| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09069089B2 |
Methods and systems for increasing the sensitivity of simultaneous multi-isotope positron emission tomography
Positron emission tomography (PET) systems suitable for use with dirty (positron+prompt gamma) emitters are provided. One or more prompt gamma detectors are added to the PET system, where the prompt gamma detectors are responsive to the prompt gammas provided by the dirty emitter, but are not responsive to 511 keV annihilation photons. The prompt gamma detectors can surround the imaging PET detector array and/or be disposed as end caps relative to a generally cylindrical PET detector array. The prompt gamma detectors need not provide spatial resolution, because coincidence events in the PET detector array are classified as 2-photon or 3-photon events depending on whether or not there is a time-coincident signal from the prompt gamma detectors. One application of this approach is dual isotope PET where distinct tracers labeled with clean and dirty positron emitters are simultaneously imaged. |
| US09069088B2 |
Radiation-sensitive detector device with charge-rejecting segment gaps
In radiation-sensitive detector devices, such as direct conversion detectors, charges are drifting within an externally applied electric field towards collecting electrodes (4), which are segmented (e.g. representing a pixel array). At the gaps between segments, electrical field lines can leave the detector, and charges drifting along those field lines can be trapped within the gap. This can be avoided by external electrodes (8) which push electric field lines back into the direct conversion material. |
| US09069087B2 |
Method for controlling a photodetector by automatically detecting incident radiation
A method is provided for controlling a light-sensitive device, for example, a digital X-ray detector including an array of light-sensitive points. The light-sensitive device includes a column conductor, line conductors, and light-sensitive points. Each light-sensitive point is connected between the column conductor and one of the line conductors, and includes a light-sensitive element converting a photon flux into electrical charges, and a transistor transferring the electrical charges to the column conductor based on control of a signal received by the corresponding line conductor. The method depends on the presence of a capacitor for cross-coupling between the drain and source of each transistor in the off state. The capacitor provides a potential variation to the column conductor upon receiving photons. The method comprises comparing the potential variation with a threshold, and reading the light-sensitive points in the event that the result of the comparison is positive. |
| US09069086B2 |
Patterned radiation-sensing thermoplastic composite panels
A patterned scintillator panel including an extruded scintillator layer comprising a thermoplastic polyolefin and a scintillator material, wherein the scintillator layer comprises a pattern. Also disclosed is a method of making a patterned scintillator panel including forming a scintillator layer by melt extrusion, the scintillator layer comprising thermoplastic particles comprising a thermoplastic polyolefin and a scintillator material; and patterning the scintillator layer. Further disclosed is a method of making a patterned scintillator panel including forming a scintillator layer by injection molding, the scintillator layer comprising thermoplastic particles comprising a thermoplastic polyolefin and a scintillator material; and patterning the scintillator layer. |
| US09069084B2 |
Optical fiber having a coating, a radiation sensor and a radiation detection apparatus including the optical fiber and a method of making using the same
A radiation detection apparatus can include a radiation sensor having a corresponding radiation sensing region, and a photosensor that is optically couple to the radiation sensor. The radiation sensing region can include optical fibers. In an embodiment, some or all of the optical fibers can be coated. The coating can include a phosphorescent material. In an embodiment, the optical fibers can be arranged in a manner such that optical substrates have substantially no bends. |
| US09069083B2 |
Portable radiation detector
Apparatus for detecting ionizing radiation includes a mobile telephone, including an imaging assembly, which includes a solid-state image sensor. A radiation converter is mounted in proximity to the image sensor and is configured to emit, in response to the ionizing radiation, lower-energy radiation for detection by the image sensor. A processor, contained in the mobile telephone, is configured to process images captured by the image sensor so as to assess an intensity of the ionizing radiation. |
| US09069082B2 |
Method for detection of radiation-induced damage to biomaterial using magnetic sensor and magnetic sensor biochip for biodosimetry using the same
Disclosed is a method for the detection of radiation-induced damage on a biomaterial using a magnetic sensor, and a magnetic sensor biochip for biodosimetry. Designed to utilize a magnetic sensor in detecting damage to biomaterials in vitro, the method and magnetic sensor biochip can accurately determine the degree of damage irrespective of the self-recovery of the organism. Thanks to their high sensitivity, the method and biochip can detect the biomaterial damage by exposure to even a low dose of radiation. |
| US09069081B2 |
Radiation monitoring device
Radiation detector for measuring one or more characteristics of a radiation, comprising one or more detector pixels, a clock pulse generator, each detector pixel comprising a sensor producing an electrical signal in response to an event of a photon or charged particle of said radiation impinging on said sensor; a pixel electronics adapted for receiving and processing said electrical signal, comprising an analog processing unit for amplifying and shaping said electrical signal and producing a shaped pulse said pixel electronics comprises time determination unit for counting the TOT-count, the TOT-count being the number of clock pulses occurring during the time interval when said shaped pulse is above a threshold. Said pixel electronics comprises a plurality of event counters, each event counter counting the number of events having a TOT-count in a predefined ranges. |
| US09069078B2 |
Radar device
A radar device (10) comprising a transmission antenna (14) for transmitting electromagnetic waves; a reception antenna (15) for receiving waves; and a detector unit (34) which detects, based on the reflected waves, the positions of a preceding vehicle and a preceding object, judges the preceding object to be the same as the preceding vehicle if the position of the preceding object is in a predetermined preceding vehicle judging range with the position of the preceding vehicle as a reference, detects the positions of an oncoming vehicle and an oncoming object and judges the oncoming object to be the same as the oncoming vehicle if the position of the oncoming object is in a predetermined oncoming vehicle judging range with the position of the oncoming vehicle as a reference; wherein the oncoming vehicle judging range is set to be narrower than the preceding vehicle judging range. |
| US09069074B2 |
Method of inferring user' direction, direction inferring apparatus, and terminal apparatus
A method of inferring a user's direction by a computer, the method includes: recording a relative azimuth angle obtained from an output of a direction sensor included in a terminal apparatus carried by the user; identifying the user's direction at a first point at which the user's direction is capable of being identified; and inferring the user's direction at a second point by using a relative azimuth angle corresponding to the first point and a relative azimuth angle corresponding to the second point different from the first point, and the user's direction that has been identified at the first point. |
| US09069070B2 |
Systems and methods for the selection of antennas in aircraft navigation systems
Systems and methods for the selection of antennas in aircraft navigation systems are provided. In one embodiment, a navigation receiver system for an aircraft comprises: a first aircraft antenna that receives transmitter signals from fixed-location ground transmitters and a second aircraft antenna that receives transmitter signals from the fixed-location ground transmitters, wherein the first aircraft antenna has a first gain pattern that is different from a second gain pattern of the second aircraft antenna; a switch coupled to a first receiver and the first and second aircraft antenna; and a switch controller coupled to the switch. The switch controller operates the switch to electrically couple the first receiver to either the first or second aircraft antenna based on a determination of whether the first gain pattern or the second gain pattern provides higher gain in a direction of a first fixed-location ground transmitter of the fixed-location ground transmitters. |
| US09069069B2 |
Systems, methods, and apparatus for marking, verifying, and authenticating consumer products
Methods for marking a consumer good at a distribution point are described that enable field authentication of the consumer good at an authentication point without connection to a remote database. Methods for authenticating a marked consumer good are described by scanning encrypted indicia without connecting to a remote database are described. Authentication methods for marked consumer goods, apparatus for carrying out the authentication methods, and systems based on the authentication methods are described. |
| US09069068B2 |
Systems and methods for updating HIL and HFOM integrity components when not extrapolating position data
Systems and methods for reporting position and associated integrity during times when extrapolation is not taking place as accurately as possible. In one example, a processing device deactivates extrapolation of global positioning system (GPS) position information based on a predefined condition, receives ground speed information, and HFOM and HIL values from a global position system (GPS); calculates inflated HFOM and HIL values based on the received HFOM and HIL values and the ground speed and generates an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) OUT signal based on the calculated inflated HFOM and HIL values. A transmitter coupled to the processing device transmits the generated ADS-B OUT signal. |
| US09069064B2 |
Method of automatically tracking and photographing celestial objects and photographic apparatus employing this method
A method of automatically tracking and photographing a celestial object, is provided, which moves relative to a photographic apparatus due to diurnal motion so that the celestial object image formed on an image sensor becomes stationary during a celestial-object auto-tracking photographing operation. The method includes inputting photographing azimuth angle and elevation angle information of the photographic apparatus; calculating preliminary-tracking drive control data based on the photographing azimuth angle and elevation angle information; obtaining first and second preliminary images corresponding to commencement and termination points of the preliminary tracking operation; calculating a deviation amount between a celestial object image in the first preliminary image and a corresponding celestial object image in the second preliminary image; calculating, from the deviation amount, actual-tracking drive control data with the deviation amount cancelled; and performing the celestial-object auto-tracking photographing operation based on the actual-tracking drive control data. |
| US09069060B1 |
Circuit architecture for optical receiver with increased dynamic range
A circuit architecture for a sensing component of a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device can provide a wide dynamic range. The circuit architecture includes at least one photosensor, each photosensor including an input that is configured to receive an optical signal; a respective diode corresponding to each photosensor, each respective diode including an input that is coupled to an output of the corresponding photosensor; a multiplexer including an input that is coupled to the output of each of the at least one photosensors; and an amplifier including an input that is coupled to the output of the multiplexer. |
| US09069059B2 |
Concealed light detection and ranging system
A concealed light detection and ranging system (LIDAR) for detecting, confusing, and jamming external laser, radar, infrared and other varieties of velocity and position detectors. The LIDAR mounts in numerous different locations on a vehicle such as the brake light, grill, door handle, etc. By utilizing a plethora of locations on the vehicle to receive and transmit light signals, the LIDAR allows generated light pulses to be carried by a network of fiber optic cables to the front, rear, top and sides of the vehicle. This ubiquitous positioning of the LIDAR on the vehicle allows for efficient reception and emission of light pulses to detect and/or, jam LIDAR guns, parking sensors, and proximity sensors without the need for the electronics to be exposed or mounted in the actual reception and transmission locations. When configured to detect lasers, the LIDAR further may include a laser receiver and pulse shaping device. |
| US09069054B2 |
Microwave transmission apparatus
A microwave transmission apparatus is provided. A multiplexing unit generates multiplexed data based on a service clock rate. An interface unit writes and reads the multiplexed data at the service clock rate and a read clock rate respectively. An encoding and mapping unit performs encoding and mapping on the multiplexed data using a symbol clock rate to generate symbol data, and sends the symbol data to up conversion units. A clock tracking unit generates the symbol clock according to the system clock, and performs frequency division on the symbol clock to acquire the read clock. A stream control unit adjusts the service clock rate according to a water line error generated by the interface unit, so that the service clock rate is equal to the read clock rate. As a frequency and a phase of the system clock are fixed, even ACM switching occurs, the system clock is stably transferred. |
| US09069052B2 |
Determining the physical location of a client
Determining a physical location of a client, including: determining a network transmission time associated with a first server and a network transmission time associated with a second server; determining a set of key parameters for the first server and a set of key parameters for the second server; determining a distance between the client and the first server and a distance between the client and the second server based at least in part on inputting the network transmission time associated with the first server, the network transmission time associated with the second server, the set of key parameters for the first server, and the set of key parameters for the second server into a data processing model; and determining the physical location associated with the client using the distance between the client and the first server and the distance between the client and the second server. |
| US09069050B2 |
Varying blipped trajectory in MRI
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) blipped trajectories having varying blip amplitudes are described. One example method includes controlling an MRI apparatus to produce a set of blipped trajectories including a first blipped trajectory having a first blip amplitude and a second, different blipped trajectory having a second, different blip amplitude. The blip amplitudes may be based on a relationship between a trajectory and a reference. The relationship may be, for example, a rotation angle. The rotation angle may be a proxy for information including a gradient trajectory speed associated with a blipped trajectory or an amount of unused gradient energy available while producing the blipped trajectory. The blip amplitudes may be selected to produce incoherent sampling during an MRI acquisition that uses the blipped trajectories. In one example, readout directions may be altered between trajectories to reduce regularity in k-space. |
| US09069048B2 |
Broadband decoupling pulse trains with interleaved pauses for magnetic resonance spectroscopy
A magnetic resonance apparatus includes a magnet that generates a static magnetic field, e.g., 7T, and a resonance excitation system that induces resonance in an observed nuclear species such as 13C or 31P. A decoupling delay generator introduces pauses between adjacent pulses of a decoupling pulse train configured to decouple a coupled species such as 1H. An RF amplifier whose energy shortage capacity would be exceeded by the pulse train without the pauses amplifies the pulse train with the pauses. The pauses are sufficiently short that decoupling and Nuclear Overhauser Effect enhancement are not adversely affected, but long enough to provide recovery time to the RF amplifier, e.g., 0.2 msec. |
| US09069046B2 |
Deterioration state estimation apparatus and deterioration state estimation method for secondary battery
An estimation apparatus of estimating a deterioration state of a secondary battery has a current sensor measuring an electric current of the secondary battery, a current estimating section estimating the electric current of the secondary battery by using a battery model, and a deterioration estimating section estimating a second deterioration component produced in association with a salt concentration imbalance in the secondary battery. The deterioration estimating section estimates the second deterioration component by using the measured current obtained from the current sensor, the estimated current obtained from the current estimating section, and a first deterioration component produced in association with wear of the secondary battery. The deterioration estimating section corrects the estimated current by using a ratio between a resistance change rate of the secondary battery when the second deterioration component is eliminated and a resistance change rate during charge and discharge of the secondary battery. |
| US09069043B2 |
Termination circuit, semiconductor device, and test system
A termination circuit includes a pMOS transistor configured to have a source connected with a signal terminal outputting or inputting a transmission signal, a drain connected with a grounding line, and a gate receiving a control signal, the pMOS transistor being turned on when enabling a characteristic impedance matching function and being turned off when disabling the matching function; and an inductor and a capacitor configured to be connected with the signal terminal for matching characteristic impedance. |
| US09069041B2 |
Self evaluation of system on a chip with multiple cores
A method and structure tests a system on a chip (SoC) or other integrated circuit having multiple cores for chip characterization to produce a partial good status. A Self Evaluation Engine (SEE) on each core creates a quality metric or partial good value for the core. The SEE executes one or more tests to create a characterization signature for the core. The SEE then compares the characterization signature of a core with a characterization signature of neighboring cores to determine the partial good value for the core. The SEE may output a result to create a full characterization map for detailed diagnostics or a partial good map with values for all cores to produce a partial good status for the entire SoC. |
| US09069039B1 |
Power measurement transducer
A power measurement transducer includes a first surface configured to thermally couple the power measurement transducer to a device under test. A second surface is essentially parallel to and spaced apart from the first surface. Two or more temperature measurement elements are positioned between the first and second surfaces. The power measurement transducer is configured to allow at least a portion of the power generated within the device under test to enter the power measurement transducer through the first surface and exit the power measurement transducer through the second surface. |
| US09069029B2 |
Detection and compensation of multiplexer leakage current
A multiplexed input/output (I/O) system detects leakage currents on a selected input channel. The system includes a leakage detection multiplexer connected to provide an output selected from one of a plurality of input channels. In addition, the leakage detection multiplexer provides as part of the output measured leakage currents associated with the selected input channel. Based on the detected leakage currents, a determination can made regarding whether the detected leakage currents have compromised the integrity of the multiplexer output. In addition, the detected leakage current can be used to compensate the output provided by the multiplexer to account for the presence of leakage currents on the selected channel. |
| US09069027B2 |
Cell voltage monitoring and self-calibrating device
A cell voltage monitoring and self-calibrating device for a plurality of battery cells connected in series is disclosed. The device includes a first voltage measurement unit, a second voltage measurement unit, a first compensation unit, a second compensation unit and a calculating unit. It can measure voltages of each cell in a battery pack which provides power to electric equipment and calibrates itself during measurement. |
| US09069024B2 |
Insulation resistance measurement circuit having self-test function without generating leakage current
An insulation resistance measurement circuit in which switching of first and second switches is controlled such that a leakage current may not be generated in measuring insulation resistance, and voltages output through first and second operational amplifiers are measured after opening the first and second switches and closing third and fourth switches for self-testing of the insulation resistance measurement circuit. |
| US09069022B2 |
High current precision resistance measurement system
A resistance testing apparatus makes use of a modular design for cascaded, parallel, bipolar current sources to obviate the need for electromechanical or pneumatic switching systems. |
| US09069020B2 |
Method and a circuit arrangement for determining a demagnetization zero current time
In various embodiments a method for determining a demagnetization zero current time, at which a transformer is substantially demagnetized, for a switched mode power supply comprising a transformer is provided, wherein the method may include: applying a first current through a winding of one side of the transformer; interrupting the current flow of the first current; measuring a time at which a voltage across a winding of another side of the transformer becomes substantially zero; and determining the demagnetization zero current time using the measured time. |
| US09069018B2 |
Overhead power line monitor
A device for monitoring and measuring the electrical and mechanical parameters of a power line conductor. Sensors of the device measure conductor temperature, the angle of inclination of the overhead conductor, current flowing in the conductor, and voltage to ground. The device has a low-power mode in which parameters of the power line conductor are not measured. Upon detecting a change in an electrical or mechanical value of the power line conductor, the device measures parameters of the power line conductor for a predetermined length of time before returning to the low power mode. |
| US09069017B2 |
Serial bit stream regular expression engine
A test and measurement instrument including a user interface; and a controller is described. The controller is configured to receive a serial bit stream; apply a regular expression to the serial bit stream; and present acquired data, or other data, through the user interface in response to the application of the regular expression to the serial bit stream. |
| US09069016B2 |
Current sensor
A current sensor includes at least three bus bars made of flat-plate-shaped conductors and an inverter, a plurality of cores in which a core is formed by stacking flat plates made of U-shaped magnetic bodies, and a detecting element arranged on the side of an opening portion of each of the cores for detecting the intensity of a magnetic field. An interval between the core and another bus bar that is adjacent to the bus bar inserted into the U groove of the core is ½ of the length of the opening portion in the spacing direction, and the tolerance of the gap is set to a value obtained by subtracting the value of 3/2 of the length of the opening portion in the spacing direction from the value of the interval between the bus bars that are adjacent to each other, with the gap as a median value. |
| US09069015B2 |
Interface board of a testing head for a test equipment of electronic devices and corresponding probe head
An interface board of a testing head for a test equipment of electronic devices is described. The testing head includes a plurality of contact probes, each contact probe having at least one contact tip suitable to abut against contact pads of a device to be tested, as well as a contact element for the connection with a board of the test equipment. Suitably, the interface board comprises a substrate and at least one redirecting die housed on a first surface of that substrate and a plurality of contact pins projecting from a second surface of that substrate opposed to the first surface. The redirecting die includes at least one semiconductor substrate whereon at least a first plurality of contact pads is realized, suitable to contact a contact element of a contact probe of the testing head, the contact pins being suitable to contact the board. |
| US09069014B2 |
Wire probe assembly and forming process for die testing
A wire probe assembly and forming process is described. In one example, a method includes inserting a plurality of wires through a probe former and a tip retainer to contact a probe head substrate, attaching the wires to a surface of the substrate, pulling the probe former laterally with respect to the substrate surface and the tip retainer to bend the wires into test probes with a resiliency to transverse movement, and removing the tip retainer to form a test probe head. |
| US09069011B2 |
Electrical terminal test point and methods of use
Described herein are embodiments of an electrical terminal test point that can be temporarily attached to an electrical terminal (e.g., terminal block) in order to provide an interface between the test leads/jumpers of a test device and the electrical contact points of the electrical terminal. In one aspect, embodiments of the electrical terminal test point provide a shield for the electrical contact points of the electrical terminal (whether or not being used for testing) from inadvertent contact and prevents test leads/jumpers of test device from accidentally falling off or being knocked off of their contact points. Electrical terminal test point can be installed and removed without affecting the electrical connections made by electrical terminal (e.g., without removing terminal screws of electrical terminal). |
| US09069007B2 |
Multiple frequency atomic force microscopy
An apparatus and technique for extracting information carried in higher eigenmodes or harmonics of an oscillating cantilever or other oscillating sensors in atomic force microscopy and related MEMs work is described. |
| US09068996B2 |
Analyte detection method
Disclosed is a method of determining the presence of an analyte of interest by means of a detection of a reaction product between the analyte of interest and a reactant, the method comprising extracting the analyte of interest from a complex sample matrix; transferring the analyte of interest to an initial reaction mixture; performing a background measurement on the initial reaction mixture comprising at most a negligible concentration of the reaction product, wherein the reaction conditions present in said initial reaction mixture at least reduce the reaction rate of the formation of the reaction product such that the background measurement can be performed without a measurable change in said negligible concentration; altering the reaction conditions in the initial reaction mixture to accelerate said reaction rate; continuing said reaction until the concentration of the reaction product has stabilized; performing a second measurement on the resultant reaction mixture to obtain a signal correlated to said concentration; and determining the presence of the analyte of interest from a difference between the background measurement and the second measurement. In a preferred embodiment, the analyte of interest is Propofol (2,6-di-isopropylphenol), and the reactant is the activated Gibbs reagent (2,6-dichloroquinoneimine). |
| US09068994B2 |
TSH immunoassays employing scavenging reagents for cross-reacting endocrine glycoprotein hormone analogues
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) immunoassays are performed using an ELISA sandwich assay that employs scavenging or sacrificial beads for reducing interference caused by cross-reacting endocrine glycoprotein hormone analogs such as Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Chorionic Gonadotropin (CG). |
| US09068989B2 |
Reagent system and method
The present invention relates generally to a chromogenic compositions and reagents systems and methods therefor. |
| US09068987B2 |
Inhibitors of extracellular HSP90
The present invention describes inhibitors of extracellular Hsp90. The inhibition of extracellular Hsp90 leads to a reduction of the invasiveness of the tumor cells. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of molecules inhibiting extracellular Hsp90 function for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment or prevention of invasion and/or metastatic potential of cancer cells. |
| US09068985B2 |
Fluorescent labeling of living cells
Latent fluorescent tags, including compounds of Formula I, methods of making latent fluorescent tags, and methods of fluorescently labeling living cells are provided. The compounds of Formula I have the structure: wherein each of the variables are as defined herein. |
| US09068981B2 |
Lateral flow assays with time delayed components
A lateral flow device may include one or more enhancement elements, where the enhancement elements bind to the analyte sandwich to increase a detection signal in the test zone. In preferred embodiments, some or all of the enhancement elements are encapsulated. |
| US09068979B2 |
Micro bio sensor and method for manufacturing the micro bio sensor
A micro bio sensor which detects a microbe existing in a specimen is provided. The microbial sensor includes a base, a detector formed on the base, and a reaction layer formed on the detector, wherein the reaction layer is comprised of a self-assembled monolayer which is formed on the detector and an antibiotic which is immobilized through the self-assembled monolayer on the detector. By using the micro bio sensor, it is possible to detect species of the microbe concurrently and improve sensitivity for detecting the species of the microbe. Further, a method for manufacturing such a micro bio sensor is also provided. |
| US09068976B2 |
Integrated filtration bioanalyzer
The present invention relates to an in vitro assay method and device that provides for detection and measurement of entities in a fluid sample that can be captured and concentrated in a unitized self-contained enclosed filter apparatus that is analyzed in an optical detection instrument for indications of the entity. It provides for analysis of biological material including cells, their enzymes, or other constituents thereof, that can be identified based on an indicator-generating means. The analysis provided for include detection of the presence of the entity, and changes in the entity over time, such as associated with growth and increasing metabolic activity with an expanding population of cells, or decreasing metabolic activity, for example, due to presence of inhibitory or toxic agents. |
| US09068973B2 |
Methods for treating and/or limiting development of diabetes
The present invention provides methods for identifying candidate compounds for limiting development of and/or treating diabetes, and methods for limiting development of and/or treating diabetes. |
| US09068972B2 |
GFP mutagenesis amplification: use of a fluorescence-antibiotic resistance fusion dual reporter construct to provide quantitative and highly sensitive detection of mutations
A reversion mutation assay that is unique in providing a quantitative readout for mutagenesis. This assay is based on the creation of a functional GFP-β-lactamase fusion protein as a reporter providing both antibiotic resistance and fluorescence. This dual reporter is placed in a multicopy plasmid to increase the number of targets, with a reversion site at the N-terminus. Rare mutations at the reversion site allow read-through of the fusion protein, producing both beta-lactamase (providing antibiotic resistance) and GFP (emitting fluorescence). In the presence of carbenicillin, beta-lactamase production confers a selective advantage that allows amplification of mutant plasmids, raising the level of fluorescence emitted by GFP to levels that are detectable by fluorimetry. A window of time can be found where fluorescence is proportional to the number of mutation events at the reversion site, making fluorescence a quantitative measure of mutagenesis. Quantitative (as opposed to binary) detection of mutations allows substantial savings in test sample. This has applications in drug discovery, allowing high-throughput screening for DNA-targeting compounds and early pre-screening of leads for potential carcinogenic activity. The increased sensitivity of this assay also facilitates monitoring complex environmental samples. |
| US09068967B2 |
Device and method for measuring prothrombin time and hematocrit by analyzing change in reactance in a sample
Devices and methods for measuring prothrombin time (PT) and hematocrit (HCT) by analyzing the change in reactance in a sample are presented. A diagnostic device for measuring HCT and PT of a fluid includes a relative electrode-type sensor device and a blood test card assembly including one or more pairs of electrodes, wherein alternating current (AC) provided by the sensor device is used to measure and calculate HCT and PT of blood test using the reactance analysis. |
| US09068966B2 |
Apparatus and cartridge for hemostasis testing
A sample testing cartridge is usable to perform a variety of tests on a viscoelastic sample, such hemostasis testing on a whole blood or blood component sample. The cartridge includes a sample processing portion that is in fluid communication with a sample retention structure. A suspension, such as a beam, arm, cantilever or similar structure supports or suspends the sample retention portion relative to the sample processing portion in a unitary structure. In this manner, the sample retention portion may be placed into dynamic excitation responsive to excitation of the cartridge and correspondingly dynamic, resonant excitation of the sample contained within the sample retention portion, while the sample processing portion remains fixed. Observation of the excited sample yields data indicative of hemostasis. The data may correspond to hemostasis parameters such as time to initial clot formation, rate of clot formation, maximum clot strength and degree of clot lysis. |
| US09068961B2 |
Method and apparatus for measuring the radioactive content of materials
A method of testing an earth sample and an apparatus for executing the method are disclosed herein. The method includes the steps of obtaining at least one earth sample. The method also includes the steps of detecting one or more counts of decay from the at least one earth sample. The detected count is at at least one level of radiation decay energy from among a plurality of possible levels of radiation decay energy associated with decay daughters of Radium 226 and/or 228. The method also includes the steps of deriving a level of radiation emission activity of the at least one earth sample based on the one or more counts of decay detected in said detecting step. |
| US09068958B1 |
Use of surface free energy for differential evaluation of crystal, crystal evaluated on basis of surface free energy as index, and pharmaceutical composition prepared by containing the crystal
An object is to provide means for suppressing the formation of any isomer of luliconazole on account of any influence of, for example, the humidity and the light and improving the stability. Disclosed is a method for differential evaluating a crystal of luliconazole, comprising differential evaluating the crystal by using, as indexes, surface free energy of the crystal of luliconazole and a ratio of a polar component of the surface free energy, wherein the crystal is evaluated to be stable on condition that the surface free energy is smaller and the ratio of the polar component is lower. |
| US09068957B2 |
Evaluating heparin preparations
Methods of evaluating heparin preparations, e.g., for suitability for use as a drug or for use in making a drug, by determining the absence, presence or amount of a structural signature, wherein, e.g., the structural signature is indicative of the methods used to make the heparin preparation. |
| US09068955B2 |
Positioning device for a laboratory apparatus for the distribution of fluid samples, laboratory attaratus with a positioning device and positioning method
The invention relates to a positioning device for a laboratory apparatus for distributing fluid samples comprising: a base member, a first part at which a transport device can be arranged, the first part arranged at the base member for carrying out at least one operation movement, a second part arranged at the base member at which a sample container holder can be arranged, the first and second parts movable relative to one another for carrying out positioning movements and adapted to be arranged in relative positions, a coupling device for coupling the operation and positioning movements, set up such that the relative positions of the first and second parts can be stepwise changed by way of repeatedly performing the operation movement; and to a method for automatically positioning a first part relative to a second part and to a laboratory apparatus comprising such a positioning device. |
| US09068952B2 |
Method and apparatus for producing and measuring dynamically focussed, steered, and shaped oblique laser illumination for spinning wafer inspection system
A method and apparatus for producing high frequency dynamically focused oblique laser illumination for a spinning wafer inspection system. The focus is changed by changing the beam direction incidence angle so as to bring focal spot onto the wafer surface.Disclosed herein is a system and method for automatic beam shaping (i.e., spot size) and steering (i.e., position) for a spinning wafer inspection system, combined into a single module. Also disclosed is a method and system for measuring the beam position/size/shape and angle with sufficient resolution to make corrections using feedback from the monitor. |
| US09068951B2 |
Tester for peroxide-based compounds
An apparatus and a method for the colorimetric detection testing of peroxide-based compositions is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first carrier having an acidic compound in dry form for hydrolysis of peroxide-based compounds and a second carrier having a colorimetric detection reagent composition in dry form. The carriers are positioned with respect to a support member to facilitate transfer of a solution containing a peroxide-based compound hydrolyzed by the acidic compound when activated into contact with the reagent composition of the second carrier for observation of any resulting color indication. The method comprises steps of applying the acidic compound and colorimetric detection reagent composition is liquid forms to the respective carriers and allowing the applied formulations to dry. The carriers are then positioned with respect to a tester support member to facilitate transfer of a solution containing a peroxide-based compound hydrolyzed by the acidic compound when activated into contact with the reagent composition of the second carrier for observation of any resulting color indication. When a test is to be performed the formulations are activated by water, and a composition to be tested is placed in contact with the carriers and any color change of the colorimetric detection reagent is observed. |
| US09068946B2 |
Fine particle measuring apparatus
A fine particle measuring apparatus is provided. The fine particle measuring apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect light emitted from a fine particle and a processing unit having a memory device storing instructions which when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to calculate a corrected intensity value of the detected light and generate spectrum data based on the corrected intensity value. |
| US09068937B2 |
Method and device for examining an exhaust gas sensor
A first voltage (V1) is detected between an auxiliary pump electrode and a reference electrode of an exhaust gas sensor, and a target diagnosis value (SDIAG) is determined as a function of the detected first voltage (V1). A measured current (Im) is detected between a measurement electrode and a second main pump electrode of the exhaust gas sensor, said measured current being set up as the pump current by regulating a second voltage between the measurement electrode and the reference electrode to a pre-defined voltage. An actual diagnosis value (IDIAG) is determined as a function of the detected measured current (Im). An error (ERR) of the exhaust gas sensor is recognized depending on the target diagnosis value (SDIAG) and the actual diagnosis value (IDIAG). |
| US09068930B2 |
Analysis device with transducer stiffening elements
Disclosed herein is an analysis device for use with an external testing apparatus to detect the presence of an analyte in a test sample. The device comprises a transducer formed of a layer of pyroelectric or piezoelectric material sandwiched between first and second electrode layers, the transducer being arranged to produce an electrical voltage across the electrode layers in response to heating or straining of the pyroelectric or piezoelectric material layer. The device also comprises first and second stiffening elements for the transducer, the transducer being sandwiched between the stiffening elements. Each of the stiffening elements defines a planar surface for maintaining the transducer in a flat condition. Each of the stiffening elements exposes a portion of a respective electrode layer of the transducer for electrically connecting the transducer to the external text apparatus. The exposed portions are laterally offset from each other such that the exposed portions are each supported across the whole of their area by the stiffening element on the opposite side of the transducer. It has been found that such an arrangement may reduce noise caused by environmental effects. |
| US09068926B2 |
Photo-acoustic gas sensor and method for the production and use thereof
A photo-acoustic gas sensor and methods for producing same, the gas sensor having a resonance body and a device for detecting a vibration of the resonance body, including a device for optically detecting the location of at least one partial surface of the resonance body, wherein the resonance body and the device for detecting a vibration are disposed on exactly one substrate, the resonance body is formed by at least one first recess of the substrate, and the substrate is a semiconductor material. |
| US09068924B2 |
Gas sensor
A combined gas sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are connected via an ion-conducting material. The first electrode is covered, in part, by a first catalytically active material. Further, a resistive gas sensor formed by a third electrode is arranged such that the third electrode is in direct contact with the first catalytic material and is not in direct contact with the first electrode. |
| US09068917B1 |
Systems and methods for inspection of a specimen
