| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08137589B2 |
Non stoichiometric tetragonal copper alkaline earth silicate phosphors and method of preparing the same
Disclosed are non stoichiometric Copper Alkaline Earth Silicate phosphors activated by divalent europium for using them as high temperature stable luminescent materials for ultraviolet or daylight excitation. The phosphors are represented as the formula (BauSrvCawCux)3−y(Zn,Mg,Mn)zSi1+bO5+2b:Eua. The nonstoichiometric tetragonal silicate is prepared in a high temperature solid state reaction with a surplus of silica in the starting mixture. Furthermore, luminescent tetragonal Copper Alkaline Earth Silicates are provided for LED applications, which have a high color temperature range from about 2,000K to 8,000K or 10,000K showing a CRI with Ra=80˜95, when mixed with other luminescent materials. |
| US08137588B2 |
Nanoscale phosphor particles with high quantum efficiency and method for synthesizing the same
Described herein are batches of nanoscale phosphor particles having an average particle size of less than about 200 nm and an average internal quantum efficiency of at least 40%. The batches of nanoscale phosphor particles can be substantially free of impurities. Also described herein are methods of manufacturing the nanoscale phosphor particles by passing phosphor particles through a reactive field to thereby dissociate them into elements and then synthesizing nanoscale phosphor particles by nucleating the elements and quenching the resulting particles. |
| US08137581B2 |
Chlorine dioxide releasing composite article
A composite article that includes a ClO2-producing material integrated into an organic matrix and methods of using the same are described. The organic matrix of the composite article is formable at a temperature under about 150° C., permits contact between an activating stimulus (e.g., water vapor and/or electromagnetic energy) and the ClO2-producing material when the composite article is exposed to the activating stimulus, and is permeable to ClO2. |
| US08137580B2 |
CMP slurry composition for forming metal wiring line
Disclosed is CMP slurry, which includes a pyridine-based compound including at least two pyridinyl groups, and minimizes the occurrence of dishing and erosion of a wiring line. |
| US08137579B2 |
Non-aqueous heat transfer fluid and use thereof
The present invention is directed to a heat transfer system comprising a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid comprising non-buffered propylene glycol, and at least one propylene glycol soluble additive selected from the group consisting of a molybdate salt, a nitrate compound and an azole compound. |
| US08137578B2 |
Leaching resistant pre-wetted deicer composition
A deicer comprises a mixture of a deicing agent, a pre-wetting agent, and a leaching inhibitor. The leaching inhibitor results in decreased liquid migration within and out of a mass of pre-wetted deicer. The deicer can include a deicing salt such as sodium chloride, a pre-wetting agent comprised of magnesium chloride, and a leaching inhibitor such as xanthan gum. The deicer can also include a corrosion inhibitor and/or radiation absorber. |
| US08137571B2 |
Method for manufacturing perpendicular magnetic recording head
Embodiments of the present invention help to provide a method for manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording head including a main magnetic pole having a width that does not generally vary. According to one embodiment, a magnetic film, a first inorganic mask film, an organic film, a second inorganic mask film, and a resist pattern are formed in this order. Reactive ion etching (RIE) is performed using the resist pattern as a mask to etch the second inorganic mask film and the organic film and form a mask for the subsequent step. A flow rate of an Ar gas is then controlled, and ion milling is performed, to correct a difference between the width of the mask located at the central portion of the wafer and the width of the mask located at the outer peripheral portion of the wafer. The magnetic film is processed to have a uniform track width. Ion milling is then performed to form the main magnetic pole having an inverted trapezoidal shape. |
| US08137568B2 |
Rotary drum vacuum filter
Prior art washer designs have segmented radial ducts feeding the filter valve which collect the filtrate emerging from the longitudinal ducts. Because these ducts are radial, the volume at the periphery is much greater than at the valve entry which creates undesirable conditions such as a large volume where air can escape from the filtrate forming a pocket which will reduce the effectiveness of the vacuum and promote non-uniformity in filtrate velocity. The present invention incorporates a baffle in the radial duct which reduces the volume at the periphery and maintains a uniform cross-sectional area for the filtrate to reach the valve. This maintains a constant filtrate velocity and prevents the possibility of the formation of an air pocket. |
| US08137565B2 |
Naphthenic acid removal and conversion
Methods and apparatus relate to handling of organic contaminants in aqueous streams. The methods and apparatus enable removing the contaminants, such as naphthenic acids, from the aqueous streams and then converting the contaminants into hydrocarbons. The removing and converting of the organic contaminates results in treated discharge and generation of the hydrocarbons, which add to amount of hydrocarbon recovery. |
| US08137564B2 |
Filtration of hydrocarbon containing liquid
An apparatus for and method of filtering hydrocarbon contaminated water is disclosed herein. The present invention may be used in drainage openings, particularly in parking lots and containment areas for large sources of hydrocarbons such as oil tanks or electrical transformers, to remove hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon contaminated water. The apparatus has a filtration compartment which filters out debris and sediment which may clog the treatment compartment. A pre-filter attachable to the apparatus may be used to further aid in filtering out sediment. A means for melting snow and ice may be incorporated within the filtration compartment such that liquid flow is not hindered during extreme weather conditions. The treatment compartment contains a hydrocarbon absorption media which absorbs any hydrocarbons present in the water rendering such water substantially hydrocarbon-free for discharge directly into a stream or groundwater. In the event of a hydrocarbon spill, the hydrocarbon absorption media forms a plug which seals off the flow of contaminated water. A hydrocarbon solubilizing material capable of effectively removing sheen in a first pass may be disposed as a top layer over the hydrocarbon absorption media. Preferably, each compartment is manufactured as a cartridge which may be dropped into a housing inserted into a drain opening. |
| US08137561B2 |
Media for membrane ion exchange chromatography based on polymeric primary amines, sorption device containing that media, and chromatography scheme and purification method using the same
Media and devices, such as anion exchangers including such media, wherein the media is a membrane having a surface coated with a polymer such as a polyallylamine. The resulting membrane offers stronger binding of protein impurities and superior removal of host cell proteins from biological samples than conventional ligands based on quaternary ammonium salts, including trimethylammonium ligands. Also described is a chromatography scheme and method for purifying monoclonal antibodies, wherein the anion exchange sorber is placed downstream of an affinity column (such as Protein A or Protein G affinity column) and optionally one or more polishing devices such as cationic exchange columns. Little or no dilution of the cation exchanger pool (or affinity column exchange pool where no cation exchanger is used) is necessary to lower the conductivity of the sample. The sorber functions well to strongly bind host cell proteins and other impurities in biological samples even at high conductivities and pH. |
| US08137558B2 |
Stepwise extraction of plant biomass for diesel blend stock production
A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock. |
| US08137557B2 |
Wastewater treatment method
A liquid aeration apparatus includes a vessel having sidewalls, a closed bottom end and, a liquid outlet being provided at or near the upper end. The sidewalls define a cross-sectional interior open area with a vertical depth. An air diffuser is positioned within the interior open area of the vessel. A liquid intake conduit is positioned with an inlet end located at or near the upper end of the vessel and an outlet located near the bottom end of the vessel. |
| US08137556B2 |
Methods of producing biofuels from an algal biomass
A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock. |
| US08137555B2 |
Methods of and systems for producing biofuels
A method for producing biofuels is provided. A method of making biofuels includes dewatering substantially intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids from the algal biomass, and esterifying the neutral lipids with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising carotenoids and omega-3 fatty acids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock. |
| US08137553B2 |
Priming system and method for dialysis systems
The application is directed to an extracorporeal blood processing system capable of using dialysate to prime the system. A plastic molded compact manifold supports molded blood and dialysate fluidic pathways along with relevant sensors, valves and pumps. The compact manifold is also disposable in one embodiment and can be detachably installed in the dialysis machine. A two-way valve in the manifold is used to direct the dialysate flow through the blood circuit to prime the circuit for use in treatment. |
| US08137552B2 |
Device for treating and purifying a liquid product
The invention substantially relates to the distillery industry. Said invention makes it possible to increase the vodka purification efficiency by arranging a filter in the entire volume of a cartridge and by flowing a liquid product through the equal volume of filtering materials. |
| US08137551B1 |
Push filter with floating key lock
A filter assembly for fluid filtration having a push-activated lock and release mechanism. A push filter design activates a floating key lock upon insertion and extraction, where the filter key may be used simultaneously as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter attributes. The filter base may be situated inline, and in fluid communication, with influent and effluent piping, such as within a refrigerator. The filter housing assembly may be attached to, and removed from, the filter base by a push-actuated release. Upon insertion, the filter key shifts the filter lock longitudinally to receive interlocking segments. Upon extraction, the same axial push shifts the filter lock further to align the interlocking fingers within gaps that allow for easy extraction. The specific key lock design allows a user to identify and match certain filter configurations received by the mechanical support, and reject other filter configurations. |
| US08137547B2 |
Fluid treatment tank and a well fluid processing system comprising such a tank
A fluid treatment tank for use in a well fluid processing system. The tank is divided into at least three compartments, including an oil treatment compartment for receiving oil from a separator vessel of the well fluid processing system so as to allow stabilization and/or final separation and treatment of the oil, a reject treatment compartment for receiving reject fluid from one or more water treatment units of the well fluid processing system so as to allow gravitational separation of heavier and lighter components of the reject fluid, and a water treatment compartment for receiving de-oiled water from one or more water treatment units of the well fluid processing system so as to allow degassing and/or final separation of the water. Also, a well fluid processing system including such a fluid treatment tank. |
| US08137544B1 |
Waste water treatment system
A molded modular wastewater treatment system including a tank with molded double thick baffle walls made of UV stabilized ⅜″ thick polyethylene. The system is designed with three separately molded and interconnected chambers, a pretreatment chamber connected to a first side of an aeration chamber and a second side of the aeration chamber connected to a clarification chamber. The pretreatment chamber initially receives the wastewater and uses anaerobic bacterial action and gravity to precondition the wastewater and then passes the preconditioned water to an aeration chamber. The aeration chamber receives the pretreated wastewater from the pretreatment chamber and uses aerobic bacteria to biologically convert the waste in the wastewater into stable substances and then pass it to the clarification chamber. The clarification chamber receives the flow from the aeration chamber and settles out any biologically active material in the flow and returns it to the aeration chamber for additional processing. |
| US08137543B2 |
Sealing system for a removable internal wall within a vessel
A vessel system comprising a vessel is presented. The vessel system comprises at least one internal wall located within the vessel. The vessel system further comprises at least one inflatable seal to create a seal between an outer periphery of the internal wall and an internal cavity wall of the vessel. The vessel system further comprises a shaft longitudinally traversing the vessel and adapted to transmit a force applied on the at least one internal wall to an end of the vessel. |
| US08137537B2 |
Filtered water monitoring device and filtered water monitoring system
The present invention provides a filtered water monitoring device used for detecting damages in a filtration medium installed inside a membrane filtration water clarification device, thereby monitoring degradation of a performance thereof, in order to secure safety of filtered water flowing out from the membrane filtration water clarification device, comprising a branch filtered water pipeline system which is branched from a filtered water pipeline system connected to an outlet of the membrane filtration water clarification device, a filtered water observation plate which is installed in a certain position of the branch filtered water pipeline system, imaging means which takes an image of the filtered water in an observation tank of the filtered water observation plate and outputs image information thereon, and image analyzing means which receives the image information output from the imaging means, and compares the image information with a stored image pattern to identify impurities contained in the filtered water. |
| US08137535B2 |
Method for adjusting catalyst activity
Systems and methods for producing and using one or more doped catalysts are provided. One or more coked-catalyst particles can be fluidized in the presence of one or more oxidants to provide a fluidized mixture. The coke from the one or more coked-catalyst particles can be removed to provide regenerated catalyst particles within the fluidized mixture. One or more doping agents can be distributed to the fluidized mixture, and the one or more doping agents can be deposited onto the surface of the regenerated catalyst particles to provide a regenerated, doped catalyst particle. |
| US08137533B2 |
Mixture of catalysts for cracking naphtha to olefins
A process is presented for the selective catalytic cracking of naphtha to light olefins. The process includes contacting a naphtha feedstream with a mixture of catalysts to reduce the amount of recycle, and especially the recycle of light paraffins. The mixture of catalysts includes a first molecular sieve made up from a small pore zeolite having a pore index between 13 and 26, and a second molecular sieve made up from an intermediate pore zeolite having a pore index between 26 and 30. |
| US08137531B2 |
Integrated process for the production of lubricating base oils and liquid fuels from Fischer-Tropsch materials using split feed hydroprocessing
An integrated process for producing liquid fuel and lubricating base oil from Fischer-Tropsch derived products which comprises (a) recovering separately from a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor a Fischer-Tropsch wax and condensate; (b) hydroprocessing the wax and recovering a waxy intermediate and a hydrogen-rich normally, liquid fraction; (c) mixing the condensate and at least part of the hydrogen-rich normally liquid fraction to form a Fischer-Tropsch condensate mixture; (d) hydrotreating the condensate mixture and recovering a Fischer-Tropsch condensate product; (e) recovering from the condensate product a liquid fuel; (f) separately dewaxing the waxy intermediate and recovering a base oil; (g) hydrofinishing the base oil; (h) recovering from the hydrofinishing zone a stabilized base oil and a hydrogen-rich gas; and (i) recycling the hydrogen-rich gas to the wax hydroprocessing zone wherein the total pressure in the hydrofinishing zone is at least as high as the total pressure in the wax hydroprocessing zone. |
| US08137530B2 |
Process for producing petroleum coke
A process is provided for producing petroleum coke that is high in strength and sufficiently small in thermal expansion coefficient and sufficiently suppressed from puffing. The process includes coking a feedstock containing a first heavy oil having a sulfur content of 1.0 percent by mass or less, a nitrogen content of 0.5 percent by mass or less, and an aromatic index of 0.1 or greater, produced by hydrodesulfurizing a heavy oil with a sulfur content of 1 percent by mass or more under conditions (1) where the total pressure is 10 MPa or greater and less than 16 MPa and the hydrogen partial pressure is 5 MPa or greater and 16 MPa or less or conditions (2) where the total pressure is 20 MPa or greater and 25 MPa or less and the hydrogen partial pressure is greater than 20 MPa and 25 MPa or less, and a second heavy oil with an aromatic index of 0.3 or greater and an initial boiling point of 150° C. or higher. |
| US08137528B2 |
Applications for sacrificial anodes
This invention relates to protection of a metal component exposed to a corroding medium. One or more of the following are provided: cathodic protection, measuring of a condition of the component, retarding or avoiding of fouling. A sacrificial anode is used as the energy source such that the electric circuit can provide a pulsating current, voltage, automatically adapted current, or protecting potential. Germanium solid state elements are used. |
| US08137527B1 |
Carbon dioxide isolation and generation
Methods and apparatus for collecting/concentrating carbon dioxide are disclosed. In addition, methods and apparatus for utilizing collected carbon dioxide in biofuel production and biomass cultivation are disclosed. |
| US08137526B2 |
Method of making an electrochemical nanowire assembly and attaching cells thereto
A method of growing a crystalline nanowire is disclosed. The method includes providing a pair of electrodes, immersing the electrode pair in a salt solution, and selectively applying a voltage signal to the electrode pair to induce growth of the nanowire between the electrode pairs. |
| US08137513B2 |
Sulfuric acid electrolytic cell and a sulfuric acid recycle type cleaning system applying the sulfuric acid electrolytic cell
In a sulfuric acid electrolytic cell to electrolyze sulfuric acid supplied to an anode compartment and a cathode compartment comprising a diaphragm, said anode compartment and said cathode compartment separated by said diaphragm, a cathode provided in said cathode compartment and a conductive diamond anode provided in said anode compartment, as said conductive diamond anode, a conductive diamond film is formed on the surface of said conductive substrate, the rear face of said conductive substrate is pasted, with conductive paste, on an current collector comprising a rigid body with size equal to, or larger than, said conductive substrate, an anode compartment frame constituting said anode compartment is contacted via gasket with the periphery on the side of the conductive diamond film of said diamond anode, said diaphragm is contacted with the front face of said anode compartment, further, with the front face of said diaphragm, the cathode compartment frame constituting said cathode compartment, a gasket, and said cathode are contacted in sequence, the rear face of said cathode is pasted with conductive paste to the current collector comprising a rigid body with size equal to, or larger than, said cathode and electric power is supplied from one current collector to the other current collector via said conductive paste. |
| US08137512B2 |
Process for analyzing sample by capillary electrophoresis method
A process for analyzing a sample by a capillary electrophoresis method is provided that allows the apparatus to be reduced in size, allows a high analytical precision to be obtained, and can be carried out easily. The analytical process of the present invention is a process for analyzing a sample by a capillary electrophoresis method. The analytical process includes preparing a capillary tube to be used for the capillary electrophoresis method, and performing electrophoretic separation of a complex of a sample and an anionic group-containing compound that are bonded together, in the capillary tube, wherein the capillary tube includes an anionic layer that is formed of the anionic group-containing compound and that is coated on the inner wall of the capillary tube, and the anionic layer is fixed to the inner wall of the capillary tube by a covalent bond. |
| US08137508B2 |
Pyrolytic process for producing enhanced amounts of aromatic compounds
A pyrolysis process and reactor converts various hydrocarbons such as waste materials, for example, scrap polymers, tires, etc., into various chemical components or amounts thereof, not otherwise produced by conventional pyrolytic processes. A large reactor size is utilized in association with a low heat input per unit weight of charge. A thick pyrolyzate/“char” layer is formed during pyrolysis. The product or various components thereof can be utilized as a fuel or octane additive. |
| US08137506B2 |
Paper comprising PIPD pulp and process for making same
The invention concerns a paper comprising polypyridobisimidazole fibers, where the apparent density of the paper is from 0.1 to 0.5 g/cm3 and the tensile strength of the paper in N/cm is at least 0.00057X*Y, where X is the volume portion of polypyridobisimidazole in the total solids of the paper in % and Y is basis weight of the paper in g/m2. |
| US08137499B2 |
Method for reinforcing a fibre composite component and a vacuum mat and arrangement for producing a reinforced fibre composite component
In a method for reinforcing a fiber composite component for aviation and space flight, a vacuum mat is configured with at least one receiving portion for reproducibly receiving at least one reinforcing element. The at least one reinforcing element is introduced into the at least one receiving portion of the vacuum mat. The vacuum mat with at least one introduced reinforcing element is applied reproducibly in a sealed manner to the fiber composite component to be reinforced to form a mold portion and at least the formed mold portion is cured to connect the at least one reinforcing element to the fiber composite component. The vacuum mat is then removed from the reinforced fiber composite component so that the vacuum mat can be reused. |
| US08137497B2 |
Method of manufacturing wiring substrate
A method includes the steps of providing a first tape base material on a single side of a stiffener substrate, forming, on the stiffener substrate, a cavity for accommodating a semiconductor chip therein, inserting the stiffener substrate in the cavity and providing the stiffener substrate on the first tape base material, sealing the semiconductor chip and the stiffener substrate with a sealing resin, and removing the first tape base material and forming a build-up layer on a tape removing surface. |
| US08137486B2 |
Proximally self-locking long bone prosthesis
A method for arthroplasty includes using a self-locking prosthesis that has a member structured to transfer a load produced by the weight of a patient to a bone. An expandable bone-locking portion that is integral to the member includes a shape-memory material and expands to produce a locking force. A portion of the bone is removed to form an aperture in the bone. The bone-locking portion is inserted into the aperture, and a temperature increase causes a change from a contracted state to an expanded state resulting in expansion of the bone-locking portion so as to contact the inner surface. The expanding is sufficient to create a locking force at the junction between the inner surface and the bone-locking portion of the prosthesis and the majority of the locking force is applied at or above the metaphysis. The length/width ration of the prosthesis may be less than or equal to 5. The resulting reconstructed long-bone may have improved primary and long-term stability. |
| US08137483B2 |
Method of making a low cost, high strength, high toughness, martensitic steel
A method of designing low cost, high strength, high toughness martensitic steel uses mathematical modeling to define optimum low cost chemical compositions, the content of retained austenite, and critical temperatures; melting an ingot, processing same, making steel articles, and heat treating the articles using the critical temperatures and the content of retained austenite. The new steel comprises, by weight, about 0.3-0.45% of C; at most 2.5% of Cr; at most 1.0% of Mo; at most 3.50% of Ni; about 0.3 to 1.5% of Mn; about 0.1-1.3% of Si; about 0.1-1.0% of Cu; Cu being less than Si; about 0.1 to 1.0% of V+Ti+Nb; at most 0.25% of Al; the sum of alloying elements being less than about 11.5%; the balance being essentially Fe and incidental impurities. Procedures of melting, processing and heat treatment using the mathematical model are disclosed. |
| US08137482B2 |
Carburization heat treatment method and method of use
Disclosed is a carburization heat treatment method including carburizing a workpiece at a relatively low temperature within a temperature range of A1˜A3 using a vacuum carburizing furnace and then performing quenching using a high-pressure gas, in which the workpiece is made of typical carburizing alloy steel having a carbon content of about 0.10˜0.35 wt %. This method can be applied to carburization heat treatment of a steel workpiece sensitive to heat deformation, such as an annulus gear, in lieu of a conventional gas carburization method using plug quenching. |
| US08137481B2 |
Tank cleaning apparatus
A cleaning device for cleaning of the inside of tanks and similar containers by a cleaning fluid, the cleaning device including a connector part for connecting the cleaning device to a piping system, a rotor part rotatably arranged relative to the connector part and a holding part for rotatably holding the rotor part adjacent to relative to the connector part, and where the holding part is provided with a first holding arrangement which co-operates with a corresponding second holding arrangement on the connector part releasably hold the holding part to the a connector part, where the holding part can rotated around its longitudinal direction between a holding position and a releasing position. |
| US08137476B2 |
Secondary reaction quench device and method of use
In this disclosure, a reactor system is described. The reaction system comprises (a) a reaction vessel having an inner wall, wherein said reaction vessel is configured to receive reactants and export products and byproducts; (b) a primary quench device (PQD) configured to receive a coolant and disperse said coolant into said reaction vessel; and (c) a secondary quench device (SQD) configured to receive a coolant and disperse said coolant into said reaction vessel; wherein said PQD comprises an array of spray nozzles fixed on the inner wall of said reaction vessel at a first axial position; and wherein said SQD comprises (1) an axially movable pipe having a coolant entry end and a nozzle end, wherein said pipe is configured to be removably fixed inside said reaction vessel; and (2) a spray nozzle that is fluidly connected to said pipe at its nozzle end via a fluid tight seal connection. |
| US08137467B2 |
Temperature controlled showerhead
A temperature controlled showerhead for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chambers enhances heat dissipation to enable accurate temperature control with an electric heater. Heat dissipates by conduction through a showerhead stem and fluid passageway and radiation from a back plate. A temperature control system includes one or more temperature controlled showerheads in a CVD chamber with fluid passageways serially connected to a heat exchanger. |
| US08137463B2 |
Dual zone gas injection nozzle
The present invention generally provides apparatus and method for processing a substrate. Particularly, the present invention provides apparatus and methods to obtain a desired distribution of a process gas. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for processing a substrate comprising an injection nozzle having a first fluid path including a first inlet configured to receive a fluid input, and a plurality of first injection ports connected with the first inlet, wherein the plurality of first injection ports are configured to direct a fluid from the first inlet towards a first region of a process volume, and a second fluid path including a second inlet configured to receive a fluid input, and a plurality of second injection ports connected with the second inlet, wherein the second injection ports are configured to direct a fluid from the second inlet towards a second region of the process volume. |
| US08137461B2 |
Piezoelectric substrate, piezoelectric element, liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus
A piezoelectric substrate of a perovskite-type oxide is expressed by a general formula of ABO3 having a laminate structure of a single crystal structure or a uniaxial crystal structure expressed by (Pb1-xMx)xm(ZryTi1-y)O3 (where M represents an element selected from La, Ca, Ba, Sr, Bi, Sb and W). The laminate structure has a first crystal phase layer having a crystal structure selected from a tetragonal structure, a rhombohedral structure, a pseudocubic structure and a monoclinic structure, a second crystal phase layer having a crystal structure different from the crystal structure of said first crystal phase layer and a boundary layer arranged between the first crystal phase layer and the second crystal phase layer with a crystal structure gradually changing in a thickness direction of the layer. The thicknesses of the first and second crystal phase layer differ. |
| US08137454B2 |
Cementitious composition incorporating high levels of glass aggregate for producing solid surfaces
A cementitious composition for high density, low porosity sheet-form building materials having solid surfaces is comprised of cement, pozzolans, and a high percentage of fine and/or coarse glass aggregate. |
| US08137453B2 |
Fiber reinforced concrete and method of manufacturing fiber reinforced concrete member
Fiber reinforced concrete is generated by including fiber in a dispersed manner in a cement matrix including: cement; first pozzolanic reactant particles having a high activity; second pozzolanic reactant particles having an activity lower than the first pozzolanic reactant particles; first aggregate particles having a maximum particle diameter smaller than or equal to 2.5 mm, a mean particle diameter within a range of 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm and a fineness modulus within a range of 1.5 to 3.5; second aggregate particles having a maximum particle diameter smaller than or equal to 0.425 mm, a mean particle diameter within a range of 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm and a fineness modulus within a range of 0.4 to 0.8; at least one type of plasticizer; and water. |
| US08137450B2 |
Collagen-based lyophilised glue and the use thereof for producing an adhesive prosthesis
A lyophilized glue contains a collagen which is partially crosslinked with the aid of at least one type of aldehyde. A method for preparing the glue and the use thereof for producing an adhesive on anti-adhesive prosthesis are also provided. |
| US08137449B2 |
Inkjet ink
An inkjet ink is provided, which is hardly wettable to the surface of nozzle plates, and thus is stably ejected and is prevented from staining images. The inkjet ink is an oil-based inkjet ink which contains at least a pigment, a pigment-dispersing agent and a solvent constituted by at least an ester solvent, a salt of a long-chain polyaminoamide and a polar acidic ester in an amount of 1% by weight or more relative to the total amount of the ink. |
| US08137448B2 |
Ink composition for ink jet recording
There is provided an ink composition that can realize high-quality images free from white streaks or roughness even in low resolution when printing paper for running-on such as art paper is used. The ink composition comprises at least a colorant, water, an alcohol solvent, and a surfactant, wherein the alcohol solvent comprises a sparingly water soluble alkanediol, a water soluble alkanediol, and a water soluble alkanetriol. |
| US08137444B2 |
Systems and methods for processing CO2
Systems and methods for lowering levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants are provided. Economically viable systems and processes capable of removing vast quantities of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants from gaseous waste streams and sequestering them in storage-stable forms are also discussed. |
| US08137437B2 |
Vapour generators
A vapor generator system (1, 101) for an IMS (4, 104) or other apparatus has a chamber (9, 109) in which vapor is produced. A fan or other flow generator (6, 106) is connected to an inlet (8, 108) of the vapor chamber (9, 109) and its outlet (13, 113) is connected to an adsorbent passage (14, 114), such as formed by a bore through a block (15) of carbon. When the fan (6, 106) is on gas flows through the vapor chamber (9, 109) and the adsorbent passage (14, 114) to the IMS (4, 104) or other outlet, with little vapor being adsorbed in the passage. When the fan (6, 106) is off, any vapor molecules that escape to the adsorbent passage (14, 114) do so at a low rate such that substantially all is adsorbed and no vapor escapes. |
| US08137436B2 |
Humidifier membrane
A passive humidifier membrane includes polyolefin with a plurality of pores, wherein the average pore size of the plurality of pores is 0.05 μm to 0.4 μm as established by a PMI Capillary Flow Porometer. The humidifier membrane is virtually airtight while providing a high transfer rate of water. Transfer of heat is also high. The humidifier membrane is particularly suitable for heat exchange and water transfer between fluids and, it is particularly useful for applications inside or outside fuel cells such as PEMFC. The membrane is also particularly useful in the application as humidifier for air or oxygen. |
| US08137435B2 |
Carbon dioxide recovery from low concentration sources
A system and method of purifying gaseous carbon dioxide from a gaseous mixture obtained at low pressure from a flue gas by passing the gaseous mixture through a vacuum swing adsorption unit and then a gas purification unit to produce carbon dioxide having a purity of approximately 97% by volume or more. |
| US08137433B2 |
Method of regenerating metal, regenerated metal, material for lithographic printing plate bases, and lithographic printing plate
A metal regeneration method including: a melting furnace cleaning step of melting pure aluminum with an aluminum content of 99.5% by weight or higher in a melting furnace to clean the inside of the melting furnace; and a metal regeneration step of melting waste lithographic printing plates selected from unused lithographic printing plates and used lithographic printing plates, in the melting furnace whose inside has been cleaned by the melting furnace cleaning step, to obtain regenerated metal. |
| US08137432B2 |
Method and furnace for melting steel scrap
A method for smelting steel scrap in a furnace, including: blowing a working gas into the furnace via a flow channel to supply melting energy; guiding the working gas through at least one electrodeless plasma torch; producing a plasma by at least one inductive heating coil, which encloses the flow channel coaxially and forms a heating zone; and guiding a cooling gas through a radially outside region of the flow channel. |
| US08137426B2 |
Filter mounts for a portable fan and methods for mounting a filter to a portable fan
A filter frame is removably attachable to a box fan. The filter frame is adapted for receiving a standard HVAC-style filter for removing contaminants from air flow induced by the fan. In this manner, a cost-effective means for filtering a flow of air is provided for residential and commercial settings. The filter frame is adaptable to a variety of standard box fan types of different styles and dimensions. The frame is configured to accommodate standard filters, such as those readily available from retail hardware stores and home centers. |
| US08137424B2 |
Air cleaning device for internal combustion engine and internal combustion engine
An air cleaner device that has a reduced size achieved by curving an air introduction path, that has a cleaner element with extended service life, and in which air flows uniformly in a clean chamber. The air introduction path (21) having an exit (21o) open to a dust chamber (12) of an air cleaner chamber (11) of an air cleaner (10) has a bent path partitioned by a flow regulation plate (22) into an inside branch path (23) inside the curve and an outside branch path (24) outside the curve. Airflows separately flowing into the dust chamber (12) from the exit (21o) after passing through the inside and outside branch paths (23, 24) are deflected upward and directed toward the cleaner element (F) by a first deflection section (33) and a second deflection section (34) arranged in the dust chamber (12). The second deflection section (34) is located at a position closer in the front-rear direction to the exit (21o) than the first deflection section (33). |
| US08137423B2 |
Method of making abrasive article
A method of making an abrasive article comprising an abrasive disc (1) of non-woven fibres having a central shaft (3) and a hub (2) securing the shaft (3) to the abrasive disc (1). The method comprising forming the hub (3) by injecting molten thermoplastic material into the abrasive disc (1), and allowing the thermoplastic material to cool and solidify such that the shaft (3) is secured to the abrasive disc (1). The invention provides a simple, economical and effective method of securing a shaft to a disc. |
| US08137420B2 |
Densified fuel pellets
A method of producing a biomass-based fuel pellet, such as a fuel pellet which includes thermoplastic polymeric material and a substantial amount of cellulosic material, e.g. cellulosic material derived from biomass source(s), is provided. The method commonly includes compressing a feed mixture to form a densified material, where the feed mixture includes about 5 to 15 wt. % of the thermoplastic polymeric material and at least about 75 wt. % cellulosic material. Many embodiments of the fuel pellets are suitable for use in a coal-fired furnace and/or in other industrial boiler applications. |
| US08137419B2 |
Odorant mixture for odorless gas fuel
The invention concerns a composition for use in particular as odorant of a gas fuel, more particularly of natural gas, comprising: 0.1 to 49.9 particles by weight of at least one alkyl sulphur (I) of formula: R1—S—R2, wherein R1 and R2, identical or different, represent: an alkyl radical comprising 1 to 4 carbon atom; or R1 and R2 together with the sulfur atom to which they are bound represent a saturated or unsaturated ring including 3 to 5 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by a C1-C4 alkyl or C1-C4 alkenyl; 50 to 99.8 parts by weight of at least two alkyl acrylates (II) the alkyl radicals of which comprise 1 to 12 carbon atoms, preferably 1 to 8: 0.001 parts by weight of at least compound (III) inhibiting polymerization of the alkyl acrylates (II). |
| US08137414B2 |
Coloring and perming compositions for hair
The present invention is related to an aqueous composition comprising an alkalizing agent and a cationic polymer. The inventors of the present invention have surprisingly found out that a composition comprising at least one alkalizing agent and a cationic polymer consisting of a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and vinylimidazole and a homopolymer of dimethyl dially ammonium chloride colors and/or permanently shapes hair excellently and improves hair shine, combability and manageability and especially hair treated with such composition has less flyaway. Additionally it has been observed that hair colored and/or permanently shaped more homogeneously from root to tips. The object of the present invention is a composition for hair comprising at least one alkalizing agent and a cationic polymer consisting of a copolymer of vinylpyrrolidone and vinylimidazole and a homopolymer of dimethyl dially ammonium chloride. Cationic charge density of the polymer is preferably between 3 and 4 mEq/g and particularly 3.7 mEq/g at pH 7.0. |
| US08137413B2 |
Coloring composition
An aqueous oxidative coloring composition for keratin fibers has at least one oxidative dye precursor and optionally at least one coupling agent and an aqueous emulsion of divinyldimethicone/dimethicone copolymer with an internal phase viscosity of more than 1×108 mm2/s measured at 0.01 Hz and at about 25° C. and at least one alkyl ether or ester or amine alkyl amine or quaternary ammonium compound. |
| US08137403B2 |
Hemi-interbody spinal fusion implants manufactured from a major long bone ring
An interbody spinal implant comprising cortical bone having a width less than one-half the width of the disc space into which it is adapted to be inserted. The implant has a leading end that is asymmetrical from side to side and/or includes a straight portion adapted to be used in side-by-side pairs. |
| US08137402B2 |
Vertebral defect device
A vertebral defect device for insertion into an intervertebral space between a pair of adjacent vertebrae and for assisting in fusion between the adjacent vertebrae includes a rigid body having an distal end, a proximal end, a top, a bottom and a pair of lateral sides. The distal end is tapered in a general direction that extends between the top and the bottom of the body in order to facilitate insertion of the body into the intervertebral space. At least a first arch is proximate the top of the body and extends from the proximal end of the body toward the distal end of the body. The first arch is spaced from both lateral sides of the body. At least a second arch is proximate the bottom of the body and extends from the proximal end toward the distal end. The second arch is spaced from both lateral sides and is generally laterally aligned with the first arch for providing a rigid, generally vertical support. |
| US08137400B2 |
Tensile force-adjustable fixing tool for fixing tendon graft and ligament reconstruction method
A fixing tool used in a ligament reconstruction operation includes a fixing member having a main body part provided with a through-hole and two spike parts which can be stricken into the bone and a fixing screw. The fixing screw includes a shaft part having a self-tap portion and a male screw portion, a head part, and a lumen. The fixing screw can be screwed into the bone plug in a state where a guide pin pierced into the bone plug penetrates the lumen of the fixing screw and a pulling member mounted to the bone plug and extended from the bone tunnel is being pulled. The fixing screw can adjust a tensile force of the tendon graft by adjusting the amount of screwing of the fixing screw into the bone plug after the head part of the fixing screw contacts the fixing member. |
| US08137397B2 |
