| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09383503B2 |
Collimating light guide plate, diffusing unit, and display apparatus employing the same
A diffusing unit includes: a polarizing plate; and a diffusing layer integrally provided on a surface of the polarizing plate without an air layer therebetween. By using a display apparatus employing a collimating light guide plate and the diffusing unit, the optical performances such as resolution and viewing angle can be improved. Also, because gray scale inversion and color shifts can be reduced or eliminated using collimated light, image quality of the display apparatus can be improved. |
| US09383500B2 |
Illuminating device, image reading apparatus including the illuminating device, and image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus
An illuminating device capable of stably illuminating an irradiated object such as a document while suppressing light loss with a simply structure is provided.An LED array and a reflective plate are disposed sandwiching a slit (St) through which light reflected by a document MS passes and a light-guiding member is disposed on the side of the LED array. The light-guiding member includes a direct emission unit disposed between an illumination range y centered on a document reading position and the LED array and an indirect emission unit disposed between the reflective plate and the LED array, a light incidence face of the direct emission unit and a light incidence face of the indirect emission unit are disposed at mutually different position around the LED array, and the LED array is disposed on a side of an interior angle formed by the light incidence faces. |
| US09383498B2 |
Light-condensing sheet, backlight and liquid crystal display
Embodiments of the invention disclose a light-condensing sheet, a backlight and a liquid crystal display. The light-condensing sheet comprises a supporter and a plurality of flat light-condensing films provided on the supporter, and refractive indexes of the plurality of light-condensing films gradually increase from bottom to top. |
| US09383496B2 |
Edge lit lighting assembly with spectrum adjuster
A lighting assembly comprises a light source and a light guide having a light input edge and a light output surface. Light from the light source enters the light input edge and is propagated within the light guide by total internal reflection. A spectrum adjuster is adjustable or selected to achieve a desired spectrum of the light within the light guide. |
| US09383495B2 |
Lateral light emitting device
To provide a lateral light emitting device that can prevent coupling efficiency in a fused portion of a rod lens and a prism from being deteriorated, can set an outside diameter extremely small, and set the distance to a beam waist long. A lateral light emitting device includes an optical fiber 2, a rod lens 3, one end of which is fused to the end surface of the optical fiber 3, and a prism 4 fused to the other end of the rod lens. The prism has a base shape obtained by cutting a part of the circumference of a cylinder and forming a flat emission surface 4c parallel to an axial line. In a fused portion of the rod lens and the prism, the outside diameter of a fused end surface of the rod lens is equal to or smaller than the smallest diameter of a fused end surface of the prism. The fused end surface of the rod lens does not protrude from the fused end surface of the prism. A center O1 of the fused end surface of the rod lens and a center O2 of a circular arc of the fused end surface of the prism are offset. |
| US09383493B2 |
Laminated polarizing plate, method for production thereof and liquid crystal display
The invention relates a long laminated polarizing plate (PL) comprising at least one reflective linear polarizer (Pr) having a transmission axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the film, and at least one absorptive polarizer (Pa) having a transmission axis parallel to the longitudinal direction. In this long laminated polarizing plate (PL), the reflective linear polarizer (Pr) and the absorptive polarizer (Pa) are arranged such that their transmission axes are parallel to each other. The long laminated polarizing plate of the invention is excellent in productivity and is applicable to a large-sized liquid crystal display. |
| US09383491B2 |
Retardation film, polarizing plate, and liquid crystal display
A retardation film includes a first optically anisotropic layer having liquid crystal compounds fixed in a homogeneously aligned state and a leveling agent, and having an order parameter of 0.75 to 0.95 and a thickness of 0.3 to 3.0 μm; an intermediate layer including a resin having a solubility parameter SP value of 21.5 to 24.7, calculated by Hoy's method, the intermediate layer having a thickness of 3.0 μm or less; and a second optically anisotropic layer having liquid crystal compounds fixed in a homeotropically aligned state, and having an order parameter OP of 0.6 to 0.95 and a thickness of 0.3 to 3.0 μm, wherein OP is represented by the following equation; OP=(A∥−A⊥)/(2A⊥+A∥) where A∥ is absorbance of the liquid crystal compounds for light polarized parallel to an alignment direction, and A⊥ is absorbance of the liquid crystal compounds for light polarized perpendicular to the alignment direction. |
| US09383490B2 |
Depolarizer, telescope and remote sensing device and method
A light beam is applied to a front surface of an optical depolarizer. The depolarizer rotates the polarization of light received on different surface positions by different amounts, so that the average incoming polarization is scrambled. The depolarizer has a first and second body that transmit first and second polarization components of the beam with mutually different speeds of light. Each body has two wedge shaped parts of variable thickness, corresponding wedge shaped parts in the two bodies providing light paths of substantially position independent lengths, but with variable rotation of polarization. The wedge shape parts of the front body form a concave input surface for the incoming beam. This prevents cross-over of light between the different wedge shaped parts. |
| US09383487B2 |
Laminated diffractive optical element
A laminated diffractive optical element including a colorant-containing first layer having a diffraction grating surface with a grating height X and a second layer closely stacked on the diffraction grating surface of the first layer, wherein the relation of internal transmittances Tλ, a and Tλ, b of a material (a) for forming the first layer and a material (b) for forming the second layer satisfies the following (Formula 1) and the relation of the maximum and minimum internal transmittances Tλ, MAX and Tλ, MIN of the laminated diffractive optical element satisfies the following Formula (2): 2.0%≦|Tλ,a−Tλ,b| (Formula 1) Tλ,MAX−Tλ,MIN≦8.0% (Formula 2) This reduces shading on the image surface resulting from the difference in transmittance of the optical element to provide a laminated diffractive optical element having reduced variation in transmittance. |
| US09383484B2 |
Light-shielding material for optical instrument
Provided is a light-shielding material for use in optical instrument and having a light-shielding sheet with broad low-gloss region while maintaining the physical properties necessary for a light-shielding sheet. The light-shielding material 1 comprises a light-shielding sheet 4 on a substrate 2, and the surface properties of the light-shielding sheet 4 are adjusted so as to fulfill at least one of A1 and A2, and at least one of B1 and B2. A1 is the condition that the arithmetic average roughness Sa in a three-dimensional surface roughness measurement is 0.4 or larger and 2.0 or smaller, A2 is that the ten-point average roughness Sz in a three-dimensional surface roughness measurement is 1 or larger and 20 or smaller. Defining a central plane of projections and recesses in a three-dimensional surface roughness measurement as a reference plane, Pn (n is any positive integer) as the number of projections which protrude to a plane located at a height of n times Sa from the reference plane, Pn+1 as the number of projections which protrude to a plane located at a height of (n+1) times Sa, and Rn as the ratio (Pn+1/Pn) of Pn and Pn+1, B1 is the condition that R1 is 55% or greater and R4 is 7% or greater, and B2 is the condition that at least R1 is 55% or greater, R2 is 15% or greater and R3 is 8% or greater. |
| US09383477B2 |
Feedthrough assembly for electrically conductive winding
A well-logging tool for geological formation has a borehole. A housing that is to be positioned within the borehole includes an opening. An electrically conductive winding is carried by the housing. A feedthrough assembly includes an elongate electrical conductor having opposing first and second ends and a medial portion extending therebetween. The first end is coupled to the electrically conductive winding. An integrally formed, monolithic, dielectric layer sounds the elongate electrical conductor and includes a first enlarged diameter end portion surrounding the first end of the elongate electrical conductor and is positioned within the opening. A reduced diameter portion surrounds the medial portion of the elongate electrical conductor. |
| US09383475B2 |
Geophysical surveying
A method of analyzing controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) survey data to determine probability density functions (PDFs) for values of an electromagnetic parameter at locations in a subterranean region of interest is provided. Structural features in the subterranean strata are identified, e.g. from seismic survey data. An initial PDF for values of the electromagnetic parameter is then assigned to each feature. Models specifying values for the parameter in each structural feature are generated by sampling the PDFs. A subset of the models are deemed acceptable based on an acceptance criterion. The PDF for each feature is modified based on values for the parameter in the subset of accepted models to generate replacement PDFs for each feature. The process may be iterated a number of times to generate final PDFs for values of the electromagnetic parameter in the structural features identified in the subterranean region of interest. |
| US09383469B2 |
Methods and systems for noise-based streamer depth profile control
Disclosed are methods and systems for depth control of a sensor streamer. An example embodiment comprises a method for depth control of a sensor streamer. The example method may comprise towing the sensor streamer in a body of water; measuring noise levels of one or more signals generated on the sensor streamer; and adjusting depth of the sensor streamer at one or more spaced apart locations in response to the measured noise levels. |
| US09383462B2 |
Seismic device with sealed housing and related methods
A seismic generation system may include an electrical source, a conductor coupled to the electrical source and to be positioned in a wellbore in a subterranean formation with a casing therein, and a seismic generation source assembly to be positioned in the wellbore and coupled to the conductor. The seismic generation source assembly may include a source element having a sealed housing, an armature within the sealed housing, source electromagnets coupled to the armature, and electromagnetic clamps coupled to the armature, each electromagnetic clamp having opposite magnetic poles. The sealed housing may include respective ferromagnetic portions adjacent the opposite magnetic poles of each electromagnetic clamp, and non-ferromagnetic portions between the opposite magnetic poles of each electromagnetic clamp. |
| US09383460B2 |
Beam imaging sensor
The present invention relates generally to the field of sensors for beam imaging and, in particular, to a new and useful beam imaging sensor for use in determining, for example, the power density distribution of a beam including, but not limited to, an electron beam or an ion beam. In one embodiment, the beam imaging sensor of the present invention comprises, among other items, a circumferential slit that is either circular, elliptical or polygonal in nature. |
| US09383457B2 |
Detector for detecting the traces of ionizing particles
A detector for detecting the traces of ionizing particles includes a scintillator capable of emitting photons when ionizing particles pass therethrough; a first imager capable of detecting each photon emitted by the scintillator, and a first microlens array, each microlens of the first microlens array being arranged such as to produce an image of the trace of the particles by focusing the photons emitted in the scintillator on the first imager. |
| US09383453B2 |
Radiation imaging apparatus and radiation imaging system
A radiation imaging apparatus comprises: a detector that includes a detection unit in which pixels having a conversion element that converts radiation to an electric charge are arranged in a matrix shape, a drive circuit that drives the detection unit, and a read circuit that outputs an electric signal corresponding to the electric charge as image data; a radiation detection unit that detects a radiation irradiation state at a plurality of positions in the detection unit; and a control unit that controls operations of the drive circuit and the read circuit in accordance with a detection result obtained by the radiation detection unit, wherein the radiation detection unit detects a radiation irradiation state at least at a center region and a peripheral region in the detection unit, and a detection capability at the center region is set to a higher capability than a detection capability at the peripheral region. |
| US09383451B2 |
Systems and methods of determining location using a medical device
A medical device capable of determining its location is provided. The medical device comprises a memory, one or more antennas, one or more processors coupled with the memory and the one or more antennas, a location manager component executable by the one or more processors. The location manager component is configured to receive first location information from a first location information source and second location information from a second location information source, to rank the first location information source and the second location information source according to a hierarchy of location information sources, the hierarchy of location information sources specifying that the first location information source is of higher rank than the second location information source, determine an approximate location of the medical device based on the first location information, and improve the accuracy of the approximate location based on the second location information. |
| US09383445B2 |
Object detection system
An object detection system for a host vehicle includes an imaging device operable to capture image data representative of a scene exterior the host vehicle. An image processor processes captured image data to detect an object. A ranging device tracks the detected object and determines distance to the detected object. The detected object is assigned a priority score that represents the potential danger of the detected object to the host vehicle. The priority score is at least in part established responsive to image processing by the image processor of captured image data and to distance determined by the ranging unit. The detected object is assigned its priority score based on one of (i) the detected object being a vehicle that is closing with the host vehicle and (ii) the detected object being a pedestrian who is present in the field of view of said imaging device. |
| US09383437B2 |
Reception device and reception method
A reception device (100) includes: AGC circuits (103) to generate electric power information individually indicating signal strengths of respective received signals generated from a respective plurality of radio waves received at a plurality of places; stationary-state detection circuits (105) to calculate individually the amounts of time domain fluctuation in the respective signal strengths indicated by the electric power information generated by the AGC circuits (103), and to detect individually, on the basis of the respective calculated amounts of fluctuation, whether the reception device (100) is stationary or not; and a self-stationary determination circuit (106) to determine, on the basis of a plurality of detection results from the stationary-state detection circuits (105), whether the reception device (100) is stationary or not. |
| US09383436B2 |
One way time of flight distance measurement
Determination of distance and/or position relative to one or more points by transmission of a wideband signal by a first antenna, reception of the transmitted wideband signal by a second antenna and comparison of the time delay between the transmitted and received signals. The first and second antennas are connected to a timer/processor unit. One or more of the first or second antennas is movable to an unknown position to be measured, but maintains connection to the timer/processor through a fixed or known delay communication link. The timer/processor contains a time base for generating the transmitted signal and an offset timer for measuring the time delay of the received signal. The received signal may be processed to determine a start time or leading edge that may resolve RF cycle and modulation bandwidth ambiguities and may allow positive determination of distance much shorter than a wavelength at the operation center frequency. |
| US09383435B2 |
Ultrasound probe
An ultrasound probe which transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject, receives ultrasonic echoes generated by reflection of the ultrasonic waves on the subject and outputs ultrasound image signals includes a case having a grip portion set therein and functional units disposed in the case. The functional units include an ultrasonic wave-generating unit, at least one integrated circuit board and a battery. The battery disposed in the case at a position corresponding to the grip portion ensures the safety of operators from heat generated in the at least one integrated circuit board and the like. |
| US09383433B2 |
System and method for calibration and built-in self test of automobile radar system
An I/Q mixer and processing method for a radar system include an RF input and an LO input. Phase shifters apply a selectable phase shift to the LO signal to produce a first phase-shifted version of the LO signal and a second phase-shifted version of the LO signal, the first and second phase-shifted versions of the LO signal being in quadrature. A first set of switches is controllable to selectively apply the selectable phase shift to the LO signal. A first mixer unit receives the RF signal at a first input of the first mixer unit, and a second mixer unit receives the RF signal at a first input of the second mixer unit. A second set of switches is controllable to apply one of the first and second phase-shifted versions of the LO signal to one of a second input of the first mixer unit and a second input of the second mixer unit and to apply the other of the first and second phase-shifted versions of the LO signal to the other of the second input of the first mixer unit and the second input of the second mixer unit. A counter generates a count for sequencing through states of the first and second sets of switches. |
| US09383427B2 |
Duct system including information modules configured to emit positional information and method of the same
The present inventive concept includes a duct system and method for using same to map and locate ducts. A preferred embodiment of the duct system includes a duct, a plurality of electronic information modules and an oversheath at least partially covering the plurality of information modules and fixing the information modules to the duct. The plurality of information modules are configured to emit a positional signal to enable location of the information modules and associated duct(s) and/or mapping of the duct system. |
| US09383426B2 |
Real-time, two dimensional (2-D) tracking of first responders with identification inside premises
A combination of active reader tags and ultra wideband (UWB) radar systems provide real-time monitoring of first responders, with identification of each team member using active tags, and detection of victims or other subjects using motion or breathing detection, in a field of operations such as a building affected by fire or hazardous material or search and rescue mission area. Initially, a cluster of miniaturized radars (sensors) act in a static mode of operation, gathering static radar information used to depict a constructed layout of the premises. The cluster of radars then operate in a dynamic mode that detects motion or breathing of multiple subjects inside the field of operations. With dual mode operation the system can read the active tags identification, and by triangulation, display the position of each first responder with its identification and positions of subjects on a composite image of the constructed layout. |
| US09383424B2 |
System and method for automatic planning of views in 3D images of brain
A method of automatic planning of a view in a 3D image of a brain includes A method of automatic planning a view in a three-dimensional (3D) image of a brain includes selecting a plurality of axial working sections and a plurality of coronal working sections in the 3D scout image; constructing at least one mid-sagittal plane of the brain based on a set of axial reference lines and a set of coronal reference lines obtained from the selected plurality of axial working sections and the selected plurality of coronal working sections, respectively; detecting at least one landmark that is an anatomical point in the at least one mid-sagittal plane; creating a first reference line based on the at least one landmark detected in the at least one mid-sagittal plane; and planning a scan in an orientation based on the at least one mid-sagittal plane and the first reference line. |
| US09383423B2 |
Systems and methods for susceptibility tensor imaging
The present disclosure provides a method and system for quantifying and making images of tissue anisotropy property based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The systems and methods provided herein utilize orientation distribution of magnetic susceptibility to characterize magnetic susceptibility anisotropy (MSA) inside biological tissues. This MSA may be intrinsic property of the tissue or may be induced by the presence of external agents. In certain embodiments, the MSA is displayed as an orientation distribution function of susceptibility and/or may be described by mathematical quantities such as tensors (e.g., symmetric or asymmetric second order or higher order tensors) and spherical harmonics. In other embodiments, the MSA is characterized using a second order tensor named apparent susceptibility tensor (AST). |
| US09383421B2 |
Intra-body medical devices for use in MRI environments
An MRI-compatible intrabody device includes an elongated flexible shaft having a distal end portion, an opposite proximal end portion, an electrical connector interface configured to be in electrical communication with an MRI scanner, and a tracking coil assembly adjacent the shaft distal end portion. The tracking coil assembly includes a first spool having opposing first and second end walls and a second spool having opposing third and fourth end walls. The second spool is in end-to-end relationship with the first spool such that the second and third end walls are in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship. A tracking coil is wound around the first spool, and a coaxial cable is wound around the second spool. An outer conductor of the coaxial cable is connected to one end of the tracking coil and the inner conductor of the coaxial cable is connected to an opposite end of the tracking coil. |
| US09383420B2 |
Low-field NMR device for measuring the water content of solids and slurries
A Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) apparatus and method for measuring the water content of samples has a device to produce a main magnetic field; a sample receiving space within a main magnetic field; a device to excite a measurable RF magnetization to a sample placed into the sample receiving space at an operating frequency defined by the main magnetic field; a device to measure the RF signal produced by the excited sample; and a device to determine the water content in the sample based on the RF signal. The sample receiving space is capable of accommodating a sample having a volume of at least 0.5 dm3, and the device to produce a main magnetic field has a resistive electromagnet which is adapted to produce a main magnetic field corresponding to an operating frequency of 400-2000 kHz. |
| US09383408B2 |
Fault detection system, generation circuit, and program
The purpose of the invention is to provide a fault detection system etc., that reduces shift power in scan-out while maintaining the fault coverage. The fault detection system configured to detect a fault in a logic circuit by means of a scan test, includes: multiple flip-flops; a final signal generation unit that generates a final signal indicating a final capture in a capture mode; an assignment unit that differs from the logic circuit and the flip-flops, and that sets a logic signal for a part of the flip-flops upon receiving the final signal; and a fault detection device that detects a fault by making a comparison between a test output captured from the logic circuit and including the logic value set by the assignment unit and a test output to be obtained when the logic circuit has no fault and including the logic value set by the assignment unit. |
| US09383405B2 |
Transient voltage suppression protection circuit including built in testing
A lightning protection circuit includes a first lightning protection branch including at least one transient voltage suppression (TVS) protection element, and a testing element integral to the lightning protection circuit. The testing element is operable to test a functionality of the lightning protection circuit while he lightning protection circuit is installed in an electronic control system. A controller is connected to the testing element, such that the controller receives sensed signals from the testing element. |
| US09383395B1 |
Charge balancing converter using a passive integrator circuit
A method, apparatus, and system are described to perform, by a capacitance-sensing circuit, capacitance sensing of an electrode of a capacitive sense array of electrodes. Performing the capacitance sensing includes integrating, on a passive integrator circuit, charge from a sensed capacitance of the electrode of the capacitive sense array. The passive integrator circuit integrates the charge on a self-capacitance of the electrode as part of the integrating. The capacitance-sensing circuit converts the charge from the sensed capacitance of the electrode into a digital value representing the sensed capacitance of the electrode. |
| US09383392B2 |
Current sensor
A current sensor includes: two cores that configure closed magnetic circuits surrounding a conductor where a current to be measured flows and are arranged adjacent to each other; two coils that are wound respectively around the two cores and are connected in series to generate a magnetic flux in surrounding directions opposite to each other in the two cores; an excitation power supply that applies an alternating current with a superimposed direct current to the two coils; and a detection circuit that is connected to a connection point of the two coils. It is possible to obtain the current sensor being capable of high precision measurement up to high frequencies and also capable of reducing power consumption. |
| US09383389B2 |
Prober and needle-tip polishing device for probe card
A prober 10 including a probe card 16 having multiple probe needles 17 includes a needle-tip polishing unit 24, and the needle-tip polishing unit 24 includes a WAPP 28 to be contacted with needle tips and a supporting member 27 configured to support the WAPP 28. On a top surface of the WAPP 28, a wrapping sheet 29 is provided, and the WAPP 28 includes multiple recesses 31 formed on a bottom surface 30 thereof and the supporting member 27 includes multiple protrusions 33 formed on a ceiling surface 32 thereof. When the WAPP 28 is moved to a retreat position, the protrusions 33 are respectively inserted and fitted into the recesses 31, and when the WAPP 28 is moved to a contact position, top portions of the protrusions 33 are respectively brought into contact with portions on the bottom surface 30 where the recesses 31 are not formed. |
| US09383383B2 |
Physical quantity sensor, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus
A physical quantity sensor includes: a substrate; a first movable body that is provided on the substrate and includes first movable electrode sections; first fixed electrode sections disposed on the substrate so as to face the first movable electrode sections; a second movable body that is provided on the substrate and includes second movable electrode sections; and second fixed electrode sections disposed on the substrate so as to face the second movable electrode sections. A post section protruding from the principal surface of the substrate is provided in a portion of the substrate located between the first and second movable bodies in plan view. |
| US09383379B2 |
Sample distribution in a method for isolating analytes in fluid samples in an automated system
A method is described for distributing samples within an automated analyzer from a linear arrangement of sample vessels to a processing plate in a two-dimensional n×m arrangement wherein samples are sorted, followed by transfer with a pipetting device with a linear arrangement to a processing vessel in a two-dimensional n×m arrangement and subsequent processing of samples using a second pipetting device which has a two-dimensional n×m arrangement. |
| US09383375B2 |
Automatic analysis device
An automatic analysis device may enable easy selection of a desired reagent-setting position and efficient execution of reagent information confirmation and reagent usage setup by displaying, at a high level of visibility and in an enlarged format, both of the selected reagent-setting position and means for moving, for example, a mouse pointer to an anterior or posterior display position with respect to the selected reagent-setting position. A display controller may cause display of a list of reagent-setting positions provided in a reagent disk. An extended display controller may cause display, in an enlarged format, of a reagent-setting position that has been selected from the reagent-setting position list displayed by the display controller. The display of the selected reagent-setting position may be enlarged distinctly from that of other reagent-setting positions. A movement controller may select a reagent-setting position displayed next to the reagent-setting position being displayed in the enlarged format. |
| US09383373B2 |
Methods for detecting fungal infection
Methods and kits which utilize a conjugate, preferably an adduct, of ergosterol for determining the presence or level of a broad spectrum of ergosterol-containing organisms (e.g., fungi) in various substrates are disclosed. These methods and kits can be used to accurately and efficiently diagnose a subject having a fungal infection, particularly invasive fungal infection, and to accurately and efficiently detect the presence of fungi and other ergosterol-containing organisms in other substrates. Antibodies and other compounds (e.g., molecularly imprinted polymers) that are capable of selectively binding to ergosterol or to an ergosterol-containing conjugate and methods of producing same are also disclosed. |
| US09383372B2 |
Disk-type microfluidic system and method for measuring deformability of blood cells
A method for measuring a degree of deformation of blood cells includes: supplying blood to a centrifugal container of a disk; centrifuging the blood in the centrifugal container to blood cells and plasma by rotating the disk and detecting an actual moving distance of the blood cells in the centrifugal container every hour; and calculating a first curve representing the actual moving distance of the blood cells in the centrifugal container every hour and a second curve representing a theoretical moving distance of the blood cells every hour and measuring a degree of deformation of the blood cells by comparing the first curve and the second curve. |
| US09383364B2 |
Predictive marker of DNMT1 inhibitor therapeutic efficacy and methods of using the marker
Provided herein are methods for predicting efficacy of a DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) inhibitor treatment in a subject having a cancer, methods of identifying a subject having a cancer that is more likely to respond to a DNMT1 inhibitor treatment, and methods of selecting a treatment for a subject having a cancer that include determining a level of SOX9 in a sample containing cells from a subject having a cancer. Also provided are methods of treating a subject having a cancer that include selectively administering a DNMT1 inhibitor to a subject having cancer determined to have an elevated level of SOX9 in a sample containing cells from the subject compared to a reference level. Also provided are antibodies and antigen-binding antibody fragments that specifically bind to SOX9, and nucleic acid sequences that contain at least 10 nucleotides complementary to a contiguous sequence present in a SOX9 nucleic acid for use in these methods. |
| US09383362B2 |
Whole blood assay for measuring AMPK activation
A method of sample analysis is provided. In certain embodiments, the method comprises: a) labeling cells of a blood sample using an antibody that specifically binds to phospho-AMPK or a phosphorylated target thereof, to produce a labeled sample; and b) measuring antibody binding by a population of blood cells of the labeled sample using flow cytometry. In particular embodiments, the method may further comprise, prior to the labeling step: contacting blood with a test agent ex vivo or in vivo; and comparing the evaluation to results obtained from a reference sample of blood cells. |
| US09383359B2 |
Enzymatic activity based-detection
Disclosed herein are methods and kits which are useful for detecting presence of an enzyme in a test sample based upon the intrinsic enzymatic activity of such test sample. The present invention provides the ability to evaluate cell culture conditions and optimize the desired glycoform content of recombinantly prepared enzymes. |
| US09383357B2 |
Biomarker for replicative senescence
The present invention provides biomarkers for replicative senescence. In particular, Lamin B1 is provided as a biomarker for replicative senescence. |
| US09383350B2 |
Engineered cell growth on polymeric films and biotechnological application thereof
A free-standing thin film is fabricated from a structure comprising a base layer coated with a sacrificial polymer layer, which is in turn coated with a flexible polymer layer. Cells are then seeded onto the flexible polymer layer and cultured to form a tissue. The flexible polymer layer is then released from the base layer to produce a free-standing thin film comprising the tissue on the flexible polymer layer. In one embodiment, the cells are myocytes, which can be actuated to propel or displace the free-standing film. In another embodiment, the free-standing film is used to treat injured human tissue. |
| US09383346B2 |
Expandable jacket and its calibration device for triaxial tests on soils
During triaxial compression test, a soil specimen experiences reduction of its height with increase in its diameter. New cross-sectional area is calculated assuming uniform increase in diameter. This condition is seldom met in actual soil specimens, because specimen undergoes non-uniform increase in diameter and very often with localized bulging in specimen affecting the accuracy of calculation of deviator stress, shears strength and volume change characteristics. The expandable jacket included in this invention consists of circular segmental metal plates wrapped around the soil specimen and elastomeric rubber bands or rings around the segmental plates to permit uniform radial expansion and maintain uniform diameter of the specimen during the test and thereby providing accurate values of deviator stress, volume change characteristics and shear strength of soil specimen. The calibration device for calibration of expandable jacket shall provide the magnitude of correction to be made in deviator stress. |
| US09383344B2 |
Liquid distributor and liquid collector for chromatography columns
The present application relates to a liquid distributor and collector for columns for liquid chromatography with preferably round cross section, which is particularly suitable for columns with large diameter in relation to the packing height. |
| US09383343B2 |
Strength evaluating method for aluminum die cast part, aluminum die cast part, and defect detecting method for the same
There is provided an aluminum die cast part strength evaluating method is provided for correctly evaluating strength of an actual aluminum die cast part. Strength of the actual aluminum die cast part will be correctly evaluated by conducting ultrasonic inspection of a predetermined range of a high stress region of an aluminum die cast part, which is found out through stress analysis beforehand, for an internal defect, and evaluating that the aluminum die cast part has a predetermined strength if the maximum internal defect area within the predetermined range is equal to or less than a predetermined value. Moreover, an actual aluminum die cast part with a predetermined strength will be evaluated correctly by: evaluating strength using the aluminum die cast part strength evaluating method and setting the maximum-possible internal defect area within the predetermined range of the high stress region to 0.8 mm2 or less. |
| US09383342B1 |
Ultrasound inspection system for inspecting a test object with non-planar features
A method and apparatus for inspecting a test object with a non-planar feature. A pattern of light is transmitted from a first array of optical fibers associated with a sensor structure onto a surface of the test object at a location of the non-planar feature. The pattern of light is configured to cause sound waves in the test object when the pattern of light encounters the test object. A response to the sound waves is detected using a second array of optical fibers associated with the sensor structure. A determination is made as to whether an inconsistency is present in the test object at the location of the non-planar feature from the response to the sound waves detected using the second array of optical fibers. |
| US09383341B2 |
Sonic lumber tester
The present invention is a wood grading apparatus including a robust “push” solenoid as a hammer means for impacting a lumber specimen under test. A conventional solenoid coil with stationary magnetic iron pole pieces is combined with a bimetallic armature including a magnetic portion and a non-magnetic portion; said armature is of uniform cross section through the solenoid coil. A magnetic steel portion of said armature is fastened to a nonmagnetic steel portion thereof, whereby the magnetic field may act upon the magnetic portion of said armature and drive said nonmagnetic portion in an outward direction whereby impact or striking action is achieved. The present invention includes said solenoid in a wood grading apparatus whereby physical properties of wood are measured in a conveyor line setting and wood grading is affected by combining sonic velocity and density measurements to determine the modulus of elasticity of the wood object. Sonic velocity in the wood specimen is determined either by reverberation frequency or by rolling transducers that detect the leading edge of a stress wave initiated by said hammer means. A weight measurement means including a horizontal-axis roller lug conveyor chain and a leaf-spring suspension with a load cell means provides for improved accuracy in weight measurement for wood density calculation. |
| US09383339B2 |
Method for inspecting a component on the basis of Barkhausen noises
A method of inspecting a component (1) on the basis of Barkhausen noises in which a plurality of Barkhausen noise signals are processed, which have been or are determined at measurement positions (PS1, PS2, . . . , PS9) along the surface of the component (1) by a measuring device. According to the method, a computer forms a measurement matrix (M) from the Barkhausen noise signals, which matrix contains the Barkhausen noise signals detected as entries. A variety of characteristics are specified, each of which represents at least one cause of a manufacturing defect(s) of the component (1), each characteristic is associated with a processing procedure of the measurement matrix (M). The procedure is specific for the characteristic concerned. Finally, for each characteristic the measurement matrix (M) undergoes the associated processing procedure in which the intensity of the characteristic concerned is determined. |
| US09383338B2 |
Correction of time of flight MS ADC data on push by push basis
A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising pulsing ions into a time of flight region and detecting the ions using an ion detector. The signal output from the ion detector is digitized to produce a digitized signal. The peak area A1 and arrival time T1 of the ion peak are determined and a degree to which the ion peak suffers from saturation is also determined. A corrected area A′1 of the ion peak is then determined based upon the degree to which the ion peak was determined to suffer from saturation. |
| US09383337B2 |
Method and apparatus for analysis and sorting of polynucleotides based on size
The invention relates to a microfabricated device and methods of using the device for analyzing and sorting polynucleotide molecules by size. |
| US09383334B2 |
Ion-sensitive layer structure for an ion-sensitive sensor and method for manufacturing the same
In a method for manufacturing an ion-sensitive structure for an ion-sensitive sensor, first a semiconductor substrate bearing an oxide layer is provided, whereupon a metal oxide layer and a metal layer are deposited and tempered, in order to obtain a layer sequence having a crystallized metal oxide layer and an oxidized and crystallized metal layer on the semiconductor substrate bearing the oxide layer. In such case, the metal oxide layer and the metal layer have a compatible metal element, and the coating thickness dMOX of the metal oxide layer is greater than the coating thickness dMET of the metal layer. |
| US09383333B2 |
Replaceable multistrip cartridge and biosensor meter
A blood glucose monitor includes a can, a replaceable sensor cartridge that includes a frame, an upper spring disposed between the frame and the can, a case for housing the can and sealing the frame, a lower spring disposed between the can and the case, and a meter housing for sealing an upper portion of the frame. The can is capable of accepting the replaceable sensor cartridge. The frame of the removable cartridge has at least at least two walls defining a chamber for accepting a plurality of biosensors, and a bottom portion defining an opening and at least one sealing flange. The frame can further include a desiccant material capable of reducing humidity within the frame. The frame may be dimensioned such that an interference fit constrains the plurality of biosensors prior to inserting the frame within a blood glucose monitor. |
| US09383329B2 |
Gas sensor and a method of manufacturing the same
The gas sensor has a substrate, a gate insulating film arranged on the substrate, and a gate electrode arranged on the gate insulating film, wherein the gate electrode comprises a metal oxide mixture film produced by mixing an oxygen-doped amorphous metal that contains oxygen with crystals of an oxide of the metal and a platinum film formed on the metal oxide mixture film, the platinum film is composed of multiple platinum crystal grains and grain boundary regions that are present between the platinum crystal grains, the grain boundary regions are filled with a metal oxide mixture, and each of the platinum crystal grains is surrounded by the metal oxide mixture. |
| US09383326B2 |
Online monitoring of contaminants in crude and heavy fuels, and refinery applications thereof
