US09575288B2
An imaging lens elements are arranged in order from an object side, an aperture stop, positive first lens having convex object-side and image-side surfaces, negative meniscus second lens having a concave image-side surface, positive third lens having at least one aspheric surface, positive double-sided aspheric fourth lens, and negative double-sided aspheric fifth lens having concave object-side and image-side surfaces with its image-side surface having a pole-change point off the axis. It satisfies conditional expressions below: 0.5
US09575286B2
A camera module (1) which includes a lens (3); a spring member (9a, 9b) which elastically urges the lens (3) toward an initial position along an optical axis direction; an electromagnetic drive means (11) capable of driving the lens (3) along the optical axis direction by producing an electromagnetic force against an urging force of the spring member (9a, 9b); and a control means (12) configured to control a drive current supplied to the electromagnetic drive means (11), wherein the spring member (pa, 9b) contains 2.9% to 3.5% by mass of Ti, with the balance being copper and inevitable impurities, and has a Vickers hardness equal to or greater than 350.
US09575280B2
There is disclosed a system and associated method for mounting an optical component in an optical arrangement. An optical component (1) is provided having a circular edge region (5). A mount (9) having a circular wall is also provided, the circular wall being configured for radially-spaced cooperation with the circular edge region of the optical component. The system is configured such that one of said circular edge region (5) and said circular wall (17) has a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions (23) provided around it. The other of the circular edge region (5) and the circular wall (17) has a plurality of spaced-apart recesses provided around it. The protrusions (23) and the recesses (7) are configured such that each protrusion (23) may be aligned with a respective recess (7) and engaged within said recess (7) via relative rotation between the optical component (1) and the mount (9). The system further includes an adhesive (32) for application between said circular edge region (5) and said circular wall (17) to adhesively fix the optical component (1) in position relative to the mount (9).
US09575279B1
Optical termination box comprises: a base (10) articulating a lid (20) and fixing trays (80) for accommodating optical fiber splices and extensions; a panel (40) removably mounted on an opening (13) of a peripheral wall portion (12) of the base (10) and provided with cable openings (41) for passage of respective optical cables and connection openings (42) housing a respective fixed connector (50) for receiving a movable connector (55) of a respective approach cable (CA); a base plate (60) removably secured within the base (10) and carrying the anchoring means (65) and a support (70) that articulates trays (80), wherein the base plate (60), the anchoring means (65), the support (70) and the trays (80) form an internal module (IM) removable from the base (10) together with the panel (40) without dismantling of the anchors and optical connections between distribution cables (CD) and any extension cables (EC) and approach cables (CA).
US09575277B2
A breakout assembly includes a housing including a first end and a second end. A retaining member includes a first end configured to receive a fiber optic cable and a second end attaching to the first end of the housing and retaining exposed stripped layers of the fiber optic cable. A breakout head is configured to insert into the second end of the housing and includes holes for receiving furcation tubes. A nut holds the breakout head inside of the second end of the housing. Different optical fibers from the fiber optic cable are inserted into the furcation tubes and held by the breakout head. An outside surface of the breakout head and an inside surface of the second end of the housing have round side surfaces extending between flat top and bottom surfaces that prevent the breakout head from rotating within the housing.
US09575272B2
A connection system includes an optical connector assembly; and an optical plug. The connector assembly includes a stack of gel-groove assemblies and a spring assembly mounted within a housing. Each of the gel-groove assemblies includes a first gel block at a first axial end, a second gel block at a second axial end, and a fiber mating region between the first and second gel blocks. The optical plug including sub-modules over-molded over arrays (e.g., ribbons) of the optical fibers. Each sub-module defines notches for receiving latches of the spring assembly when the optical plug is coupled to the first axial end of the optical adapter. Bare optical fibers extend from the plug, pass through the first axial gel block, and enter the fiber mating region when the plug is coupled to the adapter.
US09575271B2
A reinforcing cable for a prestressed concrete structure is disclosed. The cable has an optical fiber entwined between the twisted wire ropes that form the cable. The optical fiber facilitates in situ monitoring of cable integrity by comparing optical signal transmission over time.
US09575270B2
Embodiments of a system that includes an array of chip modules (CMs) is described. In this system, a given CM in the array includes a semiconductor die that is configured to communicate data signals with one or more adjacent CMs through electromagnetic proximity communication using proximity connectors. Note that the proximity connectors are proximate to a surface of the semiconductor die. Moreover, the given CM is configured to communicate optical signals with other CMs through an optical signal path using optical communication, and the optical signals are encoded using wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM).
US09575268B2
In an embodiment, a pluggable connector configured to removably couple an end of an optical cable to an optoelectronic module includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to engage a latch slot of the optoelectronic module to retain within the optoelectronic module a ferrule optically coupled to optical fibers of the optical cable. The second portion is configured to engage the ferrule to prevent removal of the ferrule from within the optoelectronic module when the first portion engages the latch slot.
US09575262B2
According to an aspect of the invention, an optical receptacle, comprising: a fiber stub including an optical fiber, a ferrule, and an elastic member, the optical fiber including cladding and a core for conducting light, the ferrule having a through-hole fixing the optical fiber, the elastic member being filled into the through-hole of the ferrule with the optical fiber; and a holder holding the fiber stub, the through-hole of the ferrule including a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion, the optical fiber being disposed in the small diameter portion, the large diameter portion being provided on a side opposite to a side to be optically connected to a plug ferrule, the optical fiber being disposed in the small diameter portion inside the through-hole of the ferrule over the entire region of the optical fiber, the elastic member having substantially the same refractive index as the core, being filled into the small diameter portion and the large diameter portion, and being polished to cause at least a portion of the elastic member to be a flat surface portion at an end surface of the fiber stub on the side opposite to the side to be optically connected to the plug ferrule. By disposing the optical fiber in the small diameter portion of the through-hole of the ferrule over the entire region of the optical fiber, the breaking and/or cracking of the optical fiber and the decrease of the coupling efficiency can be prevented. Further, by setting the end surface of the elastic member filled into the through-hole of the ferrule to be a flat surface, the decrease of the coupling efficiency due to reflections is prevented without performing processing of the optical fiber end surface; and economic production is made possible.
US09575259B2
An optical cross-connect connecting a series of optical input ports to a series of optical output ports includes at least a first group of input/output port arrays, each including a series of optical input/output ports disposed horizontally and configured to project or receive optical signals. A plurality of steering elements selectively steer optical signals along switching trajectories between the input and output ports. An angle-to-offset conversion unit converts optical signals propagating at the horizontal intra-array angles to corresponding spatial offset signals in the horizontal dimension. An optical interconnect includes a series of input/output regions, each being specific to a corresponding input/output port array and the input/output regions being divided vertically into elongated switching rows. Each input/output region receives spatial offset signals from the angle-to-offset conversion unit and optically interconnects each spatial offset signal from a first input/output region to a second input/output region.
US09575249B2
A method of making a grating in a waveguide includes forming a waveguide material over a substrate, the waveguide material having a thickness less than or equal to about 100 nanometers (nm). The method further includes forming a photoresist over the waveguide material and patterning the photoresist. The method further includes forming a first set of openings in the waveguide material through the patterned substrate and filling the first set of openings with a metal material.
US09575248B2
The invention relates to an optical fiber comprising a core and a cladding, wherein the core is made of a glass composition having a near-zero electrostrictive coefficient M11, to reduce the effect of stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS). The invention further relates to a compensation fiber segment for connection to a silica optical fiber, the compensation fiber segment being made of a glass composition having an electrostrictive coefficient that opposes that of the silica optical fiber so that an acoustic wave transmitted to compensation fiber segment from the silica optical fiber will generate an acoustic wave within the compensation fiber segment that is about 180 degrees out of phase with the that acoustic wave transmitted from the silica optical fiber, thereby minimizing the effect of stimulated Brillouin Scattering.
US09575245B2
An optical fiber containing an alkali metal and capable of reducing Rayleigh scattering loss is provided. An optical fiber has a core and a cladding made of silica glass and enclosing the core. The cladding contains fluorine and has a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the core. The core contains first group dopants selected from the group of Na element, K element, or a compound thereof at an average concentration of 0.2 ppm or more and 10 ppm or less. The core also contains second group dopants for reducing the viscosity of silica glass and having a diffusion coefficient of 1×10−12 cm2/s or more and smaller than the diffusion coefficient of the first group dopants, by an average concentration of 0.2 ppm or more at a temperature of 2000° C. to 2300° C.
US09575244B2
A light guide apparatus that can redirect light impinging on the apparatus over a wide range of incident angles and can concentrate light without using a tracking system and methods for fabrication.
US09575239B2
Light that enters from an incident light surface of a light guide plate includes not only light which is guided toward the forward direction in front but also light whose optical path is modified by optical elements while progressing through the inside of the light guide plate, and thus wasteful emission from an emitting surface is inhibited. Lights are guided in a longitudinal direction of the optical elements. Light is diffused in the course over which the lights are guided and the region to which they are guided. The lights are guided by the optical elements in the longitudinal direction of the optical elements, and thereby light diffusivity is exhibited in the region in which the optical elements are provided while controlling the directivity of the light.
US09575235B2
A light guide element and a lighting fixture are described. The light guide element includes a light guide body, first microstructures and second microstructures. The light guide body includes a first light-emitting surface and a second light-emitting surface opposite to and parallel to each other. The first microstructures are disposed on the first light-emitting surface in rows. The second microstructures are respectively corresponding to the first microstructures and are disposed on the second light-emitting surface. In each of the rows, each of the first microstructures laps over the corresponding second microstructure in part in a normal direction of the first light-emitting surface. Overlapping ratio of the first microstructures and the corresponding second microstructures become greater from one end of one of the rows to the other end of the one of the rows.
US09575225B2
A step prismatic retro-reflector includes a main reflective corner having a shared reflective surface of a geometric single plane, a virtual step surface coming into contact with the shared reflective surface at a right angle, and a plurality of sub reflective corners. Each reflective corner has a pair of independent reflective surfaces coming into contact with each other at a right angle, and arranged along the step surface, wherein the retro-reflector elements are arranged to be alternated such that a corner ratio (l/w) of the sub reflective corners is 1.5 or more, a corner orientation of the main reflective corner deviates at an angle of 10 degrees or more with respect to a point of tangency of an incident plane, a reflection orientation thereof deviates at an angle within 10 degrees, and the corner orientations thereof deviate in the opposite direction to each other.
US09575210B2
A downpipe sensor detects single grains in a downpipe. A transmitting unit and a receiving unit are spaced apart across a measurement field. Light beams emitted by the transmitting unit are guided in the case of free beam path through the downpipe interior to the receiving unit and are attenuated during a passage of a grain. The receiving unit is a line element with a predefined number of receiving elements. The transmitting unit has light-emitting diodes with perforated screens and a reflector element in the form of a right triangular prism. Light is emitted from the diodes transversely to a receiving axis of the receiving unit, bundled via the perforated screens, guided into the reflector element, deflected by total reflection toward a exit surface to form a light band of parallel light beams. The light band illuminates the entire measurement field with even intensity.
US09575208B2
A method for estimating at least one geological constituent may include obtaining a measured energy spectrum for the at least one geological constituent for a first borehole configuration, generating a calculated energy spectrum for the at least one geological constituent for the first borehole configuration, and generating a calculated energy spectrum for the at least one geological constituent for a second borehole configuration different than the first borehole configuration. The method may further include determining a relationship between the calculated energy spectra for the first and second borehole configurations, and generating an estimated energy spectrum for the at least one geological constituent for the second borehole configuration based upon the measured energy spectrum and the relationship between the calculated energy spectra for the first and second borehole configurations.
US09575206B2
Neutron activation measurement techniques may be used to evaluate various properties of a subterranean well structure. In an example implementation, a logging tool can be positioned within a wellbore, such that neutrons generated by a neutron source are directed towards well structure. In response to the neutrons, the well structure emits gamma rays. A portion of the gamma rays can be detected by a gamma detector. To enhance the well structure's response to neutron activation, the well structure can be constructed of materials that include one or more doping materials. The inclusion of these doping materials can increase the number of gamma rays that are emitted when neutrons are directed into the well structure, and these emitted gamma rays can be more easily identified based on their energy level.
US09575195B2
A method to detect presence of hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation. The method includes identifying a geological interval in the subterranean formation, analyzing a measurement of a rock sample obtained from the geological interval to generate a rock sample analysis result, wherein the rock sample analysis result indicates the presence of hydrocarbons in the geologic interval, analyzing, in response to the rock sample analysis result indicating the presence of hydrocarbons, a supplemental measurement different than the measurement of the rock sample to generate a supplemental analysis result, wherein the supplemental analysis result further indicates the presence of hydrocarbons in the geologic interval, performing, in response to the supplemental analysis result further indicating the presence of hydrocarbons, a logging operation to obtain azimuthal resistivity data of the geological interval, and presenting the rock sample analysis result, the supplemental analysis result, and the azimuthal resistivity data to a user.
US09575190B2
The present invention relates to a flat panel X-ray detector, which comprises a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate; a photoelectric detecting layer, which is disposed on and electrically connected with the TFT substrate, wherein the photoelectric detecting layer comprises a plurality of photoelectric detecting units and a plurality of light absorption units, and the light absorption unit is disposed between spaces adjacent to the photoelectric detecting unit; a Scintillation layer, which is disposed on the photoelectric detecting layer; and a reflective layer, which is disposed on the Scintillation layer.
US09575189B2
Systems, methods, and devices involving segmented radiation detectors are provided. For example, a segmented radiation detector may include a segmented scintillator and an optical-to-electrical converter. The segmented scintillator may have several segments that convert radiation to light, at least one of which may detect radiation arriving from an azimuthal angle around an axis of the segmented scintillator. The optical-to-electrical converter may be coupled to the segmented scintillator. The optical-to-electrical converter may receive the light from the segments of the segmented scintillator and output respective electrical signals corresponding to the amount of radiation detected by each segment.
US09575188B2
A method for producing a scintillator array comprising fixing a scintillator substrate to a support plate via a double-coated adhesive sheet, at least an adhesive surface thereof to be in contact with the scintillator substrate being thermally peelable; providing the scintillator substrate with lattice-patterned grooves to form pluralities of scintillator cells; filling gaps between the scintillator cells with a liquid hardening reflector resin; curing the liquid hardening reflector resin by heating to form a resin-hardened scintillator cell body; and then peeling the double-coated adhesive sheet from the resin-hardened scintillator cell body by heating.
US09575182B2
A detection apparatus and method for FMCW LIDAR employ signals whose frequencies are modified so that low-cost and low-speed photodetector arrays, such as CCD or CMOS cameras, can be employed for range detection. The LIDAR is designed to measure the range z to a target and includes a single mode swept frequency laser (SFL), whose optical frequency is varied with time, as a result of which, a target beam which is reflected back by the target is shifted in frequency from a reference beam by an amount that is proportional to the relative range z to the target. The reflected target beam is combined with the reference beam and detected by the photodetector array. By first modulating at least one of the target and reference beams such that the difference between the frequencies of the reflected target beam and the reference beam is reduced to a level that is within the bandwidth of the photodetector array, the need for high-speed detector arrays for full-field imaging is obviated.
US09575163B2
A system and method of calibrating a laser tracker is provided. The system includes a support system for quickly and easily moving an artifact to a desired position and orientation and for holding the artifact in the position and orientation. An adjustable alignment mirror is coupled to a first end of the artifact so that the more accurate ranging system of the laser tracker can be isolated to determine a reference length of the artifact. Additional measurements are then taken to exercise one or more error source within the tracker. The support system includes a positioner and a support beam for positioning and supporting the artifact. The artifact is coupled to the support beam using kinematic clamps that are designed to reduce or eliminate errors associated with over-constraining the artifact.
US09575158B2
A circuit for millimeter wave signals, having a housing, mounted on a circuit board, that accommodates a high-frequency component, wherein the housing forms, on at least one housing wall facing away from the circuit board, a coupling structure for millimeter wave signals to which a hollow conductor is coupled outside the housing.
US09575155B2
The relative positions of two or more electronic devices can be determined utilizing ultrasonic beacons. Each device can have a unique signature that can be included in the beacon broadcast by that device. A device having an array of ultrasonic detectors can receive a beacon and correlate the beacon received at each detector. The time of arrival then can be used to determine the relative position of the source of the beacon. The signature in that beacon can also be used to determine the identity of the device that broadcast the beacon, in order to determine the identity of the device, or a user of that device, at the determined relative position. The devices can be configured to transmit signals over the air or through a specific transmission medium, such as propagating surface. Further, a dedicated detector array can be used for determining multiple relative positions.
US09575153B2
At least a portion of a body (10) of a patient positioned in an examination volume of a MR device (1). A portion of the body (10) is subject to a calibration sequence including RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients controlled in such a manner that a calibration signal data set is acquired by a multi-point Dixon technique at a first image resolution. Calibration parameters are derived from the calibration signal data set. The MR device (1) is controlled according to the derived calibration parameters. The portion of the body (10) is subject to an imaging sequence including RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients controlled in such a manner that a diagnostic signal data set is acquired at a second image resolution which is higher than the first image resolution. A diagnostic MR image is reconstructed from the diagnostic signal data set.
US09575146B2
The invention relates to a method of characterizing the RF transmit chain of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner (1) using a local transmit/receive coil system (204; 210), comprising a first local NMR probe and a first local magnetic resonance coil, the first NMR probe being spatially located in immediate neighborhood to the first coil, a local receive coil system (206; 208), comprising a second local NMR probe and a second local magnetic resonance coil, the second NMR probe being spatially located in immediate neighborhood to the second coil, wherein the transmit chain comprises an external MR coil (9; 11; 12; 13), the method comprising: determining with the first magnetic resonance coil, a first MR signal phase evolution of the local RF transmit field generated by MR excitation of the first probe using the first magnetic resonance coil by measuring the RF response of the first probe upon said excitation, determining with the second magnetic resonance coil a second MR signal phase evolution of the local RF transmit field generated by MR excitation of the second probe using the external MR coil (9; 11; 12; 13) by measuring the RF response of the second probe upon said excitation, calculating a phase offset between the first and second MR signal phase evolution.
US09575142B2
A sensor arrangement for position sensing comprises a magnetic field source and a magnetoresistive element arranged in a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source, which magnetoresistive element provides an output signal (R) dependent on a position (x) of the magnetoresistive element relative to the magnetic field source. A feedback controller is configured to receive the output signal (R) of the magnetoresistive element and is configured to adjust one or more of the position (x) of the magnetoresistive element relative to the magnetic field source and a strength of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic field source acting on the magnetoresistive element dependent on the output signal (R) of the magnetoresistive element.
US09575134B2
An assembled-battery voltage detection device for detecting a voltage at an assembled-battery including a plurality of single batteries connected in series includes: single-battery voltage detection circuits detecting voltages at the respective single batteries; single-battery voltage detection terminals connected to ends of the single batteries; connectors connecting the single-battery voltage detection terminals and the single batteries; voltage detection terminals detecting a voltage at one of the single batteries located at one end in the assembled battery; an assembled-battery voltage detection circuit detecting a potential difference between the voltage detection terminals; a single-battery voltage sum calculator calculating a sum of the voltages detected by the single-battery voltage detection circuits; an end-battery voltage abnormality determination unit determining whether the voltage at the single battery located at the end is 0 V; and an abnormality output unit outputting an abnormality depending on predetermined conditions.
US09575133B2
A controller, a first voltage detector, a second voltage detector, . . . and an nth voltage detector are connected together in series in this order via a common communication line. In ID setting operation, the controller transfers a unique ID of the first voltage detector to the first voltage detector via the communication line, and transfers a unique ID of the (i+1)th voltage detector to the (i+1)th voltage detector via the first to ith voltage detectors and the communication line (where in is a natural number equal to or less than (n−1)).
US09575111B1
A system configured for detecting electrical overstress events within an integrated circuit includes a comparator configured to determine whether a monitored voltage level of a monitored signal exceeds an overstress reference voltage level. The overstress reference voltage level is a predetermined amount of voltage above a nominal voltage level for the monitored signal. The system further includes a write circuit coupled to an output of the comparator. The write circuit is configured to indicate an occurrence of an electrical overstress event within the integrated circuit responsive to the comparator determining that the monitored voltage level exceeds the overstress reference voltage level.
US09575110B2
An insulation detecting device includes a control unit configured to monitor a measurement voltage of a flying capacitor charged through a second path, and in a case where a measurement voltage is about 0 V (zero volt), control a switching of switches, control a charging of the flying capacitor through a third path and a measuring of a charged voltage of the flying capacitor charged through the third path, and measure a first measurement voltage in a first time after the switching to the third path and a second measurement voltage in a second time different from the first time, and a calculating unit configured to calculate a ground fault resistance formed between a direct-current power supply and a ground based on the first measurement voltage and the second measurement voltage.
US09575108B2
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for assessing electromagnetic exposure. In one aspect an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes at least a first circuit configured to calculate electromagnetic exposure of at least a portion of at least one human in proximity to a wireless electric vehicle charging system. The portion of the at least one human is modeled by at least one homogeneous phantom model having dielectric properties that are representative of human tissue. The apparatus further includes at least a second circuit configured to scale the calculated electromagnetic exposure to simulate an electromagnetic exposure based on an inhomogeneous anatomical model of the portion of the at least one human.
US09575107B2
An electronic arrangement and method for providing a signal characterized by reduced phase noise having a signal source for providing a stimulus signal, a modulator coupled to the signal source for generating a modulated signal as function of the stimulus signal and a local oscillator signal, and a mixer combining the stimulus and modulated signals to generate a mixed signal that includes a component characterized by a mathematical difference of the stimulus signal and the modulated signal. The modulated signal substantially identical to the stimulus signal and being offset by a frequency of the local oscillator signal, so that the difference component of the mixed signal results in a local oscillator signal wherein the stimulus signal phase noise generated by the signal source has been mathematically cancelled.
US09575106B2
In one embodiment, a system comprises a circuit arrangement and a module having a first mechanical switch and an electrode. The circuit arrangement has a terminal that is connected to the module, a drive unit that is connected to the terminal and serves to provide a drive signal, a first evaluation unit that is connected to the terminal and serves for key detection, as well as a second evaluation unit that is connected to the first evaluation unit and serves for proximity detection. Therein the drive signal is designed for driving an electrode of a capacitive proximity sensor in the module, the first evaluation unit is designed to provide a touch signal according to an actuation of the module by a person, and the second evaluation unit is designed to provide a proximity signal according to an approach of a person to the module.
US09575096B2
Various embodiments of the invention increase current monitoring accuracy in switching converters. In particular, certain embodiments of the invention allow reduce noise associated with transients that are typically generated at transitions when power FETs are turn on and off and allow to accurately sense inductor DC current of switching converters, thereby, increase current monitoring accuracy without requiring any blanking circuitry. In certain embodiments of the invention, this is accomplished by an acquisition circuit that dynamically monitors current in various operating modes. A phase frequency detector (PFD) and control circuit in the acquisition circuit automatically align a narrow sampling window and the midpoint of a turn-on signal. Certain embodiments utilize an analog multiplier circuit to sense current in skip mode operation.
US09575095B2
Systems and methods for sensing voltage on a chip are described herein. In one embodiment, a voltage sensor comprises a voltage-controlled oscillator coupled to a voltage being sensed, and a plurality of transition detectors, wherein each of the transition detectors is coupled to a different location on the oscillator, and wherein each of the transition detectors is configured to count a number of transitions at the respective location over a time period. The voltage sensor also comprises an adder configured to add the numbers of transitions from the transition detectors to generate an output value that is approximately proportional to the voltage.
US09575091B2
Devices and methods for enhancing electrical safety are provided herein. Devices testing the safety of light fixtures are provided. Also provided are a variety of testing tools for improving electrical safety. The devices are generally capable of wirelessly communicating with a computer, particularly a hand-held device such as a smart-phone or tablet. Methods for using the devices are also provided.
