| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08092174B2 |
Wind turbine and method for determining at least one rotation parameter of a wind turbine rotor
A method of determining at least one rotation parameter of a wind turbine rotor rotating with a rotation speed and a phase is provided. The method comprises the steps of: measuring an effective centrifugal force acting in a first pre-determined direction, which is defined in a co-ordinate system rotating synchronously with the rotor, on at least one reference object located in or at the rotor, establishing a first angular frequency representing the rotation speed of the rotor on the basis of variations in the measured effective centrifugal force due to gravitational force, establishing a second angular frequency representing the rotation speed of the rotor by use of at least one yaw rate gyro, and establishing the value of the rotation speed as the rotational parameter by correcting the second angular frequency by comparing it to the first angular frequency. |
| US08092172B2 |
Method for operating a wind turbine with reduced blade fouling
A method of operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine has at least one rotor blade and an active flow control (AFC) system. The at least one rotor blade has at least one aperture defined through a surface thereof, and the AFC system is configured to modify aerodynamic properties of the at least one rotor blade by ejecting gas through the at least one aperture. The method includes operating the wind turbine in a first mode, determining an environmental condition surrounding the wind turbine indicative of fouling of the AFC system, and operating the wind turbine in a second mode different than the first mode based on the environmental condition. The second mode facilitates reducing fouling of the AFC system. |
| US08092171B2 |
Systems and methods for assembling a pitch assembly for use in a wind turbine
A method of assembling a wind turbine. The method includes coupling a pitch bearing to a hub that includes a wall. The pitch bearing includes a plurality of sets of pitch bearing teeth. At least one blade is coupled to the pitch bearing such that the blade is rotatable about a pitch axis. A plurality of pitch gearbox brackets are coupled to the hub wall. A pitch drive system is selectively coupled to one of the plurality of pitch gearbox brackets, wherein a predetermined set of pitch bearing teeth are in contact with the pitch drive system. |
| US08092170B2 |
Axial fan
An axial fan forms an air inlet on one side and an air outlet on an opposite side along an axis of the axial fan. The axial fan includes a base, a bearing, a stator and a rotor. A central tube extends upwardly from the base. The stator is around the central tube. The bearing is received in the central tube of the base. The rotor is rotatably supported by the bearing. The rotor includes a hub, a plurality of rotary blades extending outwardly from the hub, and an annular wall surrounding the rotary blades. The annular wall connects to outer ends of the rotary blades to rotate with the rotary blades to guide airflow from the air inlet to the air outlet during rotation of the rotary blades. |
| US08092168B2 |
Patch plug repair of a compressor case stator ring hook, near the horizontal joint
A compressor case, and an associated method, repaired from damage to a segment of a stator ring hook. Two halves are engaged together at flange faces that define parting lines and that define a hollow interior, the ring hook being located at the interior, compressor case material having been removed at the stator ring hook location and a location of one of the flange faces to provide a space. A patch plug is slid into the space from the one flange face, the shape of the patch plug being complementary to a shape of the missing material space and inter-fitting therein, with an end of the patch plug being located at the one flange face to face an opposed half of the case with the two halves together. A fastener fastens the patch plug to the case and extending from the interior, through the patch plug, to the case. |
| US08092164B2 |
Overlap interface for a gas turbine engine composite engine case
A composite engine case with an axial interface. One configuration includes an alternating mix of full length and partial plies, in order to provide the total thickness needed for the axial overlap. Another configuration provides only full-length structural plies with a flyaway insert adjacent the axial interface. |
| US08092156B2 |
Outdoor unit of air conditioner
An outdoor unit of an air conditioner is provided. The outdoor unit includes a base assembly defining a lower exterior of the outdoor unit and supporting a plurality of parts, left and right panels that are provided on the base assembly to define left and right exteriors of the outdoor unit, a pair of top panels that are provided between upper ends of the left and right panels to define a top exterior of the outdoor unit, a blower assembly including a blower fan generating air current and a motor providing a torque to the blower fan, a frame assembly supporting the blower assembly and including a pair of transverse supports interconnecting the left and right panels and a motor mount disposed between the pair of transverse supports to support the motor, and a shroud enclosing the blower fan and the motor and guiding airflow generated by the blower fan. The motor mount is received to an inside of the shroud. |
| US08092152B2 |
Device for cooling slots of a turbomachine rotor disk
The invention relates to a device for cooling the slots of a turbomachine rotor disk, the device comprising a rotor disk having a plurality of slots and a flange that extends upstream from a radially upstream face of the disk. The device also comprises a retaining annulus having a flange that is placed around the flange of the disk, co-operating therewith to provide a space forming a cooling air diffusion cavity, said cavity opening out into the bottom of each of the slots of the disk, and a plurality of air admission orifices opening out into the diffusion cavity at the upstream end thereof, the cavity having means at its downstream end for reducing the flow rate of air penetrating into the slots of the disk that are situated radially in register with air admission orifices. |
| US08092149B2 |
Impeller arrangement
An impeller arrangement comprises an impeller 10 having at least one first vane surface 26 orientated such that the application of fluid under pressure thereto applies a torque to the impeller 10 in a first rotary direction, at least one second vane surface 28 orientated such that the application of fluid under pressure thereto applies a torque to the impeller 10 in a second, opposite rotary direction, and a valve 34 operable to control the supply of fluid to the first and second vane surfaces 26, 28. |
| US08092146B2 |
Active tip clearance control arrangement for gas turbine engine
An active tip clearance control (ATCC) apparatus of an aircraft gas turbine engine is situated within a pressurized core case of the engine. First and second portions of bypass air flow passing through the respective compressed core compartment and the ATCC apparatus, are isolated from one another in order to improve both the ATCC performance and bypass air duct performance. |
| US08092141B2 |
Front-loadable refuse container having side-loading robotic arm with motors and other mass mounted at rear of container and use of same with front-loading waste-hauling vehicle having hydraulic front forks or other retractably engageable lift means
A front-loading, refuse collecting vehicle is modularly provided with a combination of a low-profile, front-loadable waste bin (intermediate container) and one or more, side-loading robotic arms. To reduce mechanical stresses along couplings between the vehicle and the combination of the intermediate container and the robotic arm(s), a major portion of the mass of the robotic arm mechanism is situated to the rear of the intermediate container so that a mass and beam combination is defined where the mass-supporting beam has reduced length. More specifically, hydraulic and/or other relatively massive motor devices of the robotic arm mechanism are mounted to the rear of a refuse-containing wall of the intermediate container. Elastomeric and/or other dampening devices may be interposed between the vehicle and the bulk mass of the combination of the intermediate container and robotic arm mechanism for converting into heat some of the vibrational energy which may otherwise move between the vehicle and the combination of the intermediate container and robotic arm mechanism. A modular sled system may be provided for supporting different robotic arms in combination with refuse containers made of different materials as may be appropriate for different waste collection situations. |
| US08092138B2 |
Large area substrate processing system with between chamber platform
Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a vacuum processing system for processing large area substrates, such as flat panel displays (i.e., LCD, OLED, and other types of flat panel displays), solar panels, and the like. In one embodiment, a vacuum processing system includes a plurality of processing chambers coupled to a vacuum transfer chamber suitable to accommodate a large area substrate and a least one horizontal platform disposed between adjacent processing chambers. The vacuum transfer chamber has a robot disposed therein. The platform is coupled to a base supporting one of the adjacent processing chambers. |
| US08092136B2 |
Multiple hopper charging installation for a shaft furnace
A multiple hopper charging installation for a shaft furnace includes a rotary distribution device for distributing bulk material in the shaft furnace by rotating a distribution member about a central axis of the shaft furnace and at least two hoppers arranged in parallel and offset from the central axis above the rotary distribution device. Each hopper has a lower funnel part ending in an outlet portion and each hopper has a material gate valve with a shutter member associated to its outlet portion. According to the invention, each funnel part is configured asymmetrically with its outlet portion being eccentric and arranged proximate to the central axis, each outlet portion is oriented vertically so as to produce a substantially vertical outflow of bulk material and each material gate valve has a one-piece shutter member and is configured with its respective shutter member opening in a direction pointing away from the central axis such that any partial valve opening area is located on the side of the associated outlet portion proximate to the central axis. |
| US08092135B2 |
Device for fastening superimposed elements
The present invention relates to a device for fastening two elements to one another, comprising a rod-like member having opposite ends which are aligned on a common longitudinal axis (X-X) and a threaded portion formed in the region of a first end. A characteristic of the rod-like member is that it comprises a tapered portion formed in the external wall of the rod-like member, the tapered portion having the vertex of its taper facing towards the threaded portion and a taper angle (α), measured relative to the longitudinal axis (X-X), that is within a range variable between 2° and 6°. |
| US08092134B2 |
Fastener
A fastener, of which severe strength is demanded and which can also be applied to a location, in which a flush surface equipment is taken into consideration, and which can be manufactured readily and quickly and reduced in manufacturing cost, is provided. A fastener (1) joins a skin of an airplane and a structural material positioned inside the skin and one end surface of a flush head (3) is covered by an insulator layer (5). |
| US08092131B2 |
Clinch spacer and method of attaching the same to a panel
A method of attaching a clinch spacer to a panel including forming a clinch spacer having a body portion including an axial bore, an annular flange portion surrounding the bore and an annular barrel portion integral and coaxially aligned with the flange portion having a diameter less than the flange portion including an end face having an outer lip extending at an angle radially outwardly and axially from the end face; forming an opening in the panel; and driving the barrel portion through the opening in the panel against a die member having a generally V-shaped annular projecting lip which is driven against a second face of the panel, deforming the panel radially inwardly against the outer surface of the barrel portion and deforming the outer annular lip radially outwardly and axially against the panel, forming a secure installation. |
| US08092130B2 |
Fixing element for a friction welding joint
The invention relates to a fixing element having a concentric end face forming a frictional surface for friction welding joining to a flat part by rotational force and axial force applied by the fixing element to the part, and having multiple radially oriented ridges on the end face. The ridges are limited in the direction of rotation by a front groove introduced into the friction surface, the ridges rising only slightly over the friction surface in the axial direction and being provided with a scraping surface that pushes the material scraped during the friction welding process into the front groove. |
| US08092129B2 |
Bonding washer
A bonding washer for making electrical connection between two metal pieces that are to be mechanically fastened together. The washer, to be interposed between the two metal pieces, is constructed so as to fasten to one of the pieces before the two pieces are joined. Teeth on the washer, positioned at right angles to the plane of the washer, are forced into each of the two metal pieces when the fastener is tightened, making electrical connection between the two metal pieces. |
| US08092128B1 |
Self-sealing fasteners
A fastener suitable for use in airplane manufacture or repair that is coated with a pre-mixed moisture cure sealant. The sealant layer is coated with a frangible moisture barrier that will break apart when the fastener is installed, thus exposing the sealant to atmospheric moisture. Once exposed to moisture, the sealant will begin to cure. Preferred embodiments also provide a moisture indicator that provides a visual indication that the outer moisture resistant layer has been damaged. |
| US08092126B2 |
Indexable drill
An indexable drill is offered which enables suitable integration of a drill body and cutting insert. The crosshatch angles of clamp receiving faces of a cutting insert which are respectively pressed by clamp faces and of torque receiving faces which cross the clamp receiving faces and are adjacent thereto and to which is transmitted the rotary force of the drill body from the torque transmission faces are formed smaller within a range of 2° or less which is less than the crosshatch angles of clamp faces which clamp and hold the cutting insert of the drill body and torque transmission faces which cross these clamp faces and are adjacent thereto and which transmit the rotary force of the drill body to the cutting insert. |
| US08092124B2 |
Milling cutter
A milling cutter for machining work pieces, which comprises at least one cutting insert that can be adjusted by an adjusting element. The adjusting element is a one-piece element having an adjusting cone that extends between a screw head and a threaded shank. The adjusting cone engages with a recess provided in a lateral face of the cutting insert, which recess may also have a conical shape which substantially corresponds to the conical shape of the adjusting cone. |
| US08092122B2 |
Connection device for fastening expanded cell confinement structures and methods for doing the same
A connection device for fastening two expanded cellular confinement structures includes an insertion member having insertion ends, an insertion member extension, an integral shank, and a handle member. A cellular confinement system includes first and second webs of cells made from strips bonded together in spaced apart areas. The strips form walls of the cells and at least some of the cells define open slots. At least one connection device fastens the first web and the second web together through the open slots. A method of fastening two expanded cellular confinement structures includes aligning two expanded cellular confinement structures; inserting an insertion member of a connection device through open slots; and turning the connection device. |
| US08092119B2 |
Pipeline buoyancy control assembly and tiedown
A pipeline buoyancy control assembly is operable to simultaneously retain a plurality of pipelines against buoyancy forces. Respective ends of two retaining straps corresponding to two respective pipelines engage a tie-down member of a single control assembly. The retaining straps are placed over the respective pipelines and other ends of the retaining straps are attached to additional control assemblies. Further, stresses exerted on the retaining straps when the pipelines are subjected buoyancy forces are minimized by the unique structure of the tie-down member and the manner by which the retaining straps attached thereto. |
| US08092114B2 |
Connecting means and method of producing a connection between a first component and a second component
A connecting device or means and method of connecting components are described. In one example, a device comprises a first connecting element that is configured to be arranged on the first component in the connected state of the components and a second connecting element that is configured to be arranged on the second component in the connected state of the components. At least one of the connecting elements comprises a curved bearing surface which is in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section. The first connecting element may comprise a housing and at least one holding element which is moveable relative to the housing of the first connecting element and, in a holding position, cooperates with the second connecting element. |
| US08092111B2 |
Folding mechanism for joint
A folding mechanism for a joint includes a first pivot unit, a second pivot unit, a locking unit and an operation unit. The operation unit drives the locking unit to control the first pivot unit and the second pivot unit to be locked together or released to rotate. |
| US08092110B2 |
Oral care instrument including an oral care agent
An oral care instrument includes at least one oral care agent. In one embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided on one or more surfaces of the oral care instrument or included within cavities within the head or in one or more surfaces of a head. In other embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided in or on a thin slab subsequently bonded onto a surface, or applied as a stable coating. The oral care instrument can also be provided with a wear indicator. The oral care agents can be released during one use, during multiple uses, or throughout the life of the instrument. Water, oral secretions and/or chemicals within the mouth can activate the oral care agents. |
| US08092107B2 |
Electronic device with height adjustable keys
An electronic device includes a housing, a key board, and a height adjustment apparatus. The key board includes a number of first keys and a number of second keys. The height adjustment apparatus includes a platform for supporting the second keys, a cross bridging, a sliding button, and a pushing rod. The cross bridging includes a first supporting arm and a second supporting arm, the first supporting has an end slidably connected to the platform and the other end pivotably connected to a securing portion. The second supporting arm has an end slidably connected to the platform. The sliding button includes a lever surface facing the cross bridging. The pushing rod includes a first end pivotably connected to the other end of the second supporting arm and a second end resisting the lever surface. |
| US08092103B2 |
Film-carrying system and a film-carrying device used therein
A film-carrying system and a film-carrying device used therein are provided. The film-carrying system includes a support base, a film-carrying device and a film. The film-carrying device includes a support connection part, an elastic part, and a film connection part. The support connection part is coupled to the support base while the film connection part is coupled to the film. The elastic part has a free end and a fixed end; the free end connects to the film connection part, and the fixed end connects to the support connection part. The elastic deformation of the elastic part provides the film connection part with a degree of freedom in linear displacement, and the film connection part also has a degree of freedom in angular displacement corresponding to the support connection part. |
| US08092097B2 |
Retained roller assembly
A retained roller assembly, capable of facilitating the lubricating functionality, includes a cylindrical roller retainer having a plurality of pockets defined therein and arranged in a circumferential direction thereof, rollers accommodated within those pockets, respectively, and a roller retaining projection formed in opening edges of side faces, opposite to each other in the circumferential direction and situated on an inner diametric side and an outer diametric side, respectively. A roller guide face for guiding the corresponding roller is provided at an axial position on the side faces of each of the pockets that are different from the associated roller retaining projection. An annular recessed portion is provided in axially opposed ends of an inner diametric surface of the retainer so as to deploy over the entire periphery of the retainer. |
| US08092096B2 |
Wheel bearing apparatus for a vehicle
A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member, an inner member, and at least one inner ring press fit onto a cylindrical portion of a wheel hub. Double row rolling elements are rollably contained between double row outer raceway surfaces and double row inner raceway surfaces. A constant velocity universal joint torque is inserted into the wheel hub. It is axially separably connected to the wheel hub by a securing nut. A shoulder of an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint abuts against the inner member. An abutting surface of the inner member that abuts the shoulder of an outer joint member is formed so that it does not include a segment of a mirror finished surface with an area exceeding 0.005 mm2. |
| US08092095B2 |
Wheel support bearing assembly
A wheel support bearing assembly includes an outer member having an inboard end formed with a knuckle mount defined in an outer periphery thereof for engagement with a knuckle of an automotive suspension system, and also having an inner periphery formed with a plurality of raceway surfaces, in which the raceway surfaces in the outer member on the inboard side are in their entirety or partly held in overlapping relation within an axial range in which the knuckle mount is defined; an inner member having an outer periphery formed with raceway surfaces cooperable and aligned with the raceway surfaces in the outer member and also having a wheel fitting flange provided in an outboard end of the outer periphery thereof; and rows of balls interposed between the raceway surfaces in the outer member and the raceway surfaces in the inner member, respectively. |
| US08092086B2 |
Temperature sensor
A temperature sensor includes: a temperature-sensing element comprising a temperature-sensing portion and an element electrode wire connected to the temperature-sensing portion; a sheath member comprising a sheath tube and a sheath core wire extending from the sheath tube, the sheath core wire being joined to the element electrode wire to form a joint portion; an enclosing member comprising a closed-bottomed tube having a bottom portion at one end, and enclosing at least the temperature-sensing element and the joint portion; and a holding material filling at least a portion of a space enclosed by the enclosing member extending between a front end face of the temperature-sensing portion and the bottom portion of the enclosing member. The element electrode wire includes a bend at an intermediate portion of the element electrode wire between the temperature-sensing portion and the joint portion. |
| US08092085B2 |
Temperature sensor with leads
A thermistor includes a thermistor body and terminal electrodes disposed at both ends of the thermistor body. A first lead is longer than a second lead. The first and second leads include tips having inclined shapes that are cut such that metal lines are surface-exposed, respectively. The thermistor body is attached at a predetermined side position of the first lead such that the first lead and a side folding portion of the terminal electrode form a predetermined angle θ. The terminal electrode and the first lead are connected to each other through solder, and the second lead and the terminal electrode are connected to each other through solder. This can prevent the occurrence of damage even if an excessive thermal stress is applied. The temperature sensor with leads having stable electric connection with the temperature sensor that has satisfactory detection sensitivity and high reliability is achieved. |
| US08092084B2 |
System and method for temperature measurement
A method for precision thermal measurement and control, especially for bioreactors, as well as the correction of temperature sensitive probes such as pH and dissolved oxygen. Typical control requirements are +/−0.1° C. The thermal measurement circuit converts a sensor output to a high level voltage or current with great accuracy and provides noise immunity and sensor isolation. While digital outputs from sensor converters can have the greatest noise immunity, the noise associated with digital circuitry may contaminate low level sensor signals so in many cases an analog sensor converter is preferred because of low noise generation, especially if the converter is near the sensor. The circuit is low cost, reliable, generates minimal heat is immune to, and does not generate noise, and requires minimal calibration effort. |
| US08092081B2 |
Battery thermal event detection system using an optical fiber
A method and apparatus is provided for determining when a battery, or one or more batteries within a battery pack, undergoes an undesired thermal event such as thermal runaway. The system uses an optical fiber mounted in close proximity to, or in contact with, an external surface of the battery or batteries to be monitored. A source of light is optically coupled to the input facet of the optical fiber and a detector optically coupled to the output facet of the optical fiber. Battery health is determined by monitoring the light transmitted through the optical fiber. |
| US08092079B2 |
Method for determining whether a liquid is properly stirred
A stirring determination method uses an analyzer in which a liquid contained in a vessel is stirred by an acoustic wave generated by an acoustic wave generating unit attached to the vessel, optical characteristics of a reaction solution obtained by stirring the liquid are measured, and the reaction solution is analyzed based on the optical characteristics of the reaction solution. The method includes measuring a temperature of the liquid in a position where the temperature of the liquid is different before and after the liquid is stirred; and determining whether the liquid is properly stirred based on a rate of increase in the measured temperature of the liquid. |
| US08092076B2 |
Device for extracting, fragmenting, mixing and homogenizing especially infectious, malodorous, chemically corrosive or sterile substances
A device for extracting and fragmenting substances, especially infectious or malodorous substances, in a laboratory test vessel (3) is provided. The device includes a processing tool (11) and a stirrer element (33). An interior of the laboratory test vessel (3) is subdivided by a sieve (59) into a collection chamber and a processing chamber. The sieve (59) prevents parts of the substances having a defined rain size from reaching the collection chamber (73). A sample can be taken from the collection chamber using a pipette (45) which is passed through the stirrer element (33) and the sieve (59). |
| US08092073B2 |
Separation media slurry tank
A tank adapted to be used for suspending separation media slurry before transferring the separation media slurry to a column or a container comprises: an impeller (7) adapted to rotate in order to mix the media slurry, a nozzle (9) provided protruding into the tank from the bottom (8) thereof, and an adjustable pipe (5) having an open end (6) positioned in the tank and which can be adjusted in position. The nozzle (9) and the adjustable pipe (5) are adapted to be connected to a pump (3) adapted to pump liquid from the adjustable pipe (5) when the open end (6) of the adjustable pipe (5) has been positioned in an uppermost liquid phase provided in the tank when the media slurry has started to sediment and pump the liquid, possibly containing a small amount of media, through the nozzle (9) back into the tank from the tank bottom (8) in order to start re-suspending media that has sedimented in the tank. |
| US08092068B2 |
Light redirecting films and film systems
Optical assembly includes a generally planar light output surface located on a first major plane, and a generally planar second surface located on a second major plane approximately parallel to the first major plane and superimposed thereon. Both the light output surface and the second surface have respective first and second patterns of well defined optical elements that are quite small in relation to the length and width of the optical assembly. The optical elements of the first pattern have an apex angle formed by a first sloped surface that is larger in an area closer to at least one light input edge of the optical assembly and smaller in another area further away from the light input edge. |
| US08092065B2 |
Multi-function planar light source illumination lamp
The invention discloses a multi-function planar light source illumination lamp having a containing space and comprising a first lighting unit, a second lighting unit, a light guide unit and a control unit. The first lighting unit is used for generating a first light source arranged as a linear element. The second lighting unit is used for generating a second light source arranged as a punctual array. The light guide unit, disposed in the containing space, is used for providing the multi-function planar light source illumination lamp to generate a homogeneous planar light source. The control unit generates a control signal for controlling the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit to generate a luminous flux of the first light source and the second light source. |
| US08092063B2 |
Sheet-shaped lightguide member and electronic device using the same
A sheet-shaped lightguide member includes a lightguide sheet having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a peripheral edge surface a part of which is defined as a light entrance surface. At least one of the first and second surfaces has microscopic irregularities over the whole area thereof. The lightguide member is provided with a lightguide layer on a region of the at least one of the first and second surfaces. The lightguide layer defines a lightguide region in the at least one of the first and second surfaces retaining an exposed region as a light-emitting region. The lightguide layer is configured to guide the light received through the light entrance surface toward the light-emitting region. |
| US08092061B2 |
Pipe having light-redirecting channels
A display assembly includes a light pipe having re-directing channels defined therein. When a light source is provided in a compartment of the light pipe, light admitted from the light source to the light pipe emits from a front face of the light pipe. In addition, light emitted from reflective surfaces spaced apart from external surfaces of the light pipe combine with light emitted through the front face to provide glow regions of light resulting in symmetric uniform illumination of the display. |
| US08092060B2 |
Cradle
A cradle includes a housing, an indicator configured to display a status by emitting light, a light-emitting unit serving as a light source for causing the indicator to emit the light, and a reflection unit for guiding the light emitted from the light-emitting unit to the indicator by reflecting the emitted light to the indicator. |
