| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US09377729B1 |
Image forming apparatus that corrects a temperature of a heater
An image forming apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a recording medium, a forming unit that forms a toner image including a test pattern, a fixing unit that heats the toner image formed on the recording medium by the forming unit and fixes the toner image on the recording medium, and a controller that controls an amount of heat to be applied to the toner image by the fixing unit, on the basis of a difference between an amount of toner of the test pattern formed by the forming unit and a predetermined reference amount of toner. |
| US09377728B2 |
Fixing device and image forming apparatus
A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a heating member, a voltage applying part, a current detecting part, a moving member, a driving mechanism and a controlling part. The voltage applying part applies a heating voltage for heating the fixing belt to the heating member. The current detecting part detects current flowing through the heating member. The moving member is movable between a first position where the current becomes a first value and a second position where the current becomes a second value. The driving mechanism moves the moving member from the first position to the second position in conjunction with a rotation stop of the fixing belt. The controlling part stops the voltage applying part from applying the heating voltage to the heating member in conjunction with a change of the current from the first value to the second value. |
| US09377727B2 |
Image forming apparatus and image forming method
The image forming apparatus includes an image processing section that converts image data into pixel data, an image forming section that forms a toner image based on the pixel data, and a fixing section that fixes the toner image to the recording material by heating the recording material with the toner image formed thereon while conveying the recording material through a nip portion. The image processing section divides the pixel data corresponding to one recording material into a plurality of areas each formed of a predetermined number of pixels and acquires density information on some of the pixels within each of the areas as representative values. The fixing section carries out a process of fixing the toner image for which the density information has been acquired, under a fixing condition according to a maximum value of the representative values. |
| US09377724B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method using decolorable ink
An image forming apparatus includes: a first image forming unit which forms a first image on a first recording medium with a first material which is not thermally decolorized; a second image forming unit which forms a second image on a second recording medium with a second material which is thermally decolorized; a fixing unit which is on a common carrying path shared by the first recording medium and the second recording medium and fixes the first image to the first recording medium; and a control unit which controls the fixing unit so that the temperature of the second recording medium passing through the fixing unit becomes lower than a decolorizing temperature of the second material. |
| US09377721B2 |
Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an image carrier; a transfer belt facing a surface of the image carrier, forming a nip serving as a transfer position with the image carrier, and configured to transfer a toner image formed on the surface of the image carrier to a recording paper sheet with a transfer bias of opposite polarity to the surface of the image carrier; a fixing section configured to heat the sheet having the transferred toner image thereon to fix the toner image; and a static eliminator disposed downstream of the transfer position in a direction of conveyance of the sheet and configured to expose a back surface of the sheet opposite to the surface having the transferred toner image thereon to a DC discharge having the same polarity as the transfer bias and directed toward a position where the sheet separates from the transfer belt. |
| US09377720B2 |
Apparatus for electrophotographic printing including a wetting device and method for using the same
Disclosed herein is a method for electrophotographic printing, the method comprising: transferring, separately, from a photo imaging plate, a plurality of images formed from different colored electrostatic ink compositions to an intermediate transfer member to form a print image on the intermediate transfer member; providing a print substrate that has been wetted with a protic solvent; transferring the print image to the print substrate. Also disclosed herein is an apparatus for electrophotographic printing. |
| US09377719B2 |
Developing device and image forming apparatus
A developing device includes a developer container; a developer carrier; a first transport member having a rotation shaft and a transport blade; a second transport member having a rotation shaft and a transport blade; a partition member; a guide member; a first inflow portion; a second inflow portion; and a movement portion. The rotation shaft of the first transport member is located within a projection area of the developer carrier projected from above. A second imaginary tangent line extending vertically and touching an outer end of the transport blade of the first transport member is farther from the image carrier than a first imaginary tangent line extending vertically and touching an outer surface of the developer carrier. A first distance between the first and second imaginary tangent lines is smaller than a second distance between a rotation center of the image carrier and an inner surface of the developer container. |
| US09377716B2 |
Unit and image forming apparatus
A unit for use with an image forming apparatus includes: a frame; a developer accommodating portion; a sheet member, contact to a rotatable member and provided on the frame along a longitudinal direction of the rotatable member; a first end portion seal member for preventing, at a longitudinal end portion, the developer from leaking out from between the frame and the rotatable member; and a second end portion seal member for preventing the developer from leaking out from among the first end portion seal member, the sheet member and the frame. The second end portion seal member is formed by injecting, on the frame, a resin material having an elastic modulus smaller than an elastic modulus of the frame so as to contact with the first end portion seal member and the sheet member. |
| US09377715B2 |
Developing unit and process cartridge
The present invention relates to a developing unit including a developer container accommodating a developer; a developer bearing member bearing the developer supplied from the developer container; a magnetic-field generation member disposed in the developer bearing member, the magnetic-field generation member having a magnetic-field generation area generating a magnetic field for attracting the developer to the developer bearing member; and a sealing member disposed at the developer container, the sealing member preventing the developer from leaking from a gap between a longitudinal end of the developer bearing member and the developer container. An end of the magnetic-field generation area of the magnetic-field generation member is disposed inside an inner end of the sealing member in the longitudinal direction of the developer bearing member. The developer bearing member develops a latent image formed on the image bearing member with the developer while keeping in contact with the image bearing member. |
| US09377713B2 |
Custom color toner production systems and methods
A custom color toner production system includes a toner delivery system, a cartridge sealing system, a mixing system, and a packaging system. The toner delivery system includes selectively engageable fluid delivery lines for delivering toner of particular color to a cartridge as need for producing a custom color toner in response to an electronically submitted user request. Cartridge containing the unmixed delivered toner may be sealed by a sealing system, and blended using a resonant mixer to produce a custom color toner. The cartridge containing the mixed custom color toner may be packaged using a packaging system. |
| US09377707B2 |
Toner, developer, and image forming apparatus
A toner including a crystalline polyester and an amorphous polyester is provided. When the binder resin is extracted from the toner with tetrahydrofuran to obtain an extracted solution, and the extracted solution is heated to remove the tetrahydrofuran and obtain a deposit, the deposit contains spherical domains of the crystalline polyester having an average particle diameter of 7.0 μm or less. |
| US09377703B2 |
Toner for developing electrostatic latent image and manufacturing method thereof
According to one implementation, a toner includes a toner mother particle and a convex portion on a surface of the toner mother particle. The toner mother particle includes at least a resin (1). The convex portion is formed from a resin particle including at least a resin (2). An average value of a length of a long side of the convex portion is within a range of 0.1 to 0.5 μm. A ratio between a Young's modulus of a non-convex portion of the toner mother particle (ER (1)) and a Young's modulus of a convex portion of the toner mother particle (ER (2)) is a value (ER (1)/ER (2)) within the range of 1.2 to 2.0. |
| US09377702B2 |
Patterning method, lithography apparatus and system, and article manufacturing method
A method of performing patterning of a substrate includes: obtaining, based on first alignment measurement with respect to first patterning, a first compensation value for second alignment measurement, with respect to the first patterning, in which number of alignment marks to be measured is smaller than number of alignment marks to be measured in the first alignment measurement; performing the second alignment measurement with respect to second patterning different from the first patterning; generating, based on a condition with respect to the second patterning and the first compensation value, a second compensation value for the second alignment measurement; and performing the second patterning of a substrate based on the second alignment measurement and the second compensation value. |
| US09377700B2 |
Determining position and curvature information directly from a surface of a patterning device
Position and curvature information of a patterning device may be determined directly from the patterning device and controlled based on the determined information. In an embodiment, a lithographic apparatus includes a position determining system operative to determine a relative position of the patterning device. The patterning device may be configured to create a patterned radiation beam from a radiation beam incident on a major surface of the patterning device. The patterning device may have a side surface having an edge in common with the major surface. The position determining system may include an interferometer operative to transmit light to the side surface and to receive the transmitted light after the transmitted light has been reflected at the side surface. The position determining system is operative to determine a quantity representative of the relative position of the patterning device from the received reflected transmitted light. |
| US09377698B2 |
Movable body drive method and movable body drive system, pattern formation method and apparatus, exposure method and apparatus, device manufacturing method, and calibration method
A controller measures positional information of a stage within an XY plane using three encoders which at least include one each of an X encoder and a Y encoder of an encoder system, and the stage is driven in the XY plane, based on measurement results of the positional information and positional information (p1, q1), (p2, q2), and (p3, q3) in a surface parallel to the XY plane of a head (an encoder) used for measurement of the positional information. Accordingly, it becomes possible to control the movement of the stage with good precision, while switching the head (the encoder) used for control during the movement of the stage using the encoder system which includes a plurality of heads. |
