| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08123567B2 |
Connector assemblies and contacts for implantable medical electrical systems
A connector assembly of a medical electrical device includes a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein at least one contact of the plurality of electrical contacts includes an electrical coupling receptacle. The electrical coupling receptacle of the at least one contact includes a first portion, which is adapted to receive a connector element of a medical electrical lead, and a second portion, in which a part of a feedthrough member extends, and to which the part of the feedthrough member is fixedly coupled. |
| US08123564B2 |
Apparatus and system for electronic device interrogation and data extraction
An apparatus for connecting a computing device to different types of mobile devices that includes an enclosure that encloses a USB hub, mobile device cables connectable to different mobile devices, and a USB cable connectable to a computing device to extract data from connected mobile devices. The mobile device cables are coupled to the USB cable through the USB hub. The apparatus can include multimedia card readers within the enclosure that are coupled to the USB hub and connectable to different types of multimedia cards to extract data from connected multimedia cards. The multimedia card readers can be write-protected to only read information from connected multimedia cards. The apparatus can include biometric data gathering tools, camera or light within the enclosure. The enclosure can be tube, notebook or flask shaped. The apparatus can also include a wiring harness that seals one end of the enclosure from the other end. |
| US08123559B2 |
Stacked pluggable cage having intermediate walls interengaged each other
A stacked pluggable cage (100) in accordance with the present invention is adapted for receiving two transceivers (200). The stacked pluggable cage includes a shielding shroud (11) defining a receiving space (13), and a first and a second intermediate walls (12) inserted in the shielding shroud. The first and second intermediate walls are disposed adjacent to each other to divide the receiving space into a first and a second receiving subspaces (13a, 13b) for receiving the transceivers respectively. Each intermediate wall has a body portion (121), and a number of flexible fingers (124) extending rearwardly from the body portion and tilting toward corresponding receiving subspace for grounding corresponding transceiver to thereby improve EMI performance. |
| US08123554B2 |
Coaxial plug-connector part with ball
In a coaxial plug-connector part with a cap nut arranged in a rotatable manner on an outer conductor of a coaxial line system and with a ball bearing between cap nut and outer conductor, the ball bearing cooperates with a bearing bush. The ball bearing and the bearing bush are held within the cap nut by a bearing cover screw-connected to the cap nut, and this enclosed structural group can be fitted, via a continuous internal borehole of the bearing bush, onto the outer conductor of the coaxial line system to be connected. |
| US08123551B1 |
Battery connector
A battery connector includes an insulating housing defining rear part and a front part protruded forwardly from a middle portion of the front surface of the rear part, and a plurality of contacts. The rear part defines a plurality of contact receiving cavities. Each contact receiving cavity extends from a front surface, through a top surface and to a rear surface of the rear part. The front part defines a plurality of notches. Each notch connects to the corresponding contact receiving cavity. Each contact includes a first contacting portion, a fixing hook and a fixing plate received in the contact receiving cavity defined at the rear surface, the top surface and the front surface, and a second contacting portion partially received in the notch and partially protruded out of the notch. The top portion of the rear part is sandwiched between the first contacting portion and the fixing plate. |
| US08123550B2 |
Connector having an operation lever and elastic nails
A connector has a base having an opening formed on a front surface side into which a distal end of a flexible print substrate is insertable, and a plurality of insertion holes arranged side by side at a predetermined pitch passing through from the front surface side to a rear surface side, connection terminals respectively including substantially T shape operation pieces respectively having movable contacts formed at first ends in a protruding manner to be pressure-welded to connection portions arranged side by side in the distal end of the flexible print substrate, the connection terminals being adapted to be inserted into the insertion holes, and an operation lever supported on the rear surface side of the base turnably on a turning support point on an upper surface side of the connection terminals. |
| US08123548B2 |
Arrangement for electrical earthing of an insulated cable
An arrangement (1) for the electrical earthing of an electrically conducting cable (2) with an outer insulating protective cover (3). The arrangement comprises a receiver (4) and a drop unit (5). The receiver (4) comprises a bottom element (6), two opposing side elements (7a, 7b), two opposing open sides (8a, 8b). The bottom element (6) and the side elements (7a, 7b) form together a cleft (9), which cleft (9) is the receiver of the said cable (2) for earthing. The drop unit (5) comprises not only a connection to earth (10), but also a penetration means (11), which connection to earth (10) and penetration means (11) are in electrical contact with each other. The drop unit (5) is connected to the receiver (4) in such a manner that the drop unit (5) is placed during earthing of the said cable (2) opposite to the bottom element (6) of the receiver (4), whereby the cable (2) when seen in cross section through a straight cable (2) and arrangement (1) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cable (2) is surrounded by the arrangement (1), and the penetration means (11) has penetrated through the said outer insulating protective cover (3) on the cable (2), whereby contact with a conductor inside the cable (2) is obtained. |
| US08123547B2 |
Connector assembly
A connector assembly includes a plug and a socket. The plug includes at least one conductive pin, at least one first electrical conductor coupled to the at least one conductive pin, and a base portion and a column portion. The column portion extends from the base portion and defines at least one slot along a length of the column portion. The column portion is constructed of a compliant material and includes at least one opening that extends through the base portion. The openings and slots are aligned such that the at least one conductive pin extends through the at least one opening and is received in the at least one slot. The socket has an inner surface and includes at least one second electrical conductor that extends through the socket, and holds the plug. When the plug is received by the socket, an interference fit is formed and maintained as between the second electrical conductor and the conductive pin. The base portion of the plug and the inner surface of the socket are engaged to create a seal. |
| US08123545B1 |
Latch and extractor for electronic module
An electronic module for mounting on a base includes a module body and a latch extractor assembly having a metal latch member with a spring arm, a shift member and a latch, and an extractor engageable with the shift member for movement of the latch out of engagement with the base. |
| US08123542B2 |
Contact and connector including the contact
A contact capable of facilitating adjustment of impedance and ensuring a high holding force when held in a housing. To a contact portion capable of being brought into contact with a pad on a module substrate, a spring portion is connected for pressing the contact portion against the pad. A press-fitting portion that is press-fitted into the housing is connected to the spring portion, and has a connecting portion connected thereto. A terminal portion to be connected to a pad on a motherboard is connected to the connecting portion. The spring portion is bent in a manner folded back from the rear end of the press-fitting portion in the inserting direction, toward a front side in the inserting direction. The connecting portion extends from the rear end of the press-fitting portion in the inserting direction, toward a rear side in the inserting direction. |
| US08123540B2 |
Lamp socket having a rotor assembly
A socket assembly includes a rotor assembly, a housing, and at least one electrical contact. The rotor assembly has an axis of rotation and defines a channel. The rotor assembly is adapted to receive at least one lamp pin within the channel from an edge of the rotor assembly. The housing is adapted to receive the rotor assembly such that the rotor assembly is rotatable along its axis of rotation therein. The housing defines a notch adapted to receive each of the at least one lamp pin when each of the axis of each of the at least one pin is about parallel to the axis of rotation. A least one electrical contact is disposed within the housing and an electrical contact of the at least one electrical contact is adapted for operative engagement with a lamp pin of the at least one lamp pin. |
| US08123536B1 |
Connector with isolated grounds
A compact electrical connector has first contacts (32) with a first characteristic impedance (50 ohms) and second contacts (34) with a second characteristic impedance (100 ohms), with each set of contacts having a separate electrical ground (G1, G2). The first contacts lie in passages of a first insulative holder (24), with the first contacts arranged in three rows (62, 64, 66) wherein the middle row is offset from the top and bottom rows to maintain a constant contact spacing. The second contacts (34) lie in two vertically elongated insulative holders (26, 28) that each lies at one end of the first holder, with each holder having a grounded second contact (56) and with each holder projecting into a recess (84) at the end of the frame that receives the first holder. |
| US08123530B2 |
Lower profile electrical socket
An electrical socket comprises an insulative housing having an upper surface extending along a first direction, a number of contacts received in the insulative housing, and a plurality of solder mass received in the housing and located aside a base portion of a contact, respectively. The contact comprises a base portion for retaining the contact received in the housing, a contacting portion extending from the base portion. The solder mass, the base portion and the contacting portion are disposed in a manner of one by one along the first direction. The electrical contact has a lower profile. The electrical socket is benefited with low profile suitable for compact and thin applications. |
| US08123527B2 |
Active learning device and method
An activity device including an activity sensor generating an activity interaction signal responsive to a sustained large-muscle physical activity of a user operating the activity device; a controller, coupled to the activity monitor, generating a virtual environment supporting a virtual user frame-of-reference in the virtual environment, the controller generating a set of virtual education elements in the environment and a goal for the set virtual representation with respect to the virtual education elements wherein the controller is responsive to the activity interaction signal to produce an affected interaction of the virtual representation with the virtual education elements with the controller measuring a conformation of the goal by the affected interaction; and a feedback system, coupled to the controller, presenting the virtual environment with the frame-of-reference in relation to the virtual education elements providing the user with feedback regarding the goal and the conformation of the goal by the affected interaction. |
| US08123525B2 |
Firearm simulators and related methods
Apparatus and methods are described for a weapon simulator. An example weapon simulator includes a pressure piston, which is couplable to a weapon, which acts to open a breech, and which is seated in a pressure cylinder. An example pressure piston includes a slider. The slider holds a pressure intake opening open and keeps one or more pressure outlet openings closed when the breech block is in a front-most position. In addition, the slider keeps the pressure intake opening closed and holds the one or more pressure outlet opening open when the breech block is in a rear-most position. |
| US08123523B2 |
Prophy angle and adapter
A dental prophy angle includes a housing and a rotor. The housing defines a first bore and a second bore in communication with the first bore, and rotor is disposed within the second bore. The rotor includes a gearing system, and rotor includes a lock having a lock channel configured to receive a tip of a drive shaft. The housing includes a lock receiver for receiving the lock receiver permits rotation of the lock within the lock receiver and restrains linear movement of the lock in a direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the rotor. |
| US08123522B2 |
Dental handpiece fluid supply technology
A dental fluid delivery system for use with a dental drill is disclosed. The dental fluid delivery system includes a coolant water supply, a drive air line, a water line, and a coolant mist air controller. The coolant water supply unit includes a controller and a water container. The controller has a drive air inlet, a water inlet communicatively connected to the water container, a drive air outlet, and a water outlet. The drive air line is connected to the drive air outlet of the water supply unit. The water line is connected to the water outlet of the water supply unit. The coolant mist air controller is connectable in use to a dental drill. The mist air controller has a drive air inlet, a drive air outlet, a water inlet, a water outlet, and a mist air outlet. |
| US08123517B2 |
Automatic device for the ignition and control of a gas apparatus and relative driving method
An automatic system and method to provide the ignition and monitoring of a pilot flame for gas burners. The circuit includes a microcontroller that acts on at least one gas valve, a flame igniter, and a flame detector circuits. The valve driver is a switching circuit able to open the valve and keep it open with power saving. The flame detection uses the ionization principle with full use of the rectification property of a flame. Furthermore the flame detection is activated for reduced times to save power. The microcontroller governs the system according to the signals that it receives from points of the circuit. The system provides a circuit realizing advanced power saving techniques to provide also a long term operation on battery powered systems. In addition the automatic control can save gas resources versus traditional thermocouple based systems by applying the intermittent pilot ignition. |
| US08123513B2 |
Apparatus for rolling food dough
These inventions provide a method and an apparatus for rolling food dough without causing slipping between the food dough and rolling rollers and without causing twisted shrinkages in the food dough, and disk-shaped food dough manufactured by the method. Further, these inventions relate to the disk-shaped food dough manufactured by the method and the apparatus. The apparatus used for the method is comprised of a cradle that can relatively ascend away from and descend toward a table, and conical-shaped rolling rollers rotatably disposed at the cradle, which rollers can swivel. When the food dough is rolled by means of the rolling rollers by pressing the food dough, the rolling rollers rotate so that the speed of the rotation is higher than that when they are passively rotated by the swiveling motion. The relative speed of the descent of the rolling rollers toward the food dough is controlled so that the speed gradually decreases from the initial speed. |
| US08123509B2 |
Injection molding process for the preparation of an oral delivery device for the pharmaceutically active agent
An injection molding process for the preparation of an oral delivery device comprising a core which contains a pharmaceutically active agent, having a coating with one or more openings leading to such a core. The invention also relates to devices produced by the process, and to injection molds suitable for performing the process. |
| US08123504B2 |
Piston pump for thick materials
In a multi cylinder thick materials pump for feeding concrete in particular, whose at least two feeding cylinders feed the thick material from a pre filling container into a feed line, and a shift valve for alternatively connecting the feeding cylinders, having a feed line associated with it, comprising at least two rotationally movable valve bodies, each comprising a straight transfer section between each one of the feeding cylinders and the feed line, connected downstream of the feeding cylinders to a collector tube, the shift valve including at least one, but preferably two rotationally movable rotating slides each of them comprising a straight transfer section for connecting the feeding cylinder respectively associated with it to the feed line, and at least one section blocking the connection. Also a process for operating of this thick materials pump for continuous feeding is described. |
| US08123503B2 |
Disposable centrifugal blood pump with magnetic coupling
A disposable centrifugal blood pump with magnetic coupling provides a centrifugal blood pump with magnetic coupling which is simple in structure of disposalable parts with low cost. Therefore, a housing as the disposable part includes a rotor having pole faces extending on the outer-peripheral surface and projecting inward from the inner-peripheral surface and an impeller attached to the rotor, and a stator as a reusable part includes three or more electromagnets for electromagnetic coupling for forming a magnetic coupling between the stator and the rotor, a torque transmission disk formed by sandwiching a ring-shaped permanent magnet between two upper and lower ring members and having pole faces corresponding to the pole faces projecting from the inner-peripheral surface of the rotor formed to project for generating a magnetic coupling between stator and rotor, a motor for rotating the torque transmission disk, and a displacement gauge for measuring displacement of the rotor. |
| US08123496B2 |
Two-unit pump for liquid chromatograph with flow sensor arrangement
A pump device which accurately detects a flow rate of a pump, performs real-time control of the flow rate, and thus can suppress a flow rate error caused by occurrence of pulsation. Control of a pump rotation speed by a pressure sensor has low responsiveness in a low pressure region, and a correlation between a pressure and a flow rate is incomplete in a high flow rate region. With this taken into consideration, a flow rate sensor is disposed at an outlet port of a second pump. A position detection sensor detects a point where a first pump is shifted from a suction mode to a discharge mode. Moreover, the flow rate sensor detects that there is no discharge from the pump, and that there is discharge from the pump alone. Accordingly, a controller sets a rotation speed of a motor to a speed double the previous speed (double the normal rotation speed). When the flow rate sensor detects an increase in the flow rate at the outlet port of the second pump, the controller returns the rotation speed of the motor to a normal rotation speed. The rotation speed of the motor is controlled by accurate flow rate detection by the flow rate sensor. Thus, occurrence of pulsation can be suppressed. |
| US08123494B2 |
Rolling bearing unit for supporting a wheel with an air compressor
A wheel-supporting roller-bearing unit with air compressor that is compact and capable of keeping resistance against the rotation of the hub 4c low while at the same time maintaining good balance, and when necessary, is capable of obtaining compressed air having sufficient pressure regardless of the traveling speed of the vehicle. A plurality of cylinder holes 53 are located at a plurality of locations that are evenly spaced around the circumferential direction on the inside of a cylinder block 50 that is connected and fastened to the inside end section in the axial direction of the hub 4c. Pistons 54 fit inside these cylinder holes 53 and are moved back and forth by a piston-drive mechanism 62 as the cylinder block 50 rotates. The air compressor 2c is a reciprocating-piston compressor, so it is possible to obtain the required air pressure regardless of rpm. Also, by placing a plurality of cylinder holes 53 and pistons 54 at uniform intervals around in the circumferential direction, it is possible to suppress the resistance against the rotation of the hub 4c. |
| US08123490B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling electric compressor
There is provided an apparatus for controlling an electric compressor, which can actuate the electric compressor rapidly through a simpler and lower-cost configuration while achieving reduction in weight, cost, and assembling time of the electric compressor. In the case where a pressure difference between the inlet side and the outlet side of the compressor body is present when a motor of the electric compressor is actuated, the motor is actuated at a number of revolutions lower than that in the normal mode. Thereby, even if a refrigerant has been liquefied on the outlet side of the compressor body, for example, the motor can be actuated by performing such action as to push out the liquefied refrigerant. In this case, the number of revolutions of the motor is increased by being changed stepwise or linearly, by which the number of revolutions of the motor is caused to reach a required number of revolutions as early as possible while surely performing the actuation. |
| US08123488B2 |
System and method for joining turbine blades
A blade assembly including an outboard blade segment is provided. The outboard blade segment includes an outboard blade shell, first and second outboard bulkheads situated within the outboard blade shell, and an outer box supported by and aligned by the outboard bulkheads. The blade assembly also includes an inboard blade segment including an inboard blade shell, first and second inboard bulkheads situated within the inboard blade shell, and an inner box supported by and aligned by the inboard bulkheads. Further, the inner and the outer boxes are tapered to facilitate insertion of the inner box into the outer box and coupling of the inner and outer boxes. |
| US08123487B2 |
Rotor for a turbo engine
A rotor for a turbo engine is disclosed including a rotor base body and a plurality of rotor blades distributed over the circumference of the rotor base body. The rotor base body is formed by at least one ring-shaped element made of a metal matrix composite material. The rotor blades are attached by footing to the rotor base body in such a way that the footing is positioned in a fiber-free area of the rotor base body. |
| US08123486B2 |
System for manufacturing a rotor having an MMC ring component and a unitary airfoil component
A system for manufacturing an integrally bladed rotor is provided. This system includes a ring component, wherein the ring component further includes at least one metal matrix composite and a continuous radially outwardly facing blade conical surface; an airfoil component, wherein the at least one airfoil component has been created from a single, unitary piece of material and further includes a plurality of individual airfoil blades and a continuous radially inwardly facing blade conical surface; and inertia welding means for frictionally engaging under an axially applied weld load the ring component and the airfoil component to effect an inertia weld therebetween along the conical surfaces. |
| US08123482B2 |
Device for maintaining a hydraulic turbomachine
A device for holding a hydraulic turbomachine in position, the turbomachine comprising a drive shaft along which are distributed turbines designed to rotate the drive shaft when they are immersed in a moving liquid, each turbine comprising drive blades distributed around the drive shaft, the device comprising at least one post extending along at least more than half of the length of the drive shaft and formed of the stacking of at least two post portions, each post portion being associated with a turbine or with an assembly of adjacent turbines; and a first linking mechanism attached to one of the post portions and to a bearing receiving the drive shaft and arranged between two adjacent turbines; and a second linking mechanism connecting at least one of the posts to the around by a rigid connection with respect to the ground along at least one axis parallel to the liquid motion direction. |
| US08123481B1 |
Turbine blade with dual serpentine cooling
A turbine rotor blade with a low cooling flow serpentine circuit to provides cooling for the airfoil. The circuit includes a three pass aft flowing serpentine circuit that begins at the airfoil mid-chord region and connects to a series of multiple impingement cooling holes formed within the trailing edge region. A double pass forward flowing serpentine circuit then connects with the triple pass aft flowing serpentine circuit to provide cooling for the airfoil mid-chord region and then discharges the cooling air into a blade tip cooling channel to provide cooling for the blade tip section. The three pass aft flowing serpentine circuit includes a tip turn that provides cooling for a forward section of the blade tip not covered by the tip cooling channel. |
| US08123475B2 |
Heat dissipation fan
A heat dissipation fan includes a fan frame, a bearing assembly, a stator and a rotor. The fan frame includes a base and a central tube. The central tube includes an open top end and an open bottom end. The base defines a receiving concave at a bottom surface thereof. The receiving concave communicates with the central hole. A top wall is formed by the base over the concave. A sidewall is formed between the top wall and the bottom surface of the base and surrounds the concave. A plurality of first locking units extend from the top wall into the receiving concave. The bearing assembly includes an oil sealing cover for sealing the open bottom end of the central tube. The oil sealing cover includes a plurality of second locking units which are detachably interlocked with the first locking units to mount the oil sealing cover to the base. |
| US08123474B2 |
Repair of industrial gas turbine nozzle diaphragm packing
A technique for refurbishing nozzle diaphragm sections of a gas turbine replaces an eroded section of the nozzle diaphragm with a replacement part designed to engage a slot machined in the nozzle diaphragm. The replacement part is formed of a material with capable of sustained exposure to higher temperature than the original eroded section, and with a similar coefficient of expansion as the material used for manufacture the original nozzle diaphragm. The combination of the nozzle diaphragm and the replacement part conform to the original manufacturer's dimensional specifications for the nozzle diaphragm. |
| US08123473B2 |
Shroud hanger with diffused cooling passage
A shroud hanger for a gas turbine engine has an arcuate body with opposed inner and outer faces and opposed forward and aft ends, the channel having at least one cooling passage therein which includes: (a) a generally axially-aligned channel extending through the body, the channel having one end open to an exterior of the body; and (b) a generally radially-aligned diffuser extending through the inner face and intersecting the channel. |
| US08123471B2 |
Variable stator vane contoured button
A variable stator vane airfoil is mounted on a button centered about a rotational axis and includes circular leading and trailing edges circumscribed about the rotational axis at a button radius. Contoured pressure and suction sides extend from the circular leading edge to the circular trailing edge and are recessed inwardly from a perimeter circumscribed about the rotational axis at the button radius. One of upstream and downstream pressure side portions of the contoured pressure side is straight and another of the upstream and downstream pressure side portions is convexly curved. One of the upstream and downstream suction side portions is straight and another of the upstream and downstream suction side portions is convexly curved. One of the upstream pressure side portion and upstream suction side portion is straight and another of the upstream pressure side portion and upstream suction side portion is convexly curved. |
| US08123469B2 |
Hydraulic pump comprising a prefilter body in two portions which may be oriented in rotation
The present invention relates to a hydraulic pump (10) hydraulic portion body (1) capable of cooperating with a pump electric motor body (1c), said hydraulic portion body (1) including a pre-filter body (1a) comprising: an upper portion (2), and a lower portion (3), and said upper portion (2) and lower portion (3) of said pre-filter body being independent of each other and mounted in a sealed (6a) removable attachment (6b, 6c), the orientation of both of said upper portions (2) and lower portion (3) of the pre-filter body relatively to each other being adjustable in rotation relatively to each other according to several positions, preferably in at least 3 different positions, still preferably at least 4 different positions, still preferably according to any position. |
| US08123465B2 |
Mounting tubes for pressurizing an internal enclosure in a turbomachine
A turbomachine comprising high- and low-pressure compressor shafts guided in bearings isolated from an internal enclosure by a sealing end plate, and radial pressurization tubes connecting the enclosure to an air passage passing through the intermediate casing, the ends of these tubes being engaged in sealed manner in radial ducts of the intermediate casing and in radial chimneys of the sealing end plate, the chimneys being of a length is sufficient to enable the ends of the tubes to be moved in translation therein between a service position and a mounting position for the tubes. |
| US08123464B2 |
Coating optimization process using a coupon and component comprising a coupon
A method for optimizing the coating of a component using a coupon by introducing the coupon into a depression of the component, in which the geometry of the component is not altered as compared to a component without a coupon, is provided. A component having a depression into which a coupon is fastened is also provided. |
| US08123461B2 |
Axial flow fan unit
A fan frame includes a first housing having a first end portion in which a first protrusion is arranged, a second housing having a second end portion in which a second protrusion opposing the first protrusion along a specified axis is arranged, the second end portion being in an axially opposing relationship with the first end portion, and a fixing member attached to the first protrusion and the second protrusion to fix the first housing and the second housing together. Further, a first locking portion is arranged in the first end portion and a second locking portion engaging with the first locking portion is arranged in the second end portion. |
| US08123449B2 |
Single axis apparatus for manufacturing hard book cover
An apparatus for producing hard book cases (covers) can make cases including tucked and folded corners. The apparatus can track the progress of the book case throughout the assembly process and can accurately align the unfinished assembly with the tucking and folding devices of the apparatus. Short runs of different sized book cases may be quickly and efficiently manufactured on a single apparatus. |