A technique, including associated method and system, for on-line measurement of a trace element in a crude or heavy fuel stream for a refinery, including in one embodiment: providing at least one x-ray fluorescence (“XRF”) analyzer at a point for the refinery; analyzing the petroleum stream for chlorine using the analyzer; and providing results from the analyzer to refinery operators, to improve refinery operations. The analyzer may be a monochromatic wavelength XRF analyzer, wherein the analyzer focuses energy to/from the stream using an x-ray engine having at least one focusing, monochromating x-ray optic. The analyzer may be an MWDXRF or ME-EDXRF analyzer; and the trace element may be one or more of the following elements: S, Cl, P, K, Ca, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Hg, As, Pb, and Se; and in one embodiment the stream is crude, and the trace element is chlorine. |
| US09383325B2 |
Method for determining geometric relationships of crystal reciprocal vectors on two-dimensional planes obtained from single EBSD pattern
A method for determining geometric relationships of crystal reciprocal vectors on the two-dimensional planes obtained from an EBSD pattern includes steps of: geometrically correcting Kikuchi bands for obtaining the reciprocal vectors corresponding to the Kikuchi bands; selecting a set of reciprocal vectors which define a parallelogram with minimum area on the reciprocal plane as a two-dimensional basis for forming a grid, marking the basis; determining integer coordinates of other reciprocal vectors on the reciprocal plane relative to the basis, obtaining the deviations of the integer coordinates from the nearest grid nodes, marking the reciprocal vector with minimum deviation; fitting the length and the angel of the basis, redefining a new two-dimensional grid by the fitting result; repeating till all reciprocal vectors on the reciprocal plane are marked, wherein integer coordinates of the reciprocal vectors relative to the last two-dimensional basis now disclose the geometric relationships. |
| US09383321B2 |
Inspection apparatus and inspection method
An inspection apparatus is an apparatus for inspecting a solar cell panel. The inspection apparatus includes: an excitation light irradiation part for irradiating the solar cell panel with pulsed light for causing the solar cell panel to radiate an electromagnetic wave pulse; a detection part for detecting the electromagnetic wave pulse radiated from the solar cell panel in response to irradiation with the pulsed light; and a temperature changing part for changing a temperature of the solar cell panel at a part irradiated with the pulsed light. |
| US09383320B2 |
Cell analyzer
A cell analyzer includes a flow cell through which a sample containing a cell flows; an imaging unit that captures the cell contained in the sample flowing through the flow cell; a cell image storage unit that stores a cell image captured by the imaging unit; a light source that irradiates the sample flowing through the flow cell with light; a light receiving unit that receives light from the cell irradiated with the light from the light source and outputs a signal corresponding to a light receiving amount; a waveform data storage unit that stores data indicating change in the light receiving amount obtained based on the output signal; a display unit; and a control unit that controls the display unit to display the cell image and a graph representing a waveform of data for the cell in the cell image and/or a marker corresponding to the data. |
| US09383319B2 |
Super-resolved optical imaging apparatus and optical imaging method using the same
A super-resolved optical imaging apparatus and a super-resolved optical imaging method using the apparatus are disclosed. The optical imaging apparatus can includes: a light source unit configured to supply an incident beam; a nano-pattern chip having a plurality of nanostructures; a light adjustment system configured to change an incidence property of the incident beam in at least one of a horizontal direction and a depth direction such that surface plasmon resonance occurs in a localized area of the plurality of nanostructures; and an image detection unit configured to extract fluorescence signals generated by the surface plasmon resonance from a specimen positioned in the localized area and convert the fluorescence signals into an image. |
| US09383307B2 |
Methods and devices for optically determining a characteristic of a substance
Optical computing devices are disclosed. One exemplary optical computing device includes an electromagnetic radiation source configured to optically interact with a sample and at least two integrated computational elements. The at least two integrated computational elements are configured to produce optically interacted light and further configured to be associated with a characteristic of the sample. The optical computing device further includes a first detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light from the at least two integrated computational elements and thereby generate a first signal corresponding to the characteristic of the sample. |
| US09383306B2 |
Apparatus and a method for spectroscopic ellipsometry, in particular infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for spectroscopic ellipsometry, preferably for infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry, and a method for spectroscopic ellipsometry employing the apparatus. In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a light source (12), a detector (30), a polarizer (40), an analyzer (41), and a measuring probe (10). In one embodiment, the measuring probe may comprise an ATR prism (50) having at least one first surface having at least one measuring portion (M) configured to be brought in optical contact with a measured object (72), and at least one second surface having at least one reflective portion (RX). |
| US09383304B2 |
Laboratory assessment of PDC cutter design under mixed-mode conditions
A system and a method of testing a superabrasive cutter are disclosed. The system of testing a superabrasive cutter may comprise a spinning wheel holding the superabrasive cutter; a rock feeding into a rotation of the superabrasive cutter on the spinning wheel; and a plurality of sensors operably attaching to the spinning wheel and the rock to detect properties of the superabrasive cutter. The method of testing a superabrasive cutter may comprise steps of attaching a superabrasive cutter to a spinning wheel; moving a rock into a rotation of the superabrasive cutter on the spinning wheel; and communicably coupling a first sensor to the superabrasive cutter. |
| US09383301B2 |
Method and device for loading specimens into tensile testing machine
A sample loading device may include a top plate and a base plate, and the sample loading device can be roughly divided into two portions: a loading portion and a holding portion. The present invention is advantageous because the test sample is introduced by the sample loading device, which has been designed for a standard T-peel test, so the integrity of the sample introducing process will not be affected even though a different operator is conducting the process. Furthermore, it is easy to for the operator to load the test sample to the sample loading device, as well as transferring the sample loading device to the tensile testing machine, so the errors during the sample loading process can be significantly reduced. In other words, the T-peel test results can be more reliable when the test sample is introduced by the sample loading device in the present invention. |
| US09383295B2 |
Microfluidic devices and methods
Embodiments of the present invention provide improved microfluidic devices and related apparatus, systems, and methods. Methods are provided for reducing mixing times during use of microfluidic devices. Microfluidic devices and related methods of manufacturing are provided with increased manufacturing yield rates. Improved apparatus and related systems are provided for supplying controlled pressure to microfluidic devices. Methods and related microfluidic devices are provided for reducing dehydration of microfluidic devices during use. Microfluidic devices and related methods are provided with improved sample to reagent mixture ratio control. Microfluidic devices and systems are provided with improved resistance to compression fixture pressure induced failures. Methods and systems for conducting temperature controlled reactions using microfluidic devices are provided that reduce condensation levels within the microfluidic device. Methods and systems are provided for improved fluorescent imaging of microfluidic devices. |
| US09383283B2 |
Pressure transducer with capacitively coupled source electrode
A capacitive pressure transducer of an embodiment of the present invention capacitively couples two electrodes on a substrate with a diaphragm electrode to form a transducing circuit without the need for a physical connection between the electrodes. Embodiments of the present invention have a substrate with a coupling electrode and a sensing electrode and an attached diaphragm with a diaphragm electrode. A spacer positioned between the substrate and the diaphragm provides for a cavity that defines a gap between the sensing electrode and the diaphragm electrode. A dielectric spacer may be positioned over the coupling electrode to increase the capacitance between the coupling electrode and the diaphragm electrode. The capacitive pressure transducer has similar electrical characteristics as existing capacitive pressure transducers, is easier to manufacture, and has long-term reliability and durability improvements brought about by the elimination of mechanical interconnects and additional conductive materials. |
| US09383282B2 |
MEMS capacitive pressure sensor, operating method and manufacturing method
A MEMS pressure sensor wherein at least one of the electrode arrangements comprises an inner electrode and an outer electrode arranged around the inner electrode. The capacitances associated with the inner electrode and the outer electrode are independently measured and can be differentially measured. This arrangement enables various different read out schemes to be implemented and also enables improved compensation for variations between devices or changes in device characteristics over time. |
| US09383280B2 |
Diaphragm assembly for a pressure sensor, and a pressure sensor provided with such assembly
The present disclosure is related to diaphragm assembly for a pressure sensor including a multi-layered assembly of an outer diaphragm and an inner diaphragm, and an intermediate layer between both diaphragms, the intermediate layer being made of a solid material which is permeable to air. |
| US09383279B2 |
Installation structure for pedal stroke sensor
Disclosed is an installation structure of a pedal stroke sensor configured to measure a displacement of a moving member interworking according to a stepping force of a brake pedal. The pedal stroke sensor provided with a sensing member to sense a change in displacement according to movement of the moving member in a non-contact manner is installed at an outside of a housing that allows the moving member to be slid thereinto, the sensing member is provided with a sensor housing that is detachably installed at the outside of the housing, a hall IC (integrated circuit) provided in the sensor housing to sense change in magnetic force, and a magnet housing provided in the sensor housing so as to move while facing the hall IC and on which a magnet is installed, and an elongated hole is formed through an outer surface of the housing in a direction in which the moving member moves, and the moving member is connected to the magnet housing by using a connecting member such that the moving member moves together with the magnet housing through the elongated hole. |
| US09383276B2 |
Evaluation method and evaluation system for impact force of laser irradiation during laser peening and laser peening method and laser peening system
A method of evaluating impact force input to a workpiece member with a laser irradiated in laser peening processing is provided. This evaluation method includes a signal acquiring step, an input function calculating step, and an evaluating step. In the signal acquiring step, a detected waveform is acquired. The detected waveform is output during the laser peening processing by an AE sensor that detects an elastic wave generated in the workpiece member. In the input function calculating step, an input function I(t) by laser irradiation is calculated. In the evaluating step, impact force is evaluated using the input function I(t) by the laser irradiation. |
| US09383272B2 |
Optical measurement system with polarization compensation, and corresponding method
A method for the adjustment of an optical measurement system comprises providing an optical measurement system, which comprises, as optical elements, a beam splitter; a first photo sensor, exposed by a first partial beam from the beam splitter; an optical filter; a second photo sensor, arranged downstream of the optical filter, exposed by a second partial beam from the beam splitter. Additionally, the angularity and relative position between multiple optical elements is designed to be adjustable. The method further comprises providing a device for generating a difference signal from the two photo sensors; providing a light source with periodically varying polarization; irradiating the light in the beam splitter, so that the two respective photo sensors are exposed by a partial beam; generating a difference signal of the output signals of the photo sensors; varying the position and/or angularity of at least one optical element, and observing the difference signal, determine the combination of angularity/position of the elements where a minimum difference signal is achieved, and configuring the angularity of the optical elements to the determined values. Further, a corresponding system is proposed. |
| US09383271B2 |
Load detection device
A highly sensitive load detection device includes a tubular peripheral wall portion; a disk-shaped disk portion that has a through hole formed coaxially with the peripheral wall portion and that is supported on an inner surface of the peripheral wall portion with a gap between the disk portion and a placement surface on which the peripheral wall portion is placed; a load input portion that is formed in a spherical shape having a diameter larger than an inside diameter of the through hole on at least a side thereof facing the through hole, that is placed on the through hole, and to which a load of an object to be detected is input; and sensors that are provided on the disk portion so as to be point-symmetric about the through hole, and that detect a strain corresponding to the load input to the load input portion. |
| US09383267B2 |
Wireless sensor for rotating elements
A system for measuring a physical characteristic of a bearing includes a permanent magnet and a magnetic sensor. The permanent magnetic is coupled to at least a portion of a bearing, and has a magnetic field that changes as a function of the physical characteristic. For example, the permanent magnet has a magnetic characteristic that changes as a function of temperature. The magnetic sensor is operably disposed in a magnetic field sensing relationship with the permanent magnet, and is configured to generate a voltage signal and/or current signal corresponding to a sensed magnetic field. |
| US09383264B2 |
Small area high performance cell-based thermal diode
A thermal sensing system includes a circuit having a layout including standard cells arranged in rows and columns. First and second current sources provide first and second currents, respectively. The thermal sensing system includes thermal sensing units, first and second switching modules, and an analog to digital converter (ADC). Each thermal sensing unit is configured to provide a voltage drop dependent on a temperature at that thermal sensing unit. The first switching module is configured to select one of the thermal sensing units. The second switching module includes at least one switch controllable by a control signal. The at least one switch is configured to selectively couple the thermal sensing units, based on the control signal, to one of the first and second current sources, via the first switching module. The ADC is configured to convert an analog voltage, provided by the selected thermal sensing unit, to a digital value. |
| US09383262B2 |
Imaging inspection device
In a method for recording a thermographic inspection image (14) with, for example, an imaging inspection device (20), in particular a thermal imaging camera and/or a UV camera, a pyrometer and/or an imaging gas-leak detection system, it is provided that a feature or a marker (12) is identified with a feature recognition unit, and/or the perspective distortion of a recorded image (10, 14) is calculated, and that metadata (17, 18, 19) associated with the identified feature and/or marker (12) is output with the inspection image (14), and/or the inspection image (14) corrected for the perspective distortion is output in a standard perspective or in a standard representation. |
| US09383259B2 |
Method, apparatus and computer program product for sensing of visible spectrum and near infrared spectrum
In accordance with an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method comprises filtering incident light by an IR cut-off filter to generate filtered light. The IR cut-off filter comprises a plurality of pixels with pass-band characteristics for visible light wavelengths and is configured to perform stop-band attenuation of near infrared (NIR) wavelengths. The stop-band attenuation is configured to vary based on spatial location of pixels within the IR cut-off filter. The filtered light received from the IR cut-off filter is sensed by the image sensor to generate sensed light. A baseband signal and a modulated NIR signal are determined by performing transformation of the sensed light. A NIR spectrum associated with the incident light is determined by demodulating the modulated NIR signal. A visible spectrum associated with the incident light is determined based on the NIR spectrum and the baseband signal. |
| US09383256B2 |
UV dosimetry system with sensor data correction
A UV exposure dosimetry system includes at least one UV sensor that accurately measures the UV irradiance intensity. The system can generate extrapolated UV intensity data based on measured UV intensity data to correct unreliable UV measurement due to inconsistent irradiation of UV light. The UV dosimetry system integrates the extrapolated UV intensity data over time to calculate the real-time UV dosage and the vitamin D production by taking into account factors comprising UV sensor location, body surface area, clothing coverage, and sunscreen usage. Based on the measurement, the system can predict the time remaining to skin burn and the time remaining to reach daily goal of vitamin D production. The UV dosimetry system supports multi-user control through an advanced and user friendly input and output interface. |
| US09383251B2 |
Hospital bed having weigh scale system
A hospital bed includes a force sensor or scale apparatus configured to detect the weight of a patient. |
| US09383250B2 |
Automatic weight offset calculation for bed scale systems
A patient support apparatus includes load cells and a controller operable to automatically update a weight offset for use in determining a true patient weight. The controller is configured to receive signals produced by the load cells, determine whether a patient is being supported by a patient support surface of the patient support apparatus, detect movement on the patient support surface, determine a weight of the patient being supported on the patient support surface, determine whether a patient is no longer being supported by the patient support surface, and update a weight offset. |
| US09383248B1 |
Ball float alarm
A ball float alarm emits a signal when a liquid rises above a predetermined level inside a sump. The alarm is activated by conditions related to the rising and falling of the liquid in the cavity. The alarm emits a signal when the liquid rises above the predetermined level, and then powers off when the liquid falls beneath the predetermined level. A buoyant sphere is supported by a cable from above the cavity. The alarm floats on the liquid when the liquid level is above a predetermined level. When the sphere floats, the cable is lax. The lax cable causes a magnet and an alarm contact inside the alarm to pivotally join, and thus actuate an alarm signal. When the liquid falls below the predetermined level in the cavity, the cable becomes lax, causing the alarm contact to pivot distally from the magnet, which shuts off the alarm. |
| US09383244B2 |
Fluid level sensor systems and methods
Fluid level sensor systems and methods can include an inverted cup with a sealed top and an open bottom, the inverted cup defining an inner air space. An inner pressure tube can extend from the inner air space and through the sealed top. A contact sensor can be positioned near the sealed top, the contact sensor including a pair of contacts. A pair of conductors can extend from the contact sensor, one conductor extending from each one of the pair of contacts. |
| US09383243B1 |
Material level sensor
A flowable material level sensor for use in a material containment structure which closes or activates a switch when the flowable material in the containment structure reaches a predetermined level. The sensor includes an elongated rod or wand which extends downwardly from a sensor housing positioned in the containment structure. The sensor includes an actuator assembly which converts angular or lateral movement of the rod into upward longitudinal movement of an actuator element therein which closes the switch when the level of material in the containment structure has reached the predetermined level. The closure of the switch is communicated to a monitoring station remote from the containment structure. |
| US09383242B2 |
Fluid characteristic determination of a multi-component fluid with compressible and incompressible components
A method for determining fluid characteristics of a multicomponent fluid is provided. The method includes a step of measuring a first density, ρ1, of a multicomponent fluid comprising one or more incompressible components and one or more compressible components at a first density state. The method further includes a step of adjusting the multicomponent fluid from the first density state to a second density state. A second density, ρ2, of the multicomponent fluid is then measured at the second density state and one or more fluid characteristics of at least one of the compressible components or the incompressible components are determined. |
| US09383235B2 |
Fluid flow meter
Systems and methods for determining a flow rate or volume of fluid. The system includes a positive displacement meter including a plurality of non-contact sensors and gears configured to rotate in response to fluid flow through the meter. The gears may include detectable areas that may be sensed by the plurality of non-contact sensors to determine a rotational direction of the gears. The plurality of non-contact sensors may also be configured to generate respective detection signals indicative of a rotation state of the gears. The controller may be configured to receive the detection signals, determine a current rotation state, and increment a rotational count based on the changes in the current rotation state. The controller may use the rotational count to determine a flow rate or volume of fluid. |
| US09383233B2 |
Sensor device and method for producing a sensor device
A sensor device is provided, which has an energy storage cell and at least one carrier substrate for at least one detector. The sensor device is characterized in that the at least one carrier substrate has at least one contact section for producing an electrically conductive and mechanical contact to the energy storage cell. |
| US09383231B2 |
Photoelectric encoder having an interference pattern signal processing unit detects the pseudo-random data of the absolute pattern of an absolute scale
A photoelectric encoder includes an absolute scale provided with an absolute pattern based on pseudo-random data, and a detection head including a light source that emits light to the absolute pattern of the absolute scale, and a light receiving unit that receives light from the absolute pattern, and it detects an absolute position of the detection head with respect to the absolute scale. In the photoelectric encoder, the absolute pattern is composed of a grating part and a dark part arranged in a repetitive manner. The photoelectric encoder further includes an interference pattern generation means that generates an interference pattern in combination with the grating part, and an interference pattern signal processing unit that detects the pseudo-random data of the absolute pattern based on the interference pattern received by the light receiving unit. |
| US09383227B2 |
Through bias pole for IGMR speed sensing
One embodiment relates to a sensing system that includes a magnetic encoder wheel having alternating pole magnetic domains along a circumference thereof. The magnetic encoder wheel is configured to rotate about a first axis. The sensing system further includes a magnetic field sensing element in spatial relationship with the magnetic encoder wheel that is oriented to sense magnetic field components extending generally in a direction parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The sensing system also includes a magnetic flux influencing element configured to influence magnetic field components associated with the alternating pole magnetic domains of the magnetic encoder to reduce magnetic field components associated with the first axis. |
| US09383225B2 |
Apparatus and method for reading gauges and other visual indicators in a process control system or other data collection system
A portable apparatus includes a camera configured to capture images of multiple visual indicators. Each visual indicator, such as a gauge or meter, includes a display configured to present a reading. The portable apparatus also includes a recording device configured to store and/or transmit information associated with the captured images of the visual indicators. The camera and/or the recording device could be configured to identify, using the images, the readings presented on the displays of the visual indicators, and the information associated with the captured images could include the readings. Also, the camera could be configured to be mounted on each visual indicator in order to capture one or more images of the visual indicator's display and to be removed from the visual indicator after the one or more images are captured. |
| US09383218B2 |
Augmented reality financial institution branch locator
An augmented reality financial institution “FI”) branch locator uses the display screen of a mobile computing device (“MCD”) to show a customer that customer's real-world view of physical reality through the camera of the MCD on the MCD display screen (“camera image”), locations of FI branches for that customer's FI overlaid onto the camera image of the customer's physical location, locations of FI branches for competing FI's overlaid onto the same camera image, distances to the various FI branches overlaid onto the camera image, and directions to FI branches overlaid onto the camera image (together “augmented reality”) so that the user can navigate from the user's current location to a desired FI branch through the augmented reality image. |
| US09383216B2 |
Providing online mapping with user selected preferences
One embodiment of the invention comprises a method including the step of responsive to receiving a map request from a user that pertains to a specified geographical feature, generating a first view that shows the geographical feature. The method further includes specifying each of one or more preference categories of the user, wherein a user preference is needed for each category, in order to show an additional feature corresponding to each user preference on a map view which includes the geographical feature. The method further includes determining the user preference for each category, wherein at least one of the user preferences is determined from information obtained by accessing an online social network in which the user participates. Each determined user preference is used with one or more search engines in order to acquire information for use in generating each of the additional features for a map view. |
| US09383214B2 |
Navigation system with device recognition mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: accessing a device identification for identifying a device; generating a maneuver-relative status corresponding to the device identification with a control unit for representing the device associated with maneuvering a vehicle; and generating a device function profile corresponding to the device identification based on the maneuver-relative status for controlling the device or the vehicle. |
| US09383211B2 |
Navigation system and method for displaying map on navigation system
A method for displaying a map performed by a navigation system, the method comprising: defining a matching area of a numerical map to which a photomap is matched; extracting the photomap corresponding to the matching area from a map data storage; matching a reference point of the photomap and a reference point of the numerical map; matching a scale of the photomap in line with a scale of the numerical map; and performing a boundary treatment at an overlap area of the numerical map and the photomap that are matched. |
| US09383209B2 |
Undocking and re-docking mobile device inertial measurement unit from vehicle
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the relative attitude between an inertial measurement unit (IMU), present on a mobile device, and the frame of reference of the vehicle carrying mobile device is estimated. The estimated relative attitude is used to translate the IMU measurement to the vehicle frame of reference to determine the velocity and position of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle position and velocity are determined accurately in the event of undocking and re-docking of the mobile device from a docking system in the vehicle. The relative attitude is estimated in terms of pitch, roll, and yaw angles. |
| US09383204B2 |
Surveying system
A controller (26) of a surveying instrument including a GPS receiver (28) and a transmitter and receiver section (24) for communicating with a prism device including a GPS receiver (58), an atmospheric pressure sensor (60), a temperature sensor (32), and a transmitter and receiver section (54) for communicating with the surveying instrument calculates an azimuth angle of the prism device when viewed from the surveying instrument and a distance therebetween from positions of the prism device and surveying instrument obtained from the GPS receivers, further calculates an elevation angle of the prism device when viewed from the surveying instrument from the distance and atmospheric pressures at the positions of the prism device and surveying instrument, and issues a rotation command to a horizontal drive section (16) and a vertical drive section (18), so that a collimating telescope can be immediately and automatically directed toward a reflecting prism for measurement. |
| US09383203B2 |
Geolocation using high order statistics
A specific emitter identification (SEI) method and apparatus is capable of identifying and tracking objects within a geographical area of interest wherein the system and method has not been preprogrammed to look for particular signals. The system and method receives all of the emitted electromagnetic signals emitted from area of interest. The system and method next performs high order statistical analysis on the received signals and determines which signals emanate from possible targets of interest and which likely emanate from background clutter/noise by comparing the relative degrees of Gaussianness of the signals (for example using entropy measurements). The least Gaussian signals are deemed to likely be signals from potential targets of interest while those which are more Gaussian are deemed to be likely from background clutter or noise. |
| US09383199B2 |
Imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus disclosed in the present application includes a lens optical system, an imaging element and an optical array element. The lens optical system includes first and second areas having different optical characteristics with each other. The imaging element includes first and second pixels each including a filter of a first spectral transmittance characteristic, third pixels including a filter of a second spectral transmittance characteristic, and fourth pixels including a filter of a third spectral transmittance characteristic. The optical array element causes the light passing through the first area to be incident on the first pixels and one of the third and fourth pixels and causes the light passing through the second area to be incident on the second pixels and the other of third and fourth pixels. |
| US09383192B2 |
Method for estimating the amount of an unconsumed part of a consumable using image of a roll
A method of estimating an amount of an unconsumed part of a recording material wrapped on a core of a roll is implemented as an application program for an electronic device having a camera. A storage device stores reference data about the roll and the recording material in an unconsumed state. The method includes taking a picture of the recording material and the core with a camera, deriving from the picture characteristics of a first and second number of pixels representing the core and the unconsumed part of the recording material, respectively, requesting from a user an identification of the roll and the recording material, receiving the identification, matching the identification with the reference data, and calculating the amount of the unconsumed part of the recording material by means of the matched reference data and the characteristics of the first and second numbers of pixels. |
| US09383185B2 |
Sensor apparatus
A sensor apparatus for detecting a position of an axially movable camshaft is provided. The sensor apparatus includes a coil block including a detection coil wound along an axial direction of the camshaft to define a bore into which the camshaft is inserted, and a control unit electrically connected to the detection coil and designed to output a signal based on a change in inductance of the detection coil. |
| US09383184B2 |
Inductive position-measuring device
An inductive position-measuring device includes a scanning element and a graduation element that are movable relative to each other in a first direction. The scanning element includes exciter conductors and three receiver tracks. The first and the second receiver track are disposed at a distance relative to each other, and the third receiver track is located between the first and the second receiver track. The graduation element includes two graduation tracks which are disposed at a distance relative to each other, and which have different graduation periods. Furthermore, electromagnetic fields generated by the exciter conductors are able to be modulated by the graduation tracks, so that a relative position in the first direction is detectable by the first and the second receiver track, while a relative position in a second direction, which is oriented orthogonally with respect to the first direction, is detectable by the third receiver track. |
| US09383179B1 |
Firearm magazine storage rack with adjustable partitions
A firearm magazine storage rack for holding firearm magazines is provided. The rack includes a frame having opposing spaced apart side elements, each side element having a top edge, a bottom edge, a front edge and a back edge, and at least one cross piece extending between and coupling the side elements in a parallel spaced apart orientation. A shelf element extends between the side elements intermediate the bottom edges and the top edges thereof. A partition support extends between the side elements intermediate the shelf element and the top edge of the side elements, and a plurality of partition elements are adjustably received by the partition support hanging vertically and extending perpendicularly outwardly therefrom. |
| US09383169B2 |
Compound bow mount
A bow mount for a bow. A mount bracket is rigidly attached to a mount attachment side. A lateral adjustment piece is slidingly attached to the mount bracket. A position locking mechanism rigidly holds the lateral adjustment piece in a desired position. A device attachment rail is connected to the lateral adjustment piece. A device is connected to the device attachment rail. The device attachment rail does not extend beyond the planar surface of the bow's line of sight side. This allows for the archer to have a line of sight unobstructed by the bow mount. In a preferred embodiment the bow is a compound bow, the device attachment rail is a Picatanny rail and the attached device is a red dot sight. |
| US09383167B1 |
Powered sight mount
A sight mount for use with an electrically powered sight is provided. The sight mount includes a lower portion connectably securable to a mounting surface, an upper portion supportive of the sight and comprising electrodes connectable with sight circuitry and a central portion integrally interposed between the lower and upper portions. The central portion includes a body formed to define a cavity securably receptive of a power supply such that the power supply couples with the electrodes to power the sight. |
| US09383164B2 |
Modular upper receiver and firearm with modular upper receiver
A modular rail system for an upper receiver of a firearm is provided, the modular rail system having: a bottom portion configured to be removably secured to the upper receiver, wherein the bottom portion has an integrally formed bottom rail and a forward portion located forward of a top rail of the upper receiver; an upper rail extension configured to be removably secured to the forward portion of the bottom portion; and a release mechanism for releasably securing the upper portion to the forward portion of the bottom portion. |
| US09383156B2 |
Quick release barrel attaching and detaching mechanism
A weapon system is provided. The weapon system includes a receiver and an operating group. The operating group includes a barrel extension at least partially housed within the receiver and arranged to axially translate relative to the receiver; an operating rod (op-rod) assembly arranged to axially translate within the barrel extension; and a bolt assembly arranged to axially translate within the barrel extension. The system further includes a gas accelerator coupled to the barrel and the op-rod assembly; a buffer assembly including a self-centering spring and a hydraulic piston assembly having a first end coupled to the receiver and a second end coupled to the barrel extension; and a feeder coupled to the receiver and configured to provide the round to the operating group. |
| US09383153B2 |
Fire control system for firearms
A striker-fired firearm in one embodiment includes a trigger assembly including a trigger and trigger bar supported by a frame, a rotatable sear operable to hold a spring-biased striker in a cocked ready-to-fire position, and a rotatable sear blocker operable to prevent rotation of the sear. The trigger bar is operably linked to the sear and blocker such that pulling the trigger rotates the sear and blocker. When the blocker is in a blocking position, the blocker engages and prevents movement of the sear and release of the striker in the absence of a trigger pull. When the blocker is in a non-blocking position effectuated by pulling the trigger, the blocker disengages the sear which rotates and releases the striker to fire the firearm. |
| US09383150B2 |
Charge feeding apparatus
Provided is a charge feeding apparatus including: a plurality of containers storing a plurality of charges; a chain link configured to connect the containers extending in a first direction and arranged in parallel to one another and configured to rotatably change positions of the containers; a chain driver configured to transmit a rotational force to the chain link to transfer a container of the containers to a discharge position; a rod configured to transfer at least one charge of the charges in the first direction of the container to discharge the at least one charge from the container located at the discharge position; a loading container configured to store the at least one charge discharged from the container located at the discharge position and comprising an opening which exposes the charge; and an extractor configured to extract the charge from the loading container via the opening. |
| US09383149B2 |
Gas-operated firearm with pressure compensating gas piston
A gas operating system for a firearm renders the firearm capable of firing a wide range of shot loads by passively or automatically compensating for different shot loads. The firearm includes a plurality of ports formed in the firearm barrel, and corresponding ports formed in a gas block of the gas operating system. The ports tap gases generated during firing which are used to cycle the firearm. When firing different cartridge loads, differing combinations of the ports are selectively at least partially blocked or otherwise obstructed by the cartridge casing according to the size of the cartridge. Additionally, the gas operating system includes compensating gas pistons with internal relief valves that can bleed off excess gas to compensate for larger shot loads regardless of the size of the cartridge. |
| US09383146B2 |
Heat dissipation device having lateral-spreading heat dissipating and shunting heat conductive structure
A heat dissipation device having lateral-spreading heat dissipating and shunting heat conductive structure, in which the central area of heat conductive interface of the heat dissipation device where a heat generating unit being disposed is installed with a close-loop shunting heat conductive structure, so the heat at the central area of the heat generating unit can be conducted to a distal heat dissipating segment for being dissipated to the exterior, thereby through working with the heat dissipation operation of the heat dissipation structure at the periphery of the heat generating unit and led to the distal heat dissipating segment, the temperature distribution at the central area and the peripheral area of the heat generating unit can be more even. |
| US09383145B2 |
System and method of boiling heat transfer using self-induced coolant transport and impingements
According to one embodiment of the invention, a cooling system for a heat-generating structure comprises a chamber and structure disposed within the chamber. The chamber has an inlet and an outlet. The inlet receives fluid coolant into the chamber substantially in the form of a liquid. The outlet dispenses the fluid coolant out of the chamber at least partially in the form of a vapor. The structure disposed within the chamber receive thermal energy from the heat generating structure and transfers at least a portion of the thermal energy to the fluid coolant. The thermal energy from the heat-generating structure causes at least a portion of the fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to boil and effuse vapor upon contact with a portion of the structure. The effusion of vapor creates a self-induced flow in the chamber. The self-induced flow distributes non-vaporized fluid coolant substantially in the form of a liquid to other portions of the structure. |
| US09383139B2 |
Sulfur melting system and method
A system and a method are provided for melting solid sulfur and maintaining the resulting molten sulfur in liquid state. The system and the method may be fabricated, installed and operated at low capital costs, with high throughput rates at high operating efficiencies and low maintenance costs. Specific embodiments of the invention include modular and non-modular designs, which may be installed and operated with low to high degrees of automation, allowing the user to tailor the final configuration to meet specific requirements. The system of the invention comprises a specific configuration of a prescribed solid sulfur feed unit, a prescribed high-capacity melting unit, a compartmentalized pump tank assembly, and a heat exchanger located outside the high-capacity melting unit. The method provided follows the configuration of the system. |