US09575086B2
A laboratory sample distribution system is presented. The laboratory sample distribution system comprises a plurality of container carriers. The container carriers each comprise at least one magnetically active device such as, for example, at least one permanent magnet, and carry a sample container containing a sample. The system further comprises a transport plane to carry the multiple container carriers and a plurality of electro-magnetic actuators stationary arranged below the transport plane. The electro-magnetic actuators move a container carrier on top of the transport plane by applying a magnetic force to the container carrier. The system also comprises at least one transfer device to transfer a sample item, wherein the sample item is a container carrier, a sample container, part of the sample and/or the complete sample, between the transport plane and a laboratory station such as, for example, a pre-analytical, an analytical and/or a post-analytical station.
US09575068B2
A method of detecting a target within a population of molecules comprising: contacting a plurality of labeled probe molecules with the population of molecules potentially containing a target of the probe molecules; acquiring a probe specific signal emitted by said labeled probe molecules that bound to said target together with a background signal; preferentially modulating said probe specific signal by at least one of modulating said acquisition and modulating an emission of said probe specific signal; and detecting said probe specific signal over said background signal using said preferential modulation.
US09575067B2
Certain disclosed embodiments of the present invention concern the synthesis, derivatization, conjugation to immunoglobulins and signal amplification based on discrete, relatively short polymers having plural reactive functional groups that react with plural molecules of interest. Reactive functional groups, such as hydrazides, may be derivatized with a variety of detectable labels, particularly haptens. The remaining reactive functional groups may be conjugated directly to a specific binding molecule, such as to the oxidized carbohydrate of the Fc region of the antibody. Disclosed conjugates display large signal amplification as compared to those based on molecules derivatized with single haptens, and are useful for assay methods, particularly multiplexed assays.
US09575055B2
Disclosed herein are bioreactor systems and methods of utilizing said systems.
US09575044B2
The invention relates to a device for assessing the disintegration of a dosage form in the gastrointestinal tract, comprising a wall surrounding a cell for being filled with a fluid and for receiving the dosage form, further comprising a pressurizable compartment arranged exterior to the wall for repeatedly deforming the wall between a first state and a second state wherein the volume of the cell in the first state is larger than in the second state, wherein the device also comprises controlling means for quantitatively controlling a fluid flow from and into the cell, and/or for quantitatively controlling a contact force that the wall exerts on the dosage form.
US09575042B2
Provided is an organic ligand-bound metal surface that selects one gaseous species over another. The species can be closely sized molecular species having less than 1 Angstrom difference in kinetic diameter. In one embodiment, the species comprise carbon monoxide and ethylene. Such organic ligand-bound metal surfaces can be successfully used in gas phase separations or purifications, sensing, and in catalysis.
US09575040B2
A corrosion sensor includes a plurality of metal strips having different thicknesses. A first metal strip with the least thickness is first employed to provide sensitive corrosion detection. After an exposed portion of the first metal strip is consumed, a second metal strip having a second least thickness can be employed to provide continued sensitive corrosion detection employing a remaining un-corroded portion of the second metal strip. The plurality of metal strips can be sequentially employed as exposed portions of thinner metal strips become unusable through complete corrosion and un-corroded exposed portions of thicker metal strips become thin enough to provide sensitive corrosion detection.
US09575038B2
A method of calibrating a biological detector can include training a biological detector to detect a calibration compound, wherein the calibration compound comprises an odor that is detectable by the biological detector and is not used in an environment for which the biological detector is trained to detect odors, presenting the biological detector with a device comprising the calibration compound, and determining whether the biological detector will alert to the calibration compound.
US09575036B2
Described are methods of determining free hydrophobic active in aqueous formulations including the steps of encapsulating a hydrophobic active, preparing a formulation containing encapsulated hydrophobic active, adding a cyclodextrin to the formulation, thereby entraining any free hydrophobic active; and quantifying the amount of free hydrophobic active.
US09575035B2
A vibronic measuring device for determining at least one process variable of a medium. Included are: an oscillatable unit; a transmitting/receiving unit, which, by means of a transmission signal, excites the oscillatable unit to execute mechanical oscillations and receives the mechanical oscillations and converts such into an analog, electrical, received signal; and a control/evaluation unit (MC), which receives the analog, received signal, digitizes such and determines the process variable therefrom and which produces the transmission signal. Between the transmitting/receiving unit and the control/evaluation unit, a controllable amplifier is arranged, which receives the received signal and produces an adapted, received signal, and that the control/evaluation unit determines an amplitude of the received signal and, as a function of the determined amplitude, controls the amplifier in such a manner that the amplitude of the adapted, received signal is adapted to a digitizable voltage range predetermined by the control/evaluation unit.
US09575029B2
A transistor includes at least one conductive layer, at least one gate dielectric layer and at least one semiconducting film deposited on top of a receptor molecule layer previously deposited or covalently linked to the surface of the gate dielectric. The layer of biological material includes single or double layers of phospholipids, layers made of proteins such as receptors, antibodies, ionic channels and enzymes, single or double layers of phospholipids with inclusion or anchoring of proteins such as: receptors, antibodies, ionic channels and enzymes, layers made of oligonucleotide (DNA, RNA, PNA) probes, layers made of cells or viruses, layers made of synthetic receptors for example molecules or macromolecules similar to biological receptors for properties, reactivity or steric aspects.
US09575024B2
A decoder unit for determining a substance or material structure of a detected object based on signals of a capacitive sensor comprises a distribution determination device arranged to determine a detected distribution relation based on signals of the at least one capacitive sensor; a comparison device arranged to compare the detected distribution relation with at least one predetermined distribution relation, the at least one predetermined distribution relation corresponding to a substance or a material structure and an output device arranged to indicate the result of the comparison carried out by the comparison device.
US09575019B2
A method of detecting hazardous materials in containers utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. The presence of precursors (e.g., H202) and/or nitrogen in the liquid in the container is determined by placing the container in a static magnetic field, exciting the container with electromagnetic pulses having a frequency corresponding to proton NMR and 14N NMR, and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals through a probe. The excitation pulses are configured to enable detection of the presence of precursors and nitrogen in the container, and may comprise a sequence of short RF pulses. The presence of nitrogen and/or explosive precursors is determined by detecting and evaluating NMR measurement signal amplitudes and relaxation times from the received RF signals. An apparatus comprising a magnet that generates a magnetic field and a probe that generates RF pulses and receives NMR measurement signals from the sampled container in accordance with the aforementioned method.
US09575018B2
A method of testing for impurities includes directing an x-ray source toward a surface at an angle α relative to the plane of the surface, the surface defined by a ceramic coating over a crystalline substrate; detecting x-ray fluorescent radiation emitted from the ceramic coating at an angle θ different from the angle α and its supplementary angle; and comparing characteristics of the detected x-ray fluorescent radiation to characteristics associated with impurities.
US09575014B2
A material-discerning device is arranged to include an antenna, a proximity sensor, a band pass filter and a processor. The antenna radiates a radio-frequency signal and a material object is located in the field created by the antenna and near the proximity sensor. Change in the amplitude of the radio-frequency signal due to the presence of the material object is detected by the proximity sensor. The change in amplitude of the radio-frequency signal is stored. The frequency of the radio-frequency signal is changed and the process is repeated until a range of frequencies have been swept and stored. After the range of frequencies has been swept and stored, the processor determines the type of material of the material object using the results of the changes in amplitude of the radio-frequency signals.
US09575005B2
An apparatus for inspecting a stream of matter including: a first and a second light source for emitting a first and a second light beam; a first and a second detector; a first scanning element adapted to redirect the detection area of the second detector from side to side across said stream, and a beam splitting element arranged to receive said first and second light beams, after they have been reflected against said matter, wherein said beam splitting element is adapted to guide said reflected first light beam towards said first detector and to guide said reflected second light beam towards said second detector.
US09575004B2
Systems and methods for inspecting a surface are disclosed. A source, detector, a base, a controller, and a processing device are used to collect image data related to the surface and information relating to the location of the image data on the surface. The image data and information relating to location are correlated and stored in a processing device to create a map of surface condition.
US09575001B2
An apparatus for measuring a presence of predetermined material within a sample, comprises signal generation circuitry for generating a first signal having an applied first orbital angular momentum signature and applying the first signal to the sample. A detector receives the first signal after the first signal passes through the sample and determines the presence of the predetermined material within the sample based on a detected second orbital angular momentum signature within the first signal received from the sample. The detector provides an output of an indication of the presence of the predetermined material responsive to the determination.
US09574992B1
Methods and systems for performing single wavelength ellipsometry (SWE) measurements with reduced measurement spot size are presented herein. In one aspect, a pupil stop is located at or near a pupil plane in the collection optical path to reduce sensitivity to target edge diffraction effects. In another aspect, a field stop is located at or near an image plane conjugate to the wafer plane in the collection optical path to reduce sensitivity to undesired optical-structural interactions. In another aspect, a linear polarizer acting on the input beam of the SWE system includes a thin, nanoparticle based polarizer element. The nanoparticle based polarizer element improves illumination beam quality and reduces astigmatism on the wafer plane. The pupil and field stops filter out unwanted light rays before reaching the detector. As a result, measurement spot size is reduced and tool-to-tool matching performance for small measurement targets is greatly enhanced.
US09574990B2
The present disclosure describes a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) apparatus and methods of forming and using the SERS apparatus. An example of a SERS apparatus includes a nanoporous material on an upper surface of a substrate, a plurality of SERS-active structures on an upper surface of the nanoporous material, and a Raman-active material on a surface of each of SERS-active structures.
US09574986B2
Apparatus (1) for generating acknowledged flow (Q), comprising a first passage (2) with ends (3,4) for acknowledged flow (Q) inlet and outlet, a discharge electrode (5) for generating airborne unipolar ions (8) positioned inside the first passage (2), a counter electrode (6) adapted to attract said airborne ions (8), thereby being adapted to cause a net flow (7) of airborne ions (8) and thereby generating an airflow (Q) in the direction of the net flow of airborne ions (8), sensing element (12, 13), the output of which is a function of the concentration of the airborne electric charge (8, 11), means (17) for switching or modulating a parameter which affects the output of the sensing element (12,13) and means for determining the volumetric flow (Q) on the basis of the time response which switching or modulation creates to the sensing element (12,13) output. 11. Use of apparatus (1) as described in the previous claims for determining ultrafine particle concentration. Process for generating acknowledged flow.
US09574984B2
A particle beam forming device for forming either a linear or conical particle beam from a particle source in which particles are dispersed in a gas, includes: a reduced-pressure vessel in which pressure is reduced; a particle beam generating unit, which has one end arranged outside of the reduced-pressure vessel and an other end arranged inside the reduced-pressure vessel, and which captures the particle source from outside the reduced-pressure vessel and introduces the particle beam into the reduced-pressure vessel; and a particle beam evaluating unit for evaluating a spatial distribution of the particle beam inside the reduced-pressure vessel.
US09574983B2
A method determines measurement data of samples by using a rotation rheometer and a linear DM(T)A analysis unit. The rotation rheometer has units for measuring and/or adjusting the normal force exerted by or on the measurement shaft and/or the speed, deflection angle and/or torque of the measurement shaft. The linear DM(T)A analysis unit has units for measuring the tensile and/or pressure force and/or the position and/or the feed movement of its adjustment rod. The sample to be examined is arranged between opposite measurement parts. Accordingly, the rotational forces or torques transmitted via the sample from the measurement shaft to the adjusting rod, when obtaining measurement data with the linear DM(T)A analysis unit, and, when obtaining measurement data by the rotation rheometer, for the tensile or pressure forces or linear adjustment forces transmitted via the sample from the adjustment rod to the measurement shaft are compensated for.
US09574975B2
The disclosure is directed to a device for fluid sampling. The device may have two panels that are or may be adhered, attached or otherwise connected to opposite sides of a sampling bag having flexible walls. The panels may be used for conveniently inflating or deflating the sampling bag and obtaining fluid samples.
US09574970B2
There is described a distributed optical fiber sensor for detecting one or more physical parameters indicative of an environmental influence on a sensor optical fiber, as a function of position along the sensor fiber. The sensor uses probe light pulses of different wavelengths. At least some of the probe light pulses may also be of different pulse lengths. The relative phase bias between interferometric signals in backscattered probe light of different wavelength pulses may also be controlled.
US09574965B2
A monitoring system and method monitor changes in clearance distances between a sensor and a rotating component of a machine. Imbalance and/or wear in the machine is identified based on the changes in the clearance distances. The system and method optionally both measure the clearance distances and a rotating speed of the rotating component of the machine with the same sensor. In order to identify imbalance in the machine, a spectral energy of the machine can be calculated based on the changes in the clearance distances, and the imbalance in the machine can be identified based on the spectral energy. The system and method can determine a trigger speed of the machine that is associated with the wear in the machine based on the changes in the clearance distance. A remaining useful life of the machine can be estimated based on changes in the trigger speed.
US09574959B2
Sensor packages and manners of formation are described. In an embodiment, a sensor package includes a supporting die characterized by a recess area and a support anchor protruding above the recess area. A sensor die is bonded to the support anchor such that an air gap exists between the sensor die and the recess area. The sensor die includes a sensor positioned directly above the air gap.
US09574958B2
An embodiment discloses a sensor arrangement comprising disc shaped structure with a plurality of magnetic elements which are at least provided on end faces of the disc shaped structure. The sensor arrangement includes a hollow disc structure, the hollow disc structure comprising two end faces, wherein each of the two end faces of the second structure comprises a plurality of teeth spaced apart from each other, the teeth on the two end faces are arranged in opposing positions. Teeth on a respective same end face of the hollow disc structure are spaced from each other. The disc shaped structure is rotatable with respect to the hollow disc structure. A magnetic field sensor is provided to sense a magnetic field generated by the plurality magnetic elements.
US09574957B1
Provided is an apparatus for measuring convergence and ceiling subsidence using a fiber bragg grating sensor. The apparatus includes a plurality of unit-fiber bragg grating sensor modules having a predetermined length and sequentially connected to each other, where each of the sensor modules comprises: a fiber bragg grating stain sensor installed in a protective tube to sense a variation of a length; an installing member installed in parallel to one side of the protective tube; a fiber bragg grating angle displacement sensor mounted on the installing member to measure angle displacement; bases provided at both ends of each sensor module to connect adjacent sensor modules to each other; and a fixing member and a fixing unit to fix both ends of the protective tube and the installing member to the bases, respectively. Each of the sensor modules continuously measures two-dimensional or three-dimensional convergence and ceiling subsidence. Thus, the plurality of fiber bragg grating sensors are sequentially mounted on a measuring target to measure a moving distance and angle displacement due to section strain, so that convergence and ceiling subsidence may be precisely measured.
US09574947B2
The present disclosure includes sensing device embodiments. One sensing device includes a heater layer, a resistance detector layer, constructed and arranged to indicate a temperature value based upon a correlation to a detected resistance value, an electrode layer, and a sensing layer.
US09574946B2
A spatiotemporally resolved far-field pulse contrast measuring device includes a plano-convex cylindrical lens, a nonlinear correlation crystal, a plano-convex imaging lens and a signal-receiving system. The signal-receiving system includes a fiber array, a photomultiplier and a digital oscilloscope. A measuring method of the device includes steps of: focusing an under-test beam in x dimension to make a focus of the under-test beam fall onto a front surface of the nonlinear correlation crystal; making a spatial correlation and a temporal correlation respectively in two transverse spatial dimensions (x-y) of the nonlinear correlation crystal by the far-field under-test beam and a sampling beam; generating a two-dimensional correlating signal by the spatiotemporal correlation; imaging the two-dimensional correlating signal by an imaging system onto a detection surface of a receiver system; and measuring the x-dimensional and y-dimensional intensity distributions of the correlating signal highly dynamically by the receiver system.
US09574938B2
An optical fluid analyzer tool may have an evaluation flowline which receives a flow of fluid from a geotechnical formation and may have a cleanup flowline which receives another flow of fluid from the geotechnical formation. A flow routing system may be connected to the evaluation flowline and may be connected to the cleanup flowline. The flow routing system may establish isolated flow or commingled flow for the evaluation flowline and may establish isolated flow or commingled flow for the cleanup flowline. A sample chamber may be connected to the evaluation flowline and may be connected to the cleanup flowline. A first pump module may draw the fluid from the geotechnical formation, and an optical fluid analyzer connected to the cleanup flowline and the evaluation flowline may analyze the fluid.
US09574928B2
A liquid level sensing system includes a vessel and an electrode. The vessel includes a vessel wall separating a vessel interior from a vessel exterior. The electrode is mounted to an exterior side of the vessel wall spanning a distance corresponding to a desired-level-determining range. The vessel wall is a dielectric gap between the electrode and the vessel interior. The electrode is configured to collect a charge corresponding to a liquid level. A method for determining a liquid level in a vessel includes collecting a charge on an electrode, sensing the collected charge on the electrode with a capacitance sensor through an electrical line, and determining a liquid level in a vessel based on the collected charge sensed by the capacitance sensor.
US09574922B2
A volumetric metering device includes a hopper adapted to hold a supply of granular material, the hopper having an outlet; a rotating wheel located in communication with the outlet, the rotating wheel having an outer periphery and a plurality of metering cavities distributed around the outer periphery, each metering cavity having an open bottom portion; and a plurality of metering valves located around the outer periphery of the rotating wheel with each metering valve located in registry with one of the metering cavities. Each metering valve is movable between a loading position wherein the metering valve blocks the open bottom portion of the metering cavity, and an unloading position wherein the granular material dispenses from the metering cavity through the metering valve. Other features and related methods are also described.
US09574917B2
A pressure type flow rate control device provides flow rate control for gas at 100-500° C. with an error not more than 1.0% F.S. The pressure type flow rate control device includes a valve body with a fluid passage, a valve portion interposed in the passage, a valve drive unit driving the valve portion to open/close the passage, a restriction mechanism on the downstream side of the valve portion in the passage, a temperature detector detecting gas temperature between the valve portion and restriction mechanism, a pressure detector detecting gas pressure between the valve portion and restriction mechanism, and an arithmetic control device controlling flow rate of gas in the restriction mechanism based on values detected by the temperature detector and the pressure detector, wherein the temperature detector is inserted in an attachment hole of the valve body at a position just above an outlet side fluid passage.
US09574916B2
A vortex flowmeter may utilize a ring-shaped bluff body as the vortex generator or shedder. The ring shape and size of the vortex ring generator may be optimized to produce linear and stable toroidal vortex outputs that may outperform the conventional shedder bar. In comparison to the conventional vortex shedder bar, the ring may have a slimmer configuration and a higher K-factor, and hence, a higher resolution.
US09574913B2
A dial plate structure of a vehicular combination meter includes a dial plate; a light guide disposed back side of the dial plate, the light guide receiving light from a three-dimensional scale light source incident upon a proximal end side thereof; three-dimensional scale marks protruding and disposed on a distal end side of the light guide, the three-dimensional scale marks protruding from through holes perforated in the dial plate; a dimming white print formed on the back surface of the dial plate; and a hard coat clear print formed on the back surface of the dial plate so as to cover at least portions of the dimming white print opposed to the three-dimensional scale marks.
US09574907B2
A semiconductor device measures a state of a MEMS as a first voltage variation at a sensing node. The state of the MEMS includes a capacitance. A first capacitor is coupled between the sensing node and an input of an integrator for transferring the first voltage variation to a second node as a first signal. A second voltage variation is routed through a second capacitor to the second node as a second signal. The integrator integrates the first signal and second signal to provide an integrated signal. An ADC has an input coupled to an output of the integrator and converts the integrated signal to a digital signal representative of the capacitance of the MEMS. A DAC has an input coupled to the output of the ADC. A second capacitor is coupled between an output of the DAC and the sensing node.
US09574897B2
In a method of generating a database for use in outputting three- dimensional maps, a projection of a two-dimensional road vector onto a three-dimensional surface defined by digital terrain model data is determined. At least one three-dimensional road vector (94, 95, 98, 99) is determined based on the established projection and is stored in the database. The database is generated before it is deployed to a navigation device for use in outputting three-dimensional maps. A method of outputting three-dimensional maps and a navigation device may use the thus generated database.
US09574889B2
An apparatus for providing a distance to empty of a green vehicle includes a motor. A battery provides a driving voltage to the motor and includes a plurality of cells. A motor controller is configured to control driving and a torque of the motor. A battery manager is configured to control charge and discharge of the battery. A vehicle controller is configured to integratedly control the motor controller and the battery manager according to a state of the vehicle through a network. The vehicle controller calculates a first distance to empty (DTE) by using a past fuel efficiency, calculates a second DTE by using designated route driving information, and calculates a final DTE by using the first DTE and the second DTE.
US09574887B2
A method of determining whether there is a need to re-calculate a trip route including a departure point and a destination by using traffic information according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided. The method is performed by a server and includes: receiving the current position from a terminal when the terminal moves a specific distance from a previously reported position; obtaining the current position of a third party when the destination is the position of the third party defined as the identifier (ID) of the third party; and determining whether there is a need to re-calculate the route according to a specific condition based on the obtained current position of the third party, wherein the specific condition is (1) when the third party moves a distance equal to or greater than a predetermined value from the previously reported position or (2) when the third party moves a distance equal to or greater than a predefined value from the previously reported position and the distance between the current position of the terminal and the current position of the third party is shorter than a critical value, and if one of the specific conditions is satisfied, it may be determined that there is a need to re-calculate the route.
US09574885B2
Systems, devices, features, and methods for obtaining, enhancing, or using data for or with a geographic database, such as a navigation database, are disclosed. For example, one method includes receiving input to enable a probe sensor that is associated with a device used by a being with a physical disability. Geographic data is collected via the probe sensor when the device is in use by the being with the physical disability. The collected geographic data is provided to a data collection facility to develop data corresponding to a geographic and/or navigation database.
US09574869B2
An optical coherence analysis system comprising: a first swept source that generates a first optical signal that is tuned over a first spectral scan band, a second swept source that generates a second optical signal that is tuned over a second spectral scan band, a combiner for combining the first optical signal and the second optical signal to form a combined optical signal, an interferometer for dividing the combined optical signal between a reference arm leading to a reference reflector and a sample arm leading to a sample, and a detector system for detecting an interference signal generated from the combined optical signal from the reference arm and from the sample arm.
US09574868B2
The present invention provides a novel simple, portable, compact and inexpensive approach for interferometric optical thickness measurements that can be easily incorporated into an existing microscope (or other imaging systems) with existing cameras. According to the invention, the interferometric device provides a substantially stable, easy to align common path interferometric geometry, while eliminating a need for controllably changing the optical path of the beam. To this end, the inexpensive and easy to align interferometric device of the invention is configured such that it applies the principles of the interferometric measurements to a sample beam only, being a single input into the interferometric device.
US09574864B2
A gauge and method of use. The gauge includes a body configured to removeably mount to substrate chuck of a spin apply coating tool, the body rotatable about an axis passing through a center of the chuck; an extendable arm having a first end mounted to the body, the extendable arm having a retracted position and a deployed position, a second end of the arm including an upper finger and a lower finger, the upper finger configured to be positioned above a rim of the coat apply bowl and the lower finger positioned below the rim of the coat apply bowl in the deployed position when the coat apply bowl is mounted in the spin apply tool; and wherein the gauge provides an error indication when the gauge is rotated about the axis and the coat apply bowl is not installed in the spin apply coating tool correctly.
US09574860B1
A simple ammunition casing resizer helps eliminate the problem of the casing becoming frictionally stuck with the resizing die. The ammunition casing resizer is a table top secured base that has a die plate located above the base with the resizing die removably secured within the die plate. A resizing frame reciprocates in up and down fashion under the guidance of either a manually controlled handle or an electrical motor. A ram is positioned below the resizing die while a push rod is positioned above the die such that the ram and push rod, each attached to the frame, travel in up and down reciprocating lockstep. As the ram travels upwardly, the ram presses a casing into the die for resizing and as the ram travels downwardly, the push rod passes through the top of the die and into the interior of the casing, pushing the casing out of the die.