| US08092058B2 |
Vehicle lamp unit
There is provided a vehicle lamp unit. The vehicle lamp includes: a projection lens disposed on an optical axis extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction; a semiconductor light emitting element comprising a light emitting surface having an almost rectangular shape and disposed behind a rear focal point of the projection lens such that a long side of the light emitting surface is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis; and a reflector comprising a reflection surface having an almost oval shape. A first focal point of the reflector is located on the rear focal point of the projection lens, and a second focal point of the reflector is located on the semiconductor light emitting element, and a minimum distance between the reflection surface and a rear corner portion of the light emitting surface is in a range of about 0.3 millimeters (mm) to about 3 mm. |
| US08092056B2 |
Light module and lighting device
The invention relates to a light module (1) for a lighting device for a motor vehicle. The lighting module (1) comprises a light source (3) for emission of electromagnetic radiation, preferably in the form of light which is visible for the human eye, and a reflector (2) for focusing the emitted radiation. At its apex, in the area of its optical axis (8), the reflector (2) has an opening (7) for holding a light-emitting part (5) of the light source (3). A reflector neck (9) is formed on the reflector (2), surrounding at least a part of the holding opening (7), to which reflector neck (9) another part (4, 6) of the light source (3) is attached. In order to reduce the installation space required for lighting devices in a motor vehicle, it is proposed that the reflector (2) has a slot (17), which extends into the holding opening (7), below the holding opening (7), the width of which slot (17) transversely with respect to the optical axis (8) of the reflector (2) is greater than the width of the light-emitting part (5) of the light source (3). The lamp (3) can therefore be replaced more easily, and in less space. |
| US08092054B2 |
LED illuminating device and light engine thereof
An LED illuminating device includes an optical section, an electrical section, and a heat dissipation section. The heat dissipation section is provided with a heat sink and at least one heat pipe therein. The heat sink includes a metal tube, a plurality of metal fins extending radially and outwardly from the metal tube, and a heat-absorbing plate attached to a bottom of the metal tube. A chamber is axially recessed from a top of the metal tube to the heat-absorbing plate. The heat pipe includes an evaporating section and a condensing section. The evaporating section of the heat pipe is attached to an inner surface of the heat-absorbing plate. The condensing section of the heat pipe is attached to an inner circumferential surface of the metal tube. The light source is attached to an outer surface of the heat-absorbing plate. |
| US08092051B2 |
Efficient LED array
An efficient LED array. In an aspect, an LED apparatus includes a metal substrate having a reflective surface, and LED chips mounted directly to the reflective surface to allow for thermal dissipation, and wherein at least a portion of the LED chips are spaced apart from each other to allow light to reflect from a portion of the reflective surface that is located between the portion of the LED chips. In another aspect, a method includes configuring a metal substrate to have a reflective surface, and mounting a plurality of LED chips directly to the reflective surface of the metal substrate to allow for thermal dissipation, and wherein at least a portion of the LED chips are spaced apart from each other to allow light to reflect from a portion of the reflective surface that is located between the portion of the LED chips. |
| US08092050B2 |
Fluid-convection heat dissipation device
A fluid-convection heat dissipation device includes at least one heat dissipation module, at least two baffles, and a heat dissipation fluid. The heat dissipation module forms at least one internal receiving space and has an outside surface to which at least one light emission element is attached. The baffles are arranged in the receiving space to divide the receiving space into a plurality of convection channels that are in fluid communication with each other. The heat dissipation fluid is received in the receiving space as a convection medium displaceable in a circulating path along the plurality of convection channels. |
| US08092049B2 |
LED light fixture
An LED floodlight fixture includes (1) a housing that has (a) at least one end-portion and (b) a single-piece extrusion including (i) a base having an LED-adjacent surface and an opposite surface and (ii) a heat-dissipating section having heat-dissipating surfaces extending from the opposite surface, and (2) an LED arrangement mounted to the LED-adjacent surface in non-water/air-tight condition with respect to the housing. The housing preferably forms at least one venting gap to provide cool-air ingress to and along the heat-dissipating surfaces by upward flow of heated air therefrom. Additionally and/or alternatively, the base of the single-piece extrusion has one or more venting apertures to provide cool-air ingress for such purpose. One aspect of the invention involves the heat-dissipating section of the extrusion including a closed extruded wireway therealong enclosing wires extending to/from electrical component(s). |
| US08092048B2 |
LED lamp
An LED lamp includes a lamp body, a casing connecting the lamp body and a position post connecting the casing. The lamp body includes a plurality of lamp modules and at least a bracket. Each of the lamp modules includes a heat sink and an LED module attached to the heat sink. The lamp body can be arranged in multi forms by the at least a bracket connecting different numbers of the lamp modules together. The lamp body can have one of the following forms: an L-shaped form, a U-shaped form and a square, loop-shaped form. |
| US08092045B2 |
LED illuminator
An LED illuminator includes a connecting member, a lamp cover, a hollow lamp cap, a plurality of LEDs received in the lamp cover, and a sealing member. The connecting member is a hollow cylinder. The lamp cover couples to and seals a first end of the connecting member. The lamp cap has a top end coupling to a second end of the connecting member opposite the first end and a bottom end defining an aperture. The sealing member defines an annular slot in an outer circumferential surface, with a diameter not smaller than that of the aperture. A portion of the bottom end of the lamp cap around the aperture engages into the slot of the sealing member. A channel extends through the sealing member with a diameter not larger than a conductive wire. |
| US08092038B2 |
Lamp shade
A lamp shade includes a frame bar and a plurality of fixing members. The frame bar includes a pair of wall bodies and a base connected between the wall bodies. Each wall body has an inner wall surface, and the inner wall surfaces are disposed facing each other. The fixing members are disposed at the wall bodies, and at least one fixing member is located on each inner wall surface. |
| US08092035B2 |
Illumination method and assembly
An illumination system including a lamp housing that may be mountable on a ceiling panel and a lamp supported within the lamp housing in a position to emit light from an opening in the housing. The lamp includes at least one LED that's removable through the housing opening. |
| US08092034B2 |
Illuminated tile systems and methods for manufacturing the same
In one embodiment, a lighted tile system, comprises a first tile. The first tile comprises a tray that comprises a floor, one or more walls coupled to a perimeter of the floor, and a cavity defined at least in part by the floor and the one or more walls. The first tile also comprises a ceiling coupled to the tray and located substantially opposite the floor of the tray, and a substrate located between the floor of the tray and the ceiling. One or more light sources are coupled to the substrate to shine a light from the one or more light sources in a substantially uniform pattern towards the ceiling. The ceiling is at least partially translucent to permit at least part of the light from the one or more light sources to shine through the ceiling. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein. |
| US08092030B2 |
Mount for an optical structure and method of mounting an optical structure using such mount
An improved mount for, and method of mounting an, optical structure is provided. The mount has a protruding member extending from a surface of the optical structure, a base element having a mounting structure for mounting the mount to another structure and an upper element extending from the base element having a first opening extending therethrough for receipt therein of at least a portion of the protruding member. The first opening defines first and second arms, each of the arms comprising a head portion and each of the head portions ending at an end. A second opening in the upper element extends through one of the head portions and the end thereof in a direction toward the other head portion, while a third opening exists in the upper element through the end of the other head portion in an orientation substantially opposite to and in communication with the second opening so that a tightening mechanism received through the second opening can be received into the third opening. Tightening of the tightening mechanism into the third opening causes the ends of the head portions to draw toward each other so that the first opening of the upper element tightens around the at least a portion of the protruding member. |
| US08092029B2 |
Lens module comprising at least one exchangeable optical element
Disclosed is a lens module, especially a projection lens for semiconductor lithography, comprising at least one replaceable optical element that is disposed in a lens housing. At least one gas exchange device is positioned in an area of the replaceable optical element in such a way that a receiving zone for the replaceable optical element can be flushed when the optical element is replaced. |
| US08092027B2 |
Portable electronic device with micro-projecting module
A portable electronic device with micro-projecting module includes a shell body, a micro-projecting module, a heat-conducting plate and a supporting stand. The shell body has a front lateral plate and a bottom lateral plate adjoining the front lateral plate. The front lateral plate has a front through hole, while the bottom lateral plate has a bottom through hole. The micro-projecting module is arranged in the shell body and has a lens exposing to an outside of the shell body from the front through hole. The heat-conducting plate is arranged in the shell body and is positioned between the micro-projecting module and the bottom through hole. In the meantime, the heat-conducting plate has a heat-absorbing face contacting the micro-projecting module and a heat-dissipating face abutted against the bottom through hole. The supporting stand may be pivoted onto the heat-dissipating face with a closing position substantially parallel to the heat-dissipating face after a rotation and a developing position by rotating a predetermined angle with respect to the heat-dissipating face. |
| US08092026B2 |
Optical engine and projector using same
An optical engine includes a receiving chamber and three light source modules. Each light source module includes a positioning board, a heat dissipating plate, and a light source unit. The heat dissipating plate is sandwiched between the light source unit and the positioning board and adhered to the corresponding light source unit. The light source unit is installed on the receiving chamber. The positioning board is matched with the light source unit and installed on the receiving chamber. |
| US08092025B2 |
System and method for detecting central retinal distortions associated with macular diseases
Provided herein are methods and systems to screen for subjects at risk for retinal-associated eye diseases or to monitor the progression/regression thereof. Generally, the method comprises simultaneously or sequentially displaying to a potentially at-risk individual targets of parallel and nonparallel lines, obtaining an orientation discrimination threshold based on the subject's selections and correlating an increase in the threshold compared to that of a normal control or to a previous threshold measured for the subject as indicative of risk for a retinal-associated eye disease or a progression of the eye disease. Also provided are program storage devices and computer program products effective to store instructions or source code to perform the methods. |
| US08092017B2 |
Method for producing an ophthalmic lens and an optical component for carrying out said method
The invention relates to a method for producing an ophthalmic lens exhibiting optical function coexisting in producing an optical component (10) incorporating at least one type of active material (2) which is distributed in a parallel direction to the surface thereof. Said active material exhibits a radiation-modifiable optical property. The active material (5) portions disposed through the component (10) surface are, afterwards, selectively irradiated in such a way that the optical function is obtainable by modulating said property from one portion to another one, wherein the sizes of said portions are less than 1 mm. |
| US08092016B2 |
Multifocal lens having a progressive optical power region and a discontinuity
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a multifocal lens having a diffractive optical power region and a progressive optical power region. Embodiments of the present invention provide for the proper alignment and positioning of each of these regions, the amount of optical power provided by each of the regions, the optical design of the progressive optical power region, and the size and shape of each of the regions. The combination of these design parameters allows for an optical design having less unwanted astigmatism and distortion as well as both a wider channel width and a shorter channel length compared to conventional PALs. Embodiments of the present invention may also provide a new, inventive far-intermediate distance zone and may further provide for increased vertical stability of vision within a zone of the lens. |
| US08092015B2 |
Honeycomb coating melanin lens and manufacturing process thereof
The present invention provides a honeycomb coating melanin lens and a manufacturing process thereof, wherein, it is an optical lens that has honeycomb pattern printed on a surface of a melanin lens and the two sides of the lens are respectively coated with a blue coating and a gold coating. The honeycomb pattern can also adopt other geometric configurations that are arrayed uniformly, and the pattern is printed with a covering paint (water-soluble resin). The present invention adopts the method of first printing honeycomb pattern on the surface of the melanin lens and then coating by vacuum plating to obtain the honeycomb coating melanin lens; the manufacturing process has good stability, low cost and good quality. Not only the lens can isolate the computer radiate and highlight screen flash in a close distance, but also the honeycomb pattern can effectively shield and reflect the highlight and stray scatteredlight; the lens only accepts parallel rays to be through, so, the direct hurt caused by scatteredlight to the eye retina and the eye crystalline lens is reduced, and the eye ciliary muscle is relaxed; the lens can promote blood circulation, and can protect people from computer radiate, so as to protect the eye and improve night-vision ability; furthermore, the lens can solve the problems of dry eye syndrome, acid swells and visual fatigue coming from using a computer for a long time. |
| US08092014B2 |
Plastic lens and manufacturing method thereof
A plastic lens plastic includes a plastic substrate (1) having a first main surface that is a convex surface (1A) and a second main surface that is a concave surface (1B), a photochromic compound-containing photochromic layer formed on the convex surface side of the substrate, and an impact-absorbing primer layer formed on the concave surface side of the substrate. |
| US08092009B2 |
Eyewear retention device
An eyewear retention device with a cable having sufficient strength so that, when worn on eyeglasses over the ears, the cable is suspended in an arc above the wearer's neck, shoulders or garments. |
| US08092007B2 |
Eyewear frames with magnetic lens attachments
The present invention illustrates various methods of attaching a pair of eyeglass lenses or a lens shield to an eyeglass frame using magnets or magnetically attractive material. The magnetic attachment methods are beneficial because they allow the user to have interchangeable lenses or shields for indoor and outdoor use, enhancing their visual acuity during work or play. The lenses may be tinted, prescription, protective eyewear, or plano. The magnetic lenses are convenient and user friendly, allowing intuitive, tool-less interchangeability with no need to twist or stress the frame. These methods of attachment require no specific instructions or tools when the user replaces lenses. |
| US08092004B2 |
Image recording apparatus
An image recording apparatus which records images on front and back surfaces of a sheet, including: a head which ejects ink onto the sheet for recording; a sheet-supply roller which contacts the sheet to transfer the sheet for supplying to the head; sheet-transfer rollers which are disposed on a downstream side of the head so as to be rotatable forwardly and reversely, and which transfer the sheet passed through the head while nipping the sheet, toward an outside of the image recording apparatus when forwardly rotated or toward the sheet-supply roller when reversely rotated such that the sheet is permitted to be again supplied to the head by the sheet-supply roller; a sheet-return path which is branched from a connecting path that connects the sheet-transfer rollers and the head so as to extend toward the sheet-supply roller, and through which the sheet is transferred toward the sheet-supply roller by the reverse rotations; and a roller-driving control section which drives the sheet-transfer rollers and the sheet-supply roller such that the sheet is transferred through the sheet-return path in a state in which the sheet is warped. |
| US08092000B2 |
Heat element configuration for a reservoir heater
A heater for use in a phase change ink printhead reservoir is provided that includes a first insulating layer having at least one ink supply path opening, and a second insulating layer having at least one ink supply path opening that aligns with the at least one ink supply path opening in the first insulating layer. The heater includes a resistance heating trace arranged in a serpentine pattern between the first and the second insulating layers. The resistance heating trace is configured to receive electric current and to convert the electric current to heat. The resistance heating trace includes a trace ring for each ink supply path opening in the first and second insulating layers that forms a continuous perimeter around the corresponding ink supply path opening. |
| US08091996B2 |
Fluid container, recycling method of fluid container, and sealing method of fluid container
A method for sealing an opening formed in a cover film welded to a fluid retainer at a position corresponding to a covered area of an ink inlet hole. A sealing member, which seals the opening, is a laminated film including a first film and a second film. The method includes preparing the laminated film, placing the laminated film on the fluid container with the first film facing the fluid container in such a manner that the laminated film covers the opening, and sealing the opening with the laminated film by heating the sealing member covering the opening from the side corresponding to the second film to melt the first film. |
| US08091983B2 |
Jet directionality control using printhead nozzle
A method of printing and an apparatus for controlling the directionality of liquid emitted from nozzles of a printhead are provided. Example embodiments of the apparatus include directionality control of liquid jets or liquid drops using a liquid jet directionality control mechanism. Example embodiments of the liquid jet directionality control mechanism include asymmetric energy application device configurations, nozzle geometry configurations, liquid delivery channel geometry configurations, or combinations of these configurations. |
| US08091981B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting apparatus having a first flow channel unit which includes a first nozzle plate formed with a first nozzle row of a plurality of nozzles arranged in a first direction with a pitch and a second flow channel unit which includes a second nozzle plate formed with a second nozzle row of a plurality of nozzles arranged in the first direction with the pitch. The first flow channel unit and the second flow channel unit are fixed to a head casing. The first flow channel unit and the second flow channel unit are arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and are displaced in the first direction such that the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row are displaced in the first direction by a length of the first nozzle row and the pitch. |
| US08091978B2 |
Ink collection for printers
An exemplary printer system may include a print head for dispensing ink during a printing operation. A roller is positioned beneath a platen to collect excess ink from the print head. A scraper is positioned against the roller to remove ink from the roller. |
| US08091977B2 |
Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing method
When thinning processing is performed to reduce the occurrence of black stripe caused by an overlap between scanning areas that is designed to prevent an end deviation from causing a white stripe, dots printed in a predetermined region by not only an ejection opening array subjected to the thinning processing but also other ejection opening arrays are counted so as to obtain their respective printing duties. Then, a color gamut is obtained based on the printing duties of the respective ejection opening arrays. Then, a thinning rate of the ejection opening array subjected to thinning processing is obtained by referring to a table corresponding to the color gamut, based on the printing duties of the respective ejection opening arrays obtained as above, and the thinning processing is performed. Accordingly, thinning processing can be performed which accurately reflects an amount of actual end deviation. |
| US08091975B2 |
Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing method
One or more scans used to apply a specific ink are varied according to the overlapping conditions of the specific ink and a non-specific ink, and bias in the specific ink nozzle usage frequency and bias in the printing ratio among passes is suppressed. For this purpose, one or more scans used to apply the specific ink are determined on the basis of applying amount information for the specific ink and the non-specific ink. For example, the one or more scans used to apply the specific ink are determined such that the ratio of specific ink applied by the last half of plural scans is greater for a unit pixel whose application ratio of non-specific ink to specific ink is greater than a predetermined ratio than for a unit pixel whose application ratio of non-specific ink to the specific ink is less than the predetermined ratio. |
| US08091974B2 |
Coloring material recording device, coloring material recording program, and image forming apparatus
A coloring material recording device comprises a plurality of image recording elements and a control unit. The plurality of image recording elements record with a plurality of coloring materials on a recording medium and form an image, and one of the plurality of image recording elements is provided for each of the coloring materials. The control unit controls the plurality of image recording elements such that detection images of at least two coloring materials of the plurality of coloring materials overlap each other on the recording medium. |
| US08091971B2 |
Soft close drawer assembly
A soft-close cabinet slide assembly permits the soft-close action and/or a soft-open action of a drawer, and thus the reduction of effort by an operator, when the drawer is opening or closing. The cabinet slide assembly includes a cabinet, a drawer, and at least one slide mechanism coupling the drawer to the cabinet to permit movement of the drawer between a fully open position and a fully closed position. A forcing means for exerting an extension force, preferably a gas spring, is also be included in the soft-close cabinet slide assembly having a first end coupled to the cabinet and a second end coupled to the drawer. Preferably, the soft-close cabinet slide assembly also includes a first and second pivotal coupling, which permit the gas spring to swing through an arc as the drawer moves between the fully open position and the fully closed position. |
| US08091966B2 |
Backrest structure for a motor vehicle seat
A backrest structure for a motor vehicle seat includes a rest frame forming the supporting structure of the backrest. The rest frame includes at least two longitudinal struts running in the longitudinal direction of the backrest. The backrest structure also includes a lumbar support arranged on the front side of the rest frame for supporting the back region of a motor vehicle occupant. The lumbar support includes a transverse traverse being adjustable along the longitudinal struts with a height adjusting device, to which a support device is hinged and is adjustable with a depth adjusting device substantially perpendicular to the transverse traverse. The lumbar support further includes a retaining device supporting the transverse traverse and extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the backrest and receiving the height adjusting device. |
| US08091964B2 |
Blast mitigating seat
A blast mitigating seat features a base and a seat frame. The seat frame includes a pan and a backrest including an open area for gear worn by a user. A first damping subsystem between the base and the seat frame has a first force/stroke relationship and a second damping subsystem between the base and the seat frame has a second force/stroke relationship. |
| US08091960B2 |
Seat assembly having seat heating and occupant detection
A seat assembly including a seat cushion, a heating element, a heating circuit, a occupant sensing circuit, and an isolation circuit. The seat cushion has a seating surface, the heating element is adjacent the seating surface and is formed of electrically conductive material. The heating circuit is coupled to the heating element for supplying electrical current to the heating element for generating heat. The occupant sensing circuit is also coupled to the heating element for sensing the presence of an occupant near the heating element. The isolation circuit is interposed between the heating circuit and the heating element for isolating the heating circuit from the occupant sensing circuit. |
| US08091957B2 |
Pivotable vehicle seat
A seat comprising a component that is cushioned on one side and is disposed on a seat base. A pivot/rotation mechanism is operatively connected to the seat base and the component for displacing the component, in a positively guided manner, in a position into which the cushion side faces downwardly, and in which at least one further auxiliary utility is accessible. |
| US08091954B2 |
Cab mounting mechanism
Mounting apparatus (10) for mounting a cab (12) to a chassis (14) on a utility vehicle at one of a plurality of mounting points. The mounting apparatus comprise a first member (15) being associated with the cab and a second member (16) being associated with the chassis. The members (15, 16) each have a mutually cooperating major surface which supports a portion of the weight of the cab (12). The weight is supported over a majority of the major surface thus avoiding localized stresses. The members further include engaging projections (25, 16) disposed on their major surfaces which can be engaged to restrict relative movement in a plane substantially parallel to the major surfaces. The members can be attached to the chassis (14) and the cab (12) at an early stage in the assembly, thereby allowing a saving in time and thus assembly costs. |
| US08091950B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing drag via a plasma actuator
A vehicle includes a surface over which airflow passes. A plasma actuator is configured to generate plasma above the surface, the plasma coupling a directed momentum into the air surrounding the surface to reduce separation of the airflow from the surface. A method of reducing separation of airflow from a surface of the vehicle includes generating plasma in air surrounding the surface at a position where the airflow would separate from the surface in the absence of the plasma. |
| US08091949B2 |
Arrangement structure of door wire harness
In an arrangement structure for a door wire harness, the door wire harness is arranged in a door of a vehicle body and is spanned in a space between the door and the vehicle body inside a vehicle room beyond a weather strip. The door wire harness is drawn out of a space between a door inner panel and a door trim at a door side and is fixed on the door at a wire harness drawing-out position. A door side fixing position of the door wire harness is shifted from a vehicle body side fixing position of the door wire harness in a vertical direction. A spanning section of the door wire harness between the door side fixing position and the vehicle body side fixing position is sheathed by a grommet having a flexible bellows-like tube portion and made of rubber or resin. The spanning section of the door wire harness is bent in an S-shaped configuration in a space between opposed surfaces of the door and the vehicle body when the door is closed. The door wire harness is changed from the S-shaped configuration to a straight line configuration when the door is opened. |
| US08091945B2 |
Vehicle seating system
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat frame having a seat back and stadium-type seat base for movement between a seating position and a storage position to improve ease of entry to the vehicle area behind the vehicle seat. The vehicle seat assembly includes a swing assembly coupled to the seat back and configured to rotate the folded seat assembly around a substantially vertical axis. A single handle operation is included for unlatching the seat latches—the seat base automatically flips up—and pivoting the entire vehicle seat toward the interior of the vehicle to allow easy entry behind the vehicle seat. |
| US08091944B2 |
Suspension apparatus for suspending an object in a vehicle
A method and suspension apparatus for suspending an object in a vehicle. The vehicle having inner surfaces including a lower surface and an upper surface, comprising an object and a suspension apparatus adapted for holding the object in a suspended position in the vehicle. The suspension apparatus comprising an elongated suspension element, an anchoring arrangement for spacing the object from, and arresting its motion towards, the lower and upper surfaces of the vehicle in the suspended position, and a tensioning mechanism adapted to tension the elongated suspension element. The elongated suspension element comprising a first end portion, a second end portion and a central portion extending therebetween. The anchoring arrangement comprising a plurality of connection elements including static and dynamic connection elements which are fixed to the lower and upper surfaces of the vehicle and the object, and which engage the suspension element, thereby holding it in a predetermined spatial disposition with the possibility to be tensioned by the tensioning mechanism. The engagement of the suspension element with the connection elements is in the form of static connection of each of the end portions with the static connection elements, and dynamic connection of the central portion with the dynamic connection elements, which are disposed on the object and/or at least two spaced apart points on the upper surface, whereby the central portion of the suspension element is allowed to move relative to the dynamic connection elements when the suspension element is not under tension. |