Systems and methods for inspection of a specimen are provided. One system includes an illumination subsystem configured to illuminate the specimen by scanning a spot across the specimen. The system also includes a non-imaging detection subsystem configured to generate output signals responsive to light specularly reflected from the spot scanned across the specimen. In addition, the system includes a processor configured to generate images of the specimen using the output signals and to detect defects on the specimen using the images. In one embodiment, the non-imaging detection subsystem includes an objective and a detector. An NA of the objective does not match a pixel size of the detector. In another embodiment, the non-imaging detection subsystem includes an objective having an NA of greater than about 0.05. The system may be configured for multi-spot illumination and multi-channel detection. Alternatively, the system may be configured for single spot illumination and multi-channel detection. |
| US09068910B2 |
Method for preparing petroleum based samples for analysis of elemental and isotopic species
A method of separating petroleum samples containing a hydrocarbon-soluble elemental species of interest to facilitate analysis of an elemental and/or isotopic signature. A petroleum sample is mixed with a demulsifier and separated, for example by centrifuging, into one or more intermediate organic fractions. The intermediate organic fraction(s) are mixed with a solvent such as water and a second demulsifier, then separated into one or more prepared organic fractions and one or more solvent-based fractions. Some or all of the resulting fractions are then stored for possible further processing. Optionally, the petroleum sample may be spiked with one or more of an organic standard and an inorganic standard, and the solvent may likewise be spiked with an inorganic internal standard, to facilitate later analysis. |
| US09068909B2 |
Nondestructive test for flexible composites
A method for testing internal differences in reinforced flexible composites including placing a flexible composite on a rigid support structure, tapping the composite with a tapper of predetermined mass, determining a value representative of the impact duration of the tap and/or computing a value representative of the local stiffness of the composite. The composite may be a power transmission belt or portion thereof with tensile cord reinforcement. The method is useful for comparing the degree of penetration of elastomer into the tensile cord, for example in a cast polyurethane toothed belt. |
| US09068908B2 |
System and method for improving a workpiece
A method of modifying a workpiece includes providing a workpiece, determining a load stress profile associated with a load condition, the load stress profile comprising a load stress greater than a material stress limit of the workpiece, determining a residual stress profile, the residual stress profile comprising a residual stress less than the material stress limit of the workpiece, and providing the workpiece with the residual stress profile, wherein a sum of the load stress and the residual stress is less than the material stress limit of the workpiece. |
| US09068907B1 |
Powertrain and method of determining residual gas volume
A method can be used to determine the total residual gas volume in a cylinder when the piston of an internal combustion engine is at the bottom dead center (BDC) position. The method includes: (a) measuring an intake manifold pressure and an exhaust manifold pressure; (b) determining a residual gas volume in the at least one cylinder originating from a current engine cycle; (c) determining a residual gas volume in the at least one intake port originating from at least one previous engine cycle; and (d) determining a total residual gas volume when the piston is at a BDC position based, at least in part, on the residual gas volume in the at least one cylinder originating from the current engine cycle and the residual gas volume in the at least one cylinder originating from at least one previous engine cycle. |
| US09068905B2 |
Method for determining a rotational speed of a driveshaft of an internal combustion engine
A method determines a rotational speed of a driveshaft of an internal combustion engine. The rotating driveshaft assumes different rotary positions at different times. An average gradient of rotary speed for the driveshaft is determined at at least two rotary positions. Subsequently, an average rotational speed for the driveshaft is obtained from a past average gradient of rotary speed at at least one later point in time. |
| US09068903B2 |
Sensor multiplexing in actuation systems comprising active-material actuators
A system, method, and computer storage configured for determining period-ending positions of multiple parts movable by select actuation of corresponding active materials. The operations include receiving, from a work-source sensor, work-source input indicating a distance moved by the work source and a direction of the movement, and determining, based on the work-source input and a first and second status histories, corresponding to a first and a second part, respectively, first and second distances travelled by the parts, respectively. Operations also include calculating, based on the first and second distances determined and first and second period-starting positions, corresponding to the first and second parts, respectively, first and second period-ending positions for the first and second parts, respectively. |
| US09068901B1 |
Multi-phase power amplifier
Various examples of systems for powering a linear motor with a multi-phase amplifier are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a plurality of current sources for supplying power to an electronic device. The plurality of current sources are configured to supply a substantially constant direct current to a load, and each of the plurality of current sources is configured to supply a periodic alternating current that is out of phase relative to the periodic alternating current of one or more of the other current sources. A sum of the periodic alternating currents from the plurality of current sources is configured to provide the substantially constant direct current. Embodiments of the systems can be used in vibration testing equipment such as electro-dynamic shakers. |
| US09068899B2 |
Pressure sensor, oscillator, ultrasonic wave sensor and measuring method thereof
The present invention relates to a pressure sensor, which may include a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, a third electrode plate, a fourth electrode plate and a fifth electrode plate, which are successively laminated on a substrate, wherein the first electrode plate, the third electrode plate and the fourth electrode plate are fixed to the substrate, the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate are disposed opposite to each other and have a gap formed therebetween, the second electrode plate is suspended over the first electrode plate to constitute a first capacitor; the second electrode plate and the third electrode plate are disposed opposite to each other and have a gap formed therebetween, to constitute a second capacitor; and the fifth electrode plate is suspended over the fourth electrode plate to constitute a third capacitor, and can move along a direction perpendicular to the substrate. |
| US09068898B2 |
Thermometer and temperature measurement method
A thermometer includes first and second surface temperature measurement units, first and second reference temperature measurement units, a storage unit, a temperature correction unit, and a temperature calculation unit. The first reference temperature measurement unit measures a temperature at an opposite side of the first surface temperature measurement unit as a first reference temperature through a first heat insulating portion having a first thermal resistance value. The second reference temperature measurement unit measures a temperature at an opposite side of the second surface temperature measurement unit as a second reference temperature through a second heat insulating portion having a second thermal resistance value. The temperature correction unit corrects the first surface temperature and the first reference temperature based on the second surface temperature and the second reference temperature. The temperature calculation unit calculates a core temperature using the first surface temperature and the first reference temperature. |
| US09068892B2 |
Method for the emission analysis of the elemental composition of liquid media
The proposed method is related to the field of physics and atomic emission spectrometry analysis. This atomic emission analysis method includes initiation of a local electric discharge in the liquid under analysis with the formation of a current-carrying channel in the volume of a diaphragm opening made in a member of the electrolytic cell structure, and detection of the generated emission spectra of the chemical elements being determined. The elements being determined are first deposited in the current-conducting channel volume at current insufficient for initiating a local electric discharge, then the current direction is changed and its intensity is increased for initiating a local electric discharge, and emission generated in the liquid being analyzed is detected as emission spectra of the elements being determined. The deposition current intensity can be selected according to elements to be determined and their concentration in the liquid. |
| US09068881B2 |
Characterization of single-photon detectors using a continuous wave laser source
Operational parameters of a single-photon detector are determined with a continuous wave laser source. At a fixed trigger, a dark count probability and a series of count probabilities at different optical powers are determined. A particular optical power is selected by using a wide-range variable attenuator to attenuate the optical power of the continuous wave laser. The dark count probability and the count probabilities are determined for different trigger rates. The operational parameters include efficiency, afterpulsing constant, and detrap time. The operational parameters are computed by fitting the computed dark count probabilities and count probabilities to a user-defined relationship. |
| US09068878B2 |
Vehicle weight sensor based on wheel rim strain measurements
A vehicle weight sensor is based on wheel-rim stress measurement. |
| US09068875B1 |
Optical liquid level transducer
An optical liquid level transducer is provided that eliminates the need for moving parts, linearization, temperature compensation, material incompatibility with fuel, light output and sensing fluctuations due to temperature changes, and so on. As described, the liquid level is digitally sensed by analyzing axial images of the probe section and outputting changes in liquid level accordingly. The optical liquid level transducer employs an absolute measurement technique with no moving parts such that when power is turned off and restored to the fuel sender, liquid level is automatically determined even if the fuel level in the tank were to change during the “power-off” condition. The optical liquid level transducer is independent of liquid type, temperature and other environmental factors, and does not require special materials that may be incompatible with fuel. |
| US09068874B2 |
Container for a fluid with adjustable dosage
The invention relates to a container for a fluid, the container comprising: a storage compartment with a passage opening; a dosing compartment with a closable pouring opening and with an inflow opening arranged on the passage opening of the storage compartment; a conduit arranged between the inflow opening and the pouring opening of the dosing compartment, wherein at least one opening is arranged in the wall of the conduit; an adjusting part arranged in the conduit for at least partially closing the at least one opening in the conduit wall such that the distance between the inflow opening of the dosing compartment and the part of the least one opening left clear can be varied; and operating means for operating the adjusting part, wherein the operating means are arranged on the outer side of the container. |
| US09068872B2 |
Method and apparatus for monitoring multiphase fluid flow
A method of and apparatus for monitoring fluid flow passing within a pipe is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a flow pressure value and a flow temperature value for the fluid flow within the pipe; b) providing a fluid flowmeter operable to be attached to an exterior of the pipe; c) providing a processor adapted to include an equation of state model for the pressure, volume, and temperature properties for the fluid flow, and further adapted to receive composition data values for the fluid flow, the flow pressure value, and the flow temperature value, and the flow velocity signals from the flowmeter; and d) determining a volumetric flow rate of one or more phases of the fluid flow. |
| US09068871B2 |
Flow rate measuring device
A flow rate measuring device includes: a flow rate sensor; a physical property sensor having a micro heater and a thermopile; and a sub-flow path portion having a physical property detecting flow path in which the physical property sensor is disposed. The micro heater and the thermopile are disposed side by side in a direction orthogonal to a flow direction of a fluid to be measured, and the flow rate sensor is disposed at a position except for the physical property detecting flow path. |
| US09068869B2 |
Magnetic flowmeter with bonded PTFE electrodes
A magnetic flowmeter includes a pipe with a non-conductive PTFE liner, magnetic coils to generate a magnetic field, and electrodes in contact with the fluid on opposite sides of the pipe. The electrodes comprise conductive PTFE patch electrodes bonded to the non-conductive PTFE liner so that an inner end of each patch electrode is exposed to fluid flowing through the interior pipe and an outer end of each patch electrode is aligned with an electrode hole in the pipe. |
| US09068865B2 |
Meter with pointer
A meter has a pointer which points indicators to show a vehicle status value. The meter has a light source to illuminate the pointer. The light source is disposed to be rotatable with the pointer. The meter has an electromagnetic power supplying device having a primary module and a secondary module. The primary module provides a stationary transmitter module which generates radio frequency electromagnetic field. The secondary module provides a movable receiver module which induces electric power by receiving the radio frequency electromagnetic field generated by the primary module. The secondary module supplies power to the light source. |
| US09068859B2 |
Magnetic field sensors and related techniques provide a self-test by communicating selected analog or digital samples of a proximity signal
Magnetic field sensors and related techniques can identify passing conditions, failing conditions, and marginal conditions of a sensed object. A magnetic field sensor used in the techniques can have a substrate and can have one or more magnetic field sensing elements disposed on the substrate that are configured to generate a proximity signal responsive to a proximity of the sensed object. The magnetic field sensor can have a self-test module disposed on the substrate, coupled to receive the proximity signal, configured to sample the proximity signal, by analog sampling or digitally converting, to generate a plurality of analog samples or a plurality of digital samples, respectively, each digital sample comprising a plurality of digital bits, configured to select samples from among the plurality of analog or digital samples, and configured to communicate the selected samples to outside of the magnetic field sensor. |
| US09068857B2 |
Navigation apparatus
A navigation apparatus includes an exit route determine unit and a route guidance unit. The exit route determination unit determines whether an exit route of a route guidance from a branch point corresponds to a learned road link. The route guidance unit provides route guidance by presenting a progress direction toward the exit route from the branch point in a first mode or a second mode. Per the first mode, the progress direction is based on an existing road link, and per the second mode, the progress direction is based on the existing road link and the learned road link. Accordingly, the route guidance unit presents the progress direction in: (i) the first mode when the exit route from the branch point does not correspond to the learned road link, and (ii) the second mode, when the exit route from the branch point corresponds to the learned road link. |
| US09068854B2 |
Peer-to-peer vehicle communicator
A system and method for communicating information between vehicle operators. The method includes receiving a request from a send vehicle operator to communicate a vehicle information message from a send vehicle. The method also includes generating the vehicle information message at the send vehicle. The method further includes sending the vehicle information message from the send vehicle to a receive vehicle. |
| US09068849B2 |
Method and system for reducing shape points in a geographic data information system
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of generating a shaped line in a geographic data information system, comprising selecting a first shaped line (100) in the geographic data information system, determining (205) a clothoid spline (300) representation of the shaped line, determining (210) a location of a first shape point corresponding to the clothoid spline (300) and determining (235) a location of a second shape point corresponding to the clothoid spline (300), wherein the location of the second shape point is determined (510) to be a maximum chord length from the first shape point within a predetermined tolerance. |
| US09068846B1 |
Systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media to provide building information to on-site mobile-devices
Systems, methods, computer-readable media, and user interfaces are provided. In some aspects, the provided techniques transmit to a mobile device a notification of one or more buildings, service providers; or services relating to a geographic position of, or an environment of, the mobile device. Information relating to services provided in a building may be displayed to a user, and the user's selection may be received by the mobile device. The user may be guided to one or more service providers for the user-selected service. Further Information relating to services, service providers, and buildings may be presented to the user as relates to the user-selected service. Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are further provided that, in some instances, notify a service provider of a user's selection received by the mobile device and in some instances, notify a service provider of a geographic position for the mobile device. |
| US09068835B2 |
Functional element, sensor element, electronic apparatus, and method for producing a functional element
A functional element including a substrate having a principal surface, a groove portion (a first groove portion, a second groove portion) disposed on the principal surface, and a fixed electrode section (a first fixed electrode finger, a second fixed electrode finger) laid across the groove portion on the substrate, wherein, in the groove portion, a raised portion formed by using at least one of the substrate and the fixed electrode section is provided in a position overlapping with the fixed electrode section in a plan view, the raised portion has a bonded surface (an end face), a wiring line (a first wiring line, a second wiring line) is disposed on the bonded surface, and the substrate and the fixed electrode section are connected with the wiring line sandwiched between the substrate and the fixed electrode section. |
| US09068830B2 |
Laser leveling device
A laser-leveling device having a at least one radiation module and mounting module, where laser radiation sources and the prisms for developing planes from the laser beams are combined in the radiation module. The radiation module with housing contains a device for horizontal fine adjustment, an additional power supply with control, and an additional self-leveling support plate for receiving the laser radiation sources and prisms for developing the planes from the laser beams The mounting module with housing contains a self-leveling support plate, power supply with control, and a mount for securing to a tripod. The housing of the at least one radiation module and the housing of the mounting module are embodied such that the radiation module can be coupled to the mounting module, and it is possible to connect at least one additional radiation module. |
| US09068829B2 |
Orientation device including means for detecting that the device is lying flat on a support
The invention relates to an orientation device comprising: a true north finder including a rate-gyroscope-type member, as well as sensors that can be used to measure the inclination of the device in relation to the horizontal, and associated calculation means for determining the orientation of the true north used on information provided by the rate gyroscope-type member and the sensors. According to the invention, the device also includes three feet that are used to support the device when it is placed on a support, at least one of said feet including a built-in sensor that changes state when the device is resting on a support by means of the feet, and means for automatically triggering the determination of the orientation of the north when the device is sufficiently horizontal and when the sensor indicates that it is placed on a support. |
| US09068827B2 |
Device and method for measuring and adjusting the slope of a surface
The invention is a method and device for measuring the slope of a surface. The device includes a frame, one or more clear tubes containing a liquid and a gas bubble, and an attachment facilitating attachment to a sloped surface. The attachment may be a removable strap or magnets. The tubes are fixed at angles greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees relative to the bottom surface of the frame and a visual indication of the angle of each tube is present on the device. The device is designed to be placed parallel to the slope of a sloped surface and the slope of the surface can then be increased or decreased such that the gas bubble will become centered within the tube when the angle of slope conforms to a desired standard. |
| US09068822B2 |
Chromatic range sensor probe detachment sensor
A system and method for a chromatic probe detachment sensor is provided. A detachment signal element is included in an interchangeable optics element of a probe. The detachment signal element is configured to substantially transmit a first set of wavelengths corresponding to a measuring range, and at least partially reflect a set of detachment element wavelengths. In one implementation, the detachment signal element comprises a thin film coating such as a sharp edge filter. The detection of a detachment condition can thus be achieved using the existing probe electronics without requiring the addition of other external sensors or wiring to the probe or coordinate measuring machine that utilizes the probe. The sensing of a detachment condition may be utilized to halt further movement of the probe to minimize damage in the event of a collision. |
| US09068821B2 |
Optical measuring device with positional displacement detection
Provided is an optical measuring device capable of easily improving accuracy in measurement of a measurement object. Light is projected from a light projecting unit into a measurement space. Light passing through the measurement space is directed toward a first image sensor through a first optical system, and directed toward a second image sensor through a second optical system. Within the measurement space, a position of a first focus of the first optical system and a position of a second focus of the second optical system in an X direction are different from each other. Whether the measurement object is positioned at the first focus, on a side of the first focus closer to the light projecting unit, or on a side of the first focus away from the light projecting unit is determined based on the signals outputted from the first and the second image sensor. |
| US09068820B2 |
Method and device for calibrating an optical system, distance determining device, and optical system
A method for calibrating a distance determining device for determining a distance between an optical system and an object. The method includes providing a detecting system having marking elements and a measuring camera. Using the distance determining device, a light structure is projected onto a carrier that provides a calibration pattern. The measuring camera detects the marking elements or the calibration pattern to determine the spatial position of the optical system. Coordinates of a calibration pattern in a coordinate system associated with the measuring camera are determined. An image of the calibration pattern and the light structure is created using a camera of the optical system. Coordinates of an image of a calibration pattern and the light structure in a coordinate system associated with the camera image plane are determined. The distance determining device is calibrated using the determined coordinates and the determined spatial position of the optical system. |
| US09068818B2 |
Drive mechanisms for variable diameter rotor systems
A rotor hub assembly includes a rotor hub for supporting a telescoping rotor blade having an outboard section; and a drive mechanism associated with the telescoping rotor blade, the drive mechanism including: a motor; a spool driven by the motor; and a strap wound on the spool, the strap coupled to the outboard section of the telescoping rotor blade. |
| US09068817B2 |
Location detector device
A permanent magnet 60 for biasing is placed between opposite surfaces of a second stationary magnetic body 20 and a third stationary magnetic body 30, and a range in magnetic flux density detected by a magnetic sensor 50 is changed to thus include zero in the magnetic flux density. A correction and an adjustment of a temperature characteristic and so on of the magnetic sensor 50 are performed in a state of zero in the magnetic flux density. |
| US09068816B2 |
Capacitor sensors and system and methods for non-contact object detection
A non-contact object detection system includes a capacitor sensor and a control system, the control system providing a AES (Adaptive Excitation Signal) to the capacitor sensor, the AES (Adaptive Excitation Signal) configured according to an environment in which the capacitor sensor is deployed, the AES (Adaptive Excitation Signal) configured to produce a threshold voltage from the capacitor sensor to the control system in the environment when an object is not in a detection area of the capacitor sensor. |
| US09068815B1 |
Position sensors and methods
Position sensors and methods having a coil, a magnetic target movable into greater and lesser proximity to the coil responsive to the position to be sensed, and circuitry responsive to an inductance of the coil to provided a measure of the proximity of the magnetic target to the coil. Various embodiments are disclosed, including embodiments having improved sensitivity and shielding from stray fields and for shielding from magnetic fields generated by the coil excitation. |
| US09068809B1 |
Quasi-virtual locate/drill/shim process
A method for determining characteristics of a shim fittable between first and second bodies, comprising: (a) placing optical targets in respective sets of holes in the first and second bodies; (b) scanning respective surfaces of the first and second bodies using a three-dimensional scanner to acquire point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data; (c) processing the point cloud scan data, measured hole vector data and other discrete feature data to derive first deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the first body from a nominal surface of the first body and second deviation values representing the deviation of the surface of the second body from a nominal surface of the second body; (d) correlating the first deviation values with the second deviation values based on a best fit position of the first body relative to the second body; and (e) computing shim gap values based on the correlated first and second deviation values. |
| US09068807B1 |
Rocket-propelled grenade
A rocket-propelled grenade includes a payload section, a selectable fuzing section joined to the payload section, and a propulsion section joined to the selectable fuzing section. A rocket-propelled grenade includes a propulsion section and a payload section operably associated with the propulsion section. The payload section includes a shell, one or more penetrators disposed in the shell, and a charge for compromising the shell to deploy the one or more penetrators when the charge is initiated. |
| US09068801B1 |
Optics assembly with a base with a platform and removable and interchangeable modules
The present invention relates to an optics assembly having a platform and removable and interchangeable modules, and in particular to an optics assembly for a Kalashnikov style firearm. In one embodiment, the assembly has two ends with a longitudinal axis there between. The base replaces the rear sight tower of the Kalashnikov style firearm. The base has a platform with edges overhanging relieved areas or slots. The base has a head with holes there through. Modules can be removably received upon the base. Each module has at least one mount for supporting an optic. Each module has ears that straddle the base head. The ears have holes that are alignable with the head holes for receiving a pin. The modules have ribs that are received within slots in the base as the module is slid along the longitudinal axis relative the base. |
| US09068798B2 |
Integrated multifunction scope for optical combat identification and other uses
Systems and methods for enabling an integrated multifunction scope for optical combat identification and other uses. The functionality of Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) is combined with Optical Combat Identification Systems (OCIDS) or other identification as friend or foe (IFF) systems. This can provide for improved MILES performance through the utilization of a common laser transmission system and/or the use of location information systems, such as global positioning system (GPS) coordinates. According to some embodiments, various additional features may be included for use in training and/or combat environments. |
| US09068795B2 |
Rangefinder having digital camera and digital display and digital rangefinder game
A digital rangefinder system indicates to a user a projectile trajectory to a target. The digital rangefinder system comprises a computing element, digital display, a memory, a range sensor, a tilt sensor in a housing. Embodiments include a digital camera, a high-resolution digital display, and GPS. Embodiments may comprise mobile smart phones with removable range sensors, handheld digital rangefinder devices, weapon mounted scopes, or simulation games. The system is capable of dynamically displaying an aiming point and adjusting for wind drift. The system may capture images and videos, create animations, and upload them to the Internet. The system may visually highlight obstacles or objects having a predetermined distance. A method aspect is calibrating the system to an individual bow having a bow sight. |
| US09068793B1 |
Receiver for a firearm
An upper receiver of a firearm including a body with an interior, an opening for a barrel extension, and one or more engagements for communicating with a lower receiver of a rifle; a high wear area located on the interior of the receiver; a relief cut at the high wear area; and a wear plate fit within the relief cut of the high wear area located on the interior of the aluminum body, the wear plate having an expose surface. |
| US09068791B2 |
Crossbow cable guide
In some embodiments, a crossbow comprises a stock, a bow portion and a cable guide member. The bow portion comprises a power cable and a second cable. The cable guide member comprises a first channel and a second channel. At least a portion of the first channel is non-parallel to the second channel. |
| US09068787B1 |
System for loading cartridges into a rifle
A system can be used for loading cartridges into a firearm having a magazine tube. The system includes a housing that can be configured direct cartridges into the magazine tube. A cartridge carrier is detachably coupled to the housing. The cartridge carrier is configured to receive a plurality of cartridges, which are then dispensed through the housing and into the magazine tube. |
| US09068786B2 |
Hybrid upper receiver for a rifle
A combination metal/polymer upper receiver for use in a rifle, with the upper receiver attachable to a lower receiver and to a barrel. The upper receiver comprises a polymeric upper receiver housing defining a chamber. The polymeric upper receiver housing is adapted to engage with mounting features on the lower receiver to attach a lower receiver to the upper receiver at a first connection. A metal insert is secured within the polymeric upper receiver housing and is adapted to engage the barrel. The metal insert further includes an extended member embedded within the polymeric upper receiver housing such that the extended member receives the impact from a bolt carrier group residing within the chamber. An optional metal gas tube channel is located along an upper internal surface of the polymeric upper receiver housing and extends the length of the polymeric upper receiver housing. |
| US09068782B2 |
Tube-side sequentially pulsable-flow shell-and-tube heat exchanger appratus, system, and method
The present invention relates to a tube-side sequentially pulsable-flow, shell-and-tube heat exchanger apparatus and a chemical processing system comprising and methods of heat exchange employing the same. |
| US09068779B2 |
Water-cooled burner and/or injector panel kits, water-cooled burner and/or injector panel apparatus, and methods of using the same
A burner and/or injector panel includes at least two cooling circuits that may be connected in series with a flexible hose or rigid pipe connected to the circuits behind a rear face of the panel or connected in parallel to a source of cooling water by independently connecting each cooling circuit to the cooling water source without connecting the flexible hose or rigid pipe. |
| US09068774B2 |
Hydrocarbon gas processing
A process and an apparatus are disclosed for a compact processing assembly to recover C2 (or C3) components and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The gas stream is cooled and divided into first and second streams. The first stream is further cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied as a feed between two absorbing means. The second stream is expanded to lower pressure and supplied as a bottom feed to the lower absorbing means. A distillation liquid stream from the bottom of the lower absorbing means is heated in a heat and mass transfer means to strip out its volatile components. A distillation vapor stream from the top of the heat and mass transfer means is cooled by a distillation vapor stream from the top of the upper absorbing means, thereby forming a condensed stream that is supplied as a top feed to the upper absorbing means. |
| US09068771B2 |
Method for automatically adjusting the defrost interval in a heat pump system
The present invention relates generally to a method for automatically adjusting the interval of time between defrost cycles in a heat pump system. The method includes tracking the duration of the previous defrost cycle or cycles, and dynamically adjusting the length of time before initiating the next defrost cycle. |
| US09068770B2 |
Method for controlling refrigerator
A method for controlling a refrigerator includes starting water supply to an ice making device in a refrigerator. The ice making device includes a flow sensor configured to detect water supply flow to the ice making device by using a pulse value according to rotation of an impeller. The method also includes operating the flow sensor to detect a pulse value, determining whether the pulse value has reached a target pulse value within a preset time, and, based on a determination that the detected pulse value has not reached the target pulse value within the preset time, determining that water supply to the ice making device is in a low water-pressure state and performing a water supply control process according to the low water-pressure state. |
| US09068769B2 |
Oil separator and refrigerating cycle apparatus using the same
An oil separator capable of preventing breakage in a float with an extremely simple configuration is provided. An oil separator is to separate oil in a refrigerant that is discharged from a compressor and return the oil to the compressor. The oil separator includes: a tank, into which a refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows; a float having a hollow therein that is held vertically movably in the tank, the float moving up and down with a change of an oil level in the tank; and a needle valve to return oil in the tank to the compressor in accordance with up/down movement of the float. The float includes an equalizing tube having a lower end that opens at a bottom part in the float and an upper end that opens outside of the float and above the oil level in the tank. |
| US09068768B2 |
Refrigerated point-of-use holding cabinet with downloadable software
A refrigerated point-of-use food holding cabinet keeps food products cold in compartments having cross sections that are substantially U-shaped. Food products are kept refrigerated using heat-absorbing, heat-exchangers thermally coupled to the U-shaped compartment. Refrigeration is provided by either a conventional reversed-Brayton cycle, one or more Peltier devices or a chilled, re-circulating liquid that does not change phase as it circulates but which is chilled by another refrigeration system, such as a conventional refrigeration system. An optional cover helps prevent food flavor transfers between compartments. Semiconductor temperature sensors and a computer effectuate temperature control. |
| US09068767B2 |
Gas-fired water heater with separable heat exchanger or detachably connected external water heater
A hot water heater, particularly but not exclusively for domestic use, is herein described and having removably secured thereto a modular heat exchanger or an external water heater to heat the water in a separate tank portion. The two are easily separable from one another for service, repair or interchange. The air-to-air heat exchanger extracts heat loss from the central flue of a gas fired water heater to provide a source of heat for the building in which the hot water heater is installed. The external water heater is provided with a gas-fired burner for heating water from the tank circulated in a heat exchanger to transfer heat from a fluid heated by the burner and circulated in the heat exchanger to transfer the heat to water circulated from the water tank. |
| US09068766B2 |
Air-conditioning and hot water supply combination system
Provided is an air-conditioning and hot water supply combination system capable of maintaining a high hot water supply capacity and achieving high efficiency even under high-temperature outside air conditions by appropriately controlling the degree of superheat and the degree of subcooling of a heat exchanger. In an air-conditioning and hot water supply combination system, when an evaporating pressure or an evaporating temperature calculated from the evaporating pressure reaches a first predetermined value or higher, the degree of superheat of a refrigerant on a low-pressure gas side of a subcooling heat exchanger or the degree of subcooling of the refrigerant on a high-pressure liquid side of the subcooling heat exchanger is controlled by the opening degree of a low-pressure bypass pressure reducing mechanism, such that the evaporating pressure or the evaporating temperature calculated from the evaporating pressure is less than or equal to the first predetermined value. |
| US09068763B2 |
Solar energy receiver
Solar receiver having a receiver funnel, a solar absorber, and an absorber rotation drive mechanism. The receiver funnel has a funnel entrance and a funnel exit. The solar absorber may have a spherical shape and has an absorber rotation axis. The solar absorber is rotatably positioned in the funnel exit. The solar absorber has an internal absorber fluid chamber, an absorber fluid intake and an absorber fluid outlet. The absorber rotation drive mechanism provides for rotating the solar absorber about the absorber rotation axis. |
| US09068752B2 |
Rapid gas ignition system
An ignition control system for an appliance is disclosed. The appliance includes a gas burner, a user actuable valve for controlling a flow of fuel to the burner and an electrical resistance igniter for igniting fuel at the burner. The system includes a user actuable control interface having an off state and an on state, coupled to the valve operative to control the valve and provide a control signal indicative of the state of the control interface. The system also includes a controller having a timer circuit responsive to the control signal and a boost circuit coupled to the timer circuit. The timer circuit selectively activates the boost circuit for a predetermined period of time. A first DC power supply is selectively coupled to the igniter to provide power to the igniter through the boost circuit. A second DC power supply is coupled to the igniter and control interface. |
| US09068751B2 |
Gas turbine combustor with staged combustion
An annular combustor for a gas turbine engine is provided that facilitates staged combustion in a lean direct ignition (LDI) mode over an extended range of operating fuel air ratios. A method is also provided for operating a gas turbine engine over a power demand range that facilitates staged combustion in a lean direct ignition (LDI) mode over an extended range of operating fuel air ratios. |
| US09068749B2 |
Swirler for gas turbine engine fuel injector
A swirler for a gas turbine engine fuel injector comprises a swirler body extending from an upstream end to a downstream end. A fuel injector extends into the body, and has a downstream end for injecting fuel in a downstream direction. A first flow path directs air in a first circumferential direction about a central axis of the swirler body. A second flow path directs air to intermix with the air in the first flow path, and then to mix with fuel injected by the fuel injector. The first and second flow paths are positioned to inject air upstream of the downstream end of the fuel injector where fuel is injected. The first flow path is provided in a greater volume than the volume provided in the second flow path. The second flow path directs air at a location downstream of the first flow path. |
| US09068748B2 |
Axial stage combustor for gas turbine engines
A combustor for a gas turbine engine includes a radially inboard liner, a radially outboard liner, and a bulkhead that cooperatively define an annular combustion chamber, a plurality of first fuel injectors that are disposed in the bulkhead, and a plurality of second fuel injectors that are disposed in at least one of the inboard liner and the outboard liner aftward of the bulkhead. A method is also provided for operating the combustor of the gas turbine engine wherein fuel distribution between the forward combustion zone and the downstream combustion zone is selectively varied in response to the power operating mode of the gas turbine engine with an objective to control NOx formation. |
| US09068746B2 |
Biomass-mixed-firing pulverized coal fired boiler and operation method of the boiler
A biomass-mixed-firing pulverized coal fired boiler includes: a furnace for burning biomass fuel together with pulverized coal in a mixed state; a pulverized coal burner for supplying the pulverized coal into the furnace; a biomass burner for supplying the biomass fuel into the furnace; a biomass mill for milling the biomass fuel to be supplied to the biomass burner; a dry clinker processing unit provided below the furnace and including a clinker conveyor for carrying ashes discharged from the furnace at a furnace bottom; and a combustion-air supply unit for supplying combustion air toward the ashes discharged at the furnace bottom on the clinker conveyor, thereby to burn an unburned component of the biomass fuel contained in the ashes discharged at the furnace bottom on the clinker conveyor. |
| US09068744B2 |
Energy conversion system
