| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09097902B2 |
Autostereoscopic frame device for removable attachment to display panel
An auto stereoscopic frame system and the associated method of manufacturing is disclosed. The frame system generally comprises a frame defining an opening for housing a lens structure, said frame being operative for removable attachment to a display device which projects at least one image such that when the image is viewed through the lenticular sheet it is viewed in three dimensions. The frame is attached to the display device via a mounting mechanism. The lenticular sheet may be manufactured by providing a substantially transparent substrate material; forming a plurality of lenses on a first side of the substrate; and shaping the substrate to correspond to a display area of a display device, wherein the plurality of lenses are angled to correspond to the pixel size and pitch of the display area of a display device. |
| US09097891B2 |
See-through near-eye display glasses including an auto-brightness control for the display brightness based on the brightness in the environment
This disclosure concerns an interactive head-mounted eyepiece with an integrated processor for handling content for display and an integrated image source for introducing the content to an optical assembly through which the user views a surrounding environment and the displayed content. The image source includes an auto-brightness control that controls the brightness of the displayed content based on the brightness in the environment. |
| US09097889B2 |
Microscope and method for detecting sample light
Microscope and method for detecting sample light, having at least one illuminating beam which is partially phase-modulated with a modulation frequency along the cross section thereof and a microscope objective for intensity-modulated focusing of the illuminating beam into a sample. The microscope has a detection beam path that has at least one demodulator. At least one electro-optical modulator (EOM) is used for phase modulation of at least a part, preferably half, of the illuminating beam, or different portions or halves of the illuminating beam are modulated differently, preferably anti-phase, by anti-phase control of piezoelectric elements, or acousto-optical modulators for splitting into a plurality of partial beam paths. Optic elements are provided for partial phase modulation of the excitation beam. Actuating elements are provided for setting the phase difference, or at least one optic modulator, preferably an acousto-optical modulator (AOM) is used for demodulation in the detection, or a change in the mode of operation of the detectors for demodulation takes place. In the case of foci distribution, produced for example by a spinning micro-lens disc or multi-spot generation, the individual foci are subjected to an intensity modulation, either by arranging a half-space phase mask in a pupil plane of the objective or by individually manipulating each partial beam by means of the partial phase modulation of said partial beam with a modulation frequency along the cross section thereof or by manipulating a beam by means of the partial phase modulation of said beam with a modulation frequency along the cross section thereof and subsequent subdivision of said beam. |
| US09097876B2 |
Mobile device and optical imaging lens thereof
The present invention provides a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises six lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces and/or the refracting power of the lens elements, the optical imaging lens shows better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens is shortened. |
| US09097874B2 |
Polarity configurations for parallel optics data transmission, and related apparatuses, components, systems, and methods
Fiber optic connection assemblies for rearranging sets of fiber optic signals arranged in one parallel optical configuration into one or more different parallel optical configurations are disclosed. In one arrangement, two (2) data transmission pairs are connected between one multi-fiber connector from each of two connector sets in a first parallel optical configuration using a common set of fiber positions for each multi-fiber connector. Another two (2) data transmission pairs are connected to the common set of fiber positions of a multi-fiber connector from the first connector set, but are connected to other fiber positions of the multi-fiber connectors of the second connector set, using fiber positions that are not used by the other two (2) data transmission pairs. In this manner, cabling complexity can be reduced with increased signal density within fiber optic cables having a multi-fiber configuration. |
| US09097864B2 |
Fiber optic connector assemblies having a reverse optical fiber loop
Fiber optic connector assemblies are disclosed that utilize a reverse optical fiber loop within the fiber optic connector to isolate the optical fiber from stresses. In one embodiment, a fiber optic connector assembly includes an optical fiber having a fiber end, and a connector housing, wherein the optical fiber enters the connector housing from a first direction and is secured within the connector housing in a second direction, thereby forming a reverse optical fiber loop that is free to expand or contract within the connector housing. In another embodiment, a fiber optic connector assembly includes an optical fiber having a fiber end, a connector housing, and a substrate within the connector housing. The optical fiber enters the connector housing over a first surface of the substrate then passes by (i.e., crosses) the first surface, and is secured within the connector housing at a second surface of the substrate. |
| US09097848B2 |
III-V photonic integration on silicon
Photonic integrated circuits on silicon are disclosed. By bonding a wafer of HI-V material as an active region to silicon and removing the substrate, the lasers, amplifiers, modulators, and other devices can be processed using standard photolithographic techniques on the silicon substrate. The coupling between the silicon waveguide and the III-V gain region allows for integration of low threshold lasers, tunable lasers, and other photonic integrated circuits with Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) integrated circuits. |
| US09097845B2 |
Optoelectronic chips including coupler region and methods of manufacturing the same
An optoelectronic chip, and/or a method of manufacturing the same, include a substrate; a coupler region surrounded by the substrate. The coupler region includes a total reflection surface. The total reflection surface is configured to totally reflect a first light incident through a surface of the substrate such that the reflected first light travels within the substrate, or the total reflection surface is configured to totally reflect a second light guided in the substrate and incident on the total reflecting surface such that the reflected second light travels through the surface of the substrate. |
| US09097842B2 |
Low emissivity and EMI shielding window films
A low emissivity and EMI shielding transparent composite film typically for use in association with window glazing and comprising a transparent film substrate having on one side thereof an underlayer of abrasion resistant hardcoat material with at least one infrared reflective layer covering the underlayer, typically a metallic layer which may be encased in metal oxide layers, which is then covered with a thin external protective top coat of a cured fluorinated resin. |
| US09097840B2 |
Amphiphilic siloxane-containing (meth)acrylamides and uses thereof
The invention provides an amphiphilic siloxane-containing (meth)acrylamide which comprises one sole (meth)acrylamido group, one sole tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl group, and one polyethylene glycol segment which is either dangling polymer chain or a hydrophilic linker between the (meth)acrylamido group and the tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl group. The present invention is also related to a polymer, an actinically-crosslinkable silicone-containing prepolymer, a silicone hydrogel polymeric material, or a silicone hydrogel contact lens, which comprises monomeric units derived from an amphiphilic siloxane-containing (meth)acrylamido group, one tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl group of the invention. In addition, the invention provides a method for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses using a water-based lens-forming formulation comprising an amphiphilic siloxane-containing (meth)acrylamido group, one tris(trimethylsiloxy)silyl group of the invention and/or an actinically-crosslinkable silicone-containing prepolymer of the invention. |
| US09097836B2 |
Method for producing methacrylic resin for optical film
The present invention can provide a methacrylic resin which has excellent transparency and color and less defects such as fish eyes and thus suitable for optical films by adding (A) a polymeric dispersant represented by formula (1) below and (B) an inorganic salt and/or organic salt selected from alkali metal salts, alkaline earth metal salts and ammonium salts when methyl methacrylate alone or a monomer mixture containing methyl methacrylate as one component is subjected to suspension-polymerization: (n=10 to 60 mol %, m=40 to 90 mol %, R1 is hydrogen or a methyl group, R2 is an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, and M is an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or NH4.) |
| US09097835B2 |
Light guides made of thermoplastic polyurethanes
The invention relates to thermoplastic polyurethanes (hereinafter TPUs) suitable for the production of optical conductors, to a process for their production, and also to optical conductors based on TPUs. |
| US09097821B2 |
Integrated workflow or method for petrophysical rock typing in carbonates
Disclosed are various embodiments of a workflow or method for petrophysical rock typing of carbonates in an oil or gas reservoir or field comprising determining a Data Scenario (DS) for the reservoir or field, determining a plurality of Depositional Rock Types (DRTs) for the reservoir or field, determining a Digenetic Modification (DM) from a plurality of diagenetic modifiers or primary textures associated with the plurality of DRTs, selecting a Reservoir Type (RT) corresponding to the plurality of DRTs, determining at least one pore type, and determining, on the basis of the plurality of DRTs, the Diagenetic Modification (DM), and the at least one pore type, a plurality of Petrophysical Rock Types (PRTs) associated with the RT. |
| US09097818B2 |
Kerogen porosity volume and pore size distribution using NMR
Method and apparatus for estimating a kerogen (organic) porosity of an earth formation. The method may include using at least one processor to estimate a kerogen porosity using NMR signals indicative to an inorganic porosity and NMR signals indicative of a total porosity for a volume of interest in an earth formation. The apparatus may include an NMR tool configured to acquire NMR signals indicative to an inorganic porosity and NMR signals indicative of a total porosity for a volume of interest in an earth formation. |
| US09097816B2 |
Apparatus for detecting low frequency electromagnetic field responses from a subsurface environment
An EM receiver instrument suitable for making underwater electric field measurements. The EM receiver comprises a dipole antenna; an AM modulator for applying modulation to a signal detected by the antenna; a fiber-optic voltage sensor and an application of AM demodulator for applying demodulation to the signal. The fiber-optic sensor may be an interferometric voltage sensor or a phase sensitive voltage sensor. |
| US09097814B2 |
Photoelectric sensor and method for aiding operational checking of photoelectric sensor
A photoelectric sensor comprises a control unit which is configured to store in a memory data on the amount of received light input from a light-receiving unit or measurement data obtained by a measuring process, and to perform a sampling process in which the data stored in the memory are read at fixed intervals as sampling data, the sampling process being performed within a limited reading period. Further, the control unit outputs the thus read sampling data so as to correspond to the order in which they are stored in the memory. |
| US09097807B2 |
Method of analysing the effect of temperature on an irradiated fuel
A method for analysing the effect of temperature on at least one nuclear fuel rod, a rod comprising packed zones completely filled with fuel and intermediate zones partially filled with fuel, comprises: acquiring at least two count profiles, a first count profile being associated with a non-migrating isotope and a second count profile being associated with a migrating isotope; locating the intermediate zones by using the first count profile; determining an indicator Ki_1 indicative of the depth in the first profile of a measurement dip located at an intermediate zone i; determining an indicator Ki_2 indicative of the depth in the second profile of a measurement dip located at the intermediate zone i; determining for this intermediate zone i an indicator Δi by comparing the indicators Ki_1 and Ki_2. |
| US09097806B2 |
Preamplifier for charged particle detection
A preamplifier is provided for correction of overshoot or undershoot effects present in a signal received from a charged particle detection electrode. The preamplifier is ground-isolated from the charged particle detection electrode and comprises: a main amplification stage, configured to receive and amplify the isolated signal; a feed-forward stage, configured to generate a compensation signal from the amplified ground-isolated signal, the compensation signal being generated to mirror the overshoot or undershoot effects; and an output, arranged to provide an output signal that is a combination of the amplified ground-isolated signal and the compensation signal. A charged particle detection arrangement comprising the preamplifier is also provided. |
| US09097804B1 |
Object and ground segmentation from a sparse one-dimensional range data
Methods and systems for object and ground segmentation from a sparse one-dimensional range data are described. A computing device may be configured to receive scan data representing points in an environment of a vehicle. The computing device may be configured to determine if a test point in the scan data is likely to be an obstacle or ground by comparing the point to other points in the scan data to determine if specific constraints are violated. Points that do not pass these tests are likely to be above the ground, and therefore likely belong to obstacles. |
| US09097801B2 |
Obstacle detection apparatus and obstacle detection program
An obstacle detection apparatus includes a transmission antenna transmitting radio waves, a reception antenna receiving radio waves transmitted to and reflected by an obstacle, an obstacle detection unit configured to detect the obstacle based on the received radio waves, a false detection determination unit configured to determine presence or absence of a false detection characteristic, which is set in advance, with regard to the detected obstacle, a camera capturing an image, and an obstacle existence determination unit configured to determine, based on the image captured by the camera, presence or absence of the obstacle on which it is determined that the false detection characteristic is present. |
| US09097800B1 |
Solid object detection system using laser and radar sensor fusion
A light detection and ranging device associated with an autonomous vehicle scans through a scanning zone while emitting light pulses and receives reflected signals corresponding to the light pulses. The reflected signals indicate a three-dimensional point map of the distribution of reflective points in the scanning zone. A radio detection and ranging device scans a region of the scanning zone corresponding to a reflective feature indicated by the three-dimensional point map. Solid objects are distinguished from non-solid reflective features on the basis of a reflected radio signal that corresponds to the reflective feature. Positions of features indicated by the reflected radio signals are projected to estimated positions during the scan with the light detection and ranging device according to relative motion of the radio-reflective features indicated by a frequency shift in the reflected radio signals. |
| US09097799B2 |
Airborne device for preventing turbulence-induced accidents
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing turbulence-induced accidents that can expand a detection range to about 20 km without increasing the size of a device or increasing the energy consumption, can perform planar distribution monitoring of turbulence when the turbulence is detected in the flight direction and also can output a signal for autopilot steering input that decreases the fuselage shaking when the turbulence is difficult to avoid, as well as to provide a device having those functions. In the method for preventing turbulence-induced accidents according to the present invention, an optical remote airflow measurement device of a Doppler lidar system using a laser beam is used to routinely enable distant turbulence to be detected by fixing a laser emission course in a flight direction and taking a long integration time of a reception signal, and to enable planar distribution of the turbulence to be displayed when turbulence is detected, by scanning the laser emission course in a horizontal direction and switching an image display to a two-dimensional display. |
| US09097796B2 |
Radar apparatus
A radar apparatus includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a signal processor. The transmitter outputs a radar wave. The receiver includes a plurality of receiving antennas and a plurality of receiving devices. Each of the receiving devices mixes a reception signal from the corresponding receiving antenna with a local signal and outputs a beat signal. The signal processor samples the beat signal while selecting one of the receiving devices in order with a selecting period that is less than a half of a sampling period. The signal processor samples the beat signal with the sampling period and derives position information of a target by pair matching of peaks of a rising-modulation signal and a falling-modulation signal of the beat signal. |
| US09097792B2 |
System and method for atmospheric correction of information
An atmospheric correction system (ACS) is proposed, which accounts for the errors resulting from the in-homogeneities in the operational atmosphere along the slant path by constructing atmospheric profiles from the data along the actual target to sensor slant-range path. The ACS generates a slant-range path based on the arbitrary geometry that models the sensor to target relationship. This path takes the atmosphere and obstructions between the two endpoints into account when determining the atmospheric profile. The ACS uses assimilation to incorporate weather data from multiple sources and constructs an atmospheric profile from the best available data. The ACS allows the user to take advantage of variable weather and information along the path that can lead to increased accuracy in the derived atmospheric compensation value. |
| US09097788B1 |
Baggage tracker
A luggage tracking assembly for tracking luggage during air travel and providing location information or other luggage related information to a remote device. The assembly includes a housing. Each of a processor, a transceiver, and a positioning mechanism are coupled to the housing. The transceiver is communicatively coupled to the processor. The positioning mechanism is configured for determining a physical location of the housing relative to earth. The housing is insertable into an interior space of a pouch coupled to a piece of luggage. A closure is coupled to the pouch securing the housing in the interior space of the pouch. A fastener couples the pouch to the piece of luggage. The transceiver is configured for transmitting location data to a remote device wherein the physical location of the housing relative earth is determinable through operation of the remote unit. |
| US09097786B2 |
Reporting of positioning data
A method for reporting of positioning data in a communication network comprises obtaining (202) of positioning data comprising a definition of a polygon in a lateral plane with information of altitude associated to each polygon corner. The method further comprises approximating (204) the polygon with an ellipsoid point having altitude and uncertainty ellipsoid and reporting (206) of the ellipsoid point having altitude and uncertainty ellipsoid over an interface of the communication network as a representation of the positioning data. A node in a communication network comprises a report converter arranged for obtaining positioning data and approximating a polygon with an ellipsoid point having altitude and uncertainty ellipsoid. |
| US09097785B2 |
Locator system
A locator system and method of use is disclosed. The locator system may be used to receive radiolocation signals, calculate location data based on the radiolocation signals, and send the current location data over a telecommunication network to a server computer. A client may request the location data from the server computer and the server may send the location data to the client. |
| US09097784B2 |
System and method to collect and modify calibration data
A system and method modifies calibration data used to geo-locate a mobile station. Calibration data measured via a calibration data collection device may contain errors due to the physical limitations of the collection device and/or the collection process. Any data collection device may produce some degree of signal degradation or drop-out. Dead reckoning provides a remedy for signal drop-out, however, it often produces data results that may be unsatisfactory to perform an accurate location estimate. To ensure the integrity of the collected calibration data, a data modification and/or data replacement algorithm may be implemented to enhance the accuracy of the collected data. In addition, current collection procedures used to generate a calibration database may be laborious, time-consuming and expensive. Simplifying the test and measurement equipment needed, and the procedures for obtaining calibration data may save time and expenses. |
| US09097782B2 |
Catalytic multiecho phase unwrapping scheme
A method of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging of an object is disclosed, the method including: receiving MR data including magnitude and phase information generated using an MR scan having a series of different echo times; generating one or more measured MR images based on the MR data; and processing the measured MR images to generate unaliased or substantially unaliased phase information for at least one pixel in the image. |
| US09097781B2 |
Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fingerprinting with parallel transmission
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with NMR fingerprinting with parallel transmission are described. One example apparatus includes individually controllable radio frequency (RF) transmission (TX) coils configured to apply varying NMR fingerprinting RF excitations to a sample. The NMR apparatus may apply excitations in parallel. An individual excitation causes different resonant species to produce different signal evolutions. The apparatus includes a parallel transmission logic that causes one of the coils to apply a first excitation to the sample and that causes a different coil to apply a second, different excitation to the sample. The excitations are configured to produce a spatial inhomogeneity between a first region in the sample and a second region in the sample that allows a resonant species to produce a first signal evolution in the first region and to produce a second signal evolution in the second region to facilitate de-correlating the signal evolutions. |
| US09097779B2 |
Magnetic field insensitive CEST imaging
In a method for accelerated CEST imaging in magnetic resonance tomography, RF pulses for the saturation of the protons of the substance to be shown are emitted by several transmission coils, and shape of these RF pulses is calculated using an optimization method so that a weighted sum is minimized, the sum exhibiting at least two of the following norms: the norm of the magnetization of free water protons in each point in space, the norm of the deviation of the magnetization of the bound protons from an inverted magnetization in each point in space and the norm of the magnetization of protons with an inverted shift relative to the predefined frequency shift in each point in space. The shape of the RF pulses for subsequent excitation of the free water protons also can be calculated for the optimization method. |
| US09097775B2 |
Apparatus and method for discharging a battery and determining a condition of the battery
A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a rechargeable battery determines a dynamic impedance of the battery while discharging the battery, and determines a battery condition category based on the dynamic impedance. The battery can be discharged in a manner that recovers the stored energy being discharged from the battery. |
| US09097774B2 |
Short detection in battery cells
Internal shorts and other failures in lithium-ion battery cells may be detected during balancing of the battery cells. A counter may be used to detect when a battery cell is behaving differently than other battery cells by balancing more or less frequently. The counter may increment each time a battery cell is balanced to the other battery cells. A misbehaving battery cell may be flagged, when the counter exceeds a threshold value, for safety checks before an overheating event occurs. This misbehaving battery cell may be faulty due to an internal short. If the faulty battery cell is not corrected by replacement with a different battery cell or corrected by a user resetting the counter, the misbehaving battery cell may be disconnected to prevent the overheating event. |
| US09097770B2 |
Battery voltage detection device, assembled battery management system
An assembled battery management system has an assembled battery having a plurality of battery modules connected in series, wherein each of the battery modules has a plurality of battery cells connected in series, a connection member that connects the plurality of battery modules, and a battery voltage detection device that detects voltages of the battery cells. The battery voltage detection device has a monitoring section having a voltage detector that detects the voltages of the battery cells, wherein the monitoring section monitors the voltages of the battery cells based on a detection result of the voltage detector, and a plurality of voltage input terminals connected to the monitoring section. Each of the battery modules includes a plurality of voltage detection terminals connected to a positive electrode and a negative electrode of each of the modules as well as connecting points of the battery cells. |
| US09097768B2 |
Method for testing an inverter drive rotating electric machine
With a rotating electric machine testing method for applying a test voltage to an armature winding of the rotating electric machine to thereby test insulation performance of the armature winding, in the case where a rated voltage of the armature winding of the rotating electric machine is E, and an insulation test voltage of an armature winding of a sine wave voltage drive rotating electric machine at the rated voltage E is E/√{square root over (3)} or E, a test voltage Vtest applied to an armature winding of the inverter drive rotating electric machine is set to Vtest=α·E/√{square root over (3)} or Vtest′=α·E, respectively, provided that α(=tinv/tsin), if the insulation thicknesses of the sine wave drive rotating electric machine is tsin and of the inverter drive rotating electric machine is tinv, thereby conducting a test on any of the AC voltage-current characteristic, AC tan δ, and AC partial-discharge characteristics. |
| US09097765B1 |
Performance screen ring oscillator formed from multi-dimensional pairings of scan chains
A performance screen ring oscillator (PSRO) is formed from multi-dimensional pairings of scan chains. In one embodiment, there is a multi-dimensional arrangement of scan chains in an integrated circuit. Each of the scan chains has interconnected scan chain elements that form a shift register to apply test patterns to inputs of combinational logic in the integrated circuit and read outputs from the combinational logic based on the inputted test patterns. A scan chain link links selected scan chain elements from the scan chains to form at least one PSRO loop within the multi-dimensional arrangement of the scan chains. |
| US09097764B2 |
Scan chain in an integrated circuit
In an embodiment, a scannable storage element includes an input circuit for providing a first signal at first node based on a data input and a scan input, where the scan input is of pull-up logic in functional mode. The input circuit includes a first pull-up path comprising a switch receiving data input and a switch receiving scan enable input, and second pull-up path comprising a switch receiving scan input, first pull-down path comprising a switch receiving the scan enable input and a switch receiving the scan input, and second pull-down path comprising a switch receiving the data input. The storage element includes a shifting circuit configured to provide a second signal in response to the first signal at second node, and a scan output buffer coupled to the second node and configured to provide a scan output at a scan output terminal in response to the second signal. |
| US09097762B2 |
Method and apparatus for diagnosing an integrated circuit
System and method for diagnosing failures within an integrated circuit is provided. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a diagnostic cell coupled in series with a buffer chain. The diagnostic cell includes a plurality of logic operators that when activated invert a signal received from the buffer chain. The inversion of the signal from the buffer chain allows the diagnostic cell to determine the location of a failure within an integrated circuit previously determined by a scan chain design for test methodology to contain a failure. |
| US09097760B2 |
Probe-able voltage contrast test structures
Test structures and method for detecting defects using the same. A probe-able voltage contrast (VC) comb test structure that includes first, second and third probe pads, a comb-like structure including grounded tines, floating tines between the grounded tines, switching devices coupled with an end portion of each floating tine, and connecting the floating tines to the second probe pad, and the third probe pad being a control pad which controls the switching devices. A probe-able VC serpentine test structure that includes first, second, third and fourth probe pads, a comb-like structure including grounded tines, floating tines between the grounded tines and each floating tine connected together between the second and third probe pads, switching devices connected to an end portion of each floating tine and connecting the floating tines to the second and third probe pads, and the fourth probe pad being a control pad which controls the switching devices. |
| US09097748B2 |
Continuous capacitance measurement for MEMS-actuated movement of an optical component within an auto-focus camera module
A MEMS-actuated autofocus camera module configured for continuous capacitance measurement includes a bridge balance detector coupled to a MEMS actuator driver. The MEMS actuated autofocus camera module is configured to permit online MEMS actuator capacitance measurements to automatically focus images of objects disposed at arbitrary distances from autofocus camera module. |
| US09097747B2 |
Electronic device, and capacitor capacitance detection method applied to the same
According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a capacitor, a power supply device, a discharger and a capacitance detector. The capacitor is used as a backup power supply. The power supply device charges the capacitor. The discharger discharges the capacitor. The capacitance detector maintains a terminal voltage of the capacitor at a given level for a predetermined time, by controlling an operating time of the power supply device. The capacitance detector allows the discharger to start the discharge the predetermined time later. The capacitance detector detects a capacitance of the capacitor based on a transient response characteristic of the discharge. |
| US09097743B2 |
Method for assessing the ripple of a signal
A method for assessing a ripple of a signal, includes: a) determining a first signal value at a determination point in time, b) determining a signal value difference between the first signal value and a signal value determined at a previous determination point in time, c) incrementing an undershoot counter if the signal value difference falls below a first difference threshold value, and incrementing an overshoot counter and resetting the undershoot counter if the signal value difference exceeds a second difference threshold value, and d) determining that no ripple overshoot is present and resetting the overshoot counter if the undershoot counter overshoots an undershoot threshold value, and determining that a ripple overshoot is present if the overshoot counter exceeds an overshoot threshold value and the undershoot counter does not exceed an undershoot threshold value. |
| US09097742B2 |
Multi-functional measuring and waveform-generating equipment with probe
There is provided a Multi-functional measuring and waveform-generating equipment with a probe. The equipment is capable of measuring element values of electric or electronic devices and electrical quantities such as a voltage, and generating electrical signals with various waveforms. Also, a user can conveniently manipulate and handily carry it. The equipment provides functions of measuring a voltage, a resistance, an inductance, capacitance, a frequency, the number of pulses, and the voltage level of a logic signal; verifying diode polarities, measuring the voltage level of a pulse signal, and modes generating a rectangular pulse train and a PWM signal by the simple combinations of two switches. Additionally, it also offers a much cheaper equipment than other existing expensive apparatuses, and provide better usability at experimental environments because it is small-sized, light, and conveniently portable, compared to conventional equipments that are large-sized, heavy, and not easy to carry. |
| US09097741B2 |
Molecule sensing and identification
The present disclosure includes devices and methods for spectroscopic identification of molecules. One device includes a topological insulator layer oriented either above or below two metallic contacts and wherein the contacts are oriented such that a voltage can be applied across the contacts and a current-voltage characteristic can be measured. |
| US09097737B2 |
Modular atomic force microscope with environmental controls
A modular Atomic Force Microscope that allows ultra-high resolution imaging and measurements in a wide variety of environmental conditions is described. The instrument permits such imaging and measurements in environments ranging from ambient to liquid or gas or extremely high or extremely low temperatures. |
| US09097727B2 |
Method for diagnosing a protein misfolding disease using nerve cells derived from iPS cells
The present invention provides a method for detecting onset of, or the risk of development of, a protein misfolding disease, and a method for predicting the age of onset of a protein misfolding disease using nerve cells derived from iPS cells. The present invention also provides a kit to be used in these methods. |
| US09097725B2 |
Compositions and methods for modulating the immune system
A novel class of embryo derived peptides are described (Preimplantation factor) that were generated synthetically and were tested on peripheral blood immune cells and shown to block activated but not basal immunity, inhibiting cell proliferation and creating a TH2 type cytokine bias, in addition PIF enhance endometrial receptivity by increasing adhesion molecules expression. PIF biological activity appears to be exerted by specific binding to inducible receptors present on the several white cell lineages. PIF peptides, which are immune modulators therefore may have diagnostic and non toxic therapeutic applications in improving fertility, reducing pregnancy loss as well may be useful when administered for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and for prevention xenotransplants rejection. |
| US09097723B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing peptide digestion on a microfluidic device
The invention provides methods and apparatuses that allow a protein sample to undergo reduction, alkylation, and digestion in a continuous flow process carried out within a microfluidic device. Methods and apparatuses in accordance with the invention can be employed as part of an automated proteomics analysis carried out in an integrated proteomics system. |
| US09097720B2 |
Displaying glucose measurements on a handheld glucose meter
A computer-implemented method is provided for displaying glucose measurements of a person on a handheld glucose meter. The method includes: determining a current blood glucose measurement for a person from a test strip inserted into a port of the handheld glucose meter; displaying the current glucose measurement on a result screen of the handheld glucose meter immediately following the measurement of the current glucose measurement by the handheld glucose meter; providing an indicium of a logbook screen on the result screen concurrently with the display of the current glucose measurement on the result screen; and displaying the logbook screen in response to a user input received by the handheld glucose meter, where the logbook screen displays the current glucose measurement along with at least two preceding glucose measurements of the person. |
| US09097719B2 |
Ultra high speed and high sensitivity DNA sequencing system and method for same
The present system relates to a system architecture that uses a single electron transistor (SET) to analyze base sequences of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) at ultra high speed in real time. DNA represents the entire body of genetic information and consists of nucleotide units. There are a total of four types of nucleotides, and each nucleotide consists of an identical pentose (deoxyribose), phosphate group, and one of four types of bases (Adenine: A, Guanine: G, Cytosine: C, Thymine: T). A and G are purines having a bicyclic structure while C and T are pyrimidines having a monocyclic structure. Each has a different atomic arrangement, which signifies a different charge distribution from one another. Therefore, a system comprising a single electron transistor that is very sensitive to charges, a probe of a very small size that reacts to one nucleotide very effectively, and an extended gate that connects the SET with the probe, can be used to analyze DNA base sequences at ultra high speed in real time. |
| US09097717B2 |
Methods of killing myeloma stem and precursor cells by administering anti-CD48 antibodies
The present invention provides a therapeutic agent, for diseases in which neoplastic proliferation of plasma cells occurs, which is characterized by containing an anti-human CD48 monoclonal antibody and having cellular cytotoxicity to cells expressing human CD48; and the monoclonal antibody. In addition, the present invention provides a method for screening an active ingredient of a therapeutic agent for diseases in which neoplastic proliferation of plasma cells occurs, the method including the following processes: (1) a process of sorting a substance that binds specifically to human CD48; and (2) a process of sorting a substance having cellular cytotoxicity. |
| US09097715B2 |
Bladder cancer diagnosis and/or prognosis method
A high sensitive and specific non-invasive bladder cancer diagnosis and/or prognosis method based on the detection and quantification of the gene expression of a combination of bladder tumor markers in bladder fluids is provided. A preferred combination of the markers consists of the combination of ANXA10, C14orf78, CTSE, CRH, IGF2, KLF9, KRT20, MAGEA3, POSTN, PPP1R14D, SLC1A6, TERT, ASAM and MCM10 genes. |
| US09097714B2 |
Method for diagnosing malignant tumor
To provide a method and a diagnostic kit for determining the presence of a malignant tumor or the severity thereof, a method for selecting a therapeutic method therefor or evaluating the effect of the therapeutic method, or a method for estimating the risk of recurrence of the malignant tumor or determining the presence or absence of the recurrence.The method for determining the presence of a malignant tumor or the severity thereof, method for selecting a therapeutic method therefor or evaluating the effect of the therapeutic method, or method for estimating the risk of recurrence of the malignant tumor or the presence or absence of the recurrence is characterized by including 1) a step of measuring the concentration and/or quantity of soluble LR11 in a sample originating from a subject and 2) a step of comparing the value measured above with a measurement value of soluble LR11 obtained from a healthy subject group. |
| US09097711B2 |
Multiple-analyte assay device and system
Provided herein is technology relating to testing biological samples and particularly, but not exclusively, to methods for performing multiple, simultaneous real-time assays on a sample in a single-use disposable format. For example, the technology relates to methods employing an apparatus that finds use, for example, for point-of-care diagnostics, including use at accident sites, emergency rooms, in surgery, in intensive care units, as well as for non-medical applications. |
| US09097703B2 |
Light controlled protein dimerization in cells
Compositions and methods for light controlled protein-protein interactions in a living cell. Two interacting PICL (protein interaction controlled by light) polypeptides are provided. The first polypeptide comprises an LOV (Light, Oxygen or Voltage) domain, which domain is a light sensor that uses flavin mononucleotide (FMN) as a chromophore. The second polypeptide, specifically interacts with the L polypeptide upon light activation of the LOV domain. One or both of the polypeptides are fused to a cellular protein of interest. Upon exposure to light, a targeted interaction between cellular proteins occurs. The ability to regulate protein-protein interactions with subcellular resolution using light is useful for controlling biochemical processes such transcription, receptor activation, protein degradation, synapse formation, etc. in cells and animals. |
| US09097698B2 |
Nanogap device with capped nanowire structures
An anti-retraction capping material is formed on a surface of a nanowire that is located upon a dielectric membrane. A gap is then formed into the anti-retraction capping material and nanowire forming first and second capped nanowire structures of a nanodevice. The nanodevice can be used for recognition tunneling measurements including, for example DNA sequencing. The anti-retraction capping material serves as a mobility barrier to pin, i.e., confine, a nanowire portion of each of the first and second capped nanowire structures in place, allowing long-term structural stability. In some embodiments, interelectrode leakage through solution during recognition tunneling measurements can be minimized. |
| US09097695B2 |
Composite sampling of fluids
Composite sampling of a fluid flowing through a conduit includes collecting, in a vessel coupled to the conduit through which the fluid is flowing, a first discrete sample of fluid from the conduit, the first discrete sample having a first selected volume, and collecting, in the vessel and at a first interval from the first sample, a second discrete sample of the fluid from the conduit, the second discrete sample having a second selected volume, thereby forming a composite sample in the vessel while the vessel is coupled to conduit. The composite sample includes the first discrete sample and the second discrete sample, and may include one or more additional discrete samples. An apparatus for collecting the composite sample includes a gas chromatograph, and is arranged such that the composite sample is provided to the gas chromatograph without removing the composite sample from the apparatus or transporting the composite sample. |
| US09097692B2 |
Method for quantitatively determining impurities in glycerin