| US08091942B2 |
Recreational vehicle with ramp door
An embodiment of the invention includes a ramp mechanism configured for use in a recreational vehicle including a ramp portion and an actuation mechanism. The ramp portion is movable between a closed position and an open position. The actuation mechanism is configured to move the ramp portion between the closed position and the open position. The actuation mechanism includes a first mounting assembly, a second mounting assembly and an actuator connecting the first mounting assembly to the second mounting assembly. |
| US08091940B1 |
Expandable room leveling system and method
An apparatus for moving an expandable room of a vehicle between a raised position and a lowered position is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one lift station attachable to the vehicle, an arm combined with the lift station, a rotatable member rotatably combining the at least one lift station and the arm, wherein the lift station rotates the arm between the raised position and the lowered position, and a support member fixed to the arm and engaging the expandable room, wherein the support member supports the expandable room. |
| US08091937B2 |
Sliding tarpaulin for hauling material
A sliding tarp for hauling landscaping materials and debris is composed of a flexible, foldable rectangular sheet having attached to its underside a widthwise row of three elongated, relatively rigid convex glides disposed rearward of a location midway between the front and rear edges of the sheet, and arranged so that the tarp can be folded along longitudinal fold lines extending between adjacent glides. |
| US08091933B1 |
Heavy duty door latch and release modules
A heavy duty vehicle door latch assembly is provided with interconnected latch, release, and bell crank modules to form a single, pre-assembled unit for quick and easy installation on the inside of a vehicle door. The modular design allows for application to multiple door layouts and arrangements. The release module includes a locking mechanism using a lever rod to disallow latch component movement. A release lever interfaces with the lock lever to automatically unlock and release the latch in a single motion. A lockout feature is also provided to prevent accidental locking of the door. |
| US08091930B2 |
Tubular connection floating shoulder ring
A floating shoulder ring is arranged to occupy the J-space between pin ends of coupled pipe sections. The length of the ring is arranged to allow the pipe connection to approach the specified torque for shoulderless connections before the ring begins to function as an abutment between the approaching pipe ends. The torque accepted by the ring limits the radial force imposed by tapered threads on both pipe and coupling. The ring is provided with modified threads on the outer surface to engage the inner threads of the coupling, in the J-space, to retain the ring in the coupling during handling in preparation for assembly into a pipe string. The modified threads yield axially when substantially forced. Threads that slip axially, non-destructively, and threads that deform under sufficient axial force are provided. |
| US08091929B2 |
Holding device for a shower attachment
A feed-through for a shower hose contains in the feed-through a securing mechanism, which is configured such that it definitely allows the hose to be pulled out, yet prevents it from being pulled back. In order to release the securing mechanism, a second tug is made on the hose, so that, when it is next pulled back, it can then be pulled inward through the feed-through. |
| US08091921B2 |
Gas generator and airbag module
A gas generator has an outer housing with a gas outlet section having an outer wall. The gas outlet section has a first and a second outflow area. Each outflow area has a net thrust outflow direction. The net thrust outflow direction of the first outflow area has a first component in the lengthwise direction of the gas generator and the net thrust outflow direction of the second outflow area has a second component in the lengthwise direction of the gas generator. The first component is oriented opposite to the second component. The gas generator is arranged in an airbag module in a way that gas from the first and second outflow areas is guided into different inflatable sections of a gas bag. |
| US08091920B2 |
Passenger restraint system
A vehicle occupant restraint system includes an inflatable airbag arranged in a vehicle seat. When the airbag is triggered it at least partially unfolds in the direction of travel on a side of the vehicle seat facing the vehicle interior. The vehicle seat includes a backrest frame extending in a substantially vertical direction in the vehicle seat and substantially aligned in the direction of travel. The airbag is connected to a front end of the backrest frame pointing in the direction of travel. |
| US08091914B1 |
Universal trailer hitch guide apparatus
A trailer hitch guide including a guide having first and second halves interconnected through a cooperatively formed hinge having a releasable hinge pin, first and second neck surrounds cooperatively defining geometry for surrounding a tow-ball, a base including first and second arms, and a clamp cooperatively carried on the first and second arms for urging the first and second arms together around a hitch, wherein the first and second halves are connected to the first and second neck surrounds, respectively, and the first and second neck surrounds are pivotally connected to the base. |
| US08091910B2 |
Apparatus for controlling a bicycle suspension element
An apparatus for controlling a bicycle suspension element includes a suspension parameter controller that provides a suspension parameter controlling signal to control an operating parameter of the bicycle suspension element in response to a bicycle seat position. |
| US08091909B2 |
Axles, such as for bicycles
A suspension for a two-wheeled vehicle includes first and second fork legs. Each fork leg includes a dropout. Each dropout has an opening therethrough. At least a portion of one of the openings is threaded. Each of the dropouts includes a split-clamp pinch bearing defining the opening and operable between an open position and a locked position, and a hand operable actuator pivoted to the bearing for operation thereof. The suspension further includes a one-piece axle. The axle is disposed through the openings. The axle has a threaded first end engaged with the threaded portion. The axle has an ergonomic grip formed at a second end. The bearing tightly engages an outer surface of the axle in the locked position, thereby rotationally coupling the axle to the dropout. |
| US08091907B1 |
Portable wheel step
The Portable Wheel Step is a device that can be temporarily affixed to a pickup truck's tire and wheel to aid individuals in easily accessing items in the bed of the truck or under the hood. This unique product can give users extra height so they can reach certain areas of the truck in a safe, secure manner with less effort. By stepping onto the device, it may move into a slight downward position, locking into place, creating a step. With the apparatus being in a configuration that is one solid piece, there is no assembly required. With the apparatus having a flat compact stature, the product can easily be stored behind the seat area of a pickup truck. |
| US08091900B2 |
Apparatus for operating roller imbedded in a shoe up and down
An apparatus for operating a roller up and down is provided, which includes a main body fixed to a bottom of a shoe, an operating body to which the roller is imbedded, which is slidably mounted within the main body, and an operating assembly to move the operating body within the main body between an operating position and a non-operating position, wherein the roller protrudes out from the main body in the operating position while the roller is retracted into the main body in the non-operating position. A wearer of a shoe is capable of shifting the shoe between an operating position in which the roller protrudes out from the bottom of the shoe and a non-operating position in which the roller is retracted into the bottom of the shoe, by a simple operation. Accordingly, the shoe can be used as a roller shoe when the roller is in the operating position, and used as a general walking shoe for everyday use when the roller is in the non-operating position. As a result, the wearer can conveniently use a roller shoe as well as a walking shoe with one shoe. |
| US08091896B2 |
Bullet trap
A bullet trap is disclosed which is formed without intervening sidewalls to enable cross-shooting and the like with reduced risk or ricochet or damage to the bullet trap. Furthermore, the bullet trap can be configured in a variety of ways to eliminate the need for facing plates while providing a removable attachment mechanism, to enable repair on the trap, to reduce bullet adhesion to the trap and to provide improved containment of lead and improved access to the trap. |
| US08091893B2 |
Food prep board game
A board game containing a board with multicolored squares laid out in a rectangular path and playing pieces to which specialized pieces are added connected as the player advances the playing piece around the board. The specialized pieces to be added to the playing piece represent and look like one of the following: a piece of bread, peanut butter, or jelly. The object of the game is to build a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and advance the sandwich to a space which represents a glass of milk. A player rolls a die, and advances a playing piece the number of spaces on the die. There are spaces of many different colors. Purple corresponds to jelly, yellow corresponds to a piece of bread and brown corresponds to peanut butter. Spaces of other colors don't have a special meaning. If a player lands on purple, yellow or brown and if the player needs the piece corresponding to that color, then that piece is joined to the player's playing piece. When the player has completed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, that player's piece must advance around the path to an exit lane and then the player must roll the exact number that causes the playing piece to land on the winning space which corresponds to a glass of milk. The game is intended for ages four and up. |
| US08091892B2 |
Manual controller configurable by user arrangement of matable building elements
A configurable manual controller for manipulating images or symbols on a display is adapted for construction with matable building elements arranged by a user. The user forms the manual controller to exhibit a customized ornamental appearance reflecting the user's game-inspired, ergonomic, or style preferences. |
| US08091890B2 |
Medium feeding device and recording apparatus with separated reverse direction feed driving roller
A medium feeding device includes a feed roller pair, a transport roller, a medium guiding path section, and a controller. The feed roller pair includes a feed driving roller driven by power and a feed driven roller to be rotationally driven, and feeds a medium to be fed toward the downstream side in a feed direction. The feed driving roller and the feed driven roller are separated from each other. The transport roller pair transports the medium, which is fed by the feed roller pair, toward the downstream side in the feed direction. The transport roller pair includes a transport driving roller that is disposed on the downstream side of the feed roller pair in the feed direction and is driven by power and a transport driven roller that is rotationally driven. |
| US08091886B2 |
Sheet conveying device and image forming apparatus
A sheet conveying device which has a reduced size and is capable of detecting the amount of lateral sheet registration deviation and correcting the deviation at high speed. The sheet conveying device includes shift roller pairs for conveying sheets, and a shift unit for shifting a conveyed sheet in a direction orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction. After the sheet has reached a position where it is to be detected by a lateral registration deviation-detecting sensor unit, a CPU causes the sensor unit and the sheet to be shifted in respective opposite directions, detect a sheet lateral edge, and thereby measure the position of the sheet lateral edge. Further, the CPU causes the sheet to be shifted based on a result of the measurement, such that the sheet lateral edge is aligned with a predetermined position. |
| US08091880B2 |
Device for fitting printed products with inserts
The device has successively disposed receiving elements (14). These are formed by a channel-like base (42) and a wall (44) trailing as viewed in circumferential direction (U). The circumferential path (24) extends in the working section (38) at an incline such that the printed products (18) fed by means of the first conveyor (10) come to rest in the system at the base (42) and plane against the wall (44). A sliding body (60) is associated with each receiving element (14), the sliding body displacing the fed printed products (18) along the wall (44) of the receiving section (46) in the insertion section (48) by abutting the same. The printed products (18) are opened, wherein the second product part (18″) is placed behind the hold-open element (50), which is disposed on the forward receiving element (14). Inserts (20) are added to the printed products (18) by means of a second conveyor (12). |
| US08091877B2 |
Sheet finisher, image forming apparatus using the same, and sheet finishing method
A sheet finisher of the invention includes a saddle stitch unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle in which printed sheets are bundled, a fold unit configured to fold the center stitched by the saddle stitch unit and to form a fold line, and a fold reinforcing unit configured to reinforce the fold line formed by the fold unit, and the fold reinforcing unit includes a placement table on which the sheet bundle transported from the fold unit is placed, a band-like elastic member that is extended to face the fold line of the placed sheet bundle and is formed to be longer than the length of the fold line, and a roller unit that includes a reinforce roller and moves the reinforce roller along the direction of the fold line while pressing it to the fold line through the intervening elastic member. |
| US08091874B2 |
Bar clamp with multi-directional adjustable pads
A bar clamp with adjustable jaw pads for clamping and for spreading work pieces includes a main housing having a bar opening for extending a bar therethrough, and a bar advancing mechanism with a bar gripping member in proximity to the bar opening. There is an elongated slide bar extending through the bar opening, and a handle and trigger connected to the main housing wherein the trigger is connected to the bar advancing mechanism such that activation of the trigger causes advancement of the bar through the main housing. It also includes a first jaw base connected to the main housing and extending upwardly therefrom. A first jaw pad is rotatably connected to the first jaw base, so as to be rotatable in at least two planes, to adjust angles between the elongated slide bar and the first jaw pad. A separate, second jaw base is connected to the elongated slide bar. There is a second jaw pad rotatably connected to the second jaw base, so as to adjust an angle between the elongated slide bar and the second jaw pad. The second jaw pad is rotatable in at least one plane, preferably two and in some embodiments, three planes. |
| US08091872B2 |
Fluid-filled type vibration damping device
A fluid filled type vibration damping device includes a first mounting member, a second mounting member, a main rubber elastic body, a flexible film, a partition member, a valve, a coil, a control-signals-generating circuit and a power amplifier circuit. The valve enables to switch the second orifice passage between an open state and a closed state. The second orifice passage communicates the pressure-receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber with each other. The switch of the valve is performed by an electromagnetic force occurring by an electrical connection of the coil. Furthermore the control-signals-generating circuit is formed and disposed separately from the coil. The control-signals-generating circuit produces state switching control signals of the valve. Moreover the power amplifier circuit which supplies an electric-current to the coil by amplifying the state switching control signals, constitutes an actuator unit attached integrally to the coil, and is disposed separately from the control-signals-generating circuit. |
| US08091871B2 |
Axially damped hydraulic mount assembly
A hydromount assembly includes a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber that communicate with one another through an inertia track. The inertia track is interposed between the first and second fluid chambers, and is used as a fluid actuating plunger to move relative to at least one of the first and second chambers in response to vibration to pump fluid from the first chamber to the second chamber, and vice versa, through the inertia track. An opening extends through the first and second fluid chambers and the inertia track and receives a shaft therein. The inertia track is secured to the shaft so that axial movement of the shaft results in axial movement of the inertia track. Elastomeric portions of the hydromount may be differently tuned from one another. The center mount hydromount may be selectively assembled with a body mount, or the body mount integrated into the hydromount whereby the center mount arrangement increases the functionality of the damper. |
| US08091868B2 |
WVT design for reduced mass and improved sealing reliability
A membrane humidifier for a fuel cell system is disclosed wherein the membrane humidifier includes a plurality of membrane layers, a first pair of spaced apart sealing bars disposed between a first membrane layer and a second membrane layer adjacent to perimeter edges thereof to form a first flow channel, a second pair of spaced apart sealing bars disposed between the second membrane layer and a third membrane layer adjacent to perimeter edges thereof to form a second flow channel, and a plurality of supports, wherein a first support is disposed adjacent the second planar layer and extending between the second pair of spaced apart sealing bars, and a second support is disposed adjacent the third planar layer and extending between the second pair of spaced apart sealing bars. |
| US08091866B2 |
Wire pull assembly
A wire pull assembly including a quick-change assembly and a wire pull attachment. The wire pull attachment includes an insert, a basket adapted to receive and secure an article therein, and a swivel assembly interconnecting the insert and basket such that the swivel assembly allows the basket to move freely relative to the insert. |
| US08091865B2 |
Lever bar
An improved lever bar has an elongated shaft having two opposite distal ends. The first of the two opposite distal ends includes a crescent shaped portion having opposite end portions, both of the crescent opposite end portions respectively include flattened, clawed portions; and the second of the two opposite distal ends includes a flattened, pointed portion. |
| US08091864B2 |
Valve for a fluid flow connector having an overmolded plunger
A fluid flow connector and a method of manufacturing the same wherein the fluid flow connector utilizes a valve having a plunger which is made by overmolding a soft exterior to a hard core. The soft exterior being overmolded to the hard core by either insert or multi-shot methods. The method also including attaching the soft exterior to the hard core mechanically and/or by molecular bonding. |
| US08091859B2 |
Valve for controlling fluids
A valve for controlling fluids having a piezoelectric actuator unit which has an actuator base and an actuator head that acts on a coupling module which is connected to a valve closing member that cooperates with a valve seat; the actuator base is braced via a spherical face on a conical seat of a valve housing and has an O-ring seal on its circumference. The spherical face of the actuator base is located on the side of the O-ring seal facing away from the actuator head. |
| US08091857B2 |
Valve
A valve assembly (10) to regulate the flow of a refrigerant. The valve assembly (10) includes a movable valve member (25) to which there are attached two pistons (29 and 30). A refrigerant under pressure is applied to the pistons (29 and 30) to cause movement of the movable valve member (25) to connect or disconnect pipes (17 and 18) through which the refrigerant is to flow. |
| US08091855B1 |
Fluorinated elastomeric blowout preventer packers and method
A packer unit to be used in an annular blowout preventer. The packer unit includes an elastomer body including a compound of a carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR) base polymer having a polymer chain, and a quantity of fluorine atoms attached to the polymer chain. The compound includes between 50 and 60% XNBR, between 25 to 35% carbon black, and the rest includes other materials. The quantity of fluorine atoms displaces at least an equal quantity of hydrogen atoms from the polymer chain when the elastomer body is fluorinated. |
| US08091852B2 |
Hanger device and method for hanging an object
A hanger and method for hanging is disclosed, the hanger for the purposes of hanging objects on substantially vertical surfaces such as walls, beams and posts. The hanger comprises a single-piece bracket of substantially flat suitable material. One portion of the bracket is attachable to the object to be hung using fasteners or other means and supports the weight of the object on support hardware using a concave support edge. The support edge is a tapered concave edge which may have a slotted center designed to fit typically used vertical support hardware (such as nails, screws of pegs) extending from a substantially vertical support surface such as a wall, beam or post. Another portion of the bracket extends away from the support edge and beyond the outer edge of the object to be hanged and includes a fastener opening for securing the alignment of the object relative to the vertical support using typical fasteners (such as nails or screws). The method of hanging comprises the steps of securing the hanger to the object to be hanged, supporting the weight of the object on the extending vertical support hardware using the hanger support edge, aligning the object, and securing the alignment of the object on the vertical support by fastening the hanger to the vertical support using fastener means. |
| US08091847B2 |
Connectable profiled mounting rail (base rail)
The invention relates to a connectable profiled mounting rail, comprising longitudinal webs (3) for connecting the elements to be mounted, wherein the basic profile has a discontinuous, essentially rectangular surface line (4). On the one side, a connection profile (5) for attachment of the profiled mounting rail (1) is provided. The connection profiles (6, 7) located on the opposite side are arranged in such a structural manner that a second profiled mounting rail (2) which has the same profile cross-section and is rotated by 180° can be connected in a positive fit to the first profiled mounting rail (1) by inserting the connection profiles (6, 7) into each other. |
| US08091846B1 |
Work supporting apparatus
A device for use at construction sites, the device having a plurality of brackets for quickly and easily mounting the device on building studs and for supporting a length of material, such as a two by four, and wherein two or more of the devices can be mounted on neighboring building studs to create a work or work surface supporting apparatus. |
| US08091844B1 |
Air conditioner support device
An air conditioner support device for supporting an air conditioner in a window unit in a building, said air conditioner support device comprising a platform having a first half and a second half slidably connected via a connecting rod; a lip disposed on the first side of the first and second half of the platform; a first adjustable pivot arm and second adjustable pivot arm for supporting the platform in the window unit; wherein the platform is for placing in the window unit over a window sill and below a window wherein the air conditioner can be placed atop the platform. |
| US08091842B2 |
Automatically varying equipment support
An equipment support (10) for supporting a piece of equipment (20). The equipment support (10) being operable to support the piece of equipment (20) and including a drive arrangement (13a, 13b) to provide drive so that the position of the piece of equipment (20) relative to a user of the equipment is automatically and continuous varied over time. |
| US08091839B2 |
Scissor type pipe clamp
A pipe clamp secures an elongate article such as a pipe to as structural channel. The pipe clamp includes a pair of elongate pipe straps each having one end for securement to the structural channel and an opposed end mutually interconnectable. The opposed end of one of the pipe straps is insertable into an aperture in the opposed end of the other pipe strap. A threaded fastener movably couples the ends to compressively secure the pipe strap to the structural channel about the article. |
| US08091836B2 |
Rotary wing system with ion field flow control
A rotary-wing system which generates a directed ion field to propel a fluid along a rotary-wing to control at least one boundary layer characteristic. |
| US08091835B2 |
Exchangeable propellant cartridge system
A propellant depot (40, 150) includes a utility box (42, 42′) that has space flight equipment. A propellant cartridge adaptor (95) is coupled to the utility box (42, 42′) and to an exchangeable propellant cartridge system (41). The propellant depot (40, 150) also includes a docking adaptor (44) for coupling to an approaching spacecraft (24). A controller (66) controls the transfer of propellant from within the exchangeable propellant cartridge system (41) to the spacecraft (24). A method of providing propellant to a spacecraft in space includes launching an orbital propellant depot (40, 150) into space. The spacecraft is docked to the orbital propellant depot (40, 150) in space. Propellant is transferred to the spacecraft. The spacecraft is separated from the orbital propellant depot (40, 150). |
| US08091831B2 |
Aircraft with door seal arrangement
A door arrangement for tightly closing a door opening comprises a door frame, a door which, when closed, is arranged in the door frame, and inner and outer sealing lips. The inner and outer sealing lips run next to each other along a periphery of the door opening between a first surface of the door and a second surface of the door frame, wherein the first and second surfaces face each other. The inner and outer sealing lips bound a space formed between them. The door arrangement further comprises a pressure-reducing device configured to reduce pressure in the space. |
| US08091830B2 |
Stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of forming thereof
The present invention relates to a stringer for an aircraft wing and a method of forming such a stringer in which the stringer is formed from a single piece of material and then machined to optimise the dimensions and weight of the stringer. |
| US08091829B2 |
Lifting structure for aircraft
A lifting structure for aircraft is essentially applicable to a horizontal stabilizer that includes two side symmetrical boxes that converge at one end (its root) thereof in a shared center area in order to connect integrally in the central area. Both boxes connect by a single part that constitutes a center rib with a double T-shaped profile. The root of the side boxes overlap converging on the inside surfaces of the wings of the center rib. The connection is ensured with rivets (lap joint). The proposed connection simplifies the assembly process (single part) and lead to a weight reduction since a carbon fiber connecting rib can be used. |
| US08091825B2 |
Tandem powered power tilting tilt rotor aircraft
An aircraft with a long body 1 which has a forward end 2 and an aft end 3, which is able to achieve vertical take-off by means of a tilt-able rotor and blade assembly 4 at the forward part of the aircraft and a tilt-able turbojet 19 at the rear of the aircraft. The rotor and blade assembly is rotated by an engine assembly 8, with the engine assembly, the rotor and blades all positioned on top a multi-directional tilt enabling joint 9. The turbojet is fitted to a multi-directional tilt enabling joint 27 to allow control of lateral movement of the aircraft as well as providing vertical lift and forward propulsion during forward flight. The turbojet is connected to the tilt enabling joint 27 by a rivet 30 such that the turbojet can be rotated relative to the tilt enabling joint. |
| US08091824B2 |
Inverted airfoil pylon for an aircraft
An aircraft including a wing and a pylon, wherein the pylon provides an airfoil inverted for an airfoil of the wing, and an improvement and method for improved flight dynamics for 20 and 30 Series LEARJET® is provided. The improvement includes an increased distance between a leading edge of a wing and an intake of an engine of the aircraft, which reduces drag and increases lift for improved flight dynamics of the aircraft. The inverted airfoil of the pylon negates an influence of the pylon on flight dynamics for improved overall flight dynamics of the aircraft. The method includes steps of removing an original engine from an original pylon, removing the original pylon from the fuselage of the aircraft, and mounting a new pylon in a new location adjacent to the fuselage, wherein the new location is aft of the original location. |
| US08091821B2 |
Method for controlling an electric belt retractor, and an electric belt retractor
A method for controlling an electric belt retractor (16) which has an electric motor (20) which can drive a belt spool (18) in a belt band retraction direction and/or in a belt band withdrawal direction, and a blocking catch which is able to be guided into blocking teeth in order to block a rotation of the belt spool (18) in the belt band withdrawal direction, comprises the following steps: Operating the electric motor (20) in belt band retraction direction for tensioning the belt band (26); Detecting a possible belt band withdrawal; Determining a stable vehicle state; and Re-operating the electric motor (20) in belt band retraction direction only when a belt band withdrawal is detected. |
| US08091818B2 |
Gyratory cone crusher with skewed non-co-planar conehead and main crusher centerlines
A gyratory cone crusher with a conehead centerline and a main centerline being skewed and non-coplanar with respect to each other. The conehead exhibits an elliptical movement path which results in faster throughput and enhanced cubicity performance. |
| US08091815B2 |
Platform for a portable vacuum and shredder apparatus
A platform for securing a portable vacuum and shredder apparatus has brackets for attaching a shredder onto the platform. A vacuum tube for the ingress of matter to be shredded. An ingress opening for the shredded matter. A closed area, or bag for collecting the shredded material. An air exhaust fitted with a filter system or device allowing for air exhaust while the shredded material is retained in the closed collecting area, or bag. |
| US08091813B2 |
Bi-modal roller grinder
A grinder for grinding a material. The grinder may include a number of first rollers for grinding the material to a grind of substantially a first predetermined particle size and a number of adjustable second rollers for grinding a portion of the grind of the first predetermined particle size to a grind of substantially a second predetermined particle size. |
| US08091807B2 |
Method, system and apparatus for the deagglomeration and/or disaggregation of clustered materials
A method of separating at least one cluster of a plurality of clustered particles of a specified material. The method includes: initiating the wetting of at least a portion of the plurality of cluster particles; disaggregating at least a portion of the wetted plurality of cluster particles into a disaggregated material including a plurality of smaller clusters, discrete particles or any combination thereof; and stabilizing at least a portion of the disaggregated material by reducing, eliminating or replacing specified controlling attractive forces. A system and apparatus for separating at least one cluster of a plurality of clustered particles of a specified material are also disclosed. |
