B2
Disclosed are an autonomous mobile cleaner, and a method for moving the same. A user's intention may be estimated based on a size and a direction of a tensile strength applied to the air pipe, and a cleaner body may move according to the user's intention. This can allow the cleaner to autonomously move. Besides, the autonomous mobile cleaner can always and precisely detect a user's operation without having interference with obstacles, using a displacement of the air pipe. Further, the fabrication costs can be reduced and displacements in all directions can be calculated, by using a hall sensor and a magnet member. Further, a user's efforts to operate the cleaner can be minimized, and can be prevented damages of the air pipe, a connection part between the air pipe and the cleaner body, etc. due to an excessive force.
US08713732B2
An orthotic device 10 comprising a body 20 having a base 30, a first support surface 40. In use, the first support surface 40 supports a selected region of a patient's neck 70 while suspending the patient's head 80.
US08719960B2
The present invention provides a microcantilever capable of independently measuring and/or controlling the electrical potential and/or temperature of a surface with nanometer scale position resolution. The present invention also provides methods of manipulating, imaging, and/or mapping a surface or the properties of a surface with a microcantilever. The microcantilevers of the present invention are also capable of independently measuring and/or controlling the electrical potential and/or temperature of a gas or liquid. The devices and methods of the present invention are useful for applications including gas, liquid, and surface sensing, micro- and nano-fabrication, imaging and mapping of surface contours or surface properties.
US08719954B2
The present invention relates to data rights management and more particularly to a secured system and methodology and production system and methodology related thereto and to apparatus and methodology for production side systems and are consumer side systems for securely utilizing protected electronic data files of content (protected content), and further relates to controlled distribution, and regulating usage of the respective content on a recipient device (computing system) to be limited strictly to defined permitted uses, in accordance with usage rights (associated with the respective content to control usage of that respective content), on specifically restricted to a specific one particular recipient device (for a plurality of specific particular recipient devices), or usage on some or any authorized recipient device without restriction to any one in specific, to control use of the respective content as an application software program, exporting, modifying, executing as an application program, viewing, and/or printing of electronic data files.
US08719953B2
A method of protecting use of an entity's identity is provided. The method comprises setting a status of the identity to a first state, the first state defining a scope of permitted use of the identity, changing, in advance of an intended use of the identity, the status to a second state defining a scope of permitted use of the identity that is different from the first state, requesting use of the identity after the changing; and returning, after the requesting, the state back to the first state.
US08719949B1
A device may include communication logic to receive a request to perform an activity on behalf of a client, where the activity is related to a primary application and a secondary application. The communication logic may send a response that allows the client to perform the activity when the client is authorized. The device may include evaluation logic to determine whether the client is related to the primary license and to determine whether a secondary license related to the secondary application is available. The evaluation logic may allocate the available secondary license to the client for use with the secondary application when the secondary license is available. The evaluation logic may authorize the client to perform the activity when the secondary license is allocated to the client.
US08719947B2
Method and apparatus to prevent hacking of encrypted audio or video content during playback. Hackers, using a debugging attachment or other tools, can illicitly access encrypted data in memory in a playback device when the data is decrypted during playback and momentarily stored in digital form. This hacking is defeated here by methodically “poisoning” the encrypted data so that it is no longer playable by a standard decoder. The poisoning involves deliberate alteration of certain bit values. On playback, the player invokes a special secure routine that provides correction of the poisoned bit values, for successful playback.
US08719945B2
A method for capturing a user's view of an electronic screen having an error message in a health management application without showing private information of the user includes receiving an error message from a web service responding to a request for a web page by the user. The method includes receiving an electronic file of the web page with the error message, redacting private information of the user from the electronic file to create a redacted electronic file, and storing the redacted electronic file in a support log module.
US08719924B1
Various embodiments for detecting harmful software are disclosed.
US08719923B1
The present invention provides a technique, in a network storage system, for a key management module (KMM) managing security operations within the storage server using an authenticated storage module (ASM) such as a smart card of the storage server. The KMM may process encryption key information (key information) generated by an encryption engine of the storage server to associate a key with a storage object of the storage server. The processed key information may then be stored by the KMM to a key map of the ASM, for which the ASM performs security services prior to storing information to the key map. The KMM may then request key information stored in the key map from the ASM, and forward the key information to the encryption engine for performing cryptographic operations on data of the storage object.