The invention relates to a method for quantitatively determining impurities in the form of aldehydes and ketones in glycerin serving for preparing pharmaceuticals, in which the glycerin containing impurities is reacted with a derivatization reagent in a sample solution and the quantity of derivatized impurities is determined. Said method is characterized in that PFBHA, O-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzyl)-hydroxylamine hydrochloride, is used as the derivatization reagent, the derivatizing is conducted in the presence of a solubilizer in the form of a polar organic solvent, and liquid chromatographic separation and UV detection are performed. A subject matter of the invention is also the use of glycerin, in which the content of impurities of 9 ppm or less has been determined by means of the described method in a pharmaceutical preparation. According to the invention, impurities in glycerin can be better determined. |
| US09097690B2 |
Sample preprocessing and conveying system
In a large-scale analyzing system arrangement with a multi-sample processing capability, connecting a plurality of analyzing systems each having a minimum analyzer configuration makes it difficult for each analyzing system to continue analysis while managing and sharing the consumables information required for measurement between the analyzers. Additionally, since the sample preprocessing and conveying system does not recognize operational states of the analyzing systems during the analysis, conveyance of the sample to an analyzing system unable to conduct the analysis is likely to occur, resulting in delays in reporting the test results on the sample. The internal operational status of a plurality of analyzing systems is collectively managed and samples are conveyed between the analyzing systems. If the analysis is determined not to be capable of being continued, the sample is temporarily placed in a stand-by condition and then the analysis, after returning to a restartable state, is automatically continued. |
| US09097689B2 |
Throughput information generating apparatus of sample analyzer, sample analyzer, throughput information generating method of sample analyzer, and computer program product
An apparatus for generating throughput information of a sample analyzer is disclosed. Specifically, this apparatus generates throughput information of a sample analyzer capable of measuring a sample on a plurality of measurement items in which measurement time differs from each other. The apparatus receives an input of a plurality of measurement orders, wherein a measurement order includes a designation of at least one measurement item, generates the throughput information of the sample analyzer based on the received plurality of measurement orders; and outputs the generated throughput information. |
| US09097688B2 |
Method and device for measuring water content in hydrogen fluoride-containing fluoride salt compounds
The present invention provide a water content measurement method for a hydrogen fluoride-containing compound represented by the general formula: XF.nHF (where X is either one of K, NH4, Na and Li; and n is a rational number greater than 0), including the steps of causing thermal decomposition of the hydrogen fluoride-containing compound, thereby generating a thermal decomposition gas, and then, determining the water content of the hydrogen fluoride-containing compound by quantification of the water content of the thermal decomposition gas. By this measurement method, it is possible to accurately quantify the content of water in the hydrogen fluoride-containing compound XF.nHF. |
| US09097680B1 |
Apparatus and method for determining sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate in water
A water testing system having a water sample container that is adapted to retain the water sample, a color indicator container that is adapted to dispense a color indicator, and a titration reagent container that is adapted to dispense a titration reagent. A method for determining the concentration of sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate in a water sample comprising providing a water testing system having a water sample container that is adapted to retain the water sample, a color indicator container that is adapted to dispense a color indicator, and a titration reagent container that is adapted to dispense a titration reagent. The preferred method also comprises placing the water sample in the water sample container, adding the color indicator to the water sample, adding the titration reagent to the water sample, and determining the concentration of sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate in the water sample. |
| US09097679B2 |
Analytical aid
A process for producing an analytical aid for the detection of at least one analyte in a sample, such as a body fluid. The analytical aid includes at least one housing and at least one test element including at least one test chemistry. The process includes the following steps: providing the test element; and producing at least one housing part of the housing at least one shaping process, during which the test element is connected to the housing part. |
| US09097678B2 |
Method for removing sulfur-comprising compounds from a hydrocarbonaceous gas mixture
A method for removing sulfur-comprising compounds from a hydrocarbonaceous gas mixture, in which an adsorber material is brought into contact with the hydrocarbonaceous gas mixture, wherein the adsorber material comprises a material that adsorbs sulfur-comprising compounds and, in addition, comprises at least one transition metal compound which changes color thereof by reaction with the sulfur-comprising compounds. |
| US09097677B1 |
Magnetic gas sensors
In one embodiment, a magnetic gas sensor includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a gas-sensitive metallic interlayer positioned between the first and second ferromagnetic layers, wherein at least one physical property of the metallic interlayer changes in the presence of a gas that is to be detected, wherein a magnetic coupling between the first and second ferromagnetic layers, and a magnetic state of the sensor, can change depending upon the state of the physical property of the metallic interlayer. |
| US09097676B2 |
Device and methods of detection of airborne agents
Provided are methods, devices and systems that utilize free-surface fluidics and SERS for analyte detection with high sensitivity and specificity. The molecules can be airborne agents, including but not limited to explosives, narcotics, hazardous chemicals, or other chemical species. The free-surface fluidic architecture is created using an open microchannel, and exhibits a large surface to volume ratio. The free-surface fluidic interface can filter interferent molecules, while concentrating airborne analyte molecules. The microchannel flow enables controlled aggregation of SERS-active probe particles in the flow, thereby enhancing the detector's sensitivity. |
| US09097675B2 |
Lyophilization of colloidal metals for surface enhanced raman scattering
An assay and method of making same for use in SERS spectroscopy. The assay includes colloidal particles of a metal, which have been lyophilized. The lyophilized particles of metal produce a SERS active solution when reconstituted. The lyophilized particles of metal may be provided in a container in an assay system. |
| US09097673B2 |
Processes and kits for determining multi-drug resistance of cells
This invention relates to multi-drug resistance (MDR) in cells, and the use of certain xanthene compounds for determining drug resistance in cells and the effect of test compounds on cell membrane transport by the membrane transporters MDR1, MRP and BCRP. Processes and kits for making these determinations and measuring these effects are described and provided. |
| US09097669B2 |
Detection of markers in pressurized hydrocarbon fluids
A known amount of marker may be added to a pressurized hydrocarbon fluid, or combined with an additive to form a mixture, and the mixture may be added to a pressurized hydrocarbon fluid. An amount of the marker in the hydrocarbon fluid may be determined. An amount of the additive in the hydrocarbon fluid may be determined based on the amount of the marker in the pressurized hydrocarbon fluid. An inline system may be used for detection of a marker in a pressurized hydrocarbon fluid. The system is fixed in a pressurized hydrocarbon fluid supply line such that pressurized hydrocarbon fluid flowing from a first location to a second location in the supply line passes through the detection system. The hydrocarbon fluid may be a liquid or a gas. The markers may include a variety of optical markers, such as fluorescent markers. Detection of the markers may include, for example, fluorescence detection. |
| US09097666B2 |
Method and device for measuring gas component concentration inside a glass unit
A non-invasive method for determining a concentration of a gas component in a gas mixture contained in a spacing of a glass unit having at least two glass sheets spaced apart from each other and forming the spacing. One or more light beams is applied at an angle to the surface of the glass unit, wherein the wavelength of the emitted light beam is varied around or over the at least one absorption line of the interest gas component. The light beams transmitted through or reflected from at least one surface or interface locating at the opposite side of the spacing are collected by a detector and non-linear variations in the intensity of the transmitted or reflected light beams over an absorption line of the interest gas is then component determined. The concentration of the gas component to be measured is determined based on the non-linear variations in the intensity. |
| US09097659B2 |
Maintaining electrode function during manufacture with a protective layer
The present disclosure relates to an electrochemical test sensor for detecting the concentration of an analyte in a fluid sample. The test sensor includes a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a trigger electrode. A temporary protective layer overlies the trigger electrode and helps to maintain the function of the trigger electrode during test sensor manufacture. |
| US09097656B2 |
Methods for precision optical frequency synthesis and molecular detection
The present invention relates to precision linewidth control and frequency measurements of continuous wave lasers for the near to far IR spectral regions, precision frequency synthesizers and exemplary applications in molecular detection. Methods and systems are disclosed for simultaneous line narrowing of cw lasers, as well as referencing the desired emission wavelength to a frequency comb laser. |
| US09097653B2 |
Electrochemical detection of beta-lactoglobulin
A method to detect beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) is described. The method includes the steps of adding a known concentration of hydrogen peroxide to a sample known to, or suspected of containing BLG; and electrolyzing the sample using a working electrode at a fixed potential sufficient to electrolyze BLG, and measuring a current signal within the sample. A diminution of the current signal in the sample as compared to a corresponding current signal from a standard solution containing a known concentration of hydrogen peroxide and no BLG indicates that the sample contains BLG. |
| US09097652B2 |
Sensor array mounted on flexible carrier
A sensor apparatus is disclosed herein. The sensor apparatus includes a flexible carrier that is elongated along a length of the carrier. The sensor apparatus also includes a plurality of analysis zones carried by the carrier. The analysis zones are spaced-apart from one another along the length of the carrier. The sensor apparatus further includes first and second spaced-apart electrodes carried by the flexible carrier. The first and second electrodes have lengths that extend along the length of the carrier. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes analyte sensing chemistry. The first and second electrodes extending across and contact the plurality of analysis zones. |
| US09097650B2 |
System and apparatus for determining temperatures in a fluid analyte system
A test sensor includes a body, a first conductive trace, a second conductive trace, and a third conductive trace. The body includes a first region that has a fluid-receiving area, a second region separate from the first region, and a first temperature sensing interface disposed at or adjacent to the fluid-receiving area. The fluid-receiving area receives a sample. The first trace is disposed on the body, and at least a portion of the first trace is disposed in the first region. The second and third traces are disposed on the body. The third trace extends from the first to the second regions. The third trace is connected to the first trace at the first temperature sensing interface. The third trace includes a different material than the first trace. A first thermocouple is formed at the first temperature sensing interface. The thermocouple provides temperature data to determine an analyte concentration. |
| US09097649B2 |
Optical design techniques for providing favorable fabrication characteristics
Disclosed are methods and techniques for providing favorable fabrication characteristics for optical elements. One method includes providing a desired integrated computational element (ICE) design comprising a plurality of layers, each layer having a design thickness, randomizing the design thickness of each layer of the desired ICE design to simulate a fabrication error in each layer, thereby generating a plurality of randomized ICE designs, calculating a standard error of calibration between each randomized ICE design and the desired ICE design, correlating the standard error of calibration between a given layer of the desired ICE design and the fabrication error of each corresponding layer of each randomized ICE design, and ranking the plurality of layers of the desired ICE design based on the sensitivity to changes in the standard error of calibration. |
| US09097648B2 |
Method of detecting molecules and optical sensor
The present disclosure relates to an example method and optical sensor for detecting molecules of a particular substance by means of an optical sensor. Such an example method may include bringing the sensor into contact with a fluid to be analyzed, coupling light of a first wavelength into an optical resonator of the optical sensor, coupling light of a second wavelength into the same resonator or into a second optical resonator of the optical sensor, detecting, for each of the first and the second wavelengths, an optical signal coupled out of an optical path containing the respective resonator, varying an optical length of the respective resonator or the respective wavelength and detecting a broadening of this resonance indicating an absorption of the light fed into the respective resonator by molecules accumulated at the active layer of this resonator. |
| US09097646B1 |
Modulated sine waves for differential absorption measurements using a CW laser system
A continuous wave Light Detection and Ranging (CW LiDAR) system utilizes two or more laser frequencies and time or range shifted pseudorandom noise (PN) codes to discriminate between the laser frequencies. The performance of these codes can be improved by subtracting out the bias before processing. The CW LiDAR system may be mounted to an artificial satellite orbiting the earth, and the relative strength of the return signal for each frequency can be utilized to determine the concentration of selected gases or other substances in the atmosphere. |
| US09097642B2 |
X-ray dose estimation technique
Embodiments of the disclosure relate to projection-based dose estimation for X-ray systems, such as X-ray imaging systems. For example, in one embodiment, an X-ray system is capable of estimating an X-ray dose based on an intensity profile of the detected X-rays that have passed through a scanned object and an estimated mass of the object. In one embodiment, the intensity profile may be compared to a baseline scan to acquire an estimate of energy interaction with the object. |
| US09097641B2 |
Method to determine the mass concentration of particles in a dispersion including particles and fluid
In a method to determine particle mass concentration in a dispersion having particles and fluid, the dispersion in a measurement cell is exposed to an alternating field of variable frequency to set the particles into oscillation to generate sound pressure waves. Amplitudes of the sound pressure waves are measured depending on the frequency so that a maximum amplitude of the sound pressure waves is established and a frequency associated with the amplitude is determined as a resonance frequency of the sound pressure wave. The mass concentration of the particles in the dispersion is established from the resonance frequency. |
| US09097636B2 |
Thermoelectric component with plasmonic guide, integrating a device for measuring the power coupled in the guided mode
A thermoelectric component comprises integrated into the component: a plasmonic waveguide, an exciter element for the guided plasmonic mode, a device for measuring the power dissipated during propagation along the plasmonic waveguide, characterized in that the measurement device comprises, associated with the plasmonic guide, a thermocouple junction with two electrodes, one of the electrodes including the plasmonic waveguide. |
| US09097633B2 |
Reactor cell assembly for use in spectroscopy and microscopy applications
The present disclosure provides a reactor cell assembly that utilizes a novel design and that is wholly or partially manufactured from Aluminum, such that reactions involving Hydrogen, for example, including solid-gas reactions and thermal decomposition reactions, are not affected by any degree of Hydrogen outgassing. This reactor cell assembly can be utilized in a wide range of optical and laser spectroscopy applications, as well as optical microscopy applications, including high-temperature and high-pressure applications. The result is that the elucidation of the role of Hydrogen in the reactions studied can be achieved. Various window assemblies can be utilized, such that high temperatures and high pressures can be accommodated and the signals obtained can be optimized. |
| US09097632B2 |
Device for the light stimulation and cryopreservation of biological samples
In a device (1) for rapid pressure-freezing an aqueous sample (3), such as a biological specimen, a pressurized cooling medium can be fed into a high-pressure chamber (11) into which a sample holder (30) containing a sample (3) is inserted and which is sealed with a pressure-tight seal, to the location of the sample holder (30) held therein. The high-pressure chamber (11) comprises a viewing window structure (2) with a pressure-tight window (20), through which light can be directed from the outside onto the sample (3) located in the sample holder (30). The window (20) can comprise a transparent window element made of a high-pressure-resistant material, wherein the window element (20) is held by a pressure- and temperature-resistant window bearing provided in the high-pressure chamber. |
| US09097628B2 |
Method and kit for processing wax-embedded biological samples
The present invention relates to a method for processing a wax-embedded biological sample, the use of poly(organosiloxane)s for liquefying the embedding medium of a wax-embedded biological sample and a kit for processing a wax-embedded biological sample. |
| US09097625B2 |
Gas injection system for energetic-beam instruments
A gas injection system for an energetic-beam instrument having a vacuum chamber. The system has a cartridge containing a chemical serving as a source for an output gas to be delivered into the vacuum chamber. The cartridge has a reservoir containing the chemical, which rises to a fill line having a level defined by an amount of the chemical present in the reservoir at a given time. An outlet from the reservoir is coupled to an output passage through an outlet valve and configured so that when the system is tilted the outlet remains above the level of the fill line. Embodiments include isolation valves allowing the cartridge to be disconnected without destroying system vacuum. |
| US09097624B1 |
External filter assembly adapted for modifying a suction cleaning device to perform biological sampling
An external filter assembly adapted for modifying a suction cleaning device to sample relatively small particles from various surfaces and/or the ambient air, includes a housing having a first open end, a second open end and a throughbore between the first and second open ends, a filter adapted for capturing particles with particle sizes greater than 0.1 micrometer, the filter being mounted on and enclosing the first open end, and means for securely retaining the second open end of the housing on an exhaust port of the suction cleaning device in communication with the housing throughbore. |
| US09097622B2 |
Process interface valve assembly
A valve assembly includes a valve body having a fluid access passage extending from a process fluid port to an access port, a block valve disposed in the fluid access passage and movable between open and closed conditions, an access blocking device disposed in the fluid access passage between the access port and the block valve, and a valve interlock arrangement. The access blocking device is movable from an access blocking condition in which access to the block valve through the access port is blocked, to an access permitting condition in which access to the block valve through the access port is permitted. The valve interlock arrangement is configured such that the block valve is prevented from being moved to the closed condition when the access blocking device is in the access permitting condition. |
| US09097619B2 |
Specimen slicing guide
A specimen slicing guide is provided for assisting in slicing a specimen taken from a human or an animal. The specimen slicing guide includes a base extending in a direction having a horizontal component. A plurality of needles extend from the base with gaps provided between the needles in the extension direction of the base. The needles extend at least substantially parallel to each other and at least substantially perpendicular to the horizontal component of base. A needle spacer has a plurality of holes and the plurality of needles are respectively disposed in the plurality of holes. The needle spacer is configured to press against the specimen and to move relative to the base. |
| US09097615B2 |
Fiber signal loss event identification
A system includes a wavelength tunable laser to provide a first optical pulse of a first wavelength and a second optical pulse of a second wavelength to an optical fiber, a reflection detector to determine a first fiber attenuation curve from the first reflected pulse and a second fiber attenuation curve from the second reflected pulse, and a discontinuous loss event analyzer to identify a discontinuous loss event at a discontinuous loss point in at least one of the first fiber attenuation curve and the second first fiber attenuation curve, determine a return loss slope based on a return loss at the discontinuous loss point for the first fiber attenuation curve and a return loss at the discontinuous loss point for the second first fiber attenuation curve, and determine whether the discontinuous loss event is a bad fiber bending event based on the return loss slope. |
| US09097611B2 |
Fluid storage and dispensing system including dynamic fluid monitoring of fluid storage and dispensing vessel
A monitoring system for monitoring fluid in a fluid supply vessel during operation including dispensing of fluid from the fluid supply vessel. The monitoring system includes (i) one or more sensors for monitoring a characteristic of the fluid supply vessel or the fluid dispensed therefrom, (ii) a data acquisition module operatively coupled to the one or more sensors to receive monitoring data therefrom and responsively generate an output correlative to the characteristic monitored by the one or more sensors, and (iii) a processor and display operatively coupled with the data acquisition module and arranged to process the output from the data acquisition module and responsively output a graphical representation of fluid in the fluid supply vessel. |
| US09097609B1 |
Hermetic seal leak detection apparatus with variable size test chamber
The present invention is a versatile hermetic seal leak detection apparatus for testing hermetically sealed containers and devices for leaks without the need to create a custom or specially manufactured testing chamber conforming to the dimensions of the specific object under test. The size of the testing chamber may be mechanically adjusted by the novel use of bellows to reduce and optimize the amount of gas space in a test chamber which surrounds the hermetically sealed object under test. The present invention allows the size of the test chamber to be selectively adjusted during testing to provide an optimum test chamber gas space. The present invention may be further adapted to isolate and test specific portions of the hermetically sealed object under test for leaks. |
| US09097605B2 |
Location of a leak in a pipe
A method and a device including the steps of: locally detecting an event in a pipe; generating at least one signal, coded according to the detected event; and detecting a frequency signature of said signal in images generated by a synthetic aperture radar. |
| US09097602B2 |
Systems and methods for determining strength of cylindrical structures by internal pressure loading
In one embodiment, an apparatus, includes: a mandrel; an expansion cylinder, comprising: opposite first and second ends; an inner circumferential surface extending between the ends and characterized by an inner diameter, the inner circumferential surface defining a hollow cavity; an outer circumferential surface extending between the ends and characterized by an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter; and a plurality of slots extending from the inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface and latitudinally oriented between the ends; and one or more base plates configured to engage one of the ends of the expansion cylinder. In another embodiment, a method includes: arranging an expansion cylinder inside a test cylinder; arranging a mandrel inside the expansion cylinder; applying a force to the mandrel for exerting a radial force on the expansion cylinder; and detecting one or more indicia of structural failure of the test cylinder. |
| US09097592B2 |
Temperature sensing device and method of generating a signal representing the temperature of an environment
A sensing device includes a first current mirror configured to mirror a current flowing through a thermistor, a second current mirror configured to mirror a current flowing through a reference resistor a comparator configured to compare voltages on the thermistor and the resistor, and a counter configured to generate a control signal representative of a temperature difference based on the comparison. The control signal controls a mirroring ratio of the second current mirror. The sensing device may be employed to generate a droop current of a voltage regulator. |
| US09097586B2 |
Quasi-translator, fourier modulator, fourier spectrometer, motion control system and methods for controlling same, and signal processor circuit
A quasi-translator for economically producing pure, smooth translational motion with broad arcuate or error-free motion regardless of orientation, which is useful in numerous interferometer applications including spectroscopy, a Fourier modulator and a Fourier spectrometer are provided. The quasi-translator utilizes a support, an arm including a driving magnet on a first end and a driven element on a second end, an axis for rotation of the arm, a bearing system that controls the rotation of the arm about the axis, a drive coil and a drive amplifier to drive the arm in the arcuate motion. The quasi-translator may be employed in a Fourier modulator to change the optical path difference of the interferometer/quasi-translator at a substantially constant rate of change. The quasi-translator and/or Fourier modulator may be used in a Fourier spectrometer to create an optical spectrum from a light beam and/or electrical signal created from the light beam. |
| US09097582B2 |
Ambient light sensing system and method
A sensor for range finding and ambient light measurement wherein the sensor includes an array of pixels capable of sensing illumination in a plurality of wavelengths and generating a response thereto for each wavelength; the sensor including an ambient light sensing system which includes a module for adjusting the response from the ambient light sensor, such that the response for each wavelength is independent of the wavelength of the illumination. |
| US09097579B2 |
Electrical calibrated radiometer
An electrical calibrated radiometer includes a base, a suspension unit extending from the base, and a first heat measuring unit and a second heat measuring unit formed in the base. By applying a known voltage to the first heat measuring unit, the first heat measuring unit could serve as a thermal background for the second heat measuring unit, and an absolute temperature of a heat source could be determined with high precision from output voltages of the second heat measuring unit. |
| US09097578B2 |
Infrared sensing using pyro/piezo-electric resonators
An infrared sensor formed from a resonant sensor element having a mechanical resonator and an IR absorber arranged to receive and absorb incident infrared radiation. The resonator includes a temperature-responsive material that exhibits pyroelectric and piezoelectric effects. The IR absorber is thermally coupled to the resonator such that the resonator receives thermal energy from at least some of the incident infrared radiation absorbed by the IR absorber. The resonator has at least one resonant characteristic that varies based on the amount of thermal energy received from the IR absorber by the resonator. A sensor array and infrared sensing method are included that use a plurality of the infrared sensors along with a reference sensor having the same construction as the other sensor elements, except that the sensor either lacks the IR absorber or has it arranged so that it is not exposed to the incident infrared radiation. |
| US09097572B2 |
Flow rate measuring device
A problem of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device which is capable of simplifying calculation, reducing the amount of memory necessary for calculation, absorbing variations resulting from manual operation or ignition state when the appliances are used alone or in combination, and improving appliance identification precision of appliances having similar characteristics with a configuration which extracts characteristics of appliances. The flow rate measurement device identifies the appliances with high precision by extracting characteristics of gas appliances from code sequences into which a differential conversion unit converts, at regular time intervals, differentials by a first calculation unit which calculates differentials at regular time intervals in the flow rates measured by a flow rate measurement unit and by a second calculation unit which calculates differentials at time intervals different from the first calculation unit. |
| US09097570B2 |
Measuring transducer of a vibration-type having slits in the coupling elements for tuning eigenfrequency of the measuring tubes
A measuring transducer serves for producing vibration signals corresponding to parameters of a flowing medium comprises a measuring transducer housing having housing ends and, extending within the measuring transducer housing between its housing ends, a tube arrangement formed by means of at least two tubes. Of the two tubes, at least one tube serves as a measuring tube conveying flowing medium and the other tube is mechanically connected with the tube by means of a first coupling element to form an inlet-side coupling zone and by means of a second coupling element to form an outlet-side coupling zone. At least the first coupling element has in a region extending between the tubes a slit having at least one closed end. Slit has a maximal slit width and a maximal slit length, which is greater than the maximal slit width. Placed partially within the slit is a connecting element, which contacts a slit edge enclosing said slit. |
| US09097568B2 |
System and method for meter substitution for co-located flowmeters
A system and method for ultrasonic flow metering. In one embodiment, an ultrasonic flow metering system includes a plurality of ultrasonic flowmeters. Each of the ultrasonic flowmeters includes a flow processor. The flow processor is configured to maintain a plurality of velocity bins, each of the bins corresponding to a flow velocity range for the flowmeters. The flow processor is also configured to maintain, within each of the bins, a value indicative of past average velocity of fluid flow through a given one of the flowmeters associated with a given one of the bins. The flow processor is further configured to determine, responsive to one of the flowmeters having failed, an estimated average fluid flow velocity through the system based on the values maintained within the bins. |
| US09097566B2 |
Magnetic core configuration for magnetic flowmeters
A flowtube assembly for a magnetic flowmeter is provided. The flowtube assembly includes a flowtube configured to receive a flow of process fluid therethrough. A magnetic core is mounted relative to the flowtube and includes a stem extending from the flowtube to a pair of arms. Each of the arms extends away from the stem. A spool having a plurality of magnetic windings is disposed about the stem and spaces the plurality of windings from the flowtube. |
| US09097563B2 |
Field apparatus
A field apparatus includes an apparatus case having an opening, a battery case that houses a battery and is mounted to an inner side of the apparatus case by being inserted into the apparatus case via the opening, and a mounting part that is provided on the inner side of the apparatus case and mounts the battery case such that its mounting direction can be modified in accordance with the installation direction of the apparatus case such that the battery is in a preset proper mounting direction. |
| US09097561B2 |
Position transducer
Provided is a position transducer which can be manufactured at low cost, improve the signal-to-noise ratio of an output obtained from a detector, and obtain a stable output even if the temperature changes. A position transducer 100 includes a butterfly-shaped reflector 7 attached to a rotating shaft 2 of a rotation restriction motor 1, an LED die 4 disposed to face a central portion of the reflection surface of the reflector 7, a diffused-light absorbing member disposed on the surfaces of a diffused light absorber 3 and a case 5, installed on the fixed side of the motor 1 so as to surround the reflector 7 with a distance from the reflector 7 at the rear of the reflector 7 as viewed from the LED die 4 and absorbing illumination light from the LED die 4 which has not illuminated the reflection surface, and detectors 11 mounted on the same printed circuit board 6 as the LED die 4 to detect an image reflected by the reflector 7. |
| US09097559B2 |
Non-contact multi-turn absolute position magnetic sensor comprising a through-shaft
The invention relates to an absolute position magnetic sensor for measuring the angular position, on a theta course, of a shaft passing through said sensor and comprising at least two systems for detecting the position of the shaft. Said invention is characterised in that: at least one of the detection systems generates a signal according to a “periodical” function of the theta/n period giving the periodical angular position of said shaft; at least one of the detection systems generates an absolute signal on a theta course of the shaft; and theta and n fit the equation: *theta/n=360*n>1. |
| US09097558B2 |
Position sensor
A position sensor includes a detector, an oscillation circuit, a signal processing circuit, and a resonance circuit having a detection coil and a capacitor. The oscillation circuit forms a negative feedback loop from: an amplitude detection circuit that detects an amplitude of an oscillation signal outputted from the resonance circuit; an integrating circuit that outputs a signal corresponding to a difference between a predetermined reference voltage and the amplitude of the oscillation signal; a negative conductance control circuit that, based on the output of the integrating circuit, controls the negative conductance of the oscillation circuit such that the amplitude of the oscillation signal is equals to the predetermined reference voltage; and an operational amplifier that adjusts such that the oscillation voltage of the resonance circuit is equal to the applied voltage of the negative conductance control circuit. |
| US09097556B2 |
Method for reducing non-linearity during measurement of a physical parameter and electronic circuit for implementing the same
A method for reducing the non-linearity effect of a digital-analog converter on an electronic interface circuit of a capacitive sensor. The electronic circuit includes an amplifier connected to the common electrode by a switching unit, a logic unit connected to the amplifier for supplying first and second digital measuring signals, and a digital-analog converter for supplying a measuring voltage to the electrodes. The method includes firstly biasing the capacitor electrodes by the measuring voltage, then biasing the fixed electrode of the first capacitor at a regulated voltage and the fixed electrode of the second capacitor at a low voltage, then biasing the capacitor electrodes by the measuring voltage, and finally biasing the fixed electrode of the first capacitor at a low voltage and the fixed electrode of the second capacitor at a regulated voltage. |
| US09097554B2 |
Method and apparatus for displaying image of mobile communication terminal
Techniques are described for allowing a user to intuitively check an actual image captured by a camera, rather than to recognize information regarding a peripheral area (point of interest) on a map. An apparatus includes a camera module that accesses an image captured by a camera and detects a direction in which the camera points and a display unit that displays the captured image. The apparatus also includes a controller that detects a position of a point of interest (POI) corresponding to a keyword and indicates location information for the POI on the displayed image based on the direction information of the to camera, a current location, and the detected location of the POI. |
| US09097553B2 |
Navigation based on direction of travel/user-defined path
A device receives global navigation satellite system coordinates associated with a mobile user device, and determines a direction of travel of the mobile user device based on the global navigation satellite system coordinates. The device creates a user-defined path based on a user-defined starting point, a user-defined destination point, and one or more user-defined intermediate points received from the mobile user device, and receives, from the mobile user device, a search request for points of interest in one of the direction of travel or along the user-defined path. The device further determines, based on the search request, one or more points of interest in the direction of travel or along the user-defined path, and provides, to the mobile user device, the determined one or more points of interest in the direction of travel or along the user-defined path. |
| US09097552B2 |
Adaptive clustering of locations
Example techniques and systems include generating cluster information to consolidate multiple locations. In one example, a method includes receiving, at a computing device, a plurality of location identifiers corresponding to a plurality of locations at which a mobile computing device was previously located, defining, by the computing device, a plurality of geographic regions based at least in part on the plurality of location identifiers, wherein each of the plurality of geographic regions defines a physical area in which at least one of the plurality of locations is located, selecting, by the computing device, a subset of the plurality of geographic regions based on respective distances between a current location of the mobile computing device and a respective reference point within each of the geographic regions, and outputting, by the computing device and for display, an indication of the subset of the plurality of geographic regions. |
| US09097551B2 |
Method and apparatus for processing location-based imaging and trace data
An approach is provided to process imaging data associated with location trace data of one or more links of a road. A processing platform may process and/or facilitate a processing of imaging data associated with location trace data of at least one link of a road to determine maneuvering information for at least one vehicle collecting the imaging data, the location trace data, or a combination thereof. Further, the processing platform may determine whether to cause, at least in part, an adjusting of at least a portion of the location trace data based, at least in part, on the maneuvering information. |
| US09097550B2 |
Navigation device, server, navigation method and program
When a navigation device receives an input of speech from a user, it transmits data of inputted speech to a server and receives a speech recognition result. If a guide route includes a communication impossible area, the navigation device obtains terminal-use speech recognition data necessary for the navigation device to perform speech recognition from the server before reaching the communication impossible area. Thus, even if the speech is inputted by the user while traveling the communication impossible area, the navigation device can perform the speech recognition by itself by using the terminal-use speech recognition data. |
| US09097549B1 |
Learning automated vehicle
A vehicle includes a navigation system and a processing device. The navigation system determines a route from a current location to a selected destination. The processing device applies a template to the route. The template represents driving trends associated with a geographic region. The processing device adjusts the route based on the template prior to the vehicle embarking on the route. |
| US09097543B2 |
Road information updating system and navigation apparatus
A road information update system comprising a navigation apparatus and an information center is disclosed. The navigation apparatus collects a travel trace when traveling a new road not present in a road map data, and sends the collected travel trace to the information center. The information center compares multiple road map data to extract a new road and an abandoned road, and generates multiple road change models based on the abandoned road and the new road. The information center receives the travel trace in the new road from the navigation apparatus, and estimates the new road and the abandoned road based on the received travel trace in the new road and the road change models. |
| US09097540B2 |
Map display apparatus, map display method, and map display program product
A map display apparatus includes: road network information in which integrated traffic signal information is provided in an intersection configured of a plurality of nodes having attribute information of traffic signal available; a display unit which performs map displaying using map image data generated based on the road network information; and a signal displaying controller which performs switching whether a traffic signal icon is displayed at the node of the map image data or the traffic signal icon is displayed at a position to display the integrated traffic signal information according to a display scale of the map displaying. |
| US09097538B1 |
Rover
A rover for precisely determining the topography of a given parcel by contacting the surface of the parcel includes a GPS module and at least one sensor wheel. The GPS module may be mounted adjacent to and work in concert with the sensor wheel. The attitude and heading of the sensor wheel may be measured with another sensor, such as an AHRS, and the angle of the sensor wheel may be measured with a rotation position sensor. The various data points may be distilled to accurately measure the topography of a given parcel when the relative positions of the GPS module and the center of the sensor wheel are constant. |
| US09097534B2 |
Dynamic positioning architecture
