最新美国发明专利第2011-11-01期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

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US08048434B2	Vaccine adjuvants The invention relates to a novel adjuvant Mycobacterium w and or its constituents and adjuvant containing composition, which contains antigen (s) with pharmaceutical acceptable carrier and its uses.Mycobacterium w and or its constituents when administered with antigen (s) to mammal results in enhanced immunogenicity of antigen. The enhanced immunogenicity manifests as humoral responses as well as cell mediated immunity. The adjuvant effect is seen with variety of antigens in various mammals irrespective of their immune status at the time of administration of Mycobacterium w and antigen containing composition. e.g. immune naïve or preimmunized status.
US08048431B2	Modified HIV-1 clade C envelope glycoprotein immunogens comprising deletions in the gp120/gp41 cleavage site and gp41 fusion domain The present invention relates, in general, to an immunogen and, in particular, to an immunogen for inducing antibodies that neutralize a wide spectrum of HIV primary isolates and/or to an immunogen that induces a T cell immune response. The invention also relates to a method of inducing anti-HIV antibodies, and/or to a method of inducing a T cell immune response, using such an immunogen. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding the present immunogens.
US08048422B2	Tweak binding antibodies Anti-Tweak antibodies are described.
US08048416B2	Cytotoxicity mediation of cells evidencing surface expression of CD44 This invention relates to the diagnosis and treatment of cancerous diseases, particularly to the mediation of cytotoxicity of primary and metastatic human tumor cells; and most particularly to the use of an isolated monoclonal antibody or cancerous disease modifying antibodies (CDMAB) thereof, optionally in combination with one or more chemotherapeutic agents, as a means for initiating the cytotoxic response in human tumors, e.g. any primary or metastatic tumor sites which arise from hepatocytes and to binding assays which utilize the CDMAB of the instant invention.
US08048415B2	Compositions and methods for promoting or inhibiting angiogenesis Compounds, compositions and methods for promoting or inhibiting angiogenesis, and screening methods for identifying compounds are disclosed. The compounds bind to F1 ATP synthase, particularly to the alpha and/or beta subunits of F1 ATP synthase. When bound to these subunits, they can function as angiostatin agonists, antagonists, partial agonists, inverse agonists, or allosteric modulators. When the compounds mimic or enhance the activity of angiostatin, they inhibit angiogenesis. When the compounds inhibit the ability of angiostatin to bind F1 ATP synthase and are either inactive at inhibiting angiogenesis or directly promote angiogenesis, or if they inhibit the activity of angiostatin, they promote angiogenesis. The compounds can be, for example, antibodies, antibody fragments, enzymes, peptides, nucleic acids such as oligonucleotides, or small molecules. The antibodies can be monoclonal, humanized, or polyclonal antibodies. The compounds can be conjugated to or combined with various cytotoxic agents and/or labeled compounds. Methods for promoting angiogenesis can be used to introduce vasculature to areas in a patient that can benefit from such increased vasculature. Methods for inhibiting angiogenesis can be used to treat disorders mediated by angiogenesis, for example, tumors, autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, and the like.
US08048414B1	Antivenom composition containing Fab fragments F(ab) fragments are isolated from an antibody containing source by contacting the antibody containing source with a papain-polyacrylamide matrix to produce F(ab) and F(c) fragments which are then passed through an antigen-polyacrylamide gel capable of attracting the F(ab) fragments. F(ab)2 fragments are obtained by contacting the antibody containing source with a pepsin-polyacrylamide matrix to produce F(ab)2 and F(c) fragments which are then passed through an antigen-polyacrylamide gel capable of attracting the F(ab)2 fragments. IgG antibodies are obtained by passing an antibody containing source through an antigen-polyacrylamide gel. These processes can be used to purify a wide variety of antibodies which can be used as therapeutic agents and as diagnostic agents. Antivenins produced by these processes have substantially reduced foreign protein levels and hence are less likely to produce immunogenic reactions. Bulk, unprocessed antibody sources may be utilized and, for reasons of process simplification, are preferred.
US08048410B2	In vivo and ex vivo gene transfer into renal tissue using gutless adenovirus vectors A method for treating a renal disease in a subject is disclosed. The method includes administering into a kidney of the subject with an effective amount of a gutless adenoviral vector containing a polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic agent. The gutless adenoviral vector contains the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:15 and expresses the therapeutic agent in a kidney tissue of the subject.
US08048407B2	In situ gelling self-reactive materials for embolization A method and composition for treating arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), or abnormal vasculature in the body are provided. The method comprises introducing into the region of an AVM a composition comprising a nucleophilic component, such as a thiol, and a component containing a conjugated unsaturated bond, such as an acrylate through a catheter, whereby the composition crosslinks within the body to block or occlude the AVM.
US08048405B2	Radioactive mixture and manufacturing method thereof A radioactive mixture and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The radioactive mixture (188Re-MN/Lipiodol mixture) is formed by chelating reaction of MN series compounds that are amine-amide-disulfide amine quadric-dentate chelate ligands with TcO4−/or ReO4−, and then dissolved in Lipiodol. Moreover, the 99mTc/or 188Re of the TcO4−/or ReO4− avoids bone marrow injuries caused by free 90Y. By the feature of the Lipiodol that stays in liver tumors for a long period, the radioactive mixture is applied to treat liver cancers by injection so that injuries caused by surgical operations can be prevented. 188Re-MN/Lipiodol is used for liver cancer, breast cancer or other solid tumors treatment. Re-188 MN or Re-188 MN/Lipiodol can be mixed with anticancer drugs, hydrogel, liposome, micelle or other nano-particles to form the multifunctional therapeutic modality.
US08048404B1	Pharmaceutical composition of nanoparticles for protein drug delivery The invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition of bioactive nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and a bioactive agent for oral delivery. The chitosan-based nanoparticles are characterized with a positive surface charge and enhanced permeability for oral drug delivery.
US08048401B2	Composition for hydrogen generation A solid composition containing: (a) at least one metal hydride compound; (b) at least one borohydride compound; and (c) at least one of: (i) a transition metal halide, or (ii) a transition metal boride. A “metal hydride” is a compound containing only one metal and hydrogen, including, e.g., alkali and alkaline earth metal hydrides. A “borohydride compound” is a compound containing the borohydride anion, BH4−.
US08048400B2	Process for preparation of alumina powder and precursor thereof There is provided a process for the preparation of a alumina precursor powder from aluminum hydroxide powder obtained by hydrolysis of aluminum alkoxide which precursor enables to provide alumina powder with a high volumetric efficiency.Such process comprises mixing aluminum hydroxide powder obtained by hydrolysis of an aluminum alkoxide with the following aqueous medium so as to obtain an aluminum hydroxide mixed slurry and then drying the aluminum hydroxide mixed slurry:aqueous medium: water or a medium mixture of water and a water-soluble alcohol wherein a water content in said medium mixture is not less than 15 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of the medium mixture.
US08048396B2	Method for manufacturing single-walled carbon nanotubes The objective of the present invention is to provide a process of producing single-walled carbon nanotubes, capable of producing single-walled carbon nanotubes with high purity. A process of producing single-walled carbon nanotubes according to the present invention includes feeding a feedstock including a hydrocarbon source, a metallocene, and a sulfur compound in a state of mist to a feeding zone where hydrogen gas flows at a linear velocity of 1-50 m/second wherein the amount of the hydrocarbon source is 0.01-0.2% by mass and the amount of the metallocene is 0.001-0.2% by mass based on the total amount of the hydrogen gas and the feedstock, and the amount by mass of the sulfur compound is ⅛-4 times as much as that of the metallocene; and making the hydrogen gas and the fed feedstock flow through a reaction zone with a temperature of 800-1000° C.
US08048395B2	Method of coating catalyst metal layer by using nucleic acid and method of forming nanocarbon by using the method of coating the catalyst metal layer Provided are a method of coating a catalyst metal layer by using a nucleic acid, and a method of forming nanocarbon using the method of coating a catalyst metal layer. The method of coating a catalyst metal layer includes preparing an aqueous solution; the aqueous solution including ions of a transition metal and a nucleic acid; disposing a carbon matrix including carbon, in the aqueous solution, and disposing a catalyst metal layer including a transition metal on a surface of the carbon matrix.
US08048394B2	Mesoporous silica particles The present invention relates to (1) hollow silica particles including an outer shell portion having a mesoporous structure with an average pore size of from 1 to 10 nm, wherein the silica particles have an average particle diameter of from 0.05 to 10 μm, and 80% or more of the whole silica particles have a particle diameter falling within the range of ±30% of the average particle diameter; (2) composite silica particles including silica particles which include an outer shell portion having a mesoporous structure with an average pore size of from 1 to 10 nm, and have a BET specific surface area of 100 m2/g or more, and a hydrophobic organic compound or a polymeric organic compound incorporated inside of the silica particles; and a process for producing the hollow silica particles.
US08048389B2	Cerium oxide-zirconium oxide-based mixed oxide and method for producing thereof The present invention provides a cerium oxide-zirconium oxide-based mixed oxide having superior platinum dispersibility and a suitable OSC, and a simple production process thereof. The cerium oxide-zirconium oxide-based mixed oxide comprises cerium oxide and zirconium oxide, wherein (1) the weight ratio of CeO2:ZrO2 is 60:40 to 90:10, and (2) the cerium oxide and the zirconium oxide are present as a mixture, the zirconium oxide being composed of a solid solution in which tetragonal or cubic zirconium oxide contains cerium.
US08048386B2	Fluid processing and control A fluid control and processing system for controlling fluid flow among a plurality of chambers comprises a body including a fluid processing region continuously coupled fluidicly with a fluid displacement region. The fluid displacement region is depressurizable to draw fluid into the fluid displacement region and pressurizable to expel fluid from the fluid displacement region. The body includes at least one external port. The fluid processing region is fluidicly coupled with the at least one external port. The fluid displacement region is fluidicly coupled with at least one external port of the body. The body is adjustable with respect to the plurality of chambers to place the at least one external port selectively in fluidic communication with the plurality of chambers. One or more of the chambers may be a processing chamber which includes two ports configured to selectively engage the at least one external port of the body, and a fluid processing material such as an enrichment material or a depletion material. In some embodiments, one or more chambers may include a separation channel, and an electric field may be applied across the separation channel.
US08048384B1	Chemochromic hydrogen sensors A chemochromic H2 sensor includes supports including a plurality of metal oxide particles exclusive of titania, and a platinum group metal (PGM) compound on the supports. The PGM compound is an oxide, hydroxide hydrated oxide, PGM salt or a PGM complex. When the PGM compound is a PGM salt or a PGM complex, the supports can include titania particles.
US08048383B2	Process for treating and/or forming a non-Newtonian fluid using microchannel process technology The disclosed invention relates to a process, comprising: conducting unit operations in at least two process zones in a process microchannel to treat and/or form a non-Newtonian fluid, a different unit operation being conducted in each process zone; and applying an effective amount of shear stress to the non-Newtonian fluid to reduce the viscosity of the non-Newtonian fluid in each process zone, the average shear rate in one process zone differing from the average shear rate in another process zone by a factor of at least about 1.2.
US08048378B2	Optical lens system and method for microfluidic devices An apparatus for imaging one or more selected fluorescence indications from a microfluidic device. The apparatus includes an imaging path coupled to least one chamber in at least one microfluidic device. The imaging path provides for transmission of one or more fluorescent emission signals derived from one or more samples in the at least one chamber of the at least one microfluidic device. The chamber has a chamber size, the chamber size being characterized by an actual spatial dimension normal to the imaging path. The apparatus also includes an optical lens system coupled to the imaging path. The optical lens system is adapted to transmit the one or more fluorescent signals associated with the chamber.
US08048375B2	Gravity-assisted mixing methods A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector.
US08048369B2	Cobalt-nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloys with reduced level of titanium nitride inclusions A cobalt-nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy useful in surgical implant applications includes, in weight percent based on total alloy weight, at least 20 cobalt, 33.0 to 37.0 nickel, 19.0 to 21.0 chromium, 9.0 to 10.5 molybdenum, and less than 30 ppm nitrogen. Embodiments of the alloy lack significant levels of titanium nitride and mixed carbonitride inclusions. The alloy may be cold drawn to thin-gauge wire without damage to the die as may be caused by hard particle inclusions in certain conventional alloy formulations.
US08048361B2	Method for forming porous bio-mimicking scaffold The present invention discloses a method for forming a porous bio-mimicking scaffold. At first, at least two types of solutions are provided where at least one of the solutions is a bio-mimicking scaffold solution comprising a bio-mimicking scaffold and at least one of the solutions is a pore forming solution comprising a pore forming material having at least one corresponding specific solvent. Then, a filling process is performed to fill the solutions into different needles of a blending injection device. Following that, an electrospinning process is performed to form a composite material. Each material type for forming the composite material is selected from the group consisting of the following: fiber, particle, and combination of fiber and particle. Finally, a removing process using the solvent to dissolve the pore forming material is performed to thereby form a porous bio-mimicking scaffold.
US08048359B2	Compensation of actinic radiation intensity profiles for three-dimensional modelers There is provided methods and apparatus for compensation of intensity profiles of imagers used in three-dimensional modelers. The intensity profile of the actinic radiation projected from the imager is determined by a variety of techniques, including but not limited to manually operated sensors, exposed and scanned actinic radiation-sensitive paper, and intensity profilers. Once the intensity profile of the imager is determined, each layer of the solidifiable liquid material is cured by projecting a plurality of patterns (as opposed to a single pattern) defining the two-dimensional cross-section of the part being cured. The patterns vary in duration, number, and/or shape to correlate to the intensity profile so that a single layer of selectively cured solidifiable liquid material is cured with a substantially equivalent (or otherwise controlled) amount of actinic radiation per unit of surface area to provide generally controlled and consistent part quality.
US08048358B2	Pop semiconductor device manufacturing method The objective of the invention is to prevent electrostatic destruction of semiconductor chips during resin molding. With the semiconductor device manufacturing method, a substrate 400 that includes on the surface multiple semiconductor chips 410 and liquid resin 434 supplied to multiple semiconductor devices is supported by an electrically insulated lower die 200. An upper die 110 in which multiple shape-forming parts (cavities) 112 are formed is pressed against lower die 200 through the medium of a polymer release film 300, and liquid resin 434 on the substrate is molded.
US08048356B2	Method for manufacturing key-pad having three-dimensional patterns A keypad having three-dimensional patterns and a method for manufacturing the same. The keypad includes a base layer, a light-guiding plate, a pattern layer, a shielding layer and a keycap layer. The light-guiding plate is overlapped on the base layer. The pattern layer is provided on the light-guiding plate. A plurality of three-dimensional patterns is provided on the front surface of the pattern layer. The shielding layer is coated on the back surface of the pattern layer, and is formed with a plurality of hollowed regions to correspond to the three-dimensional patterns. The keycap layer is overlapped on the pattern layer and formed with a plurality of keycaps to correspond to the three-dimensional patterns. In addition, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing keypad having three-dimensional patterns. Via the above arrangement, the recognition and aesthetic feeling of each three-dimensional pattern can be increased.
US08048352B2	Medical devices Medical devices and methods of making the devices are described. In some embodiments, the methods include a method of manufacturing a device including a first layer and a second layer, the method including the steps of selecting a material for the second layer, the material having a viscosity value at a shear rate of about 1 s−1 or less and at a selected temperature; selecting a nanocomposite material for the first layer that has a viscosity within about 20% to about 125% of the viscosity value of the material for the second layer; and co-extruding the first and second layers.
US08048350B2	Structural hydrogel polymer device The present invention relates generally a manufacturing process which results in a completely hydrogel polymer device that maintains lumen patency which allows for numerous applications. Catheters and stents are particular examples, and their composition, mechanical characteristics, and the significantly unique ability to conduct and allow fluids to pass from one end to the other without physiological rejection, inflammation, or manifestation of complications due to implant or otherwise undesirable outcomes when used for ambulatory and or therapeutic interventions is the purpose of the invention.
US08048347B2	Method of manufacture of a foamed core class “A” article The method of manufacturing an article having a surface, a skin, and a core includes closing a first mold portion on a compressible seal. The seal is disposed between the first and second mold portions. The portions define a pressurizable mold cavity having a spaced apart injection port and a vent. The mold cavity is pressurized at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. Molten plastic and blowing agent are injected form gas cells within the mixture. The gas cells have an internal pressure exceeding the first pressure. After waiting for a first period, the pressurizing gas is vented for a second period at a rate sufficient to rupture the gas cells which form a skin adjacent to the mold cavity wall. The skin defines a core cavity filled with the foamed mixture, which is solidified. The mold portions are separated releasing the article.
US08048346B2	Septic tank fabrication system A system for fabricating a septic tank using an outer mold and an inner removable plug, between which hardenable fluid material is poured. Preferably, the plug and mold are positioned with respect to one another in a manner that permits a septic tank to be fabricated in a single pour.
US08048339B2	Porous anode active material, method of preparing the same, and anode and lithium battery employing the same Provided are a porous anode active material, a method of preparing the same, and an anode and a lithium battery employing the same. The porous anode active material includes fine particles of metallic substance capable of forming a lithium alloy; a crystalline carboneous substance; and a porous carboneous material coating and attaching to the fine particles of metallic substance and the crystalline carboneous substance, the porous anode active material having pores exhibiting a bimodal size distribution with two pore diameter peaks as measured by a Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) pore size distribution from a nitrogen adsorption. The porous anode active material has the pores having a bimodal size distribution, and thus may efficiently remove a stress occurring due to a difference of expansion between a carboneous material and a metallic active material during charging and discharging. Further, the anode electrode and the lithium battery comprising the anode active material have excellent charge/discharge characteristics.
US08048332B2	Method for inhibiting ice formation and accumulation The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting the formation or accumulation of ice on a solid surface and for reducing the salt out temperatures.
US08048326B2	Method and apparatus for determining an etch property using an endpoint signal The present invention presents a plasma processing system for etching a layer on a substrate comprising a process chamber, a diagnostic system coupled to the process chamber and configured to measure at least one endpoint signal, and a controller coupled to the diagnostic system and configured to determine in-situ at least one of an etch rate and an etch rate uniformity of the etching from the endpoint signal. Furthermore, an in-situ method of determining an etch property for etching a layer on a substrate in a plasma processing system is presented comprising the steps: providing a thickness of the layer; etching the layer on the substrate; measuring at least one endpoint signal using a diagnostic system coupled to the plasma processing system, wherein the endpoint signal comprises an endpoint transition; and determining the etch rate from a ratio of the thickness to a difference between a time during the endpoint transition and a starting time of the etching.
US08048319B2	Filter medium for strainers used in nuclear reactor emergency core cooling systems A filter medium for strainers used in the emergency sump of a nuclear power plant ECCS. The filter medium is employed with double wall, concentric tube type strainer modules. The filter medium is preferably constructed of a woven or knitted stainless steel wire material and is shaped in a cylinder so that it can be inserted between two concentric strainer walls, concentric tube type strainer in such a manner that water that passes through the strainer must pass through and be filtered by the filter medium before the water can be pumped to the reactor core. The filter medium is inserted through the bottom of the strainer module and is held in place by an x-shaped retainer. The filter creates varied approach velocity of the fluid and results in non-uniform fibrous debris accumulation on the strainer, insuring acceptable strainer debris hydraulic head loss.
US08048316B2	Method and apparatus for reducing microorganisms in water A method for subjecting a microorganism to a combination of ozone and irradiation of UV light which has a synergistic effect on the reduction of the microorganism that may be resistant to either ozone or UV light alone. In particular, Adenovirus and Naegleria fowleri, are significantly more reduced when subjected simultaneously to the combination of ozone and UV light than when subjected only to ozone or UV light, respectively.
US08048310B2	Method and device for the removal of partially protein bound substances A method and a device to increase the efficiency of dialysis for the removal from blood of substances that are more or less tightly bound to carriers such as albumin. According to the invention this is accomplished by a simultaneous significant increase of the flow rate of the dialysis fluid and of the area of the membrane that separates the blood from the dialysis fluid, compared to conventional dialysis.
US08048308B2	Process for separating at least one actinide element from lanthanide elements in an aqueous medium by sequestration and membrane filtration The invention relates to a process for separating, in an aqueous medium, at least one actinide element from one or more lanthanide elements by using at least one molecule which sequesters the said actinide element to be separated and membrane filtration, the said process successively comprising: a) a step of bringing at least one molecule which sequesters the said actinide element in contact with the aqueous medium, the said molecule not being retained in the non-complexed state by the said membrane and being capable of forming a complex with the actinide element to be separated, comprising the said element and at least two of the said sequestering molecules, which complex is capable of being retained by the membrane; b) a step of passing the aqueous medium over the membrane in order to form a permeate on one side, comprising an aqueous effluent depleted of the said actinide element, and a retentate comprising the said complex.
US08048305B2	Methods for separating and analyzing anionic compounds Systems, methods and compositions for the purification, separation and analysis of anionic compounds, including polyanionic compounds are disclosed.
US08048303B2	Bioretention system and method A bioretention system and method are provided for removing phosphorus, nitrogen and other materials from effluent such as wastewater and stormwater. The system and method can include a filtration media comprising water treatment residuals and other fill such as soil. Plants can be growing in the soil. The system can also include a drainage system to regulate outflow, to function during both low and high throughputs of water.
US08048302B2	Filtering apparatus with hinge belt An endless belt filtering system for separating solid particles from a flow of contaminated liquid to produce a generally clean liquid. The system having a continuous loop belt extending between a first end and a second end and being formed by a plurality of plates pivotably joined to one another about space horizontal axes. The plurality of plates together forming an outwardly facing side and an inwardly facing side, the belt further including an upper section wherein the outward side generally faces up and moves from the first end toward the second end and an opposite lower section wherein the outward side generally faces down and moves from the second end toward the first end. The system having a housing forming a tank with a bottom, an end wall near the first end and a pair of side walls extending from the end wall. The lower section of the belt including a bottom region passing near the tank bottom and the plurality of plates including pivot plates having pivoting flaps that are pivotable between an opened condition and a closed condition. The flaps being in the opened condition when in the bottom region and in the closed condition when in the inlet region such that movement of the portion of particles through the belt is restricted in the inlet region and is promoted in the bottom region.
US08048299B2	Crossflow pressure liquid filtration with ultrasonic enhancement Methods and apparatus for increasing the duration of uninterrupted filtering flow by using crossflow filtration and ultrasonic energy in difficult to filter process liquids (e.g. of the kind having (1) a carrier liquid, (2) coalescing solids particles which tend to adhere and bridge filter element gaps sized substantially larger than such particles, and (3) larger impurity elements to be filtered out of such process liquid and sized larger than such filter element gaps).
US08048298B2	Household effluent purification plant Plant comprising a homogenization tank (100) equipped with a stirrer (120) and with a pumping unit (140), a connecting pipe (300) leaving the pumping unit (140) comprising an injector of reagents (310) and a static mixer (320), a second chamber (200) surmounted by a mixing tank (210) into which the connecting pipe (300, 320) opens tangentially and comprising a flocculation pan (220) above the sludge pit (230) and surmounted by a filtration chamber (240), a pipe (270) leading down to the bottom (222) of the flocculation pan (220) and a bypass pipe (160).
US08048295B2	Process for decreasing bromine-reactive contaminants in hydrocarbon feeds A process for reducing the Bromine Index of a hydrocarbon feed containing bromine-reactive contaminants that has improved cycle length and utilizes a crystalline molecular sieve catalyst. The process is carried out by contacting the hydrocarbon feed under conversion conditions with a catalyst shaped in the form of an elongated aggregate comprising a crystalline molecular sieve having a MWW or *BEA framework type. The shortest cross-sectional dimension of the elongated aggregate is less about 1/10 inch (2.54 millimeters).
US08048293B2	Desulfurization catalyst for catalytic cracked gasoline and method for desulfurizing catalytic cracked gasoline using the same The desulfurization catalyst for catalytic cracked gasoline according to the present invention has high performance in removal of sulfur compounds in gasoline fractions. This catalyst contains particulate vanadium oxide having the average particle diameter in the range from 0.1 to 10 μm at the content in the range from 0.3 to 3 weight % calculated as that of V2O5. The porous spherical particles of inorganic oxide are made of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite and a porous inorganic oxide matrix, and furthermore contain antimony.
US08048292B2	Systems and methods for producing a crude product Systems and methods for hydroprocessing a heavy oil feedstock, the system employs a plurality of contacting zones and separation zones and a solvent deasphalting (SDA) unit for providing at least a portion of the heavy oil feedstock. The contacting zones operate under hydrocracking conditions, employing a slurry catalyst for upgrading the deasphalted oil, forming upgraded products of lower boiling hydrocarbons. In the separation zones which operates at a temperature within 20° F. and a pressure within 10 psi of the pressure in the contacting zones, upgraded products are removed overhead and optionally, further treated in an in-line hydrotreater.
US08048290B2	Process for producing branched hydrocarbons The invention relates to a process for producing base oils, comprisings the steps where feedstock selected from ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, esters of carboxylic acids and anhydrides of carboxylic acids, alpha olefins, metal salts of carboxylic acids and corresponding sulphur compounds, corresponding nitrogen compounds and combinations thereof, is subjected to a condensation step and subsequently subjected to a combined hydrodefunctionalization and isomerization step.
US08048285B2	Low hydrogen embrittlement zinc/nickel plating for high strength steels The invention provides a method for producing a corrosion-resistant article, where the article is conductive and subject to hydrogen uptake during electroplating of a coating. The method comprises electroplating a zinc/nickel coating on the article in an aqueous, basic plating solution containing zinc and nickel ions. The method uses an electrolyte in the form of a soluble hydroxide salt with the weight ratio of zinc ions to nickel ions in the solution being sufficient to provide the coating comprising from about 85% to about 95% by weight zinc, and about 5% to about 15% by weight nickel. The plating solution is substantially free of brightening agents which retard hydrogen bake-out.
US08048279B2	Method and apparatus for electrocoagulation of liquids An electrocoagulation treatment device includes a plurality of spaced reaction plates disposed within a reaction chamber. A voltage is applied to selected reaction plates to create an electrical field within the electrocoagulation chamber. The plates are arranged vertically which induces a vertical flow of liquid through a device. The voltage and amperage of the electrical field chamber may be adjusted by placing selected reaction plates in electrical contact with the voltage source. One embodiment is adapted for treatment of fluid containing soluble or particulate organic compounds recalcitrant to biodegradation, including nitrogenous contaminants, such as ammonia or an ammonium compounds. The device and method of the invention include the use of an oxidizing agent such as sodium hypochlorite or hydrogen peroxide to aid in the removal of organic contaminants.
US08048277B2	Magnet unit and magnetron sputtering apparatus A magnet unit, which can realize uniform film thickness distribution of a thin film formed on a substrate without increasing the length and width of a target. The magnet unit includes a peripheral magnet, which is disposed on the yoke on the back side of a cathode electrode so as to follow the outline of a target, and an inner magnet disposed in the peripheral magnet and having a polarity different from the polarity of the peripheral magnet. The magnet unit provides a magnetic track MT that is a set of regions which tangents of magnetic field lines M generated on the target parallels to the target surface. The magnet unit further includes n (n is a positive integer of two or more) extending magnetic pole portions and n−1 projecting magnetic pole portions, which form 2n−1 folded shape portions U at the both ends in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic track.
US08048275B2	Method of solubilizing carbon nanomaterial [Problems] The present invention is to provide a method of solubilizing a carbon nanomaterial, in which a carbon nanomaterial can be dissolved in a hydrophilic solvent easily and uniformly without structural deterioration of the carbon nanomaterial, the dispersibility can be maintained for a prolonged period of time, the solubilizing treatment can be performed at low cost, and the treatment can be easily controlled.[Means for Resolution] The method of solubilizing a carbon nanomaterial of the invention is characterized by mixing a carbon nanomaterial in a hydrophilic solvent, and performing streamer discharge in the hydrophilic solvent to dissolve the carbon nanomaterial in the hydrophilic solvent with the dispersed state thereof maintained stably.
US08048274B2	Electrochemistry technical field The invention relates to novel methods for affecting, controlling and/or directing various reactions and/or reaction pathways or systems by exposing one or more components in a holoreaction system to at least one spectral energy pattern. In a first aspect of the invention, at least one spectral energy pattern can be applied to a reaction system. In a second aspect of the invention, at least one spectral energy conditioning pattern can be applied to a conditioning reaction system. The spectral energy conditioning pattern can, for example, be applied at a separate location from the reaction vessel (e.g., in a conditioning reaction vessel) or can be applied in (or to) the reaction vessel, but prior to other reaction system participants being introduced into the reaction vessel.
US08048270B2	Apparatus for distributing a pulp flow An apparatus for distributing a pulp flow, said apparatus including: a valve body connected to an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit for the pulp flow and provided with a closing member for opening and closing the valve to regulate the pulp flow; a distribution member arranged in a direction the pulp flow and downstream of the closing member, said distribution member distributing the pulp flow into at least two partial flows, and at least two channels wherein each channel receives a respective one of the two partial flows, wherein said channels are connected to the valve body or to the outlet conduit from the valve.
US08048267B2	Recording sheet with improved image waterfastness, surface strength, and runnability The present invention relates to a sizing or coating composition that, when applied to paper substrate, creates a substrate having improved waterfastness, surface strength, and surface strength as measured by resistance to abrasion. In addition, the present invention relates to paper substrates containing the composition, as well as methods of using and making the paper substrate and composition.
US08048265B2	Creping and cutting procedure and equipment Creping and cutting procedure and equipment, for paper manufacture which consists of a creping doctor (1) carrying a blade (2) which carries out the creping; a support plate (12) which can pivot on a pivot shaft (5) in the geometrical center of which the creping blade (2) works; primary means of actuation (3) which through the support plate (12) cause the rotation of the creping doctor (1) on a pivot shaft (4); and secondary means of actuation of variation of angle (6) which act on the support plate (12) and cause its rotation on a pivot shaft (5) ; in such a way that it is possible, with only two doctors (1), (7) to carry out the maneuvers of creping, blade changing, cutting and cleaning.
US08048263B2	Four stage alkaline peroxide mechanical pulpings A process for applying chemicals, such as an alkaline peroxide pretreatment (1) to lignocellulosic material before chemical refining and at the primary refiner (3). The preferred embodiment comprises (i) preconditioning at temperatures below 95° C., especially below 80° C., (ii) limiting the time and/or temperature in the refiner, (iii) reaction quench to maintain temperatures below 80° C., and (iv) subsequent high consistency bleaching (4).
US08048261B2	Tape removal apparatus and process for use with an automated composite tape laying machine Apparatus are provided for attaching to a composite tape lamination machine in order to remove composite scrap tape material from a backing paper. When a moveable member is in one position composite non-scrap tape material on a backing paper is directed along a path to avoid a removing member and keep composite non-scrap tape material on a backing paper. When the moveable member is in another position composite scrap tape material on a backing paper is directed along a different path to contact the removing member and remove composite scrap tape material from a backing paper. Composite scrap tape material may be disposed in a scrap disposal member. Backing paper having attached composite non-scrap tape material and not having attached composite scrap tape material may be spooled using a spool roller.
US08048259B2	Vacuum processing apparatus A plasma processing apparatus which contributes to reducing required time for maintenance and thereby to enhancing the efficiency of processing and that of apparatus operation is to be provided. A vacuum processing apparatus comprises a vacuum vessel in which a substrate-shaped sample is arranged in an internally arranged processing chamber in which the pressure is reduced; a transfer chamber to which the vacuum vessel is linked and through whose inside reduced in pressure the sample is transferred; a passage which establishes communication between the transfer chamber and the vacuum vessel in a state in which the transfer chamber and the processing chamber are linked to each other and through whose inside the sample not yet processed or already processed is transferred; and a covering member which is removably coupled to cover the internal wall face of the passage, wherein the sample is processed within the processing chamber with a plasma formed in the processing chamber.
US08048252B2	Method and apparatus for concurrent welding and excise of battery separator The present subject matter relates to a method which includes positioning a bottom and top polymeric separator sheet on a working surface, with a substantially planar battery anode disposed therebetween; applying a pressure and an electrical current to a cutting and welding tool such that top and bottom polymeric separator sheets are welded into a bag and such that the bag is excised from the top and bottom separator sheets, with the battery anode disposed in the bag; stacking the battery anode and at least one cathode into a battery stack; and disposing the battery stack into a battery case having at least one feedthrough, with a first terminal connected to the battery stack through the at least one feedthrough, and with the battery case filled with an electrolyte, wherein the protrusion is defined by laser cutting the cutting and welding tool, machining the cutting and welding tool, or photochemical etching the cutting and welding tool.
US08048249B2	Closure element for absorbent sanitary products, manufacturing process, process of use, and product thus obtained A process is provided for making a fastening element for absorbent sanitary products having first and second parts that are symmetrical with respect to an intermediate plane, each part including a base branch connectable to the first part, and a distal branch connectable to the second part. The base branch and the distal branch are connected together according to a general book-like configuration. A dorsal part of the book-like configuration for connection between the base and the distal branches is set at a distance from said intermediate plane, the base branch connects the two parts to form a single body, each of which can connect mutually facing edges of the end parts of an absorbent sanitary product and to ensure the fastening of the flaps set on the sides. The fastening element can enable releasing and refastening the product and/or adjusting the fit of the product to the wearer's body.
US08048244B2	System and method of forming an article, and an article formed thereby A method of forming an article from a plurality of fiber bundles comprising the steps of providing at least one supply of fiber bundles, the fiber bundles having bonding fibers, supplying the fiber bundles to an injector, sequentially injecting fiber bundles from the fiber bundle feed assembly to predetermined positions within a mold member, heating the fiber bundles within the mold member to facilitate the adhesion of bonding fibers to, in turn, integrate the fiber bundle into an article, and, removing the fiber bundles from the mold member. An article and a system for forming same is likewise disclosed.
US08048243B2	Combustion catalyst The present invention pertains to combustion catalysts, including processes for achieving increased thermal output from combustion processes, processes for improved combustion in boilers and furnaces, processes for reducing the emission of undesirable pollutants, and processes for increasing the combustion of carbon.
US08048240B2	Processing of titanium-aluminum-vanadium alloys and products made thereby A method of forming an article from an α−β titanium including, in weight percentages, from about 2.9 to about 5.0 aluminum, from about 2.0 to about 3.0 vanadium, from about 0.4 to about 2.0 iron, from about 0.2 to about 0.3 oxygen, from about 0.005 to about 0.3 carbon, from about 0.001 to about 0.02 nitrogen, and less than about 0.5 of other elements. The method comprises cold working the α−β titanium alloy.