US09574855B2
An automatically resetting target has a plate that rests in a removable base at a substantially vertical orientation. An apparatus mounted to the rear of the plate includes a pivotably mounted carriage with first and second legs extending radially away, at a relative angle, from a pivot point that is mounted between two openings. The first leg has a first striker plate that aligns with the first opening when the carriage is in a first position, and the second leg has a second striker plate that aligns with the second opening when the carriage is in a second position. By striking the first striker with a projectile, such as a bullet, a shooter moves the carriage and places the second striker behind the second hole. By striking the second striker with a projectile, the shooter moves the carriage and places the first striker behind the first hole.
US09574852B1
A mount for attaching an accessory to a firearm that has a mounting rail and a scope with an objective lens. The mount includes a body with a passageway defined by a perimeter. The passageway configured to receive the objective lens within the perimeter while the scope is secured to the firearm. The mount also includes a fastener block to releasably secure the body over a location along the mounting rail. The fastener block is secured to the mount body. The mount also includes an accessory mounting rail supported by the body. The accessory mounting rail supports the accessory.
US09574851B1
A method is provided for aligning a gun barrel. The method includes disposing a signal transmitter at the barrel's muzzle, distributing sensors around the barrel to receive the muzzle's signal, calculating the muzzle's coordinate position based on the signal, aiming an electro-optical sensor at a target to determine a miss distance, and calibrating the gun barrel based on the electro-optical sensor based on the miss distance.
US09574849B2
A fire-control system including a housing, a light channel, a light source, and a processor. Through the light channel, a user may directly observe a target and receive visually displayed information simultaneously. The light channel includes partially reflective optics and allows for visualization of a reticle to the user via the partially reflective optics. A measure of the distance to the target is also received by the system. The processor is for determining the adequate position of the reticle, based on the distance to the target, and for controlling the light source to emit light so that the reticle is visualized at the adequate position. The light source is an array capable of selectively emitting light in well defined locations on its surface.
US09574845B1
A gun for propelling a projectile, such as a scent compound enclosed in an spherical shell, into a hunting environment comprises a frame housing a compressed gas reservoir in fluid communication with a trigger valve that is operatively associated with a manually-actuable trigger to momentarily open the trigger valve. A projectile barrel and a sound barrel are each in fluid communication with the compressed gas reservoir when the trigger valve is open. The sound barrel includes a pneumatic game call. The pneumatic game call is selectively removable from the sound barrel and replaceable with at least one other pneumatic game call that produces a different game call. A distal end of the projectile barrel preferably includes a plurality of scoring blades fixed therewithin, such that upon exiting the projectile barrel the shell of the projectile is scored by the scoring blades.
US09574843B2
An apparatus for correcting trajectories variations of projectiles launched from a firearm is disclosed. The apparatus includes a control circuit for determining an appropriate impulse to be imparted into a projectile based on the measured velocity of the projectile, at least one steering coil, and a pulsed-power supply for discharging an amount of energy commensurate with the determined impulse to the steering coil such that a set of magnetic fields is produced to impart an amount of corrective kinetic energy into the projectile as the projectile passes the steering coil.
US09574842B2
An archery bow/crossbow press and method provides operation to various bow designs including bows with past parallel limbs or having limbs with sharp curvatures using collectively connected bow limb supports to engage the outer face of a bow limb for compression; each bow limb support configured with at least one upper and at least one lower support arm wherein each support arm comprises bow limb contact areas that may include various shapes adaptable to engage a bow limb or limb components; each support arm may be positioned against a bow limb independently or collectively with each other; and, when the bow limb supports are positioned collectively on the bow they may be the sole contact of the bow press during the pressing operation.
US09574829B2
Provided is a system for recovering waste heat discharged from distillation columns, incinerators, blast columns, smelting columns, and the like at relatively low temperatures to produce hot water in high efficiency, which can be used in various industrial fields. The investment and operating costs of the waste heat recovery system are relatively low as compared with the conventional systems.
US09574828B2
Heat exchanger for exchanging heat between at least two fluids which are guided through chambers of the heat exchanger (1), wherein at least one guiding profile (11) is provided in the chambers (19,20), and the guiding profile (11) is an extruded tubular profile (12) which includes two parallel walls (13) which are connected to one another by means of two sidewalls (14). One or several dividing walls (15) extend in the extrusion direction of the tubular profile (12). One or several passages (17) are provided in the dividing walls (15) and/or in the sidewalls (14) for guiding a fluid.
US09574825B2
A directional solidification furnace includes one or more movable cooling plates disposed beneath a crucible. In a first position, the cooling plates are free from contact with a crucible support positioned adjacent the crucible. In a second position, the cooling plates are in contact with the crucible support. A control system is used to control the amount of force exerted by the cooling plates against the crucible.
US09574819B2
A body of a refrigerator may be deformed when the rigidity of the body is lowered due to a thickness of insulation being reduced to increase an internal capacity of the body. Deformation of the body of the refrigerator is reduced by improving rigidity of the body using a reinforcement structure. The refrigerator may include an electric apparatus box in which electric apparatus components for controlling an operation of the refrigerator are accommodated. Electric components may be disposed in a hinge cover which is disposed in the front of the refrigerator to improve spatial utility and a reinforcement plate formed of a steel material may be disposed in the electric apparatus box to prevent a fire from spreading.
US09574813B2
Container-type refrigeration systems. A container includes an upper beam assembly, a lower beam assembly, a first end wall assembly, and a second end wall assembly, the upper beam assembly is spaced from the lower beam assembly to form a first accommodation space between the upper beam assembly and the lower beam assembly, the upper beam assembly and the lower beam assembly each has one end connected to the first end wall assembly and the other end connected to the second end wall assembly to form a second accommodation space above the upper beam assembly and between the first end wall assembly and the second end wall assembly, the first accommodation space is isolated from the second accommodation space through the upper beam assembly, the second accommodation space has a water chilling unit.
US09574802B2
A method for refrigeration through voltage-controlled entropy change includes applying a voltage signal to a piezoelectric material to generate strain in the piezoelectric material, generating strain in a magnetic material attached to the piezoelectric material, and generating a change in a temperature of the magnetic material in response to the strain in the magnetic material.
US09574800B2
An absorption refrigeration system can include: an evaporator configured to evaporate a first refrigerant; an absorber configured to contain an absorbent solution and absorb the evaporated first refrigerant; a regenerator configured to regenerate the absorbent solution by heating the absorbent solution supplied from the absorber; a condenser configured to condense the first refrigerant evaporated in the regenerator; a cooler configured to circulate a second refrigerant inside the evaporator, where the second refrigerant is cooled in the evaporator by evaporation of the first refrigerant; a hot water storage tank configured to store hot water that is heated by absorbing heat from the absorber and the condenser; one or more hot water consumption units configured to receive the hot water from the hot water storage tank; and one or more cold air consumption units configured to receive cooled second refrigerant from the evaporator via the cooler.
US09574797B2
A cryocooler is provided that includes: a regenerator piston; a drive coupler; and a link flexure having a proximal end coupled by a first pin to the drive coupler and having a distal end coupled by a second pin to the regenerator piston, where the link flexure forms a vane having flattened opposing faces that are orthogonal to a longitudinal axis for the first and second pin.
US09574794B2
A radiator in particular for room heating, comprising a control or measurement unit accommodated in a container integral with the radiator and positioned so as to sustain the heat from the radiator as little as possible, while exploiting a cool air flow drawn by the same to cool the internal circuitry defining the unit. Said container is conveniently spaced apart from the radiator by means of insulating elements and a part of the same container is formed by a heat dissipator to which one or more electronic power elements included in said circuitry are thermally connected.
US09574793B2
A control system for controlling a gas powered water heater includes a power system to provide electrical power, a valve control system to selectively hold a main gas valve in an open position, a valve pick system to selectively pick the main gas valve from a closed position to the open position, a safety system to prevent the valve control system from holding the main gas valve in the open position, and a controller. The controller is electrically powered by the power system and communicatively coupled to the valve control system, the valve pick system, and the safety system. The controller is configured to control operation of the main burner and the main gas valve using the valve control system, the valve pick system, and the safety system to provide water heated to substantially a set point temperature.
US09574789B2
A damper comprising a frame, a first blade pivotally engaged with the frame, the first blade comprising a first end portion disposed at an obtuse angle α with respect to a first blade axis, the first blade comprising a hollow portion for receiving an insulating material and further comprising a first thermal gap for interrupting a thermally conductive path across the first end portion, a second blade pivotally engaged with the frame, the second blade comprising a second end portion disposed at an obtuse angle α with respect to a second blade axis, the second blade comprising a hollow portion for receiving an insulating material and further comprising a second thermal gap for interrupting a thermally conductive path across the second end portion, a first seal connected to the first end portion of the first blade, a second seal connected to the second end portion of the second blade, the first seal and the second seal disposed to cooperatively engage an adjacent first blade end portion and second blade end portion such that a dead air space is created between the adjacent first seal and second seal in a damper closed position, and the first thermal gap and the second thermal gap disposed within said dead air space in the damper closed position.
US09574788B2
Systems and methods for a vent are described herein. In some embodiments, a vent may be configured to be positioned in an opening in a surface. The vent may include flexible members configured to inhibit extraction of the vent from the opening once positioned in the opening. The vent may include at least one vane. The vanes may rotate such that, during use, the vanes function to control the direction of fluids conveyed through the vent. In some embodiments, vane(s) may include at least one anti-uncoupling device on a vane to prevent overly exerted forces applied onto the vane by a vent operator from uncoupling the vane from its mating frame axle.
US09574777B2
Provided herein is a cooking apparatus. The cooking apparatus includes a plate forming a cavity, a microwave transmission line to transmit microwaves to the inside of the cavity, and a first metal part connected to one end of the microwave transmission line and extended in one direction so as to be parallel with the plate. Thereby, an antenna having improved efficiency is provided.
US09574775B2
A combustion burner including a fuel nozzle, a burner tube that surrounds the fuel nozzle to form an air passage between the burner tube and the fuel nozzle, swirler vanes that are arranged in a circumferential direction on an external circumferential surface of the fuel nozzle, a liquid fuel injecting hole that is formed on the fuel nozzle, and from which a liquid fuel is injected to a vane pressure surface of each of the swirler vanes, and a cooling unit that cools a part of the vane pressure surface on which the liquid fuel hits. The cooling unit includes a multi-purpose injecting hole that is arranged on the vane pressure surface of each of the swirler vanes, and from which a gas fuel is injected during gas combustion, and water is injected to the vane pressure surface of the swirler vane during combustion of the liquid fuel.
US09574770B2
An apparatus includes a tuyere, a plasma torch positioned to inject hot gas into the tuyere, and a plurality of nozzles configured to inject a combustible material into the tuyere for combustion of the combustible material within the tuyere. The apparatus can be used to practice a method including: injecting a combustible material into a plurality of tuyeres in a wall of a reactor vessel, using a plasma torch to inject hot gas into the tuyeres to ignite the combustible material, and directing heat from combustion of the combustible material into the reactor vessel to preheat the reactor vessel.
US09574761B2
Provided is an illuminated mirror device including: a mirror; a light-emitting part for illumination disposed near the mirror; and driving means for driving the light-emitting part, and detection means for detecting a direction of a face of a person in front of the mirror with respect to the mirror, wherein the driving means controls an emission luminance distribution on a light-emitting surface of the light-emitting part on the basis of the face direction detected by the detection means. Also provided is a method for controlling illumination thereof.
US09574751B1
A luminaire can comprise a frame that provides a cavity for emitting illumination towards a space to be illuminated. A light source, such as a row of light emitting diodes, can emit light into the cavity. The cavity can extend lengthwise between two end caps of the frame that are located at opposing ends of the luminaire. The frame can further comprise two bridges that are located adjacent the end caps, one at each end of the frame. Two rails that extend on opposing sides of the cavity can connect the two bridges to one another. A system of grooves and protrusions can interlock the rails to the bridges. A system of standardized interchangeable components that facilitates rapid manufacture of custom luminaires can comprise the bridges, the rails, and the end caps.
US09574750B1
A light fixture includes a housing and at least one adjustable light assembly coupled thereto. Each light assembly includes a light source and an optic lens that is disposed over at least a portion of the light source. At least a portion of the lens is positioned external to the housing. The lens is rotatably adjustable about an axis extending perpendicular from the lens and includes a portion of the light source. The lens emits an asymmetrical light output. A light source holder may be included as part of the light assembly and is used to couple the light assembly to the housing. The light source holder includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and an aperture extending therethrough. The light source is positioned adjacent the first surface over the aperture while the lens is positioned adjacent the second surface over the aperture.
US09574742B2
A surgical clip for illuminating tissue in a surgical field has first and second elongate arms and a connector joining the arms together. The arms are biased to expand laterally outward into an expanded configuration in which the arms engage the tissue in the surgical field with enough force to seat the clip without retracting the tissue. A waveguide illuminator is coupled to the first arm, and has a light input portion, a light output portion, and a light conducting portion extending between the light input portion and the light output portion. Light passes through the waveguide illuminator by total internal reflection, and the waveguide illuminator directs light to the tissue. Methods of using the illuminated clip are also disclosed.
US09574739B2
A lens for an LED includes a top face, a bottom face, and a circumferential periphery interconnecting the top and bottom faces. The top face defines a recess therein. A concave wall defines a bottom of the recess. In cross section of the lens, the concave wall consists of two symmetrical curves extending outward and upwardly from a bottom tip of the recess to connect with the top face. Each curve is a part of a hyperbola. The cavity is for receiving an LED therein. The lens further forms a cone-shaped top wall enclosing a top of the cavity. Light emitted from the LED travels through the cone-shaped top wall to strike the concave wall and be reflected thereby to radiate sideward and downwardly. The sideward and downwardly reflected light then is reflected by a reflective coating on a substrate to illuminate upwardly.
US09574718B2
A self cooling light effects device for use in a standard light bulb socket having a socket adaptor, surface embedded LEDs as means to generate light effects, means to control light effects, and means for cooling. Fiber optic cables provide further light effects. Means to control 5 light effects may include a logic board. Means for cooling may be any combination of fans, heat sinks, heat pipes, thermoelectric cooling, a heat conductive filler, and a heat conductive housing.
US09574717B2
An LED-based replacement light comprises multiple LEDs, the LEDs having different logical control addresses associated among them, with each logical control address subjecting one or more of the LEDs associated therewith to individual control; a controller in communication with the LEDs, the controller configured to generate signals that individually control the operating states of the one or more LEDs associated with each logical control address; a housing for the LEDs; and a connector disposed at an end of the housing, the connector shaped for connection with a light socket.
US09574714B2
An adhesive melter and a method for operating the melter enables predictive maintenance of an exhaust air filter used to remove pressurized air flow that delivers solid adhesive particulate from a fill system into the melter. To this end, the fill system repeatedly actuates to refill a receiving space, and a controller monitors a duration of each fill system cycle. When changes in a calculated average duration of a plurality of fill system cycles exceed a maintenance threshold, an alert is emitted at a user interface to prompt maintenance or replacement of the exhaust air filter before a complete shutdown of the fill system is caused by clogging of the exhaust air filter. Consequently, unplanned downtimes caused by clogged exhaust air filters in the adhesive melter can be minimized, regardless of any variable conditions occurring at the melter.
US09574700B2
A pipeline laid trenchlessly and/or without a sand bed is produced using a metallic conduit which is encased with an extruded layer of a polyamide molding material. In this way, the durability of the outer shell required for trenchless laying techniques without a sand bed is ensured.
US09574699B2
A shield for a pipe carrying fluid includes a pipe-engaging portion and a shielding portion. The pipe-engaging portion is configured for holding the shield in place with respect to the pipe. The shielding portion is fixed to the pipe-engaging portion and configured for blocking at least one side of the pipe and protecting the pipe against external disturbance applied in a specific direction. The pipe-engaging portion may be configured for engaging and holding in place the pipe. The pipe-engaging portion is configured for engaging and holding in place the pipe. Alternatively, the pipe-engaging portion is configured for being disposed in a vicinity of the pipe and holding the shield portion in place with respect to the pipe.
US09574696B2
A thrust apparatus for a rod string. The apparatus has a stationary frame, a thrust frame with a rod gripper, two hydraulic cylinders and two rams in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinders. During low-load operations, the hydraulic cylinders act alone, providing the load to the grippers to pull or push the rod string. When higher loads are required, a check valve is activated, allowing fluid from the hydraulic cylinders to activate the rams. The rams provide additional force to the grippers, and may be activated without mechanical or significant hydraulic changes to the apparatus.
US09574688B2
First and second conduits are joined in a manner to control electrical resistance of a conduit circuit. A cylindrical section of an adapter is placed onto an end of the first conduit. A part of the cylindrical section is crimped onto the first conduit while a spacing block made of a polymer material having a previously chosen conductivity is positioned around the end of the first conduit and clipped onto the cylindrical section. The crimping locks the spacing block to the adapter and deforms an assembly comprising the clipping pieces of the spacing block and the adapter, so as to immobilize the clipping pieces relative to each other in a direction parallel to an axis of the cylindrical section of the adapter, and such that an exterior surface of the first conduit engages interior surfaces of the spacing block and the adapter.
US09574678B2
A valve (61) for enabling release of pressurized steam from a pressure vessel has a displaceable closure member (67) which is maintained in its closed disposition by exposure to the pressure of the steam within the pressure vessel. The closure member (67) is displaced between its closed disposition and an open disposition by a double-acting actuator (69), suitably an air-driven piston/cylinder device, the closure member (67) being preferably mounted at one axial end of a spindle (68) extending between the closure member (67) and the actuator (69). The closure member (67) is suitably mounted for substantially metal-to-metal contact with a valve seat portion (63), without interposition of any sealing element, preferably for substantially vertical displacement between its closed and dispositions.
US09574674B2
A valve includes a valve body, a diaphragm dividing the inside of the valve body into first and second valve chambers and being displaced under a pressure of fluid, first and second openings in communication with the first valve chamber, and a third opening in communication with the second valve chamber. When a pump is not driven, the force applied to a side of the diaphragm facing the second valve chamber is greater than the force applied to a side of the diaphragm facing the first valve chamber, and the second opening is sealed by the diaphragm. When the pump is driven and the force applied to the side of the diaphragm facing the first valve chamber becomes greater than the force applied to the side of the diaphragm facing the second valve chamber, the diaphragm allows the first and second openings and to communicate with each other.
US09574672B2
Methods and apparatus to access and align sealing discs are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a cage of a fluid regulator, where the cage has a central aperture, and a valve stem to be received by the central aperture. The example apparatus also includes a diaphragm coupled to the valve stem, where an integral protrusion of the cage is to constrain a peripheral edge of the diaphragm against a removable portion of a valve body when the cage is coupled to the valve body.
US09574668B2
A valve includes a housing. A sleeve at least partially surrounded by the housing. The sleeve slidable relative to the housing and a travel stop that is engageable with the sleeve to limit travel of the sleeve.
US09574662B2
A disconnector for a hybrid vehicle, which can accurately control interruption or transmission of rotary power by accurately measuring and monitoring a transfer distance of a shift fork using a linear sensor while interrupting or transmitting the rotary power of an engine or a motor using the shift fork.
US09574660B2
A debris collection vehicle having an enclosed volume for collecting debris and a hydraulic fan drive system for creating vacuum condition in the enclosed volume is disclosed. In one embodiment, the hydraulic fan system includes a closed loop hydraulic circuit, a variable displacement hydraulic pump disposed within the closed loop circuit, and a hydraulic motor disposed within the closed loop circuit. The hydraulic fan drive system can also include an electronic or hydraulically actuated control valve constructed and arranged to adjust the output of the hydraulic motor via a displacement actuator based on pressure in the closed loop hydraulic circuit.
US09574659B2
A work vehicle including a transmission that transmits power of an engine to wheels at a plurality of different transmission gear ratios, the work vehicle traveling while maintaining a targeted speed by controlling a degree of opening of an accelerator, brakes, and the transmission, wherein the work vehicle includes a controller which inhibits change in the transmission gear ratio of the transmission when the transmission shifts up before lapse of a first predetermined time after the transmission shifts down while the vehicle is running downhill and then before a second predetermined time elapses, the transmission shifts down while the vehicle is running downhill.
US09574658B2
A shift-by-wire control apparatus includes: a first detector that detects a first vehicle state; a second detector that detects a second vehicle state; an auto parking controller that executes an auto parking control irrespective of a state of a shift range, on conditions that detection results derived from the first and second detectors satisfy respective predetermined conditions; and a malfunction determining unit that determines that the first detector is malfunctioning, on a condition that the first detector fails to detect a change in the first vehicle state. The auto parking controller executes, based on the detection result derived from the second detector, the auto parking control irrespective of the detection result derived from the first detector, on a condition that the first detector is determined by the malfunction determining unit as malfunctioning.
US09574655B2
A hydraulic pressure supply system of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include a low-pressure hydraulic pump, a low-pressure regulator valve, a high-pressure hydraulic pump, a high-pressure regulator valve regulating the high hydraulic pressure supplied from the high-pressure hydraulic pump to be stable hydraulic pressure and supplying the regulated hydraulic pressure to the high pressure portion, a first switch valve disposed between the low-pressure hydraulic pump and the low-pressure regulator valve, and selectively communicating the low-pressure hydraulic pump to the low-pressure regulator valve, a second switch valve selectively opening or closing a first circulating line connecting a downstream of the low-pressure hydraulic pump to an upstream of the high-pressure regulator valve, and a third switch valve selectively opening or closing a second circulating line connecting a downstream of the high-pressure regulator valve to an upstream of the low-pressure regulator valve.
US09574647B2
A reciprocating rocking device for the rocking of a chair or cradle, the chair or cradle having rockers and a seat member, the reciprocating rocking device comprising a base secured to the rockers, the base comprising a first bracket, a second bracket secured to the seat member of the chair or cradle, a tension member connected to the second bracket, an eccentric, the eccentric constantly engaged with the second bracket and, a motor secured to the first bracket, the motor having a drive shaft operatively arranged to drive the eccentric, wherein the motor is coaxially arranged with the eccentric.
US09574643B2
Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for electric traction drives employing a continuously variable transmission (CVT) having a variator provided with a plurality of tilting traction planets and opposing traction rings. In one embodiment, an electric traction drive is provided with an electromotive device configured to transfer power to or from a traction sun of a CVT. In other embodiments, an electric traction drive is provided with an electromotive device that couples to certain components of a CVT such as a traction ring, a carrier assembly, and a main axle. Various inventive shifting assemblies having shift cams and shift cam cages can be used to facilitate adjusting the transmission speed ratio of a CVT. Various related devices include embodiments of, for example, a power input apparatus, a speed ratio shifter, a shift cam actuator, a shift nut, and a carrier assembly configured to support the tilting traction planets.
US09574638B2
A transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft connected to a power source, an output shaft disposed in parallel with the input shaft, a synchromesh type shift mechanism including at least two pairs of external gear pairs and a synchronous device which may be installed on the input shaft and the output shaft, and a clutch device provided on a power transfer path connected from the input shaft to the output shaft through the external gear pair and configured to connect the synchronous device in parallel with the power transfer path.
US09574635B2
A shock absorber including a cylindrical outer shell and a piston rod slidably inserted into the outer shell, the shock absorber includes a cylindrical dust cover that is coupled to the piston rod and that permits an entry of the outer shell to inside thereof, and a cylindrical bellows whose one end is attached to the outer shell and whose another end is arranged inside the dust cover at all times to cover an outer periphery of the piston rod.
US09574632B2
A brake disc assembly includes a hub member, a rotor member and a plurality of air guide plates. The hub member is provided to be connected to a wheel hub. The rotor member includes an annular portion and a plurality of support limbs that protrude radially inward from an inner peripheral face of the annular portion and are joined to a periphery of the hub member by bolts. The air guide plates are disposed in a circumferential direction about a central axis of the hub member. Each of the air guide plates substantially interposed in a gap between adjacent two of the support limbs of the rotor member.