An energy conversion system comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged combustion chambers for passing incinerated waste plastic fuel along a generally S-shaped combustion path into a discharge section for thermally coupling the incinerated waste plastic fuel to a fluid material to facilitate an energy conversion process. The combustion chambers are arranged concentrically around a single rotatable feed mechanism and the combustion chambers are in fluid communication with one another. The fluid material is contained within a boiler in fluid communication with the combustion chambers for heating the fluid material to facilitate the energy conversion process. |
| US09068741B2 |
Inspection mode switching circuit
An eddy current probe testing apparatus structured to operate concurrently in a driver pick-up mode and said impedance mode is provided. The eddy current probe has two coils. The eddy current probe testing apparatus also includes a signal producing device, an output device, and a switch assembly. The switch assembly is structured to switch how an input signal from the signal producing device is provided to the two coils. Thus, an inspection may be performed in two modes concurrently. |
| US09068740B2 |
Sunlight heat utilized steam absorption chiller and sunlight heat utilization system
A sunlight heat utilized steam absorption chiller is provided with a generator which uses steam generated by sunlight heat as a heat source, an absorber, an evaporator, and a condenser, and has a heat exchanger for allowing heat exchange between a dilute solution flowing from the absorber to the generator and a strong solution flowing from the generator to the absorber. The chiller is provided with a burning heat source for generating steam, and either the steam generated by the burning heat source or the steam generated using sunlight heat can be used as the heat source for the generator. The chiller is provided with a steam drain heat recovery unit for allowing heat exchange between at least part of the dilute solution flowing from the absorber to the generator and a steam drain discharged from the generator so as to allow heat recovery from the steam drain. |
| US09068739B2 |
Decorative fragrance diffuser having a light source mounted to a base and a space for custom inserts
The present disclosure generally relates to a decorative fragrance diffuser and methods of use thereof. The decorative fragrance diffuser may be comprised of a base and a light source mounted to the base. The decorative fragrance diffuser may further comprise an inner glass surrounding the light source and an interchangeable outer glass surrounding the inner glass, whereby an annular area is formed between the inner and outer glass. The decorative fragrance diffuser may further comprise a custom insert located between the inner glass and the outer glass. The decorative fragrance diffuser may further comprise a top disposed above the inner glass, the top including a basin for holding a fragrant element. The method of using the decorative fragrance diffuser may comprise following instructions or a template to create the custom insert with suitable dimensions. |
| US09068738B2 |
Structure for protecting LED light source from moisture
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting assembly is disclosed. A first panel having a front surface with a protrusion extending therefrom is provided. A second panel is coupled to the first panel directly below the protrusion, wherein the second panel includes at least one LED. A third substantially transparent panel having a cavity formed therein is provided, wherein the cavity is sized to fit over the second panel, wherein the third panel includes a beveled edge that abuts the first panel at a joint directly below the protrusion, and wherein the protrusion and beveled edge are configured to direct moisture away from the joint. |
| US09068736B2 |
LED lighting system and high-power LED lamp
The present invention relates to a high-power LED lamp. The lamp includes an LED module, an inner heat sink disposing air passages along an axial direction thereof, a heat pipe assembly including multiple U-shaped heat pipes, and an outer heat sink. Middle sections of the heat pipes form a smooth surface on which the LED module is attached. Straight sections of the heat pipes are coiled around the inner heat sink. The smooth surface is located at an end of the inner heat sink not to block the air passages of the inner heat sink. An annular vapor chamber is packaged a grid-shaped configuration of the heat pipes and attached to each heat pipe. The invention achieves fast heat conduction and dissipates the heat via the inner and outer heat sinks. |
| US09068734B2 |
Sound adaptive cooling system for a stage light
A sound adapting luminaire produces an amount of cooling output that depends on the ambient sound. When the ambient sound is high, the lamp is cooled more aggressively, since more fan noise is acceptable. |
| US09068729B2 |
Lamp
A lamp including a light source, a reflective unit and a light modulation module is provided. The light source provides an illuminating light, and the reflective unit reflects the illuminating light. The light modulation module is disposed between the light source and the reflective unit. In the light modulation module, a region where movable light absorbing materials exist is a light absorbing region, and a region where the movable light absorbing materials are absent is a light penetration region. By applying different electrical fields to the movable light absorbing materials, sizes and locations of the light absorbing region and the light penetration region can be changed. A portion of the illuminating light irradiating the light penetration region penetrates through the light penetration region, is transmitted to the reflective unit, being reflected by the reflective unit, and penetrates through the light penetration region again sequentially. |
| US09068725B1 |
Twist and lock glass shade mounting system and method of assembly
Devices, systems and methods of converting the necks on lamp shades into threadable couplers that allow the shades with the couplers to be screwed onto the exterior threads on light sockets, such as those types of sockets found on wall mounted and ceiling mounted candelabras and ceiling fans. The couplers can include plate members that are fastened in a sandwich configuration on both the inside and outside of the neck portion of the shade with the sandwiched plate members having an interior threaded surfaces. Modified lamp shades can be screwed to exterior threaded light sockets on candelabra lights, pendant lights, ceiling fan lights, and any other type of lamp sockets that have removable lamp shades. |
| US09068723B2 |
Configurable lamp assembly
A configurable lamp assembly has a set of lamp-lens modules and a set of power modules. Each of the various lamp-lens modules can connect to one of the various power modules to provide a variety of lamp assemblies providing various illumination patterns operable from a number of supply voltages. |
| US09068722B2 |
Repositionable junction box
A repositionable junction box is disclosed. The repositionable junction box can include a base comprising at least one wall that forms a cavity. The repositionable junction box can also include a coupling portion extending from the at least one wall, where the coupling portion can include at least one first coupling feature disposed at a distal end of the coupling portion, where the at least one first coupling feature is configured to mechanically couple to a first complementary coupling feature of a plurality of first complementary coupling features disposed on a frame. |
| US09068721B2 |
Illumination optical system for image pickup apparatus
An illumination optical system for an image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of light sources arranged in a circular loop pattern and a prism plate shaped like a circular loop. the prism plate includes a prism surface at which illumination light from the light sources enters and on which a plurality of prism columns arranged in a circular loop pattern in a circumference direction of the prism plate are formed and an outgoing surface from which the illumination light is emitted. the prism surface includes a flat portion on at least one of a peak formed by each of the plurality of prism columns and a trough formed between the plurality of prism columns. the flat portion is substantially parallel to a tangential direction of the prism plate. |
| US09068718B2 |
Indirect excitation of photoreactive materials coated on a substrate with spectrum simulation
A remote phosphor light which simulates the spectrum of a specified real world light, e.g. a tungsten or a daylight bulb. |
| US09068713B2 |
Dew condensation delay device of head lamp for vehicle
A dew condensation preventing device of a head lamp for a vehicle may include a housing forming a head lamp for the vehicle and having a lens mounted on a front end portion thereof, and a Phase Change Material (PCM) unit, mounted on the housing, for preventing dew from condensing on the lens when an internal temperature of the head lamp is lowered, thereby improving the merchantable quality and the safety when the vehicle is driving. |
| US09068705B1 |
9-volt battery mounted flashlight
A 9-volt battery mounted flashlight including a lower housing fixedly mounted on the battery and an upper housing carrying an LED that pivots or rocks on the lower housing to turn the flashlight on and off. The upper housing has a pair of integral pivot bosses that mount in horizontal pivot bores in the lower housing so the upper housing rocks between on and off positions. |
| US09068700B2 |
Molecular sieve depressurization recovery method
A method of depressurizing a molecular sieve used in ethanol production is provided. The ethanol production system includes a plurality of on-line molecular sieve bottles for removing water from ethanol production. When the molecular sieve bottle becomes saturated with water it is taken off-line to depressurize it. The depressurization and removal of water is done from the product discharge end resulting in an approximately 5% to 10% reduction in external energy required to run the ethanol production line. |
| US09068698B2 |
Apparatus and method for processing leaking carbon dioxide
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for processing leaking carbon dioxide, which is provided to a transfer line composed of pipes connected from a carbon dioxide generation facility to a carbon dioxide reservoir to process the leakage of carbon dioxide, including: a box-shaped shield case provided to cover a connection part of the pipes constituting the transfer line to prevent carbon dioxide leaking from the connection part from diffusing; and a bypasser bypassing the carbon dioxide into the shield case to the outside of the shield and storing this carbon dioxide. The apparatus is advantageous in that the diffusion of the carbon dioxide leaking from the connection part of the transfer line is blocked by the shield case, and simultaneously is supplied to the collection tank and stored therein by the bypasser, thereby preventing the leaking carbon dioxide from diffusing. |
| US09068691B2 |
Computing device stand and related methods
A stand for a computing device may include a body having first and second opposing longitudinal sides, and first and second opposing ends, and a retention strap extending between the first and second opposing ends. The stand may include first and second fasteners coupled respectively to the first and second opposing ends and to be coupled to a support structure. |
| US09068688B2 |
Hanging systems
A hanger arrangement is disclosed to support an object in the corner of a room. It includes a bracket with a corner portion to form to the walls of the inside corner of a room. The bracket includes a cantilever portion to support the object. The joint angle between the cantilever portion and corner portion is between 45 and 82 degrees. Additional embodiments are disclosed related to the L-shaped profile of the cantilever and its hook adaptations to hold the object. |
| US09068685B2 |
Pipe anchor
A pipe anchor is disclosed having a pipe trunnion stop for attaching to an outer surface of a pipe by welding. A mating top cradle and a bottom cradle generally encircle and hold a length of the pipe. The bottom cradle has a pass-through to accommodate the pipe trunnion stop. There is a base onto which the bottom cradle sets, the base includes a void into which the pipe trunnion stop is secured. An insulation layer is positioned between the pipe and the top cradle and bottom cradle, and around the pipe trunnion stop. A bolting assembly on the top cradle and a mating bolting assembly on the bottom cradle secure the top cradle and the bottom cradle each other. Another embodiment includes multiple pipe trunnion stops along with respective pass-through and base void sections. |
| US09068683B2 |
Manufacturing apparatus of core material of vacuum heat insulating material, manufacturing method of vacuum heat insulating material, vacuum heat insulating material, and refrigerator
A manufacturing apparatus of a core material of a highly reliable vacuum heat insulating material having excellent workability, usability, and heat insulating performance is provided. The manufacturing apparatus of a core material of a vacuum heat insulating material related to the present invention includes: a reel for winding up a fiber assembly which has a predetermined width and is wound on a substantially cylindrical original fabric roll which has been cut to have a predetermined width, at a predetermined number of times; cutting means for cutting the fiber assembly which has been wound on the reel; and a forming member for forming the fiber assembly into a flat-plate-shaped core material after removing from the reel the fiber assembly which has been wound up on the reel at the predetermined number of times and been cut. |
| US09068680B1 |
Push-to-connect fitting integrated packing arrangement, device and methods
A push fitting joint packaging arrangement includes embodiments with a pusher locking member having at least one nipple member extending radially into a locking member opening, and a release pusher having a wing extending radially outwardly around the circumference of an inner wall, wherein the inner wall includes at least one access channel and at least one stop channel, wherein the at least one access channel and the at least one stop channel are engageable with the at least one nipple member of the pusher locking member. A push fitting joint packaging arrangement includes separate embodiments with a tamper-resistant release pusher configuration, employing a retaining clip that is slidably engageable with a pusher locking member, and wherein a release pusher is removably or releasably securable to the pusher locking member. |
| US09068673B2 |
Sump wall penetration fitting
A penetration fitting includes a first fitting half having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the first fitting half defining an arcuate channel, and a second fitting half having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the second fitting half defining an arcuate channel, wherein the first and second fitting halves are adapted to abut one another with the inner surfaces of the first and second fitting halves together defining an inner end, the outer surfaces of the first and second fitting halves defining an outer end, and the arcuate channels of the first and second fitting halves cooperating to define a tapered opening configured to accept the at least one pipe segment, the opening having a larger diameter at the inner end and a smaller diameter at the outer end. |
| US09068670B2 |
Valve for an inflatable structure
A valve comprising a valve body having an inlet and an outlet; a valve member moveable in a linear direction with respect to the valve body between a closed condition in which flow between the inlet and the outlet is restricted and an open condition; and an actuator coupled to the valve member such that the valve member is constrained to rotate with the actuator and is movable in the linear direction with respect to the actuator, wherein the valve is configured such that rotation of the actuator causes the valve member to move in the linear direction with respect to both the actuator and the valve body between the closed condition and the open condition. |
| US09068664B2 |
Hydraulic torrent control valve
A hydraulic control valve actuated by a diaphragm's integral spring whose thicker part acts with greater force to close the diaphragm and plug unit of the valve and whose thinner part may complete the closing motion so that the integral spring may weaken faster than linearly in relation to displacement of the diaphragm and plug unit. A snap seat supporting the plug may include a seat portion and a grip skirt portion integrally joined at an acute angle. A bracket and sliding guide may guide a helical rotor touching an indicator. Movement of the diaphragm and plug unit may rotate the helical rotor and the indicator without the indicator rising out of the valve. The cover may have an internal control passage in communication with a base of the valve to allow the cover to be installed horizontally and vertically conveniently and without disconnecting the control tubing above the valve. |
| US09068658B2 |
Apparatus to bias valve closure members
Apparatus to bias valve closure members are described. An example valve includes a valve body having an opening defining a passageway. The opening has an axis that is substantially coaxially aligned with a flow path axis defined by the passageway. A first shaft supports a closure member within the passageway of the valve body and relative to the opening and an end cap removably coupled to the valve body retains the shaft within a bore of the valve body. A spring is disposed between the first seating surface and a second seating surface opposite the first seating surface to provide a force to oppose the weight of the closure member and facilitate alignment of the closure member relative to the opening of the passageway. |
| US09068657B2 |
Gate valve with improved seal arrangement
A valve includes a gate and an actuator. The gate has a gate opening with a first seal fixed to the gate and positioned along a periphery of the gate opening. The gate also has a blocking portion with a second seal fixed to the gate and positioned along a periphery of the blocking portion. The actuator is configured to move the gate between an open position and a closed position, wherein the gate opening is aligned to a chamber opening in a chamber wall and the first seal engages a sealing surface of the chamber wall in the open position and wherein the blocking portion is aligned to the opening in the chamber wall and the second seal engages the sealing surface of the chamber wall in the closed position. The valve is capable of operating in harsh environments. |
| US09068654B2 |
Gasket
A gasket held between opposite flange joint surfaces with a bolt includes a combination of a complex material with a rubber material formed on one or both sides of a steel plate, the complex material having a convex or waveform bead, and a circular metal plate arranged at a bolt portion with a through-hole where a shank of the bolt penetrates and a bearing corresponding portion that corresponds to a bearing of the bolt around the through-hole. The gasket is configured to have the thickness (H3) of the bead provided to the complex material greater than the thickness (H2) of the circular metal plate that is equal to or greater than the thickness (H1) of the complex material. This structure provides a gasket indicating good sealing properties under such circumstances that a flange has low stiffness, a tightening load is reduced, and the distance between bolts is expanded. |
| US09068653B2 |
Sealing material
To provide a sealing material which is excellent in sealability under high-temperature conditions as well as crack resistance at high temperatures and high compression. A sealing material comprising a cross-linked fluororubber layer obtainable by cross-linking a fluororubber composition containing a fluororubber (A) and a carbon black (B), the cross-linked fluororubber layer having a loss modulus E″ of 600 kPa or higher and 6,000 kPa or lower determined by a dynamic viscoelasticity test under conditions of measurement temperature: 160° C., tensile strain: 1%, initial force: 157 cN, and frequency: 10 Hz. |
| US09068646B2 |
Driven hatch arrangement for a motor vehicle
A driven hatch arrangement is provided, particularly a rear hatch arrangement, for a motor vehicle with a hatch and with a hatch drive for opening and/or closing the hatch, with the hatch drive comprising a motor with a motor shaft and a motor pinion and at least one planetary gear with a sun gear, planetary carriers with planetary rolling elements arranged on bearing pins, and an annulus, with the sun wheel of the planetary gear being formed by the motor pinion and a driven shaft being driven via the planetary gear, in which the driven shaft is embodied in one piece with a planetary carrier including the bearing pins for planetary rolling elements. |
| US09068645B2 |
Transmission sump level control system
A method of controlling a level of fluid in a main sump of a transmission includes opening an auxiliary reservoir with a first valve when fluid temperature in the main sump is at or below the predetermined temperature. The first valve is opened to increase the level of fluid in the main sump to at least a predetermined height so that transmission rotating components contact the fluid and generate splash lubrication. When the transmission is transmitting torque and the fluid is above the predetermined temperature, the level of fluid in the main sump is maintained below a predetermined height with closed first valve, such that the rotating components do not contact the fluid inside the main sump. A fluid pump alone is sufficient to lubricate the rotating components above the predetermined temperature and sufficient to lubricate the rotating components at or below the predetermined temperature only with splash lubrication. |
| US09068644B2 |
Gear hub having a gear pump
A gear hub assembly is disclosed that has a sealed housing that includes an input gear and an output gear that are meshed together to provide a gear pump to move fluid between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet disposed on opposite sides of engagement of the input and output gear. The housing defines an axle shaft-receiving aperture and a wheel spindle-receiving aperture to allow the gear hub assembly to transmit torque from a vehicle axle shaft to a wheel spindle while operating as a gear pump. The fluid inlet and outlets can be coupled to a hydraulic system to provide braking (or kinetic energy recovery) by restricting the flow of hydraulic fluid which in turn resists rotation of the gears in the gear hub, and thus can act to slow the vehicle. |
| US09068643B2 |
Efficiency spur gear set housing
A hydraulic pump housing comprises passages formed in an inner wall separating the gear cavity and the pump cavity to allow for the movement of fluid into and out of the gear cavity, thereby alleviating some of the power loss caused by churning lubricating oil. The hydraulic pump may comprise spaces integrally formed in axially opposing surfaces of the gear cavity walls adjacent the area where the gears mesh to enable the churning oil to expand and flow around the gears. |
| US09068641B2 |
Gearbox with a three-point mounting that reduces gearbox distortion
A gearbox comprises a gearbox housing containing a gear train whose shafts are supported by the housing. The housing is fastened to a mounting plate at exactly three mounting points. A number of features cooperate with this three mounting point structure to reduce distortion of the housing that may cause misalignment of individual meshing gears in the gear train, leading to premature failure of those gears transmitting high torque. |
| US09068639B2 |
Arrangement for supporting an input gear of transmission
An arrangement for supporting an input gear of a transmission in a motor vehicle, in particular a ring gear, characterized in that a pot-shaped support element (1) is provided, whereby a drive gear to drive the input gear engages into a recess (2) of the support element (1), and, for purposes of bearing the input gear, the support element (1) extends at least partially underneath the input gear radially on the inside. |
| US09068638B2 |
Vehicle drive device
A vehicle drive device for a rotary electric machine. A case of the device includes a support wall portion that extends in a radial direction of the rotary electric machine at a location between the rotary electric machine and the fluid coupling in the axial direction. A first bearing and a second bearing that is separate from the first bearing are disposed at different positions in the radial direction from each other, the first bearing being configured to support the rotor member in the radial direction so as to be rotatable with respect to the support wall portion, and the second bearing being configured to support the coupling input member in the radial direction so as to be rotatable with respect to the support wall portion. |
| US09068636B2 |
Multigroup transmission of a motor vehicle
A multi-group transmission of a vehicle having a motor connected to an input shaft of the transmission, via a starting element, and the transmission comprises a splitter group, a main group and a main transmission shaft, on the drive output side. A powershift unit can couple the input shaft to the main transmission shaft for engaging an intermediate gear during a gearshift. The powershift unit and a shifting device for engaging gear constants of the splitter group are an integrated unit. During operating the transmission, with the starting element at least partly engaged during intermediate gear engagement, the powershift unit operates in a slipping mode and supports torque of the motor at the main transmission shaft while rotation of the motor is synchronized with a target gear. After which, an original gear is disengaged while free from load, the target gear is engaged when synchronized, and the intermediate gear is again disengaged. |
| US09068634B2 |
Radially engaging system
The radially engaging systems includes a housing having at least one guide channel formed therein. At least one sliding member is slidably received in the guide channel to selectively extend or retract therein in order to connect and lock mechanical components together. Each sliding member is provided with an elongate follower. A rotator is operatively mounted to the housing. The rotator includes at least one guide curve based upon an Archimedian spiral. The follower rides inside the guide curve. Selective rotation of the rotator converts the rotation into linear movement of the connected sliding member. Conversely, selective linear movement of the sliding member converts the same into rotation of the rotator. |
| US09068633B2 |
Continuous transmission system
Patent of invention for a transmission comprising a frame (1) provided with tracks (2) and a control carriage (3) having a control lever (3a) journaled in a bearing (3b) and spacers (3c and 3d) connecting the control carriage (3) to the switches (4 and 5) in their spin shaft (4a and 5a), colinear to the guide cutout shaft (4b and 5b) describing (FIGS. 25 to 28) a conicity which allows a limited angular movement between the switches (4 and 5) and the track (2), obtained by the control lever (3a) motion by means of control arms (3e) coupled to the switch bearings (4c and 5c), perpendicular to the spacers (3c and 3d) making up the primary (6) and secondary (7) input sliding assemblies, and having a variant (FIGS. 14 to 21) with two output sliding assemblies, primary (9) and secondary (10), each configured as the two input sliding assemblies, primary (6) and secondary (7), and another variant (FIGS. 22 to 24) with at least one articulated output sliding assembly (15). |
| US09068630B2 |
Multi-speed transmission
A family of transmission gearing arrangements produces up to nine forward and one reverse speed ratios by selective engagement of three couplers in various combinations. Each disclosed transmission includes four planetary gear sets and six couplers. Three of the couplers may be brakes. Three of the couplers may selectively couple planetary elements to the input shaft. |
| US09068624B2 |
Torsion damping device for motor vehicle transmission
A torsion damping device (10), in particular for a motor vehicle transmission, wherein the damping device (10) comprises at least two pendulum oscillators, a first washer (24A) having at least one first pendulum oscillator (P1) and a second washer (24B) having at least one second pendulum oscillator (P2). |
| US09068623B2 |
Electromagnetic actuator with integrated passive damper
An electromagnetic actuator (100) comprises magnets (109, 111, 113, 115, 11), and a ferromagnetic structure (103) accommodating control conductors (118, 121, 123, 125). The magnets and the structure can move with respect to one another under control of control currents in the control conductors. The magnetic field in a gap (107) between the magnets and the ferromagnetic structure is oriented perpendicular to the direction of relative movement. The structure (103) accommodates damping conductors (127) that form closed loops of an electrically conductive material, different from the ferromagnetic material. The damping conductors (127) provide a damping force induced by the relative movement. |
| US09068622B2 |
Shock-isolation structure
A shock isolation structure for mounting a radar system to a supporting surface on board of a vessel includes a platform on which the radar system can be attached, six strut-like damping elements operating in both tension and compression between the platform and the supporting surface. The damping elements are oriented in a truss configuration with first ends of the damping elements connected to the supporting surface for universal movement and with second ends of the damping elements connected to the platform for universal movement. Each of the damping elements includes a magnetorheological or electrorheological fluid damper. |
| US09068616B1 |
Vehicle suspension system
A suspension system for a vehicle includes a damper having a central longitudinal axis, and a jack assembly attached to the damper. The jack assembly includes a seat translatable with respect to the damper along the central longitudinal axis. The seat includes a first rack having a first exterior surface defining a plurality of first grooves therein, and a second rack having a second exterior surface defining a plurality of second grooves therein. The jack assembly also includes a first pinion including a plurality of first teeth each matable with each of the plurality of first grooves, and a second pinion including a plurality of second teeth each matable with each of the plurality of second grooves. A vehicle including the suspension system is also disclosed. |
| US09068611B2 |
Pin cap
A pin cap comprising: (a) a central portion including one or more through holes; (b) one or more springing arms extending from the central portion; (c) one or more contact regions; and wherein the pin cap is configured to receive a pin from a brake system so that the one or more contact regions of the pin cap contact the pin and connect the pin cap to the pin, and the one or more through holes in the central portion assist the pin cap in expanding to receive a pin so that the central portion of the pin cap creates a gripping force on the pin; and wherein the one or more springing arms bias the pin so that the pin and pin cap are substantially centrally located within a pin bore of the brake system. |
| US09068607B1 |
DCT control method for vehicle
A Dual Clutch Transmission control method may include a breakage determining step that determines whether an input shaft speed sensor breaks down, a reference securing step that disengages all shift gears connected to a non-driven input shaft and engages a clutch connected to the non-driven input shaft, when it is determined that the input shaft speed sensor broke down, and a gear shifting step that disengages the clutch connected to the non-driven input shaft and engages a shift gear of a desired shift range in accordance with a shifting instruction when the instruction for shifting to any one desired shift range of shift ranges connected to the non-driven input shaft is given after the reference securing step. |
| US09068605B2 |
Wear resistant clutch plate
A clutch member of a torque converter of an automatic transmission fitted slidingly with a splined connection between a number of extending teeth of the clutch member and channels of a torque converter housing configured to slidingly engage the teeth. At least two of the teeth are elongated for a distance beyond engagement with a base of the respective engaging channels and bent at right angles to the original tooth extension direction. The extent of parallel engagement of the bent tooth and base of the channel of the splined connection is significantly increased and fretting wear between the teeth and the channels of the housing is reduced or eliminated. |
| US09068600B2 |
Rolling bearing with rolling bodies and flange
A rolling bearing with rolling bodies includes an outer ring, an inner ring and rolling bodies arranged in a rolling chamber. The rolling bearing includes at least one flange mounted on a first ring and extending to a second ring and fastened onto the first ring and a first annular band at right angles to an axis of rotation of the rings and offset, along the axis, relative to the fastened portion. The flange provides a second annular band and a third annular band arranged respectively radially inside and radially outside the first band and offset axially in the direction of the rolling bodies, using a first setback and a second setback. An edge of the flange, opposite to the portion fastened onto the first ring, is folded back towards the rolling chamber and extends in a direction parallel to a radial surface of the second ring. |
| US09068599B2 |
All graphite interferometer bearing assembly
An all-graphite interferometer bearing assembly is introduced that allows the movement of a movable mirror in a Michelson interferometer without degradation during use. The assembly includes a stationary hollow graphite tube and a movable assembly which includes a mirror and a monolithic graphite member slidably disposed within the bore of the graphite tube that is composed of the same grade of graphite material as the monolithic graphite member. The result is a robust novel moving mirror arrangement in a Michelson interferometer that enables precise mirror alignment control, a long stroke length, excellent vibration damping and reduced sensitivity to external vibrations. |
| US09068596B2 |
Hub and spindle assembly
A rotating hub and fixed spindle assembly with first and second fluid dynamic journal bearings and first and second fluid dynamic thrust bearings for a disc drive memory system has a pump seal and a radial ring seal at a first axial terminus for lubricant containment, and a capillary seal and a labyrinth seal at a second axial terminus for lubricant containment and storage. Lubricant fluid pressure differences between first and second seals are minimized through one or more lubricant fluid communicating channels in the hub assembly, in order to minimize lubricant fluid loss through a seal. Lubricant fluid can also be purged of any air bubbles by lubricant fluid circulation through the channel. |
| US09068594B2 |
Pivot bearing for the low-friction support of components
A pivot bearing for the low-friction bearing of components, including a cylindrical bearing body and a bearing part pivotably arranged therein. The bearing body has a substantially radially arranged rib, on which at least one first rolling surface is formed, and the bearing part has a rolling body having a cylindrical rolling section at the tip, which rolling section rolls on the rolling surface. |
| US09068591B2 |
Sealing assembly of a ball joint and ball joint
A sealing assembly of a ball joint, in particular for a vehicle, comprises a retaining ring which includes a ring axis and a radial ring flange having a flange upper side and an opposed flange lower side, and a sealing element which rests against the flange upper side and against the flange lower side and is exclusively connected to the retaining ring with an interlocking fit, the interlocking fit being configured such that the retaining ring and the sealing element are fixed to each other free of play in the axial and in the radial direction, and the flange upper side having an exposed contact surface for a sealing bellows. |
| US09068590B2 |
Rolling bearing assembly device for steering column
A rolling bearing assembly device comprising an outer race, an inner race, a row of rolling elements arranged between the outer and inner races, a sleeve mounted in the bore of the inner race, and an elastic preload element capable of applying an axial preload transmitted to the inner race. The elastic preload element is mounted in direct contact with an annular axial centering portion and bearing axially over its entire periphery against a radial bearing flange extending radially from the axial centering portion towards the outside of the device. |
| US09068589B2 |
Rotating device
A rotating device includes a shaft body that has a shaft, a first flange extending outwardly from the outer periphery of the shaft, and a second flange, a bearing body that has a shaft encircling member encircling the shaft between the first flange and the second flange, a first thrust opposing part formed between the shaft encircling member and the first flange, a second thrust opposing part formed between the shaft encircling member and the second flange, an intermediate space provided in a gap between the shaft and the shaft encircling member, a radial dynamic pressure bearing, a first communication channel that allows the first thrust opposing part to be in communication with the intermediate space, and a second communication channel that allows the second thrust opposing part to be in communication with the intermediate space. |
| US09068587B2 |
Set screw apparatus
In various examples, a set screw apparatus includes a set screw including a set screw body. An abutment extends radially outwardly from the set screw body and longitudinally separated from a threaded set screw area of a first length by an unthreaded set screw area of a second length of the set screw body. A block includes a bore. A threaded block area includes a third length, wherein the abutment inhibits movement of the set screw past the threaded block area and removal of the set screw from the bore. The third length is shorter than the second length so that an entirety of the threaded block area can be disposed within the unthreaded set screw area, such that the set screw is freely rotatable within the bore, but retained within the bore, if turned in a first direction with respect to the block. |
| US09068586B2 |
Method for forming a seal between a fastener and associated sheathing board
Disclosed is a fastening system and method for securing a sheathing board to an associated framing member. The system includes a feedband for retaining a series of fasteners and a powered drill for sequentially driving the fasteners. The feedband is made from a membrane of a polymeric compound. As the fastener is driven into the sheathing board, a portion of the membrane tears away from the surrounding feedband and becomes seated beneath the fastener. This acts to seal the penetration point and prevent water intrusion and otherwise prevents deterioration of the sheathing board. |
| US09068581B2 |
Method and system for interconnecting structural panels
Building or structural panels may be joined, such as to form walls or floors. The panels may be connected in various orientations via one or more connectors. The connectors may mount to anchors associated with the panels. The panels may have outer skins located over an expanded core comprising a matrix of supporting elongate members and voids or openings, with the anchors located at edges of the panels. |
| US09068564B2 |
Cryopump and method of monitoring cryopump
A controller performs, while controlling a first stage cryopanel to have a target temperature: a first determination in which it is determined whether a second stage cryopanel has been heated to a temperature higher than or equal to an alert temperature set to be lower than a maximum temperature of the second stage cryopanel set in the vacuum apparatus; and a second determination in which it is determined whether the second stage cryopanel is continuously being heated, for a preset period of time or longer, to a temperature within a temperature range set on condition that the alert temperature is a maximum. The controller may perform, while controlling the first stage cryopanel to have a target temperature, a third determination in which it is determined whether a state where an error between the temperature of the second stage cryopump during a pumping operation and the minimum attained temperature thereof measured in the initial stage of an operation of the cryopump occurs, has been continued for a continued period of time or longer, the continued period of time being set to be longer than the preset period of time. |
| US09068563B2 |
Electric connector for cooling a compressor drive circuit
A motor-driven compressor has a housing and a partition. A compressing portion and an electric motor as the drive source of the compressing portion are accommodated in a first area. A drive circuit for the motor is arranged in a second area so as to have dissipation of the drive circuit. The compressor further includes a conductive member electrically connected to the circuit and fixed to the partition, and an electrical connection portion electrically connecting the conductive member to the motor. The connection portion is partly received in a passing area formed between the housing and the motor. The housing has a suction port and a discharge port. The discharge port is located at a position farther from the partition than the suction port and the passing area. An insertion member in the passing area restricts flow of refrigerant in the housing toward the discharge port via the passing area. |
| US09068562B1 |
Laser-powered propulsion system
A propulsion apparatus includes a propellant, at least one laser, and a thrust member. The propellant includes a solid surface having a hollow core disposed within the solid surface and a thrust-producing medium disposed within the hollow core. The at least one laser is positioned to vaporize the propellant with at least one laser-beam into a thrust-producing flow. The thrust member is for flowing within the thrust member a thrust-producing flow created by vaporization of the propellant. |
| US09068555B2 |
Element for lifting the blade and method followed
A blade hoisting element is an intermediate piece placed between the root of the blade and the mobile track of the blade bearing. This piece comprises at least an insert and joins, by a rigid rod or strut with another intermediate piece opposing diametrically. The piece has a hole for connecting to the hoisting point and another hole for connecting to the hub, this latter fastening to the hole of the insert by a long bolt. Two hoisting points are established on the blade, at its root and at the tip; the hoisting point at the root is handled from a single lift point on the hub and the hoisting point at the tip is handled from two lift points: one from the hub and the other from the ground. |
| US09068554B2 |
Wave energy electrical power generation
A wave energy electric power generation system has a buoyant body responsive to wave movement and an associated, relatively vertically stationary body, a compressor, a pressure regulator, and an air turbine/generator set. The compressor has a piston that moves reciprocally relative to a cylinder to alternately compress air in opposed chambers. A pressure regulator tank defines a chamber in communication with the compressor for alternately receiving compressed air from opposed compression chambers, a floating piston within the tank applying pressure to compressed air in the chamber, a pressure regulator controlling pressure applied by the piston to the compressed air, and an hydraulic dampening system coupled to the floating piston to restrict unwanted vertical oscillations of the piston, for output of a continuous flow of compressed air at relatively constant pressure. The turbine and generator set receives the flow compressed air from the pressure regulator and/or the compressor to rotate the turbine, driving the generator for generation of electric power. Rolling diaphragm and liquid trough sealing between opposed regions of contrasting pressure/vacuum are also described. |
| US09068551B2 |
Wave energy converter