| US08091804B2 |
Spraying device apparatus
A spraying device includes a housing that has a spraying unit and a trigger assembly. The spraying unit is a removable insert within the housing. The spraying unit includes an air chamber that is coupled to a liquid tank. A front end portion of the air chamber has a nozzle. The air chamber receives a liquid tube that opens in the nozzle. The liquid tube receives a needle and the needle and the liquid tube are coaxial with each other. The trigger assembly controls the flow of liquid through the liquid tube by positioning a tapered front end of the needle. The trigger assembly includes a trigger that has a first position and a second position. In the first position, the opening of the liquid tube is closed by the needle. In a second position, the liquid tube is opened to discharge a liquid from an opening of the liquid tube. |
| US08091798B2 |
Safety straw and method of use thereof
A safety straw comprising a barrier for use with or incorporated as part of a straw, wherein the straw comprises a bendable segment, and wherein the barrier prevents the straw from being inserted too far into a person's mouth. The barrier comprises a mouthpiece that retains the conventional shape of a straw and is preferably molded as a unit with the straw. Alternatively, the barrier may be separately formed and installed on an existing straw. Further, the barrier may comprise a circular disk with a hole in the center thereof. To use, a user inserts the straw with the barrier into their mouth, wherein the barrier prevents the user from inserting the straw too far into their mouth. |
| US08091795B1 |
Intelligent thermostat device with automatic adaptable energy conservation based on real-time energy pricing
An Intelligent Thermostat (IT) device and method of use for the retrieval and display of real-time energy demand and energy pricing. The IT device is configured to perform automatic adaptation of energy conservation based on real-time fluctuations in the energy pricing from a Utility Company. The IT device controls a multicolor backlight to immediately notify the user of real-time fluctuations in the energy pricing. |
| US08091793B2 |
Water control fixture having bypass valve
A faucet has a fixture body in fluid communication with a pressurized supply of hot water. The fixture body has a spout outlet configured to dispense water from the fixture body. At least one operating valve is coupled to the fixture body for controlling a flow of water to the spout outlet. A bypass valve is disposed in the fixture body for controlling a recirculating flow of water through the fixture body, where the bypass valve changes state when heated and when cooled to block and permit the recirculating flow of water based on a temperature of the water. |
| US08091787B2 |
Processing system for digitizing freehand graphics
A processing system for digitizing a freehand graphic created by an optically imaging pen. The processing system is configured for: receiving digital ink representing interaction of the pen with a surface having a position-coding pattern printed thereon, the digital ink identifying one or more positions detected by the pen; determining if the detected position is in a first area or a second area of the surface; if the detected position is in the first area of the surface, then interpreting the position as a point in a freehand graphic; and if the detected position is in the second area of the surface, then interpreting the position as a selection of a property for the freehand graphic. |
| US08091785B2 |
System and method for improving smart card reader reconnections
Communications between a computing device and a smart card reader configured for communication with a smart card are facilitated through the use, by the computing device, of a smart card resource manager and a smart card reader service. The smart card reader service acts as a relay for commands between the smart card resource manager and the smart card reader. Appropriate configuration of the smart card reader service obviates a redundant downloading of certificates from smart card to computing device subsequent to loss of a connection between the computing device and the smart card reader. However, upon re-establishing a previously lost connection to a smart card reader and determining that a communication link between a smart card and the smart card reader has been ended and reestablished during the loss of connection, the smart card reader service may indicate to the smart card resource manager that smart card is absent and, subsequently, that the smart card is present. |
| US08091784B1 |
Banking system controlled responsive to data bearing records
An automated banking machine operates to carry out financial transfers responsive to data read form data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that operates to read data from user cards. The card data corresponds to financial accounts. The automated banking machine further includes a cash dispenser and a receipt printer. The machine is operative to dispense cash to an authorized user based on identifying data including card data, and to cause a financial transfer from an account corresponding to card data through communication with at least one remote computer. The machine includes a check acceptor that operates to determine magnetic symbols included on checks. Cash may be dispensed in exchange for a check received through operation of the check acceptor of the machine. |
| US08091782B2 |
Using cameras to monitor actual inventory
System and method for monitoring inventory. Inventory items are positioned between a camera and a surface having an optically identifiable and distinct characteristic. The camera obtains an image of the inventory items present, any exposed portion of the surface, or both. The amount of the exposed surface is used to determine an amount of the inventory items that are present or missing. Furthermore, the optically identifiable characteristic may be a uniform characteristic, such as color or texture, or a set of discrete elements, such as stickers, barcodes, structural features of the shelf, a pattern of lines or shapes, or combinations thereof. Optionally, the optically identifiable characteristic is unique to the location of the shelf associated with the inventory items. Inventory or non-inventory items incorrectly positioned over the exposed surface may be excluded from the amount of the expected inventory item being determined if the item does not match the visual attributes of the expected inventory item. The camera may be fixed or movable and preferably provides digital images to a computer system having a computer readable medium with program products for analyzing the image and providing inventory reports. |
| US08091780B2 |
System, method, and apparatus of a customer interface device
A customer interface device for interfacing with a customer at a store may include a touch screen for displaying information and receiving customer instructions, a keypad, a wireless sensor for scanning tags attached to merchandise of the store, and at least one user input component to accept customer payment for items to be purchased, wherein the touch screen, the keypad, the wireless sensor and the at least one user input component are detachable modular components. |
| US08091779B2 |
Transaction product with removable cosmetic article
A transaction product has an account identifier and includes one or more cosmetic articles. The cosmetic article may be held in place by a tray such that both are readily removable from the housing. The transaction product and its various components, taken together, have a visual appeal accentuated by a sense of depth provided by employing indicia on different visual planes and by using transparent and/or translucent panels. The indicia may be evocative of the nature of cosmetic article, including graphics that depict the color, texture, or other physical properties of the particular cosmetic article enclosed within the transaction product. The account identifier is associated with the housing and links the transaction product to an account or record having a value configured to be used toward one or more of a purchase and a use of goods or services. |
| US08091777B2 |
Monitoring apparatus
A monitoring apparatus for monitoring open/close statuses of open/close portions (5) of multiple money processing machines (1) includes: a reader monitoring apparatus (3) which monitors open/close status of the open/close portion (5) of each of the multiple money processing machines (1) by using an RFID inlet (6) and an RFID reader (4); and a control apparatus (2) for monitoring a processing status of each of the multiple money processing machines (1). If the reader monitoring apparatus (3) detects that the open/close portion (5) of the money processing machine (1) is opened, and if the control apparatus (2) determines that the money processing machine (1) is not operating, an alarm signal is output. |
| US08091776B2 |
System and method for quality management utilizing barcode indicators
A quality management system for products including a multiplicity of barcoded quality indicators, a barcode indicator reader and a product type responsive indication interpreter, each of the barcoded quality indicators including a first barcode including at least one first colorable area, the first barcode being machine-readable before exceedance of the at least one time and temperature threshold, at least a second barcode including at least one second colorable area, the second barcode not being machine-readable before exceedance of the at least one time and temperature threshold, a coloring agent located at a first location on the indicator and a coloring agent pathway operative to allow the coloring agent to move, from the first location to the first and second colorable areas simultaneously thereby causing the first barcode to become unreadable and at the same time causing the second barcode to become machine-readable. |
| US08091771B2 |
Method for managing competition entry with printed labels
Provided is a method for managing competition entry by means of products having printed labels, the labels having human-readable information relating to a competition and machine-readable coded information relating to an identity of the label and being uniquely indicative of the product item. The label includes regions selected from the group consisting of information fields, buttons, and entry fields. The method includes the steps of receiving from a sensing device the machine-readable coded data, generating interaction data based on the received coded data, correlating the interaction data with a competition, and recording an entry in the competition based on the correlated interaction data. The method also includes the step of transmitting information relating to the competition entry for display on a display device. |
| US08091770B2 |
Food-transport container with monoplanar multipart end panels
A container is adapted to transport food or other articles. The container includes a floor, two side walls, a front end closure coupled to the side walls, and a rear end closure coupled to the side walls. |
| US08091769B2 |
Carton and carton blank
A carton blank (10) for a carton is formed from a sheet material and has a plurality of foldably connected panels which form the walls of the corresponding carton. The panels include main panels (11-14) separated by a plurality of longitudinal folds (16-19) and arranged to form pairs of opposing side walls in said corresponding carton. A first pair of main panels (11, 13) are each foldably connected at either end to a respective end panel (22, 23, 26, 27), said end panels being arranged to form opposing end walls in said corresponding carton with each end wall including first and second end panels. A second pair of main panels (12, 14) are each foldably connected at either end to a transverse edge of a respective end flap (36-39). The blank is foldable to provide a corresponding carton in which the transverse edges of the opposing side walls formed by said second pair of main panels are arranged in general correspondence with the longitudinal edges of adjacent respective end panels and the transverse edges of the respective end flaps connected thereto. At least one of said first end panels (26, 27) is provided with an end tab (31, 32) foldably connected thereto and adapted for fixation to a side wall 11 or to an underside of the corresponding second end panel (22, 23) in said corresponding carton. |
| US08091765B2 |
Method of bonding titanium to stainless steel
A method of bonding a stainless steel part to a titanium part by heating a component assembly comprised of the titanium part, the stainless steel part, and a laminated titanium-nickel filler material placed between the two parts and heated at a temperature that is less than the melting point of either the stainless steel part or the titanium part. The component assembly is held in intimate contact at temperature in a non-reactive atmosphere for a sufficient time to develop a hermetic and strong bond between the stainless steel part and the titanium part. The bonded component assembly is optionally treated with acid to remove any residual free nickel and nickel salts, to assure a biocompatible component assembly, if implanted in living tissue. |
| US08091763B2 |
Method of making a control arm
In a method of making a control arm, a middle piece is held in a mounting of a rotary friction welding machine so as to be constraint against rotation and movement in an axial direction. End pieces are rotated in synchronism on opposite ends of the middle piece so as to rub friction welding sites of the end pieces and friction welding sites on the middle piece on one another to initiate a friction welding process. After releasing the middle piece, the friction welding sites are compressed through axial displacement of at least one of the end pieces. |
| US08091761B2 |
Bonding apparatus and bonding method
A bonding apparatus provided with a control unit capable of controlling the position of the central axis of a bonding tool in the X direction and the Y direction based on an image of a pad acquired with a camera and an offset amount, the apparatus including: an outline obtaining unit for obtaining each of the sides of the pad and an outline of a pressure-bonded ball by processing the image acquired with the camera; a gap length obtaining unit for obtaining gap lengths between the respective sides of the pad and the outline of the pressure-bonded ball; and an offset correcting unit for correcting the offset amount based on the gap lengths obtained by the gap obtaining unit. |
| US08091758B2 |
Wave soldering bath
In a conventional wave soldering bath, molten solder spouted from a second discharge nozzle did not have a uniform height, oxides were spouted from the nozzle opening and adhered to printed circuit boards, and constituent parts of the wave soldering bath were eroded. In a wave soldering bath according to the present invention, a cylinder is disposed at one end of a duct, a spiral pump is installed in the cylinder, and the width of a nozzle opening is made narrower than the width of the duct. |
| US08091754B2 |
Surgical fastener applying apparatus
The present disclosure relates to surgical fastener applying apparatus for sequentially applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue. The surgical fastener applying apparatus includes a replaceable cartridge assembly receivable in a distal end portion of a cartridge receiving half-section, the cartridge assembly including a safety lockout pivotably disposed along the upper surface of the cartridge assembly and movable from an unlocked orientation permitting assembly of an anvil half-section to the cartridge receiving half-section, to a locked orientation preventing assembly of the anvil half-section to the cartridge receiving-half section. |
| US08091750B2 |
Tape dispenser for tape roll
A tape dispenser for a tape roll comprises a main seat, a rotation member, a dragging member, a cutting edge, a contact member and a supporting member. The main seat has a front member and two side members, the two side members thereof are structured with a Concave-shaped hollow space. The rotation member is connected to one side member of the main seat and move toward to the other side member of the main seat. The dragging member is mounted between the tops of the two side members of the main seat. The cutting edge locates transversally at the top of the front member of the main seat. The supporting member is located below the dragging member. A clearance space is formed between the dragging member and the supporting member. The aforementioned Concave-shaped hollow space makes users with their fingers to access the free end of the tape roll. |
| US08091749B2 |
Golf car and all terrain vehicle propane heater and cupholder frame
The frame or device described herein was designed for use on a golf cart or all terrain vehicles. The frame or device would be used by golfers or hunters in times of cold weather as a secure mounting device for a propane heater device and propane bottle. The invention as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings indicate multiple parts of the frame or device. Although the main purpose of the frame is a secure location for the propane heater device and propane bottle, it also consists of a storage container, two cup holders and a golf ball receptacle. The device attaches to the windshield frame of a golf cart or all terrain vehicle and is adjustable to all makes and models as a mounting device for a propane heater device and propane bottle. |
| US08091744B2 |
Arrangement for pouring free-flowing media from a container
The invention relates to an arrangement for pouring free-flowing media out of a container. The arrangement contains a pour-out valve (3, 50) which can be specifically opened and closed by the user via an easy to operate actuating device (9), and thus allows a controlled pouring-out action. A pour-out tube (2) arranged in a pivotable manner on the container (1) makes it possible, depending on the position of the pivoted pour-out tube (2), to lock or unlock the pour-out valve (3, 50) using a blocking device. Locking the pour-out valve in the closed position prevents accidental opening of the pour-out valve (3, 50). The arrangement according to the invention also contains a venting valve (8), which can likewise be locked in the closed state. A compression spring ensures that, in the rest state, that is to say when the actuating device (9) is not actuated, the pour-out valve (3, 50) seals off the spout and the venting valve (8) is likewise closed. |
| US08091740B2 |
Dispenser, in particular, metering dispenser
The invention concerns a dispenser, in particular for semi-solid or liquid systems, with a housing to hold a dispenser unit which is formed by a storage container, a metering unit (3) connected therewith via which the substance can be output in defined doses and an activation mechanism (4) which can activate the metering unit (3) to output a dose of substance, where the dispenser unit is held via a reservoir holder (5) in the housing (1). Known dispensers have the disadvantage that the dispenser unit is not held securely against tipping. The invention avoids this in that the storage container (2) is formed with a lower volume area (2″) and an upper volume area (2′) which to form the reservoir holder between its upper and lower end has a constricted shoulder area (9) with an inwardly angled setting surface, where the housing (1) has a corresponding support surface (10) to support the setting surface. |
| US08091738B2 |
Manual skin-care product dispenser
A product dispenser includes a housing having a backplate and a cover that, together, define a reservoir recess, and a refill unit received in the housing, the refill unit including a product reservoir positioned in the reservoir recess and holding product for dispensing, and a pump carried by the product reservoir and actuated to dispense the product. The cover pivots relative to the backplate and is pushed to pivot about a pivot point and actuate the pump. The pivot point is positioned such that the volume of the reservoir recess increases as the pump is actuated to dispense the product. The product reservoir may include a pair of cylindrical recess positioned on a common axis and projecting inwardly toward one another, and the cover may include a pair of inwardly projecting journals that are removably received in the cylindrical recesses, the cylindrical recesses and the journals acting together to form the pivot point of the cover. |
| US08091734B2 |
Compact spray device
A power source is provided to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein. A sleep period interval between spray operations is selected and a motion sensor is activated to detect motion within a sensory path of the sensor after completion of the sleep period interval. If no motion is detected by the motion sensor a fluid is automatically discharged from the aerosol container and the sleep interval is reset and if motion is detected by the motion sensor a delay time interval is initiated and fluid is not discharged from the aerosol container. The dispensing unit alternates between activating the sensor to detect motion and resetting the delay time interval until no motion is detected by the motion sensor at the expiration of the delay time interval, which results in the automatic discharge of fluid and a resetting of the sleep period interval. |
| US08091731B2 |
Container
A container for packaging food for transporting and selling to consumers is provided. The container includes a base having a pair of inwardly recessed pockets for capturing a pair of extending latching portions on a lid. The pair of extending latching portions has concave grooves allowing the extending latching portions to flex inwards from an initial position for insertion into the pair inwardly recessed pockets. When the pair of extending latching portions are inserted into the pair inwardly recessed pockets, the pair of extending latching portions expand back to their initial position and protrusions within the pair of inwardly recessed pockets retain the pair of extending latching portions creating a tight fit and preventing the lid of the container from being easily disengaged from the base of the container. |
| US08091729B2 |
Peelable sterilization pack
The invention concerns a peel-off package for sterilization. |
| US08091725B2 |
Anti-twist device for a container
An anti-twist device for a sealing cap that is located on a fixed connecting piece of a motor vehicle radiator. The sealing cap comprises an external cap part with a grip element and a sealing element, which can be connected to a counter sealing element of the connecting piece and in relation to which the grip element can be rotated. The sealing cap also comprises an internal cap part comprising a valve assembly that is configured in an excess/negative pressure combination. An anti-twist stop acts in the external cap part between the grip element and the sealing element. An anti-twist device of this type has a no-load function instead of a locking function and yet has a simple construction and is easy to produce. To achieve this, the anti-twist stop can be actuated by means of a drive, which is controlled by the operating data in the container and is located inside said container in close proximity to the external cap part. |
| US08091721B1 |
Reconfigurable electrical box hanger assembly for suspended ceilings
A reconfigurable electrical box hanger assembly for mounting a lighting or fan fixture to the grid supporting structure of a drop ceiling. The hanger assembly includes a one-piece elongated bar, two end pieces with widely spaced support legs, a turnbuckle, and a center bracket supporting an electrical box. The turnbuckle and end pieces are rotatable with respect to the elongated bar, thereby enabling two configurations of the hanger assembly including a compact profile for storage and shipping and an expanded profile for installation on a suspended ceiling. A locking arrangement includes bendable tabs which lock the end pieces with respect to the elongated bar thereby placing the hanger assembly into the expanded profile for installation on a suspended ceiling. |
| US08091720B2 |
Plastic bottle with a gripping portion
Plastic bottle including a body (9) extending along a central axis (Z) that includes a lower portion (3) with a substantially constant cross section; followed by a gripping portion (4); and terminated by an upper portion (5) with a substantially constant section and arranged to correspond with the cross section of the lower portion. The gripping portion (4) includes two globally plane gripping panels (41) arranged to be parallel to each other and to the central axis (Z) at a distance convenient for gripping with the hands. These panels have at least one reinforcing relief (44; 45) extending in a transverse plane, and are connected to each other by connecting panels (42) extending along the lower portion (3) and the upper portion (5), through rounded angles located at the circumferential ends of the panels. |
| US08091716B2 |
Image display system
A structure is provided having a base and relatively vertical structural support element (such as a post, pole, platform, stairs, etc.) from which extend arms that support removable image holders. The removable image holders may contain images that can be readily replaced. The removable image holders can restrain the images in six directions (up, down, forward, backward, left and right), although restraint may be effected by only friction or gripping, rather than an immovable wall. The removable image holders may be relatively secured to the arms, although they may easily swing for ease of viewing. The structure may have ornamentation thereon that is indicative of a theme (birthday, wedding, graduation, holiday, memorial, season, sports event and the like). |
| US08091706B2 |
Container
A container includes a plurality of walls extending upward from a base. At least one support is movable between a retracted position and a support position. Resilient tabs are provided to prevent inadvertent movement of the support out of the support position. |
| US08091702B1 |
Integrated cup carrier
A folding cup holder carrier that provides for multiple cup carrying from a single folded sheet material blank. The cup carrier has a central handle with opposing tapered sides with multiple apertured hinged cup engagement flaps formed thereon. A base is defined between said respective sides below said multiple apertures to support a cup's bottom once placed through the corresponding apertures and retained by resilient retainment by the hinge flaps. |
| US08091696B2 |
Rocker clutch assembly
A clutch assembly includes a first race and a second race that is selectively rotatable with respect to the first race about an axis of rotation. A plurality of rockers is operatively connected to the first race and spring biased into engagement with the second race to transmit torque between the first and second races. A member is selectively translatable between first and second positions to control the ability of the rockers to transmit torque between the first and second rockers, and thereby to control the ability of the races to rotate relative to one another. |
| US08091692B2 |
Fluid-filled cellular solids for controlled
An impact absorber using an energy-absorbing, fluid-impregnated material consisting of a porous interconnected network of solid material forming edges and faces of cells, preferably an open-cell reticulated or partially closed-cell foam, or formed from fibers or other cellular solids. The matrix is impregnated with a field responsive fluid such as a magneto- or electro-rheological fluid, or with a shear-rate responsive fluid such as a dilatant (shear-thickening) fluid. The material is placed under compression during impact, and may be housed within a cylinder and compressed by a piston. The stiffness of the composite material consisting of a matrix filled with a field responsive fluid can be controlled by varying the field intensity and spatial gradients of the applied field to vary the rheological properties of the fluid. |
| US08091686B2 |
Magnetic guide apparatus
A signal correction arithmetic unit is provided in a control apparatus to control a magnetic force of a magnetic guide unit. The signal correction arithmetic unit differentiates detection signals of two gap sensors, and integrates and outputs a differential signal with a smallest absolute value. The output signal is used for magnetic control. |
| US08091684B2 |
Low mass acoustically enhanced floor carpet system
A low mass acoustically enhanced floor carpet system for vehicles. In a first embodiment, the carpet assembly comprising a face layer and an opposite lower fiber mat. The carpet assembly further including a primary backing if the face layer is tufted, a back coating layer, an upper fiber mat, and a perforated film layer all in between the face layer and the lower fiber mat. The perforated film layer providing for enhanced sound absorption. In an alternate embodiment, the carpet assembly comprising a face layer, an insulator pad opposite the face layer; a back coating, a perforated film layer, and an insulator pad all between the face layer and the insulator pad. |
| US08091683B2 |
Motorcycle
A motorcycle includes a spark arrester having an increased surface area without any undue increase in the length of a silencer or the width of the motorcycle. The motorcycle includes a rear wheel and a silencer provided on a side of the rear wheel. The silencer includes an outer tube and a spark arrester which is tubular and is disposed inside the outer tube, the longitudinal axis of the spark arrester being oriented in a longitudinal direction of the outer tube. In a sectional plane which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the outer tube and the spark arrester, the outer tube has an outside dimension in a height direction greater than an outside dimension of the outer tube in a lateral direction, and the spark arrester has an outside dimension in the height direction greater than an outside dimension of the spark arrester in the lateral direction. |
| US08091681B2 |
Method and apparatus for a loudspeaker assembly
A method and apparatus for providing a loudspeaker assembly is provided. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a method is provided which comprises forming a loudspeaker frame so as to define a driver housing portion, a horn portion, and a conformal portion. A driver aperture is defined for the driver housing portion, and a port aperture is defined for the horn portion. A driver is attached to the loudspeaker frame proximate to the driver aperture. A rear baffle is applied to a first conformal portion surface of the conformal portion of the loudspeaker frame. The rear baffle defines a horn cavity wall of a horn cavity of the horn portion. The horn cavity has an increasing cross sectional area as the distance from the driver housing portion increases. A grille is applied to a second conformal portion surface of the conformal portion of the loudspeaker frame. |
| US08091679B2 |
Electric power steering device
A highly safe electric power steering device including a control device for determining the failure of a motor current detector based on the difference between the motor current estimate value and the detected motor current value is provided. The abnormality determining unit computes the absolute value of difference between the motor current estimate value and the detected motor current value, measures the number of times when the absolute value of difference exceeded the predetermined threshold value within the predetermined period, and measures further the cumulative value of the number of times of exceeding the threshold value within the predetermined period. When the cumulative value exceeded the predetermined reference number of times for determining abnormality, the motor current detector is determined to be abnormal. |
| US08091676B2 |
Arrangement structure of auxiliaries of engine for snow vehicle
An engine for a snow vehicle has a crank shaft supported by a crank case along the width direction of the snow vehicle. An oil pan is disposed below the crank case. A cylinder block is disposed above the crank case. The engine is mounted on the snow vehicle such that an axis of the cylinder block is inclined rearward. An oil pump is disposed behind and below the crank shaft. An oil filter is disposed in front of the crank shaft. |