US09574625B2
In one aspect the invention provides a safety lock device, for use with a pump-jack having a gear box and at least one rotating member, the safety lock device comprising an engagement member suitable for securely engaging the rotating member to prevent further substantial rotation of said rotating member and a mounting frame to mount the safety lock device to the gear box. The engagement member may be actuated between a locked position and an unlocked position.
US09574622B2
A system is provided for latching and draining a torque transmitting device. The system may include a clutch feed channel having an inlet portion and a clutch portion. The inlet portion is configured to provide hydraulic fluid from a pressurized source to the clutch portion. The clutch portion is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to a torque transmitting device. An inlet valve connects the inlet portion of the clutch feed channel to the clutch portion of the clutch feed channel. The inlet valve is configured to open to allow the hydraulic fluid to flow from the inlet portion to the clutch portion when the torque transmitting device is engaged. The inlet valve is configured to close and to trap hydraulic fluid within the torque transmitting device when the torque transmitting device is not actively pressurized. A multispeed transmission is also provided.
US09574614B2
Drive coupling assembly (50) for a high-speed rotating brush, comprising:—a coupling head (100) having a coupling head rotation axis (Lch) and including three drive surfaces (106) which are arranged to be rotationally symmetrical through 120° with respect to said coupling head rotation axis; and—a coupling member (200), having a coupling member rotation axis (Lcm) and including three first drive surfaces (210a) which are arranged to be rotationally symmetrical through 120° with respect to said coupling member rotation axis, wherein said coupling head (100) and said coupling member (200) are detachably couplable, such that, in a coupled condition, their rotational axes (Lch, Lcm) are aligned and the coupling head is rotatable to drive each of its drive surfaces (106) in contact with a respective first drive surface (210a) of the coupling member, to thereby exert both a torque and an axially directed force on the coupling member.
US09574602B2
A self-clinching fastener for insertion into ductile sheets of varying thicknesses has increased push-out and torque-out resistance. The self-clinching fastener includes a plurality of radial projections and spline teeth that embed into the ductile sheets, causing the material to cold flow into a recess, thereby permanently clinching the self-clinching fastener to the ductile sheet.
US09574597B2
A fastening device is disclosed. The fastening device has a vertical protrusion for fastening. A horizontal portion and an indicator are used for seating. The horizontal portion extends from the vertical protrusion for providing a clue to indicate that the fastening device is seated correctly. In embodiments, the clue is a color or a texture. In embodiments, a bellow is used with elastomeric properties. When the right load and torque are applied, the bellow covers the horizontal portion such that the color and/or texture of a perspective directed at the horizontal portion appear to be changed.
US09574593B2
A two-way fastener includes a first member threaded for being screwed into a first workpiece; a polygonal wall for receiving a tool to screw the first member into the first workpiece, the polygonal wall located at a base end of the first member; and a second member extending in an opposite fastening direction from the first member, the second member configured to be fastened to a second workpiece. A fastening method includes enabling the threading of a first member of a fastener into a first workpiece; and enabling the threading of a second workpiece to a second member extending outwardly from the first member and the first workpiece.
US09574591B2
Disclosed is an adjustable vertical pipe support, in which a second saw-toothed portion is positioned in a wedge of a length adjusting member for adjusting a length of upper and lower pipes, so as to prevent unlocking or slip of the upper pipe and thus improve the safety of the vertical pipe support, even though a first rotation adjustor is rotated by a tensile force or an external force. The adjustable vertical pipe support includes a wedge with a first and second saw-toothed portion on the inner peripheral surface, in which any one of the first saw-toothed portion and the second saw-toothed portion is inclined upwardly so as to suppress downward movement of the upper pipe, and the other is inclined downwardly or is formed in the shape of a ridge so as to suppress upward movement of the upper pipe.
US09574573B2
In one aspect, a method for manufacturing a part for a centrifugal slurry pump is provided, comprising: forming a skeleton of the part having an outer dimension smaller than the part; placing the skeleton of the part in a metal enclosure having an interior dimension larger than the outer dimension of the skeleton of the part and thereby forming a space; adding a metal matrix composite powder into the metal enclosure to fill the space; and subjecting the metal enclosure to hot isostatic pressing, thereby allowing bonding of the metal matrix composite to the skeleton of the part to form the part.
US09574572B2
A compressor control method includes providing variable aerodynamic sizing of fluid flow through a compressor at multiple operating points of the compressor. A head is determined for an operating point, based on a process input at that operating point. Further, for that operating point, a control pressure number is determined as a function aerodynamic flow sizing at that operating point. The control pressure number is determined a function of the head divided by the square of a tip speed of the impeller of the compressor. An operating speed setpoint is determined based on the determined head and control pressure number.
US09574570B2
A rotary apparatus comprises a shaft having a rotational axis, a rotation indicator formed on the shaft, a target feature proximate the rotation indicator, and a sensor proximate the target feature. The target feature extends circumferentially about the shaft, with a radial face transverse to the rotational axis and a circumferential face along the rotational axis. The sensor is oriented toward the rotation indicator to sense a rotational speed of the shaft, and oriented toward the target feature to sense transverse vibrations based on a radial distance to the target feature and longitudinal vibrations based on an axial distance to the target feature.
US09574568B2
A centrifugal blower apparatus includes a scroll-shaped housing with first and second air inlets which open to a blower chamber that is in fluid communication with an air outlet. The blower includes a motor to drive impellers, wherein the motor is secured to a frame coupled within the housing in a manner to substantially enhance aerodynamic performance of the blower.
US09574567B2
A supersonic compressor rotor and method of compressing a fluid is disclosed. The rotor includes a first and a second rotor disk, a first set and a second set of rotor vanes. The first set and second set of rotor vanes are coupled to and disposed between the first and second rotor disks. Further, the first set of rotor vanes are offset from the second set of rotor vanes. The rotor includes a first set of flow channels defined by the first set of rotor vanes disposed between the first and second rotor disks. Similarly, the rotor includes a second set of flow channels defined by the second set of rotor vanes disposed between the first and second rotor disks. Further, the rotor includes a compression ramp disposed on a rotor vane surface opposite to an adjacent rotor vane surface.
US09574564B2
A system for maintaining a high vacuum in a vacuum enclosure such as cryostat, for example, is described. The system includes a high-vacuum pump having an input that is connected to the cryostat and an output. A vacuum vessel is connected to the output of the high-vacuum pump. A second vacuum pump is connectable to the vacuum vessel. The system is operated such that the high-vacuum pump maintains the cryostat at a high vacuum and the second vacuum pump is periodically operated to maintain the pressure of the vacuum vessel below a threshold pressure. The second vacuum pump may be either permanently connected to, or removable from, the vacuum vessel. The vacuum vessel acts to maintain the output of the high-vacuum pump within a suitable pressure range. This removes the need for the output of the high-vacuum pump to be connected to a continuously operating, second-stage vacuum pump. Furthermore, the second vacuum pump is only required to be operated periodically in order to maintain the pressure in the vacuum vessel below the threshold pressure.
US09574552B2
A hybrid geothermal power system is discussed. The system includes a geothermal system including power plant (101) and pumping station (102) and a nuclear plant (103). Pumping station (102) is used to inject fluid from reservoir (104) through an injection well (105) into the bedrock (106) (also referred to as the hot dry rock HDR zone) and extracted via a secondary bore (extraction well) usually coupled to the power plant (101). In the present example however the injection well is linked to the extraction well (107). As fluid is injected into the bedrock a drop in temperature occurs due to heat transfer to the fluid. Nuclear plant (103) is utilized to combat this drop, the plant (103) has the fissionable components (1091, 1092, 1093) of the reactor positioned within bores (1081, 1082, 1083) within the HDR zone.
US09574550B2
A support structure for mooring a vertically extending floating wind turbine or the like body has a ring of tether attachment points for connecting respective tethers running down to the seabed. The ring is spaced from the body by a ring of inclined struts running diagonally downwardly and inwardly from the plane of the attachment points.
US09574548B2
The present invention relates to a method for controlled shutdown of wind turbines. The method involves using a generator side converter, and optionally a DC chopper, as a generator load during controlled shutdown. In this way gearbox back-lashing and drive train oscillations can be avoided. The present invention also relates to a wind turbine capable of performing controlled shutdown in accordance with the before-mentioned method.
US09574546B2
A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The method includes determining a wind condition, determining for the wind condition expected azimuthal positions of a rotating wind rotor of the wind turbine, and determining for the wind condition desired azimuthal positions of the rotating wind rotor so that at least one of a load balance of the rotating wind rotor and a power uptake of the rotating wind rotor is improved compared to the expected azimuthal positions.
US09574545B2
The present invention relates to a connection system for connecting component sections of wind turbine blades, according to which one or more intermediate parts (2) formed by a complex structure defining end transverse partitions (2.1) and a central transverse partition (2.2), between which there extend columns (2.3) separated by openings (2.4), is arranged between the blade sections (1) to be connected, the openings (2.4) including short bolts or screws (3) that pass directly through the end transverse partitions (2.1) and long bolts or screws (3) that pass inside the columns (2.3), said bolts or screws (3) being screw-coupled to nut-like anchoring parts (4) housed in the material of the blade sections (1).
US09574544B2
Methods of manufacturing rotor blade components for a wind turbine and rotor blade components produced in accordance with such methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method generally includes providing a mold of the rotor blade component; coating at least a portion of an interior surface of the mold with an elastomeric material; inserting a foam material within the mold; and, removing the rotor blade component from the mold, wherein the elastomeric material forms a cover skin around at least a portion of the rotor blade component. In an alternative embodiment, the method includes providing at least one support member defining a profile for the rotor blade component on a mold surface; coating at least a portion of the support member with an elastomeric material; and, allowing the elastomeric material to cure on the mold surface so as to form the rotor blade component.
US09574540B2
The invention relates to a corona ignition device for igniting fuel in a combustion chamber of an engine by means of a corona discharge, comprising an insulator, which has a continuous channel, a central electrode, which plugs into the channel of the insulator and leads to at least one ignition tip, a glass seal, which seals in the channel a gap between the central electrode and the insulator, and a housing, into which the insulator plugs. In accordance with the invention, the central electrode has a sealing face, which, together with a sealing face of the insulator, forms a seat, and an annular air gap that is open towards the ignition tip is provided in an end portion of the channel, facing the ignition tip, between the central electrode and the insulator.
US09574539B2
The detection of the switching state of a stop switch at a switch terminal of an ignition device for an internal combustion engine is provided, in which an ignition pulse for controlling an electronic ignition switch is generated and a first power storage device is discharged via an ignition coil and during this discharge a voltage signal having negative and positive voltage half waves is generated, which is used for synchronizing a sampling, representing the switch state of the stop switch, particularly its closed position, of a voltage value at the switch terminal.
US09574536B2
A fuel injector includes a body having a fuel injection port, and a seal ring on the body. The body has a diameter-shrink portion of which an outer diameter is shrunk. The seal ring is engaged with the diameter-shrink portion. The diameter-shrink portion has a radially concaved annular groove with which a tip end portion of the seal ring is engaged. It is restricted that the seal ring is rubbed against an inner surface of the assembling hole and the seal ring is damaged.
US09574534B2
A fuel rail or pressure vessel assembly extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a fluid conduit having an opening at either or both of the longitudinal ends of the conduit. The conduit has an inlet coupled to a high-pressure fuel source, a plurality of outlets, and a conduit interior that forms a fluid flow passageway between inlet and outlets. An end cap assembly is mounted to cover and close each fluid conduit opening. The end cap assembly includes a cup having a free edge that defines an aperture that leads to a cup interior. The cup has an inner surface facing the conduit interior. The end cap assembly also includes a reinforcement that is mounted to the inner surface of the cup. Both the cup and the reinforcement can be stamped metal components and are brazed together.
US09574530B2
A fuel pump module supports a port injection (PI) fuel pump and a direct injection (DI) fuel pump by utilizing a combination structure of a pump case for housing the PI fuel pump and an other pump case for housing the DI pump case. The two pump cases are combined via a support part. The support part includes an outer wall of a cylinder part of the pump case which extends outwardly toward a radially-outer portion thereof. The cylinder part houses the PI fuel pump. The support part has a C-shape, and supports the other pump case which houses the DI fuel pump, a DI filter and the like. As a result, the fuel pump module has a fewer number of parts and a reduced volume.
US09574529B2
An engine room cooling system may include an encapsulation covering an intake manifold and an exhaust manifold of an engine of a vehicle, a main duct guiding traveling wind flowing into the vehicle to a side of the encapsulation, an encapsulation intake duct branched from the main duct and formed toward the intake manifold within the encapsulation, an encapsulation exhaust duct branched from the main duct and formed toward the exhaust manifold within the encapsulation, and an intake duct valve disposed adjacent to the encapsulation intake duct and controlling air flow from the main duct to the encapsulation intake duct or to the encapsulation exhaust duct.
US09574528B2
An exhaust gas recirculation adapter for an air intake system of an engine is disclosed. The exhaust gas recirculation adapter includes a tube portion defining an interior space therein. The exhaust gas recirculation adapter also includes a protrusion projecting into the interior space of the tube portion. The protrusion is configured to provide a surface for impacting of exhaust gases thereon.
US09574516B2
Disclosed are an engine having a cylinder block and a method for manufacturing an engine having a cylinder block. The engine may include cylinder liners each having a cylinder space formed therein, a protruded portion formed on an outside circumference thereof, and a flat surface formed on one side of the protruded portion. The cylinder liners may be arranged such that the flat surfaces of adjacent cylinder liners are in close contact with one another. The engine may also include a liner covering unit formed to surround an outside of the cylinder liners, and an outer block which forms a cooling water chamber with an outside surface of the liner covering unit.
US09574510B2
Methods and systems are provided for estimating an engine exhaust pressure based on outputs from an exhaust oxygen sensor. In one example, a method may include estimating an exhaust pressure of exhaust gas flowing through an engine exhaust passage based on a difference between a first output of an oxygen sensor disposed in the exhaust passage and a second output of the oxygen sensor and then adjusting engine operation based on the estimated exhaust pressure. As one example, both the first and second outputs may be taken while operating the sensor in a variable voltage mode, after increasing a reference voltage of the oxygen sensor from a lower, first voltage to a higher, second voltage.
US09574509B2
Methods and systems are provided for estimating exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) flow based on outputs of two different intake oxygen sensors arranged in an engine intake system. In one example, a method may include, when the engine is boosted, adjusting exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) based on a first output of a first oxygen sensor positioned in an intake passage and exposed to EGR gases and a second output of a second oxygen sensor not exposed to EGR gases and exposed to positive crankcase ventilation and purge flow gases. For example, EGR flow may be estimated based on a difference between the first output and the second output.
US09574508B2
The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for operating an internal combustion engine. In the method a first distribution of values for at least one variable is used, the variable describing a physical property of the internal combustion engine, and over a second time period values for this variable are recorded and classified, such that a second distribution is determined. The first distribution is then compared with the second distribution such that the behavior of the internal combustion engine can be adapted on the basis thereof.
US09574506B2
A current is supplied to a driving relay that drives a bypass relay when restarting an engine after idle reduction, and the current supply to the driving relay is interrupted when the engine is started for the first time based on operation of a driver.
US09574503B2
An engine includes a catalyst disposed inside an exhaust passage that guides exhaust discharged from a combustion chamber and a controller programmed to control a throttle valve and a fuel injector. If the engine is overheating, the controller is programmed to control the opening degree of the throttle valve or the injection amount of fuel from the fuel injector to decrease the rotational speed of the crankshaft and to control the injection amount of fuel from the fuel injector to set a target air-fuel ratio to a value richer than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio.
US09574497B2
One example of an engine mounted inlet plenum for a rotorcraft includes an inlet flange, an outlet flange and a plenum duct that connects the inlet flange and the outlet flange. The inlet flange, which defines an inlet to flow air into a barrier filtration system, is configured to be substantially aligned with a closed cowl door assembly of the rotorcraft. In some implementations, the plenum duct is configured to extend to an outer mold line (OML) of the rotorcraft such that the inlet flange is aligned with the OML. The outlet flange defines an outlet to flow air filtered by the barrier filtration system into an engine of the rotorcraft. The plenum duct allows air to flow from the inlet to the outlet.
US09574489B2
A turbocharger control system for an internal combustion engine having first and second turbochargers connected in series includes first and second pressure sensors, and a controller. The first and second pressure sensors are disposed in an air intake of the engine, and are configured to sense boost pressure of the first and second turbochargers, respectively. The controller is configured to receive pressure signals from the first and second pressure sensors, and to control operation of at least one of the first and second turbochargers to maintain a desired boost pressure ratio.
US09574484B1
A method is disclosed for controlling a diesel engine equipped with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). The method includes detecting steady state operation of the engine generating a first flow rate of particulate matter (PM) directed into the DPF. The method also includes, during the steady state operation, triggering exhaust gas recirculation to the engine and thereby directing a second PM flow rate that is greater than the first flow rate into the DPF. The method additionally includes detecting a PM flow rate exiting the DPF in response to the second PM flow rate directed into the DPF. The method also includes comparing the detected PM flow rate exiting the DPF with a PM flow rate threshold. Furthermore, the method includes regulating injection of fuel to regenerate the DPF, if the detected PM flow rate exiting the DPF is greater than the PM flow rate threshold.
US09574482B2
A method of operating components for exhaust gas after-treatment disposed in the exhaust gas tract of a turbocharged internal combustion engine. A partial exhaust gas stream is removed from the main exhaust gas stream upstream of at least one exhaust gas turbine. The partial exhaust gas stream is fed back into the main exhaust gas stream downstream of the at least one exhaust gas turbine. The feed is located, in terms of exhaust flow, between an NO oxidation catalytic converter and a particle filter (i.e., the exhaust gas after-treatment component). That is, the at least one exhaust gas after-treatment component is arranged downstream of the feed. The quantity of exhaust gas branched off as a partial exhaust gas stream is controlled or closed-loop controlled as a function of at least one target temperature in at least one defined point in the exhaust gas tract, in particular in the partial exhaust gas stream and/or of the at least one exhaust gas after-treatment component.
US09574481B2
A heat exchanger (7) for an exhaust gas system (5) of an internal combustion engine (1) includes a thermoelectric generator (13) with plural thermoelectric elements (15) that each have a hot side (16) and a cold side (17). A heating channel (18) conducts a heating medium on the hot sides and a cooling channel (19) conducts cooling medium on the cold sides (17). The thermoelectric generator (13), the heating channel (18), and the cooling channel (19) are arranged adjacent in a stacking direction (20) and form a channel stack (21). A housing (8) that encloses an interior (22) accommodates the channel stack (21) and has medium inlets (9, 11), outlets (10, 12) and electrical connections (14). The thermoelectric elements are arranged in a double-walled intermediate bottom (15) that separates the cooling channel (19) from the heating channel (18), adjacent to said cooling channel, in regard to fluid flow.
US09574477B1
A method for operating a reagent metering system which meters a reagent into an exhaust duct of an internal combustion engine upstream of an SCR catalytic converter, in which, after the metering operation is ended, at least part of the reagent metering system is emptied by back-suction by means of a reciprocating pump. The procedure according to the invention is distinguished in that during the back-suction, a stop determination determines the flight time of a reciprocating piston of the reciprocating pump from a starting time as far as the stop time, in that a comparator compares the flight time determined with a flight time threshold value, and in that the activation power of the reciprocating pump is reduced if the flight time determined is less than the flight time threshold value.
US09574462B2
The invention relates to a method for operating a power plant, wherein in partial load operation the increase of temperature results at the outlet of the high-pressure turbine section as a consequence of a throttling by means of the intermediate pressure valve.
US09574459B2
A gas turbine engine includes a fan, a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine section. The engine also includes a rotating element and at least one bearing compartment including a bearing for supporting the rotating element, a seal for resisting leakage of lubricant outwardly of the bearing compartment and for allowing pressurized air to flow from a chamber adjacent the seal into the bearing compartment. A method and section for a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.
US09574455B2
A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a seal body having a radially inner face and a radially outer face that axially extend between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion. At least one cooling fin is disposed on the radially outer face between the leading edge portion and the trailing edge portion.
US09574446B2
A bladed expander for recovery of thermal energy from a working fluid, comprising a stator provided with an inlet port and an outlet port for the working fluid, a rotor housed within the stator, and a plurality of blades set between the rotor and the stator so as to delimit between them a plurality of compartments with variable volume that increases between the inlet port and the outlet port. The stator and the rotor are subjected to a heat exchange with a hot fluid so as to carry out a transformation of expansion during which the working fluid receives thermal energy from outside.
US09574440B2
A pulser driver assembly of a measurement-while-drilling tool that includes an improved flow switch is disclosed. The flow switch uses multiple accelerometers of different types that measure acceleration changes in a system. The accelerometer data is then filtered and processed by an onboard microcontroller. The filtered data is then passed to a fuzzy logic voting algorithm which systematically and robustly characterizes the signal, and identifies the flow state.
US09574437B2
A method for measuring viscosity in a borehole includes: pumping downhole fluid through at least one tube disposed in a carrier configured to be disposed in a borehole in an earth formation; taking at least one differential pressure measurement of the fluid in the at least one tube via a pressure transducer; and estimating a viscosity of the fluid based on the differential pressure measurement.
US09574430B2
An apparatus is provided for delivering a substance containing hydrocarbons from a reservoir. The reservoir can be subjected to thermal energy in order to reduce the viscosity of the substance. The apparatus includes at least one conductor loop for inductively applying current as an electric/electromagnetic heater. A conductor of the conductor loop is surrounded in at least one section by a liquid-carrying conduit. The liquid-carrying conduit is perforated such that when a liquid is supplied the liquid penetrates into the reservoir from the liquid-carrying conduit via a perforation.
US09574417B2
A bottom hole assembly for engaging and removing an object within a wellbore comprises a cutting tool at a lower end. Continued engagement of the cutting tool with the object is facilitated by an axial compression device disposed within the bottom hole assembly below the anchor of the bottom hole assembly. The axial compression device comprises a compressed position and an expanded or extended position. As the object is being cut or abraded, the axial compression device moves from the compressed position toward the expanded position so that a continued downward force is transferred to the object by the bottom hole assembly.
US09574414B2
A wellbore tool, a wellbore fluid treatment string and a method with an indexing mechanism including a crown ratchet sleeve. The indexing mechanism can be shifted through one or more inactive positions before finally shifting into an active condition. The indexing mechanism is particularly useful with a plug that lands in a seat to impart an axially directed force on the mechanism before passing through the seat.
US09574407B2
A drill bit assembly that includes a shank including a shank axis, first and second ends, a drill bit seat at the second end and a central flow bore extending axially from the first end. Additionally, the assembly includes a sleeve disposed about and translatable axially relative to the shank and a drill bit rotatably coupled to the sleeve. The drill bit includes a first bit face having a first cutting structure configured to engage an earthen formation, and a second bit face having a second cutting structure configured to engage the earthen formation. The drill bit is configured to rotate about the about the shank axis in a cutting direction, and to rotate about an axis of rotation being orthogonal to the shank axis to selectively expose the first or second cutting surface to the earthen formation. The seat is configured to receive the first or second bit face.
US09574403B2
A mobile drilling rig (1) includes a mast (3), a drilling head (5) for sliding in use along the mast (3), and at least one hoist (4). The drilling head (5) is supported by at least two hoisting wire cables (24). The mast (3) is telescopic and includes a main load carrying member (31), for extending the telescopic mast (3), at whose end a plurality of pulleys (26) are provided, on which the hoisting wire cables (24) slide. The main load carrying member (31) is adapted to bring the mast (3) from a closed operating configuration to an extended operating configuration and vice versa. The movement of the drilling head (5), when the mast (3) is in the extended operating configuration, takes place by the hoisting wire cables (24), which are pulled and released by the at least one hoist (4).
US09574402B2
A spreader beam includes a first spreader beam section, where the first spreader beam section is pivotably coupled to the first substructure and a second spreader beam section, where the second spreader beam section is pivotably coupled to the second substructure. The first and second spreader beam sections are positioned to, in an extended position, selectively couple to each other.