| US09377695B2 |
Grazing incidence reflectors, lithographic apparatus, methods for manufacturing a grazing incidence reflector and methods for manufacturing a device
A grazing incidence reflector (300) for EUV radiation includes a first mirror layer (310) and a multilayer mirror structure (320) beneath the first mirror layer. The first mirror layer reflects at least partially EUV radiation incident on the reflector with grazing incidence angles in a first range, and the first mirror layer transmits EUV radiation in a second range of incidence angles, which overlaps and extends beyond the first range of incidence angles. The multilayer mirror structure reflects EUV radiation that is incident on the reflector with grazing incidence angles in a second range that penetrates through the first mirror layer. A grazing incidence reflector can be used in a lithographic apparatus and in manufacturing a device by a lithographic process. |
| US09377690B2 |
Compositon for forming metal oxide-containing film and patterning process
The invention provides a composition for forming a metal oxide-containing film comprising, as a component (A), a metal oxide-containing compound A1 obtained by hydrolysis and/or condensation of one or more kinds of hydrolysable metal compounds shown by the following general formula (A-1), as a component (B), an aromatic compound shown by the following general formula (B-1), the compound generating a hydroxyl group by thermal and/or an acid. There can be provided a composition for a resist lower layer film, which has high etching selectivity, capable of subjecting to stripping under mild conditions than the conventional process, has excellent pattern adhesiveness, and fine pattern formation can be performed. |
| US09377687B2 |
Method for manufacturing pattern using chemically amplified resist
A method of manufacturing a pattern includes forming a pattern material layer on a substrate, forming a protective layer on the pattern material layer, forming a resist layer on the protective layer, selectively exposing the resist layer to light, and developing the selectively exposed resist layer. |
| US09377683B2 |
Imprint template with optically-detectable alignment marks and method for making using block copolymers
A method using directed self-assembly of block copolymers (BCPs) for making an imprint template has the required patterns for both the features in the template's active area and the optically-detectable alignment marks in the template's non-active area. A chemical contrast pattern defined by a lithographic technique forms patterns of lines in both the active area and non-active area, as well as patterns of featureless gap regions in the non-active area. The pattern of lines has the BCP components aligned as lamellae perpendicular to the substrate, while the pattern of featureless gap regions has the BCP components aligned as lamellae parallel to the substrate. The patterns of lines and featureless gap regions in the non-active area define the optically detectable alignment marks. One of the BCP components is removed, leaving the other BCP component as an etch mask to fabricate the imprint template. |
| US09377674B2 |
Image display device
A projector includes a first light source group having a plurality of solid-state light sources, a second light source group having a plurality of solid-state light source, and emitting light having a peak wavelength on a longer wavelength side of that of the first light source group, a first regulation section adapted to cool the first light source group, a second regulation section adapted to cool the second light source group, and a control device adapted to control the first regulation section and the second regulation section, and the first regulation section and the second regulation section are controlled so as to approximate the peak wavelengths of the lights emitted respectively from the first light source group and the second light source group to each other when forming a two-dimensional image, or to make the peak wavelengths get further from each other when forming a three-dimensional image. |
| US09377673B2 |
Closed loop verification of rendered content
An electronic display device provides closed-loop verification that specific content has been displayed by the display device. When desired digital image content is rendered as an image or video by the electronic display device, a confirmation signal is generated by one or more components of the display device to verify that the image content has been successfully displayed. The confirmation signal may include performance measurements of the one or more components of the display device and/or a signature output that is associated with a signature code embedded in the image content. The signature output uniquely identifies the digital image content. |
| US09377667B2 |
Cascaded optical harmonic generation
Cascaded optical harmonic generators and methods for cascaded optical harmonic generation are disclosed. Relative disposition of individual harmonic generators of a cascaded harmonic generator in an optical path of the fundamental optical beam may be reversed. In a third harmonic generator, the fundamental optical beam may enter the third harmonic crystal first, and the second harmonic crystal second. When the fundamental optical beam enters the third harmonic crystal first, the fundamental light may remain non-depleted by second harmonic generation process. |
| US09377665B2 |
Optical modulator having a 2×2 coupler
An optical modulator includes: a substrate that has electrooptical effect and has a Mach-Zehnder modulator that has a 2×2 coupler acting as a splitter, two intermediate waveguides coupled to outputting waveguides of the splitter and another 2×2 coupler acting as a combiner coupled to the two intermediate waveguides; and a suppresser that suppresses a power of an output light from an uncoupled waveguide and an input light into the uncoupled waveguide of at least one of the 2×2 couplers in an extending direction of the Mach-Zehnder modulator. |
| US09377664B2 |
Photocromic composition
Provided is a photochromic composition which can function as an adhesive layer for bonding optical sheets made from a polycarbonate resin or the like and a laminated article using said composition exhibits excellent tight adhesion, heat resistance and photochromic properties. In particular, provided is a photochromic composition which can prevent an elution of the composition from the optical sheets when embedding and polymerizing in a polymerizable monomer. The photochromic composition comprises a polyurethane resin (A) having an isocyanurate structure and a photochromic compound (B). |
| US09377655B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display includes: a first insulation substrate; a first gate conductor disposed on the first insulation substrate and in a same layer as a gate line and a second gate conductor disposed on the first insulation substrate and in the same layer as the gate line; a gate insulating layer disposed on the first gate conductor and the second gate conductor; a data conductor disposed on the gate insulating layer and in a same layer as a data line; a thin film transistor disposed on the first insulation substrate; a first spacer disposed on the first insulation substrate; and a second spacer disposed on the first insulation substrate, where heights or widths of the first and second spacers are different from each other and having different heights or widths, and the second spacer overlaps the first gate conductor and the second gate conductor. |
| US09377654B2 |
System for display images
A system for displaying images including a display panel is provided. The display panel has a display area and a peripheral area. The display panel includes a metal layer disposed on a first substrate. A second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. A seal is disposed at the peripheral area and between the first and the second substrates and at the peripheral area. A patterned planarization layer is disposed on the first substrate. A passivation layer disposed between the seal and the first substrate, wherein the seal is in contact with a sidewall of the passivation layer. |
| US09377651B2 |
Cholesteric liquid display and method for preparing the same
Embodiments of the invention comprise a cholesteric liquid display and a method for preparing the same. The cholesteric liquid display comprises a first substrate; an electrode substrate opposite to the first substrate; and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer between the first substrate and the electrode substrate, wherein the cholesteric liquid crystal layer comprises at least one layer of cholesteric liquid crystal, and the same layer of cholesteric liquid crystal has different pitches in different regions so as to be capable of reflecting light of different colors, respectively. |
| US09377646B2 |
Capacitive touch sensor having oblique electrode matrix
Electrode matrices for capacitive touch-sensing are provided. An electrode matrix may include a plurality of column conductors having a first end and a second end formed along a central longitudinal axis. The column conductor may further include a column zigzag structure extending between the first end and the second end. The electrode matrix may further include a plurality of row conductors having a first end and a second end formed along a lateral axis. The row conductor may further include a row zigzag structure extending between the first end and second end. The zigzag structure of each of the plurality of column conductors may cross the zigzag structure of each of the plurality of row conductors in respective crossing regions that are formed at an intersection of the longitudinal axis of each column conductor and lateral axis of each row conductor. |
| US09377644B2 |
Display device
A TFT 1 is formed on a glass substrate 11, and a flattening resin film 17 covering the TFT 1 is formed. Furthermore, a moisture-proof protective film 18 covering the entire surface of the flattening resin film 17 is formed. For the protective film 18, a SiO2 film, a SiN film, a SiON film, or a stacked film thereof is used. The edge surfaces of the flattening resin film 17 are disposed on the inner side of or under a seal 4, and are formed in a tapered shape. By this, the entry of moisture into the flattening resin film 17 is prevented, preventing display degradation. This effect becomes noticeable in a display device including an oxide semiconductor TFT. |
| US09377643B2 |
Electro-optical device and electronic equipment
An electro-optical devices includes: a first substrate; a second substrate having one surface opposite to the first substrate; a support member configured to hold the first and second substrates with the second substrate located outside the first substrate, and to include a frame portion surrounding the first and second substrates; a first conductive film formed on the other surface of the second substrate; and a conductor layer placed between the frame portion and the first and second substrates, and electrically connected to the first conductive film. The first conductive film is held at a constant potential via the conductor layer. |
| US09377641B2 |
Tape package and display panel module having the same
A tape package includes a body portion including a flexible material, a driving circuit disposed on the body portion, a first sub-connection portion extending from the body portion in a first direction, a first main-connection portion extending from the first sub-connection portion in the first direction, a first lead line including a first end electrically connected to the driving circuit and a second end extending in the first direction, the first end being opposite to the second end and a protrusion extending from the first sub-connection portion in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction on a same plane with the first sub-connection portion. Accordingly, a crack of the lead line may be reduced or effectively prevented. |