Medical devices
Medical devices, particularly stents, suitable for drug delivery and including a sugar, sugar derivative, inorganic ionic salt, polysaccharide, amino acid, amino acid derivative, polypeptide, surfactant, or combination thereof, are disclosed. |
| US08137394B2 |
Valve with delayed leaflet deployment
A valve for use in a body lumen, where the valve includes a valve leaflet with delayed leaflet deployment relative an in vivo implant time. The valve includes a valve frame, a valve leaflet coupled to the valve frame. The valve leaflet includes a commissure that can reversibly seal for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve, and a biodegradable adhesive between the valve leaflet and the valve frame to hold at least the commissure of the valve leaflet in a static relationship relative the valve frame for a predetermined time once implanted in vivo. |
| US08137391B2 |
High viscosity composition
A high viscosity composition which according to the invention comprises at least one polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene-block copolymer (poloxamer) having the structural formula HO(C2H4O)a (C3H6O)b (C2H4O)a H and having an average molecular weight of above 6000; at least one additional polymer having an average molecular weight of above 150000, and a dispersion medium, comprising at least one freezing point depressing dispersant and at least one freezing point non-depressing dispersant. The composition is heatable above the body temperature of a mammal and coolable below 0° C. within a predetermined temperature range. |
| US08137388B2 |
Transverse connector for rod-based spinal implants
A spinal implant system is provided for correcting spinal abnormalities. The system involves connectors configured to fit over spinal implant rods, a transverse rod, and a locking member for fixing each connector to the spinal implant rod and transverse rod. The connector is configured such that when the locking member is in a first position, the transverse rod is temporarily fixed to the connector, and when the locking member is in a second position, both the transverse rod and spinal implant rod are fixed to the connector. |
| US08137386B2 |
Polyaxial bone screw apparatus
A polyaxial bone screw includes a head member and a shank member. The shank has a capture end and an opposite threaded end for threaded insertion into a vertebra. The head has a U-shaped cradle for receiving a spinal fixation rod and a central bore for receiving the capture end of the shank. An expandible retainer ring with a radial split is snapped onto the capture end of the shank to retain it within the head. The retainer ring has a spherical outer surface which forms a ball joint with a spherical socket cavity within the head to enable the head to be angled relative to the shank. A threaded closure plug is tightened within the cradle to clamp the rod into engagement with a knurled dome on the capture end of the shank to secure the rod relative to the vertebra. |
| US08137385B2 |
System and method for dynamic vertebral stabilization
An intervertebral stabilization device and method is disclosed. The device preferably includes a planar spring enclosed within a housing. The housing is joined to an articulation component at either end, and the articulation components have couplings connectable to anchoring components which are securable to adjacent vertebrae. The planar spring can flex and retract providing relative motion between the adjacent vertebrae. The articulation components are ball and socket joints which allow the entire assembly to flexibly follow the curvature of the spine. A fusion rod with articulation components and couplings at either end may be substituted for the spring device. The couplings enable interchangeability between a fusion rod assembly and spring assembly, so that dynamic stabilization can occur at one vertebral level and fusion at the adjacent vertebral level. An overhung spring assembly with a sideways displaced housing which allows for a shorter pedicle to pedicle displacement is also disclosed. |
| US08137383B2 |
Knotless suture anchor and method for knotlessly securing tissues
A method for securing first and second tissues with a suture anchor. The steps include forming a borehole in the first tissue; threading a suture through the second tissue forming a loop in the suture with the tissue thereby secured in the loop, the loop defining two suture portions; attaching the two suture portions to the anchor whereby the two suture portions are threaded through the anchor and initially movable with respect to the anchor; and providing a force to a shaft of the anchor, the force causing clamping of the two suture portions in the anchor and deformation of a deformable portion of the anchor to cause the deformable portion to engage a wall of the borehole thereby to secure the suture anchor in the first tissue and the loop holding the second tissue to the suture anchor. |
| US08137375B2 |
Nasal packing device
A kit for packing and supporting the nasal cavities after surgical procedures performed on the nose having two inflatable non-elastomeric balloons (6′, 6″) and inflation port arrangement (27) arranged so that, in use, each balloon (6′, 6″) can be located in a nasal cavity and inflated. |
| US08137367B2 |
Obesity treatment tools and methods
Various obesity treatment tools and methods are described herein, as well as treatments for other gastric-related diseases, e.g., GERD. Treatment includes reducing the size of the stomach pouch to limit the caloric intake as well as to provide an earlier feeling of satiety. This may be done by creating a smaller gastric pouch within the stomach directly from the interior of the stomach itself. The smaller pouches may be made through the use of individual anchoring devices, rotating probes, or volume reduction devices. A pyloroplasty procedure may also be performed to render the pyloric sphincter incompetent. A gastric bypass procedure may additionally be performed using atraumatic magnetic anastomoses devices so that sugars and fats are passed directly to the bowel while bypassing the stomach. Many of these procedures may be done in a variety of combinations. Treatment may create enforced behavioral modifications by discouraging the ingestion of high-caloric foods. |
| US08137366B2 |
Obesity treatment tools and methods
Various obesity treatment tools and methods are described herein, as well as treatments for other gastric-related diseases, e.g., GERD. Treatment includes reducing the size of the stomach pouch to limit the caloric intake as well as to provide an earlier feeling of satiety. This may be done by creating a smaller gastric pouch within the stomach directly from the interior of the stomach itself. The smaller pouches may be made through the use of individual anchoring devices, rotating probes, or volume reduction devices. A pyloroplasty procedure may also be performed to render the pyloric sphincter incompetent. A gastric bypass procedure may additionally be performed using atraumatic magnetic anastomoses devices so that sugars and fats are passed directly to the bowel while bypassing the stomach. Many of these procedures may be done in a variety of combinations. Treatment may create enforced behavioral modifications by discouraging the ingestion of high-caloric foods. |
| US08137364B2 |
Articulating suturing device and method
Devices, systems, and methods for suturing of body lumens allow the suturing of vascular puncture sites located at the distal end of a percutaneous tissue tract. An elongated articulated foot near a distal end of a shaft is inserted through the penetration and actuated so that the foot extends along the lumenal axis. The foot carries suturing attachment cuffs, and needles are advanced from the shaft through the vessel wall outside of the penetration and into engagement with the needle cuffs after the foot has been drawn proximally up against the endothelial surface of the blood vessel. The cross-section of the shaft within the tissue tract can be minimized by laterally deflecting the needles as they leave the shaft, while tapered depressions within the foot can guide the advancing needles into engagement with the cuffs. The cuffs lockingly engage the needles and can be withdrawn proximally along the needle paths and through the tissue tract so as to form a loop of suture across the puncture. The articulating foot may be realigned with the shaft and withdrawn proximally through the tissue tract without dilating the tissue tract. The suture may be provided with a bight between first and second ends, the bight including one or more loops prearranged to define a pre-tied knot when one or more ends of the suture passed therethrough. A suture cutting blade may be positioned on the device such that when the needle is withdrawn from the device, the suture can be drawn across the blade to sever the suture. |
| US08137363B2 |
Electrical dermabrasion device
An electrical dermabrasion device (10) for exfoliating a foot includes a hollow main body (12); an abrasion unit (32, 42) connected to the main body (12), for exfoliating the foot; and a driving unit (14, 16, 18) incorporated in a hollow portion of the main body (12), for rotating the abrasion unit (32, 42). |
| US08137357B2 |
Rod coercer
A rod coercer for use in spinal fixation procedures is provided. The rod coercer can be pivoted in a first direction to fixedly grip an implant, and pivoted in a second direction to reduce a rod into the implant. In one embodiment, the rod coercer includes first and second articulating handle branches, first and second rod contacting arms extending from the first and second handle branches, first and second implant gripping arms pivotally interconnected with the first and second handle branches, and means for releasably locking the handle branches and the implant gripping arms in a closed and locked position. In another embodiment, the rod coercer includes a single handle having first and second implant gripping arms connected by a bridge and pivotally attached to the handle, and spring-loaded implant gripping arms for gripping sides of an implant. In another embodiment, the rod coercer includes an adjustable rod contacting arm which can be adjusted to a desired angle with respect to the handles of the coercer. In another embodiment, the rod coercer includes pivotally interconnected handle branches, each of which is divided into upper and lower branch portions which are pivotally interconnected with each other, an implant gripping assembly extending from the lower branch portions of the handle branches, and a rod contacting arm slidably and pivotally coupled to the upper and lower branch portions. In another embodiment, the implant gripping arms of the rod coercer of the present invention are secured to each other by a flexible retainer. |
| US08137356B2 |
Flexible guide for insertion of a vertebral stabilization system
An installation system for installing a vertebral stabilization system. The system includes an implant guide and an insert. The implant guide includes a handle and a shaft extending from the handle. The distal end of the shaft is configured for engagement with a head portion of a vertebral anchor. The shaft has flexibility characteristics allowing the shaft to flexibly bend between a first configuration and a second configuration. The insert is slidably disposed along the shaft of the implant guide. The insert inhibits the shaft from bending from the second configuration to the first configuration. |
| US08137355B2 |
Spinal stabilization installation instrumentation and methods
A system for installing a vertebral stabilization system. The system includes an installation tool including a handle portion and a shaft extending distally from the handle portion. The shaft includes a conduit and a staple mechanism. The system also includes a flexible implant member extending along the conduit configured to be advanced out from a distal end of the shaft, and a staple housed in the staple mechanism. The staple is configured to secure the flexible implant member to a vertebra. The handle portion is configured to selectively advance the flexible implant member from the shaft and to selectively actuate the staple mechanism. |
| US08137354B2 |
Localized cartilage defect therapy
Methods of repairing cartilage defects are provided. The cartilage defect is identified and shaped to prepare the cartilage defect for a localized therapy. The cartilage defect is isolated with an isolation device. The localized therapy is then delivered to the cartilage defect through the isolation device. |
| US08137352B2 |
Expandable intervertebral tool system and method
The invention includes a system and method for loosening of tissue. In one embodiment, an intervertebral tissue removal system includes at least one abrading member for abrading tissue in an area to be cleared and at least one expandable member operable to be expanded from a first condition to a second condition, wherein the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the second condition is greater than the volume defined by the at least one expandable member in the first condition, the at least one expandable member operably connected to the at least one abrading member such that as the at least one expandable member expands from the first condition to the second condition, the at least one abrading member is moved from a first position to a second position. The system includes an expansion media for insertion within the at least one expandable member and an expansion media conduit for delivering the expansion media to the at least one expandable member to expand the at least one expandable member from the first condition to the second condition. |
| US08137350B2 |
Fracture fixator for femoral trochanteric fracture
In an internal fixator having a sliding mechanism for treating femoral trochanteric fracture, it is intended to firmly hold the femoral head by setting a sliding direction at a high angle. The fixator is constituted of a sliding nail, a femoral head nail, and a sleeve plate. The sliding nail is inserted at a high angle of about 160° in relation to a femoral axis. The femoral head nail is inserted at a low angle of about 95°. A tip of the femoral head nail is located within the femoral head. The femoral head nail is combined and joined with the sliding nail within the bone. A sliding nail passes and slides within the sleeve of the sleeve plate. A sliding direction is consistent with a tangential direction of an inner cortical bone at a fracture side. Thus, displacement between the fracture edges is less likely to occur and excessive shortening can be avoided. With the femoral head nail, the femoral head can be firmly held. |
| US08137347B2 |
Method of fracture fixation
An external fixator includes a main body and an outrigger for extending over a fractured joint, such as a wrist joint. The main body can be positioned next to a right arm, or flipped over and positioned next to a left arm. The outrigger is attachable to extend either to the left or to the right of the main body, as appropriate. A distal body is removeably connectable to the distal end of the main body, and the distal body can be affixed to bone on the opposite side of the fracture to immobilize the joint where the fracture occurs. The distal body is connected to the main body with an adjustable securement section which provides six degrees of adjustment freedom. The outrigger is attached to the main body through a slide plate in a dual rail configuration which provides two dimensions of adjustment. Fragment pin supports ride in a track of the outrigger, and provide seven degrees of adjustment freedom for directed fixation of fragments at the fracture site. The outrigger is pivotally adjustable relative to the main body, and includes track portions separated by a wrap around angle. The major components of the fixator are molded of plastic. A surgical technique using the fixator includes immobilizing the joint for an initial healing duration and retaining fragment pins in place during a secondary healing duration. |
| US08137346B2 |
Electrosurgical lesion location device
A device for localizing a target tissue mass in a body includes a tubular trocar portion having a distal end and a proximal end portion that is removably attachable to a handle portion. The trocar portion contains at least a first plurality of locator wires that are movable between a retracted position within the trocar and a deployed position extending radially from the trocar. The first plurality of locator wires mounted for axial movement within the trocar portion between a proximal retracted position and a deployed distal position. The second plurality of locator wires is mounted for movement between a distal retracted position and a proximal deployed position. The locator wires are electrically energized to facilitate their deployment electrosurgically. |
| US08137345B2 |
Electrosurgical devices for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
Monopolar electrosurgery devices adapted for resecting tonsil and adenoid tissue. The devices minimize thermal injury by employing a plasma generated by pulsed electrical signals to precisely and effectively cut or coagulate the tissues. Suction may also be applied to the tissues to enhance the cutting, coagulation, and tissue manipulation functions. The devices include an interchangeable tip that may be switched for another tip, depending on which tip may be more suitable for tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy. |
| US08137344B2 |
Flexible, automated capsulorhexis device
A capsularhexis electrode device and corresponding insertion tool are disclosed. A flexible capsulorhexis electrode device comprises an elastomeric ring, first and second electrically conductive traces disposed at a first face of the elastomeric ring and extending concentrically around the elastomeric ring, and first and second electrically conductive connectors. The first and second electrically conductive connectors are electrically connected to the first and second traces, respectively, and are disposed at opposing points across the elastomeric ring from one another. An insertion tool includes first and second stretcher bars with connectors for mating to the electrode device. One of the stretcher bars translates relative to the other to elongate the flexible electrode device for insertion into the anterior chamber of the eye through a small incision. |
| US08137340B2 |
Apparatus and method for soft tissue ablation employing high power diode-pumped laser
The present invention discloses a high power diode-pumped laser for laser ablation of soft tissue. The present invention contemplates to operate the high power diode-pumped solid-state laser at a continuous Q-switching mode and at a big number of transverse modes. The present invention also contemplates to reduce beam divergence and beam spot size and thus to increase power density of the laser on target tissue to improve the speed of tissue ablation. The present invention further contemplates to minimize power consumption such that external water-cooling or secondary cooling loop can be eliminated. The present invention even further contemplates to implement combined mechanisms to protect intracavity optics from power damage. Finally, the present invention contemplates hospitals and surgeon offices to use the high power diode-pumped laser for soft tissue ablation with standard electrical wall-plug outlet and elimination of inconvenient external water-cooling or secondary cooling loop. |
| US08137339B2 |
Working mechanism and manipulator
A working unit includes a gear body disposed forwardly of a tubular member around which a wire is wound and having a rotational axis disposed substantially parallel to the tubular member, and a first gear and a second gear for transmitting rotation of a gear body to another gear body. The numbers of turns of wires, the size of a main shaft, and the size of a gear body, which are positioned forwardly of the tubular member, have no adverse effect on the manner in which a wire is wound around the tubular member. The wire can be wound around the tubular member over a wide region thereof for increasing the angular displacement of the gear body. The increased angular displacement of the gear body makes it possible to increase the angular displacement and rotational torque of the gear body. |
| US08137338B2 |
Tissue patches and related delivery systems and methods
Endoluminally delivered tissue patches and related systems and methods for delivering the tissue patches for treating lesions of the alimentary tract are disclosed. A tissue patch includes a substrate, a tissue implant attached to the substrate, and a protective liner covering at least a portion of the tissue implant. A method includes providing a tissue patch having a tissue implant attached to a substrate and a protective liner covering at least a portion of the tissue implant. The tissue patch is formed into a contracted state and inserted into a lumen containing the lesion. The tissue patch then is positioned in the vicinity of the lesion. After removing the protective liner to reveal the tissue implant, the tissue implant is placed in the lesion. |
| US08137337B2 |
Indwelling urinary catheter with self-retaining mechanism
A urinary catheter with an improved retaining and activating feature is provided which is a safe device with reduced irritation and discomfort to a patient. The retaining mechanism positioned at the proximal end of the catheter assumes a “close” state for introduction and removal of the catheter into and from the urethral tract, and is transitioned into the “open” state when the catheter is in the bladder by mechanically manipulating the retaining mechanism through the activation mechanism. An actuating linkage wire connected between the retaining mechanism and activation mechanism controllably reciprocates in the channel of the catheter to transition the catheter between the “open” and “closed” states. |
| US08137334B2 |
Reduction of inflammatory mass with spinal catheters
Devices, systems and methods for delivering one or more drugs to one or more internal body locations (such as the cerebrospinal fluid) are disclosed. In various aspects, the systems and methods may involve catheters having infusion sections with permeable membranes that develop significant back pressure to enhance uniform delivery of the drug over an infusion section; catheters that have two or more infusion sections spaced apart along the length of the same catheter, catheters that include two or more infusion sections serviced by independent lumens (such that, e.g., different drug solutions can be delivered to the different infusion sections); implantable drug delivery systems with pumps and multiple reservoirs from which drugs can be delivered; systems that are capable of delivering drug solutions with selected densities; etc. Methods for treating diseases, including pain and spasticity are also discussed, as well as methods for screening patients and optimizing therapies. In addition, methods for delivering a drug to a brain through a spinal canal are described. |
| US08137331B2 |
Protection tampon and method of making
A tampon showing improved leakage protection through improved expansion characteristics is disclosed. The tampons disclosed demonstrate these improved expansion characteristics particularly in the width dimension without introducing new drawbacks. Preferred tampons are described which are compressed to an initial size comparable to current tampons, but which expand to a width exceeding that achieved by current tampons. Such increased expansion is preferably accomplished without an increase in the total absorbency of the tampon. Tampons of various absorbencies are disclosed having increased total expansion in the width direction compared to current tampons. Additionally, tampons of various absorbencies which expand to a greater degree in the width direction under pressure are also disclosed. Tampons of various absorbencies which expand at a rate exceeding that achieved previously are also disclosed. Microwave conditioning of tampon pledgets following compression is disclosed as part of the tampon formation process. |
| US08137330B2 |
Expandable and portable emesis receptacle
A liquid receptacle made of a wire frame and a disposable and biodegradable material that is substantially impervious to water. The liquid receptacle is capable of being expanded and collapsed for ease of transportation and storage. For ease of use, the liquid receptacle is shaped with a flat bottom allowing it to stand without support, and equipped with a flap surrounding a top opening of the receptacle. For ease of transportation after use, a cord is supplied around the flap for closing the top opening of the liquid receptacle. |
| US08137329B2 |
Method and apparatus for transforming a delivery container into a waste disposal system
This application teaches practical and cost effective methods and apparatus to enhance supply chain efficiency by transforming fluid enclosing supply delivery containers in to collection and disposal containers, and in particular, providing inter alia, a canister system having a lid which would couple to either a thread able supply container or a spike able supply container. This enables the user to select from a plurality of supply containers for the collection and removal of waste such as a threaded pour bottle type of supply container, or a spike able type of intravenous solution supply container. |
| US08137325B2 |
Needle mounting system and a method for mounting a needle assembly
A needle mounting system and methods for mounting a needle assembly on a needle mount are disclosed. The needle mounting system includes a needle hub having protrusions extending radially inward. A needle mount has a plurality of slots to receive the protrusions. The slots have a first portion that defines a passageway substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the needle mount and a second portion substantially perpendicular to the axis. The needle hub and mount provide a method wherein a needle assembly may be mounted on an injection device without completely rotating the needle hub relative to the needle mount. |
| US08137324B2 |
Syringe with internal safety device
A syringe includes a syringe cylinder, a sealing plug movably disposed within the syringe cylinder, and with a plunger cooperating with the sealing plug. A safety device prevents a sliding back of the sealing plug within the syringe cylinder in any position the sealing plug assumes within the syringe cylinder. The safety device has a locking element which engages at the plunger in any position the plunger assumes within the syringe cylinder. The locking element is attached to a retaining fixture and protrudes from the retaining fixture same such that an attachment point of the locking element is closer to the sealing plug at the retaining fixture than the free end of the locking element opposite of the attachment point. |
| US08137323B2 |
Anchoring a medical instrument
Some embodiments of a medical anchor device include an elongate body coupled with deployable subcutaneous anchors to secure a catheter instrument (or other medical instrument) in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some circumstances, the elongate body may be in the form of catheter hub body, and the subcutaneous anchors can be deployed from the hub body by adjustment of a movable actuator. A locking member can interact with the actuator so as to retain the actuator in the deployed orientation during the medical procedure. |
| US08137322B2 |
Stabilization assist device for trocar
A stabilizer is provided to secure and fix the position of a cannula assembly relative to tissue. The stabilizer is a liquid swellable member which expands within an incision in tissue in response to the absorption of a liquid. The stabilizer includes an inner adhesive layer to secure the stabilizer relative to a cannula assembly. The stabilizer is formed of a polymeric gel or foam. In one embodiment, the stabilizer is fixedly secured to an elongate tubular member of a cannula assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the stabilizer is mounted for longitudinal movement along an elongate tubular member of a cannula assembly. |
| US08137320B2 |
Securement for a surgical site marker and deployment device for same
A method of securing a biopsy marker within a biopsy site includes depositing a marker element within a biopsy site and fixing the marker element within the biopsy site by injecting a securing agent within the biopsy site. Delivery devices for delivering the securing agent to the biopsy site are also disclosed. |
| US08137318B2 |
Surgical protection device for a surgical sealing element and surgical sealing system
In order to improve a surgical protection device for a surgical sealing element of a surgical sealing system comprising a trocar, the sealing element having an insertion opening which can be widened, the protection device comprising a base member which can be arranged on the trocar or on a part thereof, is closed in a ring shape and has an opening and several protection elements which are arranged in circumferential direction and point parallel or towards a longitudinal axis of the protection device, the protection elements having free ends pointing essentially in a distal direction, such that protection of the sealing element can be as complete as possible irrespective of the degree of expansion thereof, it is suggested that at least some of the protection elements have retaining elements on an outer side at their free ends or in the area of their free ends for engagement with the sealing element.Furthermore, an improved surgical sealing system is suggested. |
| US08137313B2 |
Device for injection of a product, in particular for medical use
A medical device for the injection of a product. The device includes a body receiving an injection needle and a container containing the product to be injected; an arrangement for holding the needle in an injection position; an arrangement for holding the container in a position permitting injection; and, a piston engaged in the container. The device also includes first and second actuators which make it possible, at the end of the injection, to respectively release the arrangement for holding the needle before, or simultaneously to, the release of the arrangement for holding the container. A container support is mounted slidably on the body and is displaceable relative to the latter in order to perform the injection. The container support is held in a standby position before injection with the needle being held in the injection position. |
| US08137310B2 |
Syringe hub
A syringe hub comprises a hub body which is engagable with a syringe body, a needle held by the hub body, a movable bung element within a flow passage of the hub body, and at least one fixed engagement element which extends laterally to the longitudinal extent of the flow passage and which is non-releasably engagable with the bung element to block a flow path defined by the hub body and the needle. The movable bung element including a cap element which extends laterally to the longitudinal extent of the flow passage and a splayable engagement element which extends from the cap element. The splayable engagement element includes a plurality of legs. A syringe which has a syringe body and the said syringe hub is also provided. |
| US08137309B2 |
Indwelling urinary drainage catheter
A catheter is described herein, having a catheter shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, a tip attached to the distal end, including first and second legs spaced apart to form a slot therebetween, the slot in fluid communication with a lumen of the catheter shaft, and a bladder inflatable element positioned over an outer surface of at least one of the first and second legs. |
| US08137307B2 |
Syringe devices, components of syringe devices, and methods of forming components and syringe devices
A syringe device includes a syringe barrel and piston having a fluid passageway extending from a vial port. Another syringe device includes a syringe barrel, a piston sleeve and an insert. A channel extends along a side of the insert. A valve controls fluid communication between the channel and the syringe barrel. Another syringe device has a syringe barrel, a piston sleeve and an insert. A valve controls fluid communication between a compartment within the insert and the syringe barrel. A method of preparing a medication includes providing a component within a syringe barrel and another component within a compartment of a piston insert. A seal is over-molded onto a tip of the insert and an end of a piston sleeve. The sleeve is rotated relative to the insert to establish fluid communication between the compartment and the barrel chamber. |
| US08137305B2 |
Programmable electric breast pump
A programmable electric breast pump system includes a vacuum pump pneumatically coupled to breast cups and a vacuum relief valve bypassing the vacuum pump. A controller receives command input from a vacuum level selector and a vacuum rate selector, and feedback from a pressure sensor measuring vacuum in the breast cups. In response, the controller cycles the relief valve between minimum and maximum vacuum setpoints to create a periodic vacuum pulse in the breast cups. By adjusting the vacuum min/max levels and vacuum rate, a user may change the strength of the pulse after let-down, or synchronize the frequency of the pulse with the natural refractory time of a lactating breast. Related methods for operating a breast pump mimic the suckling cycle of a nursing infant and may include steps for bypassing a vacuum pump with a vacuum relief valve, selecting a vacuum rate and a vacuum level, driving a vacuum pump at the selected vacuum rate, cycling the relief valve according to the vacuum level, and adjusting the vacuum level until the vacuum pulses in phase with a natural refractory time. |
| US08137303B2 |
Vascular access device cleaning status indication
A vascular access device for communicating with the vascular system of a patient may include a status indicator. The status indicator may detect and signal whether and to what extent at least a portion of the vascular access device has been cleaned. |
| US08137302B2 |
Methods and systems for occluding collateral flow channels in the lung
The lateral flow between adjacent lung segments is occluded by blocking collateral flow channels with particles. A gas flow is established from one lung segment through the flow channels in an intermediate fibrous septum, and out through the adjacent lung segment. Particles entrained in the gas flow become lodged in the collateral flow channels to eventually block flow. |
| US08137298B2 |
Absorbing medical binder system and method
Provided is a method and system for bandaging an abdominal region of a patient. A method includes providing an abdominal binder and securing the abdominal binder about the abdominal region of a patient. The abdominal binder has an inner layer including an absorbent pad configured to contact and extend about at least a majority of the circumference of the abdominal region of a patient, and configured to absorb post-procedure fluids during use, and an outer layer including an elastic sheet of material for surrounding at least a portion of the inner layer and providing a compressive force to retain at least a majority of the inner layer against the abdominal region of the patient during use. The outer layer is about 70 to 130% of the size of the inner layer when the outer layer is provided in an unbiased state. The inner layer and the outer layer are coupled to one another at or near a first end of the inner layer and a first end of the outer layer, and a second end of the inner layer and a second end of the outer layer are configured to allow movement relative to one another. |
| US08137296B2 |
Wrist guard
A wrist guard has a glove body and two adjustable support parts. The glove body has a palm-holding part and two connection parts. The palm-holding part is mounted in an upper half portion of the glove body. The two connection parts are mounted to a lower half portion of the glove body and have a through hole respectively. The adjustable support parts are adjustably mounted to the corresponding connection part. Each of them has a support piece and a locking module. The support piece having an interconnection part is movably mounted to the corresponding connection part, and a locating slot is formed through the interconnection part to overlap with the through hole of the corresponding connection part. The locking module passes through the through hole of the corresponding connection part and locating slot to position the support piece on the corresponding connection part. |
| US08137295B2 |
Manually powered pulsating jet device
A manually powered portable device for creating a high-pressure pulsating stream of water or other liquid is disclosed. The device is intended for use in flushing and cleaning dentures. The device has a reservoir for storing the water or liquid, a piston and cylinder for pressurizing the water, a trigger operated slide valve for releasing the water from the reservoir and a rotating cylinder for creating the pulsating flow through the output nozzle of the device. |
| US08137294B2 |
Two-piece bandage system, swab and cotton product
A bandage for covering an affected area of the skin is provided. The bandage including: a first bandage having an adhesive for adhering to the skin and an opening for exposing the affected area; a second bandage for covering the opening; and a releasable attachment system for releasably securing the second bandage to the first bandage to cover the opening. Also provided is a swab including: a tubular body having a conduit and a breakable wall portion disposed in the conduit; a fluid disposed in the conduit; and a cotton swab disposed at an end of the tubular body; wherein bending of the tubular body breaks the breakable wall portion allowing the fluid to flow into the cotton swab. Still further provided is a cotton product including: a cotton body; and a breakable capsule disposed in the body, the breakable capsule having a cavity filled with a fluid. |
| US08137293B2 |
Guidewires including a porous nickel-titanium alloy
Medical devices and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example medical device may include a guidewire. The guidewire may include an elongate shaft. The shaft may include a porous metal alloy. The porous metal alloy may be arranged so that the porous metal alloy has a first pore distribution along a first portion of the shaft and a second pore distribution different from the first pore distribution along a second portion of the shaft. |
| US08137292B2 |
Elongated medical device for intracorporal use
Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for medical devices. Some embodiments disclosed deal with attachment of an elongated structure, such as a wire or ribbon, or a tubular member, such as a coil, to an elongated member in an elongated device. For example, an elongated core member having defining an outer surface, and an elongated structure including a first portion and a second expanded portion along the length thereof can be provided. An attachment member, such as a centering ring, or the like, is disposed about a portion of the elongated core member and a part of the first portion of the elongated structure. The attachment member defines a lumen and having an inner surface. Part of the first portion of the elongated structure is disposed between the inner surface of the attachment member and the outer surface of the elongated core member. A part of the second portion of the elongated structure is in mechanical engagement with the inner surface of the attachment member and the outer surface the elongated core member to provide a mechanical coupling of the elongated structure between the attachment member and the elongated core member. Some embodiments provide a method of making such a construction, wherein the elongated structure can be moved relative to the attachment member such that the second portion of the elongated structure engages the inner surface of the attachment member and the outer surface the elongated core member to mechanically couple the elongated structure to the elongated core member. |
| US08137291B2 |
Wire guide having distal coupling tip
A coupling wire guide generally includes a main body defined by a first wire wound around a safety wire. A first loop is defined by an enlarged revolution of the first wire within a distal portion of the main body. The first loop is sized to receive a previously introduced wire guide for coupling the two wire guides. |
| US08137276B2 |
Method and apparatus for guidance and application of high intensity focused ultrasound for control of bleeding due to severed limbs
An ultrasonic diagnostic and therapy system is described for stopping the bleeding of severely damaged bloodvessels or vessels severed in a limb amputation. A cuff (30) is attached to the stump of the severed limb which contains a diagnostic transducer array and a HIFU transducer (42, 44). The diagnostic transducer surveys the tissue of the severed limb, searching for a Doppler flow signal. When a Doppler flow signal is detected, the range to and coordinates of the sample volume where the flow was detected are determined, as well as the flow velocity. This information is supplied to a HIFU therapy transducer controller, which controls the HIFU transducer to transmit focused ultrasound to the sample volume of the flow locus, the center of the lumen of a blood vessel. The focused ultrasound heats and coagulates blood in the severed vessel to stem the bleeding. |
| US08137273B2 |
Systems and methods for integrating hemodynamic and imaging examinations
Hemodynamic data and imaging data are obtained about a patient, and the data is combined to generate a single report integrating same. While a hemodynamic system obtains the hemodynamic data, an imaging system obtains the imaging data. Preferably, the report confirms the absence or presence (and/or severity) of peripheral arterial disease, including quantitative data. The hemodynamic system and the imaging system can communicate directly, indirectly, and/or wirelessly. They may be contained within a common enclosure and/or integrated into a single apparatus. Either or both of the hemodynamic system and/or the imaging system can also be configured to measure the blood pressure of the patient. Preferably, the imaging system is an ultrasound imaging system, and improved workflows for diagnosing peripheral arterial disease result. |
| US08137272B2 |
Ultrasonic synthetic transmit focusing with a multiline beamformer
An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an image with an extended focal range by transmitting a plurality of beams spaced along an array for multiline reception. The receive multilines of a plurality of transmit beams are spatially aligned and are combined with phase adjustment between the respective receive multilines to prevent undesired phase cancellation. The combined multilines produce the effect of an extended transmit focus so that an image produced using the combined multilines exhibits an extended focal range. To prevent motion artifacts the multiline order is adjustable as a function of image motion. |
| US08137269B2 |
Method and system for managing physiological system
A method and system for managing physiological systems is provided. The physiological system management (PSM) system includes one or more signal acquisition blocks to collect physiological information. The PSM system includes oversampled filterbanks for transferring one or more input signal related to the physiological information into subband signals, and a subband processing scheme for processing the outputs from the oversampled filterbanks for event detection in one or more physiological systems. The PSM system includes an adaptive controller which decides on the proper control measure and delivers the measure to the one or more physiological systems. |
| US08137264B2 |
Endoscope system having two endoscopes with different viewing angles