US09574401B2
A rotary fluid drive has first and second bodies 20, 120. The second body 120 is rotatable relative to and inside of the first body 20 defining a working fluid space 40 there between. Gates 130 are supported by the first body 20 and lobes 124 are provide on the second body 120. Gate pockets 26 are formed in the first body 20 into which the gates swing when contacted by the lobes 124. The gates 130 and the gate pockets 26 are configured to form a debris chamber 27 there between capable of temporarily accommodating solid debris. Each gate 130 has a plurality of projections 136A with intervening gaps 136B. The gaps form a gate pocket flow path 141. Working fluid flows via each gate pocket flow path 141 into the working fluid space 40 when the associated gate 130 is maximally deflected into its associated gate pocket 26.
US09574399B2
A maintenance/construction cart that facilitates wall and ceiling access while isolating the interior of the cart from the surrounding environment. The cart is configured such that its height can be easily adjusted by an operator to provide access to ceilings of different heights while maintaining the seal between the interior of the cart and the surrounding environment while structurally supporting a ladder leaning against a surface of the cart. In some embodiments, the cart includes an air filtration unit.
US09574393B2
A cord-winding device for a blind assembly having no pull cord includes a base seat defining a slide channel and having a bottom side configured to removably mount the blind assembly thereto, and an adjustment unit including a slide seat mounted slidably in the slide channel, a plurality of rollers mounted on the base seat and the slide seat, respectively, and a constant force spring having first and second ends respectively fixed to the base seat and the slide seat. A lift cord winds around the rollers and extends through the base seat. The lift cord is configured to extend through the blind assembly after extending through the base seat so as to be positioned to the base seat and the blind assembly.
US09574390B2
New techniques for safeguarding valuables in a recreational, public setting are provided. In some aspects of the invention, a specialized portable safe is configured for insertion and securing into sand or other loose ground particles, with at least one removal-resisting edge or anchor. The edge or anchor may be shaped to facilitate insertion into the ground, but resists removal until switched for release by an authorized user. In further aspects, the invention comprises a tamper-detecting alarm. In other aspects, a compartment access door permits the placement and removal of valuables from a compartment of the safe, even when the safe is installed in the ground. In still other aspects of the invention, new wireless locking, unlocking and alerting techniques are provided. In some embodiments, computer hardware and tracking tags and beacons are provided, and trigger locking, unlocking and location alerts to aid a user in locating the safe.
US09574380B2
An opening and closing apparatus of a luggage room for a vehicle may include a latch configured to be coupled with a luggage room door of a vehicle and provided with a locking hook, a housing configured to have a space part formed therein, a striker configured to have one portion penetrating through the housing, be provided with a locking part locked or unlocked to or from the latch, and have another portion provided with an extension extending in a left and right direction of the vehicle from a lower portion of the locking part to insert the extension into the space part of the housing, and an elastic member configured to be provided in the space part of the housing and formed to enclose an outside of the extension of the striker.
US09574374B2
The restroom stall occupancy indicator system includes a latch coupled to a stall door and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. A sensor is responsive to selected positioning of the latch and communications the position information to a transmitter. The transmitter then relays the position information to a receiver coupled to an indicator. The indicator, in turn, is responsive to the received position information to provide a first visual identification when the latch is in the unlocked position and a second visual identification when the latch is in the locked position.
US09574373B2
The present disclosure discloses a padlock, comprising a lock cylinder and a lock housing. The lock cylinder is rotatable between a lock position and an unlock position with rotation of a key. The a lock housing comprises a sleeve shaped to fit with and for receiving the lock cylinder, a first prong extending outward from the sleeve and having a first recessed portion and a second prong extending outward from the sleeve and having a second recessed portion; wherein when the lock cylinder is rotated into the lock position/the unlock position, the through holes are aligned with the first recessed portion/the second recessed portion, the first pins/second pins are movable in the through holes and the first recessed portion/the second recessed portion, allowing the removal of the key from the keyhole.
US09574368B2
An erectable canopy framework comprising a base frame and a roof frame. The roof frame is operative to support a canopy above the base frame and is removably mountable to the base frame. The base frame includes a plurality of upright support members, a plurality of cross members, each interconnecting adjacent upright support members, and a plurality of mounts disposed on the upright support members. Each mount includes a mount opening and each cross member includes a scissor assembly to permit movement of the base frame between expanded and a collapsed states. The mounts are operative to fasten the cross members to the upright support members. The roof frame includes a plurality of rafters each connectable to a corresponding mount opening. The framework comprises a plurality of rafter fittings each adapted for insertion into a corresponding mount opening and connectable to a corresponding rafter.
US09574357B2
Various implementations described herein are directed to a scaffold bracket. In one implementation, the scaffold bracket may include a mounting bracket having a first face and a second face opposite of the first face. The scaffold bracket may also include a first scaffolding node attached to the first face and configured to couple to a first member. The scaffold bracket may further include a second scaffolding node attached to the first face and configured to couple to a second member.
US09574355B2
The present invention relates generally to a tile or panel having at least one magnetic material embedded therein, and fully or partially covered with at least one layer of parchment. The invention also encompasses at least one discrete permanent magnet that is placed at an appropriate location within a panel or tile, and wherein at least a portion of the panel or tile and the at least one magnet are then optionally covered with at least one layer of at least one barrier material, and then at least one parchment layer partially or fully envelopes this assembly. The inventive tile having at least one magnetic type material can have at least one indicia or design on at least one surface, and the inventive tile can be magnetically attached to a wall or another panel having at least one magnetic type material to form a wall or panel surface.
US09574352B2
Improved building-integrated photovoltaic systems according to certain example embodiments may include concentrated photovoltaic skylights or other windows having a cylindrical lens array. The skylight may include an insulated glass unit, which may improve the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). The photovoltaic skylight and lens arrays may be used in combination with strip solar cells. Arrangements that involve lateral displacement tracking systems, or static systems (e.g., that are fixed at one, two, or more predefined positions) are contemplated herein. Such techniques may advantageously help to reduce cost per watt related, in part, to the potentially reduced amount of semiconductor material to be used for such example embodiments. A photovoltaic skylight may permit diffuse daylight to pass through into an interior of a building so as to provide lighting inside the building, while the strip solar cells absorb the direct sunlight and convert it to electricity, providing for SHGC tuning.
US09574332B2
The present invention provides a faucet with a wand that has a geometric orientation of the wand and/or a geometric relationship between components of the faucet.
US09574331B2
A shower flow monitoring and display apparatus that is adapted to be installed inline between a shower arm and head. The apparatus provides different forms of feedback to the user to encourage water conservation.
US09574327B2
The purpose of the present invention is to operate an engine in a proper operation state while keeping the remaining amount in an electrical storage apparatus within a proper range. Hybrid construction machinery according to the present invention is provided with a controller for controlling an engine according to a governor characteristic having a predetermined inclination that defines a relationship between load torque and rotational speed so that the rotational speed decreases with an increase in the load torque. In the controller, a target engine power calculating unit (2-5) calculates a first target engine power that increases and decreases according to increases and decreases in output values of a load power calculating unit (2-1) and a charge/discharge request calculating unit (2-3), and a target rotational speed calculating unit (2-6) calculates, as a command value for a target rotational speed of a motor generator, a rotational speed at the intersection point of a governor characteristic line changed by a governor characteristic changing unit (2-4) and an equal power line dependent on the first target engine power on a rotating speed-torque characteristic line diagram.
US09574325B2
A rear portion is arranged in the rear of a front portion, and has a width smaller than a width of the front portion in a plan view. A wall portion extends from the rear portion outward in a width direction toward the front portion and includes two walls opposed to each other in a fore/aft direction with a gap lying therebetween, in a plan view. Electric components are arranged in the gap and project into an indoor space of a cab from the gap through a through hole formed in the front wall. In a plan view, a foremost portion of the electric components is located in the rear of a foremost normal located foremost among normals to a line connecting a front end and a rear end of a doorway, which intersect with the front wall.
US09574318B2
A coated member is disclosed. The coated member has a member and a coating disposed on the member. The member is metallic and the member is bent at two or more locations along a length of the member. The coating is an elastomeric coating. The coated member is a soil reinforcing member.
US09574316B2
The present relates to a suction foundation in which is penetrated into the seabed by a vacuum pressure of a suction pump, thereby providing a desired foundation support force. The suction foundation includes a hollow caisson having an opening at a lower end thereof, where the suction pump is connected to the hollow caisson and the suction pump allows the hollow caisson to penetrate into the seabed while discharging a fluid in the hollow caisson to an outside thereof by using the vacuum pressure of the suction pump, a lower skirt provided along a circumference of the opening of the hollow caisson and formed into a wave shape having a series of teeth, and having wedge-shaped cross-sections, and a stiffener increasing rigidity of the lower skirt by increasing thickness of a predetermined portion of the lower skirt.
US09574310B2
A system for controlling a cutting machine for cutting continuous sinusoidal strips in a road surface includes a rotatable cutting head, a cylinder for driving the cutting head out of and into contact with the road surface, and a controller. The controller is programmed to execute an input/output function to control the cylinder to cut a subsurface sinusoidal strip wherein the cutting drum remains in the road surface once the cutting operation begins.
US09574306B2
A method of making a paper product includes forming an aqueous cellulosic web on a structuring fabric in a papermaking machine, non-compactively dewatering the cellulosic web on the structuring fabric, and drying the cellulosic web to form the paper product. The portion of the structuring fabric on which the cellulosic web is formed has a planar volumetric index of at least about 26.
US09574304B2
A sheet-manufacturing device that manufactures a sheet of which the quality is stable, by controlling airflow to be constant and causing a defibrated state to be constant. A sheet-manufacturing device including a defibrating unit configured to generate a defibrated material by defibrating a defibration object; a temperature acquiring unit configured to acquire a temperature of the defibrating unit; and a control unit configured to change a mass flow rate of the air including the defibrated material transported from the defibrating unit.
US09574294B2
A washing machine includes a water tub; a water supply device to supply water into the water tub; a detergent supply device to supply detergent; a circulating device to circulate the water supplied into the water tub; a drum mounted in the water tub to receive clothes therein; a motor to rotate the drum; and a control unit to control the water supply device and the detergent supply device so that the water and the detergent are supplied into the water tub, bubbles of detergent dissolved water are generated, and washing of functional clothes is performed using the bubbles by varying a drive operation rate of the motor stepwise for a washing period.
US09574291B2
The invention relates to a novel binder system and its use for bonding textile fabrics as well as products containing such bonded textile fabrics. The materials according to the invention are suitable for manufacturing base interlinings which may be used for manufacturing base interlinings for sarking, roofing and sealing membranes, particularly for manufacturing coated sarking, roofing and sealing membranes.
US09574280B2
A composition for making a contact includes a nickel-cobalt alloy containing 1% by weight or more to less than 20% by weight of cobalt, and 0.002 part by weight or more to 0.1 part by weight or less of sulfur with respect to 100 parts by weight of the nickel-cobalt alloy. The composition has an average particle size of 0.07 μm or larger to 0.35 μm or smaller.
US09574276B2
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a process for electrochemical hydrogen production is provided. The process includes providing an electrochemical cell with an anode side including an anode, a cathode side including a cathode, and a membrane separating the anode side from the cathode side. The process further includes feeding molecules of at least one gaseous reactant to the anode, oxidizing one or more molecules of the gaseous reactant at the anode to produce a gas product and protons, passing the protons through the membrane to the cathode, and reducing the protons at the cathode to form hydrogen gas.
US09574273B2
Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a multilayer metal complex having excellent surface properties. Specifically, the present invention relates to a method for preparing a multilayer metal complex having a low cost metal-core/noble metal-shell structure, which has a high mass fraction of noble metals and exhibits excellent surface properties and dispersity.
US09574272B2
A conductive nanowire film based on a high aspect-ratio metal is disclosed. The nanowire film is produced by inducing metal reduction in a concentrated surfactant solution containing metal precursor ions, a surfactant and a reducing agent. The metal nanostructures demonstrate utility in a great variety of applications.
US09574270B2
Disclosed is provides a plasma processing apparatus that processes a workpiece. The plasma processing apparatus includes: a processing container configured to accommodate the workpiece; a coaxial waveguide configured to transmit microwaves generated in a microwave generator; and a slow wave plate configured to adjust a wavelength of the microwaves transmitted from the coaxial waveguide and to introduce the microwaves into the processing container. A lower end portion of an inner conductor of the coaxial waveguide has a tapered shape of which a diameter increases downwardly, the slow wave plate has an annular shape in a plan view, and the inner surface of the slow wave plate encloses the lower end portion of the inner conductor and is located more outside than an inner surface of an outer conductor of the coaxial waveguide in a radial direction.
US09574266B2
A laminate body includes a base material, a film-like or a membrane-like undercoat layer that is formed in at least a portion of the outer surface of the base material, and an atomic layer deposition film that is formed on a surface opposite to a surface coming into contact with the base material among both surfaces of the undercoat layer in the thickness direction thereof. At least a portion of precursors of the atomic layer deposition film bind to the undercoat layer, and the atomic layer deposition film is formed into a membrane shape covering the undercoat layer.
US09574258B2
An aluminum-alloy sheet includes 0.10 to 0.40 mass % of Si, 0.35 to 0.80 mass % of Fe, 0.10 to 0.35 mass % of Cu, 0.20 to 0.80 mass % of Mn, and 1.5 to 2.5 mass % of Mg, the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities, wherein a content ratio (Si/Fe) of the Si to the Fe is 0.75 or less, the area fraction of Mg2Si intermetallic compound grains having a maximum length of 1 μm or more is 0.10% or more in a region of a section of the aluminum-alloy sheet, the region being a central region in the thickness direction of the aluminum-alloy sheet, and the aluminum-alloy sheet has a proof stress of 225 to 270 N/mm2 after having been baked at 270° C. for 20 seconds.
US09574256B2
A steel comprises, by mass percent, C: 0.10 to 0.15%, Si: not less than 0.02% and less than 0.10%, Mn: more than 0.90% and not more than 2.50%, P≦0.030%, S≦0.050%, Cr: 0.80 to 2.0%, V: 0.05 to 0.50%, Al: 0.01 to 0.07%, N≦0.0080%, O≦0.0030%, and one or more selected from Mo, Cu, Ni, Ti, Nb, Zr, Pb, Ca, Bi, Te, Se and Sb, the balance being Fe and impurities. The composition satisfies [35≦Mn/S≦200], [20≦(669.3×loge C−1959.6×loge N−6983.3)×(0.067×Mo+0.147×V)≦80], [140×Cr+125×Al+235×V≧160] and [150≦511×C+33×Mn+56×Cu+15×Ni+36×Cr+5×Mo+134×V≦200].
US09574254B2
A hot rolled steel sheet has a chemical composition including, by mass %, C: 0.060% to 0.120%; Si: 0.10% to 0.70%; Mn: 1.00% to 1.80%; P: 0.10% or less; S: 0.010% or less; Al: 0.01% to 0.10%; N: 0.010% or less; Nb: 0.010% to 0.100%, wherein Nb is contained so that content of solute Nb is 5% or more relative to the total Nb content; the balance being Fe and incidental impurities. The hot rolled steel sheet has a microstructure containing ferrite of not more than 15 μm in average crystal grain diameter by a volume fraction of not less than 75%, the balance being low-temperature-induced phases. The hot rolled steel sheet can be suitably utilized for manufacturing a cold rolled steel sheet or hot-dip galvanized steel sheet having a tensile strength of 590 MPa or more, excellent in material homogeneity and capable of giving excellent cold rolling property.
US09574253B2
An aluminum alloy material contains Si: 1.0 mass % to 5.0 mass % and Fe: 0.01 mass % to 2.0 mass % with balance being Al and inevitable impurities, wherein 250 pcs/mm2 or more to 7×105 pcs/mm2 or less of Si-based intermetallic compound particles having equivalent circle diameters of 0.5 to 5 μm are present in a cross-section of the aluminum alloy material, while 100 pcs/mm2 to 7×105 pcs/mm2 of Al-based intermetallic compound particles having equivalent circle diameters of 0.5 to 5 μm are present in a cross-section of the aluminum alloy material. An aluminum alloy structure is manufactured by bonding two or more members in vacuum or a non-oxidizing atmosphere at temperature at which a ratio of a mass of a liquid phase generated in the aluminum alloy material to a total mass of the aluminum alloy material is 5% or more and 35% or less.
US09574244B2
The present invention provides methods for universally detecting citrus viroids in plant material such as germplasm. In particular embodiments, the invention enables the determination of citrus viroid infection and plant resistance. Accordingly, the present method provides methods for improved universal detection of any citrus viroid.
US09574242B2
The invention relates to a method for detection of a methicillin resistant coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain by means of a sequence specific amplification reaction.
US09574235B2
A method for sequencing includes steps of (a) providing first and second nucleic acid templates, wherein the two templates have different sequences; (b) extending a first primer bound to the first template using a first polymerase species and a first set of nucleotide analogs; (c) extending a second primer bound to the second template using a second polymerase species and a second set of nucleotide analogs, wherein the first polymerase species is different from the second polymerase species and wherein the first set of nucleotide analog is different from the second set of nucleotide analog, (d) detecting the first and second primer extension products; and (e) repeating steps (b) through (d), thereby determining the different sequences of the first and second templates.
US09574226B2
Provided herein is a method of using transposition to improve methods of sequencing RNA molecules. Provided herein is a method of tagging nucleic acid duplexes, such as DNA:RNA duplexes or DNA:DNA duplexes. The method includes the steps of providing a transposase and a transposon composition, providing one or more nucleic acid duplexes immobilized on a support, and contacting the transposase and transposon composition with the one or more nucleic acid duplexes under conditions wherein the one or more nucleic acid duplexes and transposon composition undergo a transposition reaction to produce one or more tagged nucleic acid duplexes, wherein the transposon composition comprises a double stranded nucleic acid molecule comprising a transferred strand and a non-transferred strand.
US09574220B2
The invention is directed to droplet actuator devices and assay methods. The invention includes assay methods of conducting an assay comprising combining a sample with an umbelliferyl derivative, wherein the sample potentially comprises an enzyme capable of cleaving the umbelliferyl derivative and where the umbelliferyl derivative comprises an umbelliferyl core modified with one or more modifying moieties.
US09574219B2
A sampling device for a specimen container having a closure sealing the interior of the specimen container from the environment includes a needle, a body coupled to the needle and defining a chamber in fluid communication with the needle, the body further comprising a port forming an opening in the body, the port in fluid communication with the chamber. A multitude of the sampling devices may be stored in a cassette. The sampling devices may include a second chamber for separation and concentration of a microbial agent present in a sample. In this configuration second chamber is connected to the first chamber via a valve or the like.
US09574218B2
A method for the secretory production of a glycoprotein having a human-type sugar chain, comprising a step of introducing a gene of an enzyme capable of performing a transfer reaction of a galactose residue to a non-reducing terminal acetylglucosamine residue, and a gene of heterologous glycoprotein, to obtain a transformed plant cell, a step of culturing the plant cell, and a step of recovering the culture medium of the plant cell. The method further includes isolating the glycoprotein from the culture medium and contacting the isolated glycoprotein with a sialic acid transferase to add a sialic acid residue attached to the galactose residue in the N-glycan.
US09574207B2
Polynucleotide sequences encoding diacylglycerol acyltransferase genes and the use of these acyltransferases for increased seed storage lipid production and altered fatty acid profiles in oilseed plants are disclosed. Transgenic soybean seed having increased total fatty acid content of at least 20% and altered fatty acids when compared to the total fatty acid content of non-transgenic, null segregant soybean seed are described. Methods for increasing the total fatty acid content of a soybean seed by at least 20% include steps of transformation and selection.
US09574197B2
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for producing recombinant proteins utilizing mutant E. coli strains containing expression vectors carrying nucleic acids encoding the proteins, and secretory signal sequences to direct the secretion of the proteins to the culture medium. Host cells transformed with the expression vectors are also provided.
US09574191B2
The present invention relates to the selective inhibition of protein expression of CAG repeat-related disease proteins such as Huntingtin Disease Protein and Ataxin-3 using double-stranded RNAs and nucleic acid analogs. Chemically-modified RNAs having at least one mismatch as compared to the target CAG repeat sequence are specifically contemplated.
US09574188B2
The disclosed methods in the application relates to making an adapter-tagged restriction library. The library or libraries created with the disclosed methods avoid the self-ligation of the restriction fragments. The application further disclosed methods of using the library or libraries to measure the methylation level of a genome, or comparing methylation levels among two or more genomes. The measurement of the global methylation levels can be achieved with quantitative PCR method by measuring the number of restriction fragments in the libraries. It also can be used for next generation Sequencing (NGS), Copy Number Variation (CNV), restriction site mutation, endogenous gene jumping, and exogenous DNA insertion, somatic hypermutation, gene knockout/knock in etc.
US09574187B2
Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
US09574185B2
A cold-adapted protease derived from Pseudoalteromonas arctica PAMC 21717 or a recombinant cold-adapted protease obtained by expressing a gene encoding the cold-adapted protease in E. coli is described, and more particularly, a crystal of a protease exhibiting activity at low temperatures, a method for crystallizing the protease, a method for preparing the protease, a recombinant microorganism that expresses the protease, a method for preparing the recombinant microorganism, a method for preparing the recombinant protease and the use of the cold-adapted protease. The cold-adapted protease exhibits high activity at low temperatures, and securely maintains its enzymatic activity even in the presence of high pH, various metal ions and surfactants. Thus, it is useful in various industrial applications.
US09574182B2
The object of the present invention is to provide Humulus lupulus-derived monoterpene glycosyltransferase and a method for producing a monoterpene glycoside by means of this enzyme.The present invention provides Humulus lupulus-derived monoterpene glycosyltransferase and a method for producing a monoterpene glycoside by means of this enzyme. The present invention provides a transformant transformed with a gene for Humulus lupulus-derived monoterpene glycosyltransferase and a method for producing such a transformant.
US09574181B2
Methods for producing reassortant viruses are provided wherein the transcription and/or translation of the hemagglutinin and/or neuraminidase genes are suppressed.
US09574177B2
The invention is directed to methods for reducing the number of apoptotic cell deaths in a population of cells undergoing excessive cellular apoptosis. The invention is also directed to methods for preventing apoptotic cell death in a population of cells at risk for developing excessive cellular apoptosis. In particular, the invention is directed to methods for reducing or preventing excessive cellular apoptosis comprising exposing cells exhibiting or at risk for developing excessive cellular apoptosis to a cellular factor-containing composition called Amnion-derived Cellular Cytokine Solution (referred to herein as ACCS), which is obtained from the culturing of Amnion-derived Multipotent Progenitor (AMP) cells, or AMP cells.
US09574169B2
The present invention comprises the discovery and development of an effective cryoprotectant composition, without containing skim milk or any other animal-derived compounds, to achieve long-term stability of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria (LAB), at different temperatures, whereby the retention of viability of the freeze-dried LAB after 6 months of storage, preferably after 9 months of storage, more preferably after 12 months of storage is more than 50%. The invention is in the field of producing freeze dried bacteria, in particular Lactic acid bacteria. More in particular, the invention relates to the use of a novel combination of cryoprotectants for increasing the viability of bacteria after freeze drying, improving the texture of the lyofilized cake for easy grinding and improving the long term stability of the freeze dried bacteria at different temperature conditions. The invention further relates to such freeze dried bacteria for use in food industry or in human or animal health applications. More in particular, the invention relates to the increased viability and long-term storage of recombinant bacteria capable of expressing heterologous proteins or peptides and administered to humans or animals for therapeutic or vaccination purposes.
US09574165B2
Disclosed herein is a cell culture apparatus that can achieve appropriate culture conditions. The cell culture apparatus (1) includes: a cylindrical culture vessel (10) that holds a culture liquid containing cells; a supporting column (20) that stands upright in a center of an inner surface of a bottom (12) in the culture vessel; and a stirring device (30) that includes an attaching portion (32) that is attached to an upper portion of the supporting column so as to be rotatable relative to the supporting column and a stirring blade (34) whose upper portion is fixed to the attaching portion so as to rotate around the supporting column.