| US09377637B2 |
Laser irradiation apparatus and bright point correction method for liquid crystal display panel using the same
The present invention is a laser irradiation apparatus which is capable of selecting a laser light of a wavelength among a plurality of laser lights having different wavelengths according to a purpose of irradiation and irradiating an object to be irradiated with the laser light having the wavelength. The laser irradiation apparatus includes, on an optical path of a mixed light beam of the plurality of laser lights having different wavelengths, a slit having a width corresponding to a diffraction limit of the laser light having the shortest wavelength among the plurality of laser lights having different wavelengths, and an objective lens for focusing a laser light that has passed through the slit on the object to be irradiated. |
| US09377632B2 |
Lens driving device with 3D elastic support structure
A lens driving device includes a lens holder for holding a lens having an optical axis; a focusing coil disposed at a periphery of the lens with respect to the optical axis; an optical image stabilizer (OIS) coil structure including a plurality of coils; a circuit structure connected electrically to the OIS coil structure and taking control thereof; a plurality of magnets; and an elastic support structure, having an upper plate spring portion and a plurality of suspension wires, wherein each suspension wire is disposed substantially parallel with the optical axis and integrally formed with the upper plate spring portion at one end and connected electrically to the circuit structure at the other end. |
| US09377628B2 |
Laser game marker
The laser game marker comprises a battery compartment, flexible tube, and laser compartment. A reversible spike in the battery compartment allows the device to securely attach to a tree, wood, or other porous surface. The flexible tube allows the laser to point or mark the freshly killed game while hunting. The laser game marker is a device for marking the exact position of the first shot or freshly killed game. |
| US09377620B2 |
Optical scanning device, image forming apparatus, aperture fixing method
An optical scanning device includes a cylindrical aperture, a support member, and a base portion. In the aperture, an opening portion restricts a beam path width of a laser beam emitted from a light source. The support member includes a cylinder supporting portion that pivotably supports the aperture. To the base portion, the support member is fixed by adhesion fixing. The base portion includes a pass-through portion that passes through between front and rear surfaces of the base portion and allows the support member to move in direction perpendicular to a pivoting axis of the aperture. The support member has a length such that its lower end portion projects from a rear surface of the base portion in the state where the support member has been inserted in the pass-through portion to such a position where laser beam is incident in the opening portion of the aperture. |
| US09377617B2 |
Plasmonic plate for generating optical vortices
A plasmonic plate for generating optical vortices, formed by electrically conducting material and defining a plurality of slots that convert a first electromagnetic field having a non-null spin angular momentum into a second electromagnetic field having a non-null orbital angular momentum. |
| US09377614B2 |
Active space telescope with suspended mirror
An active space telescope intended to be mounted on a satellite and comprising at least one mirror, a mechanism for servo-controlling the mirror according to at least three degrees of freedom which comprises actuators and a support fixed to the actuators, an interface for fixing the mirror to the servo-control mechanism. The interface is a suspension system of predetermined stiffness which allows dynamic displacements of the mirror relative to the servo-control mechanism, and the telescope comprises means for limiting these dynamic displacements in the form of elastic abutments and means of cooperation with these elastic abutments. |
| US09377611B2 |
Light-source including a planar array of diode-laser bars
A light-source includes a planar array of diode-laser bars and a plurality of turning-mirrors arranged to stack beams from the diode-laser bars in the fast-axis direction to provide a first combined beam. Six plane mirrors are arranged to divide the combined beam into three beam-slices, each having one-third the slow-axis width of the first combined beam, and add the beam-slices in the fast-axis direction to provide a second combined beam having about one-third the slow-axis width and three-times the fast-axis length of those of the first combined beam. A spherical mirror and a cylindrical mirror focus the second combined beam into an optical fiber. |
| US09377610B2 |
External beam delivery system for laser dark-field illumination in a catadioptric optical system
A catadioptric objective configured to inspect a specimen is provided. The catadioptric objective includes a Mangin element having one surface at a first axial location and an extension element positioned together with the Mangin element. The extension element provides a second surface at a second axial location. Certain light energy reflected from the specimen passes to the second surface of the extension element, the Mangin element, and through a plurality of lenses. An aspheric surface may be provided, and light energy may be provided to the specimen using diverting elements such as prisms or reflective surfaces. |
| US09377609B2 |
Imaging element array and image forming apparatus
An imaging element array includes a plurality of imaging elements that are arranged side by side. Each imaging element is integrally molded and includes an incident surface, an emission surface, and a plurality of reflective surfaces which is provided between the incident surface and the emission surface. The imaging element includes a first reflective element. In the first reflective element, at least one of the plurality of reflective surfaces is formed on a top of a convex portion which protrudes outwardly and has reflective sidewalls extending therefrom. In the first reflective element, a width of the reflective surface, which is formed on the top of the convex portion, in an arrangement direction thereof is less than a distance from an entrance into the concave portion to the top of the convex surface. |
| US09377606B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup device including the same
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side: first and second lens units having negative and positive refractive powers, respectively; a middle lens group; and a final lens unit having a positive refractive power, wherein the middle lens group comprises a focus lens unit that has a negative refractive power and moves toward the image side during focusing from infinity to a short distance, the intervals between adjacent lens units vary during at least one of zooming and focusing, and wherein the focal length fimg of the final lens unit, the focal length ff of the focus lens unit, and the focal length fw of the entire system at the wide angle end are appropriately configured. |
| US09377602B2 |
Imaging lens, and electronic apparatus including the same
An imaging lens includes a first lens element, an aperture stop, and second to fifth lens elements arranged from an object side to an image side in the given order. Through designs of surfaces of the lens elements and relevant optical parameters, a short system length of the imaging lens may be achieved while maintaining good optical performance. |
| US09377600B2 |
Mounts for an optical structure having a grooved protruding member with a damping ring disposed in or on the groove and methods of mounting an optical structure using such mounts
An improved mount for, and method of mounting, an optical structure having a grooved/relieved protruding member with a damping ring therein or on is provided. The grooved/relieved protruding member may extend from the optical structure, and an upper element having a first opening extending therethrough may receive at least a portion of the grooved/relieved member in the first opening. The upper element may include second and third openings therein that operate along with the first opening and a tightening mechanism. Tightening of the tightening mechanism into at least one of the third opening and the second opening causes the ends of the head portions to draw toward each other so that the first opening of the upper element tightens around the at least a portion of the grooved/relieved protruding member. |
| US09377599B2 |
Methods and systems for distributing fiber optic telecommunications services to local area
A fiber optic drop terminal assembly includes a housing, a spool and a fiber optic distribution cable. The housing has a first exterior surface and an oppositely disposed second exterior surface. A plurality of ruggedized adapters is mounted on the first exterior surface of the housing. The ruggedized adapters include a first port accessible from outside the housing and a second port accessible from inside the housing. The spool is engaged with the second exterior surface and includes a drum portion. The fiber distribution cable is coiled around the drum portion. The distribution cable includes a first end and an oppositely disposed second end. The second end is disposed inside the housing. |
| US09377594B2 |
Two-dimensional, high-density optical connector
An optical connector includes a two-dimensional array of lenses to couple optical signals between an optical integrated circuit and an optical fiber. The optical connector has a total-internal-reflection or mirror surface that redirects light between lenses at different surfaces of the optical connector. The lens arrays collimate light directed toward the reflection surface and focuses light received from the reflection surface. The two-dimensional array and prism allows for a low-profile, high-density optical connector based on free space optical light propagation. |
| US09377593B2 |
System and method of estimating beam mode content for waveguide alignment
Alignment of a multimode waveguide to a source of light or another waveguide is evaluated using a multi-wavelength light source and a modal decomposition processing of an intensity profile of a waveguide output beam, wherein inter-modal interference is averaged out over wavelength. Fitting a superposition of mode intensity profiles to a wavelength-averaged intensity profile of the output beam provides information about the modal composition of the output beam, which may be used to assess the alignment of the multimode waveguide with respect to the input light beam, and to provide a feedback for guiding a waveguide alignment process. |
| US09377592B2 |
Optical coupling element and optical-electrical converting module having same
An optical coupling element includes a main body, first and second converging lenses. The main body includes a first optical surface, a second optical surface perpendicular to the first optical surface, and a reflective surface tilted relative to the first and second optical surfaces. The main body defines positioning holes adjacent to the first optical surface, and avoiding grooves in sidewalls of the positioning holes and communicated with the positioning holes. The first converging lens is formed on the first optical surface. The second converging lens is formed on the second optical surface and corresponding to the first converging lens one by one. The first converging lens, the reflective surface, and the second converging lens cooperatively form an optical path. |
| US09377590B2 |
Device for an optical-fiber connection
Device for the coaxial connection of fiber-optic cables, comprising a single-piece coupling housing (10) and a single-piece sleeve mount (20), the sleeve mount (20) being designed with at least one latching nose (21) and the coupling housing (10) being designed with at least one latching mount which complements the at least one latching nose (21), wherein the latching mount is designed with at least one latching hook (14) and at least one stop (15). |