| US09383138B2 |
Methods and heat treatment apparatus for uniformly heating a substrate during a bake process
Methods and heat treatment apparatus for heating a substrate and any layer carried on the substrate during a bake process. A heat exchange gap between the substrate and a heated support is at least partially filled by a gas having a high thermal conductivity. The high thermal conductivity gas is introduced into the heat exchange gap by displacing a lower thermal conductivity originally present in the heat exchange gap when the substrate is loaded. Heat transfer across the heat exchange gap is mediated by the high thermal conductivity gas. |
| US09383136B2 |
Substrate dry device and method for drying substrate based on substrate dry device
The present invention provides a substrate dry device and a method for drying the substrate, the substrate dry device comprises a cavity, dry bars and a sensor disposed on the top of the cavity, liquid immerging the substrate is accommodated within the cavity, with the dry bars comprising a first dry bar and a second dry bar arranged parallel to each other, with a gap is formed therebetween and with the sensor disposed on one end or on two ends of the gap for monitoring a position in which the substrate is moved away from the liquid. By use of the above arrangement, the gas is ejected through the dry bars to the surface of the substrate which has moved away from the liquid, the tension of the surface of the liquid film on the substrate is changed by marangori effect under the action of the gas and the surface tension gradient of the liquid film makes the liquid film shrink so that the surface of the substrate becomes dry. |
| US09383134B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for a dispensing system of a refrigerated appliance
An apparatus, method and system for sensing parameters related to water and/or ice being dispensed from a dispensing station of a refrigerated appliance is disclosed. The dispensing system includes a sensing system positionable at the dispensing station at the point of dispension for liquid and/or ice to sense a parameter related to dispensed water and/or ice and produce a sensing signal. |
| US09383127B2 |
Temperature regulation system with active jetting type refrigerant supply and regulation
This invention is characterized by an air conditioning system that jets actively a refrigerant into an evaporator in an active jetting manner so as to enhance the diffusibility and uniformity thereof. |
| US09383125B2 |
Magnetic material for magnetic refrigeration
Magnetic materials, having: a composition represented by a general formula: (R1−yXy)x(Fe1−aMa)100−x where, R is at least one of element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Y, X is at least one of element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr and Hf, M is at least one of element selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Mo, Ta, W, Al, Si, Ga and Ge, x is a value satisfying 4≦x≦20 atomic %, y is a value satisfying 0.01≦y≦0.9, and a is a value satisfying 0≦a≦0.2, wherein the magnetic material includes a Th2Ni17 crystal phase or a TbCu7 crystal phase as a main phase, that are useful for magnetic refrigeration. |
| US09383121B2 |
Device for concentrating solar radiation
A device (1) for concentrating solar radiation, having a concentrator means (2) suitable for concentrating solar radiation onto a concentration zone, and a receiver (3) for receiving solar radiation. The receiver (3) is connected to at least one element (4) suitable for deforming under the action of temperature, and referred to as a “thermo-deformable element”, each thermo-deformable element (4), when the radiation coming from the concentrator means (2) is concentrated onto a concentration zone situated on said thermo-deformable element (4), being suitable for changing shape in such manner as to cause the concentration zone to move towards the receiver (3) or as to cause the receiver (3) to move towards the concentration zone, so that the device (1) makes it possible, for a given position of the sun, and under the action of the solar radiation, to move the concentration zone from an initial position situated on a thermo-deformable element (4) to a final equilibrium position situated on the receiver (3). |
| US09383120B1 |
Solar thermal concentrator apparatus, system, and method
An apparatus is disclosed including: a trough shaped reflector extending along a longitudinal axis and including at least one reflective surface having a shape which substantially corresponds to an edge ray involute of the absorber. |
| US09383119B2 |
Heater
The heater includes a heater main body, a housing storing the heater main body therein, and a coating material arranged in at least a part between the heater main body and the housing and covering at least a part of the heater main body. The coating material is a material containing at least one of ceramic and glass, the heater main body has a cylindrical honeycomb structural portion having partition walls separating and forming a plurality of cells and a pair of electrode portions disposed on a side face of the honeycomb structural portion, the housing contains the heater main body so as to cover the side face side of the heater main body, and the partition walls of the honeycomb structural portion is of a material containing ceramic as the main component and produces heat by energization. |
| US09383105B2 |
Compressed air energy storage system having variable generation modes
A method of operating a compressed air energy storage (CAES) system includes operating a compressor train of the CAES system, thereby compressing air. The method further includes, while operating the compressor train: inter-cooling a first portion of the compressed air; further compressing the inter-cooled first portion; after-cooling the further compressed first portion; supplying the after-cooled first portion to a storage vessel; supplying a second portion of the compressed air to a combustor; combusting the second portion; and operating a turbine train of the CAES system using the combusted second portion. |
| US09383103B2 |
Gas lighting device for an electric household appliance, in particular a cooking range, having a quick connection system to the electrodes
An electronic gas lighting device including: a cup-shaped casing, formed by an electrically insulating material; a plurality of high-voltage outputs carried by the casing and each including a chimney-like housing carried by the casing and also formed by an electrically insulating material and a first electric contact carried by the chimney-like housing and arranged therein; and a frame element integrally and protrudingly carrying, on a first face thereof intended in use to face towards the casing, a plurality of second contacts, in number equal to the high-voltage outputs present on the casing and adapted to couple with the first contacts within said chimney-like housings, and provided on a second face thereof, opposite to the first, with a plurality of electric wires each connecting a second contact with a spark generating electrode fastenable to a cooking range; snapping fastening means to the casing being peripherally arranged on the outside of the frame element, along at least one side of the same. |
| US09383097B2 |
Systems and method for cooling a staged airblast fuel injector
The present invention is directed to a staged fuel injector that includes, inter alia, a main fuel circuit for delivering fuel to a main fuel atomizer and a pilot fuel circuit for delivering fuel to a pilot fuel atomizer which is located radially inward of the main fuel atomizer. The main fuel atomizer includes a radially outer prefilmer and a radially inner fuel swirler. Portions of the main fuel circuit are formed in the prefilmer and portions of the pilot fuel circuit are formed in the prefilmer and the fuel swirler and are positioned proximate to and in thermal contact with fuel exit ports associated with the main fuel circuit and formed in the prefilmer. As a result, the pilot fuel circuit cools the stagnant fuel located in main fuel circuit, including the exit ports, even when performing at engine power levels of up to 60% of the maximum take-off thrust. |
| US09383090B2 |
Floodlights with multi-path cooling
A floodlight can include a light source housing assembly, a power source housing assembly, and an intermediate housing assembly mechanically coupled to the light source housing assembly and the power source housing assembly. The light source housing assembly can include a first heat sink having a front side and a back side, where the back side includes a number of protrusions extending from a first remainder of the back side, and at least one light source mounted to the front side of the first heat sink. The power source housing assembly can include a second heat sink having a front side and a back side, and at least one power source assembly mounted to the back side of the second heat sink and electrically coupled to the at least one light source. The intermediate housing assembly can include a front side and a back side. |
| US09383089B2 |
Heat radiation device for a lighting device
The present invention relates to a heat radiation device of lighting device. The heat radiation device of lighting device comprises passive heat radiator and mounting assembly, the passive heat radiator includes: a heat radiating base plate; a slablike upstanding plate, the slablike upstanding plate is a solid plate of metal material; a heat absorbing ending face disposed at one side of the heat radiating base plate deviated from the upstanding plate, and adapted to mount luminous chip of the lighting device; heat radiating fins connected to a surface of the slablike upstanding plate, the heat radiating fins are of hollow cubic tubular structure; the heat radiating base plate of the passive heat radiator is connected with the mounting assembly. The present invention adopts upstanding plate which substantially perpendicular with the horizontal plane and heat radiating fins of hollow cubic tubular structure, improves heat radiating effect. |
| US09383088B2 |
Solid state lighting device having a packaged heat spreader
A lighting device is disclosed comprising a plurality of light emitters and a heat spreader plate thermally coupled to the plurality of light emitters, wherein the plurality of solid state emitters provides a thermal load upon application of an operating current and voltage, the heat spreader plate dissipating substantially all of the thermal load to an ambient air environment. |
| US09383087B2 |
Adjustable recessed light fixture
Provided is an adjustable recessed light fixture that can be used with a variety and a plurality of reflectors and heat sinks. This adjustable light fixture allows a user to buy a single type of fixture and adjust the fixture as needed based on the number and type of reflectors and/or heat sinks that are used. |
| US09383086B2 |
Planar lighting device and mounting substrate including conduction pattern with extension parts
A planar lighting device comprises: a mounting substrate having a conduction pattern having an extension part formed on a base material, and a cover member is arranged on the conduction pattern, wherein the cover member has an opening that exposes together the two lands of the two adjacent light sources, and wherein the extension parts comprise: a first extension part formed to extend from a first end portion of the lands toward the light guide plate and to extend under the cover member; a second extension part formed to extend from a second end portion, toward the light guide plate and the other land of the pair of the lands and to extend under the cover member; and a third extension part formed to extend from the first end portion, toward an opposite side to the light guide plate and to extend under the cover member. |
| US09383078B2 |
Illumination lens
Light sources include light-emitting surfaces only on a condenser lens side to emit illumination light. The condenser lens and the refraction optical member are formed integrally. |
| US09383072B2 |
Compact portable lighting device
A compact, portable lighting device which has a support component and a plurality of lighting components. The support component has a plurality of lighting component receivers. Each of the receivers has a back and a front, and a plurality of contacting positions to simultaneously contact and hold a lighting component. Each of the receivers has a focal point of the plurality of contact positions that is a straight central axis. The lighting components are separate components from the support component and separate components from one another. Each of the lighting components has an elongated section with a straight central axis and a front end with illumination elements. And, each of the lighting components is positioned within one or more of the receivers with its central axis being coincidental with the central axis of the one or more of the receivers. |
| US09383069B2 |
Optimized printed circuit board
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board (100, 200) comprising several finger portions (102, 103, 104) projecting from a base portion (101), wherein each linger portion is provided with a plurality of light emitting elements (106). By means of the invention it is possible to optimize the physical size of the printed circuit board (100, 200) such that a resulting LED module requires less printed circuit board area per thereon arranged LED, thereby decreasing the cost of the overall LED module. |
| US09383065B1 |
Underwater cryogenic storage vessel and method of using the same
Technologies are described herein for storing fluid in an underwater cryogenic storage vessel designed for use in a fuel system of an underwater vehicle. According to one aspect of the disclosure, a storage vessel includes at least two concentrically arranged storage tanks, which includes a first storage tank and a second storage tank. The first storage tank surrounds the second storage tank, such that the first storage tank is configured to protect the second storage tank from external environmental conditions. The storage vessel also includes a storage compartment positioned adjacent to the two storage tanks. In one embodiment, the storage vessel may be an underwater cryogenic storage vessel that stores liquid oxygen used as a reactant in a fuel cell and liquid carbon dioxide, which is an effluent of the fuel cell. |
| US09383061B2 |
Machine tool and drive regulation device for said machine tool
A drive regulation device for a machine tool that stops driving of a motor when a door (18) provided for a cover (17) for covering a driven body driven by the motor becomes to be in an open state includes a detection unit (21) detecting an open/closed state of the door (18) provided for the cover (17) for covering the driven body driven by the motor, an excitation operation unit (22) switching the motor between an excitation state and a non-excitation state, a speed regulation unit (23) stopping the motor, when the motor that has been stopped is rotated faster than a predetermined allowable rotation speed, and a speed-regulation switch unit (24) controlling the speed regulation unit (23), in a case where the detection unit (21) detects that the door (18) is in the open state, such that the speed regulation unit (23) works when the motor is in the excitation state, and the speed regulation unit (23) does not work when the motor is in the non-excitation state. |
| US09383060B2 |
Security wall rack and television mount combination
A security wall rack and television mount combination is described to deter or prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to the back of a television or the wall mount that supports the television and to deter or prevent theft of a television. The wall mount includes security covers that are rotatably attached to the frame that cover the location where screws will secure the frame to a wall or other surface. The mount is rotatably attached to the frame and provides for the system to be locked in place in a nested way. |
| US09383055B2 |
In-pipe traveling apparatus and traveling module
An object of the invention is to provide an in-pipe traveling apparatus and a traveling module is provided, having a simple structure but capable of operating with a short overall traveling path and setting a large drive force for forward and backward traveling operation. The In one embodiment, the in-pipe traveling apparatus includes at least three traveling modules capable of passing through a pipe. Each of the traveling modules includes a traveling module body, a pair of traveling wheels provided in the traveling module body on one side thereof in a traveling direction, a drive member that drives the pair of traveling wheels in such a way that the traveling wheels rotate, a connection member that connects the traveling module to another traveling module in a bendable manner in a pitching direction, and a swing member that causes the adjacent traveling module to swing in a yawing direction. |
| US09383053B2 |
Suction nozzle cover and electronic cigarette
A suction nozzle cover and an electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette includes a tube and a suction nozzle cover. The suction nozzle cover includes a cap and a cover body which extends along a lower surface of the cap. An annular platform is formed by the cap with respect to a periphery of the cover body. A lateral wall of the annular platform is at least provided with one first suction outlet, a lateral wall of the cover body is at least provided with one first groove, and the first groove and the suction outlet are connected to each other to form a channel for smoke extraction. |
| US09383048B2 |
Ferrule with internal recess and cylindrical wall
High localized loading, galling, and high torque forces have been generally eliminated or greatly reduced in a two ferrule tube fitting assembly through suitable modification of the rear ferrule so as to redirect the reaction forces acting between the front ferrule and the drive nut. The rear ferrule has a cylindrical interior wall that closely surrounds the tube end and is provided on the interior cylindrical wall with a circumferentially continuous radial recess that is located between the nose and rear wall of the rear ferrule. The rear ferrule also has a radially external wall that is substantially conical and additionally shaped to extend radially outward toward the enlarged diameter portion or flange of the rear ferrule. |
| US09383047B2 |
Locking device
A locking device fix a threaded pressure fitting having clamp members, and a clamping load is applied to the clamp members to clamp the clamp members to one another. Each clamp member has a first insert and a second insert held captive thereto, and each insert has a bearing face adapted to cooperate with and bear against part of the pressure fitting, in use, at least the first insert associated with each of the clamp members is angularly moveable relative thereto to permit the bearing face of each first insert to be orientated differently to the bearing face of the associated second insert. |
| US09383042B2 |
Tank and spout interface for heat exchanger and its manufacturing
A tank and spout interface of a radiator of a motor vehicle having a tank part having an inner surface, an outer surface, a connecting part, a bottom portion, a first end, a second end, a first outer margin, and a second outer margin. The tank and spout interface has a connection sleeve disposed on the tank part and extending outwardly from the tank part having an inner surface integrally formed with the inner surface of the first outer margin of the tank part and an outer surface integrally formed with the outer surface of the tank part. A first entry riser and a second entry riser are disposed on opposing sides of the inner surface of the connection sleeve and a first internal riser and a second internal riser are disposed on the first outer margin of the tank part. |
| US09383037B2 |
Device for closing an opening in a chamber wall
Device for closing an opening in a chamber wall of a low-pressure or vacuum chamber, having at least one movably mounted closure element, a main body with a through-opening and a seat, which surrounds the through-opening, the through-opening is congruent with the opening in the chamber wall, and the device has at least one open position of the closure element, in which the through-opening is exposed by the closure element, and at least one closed position, in which the through-opening is completely closed using the closure element. At least one elastic seal with an inflatable chamber is sealingly arranged in the closed position between the closure element and the seat and the elastic seal has in addition to the inflatable chamber a safety chamber for receiving fluid from the inflatable chamber in the event of a leak in the inflatable chamber. |
| US09383036B2 |
Bonded slit valve door seal with thin non-metallic film gap control bumper
The present invention provides a thin film spacer for maintaining a gap between a slit valve door and a sealing surface of a slit valve, such as a metallic insert. The film spacer can extend the life of a seal by limiting the line of sight exposure of the seal to corrosive gases within a wafer processing chamber, for example, and by controlling the compression percentage of the seal. The spacer may be located on an outer ambient side of the slit valve away from any corrosive gasses that may exist in the chamber. |
| US09383035B2 |
Flow control valve
In one embodiment, a constant-flow valve assembly is provided that comprises a first fluid passageway carrying fluid at a first fluid pressure, a piston chamber, and a second fluid passageway connected to the chamber and carrying fluid at a second fluid pressure. A third fluid passageway is configured to carry fluid at a third fluid pressure. An adjustable valve member is provided between the chamber and the third passageway to provide constant fluid flow to the third passageway. An adjustable restrictor assembly is positioned between the first and second fluid passageways. An inlet portion of the restrictor assembly receives fluid at the first fluid pressure and directs the fluid to a restrictor. An outlet portion receives fluid from the restrictor and directs the fluid to the second fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure. The restrictor is movable to adjust the position of entry and exit portions relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway, thereby adjusting the flow rate through the valve assembly. |
| US09383025B2 |
Excess flow valve with cage
An assembly for limiting excess flow includes a housing having an internal bore that defines a seat. A cage is positioned within the internal bore and includes an upstream end and a sealing surface at a downstream end. A back plate with at least one magnet is seated within the internal bore upstream of the cage. The cage moves away from the back plate when a predetermined flow condition is exceeded such that the sealing surface engages the seat. |
| US09383019B2 |
Mechanical seal
Provided is a mechanical seal that has an improved accuracy of positioning a plurality of divided bodies that compose a seal ring. A mechanical seal for sealing an annular gap between a rotary shaft and a housing, comprising: a divided-type seal ring that is an annular seal ring composed by combining a plurality of divided bodies; is characterized by comprising metallic bands that fix the plurality of divided bodies by clamping outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of divided bodies. |
| US09383018B2 |
Rotary cartridge seal with internal face-sealing surfaces
A cartridge seal for sealing a space between a housing and a rotatable shaft includes a rotary sealing member having an inner surface defining a bore for receiving the shaft and a circular outer flange extending radially outwardly from and circumferentially about a central axis, the outer flange having a radial sealing surface. A static seal assembly is disposed about the rotary member and includes an annular casing coupleable with the housing and an annular static sealing member disposed within the casing and having a radial sealing surface engageable with the rotary member sealing surface to form a sealing interface. A biasing member axially biases at least a portion of the static sealing member toward the rotary member flange. An annular collar is disposed within the casing and axially retains the rotary member within the casing such that the seal assembly is mountable on a shaft as a single unit. |
| US09383017B2 |
Tapered channel macro/micro feature for mechanical face seals
A mechanical face seal includes a pair of relatively rotatable seal rings having opposing seal faces which define a sealing region therebetween. The sealing region extends radially between the inside and outside diameters of the seal rings to seal a fluid in a sealing chamber near one diameter thereof. The seal faces are provided with tapered channel macro/micro features which generate hydrodynamic lift during relative rotation of the seal rings. The tapered channel macro/micro feature shows significant improvement in seal performance when compared to an untextured face. Low contact and hence low wear are attributed to a more distributed hydrodynamic load support function. Likewise, low leakage is believed to be the result of optimized cavitation function, and no debris was discovered in the micro-features at the conclusion of any testing. |
| US09383015B2 |
Fluid end having spherical cross-bore intersection
A fluid end of a high-pressure pump having a power end bore, a discharge bore, a suction bore, an access bore, and a cross-bore intersection formed in portions of the fluid end is provided. A transitional open area opens into the cross-bore intersection from the power end bore; a transitional open area opens into the cross-bore intersection from the access bore; a transitional open area opens into the cross-bore intersection from the suction bore; and a transitional open area opens into the cross-bore intersection from the discharge bore. A spherical geometry is created in the cross-bore intersection. A spherical surface forms an outer boundary of the cross-bore intersection. |
| US09383013B2 |
Piston with replaceable and/or adjustable surfaces
A piston for a pump includes a hub portion defining opposing outer surfaces and concave lateral portions between the opposing outer surfaces. The piston also includes inserts configured to provide a replaceable surface, the inserts being coupled to each of the opposing outer surfaces. A pump includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and at least two pistons having a hub portion and inserts. The pump may be a positive-displacement, rotary pump, and the pistons may be circumferential pistons. |
| US09383011B2 |
Shift position detecting device
A shift position detecting device that determines a shift position based on a detection logic formed of a combination of turning on or off of a plurality of switches that are fixedly arranged at least one by one at positions corresponding to a plurality of detecting object portion rows mounted on a shift drum. An accurate shift position can be detected even if there is an irregularity in switching timings of switching modes of the plurality of switches. A shift position detecting member establishes the shift position as a new shift position and outputs shift position information, while when the detection logic after the transition is a detection logic other than the detection logic corresponding to the changeable shift position, sets the new shift position not yet established and outputs information corresponding to non-establishment of the shift position. |
| US09383009B2 |
Methodology for controlling a hydraulic control system of a continuously variable transmission
A hydraulic control system for a CVT may include a pressure regulator subsystem, a ratio control subsystem, a torque converter control (TCC) subsystem, a clutch control subsystem, and is enabled for automatic engine start/stop (ESS) functionality. A system and method are provided for performing an engine auto-stop in a vehicle having a CVT transmission and using an accumulator to fill the pulleys and clutches of the CVT, at least in part, during engine restart. |
| US09383007B2 |
Transmission with electronic range selector and pre-emptive power loss control logic
A vehicle includes an engine, a transmission with a shift valve, an alternator, an auxiliary battery, a voltage sensor operable to measure an auxiliary voltage, and an electronic transmission range selection (ETRS) system. The ETRS system includes a controller, and also an electronic range selector device that transmits an electronic range request signal to the controller to request the shift of the transmission to a requested operating range. The controller executes a method to predict a loss of auxiliary power aboard the vehicle, and to control an action of the vehicle in response to the predicted loss of auxiliary power. The electronic range request signal is received from the range selector device and auxiliary voltage. The controller calculates a slope of a decrease in the measured auxiliary voltage. A control action is executed with the alternator is in the charging state and the calculated slope exceeds a calibrated slope threshold. |
| US09383006B2 |
Binary clutch control during a rolling garage shift
A vehicle includes an engine, torque converter, and transmission assembly. The transmission assembly includes gear sets each having a plurality of nodes, an input member, a binary clutch connected to a node of one of the gear sets, friction clutches, and a controller. The controller detects a requested rolling garage shift of the transmission into a forward drive mode above a calibrated threshold absolute speed, and controls an amount of slip across a selected assisting clutch via modulation of pressure commands to the selected assisting clutch once the vehicle has slowed below the first calibrated threshold speed. The controller also stages the binary clutch to a calibrated staging pressure while controlling slip across the selected assisting clutch, and commands an engagement of the binary clutch and a release of the selected assisting clutch when a speed of the binary node reaches zero or a calibrated low non-zero speed. |
| US09383004B2 |
System and method for feed forward control of a hydraulic control system of a transmission
The present disclosure provides a hydraulic system of a transmission having a controller and a variable displacement pump. The pump includes an inlet and outlet and is adapted to be driven by a torque-generating mechanism. The system also includes a lube circuit fluidly coupled to the pump. A lube regulator valve is disposed in the lube circuit, such that the lube regulator valve is configured to move between at least a regulated position and an unregulated position. The regulated position corresponds to a regulated pressure in the lube circuit. A pressure switch is fluidly coupled to the lube regulator valve and configured to move between a first position and a second position, where the switch is disposed in electrical communication with the controller. A solenoid is disposed in electrical communication with the controller and is controllably coupled to the pump to alter the displacement of the pump. |
| US09383003B2 |
Hydraulic control system for a continuously variable transmission
A hydraulic control system for a continuously variable transmission includes a pressure regulator subsystem, a ratio control subsystem, a torque converter control (TCC) subsystem, a variable lubrication control subsystem, a variator clamping subsystem, and a clutch control subsystem. The variable lubrication control subsystem allows for increased and decreased oil flow to components of the variable transmission based on demand. The pressure regulator subsystem provides binary line pressure control to the lubrication subsystem. |
| US09383002B2 |
Operation vehicle travel control device
To provide a travel control device for a working vehicle, including a speed change lever that is applicable even when a transmission in which speed stages are set to be larger by one stage is applied, the travel control device comprises a switching device (41) that switches speed changed by a transmission (3) either manually or automatically, a speed stage selecting device (30b) that selects a speed stage out of a plurality of speed stages of the transmission (3), and a first speed selecting device (40) that changes the speed stage manually down to a first speed separately from the speed stage selecting device (30b), regardless of a switching state of the switching device (41), wherein the speed stage selecting device (30b) selects the speed stages including a second speed or more but excluding the first speed, and a control device (10) is further provided, which controls the transmission (3) based on instructions sent from the switching device (41), the speed stage selecting device (30b), and the first speed selecting device (40). |
| US09382998B1 |
Interplanetary clutch actuator
An assembly for use in a transmission of a motor vehicle includes a planetary gear set that defines an axis of rotation and includes a planetary carrier member, the planetary carrier member having at least one window. A piston is disposed on a first side of the planetary gear set and a clutch pack is disposed on a second side of the planetary gear set opposite the first side. An interplanetary actuator is in contact with the piston and the clutch pack and is slidably disposed in the window of the planetary carrier member. Actuation of the piston in turn translates the interplanetary actuator to engage the clutch pack. |
| US09382997B2 |
Gear set lubrication system and method
A lubricating system and method can be used to meter lubricating fluid to a pinion and pinion bearing mounted to a pinion carrier. A sun gear shaft may include a channel fluidly connected to a lubricating fluid reservoir through a bore in the sun gear shaft. A sleeve may be fluidly sealed on its axial ends over the channel to form a chamber with the channel. The sleeve may include a plurality of through-holes to allow lubricating fluid to flow through a plurality of radial bores extending through the pinion carrier. Lubricating fluid may flow through an annular gap passage in a pinion shaft to provide lubricating fluid to the pinion and the pinion bearing. |
| US09382992B2 |
Control of locking differential
A locking differential includes a dog clutch configured to selectively couple a carrier to an axle shaft in response to magnetic forces generated by electrical current in a coil. A method of operating the differential is adapted to avoid failed engagement attempts that could potentially damage the dog clutch. If a driver commands engagement of the locking feature while a differential speed, a controller waits to command engagement of the dog clutch until the differential speed decreases below a threshold. The controller measures or infers a temperature of the differential fluid and adjusts the threshold to higher values when the temperature is cold. |
| US09382987B2 |
Input clutch assembly for infinitely variable transmission
The present invention provides an infinitely variable transmission for a powered vehicle which includes a power source. The transmission includes an input shaft and an output shaft, the output shaft being spaced from the input shaft. The transmission further includes a variator coupled between the input shaft and output shaft. In addition, at least two planetary gearsets are disposed adjacent to the variator and an input coupler is configured to selectively couple the variator to the power source. |
| US09382983B2 |
Positive infinitely variable transmission (P-IVT)
A transmission comprising a reactor and an activator is disclosed. The reactor is a differential system, used to transmit power between two drive shafts. The disclosed reactor comprises three gearsets comprising non-intersecting and non-parallel gears arranged so that they can be coupled together. The gear ratios and the dimensions of the three gearsets are selected such that the two drive shafts can rotate at any speed ratio. The activator controls the strength and direction of the torques applied to the two drive shafts and enables the transfer of a series of torques through all the gearsets. The strengths and directions of the torques applied on the two drive shafts are controlled through the pressure control unit and the switching valve. |
| US09382980B2 |
Multi stage transmission for vehicle
A multi stage transmission for a vehicle mat include an input shaft and an output shaft, a first planetary gear device, a second planetary gear device, a third planetary gear device, and a fourth planetary gear device provided to transfer a torque between the input shaft and the output shaft and each planetary gear set including three rotating elements and at least six shift elements connected to the rotating elements of the planetary gear devices. |
| US09382978B2 |
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (10) includes in a transmission case (11), an input (an input shaft 12), an output (an output shaft 13), first to fourth planetary gear sets (PG1, PG2, PG3, and PG4) of a single pinion type, first to third clutches (CL1-CL3) engaging and disengaging predetermined rotating elements of the first to fourth planetary gear sets, a first brake (BR1) engaging and disengaging a third ring gear (R3) with and from the transmission case, and a second brake (BR2) engaging and disengaging a first sun gear (S1) and a fourth sun gear (S4) with and from the transmission case. The input, the output, the planetary gear sets, the clutches, and the brakes are arranged coaxially with each other. The first, second, third, and fourth planetary gear sets are arranged in this order from one axial end to the other axial end of the automatic transmission. |
| US09382976B2 |
Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicles
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving a torque of an engine, an output shaft disposed substantially in parallel with the input shaft at a predetermined distance and outputting a changed torque, a first planetary gear set disposed on the input shaft and including a first, second and third rotation elements, a second planetary gear set disposed on the output shaft and including a fourth, fifth and sixth rotation elements, four transfer gears forming the externally-meshed gears, and frictional elements including clutches connecting the input shaft and the rotation elements of the first and second planetary gear sets and brakes connecting the rotation elements of the first and second planetary gear sets and a transmission housing. |
| US09382966B2 |
Vehicle body reinforcement unit
A vehicle body reinforcement unit includes a reinforcement member disposed between a pair of frame portions of a vehicle body and including a pair of displacement members that is displaced relative to each other in association with a relative displacement of the pair of frame portions, the reinforcement member including a damping mechanism that applies a damping force to a relative operation of the pair of displacement members. |
| US09382963B2 |
Rubber articles subjected to repeated deformation and compositions for making the same
An air spring having an airsleeve, wherein at least one layer of said airsleeve includes the vulcanization product of an elastomer and syndiotactic 1,2-polybutadiene. |
| US09382962B2 |
Vibration damping structures
A vibration damping body including an auxetic cellular structure having cell walls therein formed substantially of a first material having a first stiffness, the cellular structure further including a second material attached to said cell walls, the second material being selectively located throughout the cellular structure so as to include less than 50% by mass thereof and having a second stiffness which is lower than said first stiffness. |
| US09382960B2 |
Beam-based nonlinear spring
Nonlinear spring. In one embodiment, the spring includes two opposed curved surfaces curving away from one another. A flexible cantilever member is disposed between the two opposed curved surfaces and a mass is attached to a free end of the cantilever member wherein the flexible cantilever member wraps around one of the curved surfaces as the cantilever member deflects to form a nonlinear spring. Energy harvesting devices and a load cell are also disclosed. |
| US09382959B2 |
Electric braking device for vehicle
There is provided an electric braking device for a vehicle, which includes a brake caliper which is provided to a wheel, a pressing member which is provided to the brake caliper and is driven to press a friction member to a rotary member fixed to the wheel, an electric motor which is a power source to drive the pressing member, an electric power/signal line which supplies electric power to the electric motor or allows a first electric circuit provided in a vehicle body to communicate with a second electric circuit provided in the brake caliper, and a connector which relays the electric power line. The connector includes a terminal joining portion which joins one terminal and another terminal to each other, and the one terminal and the another terminal are made of metal. The terminal joining portion is positioned inside the brake caliper. |
| US09382958B2 |
Disc brake
A disc brake includes a brake caliper, in which two brake pads can be pressed against a brake disc when in operation. A brake pad on the action side is actuatable via a brake plunger of a brake application device. The brake plunger is led through an opening of a closure cover that closes a receiving chamber of the brake caliper. A bellows rests against the brake plunger and, on the other side, against the closure cover to seal the receiving chamber. A secondary seal is retained on the closure cover, which secondary seal is arranged concentrically to the bellows and rests against the brake plunger. The secondary seal is configured to rest slidingly against the brake plunger. |
| US09382957B2 |
Disc brake
A disc brake, in particular for a commercial vehicle, has a brake caliper that reaches over a brake disc and is designed as a floating caliper. The brake caliper is fastened to a stationary brake carrier. A brake application device, by which an associated, application-side brake lining can be pressed against the brake disc during braking, is provided, as well as, at least one restoring device having a restoring element, by which restoring device the brake caliper can be brought into an initial position after displacement and release of the brake as a result of braking. The restoring device is designed such that it is retained both in the brake caliper and in the brake carrier on the side of the brake disc opposite the brake application device. |
| US09382956B2 |
Caliper brake apparatus
A caliper brake apparatus includes a caliper main body that is supported on a vehicle body, a brake lining that advances/retreats relative to the caliper main body and can apply a frictional force by slidingly contacting a disc, a guide plate that supports the brake lining, an anchor pin that supports the guide plate on the caliper main body such that it can freely advance/retreat, a piston that advances/retreats relative to the caliper main body and can press against the brake lining via the guide plate, a diaphragm that abuts a rear surface of the piston and defines a pressure chamber within the caliper main body and elastically deforms due to pressure of compressed air within the pressure chamber so as to move the piston, and a piston plate that supports the piston on the anchor pin such that the piston can freely slide. |
| US09382954B2 |
Temperature compensated torque limiting valve
A flow limiting and temperature compensated orifice assembly includes a valve body having an orifice and a plurality of exterior bypass channels or openings. The valve body is disposed in a complementary cylindrical chamber in a housing in the fluid line which also receives a bi-metallic disc and a rubber washer. The bi-metallic disc is disposed adjacent one end of the body and defines a center opening which aligns with the orifice opening. In a first, higher temperature position or state, the bi-metallic disc engages the adjacent end face of the body and closes off flow through the exterior channels and allows fluid flow only through the flow limiting and thus torque controlling orifice. In a second, lower temperature position or state, the bi-metallic disc has flipped and moved away from the end face of the body and allows fluid flow through the exterior bypass channels as well as the orifice opening. |