An endoscope system includes a first endoscope that includes a first observation optical system with a first viewing angle; and a second endoscope that includes a second observation optical system with a second viewing angle wider than the first viewing angle. A second distance from a second distal end face of an insertion portion of the second endoscope to a minimum focal point of the second observation optical system is shorter than a first distance from a first distal end face of a distal end portion of the first endoscope to a minimum focal point of the first observation optical system. |
| US08137263B2 |
Articulating endoscope instrument
An endoscopic surgical instrument is provided that includes a handle portion, an elongated middle portion, an articulating portion and a tool portion. The tool portion is steerable by control mechanisms disposed on the handle portion which are accessible to a single hand of a user of the endoscopic surgical instrument. The endoscopic surgical instrument is advantageously employed in a variety of endoscopic surgical techniques, including transgastric or transluminal surgery. |
| US08137261B2 |
Device for the treatment of obesity
A device for the treatment of obesity includes at least one first and one second band each with closure means for closing the particular band to form a ring. The first band is connected or is connectable with an enveloping part and is placeable about the esophagus, the stomach or a transition region between the esophagus and the stomach. The second band, also connected or connectable with the enveloping part, is placeable about the stomach distally to the first band and spaced apart from it, and the region of the stomach located between the first and the second band is envelopable by the enveloping part. |
| US08137257B1 |
Magnetic therapeutic device and method of using the same
A magnetic therapeutic device useful for medical purposes wherein the head or body part of a user is exposed to a magnetic field created by magnetic elements having opposite polarities. One side of the treated volume, member or body cavity receives a magnetic flux having a north to south polarity while at the same time the opposite side of the treated volume or member is subject to a south to north polarity. The magnetic therapeutic device comprises two permanently mounted magnetic elements, means for mounting the said magnetic elements and means for holding the said magnetic elements at a particular location and substantially opposite sides to each other. |
| US08137253B2 |
Automatic bag handling system for precisely securing a plastic handle to a plastic bag
An automatic handle attaching system and method for precisely securing a plastic handle on an edge of a preformed plastic bag is described. The system comprises a delivery conveyor for conveying spaced-apart groups of flat plastic bags with each group having two or more bags disposed one on top of the other and offset along a leading straight edge thereof which is oriented approximately transverse to a conveying direction of a conveyor. Two or more automated bag handling mechanisms are disposed spaced-apart adjacent the conveyor at respective bag transfer stations. Each of the bag handling mechanisms are independently operated and have an orientable bag engaging hand secured to an articulated arm. The bag handling mechanisms are independently controlled by a controller whereby to orient the bag engaging hand in alignment with a top one of the groups of bags at its transfer station and to transfer the bag to a handle securing station where the bag is precisely positioned with respect to a handle which is then welded thereto. After the handle is welded its relationship with respect to other parts of the bag is verified and the bag with the handle is then transferred to a magazine for accumulation to form bag bundles which are then automatically transferred for bundle securement and shipping. |
| US08137250B1 |
Abdominal exercising apparatus
An abdominal exercising apparatus includes a frame with a first lateral member, a second lateral member, a first end member and a second end member attached together in a rectangular configuration. A pair of slides is provided. Each of the first and second lateral members has one of the slides attached thereto. The slides are slidable toward or away from the second end members and are engageable with a person's foot. A connecting assembly is coupled to each of the slides. The connecting assembly couples together the slides to cause a first one of the slides to move away from the second end member when a second one of the slides is moved toward the second end member. A person's feet are positionable on the slides while the person faces the upper surface of the frame. The person moves the slides back and forth to exercise the person's abdominal muscles. |
| US08137249B2 |
Exercise apparatus
This description is not intended to limit the scope of the claims herein. An exercise device comprising a base that can be oriented at any angle and that defines a plurality of connection interfaces, each of which is designed to carry and restrain one end of a cantilevered resilient member. Said connection interfaces can be positioned at or adjusted to a widely varying range of locations and angular orientations with respect to the base. The resilient members can be affixed to any of the connection interfaces that the user desires, so that the resilient members can be positioned in a correspondingly wide range of locations and angular orientations relative to the base to enable the user to perform a wide range of exercises on the apparatus by gripping and exerting a force on the resilient members or other handles attached to the resilient members. |
| US08137244B2 |
Cross over flywheel exercise device
An exercise device for the crossover step, including an upper wheel supported, the upper wheel having a skating surface and being rotatable; a lower wheel joined to the upper wheel via a hub, the lower wheel having idler wheels supporting the upper wheel; upper legs and lower legs, the upper and lower legs being joined to the lower wheel; a track joined to the upper legs and lower legs, the track adapted to allow the upper wheel, lower wheel, upper legs and lower legs to be stored vertically against a wall and positioned for use adjacent a floor; and mechanism for controlled increase of simulated G-forces applied to a skater skating on the skating surface. |
| US08137228B2 |
Transmission system
A sun gear of a first planetary gear train is connected to an input shaft. A carrier 9 of the first planetary gear train is connected to a sun gear of a second planetary gear train and to a first pump/motor. A ring gear of the first planetary gear train is connected to a second pump/motor, and a ring gear of the second planetary gear train is connected to an output shaft. A first clutch is provided for engaging and disengaging a carrier of the second planetary gear train and the ring gear of the first planetary gear train with and from each other, and a second clutch is provided for engaging and disengaging the carrier of the second planetary gear train and a fixed end with and from each other. |
| US08137226B2 |
Silent chain
A silent chain that can reduce friction loss during travel of a chain. A silent chain 1 is configured by stacking a large number of link plates 2 comprising a pair of tooth parts 22 and pin holes 21 in the thickness direction and the lengthwise direction, and also arranging guide plates 4 on the outermost side of the link plates 2, and coupling the link plates 2 and the guide plates 4 by means of connecting pins 3. Protruding parts 45 which can come into sliding contact with guide parts 56B of a chain guide 56 and guide parts 57B of a tension arm 57 during travel of the silent chain 1 are provided on an outer side surface 4A of the guide plates 4. The contact between the silent chain 1 and the chain guide 56 and tension arm 57 is made to be point contact, and friction loss during travel of the chain can be reduced. |
| US08137224B2 |
Tensioner for endless transmission belt and internal combustion engine having the tensioner
A tensioner for an endless transmission belt includes a plunger body. A plunger is movably provided in a hole of the plunger body to press the belt. A chamber is provided between the plunger and the plunger body to store hydraulic oil. An oil supply passage is provided in the plunger body to supply the oil from an oil pump to the chamber. A check valve is provided between the chamber and the passage and configured to allow the oil to be supplied from the pump to the chamber while the check valve is configured to be closed when a pressure in the chamber is higher than a pressure of the oil supplied by the pump. A relief valve is provided between the chamber and the passage and configured to discharge the oil in the chamber to the passage when the pressure in the chamber exceeds a first predetermined value. |
| US08137223B2 |
Bicycle rear derailleur
A bicycle rear derailleur is provided with a base member, a movable member, a moving mechanism and an angular adjustment arrangement. The base member includes a first support portion and a first axle with the first support portion being pivotally mounted on the first axle. The movable member includes a second support portion, a chain guide and a second axle with the chain guide being pivotally mounted on the second support portion by the second axle. The moving mechanism is coupled between the first and second support portions. The angular adjustment arrangement is operatively coupled to either electrically pivot the first support portion relative to the first axle, or electrically pivot the chain guide relative to the second support portion when the moving mechanism is moved to move the second support portion of the movable member relative to the first support portion of the base member. |
| US08137222B2 |
Accessory drive tensioner system
An accessory drive tensioner system may include a bracket, a coupling mechanism, and a biasing member. The bracket may have an aperture therethrough and a tensioner hub coupled thereto. The coupling mechanism may extend through the aperture to rotatably couple the bracket to a mounting member that is fixed relative to an engine. The biasing member may be engaged with the coupling mechanism and the bracket to bias the bracket axially along the coupling mechanism. |
| US08137220B2 |
Electronic marker stakes for sports fields
A marker stake for locating a boundary reference point on a sports field can be buried and out of sight when not in use, and then quickly located using an electronic receiver which detects a signal emitted by an electronic marker in the marker stake. Various field boundary indicators can be removably attached to the marker stake. The stake may be embodied in a cylindrical body constructed of a moldable polymer with a socket at one end for receiving a pin or post of the field boundary indicator, and the electronic marker embedded inside the body. The electronic marker may be a passive LC marker tuned to a frequency associated with a known field sport. Different sets of such marker stakes tuned to different frequencies may be used to mark and relocate reference points for multiple sports played on the same field. |
| US08137213B2 |
Multi-layer core golf ball
Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a thermoset rubber center, a thermoplastic intermediate core layer, and a thermoset rubber outer core layer. At least one of the core layers has a specific gravity of less than 1.05 g/cc and/or at least one of the core layers has a specific gravity of greater than 1.25 g/cc. |
| US08137211B2 |
Method of making a golf ball with a multi-layer core
A multilayer golf ball including a solid center having a center hardness, a plurality of laminates cut into a plurality of shapes formed around the center to create an inner ball, and a cover formed around the inner ball, wherein the plurality of layers can include at least a first layer having a hardness greater than the center hardness and a second layer having a hardness greater than the first layer hardness, and optionally a third layer disposed between the first and the second layers having a hardness greater than the first layer hardness. |
| US08137209B2 |
Indoor and outdoor golf swing training apparatus
A golf training apparatus that is capable of operation both indoors and outdoors is described. The apparatus includes a plurality of anchor points, through which there are placed a plurality of anchors, typically comprising golf tees, for anchoring the apparatus outdoors. The apparatus further includes a cleated surface configured to adhere to a carpeted surface for anchoring the apparatus indoors. The apparatus further comprises a guide line retractably coupled to a tensile mechanism, whereby a golf player may, after coupling a golf club or putter to the guide line of the apparatus, determine based upon the motion of the guide line, whether the player's stroke is accurate or requires correction. |
| US08137208B2 |
Automatic real-time game scoring device and golf club swing analyzer
An automatic real-time game scoring device and golf club swing analyzer which may include enhanced capability based on GPS parametric and golf course specific information. One aspect of the invention includes the capability to assess a player's swing as a function of ball strike, club information, and length of an actual golf shot. In another aspect of the invention, the device provides for scoring a game as a function of the club used, the shot characteristics, and specific course parameter such as the hole played, game conditions, which may be analyzed during game play, as well as post game. The system presented according to the present invention is capable of adding to an individual's score only actual golf ball shots while ignoring practice swings. For recreational golf, the system allows for user overrides (“whiffs” and “mulligans”) at the golfer's digression. |
| US08137207B2 |
Golf swing practice apparatus
A golf swing practice apparatus is provided including a rotating drum, a plurality of laser generating means mounted on the rotating drum, an elongated cord including a proximal end secured to the rotating drum and a distal end secured to a golf ball whereby the golf ball is tethered to the rotating drum, a base member having an impact area over which a user may swing a golf club, and a frame structure secured to the base member and to the rotating drum whereby the frame structure holds the rotating drum in an elevated position above the base member. The rotating drum rotates with the golf ball when the golf ball is struck by the user. At least one of the plurality of laser generating means generates a laser beam which propagates substantially along the path of the golf ball. Additionally, at least one of the plurality of laser generating means generates a laser beam which propagates parallel to a theoretical path of a fairway. |
| US08137205B2 |
Motion-based attraction
The present disclosure provides a motion-based attraction device engagable with a plurality of spaced guest supports that are movable along a path, having a rotatable carousel configured to temporarily and separately synchronize with the plurality of spaced guest supports, at least one pair of domes supported by the carousel, each dome having a viewing portion that is positioned towards the guest supports and the dome being movable to temporarily cover the guest supports, and an image projecting assembly supported by each dome and configured to display an image on the viewing portion. |
| US08137200B2 |
Networked gaming system having a browser manager
An integrated browser manager and networked gaming system that provides server based dynamic content onto a content display area of one or more gaming machines is disclosed. The system includes: a browser manager, one or more application servers connected to the browser manager by a server-to-server (S2S) server and S2S web service, and one or more gaming machines are connected to the browser manager by a game-to-server (G2S) server and G2S web service. The browser manager includes a user interface application and a core service, wherein the user interface application generates a user interface display on a user control station. Each gaming machine includes a network interface to receive external content from the application server via the browser manager, and a content display area for displaying the external content. |
| US08137199B2 |
Partitioned artificial intelligence for networked games
Partitioned artificial intelligence (AI) for networked gaming. An exemplary system splits the AI into a computationally lightweight server-side component and a computationally intensive client-side component to harness the aggregate computational power of numerous gaming clients. Aggregating resources of many, even thousands of client machines enhances game realism in a manner that would be prohibitively expensive on the central server. The system is tolerant of latency between server and clients. Deterministic and stateless client-side components enable rapid handoff, preemptive migration, and replication of the client-side AI to address problems of client failure and game exploitation. The partitioned AI can support tactical gaming navigation, a challenging task to offload because of sensitivity to latency. The tactical navigation AI calculates influence fields partitioned into server-side and client-side components by means of a Taylor-series approximation. |
| US08137197B2 |
System and method for generating targeted newsletters
A system and a method of providing a targeted newsletter is provided. The method includes monitoring a game while a game player plays the game on a game computer, collecting game related information, uploading the game related information to a remote server, generating a newsletter on the remote server that is tailored for the game player based on the game related information, and transferring the newsletter to the game player. |
| US08137193B1 |
Supply delivery for interactive social games
Systems and methods that deliver supplies in interactive social games are described. In some embodiments, a method receives a request for supplies from a first player in an interactive social game. A graphical expression of a supply delivery vehicle is presented to the first player. The supply delivery vehicle offers multiple supply options, each having an associated processing time. A supply option selection is received from the first player as well as an identity of additional players. The method distributes a supply fulfillment invitation to the additional players using the graphical expression of the supply delivery vehicle. An in-game benefit is provided to the additional players in response to acceptance of the supply fulfillment invitation. The first player is notified upon completion of the processing time for the selected supply option, which indicates availability of the requested supplies to the first player. |
| US08137187B2 |
Systems and methods for redeeming future value wagering chips
A system and method enabling a casino to issue chips or credits to customers whose redemption and face value is set at some future date, as well as systems and methods for facilitating redemption of such future value wagering chips. |
| US08137186B2 |
Secondary game system, a gaming system and a method of providing at least one secondary game in a gaming system
A secondary game system for a gaming terminal network, including at least one secondary game controller for providing at least one secondary game; a communications device for receiving secondary game registration request messages and secondary game deregistration request messages from a gaming terminal; the system being responsive to a received secondary game registration request message from a gaining terminal by causing said gaming terminal to be registered in one of said at least one secondary game; the system being further responsive to a received secondary game deregistration request message from a gaming terminal by causing said gaming terminal to be deregistered from one of said at least one secondary game. |
| US08137184B2 |
Gaming system having a plurality of gaming machines linked by network and control method thereof
A gaming system of the present invention comprises a plurality of gaming machines and a control device including a processor, wherein the processor is programmed to execute processing of (A) cumulatively counting a part of a number of betted game media as a cumulative value based on number-of-game-media information received from the gaming machine, and (E) paying out a fixed number of game media to the gaming machine determined based on a extracted random number, when a number of the gaming machines joining the game is less than a specific number. |
| US08137180B2 |
Wagering game having progressive amounts displayed in a matrix
A method for playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal. The wagering game allows a player to be eligible to win a plurality of progressive jackpots. The plurality of progressive jackpots can be arranged in columns and rows of a matrix, or can be displayed with other characteristics for identification, such as color, shapes, or alpha-numeric characters. The method includes conducting a wagering game having a randomly selected outcome. The player can be awarded two progressive jackpots in response to the randomly selected outcome being a single multiple-jackpot winning outcome. Further, the progressive jackpots that are achieved can be identified by their associated characteristics, which are displayed to the player. |
| US08137176B2 |
Configurable displays used, for example in gaming machines
Configurable rotatable displays may allow display of visual effects and/or information, and may simulate a non-configurable mechanical reel, for example those found in conventional slot machines. Rotatable displays may be used in a variety of locations on a gaming machine, providing a primary game display and/or box top displays such as a pole. A single rotatable display may be logically segmented to create an appearance of multiple sections or reels. One or more rotatable displays, or one or more mechanical reels, may be positioned within an outer rotatable display. A configurable fixed translucent or transparent display may be positioned between a configurable rotatable display and a user or player. |
| US08137174B2 |
Gaming system, gaming device, and method providing multiple hand card game
A gaming device includes a single player poker game that includes one or more opportunities for selecting or forming player hands. In one embodiment, wagers are placed on several player hands, and the gaming device matches these wagers for each of several dealer hands. A play of the game includes one or more opportunities for a player to fold or cancel one of the player hands and withdraw the wager associated with the withdrawn hand. The gaming device may also cause one or more of the dealer hands to be folded. In another embodiment, the game includes dealing several initial player hands and enabling a player to select one of the player hands to compete against one or more dealer hands. In another embodiment, a play of the game includes dealing a plurality of player cards and enabling a player to form multiple player hands from the dealt player cards. The game also includes dealing a plurality of dealer cards and forming multiple dealer hands from the dealt dealer cards. In the embodiments, a number of community cards are dealt and the highest ranking combined hand of the formed or selected player and dealer hands wins an award. |
| US08137169B2 |
Arrangement and method for utilizing the heat of waste air for heating the bilge area of aircraft
The present application describes an arrangement and a method for utilizing the heat of waste air for heating the bilge area of aircraft, wherein the bilge area is connected to a heat transfer unit via a first air supply pipe, through which a bilge air flow drawn in from the bilge area flows into the heat transfer unit, wherein the heat transfer unit comprises a second air supply pipe, through which a waste air heat flow to be cooled that is created at another location in the aircraft flows into the heat transfer unit in order to heat the drawn-in bilge air flow, wherein the heat transfer unit comprises a first air discharge pipe, through which the cooled waste air heat flow is discharged, and a second air discharge pipe with a bilge inlet section, and wherein at least a portion of the heated bilge flow is returned to the bilge area via the air discharge pipe and the bilge inlet section. |
| US08137165B2 |
Dust shroud with adjustable mounting mechanism
A universal dust shroud includes mounting brackets held above the shroud body by springs. The brackets move radially and vertically relative to the body to accommodate different angle grinders, and allow vertical movement of the shroud body relative to the grinding disk while using the grinder to allow the user greater control over the angle grinder. |
| US08137162B2 |
Semiconductor wafer polishing machine
Embodiments of the invention comprise a machine adapted for polishing work pieces such as large silicon wafers. A wafer polishing machine in accord with the invention comprises a rotatable platen in a table base, above which is mounted a lid having a head moving assembly with four synchronously rotatable head assemblies. A motor and linkage connected to the head moving assembly imparts reciprocating linear motion to the head assemblies in a selected direction in a plane parallel to an upper surface of the platen. Embodiments of the invention produce a complex relative motion between a surface of a wafer to be polished and the platen. The complex relative motion, resulting from a combination of motions including rotation of the platen, rotation of the head assemblies, and translation of the head moving assembly, improves a uniformity of polish and a rate of polishing compared to wafer polishing machines known in the art. |
| US08137159B2 |
Abrasive, method of polishing target member and process for producing semiconductor device
To polish polishing target surfaces of SiO2 insulating films or the like at a high rate without scratching the surface, the present invention provides an abrasive comprising a slurry comprising a medium and dispersed therein at least one of i) cerium oxide particles constituted of at least two crystallites and having crystal grain boundaries or having a bulk density of not higher than 6.5 g/cm3 and ii) abrasive grains having pores. Also provided are a method of polishing a target member and a process for producing a semiconductor device which make use of this abrasive. |
| US08137158B2 |
Electrical contact method
An electrical contact method. An axle having an axis of rotation is provided. Cantilever arms are provided. Each cantilever arm has a first end and a second opposing end. The first end is connected to the axle. Each cantilever arm extends radially outward from the axle about perpendicular to the axis of rotation. At least two electrically conductive contacts is provided. At least one electrically conductive contact of the at least two electrically conductive contacts is disposed on the second end of each cantilever arm. A sample is supported on a support member. The electrically conductive contacts are pressed against a first surface of the sample. After the electrically conductive contacts are pressed, the electrically conductive contacts are revolved about the axis of rotation, wherein the at least one electrically conductive contact remains in electrical contact with the first surface. |
| US08137155B2 |
Clothing having cups
Clothing having cups in which a front center supporting part is provided at a portion where front sides of left and right cups covering left and right breasts respectively which are disposed nearer to a front center in a left-to-right direction than top portions of the left and right cups are continuous with each other, with a front central position interposed between the front sides of the left and right cups. Upper and lower portions of the front center supporting part are spread in a left-to-right direction with the upper and lower portions thereof extended to upper and lower sides of the left and right cups respectively surrounding each of the top portions to such an extent that the upper portion is located at a position where the upper portion and a strap are continuous with each other. |
| US08137152B2 |
Remote control ball assembly
A remote control ball assembly includes a housing, an actuating device having a circuit board disposed in the housing and having a processing device and a signal receiving device attached to the circuit board, two motors each include a wheel attached to a spindle and contacted with the housing, and a radio transmitter includes another processing device and an angle detector and a signal emitting device attached to another circuit board for detecting a status of the radio transmitter and for emitting the status signal to the signal receiving device, which then actuates the motors and the wheels to operate or to move the housing on land and on water without being operated by the fingers of the user. |
| US08137148B2 |
Method of manufacturing monolithic parallel interconnect structure
An optoelectronic device having a monolithic interconnect structure includes a continuous anode layer, a discontinuous cathode layer, and an electroactive layer sandwiched between the continuous anode layer and the discontinuous cathode layer. |
| US08137147B2 |
Organic electroluminescence display and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing an organic electroluminescence display includes forming a first electrode, forming an organic light emitting medium layer including an organic light emitting layer on the first electrode, the respective organic light emitting medium layers including respective organic light emitting layers having different life-times in light emitting, and forming a second electrode on the organic light emitting medium layer, wherein the organic light emitting layer having a longer life-time is formed earlier. |
| US08137146B2 |
Closed loop fluid cooling system for marine outboard, inboard, and inboard-outboard motors
A closed loop fluid cooling system for marine motors is described. The system includes a motor cooling circuit in fluidic communication with fluid cooling jackets about a motor. The system includes a heat dissipation circuit. The motor cooling circuit is in closed fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit. A cooling fluid variably circulates between the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit. A heat dissipation member is in fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit to receive the circulating cooling fluid, and the heat dissipation member is submerged in the body of water in which the boat is traveling to transfer heat from the cooling fluid to the body of water. A temperature control valve is in fluidic communication with the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit. The temperature control valve variably connects the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit in response to a temperature of the cooling fluid or the motor to provide for the circulation of the cooling fluid between the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit. |
| US08137134B1 |
Coaxial cable connector with an insulating member with a bendable section with a pair of projections
A coaxial cable connector includes: a connection terminal having a base section and a pair of resilient clamping plates upward extending from two sides of the base section; an insulating member having an insulating main body for supporting the base section of the connection terminal, an insulating bendable section upward extending from one side of the insulating main body, and a pair of projections formed on two sides of the insulating bendable section corresponding to the resilient clamping plates; and a metal case for supporting the insulating main body of the insulating member. When the insulating bendable section is bent downward, the projections compress the resilient clamping plates to move inward so as to securely clamp an internal conductor of the coaxial cable. Accordingly, the resilient clamping plates of the connection terminal are electrically connected with the internal conductor of the coaxial cable. |
| US08137130B2 |
Foldable patch panel
The present invention provides a foldable patch panel. The foldable patch panel includes a first frame, a second frame, and a pivot unit. The pivot unit is connected to the first frame and the second frame, respectively, so that spinning center of the first frame and the second frame is the pivot unit. Besides, the first frame and the second frame are separably engaged with each other and form an obtuse angle. |
| US08137128B2 |
SATA electrical connector and assembly thereof
A SATA electrical connector extends a lateral rib and a longitudinal guiding portion from a base surface of an insulator. The insulator and the terminals have intimate engagements, for minimizing height and width of the entire structure. The electrical connector can be joined to another electrical connector for forming an electrical connector assembly. |
| US08137127B2 |
Electronic devices using divided multi-connector element differential bus connector
In one example an electronic device includes a housing that includes an A/C input or DC input, and at least one circuit substrate that includes electronic circuitry, such as graphics processing circuitry that receives power based on the A/C input or DC input. The electronic device also includes a divided multi-connector element differential bus connector that is coupled to the electronic circuitry. The divided multi-connector element differential bus connector includes a single housing that connects with the circuit substrate and the connector housing includes therein a divided electronic contact configuration comprised of a first group of electrical contacts divided from an adjacent second group of mirrored electrical contacts wherein each group of electrical connects includes a row of at least lower and upper contacts. In one example, the electronic device housing includes air flow passages, such as grills, adapted to provide air flow through the housing. The electronic device housing further includes a passive or active cooling mechanism such as a fan positioned to cool the circuitry during normal operation. In one example, the electronic device does not include a host processor and instead a host processor is in a separate electronic device that communicates with the graphics processing circuitry through the divided multi connector element differential bus connector. In another example, a CPU (or one or more CPUs) is also co-located on the circuit substrate with the circuitry to provide a type of parallel host processing capability with an external device. |
| US08137124B2 |
Self-locking connector for a cable termination
A self-locking assembly for a cable termination having a connector with a step. The self-locking assembly includes a ring having a circumference and a plurality of latches located around the circumference. Each latch is configured to move between a locked position, where the latch is engaged with the step, and an unlocked position, where the latch is disengaged from the step. A sliding ring is configured to move along a portion of the connector and includes a groove, and a support ring is located on the connector and is configured to restrict movement of the sliding ring in at least one direction. |
| US08137122B2 |
Mini power supply module
The present invention discloses a mini power supply module comprising a circuit board and a power connector. Said power connector is abutted and electrically connected with said power connector through coupling parts. Said power connector is provided with an orientating mechanism to change the angle between said power connector and said circuit board. Said power connector is further included with an input port for receiving the input of an external power source, a contact terminal for matching with the connector on motherboard, and at least one output port for outputting power to peripheral devices. |
| US08137121B2 |
Fastener and electric connector device having the same
A fastener for securing a chip module onto a circuit board includes a fixing bracket mounted on the circuit board; a pressing frame covering the chip module; a lever having a driving portion and a shaft portion, wherein the shaft portion is formed by extending and bending from the driving portion, with the shaft portion running through the fixing bracket and the pressing frame for controlling the forward and backward rotation of the pressing frame; a protective cover mounted on the pressing frame, wherein a projection portion is formed on a bottom surface of the protective cover and located at the rear end of the chip module, and the projection portion has a slant surface adjacent to the chip module; and thereby, when the pressing frame moves forward, the slant surface presses against the chip module. |
| US08137120B2 |
Adapter device for housing a multi-phase low voltage switch inside a switchboard and relative adapter-switch and switchboard assembly
An adapter device (1; 201; 401; 501) for housing a multi-phase low voltage type switch (2) inside a switchboard (100), comprising, for each phase: first and second electric connection means (31, 32) with the switch (2); third and fourth electric connection means (33, 34) with an electric distribution network (4); the adapter device (1; 201; 401; 501) is structured so as to define a connection area (10) housing the first and second electric connection means (31, 32), and also comprising heat removal means (5; 205; 405; 505) which remove heat from the connection area (10). |
| US08137117B2 |
Electrical supply device for a discharge lamp comprising ballast shielding
An electrical supply device for a discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight that comprises: an electronic module for converting source electric current into supply electric current for the discharge lamp; a housing that encloses the electronic module and is produced from an electrically conductive material so as to form electromagnetic shielding; an electrical connection harness that is intended to electrically connect the electronic conversion module with the discharge lamp; an envelope produced from an electrically conductive material that surrounds the connection harness so as to form electromagnetic shielding; the housing and envelope being electrically connected to a common reference electrical potential (−); wherein the housing and the envelope are connected in parallel to the common reference electrical potential (−). |
| US08137116B2 |
Ground joint connector and wire harness including the same
The present invention provides a ground joint connector capable of collectively connecting a plurality of grounding wires included in a wire harness for a vehicle, to a given ground site, while occupying a little space. The ground joint connector JC comprises a plurality of wire terminals to be attached to respective terminal ends of the grounding wires, a grounding conductor a connector housing holding the grounding conductor. The grounding conductor includes a plurality of wire-side terminal portions to be fitted to the respective wire terminals in a terminal fitting direction and a ground-side terminal portion to be connected to the ground site while fixed onto the wall surface around the ground site. The wire-side terminal portions aligned in a direction approximately perpendicular to the terminal fitting direction and parallel to the wall surface, and integrally joined to the ground-side terminal portion. The connector housing holds the grounding conductor to allow the ground-side terminal portion to protrude to outside and includes a plurality of terminal receiving chambers and a plurality of terminal locking portions. The terminal locking portions lock the respective wire terminals inserted into the respective terminal receiving chambers and fitted with the respective wire-side terminal portions. |
| US08137113B2 |
Socket, method for manufacturing socket, and semiconductor device
A socket includes an insulating elastomeric sheet having a penetration hole, metal circuits formed on at least one of the front and rear surfaces of the elastomeric sheet, and a through-hole having a metal film formed on an inner wall of the penetration hole. The metal circuit on the front surface of the elastomeric sheet is electrically connected to the metal circuit on the rear surface of the elastomeric sheet via the through-hole. With such a configuration of the socket, it is possible to provide a socket contact terminal and a semiconductor device having the same, which is suitable for low-resistance, large-current, and high-speed configurations. |
| US08137105B2 |
Chinese/English vocabulary learning tool
The present invention is a methodology for helping a student to learn vocabulary in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, English, and Pin Yin. The present invention comprises a Selection Program (SP), a Testing Program (TP), and a Character Sizing Program (CSP). The SP allows the user to select a Chinese-English textbook chapter, a question language, and an answer language. The SP then displays the chapter vocabulary for review and runs the TP. The TP calculates the probability factors for the vocabulary terms and determines a question to ask. The TP uses two Unicode tables to check to see if the answer is correct. The TP decrements the probability factor for wrong answers and increments the probability factor for right answers. The TP ends when all of the probability factors are equal to one. The CSP changes the font size of the Chinese characters. |
| US08137104B1 |
Game of chance and strategy pertaining to emergency preparedness
The present invention, game of chance and strategy pertaining to emergency preparedness, is a social game, based on the timely topic of disaster preparedness, providing simplification of a complex topic plus improvement and entertainment value for groups and individuals. There are two fields of play on the game surface—the outer tracks where collection of resources occurs and the inner circle—the opportunities that all participants simultaneously complete. The player or team that maximizes resources and opportunities wins. Through play conversations emerge, strategies shared, and observation occurs, opportunities to improve and practice skills applicable to emergency preparation. |
| US08137103B1 |
Implant system
An implant system may comprise implants, abutments, cylinders and a structural framework with a veneer thereon. A prosthesis comprises the structural framework and veneer. The cylinders are provided with grooves or shelves thereon to retain a structural framework thereon. The structural framework may comprise fiber reinforced composite material which is disposed on and around the cylinders to provide the framework for a prosthesis. Abutments are provided for single or small implant systems wherein the abutments comprise mechanical retentive features such as grooves, holes, nodules or beads thereon for retaining polymeric material thereon. |
| US08137102B2 |
Fluid-operated medical or dental handheld element
A fluid-operated medical or dental handheld element is disclosed, having a connecting device for connecting the handheld element to a fluid source so that a first impeller can be induced to rotate by a fluid stream to cause a tool to execute a driving motion, a fluid conducting device arranged between the connecting device and the first impeller for conveying a fluid stream away from or toward the first impeller, and a generator for generating electric power. The generator includes a second rotatable impeller that can be driven by at least a substream of the fluid stream conveyable in the first fluid conducting device. One result is more constant generation and output of power by the generator independent of the rotational speed of the first impeller, thereby insuring a more constant power supply to a power consuming device connected to the generator. |
| US08137100B2 |
Installation for producing cement clinker, and method for operating one such installation