| US08091675B2 |
Passenger's weight measurement device for vehicle seat
To realize an easy maintenance of the load sensor.A passenger's weight measurement device includes a left and right pair of fixed lower rails which are fixed on the vehicle floor, a left and right pair of movable upper rails which are disposed to move in a front-and-rear direction on the fixed lower rail, load sensors which are fixed to an upper surface of the right movable upper rail, load sensors which are disposed on the movable upper rail to be movable in a left-and-right direction with respect to the right movable upper rail, a sub frame which is mounted on the load sensors, side frames which are welded to the sub frame, and a pan frame which is detachably disposed to the side frames to cover the front of the side frames. A gouged section is formed on the side frame. |
| US08091672B2 |
Single-drive-axis vehicle with a platform and/or a seat for a driver
An electrically driven single-drive-axis vehicle with a platform for a driver, driven about a common wheel axis, which provides the single-drive-axis to improve its handling and its range of uses. The vehicle includes at least one attachment, the attachment being connected to the single-axle vehicle pivotably about at least one first attachment axis. |
| US08091668B2 |
Motor vehicle and control method of motor vehicle
A motor vehicle is equipped with an outside air introduction assembly 104 functioning to introduce the outside air into a radiator 92 in an engine cooling system during driving, as well as with an outside air introduction assembly 114 functioning to introduce the outside air into an engine 22 during driving. The motor vehicle is also equipped with shutter plates 106 capable of regulating the amount of the outside air to be introduced by the outside air introduction assembly 104, as well as with shutter plates 116 capable of regulating the amount of the outside air to be introduced by the outside air introduction assembly 114. The shutter plates 106 and the shutter plates 116 are individually actuated and controlled to increase the amount of the outside air to be introduced by the outside air introduction assembly 104 and the amount of the outside air to be introduced by the outside air introduction assembly 114 with an increase of temperature of cooling water detected as a cooling water temperature Twe in the engine cooling system. Such actuation and control assures the adequate cooling performances to cool down the cooling water by the radiator 92 and to cool down the engine 22. |
| US08091665B2 |
Vehicle drive system and vehicle equipped with it
A vehicle drive system comprises inverters connected electrically with a power supply line and a ground line and controlling the current flowing through each stator coil of each of first and second motor generators, and a switch making or breaking the connection between the neutral of the stator coil of first motor generator and a battery. When the first motor generator is not used but the second motor generator is used, a controller brings the switch into connection state in parallel with voltage conversion operation of a booster unit and controls the inverter to perform voltage conversion operation using the stator coil of first motor generator as a reactor. |
| US08091664B2 |
Fuel cell vehicle
A movable body includes a fuel cell, a fuel supply means which supplies fuel containing hydrogen to the fuel cell, a limit means which limits the amount of the supplied fuel, a body which includes a space in which an occupant is housed, a conversion means which converts the supplied electric power from the fuel cell to driving force for driving the body, a control portion which controls the operation of the conversion means, and an operating member. The operating member is disposed at a position where the operating member can be operated by the occupant housed in the body, and provides an instruction to execute a control that limits the amount of the supplied fuel using the limit means, without stopping the operation of the control portion. |
| US08091661B2 |
Power output apparatus and hybrid vehicle
A hybrid vehicle includes an engine, motors, and a power distribution and integration mechanism that are coaxially arranged with respect to each other. The hybrid vehicle also includes a transmission including a transmission differential rotation mechanism that has a sun gear as an input element connected to a sun gear which is a first element of the power distribution and integration mechanism, a ring gear as a fixing element, and a carrier as an output element, and that is configured such that these three elements can differentially rotate with each other; and a clutch as a coupling mechanism capable of selectively coupling the sun gear of the transmission differential rotation mechanism and the carrier which is the second element of the power distribution and integration mechanism with a drive shaft. |
| US08091658B2 |
Wheel arrangement for a four-wheeled vehicle
A wheel arrangement for a four-wheeled vehicle is comprised of a front wheel, two side wheels and a rear wheel, whereas the rear wheel is connected to the frame of the vehicle by a supporting base enabling the same to be steered freely while having a ground-touching point of the same to be biased from the axis of the supporting base by a distance, and the front wheel can be specified as a driving wheel, a free-rolling steering wheel or just a steering wheel with respect to actual requirement, and the two side wheels can be specified as a driving wheels or free-rolling wheels while enabling the axis of the two side wheels to be aligned to a straight line without sharing a same shaft. The wheel arrangement can be a rhombus configuration as the distances between the center of the front wheel and the centers of the two side wheels are the same as that of the center of the rear wheel and the centers of the two side wheels, or can be a diamond configuration as the distances between the center of the front wheel and the centers of the two side wheels are different from that of the center of the rear wheel and the centers of the two side wheels. |
| US08091650B2 |
Power tool guard
A power tool including a power tool body, a rotatable driven member being operable for releasably gripping a working element and having a front end and a rear end, the driven member extending from the rear end, located proximally and connected to the power tool body, and terminating at the front end. The power tool has a drive mode in which rotation of the driven member drives the working element relative to the power tool body and an adjustment mode in which rotation of the driven member causes the driven member to either grip the working element or release the working element or both. The power tool also includes a guard extending over the driven member from the power tool body and terminating adjacent to the front end of the driven member, wherein at least in the power tool drive mode the front end of driven member does not extend beyond the guard. In another aspect the guard has a surface for gripping the power tool between the front end of the driven member and the power tool body. |
| US08091646B2 |
Single phase microemulsions and in situ microemulsions for cleaning formation damage
Single phase microemulsions (SPMEs) and in situ-formed microemulsions may be used to clean up and remove non-polar materials from reservoir production zones of oil and gas wells. This clean up occurs by solubilization of the non-polar material into the microemulsion when the treatment fluid contacts the non-polar material. An in situ microemulsion may be formed when one or more surfactant and a polar phase (e.g. water or brine), and eventually some small amount of organic phase, contacts the reservoir formation and solubilizes the non-polar material encountered in the porous media. The microemulsions are effective for removing the formation damage caused by non-polar materials which include, but are not necessarily limited to oil-based mud, synthetic-based mud, paraffins, asphaltenes, emulsions, slugs, and combinations thereof. |
| US08091645B2 |
In situ fluid formation for cleaning oil- or synthetic oil-based mud
Nanoemulsion, macroemulsions, miniemulsions, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both (Winsor I, II or III phase behavior) or single phase microemulsions (Winsor IV) improve the removal of filter cakes formed during hydrocarbon reservoir wellbore drilling with OBM. The macroemulsion, nanoemulsion, miniemulsion, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both or single phase microemulsion removes oil and solids from the deposited filter cake. In one non-limiting embodiment, the emulsion system (e.g. single phase microemulsion, nanoemulsion, or other emulsions) may be formed in situ (downhole) rather than produced or prepared in advance and pumped downhole. Skin damage removal from internal and external filter cake deposition can be reduced. |
| US08091644B2 |
Microemulsion or in-situ microemulsion for releasing stuck pipe
Nanoemulsion, macroemulsions, miniemulsions, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both (Winsor I, II or III phase behavior) or single phase microemulsions (Winsor IV) improve the removal of filter cakes formed during hydrocarbon reservoir wellbore drilling with OBM. Such filter cakes and their particles can contact, impact and affect the movement of the drill string undesirably resulting in a “stuck pipe” condition. The macroemulsion, nanoemulsion, miniemulsion, microemulsion systems with excess oil or water or both or single phase microemulsion removes oil and solids from the filter cake, thereby releasing the drill string from its stuck condition. In one non-limiting embodiment, the emulsion system may be formed in situ (downhole) rather than produced or prepared in advance and pumped downhole. |
| US08091641B2 |
Method and apparatus to cement a perforated casing
A method of and an apparatus for treating a near zone and/or a far zone of a well is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. (1) A tube that is permeable to a material is placed inside a wellbore, forming an annulus inside the wellbore. (2) A setting section surrounded by a sleeve is placed inside the tube. The sleeve is expandable and impermeable to the material. (3) The sleeve is inflated so that the sleeve is in contact with the tube, ensuring that the first zone of the tube is impermeable to the material, but leaving a second zone permeable to the material. (4) A treatment fluid is pumped to the zones that passes through the second zone still permeable to the material. (5) The near zone in the annulus and/or the far zone in the surrounding formation is treated with the treatment fluid. |
| US08091636B2 |
Method for increasing the recovery of hydrocarbons
Methods for increasing the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir. A method may include the steps of injecting a first fluid into a first horizontal well in the reservoir by a first device; producing hydrocarbons from a second horizontal well disposed below the first well; injecting a second fluid into a third well laterally offset from each of the first and second wells while continuing to produce hydrocarbons from the second well; and selectively ceasing injection into the first well when the second well is in fluid communication with the third well. The first and second fluid may comprise steam, carbon dioxide, oxygen, or combinations thereof. Injection into the first well selectively may be ceased when pressure in the first well is increased to a first injection pressure. |
| US08091628B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing fluid and projectiles to downhole tubulars
Apparatus and methods for providing fluid and projectiles to downhole tubulars includes a manifold. The manifold may include a housing, a cartridge disposed within the housing, and an actuator. The cartridge includes multiple throughbores for selectively allowing a fluid flow to pass through, and storing a projectile. The actuator is adapted to move the multiple throughbores of the cartridge out of and into the fluid flow to release the stored projectile into the fluid flow. The manifold may include multiple projectiles that are stored laterally relative to each other for radial translation and release into the fluid flow. |
| US08091625B2 |
Method for producing viscous hydrocarbon using steam and carbon dioxide
A downhole burner is used for producing heavy-oil formations. Hydrogen, oxygen, and steam are pumped by separate conduits to the burner, which burns at least part of the hydrogen and forces the combustion products out into the earth formation. The steam cools the burner and becomes superheated steam, which is injected along with the combustion products into the earth formation. Carbon dioxide is also pumped down the well and injected into the formation. |
| US08091623B2 |
Air mixer vent
The invention relates to an air mixer vent (5), designed in particular for a motor vehicle air conditioning system (1). Said vent comprises an air deflector element (15), which is located on the air mixer vent (5) and protrudes from a surface of said vent (5), the latter (5) being configured as a partially cylindrical vent or having a curved cross-section in relation to the pivoting axis (6). |
| US08091621B2 |
Flat tube, flat tube heat exchanger, and method of manufacturing same
A number of flat tubes, flat tube heat exchangers, and methods of manufacturing both are described and illustrated. The flat tubes can be constructed of one, two, or more pieces of sheet material. A profiled insert integral with the flat tube or constructed from another sheet of material can be used to define multiple flow channels through the flat tube. The flat tubes can be constructed of relatively thin material, and can be reinforced with folds of the flat tube material and/or of an insert in areas subject to higher pressure and thermal stresses. Also, the relatively thin flat tube material can have a corrosion layer enabling the material to resist failure due to corrosion. Heat exchangers having such flat tubes connected to collection tubes are also disclosed, as are manners in which such tubes can be provided with fins. |
| US08091620B2 |
Multi-channel flat-tube heat exchanger
A heat exchanger includes a plurality of flattened, multi-channel heat exchange tubes of generally J-shape extending between an inlet header and an outlet header. Each heat exchange tube has a base bend that extends horizontally between the vertically extending relatively shorter leg, which is in fluid flow communication with the fluid chamber of the inlet header, and the vertically extending relatively longer leg, which is in fluid flow communication with the fluid chamber of the outlet header. |
| US08091613B2 |
Thermal energy storage materials
The present invention relates to a thermal energy storage material (TESM) system (and associated methods) that reproducibly stores and recovers latent heat. The Thermal energy storage material system comprises i) at least one first metal containing material including at least one first metal compound that includes a nitrate ion, a nitrite ion, or both; and ii) at least one second metal containing material including at least one second metal compound. The thermal energy storage material system may water. If any water is present in the thermal energy storage material system, the water concentration should be less than about 10 wt. %. The thermal energy storage material has a liquidus temperature, TL, from about 100° C. to about 250° C. and exhibits a heat storage density from 300° C. to 80° C. of at least about 1 MJ/l, so that upon being used in a system that generates heat, at least a portion of the heat is captured and stored by the thermal energy storage material and subsequently released for use. The thermal energy storage material system is generally resistant to corrosion at temperatures of about 300° C. Exemplary metal compounds include one or more cations selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Be, Mg, Ca, Al, and Ga. |
| US08091611B2 |
Casting die device
A casting die assembly which does not produce any burrs includes a stationary die and a movable die that are clamped in a condition in which a slide core is caused to move toward a center of a movable die, and a back surface of a protrusion of the slide core contacts a stopper section provided on a frame section. The stopper section is subjected to the pressure applied to the slide core during a casting operation. Since the stopper section is provided on part of the frame section, which is integrally formed on the periphery of the stationary die, the stopper section is not caused to retreat or deform by the casting pressure and as a result, the slide core is not moved and burrs are not produced. |
| US08091608B2 |
Method of forming a hollow sand core
A method of forming a hollow sand core involves placing a preform into a cavity defined in a mold, where the preform has a predetermined configuration. A granular material is then introduced into the mold cavity and around the preform. The introduced granular material is established around the preform to form the hollow sand core. The preform is deformed in a manner sufficient to enable removal of the preform from inside the hollow sand core, and then is removed from the sand core. The removal of the preform exposes a hollow portion of the sand core. |
| US08091607B2 |
Garage door bracket assembly with slidable roller housing
The disclosure relates to a garage door assembly. The garage door assembly includes a plurality of interconnected garage door panels, a track and a cable. A bracket assembly is attached to one of the panels. The bracket assembly includes a moveable member including a roller which is rotatably received in the track. A fixed member is attached to a panel and includes a portion to which the cable is attached. The moveable member selectively accommodates the fixed member. |
| US08091604B2 |
Broadcast-receiving automatic window covering
An apparatus and method for the automatic adjustment of window coverings and the like, receiving externally-broadcast time-and-date signal as a temporal reference for making scheduled adjustments to the window covering. One embodiment comprises an antenna, a conventional broadcast time signal receiver/decoder, a motorized adjustable window covering, a conventional microcontroller with non-volatile memory, and human-operated controls for on-demand adjustments and memory commands. The broadcast time signal provides high reliability, high precision timing control, which allows synchronization of multiple units in separate windows, without the need for a central control system. Some embodiments of the invention have a learning function which is operated by making an adjustment in a conventional, familiar manner, combined with a learn command. |
| US08091603B2 |
One-piece inner shell for full barrel composite fuselage
A mandrel for manufacturing a unitary seamless section of an aircraft fuselage comprises a thin lay-up mandrel element disposed onto the outer shell surface of an inner mandrel shell, forming a mandrel with a substantially continuous lay-up surface. A unitary pre-cured section of an aircraft fuselage is formed by laying up a plurality of resin impregnated skin fibers onto the mandrel's lay-up surface while the mandrel rotates. |
| US08091600B2 |
Heavy duty pneumatic tire with wide-width belt layer convex portion
A heavy duty pneumatic tire, which allows the inside narrow-width belt layers to have a wide width as desired, and which suppresses the amount of strain generated at side edge portions of the belt layer to be sufficiently small thereby effectively preventing the separation of the belt layer, therefore the belt, in which two inside narrow-width belt layers 1B, 2B and two outside wide-width belt layers 3B, 4B, which have a larger width than the narrow-width belt layers, are sequentially disposed in the outer periphery side of the crown area of the radial carcass 5, wherein a portion of the wide-width belt layer 3B adjacent to the outer periphery side of the two narrow-width belt layers 1B, 2B, corresponding to side-edge vicinity of the narrow-width belt layer 2B of the outer periphery side is formed to be convex in radially outward direction. |
| US08091599B2 |
Tire for heavy vehicles
A tire having a radial carcass reinforcement comprising a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown layers of inextensible reinforcement elements, which are crossed from one ply to the other, forming angles of between 10° and 45° with the circumferential direction, which itself is topped radially by a tread, said tread being joined to two beads by means of two sidewalls. The tire comprises additionally at least in each shoulder a layer of reinforcement elements which are oriented circumferentially and have an undulation, the axially inner end of said additional layer being radially adjacent to the edge of a working crown layer, the axially outer end of said additional layer being located at a distance from the equatorial plane of the tire which is at least equal to the distance between said plane and the end of the working layer to which it is adjacent and the distance between said layer and the end of the axially widest working crown layer being greater than 1.5 mm. |
| US08091597B2 |
Heavy-duty tire with tread having middle blocks
A heavy-duty tire comprises two rows of middle blocks (11). The ground contacting face (S) of each middle block is defined as being surrounded with an axially inner longitudinal edge (14i), an axially outer longitudinal edge (14o), a first-side transverse edge (14a) and a second-side transverse edge (14b). The two transverse edges (14a and 14b) are substantially straight and substantially parallel with each other and inclined with respect to the tire axial direction. The axially inner longitudinal edge (14i) is nonlinear and has an axially inwardly protruding first-side protruding point (15a) and second-side protruding point (15b), and an axially outwardly denting part (16) therebetween. The axially outer longitudinal edge (14o) is nonlinear and has axially outwardly protruding first-side protruding point (20a) and second-side protruding point (20b), and an axially inwardly denting point (21) therebetween. The circumferential distances (Lia, Lib, Loa and Lob) between the protruding points (15a, 15b, 20a and 20b) and the adjacent circumferential ends (Pia, Pib, Poa and Pob) of the longitudinal edges (14i and 14o) are 5 to 15% of the circumferential length (Li, Lo) of the longitudinal edges (14i and 14o). |
| US08091593B2 |
Method and device for filling a tank with a pressurized gas
Method for filling a tank with a pressurized gas, in particular a vehicle tank with hydrogen, including the step of compressing the gas from a first gas source in order to fill said tank directly or via at least one buffer vessel, wherein the compression step is carried out using the energy from a working fluid, said method being characterized in that it comprises a step of heat exchange between said compressed gas and said working fluid. |
| US08091585B1 |
Pneumatic regulator unit and method of use
A pneumatic regulator unit housing having multiple output lines for connection to pneumatic devices such as needles used in creating tattoos is disclosed. The regulator unit comprises multiple outputs where each output is operatively connected to a respective pneumatic device such as a needle used for the tattooing operation. |
| US08091571B2 |
Valve box, valve control device and assembly thereof
A valve box, a valve control device, an assembly thereof and a method are provided for accessing an underground valve and indicating presence and position of the underground valve. The valve box includes a support member having a tubular section; and a resilient tubular member telescopable slidably into the tubular section of the support member. An upper end of the resilient tubular member is extendable above the ground. Various elements are disclosed for stiffening the tubular member against deformation due to forces applied to it. The valve control device comprises a control rod having one end attachable to the underground valve and a control key including a key head, a key handle and a key stem. The key head has a cone-shaped cavity and a recess portion at the top of the cavity, the recess portion being dimensioned to engage a projection at the other end of the control rod. |
| US08091569B2 |
Water guide for dishwasher
A water guide of a dishwasher checks the flow of water draining from the dishwasher. The water guide includes a drain passage having one end communicating with an outer atmosphere and another end communicating with a sump for receiving washing water, at least part of the drain passage being routed via a point higher than a water level in the sump, and a valve assembly, disposed above the drain passage, for selectively introducing external air into the drain passage. |
| US08091568B2 |
Temporal photo-bleaching of colored lens care solutions and use thereof
The present invention provides a lens care kit for disinfecting and cleaning contact lenses. The lens care kit of the invention allows customers to visually identify when their lenses are disinfected, clean, and ready to wear. The invention is relied on color change, due to temporally photo-bleaching of a colored lens care solution, to indicate the readiness of disinfection and cleaning of contact lenses. |
| US08091565B2 |
Makeup case with drawer
The invention concerns a makeup case. A primary tray as well as a tray form a drawer slidingly mounted in relation to the primary tray. A spring exerts a force tending to assist the opening of the tray forming the drawer or a force tending to assist its closing depending on whether or not the tray forming the drawer is open beyond an intermediate position which corresponds to an unstable position for the spring. The spring may be two torsion springs arranged symmetrically on either side of an axis extending along the direction of the opening or closing movement of the tray forming the drawer. |
| US08091556B2 |
Methods and apparatus for reducing localized circulatory system pressure
Methods and apparatus for decreasing cardiac pressure in a patient by implanting a shunt communicating with an area outside a first portion, whereby a volume of blood sufficient to reduce pressure in a first portion is released. Preferably, the end diastolic pressure in the left ventricle is reduced, which is accomplished by having the shunt communicate with the left ventricle so a small volume of blood is released from the left ventricle. Most preferably, the shunt selectively permits flow when a pressure differential between the left ventricle and another chamber of a heart above a threshold pressure, so that shunting is prevented during left ventricular systole, or, alternatively, selectively permits flow when a pressure differential between the left ventricle and another chamber of a heart is between a lower threshold and a higher threshold. In certain embodiments a semi-passive check-valve is controlled and actuated by an external signal. |
| US08091554B2 |
Methods and devices for relieving upper airway obstructions
Methods and devices are provided that are effective to remove an obstruction in a human airway related to snoring and/or OSA. In one embodiment, the device includes mouthpiece having a hollow body configured to be disposed in a user's mouth. The body includes superior and inferior outer surfaces as well as anterior and posterior surfaces, a channel configured to receive a user's teeth formed in at least one of the superior and inferior surfaces, an inner cavity formed between the superior, inferior, anterior, and posterior surfaces, and at least one aperture formed in the posterior surface that extends into the inner cavity. In one exemplary embodiment the at least one aperture is oriented to extend away from the user's teeth and toward a user's tongue when the mouthpiece is in use. In another embodiment, the hollow body is substantially c-shaped, and the at least one aperture includes a plurality of apertures spaced a distance apart from one another along the posterior surface between first and second terminal ends of the c-shaped inner portion of the hollow body. In still another embodiment, the mouthpiece includes an outer portion having an opening extending therethrough such that the outer portion is coupled to the hollow body and is in fluid communication with the cavity in the hollow body. A one-way valve can be disposed in the opening and can be configured to allow air to flow out of a user's oral cavity when the mouthpiece is in use. |
| US08091546B2 |
Method and apparatus for humidification and warming of air
A method of humidifying a gas that includes supplying a gas to a surface of a humidification material that readily absorbs moisture and readily releases moisture when exposed to a dry environment and generating turbulence in the gas as it passes over the surface of the humidification material. |
| US08091541B2 |
Device for feeding balls into the ball chamber of a handgun
The invention relates to a device for feeding projectile balls into the ball chamber of a handgun, especially into the ball chamber of a paintball gun, having a ball container with an outlet port, a feeder tube between the outlet port and the ball chamber, and an essentially cylindrical feeder with an axis for feeding the balls from the ball container to the feeder tube. The device comprises a flexible element that is disposed inside the ball container adjacent to the outlet port. A first end of the flexible element is fixed to the ball container and the flexible element is essentially rigid in the direction of the axis. Balls that are not in the correct position when approaching the outlet port are deflected back into the ball container, instead of hitting the edge of the outlet port. This way, jamming of the balls and explosion by excessive pressure are prevented. |
| US08091539B2 |
Foam dart gun
A dart gun having a plurality of darts removably connected about a circumferential area of a cylindrical barrel. A spring-biased gear assembly includes an engagement member that is rotatably aligned with the circumferential area of the cylindrical barrel. The spring-biased gear assembly further includes first and second rotary gears having offset teeth. A trigger bar is operable between a first position in abutting contact with the teeth of the first rotary gear and a second position in abutting contact with the teeth of the second rotary gear. A trigger is operably connected to the trigger bar. The trigger includes a forward position that locates the trigger bar in the first position and a rearward position that locates the trigger bar in the second position. Operation of the trigger causes the spring-biased gear assembly to intermittently rotate, thereby causing the lever to disconnect one of the plurality of darts from the circumferential area of the cylindrical barrel. |
| US08091535B2 |
Internal combustion engine with an exhaust-gas recirculation and method for operating an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine has a high-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line and a low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line with a low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve. The low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas system downstream of a turbine of an exhaust-gas turbocharger and opens into a fresh-air system upstream of a compressor of the exhaust-gas turbocharger. An exhaust-gas flap is disposed in the exhaust-gas system downstream from where the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line branches off from the exhaust-gas system. At least one pressure sensor is disposed in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line and configured such that the at least one pressure sensor determines a pressure difference in the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation line between a point upstream of the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve and a point downstream of the low-pressure exhaust-gas recirculation valve. A method for operating an internal combustion engine is also provided. |
| US08091534B2 |
Installation structure for compressor