| US09382953B2 |
Hydraulic control circuit for drive line
A hydraulic control circuit for a drive line includes first and second switching valves and first and second solenoid valves. Each switching valve is alternatively switched by a switching hydraulic pressure to connect any two of three ports. The first port of the first switching valve is connected to a hydraulic actuator. The first port of the second switching valve is connected to the second port of the first switching valve. The first solenoid valve supplies the switching hydraulic pressure to the switching valves. The second solenoid valve regulates a control hydraulic pressure supplied to the hydraulic actuator. Any one of three oil paths is communicated with the hydraulic actuator by supplying the control hydraulic pressure via the third port of the first switching valve or the second or third port of the second switching valve and supplying the switching hydraulic pressure to at least one switching valve. |
| US09382952B2 |
Balancing element and method for balancing a clutch
A balancing element for balancing a clutch, including a shaft for inserting into a housing opening of a clutch cover, a head axially protruding from the shaft for limiting an insertion depth, and cutting edges radially protruding from the shaft for plastically deforming a wall surrounding the housing opening. A deforming stop is arranged at a distance from the cutting edges between the cutting edges and the head in order to plastically deform a part of the wall between the cutting edges and the deforming stop. By the plastic deformation of the wall into an area between the cutting edges and the deforming stop, the balancing element can be accommodated captively even under operating conditions without additional tools, whereby simple and economical production of an operationally reliable clutch is enabled. |
| US09382950B2 |
Systems and methods for increasing the life of downhole driveshaft assemblies
A driveshaft assembly including a driveshaft having a first recess proximate a first end, and a second recess proximate a second end. The assembly also includes a first key within the first recess, a second key within the second recess, a first end housing, and a second end housing. The assembly further includes a first thrust bearing seat coaxially disposed within a first receptacle of the first end housing and including a first end, a second end, and a first length L1 measured axially between the second end and the first end, and a second thrust bearing seat coaxially disposed within a second receptacle of the second end housing and including a first end, a second end, and a second length L2 measured axially between the second end and the first end. L1 and L2 are both fixed and L2 is greater than L1. |
| US09382948B1 |
Rotary apparatus with adaptor collar
A rotary apparatus comprises a first rotary component, a second rotary component, and an adaptor collar. The first rotary component has an axis of rotation. The first rotary component is positioned within the second rotary component such that the first and second rotary components are concentric with one another relative to an axis of rotation of the first rotary component. The adaptor collar is attached to and angularly surrounds the first rotary component and the second rotary component relative to the axis. The adaptor collar is keyed to the first rotary component. The rotary apparatus may be a driveline, in which case the first rotary component may be a drive shaft, and the second rotary component may be an inner race of a bearing. |
| US09382946B2 |
Split cage and roller bearing
A split cage includes a plurality of cage segments each having a pair of rim portions and a pair of cage bar portions, the cage bar portions and the rim portions defining a single pocket that accommodates a single tapered roller. Turning of each of the cage segments is guided by the tapered roller, the cage segments being arranged in a circular pattern along the circumferential direction of the split cage, in an annular space between inner and outer rings. Each cage segment has projections formed so as to project radially inward and formed at the rim portions. A projecting length of each projection is set to such a length that the projection is brought into contact with an outer peripheral side portion of the inner ring when the cage segment starts rotating. |
| US09382945B2 |
Mechanical device comprising a bearing and a lubrication system, implementing machine and method
A mechanical device, comprising: a bearing including a fixed ring and a pivoting ring centered on a central axis and including an interface defined therebetween; and an interface lubrication system. An acceleration field pushes the stream of lubricant from a bearing first zone to a bearing second zone, each defining an angular sector around the central axis. The lubrication system comprises a set of peripheral channels passing through the fixed ring and including first channels positioned in the first zone and defining a first intake flow rate for bringing lubricant to the interface and second channels positioned in the second zone and defining a second intake flow rate bringing lubricant to the interface. The first flow rate is higher than the second flow rate. The interface receives a larger quantity of lubricant in the first zone than in the second zone. The mechanical device can be integrated into a machine. |
| US09382940B2 |
Triple race angular contact bearing
A rolling bearing assembly including an intermediate bearing ring is provided. The rolling bearing assembly includes an inner bearing ring including at least one axial end configured to be supported on a first component, and an outer bearing ring including at least one axial end configured to be supported on a second component. The intermediate bearing ring is arranged between the inner bearing ring and the outer bearing ring and includes at least one axial end configured to be supported on a third component. The at least one axial end of the intermediate bearing ring extends in an axial direction past at least one of the at least one axial end of the inner bearing ring or the at least one axial end of the outer bearing ring. |
| US09382939B1 |
Linkless attachment arrangement for a locking snap-hook or the like
A linkless attachment for use with snap-hooks or similar devices. Snap-hooks typically include a locking mechanism and release mechanism requiring the simultaneous depression of interacting grips. The keeper grip member of the hook apparatus functions in a dual-purpose capacity. It forms the eye of the hook loop, and it functions as one of the grip members of the release mechanism. Further, the body member features an open attachment loop terminating in a slot, whereby various attachment devices may interchangeably be added to the novel linkless snap-hook at the time of its assembly. |
| US09382936B2 |
Threaded insert with thermal insulation capability
A thermally-insulative insert device and method of use of same is disclosed. Specifically, the thermally-insulative insert device, comprising internal and external threads, allows attachment of an assembled part to a heat source while reducing heat transfer between the assembled part and the heat source. It is also an aspect of the present disclosure to provide easy-to-implement and cost-effective methods of using and assembling the thermally-insulative insert device. |
| US09382935B2 |
Elastic tubular attachment assembly for mating components and method of mating components
An elastic tubular attachment assembly for mating components is provided. The elastic tubular attachment assembly includes a first component having a first surface. Also included is a second component having a second surface, a third surface, and at least one aperture, wherein the second surface is configured to align and engage with the first surface of the first component. Further included is at least one elastically deformable tubular member operatively coupled to the first component proximate the first surface, the at least one elastically deformable tubular member comprising an outer surface, wherein the at least one elastically deformable tubular member is formed of an elastically deformable material and configured to elastically deform radially inwardly upon contact with at least one aperture wall of the second component. |
| US09382932B2 |
Connector system
Paper cylinders or tubes may be connected to one another using any of a variety of connectors. The connectors incorporate features that may facilitate connecting the paper cylinders or tubes at a wide range of angles to form a variety of two- and three -dimensional shapes, while obviating the need to use tape or glue, thereby potentially improving the aesthetics of objects produced using the connectors. Further, objects produced using the connectors disclosed herein can be disassembled, facilitating reuse of the paper cylinders or tubes. |
| US09382931B2 |
Fastener for a vehicle lamp assembly
A fastener for a vehicle lamp assembly has an adjustable stud and grommet. Positioning grooves on the stud interact with positioning fingers on the grommet in a ratcheting fashion to allow more accurate alignment of the lamp assembly prior to securing the lamp assembly to a vehicle. |
| US09382927B2 |
Apparatus and method for recuperation of hydraulic energy
An apparatus for recuperation of hydraulic energy from an actuator comprises a first hydraulic machine having a first drive and a second hydraulic machine having a second drive mechanically coupled to the first drive. The first hydraulic machine is in hydraulic communication with an actuator, and the second hydraulic machine (20) is in hydraulic communication with an accumulator. |
| US09382919B2 |
Fan blade structure
A fan blade structure includes a hub, an annular partition surrounding the hub, a first blade group and a second blade group. The hub has a top surface and a flank connected to the top surface. The first blade group, disposed on one side of the annular partition, includes two blade arrays having multiple first and second blades respectively. The clearance between the two adjacent first blades is less than that between the two adjacent second blades. The second blade group, disposed on another side of the annular partition, includes another two blade arrays having a plurality of third and fourth blades respectively. The clearance between the two adjacent third blades is less than that between the two fourth blades adjacent to each other. |
| US09382918B2 |
Ceiling fan
A ceiling fan includes a suspension part, a pipe, and a main body, the main body has a coupling part, an upper portion of the coupling part has a coupling hole, a lower portion of the pipe has a pipe hole, the coupling part is inserted into the pipe, a bolt inserted into the coupling hole and the pipe hole, and a nut. The bolt includes a threaded portion and a head having a curved surface that conforms to the shape of the outer surface of the pipe. The curved surface has a head direction guide part that guides the direction of the curved surface such that the curved surface is fixed in contact with the outer surface with the nut. |
| US09382917B2 |
Fibrous structure forming a flange and a counter-flange
A fibrous structure for fabricating a composite part including a matrix reinforced by the fibrous structure, the fibrous structure being made by three-dimensional weaving and presenting a main portion and a margin adjacent to the main portion. The margin presents a thickness greater than the thickness of the main portion and the margin includes a first portion arranged in continuity with the main portion and a second portion superposed on the first portion to constitute extra thickness, the margin thus being configured to be folded towards the second portion so that the first and second portions respectively form a flange and a counter-flange for fastening the part. |
| US09382916B2 |
Method for machining an integrally bladed rotor
A method for machining an integrally bladed rotor of a fluid-flow machine is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the method includes the steps of: a) providing an integrally bladed rotor having a main rotor body and several rotor blades integrally attached to the main rotor body; b) determining the natural frequency of each rotor blade of the integrally bladed rotor; and c) machining at least one rotor blade of the integrally bladed rotor by removing material to adjust the natural frequency of the particular rotor blade to a specified value. |
| US09382914B1 |
Sealed integrated low profile cooling array
A cooling apparatus for an enclosure. A base plate is mounted to the enclosure, with a first and second motor disposed on a first side of the base plate. First and second fans are disposed in a central location on an opposing side of the base plate, and are rotationally coupled to the motors. First and second sets of fins protrude from the base plate, with proximate ends of the fins disposed proximate the first and second fans, and distal ends of the fins disposed proximate a peripheral edge of the base plate. The fins are curved so as to form first and second partial swirl patterns. The fins are disposed in a spaced configuration, where spacing between the fins is greater at the distal ends than it is at the proximate ends. The first set of fins and the second set of fins are disposed adjacent one another in a yin-yang pattern. |
| US09382912B2 |
Fan, molding die, and fluid feeder
A cross-flow fan includes a plurality of fan blades. The fan blade has an inner edge portion arranged on an inner circumferential side and an outer edge portion arranged on an outer circumferential side. In the fan blade, a blade surface extending between the inner edge portion and the outer edge portion is formed. As the fan rotates, an air flow which flows between the inner edge portion and the outer edge portion is generated over the blade surface. The fan blade has such a blade cross-sectional shape that a recess is formed in the blade surface. The recess is arranged at a position closer to the outer edge portion than to the inner edge portion and formed to extend from one end to the other end of the fan blade in a direction of a rotation axis of the fan. |
| US09382909B2 |
Refrigerator having centrifugal fan-duct assembly
The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a centrifugal fan-duct assembly including a body having a storage room therein; and the centrifugal fan-duct assembly in the storage room, configured to separate a flow of cool air and a flow of defrosted water from each other, in order to prevent freezing in the cool air passage. Since the flow and/or directions of cool air and the defrosted water are different and/or separate from each other, the cool air passage is prevented from freezing. |
| US09382906B2 |
Multi-stage reciprocating compressor
A multi-stage reciprocating compressor includes a cylinder block and a cylinder head. The cylinder block defines a low stage cylinder and a high stage cylinder. The cylinder head is secured to the cylinder block overlying the low and high stage cylinders. The cylinder head defines a mid-stage plenum which is in fluid communication with the low stage cylinder and the high stage cylinder for communicating a working fluid discharged from the low stage cylinder to the high stage cylinder. |
| US09382905B2 |
High power reciprocating pump manifold and valve cartridges
An improved manifold and valve cartridges suitable for high power (over 600 hp) reciprocating pumps for water blast or jet applications are disclosed. In one aspect, the disclosed valve cartridges are compact and mounted axially along a seat member that has a central bore in addition to suction and discharge seats. The seat member can also be provided a plurality of radially arranged bores for allowing suction flow to the pump. A spool valve assembly can be mounted through the seat member bore, and can include a valve spool, a spherical suction valve member, a compression spring, and compression-locked rings. The spool valve can include a closed flanged end that engages with the seat member discharge seat. In operation, the compression spring continuously pushes the spool valve closed flanged end against the discharge seat and pushes the suction valve member against the suction seat to retain a normally closed position. |
| US09382903B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimizing energy efficiency of pumping system
A method and apparatus for optimizing energy efficiency of a pumping system includes at least one pump that controls a fluid level in a reservoir. The method includes a system identification stage and an energy efficiency optimization stage. The system identification stage includes determining pump characteristics for the pump, operating the pump with a range of flow rate conditions, determining a set of data points, and calculating energy efficiency optimization characteristics. The energy efficiency optimization stage includes determining a present static head value, choosing a value for a pump control parameter, and operating the pump on the pump control parameter. |
| US09382900B2 |
Wind power generation unit, wind farm, and arrangement structure and control method of the same
A wind farm includes at least two first-direction wind power generation units and at least one second-direction wind power generation unit. The first-direction wind power generation units are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval and have blades that rotate in a same direction. The second-direction wind power generation unit is located adjacent to and between the first-direction wind power generation units and has blades that rotate in an opposite direction to a rotational direction of the first-direction wind power generation units. |
| US09382899B2 |
Air-gap secure system for a wind turbine
Disclosed is a wind turbine, which comprises a rotatable structure being coupled to a hub of the wind turbine and to a generator rotor comprising a brake disc, a stationary structure being coupled to a generator stator and comprising a stator frame and a safety bearing element. The rotatable structure is rotatably coupled to the stationary structure, wherein the stator frame comprises a brake mounting section to which a calliper brake is mountable such that the brake disc is breakable by the mounted calliper brake. The safety bearing element is mounted to the brake mounting section such that the brake disc is in slidable contact with the safety bearing element if a distance between the brake mounting section and the brake disc is reduced below a predetermined reference value. |
| US09382891B2 |
Engine control apparatus
An engine control apparatus includes an engine control unit that is configured to control a ring gear, a starting device and a pinion gear. The engine control unit is further configured to perform a control to engage the ring gear and pinion gear with each other in an idling stop state, and to control a pinion gear driver. The pinion gear driver actuates the pinion gear to disengage from the ring gear. In particular, the pinion gear driver actuates the pinion gear to disengage from the ring gear while the ring gear is not rotated and while a starter motor of the starting device is rotated or while injectors of an engine are caused to inject fuel into cylinders of the engine to ignite an air-fuel mixture therein, so as to release engagement of the pinion and ring gears. |
| US09382890B2 |
Tubular pressure accumulator, in particular for mixture-compressing, spark-ignited internal combustion engines
A tubular pressure accumulator which is used, in particular, as a fuel distribution rail for a mixture-compressing, spark-ignited internal combustion engine includes a tubularly bent metal wall. In this way, longitudinal sides, which are assigned to one another, of tubularly bent metal wall are connected to one another through a weld. Furthermore, the tubularly bent metal wall has at least one design feature implemented by the machining of the flat metal wall and the bending of metal wall, which take place prior to the welding. |
| US09382888B2 |
Injection nozzle for injecting media into a combustion chamber
An injection nozzle for injecting media into a combustion chamber includes a nozzle body having a tip with spray holes and protruding into the combustion chamber, and a heat protection sleeve that surrounds and is positioned on a combustion chamber side of an end area of the nozzle body. The injection nozzle is inserted into an accommodating hole of a retaining part, whereby the end area of the nozzle body interacts with the accommodating hole, and whereby the sleeve is positioned there-between. The sleeve further has a first and second area which are located at an axial distance from each other and which have respective sealing surfaces that interact in a sealing manner with either (i) an annular seat surface extending in a radial plane, or (ii) a cone-shaped seat surface of the accommodating hole or of the nozzle body. |
| US09382886B2 |
Fuel system and corresponding method
A fuel injection system for supplying pressurized fuel to an internal combustion engine is provided. The fuel injection system includes a low-pressure hydraulic circuit, a fuel pump with a pumping element and an outlet valve for supply of pressurized fuel to a common rail, and an injector for delivering fuel for combustion from the common rail to the engine, wherein the fuel injection system further includes an isolating valve connected between the outlet valve of the fuel pump and the common rail, wherein the isolating valve is adapted such that the frequency of its seats making the mechanical contact with each other is lower compared to the frequency of the operation of the outlet valve of the fuel pump. |
| US09382884B2 |
Valve for metering fluid
A valve for metering fluid under pressure includes: a valve housing which has an inlet opening and a metering opening as well as a valve seat enclosing the metering opening having an outwardly pointing seat surface; a valve needle carrying a closing head; a valve-closing spring acting on the valve needle and applying the closing head to the valve seat; and an electrical actuator, which applies a compressive force to the valve needle, lifting the closing head outwardly away from the valve seat. To prevent transverse forces on the valve needle, which can cause a deflection of the valve needle, a gimbal-mounted spring disk, which is pushed onto the valve needle, is used as the valve-closing spring. |
| US09382882B2 |
Aspirator motive flow control for vacuum generation and compressor bypass
Systems and methods are provided for engine systems including a first multiple tap aspirator with a motive inlet coupled to an intake upstream of an air induction system throttle and a mixed flow outlet coupled to an intake manifold, and a second multiple tap aspirator with a motive inlet coupled to the intake upstream of a main throttle and a mixed flow outlet coupled to the intake downstream of the air induction system throttle. During non-boost conditions, intake air may be selectably diverted around a compressor and through the first and/or second aspirator based on desired vacuum generation. During boost conditions, the first and second aspirators may function as compressor bypass valves, and intake air may be selectably directed from downstream of the compressor to upstream of the compressor via the first and/or second aspirator based on a desired compressor bypass flow. |
| US09382881B2 |
PCV valve mounting structures
A mounting structure for mounting a PCV valve includes a mount recess formed in at least one of joint surfaces of a cylinder head and an intake manifold, so that at least a part of the PCV valve can be fitted into the mount recess. |
| US09382880B2 |
Methods and systems for a gas constituent sensor
Various systems and methods are described for an engine system with an exhaust gas recirculation system. In one example method, a correction for a gas constituent sensor is determined based on output from the gas constituent sensor and output from a pressure sensor over a range of boost pressure. The gas constituent sensor output is adjusted based on the correction, and an amount of exhaust gas recirculation is adjusted based on the adjusted gas constituent sensor output. |
| US09382878B2 |
Method for operating a fuel system and fuel system
In a method for operating a fuel system of an internal combustion engine, the fuel system has a fuel tank and a ventilation device having at least one ventilation valve for ventilating the fuel tank in the direction of a device that generates a negative pressure, at least intermittently. A magnitude of deformation caused by an internal pressure of the fuel tank of the fuel tank is measured and, if the magnitude of deformation exceeds a threshold, the ventilation valve is closed and/or a bypass is opened. |
| US09382876B2 |
Main fuel jet and nozzle assembly for a carburetor
A carburetor includes a body with an air intake path, a fuel pump and a fuel pressure regulator and having a main fuel jet and nozzle assembly with a main fuel jet releasably coupled to the body of the carburetor. Alternatively, a main fuel jet and nozzle assembly includes a nozzle and check valve retainer formed as a single component. In other embodiments, a carburetor is provided having a fuel pump and fuel pressure regulator positioned on the same side of the body. A fuel pump and metering chamber diaphragm sandwiched between the body of the carburetor and a pump body and cover, separates a pump chamber from a pulse chamber of the fuel pump and separates a fuel chamber from an air chamber in the fuel pressure regulator. |
| US09382871B2 |
Method for repair of cylinder block including water ferrule
A method for repair of a cylinder block including a water ferrule having damage in an area proximate to the water ferrule is disclosed. The repair method includes removing material from the area containing and surrounding the damage. The method also includes providing a counter bore sized to surround the removed material. The counter bore is configured to define a seat at the one end of the water ferrule. A sealing member is aligned and introduced into the seat of the counter bore. The method includes aligning a stepped insert coaxially with the sealing member and the seat. The method also includes a step of introducing the insert into the seat of the counter bore to form an interference fit therewith. The method further includes providing a seal formed by a combination of the sealing member and the insert within the seat of the counter bore. |
| US09382867B2 |
Abnormality determination device of vehicle and abnormality determination method
Provided is an abnormality determination device of a vehicle including an engine and a first motor that is configured to output a torque to an output shaft of the engine, the abnormality determination device determining an output abnormality of dropping output of the engine in the vehicle. The abnormality determination device has an abnormality determination unit that determines that an output abnormality of the engine has occurred when an actual torque that is estimated, based on a torque of the first motor, as a torque actually output from the engine falls below a lower limit of an allowable range for a target torque to be output from the engine, and when an amount of increase in a rotational speed of the engine is smaller than a threshold value for misdetermination suppression, which is a threshold value that is larger as the target torque is higher. |
| US09382863B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling ignition energy during exhaust stroke combustion of gaseous fuel to reduce turbo lag
Methods and systems are provided for adjusting ignition energy of the spark required for combustion of gaseous fuel injected during an exhaust stroke of a cylinder combustion event to reduce turbo lag. In one example, a method includes combusting a first amount of gaseous fuel during a compression stroke of a cylinder combustion event using a first ignition energy and combusting a second amount of gaseous fuel during an exhaust stroke of the cylinder combustion event using a second ignition energy, the second ignition energy lower than the first ignition energy. The second ignition energy may be adjusted based on in-cylinder pressure and cylinder load. |
| US09382861B2 |
Humidity Sensor Diagnostics
Embodiments for testing a humidity sensor are provided. One example method comprises indicating degradation of a humidity sensor based on a humidity sensor output and output from an intake gas composition sensor. In this way, output from the intake gas composition sensor may be used to determine if the humidity sensor is degraded. |
| US09382858B1 |
Methods and systems for an oxygen sensor
Methods and systems are provided for accurately learning the zero point of an intake gas oxygen sensor in varying ambient humidity conditions. The learned zero point is corrected based on an estimated ambient humidity to calibrate the reading for dry air conditions or standard humidity conditions. EGR control is performed by comparing the output of an intake oxygen sensor during EGR conditions relative to the humidity-corrected zero point. |
| US09382857B2 |
Post fuel injection of gaseous fuel to reduce exhaust emissions
Methods and systems are provided for delivering gaseous fuel as multiple fuel injections split between an intake stroke, a compression stroke, and/or a power stroke to expedite exhaust catalyst heating during an engine cold-start. Fuel injected in the intake and compression stroke is ignited and combusted. The power stroke fuel injections are combusted in the exhaust port to increase exhaust temperature and pressure for faster catalyst light-off. |
| US09382856B2 |
System for fuel injection control in an internal combustion engine
A system for fuel injection control in internal combustion engine is provided. Fuel is injected during exhaust stroke from a fuel injector for port injection upstream of an intake valve. In-cylinder temperature as the engine cylinder undergoes compression is predicted. Fuel is injected during intake stroke from the fuel injector to supply fuel to the inside of the cylinder upon determining that the predicated in-cylinder temperature is greater than a temperature beyond which pre-ignition is expected to happen. |
| US09382852B2 |
Control device for internal combustion engine having cylinder resting mechanism
Provided is a control device for an internal combustion engine having a cylinder resting mechanism, capable of accurately detecting an intake/exhaust valve state and therefore serving to solve problems of fuel depletion and environmental conservation. The control device includes: ignition means 2 including high voltage means 202 for causing ignition discharge on an ignition plug based on an ignition signal, and an ignition discharge parameter detection circuit 203 for detecting a parameter indicating a state of the ignition discharge; and valve state determination means 206 for determining a valve operation state of an intake/exhaust valve based on at least one of an ignition discharge duration, ignition insulation breakdown voltage, and ignition discharge maintaining voltage detected based on an output signal from the ignition discharge parameter detection circuit 203. Operation of cylinder resting control means 207 is controlled based on a determination result by the valve state determination means 206. |
| US09382847B2 |
Rotor resonance disturbance rejection controller
A speed control system for an engine comprising at least one rotary load is provided. The speed control system may include a rotor speed controller configured to regulate speed in the rotary load based on a sensed rotor speed, exclusive of resonant mode speed oscillations, in closed loop feedback with a commanded rotor speed. To provide active damping of resonant mode speed oscillations, a resonance disturbance rejection controller may be configured to compensate a speed control signal by observing a component of the sensed rotor speed that is due to resonant mode oscillations. Based on the observed resonance component, the resonance disturbance rejection controller may compute an adjustment value for the speed control signal. In the particular case of gas turbine engines, the resonance disturbance rejection controller may effect active damping by compensation of a fuel flow request for a gas generator. |
| US09382846B2 |
Sealing element for sealing a gap
A sealing element for sealing a gap between two components is provided. The sealing arrangement may be a seal arrangement of a gas turbine system, wherein the sealing element is elongate along a main line and has a contoured cross section in a corrugated center region. In cross section, the sealing element is directed along the main line and may be deformed in a direction substantially orthogonally with respect to the main line. In order to provide a wear-resistant, long-lasting sealing element with a particularly efficient blocking action, it is proposed that the seal teeth of the corrugation have a virtually rectangular cross-sectional contour, the tooth height of which seal teeth is between 10% and 40% of the sealing-element thickness which may be measured parallel to the tooth height. |
| US09382845B2 |
Inner structure for an aircraft nacelle
An inner structure for a nacelle for an aircraft turbofan includes a plurality of active and passive movable portions. Each active movable portion can drive adjacent passive movable portions such that the inner structure has a nominal first position, a second position and a third position. In the second position, the active movable portions project beyond by the passive movable portions toward the outside of the inner structure after the active mobile portions have driven the passive mobile portions. In the third position, the active movable portions project beyond the passive movable portions toward the inside of the inner structure after the active mobile portions have driven the passive mobile portions. The present disclosure also relates to a nacelle having an outer structure and such an inner structure. |
| US09382839B2 |
Combustion engine comprising a central cam-drive system
A drive cam operated combustion engine comprising at least one cylinder, each cylinder having a power conversion assembly. Each power conversion assembly includes a piston slideably assembled with a cylinder, a drive cam assembly having at least one drive cam, a piston control rocker arm assembly (including a piston control arm and a piston return arm), and a connecting rod. The drive cam oscillates the rocker arm assembly, which positions the piston through the connecting rod. The rocker arm assembly oscillation driving the piston upwards during a compression stroke and an exhaust stroke, and draws the piston downward during an intake stroke. A combustion episode during a combustion stroke introduces power into the system, which is transferred from the engine by an output shaft. The drive cam assembly can include a primary drive cam and a secondary drive cam for each rocker arm assembly. |
| US09382838B2 |
Boost reservoir and throttle coordination
Methods and systems are provided for reducing turbo lag in a boosted engine. A boost reservoir coupled to the engine may be charged with compressed intake air and/or combusted exhaust gas. The pressurized charge may then be discharged during a tip-in to either the intake or the exhaust manifold. |
| US09382836B2 |
System and methods for engine air path condensation management
A system and methods for routing condensate collected in a heat exchanger reservoir to either a combustion chamber of an engine or a position in the engine exhaust based on the type of contaminate in the condensate and operating parameters of the engine or the catalyst are described. In one particular example, the method includes accumulating a portion of compressed air in an accumulator, and when an engine output is below a predetermined amount, coupling a part of the accumulated air with the condensate through a passage into the combustion chamber. Thereby, the methods described may be used to distribute condensate formed in the heat exchanger even at low engine loads. |
| US09382830B2 |
Exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine
An exhaust gas purification apparatus including a filter, an NOx selective reduction catalyst at the downstream side of the filter, a supply device for supplying a reducing agent to the NOx selective reduction catalyst, and a PM sensor for detecting an amount of particulate matter in an exhaust gas at the downstream side of the NOx selective reduction catalyst. A supply decrease part makes an amount of supply of the reducing agent smaller in cases where at least one of several conditions is satisfied. |
| US09382827B2 |
Method for regenerating a nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter and a device for this purpose
Methods for regenerating a nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter which is monitored to ensure that it exhibits a sufficient operating temperature for its regeneration, and a regeneration occurs at a point in time in which a flow rate (v) of an exhaust flow through the nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter (6) has at least decreased in comparison to an immediately preceding time period. A vehicle for the operation in different operating ranges, having an exhaust post-treatment, exhibiting at least one nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter and a reformer that provides for a reformate injection in an exhaust system prior to the nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter, and having a stored regeneration program for the nitrogen oxide storage catalytic converter, which provides for a triggering of the regeneration when an operational state is detected in which no load is demanded of the internal combustion engine, preferably when the motor is at rest. |
| US09382826B1 |
Noise attenuating member for noise attenuating units in engines
Noise attenuating members for use in noise attenuating units for engine systems are disclosed that include a core, having an interior surface defining a hollow inner cavity and a plurality of radial openings, and a porous material disposed about an exterior surface of the core. The porous material may be a strip which is engaged with the exterior of the core and wrapped around the core to form a plurality of layers of porous material. A noise attenuating unit is disclosed to include a housing, having an internal cavity, first port, and second port, and an attenuating member disposed within the internal cavity. A method of making a noise attenuating member is disclosed that includes providing a core having an hollow cavity and radial openings, providing a strip of porous material, and wrapping the strip of porous material about the core to form one or more layers. |
| US09382823B2 |
Crankcase integrity breach detection
Methods and systems are provided for using a crankcase vent tube pressure or flow sensor for diagnosing a location and nature of crankcase system integrity breach. The same sensor can also be used for diagnosing air filter plugging and PCV valve degradation. Use of an existing sensor to diagnose multiple engine components provides cost reduction and sensor compaction benefits. |
| US09382814B2 |
Device for connecting a thrust reverser front frame to a fan casing and nacelle incorporating such a device
A device for connecting a thrust reverser front frame to a fan casing includes a crenulated flange secured to the front frame, an annular component to accept this flange secured to the fan casing, and a crenulated annulus of a shape that complements the flange and pivot-mounted on the annular component. The crenulated flange, the annular component and the crenulated annulus are designed in such a way that a rotation of the annulus with respect to the annular component has the effect of locking this flange against this annular component through the collaboration between the respective crenulations of the flange and of the annulus. |
| US09382812B2 |
Anisotropic bearing supports for turbochargers
A rotating assembly for a turbocharger can include a center housing that includes a through bore having a central axis; a bearing cartridge positioned in the through bore where the bearing cartridge includes an outer race, an inner race and rolling elements disposed between the inner race and the outer race; an anisotropic member positioned in the through bore between the outer race of the bearing cartridge and a surface of the center housing where the surface defines at least part of the through bore of the center housing; and a shaft rotatably supported in the center housing by the bearing cartridge where the inner race is mounted on the shaft and the shaft is connected at one end to a compressor wheel and at another end to a turbine wheel. |
| US09382811B2 |
Aerofoil cooling arrangement
An aerofoil typically for a blade or vane for a gas turbine engine comprises a pressure wall and a suction wall, at least one of the pressure and suction walls comprise corrugations and a coolant hole on an inner surface, the corrugations define a downstream surface and the coolant hole having an inlet defined in the downstream surface. |
| US09382809B2 |
Seal assembly, method and turbomachine
A sealing arrangement for a turbomachine for sealing a radial gap between a rotor and a stator, with a plurality of sealing segments each comprising a honeycomb element and a base body for holding the honeycomb element, and with at least one support for arranging the sealing segments on a rotor section or stator section, wherein the base bodies can be arranged on the at least one support by a radial movement and by a plastic deformation of at least one body section, a generative method for the integral production of the sealing segments, and a turbomachine are disclosed. |
| US09382805B2 |
Balancing of rotors
A balanced rotor comprising a circumferential slot and a plurality of aerofoils each secured in the slot by a respective root, the root having a root block having circumferentially facing flanks and a seal wing extending circumferentially from one of the flanks, characterized in that the seal wing has a notch engaging a balance weight positioned between adjacent roots. |
| US09382803B2 |
Laminated abutment, a rotor provided with such an abutment, and an aircraft
A laminated abutment (10) comprising an inner strength member (11), an outer strength member (12), and an elastomeric member (15) comprising a stack of main layers (20, 30) that are flexible and of secondary layers (40) that are rigid. The stack comprises at least one first main layer (20) and at least one second main layer (30), each first main layer (20) presenting, in a lead-lag plane (PTRA), a first thickness (e1) that varies between a minimum first thickness (e1min) on the pitch-variation axis (AXPAS) and a maximum first thickness (e1max) on the flapping axis (AXBAT), and each second main layer (30) presenting, in a lead-lag plane (PTRA), a second thickness (e2) that varies between a minimum second thickness (e2min) on the flapping axis (AXBAT) and a maximum second thickness (e2max) on the pitch-variation axis (AXPAS). |
| US09382802B2 |
Compressor rotor
A compressor rotor is provided having a rotor blade groove thereon and also includes a device for cooling the rotor in the region of a compressor rotor exit. Efficient cooling is achieved by the compressor rotor, in a compressor rotor exit region, having a ring which is pushed concentrically, and at a distance, forming a gap, over a rotor disk of the rotor, and is fastened on the disk, by the rotor blades, in the compressor rotor exit region, being inserted into corresponding grooves on the ring and being retained there, by first means for directing an axial flow of cooling medium from the compressor rotor exit through the ring, and by second means for deflecting the cooling medium which issues from the ring such that the cooling medium flows back in the axial direction through the gap between the ring and the rotor disk, encompassed by the ring. |
| US09382800B2 |
Screw type pump or motor