| US08123448B2 |
Apparatus and methods for automatically binding a stack of sheets with a nonspiral binding element
The present invention includes an automated binding machine configured for binding a stack of perforated sheets with a binding element. The automated binding machine includes a support member supporting the stack of perforated sheets, a binding element feeder, a plurality of binding elements supported by the binding element feeder, a receiving member configured to receive a first binding element from the plurality of binding elements and to insert at least a portion of the first binding element through the stack of perforated sheets, and a binding mechanism configured to engage the inserted portion and couple the inserted portion to a non-inserted portion of the first binding element. |
| US08123445B2 |
Cutting method and manufacturing method of sheet member, sheet member, optical element, and image display device
An end face of a sheet member is cut while rotating a cutting member having a rotation axis extending along a vertical direction of the end face of the sheet member and a cutting blade projecting to a side of the end face of the sheet member around the rotation axis. The cutting member is moved relatively to the sheet member along a longitudinal direction of the end face to be cut. The part separated from a virtual line parallel to the sheet face and passing the rotation center in a cutting region formed by the rotating cutting blade is made to contact the end face of the sheet member. |
| US08123442B2 |
Expandable multi-flute reamer with tapered pin
An expandable reamer includes a shank portion, a cutting portion extending from the shank portion, and a tapered pin capable of being at least partially received in the cutting portion. The cutting portion includes a plurality of blades separated by flutes, and a tapered inner surface with threads. The tapered pin includes a tapered outer surface with threads and causes expansion or contraction of the cutting portion when the tapered pin is screwed or unscrewed into the cutting portion. In one embodiment, a coolant channel extends from a coolant cavity through a wall of the cutting portion to provide fluid to the blades during machining of through-holes. In another embodiment, the tapered pin includes a coolant passage in fluid communication with the coolant cavity to provide fluid to the blades during machining of blind holes. |
| US08123440B2 |
Cutting tool components with wear-resistant cladding layer
A wear-resistant cladding layer for cutting tool components. A cutting tool includes a tool holder and a clamp structured and arranged for releasably securing an insert to the tool holder. The cutting tool also includes a wear-resistant cladding layer brazed on at least a portion of the clamp and/or brazed on at least a portion of the tool holder, wherein the wear- resistant cladding layer comprises hard particles and a brazing material. |
| US08123439B2 |
Slotting milling cutter for machining with a high feed and a low pass depth
Slotting milling cutter, comprising a carbide body (12) and a ceramic head (16) fixed by brazing to one end of the body, this head having teeth (22), each comprising a cutting edge (24) formed by the intersection between a front cutting face (Aγ) and a lower flank face, in which the milling cutter has a frustoconical general shape, the profile of the flank face, formed by the intersection of the flank face with a plane passing through the axis of the milling cutter, has an outwardly convex rounded shape, and the radial cutting angle is negative. |
| US08123436B2 |
Underground infiltration tank module
An underground infiltration tank module comprising a four-sided periphery formed of a top periphery wall, a bottom periphery wall, and two side periphery walls, a plurality of channels running from the top periphery wall to the bottom periphery wall, holes formed in the channels, strut members running between the channels, and stud members located on the periphery walls. Any two of the plurality of channels are separate from each other such that any part of one channel is not in contact with any part of another channel. The channels alternately face in opposite directions. |
| US08123433B2 |
Inflatable lift system
An inflatable lift system for to lift and maneuver a boat lift upon a body of water. The inflatable lift system includes a floatation assembly including a plurality of air inflatable floatation members for lifting a movable structure, and also includes a support assembly for supporting and securing the air inflatable floatation members to the movable structure. |
| US08123430B2 |
Method and apparatus for forming highway striping with pavement markers
Disclosed are pavement markers (100) and a mobile highway marking apparatus (1000) for advancing in a forward direction along a paved surface of a highway for applying a paint stripe (906) to the paved surface and applying pavement markers at intervals on the paint stripe. The marking apparatus includes a dispenser (1016) that is configured for moving a sequence of the pavement markers form the bottom of an upwardly extending stack of the pavement markers first in the forward direction and then down a sloped chute in a rearward direction to the paint stripe without turning the pavement markers over. |
| US08123427B2 |
Mounting for an optical apparatus
A mounting for an optical apparatus includes a joint ball (1), a mounting device (2) for the optical apparatus and means for fixing the mounting device to the joint ball (1). The mounting device has two rings (6, 7) which are arranged displaceable to one another and are also movable on the joint ball (1) and surround the joint ball. A fixing means (3) is disposed between the rings (6, 7) and connects them, the whole such that the rings can be moved simultaneously and jointly. |
| US08123425B2 |
Refill adaptor
A refill adaptor for use in ball point pens essentially comprising a main body (10), comprising of a front part (15) and a rear shank portion (20). The front part (15) and said rear shank portion (20) are rigidly coupled together with a ring member (25); and said main body (10) having a capillary tube (40) throughout its length. The said front part (15) is provided with a front housing (35) for holding the refill tip (55) provided with a ball point (65) for smooth writing, said capillary tube being provided with a ink channel, the internal diameter of which is selected to be about 0.8 mm and the outer diameter of said capillary being selected as about 1.8 mm for easy flow of ink from ink reservoir to said ball point (65). |
| US08123424B2 |
Ink feeder for felt-tip ink pen
An ink feeder for a felt-tip ink pen and communicable with an ink reservoir defined in the ink pen includes a main body made of a rigid material to internally define a feeding bore; a plurality of micro raised portions radially inward protruded from and circumferentially spaced along an inner wall surface of the main body for clamping a felt tip of the ink pen in place; and a plurality of ink feeding clearances each being formed between two adjacent ones of the micro raised portions and communicable with the feeding bore, so that ink stored in the ink reservoir of the ink pen is fed to the felt tip via the ink feeding clearances. The rigid main body and other ink pen components can be assembled to form the ink pen in an automated manner, and the ink feeding clearances ensure smooth ink feeding without the risk of leakage. |
| US08123422B2 |
Image forming apparatus and opening/closing method of re-conveyance mechanism
An ADU is turned around a first hole section that operates as fulcrum and opened by a first angle relative to the lateral side of an apparatus main body when dissolving a jam. The lateral side cover is temporarily taken away from a stationary side plate when maintenance the inside of a color copying machine. Then, a second engaging pin is put into a second hole section to engage the lateral side cover with the stationary side plate. The ADU is turned around the second hole section that operates as fulcrum and opened by a second angle greater than the first angle. |
| US08123418B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device includes an imaging unit; a display unit; an electronic finder unit that performs preview display before actual shooting based on image signals successively generated by the imaging unit; an optical finder unit having a finder window; an optical-path switching unit that performs switching between a first optical path through which light from a subject is guided to the finder window and a second optical path through which the light is guided to the imaging unit; an eye detecting unit that detects presence of an eye in a proximity of the finder window; a first control unit that performs a first control operation so that the optical-path switching unit selects the first optical path upon detection of an eye; and a second control unit that performs a second control operation so that the optical-path switching unit selects the second optical path upon non-detection of an eye. |
| US08123417B2 |
Optical connector with ferrule interference fit
An optical connector having a front and back orientation and suitable for operating with a temperature range, the connector comprising: (a) a ferrule comprising a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion (COE), and having no greater than a first diameter below a transition temperature with the temperature range, and no less than a second diameter above the transition temperature, the ferrule also comprising an endface, and containing at least one fiber having a fiber end presented at the endface; (b) a spring disposed behind the ferrule and in contact with the ferrule to apply a forward urging force to the ferrule; and (c) a housing comprising a second material having a second COE, the housing defining a bore hole having a diameter greater than the second diameter, and an interface portion having a restricted bore hole having no greater than a third diameter below the transition temperature, and no less than a fourth diameter above the transition temperature; wherein the connector is configured in one of two ways, in a first configuration, the second COE is greater than the first COE, and in the second configuration, the second COE is less than the first COE; wherein, in the first configuration, the first diameter is greater than the third diameter and the second diameter is less than the fourth diameter; and wherein, in the second configuration, the first diameter is less than the third diameter, and the second diameter is greater than the fourth diameter. |
| US08123413B2 |
Surface textured rollers
A surface textured roller and a surface textured rolling element bearing comprising a plurality of micropores in a surface thereof is presented. The plurality of micropores may have a geometry selected from a hemisphere, a diamond shape, an ellipsoid, and a cone. The surface textured rollers may be used, for example, in a gear box and/or a wind turbine drivetrain. |
| US08123410B2 |
Rolling bearing device
In a rolling bearing provided with an outer ring connected to a mounting opening of a knuckle, an inner ring connected to a wheel through a hub, a rolling element intervening between the outer ring and the inner ring and a sealing device for sealing the space between the inner and outer rings from the outside, the rolling bearing is provided with a sealing member for limiting the foreign substance invading the rolling bearing side from a clearance existing between a drive shaft provided rotatably with the inner ring and the knuckle, the sealing member including a ring-shaped cover including a cylinder press-fit in the outer ring and a ring-shaped upstanding wall extended radially inwardly from the cylinder and an outer lip provided at an inner diameter end of the ring-shaped upstanding wall, the outer lip serving to show the sealing function in cooperation with the drive shaft. |
| US08123407B2 |
Ball spline device
Provided is a ball spline device, in which an outer diameter of a nut member can be downsized to the maximum while sufficiently performing an original function, and which can keep reliability while being capable of being simply manufactured at lower cost without involving time and effort in assembly, in which a nut member has a track groove which is formed on an inner peripheral surface facing a spline shaft, the balls circulating in the track groove, the track groove comprises: a linear load groove formed so as to face the ball rolling groove of the spline shaft; a linear non-load groove provided parallel to the linear load groove; and a pair of ball deflection grooves for communicably coupling the linear load groove and the linear non-load groove with each other so as to allow the balls to intercommunicate therebetween, and the ball deflection grooves forcibly change an advancing direction of the balls rolling in the ball rolling groove and cause the balls to depart from the ball rolling groove with use of a profile of the spline shaft. |
| US08123406B2 |
Externally adjustable impingement cooling manifold mount and thermocouple housing
A mount includes a mounting bolt attached to a casing; an internal bushing that engages the casing at a distal end of the internal bushing; and an external bushing that engages a manifold and engages the internal bushing. The internal bushing is adjustable with respect to the external bushing thereby allowing the manifold to be adjustable with respect to the casing. |
| US08123404B2 |
Temperature detector and the method using the same
A temperature detector comprises a first current mirror, a second current mirror, a first pulse generator, a second pulse generator, a phase detector and a controller. The current of the first current mirror is in variation with temperature, but the current of the second current mirror is not. If the output pulse of the first pulse generator appears earlier than that of the second pulse generator, the controller enhances the output current of the second current mirror. If the output pulse of the first pulse generator appears later than that of the second pulse generator, the controller decreases the output current of the second current mirror. |
| US08123403B2 |
Temperature sensor probe and manufacturing method of the same
To provide a temperature sensor probe that can conduct stable measurements, and the manufacturing method of the same. The temperature sensor probe related to the present invention provides: a fluorescent material that is a mixture of a fluorescent substance and a transparent material; a thermosensitive part having a concave part in which the fluorescent material is arranged; a waveguide route rod that propagates excitation light, which is irradiated on the fluorescent material, and fluorescent light, which is produced by the fluorescent substance; and a protective tube that covers the side surfaces of the waveguide route rod. Then, the fluorescent material is affixed to the tip of the waveguide route rod using the transparent material, and the waveguide route rod bites into the fluorescent material. |
| US08123401B2 |
Probe cover having a blackbody
A probe cover for an infrared electronic thermometer including a generally tubular body having open first and second ends. The body is sized and shaped to receive a probe of the infrared electronic thermometer into the body through the first end. The probe cover further includes a film closing the second end of the body. The film has a metallic region defining a blackbody portion for rapidly equilibrating to a temperature corresponding to the temperature of an object for viewing by a sensor of the electronic thermometer to measure the temperature of the object. |
| US08123400B2 |
Multi-core fiber grating sensor
A twin core fiber for sensor applications is developed. It is particularly useful in de-coupling the strain and temperature and thus obtaining both measurement parameters at the same time and location. It is also particularly useful for measuring the temperature in a high humidity environment. The twin core fiber has two cores and each of the cores having a different dopant regime. Also, each of the cores includes a grating having substantially the same grating period. |
| US08123399B2 |
Dielectric resonator thermometer and a method of using the same
A thermometer is provided. A housing has at least one opening. A dielectric element is disposed in the housing. At least one microwave guide is coupled to the at least one opening for providing a signal into the dielectric element for propagation at a resonant frequency and for receiving the signal from the dielectric element. A temperature determination unit receives the signal from the at least one microwave guide, measures the resonant frequency of the dielectric element, and determines the temperature of the dielectric element based on a relationship between resonant frequency and temperature of the dielectric element. |
| US08123398B2 |
Fluid-processing device
A fluid-processing device is provided for bringing two kinds of fluids into contact to mix or react with each other. The device comprises a first supply path connected to a first feed inlet for feeding a first fluid for supplying the first fluid, and plural second supply paths connected to a second feed inlet for feeding a second fluid for supplying the second fluid; the second supply paths being arranged along supply direction of the first fluid, the second supply paths being surrounded by the first fluid, the second fluid discharged from fluid outlets of the second supply paths being brought into contact with the first fluid in the first supply path. |
| US08123395B2 |
Method for mixing media in a container
A method is provided for mixing media in a container. The method includes introducing a first media into the container and then introducing a second media into the container while mixing the media to form a mixture. The method continues by measuring the values of two parameters of the mixture at spaced apart locations in the container. The introduction of the second media into the container may be interrupted based on a comparison of the measured values to a preselected intended value. |
| US08123392B2 |
Linear light guiding module
A linear light guiding module is provided, which includes a linear light guiding body, a plurality of light emitting bodies, a plurality of heat sinks, and a plurality of fans. With the linear light guiding body, the light emitting bodies, and the heat sinks linearly arranged, or with the fans further integrated, the linear light guiding module of the present invention has a small size and an effective heat-dissipation effect. Since only one linear light guiding module needs to be disposed on one side of a light guide plate, the linear light guiding module can be used in large-sized liquid crystal display panels. Moreover, the number of the linear light guiding modules used is decreased while the requirements for high brightness and brightness uniformity can still be met, so the cost can be reduced. |
| US08123391B2 |
Surface light emitter
A surface light emitter comprising a surface-emitting device is notably increased in the front brightness of light outputted from the surface-emitting device.In the surface light emitter comprising the surface-emitting device 20 and a light control sheet 10, a repetitive concavo-convex pattern of trapezoidal from in section is formed at least on one side of the light control sheet and has planar portions 12a at distal ends of projections of the concavo-convex pattern tightly bonded to an output surface 21a of the surface-emitting device. The light control sheet satisfies a condition 0.75>D>4[(sin θ−1/n)2+0.034] where θ represents the apex angle formed by opposite slant sides of the trapezoidal projection of the light control sheet, n represents the refractive index of the light control sheet, and D represents the ratio of a length of a zone to a one-cycle length of the repetitive concavo-convex pattern of the light control sheet as determined in one of the pattern arrangement directions, the zone tightly bonded to the output surface of the surface-emitting device. |
| US08123389B2 |
LED lamp assembly with thermal management system
A lighting system is described. The lighting system includes a lamp and a first container including a first phase change material thermally connected to the lamp. Heat generated by the lamp during operation is conducted to the first phase change material. The system also includes a second container including a second phase change material thermally connected to the lamp. Heat generated by the lamp during operation is also conducted to the second phase change material, and the second phase change material has a transition point temperature lower than the transition point temperature of the first phase change material of the first container to account for a temperature drop between the second container and the first container. The lighting system also includes a temperature sensor for reducing lamp power if the lamp becomes too hot, and a mounting bracket which may also conduct heat away from the lamp. |
| US08123386B2 |
Shape forming heat sink with flexible heat rod
A conforming heat dissipating structure transfers heat to an irregular surface from a heat source mounted on its bottom surface. The heat dissipating structure includes an open container filled with metal shavings and balls covered by a flexible retainer. The shavings and balls beneath the flexible retainer are pressed against the irregular surface and conform to its irregular shape. In one application, light emitting diodes are mounted to the bottom of the heat dissipating structure, and the shavings are compressed against the inside cover of a street light. A flexible heat rod enables heat to be transferred over a flexible path from a heat source on one heat dissipating structure to a heat sink pressed against another heat dissipating structure. The many strands that make up the flexible heat rod are spread out inside each open container and are pressed between the metallic shavings to achieve a good thermal contact. |
| US08123384B2 |
Optical elements with internal optical features and methods of fabricating same
An optical element, comprising a substrate and at least one optical film. The substrate is at least partially light-transmissive. The optical film comprises at least a first optical feature and is positioned on a contact surface of the substrate. Also, a lighting device comprising at least one solid state light emitter and such an optical element. Also, methods for making an optical element by molding (e.g., film insert molding), bonding or laminating. |
| US08123380B2 |
Waterproof light-emitting-diode lamp holding structure
A waterproof LED lamp holding structure includes an object having a plurality of through holes, and a plurality of LED lamps serially connected via an electric wire. Each of the LED lamps has a rear part enclosed in a protective member that has a first and a second end. Wedge-like keys are provided on the protective member near the first end and each have a rearward outward slant outer surface. Further, anchoring lugs are provided on the protective member to outward obliquely extend from the second end toward the first end. When the LED lamps along with the protective members are inserted in the through holes on the object, the wedge-like keys and distal ends of the anchoring lugs respectively abut against an outer and an inner side of the object to thereby hold the LED lamps immovable and straight in the through holes. |
| US08123376B2 |
Lighting device and lighting method
A lighting device comprising first and second groups of solid state light emitters, which emit light having peak wavelength in ranges of from 430 nm to 480 nm, and first and second groups of lumiphors which emit light having dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm. In some embodiments, if current is supplied to a power line, a combination of (1) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of emitters, and (2) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of lumiphors would have a correlated color temperature which differs by at least 50 K from a correlated color temperature which would be emitted by a combination of (3) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the second group of emitters, and (4) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the second group of lumiphors. |
| US08123370B2 |
Multiple-viewing-point floating image display device
A multiple viewing-point floating imaging device is comprised of a plurality of dihedral corner reflectors 1 arranged along an optical device plane S and rotated around an axis of rotation perpendicular to said plane, to point in a plurality of directions along said plane, whereby light rays from an object O near to said plane are reflected once each by the two mirrors of said dihedral corner reflectors while passing through said plane, forming a real image P in a plane-symmetric position, visible from multiple viewing points V1 and V2 by multiple observers simultaneously. |
| US08123361B2 |
Dual-projection projector and method for projecting images on a plurality of planes
A projector includes: a laser beam generator configured to emit a laser beam according to an image signal; a beam splitter configured to split the laser beam into a first laser beam toward the first projection plane and a second laser beam toward the second projection plane; a scanning unit, disposed between the laser beam generator and the beam splitter, configured to scan the laser beam from the laser beam generator toward the beam splitter; a light receiver configured to receive reflected light of the first laser beam; a computation portion configured to compute positional information indicating a position of an obstacle located in an optical path of the first laser beam based on a light receiving result by the light receiver; and a display control portion configured to change the image signal so that a pointer is displayed in the image based on the positional information. |
| US08123358B2 |
Motion picture watermarking technique
Watermarking of a motion picture release print occurs by providing on at least one soundtrack at least one tone of a particular frequency on at least one location unique to the release print. Typically, placement of the particular frequency tone occurs on location(s) where the tone will have minimal impact on the existing soundtrack audio. A record of location(s) at which the particular frequency tone appears on the release print is maintained to facilitate comparison with the tones detected in audio visual work to determine whether the audio of an illegal media was recorded from that release print. |
| US08123355B2 |
Apparatus for determining prescription for reading lenses for eyes with mild AMD
An apparatus is provided for finding and defining a prescription for reading glasses for an AMD patient whose Macula and Fovea are damaged enough that the patient has double vision, i.e. the patient sees two images of every object within the field of view of the Macula and Fovea. The apparatus positions reading lenses in various locations in front of the patient's eyes until the patient indicates that he/she now sees one image for each object in the field of view of the Macula and Fovea. The X-Y coordinates of the location of each lens axis in relation to the patient's visual axis are offset dimensions indicated for each eye by the apparatus and is thus the prescription for reading lenses. |
| US08123351B2 |
Eyeglass component mounting system
An eyeglass component mounting system is provided that can comprise a frame and at least a first ear stem. The first ear stem extends rearwardly from the frame and defines an anterior end and a posterior end. The anterior end of the first ear stem can be hingedly coupled to the frame such that the first ear stem can be pivotably movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The first ear stem can comprise a mounting area configured to receive an eyewear component thereon such that the eyewear component can be removed or seated onto the mounting area when the first ear stem is in the stowed position and such that the eyewear component is retained on the mounting area when the first ear stem is in the deployed position. |
| US08123349B2 |
Automatic image color and contrast optimization system based on cartridge identification
A hand-held printer includes an ink supply and a graphical interface configured to display a preview of an image prior to printing and wherein the image preview is displayed on the graphical interface in a color format based on the color capability of the ink supply. |
| US08123340B2 |
Ink-jet printer
Disclosed is an inkjet printer. The inkjet printer in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a supply channel coupled to a plurality of inkjet heads; a first main reservoir and a second main reservoir being coupled to either side of the supply channel; and a first press and a second press applying pressure to the inside of the first main reservoir and the second main reservoir, respectively. |
| US08123338B2 |
Liquid droplet jet head, liquid droplet discharging apparatus, and image forming apparatus
A liquid droplet jet head includes a pressure liquid chamber substrate including nozzles discharging liquid droplets and pressure liquid chambers communicated with the nozzles, a vibration board partially forming wall surfaces of the pressure liquid chambers, and a pressure converter vibrating the vibration board to change pressure in the pressure liquid chambers to discharge the liquid droplets from the nozzles, and including a piezoelectric element having an active region and a inactive region and electrodes disposed to apply an electric force to the active region and not to apply an electric force to the inactive region, and a groove separating the active region from the inactive region formed not so deep as to reach one of the electrodes in a portion in the inactive region facing the vibration board. In the liquid droplet jet head, the pressure liquid chamber substrate is supported by the inactive region of the piezoelectric element. |
| US08123335B2 |
Liquid droplet ejecting head and liquid droplet ejecting apparatus
A liquid droplet ejecting head of an aspect of the invention includes: a nozzle ejecting a liquid-droplet; a liquid flow path member in which a liquid is supplied toward the nozzle; a back-pressure generating unit applying back-pressure to the liquid in a liquid-flow-path toward the nozzle; a beam member joined together with or including the liquid flow path member, deforming to become concave in a liquid-droplet ejection direction, thereafter undergoing buckling reverse deformation to become convex in the ejection direction, and applying inertia to the liquid near the nozzle in the ejection direction, to cause the liquid near the nozzle to be ejected; an opening disposed on an opposite side of the liquid flow path member in the ejection direction and communicated with the atmosphere; a suction path whose suction opening is directed toward near the nozzle; and a negative-pressure generating unit generating negative-pressure in the suction path. |
| US08123328B2 |
Ink tank and ink jet printer incorporating the same
An ink chamber is formed with a vent port allowing atmospheric air to enter therein and an ink outlet from which ink is taken out. An optical member has an ink contact face capable of contacting with ink contained in the ink chamber. The ink contact face includes a detection face at which a remaining amount of ink in the ink chamber is optically detected in accordance with an amount of air entered into the ink chamber via the vent port. A first ink absorbing member is disposed in the vicinity of the ink contact face, and capable of absorbing the ink in the ink chamber. |