An engine is provided to facilitate installation of a compressor on an engine. The engine can include a crankshaft, a front end, and an installation structure, and can be disposed in an engine compartment having an opening for accessing the engine. The installation structure can comprise an installation mount that can be disposed at the front end of the engine. The installation mount can extend substantially parallel to the crankshaft of the engine. The installation mount can include a surface configured for mounting the compressor. Further, the installation mount can be configured with the surface thereof facing toward the opening of the engine compartment. Additionally, the installation structure can be configured to facilitate meshing engagement of the crankshaft with a drive shaft of the compressor. |
| US08091533B2 |
Engine assembly including centrally located fuel rail
An engine assembly may include an engine block, a cylinder head, a fuel injector, and a fuel rail. The engine block may define a cylinder bore. The cylinder head may be coupled to the engine block and may define an intake port, an exhaust port, and a centrally located fuel injector opening between the intake port and the exhaust port. The fuel injector opening may be in direct communication with the cylinder bore. The fuel injector may be located within the fuel injector opening. The fuel rail may overlay the fuel injector opening and may be in communication with a fuel supply and the fuel injector. |
| US08091532B2 |
Diagnostic systems and methods for a pressure sensor during driving conditions
A diagnostic system includes a fuel pump module and a diagnostic control module. The fuel pump module activates a first pump when an engine is operating in a diagnostic mode. The first pump supplies fuel to fuel injectors of the engine via a fuel rail. The diagnostic control module receives a measured pressure signal from a pressure sensor that indicates a pressure of the fuel rail during the diagnostic mode. The fuel pump module sends at least one of a first and a second commanded fuel pressure signal to the first pump based on a predetermined relief pressure of a pressure relief valve. The diagnostic control module detects a fault of the pressure sensor based on an engine speed and a comparison between the measured pressure signal and at least one of the first commanded fuel pressure signal and a corrected relief pressure of the pressure relief valve. |
| US08091528B2 |
Integrated fuel injector igniters having force generating assemblies for injecting and igniting fuel and associated methods of use and manufacture
Embodiments of injectors configured for adaptively injecting and igniting various fuels in a combustion chamber are disclosed herein. An injector according to one embodiment includes an end portion configured to be positioned adjacent to a combustion chamber, and an ignition feature carried by the end portion and configured to generate an ignition event. The injector also includes a force generator assembly and a movable valve. The force generator assembly includes a first force generator separate from a second force generator. The first force generator creates a motive force to move the valve between the closed and open positions into the combustion chamber. The second force generator is electrically coupled to the ignition feature and provides voltage to the ignition feature to at least partially generate the ignition event. |
| US08091526B2 |
Resin intake manifold
A resin intake manifold is provided with two separated bodies manufactured by connecting protrusions of weld portions of the separated bodies to each other in accordance with a vibration welding, and a cover wall in which one of the weld portions is arranged in an inner side or an outer side of the protrusion with leaving space with the protrusion. The protrusions of the weld portions are respectively provided with parallel protrusion portions extending in parallel to a vibrating direction of the vibration welding, and a cover wall arranged at a position in an orthogonal direction to the vibrating direction in the parallel protrusion portions is provided with an extension portion extending to the separated body in the other side welded to the separated body provided with the cover wall, in such a manner as to prevent a burr generated at a time of welding the parallel protrusion portion from getting over the cover wall arranged at the position in the orthogonal to the vibrating direction in the parallel protrusion portion. A recess groove receiving the extension portion is arranged in a side of the other side separated body. |
| US08091525B2 |
Rocker arm
A rocker arm supported by a support portion of an engine and to be driven by a cam includes a sheet-metal rocker arm body manufactured by plastic working and including a cam follower, a fulcrum portion manufactured by cutting and including a through hole supplying lubricant, and a lubricant discharging hole. The cam follower includes a first slide-contact surface being in sliding contact with the cam. The lubricant discharging hole is defined by an outer surface of the fulcrum portion and an outer surface of the sheet-metal rocker arm body and in communication with the through hole. The lubricant discharging hole biases the lubricant supplied from the through hole in a direction toward the first slide-contact surface. |
| US08091520B2 |
Split-cycle engine with early crossover compression valve opening
A split-cycle engine includes a crankshaft. A compression piston is received within a compression cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the compression piston reciprocates through an intake stroke and a compression stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. An expansion piston is received within an expansion cylinder and operatively connected to the crankshaft such that the expansion piston reciprocates through an expansion stroke and an exhaust stroke during a single rotation of the crankshaft. A crossover passage interconnects the compression and expansion cylinders. The crossover passage includes a crossover compression (XovrC) valve and a crossover expansion (XovrE) valve defining a pressure chamber therebetween. The crossover compression valve is timed to open when the pressure in the compression cylinder is less than the upstream pressure in the crossover passage at the crossover compression valve. |
| US08091519B2 |
Paired-piston linear engine
A linear internal combustion engine is disclosed having a cylinder defining an intake port proximate a first end thereof and an exhaust port proximate a second end thereof. First and second pistons insert into opposite ends of the cylinder. Each piston is coupled to an actuator/generator, such as a linear switched reluctance motor. The actuator/generators are coupled to a control unit which controls the actuator/generators and extracts energy therefrom. The control unit causes the actuators to move the pistons through a fluid handling process, such as pumping, compression, or a four cycle combustion process coupled with a recovery phase. The pistons are positioned over the intake and output ports to seal them off at proper times during the fluid handling process. |
| US08091517B2 |
Thermostatic valve
A thermostatic valve for a cooling system of an internal combustion engine, having a thermostatic operating element for arrangement in a distributing chamber as the drive element for a main valve element between an engine outlet and a connector to a coolant cooler, and for a bypass valve element designed as a valve slide arranged between the engine outlet and an engine inlet to serve as a pressure control valve. In addition to the valve slide (23, 23′) the bypass valve element (22, 22′) is provided with a valve disk (25, 25′ arranged upstream of the valve slide (23, 23′) in the extension direction of the thermostatic operating element (12, 12′), and a component (26) is assigned to the valve disk (25, 25′), as a valve seat for the valve slide (23, 23′) and a valve seat for the valve disk (25, 25′). |
| US08091514B2 |
Energy re-claimer
An energy re-claimer is provided for preheating water prior to the water entering a conventional residential, commercial or industrial gas water heater. The energy re-claimer is mounted on top of the water heater between the draft diverter and the hot air flue. The energy re-claimer is preferably a double wall construction that is larger in diameter than the draft diverter and hot air flue in order to allow normal passage of hot air through the system; however, a single wall construction may also be used. Tap water enters a pipe inside the double wall construction and is heated prior to being directed through the water heater. The pipe may be constructed of a number of straight lengths connected by returns or may be in the form of a single straight section connected to a coil made of connected curving sections that surround the axis of the energy re-claimer. A condensation collector may be provided between the draft diverter and the energy re-claimer to collect any condensation that may form as a result of cooling gases and prevent the condensate from falling into the water heater where it could extinguish the flame. |
| US08091506B2 |
High velocity method for depositing diamond films from a gaseous phase in SHF discharge plasma and a plasma reactor for carrying out said method
The invention relates to carbon deposition by decomposing gaseous compounds with the aid of the SHF discharge plasma. Said invention ensures a high speed deposition of the high quality diamond films (having a loss-tangent angle δ equal to or less than 3×10−5 on supports whose diameter is equal to or higher than 100 mm. For this purpose, a SHF discharge is initiated in a gas mixture which is arranged in a reaction chamber having a frequency f which is many times higher than a commonly used frequency of 2.45 GHz, for example 30 GHz. In order to localize the plasma, a standing wave is formed near the carrier and plasma layers are formed in the antinodes thereof in such a way that the sizes thereof are adjustable. |
| US08091504B2 |
Method and apparatus for cleaning spin coater
A method of cleaning a spin coater apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a spin coater apparatus having a coater cup comprising a basin with sidewalls, a rotatable platform situated inside the cup adapted for holding and rotating a wafer to be coated, and a solvent dispensing means mounted under the rotatable platform; placing the substrate on the rotatable platform; rotating the rotatable platform; continuously dispensing a cleaning solvent from the solvent dispensing means to rinse the backside of the wafer with the cleaning solvent and to pre-wet an interior surface of the sidewalls; and dispensing a coating material upon the wafer, the substrate mounted on the rotatable platform. |
| US08091502B2 |
Backbone
A stiffening spine for use in a selectively inflatable kayak. Inflatable kayaks are characterized as having an elongated pneumatically inflatable peripheral tubes which, when inflated, define a passenger compartment and relatively narrow bow and stem sections. A flexible cover extends between and at least partially encases the elongated pneumatically inflatable peripheral tubes to provide a floor for the kayak. A spine for stiffening the inflatable kayak is provided in the form of a relatively rigid longitudinal member and end caps fitted to both ends thereof. The longitudinal member is sized to be removably inserted within the flexible cover so that when installed, the end caps are positioned proximate the bow and stem sections of the inflatable kayak. |
| US08091499B1 |
Boat mooring device
A mooring device is disclosed for securing a boat to an object. The boat has a first cleat. The object has a second cleat. The mooring device comprises a coupling bar having a proximal end and a distal end. A first arcuate arm extends from the proximal end of the coupling bar. A second arcuate arm extends from the distal end of the coupling bar. A first C-clamp engages the first cleat. A second C-clamp engages the second cleat. A first clamp pivot pivotably couples the first C-clamp to the first arcuate arm of the coupling bar. A second clamp pivot pivotably couples the second C-clamp to second arcuate arm of the coupling bar. The first arcuate arm and the first clamp pivot define a first pivot wedging stop and the second arcuate arm and the second clamp pivot define a second pivot wedging stop upon the first cleat offset relative to the second cleat. |
| US08091491B2 |
Integrated system for the extraction of heavy ash, conversion thereof into light ash and reduction of unburnt matter
The present invention is about a process for treating all the ashes produced by a coal dust boiler (1), able to reduce the total unburnt matter content, to increase the combustion efficiency of the boiler (1), and to have the light ashes as the only waste arising from the coal combustion. In particular, said process provides for the extraction of the heavy ashes (4) from the boiler bottom (23), the ashes coming from the hoppers of the economizers (5) and the fraction of light ash richer of unburnt matter coming from the filters (11) used to collect the dust from the flue gas; said ashes are mixed in a silo (15), proportioned and transferred in one or more feeders (17) of the coal mills (18), and reintroduced in the boiler (1) after being mixed with the coal through the burners (2). |
| US08091490B2 |
Handle for a portable table
A table may include a table top and one or more legs or support pedestals. The table may also include one or more handles that may enhance the portability of the table. For example, if the table is a fold-in-half table, then the table top may include first and second sections that may be moved between an folded position and an unfolded position. The handle may include first and second sections that are connected to the first and second sections of the table top. The first and second sections of the handle may be collectively grasped, which may help prevent the table top from unintentionally unfolding. The table top may also include receiving portions that are sized configured to receive one or more portions of the handle. This may allow, for example, at least a substantial portion of the handle to be disposed in receiving portions when the handle is in a retracted position. This may also allow, for example, at least a substantial portion of the handle to be disposed outside the receiving portions when the handle is in an extended position. |
| US08091489B2 |
Connecting device for furniture
A connecting device for connecting at least one foot element to furniture includes a holding element adhesively bonded to the furniture, an intermediate piece connected to the holding element, and a mounting part, couplable to the at least one foot element. The mounting part is removably connected to the intermediate piece. |
| US08091487B2 |
Pallet assembly
A pallet assembly includes a top deck having a top deck upper surface and a top deck lower surface and also having a first predetermined fire retardancy. A bottom deck having a bottom deck upper surface and a bottom deck lower surface, and also having a second predetermined fire retardancy. A column extending between the top deck and bottom deck, the column having an other fire retardancy lower than at least one of the first and second fire retardancies. |
| US08091482B2 |
Warhead for intercepting system
A warhead system for a projectile-intercepting munition, the warhead system includes a fuselage having an axis and one or more explosively-formed-projectile charge. The explosively-formed-projectile is with a length and configured to generate one or more explosively formed blade projectile propagating substantially perpendicular to the length, the explosively-formed-projectile charge assuming a deployed state wherein the length of the explosively-formed-projectile charge is non-parallel to the axis, the deployed state and the explosively-formed-projectile charge configured such that, when the explosively-formed-projectile charge is detonated in the deployed state, the explosively formed blade projectile propagates in a direction non-coplanar with the length of the explosively-formed-projectile charge and the axis of the fuselage. |
| US08091478B1 |
System and method for electronically discriminating a target
A target discrimination system monitors an acceleration switch signal to determine an impact of a projectile on a target. During a sample period of approximately 1.0 milliseconds, the system repeatedly samples the acceleration switch signal, compares the sampled acceleration sensor signal with a reference voltage, and sets a comparator data output to logic one if the sampled signal exceeds the reference voltage. Otherwise, the comparator data output is set to logic zero. The system counts the instances that comparator data output equals logic one during the sample period and executes a selected delay. The selected delay is approximately 50 milliseconds if the counted number of instances exceeds a predetermined threshold of approximately two-thirds of the samples and, otherwise, the selected delay is approximately 10 milliseconds. The selective delay enables target discrimination and selective detonation of a projectile. |
| US08091477B2 |
Integrated detonators for use with explosive devices
A detonator assembly includes a capacitor, an initiator, a transformer and an addressable chip. The initiator is electrically connected to the capacitor, the transformer is mechanically and electrically connected to the capacitor and the addressable chip is mechanically and electrically connected to the transformer. The initiator may be bonded or fused to the capacitor, and the transformer may be bonded or fused to the capacitor. The capacitor, initiator, transformer and addressable chip form a unified integrated detonating unit. |
| US08091476B2 |
Web conveyance method and apparatus of tandem printing system
By executing low-speed conveyance of web by a web feeding mechanism before the printing operation begins, slack W22a, W10a, and W15a in the web located downstream of the guide rollers, and the slacked web is accumulated in the air loop portion, thereby completing the standby for printing. At that time, the amount of web conveyance (accumulation) is saved. Then, high-speed printing operation begins, and when the amount of printing has reached the amount of web conveyance saved, high-speed conveyance by the web feeding mechanism begins. |
| US08091475B2 |
Stencil stretcher frame having a protective device for holding a printing stencil
A stencil stretcher frame unit includes a stencil stretcher frame for stretching a printing stencil, the stencil stretcher frame including a seat; a protective device accommodated in the seat and holding the stencil stretcher frame, the protective device including a plurality of protective bars configured to hold the printing stencil in a plane and to accommodate a circumferential edge of the printing stencil so as to cover the circumferential edge along a circumference of the printing stencil, adjacent ones of the plurality of protective bars being supported on each other at respective end areas of the protective bars so as to allow a relative movement with respect to each other; and a joining device configured to fasten the protective device to the stencil stretcher frame. |
| US08091474B2 |
Rotary fan press
A system for extracting liquid from a mass comprising a portable platform having an upper surface, a system mass input, a polymer feeding and blending system on the upper surface, a liquid extraction assembly on the upper surface, and piping having a first section between the system mass input and the polymer feeding and blending system, and a second section between the polymer feeding and blending system and the liquid extraction assembly. The system is configured to have mass inputted into the system mass input, transport the mass to the polymer feeding and blending system through the first section of the piping, inject polymer into the mass in the polymer feeding and blending system, and transport the mass from the polymer feeding and blending system to the liquid extraction assembly. Pressure from mass forced into the liquid extraction assembly forces liquid in the mass to exit the mass. |
| US08091471B2 |
Automated production processes and associated systems, including automated bread making processes
Aspects of the present invention relates to automated production processes and associated systems, including automated bread making processes which enable the continuous production of baked bread. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a system for the continuous production of baked bread that includes an ingredient metering unit, a dough mixing unit coupled to the ingredient metering unit, a dough transport coupled to the dough mixing unit, an endless oven conveyor having a plurality of dough holders spaced apart from each other, and an oven unit coupled to the oven conveyor. The oven conveyor is configured to move the dough holders through the baking portion at a rate so the single batches of dough in the dough holders will be sequentially baked to form the baked products when the dough holder exit the oven unit. |
| US08091466B2 |
Breech portion for a repeating rifle
The invention relates to a breech for a repeating rifle with a lock guide, a bolt head arranged in the lock guide, a locking sleeve arranged concentrically with the bolt head with several locking elements that can be moved by an expansion device between an inner unlocked position and an outer locked position, and a locking lever that is arranged in the lock guide and that can be activated by means of a bolt handle with which is associated a first cam element that is arranged so that it can rotate in the lock guide with a rear contact surface for support against a fixed control element. To allow especially smooth-running and safe locking action, a second cam element, which can rotate independently of the first cam element and that has a rear control cam for support against the fixed control element is associated with the locking lever. |
| US08091464B1 |
Shaped charge resistant protective shield
In one embodiment, a protective armor system includes first and second armor layers separated by a gap. The second armor layer has a hardness that is less the first armor layer. The protective shield is configured to disperse energy of a shaped charge, such as the energy within a penetrator generated by an explosively formed penetrator (EFP). |
| US08091457B2 |
Guard assembly for a saw blade
The present invention discloses a guard assembly for a saw blade, which includes an inner guard portion and an outer guard portion. The inner and outer guard portions define a containing space therebetween. A circular saw blade includes two parallel sides and a rotating axis perpendicular to the two sides. At least a portion of the saw blade is located within the containing space. The outer guard portion is pivotally connected with the inner guard portion about a pivotal axis which is substantially parallel to each side of the blade. The improved guard assembly, which can be opened laterally, is convenient to change the saw blade and to clean the inner of the guard. |
| US08091456B2 |
Safety devices for saws
In various embodiments, a saw can include a work surface and a blade at least partially extending through the work surface. In at least one embodiment, the saw can further include a sensor and a light emitter, wherein the light emitter can be configured to emit a first light beam and a second light beam onto at least a portion of the work surface. In various embodiments, the sensor can be can be configured to detect a plurality of saw conditions and, owing to communication between the sensor and the light emitter, the light emitter can be configured to emit the first light beam onto the work surface when the sensor detects a first saw condition and emit the second light beam onto the work surface when the sensor detects a second saw condition. |
| US08091452B2 |
Method for manufacturing drill head
The present invention provides a method for reliable, easy, and low cost manufacturing of a drill head of such a kind that a cutting blade tip is brazed to a cutting blade mounting seat of a head body, with high dimensional accuracy and blade edge accuracy.In the manufacturing of a drill head 10 used with a screw shank 2 coupled in threading relation with a distal end portion of a tool shank 5 of a deep-hole cutting drill and with bounded circumferential face portions 22 and 23 at both sides which sandwich a male thread 21 portion adhered closely to a circumferential face of the tool shank 5, a screw shank cylindrical member 20A with a cutting stock 7 left at least on the bounded circumferential face portions 22 and 23 is welded and integrated with a rear end of a head body 1 for which cutting blade tips 30a to 30c have been brazed, thereafter cutting the cutting stock 7 of the screw shank cylindrical member 20A so as to be finished into the screw shank 2. |
| US08091445B1 |
Offset compound gear inline two-speed drive
A two-speed transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft, the transmission being capable of transitioning between fixed ratios, the high-range ratio being direct 1:1 and the low-range ratio being about 2:1. The transmission is a simple lightweight, yet robust, configuration utilizing only two gear meshes, being comprised of an input gear, a cluster gear, and an output gear. The transmission is controlled with a clutch and a sprag and with the input and output shafts turning in the same direction. |
| US08091442B1 |
Positive tube retention arrangement
A measuring head has a base and extending spaced apart vertical sidewalls that form a slot into which a tube through which a fluid flows is placed and at least one sensor element mounted in at least one of the sidewalls to detect a characteristic of the flowing fluid. At least one through passage is formed in each of the sidewalls that are aligned opposing each other to form a pair of passages through which a strap is passed above the tube in the head slot and a fastener holds the strap bound to the sidewalls to retain the tube in the slot. One embodiment has a pair of the sidewall slots on each side of a sensor element mounted in a sidewall. A passage also can be provided in the head base through which a strap can pass and then be passed through a pair of the sidewall passages. |
| US08091439B2 |
Analyte extraction probe assembly
A probe assembly for use in the extraction of analytes from a sample, which probe includes an elongate cylinder portion which is arranged to rotate about its longitudinal axis, and having thereon one or more vanes extending away from the cylinder portion. |
| US08091437B2 |
Transducer matrix film
A transducer system includes a plurality of transducer elements formed on a flexible substrate with localized circuit elements and interconnects associated with each transducer element. |
| US08091434B2 |
Fluidic oscillator flow meter
The present invention discloses a feedback type, hydrodynamic oscillator flow meter for measuring the flow of fluids such as gas, air, water and oil, flowing through a conduit. This flow meter gives very accurate measurements over a long period of time since piezoelectric sensors are employed. The working principle of this flow meter is based on the Coanda Effect, which guides the flowing fluid to pass through two feedback paths (103, 129) alternatively and a linear relationship is obtained between the fluidic oscillation frequency and the flow rate. |
| US08091433B2 |
Ioniser type gas meter having modulating electrode downstream of ioniser
A gas meter gas a conduit for passage of a gas flow; an ioniser arranged to ionise the gas flow in the conduit; a modulating electrode structure arranged for modulating the ion distribution in the ionised gas flow; and at least a detecting electrode structure downstream of the modulating electrode structure arranged for detecting the modulated ion distribution in the ionised gas flow. The modulating electrode structure is arranged downstream of the ioniser and is configured to generate an electrical field which is substantial in a parallel to the direction of the gas flow. |
| US08091432B2 |
Monitoring system for concrete pilings and method of installation
A system for tracking and monitoring data related to the manufacture, installation and/or life cycle of concrete structures, such as pilings, as well as related system components and methods for tracking, storing and accessing such data is provided. The system utilizes one or more embeddable antenna assemblies as well as sensor packages that are installed in the concrete structure form before casting. The antenna(s) provide wireless communication of the data from the structure. On board memory is also provided to store structure related data with the structure. A system for tracking a pile during driving is also provided. |
| US08091430B1 |
Protection system for diaphragm of MEMS device
A system for protecting a diaphragm of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device includes a housing coupled to the MEMS device such that its sensing diaphragm is surrounded thereby. A perforated barrier in the housing is adjacent to the sensing diaphragm. A protection diaphragm in the housing has its first side exposed to an external environment of interest, and has its second side facing the perforated barrier and spaced apart therefrom. A fluid is disposed contiguously between the second side of the protection diaphragm and the sensing diaphragm. |
| US08091426B2 |
Ultrasonic wave measuring method and apparatus
In a comparison between master data created from a waveform signal of an observed object of an acceptable article and a waveform signal obtained from a non-measured observed object, time phase difference generated in the observed object is corrected, and difference with the master data is detected. As a first stage, quality determination is performed on the non-measured observed object with a long interval master data using the created master data, and the time phase difference is corrected. Then, as a second stage, quality determination is performed with the short interval master data divided on a time axis and the similarly divided waveform signal of the observed object. The time phase difference generated between the observed objects (acceptable article and defective article) is thereby corrected, and quality determination of high accuracy can be performed from the comparison with the waveform signal of the acceptable article. |
| US08091424B2 |
Defect detection method of turbine generator end ring
A defect detection method of a turbine generator end ring includes a first ultrasonic testing step of conducting ultrasonic testing by an angle beam technique to the turbine generator end ring, a second ultrasonic testing step of conducting, when an indication echo is detected by the first ultrasonic testing step, ultrasonic testing by a focusing straight beam technique to a portion of the turbine generator end ring from which an indication echo is detected and an interpretation step of interpreting whether the indication echo is a defect echo or a false echo based on a testing result by the second ultrasonic testing step. |
| US08091421B2 |
System and method for measuring content of a bin
A system for measuring the height of bin content includes a transmitter for transmitting an acoustic pulse towards the upper surface of the content, a non-collinear receiver array for receiving an echo of the pulse and producing signals in response to the echo, and a processing apparatus for computing one or more directions of arrival of the signals from the upper surface to the array along with corresponding measured distances. Preferably, the receivers are transducers that also serve as transmitters. Two or more such measured distances constitute a map of the upper surface for estimating the quantity of the bin content. Preferably, the system includes a pulse shaper and repeater for optimizing the pulse shape relative to the signals. |
| US08091410B2 |
Phase-based misfire detection in engine rotation frequency domain
A misfire detection system monitors engine speed fluctuations in the engine rotation frequency domain and identifies misfire when a phase angle locks onto a stable value rather than fluctuating randomly. After misfire detection, the system also performs cylinder or cylinder pair identification using predefined phase angle regions, where the identification process incorporate knowledge of what phase angle region a locked phase angle falls within. |
| US08091408B2 |
Procedure for operating a collecting particle sensor and device for implementing this procedure