A pump assembly comprising a stator and a rotor having vanes of opposite handed thread arrangements is described. A radial gap is located between the stator vanes and the rotor vanes such that rotation of the rotor causes the stator and rotor to co-operate to provide a system for moving fluid longitudinally between them. The operation of the pump results in a fluid seal being is formed across the radial gap. The described apparatus can also be operated as a motor assembly when a fluid is directed to move longitudinally between the stator and rotor. The presence of the fluid seal results in no deterioration of the pump or motor efficiency, even when the radial gap is significantly greater than normal working clearance values. Furthermore, the presence of the radial gap makes the pump/motor assembly ideal for deployment with high viscosity and/or multiphase fluids. |
| US09382798B2 |
Method and system for fluid flow control in a fluid network system
A method of controlling fluid flow in a fluid network system by means of a plurality of fluid machines. The disclosure provides a simple empirical method of identifying network characteristics of the fluid network system used for providing the required fluid flow rate in the fluid network system utilizing minimal fluid machine power. The method includes the steps of determining a relation between a change in fluid machine speed and a corresponding change in fluid flow rate for each of the plurality of fluid machines empirically; determining a minimum total fluid machine power which provides a minimum required flow rate in the fluid network system based on a constraint involving the relation between the fluid flow rate and the corresponding fluid machine speed, and controlling a speed of the plurality of fluid machines such that the minimum total fluid machine power in the fluid network system is attained. |
| US09382797B2 |
Integrated automation system
Autonomous operations are conducted within a defined geographical region. In an autonomous system of a management party a plurality of localized zones are established having operation-defined geographical boundaries within the geographical region. Entities having autonomous operating systems to perform specific autonomous operations within respective ones of the localized zones. The autonomous system of the management party is integrated with the autonomous operating systems of the entities. |
| US09382796B2 |
Cartridge for tunnel blasting
A cartridge for tunnel blasting is provided a cartridge for tunnel blasting, which easily breaks a rock, by inserting a cartridge containing water into a bore hole formed in a rock by using a boring device, and injecting liquid nitrogen into the inserted cartridge, so as to induce cracks of the rock by using the characteristic of the water that expands when it is frozen. |
| US09382793B2 |
Probe packer including rigid intermediate containment ring
A downhole tool for a wellbore within a geological formation may include a housing to be lowered into the wellbore, a probe carried by the housing having a first opening therein, and a packer carried by the probe. The packer may include a rigid base having a second opening therein aligned with the first opening, an inner elastomeric ring carried by the rigid base and having a third opening aligned with the second opening, a rigid intermediate containment ring carried by the rigid base and surrounding the inner elastomeric ring, and an outer elastomeric ring carried by the rigid base and surrounding the rigid intermediate containment ring. |
| US09382791B2 |
Expert systems for well completion using bayesian decision networks including a fluids damage and temperature effects uncertainty node, a perforation considerations uncertainty node, a perforation analysis uncertainty node, and a perforation type decision node
Systems and methods are provided for expert systems for well completion using Bayesian decision networks to determine well completion recommendations. The well completion expert system includes a well completion Bayesian decision network (BDN) model that receives inputs and outputs recommendations based on Bayesian probability determinations. The well completion BDN model includes a treatment fluids section, a packer section, a junction classification section, a perforation section, a lateral completion section, and an open hole gravel packing section. |
| US09382790B2 |
Method and apparatus for completing a multi-stage well
An apparatus includes a string that extends into a well and a tool that is disposed in the string. The tool is adapted to form a seat to catch an object communicated to the tool via a passageway of the string in response to the tool being perforated. |
| US09382787B2 |
Seat assembly for isolating fracture zones in a well
A fracture plug seat assembly used in well stimulation for engaging and creating a seal when a plug, such as a ball, is dropped into a wellbore and landed on the fracture plug seat assembly for isolating fracture zones in a well. The fracture plug seat assembly has a fracture plug seat that includes elastomeric material and reinforcing material. |
| US09382786B2 |
Rotating flexible joint for use in submersible pumping systems
An electrical submersible pumping system (ESP) for pumping fluids from a wellbore is made of segments, which include a motor, a seal section, a pump, and a shaft assembly connected to an output of the motor drives the pump. The motor, seal section, and pump are elongate members and coupled end to end to one another by housing connectors and shaft connectors. At least one of the housing connectors and shaft connectors have portions that are pivotable with other portions, so that adjacent segments of the ESP system can pivot with respect to one another. The housing connector can be a ball and socket assembly, where the ball fits within a spherically shaped chamber in the socket assembly. Opposing ends of the housing connector can mount to respective segments by threads or bolt flanges. The pivotal shaft connector may be a universal joint. |
| US09382785B2 |
Shaped memory devices and method for using same in wellbores
In one aspect an apparatus for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in one embodiment includes a device or tool conveyable in the wellbore, wherein the device or tool further includes a shape memory member formed into a compressed state, the shape memory device having a glass transition temperature and a heating device associated with the shape memory member configured to heat in the wellbore the shape memory member to or above the glass transition temperature to expand the shape memory member to a second expanded state. |
| US09382784B1 |
Externally-orientated internally-corrected perforating gun system and method
A perforating gun comprising an elongated shaped scallop that is cut circumferentially in an outside surface of the perforating gun such that said scallop has a constant thickness portion and a variable thickness portion. The variable thickness portion is cut on either end of the constant thickness portion and an arcuate length of the constant thickness portion subtends an angle at a center of said perforating gun. The elongated shaped scallop aligns to shaped charges that are oriented along a desired perforating orientation in the perforating gun. During perforating, the shaped charges perforate through the elongated shaped scallop such that a burr created by the plural shaped charges does not substantially protrude past an outside diameter of the perforating gun. |
| US09382783B2 |
Alignment system for perforating gun
An apparatus for restraining the movement of a gun charge holder within a gun tube including a snap ring with an alignment end that engages an end fitting and the gun tube simultaneously, the snap ring further comprising a grounding hole to facilitate the grounding of the electronics and detonation devices within the gun charge holder. |
| US09382780B1 |
Vertical swivel connection assembly and systems and methods for use thereof
Disclosed is an apparatus for facilitating connection of a subsea flowline and a riser assembly so that the subsea flowline and the riser assembly can be jointly maneuvered in a subsea environment. A method and a system are provided in which the subsea flowline, the riser and the apparatus are connected. The apparatus includes a deployment skid having an integrated conduit having a 90° bend therein. One end of the conduit connects to a subsea flowline termination. A second end of the conduit is configured to receive the lower termination of the riser. The apparatus includes a coupling member configured to swallow and grasp the lower termination of the riser and the second end of the conduit. A pair of guide members, each guide member having an elongated slot along the length thereof, is pivotally connected at the base of the deployment skid and at the coupling member, one guide member on either side. The elongated slot is configured to allow the riser lower termination to be moved downwards vertically from an upper disengaged position to an engaged position thereby connecting the riser lower termination to the second end of the conduit. |
| US09382771B2 |
Sealing mechanism for subsea capping system
Sealing mechanisms are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a connector configured to couple one or more flow-control valves to equipment installed at a well and an isolation sleeve configured to be retained by the connector. The isolation sleeve may include a seal and a hydraulically actuated piston disposed adjacent one another about a body of the isolation sleeve such that actuation of the piston engages the seal. The isolation sleeve may also include a mechanically driven actuator ring, where the actuator ring energizes a seal against the bore of a tubing hanger. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09382767B2 |
Cantilever contained drilling unit utilizing vertical tubular conveyance and standbuilding system
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for attaching, detaching and conveying tubular on a drill cantilever. The method and apparatus include a tubular standbuilding conveyor assembly and a stand delivery conveyor assembly. The method and apparatus provide for improved movement, assembly and disassembly in order to eliminate inefficient movements and to improve consistent, repeatable performance. |
| US09382765B2 |
Apparatus for recovering hydrocarbon resources including ferrofluid source and related methods
A device for recovering hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation may include a radio frequency (RF) source, a ferrofluid source, and an RF applicator coupled to the RF source and configured to supply RF power to the hydrocarbon resources. The RF applicator may include concentric tubular conductors defining ferrofluid passageways therebetween coupled to the ferrofluid source. |
| US09382764B2 |
Contraction joint system
A system and methodology facilitates conveyance of a tool, e.g. a downhole completion or completion component, via a tool string. The tool string comprises a contraction joint designed to contract if the tool incurs sufficient axial loading. The contraction joint may comprise an outer housing and a mandrel slidably received in the outer housing. The contraction joint also comprises a resettable locking member which selectively releases the mandrel with respect to the outer housing to contract the contraction joint when under sufficient axial loading. |
| US09382762B2 |
Cutting element apparatuses, drill bits including same, methods of cutting, and methods of rotating a cutting element
A subterranean drilling system may include a drill string and a rotary drill bit coupled to the drill string. The rotary drill bit may include a bit body and a cutting element coupled to the bit body, with the cutting element being structured to rotate in response to torque applied to the cutting element. The system also may include a cam assembly coupled to the drill string, a cam follower assembly in contact with a cam surface of the cam assembly, and a torque-applying structure coupled to the cam follower assembly. The torque-applying structure may be configured to apply torque to the cutting element in response to relative rotation between the cam assembly and the cam follower assembly. |
| US09382759B2 |
Cable hook attachment for ladders
A fixed strand grabber and a removable strand grabber are presented for use on a conventional ladder. The strand grabber includes a hook member connected to a top support and a bottom lever. The bottom lever has a portion that extends past and encloses the open interior of the hook that protrudes from the forward side of the ladder. As the ladder is lowered over a cable, the hooks move upward which in turn causes the bottom lever to rotate upward. A portion of the bottom lever encloses the open interior of the hook thereby locking the cable therein. In this way improved safety is provided as the cable is prevented from accidently slipping out of the open interior of the hook which improves user safety. The system also provides an attachment point for a safety lock. In addition, the removable strand grabber provides a V-brace for using against utility poles. |
| US09382755B2 |
Retractable shade for coverings for architectural openings
A retractable cellular shade is illustrated in various embodiments to consist of a support structure that could assume numerous forms including cellular material, flexible sheets of material, tapes or ribbons, or flexible monofilaments or similar cords of natural or synthetic fibers with the support structure supporting a plurality of vanes or slats in various configurations and orientations. The movement of the vanes or slats is totally dependent upon movement of the support structure. The fabric so formed can be incorporated into a covering for architectural openings with the covering including a headrail with means for gathering the fabric material within the headrail. |
| US09382754B2 |
Plastic double-cell covering for architectural openings
A cellular covering for an architectural opening includes a plurality of elongated, longitudinally connected and transversely collapsible cellular units composed of inner and outer cells where the outer cell is a woven, knit, or non-woven product and the inner cell is an air-impermeable film which may be treated to be a low-modulus film with acceptable surface tension so that the panel formed from the cellular units has improved insulative properties and has a relatively long life. |
| US09382753B2 |
Window covering
A window covering includes a liner positioned adjacent to the rear side of window covering material. The liner is attached to at least one of the window covering material and a first rail to define at least one cavity between the window covering material and the liner. At least one ladder is attached to the liner and positioned in the at least one cavity. The at least one ladder has vertically spaced rungs. At least one lift cord extends from the first rail to a position adjacent to the bottom edge of the window covering material. The at least one cord passes adjacent to the at least one ladder such that the at least one lift cord passes over the rungs of the at least one ladder such that the at least one lift cord alternates from passing behind and in front of successive rungs. |
| US09382752B1 |
Vertical roll down device weight bar containing a self-adjusting bottom barrier blade for variable pitched or contoured surfaces
A roll down movable vertical screen, panel or shutter system (such as used for protecting against insects, solar wind, hurricanes, rain or providing for privacy and security having a bottom edge-weight bar and self-adjusting blade that automatically adjusts to variable pitched surfaces to seal the gap resulting from a roll down screen or shutter's bottom horizontal weight bar and a floor surface that is contoured or pitched in a non-horizontal direction running parallel to the direction of the weight bar. The self-adjusting weight bar for variable pitched surfaces generally including: a weight bar body, a self-adjusting blade, customizable attachment point, variable weights, and anti-warping stiffeners. These elements are to be found as the lowest element of a roll down screen or shutter. The extended elongated weight bar is attached at the bottom edge of a screen and includes a hollow chamber that receives an L-shaped blade that is movably mounted within the hollow chamber so that the blade can conform to the tilt angle or compound contour of the floor. |
| US09382750B1 |
Double door gate apparatus
A double door gate apparatus having a frame, a main gate and a secondary gate, where the apparatus includes the unique features of a) a latch apparatus between uppermost framework members of the main gate and secondary gate, b) the latch apparatus being weighted to return to a normally closed position, c) each of the main gate and secondary gates having an inverted U-shaped piece engaging the bottommost horizontal member such that each of the main and secondary gates need to be lifted prior to being opened and prior to being closed, and d) a pair of hand wheels on a common shaft that work together to space the double door gate apparatus a desired distance from a vertical surface such as a wall. |
| US09382749B2 |
Movable partitions, panel assemblies, and methods of attaching protective clips to panels of movable partitions
Panel assemblies for movable partitions include a panel and a protective clip covering at least a portion of a bottom surface of the panel. The panel includes channels defined between lateral edge portions and a back side surface of the panel. Tabs of the protective clip are positioned within corresponding channels. Movable partitions include at least one panel and at least one protective clip, which is assembled with the at least one panel and is coupled to a back side surface of the at least one panel. Tabs of the back portion of the at least one protective clip are inserted at least partially within two opposing channels of the at least one panel. Methods of attaching a protective clip to a panel of a movable partition include positioning tabs extending from longitudinal ends of the back portion of the protective clip within channels of the panel. |
| US09382742B2 |
Control valve
The invention relates to a regulating valve, which is attachable, in particular in a bore of a hydraulic door closer, executed with a female thread. The regulating valve has a body, adjoined by a regulating area, and a thread provided with an anti-rotation means. The thread with the anti-rotation element can be screwed into the female thread of the bore of the hydraulic door closer. In order to provide a regulating valve with a simple design while excluding unwanted adjustment of the regulating valve during the operation, the anti-rotation means includes a raised area, which can cooperate with the bore or the female thread of the door closer. |
| US09382738B2 |
Swing closure for doors, windows or the like
A swing closure element (1), comprising: —a fixed structure (10) rigidly constrainable to an opening (11) of a door or window or the like, —a first movable wing (20) constrained to said fixed structure (10) by a first hinge constraint (21) so as to be pivotable about a first rotation axis (Z1), according to a predetermined opening rotation direction (W1), —a second movable wing (30) constrained to said first wing by said second hinge constraint (31) so as to be pivotable with respect to the first wing (20) about a second rotation axis (Z2), the first and the second wing (20, 30) being movable between a first closed configuration wherein they are coplanarly arranged to close the opening (11) and a second open configuration, —an articulated, quadrilateral mechanism (50, 50′) connected to the fixed structure (10) and to the second wing (30) comprising at least one stiffening member (61, 61′, 62, 62′) pivotably constrained to said first wing (20) and to a movable member (53, 53′) of said mechanism (50, 50′) connected to the fixed structure (10) and to said second movable wing (30). |
| US09382737B2 |
Easy cleaning guiding assembly
An easy cleaning guiding assembly is provided comprising a clamping base provided with an opening and a clamping position, a guiding block being rotatably connected with the clamping base and provided with a clamping element. When the guiding assembly is in use, the guiding block is fixed on the clamping base by engagement of the clamping element in the clamping position, and a guiding channel is formed by the guiding block and the clamping base. The cleaning of the shower door would be very easy, and the operation and mounting is very convenient. |
| US09382735B2 |
Motor vehicle lock
The invention is directed to a motor vehicle lock for a motor vehicle door arrangement, wherein a pivotable catch and an inlet mouth for a lock striker are provided, wherein the catch can be brought into at least one closed position and into at least one open position, wherein the catch as such in its closed position may hold the lock striker by a holding engagement between the catch and the lock striker and in its open position may release the lock striker, wherein during a closing cycle the lock striker comes into an actuating engagement with the motor vehicle lock such that the catch moves from its open position into its closed position. |
| US09382731B2 |
Active hood latch apparatus for vehicle
An active hood latch apparatus for a vehicle includes a latch for locking or unlocking a striker connected to a hood; a base panel installed such that the latch can be rotated; a lever member rotatably installed in the base panel, the striker locked by the latch being located in a rotational path thereof; a locking part rotatably installed in the base panel to restrain movement of a guide pin, and to release the restraint of the guide pin in conjunction with the rotation of the lever member; and a driving part rotating the lever member by a force larger than a restraint force of the locking part that restrain the guide pin, to supply power to raise the striker, and then absorbing an impact. |
| US09382725B2 |
ToweLock
This invention provides for an apparatus for securing corners or edges of a piece of fabric that is used for covering ground surfaces. The apparatus includes a clip for gripping the piece of fabric and a stake with a spike for anchoring the apparatus into the ground surfaces. When a user presses rear ends of the clip, the stake and the spike would be released such that the apparatus could be anchored to the ground surfaces. |
| US09382718B1 |
Engineered wood flooring with a double-frame substrate
The present invention relates to engineered wood flooring with a double-frame substrate. The engineered wood flooring comprises a double-frame substrate of wood and a solid wood panel adhered to the double-frame substrate. The double-frame substrate of wood comprises a horizontal grain core and two vertical grain frames; two vertical grain frames are bonded on both sides of the horizontal grain core along the grain direction of the core; the horizontal grain core is sandwiched in the middle, and the horizontal grain core and the vertical grain frame are perpendicular to each other and located in the same plane; the vertical grain frame on each side comprises two vertical grain boards, and one vertical wood board is located between the horizontal grain core and the other vertical wood board. The engineered wood flooring has excellent resistance of deformation, small deformation, high strength and steady usage. |
| US09382713B2 |
Panel for sheathing system and method
The panel includes a water resistant barrier layer secured atop its outward facing surface. The water resistant barrier layer includes a skid resistant surface. The panels are made of lignocellulosic material. The water resistant and skid resistant surface may include indicia for aligning strips of tape or for aligning fasteners. A method for manufacturing the water resistant building panels is also disclosed and includes the steps of feeding paper onto a forming belt, depositing lignocellulosic material and the binding agent onto the forming belt so as to form a lignocellulosic mat, applying heat and pressure so as to impart the skid resistant surface on the paper, and cutting panels to predetermined sizes. |
| US09382709B2 |
Premanufactured structures for constructing buildings
Premanufactured structures for constructing buildings comprise a construction system for an energy efficient multi-story building with standard single or mixed units. The multi-story building is constructed using premanufactured structures: non-weight bearing walls with finished exterior including all electrical, insulating, plumbing and communications components that are premanufactured at a site distant from a building site, and the non-weight bearings walls are attached to a floor and ceiling slabs, interfacing with each other to enclose units of the building; interior components that are premanufactured at a remote site to connect to inside portions of the non-weight bearing walls; and exterior components that are premanufactured at the remote site to attach to exterior surfaces of the building. Non-weight bearing walls, interior components, and exterior components are installed and connected together to provide the energy efficient multi-story building with units with different floor plans, and optionally, a retail level with underground parking. |
| US09382708B1 |
Device for acoustical characteristics modification
The instant art comprises a bracket that can be easily broken down into a substantially flat sheet, and a panel, both of relatively small volume, thereby enabling easy storage and/or transport. The combination is easily installed or removed and the panel is easily attached to the bracket and/or removed from the bracket. Said combination may modify the acoustical properties of an area. |
| US09382707B2 |
Acoustic shell frame and system
An acoustic shell system includes a frame comprising a first column, a second column, and a base. The first and second columns each comprise a circular portion with a channel along the length of the column where the circular portion is configured to attach to one or more panels. The circular portion is coupled to a noncircular portion opposite the channel having at least one channel along the length of the column and configured to attach to one or more components. The base comprises first and second arms coupled to opposing ends of a cross-support. Each of the arms is also coupled to one of the columns at about a ninety degree angle. The length of the cross-support is less than the distance between the first and second columns. |
| US09382706B2 |
Method of retrofitting a building
A method of retrofitting a home includes providing a structural base on a ground surface adjacent to and outside the outer walls, the structural base comprising one or more air passages; installing insulation adjacent to an outer surface of the outer walls, the insulation being supported by the structural base; and installing siding material on an outer surface of the insulation, the siding material and the existing outer walls enclosing the insulation and defining a flow path, a top of the flow path comprising one or more air passages into the attic space such that air flows along the insulation in the flow path between the structural base and the attic space. A plurality of new trusses may be supported at an apex of the existing roof that overhanging the existing outer walls and the insulation, the trusses sloping direction of the slope of the existing roof. |
| US09382705B2 |
Structural element for heat-insulating purposes
Structural element for heat-insulating purposes between two structural parts, in particular between a building (A) and a projecting exterior part (B), formed of an insulating body (16), which is to be arranged between the two structural parts, and of reinforcing elements in the form of at least load-bearing elements (19a, 19b) which, with the structural element (10) in the installed state, run through the insulating body substantially horizontally and transversely to the substantially horizontal longitudinal extent of the insulating body, and can be connected at least indirectly to each of the two structural parts, wherein the load-bearing element is formed in more than one part and has at least one load-bearing web (19a, 19b) and a separate compressive-force-distributing element (20a, 20b) on at least one of its end sides (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) directed towards the one of the two structural parts, and the compressive-force-distributing element (20a, 20b) is produced from a material which has a level of thermal conductivity λ which is lower than 2.0 W/mK. |
| US09382704B2 |
Protective air barrier sealant for conditioned and unconditioned building walls
A protective air barrier air barrier sealant and methods of applying the same, including a high density polyurethane chemistry provided in an amount, volume, and density effective for providing a protective air barrier for an enclosure, wherein the polyurethane material is combined with at least one UV, fire and antimicrobial protectant for providing UV protection to UV-exposed surfaces. |
| US09382703B2 |
Systems and methods for constructing temporary, re-locatable structures
A system for constructing a reassemblable structure is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of wall panels, a plurality of roof panels, a plurality of floor panels, at least one readjustable support device adapted to be adjusted to multiple positions, a plurality of skirt panels coupled below at least one floor panel and supported by the at least one readjustable support device, a plurality of load-bearing members coupled to the wall panels, a plurality of load-bearing members coupled to the wall skirt panels, at least one floor support suspended between two load-bearing members coupled to the skirt panels and supporting the plurality of floor panels, and at least one roof support suspended between two load-bearing members coupled to the wall panels and supporting the plurality of roof panels |
| US09382702B2 |
Sink fastener for fastening a sink unit to a countertop
A sink fastener for fastening a sink unit with an outer flange within an opening in a countertop is provided. The sink fastener includes a frame for attachment to a bowl wall of the sink unit, a threaded vertical bolt rotatably mounted within the frame, a claw member having a lateral portion threadably mounted on the vertical bolt and an upstanding retainer portion, and a guide member for constraining the movement of the claw member. In use, rotation of the vertical bolt causes the claw member to rise up the bolt to engage an underside of the countertop, and in a lower disengaged position the claw member is free to turn about a vertical axis into a retracted position wherein the claw member lies constrained under the flange to permit insertion of the sink unit into the countertop opening. The guide member ensures that as the claw member rises up the bolt the claw member turns about the vertical axis into a constrained outwardly extended position for engagement with the underside of the countertop. |
| US09382700B2 |
Jet regulator
A jet regulator (1) including a two-part jet-regulator housing (2), the outlet end face (3) of which has multiple passages (4), a pot-shaped inlay (6) that is inserted into the housing interior (2) until it reaches the outlet end face (3) and that has multiple tubular spray nozzles (7), each of which penetrates a passage (4) on the outlet end face of the jet regulator housing (2) and the free spray-nozzle region of which protrudes beyond the outlet end face (3) of the jet regulator (1, 5). The jet regulator also includes an insert (8) that is inserted in the housing interior and the position of the inlay part (6) is secured in an axial direction between the insert, the second housing part and the outlet end face (3). |
| US09382699B2 |
Handshower slide mechanism
A handshower slide comprising a bar with a passageway and a slide mechanism positioned along a length of the bar. The slide mechanism comprises a handle, a cam, and a shower holder. The cam is positioned within the passageway and is rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the bar. The slide mechanism is secured along the length of the bar while the cam is in the first orientation and movable along the length of the bar while the cam is in the second orientation. An orientation of the cam is controlled by a spring and is biased toward the first orientation. The handle is coupled the slide mechanism through the spring and an orientation of the cam is correlated to a position of the handle. The cam is movable from the first orientation to the second orientation by an external force on the handle. |
| US09382697B2 |
Fire hydrant cleaning device
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning an associated object includes a motor and an output drive shaft powered by the motor. A cleaning attachment is coupled for rotational movement with the output drive shaft and has an axis of rotation. The cleaning attachment includes a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface. A plurality of elongated cleaning members is mounted to the inner surface of the housing. The apparatus can be employed as a cleaning implement for fire hydrants or other stationary objects. A mechanized method for cleaning stationary objects is also disclosed. |
| US09382693B2 |
Work vehicle and work vehicle control method
A hydraulic excavator is provided with an arm cylinder, an arm switching valve, a sixth pilot pressure control valve, a sixth electromagnetic proportional valve, a sixth upstream pilot flow path, a sixth hydraulic pressure sensor, and a control section. The control section selects at least one item of current value information from a plurality of items of current value information on the basis of a hydraulic pressure that is detected by the sixth hydraulic pressure sensor. The control section is configured to set a current value of a current that is output to the sixth electromagnetic proportional valve on the basis of the current value information that is selected. |
| US09382692B2 |
Seat stand and working machine including same
A seat stand includes a seat support section including an installation plate portion having an upper surface on which a seat is provided and an left control box support section extending from a seat support section to the left side of the seat and supporting a left control box. The left control box support section includes an extension portion extending sideward from the installation plate portion and including an upper surface on which the left control box is supported. A arranging space is provided under the extension portion in such a manner that a connection line extending from the left control box supported on the extension portion is arranged through the arranging space. A cutout portion, formed in the extension portion, penetrates the extension portion in a vertical direction and is open sideward. |
| US09382689B2 |
Stump destruction apparatus
The present disclosure provides an apparatus comprising a frame supporting a motor and a gearbox, and a bit assembly, the bit assembly comprising a shaft, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the gearbox via a gearbox output flange, a main bit assembly further comprising an upper cutting blade and a lower cutting blade attached to the shaft, wherein the lower cutting blade is located closer to the second end of the shaft than the upper cutting blade, an adjustable depth cutting guide attached to a bottom portion of the upper cutting blade, and a lateral cutting blade attached at the far end of the upper cutting blade and a guide bit assembly wherein the apparatus is attachable to a self-propelled vehicle. |
| US09382688B2 |
System and method to excavate using pneumatic shock wave
A system and method to excavate using a pneumatic shock wave includes a supply of pressurized fluid, a suction wand, and an air line in communication with the supply of pressurized fluid. A portion of the air line is integrated within the suction wand. The system also includes a dump valve interposed between the supply of pressurized fluid and the portion of the air line integrated within the suction wand. The dump valve is configured to rapidly discharge a pulse of the pressurized fluid out an open end of the air line to generate a shock wave at a distal end of the suction wand to fracture and dislodge soil so that the suction wand can excavate the soil. |
| US09382682B2 |
Pile cleaner apparatus
A truss cage formed of two symmetrical halves is fastened together around a pile. Traction motors having caterpillar treads oriented for vertical movement are pressed against the pile by springs. A trolley ride along the tracks formed by the truss cage on the outside of the cage and carries one or more water jets or other cleaning tools. The trolley oscillates along the outside of the truss cage as the water jet sprays the pile with high pressure water. The traction motors carry the entire apparatus up and down the pile. The entire pile can thus be cleaned of marine debris. |
| US09382672B2 |
Apparatus and method for dryer performance optimization system
A dryer performance optimization system comprising a dryer having an inner wall and being adapted to rotate at variable speeds and a variable frequency drive being adapted to vary the rotational speed of the dryer. The preferred system also comprises a baghouse having an inlet end being adapted to receive exhaust gas from the dryer and an outlet end and a controller being adapted to control the temperature of the exhaust gas from the dryer. A method for controlling the temperature of exhaust gas in a baghouse comprising providing a dryer performance optimization system as described herein and varying the temperature of the exhaust gas from the dryer by varying the rotational speed of the dryer. |
| US09382665B2 |
Method of making a wiper/towel product with cellulosic microfibers
A method of making a wiper/towel product includes compactively dewatering a nascent web having cellulosic microfibers and an apparently random distribution of fibers. The dewatered web is applied to a transfer surface. The web is belt-creped from the transfer surface utilizing a creping belt. The belt-creping step occurs under pressure in a belt creping nip. The web is dried to form a dried web having a plurality of fiber-enriched hollow domed regions protruding from an upper side of the web. The hollow domed regions have a sidewall of a relatively high local basis weight formed along at least a leading edge thereof. The web also has connecting regions of a relatively lower local basis weight forming a network interconnecting the hollow domed regions, and transition areas provided with upwardly and inwardly inflected consolidated fibrous regions that transition from the connecting regions into the sidewalls of the hollow domed regions. |
| US09382663B2 |
Apparatus, system, and process for determining characteristics of a surface of a papermaking fabric
Apparatuses, processes, and systems for determining features of a paper-making fabric. The apparatus, processes, and systems utilize a representation of a portion of a surface of the fabric, with the representation showing locations and sizes of knuckles and pockets in the surface of the fabric. An image of the portion of the fabric is generated based on the representation. Using the displayed image, an outline is drawn around at least one of the knuckles, and guidelines are drawn such that the guidelines pass through the center of the outlined knuckle, pass through the other knuckles, and form a shape that surrounds areas of the image that correspond to where the pockets are formed between the knuckles. With the outlined knuckle and guidelines, properties that affect the paper-making functionality of the fabric may be calculated. |
| US09382659B2 |
Printing ink and coating compositions containing starch
An aqueous printing ink and coating composition contains colorant, one or more high molecular weight starches and one or more water soluble acrylic polymers or co-polymers. |
| US09382656B2 |
Laundry treating apparatus
The present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus that smoothly agitates laundry with as large space as possible for receiving laundry. The laundry treating apparatus includes: a rotatable drum that receives laundry, has open front and rear, and is formed to have a non-circular closed cross-section; a rotatable circular guide that supports a portion having a uniform curvature of the drum; and a drum guide that is disposed on the edge of the drum and seals the portion between the circular guide and the drum. |
| US09382645B2 |
Overfeed roller assembly, textile machine, and method of adjusting tension in a running yarn
An overfeed roller assembly for use on a rotating drive shaft of a textile machine is adapted for adjusting downstream tension in a continuous moving length of yarn. The overfeed roller assembly comprises a base assembly designed for mounting on the drive shaft, and an annular yarn tension adjuster carried by the base assembly. The tension adjuster comprises opposing closely spaced yarn-contacting walls. The yarn-contacting walls define a shallow generally serpentine depression in the tension adjuster adapted for receiving the continuous moving length of yarn. Yarn tension downstream of the roller assembly is thereby reduced as the moving yarn meanders through the tension adjuster in frictional contact with the yarn-contacting walls of the serpentine depression. |
| US09382642B2 |
Reaction chamber of an epitaxial reactor and reactor that uses said chamber
The present invention relates to a reaction chamber of an epitaxial reactor that essentially consists of a quartz piece; the quartz piece comprises a quartz piece portion (1) having an internal cavity (2) defined by walls (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D); the cavity (2) comprises a reaction and deposition zone (3) of the epitaxial reactor; the zone (3) is adapted to house a susceptor (4) to be heated therein; the reaction chamber also comprises a quartz component (5) arranged close to said walls (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D) in such a manner as to form a counterwall and to be a wall of said zone (3). |
| US09382641B2 |
Epitaxial substrate for semiconductor device, semiconductor device, and method of manufacturing epitaxial substrate for semiconductor device
An epitaxial substrate having preferable two dimensional electron gas characteristic and contact characteristic is provided in the present invention. A channel layer is formed on a base substrate with GaN. A spacer layer is formed on the channel layer with AlN. A barrier layer is formed on the spacer layer with group III nitride having a composition of InXAlyGazN (wherein x+y+z=1) and at least including In, Al, and Ga such that the composition of the barrier layer is within the range surrounded with four lines defined in accordance with the composition on a ternary phase diagram with InN, AlN, and GaN as vertexes. |
| US09382639B2 |
Device and method for crystallizing inorganic or organic substances
A device for crystallizing a molecule to be crystallized, which includes: at least one crystallization cell that includes a crystallization chamber for receiving a first solution S1 containing the molecule to be crystallized and the crystal seeds thereof, a dialysis membrane, and a container to be filled with a second solution S2 that contains constituents selected from the group containing crystallization agents, additives and buffers; and at least one image acquisition means. The crystallization device is characterized in that it includes: at least one addition means arranged to add, to the container, constituents selected from the group containing crystallization agents, additives and buffers of solution S2; and/or at least one sampling means arranged to collect, from the container, all or a portion of solution S2. The invention also relates to a crystallization method. |
| US09382637B2 |
Method of anodizing hollow metallic bodies
A plurality of cup-shaped workpieces are anodized by first securing each of them in a downwardly open position on an electrically conductive and flat workpiece frame that is then inverted such that the workpieces are open upward and lowered into a body of anodizing liquid in a treatment bath until the workpieces are wholly immersed and the frame is in contact with a horizontal rail. Thereafter the frame is moved horizontally while wholly immersed in the anodizing liquid while electricity flows between the rail and a cathode immersed in the bath below the workpieces such the liquid anodizes surfaces of the workpieces. The frame is raised out of the body of liquid with the workpieces open upward, and, while the workpieces are still above the body of liquid, inverting the frame and the workpieces so that the workpieces are open downward and any treatment liquid drains downward into the bath. |