US08048239B2	Ferritic stainless steel sheet superior in shapeability and method of production of the same The present invention provides a ferritic stainless steel sheet superior in shapeability containing, by wt %, C: 0.001 to 0.010%, Si: 0.01 to 1.0%, Mn: 0.01 to 1.0%, P: 0.01 to 0.04%, Cr: 10 to 20%, N: 0.001 to 0.020%, Nb: 0.3 to 1.0%, and Mo: 0.5 to 2.0%, wherein the total precipitates are, by wt %, 0.05 to 0.60%. A method of production of a ferritic stainless steel sheet superior in shapeability comprising producing a cold rolling material in the production process so that the Nb-based precipitates become, by vol %, 0.15% to 0.6% and have a diameter of 0.1 μm to 1 μm and/or so that the recrystallized grain size becomes 1 μm to 40 μm and the recrystallization rate becomes 10 to 90%, then cold rolling and annealing it at 1010 to 1080° C.
US08048235B2	Gate valve cleaning method and substrate processing system A gate valve cleaning method that can clean a gate valve that brings an atmospheric transfer chamber and an internal pressure variable transfer chamber that transfer a substrate into communication with each other or shuts them off from each other without bringing about a decrease in the throughput of a substrate processing system. Before the gate valve brings the atmospheric transfer chamber and the internal pressure variable transfer chamber into communication with each other, the pressure in the internal pressure variable transfer chamber is increased so that the pressure in the internal pressure variable transfer chamber can become higher than the pressure in the atmospheric transfer chamber.
US08048230B2	Metering and vaporizing particulate material Apparatus for metering and vaporizing a particulate material, includes: a metering device for metering particulate material having: a reservoir for receiving particulate material; a housing having first and second openings; a rotatable shaft disposed in the internal volume, the shaft having a smooth surface and a circumferential groove; a rotating agitator with a plurality of tines disposed in the reservoir and cooperating with the rotating shaft for fluidizing particulate material and transporting it from the reservoir into the groove; cooperating such that particulate material is transported by the groove; a scraper cooperates with the groove to dislodge particulate material retained therein, and deliver metered amounts of particulate material through the second opening; a structure fluidizes the particulate material at the second opening; and a flash evaporator that receives and flash vaporizes the metered particulate material.
US08048228B2	Masking apparatus and method of fabricating electronic component A masking apparatus includes a mask base body and a mask plate. The mask base body includes at least one spacer plate, and a cavity in which an electronic component can be housed. The mask plate is disposed on an upper surface and/or a lower surface of the mask base body. The mask plate includes a film-forming opening with a shape corresponding to the shape of an external structural body to be formed on an outer surface of the component. The mask plate thus allows a film-forming operation to be selectively performed on the outer surface of the component through the film-forming opening. The cavity includes, in an inner surface thereof, a film-forming groove communicating with the film-forming opening so that the external structural body can be formed at once on an upper surface and/or a lower surface of, and also on a peripheral surface of the component.
US08048225B2	Large-area bulk gallium nitride wafer and method of manufacture The present invention includes a high-quality, large-area bulk GaN seed crystal for ammonothermal GaN growth and method for fabricating. The seed crystal is of ultra-low defect density, has flat surfaces free of bowing, and is free of foreign substrate material. The seed crystal is useful for producing large-volume, high-quality bulk GaN crystals by ammonothermal growth methods for eventual wafering into large-area GaN substrates for device fabrication.
US08048221B2	Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing monocrystalline cast silicon and monocrystalline cast silicon bodies for photovoltaics Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With such methods and apparatuses, a cast body of monocrystalline silicon may be formed that is free of, or substantially free of, radially-distributed impurities and defects and having at least two dimensions that are each at least about 35 cm is provided.
US08048219B2	Method of placing concrete A method of placing a concrete compositions including a) combining 3-40 volume percent cement, 5-50 volume percent fine aggregate, 5-50 volume percent coarse aggregate, and 10-22 volume percent water; b) adding 1.5-40 volume percent of prepuff particles to form a concrete composition; and c) pumping the concrete composition to a point higher in elevation than the delivery point of the concrete to place the concrete. The concrete composition contains less than 30 volume percent of other light weighting aggregates and the prepuff particles have an average particle diameter of from 0.2 mm to 8 mm, a bulk density of from 0.02 g/cc to 0.64 g/cc, an aspect ratio of from 1 to 3. The slump value of the placed concrete measured according to ASTM C 143 is greater than 1 inch and the concrete has a density of from about 40 to about 135 lb./ft3.
US08048216B2	Anti-corrosive package The invention provides an anti-corrosive package which can be added to release agents used in preparing textiles and molded articles from lignocellulosic materials, concrete and polyurethane foam.
US08048214B2	Conductive ink containing thermally exfoliated graphite oxide and method a conductive circuit using the same A conductive ink containing a conductive polymer, wherein the conductive polymer contains at least one polymer and a modified graphite oxide material, which is a thermally exfoliated graphite oxide with a surface area of from about 300 m2/g to 2600 m2/g, and it use in a method for making a conductive circuit.
US08048212B2	Inertial gas-liquid separator with valve and variable flow actuator A self-governing continuously variable inertial gas-liquid separator has an axially movable valve controlling axial flow through a nozzle orifice, and a variable flow controller upstream of and controlling the valve.
US08048209B2	Degassing device and end-cap assembly for a filter including such a degassing device A degassing device (203) comprises a first chamber (21) having an inlet for a liquid, and a second chamber (22) having an opening (23) closed by a hydrophobic membrane (24) and an outlet (25) for discharging the liquid. The first chamber (21) has a downstream portion that partially extends within the second chamber (22) and communicates therewith by a passageway (28). The second chamber (22) has a downstream portion that extends below the passageway (28) and asymmetrically surrounds the downstream portion of the first chamber (21).
US08048208B2	Method and apparatus for depositing chalcogens A method and device for separation of chalcogens from waste gases in process installations are provided so that complete and reliable removal of chalcogens occurs continuously during nonstop operation of the process installation in the most effective manner possible. The process installation is connected via a pipeline to an input connector of the device for separation of chalcogens arranged outside of the process installation. The pipeline and the input connector have a heat connection to the process chamber. The device for separation of chalcogens is provided with an outlet connector as well as a gas outlet is equipped with a cooling device so that the input connector is excluded from cooling.
US08048206B2	Apparatus and method for filtering sectioning wastes of a microtome that are present in an air stream An apparatus and a method for filtering sectioning wastes of a microtome that are present in an air stream is suggested. The apparatus encompasses an aspiration device. With the aspiration device, sectioning waste can be aspirated from a blade region of the microtome with an air stream. The aspiration device comprises a main filter in which the sectioning wastes can be filtered from the air. In order to allow inadvertently aspirated histological sections to be retrieved again without mix-up, the apparatus according to the present invention has an aspiration device comprising a prefilter that is arranged between the blade region and the main filter and prefilters the sectioning wastes. The present invention further relates to a microtome.
US08048205B2	Lint filter device and method for cleaning a lint filter device A lint filter device for an airflow in a tumble dryer, comprising an endlessly circulating element, arranged around at least two deflector elements and positioned such as to be crossed by the airflow. The circulating element has an upper edge and a lower edge and first engaging elements are arranged on at least one of the two edges which, on opening a loading door of the tumble dryer may come to cooperate with at least one second engaging element, arranged inside the tumble dryer such that, on the opening process of the loading door, the circulating element may be automatically moved in a circulating direction and may be passed across at least one device for the removal of lint from the circulating element. The invention further relates to a method for cleaning such a lint filter device.
US08048201B2	Oxygen scavenger and a method for scavenging oxygen An oxygen scavenger is provided. An oxygen scavenger comprises iron, malic acid, and a wicking agent. A method for scavenging oxygen from an enclosed container comprises providing an oxygen scavenger compound comprising iron, malic acid, and a wicking agent, sealing the composition in an oxygen permeable, water impermeable container, and activating the composition by injecting water into the container.
US08048200B2	Clean corona gas ionization for static charge neutralization Clean corona gas ionization by separating contaminant byproducts from corona generated ions includes establishing a non-ionized gas stream having a pressure and flowing in a downstream direction, establishing a plasma region of ions and contaminant byproducts in which the pressure is sufficiently lower than the pressure of the non-ionized gas stream to prevent at least a substantial portion of the byproducts from migrating into the non-ionized gas stream, and applying an electric field to the plasma region sufficient to induce at least a substantial portion of the ions to migrate into the non-ionized gas stream.
US08048199B2	Method of making a leak stable gas separation membrane system A method of preparing a gas separation membrane system and the gas separation membrane system itself, wherein the method includes applying a layer of a gas-selective material to a porous substrate followed by heat-treating thereof in an inert gaseous atmosphere and then polishing and repeating these steps to thereby provide the gas separation membrane system or a structure that may suitably be used in a gas separation membrane system.
US08048197B2	Low carbon steel sheet and low carbon steel slab and process for producing same The present invention provides a low carbon steel sheet and a low carbon steel slab on which formation of surface defects can be surely prevented by preventing aggregation of inclusions in the molten steel and finely dispersing inclusions in the steel sheet or slab, and a process for producing the steel sheet and slab. The present invention provides a process comprising the steps of decarburizing a molten steel so as to produce a carbon concentration of up to 0.01% by mass, pre-deoxidizing the molten steel by adding Al thereto so as to produce a dissolved oxygen concentration from 0.01 to 0.04% by mass, adding thereto Ti and at least La and/or Ce, and casting the molten steel, and a steel sheet and a steel slab obtained by the process.
US08048195B2	Use of liquid-crystal displays, and processes for the recycling thereof The present invention relates to the use of liquid-crystal displays (LCDs), and to processes for the recycling thereof. The processes according to the invention are characterised in that the LCDs are employed at least partly as replacement for other raw materials. In general, the LCDs are thermally treated here at a temperature in the range from 900 to 1700° C.
US08048190B2	Composition of liquid fertilizer This invention refers to a liquid fertilizer of organic and mineral origin where sabila and humic acid are used as sources of organic matter, to which may be added micronutrients iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, calcium and magnesium in the form of a soluble compound; furthermore, a chelating agent and a surfactant to make the nutrients more assimilable for the crops may be added. The invention consists of a liquid organic-mineral fertilizer whose organic base is sabila extract and/or humic acid; and the mineral elements conform to diverse added salts so that the fertilizer contains the essential micronutrients for all soil type (iron, zinc, copper, manganese, boron, calcium and magnesium). Furthermore, the invention contains a chelating agent and a surfactant to improve the assimilation of the nutrients for the cultivations.
US08048189B2	Buffered amino alcohol solutions of N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) and urea fertilizers using such solutions as urease inhibitors Reduced volatility of urea fertilizers are prepared in accordance with the present invention by first preparing an N-(n-butyl)-thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) solution by dissolving NBPT in a mixture of an amino alcohol having the formula 1—(H)x—N—((CH2)m—OH)n where m is 1-3, x is 0 or 1, and n is 2 when x is 1 and 3 when x is 0: or the formula 2—(H)y—N—((CH2)—CHOH—CH3)z such that the length of the carbon chain where the secondary hydroxyl group is located is 3, y is 0 or 1, and z is 2 when y is 1 and 3 when y is 0, and a carboxylic acid having 6 or fewer carbon atoms. The solution is then combining with a urea fertilizer in granular or liquid form.
US08048188B2	Air cleaner arrangements; serviceable filter cartridge; and, methods Principles, techniques and configurations applicable in air cleaner arrangements and filter cartridges therefore, are described. In general the filter cartridge includes an axial pivot arrangement, for pivoting the filter cartridge in place, when mounted in an air cleaner for use. The air cleaner preferably includes a base pivot, for engagement with the pivot projection on the filter cartridge. Methods of assembly, installation and use are described.
US08048182B2	Integrated containment system Embodiments of the invention generally provide a containment system having integrated bubble tight-dampers. In another embodiment, the containment system includes an integral auto-scan mechanism disposed in the housing of the containment system so that a filter element, disposed in the housing, may be leak tested without accessing the interior of the housing. In yet another embodiment, a method for testing a filter disposed in a containment system includes challenging an upstream side of a filter element disposed in a housing of the containment system with a test aerosol, and automatically moving a probe disposed within the housing to obtain samples for leak testing.
US08048181B2	Filter apparatus A filter apparatus deposits impurities from a fluid stream by use of a filter element (10) accommodated in a filter casing (12). The filter casing (12) has a swirl space (14) such that the fluid stream to be filtered is conducted at least partly in a swirling flow around the filter element (10). The properties of a cyclone are utilized for the actual filtration operation to the extent that the swirl space of the filter casing brings about multiple deflection of the direction of motion of the fluid to be filtered.
US08048179B2	Air cleaner with snow bypass valve An air cleaner for a motor vehicle includes a housing having an air inlet opening, an air outlet opening, a secondary air inlet opening and at least one peripheral wall defining a chamber therein. An air filter element is provided and received into the chamber and positioned to separate the air inlet opening from the air outlet opening. A vacuum actuated valve is provided in the secondary air inlet opening of the housing and is in communication with a secondary air portion of a dirty face of the filter element. The valve configured and adapted to automatically change from a closed to an open state when a vacuum in the housing increases to a predetermined vacuum value and then to close when the vacuum decreases below the predetermined value, thereby permitting the vehicle engine to continue to operate even though airflow in the primary air intake may be obstructed.
US08048175B2	Quick removal of mercaptans from hydrocarbons Mercaptans and/or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in hydrocarbons, naphthas, gasolines, and the like may be scavenged therefrom by being brought into intimate contact with a mercaptan scavenger formulation containing at least one disubstituted azodicarboxylate of the formula R1OOCN═NCOOR2, where R1 and R2 are independently alkyl groups, alkenyl groups and aromatic groups having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms. These scavengers remove mercaptans and/or H2S from hydrocarbons faster than many conventional mercaptan scavengers. An effective scavenging amount of disubstituted azodicarboxylate in the hydrocarbon fluid ranges from about 5 to about 20 parts by weight based on 1 part as sulfur of mercaptan and/or H2S.
US08048172B2	Actuator assembly for prosthetic or orthotic joint A system and method associated with the movement of a limb. In one example, the system, such as a prosthetic or orthotic system, includes an actuator that actively controls, or adjusts, the angle between a foot unit and a lower limb member. The actuator preferably selectively locks during a desired phase in a gait cycle of the limb and minimizes friction against a rotor of the actuator. A processing module may control movement of the actuator based on data obtained from a sensor module. For instance, sensing module data may include information relating to the gait of a user and may be used to adjust the foot unit to substantially mimic the movement of a natural, healthy ankle. The system may further accommodate, for example, level ground walking, traveling up/down stairs, traveling up/down sloped surfaces, and various other user movements. In addition, the processing module may receive user input or display output signals through an external interface. For example, the processing module may receive a heel height input from the user.
US08048165B2	Method and apparatus for removing a bearing A method for removing a bearing that is coupled to a prosthetic implant by a ring includes advancing a distal end of a removal tool in a first direction and into a slit formed in the ring. The ring can be caused to expand radially from engagement with the bearing. The distal end of the removal tool can be advanced in a second direction such that the removal tool engages the bearing. The distal end of the removal tool can be further advanced in the second direction such that the removal tool urges the bearing away from the prosthetic implant.
US08048159B2	Artificial intervertebral disc having a slotted belleville washer force restoring element An intervertebral spacer device includes first and second plates disposed in a spaced apart relationship, each plate having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surfaces of the opposing plates facing one another. The device also includes a restoring force providing element disposed between the inner surfaces of the plates. The restoring force providing element includes a slotted belleville washer having a convex shape when unloaded and a flatter shape when loaded, whereby one or more slots of the belleville washer widen when compressively loaded. The second plate has an annular groove formed in the inner surface of the second plate, the device including a retaining wall and a retaining ring, whereby a wide end of the belleville washer is captured by the retaining wall and the retaining ring for maintaining the wide end adjacent the inner surface of the second plate.
US08048158B2	Graft ligament anchor and method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone A graft ligament anchor comprises a graft ligament engagement member disposed in an opening in a bone, the graft ligament engagement member being arranged to receive a graft ligament alongside the engagement member, and a locking member for disposition in the opening, and at least in part engageable with the graft ligament engagement member. Movement of the locking member in the opening causes the locking member to urge the engagement member, and the graft ligament therewith, toward a wall of the opening, to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the opening. A method for attaching a graft ligament to a bone comprises providing an opening in the bone, inserting the graft ligament and a graft ligament engagement member in the opening, with the graft ligament disposed alongside a first portion of the engagement member, and inserting a locking member in the bone alongside a second portion of the engagement member, the locking member being separated from the graft ligament by the graft ligament engagement member. The method further comprises moving the locking member to cause the locking member to engage the graft ligament engagement member to urge the graft ligament engagement member, and the graft ligament therewith, toward a wall of the opening to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the opening.
US08048157B2	Tunnel measuring device for ligament reconstruction Measuring devices and methods of determining the appropriate graft length for reconstructive surgery, for example for an all-inside ACL reconstruction ligament repair. The measuring device accurately determines the graft length based on the total length between the femoral and tibial tunnels (sockets) plus the intraarticular space between them. The measuring device may comprise two small, cannulated beads (preferably polished metal) and three strands (for example, three suture strands). The beads may have a diameter of about 5 mm and the three sutures may preferably have distinct and different colors.
US08048150B2	Endoprosthesis having a fiber meshwork disposed thereon The present invention comprises a medical device having an underlying structure on which is disposed a fiber meshwork composed of one or more fibers of substantially uniform diameter. The fiber meshwork may optionally have a multi-layer structure disposed upon it. Either or both of the fiber meshwork or the multi-layer structure may have one or more therapeutic agents absorbed within it. The fiber meshwork is permeable to body fluids and thereby permits body fluids to contact the underlying structure to facilitate its controlled disintegration. The fiber meshwork degrades more slowly than the underlying structure thereby permitting release of the therapeutic agent over a timescale longer than that of the lifetime of the underlying structure, while also ensuring that the support function of the underlying structure is not abrogated by the disintegration of the underlying structure.
US08048148B2	Self-expandable stent delivery system for bifurcated lesions Self-expandable bifurcation stent and systems for delivery and implantation of the self-expandable bifurcation stent, comprising a self-expandable bifurcation stent made of a material possessing shape memory, capable of shaping a mesh with cylindrical surface and marked by radioactive labels, and the delivery system for its implantation, comprising a polymeric tubular catheter with a cap at the distal end, a guiding wire and a pushing wire, where the tubular catheter is executed double-barreled, one lumen accommodating the guiding wire, and the second lumen accommodating the pushing wire with a cap at its distal end, which cap is executed in the shape of a polymeric elastic cap put over the tubular catheter accommodating, between the polymeric elastic cap and the tubular catheter, the stent in the first position with the reduced diameter, the cap is executed with the capability of distal 5 moving along the guiding wire and along the tubular catheter accommodating the stent, by means of the pushing wire, and with capability of unrolling the stent at the proximal end into the second position with greater diameter, and the capability of backwards proximal moving thus returning the stent to its first position in the tubular catheter.
US08048142B2	Endolumenal prosthesis An expandable endolumenal prosthesis comprises, in its non-expanded configuration, a tubular body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a distal end and a proximal end. The tubular body having a porous wall defined by a plurality of interlaced circumferential lines forming a pathway motif or pattern.
US08048138B2	Medical device retaining sheath and medical device delivery system employing same An endoluminal prosthetic delivery system provides a delivery sheath possessing a yield strength capable of allowing implantation of the prosthesis with increased efficiency. An endoluminal prosthesis is inserted in a body in a radially compressed condition, and expanded at an implantation site, whereby a delivery sheath or the prosthesis itself possesses a yield strength sufficient to allow radial expansion of the prosthesis. A method of implanting an endoluminal prosthesis is also herein provided.
US08048137B2	Tube blanket Each leg of a U tube blanket is configured to have at least one row of holes extending substantially along the length thereof. The size of the holes is incrementally increased from the proximal portion that is closest to the air inlet cross section of the blanket where heated air is input to the blanket for inflating the same to the distal portion of the legs of the blanket. For an embodiment of the inventive blanket, the plurality of vent holes along each leg of the blanket are grouped into a number of sections, for illustration purposes three, with the vent holes in each section having the same dimension. With the size of the holes being incrementally larger along the leg away from the heat source, a greater amount of warm air is output at the distal portion of the blanket to compensate for the distance the warm air needs to travel before it is vented from the blanket. As a result, a substantially evenly distributed bath of warm air is output from the legs of the blanket to the sides of the patient so that the patient is evenly warmed along his entire body. Straps that are separable from the legs of the blanket are provided to secure the blanket to the patient.
US08048130B2	Implant for fixing bone plates An implant is provided for fixing neighboring bone plates of the cranial bone in a simple and reliable manner. The implant comprises an outer bearing element for covering a spacing gap between the bone plates, which sits on outer surfaces of the bone plates. The outer bearing element has a first pair of outer openings and a first pair of inner openings. An inner bearing element is provided for covering the spacing gap between the bone plates, which sits on inner surfaces of the bone plates. The inner bearing element has a second pair of outer openings and a second pair of inner openings. A tensioning element is provided which is threaded through the openings of the outer and inner bearing elements in a displaceable manner, such that, when tensioned, the tensioning element draws the inner bearing element and the outer bearing element together.
US08048129B2	MIS crosslink apparatus and methods for spinal implant A spinal implant provides support for desired parts of the spine. The implant can provide support in fusion situations. The spinal implant includes a pair of elongated members and a variable length cross-link. A variable length cross-link apparatus may couple to the first and second elongated members. Each variable length cross-link device may include a fixed portion having a receiver portion for attachment to a first elongated member. Each variable length cross-link may include a transverse portion. Each variable length cross-link may include an adjustable portion having a receiver portion for attachment to a second elongated member and a transverse portion engaging member. Inserting the transverse portion of the fixed portion into the engaging portion of the adjustable portion may form a cross-link for stabilizing motion between two elongated members. Engaging the adjustable portion at a selected point on the transverse portion establishes a length selected by the surgeon. The surgical procedure may use minimally invasive surgery or non-minimally invasive surgery, as desired. Components of the system may be inserted through sleeves attached to various coupling devices, or may be inserted and guided along wires at more lateral angles.
US08048117B2	Interspinous process implant and method of implantation Systems and method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can includes an implant having a spacer with an expandable portion. An insert can be positioned within a groove of the spacer to distract the expandable portion away from the main portion of the spacer. The expandable portion can optionally include a grip that can at least partially deform to conform to a contour of a spinous process to provide a frictional grip to prevent the implant from shifting position. Implants in accordance with the present invention can also include a binder that can be arranged around the adjacent spinous processes to limit flexion movement.
US08048113B2	Deflection rod system with a non-linear deflection to load characteristic for a dynamic stabilization and motion preservation spinal implantation system and method A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US08048111B2	Expanded PTFE articles and method of making same Unique PTFE structures comprising islands of PTFE attached to an underlying expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) structure and to methods of making such structures is disclosed. The ePTFE material may or may not have been exposed to amorphous locking temperatures. These unique structures exhibit islands of PTFE attached to and raised above the expanded PTFE structures.
US08048110B2	Endovascular flexible stapling device The present invention concerns a flexible stapling device (1). More particularly, this invention concerns a flexible endovascular stapling device (1) for an intravascular procedure such as patent foramen ovale closure, which is designed to avoid open heart surgery by permitting the closure of the defect utilizing a stapling means (26) which is positioned by using a flexible shaft/guidewire system.
US08048109B2	Surgical retractor extensions A method of preventing tissue creep using a surgical retractor apparatus having one or more independent, removable extension members adapted to be mounted at the distal end of the retractor, or between the blades of a spreadable retractor, after the retractor has been positioned in the patient, such that a significant portion of the extension member extends beyond the distal end of the retractor to preclude or minimize intrusion of tissue into the access area created by the retractor. The extension members may vary in size and shape so that the most appropriate extension member can be chosen to address the intrusion problem, and the extension members may be mounted at various fixed locations, using clips, mechanical interlocking structures or the like.
US08048104B2	Device for the implantation of occlusion spirals A device for the implantation of electrolytically severable occluding spirals in body cavities or blood vessels comprising a source of electrical power, a cathode, a catheter and an occluding spiral adapted to serve as an anode and able to slide in the catheter in the longitudinal direction, wherein the occluding spiral (3) is designed to be electrolytically corrodible at several spaced apart points so that when in contact with a body fluid one or more variably dimensioned lengths of the occluding spiral (3) may be severed by electrolysis.
US08048102B2	Internal nasal dilator with porous compound delivery material An internal nasal dilator and compound delivery apparatus preferably includes a U-shaped clip having septum engaging pads, and first and second nostril expanders, wherein the pads engage the septum along planar surfaces, each of the expanders include a conforming outer-nostril wall engaging element and a flexible arm interconnecting the engaging element and clip, and at least a portion of the dilator is formed of a porous material, such as an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, configured to retain and discharge over a period a quantity of compound.
US08048097B2	Single use lancet assembly A single use lancet assembly having a housing, with an open interior and a piercing aperture defined therein, a lancet, with a body and a piercing tip positioned in the open interior of the housing and movable between a cocked orientation and a piercing orientation, a driving assembly structured to move the lancet into the piercing orientation, and a single use trigger assembly structured to actuate an actuating mechanism thereby allowing the lancet to move, at least temporarily, from its cocked orientation to its piercing orientation. The single use trigger assembly is structured such that it may not be positioned to actuate the actuating mechanism more than one time, thereby preventing inadvertent or intentional re-use of a contaminated piercing tip.
US08048096B2	Lancet device A lancet device generally includes a housing having opposing lateral sides extending between a forward end and a rearward end, and a shield coaxially and movably associated with the housing. The housing includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs extending along a portion of at least one of the opposing lateral sides. The plurality of longitudinal ribs form a finger grip on at least one of, and typically both of the opposing lateral sides. The shield is generally movable from a first position in which the shield extends outwardly from the forward end of the housing to a second position in which the shield is at least partially moved within the housing, based on axial pressure applied by the user against the finger grip formed by the longitudinal ribs.
US08048088B2	Surgical manipulator for a telerobotic system The invention is directed to manipulator assembly (2) for holding and manipulating a surgical instrument (14) in a telerobotic system. The assembly comprises a base (6) fixable by passive or power driven positioning devices to a surface, such as an operating table, and an instrument holder (4) movably mounted on the base. The instrument holder comprises a chassis (6) and an instrument support (70) movably mounted on the body and having an interface engageable with the surgical instrument to releasably mount the instrument to the instrument holder. A drive assembly (7) is operatively coupled to the instrument holder for providing the instrument with at least two degrees of freedom. The instrument holder is separable from the base and the drive assembly so that the holder can be sterilized. The assembly further includes a force sensing element (52) mounted distal to the holder and the drive assembly for detecting forces exerted on the surgical instrument and providing feedback to the surgeon. The assembly is attached to a remote center positioner (300) for constraining the instrument to rotate a point coincident with the entry incision and an inclinometer (350) for preventing gravitational forces acting on the system's mechanisms from being felt by the surgeon.
US08048083B2	Bone treatment systems and methods Methods and instruments for treating an osteoporotic vertebral body or for treating a vertebral compression fracture. An exemplary method includes introducing an open knit structure together with a bone cement into a bone wherein the knit structure extends substantially throughout the interior of the cement volume. In one aspect of the invention, the bone cement volumes cures with the filament structure reinforcing the cement. In another aspect of the invention, the open knit structure is configured to direct flows of bone cement to apply forces for reducing a vertebral compression fracture. In another aspect of the invention, the system provides bone cement flows that extend through the knit structure thus allowing the cement to fully interdigitate with the cancellous bone.
US08048081B2	Transpedicular intervertebral disk access methods and devices Methods and devices for treating diseases and conditions that change the spacial relationship between the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral disks, or that cause instability of the vertebral column, or both, and a method and devices that allow the surgeon to access the intervertebral space to restore a more normal three-dimensional configuration of the space, with or without additionally fusing two adjacent vertebrae.
US08048075B2	Orthopedic implant with locking element The present invention is directed to (1) a plating system having multiple and single locking mechanisms for general skeletal use other than in the anterior cervical spine; (2) an orthopedic plating system that permits a pair of bone screws to be inserted into a bone in a crossed over orientation and locked to the plate; (3) a segmentable plating system which can be made to a selected length by the surgeon; and (4) a combination screw-lock-plating system for allowing and/or causing intersegmental compression of bone portions.
US08048070B2	Fluid-assisted medical devices, systems and methods Surgical devices for treating tissue are provided. Also provided are systems for treating tissue and methods of treating tissue. An exemplary surgical device has a handle, a fluid passage connectable to a fluid source, a tip portion and a distal end. The tip portion can simultaneously provide RF power and conductive fluid to tissue. The tip portion includes an electrode having a domed portion having a domed surface and a cylindrical portion having a cylindrical surface. The domed portion is located distal to the cylindrical portion and occupies at least a portion of the distal end of the surgical device. The device includes a fluid outlet opening in fluid communication with the fluid passage, the fluid outlet opening configured to provide the conductive fluid to a surface of the electrode proximal to the distal end surface of the surgical device.
US08048066B2	Cryotreatment device and method of forming conduction blocks Cryotreatment devices and methods of ablating tissue within the body are disclosed. A cryotreatment device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an elongated member having one or more needle-like ablation tips configured to induce necrosis at a target site within the heart. A cooling fluid such as a cryogen may be injected through a lumen extending into the distal portion of the device. The ablation tips can be configured to pierce and ablate surrounding tissue, blocking electrical stimuli that can cause fibrillations or other arrhythmias of the heart. The device may also include means for controlling the transmural depth at which the ablation tips are inserted into the cardiac tissue. Methods of forming a contiguous line of conduction block in accordance with the present invention are also disclosed.
US08048064B2	Method of curing inflammatory acne by using carbon lotion and pulsed laser Disclosed is a method of curing inflammatory acne by applying a carbon lotion onto a face covered with acne, irradiating the applied carbon lotion with a laser pulse having a pulse width of microsecond, and irradiating the applied carbon lotion with a laser pulse having a pulse width of nanosecond to sterilize acne bacilli and open skin pores clogged with sebum, thereby entirely treating the inflammatory acne. The method includes applying the carbon lotion onto epidermis to be cured and pores, irradiating the carbon lotion with a laser pulse to heat and burst the applied carbon lotion. With the method, the inflammatory acne is simply cured without scar.
US08048063B2	Catheter having tri-axial force sensor A catheter for diagnosis or treatment of a vessel or organ is provided in which a flexible elongated body includes a tri-axial force sensor formed of a housing and a plurality of optical fibers associated with the housing that measure changes in the intensity of light reflected from the lateral surfaces of the housing resulting from deformation caused by forces applied to a distal extremity of the housing. A controller receives an output of the optical fibers and computes a multi-dimensional force vector corresponding to the contact force.
US08048060B2	Medical device A medical device including a shaft having an elongated inner member and an elongated tubular reinforcing member disposed over at least a portion of the inner member. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the outer surface of the inner member is spaced from the inner surface of the reinforcing member, defining a space substantially free of any other structures of the device. In some embodiments, the shaft can include a tip structure disposed on a distal portion of the inner member. In some such embodiments, the reinforcing member has a distal end, and the tip structure is disposed on the distal portion of the inner member adjacent the distal end of the reinforcing member. Additionally, in some embodiments, the reinforcing member can include a plurality of apertures defined therein, for example, to enhance the flexibility or other such characteristics of all or portions of the reinforcing member.
US08048057B2	Catheter for uniform delivery of medication A catheter is provided for uniform distribution of fluid medication within an anatomical region. One embodiment of the catheter is comprised of an elongate tubular catheter body defining a lumen. A distal end of the lumen is closed and a portion of the catheter body includes a plurality of openings thereby defining an infusion section of the catheter. A tubular sheath is constructed from a porous material and is positioned over the infusion section. The tubular sheath extends at least a length of the infusion section. The tubular sheath and the catheter body are configured such that fluid within the lumen must pass through the tubular sheath to exit the catheter. In at least one embodiment, a pore size of the porous material is less than about 0.5 microns.
US08048052B2	Absorptive article A sanitary napkin is constituted of napkin main body composed of a top sheet, a liquid-impermeable bottom sheet, and an absorber interposed therebetween; and a napkin sub-body joined to the upper layer of the napkin main body and similarly composed. The napkin sub-body is constituted of a front portion that is joined to the napkin main body at a bleeding port-corresponding region and a back portion that is positioned behind the front portion and can be divided into right and left parts at a dividing line formed along the longitudinal direction from the back end of the center in the width direction of the sanitary napkin such that, to provide hip-holding flaps, the divided right and left parts can spread outward in the width direction of the napkin main body from the boundary between the front portion and the back portion at which the base end of the dividing line is located.
US08048047B2	Surgical cassette with improved air filtering A surgical cassette having a filter media sealingly disposed between a first rigid surface and a second rigid surface in a filter chamber of the cassette housing provides improved air filtering for the cassette.
US08048046B2	Wound therapy system with housing and canister support A system for subatmospheric pressure therapy in connection with the healing of a surgical wound is disclosed. The system may be portable or semi-portable, thereby providing the subject with the ability to be partially or completely ambulatory through the course of the treatment. The system includes a wound dressing dimensioned for positioning relative to a wound bed of a subject and a portable subatmospheric pressure mechanism dimensioned to be carried or worn by the subject. The subatmospheric pressure mechanism includes a housing, a vacuum source at least partially disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the fluid conduit, a filter in fluid communication with the vacuum source, and a collection canister for collecting exudates from the wound bed removed under subatmospheric pressure. An elevation member is mounted with respect to the housing. The elevation member is adapted to position the housing and canister at a predetermined orientation when positioned relative to a support surface to minimize a potential of at least one of spillage of the exudates from the canister, clogging of the filter or an inappropriate canister full indication.
US08048042B2	Medical articles incorporating surface capillary fiber Medical devices are described that comprise surface capillary (SCF) fibers, which can impart desirable properties to the devices. For example, implantable prostheses are described comprising SCF fibers. In other embodiments, catheters are described having SCF fibers along the surface of the catheters. In addition, SCF fibers can be useful for the delivery of bioactive agents in association with the fibers. Due to the fluid flow capabilities of the fibers, medical devices are described that incorporate fiber matrices to facilitate blood delivery to cells within the structure.
US08048040B2	Fluid titration system A fluid titration system has an optical sensor, a physiological monitor, a titration controller and an infusion device. The optical sensor transmits multiple wavelengths of light into a tissue site of a person and detects the optical radiation after attenuation by pulsatile blood flowing within the tissue site. The physiological monitor receives a resulting sensor signal and derives a plethysmograph that corresponds to the pulsatile blood flow. The monitor also calculates a plethysmograph variability measure that is responsive to changes in perfusion at the tissue site. A titration controller generates a fluid control output according to the variability measure. The infusion device administers a liquid solution via an intravenous (IV) connection to the person according to the fluid control output so as to regulate at least one of a fluid flow start, rate and stop.