The present invention provides an improved architecture for integrating an inertial navigation system (INS) into a dynamic positioning (DP) system for a vessel. The architecture includes an INS unit and a DP system having a Kalman filter or other algorithm for combining data supplied by a plurality of position measuring equipment (PME) and the INS unit to derive an estimate of the position or speed of the vessel. A switch array and a switch array controller are also provided. These may optionally form a part of the DP system. The switch array is operable under the control of the switch array controller to supply data supplied by one or more of the plurality of position measuring equipment to the INS unit for the purposes of correcting drift. The selection of which of the one or more PME is/are to be combined with the INS unit is made automatically, in real time, to dynamically optimise the DP system. |
| US09097532B2 |
Systems and methods for monocular airborne object detection
Systems and methods for airborne object detection using monocular sensors are provided. In one embodiment, a system for detecting moving objects from a mobile vehicle comprises: an imaging camera; a navigation unit including at least an inertial measurement unit; and a computer system coupled to the image camera and the navigation unit. The computer system executes an airborne object detection process algorithm, and calculates a transformation between two or more image frames captured by the imaging camera using navigation information associated with each of the two or more image frames to generate a motion compensated background image sequence. The computer system detects moving objects from the motion compensated background image sequence. |
| US09097531B2 |
Human-like global positioning system (GPS) directions
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request for a route from a first geolocation to a second geolocation; calculating the route from the first geolocation to the second geolocation; identifying one or more inferred paths that coincide with at least a portion of the route; replacing one or more navigation instructions of the route with an abbreviated navigation instruction associated with the inferred paths; and providing a set of navigation instructions of the route that includes the abbreviated navigation instruction. |
| US09097530B2 |
Method for ensuring continuity of service of a personal navigation device and device thereof
A method for ensuring continuity of service of a personal navigation device in the event of insufficient reception of GNSS satellite signals, wherein the user provides the personal navigation device with first data relating to the current position of the device through data input, and wherein the personal navigation device, in order to calculate its own position, uses the first data entered by the user and second data coming from localization tools associated with the portable navigation device and not using GNSS satellite signals. |
| US09097529B2 |
Aircraft system and method for improving navigation performance
A high integrity navigation system and method are provided. The method comprises performing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of a desired flight path of an aircraft, for example an approach to an airport, and comparing the CRC with a stored CRC performed on the identified flight path. If the comparison exceeds a first threshold, a first alert is provided wherein the pilot is to perform a published missed approach. A second alert, also requiring a missed approach, is provided when one or more comparisons are performed of a sensor position of the aircraft with the high integrity flight path; a defined flight path with the high integrity flight path; and the sensor position with an aircraft position determined by a flight management system, and thresholds are exceeded. |
| US09097527B2 |
Method and system for generating a route
A method for generating a route including at least one path. The method is suitable for aircraft reconnaissance of an area. The method includes encompassing the area with a geometrical figure, generating a first direction depending upon a configuration of the figure, generating the at least one path depending upon the first direction wherein the path corresponds to a sub area covering at least a part of the area. |
| US09097525B2 |
Driving circuit for a microelectromechanical gyroscope and related microelectromechanical gyroscope
A driving circuit for a gyroscope device provided with a micromechanical detection structure having a driving mass, which is driven in resonance condition and elastically coupled to which is a sensing mass for enabling detection of angular velocity; the driving circuit has: a set of driving electrodes, coupled to the driving mass; a driving stage supplying driving signals to the set of driving electrodes to cause oscillation in resonance condition of the driving mass; and a reading stage, which detects movement of the driving mass to implement a feedback control of the driving signals. In particular, the reading stage is selectively coupleable to the set of driving electrodes in a way temporally alternative to the driving stage, for discrete-time detection of the movement of the driving mass. |
| US09097521B2 |
Distance measurement apparatus and method
There are provided a distance measurement apparatus and a distance measurement method, the distance measurement apparatus including: a light source outputting light; a switch array including a plurality of cells, and controlling a position at which the light output from the light source is irradiated, by switching operations of the respective cells; a light detector sensing the light reflected from a target object; and a controller sequentially controlling the switching operations of the plurality of cells of the switch array, wherein the controller generates distance information between the light source and the target object based on the light sensed by the light detector. The light detector including a single cell light detector element may be used, to thereby reduce the costs. |
| US09097519B2 |
Method for mounting an angular displacement detector and detection device provided with corresponding mounting means
The object is to ensure the absence of friction between a housing supporting a sensor and a mounting arranged to support a target, and the absence of load take-up resulting from the contact and lack of precision among mounting interfaces. This involves forming, in a mounting position, a clearance between the mounting and the housing and then releasing the target mounting in the operative position of the sensor. A cylindrical recess for freely receiving with a clearance the mounting supporting the reference element serving as a target and which is mountable on the shaft, is provided in the housing which supports the sensor and which is attachable to the stationary part. Removable locking elements provided between the mounting and the housing maintain the latter in an initial position when the locking elements are operative and, when inoperative, release the mounting mounted on the rotary shaft from the housing. |
| US09097516B2 |
Surface angle and surface angle distribution measurement device
Provided is a measurement device including a light source that sequentially emits plural beams of light which are respectively incident on an object and of which optical axes are parallel or substantially parallel to each other, a condensing optical system that condenses the plural beams of light reflected from the object or the plural beams of light transmitted through the object, a light receiving unit, a light receiving surface of which is placed on a back focal plane of the condensing optical system, and that outputs a distribution or a center position of an intensity of light received in the light receiving surface, and a measurement unit that measures at least one of an angle and an angle distribution of a surface of the object, based on an output value output from the light receiving unit for each light applied to the object from the light source. |
| US09097515B2 |
Measuring device and measuring method
A measuring device may include a housing having an opening where a substrate is carried in; a first sensor including a first light output part emitting first light to the substrate and a first light receiving part sensing the first light reflected from the substrate; a second sensor including a second light output part emitting second light and a second light receiving part sensing the second light, wherein the second light is blocked out by the substrate being carried in the housing; and a controller calculating a vertical displacement of the substrate using the fact that the first light is reflected, calculating a horizontal displacement of the substrate using the fact that the second light is blocked out, and calculating a displacement error of the substrate carried in the housing with respect to a carry-in exact position of the substrate based on the vertical displacement and the horizontal displacement. |
| US09097514B2 |
Device and method for inspecting tyre shape
Boundary lines which are contours of uneven marks are detected in a sample original image of the sidewall surface of a sample tire, and a mask image showing the position of the boundary lines is generated. Thereupon, a height offset image which shows a height of the uneven marks is generated by, in use of a plurality of discrete height threshold values, classifying the height of regions in the sample original image which remain after excluding regions corresponding to the positions of the boundary lines shown in the mask image. An unevenness-excluded image is generated by excluding the uneven marks from an inspection image of a sidewall surface of a tire under inspection, by subtracting the height offset image from the inspection image. A shape defect in the sidewall surface of the tire under inspection is inspected on the basis of the unevenness-excluded image. |
| US09097513B2 |
Optical laser scanning micrometer
The present invention provides multiple improvements to optical-based laser scanning micrometers and providing a small handheld version laser scanning micrometer based on the these improvements. For added accuracy and reduction in unit size, a double sided coated mirror receiver reflects the beam back into the transmitter light source. For added accuracy, a Ronchi rule is repositioned one or more times to calibrate additional lookup table correction values. To compensate for barometric pressure change and temperature, two additional reference edges are added to be combined with the reference edges in the transmitter to generate to null out pressure and temperature at the passline measurement area. To minimize beam errors and for part locating, a third derivative is detected. Two or more parallel scanning beams are generated to null out cosine errors and to measure, taper and spherical parts. |
| US09097512B2 |
Layered medium for three-dimensional imaging
The attenuation and other optical properties of a medium are exploited to measure a thickness of the medium between a sensor and a target surface. Disclosed herein are various mediums, arrangements of hardware, and processing techniques that can be used to capture these thickness measurements and obtain three-dimensional images of the target surface in a variety of imaging contexts. This includes general techniques for imaging interior/concave surfaces as well as exterior/convex surfaces, as well as specific adaptations of these techniques to imaging ear canals, human dentition, and so forth. |
| US09097507B2 |
Non-contact shift lever position detector and health status monitoring system
A non-contact shift lever position detector includes a housing, a gear position shift lever, a magnet, a plurality of magnetic sensors, and a processor. The gear position shift lever is disposed partially within the housing and is moveable to at least a first position, a second position, and a third position. The magnet is disposed within the housing, and is coupled to the gear position shift lever and is movable therewith. The magnetic sensors are fixedly disposed within the housing and each magnetic sensor is spaced apart from the magnet and is configured to supply an output voltage representative of its proximity to the magnet. The processor is coupled to receive the output voltage supplied from each of the magnetic sensors and is configured, upon receipt thereof, to determine when the gear position shift lever is in the first position, the second position, and the third position. |
| US09097505B2 |
Fiber optic transducers, fiber optic accelerometers and fiber optic sensing systems
A fiber optic transducer is provided. The fiber optic transducer includes a fixed portion configured to be secured to a body of interest, a moveable portion having a range of motion with respect to the fixed portion, a spring positioned between the fixed portion and the moveable portion, and a length of fiber wound between the fixed portion and the moveable portion. The length of fiber spans the spring. The fiber optic transducer also includes a mass engaged with the moveable portion. In one disclosed aspect of the transducer, the mass envelopes the moveable portion. |
| US09097504B2 |
Shape measuring machine and method of correcting shape measurement error
A shape measuring machine includes a slider that supports a scanning probe including a tip sphere. A scale unit detects a displacement of the slider. A tip sphere displacement detection unit detects a displacement of the tip sphere. A calculation unit includes a correction filter and an adder, and calculates a measurement value from the displacements of the slider and the tip sphere. The correction filter outputs a correction value that is obtained by correcting the displacement of the tip sphere detected by the tip sphere displacement detection unit based on an inverse characteristic of a frequency transfer characteristic from the scale unit to the tip sphere. The adder calculates the measurement value by adding the displacement of the slider detected by the scale unit and the correction value. |
| US09097503B1 |
Munitions having an insensitive detonator system for initiating large failure diameter explosives
A munition according to a preferred embodiment can include a detonator system having a detonator that is selectively coupled to a microwave source that functions to selectively prime, activate, initiate, and/or sensitize an insensitive explosive material for detonation. The preferred detonator can include an explosive cavity having a barrier within which an insensitive explosive material is disposed and a waveguide coupled to the explosive cavity. The preferred system can further include a microwave source coupled to the waveguide such that microwaves enter the explosive cavity and impinge on the insensitive explosive material to sensitize the explosive material for detonation. In use the preferred embodiments permit the deployment and use of munitions that are maintained in an insensitive state until the actual time of use, thereby substantially preventing unauthorized or unintended detonation thereof. |
| US09097501B2 |
Explosive material container
An explosive material container (1) for a block of explosive material (7), in particular comprising a protective film (8), is described in which an inflow protection element in the form of a cover (2) with integrated protection, support, guiding and/or positioning functions is provided. The inflow protection cover (2) is, preferably, provided with sealing and/or adhesive material and is placed on two or more edge profiles (3, 4, 5, 6) of the explosive material container (1), on the firing side, on the explosive material block (7) packed in the protective film (8). Positioning tips (9, 9.1) of the inflow protection cover (2) and the explosive material container (1) assume the positioning function. |
| US09097498B2 |
Mechanism for raising and lowering a weaponry target
A weaponry target mechanism has a base having two pivot points, two support arms each pivotally connected to one of the pivot points, a third arm pivotally connected to the two support arms, and a platform pivotally connected to the third arm and pivotally connected by a fourth arm to one of the support arms. The base may have two additional pivot points. There may be two additional support arms each pivotally connected to one of the additional pivot points. There may be an additional third arm pivotally connected to the two additional support arms. The platform may also be pivotally connected to the additional third arm and pivotally connected by an additional fourth arm to one of the additional support arms. There may be a target attached to the platform. The target may assume an upright position and a dropped position. |
| US09097493B2 |
Blast/impact mitigation shield
A method of manufacturing a shield by fabricating a plunger plate to include outwardly extending blades on one surface thereof and coupling the plunger plate to a body of damping material with blades of the plunger plate adjacent the body of damping material. The damping material is configured to transition from a solid to a non-flowing viscous fluid state locally near the blades of the plunger plate as they are driven into the body. |
| US09097492B2 |
Blast/impact mitigation shield
A blast mitigation method includes forming a body of solid material which transitions from a solid state to a non-flowing viscous fluid state when stressed which attaching it to the body of the undercarriage of a vehicle. The material of the body transitions from a solid state to a viscous fluid, state when an explosion occurs, is proximate the body and it absorbs at least some energy from the explosion mitigating impact on the vehicle. A plunger plate with blades extending outwardly therefrom is coupled to the body and oriented such that the blades are adjacent the body. |
| US09097491B2 |
Elevation adjustment mechanism for sight
An adjustable mechanism for an archery sight is characterized by a unique elevation and tension adjustment assemblies which allow a user to quickly and easily set the sight for optimum performance. The mechanism includes an elevation bar having an elevation carriage connected therewith for sliding movement along the bar in a first direction. A windage carriage is connected with the elevation carriage for movement in a second direction, and a sight is connected with the windage carriage. The elevation bar includes a drive screw and the elevation carriage includes a uniquely configured nut releasably connected with the drive screw so that the elevation carriage can be quickly displaced relative to the elevation bar. Tension adjustment between the elevation carriage and the elevation bar is provided by a unique adjustable cam and gib assembly operable by the user. In addition, tension between the windage carriage and the elevation carriage is afforded by a uniquely configured gib of synthetic plastic material in which the tensile strength of the material provides the necessary tension. |
| US09097490B2 |
Adapter for attaching a detachable stock to the firing mechanism of a firearm
An adapter is provided with a rail having one end secured to a gunstock; a groove structure including a bottom groove, a forward socket, a transverse channel through the socket, a pin hole through the channel, and a bottom limit member; a lever pivotably secured to the groove structure; and a sliding member in both the channel and the socket and including a projection at one end, a shoulder adjacent to the projection, a receptacle at an other end, a spring in the receptacle, and a slot perpendicular to the receptacle and communicating therewith. The pin is through the pin hole and the slot to anchor the spring between the pin and the receptacle. In a locked state, the shoulder is in the socket to lock the rail in the groove, the other end of the sliding member is projected, and the projection is retracted into the channel. |
| US09097481B2 |
Gun support for a tripod
A gun support includes a bracket pivotally supporting two stanchions detachably attachable to respective legs of a tripod. The gun support is foldable adjacent the tripod upon collapse of the tripod and extendable from the tripod upon pivotal extension of the legs of the tripod. |
| US09097477B1 |
Projectile launcher with rotatable clip connector
A toy launcher apparatus with a rotatable clip connector mounted to a lower portion of a housing. The housing also includes an upper portion, a barrel portion and a grip portion. Pivotally mounted to the upper portion of the housing is a handle and mounted to the grip portion is a trigger and a switch. Attached to the clip connector may be eight projectile clips and the clip connector is rotatable 45° every time the handle is pivoted forward. Mounted within the housing are a battery compartment, and a wheel and motor assembly. Batteries in the battery compartment may power the wheel and motor assembly after the switch is activated by a user. Pulling the trigger causes a projectile, such as a foam dart, to be pushed from a clip aligned with the barrel portion toward spinning wheels of the wheel and motor assembly, and the wheels cause discharge the dart. |
| US09097473B2 |
Ceramic heat exchanger and method of producing same
To provide a ceramic heat exchanger which has reduced joints, and thus, is easy to produce and less likely to leak and a method of producing same.The ceramic heat exchanger 1 according to the present invention comprises a body 2 having first channels 21 for a high-temperature medium to flow and second channels 22 for a low-temperature medium to flow, and lids 3 each having openings 31, joined to the body 2 at opposite ends 2a, 2b with the openings 31 connected to the first channels 21, the body 2 further having inlet channels 23 formed in a first channel 21 outlet-side end portion 2a to allow the low-temperature medium to enter the body at a side thereof and flow into the second channels 22, and outlet channels 24 formed in a first channel 21 inlet-side end portion 2b to allow the low-temperature medium to flow out of the second channels 22 and leave the body at the side thereof. |
| US09097461B2 |
System to reduce moisture within a clothes dryer
A system reduces moisture within a clothes dryer. The system includes a housing comprising holes which permit the moisture from to enter and leave the housing. A cartridge is located within the housing. The cartridge is filled with a desiccant. The clothes dryer blows air continuously across the cartridge in many directions subjecting the desiccant to moist air in order to remove the moisture from the moist air and dry clothes in the clothes dryer faster. |
| US09097460B2 |
Container drying device
Container drying device of the spin-dryer type includes at least two booths, each being adapted to accommodate at least one stack of containers, the at least one stack of containers being loaded into the at least two booths in a loading direction, an axis of rotation about which the container drying device being rotatable, extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the loading direction, and being arranged centrally in the container drying device; and a closing device being movable between a closed position in which the closing device closes the at least two booths at least partially and an open position in which the at least one stack of containers may be loaded into and/or removed from each of the at least two booths, the at least two booths being arranged excentrically, symmetrically on opposite sides of the axis of rotation and substantially in parallel with each other. |
| US09097456B2 |
Method for in-service testing a climate control system for a container
In-service diagnostic testing of containers with a climate control system used in intermodal freight transport includes automatically testing the functioning of the climate control system at a possibly pre-scheduled time which may depend on the period of time since the latest pre-trip inspection. According to the invention in-service diagnostic testing is performed with cargo in the container during transportation from origin to destination at a suitable time before expected arrival to the destination so that the approval resulting from the in-service diagnostic testing is fresh and up-to-date. Results of the in-service diagnostic testing are transmitted wirelessly to a receiver at a central facility where managing and allocating a large number of containers to individual transport tasks is performed, and containers which have not passed the in-service diagnostic testing can be taken out of service for maintenance and repair. |
| US09097450B2 |
Refrigerator and ice maker with optical sensor to detect ice level
An ice detecting apparatus for an ice maker provided in a refrigerator includes an ice maker, and an ice detecting sensor attached to the ice maker and detecting an amount of ice collected in an ice container. The ice detecting sensor includes at least one optical transmitter or emitter provided on one side of the ice maker and at least one receiver at another side of the ice maker. The optical transmitter and receiver are separated by a prescribed distance and, at least one heater is provided to generate heat to be transferred to at least one of the optical transmitter or receiver. |
| US09097449B2 |
Pressure based control of parallel compressors in multiple refrigeration units
This patent is directed to an external air conditioning system connected to a parked airplane. The system has multiple refrigeration units. Each refrigeration unit has a controller. Each refrigeration unit's controlled is linked to a common controller. A single stream of air flows through all of the evaporators in series. Each of the refrigeration units has multiple compressors. Additional compressors are activated or deactivated based on refrigerant pressure. The activation or deactivation pressures are staggered across the refrigeration units, thus coordinating operation of the multiple refrigeration units. |
| US09097448B2 |
Air conditioning system and method for controlling operation thereof
Disclosed are an air conditioning system and a method for controlling an operation thereof, whereby a charging device for charging power to be supplied into the indoor unit is employed, a chargeable control unit is separately employed, or a separate control unit connectable between the indoor unit and an electronic expansion valve is employed, thereby closing the electronic expansion valve even if power supplied into the indoor unit is blocked while controlling opening and closing of the electronic expansion valve, and additionally preventing the electronic expansion valve from being left open, resulting in prevention of an overload of a compressor within an indoor unit. |
| US09097444B2 |
Heat pump type water heating apparatus
A heat pump type water heating apparatus is provided that includes a refrigeration cycle circuit having a first refrigerant and water heat exchanger to perform a heat exchange between a first refrigerant and water, and a first refrigerant and second refrigerant heat exchanger to perform a heat exchange between the first refrigerant and a second refrigerant. The heat pump type water heating apparatus may also include a cascade circuit having the first refrigerant and second refrigerant heat exchanger to operate jointly with the refrigeration cycle circuit, the cascade circuit also having a second refrigerant and water heat exchanger to perform a heat exchange between the second refrigerant and water, and a water heating channel connected to the first refrigerant and water heat exchanger and the second refrigerant and water heat exchanger so water passes through the first refrigerant and water heat exchanger and then through the second refrigerant and water heat exchanger. |
| US09097440B2 |
Solar light roof panel abutment structure
A roof panel abutment structure is disclosed. The structure comprises; a roof frame, a first roof panel having one end coupled to the roof frame, the one end formed in a shape in which a recess is inserted between a pair of ridges on a cross section thereof, a bolt fastened to the recess portion to fix the first roof panel to the roof frame; a second roof panel having an opposite end thereof coupled to one end of the first roof panel; a first adaptor having a base and a wing portion connected to both side of the base, wherein the base is fixed to the recess portion by means of the fastening of the bolt, and the wing portion is coupled to both side of T groove, a second adaptor formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of T groove, a clamp installed such that a bottom is coupled to the second adaptor, and a solar panel coupled to the clamp and installed to cover the roof panel. The roof panel abutment has increased strength, and even if a portion of the roof panel is deformed, the upper panel is not disengaged so as to maintain the abutment structure. |
| US09097439B2 |
Vehicle for cleaning mirrors of thermosolar plants
This comprises at least one cleaning device set on at least one arm (2) fitted at one end with a brush which adapts to the surface of the mirror, and a set of devices for spraying water onto the surface or the mirror, in which the arm (2) also comprises an extendible portion (4) articulated to the truck body, and a retractable portion, said retractable portion consisting of a support structure (6) for the cleaning devices, said cleaning devices being a rotating brush (7) with the same shape as the mirror to be cleaned, water-spraying strips (14) close to the support structure (6) and a moving water-spraying strip (8), secured by means of a retractable arm (9), which can be folded from a retracted position close to the support structure (6) in the area swept by the rotating brush (7) to an operating position, outside the area swept by the rotating brush (7). |
| US09097430B2 |
Apparatus for two sided grilling in an oven
The grilling apparatus of the present disclosure has an upper cooking grid, a lower cooking grid, at least one pair of connectors movably connecting the upper cooking grid to the lower cooking grid, and a handle which is connected to the pair of connectors to allow the upper and lower cooking grids to move towards and away from one another. A food product is cooked between the upper and lower cooking grids, and each of the grids contacts a respective side of the food product. |
| US09097421B2 |
Enclosed granular fuel burning boiler
There is illustrated a fuel fired brazier for an enclosed granular fuel burning boiler. The brazier has an apertured grate-like brazier base. The brazier base is moved by an actuator from an operative position, retaining fuel in the brazier to a discharge position where ash can fall through a hole. At the same time, fragmentation means, formed by crushing teeth, move across the brazier to trap, for example, a large piece of clinker, between it and the opposed distal wall of the brazier. |
| US09097417B1 |
Portable work light
A reduced emissions work light composed of a two module system for easy assembly and reassembly of component parts. The first module includes a bulb, a ballast, a ballast housing, an end cap, a socket fixture, and an electrical cable. A socket fixture is configured to secure a connection between the ballast housing and the bulb to create a single unitary body. The first module is placed inside a second module to form the reduced emissions work light containing only two separate components. |
| US09097415B2 |
Lighting device with magnetically retained light source
A lighting device (1) comprising a base part (2) with a first magnetic material, and a second part (3) is disclosed. The second part comprises a light source (4), and a nonmagnetic shell (5) defining an essentially closed cavity, the light source (4) and the nonmagnetic shell being in a fixed positional relationship, wherein the essentially closed cavity encloses a second magnetic material (6) displaceable therein. This provides a lighting device (1) in which the user may readily position the light source (4) with a large degree of freedom. |
| US09097406B2 |
Burglarproof lamp
A burglarproof lamp includes a lamp head part with a lamp head shell, a center contact bolt, a center contact insulation fixing base, a center contact insulation fixing sheet, a location post and a connection part fixing base. The center contact bolt is connected to a conductive pole after passing through the center contact insulation fixing base, the lamp head shell and the center contact insulation fixing sheet. The connection part fixing base has a boss and a containing cavity where a spring and a center conductive shaft are located. A conductive fixing ring is connected to the lamp head shell for limiting the position of the connection part fixing base via the boss. The center contact insulation fixing sheet has a location hole, into which the location post can be inserted when it is driven to the position corresponding to the location hole by the connection part fixing base. |
| US09097401B2 |
Light module for motor-vehicle headlight
A light module comprises a light-exit section, a base light source that exhibits at least one LED with a light-emitting surface limited by an edge, a reflector open to the light-exit section for collimating light on a meridional plane, and a cylinder lens for collimating the light on a sagittal plane running perpendicular to the meridional plane. The reflector on the sagittal plane is free of curvature and is curved on the meridional plane such that a focal line is defined. The base light source is arranged such that the edge runs on the focal line, and the light-emitting surface proceeds from the focal line extending in a direction of the light-exit section so that the light radiated from the light module exhibits a basic light distribution with a “light/dark” boundary. |
| US09097400B2 |
Automotive headlamp
Provided is a headlamp of a vehicle, and more particularly, an automotive headlamp which is structured in a simple manner to secure a sufficient amount of light, emit light in different beam patterns, and improve heat dissipation efficiency thereof. The automotive headlamp includes: a plurality of lamp modules disposed in different directions from an optical axis of the automotive headlamp; and a projection lens projecting light emitted from one or more of the lamp modules. Each of the lamp modules includes a light source unit emitting light downward, and a reflector disposed under the light source unit and reflecting light emitted from the light source unit. |
| US09097394B2 |
LED runway lighting assembly and dedicated optical device
A lighting device includes a light source and an optical element, the light source includes a plurality of light emitting diodes aligned. The optical element being shaped to focus a light beam emitted by the light source in a plane orthogonal to the line of light emitting diodes and to deflect said light beam parallel to an illuminating plane including the line of light emitting diodes so as to form a light beam having an ellipsoidal section. |
| US09097390B1 |
Winery storm water protection system
A winery storm water protection system comprising a valve capsule assembly and a control system for automatically diverting precipitation such as rain water falling on a winery crush pad into a storm system such as a waterway and for automatically diverting waste water or liquid waste products falling on the winery crush pad into a process waste water system such as a process waste water tank for further processing. |
| US09097384B1 |
Support apparatus for radiotherapy measurement system
A lift table provides stability and portability for a radiation measurement scanning system. The lift table may be fixed for radiation measurement or configured for storage. Further, the lift table may be easily disassembled and assembled to allow efficient transporting. The lift table supports a multiple axes scanning system for measuring radiation from a radiation source, such as a linear accelerator (LINAC) and includes a leveling platform, all of which are provided by a desirable weight and portability. |
| US09097382B1 |
Display screen overlay frame
A holder for holding a sheet of material in overlying relationship with a display screen. The holder conforms in shape and size with the display screen and is of generally rectangular form. The holder is in the form of a frame that includes a pair of spaced, opposed, parallel longitudinal frame members and a pair of spaced, opposed, parallel lateral frame members that define a rectangular frame. A suitable sheet material, such as a privacy filter, is carried within the frame, which includes a pair of frame mounting members that extend from the frame and engage an uppermost portion of the housing in which the display screen is housed. |
| US09097380B2 |
Adjustable security bracket
The invention is a security bracket for a retail display. The security bracket has guide pins extending laterally outwardly from each side of a base member. Sliding blocks are mounted to each pair of guide pins. The sliding block also carries a vertical arm that may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly. Adjustment of the sliding blocks relative to a hand-held allows the security bracket to be used for mounting hand-helds with different footprints to a retail display. |
| US09097379B1 |
Articulating support for electronic devices
This invention provides a novel compact electronic device support that allows articulation for ideal positioning, aiming or viewing. It is compact, readily stored and quick to set up. Frictional and magnetic forces prevent rotational twisting and wobbling without mechanical parts. In one embodiment the system describes a ball and socket joint. In an alternate embodiment, the head of the threaded fastener is cup-shaped and the base support has a raised hemispherical pivot. In a further alternate embodiment, the base and the clip-on support together form a fob for a key-ring. The removable support can be connected to an electronic device and then connected to magnetic cup formed into the base for a ball and socket joint. In an additional alternate embodiment, the base support has a post having a geometric shape that inserts into a conforming threaded adapter that is removably attached into the electronic device's conventional tripod socket. |
| US09097378B2 |
Insulated pipe junction jacket for freezing the contents of a pipe junction and methods of using same
There is a need for a flexible, insulated jacket that can be used to substantially enclose a pipe junction, then inject a cooling substance into the jacket, and thereby freeze or substantially freeze the contents of the junction. Industries conveying fluids, including fluids such as hydrocarbons, using pipes and valves would benefit from such a jacket. The jacket is shaped to substantially enclose a pipe junction connecting two or more pipes. The jacket includes a flexible insulated body having fasteners. The jacket has an open position and a closed position. The body substantially encloses the pipe junction in the closed position. The jacket further includes at least two fluid injection valves communicated through the jacket body. |
| US09097377B2 |
Insulating material containing aerogel and method for preparing the same
Provided herein is aerogel insulating material and a method of producing aerogel insulating material, the aerogel insulating material including an insulating layer containing aerogel particles, a adhesive-coating layer located at both surfaces of the insulating layer, and a lamination film surrounding the adhesive-coating layer, wherein the adhesive-coating layer has thermoplastic elastomer having a low glass transition temperature. The method of producing aerogel insulating material includes preparing (S10), coating (S20), drying (S30), cutting (S40), and laminating (S50).Therefore, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to embody aerogel insulating material for use in clothing and which may reduce migration of aerogel particles, and which may make the most of the advantage of aerogel, such as its light weight and the excellent insulating effect. |
| US09097371B2 |
Flexible pipe having pressure armour layer and components thereof
An elongate tape element and method of manufacturing flexible pipe body are disclosed. The elongate tape element which is for providing at least one helically wound layer of windings in a flexible pipe body, comprises an elongate body having a base surface, a top surface opposed to the base surface and opposed first and second side walls extending between the base and top surfaces wherein at least one surface and/or side wall of the body comprises a recessed region for receiving a respective portion of a tape element holder member when said tape element is wound to form a layer of windings. |
| US09097370B2 |
Fluid line safety device
A restraining device for a tubing connector assembly can include a resilient member having a generally U-shape with forked ends that curve toward each other. Each forked end can have a recess between tines thereof. Each recess can have a blind end. The resilient member can have a bend provided with an engagement bump. The engagement bump and forked ends can be aligned such that the engagement bump coincides with a line joining the blind ends. When a cylindrical connector assembly tube is placed in the recesses, the engagement bump is urged against a side of the connector assembly to thereby prevent inadvertent disconnection. |
| US09097368B2 |
Pipeline laying vessel for laying a pipeline on a seabed
A pipeline laying vessel for laying a pipeline (5) on a seabed, which pipeline laying vessel comprises a hull, a positioning device (6) for positioning a pipe section in a firing line (3) along which the pipeline is laid, which positioning device is supported by the hull, and a clamp (17) for holding the pipeline suspended from the vessel, wherein the clamp is located in the firing line, and comprises a support device (18) constructed and arranged to allow the clamp to hold the pipeline in a first mode wherein the clamp has a fixed position relative to the positioning device, and in a second mode (52) wherein the clamp is pivotable relative to the positioning device. |
| US09097363B2 |
Low profile backwater valve with lock
A low profile backwater valve includes a hollow valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a top and a bottom. A pivoting valve member that is buoyant in water moves between a normally open position along the bottom of the valve body and a closed position sealing the inlet. A locking member is positioned in the hollow valve body. The locking member has a release position below the pivot axis of the valve member that permits the valve member to pivot freely, and a locking position immediately adjacent to the valve member that secures the valve member in the closed position. A handle is attached to the locking member and is accessible from outside and from the top of the hollow valve body. The handle moves the locking member between the release position and the locking position. |
| US09097361B1 |
Actuated elastomer valve
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for actuating an elastomer valve. The apparatus includes a first solenoid at least partially surrounding a first moveable member. The apparatus also includes a second solenoid at least partially surrounding a second moveable member. The apparatus also includes an elastomer valve positioned between the first moveable member and the second moveable member. The first and second moveable members extend from the first and second solenoids to contact and open the elastomer valve when the first and second solenoids receive a first current. Further, the first and second moveable members retract towards the first and second solenoids to close the elastomer valve when the first and second solenoids receive a second current. |
| US09097360B2 |
Pilot operated valve
A valve for a refrigeration system includes a valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port, and walls forming a main cavity. The valve also includes a cartridge that resides within the main cavity and having a piston configured to travel in a first direction to permit fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port and in a second direction to impede fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port and a port plate configured to removably couple to the valve body to substantially close an end of the main cavity substantially enclosing the cartridge within the main cavity, the port plate including a plurality of ports, each port configured to accept at least one of various valve control elements configured to control the piston to permit or impede the fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. |
| US09097359B2 |
Piezoelectric valve, and optical granulated substance sorter equipped with air-blowing means that uses this piezoelectric valve
A piezoelectric valve whose assembly work can be efficiently performed. A piezoelectric valve according to this invention includes a valve main body having a gas pressure chamber which receives compressed gas supplied from the outside, a plate which is disposed inside the valve main body and is fixed to the valve main body, and actuators each of which has a valve element, a piezoelectric element generating, in the form of a displacement, driving force required for operation of the valve element, and a displacement magnification mechanism for magnifying a displacement of the piezoelectric element and causing the magnified displacement to act on the valve element, are fixed to each of two surfaces of the plate, and are disposed inside the valve main body together with the plate. |