| US08123327B2 |
Method and apparatus to adjust distance calculations
In one embodiment, a distance that a target moves is calculated utilizing an optical sensor. A first temperature of a first portion of the optical sensor is measured at the time of the distance calculation. A second temperature of a second portion of the optical sensor is measured at the time of the distance calculation. The distance is adjusted by a compensation factor that is a function of the first and second temperatures. |
| US08123326B2 |
Calibration system for multi-printhead ink systems
A method for calibrating a multi-printhead printing system, the method includes the steps of employing an encoder to track movement of a media through the printing system; providing a first printhead that prints a first image plane that includes a first test mark at a first defined location on the media as the media moves relative to the first printhead; providing a second printhead that prints a second image plane that includes a second test mark at a second defined location on the media as the media moves relative to the second printhead; employing a first image capture device that captures an image that includes both the first and second test marks; determining an error factor based on the placement of the second mark relative to the first mark in the captured image; and creating a frequency-shifted pulse train of the encoder in which the frequency shift is based on the error factor; wherein the first printhead prints the first image plane in response to output of the encoder and the second printhead prints the second image plane in response to the frequency-shifted pulse train of the encoder. |
| US08123325B2 |
Non-ejecting nozzle detecting method and device and inkjet recording apparatus
A non-ejecting nozzle detecting method comprises: setting a specified processing liquid deposited pattern; ejecting the processing liquid from processing liquid nozzles onto a recording medium to form the processing liquid deposited pattern; ejecting colored ink from ink nozzles corresponding to the processing liquid nozzles selected as non-ejection detection targets onto the processing liquid deposited pattern, and recording linear colored ink images on the recording medium to thereby form a processing liquid non-ejection detection pattern; detecting, based on changes in densities and line widths of the linear colored ink images, a non-ejecting processing liquid nozzle from the processing liquid nozzles selected as the non-ejection detection targets. |
| US08123324B2 |
Method for setting up drive signal
A method for setting up a condition for a drive signal in a liquid ejection head that includes a plurality of linearly-arranged nozzles and driving elements provided for each of the nozzles, includes: calculating an ejection rate for each nozzle relating to a supply of the drive signal under a predetermined condition by using a moving average; classifying the plurality of nozzles into a plurality of groups based on the ejection rate calculated by using the moving average of each nozzle; calculating a proper condition for the drive signal corresponding to each group based on a statistical value of the ejection rate relating to the group; and selecting one proper condition among proper conditions corresponding to the groups so as to set the selected proper condition for each nozzle. |
| US08123323B2 |
Array head type inkjet image forming apparatus and method of compensating alignment errors thereof
A method of compensating for alignment errors includes determining a degree of overlap between nozzles of a plurality of head chips; checking driving information corresponding to the determined degree of overlap between nozzles, from a pre-provided compensation table, and controlling the driving of the nozzles in an overlapping area, according to the checked driving information. |
| US08123321B2 |
Image forming method and image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a defect position detecting section to detect a defect position at which no recording material is outputted; a defect position specifying section to specify a defect recording element, which resides at the defect position, and a kind of recording material to be outputted by the defect recording element; a mixture ratio determining section to determine a mixture ratio of plural recording materials, so as to make the mixture ratio of a specific recording material to be outputted by plural recording elements residing in a peripheral area of the defect position and including the defect recording element, decrease to a value lower than a normal mixture ratio, while using the normal mixture ratio for other recording elements residing in other areas. |
| US08123320B2 |
Array-type image forming apparatus and method to compensate image density
An array-type image forming apparatus and a method for compensating an image using the same include an image density determination unit to determine the image density of each line on a page, a storage unit stores one or more threshold values and a control unit compensates the image density by comparing the determined image density of each line and the threshold value. When the image density reaches the threshold value, the control unit modifies the amount of heat supplied to a print head, thus modifying the amount of ink applied to subsequent lines on the page, in order to provide compensation for the image density. |
| US08123319B2 |
High speed high resolution fluid ejection
The first plurality of nozzles and the second plurality of nozzles in a fluid ejection system are arranged in a plurality of nozzle pairs, each nozzle pair of the plurality of nozzle pairs including a first nozzle from the first plurality of nozzles and an associated second nozzle from the second plurality of nozzles, the first nozzle and associated second nozzle of each nozzle pair spaced apart in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction, the first direction being the direction of movement of a print media, by greater than zero and less than the pixel pitch p and spaced apart in the first direction. A controller is configured to cause the first nozzle and the second nozzle of each nozzle pair to deposit droplets at the same pixel in a line of pixels. |
| US08123316B2 |
Inkjet image-forming apparatus and method for printing
An image forming apparatus including: a print-job controller configured to receive a print job and control a printing operation based on the received print job; an ink-ejection driver configured to output a driving signal on the basis of the print job; an ink ejector configured to eject ink onto a paper sheet on the basis of the driving signal outputted by the ink-ejection driver; and an ink-temperature measuring unit configured to measure an ink temperature. When the ink temperature measured by the ink-temperature measuring unit is equal to or higher than a first reference temperature, the ink-ejection driver outputs a driving signal of a first voltage. When the ink temperature measured by the ink-temperature measuring unit is lower than the first reference temperature and is equal to or higher than a second reference temperature that is lower than the first reference temperature, the print-job controller performs the printing operation as long as predetermined conditions are satisfied for suppressing lowering of print quality possibly caused by ink ejection based on a driving signal of a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage and the ink-ejection driver outputs the driving signal of the second voltage while the printing operation is being performed. |
| US08123314B2 |
Refrigeration device
A refrigerator includes a door having a pair of lateral spaced supports on an inside of the door, and a height-adjustable door storage compartment removably securable via a snap-in structure to the inside of the door at locations between the pair of supports at a plurality of different heights, and a support having a vertically extending guide compatibly configured with a corresponding portion of the door storage compartment. The vertically extending guide and the corresponding portion of the door storage compartment engaging one another for orienting the door storage compartment relative to the door in an installed position of the door storage compartment on the door. |
| US08123306B2 |
Trailer connection selector
A truck includes a pressurized air supply system for providing air to one of a plurality of air supply connections and a selector circuit for providing selection to one of the air supply connections. The circuit includes a first inversion valve with supply from a selector valve and control from a parking brake valve, a second inversion valve with supply from the parking brake valve and delivery to a first air supply connection, a synchro valve with supply from the parking brake valve and delivery to a second air supply connection, a double check valve with supply from the first inversion valve and the synchro valve and delivery to a control line of the second inversion valve and the synchro valve, a first trailer supply connection to the delivery line of the second inversion valve, and a second trailer supply connection to the delivery line of the synchro valve. |
| US08123305B2 |
Emergency protection for remote control braking systems
A locomotive brake system including an electronic air brake controller for controlling at least a train brake pipe in a standard EAB mode and remote mode of the brake system and a remote locomotive controller for providing braking signals to the electronic air brake controller and an electrical emergency signal in the remote mode. A magnetic valve is connected to the train brake pipe for providing a pneumatic emergency signal on the train brake pipe in the remote mode when energized in response to the electrical emergency signal from the remote locomotive controller or upon failure of the remote locomotive controller. A cut-in system is connected to the remote locomotive controller and the magnetic valve to provide an electrical emergency signal to the magnetic valve when the cut-in system is initially activated. |
| US08123304B2 |
Hydraulic system and method for operating a brake of a wind turbine
A hydraulic system and method for controlling the brake of a wind turbine are provided. During operation of the wind turbine, pressurized working fluid in the hydraulic system is blocked from being supplied to the brake. Even if some of this fluid does reach the brake, it is drained to prevent a pressure build-up and activation. To activate the brake, this drainage is stopped and the pressurized fluid is supplied to the brake. The blocking and unblocking the pressurized working fluid may be controlled by first and second activation valves arranged in parallel in a supply line that communicates the working fluid to the brake. |
| US08123303B2 |
Automobile wheel and process for producing the same
In an automobile wheel, a surface-side flange is provided on an outer circumferential edge of a wheel disk. The surface-side flange includes: a surface-side annular circumferential portion on an aesthetic surface; and a back-side annular circumferential portion that is formed continuously with, and on the back side of, the surface-side annular circumferential portion and that is thinner than the surface-side annular circumferential portion. An inner circumferential end of the back-side annular circumferential portion of the surface-side flange and an opening end of a surface-side bead seat of a wheel rim are welded together all along their circumferences. The automobile wheel allows the back-side annular circumferential portion of the surface-side flange to bear a stress that acts on a weld area. This relaxes the stress concentration on the weld area. |
| US08123302B2 |
Impact tool
An impact tool for use with a driving mechanism, the impact tool including an impact tip formed from a super hard material and having an apex and an attachment end, with the attachment end being bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. The cemented metal carbide substrate is bonded in turn to the front end of a cemented metal carbide bolster. The carbide bolster is securable against an outer surface of a driving mechanism through a press fit. |
| US08123301B2 |
Fastening bracket
A fastening bracket (1) for a chair (2) having two side members (21) and a seat plate (20), an assembly kit for a chair, and the use of the fastening bracket and the assembly kit. The fastening bracket includes an upper beam (10) and a lower beam (11) positioned in parallel over each other and joined in the front edge and rear edge by a front side piece (12) and a rear side piece (13) respectively, the pieces being outside a first space that is formed between the beams (10, 11 The first space receives a side edge of the seat plate (20). A second space is formed between the front and rear side piece (12, 13) and receives a side member (21) of the chair (2). The bracket includes at least one fastening device (14). |
| US08123300B2 |
Chair accessory and method of using
Disclosed is a chair accessory comprising one or more board-like items, including planks, of various thicknesses having on or in each item at least one restraining device having one or more chair-leg contacting surfaces that will prevent a child, while sitting in the chair, from moving the board-like item out of its functional place with his feet. The chair accessory is used with a chair including a child's chair to provide a foot rest when the chair occupant's legs are too short to allow the occupant's feet to reach the floor to provide stability necessary to permit more advanced fine motor development. |
| US08123297B2 |
Latching fitting for a vehicle seat
A latching fitting for a vehicle seat for releasably locking a first part and a second part that are movable with respect to each other, particularly for adjusting and locking a backrest part with respect to a seat part of the vehicle seat, includes a pawl connected to the first part. The pawl is pivotable about a pawl bearing and includes a latching toothing which in a locked state of the latching fitting engages into a counter latching toothing of a locking piece connected to the second part. The latching toothing of the pawl and the counter latching toothing of the locking piece include different tooth shapes along the radial direction, such as a trapezoid shape and a triangle shape corresponding to each other. |
| US08123296B2 |
Vehicle seat assembly having movable bolsters
A vehicle bench seat assembly includes a seat bottom including a first seat portion having a seating surface, a second seat portion having a seating surface, and a third seat portion having a seating surface. The seat assembly further includes a seat back including a first back portion, a second back portion, and a third back portion located between the first and second portions. The third seat portion is movable between a first position, wherein the seating surface of the third seat portion is generally flush with the seating surfaces of the first and second seat portions, and a second position, wherein the seating surface of the third seat portion extends in a non-flush position relative to the seating surfaces of the first and second seat portions. |
| US08123295B2 |
Car seat recline mechanism with double acting actuator
A car seat is constructed with a car seat member on which the child is transported and a separable base member that is mounted to the vehicle seat via the vehicle seat belt or latch anchor which is passed through side openings in the base member and trapped in a belt latch apparatus to secure the base member to the vehicle seat. The car seat member includes a recline actuation linkage formed with two pivotally mounted link members interconnected so that the upward movement of the recline actuator is translated into an intuitive release of the recline mechanism for adjustment of the recline angle of the car seat member relative to the base member. A level indicator is mounted on the car seat member to provide a positive feedback that the proper orientation of the car seat member has been selected for the rear facing configuration. |
| US08123293B2 |
Seat assembly with rotatable seat bottom
A seat assembly for a vehicle comprises a pedestal for mounting to the vehicle. A seat bottom is coupled to the pedestal and is rotatable about a first axis between a seating position and a stowed position. A seat back is coupled to the pedestal and is rotatable about a second axis spaced from the first axis from an upright position to a forward position in response to a predetermined force from behind the seat back. A deformable extension is fixed to and extends between the seat back and the pedestal. The deformable extension is configured to deform to absorb energy when the seat back rotates from the upright position to the forward position. |
| US08123290B1 |
Portable cooling device
A cooling system which having a body section which includes a flexible material; at least two mist dispensing fans connected to the body section; and control circuitry having at least a first switch controlling fan speed and a second switch controlling mist dispensing. |
| US08123289B2 |
Lift chair and a chair frame with a position holding mechanism for use therewith
In one aspect, the present invention relates a reclining lift chair frame used in a reclining lift chair. The reclining lift chair frame utilizes a position holding mechanism to eliminate the free (idle) fall of the footrest of the reclining lift chair. |
| US08123285B2 |
Upper pillar structure of vehicle
An upper pillar structure of a vehicle may include a pad assembly for sealing an air intake portion formed between a side inner panel and a side outer panel, the pas assembly including a fixing member disposed at lower side of the air intake portion, and a rotating member, a portion of which is rotatably coupled to the fixing member and moves to top portion of the air intake portion by actuation of the side outer panel. |
| US08123278B1 |
Retractable door mounted appliqué for opposing-hinged doors
A vehicle includes a pair of opposing-hinged doors having a first door and a second door. The first and second doors each include a tumblehome portion that extends inboard of a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis respectively. The first door and second doors are disposed adjacent each other when in a closed position, and define a gap between the tumblehome portions of the first and second doors. An appliqué is moveably attached to one of the doors, and is moveable between a sealing position and a withdrawn position. When in the sealing position, the appliqué extends across the gap. When in the withdrawn position, the appliqué is spaced from one of the doors, thereby allowing the doors to simultaneously rotate open in opposite directions without the tumblehome portions of the doors contacting or otherwise interfering with each other. |
| US08123276B2 |
Deployable energy managing pelvic pusher for use in vehicle
A system for providing protection to a vehicle occupant during a side impact event is disclosed. The system includes an outer panel, which may be a vehicle door outer sheet metal, an inner panel, which may be a vehicle door trim, and an elongated structural member disposed between the outer panel and the inner panel. The elongated structural member is generally disposed perpendicularly with respect to the inner and outer panels and is in general alignment with the pelvic area of the adjacent occupant. The elongated structural member may have an I-beam configuration which extends from the outer panel to the inner panel in the occupant's pelvic zone. The elongated structure may progressively crush during the impact event while pushing the occupant. During an impact event, the elongated structure is pushed vehicle-inward and provides pelvic support to the adjacent occupant. |
| US08123275B2 |
Convertible top for a convertible vehicle
The invention relates to a convertible top for a convertible vehicle, comprising a convertible top material having a cutout, a profile part, and a window element, the profile part comprising a first connecting region and a second connecting region, wherein the first connecting region is assigned to the window element and wherein the second connecting region is assigned to the convertible top material, wherein a first adhesive layer is substantially encompassed by the first connecting region and the window element, said first adhesive layer defining a first adhesive connection between the window element and the profile part. A convertible top for a convertible vehicle which has an improved connection to a window element is provided in that the profile part is connected to the second connecting region of the convertible top material using a stitched connection. |
| US08123268B1 |
Heavy load sling protective pad
A heavy load protective pad for use on industrial slings includes fasteners on a sleeve forming member which are secured together to encircle and secure the protective pad on an industrial sling at a desired location. Pockets formed in the protective pad house a pair of block spacers which, in one configuration, serve to space the protective pad and underlying sling away from the load which is being lifted or pulled. |
| US08123266B1 |
Pet feces collection device
A pet feces collection device for placement beneath a pet's derriere during the defecation process, the device including an annular support member at the end of a telescopic handle, the support member having a liner bag with an elasticized upper end removably engaging a support member groove for support within a support member aperture and a disposal bag removably disposed within the liner bag, the disposal bag having an elasticized top end that also engages the groove. |
| US08123261B2 |
Lid lock structure of storing box for vehicle
A lid lock structure of a storing box for a vehicle includes an elongated sliding hole formed in an arm portion for rotatably connecting a lid to a box main body. A slide restraining device, when force (F5) acts in a sliding direction on a slider configured to be slidable along the elongated sliding hole, restrains the slider from sliding if the magnitude of the force (F5) is not larger than a predetermined value, and releases the slider from the restrained state if the magnitude of the force (F5) is larger than the predetermined value. A twist spring causes the slider to quickly slide from an end portion R side to an end portion L side of the elongated sliding hole when the slider is released from the restrained state; and a stopper portion restrains an arm portion from rotating in a direction in which the lid opens, by locking the slider when the slider is located in the end portion L side of the elongated sliding hole. |
| US08123258B2 |
Female element of a quick connect pipe coupling
A female rapid coupling element is adapted to receive a male element by insertion along a longitudinal axis (X-X′) and includes at least one locking member which is movable along an oblique axis and has an end engageable in a groove of a male element. A head of the locking member is provided with at least one lug defining a first surface oriented towards the end and adapted to receive in sliding contact a corresponding surface of a first component. A sliding plane (P1) between these surfaces is inclined at an angle of between approximately 75° and 105° with respect to the oblique axis of translation of the member. The head has two lugs arranged on either side of a rod or stem that extends between the end and the head. |
| US08123254B2 |
Method for mounting artwork reproductions printed on a deformable substrate and for incorporating a printed deformable substrate in a publication
A non-cellulose based deformable substrate having at least one fold line is configured to be able to be directly mounted on a frame or included in a publication. The substrate is configured to reduce the propagation of stress along the at least one fold line. |
| US08123250B2 |
Airbag apparatus
An airbag apparatus includes an airbag that includes a bag body provided with an insert hole for receiving an inflator and a sealing cloth arranged to cover a peripheral area of the insert hole. The sealing cloth includes on the location corresponding to the insert hole a through hole for receiving the inflator. The sealing cloth further includes around the through hole a slit that encircles the through hole generally wholly in a circumferential direction and enables relative slip movement between a peripheral area of the through hole on the sealing cloth and the peripheral area of the insert hole on the bag body in generally radial directions about the through hole. |
| US08123249B2 |
Gas generator and assembly with a gas generator
A gas generator has an elongated outer housing, the wall of the outer housing surrounding at least one gas carrying inner chamber. An axially extending end section of the wall of the outer housing, which is separated from the inner chamber of the gas generator with regard to flow, is constructed as a fastening section and has at least one fastening structure for connecting the gas generator with a carrier part. |
| US08123247B2 |
Passenger side airbag door for instrument panel and its manufacturing method
The present invention relates to an airbag door for instrument panel and its manufacturing method. A passenger side airbag (PAB) door for instrument panel includes a substrate with airbag opening, skin layer and foam layer, a PAB door reinforcement board which covers the airbag opening is connected to the instrument panel substrate. This PAB door reinforcement board is a cellulosic composite material board which is soaked by thermoplastic plastic or thermoplastic elastomer, formed through thermoforming. In present invention, the turnover and movable portion of the airbag door is lighten greatly. The airbag door with the light composite material can prevent the windshields from being broken effectively when the airbag deploys sufficiently and impacts against the windshields. |
| US08123241B1 |
Foldable baby trailer
A foldable baby trailer formed of a bottom frame unit, a trailer bar, a rear upright frame, a handle frame, and a folding control mechanism, two side frame bars and a stretcher frame is disclosed. The stretcher frame that supports a fabric seat panel for the sitting of a baby is held in a sloping position with the transverse front tube thereof spaced above the bottom frame unit at a distance so that when a baby is sitting on the fabric seat panel, the legs of the baby will not touch the ground, avoiding an accident and assuring high level of safety. When turning the handle frame backwardly downwards after pressed the operating button of the folding control mechanism, the foldable baby trailer is collapsed, saving storage space. |
| US08123238B1 |
Transport device
A transport device that includes a toe plate, a pair of side boards, a mesh backing, and a handle that is capable of being either hand-carried or mounted to a trailer hitch on a lawnmower or other slow moving motor transport. The transport device is fabricated from a steel, tubular frame and also includes at least a pair of intermediate cross braces to provide extra structural support. The handle of the transport device ha a top-mounted shank that juts out at ninety degrees, allowing the shank to be inserted into a trailer hitch of a lawnmower or other type of motorized vehicle. Once inserted into the trailer hitch, a pin, connected by a chain to the handle, can be inserted completely through a hole in the handle to secure the placement of the shank within the trailer hitch. |
| US08123236B1 |
Universal cooler wheels
A universal transport device that comprises two wheels and interconnected straps for securing and mobilizing a standard, non-wheeled cooler. The two wheels are connected via a stabilizing bar, and are secured under a cooler using a series of connecting straps. The stabilizing bar provides separation of the wheels and support for the cooler load during transport. The straps are adjustable connections around the exterior of the cooler, and comprise a main strap and two or more additional adjoining straps which work to encompass the exterior of the cooler and keep it firmly in place on the stabilizing bar. A handle is secured to the straps to allow a user to tilt and pull the cooler without bending over. |
| US08123234B2 |
Chuck apparatus
A pair of gripping sections performs opening and closing operations along a base member through displacement of a piston by means of a pressure fluid supplied to a chuck body. A pair of fingers, which constitute the gripping sections, is openable and closable in directions perpendicular to opening/closing directions of the gripping sections, by means of a driving force supplied from a driving section. The gripping sections are positioned with respect to a workpiece by actuating the pair of fingers to perform the opening/closing operation. Thereafter, by supplying the pressure fluid, the workpiece is gripped at a desired gripping position by means of the gripping sections. |
| US08123232B2 |
Sealing apparatus and gas turbine having same
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing apparatus having high sealing performance, entailing a low cost, and satisfactory in assembly characteristics. The sealing apparatus is a differential pressure-responsive sealing apparatus which is inserted between seal grooves formed in the side surfaces of outlet flange portions of adjacent combustor transition pipes to seal clearance between the side surfaces, comprising: a minimum required number of seal pieces connected in the longitudinal direction for imparting flexibility, the seal piece comprising a heat resistant, wear resistant material, and having a pair of sealing ridges each having an arcuate surface contacting the wall surface of each seal groove. |
| US08123229B2 |
Lip type seal
A resin lip type seal has first and second inner peripheral seal lips and an outer peripheral seal lip slidably contacting an operation member and a fixed member. The second inner peripheral seal lip is formed in a plate-shape to extend obliquely in an inner peripheral direction toward a second sealed fluid side so that an inner peripheral side end portion slidably contacts with a shaft and an outer peripheral side end portion contacts with a tapered surface formed on a housing or an installation member of the housing, whereby contact surface pressure in the inner peripheral direction acts on the inner peripheral side end portion. |
| US08123227B2 |
Sliding member
A sliding member is characterized in that a sliding surface of the sliding member is coated with an amorphous hard carbon film, and a surface of the amorphous hard carbon film has a ten-point mean roughness of equal to or less than 0.7 micrometers and an initial wear height in a range of 0.07 to 0.14 micrometers. |
| US08123226B2 |
Seal assembly
A seal assembly for sealing an annular space between an inner and an outer pipe in a double-walled subsea pipeline which seal assembly comprises an annular member (1) and moveable blocking means (2, 3) and: (a) under normal operating conditions is in a non-sealing position which allows the passage of a gas through said seal assembly; and (b) is actuatable from a non-sealing position to a sealing position in response to the entry of liquid into said annular space. |
| US08123222B2 |
Compliant conveyance system for mailpiece transport along an arcuate feed path