A cement clinker production line with a calcining stage connected upstream of the rotary tubular kiln including an integrated calcining combustion chamber, with a CO-containing reduction zone whose size and reduction potential can be adapted to different NOx contents contained in the kiln exhaust gas and/or different types of secondary fuels used in the combustion chamber. The combustion chamber has an upper, raw-meal-free reducing zone with a feed for secondary fuels, and first tertiary partial airstream with sub-stoichiometric fuel combustion for gasifying the secondary fuels. The combustion chamber has a lower zone. The inflow for at least one raw meal partial stream and one second tertiary partial airstream are arranged in the junction region of the upper zone and the lower zone. The height (H) of the upper zone in relation to the height (h) of the lower zone has a ratio of approximately 5:1 to approximately 1:1. |
| US08137096B2 |
Device for producing blowmolded container products from plastic material
A device for producing blowmolded container products (11) from plastic material, using single mold parts (7) movable along a production line (5) and in pairs toward one another and away from one another to close or open a production mold. The container products (11) are molded and exit after the demolding procedure in the form of a container chain (9) moved along the production line (5). A demolding unit (3) engages the exiting container chain (9) outside the production mold to support the demolding procedure. The demolding unit (3) has a force drive (17) deflecting the container chain (9) out of the production line (5) into back and forth movement. |
| US08137093B2 |
Tiebar reverse extraction clamp
A clamp includes (a) a first engager that engages with engagement parts formed at ends of the tiebars at the moving platen side after moving the moving platen in the fixed platen direction to close a die or mold, in the tiebar insertion holes of the moving platen, (b) a second engager that engages with engagement parts formed at ends of the tiebars at the fixed platen sides detachably at ends of clamping pistons using a detachable engager, (c) a pushing device that cooperates with the tiebars and pushes the moving platen after die or mold closing against the fixed platen in the tiebar insertion holes of the fixed platen, and (d) a tiebar inserting and extracting device coupled with ends of the tiebars at the fixed platen sides at a side of the fixed platen opposite to the die or mold mounting surface. |
| US08137091B2 |
Stretching rod holding arrangement
A stretching rod holding arrangement may include a stretching rod for expanding plastic containers, wherein the stretching rod has an elongate rod-shaped main body and a holding body, which protrudes with respect to this rod-shaped main body in a radial direction of the rod-shaped main body. The arrangement comprises a receiving space for mounting the stretching rod, wherein at least one region of the holding body can be received by this receiving space, and the receiving space has a lower boundary wall in the longitudinal direction of the stretching rod. An opening is provided in this lower boundary wall, through which opening the main body of the stretching rod can pass. An arresting mechanism, which can be moved with respect to the receiving space between at least two positions, may be provided above the lower boundary wall in the longitudinal direction of the stretching rod. In the first position, the arresting mechanism allows the passage of the holding body in the longitudinal direction of the stretching rod, and in the second position prevents the passage of the holding body of the stretching rod. |
| US08137085B2 |
Gear pump with slots in teeth to reduce cavitation
A gear pump comprises a drive gear being mounted for rotation about a first axis and having a plurality of gear teeth at a radially outer location. A driven gear is mounted for rotation about a second axis, and having a plurality of teeth at a radially outer location. The drive gear teeth engage the driven gear teeth at a contact face to cause the driven gear to rotate. Slots are formed in the contact face of one of the drive and driven gear teeth. |
| US08137084B2 |
Interlocking device for holding body and flange of machines using bean-shaped dowels
An interlocking device for rigidly holding together the body and flange of a hydraulic machine includes a body, flange, gears, sealing elements acting as a body seal and lobe seal adapted to effectively seal pressurized oil pockets within the hydraulic machine with a back-up ring that prevents squeezing of the lobe seal and to retain it in its original position, appropriately dimensioned bush bearings adapted to act as load bearing journals. The interlocking device includes a plurality of bean-shaped dowels located at both inlet and outlet sides that hold the body and flange together with minimum relative displacement to ensure high volumetric efficiency of the hydraulic machine even at high operating pressures in excess of 275 bar or higher. |
| US08137083B2 |
Infusion pump actuators, system and method for controlling medical fluid flowrate
An infusion pump includes an actuator having an output shaft; a pump actuator having a length (lactuator) moved by the output shaft and in contact with tubing, such that the pump actuator at an output shaft actuated distance (x) creates flat contact areas with the tubing, and wherein remaining non-contact areas of the tubing are at least substantially circular in shape; and a logic implementer configured to use at least two relationships to solve for a same number of variables to calculate a cross-sectional area of the tubing at an output shaft actuated distance (x). |
| US08137074B2 |
Wind turbine lightning protection system
A glass-reinforced fiber or carbon-reinforced wind turbine blade having a suction side and a pressure side includes a tip portion adapted with an electric field control region disposed solely on or within the tip portion. The electric field control region is in electrical communication with or galvanically connected to an electric discharge conduction mechanism, wherein the electric field control region and the electric discharge conduction mechanism together operate to protect a wind turbine and its associated blade(s) from damage due to a lightning strike at the tip of the wind turbine blade(s) by controlling an electric field at the tip portion(s) caused by the lightning strike. |
| US08137072B2 |
Turbine blade including a seal pocket
A turbine blade is disclosed. The turbine blade may have an airfoil extending from a first surface of a turbine platform. The turbine blade may further have a first side pocket of the turbine platform that is configured to substantially entirely house a first moveable seal between a forward wall of the first side pocket and an aft wall of the first side pocket. The first side pocket may have a convex surface, extending between the forward wall and the aft wall, and a concave surface. The turbine blade may also have a second side pocket of the turbine platform configured to receive a portion of a second moveable seal. |
| US08137071B2 |
Damper for turbomachine vanes
A turbomachine vane damper constructed so as to be housed between the lower face of the platforms of two adjacent turbomachine vanes and the rim of the rotor disk on which the vanes are mounted is disclosed. The damper includes a weight, a bearing plate and a spring. The spring connects the weight to the bearing plate. |
| US08137069B2 |
Turbine blades
A cast turbine blade is disclosed and includes an internal cooling passage that passes (e.g., zig-zags or meanders) through the blade from an inlet in the blade root to an outlet in the blade tip. The cooling passage can have a zone at a bend that is at a distance which is remote from the inlet of the cooling passage when the distance from the inlet is measured around the passage, but that is closer to the inlet when the distance from the inlet is measured in a straight line. During casting of the blade, the cooling passage can be defined by a core or cores having a leachable material, the cores being removed after casting by a chemical leaching process. A supplementary passage is also provided for connecting the remote zone to the inlet during the leaching process. The supplementary passage can likewise be defined by a leachable core, or it may be machined into the blade after casting. During the service life of the blade, a plug can be used to obturate the supplementary passage to prevent leakage of cooling air from the cooling passage through the supplementary passage. |
| US08137063B2 |
Component of a steam turbine plant, steam turbine plant, application, and production method
The aim of the invention is to provide a superheated component of a steam turbine installation with high thermal and mechanical resistance. To this end, the component comprises a lining applied to a body of the component, on a hot side facing a steam chamber, said lining being adapted to the contour of the component body. According to the invention, the lining comprises a number of molded parts, each molded part comprising a metallic and ceramic composite layer formed from at least one metallic layer and at least one ceramic layer. The ceramic layer is used especially as a insulating layer, and the metallic layer is especially used as a support or for protection against abrasion and/or erosion. |
| US08137059B2 |
Fan guard and outdoor unit for air conditioner having the same
An outdoor unit for an air conditioner is disclosed. The outdoor unit according to the present invention comprises a housing which has an air inlet and an air outlet, a ventilation fan rotatably mounted in the housing, and a fan guard connected to the housing to cover the air outlet. Here, the fan guard comprises a plurality of closed ribs arranged sequentially and concentrically between a center and an outline thereof, and a plurality of radial ribs arranged in radial directions to interconnect the plurality of closed ribs, in such a manner that some of the closed ribs, which are disposed at intermediate positions near tips of the ventilation fan, are at a further distance from the ventilation fan than the other closed ribs, which are disposed near the center and the outline. Accordingly, since the fan guard is convexly raised at a position corresponding to the tips of the ventilation fan, thereby guaranteeing a predetermined space between the fan guard and the tips where the airflow is fastest, the flow resistance and the flow-induced noise can be reduced. |
| US08137057B2 |
Engine intake air compressor and method
A compressor assembly (304) includes a compressor housing (312) having a main air inlet (324) and an annular wall (328) defining an inducer bore (325). A secondary inlet passage (322) is disposed around the inducer bore (325). The secondary inlet passage (322) has an inlet slot (320) operatively intersecting the inducer bore (325) to permit the entry of a fluid thereinto through an inlet port (327). The inlet slot (320) advantageously defines an augmented inducer diameter region (331). Preferably the secondary inlet passage (322) may be selectively partially or completely isolated from the main air inlet (324). A compressor wheel (318) is located in the compressor housing (312) and has a stepped portion (330) formed by at least one plurality of vanes (238) operatively associated with the augmented inducer diameter region (331) adjacent to the inlet slot (320) of the housing (312) to receive fluid therefrom. |
| US08137056B2 |
Impingement cooled structure
An impingement cooled structure includes a plurality of shroud members disposed in a circumferential direction to constitute a ring-shaped shroud surrounding a hot gas stream, and a shroud cover mounted on radial outside faces of the shroud members to form a cavity therebetween. The shroud cover has a first impingement cooling hole which communicates with the cavity and allows cooling air to be jetted to an inside thereof so as to cool an inner surface of the cavity by impingement. The shroud members each has a hole fin. The hole fin divides the cavity into a plurality of sub-cavities. Further, the hole fin has a second impingement cooling hole which allows the cooling air having flowed through the first impingement cooling hole to be jetted obliquely toward a bottom surface of the sub-cavity adjacent thereto. |
| US08137054B2 |
Supersonic compressor
A novel supersonic compressor is provided by the present invention. In one embodiment, the novel supersonic compressor comprises a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and at least two counter rotary supersonic compressor rotors, said supersonic compressor rotors being configured in series such that an output from a first supersonic compressor rotor having a first direction of rotation is directed to a second supersonic compressor rotor configured to counter-rotate with respect to the first supersonic compressor rotor. |
| US08137052B1 |
Wind turbine generator
A wind turbine generator assembly comprising a support tower and a turbine assembly mounted in a downwind position with respect to the support tower. The turbine assembly comprises a cowling assembly and a spoked wheel having a plurality of relatively short blades mounted radially outward with respect to and downwind the cowling assembly. Each blade has an airfoil cross-sectional configuration of a predetermined structure to provide lift. The bladed wheel is coupled to a generator to produce electricity. The support tower has an upper tower portion having a biased hinge assembly with respect to the lower tower position to permit the turbine to pivot in high wind conditions. The support tower further has a rotating mechanism above the lower tower portion and below the biased hinge assembly to allow the turbine to rotate with respect to wind direction and a pivot assembly is provided to permit the turbine assembly to be brought to ground level for erecting and maintenance purposes. |
| US08137050B2 |
Pickup device and pickup method
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which can pick up a chip from an adhesive film while preventing damage to the chip. In addition, a device which can pick up a chip over an adhesive film with a high yield is provided. A pickup device includes: a frame for holding a film to which a chip is attached, which is fixed to a support; a pressing jig which presses a surface of the film, to which a chip is not attached, while rotated or moved; a holding jig which holds the chip simultaneously with or after the pressing jig pressing the film; and a moving unit which moves the holding jig. |
| US08137049B2 |
Rebar separator
A rebar separator having a crossbar situated atop one or, preferably, two vibrational insulators which are preferably inflatable cushions. Preferably, there are two or more such crossbars on one or two inflatable cushions. At least one vibrational motor is in contact with at least one crossbar. And preferably each crossbar slopes from a first end to a second end. A source of fluid is in communication with each inflatable cushion. Preferably, the vibrational insulators are placed on top of first and second longitudinal channels of a horizontal rack. |
| US08137045B2 |
Bin tunnel with collapsible sides
A bin tunnel having collapsible sides is used with a truck box of a truck to load content into the truck box from a bin that is sized to fit within the bin tunnel when the bin tunnel is in an open position. When the bin tunnel is in a closed position a footprint of the bin tunnel is very small compared to the open position because the sides are retracted. The footprints can be less when the bin tunnel is in the closed position from thirty (30) percent of the footprint of the bin tunnel in the open position. When the bin tunnel is closed, the contents of the truck box are secure as the space inside of the closed bin tunnel is too small to allow access to the interior. |
| US08137043B2 |
Device for opening and closing the discharge door of a bulk seed box
A device is described for opening and closing the discharge door of a bulk seed box. The device comprises a portable lightweight structure which is attached to the box and which uses an electrically operated screw actuator to move the discharge door of the box from its closed position to its open position and vice versa. The device also includes a spreader mechanism which relieves the stress or tension on the supporting slide or track for the discharge door so that the discharge door may be more easily opened and closed. |
| US08137041B2 |
Vibration-isolating fastening assembly
Herein is disclosed a fastening assembly that may be used for securing first and second workpieces to each other in such manner as to provide vibration isolation between the first and second workpieces. The fastening assembly comprises an elongated, rigid fastener, and an elastomeric bushing, that are integrally secured together. |
| US08137039B2 |
Connecting fitting
A connecting fitting includes a body having a cam surface and an inserting assembly which is pivotally connected with the body. The inserting assembly includes an inserting member and at least one expandable member mounted between the body and the inserting member. The expandable member includes an expandable portion and a lip portion extending from the expandable portion. A compressible space is defined by the expandable portion and the lip portion, and the expandable portion has a plurality of snap portions. When the body is axially turned relative to the inserting assembly at a certain angle to generate a push force, the snap portions will be expanded outwardly by the push force. |
| US08137032B2 |
Anchor with grout jacket
An anchor 1 for consolidating non-cohesive rock layers or for connecting them to solid rock 2 primarily has the necessary components for realising a stressed or expansion anchor. Furthermore, when a conventional domed plate 10 is used, which reliably transmits the necessary stress forces, it is possible additionally to bond the anchor bar 4 in the drill hole 3 after stressing. To this end, the anchor bar 4 is either constructed with a connecting tube 22 with distributor head 24 or the sheathing tube 11 comprises a top tube 50, these both fulfilling the task of conveying the grout bonding material 12 reliably from the drill hole mouth end of the anchor bar 4 to the rock end 5A and then diverting it there and returning it to the drill hole mouth, so ensuring complete fixing and sheathing of the anchor bar 4 in the drill hole 3. |
| US08137028B2 |
Small boat dock racking system
A small vessel dock racking system provides a three-sided cradle that is rotatably connected to two lateral supports extending outward from one side of the dock. A person in the water can float the canoe or kayak into the cradle and lift it into a secure vertical storage position on the side of the dock without having to get up on the dock. A pivot point extending out into the water has the advantages of both accommodating freeboard and minimizing the distance between the pivot and the boat's center of gravity, thereby allowing for much less effort in lifting. Depending on the depth of the vessel, the cradle can be dimensioned so that the position of the vessel's center of gravity tends to hold the cradle in a vertical alignment after it's been lifted. Where needed, a cradle latch that can be activated from the water side further secures the storage position. |
| US08137020B2 |
Computer-contained binder
A computer-contained binder provided in the disclosure has a document binder and a computer device. The document binder having at least one cover and plural parallel folder rings piercing through an edge of the cover. The computer device has a main body, a column-shaped battery portion pierced through by all of the parallel folder rings, and two shafts. Each shaft respectively pivots the column-shaped battery portion and the main body at two opposite end of the shaft. |
| US08137019B2 |
Ink composition for writing instrument and writing instrument
The ink composition for a writing instrument has an aqueous component containing water, a thixotropic agent, a polyhydric alcohol and a pigment, dispersed in an oil component having dyes and non-dye components, wherein the IOB value for all of the dyes in the oil component is no greater than 0.9. |
| US08137015B2 |
Image forming method for determining a position of an ink ribbon with a boundary line
A method of forming an image on a transfer sheet based on electronic data uses an image forming device and an ink ribbon cartridge. An ink ribbon of the ink ribbon cartridge has a plurality of ink films formed thereon with boundary lines being provided between the ink films. In the image forming method, the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon cartridge is conveyed when the power to the image forming device is turned on and the ink ribbon cartridge is installed in the image forming device and before the user inputs the image forming instruction. While the ink ribbon of the ink ribbon cartridge is conveyed, it is determined with a boundary line detecting unit whether at least one of the boundary lines formed on the ink ribbon has reached a predetermined position in the image forming device. |
| US08137011B2 |
Actuator and blade drive device for camera
An electromagnetic actuator includes: a coil for excitation; a stator excited with different magnetic poles by energization of the coil; a rotor magnetized with the different magnetic poles in accordance with a circumferential direction, and rotated by a magnetic force generating between the rotor and the stator; and an outputting member rotated in conjunction with the rotor and outputting rotational movement of the rotor to a first blade and a second blade. The outputting member is provided with a fitting hole press-fitted onto the rotor. |
| US08137009B2 |
Privacy ensuring camera enclosure
A privacy ensuring camera enclosure with a camera enclosing configuration and a surveillance configuration wherein the camera enclosing configuration entirely surrounds a surveillance camera such that it is visibly removed from a privacy sensitive area, thereby preserving the expected level of privacy in the privacy sensitive area; the enclosure is configured to dynamically change from the camera enclosing configuration to the surveillance configuration in response to a heightened threat level. |
| US08137008B1 |
Mobile camera mount
A remote-controlled, roof-mounted, digital camera mount for a motor vehicle is herein disclosed. The apparatus comprises a mount system with a remote control. The mount system provides for remote control of pan and tilt functions on the mount. The remote control is provided by two (2) or more electric motors in wireless communication with said remote control located by an operator's position enabling the operator to control the positioning of the camera while operating the camera. |
| US08137006B2 |
Mirror and shutter drive control mechanism for imaging apparatus
An imaging apparatus is provided, including a mirror movable between a viewing position and a retracted position; a shutter which prevents the light that is passed through the imaging optical system from being incident on the image sensor and allows the light that is passed through the imaging optical system to be incident on the image sensor when open and shut, respectively; a reversible motor; a first operating mechanism which moves the mirror and carries out a shutter charge operation when engaged with the reversible motor and driven thereby; a second operating mechanism which carries out the shutter charge operation without moving the mirror when engaged with the reversible motor and driven thereby; and a driving force transmission switcher for transmitting driving forces of the reversible motor in first and second rotational directions thereof to the first and second operating mechanisms, respectively. |
| US08137005B2 |
Lens barrel and camera
A lens barrel has a drive frame, a first lens frame, a zoom motor, and a control device. The drive frame has three first cam grooves. The first lens frame has cam pins inserted into the first cam grooves. The zoom motor rotationally drives the drive frame. The control device limits the drive range of the zoom motor so that the cam pins do not stop near the wide-angle position of the imaging region. |
| US08137001B2 |
Repeatable optical waveguide interconnection including an index matching elastomeric solid layer and related methods
A repeatable optical waveguide interconnection may include first and second optical waveguides having respective first and second end faces. Each of the first and second optical waveguides may include a core having a core index of refraction, and a cladding surrounding the core and having a cladding index of refraction different than the core index of refraction. The repeatable optical waveguide interconnection may further include a first index matching elastomeric solid layer having a proximal face chemically bound to the first end face and a low-tack distal face opposite the proximal face to be repeatably optically coupled to the second end face. Further, the first index matching elastomeric solid layer may have an index of refraction matching at least the index of refraction of the core. |
| US08136998B2 |
Bearing apparatus
A bearing apparatus includes: two split outer ring halves which are mounted to the housing; a plurality of rolling elements which are provided so as to roll on the two split outer ring halves; and a cage which holds the rolling elements such that the rolling elements are disposed at substantially equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the cage and which is split at a position of the cage to form joint surfaces, an outside diameter of the cage being guided by inner circumferential surfaces of the split outer ring halves. An outside diametrical dimension in a normal direction to the joint surfaces is made larger than an outside diametrical dimension of the cage in a direction parallel to the joint surface, and vicinity of an outside diametrical position of the cage lying in the normal direction is made to be guided by the outer ring halves. |
| US08136995B2 |
Sealing device and rolling bearing apparatus
First portions are fixed to an outer ring, and second portions are fixed to an inner ring. Bimetal members and electromagnets are embedded in and fixed by elastic portions of the first portions and portions of the second portions are constituted by ferromagnetic members. Whereas at a normal temperature region, the first portions and the second portions are brought into contact with each other, based on deformations of the bimetal members at a temperature equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature equal to or higher than the normal temperature region, the first portions and the second portions are made to be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by intervals therebetween at a temperature equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature equal to or higher than the normal temperature region. |
| US08136993B2 |
Sliding bearing
A cylindrical sliding bearing having a cylindrical steel back metal, and a bearing alloy layer, serving as a sliding surface, on the inside of the steel back metal is provided. The cylindrical sliding bearing further have a coat layer of Bi or a Bi-based alloy formed on the outer back surface of the steel back metal. Preferably, the coat layer is made from the Bi-based alloy of 1 to 30 mass % of one or more kinds of Sn, Pb, In, Ag and Cu; and the balance being Bi and inevitable impurities. |
| US08136989B2 |
X-ray detector
An X-ray detector is provided. The X-ray detector is a grid wall device, having a radiation detector that is movable vertically by way of a displacement mechanism. The displacement mechanism is a scissor-type arm or an articulated arm having at least two arms hinged to one another. At least one drive device is provided for the purpose of moving the scissor-type arm or an articulated arm. |
| US08136983B2 |
Sensor and control system
A system is disclosed that essentially eliminates the delay in measurement of temperature by a sensor due to exponential response of the sensor. The system finds the rate of change of the sensor signal, multiplies it by the time constant of the sensor signal and adds the result to the instantaneous value of the sensor signal to predict the final value of the sensor signal or the actual value of the temperature. When the sensor is permanently attached to an object, the final temperature of the object is predicted in a similar manner using the combined time constant value of the sensor and the object. The system can be software, analog hardware or digital hardware. The system also allows more accurate temperature control without undershoot or overshoot by providing a control signal proportional to the difference between a desired value and the predicted final value of the sensor signal. The system similarly eliminates the time delay in measurement and control of flow in thermal flow meters. |
| US08136982B2 |
Thermal profiling to validate electronic device authenticity
Counterfeit electronic devices are detected by comparing a thermal profile of the counterfeit device and an authentic device under predetermined operating conditions. A thermal profile for an authentic electronic device is recorded executing an instruction set over time, such as with static infrared images at predetermined times, video infrared images over a predetermined time period or temperature measurements made at predetermined locations of the electronic device. In one embodiment, a thermal profile indicates that a processor device has been used in the place of a field programmable grid array device. In an alternative embodiment, an electromagnetic profile is detected instead of or in addition to the thermal profile. The electromagnetic profile of an authentic device is used to create an expected profile for comparison with an electromagnetic profile of electronic devices under test. |
| US08136981B2 |
Heat transfer evaluating apparatus
Disclosed is a heat transfer evaluation apparatus of a nano-fluid including: a long pipe formed as a circular pipe; a rubber tube connected to one end of the long pipe to surround the outer surface of the long pipe; a short pipe communicated through the rubber tube; and a hot wire sensor formed of a metal hot wire at one end of the short pipe. |
| US08136977B2 |
Lighting apparatus
A lighting apparatus including a base, a light emitting unit, and a conducting wire is provided. The base includes a bottom board and a side frame. The bottom board has a first surface, a second surface, a recess, a first through hole, and a second through hole. The recess is located at the second surface. The first through hole and the second through hole are located at the recess and pass through the bottom board. The side frame is disposed on the first surface. The light emitting unit is disposed on the first surface. An end of the conducting wire is electrically connected to the light emitting unit. The conducting wire extends from the first surface to the recess through the first through hole, and extends from the recess to an outer side of the first surface through the second through hole. |
| US08136967B2 |
LED optical lens
An optical lens and method for designing the lens are disclosed. The lens includes a first surface and a second surface. Light emitted from multiple light emitting elements enters the lens through a central section of the first surface. The light can be reflected from a reflective central section of the second surface and/or undergo total internal reflection at an outer ring section of the second surface one or more times before exiting the lens through the outer ring section of the second surface. Upon exiting the lens, the light beam has a predetermined divergence angle and has a fairly uniform color in the far field even if the multiple light emitting elements have different peak wavelengths. |
| US08136966B2 |
Light mixing chamber
An illumination chamber for illuminating an object with substantially uniform illumination and providing an image of the object, the illumination chamber includes a generally 6-faced polyhedron opaque housing, which encloses a light mixing chamber. The housing includes an object transparent glass sheet, an image transparent glass sheet and at least one light source disposed inside the housing. The object transparent glass sheet is disposed at a first of the two larger faces of the 6-faced polyhedron and image transparent glass sheet is disposed at the second large face of the 6-faced polyhedron, opposing the object glass sheet. The object to be imaged, typically a document, is disposed immediately adjacent to the external surface of the object transparent glass sheet. The image of the objects exits the housing through the image transparent glass sheet. |
| US08136960B2 |
Light emitting diode display
An LED display with a reduced thickness is described. In one embodiment, the LED display includes a second support plate between a front support plate and a back support plate. The second support plate enables the front support plate to be thinner than if the second support plate was not included. The second support plate increases the distance between an LED chip and a light exit surface thereby allowing the front support plate thickness to be reduced by about the thickness of the second support plate. In one embodiment, the second support plate allows the thickness of an LED display to be thinner. The second support plate adds structural integrity to a back support plate. Therefore, the back support plate can be thinner, and thickness of the LED display can be reduced. |
| US08136955B2 |
Illumination system and display including same
An illumination system comprises at least one light source (2) and a light-guide (1). A first part of the light-guide (1) is defined by a surface (12) for light emission and a back surface (13), and a second part of the light-guide is defined by a light receiving surface (14) and a light reflecting surface (15). The light source (2) is disposed adjacent or substantially adjacent to the light receiving surface (14), and light from the light source enters the light-guide through the light receiving surface (14), and is reflected by the light reflecting surface (15) into the first part of the light-guide. Light is emitted from the waveguide through the surface (12) for light emission, and may be used to illuminate, for example, a display device placed over the surface (12) for light emission. The light source and the light receiving surface are on the same side of the waveguide as the surface for light emission. |
| US08136953B2 |
Flat panel display apparatus
A flat panel display apparatus including a display unit, a cover covering the display unit, and a film disposed on the cover. The film has one or more protrusions, each having a reflective first surface and a transparent second surface. The first surface can include a coating. The second surface transmits light from the display unit, at a first angle, and the second surface reflects external light at a second angle. |
| US08136952B2 |
Image capturing apparatus
An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor adapted to opto-electronically convert the image of a subject; an optical member placed in front of the image sensor; first and second piezoelectric elements placed at respective ones of both ends of the optical member; first and second driving units adapted to independently vibrate the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively; a detection unit having first and second detecting piezoelectric elements placed adjacent to the first and second piezoelectric elements, respectively, for detecting vibration of the optical member; and a first control unit adapted to control the first and second driving units and the detection unit so as to vibrate the optical member by vibrating the first piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the second detecting piezoelectric element, or vibrate the optical member by vibrating the second piezoelectric element and detect vibration of the optical member using the first detecting piezoelectric element. |
| US08136951B2 |
Projection type display apparatus and optical unit with optical coupling lens
In a projection type display apparatus using plural light sources, an optical unit including plural light sources, a first collimator lens, an optical coupling lens, an image display element and a projection lens is formed, and in an optical path extending from the light sources to the projection lens, light is condensed only once on the image display element, thereby minimizing the number of optical parts used and shortening the length of the optical path from the plural light sources up to the projection lens to attain the reduction in size of the projection type display apparatus or the optical unit. In this way it is possible to provide a projection type display apparatus or an optical unit each capable of attaining the reduction of cost by minimizing the number of optical parts used and capable of attaining a high luminance by irradiating the image display element with the light emitted from the light sources without leakage of the light. |
| US08136949B2 |
Interactive projected sandbox
A method for creating an interactive display in which users/players can form the projection screen. The method includes providing granular display material, such as a layer of sand in a container, and storing a guide image and a display image in memory of a control system. Then, a projector is first operated to project the guide image on an upper surface of the display material. After a sculpting period or in response to a user or operator provided trigger, the method includes second operating the projector to project the display image on the upper surface which has been sculpted by the user into a 3D projection surface or screen during the first operating step. The projected guide image may include an outline of an object, and the display image may include an image element that is mapped to the location of the outlined object. |
| US08136948B2 |
Etendue maintaining polarization switching system and related methods
Etendue maintaining polarization switching occurs, according to various embodiments, with a mirror that quickly transitions between two positions. Light having uniform polarization is transmitted to the mirror. Light reflected off of the mirror in one of the two positions has its polarization changed, whereas light reflected off of the mirror in the other of the two positions has its polarization maintained. Thereafter, the polarization-changed light and the polarization-maintained light easily may be recombined in an entendue-maintaining manner. Because the recombined light includes two different polarization states, stereoscopic images may be generated. |
| US08136946B2 |
Apparatus for determining prescription for prism lenses for diplopic patients
An apparatus is provided for finding and defining a prescription for prism glasses for Diplopic patients and AMD patients whose Macula and Fovea are damaged enough that the patients have double vision, but, still have relatively good acuity. The apparatus positions lenses in infinitely variable locations horizontally and vertically in front of the patient's eyes until the patient indicates that he/she sees the two images fuse. The H-V coordinates of the location of the Optic center of each lens axis in relation to the patient's visual axis are decentration dimensions indicated for each eye by the H and V dials on the apparatus and are thus the basis for an accurate prescription for prism lenses. |
| US08136945B2 |
Ophthalmological measuring apparatus
An opthalmological measurement apparatus (1) is proposed which comprises a first measurement system and a second measurement system. The first measurement system comprises a first light projection system for projection of a first light beam (2) through a cross-sectional part (4) of an eye (3). In addition, the first measurement system comprises image detection means, arranged in the Scheimpflug configuration with respect to the first light beam (2), for detection and storage of a cross-sectional image (30A) of at least one subregion of the cross-sectional part (4) which is illuminated by the first light projection system, from a first position outside the first light beam (2). The second measurement system comprises a second light projection system for projection of a second light beam onto the eye (3), and comprises a wavefront detector (19) for determination and storage of a wavefront profile of the second light beam reflected by the eye (3). The second measurement system allows the detection of extended measurement data which, in addition to cross-sectional images, also includes the wavefront profile, so that not only geometric eye parameters but also optical characteristics of the eye, in particular optical characteristics of the eye lens, can be determined on the basis of the detected measurement data. |
| US08136942B2 |
Aspheric fluid filled lens optic
A non-round fluid lens assembly includes a non-round rigid lens and a flexible membrane attached to the non-round rigid lens, such that a cavity is formed between the non-round rigid lens and the flexible membrane. A reservoir in fluid communication with the cavity allows a fluid to be transferred into and out of the cavity so as to change the optical power of the fluid lens assembly. In an embodiment, a front surface of the non-round rigid lens is aspheric. Additionally or alternatively, a thickness of the flexible membrane may be contoured so that it changes shape in a spheric manner when fluid is transferred between the cavity and the reservoir. |
| US08136941B2 |
Light dispersion eyeglass nose pad
A nose pad for supporting eyeglasses on a nose is disclosed. The nose pad includes a first surface and a second surface, the second surface opposing the first surface and including a contact portion configured to contact a wearer's nose. In an embodiment, the first surface includes a first outer edge portion, a second outer edge portion, and a central portion that is provided between the first outer edge portion and the second outer edge portion. In an embodiment, the first outer edge portion, the second outer edge portion, and the central portion are configured so that light directed at the first surface and passing through the second surface is dispersed so that the light is not concentrated on a wearer's nose. |
| US08136938B2 |
System and method for printing on lenticular sheets
A system for printing on lenticular sheets, including a printer having a lenticular sheet feed tray for holding at least one lenticular sheet having a plurality of lenticules; a laterally reciprocating lenticular sheet sensor flushly disposed on the lenticular sheet feed tray for sensing parameters of the plurality of lenticules; a computing system in communication with the printer and the laterally reciprocating lenticular sheet sensor and configured to execute software modules for adapting an interphased graphical image to the parameters and printing the adapted interphased graphical image on the at least one lenticular sheet. Methods for printing on lenticular sheet and electronic systems for printing on lenticular sheet are also included. |
| US08136937B2 |
Ink-jet printer
An ink-jet printer, including: a feeding mechanism which feeds a recording medium in a feeding direction; an ink-jet head which ejects ink onto a surface of the recording medium at a recording position where the ink-jet head faces the recording medium fed by the feeding mechanism in the feeding direction; a pressing device including at least one spur and pressing the surface of the recording medium on a downstream side of the recording position in the feeding direction by bringing at least one of the at least one spur into contact with the surface of the recording medium; and a pressing-position-changing mechanism which selectively realizes one of a plurality of states which are different from each other in at least one pressing position, in the feeding direction, at which the pressing device presses the surface of the recording medium. |
| US08136935B2 |
Inkjet printer and ink dryer