US08048033B2	Hemostasis seal A hemostasis seal configured for use in a splittable hemostasis valve, hub, or introducer sheath to permit passage of a medical device therethrough. The seal provides a substantially fluid-tight seal around the medical device without causing excessive frictional resistance that would otherwise unduly restrict movement of the medical device through the seal. In one embodiment, the seal includes first and second resilient seal portions each having a contoured mating surface to provide a first fluid seal with respect to the medical device. The seal also may include one or more projecting portions and one or more mating receiving portions which interact to provide a second fluid seal with respect to the medical device.
US08048031B2	IV catheter introducer An IV catheter introducer having an elastomeric grommet disposed between the housing and the IV catheter assembly that helps avoid unintentional separation of IV catheter assembly from the housing during shipping and handling prior to use, that acts as a needle guide, that helps align the housing and IV catheter assembly coaxially, that indicates that top side of the catheter introducer, that provides proper rotational alignment between the grommet and housing, that wipes blood off the needle during withdrawal of the needle from the catheter assembly and grommet, that impedes blood flow out of the catheter hub after needle withdrawal, and that assists the user in separating the housing from the IV catheter assembly following insertion of the catheter and withdrawal of the needle.
US08048030B2	Hollow curved superelastic medical needle and method A needle assembly 10 compromising an infusion needle 11 that includes a needle cannula 13 made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol. The needle cannula is cold-worked or heat annealed to produce a preformed bend 16 that can be straightened within passageway 21 of a coaxial outer cannula 12 for introduction into the body of a patient. Upon deployment from the outer cannula, the needle cannula substantially returns to the preformed configuration for the introduction or extraction of materials at areas lateral to the entry path of the needle assembly. The needle assembly can compromise a plurality of needle cannulae than can be variably arranged or configured for attaining a desired infusion pattern.
US08048023B2	Systems and methods for nasal irrigation Systems and methods for nasal irrigation are provided in which a nasal irrigation device includes a source of saline solution, an effluent receptacle, a nasal interface, a vacuum source, a fluid passageway to communicate the source of saline solution with the effluent receptacle through the nasal interface and a nasal cavity of the user, and a switch and valve assembly for selectively controlling the vacuum source and flow of the saline solution through the fluid passageway. The saline solution source is disposed relative to the device to provide gravitational inducement of saline solution to the nasal interface in engagement to the device user's nostrils. A combination of the gravitational inducement and the relative vacuum from the effluent receptacle generates a fluid flow for irrigating, cleansing and massaging the nasal cavity and ostia of a user. The entire device is assembled as a hand-held device for convenient lifting and disposal against the user's nostrils.
US08048021B2	Medicinal implant device and cartridge The invention includes a device for inserting a medicament within a body cavity of a mammal, and a cartridge for containing the medicament within the device, where the cartridge includes a housing, a retractable chamber for containing medicament disposed within the housing, and a substantially stationary member disposed within the barrel of the retractable chamber, where upon activation of the device, the retractable chamber is retracted about the substantially stationary member, thereby depositing medicament within the body cavity.
US08048020B2	Method of controlling a surgical system based on irrigation flow A surgical system that is able to sense the onset of an occlusion or other surgical event as well as the instant an occlusion breaks. To help avoid overheating of the tip, the system determines a temperature of an eye using irrigation flow rate and reduces the power to the handpiece automatically if an overheating situation is predicted. Alternatively or in addition, the system monitors the power drawn by the handpiece, which is indicative of the cutting load on the tip, and automatically adjusts the power or stroke of the tip to compensate for increased loads on the tip.
US08048017B2	High-aspect-ratio microdevices and methods for transdermal delivery and sampling of active substances High-aspect-ratio microdevices comprising microneedles, microknives and microblades and their manufacturing methods are disclosed. These devices can be used for the delivery of therapeutic agents across the skin or other tissue barriers to allow chemical and biological molecules getting into the circulation systems. The microneedles can also be used to withdraw body fluids for analysis of clinically relevant species when the device has an integrated body fluid sensor or sensor array in the vicinity of microneedles.
US08048015B2	Methods and apparatus for creating particle derivatives of HDL with reduced lipid content The present invention is directed to systems, apparatus and methods for creating derivatives of at least one form of HDL without substantially affecting LDL. These derivatives of HDL are particles with reduced lipid content, particularly reduced cholesterol content. These particles have the capacity to bind cholesterol and are administered to a patient to enhance cellular cholesterol efflux and reduce cholesterol levels in cells, tissues, organs, and blood vessels. The present method is useful for treating atherogenic vascular disease and may be combined with other therapies such as statins, inhibitors of cholesterol absorption, niacin, anti-inflammatories, exercise and dietary restriction.
US08048010B2	Massage nozzle and massage device A massage nozzle is disclosed including a vortex chamber having a water intake section provided to form a vortical flow therein, a spouting port provided to spout the vortical flow to form a negative pressure region, a water-spray plate provided at a distal end of the spouting port, the water-spray plate having an opening at a center thereof and a plurality of water-spray holes around the opening. The water-spray plate allows a large area suction and smooth movement while moving in contact with the skin. Further a movable member having an opening may be provided with at least a part inserted into the vortex chamber. Some part of a first portion of the movable member has a larger outside dimension than the spouting port, allowing physical vibration of the movable member in addition to the suction massage effect.
US08048008B2	Motion assist device The motion assist device (200) is provided with an auxiliary oscillator generation element (150) configured to generate, on the basis of a second intrinsic angular velocity (ω2) set according to a first oscillator (ξ1) generated from a first motion oscillator (φ1) and a first model and a second oscillator (ξ2) generated from a second motion oscillator (φ2) and a second model, an auxiliary oscillator (η) which includes therein a first auxiliary oscillator (η1) denoting an elastic force originated from a virtual elastic element for assisting the motion of the user so as to approximate a value of a third motion oscillator (φ3) to a desired value (φ0+, φ0−) related to a desired motion scale of the user, and an auxiliary oscillator regulation element (160) configured to sequentially regulate the first auxiliary oscillator (η1) so as to approximate a motion index value of the user to a reference value.
US08048002B2	Method for improving cognition and motor timing A method of training a subject to improve anticipatory timing includes presenting the subject with multiple sequences of stimuli, receiving sensor signals associated with responses by the subject to the stimuli, and recording response times in accordance with the sensor signals, wherein the recorded response times are associated with the responses by the subject to the multiple sequences of stimuli, and wherein the response times have an associated distribution. The method further includes analyzing the distribution of response times for the subject to determine variability in anticipatory timing of the subject with respect to the stimuli, and generating a subject feedback signal corresponding to a result of the analyzing so as to train the subject to improve anticipatory timing of the subject.
US08048000B2	Patient weight and ankle displacement correlation device A device for correlating trend data with respect to a patient's weight ankle displacement can identify conditions indicative of congestive heart failure. A weight scale or similar device coupled with imaging mechanism operable to measure ankle displacement collects a plurality of measurements over a period of time. Over time trend analysis of both the patient's weight and the ankle displacement measurements can be obtained and compared to identify whether over a particular sample period an increase in a patient's ankle displacement is or is not correlated with an increase in the patient's weight. When an increase in ankle displacement is identified as not correlating to a corresponding change in the patient's weight an alert can be issued of conditions indicative of congestive heart failure.
US08047999B2	Filtering of a physiologic signal in a medical device A system and method for filtering a pressure signal in a medical device in which a sensor terminal senses the pressure signal, an electrode terminal receives cardiac electrical signals, a signal filtering system filters the sensed pressure signal in response to a determined heart rate to generate a heart-rate dependent frequency response, and a microprocessor derives a respiration signal in response to the heart rate dependent frequency response, and determines metrics of hemodynamic function in response to the derived respiration signal.
US08047998B2	Non-invasive blood pressure determination method A method for estimating systolic and diastolic pressure is disclosed herein. The method includes obtaining a predetermined type of blood pressure data from a patient, and providing previously acquired blood pressure data obtained from a plurality of different subjects. The method also includes implementing the previously acquired blood pressure data to select systolic and diastolic amplitude ratios that most closely correlate with the predetermined type of blood pressure data obtained from the patient. The selected systolic and diastolic amplitude ratios are adapted to compensate for the effects of arterial compliance. The method also includes implementing the selected systolic and diastolic amplitude ratios to generate a systolic and diastolic blood pressure estimates.
US08047995B2	Ultrasonic transducer, method of manufacturing ultrasonic transducer, ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and ultrasonic microscope A ultrasonic transducer of the invention comprises: a transducer cell including a first electrode and a second electrode disposed separated from the first electrode by an air gap portion; and an electret for applying a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electret is disposed in a region where at least a part thereof does not overlap with the transducer cell when viewed from a transmitting direction of ultrasonic waves.
US08047994B2	Ultrasound imaging method combined with the presence of contrast media in the body under examination An ultrasound imaging method for use in the presence of contrast agents is disclosed in which acoustic waves are transmitted at a fundamental transmission frequency and are focused on at least one scan line. Acoustic beams reflected from the body under examination and the contrast agents are separated into harmonic and subharmonic components along with the fundamental frequency component. The amplitudes of these components compared to determine whether the reflecting material is either body tissue or the contrast agent.
US08047992B2	Brightness adjustment method and system for 3D ultrasound An ultrasonic imaging apparatus comprises an ultrasonic probe, an image-processing part, a received signal intensity-adjusting part, and a display part. The ultrasonic probe three-dimensionally transmits/receives ultrasonic waves. The image-processing part generates a first ultrasonic image along a plane intersecting the scanning lines of ultrasonic waves, based on the signals obtained by transmitting/receiving of the ultrasonic waves. The signal intensity-adjusting part changes the intensity of the signals on the scanning lines passing through a brightness adjustment range for brightness adjustment set on the first ultrasonic image. The image-processing part generates a second ultrasonic image, based on the signal changed by the signal intensity-adjusting part. The display part displays the second ultrasonic image.
US08047989B2	Medical imaging diagnosis apparatus and medical imaging diagnosis method A medical imaging diagnosis apparatus for measuring the composite thickness of the tunica intima and the tunica media of a blood vessel of a subject by acquiring image data on the blood vessel. In order to improve the accuracy of the IMT measurement of the composite thickness, the medical imaging diagnosis apparatus has extracting means for extracting the tunica intima and the tunica externa of the blood vessel on the basis of the brightness information of the image data to measure the composite thickness of the tunica intima and the tunica externa of the vessel in reference to the two extracted regions.
US08047987B2	Blade insert illuminator A blade insert illumination system includes one or more illumination elements composed of a transparent or semi-transparent polymer that is preferably biocompatible and sterilizable. The illumination elements operate as a waveguide and may incorporate optical components such as, for example, facets, lenses, gratings, prisms and or diffusers to operate as precision optics for customized delivery of the light energy. The illumination elements may be modular, allowing components to be mixed and matched for different sizes of blade retractors, or may be a single integrated unit.
US08047986B2	Molded and undivided medical penetrating device A molded and undivided medical penetrating device comprises a first portion and a second substantially tubular portion having an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end of the second substantially tubular portion of the device is joined to and is integral with the first portion of the device and is adapted to be maintained essentially outside a body while the first portion of the device is adapted to be retained within the interior of the body. The device includes an opening that extends through the first and second portions of the device and provides access to the interior of the body from outside the body. The opening and the outer surface of the substantially tubular second portion of the device define a wall that is thinner at the proximal end of the second portion than towards the distal end of the second portion.
US08047983B2	Surgical system for supporting pelvic anatomy The present invention provides a surgical implant and method for supporting the urethra, the implant comprising a suburethral support suspended between two soft tissue anchors that do not penetrate the lower abdominal wall and are attached at either side of the suburethral support. The soft tissue anchors retain each anchor in soft tissue, suspending each side of the suburethral support. The suburethral support passes under the urethra to support the urethra. The implant has uses including treating urinary incontinence and uterovaginal prolapse.
US08047981B2	Medical slings A sling including a material having a plurality of edges. At least one of the edges of the material has a pattern of projections.
US08047979B2	Magnetic field treatment techniques The invention involves enhancing brain function by stimulating the brain using magnetic fields. Applications of the new methods include improving the condition of individuals with cognitive disorders, such as depression, and studying the effects of neural stimulation using induced electric fields. These techniques can avoid deleterious effects of psychotropic pharmaceutical treatments, and provide a relatively safe, comfortable, inexpensive means of direct cranial stimulation.
US08047975B1	Dumbbell assembly with rotatable weight members A dumbbell assembly includes at least one bar and a disk is fixedly connected to the at least one bar. The disk has a reception portion. A rotatable unit is engaged with the reception portion of the disk. An arm has an insertion which is connected to the rotatable unit and a disk is connected to the arm. At least one weight member is connected to the wing. The user holds the at least one bar and operates the dumbbell assembly, the wing together with the weight member are rotated about the at least one bar to generate centrifugal forces which exercise the user's muscles.
US08047973B2	Weightlifting apparatus for pronation and supination exercises A weightlifting apparatus is operative to continuously provide and adjust a force resistant to a torque produced by an exerciser that performs supination of biceps simultaneously with other exercise motions or pronation of triceps simultaneously with other exercise motions.
US08047969B1	Motion stilts retention system Motion or velocity stilts are provided a strapping system for attachment of the leg and foot of a user. An upper knee cuff uses dual straps that enwrap the leg and are secured by a front buckle and perimeter lengths of hook and loop fasteners. The hook and loop fasteners enable fore and aft leg positioning adjustments. The upper cuff is attached to the spring support utilizing a pair of knee braces that permit pivoting of the knee cuff as well as width adjustment for variation in user knee and leg diameters. The lower strapping system utilizes separate heel, instep, and toe straps to secure the foot to a foot plate.
US08047968B2	Simulated climbing and full body exercise and method An apparatus and method permitting a user to perform a simulated climbing and full body exercise is provided. The design includes a frame and a pair of lever arms and a pair of foot platforms and a torso support. The frame is configured to place the operator's center of gravity in a position of falling away from the frame, lever arms, foot platforms and providing a torso support enabling the operator to be supported by hanging from the hands and supported by the feet and torso support. The frame may be rotated through varying angles from vertical permitting the operator's center of gravity to fall away from the frame and allow the operator to hang away from the frame further enhancing the climbing experience.
US08047966B2	Interfacing portable media devices and sports equipment Circuits, methods, and apparatus that allow sports or other equipment, such as gym or other cardio equipment, to write data to a media player. Examples further provide the uploading of this data to a computer and third-party website. To monitor progress, the third-party website can be used to track workout data over time. The third party-website can also collect data from other users, which is particularly useful for providing a competitive environment. This data can then be graphically displayed in various ways to provide encouragement.
US08047965B2	Exercise machine information system An example system and method involves receiving data communicated from multiple exercise machines and storing machine-related data for the multiple exercise machines. The machine-related data includes at least maintenance data, use data and warranty data for a respective one or more of the exercise machines. The machine-related data is updated based on the data received from the multiple exercise machines and one or more operations is automatically performed with reference to the stored machine-related data to produce operation-generated information about one or more of the multiple exercise machines.
US08047961B2	Fast exit mode engine torque control systems and methods An engine control system of a vehicle comprises a first module and a cylinder deactivation module. The first module selectively adjusts torque output by an engine based on a vehicle torque request that is greater than a driver torque request. The cylinder deactivation module selectively deactivates a cylinder of the engine when a difference between an estimated maximum torque output of the engine and the driver torque request is greater than a predetermined maximum torque.
US08047959B2	Method for starting a piston engine and hybrid drive for performing the method A method is provided for starting a piston engine of a hybrid drive in an electric travel state. The hybrid drive includes at least the piston engine, an electric motor, a transmission, and a clutch situated between the piston engine and the electric motor. A converter lockup clutch, which is switchable into a slip state, is also provided. A slip is set at the converter lockup clutch, and a speed of the electric motor is then increased. The speed and the torque either do not change or only change in a predefined range at the output side of the converter lockup clutch. The clutch is closed to transmit a torque pulse, so that a first top dead center of the piston of the piston engine may be overcome. A predefined slip is then set at the clutch.
US08047951B2	Ten-speed transmission A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08047948B2	Multi-speed transmission A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices are clutches and a brake.
US08047947B2	Eight speed automatic transmission An automatic transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may be either clutches or brakes.
US08047941B2	Drive unit for continuously variable rotational speed control and its use A drive unit (1) for continuously, variably controlling rotational speed and reversing the rotational direction of at least one output shaft. The drive unit (1) having two identical transmission modules (2, 3) with a common input (4) and a way for power splitting a continuously variable rotational speed and reversing the rotational direction.
US08047940B2	Heat-resistant resin belt, manufacturing method thereof and image forming apparatus A heat-resistant endless resin belt including a heat-resistant resin sheet, which can be employed in a thermal fixing apparatus, wherein the sheet includes two cutting work parts in an inclined shape. The two parts are overlapped with each other and bonded with an adhesive to form a bonding part. An external shape displacement f(x), measured via a flatness measuring apparatus, which scans the belt in a width direction thereof, satisfies a following formula ∫ 0 x ⁢  f ⁡ ( x ) - g ⁡ ( x )  ⁢ ⁢ ⅆ x ≤ XL 6800 , wherein “X” (mm) is a length of the belt in a width direction thereof; “L” (mm) is a perimeter of the belt and “g(x)” represents a displacement of an ideal shape of the heat-resistant resin belt, when g(x)=C (a constant), a left side of the formula is set to be a minimum; whilst when g(x) is a variable, the displacement of the ideal shape of the belt is set.
US08047938B2	Transmission device of walking type self-traveling lawn mower A transmission device (1) of a walking type self-traveling lawn mower (4) in which the reliable transmission of a rotating power is achieved as in the case of a shaft drive system by solving the problem of the durability of the transmission belt of conventional transmission devices while basically adopting the transmission device of a belt drive system. The transmission device (1) comprises a chain drive mechanism (2) and a rotating direction changing mechanism (3). The chain drive mechanism (2) is constituted by winding a transmission chain (23) around a drive sprocket (21) fitted to an output shaft (411) and rotating horizontally and a driven sprocket (22) connected to the rotating direction changing mechanism (3) and rotating horizontally. The rotating direction changing mechanism (3) comprises a drive bevel gear (31) coaxial with the driven sprocket (22) rotating horizontally, a driven bevel gear (32) meshed with the drive bevel gear (31) rotating vertically, and an auxiliary output shaft (33) coaxial with the driven bevel gear (32) rotating vertically.
US08047931B2	Golf club head A golf club head comprises a face portion improved in the durability by increasing the strength of the toe-side upper region of the face portion. The face portion is formed from a unidirectionally rolled plate of a titanium alloy having alpha phase, and at least in the toe-side upper region, the titanium alloy has alpha phase crystals of a hexagonal closely packed structure whose hexagonal symmetry axis (a) is oriented in the direction of a line (k) drawn between the sweet spot (SS) and the toe end point (TP).
US08047927B2	Low deflection cue The present invention is related to a billiard cue comprising a shaft having a tip end and a butt end, wherein the shaft has a non-linear tapered section with reduced diameter compared to a linear tapering at the tip end. Also, a manufacturing process is disclosed which is simple and cheap. The cue of the present invention is low-cost and shows superior low deflection properties.
US08047923B2	Split rethreading die A rethreading die for clamping over a section of threaded rod is formed of two separable identically die section halves. Each die section has one-half of an outer gripping surface and an inner abutment face formed of identically shaped spaced first and second face sections in a common plane. One face section has a perpendicular alignment pin and the second face section has a perpendicular recess. The first and second faces are spaced and in a common plane. The die sections are joined together with the pin-containing face of each die section abutting the recess-containing face of the other die section so that the pins are inserted into the recesses to hold the die sections in alignment. A die tool is then clamped around the die surface, so that the die can be rotated over the damaged rod section to repair the threads.
US08047922B2	Vibration damper, particularly a multistage torsion vibration damper A vibration damper, for example, a multistage torsion vibration damper, including at least two coaxially disposed damper assemblies, each of them including at least one input component and one output component and being disposed on different diameters, a first damper assembly being disposed on the outside in a radial direction and configured as a series damper, including at least two dampers connected in series and coupled via an intermediate flange, and a second damper assembly being disposed on the inside in the radial direction. The intermediate flange includes at least two annular disk-shaped elements disposed at a distance in the axial direction and extending on both sides of the output component of the first damper arrangement at least into the portion of the outer circumference of the output component of the first damper assembly, each including openings extending in the circumferential direction.
US08047919B2	Sideshaft with interconnecting fuse An automotive shaft assembly is provided including a first barshaft having a first connection end and a second barshaft having a second connection end. A connection tube rotationally engages the first connection to the second connection end and includes a shear diameter configured to experience shear failure in the presence of an overload torque such that the first connection end is rotationally disengaged the said second connection end.
US08047918B2	Network game system, game machine, game machine control method, and information storage medium To provide a network game system capable of switching a server-client machine, while avoiding deterioration in the excitement of a game. A network game system (10) causes each of a plurality of game machines (12) to operate as a client and at least one of the plurality of game machines (12) to operate as a server. In the where a switching determination time arrives, a switching determination unit (52) determines whether or not to switch the game machine (12) operating as a server from the game machine (12) currently operating as the server to another game machine (12) of the plurality of game machines (12), based on the play evaluation value corresponding to each of at least one of the game machines (12). In the case where it is determined not to switch the game machine (12) operating as the server from the game machine (12) currently operating as the server to another game machine, a switching determination inhibiting unit (56) inhibits a switching determination unit (52) from making a decision during a period before a given switching inhibited period elapses.
US08047915B2	Character for computer game and method A video game character or avatar is generated using images of the player so that the on-screen avatar being controlled by the player appears like the player. Answers to a questionnaire or a psychological profile are provided by the player to determine characteristics that the player views as desirable, which are used to generate a final version of the avatar. Iterations of the avatar appearance are generated from the initial appearance to the final, more desirable appearance. Using the avatar, as play of the game proceeds the player's avatar begins as a character appearing like themselves and gradually becomes a character that is more as they would like to appear. The avatar increases the emotional impact of games by providing strong visual and psychological connections with the player. The avatar may instead begin from an initial character that does not appear similar to the player. The iterations may make the avatar gradually less appealing or with other changes in appearance, in some embodiments.
US08047904B2	Cooling method for a data center in a shipping container A method for controlling a plurality of fans operatively disposed in a shipping container. The fans are arranged in a plurality of banks within a closed fluid path. Each bank has a sub-set of the fans arranged in a plurality of horizontal layers. Two banks form an adjacent pair in the closed fluid path if a fluid exiting one of the two banks next enters the other of the two banks. The method includes determining a proposed fluid flow rate for each of the banks. The method also includes modifying each of the flow rates by a respective scaling factor such that the flow rates for each adjacent pair satisfy a continuity criteria. The method further includes controlling the fans based on the modified flow rates.
US08047903B1	Emergency cabin pressurization system and method for an aircraft An emergency pressurization system for an aircraft having an air pump that is powered by bleed air from an engine of the aircraft. Although the air pump is powered by engine bleed air, the air pump draws ambient fresh air from outside the aircraft, compresses the fresh air to a predetermined pressure and pumps compressed fresh air into the pressurized cabin of the aircraft without ever exposing the compressed fresh air to the engine air. The speed of the air pump is selectively controlled as a function of cabin pressure and/or bleed air pressure. In this manner, the cabin is maintained at a constant safe pressure.
US08047899B2	Pad and method for chemical mechanical polishing A method for chemical-mechanical polishing two adjacent structures of a semiconductor device is provided. The method for mechanical polishing comprising: (a) providing a semiconductor device comprising a recess formed in a surface thereof, a first layer formed over the surface, and a second layer filled with the recess and formed on the first layer; and (b) substantially polishing the first and second layer with a pad and a substantially inhibitor-free slurry, wherein the pad comprising a corrosion inhibitor of the second layer.
US08047898B2	Grinder wheel for liquid crystal display device and method of fabricating liquid crystal display device using the same A grinder wheel for a liquid crystal display device and a method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device using the same are provided. Two grinding surfaces are formed in the grinder wheel used for grinding a substrate so that it is possible to improve grinding characteristics, to increase the life of the grinder wheel, and to reduce grinding time. The method includes cutting the substrates attached to each other into a plurality of unit liquid crystal display panels, loading the unit liquid crystal display panel on a grinding table, grinding a predetermined region of the liquid crystal display panel using a grinder wheel including two grinding surfaces of a first grinder surface for primary grinding and a second grinder surface for secondary grinding, and unloading the ground liquid crystal display panel.
US08047897B2	Substrate flat grinding device To provide a high-rigidity flat grinding device, a substrate flat grinding device has three fastening plate lifting-and-lowering mechanisms that have kinematic couplings and a cylinder rod that move the fastening plate upward or downward. Being a high-rigidity grinding device in which the load of the fastening plate 6 also is a load on the grindstone 14 that does the grinding, there is little deflection in the thickness distribution of the substrates that are obtained, even if they are semiconductor substrates having a large substrate diameter of 450 mm.
US08047896B2	Polishing apparatus, polishing method, and processing apparatus The present invention provides a polishing apparatus and a polishing method capable of calculating outside diameters of rolls of a polishing tape on a polishing-tape supply reel and a polishing-tape recovery reel and capable of calculating a remaining amount of the polishing tape and a consumption of the polishing tape from the outside diameters of the rolls. This polishing apparatus includes a polishing-tape supply reel (46), a polishing head (44), a polishing-tape drawing-out mechanism G1, and a polishing-tape supply and recovery mechanism (45) configured to recover the polishing tape (43) from the polishing-tape supply reel (46) via the polishing head (44). The polishing-tape supply and recovery mechanism (45) includes a motor Mb adapted to apply a torque to the polishing-tape supply reel (46) so as to exert a predetermined tension on the polishing tape (43) traveling through the polishing head (44), and a rotation angle detector REa adapted to detect a rotation angle of the polishing-tape supply reel (46).
US08047895B2	Machining device comprising a measuring device for a model The invention relates to a machining device (5) comprising a workpiece (8) and at least one machining tool (23, 40, 41) and a measuring device (1, 22) and a seat (20) for the workpiece (8) to be machined. The workpiece (8) has a reference surface (26, 32, 33) that is disposed on the workpiece (8) and interacts with the machining device (5) in such a manner that a contour can be produced on this reference surface (26, 32, 33) using the machining tool (23, 40, 41) and that the contour (34, 35, 50) can be detected by the measuring device (1, 22) after machining. The method for controlling a machining device (5) comprises the following steps: introducing a contour (34, 35, 50) into the workpiece (8) to be machined in the longitudinal direction of advance of the machining tool (23, 40, 41); measuring the contour (34, 35, 50) in the workpiece (8) produced by machining; adjusting the machining plan while taking into consideration the determined tool geometry.
US08047890B1	Toy construction set and method A toy construction set has a plurality of interconnectable objects each having a plurality of faces. Some of these faces have a connector, while other faces lack a connector but have a fibrous or pierceable material. The connector includes a first hub and a second hub that are concentrically nested. Each of the hubs has on one side thereof a plurality of spiral prongs. The spiral prongs on the first hub spiral in a direction opposite that of the spiral prongs on the second hub. The connector also has a manually operable link connected between the first and the second hub for relatively rotating them in opposite directions. The play activity proceeds by adjoining a pair of the objects with a prominent, connector-bearing face of one of the pair touching a prominent connector-free face of the other one of the pair. The player will counter-rotate the hubs in the connector of the prominent connector-bearing face to embed their spiral prongs in the fibrous or pierceable material of the prominent connector-free face.
US08047888B1	Child seat automobile motion simulator An apparatus that mimics the physical effects of riding in a motor vehicle comprising a base structure on which a child automobile seat may be mounted to sooth an occupying child is herein disclosed. A top platform is laterally and longitudinally motioned by bottom mounted motion generating motor assemblies by means of supporting springs. A standard child's automobile seat can be fastened with the use of an integral seat belt. The apparatus is controlled by a microprocessor-based control system, which activates the motors to reproduce a gentle rocking, bumping, swerving or other motion commonly experienced in a motor vehicle. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a sound system capable of producing soothing music and a plurality of sounds designed to mimic those heard in a motor vehicle.
US08047887B2	Method for producing an organic EL display A production method for an organic EL display comprises sticking an anti-static sheet 2 onto the first main surface of a glass substrate 11 on which a metal hat 13 is formed and etching the second main surface 11c of the glass substrate 11 stuck with the anti-static sheet 2.
US08047880B2	Mini displayport Connectors having a smaller profile. These connectors are useful as a reduced form factor DisplayPort connector. Keys on a receptacle are used to indicate when an insert is fully engaged. Edges of the receptacle and insert are chamfered in such a way as to prevent the pins of the connector from being damaged when an improper insertion is attempted. User experience is also enhanced by the use of one or more latches. As the connector is inserted, the latch provides resistance that builds until the connector is inserted a certain distance, after which the latch enters a cutout portion of the insert thus releasing the pressure and letting the user know the connection has been made. Fingers are employed to provide mechanical stability and electrical connection between receptacle and insert.
US08047878B2	Hybrid connector jack for an electronic device A hybrid connector jack assembly for use in association with an electronic device comprising an audio jack component and a coaxial connector jack component. The audio jack component is coupled to an electronic circuit and has a proximal end and a distal end, an elongated opening extends from the proximal end to the distal end. It is structurally configured to receive a male audio connector. The coaxial connector jack component positioned at the distal end of the audio jack component and accessible through the elongated opening of the audio jack component. This allows for the insertion of a coaxial cable through the audio jack component and into operative engagement with the coaxial connector jack component.
US08047877B1	Quickly assembled universal serial bus (USB) connector A USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector includes an insulating body which has a base portion, an inserting portion, and a pair of clipping walls and defines a receiving space therebetween. A plurality of signal terminals is assembled to the insulating body. Each of the signal terminals has a connecting arm disposed in the inserting portion and a signal contacting arm hanging out of the receiving space. A fixing body is mounted in the receiving space and clipped between the clipping walls. The signal contacting arms are restrained under the fixing body and further stretching behind the fixing body. A ground terminal has a fixing slice fixed in the fixing body, a resilient arm stretching out of the fixing body to be located above the inserting portion and a ground contacting arm restrained under the fixing body and further stretched behind the fixing body to be aligned with the signal contacting arms.
US08047876B1	Electrical connector An electrical connector includes an insulating body which has base boards aligned at intervals along a transverse direction, propping portions each connected between adjacent two base boards to divide an interval between the adjacent two base boards into two parts designated as a receiving cavity and a receiving passage, and a connecting body traversed on rear ends of top edges of the base boards, and terminals each having a connecting strip, a soldering slice and an elastic arm oppositely extending from two ends of the connecting strip. The connecting strip and the soldering slice are disposed in the receiving passage with the soldering slice abutting against a bottom of the connecting body, the connecting strip propped up by the propping portion, and two opposite side edges of the connecting strip and the soldering slice abutting against insides of the receiving passage. The elastic arm stretches into the receiving cavity.
US08047875B2	Connector device A jack connector includes pairs of jack signal contacts and jack ground contacts arranged alternately, and a plug connector includes pairs of plug signal contacts and plug ground contacts arranged alternately. Respective contacts of each pair of jack signal contacts come into contact with respective contacts of each pair of plug signal contacts, and each jack ground contact comes into contact with each plug ground contact. In a first contact structure, each jack ground contact comes into contact with each plug ground contact at a first position, and in a second contact structure each jack ground contact comes into contact with each plug ground contact at a second position apart from the first position along an extending direction of the plug ground contact.
US08047873B1	Waterproof electric plug with transformer A waterproof electric plug with transformer includes a housing comprising an internal space, two forward prongs, a rear waterproof element, and a rear fastening assembly; a transformer unit disposed in the space and electrically connected to the prongs; a rear cap comprising a connector electrically connected to the transformer unit, and a corresponding fastening assembly; and a waterproof member disposed in the waterproof element. The housing is adapted to repel water when the cap is secured thereto by matingly fastening the corresponding fastening assembly and the fastening assembly together with the waterproof member being clamped in the waterproof element.
US08047871B2	L-shaped coaxial connector An L-shaped coaxial connector manufacturable at low costs includes a housing having a cylinder portion and a back portion. The cylinder portion includes a first opening and a second opening, and the cylinder portion is in contact with an external conductor of a receptacle inserted from the first opening. The back portion is connected to the cylinder portion and covers the second opening. The housing is made of a metal plate. The diameter of a part of a bushing contained in the cylinder portion is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the first opening. The housing further includes a crimping portion extending from the back portion. The crimping portion fixes the bushing to the housing by being bent so as to face the back portion with the bushing therebetween.
US08047863B2	Locking mechanism for locking a removable data carrier A locking mechanism is provided for locking a removable data carrier in a support structure of an electronic device. The locking mechanism includes a movable locking element, indicating unit and a locking element control unit. The movable locking element is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, where the locking element, in its locked position, prevents the removal of the data carrier from the support structure.
US08047861B2	Electrical Connector System The invention relates to electrical connector systems including a first connector provided with a plug-portion and a retainer adapted to act together with the plug-portion. The retainer further includes a sleeve portion which is adapted to be arranged in a mating connector socket and which is in turn adapted to receive at least a part of the plug-portion of the first connector therein. The connector system includes a first sealing member adapted to provide a sealing between the sleeve portion and inner walls of the mating connector socket; and a second sealing member, which is adapted to be arranged between the retainer and the first connector to provide a sealing between retainer and first connector.
US08047859B2	USB plug protective cover A USB Plug protective cover configured for detachably covering a USB plug connector of an electronic device includes a base cover and an elastic piece. The base cover includes a covering end, the covering end defines an accommodating cavity recessed therein configured for accommodating the USB Plug therein. The elastic piece is assembled to the base cover and accommodated within the accommodating cavity. The elastic piece detachably latches with the USB plug connector to prevent the USB protective cover from loosening or separating from the USB plug connector.
US08047855B2	High speed, direct path, stair-step, electronic connectors with improved signal integrity characteristics and methods for their manufacture An electrical connector comprised of a plurality of electrical contacts arranged in a stair-step configuration designed to mate with electrical components having electrical contacts arranged in a stair-step configuration. A direct connect signaling system comprised of stair-step electrical connectors mated to stair-step printed circuit boards, other stair-step electrical components, or combinations thereof.
US08047854B2	Detachable element positioning structure A detachable element positioning structure disposed at a side of a slot for positioning a detachable element in the slot is disclosed. The detachable element positioning structure includes a first elastic arm and a second elastic arm connected to the slot. The first elastic arm touches a top surface of the detachable element. The second elastic arm connects to the slot and has a protrusion. The detachable element has a side notch, and the protrusion is coupled to the side notch.
US08047853B2	Printed circuit board with an adaptable connector module A printed circuit board including a P1 connector, a P2 connector, and a first common connector configured to connect an application-specific connector to the printed circuit board.