A compliant conveyance system including a diverter having at least one sidewall structure defining an internal chamber in fluid communication with a pressure source. The sidewall structure includes a compliant interface surface for conveying sheet material along the feed path and a plurality of orifices effecting fluid communication between the compliant interface surface and the internal chamber. A means is provided for developing a pressure differential across the sheet material through the orifices to urge an interface surface of the sheet material against the compliant interface surface of the diverter such that the compliant interface surface conforms to the sheet material interface surface. The system employs a means for driving the diverter about a rotational axis from a first to a second rotational position and a controller for controlling the pressure differential such that, in the first rotation position, the sheet material is secured against the compliant interface surface and, in the second rotational position, the sheet material is released therefrom. |
| US08123218B2 |
Sheet conveyance apparatus and image forming apparatus
A skew roller is disposed near an abutment reference member. A pre-skew roller is disposed on the upstream side of the skew roller at a position corresponding to a conveyance center line. When a sheet conveyed by a pre-registration conveyance roller reaches the skew roller, the pre-registration conveyance roller moves upward to release a nipping force applied on the sheet. At the same time, the pre-skew roller moves downward to start aligning the sheet. |
| US08123216B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling actuator force as a controllable replacement for a common spring in sheet article processing and related sheet article processing apparatuses
Methods and systems are disclosed for registering and moving a sheet article along a path that can use an actuator to mimic a biased device such as a spring-loaded device. The actuator can include a solenoid and an arm. The movement of the arm with the solenoid can be done by pulse-width modulation by providing a high pulse-width modulation duty cycle to the solenoid to provide a resistive force on the arm and providing a low pulse-width modulation duty cycle to the solenoid to provide a less resistive force on the arm. Inserting stations use in sheet article inserting system that employ the actuator are also provided. |
| US08123213B2 |
Sheet size detection device
A sheet size detection device for detecting a size of sheets which are held in a sheet tray is disclosed. The device comprises first and second guide members, first and second brackets, and a plurality of switches. The first guide member is movable in accordance with a first dimension of the sheets. The second guide member is movable in accordance with a second dimension of the sheets. Each bracket is operatively connected to its respective guide member and includes a plurality of slots extending through a solid surface. The plurality of switches is configured for selective engagement by at least one of the brackets. The solid surface and the plurality of slots of each bracket are configured to interact with one another to selectively engage the plurality of switches. The selective engagement of the plurality of switches enables conveyance of two dimensions of the sheet size. |
| US08123208B2 |
Process for binding sheets
Binding apparatus and a related process are particularly suited for binding digitally-printed sheets into booklets. The apparatus is adapted to fold individual sheets and then to apply adhesive to the fold line before gathering the sheets in a collator ready for binding. The collator includes either a rotatable or retractable finger that is moveable to temporarily inhibit registration of a first sheet of a new stack on a stacking area, as a previous stack is transported away. |
| US08123206B2 |
Cutting board with pivotal base stand
A cutting board apparatus with a planar cutting surface and a stand pivotally mounted thereto. The stand supports the cutting board apparatus in a generally vertical position to facilitate frequent washing and drainage for healthier food processing. |
| US08123203B2 |
Vehicular jounce bumper assembly
A jounce bumper assembly for a vehicular suspension system, the suspension system having a first member and a second member, is provided. The assembly comprises a mount coupled to the first member, wherein the mount has a cylindrical portion comprising a first cylindrical outer surface. The assembly also comprises a jounce bumper coupled to the second member, and a striker cap having a first end comprising a first cylindrical inner surface circumferentially coupled over the first cylindrical outer surface, and having a second end configured for resilient engagement with the jounce bumper. |
| US08123195B2 |
Pressure control butterfly valve with opening/closing mechanism
A pressure control butterfly valve includes a valve disc rotatable in a vertical direction relative to a flow passage in a body, a seat ring reciprocating in a direction of the flow passage to allow a valve seat seal part to abut on and separate from the valve disc, and a valve opening/closing mechanism provided with an airflow path to which air is supplied in a direction of separating the seat ring from the valve disc and with a spring for biasing the seat ring toward the valve disc. The valve opening/closing mechanism is for nonslidably rotating the valve disc from which the seat ring has been separated by supply of air to the airflow path and for allowing the seat ring to abut on and separate from the valve disc by means of the supply of air to the airflow path and the biasing force of the spring when the valve disc has been rotated to a valve-closed state, thereby controlling pressure in the flow passage. |
| US08123189B2 |
Reading stand
The invention provides a reading stand. The reading stand may comprising a base portion including at least one base portion sidewall, the base portion sidewall being supported by the base portion; and a platform portion forming a support surface to support the document, the platform portion including at least one page holder to retain the document. The reading stand may further include a side support clip extending from the platform portion such that the base portion sidewall is receivable between the platform portion and the side support clip in an assembled position, the side support clip having a protuberance disposed thereon, the protuberance engageable with the base portion sidewall. The assembled position affords side reading. |
| US08123182B2 |
Mounting system for display equipment
The present invention provides a mounting system for securely mounting display equipment, such as a monitor or a display screen. The mounting system comprises: a support structure (5) to which the display equipment (D) is to be mounted to thereby support the display equipment (D); and a mounting component (1) adapted to be rigidly attached to the display equipment, the mounting component (1) comprising mounting means (4) for mounting the display equipment to the support structure (5). The support structure (5) comprises a first support frame (10), the first support frame having a plurality of connection means (12) for secure connection with the mounting means (4) of the mounting component (1). In one aspect of the invention, the plurality of connection means (12) are arranged and adapted for selective connection with the mounting means (4) thereby to select and/or adjust the position of the display equipment (D) in two dimensions relative to the support structure (5). Thus, the plurality of connection means (12) are distributed in an array over an area of the first support frame (10) for selective connection with the mounting means (4), with each of the plurality of connection means (12) being adapted to engage and securely fasten with the mounting means (4) of the mounting component (1). In another aspect of the invention, the support structure (5) includes a second support frame (20), and the first support frame (10) is adapted for adjustable sliding movement relative to the second support frame (20). |
| US08123178B2 |
Fixing structure of wire harness
The present invention provides a hard-to-fall fixing structure of wire harness contributive to cost reduction in which VOC is not generated and flapping sound (noise) of wire harness is hard to occur. In the fixing structure of a wire harness to a vehicle interior material according to the present invention, a silencer pad (acoustical material) is fixed to the vehicle interior material, and the silencer pad is provided with a latching piece formed by cutting a portion of the present silencer pad, and the wire harness is latched to the latching piece. |
| US08123174B2 |
Methods and apparatus for an integrated instrumentation module for a thermal protection system
An integrated instrumentation system includes a body comprising a thermal protection system (TPS) material (e.g., an ablatable material), one or more sensors embedded within the body, and a processor (e.g., an FPGA or the like) communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors. The processor is configured to acquire sensor signals from the plurality of sensors and produce digital sensor data associated therewith. The sensors may include, for example, recession sensors, pressure transducers, thermocouples, and accelerometers. |
| US08123173B1 |
Attitude and antenna steering system and method for spacecraft
A method of providing attitude and antenna steering for a spacecraft having a number of reaction wheels and a number of antennas is disclosed. The method includes determining a beta angle, the beta angle being the angle between a sun vector and an orbit plane of the spacecraft, and engaging either a first mode or a second mode in an alternate manner to provide attitude and antenna steering based on the beta angle. A target frame generator for generating information usable to provide attitude and antenna steering for a spacecraft is also disclosed. |
| US08123172B2 |
Satellite air brake wing structure
A deployable wing structure for air-braking a satellite and which, once deployed, includes at least one wing structure element that forms a three-dimensional structure and includes at least two panels lying in secant planes and forming a dihedron. |
| US08123168B2 |
Window assembly and method for a mobile platform
A window assembly for a mobile platform, for example, a commercial aircraft. The window assembly includes a reveal member that is retained within an opening in an interior panel of the mobile platform without the use of independent retaining clips or adhesives. In one embodiment the reveal member is generally rectangular in shape and includes a flange adjacent to each of the four corners thereof. The flanges engage the opening in the structural panel so that the reveal member can be held in a precise position within the opening in the interior structural panel without external fastening clips or adhesives. The window assembly is lighter in weight than existing window assemblies, and can also be easily removed without special tools or disassembly procedures, and also is retrofittable to existing mobile platforms. |
| US08123165B2 |
Partition wall with integrated curtain rail flap
The invention relates to a partition wall for partitioning at least two regions in a cabin of a vehicle. The invention includes a partition comprising a body that may be moved into a first open position and into a second closed position and comprising a curtain rail, wherein the body is designed in the first position to cover an aisle that is adjacent to the partition, at least in some regions, by means of a curtain that has been affixed to the curtain rail. |
| US08123163B2 |
Aircraft kinetic landing energy conversion system
A kinetic energy system which transfers the kinetic landing into recoverable electric energy for an aircraft. The system incorporates at least one wheel supporting the aircraft for landing and takeoff coupled with a dynamic functioning motor/generator mounted to and operated by rotation of the wheel to create electrical energy from kinetic energy. An induction shoe structurally connected to the aircraft and electrically connected to the motor/generator, which shoe draws the converted energy from the generator which supplies the load created by the inductively coupled induction shoe to the an ancillary load provided by the resistive heat sink on by the capacitor storage bank. This provides the generator circuit for conversion of the rotational energy of the wheel to electrical energy and creates braking drag. In exemplary embodiments, the system employs an energy storage system acting as the load to store electrical potential energy created by the generator. Additionally, the generator is employable as a motor, receiving energy from the storage system for traction power to the associated aircraft wheel. An induction grid or a surface mounted conductive layer mounted into or onto a runway is employed for transferring energy to and from the motor/generator. |
| US08123156B2 |
Yarn path guide, traversing device of fiber bundle and system for producing fiber bundle package
A traversing device for stabilizing the yarn path of a thin and uniform flat fiber bundle without causing any trouble, e.g. entanglement of single fibers, and ensuring a good winding appearance of the winding package of fiber bundle, and a yarn path guide for stabilizing the yarn path without causing any trouble, e.g. entanglement of single fibers. |
| US08123155B2 |
Fence wire stretching device
A fence wire stretching device is provided having a square shape made up of five leg portions, three of which form three of the sides of the square. The fourth side of the square has a proximal leg portion and a distal leg portion that are pivotally attached together. The distal leg portion swings outward at an angle from the proximal leg portion so that the wire clamp mechanism is in an open position, and may then be pivoted back to be coaxial with the proximal leg so that the wire clamp mechanism is in a closed position. A vehicle attachment means is located at a first corner of the square, and a wire clamp mechanism is located at second corner of the square opposite the vehicle attachment means. A wire spool holding rod extends centrally across the square between a third corner and a fourth corner of the device, and is openably attached to the square so that a spool of fence wire may be slipped over the wire spool holding rod. |
| US08123152B2 |
Shredder auto feed system
The present invention is generally related to an apparatus having cutter elements for destroying articles such as paper sheets and a mechanism for advancing at least a top sheet from a stack of paper in a tray into the cutter elements for shredding. In one embodiment, the apparatus uses a rotatable feed roller to feed paper atop the stack to the cutter elements. The feed roller moves in an alternating manner between a lowered and raised position to engage and disengage the stack when advancing the paper therethrough. Alternatively, a rotatable cam may be used. In an embodiment, the apparatus uses a rotatable drum or rotatable belt with an internal vacuum to lift paper from the stack and feed into the shredder mechanism. |
| US08123151B2 |
Sprinkling gun structure
A sprinkling gun structure including a main body having two ends respectively formed with a water inlet and an adaptation hole. An assembling tunnel is transversely formed through the main body between the water inlet and the adaptation hole to communicate therewith. The sprinkling gun further includes an adjustment member, a controlling member having a water-checking section and a water intake, and a water-guiding member having a watertight sleeve fitted on bottom end of the water-guiding member. The controlling member is fitted in the assembling tunnel and rotationally drivable by the adjustment member. When driven, the water-checking section of the controlling member is rotated to cooperate with the watertight sleeve so as to shut off/turn on and micro-adjust the water flow. |
| US08123142B2 |
Solar powered smart ventilation system
A ventilation system comprising a fan to bring air into a building or exhaust air out of the building, a rechargeable battery to power the fan in the absence of an alternative energy source, and an alternative energy harnessing device to power the fan and to recharge the rechargeable battery in the presence of an alternative energy source. A sensor may be operatively connected to a controller or logic circuit to measure environmental factors, wherein the controller utilizes the measured environmental condition to select the power source with which to activate the fan. The ventilation system is configured to be a modular device with versatile fasteners for easy installment in windows or attics without the need for modification of the building, such as cutting holes. |
| US08123141B2 |
Laundry transport apparatus
A laundry transport apparatus and method includes a container defining an interior area configured to accommodate a plurality of laundry carts, the container having a door movable between closed and open configurations to selectively allow access to said interior area. The container is a trailer configured to be moved by a vehicle. The apparatus includes a ventilation network to pass air to and from the interior area, the ventilation network including an intake duct for channeling air to the interior area and an outlet duct for channeling air from the interior area. At least a portion of the intake and outlet ducts are immediately adjacent one another to influence temperature of air passing through each duct, warmer air passing through one of the intake duct or the outlet duct becoming cooler and cooler air passing through another of the intake duct or the outlet duct becoming warmer. |
| US08123136B2 |
Processing apparatus of portable electronic devices, portable electronic device, and processing system of portable electronic devices
A processing apparatus of portable electronic devices, a portable electronic device, and a processing system of portable electronic devices are provided, each of which can process data at high speed. The processing apparatus has a transmitting/receiving unit configured to transmit and receive data to and from the portable electronic device. In the processing, the transmitting/receiving unit generates a first command and adds a second command to the first command. |
| US08123134B2 |
Apparatus to analyze security features on objects
The present disclosure provides apparatus for analyzing emerging security or authentication feature for physical objects (e.g., identification documents, product packaging, banknotes, etc.). One claim recites an apparatus comprising: a light source for illuminating a physical object with first non-visible light, the physical object comprising a first code provided with a first ink or dye and a second code provided with a second ink or dye, the second ink or dye comprising an emission decay time that is relatively longer than an emission decay time of the first ink or dye, the first code and the second code collectively conveying a first feature when illuminated with the first non-visible light, with the second code individually conveying a second feature after emissions attributable to the first code fall to a first level; and an electronic reader programmed for reading at least the second feature after emissions attributable to the first ink or dye fall to the first level and before emissions attributable to the second ink or dye fall to a second level. Other claims and combinations are provided as well. |
| US08123131B2 |
Antenna containing substrate
To increase an area in which a component can be mounted in a substrate including an IC chip to which an antenna is connected. For this purpose, an opening at the center of a center substrate is provided with an IC chip. An antenna is wired to an upper surface of the center substrate so as to enclose the IC chip. A top substrate is laminated and fixed on the upper surface of the center substrate. A bottom substrate is laminated and fixed on a lower surface of the center substrate. Since the antenna is not wired to an upper surface of the top substrate and a lower surface of the bottom substrate, a component can be mounted on the entire upper and lower surfaces. This allows a large number of components to be mounted. |
| US08123127B2 |
Conversion of non-negotiable credits earned from a game of chance to negotiable funds
Entertainment credits from a game of chance can be identified. The entertainment credits can be associated with an entity with which a user has previously interacted. The previous interactions can earning the entertainment credits, which are non-negotiable credits. Responsive to a user request, a conversion agency can convert a quantity of the entertainment credits to a quantity of negotiable funds, wherein the conversion agency is not directly associated with the entity. The user can be permitted to access the quantity of negotiable funds, wherein the quantity of negotiable funds are able to be applied to user specified purchases, wherein at least a portion of the user specified purchases involve at least one vender that does not honor the non-negotiable credits. |
| US08123114B2 |
Hidden-code voting and marking systems
An improved paper ballot voting system allows voters to verify that their ballots are correctly counted and provide substantiating evidence if they are not. Codes are revealed to voters by the act of marking the ballot during voting and voters can check that these codes are posted. If these codes are not posted as marked, voters can make the codes they obtained public. These codes made public by voters can be compared against codes that were cryptographically committed to in advance of the election. If the codes from voters do in fact match codes committed to, evidence of incorrectness of the vote tallying is provided. |
| US08123109B2 |
Method for making brazed heat exchanger and apparatus
Disclosed is a heat exchanger comprising a boiling passage and cooling passage defined by opposite sides of metal walls. Layers of brazing material between the metal walls and a spacer member bond components of the heat exchanger together. An enhanced boiling layer (EBL) comprising metal particles bonded to each other and to a boiling side of the metal wall provides nucleate boiling pores to improve heat transfer. The EBL has a melting temperature that is higher than the melting temperature of the brazing material. Also disclosed is a process for assembling the heat exchanger. |
| US08123107B2 |
Method for forming sputter target assemblies
The method forms a sputter target assembly by attaching a sputter target to an insert and applying a bond metal layer between the insert and a backing plate. Then pressing the insert and backing plate together forms a solid state bond with the bond metal layer, attaches the insert to the backing plate and forms at least one cooling channel between the insert and the backing plate. |
| US08123106B2 |
External deburring of welded pipe
An external weld bead is removed and processed from a welded pipe traveling in a downstream direction. The weld bead is separated from the pipe, allowed to flow in a downstream direction, and is guided downstream and cut into chips at a location downstream of where the weld bead is separated from the pipe. Also disclosed is weld bead cutting tool including a cutting edge at an upstream end of the tool, a guide feature disposed downstream of the cutting edge and extending toward a downstream end of the tool, wherein the guide feature widens from the upstream end toward the downstream end. |
| US08123104B1 |
Friction welding apparatus, system and method
A friction stir welding apparatus is provided herein. More specifically, traditional friction stir welding requires a rotatable head that is forced against a plurality of work pieces to bond the same. The rotational and normal forces generated by the friction stir welding tool are generally reacted by a backing plate, anvil, mandrel or other mechanisms, such hardware are subject to the applied forces and are often supported with additional internal supports. Conversely, an apparatus for performing a friction stir weld is described that omits the need for such a backing member and internal supports as it is performed using a self reacting pin tool. |
| US08123101B2 |
Directionally biased staple and anvil assembly for forming the staple
In accordance with the present disclosure a directionally biased staple is provided for use in all types of surgical staplers having anvil structure against which the staple is formed. The directionally biased staple may be constructed in a wide variety of cross-sectional configurations including rectangular, elliptical, trapezoidal, etc. All of the configurations are distinguished by having a bending region requiring more force to twist or malform the staple than is required to properly form the staple. Preferably, these staples have Moment of Inertia Ratios on the order of between about 1.1 to about 3.0. The staple preferably corresponds in other respects to conventional formed staples, i.e. having at least a pair of leg members interconnected by a crown portion wherein the leg members are formed by direct contact with the anvil. An anvil assembly is also provided for minimizing the malformation of staples. |
| US08123095B2 |
Cornbustion-operated setting tool
A combustion-operated setting tool (10) for driving in fastening elements, includes a combustion drive for driving a setting piston (13) displaceable in a guide cylinder (12) and which drive has at least one combustion chamber (14), a ventilator (16) for the combustion drive, a control unit (30) for controlling the ventilator (16) dependent on a thermal control parameter and having a program for modeling the thermal control parameter based on time data and ventilator operation data. |
| US08123092B2 |
Retractable shoulder strap for carrying case
A retractable carry strap (12) for carrying cases (10) such as luggage, suitcases, or briefcases, wherein the retractor device is in the form of compact spring biasing compartments (12) are provided to apply resilient retraction forces (10) to the carry strap to return it to a position in close proximity to the carrying case and to store strap retracting energy when the shoulder strap is extended away from the carrying case. |
| US08123084B2 |
Rack and pinion drive for by-pass cartridge
A device for mixing a substance comprised of two constituents contained in a cartridge (12) and having a cartridge holder (32) thereabout, the device comprising a plunger rod (46) for pushing a closure member (20) to permit the transfer of a diluent in a second chamber (28) through a by-pass channel (24) to mix with a constituent in a first chamber (26), the plunger rod (48) being driven by means of a rack (48) and a pinion gear (50) arrangement to prevent overly rapid movement of the plunger rod (46). |
| US08123083B2 |
Bottle for forming and safely housing elemental iodine and dispensing attachments
A bottle for the creation, storage, administration and dispensing of elemental iodine is disclosed. An amount of crystal iodine is safely housed at the bottom of the bottle. Water is poured into the bottle and contacts with the crystal iodine to form elemental iodine. With the crystal iodine safely secured at the bottom of the housing, the formed elemental iodine maintains contact with the crystal iodine to maintain its stability and extends is shelf life. Several dispensing device are also disclosed for dispensing or administering the elemental iodine, as needed, in order to treat internal and external areas of a human's or animal's body. |
| US08123080B2 |
Beverage dispensing system with a head capable of dispensing plural different beverages
A beverage dispensing system includes a base to which a dispensing head is removably attached without additional fasteners. Beverage-forming liquids are supplied through a plurality of separate conduits in the base. Each base conduit has a normally closed valve that normally blocks fluid flow. The dispensing head has at least one passageway that receives liquid from an associated one of the base conduits. A projection associated with each dispensing head passageway opens the associated conduit valve to allow fluid flow from the base to the head. Dispensing valves in the dispensing head regulate the dispensing of the beverage. By selectively opening the dispensing valves, a plurality of beverages are formed from combinations of one or more liquids. A dispensing head includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening at each end of a passage extending through a body, the inlet opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than the outlet opening. |
| US08123077B2 |
Floating squirting toy
A squirting toy is comprised of a cylindrical housing and a piston that slides within to force water into or out of the housing via a hole therein. The housing is encased within a shell creating a water impervious volume sufficient for the toy to float in water. The shell is soft, so that the gun is not a safety hazard when left floating in a swimming pool. Handles associated with one or both actuating portions of the squirting toy are provided for gripping and operating the squirting toy more effectively. |
| US08123074B2 |
Apparatus for applying fluids such as adhesive
A dispenser of viscous fluid, in at least one embodiment a hot melt glue adhesive, has a heater element, an adhesive source, a main common passage, and a series of valves that all fluidly connect to the main passage. A sheet of receiving material, such as an envelope, has hot melt glue applied to its surface as it passes under the series of valves. A variable amount of valves can be activated by moving control rods inwardly or outwardly of the main common passage. The moving control rods have indicator markers, a securing screw and are housed in U-shaped beds which collectively make adjusting the dispensing pattern very easy. |
| US08123073B2 |
Method of dispensing a fluid with metered delivery
A method of dispensing a fluid comprises providing a container made from flexible material and having an outer surface, a first opening and an interior fluid storage region therein. The method further comprises providing a volume of fluid within interior fluid storage region and providing a flexible metering housing, having a metering chamber therein with a predetermined volume, disposed in fluid communication with interior fluid storage region. The method further comprises providing an intake valve disposed between container and flexible metering housing permitting unidirectional fluid flow from interior fluid storage region into metering chamber. The method further comprises providing an exit port in fluid communication with container with an output valve disposed between exit port and metering chamber, depressing and releasing flexible metering housing, and filling the metering chamber with a volume of fluid by vacuum force in an amount by the volume of the metering chamber. |
| US08123066B2 |
Container
The present invention is directed toward a novel container system that is designed to hold and store liquids, such as for example, paints, stains, and various other coatings. The container system generally includes a base member, a shelf that is contained within the base member, and a lid. The shelf is provided with the base member and is designed to accept an application device, such as for example a paint roller. A lid is also provided with the container so that a fluid may be provided and stored as part of an all-inclusive delivery system. |
| US08123062B2 |
Box with collapsible walls designed to stack a corresponding box with lower dimensions
The present patent application relates to a plastic molded box with parallelepiped structure and rectangular base provided with collapsible walls, designed to stack a corresponding box with lower dimensions, it being provided with two oscillating shelves (5) on the internal side of the transversal walls (2) basically at the height of the opening. |