US08719921B2
A user obtains access to particular services levels associated with media content. A user and devices associated with the user may be authenticated to access content at a particular service level such as a particular quality level, content level, resolution, limited viewing, unlimited simultaneous viewing, etc. When the user is authenticated at a device, content at an appropriate service level is selected and provided to the device. Authenticating the user at a device such as a set top box may involve receiving a manually entered login and password, a passcode transmitted from a mobile device, face detection, a mobile device authorization code sent using infrared or radio frequency transmission, or other mechanisms identifying that the user or the mobile device is in the vicinity or is periodically in the vicinity of the set top box.
US08719916B2
The present invention periodically monitors the amount of packets flowing into a packet inspection apparatus, i.e., a load level, and compares the load level with a predetermined upper or lower limit value. Accordingly, the present invention blocks some of the packets or passes along some of the packets through the packet inspection apparatus when the load level exceeds a certain level, and thus the load controlling method and apparatus guarantees continuous operation of the packet inspection apparatus even in an overloaded state. In addition, the load controlling method and apparatus according to the present invention effectively selects packets to be blocked or passed without departing from the original functions of the packet inspection apparatus. The load controlling method and apparatus is configured simply so as not to additionally induce a load in the process of selection, and the load controlling apparatus selectively operates only in an overloaded state.
US08719913B2
Aspects of the invention pertain to analyzing and modifying access control lists that are used in computer networks. Access control lists may have many individual entries that indicate whether information can be passed between certain devices in a computer network. The access control lists may include redundant or conflicting entries. An aspect of the invention converts an order-dependent control list into an order-free equivalent. Redundant entries are identified and removed without adversely affecting the access control list. Redundancy may be identified by evaluating the volume contraction ratio, which is the ratio of the volume of spin-off entries to specific original entry in the access control list. This ratio reflects the extent of order-dependent impact on that entry in a given access control list.
US08719911B2
A user's identity is authenticated by evaluating the identity of the user using a plurality of authentication techniques, the plurality of authentication techniques generating a plurality of numerical confidence indicators, respectively, of the identity of the user, associating a plurality of authentication technique weights with the plurality of numerical confidence indicators, respectively, and calculating a weighted combination of the respective numerical confidence indicators using the plurality of authentication technique weights to generate a composite numerical confidence indicator of the identity of the user.
US08719910B2
A device receives login information and a content stream request from a user device connected to a wireless access network, and authenticates, via a backend server device, the user device based on the login information. The device also provides, when the user device is authenticated, a content link and a license key to the user device, and the user device provides the content link and the license key to a content delivery device. The device further verifies the license key for the content delivery device, and the content delivery device establishes a secure connection with the user device via the wireless access network, retrieves the requested content stream based on the content link, and provides the content stream to the user device via the secure connection.
US08719909B2
The invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting the loss, theft or unauthorized use of a device and/or altering the functionality of the device in response. In one embodiment, a device monitors its use, its local environment, and/or its operating context to determine that the device is no longer within the control of an authorized user. The device may receive communications or generate an internal signal altering its functionality, such as instructing the device to enter a restricted use mode, a surveillance mode, to provide instructions to return the device and/or to prevent unauthorized use or unauthorized access to data. Additional embodiments also address methods and systems for gathering forensic data regarding an unauthorized user to assist in locating the unauthorized user and/or the device.
US08719908B1
This disclosure relates to a digital certificate management system configured to consolidate information related to digital certificates across enterprise systems. In some implementations, the system may be configured to automate recurring harvesting of digital certificate information from current and/or future enterprise systems associated with one or more companies. The system may be configured to standardize the digital certificate information in a centralized database. The system may be configured to identify owners associated with individual digital certificates and pro-actively notify the owners of information associated with digital certificate due dates, for example. In some implementations, the system may be configured to escalate the notifications to the owners and/or other entities as expiration dates approach. In some implementations, the system may comprise an application server, enterprise systems, and/or other components. The application server may comprise a processor, electronic storage, a user interface, and/or other components.