| US09097357B2 |
Water storage reserve and return method and apparatus
An apparatus consisting of check valves (1, 2, 3) and one or more pressure tanks (4) plumbed into a water service line to provide a method of storing, reserving and delivering said stored water through the water service line to both the water user and the water supply. This method and apparatus can be used for emergency water supply by the water user or reduce water peak demand challenges caused by fluctuating water pressure if used extensively throughout a water supply system. This method and apparatus can create individual water storage collectives that can share water between users. |
| US09097350B2 |
Axial non-contact seal
A gas turbine engine has a turbine section and an air moving section upstream of the turbine section. A seal is between a static surface and a rotating surface in at least one of the turbine section and air moving section. The seal includes a seal shoe which is biased at least in part by a spring force, with the spring force created by cuts formed to provide a gap to allow arms associated with the seal to provide the spring force. The movement of the shoe is along a direction having at least a component parallel to an axis of rotation of the gas turbine engine. In addition, an axially moving non-contact seal is claimed. |
| US09097346B1 |
Closure lip seal relief
A closure comprises a hub with a central opening and a head pivotally connected to the hub, the head sealing the central opening when in a closed position. A lip seal relief is defined by a stepped surface between the head and the hub so that when the head is closed, the relief or clearance is provided between the head and hub inhibiting damage to a seal. |
| US09097344B2 |
Automatic shift control system for a powertrain and method
A machine powertrain having a transmission includes a control device responsive to selectively vary the transmission ratio in response to a shift signal. A lift sensor associated with a machine implement monitors an implement position and provides a lift signal. A ground speed sensor monitors the ground speed and provides a ground speed signal. A controller monitors the lift and ground speed signals, compares the lift signal to a predetermined position range, compares the ground speed signal to a predetermined ground speed range and, when the ground speed signal is within the predetermined ground speed range and the lift signal is within the predetermined position range, provides the shift signal causing the selectively variable ratio of the transmission to change. |
| US09097340B2 |
Work vehicle
A hydraulic actuator is arranged such that the hydraulic actuator operates a swash plate of a hydraulic motor by a first pilot pressure and a second pilot pressure, the first pilot pressure being branched from a high-speed oil passage and applied to the hydraulic actuator for operating the swash plate of the hydraulic motor to a low speed side, the second pilot pressure being branched from a charge pump and applied to the hydraulic actuator for operating the swash plate of the hydraulic motor to a high speed side. |
| US09097333B2 |
Wear compensation device for a gear set with temporary angular pre-indexing, and associated mounting method
The wear compensation device for a gear set comprises a support for attaching the device to an external element, a bearing intended to be mounted on a shaft comprising one of the wheels of the gear set, an eccentric mounted on the bearing and able to move angularly with respect to the support, an actuator mounted axially between the support and the eccentric and able to apply a circumferential force to the said eccentric, and at least one maintaining means for temporarily maintaining the angular indexing of the eccentric relative to the support in an angular position in which the actuator is preloaded between the said eccentric and the said support. |
| US09097332B2 |
Split sprocket having slide tracks
A split sprocket for belts or chains. The split sprocket comprises two sections that slide together along parallel slide tracks that are perpendicular to two opposite walls of the sprocket's bore. The slide track includes male T-shaped, V-shaped, or jigsaw-puzzle-shaped beams on one of the sections that slide into mating female slots in the other section. The mated slide tracks prevent the sections from separating in all directions except the separation direction along the slide tracks. A fastener through one of the sections into the other prevents the assembled sprocket sections from sliding apart along the slide tracks. |
| US09097331B2 |
Hand-held power tool having a planetary gearbox
In a hand-held power tool having a planetary gearbox which is situated in a housing interior formed by a gear housing, at least one cross pin is fastened in the housing interior for axial support of the planetary gearbox in the gear housing. |
| US09097328B2 |
Transmission with a main gearbox and a power take off unit
A transmission includes a main gearbox and a power take off unit, wherein the power take off unit can be engaged with and disengaged from the main gearbox through an engagement mechanism having at least a first position engaging the main gearbox and the power take off unit and a second position disengaging the power take off unit from the main gearbox, wherein the power take off unit is provided with at least one lubricant inlet. The engagement mechanism includes a valve member and when the engagement mechanism is positioned in its second position, the valve member blocks the lubricant inlet, thereby preventing lubricant from flowing through the lubricant inlet into the power take off unit. When the engagement mechanism is positioned in its first position, the lubricant inlet is open and lubricant can flow through the lubricant inlet into the power take off unit. |
| US09097325B2 |
Motorized drive system and method for articulating a joint
A motorized drive system and method for articulating an articulated joint having a motor and an elastic cable. The elastic cable is operatively connected to both the motor and the articulated joint such that the motor articulates the joint via the elastic cable. In addition, the elastic cable is adapted to be sufficiently elastic such that the motorized drive system is configured to use one motor for each degree of freedom through which the articulated joint moves. |
| US09097323B2 |
Automated electric manual transmission
An automated electric manual transmission (EMT) has an input member, an output member, and at least one shaft. The input member and the at least one shaft are rotatable about a first axis of rotation. A countershaft is substantially parallel with the at least one shaft and is rotatable about a second axis of rotation. The output member is operatively connected to rotate with the countershaft. A transmission controller controls engagement of a plurality of torque-transmitting mechanisms to selectively establish different gear ratios from the at least one shaft to the transfer shaft through pairs of intermeshing gears. An electric motor and a planetary gear set are concentric with the first axis of rotation. The electric motor can provide torque to a member of the planetary gear set. |
| US09097317B2 |
Epicyclical gear transmission with improved load carrying capability
A high ratio epicyclic gear train (A) with improved load carrying capability for transmitting power from a driven input shaft, such as may be driven by a turbine engine or engines, to a output shaft, as may be coupled to a rotor of a rotary wing aircraft. The compound epicyclic gear train incorporates a load sharing mechanism consisting of a drive sun gear (10), an idler sun gear (11), a ring gear (12), a set of drive planet gear assemblies (13), a set of idler planet gear assemblies (14), and a planet carrier assembly (15) coupled to provide at least two power pathways through said epicyclic gear train (A) between said driven input shaft and said output shaft to provide an improved overall power density of the transmission. |
| US09097315B2 |
Control device and control method for continuously variable transmission
The present invention is provided with a hydraulic control circuit including a hydraulic pump driven by a driving power source in order to supply an oil pressure to a hydraulic circuit, a hydraulic auxiliary unit for supplying an accumulated oil pressure to the hydraulic circuit, and a control valve for supplying at least one of oil pressures of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic auxiliary unit to pulleys, and a control unit for executing a coast stop control to stop the driving power source while traveling and controlling, when an increase of torque inputted to the continuously variable transmission is detected or predicted during the coast stop control, the control valve so as to supply an oil pressure of the hydraulic auxiliary unit to the pulleys. |
| US09097313B2 |
Cleaner head for a cleaning appliance
A cleaner head includes a drive mechanism connecting a drive means to a rotatable brush member. The drive mechanism comprises an input drive member connected to the drive means, an output drive member connected to the rotatable brush member, and a flexible drive element extending therebetween. The drive mechanism is provided with an adjustment mechanism operable to vary the distance between the input and output drive members in order to vary the tension of the flexible drive element. The adjustment mechanism is movable in a first direction from a first position in which the flexible drive element has a relatively low tension through a plurality of further positions which increases the tension in the flexible drive element. The adjustment mechanism is lockable in a selected one of the plurality of further positions against movement in a direction opposite to the first direction. |
| US09097310B2 |
Bolt through hydraulic mount with and without a decoupler
A mount having a bolt through configuration couples two components of a vehicle. The mount includes a first elastomeric member that defines a first portion of a first chamber and a second elastomeric member that defines a second portion of the first chamber and defines a second chamber. An inner tube assembly defines an opening for receiving the bolt. The first and the second elastomeric members are bonded to the inner tube assembly. An annular member is disposed between the first and the second chambers. The annular member defines a fluid-track which fluidly couples the first and the second chambers. The mount dampens vibrations at varying amplitudes by pushing fluid between the first and the second chambers via the fluid-track. The mount may also include a decoupler by way of a decoupler ring and decoupler cap to isolate the mount at a predetermined amplitude at varying frequencies. |
| US09097308B2 |
Cushion or mattress suspension element
The invention relates to the field of furniture, and in particular to a cushion or mattress suspension element 101, 201, . . . , 901 comprising a compressible core 102, 202, . . . , 902 of flexible material and presenting at least one compression axis Z, and also comprising two bearing parts 103, 203, . . . , 903 of material that is substantially more rigid than the material of the compressible core 102, 202, . . . , 902, with at least a first bearing part being connected to one end of the compressible core 102, 202, . . . , 902 and at least one second bearing part being connected to an end of the compressible core 102, 202, . . . , 902 that is opposite along the compression axis Z, and with each bearing part presenting an outer bearing area 103a, 203a, . . . , 903a that is substantially perpendicular to said compression axis Z and, in at least one direction perpendicular to the compression axis Z, that is substantially larger than the compressible core 102, 202, . . . , 902 in its relaxed position. |
| US09097305B2 |
Brake lever for a brake for a vehicle
A brake lever for a brake of a vehicle for transmitting a brake force from an actuator into a brake actuation mechanism for a frictional engagement of brake pads, wherein the brake lever includes a housing made of cast iron, which cast iron is solid-solution strengthened ferritic spheroidal graphite cast iron. |
| US09097304B2 |
Disc brake pad mounting and retention system and method
A system and method are provided for retaining brake pads in disc brakes, such as air-operated disc brakes utilized on commercial vehicles, and for installing and removing brake pads, without the need to employ brake pad retaining devices which radially over-top the brake pads. A preferred embodiment includes a retaining element, preferably a spring steel clip, having protrusions which face in opposite directions to engage corresponding slots in a brake pad lateral edge and in a brake pad carrier brake pad-facing surface. When installed in a radially-inward direction, the brake pad carrier side protrusion engages the brake pad carrier slot, and cooperates with the brake pad lateral side protrusion to resist brake pad movement in the radially-outward direction. The brake pad carrier side protrusion may be manually pressed toward the brake pad to disengage the protrusion from the carrier slot to permit withdrawal of the brake paid from the carrier. |
| US09097301B2 |
Disc brake
A disc brake, having a brake caliper which straddles over a brake disc and in which brake pads are arranged which are provided with friction linings and can be pressed in each case with their friction lining on both sides against friction rings of the brake disc. The disc brake is configured such that the friction rings are covered outside an overlap region of the friction linings by a housing which is stationary with respect to the brake caliper and is connected to a suction device. A dust removal device is provided between the housing and the suction device. |
| US09097299B2 |
Electromagnetic actuator for a bi-directional clutch
A bi-directional clutch is provided having inner and outer members disposed about a rotational axis. One or more pawls are coupled to one of the members and configured for rotation about separate rotational axes. One end of each pawl moves between first and second engagement positions with corresponding engagement surfaces formed in the other member and a position of disengagement with the other member permitting relative rotation of the inner and outer members. A pair of magnets are disposed at the opposite end of each pawl with each magnet in the pair defining a pole adjacent the end of the pawl and the poles having opposite polarity. An electromagnetic actuator selectively generates electromagnetic fields of different polarities to urge the pawls away from the position of disengagement to one of the engagement positions to cause rotation of the other member in either rotational direction. |
| US09097297B1 |
Hydraulic isolator decoupler
An isolator decoupler comprising a shaft having a shaft projection, a pulley having a pulley projection, the pulley journalled to the shaft, a member pivotally connected to the shaft, the member alternatively engagable with the shaft projection or with the pulley projection, engagement with the pulley by the member causes locked rotation of the shaft with the pulley, and a viscous fluid between the shaft and the pulley, the member immersed in said viscous fluid. |
| US09097296B2 |
Sealed one way roller clutch
A one-way clutch assembly includes an inner race adapted to be fixed for rotation with a first rotatable member, an outer race having circumferentially spaced apart cam surfaces and being adapted to be fixed for rotation with a second rotatable member as well as a plurality of roller elements positioned therebetween. A plurality of circumferentially extending springs cooperate with the cage to align each roller element with the cam surfaces. The springs and cage urge the roller elements away from the inner race. A retaining mechanism captures lubricant in contact with the roller elements. |
| US09097293B2 |
Mechanical system comprising a one-way clutch and alternator comprising such a system
The present invention relates to a mechanical system with a one-way clutch, for example a pulley for a motor vehicle alternator, comprising a first element and a second element which are able to move one with respect to the other in rotation about a central axis and delimit an annular housing radially to the central axis, a one-way clutch device arranged in the annular housing, and at least one rolling bearing arranged in the annular housing. The mechanical system is characterized in that the rolling bearing is an angular-contact bearing and comprises at least one pressed ring comprising means of attachment of the rolling bearing to the first element or the second element. The invention also relates to an alternator comprising such a mechanical system configured as a pulley with a one-way clutch. |
| US09097292B2 |
Dry double clutch
The present invention relates to a dry double clutch. A damper flywheel (300) comprises: a connector (600) coupled to a drive plate (320) of the damper flywheel (300); a cover (700) compensating for backlash between the connecting plate (400) and the connector (600); and a first resilient member (616) resiliently pressing the cover (700) in the circumferential direction of the connector (600). A first clutch disk (250) of the set double clutch (200) is characterized by having an assembled structure consisting of: a stopper ring (271) enclosing a boundary portion (256) between the first clutch disk (250) and a first hub (255); a retainer ring (273) coupled opposite the stopper ring (271) and having the first clutch disk (250) interposed therebetween, and enclosing the boundary portion (256); and a resilient washer (275) resiliently supporting the first hub (255). Accordingly, a cover can be mounted on the connector, which transmits power from the damper flywheel, which is connected to the engine, to the set double clutch connected to the transmission so as to compensate for backlash in the connector, and vibrations in an axial direction transmitted from the first hub to the stopper ring during shifting can be absorbed by the stopper ring and the resilient washer interposed between and a first drive plate and the first hub, in order to prevent loss of durability of the stopper ring. |
| US09097291B2 |
Drive assembly for a clutch unit and removable transmission equipped with said assembly
A drive assembly having an actuating piston for generating a thrust for engagement of a clutch unit. The assembly also has a bearing for transferring the engagement thrust and a pusher for discharging the engagement thrust onto the clutch unit. The actuating piston, the bearing and the pusher are assembled in succession on a transmission shaft carrying the clutch unit. A chamber is provided for supplying a fluid under pressure for generating a disengagement thrust acting on the actuating piston. At least one preloaded spring is provided that acts on the actuating piston so as to push it towards the clutch unit. The bearing for transferring the thrust is mounted with play directly on the transmission shaft. The pusher being disk-shaped and comprising a first face in lateral contact with the bearing and a second face in lateral contact with the clutch unit. |
| US09097289B2 |
Friction plate design for multi-plate wet friction clutch
An improved friction plate is disclosed. The friction plate incorporates friction pads having substantially V Shaped Grooves having an angle offset to the axis of rotation to improve oil flow characteristics to the center of the friction plate to reduce parasitic drag when the clutch system is in a disengaged state. The improved friction pad design optionally incorporates a V shaped groove extending to the tab portion of the friction plate to improve the capture of oil as the friction plate rotates through an oil bath. |
| US09097285B2 |
Magnetic encoder type hub bearing unit
A magnetic encoder type hub bearing unit may include a sealed cap which is coupled to a knuckle for fixing a hub bearing located on a hub so that an inner space for blocking the hub bearing to the outside is defined, an inner housing made of a steel material being exposed toward the inner space, an encoder which is located in the inner space while being spaced apart from a surface of the inner housing, and a WSS (Wheel Speed Sensor) which is inserted into the sealed cap such that a sensor head portion is located toward the surface of the inner housing, wherein an air gap is formed by a distance between the encoder and the surface of the inner housing and a thickness of the inner housing. |
| US09097284B2 |
Wheel bearing apparatus for a vehicle
A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member formed, on its inner circumference, with double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member includes a wheel hub integrally formed with a wheel mounting flange at its one end. The wheel hub outer circumference surface has double row inner raceway surfaces arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces. Double row balls are freely rollably contained between the outer raceway surfaces and inner raceway surfaces, respectively, of the outer member and the inner member. A pitch circle diameter of the double row ball group of the outer-side is larger than a pitch circle diameter of the double row ball group of the inner-side. At least the outer member and the wheel hub are formed of medium/high carbon steel including carbon of 0.40˜0.80% by weight. The inner and outer raceway surfaces are formed, respectively, with predetermined hardened layers with a surface hardness of 58˜64 HRC. The grain size number of austenite crystal grains of the metallographic structure in the hardened layers is selected larger than #7. |
| US09097283B2 |
Snap-on cage bridge for rolling element bearings
A light weight bearing cage assembly (100) consisting of a plurality of snap-on bridge elements (104) coupled between first and second cage support rings (102A, 102B) conforming to the surfaces of adjacent rolling elements (10). The snap-on bridge elements maintain rolling element (10) in separation, provide rolling element retention within the bearing assembly, and function as a lubrication reservoir between the rolling elements for grease lubricated bearings. Each snap-on bridge element may be individually removed and replaced by snap-on engagement with the first and second cage support rings. Optional locking clips or rings (300, 302) fitted over each snap fitting end of the bridge elements optionally provides additional security against accidental uncoupling of the bridge elements from the first and second cage rings. |
| US09097282B2 |
Cage for a rolling bearing, notably for a motor vehicle electric power steering bearing
Cage for a rolling bearing comprising a plurality of pockets (13) for a plurality of rolling elements (4), at least one pocket (13) being of ellipsoidal shape and provided with means (14) of axial retention of the cage (10) on the corresponding rolling element (4), the ellipse defining the said ellipsoidal pocket (13) being determined by a major axis (A) situated in the circumferential plane of the cage (10) and a minor axis (B) in the axial direction of the cage (10).The minor axis (B) is comprised between the major axis (A) and the diameter (D) of the rolling element (4) arranged in the said ellipsoidal pocket (13). |
| US09097279B2 |
Rotating shaft top cover attached motor
Provided herein, is an apparatus that includes a stationary component, a rotatable component, and an upper journal bearing and a lower journal bearing. The upper journal bearing and the lower journal bearing are defined in a gap between the stationary component and the rotatable component, and the stationary component and rotatable component are configured for relative rotation. A thrust bearing is disposed between the upper journal bearing and the lower journal bearing. |
| US09097272B2 |
Fixing arrangement for fixing motor vehicle components
A fixing arrangement for fixing a first motor vehicle component to a second motor vehicle component includes first second fixing elements. The first and second fixing elements are connectable to each other in a positive locking manner. The second fixing element has a pin configured as a ball; and the first fixing element has a sleeve that fits over the spherical pin to produce a positive locking engagement. The first fixing element has a securing device designed as a cap, which is mounted on an outer shell sleeve surface such that the cap is movable in the axial direction. The sleeve is locked on the spherical pin by axial relative movement of the cap from a defined first position into a defined second position. |
| US09097268B2 |
Hydraulic system including priority based valve sequencing
An exemplary hydraulic system includes a plurality of digital valves, each valve fluidly connectable to a corresponding hydraulic load. The digitals valves are operable to fluidly connect the corresponding hydraulic load to a pressure source. The hydraulic system further includes a digital controller operably connected to the plurality of digital valves. The digital controller is configured to assign a priority level so that it is associated with each of a plurality of hydraulic loads, and to formulate a pulse width modulated control signal based on the assigned priority levels. The digital controller transmits the control signal to the plurality of digital valves for controlling the operation of the valves. |
| US09097262B2 |
Axial flow fan
A fan includes an impeller having a plurality of blades. Each of the plurality of blades has a trailing edge portion positioned rearmost in a rotation direction and a leading edge portion positioned foremost in the rotation direction. A curved line interconnects the trailing edge portion and the leading edge portion at the shortest distance on an imaginary cylindrical surface. Each of the blades includes a lower surface facing downward in the direction of the center axis and an upper surface facing upward in the direction of the center axis. In the fan, L1/L2 decreases from a radial inner side toward a radial outer side, where L1 denotes the longest distance on the imaginary cylindrical surface between the curved line and a camber line and L2 denotes a length of the curved line. |
| US09097258B2 |
Supersonic compressor comprising radial flow path
The present invention provides novel supersonic compressors comprising novel supersonic compressor rotors. The supersonic compressor rotors are designed to operate at very high rotational speed wherein the velocity of the gas entering the supersonic compressor rotor is greater than the local speed of sound in the gas, hence the descriptor “supersonic”. The new supersonic compressors comprise at least one supersonic compressor rotor defining an inner cylindrical cavity and an outer rotor rim and at least one radial flow channel allowing fluid communication between the inner cylindrical cavity and the outer rotor rim, said radial flow channel comprising a supersonic compression ramp. The novel supersonic compressor rotors are expected to enhance the performance of supersonic compressors comprising them, and to provide for greater design versatility in systems comprising such novel supersonic compressors. |
| US09097256B2 |
Vortex pump device with wiring outlet part
A vortex pump device may include a pump case which forms a pump chamber and a stator accommodating chamber partitioned from the pump chamber, and a wiring outlet part for taking out a wiring line within the pump case to an outer side. The pump case is provided with an outer peripheral wall surrounding an upper space formed on an upper side in the stator accommodating chamber. The wiring outlet part includes a wiring outlet port which is formed by cutting out the outer peripheral wall, a wire placing part on which the wiring line taken out from the wiring outlet port to the outer side is placed, and a fixing member with which the wiring line is sandwiched and fixed between the wire placing part. |
| US09097254B2 |
Compressor
A compressor is provided that eliminates sliding contacts between a cylinder and a roller to minimize mixing of lubricating oil into a refrigerant. The compressor includes a hermetic container that stores the lubricating oil at a lower portion thereof; a stator mounted within the hermetic container; a cylinder type rotor that rotates within the stator by a rotating electromagnetic field of the stator and defines a compression chamber therein; a roller that rotates and compresses the refrigerant by a rotational force transferred from the rotor; a rotational shaft integrally formed with the roller; a vane that divides the compression chamber into suction and compression regions and transfers the rotational force to the roller; and oil feed passages provided in the rotational shaft and the roller to feed the lubricating oil to areas where two or more members are slidingly engaged with one another within the compression chamber. |
| US09097251B2 |
Variable-displacement lubricant pump
A variable-displacement lubricant pump for providing a pressurized lubricant includes a rotor with at least one radially slidable vane configured to rotate in a shiftable stator ring. A first plunger is configured to push the shiftable stator ring into a high pumping volume direction. A pressure control system is configured to control a lubricant discharge pressure of the pressurized lubricant. The pressure control system comprises a first control chamber with the first plunger being configured to move in an axial direction and a side wall. A pump outlet port is connected to the first control chamber via a first pressure conduit. A movable outlet opening is disposed in the side wall of the first control chamber, is connected to a low pressure, and is configured to move with an axial projection and to be actuated by a thermostatic element. The first plunger can cover and close the movable outlet opening. |
| US09097249B2 |
Pump gear
A pump mechanism having multiple cylinders, whose axes are situated around a crankshaft to enclose predetermined angles, and whose pistons are each functionally connected to a connecting rod mounted on a crank on the crankshaft, each connecting rod being mounted on its own crank and the cranks having a predetermined angular offset to one another. This angular offset of the cranks is selected in accordance with the angle which the cylinder axes enclose in such a way that the phase shifts between each two pistons of the cylinders actuated in sequence during a rotation of the crankshaft are equally large. |
| US09097248B2 |
Pulsating flow generating apparatus and method of controlling pulsating flow generating apparatus
Pulsating flow generating apparatus that changes the volume of a fluid chamber and injects fluid from a fluid injection opening in a pulsed manner, includes: an inlet flow channel for supplying fluid from a fluid supplying unit to the fluid chamber; a volume changing unit that changes the volume of the fluid chamber; an outlet flow channel that delivers the fluid from the fluid chamber to the fluid injection opening; a discharge flow channel that discharges the fluid from the fluid chamber; and an opening and closing valve that opens and closes the discharge flow channel, wherein the synthetic inertance of the discharge flow channel is set smaller than the synthetic inertance of the outlet flow channel, an operation of the volume changing unit is started while closing the opening and closing valve, and the operation of the volume changing unit is stopped while opening the opening and closing valve. |
| US09097247B1 |
Methods and apparatus for control of oil well pump
Inventive methods and apparatus for automated control of a pump utilized to draw liquid from a fluid reservoir. Certain aspects relate to one or more components of an oil well pump control system. Other aspects relate to methods for automated control of a pump utilized to draw oil from an oil well. |
| US09097244B2 |
Fluid feeding pump, medical apparatus, and air bubble detection method for fluid feeding pump
A fluid feeding pump which varies a volume of a pump chamber and thus feeds a fluid out of the pump chamber, includes: a piezoelectric element which accumulates electric charges inside when a voltage is applied, and which deforms according to an amount of accumulated electric charges and thus increases or decreases the volume of the pump chamber; a drive unit which applies a drive signal with a waveform increasing to a predetermined maximum voltage and then decreasing, and thus drives the piezoelectric element; and an air bubble determining unit which detects a current flowing through the piezoelectric element within a predetermined period after the drive signal is applied to the piezoelectric element, and thus determines whether there are air bubbles in the pump chamber or not. |
| US09097242B2 |
Low differential temperature rotary engines
An engine for extracting energy from a heat source, comprising a support, a shaft rotatably coupled to the support and being rotatable in a first direction, a plurality of vessels coupled to and spaced about the shaft, a working fluid provided in the plurality of vessels, and a plurality of conduits connecting the vessels together in a circuitous fluid circuit. Each conduit has an outlet end connected to one of the plurality of vessels, an inlet end connected to another one of the plurality of vessels, and a one-way check valve configured to allow the working fluid to flow out of the one vessel via the outlet end, through the conduit and into the another vessel via the inlet end. The plurality of vessels and conduits are shaped and arranged about the shaft and the working fluid is selected so that when the one vessel is heated by the heat source the working fluid in the one vessel experiences an increase in vapor pressure causing at least part of the working fluid to flow from the one vessel into the another vessel located above the one vessel so as to produce a gravitational moment that encourages rotation of the shaft in the first direction. |
| US09097241B1 |
Transpired solar collector chimney tower
A transpired solar collector chimney tower is provided. Specifically, disclosed herein is a system that uses solar radiation for generating electricity comprising: a transpired solar air heating collector device comprising: a heat absorbing roof; an interior space adjacent the heat absorbing roof; and, a plurality of air inlet openings distributed over the heat absorbing roof and configured to allow ambient air to flow from outside the heat absorbing roof into the interior space; a chimney tower extending from the transpired solar air heating collector device and connected to the interior space such that heated air in the interior space flows from the interior space through the chimney tower; and, one or more turbines positioned within one or more of the interior space and the chimney tower and on a path of airflow from the interior space through the chimney tower. |
| US09097239B2 |
Wind turbine torque limiting clutch system
An asymmetric torque limiting coupling system for use on wind turbines, in which a forward torque limiting clutch and a reverse torque limiting clutch are provided in paired relation, with the reverse torque limiting clutch having a characteristic slip torque that is significantly less than that of the forward torque limiting clutch. In a specific embodiment disclosed, an asymmetric torque limiter interconnects a wind turbine with a generator shaft. The coupling includes an input housing and an output hub, with an overrunning mechanism interposed between the two. A first torque limiting mechanism is provided in series interconnection with the overrunning mechanism between the input housing and hub, while a second torque limiting mechanism is provided in parallel interconnection with the overrunning mechanism between the input housing and output hub. |
| US09097236B2 |
Method of operating a wind power plant
Method of operating a wind power plant including the steps of: operating the wind power plant at an current parameter schedule (Pcurrent(v)) performing a wind prediction of wind data (Vw) for a time frame (ΔT) extending to a future time T, determining a desired fatigue load level (Fdesired) of a wind power plant component at the future time T, and during operation of said wind power plant generating an updated parameter schedule (Pdesired(v)) to provide the desired fatigue load level (Fdesired) at time T if exposed to the predicted wind conditions (Vw(t)) during said time frame (ΔT). |
| US09097232B2 |
Ignition coil assembly
An ignition coil assembly and a method of assembling the ignition coil assembly including a first spool, a first coil, and a second spool. The first coil is wound around a first spool outer surface. The first spool and the first coil are disposed within a cavity of the second spool and an electrically insulating material injected into an annular space defined between a first coil outer surface and a second spool inner surface. The first spool is configured to allow a decrease of a circumference of the first spool when the first coil is wound around an outer surface of the first spool. Decreasing the circumference of the first spool increases the annular space sufficient to inject the electrically insulating material into the annular space without creating substantial voids in the electrically insulating material. |
| US09097224B2 |
Multi-fuel vehicle fuel control systems and methods
A method for a multi-fuel vehicle includes: determining a first target amount of fuel to be injected for a combustion event of a combustion chamber of an engine; determining first and second fractions for the combustion event based on at least one of engine speed, engine load, and engine temperature; determining a second target amount of liquid fuel for the combustion event based on the first target amount and the first fraction; determining a third target amount of gaseous fuel for the combustion event based on the first target amount and the second fraction; selectively injecting a liquid fuel directly into the combustion chamber for the combustion event based on the second target amount and using a first fuel injector; and selectively injecting a gaseous fuel into a port of the combustion chamber for the combustion event based on the third target amount and using a second fuel injector. |
| US09097223B2 |
Air cleaner structure of motorcycle
A part of an air cleaner main body overlapped with vehicle body frames in a side view has a shape in which an upper surface portion of the part is narrower than a bottom surface portion of the part. The air cleaner main body is formed to have approximately uniform gaps along inner surfaces of the vehicle body frames, and the air cleaner main body is inserted from a position below the vehicle body frames and is fixed to the vehicle body frames before mounting an engine. |
| US09097222B2 |
Active control sound generator
An active control sound generator apparatus may include a housing disposed at an end of an intake duct in a vehicle, having an intake port at an end, and having a driving unit case thereon, a control actuator disposed at a side in the driving unit case, a valve plate disposed in the intake port and connected to a rotary shaft, wherein the valve plate selectively opens or closes the intake port, a control unit including a position sensing wheel disposed at an end of the rotary shaft of the valve plate, in the driving unit case to measure a rotation amount of the valve plate, and a driving gear assembly engaged with the valve plate and the rotary shaft, in the driving unit case, and reducing and transmitting torque of the control actuator to the rotary shaft. |
| US09097221B2 |
Intake apparatus
An intake apparatus includes an intake pipe, a resonator and a blowby gas recirculation pipe. The resonator includes a volume portion having a volume chamber therein and a connecting pipe connecting the volume portion and the intake pipe and having a connecting passage connecting the volume chambera and the intake passage. The blowby gas recirculation pipe includes an internal passage therein. The blowby gas recirculation pipe is connected to an axially midway portion of the connecting pipe, and an exit of the internal passage is connected to the connecting passage of the connecting pipe. |
| US09097220B2 |
Acoustic attenuator for an engine booster
An acoustic attenuator 20 for an engine booster such as a turbocharger 10 for an engine 4 is disclosed in which the acoustic attenuator 20 includes an attenuator chamber 28 in which is located at least one absorption media 140. The acoustic attenuator 20 is located adjacent an inlet port of the turbocharger 10 so as to attenuate any acoustic pressure waves by dissipative reaction with the absorption media 140 before they have chance to reach other components of a low pressure supply system 50 for the engine 4. |
| US09097218B2 |
Canister
A canister is provided with a plurality of adsorbent chambers filled with adsorbent, and the adsorbent chambers are connected together so as to form a U-turn-shaped passage. The canister has a communication chamber through which both end portions of adjacent two adsorbent chambers communicate with each other; a middle chamber formed at the end portion of one of the adjacent two adsorbent chambers, which is positioned at a downstream side of the communication chamber, and connected to the communication chamber through a communication hole; a baffle plate set in the middle chamber with the baffle plate facing to the communication hole so that an incoming air flow from the communication hole strikes against the baffle plate and diffuses in the middle chamber; and a tubular portion protruding in the communication chamber from an opening edge of the communication hole along a longitudinal direction of the one adsorbent chamber. |
| US09097214B2 |
Exhaust gas recirculation system having active material actuated by-pass
An exhaust gas recirculation system adapted for use by an internal combustion engine, and for selectively diverting a recirculated portion of the engine exhaust away from the EGR cooler, includes a by-pass conduit and/or feed line shiftable between open and closed conditions, and an active material actuator. |
| US09097212B2 |
Carburetor arrangement
A carburetor for a gas powered internal combustion engine having a plurality of pressure reducing stages for reducing the pressure of the gas phase in a liquified petroleum gas storage bottle prior to the mixing of the gas phase of the liquified petroleum gas with ambient air. |
| US09097211B2 |
Slideable liner anchoring assembly
An example gas turbine engine includes an engine casing and an engine liner within the engine casing. One of the engine casing or the engine liner includes a first attachment structure. The other of the engine casing or the engine liner defines a track guide. A slideable member is moveable within the track guide between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The slideable member includes a second attachment structure engageable with the first attachment structure to secure the engine liner relative the engine casing when the slideable member is in the engaged position. |
| US09097209B2 |
Gas turbine engine thrust reverser system
A gas turbine engine thrust reverser system includes a fan nacelle having a fixed portion and a movable portion configured to move relative to the fixed portion between opened and closed positions in response to a command to selectively provide an opening between the fixed and movable portions. A fan case is arranged within the fan nacelle. The fan case includes an integral bull nose adjacent to the opening in the open position and to the movable portion in the closed position. The bull nose has a curved wall sloping radially outward. |
| US09097201B2 |
Motorcycle
A motorcycle includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that drives a fuel heating device when a fuel heating condition is satisfied and the result of a fuel heating prohibition determination process indicates that heating is permitted. On the other hand, the CPU does not drive the fuel heating device when the fuel heating condition is not satisfied or when the result of the fuel heating prohibition determination process indicates that heating is prohibited. In the fuel heating prohibition determination process, the CPU determines a tilted state of the motorcycle, and prohibits or permits heating of fuel in a fuel pipe by the fuel heating device based on a detection result of the tilted state. |
| US09097197B2 |
Defining a region of optimization based on engine usage data