| US09377589B2 |
Small-form-factor fiber optic interface devices with an internal lens
Small-form-factor fiber optic interface devices with an internal lens are disclosed. The fiber optic interface devices have a ferrule with a bore that supports an optical waveguide. The lens is on or adjacent the ferrule front end and is aligned with the bore. A first planar surface is provided on or adjacent the lens. The first planar surface interfaces with a second planar surface of a second fiber optic interface device to form a fiber optic interface assembly having a liquid-displacing interface when the first and second fiber optic interface devices are engaged. |
| US09377588B2 |
Ferrule and optical-fiber-attached ferrule
A ferrule of the invention includes: a ferrule main body having a front edge and a rear edge; a fiber insertion hole into which an optical fiber is to be inserted; a recess provided at a top surface of the ferrule main body, having a reflection surface converting an optical path of a front end of the optical fiber into an optical path of a light emission-launch end provided at a lower surface side of the ferrule main body; a light emission-launch portion provided on the optical path of the light emission-launch end at a lower surface of the ferrule main body; a locating pin provided closer to the front edge than the light emission-launch portion at the lower surface of the ferrule main body; and a recessed portion provided between the locating pin at the lower surface of the ferrule main body and the light emission-launch portion. |
| US09377587B2 |
Fiber optic coupler array
An assembly includes optical fibers each having a waveguide core, a photonic integrated circuit (IC) that includes in-plane waveguides corresponding to the optical fibers, and a substrate bonded to the photonic IC with grooves that support the optical fibers. The substrate and photonic IC can have metal bumps that cooperate to provide mechanical bonding and electrical connections between the substrate and photonic IC. Portions of the optical fibers supported by the substrate grooves can define flat surfaces spaced from the optical fiber cores. The photonic IC can include passive waveguide structures with a first coupling section that interfaces to the flat surface of a corresponding optical fiber (for evanescent coupling of optical signals) and a second coupling section that interfaces to a corresponding in-plane waveguide (for adiabatic spot-size conversion of optical signals). |
| US09377585B2 |
Cable assembly
A cable assembly can include a single C form-factor pluggable (CFP) connector adhering to a CFP multi-source agreement (MSA), and providing a maximum bandwidth of between 100 and 120 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) over ten-to-twelve lanes. The cable assembly can include, for instance, one, two, or three quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP/QSFP+) connectors adhering to a QSFP/QSFP+ MSA, and each providing a maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps over four lanes. The cable assembly can include one or more cables equal in number to the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors and each connecting the single CFP connector to the one of the QSFP/QSFP+ connectors. The four lanes over which each QSFP/QSFP+ connector provides the maximum bandwidth of forty Gbps corresponds to a different four of the ten-to-twelve lanes over which the single CFP connector provides the maximum bandwidth of between 100 and 120 Gbps. |
| US09377582B2 |
Substrate, related device, and related manufacturing method
A method for manufacturing a substrate may include processing a substrate material member to form a first remaining portion. The first remaining portion has a first cavity. A sidewall the first cavity is oriented at a first angle with respect to at least one of a horizontal plane and a bottom side of the first remaining portion. The method may further include providing a sacrificial material member in the first cavity. The method may further include processing the sacrificial material member when processing the first remaining portion to remove the sacrificial material member and to form a second remaining portion. The second remaining portion has a second cavity. A sidewall the second cavity is oriented at a second angle with respect to at least one of the horizontal plane and a bottom side of the second remaining portion. The second angle is smaller than the first angle. |
| US09377581B2 |
Enhancing the performance of light sensors that receive light signals from an integrated waveguide
The light sensor and waveguide are positioned on a base such that a light signal guided by the waveguide is received at the light sensor. The waveguide includes a taper configured such that a ratio of a width of the waveguide at a first location in the taper:the width of the waveguide at a second location in the taper is greater than 1.2:1 where a length of the taper between the first location and the second location is less than 60 μm. |
| US09377570B2 |
Polarizing film with adhesive layer and image display apparatus
A pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-attached polarizing film of the present invention includes a polarizing film and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on the polarizing film, wherein the polarizing film includes a polarizer with a thickness of 10 μm or less and a transparent protective film or films provided on one or both sides of the polarizer, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is formed from a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition containing a (meth)acryl-based polymer (A) and an ionic compound (B). The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer-attached polarizing film has an antistatic function and exhibits durability. |
| US09377569B2 |
Photochromic ophthalmic systems that selectively filter specific blue light wavelengths
Ophthalmic systems are provided that include both a photochromic component and a blue-blocking component. |
| US09377567B1 |
Self-forming diffraction gratings
A diffraction grating and a method for fabricating the diffraction grating. In one embodiment, a layer of photo-monomer is applied to a substrate and the photomonomer is exposed to a collimated beam of light to form the diffraction grating. The intensity of the collimated beam of light incident on the layer of photo-monomer may have substantially no spatial variation across the first collimated beam of light. |
| US09377566B1 |
Flexible irradiance in laser imaging
An optical processing system for processing an input beam for processing a target, the optical processing system comprising a beam shaping system configured to receive the input beam and to shape the irradiance profile thereof into a beam shaping system output beam, and an optical imaging system configured to receive the beam shaping system output beam and to image the beam shaping system output beam to a target, wherein the imaged beam shaping system output beam provides an irradiance profile configured to produce a predetermined temperature profile associated with the target. |
| US09377564B2 |
Anti-reflective lenses and methods for manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a method of applying an anti-reflective coating to an optical surface of a mold. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a lens mold having an optical surface; forming a layer of a hydrophobic material over the optical surface, wherein the hydrophobic material contains an amount of dipodal silane that is a relative percentage of the hydrophobic material; forming an anti-reflective coating layered structure over the layer of the hydrophobic material; and forming a layer of a coupling agent deposited with a monolayer thickness to the anti-reflective coating layered structure using vapor deposition under aprotic conditions or by dip coating using a solution of a coupling agent in an aprotic solvent. |
| US09377563B2 |
Hardcoats comprising perfluoropolyether polymers with poly(alkylene oxide) repeat units
Presently described are articles, such as optical displays and protective films, comprising a (e.g. light transmissive) substrate having a surface layer comprising the reaction product of a mixture comprising a non-fluorinated binder precursor (e.g. of a hardcoat composition) and at least one polymerizable perfluoropolyether polymer. The resulting cured surface layer can advantageously exhibit low lint attraction in combination with low surface energy. Also described are one-step and two-step methods of synthesizing perfluoropolyether polymers having polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated groups. |
| US09377561B2 |
Feedthrough assembly for well-logging tool
A well-logging tool for a geological formation has a housing to be positioned within a borehole and has first and second openings. A feedthrough assembly includes an elongate electrical conductor having opposing first and second ends and a medial portion extending therebetween. An integrally formed, monolithic, dielectric layer surrounds the elongate electrical conductor and includes a first enlarged diameter end portion surrounding the first end of the elongate electrical conductor and is positioned within the first opening. A second enlarged diameter end portion surrounds the second end of the elongate electrical conductor and is positioned within the second opening. A reduced diameter portion surrounds the medial portion of the elongate electrical conductor. |
| US09377559B2 |
Acoustic sensing system and method of acoustically monitoring a tool
An acoustic sensing system includes, an optical fiber, a plurality of pairs of reflectors distributed along the optical fiber at specific areas where acoustic energy data is sought, a source of coherent radiation in operable communication with the optical fiber, and a detector in operable communication with the optical fiber configured to detect a different wavelength of coherent radiation reflected from each of the plurality of pairs of reflectors including a portion of the coherent radiation reflected from the reflector nearer the detector after having reflected from the reflector further from the detector that define one of the pairs of reflectors. |
| US09377554B2 |
Pore parameters and hydraulic parameters from electric impedance spectra
The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for estimating electrical impedance spectra and pore parameters. The method may include estimating electrical impedance spectra using an estimated average ion concentration in pores within an earth formation. The method may also include estimating electrical impedance information about the earth formation; and estimating at least one parameter of interest by comparing the electrical impedance information with the estimated electrical impedance spectra. The apparatus may include at least one processor. The apparatus may also include an electrical impedance tool configured for use in a borehole. |
| US09377551B2 |
Method of borehole seismic surveying using an optical fiber
A method of detecting seismic waves traveling through a subsurface formation includes lowering a cable into a borehole in the subsurface formation, the cable having at least one optical fiber associated therewith, and causing descent of a remote end of the cable to be arrested. The method further includes feeding a further length of the cable into the borehole such that the cable is slack and in contact with at least part of a wall of the borehole, and using an interrogator coupled to the at least one optical fiber to detect seismic waves traveling through the subsurface formation and into the cable. |
| US09377545B2 |
Streamer design for geophysical prospecting
An apparatus is disclosed that includes a solid-core streamer with particle motion sensors disposed within the solid core. Some embodiments may additionally include one or more pressure sensors that are disposed outside of the solid core. In some embodiments, the apparatus may also include one or more electromagnetic sensors. Also disclosed are various methods of operating an apparatus that includes a streamer with particle motion sensors disposed within the solid core of the streamer. |