An inkjet printer includes a plurality of guide walls and a plurality of choke portions. Each of the plurality of guide walls is arranged substantially in parallel with a feeding direction of a medium to provide a guide wall clearance between the plurality of guide walls. The wave guide has a first internal space connected to the guide wall clearance and an electromagnetic-wave supplier and configured to apply the electromagnetic wave to the medium which is introduced into the first internal space. Each of the plurality of choke portions includes a second internal space adjacent to each guide wall and an opening from the second internal space to the guide wall clearance. The second internal space is connected to the first internal space via the guide wall clearance. The second internal space has a length of λ/4 relative to wavelength λ of the electromagnetic wave in the feeding direction. |
| US08136932B2 |
Liquid storage container and liquid filling method and liquid refilling method using the same
A liquid storage container includes a liquid containing body that is formed of a flexible film and contains liquid therein; a liquid lead-out member connected to the liquid containing body; and a spacer member disposed in the liquid containing body. The liquid containing body deforms in a direction in which inner wall surfaces of the flexible film facing each other are brought into contact with each other at the time of reduction in the remaining amount of the liquid as the inside liquid is taken out through the liquid lead-out member, and the spacer member regulates contact between parts of the inner wall surfaces of the flexible film facing each other at the time of reduction in the remaining amount of the liquid to thereby form a remaining liquid space where liquid remains. |
| US08136930B2 |
Liquid container and manufacturing method therefor
A liquid container detachably mountable to a mounting portion of an ink jet printer including an information storing portion for storing information relating to the liquid container; a controller controls light emission of a light emitting portion, based on individual information corresponding to the ink container, supplied through a container contact from a printer contact, and the discrimination information stored in the memory; a light guide member having a light incident portion and a light emergence portion, the light guide member configured to guide the light entered from the light incident portion to the light emergence portion so as to cause a light receptor to receive the light emerged from the light emergence portion to obtain light reception information used for discriminating properness of position of the ink container mounted in the mounting portion. |
| US08136929B2 |
Installing fluid container in fluid ejection device
A fluid ejection device ejecting a fluid, the fluid ejection device includes: a fluid ejection unit; a fluid container; a delivery needle; and a guard cover. The fluid ejection unit ejects a fluid onto an ejection target. The fluid container includes a container portion and a withdrawal portion. The container portion contains a fluid for ejection, and the withdrawal portion allows withdrawal of the fluid contained in the container portion. The delivery needle sticks through the withdrawal portion to provide a flow passage which communicates with the fluid ejection unit. The guard cover projects over the delivery needle to prevent the withdrawal portion from approaching the delivery needle from a direction intersecting a center axis of the delivery needle. |
| US08136926B2 |
Ink-jet head and manufacturing method thereof
Disclosed are an ink-jet head and a method of manufacturing the ink-jet head including a plurality of chambers, a membrane covering the plurality of chambers, and a plurality of actuators separated from one another by a virtual dividing line on the membrane such that pressure is applied to each of the plurality of chambers. The method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: forming a groove at a position on one surface of the membrane, the position corresponding to the position of the dividing line; bonding a piezoelectric member to the one surface of the membrane having the groove formed therein by using adhesive resin; and dividing the piezoelectric member such that the groove is exposed. |
| US08136924B2 |
Liquid ejecting head unit and liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting head unit includes a liquid ejecting head that ejects a liquid, a first holding member that holds the liquid ejecting head, and a second holding member positioned on the first holding member. The liquid ejecting head includes a nozzle face having a nozzle opening for ejecting the liquid and a flexible first wiring substrate having that can be erected in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle face. The first holding member has a wiring substrate inserting hole that contains the first wiring substrate, and is held by the second holding member on a side opposite to the liquid ejecting head. The first wiring substrate of the liquid ejecting head and a connection member electrically connected to a second wiring substrate are electrically connected to each other on the first holding member side of the second holding member. |
| US08136920B2 |
Nozzle plate, method for manufacturing nozzle plate, droplet discharge head, and droplet discharge apparatus
A nozzle plate includes: a first silicon layer; a glass layer; a second silicon layer provided between the first silicon layer and the glass layer, the second silicon layer being bonded to the glass layer; and a silicon oxide layer provided between the first silicon layer and the second silicon layer. A nozzle hole passing through the first silicon layer and discharging a droplet is formed. A channel passing through the silicon oxide layer and the second silicon layer and communicating with the nozzle hole is formed. A liquid chamber formed in the glass layer and communicating with the channel is formed. |
| US08136916B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image-forming apparatus includes a head unit configured to include line-type recording heads for ejecting ink droplets, a transport mechanism disposed facing the recording head and configured to transport a sheet, a maintain-recovery mechanism disposed downstream from the transport mechanism in a direction in which the sheet is transported and configured to maintain and recover the line type recording heads, and a head drive mechanism configured to move the head unit between a position facing the transport mechanism and a position facing the maintain-recovery mechanism in the direction in which the sheet is transported. |
| US08136915B2 |
Liquid ejecting apparatus, computer system, and liquid ejection method
A liquid ejecting apparatus etc. creating no blank space on a medium is achieved. The liquid ejecting apparatus has: a movable ejection head for ejecting a liquid; a feed mechanism for feeding a medium; and detecting means for detecting a position of an edge of the medium; wherein the apparatus repeats an operation of detecting the position of the edge with the detecting means, an operation of feeding the medium with the feed mechanism, and an operation of ejecting the liquid onto the medium from the moving ejection head; in accordance with the position of the edge that has been detected, the apparatus changes at least either one of a start position and an end position for ejecting the liquid from the moving ejection head; and if the position of the edge was not detected, the apparatus sets the start position or the end position to a position that has been established in advance. |
| US08136910B2 |
Calibration method for a printer
The invention relates to a calibration method for a printer having a mechanism for advancing a medium in a direction of media advance comprising the following steps: (a) providing a printhead, the printhead having a swath height in the direction of media advance; (b) providing an estimate of either the swath height or the characteristic of the mechanism; (c) printing a base pattern on a medium using the printhead; (d) printing an overlay pattern on the medium using the printhead to form an interference pattern; (e) advance the medium of a predetermined distance using the mechanism at a time between the printing of the base pattern and the printing of the overlay pattern; (f) analyze an optical evaluation of the interference pattern; (g) evaluate as either: (i) the swath height if the characteristic of the mechanism is known or estimated; or (ii) the characteristic of the mechanism if the swath height is known or estimated. |
| US08136905B2 |
Drop volume compensation for ink supply variation
The present invention relates to a method that enables image quality of a printed image to be maintained by reducing unintended variations in drop volume, through the adjustment of ink drop ejecting conditions depending on the amount of ink remaining in an ink tank chamber or reservoir, and/or the ink demand for printing an image. The method of printing of the present invention comprises: providing a printhead in fluid communication with an ink chamber or reservoir; detecting at least one parameter related to an amount of negative pressure provided to the printhead; and adjusting an ink drop ejecting condition of the printhead as a function of the parameter so that an amount of variation in size of ejected ink drop is reduced. |
| US08136899B2 |
Rack device and incubator having the same
A rack device having a receiver that can be prevented from being separated from a rack post in an incubator. A rack device in which a receiver is mounted between a pair of rack posts to hold a rack on the receiver includes a pair of engaging hooks which are formed in the receiver and a plurality of engaging holes which are formed in both the rack posts and in which both of the engaging hooks of the receiver disengageably engage, respectively. The rack posts are configured to be able to change an interval there between and select a first state in which the engaging hooks can be disengaged from the engaging holes and a second state in which the movement of the receiver is restricted while the engaging hooks be kept to engage in the engaging holes by changing the interval between the rack posts. |
| US08136898B2 |
Closing and retaining device for an extension guide
A closing and retaining device for an extension guide includes a rail of an extension guide, a housing slidably disposed on the rail, and a driver disposed on the housing. The closing and retaining device also includes a damper housing retained in the housing, a displaceable piston coupled between the damper housing and the driver, wherein the damper housing is displaceable in a direction of movement of the piston, and a latch disposed on the driver to connect the piston to the driver. After the piston is connected to the driver, the damper housing is pushed into position by the driver. |
| US08136896B2 |
Laundry treating machine
A laundry treating machine is provided which includes a cabinet that forms an external appearance of the laundry treating machine, a washing tub mounted in the cabinet, a housing mounted in the cabinet below the washing tub, the housing defining a predetermined space, and a movable body received in the housing such that the movable body can move in forward-and-rearward directions with respect to the cabinet. |
| US08136890B2 |
Shock proof devices and methods
Devices and methods for preventing shock from a high voltage power source. In one embodiment, a device for preventing an electric shock, comprises output terminals for connecting to an external load, a low voltage circuit for carrying a first current (IL) to the output terminals, the low voltage circuit comprising a first coil disposed about a magnetic core, and a high voltage circuit for carrying a second current (IH) to the output terminals, the high voltage circuit comprising a second coil disposed about the magnetic core, and a control relay configured to electrically connect one of the high voltage circuit and the low voltage circuit to the output terminals based at least partly on the first current (IL). |
| US08136886B2 |
Displacement actuated side dumping haul body
A displacement actuated side dumping haul body and related methods are disclosed. The side dumping haul body may, for example, be mounted to a trailer or truck frame. The side dumping haul body includes a floor with fore and aft end walls rigidly attached to the floor, at least one actuator and first and second sidewalls. When the at least one actuator is employed to pivot the floor to dump material from the haul body, the corresponding sidewall pivots at least generally away from the floor to create a side discharge opening. Various opening parameters and dumping characteristics can be achieved by varying locations of pivot and linkage points. |
| US08136884B2 |
Textile-attached deck assembly
A seating product comprising a seat deck assembly secured at opposite ends to a frame. The seat deck assembly comprises a seat deck. A textile border is disposed between at least one end of the seat deck assembly and the frame. The textile border is attached to the frame, thereby flexibly coupling the seat deck assembly thereto. Cushions, padding or an upholstered covering can complete embodiments of the seating product. |
| US08136883B2 |
Vehicle seat and vehicle with a vehicle seat
A vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle seat, has at least one pair of adjustable lateral cheeks provided on a seat cushion and/or on a seat back, with at least one inflatable chamber for adjusting the lateral cheek being provided in each of the lateral cheeks. A plate-shaped element is provided outside the inflatable chamber and on the same side facing a person sitting on the vehicle seat. |
| US08136882B2 |
Multi-way adjustment device for a seat component and/or a cable
A multi-way adjustment device, in particular a two-way adjustment device, is proposed for a seat component, which is suitable in particular for the seat-back width adjustment of a seat. The multi-way adjustment device comprises an adjustment part (7) adjustably mounted relative to a mounting plate a (1), which when moved in a first adjustment direction (A) requires less energy expenditure than when moved in a second adjustment direction (B). In order to compensate this, there are provided mechanical energy accumulation means (5), which takes up mechanical energy when the movement is in the first adjustment direction (A), in order to release this when the movement is in the second adjustment direction (B) and thus to assist the movement of the adjustment part (7) in the second adjustment direction (B). Moreover, the invention relates to a corresponding adjustment device for a cable, in particular a Bowden cable, in order, for example, to adjust a lumbar support for a seat with respect to curvature or height position. |
| US08136880B2 |
Adjustable width juvenile vehicle seat
A juvenile vehicle seat includes a base, a seat back, and a width controller. The base includes a seat bottom and first and second armrests mounted for pivotable movement on opposite sides of the seat bottom. The width controller can be operated to cause the first and second armrests to pivot relative to one another and to the seat bottom. |
| US08136878B2 |
Vehicle seat
A vehicle seat comprises a seat frame comprising a lower frame connected to side frames, and a seating frame connected to the lower frame. A connecting structure is formed at a position remote from a rotate center as a connecting portion of an end side of the side frame to the lower frame; the connecting structure comprises an elongated hole formed in the applicable side frame and extending in an up-and-down direction, a convex portion formed on the lower frame, an energy absorbing plate, and a guide member for guiding the energy absorbing plate; and the convex portion and the elongated hole are configured to be relatively movable, while plastically deforming the energy absorbing plate which is supported in an abutting manner by a seating frame side of the convex portion and which is disposed in a clamped manner between the convex portion and the guide member. |
| US08136875B2 |
Cup holder and pivoting armrest
Some embodiments relate to armrests equipped with cup holders, wherein the armrest is in pivotal communication with a seat frame member so that the armrest can be stowed and deployed. Some embodiments are also equipped with a locking mechanism that can maintain the armrest in a deployed and/or stowed configuration. Still further, some embodiments include structure for detecting whether the cup holder is occupied and either engaging or disengaging the locking mechanism accordingly. Thus, some embodiments are adapted to lock the armrest in a deployed configuration when a cup or other object is detected within the cup holder. |
| US08136874B2 |
Fluidic climate control system for a seat
A fluid-based or fluidic climate control system for a seat includes first and second portions positionable adjacent to first and second surfaces of the seat and a fluid control module (FCM) for circulating fluid in a closed-loop within the portions. The FCM delivers fluid to the portions at independently-controllable temperatures. An interface may be used to control the temperatures. The FCM may include a heat exchanger module (HEM) having a fan connected to an energy storage device (ESD). The FCM may include a miniature vapor compressor for circulating the fluid. A method of cooling a seat includes positioning first and second portions of the system adjacent to different surfaces of the seat, and using the FCM to circulate fluid within a closed-loop passage of the portions while independently controlling the temperature of the fluid, and thus the portions, using a user interface. |
| US08136872B2 |
Open roof construction for a vehicle
Open roof construction for a vehicle comprising a roof opening defined in a stationary roof part and a movable panel. A slide is movable along a stationary slide guide and is provided with panel engagement elements cooperating with slide engagement elements of the movable panel. A movement of the slide is capable of generating a tilting and/or sliding movement of the panel. The panel engagement elements of the slide comprise two curves and the slide engagement elements of the panel comprise two cams, each for cooperation with a respective one of the curves. Moving the slide in a first direction a cooperation between a first curve and corresponding first cam will lead to lowering a first transversal edge of the panel followed by translating the panel along with the slide. Moving the slide in an opposite second direction a cooperation between the second curve and corresponding second cam will lead to lifting said first transversal edge. |
| US08136869B2 |
Windshield support structure
A windshield support structure for a vehicle, in particular an automobile, includes, but is not limited to a front bulkhead and a windshield support connected to the front bulkhead. The windshield support is supported on the front bulkhead by means of at least one support disposed on the windshield support and the front bulkhead. A method is also provided for producing a windshield support structure. |
| US08136867B2 |
Aerodynamic structure for vehicle
An aerodynamic structure for a vehicle that can effectively adjust airflow within a wheel house is provided. An aerodynamic structure for a vehicle has an airflow collision wall provided at a rear in a vehicle body longitudinal direction with respect to a front wheel in a wheel house, and extending in a vehicle width direction and facing a lower side in a vehicle body vertical direction, an airflow guiding wall extending downward in the vehicle body vertical direction from an end portion of the airflow collision wall which end portion is at a side that is far from the front wheel, and a step portion formed at a portion in the vehicle width direction of at least one of the airflow guiding wall and the airflow collision wall, and including inward-facing walls that extend along a direction intersecting the vehicle width direction. |
| US08136865B1 |
Motorcycle windbreaker
A windbreaker for a motorcycle prevents airflow between the front wheel assembly and the fairing connected to the handlebars, by flexibly connecting to the handlebars and the crash bars. An indentation allows airflow to cool the engine. Releasable connectors allow proper turning of the front wheel, even if mis-mounted. |
| US08136861B2 |
Assembly including a body-in-white and tailgate for automobile
An assembly includes a body of an automobile and a tailgate mounted on the body so as to be movable between an open position and a closed position. The assembly also includes: an opening assistance device mounted between the body and the tailgate in order to apply a pushing force on the tailgate that tends to move the latter into an open position; and at least one abutment provided on the body, for applying on the opening assistance device, when the tailgate is in the closed position, a force opposite to the pushing force thereof so that the tailgate is not subjected, or barely subjected, to the pushing force of the opening assistance device. |
| US08136847B2 |
Coupling having angularly oriented shoulder surfaces
A mechanical pipe coupling is formed of segments attached end to end to surround a central space. Each segment has a circumferentially extending cavity facing the central space flanked by arcuate keys which project toward the central space. Two arcuate shoulder surfaces are positioned on each segment. The arcuate shoulder surfaces face the central space and are positioned in spaced relation on opposite sides of the cavity between the cavity and the arcuate keys. The arcuate shoulder surfaces are angularly oriented with respect to an axis perpendicular to a plane containing the segments. The coupling is used to couple pipe elements having a circumferential ring located at the ends of the pipe elements. The angular orientation of the arcuate shoulder surfaces provides flexibility to the joint. A method of joining pipe elements having circumferential rings is also disclosed. |
| US08136839B2 |
Apparatus for counterbalancing a vehicle positioned on an inclined surface
An apparatus for providing counterweight to a vehicle on an inclined surface. In one embodiment, a control unit may engage a motor, which rotates a weight such that it is positioned to act as a counterweight for a vehicle on an inclined surface. In another embodiment, when an inclinometer detects the vehicle is positioned on an inclined surface, logic circuitry engages motor, causing a weight to rotate to a position such that it acts as a counterweight for the vehicle. |
| US08136838B2 |
Airbag
An occupant side-impact protection apparatus for a motor vehicle, including an inflatable cushion stored in a folded configuration and an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the cushion. The cushion is configured to inflate to form a curtain to protect the head and upper torso of the occupant of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a tension tether, having a first end coupled at a first portion of the cushion and a second end coupled to a second portion of the cushion, to provide tension to the cushion during its unfolding. The cushion is further configured to deploy along the internal side of the vehicle, wherein the first portion of the cushion is located proximate to the rear of the cushion along an edge of the cushion that trails the remainder of the cushion as the cushion unfolds, and wherein the second portion of the cushion is located proximate to the rear of the cushion along an edge of the cushion that leads the remainder of the cushion as the cushion unfolds. |
| US08136837B2 |
Folded airbag for a motor vehicle
A folded airbag for a motor vehicle, which can be inflated in case of a crash, having a first rolled folding created by rolling up a first airbag section, and a second rolled folding created by rolling up a second airbag section. The spatial directions, along which the two airbag sections are rolled up to form a rolled folding are oriented at an angle to each other. |
| US08136835B2 |
Easy ejector seat with skeletal crash safety beam
An arrangement in passenger vehicles, that diverts the impact energy in impacts away from the passengers to the remaining mass of the vehicle thereby protecting the passengers, and in the same arrangement provides utilitarian access to the vehicle, such utilitarian access making it possible to both install multi-element contoured surround seats for passengers and the driver, and also safety devices and arrangements for head-on collision protection that protect the passenger. An indo-skeletal structural arrangement proposed for the vehicle, provides further benefits by targeting the strength of the vehicle to protect passengers while minimizing other massive elements in the vehicle. |
| US08136832B2 |
Dashboard support part having a passenger airbag module
A dashboard support part is provided having an airbag exit opening and a module fastening frame, on which a passenger airbag module is directly and removably fastened, the module fastening frame being implemented integrally with the dashboard support part. The passenger airbag module is fastened on the module fastening frame using screws and/or using projections of the passenger airbag module inserted into pockets of the module fastening frame transversely to a firing direction of the passenger airbag module. |
| US08136830B2 |
Towable impact attenuator
A crash attenuator includes a crash cushion having a front end and a rear end, and a restraint element disposed adjacent the front end and capable of being coupled to a towing vehicle. The crash attenuator further includes at least one wheel supporting the crash cushion. The restraint element is operable between at least an impact condition and a non-impact condition. |
| US08136828B2 |
Easy riding bicycle
A bicycle design includes a seat tube affixed to the chain stay at a fixed distance rearward of the bottom bracket so that the rider sitting on the saddle can comfortably fully extend one leg to place a foot flat on the ground or to use the proper full leg extension for pedaling. The rider sits comfortably upright on the saddle while pedaling and can pedal while standing up. Increasing the height of the saddle by extending the seat post tube for a taller rider increases the space between the saddle and the handle bars. The fixed distance may be on the order of about the height above ground of a heel of the rider's foot sitting on a properly adjusted conventional frame when the foot is outstretched to reach the ground and/or on the order of about a radius of a circle through which the pedals are moved during pedaling of the bicycle. The fixed distance is preferably in the range of about 4″ to 8″ and most preferably about 6″. The seat tube is preferably affixed to the chain stay frame member at an angle of about 66.5° and the head tube at an angle of about 68°. |
| US08136826B2 |
Power retractable rocker board
A running board assembly for a motor vehicle includes an arm adapted to be fixedly coupled to the motor vehicle. A pivot shaft extends through the arm and is rotatable relative thereto. A step is fixedly secured to the pivot shaft and is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A motor is operably coupled to the pivot shaft such that actuation of the motor rotates the pivot shaft relative to the arm to move the step between the stowed position and the deployed position. |
| US08136823B2 |
Cart for transporting lawn clippings in paper bags
A cart for transporting associated paper refuse bags may include a first frame foldably attached to a second frame with a hinge for folding the cart between a use condition and a storage condition, a first mesh fixedly attached to the first frame for supporting a first associated paper refuse bag, a second mesh fixedly attached to the second frame for supporting a second associated paper refuse bag, a first plurality of wheels operatively attached to the first frame, a second plurality of wheels operatively attached to the second frame, a handle operatively attached to the first frame for moving the cart, and a plurality of tarp attachment devices for attaching a tarp to cover the associated paper refuse bags. |
| US08136822B2 |
Hand truck loading accessories
Accessories to provide extra lifting leverage to two wheel hand truck used to move heavy objects. One accessory is a pair of extension rails are removable attached to the frame structure. Another accessory is a secondary foot assembly removable attached to the lower end of the frame structure. |
| US08136821B2 |
Method for producing different vehicle models as well as wheel suspension for a vehicle
The invention relates to a method for producing different vehicle models in which in a comfort-oriented version a vehicle wheel is pivoted in a wheel guiding element of a wheel suspension. According to the invention, in a model with enhanced dynamics of vehicle motion, between the wheel guiding element and the vehicle wheel in the axial direction, an actuator is interposed for adjusting the camber and/or track of the vehicle wheel. |
| US08136820B2 |
Electrostatic chuck with heater and manufacturing method thereof
An electrostatic chuck with a heater includes: a base formed of a sintered body containing alumina; an ESC electrode provided in an upper portion side in the base; and a resistance heating body embedded in a lower portion side in the base. The base is composed of a dielectric layer from the ESC electrode to an upper surface of the base, and of a support member from the ESC electrode to a lower surface of the base. In the support member, a carbon content differs between an ESC electrode neighborhood in contact with the dielectric layer and a lower region below the ESC electrode neighborhood, a carbon content in the dielectric layer is 100 wt ppm or less, the carbon content in the ESC electrode neighborhood is 0.13 wt % or less, the carbon content in the lower region is 0.03 wt % or more and 0.5 wt % or less, and the carbon content in the ESC electrode neighborhood is smaller than the carbon content in the lower region. The resistance heating body contains niobium or platinum. |
| US08136819B2 |
Sealing structure and gasket
There is provided a sealing structure and a gasket which can seal both of a portion where a groove for mounting the gasket is formed and a portion where a groove for mounting the gasket is not formed when the portions are connected.The gasket includes a first gasket portion 110 which has a first mounted portion 111 to be mounted in a first groove 211 to come in close contact with a bottom face 211a of the first groove 211 and which is formed in a shape along an end portion of an outer wall portion 210 and a second gasket portion 120 which has a second mounted portion 150 to be mounted in a second groove 221 near a portion connected to the first gasket portion 110 and which is formed in a shape along an end portion 220 of a partition wall 220, the second mounted portion 150 having an inclined face for coming in close contact with the inclined bottom face 221a of the second groove 221. |
| US08136817B2 |
Motor with cutting tool mounting hole
A tool holder plate (51) is fixed to a shaft end part (413) of a hollow motor shaft (41) of a brushless DC servo motor (1), and a cutting tool is mounted in a tool mounting hole (51a) formed in the tool holder plate (51) and a work is cut-processed by this cutting tool. In order to prevent intrusion of a cutting processing oil containing cutting powder into the inside of the motor from between the shaft end part (411) of the hollow motor shaft (41) and an end plate portion (22) of a motor housing (2), a labyrinth seal (55) including a double circular groove (553, 555) having a fine width extended in the axis direction (1a) is formed between a metal plate (53), the tool holder plate (51), and the shaft end part (411). The other shaft end part (414) is also formed with a labyrinth seal (56) of the same structure. Due to this structure, intrusion of the cutting processing oil into the inside of the motor can be prevented, which can prevent trouble such as early destruction of oil seals (48, 49) by attachment of the cutting powder contained in the cutting processing oil to the oil seals (48, 49). |
| US08136816B1 |
Laminated multiple-layered split boot
A multiple layering means of a protective laminated multiple-layered split boot layer assembly, providing both very important qualities of easy installation and reliable boot sealing performance. Easy installation is easy to achieve but the reliable boot sealing performance of substantially high degree of reliable boot sealing performance is very much needed but has eluded many investors until now. Many different solutions and approaches are used, such as multiple layering, reinforcement with fastener such as glue sealant adhesive, reinforcement encircling rings, and appropriately positioning each split boot layer's cut (53) split line, in relationship to the cut (53) of preceding and adjacent split boot layer, with alternating slit (or seam) facing feature, for maximized sealing performance. |
| US08136814B2 |
Predetermined bonus enhancement for game card game
This invention relates to a predetermined bonus feature for use in conjunction with a designated underlying game of chance, wherein the individual game card and master game card or master bonus game card include symbols that predetermine and identify which player(s) is eligible to win the bonus prize upon the occurrence of another event. A predetermined winning bonus symbol on a master game card or master bonus game card made known prior to or after conclusion of play of the designated underlying game. Players who have a symbol on their individual game card that matches the predetermined winning bonus symbol know, in advance, that they are eligible to participate to win the bonus prize. The winner(s) of the designated underlying game will win the bonus prize if s/he is able to match a symbol on the individual game card with the winning bonus symbol. |
| US08136812B2 |
Sheet stacker and finisher furnished with the same
Affords sheet stacking device that, in stacking sheets onto a loading tray, enables stacking of the sheets always in the correct posture regardless of the nature of the sheets' surface material. The sheet stacking device includes a tray unit located downstream of a sheet discharging port, a sheet-end regulating member provided on the tray unit, a conveying unit for transporting sheets carried out onto the tray unit though the sheet discharging port, toward the sheet-end regulating member, and a conveyance controller for controlling the conveying unit. In conveying toward the sheet-end regulating member a sheet having been carried onto the tray unit, the conveyance controller varies the running time during which the conveying unit applies conveyance force to the sheet, in accordance with the material nature of the sheet surface. |
| US08136811B1 |
Automatic document feeder
An automatic document feeder includes a paper guide casing, a photo interrupter, a first sensing unit, a second sensing unit and a controller. During the paper is transported through the paper guide casing, the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit are respectively triggered by two ends of the paper. Consequently, the photo interrupter is conducted for a first duration T1 or a second duration T2. According to the first duration T1 or the second duration T2, a skew angle of the paper is calculated by the controller. |
| US08136810B1 |
Sheet alignment and ejection mechanism
A sheet alignment and ejection mechanism includes a sheet alignment device, a sheet ejection device, a power device and a transmission unit. The sheet alignment device includes a first one-way element. The sheet ejection device includes a second one-way element. The transmission unit includes plural gears. The transmission unit is connected with the power device, the first one-way element and the second one-way element for driving rotation of the first one-way element and the second one-way element. The first one-way element and the second one-way element are rotated in opposite directions. When the first one-way element is rotated in a first direction, the sheets aligned on a sheet placement tray are aligned by the sheet alignment device. When the second one-way element is rotated in the first direction, the stapled sheets are ejected out of the sheet placement tray by the sheet ejection device. |
| US08136807B2 |
Sheet aligning apparatus
In a sheet aligning apparatus, a pair of sheet aligning members stops at three positions such that when a sheet aligning operation is not conducted, the pair of sheet aligning members is stopped at the first position of an upper level so as not to come in contact with sheets discharged from a discharging section, when the sorting section shifts for sorting, the pair of sheet aligning members is stopped at the second position of a middle level lower than the first position so as not to come in contact with sheets stacked on the tray, and when a sheet aligning operation is conducted, the pair of sheet aligning members is stopped at the third position of a lower level so as to come in contact with the top surface of the tray or the upper surface of the sheets stacked on the tray. |
| US08136806B2 |
Cutting board with pivoting base
A cutting board with a planar cutting surface and a stand pivotally mounted thereto. The stand supports the cutting board in a generally vertical position to facilitate frequent washing and drainage for healthier food processing. |
| US08136805B1 |
Row bar holder
A row bar holder to hold a plurality of row bars containing reader heads for scanning operations is disclosed. The row bar holder includes: a base fixture having a length defining a y-axis and a width defining an x-axis, a plurality of separator walls formed on a top surface of the base fixture spaced from one another to separate the plurality of row bars containing reader heads, a plurality of grooves defined between the adjacent separator walls to receive the row bars, respectively, and a draw bar mountable within the base fixture, the draw bar having a plurality of draw bar walls that approximately align with the plurality of separator walls of the base fixture along the y-axis. |
| US08136800B2 |
Device and method for increasing blood flow and insulin-like growth factor
In order to provide a device and a method for increasing blood flow and an insulin-like growth factor with use of a large amount of carbonic gas nano bubbles, the device of the present invention includes: a bathtub 1; and a nano bubble-producing section 41 for producing carbonic gas nano bubbles in bath water in the bathtub 1. |
| US08136796B2 |
Carburetor with a starter
A carburetor with a starter includes a carburetor body, a main fuel supply device with a swing frame, an idle speed fuel supply device with a main metering pin, a starter, a joint for a fuel input pipe and a main nozzle having a fuel nozzle. The carburetor further includes an operating mechanism having a linkage arm and an air strangler. The air strangler and the linkage arm are pivoted to two sides of the carburetor body, respectively. The linkage arm has an upper position and a lower position formed thereon. The upper position presses against the swing frame so as to move the main metering pin and cause the air strangler to shut down an air passage in the carburetor body. |
| US08136792B2 |
Double containment valve system
A stemmed control valve having a housing containing a first packing assembly that is compressively loaded externally of the housing, and a second packing assembly that is independently compressively loaded in a fixed manner internally of the housing. |
| US08136791B2 |
Fluid filling and/or extraction control device and tank including one such device
The invention relates to a device for controlling the filling and/or extraction of a fluid, for example, in relation to a pressurized fluid tank including a body having a connection end (516) which is equipped with engagement means that are intended to co-operate with complementary engagement means which are provided, for example, on a connection interface of a tank, a member (17) for opening a valve that can move in relation to the body, actuation means (250) which can move the opening member (17) selectively and which can move between a running position and a stopped position corresponding respectively to an operating position and a rest position of the opening member (17) and a hole (105) which can receive a removable outlet or inlet coupling (75) for the distribution of the fluid. The invention is characterized in that the device includes retractable locking means (55) which are used to lock the actuation means (250) in the running position and which are designed to co-operate with the hole (105), such that, when there is no coupling (75) connected to the control device in the corresponding hole, the locking means (55) are biased towards the retracted position, thereby preventing the actuation means (250) from being stably maintained in the running position. |
| US08136786B2 |
Folding wire easel
A collapsible easel with three legs is provided. First ends of the three legs are attached at an apex. The legs are moveable with respect to one another about the apex. The legs are moveable between collapsed and opened positions. The legs are disposed substantially adjacent one another in the collapsed position. The second ends of the legs are spaced a distance away from each other in the opened position. The legs form an upright pyramidal configuration when in the opened position. The easel is supported by a collapsible reinforcing member joining two of the legs. The reinforcing member has first and second arms joined by a pivoting mechanism. The easel is also reinforced by a collapsible bracing assembly comprising alpha, beta, and gamma support members attached to the set of three legs. |
| US08136784B2 |
Vehicle seat slide device
A vehicle seat slide device is provided, wherein a manipulation handle has a grip portion, acting end portions for operating lock/unlock mechanisms, shaft support portions which are between the acting end portions and the grip portion and which are formed to a flat shape to become parallel to vertical walls, and pivot support shafts protruding from the shaft support portions in a direction of the pivot center of the manipulation handle. The vertical walls have opened holding holes which open at front parts and into which the pivot support shafts are inserted from opened portions to be supported at inner parts, and holding members holding the pivot support shafts in the opened holding holds. |
| US08136768B2 |
System and method for adjusting control surfaces for wind tunnel models
A system and a method for adjusting and locking a control surface that is movably arranged on a wind-tunnel aircraft model and comprises a drive arrangement for driving the control surface, and a locking arrangement. The drive arrangement comprises a first drive motor, arranged in a fixed manner relative to the control surface, at least one first connecting rod eccentrically connectable to the first drive motor, and at least one lever, whose one end can be held on the first connecting rod and whose other end can be held on a fixed point of the aircraft model. The locking arrangement can be attached in a fixed manner relative to the control surface and is further designed to block a relative movement between the control surface and the aircraft model. |
| US08136767B2 |
Method and system for flow control with arrays of dual bimorph synthetic jet fluidic actuators
A system and method for control of a fluid flow. The system includes an array of interdependent fluidic actuators, each including a chamber, a flow control port, and opposite side walls configured to expand apart and contract together to flow a control fluid through the flow control port in response to an input, wherein adjacent actuators in the array of interdependent fluidic actuators are integrally coupled together via a common side wall of the opposite side walls. |
| US08136758B2 |
Hybrid strut comprising metal and composite portions
A strut (18, 50) includes a fiber-reinforced, elongate composite body (36, 54) and has first and second ends and a metal and/or tubular support (20, 52) at least partially embedded in the composite body (36, 54), where the composite body (36, 54) has first (40, 60) and second ends (42, 62) forming first and second load-bearing end portions of the strut (18, 50). Also a method forms such a strut using a mold (70). |