Methods and systems for engine control optimization are provided. One or more operating conditions of a vehicle engine are detected. A value for each of a plurality of engine control parameters is determined based on the detected one or more operating conditions of the vehicle engine. A range of the most commonly detected operating conditions of the vehicle engine is identified and a region of optimization is defined based on the range of the most commonly detected operating conditions of the vehicle engine. The engine control optimization routine is initiated when the one or more operating conditions of the vehicle engine are within the defined region of optimization. |
| US09097192B2 |
Method and apparatus for identifying gas sensor faults
A method for fault identification of gas sensors exposed to a gas mixture is disclosed for gas sensors having an output that depends on concentrations of two gas species in the gas mixture. The method includes receiving output signals from two such sensors, processing the output signals in a controller that implements a model of the sensors so as to identify a fault in the first gas sensor or the second gas sensor; and providing an indication of any identified faults. |
| US09097190B2 |
Combustion control apparatus for an internal combustion engine
An object of this invention is to provide a technology wherein a stratification of an EGR gas with an air-fuel mixture or a fresh air is achieved and capable of introducing the EGR gas in a large quantity, even when an engine load is high as an operation state of an internal combustion engine. With this invention, when a stratified combustion is performed by introducing the EGR gas, the fresh air is supercharged by a compressor, a fresh air blocking valve is closed to block inflow of the fresh air into a first intake port, and a variable valve mechanism opens a first intake valve before opening of a second intake valve, and, thereafter, opens the second intake valve. |
| US09097189B2 |
Vehicle drive control device
When a driver attempts to hurriedly start driving a stopped vehicle, for example, the driver may, without realizing it, begin operating an accelerator pedal before shifting a shift lever from a non-drive position to a drive position. In such a situation, when the shift lever is shifted from a non-drive position to a drive position while the accelerator pedal is being operated, a drive power limiting process is implemented for limiting the drive power when the drive power is output from a drive source in accordance with the amount that the accelerator is being operated. As a result, when the shift lever is shifted from a non-drive position to a drive position in the abovementioned manner, it is possible to restrict starting of the vehicle, which is caused by the transmission of drive power from the drive source to the wheels. This reduces the strange sensation experienced by the driver. |
| US09097188B2 |
Gas turbine device
The disclosure provides a gas turbine device capable of producing a mixed gas in which three or more types of gases are evenly mixed, and of doing the like. To achieve this, in a gas turbine device configured to burn in a combustor a fuel gas supplied from a fuel gas supplier, together with a compressed air supplied from an air compressor, and to rotationally drive a gas turbine by a combustion gas generated at the burning, the fuel gas supplier includes two mixers, and is configured to produce a mixed gas by mixing three types of gases of a first gas, a second gas, and a third gas in the mixers in ascending order of specific gravity or in descending order of specific gravity, and to supply the mixed gas to the combustor as the fuel gas. |
| US09097183B2 |
Rayleigh-Taylor assisted combustion and combustors adapted to exploit Rayleigh-Taylor instability for increasing combustion rates therein
A method for improving interpenetration, mixing, and combustion between a fuel and oxidizer reactant mixture and combustion product gases in engines having a combustor includes the step of providing an engine having a combustor in which the reaction mixture and product gases are subjected to acceleration directed transverse to a direction along which the reactant mixture flows through the combustor during combustion. One or more catalyst elements are positioned within the combustor to generate Rayleigh-Taylor instability and thereby enhance interpenetration of the reactant mixture and product gases within the combustor chamber during combustion. |
| US09097182B2 |
Thermal control system for fault detection and mitigation within a power generation system
A system includes a radiation sensor configured to direct a field of view toward at least one conduit along a fluid flow path into a heat exchanger. The radiation sensor is configured to output a signal indicative of a temperature of the at least one conduit. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the radiation sensor. The controller is configured to determine the temperature based on the signal, to compare the temperature to a threshold range, and to adjust a fluid flow through the fluid flow path or the at least one conduit if the temperature deviates from the threshold range. |
| US09097178B2 |
Crossover valve in double piston cycle engine
An internal combustion engine, including a combustion chamber with a first aperture; a compression chamber with a second aperture; and a crossover valve comprising an internal chamber, first and second valve seats, a valve head, and first and second valve faces on the valve head, wherein the first aperture allows fluid communication between the combustion chamber and the internal chamber, the second aperture allows fluid communication between the compression chamber and the internal chamber, the first valve face couples to the first valve seat to occlude the first aperture, and the second valve face couples to the second valve seat to occlude the second aperture. |
| US09097177B2 |
Turbocharger
The invention relates to a turbocharger (1) having a wastegate arrangement (6), in which the leakage at the guide of the regulating flap in a multi-stage turbocharger arrangement is reduced. The turbocharger (1) comprises a compressor (2) and a turbine (3). The turbine (3) comprises a turbine housing (4) which has a turbine housing outlet (5), and a wastegate device (6) which has a regulating flap (7). The regulating flap (7) is arranged on a regulating flap shaft (9) which is guided in the turbine housing (4) by means of a bush (8). The bush (8) is provided with an annular groove (11) formed on its inner circumference (10), which annular groove (11) is connected by means of at least one connecting bore (12, 13) to an annular collecting groove (14) which is provided in the turbine housing (3) and which is connected by means of a relief bore (15) to the turbine housing outlet (5). |
| US09097174B2 |
System and method for conditioning intake air to an internal combustion engine
A system for conditioning the intake air to an internal combustion engine includes a means to boost the pressure of the intake air to the engine and a liquid cooled charge air cooler disposed between the output of the boost means and the charge air intake of the engine. Valves in the coolant system can be actuated so as to define a first configuration in which engine cooling is performed by coolant circulating in a first coolant loop at one temperature, and charge air cooling is performed by coolant flowing in a second coolant loop at a lower temperature. The valves can be actuated so as to define a second configuration in which coolant that has flowed through the engine can be routed through the charge air cooler. The temperature of intake air to the engine can be controlled over a wide range of engine operation. |
| US09097173B2 |
Internal combustion engine
In an internal combustion engine comprising a turbocharger which includes a turbine which is located in an exhaust tract of the internal combustion engine and to which exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine is applied via an exhaust pipe system of the exhaust tract, the turbine comprises volute passages distributed along the circumference of the turbine wheel and the exhaust gas flows are combined and divided upstream of the turbine into at least two exhaust gas part-flows each of which part-flows is fed to one of the volute passages. |
| US09097170B2 |
Engine
An exhaust manifold is covered by a manifold heat shield cover and an exhaust pipe is directed downward from the exhaust manifold. In such an engine, a cooling fan is disposed on a front portion of the engine and the exhaust pipe is positioned on the air flow path of the cooling fan. An auxiliary component heat shielding plate is directed from the manifold heat shield cover along a back side of the exhaust pipe. An auxiliary engine component is disposed beneath the manifold heat shield cover on a back side of the auxiliary component heat shielding plate. Between the exhaust pipe and a cylinder block, an air flow guide plate provides an air flow space between the air flow guide plate and the cylinder block. A cooling air flow passing through the air flow space is thus supplied to the auxiliary engine component. |
| US09097169B2 |
Gas turbine engine heat management system
A heat management system of a gas turbine engine for cooling oil and heating fuel, includes an oil circuit having parallel connected first and second branches. The first branch includes a fuel/oil heat exchanger and a first fixed restrictor in series and the second branch includes an air cooled oil cooler and a second fixed restrictor. The first and second fixed restrictors limit respective oil flows through the first and second branch differently, in response to viscosity changes of the oil caused by temperature changes of the oil during engine operation to modify oil distribution between the first and second branches. |
| US09097168B2 |
Bracket for an after-treatment component
A bracket for connecting an after-treatment component to a frame is disclosed. The bracket may have a clevis connectable to the after-treatment component. The bracket may also have a front link coupler. The front link coupler may have a tang connected to the clevis. The front link coupler may also have a first flange extending outward from the tang and a second flange extending outward from the tang opposite the first flange. In addition, the front link coupler may have a third flange spaced apart from the first flange and extending outward from the tang and a fourth flange spaced apart from the second flange and extending outward from the tang opposite the third flange. The first, second, third, and fourth flanges may be connectable to the frame. |
| US09097167B2 |
Exhaust gas purification device of internal combustion engine
The invention relates to an exhaust gas purification device of an internal combustion engine comprising a catalyst (45) having an active element and a composite oxidation which carries the active element in an exhaust passage (40), the active element transforming into the composite oxide as a solid solution when the catalyst temperature is higher than or equal to a predetermined solid solution temperature and the atmosphere of the interior of the catalyst is an oxidation atmosphere and the active element precipitating from the composite oxide when the catalyst temperature is higher than or equal to a predetermined precipitation temperature and the atmosphere of the interior of the catalyst is a reduction atmosphere. According to the invention, in case that the performance of the fuel supply stop control is inhibited when the catalyst temperature is higher than or equal to the performance inhibiting temperature, a temperature lower than a base temperature of the performance inhibiting temperature is set as the performance inhibiting temperature while the use degree of the catalyst is lower than or equal to a predetermined degree and in case that the performance of the fuel supply amount increase control is permitted when the catalyst temperature is higher than or equal to a performance permitting temperature, a temperature higher than a base temperature of the performance permitting temperature is set as the performance permitting temperature while the use degree of the catalyst is smaller than or equal to the predetermined degree. |
| US09097164B2 |
Device for providing a liquid reducing agent having a tank with a temperature sensor and motor vehicle having the device
A device for providing liquid reducing agent includes a reducing-agent tank with a tank wall which delimits a tank interior. The tank wall has a metallic wall section and the device has a temperature sensor which is disposed outside the reducing-agent tank. The temperature sensor is configured to determine a temperature of the reducing agent in the reducing-agent tank through the metallic wall section. A motor vehicle having the device is also provided. |
| US09097163B2 |
Method, apparatus, and system to control selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst ammonia slip during high temperature transitions
Method, apparatus, and system to control ammonia slip in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. The method includes detecting an engine operation transition event, increasing NOx to the SCR catalyst, and decreasing a reductant dose. The system includes a controller to receive an engine transition signal, anticipate a temperature transition at the SCR catalyst in response to the engine transition signal, and cause a NOx increase in the exhaust gas stream to the SCR catalyst and a decrease of reductant to the SCR catalyst coinciding with the temperature transition at the SCR catalyst. The apparatus includes a NOx increase module to cause the NOx increase in the exhaust gas stream to the SCR catalyst in response to the engine transition signal. The apparatus also includes a reductant shut-off module configured to cause the reductant addition to the exhaust gas stream to turn off in response to the engine transition signal. |
| US09097162B2 |
Locomotive and transit system efficiency and emissions improvements
A system including: a HEP generator creating HEP generator exhaust; a prime engine creating prime engine exhaust; a SCR system through which the prime engine exhaust and the HEP generator exhaust run; an HEP generator exhaust pipe running from the HEP generator to an exhaust mixing duct where the HEP generator exhaust is mixed with the prime engine exhaust, wherein the HEP generator exhaust pipe discharges into the exhaust mixing duct at a distance from the SCR less than ten times the diameter of the exhaust mixing duct; and a single urea injector injecting urea into the HEP generator exhaust pipe at a distance from the exhaust mixing duct of more than ten diameters of the HEP generator exhaust pipe. |
| US09097159B2 |
Method for detecting urea deposits in an exhaust line of an automotive vehicle, method for eliminating urea deposits and automotive vehicle adapted to such methods
A method is provided for detecting urea deposits in an exhaust line of an automotive vehicle and includes determination if an exhaust gas's temperature is reached, if the result of determination is positive, stoppage of urea injection, and determination of the quantity of NOx in the exhaust gases on the outlet of the selective catalytic reduction system. A comparison is performed between the quantity of NOx determined on the outlet of the selective catalytic reduction system and a theoretical quantity or a measured quantity of NOx produced by the internal combustion engine. If the comparison shows that the quantities are different, it is considered that urea deposits are present in the exhaust line. A vehicle is also disclosed. |
| US09097158B2 |
Solids transport in flue gas desulfurization system
A solids transport system for use in a flue gas desulfurization system is disclosed. Flue gas can be recycled from downstream and used as a fluidizing gas for transporting solids between different locations. Exemplary systems include fluidization slide gravity conveyors, fluidization pads in bins, and in hoppers. The flue gas is generally already at an elevated temperature, reducing power consumption needed to heat the fluidizing gas. |
| US09097157B2 |
Exhaust purification system of internal combustion engine
An exhaust purification system of an internal combustion engine is provided with an exhaust purification catalyst which includes an upstream side catalyst and a downstream side catalyst and removes NOX. The upstream side catalyst has an oxidation ability, while the downstream side catalyst has catalyst particles of precious metals and basic exhaust flow surface parts. The system makes the concentration of hydrocarbons which flow into the exhaust purification catalyst vibrate by within a predetermined range of amplitude and by within a predetermined range of period and reduces the NOX. The upstream side catalyst includes an upstream side substrate and an upstream side container, while the downstream side catalyst includes a downstream side substrate, a downstream side container, and a channel of exhaust between the downstream side substrate and the downstream side container. |
| US09097156B2 |
Exhaust gas purifying device
An exhaust gas purifying device includes a cylindrical shell, a flow channel pipe, and a lid member. The pipe is connected to the shell along a radial direction of the shell. The shell is a member that is formed in a cylindrical shape having a pair of open ends, and in which exhaust gases flow. The shell has at least one shell-side fitting groove that is formed at one of the ends, and in which the pipe is fittable. The lid member is a member that closes the one of the pair of ends of the shell, and has at least one lid-side fitting groove that is formed at a position facing the at least one shell-side fitting groove, and in which the pipe is fittable. The at least one shell-side fitting groove and the at least one lid-side fitting groove fit the pipe therein by holding the pipe therebetween. |
| US09097155B2 |
Device for treating exhaust gas containing soot particles and motor vehicle having the device
A device for treating exhaust gas containing soot particles includes at least one ionization element for ionizing soot particles, at least one filter element having at least one section to which an electric potential can be applied and at least one agglomeration unit for at least partial agglomeration of electrically charged soot particles. The agglomeration unit is disposed between the ionization element and the filter element and the agglomeration unit has at least one outer pipe and at least one inner element. The filtering power of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine is therefore increased by an increase in the agglomeration rate of the soot particles. A motor vehicle having the device is also provided. |
| US09097154B2 |
Production method of ceramic honeycomb filter
A method for producing a ceramic honeycomb filter having predetermined plugs comprising immersing the end portions of a ceramic honeycomb structure having large numbers of flow paths, with its end surface covered with a mask provided with holes only at positions corresponding to the predetermined flow paths, in a plugging material slurry, so that the plugging material slurry is introduced into the end portions of the predetermined flow paths, and removing plugging material protrusions formed in the flow paths that should not be plugged. |
| US09097153B2 |
Combustion engine exhaust system with device for heat recovery, and method for operating such an exhaust system
Exhaust systems of a combustion engine of a motor vehicle, motor vehicles with exhaust systems, and methods for operating an exhaust system of a combustion engine in a motor vehicle are provided. An exhaust system includes an exhaust line comprising a heat exchanger branch and a bypass branch. The exhaust line has an adjustable control element by which combustion gas flowing through the exhaust line is fed to the heat exchanger branch and/or the bypass branch. A heat exchanger is connected to the heat exchanger branch and to a cooling circuit and an adjusting mechanism has an actuator for adjustment of the adjusting mechanism. The adjusting member of the adjusting mechanism is configured such that the actuator is spaced from the exhaust line. |
| US09097147B2 |
Valve timing control system for internal combustion engine
A valve timing control system for an internal combustion engine, comprises: an electric intake valve timing control apparatus to vary an intake valve timing with torque produced by an electric motor with electric power supplied through a power supply mechanism; and an electric exhaust valve timing control apparatus to vary an exhaust valve timing with torque produced by an electric motor with electric power supplied through a power supply mechanism. A heat generating portion in the power supply mechanism of the intake valve timing control apparatus is made of a heat resisting material whereas a heat generating portion in the power supply mechanism of the exhaust valve timing control apparatus is made of a material lower in heat resistance than the heat resisting material of the intake valve timing control apparatus. |
| US09097145B2 |
Continuously variable valve lift actuator of engine
Disclosed is a continuously variable valve lift actuator of an engine. The continuously variable valve lift actuator of an engine changes rotating angles of a rocker arm and a lift arm having a four-bar link structure to control an intake amount of air of an intake valve based on a running state of a vehicle, and adjusts a location and a length of a link bar by taking into consideration a rotating direction of a cam shaft and interference according to layout of the engine to advance an open time of a valve. The continuously variable valve lift actuator of an engine can reduce pumping loss by controlling an intake amount of air by changing an elevating distance of a valve according to a running state of a vehicle, and the fuel efficiency and the efficiency of the engine can be improved by advancing the open time of the valve. |
| US09097142B2 |
Alignment of static parts in a gas turbine engine
A first structural static component having an outer diameter is aligned with a second structural static component having an inner diameter to the centerline of a gas turbine engine rotating assembly. The first static component is centered inside the second static component leaving a gap between the outer diameter of the first component and the inner diameter of the second component to permit them to mate at operating temperatures. Tabs and slots are placed on the periphery of the static components to align the static components with the centerline at build temperature. |
| US09097138B2 |
Gas turbine engine buffer system
A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section, a combustor in fluid communication with the compressor section, a turbine section in fluid communication with the combustor, and a buffer system. The buffer system can include a first circuit that supplies a first buffer supply air and a second circuit that supplies a second buffer supply air. The first circuit can include a first bleed air supply a second bleed air supply and at least one of an ejector and a valve. The second circuit can include a third bleed air supply, a fourth bleed air supply and at least one of an ejector and a valve. |
| US09097129B2 |
Segmented seal with ship lap ends
A segment for a knife edge seal includes an arcuate segment with a first end with a first end surface and a second end with a second end surface. The first end surface and the second end surface are complementary and overlapping when the first end surface and the second end surface interface with ends of adjacent segments. |
| US09097125B2 |
Intentionally frequency mistuned turbine blades
A new, more economical design for intentionally frequency mistuned turbine blades for more efficient turbine engines is disclosed. A rotating disk of a turbine engine includes first turbine blades that alternate between second turbine blades. The second turbine blades are thicker than the first turbine blades, within manufacturing tolerances, in sections from about their mean line to their airfoil tip. The first and second turbine blades can be cast using two different molds, resulting in an economical manufacturing method. As such, the natural frequency of the second turbine blades is about 3% less than the natural frequency of the first turbine blades. As a result of the intentional difference in natural frequencies of the two different turbine blades, the rotating disk does not experience flutter instability. |
| US09097124B2 |
Gas turbine engine stator vane assembly with inner shroud
A stator vane assembly includes a vane having an inner end. In one example, the vane is aluminum. An inner shroud has an aperture receiving the inner end. A flexible material secures the inner end to the inner shroud. The material has an inner surface opposite the vane providing a seal land in one example. The inner shroud provides an arcuate inner shroud segment, which is constructed either cast aluminum or stamped sheet steel. An inner shroud segment has an arcuate wall providing multiple apertures, for example. First and second flanges are integral with and extending radially inwardly from a concave side of the wall. |
| US09097111B2 |
Pick tool
A pick tool for degrading asphalt or rock, comprising a PCD element; the PCD element comprising a PCD structure (20) bonded to a cemented carbide support body (30) at an interface; the PCD structure comprising a first region (24) and a second region (25) adjacent the first region, the second region bonded to the first region by intergrowth of diamond grains; the first region (24) comprising a plurality of alternating strata (24c, 24t), each stratum having a thickness in the range of about 30 to 300 microns; the second region comprising a plurality of strata (25a, 25b), one or more strata in the second region (25a) having a thickness greater than the thicknesses of the individual strata in the first region (24c, 24t), wherein the alternating strata in the first region (24) comprise first strata alternating with second strata, the first strata being in a state of residual compressive stress and the second strata being in a state of residual tensile stress. |
| US09097107B2 |
Single packer system for fluid management in a wellbore
A technique involves collecting formation fluids through a single packer having at least one drain located within the single packer. The single packer is designed with an outer structural layer that expands across an expansion zone to facilitate creation of a seal with a surrounding wellbore wall. An inflatable bladder can be used within the outer structural layer to cause expansion, and a seal can be disposed for cooperation with the outer structural layer to facilitate sealing engagement with the surrounding wellbore wall. One or more drain features are used to improve the sampling process and/or to facilitate flow through the drain over the life of the single packer. |
| US09097106B2 |
Apparatus, method and system for measuring formation pressure and mobility
An apparatus, method and system are provided for characterizing fluid trapped in a subterranean formation using a downhole tool that includes an elongated body and a probe body. The probe body is moveable from and back into the elongated body. The probe body defines a flow line and supports a pressure sensor for measuring fluid pressure in the flow line, a piston and an electrical motor actuator that is adapted to move the piston in order to vary volume of the flow line. The integral electrical motor actuator, piston, pressure sensor and flow line of the probe body can provide for measurement of formation pressure and/or formation mobility. |
| US09097105B2 |
Swellable screen assembly
Screen assemblies capable of being disposed in a wellbore for hydrocarbon fluid production are described. The screen assemblies can support tubes for receiving hydrocarbon fluid and reduce or eliminate plugging of the tubes by swellable material. A screen assembly may include a support material between a tube and swellable material located exterior to a base pipe. The tube may include perforations and can receive and direct hydrocarbon fluids from the formation. The swellable material can expand after contact with an activating fluid and can displace the tube toward a surface of the bore. The swellable material can expand more than the support material and the support material can reduce or prevent plugging of the perforations by the swellable material expanding. |
| US09097099B2 |
Device including an apparatus for measuring drilling or coring operation parameters, and equipment including such a device
The invention relates to a device including an apparatus for measuring drilling or coring operation parameters using a bit attached to the end of a drill string, the measuring apparatus (10) being housed in a chamber (5) provided in a sleeve (1, 18) that is designed to be positioned between two drill pipes of the drill string or between the bit and a drill pipe of the drill string, or to form a coupling (18) for joining a cutting head (15) of the bit to a drill string, the chamber (5) leading into an axial channel (11) of the sleeve. |
| US09097098B2 |
Floating structure and riser systems for drilling and production
An offshore well system for a subsea well, including a floating platform, a drilling riser system connected with the well for drilling operations, and a production riser system connected with the well for production operations. The drilling system also includes a riser tension system. The riser tension system is capable of compensating for movement of the platform while adequately tensioning both drilling riser system and the production riser system when each are connected to the well. |
| US09097097B2 |
Method of determination of fracture extent
A pressure pulse is initiated from the wellbore into the fractured formation where the frac fluid brings into the fractures a material that is responsive to the pressure pulse alone. Alternatively, or with a combination with a wellbore pressure pulse, well conditions such as time exposure and temperature can initiate local pressure pulses within the fracture with the result being signal generation of an electromagnetic signal that is measured with multiple sensors to allow triangulation of the location of the fracture extremities. The material can be a piezoelectric material that responds to the pressure pulse or ferromagnetic materials that similarly respond to the pulse to create the measured signals. The material can be delivered initially with the frac fluid or at different points in time during the fracture operation. Different materials with unique signal generating characteristics can be used to get a clearer picture of the extent of the fracture. |
| US09097095B2 |
Downhole tool and method of use
Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a metal slip for a downhole tool, the metal slip having a slip body; an outer surface comprising gripping elements; and an inner surface configured for receiving a mandrel. The slip body may include at least one hole formed therein. The downhole tool may be a plugging or diverter tool, such as a frac plug. |
| US09097093B1 |
Downhole chemical treatment assembly for use in a downhole wellbore
A downhole assembly for delivering chemical treatment to a wellbore at the level of a hydrocarbon-bearing formation is provided. The chemical treatment is in solid phase, and slowly dissolves when exposed to wellbore fluids. |
| US09097088B2 |
Downhole tool thermal device
Subterranean devices are provided that are configured or designed for high temperature downhole use. The downhole devices comprise an electronic device configured or designed for downhole use in the well and a heat dissipation system. The heat dissipation may include one or more active coolers and a micro-particulate radiation improving coating applied to the active cooler. |
| US09097086B2 |
Well tractor with active traction control
A downhole tool that includes a tractor for assisting movement of the tool through deviated portions of a wellbore. The tractor includes a working fluid that damps vibrations in the tractor by adjusting the viscosity in the fluid. In an example, the working fluid is a magnetorheological fluid that has a viscosity that changes in response to applied electrical energy. The working fluid, which may be used for powering actuators on the tractor, may contain a suspension of magnetic particles. |
| US09097082B2 |
Multi-barrier seal system
A multi-barrier seal system, including, a first seal assembly configured to provide a first sealing barrier between an auxiliary line and a mineral extraction system, and a second seal assembly configured to provide a second sealing barrier between the auxiliary line and the mineral extraction system, wherein the second seal assembly is configured to shear through the auxiliary line. |
| US09097081B2 |
Differential pressure actuator
A technique facilitates actuation of a variety of tools in many types of environments. The actuation technique employs a closed conduit, such as a closed tube, arranged in a curvilinear structure. By applying a differential pressure to the closed conduit, the curvature of the curvilinear structure is changed. This change can be used to actuate a corresponding tool between desired operational positions. |
| US09097080B2 |
Riser cutting tool
A method of separating a riser, comprising providing a riser having an inner and an outer surface, a circumference of said outer surface, a longitudinal axis and a first end and a second end; radially surrounding said riser with an explosive shaped charge material, wherein said shaped charge explosive material is capable of generating a high-velocity plasma jet in response to an activation signal, and wherein said explosive material comprises an electrically conductive layer; transmitting said activation signal to said explosive material; generating said high-velocity plasma jet; and separating said riser into a first portion comprising said first end and a second portion comprising said second end when said high-velocity plasma jet penetrates said outer surface of said riser and exits said inner surface of said riser. |
| US09097075B2 |
Cutting element structure with sloped superabrasive layer
A superabrasive compact cutting element, for example, a insert utilized in shear cutter bits. The cutting elements include a layer of superabrasive materials that is provided with different shapes and positions relative to the substrate in order to enhance the abrasion resistance performance of the cutting element. The cutting element includes a top, bottom and peripheral surface. The cutting element further includes at least one superabrasive material portion comprising polycrystalline diamond (PCD) or cubic boron nitride (CBN), a substrate supporting the at least one superabrasive material portion, and an interface where the at least one superabrasive material portion and the substrate are joined. The interface slopes downwardly with a slope angle of less than about 40° and/or the cutting element has a longitudinal thickness of the at least one superabrasive material portion measured along a peripheral surface of the cutting element in a longitudinal direction greater than about 3 mm. |
| US09097072B2 |
Self-adjusting pipe spinner
A self-adjusting spinner is provided that is capable of accommodating various pipe sizes without requiring the need for an operator to climb up the support mechanism and manually change the position of the drive assembly. The self-adjusting spinner includes a case having two pivotally connected members: a stationary case member and a moving case member. Upper and lower plates having gear racks are mounted on the stationary case member for moving a drive assembly horizontally across the case. The drive assembly includes a motor that drives gear sprocket through a drive shaft. The drive sprocket then drives a chain that rotates a drill pipe in an operative position relative to the case. The spinner also includes an adjusting assembly mounted on the case that moves the drive assembly along the gear rack upon the actuation of an adjustment sequence. When the adjustment sequence is initiated, the effective length of the chain is adjusted to accommodate drill pipes of varying diameters. |
| US09097067B2 |
Abrasive tip for abrasive tool and method for forming and replacing thereof
A device for securing a plurality of abrasive segments to an abrasive tool is provided. The abrasive tool includes a rotatable body with an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The device includes a carrier element that includes a first portion that accommodates the plurality of abrasive segments and a second portion opposite from the first portion that attaches to the rotatable body. The second portion includes a shoulder extending therefrom that facilitates centering with the rotatable body. |
| US09097065B2 |
Drill bit design for mitigation of stick slip
A method of designing an earth-boring rotary drill bit includes designing a bit body and cutting elements of the drill bit such that features of the drill bit other than cutting elements engage and rub against a subterranean formation being drilled by the drill bit at depths-of-cut beyond, but close to, an intended median depth-of-cut, and such that the amount of rubbing area between such features and the formation increases at a relatively rapid rate as the depth-of-cut increases beyond the intended median depth-of-cut. Such methods may be employed to mitigate the occurrence of the “stick-slip” phenomenon during drilling. A method of fabricating a drill bit includes configuring a bit body and cutting elements in accordance with such a design. Earth-boring drill bits include a bit body and cutting elements so configured. |
| US09097064B2 |
Snubbing assemblies and methods for inserting and removing tubulars from a wellbore
A completion system and method adapted for use in wells having long lateral boreholes includes a mast assembly, a pipe handling mechanism, a pipe arm, a pipe tub, a pump/pit combination skid, a rig carrier, and a control system. The mast assembly can extend in a generally vertical direction, e.g., perpendicular to the rig carrier and/or the earth's surface, such that the rig can be placed directly adjacent to a wellbore, and the top drive or a similar drive system can be engaged with and move along the mast while remaining above the wellbore. The top drive can be engaged with a support fixture that resists torque and rotation during operation. The support fixture can in turn be engaged with the mast to transfer torque forces to the mast while being vertically movable along the mast to enable positioning of the top drive. |
| US09097063B2 |
Flip ladder with tray and method
A climbing apparatus that rests on a surface includes a flip ladder that can move between a straight configuration and a stepladder configuration. The apparatus includes a tray having a plane attached to the flip ladder that moves with the flip ladder between the straight configuration where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the ladder in a stowed position and a stepladder configuration where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the surface in an open position. A method for climbing includes the steps of moving a flip ladder between a straight configuration and a stepladder configuration. There is the step of moving a tray having a plane attached to the flip ladder from a stowed position where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the ladder to an opened position where the tray plane is essentially parallel with the surface. There is the step of moving the flip ladder from the stepladder configuration to the straight configuration which causes the tray to move automatically into the stowed position. |
| US09097062B2 |
Lifting door having a movable door-leaf guide
The invention relates to a lifting door comprising a movable door leaf formed by slats pivotally connected to each other and building-mounted frames. On the latter lateral guides for the door leaf having a vertical section and a lintel section, as well as a frame seal, which in the closed condition of the lifting door closes a gap between the door leaf and a section of the frames facing the door opening. The vertical sections of the guides are mounted on the frames so as to be displaceable perpendicularly to the plane of the door leaf and fixed in the direction of movement of the door leaf. The invention further relates to a frame and a guide as well as a corresponding method. |
| US09097061B1 |
Window sash pivot bar
A pivot bar for a double hung window sash includes an elongated member having a knobbed end for engaging a window jamb or frame. The pivot bar has vertical and horizontal shields for completely covering apertures formed in contiguous horizontal and vertical sides of the window sash. The pivot bar is “snap-fitted” into the window sash apertures formed with a conventional electric drill. The aperture formed in the vertical side of the window sash is less than a complete circle in order for the drill bit to simultaneously form the aperture in the vertical side of the window sash and the horizontal side of the window sash. |
| US09097059B1 |
Draining sill and frame assembly incorporating the same
Draining sills, frame assemblies incorporating the draining sills, and methods of using the same are described herein. The draining sills include a primary drain channel and one or more shorter auxiliary channels to capture and control water passing over the sill. The auxiliary channels provide additional fluid control capability to the draining sills which may be useful in locations where the flow rate of water passing over the sill may be increased. |
| US09097055B2 |
Power split tailgate system and method
A power split tailgate system is provided that allows each of an upper and a lower tailgate door to be simultaneously or independently driven between open and closed positions. The tailgate system may be operated in a chauffer mode where the lower tailgate door is opened to allow for the storage of luggage and other materials and in a manner that limits exposure of the passenger compartment. |
| US09097053B2 |
High-speed door assembly
A high-speed door assembly for selectively permitting and prohibiting access through an opening in a wall, or other blocking structure, the door assembly having a shaft or drum located proximate the wall or other blocking structure and outside of the opening, and the shaft or drum having a longitudinal axis, and, a flexible door panel attached to the shaft or drum so as to be capable of being wound and unwound about the drum for selectively permitting and prohibiting access through the opening, the door panel being wound on the shaft or drum in an orientation such that the door panel defines at least one vertical plane when unwound from the shaft or drum, the vertical plane being spaced farther from the wall than the longitudinal axis of the shaft or drum is spaced from the wall or other blocking structure. |
| US09097048B2 |
Hinge mechanisms and foldable furniture
Embodiments generally relate to hinge mechanisms. Many of the hinge mechanism embodiments may be used in foldable furniture. The foldable furniture may be a foldable seat or table. The hinge mechanism may include a central cylinder with a body defining a hinge axis. The central cylinder may have rotate channel(s) transverse to the hinge axis and locking channels extending axially from the rotate channel(s). Collar(s) may couple with the central cylinder and may include pin(s) that protrude inwardly into the rotate channel(s) and locking channel(s) of the central cylinder. In some embodiments, an intermediate cylinder may be disposed between the central cylinder and the collar(s). The intermediate cylinder may have slots corresponding to the rotate channel(s) of the central cylinder. When pin(s) and locking channel(s) are aligned, the central lock cylinder may move axially to lock the collars in a desired angular position (e.g., a deployed or folded configuration). |
| US09097046B2 |
Hinge with articulating cover system
A pinned hinge with articulating cover system and associated method for assembly are provided. In one embodiment, the hinge includes first and second hinge members pivotally coupled together. A plurality of geared bearing inserts are mounted to knuckles of the hinge members. A cover adapter clip is mounted on the knuckles that is configured to movably engage the geared bearing inserts. A cover is mounted on the cover adapter clip to complete the cover system. Opening and closing leaves of the hinge members displaces the cover to prevent interference with the hinge members during operation. The cover adapter clip and cover are resiliently structured in some embodiments to facilitate lateral assembly of the clip and cover to the hinge for convenience of installation. The geared bearing inserts further include an integral load bearing portion and provide vertical load-bearing support for the hinge. |
| US09097036B2 |
Security system and devices for musical instruments and firearms