| US09377544B2 |
Gas-tight packaging of detectors
An atomic particle detection assembly includes one or more detectors that detect atomic particles. The detectors are positioned within a first chamber having a first operating pressure. The atomic particle detection assembly includes a junction apparatus supporting the detectors. The junction apparatus defines a second chamber having a second operating pressure that is different from the first operating pressure. Sensing electronics are attached to the detectors and the sensing electronics are housed within the second chamber of the junction apparatus. |
| US09377543B2 |
Charge sensors using inverted lateral bipolar junction transistors
A sensor includes a collector, an emitter and a base-region barrier formed as an inverted bipolar junction transistor having a base substrate forming a base electrode to activate the inverted bipolar junction transistor. A level surface is formed by the collector, the emitter and the base-region barrier opposite the base substrate such that when the level surface is exposed to charge, the charge is measured during operation of the bipolar junction transistor. |
| US09377540B2 |
Radiation detection apparatus
A radiation detection apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a scintillator; a photon detection device array including a plurality of cells each being a photon detection device with an avalanche photodiode configured to detect visible radiation photons emitted from the scintillator and a resistor disposed along a part of a periphery of an active region of the avalanche photodiode; and a reflector configured to reflect a visible radiation photon and disposed in a region that does not include the active regions and the resistors of the cells, on a face including the active regions. |
| US09377539B2 |
X-ray detection board and manufacture method thereof, and X-ray detection device
An X-ray detection board and a manufacture method thereof, and an X-ray detection device are disclosed in the embodiments of the present invention. The X-ray detection board comprises: a substrate; photoelectric conversion devices disposed on the substrate; a conversion layer disposed on the photoelectric conversion devices and configured to convert X-rays into visible light; and a packaging layer disposed on the conversion layer and having a plurality of transmission windows, wherein the photoelectric conversion devices correspond in position to the transmission windows, respectively, and wherein condenser lenses for condensing the light converted by the conversion layer are disposed on sides of the photoelectric conversion devices facing the transmission windows. A light condensing effect is improved by use of the condenser lenses such as microlenses so that more light can be projected upon the photoelectric conversion devices through the condenser lenses. As a result, a quantum efficiency and thus an imaging effect are improved. |
| US09377533B2 |
Three-dimensional triangulation and time-of-flight based tracking systems and methods
A three-dimension position tracking system is presented. The system includes transmitters and receivers. A transmitter scans continuous or pulsed coherent light beams across a target. The receiver detects the reflected beams. The system recursively determines the location of the target, as a function of time, via triangulation and observation of the time-of-flight of the incoming and outgoing beams. The transmitter includes ultra-fast scanning optics to scan the receiver's field-of-view. The receiver includes arrays of ultra-fast photosensitive pixels. The system determines the angles of the incoming beams based on the line-of-sight of the triggered pixels. By observing the incoming angles and correlating timestamps associated with the outgoing and incoming beams, the system accurately, and in near real-time, determines the location of the target. By combining the geometry of the scattered beams, as well as the beams' time-of-flight, ambiguities inherent to triangulation and ambiguities inherent to time-of-flight location methods are resolved. |
| US09377532B2 |
TOf distance sensor and method for operation thereof
A TOF distance sensor is proposed, for measuring a distance from an object, comprising an electronics apparatus for generating a modulation signal and for generating four correlation signals, which are phase shifted with respect to one another and which have the same period as the modulation signal; a radiation source for emitting radiation, which is modulated by the modulation signal; a reception apparatus, which has a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to the radiation source, for receiving radiation reflected by the object; a correlation apparatus for correlating the received radiation or a corresponding variable with respectively one of the four correlation signals in order to form four corresponding correlation values; a difference-forming apparatus for forming two difference correlation values from the difference between respectively two of the correlation values; a calculation apparatus embodied to calculate the distance with a predetermined linear dependence on the two difference correlation values. |
| US09377531B2 |
Alternative installation of a concealed ultrasonic sensor in the motor vehicle
The invention relates to an ultrasonic sensor arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle (1) with a cladding component (4, 5, 8, 9) and a first ultrasonic sensor (10 to 13), which with its membrane is disposed on a rear side of the cladding component (4, 5, 8, 9), so that the membrane is designed for transmitting and/or receiving ultrasonic signals through the cladding component (4, 5, 8, 9), whereinthe cladding component (4, 5, 8, 9) is a wing (4, 5, 8, 9) for the motor vehicle (1). |
| US09377529B2 |
On-board meteorological radar having a rotating antenna
A meteorological radar installed on board an aircraft, including a mechanical support fixed to a bulkhead of a nose of the aircraft, wherein an antenna is mounted on the mechanical support to enable turning mobility around an axis of rotation. The antenna includes a pedestal, on which at least one blade, extending radially along the axis of rotation, is installed. A free side of the blade, along which a plurality of radiating elements is distributed, perceptibly has the shape of a portion of conic in a plane including the axis of rotation. Because the blade is mobile only in rotation along the axis of rotation, and the selection of the emission/reception direction is performed electronically, not mechanically, the space and length requirements of the meteorological radar are fixed, whether the meteorological radar is in operation or not, and are determined based on the eccentricity and parameter of the conic. |
| US09377528B2 |
Roaming mobile sensor platform for collecting geo-referenced data and creating thematic maps
A roaming sensor system collects data on the condition of roads and bridge decks and identifies and maps defects, including cracks, potholes, debonding, tracking, delamination, surface ice, surface water, and rebar corrosion. Data are collected by a vehicle or a fleet of vehicles driven at normal traffic speeds. The vehicle is outfitted with sensors that collect data using acoustic surface waves, ground penetrating radar, mm wave surface radar, and/or video images. The data are transmitted to a control center for analysis and distribution. |
| US09377527B2 |
Method and apparatus for enhanced multi-node utilization of an electromagnetic state space
Methods and systems are provided for efficiently packing nodes within an electromagnetic state space. |
| US09377517B2 |
Method of dynamically compensating for magnetic field heterogeneity in magnetic resonance imaging
A method to compensate for the magnetic field heterogeneity inside an object of investigation in a MR device obtains an uncorrected magnetic field distribution of the object and executes an MR sequence with a desired k-space coverage by applying RF pulses to generate a transverse magnetization within the object. MR signal data is recorded, magnetic field shimming parameters are dynamically updated and MR signal data are reconstructed to produce images or localized spectroscopic data. Artifacts in a reconstructed image resulting from an uncorrected magnetic field distribution are suppressed by temporally separating MR signals originating from at least two different sub-volumes within a volume of transverse magnetization by generating a nonlinear phase distribution within the object and by dynamically updating shimming parameters to compensate for the field inhomogeneity distributions within the different sub-volumes in the volume of transverse magnetization. |
| US09377511B2 |
Coverage enhancement and power aware clock system for structural delay-fault test
Methods and devices applying to a clock system of scan circuits to enhance the test coverage for structural delay-fault tests are provided. According to an aspect, a method applying to a clock system of a scan circuit of a scan test containing one or more clock gating cells includes at any stage of the scan test outputting a controllable waveform of a clock signal at each clock gating cell, and eliminating a partially enabled clock signal during a capture cycle at each clock gating cell. |
| US09377509B2 |
Core wrapper link instruction register controls responsive to select signal
A test architecture accesses IP core test wrappers within an IC using a Link Instruction Register (LIR). An IEEE P1500 standard is in development for providing test access to these individual cores via a test structure called a wrapper. The wrapper resides at the boundary of the core and provides a way to test the core and the interconnections between cores. The test architecture enables each of the plural wrappers in the IC, including wrappers in cores embedded within other cores, with separate enable signals. |
| US09377507B2 |
Processor device with instruction trace capabilities
A processor device with debug capabilities has a central processing unit, debug circuitry including a trace module and an external interface, wherein the trace module generates a trace stream including information about executed instructions, wherein the trace stream is output through the external interface, and wherein the trace module is further operable to detect a trigger signal and upon detection to insert a trace packet into the generated trace stream. |
| US09377500B2 |
Equipment and a plug-in unit of the equipment
Equipment including at least one plug-in unit (102) and a body device (101) for receiving the plug-in unit is presented. The equipment includes a circuit (124) including a test signal generator for supplying a test signal to a measurement circuit including galvanic contacts provided by electrical connectors between the body device and a plug-in unit so that the test signal belongs at least partly to a frequency band used in data transfer between the plug-in unit and the body device. The equipment includes a monitoring circuit for generating a signal indicative of a difference between a quantity responsive to the test signal and a reference. As the test signal belongs at least partly to the frequency band used in the data transfer, the quality of the galvanic contacts between the body device and the plug-in unit can be monitored concerning the behavior on the data transfer frequency band. |
| US09377493B2 |
Hardware de-convolution block for multi-phase scanning
Apparatus and methods of de-convolution for multi-phase scans of an array of electrodes are described. One programmable circuit includes a sequencer to initiate a multi-phase transmit (TX) scan of an array of electrodes to obtain capacitance data. The capacitance data is stored in one or more storage devices as convoluted capacitance data. The programmable circuit also includes a digital circuit block to read the convoluted capacitance data from the one or more storage devices, de-convolve the convoluted capacitance data to obtain de-convoluted capacitance data, and store the de-convoluted capacitance data in the one or more storage devices. |
| US09377488B2 |
Simple generation of a remote-control sequence for measuring devices