| US08136756B2 |
System for electrical generation, conversion, distribution, and starting on board an aircraft
A system for electrical generation, conversion, distribution and starting on board an aircraft, of “bleedless” type, that is, with an electrical power architecture with no pneumatic circuits. The electrical distribution channels for high power loads specific to aircraft of “bleedless” type, and the electrical distribution channels for conventional loads, including technical loads, such as avionics, lighting, fuel pumps and commercial loads are separated, and are supplied with power by separate generators driven by the aircraft's engines. |
| US08136753B2 |
Transporter for box of spooled wire or cable
Apparatus for manually transporting cartons or reels of goods include a support structure that includes a horizontal support member having first and second components, first and second vertical support members, and first and second bushings attached to the vertical support members for insertion into arbor holes in a reel or carton. Additionally, the apparatus includes a handle affixed to the support structure. In an alternate embodiment, one or more stabilization members prevent the carton from rotating as the contents of the carton are removed. |
| US08136750B2 |
Powder processing apparatus and powder processing system
A powder processing apparatus includes a main body portion having a cylindrical rotor rotating at a high speed, and a cylindrical stator arranged coaxially with the rotor, outside the rotor with a gap therebetween; a supply port provided at one end of the main body portion, and supplying a processing raw material into the gap together with an airflow; and a discharge port provided at the other end of the main body portion, and discharging, from the gap, a processed product obtained by spheroidizing the processing raw material between the rotor and the stator. In the inner peripheral surface of the stator, there are provided circumferential grooves orthogonally intersecting the axis line of the stator, or a spiral groove forming an angle of not less than 60 degrees and less than 90 degrees with respect to the axis line. |
| US08136732B2 |
Electronic transaction card with contactless interface
An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof. |
| US08136729B2 |
Ballot tabulation device and method for tabulating paper ballots printed according to ballot style
A ballot tabulation device and method for tabulating paper ballots that have been printed according to ballot style. In an exemplary embodiment, the ballot tabulation device includes an input device, such as a touch screen display, that enables a user to enter a precinct identification code for a paper ballot. The device also includes a scanner operable to scan the paper ballot, and a processing circuit operable to decode one or more voting selections marked on the paper ballot. The processing circuit is further operable to tabulate the decoded voting selections and include the tabulated voting selections within the vote tally associated with the precinct identification code. Other exemplary embodiments are also disclosed. |
| US08136718B1 |
Assist mechanism for operating an after hour/night depository device
An after hour depository device, having a framework including a first sidewall and a second sidewall, and having a front opening, a hopper assembly including a door having a front face and bottom portion, a handle disposed on an upper end of the front face, and a deposit hopper on the inside of the door, and a horizontal shaft fixed to and extending from at least one side of the bottom portion of the hopper assembly, the horizontal shaft having an end portion extending through the first sidewall, the horizontal shaft and the hopper assembly being pivotable within the framework between a closed position in which the door covers the front opening of the framework, and a full open position in which the front opening is uncovered. A lever arm fixed to the end portion of the horizontal shaft at a rotary angle, the lever arm including a distal arm end extending radially, and a gas spring secured pivotably at a first end to the distal end of the lever arm, and secured pivotably at a second end to the sidewall. The gas spring exerts a torsional force on the distal end of the lever arm to deliver a torque on the horizontal shaft that reduces the required pulling force on the handle to initiate the movement of the hopper assembly from the closed position toward the full open position. |
| US08136716B2 |
Soldering work piece, soldering method and heat exchanger
The invention relates to a soldering work piece made of aluminium and/or aluminium compounds, to a soldering method, in addition to a heat exchanger soldered in said manner. One surface of the soldering work piece is provided with an artificially applied oxide layer. |
| US08136711B2 |
Dissection tip and introducer for surgical instrument
The present disclosure describes a surgical fastener applying apparatus that includes an elongate body portion having proximal and distal ends, an end effector including a first movably coupled to a second jaw that is positioned at the distal end of the elongate body portion, and an introducer member. The introducer member has proximal and distal portions, and is configured and dimensioned for releasable connection with the end effector. The introducer member is at least partially formed from a flexible material, and is configured and dimensioned to separate target tissue from collateral tissue prior to positioning of the target tissue between the first and second jaws of the end effector. |
| US08136710B2 |
Powered stapling device
The present invention relates to an powered stapling device and, more specifically, but not limited to, a powered stapling device for driving staples over a strip of linear material, such as a cable located in an otherwise inaccessible or difficult to reach place. The stapling device includes an actuation mechanism, a handle, a staple ejection mechanism, and a drive arm operable along a primary axis of the stapling device. The actuation mechanism provides energy to the drive arm, which in turn engages the staple ejection mechanism, which in turn drives the staple. At least a portion of the staple engagement mechanism may be positioned at an angle with respect to the primary axis. This configuration of the staple engagement mechanism allows the stapling device to drive the staple at an angle relative to the linear object being stapled, even when the primary axis of stapling device is aligned substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the linear object being stapled. |
| US08136709B2 |
Article carriers
A rack for carrying skis and snowboards on top of a vehicle includes a pair of clamp devices equipped for mounting on a pair of crossbars. Each clamp device has a collapsible position which reduces its forward facing profile when not being used to carry cargo items. |
| US08136701B2 |
Fixed-volume liquid dispenser
A dispenser for viscous liquids effectuates sequential operations by hydrostatic pressure on an assembly of two pistons separated from each other in a cylinder by a separation spring. When the piston assembly is embedded in material to be dispensed, the space between the pistons fills with material to be dispensed. Pressuring the reservoir by squeezing it or by the addition of pressurized gas, forces the piston assembly down the cylinder at the end of which is an opening from which material in the piston assembly can escape. One of the pistons moves toward the other end by pressure from the reservoir, causing material in the piston assembly to be dispensed. The volume inside the piston assembly defines and limits the volume of material that can be dispensed. |
| US08136697B2 |
Gravity fed dispensing container
A gravity fed dispensing and display box has separate partition inserts therein dividing the interior into a plurality of compartments for stacking articles to be dispensed. A dispensing opening at the bottom of each compartment has a width less than the width of the compartment and of articles to be dispensed to prevent unintentional movement of an article through the opening. A yieldable retaining panel overlies the articles in each compartment to prevent loss of articles through the top during shipping, but flexes downwardly to enable an article to be placed in the compartment through the top. A lid is convertible from a shipping closure to a display panel for display at a point of sale. The box and the inserts are each held assembled by interlocking tabs and slots, avoiding the need for adhesive. |
| US08136696B2 |
Lottery ticket machine able to prevent tickets from being illegally drawn out
A lottery ticket machine able to prevent tickets from being illegally drawn out includes a machine base provided with a driving device, two press rollers with pressed streaks on the wheel surface and a control device. One of the two press rollers is provided with a shaft extending out of the machine base for fixing the control device that contains a rotary gear with engage holes, a bushing and a control wheel bored with bushing hole to be fitted with the bushing and disposed with engage teeth and projecting members to be respectively engaged with the engage holes of the rotary gear. An outer cover covered on the control device is provided inside with engage teeth to correspondingly engage with the engage teeth of the control wheel, and a spring has opposite ends respectively pushing against the control wheel and the inner wall of the bushing cover. |
| US08136695B2 |
Cassette for a towel dispenser and towel dispenser for use of such a cassette
The invention relates to a strip of towel material for use in a towel dispenser, which strip has a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and has been wound onto a roller, or has been folded along folding lines extending in the transverse direction and spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, such that a stack has been obtained, wherein the strip is provided with at least one electronically readable marking. |
| US08136694B1 |
Cup with improved characteristics
The cup of the present invention can have a body made of a foam material. The cup has a handle and a holder. The handle and the holder can each have a flange, respectively, to secure to the cup. The flanges, respectively, are shaped to mate with the external periphery of the cup, and can be initially held in place with an adhesive. A shrinkable wrap can then be positioned around the cup. Upon a heat treatment, the wrap shrinks to tightly engage the outside of the cup. Further, the shrink wrap maintains secure engagement between the flanges and the cup so that the handle and holder are secure. A cover can be provided for covering the cup. A package can be secured within a cavity on the top of the cover. The package can contain a fluid enabling the cup to be used for portable meals. |
| US08136693B2 |
Attachable container having openable snap ring
A closure for a beverage container that has a cap for overlapping a mouth of the beverage container. An arcuate member attached to the cap having a pair of extremity portions separated from one another and a springing member is connected to the arcuate member proximate to one of the extremity portions that is angularly pivotally moveable in response to a manually applied force, between a first position at which the springing member closes and completes a continuous periphery of the arcuate member and a second position at which the arcuate member periphery is open. |
| US08136692B2 |
Anti-roll stabilizer for cylindrical containers
An anti-rolling device for cylindrical containers, such as mailing tubes, has a stabilizing member with an internal aperture for inserting over a portion of the container. The outer periphery of the device is irregular, e.g., having flats, such that resting on a flat lowers the container to a stable position, and requires energy to rotate beyond the flat and consequently lift the container. The device may be slipped over a plug type cap or placed directly over the body of the container. In alternative embodiments, the device is provided in the form of a gasket, is made from a foam material, is split and resiliently grabs the container or has an elastic band holding it tightly to the container. The various embodiments may be used to retrofit an existing container. The stabilizer may be provided with one or more radial tabs, which may have burrs to grip the receptacle and/or feature a constraining ring to lock the cap into the receptacle. The stabilizer may be used to hold a container upright or constitute an indicia bearing surface. |
| US08136690B2 |
Sensing the amount of liquid in a vessel
A vessel comprising a fluid-confining surface, a basal surface disposed below the fluid-confining surface, and a light guide. The light guide includes a first window partly defining the basal surface and a second window partly defining the fluid-confining surface, where the second window is disposed above a lowest region of the fluid-confining surface. In other embodiments, an isolating structure is provided that substantially surrounds the light guide between the first and second windows. |
| US08136689B2 |
Device for beverage can
The present invention concerns a filter element (310, 410) for a conventional beverage can (1, 2), with a top of a can (100) comprising a pull tab with a fixing (103), a tab (110) and a sealing element (101) which at least adjoins to a punch edge (102) of an opening of the can, wherein the filter element has an area which at least covers the entire said opening when the can is opened, wherein the filter element (310, 410) is adapted to be fastened to the top side of the top of the can (100) either by the fixing (103) of the pull tab or adherence directly to the top of the can (100). |
| US08136687B2 |
Cover of container
A cover of a container is provided. The cover displays the number of times a user has ever opened the container which contains medication to thereby inform the user of the user's history of medication use with a view to protecting the user from unnecessary repeat medication and suggesting the user to take medication. |
| US08136686B2 |
Dispensing container
A dispensing container includes a selectively removable cap to which a variety of articles may be securely and selectively attached. The dispensing container includes a dispensing body in which material for dispensing is stored. The dispensing body includes a closed end, at least one side wall and an open end through which the material is dispensed. The dispensing container also includes a cap shaped and dimensioned for selectively covering the open end of the dispensing body. The cap includes a first end shaped and dimensioned for frictionally engaging the open end of the dispensing body for secure and selective attachment thereto and a closed second end including a clasp extending therefrom. The clasp includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm includes a first arcuate member and a first upwardly extending connecting member linking the first arcuate member to the cap, and the second arm includes a second arcuate member and a second upwardly extending connecting member linking the second arcuate member to the cap. The first arm and the second arm are oriented upon the cap so as to overlap in a mating configuration with the first arm lying over the second arm, the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member overlapping through a substantial portion of their respective arcs. |
| US08136685B2 |
Device for closing a barrel or the like
A sealing device for a barrel or the like, the barrel including an opening (22) arranged especially at the level of at least one bottom (14), characterized in that it includes, on the one hand, an attachment ring (24) located on the periphery of the opening (22) at the level of the outer surface of the bottom (24), connected to the bottom by any suitable manner, and, on the other hand, a sealing device having a first part (30) that can be wedged at the level of the opening (22) and a second part (32) that can be screwed onto the ring (24), the second part (32) as it is being screwed tending to increase the force of the pressure between the first part (30) and the opening (22). |
| US08136681B2 |
Stackable stems
A stem may comprise a circular base, a plurality of outer ears, and a plurality of outer uprights. The circular base may have a circular outer perimeter centered on a center point of the circular base. The plurality of outer ears may protrude outwardly from the circular outer perimeter. The plurality of outer uprights may be respectively connected to each of the plurality of outer ears at a bottom end of each of the plurality of outer uprights. The plurality of outer uprights may be substantially parallel with each other and may be substantially perpendicular to the circular base. The stem may be configured to allow an additional stem to mateable stack inside the stem. The additional stem may be rotated (with respect to the stem) an incremental amount such that sides of outer ears of the additional stem may respectively contact sides of the outer uprights of the stem. |
| US08136680B2 |
Whiteboard mounting system
The mounting system may be used to support a display on a support surface. The mounting system may include a top rail secured to the support surface. The mounting, system may also include a mounting arm hung from the top rail and a support rail attached to the mounting arm that supports the whiteboard. The mounting system may provide permanent or removable attachment to the support surface that may interchangeably accommodate a variety of displays. |
| US08136675B2 |
Perm selective asymmetric hollow fibre membrane for the separation of toxic mediators from blood
The present invention relates to a permselective asymmetric hollow fibre membrane for the separation of toxic mediators from blood, comprised of at least one hydrophobic polymer and at least one hydrophilic polymer. Further, the present invention relates to a process for the preparation of such a membrane, and the use of said membrane in hemodialysis, hemodiafiltration, and hemofiltration for treatment of toxic mediator-related diseases. |
| US08136674B2 |
Filter device and method for manufacturing the same
A filter device includes a filtering member having a rough part, which is comparatively low in a density of flow pores for flowing fluid, and a dense part, which is comparatively high in the density of the flow pores. The filter device further includes a support member that supports the filtering member and has an inflow passage and a discharge passage. The dense part supports the rough part, and is located between the rough part and the discharge passage, and is supported by a mechanical pressure applied by the support members. The filter device is capable of supporting the filtering member easily in a case member and securing a filtering area to enhance the performance of removing a foreign matter. |
| US08136672B2 |
Sizing roller screen ore processing apparatus
A mined ore processing apparatus to process mined ores, such as oil sands ore, into granular material is disclosed. An ore processor bed receives the ore to be processed. The ore processor bed has a frame supporting several rotating elements each separately driven to provide independent rotation rate and direction from the other. The ore processing bed is operable as a sizing device to decimate mined ore supply into granular material and separating it from rocks and other large lump mineral materials found in situ. The ore processing bed may be oriented to provide an upward inclination, which, when combined with alternating rotating element rotation directions, provides a crushing action to the ore material to crush larger rock. Alternately, a rock crusher is also provided to disintegrate oversized materials. |
| US08136671B1 |
Document sort machine having dual feeders
A document sorting machine having dual feeders which feed documents onto common tiers of sort pockets from each end of the machine. The machine includes an induction buffer section which prevents a document already in the transport on a particular tier from colliding with a document being fed into the same transport by a different feeder. Also, the machine includes a serpentine piggy-back unit which can stack consecutive documents going to the same sort pocket. |
| US08136669B2 |
Process and composition for froth flotation
A method for conducting froth flotation using a collector which is primarily hydrocarbon in nature or is a mixture of hydrocarbons with certain oxygenates, the collectors being substantially free of polynuclear aromatics, sulfur and nitrogen. |
| US08136667B2 |
Cup retaining apparatus and methods
Cup retaining apparatus and methods are described herein. Retaining a cup or glass within or along a plate assembly allows for the user to hold both the plate and cup or glass with a single hand. Generally, a cup or glass retaining plate assembly may comprise a platform defining an opening which is sized to support a cup or glass extending at least partially through the platform. A retaining clip or arm may be pivotably attached to the platform and movable between a retaining position and a releasing position, wherein the opening opens along a portion of a periphery of the platform such that the cup or glass is secured within the opening when the retaining clip or arm is in the retaining position and wherein the cup or glass is removable when the retaining clip or arm is in the releasing position. |
| US08136665B2 |
Package for candy bars and holder therefor
The invention discloses a system comprising at least one package for one or more candy bars or other similar products, and a holder for said package comprising at least one flap for engaging the package in a holding position. A holder comprising a flat surface, at least one flap for engaging a packaged product in a holding position, and at least one flap for supporting a tubular envelope of the packaged product in the holding position, and a method for holding together for transport, storage and/or displaying at a retail outlet are also disclosed. |
| US08136661B2 |
Wrapped bundle of smoking articles
A wrapped bundle comprises an inner liner wrapped about a predetermined collation of smoking articles. The inner liner comprises an inner liner outer edge and at least two sections defining an opening in the wrapped bundle. At least one section of the at least two sections is provided with an adhesive for releasably attaching the at least two sections to reclose the opening. The at least one section comprises a part of the inner liner outer edge. |
| US08136657B2 |
Packaged hardenable dental article
Methods of manufacturing hardenable dental articles, packaged hardenable dental articles, and methods of packaging hardenable dental articles are disclosed. In various embodiments, the manufacturing may involve molding a hardenable dental material in a mold cavity that may be lined with a mold liner. The mold body may also form the package of the hardenable dental article formed within the mold cavity. In other embodiments, the hardenable dental articles may be provided in mold cavities located in sacrificial mold bodies that may be torn, stretched, softened, dissolved, etc. to release the hardenable dental articles in the mold cavities. |
| US08136656B2 |
Suture packaging
A package for surgical suture material is also provided. The package includes a base and a cover. The cover is configured to be placed adjacent to the base to form the package for surgical suture material and including a plurality of posts extending from an outer surface thereof configured for receiving an information label. The package may further include an information label heat staked to the cover. |
| US08136649B2 |
Wear-resistant lining
A wear-resistant lining element (1) for a surface subjected to wear has an outwardly directed surface (4) over which material in the form of pieces or particles, such as crushed ore and crushed rock material, is intended to move. The wear-resistant lining element also has a thickness (d). The wear-resistant lining element (1) comprises elastomeric material (2) mainly adapted to absorb impact energy and wear-resistant members (3) mainly adapted to resist wear. The wear-resistant members (3) are in a plane (P) perpendicular to the outwardly directed surface (4) designed so that in the direction of thickness (d) they at least partially overlap each other. Moreover, a wear-resistant lining made of a number of wear-resistant lining elements (1) is disclosed. |
| US08136644B2 |
Arrangement, device and method at a disturbance-eliminating valve for damper
An electronically-controlled damper arrangement includes a valve assembly. The valve assembly features a valve slide that carries at least two pistons. The first piston controls flow through two separate flow paths while the second piston controls damping provided by the valve slide. The first piston being both axially moveable and radially moveable within a valve housing. |
| US08136642B2 |
Brake disk with intermediate layer
Carbon-ceramic brake disks that comprise several layers, whereby at least one layer is used as a bearing element and at least one layer acts as a friction layer, whereby the bearing element and at least one friction layer are separated by an intermediate layer, characterized in that the intermediate layer has reinforcement fibers in the form of fiber bundles, whereby the fiber bundles are encased by a layer that consists of a mixture of silicon carbide, silicon and carbon, which can be obtained by heat treatment of a mixture that consists of silicon powder and a carbonized resin or carbonized pitch at a temperature of 900° C. up to 1700° C. in an environment devoid of oxidizing agents. A process for their manufacture and use, in particular in automotive brake systems. |
| US08136638B2 |
Safety braking system
A safety braking system mounted to a bike, motorcycle or any other two-wheel linear type of vehicle adapted with a right and a left brake lever to respectively control applying a brake to a front wheel and a rear wheel of the vehicle to control a rear wheel brake to brake a rear wheel first before applying a brake to a front wheel when either brake lever is pulled on any side or simultaneously on both sides of the vehicle to prevent it from easily turning over. |
| US08136637B2 |
Safety device for securing minimum spaces at the top or bottom of an elevator shaft being inspected, and elevator having such safety devices
A safety device for an elevator system includes a retractable element mounted on a support. The retractable element has a stopping position in which a catch portion of the retractable element projects from the support to engage a triggering member of a safety brake associated with an elevator car as the elevator car traveling in a selected direction approaches a selected vertical position, and a retracted position. An actuator selectively controls the position of the retractable element. A position sensor is responsive to the position of the retractable element to make sure that it is in its stopping position when needed. |
| US08136636B2 |
Elevator hall call system including a programmable adaptable touch screen
Elevator hall call devices have a programmable touch screen which can be programmed to display (a) ten-key destination call buttons, (b) up hall call and down hall call buttons, or (c) N-key destination buttons, as well as buttons which identify utilization of major floors of the building, including functions such as cafeteria, sky lobby, parking, public transport, and lobby, as well as tenants. A controller programs the touch screen in dependence on (d) traffic volume, (e) time of day, (f) floor of the building where the touch screen is disposed or (g) identity of a particular passenger (VIP) in the vicinity of a touch screen. |
| US08136634B2 |
Piston arrangement
A piston arrangement is disclosed for metering valves, flow-rate sensors or hydraulic motors. The piston arrangement comprises a housing, at least one recess in the housing, and a first piston sealed and movable in the at least one recess of the housing. A recess is provided in the first piston, and a flow passage extends through the first piston. A second piston is movable in the recess of the first piston. A sealing surface is provided on the second piston, and a valve seat is provided on the first piston against which the sealing surface on the second piston can be pressed in such a way that the second piston can be moved in the first piston between a position which opens the flow passage through the first piston and a position which shuts off the flow passage through the first piston. |
| US08136632B2 |
Collapsible platform assembly for a ladder
A collapsible platform assembly for an extension ladder is disclosed that can be used to support the top of an extension ladder with respect to a roof. The collapsible platform assembly includes a platform that is rotatably connected to a rung of an extension ladder near the top. In a storage or retracted position, the platform is generally co-planar with the ladder; i.e fits between the side rails of the extension ladder. In a use position, the platform can be extended and directly supported by the roof, either flat against a roof or alternatively at an acute angle relative to the roof. Since the platform is configured to be directly supported by the roof, the platform acts as a rigid support for the top of the ladder which does not deflect under load as there is an even weight transfer from the ladder to the platform in use. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, an upper portion of the side rails act as “grab rails” when the platform is in an extended position, allowing the user to hold on and walk through the top of the ladder and onto the platform when the collapsible platform assembly is in an extended position. In one embodiment of the invention, one or more retractable hand rails are provided for added safety for use when the user moves onto the platform. |
| US08136629B2 |
Silencer/muffler
In a muffler which includes an outer tube which configures an outer wall, an inner tube provided in the outer tube and having punching holes formed therein, and a sound absorbing material filled between the outer tube and the inner tube, and which is attached to an exhaust pipe for exhausting exhaust gas from an engine, the number of punching holes at portions of the inner tube which have a great length to the outer tube is set greater than the number of punching holes at portions of the inner tube which have a small length to the outer tube in comparison with the portions having the great length. |
| US08136627B2 |
Exhaust silencer device for internal combustion engine
An exhaust silencer device for an internal combustion engine which includes: an exhaust pipe (10) that forms an exhaust passage from an engine (1), and an exhaust opening; and a muffler (22) attached to the exhaust pipe (10) so as to silence exhaust sound from the engine (1). The piping lengths of the exhaust passages (L2, L3) on two sides of the muffler (22) are substantially equal. At least one of the two exhaust passages (L2, L3) equal in piping length has a hole (41) that makes the resonance frequencies of the two exhaust passages (L2, L3) different from each other. |
| US08136626B1 |
Mobile soundproof enclosure with changeable room geometry and optional ventilation noise cancelling device
Mobile soundproof enclosure with changeable internal room shape and optional ventillation noise cancelling device consisting of a frame that can be assembled and disassembled by a single person without using tools and that in disassembled state is small enough to fit in a trunk of a car; a cover made with flexible sound absorbent sheet material creating completely enclosed room with double walls with air space in between, corner sound traps made with flexible sound absorptive sheet material that can be individually positioned to change internal shape of the room and an air vent noise cancelling device made with flexible sound absorbing sheet material having inlet portion, which enters a center portion at an angle, the center portion larger than the inlet portion and outlet portion which exits the center portion at an angle; the whole enclosure can be disassembled to compactly fold for easy storage or transportation. |
| US08136623B2 |
Electric motor apparatus for electric power steering and electric power steering apparatus
An electric motor and a control unit are integrally formed and are placed coaxially with a shaft of a gear box for reducing a speed of rotation of the electric motor and also the control unit is placed between the gear box and the electric motor, and a power feeding part of the electric motor is bonded to a bonding part of the control unit inside a housing or a case through an opening part disposed in the housing and/or the case 24. |
| US08136621B2 |
Dual-tuned vibration damper
A driveline with a shaft and a vibration damper coupled to the shaft. The damper includes a hub, a first mass, a first resilient coupling, a second mass, and a second resilient coupling. The first mass is disposed concentrically about the hub. The first resilient coupling resiliently couples the first mass to the hub. The first resilient coupling has a first spring constant. The second mass is disposed concentrically about the first mass. The second resilient coupling resiliently couples the second mass directly to the first mass. The second resilient coupling has a second spring constant that is less than the first spring constant. The first mass and the first resilient coupling are configured to attenuate vibration at a first frequency. The second mass and the second resilient coupling are configured to attenuate vibration at a second frequency. The second frequency is lower than the first frequency. |
| US08136620B2 |
Passenger distinguishing apparatus having weight detection sensor and damper
A passenger distinguishing apparatus is provided. The passenger distinguishing apparatus includes: a weight detection sensor that is assembled in a vehicle seat to detect a passenger's weight; and a first bracket and a second bracket that assemble the weight detection sensor in the seat, wherein the weight detection sensor has a length direction in a horizontal direction of the seat, and a first damper for absorbing assembling tolerance of the weight detection sensor is disposed between the first bracket and the weight detection sensor. Therefore, assembling tolerance can be absorbed with minimum parts, production can be improved, contact noise can be reduced, and a weight and cost can be reduced. |
| US08136619B2 |
Attachment structure of passenger distinguishing apparatus
A passenger distinguishing apparatus is provided. The passenger distinguishing apparatus includes: a plurality of lower brackets that are fixed to a floor of a vehicle room; upper brackets that assist mounting of a passenger seat disposed at an upper part of the lower brackets; and a plurality of sensors that are disposed between the lower brackets and the upper brackets to detect a weight of a passenger seated in the passenger seat, wherein in an upper end part and a lower end part of the sensors, male screw threads for bolt-fastening to fastening holes formed at each of the lower bracket and the upper bracket are formed, and in at least one of the upper end part and the lower end part of the sensors, dampers for absorbing assembling tolerance of the sensors while being fixed due to a contact with nuts tightened and fixed to a portion in which the male screw threads are formed, are formed. Therefore, an assembling process can be improved, a cost can be reduced, and durability of the sensor can be improved. |
| US08136618B2 |
Cyclonic motor cooling for material handling vehicles
A material handling vehicle includes a cyclonic motor cooling system for a motor compartment that accommodates an ergonomically designed operator compartment. Together, the motor compartment and cyclonic motor cooling system include a generally cylindrical housing with a tangentially arranged cooling air injection port at a lower end and exhaust port at a radially and axially opposite end. An air blower directs cooling air into the compartment where a cyclonic cooling air flow and a vortex cooling flow is produced. The cyclonic air flow cools more effectively than conventional linear air flow while also reducing dust contamination and buildup of the motors in the motor compartment. |
| US08136613B2 |
Vehicle control systems and methods
Systems for controlling the speed and direction of vehicles such as tractors, including vehicles that have low to zero turning radius capability. Systems include steering and speed coordination systems that control the direction and speed of rotation of vehicle drive units. |
| US08136603B2 |
Method of preventing dropped casing string with axial load sensor
A method of running casing into a well utilizes a load sensor to avoid dropping the casing string accidentally. The rig has a spider at the rig floor that suspends a casing string in the well when in a gripping position. A casing lifting mechanism will place a new joint of casing on the casing string suspended in the spider. The new joint of casing is rotated to make up with the casing string. After makeup, the casing lifting mechanism lifts the new joint of casing and the casing string. The operator releases the spider to allow the casing string to be lowered further into the well. Before releasing the spider, a load sensor will send a signal indicating that the casing lifting mechanism is supporting a minimum amount of weight. |
| US08136602B2 |
Method and apparatus for sealing and venting pressurized casings of gas wells
Disclosed apparatus and methods permit well-site operators to retrofit existing wells in order to comply with local regulations that restrict the escape of annular natural gas from hydrocarbon wells. Such allows sealing around an exterior of surface and concentric production casings, both above and below the point of their intersection, then assembling a pressure vessel around that point and between those seals so as to capture and hold gas rising up an intercasing annulus, for periodic controlled venting. |
| US08136596B2 |
Methods of using water-superabsorbent polymers to reduce heat transfer
A thermal insulating packer fluid contains at least one water superabsorbent polymer and optionally water and/or brine, and a viscosifying polymer. The composition is capable of inhibiting unwanted heat loss from production tubing or uncontrolled heat transfer to outer annuli. The viscosity of the composition is sufficient to reduce the convection flow velocity within the annulus. |
| US08136595B2 |
Methods for controlling particulate flowback and migration in a subterranean formation
Methods useful in treating subterranean formations to control particulate migration with a tacky-consolidate treatment fluid comprising a resin and a tackifying compound. One method comprises the steps of providing a portion of a subterranean formation comprising unconsolidated particulates; providing a tacky-consolidate treatment fluid comprising a tackifying compound, a curable resin, and a silane coupling agent; and placing the tacky-consolidate treatment fluid in the subterranean formation so as to form a tacky consolidate that comprises at least a portion of the unconsolidated particulates. |
| US08136594B2 |
Methods and apparatuses for releasing a chemical into a well bore upon command
Methods and apparatuses for releasing a chemical in a well bore are disclosed. One apparatus includes a curved member configured for coupling to a casing, and a hollow member is connected to the curved member. A chemical container is disposed, at least in part, within the hollow space, and the hollow member extends at least partially around a hollow space. |
| US08136593B2 |
Methods for maintaining conductivity of proppant pack
Methods suitable for use in a subterranean formation utilizing particulates coated with both a tackifier and a resin. |
| US08136592B2 |
Methods for producing oil and/or gas
A method for producing oil and/or gas comprising injecting a miscible enhanced oil recovery formulation into fractures, karsts, and/or vugs of a formation for a first time period from a first well; producing oil and/or gas from the fractures, karsts, and/or vugs from a second well for the first time period; injecting a miscible enhanced oil recovery formulation into the fractures, karsts, and/or vugs for a second time period from the second well; and producing oil and/or gas from the fractures, karsts, and/or vugs from the first well for the second time period. |
| US08136588B2 |
Downhole tool and running tool system for retrievably setting a downhole tool at locations within a well bore
A running tool for landing and setting a retrievable downhole tool at any location in a well bore includes an inner rod, a running tool anchoring device mounted on the inner rod and controllably reconfigurable between a retracted configuration to permit movement of the tool through the well bore and a radially extended configuration for locking engagement of the running tool with the bore wall, a running tool actuating assembly for effecting reciprocal movement of the reconfiguring the running tool anchoring device to and from the retracted and expanded configurations without interacting with any restrictions or recesses within the well bore, and a resistance device for frictionally engaging the bore wall with sufficient gripping force so as to hold the position of the running tool relative to the well bore during movement of the running tool actuating assembly to and from the first and second configuration upon application of the axial force. |
| US08136587B2 |
Slickline conveyed tubular scraper system
A downhole tubular scraper is run in on slickline with an on board power supply. It features counter-rotating scrapers without an anchor in one embodiment or an anchor with single rotating scrapers. The scraper is selectively operated to conserve power in the power supply. A drive system uses a single driver to obtain counter-rotating motion in the scrapers. |
| US08136576B2 |
Vibration isolation system for synthetic jet devices
A thermal management system is provided herein. The system comprises a substrate (141), a synthetic jet ejector (103), and a vibration isolation element (107) adapted to releasably engage said synthetic jet ejector and said substrate. |
| US08136572B2 |
Method for production of precision castings by centrifugal casting
A method of producing a precision centrifugal casting includes: a) providing a centrifugal casting device having a rotor rotatable around an axis, at least one crucible accommodated in the rotor, and at least one mold associated with the crucible and disposed at a first radial distance from the axis, b) creating a metal melt within the crucible, c) rotating the rotor thereby forcing the melt using centrifugal forces from the crucible into the mold, d) exerting a pressure on the melt forced into the mold until the temperature of the solidifying melt has reached a predetermined cooling-temperature in a range of 1300° to 800° C., wherein the pressure corresponds to the centrifugal force acting on the melt just when the mold is completely filled, times a factor of 1.0 to 5.0, and e) relieving the pressure when the temperature of the solidifying melt is lower than the predetermined cooling-temperature. |
| US08136570B2 |
Tarpaulin mounting frame
A tarpaulin mounting frame for tightening a tarpaulin includes a frame profile having at lease one groove. A anchor profile having a rounded-off foot on its edge facing the tarpaulin, wherein the rounded-off foot is insertable into the groove of the frame profile and is pivotable therein. The anchor profile has at least one receptacle for a weatherstrip, wherein the anchor profile reaches a position substantially parallel to the plane of the tarpaulin by pivoting around the foot and thereby tightens the tarpaulin, wherein the anchor profile between the foot and the receptacle for the weatherstrip is in contact with the frame profile. |
| US08136566B2 |
Laminating apparatus