US08047846B2	Preventing interference between tooth models Systems and methods are disclosed to prevent interference between two physical tooth models in a physical dental arch model by acquiring the coordinates of a plurality of points on the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models and digitally representing the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models by a mesh of points in three dimensions using the acquired coordinates. The meshes representing the surfaces of the two physical tooth models intersect at least at one point to form an overlapping portion. The method also includes calculating the depth of the overlapping portion between the two meshes to quantify the interference of the two physical tooth models.
US08047845B2	Dental prosthesis stabilizer An improved dental prosthesis stabilizer includes two arms connected to each other by a hinge joint and with which an upper dental prosthesis and a lower dental prosthesis are coupled to one another. A spring is provided at the hinge joint with which the upper prosthesis and the lower prosthesis are pushed away from each other. At least one of the arms is telescopic and is formed of a bent distal end of the spring, which can be axially moved in a bent guide. The guide is fixed on the upper dental prosthesis or the lower dental prosthesis or is embedded therein.
US08047842B2	Reciprocal reverse rotation endodontic file A single use, reciprocal reverse rotation, endodontic file includes a plurality of spaced apart helical flutes with spiraled lands therebetween. The lands have an edge with a positive cutting angle when the file is rotated in one direction and a scraping angle when rotated in the opposite direction. The file provides for sequential rotation of a selected angle in a forward direction followed by rotation of a slightly less angle in a reverse direction. In one embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the flutes is concave polygonal-shaped at a proximal end of the file and square-shaped at the distal end. In another embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the flutes is convex arcuate-shaped, the lands lying normal to the central longitudinal axis of the file. The handle portion of the file may be configured for use in a rotary handpiece or for manual rotation.
US08047836B2	Nozzle valve gate apparatus with wiper seal A nozzle valve gate for injecting hot plastics into an injection mold includes a body having a passage for flow of the plastics to an outlet and forming an actuator chamber. A nozzle part is connected to the body and extends longitudinally to a nozzle tip having an injection aperture. The nozzle part has a flow passageway connected to the plastics outlet for conducting the plastics melt to the injection aperture and a machined bore forming a guide passageway. A valve pin is movable in the guide passageway between open and closed positions. A piston is connected to the pin and is slidable in the actuator chamber. An elastomeric wiper seal extends around the valve pin adjacent the machined bore, is wear resistant, and can withstand high temperatures of at least 200° C. A micro gap is formed between the pin and the machined bore.
US08047833B2	Injection mold An injection mold for molding a lens barrel is disclosed. The injection mold includes a female die, a male die and a screw die. The female die and the male die are correspondingly connected to two ends of the screw die. The female die, the male die and the screw die cooperatively define a mold cavity. The female die includes a female die plate and a female die core protruding from the female die plate. The male die includes a male die plate and a male die core protruding from the male die plate. The male die defines a through hole passing through the male die plate and the male die core. An air gap is formed between the distal ends of female die core and the male die core, the air gap is communicated with the mold cavity and the through hole.
US08047827B2	Mold for in-mold coating formation The mold for in-mold coating formation is one including a mold main body 30 having, provided thereinside, a mold cavity 5 permitting injection molding of a resin molding with coated surface and a coating material injecting unit 50 capable of injecting a coating material to an area corresponding to the coated surface of the resin molding, within the mold cavity 5, in which a groove portion 3 of 0.3 to 1 mm width (W) is provided on the peripheral edge 15 of the mold, and in which the angle (θ1) made by the inner circumferential surface 25 of the mold and the mold-opening-side internal wall surface 27 of the groove portion 3 is in the range of 30° to 70°.
US08047826B2	Mold fixing system Each of a plurality of injection molding machines is provided with clamp plates fixed on platens and a plurality of magnet units to generate magnetic force for fixing a mold to the clamp plate fitted on the clamp plates; and the plurality of injection molding machines are provided with a plurality of common connectors having the same structure, each of which is electrically connected to the magnetic unit, a molding machine control unit and a power source device; and the mold fixing system comprises a set of operation control units to be shared by the plurality of injection molding machines, and when a mold is to be exchanged in any of the injection molding machines, the plurality of magnet units are switched to the non-adsorbing state or the adsorbing state via the operation control unit in the state where the operation control unit is connected to the common connector of the injection molding machine.
US08047821B2	Ring rack oil pumping machine The Ring Rack Oil Pumping Machine is comprised of: a base, a frame mounted on the base, a roller mounted at the frame top, a sprocket case connects to the middle of the frame; a input shaft having a lower sprocket and a drive shaft having an upper sprocket are installed at the bottom and top of the sprocket case respectively, the upper sprocket and lower sprocket are connected by a chain; a guide wheel, track gear and centralizer wheel are mounted in sequence on the end of the drive shaft extended out of the sprocket case; the track gear meshes with a rack, a slide rail is mounted with the frame, and a sliding base (21) connected with the slide rail (20) moveably. Comparing to currently using pumping units, this invention features simple structure, high safety and reliability, upgraded efficiency, easy maintenance, smooth running and high durability.
US08047814B2	Chemical liquid supplying apparatus A chemical liquid supplying apparatus which can discharge chemical liquid with high accuracy is provided. The apparatus is used to discharge the chemical liquid in a chemical liquid tank from an application nozzle. The apparatus has a combined member formed integrally with a pump case and a cylinder, and a flexible tube serving as a pump member is provided in the pump case, wherein its inside is a pump chamber and its outside is a pump-side driving chamber. A piston is assembled to the cylinder and when the piston is reciprocated by a motor, the pump chamber is expanded and contracted. A gap between the piston and the cylinder is covered with a diaphragm, and an interior of the diaphragm is a seal space. Therefore, an incompressible medium having leaked from the gap between the piston and the cylinder enters into the seal space and does not leak to the outside.
US08047811B2	Variable volume, shape memory actuated insulin dispensing pump A portable pumping system provides insulin or other drugs to a user. A shape memory element is used to actuate the pump and an intelligent system controls the actuator in order to minimize stresses within the system and provide accurate and reliable dosage delivery. The control system utilizes various types of feedback to monitor and optimize the position of the pumping mechanisms. Physical design aspects also minimize stress and the combination of the physical design aspects and the intelligent operation of the system results in a lightweight and cost effective pump that may be used in a disposable fashion if desired.
US08047809B2	Modular air compression apparatus with separate platform arrangement A method of assembling a fluid compression system includes coupling at least one first compression apparatus to a first platform. The method also includes coupling at least one drive apparatus to one of the first platform and a second platform. The method further includes coupling the first platform to the second platform. The at least one second compression apparatus is coupled in series flow communication with the at least one first compression apparatus.
US08047808B2	Geyser pump A system pumps liquid. The system includes a compressed air source and a pump for vertically moving the liquid upward. The pump is powered by the compressed air source. The pump includes a first container, a second container disposed interior to the first container, and a U-shaped tube disposed interior to the first and second containers. The compressed air source supplies compressed air to the U-shaped tube at a vertical portion of the U-shaped tube.
US08047807B2	Vehicle transmission with jet pump The present disclosure relates to a vehicle transmission with jet pump. The jet pump includes a hydraulic control system that has a nozzle fitted between a first and second housing. The nozzle is separable from the first and second housing. The hydraulic control system is configured to produce a jet stream of fluid through a center section of the nozzle.
US08047805B2	Solid state sump pump control The present invention provides a sump pump control system. The system includes a mounting fixture fabricated from a corrosion resistant material, and an electrical control comprising solid state electrical components supported by the mounting fixture. The sump pump control system also includes a diving bell cover. The diving bell cover has an open bottom, and is dimensioned to cover the electrical components. The diving bell cover is releasably secured to a support surface of the mounting fixture. The electrical control controls the operation of a sump pump. Should water rise to a level of the electrical components due to failure of the sump pump or due to quickly rising water, the diving bell cover will prevent water from contacting the electrical components. A method of removing water from a subterranean vault is also provided herein.
US08047804B2	Wind tower and method of assembling the same A method of assembling a tower for use with a wind turbine is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of tower segments. Each tower segment includes a first interface and a second interface. The method also includes bonding the first interface of a first tower segment to the second interface of a second tower segment using an adhesive composition.
US08047802B2	Course of leading edges for turbomachine components The course of the leading edges of turbomachine components, such as rotor blades and stator vanes is defined mathematically exactly and repeatedly as well as aerodynamically advantageously by the respective axial coordinate in the direction of the machine axis in relation to the blade height in percent, extending from the blade tip as per equation (1): axial ⁢ ⁢ coordinate ⁢ [ % ⁢ ⁢ blade ⁢ ⁢ height ] = 1 5 ⁢ ⁢ extension ⁢ [ % ⁢ ⁢ blade ⁢ ⁢ height ] ⁢ ⁢ tan ⁢ ⁢ sweep tip ( 1 - ⅇ - 5 ⁢ ( 100 ⁢ % - blade ⁢ ⁢ height ⁢ [ % ] ) extention ⁢ [ % ⁢ ⁢ blade ⁢ ⁢ height ] ) and extending from the blade hub as per equation (2): axial ⁢ ⁢ coordinate ⁢ [ % ⁢ ⁢ blade ⁢ ⁢ height ] = 1 5 ⁢ ⁢ extension ⁢ [ % ⁢ ⁢ blade ⁢ ⁢ height ] ⁢ ⁢ tan ⁢ ⁢ sweep hub ( 1 - ⅇ - 5 ⁢ ⁢ blade ⁢ ⁢ height ⁢ [ % ] extention ⁢ [ % ⁢ ⁢ blade ⁢ ⁢ height ] ) where sweeptip or sweephub, respectively, represents the sweep angle at the tip or at the hub, determined in accordance with the operating conditions, and the extension represents the height of the blade in percent, by which the sweep angle departs from 0° relative to the coordinate extending normal to the axial coordinate.
US08047801B2	Wind turbine blades with aerodynamic vortex elements A wind turbine blade had a suction side surface and a pressure side surface. A plurality of vortex elements are formed on at least one of the suction side or the pressure side surfaces. The vortex elements have an upwardly inclined wind face and a downwardly inclined slip face, with the wind face and slip face meeting at a generally open-ended U-shaped ridge that defines side horns. The side horns decrease in height from a forward most portion of the ridge to the suction side surface or pressure side surface.
US08047800B2	Wind turbine blades with improved bond line and associated method A wind turbine blade includes an upper shell member and a lower shell member with an internal cavity therebetween. The shell members are joined at leading and trailing edges of the blade with a bond paste along a bond line having a designed width. A barrier is disposed within the internal cavity between the upper and lower shell members along at least one of the leading or trailing edges and prevents movement of the bond paste into the internal cavity beyond the width of the bond line. The barrier includes a wall that is substantially impermeable to the bond paste and a support member that extends from the wall to the leading or trailing edge of the blade. The support member locates the wall at the bond line and the wall has a shape and resiliency so as to be engaged against the upper and lower shell members within the internal cavity.
US08047794B2	Fast-positioning device for assembling blade brackets to a motor housing of a ceiling fan The invention relates to a fast-positioning device for assembling blade brackets to a motor housing of a ceiling fan. The motor housing has its bottom provided with plural locations located around its circumference, which are respectively extended downward with at least two restricting plates having a long side aligned as a beam radiated from the center of the motor housing. Each location of the restricting plates is to be connected with a blade bracket, which has a connecting portion extended with at least one positioning projection for being moved horizontally to engage with the restricting plates. As good vision is kept during installation, the blade brackets can be easily assembled on the motor housing and the relative locations to be positioned are in a line.
US08047787B1	Turbine blade with trailing edge root slot A turbine rotor blade for use in an industrial gas turbine engine in which the blade includes a root section with a fillet region formed between the root and the platform of the blade. The platform region includes a diamond shaped root slot to discharge cooling air from the internal cooling passage out through the trailing edge of the blade. The diamond shaped cooling slot of the present invention comprises a smaller radius at the upper and lower corners and a much larger radius at the mid section of the slot. The cooling slot is positioned in the trailing edge root section where the upper corner is positioned above the fillet run out location. The diamond shaped cooling slot thus minimizes the high stresses induced by the stress concentration from the cooling slot and the fillet run out location.
US08047782B2	Hydrodynamic machine, especially hydrodynamic coupling, of a turbine compound system A hydrodynamic machine, and especially a hydrodynamic coupling, for a turbine compound system includes (a) a bladed primary wheel and a bladed secondary wheel which together form an operating space which is filled or can be filled with operating medium, and (b) a housing which encloses the primary wheel and the secondary wheel and which is manufactured from sheet metal. The housing is manufactured from at least two separate sheet metal components which are placed on the primary wheel and/or the secondary wheel, are aligned with each other at a joint abutment location, and are welded together. In the area of the welded joint abutment, a relief which is open toward the joint abutment is provided and which extends along the joint abutment in the surface of the primary wheel and/or the secondary wheel.
US08047780B2	Assembled fan frame An assembled fan frame suitable for a case body includes a framework, a plurality of first assemblies, a back slab, and a plurality of second assemblies. The framework includes a fixing slab, a first side wall and a second side wall facing each other, and an accommodation space is defined to accommodate at least one fan module. The fixing slab has at least one first vent and a plurality of first assembling holes which are disposed around the first vent. The first assembly is disposed through the first assembling hole and fastens the fan module on the fixing slab. The back slab is vertically mounted on a surface of the case body and faces the fixing slab. The back slab includes at least one second vent and a plurality of second assembling holes. The second assembly is disposed through the second assembling hole and detachably fixes the framework on the back slab.
US08047775B2	Layer system for a component comprising a thermal barrier coating and metallic erosion-resistant layer, production process and method for operating a steam turbine There are described components of a steam turbine, comprising a thermally insulating layer and a metallic anti-erosion layer on said thermally insulating layer. The anti-erosion layer is provided with the same material as the metallic connecting layer.
US08047773B2	Gas turbine shroud support apparatus A support apparatus for a gas turbine shroud is disclosed. The apparatus includes an outer shroud block having a coupling connectable to a casing of the gas turbine and a shroud component having a forward flange and an aft flange. The shroud component is attached to the outer shroud block via the forward flange and the aft flange. The apparatus further includes a damper disposed between the outer shroud block and the shroud component and a biasing element disposed within the outer shroud block. A translational degree of freedom between the damper and the outer shroud block defines a direction of motion of the damper. The biasing element is in operable connection between the outer shroud block and the shroud component via the damper, a bias force of the biasing element directed along the direction of motion of the damper.
US08047771B2	Turbine nozzles and methods of manufacturing the same Turbine nozzles and methods of manufacturing the turbine nozzles are provided. In an embodiment, by way of example only, a turbine nozzle includes a first ring, a vane, and a first joint. The first ring comprises a single unitary component and having a first opening and including a first metal alloy. The vane includes a first end disposed in the first opening and includes a second metal alloy. The first joint is formed in the first opening between the first ring and the vane and includes a first braze layer and an oxide layer. The first braze layer is disposed adjacent to the oxide layer, and the first braze layer and the oxide layer are disposed between the first ring and the vane.
US08047769B2	Inspection port plug devices An inspection port plug device is provided for sealing three or more oppositely placed inspection ports in a multi-chambered gas turbine engine. An embodiment of the inspection port plug device includes a cap and at least two shafts coupled end-to-end. A first shaft includes a first end coupled to the cap and a second end having a first sealing plug, wherein the first sealing plug includes a recess. A second shaft includes a third end coupled to the first sealing plug within the recess and a fourth end having a second sealing plug. The first shaft and the second shaft also include a first biasing mechanism and a second biasing mechanism, respectively, for maintaining the seals at the first and second sealing plugs when the inspection port plug device is installed.
US08047758B2	Universal folding boom trailer A Universal Folding Boom Trailer (30) for transporting multiple vehicles provides a safe and legal manner for towing. The trailer (30) includes a winch (44) for loading and unloading the towed vehicles (32, 34, 36) and can act alone as a crane (42) if desired. Further, this trailer arrangement backs up like a conventional trailer. The Universal Folding Boom Trailer (30) provides a means for a driver to haul multiple vehicles in both directions. The driver is able to attach the trailer (30) to a personal fifth wheel (36) and tow any type of unit: a fifth wheel trailer, a ball hitch trailer, or a gooseneck, among others—instead of dead-heading.
US08047757B1	Grain cart having a single auger discharge conveyor A grain cart has a wheel supported frame on which is mounted an open top container having inclined bottom walls and including a single discharge auger conveyor having a lower section extending from a sump for the container adjacent a front left inclined corner portion of the container. The auger conveyor has an extended upper section supported by a hinge assembly having a pivot axis offset and askewed at an acute angle from the auger axis. The hinge assembly provides for pivoting the upper conveyor section between an inclined grain discharge position projecting upwardly, laterally outwardly and forwardly from the container and a stored position inclined downwardly at a substantial angle from the hinge assembly in front of the container. In the stored position, the grain discharge outlet is located lower than the top surfaces of the wheels and does not project laterally beyond the right side wall of the container.
US08047754B2	Tooling for making easy open can end An improved convenience closure that is adapted for sealing an end of a can includes an end panel having a peripheral score, a rivet formation, a mustache score and a flex line score defined therein. The mustache score may include a central portion that is positioned radially inwardly on the end panel relative to the rivet formation. The central portion is preferably curved, with a concave side of the curvature facing the rivet formation. The mustache score also may include first and second preferably symmetrical end portions, each of which is continuous with the central portion. Most of the total length of each of the end portions may be curved away from a nearest portion of the peripheral score, with a convex side of curvature facing the nearest portion of the peripheral score. Tooling for making the convenience closure and a method of making such a convenience disclosure are also disclosed.
US08047753B2	Insulating washers A washer comprises a ring and a composite structure attached to the ring. The composite structure has a slotted shape and a hole that is centrally located with respect to an axis passing through the ring.
US08047752B2	Fastener assembly and multi-layered structure A fastener assembly, such as a nail assembly, includes a row of fasteners held together and maintained in position by a multi-layered structure including a first polymeric layer having a first surface for contacting the fasteners and a second surface and including a polymer with at least one polar moiety; and a second polymeric layer is disposed on the first polymeric layer over the second surface, the second polymeric layer being sufficiently rigid for reinforcing the first polymeric layer.
US08047751B2	Wheel chock with restraint A wheel chock for restraining movement of a vehicle tire on a supporting grating during transit includes a base, a grate lock mechanism for locking the base to the grating, and a ramp on the base for engagement with a circumference of a vehicle tire. A strap connected with the base is extensible around the vehicle tire to help restrain movement of the tire on the grating. The chock includes a retractor for retracting the strap and for taking up slack that forms in the strap during transit.
US08047750B2	Bearing unit and main spindle device of machine tool provided with bearing unit A bearing unit capable of withstanding a large axial force based on a simple structure including: a bearing 10 having an internal ring 13 fitted to an inside member 2, an outer ring 14 fitted to an outside member 6, lots of rolling elements 15 disposed between the outer ring 14 and the inner ring 13; and a transmitting direction shifting means A transmitting an axial force F from the inner ring 13 to the outside member 6 when the axial force F transmitted from the inside member 2 to the internal ring 13 exceeds a predetermined value or above, and a main spindle device of a machine tool, which is provided with the bearing unit, are provided.
US08047745B2	Connection element and a sheet pile wall having such a connection element A connection element for light profiles in a sheet pile wall has a base strip (12) for attaching to a component of the sheet pile wall and a hook strip (14) provided at the flat side of the base strip (12) for engaging the interlock (32) of a light profile (30). The hook strip (14) that encloses an inner chamber (16) exhibits a straight connection section (20) that originates at the base strip (12) and runs at least approximately at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the base strip (12) and a hook section (22) that follows the connection section (20) and runs in an arc-like manner for at least 180°, with the free end of said hook section (22) together with the flat side of the base strip (12) defining a jaw (28). According to the invention, the ratio between the greatest inner width (a) of the inner chamber (16) of the hook strip (14) to the width (c) of the opening jaw (28) is in a range between 2.6 and 2.9.
US08047744B2	Conduit laying machine In one aspect, the invention is directed to a conduit laying system for laying conduit, including a vehicle, a trench former, a conduit feed system and a base material handling system. The trench former is configured for forming a trench. The conduit feed system includes a conduit feed passage having a conduit feed passage inlet for receiving at least one conduit and a conduit feed passage outlet positioned to deposit the at least one conduit in the trench. The base material handling system includes a base material hopper and at least one base material passage. The at least one base material passage is positioned to receive base material from the base material hopper and to discharge base material in the trench around the at least one conduit. The base material handling system, the conduit feed system and the trench former are driven by the vehicle.
US08047742B2	Tamping device A vibrating plate serving as a tamping device comprises an upper mass equipped with a drive and comprises at least two lower masses, which are coupled to the upper mass while being able to oscillate relative to the upper mass. Each of the lower masses comprises a soil contacting plate and at least one oscillator assigned to this soil contacting plate. The oscillators can be controlled differently so that, in addition to an advancing and compacting action, a turning moment can be executed about a vertical axis (Z).
US08047740B2	Friction-welded connection between a sheet metal element and a rotation body Friction-welded connection between a sheet metal element and a therein inserted rotation body. The sheet metal element is provided with a protruding, circular annular wall as a pressure face, which pressure face is adapted to be engaged by the rotation body with a counter-pressure face. At least one pressure face is of such conicity that the insertion of the rotation body loads the annular wall with increasing pressure, there being formed a friction-welded connection between rotation body and annular wall as a result of rotation of the rotation body.
US08047739B2	Metal split bearing compression load ball joint An improved compression load ball joint assembly consisting of a metal housing having an open end and an internal cylindrical chamber which at least partially encloses a portion of a movable stud member, a lower metal bearing, an upper metal split bearing, and a Belleville washer. The upper metal split bearing is disposed opposite the lower metal bearing to engage the movable stud member and the housing simultaneously. The upper metal split bearing is configured to slide within the housing to provide for a constant wear surface against the movable stud member. The lower metal bearing, upper metal split bearing, Belleville washer, and movable stud member are contained within the housing by a cover plate concentrically disposed about the movable stud member and secured within the open end of the housing.
US08047738B2	Mechanical double joint system An exemplary mechanical joint system (100) includes a joint (10), an arm (20), a plurality of teeth (211), and an engaging member (3). The arm is rotatable relative to the joint. A pivot hole (210) is defined in the arm. The teeth are formed on an inner surface adjacent to an end of the pivot hole. The engaging member is fixed to the joint. The engaging member includes a prong (323) for engaging with the teeth.
US08047735B2	Applicator tip for applying surgical glue Applicator tip for applying fast curing adhesive of low viscosity to a surface. The applicator tip comprises a body with an inner canal for feeding the adhesive to an orifice. Spikes in various shapes and placements are arranged around the orifice for preventing the orifice from contacting the surface.
US08047732B2	Mechanical shutter and camera module having same An exemplary mechanical shutter includes a barrel, a first blade, a second blade, a third blade, a magnet, and a magnetic field generator. The barrel defines a through hole and an aperture in the hole. The first blade is arranged in the hole and mounted on the barrel. The second blade is slidably mounted on the first blade. The third blade is slidably mounted on the second blade. The magnet is attached to the third blade. The magnetic field generator is mounted on the fixture and spatially corresponding to the magnet. The magnetic field generator applies a magnetic field to the magnet. The magnet and the magnetic field generator cooperatively move the blade group between an extended position and an retracted position.
US08047730B2	Foldable support device for camera of handwriting device and handwriting device having same A handwriting device includes a supporting device using two supporting arms. Each of the supporting arms is an elongated plate, includes a sliding end and an opposite pivoting end, and further includes an engaging surface. The sliding ends of the supporting arms are slidably engaged in two respective sliding channels defined in a supporting base. A cutout is defined in the engaging surface at the pivoting ends. A through hole is defined at each of the pivoting ends where the cutout is formed. The through holes of the supporting arms are aligned with each other. The supporting arms are rotatably connected with each other via a threaded bolt passing through the through holes of the supporting arms. As such, the height of a camera module supported by the supporting arms can be adjusted.
US08047724B2	Bearing device for wheel A wheel bearing apparatus includes a roller bearing, an inner shaft having an outer circumferential surface to which an inner ring of the roller bearing is installed, a coupler ring attached to an end portion of the inner shaft, and a caulked portion provided in an end portion of the inner shaft so as to fix the coupler ring and the roller bearing to the inner shaft so as to be immovable in an axial direction of the inner shaft. An outer diameter of the coupler ring is set smaller than a diameter of a shoulder portion of the inner ring. Alternatively, a protruding portion is provided in any one of opposing end surfaces of the coupler ring and the inner ring, whereby the coupler ring is arranged away from a seal member. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid an interference of the coupler ring with the seal member.
US08047720B2	Bearing device for main electric motor for vehicle Oil is supplied to bearing 1 and returned to oil storage chamber 6a via chamber 2a and pipe 2b. First oil return chamber 8 and second oil return chamber 7 communicate via a hole, and second oil return chamber 7 communicates with oil supply chamber 6 via oil return hole 9. The opening of the extension pipe 10 of oil return hole 9 has a small gap, to result in negative pressure in extension pipe 10. The negative pressure sucks the oil leaking from between bearing cover 3 and rotor shaft 20. The oil leaking is suppressed, keeping the supply of the lubricating oil to the bearing excellent.
US08047706B2	Calibration of temperature control system for semiconductor processing chamber Methods and systems for calibrating a temperature control system in a vapor deposition chamber. A temperature sensor senses temperature within a semiconductor processing chamber and generates an output signal. A temperature control system controls a chamber temperature by controlling a heating apparatus based on the output signal. A method includes instructing the control system to target a setpoint temperature, and depositing a layer of material onto a surface in the chamber by a vapor deposition process. A variation of a property of the layer is measured while depositing the layer, the property known to vary cyclically as a thickness of the layer increases. The measured property is allowed to vary cyclically for one or more cycles. If there is a difference between a time period of one or more of the cycles and an expected time period associated with the setpoint temperature, the temperature control system is adjusted based on the difference.
US08047699B2	Optical lens and illuminating device incorporating the same An illuminating device includes a light source module for emitting light and an optical lens configured for adjusting the light emitted from the light source module. The optical lens includes an array of lens units. Each lens unit includes a main body, a light diverging portion and a light converging portion. The main body includes a light incident surface and a light emitting surface opposite to the light incident surface. The light diverging portion is configured for expanding a light field along a first direction, and the light converging portion is configured for compressing a light field along a second direction. The light diverging portion and the light converging portion are formed on at least one of the light incident surface and the light emitting surface. The light diverging portion includes parallel protrusions distributed along the first direction.
US08047693B2	Cooling device for light emitting device package of vibration generating machine and head lamp for vibration generating machine A cooling device for a light emitting device package of a vibration generating machine, includes: a heat releasing plate provided at one side of the light emitting device package; a vibrator disposed to face the heat releasing plate and vibrating to generate an air flow according to vibration of the vibration generating machine; and a vibration transfer unit configured to connect the vibrator and the heat releasing plate to allow the air flow generated from the vibrator to be transferred to the heat releasing plate so as to be cooled.
US08047692B2	Vehicle headlamp assembly A vehicle body includes a fender and a headlamp assembly. The headlamp assembly defines an upwardly exposed and unobstructed surface, and is movably mounted with the fender such that the headlamp assembly moves from a first position to a second position in response to a load having a vertical component acting on the surface.
US08047691B2	Integrated rear high mounted identification lamp and bed cargo lamp A cargo lamp assembly includes a lamp housing with first and second ends having first and second adjacent cavities. A first incandescent light source is disposed in the first cavity and a second incandescent light source is disposed in the second cavity. A first outboard light-emitting diode is disposed proximate the first end of the lamp housing and a second outboard light-emitting diode is disposed proximate the second end of the lamp housing. An intermediate identification light source is disposed between the first and second cavities of the lamp housing.
US08047688B2	Bulb-shaped lamp and lighting device Provided is a bulb-type lamp including a lightweight housing with great handleability. An LED light bulb (1) comprises: an LED module (3) on which LEDs are mounted; a cylindrically-shaped case (7) having openings at both ends, which are first and second ends; a mount member (5) on a front surface of which the LED module (3) is mounted, the mount member (5) closing a corresponding one of the openings of the case (7) by being in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the first end of the case (7); a base member (91) attached to the second end of the case (7); and a lighting circuit (11) that is disposed inside the case (7). A wall thickness of the case (7) is in a range of 200 μm to 500 μm inclusive, and the wall thickness of at least one portion of the case (7) decreases from the first end toward the second end of the case (7).
US08047687B2	Lighting apparatus A lighting apparatus comprises a housing and a first reflector. The first reflector is mounted beneath the light source and includes a plurality of segmented reflectors, each having at its top, a installation hole and at its bottom, an opening wider than the installation hole. A second reflector is positioned beneath the first reflector. The height of the second reflector causes a first light shielding angle defined by a straight line passing through the installation hole and the bottom edge of the corresponding segmented reflector to be larger than a second light shielding angle defined by a straight line passing through the bottom edge of the segmented reflector and the bottom edge of the second reflector.
US08047685B2	Adjustable lighting device An adjustable lighting device having a main body, a light generation device inserted into a receptacle, a movable lens, a base electrically connected to the light generation device, and an adjustor cover rotatably mounted to and covering the outside of the main body so that rotation of the adjustor cover causes the lens to extend/retract within the receptacle so that the extension/retraction of the lens can be controlled by the rotation of the adjustor cover for realizing focus adjustment.
US08047683B2	Lighting device mounting system for household appliance, and associated apparatus and method A lighting device mounting system for a dishwasher, and an associated apparatus and method, are provided, comprising a lighting device having a first portion disposed within a dishwasher tub portion and configured to emit light therefrom. The first portion has a larger lateral area than a receiving aperture defined by a tub wall of the tub portion. The lighting device includes a second portion engaged with the first portion, and adapted to extend through the receiving aperture. The second portion includes at least one laterally-extending flange extending laterally outward therefrom. A securing device having a medial hinge portion and an engageable locking mechanism associated with free opposing ends, is configured to interact with the second portion, opposite the tub wall from the first portion, and between the at least one laterally extending flange and the tub wall, so as to secure the lighting device to the tub wall.
US08047681B2	Flexible light emitting array A flexible light emitting array includes a flexible substrate, pluralities of first wires, second wires and light emitting components. The flexible substrate has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first wires and the second wires penetrates across the first surface and the second surface to form pluralities of first conductive wire segments and second conductive wire segments on the first surface side and the second surface side. The light emitting components are arranged on the first surface side and electrically connected to the first conductive wire segments and the second conductive wire segments. The flexible light emitting array not only increases the reliability of bonding between the light emitting component and the flexible substrate but also drives the light emitting components with programmable control to achieve the dynamic effects.
US08047679B2	LED lamp with 360-degree illumination A LED lamp with 360-degree illumination includes a base, a first substrate, a stepped structure, a plurality of LEDs, and a cover. The first substrate is fixed on the base. The stepped structure is mounted on the first substrate. The stepped structure has a first annular frame connected to the first substrate, a second substrate connected to the first annular frame, and a second annular frame connected to the second substrate. The peripheral length of the second annular frame is smaller than that of the first annular frame. The plurality of LEDs is fixed to the first substrate and the second substrate and surrounds the first annular frame and the second annular frame respectively. With this arrangement, the LEDs can be arranged in a multi-storey stepped structure to generate an effect of 360-degree illumination. Also, the illumination range of the lamp can be increased.
US08047678B2	Multiparameter stage lighting apparatus with graphical output A multiparameter stage lighting apparatus is provided comprising a lamp housing, which may include a plurality of sets of light emitting diodes, each set of light emitting diodes having a plurality of colors, the plurality of sets of light emitting diodes forming an additive color mixing system. The multiparameter stage lighting apparatus may further include a plurality of pie shaped light emitting circuit boards, one light emitting circuit board for each set of the plurality of sets of light emitting diodes, each set of the plurality of sets of light emitting diodes mounted to its respective light emitting circuit board. The multiparameter stage lighting apparatus may further include a plurality of light emitting diode signaling circuit boards, one for each of the plurality of pie shaped light emitting circuit boards. Each of the plurality of light emitting diode signaling circuit boards may be connected to its corresponding pie shaped light emitting circuit boards by a corresponding one of a plurality of multiconductor cables.
US08047669B2	Backlight illumination assembly having a joining clip with diffusion means A uniform light source having a substrate for providing structural and functional support to the assembly. A bottom reflector provided on the substrate. A plurality of solid state light sources provided in an opening of the bottom reflector for providing a point light source. A plurality of light films and having light redirecting areas provided between the plurality of solid state light sources for redirecting and spreading the point light source to a uniform plane of light; a joining clip comprising a top capping portion and a bottom support portion, the bottom support portion being aligned perpendicular to the top capping portion and having a height sufficient to house the plurality of light films. A top diffuser for diffusing the uniform plane of light. The plurality of light films has a thickness between 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. In addition, the joining clip further comprises a light diffusion means.
US08047657B2	Display shelf having placing tables and transmission type screens at front of placing tables Screens are positioned at front areas of respective placing tables which form placing spaces for placing an article. Each of the screens is a transmission-type screen capable of transmitting projection image light projected on a back side of the screen. A first optical system and a second optical system are arranged inside the display shelf. The first optical system leads first partial image light, which is included in projection image light projected from a projector in the display shelf, to the back sides of the screens. And the second optical system leads second partial image light, which is included in the projection image light, to at least one of the placing spaces.
US08047653B2	Si-O containing hydrogenated carbon film, optical device including the same, and method for manufacturing the Si-O containing hydrogenated carbon film and the optical device An Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film as an optical film has a refractive index in a range from at least 1.48 to at most 1.85 for light of 520 nm wavelength and an extinction coefficient of less than 0.15 for light of 248 nm wavelength, wherein the refractive index and the extinction coefficient are decreased with energy beam irradiation. By utilizing such an Si—O containing hydrogenated carbon film, it is possible to provide various types of optical elements and an optical device including the same.
US08047651B2	Electro-active opthalmic lens having an optical power blending region A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.
US08047650B2	Ophthalmic devices having a highly selective violet light transmissive filter and related methods Ophthalmic devices are provided having a violet-light vertical cut-off filter abruptly absorbs light between the wave lengths of between approximately and 400 nm and 450 nm such that a curve when plotted as percent transmission versus wavelength has the shape as depicted in FIG. 2. In one embodiment the ophthalmic devices are made from acrylates and the light absorbing compound is an Eastman Yellow 035 MA dye.
US08047649B2	Eyeglasses The invention relates to a pair of eyeglasses which include a lens stand and a pair of gaskets. Each gasket can be detachably connected to the lens stand. Each gasket has an inner edge that protrudes forwards to accommodate the lens. The degree of the curve of the lens is smaller than that of the lens stand relative to the horizontal direction, so that the size of the lens can be efficiently reduced, and hence the lens with diopter can be used easily and aberration can be efficiently eliminated. Furthermore, after the gaskets are connected to the lens stand, the upper portion of the gaskets may generate gas permeable holes so as to prevent the lens from fogging up.