| US09382636B2 |
Process for producing an iron-tin layer on a packaging steel substrate
A production process for producing an iron-tin alloy layer on a packaging steel substrate and to a substrate provided with said layer wherein one or both sides of a SR- or DR-blackplate substrate is coated with an iron-tin alloy layer which contains at least 80 weight percent (wt. %) of FeSn (50 at. % tin and 50 at. % iron). |
| US09382635B2 |
Metal surface treatment agent, and metal surface treatment method
A metal surface treatment agent and a metal surface treatment which impart excellent electrodeposition coatability (smoothness and throwing power) to a metallic base while heightening corrosion resistance. The metal surface treatment agent that is used in a pretreatment of an electrodeposition coating of a metallic base and includes one or more zirconium, titanium, or hafnium metallic elements, one or more silane coupling agents, hydrolysates thereof, or polymers thereof, and an electrophilic reactive group-containing compound (C) containing a homocycle and a heterocycle in one molecule and has a water solubility at 20° C. of 0.2 to 30 g/L, and the contents of the metallic elements, the coupling agents, and the electrophilic reactive group-containing compound satisfy a given relationship. |
| US09382626B2 |
Stable tin free catalysts for electroless metallization
Catalysts which include nanoparticles of palladium metal and cellulose derivatives are used in electroless metal plating. The palladium catalysts are free of tin. |
| US09382625B2 |
Remote plasma source based cyclic CVD process for nanocrystalline diamond deposition
Methods for making a nanocrystalline diamond layer are disclosed herein. A method of forming a layer can include activating a deposition gas comprising an alkane and a hydrogen containing gas at a first pressure, delivering the activated deposition gas to the substrate at a second pressure which is less than the first pressure, forming a nanocrystalline diamond layer, treating the layer with an activated hydrogen containing gas to remove one or more polymers from the surface and repeating the cycle to achieve a desired thickness. |
| US09382624B2 |
Film formation method using oscillators for measurement and calibration during calibration step performed during film formation
A film formation method controls with accuracy the thickness of a thin film formed on a film formation object. The film formation method includes a film formation step of heating a film formation source and forming a film on a film formation object while moving the film formation source and monitoring an amount of released vapors of the film forming material using a quartz oscillator for measurement, a control step of adjusting a heating temperature of the film formation source based on the monitored value of the quartz oscillator for measurement, and a calibration step of calibrating the monitored value of the quartz oscillator for measurement, using a quartz oscillator for calibration and the quartz oscillator for measurement. The calibration step is performed in a middle of the film formation step, after movement of the film formation source is started from a waiting position. |
| US09382614B2 |
Defect reduction in meta-mode sputter coatings
Sputter deposition systems and methods for depositing film coatings on one or more substrates are disclosed. The systems and methods are used to prevent or reduce an amount of defects within a deposited film. The methods involve removing defect-related particles that are formed during a deposition process from certain regions of the sputter deposition system and preventing the defect-related particles from detrimentally affecting the quality of the deposited film. In particular embodiments, methods involve creating a flow of gas from a deposition region to a particle collection region the sputter deposition system such that the defect-related particles are entrained within the flow of gas and away from the deposition region. In particular embodiments, the sputter deposition system is a meta-mode sputter deposition system. |
| US09382613B2 |
Sputtering target, manufacturing method thereof, and manufacturing method of semiconductor element
According to an embodiment, two or more sets of knead forging are performed where one set is cold forging processes in directions parallel to and perpendicular to a thickness direction of a columnar titanium material. The titanium material is heated to a temperature of 700° C. or more to induce recrystallization, and thereafter, two or more sets of knead forging are performed where one set is the cold forging processes in the directions parallel to and perpendicular to the thickness direction. Further, the titanium material is cold rolled, and is heat-treated to a temperature of 300° C. or more. |
| US09382605B2 |
Economic oxidation and fatigue resistant metallic coating
The present disclosure relates to an improved low-cost metallic coating to be deposited on gas turbine engine components. The metallic coating consists of 1.0 to 18 wt % cobalt, 3.0 to 18 wt % chromium, 5.0 to 15 wt % aluminum, 0.01 to 1.0 wt % yttrium, 0.01 to 0.6 wt % hafnium, 0.0 to 0.3 wt % silicon, 0.0 to 1.0 wt % zirconium, 0.0 to 10 wt % tantalum, 0.0 to 9.0 wt % tungsten, 0.0 to 10 wt % molybdenum, 0.0 to 43.0 wt % platinum, and the balance nickel. |
| US09382601B2 |
Method of producing porous aluminum
A method of producing a porous aluminum is provided. The method includes preparing a powder mixture of at least one of Al and an Al alloy and carbon nanoparticles and melting the powder mixture. In addition, the method includes oxidizing the melt using oxygen bubbling and solidifying the melt. |
| US09382597B2 |
Steel sheet for enamel having no surface defects and method of manufacturing the same
A steel sheet for enameling for eliminating surface defects such as fish scale defects and having excellent formability, and provides a steel sheet for enamel having no surface defects, including: more than 0 wt % and 0.005 wt % or less of C, 0.1 to 0.5 wt % of Mn, more than 0 wt % and 0.03 wt % or less of Si, 0.05 to 0.3 wt % of Cr, more than 0 wt % and 0.03 wt % or less of Al, 0.03 to 0.1 wt % of O, more than 0 wt % and 0.03 wt % or less of P, more than 0 wt % and 0.02 wt % or less of S, more than 0 wt % and 0.015 wt % or less of Cu, more than 0 wt % and 0.005 wt % or less of N, Fe in a remaining content, and other inevitable impurities. |
| US09382595B2 |
Method for the production and the purification of molten calcium aluminate using contaminated aluminum dross residue
The present invention provides a process for the preparation of pre-melted calcium aluminate for iron and steel treatment and protection by the fusion of aluminum dross residues, usually referred to as non-metallic products (NMP) containing variable levels of aluminum (Al) and aluminum nitride (AlN) with calcium carbonate at high temperature, under oxidizing atmosphere. It further relates to the purification of the molten calcium aluminate from some contaminants present in the dross residue. |
| US09382593B2 |
Continuous or semi-continuous process for treating biomass to produce materials useful for biofuels
Fermentable sugar useful for the production of biofuels is produced from biomass in a continuous or semi-continuous manner by providing pumpable biomass. |
| US09382592B2 |
Primers and probes for detection and discrimination of types and subtypes of influenza viruses
Methods of detecting influenza, including differentiating between type and subtype are disclosed, for example to detect, type, and/or subtype an influenza infection. A sample suspected of containing a nucleic acid of an influenza virus, is screened for the presence or absence of that nucleic acid. The presence of the influenza virus nucleic acid indicates the presence of influenza virus. Determining whether the influenza virus nucleic acid is present in the sample can be accomplished by detecting hybridization between an influenza specific probe, influenza type specific probe, and/or subtype specific probe and an influenza nucleic acid. Probes and primers for the detection, typing and/or subtyping of influenza virus are also disclosed. Kits and arrays that contain the disclosed probes and/or primers also are disclosed. |
| US09382590B2 |
Methods and compositions for prostate cancer metastasis
Provided are methods and compositions for determining an increased likelihood of prostate cancer cells in a subject to metastasize. |
| US09382588B2 |
Markers for identifying breast cancer treatment modalities
The present invention includes methods for identifying patients who will be resistant to endocrine therapy during breast cancer treatment and determining patient outcome. The methods are based on identifying increased expression of PBX1, or the cistrome signature associated therewith, in breast tissue samples. |
| US09382587B2 |
Diagnosis of breast cancer based on expression level of thioredoxin-1
The present disclosure relates to a diagnostic marker for breast cancer, having thioredoxin-1 as an active ingredient, and to a diagnostic kit for breast cancer using the same. The thioredoxin-1 is overexpressed in human breast cancer tissue so as to enable the early diagnosis of breast cancer or the early prediction prognosis of breast cancer, and therefore has a valuable use as a diagnostic marker for breast cancer. The present disclosure further relates to a method for the diagnosis of breast cancer comprising measuring serum thioredoxin 1 level. In addition, the method is useful in the early diagnosis of breast cancer thanks to its high diagnostic sensitivity and selectivity. |
| US09382586B2 |
Method to detect repeat sequence motifs in nucleic acid
Methods for determining the presence or absence of expansion of CGG repeat sequence in the FMR1 gene presence or absence of expansion of CCG repeat sequence in the FMR2 gene are provided. The methods are useful in identifying an individual with normal/intermediate, versus premutation or full mutation allele of FMR1 gene and FMR2 gene due to the expansion of CGG repeats and CCG repeats in the 5′-untranslated region respectively. The methods are also useful for screening newborns for fragile X syndrome or for screening women to determine heterozygosity status with full premutation of the CCG repeat tract. The methods are also useful in estimating the premutation and full mutation carrier frequency and estimating the prevalence of FXTAS AND FXPOI in a population. The methods are simple, rapid and require small amount of sample. |
| US09382585B2 |
Apparatus for high throughput sequencing of nucleic acids
A scalable reaction and detection system for automated high throughput sequencing of nucleic acids involving a combination of chemical processes and observation processes independent of the chemistry processes. Discrete functional units may be configured in a manner that allows the system to interchangeably utilize different sequencing reaction components in conjunction with discrete apparatus components for optical image collection and/or analysis. |
| US09382581B2 |
Primers with modified phosphate and base in allele-specific PCR
The present invention includes a method of allele-specific amplification, utilizing an allele-specific oligonucleotide, at least partially complementary to more than one variant of the target sequence, but having at least one selective nucleotide complementary to only one variant of the target sequence and incorporating both a nucleotide with a base covalently modified at the exocyclic amino group and a modified phosphate. |
| US09382579B2 |
DNA/nanoparticle complex enhanced radio frequency transponder: structure of mark for detecting hybridization state and authenticating and tracking articles, method of preparing the same, and method of authenticating the same
An apparatus comprises an antenna pattern precursor, wherein the antenna pattern precursor includes a plurality of sensitive regions; and electromagnetically functionalized DNA/nanoparticle complex(es) that individualize the ability to transition between the precursor antenna electrical and resonant frequency characteristics, and activated antenna electrical and resonant frequency characteristics through DNA hybridization of the specific sequences contained in the electromagnetically functionalized DNA/nanoparticle complex(es). |
| US09382578B2 |
Detection units and methods for detecting a target analyte
The present application relates to detection units and methods for detecting one or more target analytes in a sample. In certain embodiments, the detection unit provides a first and second surface connected by a filament which is capable of binding the target analyte in the sample. In other embodiments, the detection unit provides a circular molecule capable of binding the target analyte and accumulating torsional stress in the presence of a twisting agent. The methods provide for the detection of the target analyte through the generation of a detectable signal following the binding of the target analyte to the filament. |
| US09382577B2 |
Biological sample collection
Disclosed is a device (10) for collecting a biological sample, the device comprising an elongate handle (40) extending generally along a handle axis, and a sample collecting head (20) removably supported or supportable on the handle, the head being formed from a porous folded planar or sheet material, optionally including a plurality of arms (22-28 FIG. 2) each extending away from the handle axis in a different direction. An ejection handle is provided. Disclosed also is an efficient method for extracting DNA information from the device. |
| US09382571B2 |
Method for detecting delta haemolysin of Staphylococcus aureus by mass spectrometry directly using a bacterial population
The present invention relates to a method for studying a sample containing a bacterial population of Staphylococcus aureus with a specific mass spectrometry technique allowing specific detection on the obtained mass spectrum of the presence or of the absence of a peak at an m/z value of 3005±5 Th Thomson or at 3035±5 Th Thomson, and accordingly, to the issuance of a decision conditioned by this result. |
| US09382570B2 |
Live bioload detection using microparticles
The present invention provides methods to concentrate cells onto microparticles, to concentrate the microparticles, and to detect the cells. The present invention also includes unitary sample preparation and detection devices to be used in accordance with the methods. |
| US09382567B2 |
Methods of producing hybrid antibodies
A method for engineering and utilizing large DNA vectors to target, via homologous recombination, and modify, in any desirable fashion, endogenous genes and chromosomal loci in eukaryotic cells. These large DNA targeting vectors for eukaryotic cells, termed LTVECs, are derived from fragments of cloned genomic DNA larger than those typically used by other approaches intended to perform homologous targeting in eukaryotic cells. Also provided is a rapid and convenient method of detecting eukaryotic cells in which the LTVEC has correctly targeted and modified the desired endogenous gene(s) or chromosomal locus (loci) as well as the use of these cells to generate organisms bearing the genetic modification. |
| US09382563B2 |
Expression of granular starch hydrolyzing enzyme in trichoderma
The present invention relates to filamentous fungal host cells and particularly Trichoderma host cells useful for the production of heterologous granular starch hydrolyzing enzymes having glucoamylase activity. |
| US09382559B2 |
Polypeptides having peroxygenase activity and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having peroxygenase activity, and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides. |
| US09382558B2 |
Fatty acids from phytoplankton
This invention relates to a new process for making fatty acids directly from a feedstock consisting of phytoplankton in water without the need to a) thermally separate, dewater and dry the phytoplankton, and b) extract the immobilized lipids.Our method is much less expensive than the current practice of making fatty acids from phytoplankton, because we bypass the costly and energy intensive operations associated with a) dewatering and drying the biomass, and b) extracting the immobilized lipids. As such, this invention greatly enhances the economic viability of making biofuels and bioproducts from phytoplankton. |
| US09382551B2 |
Subfamily E simian adenoviruses A1321, A1325, A1295, A1309, A1316 and A1322 and uses thereof
Recombinant vectors comprise simian adenovirus A1321 (SAdV-A1321), SAdV-A1325, SAdV-A1295, SAdV-A1309, SAdV-A1316, and/or SAdV-A1322 sequences and a heterologous gene under the control of regulatory sequences. A cell line which expresses simian adenovirus SAdV-A1321, SAdV-A1325, SAdV-A1295, SAdV-A1309, SAdV-A1316, and/or SAdV-A1322 gene(s) is also disclosed. Methods of using the vectors and cell lines are provided. |
| US09382548B2 |
Nanocarrier based plant transfection and transduction
The present invention provides a novel method for the transduction and/or transfection of plant cells. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been successfully employed as nanocarriers to deliver proteins and oligonucleotides to single plant cell microspores as well as multi-cellular zygotic embryos. The efficiency of CPP internalization and further delivery of a macromolecular cargo comprising a protein and/or an oligonucleotide can be enhanced by permeabilization of the zygotic embryos. |
| US09382546B2 |
Process for making oligopeptides
There is described a method of synthesizing a family of oligopeptides of predetermined amino acid sequence, which together make up from 7 amino acids to the complete amino acid sequence of a target protein, which comprises: synthesizing a nucleic acid construct which codes for a fusion protein composed of overlapping peptides derived from the desired portion of the target protein, interspersed with regions which code for protease cleavage sites, expressing the nucleic acid construct in a suitable expression vector, harvesting the fusion protein corresponding to the nucleic acid sequence, and digesting the fusion protein with a protease selective for the cleavage sites to generate the oligopeptides. The oligopeptides may be generated in vitro or in vitro and may be used as vaccines against viral infections and in epitope mapping. MGGKWSKSSVVGWPAVRERMIEGRVGWPAVRERMRRAEPAADGVIEGRRRA EPAADGVGAVSRDLEKHIEGRGAVSRDLEKHGAITSSNTAAIEGRGAITSS NTAATNADCAWLEAIEGRTNADCAWLEAQEEEEVGFPVIEGRQEEEEVGFP VTPQVPLRPMTIEGRTPQVPLRPMTYKAAVDLSHFIEGRYKAAVDLSHFLK EKGGLEGLIEGRLKEKGGLEGLIHSQRRQDILIEGRIHSQRRQDILDLWIY HTQGYIEGRDLWIYHTQGYFPDWQNYTPEIEGRFPDWQNYTPEPGVRYPLT FGIEGRPGVRYPLTFGWCY |
| US09382539B2 |
MicroRNA and methods for inhibiting same
The invention relates to isolated DNA or RNA molecules comprising at least ten contiguous bases having a sequence in a pancreatic islet microRNA. In another embodiment, the invention relates to isolated single stranded pancreatic islet microRNA molecules or anti-pancreatic islet microRNA molecules. |
| US09382538B2 |
Treatment of colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF3) related diseases by inhibition of natural antisense transcript to CSF3
The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF3), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Colony-stimulating factor 3 (CSF3). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of CSF3. |
| US09382529B2 |
Processes for producing polyunsaturated fatty acids in transgenic organisms
The present invention relates to polynucleotides from Ostreococcus lucimarinus which code for desaturases and elongases and which can be employed for the recombinant production of polyunsaturated fatty acids. The invention furthermore relates to vectors, host cells and transgenic nonhuman organisms which comprise the polynucleotides, and to the polypeptides encoded by the polynucleotides. Finally, the invention also relates to production processes for the polyunsaturated fatty acids and for oil, lipid and fatty acid compositions. |
| US09382527B2 |
Heat-stable carbonic anhydrases and their use
The present invention relates to use of Caminibacter carbonic anhydrase in CO2 extraction, e.g., from flue gas, natural gas, biogas or ambient air. The Caminibacter carbonic anhydrases are especially well suited for these purpose due to their extreme thermostability. |
| US09382522B2 |
Thermus scotoductus nucleic acid polymerases
The invention provides nucleic acids and polypeptides for a nucleic acid polymerase from a thermophilic organism, Thermus scotoductus. The invention also provides methods for using these nucleic acids and polypeptides. |
| US09382520B2 |
Mutated genes for the catalytic protein of oplophorus luciferase and use thereof
Secreted luciferases which are different from those known heretofore have been desired. The present invention provides a luciferase mutant comprising an amino acid sequence in which at least one amino acid selected from amino acids at the positions of 1 to 4 is deleted in the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2. |
| US09382519B2 |
Ketoreductase polypeptides for the production of azetidinone
The present disclosure provides engineered ketoreductase enzymes having improved properties as compared to a naturally occurring wild-type ketoreductase enzyme. Also provided are polynucleotides encoding the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, host cells capable of expressing the engineered ketoreductase enzymes, and methods of using the engineered ketoreductase enzymes to synthesize a variety of chiral compounds. |
| US09382517B2 |
HCV full-length infectious cell culture systems and applications thereof
The present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences that encode hepatitis C viruses (HCV) that are useful in the fundamental research of HCV as well as in the search of a vaccine against HCV. In particular the present invention relates to nucleic acid sequences that comprises HCVs which are capable of expressing said virus when transfected into cells and are capable of infectivity in vivo. |
| US09382516B2 |
Epigenetic induction of human patient-specific self-propagating dopaminergic neuron cell
Disclosure of a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line. Disclosure of a patient specific cell line. Disclosure of a method to obtain a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line by fusing a differentiated mammalian cell and a functionally enucleated mammalian embryonic cell line. Disclosure of a method to obtain a patient specific cell line of a cell type similar to a mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line by functionally enucleating the mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line and fusing the functionally enucleated mammalian cytoplasmic donor cell line with a differentiated cell obtained from the patient. A method of treatment administering the patient-specific cell line to the patient. |
| US09382514B2 |
Compositions comprising mesenchymal stem cell-derived fibroblasts
Methods and compositions are provided for the differentiation and characterization of mammalian fibroblast from mesenchymal stem cells. The methods of the invention provide a means to obtain mesenchymal stem cell-derived fibroblast populations, e.g., seeded on a scaffold, which may be used in wound healing. |
| US09382513B2 |
Method of making an avian cell line
The present invention relates to a method for producing avian cell lines, comprising gradual or complete withdrawal of growth factors, serum and/or feeder layer so that the established lines are adherent or nonadherent cells capable of proliferating indefinitely in a basic culture medium. The invention also relates to the cells derived from such lines which are particularly useful for the production of substances of interest. |
| US09382512B2 |
Method for evaluating cell populations
The invention describes specific sialylated structures present on human stem cells and cell populations derived thereof. The invention is especially directed to methods to control the status of stem cells by observing changes in sialylation of the cells; and control of potential contaminations of biological materials; and reagents and methods used in connection with the cells in order to avoid alterations of the cell glycosylation by contaminating materials. The invention is further directed to novel stem cells, the glycosylation of which has been specifically altered. |
| US09382509B2 |
Apparatus and method of using an agricultural waste digester and biogas generation system
An agricultural waste digester and biogas generation system is disclosed that includes a digester assembly having a cylindrical body, a hollow interior, a center axis and a plurality of wheel segments within the interior of the digester assembly. A gas conduit extends from the interior of the digester assembly to a power generation device. Also included is a water vessel containing water, and each of the plurality of wheel segments have an acruate, contoured surface area which restrict biogas movement within the digester assembly to produce induced agitation of agricultural waste. |
| US09382506B2 |
Detergent products, methods and manufacture
A water-soluble pouch suitable for use in machine dishwashing and which comprises a plurality of compartments in generally superposed or superposable relationship, each containing one or more detergent active or auxiliary components, and wherein the pouch has a volume of from about 5 to about 70 ml and a longitudinal/transverse aspect ratio in the range from about 2:1 to about 1:8, preferably from about 1:1 to about 1:4. The water-soluble pouch allows for optimum delivery of dishwashing detergent. A process for the manufacture of multi-compartment pouches and a pack to contain the pouches are also disclosed. |
| US09382505B2 |
Stearyl and lauryl dimoniumhydroxy alkyl polyglucosides for enhanced food soil removal
A cleaning composition including a primarily C12 quaternary functionalized alkyl polyglucoside selected from the group consisting of stearyldimoniumhydroxypropyl laurylglucosides chloride and lauryldimoniumhydroxypropyl cocoglucosides chloride, a water conditioning agent, an acid source, a solvent, and water. In one embodiment, the cleaning composition is substantially free of alkyl phenol ethoxylates. The cleaning composition is capable of removing soils including up to 20% proteins. The cleaning compositions include a biorenewable, environmentally friendly alternative to nonyl phenol ethoxylates and exhibit superior cleaning of food soils. |
| US09382502B2 |
Methods of refining and producing isomerized fatty acid esters and fatty acids from natural oil feedstocks
Methods are provided for refining natural oil feedstocks and producing isomerized esters and acids. The methods comprise providing a C4-C18 unsaturated fatty ester or acid, and isomerizing the fatty acid ester or acid in the presence of heat or an isomerization catalyst to form an isomerized fatty ester or acid. In some embodiments, the methods comprise forming a dibasic ester or dibasic acid prior to the isomerizing step. In certain embodiments, the methods further comprise hydrolyzing the dibasic ester to form a dibasic acid. In certain embodiments, the olefin is formed by reacting the feedstock in the presence of a metathesis catalyst under conditions sufficient to form a metathesized product comprising olefins and esters, separating the olefins from the esters in the metathesized product, and transesterifying the esters in the presence of an alcohol to form a transesterified product having unsaturated esters. |
| US09382499B2 |
Lubricating oil composition
The present invention provides a lubricating oil composition than can keep the metal-to-metal friction coefficient high and is excellent in anti-seizure properties. The lubricating oil composition comprises a base oil and on the basis of the total mass of the composition (A) 0.05 percent by mass or more of a polysulfide, (B) 0.05 percent by mass or more of thiadiazole and (C) 0.1 percent by mass or more of a phosphorus-containing additive, and containing sulfur in an amount of 0.2 percent by mass or more on the basis of sulfur and phosphorus in an amount of 0.2 percent by mass or less on the basis of phosphorus, the ratio of the sulfur basis percent by mass/the phosphorus basis percent by mass (S/P) being from 3.0 to 5.0. |
| US09382496B1 |
Lubricants with high thermal stability for heat-assisted magnetic recording
Lubricants having perfluoropolyether side chains which have a high thermal stability and high shear modulus. |
| US09382490B2 |
Compositions
Additive composition for use in a fuel or lubricant formulation, comprising an active substance in an inclusion complex with a modified cyclodextrin of formula (I): wherein n is an integer from 6 to 20, and R1, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted aryl and carbonyl, provided that R1, R2 and R3 are not all hydrogen. Also provided is a fuel or lubricant formulation comprising the additive composition, a premix for use in preparing the additive composition, and the use of a modified cyclodextrin (I) as a vehicle for an active substance in an additive composition or in a fuel or lubricant formulation. |
| US09382483B2 |
Process and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from feed-stocks comprising tall oil and terpene-compounds
The invention relates to a process for producing hydrocarbon components, comprising: providing a feedstock comprising tall oil and terpene-based compounds; subjecting the feedstock and a hydrogen gas feed to a hydroprocessing treatment in the presence of a hydroprocessing catalyst to produce hydrocarbon components including n-paraffins, and subjecting the hydrocarbon components including n-paraffins to isomerisation in the presence of a dewaxing catalyst to form a mixture of hydrocarbon components. The invention also relates to an apparatus for implementing the process. The invention further relates to a use of the hydrocarbon components produced by the process as a fuel or as an additive in fuel compositions. The invention also relates to a use of a NiW catalyst on a support selected from Al2O3, zeolite, zeolite-Al2O3, and Al2O3—SiO2 for producing fuel or an additive for fuel compositions from a feedstock comprising tall oil and terpene-based compounds. |
| US09382480B2 |
Dichromatic dye composition and application thereof
A dichromatic dye composition which has the characteristics of higher order parameter and good miscibility can be applied in a guest-host liquid crystal composition. The absorbance curve of a guest-host liquid crystal composition with the dichromatic dye composition within the range of 420-680 nm has the following characteristics: a. 2≦(T1+T2)/ΔT≦10; b. |T1−T2|≦0.5; c. 0<ΔT≦0.2, where T1 is a difference between a transmittance to light at 420 nm and a minimum transmittance, T2 is a difference between the transmittance at a wavelength of 680 nm and a minimum transmittance, and ΔT is a difference between the maximum and minimum transmittances on the transmittance curve within the wavelength range of 420-680 nm. A liquid crystal element with the guest-host liquid crystal composition provides a high-contrast display. A liquid crystal display device has the guest-host liquid crystal composition with the dichromatic dye composition. |
| US09382479B2 |
Liquid crystal compound, liquid crystal composition and liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal composition is described, satisfying at least one of characteristics such as a high maximum temperature of nematic phase, a low minimum temperature of nematic phase, a small viscosity, a suitable optical anisotropy, a large dielectric anisotropy, a large specific resistance, a high stability to ultraviolet light and a high stability to heat, or having a suitable balance regarding at least two of the characteristics. An AM LCD device including the liquid crystal composition is also described. The liquid crystal composition has a nematic phase and contains a specific compound having a large dielectric anisotropy as a first component, and a specific compound having a small viscosity as a second component, and may also contain a specific compound having a high maximum temperature or a large dielectric anisotropy as a third component. |
| US09382474B2 |
Photovoltaic devices with depleted heterojunctions and shell-passivated nanoparticles
Photovoltaic cells are fabricated in which the compositions of the light-absorbing layer and the electron-accepting layer are selected such that at least one side of the junction between these two layers is substantially depleted of charge carriers, i.e., both free electrons and free holes, in the absence of solar illumination. In further aspects of the invention, the light-absorbing layer is comprised of dual-shell passivated quantum dots, each having a quantum dot core with surface anions, an inner shell containing cations to passivate the core surface anions, and an outer shell to passivate the inner shell anions and anions on the core surface. |
| US09382473B2 |
Chromophoric polymer dots
The present invention provides, among other aspects, stabilized chromophoric nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are rationally functionalized with a pre-determined number of functional groups. In certain embodiments, the stable chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are modified with a low density of functional groups. In yet other embodiments, the chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are conjugated to one or more molecules. Also provided herein are methods for making rationally functionalized chromophoric nanoparticles. |
| US09382467B2 |
Corrosion inhibitors for oil and gas applications
A corrosion inhibitor composition and method of inhibiting corrosion on a surface in an oil or gas application is disclosed and claimed. The corrosion inhibitor includes at least one fatty acid; at least one alkanolamine; at least one alkylamine; and at least one organic sulfonic acid. The method of inhibiting corrosion includes on a surface in an oil or gas application comprises contacting an effective dosage of the corrosion inhibitor with the surface. |
| US09382464B2 |
Deicing composition and methods of making the same
A deicing composition and method of making the same includes an aqueous salt solution comprising sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The aqueous salt solution may be naturally produced from an oil, natural gas, or natural salt water well from siliclastic or chemical sedimentary rock type formation or it may be synthesized. The deicing composition may also include fresh water and a corrosion inhibiting mixture that includes sodium gluconate and triethanolamine. |
| US09382461B2 |
Low-tack, UV-cured pressure sensitive adhesive suitable for reclosable packages
UV-cured pressure sensitive adhesive including one or more UV-curable acrylic oligomers, one or more tack control components, and, optionally, an elastomeric material is described herein. The adhesive includes an adhesive component ratio of the various adhesive components effective to provide desired first peel adhesions and subsequent peel adhesions. |
| US09382460B2 |
Structural adhesives
A solid dry to the touch at ambient temperature structural adhesive which can be cured at elevated temperature and which can be molded at an intermediate temperature is provided as well as the use of the adhesive for bonding metals. |
| US09382459B2 |
Solventless one liquid type cyanate ester-epdxy composite resin composition
The present invention is a solventless one liquid type cyanate ester-epoxy composition comprising: (A) a multifunctional cyanate ester, or mixture thereof, of formula (1), wherein an average cyanate group number is 2.5 or more; (B) a multifunctional liquid epoxy resin, or mixture thereof, of formula (2), wherein an average epoxy group number is 2.5 or more, and (C) an amine latent curing agent. [ Average cyanate group number ] = ∑ i = 1 n ( Ai × Xi ) 100 Formula ( 1 ) Ai is a cyanate group number of component i, and Xi is a content ratio of component i (percent by mass) in the formula (1). [ Average epoxy group number ] = ∑ k = 1 n ( Bk × Yk ) 100 Formula ( 2 ) Bk is an epoxy group number of component k, and Yk is a content ratio of component k (percent by mass) in the formula (2). |
| US09382458B2 |
Adhesive system
The invention concerns an adhesive system comprising (a) a resin component comprising a urea based amino resin having an F/NH2 ratio from 0.3 to 0.65; (b) a hardener component comprising at least one acid, acid generating salt or acidic salt; and, (c) an aqueous polymer dispersion; wherein the adhesive system comprises no or less than 0.9 wt % of urea, based on the weight of the entire adhesive system, in addition to any urea present in the urea based amino resin. The invention further concerns a method of producing a wood based product, wood based products obtainable thereby and use of the adhesive system. |
| US09382455B2 |
Adhesive composition, an adhesive sheet and a production method of a semiconductor device
An adhesive composition includes an acrylic polymer (A), a heat curable resin (B) having unsaturated hydrocarbon group, and a filler (C) having reactive double bond on a surface. |
| US09382453B2 |
Paint film-protecting sheet
A paint film-protecting sheet (1) is provided which effectively prevents adhesive transfer to the paint film. The paint film-protecting sheet (1) has a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer which is comprised of a non-crosslinking pressure-sensitive adhesive (20) adjacent a polyolefin-based resin film serving as a supporting substrate (10). At least a surface portion (12) of the supporting substrate that adjoins the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer satisfies the following conditions: (1) it has an indentation modulus at 25° C. (Er(25)) of from 200 MPa to 1,100 MPa and (2) it has an indentation modulus at −5° C. (Er(−5)) of from 400 MPa to 2,400 MPa. |
| US09382449B2 |
Optical enhancing durable anti-reflective coating
Disclosed herein are polysilsesquioxane based anti-reflective coating (ARC) compositions, methods of preparation, and methods of deposition on a substrate. In embodiments, the polysilsesquioxane of this disclosure is prepared in a two-step process of acid catalyzed hydrolysis of organoalkoxysilane followed by addition of tetralkoxysilane that generates silicone polymers with >40 mol % silanol based on Si-NMR. These high silanol siloxane polymers are stable and have a long shelf-life in the polar organic solvents at room temperature. Also disclosed are low refractive index ARC made from these compositions with and without additives such as porogens, templates, Si—OH condensation catalyst and/or nanofillers. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for applying coatings to flat substrates including substrate pre-treatment processes, coating processes including flow coating and roll coating, and coating curing processes including skin-curing using hot-air knives. Also disclosed are coating compositions and formulations for highly tunable, durable, highly abrasion-resistant functionalized anti-reflective coatings. |
| US09382448B2 |
Polythioether sealants with enhanced thermal resistance
Thiol-terminated polythioether compositions and sealants prepared using the thiol-terminated polythioether compositions that exhibit enhanced retention of elongation following exposure to high temperature are disclosed. The enhanced retention of elongation is realized by incorporating certain phenolic antioxidants into the composition. |
| US09382436B2 |
Method for surface modification of a body
The invention concerns a method for modification of the surface of a body, especially a film-shaped body, wherein a fiber-containing substance comprising nano-sized polysaccharide fiber particles is dispersed in a medium essentially composed of water and a polar solvent to form a suspension. The suspension is applied on the surface by a printing method. According to the invention, the viscosity of the suspension is adjusted to a range that is suitable for the printing method by adjusting the fiber concentration of the suspension. The invention concerns also a composition disposable onto the surface of a body, such as a film-shaped body, by a non-contact inkjet printing method. According to the invention, the composition comprises nanocellulose fibers suspended in a medium essentially composed of water and a polar solvent, miscible with water, wherein the concentration of nanocellulose fibers is 0.5 to 1.5%, preferably 0.5 to 1%, most preferably about 0.7% of said composition. |
| US09382434B2 |
Actinic radiation-curable inkjet ink and image forming method using same
Provided is an actinic radiation-curable inkjet ink that undergoes sol-gel phase transfer and contains a dye, a gelling agent, a photopolymerization compound and a photopolymerization initiator. The actinic radiation-curable inkjet ink includes a photopolymerizable compound A, which is a (meth)acrylate having hydroxyl groups; a photopolymerizable compound B, which is a (meth)acrylate compound having a molecular weight within a range of 300 to 1,500 and an intramolecular structure (—CH2—CH2—O—)m (where m is an integer between 3 and 14); and a (meth)acrylate compound C, which has a molecular weight within a range of 280 to 1,500 and a C log P value within a range of 4 to 7. The ink contains, in terms of the mass of the entire ink, 1 to 15 mass % of photopolymerizable compound A, 30 to 70 mass % of photopolymerizable compound B, 10 to 40 mass % of photopolymerizable compound C, and 2 to 10 mass % of gelling agent. |
| US09382433B2 |
Ketocoumarins as photoinitiators and photosensitizers in printing inks and coatings
A series of novel ketocoumarin photoinitiators are disclosed for use in radiation curing. |
| US09382432B1 |
Quantum dot security inks
A security ink is provided which includes a liquid medium having a plurality of quantum dots disposed therein. Upon excitation with a suitable light source, the ink exhibits a quantum yield greater than 30%, and a photoluminescence which has a lifetime of more than 40 nanoseconds and which varies by at least 5% across the emission spectrum of the quantum dots. Also disclosed are apparatuses for using the same for anti-counterfeit or authentication purposes, which uniquely identifying the presence of photoluminescent materials by spectrally resolving their photoluminescence lifetime. |
| US09382430B2 |
Thermosetting powder coating material and coated product
A thermosetting powder coating material includes powder particles that contain a thermosetting resin A having a number average molecular weight equal to or greater than 100,000 from 5% by weight to 40% by weight with respect to the entirety of resins, and have a volume particle size distribution index GSDv equal to or less than 1.50. |
| US09382425B2 |
Aza-benzazolium containing cyanine dyes
Unsymmetrical cyanine dyes that incorporate an aza-benzazolium ring moiety are described, including cyanine dyes substituted by a cationic side chain, monomeric and dimeric cyanine dyes, chemically reactive cyanine dyes, and conjugates of cyanine dyes. The subject dyes are virtually non-fluorescent when diluted in aqueous solution, but exhibit bright fluorescence when associated with nucleic acid polymers such as DNA or RNA, or when associated with detergent-complexed proteins. A variety of applications are described for detection and quantitation of nucleic acids and detergent-complexed proteins in a variety of samples, including solutions, electrophoretic gels, cells, and microorganisms. |
| US09382423B2 |
Continuous process for fractioning, combination, and recombination of asphalt components for pelletization and packaging of asphalt and asphalt-containing products
A continuous process for fractioning, combination, and recombination of asphalt sources into asphalt components for pelletization of asphalt and asphalt-containing products such that the pellets formed are generally uniform in dimension, freely flowing, free from agglomeration, and the pelletized asphalt is packaged, and preferably compatibly packaged, for additional processing and applications. |
| US09382419B2 |
Polyalkylene carbonate molded product manufactured by using an emulsion composition