A security system having a device that attach directly to and locks on or around an object to be secured, or one or more parts of the system are integrated into a full or partial enclosure that fully or partially encloses or surrounds the object to be secured, that cannot be removed from the object or enclosure without disengaging the locking mechanism through a provided method, and when the device is attached to the object or integrated into the enclosure, the system renders the object unusable for its intended use, and the system is capable of determining location, has a radio transmitter and/or transceiver capable of processing, transmitting and/or relaying information, data and images over terrestrial and/or satellite communication networks, and can include various sensors and other data and image gathering methods, and can contain an audible alarm. |
| US09097032B1 |
Portable shelter
The portable shelter includes a plurality of panels, each having a least one opening adapted to receive a support member configured to connect the panels in a vertical arrangement, at least one first receiving member coupled to each panel, the at least one first receiving member adapted to receive a first attachment member configured to connect the panels in a horizontal arrangement, a plurality of second receiving members, each adapted to receive a first end of an adjustable rod, the adjustable rod being selectively adjustable to a length corresponding to the configuration of the portable shelter, and a cone-shaped attachment member having a bottom portion including at least one ring of a plurality of apertures, each aperture adapted to receive a second end of the adjustable rod, the adjustable rod connecting the cone-shaped attachment to the plurality of panels, wherein the portable shelter can receive a first cover member. |
| US09097030B1 |
Devices, methods, systems and kits for reversibly converting a non-dwelling portion of a structure into a dwelling portion of a structure
A separate living unit apparatus and kit configured to be positioned within a pre-existing structure including a structural frame supporting a set of side walls, an exterior wall, a set of interior walls, a ceiling and a floor; where the side walls include pre-finished drywall and insulation; where the ceiling includes pre-textured drywall and insulation; and where the floor has a subfloor of treated lumber with insulation and a floor covering including a carpet portion and a hard surface portion; an exterior door where the door is constructed within the exterior wall which separates the living unit from an exterior area; and where the interior walls define separate areas of the living unit, the separate areas including a living area, a bathroom and a kitchen. |
| US09097028B2 |
Pool cover automatic locking and unlocking system and method
An automatic system for locking and unlocking a pool cover having a leading edge at an edge of a pool, the pool having a water surface, the pool cover deployable by a pool cover deployment system, the automatic system comprising: at least one leading edge slot piece having a rectangular slot therein, the leading edge slot piece integratable into the leading edge; at least one float locker subassembly configurable floatably on the water surface and constrained at the edge of the pool, the float locker subassembly having a space defined therein in which the at least one leading edge slot piece is adapted to be received, locked, and unlocked; and an autolock control unit adapted to communicate with the at least one float locker subassembly and the pool cover deployment system, wherein the control unit is further adapted to command and verify locking and unlocking. |
| US09097027B2 |
Systems and methods for providing base isolation against seismic activity
A seismic isolation system including a base plate having a textured top surface and a top plate positioned above the base plate having a non-textured bottom surface, wherein desired coefficients of static and kinetic friction between the top plate and the base plate prevent relative movement of the two plates with normal operation and yet allow the top plate to move relative to the base plate during a seismic event. In one example, the sliding surface has a coating such as a polyester (e.g., polyester triglycidyl isocyanurate) or a low surface energy coating (e.g., silicone-epoxy coating). In another example, the seismic isolation system further includes a damping system comprising internal dampers within a concrete slab resting on the top plate to provide displacement control. |
| US09097026B2 |
Tool-less swing arm mechanical edge setting system and method for setting tiles and tuning lippage
A tile aligning and lippage tuning system that uses an under tile base reusable upright connecting tab, which is detachably connected to said under tile base, a reusable flexible edge slotted cap, configured to slip over the connecting tab and latch thereto as the cap is slid further down the connecting tab. The cap has an edge slot so that the connecting tab can be separated from the cap, by merely sliding the cap, so that the connecting tab passes through the slot. A flexible spring-like portion of the cap provides increased force on the tile, even if undesired elongation of the connecting tab occurs. |
| US09097025B2 |
Panel support post
A panel support post comprises a base securable to a mounting surface and an upright member extending substantially vertically from the base. The upright member has a first clamping surface formed by an upright surface thereof. The panel support post further comprises a clamping member having a bottom edge vertically spaced above said base and having a second clamping surface thereon in opposed spaced apart relation to the first clamping surface, the clamping member being drawable towards the first clamping surface. The first and second clamping surfaces are located vertically spaced above the mounting surface so as to support the barrier panel vertically spaced apart from the mounting surface. |
| US09097021B1 |
Weather shielding system for slate and tile roofs
Lightweight tile roofs using a single overlap of tiles between adjacent tile courses are protected from wind, rain, snow, ice, humidity and sun with a base layer of water resistant weatherproofing material and with a series of waterproof or water resistant shield strips. The shield strips are laterally spaced apart so as to underlie the cracks, joints or channels formed between the adjacent side edges of each pair of juxtaposed tiles. This double layer of weatherproofing material extends the useful life of lightweight tile roofs. |
| US09097019B1 |
Modular roof panel with integrated drainage system
A roof panel includes a planar body having top and bottom edges, with a downturn edge extending therebetween, and an opposing channel edge. The downturn edge overlays a channel edge of an adjacent panel. The bottom edge overlays a top edge of another adjacent panel. A plurality of courses extends between the channel and downturn edges. Each course includes a nesting ridge to receive the downturn edge of an adjacent panel and to position a top surface of the panel flush with adjacent panels. Surface channels and contoured ridges are defined within each course. A drain aperture of the drip edge aligns with an adjacent channel edge to direct material through the drain aperture and onto adjacent panels. A gable member engages an edge when the panel has one or fewer laterally adjacent panels, wherein the gable member is flush with the adjacent planar body. |
| US09097017B1 |
Easy fit concealed post anchor system
A concealed anchor system that installs a post on a support surface. The concealed anchor system includes a stud, a sleeve, and setting material. The stud is attached to the support surface. The setting material is disposed between, and is attached to, the stud and the sleeve. The sleeve is disposed around, and is attached to, the stud, and is received by the post so as to install the post on the support surface. In a first embodiment, the support surface is wood, and in a second embodiment, the support surface is concrete. |
| US09097013B2 |
Fabrication member
A method of making a composite fabrication member having a shape selected from the group consisting of C-shape, U-shape, or Z-shape by providing first and third planar members suitable to form bases of a composite fabrication member, providing a second planar member suitable to form a web of a composite fabrication member, uncoiling and passing through accumulators the planar members, aligning the planar members, attaching the first, second, and third planar members together at respective side portions by induction welding to form a composite intermediate product to form a composite fabrication member having a shape selected from the group consisting of C-shape, lipped C-shape, U-shape, lipped U-shape, Z-shape or lipped Z-shape. |
| US09097008B2 |
Screen base
Disclosed herein is a screen base capable of allowing at least one base to be rotatably coupled to a vertical bar which extends to a lower end of a screen, and of adjusting an installation angle of the base. The screen base, which is coupled to the vertical bar extending to the lower end of the screen and supports the screen, includes a base including a body which has a hollow shape and is rotatably coupled to the vertical bar, and an extension portion which is formed to extend outward of the vertical bar from the body; and a fixing unit to fix the body with respect to the vertical bar. |
| US09097005B2 |
Loft flooring system
The present invention provides a loft flooring system that, inter alia, comprises: a plurality of bridging supports each adapted to bridge between a substantially parallel pair of joists of a loft floor and having a first upright leg with a foot to mount onto a first of the joists and having, in use, a second upright leg with a foot to mount onto a second of the joists, and a spanning element therebetween defining a flooring surface or onto which flooring boards or flooring panels are laid, wherein each leg is initially separate and the spanning element is an initially separate beam that is mounted to the legs to span between the joists. The system is comparatively straightforward and efficient to install and, where needed, uninstall and also is robust and stable. With special support arms on the legs or hung from the spanning element it can also greatly facilitate discrete management of pipe-work and cabling below the raised floor too. |
| US09097001B2 |
Concrete anchor
An anchor for supporting a load comprises an anchor rod having a lower threaded portion for being embedded in a concrete structure and an upper portion for extending outside the concrete structure; a metallic body attached to the lower portion, the body including a top surface and a bottom surface joined by a vertical side surface; and the side surface including at least one shoulder extending therefrom. |
| US09097000B2 |
Hold down system using hollow bearing members
A structural member for a reinforced stud wall including a tie rod connected to a foundation of the wall. The structural member comprises a longitudinal hollow member having top and bottom walls; and first and second web flanges connecting the top and bottom walls, the web flanges extending along a longitudinal axis of the hollow member. An opening through the top and bottom walls to allow the tie rod to extend therethrough, the opening being disposed between the web flanges. |
| US09096998B2 |
Ceiling system with ceiling element mounting brackets
A ceiling system in one embodiment includes a longitudinally-extending support member mountable from a ceiling and a clamping bracket attachable to the support member for supporting a ceiling element. The clamping bracket includes a cavity that receives the support member at least partially therein. A resiliently deformable elastic member has a movable bearing surface positioned in the cavity of the clamping bracket. The elastic member is movable from an undeflected inactive position to a deflected active position in response to inserting the support member into the cavity of the clamping bracket. The elastic member applies a force on the support member to help retain the clamping bracket on the support member. |
| US09096995B1 |
Water/soap dispenser
The water/soap dispenser includes a housing configured to be mounted to existing faucets. An internal pipe assembly within the housing directs water from the faucet and a cleaning product from a pump assembly coupled to the pipe assembly to the outlet of the dispenser. A valve assembly is also coupled to the pipe assembly to selectively open and close passage of water through the pipe assembly. A universal actuator is pivotally mounted to the valve assembly, and selective operation of the universal actuator facilitates substantially concurrent activation of the valve assembly to open water flow and the pump assembly to dispense a certain amount of cleaning product into the water flow. A dial assembly is rotatably mounted to the housing and includes one or more outlet ports facilitating a different flow character to the liquid being dispensed, as determined by the user. |
| US09096990B2 |
Hydraulic fitting for bulkhead mounting with key shaped cross section
A hydraulic fitting is used to fluidly connect hydraulic hoses on opposite sides of a bulkhead of a machine. The bulkhead is clamped between a flange of the hydraulic fitting and a nut. One set of threads of the hydraulic fitting is split by a flat surface to create a cross section with a key shape that is received in only one orientation through a matched key shaped mounting bore in the bulkhead. The key shape interaction prevents the hydraulic fitting from rotating when installed in the bulkhead. |
| US09096986B2 |
Cementitious foundation cap with post-tensioned helical anchors and method of making the same
A post-tensioned concrete cap foundation has helical anchors with pipes having several helical discs welded around the pipe perimeter to spin drill deep into subsurface soils or other soft materials with holes in the pipe for high pressure-grouting in place. The helical anchor pipes include a tensioning element for pulling and post-tensioning the helical anchor. The helical anchors are tension anchors which can be converted to compression anchors. The helical anchors in tension serve to pull the foundation cap down to compress the underlying soil while the compression anchors limit the maximum settlement of the concrete foundation cap. The foundation also includes perimeter-forming and interior corrugated metal pipes with upper and lower sleeved horizontally extending radial bolts that are secured to the pipes and post-tensioned to provide lateral foundation compression. |
| US09096980B2 |
Snowblower chute control devices, systems, and methods
Snowblower chute control devices, systems, and methods are provided and can include a positioning rod having a first end pivotably connected to a machine handle and a second end connected to a snowblower chute such that rotation of the positioning rod about a longitudinal axis causes rotation of the snowblower chute. A control lever can be connected to the positioning rod such that the control lever is substantially fixed with respect to the positioning rod for rotation about the longitudinal axis but is pivotable with respect to the positioning rod about a pivot axis that intersects the longitudinal axis. The snowblower chute position control device can further include a positioning guide configured to retain the control lever at one or more selected angular positions with respect to the longitudinal axis corresponding to one or more desired rotational positions of the snowblower chute. |
| US09096975B2 |
Abutment for a modular decking system
An abutment for use with a modular decking system that includes decking in the form of a plurality of treads, each tread being elongate and having a longitudinal axis, a topside, an underside and two ends having respective end surfaces, the underside of at least a first end of each tread including a tread coupling member. The abutment includes a tread receiving portion configured to receive the underside of the first end of each tread to thereby support the decking, the tread receiving portion including an abutment coupling member for engagement with the tread coupling member of each tread so as to prevent longitudinal movement of each received tread. The abutment also includes an upright margin configured such that the end surface of the first end of a received tread can lie closely adjacent thereto to provide a border for the decking. |
| US09096973B2 |
Method for regulating the formation of a fibrous web
A method regulating the formation of a fibrous web, such as a paper, cardboard, or tissue web, in which method the formation of the fibrous web is measured online as a controlled variable and is held at a predefinable setpoint level via automatic formation regulation. In addition to the formation, the charge concentration of the suspension is measured as a controlled variable and is taken into consideration during the formation regulation. |
| US09096969B2 |
Clothes treating apparatus with moisture supply units
Disclosed is a clothes treating apparatus, which treats clothes into a more wearable condition. The clothes treating apparatus includes a cabinet; an accommodating space formed in the cabinet and accommodating clothes; a moisture supplying device generating moisture to be supplied into the accommodating space; and a supply unit discharging the moisture generated by the moisture supplying device into the accommodating space and installed on a bottom of the accommodating space. |
| US09096967B2 |
Washer/dryer comprising a lock
The present invention relates to a washer/dryer (1) comprising two side walls (2) closing the volume from sides wherein the drum, in which the laundry is placed, and other elements are located, a front wall (3) closing the said volume from the front, an opening (4) which is disposed on the front wall (3) and enables the laundry to be placed in the drum, a lid (5) covering the opening (4), a lock (6) disposed on the front wall (3), a tenon (7) which is disposed on the lid (5) and provides the lid (5) to remain in the closed position by being placed into the lock (6) and a hole (8) disposed on the front wall (3), behind which the lock (6) is placed and which enables the tenon (7) to reach the lock (6). |
| US09096966B2 |
Device and method for determining a fill level within a suds tub of a washing machine
A device for determining a fill level of liquid within a suds tub of a washing machine, having a fill level sensor by means of which a pressure value generated by the liquid can be determined, the fill level sensor having at least one detection part disposed in a lower area of the suds tub that is covered by the liquid during the washing process. |
| US09096961B2 |
Nonwoven wipe with bonding pattern
A nonwoven wipe has multiplicity of fibers, bonded portions, and unbonded portions. The bonded portions are spaced apart from one another, each bonded portion comprises portions of the fibers that are bonded together, and each bonded portion has a thickness extending perpendicularly between opposite faces of the nonwoven wipe. Each unbonded portion comprises portions of the fibers that are not bonded together, and each unbonded portion has a thickness extending perpendicularly between the opposite faces of the nonwoven wipe. The thicknesses of the unbonded portions is greater than the thicknesses of the bonded portions. The bonded portions are sized and arranged for providing a desirable balance of properties. |
| US09096949B2 |
Susceptor support portion and epitaxial growth apparatus including susceptor support portion
A susceptor support portion of the present invention includes a susceptor shaft and a substrate lift portion. The susceptor shaft includes a support column and a plurality of arms that extend radially from the support column, the substrate lift portion includes a support column and a plurality of arms that extend radially from the support column, the arm of the susceptor shaft includes a first arm, a second arm coupled to the first arm, and a third arm coupled to the second arm, from the support column side of the susceptor shaft, the second arm being provided with a through hole which passes through the second arm in a vertical direction, and a width of the first arm of the susceptor shaft is smaller than a width of the second arm of the susceptor shaft. |
| US09096948B2 |
Fabrication of low-loss, light-waveguiding, orientation-patterned semiconductor structures
Methods for the fabrication of orientation-patterned semiconductor structures are provided. The structures are light-waveguiding structures for nonlinear frequency conversion. The structures are periodically poled semiconductor heterostructures comprising a series of material domains disposed in a periodically alternating arrangement along the optical propagation axis of the waveguide. The methods of fabricating the orientation-patterned structures utilize a series of surface planarization steps at intermediate stages of the heterostructure growth process to provide interlayer interfaces having extremely low roughnesses. |
| US09096940B2 |
High pressure water electrolysis system and method for activating same
A high pressure water electrolysis system includes a high pressure water electrolysis device, a hydrogen storage device, a high pressure hydrogen pipe, a branch pipe, a non-return valve, a pressure detector, and a controller. The controller includes a threshold storage device, a threshold determination device, and a solenoid valve opening/closing operation device. The threshold storage device is configured to store a first threshold of a pressure value detected by the pressure detector and a second threshold lower than the first threshold. The threshold determination device is configured to determine whether or not the pressure value detected by the pressure detector has reached the second threshold. The solenoid valve opening/closing operation device is configured to open and close a solenoid valve if it is determined that the pressure value detected by the pressure detector has reached the second threshold. |
| US09096938B2 |
Graphite oxide and/or graphene preparation method
A graphite oxide or graphene preparation method includes providing a plasma electrolytic apparatus, where an electrolytic solution is provided and a graphite electrode is configured as a cathode of the plasma electrolytic apparatus; and providing a cathodic current so as to initiate a plasma electrolytic process at the graphite cathode to obtain graphite oxide or graphene. The graphite oxide can be synthesized through plasma electrolytic processing at relatively low temperature under atmospheric pressure within a very short period of time, without the need for concentrated acids or strong oxidizing agents. The present invention may prepare graphite oxide with plasma electrolytic process directly from graphite, without requiring any prior purification. This plasma electrolytic process of the present invention is quite promising and provided with advantages such as low cost, simple setup, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness. |
| US09096937B2 |
Method for etching film having transition metal
Provided is a method of etching a transition metal-containing film using a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate processing apparatus includes: a processing container configured to define a processing chamber and a plasma generation chamber; and a shielding unit provided between the processing chamber and the plasma generation chamber and formed with a plurality of openings to communicate the processing chamber and the plasma generation chamber with each other. The shielding unit has a shielding property against ultraviolet rays. The method includes: supplying neutral particles of oxygen atoms to the processing chamber in which a workpiece is accommodated by generating plasma of a first gas containing oxygen in the plasma generation chamber; supplying a second gas to complex a transition metal oxidized while supplying the neutral particles of oxygen to the processing chamber; and supplying neutral particles of rare gas atoms to the processing chamber by generating plasma of a rare gas. |
| US09096936B2 |
Metal structural body-containing polymer film, method for manufacturing metal structural body-containing polymer film, and method for manufacturing patterned structural body
A method for manufacturing a patterned structural body by which a patterned structural body having a micropattern can be manufactured, a metal structural body-containing polymer film that can be used in the manufacture of the patterned structural body, and a method for manufacturing the polymer film are provided. The metal structural body-containing polymer film comprises a polymer film that includes a block copolymer having an ion-conductive segment and a non-ion-conductive segment and has a microphase-separated structure including ion-conductive domains and non-ion-conductive domains, and a metal structural body localized at the ion-conductive domains. |
| US09096935B2 |
Surface conditioning composition, method for producing the same, and surface conditioning method
A surface conditioning composition for use in surface conditioning of a metal prior to being subjected to a phosphate-based chemical conversion treatment, in which the surface conditioning composition has a pH of 3 to 12, and includes at least one kind of zinc compound particles selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide particles, zinc hydroxide particles, and basic zinc carbonate particles; phosphoric acid and/or condensed phosphoric acid; and an amine compound having a specific structure and in which the zinc compound particles are dispersed and stabilized by the phosphoric acid and/or condensed phosphoric acid, and the amine compound. |
| US09096927B2 |
Cooling ring for physical vapor deposition chamber target
Apparatus and method for physical vapor deposition are provided. In some embodiments, a cooling ring to cool a target in a physical vapor deposition chamber may include an annular body having a central opening; an inlet port coupled to the body; an outlet port coupled to the body; a coolant channel disposed in the body and having a first end coupled to the inlet port and a second end coupled to the outlet port; and a cap coupled to the body and substantially spanning the central opening, wherein the cap includes a center hole. |
| US09096925B2 |
Nanocomposites consisting of carbon nanotube and metal and a process for preparing the same
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a nano-composite comprising carbon nanotube and metal, more precisely a method for preparing a carbon nanotube-metal composite comprising the steps of preparing a dispersion solution by dispersing carbon nanotube in a reductive solvent; preparing a mixed solution by adding a stabilizer and a metal precursor; and reducing the metal precursor by heating the mixed solution, and a carbon nanotube-metal composite prepared by the same.The method of the present invention favors the production of a carbon nanotube-metal composite which is characterized by even metal particles from some nm to hundreds nm in size and even dispersion of those particles to be bound to carbon nanotube. |
| US09096924B2 |
Composite PTFE plating
The present invention is directed to compositions, baths, and methods for composite plating including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and more particularly, to compositions, baths, and methods of composite plating with PTFE in a metal or alloy matrix where the materials used in the process contain no or essentially no PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and/or no PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). |
| US09096923B2 |
Coating apparatus and method for forming a coating layer on monolith substrates
A coating apparatus includes modular interfaces and substrate receptors for accommodating various shapes and sizes of monolith substrates when coating layers are applied onto the monolith substrates. The monolith substrates are laterally surrounded by an elastically deformable sleeve that prevents lateral leakage of a vacuum out of the monolith substrate when a vacuum is applied to opposing ends of the monolith substrate, thereby eliminating needs for bulky vacuum chambers. The coating apparatus also includes valves and control apparatus that enable excess precursor liquid to be drained from monolith channels in-situ, without the use of additional spin-drying steps. Coating methods for using the coating apparatus are provided. |
| US09096922B2 |
Silicon layers formed from polymer-modified liquid silane formulations
The invention relates to a formulation which contains at least one silane and at least one carbon polymer in a solvent, and to the production of a silicon layer on a substrate which is coated with such a formulation. |
| US09096921B2 |
Transparent conductive film and touch panel
The present invention provides a transparent conductive film excellent in pen sliding durability at the time of using the transparent conductive film for a touch panel and which enables to production a touch panel having excellent flatness. A transparent conductive film of the present invention comprises a transparent plastic film base and a transparent conductive thin film containing crystalline indium oxide as a main component laminated on at least one face of a transparent plastic film base, wherein an average circle-equivalent diameter of crystal grains of indium oxide of the transparent conductive thin film is 30 to 1000 nm, and a coefficient of variation of a circle-equivalent diameter of the crystal grains is 0.00 to 0.30. The transparent conductive film preferably contains indium oxide containing 0.5 to 8% by mass of tin oxide. |
| US09096919B2 |
Method for producing a flat steel product provided with a metal protective layer by way of hot dip coating
Optimal wetting and adhesion of the hot-dip coating by way of pre-oxidation in a DFF pre-heating furnace and humidification of the annealing atmosphere in a holding zone is achieved in a hot dip galvanised flat steel product. |
| US09096918B2 |
Facility for production of high strength steel sheet or hot dip zinc coated high strength steel sheet excellent in elongation and hole expandability
Exemplary embodiments of a facility or an arrangement capable of producing a high strength steel sheet or a hot dip zinc coated high strength steel sheet according to the present invention are provided which can make a quenching facility and tempering facility continuous treatment facilities. For example, an improvement in the material quality can be effectuated due to tempering enable improvement of the hole expandability. In addition, an elongation of the sheet can be improved. For example, an exemplary production facility/arrangement for high strength steel sheet or hot dip zinc coated high strength steel sheet excellent in elongation and hole expandability can be provided by arranging in a continuous annealing facility or a continuous hot dip zinc coating facility or their joint facility or continuously with the same, (i) a quenching facility able to cool steel sheet after recrystallization or after recrystallization and after hot dip zinc coating down to a temperature region of the martensite transformation point or less, (ii) a tempering facility for tempering the steel sheet and holding its temperature, and (iii) a recooling facility for cooling the steel sheet to about 100° C. or less. |
| US09096916B2 |
Aluminium brazing sheet with a high strength and excellent corrosion performance
An aluminum alloy brazing sheet including: a core material made of an aluminum alloy; and a cladding material clad on at least one side of the core material and made of an aluminum alloy having a potential lower than that of the core material. The cladding material is an outermost layer of the brazing sheet, wherein the cladding material is made of an aluminum alloy including 0.2 to 2.0 wt % of Mg, 0.5 to 1.5 wt % of Si, 1.0 to 2.0 wt %, preferably 1.4-1.8% of Mn, ≦0.7 wt % of Fe, ≦0.1 wt % of Cu, and ≦4 wt % of Zn, ≦0.3 wt % each of Zr, Ti, Ni, Hf, V, Cr, In, Sn and ≦0.5 wt % total of Zr, Ti, Ni, Hf, V, Cr, In, Sn, the remainder being Al and unavoidable impurities. |
| US09096914B2 |
Process for the optimized production of iron ore pellets
The present invention describes an advantageous and effective streamlined process for the production of iron ore pellets, the green pellets replacing the burnt pellets for covering the metallic surface in “travelling grate” furnace during the burning step, the process comprising at least some or all of the steps of grinding the iron ore; filtering the crushed iron ore; mixing the filtered iron ore with at least one binder; pelletizing the mixture; drying the green pellets; transferring the pellets to the side and bottom grids of a “travelling grate” furnace equipment and screening the burnt iron ore pellets. An optimized process for the production of iron ore pellets is provided that is innovative, efficient and economical when compared to currently known processes. |
| US09096913B2 |
Process and system for creating internal stress in a metallic workpiece
A process and a system for creating internal stress in a metallic workpiece by laser shock peening is provided. In the process, a first laser pulse is applied to a treatment site of the workpiece covered by a surface layer. A second laser pulse follows the first laser pulse in time, and is applied to the treatment site of the workpiece. A covering layer, such as flowing water, is provided over the treatment site during the application of the laser pulses. |
| US09096910B2 |
Set of probes for the detection and typing of 46 human papillomavirus mucosal types
We have developed a set of probes to detect and identify 46 types of mucosal human papillomaviruses (HPV). These probes recognize the variable region comprised between the 2 conserved regions of the published GP5+/GP6+ set of PCR primers. The 46 probes have been shown to hybridize, as intended, to the DNA derived from the following HPV types: 6, 11, 13, 16, 18, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 35, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 89, 90, 91 and 97. The hybridization of each probe is specific for each type without any cross hybridization among types and it is sensitive enough to allow detection of PCR products for genotyping of HPV DNA contained in clinical samples. |
| US09096909B2 |
Sorghum centromere sequences and minichromosomes
The invention is generally related to MCs containing sorghum centromere sequences. In addition, the invention provides for methods of generating plants transformed with these MCs. MCs with novel compositions and structures are used to transform plants cells which are in turn used to generate the plant. Methods for generating the plant include methods for delivering the MC into plant cell to transform the cell, methods for selecting the transformed cell, and methods for isolating plants transformed with the MC. |
| US09096905B2 |
Detecting DNA methylation of BCL2, CDKN2A and NID2 genes to predict bladder cancer in humans
The present invention provides a method of detecting DNA methylation of a plurality of genes consisting of CDKN2A, BCL2 and NID2 in a urine sample from a human. Methods and compositions are provided herein for detecting and diagnosing bladder cancer by obtaining a urine sample from a human subject suspected of bladder cancer, followed by detecting DNA methylation of CDKN2A, BCL2 AND NID2 in urine samples from the individual. The present method permits specific detection of DNA methylation of the selected gene promoters in urine as a biomarker for bladder cancer in humans. |
| US09096904B2 |
Method for determining lymph node metastasis in cancer or risk thereof and rapid determination kit for the same
The objective of the present invention is to provide a method and a means of rapidly and reliably detecting lymph node metastasis in cancer or the risk of lymph node metastasis. Specifically, the present invention provides a method and a rapid determination kit for detecting lymph node metastasis in cancer or its risk by identifying a certain genetic polymorphism of the human CRP gene, and it is clinically significant in determining the treatment strategy, because effective prediction/determination can be made regarding lymph node metastasis, which is an important phenomenon in cancer progression. |
| US09096900B2 |
Epigenetic marker for the identification of natural killer cells
The present invention relates to a method, in particular an in vitro method for identifying natural killer cells of a mammal, which often express the surface proteins CD 16 and/or CD56, comprising analyzing the methylation status of at least one CpG position in the CX3CR1 and/or FGR and/or NKG7 and/or GNLY genes, in particular their upstream regulatory regions, and in particular the promoter and other conserved regions of the genes CX3CR1 and/or FGR and/or NKG7 and/or GNLY, wherein a demethylation of at least one CpG in the analyzed sample to at least 70% is indicative for CD56 expressing NK cells, which might also be CD8+ or CD8−, CD56 dim or bright, CD 16+ or CD 16− NK cells. The methods of the present invention are useful for the detection and quality assurance and control of NK cells. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a kit for performing the above methods as well as respective uses of the inventive methods or kits. The present invention furthermore provides an improved method for analyzing the methylation status of at least one CpG position in the gene CX3CR1 and/or FGR and/or NKG7 and/or GNLY genes that allows for a precise analysis even from sub-optimal quality samples, such as non-freshly obtained blood, tissue or serum samples. |
| US09096896B2 |
Method for quantifying DNA in a biological sample
Improved methods of quantifying nucleic acids that are unique to a transgenic corn event designated Bt11 in a biological sample and compositions thereof are disclosed. The invention further relates to primer pairs used in the method that are unique to event Bt11. |
| US09096889B2 |
Compositions and methods for monitoring transmembrane trafficking
Provided herein are compositions and methods for monitoring the movement of analytes and/or cellular components across biological membranes (e.g., cell surface internalization). In particular, reporter constructs are provided, the transmembrane movement of which (e.g., by endocytosis) is monitored by methods described herein. |
| US09096888B2 |
Sulfotransferase assay
A method of detecting sulfotransferase activity including conducting a first reaction comprising, measuring free phosphate produced by the first reaction, and comparing the measured free phosphate to a free phosphate standard curve or equation or to a free phosphate level obtained in a separate reaction. The first reaction includes combining the sulfotransferase, Golgi-resident PAP-phosphatase (gPAPP), a 5′-nucleotidase, a substrate of the sulfotransferase, and 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) under conditions to produce 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphate (PAP). |
| US09096885B2 |
Method and apparatus for determining white blood cell counts
Embodiments of the present invention encompass automated systems and methods for analyzing white blood cell parameters in an individual based on a biological sample obtained from blood of the individual. Exemplary techniques involve correlating aspects of direct current (DC) impedance, radiofrequency (RF) conductivity, and/or light measurement data obtained from the biological sample with an evaluation of white blood cell conditions in the individual. |
| US09096884B2 |
Detection of bacteria and fungi
A method of detecting a ligase expressing micro-organism in a sample comprises steps of treating the sample under conditions that inhibit the activity of ATP-dependent ligase from mammalian cells but which do not inhibit the activity of the microbial ligases, contacting the sample or a portion of the sample with a nucleic acid molecule which acts as a substrate for ligase activity in the sample, incubating the thus contacted sample under conditions suitable for ligase activity; and specifically determining the presence and/or the amount of a ligated nucleic acid molecule resulting from the action of the ligase on the substrate nucleic acid molecule to indicate the presence of the ligase expressing micro-organism. The micro-organism may be a fungus or a bacterium or both. High pH conditions may be employed to inactivate mammalian ligases. Related kits are described. |
| US09096883B2 |
Microbiological systems and methods of fluid sample analysis
Methods and systems for detecting the presence of a target microorganism in a liquid sample are provided. Methods comprise the steps of passing the liquid sample through a surface filter, placing the surface filter into contact with a culture device, incubating the culture device for a period of time and detecting the presence of a target microorganism. Methods may be used with an automated detection system. |
| US09096880B2 |
Solubility enhancing peptide and use thereof
The present invention relates to an isolated peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. The present invention also relates to a method for increasing expression of a target protein using the peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, comprising (a) fusing the peptide with the target protein to form a recombinant protein; and (b) expressing the recombinant protein by an expression host. |
| US09096879B2 |
Method of supplementing culture media to prevent undesirable amino acid substitutions
The present invention relates to methods of reducing substitution of amino acids during the production of polypeptides of interest in mammalian cells. By varying the concentration of amino acids in the culture medium, heterogeneity of the polypeptide's amino acid sequence is decreased, leading to higher yields of functional protein. |
| US09096877B2 |
Fc region-containing polypeptides that exhibit improved effector function due to alterations of the extent of fucosylation, and methods for their use
The present invention relates to Fc region-containing polypeptides that exhibit improved effector function due to alterations of the extent of fucosylation, and to methods of using such polypeptides for treating or preventing cancer and other diseases. The Fc region-containing polypeptides of the present invention are preferably immunoglobulins (e.g., antibodies), in which the Fc region comprises at least one amino acid substitution relative to the corresponding amino acid sequence of a wild type Fc region, and which is sufficient to attenuate post-translational fucosylation and mediate improved binding to an activating Fc receptor and reduced binding to an inhibitory Fc receptor. The methods of the invention are particularly useful in preventing, treating, or ameliorating one or more symptoms associated with a disease, disorder, or infection where either an enhanced efficacy of effector cell function mediated by FcγR is desired (e.g., cancer, infectious disease) or an inhibited effector cell response mediated by FcγR is desired (e.g., inflammation, autoimmune disease). |
| US09096868B2 |
Polynucleotides allowing the expression and secretion of recombinant pseudo-virus containing foreign epitopes, their production, and use
This invention provides a new approach to the design of a virus with a defective replication cycle, which can be rescued by wild type virus co-infection, and which expresses foreign antigenic epitopes that contribute to the elimination of virus infected cells and then to viral clearance. The vector of the invention, by expression of epitopes derived from common pathogens, by-passes existing tolerance of virus specific T cell responses. The vector will only replicate in virus infected cells. |
| US09096862B2 |
Enhancing drought tolerance and bacterial resistance of crop species by functional interference of 14-3-3
The present invention generally relates to plants and methods of producing modified plants that exhibit enhanced drought resistance and bacterial resistance relative to non-modified plants. |
| US09096861B2 |
Stable, fertile, high polyhydroxyalkanoate producing plants and methods of producing them
Transgenic plants that produce high levels of polyhydroxybutyrate and methods of producing them are provided. In a preferred embodiment the transgenic plants are produced using plastid transformation technologies and utilize genes which are codon optimized. Stably transformed plants able to produce greater than 10% dwt PHS in tissues are also provided. |
| US09096860B2 |
Mutants having capability to produce 1, 4-butanediol and method for preparing 1, 4-butanediol using the same