A wave energy converter (10) comprises an energy absorption unit (100) arranged to absorb energy generated by movements of water when the wave energy converter is arranged in a pool of water, an energy accumulation unit (200) connected to the energy absorption unit, and a power generation unit (300) connected to the energy absorption unit. The energy accumulation unit is arranged to accumulate energy from the energy absorption unit when the energy absorption unit absorbs more power than the power generation unit generates and to dissipate energy to the power generation unit when the energy absorption unit absorbs less power than the power generation unit generates. By providing hydraulic components in these units, an efficient and flexible wave energy converter is provided. |
| US09068549B2 |
Glow plug with pressure sensor
A coupling member (180) of a glow plug (100) includes a first bend (183) and a second bend (184) folded in an axis direction OD and a joint section (185) in a tapered shape configured to connect the first bend with the second bend and reduce the diameter toward a rear end side of a body portion. Accordingly, in a limited space formed between a housing (130) and a heater unit (150), this configuration increases the length of the coupling member (180), compared with a configuration without any bend folded in the axis direction OD. This results in decreasing the spring constant k of the coupling member 180 and suppressing extension of the coupling member 180 in the axis direction due to thermal expansion. |
| US09068548B2 |
Spark plug degradation detection
Methods and systems are provided for identifying and indicating degradation of an engine cylinder spark plug. In response to a cylinder misfire event during selected engine operating conditions, followed by an occurrence of a threshold number and/or rate of pre-ignition events in the same cylinder, a controller may determine that the spark plug is degraded. The controller may limit combustion in the cylinder in response to the degradation. Additionally, cylinder pre-ignition mitigating steps may be taken. |
| US09068546B2 |
Methods and systems for engine cranking
Systems and methods for improving operation of a hybrid vehicle are presented. In one example, an engine may be started in one of two ways depending on operating conditions. In particular, the engine may be started via a lower power output electric machine or a higher power output electric machine. |
| US09068542B2 |
Fuel injector
A fuel injector for fuel injection systems of internal combustion engines. The valve includes an electromagnetic actuating element which has a solenoid, a solid core, an external magnetic circuit component, and a movable armature for activating a valve closing member which cooperates with a valve seat surface provided on a valve seat member. The valve has extremely small outer dimensions. By optimizing the dimensions of the electromagnetic circuit, the outer diameter of the external magnetic circuit component in the peripheral area of the solenoid is 10.5 mm |
| US09068537B2 |
Intake system including remotely located filter assemblies and method for operation of an intake system
An intake system for an engine including a first air filter assembly in fluidic communication with an intake manifold and a second air filter assembly spaced away from the first air filter assembly and in fluidic communication with the intake manifold. |
| US09068536B2 |
Exhaust gas recirculation apparatus
In an EGR valve, an actuator includes a coil, a rotor body to be driven to rotate when the coil is energized with electric current, and a converting mechanism to convert rotational movement of the rotor body into stroke movement of the rod to bring a valve into or out of contact with a seat. The rod includes a stopper that will contact with a protrusion of the rotor body when the valve is placed in a full closed state. An end face of the stopper and an end face of the protrusion are slanted with respect to a stroke direction of stroke movement of the rod. |
| US09068528B2 |
Method and device for mounting cam angle sensor for internal combustion engine
In an internal combustion engine in which a head cover for covering a cam shaft at an upper face of a cylinder head is made of a synthetic resin, a cam angle sensor for the cam shaft is securely attached to the cylinder head such that heat damage to the cam angle sensor is suppressed. The cam angle sensor is inserted in a through-hole perforated through the head cover, and a mounting portion integral with the cam angle sensor is fastened to a member of the cylinder head, with fixing members penetrating through the head cover on a side of the cam angle sensor. |
| US09068523B2 |
Control apparatus for internal combustion engine
A cylinder-inflow EGR gas quantity determining arrangement estimates or senses a value of a cylinder-inflow EGR gas quantity, which is a quantity of EGR gas that flows into a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. A misfire predicting arrangement predicts whether misfire occurs based on the value of the cylinder-inflow EGR gas quantity and an operational state of the internal combustion engine. A misfire-avoidance control arrangement executes at least one misfire-avoidance control operation to avoid the misfire when the misfire predicting arrangement predicts that the misfire occurs. |
| US09068522B2 |
Method for diagnosing an engine
A method for operating an engine in response to a waste gate position is presented. In one example, the method adjusts an actuator to reduce the possibility of misfire in an engine cylinder in response to waste gate position. In this way, it may be possible to adjust engine operation for varying engine operating conditions. |
| US09068521B2 |
Method for operating an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine has a cylinder in which a combustion chamber, bounded on one side by a reciprocating piston, is formed. The piston drives a crankshaft rotatably mounted in a crank casing. The internal combustion engine has an inlet opening for combustion air into the crank casing, and an outlet opening out of the combustion chamber. The internal combustion engine has at least one overflow duct which connects the crank casing interior to the combustion chamber. The internal combustion engine has a crank casing pressure sensor for measuring the crank casing pressure, a device for determining the rotational position of the crankshaft, and an evaluation device which evaluates the measurements of the crank casing pressure sensor. A method for operating the internal combustion engine is provided where the ambient pressure is determined using the crank casing pressure measured by the crank casing pressure sensor. |
| US09068520B2 |
Engine control apparatus
An engine control apparatus in which a fuel injection apparatus injects a fuel to an engine; detecting means detects a drive state of the engine, and an ECU controls actuation of the fuel injection apparatus on the basis of a detection information of the detecting means and a specific output characteristic data of the engine, wherein compensating means for compensating the output characteristic data is provided, and the ECU is structured such as to compute a limit torque value on the basis of a result of compensation of the output characteristic data by the compensating means and the detection information of the detecting means, and actuate the fuel injection apparatus in correspondence to the limit torque value. |
| US09068503B2 |
System and method for detecting abnormal movement in a gas turbine shaft
A sensor element for use in a backing sensor to monitor a gas turbine shaft. The sensor includes an oscillator circuit 30 having an oscillator and a resonance circuit 42, and a frequency detector 31 for monitoring the frequency of the oscillation circuit. Abnormal movement of the shaft cuts the circuit in the sensor along a cutting line (15). The cutting of the sensor changes the capacitance and/or inductance of the resonance circuit and thereby changes the frequency of oscillation. |
| US09068500B2 |
Boosted in-line variable-displacement engine
An engine includes a first turbine fluidically coupled to a first group of adjacent cylinders, and a second turbine fluidically coupled to a second group of adjacent cylinders. In this engine, the cylinders of the first and second groups are arranged along a line. The engine also includes a variable valve-lift system configured to admit at least air to the first group of cylinders during reduced engine-load conditions, but to stop admitting air to the second group of cylinders during the reduced engine-load conditions. |
| US09068499B2 |
Turbine housing with integrated ribs
A flow direction system (200) for a turbocharger (1) or other fluid impeller device is provided that can reduce swirl or turbulence of exhaust gases being supplied to a turbine rotor (4). The system (200) uses one or more ribs (250) or fins that extend from an inner surface (110) of an inlet (100) of the turbine housing (2) and that can be integrally formed with the inlet (100). The ribs (250) can be diametrically opposed along the inner surface (110) and can extend less than half way across the inlet (100). The ribs (250) can have chamfered leading or trailing edges to reduce drag. |
| US09068493B2 |
Exhaust gas purification system abnormality diagnosing device and abnormality diagnosing method, and exhaust gas purification system
An exhaust gas purification system abnormality diagnosing device includes: a sensor value detecting means that reads a sensor signal of a specified gas concentration sensor to detect a gas concentration; a limiting device controlling means which, when the gas concentration has become equal to or greater than a predetermined start-of-diagnosis threshold value or when a difference obtained by subtracting from the gas concentration an estimated NOx concentration on a downstream side of a selective reduction catalyst obtained by computation has become equal to or greater than a predetermined start-of-diagnosis threshold value, increases the quantity of ammonia capable of being adsorbed by the selective reduction catalyst by raising the pressure inside an exhaust gas passageway with a passageway area limiting device disposed on the downstream side of the selective reduction catalyst; and a determining means that determines the abnormal state on the basis of the gas concentration or the difference after the pressure inside the exhaust gas passageway has been raised. |
| US09068491B2 |
SCR catalyst diagnostics
In one embodiment, a method for an engine comprises operating the engine with an upstream exhaust sensor, intermediate exhaust sensor, and downstream exhaust sensor each indicating rich, adjusting engine operation to operate the engine with an upstream exhaust sensor, intermediate exhaust sensor, and downstream exhaust sensor each indicating lean, adjusting engine operation to operate the engine with the upstream exhaust sensor indicating rich and the intermediate and downstream exhaust sensors each indicating lean, and indicating degradation of an SCR catalyst based on when the intermediate and downstream exhaust sensors switch from lean to rich. |
| US09068486B2 |
Crankcase integrity breach detection
Methods and systems are provided for using a crankcase vent tube pressure or flow sensor for diagnosing a location and nature of crankcase system integrity breach. The same sensor can also be used for diagnosing air filter plugging and PCV valve degradation. Use of an existing sensor to diagnose multiple engine components provides cost reduction and sensor compaction benefits. |
| US09068484B2 |
Double-reed exhaust valve engine
An engine based on a reciprocating piston engine that extracts work from pressurized working fluid. The engine includes a double reed outlet valve for controlling the flow of low-pressure working fluid out of the engine. The double reed provides a stronger force resisting closure of the outlet valve than the force tending to open the outlet valve. The double reed valve enables engine operation at relatively higher torque and lower efficiency at low speed, with lower torque, but higher efficiency at high speed. |
| US09068477B2 |
Valve system
A valve system for providing closing force to one or more valves of an engine is provided. In one example, the system comprises a first tappet bore in fluid communication with a second tappet bore via a bidirectional oil passage. The system may provide valve closing forces to assist in the closing of valves coupled to the tappet bores, lowering required valve spring forces. |
| US09068476B2 |
Hybrid metal/composite link rod for turbofan gas turbine engine
The link rod can have a core portion supported inside an annular bypass duct with a bypass air passage extending radially therebetween, the link rod comprising a hot end fitting, a cold end, and an elongated and hollow strut body of composite material and having an aerodynamic cross-sectional shape, the strut body being secured to the hot end fitting and extending between the hot end fitting and the cold end, the hot end fitting having a metal body housing a spherical bearing mountable to the core portion, and the cold end housing a spherical bearing mountable to the bypass duct wall. |
| US09068475B2 |
Stator vane assembly
There is disclosed a stator vane assembly comprising a support structure 14 arranged to be mounted to a mounting structure 16, a stator vane 12 radially extending from the support structure 14 and a continuity member 28 coupled to the support structure 14 and arranged in use to extend between the mounting structure 16 and the support structure 14 so as to provide a substantially continuous gas-washed surface across the mounting structure 16 and the support structure 14. There is also disclosed a method of forming a stator vane assembly, the method comprising the steps of forming at least one stator vane radially extending from a support structure having a continuity member coupled thereto. |
| US09068473B2 |
Spring clip method for anti-rotation and thrust constraint of a rolling element bearing cartridge
To solve both axial and rotational constraint problems in turbochargers with rolling element bearings (REBs), a REB cartridge is mounted to the bearing housing in a way that is not rigid, thus allowing for an oil damping film. At the same time, the REB cartridge is held both axially and rotationally, so that the outer race does not rotate relative to the bearing housing. This dual purpose is achieved using a special dual-mode spring clip with at least one anti-rotation feature for engaging the bearing housing and at least one anti-rotation feature for engaging the REB cartridge, thereby axially locating the REB cartridge and preventing rotation of the outer race. |
| US09068464B2 |
Method of joining ceramic parts and articles so formed
A method for joining a first CMC part (30) having an outer joining portion (32), and a second CMC part (36) having an inner joining portion (38). The second CMC part (36) is heat-cured to a stage of shrinkage more complete than that of the first CMC part (30) prior to joining. The two CMC parts (30, 36) are joined in a mating interface that captures the inner joining portion (38) within the outer joining portion (32). The assembled parts (30, 36) are then fired together, resulting in differential shrinkage that compresses the outer joining portion (32) onto the inner joining portion (38), providing a tightly pre-stressed joint. Optionally, a refractory adhesive (42) may be used in the joint. Shrinkage of the outer joining portion (32) avoids shrinkage cracks in the adhesive (42). |
| US09068463B2 |
System and method of monitoring turbine engines
A monitoring system for use with a turbine engine is described herein. The turbine engine includes a compressor and at least one compressor bleed valve coupled to the compressor. The monitoring system includes at least one sensor that is for sensing an operational parameter of the compressor bleed valve, and a controller that is coupled to the sensor and the compressor bleed valve. The controller is configured to determine an operating mode of the turbine engine and receive a monitoring signal indicative of the sensed operational parameter. The controller is also configured to calculate at least one operational value of the compressor bleed valve based at least in part on the sensed operational parameter. The controller is further configured to determine a condition of the turbine engine based at least in part on the calculated compressor bleed valve operational value. |
| US09068460B2 |
Integrated inlet vane and strut
A gas turbine engine case structure includes inner and outer annular case portions radially spaced from one another to provide a flow path and circumferentially arranged airfoils extend radially and interconnect the inner and outer annular case portions. The airfoils include multiple vanes and multiple strut-vanes. Each vane has a vane leading edge. Each strut-vane includes a strut-vane leading edge. The vane leading edges and strut-vane leading edges are aligned in a common plane. The vanes include a first axial length and the strut-vanes include a second axial length that is at least double the first axial length. |
| US09068453B2 |
Mobile mining machine and method for driving tunnels, roadways or shafts, in particular in hard rock
A mobile mining machine includes a movable machine base frame having a boom, a swinging device for swinging the boom, and a tilting device for tilting the boom. At least one tool drum is coupled to the boom for rotation about a drum axis and rotatable tool carriers are arranged on a circumference of the tool drum. The boom has a supporting arm, on which the tool drum is mounted, and a separate swinging base, which is swingable about a swing axis in relation to the machine base frame by the swinging device. The supporting arm and the swinging base are connected to one another by a system of guide bars, by way of which a setting angle of the drum axis in relation to the swing axis is adjustable. |
| US09068451B2 |
Treatment of produced hydrocarbon fluid containing water
A method for treating a flow of fluid hydrocarbons containing water includes introducing the flow of fluid hydrocarbons into a first separator and separating at least free water from said flow of fluid hydrocarbons, wherein a remainder of said fluid hydrocarbon flow is introduced into a system converting free/condensed water in the fluid hydrocarbon flow in said system to gas hydrates, and providing at least a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow, wherein said first fluid flow is a liquid phase including gas hydrates, said first fluid flow is recycled into the first separator, and wherein the second fluid flow has a content of dry gas and/or condensate/oil. A system for treatment of a flow of fluid hydrocarbon fluid containing water includes the following elements listed in the flow direction and connected with each other: connection to a hydrocarbon production source (1), a first separator (3) operative to separate at least free water from said fluid flow, a converting system (5) for converting free/condensed water to gas hydrate, a pipeline (6, 18) for transporting a dry gas or condensate/oil; and in addition a line (7′) which leads from the converting system (5) to the first separator (3) providing a first recycling flow including gas hydrates. |
| US09068450B2 |
Adjustable fracturing system
An adjustable fracturing system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a fracturing manifold and a fracturing tree. A fluid conduit is coupled between the fracturing manifold and the fracturing tree to enable receipt of fracturing fluid by the fracturing tree from the fracturing manifold. Further, the fluid conduit is an adjustable fluid conduit that allows an operator to vary a dimension of the fluid conduit to facilitate coupling of the fluid conduit between the fracturing manifold and the fracturing tree. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09068448B2 |
System and method for predicting fluid flow characteristics within fractured subsurface reservoirs
A system and method having application notably towards predicting fluid flow characteristics within fractured subsurface reservoirs. The system and method include steps of reservoir characterization, gridding, discretization, and simulation of geologically realistic models describing the fractured subsurface reservoirs. A stochastic fracture representation that explicitly represents a network of fractures within a subsurface reservoir is constructed and used to build a fine-scale geological model. The model is then gridded such that the network of fractures is represented by interfaces between the fine-scale cells. The model is the discretized and simulated. Simulation can be on a fine-scale or on an upscaled coarse-scale to produce efficient and reliable prediction of fluid flow characteristics within the subsurface reservoir. |
| US09068444B2 |
Gas lift system having expandable velocity string
A velocity string deploys in production tubing of a gas well (or a gassy oil well) to help lift fluid toward the surface. The velocity string reduces flow area in the production tubing so that a critical flow velocity can be reached to lift liquid. Overtime, the reservoir pressure and resulting gas flow may decrease such that less liquid is produced toward the surface. At such a stage, operators then expand the velocity string to further decrease the flow area in the production tubing, which can produce the needed critical flow velocity to allow produced liquid to be lifted toward the surface. |
| US09068441B2 |
Perforating stimulating bullet
A method and device for fracturing a subterranean formation by projecting a bullet assembly into the formation and then reacting energetic material within the bullet assembly. The bullet assembly can be part of a charge device that is in a perforating gun. A delay fuse can be included so the energetic material reaction begins after the bullet assembly reaches the end of its travel in the formation. |
| US09068433B2 |
Diverter stabbing dog
A diverter system having stabbing dogs is provided. In one embodiment, such a system includes a diverter, a housing, and a plurality of stabbing dogs coupled to the housing. The stabbing dogs are positioned to enable locking elements of the stabbing dogs to be extended into recesses in the diverter to secure the diverter within the housing. At least one of the recesses in the diverter is connected to a fluid conduit within the diverter, and at least one stabbing dog includes a fluid passage that enables fluid to be routed into the fluid conduit within the diverter through the at least one stabbing dog. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09068432B2 |
Automated survey acceptance in dynamic phase machine automation system
A method, apparatus, and program product facilitate the automation of an oil & gas process, e.g., a drilling process, through the use of a dynamic phase machine incorporating multiple autonomous agents. An agent may be used to perform automated acceptance of a survey performed by a downhole survey device, e.g., so that an oil & gas drilling process may proceed for an accepted survey. |
| US09068431B2 |
Flow sensing apparatus and methods for use in oil and gas wells
The present invention is directed to methods for assessing flow-induced electrostatic energy in an oil and/or gas well wherein electric current or electrostatic potential or both are measured to produce data correlating to at least one flow characteristic of a tubular segment in the well. In some embodiments, electric current and electrostatic potential are produced separately for a plurality of segments, and measured. The system further may adjust at least one flow characteristic of a segment of the well to increase hydrocarbon production from the well. |
| US09068423B2 |
Wellhead connector and method of using same
The techniques herein relate to a blowout preventer a wellhead of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The blowout preventer includes a housing having a bore therethrough, a segment carrier positionable in the housing, and a piston. The segment carrier includes a carrier ring for receiving the mandrel and a plurality of segments pivotally movable radially thereabout. The piston is operatively connectable to the plurality of segments and actuatable for moving the plurality of segments between a disengaged and an engaged position about the mandrel. |
| US09068422B2 |
Sealing mechanism for subsea capping system
A sealing mechanism is provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a connector configured to couple one or more flow-control valves to equipment installed at a well and an isolation sleeve configured to be retained by the connector. The isolation sleeve may include a seal and a hydraulically actuated piston disposed adjacent one another about a body of the isolation sleeve such that actuation of the piston engages the seal. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed. |
| US09068420B2 |
Device and method for controlling return flow from a bore hole
There is provided a device and method for control of return flow from a borehole (18) where drill fluid is supplied from a surface rig (16) via a multi section drill string (4) to a bottom hole assembly (18), the drill pipe sections (6) having tool joints (8) that include an enlarged outer diameter portion (9), and where an annulus (12) is formed between a pipe (2) and the drill string (4), and where the annulus (12) is in fluid communication with or forms part of a return path (40) for the drill fluid, and where a choke (1) is positioned in the annulus (12), and where the length (L) of the choke (1) exceeds the distance (M) between the enlarged outer diameter portion (9) of two adjacent tool joints (8). |
| US09068417B2 |
Pressure cycle independent indexer and methods
Pressure cycle independent indexer devices and methods include an indexing logic having a trigger sequence path defining a pressure event (e.g., one or more pressure events) between a starting slot and an actuation slot and each pressure event being located between a sequence transition point from an incoming sequence leg into an outgoing sequence leg of the trigger sequence path and a return transition point from the trigger sequence path into a return path. The indexing logic may permit cycling hydraulic pressures in a well without inadvertently cycling through the trigger sequence path. |
| US09068413B2 |
Multi-piston hydrostatic setting tool with locking feature and pressure balanced pistons
A hydraulically actuated setting tool has a plurality of pistons that move in tandem when unlocked. The pistons are initially in pressure balance to take a load off a single locking mechanism that retains all the pistons. The pistons move due to admission of hydrostatic and/or applied pressure from the annulus on one side of each piston with an opposite side exposed to atmospheric pressure. The locking member is exposed to the annulus and is located away from any atmospheric chambers associated with the pistons. In this manner the components can be made thicker to resist burst and collapse pressure and the loads on the locking member reduced due to initial piston pressure balance configuration. Depths of greater than 8,000 meters can be used due to one or more of the described design features. |
| US09068408B2 |
Methods of forming earth-boring tools and related structures
Earth-boring tools comprise a body comprising a plurality of radially extending blades. At least one blade of the plurality of radially extending blades comprises a blade support segment integral with the body. A blade frame segment is attached to a rotationally leading portion of the blade support segment. A plurality of cutting elements is attached to the blade frame segment. Methods of forming an earth-boring tool comprise forming a body including a blade support segment of at least one blade. At least one blade frame segment is attached to a rotationally leading portion the support segment of the at least one blade. A plurality of cutting elements is secured to the at least one blade segment. |
| US09068407B2 |
Drilling assemblies including expandable reamers and expandable stabilizers, and related methods
A drilling assembly for drilling a subterranean wellbore includes an expandable reamer and an expandable stabilizer. The expandable reamer and the expandable stabilizer each have a tubular body with a longitudinal axis and a drilling fluid flow path extending therethrough. A plurality of blades is carried by the reamer and a plurality of bearing pads is carried by the stabilizer. The blades and bearing pads are outwardly movable from a retracted position to an extended position with respect to the longitudinal axes of the reamer and stabilizer, respectively. The reamer and stabilizer each include an actuation device for moving the blades and bearing pads, respectively, from the retracted position to the extended position. |
| US09068403B2 |
Riser tensioner frame assembly
A riser tensioner for maintaining a tensile force on a riser extending through an opening in a deck of a floating platform includes a frame assembly that may be quickly bolted together in the field. The frame assembly includes a plurality of tensioner legs that may be installed on an un-level deck yet still provide a level support of the riser. Lower leg mounting assemblies include a slip ring for mounting directly to the deck and a deck mounting member received in the slip ring at a variable angle and having an upwardly extending shaft passing into a bore in a lower end of a tensioner leg. |
| US09068400B2 |
Resonance enhanced rotary drilling
A method for controlling a resonance enhanced rotary drill comprising a rotary drill bit and an oscillator for applying axial oscillatory loading to the rotary drill bit, the method comprising: controlling frequency (f) of the oscillator in the resonance enhanced rotary drill whereby the frequency (f) is maintained in the range (D2 Us/(8000 πAm))1/2≦f≦Sf(D2 Us/(8000 πAm))1/2 where D is diameter of the rotary drill bit, Us is compressive strength of material being drilled, A is amplitude of vibration, m is vibrating mass, and Sf is a scaling factor greater than 1; and controlling dynamic force (Fd) of the oscillator in the resonance enhanced rotary drill whereby the dynamic force (Fd) is maintained in the range [(π/4)D2effUs]≦Fd≦SFd[(π/4)D2effUs] where Deff is an effective diameter of the rotary drill bit, Us is a compressive strength of material being drilled, and SFd is a scaling factor greater than 1, wherein the frequency (f) and the dynamic force (Fd) of the oscillator are controlled by monitoring signals representing the compressive strength (Us) of the material being drilled and adjusting the frequency (f) and the dynamic force (Fd) of the oscillator using a closed loop real-time feedback mechanism according to changes in the compressive strength (Us) of the material being drilled. |
| US09068393B2 |
Cutting machine for window coverings
A cutting machine for cutting components of window coverings has a machine base, a first cutting unit, a first restricting unit, a second cutting unit, and a second restricting unit. The first cutting unit and the second cutting unit are provided on the machine base. The first cutting unit is designed to cut a horizontal top rail, a horizontal bottom rail and horizontal slats of a venetian blind, and a vertical top rail of a vertical blind; the second cutting unit is designed to cut vertical slats of the vertical blind. The first and the second restricting units are designed to hold the components to be cut at specified positions by the first and the second cutting units. |
| US09068391B2 |
Adjustable garage door jamb trim
An adjustable garage door jamb trim system includes: an interior door jamb trim; and an exterior door jamb trim, wherein the interior door jamb trim and exterior door jamb trim form an adjustable mating configuration that seal the interface between the interior door jamb trim and the exterior door jamb trim when the interior door jamb trim and exterior door jamb trim are secured to a door jamb having a width between a first width and a second width. |
| US09068388B2 |
Strain distribution check link assembly
A check link assembly includes a link and a housing. The link includes a first link end portion, a second link end portion opposite the first link end portion, a first sidewall disposed between the first link end portion and the second link end portion, a second sidewall disposed between the first link end portion and the second link end portion, and a link extension protruding from the second link end portion. The link extension is closer to the first sidewall than to the second sidewall. The housing is movably coupled to the link and is configured to move relative to the link between a first housing position and a second housing position. The housing includes a mechanical stop disposed closer to the first sidewall than to the second sidewall. |
| US09068384B2 |
Folding carport
A foldable carport comprising a header having a hinge socket fastened to an inhabitable structure and, a connection beam, a tilt beam, and a roof deck spanning between the two beams, all of which comprise a roof assembly. The connection beam includes a hinge member that is received into the header socket thereby operably connecting the roof assembly to the header. The operable connection allows the roof assembly to be positioned in an erected position or a folded position. When erected, the tilt beam is supported by a plurality of posts that may bear on a concrete slab, footing, or the ground. The foldable carport may also include a carrier plate coupled to the mobile residence configured to fasten the roof assembly to the mobile residence when the carport is in the folded position. |
| US09068382B1 |
Locking hinge assembly
A locking hinge assembly having a first hinge plate and a sleeve bushing defining a through passageway and a tooth channel with opposing side walls; a second hinge plate and a sleeve bushing, for co-axial alignment of the sleeve bushings; and a splined pin received in the aligned sleeve bushings, the splined pin having a root diameter and at least one tooth projecting therefrom for being received selectively in the tooth channel, whereby the tooth being received in the tooth channel permits rotational movement of the sleeve barrel relative to the barrel until the pin is stopped by one of the side walls of the tooth channel. |
| US09068375B2 |
Digital access control system
A digital access control system including an input mechanism which can be operated from an unprotected area and a barrier which opens in response to operation of the input mechanism, wherein an energy store for supplying the barrier with opening power and a communication line for communication with a remote unit in the secure area are provided and the energy store is in a form of a low voltage buffer store and, for supplying power to the low voltage buffer store, a low voltage communication line is provided which has an associated low voltage Power Over Ethernet unit or an associated unit from a similar standard. |
| US09068371B2 |
Wave generating apparatus and method
A wave forming apparatus has a channel for containing a flow of water with an inlet end connected to a water supply, a floor, and spaced side walls, a first bed form or weir at the inlet end of the channel, and a second bed form in the channel downstream of the first bed form. Also disclosed is a wave forming apparatus has a channel for containing a flow of water, the channel having an inlet end connected to a water supply for supplying a flowing stream of water, a floor, and spaced side walls, and at least one oblique foil member adjustably mounted in the floor of the channel. The foils, weirs or bed form, form a standing wave. |
| US09068370B1 |
Wind resistant modular ISO building
A wind resistant modular ISO building includes a first cargo container, a second cargo container, and a mounting system. The first and second cargo containers are joined to each other by attaching adjacent lengthwise frame rails. Most of an inner lengthwise side wall of the first and second cargo containers is removed. The first and second cargo containers are also joined to each other by attaching a plurality of vertical channels of upper portions of the lengthwise side walls. A plurality of horizontal channels are attached to the plurality of vertical channels. At least two moment frames are attached to an inside of the first and second cargo containers. The end door of the first and second cargo containers are replaced with an end panel. Preferably, at least one door entrance and window system is formed in at least one of the lengthwise side walls. |
| US09068364B2 |
Method of forming concrete utilizing roll forms
A form for producing a hardened element such as concrete, formed of a flowable material, the form comprising: an elongated, substantially self-supporting portion of flexible material comprising at least one forming surface for abutting the flowable material; first and second flanges hingedly affixed to respective first and second edges longitudinally of the forming surface; and a plurality of corresponding anchoring holes uniformly placed along the first and second flanges. |
| US09068360B2 |
Mechanical locking system for panels and method of installing same
Floor panels are provided with a mechanical locking system including a flexible locking element in a locking groove which during a horizontal motion is displaced vertically. |
| US09068357B2 |
Turning profile
The invention relates to mechanical connecting means, in particular for panels, which can be connected together in a positive fit in two spatial directions which are perpendicular to each other. |
| US09068356B2 |
Floor covering
Hard panels formed from a wood-based material and having a decorative layer for floor coverings are provided, at least on two opposite edges, with coupling devices made in one piece with the panels wherein similar panels may be coupled together to form a floor covering, wherein these coupling devices provide for an interlocking in a direction perpendicular to the plane of coupled panels, as well as in a direction perpendicular to the edges concerned and parallel to the plane of coupled panels. These coupling devices are constituted of a tongue and a groove. The top side of the tongue has a protrusion that cooperates with a meshing recess located in the lower side of the upper lip of the groove of the coupling devices, and a portion extending generally parallel with the plane of the panel to form a contact surface cooperating with the lower side of the upper lip of the groove. |
| US09068353B1 |
Dry joint wall cladding attachment system
A Dry Joint Wall Cladding Attachment System for mounting aluminum composite material (ACM) panels on a building substructure utilizing a non-progressive installation method which permits installation of such panels from any direction or location on the building structure. The present system and method of use provides structural elements including spring clips integrated with each ACM panel that enable a non-progressive panel installation sequence starting from any given location on a building facade even when some sections of the facade are not complete or otherwise not ready for progressive panel installation. Using a method of the present invention this is accomplished by the insertion of a reveal strip fabricated from a suitable material into a reveal cavity between adjacent panels for engagement with the integrated spring clips at any time after the panels are installed. The reveal strips are utilized to protect an underlying grid of mounting brackets and fasteners. |
| US09068351B1 |
Interlocking construction blocks
Interlocking construction blocks are provided, having a tongue and groove configuration, attachable together by pressing the tongue of one block into a groove of another block. Multiple blocks may be adapted to be interlocked together forming a structure, such as a wall. Blocks comprise first and second opposing sidewalls integrally connected together by first and second pairs of opposing connecting walls. The first and second sidewalls comprise a lower portion integrally connected to an upper portion. The lower portion comprises a pair of opposing lower portion sidewalls integrally connected to a pair of opposing lower end walls. The upper portion comprises a planar top surface, a pair of opposing upper portion sidewalls and a pair of opposing upper portion end walls integrally connected via upper portion angular walls. The upper portion sidewalls, upper portion end walls and upper angular walls may have a beveled or tapered surface. |
| US09068344B2 |
Method for incorporating thermal barriers into tubular extrusions using retainer clips
A method to cast-in-place thermal barriers to create a hollow tubular extrusion is disclosed herein. Clips, configured to engage and lock with a first and a second extrusion profile, maintain a pocket with precise tolerances into which liquid polyurethane is poured. The clips easily engage in a manner to form a hollow tubular extrusion assembly. Once the assembly is made, it becomes very difficult to take the assembly apart. This feature allows the first and the second extrusion profiles to be cut to length or handled without the potential of the assembly coming apart prior to pouring the liquid polyurethane. Once the polyurethane cures, there is no need to remove the clips because the clips are made from a very low conductance material, and the clips can remain as part of the finished product thus saving the expense of removing and discarding the part. |
| US09068341B2 |
Utility trench system components
Component sets installed at selected intervals along the lengths of upwardly opening, just-below-floor-level utility trenches maintain a substantially parallel-extending relationship between opposed pairs of elongate, upstanding panels that form opposite sidewalls of the utility trench. The component sets each include a pair of elongate uprights of channel-shaped cross-section, and elongate connecting members that bridge between the paired uprights. The connecting members include an upper connecting member having opposite end regions 1) that overlie portions of upper end regions of the uprights, 2) that extending downwardly into the upper end regions of the uprights, and 3) that are snugly received within the upper end regions of the uprights. |
| US09068339B2 |
Roof standoff device
A roof standoff having a base attached to a roof surface using one or more threaded fasteners or screws. The base has a threaded hole that is aligned with a hole in a raised flashing that overlays the base to prevent water from infiltrating the holes in the roof formed by the threaded fasteners. A bolt threadably engages the threaded hole of the base to attach a bracket to the base. Objects may engage with the bracket such that these objects are supported by the roof standoff. |
| US09068338B2 |
Lift station flow diverter and method of using same
An apparatus for diverting the flow of wastewater in a lift station, or other liquid storage tank, along the interior wall of the station. In particular, wastewater introduced into a lift station by an inlet is directed by piping so it is discharged along the interior wall to impart a generally circular or vortex-like movement of the wastewater in the station. This generally circular or vortex-like movement prevents coagulation of solids not removed from the station by the pumps therein, reducing the need for cleaning and other maintenance of the lift station. |
| US09068337B2 |
Fluid stream hydrodynamic separator with high flow bypass
A system for separating waste materials from a flowing stream of surface water comprises a vertical cylindrical vessel and a vertical structure within the cylindrical vessel. The vertical structure comprises stacked filtering elements and weirs sized to accommodate normal and increased fluid flow for abnormally high surface water flow conditions. The flowing stream containing waste material under normal flow conditions enters the vessel and passes through a filtering wall portion in a lower section of the vertical structure and exits through and effluent pipe. Under higher flow conditions the water flows through an overflow structure mounted on top of a lower cylindrical structure The over flow structure comprises one or more upwardly extending filtering structures and weirs sized to accommodate the excess flow conditions, filter at least a portion of the waste material from said excess flow and direct such excess flow to the effluent pipe. |
| US09068335B2 |
Valve operating nut protector