The present invention relates to an emulsion composition for manufacturing a polyalkylene carbonate molded product and a molded product manufactured by using the same. The emulsion composition according to the present invention provides a resin molded product that has biodegradability and complete combustion decomposability to show environment-friendly feature and rubber-like properties. |
| US09382417B2 |
Process for the preparation of polyether carbonate polyols
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of polyether carbonate polyols by catalytic copolymerization of carbon dioxide (CO2) with alkylene oxides in the presence of one or more H-functional starter substances with the aid of double metal cyanide (DMC) catalysts and in the presence of additives A) chosen from the group consisting of sterically non-hindered phenols, catechols, pyrocatechols, thiazines, phenothiazines, thiazoles, benzothiazoles, oxazines, phenoxazines, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl and nitrostyrenes and optionally in the presence of metal salts B). |
| US09382412B2 |
Foamed compositions comprising propylene-based elastomers, articles made therefrom, and methods of making the same
Provided are compositions comprising a propylene-based elastomer and foamed profiles comprising said compositions. The presence of the propylene-based elastomer can provide foamed profiles with reduced density while maintaining properties including compression set and compression load deflection at a level comparable to those of conventional EPDM foams. |
| US09382403B2 |
Phenol-free overbased alkaline earth metal carboxylate
A phenol-free overbased alkaline earth metal carboxylate is obtained by reacting a cyclic ether alcohol, an alkaline earth metal hydroxide, a fatty carboxylic acid, carbon dioxide, an optional fatty alcohol, and an optional liquid hydrocarbon solvent or oil. |
| US09382399B2 |
Foam composition and its uses thereof
The present invention provides a foam composition comprising a polyol, an isocyanate, a first catalyst capable of accelerating a reaction between the polyol and the isocyanate and a second catalyst capable of initiating a reaction between the polyol and the isocyanate at a rate slower than the first catalyst. There is also provided a method for preparing the foam composition. |
| US09382395B2 |
Rubber material with barrier material made of cycloolefin copolymers
The use of a certain copolymer is described for reducing the gas-permeability of rubber material. A rubber material provided with a barrier material in the form of the copolymer is also described. The copolymer can be produced via ring-opening metathesis polymerization of a) one first olefin monomer selected from the group consisting of cyclic olefin monomers having at least one endocyclic C—C double bond, where no tertiary carbon atom bearing a hydrogen atom is present in alpha-position to the double bond, and b) one second olefin monomer selected from the group consisting of cyclic olefin monomers having one endocyclic C—C double bond, where a tertiary carbon atom bearing a hydrogen atom is present in at least one alpha-position to the double bond, where the copolymer has been oxidized at least to some extent, where the amount of polycyclic olefin monomers used to produce the copolymer with at least two C—C double bonds is zero or less than 1 mol %, based on the entirety of the monomers. |
| US09382394B2 |
Ethylene copolymers, film and polymerization process
Ethylene copolymers having a relatively high melt flow ratio and a multimodal profile in a temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) plot are disclosed. The copolymers can be made into film having good dart impact values and good stiffness properties under decreased extruder pressures. |
| US09382393B2 |
Process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles
The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising polymerization and drying the resulting polymer gel on a through-circulation belt dryer having at the end of the belt in transport direction a means for guiding the dried polymer gel down towards a means for crushing the dried polymer gel. |
| US09382392B2 |
Effect of modified graphene and microwave irradiation on the mechanical and thermal properties of P(S-co-MMA)/graphene nanocomposites
A method for enhancing an interaction between graphene nanoparticles and a poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate), including modifying graphene with nitric acid to form graphene nanoparticles surface modified with one or more oxygen functionalities, melt blending the poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate) and the modified graphene nanoparticles to obtain a nanocomposite, and exposing the nanocomposite to microwave irradiation to form defects in the graphene nanoparticles. A blend composition, including graphene nanoparticles and a poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate), where the graphene nanoparticles are dispersed in the poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate), and the graphene nanoparticles are surface modified with oxygen functionalities. |
| US09382385B2 |
Lactide copolymer, and resin composition and film comprising same
The present invention relates to a lactide copolymer exhibiting excellent flexibility and having more improved processability and productivity at the time of performing an extrusion and molding process, and a resin composition and film including the same, wherein the lactide copolymer includes a predetermined number of block copolymer repeating units in which hard segments of polylactide repeating units are bound to both ends of soft segments of polyether polyol repeating units, and has a weight-average molecular weight of 150,000 to 300,000, and a melt index y (MI; g/10 min) satisfying a specific relationship, the MI being measured under a load of 2.16 kg and at a temperature of x□ between 170□ and 210□. |
| US09382382B2 |
Polyetherimides, methods of manufacture, and articles formed therefrom
A polyetherimide composition comprising a polyetherimide manufactured by reaction of an alkali metal salt of a dihydroxy aromatic compound with a bis(halophthalimide) composition comprising, based on the weight of the bis(halophthalimide) composition, at least 15 wt. % of a 3,3′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula from more than 17 wt. % to less than 85 wt. % of a 4,3′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula and from more than 0 to less than 27 wt. % of a 4,4′-bis(halophthalimide) of the formula |
| US09382380B2 |
Chemical sealing film
The present invention provides a chemical sealing film which has high chemical resistance and high breaking strength and which does not contain chlorine. The present invention relates to a chemical sealing film containing an organic compound represented by general formula (1) shown in Claim 1. In general formula (1), R is a linear alkylene group having carbon atoms of 5 or more and 10 or less and n is an integer of 10 or more and 480 or less. |
| US09382379B2 |
Melt polymerization reactor system and method
A reactor system for producing polycarbonate includes a surface area in contact with a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture comprises a melt transesterification catalyst, a dihydroxy compound, a diaryl carbonate, and an phenolic byproduct. The surface area in contact with the reaction mixture contains one or more welds joining reactor system parts. All welds in contact with the reaction mixture join reactor system parts made from the same type of metal. If a filler metal is contained in the weld, the filler metal is made from the same type of metal as the metal parts joined by the weld. |
| US09382377B2 |
Polymer mixtures as deposit inhibitors in water-bearing systems
A polymer mixture in solid or aqueous form includes a content of from 5 to 95% by weight of a first polymer and a content of from 5 to 95% by weight of a second polymer. The first polymer is a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 1000 to 20 000 g/mol. The second polymer is a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 1000 to 50 000 g/mol. The polymer mixture can inhibit precipitation and sedimentation of calcium salts and magnesium salts in water-bearing systems. |
| US09382373B2 |
Curable compositions and thermosets prepared therefrom
A curable composition comprising (a) at least one low viscosity epoxide resin compound having the following chemical structure: (I) wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen or a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, with the proviso that R1 and R2 are not both hydrogen, and (b) at least one curing agent or UV photoinitiator; and a thermoset prepared from the above curable composition. |
| US09382368B2 |
Reactant of silicon resin polycondensate particles and polyvinyl chloride, method for manufacturing said reactant, vinyl chloride resin composition, and method for manufacturing vinyl chloride resin composition
Provided is a reaction product of silicone resin polycondensate particles and polyvinyl chloride wherein the reaction product can impart excellent impact resistance and chemical resistance. The reaction product of silicone resin polycondensate particles and polyvinyl chloride according to the present invention is obtained by causing reaction of a material containing silicone resin polycondensate particles and vinyl chloride monomer. The silicone resin polycondensate particles are obtained by causing reaction of a material mixture containing a first organosilicon compound having a structural unit represented by a formula (1) and serving as a siloxane, a second organosilicon compound represented by a formula (2), and a third organosilicon compound represented by a formula (3A) or formula (3B). |
| US09382364B2 |
Process for producing polymers
A process for preparation of a polymer product comprising the steps of i) feeding an aqueous mixture comprising a monoethylenically unsaturated monomer or a mixture of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers into a first reactor device (2) through at least one inlet; ii) partially polymerising the monomer or monomers and transferring the polymerising monomer or mixture of monomers from the inlet to an outlet (3) of the first reactor device (2) to provide a partially polymerised product; iii) flowing the partially polymerised product out of the outlet (3), in which no more than 60% of the monomer or mixture of monomers has been polymerised in the partially polymerised product as it exits the outlet (3) of first reactor device (2), and transferring it to a further reactor device (5), in which the further reactor device (5) has an inlet and an outlet (6); iv) continuing the polymerisation in the further reactor device (5) and removing the polymer product from the outlet (6) of the further reactor device (5), characterised in that the first reactor device (2) comprises a positive displacement pump. |
| US09382363B2 |
Masonry-treating agent
A fluoropolymer for masonry treatment produced from (A) a fluoromonomer which has been substituted in the α-position by a X group and is represented by the formula (I): and (B) a monomer having a functional group reactive with active hydrogen. It imparts excellent water- and oil-repellency and unsusceptibility to fouling to masonries. |
| US09382357B2 |
Crosslinked polyolefins for biomedical applications and method of making same
The invention relates to a polymer composition that includes a branched alkene which is cationically polymerizable as well as a glass-forming comonomer and/or a vinyl comonomer containing benzocyclobutene as the pendant group. The structure of the polymer composition can take various forms: linear random copolymer, linear block copolymer, star random copolymer, star block copolymer, and other hyperbranched polymers. The copolymer composition can undergoes crosslinking at elevated temperatures (preferably above 180° C.). |
| US09382353B2 |
Polymerizable compound having thioester group, polymerizable composition and liquid crystal display device
SubjectIt is to provide a polymerizable compound having a high polymerization reactivity, a high conversion yield and a high solubility in a liquid crystal composition, a polymerizable composition including the compound, a liquid crystal composite prepared from the composition and a liquid crystal display device containing this composite.Means for Solving the SubjectA compound represented by formula (1). In this formula, for example, P1 and P2 are —SCO—CH═CH2; Sp1 and Sp2 are a single bond; ring A1, ring A2, ring A3 and ring A4 are 1,4-phenylene; Z1, Z2 and Z3 are a single bond; and a is 1, and b and c is 0. |
| US09382352B2 |
Polymers derived from plant oil
Polymers and copolymers are formed from vinylether monomers having fatty acid ester pendent groups derived from plant oils, such as soybean oil. |
| US09382350B2 |
Friedel crafts alkylation of aromatics using vinyl terminated macromonomers
This invention relates to a polyolefin comprising one or more aromatic moieties according to the following formulae: wherein the PO is the residual portion of a vinyl terminated macromonomer (VTM) having had a terminal unsaturated carbon of an allylic chain and a vinyl carbon adjacent to the terminal unsaturated carbon; Ar is attached to the terminal portion of the VTM to provide PO—Ar or at the vinylidene carbon of the VTM to provide PO—CH(Ar)CH3; and Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group. |
| US09382349B2 |
Polyalphaolefins prepared using modified Salan catalyst compounds
Polyalphaolefins and Salan catalysts, catalyst systems, and processes to produce the polyalphaolefins. Also disclosed are high-viscosity index polyalphaolefins and processes for producing them. |
| US09382346B2 |
Gold nanoparticle conjugates and uses thereof
The disclosure generally relates to formation of polymers grafted to or polymerized from the surface of gold nanoparticles. The polymers are functionalized to include therapeutic agents and/or targeting agents at their surface, thereby allowing both therapeutic and targeting compounds to be directed to specific cells in a patient. |
| US09382344B2 |
Mitigation of catalyst inhibition in olefin polymerization
This disclosure relates to a process for polymerization comprising providing a recycle stream, wherein the recycle stream comprises one or more C6 to C12 conjugated or non-conjugated diene monomers and one or more C1 to C40 oxygenates. The recycle stream is contacted with an adsorbent bed to produce a treated recycle stream; wherein the adsorbent bed comprises at least two adsorbents to remove quenching agent and C1 to C40 oxygenates. |
| US09382343B2 |
Procatalyst composition with alkoxypropyl ester internal electron donor and polymer from same
Disclosed herein are catalyst compositions and polymers, i.e., propylene-based polymers, produced therefrom. The present catalyst compositions include an internal electron donor with an alkoxypropyl ester. The present catalyst compositions improve catalyst selectivity. Propylene-based polymer produced from the present catalyst composition has a melt flow rate greater than 4 g/10 min. |
| US09382339B2 |
Microwave assisted citrus waste biorefinery
There is described a method of isolating one or more of pectin, d-limonene, a flavor compound, a flavonoid, a soluble monosaccharide, a decomposition product of a monosaccharide and cellulose, from citrus material wherein said method comprises the microwave assisted hydrothermal low temperature treatment of citrus material. |
| US09382338B2 |
Polysaccharide and derivatives thereof, showing affinity to ficolin-3, method of preparation and use
The invention relates to bacterial lipopolysaccharide and its components, especially native and chemically modified polysaccharides isolated from Hafnia alvei lipopolysaccharides, as well as conjugates of these polysaccharides with carriers and methods for their preparation and methods to use of these substances as ligands for human ficolin-3. |
| US09382336B2 |
Method for preparing cellulose ether having low degree of polymerization and cellulose ether prepared thereby
Provided is a method for preparing a cellulose ether having a low degree of polymerization and undergoing less yellowing and a cellulose ether prepared thereby. Specifically, provided is a method for preparing a cellulose ether having a low degree of polymerization, the method including a step of bringing pulp and an alkali metal hydroxide solution into contact with each other or mixing them to obtain a corresponding alkali cellulose, a first depolymerization step of reacting the alkali cellulose with oxygen to adjust a viscosity reduction percentage of the alkali cellulose to from 10 to 95%, a step of reacting the depolymerized alkali cellulose with an etherifying agent, a step of washing and drying the reaction product to obtain a cellulose ether, and a second depolymerization step of bringing the cellulose ether into contact with hydrochloric acid to adjust a viscosity reduction percentage of the cellulose ether from 40 to 99.9%. |
| US09382335B2 |
Process for producing cellulose derivative and cellulose derivative
A process for producing a cellulose derivative, including reacting a reactant and a cellulose or a derivative thereof in a solid-liquid heterogeneous system to form a cellulose derivative containing a long-chain organic group having 5 or more carbon atoms introduced therein, in a swollen state, and performing solid-liquid separation to obtain the cellulose derivative containing a long-chain organic group introduced therein. |
| US09382334B2 |
Optical film
Provided are an optical film using a cellulose derivative, useful in an image display device, such as a liquid crystal display or the like, a retardation film and a polarization film using the optical film, and a liquid crystal display having excellent view angle characteristics by using these films, while the optical film uses a cellulose derivative resin in which some hydrogen atoms of hydroxy groups of cellulose are substituted with three or more kinds of substituents. |
| US09382330B2 |
Pdia4, target of cytopiloyne derivatives, for tumor diagnosis and treatment
Methods of diagnosing cancer that are based in part on the findings that Pdia4 promotes cell growth, cell proliferation, and cell cycle are disclosed herein. Methods of using microvessel density as a surrogate marker and reducing tumor microvessel density in a subject are also enclosed herein. |
| US09382328B2 |
Fully human antibodies against human 4-1BB
Fully human antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof that bind to human 4-1BB and that allow binding of human 4-1BB to a human 4-1BB ligand. In one aspect, the antibody is an IgG4 antibody. Also provided is a method for treating a disease in a subject comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of the antibody to said subject. |
| US09382327B2 |
Anti-CD20 antibodies and methods of use
Compositions and methods are provided for treating diseases associated with CD20, including lymphomas, autoimmune diseases, and transplant rejections. Compositions include anti-CD20 antibodies capable of binding to a human CD20 antigen located on the surface of a human CD20-expressing cell, wherein the antibody has increased complement-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CDC) that is achieved by having at least one optimized CDR engineered within the variable region of the antibody. Compositions also include antigen-binding fragments, variants, and derivatives of the monoclonal antibodies, cell lines producing these antibody compositions, and isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the amino acid sequences of the antibodies. The invention further includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising the anti-CD20 antibodies of the invention, or antigen-binding fragments, variants, or derivatives thereof, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and methods of use of these anti-CD20 antibodies. |
| US09382323B2 |
Multispecific antibodies comprising full length antibodies and single chain fab fragments
The present invention relates to multispecific, especially bispecific antibodies comprising full length antibodies and single chain Fab fragments, methods for their production, pharmaceutical compositions containing the antibodies, and uses thereof. |
| US09382321B2 |
Effector-deficient anti-CD32A antibodies
Effector-deficient anti-CD32a monoclonal antibodies are encompassed, as are method and uses for treating CD32a-mediated diseases and disorders, including, thrombocytopenia, allergy, hemostatic disorders, immune, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorders. |
| US09382318B2 |
ST2 antigen binding proteins
Described herein are compositions and methods related to antigen binding proteins that bind to human ST2, including antibodies. In particular embodiments, the disclosure provides fully human anti-ST2 antibodies and deriviatives and variants thereof. Further provided are nucleic acids encoding such antibodies and antibody fragments, variants, and derivatives. Also, provided are methods of making and using such antibodies including methods of treating and preventing autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. |
| US09382317B2 |
Stable aqueous formulations of adalimumab
The invention provides aqueous pharmaceutical adalimumab compositions suitable for long-term storage of adalimumab, methods of manufacture of these compositions, methods of administration, and kits containing same. |
| US09382316B2 |
Humanized anti-EMAP II antibody and use thereof
The present invention provides a humanized anti-EMAP II antibody, the use of the humanized antibody, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the humanized antibody. The humanized anti-EMAP II antibody shows reduced immunogenicity and increased half-life while having similar or improved antigen binding capacity compared to the parent monoclonal antibody. Thus, the humanized anti-EMAP II antibody of the present invention can be more effectively used as a diagnostic reagent for EMAP II and a therapeutic agent for diseases that are mediated by EMAP II. |
| US09382315B2 |
Production cell line enhancers
The present invention relates to discovery of the ectopic expression of EDEM2 in a production cell to improve the yield of a useful multi-subunit protein. Thus, the present invention provides for production cell lines, such as the canonical mammalian biopharmaceutical production cell—the CHO cell, containing recombinant polynucleotides encoding EDEM2. Also disclosed is a production cell containing both an EDEM2-encoding polynucleotide as well an XBP1-encoding polynucleotide. Improved titers of antibodies produced by these cell lines are disclosed, as well as the improved cell densities attained by these cells in culture. |
| US09382312B2 |
Humanized antibodies specific to the protofibrillar form of the beta-amyloid peptide
The present application relates to humanized antibodies specific to the protofibrillar form of the beta-amyloid peptide, and to the use of said antibodies in the field of Alzheimer's disease. |
| US09382310B2 |
Expression of triple-helical collagen-like products in E. coli
Recombinant bacterial triple-helical collagen-like proteins comprising two or more repetitive sequences of Gly-Xaa-Yaa yielding high-stability polymeric constructs without the need for post-translational modifications and which may incorporate one or more functional domains of biological or structural importance. The polymers are capable of high-yield production for a variety of applications. |
| US09382309B2 |
Variant activin IIB receptor
The present invention provides variant activin IIB soluble receptor polypeptides and proteins capable of binding and inhibiting the activities of activin A, myostatin, or GDF-11. The present invention also provides polynucleotides, vectors and host cells capable of producing the variant polypeptides and proteins. Compositions and methods for treating muscle-wasting and other diseases and disorders are also provided. |
| US09382308B2 |
CD133 epitopes
An immunogen includes an isolated peptide of 800 amino acid residues or fewer having the amino sequence ILSAFSVYV (SEQ ID NO: 1) with four or fewer amino acid substitutions, a superagonist variant of SEQ ID NO: 1, or an amino acid sequence having the formula: (I/K/T/V/M)-L-(S/L)-(A/E/N/D/Q)-(F/V)-(S/M/V/I)-(V/D/R/G/H)-Y-(V/I/L) (SEQ ID NO: 13). The immunogens can be used in compositions and in the treatment of disorders. |
| US09382302B2 |
Lutzomyia longipalpis polypeptides and methods of use
Substantially purified salivary Lu. longipalpis polypeptides, and polynucleotides encoding these polypeptides are disclosed. Vectors and host cells including the Lu. longipalpis polynucleotides are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for inducing an immune response to sand fly saliva. In other embodiments, methods for treating, diagnosing, or preventing Leishmaniasis are disclosed. |
| US09382291B2 |
Gamma amino acid building blocks
The invention provides compounds and methods, for example, to carry out organocatalytic Michael additions of aldehydes to cyclically constrained nitroethylene compounds catalyzed by a proline derivative to provide cyclically constrained α-substituted-γ-nitro-aldehydes. The reaction can be rendered enantioselective when a chiral pyrrolidine catalyst is used, allowing for Michael adducts in nearly optically pure form (e.g., 96 to >99% e.e.).The Michael adducts can bear a single substituent or dual substituents adjacent to the carbonyl. The Michael adducts can be efficiently converted to cyclically constrained protected γ-amino acid residues, which are essential for systematic conformational studies of γ-peptide foldamers. New methods are also provided to prepare other γ-amino acids and peptides. These new building blocks can be used to prepare foldamers, such as α/γ-peptide foldamers, that adopt specific helical conformations in solution and in the solid state. |
| US09382289B2 |
Tubulysin compounds, methods of making and use
Tubulysin compounds of the formula (I) where R1, R2, R3a, R3b, R4, R5, W, and n are as defined herein, are anti-mitotic agents that can be used in the treatment of cancer, especially when conjugated to a targeting moiety. |
| US09382282B2 |
Metal catalyzed oxidation of lignin and related compounds
Disclosed are methods for the benzylic oxidation of the lignin and related compounds. The methods include contacting lignin with a mixture containing manganese and iron, in the presence of oxygen to produce a carboxylic acid from lignin or a related compound. In some embodiments, the mixture includes cobalt. |
| US09382281B2 |
Nickel pre-catalysts and related compositions and methods
Described herein are nickel pre-catalysts and related compositions and methods. The nickel pre-catalysts may be activated to form catalysts which may be utilized in organic reactions. |
| US09382280B2 |
Diamine compound and metal complexes, and method for producing optically active compounds
The present invention relates to a diamine compound represented by the general formula (1), a ruthenium-diamine complex, an iridium-diamine complex, and a rhodium-diamine complex having the diamine compound as a ligand. Furthermore, the present invention relates to methods for selectively producing optically active compounds by using any of these complexes as a catalyst. wherein R1, R2, R3, X, Y, and Z are as defined in claim 1. |
| US09382278B2 |
Process for preparing ceftaroline fosamil
The present invention relates to a novel process for preparing ceftaroline fosamil via intermediates of Formulae (1), (3) or (4) of this process. |
| US09382275B2 |
Preparation of phosphorus—containing antiwear composition for use in lubricant compositions
A process is provided for preparing a salt of a hydroxy-substituted di-ester of phosphoric acid, comprising: (a) reacting a phosphating agent with a monohydric alcohol and with an alkylene polyol, wherein the mole ratio of monohydric alcohol:alkylene polyol is about 0.2:0.8 to about 0.8:0.2 and wherein an excess of the phosphating agent is employed such that the product mixture formed thereby contains phosphorus acid functionality; and (b) reacting the product mixture of step (a) with an amine. The product is useful as an antiwear agent. |
| US09382272B2 |
Methods of making lubiprostone and intermediates thereof
There is provided processes for preparing Lubiprostone and intermediates thereof. Also provided are compounds, including intermediates for preparing Lubiprostone as well compositions comprising Lubiprostone and other compounds, including intermediates for preparing Lubiprostone and other compounds. (I) |
| US09382271B2 |
Process for the preparation of high purity norbornene alkanols and derivatives thereof
A process for the preparation of a variety of high purity norbornene alkanol monomers and their derivatives is disclosed and claimed. Specifically, a process for the preparation of industrial scale high purity norbornene methanol and its silyl ether derivative is disclosed and claimed. The high purity monomers prepared in accordance with the process of this invention are useful in a variety of applications including but not limited to the preparation of high quality and high purity polynorbornenes having utility in a variety of electronic applications, among various other applications. |
| US09382266B2 |
Rapamycin analogue
There is provided inter alia a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and its use in therapy. |
| US09382262B2 |
Compounds useful in the synthesis of halichondrin B analogs
In general, the invention features compounds useful for the synthesis of analogs of halichondrin B, such as eribulin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, e.g., eribulin mesylate. Exemplary compounds are of formula (I), (II), or (III): |
| US09382261B2 |
Substituted quinazolinones as HCV inhibitors
Inhibitors of HCV replication of formula (I) including stereochemically isomeric forms, salts, and solvates thereof, wherein R and R′ have the meaning as defined herein. The present invention also relates to processes for preparing said compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use, alone or in combination with other HCV inhibitors, in HCV therapy. |
| US09382259B2 |
Compounds with oxime ester and/or acyl groups
There are provided compounds comprising optionally substituted (FORMULA I) fused with one or two optionally substituted (FORMULA II), wherein A and E each independently represent —CH2—, —NH—, -0-, —S—, or —C(═O)— and B represents a bond, —CH2—, —NH—, -0-, —S—, or —C(═O)—, said compound having directly or indirectly attached thereto at least one acyl and/or oxime ester group. Such compounds are useful inter alias as photoinitiators. |
| US09382258B2 |
Agents for treating pain and uses thereof
This invention relates to: (a) compounds and salts thereof that, inter alia, treat pain; (b) intermediates useful for the preparation of such compounds and salts; (c) compositions comprising such compounds and salts; (d) methods for preparing such intermediates, compounds, salts, and compositions; (e) methods of use of such compounds, salts, and compositions; and (f) kits comprising such compounds, salts, and compositions. |
| US09382254B2 |
Compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for the treatment of cystic fibrosis
The present invention discloses compounds according to Formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3, L, and the subscript m are as defined herein. The present invention relates to compounds and their use in the treatment of cystic fibrosis, methods for their production, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment using the same, for the treatment of cystic fibrosis by administering a compound of the invention. |
| US09382249B2 |
Antitumor aza-benzo [f] azulen derivative, method for preparing same, and use thereof
The present invention relates to the field of pharmaceutical chemistry, and particularly to an aza-benzo[f]azulen derivative (I) and an antitumor effect thereof. Pharmacological tests show that the compound of the present invention has in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities, and can be developed into clinical drugs for treating or controlling diseases such as stomach cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and oral cancer. |
| US09382247B2 |
Salts and pharmaceutical compositions thereof for the treatment of inflammatory disorders
The present invention discloses salts of a Compound 1: useful in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of inflammatory conditions, autoimmune diseases, proliferative diseases, allergy, transplant rejection, diseases involving degradation and/or disruption of cartilage homeostasis, congenital cartilage malformations, and/or diseases associated with hypersecretion of IL6 or interferons. |
| US09382246B2 |
Inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase
Disclosed herein are reversible and irreversible inhibitors of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds. Methods of using the Btk inhibitors are described, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions, heteroimmune diseases or conditions, cancer, including lymphoma, and inflammatory diseases or conditions. |
| US09382242B2 |
Preparation and use of compounds as protease inhibitors
Disclosed are compounds of the formula I or a stereoisomer, tautomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein Q is a bond or —N(R5)—; T is a bond, —O—, —C(O)—; S, —N(R5)—, or —C(R6′R7′); U is a bond or —C(R6)(R7)— Y is C or N; Z is C or N; ring A, including variables Y and Z, is a three to nine membered cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclenyl, aryl, and heteroaryl ring having 0 to 4, preferably 0 to 2, heteroatoms independently selected from the group consisting of O, S, N and —N(R)—, wherein ring A is unsubstituted or substituted with 1 to 5 independently selected R1 moieties and/or oxo when ring A is cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, heterocyclyl or heterocyclenyl; and R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R6, R7 and R7′ are as defined in the specification; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula I and the method of inhibiting aspartyl protease, and in particular, the methods of treating cardiovascular diseases, cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases. |
| US09382239B2 |
Inhibitors of c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK)
The present invention provides novel compounds according to Formula (I): where Ring A, Ring B, X, L1, L2, RA, RC, RD, RE, m, n, and p are as defined herein. Compounds of the present invention are contemplated useful for the prevention and treatment of a variety of human diseases associated with kinase activity, for example, proliferative diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, inflammatory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. |
| US09382238B2 |
Pyridine derivatives as rearranged during transfection (RET) kinase inhibitors
This invention relates to novel compounds which are inhibitors of the Rearranged during Transfection (RET) kinase, to pharmaceutical compositions containing them, to processes for their preparation, and to their use in therapy, alone or in combination, for the normalization of gastrointestinal sensitivity, motility and/or secretion and/or abdominal disorders or diseases and/or treatment related to diseases related to RET dysfunction or where modulation of RET activity may have therapeutic benefit including but not limited to all classifications of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) including diarrhea-predominant, constipation-predominant or alternating stool pattern, functional bloating, functional constipation, functional diarrhea, unspecified functional bowel disorder, functional abdominal pain syndrome, chronic idiopathic constipation, functional esophageal disorders, functional gastroduodenal disorders, functional anorectal pain, inflammatory bowel disease, proliferative diseases such as non-small cell lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer, medullary thyroid cancer, follicular thyroid cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer, papillary thyroid cancer, brain tumors, peritoneal cavity cancer, solid tumors, other lung cancer, head and neck cancer, gliomas, neuroblastomas, Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome and kidney tumors, breast cancer, fallopian tube cancer, ovarian cancer, transitional cell cancer, prostate cancer, cancer of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction, biliary cancer, adenocarcinoma, and any malignancy with increased RET kinase activity. |
| US09382237B2 |
3,5-diaminopyrazole kinase inhibitors
Provided herein are 3,5-diaminopyrazoles, for example, compounds of Formula IA, that are useful for modulating regulated-in-COPD kinase activity, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein are methods of their use for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a RC kinase-mediated disorder, disease, or condition. |
| US09382231B2 |
Bipyrazole derivatives as JAK inhibitors
The present invention provides compounds of Formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as their compositions and methods of use, that inhibit the activity of Janus kinase (JAK) and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to the activity of JAK including, for example, inflammatory disorders, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and other diseases. |
| US09382227B2 |
Phenylethanolamine-based NMDA receptor antagonists
Described herein are enhanced N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and their methods of use and treatment, e.g., of Formula (I): wherein one or more of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, or the ring formed by the joining of R1 and R2, is a hydrophobic moiety which confers enhanced antagonist activity as compared to existing NMDA receptor antagonists, e.g., ifenprodil. Compounds described herein are designed based on the discovery that ifenprodil binds within the allosteric domain of the GluN1/GluN2B NMDA receptor, particularly at the interface between GluN1 and GluN2B subunits. In silico methods are further described herein. |
| US09382225B2 |
Reduction of C—O bonds by catalytic transfer hydrogenolysis
The present invention relates to a method of reducing a C—O bond to the corresponding C—H bond in a substrate which could be a benzylic alcohol, allylic alcohol, ester, or ether or an ether bond beta to a hydroxyl group or alpha to a carbonyl group. |
| US09382224B2 |
7-acyloxychromen-4-one derivatives and the use thereof as self-tanning substances
The present invention relates to chromen-4-one derivatives of the formula (I), to the use thereof as self-tanning substance or for increasing melanin synthesis, improving melanin transport and/or improving the distribution of melanin in suprabasal layers, and to preparations comprising these chromen-4-one derivatives. |
| US09382220B2 |
Methods of synthesis and/or purification of diaminophenothiazinium compounds
Described are methods of synthesis and/or purification of certain 3,7-diamino-phenothiazin-5-ium compounds (referred to herein as “diaminophenothiazinium compounds”) including Methylthioninium Chloride (MTC) (also known as Methylene Blue), the resulting (high purity) compounds, compositions comprising such compounds (e.g., tablets, capsules), and the use of such high purity compounds. The compounds are useful in inactivating pathogens, and methods of medical treatment, prophylaxis, and diagnosis of diseases including a tauopathy, related neurological and infectious diseases. |
| US09382217B2 |
Modulators of sphingosine phosphate receptors
Compounds that activate a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor of the subtype 1 are provided. Certain compounds selectively activate the receptor subtype 1 in relation to the sphinogosine-1-phosphate receptor subtype 3. Uses and methods of inventive compounds for treatment of malconditions wherein activation, agonism, inhibition or antagonism of the S1P1 is medically indicated are provided. |
| US09382216B2 |
Substituted morpholines as modulators for the calcium sensing receptor
Compounds of Formula (I) along with processes for their preparation that are useful for treating, managing and/or lessening the diseases, disorders, syndromes or conditions associated with the modulation of calcium sensing (CaSR) receptors. Methods of treating, managing and/or lessening the diseases, disorders, syndromes or conditions associated with the modulation of calcium sensing (CaSR) receptors of Formula (I). |
| US09382210B2 |
Articles and methods comprising persistent carbenes and related compositions
Articles and methods comprising persistent carbenes are provided, as well as related compositions. In some embodiments, a persistent carbene may be associated with a portion of a substrate (e.g., at least a portion of a surface on the substrate). In certain embodiments, the association of persistent carbene with the substrate may be used to affect certain properties of substrate (e.g., surface chemistry, stability). In some cases, a persistent carbene may be functionalized after association with a portion of a substrate. In some embodiments, a persistent carbene and at least one secondary compound may be associated with a portion of a substrate. Articles and methods of the present invention may be useful for applications involving electronics, sensing, microfabrication, nanotechnology, biomimetic, and drug delivery, amongst others. |
| US09382208B1 |
Negative allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2
Described are negative allosteric modulators of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGlu2), pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions for treating depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, cognitive disorders, Alzheimer's disease, or autism spectrum disorders in a subject. |
| US09382200B2 |
Process for the preparation of and crystalline forms of optical enantiomers of modafinil
The invention relates to a polymorphic form of (−)-modafinil that produces a powder X-ray diffraction spectrum comprising intensity peaks corresponding to interplanar spacings of about 8.54, 4.56, and 3.78 Å, and a process for the preparation thereof. |
| US09382196B2 |
Processes and intermediates for making sweet taste enhancers
The present invention includes methods/processes and intermediates for preparing compounds having structural Formula (I): wherein X is alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, heteroalkyl, substituted heteroalkyl, heteroalkenyl, or substituted heteroalkenyl. |
| US09382189B2 |
Synthesis of a branched unsaturated compound by means of cross metathesis
The invention relates to a method for the synthesis of a branched unsaturated fatty compound, said method comprising the metathesis, in the presence of a metathesis catalyst, of a linear unsaturated fatty compound and a branched olefin. The branched unsaturated fatty compound is used in particular for the production of at least one of the following products: dielectric fluids, specialty surfactants, emulsifiers, frictions agents, antistatic additives, antifogging additives, mould release agents, pigment dispersants, high-performance lubricants, waxes and wax emulsifiers, polymer conversion additives, PVC stabilizing agents, inks, resins, paints, varnishes, solvents, lipsticks, creams for the skin, deodorants, particularly stick deodorants, hair dyes, shampoos and other liquid soaps, shaving foam, laundry detergents, cleaning agents, fabric softeners, and mixtures of same. |
| US09382180B2 |
Hydroformylation process
A hydroformylation process that tolerates a high level of methanol in the feed. |
| US09382176B2 |
Process for the production of chlorinated propenes
Processes for the production of chlorinated propenes are provided. The processes proceed through the production of cyclic intermediate that is thereafter readily converted to a desired chloropropane, e.g., via selective pyrolysis. The process may be conducted using starting materials that are readily commercially available and/or that may be reacted safely in standard laboratory equipment so that capital cost savings may be seen. The process does not require the use of catalysts and yet, process conditions less extreme than many conventional processes for the production of chlorinated propenes are suitable, so that raw material and utility cost savings are also possible. |
| US09382174B2 |
Method for producing monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