US08047648B2	Transfix roller load controlled by force feedback A printing device has an image receptor adapted to have an image formed thereon. The printing device also includes a transfer roller and a motor. A transfer roller load mechanism moves the transfer roller into contact with the image receptor in response to the motor output. A controller manipulates the motor in conjunction with a feedback signal from a load detector and regulates the load of the transfer roller.
US08047645B2	Recording apparatus and liquid ejecting apparatus A recording apparatus includes a support drum that rotates while supporting a recording medium on a support surface thereof. A guide axis extends in parallel with a rotation axis of the support drum along the support surface. A carriage that is guided by the guide axis moves back and forth along the support surface. A recording head for ejecting ultraviolet curing type ink toward a recording medium is supported on the support surface. The recording head has head units and is mounted on the carriage. Each head unit ejects a different type of ultraviolet curing type ink to a different position along an extending direction of the guide axis. An ultraviolet emission unit of the recording apparatus includes ultraviolet light sources that generate ultraviolet light having at least an intensity, wavelength, or emission time that is different from those of the other ultraviolet light sources.
US08047642B2	Ink cartridge An ink cartridge is detachably mounted on a cartridge holder. At least one first reflector is provided in the cartridge holder. A reflective-type optical sensor includes a light emitter and a light receiver. The optical sensor is operable to form an optical path originated from the light emitter to the light receiver via the first reflector. A shading member is provided in the ink cartridge operable to shade the optical path when the ink cartridge is mounted on the cartridge holder. A second reflector is provided in the ink cartridge. The second reflector reflects light emitted from the light emitter and varies an intensity thereof in accordance with an ink amount remaining in the ink cartridge.
US08047638B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus In a liquid ejecting apparatus using the electrostatic attraction method or electric field assist method, a liquid ejecting apparatus where discharging of a nozzle plate is securely performed and appropriate liquid ejecting is possible is provide. The liquid ejecting apparatus is provided with an electrode; a liquid ejecting head, having, a nozzle plate including a nozzle opposed to the counter electrode to eject liquid, a pressure generating device to rise a meniscus of liquid at a ejecting port of the nozzle, and a charging electrode opposed to the counter electrode via the nozzle plate, an electrostatic voltage applying device to apply electrostatic voltage onto the liquid in the nozzle; a discharging device to discharge the charged nozzle plate; and a control device to control the electrostatic voltage applying device and the discharging device; wherein the discharging device provides a conductive discharging member detachable to an whole area of the nozzle plate opposed to the counter electrode.
US08047632B2	Ink jet recording head An ink jet recording head includes an ejection outlet for ejecting ink; an energy generating element, provided on a silicon substrate, for generating energy for ejecting the ink from the ejection outlet; an ink flow passage, provided correspondingly to the energy generating element, communicating with the ejection outlet; a through hole passing through the silicon substrate; and an ink supply port for supplying the ink supplied into the through hole to the ink flow passage. The ink supply port is formed with an extended member which contacts a bottom of a flow passage wall constituting the ink flow passage and extends into an opening of the through hole.
US08047626B1	Area based calculation of ink usage Estimating the cost of ink in print jobs. The cost of ink in a print job is estimated based on printed area. After determining an ink coverage value for the print jobs and determining a cost of the ink, an ink cost factor is generated over time from the cost of the ink and from the total area ink coverage. The ink cost factor is used to estimate the cost of a print job based on area.
US08047624B2	Discharge amount calculating device and fluid ejecting apparatus A discharge amount calculating device for calculating the discharge amount of a fluid from a fluid ejecting apparatus is disclosed, in which the fluid ejecting apparatus is capable of ejecting at least one fluid onto a target at a discharge amount of multiple stages. The discharge amount calculating device includes a plurality of calculating sections that calculate the discharge amount of the fluid at the respective multiple stages based on a bit number of input data, a desired number of calculating sections not exceeding 2n being provided, in which n is a positive integer, and a converting section that converts the inputted discharge amount data of n bits into bit number data corresponding to any one of the plurality of calculating sections, and outputs the converted data to the plurality of calculating sections.
US08047621B2	Face plate alignment system A system for adjustably mounting the face plate of a drawer so that when the drawer is closed, the drawer face plate is flush with the adjacent drawer face plate and in a desired height, pitch, roll, lateral and skew position with respect to the front surface of the enclosure. The drawer face panel can be easily adjusted in an inward and outward direction, or a rearward and frontward direction, to compensate for differing degrees of tilt and skew of the drawer face panel with adjacent drawer face panels. A face plate alignment mounting system is provided and includes a lateral adjustment mechanism that engages a face plate and a drawer front panel, a first nut fastener, and an adjustable fastener. The first nut fastener preferably includes a head portion that is affixed to a drawer body and a shaft slidably engaged with a first bore of the drawer body. The first nut fastener shaft defines an opening with internal threads. The adjustable fastener has external threads engaged with the internal threads of the first nut fastener shaft opening. The adjustable fastener includes a first mechanism for adjusting the adjustable fastener in a frontward direction and a rearward direction to suitably adjust the distance between the face plate and said drawer front panel, which is preferably accessible at the rear surface of the drawer front panel.
US08047620B2	Mounting mechanism for retaining a slide rail to a chassis A mounting mechanism is provided for retaining a slide rail to a chassis with an anchor member extending from a side thereof. The rail includes a mounting slot defined therein for receiving the anchor member of the slide rail. The mounting mechanism includes a resilient retaining member secured to the slide rail and a releasing member pivotably engaged with the retaining member. The retaining member includes a protrusion formed thereon capable of retaining the anchor member in the mounting slot of the slide rail. The releasing member is capable of being pivoted to urge the retaining member to disengage the protrusion thereof from the anchor member.
US08047617B2	Flexible axle comprising a cross member with a shaped cross-section, corresponding cross-member, vehicle and manufacturing method A flexible axle for motor vehicle has a cross-member (1) connecting two longitudinal arms (2), wherein said cross-member (1) has a closed cross-section, and said cross-member has, at least in a central zone, a substantially trapezoid cross-section (11).
US08047616B2	Vehicle wheel cover retention system and method for producing same This invention relates to a vehicle wheel cover retention system for securing a wheel cover to a vehicle wheel. According to one embodiment, the vehicle wheel cover retention system is for a non-full face fabricated vehicle wheel and comprises: a full outer wheel rim formed from a suitable material and including a first rim flange, a first tire bead seat, a well, a second tire bead seat, and a second rim flange, the full outer wheel rim defining a first surface extending between the first an second rim flanges; an inner wheel disc defining a wheel axis and formed from a suitable material and joined to the full outer wheel rim, the inner wheel disc including a centrally located wheel mounting surface and an outer annular portion, the inner wheel disc having a first surface and a second surface; and a wheel cover formed from a suitable material and secured to at least one of the first surface of the inner wheel disc, the second surface of the inner wheel disc, and the first surface of said full outer wheel rim.
US08047613B1	Cushion-less aircraft seat A cushion-less passenger seat. The passenger seat includes spaced left and right spreaders, each having a front and rear leg with top and bottom ends and a seating surface formed from a flexible bottom diaphragm attached to and extending between the left and right spreaders. The passenger seat also includes a lumbar support having lower and upper sections and front and back sides formed from a flexible diaphragm. The lower section of the lumbar support is attached to and between the left and right spreaders. The lumbar support upper section extends upwardly above the seat's rear legs and seating surface.
US08047611B2	Headrest bushing and vehicle seat using the same A headrest bushing into which a headrest stay are inserted for supporting a head rest includes a lock mechanism for preventing disengagement of the headrest stay from the headrest bush; and an unlock mechanism having a button for unlocking the lock mechanism and a housing for accommodating which has an opening for manipulating the button, and wherein a surface of the button is placed inwardly from the opening of the housing. The surface of the button is placed correspondently to the opening of the housing or inwardly in a pressing direction from the opening of the housing. The headrest stay has a notch consisting of a horizontal surface and an inclined surface to increase its diameter of slowly downward from the deepest part of the horizontal surface, and wherein the horizontal surface of the notch engages with the lock mechanism.
US08047608B2	Method for implementing a supporting base of a car seat for children, base and car seat thus obtained A method for implementing a supporting base (1) of a car seat, the latter including said base apt to rest onto a seat of such vehicle and apt to support an upper structure (16) apt to receive and retain a child, the base comprising a first (2) and a second (3) portion, the first sitting portion (2) being apt to rest onto the seat sitting and the second backrest portion (3) being apt to rest onto the backrest of such seat. It is provided to implement such base in at least two sections (20, 21), each section (20, 21) comprising a portion of the base portion and a portion of the sitting portion of the base, said sections being then coupled therebetween and constrained so as to implement the above-mentioned base. The so-obtained base and the seat equipped with such base are also claimed.
US08047604B2	Bicycle saddle A bicycle is provided with a saddle. The saddle includes a frame and a padding device. The frame includes a front tray and a rear tray. The padding device includes a front pad and two rear pads. The front pad is installed on the front tray. The rear pads are installed on the rear tray. A space is defined between the front pad and the rear pads. A space is defined between the rear trays.
US08047597B2	Leg shields in vehicle A leg shield for covering a rider's leg from front includes a shielding body positioned forwardly of a foot rest and having a ventilation opening defined therein, and a vent door pivotable about an axis of pivot for selectively opening and closing the ventilation opening. The vent door has first and second ends spaced from each other in a direction conforming to the axis of pivot and is rotatably supported at the first and second ends by first and second door support members, respectively. The axis of pivot is positioned spaced from the ventilation opening in a direction towards an inner surface of the shielding body, and the first and second door support members of the shielding body are positioned spaced away from the ventilation opening when viewed from front.
US08047594B1	Detachable body for motorcycle trike A detachable body for a motorcycle trike has a rigid trunk section with an interior volume, the body being configured for location between rear wheel assemblies of the trike. A door adjacent the volume is operable to allow access to the volume. At least two attachment features provide for releasably attaching the body to a frame of the trike, the attachment features being operable without the use of tools for attaching and detaching the body from the frame.
US08047590B1	Underwater galvanic load release device An underwater load release device for a deployed underwater load comprising a fixed support member having a hinge end and a fixed end, a rotating member connected to the first hinge end, the rotating member initially held in a closed position by a rotatable bail to hold the underwater load, the bail initially held in the closed position by a galvanic timed release link, the galvanic link applying a predetermined bail tension to the bail during load deployment, a spring mechanism for applying a predetermined back tension to the bail during the load deployment, the galvanic release link corroding over a predetermined timed release when immersed underwater whereby the back tension overrides the bail tension of the galvanic link so that the galvanic link releases, the bail rotates into an open bail position and the rotating member then rotates into an open load position, thereby releasing the load.
US08047586B2	Lock device The present invention relates to a lock device for a door of the type with seating unit through the door shutter. The seating unit has a first seating body, a second seating body, a first cover and a second cover. There are provided connecting elements, generally self-tapping screws, that engage both the first cover to the first seating body and the second cover, closing the second seating body as a package thereinbetween. Among the other things, the lock device allows a wide rotation of the handle.
US08047581B2	Temporary closure device for an opening element on a fixed chassis part of a motor vehicle, comprising an improved return means A temporary closure device for an opening element on a fixed chassis part of a motor vehicle, in which the opening element includes a housing for receiving a lock and the fixed part includes at least one tapped hole for fixing a strike. The device includes a plastic body equipped with means for mounting it in the tapped hole. An end of the device includes a limit stop element that co-operates with a first rim of the housing as the opening element is closed, while another end of the device includes a means for retaining the opening element in the closed position against the fixed part, which is intended to penetrate the housing behind a second rim thereof. The retaining means is formed by a resilient tongue, which can bend under stress from the second rim when the opening element is moved from the free position to the closed position.
US08047579B2	Self-lubricating swivelling coupling A self-lubricating swivelling coupling for interconnecting lines, includes a housing with internal surfaces defining a cavity. It also includes a male component, including a shank and a flange provided on the shank, insertable within the cavity to enable the flange to be abuttable on the internal surfaces. The coupling also includes a nut securable within the cavity, to abut axially via an internal axial projection on the flange, and to surround the shank, allowing the male component to rotate. The fluid leaks between the components to lubricate the coupling. Lines are connectable to ports to be swivellably interconnected without needle- or ball-bearings. There is high surface contact and support between the flange, shank and nut, to withstand and distribute forces. Hydraulic fluid is preferred. A seal-unit between the male component and the nut, and a slide-ring between the flange and the nut, are also preferred.
US08047576B2	Multi-media rotary union A rotating union communicates with a rotor member and is operable with either compressible or incompressible coolant media that enters the union through a media inlet. The union includes a housing having a counterbore and a tubular carrier member axially moveable in the housing. The union includes a primary seal assembly having a rotating seal member mounted to the rotor member and a non-rotating member mounted to the carrier member and a secondary seal member positioned about the carrier member. The range of the balance ratio of the primary seal assembly is disclosed when the primary seal assembly has imposed upon it a closing force, an opening force or no force.
US08047569B2	Multi-stage inflator A multi-stage inflator including a housing at least in part defining first and second combustion chambers each containing a quantity of gas generant reactable to form respective product gases. The inflator includes first and second initiators each operatively associated with a respective one of the combustion chambers in reaction initiating communication with at least a portion of the quantity of the gas generant therein contained such that upon actuation the gas generant ignites to form product gas. The second combustion chamber has an exit opening to allow product gas to exit from the second combustion chamber and into the first combustion chamber. The housing includes at least one discharge opening to permit gas to exit the housing and an end wall and wherein both the first and the second initiators are connected.
US08047567B2	Gas generator A gas generator, particularly for a vehicle occupant restraint system, has at least one igniter (12), a pyrotechnic solid propellant bed (22), a combustion chamber (20) containing the propellant bed (22) and at least one wall part (24), the wall part (24) being arranged in the combustion chamber (20), which is moved by a gas stream generated on activation of the gas generator into the region of the propellant bed (22) which is not yet ignited, and in its interior (25) defines a gas-directing channel reaching into the propellant bed (22).
US08047566B2	Side airbag cushion and method of manufacture Exemplary embodiments are directed to an inflatable cushion for deployment along an interior side of a vehicle. In one exemplary embodiment the inflatable cushion has: an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion partially surrounding an area; a non-inflatable member secured to the inflatable portion and positioned in the area; and a retentive pocket formed by the non-inflatable member and the inflatable cushion, the retentive pocket having a periphery bounded on at least one side by the non-inflatable member and the non-inflatable member being configured such that a recessed area is formed in the retentive pocket, the recessed area being disposed within the periphery of the retentive pocket.
US08047564B2	Airbag An occupant side-impact protection apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising an inflatable cushion stored in a folded configuration and an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the cushion. The cushion is configured to inflate to protect the occupant of a vehicle. The side-impact protection apparatus further includes a tether to provide tension to tailor the deployment trajectory of the cushion. The tether is coupled to the cushion at a first coupling location and a second coupling location and the distance along the tether from the first coupling location to the second coupling location is less than the distance along the cushion from the first coupling location to the second coupling location.
US08047561B2	Airbag cover A cover for an inflatable airbag that is configured to restrain a vehicle occupant in a motor vehicle. The airbag cover is arranged to cover the airbag on a side facing a vehicle interior. The airbag has an opening region configured to form an orifice during deployment of the airbag so that the airbag is deployed through the orifice of the airbag cover and into the vehicle interior. The airbag cover includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a more dimensionally stable material than the second portion. The second portion includes the opening region, which is configured to tear open and form the orifice for the airbag during deployment. The first portion includes the orifice, which is delimited by a sidewall and is covered by the opening region of the second portion. The sidewall is configured to guide the deploying airbag to the opening region.
US08047560B2	Retention cover for an inflatable object A retention cover manufacture in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The cover manufacture can include a substrate textile such as a non-woven substrate textile. Fastening elements can be attached to the first face of the substrate textile at or near the longitudinal edges. Moreover, a fastening element can be attached to the second face of the substrate textile substantially along the central longitudinal axis. Also, in accordance with at least one embodiment, a retention cover for enclosing, at least in part, an inflatable object is disclosed. The retention cover can include a textile where, at or near the first longitudinal edge, a loop element can be attached to the textile. In addition, at or near the second longitudinal edge, a hook element can be attached to the textile. Alternatively, at or near a longitudinal edge, an adhesive strip element can be attached to the textile.
US08047558B2	Heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system An axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle, in which the vehicle has a frame that includes a pair of hangers. The axle/suspension system is attached to the hangers, and includes an axle and a pair of suspension assemblies. Each of the suspension assemblies includes an air spring and at least one spring member. The spring member includes a first attachment portion and a second attachment portion. The first attachment portion is generally rigidly connected to the hanger via a clamped connection, and the second attachment portion is operatively connected to the axle. The spring member, connected in this manner, reduces or eliminates dock walk when a cargo transfer vehicle enters the heavy-duty vehicle, and also reduces or eliminates rebound when the cargo transfer vehicle exits the vehicle. The spring member is also capable of being tuned to a predetermined stiffness that is sufficient to control heavy-duty vehicle roll forces.
US08047552B2	Nitinol ice blades A Nitinol ice blade includes a blade body having attachment structure by which it is held in a blade holder of an ice travel device, such as an ice skate or ice boat. The processes and products made by the processes. The processes include selecting a Type 60 Nitinol sheet or bar that has been hot-worked at a temperature of above about 900° C. to a reduction of at least 2% in the dimension of said hot-working. Blade blanks are cut from the sheet, and the blade blanks are heated to between 600° C. to about 800° C. and immediately quenched to ambient temperature to produce blanks having a hardness of about 48-53 RC. The running edge of the blade blanks a ground to a desired profile and sharpness. The ground blades may then be heated to an elevated temperature of about 850-1000° C. and immediately quenched to produce a hardness at the edge of above 56 RC.
US08047550B2	Tile gap seal assembly and method A seal assembly is configured to seal a tile gap between a pair of tiles. Each of the tiles may include a tile side surface. At least one of the tiles may include a groove which may be formed along a length of the tile side surface. The seal assembly may comprise a gasket assembly including first and second bulb portions which may be interconnected by a web. A spacer rope may be positionable along the web. The gasket assembly may define a folded configuration for mounting within the tile gap when the web is wrapped around the spacer rope such that the second bulb portion is positioned between the spacer rope and the first bulb portion. The second bulb portion may be receivable within the groove.
US08047543B2	Printing system, control method, and computer-readable storage medium A method for controlling a printing system includes stacking a sheet printed by executing a job on a stacking unit provided inside a stacker, the stacker including a door that can be opened and closed, opening the door in a case where a predetermined instruction is input by a user, and in a case where the predetermined instruction is input while a job for stacking the sheet on the stacking unit, control to output the sheet discharged by executing the currently executed job on an output destination different from the stacking unit.
US08047536B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus has a sheet feeding portion feeding a sheet; a conveyance passage for conveying the sheet inside the apparatus; an image forming portion forming an image on the sheet; a skewing detector disposed in the conveyance passage between the sheet feeding portion and the image forming portion, detecting arrival and departure of the sheet, and detecting skewing amount of the sheet in the conveyance passage; a display portion displaying an apparatus state; a storage portion storing data; and a control portion controlling sheet feeding and conveying, and grasping the sheet skewing amount based on the output of the skewing detector to stop printing when the skewing amount is at or above a first predetermined amount stored in the storage portion.
US08047533B2	Automatic document feeder An automatic document feeder includes an upper cover, an input tray for placing plural documents, a pick-up module and a stopper module. A guide plate is disposed on the upper cover. The guide plate has a confining aperture. The confining aperture includes a fixing region and a releasing region. The stopper module has a stopping slice inserted into the confining aperture. When the automatic document feeder is enabled and the pick-up module is swung to be close to the input tray, the stopper module is moved from the fixing region of the confining aperture in response to the swinging action of the pick-up module. As such, the stopper module is released and the document is allowed to be fed into the internal portion of the automatic document feeder.
US08047531B1	Sheet pressing apparatus with sensor unit and stepping motor A sheet pressing apparatus assembled to a file processing equipment which has an input tray for stacking sheets and a pickup roller for feeding sheets. The sheet pressing apparatus includes a sheet pressing assembly movably mounted to the file processing equipment, a driving device including a connecting member and a stepping motor, a sensor unit and a control system. The sheet pressing assembly is driven by the stepping motor to be descending through the connecting member. When the sheet pressing assembly descends, the sensor unit touches the sheets and sends a signal to the control system, the control system figures out the thickness of the sheets by calculating steps the stepping motor having passed, then the control system makes the stepping motor further move with certain steps to drive the sheet pressing assembly further descend to apply a suitable pressure on the sheets.
US08047530B2	Rotary transfer mechanism A rotary transfer mechanism for transferring flat sleeve cartons (20) from a magazine (22) to a receiving station (23) on a conveyor (24), with opening of the cartons ready to receive end-loaded product, is characterized in that the path of suction cups (32) for holding the cartons during transfer is basically determined by a continuous stationary cam track (34) permanently engaged by a cam follower (37) on a gear segment (35) pivotally mounted on carrier means (29) rotatable by a drive shaft (26), the suction cups (32) being carried by a support shaft (30) rotatable on the carrier means and coaxial with a pinion (38) meshing with the gear segment. (35), and the support shaft being connected to a bracket (48) carrying a manifold (47) for the suction cups (32) by a crank arm (53), which is connected by a link arm (54) to a rocker arm (55) freely rotatable on the drive shaft (26). A servomotor (27) programmed by a computer (not shown) drives the drive shaft (26) through a gearbox (28) to vary the speed of the suction cups (32), especially when passing through the delivery station (23) to effect opening of the cartons (20) by movement relative to flights (64) on the conveyor (24).
US08047529B2	Method of feeding medium in recording apparatus, and recording apparatus A recording apparatus including feeding unit that feeds a medium, conveying unit that conveys the fed medium, recording unit that performs recording on the medium, and controlling unit that controls the feeding unit and the conveying unit, a measuring unit that measures a distance between the previous medium and the next medium after completing the preparatory feeding; and determining unit that determines whether or not the measured distance is a predetermined distance or greater, wherein, if the distance is the predetermined distance or greater, the controlling unit completely feeds the next medium.
US08047528B2	Image forming apparatus To provide an image forming apparatus that can highly accurately position and convey, even if an inter-sheet distance of sheets to be conveyed is reduced, the sheets from registration rollers to a transfer position when a toner image on an image bearing member moving at process speed is transferred onto the sheet in the transfer position. A sheet fed from a paper feeding cassette by a pulse-motor driven paper feeding roller is conveyed to pulse-motor driven registration rollers by pulse-motor driven conveying rollers. When the sheet is conveyed to the transfer position according to restart of the registration rollers, the sheet is conveyed by the registration rollers at sheet conveying speed different from the process speed before the leading end of the sheet reaches the transfer position and is conveyed at the process speed after that.
US08047527B2	Sheet containing apparatus and image forming system The sheet containing apparatus is provided with: an apparatus main body; a drawer that is capable of being pulled out from the apparatus main body; a sheet container that is movable relative to the drawer and that contains a sheet; a feeder that feeds a sheet contained in the sheet container; and a moving unit that moves the sheet container in a direction intersecting with a feed direction in which the feeder feeds a sheet.
US08047519B2	Device for holding a piston in a system for coating pistons The invention relates to a device (2), in a plant for coating pistons, for holding a piston (1) of an internal combustion engine, comprising an aligning piece (7), which is arranged on a surface (3) of the device (2) in the direction of the axis (17) of the piston (1) in an elastically flexible manner and which comprises two opposing surfaces resting on the inner surface of the gudgeon pin boss (18) of the piston (1) conically tapering in the direction of the piston crown. A simple construction of the piston holder which permits a fault-free and even coating of the piston which can be rapidly and simply fixed to the piston is achieved.
US08047509B2	Vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses with vortex contacting stages Vapor-liquid contacting apparatuses, for example reactors and distillation columns (as well as reactive distillation apparatuses), comprising a vessel with one or more vortex contacting stages, are described. The one or more stages provide high interfacial area for the effective contacting of the different phases, in addition to the effective disengagement of these phases after contacting.
US08047502B2	Combined check and control valve To overcome problems concerning the sticking of the check plate in a combined check and control valve, a stop is provided on the valve rod or a guide element in the vicinity of the valve rod, whose distance to the limiting element is smaller than the maximum stroke and larger than the nominal stroke of the limiting element. Thus, it is achieved that the check plate is released from the valve seat by means of the stop, when the valve rod is displaced to the maximum.
US08047499B2	Support stand assembly and digital photo frame using same A support stand assembly includes a base, a stopper, a guiding member, a connecting member, a supporting member, and a resilient member. The guiding member, the connecting member, and the supporting member are movably disposed on the base. The resilient member is disposed between the guiding member and the base. The stopper is rotatable disposed in the base. The guiding member is engaged with the stopper. The connecting member abuts the guiding member. The supporting member is pivotally connected with the connecting member.
US08047498B1	Support stand device for rebar bender A support stand device for a rebar bender featuring a base with a rebar bender mount; three leg mounts disposed in the base in a symmetrical configuration, three legs removably engagable in the leg mounts; securing means for securing the legs in the respective leg mounts; spike shafts disposed near the bottom ends of each leg; a spike slidably disposed in each spike shaft, the spikes can slide between at least a down position wherein the spike is extended downwardly toward and optionally into a ground surface and an up position wherein the spike is pulled upwardly in the spike shaft and out of the ground surface; securing means for securing the spikes in a position; and striking blocks disposed on the top end of each spike.
US08047496B2	Methods and apparatus for suspending fixtures Various systems including brackets and associated wires are disclosed for suspending fixtures from ceilings and the like. The systems improve over the prior art in several ways. Attachment of the wire to the bracket is faster and easier. The attachment can be made more rigid. Several different components can be combined to adapt to different suspension requirements. Brackets can be provided with structure to make more stable connections to cement and masonry.
US08047483B2	Adjustable mounting bracket assembly for exterior siding A self-adjusting base member preferably of a mounting bracket assembly is utilized in conjunction with exterior siding that covers sheathing of an exterior wall. The base member of the assembly has a mounting flange secured to the sheathing and a wall arrangement that projects outward with respect to the sheathing and from the mounting flange. Preferably, the wall arrangement supports a raised central panel used for mounting of fixtures. Spaced radially outward from the wall arrangement is at least one flexible drip ledge of the base member. The drip ledge is generally self-adjusting with respect to the thickness of the adjacent siding.
US08047477B2	Device to facilitate filling a reusable bag, a conventional trash bag or a receptacle A device to facilitate filling a reusable bag, a conventional trash bag or a receptacle. The device and bag or receptacle are used horizontally. The device comprises a funneled receiver, channel, stakes, and optionally four legs. The receiver is a scoop-like device having semi-frusto-conical cross-sections. The channel is a non-funneled extension of the receiver, having trapezoidal cross-sections. If a bag is used, the device facilitates filling the bag and it also holds open the bag. The optional four legs also hold open the body of the bag and, by contributing to the stability of the device, they allow the device to be smaller and lighter than otherwise. The device is normally placed on the ground, and inserted into either the bag or the receptacle. Leaves, grass clippings and other debris are raked or otherwise projected through the front of the receiver. The front of the receiver has a turned-over lip that facilitates filling the bag and that also acts as a handle.
US08047476B2	Pipe clip having a curved flange A pipe clamp for supporting pipes consists of an open sheet-metal strip surrounding the pipe and of a rubber sleeve which is inserted between the pipe and the sheet-metal strip. The two ends of the sheet-metal strip are connected to one another in the assembled state by means of a clamping screw. The pipe clamp consists only of the sheet-metal strip and of the clamping screw, the two strip ends being bent somewhat radially outwards, forming two screw lugs, and the clamping screw being supported, in the pre-assembled state, on a screw lug such that it cannot be lost and is ready for assembly.
US08047473B2	Connecting node and method for constructing a connecting node A connecting node comprises a polyhedral structure comprising a plurality of panels joined together at its side edges to form a spherical approximation, wherein at least one of the plurality of panels comprises a faceted surface being constructed with a passage for integrating with one of a plurality of elements comprising a docking port, a hatch, and a window that is attached to the connecting node. A method for manufacturing a connecting node comprises the steps of providing a plurality of panels, connecting the plurality of panels to form a spherical approximation, wherein each edge of each panel of the plurality is joined to another edge of another panel, and constructing at least one of the plurality of panels to include a passage for integrating at least one of a plurality of elements that may be attached to the connecting node.
US08047472B1	Ram booster The present invention is a space launch system and method to propel a payload bearing craft into earth orbit. The invention has two, or preferably, three stages. The upper stage has rocket engines capable of carrying a payload to orbit and provides the capability of releasably attaching to the lower, or preferably, middle stage. Similar to the lower stage, the middle stage is a reusable booster stage that employs all air breathing engines, is recoverable, and can be turned-around in a short time between missions.
US08047471B2	Indication system and method for refuelling operations System (1) for providing indication of the position of a refuelling boom (2) in a tanker aircraft relative to a receptacle (17) in a receiver aircraft during refuelling operations, in particular in the approximation operation, the system (1) comprising a plurality of light emitting devices (23-33) mountable on the boom (2), each emitting device (23-33) providing a respective visible light beam, said light beams providing spots of incidence (3-13) when contacting the receptacle (17) in the receptor aircraft, in such a manner that the position of the spots of incidence (3-13) on the receptacle (17) varies depending on the position of the refuelling boom (2) relative to the receiver aircraft in the approximation operation. The invention also relates to a method for the approximation operation of a refuelling boom (2) in a tanker aircraft to a receptacle (17) in a receiver aircraft operating such a system (1).
US08047470B2	System for deicing an air inlet cowl for a turbine engine According to the invention, a scaled articulation device is mounted on at least one of the branches of a hot-air circulation circuit in the form of a bracket so as to provide a bracket with capabilities of deforming about the articulation device.
US08047469B2	Airframe attachment fitting An airframe attachment fitting includes a fitting base having a base attachment surface and a flange attachment surface, at least one attachment post extending from the base attachment surface of the fitting base and at least one attachment flange carried by the flange attachment surface of the fitting base. An aircraft fuselage and a method of attaching a system or subsystem component to an airframe are also disclosed.
US08047468B2	Stowage bin with shear fittings An aircraft stowage bin assembly includes shear fittings configured to route a content load from the bucket of the bin assembly to the airframe in the event of a forward load condition, such as a crash or severe turbulence. When the forward inertial load factor on the stowage bin is greater than about 1 g, the shear fittings create an efficient load path from the bucket to the airframe which bypasses the large metallic or composite endframes required by the designs of many conventional overhead stowage bins. As a result, significant reductions in overall bulk and weight, as well as lower manufacturing costs, can be realized.
US08047460B2	Gyratory crusher, outer shell intended therefore and methods for mounting and dismounting the outer shell A gyratory crusher has an outer shell, which is attachable in a frame having a frustoconical supporting surface, which is facing obliquely downwards and inwards. The outer shell has on the outer surface a collar, which has outer lugs, which are movable, from below, past the supporting surface and between inner lugs of a ring. The inner and outer lugs have mutually corresponding contact surfaces, which are adapted, by relative rotation of the ring and the outer shell, to be positioned opposite each other and, upon lifting of the ring, to lift also the outer shell so that a lower portion of the outer shell abuts the supporting surface of the frame. The contact surfaces of the inner and outer lugs are arranged such that lifting of the ring causes the outer lugs to be lifted by means of the inner lugs and brings the inner and outer lugs into radial abutment against each other.
US08047458B2	Method for producing very fine particles by means of a jet mill The invention relates to a method for producing very fine particles by means of a jet mill using compressed gases as the grinding gas, characterized in that the grinding gas is under pressure of ≦4.5 bar(abs).
US08047453B2	Neutral displacement wick Aspects of the invention include an air freshener device that emits fragrance through the evaporation of a fragrance-containing fluid comprising: a container, comprising a particular volume of the fragrance-containing fluid; a wick disposed partially in, and partially out of the fragrance-containing fluid, the wick having an immersion section immersed in the fluid so as to displace a displacement volume of fluid and a non-immersion section extending outward from a surface of the fluid, the immersion and non-immersion section being disposed on opposite lateral ends of the wick; the wick further comprising a displacement portion and a wicking portion, the displacement portion being configured to displace a desired first volume of fluid, the wicking portion being configured to wick a second volume of fluid; the displacement portion and the wicking portion designed to achieve a desired ratio between the displaced first volume of fluid and the wicked second volume of fluid.
US08047451B2	Windshield heat and clean A washer fluid heater apparatus in embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following features: (a) a heat exchanger having a washer fluid inlet to allow washer fluid to enter the heat exchanger and a washer fluid outlet to allow the washer fluid to exit the heat exchanger; and (b) a coolant passage traversing through the heat exchanger having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, the coolant inlet and coolant outlet operably coupled to an engine's coolant system to allow passage of engine coolant through the heat exchanger.
US08047449B2	Automotive thermostatic expansion valve with reduced hiss An expansion valve for an air conditioning system circulates refrigerant through a fixed-displacement compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. An inlet is provided for receiving refrigerant liquefied in the condenser. An outlet of the expansion valve supplies refrigerant to the evaporator. A valve element controls flow of refrigerant between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the valve element is normally closed. A control assembly is coupled to the valve element and is responsive to at least one temperature or pressure in the air conditioning system to open the valve element to variably meter the refrigerant to the evaporator. A bleed passage bypasses the valve element to conduct refrigerant between the inlet and the outlet. The bleed passage is adapted to bleed refrigerant to the evaporator immediately after the compressor shuts off to prime the air conditioning system for a lower superheat when the compressor turns on, and the bleed path has a flow capacity substantially smaller than the flow capacity of the main valve aperture.
US08047445B2	Wireless IC device and method of manufacturing the same A wireless IC device includes a plurality of insulating sheets that are stacked on top of one another. Coil electrodes are arranged so as to sandwich the insulating sheets therebetween and define an antenna coil by being connected to one another. The coil electrodes are superposed with one another and thereby define a single ring when viewed in plan from a z-axis direction.
US08047443B2	Data storage devices Data storage devices include storage circuitry configured to store data; a first substantially planar card portion comprising the storage circuitry; an electrical interface electrically connected to the storage circuitry and located on one side of the first card portion; and one or more additional substantially planar card portions positioned below the other side of the first card portion and positioned parallel to one another and parallel to the first card portion. The combined thickness of the first card portion and the one or more additional card portions is sufficient to make contact with both an electrical interface of an electrical communications receptacle and a shell portion of the receptacle when the first card portion and the one or more additional card portions are inserted into the communications receptacle.
US08047440B2	Method and system for decoding a barcode Described is a method and system for obtaining a digitized representation of a bar code, estimating a set of parameters from the digitized representation and acquiring a waveform representation of the bar code based on at least one parameter in the set of parameters.