A protective assembly for an operating nut of an actuator for a valve in an underground pipe system is comprised of a guide assembly and a mounting assembly. A riser pipe is used to access the operating nut from above ground. The protective assembly maintains alignment of the riser pipe at installation and as the ground shifts over time. The guide assembly is formed of a guide structure and a mounting collar that juts outwardly from the guide structure forming a flange. The mounting assembly has a first portion for attaching the mounting assembly to the flange, and a second portion for attaching the mounting assembly to the actuator. |
| US09068334B2 |
Apparatus for disposal from a recreational vehicle
An apparatus for emptying a storage tank of a vehicle into a collection unit, the apparatus including: a conduit assembly including a conduit received in a channel of a self-supporting chain, the conduit assembly unwindable from a reel located in a recess of the vehicle to move an outlet of the conduit into communication with an inlet of the collection unit prior to opening the valve of the storage tank. |
| US09068326B2 |
Automatic sensing system and method for use with a plumbing fixture
An automatic sensing system and a detecting method for use with plumbing equipment in the kitchen and washroom are shown and described. The automatic sensing system includes an ambient light sensor for detecting the ambient light intensity around the equipment. The system further includes a detecting sensor for detecting whether user enters the detected area. The system also includes a controller which controls the equipment based on detected signals from the detecting sensor. The controller is configured to start or change the state of the detecting sensor according to a detected value change of the ambient light intensity. The automatic sensing system advantageously saves power consumed by the detecting sensor when the ambient light sensor does not indicate use by the equipment. |
| US09068318B1 |
Rotary drive tip system for installation of piles or other foundation members into the ground
For supporting a foundation of other structure, there is provided a system for driving a pile into the ground using a rotary power device. In one example, a system includes a first member with a first end connecting to a drill and a second end having a keyed protrusion; and a second member having a hollow pile adapted to receive the first member therein, one or more blades along a perimeter of a lower portion, and a keyed opening for receiving the keyed protrusion. In use, a drill is connected with the first member, and the first member is inserted into the second member, and the drill drives the first member into and through the ground. The drill and the first member are removed, leaving the second member positioned into the ground at its desired depth. |
| US09068316B2 |
Method and apparatus for elevating a marine platform
A method of elevating the deck area of a marine platform (e.g., oil and gas well drilling or production platform) utilizes a specially configured sleeve support to support the platform legs so that they can be cut. Once cut, rams or jacks elevate the platform above the cuts. The sleeve support is then connected (e.g., welded) to the platform leg and becomes part of the structural support for the platform. In one embodiment, two sleeves are employed. In another embodiment, the jacks or rams elevate in two stages including a first stage wherein one sleeve elevates and the other sleeve does not elevate and a second stage wherein both sleeves elevate together. |
| US09068315B2 |
Oil fence and method for storing same
The present invention relates to an oil fence and to a method for storing same. The oil fence includes: a vertical support part on which an air chamber, a water chamber, and a ballast are successively disposed in the lengthwise direction thereof; a curtain part connected between the vertical support parts disposed parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance from each other in the widthwise direction thereof; and attenuation bags disposed on the upper and lower portions of the curtain part. Thus, the oil fence may prevent seawater containing oil from overflowing in spite of high waves. Also, the oil fence may stably float on the sea in spite of poor weather conditions and high waves and may be easily stored and unfolded. |
| US09068314B2 |
Area bubble plume oil barriers
Systems and methods for barring the advance of an oil spill or for corralling such an oil spill. The systems provide area bubble plumes of air that remain coherent to reaching the surface, in contrast to previous bubble curtains under waves. The area bubble plume may be formed by parallel sparger elements that provide a wide plume of bubbles, and are suspended below the surface no more than 10 m. The sparger elements may be mounted in a matrix of structural support members. A series of discrete segments of the system can be connected together to form a flexible chain. The connected segments are desirably coiled around a spool on the rear end of a vessel for easy deployment. The sparger elements are tubular and made of the porous, resistive material that requires a greater luminal pressure than the exterior pressure to create fine bubbles. |
| US09068310B2 |
Sediment retention bag
A sediment retention device including a water-permeable outer containment structure, a water-impermeable injection tube including an outlet disposed within the outer containment structure, and a flocculent treatment material disposed within the injection tube. The injection tube can include an agitation structure to promote mixing contaminated water with the treatment material. A baffle including water distribution openings can be disposed over the outlet to distribute water into the outer containment structure. |
| US09068308B2 |
Beach cleaner
A beach cleaner for recovering relatively heavy garbage or stones while minimizing the amount of sand entering a garbage recovery unit. The beach cleaner includes a frame formed by a longitudinal member and a lateral member. A towed portion is provided at the front portion of the frame for towing by a tow vehicle. A separator is provided at the lower front portion of the frame to separate and scrape garbage from sandy ground. A recovery unit is provided behind the separator to collect garbage scraped onto the mesh member. At least one separation rod unit is provided having a plurality of longitudinal members and a lateral member for joining the rear ends of the respective longitudinal members. The front end of at least one separation rod unit is secured to the separator so as to be turnable in the up-and-down direction. |
| US09068302B2 |
Mixer bar for a stabilizer/recycler
The invention relates to a mixer bar for a stabilizer/recycler, having an attachment side that comprises an attachment surface for mounting on a drum surface, and having a tool holder receptacle. A mixer bar of this kind can be configured in wear- and strength-optimized fashion, with little production outlay, if provision is made that the mixer bar is embodied as a forged part and has a cross-sectional profile that varies at least locally transversely to the tool feed direction. |
| US09068297B2 |
Expansion joint system
An expansion joint system includes: a core; and a layer of an elastomer disposed on the core. The core and the layer of elastomer disposed thereon form an elongated section, the elongated section configured to be oriented vertically between substantially coplanar substrates. The expansion joint system further includes a termination section located at one end of the elongated section and comprising a flared end forming an angle with the elongated section and configured to direct fluid and/or particles and/or solvents away from the expansion joint system. |
| US09068295B2 |
System and method for laying down and compacting an asphalt layer
In a system for laying down an asphalt layer made of asphalt material, and having a road paver having a screed with compacting tools, a compacting device and a mixer, an electronic material density module is provided in or for the road paver. The electronic material density module obtains data during the laying process regarding at least the actual degree of compaction of the asphalt layer produced in the area of at least one compacting tool and evaluates and/or documents these data at least for operational optimisation and/or operational monitoring of the road paver and/or compacting device and/or mixer. The data obtained is communicated to the compacting device that produces the final degree of compaction of the asphalt layer based on the data and on the actual degree of compaction determined at the screed. |
| US09068293B2 |
Method for improving brightness in bleached pulp
The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for processes based on the combination of organic peroxyacids and ammonium salts that preserve and enhance the response to optical brighteners (fluorescent whitening dyes), brightness and improve color of pulp or paper when applied during different stages of the papermaking process are identified. The composition and method improve response to optical brighteners (fluorescent whitening dyes), maintain and/or enhance brightness and enhance the performance of paper products. Used in combination with optical brighteners the described agents produce a synergistic effect not previously identified in the paper process. |
| US09068287B2 |
Computer controlled sewing machine with cutting needles
An apparatus includes a processor and a memory configured to store a plurality of cut length data items and a computer-readable instructions that instruct the apparatus to execute steps comprising acquiring pattern data, setting, as a plurality of first needle drop points, a plurality of points on the pattern line at predetermined intervals, setting a cut angle corresponding to each of the plurality of first needle drop points, determining a plurality of second needle drop points among the plurality of first needle drop points, consolidating, based on the plurality of cut length data items, at least some of the plurality of second needle drop points into at least one third needle drop point, identifying a cutting blade corresponding to each of a plurality of fourth needle drop points among the plurality of cutting blades based on the plurality of cut length data items, and generating cut data. |
| US09068285B2 |
Knitting needle
A knitting needle (200) for producing plait-patterns knitware includes a shaft-like portion (204), a first limb-like portion (206), which extends in a first direction of extent (A) and has an outwardly directed first free end (209) and a second limb-like portion (208), which extends in a second direction of extent (B) and has an outwardly directed second end (210). The two limb-like portions (206; 208) are connected rigidly to one another via the shaft-like portion (204). The first direction of extent (A) and the second direction of extent (B) form an angle φ of 60° and 120° in relation to one another. |
| US09068284B2 |
Method of preparing thermoplastics-continuous fiber hybrid composite
Provided is a method of preparing thermoplastics-continuous fiber hybrid composite, which is easily woven and has excellent uniformity and impregnation at the time of hot melt impregnation after the weaving, including: a) widely and uniformly stretching a bundle of glass fibers; b) heating the stretched glass fibers; c) preparing a thermoplastics-continuous fiber bonding material by binding the heated glass fiber with thermoplastics; d) preparing a multi-layered thermoplastics-continuous fiber bonding material by folding the bonding material in a shape of zigzag; and e) pressing the multi-layered thermoplastics-continuous fiber bonding material. |
| US09068281B2 |
Microfluidic chip for high-throughput perfusion-based three-dimensional cell culture
A microfluidic chip for three-dimensional cell culture with high-throughput perfusion includes an array of cell culture units, each unit including a cell culture medium inlet hole connecting to one cell culture medium tank, at least one micro-bioreactor, at least one microchannel and at least one medium collection and analysis tank. Each medium collection and analysis tank is connected to an air chamber with an air channel and the air chamber has negative pressure source holes to generate negative pressure to drive the culture medium. The microfluidic chip also includes an intermediate plate connected to the bottom surface of the roof, and two bottom plates detachably assembled at the bottom of the intermediate plate. The first and second bottom surfaces have micro-bioreactors and cylindrical recessed slots and the intermediate plate has corresponding holes to achieve the goal of three-dimensional cell culture using minimum experimental resources with high-throughput perfusion. |
| US09068279B2 |
Epitaxial substrate having nano-rugged surface and fabrication thereof
The invention provides an epitaxial substrate and fabrication thereof. The epitaxial substrate according to the invention includes a crystalline substrate. In particular, the crystalline substrate has an epitaxial surface which is nano-rugged and non-patterned. The epitaxial substrate according to the invention thereon benefits a compound semiconductor material in growth of epitaxy films with excellent quality. Moreover, the fabrication of the epitaxial substrate according to the invention has advantages of low cost and rapid production. |
| US09068275B2 |
Composite geometrical design for a grain starter in a bridgman investment casting process
A grain starter for use in solidification of molten metallic material forming an article having a directional grain structure and a method for solidifying an article having a directional grain structure with a substantial absence of stray grains. The grain starter comprises a grain-starting material that initiates grain growth in the molten metallic material in a preselected crystallographic direction. The grain-starting material has a melting temperature higher than the metallic material forming the article lest the grain starter be modified by contact with the molten material. The grain starter further includes a feature that modifies heat transfer characteristics of the metallic material in contact with it in order to produce an article having grains oriented in the preselected crystallographic orientation and modifies the profile of the advancing solidification front. The article is substantially free of stray grains not oriented in the preselected crystallographic direction. |
| US09068273B2 |
Electrochemical removal of tantalum-containing materials
A method of cleaning metal-containing deposits from a metal surface of a process chamber component includes immersing the metal surface in an electrochemical cleaning bath solution. A negative electrical bias is applied to the metal surface to electrochemically clean the metal-containing deposits from the metal surface. The cleaning method is capable of removing metal-containing deposits such as tantalum-containing deposits from the metal surface substantially without eroding the surface, and may be especially advantageous in the cleaning of components having textured surfaces. |
| US09068263B2 |
Apparatus for manufacture of solar cells
The present invention relates to equipment used to manufacture PV cells or modules. In some embodiments, a gas delivery and gas exhaust system are provided for processing a plurality of substrates. The gas delivery and gas exhaust system are designed such that the substrates are exposed in a uniform manner to the gas. |
| US09068261B2 |
Atomic layer deposition apparatus and thin film forming method
An atomic layer deposition apparatus, which forms a thin film on a substrate, includes a first container that defines a first inner space and includes a substrate carrying-in and carrying-out port and a gas introduction port in different positions, the substrate being carried in and out through the substrate carrying-in and carrying-out port, gas being introduced through the gas introduction port to form the thin film on the substrate, a second container that is provided in the first container to define a second inner space separated from the first inner space, the second container including a first opening, a first moving mechanism that moves the second container in a predetermined direction, and a controller that controls the first moving mechanism such that the second container is moved to a first position where the substrate carrying-in and carrying-out port and the first opening are located opposite each other when the substrate is carried in and out, the controller controlling the first moving mechanism such that the second container is moved to a second position where the gas introduction port and the first opening are located opposite each other when the thin film is formed on the substrate. |
| US09068260B2 |
Knife for wood processing and methods for plating and surface treating a knife for wood processing
A knife structure including a knife body having a cutting surface, a relief surface and a knife clamp surface. The cutting surface and the relief surface intersect at an apex region of the knife body. The knife clamp surface intersects with an end of the relief surface opposite an end of the relief surface that intersects with the cutting surface at the apex region. In one embodiment, the apex region is comprised of an alloy of a base material for the knife body and a boron containing compound. The thermally conductive plating is present on at least the knife clamp surface, the cutting surface and the release surface of the knife body. The thermally conductive plating is not present on the apex region. |
| US09068258B2 |
Titanium target for sputtering
Provided is a titanium target for sputtering having a Shore hardness Hs of 20 or more and a basal plane orientation ratio of 70% or less. In the titanium target for sputtering, the purity of titanium is 99.995 mass % or more, excluding gas components. It is an object of the present invention to provide a high-quality titanium target for sputtering, in which impurities are reduced, and which can prevent occurrence of cracking or breaking in high-power sputtering (high-rate sputtering), stabilize sputtering characteristics, and effectively suppress occurrence of particles during formation of a film. |
| US09068249B2 |
Rare earth element recovery method
Provided is a method of recovering rare-earth elements, including causing rare-earth elements particularly including Nd and Dy to leach efficiently from a raw material for leaching which contains the rare-earth elements, and separating and recovering the rare-earth elements. The method of recovering rare-earth elements includes: a leaching step including performing leaching treatment of rare-earth elements in which an acidic slurry of a raw material for leaching which contains the rare-earth elements is held under a predetermined condition, and then subjecting the slurry obtained after the leaching treatment to solid-liquid separation, yielding a leachate containing the rare-earth elements; and a separation step of separating and recovering the rare-earth elements from the yielded leachate, in which: the raw material for leaching contains Ca as CaO at a ratio of 4 to 15 mass % and Ti as TiO2 at a ratio of 2 to 13 mass % in a solid component (S); an acid aqueous solution is an acid aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid and/or nitric acid; and the leaching treatment performed in the leaching step is digestion or maceration which is performed under the heating and pressurizing conditions of a temperature of 160 to 300° C. and a pressure of 0.65 to 10 MPa, and the rare-earth elements are caused to leach together with Ca in the leaching step. |
| US09068246B2 |
Decarbonization process for carbothermically produced aluminum
A method of recovering aluminum is provided. An alloy melt having Al4C3 and aluminum is provided. This mixture is cooled and then a sufficient amount of a finely dispersed gas is added to the alloy melt at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 900° C. The aluminum recovered is a decarbonized carbothermically produced aluminum where the step of adding a sufficient amount of the finely dispersed gas effects separation of the aluminum from the Al4C3 precipitates by flotation, resulting in two phases with the Al4C3 precipitates being the upper layer and the decarbonized aluminum being the lower layer. The aluminum is then recovered from the Al4C3 precipitates through decanting. |
| US09068242B2 |
Valuable metal leaching method, and valuable metal collection method employing the leaching method
The present invention provides a valuable metal leaching method and a valuable metal collection method, in each of which valuable metals can be leached efficiently, the amount of a reducing agent used can be reduced, and cost reduction can be achieved. In the present invention, a positive electrode material is immersed in an acidic solution together with a metal having a lower reduction potential than a reduction potential of hydrogen, whereby valuable metals are leached out from a positive-electrode active substance. |
| US09068240B2 |
Method for processing spodumene
The invention relates to a method for thermally processing α-spodumene, i.e. lithium aluminum silicate, by which treatment it is transformed into β-spodumene, which is more advantageous for further processing; in the method, concentrate or ore with a grain size of 20-1,000 μm is processed in a fluidized bed reactor, at a temperature of 800-1,000° C., by using an oxygenous gas as the fluidizing gas. |
| US09068239B2 |
Device and method for the forming of blanks from high and very high strength steels
A forming tool and a method for the press-hardening and tempered forming of a blank from high and/or very high strength steels are provided, in which the blank is heated before the tempered forming and then formed hot or semi-hot in a forming tool, wherein the forming tool has means for tempering. This is achieved in that the forming tool makes precisely defined temperature guidance of the blank during forming, and in that a plurality of controllable means are provided in the forming tool for tempering the forming tool, by which a plurality of temperature zones can be tempered in the forming tool, wherein at least contact surfaces of forming tool elements used for the tempered forming are allocated to individual temperature zones. |
| US09068238B2 |
High tensile strength hot rolled steel sheet having excellent formability and method for manufacturing the same
Described is a high tensile strength hot rolled steel sheet having high strength and formability, and a manufacturing method. It has tensile strength ≧980 MPa and excellent formability, and specifically identified ranges by mass % of C, Si, Mn, P, S, N, Al, Ti, V, Solute V, and Solute Ti; (ii) microstructure with fine carbides dispersion precipitated therein, the fine carbides containing Ti and V and having the average particle diameter <10 nm, as well as volume ratio with respect to the entire microstructure ≧0.007; and matrix as ferrite phase having area ratio with respect to the entire microstructure ≧97%. C, Ti, V, S and N satisfy (1) Ti≧0.08 +(N/14×48+S/32×48) and (2) 0.8≦(Ti/48+V/51)/(C/12)≦1.2, where “C”, “Ti”, “V”, “S” and “N” represent contents (mass %) of corresponding elements, respectively. |
| US09068236B2 |
Process of producing xylose and dissolving pulp
The present invention relates to a process for the production of xylose and dissolving pulp from xylan-containing biomass, such as hardwood. The invention is based on prehydrolysis of the xylan-containing biomass with SO2 in specified conditions, followed by chromatographic fractionation, nanofiltration or precipitation crystallization of the xylose-containing prehydrolyzate to obtain a xylose product having a xylose content of at least 55% on DS. The dissolving pulp obtained from the process can be used for example for the production of viscose. |
| US09068232B2 |
Gene expression signature for classification of kidney tumors
The present invention provides a method for classification of kidney tumors through the analysis of the expression patterns of specific microRNAs and nucleic acid molecules relating thereto. Classification according to a microRNA expression framework allows optimization of treatment, and determination of specific therapy. |
| US09068230B2 |
Methods and compositions for assessing responsiveness of B-cell lymphoma to treatment with anti-CD40 antibodies
The invention provides methods and kits useful for predicting or assessing responsiveness of B-cell lymphoma to treatment with anti-CD40 antibodies. |
| US09068227B2 |
Diagnostic test for cardiomyopathy
Methods and compositions relating to diagnosing and treating cardiomyopathy and particularly relating to methods and compositions for diagnosing and treating arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyophathy (ARVD/C) are described. Provided are methods for screening for, diagnosing or detecting a risk of developing arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) comprising detecting the presence of a transmembrane protein 43 (TMEM43) disease associated variant in a sample of a subject, wherein the presence of a TMEM43 disease variant is indicative that the subject has ARVD/C or an increased risk of developing ARVD/C compared to an individual having wild type TMEM43. |
| US09068224B2 |
Measurement and monitoring of cell clonality
Methods are provided for the detection and analysis of clonality in a cell population, where parallel sequencing is applied to a nucleic acid sample obtained from the cell population, optionally a population of lymphocytes. Replicate samples are amplified, and sequenced, where identification of coincident sequences in two or more replicates is indicative of clonal expansion. |
| US09068214B2 |
Method for preparing (R)-praziquantel
The invention relates to a new method for preparing (R)-praziquantel. In the invention, by taking advantage of the high stereo selectivity, site selectivity and region selectivity of an enzyme, an intermediate of a pure optical and chiral (R)-praziquantel are obtained by means of the dynamic kinetic resolution of an enantiomer from the synthesized racemate or derivatives thereof, and the (R)-praziquantel is obtained by using various conventional and mature organic chemical reactions with higher yield. The method of the invention has the potential advantages of easily available raw materials, low cost, environmentally safer process and convenience for large-scale production. Also, the purity of the end product can be more than 98%. By adopting the invention, the quality of the product is improved and a basis for developing high quality of active pharmaceutical ingredients and formulations is established, and thus the pending industrial problem of purifying praziquantel over 30 years becomes solvable. |
| US09068211B2 |
Cells, nucleic acids, enzymes and use thereof, and methods for the production of sophorolipids
The invention relates to cells, nucleic acids, and enzymes, the use thereof for producing sophorolipids, and methods for producing sophorolipids. |
| US09068210B2 |
Assay and other reactions involving droplets
The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention. |
| US09068205B2 |
Processes and systems for dry-milled corn ethanol and corn oil production with improved carbon footprint
The present invention improves corn dry milling in several ways. Integrated corn biorefinery processes are disclosed which can produce ethanol, edible corn oil, DDGS, solvent-extracted meal, power, and optionally crude corn oil, starting from corn. Some variations employ corn fractionation and edible corn oil recovery using liquid carbon dioxide, avoiding hazardous hydrocarbon-based solvents to produce edible corn oil. Some variations employ integration of gas-fired co-generation into the dry-milled corn ethanol plant to significantly reduce energy usage and carbon footprint associated with the overall process. Counter-current drying is preferably employed to produce a high-quality DDGS product with high protein content, low mycotoxin content, and low residual ethanol content. |
| US09068204B2 |
Peptidoglycan hydrolase antimicrobials for eradicating lactobacilli that contaminate and reduce ethanol yields in biofuel fermentation
Ethanol losses due to bacterial contamination in fermentation cultures weakens the economics of biofuel production. Lactobacillus species are the predominant contaminant. Bacteriophage lytic enzymes are peptidoglycan hydrolases which degrade Gram positive cell walls when exposed externally and are a novel source of antimicrobials. The streptococcal phage λSA2 endolysin construct demonstrated strong lytic activity towards 17 of 22 strains of lactobacilli, staphylococci or streptococci maintaining optimal specific activity under fermentation conditions toward L. fermentum substrates. Lactobacillus bacteriophage endolysin constructs LysA, LysA2 and LysgaY showed exolytic activity towards ˜60% of the lactobacilli tested including four L. fermentum isolates from fuel ethanol fermentations. Presence of ethanol (≦5%) did not affect lytic activity. Lysins were able to reduce both L. fermentum and L. reuteri contaminants in mock fermentations of corn fiber hydrolysates. Recombinant LysA and λSa2 expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are functional; LysA was shown to reduce lactobacilli in experimentally infected fermentations. |
| US09068199B2 |
Therapeutic retroviral vectors for gene therapy
The invention provides improved compositions and methods for achieving gene therapy in hematopoietic cells and hematopoietic precursor cells, including erythrocytes, erythroid progenitors, and embryonic stem cells. The invention further provides improved gene therapy methods for treating hematopoietic-related disorders. Retroviral gene therapy vectors that are optimized for erythroid specific expression and treatment of hemoglobinopathic conditions are disclosed. |
| US09068195B2 |
Methods for enhancing stress tolerance in plants and compositions thereof
Increased tolerance to abiotic stress in a plant is provided by introducing DNA expressing a cold shock protein, e.g. bacterial cold shock protein. |
| US09068194B2 |
Increasing plant growth by modulating omega-amidase expression in plants
The present disclosure relates to compositions and methods for increasing the leaf-to-root ratio of the signal metabolite 2-oxoglutaramate and related proline molecules in plants by modulating levels of ω-amidase to increase nitrogen use efficiency, resulting in enhanced growth, faster growth rates, greater seed and fruit/pod yields, earlier and more productive flowering, increased tolerance to high salt conditions, and increased biomass yields. |
| US09068187B1 |
Protease inhibitor: protease sensitivity expression system composition and methods improving the therapeutic activity and specificity of proteins delivered by bacteria
Bacteria which co-express protease inhibitors and protease sensitive therapeutic agents, which are surface displayed, secreted and/or released and result in their localized production and maintenance within a target tissue and inactivation outside of the target tissue, thereby increasing therapeutic activity and reducing the systemic toxicity. The bacteria may be attenuated, non-pathogenic, low pathogenic or a probiotic. Protease sensitivity may be further accomplished by engineering protease degradation sites within the therapeutic agents, further enhancing the inactivation outside of the target tissue while retaining activity within the target tissue through co-expression of a protease inhibitor. Novel chimeric proteins secreted by bacteria, including chimeric toxins targeted to neoplastic cells, tumor matrix cells and cells of the immune system, and combination therapies of these protease inhibitor:chimeric toxin-expressing bacteria together with small-molecule and biologic agents are also described. Non-conjugative bacteria limiting exchange of genetic material, and antibody resistant bacteria are also provided. |
| US09068179B1 |
Methods for correcting presenilin point mutations
Some aspects of this disclosure provide strategies, systems, reagents, methods, and kits that are useful for the targeted editing of nucleic acids, including editing a nucleic acid encoding a mutant Presenilin1 protein to correct a point mutation associated with a disease or disorder, e.g., with familial Alzheimer's disease. The methods provided are useful for correcting a PSEN1 point mutation within the genome of a cell or subject, e.g., within the human genome. In some embodiments, fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or enzyme domains, e.g., deaminase domains, are provided. In some embodiments, reagents and kits for the generation of targeted nucleic acid editing proteins, e.g., fusion proteins of Cas9 and nucleic acid editing enzymes or domains, are provided. |
| US09068177B2 |
Innovative discovery of therapeutic, diagnostic, and antibody compositions related to protein fragments of glutaminyl-tRNA synthetases
Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications. |
| US09068176B2 |
Polypeptides having endoglucanase activity and polynucleotides encoding same
The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having endoglucanase activity, catalytic domains, cellulose binding domains and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains or cellulose binding domains. |
| US09068173B2 |
Sequence-determined DNA fragments encoding trehalose-6P phosphatase proteins
The present invention provides DNA molecules that constitute fragments of the genome of a plant, and polypeptides encoded thereby. The DNA molecules are useful for specifying a gene product in cells, either as a promoter or as a protein coding sequence or as an UTR or as a 3′ termination sequence, and are also useful in controlling the behavior of a gene in the chromosome, in controlling the expression of a gene or as tools for genetic mapping, recognizing or isolating identical or related DNA fragments, or identification of a particular individual organism, or for clustering of a group of organisms with a common trait. |
| US09068169B2 |
CD56 positive human adult pancreatic endocrine progenitor cells
The invention relates to the discovery of a selective cell surface marker that permits the selection of a unique subset of pancreatic stems cells having a high propensity to differentiate into insulin producing cells or into insulin producing cell aggregates. |
| US09068168B2 |
Boundary conditions for the arrangement of cells and tissues
The present invention relates to the arrangement of one or more cells in a medium or on a substrate through the use of boundary conditions, which are changes in local environment compared to the medium or substrate alone or cause an alteration of cell response upon interaction of a cell with the boundary condition. |
| US09068166B2 |
Use of compounds for inducing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to chondrocytes
Use of a compound of Formula 1 for inducing differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to chondrocytes, and a pharmaceutical composition for treating a cartilage disease, which includes chondrocytes in which differentiation from mesenchymal stem cells is induced by the compound of Formula 1, are provided. Differentiation of the mesenchymal stem cells treated with the compound of Formula 1 to chondrocytes is specifically induced, and thus the compound can be used to effectively treat a cartilage disease such as arthritis, cartilage damage, and a cartilage defect. |
| US09068161B2 |
Laccases and uses thereof
The present invention relates to novel enzymes and the uses thereof. The invention also relates to methods of producing such enzymes, coding nucleic acid molecules, recombinant cells and methods of modifying biomass from such materials. The invention is particularly suited to degrade biomass and/or to improve biomass degradation. The invention also relates to various applications of the enzymes of the invention for the production of bioenergy (such as bioethanol), as well as in the field of chemistry, paper industry, textile industry and beverage industry. |
| US09068159B2 |
Bacteriophage and their uses
There is provided a bacteriophage capable of lysing a P. acnes bacterium and incapable of lysing a bacterium which is not P. acnes, and which is incapable of sustaining lysogeny in a bacterium. There is also provided a pharmaceutical composition comprising such a bacteriophage. |
| US09068155B2 |
Array of micromolded structures for sorting adherent cells
An apparatus for collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies includes: a common substrate formed from a flexible resilient polymeric material and having a plurality of wells formed therein; and a plurality of rigid cell carriers releasably connected to said common substrate, with said carriers arranged in the form of an array, and with each of the carriers resiliently received in one of the wells. A method of collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies with such an apparatus is carried out by depositing a liquid media carrying cells on the apparatus so that said cells settle on or adhere to said the carriers; and then (c) releasing at least one selected carrier having said cells thereon by gradual application of release energy to each carrier from the cavity in which it is received (e.g., by pushing with a probe). |
| US09068152B2 |
Cleaning composition having high self-adhesion and providing residual benefits
A composition for treating a hard surface. The composition has: (a) at least one adhesion promoter; (b) at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of: anionic, non-ionic, cationic, amphoteric, zwitterionic, and combinations thereof; (c) mineral oil; (d) water; (e) optionally, at least one solvent; and wherein the composition is self-adhering upon application to a surface to be treated, and wherein the composition provides a wet film to said surface when water passes over said composition and surface. |
| US09068151B2 |
Photolabile pro-fragrances
Fragrances having a fresh character are usually very volatile and therefore not very economical in typical applications such as washing or cleaning processes for example. For that reason they have to be used in relatively large amounts in order to bring about appropriate effects. The present invention describes photolabile pro-fragrances that allow for a greatly improved persistence of the fragrance impression, in particular one having a fresh character, in typical applications. A more economical use of the fragrances in question can be ensured in this way. |
| US09068150B2 |
Oxidizing bleach composition
The invention provides an aqueous bleaching solution for substrate treatment. The aqueous bleaching solution features a source of oxidant and a plurality of optically functional nanoparticles. The optically functional nanoparticles are nanoparticles in the range of about 0.1 nanometers to about 400 nanometers in size. The aqueous bleaching solution may optionally include one or more an oxidant-stable surfactants and optionally, one or more oxidant-stable polymers, and adjuncts. The optically functional nanoparticles are extremely stable in the aqueous bleaching solution and remain substantially suspended in the aqueous bleaching solution due to their extremely small size despite having an average density greater than that of the bleaching solution. The optically functional nanoparticles provide at least one optical functional benefit to the bleaching solution owing to their uniform and stable suspension throughout the solution, including such benefits as uniform light absorption, light and radiation scattering, fluorescent emission, phosphorescent emission, coloration, and visual aesthetic benefits and the like. Further, optically functional benefits include those benefits provided to a substrate or surface treated with the aqueous bleaching solutions whereby the optically functional property is transferred either temporarily or permanently to the substrate or surface following contact with bleaching solutions containing the optically functional nanoparticles. |
| US09068141B2 |
Process for the modification of Curcuma aromatica essential oil
Curcuma aromatica essential oil is blue-black dark liquid with camphoraceous, woody, amber and spicy characteristic odor and is less valued in market, however the prepared value added products have very good shining color with the improved fragrance. The present invention relates to an efficient process for the modification of Curcuma aromatica essential oil to develop value added fragranced products, the process comprising the steps of mixing of essential oil with one solvent or a combination of more than one solvents, cooling the mixture over ice bath or at lower temperature at rotation of 1000 rpm or at simple magnetic stirrer at high speed, addition of reducing agent at different proportion at a certain time period for desired product, after completion of the reaction, addition of ice water to the reaction mixture to terminate the reaction, extracting the mixture using solvent for three to five times, washing the extractive with dilute acidic water and then with water, washed product was dried at lower temperature to obtain modified essential oils in order to develop fragranced products with recovery of 60 to 95% and use of the modified essential oil in the range between 0.05 to 100% in perfumery or allied industries. |
| US09068132B2 |
Hydroprocessing catalysts and methods for making thereof
A method to reduce metal deposit in the hydroprocessing or upgrade of heavy oil feedstock is provided. The method comprises feeding an improved catalyst feed to the system, with the improved catalyst feed comprising a fresh slurry catalyst and a deoiled spent catalyst, with the deoiled spent catalyst being present in an amount of at least 10% the catalyst feed for the heavy oil upgrade system to have at least a 5% reduction in metal contaminant build-up compared to heavy oil upgrade system without the deoiled spent catalyst in the feed. |
| US09068127B2 |
Process for removing sulfur compounds from vacuum gas oil
A process for removing a nitrogen compound and a sulfur compound from a hydroprocessed vacuum gas oil feed includes contacting the hydroprocessed vacuum gas oil feed comprising the nitrogen compound and the sulfur compound with a VGO-immiscible phosphonium ionic liquid to produce a hydroprocessed vacuum gas oil and VGO-immiscible phosphonium ionic liquid mixture, and separating the mixture to produce a hydroprocessed vacuum gas oil effluent having a reduced nitrogen compound and sulfur compound content relative to the vacuum gas oil feed. It was found that the amount of the sulfur compound being removed was significantly improved by first removing the nitrogen compounds, especially polar nitrogen compounds. |
| US09068125B2 |
Process for the recovery of pure aromatics from hydrocarbon fractions containing aromatics
A process for the recovery of a pure aromatics-containing product is disclosed. This product is obtained by extractive distillation of a gasoline rich in aromatics, in which olefins, diolefins and polyolefins are separated, and this extractive distillation is followed by a hydrogenation of the recovered aromatics-rich, olefin-lean product stream, in which the alkylated aromatics, especially toluene and xylene, are dealkylated and the paraffinic dealkylation products further converted into methane so that a significant portion of hydrogen can be saved by carrying out the hydrogenation subsequent to the extractive distillation, as the aromatics mixture is then free of olefins and no hydrogen is required for an olefin hydrogenation, with extractive distillation and recovery of the extracting solvent taking place in one column. An apparatus for carrying out the process described is also disclosed. A column is preferably used for the extractive distillation which allows performing the extractive distillation with a solvent recycling system so that it is not required to provide an additional stripping column for removing the extracting solvent. |
| US09068122B2 |
Multi-pipe external-heating coal decomposition equipment
A multi-pipe external-heating coal decomposition equipment, comprising a airtight kiln body; a channel for impelling and decomposing coal is formed in the kiln body, which has a coal inlet, a coal outlet and a collecting pipe for coal decomposition gas; a heat transfer chamber is formed between the channel and inner wall of the kiln body, which is connected with a high temperature gas heating facility and comprises a heated gas outlet. Because the channel for impelling and decomposing coal is set in a kiln body with high temperature, so a vast of heat gas in high temperature kiln body surrounds the channel and its heat conducts and radiates to the pulverized coal in the channel. Thus, the pulverized coal can fully absorb the heat to be heated for decomposing to the gas, coal tar and coal with high heat-value in the channel. |