A measuring device provides a central data-processing unit, a control unit and at least one memory unit. The control unit and the at least one memory unit are connected to the central data-processing unit. At a given time, the control unit compares the adjustable parameters of the measuring device with parameters for a basic setting of the measuring device and generates control commands for the adjustment of the deviating parameters, or the control unit registers the parameter changes from a given time and generates control commands from these in order to adjust the changed parameters. |
| US09377485B2 |
Handheld measurement system with selectable options
In at least one embodiment, a handheld measurement system for receiving measurement data. The handheld measurement system generates a measurement image derived from the received measurement data. The handheld measurement system also generates a plurality of option images that each correspond to a particular option. A touch screen is coupled to the measurement device, and the touch screen displays the measurement image and the option images. The displayed option images are selectable, and the measurement device is configured to modify the measurement image in response to a selection. |
| US09377484B2 |
Physical quantity sensor and electronic apparatus
A physical quantity sensor includes: a first substrate including a first fixed electrode portion disposed on a first base surface and a first through-hole penetrating the front and rear of the substrate; a second substrate including a second fixed electrode portion disposed on a second base surface and a second through-hole penetrating the front and rear of the substrate, the second base surface being arranged to face the first base surface; and a movable body arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate with gaps and including a movable electrode portion facing the first fixed electrode portion and the second fixed electrode portion. In the first through-hole, a first through-electrode electrically connected with the first fixed electrode portion is disposed. In the second through-hole, a second through-electrode electrically connected with the second fixed electrode portion is disposed. |
| US09377483B2 |
Method for the decoupled control of the quadrature and the resonance frequency of a micro-mechanical gyroscope
A method for the precise measuring operation of a micro-mechanical rotation rate sensor, including at least one seismic mass, at least one drive device for driving the seismic mass in the primary mode (qi) and at least three trimming electrode elements which are jointly associated directly or indirectly with the seismic mass. An electric trimming voltage (u1, u2, u3, u4) is set respectively between said trimming electrode elements and the seismic mass. Each of the electric trimming voltages (u1, u2, u3, u4) are adjusted in accordance with a resonance frequency variable (ũT, ŨT,0), a quadrature variable (ũT, ŨT,0) and a restoring variable (ũS). |
| US09377480B2 |
Specimen storage device, specimen storing method, and specimen testing system
A specimen storage device capable of easily identifying a specific specimen plate stored in a rack is proposed. The specimen storage device for storing a tested specimen plate in a rack capable of storing a plurality of specimen plates, the specimen storage device including specimen storage section configured to store the specimen plate in the rack, and a control section configured to control the specimen storage section to store a specific specimen plate, whose test result satisfies a predetermined condition, in the rack in a manner distinguishable from a one or more specimen plate, whose test result does not satisfy the predetermined condition. |
| US09377479B2 |
System and method for the automated processing of fluids, method for determining the matching of objects
A system and method for the automated processing of fluids according to a process operation plan involving the use of preloaded objects, which are to be present in target object positions, are disclosed. The system includes: a processing area in which objects to be used for the processing of fluids are located; at least one ultrasonic sensor for determining the presence of objects by acoustical waves; a positioning device to which the ultrasonic sensor is fixed and which moves the ultrasonic sensor in at least one direction relative to the processing area; a control computer determining the presence of objects and determining if objects are present in target object positions in the processing area as defined by the process operation plan; a pipetting device for pipetting of fluids between cavities located in the processing area; and an analytical or pre-analytical processing device for processing of fluids located in the processing area. |
| US09377477B2 |
Analysis device and reagent container
An analysis device for particle analysis, configured in such a manner that a reagent container is set in the device by inserting the reagent container from a side surface of the device toward the inside thereof, the reagent container having, near the forward end thereof, a suction pipe entrance portion into which a suction pipe can enter. The analysis device is provided with: a reagent container holding portion which holds the reagent container inserted from the suction pipe entrance portion side; and the suction pipe which enters, from above, the suction pipe entrance portion of the reagent container held by the reagent container holding portion and which sucks a reagent within the reagent container. The reagent container holding portion includes a guide member for guiding the insertion of the reagent container, which is inserted from the suction pipe entrance portion side, into the reagent container holding portion. |
| US09377473B2 |
Immunoassays and methods of detecting and measuring intact fibroblast growth factor 23, and C-terminal and N-terminal fragments thereof
Immunoassays and methods for detecting and quantifying biological levels of intact fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-23, as well as the N-terminal and C-terminal fragments thereof in a biological sample. The relative amounts or ratios of FGF-23 relative the N-terminal and C-terminal fragments can also be determined. The systems and methods deploy antibodies that are specific to antigenic regions formed upon either the N-terminal or C-terminal regions of FGF-23 and are systematically applied such that intact FGF-23 and the fragments thereof can be detected and quantified. In certain embodiments, dissimilar labels conjugated to tracer antibodies or labeled antibodies specific to N-terminal and/or C-terminal tracer antibodies are utilized to facilitate detection and quantification of both whole length FGF-23 and any fragments thereof. |
| US09377472B2 |
Biological complex specific for Alzheimer's disease detection in vitro and use thereof
A biomarker for Alzheimer's disease (AD) comprising a complex of an Aβ amyloid peptide and a cell or a cellular membrane. Non-invasive methods for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease or monitoring its development or progression using this biomarker. |
| US09377466B2 |
Compounds and methods
A molecular tool for use in a method of providing a molecule that is capable of binding a target molecule based on a set of polypeptides. A polypeptide having a sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs 1-32. The polypeptide may be used in a method of screening for a ligand-polypeptide conjugate capable of binding a target molecule for the ligand. A ligand-polypeptide conjugate, useful e.g. in therapy. |
| US09377463B2 |
Method for biomarker and drug-target discovery for prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as biomarker assays determined therewith
The invention relates to a method for the determination of a cancer diagnostic/therapeutic biomarker assay and drug-targets including the following steps: (a) identification of potential candidate protein/peptide biomarkers and drug-targets based on the measurement of protein/peptide constituent concentrations in tissue sample proteomes as well as serum, plasma or any other derivatives of blood, or blood itself sample proteomes derived from healthy non-human mammalian individuals as well as from cancerous non-human mammalian individuals and qualitatively selecting as potential candidate protein/peptide biomarkers those which show a pronounced differential behavior between healthy and cancerous sample proteomes; (b) optional verification of the potential candidate protein/peptide biomarkers as identified in step (a) by quantitative mass spectrometric measurement of the potential candidate protein biomarkers in serum, plasma or any other derivatives of blood, or blood itself sample proteomes derived from healthy non-human mammalian individuals as well as from cancerous non-human mammalian individuals and selecting as candidate protein/peptide biomarkers those which show a mass-spectrometrically measurable quantitative differential behavior between healthy and cancerous sample proteomes; (c) validation of the candidate protein/peptide biomarkers as identified in step (a), or as optionally verified in step (b), by mass spectrometric measurement and/or antibody-based assays such as an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) determination of the candidate protein biomarkers in serum, plasma or any other derivatives of blood, or blood itself sample proteomes derived from healthy human individuals as well as from cancerous human individuals and selecting as protein/peptide biomarkers those which show a mass-spectrometrically measurable and/or antibody-based assay detectable differential behavior between healthy and cancerous sample proteomes; (d) application of statistical methods to uncover single or groups of protein/peptide biomarkers as validated in step (c) as signatures for the detection of patients with cancer. The invention furthermore relates to specific biomarker assays for the highly reliable diagnosis of cancer, specifically of localized or non-localized prostate cancer, using human serum, plasma or any other derivatives of blood, or blood itself. |
| US09377460B2 |
Diagnostic mycobacterium tuberculosis test
A method of diagnosing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a human, or of determining whether a human has been exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, comprising (i) contacting T-cells from said human with one or more of (a) a peptide having the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO 20, (b) a peptide having or comprising the sequence of at least 8 consecutive amino acids of the sequence shown in SEQ. ID NO 20; or (c) a peptide having or comprising a sequence which is capable of binding to a T-cell receptor which recognizes a peptide as defined in (a) or (b); and (ii) determining whether any of the said T-cells recognize said peptide, wherein steps (i) and (ii) are optionally carried out in vitro. The peptide is the product of the RV3615c gene. |
| US09377459B2 |
Methods for diagnosing pervasive development disorders, dysautonomia and other neurological conditions
Methods for aiding in the diagnosis of disorders including, but not limited to, PDDs (Pervasive Development Disorders), Dysautonomic disorders, Parkinson's disease and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). In one aspect, a diagnosis method comprises analyzing a stool sample of an individual for the presence of a biological marker (or marker compound) comprising one or more pathogens, which provides an indication of whether the individual has, or can develop, a disorder including, but not limited to, a PDD, Dysautonomia, Parkinsons disease and SIDS. Preferably, the presence of one or more pathogens is determined using a stool immunoassay to determine the presence of antigens in a stool sample, wherein such antigens are associated with one or more pathogens including, but not limited to, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, E. histolytica, C. difficile, Adenovirus, Rotavirus or H. pylori. |
| US09377457B1 |
Progressive compression driven flow cartridge for analyte detecting strip and method