US09574163B2
Caustic-free detergent compositions are provided. Detergent compositions including an aminocarboxylate, water conditioning agent, non-caustic source of alkalinity and water beneficially do not require the use of additional surfactants and/or polymers to provide suitable detergency and prevent scale build-up on treated surfaces. The detergent compositions are used with a sanitizer to employ the caustic-free detergent compositions are particularly suitable for use as low temperature ware wash detergents that beneficially reduce scale build-up. Methods of employing the caustic-free detergent compositions are also provided.
US09574158B2
A compression-ignited engine lubricant and a method for reducing engine wear. The lubricant including, (a) a base oil; (b) oleamide; (c) zinc dihydrocarbyl dithiophosphate; and (d) a functionalized dispersant. The functionalized dispersant is made by reacting together (i) a hydrocarbyl-dicarboxylic acid or anhydride, (ii) a polyamine, (iii) a dicarboxyl-containing fused aromatic compound or anhydride thereof, and optionally, (iv) a non-aromatic dicarboxylic acid or anhydride, wherein the hydrocarbyl group of the hydrocarbyl-dicarboxylic acid or anhydride has a number average molecular weight of greater than 1800 Daltons as determined by gel permeation chromatography.
US09574157B2
A lubricating oil composition contains a lubricating base oil and components (A) to (D): (A) a primary amine; (B) a tertiary amine; (C) at least one of metal sulfonate, metal phenate and metal salicylate; and (D) at least one of acid phosphate and acid phosphite.
US09574153B1
New compositions of matter that provide lubricant properties when cured into a coating on a substrate. The compositions are low molecular weight structured polysilicate compositions that have high silanol contents. The polysilicates are combined with a condensation catalyst and allowed to cure on the appropriate substrate. The cured coating has lubricant properties.
US09574152B2
A diesel fuel and additive mixture is useful for reducing particulate matter emissions while improving or at least not aggravating oxidative stability during combustion. The additive includes at least one compound having a general formula selected from the group consisting of: and combinations thereof, wherein: R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon having from about 1 to about 6 carbons. The additive is effective in diesel at concentrations as low as from about 50 to about 1000 ppm by weight.
US09574148B2
A composition contains an additive for assisting with the regeneration of the PF in the form of an organic dispersion of iron particles and a detergent including a polyester quaternary ammonium salt.
US09574146B2
Polymeric compositions obtainable by free-radical polymerization of at least two different alkyl (meth)acrylates in the presence of at least one ethylene-vinyl ester copolymer, the alkyl (meth)acrylates used being a mixture comprising alkyl (meth)acrylates having linear C12- to C60-alkyl radicals and different alkyl (meth)acrylates having linear C1- to C11-alkyl radicals and/or branched C4- to C60-alkyl radicals and/or cyclic C5- to C20-alkyl radicals. The use of such polymeric compositions as pour point depressants for crude oils, mineral oils or mineral oil products.
US09574145B1
A method of upgrading bitumen in a plant comprising a diluent recovery unit that processes diluted bitumen and outputs atmospheric topped bitumen (ATB), a vacuum distillation unit which processes ATB and outputs vacuum topped bitumen (VTB), and at least one fluid coker unit which processes VTB and outputs a tar pot bottom stream comprising heavy heavy gas oil is provided comprising the step of processing the tar pot bottom stream in a catalytic hydrocracking unit comprising an ebullated bed reactor to produce naphtha, light gas oil, and heavy gas oil.
US09574138B2
Provided are processes for making saturated hydrocarbons from renewable feed sources. In an embodiment, a process for producing a lube basestock and/or a diesel fuel from a feedstock of biological origin includes: contacting the feedstock in a single reactor in the presence of hydrogen with catalyst components including a first catalyst and a second catalyst, wherein the first catalyst comprises an acidic material, a basic material, or a combination of both, and wherein the second catalyst is a hydrogenation catalyst including a hydrothermally stable binder.
US09574137B2
The invention shows an apparatus for recycling bituminous material bodies by melting, in particular for recycling bituminous composite material bodies comprising a composite material and a bituminous material, in particular roofing materials, in particular in the form of bituminous covering layers of roofing sheets, the apparatus including: a vessel having a vessel wall surrounding an interior space of the vessel extending along a vertical axis of the vessel for receiving the bituminous material bodies, a bottom plate and a compression plate extending transverse to the vertical axis wherein at least the compression plate has a number of through flow orifices adapted to allow a through flow of molten bituminous material, wherein the plates are movable along the vertical axis such that in a first operating state the compression plate is in a middle position for forming a melting space of larger size between the compression plate and the bottom plate for melting bituminous material in the melting space wherein the bottom plate is in a melting position, in a second operating state the compression plate is in a lower position for forming a compression space of minor size between the compression plate and the bottom plate for compressing solid residues and/or solid composite material in the compression space, and wherein molten bituminous material is retained in a storing space above the compression plate for storing and/or discharging bituminous material, wherein the bottom plate is in a compression position, wherein the compression plate is movable from the middle position to the lower position.
US09574133B2
A frame-sealing adhesive composition and a method of preparing the same. The frame-sealing adhesive composition includes 1.45 wt % to 1.65 wt % of photochromic molecules based on the total weight of the frame-sealing adhesive composition, said photochromic molecules are inert to polymeric materials. The method of producing a frame-sealing adhesive composition includes mixing 1.45 wt % to 1.65 wt % of photochromic molecules based on the total weight of the frame-sealing adhesive composition with a frame-sealing adhesive to form a stirred mixture; and degassing the stirred mixture.
US09574130B2
A well treatment composite which allows for the slow release of one or more well treatment agents into a subterranean formation and/or a wellbore penetrating the formation has a nano-sized calcined porous substrate (adsorbent) of high surface area onto which is applied the well treatment agent. The composites are suitable for use in such well treatment operations as hydraulic fracturing and sand control.
US09574120B2
The present invention provides a structural adhesive sheet specifically for use in a mirror base of an automobile interior rear-view mirror and a method for producing the same, said structural adhesive sheet comprises in parts by weight of 20-100 parts of a nitrile-butadiene rubber, 10-70 parts of a partially cured polysulfide adhesive, 5-40 parts of a bisphenol A type epoxy resin, 0.1-2.5 parts of a crosslinking agent, 0.2-2.5 parts of a softening agent, 3-20 parts of a curing agent, 1-10 parts of an accelerator, 20-100 parts of an inorganic filler, and 0.1-3.0 parts of a silane coupling agent. The structural adhesive sheet of the present invention is obtained by subjecting the above-mentioned components to a compounding process and an extrusion film forming process. The advantages of said structural adhesive sheet include good film-forming property, and simple curing process, while having high structural strength, good toughness, and excellent heat-resistance and cold-resistance after cured.
US09574115B2
Provided is a rubber laminate, comprising a vulcanized rubber sheet having a degree of vulcanization in a range from 85% to 95%, a rubberized ink layer, a pressure sensitive adhesive rubber layer and a surface coating layer. The raw materials of the vulcanized rubber sheet, of the rubberized ink layer, and of the pressure sensitive adhesive rubber layer all include an identical rubber composition. Accordingly, the rubber laminate can firmly adhere to a rubber article and does not detach from the rubber article after the vulcanization and inflation of the rubber article.
US09574109B2
Provided in various embodiments are surface-modified hydrogels and hydrogel microparticles, methods for their preparation, and uses thereof for delivery of personal care and healthcare active ingredients, and agricultural active ingredients. In some embodiments, such hydrogels and hydrogel microparticles comprise surface coatings that are resistant to solvent washing and can act as barriers for the migration of water and/or water-compatible alcohols and actives soluble therein.
US09574107B2
A film layer comprising a high-chi (χ) block copolymer for self-assembly and a hexafluoroalcohol-containing surface active polymer (SAP) was prepared on a substrate surface that was neutral wetting to the domains of the self-assembled block copolymer. The block copolymer comprises at least one polycarbonate block and at least one other block (e.g., a substituted or unsubstituted styrene-based block). The film layer, whose top surface has contact with an atmosphere, self-assembles to form a lamellar or cylindrical domain pattern having perpendicular orientation with respect to the underlying surface. Other morphologies (e.g., islands and holes of height 1.0Lo) were obtained with films lacking the SAP. The SAP is preferentially miscible with, and lowers the surface energy of, the domain comprising the polycarbonate block.
US09574103B2
An aqueous dispersion of pigmented opacifying polymer particles, the particles comprising: i. an inorganic core comprising dispersed inorganic pigment particle and a dispersant ii. a first layer of base-swellable polymer comprising acid groups encapsulating the core iii. a second layer of non-base-swellable polymer encapsulating the first layer wherein the dispersant comprises or consists of hydroxyl moieties; and carboxyl groups derived from itaconic acid.
US09574102B2
The present invention is directed to a composition capable of inhibiting moisture vapor emission from concrete structures and enhancing adhesion of a finish material to the concrete structure comprising an aqueous mixture of a first copolymer of mer units formed from vinylidene halide and a C1-C2 alkyl acrylate with a second copolymer of mer units formed from vinylidene halide and a C4-CS alkyl acrylate and to the method of forming a moisture barrier/adhesion promoter coating on concrete comprising applying from 2.8 to 5.6 liters (0.75 to 1.5 gallons) of an aqueous carrier having from 10 to 50 weight percent of the mixture of copolymers stated above per 14 m2 (150 square feet) of the free surface of a concrete structure.
US09574096B2
The present invention relates to (i) a reactive ink for ink jet printing comprising a two-component system, the first component comprising a polymerizable monomer, and the second component comprising a polymerization catalyst, wherein the monomer is able to form a polymeric film at low temperature within thirty minutes, preferably within ten minutes, from contacting the catalyst, (ii) a process of making an image on a non-porous substrate using such a reactive ink, and an ink jet print head including a two component ink-system.
US09574090B2
A resin composition containing a binder resin (A), alkoxysilyl group-containing (meth)acrylate compound (B), tetrafunctional or higher functional (meth)acrylate compound (C), and photopolymerization initiator (D), wherein a total content of the alkoxysilyl group-containing (meth)acrylate compound (B) and the tetrafunctional or higher functional (meth)acrylate compound (C) is 0.5 to 10 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the binder resin (A) is provided.
US09574086B2
A method of making carbon black. Such method is described including generating a plasma by subjecting a plasma gas to a plasma arc, mixing a feedstock material with the plasma gas and combining the mixture in a reactor at a given reactor temperature to produce carbon black, wherein the feedstock is mixed with the plasma gas outside of the area occupied by the plasma arc. The carbon black produced by such process is also described.
US09574082B2
A soft thermoplastic resin composition comprising:100 parts by weight of a resin component (A) containing 15 to 65 parts by weight of a vinyl chloride resin having a degree of polymerization of 2000 or less, and 35 to 85 parts by weight of a polyhydroxyalkanoate; and 0.1 to 8 parts by weight of a resin component (B) which is one or more resins selected from the group consisting of a (meth)acrylate resin and an acrylonitrile-styrene resin, and has a weight average molecular weight, in terms of the polystyrene, of 400,000 or more.
US09574071B2
A pre-dispersion composition comprising (i) a silsesquioxane; (ii) a dispersing agent; and (iii) a curable resin.
US09574064B2
The invention provides a process for injection blow molding an article, said process comprising injecting into a mold cavity a composition, comprising at least one ethylene-based polymer and less than, or equal to, 1000 ppm of a mold release agent, based on the total weight of the composition. The invention also provides a composition comprising a blend, wherein the blend comprises at least one high molecular weight (HMW) ethylene-based polymer, and at least one low molecular weight (LMW) ethylene-based polymer, and wherein the blend has an unsaturation level, as determined by IR, and expressed as vinyls per 1000 carbon atoms, less than, or equal to, 0.5 vinyls per 1000 carbon atoms, and wherein the high molecular weight (HMW) ethylene-based polymer has a density from 0.925 to 0.950 g/cc.
US09574058B2
A method for producing a High Internal Phase Emulsion foam is provided that comprises forming a first High Internal Phase Emulsion from an oil phase comprising monomer, crosslinking agent, emulsifier; and an aqueous phase. The High Internal Phase Emulsion is pumped into a water bath. The High Internal Phase Emulsion cures in the bath.
US09574053B2
The present invention provides multilayer polymer redispersible powder (RDP) particles comprising a major proportion of from 50 to 90 wt. %, preferably, from 60 to 85 wt. %, based on total polymer solids, of epoxy resin resins having a calculated glass transition temperature (Tg) of from 0 to 40° C., a methacrylic acid containing alkali soluble polymer outer layer, and a divalent metal, such as zinc powder, having an aqueous pKa of 9.55 or more, or its acid salt having a pH of 7.0 or less, such as strong acid salts, e.g., chlorides, sulfates or phosphates, or organic acid salts, e.g., acetates, succinates and citrates, as well as to methods of making the same.
US09574051B2
A nanoparticle which includes a multi-armed core and surface decoration which is attached to the core is prepared. A multi-armed core is provided by any of a number of possible routes, exemplary preferred routes being living anionic polymerization that is initiated by a reactive, functionalized anionic initiator and ∈-caprolactone polymerization of a bis-MPA dendrimer. The multi-armed core is preferably functionalized on some or all arms. A coupling reaction is then employed to bond surface decoration to one or more arms of the multi-armed core. The surface decoration is a small molecule or oligomer with a degree of polymerization less than 50, a preferred decoration being a PEG oligomer with degree of polymerization between 2 and 24. The nanoparticles (particle size ≦10 nm) are employed as sacrificial templating porogens to form porous dielectrics. The porogens are mixed with matrix precursors (e.g., methyl silsesquioxane resin), the matrix vitrifies, and the porogens are removed via burnout. Greater porosity reduces the dielectric constant k of the resulting dielectrics. The porous dielectrics are incorporated into integrated circuits as lower k alternatives to silicon dioxide.
US09574048B2
The invention provides water-soluble compounds that include a polymer and at least one terminal azide or acetylene moiety. Also provided are highly efficient methods for the selective modification of proteins with PEG derivatives, which involves the selective incorporation of non-genetically encoded amino acids, e.g., those amino acids containing an azide or acetylene moiety, into proteins in response to a selector codon and the subsequent modification of those amino acids with a suitably reactive PEG derivative.
US09574043B2
An elastomeric polymer, comprising (1) a hard segment in the amount of 10% to 60% by weight of the elastomeric polymer, wherein the hard segment includes a urethane, urea or urethaneurea; and (2) a soft segment in the amount of 40% to 90% by weight of the elastomeric polymer. The soft segment comprises (a) at least 2% by weight of the soft segment of at least one polyether macrodiol, and/or at least one polycarbonate macrodiol; and (b) at least 2% by weight of the soft segment of at least one polyisobutylene macrodiol and/or diamine.
US09574030B1
A homogenous toluene free catalyst system for producing a polyolefin elastomer possessing a unique combination of properties employing a particular type of a metallocene catalyst. The homogenous toluene free catalyst system having a co-catalyst for activating the metallocene pro-catalyst employing a specific molar ratio of the components of the co-catalyst blend to the metal of the pro-catalyst.
US09574028B2
A high frequency semi-isotropic embossed polymer interlayer sheet is disclosed. The embossed polymer interlayer sheet has a first side; a second side opposing the first side; and an embossed surface on at least one of the sides, and a surface texture ratio, Str, (as measured per ISO 25178) of between 0.1 and 0.99. The embossed polymer sheet may have at least 50 roughness peaks per centimeter (R PC, as measured per ASME B46.1 [1985]). The embossed polymer sheet may have a mottle value of less than or equal to 2.5 (as measured by a Clear Mottle Analyzer [CMA]). The embossed polymer sheet may be polyvinyl butyral.
US09574026B2
The present technology relates to a method of introducing a supported antistatic compound that does not comprise a transition-metal-based catalyst component for use in an olefin polymerization reactor. In some embodiments, the methods disclosed herein avoid the formation of polymer agglomerates in the reactor and minimize potentially negative effects on catalyst yield.
US09574023B2
An aqueous acidic polymerization liquid comprising polymerizable monomers or oligomers with carboxylate and/or carboxylic acid moiety or moieties, and edge modified clay that is homogenously dispersable in said liquid is provided, and also methods for making such liquids, and also edge-modified-clay linked water-absorbing polymers made by with said liquids and methods, and disposable absorbent articles comprising such edge-modified-clay linked water-absorbing polycarboxylate/polycarboxylic acid polymers.
US09574015B2
Agents, compositions, and medicaments that reduce interactions between muscle specific kinase receptor (MuSK) and pathogenic immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) antibodies specific for the first Ig-like domain of MuSK and methods and uses thereof to reduce such interactions are encompassed herein. Also encompassed are screening assays to identify inhibitors of these pathogenic antibodies, particularly those that reduce binding to MuSK. Agents identified using the screening assays described herein are envisioned for use as therapeutics, alone or in compositions or in medicaments, to improve motor function in subjects afflicted MuSK-MG.
US09574013B2
Provided are antibodies that selectively bind to and inhibit activation of coagulation factor XII. Methods of treatment employing these antibodies are described herein.
US09574009B2
The present invention relates to VEGF-binding agents, DLL4-binding agents, VEGF/DLL4 bispecific binding agents, and methods of using the agents for treating diseases such as cancer. The present invention provides antibodies that specifically bind human VEGF, antibodies that specifically bind human DLL4, and bispecific antibodies that specifically bind human VEGF and/or human DLL4. The present invention further provides methods of using the agents to inhibit tumor growth. Also described are methods of treating cancer comprising administering a therapeutically effect amount of an agent or antibody of the present invention to a patient having a tumor or cancer.
US09574008B2
The present invention relates to CD27L antigen binding proteins, such an antibodies, polynucleotides encoding said CD27l antigen binding proteins, antibody drug conjugate compositions, and methods for diagnosing and treating diseases associated with CD27L expression.
US09573996B2
A monoclonal secretory IgA antibody, which binds to and neutralizes a human proinflammatory cytokine or which binds to and blocks a human proinflammatory cytokine receptor. The secretory IgA antibody is useful in treating a variety of inflammatory diseases in humans.
US09573994B2
The present invention relates to the amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) and more specifically to antibodies binding to Aβ protofibrils and their use in therapy and/or prophylactic treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other disorders associated with Aβ protein aggregation. Further the invention may relate to diagnosis of such diseases as well as monitoring of disease progression by use of the antibodies of the invention. Further, the invention may relate to veterinary use of the antibodies of the invention.
US09573979B2
The invention relates to a modified VP1-capsid protein of parvovirus B19 having a reduced phospholipase A2-like enzyme activity as compared to the wild type VP1-capsid protein of parvovirus B19 having the amino acid sequence of SeqID 1.
US09573971B2
The invention is directed to processes for synthesizing bicyclic nucleoside antiviral compounds and for synthesizing the intermediates used in the process. The invention is also directed to novel intermediate compounds useful in the process. The antiviral compounds are useful in the treatment of herpes zoster (i.e., varicella zoster virus, VZV, shingles) and for the prevention of post herpetic neuralgia (PHN) resulting from this viral infection.
US09573970B2
The present invention provides a compound of Formula I or hydrate thereof, useful for the treatment of diabetes.
US09573964B2
The present invention relates to pyrimidine compounds that are useful as anti-proliferative agents. More particularly, the present invention relates to oxygen linked and substituted pyrimidine compounds, methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds and uses of these compounds in the treatment of proliferative disorders. These compounds may be useful as medicaments for the treatment of a number of proliferative disorders including tumors and cancers as well as other disorders or conditions related to or associated with kinases.
US09573936B2
Compounds of Formula I and Formula II, pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, stereoisomers of any of the foregoing, or mixtures thereof are agonists of the APJ Receptor and have use in treating cardiovascular and other conditions. Compounds of Formula I and Formula II have the following structures: where the definitions of the variables are provided herein.
US09573933B2
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I), their use as an inhibitor of a p53-MDM2 interaction as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds: wherein n, m, p, s, t, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R20, X, Y, Q and Z have defined meanings.
US09573929B2
This invention relates to compounds that are agonists of the muscarinic M1 receptor and which are useful in the treatment of muscarinic M1 receptor mediated diseases. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and the therapeutic uses of the compounds. Compounds provided are of formula I, where n is 1 or 2; p is 0, 1 or 2; q is 0, 1 or 2; and R1-R6 are as defined herein.
US09573922B2
Disclosed is a method of preparing a urolithin, or an intermediate or analog thereof, having a dibenzo[b,d]pyran-6-one core. The method is especially advantageous for the large-scale preparation of urolithins or intermediates or analogs thereof. The method may optionally include the preparation of a urolithin, or an intermediate or analog thereof, as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt.
US09573920B2
A compound is represented by Formula (I) or (II) described below. A medicine includes, as an active ingredient, a compound represented by Formula (I), (II), or (III) described below.
US09573918B2
The disclosure provides fumagillol type compounds and their use in treating medical disorders, such as obesity. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using, e.g. in the treatment of obesity are provided.
US09573907B2
The present invention relates to novel 2,4-pyrimidine derivatives and a use thereof, and more particularly, to pyrimidine derivatives which are effective for systemic lupus erythematosus, a composition for preventing and treating systemic lupus erythematosus comprising the same as an active ingredient and a method for screening the same. The present inventors found novel materials inhibiting surface translocation of gp96 by mimicking a function of AIMP1 which is a molecular anchor for an intracellular residence of gp96, and identified in vitro and in vivo activity of the materials for preventing and treating SLE by alleviating SLE plasma in autoimmune diseases. Therefore, the present invention provides a novel method for screening a therapeutic agent for SLE, and preventing or treating SLE using the mechanism.
US09573902B2
The present invention provides novel intermediates of ivacaftor and process for its preparation. The present invention also provides process for the preparation of ivacaftor and pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof using novel intermediates.
US09573896B2
Novel methods and systems for producing a substantially pure d-threo stereoisomer of methylphenidate or a salt thereof are provided. In particular, methods and systems for producing d-threo-methylphenidate hydrochloride in pure stereoisomeric form from d-threo-ritalinic acid hydrochloride using diazomethane are described. The described methods can be performed on a large scale, and thus provide d-threo methylphenidate or a salt thereof, and particularly the hydrochloride salt of d-threo-methylphenidate, in stereoisomerically pure form and in large quantities from a single batch reaction. Also described are novel compositions of d-threo methylphenidate hydrochloride.
US09573888B2
The invention provides compounds of formula I: or a salt thereof as described herein. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula I, processes for preparing compounds of formula I, intermediates useful for preparing compounds of formula I and therapeutic methods for treating cancer or treating autoimmune diseases or preventing transplant rejection using compounds of formula I.
US09573878B2
A process for preparing pentabromobenzyl acrylate through the reaction of pentahalobenzyl halide with a salt of acrylic acid in a water-immiscible solvent, wherein said salt is in aqueous form and the reaction is carried out in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. A process for polymerizing the pentabromobenzyl acrylate in halogenated aromatic solvent and the poly(pentabromobenzyl acrylate) obtained are also disclosed.
US09573864B2
A method of producing monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons includes bringing a feedstock oil having a 10 vol % distillation temperature of 140° C. or higher and a 90 vol % distillation temperature of 380° C. or lower, into contact with a catalyst for monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon production containing a crystalline aluminosilicate, in which a content ratio of monocyclic naphthenobenzenes in the feedstock oil is adjusted to 10 mass % to 90 mass %, by mixing a hydrocarbon oil A having a 10 vol % distillation temperature of 140° C. or higher and a 90 vol % distillation temperature of 380° C. or lower with a hydrocarbon oil B containing more monocyclic naphthenobenzenes than the hydrocarbon oil A.