| US09068121B1 |
Systems, apparatus and methods for optimizing the pyrolysis of biomass using thermal expansion
A process for pyrolyzing biomass comprises pyrolyzing cellulosic biomass in a fast pyrolysis chamber by heating the cellulosic biomass to a pyrolyzation temperature to generate a pyrolysis vapor flow therefrom. The pyrolysis vapor flow is directed from the fast pyrolysis chamber along a vapor flow conduit to a condensation trap at a temperature sufficient to condense the vapor to liquid and generate a thermal gradient along the vapor flow conduit between the pyrolysis chamber and condensation trap. A majority of the pyrolysis vapor flow along the vapor flow conduit to the condensation trap is achieved by natural convection. Systems that can practice this process are also disclosed. |
| US09068119B2 |
Method for producing mono-hydroxy-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acids, esters and salts using a vinyl ester of a carobxylic acid and the use thereof
A method for producing mono-hydroxy-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acids, esters and salts. The method is includes: a) reacting a phosphinic acid source (I) with olefins (IV) in the presence of a catalyst A to give an alkylphosphonous acid, the salt or the ester (II) thereof, b) reacting the alkylphosphonous acid so obtained, the salt or the ester (II) thereof with a vinyl ester of a carboxylic acid of formula (V) in the presence of a catalyst B to give a mono-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acid derivative (VI) and c) reacting the mono-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acid derivative (VI) so obtained in the presence of a catalyst C to give a mono-hydroxy-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acid derivative (III), the catalyst A is a transition metal, a transition metal compound or a catalyst system including a transition metal, or a transition metal compound and at least one ligand, and the catalyst B is a peroxide-forming compound and/or a peroxo compound or an azo compound, and the catalyst C is an acid or a base. |
| US09068118B2 |
Luminescent material of gallium indium oxide and preparation method thereof
A luminescent material of gallium indium oxide and preparation method thereof are provided. The luminescent material of gallium indium oxide has a chemical formula of GaInO3:zM, wherein, M is the metal nano-particle which is selected from one or two of Ag, Au, Pt and Pd, and z meets the condition of 1×10−5≦z≦0.02. The method for preparing the luminescent material comprises the following steps: (1) preparing the mixed solution containing indium ion and gallium ion; (2) adding chelator and crosslinking agent into the mixed solution to obtain a chelate solution; (3) adding M nano-particles sol which is surface treated into the chelate solution, heating by water-bath and stirring, drying to obtain the precursor of the luminescent material; (4) preheating the precursor, cooling, grinding, calcining, then cooling and grinding again to obtain the luminescent material. |
| US09068116B2 |
Luminescent material
According to one embodiment, the luminescent material emits light with an emission peak within a wavelength range of 490 to 580 nm when excited with light having a wavelength range of 250 to 500 nm and includes a particle containing a Sr3Si13Al3O2N21-based crystal activated by Eu. The particle includes an outer region which is within a depth of 5 nm from a surface of the particle and an inner region which is deeper than the outer region. The outer region and the inner region satisfy a ratio Oouter/Oinner of 1.0 to 3.8. Oouter is an average of oxygen concentration in the outer region and Oinner is an average of oxygen concentration in the inner region. |
| US09068115B2 |
Vacuum fluorescent display apparatus having barium absorbent
A vacuum fluorescent display apparatus comprising a filament cathode (10) and an anode (7); the filament cathode being arranged in a vacuum container, and used for releasing low-energy electrons; the anode having a phosphor (8) adhering thereto, and being struck by the low-energy electrons and thereby caused to emit light; wherein a structural body (9) is provided to a region in which the low-energy electrons released by the cathode can be controlled; the structural body having an electrically conductive or semi-conductive metal oxide formed at a portion that is bombarded by low-energy electrons. |
| US09068111B2 |
Scintillator having a phase separation structure and radiation detector using the same
Provided is a scintillator used for radiation detection in an X-ray CT scanner or the like, the scintillator having a unidirectional phase separation structure having an optical waveguide function, which eliminates the need of formation of banks for preventing crosstalk. The scintillator has a waveguide function instead of the banks or the like. The scintillator includes: a first crystal phase including multiple columnar crystals having unidirectionality; and a second crystal phase for covering a side of the first crystal phase. The first crystal phase includes a perovskite type oxide material including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Lu and Gd, and a rare earth element as an emission center. The first crystal phase emits light by radiation excitation. |
| US09068110B2 |
Polishing slurry and chemical mechanical planarization method using the same
A polishing slurry for a chemical mechanical planarization process includes polishing particles and polyhedral nanoscale particles having a smaller size than the polishing particles and including a bond of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O). |
| US09068105B2 |
Heat-seal coating
Described herein is a heat-seal coating which, when going through the recycled paper making process, will readily break down without any major amount of by-product that needs to be landfilled; can be made into paper again; breaks down in a commercial composting facility; and decomposes into basic materials such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and water. The heat seal coating or top coat comprises three components: (1) a barrier polymer; (2) a polymer that provides some barrier properties and softness to the formulation; and, (3) a heat-curable adhesive. |
| US09068101B2 |
Sizing compositions and sized products for thermoplastic composites
Sizing compositions to size fibers or particles used in plastic composites are described. The compositions may include a solution with a polymerization compound selected from: (a) at least one non-isocyanate-containing polymerization initiator (PI) for initiating the polymerization of caprolactam monomers; or (b) at least one precursor for a non-isocyanate-containing PI for initiating the polymerization of caprolactam monomers. Methods of making the sizing the composition, as well as methods of making reinforced thermoplastic composites from sized fibers or particles, are also described. |
| US09068099B2 |
Hydrophobic coatings that provide renewable hydrophilic surface
Paints and coatings that change the coated surface from hydrophobic to a hydrophilic, self-cleaning surface when exposed to atmosphere are described. The compositions include a plurality of boronic acid functionalized polymers, and a blocking agent contacting at least one of the plurality of boronic acid, wherein the blocking agent is configured to be removed by a stimulus to provide a renewable hydrophilic, self-cleaning polymer coating. |
| US09068096B2 |
Perfluoropolyethers as ink additives
An ink is disclosed. The ink composition includes an ink vehicle, a colorant, and a fluorosurfactant, wherein the fluorosurfactant is a polymer having the general formula: wherein p is any integer, q is any integer, Z1 and Z2 are each fluorine or any functional group, and R1, R2, R3 are each fluorine, any alkyl group, or any functional group, and wherein R1, R2, R3, Z1, and Z2 are not all fluorine and the fluorosurfactant lowers the surface tension of the ink vehicle. A method for improving a property of an ink is also disclosed. |
| US09068093B2 |
Surface modification of carbon black
A process for modifying the surface of a carbon black by contacting said carbon black with a conjugated diimine compound. The conjugated diimine compound may comprise various substituents to provide the carbon black with desired corresponding properties, such as groups to impart increased hydrophilicity and self-dispersibility to the carbon black. Other embodiments relate to novel carbon black products, which may be prepared according to a process of the invention. The carbon black products may be used in the same applications as conventional carbon blacks. Such uses include, but are not limited to, plastic compositions, aqueous inks, aqueous coatings, rubber compositions, paper compositions, and textile compositions. In a specific embodiment, the resulting surface modified carbon black is employed as a pigment in an aqueous inkjet ink composition. |
| US09068087B2 |
Aqueous binder composition
The present invention relates to an aqueous binder composition comprising (a) at least one emulsion polymer comprising as monomer units a C1-C8 alkyl (meth)acrylate, a vinylaromatic compound having up to 20 carbon atoms or mixtures thereof, (b) at least one water-soluble alkyd resin having a weight-average molecular weight of between 5000 and 40 000 Da, and (c) at least one alkyd resin having a weight-average molecular weight of more than 100 000 Da in the form of an aqueous emulsion, wherein the solids content of the mixture of (a), (b), and (c) is less than 60% by weight, and also to their use and preparation. |
| US09068086B2 |
Compositions for antireflective coatings
A composition comprising the following: A) a cure catalyst selected from Formula A: [NR1′R2′R3′R4′]+X− (Formula A), R1′, R2′, R3′, R4′ are each independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, or substituted aryl; X is a monovalent anion, and wherein at least one of R1′, R2′, R3′ or R4′ is a methyl; and B) a prepolymer formed from a first composition comprising: Ra comprises one or more multiple bonds, provided that, if Ra comprises more than one multiple bond, these multiple bonds are not in a conjugated configuration; R1, R2, R3 are described herein; Rb is selected from H or a saturated group comprising alkyl, alkylene, or alkylidene; R4, R5, R6 are described herein; Rc comprises more than one multiple bond, and these multiple bonds are in a conjugated configuration; R7, R8, R9 are described herein; and R10, R11, R12, R13 described herein. |
| US09068077B2 |
Light-conversion flexible polymer material and use thereof
A light-conversion flexible polymer material consists of an organic silicone rubber (bi-component addition thermal vulcanizing liquid silicone rubber, 20.0-75.0%), a diluting agent (silicone oil, 10.0-20.0%), a luminescent material (one or more of aluminate, silicate, siliconitride and oxysulfide luminescent materials, 15.0-65.0%) and auxiliary. The polymer material can be bent randomly as required. The polymer material is made by mixing raw materials uniformly in a blending container, inpouring the obtained mixture into a mold and thermal-curing. The polymer material is used on the surface of a blue-light LED and the luminescent material in the light-conversion flexible polymer material can be excitated by light emitted from the blue light LED to give out light, which is combined with residual blue light into white light. The polymer material can be widely used in light-source devices such as lamp, nixie tube and backlight. |
| US09068074B2 |
Composition for formation of cured epoxy resin, and cured products thereof
An object of the present invention is to provide a composition for the formation of a cured epoxy resin, wherein the composition can suppress a curing reaction at a low temperature to thereby enhance one-pack stability, and can also be subjected to a heating treatment to thereby effectively cure a resin. The present invention provides a composition for the formation of a cured epoxy resin, the composition comprising the following components (A), (B) and (C): (A) an epoxy resin; (B) a clathrate compound of a carboxylic acid derivative represented by formula (I): R(COOH)n (I); and an imidazole compound represented by formula (II); and (C) a tetrakisphenol type compound represented by formula (III). |
| US09068073B2 |
Method of improving scratch resistance and related products and uses
The present invention relates to methods of improving the scratch resistance of plastics materials and products made from them, such as articles in the automotive industry e.g. for the interior of automobiles, as well as the use of certain additives for that purpose and related invention embodiments. The improving comprises adding a friction modifier, and in addition a grafted polymer and a fatty acid amide, to a rubber modified polyolefin composition used as polymer substrate for the articles. |
| US09068072B2 |
CPVC pipe with 25% higher hydrostatic design basis than required under ASTM D2846
CPVC pipe in diameters in the range from 15 mm (0.5 inch) to 15.24 cm (6 ins), to carry hot and cold aqueous streams under 690 KPa (100 psi) pressure and 82.2° C. (180° F.) in continuous service, is extruded from a compound in which the CPVC has a high Cl content in the range from 66.5%-70%, when modified with either of two specific impact high rubber modifiers in an amount greater than 5 parts but no more than 6 parts per 100 parts of CPVC. Extruded CPVC pipe provides a HDB measured according to ASTM D2837-01 which is 25% or more greater than that required for commercial pipe as specified in ASTM D2846. As a result, both SDR-11 and SDR-13.5 pipe are produced which provide a HDB of at least 1250 psi (8.62 MPa) at the 100,000 hr intercept. |
| US09068071B2 |
Aqueous process for making a stable fluoropolymer dispersion
A novel aqueous polymerization process for making fluoropolymer dispersions is disclosed in which non-ionic non-fluorinated emulsifier is used to produce fluoropolymer emulsions. The emulsifiers used in the invention are those that contain segments of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and/or polytetamethylene glycol with repeating units of 3 to 100. The process and fluoropolymer produced contain no fluorinated surfactant. |
| US09068068B2 |
Polypropylene-based resin composition and automobile parts using the same
The present invention provides a polypropylene-based resin composition, which comprises of a) a polypropylene; b) an ethylene 1-octene copolymer in which r1r2<1 (herein, r1=k11/k12, r2=k22/k21, k11 is a growth reaction rate constant when ethylene is added to a growth chain in which an end active site is ethylene, k12 is a growth reaction rate constant when octene is added to a growth chain in which an end active site is ethylene, k22 is a growth reaction rate constant when octene is added to a growth chain in which an end active site is octene, and k21 is a growth reaction rate constant when ethylene is added to a growth chain in which an end active site is octene); and c) an inorganic filling agent, and a part for vehicles manufactured by using the same. |
| US09068067B2 |
Flexible underfill compositions for enhanced reliability
Underfill materials for fabricating electronic devices are described. One embodiment includes an underfill composition including an epoxy mixture, an amine hardener component, and a filler. The epoxy mixture may include a first epoxy comprising a bisphenol epoxy, a second epoxy comprising a multifunctional epoxy, and a third epoxy comprising an aliphatic epoxy, the aliphatic epoxy comprising a silicone epoxy. The first, second, and third epoxies each have a different chemical structure. Other embodiments are described and claimed. |
| US09068066B2 |
Heat resistant hydrocarbon elastomer compositions
Disclosed herein is a curable composition comprising ethylene copolymer elastomer, a relatively small amount of a polyamide, and optionally a compatibilizer wherein curable composition demonstrates improved heat aging properties without the loss of tensile strength. Also disclosed is the process for making such curable ethylene copolymer elastomer. |
| US09068060B2 |
Composite and method for producing the same, rubber composition, and pneumatic tire
The present invention aims to provide a composite including a rubber component in which surface-treated silica with a small particle size is uniformly dispersed, and a method for producing the composite. The present invention also aims to provide a rubber composition including the composite, the rubber composition capable of achieving both fuel efficiency and abrasion resistance while having excellent processability. The present invention also aims to provide a pneumatic tire including the rubber composition. The present invention relates to a composite formed from a compound latex prepared by mixing a natural rubber latex and a dispersion of surface-treated silica formed from a water glass, the surface-treated silica having an average particle size of not more than 100 nm and having a chemically-treated surface. |
| US09068058B2 |
Color-changing wood filler
A composition for use as a wood-filler that includes a modified styrene butadiene latex; at least one pH indicator, wherein pH indicator causes the composition to change color as the composition dries; and one or more types of microspheres, wherein the microspheres provide durability and stainability to the wood-filling composition. |
| US09068052B2 |
Polymerizable composition, crosslinkable resin molded body, crosslinked resin molded body, and laminate
A polymerizable composition including a cycloolefin monomer mixture, a metathesis polymerization catalyst, and a crosslinking agent, the cycloolefin monomer mixture including a compound represented by a formula and an additional cycloolefin compound, the polymerizable composition producing a crosslinkable resin having a modulus of elasticity at 100° C. and a modulus of elasticity at 140° C. of 1.0×108 Pa or less when subjected to a ring-opening polymerization reaction at 170° C. or less, and the crosslinkable resin producing a crosslinked resin having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 160° C. or more when subjected to a crosslinking reaction. |
| US09068040B2 |
Solvent resistant thermoplastic toughened epoxy
Thermoplastic toughened epoxy resin for use in making prepreg for aerospace applications. The resin includes an epoxy resin component comprising a tri functional epoxy resin and/or tetra functional epoxy, a thermoplastic component and 4,4′-Bis(p-aminophenoxy) biphenyl (BAPB) as the curing agent. The use of BAPB as a curative was found to increase the resistance of the cured resin to attack by solvents. |
| US09068038B2 |
Extrudable pressure sensitive adhesive composition and methods for preparing the same
A phase-separated polymeric composition comprising a first phase including polyurethane domains; and a second phase including a butyl rubber matrix. |
| US09068035B2 |
Liquid coating composition containing a latent catalyst
A liquid coating composition containing a crosslinkable binder A, as an optional component a crosslinker B for the binder A, and a latent catalyst C, wherein C is a carboxyl-functional resin which is present in the liquid coating composition as particles having a melting temperature of 40 to 180° C., measured by DSC at a heating rate of 10 K/min. |
| US09068033B2 |
Branched polyethylene with improved processing and high tear films made therefrom
This invention relates to inventive ethylene-based copolymers comprising 75.0 wt % to 99.5 wt % of ethylene-derived units and 0.5 wt % to 25.0 wt % of C3 to C20 olefin derived units; the inventive ethylene-based copolymer having: a density in the range of from 0.900 to less than 0.940 g/cm3; a g′(vis) of less than 0.80; a melt index, I2, of from 0.25 to 1.5 g/10 min.; a Mw/Mn within a range from 3.0 to 6.0, and Mz/Mn greater than 8.0; and an absence of a local minimum loss angle at a complex modulus, G*, of 1.00×104 to 3.00×104 Pa. |
| US09068030B2 |
Propylene homopolymer having high melt strength and preparation method thereof
The present invention provides a process for preparing high melt strength propylene polymer by direct polymerization, comprising that a propylene polymer with wide molecular weight distribution and containing “very high molecular weight fraction” can be prepared by controlling the species and ratios of the external electron donors in the Ziegler-Natta catalyst system at different reaction stages according to the requirement for different molecular weight fractions in the different propylene polymerization stage of the series operation, and said polymer has excellent mechanical properties, especially with very high melt strength. The present invention also provides a propylene homopolymer with high melt strength, comprising the following features: (1) the MFR is 0.2-10 g/10 min at 230° C. with a load of 2.16 kg; (2) the molecular weight distribution Mw/Mn is 6-20; (3) the content of the fraction with a molecular weight higher than 5,000,000 is higher than or equal to 0.8 wt %; (4) Mz+1/Mn is higher than or equal to 70. Said homopolymer can be used in the preparation of foam products, thermoforming products, biaxial stretching films, blown films and blow-molded products. |
| US09068028B2 |
Process for the preparation of impact resistant propylene polymer compositions
A process for the preparation of propylene polymer compositions carried out in the presence of a catalyst system comprising (a) a solid catalyst component having average particle size ranging from 15 to 80 μm comprising a magnesium halide, a titanium compound having at least a Ti-halogen bond and at least two electron donor compounds one of which being present in an amount from 50 to 90% by mol with respect to the total amount of donors and selected from succinates and the other being selected from 1,3 diethers, (b) an aluminum alkyl and optionally (c) an external electron donor compound, and comprising the following steps: (i) contacting the catalyst components (a), (b) and optionally (c); (ii) pre-polymerizing up to forming amounts of polymer from about 0.1 up to about 1000 g per gram of solid catalyst component (a); (iii) polymerizing propylene producing a propylene (co)polymer being for at least 85% by weight of insoluble in xylene at 25° C. and (iv) in a successive step, carried out in gas-phase, polymerizing mixtures of ethylene with α-olefins CH2═CHR in which R is a hydrocarbon radical having 1-10 carbon atoms, to produce the said ethylene copolymer. |
| US09068026B2 |
Magnesium halide adducts, catalyst components and catalysts comprising the same, and preparation processes thereof
A magnesium halide adduct is provided, comprising at least one compound of the formula MgXY, at least one compound of the formula ROH, methanol, at least one modifying agent chosen from DOE and o-hydroxy benzoates, and optionally water. Also provided herein are a catalyst component comprising the magnesium halide adduct, a catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising the catalyst component; the respective processes for preparing the magnesium halide adduct and the catalyst component; use of the magnesium halide adduct for preparing the catalyst component, use of the catalyst component in a catalyst for olefin polymerization and use of the catalyst in olefin polymerization; and a process of olefin polymerization. |
| US09068025B2 |
Catalyst component for polymerization of olefin and preparation method
The present invention relates to a catalyst component for olefin polymerization, which comprises the reaction product of at least one organo-magnesium compound, at least one titanium-containing compound, at least one hydroxyl group-containing compound, at least one chlorine-containing organo-aluminum, boron, phosphorus or silicon compound, and at least one polybutadiene block copolymer. The catalyst component of the present invention has well-shaped particles, and a narrow particle size distribution; a polymerization reaction of olefins with the catalyst component produces well-shaped polymer particles with a high bulk density (BD) and an excellent comprehensive catalytic performance. The present invention also relates to a preparation method for said catalyst component and the application thereof, particularly in the homopolymerization and copolymerization of olefins such as ethylene, propylene, butene, hexene and octene. |
| US09068023B2 |
Continuous process for the synthesis of graft polymers based on polyethers
The invention relates to a continuous process for the preparation of amphiphilic graft polymers, wherein a vinyl ester component (B) composed of vinyl acetate and/or vinyl propionate (B1) and, if desired, a further ethylenically unsaturated monomer (B2), is polymerized in the presence of a polyalkylene oxide (A), a free radical-forming initiator (C) and, if desired, an additive (D), at a mean polymerization temperature at which the initiator (C) has a decomposition half-time of from 1 to 500 min, in at least one tubular reactor segment with a feed side and an outlet side, through which the reaction mixture comprising at least a part of component (A) to (C), and if desired (D), streams, a tubular reactor segment and the use of the inventive amphiphilic graft polymer. The invention further relates to an inventive amphiphilic graft polymer and the use thereof. |
| US09068020B2 |
CD133 epitopes
An immunogen includes an isolated peptide of 800 amino acid residues or fewer having the amino sequence ILSAFSVYV (SEQ ID NO:1) with four or fewer amino acid substitutions, a superagonist variant of SEQ ID NO:1, or an amino acid sequence having the formula: (I/K/T/V/M)-L-(S/L)-(A/E/N/D/Q)-(F/V)-(S/M/V/I)-(V/D/R/G/H)-Y-(V/I/L) (SEQ ID NO:13). The immunogens can be used in compositions and in the treatment of disorders. |
| US09068019B2 |
Modified human tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 polypeptide or fragment thereof, and method for preparing same
The present invention relates to a modified human tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 polypeptide to be coupled to a tumor necrosis factor in vivo or ex vivo, or to a fragment thereof. The modified human tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 polypeptide or the fragment thereof according to the present invention exhibit improved resistance against in vivo protease activity, and thus exhibit improved bioavailability and an improved absorption rate. |
| US09068017B2 |
Compositions and methods for inhibiting terminal transferase activity
The present invention relates to systems and methods for amplifying nucleic acid. In particular, systems and methods are provided for inhibiting polymerase based terminal transferase activity within a polynucleotide amplification setting (e.g., polymerase chain reaction). In addition, systems and methods are provided for generating amplified products generated with polynucleotide amplification techniques having reduced 3′ non-templated nucleotide addition. |
| US09068015B2 |
Therapeutic use of a growth factor, METRNL
The present invention relates to the field of therapeutic use of proteins, genes and cells, in particular to the therapy based on the biological function of a secreted therapeutic protein, METRNL, in particular for the treatment of disorders of the nervous system. METRNL is a Nerve Survival and Growth factor with neuroprotective and/or neurogenesis effects. |
| US09068008B2 |
Antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), methods of making same, and uses thereof
The present invention relates to antigen binding molecules (ABMs). In particular embodiments, the present invention relates to recombinant monoclonal antibodies, including chimeric, primatized or humanized antibodies or variants thereof specific for cell surface or membrane bound human CEA. In addition, the present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding such ABMs, and vectors and host cells comprising such nucleic acid molecules. The invention further relates to methods for producing the ABMs of the invention, and to methods of using these ABMs in treatment of disease. In addition, the present invention relates to ABMs with modified glycosylation having improved therapeutic properties, including antibodies with increased Fc receptor binding and increased effector function. |
| US09068005B2 |
Glycosylation engineering of antibodies for improving antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
The present invention relates to the field glycosylation engineering of proteins. More particular, the present invention is directed to the glycosylation engineering of proteins to provide proteins with improved therapeutic properties, e.g., antibodies, antibody fragments, or a fusion protein that includes a region equivalent to the Fc region of an immunoglobulin, with enhanced Fc-mediated cellular cytotoxicity. |
| US09068002B2 |
Treatment of multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis
The invention relates to the use of an antibody which can specifically bind to chemokine receptor CCR2 for producing a medicament utilized for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis in a subject that is preferably a primate or a human. In another embodiment, the invention relates to the use of an antibody which can specifically bind to chemokine receptor CCR2 for producing a medicament that is utilized for depleting monocytes in subjects suffering from multiple sclerosis and/or rheumatoid arthritis. The invention further relates to corresponding in vitro methods and therapeutic methods. And antibody which binds to CD 14, for example, can be used in addition to the antibody that can bind to CCR2. |
| US09068001B2 |
Anti-P-selectin antibodies
Antibodies are disclosed which bind specifically to P-selectin and which block the binding of PSGL-1 to P-selectin. These anti-P-selectin antibodies may also cause dissociation of preformed P-selectin/PSGL-1 complexes. The disclosure identifies a heretofore unrecognized, near N-terminal, antibody binding domain (a conformational epitope) of P-selectin to which the function-blocking antibodies (which may be chimeric, human or humanized antibodies for example) bind. Antibodies are disclosed which bind to the conformational epitope of P-selectin and which have a dual function in blocking binding of PSGL-1 to P-selectin, and in causing dissociation of preformed P-selectin/PSGL-1 complexes. Such single and dual function anti-P-selectin antibodies and binding fragments thereof may be used in the treatment of a variety of inflammatory and thrombotic disorders and conditions. Screening methods for identifying such antibodies are also disclosed. |
| US09068000B2 |
Monoclonal antibodies for enhancing or inhibiting insulin-like growth factor-I
The present invention provides αVβ3 integrin cysteine loop domain agonists and antagonists (including peptide agonists and antagonists and analogs thereof), along with methods of using the same. |
| US09067993B2 |
Antibody neutralizers of human granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor
The present invention relates to a human monoclonal antibody or fragment thereof which specifically binds to and neutralizes primate GM-CSF. |
| US09067991B2 |
Nanobodies against tumor necrosis factor-alpha
The present invention relates to improved Nanobodies™ against Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), as well as to polypeptides comprising or essentially consisting of one or more of such Nanobodies. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding such Nanobodies and polypeptides; to methods for preparing such Nanobodies and polypeptides; to host cells expressing or capable of expressing such Nanobodies or polypeptides; to compositions comprising such Nanobodies, polypeptides, nucleic acids or host cells; and to uses of such Nanobodies, such polypeptides, such nucleic acids, such host cells or such compositions, in particular for prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, such as the prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. |
| US09067989B2 |
Eotaxin-2 (CCL24) inhibitors in inflammatory, autoimmune, and cardiovascular disorders
The presently described subject matter is based on the finding that inhibition of eotaxin-2 by polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies, has a significant protective effect in animal models of inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), colitis, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Thus, provided are pharmaceutical compositions including specific anti-eotaxin 2 antibodies for use alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents in the treatment of inflammatory, autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases. Also provided are specific anti-eotaxin-2 monoclonal antibodies, and methods of treatment utilizing such antibodies. |
| US09067986B2 |
Method for making heteromultimeric molecules
Methods for making heteromultimeric molecules, such as bispecific antibodies, and compositions comprising these molecules are disclosed. The methods include introducing mutations in amino acids that are in contact at the interface of two polypeptides, such that the electrostatic interaction between the ion pairs is altered. |
| US09067981B1 |
Hybrid amyloid-beta antibodies
The present invention provides crystals including amino acids 1-7 of SEQ ID NO:1 and a Fab fragment of 12A11, 12B4, 10D5 or 3D6, as well as of amino acids 1-40 of SEQ ID NO:1 and a Fab fragment of 12A11 or 3D6, as well as methods for preparing the crystals. The present invention also provides a computer implemented method for analyzing binding of a candidate antibody fragment to a peptide including an epitope of amino acids 1-7 of SEQ ID NO:1, a method for identifying an antibody fragment that can mimic the Fab fragment of 12A11, a method for identifying an antibody fragment that can mimic the Fab fragment of 3D6, a method for identifying a candidate antibody fragment that binds to a peptide including an epitope of amino acids 1-7 of SEQ ID NO:1, and a method for designing a humanized antibody that binds to a peptide comprising an epitope of amino acids 1-7 of SEQ ID NO:1. |
| US09067980B2 |
S. aureus polypeptide and antibodies
The invention relates to antigenic polypeptides expressed by pathogenic microbes, vaccines comprising said polypeptides; therapeutic antibodies directed to said polypeptides and methods to manufacture said polypeptides, vaccines and antibodies. |
| US09067977B2 |
Peptides derivatized with A-B-C-D- and their therapeutical use
The invention relates to protracted peptide derivatives such as Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1), exendin-4, and analogs thereof, as well as therapeutic uses thereof. The peptide derivative of the invention comprises a peptide wherein at least one amino acid residue is derivatized with A-B-C-, or A-B-C-D-. These compounds are useful in the treatment or prevention of diabetes type 2 and related diseases. The compounds are potent, have a low ratio of binding affinity to the GLP-1 receptor in the presence of high/low albumin concentrations, have long half-lives, and have a high affinity of binding to albumin, all of which is of potential relevance for the overall aim of achieving long-acting, stable and active GLP-1 derivatives with a potential for once weekly administration. |
| US09067974B2 |
Polymyxin derivatives and uses thereof
The present invention relates to a polymyxin derivative wherein R1, R2 and R3 are optional and R1, R2, R3, R5, R8 and R9 are cationic or neutral amino acid residues selected so that the total number of positive charges at physiological pH is at least two but no more than three; and to a combination product comprising at least two such derivatives. The invention further relates to a method for treating, alleviating or ameliorating an infection in a subject, caused by a Gram-negative bacterium by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a derivative according to the present invention to said subject; to a method for sensitizing Gram-negative bacteria to an antibacterial agent by administering, simultaneously or sequentially in any order a therapeutically effective amount of said antibacterial agent and a derivative according to the present invention to said subject; to methods for developing novel antibiotics; for reducing the nephrotoxicity, for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of natural polymyxins and octapeptins; and for sensitizing clinically important bacteria to a host defence mechanism complement present in serum. Finally, the invention relates to a process for preparing such polymyxin derivatives. |
| US09067970B2 |
Anticancer agents comprising peptides with cancer-specific toxicity
The present invention relates a prophylactic or therapeutic composition for cancer, and more particularly, to a prophylactic or therapeutic composition for cancer comprising a peptide which is represented by an amino acid sequence of the following Formula (I), a method for preventing or treating cancer comprising the step of administering the peptide to a subject, and use of the peptide in the preparation of the prophylactic or therapeutic composition for cancer. (I) APKAMX1LLX2X3L-LX4LQKKGI wherein X1, X2, X3 and X4 are each independently R or K. |
| US09067967B2 |
Peptides useful in the treatment and care of the skin and mucous membranes and their use in cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions
Peptides of general formula (I), their stereoisomers, mixtures thereof and/or their cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, a preparation process, cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions which contain them and their use for the treatment and/or care of conditions, disorders and/or diseases of the skin and/or mucous membranes. R1—Wn—Xm-AA1-AA2-AA3-AA4-AA5-AA6-Yp—Zq—R2 (I) |
| US09067965B2 |
Preparation method of rocuronium
A method for preparing rocuronium is disclosed. 2β-(4-Morpholinyl)-16β-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-5α-androstan-3α-ol-17β-acetate is used as a starting material and is directly reacted with 3-bromopropene at ambient temperature to produce rocuronium. |
| US09067963B2 |
N-alkyl 2-(disubstituted)alkynyladenosine-5-uronamides as A2A agonists
The present invention provides N-alkyl 2-(disubstituted)alkynyladenosine-5′-uronamides and derivatives thereof and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same that are selective agonists of A2A adenosine receptors (ARs). These compounds and compositions are useful as pharmaceutical agents. |
| US09067959B2 |
Method for precipitating lignin from black liquor by utilizing waste gases
The method is for separation of lignin from original black liquor. Lignin is precipitated in a first acidification stage followed by dewatering a first lignin suspension while forming a first filter cake. The first lignin filter cake is suspended in a second acidification stage whereupon a second lignin suspension is obtained. The second lignin suspension is dewatered to form a second filter cake. The second filter cake is washed and the washed second lignin cake is dewatered to obtain a lignin product. Waste gases from the second acidification stage is recirculated back to the first acidification stage and mixed with the original black liquor. |
| US09067956B2 |
Zeolite porous metal bis(imidazole) coordination polymers and preparation method thereof
The present invention discloses zeolite metal bis(imidazole) coordination polymers and preparation method thereof. The new class of zeolite coordination polymers of the present invention is a chemical compound with the following general chemical formula {[M(BIm)]×xDMF×yC2H6O×zH2O}∞, in which when M=Zn, x=0.9, y=0, z=0; when M=Cu, x=1.2, y=0, z=0; when M=Mn, x=2.0, y=0, z=0; when M=Ni, x=0.4, y=1.2, z=1.0, BIm is 1,2-bis((5H-imidazol-4-yl)methylene)hydrazine, DMF is N,N-dimethyl formamide, H2O is water. A solvothermal method or slow diffusion is used on the compounds to obtain crystals of high purity. The coordination polymers of the present invention have good thermal stability, and have strong adsorption performance for CO2 under conditions of 0° C. and normal pressure as adsorbent materials. |
| US09067953B2 |
Systems for carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide removal
This invention relates to sulfur based compounds useful in methods of carbon dioxide or sulfur dioxide removal. |
| US09067951B2 |
Process and intermediates for the production of CCR2 antagonists
The present invention relates to a process for the production of novel antagonists for CCR2 (CC chemokine receptor 2) and intermediates thereof. |
| US09067949B2 |
Benzofuro[3,2-c] pyridines and related analogs as serotonin sub-type 6 (5-HT6) modulators for the treatment of obesity, metabolic syndrome, cognition and schizophrenia
The present invention relates to benzofuro[3,2-c]pyridine and azepine analogs as serotonin sub-type 6 (5-HT6) modulators, pharmaceutical compositions including these compounds, methods of preparation, and use thereof. These compounds are useful in the treatment of central nervous system disorders including obesity, metabolic syndrome, cognition, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, rare and orphan diseases, and sleep disorders. The subject compounds have the structure of formula (I) with the substituents being described herein. |
| US09067947B2 |
Organic electroluminescent materials and devices
A new class of compounds containing aza-dibenzothiophene or aza-dibenzofuran are provided. The compounds may be used in organic light emitting devices giving improved stability, improved efficiency, long lifetime and low operational voltage. In particular, the compounds may be used as the host material of an emissive layer having a host and an emissive dopant, or as a material in an enhancement layer. |
| US09067946B2 |
Flindersia alkaloids, derivatives and analogs: compositions and methods for producing the same
The present invention provides methods for chemically synthesizing naturally-occurring alkaloids, for example, Flindersia alkaloids, and their analogs and derivatives. Generally, the precursor borrerine is synthesized from tryptamine in the presence of an alkylating agent, an acylating agent and a reducing agent and dimerized in the presence of an acid, for example, tetrafluoroacetic acid, hydrochloric acid or acetic acid to yield the products. Analog and derivative compounds are produced by derivatizing one or more of the tryptamine, alkylating agent or acylating agent. Also provided are the synthetic alkaloids and derivatives and analogs thereof produced by the synthetic methods. |
| US09067944B2 |
Process for the preparation of anagrelide and analogues thereof
The present invention relates to a novel process for producing anagrelide, 6,7-dichloro-1,5-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]quinazolin 2(3H)-one, or certain analogs thereof. The process of the invention also provides improved processes for producing key intermediates required for the synthesis of anagrelide or certain analogs thereof. |
| US09067939B2 |
1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines and therapeutic uses thereof
Provided herein are compounds according to Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and compositions comprising the same, for use in various methods, including treating cancers such as colon, ovarian, pancreatic, breast, liver, prostate and hematologic cancers: |
| US09067938B2 |
Pyrazolopyridinone derivatives as LPA receptor antagonists
The present invention relates to novel pyrazolopyridinone derivatives according to formula (I) and a process of manufacturing thereof. These pyrazolopyridinone derivatives can be used as LPA receptor antagonists for the treatment of various herein disclosed diseases. |
| US09067937B2 |
1,5-naphthyridine derivatives and MELK inhibitors containing the same
The present invention directs a compound represented by formula (I). |
| US09067936B2 |
4-(8-methoxy-1-((1-methoxypropan-2-yl)-2-(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)-1 H-imidazo[4,5-C]quinolin-7-yl)-3,5-dimethylisoxazole and its use as bromodomain inhibitor
Novel quinoline compounds pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and their use in therapy. |
| US09067928B2 |
Compounds and methods of use
In one aspect, the present invention provides for a compound of Formula I in which in Formula I, the variables X1, X2a, X2b, X2c, R1, B, L, E, A and the subscript n are as defined herein. In another aspect, the present invention provides for pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I as well as methods for using compounds of Formula I for the treatment of diseases and conditions (e.g., cancer, thrombocythemia, etc) characterized by the expression or over-expression of Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic proteins, e.g., of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL proteins. |