A cartridge and method for conducting a labeled molecular affinity binding test such as antibody/antigen, ligand/receptor, and colorometric reactions, and other chemical reactions for which one or more analytes is present in a liquid sample formate. A progressive compression structure progressively forces a liquid flow out of a conjugate pad toward a reaction region to more thoroughly and rapidly mix the liquid, encouraging specific first affinity binding to the analytes in question. A specially dimensioned constricting passageway surrounding the reaction region including the result zones provides an additional siphoning force to the flow. These combined forces rapidly and more evenly guide the flow of liquid through the reaction region so that the rushed rate of uptake of analytes at the strip lines are more evenly distributed, adhesive attachment of non-specific molecules is largely avoided, vastly improving sensitivity and specificity, and providing quantitative results in some tests. |
| US09377452B2 |
Method for monitoring the use of a consumable in a disposable design in one or more analyzers
A method for monitoring the use of a consumable in a disposable design in multiple analyzers is disclosed. The method provides a disposable consumable; uses the consumable as intended during operation of the first analyzer; and collects usage-relevant information for the consumable concerning the intended use of the consumable during operation of the first analyzer. Usage-relevant data derived from the usage-relevant information is stored in a memory unit assigned to the consumable. The consumable may be removed and again provided in the first or second analyzer. The first or second analyzer partially reads the usage-relevant data from the memory unit, evaluates the usage-relevant data, and derives control signals concerning the permissibility and/or type of a further intended use of the consumable during operation of the analyzer as a reaction to the evaluation of the read usage-relevant data. |
| US09377436B2 |
Electrophoresis gel cassette and a method of filling an electrophoresis gel cassette
Electrophoresis gel cassette comprising a cassette housing defining a gel compartment for molding a gel member wherein the gel compartment comprises a fill port at an inlet end of the gel compartment and one or more over-fill ports at a distal end of the gel compartment with respect to a filling direction, and wherein the over-fill port(s) is arranged in fluidic communication with an overfill chamber. |
| US09377434B2 |
Electro-chemical sensor
An electrochemical sensor for the presence or concentration of an analyte has at least one electrode and at least one electrochemically active species able to undergo electrochemical reaction in response to electrical potential applied to the electrode, where the said reaction is modified by the presence of the analyte. This sensor has the novel characteristic that at least one said electrochemically active species is encapsulated within polymer particles. These particles are preferably formed from an amorphous polymer with a glass transition temperature above the temperature of the fluid to which the sensor is exposed. The encapsulating polymer protects the analyte species from degradation, but a small analyte such as a hydrogen or bisulfide ion can pass through the polymer and undergo reaction at the active species. |
| US09377433B2 |
Accurate integrated low-cost electrode chips for point-of-need analysis and a method of utilization in hot electron-induced electrochemiluminescent systems
The invention relates to integrated electronic chip (IEChip) cartridge devices which are used in hot electron-induced electrochemiluminescence methods and to instrumentation based on the electrical excitation of label molecules with subsequent measurement of luminescence in order to quantitate analyte concentrations especially in bioaffinity assays, especially outside of central laboratories. |
| US09377429B2 |
Calibration liquid
This invention relates to a correction liquid for a liquid membrane type ion-selective electrode that makes it possible to measure a ratio between a sodium ion concentration and a potassium ion concentration in urine by correcting for an influence from an ionic strength of the urine. The correction liquid comprises a sodium ion-sensitive part that selectively reacts with the sodium ion and a potassium ion-sensitive part that selectively reacts with the potassium ion, and measures a ratio between a sodium ion concentration and a potassium ion concentration in urine, and comprises the sodium ion, the potassium ion, and an electrolytic ionic strength modifier. |
| US09377428B2 |
Non-destructive leaching depth measurement using capacitance spectroscopy
A method of characterizing a quality of a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutter includes obtaining a PDC cutter that includes a leached layer and an unleached layer. The unleached layer is positioned adjacent to the leached layer, and the leached layer has at least a portion of a catalyst material removed from therein. The method further includes measuring capacitance values of the PDC cutter at multiple frequencies of an electrical signal provided to the PDC cutter by a capacitance measuring device to measure the capacitance values of the PDC cutter. The method also includes characterizing a quality of the PDC cutter based on a lowest capacitance value from among the capacitance values. Each capacitance value of the capacitance values is measured at a respective frequency of the multiple frequencies of the electrical signal. |
| US09377423B2 |
Systems and methods for handling substrates at below dew point temperatures
Disclosed systems and methods for testing a device under test (DUT) with a probe system are selected to test a DUT at a temperature below the dew point of the ambient environment surrounding the probe system. Probe systems include a measurement chamber configured to isolate a cool, dry testing environment and a measurement chamber door configured to selectively isolate the internal volume of the measurement chamber. When a DUT, that is or is included on a substrate, is tested at a low temperature, systems and methods are selected to heat the substrate in a dry environment, at least partially isolated from the measurement chamber, to at least a temperature above the dew point and/or the frost point of the ambient environment. |
| US09377417B2 |
Method and device for measuring a moisture value of dielectric materials
Method for measuring a moisture value F of dielectric materials using at least one microwave resonator, one shift A of the resonant frequency being respectively evaluated for at least two resonance modes with resonant frequencies which are different from one another and a density-independent moisture value being calculated from the measured shifts in the resonant frequency. |
| US09377416B2 |
Wafer edge detection and inspection
Methods and systems for determining wafer inspection coordinates for fixed location(s) on a wafer are provided. One system includes an illumination subsystem configured to direct light to a spot on an edge of a wafer. The spot extends beyond the edge of the wafer. The system also includes a stage that rotates the wafer thereby causing the spot to be scanned over the edge of the wafer. The system also includes a detector configured to detect light from the spot while the spot is being scanned over the edge and to generate output responsive thereto. The system further includes a computer processor configured to determine wafer inspection coordinates of two or more locations on the edge of the wafer based on the output and to determine wafer inspection coordinates of fixed location(s) on the wafer based on the wafer inspection coordinates of the two or more locations on the edge. |
| US09377412B2 |
Electronic device having components with stress visualization features
An electronic device may have housing structures, electrical components, and other electronic device structures. Stress sensing structures may be formed using coatings on these electronic device structures. Stress sensing structures may have strip-shaped links that extend between pads or may be formed from blanket films. A stress sensing coating may be formed from a transparent thin film. The transparent thin film may be illuminated with monochromatic light while a video camera captures video images of resulting optical interference patterns. The video images may be captured during a test in which a device structure is exposed to stress from an impact between the device and an external object. Stress sensing coatings may also be formed from layers of material that develop cracks upon exposure to stress. Stress sensing structures may be used to evaluate stress during tests and to monitor stress during normal device use. |
| US09377411B2 |
Transflexion probe and transflective sensor
The invention comprises a transflexion probe for carrying out a transflexion measurement on a liquid located in a vessel, comprising a probe shaft (202) which is provided with a light guide path in its interior and at whose front end face there is arranged an open flow chamber (210) with a reflective plate (218) opposite the front end face of the probe shaft (202). The invention is distinguished by the fact that the probe shaft (202) is designed as a rigid cavity which is sealed at its front end face by a transparent window (206) and has at its rear end a first coupling device (204) for the rigid coupling of a sensor module (100) to the probe shaft (202). |
| US09377409B2 |
Fabricating an apparatus for use in a sensing application
In a method of fabricating an apparatus for use in a sensing application, a plurality of nano-fingers are formed on a substrate and a Raman-active material nano-particle is formed on respective tips of the nano-fingers. In addition, the Raman-active material nano-particles on the tips of adjacent ones of the nano-fingers are caused to come into contact with the Raman-active material nano-particle on the tip of at least another one of the plurality of nano-fingers to form respective clusters and the clusters of Raman-active material nano-particles are transferred to a component layer from the plurality of nano-fingers while maintaining a spatial relationship between the contacting Raman-active material nano-particles. |
| US09377405B2 |
Evaluation circuit for an optoelectronic detector and method for recording fluorescence events
An improved evaluation circuit which allows high sensitivity in an economical manner. For this purpose, a shift register having at least one data input, a clock input, a plurality of register stages and at least one data output is provided, wherein the output of the analog-to-digital converter is connected to the data input of the shift register. With a shift register, fluorescent light and scattered light can be temporally distinguished in an economical manner. |
| US09377404B2 |
Plant health diagnostic method and plant health diagnostic device
This invention provides a plant health diagnostic method and a plant health diagnostic device for detecting initial disorder of a plant individual body carrying pests or the like in a large-scale plant cultivation field. The plant health diagnostic method is for diagnosing a health state of a plant in accordance with chlorophyll fluorescence emitted from chlorophyll of a plant body. The method includes: obtaining a first minimum point s after a maximum point p having largest chlorophyll fluorescence intensity and a first maximum point m after the minimum point s on a time course curve for the chlorophyll fluorescence intensity; defining chlorophyll fluorescence intensity values at the minimum point s and the first maximum point m after the minimum point s as S and M, respectively; and comparing the value S and the value M to evaluate the state of the plant. The state of the plant, which cannot be visually recognized from outer appearance, can be detected by comparison between the chlorophyll fluorescence intensity values (S and M), thereby realizing diagnosis of the state of the plant individual body in an early stage. |
| US09377399B2 |
Resonant optical transducers for in-situ gas detection