US08719905B2
To authenticate a user of a mobile communication device for login or transaction authorization, a first application on the device directs transmission of a request for authentication of the user to a security server. A second application on the device receives the request for authentication from the security server and directs presentation of the received request for authentication to the user by the device. The second application receives a user input to the device indicating that the requested authentication should proceed and in response directs transmission of an indication that the requested authorization should proceed, to the security server. In response to this latter transmission, the second application receives a PIN from the authentication server. The first application directs transmission of the PIN received by the second application to the network site, which validates the transmitted PIN, in order to authenticate the user or the transaction to the network site.
US08719904B2
A method of access by at least one second user, to at least one service offered by a first user is provided, which includes transmitting by the first user to the second user at least one invitation comprising an access level defined by the first user to allow said at least one second user to access said at least one service; verifying the content of said at least one invitation, delivering to the second user an access authorization to said at least one service, dependent on the access level; and requesting access to said at least one service by the second user, on the basis of the access authorization.
US08719903B1
Dynamic control of access to managed content is disclosed. In some embodiments, an ACL includes a “dynamic” group having an associated list of potential members. In any given session and/or at any point in time, whether a user is considered a currently valid member of the group, and therefore allowed access to managed content in accordance with an access right or privilege granted to the group with respect to one or more content items is determined, e.g., based on application context (what operation the user is trying to perform, etc.) and/or other context information (time of date, location of system from which access was requested, etc.).
US08719897B2
An access control method for a TePA-based TNC architecture is provided, including: 1) performing encapsulation of user authentication protocol data and platform authentication protocol data in the TePA-based TNC architecture: 1.1) encapsulating the user authentication protocol data in a Data field of TAEP packets, and interacting with the TAEP packets between an access requestor and an access controller, and between the access controller and a policy manager, to perform mutual user authentication between the access requestor and the access controller, and establish a secure channel between the access requestor and the access controller; and 1.2) encapsulating the platform authentication protocol data in a Data field of TAEP packets, and, for platform authentication protocol data between the access requestor and the access controller, encapsulating a TAEP packet of the platform authentication protocol data in a Data field of another TAEP packet to form a nested encapsulation.
US08719895B1
Determining a policy output includes facilitating a communication session for an access terminal at a visited network. The access terminal is associated with a home network. A policy is received at a visited policy server of the visited network. The policy has facets that include an application facet that identifies an application deployable in the home network. The application is identified from the application facet, and the policy output is determined in accordance with the application.
US08719892B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a media content processor having a controller adapted to detect an event associated with recorded media content derived from one among a plurality of media content sources, select a communication device of a subscriber of the media content processor, retrieve a portion of the recorded media content, generate a notice describing the event, and transmit the notice with the portion of the recorded media content to the communication device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08719888B1
Techniques for delivering content, such as videos, over a network are described. A core server and an edge server are provided. The core server has local storage. The edge server has local storage. A set of video frames is partitioned into a first group and a second group. Video frames in the first group are encoded into a scalable encoded stream. The scalable encoded stream is sent to the local storage at the edge server. The second group of video frames is encoded into a set of supplemental encoded streams using the scalable encoded stream as a reference. The supplemental encoded streams are encoded such that the bit rate and/or resolution of any two supplemental encoded streams is different. The set of supplemental encoded streams is stored in the storage of the core server.
US08719883B2
A server (101) streams data coded by inter-frame prediction. The server (101) comprises: a transmission data generator (116) for causing an independently decodable key frame to be added with at least one difference frame following the key frame to create data of one transmission unit, and generating a buffering key frame added with information on the data of one transmission unit, the information including a frame number; and an output unit (114) for transmitting, with transmission timing of the key frame, a buffering key frame generated with a key frame that should be transmitted with the transmission timing, and transmitting an arbitrary frame with transmission timing of the difference frame. This can reduce buffering time for switching a terminal to play a stream between a plurality of terminals, allowing the switching to be done smoothly.