A procedure for operating a collecting particle sensor, which is provided with measuring phases, during which particles that are contained in an off-gas stream accumulate on a measuring route, and a device for implementing this procedure are submitted. Protection phases are provided, during which at least one measure for diminishing the accumulation of particles on the measuring route is adopted. The measure according to this invention prevents a decrease of the sensitivity of the particle sensor over a long period of time. |
| US08091406B1 |
Gage for measuring mini-strip displacement for determining intensity
A gage for measuring deflection of a “mini-strip” used to determine peening intensity in small cavities and crevices of a work piece includes a pair of platforms made of a magnetic material spaced apart in a non-magnetic fixture a distance substantially the same as the length of the mini-strip. The platforms have a diameter slightly larger than the width of the mini-strip to provide support for both corners on each end of the mini-strip. A magnet for each of the platforms may be advanced toward and retracted from the platform to adjust the degree of magnetic attraction of the mini-strip. The platforms are stepped to define a shoulder and posts are offset from one of the platforms which cooperate to guide the user in proper placement of the strip. A plunger extended from the indicator engages the strip at substantially its midpoint, to thereby measure the deflection of the strip to give an indication of peening intensity. |
| US08091403B2 |
Bodymaker ram attachment
A bodymaker ram attachment has a screwed locator (60), which is fastened to a slide block (70) of the bodymaker and can be aligned to the machine. A new ram with an internal thread and location diameter is screwed onto the locator. A clamp ring (65) tightens a locking element (80) so as to fix the ram (50) to the locator (60) when screws (68), which fasten the clamp ring to the locator, are tightened. The advantage of this new attachment is that the ram can be removed quickly by loosening the clamp ring and locking element then unscrewing the ram from the locator. The ram can then be removed and replaced by sliding through the front of the machine without the need for further disassembly. |
| US08091399B2 |
Process for manufacturing a seamless tube
A process for manufacturing a seamless tube which can effectively suppress thickness deviations which are apt to occur in thin-walled seamless tubes is provided. A billet which has been soaked in a heating furnace at a given temperature for a given length of time is subjected to piercing and elongation rolling to form a mother tube, which is then soaked in a reheating furnace at a given temperature for a given length of time and then subjected to sizing to produce a seamless tube with a wall thickness of at most 4 mm. The wall thickness of the tube after sizing is at most 4 mm, the soaking time at the given temperature in the heating furnace is in the range of [billet diameter (mm)×(from 0.14-0.35 )] minutes, and the soaking time at the given temperature in the reheating furnace is in the range of [mother tube wall thickness (mm)×(from 3.0-10.0)] minutes. |
| US08091397B1 |
Compact roll grooving apparatus with adjustable mounting and extended backup roller shaft
A roll grooving apparatus has a back-up roller, a grooving roller positioned vertically below the back-up roller, and a linear actuator positioned below the grooving roller. The linear actuator drives the grooving roller linearly toward the backup roller. A drive is coupled to turn the backup roller. A tubular workpiece is mounted with its wall between the two rollers and compressive forces are exerted on the wall as the backup roller rotates, thereby extruding a circular groove in the workpiece. |
| US08091395B2 |
System, method, software arrangement and computer-accessible medium for press-forming of materials
A system, method and software arrangement are provided for generating press-formed parts having a more consistent quality based on improved determination of processing conditions. For example, an apparatus can be configured to compare actual performance values of material properties provided by a material property database with standard values, and to adjust forming conditions such as a forming speed and a blank-holder pressure in accordance with the compared result. A control arrangement can be provided to control a press-forming device using the adjusted forming conditions. Accordingly, it may be possible to reduce occurrences of defects such as cracks and wrinkles when press-forming materials, and to obtain products having consistent quality and substantially identical shapes. |
| US08091394B2 |
Foreign pipe or tube determining method
There is provided a foreign pipe or tube determining method capable of accurately determining a foreign pipe or tube. The foreign pipe or tube determining method in accordance with the present invention includes a step for determining the presence of a foreign pipe or tube by comparing the length of each pipe or tube in a size measuring step with the length of each pipe or tube measured in an actual weighing and length measuring step, which is associated with each pipe or tube in the size measuring step, a step for determining the presence of a foreign pipe or tube by comparing the weight of each pipe or tube calculated in a weight calculating step with the weight of each pipe or tube measured in the actual weighing and length measuring step, which is associated with each pipe or tube in a weight calculating step, and a step for determining the presence of a foreign pipe or tube based on the material of each pipe or tube determined in a material determining step. |
| US08091392B2 |
High security lock
A high security lock includes a lock bolt movable between extended and retracted positions, a bolt retraction gear coupled to the lock bolt, and a manually-driven gear train. When a controller verifies that user-input information is correct for unlocking the lock, the bolt retraction gear and manually-driven gear train are operatively coupled such that the gear train can drive the lock bolt from the extended position to the retracted position. |
| US08091391B2 |
Padlock
A padlock that can be unlocked by the owner of the padlock by dialing an unlocking number or by authorized security personals with a general key. The padlock mainly contains a lock body, a block, a shackle, a general locking device and a private locking device. The lock body has a first channel and a second channel therein. The block is engaged with the second channel. The block has a receptacle therein. The shackle has a longer arm slidably received in the first channel and a shorter arm engageable with the receptacle of the block. The general locking device is formed in the lock body for locking or unlocking the longer arm of the shackle. The private locking device is formed in the lock body for controlling movements of the block in order the block to be engaged with or disengaged from the shorter arm of the shackle. |
| US08091389B2 |
Multiple laundry machine
A multiple laundry machine, in which an auxiliary drying device is coupled to a general laundry machine, is disclosed. The multiple laundry machine includes a laundry machine for washing or drying laundry contained in an interior of the laundry machine, an auxiliary drying device arranged at one side of the laundry machine, the auxiliary drying device having a laundry container formed in an interior of the auxiliary drying device, and a driver provided at the auxiliary drying device, to drive the auxiliary drying device. |
| US08091388B2 |
Cooling ring for use in manufacturing of fiberglass wool
The present invention provides improved cooling of a veil of glass fibers by using a combination of nozzle assemblies. The nozzle assemblies include air caps of differing configurations to control the penetration of the spray into the veil. One suitable spray configuration is a nozzle assembly having punch air cap that creates a narrow exit angle, high velocity flow of droplets to penetrate the veil to cool the fibers at the interior. Another suitable configuration is a nozzle assembly having a flat air cap that creates a wide exit angle, low velocity, dispersed spray pattern to cool the exterior of the veil. Preferably, the flat air cap creates a very fine particle size to increase the cooling efficiency of the spray. By using the cooling ring of the present invention, lower levels of binder to be applied to the fibers and environmental emissions from the plant may be reduced. |
| US08091384B2 |
Method of manufacturing silica glass crucible for pulling silicon single crystals
The disclosed is a method of manufacturing a silica glass crucible for pulling silicon single crystals. In the method, reduced pressure is imparted from the inner surface to the outer surface of a crucible-shaped molded product and the crucible-shaped molded product is arc-fused while rotating the same to form a silica glass crucible with a transparent layer on the inner surface side and a bubble layer on the outer surface side. The inner surface of the wall portion of the silica glass crucible is fused a second time by arc fusion to cause bubbles present in the transparent layer of the inner surface of the wall portion to be displaced toward the bottom portion of the inner surface of the wall portion. The inner surface of the bottom portion of the silica glass crucible is fuse a second time by arc fusion to cause bubbles present in the transparent layer of the inner surface of the bottom portion to be displaced toward the periphery of the inner surface of the bottom portion. Either the step of displacement toward the bottom portion or the step of displacement toward the outer periphery is inverted first. |
| US08091381B2 |
Efficient heat exchanger for refrigeration process
Aspects of the invention are found in a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a fluid inlet manifold, a fluid outlet manifold, a plurality of heat transfer channels configured to communicate with the fluid inlet manifold and the fluid outlet manifold, and packing located within the fluid inlet manifold. Further aspects of the invention are found in a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system includes a compressor and at least one heat exchanger coupled to the compressor. The at least one heat exchanger includes a header, packing located in the header, and a heat transfer channel. The heat transfer channel is configured to receive fluid passing through the header and the packing. |
| US08091379B2 |
Refrigerator
Disclosed is a refrigerator having a sensor cover slidingly-coupled to inside of a cooling chamber and accommodating a sensor therein. Since the sensor cover is easily coupled to or separated from the cooling chamber, damage of components is prevented. |
| US08091371B2 |
Mid turbine frame for gas turbine engine
A mid turbine frame of a gas turbine engine includes an outer case which supports a spoke casing co-axially positioned therein. The spoke casing has load transfer spokes extending radially from an inner case and secured to the outer case. A load transfer device is provided to transfer load from the spokes to the outer case in addition to load transfer through a first group of fasteners securing the spokes to the outer case, thereby forming a secondary load transfer path from the spokes. The load transfer device includes an opening of the outer case into which at least some of the spokes are inserted. |
| US08091370B2 |
Combustor liner cap assembly
A liner cap assembly is disclosed for use in a gas turbine engine combustor. The assembly includes an outer ring that extends along an axis. Multiple struts are circumferentially arranged about an inner diameter of the outer ring and extend radially inwardly therefrom. A plate is supported by and axially aligned with the struts. The plate includes multiple circumferential openings that support a collar and a premix tube at each of the openings. The plate is arranged between leading and trailing edges of the struts to provide a stiffened liner cap assembly that is robust and resistant to the vibrations typically found in dry low NOx systems. |
| US08091364B2 |
Combustion chamber wall, gas turbine installation and process for starting or shutting down a gas turbine installation
In a combustion chamber wall for a combustion chamber having a combustion chamber outlet through which a hot combustion exhaust gas can exit the combustion chamber, the combustion chamber wall comprises an outlet end which surrounds the combustion chamber outlet, and the outlet end is provided with a tempering device. |
| US08091363B2 |
Low residence combustor fuel nozzle
Embodiments for an apparatus and associated method for reducing the residence time in a gas turbine combustor are disclosed. The embodiments of the present invention comprise a fuel nozzle that extends to a downstream plane of an end cap for a combustion liner where the axial distance of the premixer is reduced, however the swirl for mixing the fuel and air, is increased. As a result, the mixing of the fuel and air is essentially unchanged, thereby allowing higher air pressures and operating temperatures within the premixer without inducing auto-ignition. |
| US08091358B2 |
Control method for a turbocharger supercharged internal combustion engine
A control method for an internal combustion engine supercharged by means of a turbocharger provided with a turbine and with a compressor; the control method contemplates the steps of: establishing at least one operating limit curve on a Reduced Mass Flow Rate/Compression Ratio map; establishing at least one intervention curve of a wastegate valve which adjusts a bypass pipe of the turbine on a Reduced Mass Flow Rate/Compression Ratio map; establishing at least one intervention curve of a Poff valve which adjusts a bypass pipe of the compressor on a Reduced Mass Flow Rate/Compression Ratio map; using the operating limit curve to limit the pressure target downstream of the compressor used by the engine control; controlling the opening of the wastegate valve if the intervention curve of the wastegate valve is exceeded; and controlling the opening of the Poff valve if the intervention curve of the Poff valve is exceeded. |
| US08091356B2 |
Vehicular brake system
In a vehicular brake system, an input piston and a pressure piston are coaxially and axially movably supported in a cylinder, and a brake pedal is coupled to the input piston. Pressure chambers formed on the axially opposite sides of the input piston communicate with each other via a communication passage. A control oil pressure can be supplied to a first supply port of the communication passage, and a reaction-force oil pressure can be supplied to a second supply port of a reaction-force chamber of the input piston, while braking oil pressures can be delivered from delivery ports of the respective pressure chambers. |
| US08091355B2 |
Flow compensated restrictive orifice for overrunning load protection
A hydraulic circuit for an actuator that has a piston and piston rod that will move a load in a first direction, and which can be externally loaded in an opposite direction, includes a flow compensated valve between the actuator and a control valve. When the piston in the actuator is moved in the second opposite direction under the external load and the rate of flow of fluid out of the actuator through the flow compensated valve exceeds a selected rate, an orifice is introduced in the flow path to restrict flow from the actuator. |
| US08091353B2 |
Exhaust device for a diesel engine
The present invention has an object to provide an exhaust device for a diesel engine capable of surely burning flammable gas in an exhaust route.In the exhaust device for the diesel engine, liquid fuel (6) is supplied from a liquid-fuel supply source (5) to a gas generator (3). The gas generator (3) converts the liquid fuel (6) to flammable gas (7) and has a flammable-gas flow outlet (9) of the with which an exhaust route (1) is communicated upstream of a diesel-particulate-filter (2). The flammable gas (7) flowed out from the flammable-gas flow outlet (9) is burnt with oxygen in exhaust gas (10) to produce combustion heat. The exhaust gas (10) heated by the thus produced combustion heat can burn the exhaust-gas fine particles remaining at the filter (2). The gas generator (3) is provided with a catalyst chamber (51) which houses a catalyst (4). Catalyst-combustion heat is generated in the catalyst chamber (51) which is arranged along an external periphery of a peripheral wall (1a) of the exhaust route (1). |
| US08091352B2 |
Ignition system
An ignition system includes an electrical energy delivery device having a first electrode terminating at a first end portion and a second electrode positioned in the ignition system separately from the electrical energy delivery device. The second electrode terminates at a second end portion disposed a first distance from the first end portion to form an air gap therebetween. The air gap forms an area including the shortest distance between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08091351B2 |
Non-zeolite base metal SCR catalyst
An article for treating a gas containing nitrogen oxides including: (a) a monolith substrate; and (b) a catalytic composition containing at least one catalytic component consisting of (i) at least one transition metal dispersed on a mixed oxide or composite oxide or a mixture thereof as support material consisting of cerium and zirconium; or (ii) cerium oxide and zirconium oxide as single oxides or a composite oxide thereof or a mixture of the single oxides and the composite oxide dispersed on an inert oxide support material, wherein at least one transition metal is dispersed thereon, provided that at least one selected transition metal is tungsten, wherein the catalytic composition is disposed on the monolith substrate. |
| US08091349B2 |
Motorcycle
A silencer for a motorcycle with relaxed layout restrictions has a drum portion connected to a head. A conduit extends through the drum portion in a direction of connection. The drum portion decreases in cross sectional area toward a downstream side. A catalyst holding portion formed in the head has a catalyst fixed member to which a catalyst inserted member is fixed at a position upstream of the drum portion. A catalyst is inserted into the catalyst inserted member. |
| US08091345B2 |
Apparatus, system, and method for efficiently increasing exhaust flow temperature for an internal combustion engine
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for efficiently increasing exhaust flow temperature for an internal combustion engine. The method includes excepting a user input to disable an exhaust valve opening mechanism. The method further includes monitoring exhaust gas mass flows and temperatures, interpreting required exhaust temperatures for aftertreatment devices, and surveying a plurality of operating conditions for a combustion engine. The method includes determining a crankshaft angle for dynamically engaging an exhaust valve open mode based on the exhaust temperature, the required exhaust temperature, and the engine operating conditions. Dynamically engaging the exhaust valve open mode includes selecting a specific crankshaft angle for each combustion cycle of the engine. |
| US08091341B2 |
Exhaust gas purification method and exhaust gas purification system
Exhaust gas purification method where a purification agent, consumed by an exhaust gas purifier arranged in the exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, is supplied by an injector in an exhaust pipe into the exhaust passage on the upstream side of the exhaust gas purifier and mixed with exhaust gas. The exhaust passage is provided with a step beyond which the exhaust passage expands in order to generate swirls in the exhaust gas flow, and the purification agent is introduced at the step or in the vicinity thereof, thus accelerating atomization of the purification agent. Consequently, vaporization and diffusion of the purification agent can be accelerated efficiently within a short distance in the exhaust passage, and the purification agent can reach the exhaust gas purifier under a state where the purification agent is made uniform. Consequently, an exhaust gas purification system can be used even in small vehicles. |
| US08091339B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine
In a method for operating an air-compressing fuel-injection internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas post-treatment system with a particle filter and a nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter, a plurality of internal combustion engine operating settings are provided, each having respective predefined values for predefined internal combustion engine operating parameters. A heating operating setting is set when the internal combustion engine is warming up, while a basic operating setting is set in the warmed-up state. When the temperature in the exhaust gas system exceeds a predefinable first value, the heating operating setting is changed over to the basic operating setting. In the warmed-up state, at least one further, (third) operating setting, with an exhaust gas recirculation rate that is reduced compared to the basic operating setting, is provided in addition to the basic operating setting. |
| US08091337B2 |
Exhaust treatment device having a reactive compound and conditioning the device via endothermic reaction
An exhaust treatment device and a method of conditioning the device that include a reactive compound capable of undergoing an endothermic reaction are described. A method of manufacturing the device is also disclosed. |
| US08091336B2 |
Method to initiate multiple chamber detonation wave combustors
A pulse detonation wave engine (PDWE) detonation system provides for optical ignition. The detonation system has a plurality of detonation banks, where each detonation bank has a plurality of detonation chambers for receiving a fuel/oxidizer mixture from a propellant source. An optical ignition subsystem generates a plurality of optical pulses. The detonation system also has an optical transport subsystem for transporting the optical pulses from the ignition subsystem to the chambers, where the optical pulses ignite each fuel/oxidizer mixture such that the chambers detonate in a desired order. This allows the banks to be sequentially detonated and the chambers within each bank to be simultaneously detonated, without the increased tankage and toxic ignition associated with conventional approaches. |
| US08091333B2 |
Flexible wire for removing scale in pipe
Provided is a flexible wire to be inserted in a pipe and rotated in a high speed to remove scales in the pipe by striking the scales. The flexible wire includes a main wire line which is formed by alternately winding a central wire line with clockwise and counterclockwise wires along a longitudinal direction of the central wire line, an auxiliary wire line which is a single line having a diameter smaller than that of the main wire line and extends in a longitudinal direction of the main wire line, and an outermost wire which winds the auxiliary wire line so as to bind the auxiliary wire line and the main wire line. |
| US08091332B2 |
Mower deck with air inlets
A mower deck has a pair of adjacent cylindrical cutting chambers with rotary cutting blades. Each cutting chamber has a skirt with an air inlet next to a rear discharge chute centrally positioned between the two cutting chambers. A horizontal shield is over each air inlet. |
| US08091328B2 |
Header for a forage harvester
A coppice header for a forage harvester adapted to be mounted on and powered by a forage harvester. The header including at the front side two circular rotatable knives, a feeding drum being mounted above each knife, said drums being rotatable about the same rotation axis as the respective knives, wherein each feeding drum is equipped with one or more flat hook-shaped extensions adapted to grab the cut stems in the region immediately above the rotatable knives. The header may also be provided with a front feed roll placed behind the knives and two additional feed rolls placed behind the front feed roll, wherein the front feed roll is equipped with guiding blades along the length of the feed roll. The blades have a central protrusion, so that the blades are longer in a region around the middle of the blade than at the lateral ends of the blades. |
| US08091326B2 |
Combined baler/bale wrapper
A combined baler/bale wrapper (1) comprises a chassis (5) on which a baler (10) and a bale wrapper (11) are mounted. The baler (10) comprises a stationary segment (18), a lower segment (19) and an upper segment (20) all of which carry bale forming rollers (25) which define a bale forming chamber (15) within which a round bale (2) is formed. The lower segment (19) and the upper segment (20) are pivotal about first and second pivot axes (35,40), respectively from a bale forming position (FIG. 5) to a discharge position (FIG. 1) for transferring a bale upwardly rearwardly from of the bale forming chamber (15) directly onto first and second bale supporting rollers (50) of the bale wrapper (11). The bale supporting rollers (50) rotate the bale (2) about a first wrapping axis (53) while a carrier ring (55) simultaneously revolves a pair of wrapping material dispensers (54) about a second horizontal wrapping axis (56) for dispensing wrapping material onto the bale (2) for wrapping thereof. The combined baler/bale wrapper is efficient, compact and of minimum length. |
| US08091325B2 |
Waste disposal device including a diaphragm for twisting a flexible tubing dispensed from a cartridge
A diaphragm positioned in a waste disposal device for holding and twisting flexible tubing dispensed form a cartridge housed in the waste disposal device. The twisting of the tubing is accomplished either by rotating the diaphragm and holding the cartridge stationary, or rotating the cartridge and holding the diaphragm. A rotation mechanism is operatively configured to the waste disposal device for rotating either the cartridge or the diaphragm while impeding the rotation of the other. The twisting of the flexible sealably encapsulates a waste package inserted into the flexible tubing through an opening in the cartridge. |
| US08091322B2 |
Packaging machine and method for producing packages made of a film
The invention relates to a packaging machine comprising at least one working station, in which a film is acted upon by means of underpressure or overpressure, characterized in that the pressure and/or the volume flow is regulated by means of a proportional controller. |
| US08091321B2 |
Method for packaging surgical sutures
A surgical suture package for storing at least one surgical suture includes an outer jacket having a plurality of panels foldably connected to each other and adapted to fold upon each other to form an inner pocket and an inner retainer for positioning within the pocket of the outer jacket. The inner retainer includes a row of support panels having a main support panel for supporting the at least one suture, and a pair of side support panels foldably connected to the main support panel along respective opposed major sides of the main support panel. The side support panels are adapted to be folded onto the main support panel to at least partially enclose the at least one suture. A cover panel is foldably connected to the main support panel along a minor side of the main support panel, and is adapted to be folded onto the support panels. A row of closure panels including a main closure panel is foldably connected to the main support panel along a second minor side of the main closure panel, and a pair of side closure panels is foldably connected to the main closure panel along respective opposed major sides of the main closure panel. The main closure panel is adapted to be folded along the second minor side of the main support panel onto the main support panel and the side closure panels are adapted to be folded along the major sides of the main closure panel to at least partially enclose the support and cover panels. |
| US08091320B2 |
Prescription order packaging system and method
A system for automatically packaging prescription orders composed of one or more prescription containers. The system includes a printer for generating literature associated with each order and a packer for packing the prescription containers and the associated literature into a package. The packer has a scale or other means for determining the weight of the prescription containers. A packer controller calculates package weight information based on the container weight information. The package weight information is transmitted to a mail manifest system, which generates shipping information comprising postage. A labeler applies the shipping information to the package. The packer also includes a loading mechanism for inserting the prescription containers and the literature into the package. |
| US08091306B2 |
Lightweight metal joint for concrete surfaces
A metal joint for concrete slabs including means of separating the slabs and means allowing the horizontal movement of slabs relative to each other while avoiding vertical movement between the edges of the slabs, the metal joint comprising a first part incorporated in a first slab, comprising a vertical web with an upper edge and provided with a series of tenons which extend horizontally towards the exterior of the slab and a second part incorporated in a second slab comprising in its upper section a web with an upper edge and a series of mortise elements which extend towards the interior of the slab and are arranged opposite the tenons so that they can engage with each other, wherein the upper edges of the webs terminate at the top by an upper sharp edge strengthened by a cold-rolled fold so as to form a right angle on the outer side of the slab and a sharp edge with an acute angle in contact with the concrete of the slab thus forming a smooth upper surface and a sharp edge of the joint of the adjacent slabs. |
| US08091299B2 |
Entryway protector
The present invention is a entryway protector for use with elevator door jamb panels to protect the surfaces of the panels from sustaining damage from collisions with moving equipment, building materials and furniture. The entryway protector includes the main sections and an angled guide and a minor section which is attached at approximately a right angle. The entryway protector is constructed of a material that is sufficiently rigid to protect the elevator door jamb panel and also to remain in proper position. The preferred material is polycarbonate. The entryway protector may be attached to the elevator door jamb panel by suction cups. Preferably the entryway protector is made at a height of approximately forty inches so that two entryway protectors are need for each elevator door jamb panel. Two entryway protectors can be attached together by one or more H clamps. |
| US08091294B2 |
Folding pet staircase
A method and apparatus are provided, for allowing pets to ascend and descend on a foldable staircase having a plurality of stair treads operatively connected by articulating links in such a manner that the treads can be pivoted in unison from a stowed position of the staircase, in which the treads are substantially stacked upon one another, to a plurality of extended positions, in which the links position the treads in a spaced and parallel relationship to one another. A latch selectively secures the staircase in a selected one of the extended positions. The latch is configured for preventing further pivoting of the treads in either direction between the stowed and extended positions of the staircase, when the latch is engaged. |
| US08091292B1 |
Low force egress and safety apparatus for subterranean window wells
An apparatus for providing improved egress and greater safety for subterranean window wells. The apparatus has relatively low lifting force to allow people to escape fires and earthquake damaged buildings through egress windows. The apparatus can include mounts which are U-shaped and fit over opposing sides of the window well wall and are connected thereto. The mounts may have pivots which connect to an operator that applies upward force upon a grate assembly that covers the window well. The mounts and grate are hinged to pivot and allow the grate to be opened when needed. The operator has swivel and ball connections and an adjustable outboard connector. |
| US08091288B2 |
Greenhouse construction with rail system
Greenhouse construction consisting of a number of rooves with supporting members, such as longitudinal beams, ridges and gutters. These supporting members are provided with rails for moving a carriage or the like over them. The rails and supporting members provide each other with structural strength so that a relatively slim construction with no or hardly any restriction in the light level in the greenhouse construction occurs. |