| US09067923B2 |
Substituted quinoxalines
A nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound represented by formula (I-A): (wherein R1A represents lower alkyl which may be substituted with lower alkoxy, R3A represents lower alkyl substituted with fluorine atom(s), and R4A represents an optionally substituted aromatic heterocyclic group) or the like, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and the like, are provided. |
| US09067920B2 |
Compounds useful for inhibiting Chk1
The present invention provides an aminopyrazole compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, that inhibits Chk1 and is useful in the treatment of cancer. |
| US09067919B2 |
Use of dibenzofurans and dibenzothiophenes substituted by nitrogen-bonded five-membered heterocyclic rings in organic electronics
The present invention relates to the use of dibenzofurans and dibenzothiophenes which have at least one nitrogen-bonded five-membered heterocyclic ring as a substituent as host, blocker and/or charge transport material in organic electronics. The present invention further relates to dibenzofurans and dibenzothiophenes which comprise at least one nitrogen-bonded five-membered heterocyclic ring and at least one carbazolyl radical as substituents, to a process for preparation thereof, and to the use of these compounds in organic electronics. |
| US09067918B2 |
Crystalline forms of 2-(2-methylamino-pyrimidin-4-yl)-1H-indole-5-carboxylic acid [ (S)-1-carbamoyl-2-(phenyl-pyrimidin-2-yl-amino)-ethyl ]-amide
The present invention relates to polymorphs and hydrates of 2-(2-methylamino-pyrimidin-4-yl)-1H-indole-5-carboxylic acid [(S)-1-carbamoyl-2-(phenyl-pyrimidin-2-yl-amino)-ethyl]-amide, processes for their preparation and their use, in particular in pharmaceutical compositions. |
| US09067916B2 |
Heterocyclic compound
Provided is a novel heterocyclic compound which can be used for a light-emitting element, as a host material of a light-emitting layer in which a light-emitting substance is dispersed. A heterocyclic compound represented by a general formula (G1) is provided. In the formula, A represents any of a substituted or unsubstituted dibenzothiophenyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted dibenzofuranyl group, and a substituted or unsubstituted carbazolyl group, R11 to R19 separately represent any of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group having 6 to 14 carbon atoms, and Ar represents a substituted or unsubstituted arylene group having 6 to 13 carbon atoms. |
| US09067914B1 |
Tropomyosin-related kinase (TRK) inhibitors
Tropomyosin-related kinase inhibitors (Trk inhibitors) are small molecule compounds useful in the treatment of disease. Trk inhibitors can be used as pharmaceutical agents and in pharmaceutical compositions. Trk inhibitors are useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disease, defects of bone metabolism and/or cancer, and are particularly useful in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), pain, and pain associated with OA. Trk inhibitors are also useful for inhibiting tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA), tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), tropomyosin-related kinase C (TrkC), and/or c-FMS (the cellular receptor for colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1)). |
| US09067912B2 |
Synthesis of 3-(5-amino-2-methyl-4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)piperidine-2,8-dione
Provided herein are processes for the preparation of 3-(5-amino-2-methyl-4-oxoquinazolin-3(4H)-yl)piperidine-2,6-dione, or an enantiomer or a mixture of enantiomers thereof; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. |
| US09067911B2 |
Piperidine derivatives
The present invention relates to a compound of formula I wherein R1, R2, and Ar are as defined herein or to a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt, to a racemic mixture, or to its corresponding enantiomer and/or optical isomer thereof. These compounds and their pharmaceutical compositions are useful in the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. |
| US09067909B2 |
Photoacid generator, photoresist, coated substrate, and method of forming an electronic device
A photoacid generator compound has formula (1) wherein n is zero or 1; and R1-R6 are each independently hydrogen, halogen, or unsubstituted or substituted C1-20 linear or branched alkyl, C1-20 cycloalkyl, C6-20 aryl, C3-20 heteroaryl, or an acid-generating group having the structure *L-Z−M+] wherein L is an unsubstituted or substituted C1-50 divalent group; Z− is a monovalent anionic group; and M+ is an iodonium or sulfonium cation. Geminal R groups can combine to form a ring with the carbon to which they are attached, as long as no more than two such rings are formed. At least one of R1-R6 includes the acid-generating group or two germinal R groups combine to form the acid-generating group. Also described are a photoresist composition incorporating the photoacid generator compound, a coated substrate including a layer of the photoresist composition, and a method of forming an electronic device using a layer of the photoresist composition. |
| US09067900B2 |
Diaminophenothiazine compounds, a method for preparing same and uses thereof
Novel 2,8-diaminophenothiazine compounds of the following formula: and a method for preparing the same, are presented. The 2,8-diaminophenothiazine compounds are useful in the field of treating liquid or gaseous fluids, especially influents and industrial or domestic effluents. |
| US09067899B2 |
Process for preparing 1,2-benzoisothiazolin-3-ones
Sodium sulfide hydrate is at least partially dehydrated by heating with N-methyl 2-pyrrolidone. 2-Chlorobenzamide is added to the mixture which is heated further. The mixture is cooled and treated with aqueous hydrogen peroxide to give the sodium salt of 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one in good yield. Acidification if desired gives rise to the free 1,2-benzisothiazolin-3-one. |
| US09067895B2 |
Processes for the preparation of key intermediate for the synthesis of rosuvastatin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof
The present invention relates in general to the field of organic chemistry and in particular to a process for the preparation of 5-((E)-2-((2S,4R)-4-hydroxy-6-oxotetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)vinyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-isopropyl-2-(N-methylmethanesulfonylamino)pyrimidine (RSVL) as well as a process for preparing crystalline 5-((E)-2-((2S,4R)-4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-6-oxotetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)vinyl)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-6-isopropyl-2-(N-methylmethanesulfonylamino)pyrimidine (RSVLTBS) useful as key intermediates for the preparation of rosuvastatin or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. |
| US09067889B2 |
Biphenylcarboxamides as ROCK kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to new kinase inhibitors, more specifically ROCK inhibitors, compositions, in particular pharmaceuticals, comprising such inhibitors, and to uses of such inhibitors in the treatment and prophylaxis of disease. In particular, the present invention relates to new ROCK inhibitors, compositions, in particular pharmaceuticals, comprising such inhibitors, and to uses of such inhibitors in the treatment and prophylaxis of disease. In addition, the invention relates to methods of treatment and use of said compounds in the manufacture of a medicament for the application to a number of therapeutic indications including sexual dysfunction, inflammatory diseases, ophthalmic diseases, gastrointestinal diseases and respiratory diseases. |
| US09067887B2 |
Quinolone compound
The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I) wherein X is a hydrogen atom or a fluorine atom; R is a hydrogen atom or alkyl; R1 is (1) cyclopropyl optionally substituted by 1 to 3 halogen atoms or (2) phenyl optionally substituted by 1 to 3 halogen atoms; R2 is alkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, a halogen atom, cyano, etc.; and R3 is 7-oxo-7,8-dihydro-1,8-naphthyridinyl, 3-pyridyl, etc., or a salt thereof. The compound of the present invention has excellent antimicrobial activity against Clostridium difficile and is useful for the prevention or treatment of intestinal infection such as Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. |
| US09067885B2 |
Organic light-emitting device
A heterocyclic compound represented by Formula 1 or Formula 2 below and an organic light-emitting device including the heterocyclic compound: wherein X1, X2, and R1 through R16 are defined as in the specification. |
| US09067884B2 |
Pyrrole compounds that modulate HSP90 activity
The present invention relates to substituted pyrrole compounds and compositions comprising substituted pyrrole compounds. The invention further relates to methods of inhibiting the activity of Hsp90 in a subject in need thereof and methods for treating hyperproliferative disorders, such as cancer, in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a substituted pyrrole compound of the invention, or a pharmaceutical composition comprising such a compound. |
| US09067882B2 |
Low molecular weight cyclic amine containing cationic lipids for oligonucleotide delivery
The instant invention provides for novel cationic lipids that can be used in combination with other lipid components such as cholesterol and PEG-lipids to form lipid nanoparticles with oligonucleotides. It is an object of the instant invention to provide a cationic lipid scaffold that demonstrates enhanced efficacy along with lower liver toxicity as a result of lower lipid levels in the liver. The present invention employs low molecular weight cationic lipids comprising at least one short lipid chain to enhance the efficiency and tolerability of in vivo delivery of siRNA. |
| US09067880B2 |
Process for producing methyl methacrylate having reduced biacetyl content
This invention provides a process for reducing biacetyl in alpha-, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid esters, particularly in acrylic or methacrylic (hereinafter “(meth)acrylic”) esters, which comprise low levels of weak acid. |
| US09067878B2 |
Organogel compositions comprising alkylated aromatic acids
Disclosed is a composition comprising an organogel which comprises: (a) an alkylated aromatic acid compound of the formula or mixtures thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 each, independently of the other, are hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkyl, provided that at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 is —X—Rc, wherein —X— is a linking group between Rc and the aromatic group and Rc is alkyl; and (b) an organic liquid. |
| US09067877B2 |
Process for the production of 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-(3-methylpent-2-en-4-ynyl)cyclohex-1-ene
The present invention relates to an improved process for the production of 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-(3-methylpent-2-en-4-ynyl)cyclohex-1-ene, highly enriched in the Z-isomer, and the use of such compounds in organic syntheses, especially in processes forming intermediates (building blocks) the synthesis of vitamin A or β-carotene or other carotenoids, e.g. canthaxanthin, astaxanthin or zeaxanthin. |
| US09067875B2 |
Tetra-substituted NDGA derivatives via ether bonds and carbamate bonds and their synthesis and pharmaceutical use
Disclosed are nordihydroguaiaretic acid derivative compounds including various end groups bonded by a carbon atom or heteroatom though a side chain bonded to the respective hydroxy residue O groups by an ether bond or a carbamate bond, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of making them, and methods of using them and kits including them for the treatment of diseases and disorders, in particular, diseases resulting from or associated with a virus infection, such as HIV infection, HPV infection, or HSV infection, an inflammatory disease, such as various types of arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases, a metabolic disease, such as diabetes, a vascular disease, such as hypertension and macular degeneration, or a proliferative disease, such as diverse types of cancers. |
| US09067866B2 |
Radiation curable amino(meth) acrylates
The invention relates to amino(meth)acrylates obtained from the reaction of amines with a mixture of epoxy(meth)acrylates and (meth)acrylated diluent and there use for making flexible varnishes, coatings, adhesives and inks. |
| US09067861B1 |
Process for the production of alcohols
The present invention provides a process for the production of alcohols, which process comprises the steps of: (a) reacting an oxygenate and/or olefinic feed in a reactor in the presence of a molecular sieve catalyst to form an effluent comprising olefins, comprising propylene; (b) separating the effluent comprising olefins as obtained in step (a) into at least a first olefinic product fraction comprising propylene and a second olefinic product fraction; (c) subjecting at least part of the first olefinic product fraction as obtained in step (b) to a hydroformylation process to form aldehydes; (d) hydrogenating at least part of the aldehydes as obtained in step (c) to form alcohols; (e) separating at least part of the alcohols as obtained in step (d) into at least a first product fraction of alcohols and a second product fraction of alcohols; and (f) recycling at least part of the first or second product fraction of alcohols to step (a). |
| US09067860B2 |
Process for converting an alkyl tert-alkyl ether into an alkanol and an iso-alkane
The invention relates to a process for converting an alkyl tert-alkyl ether into an alkanol and an iso-alkane wherein the alkyl tert-alkyl ether is contacted with a hydrocracking catalyst in the presence of hydrogen under hydrocracking process conditions. |
| US09067858B2 |
Methods for recovering 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloropropane
Processes for isolating 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloropropane from a crude product stream containing the 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloropropane and ferric chloride. The processes may include deep distillation of the crude, treatment of the crude with a reagent that deactivates the ferric chloride followed by distillation on the deactivated crude stream, aqueous washing of the crude product stream to remove ferric chloride followed by distillation on the deactivated crude stream. Other embodiments simultaneously prepare 1,1,2,3-tetrachloroprene and 1,1,1,2,3-pentachloroprane. |
| US09067857B2 |
Fluorine-containing aromatic compound and manufacturing method therefor
A method of manufacturing a fluorine-containing aromatic compound represented by the following formula (2-1) or formula (2-2): [R is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 12 which may have a substituent other than a fluorine atom, or a monovalent aromatic group which may have a substituent; Rf1 and Rf2 are a fluorine-containing alkyl group having a carbon number of 1 to 12 and Rf1 and Rf2 may be the same or different; and m is an integer of 1 or more, n is an integer of 0 or more and m+n is an integer of 1 or more and 5 or less]. |
| US09067852B2 |
Production of high purity butene-1 from C4 olefins/paraffins mixed gas
A hybrid process comprising an adsorption process and a distillation process for the separation of butene-1 from a C4 hydrocarbon mixture gas including butene-1, trans-2-butene, cis-2-butene, normal butane, isobutane, etc. is provided. The hybrid process comprises introducing a gaseous C4 mixture into the adsorption tower loaded with adsorbents which adsorb olefins selectively to discharge C4 paraffins to the outlet of the tower, desorbing C4 olefins selectively adsorbed in the adsortion tower to produce high purity C4 olefins mixture gas in which isobutane and normal butane was removed, and separating the high C4 olefins mixture gas (a mixture of butene-1, trans-2-butene, cis-2-butene, and a trace amount of C4 paraffins) via distinction to obtain high purity butene-1 including a trace amount of isobutane in the top of the distillation tower and obtain a mixture gas including trans-2-butene, cis-2-butene and a trace amount of normal butane in the bottom of the tower. |
| US09067843B2 |
Phosphatic clay products for use as soil wetting agents, methods of delivery of phosphatic clays to soil, and phosphatic clay coatings for purpose of water retention
Phosphatic clays, and the use of phosphatic clays as a soil wetting agent. Phosphatic clays as wetting agents aid in the retention of water in sandy soil, and/or for prevention or reduction of leaching of nutrients. Due to its unique particle size and shape, phosphatic clay exhibits high water absorbing and retaining qualities. Further, phosphatic clay is readily available as a by-product of mining of phosphatic ore. The phosphatic clay wetting agents increases the effectiveness of the water applied to the soil, thereby reducing the amount of run-off, and reducing the amount of water needed to accomplish sufficient irrigation. The phosphatic clay wetting agents can be delivered to the soil as a sprinkle-on product, spray-on product, soil amendment, fertilizer or seed coating, or fertilizer composition. |
| US09067842B2 |
Encapsulated particle
An encapsulated particle includes a core particle, a polyurethane layer, and a wax. The polyurethane layer is disposed about the core particle and the wax is disposed about the polyurethane layer. The polyurethane layer includes the reaction product of an isocyanate and a polyol component. The polyol component includes a catalytic polyol derived from an aromatic amine-based initiator and a polyether polyol that is different from the catalytic polyol in a weight ratio of from about 1:2 to about 10:1. A method of encapsulating the core particle includes the steps of providing the core particle, the isocyanate, the polyol component, and the wax. The method also includes the steps of mixing and reacting the isocyanate and the polyol component to form a polyurethane, encapsulating the core particle with the polyurethane layer which comprises the polyurethane, and encapsulating the polyurethane layer with the wax. |
| US09067837B2 |
Cleaning stack gas
A method and apparatus for cleaning and recycling stack gas from coal-fired power plants, from natural or propane burning heating plants, or from cement kilns by using renewable catalysts of zeolite to separate pollutants into recyclable and reusable materials. The method reduces from the stack gas carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulfur oxide (SOx) as well as halogens such as chloride and fluorides and trace metals particularly, mercury, lead, and zinc. Bauxite compounds can also be separately collected if desired. The method and apparatus also result in production of fertilizer products by purging with gaseous or liquid nitrogen the zeolite beds through which the stack gas flows. The oxygen split in the beds may be recycled to the burners in the plant. |
| US09067832B2 |
Inorganic fibrous molded refractory article, method for producing inorganic fibrous molded refractory article, and inorganic fibrous unshaped refractory composition
To provide a highly bio-soluble fibrous shaped refractory article which can develop desired heat resistance without containing ceramic fibers such as aluminum silicate fibers, alumina powder and silica powder and can be provided at a low production cost and a low product cost. An inorganic fibrous shaped refractory article comprising 2 to 95 mass % of bio-soluble inorganic fibers having a dissolution ratio in a physiological saline at 40° C. of 1 mass % or more, 2 to 95 mass % of inorganic powder having a needle-like crystal structure and 3 to 32 mass % of a binder, and in particular, it is an inorganic fibrous refractory article wherein the inorganic powder having the needle-like crystal structure has an average length of 1 to 3000 μm and an aspect ratio of 1 to 1000. |
| US09067828B2 |
Method and plant for the production of cement clinker
The method according to the invention for producing cement clinker comprises substantially the following method steps: raw cement material is preheated in a preheater, the preheated material is heated further in a calcining zone while admitting combustion air, and the material heated in this manner is fired in a kiln to form cement clinker, wherein a part of the waste gases developing in the kiln is used to preheat the raw cement material in the preheater, and another part is diverted, and is used in a heat exchanger to preheat the combustion air used in the calcining zone. |
| US09067827B2 |
Method and installation for producing cement clinker
During the production of cement clinker by preheating cement raw meal in a preheater and calcining and sintering the preheated cement raw meal, the exhaust gases which are produced during the calcination and the sintering process are used for preheating and are subsequently cleaned in an SCR catalytic convertor. There are used during the clinker production replacement fuels which contain carbon-containing odorous substances and/or ammonia-containing compounds which are previously dried, wherein a drying exhaust gas which is produced during the drying operation and/or exhaust vapor condensate being used at least partially for exhaust gas quenching upstream of the SCR catalytic convertor, and the carbon-containing odorous substances and/or ammonia-containing compounds in the drying exhaust gas and/or exhaust vapor condensate being converted on the SCR catalytic convertor. |
| US09067818B2 |
Sealing glass composition and article
A sealing glass composition for providing a glass seal in an electrochemical cell is presented. The sealing glass composition includes boron oxide, aluminum oxide, barium oxide, and zirconium oxide, and the glass composition is substantially free of silicon oxide and titanium oxide. The electrochemical cell incorporating the glass seal is also provided. |
| US09067812B1 |
Methods for managing sulfide in wastewater systems
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, in a treatment zone, reacting an oxygen-comprising gas, one or more selected ferric/ferrous chelates, one or more selected nitrates and/or nitrites, and/or anaerobic wastewater. |
| US09067811B1 |
System, method, and control for graphenoid desalination
A method is disclosed for deionizing water and purging ions. A first graphene sheet and a second graphene sheet are positioned between a water flow path input and output. A first electrical charge is applied to the first graphene sheet and a second electrical charge to the second graphene sheet, which causes the first graphene sheet to repel ions of the first electrical charge from transiting apertures in the first graphene sheet, influences ions of the second electrical charge from transiting the apertures in the first graphene sheet, and causes the second graphene sheet to repel ions of the second electrical charge from transiting the second apertures. Water is introduced into the water flow path input, through the first graphene sheet, and then through the second graphene sheet, resulting in deionized water at the output. A sensor monitors the capacitance of the graphene sheets to determine when purging is needed. |
| US09067809B2 |
Apparatus and method for anaerobic wastewater treatment with membrane
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for anaerobic wastewater treatment with a membrane, which effectively generates biogas and suppresses fouling on a membrane surface by performing anaerobic treatment to wastewater. The apparatus for anaerobic wastewater treatment with a membrane includes: an anaerobic reactor for performing anaerobic treatment to wastewater and generating biogas; an anaerobic membrane bio-reactor for filtering wastewater discharged from the anaerobic reactor by means of a membrane module and providing an additional anaerobic treatment space for the wastewater; submerged membrane modules provided in the anaerobic membrane bio-reactor to filter wastewater; rotating disks provided at both sides of the submerged membrane module to induce turbulence to the wastewater by means of rotation; and a second media provided in the anaerobic membrane bio-reactor to circulate according to the flow of the wastewater so that foulants on a surface of the membrane module are detached. |
| US09067807B2 |
Treatment of wastewater
The present invention provides systems, methods and devices for removing contaminants from an aqueous stream. In embodiments, these systems and methods may be applied to particular applications, for example removal of contaminants in aqueous streams associated with the petroleum industry. |
| US09067805B2 |
Water filtering and dispensing system and system for filtering, storing, delivering, and testing water
The invention provides a water dispensing system comprising a container having a first region adapted to store unfiltered water, a second region adapted to store filtered water, and a spout region, a meter housing adapted to receive a water meter, a reservoir disposed within the first region of the container, a filter coupled to the reservoir, the filter being adapted to filter water flowing from the reservoir into the second region of the container, a valve assembly disposed in the second region of the container, the valve assembly being adapted to dispense filtered water from the second region of the container, and a lid coupled to the reservoir. In addition, the invention provides a system for filtering and testing water, comprising a water filtering system used in combination with a water meter for testing the quality of the effluent. |
| US09067802B2 |
Drainage device for closed chamber containing liquid
A drainage device includes a closed chamber, a liquid pumping mechanism, and a liquid discharge mechanism. The drainage device can also include a controller. The closed chamber may be filled with liquid and gas for discharge. The liquid pumping mechanism pumps the liquid in the closed chamber, and prevents the liquid in the liquid pumping mechanism from flowing back to the closed chamber. The liquid discharge mechanism discharges the liquid in the liquid pumping mechanism to the outside, and prevents outside air from flowing into the closed chamber. |
| US09067800B2 |
Method for manufacturing tin(II) oxide powder for replenishing tin component of tin-alloy plating solution, and tin (II) oxide powder manufactured using said method
An object of the present invention is to provide tin(II) oxide powder which has extremely high solubility in an acid or an acidic plating solution, excellent in storage stability in the air and can heighten oxidation-preventive effect of Sn2+ ion in the plating solution. The method for manufacturing tin(II) oxide powder of the present invention comprises Step (11) of preparing an aqueous acidic solution containing Sn2+ ions, Step (12) of neutralizing the aqueous acidic solution by adding an aqueous alkaline solution to prepare a slurry of tin(II) hydroxide, Step (13) of dehydrating the prepared slurry to obtain a slurry of tin(II) oxide, Step (14) of separating the slurry of tin(II) oxide into a solid and a liquid to obtain tin(II) oxide, Step (15) of treating the obtained tin(II) oxide with an aqueous antioxidant solution, and Step (16) of vacuum drying the tin(II) oxide treated with the aqueous antioxidant solution. |
| US09067798B2 |
Method for producing silica-zirconia composite particles each coated with silica layer
Disclosed is a method for producing silica-zirconia composite oxide particles each coated with a silica layer, which is characterized in that a liquid dispersion of silica-zirconia composite oxide particles is obtained by reacting an alkoxide of silicon and/or a condensable compound derived from the alkoxide with an alkoxide of zirconium and/or a condensable compound derived from the alkoxide in a water-containing solvent that contains acetonitrile so that the reaction liquid is to contain not less than 10% by mass of acetonitrile, and then the surface of each silica-zirconia composite oxide particle is coated with a silica layer by reacting the silica-zirconia composite oxide particles dispersed in the liquid dispersion with an alkoxide of silicon and/or a condensable compound derived from the alkoxide in the liquid dispersion of silica-zirconia composite oxide particles. |
| US09067796B2 |
Method of graphene manufacturing
A method for manufacturing graphene by vapor phase epitaxy on a substrate comprising a surface of SiC, characterized in that the process of sublimation of silicon from the substrate is controlled by a flow of an inert gas or a gas other than an inert gas through the epitaxial reactor. Graphene obtained by this method. |
| US09067790B2 |
Vapour deposition process for the preparation of a chemical compound
A vapor deposition process for the preparation of a chemical compound, wherein the process comprises providing each component element of the chemical compound as a vapor, and co-depositing the component element vapors on a common substrate, wherein: the vapor of at least one component element is provided using a cracking source; the vapor of at least one other component element is provided using a plasma source; and at least one further component element vapor is provided; wherein the component elements react on the substrate to form the chemical compound. |
| US09067788B1 |
Apparatus for highly efficient cold-plasma ozone production
An apparatus for efficiently generating ozone in dry air or in oxygen at about 1 bar pressure. The apparatus generates a uniform cold plasma having no arcs or localized discharges that fills the entire generator volume. Electrical pulses having a peak voltage of approximately 20 kV, pulse width of approximately 20-ns FWHM, and repetition rate of approximately 10 kHz drive the generator. Short pulses apply voltage to the generator on a short time scale compared to the time required to form an arc-like discharge, and at an electric field strength many times over DC breakdown, which is not achievable with long electrical pulse widths. The generator is optimized for cool, UV-free operation. Dimensions of the generator are adjusted to optimize production of ozone by tailoring the distribution function of the electrons in the cold plasma. Overall efficiency of the generator approaches 50% of the theoretical quantum efficiency of generating ozone. |
| US09067787B2 |
Method for the formation of PbSe nanowires in non-coordinating solvent
This disclosure concerns a method of making nanowires in a single flask and in non-coordinating solvent involving the reaction of PbO with oleic acid to produce Pb oleate, heating the Pb oleate to a preferred temperature with additional coordinating ligands, injecting a solution of Se to produce a second solution, heating the second solution, and maintaining the temperature, resulting in nucleation and growth of PbSe nanowires. |
| US09067785B2 |
Integration of a closed loop supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle in a steam methane reformer
An integrated reforming and power generation process is provided. This process employs a steam methane reformer to provide a hot process gas stream and a flue gas stream, utilizes the hot process gas stream to provide heat to produce a total steam stream comprising a process steam stream and an excess steam stream, and utilizes the flue gas stream to provide heat to at least a pre-reformer mixture stream, a reformer feed stream, the process steam stream and a pre-reformer steam stream The flue gas stream also provides heat to an integrated power generation process, and the excess steam stream is less than 15% of the total steam stream. |
| US09067784B2 |
Hydrogen storage material and method of using the same
In one embodiment, a method of using hydrogen includes forming a crystalline solid mixture of a metal halide M2(HL)y with a metal borohydride M1(BH4)x; and forming an amorphous liquid mixture from the crystalline solid mixture. |
| US09067783B2 |
Graphene-based photodetector including complex transparent electrode, method of manufacturing the same, and device including the same
A photodetector includes a substrate, a graphene layer disposed on the substrate, a first electrode disposed on the graphene layer, and a second electrode disposed on the graphene layer, where the first and second electrodes are spaced apart from each other, and where each of the first and second electrodes comprises a complex transparent electrode. The complex transparent electrode of the first electrode may have a different composition from the complex transparent electrode of the second electrode. |
| US09067780B1 |
Methods of manufacture of top port surface mount MEMS microphones
Methods for manufacturing multiple top port, surface mount microphones, each containing a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone die, are disclosed. Each surface mount microphone features a substrate with metal pads for surface mounting the package to a device's printed circuit board and for making electrical connections between the microphone package and the device's circuit board. The surface mount microphones are manufactured from a panel of unsingulated substrates, and each MEMS microphone die is substrate-mounted. Individual covers, each with an acoustic port, are joined to the panel of unsingulated substrates, and each individual substrate and cover pair cooperates to form an acoustic chamber for its respective MEMS microphone die, which is acoustically coupled to the acoustic port in the cover. The completed panel is singulated to form individual MEMS microphones. |
| US09067777B2 |
MEMS device, electronic module, electronic apparatus, and mobile unit
A MEMS device includes: a base substrate; a first wiring disposed on the base substrate using a first structure; a second wiring disposed on the base substrate using the first structure and a second structure connected to the first structure; and a MEMS element connected with the first wiring and the second wiring and arranged on the base substrate, wherein the first wiring and the second wiring include a crossing portion where the first wiring and the second wiring cross each other, and at the crossing portion, the first structure of the first wiring and the second structure of the second wiring cross each other. |
| US09067775B2 |
Method for managing orders and dispensing beverages
A method for managing orders and dispensing products into a container. The method may include the steps of prompting a user selection of a product type at an order entry station, printing indicia on the container indicating at least the product type selected, reading the indicia at a product dispensing station, and dispensing the product type selected into the container. |
| US09067770B1 |
Gas powered lift
A portable compressed gas powered lift, said lift possessing an inner and outer frame of a scissor design. The frame possesses rollers, allowing said frame to roll on a surface. Compressed flexible gas bags are mounted to upper and lower gas bag mounting plates, which are correspondingly mounted to the scissor frame. A lifting bar with adjustable lifting arms is mounted to the top of the scissor frame. As a compressed gas is introduced into the flexible gas bags the flexible gas bags expand causing the scissor frame to expand and lift vertically. The compressed gas is controlled by a flexible line, from the flexible gas bags, to a compressed gas control valve, said valve being mounted to a Tee handle. |
| US09067767B2 |
Lifting device efficient load delivery, load monitoring, collision avoidance, and load hazard avoidance
A hook block sensor assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the hook block sensor comprises a housing configured to removably couple about a lifting hook of a lifting device, a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver coupled with the housing and configured for determining a hook block sensor assembly position in three dimensions, a load monitor coupled with the housing and configured for monitoring a load coupled with the lifting hook, including monitoring a load position and a load orientation of the load and a wireless transceiver coupled with the housing and configured for wirelessly providing information including the load position, the load orientation, and the hook block sensor assembly position, to a display unit located apart from the hook block sensor assembly. |
| US09067766B1 |
Hoisting device and system and method for using the same
A hoisting device and, more particularly, an intelligent hoist ring that is capable of monitoring, recording and/or communicating the use of the hoist ring including monitoring, recording and/or communicating the loads on the hoist ring that can be used, inter alia, to determine condition of the hoist ring and whether it can remain in active service and monitoring tightening loads independently of applied loads. |
| US09067765B2 |
Rail for suspended conveyors and suspended cranes
A rail for suspended conveyors and suspended cranes, having a substantially C-shaped profile head for suspending the rail and a profile body connected thereto. The profile head is open at the top, thereby forming a gap running along a longitudinal center plane bounded on both sides by first web segments extending outward from the center plane. Two second web segments opposite each other and running downward and outward as seen in cross section are connected to the first web segments and the rail is made of two profiles disposed symmetrically about the vertical longitudinal center plane as seen in cross section. The rail supports an overload protection in the region of the profile head, and allows simple attachment by suspension supports. In a particular embodiment the first web segments run diagonally outward and upward and the first web segments are angled relative to the longitudinal center plane. |
| US09067760B2 |
Communication with an elevator system
A method for communication between an elevator system and a remote control center includes establishing a communication connection in a communication network. A first signal of the elevator system is received by a communication device of the elevator system through a signal network, and a second signal is transmitted by the communication device in the communication network to a computing apparatus of the remote control center. The communication connection is permanently maintained. |
| US09067757B2 |
Method and reel device for threading tendons into ducts
A method is described for threading a tendon into a duct from an opening at an intermediate point along the length of the duct. Opposite ends of the tendon are threaded from a reel into the two halves of the duct. The tendon is wound on to the reel such that both ends of the tendon can be unwound into the duct simultaneously. A reel and a method for winding the tendon on to the reel are also claimed. The method and reel are particularly suitable for threading coated steel tendons into PT ducts in tall structures such as containment vessels. |
| US09067756B2 |
Filament winding apparatus
A filament winding apparatus prevents a fiber bundle supplied to a liner from interfering with other fiber bundles and fiber supplying guides. First and second guide units include a plurality of fiber supplying guides arranged radially and extending and contracting in a direction approximately perpendicular to a liner central axis. When a fiber bundle supplied from a first supplying guide of the first guide unit crosses between a second supplying guide of the second guide unit and the liner, the distance from the second supplying guide to the liner central axis is made larger than the distance from the first supplying guide to the liner central axis, and in the reverse case, the distance from the first supplying guide to the liner central axis is made larger than the distance from the second supplying guide to the liner central axis. |
| US09067755B2 |
Modular element of creel
A modular element of creel including a structure having at least one support suitable to support a reel or yarn spool; the structure is in the form of a solid polygon and includes a feeder device suitable to allow the feeding of the thread developed by such spool with at least one characteristic, selected from the characteristics of tension and speed, maintained constant and equal to a preset fixed value or function of the operational phase of the machine. The structure is able to be modularly coupled to other similar structures to allow the feeding of more yarn to a textile machine. Every yarn fed by every modular element having its own selected characteristic defined by the feeder device associated with such modular element. |
| US09067752B2 |
Frequency-based web steering in printing systems
Systems and methods are provided for predictively compensating for frequency-based shifts of the position of a web of print media in a continuous-forms printer. The system comprises a sensor and a controller. The sensor is able to detect lateral shifts of the web of print media traveling through the continuous-forms printer. The controller is able to identify a frequency of the lateral shifts of the web, and to steer the web based on the frequency. |
| US09067750B2 |
Method and apparatus for splicing a paper roll
A splicing machine having an alignment mechanism is provided for aligning an end edge of a web of paperboard in preparation for splicing two webs of paperboard. An image display device such as a mirror or display screen allow an operator to view images of the end edge of the web and the alignment position to facilitate aligning the end edge at the alignment position. The alignment position is typically marked by an alignment marker produced by light, such as a laser beam. |
| US09067745B2 |
Medium processor having medium storing boxes flexibly loadable in a slot of a medium storage
A medium processor is provided with a medium storage which can house two small storing boxes next to each other and has plural slots into which the two small storing boxes can be detachably loaded. Thus, the two small storing boxes can be loaded in a space equivalent to one conventional bill storing box, and the small storing boxes can be detached for servicing even when there are two small storing boxes loaded in one slot. Thus, various kinds of media can be handled without impairing maintainability. |
| US09067744B2 |
Robot system, robot, and sorted article manufacturing method
A robot system includes a first loading portion, a plurality of second loading portions provided for each sorting destination, and a robot configured to sort the plurality of articles loaded onto the first loading portion, and to transfer the articles to the second loading portions. The robot includes a robot arm, a tool, a first sensor configured to acquire distance information, an article identifying portion configured to identify the article loaded onto the first loading portion, a second sensor configured to acquire outer shape information, and to acquire sorting destination information, a first calculating portion configured to calculate a shape and size of the article, a sorting destination determining portion configured to determine a sorting destination, and a first operation control portion configured to control the robot arm and the tool so that the article is stacked onto the identified second loading portion. |
| US09067742B2 |
Vessel gripping member comprising a removable nose equipped with a mandrel and an ejection plate
A member (22) for gripping vessels (16) includes: a support (32) that moves along a transport trajectory of the vessel (16); a nose (38) including a mandrel (40) capable of holding a neck (26) of the vessel (16), the nose (38) being fixed removably to a bottom axial end of the support (32); characterized in that the nose (38) includes an ejection plate (46) which is mounted to slide axially around the mandrel (40) between a cladding position towards which it is elastically returned and in which the mandrel (40) protrudes axially downwards and an uncladding position in which the mandrel (40) is axially retracted above a bottom face of the plate (46). A device for replacing such a gripping member is also described. |
| US09067729B2 |
Compartmentalized stacking posts and container with compartmentalized stacking posts