US08047439B2	Image reader having image sensor array The invention features a system and method to automatically focus an image reader using a single frame of image data. The method comprises exposing sequentially a plurality of rows of pixels in the image sensor. The method further comprising varying in incremental steps the focus of the image reader's optical system from a first setting where a distinct image of objects located at a first distance from the image reader is formed on the image sensor to a second setting where a distinct image of objects located at a second distance from the image reader is formed on the image sensor. As part of the method, the varying of the focus of the optical system occurs during the exposure of the plurality of rows of pixels.
US08047438B2	Digital image capture and processing system employing an image formation and detection subsystem having an area-type image detection array supporting periodic occurrance of snap-shot type image acquisition cycles at a high-repetition rate during object illumination A digital image capture and processing system including a housing having an imaging window; and an image formation and detection subsystem with an area-type image detection array having a periodic snap shot mode of the operation supporting the periodic occurrence of snap-shot type image acquisition cycles at a high-repetition rate, during object illumination and imaging operations. The system also includes an illumination subsystem, with a LED illumination array, for producing a field of illumination within the FOV, and illuminating the object detected in the FOV. In the illustrative embodiment, the time duration of illumination of an object within the FOV by the illumination subsystem while the area-type image detection array detects each 2D digital image frame of the object formed on the area-type image detection array, is substantially equal to the time duration that the digital image processing subsystem is allowed to process the detected 2D digital image frame and read a 1D and/or 2D code symbol graphically represented therein.
US08047434B2	Known loss data logging System and method for collecting information pertaining to a defeated electronic article surveillance (EAS) tag are disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a recording unit for collecting data pertaining to missing merchandise having at least one user interface, recording the data into the recording unit in response to a series of user interface prompts displayed on the recording unit, the interface prompts being programmed according to a predetermined user input sequence, the recording unit being adapted to transmit the data through a communications network, and transmitting the data through the communications network to a data processing unit, the data processing unit being configured to analyze the data and to generate a report based on the data.
US08047433B2	Shipment tracking method, device for the implementation of the method and printing device A method for tracking shipments of a letter or package shipped by at least one shipper to an address of at least one addressee including printing a bar code on each shipment to be tracked, wherein the bar code includes at least one part for identification of the shipper of the shipment, which is invariable for each shipper, and a shipment rank identification part of each shipment, which is variable for each shipment; and a device for tracking shipments of a letter or package shipped by at least one shipper to an address of at least one addressee including at least one database having at least one user data table listing bar codes of the shipper and address information, and a data table of shipments being tracked listing each shipment by shipper.
US08047432B2	Package tracking techniques Method and system for tracking packages including readable indicia in a movable cargo container includes mounting at least one scanner to an interior surface of the container capable of reading the indicia on, in or associated with the packages, operatively reading the indicia from the packages, converting the read indicia into an identification of the packages, and transmitting the package identifications to a remote facility. Each scanner may be controlled to read the indicia at predetermined times, upon command from the remote facility or upon detection of an event which could result in a change in the contents of the container. A positioning system may be arranged on the container to determine its location and the location of the container transmitted with the package identifications. This provides an entity managing the delivery or transport of the packages with an efficient way to track its package in real-time.
US08047430B2	Account administration plans and systems A computer system for facilitating payments from an account according to particular embodiments of the invention is adapted for: (1) facilitating the transmission, to a plan service provider, of a first set of documentation of a first payment that would potentially qualify for reimbursement from the account; (2) receiving, from the plan service provider, verification that the first payment has been verified as qualifying for reimbursement from the account according to a set of reimbursement rules associated with the account; (3) storing, in memory, an electronic version of the first set of documentation; and (4) storing, in memory, an indication that the first payment has been verified as being properly reimbursable from the account.
US08047427B2	Currency recycler reconcilement activity A currency handling system, for example, a currency recycler or depository machine, may be configured to process currency transactions, including receiving one or more currency deposits. The currency recycler may attempt to accept and validate the currency received in the deposits, organizing and storing some validated currency while designating one or more other units of currency as temporarily unreconcilable. The currency recycler may also generate and transmit reconcilement reports summarizing a set of currency transactions, including data corresponding to the validated currency and temporarily unreconcilable currency. Reconcilement reports may be output to users or transmitted to corporate offices for business purposes, or may be transmitted to financial institutions for crediting bank accounts, and currency that could not be validated may be stored securely to allow a business to receive provisional credit.
US08047423B1	Swing away mailbox support A swing away or pivotable mailbox support includes a lower post anchored in the ground and pivotally connected to an upper post having a horizontally projecting mailbox support arm. The upper post is pivotally movable in response to horizontal loads applied to the support arm. Adjacent connecting ends of the posts have aligned centrally located mounting bores for receipt of a mounting shaft. A bearing and detent assembly is mounted to the connecting ends of the posts to provide support and relative rotational movement between detent-engaged stable rotational positions. A kit including a bearing and detent assembly and a shaft is also provided for converting a stationary mailbox support to a swing away or pivotable support in accordance with the invention.
US08047421B2	Elliptic C4 with optimal orientation for enhanced reliability in electronic packages An arrangement for the equipping of electronic packages with elliptical C4 connects possessing optimal orientation for enhanced reliability. Furthermore, disclosed is a method providing elliptical C4 connects which possesses optimal orientation for enhanced reliability, as implemented in connection with their installation in electronic packages. Employed are essentially elliptical solder pads or elliptical C4 pad configurations at various preferably corner locations on a semiconductor chip.
US08047417B2	Rotatable tool and apparatus therefor A friction stir weld apparatus having a linear drive actuator and a separate friction stir weld device. The linear actuator and the friction stir weld device are driven by concentric motors. In the preferred embodiment, the thrust member of the actuator is connected to the friction stir weld device within or adjacent to the friction stir weld device motor to advance and retract the friction stir weld device along a linear axis concentric with the actuator and friction stir weld device motors.
US08047416B2	Fastener feed method and apparatus Fasteners, such as rivets (60), are fed to a fastener insertion tool (1) via a buffer magazine (5) adjacent to the tool. The buffer is movable with the tool and C-frame (6) between an operative position where fasteners can be inserted into a workpiece and a re-filling position where it is docked at a docking station (13) to reload. Fasteners are delivered to the docking station from a source (14) and held there ready for when the tool docks. Once docked a transfer gate (25, 28) is opened at an interface between the buffer magazine and the docking station and fasteners from the docking station are transferred into the buffer magazine. The quantity of fasteners in the buffer magazine is detected and the last fastener is retained so as to support preceding fasteners loaded into the buffer magazine. Any subsequently loaded fasteners back to the docking station either under gravity, under the influence of a pressurized gas or both. The gate is then closed and the insertion apparatus separates from the docking station.
US08047413B2	Multifunctional carrier device for hunting equipment The present invention relates to soft, multifunctional carriers which transport equipment, such as hunting equipment, hunting bows, compound bows, hunting gear, camping gear, hiking gear and animal antlers for camping, fishing and/or hunting. The equipment can be placed on or hung from a tree or the like and act as a backrest or cushion and provide access to the equipment transported for hunting, camping or fishing purposes. The carrier can be utilized in conjunction with an elevated tree stand or as a storage area on or near ground level.
US08047412B2	Load carriers for vehicles A load carrier for coupling to a vehicle. The load carrier includes a loading frame and a supporting arch that extends substantially upwardly from and transversely to the loading frame. The supporting arch is divisible into first and second arch parts, each of which arch parts is pivotally coupled to the loading frame such that, when divided, each of the first and second arch parts is configured to be pivoted down to a storage position lying substantially level with the loading frame. The arch parts are configured to be interlocked to each other into an in-use position, in which the first and said second arch parts substantially alone form the supporting arch.
US08047410B2	Compact hanging clothing assembly A hanging clothing assembly includes a hanger, a clothing item, and a hanging strap. The hanger has a body portion and an upper support portion. The clothing item has a free-hanging length and defines an upper portion configured to be worn over an upper body of a wearer and a lower portion configured to be worn over a lower body of the wearer. The upper portion of the clothing item is supported on the body portion of the hanger. The hanging strap is secured to the lower portion of the clothing item and is also releasably secured in a closed loop that extends about the lower portion of the clothing item. The closed loop is releasably secured to the hanger such that the lower portion is supported from the hanger and the clothing item defines a display-hanging length that is less than the free-hanging length of the clothing item.
US08047409B2	Device for the metered removal of bulk material An apparatus for the metered removal of bulk material from a bin, the apparatus having a top bulk-material-filling opening, bottom bulk-material-removal opening, and a rotor that is connected in a driven manner to at least one sweeping arm disposed inside the bin near the bin's rotationally symmetrical floor and directed towards the removal opening. In order to create an apparatus for the removal of bulk material from a bin in which the mass of the removed bulk material not only can be metered very precisely, but which is also of simple design and easy to maintain, provision is made whereby the sweeping arm is attached on the bottom side of a separating element connected in a driven manner to the rotor, and whereby a settling zone is provided below the separating element in front of the sweeping arm, this zone only being open on one side to the bulk material through a feed opening, and on the other side to the removal opening.
US08047404B2	Bifurcated stem foam pump A bifurcated stem foam pump for use in foam dispensers. An air compressor portion of the bifurcated pump is attached to and maintained as a portion of the dispenser housing. A portion of the pump for transferring liquid and including a portion for generating foam is sealingly attached to and provided as a portion of a replaceable liquid-containing cartridge in the foam dispenser. The two portions mate and form a completed pump assembly operative for generating foam from the liquid of the cartridge when the cartridge is placed within the dispenser housing and the two pump portions are mated. The air compressor portion includes a collar having an air piston reciprocatingly received therein. The collar is attached to the dispenser housing. A collar receiving a hollow stem pump is attached to the liquid cartridge. Actuation of the air piston correspondingly actuates the stem pump such that air and liquid are forced together in the stem pump and through a foam generating member.
US08047403B2	Bifurcated stem foam pump A bifurcated stem foam pump for use in foam dispensers. An air compressor portion of the bifurcated pump is attached to and maintained as a portion of the dispenser housing. A portion of the pump for transferring liquid and including a portion for generating foam is attached to and provided as a portion of a replaceable liquid-containing cartridge in the foam dispenser. The two portions mate and form a completed pump assembly operative for generating foam from the liquid of the cartridge when the cartridge is placed within the dispenser housing and the two pump portions are mated. The air compressor portion includes a collar having an air piston reciprocatingly received therein. The collar is attached to the dispenser housing. A collar receiving a hollow stem pump is attached to the liquid cartridge. Actuation of the air piston correspondingly actuates the stem pump such that air and liquid are forced together in the stem pump and through a foam generating member.
US08047402B2	Dispensing nozzle assembly A dispensing nozzle assembly for dispensing a number of micro-ingredients into a fluid stream. The dispensing nozzle assembly may include a micro-ingredient mixing chamber, a number of micro-ingredient lines in communication with the micro-ingredient mixing chamber such that the micro-ingredients mix therein, and a mixed micro-ingredient exit such the mixed micro-ingredients are dispensed into the fluid stream.
US08047399B1	Dispenser for transdermal devices A dispenser places transdermal devices and packaged transdermal devices in an electrically charged state. The dispenser is particularly suitable for transdermal devices that include electrically actuatable components, such as transdermal, drug-delivery patches that include microporator circuitry. A controller can be operatively coupled to a power circuit of the dispenser to control the times that transdermal devices can be charged, thereby providing a measure of control over use and misuse of the transdermal devices to be dispensed.
US08047398B2	Snap overcap closure for a container An overcap for a container, which container is of the type having a rim adjacent to an opening in which the rim has an exterior facing top surface, an exterior facing side surface and an exterior facing bottom surface. The overcap includes a center portion having a top surface and a skirt extending downward relative to the top surface. A wall is spaced radially inward from the skirt, defining a channel in one form of the overcap. The wall has an end portion extending downwardly from the center portion. When the overcap is disposed on the container, the end portion engages with the exterior facing top surface of the rim of the container. In one further advantageous form, the overcap skirt has a bead extending radially inward, which engages with the exterior facing side surface of the container when the overcap is disposed on the container.
US08047395B2	Cryogenic fluid tank and use in a motor vehicle The main opposite surfaces (4a, 4b; 5a, 5b) of the inner (1) and outer (2) coverings are directly linked to each other by rigid coaxial linking elements (9;10), flexible linking elements (15) joining a main surface (5a) of the outer covering to an opposite surface (4b) of the inner covering (1) and vice-versa. The invention can be used for the storage of cryogenic fuel used as a power source for motor vehicles.
US08047394B2	Safety device for at least one container, in particular a blow-mouded plastic container A safety device for at least one container, in particular a blow-molded plastic container, preferably in ampoule form, has a supply part (5) for accommodating a medium which can be dispensed via a container opening (9). The container opening (9) can be closed by a first safety part (11) which counteracts opening forces with a predefinable resistance. The predefinable resistance can be overcome for the release of the container opening (9) with the aid of a second safety part (15) which interacts with the first safety part (11).
US08047391B2	Foldable and portable frame A foldable and portable frame is disclosed. The foldable and portable frame comprises twelve posts and eight flexible joints or linkages. The foldable and portable frame can be easily erected to be a stable substantially rectangular structure, and folded to a collapsed state to be portable. A foldable and portable frame with coverings is also disclosed. The foldable and portable frame with coverings can be erected and folded in a same fashion as the erecting and folding of the foldable and portable frame.
US08047387B2	Apparatus and methods for carrying a bottle Apparatus and associated methods for carrying and manipulation of bottles are presented herein. The apparatus may include a closure that may be sealably secured to a bottle. The apparatus may further include a movable handle attached to the closure with portions of the movable handle received in a recess defined by the bottle. The movable handle may be locatable between at least a first position and a second position. The methods may include providing a closure and a movable handle, attaching the movable handle to the closure, and locating the movable handle in at least the first position and the second position.
US08047373B2	Suspended utensil storage system and method A suspended utensil storage system includes a utensil tray including a plurality of utensil compartments having a mesh material therein; and a debris collector tray underlying the utensil tray and receiving the utensil tray. The mesh material of the utensil compartments of the utensil tray supports utensils and includes holes sized to allow debris to fall there through into the debris collector tray for collecting the debris.
US08047369B2	Breadbasket with merchandiser window and flaps A basket for shipping and displaying of baked products, wherein the basket comprises several features that substantially inhibit or reduce lateral motion, as well frontward and rearwards motion. Similar baskets can be stacked in a 0°, 90° or 180° configuration, and in the 0° and 180°, an upper basket can pivot and slide about a lower basket. Preferably, three window flaps are provided in one or more merchandising windows of the basket to allow consumers to retrieve baked product from an interior portion of the basket. The window flaps can moved from an open position to provide customers access to the tray, to a closed position to substantially inhibit or prevent product spillage when being transported or stored.
US08047363B2	Memory card holder and organizer for holding and organizing a plurality of portable memory cards The subject matter described herein includes a memory card holder and organizer for holding and organizing a plurality of portable memory cards. The memory card holder and organizer includes a card body having first and second memory card covering members defining first and second opposite-facing surfaces and first and second opposite-facing lateral edges. The card body defines a plurality of memory card insertion and holding slots for insertion and holding of a plurality of portable memory cards in an interior region defined by the card body. The memory card insertion and holding slots are laterally accessible through apertures in the first and second lateral edges. The first surface defines a plurality of notches adjacent to the first lateral edge for allowing removal of portable memory cards inserted in the memory card insertion and holding slots accessible via the first lateral edge. The second surface defines a plurality of notches adjacent to the second lateral edge for allowing removal of portable memory cards inserted in the memory card insertion and holding slots accessible via the second lateral edge.
US08047361B2	Gas storage structure and gas storage apparatus including the same Provided are a gas storage structure and a gas storage apparatus including the gas storage structure. The gas storage structure includes a gas storage part including an opening thereon and an entrance control part disposed on the opening and including a gate.
US08047346B2	Pilot for a series damper A damper for a torque converter, including: a cover plate for a damper; a turbine hub with a surface; and a pilot element rotationally connected to the cover plate and having a surface slidingly engaged with the surface for the turbine hub. The respective surfaces for the turbine hub and the pilot element are at least partially radially aligned and the pilot element is arranged to center the damper with respect to a longitudinal axis for the torque converter. In some aspects, the pilot element includes at least one axial protrusion engaged with the cover plate. In some aspects, the pilot element is formed of stamped metal. In some aspects, the pilot element is axially stabilized with respect to the turbine hub and the cover plate. In some aspects, the pilot element includes at least one radial protrusion slidingly engaged with a radial surface for the turbine hub.
US08047345B2	Multi-plate clutch and hydrodynamic torque converter device having said multi-plate clutch A multi-plate clutch (2) having a first plate carrier (48) and second plate carrier (50) and one or more first plates (52) received by the first plate carrier and one or more second plates (54) received by the second plate carrier, a pressure element (58) which can especially be actuated hydraulically for generating an axial load on the clutch pack configured by the first and second plates and closing the multi-plate clutch, in which the pressure element configuring the second plate carrier and/or being connected to the second plate carrier in a rotationally fixed manner.
US08047341B2	Cylinder apparatus A hydraulic shock absorber enables its piston rod to be locked near its minimum length position and allows the locked condition to be visually confirmed easily. A cap member is secured to a distal end portion of a piston rod extending from a cylinder part, and a dust cover is secured to the cap member. A lock member is secured to an end of the cylinder part from which the piston rod extends to the outside. The lock member is cut and bent upward to form engaging portions. The cap member is cut and bent downward to form engaging pieces and windows. With the piston rod contracted to near its minimum length position, the cap member is rotated to engage the engaging portions and the engaging pieces with each other, thereby locking the piston rod. The engaged condition of the engaging portions and the engaging pieces can be visually confirmed through the windows.
US08047335B2	Shock absorbing hitch A shock-absorbing hitch termination (40) includes a terminating member (52) that moves against a first bias (62) responsive to a first level of tension on a load bearing member (26) associated with a car (22) and counterweight (24) in an elevator system (20). A support member (60) moves with the terminating members (52) against a second, passive bias (70) responsive to increased tension on the load bearing member (26). In one example, the second bias is provided by mechanical springs (70). In another example the second bias is provided by air springs. In still another example the second bias is provided by pressurized actuators (82). The shock-absorbing hitch termination may be supported for movement with the car, counterweight or both. In another example, the shock-absorbing hitch termination is provided in a stationary structure (90) within the elevator system.
US08047333B2	Method and elevator installation for user selection of an elevator A method for allocation of a user to a elevator installation, which is provided with a plurality of elevator cars and with a destination call control unit, wherein the user lodges a destination call at the destination control unit using a communications unit. The destination call control unit determines a group of elevator cars for serving the destination call and makes the group known to the user by the communications unit. The user selects an elevator car from the group by the communications unit. In addition, information for guiding the user to the selected elevator car is communicated to the user by the communications unit.
US08047332B2	Direct grease injection for large open gearing A drive gear includes a plurality of internal radial channels extending between the axial bore and the periphery of the gear, and an axial bore includes a lubricant distribution structure therein to provide lubrication where the teeth of the drive gear mesh with the teeth of a gear driven by the drive gear.
US08047331B2	Ladder attachment for hitch An attachment (10) for operably mounting and supporting a ladder (12) comprises an angular frame (18, 20) adapted for receipt by a vehicular hitch (14). The frame (18, 20) includes crosspieces (26) adapted for receiving rungs of the ladder (12), which are releaseably connected together with fasteners (28). In the second embodiment, the fasteners (28′) are captured on the frame (18′, 20′).
US08047327B2	Muffler for pneumatic handheld tool A muffler for mounting to a handheld pneumatic tool, such as a die grinder. The muffler comprises a hollow open-ended casing having an inner wall lined with a thick layer of an insulating material. The muffler is sleeve mounted about a coupler positioned between an exhaust end of the pneumatic tool and an air adapter supplying compressed air to the pneumatic tool for operation thereof. A plate comprising a plurality of perforations is positioned at a first face of the casing adjacent the air adapter. A biasing member is further placed between the plate and the air adapter for biasing a second face of the casing against the exhaust end. In this manner, during operation of the pneumatic tool, released air expelled at the exhaust end is directed through the casing to reduce a level of the noise at the exhaust end.
US08047323B2	Motor vehicle with disconnectable all-wheel drive system A vehicle with primary and secondary drivelines and a power take-off unit (PTU). The primary driveline has a first differential that is configured to distribute power to a first set of wheels. The PTU has a PTU input, a PTU output and a synchronizer for selectively de-coupling the PTU output from the PTU input. The secondary driveline is configured to distribute power to a second set of wheels and has a propshaft, a second differential, a pair of half-shafts and at least one torque transfer device (TTD). The propshaft transmits rotary power between the PTU output and an input of the second differential. The half-shafts are rotatably coupled to an output of the second differential and are configured to transmit rotary power to the second set of wheels. The at least one TTD is configured to selectively inhibit torque transmission through the second differential to the second set of wheels.
US08047320B2	Adjustable power unit mounting attachment for vehicle A powered cycle vehicle having an adjustable mounting system for a power unit is described. A power unit is attached to a wheel mounting bracket which is affixed to the vehicle frame and carries the cycle wheel. The wheel mounting bracket may be a unitary structure that defines a wheel mount location and a power unit mount location. Adjustment of the power unit can be made independently of adjustment of the cycle wheel.
US08047317B2	System, vehicle, and method A power system is provided that includes a first voltage bus, a traction motor configured to generate electrical power during a regenerative braking mode and to supply the generated electrical power to the first voltage bus, and an auxiliary system coupled to the first voltage bus. The auxiliary system comprises a second voltage bus and a power interface unit coupling the first voltage bus to the second voltage bus. The auxiliary system also comprises an energy storage device coupled to the second voltage bus and configured to store energy supplied to the second voltage bus and configured to supply stored energy to the second voltage bus and an auxiliary load configured to receive power based on power in the second voltage bus.
US08047315B2	Driving device, motor vehicle equipped with driving device, and control methods of driving device and motor vehicle In setting of an oil temperature increasing process mode, the drive control technique of the invention starts an engine to actuate a mechanical oil pump that pressure feeds a flow of lubricating oil for lubricating the mechanical parts of a transmission and other relevant parts, actuates an electric oil pump that pressure feeds the flow of lubricating oil, and makes a brake B1 included in the transmission in a semi-engagement state. A motor arranged adjacent to the transmission is then driven with lowered output efficiency. This arrangement effectively accelerates heat generation by the motor and ensures a quick temperature rise of the lubricating oil.
US08047313B2	Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle A method of operating a hybrid vehicle propulsion system includes selectively operating the engine to consume fuel stored on-board the vehicle based on a residence time of the fuel stored on-board the vehicle and further based on a profile of ambient conditions over the residence time.
US08047309B2	Passive and active up-drill features on fixed cutter earth-boring tools and related systems and methods Earth-boring tools include at least one up-drill feature disposed on a transition surface so as to be passive during down drilling and active during up drilling and/or back reaming operations. Systems for down drilling and up drilling with drill bits comprising one or more up-drill features are also disclosed. Furthermore, methods for forming a borehole with an earth-boring tool including such up-drill features and for forming an earth-boring tool comprising such up-drill features are also disclosed.
US08047306B2	Top drive drilling system and other applications using a low speed direct drive AC motor A low speed alternating current motor having motor shaft speeds of about 300 is provided, and such motor has application in numerous industries and devices, such as, for example, in top drive drilling systems. Because of the low shaft speed, mechanical speed reduction equipment may not be necessary. In addition, the motor shaft may be hollow to facilitate the flow of fluid, such as, for example, drilling mud.
US08047305B2	Vacuum feed supply system for drilling fluid additives A system for forming a subterranean wellbore may include a pump and an additive supply. The pump pumps a drilling fluid into the wellbore while also generating a pressure differential that draws an additive across a supply line connected to the additive supply. The drilling fluid may be a gas or a liquid. A method for forming a wellbore may include drilling the wellbore, circulating a drilling fluid in the wellbore using a pump; and supplying an additive to the drilling fluid by flowing the additive across a supply line using a pressure differential generated by the pump. The pump may generate a vacuum pressure at a supply line outlet and/or create a pressure differential in the supply line. The flow of additive across the supply line may be regulated and/or stopped when the pump is not operating.
US08047304B2	Expandable reamer for subterranean boreholes and methods of use An expandable reamer apparatus and methods for reaming a borehole are disclosed, including at least one laterally movable blade carried by a tubular body selectively positioned at an inward position and an expanded position. The at least one laterally movable blade, held inwardly by at least one blade-biasing element, may be forced outwardly by drilling fluid selectively allowed to communicate therewith or by at least one intermediate piston element. For example, an actuation sleeve may allow communication of drilling fluid with the at least one laterally movable blade in response to an actuation device being deployed within the drilling fluid. Alternatively, a chamber in communication with an intermediate piston element in structural communication with the at least one laterally movable blade may be pressurized by way of a movable sleeve, a downhole turbine, or a pump.
US08047299B2	Crop residue and soil conditioning agricultural implement An agricultural tillage implement constructed to condition crop residue and cultivate the conditioned crop residue. The tillage implement includes a first residue conditioner and a second residue conditioner pivotably attached to a frame of the tillage implement. The first and second conditioners are movable independent of each other and of the frame such that an operator may raise and lower the first and second conditioners relative to the frame to change the depths of the conditioners.
US08047296B2	Method of transitioning to kinetic hydrate inhibitors in multiple tie-in well systems The technical challenges for a smooth transition between using both a thermodynamic hydrate inhibitor (THI) and a kinetic hydrate inhibitor (KHI) to simply using only the KHI in multiple tie-in gas natural gas production systems is solved by adding more THI in a first pipeline leg of the production system while ceasing adding THI in a second pipeline leg of the system. Further, more KHI is added into the second leg of the system, and subsequently THI is gradually and/or slowly reduced in the remaining legs of the system until only KHI is being injected, after which the KHI amount in all legs may be reduced to the equilibrium or steady-state levels.
US08047293B2	Flow-actuated actuator and method Disclosed herein is a flow-actuated actuator. The actuator includes, a tubular movable relative to a structure within which the tubular is positionable, and a plurality of full bore flow-resisting elements disposed at the tubular, the plurality of full bore flow-resisting elements having a greater resistance to fluid flow therethrough than any one of the plurality of full bore flow-resisting elements has alone.
US08047292B2	Method and apparatus for preventing slug flow in pipelines Disclosed is a method and system for controlling the formation of liquid or gas slugs along a pipeline. In embodiments, an injection unit injects a liquid surface tension reducing agent, such as a foamant, into the pipeline upstream of the high point. A control unit can be used to control the injection unit. In certain arrangements, the control unit adjusts the injection of the agent based on measured parameters of interest. In embodiments where the control unit utilizes temperature measurements, one or more temperature sensors are positioned along the pipeline. The control unit utilizes the temperature measurements to determine whether a predetermined condition exists or a liquid or gas slug is present.
US08047288B2	Proppants with carbide and/or nitride phases Proppants used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations using one or more proppants. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions and other uses for the proppants, as well as methods of making the proppants.
US08047286B2	Formation evaluation system and method A downhole tool comprising a probe, wherein the probe comprises: a first inlet having an elongated cross-sectional shape, and a second inlet surrounding the first inlet. The downhole tool further comprises at least one pump configured to draw fluid from a subterranean formation through the first and second inlets.
US08047285B1	Method and apparatus to deliver energy in a well system The subject matter relates to an apparatus for insertion of a conduit into a well system bore to introduce a reactant fluid over a subterranean catalyst to initiate decomposition of the reactant fluid which resultant energy release may be utilized to perform work or perform heating of the subterranean environment. The energy released from the catalytic reaction and subsequent combustion of fuels may also be used for cutting, welding, powering pumps, compressors, turbines, generators, or to heat well system fluids, pipes, subterranean reservoir fluids, subterranean solids, and completion devices in the well system.
US08047279B2	Slip segments for downhole tool A downhole tool has a mandrel with slip assemblies positioned thereon above and below a packer element. The slip assemblies are positioned in a manner to anchor the downhole tool in the well. The slip assemblies include a slip ring which has a plurality of slip segments. Each slip segment has inserts disposed in cavities therein. The cavities are oriented such that the longitudinal central axis of each cavity is parallel to the longitudinal central axis of each of the other cavities in the slip segment.
US08047274B2	Air conditioner for vehicle An air conditioner for a vehicle includes a main heater for heating air in a vehicle compartment using coolant of an engine of the vehicle as a heat source, and an auxiliary heater for heating air in the vehicle compartment using a heat source other than exhaust heat of the engine. In the air conditioner, a requirement signal for requiring startup of the engine is output when a temperature of the coolant of the engine is determined to be lower than a threshold, and the threshold is adjusted based on an operating state of the auxiliary heater such that as an amount of heat generated by the auxiliary heater increases, the threshold decreases. Accordingly, as the heating capacity of the auxiliary heater is increased, the startup of the engine becomes more difficult.
US08047273B2	Micro heat exchanger and its use as cooler for electronic components In a micro heat exchanger for the transfer of high area-specific amounts of heat from a heat source to a heat transfer medium, including a heat transfer structure with an inlet- and an outlet duct structure between which a plurality of passages extend through the heat transfer structure, the inlet and outlet duct structures are arranged in alternating order in the heat transfer area in close proximity to the heat source, with the inlet and outlet duct structure and the passages interconnecting the inlet and outlet structures covering the whole heat transfer area directly adjacent the heat source.
US08047268B1	Two-phase heat transfer system and evaporators and condensers for use in heat transfer systems A heat transfer system includes a first loop and a second loop. The first loop includes a condenser having a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet, a vapor line in fluid communication with the vapor inlet of the condenser, a liquid line in fluid communication with the liquid outlet of the condenser, and primary evaporators fluidly coupled in series with the liquid line and in parallel with the vapor line. The second loop includes a reservoir, a secondary evaporator having a vapor outlet coupled to the vapor line and a fluid inlet coupled to the reservoir, and a sweepage line in fluid communication with the reservoir and the primary evaporators.
US08047264B2	Casting delivery nozzle A metal strip casting apparatus and method of casting continuous metal strip include assembling a pair of counter-rotatable casting rolls having casting surfaces positioned laterally forming a nip between for casting, and delivering molten metal through a delivery nozzle disposed above the nip to form a casting pool supported on the casting rolls. The delivery nozzle includes at least one segment having a main portion and an end portion and an inner trough extending longitudinally through the main portion and into the end portion with end walls at opposite ends thereof, the inner trough communicating with outlets adjacent bottom portions formed in each segment adapted to deliver molten metal to a casting pool and the end portion having a reservoir portion having passages adapted to deliver molten metal to a casting pool.
US08047258B1	Die casting method for semi-solid billets A die casting method for use with semi-solid metal billets allows the removal of air from portions of the billet as it is compressed and deformed to flow into a cavity of a die. The die is formed in a manner that captures other potential defects and impurities in portions of the finished die cast product that can easily be removed subsequent to the completion of the die casting operation. The air is removed through passages formed in a generally cylindrical rod that extends through a second surface of the die to allow the air to flow from pockets formed by a concavity of the billet and through the air conduit to the atmosphere.
US08047254B2	Magnetic cordless shade The magnetic cordless shade includes a header defined by a substantially elongated U-shaped channel. The top of the header includes attachment areas for attaching the header to a window frame. A pleated blind has one end attached to the underside of the header top, and when folded, the blind is housed inside the channel. The other end of the pleated blind is attached to a footer. A magnetic latching assembly is disposed between the header and the footer to keep the blind in a folded condition. Pulling a pull cord disposed on the footer releases the magnetic latching mechanism to thereby rapidly unfold the blind.
US08047249B2	Strip pack apparatus A strip pack apparatus is an apparatus for manufacturing a strip pack with a plurality of items attached on a backing sheet. The strip pack apparatus includes a conveying unit configured and arranged to convey the item generally in the horizontal direction, a moving unit configured and arranged to move the item from the conveying unit to a position obliquely downward on the front side in the conveying direction, and an attaching unit configured and arranged to attach the item moved by the moving unit to the backing sheet.
US08047248B2	Tire containing thermally exfoliated graphite oxide A tire, tire lining or inner tube, containing a polymer composite, made of at least one rubber and/or at least one elastomer and a modified graphite oxide material, which is a thermally exfoliated graphite oxide with a surface area of from about 300 m2/g to 2600 m2/g.
US08047247B2	Tire valve having a stepped shoulder The invention relates to a tire valve (10) comprising a valve body (11) which penetrates a bore (21) of a rim (20), particularly a vehicle rim, embodies a bottom valve body section (13) that is disposed on one side (23) of the rim (20), particularly in the interior of the rim, in the mounted state as well as a top valve body section (15) that protrudes from the rim bore (21), and is configured so as to cooperate with a cap nut (17) in the area of the top valve body section (15). The bottom valve body section (13) forms a stop collar (19) which is used as an abutment for a flat peripheral section (27) of the rim bore (21) and widens the bottom valve body section (13) relative to the top valve body section (15) beyond an internal width of the rim bore (21). The peripheral section (27) of the rim bore (21) can be braced against said stop collar (19) by tightening the cap nut (17).
US08047242B2	Power tool with spindle lock A power tool includes a spindle assembly supported for rotation about an axis. The spindle assembly includes a plurality of engagement members, and at least two of the engagement members are disposed in spaced relationship less than one hundred eighty degrees from each other with respect to the axis of the spindle assembly. The power tool also includes a spindle lock assembly that selectively engages at least one of the plurality of engagement members to lock the spindle assembly against rotation about the axis.
US08047241B2	Method for filling electrolyte into battery cell and apparatus for carrying out the method A method for filling a battery cell with electrolyte, comprising: a) connecting the battery cell and a lower portion of a fill head chamber connected through respective first, second, third and fourth valves to a source of high pressure, the free atmosphere, a source of high vacuum and optionally a source of low vacuum, wherein only one of said valves can be open at any time, while said second valve is open; b) opening said third valve for a predetermined first period to discharge air from the interior of said battery cell through said chamber; c) separating the major upper portion of said chamber from the lower portion thereof by a sliding shut-off plunger and opening said second valve; d) dispensing a prescribed amount of electrolyte into said upper portion of said chamber above said plunger, while keeping said second valve open; e) raising said plunger to let a major portion of said dispensed liquid be sucked into said battery cell under the effect of the vacuum established therein in step b) and allowing any gas bubble in said battery cell to get removed through the electrolyte; f) opening said first valve for a second predetermined period to push said electrolyte into said battery cell; g) opening said second valve for a third predetermined period; h) repeating steps f) and g) at least once for the more complete removal of gases from the battery cell and filling the prescribed volume of electrolyte; and, i) disconnecting said battery cell from said fill head.