| US08091277B1 |
Plant container having an elongated member for attachment within the ground and method for use thereof
A container for plants includes an integral structure having a bottom wall, a side wall extending upward to an edge forming an open top, and an elongated member extending downward from an opening in the bottom wall for attachment of the container to the soil of a garden. In one version, the elongated member is removably attached to the container, and a plug is provided for the opening, so that the container can be placed on a flat surface for displaying a plant that is later placed in a garden area in the container with the elongated member extending into the soil. |
| US08091275B2 |
pH buffered plant nutrient compositions and methods for growing plants
This invention provides pH buffered plant nutrient compositions, methods for fertilizing a plant growing or a seed germinating in a hydroponics system, methods for growing a plant in a hydroponics system, and methods for making a pH buffered plant nutrient composition. The compositions and methods of this invention are useful with distilled water, deionized water, filtered water, and United States municipal tap water. The compositions and methods of this invention are useful with most of the municipal water supplies in the United States. pH buffering agents useful in the practice of this invention include phosphate buffers, aquarium buffers, 2-[N-morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid, and mixtures thereof. |
| US08091273B2 |
Method for wrapping a floral grouping
A method for wrapping a floral grouping having a bloom end and a stem end is disclosed. A wrapper is formed from a sheet of material or bag which is wrapped about at least a portion of the stem end of the floral grouping. The wrapped floral grouping is then positioned within a receiving space of a preformed sleeve whereby the wrapper is secured in a stable position about at least a portion of the stem end of the floral grouping by the preformed sleeve. A detaching element defines the detachable upper portion and a lower portion of the preformed sleeve so that the upper portion can be removed from the lower portion. |
| US08091265B1 |
Floating rail system for firearm
An improved floating rail system for mounting accessories on a firearm having a barrel including a chassis and a clamp adapted to attach the chassis about the barrel of the firearm. A plurality of elongate accessory mounting rails are attached to the chassis and extend parallel to an axis of the barrel. The accessory mounting rails are supported in the chassis radially spread apart from the barrel. |
| US08091263B1 |
Reduced recoil choked shotgun barrel
A shotgun barrel of a construction that reduces recoil is provided. The shotgun barrel includes a smooth, non-rifled bore and a choke approximate the muzzle of the barrel. A plurality of vent holes through the barrel and extending into the bore in equal number and in alignment on opposing sides of the barrel along a length of the barrel that is inward of the choke, the sum of the transverse area of each of the plurality of vent holes not exceeding 50% of the muzzle area. A shotgun including the barrel of reduced recoil is also provided. |
| US08091261B2 |
Bands for making adjustable loops
Apparatus for forming a band into a persistent loop. The band incorporating the apparatus has a hole portion which contains a hole, a tongue portion which fits through the hole, and an adhesive attachment area on one or both of the hole and tongue portions. The band is made into a persistent loop by drawing the tongue portion through the hole and attaching the adhesive attachment area to the loop's outside surface. The size of the loop may be adjusted by varying the amount of the tongue portion which is drawn through the hole. A loop may be temporarily preformed by engaging a structure on the tongue portion with the hole. In embodiments in which the band is made of stiff material, the engaging structures may be the edges of the tongue portion and the edges of the hole. The disclosed embodiment of the apparatus is an identification band. |
| US08091258B1 |
Water-actuated novelty device
A device incorporating an erectile member that becomes erect upon being partially immersed in water. The erectile member is formed from a flexible tube that contains a hydrophilic material. The hydrophilic material swells when hydrated, pressurizing the tube and causing it to become erect. A decorative feature may be added to one end of the erectile member, such as a simulated flower blossom, and the device may be displayed in a vase. The device may be designed to return to its original drooping state once it has consumed all the water in the vase. Other features and embodiments are described herein. |
| US08091256B2 |
Loader elevation control system
A system for determining the elevation of a part of an implement, with the implement being attached to the ends of a pair of lift arms of a loader machine, includes a laser transmitter providing a reference beam of laser light. The beam may be a thin beam that is swept in a reference plane, or it may be a pair of fan shaped beams that are continuously rotated. A first beam detector is mounted on one of the pair of lift arms of the loader machine for detecting said reference beam and providing a first output. A second beam detector is mounted on the same lift arm and is spaced along the lift arm from the first beam detector for detecting the reference beam and providing a second output. A control circuit, responsive to the first beam detector and to the second beam detector, determines the elevation of the part of the implement based on the first and second outputs, and provides a projected implement elevation. |
| US08091255B2 |
Seabed organic material relocating
An apparatus to gather and relocate benthic life and life supporting material for use in combination with a seabed or aquatic bed dredger, plough, mole or other seabed disturbing apparatus comprising a means of gathering the benthic life and life supporting material in, on or above the seabed in front of and in the path of the draghead or said seabed disturbing apparatus, thereby preventing entrainment or damage to the benthic life, and a means of releasing the benthic organisms and life supporting material via a directional exit duct, away from the work area. |
| US08091249B2 |
Galbert caliper
Devices and methods for measuring the diameter of a circular cross section of an object either stationary or in motion comprising a fixed angle pair of jaws that are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis bisecting the fixed angle of the pair of jaws, wherein the fixed angle of the jaws is known, are described. |
| US08091245B2 |
Sundial
Disclosed are embodiments of a sundial. Various embodiments of the sundial disclosed herein may be used to determine the time of day based on the position of the sun. The sundial may utilize a curved reflector to reflect the image of the sun onto a dial-face. The curved reflector may be disposed, at least in part, behind the dial-face. A portion of the curved reflector behind the dial-face may be used to reflect an image of the sun onto a back surface of the dial-face. The reflected image of the sun received on the back of the dial-face may, in some embodiments, be visible on the front surface of the dial-face. The dial-face may have a plurality of time markings positioned thereon. The position of the image of the sun on the dial-face may be compared to the plurality of time markings to determine at least an approximation of the time of day. |
| US08091242B2 |
Dispensing utensil
A dispensing utensil 10 comprising: a handle portion 11 having a first end portion and a second end portion and a frangible connection intermediate the first and second end portions; an implement portion 12; a cavity 15 for storing dispensable contents, the cavity 15 defined by a first wall means 13, 14 and a second wall means 19 closing the cavity 15; characterized in that a first portion 20 of the first wall means 13, 14 is openable about a hinge formed by the second wall means 19, thereby allowing the contents to be dispensed. |
| US08091233B2 |
Method of manufacturing liquid discharge head
A method of manufacturing a liquid discharge head including a plurality of passages on a substrate, the passages communicating with a plurality of discharge ports configured to discharge liquid. The method includes the step of forming first, second, third, and fourth members, the first member having a shape of one passage, the second member having a shape of another member, the third member being formed near the first member, the fourth member being formed near the second member, the first to fourth members being formed on a surface of the substrate. The method also includes coating the substrate with a cover layer covering the first to fourth members, removing the first member to form the one passage, and removing the second member to form the another passage. |
| US08091229B2 |
Method of repairing a subsurface void or damage for a wind turbine blade
A procedure for repairing subsurface defects in a shell member laminate of a wind turbine blade includes detecting the location and boundary of the subsurface defect and drilling a fill hole from an external surface of the laminate into the defect proximate to a boundary of the defect. A vent hole is drilled from the external surface of the laminate into the defect proximate to an opposite boundary from the fill hole. A flowable bonding material is injected into the fill hole until the bonding material flows from the vent hole. The repair zone is reinforced with at least one mechanical fastener defined through the laminate either within the boundary of the defect or outboard of the boundary of the defect. |
| US08091228B2 |
Method repair of turbine blade tip
A method of repair of a turbine blade involves inspecting a turbine blade having an internal cavity and a cap. The cap is removed and replaced with a replacement cap. The replacement cap has an opening. The opening provides access to the internal cavity of the internal blade so that the replacement cap may be attached to the turbine blade through the opening. |
| US08091226B2 |
Integrated header connector system
Connector assemblies for use with implantable medical devices having easy to assemble contacts is disclosed. The connector assemblies are generally formed by coupling a plurality of contact rings, sealing rings, and spring contact elements together with at least one holding ring to form a connector having a common bore fore receiving a medical lead cable. Contact grooves for positioning the spring contact elements are formed in part by assembling multiple components together. |
| US08091212B2 |
Method of manufacturing panel switch
A method of manufacturing a panel switch is provided. The panel switch includes insulating films and a base layer having a stationary contact. Each insulating film includes an adhesive layer, and an apex portion of a moving contact adhered to the adhesive layer. The insulating films are aligned and adhered on top of each other and the adhered insulating films are aligned and adhered to the base layer such that the locations of the moving contacts of the respective insulating films align with the stationary contact of the base layer. The method includes applying an adhesive layer to an insulating film; adhering a moving contact onto the adhesive layer; aligning the moving contact with a stationary contact of a base member and adhering the insulating film to the base member; and cutting and removing an excess portion from the insulating film with a laser. |
| US08091211B2 |
Method for forming coil
A reactor coil includes first and second coil elements each formed by edgewise and rectangular winding of one piece of rectangular wire rod in a manner in which the wound rectangular wire rod is stacked rectangularly and cylindrically and, at a winding terminating end point of the first coil element, the rectangular wire rod is bent approximately 90 degrees in a direction opposite to the winding direction of the first coil element so that the rectangular wire rod is stacked in a direction opposite to the stacking direction of the first coil element and is wound edgewisely and rectangularly in a direction opposite to the winding direction of the first coil element to form the second coil element and, as a result, the first coil element and second coil element are aligned in parallel to each other in a continuous state. |
| US08091210B1 |
Method for providing a structure in magnetic recording transducer
A method provides a structure in a magnetic recording transducer. The structure resides on an underlayer. The method includes providing a protective layer and providing layer(s) for the structure. The protective layer covers a field region but exposes a device region in which the structure is to reside. A first portion of the layer(s) reside in the device region, while a second portion of the layer(s) reside in the field region. The method also includes removing the second portion of the layer(s) using an over-removal condition. The underlayer is covered by a remaining portion of the protective layer after the removing step is completed. The method also includes removing the remaining portion of the protective layer. An underlayer removal rate is substantially less than a protective layer during the step of removing of the protective layer. |
| US08091208B2 |
Method of forming an inlay substrate having an antenna wire
Forming an inlay comprising an antenna wire having two end portions and a site for a transponder chip, comprises: mounting the wire to a surface of substrate; and leaving the end portions of the antenna wire free-standing, as loops adjacent terminal areas of a site on the substrate for the transponder chip. With the transponder chip installed on the substrate, the free-standing loops are repositioned to be substantially directly over the terminals of the transponder chip, in preparation for interconnection of the loops to the terminals of the transponder chip, then are bonded to the terminals. An embedding tool for mounting the wire on the substrate may embed the wire in or adhesively place a self-bonding wire on a surface of the substrate. The substrate may have two transponder chips, and function as a secure inlay. An anti-skimming feature is included in the inlay. |
| US08091207B2 |
Method of laying a superconductor cable
A method for laying a superconductor cable having a superconductive cable core and a cryostat enclosing the superconductive cable core, with the superconductive cable core being arranged freely mobile in the cryostat. The method includes cooling the superconductive cable core to the operating temperature after laying the superconductor cable, shortening the superconductive cable core relative to the cryostat, fixing the superconductive cable core at its ends; and mounting terminations on the ends of the cable core. |
| US08091206B2 |
Method of twisting coil wire to make coil assembly for use in electric rotary machine
A method of producing a coil assembly to be wound in a stator core with a plurality of slots. The method prepares a first and a second coil wire each of which is made up of in-slot portions and turned portions, arranges the first and second coil wires in parallel with the turned portions being offset from each other in a lengthwise direction thereof, moves the first coil wire to establish engagement of the turned portions of the first and second coil wires, turns the first coil wire about a pivot where the turned portions engage, crosses the first coil wire over the second coil wire around the pivot, and turns the first coil wire around the pivot so as to twist the turned portions of the first and second coil wires together. This sequence of steps is repeated to twist or braid the first and second coil wires without undesirable deformation thereof. |
| US08091205B2 |
Cartridge adjustment tool for a slotting cutter
The present invention provides a cartridge adjustment tool for adjusting the axial position of cartridges of a slotting cutter. The adjustment mechanism has a body axis of rotation and comprises a body peripheral surface that extends between a body front surface and a body rear surface. The body is provided with threaded through bores, each of which receives therein a threaded portion of a threaded bolt. When the adjustment mechanism is mounted on a mutual arbor with a slotting cutter having cartridges, each of the threaded bolts is opposite a force engagement area of the associated cartridge. By turning the head portion of the threaded bolts, each of the cartridges is axially displaced and the axial position of each of the cartridges may be individually set. |
| US08091203B2 |
High pressure tank and method thereof
One exemplary embodiment of a high pressure tank and a method thereof includes providing a liner of the high pressure tank. A liner having at least one open end with a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter. The method also including providing a cap having a second outer diameter which is greater than the first inner diameter. The method further includes providing a collar having a second inner diameter which is less than the first outer diameter. The liner is brought to a first temperature, the cap is brought to a second temperature which is less than the first temperature, and the collar is brought to a third temperature which is greater than the first temperature. At least a portion of the cap is placed inside the open end and at least a portion of the collar is placed over the open end. |
| US08091202B2 |
Method and apparatus for coupling and uncoupling an injection valve pin
An injection molding system comprising an actuator, a mounting plate, a mold and a manifold mounted between the mounting plate and the mold, the mounting plate being removably coupled to the mold, the actuator comprising an actuating member reciprocally drivable along an axial path of travel and a housing removably coupled to the mounting plate; a valve pin coupled to the shaft of the actuator for movement of the valve pin together with movement of the actuating member, the valve pin comprising a pin stem and a pin connector; the actuator having an actuator coupling adapted to reversibly couple to and decouple from the pin connector in a radial direction relative to the axial path of travel, the pin stem extending from the actuator into the manifold when the housing of the actuator is coupled to the mounting plate and the pin connector is received within the actuator coupling; the actuator housing being mounted on or within the mounting plate for radial movement upon decoupling of the actuator housing from the mounting plate such that the pin connector is decouplable from the actuator coupling upon said radial movement while the actuator housing is disposed on or within the mounting plate, the actuator being removable from on or within the mounting plate leaving the valve stem behind extending into the manifold. |
| US08091200B2 |
Bulge forming method and bulge forming apparatus
A bulge forming method includes arranging a raw material tube inside a die having an inner surface shape, in which plural crest portions and root portions are alternately formed, and providing a rod inside the raw material tube in the axial direction of the raw material tube, and the rod has a pressurized liquid supply opening. The bulge forming method further includes providing a pair of sealing portion having the pressurized liquid supply opening therebetween, and the sealing portions seal a space between the raw material tube and the rod. The bulge forming method further includes moving the rod in the axial direction while applying compressive stress to the raw material tube in the axial direction and supplying a pressurized liquid from the pressurized liquid supply opening into the raw material tube, whereby the raw material tube is formed into the shape of the inner surface of the die. |
| US08091198B2 |
Reconfigurable pallet
A pallet includes a platform and a plurality of support assemblies located at multiple positions on the platform. One support assembly is associated with each location of the component to be supported. Each support assembly has a linkage assembly to support and enable movement of a support element to position the support element in a desired location for each version of a component. A support element locking mechanism on each support element allows for selectively preventing vertical movement of the support element relative to the linkage assembly. Additional locking mechanisms associated with the linkage assembly prevent movement of the linkage assembly relative to the base. |
| US08091195B2 |
Trigger device for a rivet gun and a rivet gun handle assembly with a trigger device
A trigger device is mounted on a rivet gun. The rivet gun has a barrel, a handle and a pneumatic cylinder. The trigger device has an inlet channel defined in the handle, an outlet hole defined through the handle and communicating with the barrel, a valve-driving channel defined in the handle and communicating with the pneumatic cylinder, a space defined in the handle and communicating with the inlet channel, outlet channel and valve-driving channel. A trigger member is mounted on the handle. A two-step pressing assembly is mounted in the space and may be activated to control the rivet gun to eject a core pin of a used rivet or rivet pieces with an unused rivet. High-pressure air from an air source connected to the rivet gun is output only during the ejection operation of the rivet gun to prevent unnecessary air consumption and noise. |
| US08091192B2 |
Device for surface blasting component
A device for surface blasting, e.g., for ultrasonic shot blasting, components, e.g., gas turbine components, includes at least one vibrator having an oscillating surface, e.g., having at least one ultrasonic sonotrode, the or each oscillating surface of the or each vibrator being adjoined by a machining chamber for receiving a section to be blasted of the component to be machined. The machining chamber is bounded in its cross-section by at least three sides, e.g., by at least two substantially vertical sides and by at least one substantially horizontal side. At least the substantially vertical sides of the machining chamber are formed by oscillating surfaces of in each case one vibrator. |
| US08091186B2 |
Slider for a fluid tight slide fastener
A slider for a fluid tight slide fastener has upper and lower wings joined by a guide post and a guide plate provided between the upper and lower wings and spaced there from to cooperate with the upper and lower wings to guide coupling elements and sealing lips of the slide fastener. The upper wing is provided with upper side flanges which extend from the trailing end of the upper wing to a position at least as far forward as the forward end of the guide post. |
| US08091184B2 |
Festooned trim clip system and method for attaching festooned clips to a substrate
This invention provides a single or multi-ganged clip that can be grouped into a festooned arrangement. That is, a plurality of clips are arranged together into a discrete assembly along a line of extension so that a human or automated handler can retrieve a grouping, separate one-clip-at-a-time from the grouping, and apply the separated clip to a mold cavity or other assembly structure. Each clip can include a base with opposing ends aligned in the direction of extension and transverse to an elongation direction for a connecting segment (if any) between ganged clip members. In an illustrative embodiment, these base ends include opposing male and female connectors. In this embodiment the male connector is a cylinder with an axis that extends transverse to the direction of elongation and the female connector defines a conforming cylindrical inner diameter, which allows it to nest over the male cylinder. A gap opening is provided at the far edge of the female connector to provide clearance for the base that connects the male cylinder to the clip member base end. This gap can be sized to allow a predetermined range of angular rotation of the male connector within the female connector. Clips can be stored as discrete groupings that are stacked in a container, or paid out in a continuous grouping from a spool. |
| US08091177B2 |
Axial-flow fan
A fan includes a hub and blades. A first edge of each blade is proximate an open end of the hub. A first rib is coupled to the hub and substantially aligned with a first plane intersecting the central axis and an intersection of the first edge of the first blade with the hub. The first plane is angularly spaced from a reference plane intersecting the central axis and an intersection of the first edge of the second blade with the hub. An angular spacing between the first plane and the reference plane defines one sector. A second rib is aligned with a second plane angularly positioned between the first plane and the reference plane at a location less than or equal to about (1/nR−0.05) sectors from the first plane, in which nR equals the number of ribs divided by the number of blades. |
| US08091172B2 |
Paint brush with reinforced ferrule construction
A paint brush includes a sleeve circumscribing a portion of a handle and a portion of a plurality of bristles. A plug can be coupled to the handle. The plug can extend away from the handle into the plurality of bristles to form a space between the bristles. An extension and a recess can be formed between the handle and the resin with the extension extending from one of the handle or resin and into the recess in the other of the handle or resin. |
| US08091171B2 |
Device and method for coupling a cleaning implement to a floor cleaning machine
A device and method for coupling a floor cleaning implement to a floor cleaning machine. The device and method selectively couple a floor cleaning implement, such as a pad or brush, in manner that can be easily released and connected. In one embodiment the coupling device comprises a plate having a first and second channel coupled to opposite edges of the plate. The channels are dimensioned and configured to receive edges of the cleaning implement. At least one channel has projecting members that selectively prevent the cleaning implement from leaving the channel. In some embodiments, the plate has a plurality of recesses dimensioned and configured to selectively receive projections extending from the cleaning implement. The projections of the cleaning implement only fully engage the recesses of the coupling device when an actuator presses the cleaning implement against a floor. |
| US08091169B2 |
Mobile floor-cleaning appliance
The invention relates to a mobile floor-cleaning appliance having a housing in which a cleaning tool is mounted, and having a handle holder which is mounted on the housing and is adapted to be connected to a handle in order to guide the appliance along a floor surface which is to be cleaned. In order to develop the mobile floor-cleaning appliance such that the handle holder can be reliably arrested in a rest position and can easily be transferred from the rest position into an operating position, it is proposed according to the invention that the handle holder is adapted to be pivoted about two pivot axes oriented obliquely or perpendicularly in relation to one another and is adapted to be arrested in a rest position, at least one arresting element being associated with each of the two pivot axes, for arresting the handle holder, wherein it is possible to eliminate the arresting action on the handle holder in relation to the two pivot axes by virtue of the handle holder being pivoted as desired out of the rest position about one of the two pivot axes. |
| US08091166B2 |
Extendable cover for walkways for accessing aircraft
The invention relates to an extendable cover for walkways for accessing aircraft, especially for the connection between the rotunda and the tunnel of a walkway, which is formed by at least two telescopically coupled casings (9 and 10) which are linked to one another at the lower part according to a transverse pin defined by two aligned linkages (15) connecting the side walls (11 and 13) of each side of said casings at the lower part. |
| US08091165B2 |
Modular bedding system including modular bed base
A module bedding system comprises a universal base having removable mattress supporting panels, a headrest adjustable module and a footrest adjustable module. The universal base may be used with the removable panels in place to support a conventional non-adjustable mattress or the removable panels may be removed and the adjustable modules substituted to enable the base to support either a headrest adjustable mattress or a headrest and footrest adjustable mattress. |
| US08091164B2 |
Introduction-assisting apparatus for capsule medical device
There is provided an assisting table capable of horizontally holding a subject and holding an angle at which a head of a subject is supported in an inclined state, and an assisting instrument, which includes a containing portion for containing a fluid to introduce a capsule medical device into a body cavity, capable of ejecting a capsule medical device with the fluid from the containing portion by detachably attaching the capsule medical device at a distal end opening portion of the containing portion and by changing a shape of the containing portion. |
| US08091161B1 |
Variable spring surface deck and foundation having variable spring surface deck
A variable spring surface deck and a foundation having a variable spring surface deck thereon. The deck comprises a plurality of longitudinal spring wire support rods which are maintained in a spaced orientation in a planar configuration. They are maintained as such in various structures, such as a mat having a series of parallel slots, or a carrier having spaced, open corrugations. The support rods are located in chosen slots or corrugations. A second, cross-wire layer of lateral spring wire support rods can be included in the variable spring surface deck. The variable spring surface foundation includes the variable spring surface deck located on a top bearing structure of a foundation unit. |
| US08091157B2 |
Modular portable restroom
A modular portable cabana-type restroom includes a roof, base platform, foot portions, side wall panels, a back wall panel, four corner portions and a door. The side wall panels and back wall panel are provided with vertically-disposed hooks for interlocking with complementary slots along the edges of the corner portions. The roof is provided with clips for engaging the corner portions. This permits convenient interlocking removable assembly of the wall panels, corner portions and roof without the use of mechanical fasteners, such as rivets, screws or nuts and bolts. Recesses in the foot portions accept the insertion of the corner portions and corners of the base portion, which are then secured together through formed apertures using a minimum number of mechanical fasteners. This provides for easy assembly and disassembly of the restroom for transport, repair and storage. |
| US08091153B2 |
Double flow flushing system with magnetic valve
A device (10) for opening a toilet flushing system including a water cistern (12) supplied by a filler valve, and having a bottom discharge orifice (14) and a vertical movable discharge valve element (15) associated with this orifice (14) which is capable of occupying a low closed position for keeping the water in the cistern (12) or a high open position for discharging the water to a toilet pan, a float (18) which, when the cistern (12) is full, is submerged in order to move the valve element (15) to its open position, and a rod (22) for blocking the valve element (15) capable of being blocked or released by a magnetic valve and a finger at two emptying levels of the cistern. |
| US08091149B2 |
Helmet
A helmet is provided including an attachable and detachable shield plate by a simple structure. The helmet includes a helmet main body; a first plate positioned onto an outer surface of the helmet main body; a second plate structurally combined with the first plate and capable of sliding between a locking position and an unlocking position with respect to the first plate; a spring for pressurizing the second plate toward the locking position; and a shield plate capable of rotating with respect to the helmet main body and attachably and detachably installed on the first plate by the slide movement. |