| US08123061B1 |
Refuse container
A refuse container assembled from a kit comprising thermoformed recycled plastic front, left and right, andrear panels, with predrilled holes, a waffled bottom, reinforcement angles, corner angles, castors, assembly hardware, caulking, sealing tape, lifting tubes for a frontloading option, and an attachment rod and a swivel eye assembly for a rear loading option. |
| US08123060B2 |
Wood joint for a barrelhead
A wood joint is disclosed which comprises a first heading having a first profile comprising an upper lobe, a lower lobe, and a valley section intermediate the lobes, a second heading having a second profile comprising an upper socket, a lower socket, and a ridge section intermediate the sockets, and the first profile for engaging the second profile for securing the headings together. |
| US08123056B2 |
Closure arrangement with opening indicating (anti-tamper) elements
Container, comprising a neck provided with a wall forming an opening and an abutting arrangement arranged to interact with an opening indicating device of a cap associatable with the neck, the abutting arrangement comprising a ring-shaped projection extending circumferentially from the wall, and an abutting element arrangement projecting from the ring-shaped projection. |
| US08123055B2 |
Biaxially oriented inner bottle with external threads for personage cups
A biaxially oriented bottle with exterior threading in a hollow of a personage figure to form a unitary drinking cup, comprising: exterior threading at the base of the inner bottle to secure the inner bottle fast in internal threading at the base of the personage figure; exterior threading at the upper end of the inner bottle to secure the inner bottle fast into the internal threading at the top above the head of the personage figure; and wherein a handle is inscribed within the base of the inner bottle inside the exterior threading to enable the inner bottle to be wound fast to the internal threading in the hollow of the personage figure. |
| US08123054B2 |
Dispensing caps for beverage containers
A drinking cap includes a first tubular portion (10) for connection to the mouth of a beverage container and an elongate actuating member (26) situated at least partly within the first tubular portion (10) and connected to it by a resilient, annular, integral web (12), in which one or more flow openings (28) are formed. The actuating member (26) is longitudinally movable in the axial direction between an open position of the flow openings (28) and a closed position thereof. The cap also includes an insert (6) and a piston (4) which together define a reservoir (56). The insert (6) includes a cylindrical wall (34) and a portion (40) which is movable under the action of pressure within the reservoir and in which a discharge aperture (44) is formed. A flow tube (52) is connected to the piston (4) around an aperture (50) and extends through the discharge aperture (44) in the insert (6) and forms a sliding seal with the edge (46) of the discharge aperture. The actuating member (26) is arranged to engage the piston (4) when it is moved from the closed position to the open position and thus to move the piston (4) towards the insert (6), whereby the increased pressure created in the reservoir (56) causes the movable portion (4) of the insert (6) to move away from the piston (4) until the flow tube (52) moves out of the discharge aperture (44) in the insert (6). |
| US08123052B2 |
Display apparatus and method
Some embodiments of a product display apparatus may include a plurality of product shelves and a product display sign coupled to a support arm in an elevated position above the product shelves so as to define a viewing gap at a selected height. The viewing gap can provide consumers with see-through visibility toward an adjacent aisle. The product display sign may be releasably secured in an elevated support arm that also receives one or more display containers in a position forward of the display sign and above the product shelves. |
| US08123049B2 |
Pot stand
A pot stand has a deployed position and a folded position and includes vertical members and horizontal members. The horizontal members are connected to the vertical members at a junction. The horizontal members are elongated planar members. Top faces formed on the horizontal members. Down bends are formed on the horizontal members. Down bends continue from the top faces. Lower faces are formed on the horizontal members. Lower faces continue from the down bends. A connector assembly has a top connector and a bottom connector. The top connector is pivotally connected to an upper surface of the lower faces. The bottom connector is pivotally connected to a lower surface of the lower faces. There is a top level formed from horizontal members for storing articles on the top level. A middle level is for storing articles on the middle level, and a bottom level. |
| US08123045B2 |
Apparatus for separating popped corn from un-popped kernels
An apparatus is disclosed for separating popped corn from un-popped kernels. The apparatus includes a popped corn container that holds popped corn and a kernel separator located on a side of the popped corn container. The kernel separator includes a kernel separator screen with a plurality of holes, where a hole in the plurality of holes is larger than an un-popped kernel and smaller than a fully popped corn. The kernel separator also includes a reentry impedance means for impeding an un-popped kernel from entering the popped corn container through the kernel separator. The apparatus also includes a kernel container positioned outside the popped corn container and adjacent to the kernel separator such that the kernel container stores the un-popped kernel after the un-popped kernel has passed through the kernel separator. The apparatus may further include a cover container. |
| US08123041B2 |
Method and device for separation of a loose mixture in a fluid medium
Method of separation of loose mixture in fluid medium consists in the gravity feed of particles, aerodynamic monotonically increasing effect on them at acute angle to the vertical line by the cascade of slot jets and the outlet of separated fractions into separate collectors. Before aerodynamic effect on loose mixture particles each jet is transferred to developed turbulence mode by their vertical expansion jets until jets are merged with each other with faulty or close to it form of jet formation and the appearance of at least two circulation zones different in size in each inter-jet space of all contiguous jets. The device for separation contains the bunker with vibrating chute mounted underneath the jet generator, the flat nozzles located one under another at acute angle to the vertical line, the height of cross sections of which, step and angle of installation increase top-down. The generator is connected with the source of air supply under pressure, and is covered by the side walls, and grade collectors. Each nozzle is equipped with rectangular rigid wall adjoined to its top across full width of the nozzle. The size of the rigid wall width makes at least three dimensions of cross-sectional height of the nozzle contiguity, and the ratio of installation step of nozzles to the height of cross section of the upper nozzle in relation to it is not less than four. |
| US08123038B1 |
Floater packaging
A packaging system for holding an object is provided. An outer container comprising a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides is provided. An inner container comprising a top, a bottom, and a plurality of sides is provided. A top floater is attached to the top of the outer container. The top of the inner container is attached to the top floater. A bottom floater is attached to the bottom of the outer container. The bottom of the inner container is attached to the bottom floater. An internal support is attached to the inner container. |
| US08123037B2 |
Child-resistant medicate container
A child-resistant medicate container includes a housing having a top segment fixedly attached to and extending from a bottom segment. Each of the bottom segment and the top segment include a generally flat first sidewall and an opposing generally flat second sidewall that define the storage cavity. Each sidewall defines a plane and each plane extends generally parallel with respect to the remaining planes. The planes defined by the first and second sidewalls of the bottom segment are spaced-apart a greater distance than a distance between the planes defined by the first and second sidewalls of the top segment. A cover is movably attached to the housing and surrounds at least a portion of the first and second sidewalls of the top segment of the housing. One of the cover and the top segment of the housing include an aperture formed in a sidewall thereof. |
| US08123036B2 |
Pill assembly for pill packaging and delivery systems
A pill assembly configured to receive the correct selection of medications in the correct dosages for a particular patient. The pill assembly comprises containers wherein at least one of the containers is configured to receive a plurality of different pills. The containers are adjacent to one another. The pill assembly also comprises a plurality of lids. Each of the lids is configured to seal a corresponding container. The containers have a top surface with a flange that is configured to receive the corresponding lid. Each lid has a surface that is configured to receive a printable indicia with patient specific information. The pill assembly may also comprise a sleeve that is configured to slidably interface with the containers. |
| US08123035B2 |
Shock-absorbing package
A shock-absorbing package is disclosed. The shock-absorbing package includes a package body defining a pocket into which the object being packed is received and a pocket opening. A cover is provided to close the pocket opening, and includes a cover air pocket for added protection against shock and for ensuring the pocket opening to remain closed. The cover air pocket is inserted into a hole provided on the package body in such a manner the cover air pocket when inflated with air remains in engagement with the hole so as to keep the cover in the closed position. The object may be taken out from the package by deflating the cover air pocket thus allowing the cover to be released from the closed position. |
| US08123032B2 |
Rotate bottom base assembly for a golf stand bag and golf stand bag with a rotate bottom base assembly
A golf stand bag has a rotate bottom base assembly, a supporting rod, a top frame, a body, two legs and an activating member. The rotate bottom base assembly has a rotate bottom base and a pivot bracket. The rotate bottom base has a bottom, a sidewall formed on the bottom and two pivot balls formed on the sidewall. The pivot bracket has two pivot members pivotally mounted respectively on the pivot balls. The supporting rod is mounted securely on the pivot bracket. The top frame is mounted on the supporting rod. The legs are mounted pivotally on the top frame. The activating rod is mounted on the rotate bottom base and connected to the legs. The pivot bracket mounted on the sidewall instead the bottom of the rotate bottom base prevent the legs of the golf stand bag from inadvertently extending out the legs when the golf stand bag leans against a wall. |
| US08123029B2 |
Baby tooth album
A simple, lightweight, inexpensive and adaptable display container specifically designed to display all of a baby's teeth from nearly any angle. The invention displays the teeth with respect to each tooth's position in the mouth and has a transparent cover that completely encloses all the teeth and does not need to leave one or two teeth partially uncovered. The invention permits the cover to lock in place, either over the cell in which the tooth is placed or over a non-cell surface so that all the cells for the teeth are completely covered and protected. The invention also permits the displayed tooth to be situated close to the underside of the cover to maximize the display of the tooth and permits the baby tooth display to be incorporated into other display devices, such as frames, three-ring binders, scrapbooks, photo albums, and baby albums. |
| US08123025B2 |
Turnaround curve system for a chain conveyor system
The invention relates to a turnaround curve system for a chain conveyor system, having a chain having linear traction which is driven in turnaround sections by means of turnaround guides (7). The turnaround guides (7) have a geometry obtained by means of a family of curves corresponding to paths defined by six points (1-6), the six points (1-6) corresponding to six linkage positions of consecutive links of the chain in the turnaround sections. The system allows the turnaround sections to be more compact and extend the life of the rollers of the chain, since the rollers are subjected to smaller loads. |
| US08123022B2 |
Conveyor belt scraper blade
A scraper blade for a conveyor may comprise: a blade body having a scraping edge and a base for mounting the scraper blade on a blade mount of a conveyor, wherein the blade body has a plurality of elongated recessed features extending across the rearward side thereof, wherein the elongated recessed features are spaced apart and are generally parallel to the scraping edge. Additionally, the base of the blade body may be affixed to a scraper blade mount having a shape of a “flattened W” defining a groove that has beveled edges to provide clearance for a fillet weld of a scraper blade support bar to which the scraper blade is mountable. |
| US08123020B2 |
Easily dismantled escalator outer decking
An easily dismantled escalator outer decking, the escalator including a handrail system bracket and a balustrade panel, the escalator outer decking including cover plate (1), wherein the escalator outer decking also includes a first bracket (3) mounted on the handrail system bracket (5), a retention member (2) secured to the cover plate (1) and an insertion strip (8), wherein the retention member (2) is connected to the first bracket (3) in a manner of embedding or snapping, and the insertion strip (8) is wedged between the cover plate (1) and the balustrade panel (9); such that when the outer decking is disassembled, the cover plate (1) and the retention member (2) can be taken down together by putting away the insertion strip (8) first and then lifting the cover plate (1) and the retention member (2) or pushing them towards the balustrade panel (9). The escalator outer decking the present invention has good configuration and can be dismantled easily during maintenance. |
| US08123017B2 |
Centrifugal clutch with expansion ring assembly
A centrifugal clutch for utilization with an engine of a motorcycle is disclosed herein. The centrifugal clutch includes a clutch basket, a cover plate, a hub, first clutch plates, second clutch plates and a dynamic expansion ring assembly having cam members. The dynamic expansion ring assembly imparts substantially equal expansion forces in opposite directions. A gap is present when the engine is at an idle speed and cam members are positioned radially inward, and the gap is not present when the engine is operating faster than idle and the cam members are positioned radially outward by centrifugal force. |
| US08123011B2 |
Hydrokinetic coupling device comprising friction disc carried by rotating linking element of turbine wheel with damper plate
A hydrokinetic coupling device (10), which comprises an axis of rotation (B) and a torque converter (12), comprising a turbine wheel (22) mounted rotationally around a rotary driven shaft, as well as a circumferential damping device (40), comprising a damper plate (42) with a radial flange (44), rotationally linked without play to the turbine wheel (22) by a connecting element (62) and which is linked with circumferential damping with the rotary driven shaft. A locking clutch (14) that comprises at least one annular friction disc (56A, 56B) sliding axially, which rotates together with the flange (44) of the damper plate (42). The friction disc (56A, 56B) is carried by the connecting element (62), which directly connects the turbine wheel (22) to the flange (44) of the damper plate (42). |
| US08123008B2 |
Article securement system
An article securement system for attaching an article to another article, such as article of luggage to another article of luggage. The article securement system includes a cord, such as an elastic cord, that is inserted through a handle. A cord locking mechanism is mounted on the cord as well. A second handle may be mounted on the cord as well with the cord locking mechanism between the two handles. In use, the cord is secured to a first attachment point on the first article, such as on a luggage handle. The cord and handle are pulled over the second article and engages over a second attachment point on the first article, such as an extendible handle. The cord is then through the handle until the tension is sufficient on the cord to secure the second article. The cord locking mechanism is then used to lock the cord from movement relative to the handle. |
| US08123007B2 |
Carry-on wheeled luggage for photographic equipment
The invention provides a carry-on wheeled luggage (1) for photographic equipment that has an interior compartment (80) deep enough to accommodate a large article of photographic equipment such as at least a 400 mm 2.8 f-stop aperture telephoto lens. |
| US08123004B2 |
Rail handbrake with prolonged release
A hand brake actuator for a rail car has a rotary input connected to a rotary output by a transmission including a clutch and a ratchet wheel and pawl, a declutching mechanism for disengaging the clutch in a declutched position of the declutching mechanism, and a release handle with a first cam which drives the declutching mechanism to the declutched position when the release handle is moved from an apply position to a release position. A second cam is biased in a first direction to engage and retain the declutching mechanism in a declutched position after the release handle is removed from the release position. A follower is connected to the second cam and is responsive to the rotation of the input in an apply direction to rotate the second cam in a second direction opposite the first direction to release the declutching mechanism and allow the clutch to reengage. |
| US08122997B2 |
Sound insulation structure with resonator
To enhance the noise reducing effect of a sound insulation structure which includes a cover member for covering a power unit from the outside so as to reduce the radiant sound generated from the power unit, and a resonator. A sound insulation structure includes an armor cover for covering a left case half and a left cover constituting a side part cover of the power unit from the left side so as to reduce the radiant sound generated from the side part cover and enhance an appearance quality of the power unit, and the resonator capable of resonating at a specified frequency of the radiant sound. The resonator is disposed in a space formed between the side part cover and the armor cover in the state of being out of contact with the armor cover, and is attached to the side part cover in contact with the latter. |
| US08122995B1 |
Ear-mounted lenticular acoustic reflector
The present invention pertains to an ear-mountable, paraboloid-shaped reflective acoustic lens which can be used to enhance a user's perception of the sounds from a source the user faces. The lens mechanically collects and naturally amplifies the airborne acoustic information from the sound source. The lens uses both the wearer's external ear as well as the interior face of an acoustic lens to coherently reflect increased amounts of sound from the source into the ear canal of a user who wears the lightweight, deformable lens. All sections of the lens meet the head of the user at an obtuse angle. The lens is held in place around the user's ear by the inward pressure of the lens pushing against the outside of the user's pinna. Adherence of the device to the ear of the wearer can be increased by an adhesive strip on the interior face of the lens. |
| US08122992B2 |
Impact member for a saddle-type vehicle, and vehicle incorporating same
A saddle-type vehicle is provided with an impact member for deflecting a front wheel sideways in the event of a collision. The saddle-type vehicle includes a body frame having a head pipe for rotatably supporting a steering shaft for the front wheel, main frames extending rearwards from the head pipe, and an engine operatively mounted to the main frames. The impact member is disposed in front of a lower portion of the engine. The impact member includes a support part, which extends forwardly from the engine, and a load-receiving deflector plate mounted to the support part and which is inclined away from a vehicle width direction. |
| US08122989B2 |
Battery box system and method
In the preferred embodiments, a novel system and method is for mounting a battery box within a vehicle is disclosed. The system and method includes, among other things, a novel battery box that is mounted between two chassis frame members that extend lengthwise along the vehicle. The battery box is supported on the frame members via a plurality of uniquely designed and arranged bracket members. |
| US08122982B2 |
Mobile robot systems and methods
Mobile robot systems and methods are provided. At least one tracked mobile robot has a first end comprising a first pair of wheels, a second end comprising a second pair of wheels, an articulated arm coaxial with the first pair of wheels, and a driven support surface surrounding the first pair of wheels and the second pair of wheels. The at least one mobile robot surmounts obstacles and performs additional maneuvers alone and in combination with at least one other mobile robot. |
| US08122972B2 |
Drive mechanism for a power tool
A hollow piston drive mechanism for a hammer drill comprises a crank pin 54 having a cylindrical link member 68 rigidly connected to a part-spherical bearing 70. The part-spherical bearing 70 is slidably and rotatably disposed in a part-spherical recess 72 formed in the crank plate 52, as a result of which the bearing 70 can be easily mounted to the recess 72. The cylindrical link member 68 is slidably disposed in a cylindrical bearing 56 formed in the end of the hollow piston 58. The crank pin 54 is therefore able to rock back and forth in the spherical recess 72 as well as slide up and down in the cylindrical bearing 56. A cylindrical collar member 74 is mounted on the cylindrical link member 68 of the crank pin 54 and is moveable between a lower position in which it abuts the upper surface of the part-spherical bearing 70 and an upper position in which it abuts and the underside of the cylindrical bearing 56 so that the crank pin 54 is prevented from moving out of engagement with the part-spherical recess 72 formed in crank plate 52. The cylindrical collar member 74 can be mounted to the crank pin 54 after construction of the crank plate 52 and crank pin 54 assembly. |
| US08122969B1 |
Low pressure, extended coverage, fire protection sprinkler
A low pressure, extended coverage, fire protection sprinkler, e.g., of the upright type, suitable for use in protection of at least extra hazard and high piled storage occupancies, in accordance with the 1999 Edition of NFPA 13, has a body with an internal passageway extending between an inlet end and an opposite outlet end, and a deflector mounted to the body by at least one support arm and disposed in alignment with the axis and generally spaced from the outlet end of the internal passageway. The sprinkler has a predetermined K-factor, e.g., of greater than about 16.0. The sprinkler is configured and arranged to deflect flow of water generally radially outwardly and downwardly of the sprinkler in a predetermined spray pattern. Preferably, the predetermined spray pattern has a generally polygonal shape, e.g., a rectangular shape, when viewed at a predetermined distance below the deflector. |
| US08122967B2 |
Apparatus and method for controlling the connection and disconnection speed of downhole connectors
An apparatus (100) for controlling the connection speed of first and second downhole connectors (316, 146) in a subterranean well. The apparatus (100) includes a first assembly that is positionable in the well. The first assembly includes the first downhole connector (316) and a first communication medium. A second assembly includes the second downhole connector (146) and a second communication medium. The second assembly has an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion is selectively axially shiftable relative to an inner portion, such that upon engagement of the first assembly with the second assembly, the outer portion of the second assembly is axially shifted relative to the inner portion of the second assembly allowing the first and second downhole connectors (316, 146) to be operatively connected to each other, thereby enabling communication between the first communication medium and the second communication medium. |
| US08122964B2 |
Subsea stack alignment method
A method to interchangeably connect a plurality of Lower Marine Riser Packages with a lower BOP stack includes engaging a Lower Marine Riser Package connector of the Lower Marine Riser Package, with a Lower Stack mandrel connector of a Lower Stack, thereby aligning the Lower Marine Riser Package and the Lower Stack axially about a vertical axis, engaging at least one ring alignment pin of the Lower Marine Riser Package with at least one alignment plate of the Lower Stack, thereby rotationally aligning the Lower Marine Riser Package and the Lower Stack within a specified angle about the vertical axis, and engaging feed-thru connections between the Lower Marine Riser Package and the Lower Stack. |
| US08122963B2 |
Monitoring a solenoid of a directional control valve
A method of monitoring a solenoid (1) of a directional control valve (DCV) associated with a subsea control module (6) in a subsea hydrocarbon production system is disclosed. A voltage is applied across a coil of the solenoid, for moving the armature (4) thereof, and a current through the coil is sensed to produce an indication of if and when the armature is moved. |
| US08122962B2 |
Apparatus and method for deliquifying a well
The invention is directed to an apparatus, system and method for deliquifying a well. A body having gas supply passages is lowered into a well bore on the end of a string of supply tubing. A string of return tubing is lowered through the supply tubing and is inserted into a return passage in the body. A jet nozzle receives gas from the gas supply passages and elevates a fluid:gas mixture to the surface through the return tubing. |
| US08122949B2 |
Tapered sleeve and fracturing head system for protecting a conveyance string
A tapered sleeve and fracturing head system for introducing fracturing fluid to a wellbore, while protecting a conveyance string from the erosive effects of the fracturing fluid is disclosed. A tapered sleeve has a top portion and a tapered downhole portion. The sleeve is fit to a main bore of a fracturing head by an upset at the top portion of the sleeve that engages a shoulder of the fracturing head. The sleeve intercepts, deflects and redirects introduced fracturing fluids downhole, preventing direct impingement of the fracturing fluid against the conveyance string. The main bore of the fracturing head may also be tapered at an angle substantial parallel to and along the length of the taper of the sleeve, to further improve the fluid dynamics of the fracturing fluid and further reduce the erosive effects of the fracturing fluid. |
| US08122948B2 |
Apparatus and method for recovering fluids from a well and/or injecting fluids into a well
Methods and apparatus for diverting fluids either into or from a well are described. Some embodiments include a diverter conduit that is located in a bore of a tree. The invention relates especially but not exclusively to a diverter assembly connected to a wing branch of a tree. Some embodiments allow diversion of fluids out of a tree to a subsea processing apparatus followed by the return of at least some of these fluids to the tree for recovery. Alternative embodiments provide only one flowpath and do not include the return of any fluids to the tree. Some embodiments can be retrofitted to existing trees, which can allow the performance of a new function without having to replacing the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described. |
| US08122947B2 |
Turbulent device to prevent phase separation
A mixer for use in a transmission pipeline and a wellbore fluids pipeline having a mixing device. The pipeline extends from a well head to a processing facility. The mixer perturbs the flow into a non-laminar state. Mixer embodiments include a body having a cone shaped leading edge and a hemi-spherical end. Other embodiments include a double cone having a series of helical fins on the trailing end of the double cone and fins extending perpendicular to the pipeline axis having a triangular cross section. The fins may be staggered with a mix of vertically and horizontally orientations. |
| US08122943B2 |
Heat exchanger with heat storage
Heat exchanger, for example for a motor vehicle air-conditioning circuit, comprising a plurality of tubes (12) for circulating a heat-transfer fluid, the ends of said tubes (12) opening into manifolds and reservoirs (11) of thermal storage material in contact with the tubes (12) so that the storage material and the heat-transfer fluid exchange heat with one another. The exchanger comprises a plurality of heat-exchange elements (4) each housing at least one reservoir (11) and at least one tube (12) which are nested. |
| US08122941B2 |
Aluminum alloy for vehicle cylinder liner and method of manufacturing vehicle cylinder liner using the same
The present invention is directed to an aluminum alloy including aluminum as a basic component, silicon, copper, magnesium, iron, manganese, zinc, nickel and the like in a predetermined composition ratio, and a method of manufacturing of a vehicle cylinder liner having excellent wear resistance and heat resistance using the aluminum alloy.The method of manufacturing a vehicle cylinder liner includes the steps of: adding 50˜500 ppm of phosphorus (P) to the aluminum alloy while maintaining a temperature of the aluminum alloy at 700˜800° C. in a holding furnace, stabilizing the molten aluminum alloy including the phosphorus (P) for 30˜60 minutes to reform the molten aluminum alloy, and then continuous-casting the reformed molten aluminum alloy to form a round bar; hot-forging the round bar to forming a cylindrical liner; and machining an internal surface of the cylinder liner, with which a reciprocating piston comes into contact, to allow silicon particles to protrude. |
| US08122940B2 |
Method for twin roll casting of aluminum clad magnesium
A method for twin roll casting aluminum clad magnesium by joining one or more sheets of aluminum cladding to molten magnesium during twin roll casting. The method includes feeding aluminum cladding to at least one roll of a pair of rotating rolls, feeding a core of molten magnesium into a continuous casting mold formed by the roll, solidifying the magnesium core by heat extraction to the rolls and through the aluminum cladding, surface treating the aluminum cladding and the magnesium core to prevent inter-diffusion between the aluminum cladding and the magnesium core, bonding the aluminum cladding with the magnesium core and extruding the composite core and aluminum cladding out of the continuous casting mold by a casting load exerted by the rolls. |
| US08122936B2 |
Anti-veining agent for metal casting