US08047239B2	Method and machine for binding elongate objects together Machine for binding elongate objects together by at least one wire, in particular for lashing reinforcing bars, electric cables or the like. The machine includes two claws which can be guided down over the objects to be bound together. Feed rollers are arranged for feeding the wire along a guide surface of one claw and across to a guide surface of the other claw, so that it is shaped into a wire loop surrounding the objects on three sides, the legs of which loop can be twisted together on the fourth side of the objects. The twisting-together device includes an arrangement, which is rotatable relative to the claws, and which guide the wire when it is fed to and from the claws. The twisting-together arrangement allows the wire length necessary for twisting-together of the legs of the wire loop to be drawn out while a resistance is overcome.
US08047237B2	Thermosetting or thermoplastic arrangement for manufacturing piping for air conditioning Thermosetting or thermoplastic arrangement for the manufacturing of pipes (1), made up of a pile of plies (3) in composite materials, characterized in that it comprises at least one structural ply (5) and at least one rigidity ply (7). More specifically, the said at least one rigidity ply (7) takes the form of a perforated or meshed ply and is placed on at least part of the length of the said pipe (1). Further, the said at least one rigidity ply (7) is placed last while forming the pile. Alternatively, the arrangement according to the invention comprises reinforcement means (2) and/or sealing means (6).
US08047230B2	System for the chemical/physical treatment of a fluid System for the chemical/physical treatment of a fluid in which a distributor valve has been installed for the feed/discharge of fluid to/from various reactors. The distributor valve consists of a plate valve with stationary plate and rotary plate. A cylindrical body provided with a number of axial bores that change into radial bores and emerge in the wall of a stationary housing adjoins the rotary plate and rotates therewith. A number of inlets/outlets located one after the other viewed in the axial direction are provided on the stationary housing. According to the invention the various radial bores in the cylindrical body are provided with a fluid via axial bores, based on a single valve plate.
US08047226B2	Pressure relief valves and pneumatic control systems A pressure relief valve includes a lever plate, a first spring, a fitting, and a guide assembly. The fitting has a first side, a second side, and a flange having a rounded end and includes a surface with which a first end of the first spring contacts. The guide assembly has two sides, two concavities, and at least a portion of the guide assembly extends through the opening of the lever plate, the first concavity is formed on the first side of the guide assembly and contacts the fitting flange rounded end, and the second concavity is aligned coaxially with the first concavity. A rounded end of a rod of the diaphragm assembly contacts the second concavity. The second spring is adapted to supply a second force against the diaphragm assembly to move the lever plate in a second direction that is substantially opposite the first direction.
US08047223B2	Gauge assembly having a stop fill device A gauge assembly includes an indicator for providing an indication of an amount of fluid in a tank and a stop-fill assembly for stopping the flow of fluid flowing into the tank once the fluid reaches a particular level. The gauge assembly has a shaft that rotates as the fluid level changes in the tank. The indicator translates the rotational position of the shaft into a fluid level. The stop-fill assembly moves from an open position, where fluid can flow into the tank, to a closed position, where fluid is prohibited from flowing into the tank, depending on the rotational position of the shaft.
US08047222B2	Air valve for an air driven reciprocating device An air operated double diaphragm includes an air valve, air chambers, a center section between the air chambers, pump chambers and diaphragms between the air and pump chambers harnessed together with a piston rod. The air valve includes a statically dissipative body having a bore therein with a statically insulative liner in the bore. The statically insulative liner is fully enclosed within the statically dissipative body. A valve element is slidably positioned in the liner. The liner includes annular tenons to mate with annular mortises in the statically dissipative body and an end cap is used to close the valve cylinder.
US08047217B1	Anchorable umbrella apparatus The anchorable umbrella apparatus has a pole having a first section slideably and removably fitted within the second section, a receiver with cam lock disposed atop the first section, an object fitted atop the first section, a pointed tip disposed downwardly on the second section, a visual guide disposed downwardly on the second section, a collar slideably fitted around the pole second section, a plurality of equally spaced apart butterfly bolts radialy and threadably inserted through the collar, a Y end disposed outwardly on each butterfly bolt, a tarp comprising a reinforcement disposed centrally within the tarp, an opening disposed within the reinforcement, and a plurality of spaced apart grommets disposed outwardly within the tarp, each grommet selectively engaged with one of each of the Y ends of one of each of the butterfly bolts.
US08047213B2	Cosmetic coating implement and cosmetic coating set A cosmetic coating implement which is used to apply a cosmetic material such as mascara or the like as a coating, comprising a coating part in which brush bristles are disposed on a shaft member, and a holding part which is held in order to use the coating implement and which is connected to the shaft member. In this cosmetic coating implement, the brush bristles disposed on the shaft member have two or more protruding parts comprising curved surfaces with respect to the direction of length of the shaft such as parts with a spherical or elliptical shape, and these protruding parts are symmetrically disposed with the shaft member as an axis.
US08047208B2	Double action filter assembly wheel with flipping wheel The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming two filters in a two-up configuration. The apparatus includes a feed wheel 18, an assembly wheel 20, a take-off wheel 22, and a flipping wheel 24. According to the method of the invention, tubes 10 are loaded from the feed wheel 18 to the assembly wheel 20 where one hollow end of the tubes is filled. The half-filled tubes 10′ are then transferred to take-off wheel 22 and then to a flipping wheel 24 where the tubes are flipped. The half-filled and flipped tubes 10″ are returned to vacant positions on the feed wheel and transferred back to the assembly wheel so that the remaining hollow ends can be filled. The filled tube 10′″ is transferred to a take-off wheel 22, where it is then removed from the take off wheel 22 using a stripper and/or additional wheels for further processing.
US08047207B2	Orifice insertion devices and methods Methods and devices for sealing an orifice are provided. A sealing element is inserted into an orifice. A fluid is transferred into the sealing element. Fluid transfer into the sealing element is restricted when a pressure in the sealing element is greater than a threshold value.
US08047203B2	Unit dose dry powder inhaler A unit dose dry powder inhaler has a dispersion chamber, optionally including one or more beads. A blister is supported adjacent to the dispersion chamber. A mouthpiece cover is removable from a mouthpiece, with movement of the mouthpiece cover causing the blister to open. An air flow path extends past or under the blister and into the dispersion chamber. As a result, the blister remains sealed until the inhaler is ready for use. The blister is then automatically opened when the mouthpiece cover is removed from the mouthpiece. Pharmaceutical dry powder is released from the blister and entrained in air flow through the inhaler, when the user inhales on the mouthpiece. The powder is dispersed in air within the dispersion chamber.
US08047196B1	Portable grill system A flexible metallic sheet has a lower edge, parallel side edges and an upper edge. The sheet has spaced long notches. A plurality of rods is provided. Each rod has an interior end with a tab. Each tab is formed with an aperture. Each rod has an exterior end. A primary cap has a circular bottom, a cylindrical side wall and a recess. A ring is provided within the recess. The ring pivotally supports the apertures.
US08047191B2	Mechanical drive assist for active feed paintball loader An active feed paintball loader for supplying paintballs to a paintball marker. The loader includes a container for storing a plurality of paintballs. An outfeed tube on the container is connected to an inlet tube on the marker. The loader further includes a drive shaft, a feeder rotatably disposed in the container for feeding paintballs into the outfeed tube, and a drive spring having first and second ends. The first end is engaged to the feeder to provide a driving force to rotate the feeder within the container. The second end is coupled to the drive shaft. The drive shaft operates to wind the drive spring to maintain sufficient tension on the drive spring to maintain a paintball stack in the outfeed tube. The loader further includes a mechanical drive handle accessible externally of the loader and connected to the drive shaft to manually wind the drive spring.
US08047190B2	Paintball loader A paintball loader which feeds paintballs to a paintball marker has a rotor body and a drive motor for rotating the rotor body. The paintball loader can include a latch member for selectively securing an upper shell member to a lower shell member. The paintball loader can include a ramp member inside the upper and lower shell members. The ramp member moves between a first or flattened position and a second or raised position to facilitate operation of the loader. The components of the loader are designed so that assembly/disassembly is performed with few, if any, tools to facilitate cleaning and/or maintenance.
US08047189B2	Limb mounting system An apparatus and method for reducing stress in a bow limb of an archery bow connected to a handle/riser of the bow by allowing a butt end of the bow limb connected to a forward end of the handle/riser by a limb bolt to flex forwardly when the bow is drawn and/or allowing the bow to flex rearwardly at the rearward end of the handle/riser when the bow is drawn.
US08047177B2	Cylinder head having an integrally formed port-exhaust manifold assembly A cylinder head having a plurality of integrally formed port-exhaust manifold assemblies therein, wherein the port-exhaust manifold assembly is integrally formed in the cylinder head by extending a plurality of exhaust port of an engine to function as an exhaust manifold and the plurality of the port-exhaust manifold assemblies is arranged in a triangle when each center portion of outlet portions thereof are connected.
US08047176B2	Balancer apparatus for an engine In a balancer apparatus of an engine having an oil pump, a space on a chain side and a space on an oil strainer side are partitioned by a projecting portion projecting in a direction which perpendicularly crosses balancer shafts in a balancer housing formed on an oil pump housing. An oil strainer is attached to a side wall on the anti-chain side of the projecting portion, and a chain tensioner for applying tension to a chain is arranged in the space on the chain side formed by enlarging the attaching surface of the oil pan outwardly so as to enclose the projecting portion. Thus oil which has been stirred by the chain and in which air has been mixed is prevented from being sucked into the oil strainer.
US08047175B2	In-line four cylinder engine for vehicle and vehicle provided with the engine A two-plane type crankshaft is provided. The weight of crank webs for the respective cylinders is divided between left and right half webs and balance ratios kL and kR of the half webs for the respective cylinders are set so as to be (kL−0.25)·(0.25−kR)≅DR/DL to form a track of a vector of a primary inertial couple into a substantial circle. A primary balancer offsets the primary inertia couple.
US08047168B2	Continuously variable valve lift system for engine A continuously variable valve lift system for an engine may include a driving cam fixed to a camshaft, a control shaft disposed in parallel to the camshaft with a predetermined distance, an upper rocker arm, one end of which is rotatably coupled to the control shaft and the other end of which is slidably contacted to and rotated by the driving cam, lower rocker arm that is selectively pushed by the upper rocker arm and selectively pushes a valve, rocker arm follower slidably coupled to the lower rocker arm and contacting the upper rocker arm, wherein the rocker arm follower transmits an operational force of the upper rocker arm to the lower rocker arm, and a variable mechanism that changes contact point of the rocker arm follower and the upper rocker arm according to rotation of the control shaft.
US08047167B2	Multi-cylinder internal combustion engine In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, a hydraulic valve rest mechanism is mounted on a valve operating device, which performs open-close driving of an engine valve which is arranged in a cylinder head of an engine body having a plurality of cylinders in an openable-and-closable manner. The hydraulic valve rest mechanism is operated with an oil pressure that is controlled by a hydraulic control device so as to close and rest engine valves of a plurality of cylinders for bringing the cylinders into a rest state Therefore, the miniaturization of the multi-cylinder internal combustion engine along an axis of a crankshaft and can shorten a length of an oil passage which connects a hydraulic valve rest mechanism and a hydraulic control device. A hydraulic control device is arranged on an engine body directly above a portion thereof corresponding to a cylinder that is expected to assume a cylinder rest state.
US08047165B2	Medium circulating apparatus for improving startability and warm up ability A medium circulating apparatus of engine oil, which improves startability and warm up ability of an internal combustion engine, includes a microbubble generator that generates microbubbles and mixes the microbubbles into the circulating engine oil. Further, the medium circulating apparatus includes a medium temperature acquiring unit that acquires a temperature of the engine oil. The microbubbles are generated by the microbubble generator when the temperature of the engine oil is less than or equal to a predetermined value in order to decrease a viscosity, a heat conductivity, and a heat capacity of the engine oil in which the microbubbles are mixed.
US08047163B2	Gas water heater with harmful gas monitoring and warning functions and the method of monitoring and warning A gas water heater with a warning function, the gas water heater being disposed in a facility and comprising: a gas water heater main body including a controller having a warning cell; and a gas detecting unit separate from the main body and disposed at an indoor monitoring point of the facility, the gas detecting unit having a gas sensor and being in communication with the controller.
US08047162B2	Black plant steam furnace injection A system and method for quickly cooling and de-pressurizing a boiler arrangement in the event of a plant power loss, a.k.a. a black plant condition. A steam discharge system injects steam from the steam/water circuit into the furnace, thereby both cooling components of the boiler arrangement and reducing pressure in the steam/water circuit. This reduces or eliminates the additional cost associated with providing extra capacity in a steam drum and/or an independently powered boiler water pump. The system and method is particularly useful for quickly cooling the U-beams of a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler during a black plant condition. In application to boiler arrangements with a selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) system employing steam as a carrier for a NOx reducing agent, the steam discharge system advantageously uses the discharge nozzles of the SNCR system to inject the steam into the furnace.
US08047159B2	Portable pet bowl A pet bowl includes a unitary housing having a front portion and a rear portion. The housing defines an internal chamber having a bottom wall upon which the housing sits in a first/dispensing orientation and a rear wall upon which the housing sits in a second/storage orientation. The housing also includes a first receptacle formed at the rear portion and a second receptacle formed at the front portion. A fluid flow port defined in the housing provides fluid communication between the internal chamber and the second receptacle. A handle is formed by a sidewall of the second receptacle defining a first lip, and a groove in the bottom wall defining a second lip. The housing may further include a transition wall angled from the bottom wall and rear wall, the housing configured to sit on the transition wall in a third/draining orientation.
US08047154B1	System for changing the attitude of linear underwater sensor arrays via neutrally buoyant fluid transfer The attitude of a submerged array of sensing elements can be changed using a fixed quantity of transferable ballast fluid having density different than water. In one embodiment, a non-rigid array of sensor elements is equipped with two expandable reservoirs connected between a flexible conduit which allows the ballast fluid to be transferred back and forth. Pumping fluid between the two reservoirs causes one reservoir to expand while the other contracts. Due to the density difference between the pumped fluid and water, the difference in volume between the two expandable reservoirs causes a shift in the center of buoyancy of the array system. The center of buoyancy in this way becomes offset from the center of gravity of the array system, causing a shift in the attitude of the array. The array can be trimmed, using positively or negatively buoyant static elements, to achieve a specific orientation for given volume ratios between the two expandable reservoirs, and so by controlling the volume ratio, multiple orientations can be selected.
US08047153B2	Solar powered kayak outrigger An outrigger for attachment to a host vessel, including: a flotation pod; a frame connected to the pod and connectable to the host vessel; at least one solar cell mounted on the frame; a battery connected to the at least one cell; and an electric motor mounted on the frame and connected to the battery.
US08047146B2	Subsurface soil injection apparatus and method A method for the subsurface application of fertilizers, biologicals, fumigants, non-fumigant pesticides or other chemicals to soil with reduced application rates. Discrete amounts of the materials are injected into the soil at numerous sites along a path during a pass through the soil. At the injection sites, the materials form diffusion patterns which may touch or overlapping with diffusion patterns of adjacent soil injections. The application of materials to soil in this manner maintains optimum efficacy with the use of the least amount of materials necessary per acre of soil.
US08047138B2	Self-regulating magneto-dynamic system for high speed ground transportation vehicle A self-regulating magneto-dynamic system, utilizing steel core rails and permanent magnets as sources of magnetic field, provided for magnetic levitation, stabilization and propulsion in a high speed ground transportation vehicle moving with high speed without friction along a track having a predetermined trajectory, comprising of a self-regulating magneto-dynamic levitation and stabilizing system (MDLSS) provided for magnetic levitation and stabilization of the vehicle, and a permanent magnet linear synchronous motor (PMLSM) provided for stable propulsion of the vehicle. Both systems are situated on the same vehicle, interacting with each other only through electro-magnetic process, working synchronously, supporting each other's stability and self-regulation, where the stability of the MDLSS affects the functionality of the PMLSM, and the precise work of the PMLSM allows for more optimum design of the MDLSS.
US08047136B2	Projectile for simulating multiple ballistic impacts A projectile is provided for simulating multiple sequential ballistic impacts. The projectile has a plurality of relatively dense loading layers spaced along the firing direction of the projectile. Each pair of nearest-neighbor loading layers is separated by a less dense support element which maintains the spacing of the loading layers. The projectile may be suitable for simulating bird slurry impacts on stator vanes of an aero gas turbine engine.
US08047135B1	Counter-mine dart Some embodiments of the invention provide a dart that contains an HE payload, two time-delay fuses, one providing a relatively longer delay and the other providing a relatively shorter delay and two triggering mechanisms for triggering the fuses. The first triggering mechanism, which triggers on contact with a mine lid, triggers the relatively shorter time-delay fuse. The second mechanism, which triggers on overburdening exposure to water, sand, or soil, triggers the relatively longer time-delay fuse.
US08047130B2	Opposing paired peeling cups for fruit juice extraction devices, and said devices comprising said cups One embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of intermeshable fruit juice extraction peeler cups (100, 150) comprising respective blades (106, 156) that are arranged so as to intermesh to peel and extract juice from a fruit introduced into a space 107 there between during an extraction stroke. Considering one peeler cup (150), its blades' distal ends 158 collectively define a shape referred to as a Mendesaddle shape (160). The Mendesaddle shape (160) comprises a top opening (164) and a bottom opening (166) extending toward a rearward end (154) of the peeler cup (150). A fruit enters the space (107) through an open area (139) that comprises top opening (164) and a corresponding top opening (114) of the mated peeler cup (100). Also, considering the bottom openings (166, 116), a juice-extracted fruit core may drop through an open area (141) provided by these, wherein, nonetheless, the size of the open area (141) (and also of each of the bottom openings 166 and 116) is effective to retain the whole fruit upon entry of the whole fruit into the space 107. Various features of the invention provide for more reliability and fewer misfeeds of fruit.
US08047125B2	Coffee maker equipped with a steam nozzle The inventive coffee machine is provided with a housing (2) including a coffee output (9, 10), a steam generator and a steam output nozzle (20) which is movable with respect to the housing and is provided with a free end (22) immersible into a cup. The free end is introducible into a space under the coffee output (9, 10) and is translationally displaceable between an elevated position in which the free end (22) is placed at least substantially at the level of the coffee output (9, 10) and a lower position in which the free end (22) is immersible into a cup which is positioned in such a way that it receives espresso coffee.
US08047121B2	Working machine, and quick load-dropping method A tank 16 and a main hydraulic pump 17 are connected to head side actuator chambers 13 and rod side actuator chambers 14 of hydraulic actuators 12 via conduits 21, 22. A direction control valve 18 and a quick drop valve 36 are connected to the conduits 21, 22. A hydraulic circuit is provided with an electromagnetic switch valve 42, which switches the quick drop valve 36 from a non-quick drop position 37 to a quick drop position 38. When switching the direction control valve 18 from a neutral position 23 to a lowering operation position 25, if the manipulation speed of a manipulation lever 33 exceeds a criteria speed, an excitation signal is output from a control device 32 to an electromagnetic switch valve 42 to quickly drop a blade 11, and the quick drop valve 36 is switched from the non-quick drop position 37 to the quick drop position 38.
US08047120B2	Hydraulic piston pump with a balance valve In a hydraulic piston pump, a cylinder port can communicate with a discharge port after a system pressure and a chamber pressure in a cylinder bore becomes in an equilibrium condition. A through hole opening to a surface on which a cylinder block slides in a valve plate is allowed to communicate with a side of one end surface of a balance valve, and the system pressure of a discharge port side is supplied to the other end surface of the balance valve. In the balance valve, a balance piston which slides by a pressure difference between the chamber pressure of the cylinder bore and the system pressure is accommodated. Before the cylinder port communicates with an oil guiding groove, the chamber pressure can be equilibrated to the system pressure by an activation of the balance piston.
US08047118B1	Integrated laser range finder and sighting assembly An integrated laser range finder and sighting assembly includes a range finder for determining a distance to a target and an onboard ballistics computer for calculating a trajectory and automatically rotating a pointing laser to the proper angle for aligning with the target for lobbing of a grenade.
US08047116B2	Method and apparatus for defeating ballistic projectiles A method and apparatus for defeating high-velocity projectiles. A plurality of disks of equal size comprised of fiber induced ceramic composites are provided. The disks are laid out in an imbricated pattern row by row such that each disk in a row is in substantially a straight line with the other disks in the row and overlaps a segment of a disk in an adjacent row. The imbricated pattern is then adhered to a flexible, high tensile strength substrate and overlaid by a second high tensile strength layer such that the imbricated pattern is enveloped between the substrate and the second layer. The envelope is then coupled to a soft body armor backing.
US08047115B2	Flash suppression system A flash suppression system for increasing the reliability of an autoloading firearm has a body having a central bore including the front opening and a rear opening. The rear opening of the body terminates in a conical feature having a front opening and a rear opening. The central bore of the body receives the rear opening of a conical element. The rear opening of the conical element is positioned within the central bore of the body to create a gap between the front opening of the conical feature and the rear opening of the conical element. The front opening of the conical feature has a larger diameter than the rear opening of the conical element.
US08047113B2	Guide for hand-held power tool An apparatus and method for a solution that permits a carpenter to make exact, on-the-spot time-efficient cross-cuts of their boards while holding the board in one-hand and the circular saw in the other hand. A cross-out apparatus includes a guide system including a housing and a range of motion control for defining a processing path for a guide element as it moves from a first position to a second position relative to the housing; a workpiece coupler, coupled to the guide element, for defining a desired processing orientation with respect to a workpiece for maintaining the desired processing orientation as the guide element moves from the first position to the second position; and an attachment system, coupled to the housing, for cooperating with a hand-held power processing tool to position a processing implement at a reference location relative to the workpiece and at the desired processing orientation, the attachment system coupled to the housing so the guide element maintains the desired processing orientation along the processing path from the reference location during use of the hand-held power processing tool to process the workpiece.
US08047110B2	Positioning system and carriage assembly for converting machines A system for slitting a web includes a carriage assembly having an elongate housing including a first wall, where the first wall defining a longitudinal axis. A first plurality of rails can be mounted on the first wall, wherein the plurality of rails extends parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least one of the plurality of rails can have a substantially circular cross section, among others. The system also includes a first plurality of carriers. Each carrier can be adapted and configured to support an instrumentality such as a blade for performing an operation (e.g., cutting) on a web of material. The carrier body includes a first body portion and a second body portion. Each of body portion includes at least one mounting feature for mounting the carrier on a the plurality of rails.
US08047109B2	Device for transversally cutting a rolled strip The invention relates to a device for transversally cutting a rolled strip using shears, especially drum shears. According to the invention, a gap between the end of the roller table upstream of the shears and the beginning of the roller table downstream of the shears, where there is no support for the rolled strip, is reduced by a pivotable roller table part supporting the rolled strip as it passes through, and a mobile guiding table is arranged between said pivotable roller table part and the beginning of the rear roller table.
US08047107B2	Air temperature normalization in paper cutting system A paper cutting system includes a cutting assembly, a transport moving a web through the cutting assembly, a vacuum plenum utilizing a vacuum source to control the web moving through the cutting assembly, an air source providing purge air to the cutting assembly for removal of debris, and a heat exchanger normalizing a temperature of the purge air with respect to a temperature of ambient air prior to the purge air reaching the cutting assembly. The heat exchanger may be operated using the vacuum source.
US08047102B2	Multi-purpose tool A multi-purpose tool may be comprised of a body having a gripping configuration on the outer surface of the body for long bolts and a lengthwise bore through the center of the body. The multi-purpose tool has a socket located at a first end of the body and a crown located at the second end of the body to receive various fasteners, such as flange and wing nuts. A multi-purpose tool may also be comprised of a body having a gripping configuration on the outer surface of the body and a lengthwise bore through the center of the body for a sleeve. The multi-purpose tool has a socket located in the sleeve at a first end of the sleeve and a crown located at the second end of the body to receive various fasteners, such as flange and wing nuts. The sleeve has a lengthwise bore through the center of the sleeve for long bolts or to accept a tool shaft. The tool shaft may accept various tool bits, and the tool shaft may be inserted into and engaged with the sleeve bore along its length. A cross hole extends in a substantially perpendicular direction through the center of the sleeve and the center of the body, respectively, which line up so the tool shaft may be inserted into and engaged with the sleeve bore for use as a T-handle.
US08047096B2	Lock mechanism for an adjustable steering column assembly An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle having an outer jacket and an inner jacket slideably disposed within the outer jacket along a longitudinal axis for telescoping movement. A pivot pin is coupled to the outer jacket and defines a pin axis. A pawl is disposed about the pivot pin and is rotatable about the pin axis between and engaged position engaging the inner jacket for preventing the telescoping movement and a disengaged position disengaging the inner jacket for allowing the telescoping movement. An actuator is mounted to the pivot pin for concurrent rotation with the pivot pin about the pin axis and is coupled to the pawl for moving the pawl between the engaged and disengaged positions in an opposing rotational direction from the concurrent rotation of the pivot pin and the actuator.
US08047095B2	XY table actuator Provided is an XY table actuator that, while building-in a drive means for freely moving an object placed on a table within an XY-plane and positioning the object, can be significantly reduced in size and that helps to suppress an increase in table height. The actuator has: a stationary plate (2) having a receiving groove extending in an X-direction; a moving plate (5) having a receiving groove extending in a Y-direction; an intermediate plate (4) whose lower body is assembled to the receiving groove (20) of the stationary plate (2) through intermediation of rolling bodies (3), whose upper body is assembled to the receiving groove of the moving plate (5) through intermediation of rolling bodies (3), and which is movable in the X-direction with respect to the stationary plate, with the moving plate being movable in the Y-direction with respect to the intermediate plate; an X-drive means (6) for propelling the intermediate plate in the X-direction with respect to the stationary plate; and a Y-drive means (7) for propelling the moving plate in the Y-direction with respect to the intermediate plate, in which the intermediate plate is provided with receiving chambers (40, 41) for the X-drive means and the Y-drive means, respectively.
US08047094B2	Hydraulic involute cam actuator Mechanical joints are provided in which the angle between a first coupled member and a second coupled member may be varied by mechanical actuators. In some embodiments the angle may be varied around a pivot axis in one plane and in some embodiments the angle may be varied around two pivot axes in two orthogonal planes. The joints typically utilize a cam assembly having two lobes with an involute surface. Actuators are configured to push against the lobes to vary the rotation angle between the first and second coupled member.
US08047093B2	Parallel robot A parallel robot including a movable-section drive mechanism having a parallel mechanism configuration and operating to allow a movable section to perform a three-axis translational motion with respect to a base section; and a wrist-section drive mechanism operating to allow a wrist section to perform a rotational motion with respect to the movable section. The wrist-section drive mechanism includes a hollow outer holder connected to the base section rotatably about a first rotation axis; a hollow intermediate holder provided in the outer holder rotatably about a second rotation axis orthogonal to the first axis; a hollow inner holder provided inside the intermediate holder rotatably about a third rotation axis orthogonal to the second axis; a prime mover driving the outer holder to rotate about the first axis; and a transmission member received in the inner holder and linearly movable in a rotationally restrained state along a linear-motion axis orthogonal to the third axis, and connected at one end spaced from the inner holder to the wrist section through a universal joint. The transmission member operates to transmit a rotation of the outer holder about the first axis to the wrist section, and to allow the wrist section to perform a rotational motion about a fourth rotation axis orthogonal to the third axis.
US08047088B2	Environmental test chamber having movable panel and method of driving the same Disclosed are an environmental test chamber having a movable panel and a method of driving the same. The environmental test chamber is used in a thermo-hygrostat, a thermostat, and a high temperature-low temperature tester. The chamber body includes a test cavity in which an object is disposed. An air-conditioning unit conditions the air inside the test cavity, thereby controlling a condition of the test cavity. A movable panel is accommodated in the chamber body to decrease or increase a volume of the test cavity. The efficiency of the chamber is enhanced, and the cost and space required for installing additional equipment is reduced.
US08047083B2	Trigger assembly including a flexible bend sensor A flexible sensor is disposed in a power tool. The flexible sensor has an electrical resistance that varies based on a radius of curvature of the flexible sensor. A trigger partially disposed in the power tool, operates to apply a bending force at an engagement point on the flexible sensor to bend the flexible sensor and alter the radius of curvature. A controller outputs an electrical signal to the power tool based on the electrical resistance to control a function of the power tool.
US08047081B2	Flow monitoring apparatus having an ultrasonic sensor with a coupling adapter having securing mechanism An apparatus for ascertaining, and/or monitoring, volume-or mass-flow of a medium flowing through a pipeline in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the pipeline. The apparatus includes: at least one ultrasonic sensor, which radiates/receives ultrasonic measuring signals at an angle of incidence/emergence into/out-of the pipeline; and a control/evaluation unit which provides, based on the ultrasonic measuring signals, information concerning volume- and/or mass-flow of the medium through the pipeline. The ultrasonic sensor includes at least one sound-producing element, a coupling shoe and a coupling adapter. The end region of the coupling adapter facing the coupling shoe has a securement mechanism for releasable securement of the coupling adapter to the coupling shoe. The end region of the coupling adapter facing the pipeline is embodied as a function of the pipeline in such a manner that it is form-fittingly securable to the pipeline.
US08047079B2	Method for controlling an electronic pressure gauge and pressure gauge therefor The invention provides a method for controlling an electronic manometer for measuring pressure (p) inside a pressurized gas receptacle. The manometer comprises at least one pressure sensor, an electronic unit designed for the acquisition, storage and processing of data, and at least one information device device capable of transmitting at least one item of information (p).
US08047075B2	Vertically integrated 3-axis MEMS accelerometer with electronics A system and method in accordance with the present invention provides for a low cost, bulk micromachined accelerometer integrated with electronics. The accelerometer can also be integrated with rate sensors that operate in a vacuum environment. The quality factor of the resonances is suppressed by adding dampers. Acceleration sensing in each axis is achieved by separate structures where the motion of the proof mass affects the value of sense capacitors differentially. Two structures are used per axis to enable full bridge measurements to further reduce the mechanical noise, immunity to power supply changes and cross axis coupling. To reduce the sensitivity to packaging and temperature changes, each mechanical structure is anchored to a single anchor pillar bonded to the top cover.
US08047074B2	Humidity sensor and method of manufacturing the same Provided are a humidity sensor and a method of manufacturing the same. The humidity sensor has high sensitivity, quick response time, improved temperature characteristics, low hysteresis and excellent durability. Moreover, for the humidity sensor, a humidity sensitive layer may be formed of various materials. The humidity sensor may be manufactured in a small size on a large scale.The humidity sensor includes a substrate, an open cavity with an open upper portion formed to have a depth and a width in the substrate, a plurality of electrode pads formed on the substrate, a heater connected to one pad of the electrode pads at one end, and connected to another pad of the electrode pads at the other end to be suspended over the open cavity, a plurality of sensing electrodes formed on the same plane as the heater, and suspended over the open cavity to output a sensed signal to the electrode pads, a humidity sensitive layer formed on the heater and the sensing electrodes, suspended over the open cavity, and changed in characteristic according to the humidity, and an ambient temperature measurement part configured to measure the temperature around the humidity sensor, wherein the temperature is used as a reference temperature to control a heating temperature of the heater.
US08047073B2	Capacitive liquid level detector for direct methanol fuel cell systems A capacitive liquid level detector for detecting a liquid level of a liquid in a receptacle, the liquid being conductive, the detector comprising: a capacitor with a first plate having a fixed size and being insulated from the liquid, and a second plate being formed by the liquid itself, its size being variable depending on the liquid level inside said receptacle, wherein a thin film dielectric layer is formed on the surface of the first plate and located between the first plate and the second plate, the first plate with the thin film dielectric layer formed on its surface is arranged such that it covers an open part of the outer wall of the receptacle, the first plate with the thin film dielectric layer formed on its surface is attached to the receptacle by sealing means in order to seal the receptacle against liquid leakage.
US08047071B2	Multifunctional electronic device and method for using the same A portable electronic device includes a housing, a processor unit received in the housing, and an anemometer unit mounted on the housing and electrically connected to the processor unit. The anemometer unit transforms pressure of wind blowing thereon into electronic signals, and the processor unit receives and processes the electronic signals to obtain wind pressures and velocities.
US08047069B2	Apparatus for determining cut resistance An apparatus and a method of using the apparatus for measuring the cut resistance of polymeric and elastomeric materials having specimen holding and tensioning devices arranged on a common axis; a blade cutting device located orthogonally to the axis of the first and second specimen tensioning devices and a cutting block assembly located on the same axis as the cutting device and on the opposite side of the specimen tensioning device.
US08047067B2	Sensor structure in particular for a harsh environment in a motor vehicle and preheater plug comprising such a sensor A sensor structure notably for a harsh environment in a motor vehicle is disclosed. The sensor structure has a sensor body (1) having at one end an element (2) sensitive to the quantity to be measured in the harsh environment and at another end a connection circuit (3) for the latter, placed away from the harsh environment, and physically separated from one another. The sensor structure is connected by means for transmitting information by carrier current on an electrical conductor (5) of the sensor with which the sensitive element and the connection circuit are associated by wireless coupling means and between which are provided means (4) for protecting the connection circuit from the environment.
US08047066B2	Steering angle sensing apparatus and method thereof A steering angle sensing apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus and method sense the steering angle of a steering shaft by using a rotated bit value difference corresponding to the rotated angles of magnets, which are respectively coupled on an axis of one of a plurality of sub gears, when the sub gears with respectively different gear ratios rotate with a shaft gear that rotates together with the steering shaft.
US08047064B2	Apparatus and method for detecting abnormality of inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio dispersion in multi-cylinder internal combustion engine An apparatus or a method for detecting an abnormality of inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio dispersion in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine according to the invention is equipped with a catalytic element that purifies exhaust gas of hydrogen, a first air-fuel ratio sensor that detects an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas that has not passed through the catalytic element, a second air-fuel ratio sensor that detects an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas that has passed through the catalytic element, a device that detects an abnormality of inter-cylinder air-fuel ratio dispersion on the basis of a divergence state of a detected value of a second air-fuel ratio to a lean side from a detected value of a first air-fuel ratio, and a device that forcibly reduces fuel injection amounts in cylinders individually when an abnormality on dispersion is detected by the abnormality detector, detects a divergence state of the detected value of the second air-fuel ratio to the lean side from the detected value of the first air-fuel ratio at this time, and specifies as an abnormal cylinder that one of the cylinders in which a value indicating this divergence state has become smaller than at a time of detection of the abnormality of dispersion.
US08047059B2	Viscometer with integral sample retention reservoir A viscometer having a substantially horizontal reservoir including a trap for retaining a sample indefinitely in the reservoir. A substantially vertical measuring tube disposed perpendicularly to the substantially horizontal reservoir and depends substantially upwardly from the reservoir. A junction interconnects the trap, a generally downwardly projecting fill tube, and a generally upwardly projecting vent tube.