A mutant capable of producing 1,4-butanediol and a method of preparing 1,4-butanediol using the same are provided. The mutant microorganism is prepared by introducing and amplifying genes encoding enzymes converting succinate into 4-hydroxybutyrate and 4-hydroxybutyrate into 1,4-butanediol in a microorganism capable of producing succinate. The method includes culturing the mutant in a medium containing carbohydrate and obtaining 1,4-butanediol from the culture. Thus, 1,4-butanediol, which is essential in chemical industry, can be prepared in a biological process. |
| US09096859B2 |
Microbial conversion of plant biomass to advanced biofuels
The invention provides consolidated bioprocessing methods and host cells. The host cells are capable of directly converting biomass polymers or sunlight into alcohols or branched-chain hydrocarbons. In particular, the invention provides a method for producing alcohols or branched-chain hydrocarbons from a biomass polymer, including providing a genetically engineered host cell, culturing the host cell in a medium containing a biomass polymer as a carbon source such that recombinant nucleic acids in the cell are expressed, and extracting alcohols or branched-chain hydrocarbons from the culture. |
| US09096855B2 |
Translocation and mutant ROS kinase in human non-small cell lung carcinoma
In accordance with the invention, a novel gene translocation, (5q32, 6q22), in human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) that results in a fusion proteins combining part of CD74 with Proto-oncogene Tyrosine Protein Kinase ROS Precursor (ROS) kinase has now been identified. The CD74-ROS fusion protein is anticipated to drive the proliferation and survival of a subgroup of NSCLC tumors. The invention therefore provides, in part, isolated polynucleotides and vectors encoding the disclosed mutant ROS kinase polypeptides, probes for detecting it, isolated mutant polypeptides, recombinant polypeptides, and reagents for detecting the fusion and truncated polypeptides. The disclosed identification of the new fusion protein enables new methods for determining the presence of these mutant ROS kinase polypeptides in a biological sample, methods for screening for compounds that inhibit the proteins, and methods for inhibiting the progression of a cancer characterized by the mutant polynucleotides or polypeptides, which are also provided by the invention. |
| US09096853B2 |
Modified siRNA molecules incorporating 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine residues to enhance cytotoxicity
A synthesized siRNA molecule having the sense strand with one or more uridine bases replaced by one or more respective nucleoside analogs, such as 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine (FdU). |
| US09096852B2 |
Inhibitors of micro-RNAs for use for preventing and/or attenuating skin ageing and/or for hydrating skin
Method of identifying and using compounds which inhibit the expression or activity of micro-RNAs for preventing and/or attenuating ageing, and/or for hydrating skin. An in vitro method for screening for candidate compounds for preventing and/or attenuating ageing of the skin, and/or for hydrating the skin, includes the following steps: a. bringing at least one test compound in contact with a sample of keratinocytes; b. measuring the expression or the activity of at least one microRNA in the keratinocytes; c. selecting the compounds for which an inhibition of at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the expression or an inhibition of at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 40% of the activity of at least one microRNA is measured in the keratinocytes treated in a. compared with the untreated keratinocytes. |
| US09096846B2 |
Separation of cultured cells
A first cell containing at least one magnetic particle is provided and a second cell is also provided. The second cell is cultured in the presence of the first cell. An alternating magnetic field is applied to the first cell. The alternating magnetic field at least partially separates the first cell from the second cell. |
| US09096844B2 |
Photocleavable linker
There are provided, inter alia, photolabile compounds and methods useful for the formation of dimers of biological molecules and subsequent dissociation of the dimers. |
| US09096842B2 |
Isopropyl alcohol-producing bacterium and method for producing isopropyl alcohol
The present invention provides an isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli that includes at least a sucrose hydrolase gene that belongs to a sucrose non-PTS gene group, and an imparted or enhanced isopropyl alcohol production system, and an isopropyl alcohol production method of producing isopropyl alcohol from a sucrose-containing plant-derived raw material using the isopropyl alcohol-producing Escherichia coli. |
| US09096830B2 |
Multi-layered hydrogel constructs and associated methods
Multi-layered hydrogel constructs comprising: a first layer comprising a first polymerizable material, hyaluronic acid and a plurality of cells; a second layer comprising a second polymerizable material, chondroitin sulfate and a plurality of cells; and a third layer comprising a third polymerizable material, chondroitin sulfate, a matrix metalloprotease sensitive peptide, and a plurality of cells are provided. Associated methods are also provided. |
| US09096824B2 |
Culture/exposure device, in particular for cell and/or bacteria cultures
In a culture/exposure device, in particular for cell and/or bacteria cultures, having receptacles (10, 12, 14) for culture containers (11, 13, 15) in a base body (4) and having a flow guide, which has an inlet (20), for supplying a test atmosphere to the culture container (11, 13, 15), it is provided that the device is constructed from a plurality of modules (6, 8, 16, 18, 36) and that the modules be connected to one another so as to be easily releasable from one another. |
| US09096820B2 |
Coated particles of a glumatic acid N,N-diacetate chelating agent
Process to prepare coated particles containing a particle and a coating, wherein the particle contains glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid or a (partial) salt thereof of the formula HnYm-GLDA, wherein Y is a cation selected from the group of sodium, potassium, lithium, and mixtures thereof, n+m=4, in which the particle is made from a solution containing glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid or a partial salt thereof that has a pH of between 4 and 11, and subsequently or simultaneously the coating is applied on the particle, to an intermediate particle of HnYm-GLDA, wherein n is 0.1-3.2 and m is 0.8-3.9, the coated particle obtainable with the process, and the use thereof. |
| US09096810B2 |
Method for producing a bio-coal
A method for producing a bio-coal includes the following steps: (a) lowering the moisture content of a fiber residue obtained after oil extraction of oil palm fruit to less than 25%; (b) after step (a), cutting the fiber residue; (c) after step (b), pelletizing the fiber residue into short-fiber pellets; (d) drying the short-fiber pellets to reduce the moisture content of the short-fiber pellets to below 10%; and (e) after step (d), carbonizing the short-fiber pellets at a temperature below 300° C. |
| US09096809B2 |
Process for generating energy from organic materials and/or biomass
The present invention relates to a process and a system for generating energy from biomass/organic wastes. A process for generating a product gas from biomass comprises of pyrolyzing the biomass in a pyrolyzer by contacting the biomass with hot heat carriers to obtain pyrolysis gas and char; passing the pyrolysis gas to a reformer containing a reactant to obtain a product gas; and firing a part of the product gas coming out of the reformer back to the heater tubes of the reformer. Firing a part of the product gas through the fired heater tubes of the reformer provides the heat for sustaining the reaction between the pyrolysis gas and the reactant to form the product gas. |
| US09096807B2 |
Biomass gasifier with disruption device
The present application thus provides a gasifier for use in converting a feedstock material into a syngas. The gasifier may include an outer chamber, a reaction zone positioned within the outer chamber, and a disruption device maneuverable within the outer chamber to ensure a steady flow of the feedstock material into the reaction zone without bridging. |
| US09096806B2 |
Integrated hydroprocessing and fluid catalytic cracking for processing of a crude oil
An integrated hydroprocessing and fluid catalytic cracking process is provided for the direct processing of a crude oil to produce olefinic and aromatic petrochemicals. Crude oil and hydrogen are charged to a hydroprocessing zone operating under conditions effective to produce a hydroprocessed effluent having a reduced content of contaminants, an increased paraffinicity, reduced Bureau of Mines Correlation Index, and an increased American Petroleum Institute gravity. The hydroprocessed effluent is separated into a low boiling fraction and a high boiling fraction. The low boiling fraction is cracked in a first downflow reactor of a fluid catalytic cracking unit in the presence of a predetermined amount of catalyst to produce cracked products and spent catalyst, and the high boiling fraction is cracked in a second downflow reactor of the fluid catalytic cracking unit in the presence of a predetermined amount of catalyst to produce cracked products and spent catalyst. Spent catalyst from both the first and second downflow reactors are regenerated in a common regeneration zone, and first and second cracked product streams are recovered. |
| US09096803B2 |
Systems and methods for converting gases to liquids
A system and method of converting natural gases to liquids is provided. The system includes a catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) system with natural gas, air and steam input, a Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) system taking syngas from the CPO system, and supplying product gases to a power engine (PE), after separation of the product liquids. An F-T steam output line is in fluid communication with the CPO-steam input line. The energy output from the PE is supplied to the compressors and condensers, to provide self-sustainability in energy, for the gas-to-liquid separation system. |
| US09096801B2 |
Process and plant for conversion of waste material to liquid fuel
A process and plant for the thermocatalytic conversion of waste materials into reusable fuels and a fuel produced by the process, involving the steps of delivering melted waste material (11) to one or more pyrolysis chambers (26) via heated and valved manifolds (22) and effecting pyrolysis of the waste material into a gascous state in an oxygen purged and pressure controlled environment. Pyrolytic gases are, then transferred to a catalytic converter (29) where the molecular structure of the gaseous material is altered in structure and form, with gases then transferred to one or more condensers (30a) to distil and cool gases in to their respective fractions. After post pyrolysis treatment, fuel fractions thon form a useable fuel. Includes the melting of waste (plastic) material (11) before delivery into any of the pyrolysis chambers (26), making the movement of material into the catalytic tower (29) a semi-continuous operation, directing melted waste material into one or more, but preferably four, pyrolysis chambers (26a, b, c, d), making each chamber capable of independent operation, optionally mechanically removing waste char from the pyrolysis chamber (107) by use of an internet auger (112) or other suitable means. |
| US09096796B2 |
Luminescent element, preparation method thereof and luminescence method
A luminescent element comprises: a luminescent substrate; and a metal layer with a metal microstructure formed on a surface of the luminescent substrate; the luminescent substrate comprises luminescent materials with a chemical composition of Zn2SiO4:Mn. A preparation method of a luminescent element and a luminescence method are also provided. The luminescent element has good luminescence homogeneity, high luminescence efficiency, good luminescence stability and simple structure, and can be used in luminescent device with ultrahigh brightness. |
| US09096795B2 |
Liquid crystal display
The present invention relates to polymerisable compounds, to processes and intermediates for the preparation thereof, and to the use thereof for optical, electro-optical and electronic purposes, in particular in liquid-crystal (LC) media and LC displays, especially in LC displays of the PS (polymer stabilised) and PSA (polymer sustained alignment) type. |
| US09096792B2 |
Luminescent element including nitride, preparation method thereof and luminescence method
A luminescent element including nitride includes a luminescent film and a metal layer with a metal microstructure formed on a surface of the luminescent film; wherein the luminescent film has a chemical composition: Ga1-xAlxN:yRe, wherein Re represents the rare earth element, 0≦x≦1, 0 |
| US09096790B2 |
Low temperature coated particles comprising a curable liquid and a reactive powder for use as proppants or in gravel packs, methods for making and using the same
Disclosed herein are free flowing coated particles and low temperature methods of making same. Each particle has a curable coating disposed upon a substrate. The substrate is a particulate substrate including an inorganic material, a particulate substrate including an organic material, a composite substantially homogeneous formed particle including a first portion of an at least partly cured binder and filler particles, or a hybrid particle having an inorganic particle as a core and a composite coating including at least partially cured resin and filler. The curable coating includes a continuous phase including a curable liquid resin and reactive powder particles embedded or adhered to the continuous phase. The reactive powder particles typically include one or more of a resole phenolic-formaldehyde resin, a novolak phenolic-formaldehyde resin, a polyester resin, an acrylic polymer resin, a urethane resin or an epoxy resin. A method including applying a coating including the continuous phase including the curable resin and reactive or non-reactive powder particles embedded or adhered to the continuous phase. |
| US09096789B2 |
Method for the use of nitrates and nitrate reducing bacteria in hydraulic fracturing
A slick water fracturing fluid including a brine, an inorganic nitrate, a nitrogen reducing bacteria, a scale inhibitor selected from the group consisting of a polyacrylate polymer, a polyacrylate copolymer, a polyacrylate terpolymer, and mixtures thereof, and a friction reducer, wherein the friction reducer is a polyacrylamide. |
| US09096786B2 |
Spill resistant surfaces having hydrophobic and oleophobic borders
Described herein are methods for creating spill-proof or spill-resistant surfaces through the use of hydrophobic or oleophobic (H-SH) edges, borders or/and boundaries that contain the water and other liquids within inside the edges, borders and/or boundaries. Also described herein are spill-proof/spill-resistant surfaces. Liquid (e.g., water and other aqueous solutions/suspension) heights of 3-6 mm on a level planar surface can be sustained by such edges, borders and/of boundaries. The H-SH borders can be created on glass, metal, wood, plastic, and concrete surfaces. |
| US09096785B2 |
Polycarbonate based thermally conductive flame retardant polymer compositions
Disclosed herein are thermally conductive blended polycarbonate compositions with improved flame retardant properties. The resulting compositions, comprising a polycarbonate polymer, a phosphorus-containing flame retardant, a metal hydroxide, optionally an anti-dripping agent, and optionally a silicone-containing char-forming agent, can be used in the manufacture of articles requiring thermally conductive materials with improved flame retardant properties such as electronic devices. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. |
| US09096780B2 |
Reclosable fasteners, packages having reclosable fasteners, and methods for creating reclosable fasteners
A UV-curable pressure sensitive adhesive, a package having an adhesive-based reclosable fastener including the pressure sensitive adhesive, and a method of forming the package is described herein. The package includes a cavity and opposing panels configured to cover an opening to the cavity. The reclosable fastener is a UV-cured pressure sensitive adhesive comprised of one or more UV-curable acrylic oligomers, one or more tack control components, and, optionally, an elastomeric material. An adhesive component ratio defines an effective ratio made up of the weight percent of the UV-curable acrylic oligomer relative to the sum of the weight percents of the tack control component and elastomeric component, where the ratio provides a fastener with a first peel adhesion and subsequent peel adhesions effective to form the adhesive-based fastener into a reclosable fastener. |
| US09096773B2 |
Highly functional epoxidized resins and coatings
The invention provides highly functional epoxy resins that may be used themselves in coating formulations and applications but which may be further functionalized via ring-opening reactions of the epoxy groups yielding derivative resins with other useful functionalities. The highly functional epoxy resins are synthesized from the epoxidation of vegetable or seed oil esters of polyols having 4 or more hydroxyl groups/molecule. In one embodiment, the polyol is sucrose and the vegetable or seed oil is selected from corn oil, castor oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, linseed oil, tall oil fatty acid, tung oil, vernonia oil, and mixtures thereof. Methods of making of the epoxy resin and each of its derivative resins are disclosed as are coating compositions and coated objects using each of the resins. |
| US09096769B2 |
Metallic ink composition and writing instrument containing same
Metallic ink compositions for use in capillary-action markers are provided. More particularly, a metallic ink composition including an aliphatic solvent, a metallic pigment, and a resin combination including at least a fixing resin and a priming resin is provided. |
| US09096768B2 |
Curable phase change ink compositions
A phase change ink composition is provided comprising a UV-curable component, a crystalline component, and an amorphous component, wherein the addition of a UV-curable component imparts improved robustness over the ink that contains only crystalline and amorphous materials. |
| US09096764B2 |
Tunable photonic crystal composition
A tunable photonic crystal composition comprising: tunable photonic crystal particles having a polymer network with a periodic modulation of refractive indices, the polymer network having a reflectance wavelength, wherein the periodic modulation of refractive indices is responsive to an external stimulus and the reflectance wavelength is shifted in response to the external stimulus; and a carrier in which the particles are dispersed. |
| US09096761B2 |
Process to prepare a surface-reacted calcium carbonate implementing a weak acid, resulting product and uses thereof
The present application relates to a process for preparing a surface-reacted calcium carbonate in an aqueous environment. The process according to the present invention aims at avoiding the mandatory implementation of medium-strong to strong acids. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to an aqueous suspension of surface-reacted calcium carbonate which is obtainable by the inventive process. |
| US09096758B2 |
Biodegradable polyester foil
The present invention relates to biodegradable polyester foil comprising: i) 80 to 95 weight %, based on the total weight of components i to ii, of a biodegradable polyester based on aliphatic and aromatic dicarboxylic acids and on an aliphatic dihydroxy compound; ii) 5 to 20 weight %, based on the total weight of components i to ii, of polyhydroxyalkanoate; iii) 10 to 25 weight %, based on the total weight of components i to vi, of calcium carbonate; iv) 3 to 15 weight %, based on the total weight of components i to vi, of talc; v) 0 to 30 weight %, based on the total weight of components i to vi, of polylactic acid and/or starch; vi) 0 to 2 weight %, based on the total weight of components i to vi, of 2-(4,6-bisbiphenyl-4-yl-1,3,5-triazine-2-yl)-5-(2-ethyl-(n)-hexyloxy)phenol; and to uses of these polyester foils, in particular for agricultural applications, such as mulch foils. |
| US09096753B2 |
Aqueous binder composition comprising oligomers
The present invention relates to an aqueous binder composition comprising: at least one polymer P having a glass transition temperature Tg in the range from −20 to +60° C., in the form of an aqueous polymer dispersion PD which is obtainable by free-radical emulsion polymerization of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer M, and 0.1 to 10% by weight, based on the sum of polymer P and oligomer, of one or more oligomers which are composed of ethylenically unsaturated monomers and have an average molecular weight Mw of 1000 to 30 000 g/mol, a glass transition temperature Tg in the range from +60 to +120° C., and an acid number in the range from 50 to 350, to a process for preparing it, to coating materials comprising it, and also to the use of water-soluble oligomers in a mixture with aqueous polymer dispersions in coating materials that lead to coatings featuring increased gloss. |
| US09096751B2 |
Heterophasic polypropylene with excellent creep performance
Heterophasic propylene copolymer comprising (a) a matrix (M) being a polypropylene (PP), said polypropylene (PP) has a polydispersity index (PI) of at least 5.0, and (b) an elastomeric propylene copolymer (EC) dispersed in said matrix (M), wherein (i) said heterophasic propylene copolymer has a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) of equal or below 1.0 g/10 min, (ii) the amorphous phase (AM) of the xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS) of the heterophasic propylene copolymer has an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of at least 3.5 dl/g. |
| US09096742B2 |
Pneumatic tire
Provided is a pneumatic tire including a bead apex and/or sidewall reinforcing layer, which achieves balanced improvements in high-hardness properties, elongation at break, and self-heating properties to provide good run-flat durability while maintaining good processability. The pneumatic tire includes a bead apex and/or sidewall reinforcing layer formed from a rubber composition, the composition containing a rubber component (A) and carbon black (B), the rubber component (A) containing, per 100% by mass thereof: 10-75% by mass of a modified butadiene rubber (A1) with a cis content of 50% by mass or less; 5-40% by mass of a polybutadiene rubber (A2) containing 1,2-syndiotactic polybutadiene crystals; and 10-40% by mass of a diene rubber (A3) different from (A1) and (A2), the composition containing 35-65 parts by mass of carbon black (B) per 100 parts by mass of rubber component (A), the carbon black (B) having a BET specific surface area of 18-50 m2/g. |
| US09096738B2 |
Lubricant for thermoplastic polymers
The invention relates to a polymer composition, comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer, at least one pigment or at least one filler or a mixture thereof and at least one diester of a linear diol having 2 to 8 C-atoms with a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated monocarboxylic acid having 6 to 44 C-atoms, wherein the fraction of diesters comprising different fatty acid radicals in a molecule is less than 10% by weight with regard to the total amount of diesters. |
| US09096735B2 |
Elastomer composite with silica-containing filler and methods to produce same
An elastomer composite with silica-containing filler is described, along with methods to make the same. The advantages achieved with the elastomer composite and methods are further described. |
| US09096734B2 |
Prepreg with integrated multi-dimensional gas venting network
Composite prepreg including a gas venting network that allows multi-dimensional escape of gas from the prepreg during the curing process. Penetrable barriers are also provided between the matrix precursor elements to promote long-term storability of the prepreg at ambient temperatures. All or a portion of the gas venting network may be integrated with the penetrable barriers. |
| US09096732B2 |
Conveyance method for water-absorbing resin powder substance
[Problem] To provide a pneumatic conveyance method for a water-absorbing resin powder substance, which is capable of suppressing property decrease of the water-absorbing resin powder substance, while suppressing obstruction phenomenon.[Solution] A conveyance method for a water-absorbing resin powder substance by pneumatic conveyance of the water-absorbing resin powder substance during a production step via a transportation pipeline, wherein a variation of a solid-gas ratio (R1/R2) exceeds 1 and is equal to or smaller than 7, provided that R1 (kg-resin/kg-air) stands for an initial solid-gas ratio at a start point of the transportation pipeline, and R2 (kg-resin/kg-air) stands for a terminal solid-gas ratio at a terminal point of the transportation pipeline is provided. |
| US09096730B2 |
Methods of utilizing block copolymer to form patterns
Some embodiments include methods of forming patterns. A block copolymer film may be formed over a substrate, with the block copolymer having an intrinsic glass transition temperature (Tg,0) and a degradation temperature (Td). A temperature window may be defined to correspond to temperatures (T) within the range of Tg,0≦T≦Td. While the block copolymer is in the upper half of the temperature window, solvent may be dispersed into the block copolymer to a process volume fraction that induces self-assembly of the block copolymer into a pattern. A defect specification may be defined, and the process volume fraction of solvent may be at level that achieves self-assembly within the defect specification. In some embodiments, the solvent may be removed from within the block copolymer while maintaining the defect specification. |
| US09096729B2 |
Polymerization activators for supported Ziegler-Natta catalysts
Processes for producing impact copolymers are provided. Ethylene and at least one copolymer can be polymerized in the presence of one or more catalysts, polypropylene particles, and one or more halocarbon compounds to produce an impact copolymer that includes the polypropylene particles and an ethylene copolymer. |
| US09096728B2 |
Heat insulating material
A method of manufacturing a resin foam includes dissolving a blowing agent into a mixture of a resin C and a resin D having a difference of solubility with respect to the blowing agent in an amount of more than 0% and less than 5%; subjecting the mixture to heat-melting for extrusion; and evaporating the blowing agent such that the resin foam has a porosity (X) of not less than 80%, a cell (L) with a cell diameter of not less than 1 μm and not more than 1000 μm, and a cell (S) with a cell diameter of not less than 0.01 μm and less than 1 μm, in which two peaks are present in cell diameter distribution, one peak thereof being present in not less than 10 μm and not more than 500 μm and the other peak being present in not less than 0.01 μm and less than 1 μm. |
| US09096723B2 |
Production process of poly(arylene sulfide) and poly(arylene sulfide)
A production process of a poly(arylene sulfide), including (a) a polymerization step of polymerizing at least one sulfur source selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfides and alkali metal hydrosulfides and a dihalo-aromatic compound in an organic amide solvent to form a polymer; (b) a separation step of separating the polymer from a liquid reaction mixture containing the polymer formed after the polymerization step; (c) a washing step of washing the polymer with at least one washing liquid selected from the group consisting of water, an organic solvent and a mixed solution of water and an organic solvent as desired; and (d) an aqueous oxidizing solution treatment step of treating the polymer by bringing the polymer into contact with an aqueous oxidizing solution. |
| US09096713B2 |
Method for the phosphine-initialized production of hyperbranched polyols
A process for preparing hyperbranched polyols by reacting epoxy alcohols in the presence of phosphines. |
| US09096712B2 |
Curable compositions, method of coating a phototool, and coated phototool
A curable composition comprises: an epoxy silane represented by formula X—Si(OR1)(OR2)(OR3) wherein R1-R3 represent C1 to C4 alkyl groups, and X represents an organic group having at least one oxirane ring; a fluorinated silane represented by formula; wherein: Rf represents a perfluoroalkyl group having from 3 to 5 carbon atoms, R4 represents H or a C1 to C4 alkyl group, and R5-R7 represent C1 to C4 alkyl groups; and a photoacid. Use of the curable composition to coat a phototool, thereby providing a protective coating on the phototool is also disclosed. |
| US09096710B2 |
Polycarbonate resin
A polycarbonate resin which is excellent in heat resistance, boiling water resistance and surface hardness and has a low water absorption coefficient. The polycarbonate resin comprises a unit (A) represented by the following formula and a unit (B) represented by the following formula as main recurring units, wherein the molar ratio (A/B) of the unit (A) to the unit (B) is 30/70 to 99/1. In the above formula, X is an alkylene group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms or cycloalkylene group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, R is an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms or cycloalkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and “m” is an integer of 1 to 10. |
| US09096709B2 |
Preparation method of flexible polylactide stereocomplex and the compound thereof
Disclosed are a polylactide stereocomplex with improved thermal stability and thus improved processability and a method for preparing the same. In order to confer flexibility to polymer chains, D-type polylactide polymer containing a small amount of caprolactone (poly D-lactide-caprolactone copolymer) is synthesized and it is uniformly mixed with L-type single-phase polylactide to prepare a flexible polylactide stereocomplex. Since the polylactide stereocomplex having flexible polymer chains has superior heat resistance and mechanical stability and experiences little decrease of the degree of stereocomplex formation even after thermal processing, the polylactide stereocomplex having improved thermal stability can be advantageously used for engineering plastics requiring high strength and good thermal stability, alternative materials for general-use plastics, high-performance medical materials, or the like because of its remarkably improved processability. |
| US09096707B2 |
Elastomers for paper mill equipment
Embodiments of the invention provide for paper mill equipment that can better withstand the conditions of a paper mill. Embodiments encompass paper mill equipment that incorporate a polyurethane layer having a hysteresis value of less than 70% and a permanent set of less than 30%. The polyurethane layer includes a polyurethane produced by curing a mixed composition. The mixed composition includes at least a urethane prepolymer (A) and at least a curing agent (B) having an active hydrogen group (H). The urethane prepolymer (A) has at least one terminal isocyanate group and is obtained by reacting at least a polyisocyanate compound (a) with at least a polycarbonate diol compound (b) having a number average molecular weight of at least 1500 g/mol. The curing agent (B) includes at least an amine compound. The elastomer compositions are also useful to coat the acid pickling roller in the steel industry. |
| US09096705B2 |
Block copolymer for manufacturing nanowire and method for manufacturing thereof
A block copolymer for manufacturing a nanowire and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The block copolymer and the method of manufacturing a nanowire using the same are used to fabricate a nanowire having a diameter of less than or equal to 30 nm and a porous nanowire having a diameter within the same range and pores with a diameter of less than or equal to 10 nm. |
| US09096700B2 |
Polymerization process for production of polymer
A process comprising contacting a catalyst system with one or more olefins in a bubble column reactor. Also, a polyolefin copolymer composition comprising ethylene, propylene and optionally a C4 to C20 alpha olefin; said composition having a bimodal distribution with respect to composition distribution, molecular weight distribution or a combination thereof; an Mw of 10,000 g/mol or more; and/or at least two melting peaks in a DSC heating cycle with a difference in melting temperatures of at least 5° C. |
| US09096699B2 |
Methods of preparing a catalyst
A method of preparing a catalyst comprising contacting an acidic colloidal silica suspension with a titanium-containing compound to form a mixture, adjusting the pH of mixture to about neutral to form a catalyst support, and contacting the catalyst support with chromium-containing compound to from a chromium-supported catalyst. A catalyst support prepared by contacting a colloidal silica suspension and a titanium-containing compound under acidic conditions to form a mixture, and contacting the mixture with a basic material in an amount sufficient to increase the pH of the mixture to about 7. |
| US09096689B2 |
Methods and compositions for inhibiting angiogenesis
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for modulating angiogenesis. In particular, the present invention relates to Pigment Epithelial-derived Factor (PEDF) fragments for use in modulating angiogenesis and treating angiogenesis mediated disease. |
| US09096686B2 |
E518A/K mutant smoothened and methods of using the same
The emergence of mutations in tyrosine kinases following treatment of cancer patients with molecular-targeted therapy represents a major mechanism of acquired drug resistance. Here, we describe a mutation in the serpentine receptor, Smoothened (SMO), which results in resistance to a Hedgehog (Hh) pathway inhibitor in medulloblastoma. A single amino acid substitution in a conserved glutamic acid residue of SMO maintains Hh signaling, but results in the inability of the Hh pathway inhibitor, GDC-0449, to bind SMO and suppress the pathway. The invention provides screening methods to detect SMO mutations and methods to screen for drugs that specifically modulate mutant SMO exhibiting drug resistance. |
| US09096683B2 |
Method for purifying recombinant FSH
The present invention relates to a method for purifying a recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or recombinant FSH variant. The method comprises the steps of subjecting a liquid containing a recombinant FSH or recombinant FSH variant to an anion exchange chromatography, to a hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and to a dye affinity chromatography, wherein these chromatographies may be performed in any order, and wherein the method neither comprises a weak anion exchange chromatography nor a reverse phase chromatography. The method of purification results in a high yield of recombinant FSH having a desired degree of purity. The obtained FSH is especially useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of disorders and medical indications where FSH preparations are considered as useful remedies. |
| US09096681B2 |
XBP1, CD138, and CS1 peptides
The disclosure features, inter alia, immunogenic XBP1-, CD138-, and CS1-derived peptides (and pharmaceutical compositions thereof). The peptides can be used in a variety of methods such as methods for inducing an immune response, methods for producing an antibody, and methods for treating a cancer (e.g., a plasma cell disorder such as multiple myeloma or Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia). The peptides can also be included in MHC molecule multimer compositions and used in, e.g., methods for detecting a T cell in a population of cells. |
| US09096674B2 |
Antibodies for determining the prothrombin fragment F2/F1+2 in a homogeneous immunoassay
The present invention is in the area of coagulation analysis and relates to antibodies which bind specifically to an immune complex of prothrombin fragment F2/F1+2 and an F2/F1+2 neoepitope-specific antibody fragment, and to the preparation and the use thereof in methods for determining F2/F1+2. |
| US09096673B2 |
IL-17 receptor A antigen binding proteins
The present invention relates to IL-17 Receptor A antigen binding proteins, such as antibodies, and compositions and methods for diagnosing and treating diseases mediated by IL-17 Receptor A activation. |
| US09096669B2 |
Humanized anti-TNF-α antibody and antigen-binding fragment (Fab) thereof and use of the same
The present invention discloses a humanized anti-human tumor necrosis factor-α antibody and antigen-binding fragment (Fab) thereof. The present invention also discloses a composition comprising the said antibody or antigen-binding fragment (Fab) thereof, and the use of the said antibody or antigen-binding fragment (Fab) thereof in treating the diseases associated with tumor necrosis factor-α. |
| US09096662B2 |
Methods and compositions for modulation of Olfml3 mediated angiogenisis
The present invention relates to antibodies against specific domains of Olfml3 and the use of such in angiogenesis. In particular aspects, angiogenesis-related conditions, such as cancer, can be treated by the composition comprising the Olfml3 antagonists. |
| US09096660B2 |
SPARC binding antibodies and uses thereof
The invention provides SPARC binding antibodies that target disease sites, in particular, tumors and uses thereof to diagnose and treat diseases, in particular, cancerous tumors. |
| US09096658B2 |
Antibodies against and methods for producing vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus
The present invention relates to novel respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) F peptides and compositions comprising them. The present invention also relates to methods of evaluating anti-RSV antibody binding to F peptides. The present invention also relates to antibodies that immunospecifically bind to an F peptide of the present invention. The invention further provides methods and protocols for the administration of F peptides and/or antibodies that immunospecifically bind to F peptides for the prevention, neutralization, treatment of RSV infection. Additionally, the methods of the invention may be useful for the treatment, prevention and the amelioration of symptoms associated with RSV infection. |
| US09096656B2 |
Factor VIII conjugates
This invention relates to Factor VIII muteins that are covalently bound, at a predefined site that is not an N-terminal amine, to one or more biocompatible polymers such as polyethylene glycol. The mutein conjugates retain FVIII procoagulant activity and have improved pharmacokinetic properties. |
| US09096655B2 |
Method for in-vivo binding of chromatin fragments
A process for substantially reducing levels of circulating chromatin fragments (CCFs) from a medium using binding agents such as antibodies or antibodies complexed with haemocompatible natural polymer substrates like as alginates, chitosan and pullulan to form complexed antibody-substrate nano-particulates (CNP) to bind and/or inactivate CCFs is disclosed. The amount of antibody bound to the polymer varies from 30% to 100% of activated sites in the polymer. Elevated levels of CCFs can be substantially reduced following administration of tissue damaging agents that generate apoptotic chromatin fragments by the concomitant administration of CNPs or concomitant administration of H4 antibody alone. A method of treatment is disclosed wherein therapeutic dose of CNPs, or H4 antibody alone, are administered systematically, or orally, in a delivery system to curb pathological conditions that are associated with increased burden of circulating chromatin fragments. |
| US09096653B2 |
Multicomponent vaccine for malaria providing long-lasting immune responses against plasmodia
Disclosed are immunogenic conjugates which elicit an immune response to Plasmodium proteins. In particular examples, the Plasmodium proteins include sexual stage surface proteins, circumsporozoite protein (CSP), or immunogenic portions of CSP. Also provided herein are immunogenic compositions including one or more of the disclosed immunogenic conjugates and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Further provided is a method of eliciting an immune response to Plasmodium in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an immunogenic composition disclosed herein. |
| US09096650B2 |
Cyclic oligopeptides for binding to a target ligand
An internally-constrained cyclic oligopeptide comprising a ring of at least six amino acids for specifically binding to a target ligand, wherein the ring comprises a plurality of amino acid domains, each domain comprising at least two epitope-forming amino acids, and two or more associating functional groups positioned so that they form one or more intra-cyclic associations; whereby the cyclic oligopeptide is constrained in a single conformation so that the epitope-forming amino acids form an epitope in each domain, each epitope being capable of specifically binding to a target ligand. |
| US09096647B2 |
Simplified one-pot synthesis of [18F]SFB for radiolabeling
A non-aqueous single pot synthesis of [18F]SFB is set forth. The [18F]SFB produced with this method is then used, for example, to label a peptide or an engineered antibody fragment (diabody) targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) as representative examples of labeled compounds for use as an injectable composition to locate abnormal tissue, specifically tumors within an animal or human using a PET scan. |
| US09096642B2 |
Therapeutic compounds for immunomodulation
The present invention provides Immunosuppressive compounds capable of inhibiting the programmed cell death 1 (PD1) signalling pathway. The present invention further provides peptide based compositions for treatment of cancer or treatment of infections via immunopotentiation caused by inhibition of immunosuppressive signalling induced by PD-1, PD-L1, or PD-L2 and therapies using them, immunopotentiative substrates included as the active ingredient. Further, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the Immunosuppressive peptide compounds or modified peptide moieties for preventive and/or therapeutic agents for cancer, cancer metastasis, immunodeficiency, an infectious disease or the like and an application of PD-1 or PD-L1 as a testing or diagnostic agent or a research agent for such a disease. |
| US09096638B2 |
Detection of toxigenic strains of Clostridium difficile
Primers and probes for detection of toxin-producing (toxigenic) strains of Clostridium difficile, and to methods of detecting toxigenic strains using these primers and probes. Toxigenic strains of C. difficile are detected by nucleic acid-based amplification methods using particular primers and probes that bind to the toxin B (TcdB) gene. These primers and probes are used to amplify C. difficile nucleic acids in clinical samples to determine the presence of these toxigenic strains. |
| US09096637B2 |
Organic compositions to treat HSF1-related diseases
The present disclosure relates to methods of treating heat shock factor 1 (HSF1)-related diseases such as cancer and viral diseases, using a therapeutically effective amount of a RNAi agent to HSF. |
| US09096635B2 |
N-alkylthio beta-lactams, alkyl-coenzyme A asymmetric disulfides, and aryl-alkyl disulfides as anti-bacterial agents
The present invention provides N-alkylthio β-lactams and disulfide compounds (e.g., alkyl-coenzyme A asymmetric disulfides or aryl-alkyl disulfides), compositions containing such compounds, and methods of their use as anti-bacterial agents. |
| US09096632B2 |
Modulator of activity of adenylate cyclase
The present invention provides a novel compound capable of inhibiting cardiac adenylyl cyclase.The present invention relates to a compound represented by the following formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or solvate thereof: where R1, R2 and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an acyl group having an acidic or basic substituent, provided that all of R1, R2 and R3 are not simultaneously a hydrogen atom. The present invention also provides a modulator of adenylyl cyclase activity, a pharmaceutical composition and a food composition, all of which comprise the above-described compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or solvate thereof. |
| US09096630B2 |
Amphiphilic compositions and methods for preparing and using same
The invention relates to amphiphilic C-glycoside derivatives, to methods of using them and to processes for synthesizing them. Specifically, the invention relates to novel cyclic and linear enone-glycolipids and cyclic ketone-glycolipids. |
| US09096625B2 |