A method for producing monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons includes a cracking reforming reaction step of bringing an oil feedstock into contact with a catalyst for monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon production containing a crystalline aluminosilicate, and causing the oil feedstock to react, thereby obtaining a product containing monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons having 6 to 8 carbon atoms, a hydrogenation reaction step of hydrogenating a product produced in the cracking reforming reaction step, a monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon recovery step of recovering monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons having 6 to 8 carbon atoms separated from a hydrogenation product obtained in the hydrogenation reaction step and a recycling step of returning a heavy fraction having 9 or more carbon atoms separated from the hydrogenation product obtained in the hydrogenation reaction step to the cracking reforming reaction step. |
| US09382172B2 |
Process of producing cyclohexylbenzene
In a process for producing cyclohexylbenzene, benzene is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under hydroalkylation conditions effective to form a first effluent stream comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexane, and benzene. At least a portion of the cyclohexane from the first effluent stream is then contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under dehydrogenation conditions effective to convert at least some of the cyclohexane into benzene contained in a second effluent stream. At least some of the hydrogen is supplied to the process so as to contact the dehydrogenation zone (e.g., the dehydrogenation catalyst) before contacting the hydroalkylation catalyst. |
| US09382169B2 |
Lower olefins producing catalyst and method for producing lower olefins using same
A lower olefin producing catalyst which has high olefin production efficiency and maintains its activity for a long period of time when lower olefins are produced from an oxygen-containing compound, which is a solid catalyst used in producing lower olefins from an oxygen-containing compound, includes a solid-state catalyst component containing an MFI-type zeolite, in which, at a position where the shortest distance to the outer surface is maximum among all positions inside a structure of the solid catalyst, the thickness defined as a distance twice the shortest distance from the point to the outer surface is in a range of from 0.1 to 2.0 mm, and a method for producing lower olefins. |
| US09382168B2 |
Solid electrically controlled propellants
The present application discloses a variety of improvements that enhance at least one of the mechanical, chemical/energetic, ballistic, or adhesive properties, of a class of ECPs, regardless of whether said ECPs are in solid phase or gels, singly or in combinations thereof. |
| US09382164B2 |
Materials and parts that can withstand high temperatures in an oxidizing medium, and method for manufacturing same
A refractory material that can withstand high temperatures in an oxidizing medium and containing at least: a first constituent corresponding to hafnium, or to a non-oxide compound of hafnium, or circular in a or a non-oxide compound of zirconium, or corresponding to a mixture of at least two metals and/or compounds selected from hafnium a non-oxide compound of hafnium, zirconium, and a non-oxide compound of zirconium; a second constituent corresponding to the boron or to a non-oxide compound of boron, or corresponding to a mixture of boron and a non-oxide compound of boron; and a third constituent corresponding to a rare earth RE or to a non-oxide compound of the rare earth RE, or corresponding to a mixture of rare earth RE and a non-oxide compound of the rare earth RE, where RE is selected from scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides. The material contains neither silicon nor a compound of silicon. |
| US09382162B2 |
Dielectric composition and multilayer ceramic electronic component manufactured using the same
There are provided a dielectric composition and a multilayer ceramic electronic component manufactured using the same, the dielectric composition including a dielectric grain having a perovskite structure represented by ABO3, wherein, when an imaginary line is drawn in a direction from a center of the dielectric grain to a grain boundary thereof, a content of rare earth elements in a region corresponding to 0.75 to 0.95% of the dielectric grain from the center of the dielectric grain may be 0.5 to 2.5 at %, based on 100 at % of a B-site ion, so that the multilayer ceramic electronic component manufactured using the dielectric composition can have excellent reliability and secure a high dielectric constant. |
| US09382155B2 |
Gypsum dispersant
There is provided a gypsum dispersant and a gypsum additive that improve the fluidity of gypsum slurry even if gypsum raw materials used are different in quality and that do not induce delay of curing of gypsum slurry. A gypsum dispersant, including: (A) a polycarboxylic acid polymer; and (B) a polymer obtained by a reaction of an alkylene diamine and/or a monoamine and an epihalohydrin as essential components. |
| US09382150B2 |
Boron-doped titania-silica glass having very low CTE slope
A boron-doped titania-silica glass containing 0.1 wt % to 8.0 wt % boron, 9.0 wt % to 16.0 wt % TiO2, and 76.0 wt % to 90.9 wt % SiO2. The glass may further include F, Nb, Ta, Al, Li, Na, K, Ca, and Mg, individually or in combinations of two or more, at levels up to 4 wt %. The glass may have an OH concentration of more than 10 ppm. The glass features a CTE slope at 20° C. of less than 1 ppb/K2. The fictive temperature of the glass is less than 825° C. and the peak CTE of the glass is less than 30 ppb/K. The glass has two crossover temperatures and a wide temperature interval over which CTE is close to zero. The uniformity of each crossover temperature relative to its average over a volume of at least 50 cm3 is within ±5° C. |
| US09382147B2 |
Method for producing glass plate
In an annealing zone (3) of a glass sheet producing method, a curved portion (5) is formed by curving a glass ribbon (G) in a width direction, and a concavo-convex direction in a front and back direction of the curved portion (5) is reversed at least between an upper side and a lower side of a part of a region in the width direction of the glass ribbon (G). Therefore, a bending resistance in an upper and lower direction of the glass ribbon (G) and a bending resistance in the width direction of the glass ribbon (G) are increased. |
| US09382133B2 |
Adsorbent composite from natural raw materials to remove heavy metals from water
An adsorbent composition for removing heavy metals from contaminated water is described. The composition comprises of a mixture of kaolin clay, cellulose powder, silica powder, magnesite powder, bentonite powder and water. The adsorbent is mixed with contaminated water and allowed to react. Once the reaction is finished a reduced contaminant containing water is gathered and reused. |
| US09382130B2 |
Method of manufacturing hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles
The method of manufacturing hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles, which includes providing hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles by conducting calcination of particles comprising an alkaline earth metal salt and an iron salt to cause ferritization; and further includes causing a glass component to adhere to the particles and then conducting the calcination of the particles to form a calcined product in which hexagonal ferrite is detected as a principal component in X-ray diffraction analysis; and removing the glass component from a surface of the calcined product that has been formed. |
| US09382129B2 |
Uranium recovery from UF6 cylinders
A process for recovering residual uranium from emptied uranium hexafluoride shipping cylinder during cleaning, including rinsing a uranium hexafluoride shipping cylinder with hydrofluoric acid to dissolve a heel of uranium hexafluoride therein to form a mixture of sediment, precipitates and a uranium solution; separating the uranium solution from the sediment and precipitates; mixing sodium hydroxide with the uranium solution to precipitate sodium diuranate; separating the solid sodium diuranate from the sodium fluoride solution formed; re-dissolving the sodium diuranate in sodium carbonate solution to form uranyl carbonate complex solution; and adjusting the pH of uranyl carbonate complex solution further to precipitate uranyl peroxide with the addition of hydrogen peroxide. Sodium fluoride solution produced is further treated to remove fluoride by percolating it through a calcite limestone bed to form calcium fluoride solid. |
| US09382128B2 |
Stable nano titania sols and a process for their production
The present invention provides a process for producing a concentrated aqueous nano titania sol in the mild pH range (4.0 to 10.0) comprising contacting an acidic nano titania sol with a dispersant and with an alkalizing agent, and subjecting the nano titania sol to membrane filtration until the nano titania sol contains more than 300 g TiO2 nanoparticles/dm3. The nano titania sol may further be subjected to a coating treatment within any of the steps of the above described process. The concentrated aqueous nano titania sol of this disclosure is suitable for use in a variety of applications, including providing UV protection and photochemically degrading or inactivating contaminants. |
| US09382127B2 |
Catalytic CO2 desorption on the interface between NaHCO3 and multifunctional nanoporous TiO(OH)2
CO2 capture from flue gas is a costly procedure, usually due to the energy required for regeneration of the capture medium. One potential medium which could reduce such an energy consumption, however, is Na2CO3. It has been well studied as a sorbent, and it is understood that the theoretical energy penalty of use of Na2CO3 for CO2 separation is low, due to the relatively low heat of reaction and low heat capacity of the material. While it offers some advantages over other methods, its primary downfall is the slow reaction with CO2 during adsorption and the slow Na2CO3 regeneration process. An aspect of the invention relates to a catalyst to improve reaction kinetics, and more particularly to a catalyst to improve reaction kinetics for CO2 desorption and CO2 adsorption. |
| US09382125B2 |
Production of crystalline sodium bicarbonate using CO2 recovered from another alkali production process
A process for the joint production of crystalline sodium bicarbonate and another alkali compound, in which the step for producing such alkali compound generates CO2 as a byproduct, at least a portion of which is used as a feed to the sodium bicarbonate production step. The produced alkali compound is preferably crystalline sodium sulfite. The joint production process preferably employs as feedstock one or more sodium carbonate liquors derived from trona ore. A gas feed which contains CO2 byproduct is subjected to a gas treatment which may include water removal and/or compression before it is used to produce sodium bicarbonate crystals from a sodium carbonate liquor. Such gas feed may comprise a reactor offgas exiting a sulfite reactor; a vent gas exiting a feed or surge tank; a decarbonation gas exiting a decarbonation unit; a vent gas vented from a crystallizer heater; or combinations of two or more thereof. |
| US09382115B2 |
Gas-to-liquid technology
Gas-to-liquids processes for treating natural gas, including the steps of subjecting the natural gas to expansion through a flow restrictor so as to undergo cooling through the Joule Thomson effect. The processes then separate the resulting liquids from the remaining natural gas and processing the natural gas to form a synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is subjected to Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and the output from the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is separated into a hydrocarbon product and an aqueous phase and the aqueous phase is steam stripped to extract the oxygenates which are then injected into the natural gas stream upstream of the flow restrictor. |
| US09382112B2 |
Manufacturing methods for micro-electromechanical system device having electrical insulating structure
A method for manufacturing a MEMS device includes the following operations. An SOI wafer including a device layer, an insulating layer and a handle layer is provided. The device layer is etched to form a recess and an annular protrusion surrounding the recess. A moving part and a spring of the MEMS device are formed on the recess by etching the device layer, the insulating layer and the handle layer. An anchor of the MEMS device is formed at the annular protrusion by etching the device layer, the insulating layer and the handle layer. The moving part and the anchor are connected to each other by the spring. The insulating layer is disposed between a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion of the moving part. The insulating layer is disposed between a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion of the anchor. |
| US09382106B2 |
Liquid handling system with reduced exposure to air
A liquid handling system and a method for receiving, storing, and dispensing a liquid while minimizing the exposure of the liquid to the ambient air are disclosed. The method includes upwardly shifting a barrier positioned in a storage container while filling the container with the liquid. |
| US09382102B2 |
Escalator handrail purifier apparatus
The invention is an escalator handrail cleaning apparatus for a running handrail (1) on a guide rail (11) along an escalator (12), wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises: —a main body (3) with a preferably underlying, generally through channel (31) for the handrail (1) to pass through, —a steam supply hose (2) to a longitudinally running inlet channel (21) in the main body (3) and connected to one or more across distribution channels (5) in the main body (3), —a number of steam nozzles (6) from the distribution channel (5) directed towards the through passing handrail (1), —at least a first and a second squeegee gasket (7) for delimiting a space (38) in the through channel (31) between the main body (3), the through running handrail (1), and the surroundings and arranged for wiping off water and dirt from the through running handrail (1), —at least one drain channel (41) from the space (38) wherein the drain channel (41) conducts water, steam and dirt to a return hose (4), preferably by vacuum. The running handrail will, by means of the cleaning apparatus, be steam cleaned so as for bacteria to be killed off and dirt dissolved and removed. |
| US09382101B2 |
Track transport system for loading and unloading an airplane galley
The invention relates to a rail transport system comprising at least two runners (20) having a shaped profile, a transport rail (61) and a transport carriage (2), the runners (20) with a shaped profile being extended over a staircase or over a flat section and the transport carriage (2) being moved along the transport rail (61). The transport carriage is provided with at least one electric motor. The runners (20) having a shaped profile and the transport rail (61) are stored in the transport carriage (2). The invention also relates to a method for constructing a rail transport system and for transporting at least one container for loading and/or unloading the galley of an aeroplane, and to a system for simultaneously loading and/or unloading the galley of an aeroplane. |
| US09382099B2 |
Motorized height access device for tower cranes
A height access device enables motorized access to the driving station of a tower crane atop a mast formed of superposed mast elements. It includes a lift cabin installed inside the mast of the crane and movable vertically along the mast. The height access devices further includes a working platform positioned above and separably connected to the lift cabin. A coupling device provides a non-permanent connection of the working platform to the lift cabin and immobilizes the working platform relative to the mast at a required height. The height access device enables the crane driver to ascend and descend with the lift cabin alone when disconnected from the working platform and with the lift cabin and working platform together, particularly during the assembly and dismantling of the mast. |
| US09382096B2 |
Elevator installation access security method with position detection
Using a position detection device, a position of a user in a building area outside of an elevator system is detected. It is determined, after the user has entered an elevator car, that the user is not authorized to travel to a destination floor designated by a destination for the user. As a result of the determination, the elevator car is moved to an area other than the destination floor. |
| US09382094B2 |
Elevator refurbishment method
An elevator renovation method, which is capable of reducing a renovation period and enabling effective use of a space when an existing hydraulic elevator is renovated to a non-hydraulic elevator. The elevator renovation method involves renovating a hydraulic elevator in which a plunger provided integrally with a car is hydraulically driven to a non-hydraulic elevator. The elevator renovation method includes; providing a driving device for generating a driving force for raising the car; leaving the plunger so that the plunger can be raised and lowered inside an existing jack; and obtaining the non-hydraulic elevator by exerting the driving force of the driving device in a direction in which the plunger is moved up to raise the car. |
| US09382089B2 |
Paper transporting device, image forming apparatus, image reading device and post-processing device
A paper transporting device includes a driving roller member, a driven roller member, a first guiding member and a second guiding member. The driving roller member is rotated. The driven roller member is rotated in contact with the driving roller member. The first guiding member is disposed on a driving roller member side, and guides a paper to a contact portion in which the driving roller member and the driven roller member are in contact with each other. The second guiding member is disposed on a driven roller member side, and guides the paper to the contact portion. The second guiding member partially protrudes inward in a radial direction of the driving roller member from an outer peripheral surface of the driving roller member at a downstream side in a paper transporting direction of the contact portion. |
| US09382084B2 |
Transporting system, image forming system, and controller
There is provided a transporting system including two rollers to transport a sheet, two driving devices to drive the rollers, two measuring devices to measure state quantities Z1 and Z2 concerning the rollers, and a controller to control the transport. The controller includes first and second estimating units to estimate values R1 and R2 related to reaction forces act on the rollers, a first calculating unit to calculate control input U1 in accordance with a deviation between a target state quantity and (Z1+Z2)/2, a second calculating unit to calculate control input U2 in accordance with a deviation between a target value and (R1−R2)/2, a first drive controller to input a control signal in accordance with (U1+U2) to the first driving device, and a second drive controller to input a control signal in accordance with (U1−U2) to the second driving device. |
| US09382081B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a medium container that contains media, a sheet feeding controller that feeds the media one sheet by one sheet, which is contained in the medium container, a detection part that detects a remaining amount of the media contained in the medium container, and a searching part that searches for another medium container that contains media that is the same as the media contained in the medium container. The sheet feeding controller, when the detection part detects that the remaining amount of the media contained in the medium container has reached a predetermined amount, feeds one of the media, which is contained in the another medium container that is found by the searching part, to a predetermined position. |
| US09382077B2 |
Multi-zone conveyor system having LAN based control
A control system for a conveyor system having one or more upstream and downstream conveyor zones and whose operation effectuates transportation of a series of loads via operation of motors and drive arrangements associated with the respective conveyor zones. The control system includes a Local Area Network (LAN) connection between each component of the control arrangement associated with each zone control such that status and operational information associated with the configuration or operation of each conveyor zone, including the zone motor, can be communicated to other conveyor zones so that operation of each conveyor zone can be manipulated in a controlled manner in response to changes to operation of other conveyor zones. |
| US09382062B2 |
Hinged lid packaging
A pack for consumer goods includes an outer packaging container and an inner packaging container. The outer packaging container includes a lower box portion with an upper lid portion hingedly connected thereto. The inner packaging container includes a dispensing opening with a resealable closure, a front panel, a back panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, and opposing side panels; each side panel having an inner panel and an outer panel, the inner panel having a first width defining a width of the inner packaging container, and the outer panel including at least a portion having a second width defining flanges having a width greater than the first width. The inner packaging container is insertable within the outer packaging container, the flanges on the back panel of the inner packaging container exert biasing forces on the hinged lid of the outer packaging container to assure lid closure is maintained. |
| US09382058B2 |
Foldable container sleeve
A sleeve for jacketing a container such as a beverage cup, where the sleeve is assembled by cutting and folding from a unitary flat panel, the sleeve having no outwardly projecting flaps or ridges. Inwardly folding flaps adapt themselves to the taper and diameter of the cup. Multiple layers of material thickness in the sleeve may be realized using the templates and folding methods of the invention, and the sleeve is printable on either or both sides so that decorative or commercial indicia may be displayed according to the end user's needs or wishes. The invention finds use in making printed insulative sleeves having logos and other customized indicia, and may be folded according to the methods of the invention by the supplier or by the user of the sleeve. |
| US09382057B2 |
Dish rack with cutting board integrated into shipping container for kitchenware
A dish drying rack and cutting board which integrate to define a holding compartment or container useful in shipping, displaying, transporting and storage of the same and kitchen utensils held within the walls of the dish drying rack and its bottom with the cutting board serving as the ceiling of the compartment or container. The top holding lip of the dish drying rack mates with the bottom and perimeter edge of the cutting board. |
| US09382056B1 |
Container with vented intermediate separator
A container with a vented intermediate section, a base section, and a cover section. When the cover section is pivoted in the closed position a cover enclosure is formed between the intermediate section and the cover section, as are container receiving cavities. Interior vents fluidly couple the container receiving cavities with the cover enclosure. |
| US09382047B2 |
Multipart cover made of paper material and method for producing a multipart cover
A multipart cover made of paper material and including a one-piece base body having a cover plate and a circumferential cover collar extending from the cover plate. The cover collar, when placed onto a container to be closed, extends upwards away from the container, and a reinforcement ring connected to the cover collar by means of a peripheral skirt. The reinforcement ring in a region below the cover plate, on a side of the cover plate opposite to the cover collar, includes a peripheral skirt forming a circumferential step along the periphery on a radially interior side of the reinforcement ring, or includes a circumferential bead along the periphery. |
| US09382043B2 |
Reclosable bag made of a paper-plastic laminate
A reclosable bag (1) made of a paper-plastic laminate, having a rear side (8) and upper and lower heat-sealed edges (3, 4), comprises an external layer (5) made of paper and an inner polymeric lining film (7). A rear window (9) closed by the inner polymeric lining film (7) is formed in the external paper layer (5) on the rear side (8) of the bag (1). An easy open adhesive label (10) is permanently attached through a first portion (11) thereof on the external paper layer (5) of the upper edge (3) of the bag (1), and through a second portion (12) thereof releasably on the internal polymeric lining film (7) that closes the rear window (9). |
| US09382039B2 |
Food cup packaging assembly
A packaging assembly is provided and may include a first cup having a first end, a second end formed on an opposite end of the first cup from the first end, and an interior defined between the first end and the second end that receives food product, whereby the first end has an opening in communication with the interior. The packaging assembly may also include a wrap that extends around the first cup and a cap that is selectively attached to the first cup at the first end to close the opening. The cap and the second end may extend through respective apertures formed in the wrap. |
| US09382037B2 |
Container having multiple layers of tracks including at least one non-linear track
A container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse has a base and opposed sides, linear and non-linear tracks, and a plurality of dunnage supports extending between the tracks. At least one of the tracks on each side may be non-linear in the shape of a “C” or “U” or “J”. One type of dunnage support comprises end members and a tubular middle member, the end members being movable along the tracks. The dunnage supports support dunnage, such as pouches. |
| US09382035B2 |
Market basket system
A collapsible market basket apparatus includes a crate with a bottom having a bottom rectangular frame and a top rectangular frame having strap attachment features on each of four sides. A pair of lateral rotating sides are pivotally attached to opposite lateral sides of the top rectangular frame to rotate downward to a vertical position to engage the bottom rectangular frame. Each lateral rotating side is shaped to fit within a proximate half of the top rectangular frame when pivotally rotated to a horizontal position. A pair of lateral collapsible sides are attached respectively between opposite front and back sides of the top rectangular frame and the bottom rectangular frame. The lateral collapsible sides have an expanded vertical length of the lateral rotating sides. A strap has a latching feature rotatably attached at each end to latch to opposite sides of the top rectangular frame as a carrying strap when the crate is expanded and as a stowage strap when the crate is collapsed. |
| US09382033B2 |
Protective case for an electronic device
A protective case for accommodating a number of variable sized electronic devices is provided. The case comprises internal features including rigid support members and biasing members for securing an electronic device and allowing the selective orientation and positioning of the electrical device for optimizing viewing. |
| US09382031B2 |
Wraparound-style container with reclosable feature
A wraparound-style shipping and reclosable container is formed from a one-piece corrugated paperboard blank. The container comprises a bottom wall foldably joined to respective upstanding first and second opposed side walls. Each of the respective first and second opposed side walls includes a respective pair of end walls which are foldably joined to respective lateral edges thereof. A top cover is foldably joined to the longitudinal edge of the first side wall to enclose container. The top cover includes two tuck flaps each of which is foldably joined to the respective lateral edges. The container is enabled to be reclosed by tucking a rear portion of the respective tuck flaps toward inside of the interior space of the container and leaving a front portion of the respective wing flaps to the outside of the container. |
| US09382022B2 |
Packing insert for disc-shaped objects
A packing insert for disc-shaped objects comprising a ring and a deformable contacting portion supported by the ring and extending from a circumference of the ring. The contacting portion can comprise one or more solid portions extending from the circumference. The solid portions can define a plurality of radially arranged members separated by a plurality of void regions, where the solid portions extending radially from a circumference of the ring. |
| US09382020B1 |
Deep space positioning system
A single, compact, lower power deep space positioning system (DPS) configured to determine a location of a spacecraft anywhere in the solar system, and provide state information relative to Earth, Sun, or any remote object. For example, the DPS includes a first camera and, possibly, a second camera configured to capture a plurality of navigation images to determine a state of a spacecraft in a solar system. The second camera is located behind, or adjacent to, a secondary reflector of a first camera in a body of a telescope. |
| US09382017B2 |
Method for repairing an aircraft structure component
A method is provided for repairing an aircraft structural component which has a component fault in a portion adjoining a cavity of the aircraft structural component. The method includes removing a region of the aircraft structural component that has the component fault, introducing a bearing element into the cavity of the aircraft structural component through an opening, which has been formed in the aircraft structural component by the removal of the region of the aircraft structural component having the component fault, in such a way that a bearing surface of the bearing element comes to lie against a region, adjacent to the opening, of an inner surface of the aircraft structural component facing the cavity of the aircraft structural component, fixing the bearing element in its position in the cavity of the aircraft structural component, and closing the opening by means of a repair material. |
| US09382015B2 |
Single aisle mount
A single aisle mount system is disclosed. A single aisle mount system may have a device mount, an articulating base having an articulation guide and a joiner member, and a structural support. The joiner member may retain a device mount in mechanical communication with an articulating base and the articulating base may facilitate positioning of a device mount. An electronic device may be mounted on the device mount. In this manner, a single aisle mount system may facilitate easier use and viewing of an electronic device. |
| US09382008B2 |
Anti-crash seat and an aircraft
A seat (5) comprising a bucket (10) and a frame (15) fastened to a floor (2). Said seat (5) includes at least one energy absorber system (20) having a plurality of energy absorbers (21) arranged in parallel. Said seat (5) includes an index (30) that is movable in translation to secure the bucket (10) to an energy absorber system (20) by engaging with one end of one or more energy absorbers (21). Said seat (5) includes at least one suspension system (40) having a spring member (60) suspending said bucket (10) from said frame (15) as a function of the weight of a passenger, mechanical indexing means (60) co-operating with an index (30), said seat (5) including a mechanical inhibitor system (70) for blocking the suspension system (40) during a crash. |
| US09382003B2 |
Aerial farm robot system for crop dusting, planting, fertilizing and other field jobs
Modern farming is currently being done by powerful ground equipment or aircraft that weigh several tons and treat uniformly tens of hectares per hour. Automated farming can use small, agile, lightweight, energy-efficient automated robotic equipment that flies to do the same job, even able to farm on a plant-by-plant basis, allowing for new ways of farming. Automated farming uses unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are equipped with detachable implements and reservoirs and that we call “aerial farm robots.” Automated farming uses high-precision GPS and other precision positioning and vision technology to autonomously and precisely perform crop dusting, planting, fertilizing and other field related farming or husbandry tasks. The subsystems for the control, refill, recharge and communication subsystems of the aerial farm robots are part of the overall automated farming system, and can autonomously handle most of the husbandry tasks on a farm. |
| US09381999B2 |
Wing tip with optimum loading
A wing incorporating a wing tip with a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge to minimize induced drag for a given wing form is disclosed. The curve of the leading and trailing edges of the wing tip may be described generally as parabolic, elliptic, or super elliptic. A finite tip segment may be included with a sweep angle between the end of the curved leading edge and the end of the curved trailing edge. The wing tip may also include a spanwise camber. |
| US09381996B2 |
Split blade retention race with inner and outer chamfers
A blade shank assembly for an aircraft propeller blade includes a blade shank; and a split blade retention race encircling the blade shank, the split blade retention race comprising two sections separated by two splits, the two splits being perpendicular to a race surface of the split blade retention race, wherein the split blade retention race comprises: an inner chamfer located between a surface of the split blade retention race that is adjacent to the blade shank and a split surface of the split blade retention race at each of the two splits; and an outer chamfer located between the race surface of the split blade retention race and the split surface at each of the two splits. |
| US09381990B2 |
Power supply system for an electrical drive of a marine vessel
A power supply system for an electrical drive of a marine vessel is provided. The electrical drive includes an electric motor that is adapted to receive electric energy from a power source. The electrical drive has a first operating state in which electric energy is supplied by the power source to the electrical drive to operate the electrical drive and a second operating state in which the electric motor of the electrical drive is decelerated or braked, wherein the electrical drive generates electric energy in the second operating state. The power supply system comprises an electric energy storage device for storing generated electric energy. |
| US09381989B1 |
System and method for positioning a drive unit on a marine vessel
A method for positioning a drive unit on a marine vessel includes receiving an initiation request from a user input device to operate the marine vessel in a desired operating mode and storing a first trim position of the drive unit in a memory upon receiving the initiation request. The method includes trimming the drive unit to a second trim position in response to the initiation request and subsequently operating the marine vessel in the desired operating mode with the drive unit in the second trim position. The method includes receiving a termination request to cancel the desired operating mode and trimming the drive unit to the first trim position automatically upon receiving the termination request. A system for positioning the drive unit is also disclosed. |
| US09381986B2 |
Jet-pump-based autonomous underwater vehicle and method for coupling to ocean bottom during marine seismic survey
An autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is configured to record seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The AUV includes a body having a base (B) and first and second sides (A, C), the body having a head part and a tail part; a propulsion system for guiding the AUV to a final target on the ocean bottom; jet pumps connected to corresponding nozzles on the first and second sides (A, C); a control device connected to the jet pumps; and a seismic sensor configured to record seismic signals. The jet pumps are actuated by the control device in a given sequence so that the base (B) penetrates into the ocean bottom. |
| US09381984B2 |
Apparatus for subsea transport of sensor systems
The present invention concerns an apparatus (1) for deployment and retrieval of a measurement system (8) on an ocean bottom, comprising devices for temporary storing the measurement system (8), movable control faces (7), software and devices for manoeuvring and at least one ballast tank (11A) for ballast (11B). The ballast (11B) comprises a slurry consisting of free soluble salt and a saturated solution of the salt in water, or a solid body or insoluble coarse or fine grained material. |
| US09381983B2 |
Method and system for monitoring the status of divers
This document provides a method of determining an absolute position of a diver, comprising: providing a dive leader unit having a GPS receiver and an underwater acoustic modem configured to retransmit GPS coordinates of the dive leader unit under water, providing the diver with a monitoring unit comprising several microphones so that it is possible to detect a direction of the dive leader unit, pairing the monitoring unit to the dive leader unit to form a communication network so as to identify differences between system clocks of the dive leader unit and the monitoring unit and make it possible to calculate a distance from the dive leader unit to the monitoring unit. In the monitoring unit, the following steps are performed: receiving the retransmitted GPS coordinates, detecting the direction of the dive leader unit, calculating the distance to the dive leader unit, and calculating the absolute position of the diver based on the retransmitted GPS coordinates, the direction of the dive leader unit and the distance from the dive leader unit to the monitoring unit. |
| US09381981B2 |
Gyroscopic stabilizer for boats
An anti-rolling gyroscopic stabilizer for boats provides a stationary frame fixed to the hull, an oscillating frame and a flywheel. The angular velocity of oscillation of the oscillating frame is limited by hydraulic dampers. Elastic return elements are coupled to the dampers and urge the oscillating frame so as to orient the axis of rotation of the flywheel towards a given angular position in which the gyroscopic device acts with maximum efficiency. |
| US09381976B1 |
Monopod for marine vessels for powering and using of electrical and non-electrical accessories and method of attachment
A monopod for mounting to the navigation light power port of a marine vessel, such as a bass boat or speed boat, which provides power for mobile accessories, such as cameras and smart phones. The monopod may be fitted with extendable, bendable arms for mounting additional cameras or for providing additional accessories. An embodiment of the monopod includes an extension arm which may be maneuvered and bent such that it provides a fisherman access to multiple accessories even while the fisherman is located in the fishing chair of a bass boat. |
| US09381974B2 |
Electric derailleur motor unit and motorized derailleur
An electric derailleur motor unit includes a base member, a motor, an output shaft, and a drive train. The motor is mounted to the base member. The motor has a motor shaft rotatable about a first rotational axis. The output shaft is rotatable about a second rotational axis. The drive train is operatively disposed between the motor shaft of the motor and the output shaft. The drive train includes an anti-backdriving device. The anti-backdriving device is configured to transmit rotation of the motor shaft of the motor in both rotational directions about the first rotational axis to the output shaft. The anti-backdriving device is further configured to prevent the output shaft from rotating in both rotational directions about the second rotational axis while the output shaft receives an external rotational torque from outside of the electric derailleur motor unit. |
| US09381969B2 |
Body frame for a saddle-type vehicle, and vehicle including same
A forged head pipe for a motorcycle frame is integrally formed and includes a main frame attachment portion, a pipe portion, and a lower extension extending downwardly from the pipe portion. A down frame attachment portion is provided on the lower extension, and is spaced away from the main frame attachment portion and the pipe portion. A down frame is welded to the down frame attachment portion by contacting the same without inserting the same. The down frame attachment portion is configured from a connecting portion, extending in parallel to the pipe portion, and an extension extending rearwardly from a lower end portion of the connecting portion. By eliminating an insertion socket, manufacturing cost is reduced, and welding quality is improved by spacing the down frame downwardly below the main frame attachment portion and the pipe portion, to which a high load is applied. |
| US09381963B2 |
Vehicle pulling device, system for passing vehicle in two modes, and inspection system thereof
A vehicle pulling device, a system for passing a vehicle in two modes, and an inspection system for scanning a vehicle by radiation are disclosed. The vehicle pulling device comprises a movable chassis disposed in a passage for a vehicle and being movable in a first direction; and a support beam disposed to the movable chassis and being rotatable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the support beam is located substantially in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, such that wheels of the vehicle are interacted with the support beam of the vehicle pulling device so that the vehicle is pulled to pass through the passage; and in the second position, the support beam is located substantially parallel to the first direction such that the wheels of the vehicle are not interacted with the support beam of the vehicle pulling device so that the vehicle travels by itself to pass through the passage. Therefore, when the vehicle does not need to be pulled, the support beam is rotated to the second position, and the vehicle travels by itself to pass through the passage. When the support beam is rotated to the first position, the vehicle pulling device can pull the vehicle to pass through the passage. |
| US09381958B2 |
Front tow extended saddle
A front tow extended saddle is disclosed. The saddle allows a first towing truck to mount a second truck, facing forward, behind the first truck, in order to tow the second truck to a distant location. The saddle allows the towed truck to face forward during transport, thus allowing for the normal loads and stresses of movement on the towed truck. This configuration is preferable to movement with the towed truck facing-rearward, in which the typical aerodynamic surfaces of a large truck act as a drag during transport, imposing high wind loads and unusual stresses. The front tow extended saddle is also designed to minimize the required vertical rise on the towed truck, which also avoids additional stresses during loading and unloading onto the towing truck. |
| US09381957B1 |
Adaptable aerodynamic spoiler for a motor vehicle
A vehicle includes a vehicle body having a first vehicle body end configured to face oncoming ambient airflow when the vehicle is in motion relative to a road surface. The vehicle additionally includes a spoiler assembly mounted to the vehicle body. The spoiler assembly includes a spoiler body configured to control a movement of the ambient airflow along the vehicle body. The spoiler body includes a frame having an upper side, a lower side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The spoiler body also includes a first fluid bladder arranged on the upper side of the frame and a second fluid bladder arranged on the lower side of the frame. The spoiler assembly also includes a mechanism configured to selectively supply and remove fluid from the first and second fluid bladders. |