A laminating apparatus for laminating a separator, a membrane electrode structure member and another separator on top of each other includes a placement base which places the separator on the placement base, a first clamp which holds a portion of the upper surface of the separator placed on the placement base, first moving means which superimpose the membrane electrode structure member on the upper surface of the separator placed on the placement base, a second clamp which holds a portion of the upper surface of the thus superimposed membrane electrode structure member, second moving means which superimpose the separator on the upper surfaces of the membrane electrode structure member and second clamp, a pressing member which presses the separator in the central portion thereof to deform the separator elastically to thereby bring the separator into contact with the membrane electrode structure member, and pull-out means which pull out the second clamp from between the membrane electrode structure member and separator. |
| US08136564B2 |
Attaching device and attaching apparatus for supporting plate, and attaching method for supporting plate
An attaching device which makes it possible to accurately perform alignment when the diameters of a substrate and a supporting plate are substantially the same includes a mounting plate for mounting a semiconductor wafer thereon, a pressing plate for pressing a supporting plate onto the semiconductor wafer, and a pair of alignment members. The pair of alignment members are arranged to freely move back and forth in a horizontal direction, and blades for supporting a lower surface of the periphery of the supporting plate and pushing members for performing positioning in a state where the supporting plate is superposed on the semiconductor wafer are provided at tip ends of the alignment members. |
| US08136563B2 |
Film transfer apparatus, cassette for a film transfer apparatus and method for operating a film transfer apparatus
A film transfer unit is provided on an inking unit of a printing unit. If such a film transfer unit includes an intermittent drive device having dancers then, as a result, access to an ink fountain or an inking unit is generally rather restricted. Adjustable guide elements of the intermittent drive device are provided in a frame of an intermittent drive module which can be pushed, in the form of a cassette, out of an opening of the film transfer unit when the film transfer unit is not to be used to transfer a transfer layer from a transfer film to a printing material, so that an installation space which has thus become free can be used to operate an ink fountain of the inking unit. A cassette for a film transfer apparatus and a method for operating a film transfer apparatus, are also provided. |
| US08136561B2 |
Method for operating a tire inflation system of a motor vehicle and tire inflation system
A tire inflation system of a motor vehicle comprises a compression device, a pressure accumulator from which inflation lines lead via an inflation valve and control lines lead via a control valve to a wheel valve, and the tire inflation system has a control device. A method for operating the tire inflation system carries out the following steps in a cyclically repeating sequence: (1) acquisition of a set point tire pressure from operating variables, (2) comparison with the actual tire pressure last measured, (3) supply of air or extraction of air during a specific time period without accompanying pressure measurement, and (4) measurement of the pressure in the inflation line and comparison with the set point value. The system has a pressure sensor in the inflation line on the wheel side of the inflation valve, and each inflation valve is connected to a relief valve via a relief line, wherein the relief lines are connected to one another upstream of the relief valve. |
| US08136557B2 |
Warming for high pressure hydrogen gas storage cylinders utilizing the Joule-Thomson effect
A warming system for a high pressure hydrogen gas storage tank in a motor vehicle for maintaining the temperature of the gas within the tank and the gas flow control components associated with one or more boss at the tank ends above the lower design temperature tolerance limit of the tank and components associate with the utilizing the Joule-Thomson effect in gas flowing from the tank to recycles the mechanical energy of heat compression in high pressure hydrogen fuel to warm the gas within the tank as the high pressure gas is utilized. |
| US08136552B2 |
Hot side only spring return used on single lever hot/cold faucet with locking mechanism
A faucet includes a valve body having a cartridge receiving bore. A valve cartridge is sealingly disposed in the bore. The valve cartridge includes a rotatable stem. An arc-shaped slot is created in the valve cartridge. A lever assembly having a single handle is connected to the stem and operates when rotated in a first direction to permit cold water flow through the valve body, and after being depressed can be rotated in an opposite second direction to permit hot water flow through the valve body. A torsion spring has a first post received in the elongated slot translatable between opposed ends of the elongated slot, and a second post received in a lever assembly aperture preventing second post translation. A biasing force of the torsion spring biases the lever assembly toward a valve closed position only when the lever assembly is rotated in the second direction. |
| US08136550B2 |
Elastic valve and microfluidic device including the same
An elastic valve and a microfluidic device including the same are provided. The elastic valve includes a channel dented by external pressure so as to be elastically restituted; and a plurality of channel closing protrusions, which comprise elastomer as a material, which are protruded from at least one inner side surface of the channel toward an opposite inner side surface, and which are separated from each other so as not to interrupt a flow of fluids, wherein, when external pressure is applied in order to dent the channel, the plurality of channel closing protrusions are deformed so as to be elastically restituted, thereby closing the channel. |
| US08136549B2 |
Sluice system for a vacuum facility
A sluice system for a vacuum coating facility for coating substrates that can be moved through the vacuum coating in a direction of conveyance comprises a prevacuum slice chamber and a transfer chamber adjoining a coating chamber, wherein a fine vacuum can be regulated before the transfer chamber on the input side in the direction of conveyance and after the transfer device on the output side in the direction of conveyance. The prevacuum sluice chamber is directly adjacent to the transfer chamber and the fine vacuum can be regulated in the prevacuum sluice chamber. A high-vacuum pump system can also alternatively and selectively be connected to the prevacuum sluice chamber. |
| US08136548B2 |
Air admittance valve
An air admittance valve configured when subjected to a negative pressure condition to vent a pipe system to an ambient environment. In general, the air admittance valve includes a main body, inner and outer valve seats, a flexible sealing element, and a lid. The inner and outer valve seats define at least one vent opening between valve seats that is configured, when open, to communicate with the ambient environment. The flexible sealing element is devoid of a rigidifying structure, is configured to move to and from a closed position and an open position, and defines an outer perimeter surface, an inner perimeter surface, and opposite top and bottom surfaces extending between the outer and inner perimeter surfaces. At least one of the lid or the main body further comprises one or more guiding elements that define one or more guiding surfaces configured to guide the sealing element to and from the closed position and the open position. |
| US08136545B2 |
Apparatus to regulate fluid flow
Apparatus to regulate fluid flow are disclosed. The apparatus includes an example regulator valve and an example automatically-adjusting or self-adjusting amplifier valve to maintain fluid flow during low downstream demand fluid flow conditions, and to maintain the operational accuracy and stability of the regulator valve during higher downstream demand fluid flow conditions. |
| US08136543B2 |
Axial flow control valves having an internal actuator
Axial flow control valves are described herein. An example axial flow control valve described herein includes a valve body defining a passageway between an inlet and an outlet that is substantially parallel to a fluid flow path at the inlet and the outlet of the valve body. The example control valve includes a cartridge assembly removably coupled to the valve body and disposed within the passageway of the valve body between the inlet and the outlet. The cartridge assembly is substantially axially aligned with the passageway and includes a motor to operate the axial flow control valve between a first position to prevent the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet and a second position to allow the flow of fluid between the inlet and the outlet. |
| US08136542B2 |
Hiking stick
A hiking stick including a first section, which includes: a first shaft and a male joining piece attached to the shaft, and extending away from the shaft. The male joining piece has an uncut portion and a beveled portion. The bevel is formed by a plane cut at the end of the joining piece at an angle with a long the axis of the hiking stick. A second section includes a second shaft having a hollow end configured for receiving the male joining piece, such that an inner wall of the end of the second shaft has a radial cross section which is narrower than a radial cross section of the widest portion of the male joining piece. The male joining piece is configured for being inserted into the end of the second section, and for being radially compressed by the end of the second section. |
| US08136541B2 |
Umbrella support apparatus
An umbrella assembly and various embodiments of hub assemblies which provide an umbrellas assembly which is easy to install or remove, is extremely rigid, and is capable of withstanding high wind gusts and other high external forces. A first hub assembly includes a mounting bracket having extended regions for mounting to a hub. A second hub assembly includes securing rings for securely binding mounting brackets to a hub. A third hub assembly includes a mortise-tenon mounting bracket. A fourth hub assembly includes securing rings for securely binding mortise-tenon mounting brackets to a hub. A rib center joint connector having stops is presented. A rotatable fabric connector having a plurality of curved surfaces on the head of the fabric connector is present. |
| US08136540B2 |
Cleaning system having heated cleaning enclosure for cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles
An improved portable cleaning system for use in cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles, fin-fans, towers and other elongated components. The cleaning system comprises a cleaning unit having a cleaning enclosure that receives and cleans the component and a control unit that controls the operation of the system. The cleaning unit has a cleaning enclosure defining a chamber sized and configured to receive the component through a sealable lid. A roller assembly rotates the component while a spray assembly sprays cleaning fluid over and into the rotating component. The cleaning fluid is heated in the chamber using surface heating elements attached to heat transfer plates along sections of the chamber walls. A vapor recovery system captures and treats toxic vapors. In use, the cleaning system is transported to a facility to clean the components on-site using cleaning fluid supplied by the facility and discharging waste to the facility. |
| US08136533B2 |
Reconstituted tobacco sheet and smoking article therefrom
A smoking article having one or more reconstituted tobacco split inner wrap strips is described. One or more split inner wrap strips extend coaxially along the tobacco column between the inner surface of an outer wrap of cigarette paper and the tobacco column. The tobacco blend includes burley and a second tobacco, such as flue-cured, oriental, Maryland, or rare and exotic tobaccos, and combinations thereof. This blend improves burley smoke character without increasing Hoffman analyte levels, especially tobacco-specific nitrosamines (i.e., TNSAs). A cigarette with an improved burley smoke character without increasing Hoffman analyte levels is also described. |
| US08136532B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for facilitating interface with laryngeal structures
Systems and methods of positioning interface elements for interfacing with laryngeal structures of a subject such as for diagnosis or treatment of a laryngeal impairment. Illustratively, a needle is positioned in geographical relation to the lateral wing of a vocal cord cartilage and at least one interface element positioned via the needle. |
| US08136530B2 |
Correcting misshaped ears
A system and method for correcting misshaped ears using a base section defining an opening dimensioned to accommodate the passage of the ear through the opening and a top section releasably engageable with the base section defining a compartment therebetween. A first stint can be arranged on an anterior surface of the base section to maintain a desired anatomic shape of the ear essentially in an area of the antihelix and the superior limb of the triangular fossa. A second stint can be placed in an area of the scapha of the ear to maintain a desired contour of the scaphal area. A conchal stint can be placed in the concha to maintain a desired anatomic shape of the concha. The top section can be engaged to maintain a desired amount of stabilizing pressure on the ear, the first stint, the second stint, and conchal stint. |
| US08136527B2 |
Method and device for non-invasive ventilation with nasal interface
A nasal ventilation interface including a pair of tubes configured to deliver a ventilation gas. The tubes are attachable at a first end to a ventilation gas supply hose and engageable at a second end with a person's nostril. A coupler is configured to align the pair of tubes with the person's nostrils, wherein each tube has an absence of pneumatic interconnection with the other tube. |
| US08136524B2 |
Disposable mask system
A mask system includes a frame, cushion, cushion clip, swivel elbow, headgear and/or headgear clips that are configured for use in a clinical or hospital environment. One or more components of the mask system are configured to promote single patient use, e.g., by providing an age indicator and/or preventing disassembly and/or cleaning, etc. |
| US08136518B2 |
Sun-tracking solar energy collector apparatus
A sun-tracking solar energy collector apparatus includes an east-west driving shaft body and a south-north driving shaft body which are coupled in the shape of a cross. A first driving member of an east-west shaft sleeve of the east-west driving shaft body is actuated to turn the south-north driving shaft body in an east-west direction. A second driving member of the south-north driving shaft body is driven by the first driving member to turn an east-west driving shaft of the east-west driving shaft body in a south-north direction and to drive an annular member which is connected with the ends of the east-west driving shaft, such that a holding rack assembly connected with the annular member is actuated in east-west and south-north directions. Solar energy collector modules of the holding rack assembly can track to collect solar energy. Due to the base body in cooperation with the effect of tracking sun, the area occupied by the base body is larger. Thus, the surroundings of the base body can be adapted for parking, charging of a motor-driven vehicle and the like, enhancing its total generating capacity and providing better usage. |
| US08136516B2 |
Concrete block splitting and pitching apparatus
An apparatus for pitching and splitting a masonry block is provided. The apparatus includes a first pitching blade configured to move in a first direction. A second pitching blade is disposed adjacent to the first pitching blade, and the two pitching blades are separated by a distance that is small enough so that the splits initiated by each blade join into a single plane, thereby pitching and splitting the masonry block without the need for a splitting blade. |
| US08136515B2 |
Paintball loader and paintball gatling gun
A gatling gun style projectile launcher comprising an assembly of rotating, pressurized-air driven guns. A loader assembly mounted on the gun assembly rotates synchronously through mating of drive gears with the assembly of guns. The loader applies centrifugal force to the paintballs within, urging them into loader tubes positioned in the wall of the loader. Synchronous timing gears align the rotating loader tubes with cognate breech openings in the guns, thereby transferring paintballs into the firing positions from which the paintballs are launched. |
| US08136512B2 |
Method for operating an engine with a pressure-wave supercharger
In an internal combustion engine, fresh air is compressed by a pressure-wave supercharger. At least one operating parameter of the pressure-wave supercharger is controlled or regulated as a function of at least one actual operating variable of the internal combustion engine. |
| US08136511B2 |
Apparatus for reducing fuel waxing
A fuel filter is configured to filter fuel for an internal combustion engine and is associated with an electromagnetic wave generator configured to emit high frequency electromagnetic waves operable on the fuel to heat and thereby melt wax crystals suspended in the fuel. |
| US08136510B2 |
Apparatus for improving efficiency and emissions of combustion
An apparatus improves the efficiency and emissions of a combustion process by producing sufficient amounts of ozone in the air flow to the combustion chamber to enable more complete and cleaner combustion of the fuel. A plurality of ozone elements for producing ozone are disposed within a housing that is placed in the air intake to a combustion chamber such as a diesel engine. The ozone elements are bonded together in a cross-shaped pattern inside the housing. The apparatus includes one or more vortex scrubbers or vanes in the housing to cause the air flow to have a vortex action to increase the amount of ozone that flows into the combustion chamber. The vortex scrubbers comprise multiple double fins that are attached inside the housing. The vortex scrubbers include holes and/or serrated edges to increase the disturbance of the air flow over the ozone elements to increase ozone production. The mass of the ozone elements have a preferred ratio. |
| US08136502B2 |
Piston and connecting rod assembly having improved cooling characteristics
A piston and connecting rod assembly wherein the piston includes an inner cooling gallery defined in the body thereof beneath the crown of the piston, an outer cooling gallery defined between the skirt of the piston and the body and beneath the crown. A pin bore is formed in the body. A connecting rod is adapted to interconnect the piston and crankshaft where the connecting rod has at least one end with a bore extending therethrough and adapted to be aligned with the pin bore of the piston. At least one end of the connecting rod is in fluid communication with the inner cooling gallery of the piston and includes a reservoir formed on the end of the connecting rod which is adapted to collect coolant therein. |
| US08136501B2 |
Variable stroke engine
A variable stroke engine includes an end portion of a connecting rod, which is connected at one end portion thereof to a piston by a piston pin, and an end portion of a control rod, which is connected at one end portion thereof to an eccentric shaft, and which are linked to each other by a link member rotatably supported on a crankshaft. A rotative power of the crankshaft is transmitted to the camshaft. The camshaft is disposed at such a position that part of a trajectory drawn by the intake-side and exhaust-side cams overlaps a trajectory drawn by the link member in a projection on a plane perpendicular to an axis of the crankshaft, and a rotational phase of the camshaft is set so that the interference, of the intake-side and exhaust-side cams with an end portion, on the camshaft side, of the link member, is avoided. |
| US08136500B2 |
Internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine in which it can be made difficult for bubbles to mix into oil in a flowing-down process of the oil. In a generator chamber, a shielding rib is provided which is disposed between a generator and an oil introduction port in side view and which extends skewly upwardly from the oil introduction port in a manner so as to cover one end side of the oil introduction port. A guide rib extends from a side wall of the generator chamber in the manner of covering the other end side of the oil introduction port. |
| US08136499B2 |
Cover arrangement for a hand-held power tool
A cover arrangement of a hand-held power tool has a cover having at least one fastening element for connecting the cover to an additional component of the power tool. The cover has a wall component having a shape-elastic yielding support forming a monolithic part of the cover. The at least one fastening element is arranged on the support. |
| US08136497B2 |
Method for starting an engine
A method for improving starting of an engine that may be repeatedly stopped and started is presented. In one embodiment, the method skips combustion in at least one cylinder, according to the engine combustion order, to control engine speed when an engine is automatically restarted. The skipped combustion event may be related to a level of IMEP when combustion in a cylinder occurs under an operating condition. |
| US08136491B2 |
Stroke-transmitting device
In a stroke-transmitting device for a variable transmission of an operating stroke to a member to be actuated, specifically a gas exchange valve for an internal combustion engine, including a control unit with first and second control structures, a control cam is provided for coupling the first and second control structures and having different control regions which are displaceable for an adjustment of the stroke of the member to be actuated with at least first and second degrees of freedom for controlling the stroke transmitted to the member to be actuated. |
| US08136487B2 |
Cooling air supply apparatus for an internal combustion engine having an emergency operation device
A device is provided for the emergency operation of at least one closure element of a cooling air supply apparatus and a correspondingly implemented cooling air supply apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, a closure element being mechanically operationally linked to an actuator. The closure element is situated so it is movable between a closed position, in which it essentially closes a ventilation opening, and an open position, in which it releases the ventilation opening for cooling air to flow through. The actuator automatically transfers the closure element into the open position if a predetermined temperature is exceeded. |
| US08136481B2 |
Device for plasma treatment at atmospheric pressure
A device (1) for plasma treatment comprises an electrode (2) having a surface (14) covered by a dielectric barrier (3), and an AC high voltage source (6) for applying an AC high voltage to the electrode (2) to bring about a dielectric barrier discharge (9) in a gas (10) at atmospheric pressure present in front of the dielectric barrier (3) in order to generate a plasma. To the end of generating the plasma even without a counter-electrode for the electrode (2), pointed tips are distributed over the surface (14) of the electrode (2), these pointed tips pointing towards the gas (10) in front of the dielectric barrier (3), whereas the dielectric barrier (3) has a smooth outer surface (15) facing the gas (10). |
| US08136479B2 |
Plasma treatment apparatus and plasma treatment method
A plasma treatment apparatus generates a plasma in a treatment vessel by an electromagnetic wave radiated from an electromagnetic wave radiation portion into the treatment vessel to perform plasma treatment by the plasma. At least a part of a wall constituting the treatment vessel includes at least a part of an electromagnetic wave transmission path which transmits the electromagnetic wave. |
| US08136477B2 |
Apparatus for and method of dispensing chemical solution in spin-coating equipment
A chemical solution is uniformly dispensed from a nozzle by N2 in spin-coating equipment. The dispensing apparatus includes a canister configured to receive a bottle containing the chemical solution, gas supply piping connecting a source of N2 to the inside of the canister, a pressure control valve disposed in the gas supply piping, a chemical supply line by which the bottle is connected to the nozzle, a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure of the chemical solution supplied from the bottle, and a controller that controls the pressure control valve on the basis of the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor. The controller opens the pressure control valve further when the value of the signal output by the pressure sensor is less than a value representative of the minimum of a predetermined pressure range, and closes the pressure control valve further when the value of the signal output by the pressure sensor is greater than a value representative of the maximum of the predetermined pressure range. The degree to which the pressure control is open is thus controlled by feedback from the pressure control sensor such that the pressure of the chemical solution remains substantially constant as it is dispensed from the nozzle. |
| US08136469B2 |
Diver tow and underwater breathing apparatus
A floating apparatus operable for towing at least one diver and providing compressed air thereto for underwater breathing includes a water impermeable and buoyant hollow housing that floats on a surface of a body of water. A power source is mounted on the housing and a compressor is provided and is operable by the power source for generating the compressed air. A propulsion generating assembly is operable by at least one of the power source and the compressor for generating a propulsion force capable of moving the apparatus and towing such at least one diver. A control device is operatively coupled to the propulsion generating assembly and is manually operable by the at least one diver for generating the propulsion force simultaneously with generation of the compressed air. |
| US08136468B2 |
Hinge for floating dock assembly
In particular embodiments, a connection assembly for interconnecting two adjacent floats includes first and second hinge mounting members that are secured to respective floats, such as floating concrete dock sections, and a flexible hinge that is releasably connected at each end to the hinge mounting members so as to interconnect the two floats. The hinge mounting members can be, for example, rigid housings that are disposed in respective recesses formed in the concrete dock sections. The flexible hinge includes at least one layer of a flexible material, such as elastomeric belting material, and desirably includes several layers of flexible material, which can be placed in tension across the two floats. In certain embodiments, the hinge mounting members can be easily accessed from the side of the floats adjacent the joint in order to disconnect and remove the hinge for repair or replacement, without having to physically separate the floats. |
| US08136466B2 |
Self-bailing watercraft valve
A valve for use in combination with a self-bailing hole of a watercraft includes a flange, a skirt, a valve member, a retention member, and a base member. The flange has a central aperture opening into a hollow interior of the skirt. The hollow interior contains the valve member, which is movable between a sealed configuration preventing fluid flow through the valve and an unsealed configuration allowing fluid flow through the valve. One end of the skirt is secured to the flange, while the other end of the skirt has an opening larger than the central aperture of the flange. The retention member prevents the valve member from exiting the hollow interior of the skirt in the unsealed configuration, while the base member is used to secure the valve within the self-bailing hole of the watercraft. |
| US08136461B2 |
Desk which has combined vertical type legs
A table includes legs, each of which includes a tube and a long screw rod passing through the tube. The tube has a limit step at a first end. The long screw rod has a protruding step at the first end and a screw at a second end. The table also has a tabletop with screw holes. Each screw hole is for receiving the screw of the long screw rod. The screw is lock-connected with the screw hole when the legs are perpendicularly joined to the tabletop at the second end. The protruding step of the long screw rod engages the limit step of the tube. |
| US08136460B2 |
Portable locking support and platform system
A portable support system having a portable support having a first end and a second end. The first end includes a tapered portion, and the second end includes a footing structure. The system also includes a receiving member having a support cone configured to receive the tapered portion. The support cone has a tapered inner surface and a tapered outer surface. The inner surface and outer surface are engagable with mating tapered surfaces. The receiving member is capable of attachment to one or both of a frame and a panel for use as a platform. |
| US08136457B2 |
Side bearing for a railroad car truck
A side bearing for use in a railroad car truck includes a cage, a resilient element within the cage, and a cap engaging an upper end of the resilient element. The cage has a bottom surface and an upturned sidewall, while the cap includes a top surface with a downturned sidewall. The downturned sidewall of the cap is at least partially received within the cage when the resilient element is in a partially compressed condition. The cap is fully received within the cage prior to the resilient element moving into a further compressed condition, such that the cage engages a car body wear plate to provide a solid stop that prevents further compression of the resilient element. One or both of the sidewalls includes wear-limiting contours that may include one or more raised pads. |
| US08136451B2 |
Ammunition assembly with alternate load path
An ammunition round assembly with alternate load path is disclosed herein. The ammunition round assembly includes a projectile, a body engaging the projectile, and a non-combustible base at least partially enclosing the body. A structural member having first and second engagement portions opposite to each other is positioned inside an interior space defined by the body and the base. The first engagement portion firmly engages the base, and the second engagement portion firmly engages the projectile to provide an alternate load path between the projectile and the base. |
| US08136447B2 |
Decorative articles and printing registration method
A decorative article having a substrate with two opposing viewable surfaces. Each viewable surface has a screen print thereon which, in combination, provides a decorative article having a three-dimensional visual. Also, a method of registering the screen prints is provided. The method ensure that two or more panels having the same designs printed thereon are consistent with one another. |
| US08136445B2 |
Swath Roller
A swath roller is attached to a tractor and includes a first frame with two arms each independently connected to the tractor on an adjustable bracket allowing at least up and down movement of the arm relative to its bracket and a transverse bean across the arms. A second frame carries the roller and is supported on a pair of castor wheels spaced outwardly to respective sides of the roller. The second frame includes a front beam connected to the first frame by a center pivot so as to allow side to side pivotal movement of the second frame and two force transmitting members spaced outwardly of the pivot. Conversion to transport is provided by adding a hitch at one end of the frame and an additional wheel behind the roller at the opposite end and by locking one or more of the wheels against castoring. |
| US08136443B2 |
Shaping apparatus for fruits and root and tuberous vegetables
An apparatus is disclosed which can shape fruits and root and tuberous vegetables. The shaping apparatus is operated in such a manner that: when root and tuberous vegetable or fruit is placed in a cutting blade case and rotated, the object is spirally tracked and the spirally tracked object is removed from the lower side of the cutting blade case, so that the spirally tracked object is picked up by an additional stick and then ornamented into various forms. The shaping apparatus allows fruits and root and tuberous vegetables to be easily treated in a variety of ways, as per the second process, thereby enhancing the product value of processed foodstuffs produced from the first process. |
| US08136437B2 |
Modular hand grenade
A modular hand grenade design that permits the use of compressed powders such as A-5. The hand grenade body is split into two main components—a base/sleeve and a nose cap. These two main components contain the explosive. They are loaded with explosive while still separate. The explosive is loaded into the base/sleeve and compressed to form a solid. A core sleeve is attached to the base to form a void inside the explosive where the detonating portion of a fuse assembly can be placed. Explosive is likewise loaded into the nose cap and compressed to form a solid. The nose cap is attached to the base/sleeve assembly. A fuse assembly is then attached to complete the grenade. |
| US08136435B2 |
Food product slicer knife and associated slicer and knife removal tool
A food product slicer knife includes a circular knife body with a peripheral cutting edge. A central opening passes through the knife body and includes a pair of diametrically opposed outwardly extending slots. The knife body also includes at least one set of diametrically opposed drive pin receiving openings spaced outwardly of the central opening and circumferentially offset from the diametrically opposed outwardly extending slots. A tool assembly is adapted to facilitate knife installation and removal and holds the knife when removed from a slicer. A food product slicer includes a knife mount hub adapted to cooperate with the knife to hold the knife on the slicer during operation. |
| US08136432B2 |
Closed-loop CNC machine system and method
A closed-loop feedback system and method for performing a machining operation. A tool's operational properties are measured in real-time. The operating parameters of the machining process are adjusted in real-time based on the measured properties. |
| US08136424B2 |
Steering switch for vehicle
Rotary support bodies which support both ends of a rod penetrating a manipulating knob body are formed by joining a first rotary support member which is arranged at one side of the manipulating knob body and supports one end of the rod and a second rotary support member which is arranged at another side of the manipulating knob body and supports another end of the rod, and one end of the rod is fixed to the second rotary support member, and another end of the rod is engaged with the first rotary support member. Accordingly, a manipulating knob can be mounted on a casing in a state the manipulating knob is mounted on the rotary support body. |
| US08136422B2 |
Articulated robot
A multi-joint robot for loading/unloading a work into/from a cassette, which includes a hand part holding the work, an arm part rotatably holding the hand part, a link mechanism rotatably holding the base end side of the arm part and moving so that the moving route of the base end side of the arm part becomes linear in a direction roughly orthogonal to a direction for loading/unloading the work, and a driving device for moving the tip side of the arm part so as to linearly interpolate it in a direction for loading/unloading the work according to the movement of the link mechanism. |
| US08136414B2 |
Flow metering
An improved flow meter, which has diagnostic capabilities due to the reading of total pressure head loss, calculation of corresponding flow rate and comparison with flow rates calculated from other differential pressures. |
| US08136413B2 |
Bi-directional oscillating jet flowmeter
A bi-directional flowmeter comprises a first fluidic oscillator device arranged to measure the flow of fluid in a first direction and a second fluidic oscillator device arranged to measure the flow of fluid in a second direction opposite to the first direction and in which the two oscillators devices are connected together in series between an inlet port and an outlet port of the flowmeter between which the fluid to be measured can flow. |
| US08136412B2 |
Electromagnetic flowmeter
An electromagnetic flowmeter includes a measuring tube, electrodes, an exciting coil for applying, to a fluid, a time-changing magnetic field asymmetrical with respect to a plane PLN, a signal conversion unit which extracts a ∂A/∂t component, irrelevant to a fluid flow velocity, from a resultant electromotive force of an electromotive force based on the ∂A/∂t component and an electromotive force based on a v×B component originating from the flow velocity of the fluid, a flow rate output unit which removes a variation factor for a span as a coefficient applied to a magnitude V of a flow velocity of the v×B component in the resultant electromotive force, based on the extracted ∂A/∂t component, and calculates a flow rate of the fluid from a result obtained by removing the variation factor, and signal lines inclined with respect to a direction of the magnetic field in parallel with the plane PLN. |
| US08136408B2 |
Strain sensor mounted with light curable adhesive
A device includes a structure, a strain sensor and a light curable adhesive. The structure has a structure surface. The light curable adhesive bonds the strain sensor to the structure surface. |
| US08136405B2 |
Method and device for monitoring the dynamic behavior of a rotating shaft, in particular of a gas or steam turbine
The invention relates to a method for monitoring the dynamic behavior, in particular of the oscillating behavior of a rotating shaft, the oscillation being detected by at least two sensors at defined different spatial position, the oscillating behavior in at least one preferred direction being determined from the oscillation. The invention also relates to a device for monitoring oscillating behavior in a rotary machine with rotable parts, having at least two sensors, a shaft and a computing unit, characterized in that the at least two sensors are positioned in a defined spatial position outside the shaft, detect measurement variables which characterize the oscillations and are connected to a computing unit for the transfer of data. The invention also relates to a gas turbine and a steam turbine that use a method and a device as per the invention. |
| US08136402B2 |
Accelerometer module for use with a touch sensitive device
An accelerometer module for use with a touch sensor on a device, a method of detecting acceleration using a touch sensor, and a computer program product for receiving the touch sensor data and producing output representative of acceleration. The accelerometer module provides a device with a touch sensor, such as a mobile phone, with the ability to sense acceleration, orientation, or both. The accelerometer module may sense acceleration along a single axis or multiple axis. Sensing acceleration along three axis may be useful for producing a handheld game controller or for providing input to many other applications. The accelerometer module applies a force against a deformable member to change the contact area between the deformable member and the touch sensor, wherein the contact area is a function of the amount of applied acceleration. |
| US08136397B2 |
Receiving device for balancing double couplings
In a device for receiving a multi-part constructional unit of a double coupling in a balancing machine there is provided a receiving mandrel which can be driven in rotation about its longitudinal axis and has a bearing face for centering a first coupling part and a centering pin arranged at the free end thereof. The device also comprises a clamping sleeve which can be moved by spring force into a clamping position and has a clamping face coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the receiving mandrel and a centering ring which is arranged on the centering pin, is held releasably thereon, has a centering face for centering further coupling parts and can be coupled in a torque-proof manner with the receiving mandrel in at least one angle position. |
| US08136394B2 |
Methods and apparatus for analyzing a downhole fluid
Methods and apparatuses for analyzing a downhole fluid are disclosed. An example method may involve the steps of admitting the downhole fluid in a test volume, controllably inducing a pressure change in the test volume based on at least one prescribed rate, measuring pressures in the test volume at a plurality of times, using the pressures measured at the plurality of times to determine a time at which an actual rate of the pressure change in the test volume deviates from the at least one prescribed rate, and detecting an occurrence of phase transition of the downhole fluid based on the determined time. |
| US08136393B2 |
Tire testing machine and method for testing tire
Provided is a tire testing machine capable of measuring a force generated in a tire with high precision. The tire testing machine includes a spindle shaft (20) for holding a tire (T), a housing (22) for rotatably supporting the spindle shaft (20) through a rolling bearing (25), a running device (10) having a surface rotated by rotational driving and imparting a rotational force to a tire contacting the surface, and a measurement device (4) which is provided in the housing (22) and measures a force and moment generated in the spindle shaft (20) when the tire (T) is running. Furthermore, the tire testing machine includes a torque canceller (5) for preventing the spindle shaft (20) from such an impact that rotational friction torque (My1) generated by rotational friction, which is received by the spindle shaft (20) in the housing when the spindle shaft (20) rotates, is imparted onto the shaft (20). The torque canceller (5) is equipped with a motor (30) for the spindle shaft, which imparts a torque for cancelling the impact of the rotational friction torque (My1) to the spindle shaft (20). |
| US08136390B2 |
Engine misfire diagnostic apparatus and method
An engine misfire diagnostic apparatus measures an amount of time required for a crankshaft to pass through a prescribed crank angle range corresponding to a combustion stroke to obtain time measurement values on a per cylinder basis. A first misfire parameter is obtained based on stored time measurement values from a designated cylinder, an opposing cylinder corresponding to one crankshaft rotation prior and the opposing cylinder corresponding to one crankshaft rotation later. A second misfire parameter is obtained based on stored time measurement values from the designated cylinder, a first reference cylinder whose ignition occurs one ignition prior to the designated cylinder's ignition and a second reference cylinder whose ignition occurs later than the designated cylinder's ignition, the differences weighted according to a prescribed ratio. A determination of whether the designated cylinder has misfired is based on the second misfire parameter and a derivative value of the first misfire parameter. |
| US08136383B2 |
Calibrating an accelerometer
To calibrate an accelerometer, a seismic cable that carries the accelerometer is rotated. Data measured by the accelerometer as the seismic cable is rotated is received, and at least one calibration parameter according to the received data is computed. The at least one calibration parameter is for use in calibrating the accelerometer. |
| US08136382B2 |
Self-calibration of scale factor for dual resonator class II Coriolis vibratory gyros