US09573858B1
A method for improving the characteristics of energetic materials uses amorphous metals as one or more reactant of said materials. Improvements in properties and energy release characteristics for a wide range of energetic materials are obtained thereby, particularly in terms of processability, mechanical properties, and ignition behavior for solid energetic materials.
US09573857B2
A method of forming composite materials includes mixing a first metal precursor with a chelating agent to form a first metal-chelate complex. The first metal-chelate complex is added to a polymer binder having terminating hydroxyl groups to form a polymer binder-first metal-chelate. The polymer binder first metal-chelate complex is mixed with an aluminum precursor. The aluminum precursor decomposes forming aluminum nanoparticles dispersed in a continuous phase material having metallic aluminum cores. At least one of the first metal-chelate complex and the first metal is dissolved in the continuous phase. The aluminum nanoparticles can have a passivating coating layer thereon provided by the polymer binder, or can have a passivating coating layer formed by including an epoxide, alcohol, carboxylic acid, or amine in the adding that forms passivating compound(s) which add further protection that can provide complete protection from oxidation of the metallic aluminum cores by air.
US09573847B2
The present invention is directed to a method of continuously calcining a limestone particle mix comprising a fine fraction of limestone particles and a coarser fraction of limestone particles. The limestone particles heat treated in a flash calciner in which the mixture is entrained and heated in process gas for an amount of time sufficient to fully calcine the fine fraction but not the coarser fraction. The process gas is separated from the heated limestone mixture. The mixture is directed to a retention vessel in which the mixture is retained for an amount of time sufficient to fully calcine the coarser fraction utilizing the process heat present in the limestone mixture. No external heat needs to be added to the retention vessel during the retention step to promote calcination.
US09573845B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to articles including anticondensation and/or low-E coatings that are exposed to an external environment, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the anticondensation and/or low-E coatings may be survivable in an outside environment. The coatings also may have a sufficiently low sheet resistance and hemispherical emissivity such that the glass surface is more likely to retain heat from the interior area, thereby reducing (and sometimes completely eliminating) the presence condensation thereon. The articles of certain example embodiments may be, for example, skylights, vehicle windows or windshields, IG units, VIG units, refrigerator/freezer doors, and/or the like.
US09573843B2
Described herein are various polymer-covered glass and glass-ceramic articles that exhibit improved adhesion between the polymer and the glass or glass-ceramic, along with methods for their manufacture and use. The improved articles generally include a glass or glass-ceramic substrate, a surface-roughened coating disposed on at least a portion of an edge of the glass or glass-ceramic substrate, and a polymer covering disposed on at least a portion of the surface-roughened coating. The surface-roughened coatings beneficially allow the polymer coverings to adhere better to the edge surfaces of the glass or glass-ceramic substrates relative to similar or identical articles that lack the surface-roughened coating.
US09573834B2
A device for cooling sheets of glass by jets of air emitted by at least one nozzle in a form of a pipe, including a box supplying the nozzle with air, airflow ejected via an ejection orifice of the nozzle passing successively through a conical part, of which an internal section is reduced in a flow direction, and then through a cylindrical part including the ejection orifice, of which an internal section corresponds to a smallest internal section of the conical part and to an internal section of the ejection orifice. The cylindrical part of the nozzle has a length greater than 6 times the diameter of the ejection orifice. The device achieves a high level of heat exchange when the sheets of glass are cooled, which makes it possible to increase reinforcing effect on the glass and/or to reduce power of fans used to convey air through the nozzles.
US09573828B2
A liquid purification system is provided. Although not limited to water, the purification system is especially suitable for water. The purification system utilizes a vessel having antimicrobial inner wall load bearing surfaces and/or antimicrobial (antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-mold, etc.) interior non-load bearing surfaces. When the liquid moves within the vessel and contacts the antimicrobial surfaces, the liquid becomes purified or sanitized. The inner wall load bearing surfaces and non-load bearing interior surfaces of the vessel may be manufactured from a host polymer that has antimicrobial organo-metallic additives which form a solid-solution with the host polymer and are distributed homogeneously throughout the host polymer. The host polymer matrix may be an organic material, an inorganic material or an organic-inorganic material blend. The antimicrobial agent polymer matrix may be located in localized zones within the vessel.
US09573825B2
The present invention discloses a method for advanced treatment of bio-treated coking wastewater. It employs polymeric ferric sulfate (PFS) and polyacrylamide (PAM) as the flocculant for the pre-treatment of bio-treated effluent. After the process of precipitation and filtration, the effluent is guided through an adsorption column filled with environmentally-friendly nano-composites whereby the advanced treatment of the bio-treated coking wastewater is achieved. When the absorption process reaches the breakthrough point, the adsorption operation will be stopped and sodium hydroxide solution is used as the desorption reagent for regenerating the nano-composites. The high-concentrated component of the desorption liquid is sent out for incineration or production of coal water slurry, meanwhile the low-concentrated component of the desorption liquid is used to prepare sodium hydroxide solution for the adsorption process of the next batch.
US09573818B2
A process for preparing a mesoporous silica comprising contacting as starting components (1) a structure-directing template selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated natural vegetable oils, silicone oils, and combinations thereof; (2) water; (3) silica; and, optionally, (4) a structure-directing co-template selected from tetramethylammonium hydroxide, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, tetrapropylammonium hydroxide, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride; hexadecyltrimethylammonium hydroxide hydrate, hexadecyltrimethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bis-sulfonate, poloxamers having a weight average molecular weight ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 Daltons (Da), and combinations thereof; in the substantial absence of an alcohol solvent; under conditions such that a mesoporous silica having an average pore diameter ranging from 50 to 175 angstroms and a pore diameter distribution that, within one standard deviation of its mean, is substantially unimodal, is formed. The product composition may offer preferred use in, for example, gas separations, sensing, water purification, heavy metal removal, and electronics, where its narrower pore diameter distribution increases its selectivity.
US09573812B2
A composition includes a carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused metal fiber material which includes a metal fiber material of spoolable dimensions, a barrier coating conformally disposed about the metal fiber material, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) infused to the metal fiber material. A continuous CNT infusion process includes: (a) disposing a barrier coating and a carbon nanotube (CNT)-forming catalyst on a surface of a metal fiber material of spoolable dimensions; and (b) synthesizing carbon nanotubes on the metal fiber material, thereby forming a carbon nanotube-infused metal fiber material.
US09573811B2
The present invention relates to methods for preparing amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate. An aluminum salt and a phosphate solution are co-mixed at a constant ratio in the presence of a buffer. Preferably, an excess of the phosphate solution is used to act as a buffer. Due to the presence of a buffer, the pH is maintained constant during reaction (after initial rapid equilibration) without active adjustment. The methods are particularly applicable for the large scale manufacturing of aluminum phosphate adjuvant. Aluminum phosphate is used as an adjuvant in vaccine formulations, particularly those including a protein or saccharide antigen.
US09573805B2
A method of manufacturing a pressure sensor is provided. The method includes: providing a substrate, wherein a bottom electrode and a pressure sensing film are disposed on the substrate; forming an etch stop assembly on the pressure sensing film at a location corresponding to a pressure trench; forming a cover layer on the substrate covering the etch stop assembly and the pressure sensing film; forming a mask layer on the cover layer, wherein an opening of the mask layer is formed above the etch stop assembly and exposes a portion of the cover layer at the location corresponding to the pressure trench; etching the cover layer using the mask layer so as to form the pressure trench in the cover layer; removing the etch stop assembly at a bottom of the pressure trench; and removing the mask layer.
US09573803B2
A microfluidic device (100) made from glass, ceramic or vitroceramic, comprises an upper layer (122), a lower layer (124) and an intermediate layer (114), the intermediate layer (114) comprising an upper face (114b) and a lower face (114a), the lower face (114a) comprising a first open structured surface defining a first microfluidic channel (126) and the upper face (114b) comprising a second open structured surface defining a second microfluidic channel (112); the lower surface of the intermediate layer (114) cooperating with a first planar layer closing the first microchannel (126); the upper face (114b) of the intermediate layer (114) cooperating with a second planar layer (130), closing the second microfluidic channel (112) in a sealed manner, and the second planar layer constituting an intermediate layer (130) which cooperates, on its face opposite the intermediate layer (114), with another layer (122) comprising on its inner face (122a) a structured surface defining a third microfluidic channel (128).
US09573800B2
A MEMS lead frame package body encloses a MEMS device enclosed in an internal cavity formed by the mold body and cover. To accommodate a MEMS microphone, an acoustic aperture extends through the mold body. In some embodiments, a conductive column extends through the pre-molded body to allow electrical connection from a partially encapsulated lead frame to the conductive cover. Some embodiments may include a multi-tiered cavity within the mold body for mounting an integrated circuit separated by a gap above the MEMS device.
US09573798B2
A dispenser for delivering a liquid from a supply bottle is disclosed. The dispenser has a base with a base foot. A tubular support is attached to the base foot. The tubular support extends vertically from the base foot. A rim is attached to the tubular support. The rim extends horizontally from the tubular support at a location above the base foot. The rim is vertically aligned with the base foot. A removable bottle collar engages with the rim. The removable bottle collar is adapted to engage and support the supply bottle inverted and positioned within the rim. The removable bottle collar has a center aperture where a mouth of the supply bottle extends there through.
US09573790B2
A suspension device and a suspension arrangement for suspending a cable in an elevator hoistway are provided. The suspension device includes a mechanical fixing interface for fixing the suspension device to a supporting structure. The suspension device also includes a fixing part of the cable, which fixing part of the cable is made to be turnable in relation to the mechanical fixing interface.
US09573785B2
A ridged paper ejection roller according to the present invention conveys a paper sheet in cooperation with a plurality of star wheels disposed apart from each other in a width direction of the paper sheet, and includes a rigid main shaft body and a resin body coated on the main shaft body. The resin body integrally includes a plurality of large diameter-regions that work in conjunction with the respective star wheels to hold therebetween and convey the paper sheet, and small-diameter regions other than the large-diameter regions.
US09573784B2
A print media moving apparatus includes a web guide positioned immediately upstream relative to a roller. The web guide has an arcuate surface including three sections with the second section located between the first and third sections. The arcuate surface includes a peak in the second section. The roller, having a diameter and rotational axis, includes three sections with the second section located between the first and third section as viewed along the rotational axis. The diameter of the roller in the first and third sections is greater than in the second section. The three sections of the web guide correspond to the three sections of the roller such that the contour of the arcuate surface causes the print media, after leaving the web guide, to contact the first and third sections of the roller prior to contacting the second section of the roller.
US09573782B2
A method for defining an evaluation region of a register sensor for detecting register marks on printing substrates in printing substrate processing machines includes connecting the register sensor to a computer. In a first step, the register sensor measures an edge of a printing substrate, starting from the edge, the evaluation region is set to a starting value, and in at least one second step, the evaluation region is set to an increased value until the register sensor detects a first edge of the register mark.
US09573779B2
When waiting for printing, a cam that rotates together with the rotation of a gear locks a knurl at position on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction, which prevents sheets from dropping down. Moreover, during printing, when the cam is rotated 180° from the locked position, the knurl is in a state capable of sliding toward the downstream side. As a result, with the force that returns the knurl to the upstream side being too small, it is possible to prevent feeding overlapping sheet due to the front end of a sheet further on the down side than a sheet being fed from dropping toward the downstream side further than the knurl.
US09573771B2
An article grouping system capable of forming arrays of articles having a variable number of rows and lanes is included. The article grouping system includes an infeed carrier apparatus having an infeed carrier surface that is movable in a first direction and an outfeed carrier apparatus having an outfeed carrier surface that is movable in a second direction. A grouping apparatus comprising a plurality of carriages and a carriage drive mechanism operatively connected with each carriage. The carriage drive mechanism causes each carriage to independently move in a third direction from an article receiving zone adjacent to the infeed carrier apparatus to an article discharge zone adjacent to the outfeed carrier apparatus. A transfer apparatus includes a frame and an article stabilization member operatively connected with the frame. The article stabilization member moves from an engaging location in the article discharge zone to a disengaging location.
US09573764B2
Disclosed is a compression conveying mechanism for bagged spring production. The mechanism comprises a machine frame (10), a spring conveying mechanism (20), and a spring compression conveying mechanism (30). The spring compression conveying mechanism (30) comprises two baffles (31) disposed on the machine frame and conveying belts (32) wound on the outsides of the baffles (31), The spring conveying mechanism (20) conveys a spring to a position so that the spring can be moved from the end where the distance between the two baffles (31) is larger to the other end where the distance between the two baffles (31) is small. And after the spring is compressed to a certain degree, the spring is disengaged from the spring conveying mechanism (20) and is conveyed by the spring compression conveying mechanism (30). By compression and conveying of a spring being integrated, the degree of automation is high.
US09573755B2
A hopper gate opening/closing mechanism for use in a combination weigher (100) includes an actuator (31) for generating a driving force for opening and closing the hopper gate; and a cam mechanism (40A, 21) for opening and closing the hopper gate (14A) based on the driving force applied by the actuator (31); wherein the cam mechanism (40A, 21) inhibits the hopper gate (14A) from being opened in a position at which the hopper gate (14A) is closed.
US09573749B2
A ring for arranging around a valve body of a fluid dispenser valve that is mounted by a fastener capsule, such as a crimpable capsule, on a reservoir containing fluid to be dispensed. The ring is made as a single piece including at least one inner portion that co-operates with the valve body, and a radial flange that forms a neck gasket that extends between the neck of the reservoir and the fastener capsule.
US09573742B1
A time capsule includes a housing having a floor and an upper side wall extending upwardly from the floor and a lower side wall extending downwardly from the floor. The floor and the at least one upper side wall together define an upper chamber. The floor and the at least one lower side wall together define a lower chamber. A bottom wall is fixedly attached to lower edges of the at least one lower side wall so as to block access to the lower chamber. A lid is coupled to upper edges of the at least one upper side wall, the lid movable between an open configuration allowing access to the upper chamber and a closed configuration blocking access to the upper chamber, the lid having a lock that holds the lid at the closed configuration until unlocked with a key situated in the lower chamber.
US09573737B2
The present disclosure provides a device. In an embodiment, a device for dispensing a fluid under pressure is provided and includes: (A) a flexible container comprising four panels, each panel formed from a flexible multilayer film composed of one or more polymeric materials, the four panels forming (i) a body, and (ii) a neck; (B) a fitment comprising a top portion and a base, the base composed of a polymeric material, the base sealed in the neck; (C) a sleeve bag on valve assembly (SBoV) comprising (i) a valve housing, (ii) a core tube attached to the valve housing, (iii) a bag around the core tube, the bag attached to the valve housing, (iv) a sleeve surrounding the bag and the core tube, and (v) a valve seat; (D) the SBoV inserted through the fitment and located in the body; and (E) the valve seat attached to the fitment.
US09573735B2
A crown cap, configured based on a sheet with a circular body perimetrally presenting, after being adjusted to the rim of the mouth of a bottle, a plurality of folds. The sheet has an extension that extends from the circular body and a first transverse folding line to determine a folded arm with two sections, an upper, external section that extends from the circular body followed by a lower, internal section, located between the external or front section and the bottle. The extension also has a continuous cut on the external section that determines a flap with an inverted U-shaped surface, the continuous cut allowing the flap to bend out of a plane of the external section so that during removal of the cap from the bottle, a distal end of the flap engages an area where the extension extends from the circular body.
US09573730B2
A reclosable zipper pouch includes a zipper-operable section and a zipper-non-operable section to provide difficulty to a child to open the pouch, and remain easy for an adult or senior citizen to open the pouch.
US09573721B2
A packaging system for a corrugated cardboard shipping container. The system uses two vertical compartmented inserts divided by a horizontal insert. The compartmented insert can be configured by a packer to consist of four to two rectangular compartments. The horizontal insert can be folded in half or have a quarter section folded away in order to accommodate a loading plan that requires items to protrude above the height of the bottom vertical compartmented insert. An optional diagonal divider and dunnage may be used prior to sealing the container.
US09573715B2
This disclosure relates to infusion bags for infusible substance such as tea or herbs or the like for which separation of the infusible substance from liquid is desired. The disclosure also relates to a device which provides function of storing empty infusion bags in a container, and retrieving the empty bag individually from the container, holding and opening the retrieved bag for filling, and ejecting the filled bag for use. The infusion bags and device of the present invention is ideal for making hot tea or herbal beverages, and for other infusion needs in cooking where separation of the infused material from liquid is desired.
US09573710B2
An overhead packaging machine with articulating lugs is mountable along a product packaging system for the application of cartons such as wrap-style cartons about sets or groups of products. The overhead packaging machine includes a lug conveyor having a series of articulating lug assemblies mounted thereto and which are moved along a path of travel for engaging the groups of products with their cartons applied thereto. Each of the articulating lug assemblies includes a pair of articulating lugs mounted to a carriage, which articulating lugs are moveable into engaging positions for engaging the cartons applied to the groups of products as the groups of products are moved along their path of travel for folding and locking of the cartons thereabout. After the cartons have been applied and secured about their product groups, the articulating lugs can be moved to non-engaging positions, out of engagement with the cartons and/or product groups as the packaged product groups are moved away from the overhead packaging machine, while the articulating lug assemblies can be moved along a return path of travel for engaging a next product group.
US09573707B2
The object of the application is a filling hopper for a filling apparatus for multi-segment trays in the tobacco industry with a receiving region for rod like articles in the form of a mass flow and a storing region for rod like articles comprising side walls (8, 9) and a bottom wall (10), whereas the storing region has double partition walls (16) alternately forming a plurality of parallel cavities (15) and slots (14), where the partition walls (16) extend in principle along the entire height of the storing region. The partition walls (16) are connected with each other by means of a carrying framework so that at least from one side free access to the articles inside the cavities (15) is maintained. The carrying framework comprises at least one fastening area (19).
US09573687B2
A seat back tray table that includes an arm assembly attached to a seat having a seat back, and moveable between a stowed position and a deployed, use position, a first table segment carried by the arm assembly and moveable with the arm assembly between a stowed position against a stowage area of the seat back and a deployed position aft of the stowage area, and a second table segment carried by the first table segment and moveable between a stored position within the stowage area of the seat back and a deployed position laterally-extended from the first table segment to increase the total surface area of the tray table.
US09573682B2
A control and/or management system for a vehicle includes at least one of: (A) at least two redundant vehicle management computers configured to generate system control commands for each maneuvering actuators and for each system actor based on the data acquired by the sensors; (B) at least two redundant remote interface units for interconnecting a sensor or a system actor with a vehicle management computer; (C) at least two redundant actuator control computers configured to generate control commands for each maneuvering actuator based on received maneuvering commands; and (D) a common interface for connecting an external computer, the common interface being directly connected to at least two redundant computers.
US09573680B2
A system and method for robust lift generation through flow separation suppression are presented. A fluid flow is ejected over a lifting surface from a fluid ejection orifice, and a flow direction of the fluid flow over the lifting surface is directed using a plurality of vanes configured in the fluid ejection orifice. The flow direction is rotated in a span-wise direction over the lifting surface by swiveling the vanes.
US09573676B2
The invention concerns a device for a adjustable flap adjustably mounted on a main wing surface of an aeroplane wing, in particular, a landing flap, with at least one adjustment unit for purposes of adjustment of the adjustable flap, which has an actuator arranged, or that can be arranged, on the main wing surface, and has a kinematic adjustment mechanism running between the actuator and the adjustable flap, wherein the adjustable flap is mechanically coupled with the actuator via the kinematic adjustment mechanism. At least one damping unit for purposes of damping a dynamic loading effected by the adjustable flap on the adjustment unit, which can occur as a result of a critical malfunction event occurring in the region of the adjustable flap, is arranged, or can be arranged, between the main wing surface and the adjustable flap.
US09573663B2
A boat hook anchor is provided. The boat hook anchor may include a metal tubing, such as electrical conduit metallic tubing. An insulating foam may be disposed within the metal tubing. The present invention may further include an anchor shackle attached to the second end of the metal tubing. The anchor shackle enables attachment of the anchor system to the boat. The anchor shackle may include a hoop securable to a rope attached to the boat.
US09573662B2
The invention shows improved operational conditions. It comprises a floating structure with a single floating central body (1), provided with an elongated configuration according to a longitudinal direction, wherein the lower portion of the central body (1) is intended to be submerged. It additionally comprises: a base (3) located in the upper portion of the central body (1) to support at least one wind turbine (4); and at least four legs (2) located in the lower portion of the central body (1) and provided with: a) a first end, by which they are integrally attached to the central body (1); b) a second end, opposite to the first end, and more distant from the central body (1); and c) at least a porch (6) located in the second end of each leg (2), said porch (6) comprising a first drilling (12) in longitudinal direction to anchor the floating platform to the sea bed (5).
US09573660B2
A traction system (11; 60) for operating lines (18), in particular mooring lines and/or riser lines, of a vessel (1), includes at least two work stations (26) distributed along at least two sides of the vessel (1) and engaged by respective operating lines (18). The traction system includes a main traction device (14; 15, 17; 15A, 17) and a transmission device (36) having a duty line (28) connected to the main traction device and at least one guide member (24) for selectively routing the duty line (18) to each work station (26) for attachment to a respective operating line (18). A line storing space (22; 42, 44) is provided for storing parts of the duty line and/or hauled in moorings lines; the main traction device, the transmission device and the line storing space are placed together at or near a side of the floating production unit.
US09573651B2
In a method for detecting a maintenance situation on a two-wheeled vehicle having a motor provided in order to assist forward motion of the two-wheeled vehicle at least at times, a maintenance situation is detected by sensing the position of the two-wheeled vehicle by way of a first sensor variable. Control is then applied to the motor either as a reduction in the applied drive power output, e.g. in the form of the motor speed or torque, or as a complete shutoff or immobilization of the motor.
US09573620B2
An adjusting apparatus for an electric power steering device includes a steering mechanism converting an input torque into a steering force and transmitting the steering force to wheels, a torque sensor outputting a torque detection signal according to an input torque, an electric motor applying a steering assist torque according to a torque detection signal output from the sensor, a sensor circuit changing output characteristics of the sensor, an actuator applying an input torque to the steering mechanism, a steering force meter actuating the motor via the sensor according to an input torque and measuring a steering force output by the steering mechanism, and a sensor output adjuster adjusting the output characteristic of the sensor circuit to approximate a steering force measured by the meter to an ideal value set in advance according to a deviation amount calculated based on a difference between the steering force and the ideal value.
US09573609B2
A picking ladder cart with a synchronized brake is provided, which includes a frame, a plurality of wheels, a ladder, and a stopper. The ladder is pivotally connected to a side of the frame, wherein the ladder is pivotally movable between a first position and a second position. The ladder includes two side rails and a plurality of steps, which are connected between the two side rails. The stopper has a first end and, a second end. When the ladder is moved to the second position, one of the plurality of steps, which is arranged at the lowest position among the steps, abuts against the second end of the stopper, which causes the stopper to contact one of the wheels. When an operator steps on the ladder of the picking ladder cart, the lowest step drives the stopper to abut against one of the wheels.
US09573591B2
A method of controlling drivability of a vehicle detects an overall load acting on the vehicle. A mass of the vehicle or an estimate thereof is obtained. A controller determines whether the vehicle is negotiating a curve during a driving situation. If the vehicle is negotiating a curve during the driving situation, the controller determines whether the vehicle has a tendency to oversteer or to understeer. The load acting on the vehicle is dynamically changed or a suspension stiffness of the vehicle is dynamically adjusted to reduce the tendency of the vehicle to oversteer or to understeer.
US09573590B2
In a method for stabilizing a two-wheeled vehicle during cornering, a drifting of the rear wheel or an understeering of the front wheel is inferred on the basis of measured values including the actual steering angle, and the two-wheeled vehicle is stabilized by altering the torque at the front wheel and/or the rear wheel.