Additives to foundry sand cores are provided for reducing or eliminating surface defects in metal castings. The additives general comprise an iron oxide component and a glass component which is preferably free of lithium oxide. |
| US08122935B2 |
Casting core for forming a cooling channel in a piston produced by casting
The invention relates to a soluble and essentially annular casting core (2) for forming a cooling channel that transitions into two areas (14, 15) which are approximately parallel to the piston axis (16) and are facing away from the piston head (3), via a respective bending of the core (17, 18) in the shape of a quadrant, wherein the second area (14) transitions into a part of the casting core (2) that forms the feed opening (12) of the cooling channel, and the first area (15) transitions into a part of the casting core (2) that forms the discharge opening (13) of the cooling channel. The two areas (14, 15) of the casting core (2) are disposed at a distance from one another, which corresponds at a maximum to two times the cross-sectional diameter of one of the two areas (14, 15). As a result, the throughflow of the cooling oil traversing the cooling channel is accelerated and the cooling of the piston improved. |
| US08122934B2 |
Mold for forming cast rods, casting apparatus, and production method of cast rods
Disclosed is a mold 10 for forming cast rods including: a segment assembly 12 including a plurality of segments 14 being placed side by side, and a plurality of cavities 26 extending along a longitudinal direction 16; and clamping means (18 to 21) for clamping the segment assembly 12 in directions orthogonal to the longitudinal direction 16. The mold 10 has one or more cavity-forming portions 28 each forming a part of one of the peripheral surfaces of the cavities 26. Each cavity 26 is formed by a combination of two or more segments 14, and at least one of the plurality of segments 14 has two or more cavity-forming portions 28. |
| US08122931B2 |
Window covering
A window covering includes a plurality of lift cords extending from an upper rail and window covering material connected to the upper rail or the lift cords. A plurality of safety devices are attached to the window covering. Each safety device includes a male member and a female member. One of the members is attached to a respective lift cord and the other of the members is attached to an upper rail, a portion of the window covering material or a lower rail. The male and female members are configured to be attached together such that the male and female members separate from each other when a release force acts on at least one of the male member and female member. |
| US08122924B2 |
Coupling closures and docking devices comprising said coupling closures
A coupling closure is provided for substantially environmentally-sealed reversible closure of containers or hose elements. At least one first flexible band with at least one first closure element is provided. At least one second flexible band is provided with at least one second closure element that is complementary to the first closure element. A top side of the first band comprises at least one third closure element and a top side of the second band comprises at least one fourth closure element. Also a coupling closure is provided for substantially environmentally-sealed reversible closure of containers or hose elements comprising a plurality of frame bands and articulation devices. Immediately adjacent frame bands are connected with one another via at least one articulation device between the immediately adjacent frame bands to form a circumferential folding frame wherein inner sides of at least two adjacent or opposing frame bands are foldable one on top the other to form a closure. |
| US08122921B2 |
Device for distribution of at least one granular product in a container filling device and method for filling using such a device
A device for distributing granular materials in a recipient, particularly of complex shape intended to be arranged between a feed hopper and the recipient to be filled. The device includes a deflector, mobile in rotation around an axis, lining a passage linking the hopper to the recipient. The deflector is formed by at least one surface that may be inclined in relation to the axis of rotation approaching the axis in the direction of flow of the granules, or perpendicular to the axis. According to the speed of rotation, a certain quantity of granules is ejected by the deflector and another part passes directly in the passage. |
| US08122920B2 |
Beverage container tapping apparatus
The invention relates to a beverage container tapping apparatus, with: a transporting device for transporting beverage containers from an introducing position to a first and a second position, a disinfecting device for disinfecting a beverage container fitting, said disinfecting device being assigned to the first position, a tap head device with a tap head and a unit for attaching the tap head to the fitting of a beverage container, wherein the tap head device is assigned to the second position, and a device for transporting a beverage container out of the second position into an empties region. |
| US08122914B2 |
Cryogenic transfer hose having a fibrous insulating layer and method of constructing such a transfer hose
Cryogenic transfer hose for hydrocarbons comprising an inner hose, an outer hose arranged around the inner hose in a concentric manner and a spacer member bridging an annular gap between the inner and outer hoses, a fibrous insulation material forming a three dimensional matrix of fibers being comprised in the annular gap, characterized in that the outer hose comprises an elastomeric and/or a plastic material, the fibrous material being contiguous overall best a part of the length of the hoses with the inner and outer hose and forming a spacer member. |
| US08122911B2 |
Adjustable orifice for coal supply conduit
A variable orifice for use in connection with a conduit designed to convey particulate material comprising a set of semi-circular plates mounted on respective concentric shafts so that they may be rotated in opposite directions between a first position in which they extend across the interior of the conduit for maximum flow resistance to a second folded condition where they are adjacent and parallel to one another to present minimum flow resistance. An actuator is connected through the concentric shafts to the plates and mounts on the outside of the conduit surface. The unit is operated by hand crank and has a position indicator. The size of the valve plates is such that, even when fully extended relative to one another and lying across the cross-section of the conduit, only about a 30% restriction is produced. |
| US08122909B2 |
Surface features in microprocess technology
This invention relates to microchannel apparatus that includes microchannels with interior surface features for modifying flow; processes utilizing this microchannel architecture, and methods of making apparatus having these features. |
| US08122906B2 |
Pressure driven apparatus for sequential control of a cementing head
A pressure-driven apparatus sequential controls a multiphase operation, e.g., of a cementing head. A transmission arm including a pawl is supported on a cam shaft connected to a pawl cylinder having a built-in return force, directional control valves with a spring return member and roller, operated by the cam plates of the cam shaft, that are staggered relative to each other in a predetermined angle to a pawl disk supported in bearings. The pawl cylinder will rotate cam shaft to a predetermined angular position in the same rotational direction each time the system is supplied with pressure, and operate the directional valves with rollers, whereby the directional valves will apply pressure to actuators present so that cementing valves or other types of valves will open for a predetermined period of time until a timer control shuts off the pressure supply, the pressure is discharged, and the pawl cylinder returns to the starting position thereof. When pressure is supplied to pawl cylinder after all operating phases have been completed, the cam shaft will rotate further on to return to the starting position thereof, and all directional control valves is closed. |
| US08122905B2 |
Method and arrangement for diagnosis of a final control element
The disclosure relates to a method and an arrangement for diagnosis of a final control element, which is actuated by a pneumatically operated actuating mechanism under the control of a control device, and which emits acoustic signals during conventional use. It is proposed to detect acoustic signals fed back into the pneumatic system of the actuating mechanism, and to derive from them the status data of the final control element. For this purpose, an acoustic sensor is arranged in the pneumatic-fluid supply line of the actuating mechanism, with the acoustic sensor being electrically connected to an analysis device. A pressure sensor is used as the acoustic sensor. |
| US08122902B2 |
Apparatus and method for unclogging a pipe
An apparatus and method for unclogging an obstructed conduit such as a wastewater pipe. The apparatus comprises at least one tube disposed in the drain pipe; and a fluid supply pipe for providing fluid from a fluid source, the supply pipe connected to the at least one tube that delivers the fluid to unclog the obstruction. |
| US08122896B2 |
Hair-straightening device
The invention relates to a hair-straightening device (10) comprising: an air inlet portion (12) for receiving an air stream having a first direction (14), a brush or comb (16) having a plurality of tines (18) and intended to be moved in a moving direction (20), and means (22, 24) for redirecting the air stream into a second direction (26), wherein the angle (α) enclosed by the moving direction (20) and the second direction (26) is smaller than 50 degrees, preferably smaller than 30 degrees, and most preferably smaller than 20 degrees. |
| US08122894B2 |
Cigarette and cigar container and disposal receptacle
In one embodiment, a container for storing cigarette or cigar ash has a body, a mouthpiece opening with a connection surface, an end section with an igniting and a closure device, a secure and release device, a grip, and a filter. In another embodiment, a container includes an inner tube, a filter, an outer tube, a stopper and a handle, and connecting ends. In yet another embodiment, a disposal receptacle to store ash has a lid and a lower barrel where the lid includes an opening and a plate that covers the opening or exposes it, and all the components are made of non-flammable material including, but not limited to, non-flammable, hard plastic. In another embodiment, a method is disclosed that shows how a person uses the cigarette or cigar container and the disposal receptacle. |
| US08122892B2 |
Water absorbing ear plugs
By providing an ear plug product incorporating water absorbing capabilities, a highly effective and easily employed ear plug product is realized which is capable of being used for removing water contained in the ear canal of an individual. In one preferred embodiment, the ear plug product of the present invention incorporates water absorbing material integrally formed in the ear plug which immediately draws the water from the ear canal into the ear plug product for being retained in the ear plug. In an alternate preferred embodiment, the ear plug product incorporates at least one elongated, longitudinally extending channel or passageway formed along substantially the entire length of the ear plug product. By incorporating the elongated, longitudinally extending passage-way or channel in the ear plug product, the desired water absorption is achieved. |
| US08122887B2 |
Breathing assistance apparatus
A patient interface that is comfortable for a user to wear is disclosed. The patient interface includes a forehead rest and cushion. In particular the cushion includes a deformable resilient member that when compressed creates a uniformly and gradually increasing force while evenly distributing the pressure on the forehead of the patient. |
| US08122884B2 |
Double-ended blower and volutes therefor
A double-ended variable speed blower for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) ventilation of patients includes two impellers in the gas flow path that cooperatively pressurize gas to desired pressure and flow characteristics. Thus, the double-ended blower can provide faster pressure response and desired flow characteristics over a narrower range of motor speeds, resulting in greater reliability and less acoustic noise. |
| US08122883B2 |
Medical ventilator and method of controlling same
Embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the specification and drawings include a system and method for monitoring the ventilation support provided by a ventilator and automatically supplying a breathing gas to a patient via a breathing circuit that is in fluid communication with the lungs of the patient. |
| US08122877B2 |
Apparatus for front-cooking applications
Food preparation apparatus including a top cooking surface, or cooktop, a front wall, a clear see-through wall located on the front side and extending above the top surface, a suction device adapted to take in fumes/odors or gases being generated at and released from the cooktop, the suction device including a forward inclined intake grille arranged between the cooktop and the vertical wall, the clear see-through wall being curved backwards, with the lower portion thereof extending almost vertically and then gradually curving backwards. A chamber collecting the gases being taken in is arranged below the grille and debouches into a vertical suction conduit, to which there is associated an appropriate suction fan, entering a prismatic filtering chamber provided with a filter in the form of a filtering partition arranged between two opposite sides of the chamber and lying orthogonally to the rear wall of the apparatus. |
| US08122874B2 |
Detachable quiver mount assembly for archery bows
A detachable quiver mount assembly comprises a bow mounting portion connectable to an archery bow and a quiver mounting portion releasably connectable to the bow mounting portion. At least one of the mounting portions includes at least one magnet for attracting and holding the other of the mounting portions. |
| US08122869B2 |
Air-fuel ratio control system of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine
An air-fuel ratio control system of a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine provided with a throttle valve and opening characteristic control means, which system performs feedback control of an air-fuel ratio based on an output of a sensor detecting an air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas and is capable of performing more accurate air-fuel ratio control, is provided. In the feedback control, the relationship of the output of the sensor and a feedback value is corrected based on a feedback learning correction value learned and determined based on the output of the sensor during the feedback control, and, when newly learning the feedback learning correction value, the intake air amount is controlled by only the throttle valve. |
| US08122867B2 |
Engine with oil pump muffler and noise damper
A wrap-around cover or noise muffler of oil and temperature resistant noise absorbing resilient elastomer covers the front and sides of a front mounted engine oil pump forming a pump and muffler assembly. The muffler absorbs vibrations and reduces the transfer of noise frequencies from the oil pump to an engine front cover that covers the pump. Additionally, the front of the muffler is shaped to fill the gap and engage the front cover in compression between the oil pump and the rear surface of the front cover, thereby damping vibrations of the front cover adjacent to the oil pump and to an accessory drive pulley that rotates ahead of the front cover for driving accessories. |
| US08122863B2 |
Camshaft phaser for the inner camshaft of a concentric camshaft assembly
A camshaft phaser assembly for a concentric camshaft that adjusts the relative rotational position of the inner camshaft relative to the outer camshaft and the crankshaft of an internal combustion engine is provided. The phaser has an inner rotor with radially outwardly extending vanes which is attached to the inner camshaft. The rotor is surrounded by a stator having radially inwardly directed projections which contact the outer surface of the rotor and form working spaces into which the vanes extend. The vanes divide the working spaces into first and second sets of pressure chambers which can be pressurized with a hydraulic medium in order to rotate the rotor in an advancing or retarding direction. Front and rear covers are attached to the stator and define the front and rear sides of the pressure chambers. The timing gear or timing belt pulley is connected to the stator. The rear cover includes a splined opening. The front end of the outer camshaft includes a splined connection complementary to the splined opening in order to provide a positive fit connection between the outer camshaft and the rear cover for direct transfer of the timing chain or belt loads into the outer camshaft. |
| US08122861B2 |
Two-stroke cycle combustion engine of air scavenging type
To provide a two-stroke cycle combustion engine of an air scavenging type, in which not only can transit from the idling condition to the rapid accelerating condition take place smoothly, but the combustion engine can be smoothly started, there are provided scavenging passages (30, 31) for introducing an air/fuel mixture (M) and an air (A) into a combustion chamber (1a), a valve unit (51, 50) for adjusting the opening of each of an air passage (23) for supplying the air (A) to the scavenging passage (30) and an air/fuel mixture passage (24) for supplying the air/fuel mixture (M) to the scavenging passage (31), and an auxiliary air introducing passage (70) for introducing an auxiliary air to the air/fuel mixture passage (24) at a location downstream of the valve unit (51, 50) in the air/fuel mixture passage (24). |
| US08122860B2 |
Variable compression ratio internal combustion engine
A variable compression ratio internal combustion engine rotates a camshaft to cause relative movement between a crankcase and a cylinder block. The camshaft has a shaft member, a cam member fixed to the shaft member, and a movable bearing member rotatable with respect to the shaft member. The cam member is rotatably housed in a cam housing hole formed in the crankcase, and the movable bearing member is rotatably housed a bearing housing hole formed in the cylinder block. |
| US08122859B2 |
Nylon body located piston cooling nozzle
A piston cooling nozzle including a nylon body having a hub and a pair of integral legs extending from the hub and a tube for delivering coolant to a piston. The pair of legs are formed relative to the hub and the tube to ensure that when the body is mounted to an engine block, the legs engage a cylinder liner to thereby position the tube between a skirt of the piston and a connecting rod coupled to the piston. |
| US08122853B2 |
Combination of a carrying device and at least one dog toy
To provide a combination of at least one motivational object for dogs, which comprises of a bite body, and a carrying device for the at least one motivational object, which comprises of a clamping element, on which the bite body of the motivational object is detachably secured, which allows for an easy carrying or storing of the motivational object while not in use, it is proposed that the bite body comprises a of a recess in which the insertion section of a clamping element of the carrying device is insertable in an insertion direction. |
| US08122851B2 |
Temperature measurement in a substrate processing apparatus
A substrate processing apparatus is configured to provide in series a plurality of processing blocks, each block including a processing unit and a transport robot transporting a substrate. A substrate rest is provided in a connecting portion of adjacent processing blocks. A sensor plate with sensor coils is provided spanning over support pins of the substrate rest. Once a temperature-measurement substrate with temperature-measuring elements, each element formed by connecting a coil to a quartz resonator, is placed on the support pins, a transmitter-receiver transmits transmission waves corresponding to the characteristic frequencies of the quartz resonators to the temperature-measuring elements through the sensor coils. After the stop of the transmission, the transmitter-receiver receives electromagnetic waves from the temperature-measuring elements through the sensor coils, and the temperature computer computes the substrate temperature based on the frequencies of the electromagnetic waves. |
| US08122850B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing polysilazane film
A method of processing a polysilazane film includes a first heat process and a subsequent second heat process performed on a target substrate with a polysilazane coating film formed thereon. The first heat process is performed by supplying water vapor into a process area within a reaction container, which accommodates the target substrate, while setting the process area at a first temperature of from 390° C. to 410° C. The second heat process is performed by supplying water vapor into the process area, while setting the process area at a second temperature of from 600° C. to 800° C. |
| US08122847B2 |
System for filling holes in a printed circuit board with a fluid fill material
There is a system for filling holes in a printed circuit board with a fluid fill material. The system receives a printed circuit board vertically within a main body. There is a dispensing head for selectively dispensing a fill material onto the vertically placed circuit board, the dispensing head having a plurality of holes. A feeding reservoir contains the fill material, and the feeding reservoir has a first end and a second end. An outlet system comprises a flow line connected to the first end of the feeding reservoir, and the flow line provides a flow path for the fill material from the first end of the feeding reservoir to the dispensing head. The flow line is attached to a manifold connected to the dispensing head, the manifold including connectors between the branches and with the absence of 90° elbows in the flow path. There is a plunger located at the second end of the feeding reservoir; and an air cylinder pushes the plunger into the feeding reservoir, thereby forcing the fill material out of the first end of the feeding reservoir, through the outlet system, and into the dispensing head. |
| US08122839B2 |
Method for manufacturing natural fiber stripe-quilted fabric having protruded wrinkle patterns on its surface
The method for manufacturing a natural fiber stripe-quilted fabric having protruded wrinkle patterns on its surface is disclosed, in which a quilting machine is installed by fixing a sewing machine support member in a diagonal direction at 70˜85° with respect to a running direction of a quilted fabric on an upper plate 50a, and a motor-driven sewing machine is installed in a support structure at a constant interval, and a sewing machine needle 52a is downwardly disposed at an interval of 3˜4 cm, and a sewing guide plate 52b is installed along with a certain space between a lower side of the support member 51 and an upper plate of a quilting machine for allowing a quilting fabric A to pass through, and a guide hole 52c is formed so that a sewing machine needle can pass from an upper side to a lower side, and a under thread supply apparatus 52d is installed in a lower side. |
| US08122837B2 |
Stackable, nestable and gangable table
A stackable, nestable, and gangable table for use in varied environments such as classrooms, conferences, testing, etc includes a wire frame scaled according to the anticipated use, a table top and a modesty panel angled obtusely from the table top to accommodate stacking and/or nesting of the tables. The table further includes glide members on the wire frame base that accommodates the ganging of tables next to one another. The glide members are mounted on the base in such a manner that they engage the opposing glides on the aligned consecutive table. The table also includes a mounting mechanism for mounting accessories such as a side storage pouch to provide additional storage and help delineate the personal work space of each table. |
| US08122828B2 |
Cartridge for a firearm
Ammunition with structural and functional features such as to optimize the propellant combustion process when the weapon is fired, resulting in accelerated delivery of the combustion gases. For this purpose, advantageously, the ammunition at issue is fitted with an innovative firing system (4), the incendiary operation of which allows to ignite the entire quantity of propellant (7) in a homogeneous and capillary manner. In this operational circumstance, a considerably larger quantity of propellant (than that occurring with the known art) is therefore ignited in a shorter time. This results in accelerated delivery of the gases, such as to transmit to the projectile (5) an extremely fast burst of thrust, resulting in greater ballistic yield of the projectile and greater damage to the target. |
| US08122826B2 |
Infinitely variable cut off printing press
A variable cutoff printing press is provided that includes a plate cylinder, a first blanket cylinder including a first circumferential section movable with respect to a second circumferential section, and a second blanket cylinder including a third circumferential section movable with respect to a fourth circumferential section. The first, second, third and fourth circumferential sections contact the plate cylinder during a printing mode and print continuous images having a cutoff length on a web. A method of printing is also provided. |
| US08122822B1 |
Bale stacker
A bale stacker for forming a number of bales into a bale bundle having a predetermined number of bales. The bale stacker includes a compression chamber in which the bales are formable into the bale bundle, and a loading chamber in which the bales are positionable in respective columns proximal to an upstream opening of the compression chamber. The bale stacker also includes a transfer assembly with a platen for moving the columns from the loading chamber into the compression chamber. Front doors are located at the upstream opening and movable between a closed position, in which the upstream opening is at least partially obstructed by the front doors, and an open position, in which each column of bales is movable respectively through the upstream opening. Controlling means coordinate movement of the front doors with movement of the platen. |
| US08122818B2 |
Barbeque and smoker
An apparatus for barbecue cooking and smoking is described herein. Provided is a grill enclosure having a grill chamber and an adjustable vent to allow smoke to be released from the grill chamber. Additionally, an adjustable venting hood is coupled to the grill enclosure to channel and control smoke from the grill chamber. A smoker that is coupled to the venting hood receives the smoke channeled from the grill chamber. The smoker includes one or more racks connected to an axle capable of movement. |
| US08122809B2 |
Balloon with dividing fabric layers and method for braiding over three-dimensional forms
A medical balloon with a variable diameter that is reinforced with continuous fibers woven to form a fabric with a varying number of layers and fiber densities. Portions of the balloon having a relatively smaller diameter are reinforced with a fabric having a reduced fiber density and an increased number of layers to facilitate the placement of the layers. The fabric also includes a braiding pattern that facilitates the transition from a single layer fabric to a multiple layer fabric. Also described is a manufacturing method for the braiding and layering. |
| US08122807B2 |
Table saws with safety systems
Table saws are disclosed. The table saws may include a circular blade, an elevation mechanism configured to raise and lower the blade relative to the work surface; and a spring to provide a force biasing the blade up or down relative to the work surface. The spring may be a gas spring connected between a trunnion and an elevation plate. |
| US08122806B2 |
System and apparatus for making pipe fencing
A system and apparatus for making pipe fencing which includes a support framework, a power supply mounted on the support framework, a press assembly and pipe notcher mounted on the support framework and connected to the power supply, and a saw mounted on the support framework and connected to the power supply. The apparatus may also include a measuring assembly mounted on the support framework for measuring pipe prior to cutting and a rail member removably attached to the press assembly to support cut pipes while notching the cut pipes. |
| US08122802B2 |
Multi-function power saw
A power saw includes a saw assembly attached to a base assembly with an offset support that provides a clear path in line with the saw blade, thereby providing a miter saw, a table saw or a radial arm saw The height of the offset support is adjustable to make dado cuts, and a tilt mechanism is mounted at the top of the offset support to provide an “apparent” tilt axis near the top surface of the turntable, thereby eliminating an axle near the turntable top surface. A first fence used for miter cuts may be moved or removed during table cut operations. Alternatively, a reversible fence may be used for miter cuts when configured and affixed to the base assembly in a first position, and may be used for table or radial cuts when configured and affixed to the base assembly in a second position. |
| US08122801B2 |
Device for slicing food products
A device for slicing food product having a conveyor which transports the food product toward a cutting edge. An air cushion is provided between an end of the conveyor and the cutting edge which elevates and guides the food product. |
| US08122799B2 |
Dust collecting devices for machining apparatus
A dust collecting device for collecting cutting chips into a dust collecting container is provided. A back-flow preventing wall(s) is fixedly disposed on a flow path member defining a flow path between a machining apparatus and the dust collecting container. The back-flow preventing wall(s) is configured to decrease a cross sectional area of a flow path part defined by the flow path member in a downstream direction with respect to the flow of the air containing the cutting chips toward the dust collecting container. |
| US08122798B1 |
Power cutting tool with proximity sensing system
A power cutting tool includes a cutting surface, a conductive structure, and first electrode matrix comprising an array of electrical conductors. A moveable blade used to cut an object is located on the cutting surface. When at least one electrical conductor of the first electrode matrix is energized relative to the conductive structure, an electric field extends between the at least one electrical conductor and the conductive matrix to detect the presence of an object in proximity to the electric field. |
| US08122795B2 |
Method for making an elastomeric sealing device
An improved method of producing elastomeric sealing devices having a plurality of removable concentric sizing rings is provided wherein the size of said first face is increased to create an extended elastomeric mounting face such that the cross-sectional area of the first face disposed against said chuck is at least 150% of the cross-sectional area of the body of said device. |
| US08122783B2 |
Joystick and method of manufacturing the same