The method and apparatus in one embodiment may have: operating one of two resonators of a class II coriolis vibratory gyro in a closed loop mode and another of the two resonators in an open loop whole angle mode; sensing an angular rate by each of the two resonators; calibrating the scale factor of the closed loop resonator to yield the same integrated whole angle as measured by the open loop resonator; reversing operation of the two resonators such that the one of two resonators is operated in an open loop mode and the another of the two resonators in a closed loop whole angle mode; and alternately proceeding between open and closed loop operation of the two resonators, thereby self-calibrating scale factors respectively of the two resonators. |
| US08136380B2 |
Spline member manufacturing apparatus and manufacturing method
A spline member manufacturing apparatus includes a shaving punch, a shaving die, a spline punch, and a stripper. The stripper supports a first surface of a base plate portion and an outer circumferential surface of a boss portion. The shaving punch is advanced relatively, while a material and the stripper are being pressed so that cutout portions are formed in an outer circumference portion of the base plate portion by the shaving punch and the shaving die. The shaving punch is further advanced relatively while the outer circumferential surface of the base plate portion is held by the shaving die, so that a spline portion is formed by inserting the spline punch along the inner circumferential surface of the boss portion. |
| US08136377B2 |
Card lock structure for selectively locking or releasing a lock barrel
A card lock structure for selectively locking or releasing a lock barrel includes a card lock casing and a card barrel limiting mechanism. The card lock casing has a card-inserting groove. The card barrel limiting mechanism has a lock barrel limiting push rod pivotally disposed in the card lock casing, an elastic element disposed between the card lock casing and the lock barrel limiting push rod, and a movable pressing unit for pressing the lock barrel limiting push rod. One end of the lock barrel limiting push rod projects outside the card lock casing in order to selectively lock or release the lock barrel. When a card passes through the card-inserting groove to push the movable pressing unit to release the lock barrel limiting push rod, the lock barrel limited push is moved by the elasticity of the elastic element in order to release the lock barrel. |
| US08136376B2 |
Electric lock device
An electric lock device including a movable member, a cam plate (5) rotated in an unlocking direction and a locking direction by the driving of a drive source, and a lock member (8) including a cam contact surface (10) in contact with a sliding surface (6) of the cam plate (5). The lock member (8) follows the sliding surface (6) to be displaced between a locking position for inhibiting the movement of the movable member and an unlocking position for allowing the movement of the movable member. The cam profile of the sliding surface (6) is set so that the rotary torque of the cam plate (5) necessary for moving the lock member (8) from the locking position to the unlocking position can be maintained at approximately a constant value. |
| US08136374B2 |
Float bath system for manufacturing float glass and cooling method of the same
Disclosed is a float bath system for manufacturing a float glass, comprising a block assembly having a plurality of blocks connected to each other and configured to store a molten metal therein; a steel casing surrounding the block assembly; an air blower capable of supplying air to the steel casing; and a cooling water spray member capable of spraying a cooling water onto the steel casing. And, a cooling method of said float bath system is disclosed. |
| US08136356B2 |
Shape memory alloy actuator system
A resistance feedback circuit has a storage section which stores a feedback gain calculated in advance, a resistance value obtained from a detection section, and a time at which the resistance value is obtained. A computing section has a gain setting section which calculates an amount of change in a resistance value in a predetermined time from the resistance value and the time stored in the storage section, and calculates the feedback gain based on the change in the resistance value calculated, and replaces the feedback gain which is calculated in advance. |
| US08136351B2 |
System and method for filtering diesel engine exhaust particulates
A diesel particulate filtering system that includes a filter configured to capture exhaust particulates from a diesel engine, a regeneration device configured to heat exhaust gases from the diesel engine prior to the exhaust gases reaching the filter, and a controller configured to control operation of the regeneration device, wherein the controller is further configured to turn the regeneration device on when a weighted average of a plurality of normalized parameter values exceeds a threshold value. |
| US08136350B2 |
Catalytic muffler having crossover passageway for secondary air
A catalytic muffler that treats the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine. The catalytic muffler includes a catalyst chamber, a catalyst disposed in the catalyst chamber, an upstream chamber disposed upstream of the catalyst, an exhaust inlet configured to receive exhaust gases, an exhaust outlet configured to discharge converted gases converted by the catalyst to the atmosphere, and further configured to receive secondary air, and a passageway communicating between the exhaust outlet and the upstream chamber, and configured to provide the secondary air received by the exhaust outlet to the upstream chamber. |
| US08136348B2 |
Exhaust purification apparatus for engine
An exhaust purification apparatus comprises an ammonia selective reduction-type NOx catalyst that selectively reduces NOx within exhaust gas by using ammonia as a reducing agent, a urea-water supply device that supplies urea-water into the exhaust gas existing upstream of the ammonia selective reduction-type NOx catalyst, and a control unit. The control unit controls the urea-water supply device so that the urea-water is intermittently supplied according to predetermined supply duration time and predetermined supply suspension time when the urea-water is supplied from the urea-water supply device for the purpose of providing ammonia to the ammonia selective reduction-type NOx catalyst. |
| US08136345B2 |
Internal combustion engine exhaust treatment having a single valve directing exhaust to dual NOx traps
A single valve (23, 50) directs engine exhaust (11, 12) toward alternative NOx traps (19, 20) which are adjacent to either diesel particulate filters (40, 41) or low temperature water gas shift catalysts (63, 64). Syngas is either provided from a source (54) or by in-line catalytic partial oxidizers (23, 24) which may have diesel oxidation catalysts ahead of them in the flow and which receive fuel from the engine fuel source (26) through nozzles (27, 28). |
| US08136342B2 |
Arrangement for controlling fluid jets injected into a fluid stream
In an air mixing arrangement wherein a primary fluid is introduced through an opening in a wall to be mixed with a secondary fluid flowing along the wall surface, the opening is airfoil shaped with its leading edge being orientated at an attack angle with respect to the secondary fluid flow stream so as to thereby enhance the penetration and dispersion of the primary fluid stream into the secondary fluid stream. The airfoil shaped opening is selectively positioned such that its angle of attack provides the desired lift to optimize the mixing of the two streams for the particular application. In one embodiment, a collar is provided around the opening to prevent the secondary fluid from contacting the surface of the wall during certain conditions of operation. Multiple openings maybe used such as the combination of a larger airfoil shaped opening with a smaller airfoil shaped opened positioned downstream thereof, or a round shaped opening placed upstream of an airfoil shaped opening. Pairs of openings and associated collars maybe placed in symmetric relationship so as to promote mixing in particular applications, and nozzles maybe placed on the inner side of wall to enhance the flow characteristics of the primary fluid. |
| US08136339B2 |
Oil-impregnated bushing, oil-free chain and method for manufacturing oil-impregnated bushing
The oil-free chain is obtained by connecting a pair of inner link plates which are connected by oil-impregnated bushings and a pair of outer link plates, which are connected by pins inserted into adjacent oil-impregnated bushings of adjacent inner link plates alternately. The oil-impregnated bushing is obtained by impregnating a bushing made of a metal sintered body with perfluoropolyether having a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. equal to or higher than 350 mm2/s. The bushing is impregnated with perfluoropolyether having a kinematic viscosity corresponding to the operating temperature of the oil-free chain. |
| US08136337B2 |
Wire twisting device
A wire twisting device and a method for use is provided. One embodiment includes a plate having a wire engaging face, a tool engaging face, and a plurality or wire ports extending therethrough. The wires to be twisted are inserted through individual, appropriately sized wire ports which hold the wires in place relative to one another. A shaft operably connected to the tool engaging face is then rotated thereby rotating the plate and twisting the wires. |
| US08136334B2 |
Reel mower cutting unit with gauge wheels
A reel mower cutting unit having a cutting reel with a horizontal axis is supported by a front roller and a rear roller in a mowing position. A lift arm may raise and lower the cutting reel between a mowing position and a transport position. A pair of gauge wheels are mounted forwardly of the front roller at a front left corner and a right front corner of the unit. If the unit is lowered to a sloped surface, the gauge wheel contacts the surface and prevents the unit from marking or damaging the turf. |
| US08136333B1 |
Lawnmower cutting deck and releasable blade
A cutting system for a lawnmower or the like includes multiple blade assemblies driven by a motor, each motor independently operable with respect to each other motor. The blade assemblies are arranged into a cutting system with a length less than that of the combined length of the blades of the blade assemblies. Blade assemblies include components that align so as to balance the blade upon rotation. These components allow for a single user to attach and disengage the blade from the motor, or portion rotated thereby, with hands alone, absent tools. |
| US08136332B2 |
Automated prescription filling system/method with automated labeling and packaging system/method and automated order consolidation system/method
Computer assisted systems, methods and mediums for filling one or more orders. One embodiment of the present invention is a system that includes an order consolidation station configured to receive at least one bottle containing pills individually counted and/or at least one package containing pharmaceutical products without having been designated for any of the orders when the package was created and/or at least one literature pack optionally including patient specific information. The order consolidation station is further configured to combine automatically the received bottle and/or package and/or literature pack into a container to be sent to a recipient including, for example, mail order pharmacies, wholesalers and/or central fill dealers for subsequent distribution or sale including retailer distribution or sale. The bottle is specifically designated for the order, and the order generally includes at least one prescription for the package. |
| US08136331B2 |
Heat and pressure resistant bottle with increased oxygen barrier and method of production
This invention provides a bottle that allows for easy and efficient application of shrink sleeves. The ease of application is partly a result of the invention's wall thickness along its body-forming portion. The body-forming portion of the invention has thick walls and thus exhibits negligible expansion during a hot-filling process. This permits a shrink sleeve to be placed onto the body-forming portion of the resistant bottle prior to filling. If the resistant bottle is hot-filled, the sleeve shrinks as a result of radiant heat emanating outwardly from the high temperature product, without the aid of an external heat source, such as a heat tunnel. |
| US08136329B2 |
Tower structure and method of assembling
A modular tower structure is described herein. The modular tower uses a cost-effective, efficient design that reduces the amount of steel necessary for tower structures for wind turbines. The modular tower is constructed from sections. The sections are constructed from panels. The panels comprise a curved or arcuate shape. The panels include vertical edges and horizontal edges. A vertical connection connects or secures the panels at the vertical edges of the panels and forms the sections. The sections have a generally circular shape. The vertical connection includes an interior vertical friction plate positioned over a seam or gap between adjacent panels and an exterior vertical friction plate positioned over the seam or gap between adjacent panels. A horizontal connection connects or secures the sections at the horizontal edges of the panels. The horizontal connection comprises an interior friction plate that covers a seam or gap between the adjacent sections and an exterior friction plate that covers the seam or gap between the adjacent sections. |
| US08136328B2 |
Fastener receptacle for a panel
A panel includes a core and a fastener receptacle extending into the core. The fastener receptacle has an internal hollow and an opening to the internal hollow. The opening is formed by a lip that can engage and structurally support a push-in fastener. |
| US08136325B1 |
Landscaping wall structure and form
In an embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing is addressed by providing a combination retaining wall structure and masonry form apparatus comprising a first block having a depending lip with non-linear edge, a second block having an upper surface with a recess presenting an inwardly facing edge, the second block being positioned with respect to a rotational axis through the first block. A zone of contact is located at the intersection of the inwardly facing edge and the outwardly facing edge, providing an area for rotation of the first block about the rotational axis of the second block. The first and second blocks forming a non-linear masonry wall structure having an upright axis, about which plural blocks may be rotated. The depending lip and recess being provided by a masonry form having a first, second, third and fourth sides, the first and second sides being removable for interchangeably configuring the first and second block. |
| US08136324B2 |
Snap-fit pultrusion for housing elements
The invention provides snap fit pultrusion housing elements for joining structurally insulated panels suitable for housing and shelter construction. The housing elements include a pultruded panel body member having at least one edge, and a pultruded snap lock fitting on the edge adapted for fastenerless engagement with a complementary fitting on an adjacent panel body member. |
| US08136320B2 |
Spacer assembly for preventing an acoustic short circuit in a building
A spacer assembly adapted to prevent the formation of acoustical short circuits in a building ceiling, floor and/or wall assembly. The spacer assembly includes a support member and is adapted for spacing and supporting a finished interior building element in acoustic isolation with respect to a structural member. |
| US08136314B2 |
Head-of-wall fireblocks
The invention disclosed herein is directed to a fire retardant head-of-wall assembly configured to seal a linear head-of-wall construction joint or gap when exposed to a heat source such as a building fire. The inventive fire retardant head-of-wall assembly comprises a header track having an elongated intumescent strip affixed lengthwise on at least one of the outer sidewall surfaces of the header track. When exposed to a heat source such as a building fire, the intumescent strip is able to expand so as to at least partially fill the head-of-wall construction joint or gap; and in so doing, retard or prevent the spread of smoke and fire. The inventive fire retardant head-of-wall assembly has been certified as complaint with respect to Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.'s standards set forth in its Tests for Fire Resistance of Building Joint Systems—UL 2079. |
| US08136313B2 |
Linoleum covered plate where the edge of the plate is covered with linoleum band without base
A method where linoleum with a base is introduced in an apparatus, the linoleum conveyed on a working surface and advanced against a cutting edge, the cutting edge being arranged such that the linoleum, while moving in the apparatus, is separated from the base. By this method, an even back side is achieved on the linoleum band, making the band suited for further processing since no irregularities appear on the back side where the base is removed, and the front side is without any damages and scratches from the process. Linoleum from which the base has been removed according to this method contributes to a good finish on the produced linoleum covered edge, since the even back side propagates to the front side of the linoleum covered plate edge, which then appears even and has a good aesthetic effect, making it attractive. |
| US08136310B2 |
Photovoltaic solar panel mounting system
A system and method for mounting photovoltaic solar panels onto a roof. The system includes first and second strut rails spaced from the roof employing a series of standoffs, the strut rails having a length, cross section, a base and side walls, side walls terminating with first and second turned in edges. First and second mounting fixtures are attached to the photovoltaic solar panels which are of a type and geometry enabling the solar panels to be removably appended to the strut rails. The first and second mounting fixtures can be applied to the photovoltaic solar panels before being elevated to a roof. |
| US08136307B2 |
Roof construction
Roof construction having a roof skin mounted on a base construction and including a bottom skin and a top skin mounted above and spaced apart from the bottom skin, the roof skin having a two-dimensionally curved surface, the bottom skin being supported on the base construction via a grid that is formed by plane plates oriented normal to the plane of the grid and crossing one another, top edges of the plates being curved to define the curvature of the roof skin, the surface of the roof skin being divided into segments at least some of which are spanned by an associated set of straight lines, and the top skin is held at a constant spacing from the bottom skin by spacer profiles extending along the straight lines. |
| US08136306B2 |
Retractable enclosure
A modular retractable enclosure is provided. The retractable enclosure includes moveable bays that telescopically retract inside each other. Each bay is made from two or more vertical framing sections and a plurality of first framing members. Each vertical framing section can be made from a plurality of second framing members. Assembly rods are provided to couple the vertical framing sections and are tensioned to load the first framing members in longitudinal compression. The framing members are fastenable to each other. The second framing members can be held together using splice plates. The retractable enclosure may also include a drive system. A related method of constructing a retractable enclosure is also provided. |
| US08136305B2 |
Adjustable countertop mounting system
The invention provides an adjustable mounting system for mounting countertops and other similar structures to a wall or other similar structure. Adjustable mounting systems of the invention include hinge adjustment features and/or length adjustment features that allow a single system to be adapted to fit a variety of sizes and/or shapes of spaces. The invention further provides methods of mounting a countertop using an adjustable mounting system. |
| US08136303B2 |
Re-deployable above ground shelter
Work crews temporarily operating in remote areas can be subject to dangers such as tornadoes, hurricanes and explosive blast waves. A re-deployable aboveground protective shelter suitable for use in such environments utilizes retractable stabilizing arms and/or passive valved ductwork to resist uplift, overturning and sliding. Because the protective shelter does not rely upon excessive weight to counter wind forces, the protective shelter can be quickly, easily and inexpensively redeployed to new sites. |
| US08136301B2 |
Coil spring counterbalance
Disclosed is a pivotable, multi-coil spring counterbalance, and method for using the same, which allows the user to readily attach a desired number of coil springs having chosen forces to a counterbalance connector attached to a vertically movable member, thereby providing an offset for at least a portion of the weight thereof. |
| US08136296B2 |
Releasably integrated structural planter and adjustable irrigation system for controllably watering the planter and terrain
Planter systems include planters releasably integrated with a support structure primarily by releasable and penetrable engagement that is sufficient to support the planter without requiring conventional attachment devices. Engaging portions of the planters are releasably and penetrably received and concealed by the support structure to provide an integrated appearance. The planter systems optionally include adjustable irrigation systems configured to controllably supply water to the planter and/or surrounding terrain. |
| US08136295B2 |
Plant-culturing tool
A plant-culturing tool comprising a planting container for accommodating a plant, and a water storage container that can accommodate the planting container in the interior of the water storage container and that can store water, a guide mechanism in which the planting container makes sliding contact with the water storage container and is guided along a floating or sinking direction thereof. The guide mechanism is composed of a long guide surface having a long sliding portion, and a short guide surface having a short sliding portion that protrudes against the long guide surface, with the two guide surfaces making slide contact each other. |
| US08136291B2 |
Device for supporting a plant, fence or object
A method and device for securely anchoring a plant protection structure is provided wherein a support system includes an anchoring post and a support section. The anchoring post presents a post section and an anchor section, wherein each anchor section is configured to angle away from the longitudinal axis as the anchoring post receives a force that drives the anchor section into the ground. The anchoring post is topped by a support module that may include one or more arms that support and/or help protect at least a portion of a plant or object. The arms are configurable to enable the device to help secure or protect plants or objects in a variety of embodiments as best suited to the needs of the object. The anchoring post may include solid or hollow continuous elongate elements that form both the post section and the anchor section. |
| US08136284B2 |
Folding stack plate for foregrips
Adapter devices, apparatus, systems and methods of allowing a firearm to be supported by a foldable fore grip/gun handle. The fore grip gun handle can have bipod type legs that can be extendable from the handle. The fore grip handle can be just a vertical extension. The adapter can allow for the fore grip/gun handle to move from a fold back position along the bottom of the firearm so that the firearm can be easily carried, and the adapter to can allow for the handle to move down to a vertical support position beneath the firearm when the firearm is to be used. The adapter can also support a light in both a folded position and in a downwardly extended position, where light can be aimed forward, rearward to the side and/or pointed down from the firearm. The adapter can allow for a dual functioning component that can be either or both a fore grip and/or a light source. |
| US08136279B1 |
Electronic sign module housing having an overmolded gasket seal
An electronic sign module housing having an overmolded gasket seal including an elastomer overmolded gasket seal with an inner and an outer lip and a base overmolded to a rearwardly located contact surface of an electronic sign module housing. Grooves on the contact surface of the electronic sign module housing provide additional bonding surfaces with a greater surface area to enhance the chemically-bonded overmolding of the overmolded gasket seal. Truncated conical projections extending forwardly from the elastomer base extend into correspondingly shaped truncated conical cavities in the electronic sign module housing in order to provide additional chemical bonding and to provide a geometrically based frictional engagement arrangement. |
| US08136277B2 |
Alignment angle method and apparatus for a display
A light-emitting display system has an alignment mechanism to align or angle light-emitting tiles of the display. A first tile connects to a second tile by joining a first clamp portion on the first tile with a second clamp portion on the second tile. In an implementation, the alignment mechanism includes a replaceable angle adjustment insert that is inserted into at least one of the clamp portions, such as the first clamp portion. When the first and second clamp portions are joined, a surface of the second clamp portion presses against the insert and a desired angle between the first and second tile is formed. The insert can have any angle so that any desired angle can be formed between the first and second tiles. |
| US08136272B2 |
Dipper door latch with locking mechanism
A dipper including a dipper door and an impact actuated jaw having a “C” shape defining a lip and a chin. The jaw is rotatably mounted on the dipper door for rotation between a door-opened position and a door-closed position and positioned so that when the jaw is in the door-opened position, the jaw chin can be impacted by the dipper body when the door pivots to the door-closed position. The dipper also includes a hold open mechanism for releasably holding the door latch in the latch open position when the latch is in the open position, and a locking mechanism for releasably locking the latch when the latch is in the door-closed position. The locking mechanism includes one bar pivotally attached to the door, and another bar pivotally connected to and extending between each of the one bar and the latch. |
| US08136271B2 |
Hydraulic unit and construction machine including the same
A hydraulic unit is switched among a first region A where a flow rate is adjusted by controlling a rotational speed of an electric motor while maintaining a displacement of a variable displacement pump at a maximum value, a second region B where the flow rate is adjusted by changing the displacement of the variable displacement pump while maintaining the rotational speed of the electric motor at a minimum value lower than the rotational speed in the first region A, and a third region C where, in a range where a discharge pressure of the variable displacement pump is larger than that in the first region A, the flow rate is adjusted by changing the rotational speed of the electric motor in a range larger than the minimum rotational speed, while maintaining the displacement of the variable displacement pump at an allowable maximum value that is derived from the discharge pressure and a maximum shaft torque of the electric motor. |
| US08136261B2 |
Instant reading oil dipstick improvements
Instant Reading Oil Dipstick Improvements is a near universal design with most assembly done by the manufacturer. The customers can easily adapt such to match their existing dipstick geometry by pushing the adjustable parts to the correct location, where they will remain. The air valve is within a single, machined brass cone that adapts to the metal tube and seals in the engine vacuum. A new tubular plastic air seal around the wire handle increases reliability. And a cone shaped rubber squeegee will automatically remove oil from the outside of the tubing as the dipstick is withdrawn from the crankcase. |
| US08136259B2 |
Wheel alignment device adapted to compensate for runout error
Alignment device adapted to measure characteristic angles of the wheels and of the steering of motor vehicles, particularly camber, toe-in, caster, by way of arms provided with sensors to be fastened to the wheels. In particular, in the step for determining the mounting error of the grip elements (runout), the level sensor is used to measure the wheel rotation angle and methods for compensating the measurements performed when the arms are at a nonzero level are then applied. |
| US08136255B1 |
Broadloom carpet wall trimmer and method of use thereof
A broadloom trimming device to trim carpeting along baseboards includes a base, a tucker, a vertical baseboard plate which has two plastic rollers that glide easily without damaging the baseboards. The device employs an adjustment mechanism allowing a height adjustment plate bearing a cutting mechanism to be raised or lowered easily using integral springs and a thumbnut. The device further includes a handle seated between arms of the adjustment plate. |
| US08136254B2 |
Split power tool with extension
An extendable hedge trimmer includes a housing having a handle end and a tool end. The handle end includes a battery and an electrical connector. The tool end includes a hedge trimming implement, a motor, and an electrical connector. The electrical connector of the tool end is electrically connected with the motor. Wiring is included within the handle end for electrically connecting the battery and the electrical connector of the handle end. The trimmer also includes a pole which is releasably connectable between the tool end and the handle end. The pole is configured for electrically connecting the handle end with the tool end. The trimmer also includes a latch mechanism for releasably attaching the pole between tool end and handle end. The trimmer also includes an input for receiving AC line power via a power cord, the trimmer configured for being powered by AC line power and/or battery power. |
| US08136252B2 |
Cutting tool
A cutting tool includes a first handle, a second handle, a first cutting blade attached to the first handle at a first pivot point, and a second cutting blade attached to the second handle at a second pivot point. The first and the second cutting blades are engaged with one another at a pivot point for movement in a scissor-like manner between an open position and a closed position in response to rotational movement of the first and the second handles. The first handle includes a first toothed transmission part and the second handle includes a second toothed transmission part, the first and the second toothed transmission parts being arranged to be engaged with one another. |
| US08136248B2 |
Method of making building panels with support members extending partially through the panels
A building panel for residential and commercial construction uses a plurality of insulating blocks connected together by adhesive. The insulation blocks are typically made of foam. A plurality of support members are disposed on opposite sides of the insulating blocks and offset with respect to the adjacent support member. The support member are typically made of metal and can have different shapes including “T” shape, “U” shape, and “L” shape. Each support member has a head portion in contact with a surface of the insulating block and a stem portion extending into the insulating block and having a length less than a width of the insulating block so that a thermal conduction path of the support member is discontinuous across the insulating block. The panel can be used as a curtain wall panel in high-rise construction, as well as bodies for aircraft, automotive, and marine applications. |
| US08136242B2 |
Method of producing a land grid array interposer utilizing metal-on-elastomer
A method of producing a land grid array (LGA) interposer structure, including an electrically insulating carrier plane, and at least one interposer mounted on a first surface of said carrier plane. The interposer possesses a hemi-toroidal configuration in transverse cross-section and is constituted of a dielectric elastomeric material. A plurality of electrically-conductive elements are arranged about the surface of the at least one hemi-toroidal interposer and extend radically inwardly and downwardly from an uppermost end thereof into electrical contact with at least one component located on an opposite side of the electrically insulating carrier plane. |
| US08136236B2 |
Method for manufacturing a coaxial cable
Corrosion resistant coaxial cable. In one example embodiment, a method for manufacturing a coaxial cable includes various steps. First, a dielectric is extruded around a center conductor. Next, the dielectric is surrounded with an outer conductor. Then, a corrosion-inhibiting composition is applied to the outer conductor. Finally, the outer conductor is surrounded with a jacket. The corrosion-inhibiting composition includes a synthetic sulfonate salt dispersed in a paraffinic mineral oil. The synthetic sulfonate salt is present in the composition in an amount of from about 5% to about 10% by weight. The paraffinic mineral oil is present in the composition in an amount of from about 90% to about 95% by weight. |
| US08136235B2 |
Self-diagnosing pierce nut installation apparatus
A self-diagnosing pierce nut installation apparatus including an installation head attached to an upper die member of a die press having a reciprocating plunger driving a pierce nut against a panel, piercing a slug from the panel upon closing of the press and a rod telescopically received in the plunger resiliently biased through the nut bore if a slug is pierced from the panel or against the panel if not pierced, and a sensor sensing axial movement of the rod, stopping the press if the rod engages the panel. A die located in the lower die member includes a slug sensor confirming receipt of the panel slug through the die member. |
| US08136234B2 |
Flaring coaxial cable end preparation tool and associated methods
A cable end preparation tool is for a coaxial cable having an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a dielectric therebetween. The cable end preparation tool includes a body and a blade carried by the body for removing a portion of the dielectric between the inner conductor and the outer conductor when the body is rotated about the coaxial cable. A first projection is carried by the body and has a predetermined shape for flaring an end portion of the outer conductor when the body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable. A second projection is movable with respect to the body between an outer conductor engaging position and a disengaged position, the second projection for corrugating the flared end portion of the outer conductor when in the outer conductor engaging position and the body is rotated relative to the coaxial cable. |
| US08136227B2 |
Method for making a magnetic head having a non-GMR shunt
A magnetic head having non-GMR shunt for perpendicular recording and method for making magnetic head having non-GMR shunt for perpendicular recording is disclosed. A shunt is provided for shunting charge from a read sensor. The shunt is formed co-planar with the read sensor and is fabricated using non-GMR materials. |
| US08136219B2 |
Electronic component mounter and mounting method
A method by which the height of an electronic component sucked and held by a nozzle can be detected with high accuracy and high efficiency is a component height measurement method applied to a mounter (100) equipped with a transfer head (8) having a component-sucking-and-holding nozzle (21), for transferring a component P and mounting the component P onto a board (3), and includes: lowering the component P to within the high-accuracy range of a first line sensor (13) for measuring the height of the component P; and measuring the height of the component P using the first line sensor (13). |
| US08136218B2 |
Prosthetic heart valve, prosthetic heart valve assembly and method for making same
A mold assembly for forming a prosthetic valve having at least one leaflet, which includes a first plate having a first side from which at least one leaflet mold extends and a planar portion adjacent the at least one leaflet mold, wherein the planar portion has multiple access holes through its thickness, and a second plate having at least one mold opening and a planar portion adjacent the at least one mold opening, wherein each mold opening is sized and shaped to correspond with one of the leaflet molds of the first plate, and wherein the planar portion has multiple access holes through its thickness. The second plate is positionable relative to the first plate so that each of the leaflet molds of the first plate extend at least partially through one of the mold openings of the second plate. |
| US08136210B2 |
Seat belt
A seat belt (2) for motor vehicles, has a restraining element (4) for a seat belt tongue (3). The restraining element protrudes from the seat belt (2), from only on one side thereof and the seat belt (2) may be configured as a multi-layer seat belt (2) forming a hollow space (5) between the seat belt layers (21, 22). |
| US08136208B2 |
Handle system
A handle which provides a shaft coaxially rotatably engaged to a first bearing element and a second bearing element which attaches to a corresponding one of the opposed ends of a cable means. |
| US08136202B2 |
Door mounting assemblies
A mounting assembly for operatively mounting one or more glass shower door panels to one or more panels is described. The mounting assembly includes an elongate guide assembly adapted for receiving and retaining a carriage assembly for mounting a reciprocating glass shower door; and a mounting assembly including one or more end mounting devices for mounting one or more ends of the elongate guide assembly perpendicular to one or more glass panels or walls. Also described is a mounting assembly including an elongate guide assembly adapted for receiving and retaining a carriage assembly for mounting a reciprocating glass shower door; and one or more spaced guide mounting devices for connecting the guide assembly to an adjacent parallel panel and spacing the guide assembly a selected distance from and parallel to the adjacent parallel glass wall panel to provide access between the parallel glass wall panel and guide assembly for cleaning. |
| US08136200B2 |
Robotic cleaning head
A robotic cleaning head (1; 101) for use as part of an autonomous vacuum cleaning system (2) including a canister unit (3) and a hose assembly (4; 104) connecting the cleaning head (1; 101) to the canister unit (3). The cleaning head (3) has a chassis (5; 105), a drive system (6; 18; 27), a vacuum cleaning nozzle (8; 108) and a conduit (9; 109). The conduit (9; 109) communicates with an air passage bound by the cleaning nozzle (8; 108). It is suspended pivotable about a pivot axis (10; 110) and includes an inlet (11; 111) provided on top of said chassis (5; 105), and an elbow section (12; 112) downstream of the inlet (11; 111), and the conduit (9; 109) is suspended and shaped such that a line of action (15; 115) of a tension force (20; 120) exerted by the hose assembly (4; 104) onto the chassis (5; 105), via the conduit (9; 109) to which the hose assembly (4; 104) is connected, extends spaced below a downstream end of the elbow section (12; 112). |
| US08136190B2 |
Method of custom fitting an article of footwear and apparatus including a container
A method and apparatus for custom fitting an article of footwear is disclosed. A container holding the article of footwear includes a steaming assembly that allows a customer to subject the article of footwear to steam. The method can include cooling the article of footwear on the customer's foot to custom fit the article of footwear. |
| US08136184B2 |
Mitigation of brake failure
A method and system for mitigations brake failure in a medical device. The method and system includes a motion system for at least one movable load. Each movable load has a drive, a controller for the drive, and a brake. The controller is adapted to monitor positional parameters of the drive or electrical parameters of the brake or a combination of both. The method involves the step of monitoring the parameters and evaluating the parameters to detect a brake failure of the brake. |
| US08136182B2 |
Air mattress assembly
An inflatable air mattress assembly for use with a vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a bed having protruding wheel well compartments, opposed sidewalls, a tailgate and a headboard. The air mattress assembly comprises and inflatable base, an inflatable first support and an inflatable second support. The inflatable base includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The base has lateral recesses formed therein which extend from the bottom surface towards the top surface and define a ledge over the recesses. The base is dimensioned and configured for placement in the vehicle bed with the recesses being disposed over the wheel well compartments protruding into the bed. A front portion of the base is adjacent the headboard. A rear portion of the base is adjacent a tailgate. The inflatable first support is releasable attached to the front portion of the base. The first support includes an inflatable backrest and at least one inflatable armrest connected to the backrest. The inflatable second support is releasably attached to one of the front portion of the base and the first support. The second support is spaced from the at least one armrest. |
| US08136181B2 |
System and method for retractable furniture unit
A retractable bed is disclosed which can be raised and lowered in a vertical fashion. The retractable bed includes a frame for holding a mattress; and a counterbalance system to raise and lower the bed through vertical displacement. When the bed is in the lowered configuration it will come into contact with the floor thereby permitting a person to sleep on the bed. When the bed is in the raised configuration it will be near the ceiling thereby permitting a person to pass under the bed. The counterbalance system provides a convenient way to take the bed down and to put it away. |
| US08136176B2 |
Skimmer vent for pool with pool cover or pool liner
The present invention involves a pool system including ventilation for offending gases from the pool. |
| US08136174B2 |
Urinal
An object is to provide a urinal which prevents offensive odors, reduces the consumption of urinal cleaning water and prevents clogging of the urinal drain pipe line. The urinal of the present invention includes a human body sensor (7), a control unit (11), a mechanism to generate a gas with high detergency (14), a gas flow line (La) in which generated gas with high detergency flows, and a cleaning water supply line (Lw) in which cleaning water flows, and the gas flow line (La) and the cleaning water supply line (Lw) converge to mix the gas with high detergency with the cleaning water, and a cleaning fluid line (Lc) formed by confluence of the gas flow line (La) and the cleaning water supply line (Lc) is communicated with a cleaning fluid ejection hole (5) on a urinal upper edge (1a). |
| US08136170B2 |
Powered helmet with visor defogging element and accessories
According to the invention, a helmet with a defogging visor is disclosed. The helmet may include a shell, a visor, a defogging element, and a power source. The shell may define at least a first opening. The visor may be coupled with the shell and may be at least partially disposed over the first opening. The defogging element may be configured to defog the visor. The power source may be directly coupled with the shell and may be operably coupled with the defogging element. |