US09573589B2
An arrangement for improving stability of a vehicle combination including a towing vehicle and at least one towed vehicle, where the at least one towed vehicle includes at least one actively steered axle and/or individual brake on at least one axle, where the towing vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle each includes an arrangement for determining yaw rate for determining the yaw rate of the vehicle and the at least one towed vehicle, where the arrangement further includes a vehicle combination model adapted for determining a desired delay value between the yaw rate of the towing vehicle and the yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle, where the arrangement is adapted to stabilize the at least one towed vehicle by using the determined yaw rate of the towing vehicle and the desired delay value for the at least one towed vehicle to establish a desired yaw rate for the at least one towed vehicle, and to control the steered axle and/or the individual brake of the at least one towed vehicle such that the determined yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle corresponds to the desired yaw rate of the at least one towed vehicle. The yaw rate may be estimated or measured. The advantage of the invention is that the stability of a vehicle combination can be improved, which in turn improves the road safety.
US09573581B2
A power I/F unit is for outputting at least one of electric power stored in a power storage device and electric power generated by a motor generator driven by an engine to outside of a vehicle. An ECU selectively executes a first power feeding operation in which external power feeding is performed with the engine actuated and a second power feeding operation in which external power feeding is performed with the engine stopped. The ECU executes the first power feeding operation for a predetermined period from the start of external power feeding.
US09573580B2
A charge control device for a hybrid vehicle includes a driving battery supplying electric power to front and rear motors. It can switch between a normal power generation mode in which an engine is driven at a first rotational speed higher than an idling speed to generate electric power and charge the driving battery to a predetermined amount of charge, and a forced power generation mode in which the engine is forcedly driven at the first rotational speed or higher to generate electric power and charge the battery so as to maintain a higher amount of charge of the driving battery than a predetermined amount of charge, and drives the engine at an idling speed or lower to reduce an amount of electric power generation if the cooling water of the engine is a first predetermined temperature or higher when the forced power generation mode is performed.
US09573567B2
According to one embodiment, an apparatus for cooling at least one landing gear brake of an aircraft in flight is described. The apparatus includes an air handling assembly that is coupled to the aircraft. The air handling assembly includes at least one air inlet port. The apparatus also includes an air delivery assembly that is in air receiving communication with the air handling assembly. The air delivery assembly includes at least one nozzle that is configured to direct air into a first space adjacent a first side of the landing gear brake to create an air pressure differential across the landing gear brake.
US09573566B2
A system and method of selectively carrying out a vehicle passive door lock function. The method carried out by the system includes: (a) detecting a vehicle operator's exit from a vehicle having at least one lockable door for passenger entry and exit, wherein the vehicle is configured to automatically carry out a passive operator departure process following the operator's exit, (b) determining whether the vehicle is at a lock function exempt location; (c) automatically carrying out the passive operator departure process in a first mode when it is determined that the vehicle is not at the exempt location; and (d) automatically carrying out the passive operator departure process in a second mode when it is determined that the vehicle is at the exempt location, wherein the second mode comprises at least one less door lock function than is carried out in the first mode.
US09573565B2
A method for detecting a function actuation on a motor vehicle with a sensor device includes monitoring the signals of a proximity sensor as to a first signal reply S1. The signals of the proximity sensor are monitored for a time period Ts wherein the method is interrupted when the signal reply changes by more than a value St within the period of time Ts. The signal device is actuated after time Ts has expired in order to signal to the user that the actuation of time has expired. The signals of the proximity sensor are monitored for time Te wherein the method is continued when the signal of the proximity sensor changes by more than a predetermined value Se within the period of time Te. Otherwise, the method is interrupted. If the method is continued, the actuation of the function of the motor vehicle is detected and the function trigger is signaled to a control device in the motor vehicle.
US09573561B2
A vehicular seat belt assembly can include a pair of lateral webbing strips configured to extend laterally across a first portion of vehicular passenger, distal ends being statically secured to the vehicular support structure, and proximal ends being selectively connected to and disconnected from each other. A pair of upper body strips can be configured to contact a second portion the passenger. An anchor can be statically secured to the vehicular support structure, and configured to guide each of the upper body strips so as to enable a change in a direction of extension of the upper body strips, and to thereby absorb a portion of a load created by the force applied to the passenger and applied to the upper body strips. A retractor assembly can be configured to enable length adjustment of the upper body strips if the load is below a certain threshold level.
US09573543B2
A vehicle including a bumper assembly includes a bumper reinforcement beam that extends generally in a vehicle lateral direction. The bumper reinforcement beam has a front face, a rear face opposite the front face and a top extending between the front face and the rear face. A bumper cover is located above the bumper reinforcement beam in a vehicle vertical direction. A bumper cover reinforcement includes an anchor portion supported on the bumper reinforcement beam and a bumper cover support portion extending outwardly from the anchor portion toward the bumper cover. The bumper cover support portion is arranged and configured to resist a downward force applied to the bumper cover in the vehicle vertical direction.
US09573542B2
Provided is a bumper reinforcement to be mounted to side members arranged at both end portions of a vehicle in a vehicle width direction so as to extend in a vehicle front-and-rear direction, the bumper reinforcement including: a body section formed into a tubular shape so as to extend in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle, the body section having both end portions in the vehicle width direction, which are formed so as to extend in the vehicle width direction, and an intermediate portion in the vehicle width direction, which is formed in a protruding manner toward one of a front of the vehicle and a rear of the vehicle; and a mounting section to be mounted to one of a front end surface and a rear end surface of each of the side members, the mounting section being formed into a tubular shape extending in the vehicle width direction integrally with a side surface portion of each of the both end portions of the body section in the vehicle width direction, the side surface portion being opposed to the each of the side members.
US09573541B2
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for identifying an occupant of a vehicle. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for identifying an occupant of a vehicle. The method includes receiving a primary identification (ID) input and one or more secondary ID inputs, wherein the primary ID input comprises identification token information; retrieving cluster information based at least on the primary ID input; comparing the one or more secondary ID inputs with the cluster information; determining a confidence value associated with the identification of the occupant based at least in part on the comparison of the one or more secondary ID inputs with the cluster information; and outputting information based at least in part on the determined confidence value.
US09573536B2
A branch wire branching from a trunk wire of a floor harness routed to an automobile is used as a wire harness supplying power to the sliding seat. The wire harness is inserted within an extra length accommodation case, and in addition, the extra length accommodation case is fixated, facing downward, to a seat rail to which the sliding seat is slidably mounted, and is accommodated in a space below the seat rail. The wire harness U-turned within the extra length accommodation case is passed through the slider and extracted to a sliding seat side and connected to the seat harness within the sliding seat. A bottom portion of the slider is slidably mounted to a straight line direction slider sliding groove provided on a top end of the extra length accommodation case and a top portion of the slider is fixated to the sliding seat.
US09573530B1
A trunk for a bed of a truck is disclosed wherein the trunk provides an isolated enclosed space in an area of the truck bed. The trunk is configurable into different configurations and traversable between front and back positions in order to make best use of the bed of the truck. Moreover, the trunk may be configured and traversed easily so that one without great strength may still manipulate the trunk to make full use of the truck bed.
US09573525B2
A mirror mounting assembly for a rearview mirror, including a housing connector having a first pivot member operably connected with an extension tube. A mount includes a windshield bracket and a sensor assembly. The windshield bracket is proximate to the sensor assembly and supports the sensor assembly against the vehicle windshield. A second pivot member includes a first end operably connected with the extension tube and a second end operably connected with the mount.
US09573524B2
The inspection device of a head-up display (HUD) for a vehicle automatically inspects and corrects images projected on a windshield glass of the vehicle by an HUD unit in the vehicle and may include i) a frame where the vehicle is conveyed in-and-out, ii) a moving unit coupled to the frame and reciprocating in the front-and-rear and left-and-right directions of the vehicle, iii) a multi-axis robot mounted on the moving unit and configured to move the vehicle in an up-and-down and back-and-forth direction, iv) a vision camera mounted on an arm of the multi-axis robot and digitally capturing images projected on the windshield glass as vision data, and v) a controller inspects whether the HUD unit operates normally and controls operation of the HUD unit by analyzing the vision data acquired from the vision camera.
US09573522B2
Arrangements related to the operation of an autonomous vehicle are described. The autonomous vehicle includes a vehicle seat. It can be determined whether a future planned driving maneuver of the autonomous vehicle includes a change in a current motion of the autonomous vehicle. Responsive to determining that the future planned driving maneuver includes a change in the current motion of the autonomous vehicle, the vehicle seat can be caused to provide a haptic indication of the future planned driving maneuver prior to implementing the future planned driving maneuver. In this way, a vehicle seat occupant can be alerted to the future planned driving maneuver. The haptic indication can include a movement of the vehicle seat. In one or more arrangements, the movement of the vehicle seat can correspond to a sensation that a vehicle seat occupant will experience during at least a portion of the future planned driving maneuver.
US09573515B2
A method for automatic activation of a vehicle turn indicator is disclosed. The method may include determining whether a lane change maneuver is impending in a specified direction. The method may also include determining whether the vehicle turn indicator has been activated through a driver interface. The vehicle turn indicator may be engaged when not activated through the driver interface.
US09573514B2
A motor causes a shaft of an actuator to be displaced in an axis direction thereof, at least part of a circuit for driving the motor being mounted on a circuit board. A notch is formed in an end edge of the circuit board. A protrusion is formed inside a case. The protrusion is fitted into the notch, whereby the circuit board is independently supported inside the case.
US09573509B2
A deck for a truck or trailer has a base frame and a deck frame movable relative to the base frame to either one of a tilt position or a dump position. A first pivot connection between the frames defines the pivot axis of the tilt position while a second pivot connection separate and spaced from the first pivot connection defines the pivot axis of the dump position. A common lift mechanism between the frames lifts the deck frame to either one of the tilt or dump positions depending upon the operative condition of the first and second pivot connections.
US09573508B2
A vehicle dumping bed cleaning device for scraping the interior surface of a dumping bed of a vehicle to facilitate removal of dirt and debris from the dumping bed includes a vehicle having a dumping bed defining an interior space between parallel spaced walls and a bottom surface extending between the walls. Each of a pair of elongated lateral arms is pivotally coupled to an associated one of the walls of the dumping bed. A scraper is coupled to and extends between the lateral arms. The scraper abuts the bottom surface of the dumping bed as the lateral arms are pivoted for scraping debris from the bottom surface of the dumping bed. A motor is coupled to the lateral arms to pivot the lateral arms whereby the scraper is moved on the bottom surface of the dumping bed.
US09573505B2
A vehicle seat includes a base, a buckle mounted on the base, a mounting member used to mount the buckle on the base, and an intermediate member provided between the base and the buckle. The manufacturing method includes providing an assembled body formed by integrating the buckle, the mounting member, and the intermediate member, and mounting the buckle on the base by combining the assembled body with the base.
US09573501B2
A vehicle seat includes a seat-cushion frame supported on a vehicle body, a fastener fixed to the seat-cushion frame in a lateral direction, an absorption member supported by the fastener inserted in the absorption member, a seat-back frame supported via the absorption member, and a seat back fixed to the seat-back frame.
US09573499B2
A headrest assembly having a bracket mount affixed to an upper portion of a seatback frame and at least one headrest bun supporting tube pivotally secured to the bracket mount. A spring biased cam is pivotally secured to the bracket mount and, in a normally biased position, engages an underside projection of a selected one of the supporting tubes, the cam also having an outwardly projecting pin. At least one wheel shaped component is rotatably mounted to an exterior of the bracket mount in proximity to the cam, the wheel having an outer circumferential location which, upon being rotated, contacts the projecting pin causing the cam to pivot in a downward unseating direction from the supporting tube, triggering release of the headrest and supporting tubes in a forwardly rotating and dump position.
US09573494B2
A seatback-motion controller in accordance with the present disclosure is mounted on a vehicle seat in a vehicle. The vehicle seat includes a seat base and a seat back mounted for pivotable movement relative to the seat base between an upright use position and a forward-leaning easy-entry position.
US09573493B2
A seat reclining device includes: a first bracket including an accommodating portion being open to an outer side of a seat in a width direction; a second bracket rotating with respect to the first bracket; a cam rotating with respect to the first bracket; a spring accommodated in the accommodating portion and biasing the cam; a pawl moved in a radial direction of the first bracket based on the rotation of the cam and engaged with the second bracket; and a cover covering the spring, wherein the cover is mounted on the accommodating portion and an outer surface of the cover on the outer side corresponds to an outer surface of the first bracket on the outer side or is positioned inside the outer surface of the first bracket in the width direction of the seat.
US09573490B1
A vehicle seat includes a seat base and a seat bottom pivotally coupled to the seat base such that the seat bottom is movable between a seating position, stowed position, and reclined position. A seat guide assembly is configured to couple to a vehicle rear wall, and includes a guide bracket having a slot formed therein and a pin extending through the slot and configured to travel along the slot. The vehicle seat includes a seat back having an upper end, a lower end, and a latch coupled to the upper end. The lower end is pivotally coupled to the seat bottom, and the latch is configured to receive the pin. The seat back upper end travels with the latch and pin along the slot such that the seat back is movable between a seating position, stowed position, and reclined position along a predetermined path relative to the vehicle wall.
US09573487B2
An electrically driven vehicle (2) is equipped with a motor (9) for running, a first battery (4), a second battery (3), a liquid-cooled cooler that cools the first battery, and a temperature adjuster. The first battery is configured to supply an electric power to the motor, and has a first capacity and a first output. The second battery is configured to supply an electric power to the motor, and has a second capacity that is different from the first capacity, and a second output that is different from the first output. The temperature adjuster is configured to adjust a temperature of the second battery using a gas as a heat medium.
US09573481B2
A method and a device for charging an electric vehicle in a power system are provided. The method includes: obtaining a first electric vehicle connected to the power system, and obtaining a rated charging power and a first charging requirement; determining a first charging period corresponding to the first electric vehicle; determining a forecast period, and obtaining a second electric vehicle to be connected to the power system; revising the first charging period to obtain a second charging period, and obtaining a second charging requirement and a maximum charging power; establishing a charging model, establishing a first constraint of the charging model, and establishing a second constraint of the charging model; and solving the charging model under the first constraint and the second constraint to obtain an optimal charging power so as to charge each first electric vehicle under the optimal charging power.
US09573478B2
An add-on adapter 110 enables a single charging port 102 of an electric vehicle charging station 100 to simultaneously charge two electric vehicles. An adapter controller 120 determines the available charging rate offered by the charging station. Electric vehicle charging handles 150A, 150B are determined to be connected to the electric vehicles. A charge sharing control circuit 300 in the adapter controller, determines modified available charging rates to be offered for simultaneously charging the electric vehicles. The modified available charging rates are based on the connection states of the electric vehicles and the available charging rate offered by the charging station. The adapter controller controls two contactors 130A, 130B to switchably connect a charging station power socket to the electric vehicle charging handles, to provide shared power at the determined modified available charging rate to the electric vehicles, for simultaneous charging.
US09573476B2
A method and system for waking up a primary microcontroller of a controller in response to a change in a control pilot signal generated by an external device coupled to the controller includes coupling the external device to an input port electrically connected to the controller. A control pilot signal generated by the external device is received by the input port and outputted to a monitoring device of the controller in low power mode. The monitoring device in low power mode polls the control pilot signal and upon detecting a valid change transitions to normal power mode to output a wakeup pulse to the primary microcontroller, which in a sleep state receives the wakeup pulse and wakes up to execute instructions stored on the primary microcontroller. In an example, the system controls recharging of a battery by a charging station which outputs a pulse width modulated control pilot signal.
US09573473B2
In a vehicle control device, a slip ratio in which front and rear wheels are averaged, and a braking force in which the front and rear wheels are averaged, can be calculated. The vehicle control device is provided with: friction braking devices placed on each wheel; a motor that acts as a regenerative braking mechanism and is placed on the rear wheels; a vehicle slip stiffness calculation unit; a front and rear braking force ratio calculation unit; a vehicle slip stiffness correction unit; and a regenerative braking arithmetic unit. The regenerative braking arithmetic unit operates the friction braking device and the motor so as to make the vehicle slip stiffness reach a vehicle slip stiffness threshold value. Also, the vehicle slip stiffness correction unit corrects the vehicle slip stiffness threshold value in accordance with the ratio of the front wheel braking force and the rear wheel braking force.
US09573472B2
A battery control system connected to a battery equipped with an explosion-proofing mechanism for cutting off an electric current when the battery enters an overcharge state, including: a cell voltage detection unit that detects voltage at the battery; a storage unit that stores information pertaining to the battery conditions; an overcharge decision-making unit that makes a decision as to whether or not the battery is in an overcharge state; a storage control unit that engages the storage unit to store information pertaining to the overcharge state when the overcharge decision-making unit decides that the battery is in an overcharge state; and an explosion-proofing decision-making unit that decides that the explosion-proofing mechanism in the battery has actuated if the overcharge information is stored in the storage unit and the cell voltage detected by the cell voltage detection unit is lower than a predetermined lower limit value.
US09573461B2
A filter device, particularly an air breather filter device for venting a fuel tank, includes a housing with a first port provided as an inlet in normal operation of the filter device and a second port provided as an outlet under normal operation of the filter device. The housing encloses at least one filter and an air passage extends from the first port to the second port passing through the filter. Inside the housing a baffle unit is arranged in the housing for covering the at least one first filter in relation to the second port, wherein the baffle unit is arranged to deflect a fluid flow entering the filter device through the second port.
US09573459B2
An exhaust pipe cover structure for a saddle-ride type vehicle allows an exhaust pipe cover to be easily positioned and attached even in the case of attaching the exhaust pipe cover to an exhaust pipe attached to an engine. Boss portions each having an internal thread through which an exhaust pipe cover is fastened are provided on a lateral surface of an exhaust pipe. Hooking holes capable of being hooked on the boss portions with play are integrally provided on the inner side of the exhaust pipe cover. In a state where the hooking portions are hooked on the boss portions, part of the boss portions is viewable through attaching holes of the exhaust pipe cover.
US09573447B2
A back door device includes a hinge, a back door, and a damper stay. The hinge is provided on a roof of a vehicle and arranged at a position forward of a rear edge of the roof. The back door is configured to pivot vertically about the hinge to selectively open and close a door opening and includes a back door rear end portion and a back door roof portion. The back door roof portion includes a storage projection, which projects upward from an upper surface of the back door roof portion. The damper stay includes a first end, which is connected to the roof at a position rearward of the hinge, and a second end, which is connected to an inner wall of the storage projection. When the back door is closed, the damper stay is stored in the storage projection.
US09573446B2
A swing door actuation system for moving a door about a pivot axis between open closed positions relative to a vehicle body. The system includes a power swing door actuator having a housing connectable to one of the swing door and the vehicle body, an extensible member that moves relative to the housing, and connects to the other of the swing door and the vehicle body, a motor connected to a gear train, and a normally engaged clutch. The motor is operatively connected to a clutch input end through the gear train. The output end is operatively connected to the extensible member. The clutch is disengageable to disconnect the motor from the extensible member. The clutch has a slip torque that is sufficiently high to prevent movement of the door when the door is exposed to less than a selected external torque and the motor is stopped.
US09573431B2
A power train for an amphibian operable in land and marine modes includes a prime mover, at least a first land propulsion unit, a first marine propulsion unit, a second marine propulsion unit, and at least one speed change transmission. The prime mover is arranged to drive the at least first land propulsion unit through/via the at least one speed change transmission in land mode, and the prime mover is arranged to drive the first marine propulsion unit and the second marine propulsion unit through/via the at least one, or another, or combinations of, speed change transmission in marine mode. In addition, the present invention provides an amphibian comprising the power train.
US09573426B2
A tire pressure measuring module for a vehicle tire includes a receiving space in which are disposed a pressure sensor, a control circuit coupled to the pressure sensor and a transmitter for wireless transmission of data from the control circuit to a vehicle side receiver. The receiving space is designed to be attached to the vehicle tire. The control circuit has programmable storage devices and a programming interface for writing on the storage device is designed with contact areas. The contact areas are galvanically contacted by contact pins of an associated programming device. The contact areas are covered by an elastic insulating layer which is designed so that it can be perforated by the contact pins.
US09573418B2
A bearing device for a wheel has a hub wheel and a constant velocity universal joint with an outer joint member. Projecting portions extending in an axial direction are provided on one of an outer surface of a shaft section of the outer joint member and an inner surface of a hole portion of the hub wheel. The projecting portions are press-fitted into the other along the axial direction, and recessed portions are formed in the other through press-fitting of the projecting portions. Thus, a recess-projection fitting structure is formed, in which the projecting portions and the recessed portions are held in close contact with each other through an entire region of fitting contact regions therebetween.
US09573405B2
A blanket for transferring a paste image from an engraved plate to a substrate is provided. The blanket includes a foam, a PET layer on the foam, and a paste transfer layer on the PET layer. The foam has a Shore A hardness of 20 to 80 and a thickness of 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, wherein the foam has a higher Shore A hardness corresponding to a greater thickness.
US09573398B2
The present invention provides a mechanism that improves accuracy for positioning a head relative to a carriage, and easily performs positional adjustment for the head. A carriage unit includes a first carriage structure and a second carriage structure. The first carriage structure includes a first sliding face that can slide along a guide shaft, and a head can be mounted on the first carriage structure. The second carriage structure includes a second sliding face that can slide along the guide shaft, and can hold the first carriage structure to allow positional adjustment for the first carriage structure in a predetermined direction in which a position where the first sliding face contacts the guide shaft is to be shifted.
US09573391B2
A printing system includes a media transport system configured to transport a web of print media through a printing zone at a transport speed in a transport direction proceeding from up-web to down-web. A plurality of printheads each at least spanning the print zone and each configured to eject a radiation-curable ink. At least one PIN is unit positioned between two of the printheads relative the transport direction and configured to emit radiation onto the print media to partially cure the ink emitted by a printhead that is up-web from the PIN unit. A controller controls a power level of the PIN unit so that the radiative power level of the PIN unit decreases as the transport speed increases.
US09573388B2
A printing method uses a reaction liquid containing an aggregating agent capable of causing the aggregation of a color material. This printing method includes: applying a first reaction liquid to a recording medium; applying a background color ink that contains a color material for a background color to a region of the recording medium which is coated with the first reaction liquid; drying the recording medium coated with the background color ink by heating the recording medium; applying a second reaction liquid to a region of the dried recording medium which is coated with the background color ink; and applying an image forming ink that contains a color material having a color different from that of the background color ink to a region of the recording medium which is coated with the second reaction liquid.
US09573386B2
An object forming method executed by at least one processing unit for forming a three-dimensional shape on a surface of a material, the method including: generating height information specifying a height of the three-dimensional shape, so that the height of the three-dimensional shape in a protection area surrounding a symbol area subjected to symbols on the surface of the material is higher than the height of the three-dimensional shape in the symbol area on the surface of the material, the material is subjected to a design including the symbols on the surface; and forming the three-dimensional shape on the surface of the material based on the generated height information.
US09573385B2
The invention relates to a laser based printing apparatus (100) using laser light sources (111, 112, 113, 402, 404, 406, 604, 606, 808, 810) for supplying energy to a target object (120) to form an image. The printing apparatus (100) comprises a laser light source arrangement (110, 400, 600) comprising a plurality of laser light sources (111, 112, 113, 402, 404, 406, 604, 606, 808, 810) arranged such that laser beams (114, 410, 805, 806) of the laser light sources (111, 112, 113, 402, 404, 406, 604, 606, 808, 810) intersect a surface (121) of a target object (120) at different target points (123, 24, 125, 412, 414, 416, 616, 610, 802) along a moving direction (122), a transport mechanism (130) for moving the target object (120) and the laser light sources (111, 12, 113, 402, 404, 406, 604, 606, 808, 810) relatively to each other in the moving 10 direction (122) and a controlling arrangement (140), which is realized to control the laser light sources (111, 112, 113, 402, 404, 406, 604, 606, 808, 810) and/or the transport mechanism (130) based on image data (150) in such a way, that the energy level of a target point (123, 124, 125, 412, 414, 416, 616, 610, 802) is stepwise increased by irradiation of at least two different laser light sources along the moving direction (122). The invention also describes a method for controlling such a laser based printing apparatus (100).