US08047058B2	Method and device for determining the gas pressure in evacuated bodies The invention is directed to a method and a system for using a thermal measurement method to determine the gas pressure in a vacuum element or in an evacuated body having an envelope and comprising on its exterior a flap delimited by two film faces that are joined together in the region of the free edge of the flap; the system according to the invention is characterized, on the one hand, by the fact that the space between the two film faces of the flap communicates with the space inside the envelope of the vacuum element and is at least partially filled with an open-pored, thin material layer, and, on the other hand, by a device for measuring the gas-pressure-dependent heat exchange coefficient of the flap at the location of the material layer; the invention also relates to the manner of operation of this measuring device.
US08047054B2	Particulate matter sensor Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and devices for monitoring the flow of particulate matter within an exhaust gas stream. In one exemplary embodiment, a particulate matter sensor for an exhaust system of an engine is provided. The particulate matter sensor includes a casing having an attachment feature for mounting the particulate matter sensor to the exhaust system. The particulate matter sensor also includes an insulator disposed within the casing. The particulate matter sensor further includes a sensing rod having a hollow portion extending between a first end and a second end of the sensing rod. The first end of the sensing rod is supported by the insulator and the second end of the sensing rod extending away from the insulator. The particulate matter sensor still further includes an electrical connector assembly engaging the first end of the sensing rod. The electrical connector assembly is configured to transmit a signal generated by the sensing rod.
US08047052B2	Automatic determination of an emission value for a motor vehicle The invention concerns the automatic determination of an emission value for a motor vehicle. For this purpose, a system for the automatic determination of an emission value for a motor vehicle 4 is described that comprises the following: a fuel quantity sensor 1, an identification device 3 for registering an account identification, an account database 7 containing at least one account information item for each of a multitude of accounts 8, and a determination device 6, where: the fuel quantity sensor 1 determines a fuel quantity added to the tank and transmits it to the determination device 6; an account identification registered by the identification device 3 is transmitted to the determination device 6 and is associated with the fuel quantity added to the tank; and where the determination device 6 determines the emission value on the basis of the fuel quantity added to the tank and at least one account information item of the account 8 associated with the account identification. This permits a simple and reliable determination of the emission value that also meets with a high degree of acceptance by the users.
US08047045B2	Apparatus and method for forming a tube with a tetragonal cross-section, having a reinforced end An apparatus for cold-forming a workpiece having a substantially round cross-section and an elongate body into a tube having a main portion with a substantially tetragonal cross-section and a reinforced end. The apparatus includes a die in which a received portion of the body of the workpiece is receivable and from which a preselected portion of the body extends, and a first punch adapted to bend the preselected portion radially outwardly to form a curled end. The apparatus also includes a second punch to form the curled end into a round reinforced end, and a die subassembly for forming the received portion of the body of the workpiece into the main portion of the tube having the substantially tetragonal cross-section and for forming the round reinforced end into the reinforced end of the tube.
US08047042B2	Press forging method The present invention is a press forging method by which porosities in a raw material are removed and mechanical properties such as ductility and toughness of a steel product are at a required level in a case that a steel ingot is treated as a raw material in press forging. A cylindrical steel ingot (a so-called “round billet”) is set onto a die as a raw material, and, a forging process is applied to the steel ingot so that buckling of the steel is not generated during the forging process and that a reduction ratio and a forging ratio are more than predetermined values, respectively.
US08047041B2	Method of reducing thickness of unbroken rolling stock A method of reducing thickness of unbroken rolling stock (14) by longitudinal rolling includes deforming the rolling stock (14) in the width direction with deformation regions (26 to 29; 86 to 88) of the rolls (22 to 25; 82 to 84) penetrating in the rolling stock to the same depth.
US08047040B2	Wire winding apparatus, method for wire winding and wire wound bobbin A wire winding apparatus for winding a wire on a bobbin includes a forming device forming the wire having a rounded cross section to have a polygonal cross section and a winding device winding the wire formed by the forming device on the bobbin.
US08047039B2	Process for producing stainless steel pipe A process for stainless-steel pipe production which comprises piercing rolling a raw material stainless steel containing, by mass, Cr: 10-30%, to give a hollow shell, elongating rolling the hollow shell using a mandrel bar, together with a graphite-free lubricant, to give a finishing rolling blank pipe and heating the blank pipe in a reheating furnace and subjecting the same to finishing rolling by sizing rolling to produce a hot-finished pipe, and then subjecting this pipe as a mother pipe to cold working to produce a stainless-steel pipe. In the reheating furnace, the finishing rolling blank pipe is heated to 1000° C. or more and subjected to heating in which an oxidizing gas is blown into the pipe inside, whereby a stainless-steel pipe which is inhibited from forming a carburized layer in the pipe inner surface can be produced. When the finishing rolling by sizing rolling to give a cold working mother pipe is carried out by stretch reducer rolling at 860-1050° C., an annealing heat treatment of the mother pipe for cold working can be omitted. Thus, a stainless-steel pipe having excellent surface quality can be efficiently produced.
US08047038B2	Flashing bender A flashing bender system for bending flashing at a selectable range of angles. The flashing bender system includes a first bending tool and a second bending tool. The first bending tool is arranged to bend flashing to an angle of about 90° and the second bending tool is arranged to bend flashing at a selectable range of pitches. The flashing bender system may include either or both of the first bending tool and the second bending tool. The flashing bender system allows a user to bend flashing of a range of sizes at a range of angles over an unlimited length. Each of the bending tools includes a plurality of starter slots and angling channels.
US08047031B2	Lock portion with piezo-electric actuator and anti-tamper circuit An electronic lock includes a rotatable core movable within an outer body. The rotatable core includes a piezo-electric actuator configured to move a tumbler blocking member into or out of interfering engagement with one or more tumblers. Tamper circuitry coupled with the piezo-electric actuator is configured to resist an externally induced acceleration of the electronic lock by shunting electrical power produced by an externally induced motion of the piezo-electric actuator back to the piezo-electric actuator.
US08047030B2	Housing for electronic lock A housing assembly adapted to fit into a mortised recess in a door is provided for accommodating components of an electronic lock mechanism. The housing assembly comprises a housing including opposed major side walls at least partially defining an opening into the housing. A circuit board comprising electronic circuitry for operating the lock mechanism is disposed in the housing. A bracket for holding batteries is adapted to be disposed in the opening in the housing. The bracket is accessible when the housing is in the mortised recess of the door such that the bracket is movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position. In the first position the bracket is in the housing and in the second position the bracket is at least partially outside of the housing such that batteries may be inserted into or removed from the bracket.
US08047029B1	Tire locking assembly A tire locking assembly includes a first elongated member and a second elongated member. Each of the first and second elongated members has a top end and a bottom end. The first and second elongated members each have an aperture extending therethrough positioned adjacent to an associated one of the top ends. A locking rod has a first end and a second end. The locking rod is extendable through the apertures in the first and second elongated member. The locking rod is extendable through a rim of a tire. A lock removably engages the locking rod and the second elongated member to secure the locking rod to the second elongate member.
US08047027B2	Multiple function lock A multiple function lock comprising a body, an engaging element having a first end and a second end, a locking mechanism for securing the first end and the second end of the engaging element to the body, and a gate mechanism for selectively concealing or revealing a passage in the body through which the second end may move to unlock the lock. In certain embodiments, a multiple function lock may comprise a body, a U-shaped shackle having toe and heel portions, the heel portion rotatably secured within the body, a locking mechanism for locking the heel and the toe portions within the body, a passage through the body adjacent to the toe portion, the toe portion adapted to move through the passage to unlock the lock, and either a retaining cup, an adjustable gate, or an outer housing, each being adapted to selectively block or reveal the passage.
US08047017B2	Refrigerator and evaporator mounting structure therefor A refrigerator having a mounting structure to firmly fix an evaporator to the refrigerator. In the refrigerator including an evaporator and a cover to be coupled with the evaporator, the evaporator includes first fixing portions to be coupled with the cover and the cover includes second fixing portions to correspond to the first fixing portions. The evaporator and the cover are coupled with each other by the first and second fixing portions without separate fasteners.
US08047015B2	Ice maker for refrigerator The present invention relates to an ice maker for a refrigerator. The present invention provides an ice maker for a refrigerator, which is provided at one side of the refrigerator to make ice. The ice maker comprises an ice maker body provided with an ice-making tray for making ice; an ejector rotatably mounted at one side of the ice maker body so as to eject ice made in the ice-making tray to the outside; a water supply hopper provided at one side of the ice maker body and having at least an open portion so that the water supply hopper is supplied with water from a water supply source through a water supply tube and then transfers the water to the ice-making tray; and a hopper cover coupled to the water supply hopper so as to selectively open and close the open portion of the water supply hopper. According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid a phenomenon in which water supplied from an outer water supply source to the water supply hopper splashes to the outside.
US08047012B2	Refrigeration system and method using multiple variable capacity devices A system and method of controlling a compressor rack having a plurality of variable capacity components is provided. A variable capacity component is selected from the plurality of variable capacity components as a designated variable capacity component. The designated variable capacity component is operated by varying a capacity of the designated variable capacity component. Each variable capacity component of the plurality of variable capacity components, except for the designated variable capacity component, is operated at a fixed capacity corresponding to one of a maximum and a minimum capacity of the variable capacity component.
US08047007B2	Methods for generating electricity from carbonaceous material with substantially no carbon dioxide emissions Disclosed herein is a method for generating “clean” electricity from carbonaceous material, and producing high-pressure CO2 which can be easily sequestered or utilized for a beneficial purpose, such as fuel production. This method utilizes a reformation process that reforms carbonaceous fuel with superheated steam into a high-pressure gaseous mixture that is rich in carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas. This high-pressure gas exchanges excess heat with the incoming steam from a boiler. Once cooled, the high-pressure gas goes through a CO2 separator, after which the CO2-rich gas is sequestered underground or beneficially re-used. The remaining hydrogen-rich gas is used to generate power in a power generation subsystem, such as a gas turbine or a fuel cell. Therefore, carbon-free power is produced from coal, biomass, natural gas, or another carbon-based feedstock.
US08047005B2	Water injection manifold pressure relief vent A water injection system positioned about a combustor of a gas turbine engine. The water injection system may include a water manifold and a pressure relief system in communication with the water manifold. The pressure relief system may include a relief vent positioned on a pressure relief line.
US08046998B2	Waste heat auxiliary power unit The present invention relates to a waste heat auxiliary power unit. In one embodiment, the present invention is a heat exchange unit for an automobile including a core unit configured to be connected to a catalytic converter of the automobile, the core unit generating vapor, and a first energy generation module connected to the core unit, the first energy generation module receiving the vapor from the core unit and generating energy from the vapor.
US08046996B2	Master cylinder assembly for a hydraulic actuation system for a handlebar-steered vehicle A master cylinder assembly for a hydraulic actuation system for a handlebar-steered vehicle including a fluid cavity having an adjustable length. The master cylinder assembly generally includes a housing, a piston assembly, an actuator and an adjuster. The housing is mountable to a frame member and includes a chamber having a fluid cavity with first and second regions. The first region is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuation system. The piston assembly includes a piston slidably disposed within the fluid cavity. The actuator is operatively connected to the housing and operatively connected to the piston to slidably displace the piston between an open fluid circuit position permitting fluid flow between the first and second regions and a closed fluid circuit position blocking fluid flow between the first and second regions. The adjuster is operatively connected to the housing to adjust a length of the fluid cavity.
US08046993B2	Micro generator system The present invention relates to a micro generator system which uses temperature difference (about 5˜10° C.) between skin and outside environment to allow an engine to drive microfluid flow as well as pass nanomagnetic particles within microfluid through coli to produce an inducing electricity.
US08046992B2	Axle driving apparatus An axle driving apparatus for being mounted on the body frame of a vehicle and for independently rotating drive wheel members. The axle driving apparatus includes a first axle driving unit (18L) having a housing (40) and a single axle (20L), the single axle (20L) defining a proximal end portion rotatably mounted in the housing (40) and a distal end portion extending outwardly from a first side of the housing (40). An enlarged region is defined by the housing (40), with the enlarged region extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the single axle (20L). A hydraulic stepless speed change assembly (22) is disposed within the enlarged region. The speed change assembly (22) includes a hydraulic pump (52) having an input shaft (21) projecting from the enlarged region and includes a hydraulic motor (55) including an output shaft (74) drivingly connected to the single axle (20L). The first axle driving unit (18L) is used in conjunction with a second axle driving unit (18R) which is adjacently disposed to the first axle driving unit (18L) on the body frame of the vehicle and which is of substantially similar construction. However, the second axle driving unit (18R) features a single axle (20R) which extends outwardly from a second, opposite side of the housing (40) such that the axles (20L, 20R) are oppositely disposed.
US08046989B2	Cooling device for high temperature exhaust A cooling system for cooling exhaust gases includes a section of pipe adapted to receive exhaust gases having a first temperature. The cooling system further includes an air amplifier with a passage extending therethrough. The air amplifier receives a flow of compressed air and directs the flow of the compressed air through the passageway. The compressed air entrains ambient air into one end of the passageway so that discharge air, which includes compressed air and ambient air, is discharged from the other end of the passageway. A conduit is connected to the air amplifier and extends through a wall of the section of pipe. Discharge air from the air amplifier passes through the conduit into the interior portion of the pipe and mixes with the exhaust gases. The mixture of discharge air and exhaust gases has a second temperature that is less than the first temperature.
US08046987B2	Air cooled core mounted ignition system An air cooled core mounted ignition system for gas turbine engine applications is provided. The ignition system includes an ignition exciter component directly mechanically and electrically connected to an igniter component. The housing member of the exciter component includes an air plenum configured to receive bleed air from the engine fan or compressor sections of the turbine engine, or other source. The bleed air provides a relatively low temperature air source for the purpose of cooling the exciter. As such, the exciter component can be directly secured to the igniter, thereby eliminating the need for an ignition lead.
US08046980B1	Weed whacker attachment The weed whacker attachment includes a weed whacker that extends via an arm from a mounting means that attaches upon the deck of a lawnmower. A pivoting motor rests atop the mounting means and rotates the arm around the deck of the lawn mower, which moves the weed whacker around to different sides of the lawnmower. An optional switch enables an end user to control both the weed whacker and the pivoting motor from behind the push bar of the lawnmower.
US08046978B2	Equipment and method for packaging multiple packets of cigarettes A machine for sleeving one or more packages of smoking articles is provided. The machine can provide a blank from a roll of continuous material and fold the blank around packages. The machine includes a sleeve folding station that can orient the blank to be folded around the packages. The sleeve folding station is also configured to permit at least one fold in the blank when the package is moved against the blank and into a pocket. The machine may include a bundling unit adapted to arrange packages into a bundle. The machine can include an adhesive applicator to apply adhesive to the blank so that when folded the blank can be attached to itself to form a sleeved package. Preferably, the machine includes a transfer wheel having a pocket for receiving the blank and bundle together, where upon rotation of the wheel the blank is folded around the bundle.
US08046976B2	Devices and methods for packaging beverages A method for packaging a beverage comprising particulates in a liquid, the method comprising dispensing a first portion of the beverage from a first source into containers, wherein the first portion of the beverage comprises at least a majority of the particulates and a first portion of the liquid, dispensing from a counterpressure filler a second portion of the beverage from a second source into the containers, wherein the second portion of the beverage comprises a second portion of the liquid, and sealing the containers to form packaged beverages. An apparatus for packaging a beverage comprising particulates in a liquid. A method for packaging, in sequence, a first beverage comprising particulates in a liquid and a second beverage comprising a carbonated beverage. A method for packaging a beverage comprising a dairy component and a liquid.
US08046975B1	Pallet roping and wrapping apparatus Pallet roping and wrapping machines having a plurality of spools of stretch film supported on a single spool and guides that form ropes of stretch film without cutting. Specific implementations of guides include guides formed or rings and rollers. Positions of guides may be adjustable.
US08046973B2	Machine for packaging mattresses The machine (100) comprises a supply station (S1) destined to receive a mattress (M) to be conveyed to a rolling station (S2) comprising a plurality of rolling rollers (1), partly arranged in a fixed section (21) of the station (S2) and partly arranged in an openable section (22), arranged in respective curved lines to define internally thereof a practically-cylindrical rolling chamber (10) with horizontal axes. Sliding organs (3) are interposed between the fixed section (21) and the openable section (22), for regulating a mutual distance between the fixed section (21) and the openable section (22) in order to vary, within a predetermined range, a base area of the rolling chamber (10) and in order to determine corresponding rolling diameters of the mattress (M) comprised between a minimum value (D1) and a maximum value (D2).
US08046972B2	Tower reinforcement apparatus and method A method and apparatus for creating a reinforced vertical multi-sided monopole tower for supporting equipment including a multi-sided monopole, a plurality of holes on three equally spaced sides of the multi-sided monopole tower and tower reinforcement apparatus mounted to the holes. The tower reinforcement apparatus includes bolts supporting a first flat bar and a second flat bar on each side of the tower. The upper end of the first flat bar abuts a lower end of the second bar and a plate is bolted over adjacent ends connecting the first and second flat bar such that the first and second flat bars are sandwiched between the plate and a side of the perimeter of the monopole.
US08046971B2	Wall made of panels used in pre-manufactured construction This invention provides a new wall arrangement in panels composed of glass wool and fire resistant thermal and acoustical insulating material, adequate for any kind of land and weather condition, to create a habitable environment that may be utilized in many applications such as houses, attendance stations, schools, first aid stations, motels and others. The objective of this invention is to present the conception of a modular wall which comprises a structure composed of a sheet of glass wool, with a wooden frame core and the upper part designed to support cabinets, exhaust fans, and other utensils, offering good mechanical resistance, and receiving in the interior of the hollow areas of the wooden frame, a layer of expanded polystyrene, with grooves to receive the ribs of rock wool. To complete its composition, the structure also has rock wool internal panels, wooden frame with the upper area, a new layer of expanded polystyrene, and completing the assembly a plate of glass wool is added.
US08046966B2	Suspended ceiling assembly A suspended ceiling assembly preferably formed of wood or wood-like material for aesthetic purposes. A ceiling panel grid is formed of ceiling panel support members that include runners and cross members arranged in intersecting relationship forming cells that support ceiling tiles. A plurality of parallel runners are installed between opposed room walls. Cross members are installed in perpendicular relationship to the runners and are intersected by the runners. The runners extend from wall to wall. The cross members extend between one runner and the next. The support members have a cross-sectional shape of an inverted “T” to provide a seat for a ceiling tile. A unique unibody connector at the intersection of the cross members and runners secures the cross members to the runners.
US08046959B2	Construction apparatus with pivotable mast The invention relates to a construction apparatus comprising a base carrier, a mast which is arranged on the base carrier in a pivotable manner, a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder for erecting the mast, which are connected to each other in an articulated manner in a connecting section, the first hydraulic cylinder being linked to the base carrier and the second hydraulic cylinder being linked to the mast, and a coupling rocker-arm which is linked on one side to the mast and on another side to the connecting section. According to the invention in the part of the connecting section a spacer is arranged, through which the connecting section is supported on the mast in a detachable manner.
US08046955B2	Water deviation unit for external wall fixtures A water deviation unit for external wall features comprises a frame shaped plate adaptable to be attached to a sheathing of a composite external wall and a box like subassembly projecting outwardly from and connecting to the frame shaped plate and provided centrally with a relatively large aperture. The box like subassembly includes: 1) a pair of spaced apart walls extending outwardly and perpendicularly in vertical planes from adjacent sides of said relatively large aperture and continuing above the latter; 2) upper and lower means for inclining used to deflect outwardly the water and connected laterally respectively at a top and a bottom of the pair of spaced apart walls; and 3) means for controlling an entrance and a withdrawal from an interior of the composite external, disposed between and joining the spaced apart walls.
US08046954B2	Outswinging window assembly having an operational mode and a wash mode and method of operation A window assembly including a frame having an interior portion with an inner surface, and a sash having an interior portion and an exterior portion. The window assembly includes an operational mode and a wash mode. In the operational mode, the sash is movable from a closed position to a position in which the sash is generally perpendicular with the frame. In the wash mode, the sash is movable to a position where the exterior of the sash faces toward the interior frame.
US08046953B2	Two-door cage trap with over-center set mechanism A cage-type animal trap with two opposed animal access openings that can operate in a one-door-opening configuration or a two-door-opening configuration. The trap has an over-center set mechanism for holding one or both doors open to allow access through the corresponding trap access openings. The set mechanism includes a pivotally mounted set lever coupled to the doors of the trap by an actuating member. A bait pedal is movably mounted inside the trap with a trip rod and link assembly secured to the pedal and to the set mechanism so that when an animal enters the trap, the weight of the animal moves the pedal, causing the trip rod and link assembly to actuate the set mechanism. Upon actuation, the set lever pivots past its over-center position to allow movement of the actuating member which enables one of the doors to move from an opened position to a closed position when the trap is operating in a one-door-opening configuration, and both of the doors to move from the opened position to the closed position when the trap is operating in the two-door-opening configuration.
US08046951B2	Rangefinders and aiming methods using projectile grouping A method for aiming a projectile weapon involves identifying a projectile group corresponding to a selected projectile and its nominal initial velocity from at least two different predetermined groups of projectiles, determining a range to a target, and automatically determining an aiming adjustment for aiming the projectile weapon based on the range to the target and a nominal ballistic characteristic of the projectile group. The nominal ballistic characteristic of the projectile group may be characteristic of a ballistic coefficient of the selected projectile and the nominal initial velocity of the selected projectile. Also disclosed are systems and methods for determining hold over aiming data and equivalent horizontal range data, for aiming projectile weapons at inclined targets.
US08046944B2	Automobile interior exhibit An automobile interior exhibit is configured with a relief formed to replicate an automobile interior member and an interior cover covering the surface of the relief. In the automobile interior exhibit, the relief is provided with a simulative three-dimensional form in perspective so that the relief provides a view from a predetermined viewpoint even when the relief is viewed from the front.
US08046943B2	Safety kick plate device and manufacturing methods A safety kick plate device and improved manufacturing thereof, wherein the safety kick plate device includes a base component including a communication element through which a light emission component is visible. A communication protection element provides reinforcement and strength to the communication element as well as mitigates damage to the light emission component.
US08046940B2	Folder with card-receiving recess A file with a card-receiving recess is disclosed. The file comprises a first panel comprising a first layer and a backing layer, that contains an opening extending from the first layer to the backing layer, and a second panel hingedly associated with the first panel. The backing layer is configured to support a displayed sheet element in a position such that it is visible through the opening of the first layer, and the displayed sheet element is at least partially received within the thickness of the first surface and the backing layer. The backing layer contains an adhesive disposed thereon within the opening for securing the displayed sheet element to the backing.
US08046934B2	Convective system for a dryer installation The present invention concerns a convective system for a dryer installation for a passing web, more particularly paper. The convective system 7 is an assembly of an exterior casing 13 for suction of combustion products with opening 14 towards the web, with a first 15 and second 16 suction ducts sucking the combustion products into the convective system 7. The combustion products coming from the first suction duct 15 are guided through the exterior casing 13 to a mixing and blowing device 17. Cold air 18 is mixed in this mixing and blowing device 17 with the combustion products 19, resulting in a gas mixture with lower temperature 20. The convective system 7 also has an internal casing 21 inside the external casing 13. This internal casing 21 has at least one opening towards the web 22 and has also openings 34 allowing gas flow from the mixing device 17 to the internal casing 21 of said gas mixture 20. Under the internal casing 21, there is also a blowing duct 23. The second suction duct 16 is also arranged under this internal casing 21 thereby extracting a second flow of combustion products 24 into the internal casing 21. This second flow 24 of combustion products is then mixed with the gas mixture 20 coming from the mixing device 17, resulting in a mixture of gasses 25 with a temperature that is higher than the first gas mixture 20 and higher than e.g. 350° C. or 370° C., more preferably 390° C. or 410° C., even more preferably 420° C., 450° C. or 500° C. These hot gasses 25 are then blown to the drying web by the blowing duct 23 of the internal casing 21.
US08046933B2	Apparatus for detecting a belt-cutoff of dryer and method for detecting the same Disclosed is an apparatus for detecting a belt-cutoff of a dryer. The apparatus comprises a drying drum accommodating a laundry therein; a motor applying a rotational force to the dry drum; a belt wound around the drying drum and a rotating shaft of the motor; and a belt cut detecting unit provided adjacent to the motor in order to sense the belt-cutoff, wherein the belt cut detecting unit is pressed as the motor is rotated by a turning moment when the belt is cut off.
US08046931B2	Positioning device A positioning device for positioning an object includes a platform, a slide rail vertically extending from the platform, two standard units, and a retaining unit. The standard units are slidably mounted to the slide rail to abut against a first side of the object to cooperatively define a position reference plane for the object. The retaining unit includes a fixing block fixed to the high standard unit, a slide bar slidably mounted to the fixing block, a holding arm fixed to the slide bar to abut against a second side opposite to the first side of the object, and a spring to bias the slide bar to ensure that the holding arm abuts against the second side of the object.
US08046923B2	Folding knife A fold knife comprising a handle and a blade hinged to the handle. The fold knife further comprises a switch mechanism for manual and semi-automatic operation which is positioned in the inner chamber of the handle. The switch mechanism for manual and semi-automatic operation has a first position in which it is allowed to manually open the blade from the handle and a second position in which it is allowed to automatically open the blade from the handle. The fold knife is capable of easily switching between the manual operation condition and the semi-automatic operation condition by means of the switch mechanism for manual and semi-automatic operation.
US08046921B2	Apparatus for coring and wedging food items A food cutting apparatus includes a body defining a first opening and supporting a first blade extending within the first opening. The first blade is configured to cut the food item. The apparatus also includes a dial rotatably coupled to the body about an axis and defining a second opening substantially aligned with the first opening. The dial supports a second blade extending within the second opening. The second blade is configured to cut the food item.
US08046915B2	Methods for making composite containment casings Method for making a composite containment casing having an integrated abradable system involving providing a mandrel having a pocket, positioning a sandwich structure into the pocket, applying at least one ply of a material about the mandrel having the pocket containing the sandwich structure therein to produce a containment casing preform, infusing a resin into the containment casing preform, curing the containment casing preform to produce a containment casing, and applying at least one abradable layer to the sandwich structure of the containment casing to produce the containment casing having the integrated abradable system.
US08046913B2	Manufacturing method of circle type terminal used in driving motor of hybrid vehicle The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of circle type terminal for driving motor of hybrid vehicle, comprising: assembling a terminal assembly having a plurality of bus-rings; accommodating the terminal assembly into an insert jig; coupling the insert jig with an injection mold; and supplying insert resin into the insert jig through the injection mold to integrally form an insulator with the terminal assembly thus performing manufacturing a circle type terminal, thereby providing a simple process to manufacture the circle type terminal and a method of forming an insulating material that can lower a manufacturing cost.
US08046912B2	Method of making a connection component with posts and pads A packaged microelectronic element includes connection component incorporating a dielectric layer (22) carrying traces (58) remote from an outer surface (26), posts (48) extending from the traces and projecting beyond the outer surface of the dielectric, and pads (30) exposed at the outer surface of the dielectric layer, the pads being connected to the posts by the traces. The dielectric element overlies the front surface of a microelectronic element, and contacts (74) exposed on the front surface of the microelectronic element are connected to the pads by elongated leads (76) such as wire bonds. Methods of making the connection component are also disclosed.
US08046911B2	Method for mounting electronic component on substrate and method for forming solder surface A method for mounting an electronic component on a substrate includes: forming an Au bump (24) on a surface of an electrode (20) of a substrate (10); placing an Sn-based solder sheet (26) on the Au bump; subjecting the Sn-based solder sheet and the Au bump to reflow soldering, to thus form an Au—Sn eutectic alloy (28); smoothing the eutectic alloy; and bonding an electronic component (30) on a surface of the smoothed eutectic alloy.
US08046910B2	Method for manufacturing a surface mounted crystal device A method of manufacturing a surface mounted (crystal) device comprising: the steps of providing an aggregated sheet material having a plurality of container main bodies lengthwise and crosswise, accommodating at least a crystal piece inside the concavities of the plurality of container main bodies formed in the aggregated sheet material, and then parting the aggregated sheet material into individual container main bodies. The method further includes: the steps of providing annular grooves on outer perimeters between the container main bodies of the aggregated sheet material; positioning an outer peripheral edge of an electrode roller having an inclined face of a seam welder inside the annular groove; abutting the inclined face against a metal cover tacked to the container main body; bonding the metal cover to an aperture end face of the container main body, by seam welding; and then parting the aggregated sheet material into individual container main bodies.
US08046909B2	Method of fabricating stimulation lead In one embodiment, a process, for fabricating a medical lead comprises: providing a splicing tube having a plurality of angularly spaced longitudinal grooves; placing a first plurality of conductors within the plurality of angularly spaced grooves defined on an exterior surface of the splicing tube; placing a second plurality of conductors within the plurality of angularly spaced grooves and adjacent to the first plurality of conductors such that a portion of the distal ends overlap a portion of the proximal ends; positioning conductive filler material adjacent to the overlapped portions of the distal and proximal ends; electrically coupling the proximal ends of the first plurality of electrodes to respective proximal ends of the second plurality of electrodes; molding insulative material about at least the electrode assembly and the splicing tube; and fusing the splicing tube with the insulative material from the molding and the lead body.
US08046907B2	Electronic component placement method In an electronic component placement method in which electronic components are picked up from a plurality of component supply sections which supply electronic components using a plurality of mounting heads which are provided corresponding to the respective component supply sections, and the electronic components are transferred and mounted on a substrate in a same placing stage, in performing the component transferring and mounting operations, head interference areas which constitute exclusive operating regions to which only the specified mounting heads are allowed to access are set for every placing turn. Due to such a constitution, in the component placement operation, it is possible to rationally set the accessible region without causing the interference of one mounting head with another mounting head thus shortening a placing tact time by excluding wasteful standby times of the mounting heads.
US08046904B2	Motor assembly method with an integrated flexible printed circuit The present invention provides a motor assembly method for mounting to a base. The motor assembly includes a stator assembly having a plurality of stator teeth. Each stator tooth is configured to support a stator coil. The motor assembly also includes a flexible printed circuit having top and bottom surfaces and an end portion. The end portion is affixed to the stator assembly at the top surface. The bottom surface is affixed to the base.
US08046902B2	Method for the production of a connection flange A method for the production of an annular connection flange includes producing the annular connection flange from an element in the form of a circular ring. The element in the form of a circular ring has a substantially triangular profile.
US08046901B2	Compact plant for continuous production of bars and/or profiles Compact plant for making steel bars and profiles with which, starting from the scrap, it is possible to obtain the finished product, for example bars with commercial length from 6 to 18 meters, pre-packed, packaged and ready for sale, with all the stations placed in line and operating continuously. All the stations are arranged in reduced spaces, thereby reducing both investment costs and plant management costs, and decreasing production times. Advantageously, the plant of the invention incorporates an extremely compact bar packaging apparatus which, through an innovative arrangement and innovative operating method of the components thereof, allows a further reduction in length.
US08046898B2	Fastener clearing systems and methods Fastener clearing systems and methods for a fastener delivery system are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes an extractor tool having one or more vacuum generators in fluid communication with a catcher for retaining fasteners during transport. The vacuum generators are selectively activated to draw fasteners into the catcher. A backflow port is formed in the extractor tool and introduces pressurized air into the catcher to dislodge fasteners that adhere to the catcher after the vacuum generators have been deactivated. The backflow port may be formed in a fitting positioned between vacuum generators and securing the vacuum generators to one another. The vacuum generators and fitting may define a common fluid channel opening into a fastener seat adapted to receive a portion of a fastener.
US08046894B2	Diorama and method of making the same Diorama made from a two-dimensional image having a background panel in which a background section of the image appears and a plurality of additional panels on which additional sections of the image appear. The additional panels extend forwardly from the background panel, with edges of adjacent ones of the panels coming together and the image flowing continuously between the panels. The two-dimensional image is transformed into a diorama by constructing a three-dimensional model of the diorama in the form of a plurality of panels on which different areas of the image will appear, converting the three-dimensional model to a two-dimensional layout guide with lines outlining the panels, using the layout guide as a template for adjusting the shape and size of selected areas of the two-dimensional image to match the guide lines on the layout guide, printing the adjusted image, trimming the printed image along facing edges of adjacent ones of the panels, and bringing the trimmed edges together to form a continuous three-dimensional image.
US08046890B2	Roping method and apparatus Roping method and apparatus for replacing, installing and/or re-roping the hoisting rope of a traction sheave elevator, said elevator having an elevator car, which is at least partially suspended on a set of hoisting ropes, said set of ropes comprising one or more parallel ropes. The elevator car is moved by means of the ropes. In the method, a rope feed apparatus (1) acting on the hoisting rope is used to feed a new rope to the elevator and/or to pull out a possible old hoisting rope to make place for the new rope. The rope feed apparatus 1 (1) comprises at least a base (2) with at least one feed disc (30, 31) mounted on it, which feed disc (30, 31) engages the hoisting rope and to which feed disc (30, 31) the hoisting rope can be fitted, at least one guide roller (25) for keeping the hoisting rope in position on the feed disc (30, 31), a tightening element (19) for moving the feed disc (30, 31) relative to the guide roller (25) and tightening it in position on the base (2), and in addition at least one electric motor (27) fitted in the apparatus to rotate the feed disc (30, 31).
US08046883B2	Edged non-horizontal burial containers Burial containers to be power installed in non-horizontal positions without the need to dig large holes and subsequently replace the dug out material, and which greatly save land area, plus can be interred in high water table areas and even under shallow water.
US08046874B2	Anti-pinching structure for supporting frame The present invention discloses an anti-pinching structure for supporting frame, in which a slidable or rotatable positioning block is disposed on the hinge portion of the connection base and the supporting framework and a hinge unit is disposed on the hinge portion of the connection base and the supporting framework, such that the torsion spring of the hinge units may form a supporting torsion against the supporting framework and the positioning block may prevent the supporting framework from springing back.
US08046872B2	Carriage for a door A carriage for fitting a suspendable door on a rail is described. The carriage includes a housing and at least one running roller disposed on the housing. The running roller is positioned to engage the rail. An installation plate is included that is adapted to be connected to the suspendable door. A suspension bolt is connected between the housing and the installation plate. A portion of the suspension bolt engages a bearing disposed at one end of either the housing or the installation plate. The bearing permits at least angular displacement if the suspension bolt with respect to either the housing or the installation plate.
US08046871B2	Caster A caster of an endless structure is provided which is almost jam-proof even in the case of a bigger gap. The caster includes a first wheel supported on a mounting leg, a second wheel supported by an axle on one end of a suspension arm of which the other end is supported by an axle which also supports the first wheel, and a wrap-around member which is wrapped around the first and second wheels. The wraparound member is formed an endless belt form by connecting independent pieces to each other. The outer peripheral section of each piece is provided with a wider section and when the wraparound member is depressed and warps, the wider section is adapted to touch a wider section of the adjacent piece, thereby preventing further depression.

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