A container is provided with a frame including one or more support structures each having a stacking post with a thin cross-sectional shape. Multiple support structures having such stacking posts can be provided along the length of the container to enable the container to be used in a stacked configuration. The container can provide an expanded interior loadable width for increased loading flexibility and capacity, and can have recessed upper and lower handling fitting joints in order to provide stronger and space-saving connections between a header and an upper handling fitting, between the upper handling fitting and a stacking post, between the stacking post and a lower handling fitting, and/or between the lower handling fitting and a floor component. |
| US09067726B2 |
Stackable and collapsible container
Structures, methods, and systems associated with a stackable and collapsible container are provided. One structure includes a stackable and collapsible container having at least four non-collapsible, load bearing vertical support members attached to vertical walls of the container and capable of supporting the weight of other containers. A top surface is included having a number of sections which include a pivotal connection to one another and which are collapsible about the pivotal connection to an interior of the container. A bottom surface is included having a number of sections which include a pivotal connection to one another and which are collapsible about the pivotal connection to an interior of the container. The top and the bottom surfaces of the container can be fixedly positioned in a number of collapsed states. |
| US09067724B2 |
Wet tissue package
A wet tissue package having a folded wet tissue body that has a separation section formed so that the wet tissues can separate. A housing container houses the folded wet tissue body and has an opening formed for the wet tissues configuring the housed folded wet tissue body to be pulled out therefrom. The wet tissue package also has a base plate attached to the opening and to which a notch section has been formed at a predetermined position. The notch section has a plucking hole and a portion of the opening's edge of the base plate that is attached to the opening. The notch section is provided with a removal hole that interconnects with the plucking hole and separates a wet tissue from the wet tissue body at the separation section. The wet tissue package also has a lid that can seal the plucking hole and removal hole. |
| US09067717B2 |
Bundle spacing device
A bundle spacing device having a first pair of opposing surfaces spaced apart from each other a first distance and a second pair of opposing surfaces spaced apart from each other a second distance, different than the first distance, and generally perpendicular to the first pair of opposing surfaces. The bundle spacing device is configured such that bundles can be coupled to the bundle spacing device in a first position or a second position. The bundle spacing device can also have a first passage extending along a first axis, a second passage extending along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, and a third passage extending along a third axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and parallel to the second axis. |
| US09067715B2 |
Bottle cap
The bottle cap, this invention, is designed to be suitable for the container necks of different size. As recommended, the bottle cap with two connection sections may be assembled in the container necks showing the different sizes of 26.78 MM and 28.0 MM. |
| US09067710B2 |
Remotely openable containment system and installation method
A remotely openable containment system employs a bag which receives contents such as grounding cement and employs a closure member which is secured by a bale. The closure member is attached to one end of the bag adjacent an opening. End portions of the bag are wound around the closure member and secured by the bale. The bale may include a pair of laterally spaced pins which are received in spaced bores of the closure member. At the installation site, the bag is lowered by a line into a hole. At the bottom of the hole, a line on the bale is pulled to release the bale and to permit the contents to discharge through the opening in the bag. Both the bag and the bale are removable from the hole by the attached lines. |
| US09067709B2 |
Synthetic resin double container molded by direct blow molding process
The technical problems of this invention are to overcome a limitation in the aspect of the shape of conventional synthetic resin double containers comprising an inner container and an outer container and to solve a problem of additional steps required to assemble the outer and inner containers. A principle means taken to solve these problems comprises a double container made by a direct blow molding process wherein a space is formed between the outer layer and the inner layer made of synthetic resins that are mutually non-adherent, thus allowing both layers to be left in a detached state due to a difference in mold shrinkage factors between the two layers during the direct blow molding step. |
| US09067705B2 |
Process for forming an insulated container having artwork
A container is formed to include and interior region and a mouth opening into the interior region. The container includes a floor, a side wall coupled to the floor to define the interior region between the floor and the side wall, and artwork on the side wall. |
| US09067703B2 |
Self-aerating wine bottle
The disclosed embodiments concern a self-aerating wine bottle. The self-aerating wine bottle may include a body having a top and a bottom, the top having an opening through which wine is dispensed, and a plurality of aerating shapes located in proximity to the top of the body, the plurality of aerating shapes serving to create a surface area that aerates wine when the wine is dispensed from the top of the body. |
| US09067701B2 |
Modular decorating machine for conical products
A decorating machine applies artwork to a product having a central axis and a frustoconical surface around its central axis. The decorating machine includes a film with artwork, a moveable deck, and a roller. The moveable deck includes a rotating mount on which the product is rotatably mounted. The product undergoes a pendulum-like movement on the deck while the product rotates relative to the moveable deck. The roller has a frustoconical shape that generally corresponds to the frustoconical surface of the product. The film is located between the roller and the product. The roller provides heat and pressure to the film such that the artwork attaches to the frustoconical surface of the product. |
| US09067699B2 |
Apparatus and a method for removing a sterile product from a sterile package containing the product
The invention relates to a method for removing a sterile product from a sterile package which contains the sterile product and to an apparatus (1) for actuating the method. The method comprises clamping a part of a sterile package (5) located between the sterile product (6) and a first flap (7), and cutting the sterile package (5) at a region (9) interposed between the clamped surfaces (3, 4) and the flap (7). Once the facing surfaces (3, 4) are disengaged, an opening (10) is identified in the sterile package (5), through which the sterile product (6) can be expelled. The surfaces (3, 4) are then disengaged from the clamping action, and the sterile product (6) expelled from the sterile package (5) through the opening (10) by exerting a pushing action on an external surface of the sterile package (5). |
| US09067697B2 |
Device and method for metering tobacco in portions suitable for packaging
An apparatus and method for metering tobacco in portions suitable for packaging. The apparatus includes a feeding element for the tobacco and a device for forming and discharging at least one tobacco portion suitable for packaging. The device comprises a wiping element for wiping tobacco into a portioning chamber. The portioning chamber is variable in volume for compressing the tobacco and releasing the compressed tobacco portion. The portioning chamber is also displaceable relative to the wiping element for displacing from a filling position into a dispensing position and vice versa. An element for discharging the compressed tobacco portion is disposed in the area of the dispensing position. |
| US09067695B1 |
Solar array transfer orbit power maximizer
A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed for a solar array transfer orbit power maximizer. The present disclosure teaches a solar array circuitry design that can produce more stowed transfer orbit power than the traditional solar array. The disclosed design is able to achieve the additional stowed transfer orbit power by simply reassigning circuits without adding additional solar cells. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves allocating a first plurality of solar cells to at least one circuit on an inboard panel of the solar array, and allocating a second plurality of solar cells to at least one circuit on an outboard panel of the solar array. The method further involves assigning at least one solar cell from at least one circuit on the inboard panel that is not needed during beginning of life (BOL) to at least one circuit on the outboard panel of the solar array. |
| US09067694B2 |
Position-based gyroless control of spacecraft attitude
A system and a method for commanding a spacecraft to perform a three-axis maneuver purely based on “position” (i.e., attitude) measurements. Using an “inertial gimbal concept”, a set of formulae are derived that can map a set of “inertial” motion to the spacecraft body frame based on position information so that the spacecraft can perform/follow according to the desired inertial position maneuvers commands. Also, the system and method disclosed herein employ an intrusion steering law to protect the spacecraft from acquisition failure when a long sensor intrusion occurs. |
| US09067689B2 |
Aircraft refueling system and method of refueling an aircraft
An aircraft refueling system for use with a supplying aircraft is provided. The refueling system includes at least two strips of material coupled to a lower portion of the supplying aircraft. The at least two strips are separated by a distance and comprise a material that facilitates the at least two strips becoming progressively visible to a pilot of a receiving aircraft as the receiving aircraft approaches the supplying aircraft. |
| US09067688B2 |
Turboshaft engine attached to a pylon of the fuselage of an aircraft by a failsafe suspension system
A suspension system including a front suspension plane located at an intermediate turboshaft engine casing and connecting same to a pylon, a rear suspension plane located at an exhaust casing of the turboshaft engine and connecting same to the pylon, and a failsafe intermediate suspension plane located between the front and rear planes and including at least one connecting rod connecting the turboshaft engine having a structural outer casing to the pylon, the connecting rod mounted on the turboshaft engine with a predetermined clearance that renders the connecting rod inoperable while the suspension system of the rear plane is operating. The connecting rod is advantageously arranged between the outer casing and the pylon, and an element made of a flexible material is combined with the connecting rod to create the predetermined clearance by an elastically deformable nature thereof. |
| US09067685B2 |
De-icing systems and methods
An de-icing system comprising a shield that is configured to deform in a pre-determined way that de-bonds accreted ice. In some embodiments, the shield has a variable (non-uniform) stiffness across its width and/or length such that it undergoes a twist-like or other suitable deformation when subjected to a force. In some embodiments, the system includes a plurality of electro-mechanical actuators configured to generate the force applied to the shield. |
| US09067684B2 |
Electrical power supply device for powering at least one piece of equipment of an aircraft rotor, and an aircraft
An electrical power supply device (10) comprising a pole (11), said pole (11) having a non-rotary casing (15) and a rotary casing (12) provided with fastener means (14) for fastening to a mast. The pole (11) includes a non-rotary converter (20) fastened to the non-rotary casing (15) and generating AC at a frequency higher than one kilohertz. The pole also includes a rotary transformer (25), said rotary transformer (25) having a primary member (26) secured to the non-rotary casing (15) and a secondary member (27) secured to the rotary casing (12), the primary member (26) being connected to the non-rotary converter (20) to receive said AC, and the secondary member (27) being suitable for electrically powering equipment (100) of a rotor (2). |
| US09067678B2 |
Side feeder air guiding element for an aircraft air-conditioning system
An air guiding element for an aircraft air-conditioning system includes a distributing pipe having an air inlet opening arranged in the region of an end face of the distributing pipe and an air discharge opening arranged in the region of a generated surface of the distributing pipe. The air guiding element further comprises a flow diverting element having a first section connected to the air discharge opening of the distributing pipe and a second section arranged downstream of the first section relative to the direction of the air flow through the air guiding element. The second section is configured to deflect the air as it flows through the second section at an angle of approximately 45 to 135° relative to the direction of the air flow through the first section, and a diffuser which is arranged downstream of the second section. |
| US09067676B1 |
Convertible helicopter ring member
A convertible helicopter ring member includes a ring member and a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism orients the ring member substantially in-plane with a tail rotor of a helicopter during a first mode of helicopter operation and orients the ring member substantially off-plane with the tail rotor of the helicopter during a second mode of helicopter operation that is different from the first mode. |
| US09067674B2 |
Plasma-enhanced active laminar flow actuator system
The invention regards a plasma-enhanced active laminar flow actuator system (1) adapted to an aerodynamic surface (3) which has a nano-engineered composite material layer (5) comprising a set of electrodes arranged (7′, 7″) in at least an upper (P1) and a lower (P2) plane extending parallel with the aerodynamic surface (3); the electrodes (7′, 7″) comprising nano filaments (9); the electrodes (7′) of the upper plane (P1) are arranged in the aerodynamic surface (3) such that they define a smooth and hard aerodynamic surface (3); conductors (11, 11′) of nano filaments (9″) arranged for electrical communication between a control unit (13) and each of the electrodes (7′, 7″), wherein the control unit (13) is adapted to address current between cooperating electrodes (7′, 7″) of the upper and lower plane (P1, P2) from a current supply depending upon air flow characteristic signals fed from air flow sensor means (19). |
| US09067670B2 |
Frame for an opening provided in an aircraft fuselage
A door frame is provided at an opening made in a fuselage of an aircraft that is delimited by a skin. The frame includes an upper longitudinal stiffener and a lower longitudinal stiffener and two vertical substructures, each arranged on one side of the opening, connected by the upper and lower longitudinal stiffeners. The frame also comprises at least one stop provided at the level of the opening that uptakes radial forces exerted by the door. Each vertical substructure comprises at least three walls made of composite material that are connected to one another to form a box substructure having a closed and hollow cross-section in a sectional plane perpendicular to an axis of the length of the vertical substructure. |
| US09067669B2 |
Carbon fiber hold open rod
A hold open rod system is provided. The system may include, a cylindrical bracket having a first portion with a first bore for coupling to an elongate tensile member and a second portion remote from the first portion, having a second bore for coupling to a fastener; and a tubular jacket surrounding the at least a portion of the bracket, the elongate tensile member and at least a portion of the fastener. A method of constructing a hold open rod may be provided. The method may include: attaching a bracket to an end of a composite tube; attaching the composite material to an elongate tension member; operatively connecting a fastener to the elongate tension member; and extending the elongate tension member through at least part of the bracket. |
| US09067668B2 |
Adaptable solar airframe with a flexible photovoltaic system
Methods and apparatus for an adaptable solar airframe are provided herein. In some embodiments, an adaptable solar airframe includes an expandable body having an aerodynamic cross-section that reduces parasitic air drag at any given thickness of the body, further being able to change its shape in flight in response to changes in the relative position of the sun; and a flexible solar PV system attached to the surface of the expandable body. |
| US09067664B2 |
Automatic thruster control of a marine vessel during sport fishing mode
A marine vessel is disclosed having a control system for automatically controlling thrusters for steering the marine vessel for the purpose of aiding an angler who has hooked a fish. The control system will automatically control the thrusters based on the positions of the propulsion unit control levers if the control levers are split. The control system may also control the thrusters if the propulsion unit control levers have moved past a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold can be set by the operator of the marine vessel. |
| US09067657B2 |
Unfolded life jacket
Disclosed in the present invention is an unfolded life jacket which comprises a fixed floating body provided with a notch through which a user's head passes; straps comprising interconnecting straps attached to the fixed floating body, the interconnecting straps being tied with intermeshing loop straps to hold the user's body; a movable floating body comprising a front movable floating block and a rear movable floating block, to which the fixed floating body is attached, respectively, a rope being attached to the front movable floating block and the rear movable floating block, the rope being tied with the intermeshing loop straps, an adhesion part limiting the front movable floating block and the rear movable floating block on the intermeshing loop straps. It helps the user to keep in a vertical state in water so as to stabilize the gravity center and keep the head out of the water surface. |
| US09067651B1 |
Inflatable flex wing water float
A towable aquatic vehicle with flexible wings is disclosed. The towable aquatic vehicle includes one or more elongated inflatable tubes and two flexible inflatable wings. The one or more elongated inflatable tubes have first and second outer sides, each defining an elongated edge of the one or more elongated inflatable tubes. A first inflatable wing is pivotally secured to the first side of the one or more elongated inflatable tubes, and a second inflatable wing is pivotally secured to the second side of the one or more elongated inflatable tubes. The first inflatable wing and the second inflatable wing are positioned opposite with respect to each other. The towable aquatic vehicle with flexible wings provides steerability to the rider/user and allows the user to ride the towable aquatic vehicle in various different riding positions. |
| US09067647B2 |
Portable boat ladder
The portable telescoping boat ladder is easily stored, installed, and used. The ladder comprises a ladder assembly mounted to a base assembly. The ladder assembly comprises telescoping ladder sections able to be collapsed into a stored position with the rungs adjacent each other. The base assembly comprises a platform, a means for engagement with a boat hand rail, and a means for providing a maximum angle at which the ladder assembly may be deployed. |
| US09067646B2 |
Auxiliary deck for pontoon boat
An auxiliary deck assembly for a pontoon boat includes a stowable auxiliary deck and mounting structure. The mounting structure swingably supports the auxiliary deck for swinging movement between stowed and operating positions. The auxiliary deck is configured so that the auxiliary deck surface is generally aligned with the primary deck surface when the auxiliary deck is in the operating position. The auxiliary deck is further configured so that the auxiliary deck surface is oriented at a generally upright angle relative to the primary deck surface when the auxiliary deck is in the stowed position. |
| US09067643B2 |
Interchangeable superstructures and hulls for ocean going vessels
An ocean going vessel with interchangeable superstructure and hull in which the superstructure has control units for controlling propulsion and steering, as well as components for communication and navigation. The superstructure and the hull each have an interface providing quick connect and disconnect capability between the control units of the superstructure and the components being controlled of the hull. A system for interchanging superstructures and hulls for ocean going vessels is enabled in which the superstructure of an inbound vessel is removed and transferred to an outbound hull with the use of a crane at the port facility. This facilitates quick turnaround time of the superstructure and crew of the inbound vessel. This also enables inbound ship hulls to be inspected without delaying the outbound hull that has been preloaded from being shipped out of port with the transferred superstructure. |
| US09067641B2 |
Bicycle front derailleur with a variable actuation ratio
A front derailleur comprises a base member structured to be attached to a bicycle frame member, a chain guide operatively connected to the base member, and an actuation mechanism coupled to the base member and to the chain guide for moving the chain guide relative to the base member between a first position corresponding to a location for positioning a chain on a first sprocket and a second position corresponding to a location for positioning the chain on a second sprocket. The actuation mechanism is configured so that an actuation ratio of the derailleur when the chain guide is located in the first position is greater than or equal to 1.5 times the actuation ratio when the chain guide is located in the second position. |
| US09067639B2 |
Bottom bracket assembly of a bicycle and left crank arm assembly thereof
A bicycle bottom bracket assembly that reduces the accumulation of dirt and/or corrosive substances inside the shaft extending between the crank arms of the assembly. The bottom bracket assembly includes a shaft having a through-cavity that extends along its longitudinal direction; a crank arm is associated with each end portion of the shaft, and the through-cavity extends unobstructed through the crank arms and the shaft. |
| US09067637B2 |
Adjustable folding handlebar for human powered vehicles
Embodiments of the present invention comprise a folding handlebar to allow the rider to adopt an aerodynamic riding position without superfluous bars protruding left and right and a control system so the rider has full access to braking and gear changing whether riding in the aero or non aero position. |
| US09067636B2 |
Vehicle-height adjustment apparatus of motorcycle
In a vehicle-height adjustment apparatus of a motorcycle having a hydraulic jack and a hydraulic pump attached to a hydraulic shock absorber, a structure is provided in which an oil return path of a hydraulic jack and a suction port of a hydraulic pump are not required to be opened in a sliding surface of a piston in a damper tube. In the vehicle-height adjustment apparatus of a motorcycle, an oil return path is opened in an outer flow path of the damper tube to cause the oil of a jack chamber to return to the oil chamber of the damper tube when a plunger of the hydraulic jack reaches a protruding end in the jack chamber. |
| US09067635B2 |
Frame unit for bicycle and method of manufacturing the same
A frame unit for a bicycle may include a left frame body in which a part of a seat tube, a part of a frame, and a left stay are integrally formed, and a right frame body in which a part of the seat tube, a part of the frame, and a right stay are integrally formed, and wherein the left frame body and the right frame body are joined to each other along edges of the left and right frame bodies so as to integrally form the head tube, the seat tube, and the frame. |
| US09067633B2 |
Bicycle convertible to a stroller
A bicycle convertible to a three-wheeled vehicle comprises a pair of auxiliary wheels mounted on either side of the rear wheel. The auxiliary wheels are movable between a raised position in which the auxiliary wheels are raised from the supporting surface when the bicycle is in a bicycle mode and a lowered position in which the auxiliary wheels contact the supporting surface when the bicycle is in a stroller mode. A locking mechanism is provided for locking the auxiliary wheels in the raised and lowered positions. |
| US09067630B2 |
Gooseneck trailer hitch lock
A locking device according to the present invention, for use with a trailer gooseneck, the trailer gooseneck having a post with upper and lower ends, the upper end being attached to a trailer and the lower end. The lower end forms a recess and a pair of bore holes at a right angle to the centerline of the recess for accepting a coupler for receiving a hitch. The coupler is removed to allow insertion of the locking device. The locking device includes a body adapted to fit into the recess of the lower end, a pair of locking pins within the body of the locking device, a cam within the body of the locking device and a lock to prevent the cam from being turned when the lock is engaged. The locking pins face opposite directions and are adapted to be inserted into the bore hole on the two sides of the recess. When the body is inserted into the recess and the cam is turned in one direction, the cam moves the pair of locking pins outward so that the locking pins are inserted into the bore hole, but partially remain within the body. When the cam is turned in the opposite direction, the pair of locking pins are withdrawn into the body of the locking device and the locking device can be removed from the recess. In one form, return springs engage the pair of locking pins. |
| US09067628B2 |
Apparatus for forming a vacuum adhesion
A method, apparatus, and system for adhering a vacuum to a surface is provided. A seal is positioned relative to a surface. The seal is associated with a structure and is in communication with a channel within the structure. The seal is rotated relative to the structure such that the seal at least partially conforms to the surface. Air is drawn into the channel within the structure through the seal such that the seal adheres to the surface. |
| US09067624B2 |
Cross member for a frame of a vehicle as well as frame for a vehicle
A cross member for a frame of a vehicle. The cross member provides a particularly high stiffness of the frame and has a particularly low weight. A first support arrangement (18) having 4, 5, 6 or more support legs connects a cross member (10) to a first frame rail (16a) of the frame (12), and a second support arrangement (24) having 4, 5, 6 or more further support legs (26a-d) connect the cross member (10) to a second frame rail (16b) of the frame (12). At least two of the four support legs of the respective first and second support arrangement are bent upwards from the base portion, the other support legs (20b, 20c) being bent downwards. |
| US09067622B2 |
Vehicle roof made of glass comprising localized zones of compressive stress
An automotive vehicle roof that has two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges and that is symmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal plane, the roof consisting of a glazing unit including at least one mineral glass sheet, the sheet including a border of compressive edge stresses and at least two localized zones of compressive stress inside the border, the zones being placed symmetrically relative to the plane of symmetry and each localized zone of compressive stress being less than 30 cm from a longitudinal edge. |
| US09067620B2 |
Emergency steering system of construction equipment
The present disclosure relates to construction machinery such as an excavator or a wheel loader, and more particularly, to an emergency steering apparatus for construction machinery, capable of controlling a steering operation at the time of emergency in which a part of equipment malfunctions or is in an inoperable state. More specifically, an emergency steering apparatus for construction machinery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a steering actuator; an emergency hydraulic pump connected to the steering actuator through a pair of driving flow paths; an emergency steering unit configured to receive working oil, which is discharged from the emergency hydraulic pump, and operate a steering means; and an emergency steering controller configured to control whether or not the emergency hydraulic pump is operated. |
| US09067608B2 |
System and method for early train detection
A train detection security system and method include sensor units arranged for being fixed to at least one rail. The sensor units are arranged for detecting a first signal induced by a moving train. Each sensor unit is divided in at least a first chamber and a second chamber, where the first and second chambers are separated by an electromagnetic shield. The first chamber includes a piezoelectric element fixed to an outer wall of said first chamber, and an amplifier. A warning signal is generated in a control system based on the approaching train. |
| US09067605B2 |
Fittings for autorack railroad car
An autorack rail road car has an underframe having a main deck, and a rack mounted to the underframe. The rack supports one or more decks above the main deck, and also supports, or defines, an enclosure that protects the automobiles carried as lading. One way to prolong the life of the rack is to delay corrosion. Corrosion may start in locations that are difficult to clean, or that have not been cleaned prior to painting. Autorack upper decks may use longitudinally extending stringers. A stringer of closed section may be less prone to facilitating early corrosion, and may be less prone to drip rust-filled water on automobiles carried as lading. In some embodiments the stringer may be placed at a slope discontinuity in the lading deck, and may overlap that slope discontinuity. |
| US09067603B2 |
Adaptative cruise control
An adaptive cruise control system for a motor vehicle includes a forward looking object detecting arrangement for simultaneously detecting several target objects moving in the predicted path and adjacent paths of the equipped vehicle. The detecting arrangement is arranged to continuously monitor velocity and distance to each of the target objects, and a processing arrangement processes signals from the detecting means to provide information of distance to and relative speed of vehicles travelling in front of the equipped vehicle. |
| US09067602B2 |
Technique for providing measured aerodynamic force information to improve mileage and driving stability for vehicle
Disclosed is a technique for providing aerodynamic force information to improve gas mileage and driving stability of a vehicle. In particular, a plurality of pressure sensors are provided in a vehicle body and are configured to sense the pressure of air received from each of several points of the vehicle when the vehicle is driven. A first unit then calculates an air resistance value by measuring aerodynamic force data which the vehicle receives from air based on a pressure value of air sensed by the pressure sensor and driving information depending on the driving of the vehicle, and a method thereof. |
| US09067600B2 |
Engine speed control apparatus and method for a hybrid vehicle
A vehicle powertrain system has an engine, a damper and an electric machine configured to be selectively mechanically coupled with the engine via damper. The vehicle powertrain system also has at least one controller programmed to filter a frequency content of a speed or torque command for the electric machine corresponding to a resonant frequency of the engine, damper and electric machine to reduce resonance of the engine, damper and electric machine. |
| US09067598B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling a high-voltage electrical system for a multi-mode transmission
A multi-mode transmission for a powertrain system includes a high-voltage electrical system with a high-voltage battery and high-voltage electrical bus coupled to a power inverter electrically coupled to torque machines configured to transform electric power to torque. A method for controlling the multi-mode transmission includes monitoring voltage and current on the high-voltage electrical bus, and estimating electric power limits for the high-voltage electric bus including a constrained battery power command based upon a total motor torque electrical power for the torque machines. Torque commands for the torque machines are constrained in response to the estimated electric power limits for the high-voltage electric bus. Operation of the torque machines of the multi-mode transmission is controlled in response to the torque commands for the torque machines. |
| US09067596B2 |
Control apparatus of hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus of a hybrid vehicle has an engine, a motor, an engine-driven generator, and a battery. A controller determines an engine output based on an efficiency function that is defined by a drive power of the vehicle, a generated electric power from the generator, and a discharged electric power from the battery. The determined engine output controls the efficiency function to be kept in a value range that includes a maximum efficiency value of the efficiency function. |
| US09067592B2 |
Control device
A control device that controls a vehicle drive device in which a first engagement device, a rotating electrical machine, a second engagement device, and an output member are sequentially arranged in this order from an input member side on a power transmission path that connects the input member drivingly coupled to an internal combustion engine to the output member drivingly coupled to wheels. The control device controls both the first engagement device and the second engagement device to a slip engaged state, and causes the rotating electrical machine to generate electric power. |
| US09067590B2 |
Method for operating a hybrid vehicle and hybrid vehicle
A method for operating a hybrid vehicle and a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. The hybrid vehicle includes a supercharged internal combustion engine having an overboost function and at least one electric drive. An overboost phase of the supercharger of the internal combustion engine is followed by a regeneration phase of the supercharger and a corresponding drop in torque, wherein the at least one electric drive is used to at least partially compensate for the drop in torque of the internal combustion engine during the overboost regeneration phase of the supercharger. Thus, an improved driving behavior with an extended overboost phase can be achieved. |
| US09067586B2 |
Hybrid working machine
A hybrid working machine includes an engine, a motor generator connected to the engine, a variable displacement hydraulic pump configured to be driven to rotate with the output of the engine, and a control part configured to control the rotation speed of the engine and the variable displacement hydraulic pump. The control part is configured to determine the target rotation speed of the variable displacement hydraulic pump based on a hydraulic load and control the rotation speed of the engine using the target rotation speed. |
| US09067585B2 |
Control device for hybrid vehicle
A gradient determination control unit releases the hold of a gradient determination result when a state where a road surface gradient detected by a gradient detection unit is smaller than a gradient release determination threshold value continues for a second predetermined time or longer if a vehicle is determined to be in a traveling state by a traveling state determination unit, and releases the hold of the gradient determination result when the road surface gradient detected by the gradient detection unit becomes smaller than the gradient release determination threshold value if the vehicle is determined to be in a stopped state by the traveling state determination unit. |
| US09067579B2 |
Method and system for controlling a vehicle powertrain
A method and system for controlling a powertrain in a vehicle includes steps including registering a road condition. If the registered road condition corresponds to normal road conditions then a first gear selection control algorithm is used intended for driving the vehicle in a normal mode corresponding to the conditions on an ordinary road. If the registered road condition corresponds to soft surface road conditions then a second gear selection control algorithm is used intended for driving the vehicle in a soft surface mode corresponding to the conditions on an soft surface road. In this way, a vehicle can be adapted to be provided with an AMT to work in a satisfactorily way under an increased diversity of conditions. |
| US09067578B2 |
Method for operating a regenerative braking system of a vehicle and control unit for a regenerative braking system of a vehicle
A method/controller for operating a vehicle regenerative braking system by operating in a first braking mode, in which a generator braking torque of a generator is not zero and is equal to a first regenerative portion predefined for the first mode, and controlling the system out of the first mode into a second braking mode having a second regenerative portion, which is smaller than the first portion, so that brake fluid is pumped out of a storage volume of the system into at least one wheel brake cylinder and/or at least one brake circuit of the system via at least one brake fluid delivery mechanism; by activating the delivery mechanism via a setpoint delivery output variable, which is established/predefined for a setpoint brake pressure having a setpoint pressure rise which increases over time, so that an actual brake pressure having an actual pressure rise increase over time is built up. |
| US09067577B2 |
Vehicle braking system
A vehicle braking system includes a master cylinder for producing an upstream hydraulic pressure corresponding to an operation given to a brake operation part, a shut-off valve provided between the master cylinder and a wheel cylinder, a hydraulic-pressure source for producing a downstream hydraulic pressure between the shut-off valve and the wheel cylinder in a close instruction receiving condition of the shut-off valve, and a controller for setting a target value of the downstream hydraulic pressure based on an operation amount and controlling the downstream hydraulic pressure based on the target value. According to the vehicle braking system, a driver is prevented from feeling discomfort through a brake operation without an increase in a power consumption of a shut-off valve provided between the master cylinder and the wheel cylinder. |
| US09067575B2 |
Brake system and vehicle comprising a brake system
A vehicle and a brake system for a vehicle include at least one hydraulic pump, wherein the at least one hydraulic pump is connected to an input fluid conduit and an output fluid conduit. A flow resistance unit is provided in the output fluid conduit of the at least one hydraulic pump for being selectively coupled into the output fluid conduit when brake torque is requested. |
| US09067573B2 |
Method, system and device for controlling a vehicle brake system
To operate an electrically controlled pressurized-fluid brake system, an external brake request signal is received, a curve radius of a vehicle track of the vehicle is determined, at least one limit value is determined based on the curve radius, at least one variable representing a brake pressure to be supplied to wheel brakes is compared with the at least one limit value, the at least one variable is limited based on the comparison, the at least one variable is outputted, and braking pressure is supplied to the wheel brakes based on the outputted at least one variable. |
| US09067572B2 |
Brake arrangement of a rail vehicle
A brake arrangement of a railway vehicle includes an electrical brake device having an electronic brake controller and having an electro-pneumatic regulator with a pressure sensor. An emergency brake device has a pressure reducer in series with a valve device. A shuttle valve device is also present at a pneumatic output of the electrical pneumatic braking device and a pneumatic output of the emergency brake system and is connected at the inputs thereof. The output of the valve device is connected to a control valve device connected upstream of a brake cylinder. The brake arrangement can be a direct braking arrangement and can be converted in a simple manner to an indirect braking arrangement. The valve device is an electromagnetic emergency stop valve working according to the principle of de-energizing to close, and the pressure sensor of the electro-pneumatic regulator is connected to the output of the shuttle valve device. |
| US09067569B2 |
Wiper blade apparatus capable of assembling various mount types of wiper arms
Provided is a wiper blade apparatus on which various mount types of wiper arms are capable of being assembled. The wiper blade apparatus includes a lever member supporting a wiper lip, the lever member and a clip member coupled to the lever member. The lever member includes a clip accommodation hole, a first mount hole and a first popping groove. An inner wall of the first popping groove is separated from the lever member by a force of about 3 kgf to about 5 kgf that is applied in a width direction of the lever member to form a hole through which the first popping groove faces the first mount hole, and a pin arm type wiper arm or a slide arm type wiper arm is mounted by passing through the first mount hole and the first popping groove. |
| US09067567B2 |
Vehicle wiper apparatus
A vehicle wiper apparatus is applied to a vehicle provided with a wiping surface including a first wiping area at a passenger's seat side and a second wiping area at a driver's seat side. A first wiper includes a first wiper blade configured to wipe the first wiping area. A second wiper includes a second wiper blade configured to wipe the second wiping area. A washer nozzle is arranged on the first wiper to supply washing liquid to the second wiping area. The washer nozzle sprays washing liquid so that the supply of washing liquid toward a front side in an advancing direction of the second wiper blade switches to a rear side in the advancing direction when the second wiper blade moves from the first reversing position to the second reversing position during the wiping operation of the first and second wipers. |
| US09067566B1 |
Active bolster for pedestrian protection
A vehicle instrument panel has a pedestrian protection zone along a forward side. The instrument panel generally has a low stiffness that avoids impact forces in the pedestrian protection zone greater than a predetermined force. An accessory component mounted on the instrument panel within the protection zone has a stiffness that could generate an impact force above the predetermined force. A cover providing a trim surface of the instrument panel has an annular wall region between inner and outer tear seams which encompass the accessory component. An annular bladder wall joined to the annular wall region forms a substantially toroidal expandable chamber. An inflator is arranged to supply an inflation gas into the expandable chamber during an impact of a pedestrian to tear the tear seams and expand the expandable chamber above the instrument panel body to intercept the pedestrian prior to impacting the accessory component. |
| US09067564B2 |
Airbags with sewn leak reducing panels
An airbag or inflatable cushion assembly can include an inflatable cushion and a throat liner. The throat liner can be coupled to an interior surface of the inflatable cushion at one or more coupling sites. The one or more coupling sites can include one or more panels that can be coupled to at least a portion of both of the inflatable cushion and the throat liner. The one or more panels can be configured to control or inhibit egress of an inflation gas at the one or more coupling sites. |