A joystick having a movable member that includes a shaft portion and a spherical portion wherein the shaft portion has a diameter less than the spherical portion. An actuating member is secured to the shaft portion of the movable member to provide actuation of the movable member. A magnet is disposed within the spherical portion of the movable member and positioned adjacent a three axis sensor such that the magnet moves in a hemispherical pattern along the three axis sensor to operate a device. |
| US08122782B2 |
Pinion shaft and bearing assembly
A pinion shaft and bearing assembly is provided having two different surface finish interfaces. A first surface finish functions to locate the bearing to the pinion. A second surface finish functions to improve the cure time of an adhesive used to retain the bearing to the pinion. |
| US08122776B2 |
Handheld vacuum test fixture and method of monitoring vacuum cup differential pressure
An apparatus for checking or monitoring a vacuum drawn by a suction cup used in connection with a material handling system. The apparatus includes a faceplate and a handle connected to the faceplate. The handle includes a vacuum gauge wherein a passageway extends from the vacuum gauge to the faceplate. |
| US08122775B2 |
Wriggler for gas meter endpoint
A wriggler device is provided for a gas meter endpoint or gas meter index as an interface with a gas meter drive mechanism. In general, the wriggler may include a base surface, at least one interface wall, and at least one guide wall. The base surface has a peripheral edge and a center point. The interface wall extends at an interface angle from the base surface, and may have an interface surface and a tip portion, with the tip portion spaced from the base surface. The at least one guide wall may extend between the base surface and the tip portion, and may have a guide surface. The guide wall may be configured to guide the drive mechanism along the guide surface to the base surface. Engagement of the interface surface by the drive mechanism causes the wriggler to rotate. |
| US08122770B2 |
Signal transmission system
A single wire interface for a transducer transmits the transducer output as a frequency modulated signal over one single wire during one interval. During a second interval a reference signal is transmitted as a frequency modulated signal. Both the transducer output and the reference signal output are processed by the same circuitry during the respective intervals to provide both frequency modulated signals. The frequencies of the two signals are measured and then the ratio of the two periods which is the reciprocal of the two frequencies is calculated. This ratio is the direct measure of the output of the transducer and when provided eliminates sources of errors. |
| US08122763B2 |
Breathing gas supply visual broadcast apparatus
A gas measurement apparatus can comprise a sensor and a processor, in an example. The sensor can measure a pressure condition of a gas tank, in an example. The processor can select at least one light source, the light source can be positioned or be of a distinct color to indicate a corresponding level of gas remaining in the tank when illuminated. The level of gas can be based on the measured pressure. Banks of high intensity LEDs can allow visually discernable colors at a significant distance underwater. A visual beacon mode can be included. An alphanumeric pressure readout mode can be included. A depth sensor can be included. |
| US08122761B2 |
Biosensor based on polymer cantilevers
A microcantilever sensor includes a supporting substrate, a cantilever spring element at least partially disposed over the support substrate, a probe layer disposed over the first side of the cantilever spring element, and a piezoresistive transducer attached to the second side of the cantilever spring element. The cantilever spring element is characterized by having a first side and a second side and comprising a polymer having a Young's modulus less than about 100 Gpa. Sensing systems that incorporate the cantilever sensor of the invention include a detector in communication with the piezoresistive transducer to provide measurements of surface strain changes in the piezoresistive transducer. |
| US08122756B2 |
Narcotics and explosives particle removal system
An explosive and narcotics detection system detects the presence of trace particles of those materials that are adhering to surfaces. The particles are removed from the surface, transported and collected in a particle collection medium, and then provided to detection instrument. Narcotics and explosive particles are often bound tenaciously to the surface, and simple techniques, such as blowing air, will either remove only the largest particles or none at all. Techniques for the removal of narcotics and explosives particles are described which utilize an aerosol mixture of aerosol particles in a gas stream to impact and more efficiently remove the target narcotics and explosives particles from the surface. |
| US08122752B2 |
Discard conveying apparatus
A discard conveying apparatus comprising a chute provided below a die of an extrusion pressing machine in which discards are freely dropped along the chute through which the discards are guided, in which the discard conveying apparatus comprises a chute having a discharging port in a position which is approximately just under the dies, a bucket for containing the discards disposed in the discharging port of the chute, and a transporter capable of freely moving the bucket in a forward and backward direction, the transporter being attached to a machine base in the direction of crossing to an axis line of the machine base in the manner of being passed through the machine base and supporting an inversion axis of the bucket, and the bucket is turned and inversed when the bucket is transported to an end portion of the forward movement. |
| US08122750B2 |
Cable hanger production system and production method
A cable hanger which can alternately and continuously form a Z-winding spiral and an S-winding spiral using a hanger wire. A hanger wire is supplied from one end of a housing and sent out from the other end thereof. A plurality of spiral forming dice are accommodated in a cylindrical space in the housing. Each spiral forming die includes a bottom face forming a shape corresponding to a curvature of a spiral on a plane intersecting with an axis at right angles between an inner peripheral face of the housing and the bottom face, a Z-winding wall face forming a shape corresponding to a pitch of the Z-winding spiral inclined with respect to the plane, and an S-winding wall face forming a shape corresponding to a pitch of the S-winding spiral. The S-and Z-winding wall faces intersect each other at a central portion of the spiral forming die. |
| US08122746B2 |
Electromechanical cylinder plug
An electromechanical locking mechanism provides a plug with a rekeyable primary lock mechanism such as a tumbler stack, an electromechanical operator such as a solenoid or a motor, and an electronic circuit having a memory, or an electronic memory and an electronic logic stage, controlling activitiation and operation of the electromechanical operator, contained entirely within the plug. Insertion of a blade of a key that is properly profiled and bitted to correctly displace the primary lock assembly relative to a cylinder encasing the plug, and application by the key of electrical power, or of electrical power and a correct data signal, to the electronic circuit, will cause activation of the electrical operator and repositioning of a distal member of the operator relative to the cylinder, and thereby enable torque manually applied to the blade of the key to rotate the plug within the cylinder. |
| US08122741B2 |
Washing apparatus and control method thereof
The present invention provides a washing apparatus and control method thereof, by which laundry can be dry-cleaned through the loaded configurations of the wet pad cloth, the filth transfer cloth, the steam providing unit, the fragrance spraying unit, and the detergent supplying unit using either the wet pad cloth or the filth transfer cloth or without using both of the wet pad cloth and the filth transfer cloth. |
| US08122738B2 |
Method and apparatus for creating an air-conditioned atmosphere
The invention relates to an apparatus for creating an air-conditioned atmosphere in a transportation container (14), having a compressor (3) for generating compressed air, a cooling device (5) for cooling the compressed air and a gas-separation diaphragm (10), which is connected downstream of the compressor (3) and the cooling device (5), for producing a nitrogen-rich gas stream, and a wetting diaphragm (12), with the apparatus permitting controlled wetting of the nitrogen-rich gas stream. The invention also relates to a method for creating an air-conditioned atmosphere in a storage or transportation container, in which method compressed air is generated by means of a compressor, the compressed air is then cooled using a cooling device and a nitrogen-rich gas stream is produced from the compressed air for the purpose of conduction into the transportation container by means of a gas-separation diaphragm. |
| US08122730B2 |
Method and device for managing the operating conditions of a refrigerator compartment using a single sensor
A method and device for managing the operating conditions of a refrigerator unit using a single sensor are disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining a sensor temperature of a refrigerator unit, determining to which a plurality of disjoint temperatures regions the temperature lies within and setting an operating condition of each of a plurality of components of the refrigerator unit based on the determined temperature region. |
| US08122726B2 |
Combustion chamber of a combustion system
A combustion chamber of a combustion system has a combustion space, a support structure, a support element, and a heat shield. The heat shield has at least two segments, and each segment includes a liner element facing the combustion space and has an edge region, a gap communicating with the combustion space being formed between edge regions of adjacent segments, and a retaining device. The retaining device fixes the respective liner element on the support structure via the support element and forms a flange region that fits over the edge region of the respective liner element. The retaining device forms a first cooling passage with the support element and has at least one through-opening in the flange region. A cooling gas flows through the through.opening from the first cooling passage to the edge region. |
| US08122725B2 |
Methods and systems for operating gas turbine engines
Methods and systems for delivering fuel in a gas turbine engine are provided. The system includes a plurality of can annular combustors that includes at least a first set of combustors of the plurality of can annular combustors and at least a second set of combustors of the plurality of can annular combustors wherein each set of combustors is supplied by a separately controllable respective fuel delivery system. The method includes supplying fuel at a first fuel schedule to the first set of combustors and supplying fuel at a second fuel schedule to the second set of combustors during a first mode of operation wherein the second fuel schedule is different than the first fuel schedule, and supplying fuel at the second fuel schedule to the first and second sets of combustors during a second mode of operation. |
| US08122722B2 |
Exhaust nozzle seal with segmented basesheet disposed between side rails
An aircraft engine exhaust nozzle basesheet includes longitudinally extending plurality of basesheet segments having panel bodies between segment leading and trailing edges and slidable sealing joints with slidingly un-restrained center surfaces between adjacent segment leading and trailing edges. Segmented first and second basesheet side edges include first and second segment side edges of the basesheet segments respectively. Slidably sealingly engaged overlapping flanges at the segment leading and trailing edges include tacked together transversely spaced apart first and second distal ends of the overlapping flanges. A basesheet assembly includes a frame includes first and second side rails supporting the first and second basesheet side edges. An aircraft gas turbine engine exhaust nozzle includes divergent seals with the basesheet assemblies in sealing engagement against divergent flaps along the first and second side rails. |
| US08122719B2 |
Apparatus for the combustion of a fuel-oxidizer mix
Apparatus for combustion of a fuel-oxidizer mixture in a combustion chamber of a turbogroup, in particular of a power plant wherein total oxidizer flow is divided into a main oxidizer flow and a secondary oxidizer flow. The main oxidizer flow is lean mixed with a main fuel flow in a premix burner, and the mixture is fully oxidized in the combustion chamber. The secondary oxidizer flow is divided into a pilot oxidizer flow and a heat-exchanging oxidizer flow. The pilot oxidizer flow is rich mixed with a pilot fuel flow, and the mixture is partially oxidized in a catalyst, with hydrogen being formed. Downstream of the catalyst, the partially oxidized pilot fuel-oxidizer mixture and the heat-exchanging oxidizer flow are together introduced into at least one zone which is suitable for stabilizing the combustion of the main fuel-oxidizer mixture. |
| US08122718B2 |
Systems and methods for combined thermal and compressed gas energy conversion systems
The invention relates to systems and methods including an energy conversion system for storage and recovery of energy using compressed gas, a source of recovered thermal energy, and a heat-exchange subsystem in fluid communication with the energy conversion system and the source of recovered thermal energy. |
| US08122716B2 |
VNT flow calibration adjustment
An exemplary variable geometry turbine includes a turbine wheel; a variable geometry assembly that includes a rotatable control ring that has a slot and a plurality of vanes where each vane has a post pivotably controlled by rotation of the control ring and where adjacent vanes define nozzles to direct exhaust gas to the turbine wheel; a crankshaft that has a pin for receipt by the slot of the control ring where rotation of the crankshaft rotates the control ring; and a center housing that includes a rotatable stop fixed to the crankshaft and having a close stop surface, a secure component and a translatable shaft where the translatable shaft comprises an engagement mechanism to engage the rotatable stop; where translation of the shaft causes rotation of the crankshaft and where the close stop surface establishes a contact with the secure component to limit rotation of the crankshaft and to establish a closed limit for the vanes. Various other exemplary methods, devices, systems, etc., are also disclosed. |
| US08122710B2 |
Thermal management of urea dosing components in an engine exhaust after-treatment system
Dosing components (22, 24, 32) in an engine exhaust after-treatment system (18) that includes an SCR catalyst (20) are thermally managed by flowing engine coolant through a coolant passage in a urea injector (22) that injects aqueous urea into the after-treatment system, controlling a three-way valve (60) to selectively direct coolant flow leaving the urea injector to a first branch that is in heat exchange relationship with a tank (24) that holds a supply of aqueous urea and a supply pump module (32) that pumps aqueous urea from the tank to the urea injector, and a second branch that is not in heat exchange relationship with either the tank or the supply pump, and returning coolant from the branches to the engine cooling system. |
| US08122707B2 |
Injection anti-coking system for particulate filters
A system comprising an injector for injecting fuel directly into the exhaust system. A control module supplies fuel using the injector to burn particulate matter in the particulate filter when the control module determines that regeneration is needed. The control module selectively supplies fuel to exercise the injector during periods when the control module determines that regeneration is not needed. |
| US08122706B2 |
Exhaust purification system of internal combustion engine
When performing temperature elevation control at a first exhaust purification device, a second exhaust purification device is prevented from being raised in temperature to a set temperature or more. |
| US08122705B2 |
Exhaust cleaning apparatus and method thereof
An internal combustion engine of a vehicle is provided with an exhaust cleaning apparatus and control method. In the exhaust cleaning apparatus and method, exhaust from a combustion chamber is conducted to a main catalytic converter disposed in a main exhaust channel. A fuel cutting operation is performed upon determining a deceleration state in the vehicle and establishment of a condition for stopping fuel supply to the engine. Then, a main-channel blocking device closes the main exhaust channel so that the exhaust flows through a bypass catalytic converter disposed in a bypass exhaust channel upstream from the main catalytic converter and then merges again with the main exhaust channel upstream from the main catalytic converter after the fuel cutting operation and upon determining one of either an elapsed of a prescribed period of time, or an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust reaching a stable state. |
| US08122702B2 |
Sealing arrangements for gas turbine engine thrust reverser
A transcowl for a gas turbine engine thrust reverser includes an arcuate outer wall; an arcuate inner wall; and an arcuate baffle positioned between the inner and outer walls at a forward end of the transcowl. The baffle has an arcuate cross-sectional shape which defines a forward-facing interior area. An arcuate forward seal is carried at a forward end of the inner wall. The forward seal includes a plurality of axially-extending, spaced-apart arcuate seal teeth which collectively define a labyrinth seal. |
| US08122700B2 |
Premix nozzles and gas turbine engine systems involving such nozzles
Premix nozzles and gas turbine engine systems involving such nozzles are provided. In this regard, a representative industrial gas turbine engine includes: a combustion section having a nozzle assembly operative to provide a fuel-air mixture for combustion, the nozzle assembly having an array of shuttered nozzles and non-shuttered nozzles; each of the shuttered nozzles being operative in an open position, in which air is directed through the shuttered nozzle for mixing with fuel, and a closed position, in which a reduced amount of air is directed through the shuttered nozzle; each of the shuttered nozzles being inoperative to independently alter an amount of air being directed therethrough. |
| US08122698B2 |
Vent for the lubricating oil system of a jet engine
The air exit hole of the vent line (6) connected to a venting apparatus for the lubricating oil system of a jet engine is arranged behind the nozzle throat (2) on the periphery of the exiting engine jet (4). The exit hole is tangentially arranged on the periphery of the engine jet, or slightly enters the rim area of the engine jet. The vent line extends under the protection of an aerodynamically shaped fairing (5, 11). This arrangement of the air exit, while being simply designed, cost-effective and weight-saving, provides for clean, invisible discharge of air from the oil venting apparatus. |
| US08122696B2 |
Guides for an extendable harvesting header
An header of the extendable type comprises a main frame and an extendable cutterbar table, which is mounted to the main frame by means of telescopic assemblies comprising an inner member mounted for sliding movement inside an outer member. One of the inner and outer members has longitudinal, inclined side walls that are engaged by inclined slide surfaces of guide means connected to a wall of the other of said outer and inner members, opposite said inclined side wall. |
| US08122689B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing, bagging and dispensing ice
An apparatus for producing, bagging and dispensing ice has an ice supply station, an ice collection station, a film supply, a bag forming station, and an ice transport device to transport ice from the collection station to the bag forming station. A controller controls supply of two superimposed film layers to the bag forming station, bag forming, and ice supply to the bags. A bag is partially formed from the superimposed film layers by a sealing device at the bag forming station, and ice is transported from the ice collector into the partially formed bag. The remaining open portions of the bag are sealed when sufficient ice has been supplied to the bag, which is then separated from the film supply for discharge into a storage and freezer compartment. The preceding steps are repeated until the storage and freezer compartment is filled to a predetermined level with bags of ice. |
| US08122686B2 |
Method and device for the production of packs
A method and a device for the production of a plurality of packs of articles wrapped with a respective portion of a plastic film are disclosed. A continuous film web is printed by a printing unit positioned at a position (Pi) along a transport path. Thereby, several respective printing areas spaced from each other are printed in a respective portion of a plastic film onto the continuous film web. Another position (Pa) for the printing unit along the transport path of the continuous film web is detected to a rate of feed (vT) of the continuous film web in an area of the printing unit. At the detected other position (Pa), the rate of feed (vT) of the continuous film web is adjusted on a printing rate of the printing unit and on the rate of feed (vT) of the continuous film web in a wrapping film station subordinated to the printing unit. The printing unit is slid from the previous position (Pi) to the other detected position (Pa). |
| US08122685B2 |
Method of using a meshwrap dispensing mechanism for round balers
A wrapper dispensing mechanism for round balers includes a feed roller shiftable generally toward and away from a baling element of a bale forming mechanism so as to be selectively brought into and out of engagement with the baling element. The feed roller is driven by the baling element when the feed roller is in engagement with the baling element, with the feed roller and the baling element cooperatively defining a temporary nip therebetween during engagement. The feed roller is disposed to at least partially vertically support the roll of supply material thereon. A method of dispensing wrapping material from a supply roll includes supporting the supply roll at least partially on a feed roller, shifting the feed roller into engagement with the baling element to create a temporary nip therebetween and drive the feed roller, and driving the baling element while the feed roller is in engagement therewith. |
| US08122684B2 |
Transport system for handling multi-width flexible pouches
A flexible bag transport system for transporting flexible filling and sealing station which includes a pair of holding clamp assemblies opposed to each other for holding the top end of a bag. The first clamp assembly is supported by a first elongated carrier and a second clamp assembly is supported by a second elongated carrier that is parallel to the first carrier. Clamping assemblies remain apart from each other and the bags are transported and are displaced toward each other to permit the bag to be opened during filling of the bag. One of the elongated carriers supporting the clamping assemblies has an adjustable mechanism so that the clamp assemblies can be adjusted with respect to each other without requiring adjustment of the remaining components of the transport system. |
| US08122683B1 |
Support panel for thin brick
A support panel for thin brick, comprising a metal sheet, an array of groove retaining tabs having first tab edges, said first tab edges protruding from said sheet having at an upward angle of less than about 45 degrees, for a distance of less than about one quarter inch, and an array of mortar lock tabs having second tab edges, said second tab edges protruding from said sheet at a downward angle of greater than about 45 degrees, said array of mortar lock tabs being offset vertically from said array of groove retaining tabs, wherein, said array of groove retaining tabs are adapted to engage shallow dovetail grooves formed in the rear of thin bricks, and said mortar lock tabs are adapted, when embedded within a cured mortar matrix, to exert, in response to a tensile force away from said metal sheet, a force along a vertical axis, on the brick, in an opposite direction to a force applied to the brick along a vertical axis by said groove retaining tab, to thereby retain the brick against the panel. |
| US08122678B2 |
Spin hardware for structural frame members
A multi-component spin hardware is provided for connecting structural framing members to other structural framing members while allowing desired portions of the framing members to pivot, selectively displacing the framing members to variable positions. The spin hardware generally includes a top bracket, bottom bracket and counter bracket assembly. The spin hardware bracket assemblies can be installed along a vertical axis in infinite locations providing maximum flexibility and creativity while connecting structural framing members in infinite configurations. |
| US08122677B2 |
Method and system for constructing a concrete waterstop joint and use of a cementitious and reactive waterproofing grout strip
A method and system for constructing a concrete waterstop joint between first and second concrete portions. The method may include applying a continuous longitudinal cementitious and reactive waterproofing grout strip to a joint area of the first concrete portion and then forming the second concrete portion over the grout strip. The system may include a first concrete portion having a joint area, a continuous cementitious and reactive waterproofing longitudinal grout strip connectable to the joint area, and a second concrete portion formable over the grout strip. There is also provided a use of a cementitious and reactive waterproofing grout strip in the construction of a concrete waterstop joint between first and second concrete portions. |
| US08122676B2 |
Top-chord bearing wooden joist
A wooden joist is described. The joist comprises a wooden top chord, a wooden bottom chord, and a main section comprising at least one of wooden boards and wooden webs adhesively connected to the wooden top chord and to the wooden bottom chord to form at least one of an I-joist subsection and an open-joist subsection along the main section of the wooden joist. An end configuration at one end of the main section comprises a wooden post extending generally perpendicularly between the wooden top chord and the wooden bottom chord and is adjacent to the main section. A wooden diagonal web extends diagonally from the wooden top chord to the wooden bottom chord. A first set of metal plates is in alignment on opposed sides of the wooden joist to connect the wooden top chord to the diagonal web. A second set of metal plates is in alignment on opposed sides of the wooden joist to connect the diagonal web and the post to the bottom chord. A third set of metal plates is in alignment on opposed sides of the wooden joist to connect the wooden top chord to the post. An extension is defined by the wooden top chord extending beyond the diagonal web at an end of the wooden joist. The wooden joist is adapted to be in a top-chord bearing relation with a beam by the extension being on top of the beam. |
| US08122670B2 |
System for setting tiles, tile assembly and joining element for use in the system, method for setting tiles, and tile floor repair method
A system for setting tiles uses a number of tile assemblies and joining elements (21a) interconnecting adjacent tile assemblies. Each tile assembly—has a tile member (3a) and a support member. The support member is connected to the underside of the tile member, and is provided with recesses for accommodating parts of the joining elements. The support member has a number of openings and/or projections (12a) extending in a direction perpendicular to a main surface of the tile member. The joining element has an elongate strip-like member provided with openings (30a) and/or projections fitting into corresponding projections and/or openings of the support members of two adjacent tile assemblies. |
| US08122663B1 |
Anchors and reinforcements for masonry walls
Anchor and reinforcement devices for a cavity wall are disclosed. The devices are combined with interlocking veneer anchors, and with veneer reinforcements to form unique anchoring systems. All the components of the system are wire formatives, including therewithin truss or ladder reinforcements and the eye extensions. The wall anchor portion of the device is fusibly attached to the exterior of the truss or ladder reinforcement by various metalworking techniques. Beyond the portions of the wire formatives inserted in the backup wall, the wire formatives are optionally reduced in height by cold-working thereof. The combined wall anchor and reinforcement devices are compressively reduced in height for spanning insulation mounted on the exterior of the backup wall. The low-profile portions are disposed between thick strips of insulation and maintain the insulative integrity thereof by preventing air leakage. |
| US08122660B2 |
Possibility of special lightening, insulating and reinforcing intermediate floor constructions
The possibility of special lightening, insulating and reinforcing intermediate floor constructions enables fast building of semi-prefibraceted and prefabricated floor with complete insulation, bearing capacity and smaller price. Floor elements and are constructed to that already present steel space trusses can be placed in their channels, so that are hastened the building of intermediate floor constructions and makes them cheaper, too. They are minimum shorting at the ends and at the middle of beams, so the works below can be proceeding and the required working time is shorter. The intermediate floor construction is already insulating, so they are no need for insulating, which makes the construction cheaper and the required working time shorter. The plates are enabling the increase of the height of the floor constructions, by tying two beams in the construction. Usage of distance elements and protects the reinforcement in floor construction, so they are no need for corrosion protection. |
| US08122657B2 |
Metal “log” buildings with rigid insulation
Hollow metal “logs” each extending usually horizontally are arranged in adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart relation to form, or be part of, a wall or roof. Rigid insulating members are inserted between the logs. Each insulating member is shaped to fit around a log on either side of the insulating member. Each insulating member has a pair of outer faces respectively on either side of the wall or roof and lying substantially in respective planes parallel to the axes of the logs. The insulating members abut one another and collectively surround the logs and insulate the wall or roof. |
| US08122654B2 |
Taper lock system
A glass locking system of locking a glass panel within a base shoe having side walls, comprising a first tapered plate having a first end and a second end. The first plate is tapered such that the first end is thinner than the second end. A second tapered plate has a first end and a second end, the second plate being tapered such that the first end is thinner than the second end. The first and second plate are insertable between a side wall of the base shoe and a glass panel in overlapping relation. Moving the second tapered plate laterally towards the first plate serves to generate a compressive force on the glass panel, and moving the plates laterally apart serves to reduce the compressive force on the panel. |