BCL-2/BCL-XL inhibitors and therapeutic methods using the same
Inhibitors of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL and compositions containing the same are disclosed. Methods of using the Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitors in the treatment of diseases and conditions wherein inhibition of Bcl-2/Bcl-xL provides a benefit, like cancers, also are disclosed. |
| US09096621B2 |
Method for preparing poly(hydroxymethyl)-functional siloxanes and silica gels
Hydroxymethyl-functional siloxanes and silica gels are prepared by reacting a siloxacycle having at least one unit of the formula [SiR2(OR3)—CH2—O]n with water, optionally in the presence of a hydrolyzable silane. |
| US09096619B2 |
Aminotetraline derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and their use in therapy
The present invention relates to aminotetraline derivatives of the formula (I) or a physiologically tolerated salt thereof. The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such aminotetraline derivatives, and the use of such aminotetraline derivatives for therapeutic purposes. The aminotetraline derivatives are GlyT1 inhibitors. |
| US09096618B1 |
Regeneration of silyl and boryl compounds
A method of regenerating a silyl or boryl compound is described. The silyl or boryl compound is contained in an organic phase with conjunct polymer. The silyl or boryl compound is chemically reduced with a hydrogen containing compound in a silane or borane regeneration zone under regeneration conditions to form at least one regenerated silane or borane compound and a metal salt compound. The regenerated silane or borane compound is recovered. |
| US09096617B2 |
CAU-1-N3 organic-inorganic hybrid solid, equipped with an azide group, and process for its preparation
The invention describes a crystallized hybrid solid with an organic-inorganic matrix, of a three-dimensional structure, containing an inorganic network of aluminum-based metal centers that are connected to one another by organic ligands that consist of the entity —O2C—C6H3—N3—CO2—. Said solid is called CAU-1-N3 and has an X-ray diffraction diagram as given below. |
| US09096611B2 |
Kinase inhibitors and methods of use
The present invention provides chemical entities or compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that are capable of modulating certain protein kinases such as mTor, tyrosine kinases, and/or lipid kinases such as PI3 kinase. Also provided in the present invention are methods of using these compositions to modulate activities of one or more of these kinases, especially for therapeutic applications. |
| US09096609B2 |
Macrocyclic LRRK2 kinase inhibitors
The present invention relates to novel macrocylic compounds and compositions containing said compounds acting as kinase inhibitors, in particular as inhibitors of LRRK2 (Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2). Moreover, the present invention provides processes for the preparation of the disclosed compounds, as well as methods of using them, for instance as a medicine or diagnostic agent, in particular for the treatment and/or diagnosis of diseases characterized by LRRK2 kinase activity such as neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. |
| US09096607B2 |
Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors
The present invention is directed to compounds that are allosteric inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor receptor I, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds and compositions thereof in the treatment of TNF-α mediated conditions. |
| US09096606B2 |
Quarternized buprenorphine analogs
The present invention is directed to Buprenorphine Analog compounds of the Formula (I), Formula (IA) or Formula (IB) shown below, wherein R1, R1a, R2, R8, R3a, R3b, G, X, Z, Y, and A® are as defined herein. Compounds of the Invention are useful for treating pain, constipation, and other conditions modulated by activity of opioid and ORL-1 receptors. |
| US09096605B2 |
Pyrazolopyrimidine derivatives as PI3 kinase inhibitors
PI3Kβ selective compounds having the structure |
| US09096604B2 |
Pyrrolopyrimidine compounds as kinase inhibitors
Disclosed herein are compounds exemplified by the following structure Formula (I) that form covalent bonds with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions that include the compounds of Formula (I). Methods of using the Btk inhibitors exemplified by the structure of Formula (I) are disclosed, alone or in combination with other therapeutic agents, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases or conditions, heteroimmune diseases or conditions, cancer, including lymphoma, and inflammatory diseases or conditions. |
| US09096600B2 |
N-(1-(substituted-phenyl)ethyl)-9H-purin-6-amines as PI3K inhibitors
The present invention provides N-(1-(substituted-phenyl)ethyl)-9H-purin-6-amines derivatives that modulate the activity of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to the activity of PI3Ks including, for example, inflammatory disorders, immune-based disorders, cancer, and other diseases. |
| US09096596B2 |
P2X7 modulators
The present invention is directed to a compound of Formula (I) The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I). Methods of making and using the compounds of Formula (I) are also within the scope of the invention. |
| US09096593B2 |
Compounds and methods for kinase modulation, and indications therefor
Compounds and salts thereof, formulations thereof, conjugates thereof, derivatives thereof, forms thereof and uses thereof are described. In certain aspects and embodiments, the described compounds or salts thereof, formulations thereof, conjugates thereof, derivatives thereof, or forms thereof are active on Fms protein kinase, or on Fms and Kit protein kinase, or on Fms and Flt-3 protein kinase. Also described are methods of use thereof to treat diseases and conditions, including diseases and conditions associated with activity of Fms protein kinase, Kit protein kinase, or Flt-3 protein kinase including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, Lupus nephritis, tubular necrosis, diabetic nephropathy, renal hypertrophy, acute myeloid leukemia, melanoma, multiple myeloma, metastatic breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, neurofibromatosis, brain metastases, and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. |
| US09096590B2 |
Substituted benzoxazoles as PI3 kinase inhibitors
The present invention provides substituted benzoxazole compounds of the Formula: wherein the variables R1, R2, W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, are W6 are defined herein. The compounds are useful as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3 kinase) inhibitors. |
| US09096584B2 |
Compounds useful as inhibitors of ATR kinase
The present invention relates to pyridine compounds useful as inhibitors of ATR protein kinase. The invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of this invention; methods of treating various diseases, disorders, and conditions using the compounds of this invention; processes for preparing the compounds of this invention; intermediates for the preparation of the compounds of this invention; and methods of using the compounds in in vitro applications, such as the study of kinases in biological and pathological phenomena; the study of intracellular signal transduction pathways mediated by such kinases; and the comparative evaluation of new kinase inhibitors.The compounds of this invention have formula III: wherein the variables are as defined herein. |
| US09096581B2 |
Fluoroethyl thiamine or salts thereof and application thereof in preparation of anticoccidial drugs
The present invention discloses a fluoroethyl thiamine or salts thereof and application thereof in preparation of anticoccidial drugs. The structural formula of the fluoroethyl thiamine or salts thereof is shown as Formula (I). The fluoroethyl thiamine or salts thereof of the present invention have a remarkable anticoccidial effect, particularly on some coccidia which had resistance to other anticoccidial drugs, therefore the fluoroethyl thiamine or salts thereof of the present invention can be applied to preparation of anticoccidial drugs. Thus, the present invention provides conditions for development of new anticoccidial drugs. |
| US09096579B2 |
Amino-indolyl-substituted imidazolyl-pyrimidines and their use as medicaments
The invention relates to new amino-indole-substituted imidazolyl-pyrimidines of formula 1 wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are defined as in claim 1 and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and the use of these compounds for the preparation of a medicament for treating a disease selected from asthma, COPD, rheumatoid arthritis, specific lymphomas and specific diseases of the nervous system. |
| US09096576B2 |
Compounds and methods for treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus
Small molecule compounds are provided for treating lupus as are methods of treating lupus using these compounds. |
| US09096575B2 |
Group 4 metal compound containing thiophene-fused cyclopentadienyl ligand derived from tetraquinoline derivative and olefin polymerization using the same
The present invention relates to a novel ligand derived from a tetrahydroquinoline derivative, and a transition metal compound prepared using the ligand, where an amido ligand is linked to an ortho-phenylene ligand to form a condensed ring and a 5-membered cyclic pi-ligand linked to the ortho-phenylene ligand is fused with a heterocyclic thiophene ligand. Compared with the catalysts not fused with a heterocyclic thiophene ligand, the transition metal compound of the present invention as activated with a co-catalyst has higher catalytic activity in olefin polymerization and provides a polymer with higher molecular weight. |
| US09096570B2 |
Process for manufacturing substituted 3-pyridylmethyl ammonium bromides
A process for manufacturing 5,6-disubstituted-3-pyridylmethyl ammonium bromides (I), wherein Q is a tertiary aliphatic or cyclic, saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic amine; Z is hydrogen or halogen; Z1 is hydrogen, halogen, cyano or nitro; Y and Y1 are each independently OR1, NR1R2, or when taken together YY1 is —O—, —S— or NR3—; R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen, C1-C4 alkyl optionally substituted with C1-C4 alkoxy or phenyl optionally substituted with one to three C1-C4 alkyl groups, C1-C4 alkoxy groups or halogen atoms, or phenyl optionally substituted with one to three C1-C4 alkyl groups, C1-C4 alkoxy groups or halogen atoms; R3 is hydrogen or C1-C4 alkyl; comprises the steps of (i) reacting a compound of formula (II), wherein the symbols have the meaning given in formula (I), with bromine in the presence of a radical initiator in a solvent mixture comprising an aqueous phase and an organic phase, where the organic phase comprises a solvent selected from 1,2-dichloroethane, chlorobenzene, 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene and tetrachloromethane, and where the pH-value of the aqueous phase is from 3 to <8, to obtain a 3-bromomethyl-5,6-disubstituted pyridine compound (III), wherein Y, Y1, Z and Z1 have the meanings given in formula (I), and (ii) reacting the bromo compound of formula (III) with a tertiary amine base Q in a solvent at a temperature range of about 0° C. to 100° C. |
| US09096566B2 |
Ester group-containing tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, polyester polyimide precursor, polyesterimide, and methods for producing same
A polyesterimide having a repeating unit expressed by formula (3) is useful for FPC substrates, COF substrates and TAB substrate materials, especially as FPC substrate materials: wherein R represents a phenyl group, R1 represents an alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms or alkoxy group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms, n each independently takes a value of 0 to 4, a each independently takes a value of 0 to 4, and m represents an integer of 2 to 4, where not all n's are 0 at the same time and 0≦n+a≦4 is satisfied by each phenylene group, and X is a divalent aromatic group and/or aliphatic group. |
| US09096564B2 |
Processes for the production of ethylene glycol
A process for the production of ethylene glycol comprising: (i) supplying ethylene and oxygen and an organic chloride moderator to an EO reactor, thereby producing a reactor product stream; (ii) supplying the reactor product stream to an EO absorber, thereby producing a fat absorbent stream; (iii) supplying the fat absorbent stream to an EO stripper, thereby producing a concentrated ethylene oxide stream and a lean absorbent stream; (iv) recirculating the lean absorbent stream to the EO absorber; and (v) supplying the ethylene oxide stream and/or the ethylene carbonate stream to hydrolysis reactors with an alkali metal salt hydrolysis catalyst to form an ethylene glycol stream; wherein the process additionally comprises: (vi) removing a glycol bleed stream from the ethylene oxide stripper; and (vii) adding a base to the ethylene oxide stripper such that the pH in the bottom section of the stripper is maintained from 9.5 to 12.0. |
| US09096561B2 |
Epoxidation process
A method for the oxidation of ethylene to form ethylene oxide is provided that includes passing an aqueous stream through a guard bed and one or more ion exchange treatment beds. The guard bed and the aqueous stream contain from about 0.2 to 20 wt % ethylene glycol. The guard bed contains a cross-linked polystyrene resin, partially functionalized with quaternary ammonium functional groups and the resin has a surface area of greater than 400 m2/g. |
| US09096557B2 |
Thiadiazole which can be used as a vulcanization accelerator and method for obtaining same
A thiadiazole of formula (I): |
| US09096549B2 |
Selective HDAC3 inhibitors
Provided herein are HDAC3 inhibitors, as well as methods of treatment comprising administering these compounds to a subject in need thereof. |
| US09096546B2 |
Aryl- and heteroaryl-substituted tetrahydrobenzo-1,4-diazepines and use thereof to block reuptake of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin
The aryl- and heteroaryl-substituted tetrahydrobenzo-1,4-diazepine derivative compounds of the present invention are represented by formulae 1(A-D) having the following structure: where the substituents X and R1-R8 are as defined herein. |
| US09096545B2 |
Triazolone compounds as mPGES-1 inhibitors
The present disclosure is directed to compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as mPGES-1 inhibitors. These compounds are inhibitors of the microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) enzyme and are therefore useful in the treatment of pain and/or inflammation from a variety of diseases or conditions, such as asthma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute or chronic pain and neurodegenerative diseases. |
| US09096541B2 |
Inhibition of memapsin 1 cleavage in the treatment of diabetes
Proteases such as memapsin-1 are import enzymes, playing roles in a variety of diseases including diabetes. The inventors have developed inhibitors of memapsin 1 and methods of use therefore in the treatment of disease. |
| US09096539B2 |
Substituted 4,5-dihydro-2H-benzo[e]indazole-9-carboxylates for the treatment of diabetes and related disorders
The present invention relates to the development of novel substituted 4,5-dihydro-2H-benzo[e]indazole-9-carboxylates, which can be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment and prevention of metabolic disorders, and a process of preparing said novel compounds. More particularly, the present invention relates to substituted 4,5-dihydro-2H-benzo[e]indazole-9-carboxylates and their related compounds, processes for preparing the said compounds and to their use in the treatment of diabetes and related metabolic disorders. |
| US09096537B1 |
Compositions and methods for the treatment of mucositis
The invention relates to the compounds of formula I, formula II, formula III and formula IV or its pharmaceutical acceptable polymorphs, solvates, enantiomers, stereoisomers and hydrates thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of compounds of formula I, formula II, formula III or formula IV and methods for the treatment of mucositis may be formulated for oral, buccal, rectal, topical, transdermal, transmucosal, intravenous, oral solution, buccal mucosal layer tablet, parenteral administration, syrup, or injection. Such compositions may be used to treatment of mucositis and oral mucosal inflammatory or oral infectious diseases. |
| US09096535B2 |
CF3O-containing enaminoketones and their utilization for the preparation of CF3O-containing pyrazoles
The present invention pertains to novel enaminoketones containing a CF3O-group, novel pyrazole-derivatives containing a CF3O group as well as to a novel process for their preparation comprising aminoformylation of CF3O-ketones and cyclization of the obtained CF3O-enaminoketones with hydrazines to trifluoromethoxy pyrazoles. |
| US09096534B2 |
Pyridazinone compound and use thereof
A pyridazinone compound represented by the formula (I) has excellent effect on weed control and is useful as an active ingredient of herbicides. |
| US09096533B2 |
Pyridazinone compound and use thereof
A pyridazinone compound represented by the formula (I) has excellent effect on weed control and is useful as an active ingredient of herbicides. |
| US09096527B2 |
TRPM8 antagonists and their use in treatments
Compounds of Formula I are useful as antagonists of TRPM8. Such compounds are useful in treating a number of TRPM8 mediated disorders and conditions and may be used to prepare medicaments and pharmaceutical compositions useful for treating such disorders and conditions. Examples of such disorders include, but are not limited to, migraines and neuropathic pain. Compounds of Formula I have the following structure: where the definitions of the variables are provided herein. |
| US09096522B2 |
N-piperidinyl acetamide derivatives as calcium channel blockers
Methods and compounds effective in ameliorating conditions characterized by unwanted calcium channel activity, particularly unwanted T-type calcium channel activity are disclosed. Specifically, a series of compounds containing N-piperidinyl acetamide derivatives as shown in formula (1). |
| US09096521B2 |
Cold menthol receptor antagonists
Disclosed are compounds, compositions and methods for treating various diseases, syndromes, conditions and disorders, including pain. Such compounds are represented by Formula (I) as follows: wherein A, L, R1, R2, R4, and R5 are defined herein. |
| US09096516B2 |
Production method of N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone
A method for producing N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone by crystallization including: controlling a water content in a feed N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone solution at an inlet of a crystallizer so as to be not lower than 0.7% by weight and not higher than 10% by weight based on the total weight of the N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone solution; and supplying the feed N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone solution to a crystallization process. |
| US09096515B2 |
Methods of using cycloalkylmethylamine derivatives
The present invention provides novel cycloalkylmethylamine derivatives, and methods of preparing cycloalkylmethylamine derivatives. The present invention also provides methods of using cycloalkylmethylamine derivatives and compositions of cycloalkylmethylamine derivatives. The pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds of the present invention can be advantageously used for treating and/or preventing obesity and obesity related co-morbid indications and depression and depression related co-morbid indications. |
| US09096512B2 |
Methods for preparing methacrylic acid from biobased starting materials
Described herein are methods for preparing methacrylic acid from biobased starting materials. |
| US09096507B2 |
Series of skin whitening (lightening) compounds
The present invention is directed to inhibitors of tyrosinase, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such tyrosinase inhibitors, and methods of making and using the same. Specifically, included in the present invention are compositions of matter comprised of at least one 2,4-dihydroxybenzene analog, which inhibit the activity of tyrosinase and which inhibit the overproduction of melanin. |
| US09096504B2 |
Controlled chemical release of hydrogen sulfide
Agents of formula: where R1 and R2 vary independently and are acyl, sulfonyl, phosphoryl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, halogen, aryl, arylalkyl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycle, or heteroatoms; and R3 is H or a member of a ring structure which includes R2, are provided; as are agents of formula: where R1, R2 and R3 vary independently and: R1=OH, OR′, NHR′, NR′R″ (with R′ R″=alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, etc); R2=acyl, alkyl, aryl, sulfonyl, etc; R3=alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heteroaryl, etc; and R4 and R5 are (independently) H, methyl or alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, etc. Methods of using the agents to treat e.g. cardiovascular disease, stroke, shock, injuries caused by hypoxia, male erectile dysfunction, and Alzheimer's are provided. |
| US09096503B2 |
Benzoxazine-thiol adducts
Novel benzoxazine-thiol adducts are described, which may be may be cured to produce compositions useful in coating, sealants, adhesive and many other applications. |
| US09096498B2 |
CuCN-mediated one pot production of cinnamonitrile derivatives
The present invention discloses a cheaper and practical protocol for the construction of a wide variety of o-cyanocinnamonitrile and their structural analogs that proceeds with good yields in a single step using CuCN as the only reagent. |
| US09096497B2 |
Process for preparing EDDN and EDMN
A process for preparing EDDN and/or EDMN by conversion of FA, HCN and EDA, the reaction being effected in the presence of water, and, after the conversion, water being depleted from the reaction mixture in a distillation column, which comprises performing the distillation in the presence of an organic solvent which has a boiling point between water and EDDN and/or EDMN at the distillation pressure existing in the column or which forms a low-boiling azeotrope with water. |
| US09096495B2 |
Process for the preparation of triiodinated carboxylic aromatic derivatives
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of given carboxamido compounds, in particular of 2,4,6-triiodoisophthalic acid derivatives, as useful intermediates for the preparation of X-ray contrast media among which is iopamidol. The said process comprises reacting suitable N-sulfinyl intermediate compounds with a commercially available α-hydroxyacid or a salt thereof. |
| US09096494B2 |
Arachidonic acid analogs and methods for analgesic treatment using same
The present invention provides arachidonic acid (AA) analogs and compositions containing those analogs as active agents for use in analgesic treatments. Various methods of manufacturing the inventive compounds are provided and pharmaceutical formulations, including injectable and oral dosages, are described. Certain analogs are additionally useful as antipyretic compositions and in related fever reducing treatments. |
| US09096492B2 |
Hydrated N-fullerene amino acids, method for producing the latter, and pharmaceutical compositions on the basis thereof
The invention relates to the pharmaceutical industry and to medicine, specifically to novel hydrated amino-acid derivatives of fullerene C60 of general formula C60(H)3{NH(CH2)nCOOH}3.xH2O, where C60-fullerene, n=5, 6, 7, x=8-10, and also to a method for producing said derivatives, and to the production of pharmaceutical compositions on the basis thereof. Hydrated N-fullerene amino acids are formed in the interaction of fullerene with 15 times the molar excess of anhydrous potassium salts of amino acids in a medium of organic aromatic solvent with slow addition to the resultant suspension of an interphase catalyst and with mixing and heating to a temperature not exceeding 60° C. until the solution is completely decolorized and a solid residue formed, after which the latter is separated out, and then 0.8 M of aqueous solutions of potassium salts of fullerene amino-acid derivatives is treated with a solution of organic or mineral acids, followed by centrifugation, rinsing and drying of the residue. A pharmaceutical composition which exhibits activity against the herpes virus, flu viruses of various origin and HIV, and also anti-tumor and anti-psoriatic activity, comprising, as active substance, an effective quantity of hydrated N-fullerene amino acids. |
| US09096486B2 |
Process for polymerising or oligomerising a hydrocarbon
A process for polymerizing or oligomerizing a hydrocarbon includes feeding a liquid hydrocarbon reactant and a liquid evaporative cooling medium into a bulk liquid phase which includes polymeric or oligomeric product admixed with a catalyst, and allowing at least a portion of the liquid hydrocarbon reactant and the liquid evaporative cooling medium to vaporize to form bubbles rising through the bulk liquid phase, with the hydrocarbon reactant polymerizing or oligomerizing to form the polymeric or oligomeric product and with the evaporation of both the liquid hydrocarbon reactant and the liquid evaporative cooling medium effecting heat removal from the bulk liquid phase. Gaseous components are withdrawn from a head space, cooled and separated. Condensed hydrocarbon reactant and condensed cooling medium are recycled to the bulk liquid phase. |
| US09096485B2 |
Catalytic isomerization of heptane using ionic liquids
Processes for the disproportionation and isomerization of a C7 hydrocarbon feed using a liquid catalyst comprising an ionic liquid and a carbocation promoter are described. The ionic liquid is unsupported, and the reactions occur at temperatures below about 200° C. |
| US09096482B2 |
Catalytic reverse disproportionation of paraffins using ionic liquids
A reverse disproportionation reaction of two hydrocarbon feeds allows production of a reaction mixture containing products with intermediate carbon numbers. The amount of at least one of the products with intermediate carbon numbers is equal to or greater than the amount formed from disproportionation of the hydrocarbon alone. A reverse disproportionation reaction mixture is also described. |
| US09096481B2 |
Catalytic disproportionation of pentane using ionic liquids
Processes for the disproportionation and isomerization of a C5 hydrocarbon feed using a liquid catalyst comprising an ionic liquid and a carbocation promoter are described. The ionic liquid is unsupported, and the reactions occur at temperatures below about 200° C. |
| US09096480B2 |
Catalytic disproportionation of heptane using ionic liquids
Processes for the disproportionation and isomerization of a C7 hydrocarbon feed using a liquid catalyst comprising an ionic liquid and a carbocation promoter are described. The ionic liquid is unsupported, and the reactions occur at temperatures below about 200° C. |
| US09096472B2 |
Methods of forming a ceramic component and a high temperature mold component for use therewith
Methods of forming a ceramic component and a high temperature mold for use therewith are provided. The method includes providing a fixture having a receiving surface configured to receive an unfired ceramic component. The method includes applying a continuous high temperature membrane to a surface of the unfired ceramic component. The method includes covering the continuous high temperature membrane and unfired ceramic component with a high temperature loose media. The method includes heating the unfired ceramic component to a firing temperature. The high temperature mold includes the fixture and a support structure forming a compartment surrounding the fixture. The mold allows the high temperature loose media to be contained within the compartment and to cover the continuous high temperature membrane. The continuous high temperature membrane and high temperature loose media are evenly distributed over the uncured ceramic component and operable to provide constant pressure during processing using the mold. |
| US09096465B2 |
Sustainable composite building materials and related methods of manufacture
Sustainable composite materials for interior spaces and related methods of manufacture are provided. In one aspect of the invention, the sustainable composite materials include a load-bearing stud. The load-bearing stud includes a plurality of woven burlap layers impregnated with a magnesium oxide resin. The load-bearing stud is formed by creasing a woven burlap sheet to form multiple foldable panels, wetting the foldable panels with a curable resin, layering the foldable panels to achieve a multi-layered prepreg, pressing the multi-layered prepreg to distribute the resin therethrough, compacting the multi-layered prepreg within a mold cavity having the exterior shape of the load-bearing stud, and curing the multi-layered prepreg, wherein the resin includes a mixture of mono-potassium phosphate and magnesium oxide. The load-bearing stud provides a lightweight, dimensionally stable, and environmentally-friendly composite structure to replace lumber studs and metal studs in building constructions. |
| US09096464B2 |
Method and apparatus for manufacturing optical fiber
This optical fiber manufacturing method includes: forming a bare optical fiber by drawing an optical fiber preform; forming an intermediate optical fiber by providing a coating layer, which is formed of resin, on the outer periphery of the bare optical fiber; performing primary curing of the coating layer which forms the intermediate optical fiber; pressing the outer periphery of the intermediate optical fiber; and performing secondary curing of the pressed coating layer of the intermediate optical fiber. |
| US09096461B2 |
Boron-free universal glass
Universal glasses are provided which have the composition, in percent by weight on an oxide basis, 65-75 of SiO2, 11-18 of Al2O3, 5-10 of MgO, 5-10 of CaO, which are free of B2O3, SrO, BaO, CeO2 and PbO and have a hydrolytic resistance in the first class in accordance with DIN ISO 719, an acid resistance at least in the second class in accordance with DIN 12116 and an alkali resistance at least in the second class in accordance with DIN ISO 695. |
| US09096458B2 |
Article made from overmoulded composite material and relative preparation method
An article made from overmolded composite material (1) having a glass body (2), consisting of a container or a closing element of a container, and an overmolded jacket (3) made from thermoplastic resin, characterised in that said glass (2) is a glass of the sodium-calcium or borosilicate type comprising (percentages in weight referring to the weight of the glass): CaO from 1 to 12% by weight, preferably between 8% and 10% in the case of sodium-calcium glass; preferably between 1% and 3% in the case of borosilicate glass; Al2O3 from 1 to 7% by weight, preferably between 1% and 2% in the case of sodium-calcium glass; preferably between 5% and 7% in the case of borosilicate glass; one or more oxides selected from the group consisting of ZnO, TiO2 and ZrO2. |
| US09096456B2 |
Cellular bending mold
A mold for bending glass, including a cellular solid material including cells that form cavities in the molding area, the cells representing more than 40% of the volume of the material. A low-heat-capacity tool bends glass panes in the context of processing tempered or laminated glass. A process for manufacturing the bending mold includes assembly of metal sheets of different shapes placed parallel to one another so as to form a cellular unit, then machining of the molding area of the unit, the area being placed substantially perpendicular to the metal sheets. |
| US09096449B1 |
Method for treating flowback water from hydraulic fracturing
Composition and method for treating fluids with select facultative organisms and/or nutrients. At least one facultative organism is selected and added to a fluid to stimulate/facilitate biological remediation of the fluid. In one embodiment, the select facultative organisms are put into frac pits/ponds containing frac water to inhibit the sulfate reducing bacteria in the frac water. In another embodiment, at least one facultative organism and nutrients are selected and added to a fluid. |
| US09096448B2 |
Anaerobic treatment method and apparatus
Anaerobic treatment of water is performed under anaerobic conditions with a biofilm formed on a surface of a fluid non-biological carrier in a reaction vessel. Stable high-load treatment is performed by preventing the blockage of the reaction vessel caused by the flotation and adhesion of the non-biological carrier in the reaction vessel and effectively recovering the settleability of the carrier floating owing to adhering air bubbles by simple means. A reaction vessel is charged with a fluid non-biological carrier having a size in the range of 1.0 to 5.0 mm and a settling velocity in the range of 200 to 500 m/h. Part of the carrier that has floated and flowed out of the reaction vessel is fed downward through a pipe having a vertical height of 50 cm or more so as to remove air bubbles adhering to the carrier and is returned to the reaction vessel. |
| US09096447B2 |
Water treatment system with carbon regeneration circuit
A water treatment system (50) utilizing granular activated carbon (GAC) for the removal of organic contaminants in a process water circuit (52), and including a carbon regeneration circuit (54) in fluid communication with the process water circuit. The carbon regeneration circuit may include a dedicated regeneration vessel (16), or the regeneration process may proceed within a GAC/water contactor (58) of the process water circuit. A process is described wherein spent GAC from the water treatment system is regenerated within the system with an oxidation process that minimizes damage to the carbon granules. |
| US09096445B2 |
Water purification apparatus
A water purification apparatus comprising at least: (a) one or more water purification components in a housing; and (b) a handset integral with the housing, and moveable between a supported position on the housing and a suspended position beyond the housing, the handset including one or more water purification controls thereon. In this way, at least one control of the purification of the water in the housing is operative on the handset, which handset is useable either in its supported position on the housing or in its suspended position beyond the housing, whichever is most convenient to the user. More convenience is therefore provided to a user by the present invention compared with conventional purification apparatus. |
| US09096443B2 |
Magnetite in nanoparticulate form
The present invention relates to a process for the polyol-type synthesis of nanoparticulate magnetite starting from mixtures of Fe0 and Fe1III in the presence of a mineral acid. The magnetite particles obtainable from the process have uniform size characteristics and have even presented higher SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) values than those of magnetosomes. |
| US09096441B2 |
Composition for manufacturing doped or undoped zinc oxide thin film and method for manufacturing zinc oxide thin film using same
Disclosed is a composition for forming a zinc oxide thin film, which contains an organic zinc compound as a starting material, is not ignitable, and can be easily handled. The composition for forming a zinc oxide thin film is capable of forming a transparent zinc oxide thin film which is not doped or doped with a group 3B element by being heated at 300° C. or less. Also disclosed is a method for obtaining a transparent zinc oxide thin film, which is not doped or doped with a group 3B element, using the composition. Specifically, the composition for forming a zinc oxide thin film contains a product which is obtained by partially hydrolyzing an organic zinc compound by adding water to the organic zinc compound or a solution of the organic zinc compound and a group 3B element compound. In cases when a group 3B element compound is contained, the molar ratio of the group 3B element compound to the organic zinc compound is within the range of 0.005-0.3. The composition is applied to a substrate surface and then heated, thereby forming a zinc oxide thin film which is doped with the group 3B element. |
| US09096440B2 |
Method of producing superconductive oxide material
A method of producing a superconductive material involves the step (1) of applying a solution of an organic compound of metals and oxides of the metals forming a superconductive material, onto a support body to be subsequently dried, the provisional baking step (2) of causing organic components of the organic compound of the metals to undergo thermal decomposition, and the main baking process step (3) of causing transformation of the oxides of the metals into the superconductive material, thereby producing an epitaxially-grown superconductive coating material, wherein the support body is irradiated with the laser light during a period between the steps (1) and (2) from a surface of the support body, on the opposite side of the surface coated with the solution of the organic compound of the metals for forming the superconductive material. |
| US09096438B2 |
Nano-diamond dispersion solution and method for preparing same
The present invention relates to a nano-diamond dispersion solution and a method of preparing the same. The method of preparing a nano-diamond dispersion solution comprises the following steps: providing a nano-diamond aggregation; mixing the nano-diamond aggregation with a metal hydroxide solution and stirring the mixture such that the nano-diamond aggregation is separated, to obtain a mixture solution; stabilizing the mixture solution such that the mixture solution is separated into a supernatant and precipitates; and extracting the supernatant and precipitates. |
| US09096436B2 |
Method for producing ionomer-coated, catalyst-supporting carbon nanotubes
Disclosed is a method for producing ionomer-coated, catalyst-supporting carbon nanotubes, the method comprising: a step of preparing catalyst-supporting carbon nanotubes on at least one surface of a substrate; a step of preparing a first ionomer solution; an ionomer coating step of bringing the catalyst-supporting carbon nanotubes into contact with the first ionomer solution and coating the catalyst-supporting carbon nanotubes with the ionomer; and a drying step of drying the ionomer-coated, catalyst-supporting carbon nanotubes, wherein the method comprises an ionomer removal step in which, when the ionomer that is unevenly attached in a thickness direction of a layer comprising the ionomer-coated, catalyst-supporting carbon nanotubes, the ionomer that is relatively largely found in and attached to the tip end of the carbon nanotubes rather than other parts thereof, is removed after the ionomer coating step and before the drying step. |
| US09096435B2 |
Process for production of carbon nanotube
The present invention relates to a method for producing carbon nanotubes, comprising a synthesis step of synthesizing carbon nanotubes on a support on which a catalyst is supported by flowing a source gas consisting of acetylene, carbon dioxide, and an inert gas over the support, wherein in the source gas, a partial pressure of the acetylene is 1.33×101 to 1.33×104 Pa, a partial pressure of the carbon dioxide is 1.33×101 to 1.33×104 Pa, and a partial pressure ratio of the acetylene to the carbon dioxide (acetylene/carbon dioxide) is in the range of 0.1 to 10. |
| US09096432B2 |
Auric acid assisted silicon nanoparticle formation method
Embodiments of the invention provide, among other things, a method of preparing nanoparticles including silicon nanoparticles. A mixture is prepared that includes auric acid (HAuCl4) and HF. A silicon substrate is exposed to the prepared mixture to treat the silicon substrate. The treated silicon substrate is immersed in an etchant mixture, wherein nanoparticles are formed on a surface of the substrate. The nanoparticles are recovered from the substrate. |
| US09096431B2 |
Nanoparticle decorated nanostructured material as electrode material and method for obtaining the same
The present invention refers to a nanostructured material comprising nanoparticles bound to its surface. The nanostructured material comprises nanoparticles which are bound to the surface, wherein the nanoparticles have a maximal dimension of about 20 nm. Furthermore, the nanostructured material comprises pores having a maximal dimension of between about 2 nm to about 5 μm. The nanoparticles bound on the surface of the nanostructured material are noble metal nanoparticles or metal oxide nanoparticles or mixtures thereof. The present invention also refers to a method of their manufacture and the use of these materials as electrode material. |
| US09096427B2 |
Method for making a suspended part of a microelectronic and/or nanoelectronic structure in a monolithic part of a substrate
Method for making at least one first suspended part of a microelectronic or nanoelectronic structure from a monolithic part of a first substrate, the method comprising the following steps: make a first etching with a first given depth in the monolithic substrate to define the suspended part, deposit a protective layer on at least the side edges of the first etching, make a second etching with a second depth in the first etching, make a physicochemical treatment of at least part of the zone located under the suspended structure so as to modify it, and release the suspended part by removal of the physicochemically treated part. |
| US09096419B2 |
Electromechanical systems device with protrusions to provide additional stable states
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for an electromechanical systems (EMS) device with one or more protrusions connected to a surface of the EMS device. In one aspect, the EMS device includes a substrate, a stationary electrode over the substrate, and a movable electrode over the stationary electrode. The movable electrode is configured to move to three or more positions across a gap by electrostatic actuation between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode. When the protrusions contact any surface of the EMS device at one of the positions across the gap, the protrusions change the stiffness of the EMS device. At least one of the surfaces in contact with the one or more protrusions is non-rigid. In some implementations, the protrusions have a height greater than about 20 nm. |
| US09096417B2 |
Modular chemical dispensing system and methods
A modular chemical dispensing system includes a plurality of rail members combining to define a wall-mounted grid for supporting dispensing and chemical source modules. The grid is easily secured to a wall and the modules moved laterally onto the grid with rotatable locks securing the modules to the rails. Chemical source modules have lockable doors preventing unauthorized access to chemicals therein and preventing unauthorized module removal. A variety of module configurations are provided, reducing inventories of custom parts. Methods are disclosed. |
| US09096415B2 |
Lifting device for scissor lifts
A lifting device for scissor lifts, in particular for raising motor vehicles, which during the starting phase of the lifting movement requires a reduced force for raising. The lifting device for scissor lifts includes at least two scissor arms which cross one another, a linear actuator for raising a scissor arm, a double lever joint which is pivotably mounted on a scissor arm; wherein the double lever joint couples the lifting movement of the linear actuator to at least one scissor arm. |
| US09096414B2 |
Crane control system
The present invention relates to a crane control system for controlling and/or for the hydraulic supply of hydraulic loads of a crane, as well as a crane having at least one crane control system. |
| US09096413B2 |
Crane having a crane jib, in particular a bracket crane
A crane comprising a laterally projecting crane jib on which a hoisting device is arranged and which is connected to at least one carrier body, which, together with the crane jib, can travel along an upper guide rail and a lower guide rail by way of traveling gears, wherein in each case the upper and the lower guide rails, and correspondingly, the traveling gears, are arranged spaced vertically from one another. In order to provide a crane comprising a laterally projecting crane jib, in particular a bracket crane or a traveling crane, the manufacture, transport and installation of which are optimized, according to the invention the at least one carrier body is designed as one component and connecting surfaces are arranged on said carrier body, to which a respective traveling gear and the crane jib can be detachably fastened. |