| US08122652B2 |
Bridging beam
A method of reinstating a pole standing upright in ground comprising, abutting an inner surface of a sleeve of a bridging beam against an outer surface of the pole so as to have a lower portion of the bridging beam penetrating the ground and an upper portion of the bridging beam projecting above the ground, arranging a plurality of locating members around the outer surface of the pole, and securing the bridging beam to the pole by strapping surrounding the pole held in place with respect to the pole by the locating members. |
| US08122648B1 |
Roof mounting system
A system is disclosed for mounting equipment, such as solar panels, to a roof that has shingles. A base plate has at least one mounting aperture therethrough for securing to the roof with a mechanical wood fastener, and at least one bracket projection in an upper surface thereof for securing with a mechanical machine fastener. A flashing plate has a base plate recess formed in a lower surface thereof for receiving the base plate therein. A mounting bracket has at least one aperture therein for receiving one of the bracket projections therethrough for securing the mounting bracket to the at least one bracket projection in the base plate, and through corresponding apertures in the flashing plate. The mounting bracket further includes an attachment aperture adapted to be fixed with the equipment. Additional advantages include using fewer parts by integrating above elements to reduce the costs and steps of installation. |
| US08122646B1 |
Method and apparatus for an inflatable shell
A method of assembling an inflatable shell of a structure comprises folding a plurality of shell sections about a set of fold lines and integrating the plurality of shell sections together with one another to form the shell. In another embodiment, an inflatable shell comprises a plurality of shell sections, each shell section having two pairs of fold lines for folding into stowage comprising a first gore section having a plurality of first gore panels layered and collectively folded about at a first set of fold lines. Each layer of the first gore panels and second gore panels are configured such that, once the first gore panel and second gore panel are attached to one another at the respective side edges of each panel, the lines of attachment forming a second set of fold lines for the shell section. A system and method for fabricating gore panels is also disclosed. |
| US08122644B2 |
Pivotable sliding door
A pivotable, sliding door is provided that includes a door leaf and a first roller lever disposed adjacent to a lateral closing edge of the door leaf. The first roller lever defines first and second ends. A guide rail is disposed on the door leaf. A roller is disposed on the first end of the first roller lever and in the guide rail. A locking element is disposed on the second end of the first roller lever. A retaining element, affixable to a door frame, is disposed adjacent to the second end of the first roller lever, the retaining element defining a stop and a predetermined, curved track. The first roller lever is displaceable along the predetermined, curved track to the stop. In the stop position, the first roller lever is pivotable into a locked position where the locking element engages the retaining element. |
| US08122631B2 |
Funeral flower
An ornamental funeral flower includes a base, a riser fixedly attached to the center of the base, and support members extending from the riser to the edge of the base. The flower also includes an attachment layer attached to one or more of the base, riser, and support members, and petals fixedly attached to the attachment layer. |
| US08122628B2 |
Portable advertising platform
The portable advertising system of the present invention comprises a body having a first end and a display support, at least one universal attachment system adapted for securing the body to a vehicle proximate the first end, at least one exterior wall arranged to display an advertisement, and the display support securing an illumination source directed towards the at least one exterior wall. The at least one exterior wall and the illumination source may be integrated into an electronic display unit. The at least one exterior wall may also be an advertising sheet composed of vinyl and the illumination source may be a plurality of light emitting diodes. The portable advertising system may include a railroad car arranged to receive the at least one universal attachment system. |
| US08122625B2 |
Name badge
In order to economically manufacture name badges with a comparatively high stiffness, it is proposed that they are produced as one-part injection moulded components, each with a curved front part (1) and a similarly curved rear part (2), which is connected to the front part (1) by pivot bearings (4) and both the front part (1) and the rear part (2) are provided with circumferential ridges (6, 7) which are orientated in the same direction when the front and rear parts (1, 2) are in the closed state. |
| US08122624B2 |
Canvas stretching system with corner clamps
A stretching system to stretch a canvas or material on a frame without the use of stretching pliers and staples. Special purpose corner clamps are used to secure the stretcher bars into an initial open miter frame to orient the double sided adhesive strip on the side of the stretchers towards the canvas or material while maintaining the adhesive strip from touching the canvas or material. After alignment, the stretching bars are pressed down and attached onto the canvas or material and the corners are released. The corner clamps are removed and canvas or material corners are cut and folded into the open miter ends which also have adhesive strips. By rotating the stretchers axially 90 degrees into the final frame, thus closing the miters, and upon inserting U-shaped fasteners into grooves placed on the back of the stretcher the canvas or material is stretched and ready to display. |
| US08122621B2 |
Wear assembly
A wear assembly for excavating equipment which includes a wear member and a base each with upper and lower stabilizing surfaces that are offset and at overlapping depths to reduce the overall depth of the assembly while maintaining high strength and a stable coupling. The nose and socket each includes a generally triangular-shaped front stabilizing end to provide a highly stable front connection between the nose and wear member for both vertical and side loading. The lock is movable between hold and release positions to accommodate replacing of the wear member when needed, and secured to the wear member for shipping and storage purposes. |
| US08122618B2 |
Method for removing alluvial deposits from the bottom of a watery area
Method and device for removing alluvial deposits from the bottom of a watery area, whereby the layer of alluvial deposits (6) situated on the bottom (13) is carried to a place of discharge (16) and whereby the removal of the alluvial deposits (6) takes place under a diving bell (2) placed on or in the vicinity of the water bottom (13) and in which an air pressure is generated which is practically equal to or larger than the pressure of the water column measured outside the diving bell (2) as of the lower edge (5) of the diving bell (2) up to the water line (17), characterized in that the alluvial deposits (6) are sucked in in situ by a pump (14) and are carried to the place of discharge (16) via a tube (15). |
| US08122613B2 |
Combination air purifier and clothes dryer
A combination clothes dryer and air filter. The device is adapted for reversal of airflow through a housing to allow a horizontal position and a vertical position for operation. The device is adapted for easy storage in the horizontal position. |
| US08122609B2 |
Step and rafter tool
A tool for use when laying out lines on stair stringers or roof rafters along which cuts are to be made. The step and rafter tool includes a framing square, an angle bracket and two carriage bolts with washers and wingnuts. Each leg of the framing square has a longitudinal slot which is about 90% of the length of the leg. The angle bracket has two central longitudinal slots in the first flange, each of which is about 40% of the length of the angle bracket. The angle bracket is positioned against the framing square so that two carriage bolts are place within holes formed by the overlapping slots of the bracket and square with washers and wingnuts assembled therein. With the wingnuts loose, the angle bracket can be positioned wherever is desired with respect to the framing square and then the wingnuts are tightened. The second flange of the angle bracket now provides a shoe which can slide on the narrow side of a board to be marked and cut for use as a stair stringer or a roof rafter, and thereby stabilize the framing square in place to act as a marking guide. Various indicia, guide marks and data tables are engraved into the legs of the framing square to aid in set up and marking. The edges of the slots in the framing square also provide useful marking guides which are a known distance from other outer or inner edges of the framing square legs. |
| US08122608B2 |
Rear sight for an archery bow
A rear sight for archery bows. The rear sight is adjustable to the archer's aiming, non-dominant eye and dominant shooting hand. The sight comprises a mounting bracket, a forward sight positioner, a rear sight positioner, a sight assembly and a light assembly. The mounting bracket and rear sight positioner are configured for selective choosing by the archer to use an aiming eye of the archer in conjunction with an oppositely matched shooting hand. In particular, the sight allows the archer to manipulate the rear sight positioner for left eye/right hand or right eye/left hand handling of the bow for subsequent alignment of the sight with the forward sight. |
| US08122601B2 |
Methods for correcting twist angle in a gas turbine engine blade
A method of correcting a twist angle of a gas turbine engine blade includes measuring an existing twist angle of the blade, applying a first angular load to a first end of the blade; and measuring a repaired twist angle of the blade. The first angular load applied to the first end of the blade is based on an empirical correlation between a plurality of angular loads necessary to produce a plurality of twist angle correction values. |
| US08122600B2 |
Fan and compressor blade dovetail restoration process
A method for restoring blade dovetails to their original shape comprising the steps of removing damaged material from a blade dovetail at a damage site, physically depositing a metal at the damage site in an amount sufficient to replace the removed damaged material, and machining the blade dovetail to the original shape. |
| US08122599B2 |
Method of manufacturing a printed circuit board (PCB)
A printed circuit board (PCB) and appertaining method of manufacturing are provided. The method includes: coating a metal layer on the entire surface of a substrate having an outer surface on which an interconnection pattern is formed; partially removing the metal layer from the surface of the substrate to form a window for a chip to be mounted therein and partially exposing the interconnection pattern to form a bonding finger; forming a first insulating layer on the metal layer by primarily anodizing the metal layer; electroplating a surface of the bonding finger by supplying power to the metal layer; and forming a second insulating layer disposed below the first insulating layer by entirely and secondarily anodizing the metal layer. A gold electroplating process can be performed without a lead wire, and an oxide layer formed by an anodizing process can protect circuits formed on the substrate and electrically insulate them. |
| US08122596B2 |
System of fabricating a flexible electrode array
An image is captured or otherwise converted into a signal in an artificial vision system. The signal is transmitted to the retina utilizing an implant. The implant consists of a polymer substrate made of a compliant material such as poly(dimethylsiloxane) or PDMS. The polymer substrate is conformable to the shape of the retina. Electrodes and conductive leads are embedded in the polymer substrate. The conductive leads and the electrodes transmit the signal representing the image to the cells in the retina. The signal representing the image stimulates cells in the retina. |
| US08122592B2 |
Method for producing a low-current switch module comprising electrical components
The invention relates to a method for production of a low current switch module, comprising the following steps: precutting a fine conductor path of several conducting circuits connected by connector tracks in the same sheet, positioning the contact relay and other optional electronic components on the precut conductor path, electrically and mechanically connecting said contact relay and the optional electronic components on the conductor track, encapsulating the unit comprising the conductor path, contact relay, the optional components, the pins and electrical connectors thereof and cutting certain connector tracks such as to separate said circuits. |
| US08122589B2 |
Method of manufacturing an electric motor
There is provided a method of manufacturing an electric motor. To begin with, a stator is provided by fixing a stator winding on a stator core. The stator winding has a coil end projecting from one end face of the stator core. Subsequently, a lead wire is drawn out from the coil end radially outward thereof. A connecting terminal is fixedly mounted to a distal end of the lead wire. A terminal block is provided such that the terminal block is held at a position to be finally fixed relative to the stator. The lead wire is bent toward the terminal block. The connecting terminal is electrically connected to the terminal block. An insulator is coated on the lead wire and the coil end by impregnating the lead wire and the coil end with liquid insulating material. |
| US08122587B2 |
Manufacturing method of quartz crystal unit
A method for manufacturing a quartz crystal unit comprises the steps of adjusting an oscillation frequency of a quartz crystal tuning fork resonator that is vibratable in a flexural mode of an inverse phrase and that has first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, forming at least one groove in each of two of opposite main surfaces of each of first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines, disposing an electrode on a surface of the at least one groove formed in each of two of the opposite main surfaces and each of two of opposite side surfaces of each of the first and second quartz crystal tuning fork tines so that the electrodes of the grooves of the first quartz crystal tuning fork tine are connected to the electrodes of the side surfaces of the second quartz crystal tuning fork tine and the electrodes of the grooves of the second quartz crystal tuning fork tine are connected to the electrodes of the side surfaces of the first quartz crystal tuning fork tine, the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator having a series resistance R1 of a fundamental mode of vibration less than a series resistance R2 of a second overtone mode of vibration, mounting the quartz crystal tuning fork resonator on a mounting portion of a case, and connecting a lid to the case to cover an open end of the case. |
| US08122586B2 |
Method for connecting a tension-torsion strap
A method for connecting a tension-torsion strap. The method includes sliding a sleeve into an arm of a hub; aligning holes in the sleeve with holes in the hub; installing a bushing in each aligned hole in the sleeve; sliding a first end of the tension-torsion strap through the sleeve; and placing a pin through the bushings and the tension-torsion strap. |
| US08122584B2 |
Method of producing honeycomb structure molding die
In a method of producing a honeycomb structure molding die composed of feed holes through which molding material is fed and slit grooves communicated with the feed holes for the use of molding a honeycomb structure body, the slit grooves are formed on one surface of a metal material in a lattice arrangement by repeatedly moving a thin circular grindstone blade which is rotating in a straight-line direction or a line direction approximating a straight line in order to cut the surface of the metal material. In particular, the method removes fine metal powder, generated by cutting the surface of the metal material, using polishing grooves formed in a dressing grindstone disposed in front of the metal material every cutting of the metal material during the slit groove formation. |
| US08122579B2 |
Cell production method and cell production facility
A cell manufacturing method in which a main operator, who carries out main operations that include a plurality of steps in which parts are installed on a workpiece, is moved along with the workpiece so as to transit a plurality of stations where auxiliary steps related to the main operations are carried out. At least a portion of operations in which parts and/or jigs are supplied to a main car are carried out via a main delivery apparatus by using a main car on which a workpiece is mounted and on which a main operator rides, and that travels automatically on a predetermined travel route that transits a plurality of stations. The main delivery apparatus has a main serving position and a main receiving position. Parts and/or jigs that have been disposed at the main receiving position are delivered to the main serving position. |
| US08122576B2 |
Positioning, handling and assembling system for manufacture of aeronautical parts
The system has special application in the manufacture of aircraft wing covers (10 made of carbon fiber and the stringers (3) cured jointly with the wing cover during the polymerization in autoclave. The tool pieces (4) being used are defined by angular elements (5, 6) copying the geometry of the stringers (3). The shape of these stringers corresponds to the “T” section. The angular elements (5, 6) comprise, in their upper part, a pair of battlements (7) in order to be caught by part of the clamps (9) of a head (10) linked to a robot (11) of the spherical type with articulated arm with six axes. The angular elements (5, 6) are made of INVAR material and they are used to keep in position the stringers during the curing cycle in the autoclave. |
| US08122573B2 |
Thin slider
There is provided a thin slider for a slide fastener with an automatic locking mechanism with a locking pawl while having an excellent design property and operability.The thin slider according to the present invention includes a locking pawl journaled by a slider body and a resilient member accommodated in a connecting post. The locking pawl is urged in such a first rotation direction that its pawl portion is inserted into an element guide passage of the slider body by the resilient member. The upper blade of the slider body includes a first upper blade connected to the connecting post and a second upper blade which is attached slidably onto the first upper blade. The second upper blade has a thin second upper blade main body and an operating piece drooping from the front end portion of the second upper blade main body. A first operating portion for pressing the first projecting piece in a second rotation direction for pulling the pawl portion out of the element guide passage when the second upper blade is slid backward is disposed on the inner face of the operating piece, and a second operating portion for pressing the second projecting piece in the second rotation direction when the second upper blade is slid forward is disposed on the side of the sliding face of the second upper blade main body. |
| US08122572B2 |
Marking and fastening device and method of using same
A fastening device and a method of using same is provided. The fastening device includes a male member having a projection on a first side and a securing means on a second opposing side. A female member configured to receive the projection detachably secures the female member onto the male member. The female member and the male member comprises a ratchet system to removeably secure the female member onto the male member. The securing means on the second opposing side of the male member is configured to mate with a corresponding securing member mounted on an object. By securing a material such as a shade screen or a tarp on the male member by mating the male member with the female member, the shade screen or tarp may be detachably fastened onto an object. |
| US08122571B2 |
Closure clip and process for the production thereof
Closure clips and a process for the production of closure clips of strip-form or wire-form material for the closure of tubular or bag-like packagings. In the process, a substantially wave-form profile with successive first and second apex points is stamped along the strip-form or wire-form material, the first apex point forming a clip bottom, flanks respectively adjoining the first apex point on each side thereof form clip limbs that are bent over in a U-shape and the second apex point forms limb ends that are bent over outwardly with respect to the U-shape at which two adjacent closure clips are separably connected. The strip-form or wire-form closure clip material is pierced inwardly with respect to the U-shape so that a raised material portion is formed at the limb inside. |
| US08122569B2 |
Auxiliary handle for hand-held power tool
An auxiliary handle for a hand-held power tool (7) includes an attachment section (21) for securing the auxiliary handle (11) on a section (8) of the power tool (7) a gripping member (31) for holding the auxiliary handle (11), a lag hinge (46) provided between the attachment section (21) and the gripping member (34), and including a locking member (52) pivotable about an axis (53) extending parallel to the axis (12) of the lag hinge (46) between its locking position in which it blocks the lag hinge (46), and a release position thereof in which the lag hinge (46) is released. |
| US08122568B2 |
Swing hinge module and portable terminal employing the same
A swing hinge module bidirectionally swinging a movable body and a portable terminal having the same are disclosed. The swing hinge module includes a rotation cam, a rotation shaft, a fixed plate, and a guide pin. The rotation cam is fixed to the movable body to be rotated with the movable body, and has stopping recesses on an outer circumference of the rotation cam to set a rotation angle of the movable body. The rotation shaft is coupled with a central area of the rotation cam, and the fixed plate is coupled to the fixed body and has a guide hole to receive the rotation shaft. The guide pin is coupled to the fixed plate and contacts the outer circumference of the rotation cam to support the rotation cam. |
| US08122566B2 |
Vacuum cleaner handle lock and valve control
A vacuum cleaner having a base with a first air inlet, a rear housing, a removable handle and a socket on the housing to receive the handle. The handle has a grip, a second air inlet, and a hose connected to the second air inlet. The vacuum has a valve with a first inlet connected to the first air inlet, a second inlet connected to the flexible hose, a valve outlet connected to a vacuum fan, and a valve member that moves to connect the valve outlet to either inlet. The vacuum has a handle latch having one position in which it engages the removable handle to hold it in the socket and places the valve in one position, and a second position in which it releases the handle and places the valve member the other position. |
| US08122561B2 |
Wringer
A wringer (1) for a mop (2) with a receptacle (3) in which the mop (2) can be wrung out by inward pressure, where the receptacle (3) consists of a number of wall parts (4), each of which has an inner leg (5) and an outer leg (6), which are connected together, where spacers (7) are arranged between the inner legs (5) and outer legs (6). |
| US08122557B2 |
Broom body
The invention relates to a broom body (1) having, on its underside facing the surface to be cleaned, at least two cleaning bodies (3, 4) made of different materials. One cleaning body (3) is forted by a foam material body (5), which is non-positively and/or positively joined to the broom body (1). This foam material body (1) can be inserted into the broom body (1) in a manner that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (6) of the broom body (1), and the foam material body (5) has at least one fastening means (7) for positively fastening it to the broom body. |
| US08122551B2 |
Four wheeler trailer loading ramps
The present invention relates to a loading ramp for loading an all terrain vehicle for transport purposes comprising: a center plate, where said center plate includes a mounting plate and at least one mounting pin as a means to attach the loading ramp to a trailer; at least one truck bed plate, where said truck bed plate extends from the center plate into a bed of a truck; at least one trailer plate, where said trailer plate extends from the center plate into the trailer; and a plurality of pipe hinges, where said pipe hinges adjoin the at least one truck bed plate, center plate and the at least one trailer plate. The truck bed plates and trailer plates may be extended for loading purposes or folded and adjoined for storage purposes. |
| US08122550B2 |
Method of treating osteoarthritis using insoles
The present invention provides devices, methods, and kits for reducing joint pain and treating conditions of weight-bearing joints. The methods are accomplished through the use of a cushioned wedged insole or slab that selectively reduces pressure by cushioning impact and redistributing forces away from affected joints or joint compartments. Further, insoles are provided, which mimic the combination of fatty globules and the surrounding restricting fibrous network cushioning structures found in the foot. |
| US08122549B2 |
Washing machine and control method of maintaining a balanced state of laundry thereof
Disclosed herein are a washing machine that is capable of maintaining the balanced state of laundry to more smoothly perform a spin-drying operation and a control method thereof. The control method of the washing machine including a drum to receive laundry and a motor to rotate the drum to reduce unbalance generated due to the nonuniform distribution of the laundry, includes wrapping the laundry by accelerating the drum such that the laundry sticks to an inner wall of the drum, detecting motor current during the wrapping of the laundry, determining an unbalanced state of the laundry based on the detected motor current, and controlling speed of the drum based on a result of the determination. |
| US08122548B2 |
Mounting and method for mounting a water vacuum break
A method of installing a water vacuum break in a housing including the steps of providing a plurality of slots in a wall of the housing; moving a water vacuum break in a first direction; and moving the water vacuum break in a second direction. The step of moving the water vacuum break in a first direction includes moving it substantially perpendicularly with the outer wall so that a plurality of retaining protrusions extend through the plurality of slots. |
| US08122543B2 |
Evacuation mattress
An evacuation mattress comprises an integral mattress including a mattress interior, a mattress top face sheet, four mattress side face sheets, and a bottom sheet. The bottom sheet forms both the mattress bottom face sheet and an evacuation bottom sheet. The integral evacuation mattress also includes a top evacuation sheet configured to be deployed over a patient who is disposed above the mattress top face sheet. The integral evacuation mattress further includes securing structure configured to secure the top evacuation sheet to the patient and the integral mattress. Transport structure is also included in the integral evacuation mattress and is configured for a person to drag the secured patient and integral mattress from a hospital. |
| US08122537B1 |
Mattress foundation corner connector and assembly method
A corner connector element having a main body portion, wherein a first side surface and a second side surface are formed at substantially 90° relative to one another; a first abutment surface extending substantially perpendicularly from a terminating edge of the first side surface; a second abutment surface extending substantially perpendicularly from a terminating edge of the second side surface; one or more protrusions extend perpendicularly from the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface; a corner abutment surface; and a radiused surface extending from a terminating edge of the first abutment surface to a terminating edge of the second abutment surface. |
| US08122533B2 |
Device for actuating an element of an item of sanitary ware and method of fitting a button of a device for actuating an element of an item of sanitary ware
The device has a housing (5) which comprises an opening (4) in which a button (15) is fixed on a receiving part (8) mounted movably in the housing (5). A fitting aid (36) is provided, with which the button (15) may be introduced into the opening (4) in the housing (5) and positioned in a recessed manner therein as well as being fixed to the receiving part (8). Sets of teeth (23, 27) on the receiving part (8) and on the button (15) enable simple and depth-adjustable fixing of the button (15) to the receiving part (8). |
| US08122528B2 |
Shower device
A shower device is attached to a wall and is not connected in a fixed manner to the interior shower or to an additional hand shower. A hose that extends from a plumbing fixture to a hand shower is used for supplying the shower device or hand shower. The hand shower has an outlet for water discharged from the hose. The outlet can be joined to an inlet into the shower device such that the water reaches the shower device via the hand shower. The shower device can be configured as a wall-mounted rod. Preferably, the connection that redirects the water is established by a mechanical coupling device. |
| US08122525B2 |
Putting-green, in-pool surface construction
A putting green whose perimeter is level with the top of a concrete-sided pool having a decorative ribbon along the top of the pool side and an apron surrounding the pool having at least partially flat surface, the putting green overlying a deck including a) a waterproof surface comprising decking surface members having lengths and ends, the lengths being sized to the dimensions of the pool and the surface being at the same level as the pool apron; b) supports including i. cross members which are perpendicular to the lengths of the decking surface members; ii. underlying joists that form a sturdy base for the cross members; and iii. joist hangers being secured to the sides of the pool below the decorative ribbon along the top of the pool side and being sunk into the concrete side of the pool; and c) a putting green comprising at least the layers of gravel, sand and artificial grass. |
| US08122520B2 |
Lower-body garment having a secure waist assembly
A lower-body garment is provided having a secure waist assembly. The garment includes an outer shell having a waistband. The waist assembly is attached to the interior side of the waistband at a prescribed location on the waist assembly with the remaining portions of the waist assembly being free of the outer shell. The waist assembly includes an intermediate section, end sections, and end fasteners, which cooperate to promote a secure and comfortable waist fit. When secured in place, the waist assembly wraps snuggly against the waist of the wearer. |