Configurations for in-situ gas detection are provided, and include miniaturized photonic devices, low-optical-loss, guided-wave structures and state-selective adsorption coatings. High quality factor semiconductor resonators have been demonstrated in different configurations, such as micro-disks, micro-rings, micro-toroids, and photonic crystals with the properties of very narrow NIR transmission bands and sensitivity up to 10−9 (change in complex refractive index). The devices are therefore highly sensitive to changes in optical properties to the device parameters and can be tunable to the absorption of the chemical species of interest. Appropriate coatings applied to the device enhance state-specific molecular detection. |
| US09377398B2 |
Liquid inspecting method and liquid inspecting device
A liquid inspecting method, for inspecting the situation of containing explosives, explosive materials and/or illegal drugs in liquid filled in a light transmitting container, comprises a step for irradiating the liquid with near-infrared light from the outside of the container, a step for receiving near-infrared light transmitted through the liquid or scattered by the liquid, and a step for analyzing the absorption spectrum of received near-infrared light. The situation of containing explosives, explosive materials or illegal drugs in liquid filled in a light transmitting container such as a PET bottle or a glass bottle can be detected quickly and certainly from the outside of the container by providing a liquid inspecting method for analyzing the absorption spectrum, and a liquid inspecting device for use therein. |
| US09377396B2 |
Low-cost spectrometry system for end-user food analysis
A compact spectrometer is disclosed that is suitable for use in mobile devices such as cellular telephones. In preferred embodiments, the spectrometer comprises a filter, at least one Fourier transform focusing element, a micro-lens array, and a detector, but does not use any dispersive elements. Methods for using the spectrometer as an end-user device for performing on-site determinations of food quality, in particular, by comparison with an updatable database accessible by all users of the device, are also disclosed. |
| US09377394B2 |
Distinguishing foreign surface features from native surface features
Provided herein is an apparatus, including a photon detector array; and a processing means configured for processing photon-detector-array signals corresponding to a first set of photons scattered from surface features of an article focused in a first focal plane and a second set of photons scattered from surface features of an article focused in a second focal plane, wherein the processing means is further configured for distinguishing foreign surface features of the article from foreign native features of the article. |
| US09377392B2 |
Methods and systems for testing fluids on crushed formation materials under conditions of stress
Methods and systems that may be employed to dynamically test the effect of fluids (e.g., well treatment chemicals such as well stimulation treatment chemicals, enhanced oil recovery “EOR” chemicals, etc.) on hydrocarbon recovery from crushed reservoir formation materials under conditions of applied stress. The disclosed methods and systems may be used in one embodiment to dynamically test types of low permeability formations (e.g., such as shale, limestone, quarried rock, etc.). |
| US09377391B2 |
Light or weathering testing device comprising a specimen enclosure with an integrated UV radiation filter
The device comprises a chamber in which a UV radiation source and an enclosure are arranged, the enclosure comprising a bottom wall for mounting a specimen, a UV radiation filter facing the bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls interconnecting the bottom wall and the UV radiation filter. |
| US09377390B2 |
Apparatus, methods and processes for sorting particles and for providing sex-sorted animal sperm
A multi-channel system for classifying particles in a mixture of particles according to one or more characteristics including a common source of electromagnetic radiation for producing a beam of electromagnetic radiation and a beam splitter for producing multiple beams of electromagnetic radiation for directing multiple beams of electromagnetic radiation to each interrogation location associated with each flow channel of the multi-channel system. |
| US09377389B2 |
Impaction densitometer
Disclosed is an impaction densitometer having a chamber configured to receive a particle; a beam generator configured to emit a beam; a detector configured to receive the beam and convert a change in intensity of the received beam into an electrical signal corresponding to a particle volume; an impact sensor positioned a known distance from the beam and configured to measure a particle momentum as a function of an impact energy transferred from the particle to the impact sensor; a velocity calculator configured to calculate a particle velocity based on a time it takes the particle to pass through the beam and strike the impact sensor; a mass calculator configured to calculate a particle mass as a function of the particle momentum and velocity; and a density calculator configured to calculate a particle density as a function of the particle mass and volume. |
| US09377385B2 |
Rotating dovetail connection for materials testing
A rotating dovetail connection is provided in order to attach jaw faces to grips in materials testing. The connection includes a machined tongue on the jaw face and a corresponding groove on the jaw face holder. A ball plunger within the holder serves to center the jaw face and to retain the jaw face in the holder. The jaw faces can be installed an removed without the use of tools or loose parts. The rotating dovetail facilitates a secure connection between the jaw face and the grip while allowing the jaw faces to rotate. |
| US09377384B2 |
Rail shear tester apparatus with multiple loading configurations
An apparatus for testing panel products in edgewise shear in which the shear stress is applied in a diagonal direction with a first rotational degree of freedom in a first grip means and a second rotational degree of freedom in a second grip means as a first loading configuration. A second loading configuration is provided in which the second rotational degree of freedom of the second grip means is locked in place and motion is prevented. A third preferred method of loading is available in which shear forces in a horizontal direction through a centerline of a specimen, with the centerline in the plane of the specimen and extending across a widest dimension of said specimen. Control and data collection are under computer control and operator safety is enhanced by a locking guard door which is electrically locked while the various parts of the machine are in motion. |
| US09377380B2 |
Environmental monitoring system and method with a prefilter
Various environmental systems are disclosed. In accordance with one of the systems, a first and second valve are provided. The valves provide a first air flow path from an air pump to a photo-ionization detector is provided through a pre-filter. The valves also provide a second air flow path from the air pump to the photo-ionization detector so that the pre-filter is isolated from its environmental surroundings. Various other arrangements of environmental monitoring systems with one or more pre-filters are also disclosed. |
| US09377371B2 |
Flexible display device and control method thereof
A flexible display device including a flexible display panel which displays an image, a strain gauge disposed in the flexible display panel, where the strain gauge senses a strain in the flexible display panel and generates a detection signal based on the sensed strain, a strain controller which receives the detection signal and outputs a strain compensation voltage based on the detection signal, and a strain compensation layer disposed on a surface of the flexible display panel and which receives the strain compensation voltage, where a thickness of the strain compensation layer may be controlled based on the strain compensation voltage such that a neutral plane of the flexible display device is maintained in a predetermined reference area in the flexible display panel. |
| US09377366B2 |
Navigation device including thermal sensor
A navigation device includes a thermal sensor and a processing unit. The thermal sensor is configured to output temperature readings of a work surface. The processing unit is configured to identify a lift event according to the temperature readings. |
| US09377364B2 |
Sensitive material for bolometric detection
The present invention relates to the use, as a thin sensitive-material film for bolometric detection, of at least one material based on an alloy comprising at least one chalcogenide, said chalcogen element being chosen from sulfur, selenium, telluride and their mixtures, characterized in that said material furthermore contains a sufficient amount of carbon and/or boron to confer upon the material a temperature coefficient of resistivity value at 300° C. at least equal to 40% of the native value of the temperature coefficient of resistivity of said material at room temperature. The invention also relates to a bolometric device and its production process. |
| US09377361B2 |
Human body detecting system
According to an aspect, a human body detecting system includes a mobile communication device, a stand, and a false detection reducing unit. The mobile communication device includes a communication unit for performing communication. The stand includes a human sensor for detecting a human body based on an ambient temperature distribution, and a storage unit for storing detection information of the human sensor. The false detection reducing unit is configured to perform false detection reducing processing on at least either one of the detection information of the human sensor and operation of the human sensor. |
| US09377356B2 |
Photon detector
A photon detection system including a photon detector configured to detect single photons, a signal divider to divide the output signal of the photon detector into a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is substantially identical to the second part, a delay mechanism to delay the second part with respect to the first part, and a combiner to combine the first and delayed second parts of the signal such that the delayed second part is used to cancel periodic variations in the first part of the output signal. |
| US09377354B2 |
Motion sensor and packaging method thereof
A motion sensor includes: a substrate, which includes a plurality of lead frame layers and a plurality of ceramic layers; a light source, disposed on the substrate, for emitting light; a sensing device, disposed on the substrate, for receiving the light to perform motion sensing; a cover, for fixing and protecting the light source and the sensing device; and an adhesive, for gluing the cover to the substrate, the adhesive including a component capable of blocking the light; wherein the light is infrared light, visible light or ultraviolet light. |
| US09377352B2 |
Standard light source having restriction portion for diffuse reflection and measurement method
A novel standard light source with a more simplified construction, which is suitable for measurement of total luminous flux of a light source different in luminous intensity distribution characteristics from a conventional standard light source, and a measurement method with the use of that standard light source are provided. A standard light source includes a light emitting portion, a power feed portion electrically connected to the light emitting portion, and a restriction portion provided between the light emitting portion and the power feed portion, for restricting propagation of light radiated from the light emitting portion toward the power feed portion. A surface of the restriction portion on which light from the light emitting portion is incident is constructed for diffuse reflection. |
| US09377350B2 |
Light sensor with chemically resistant and robust reflector stack
A light sensor having a chemically resistant and robust reflector stack is disclosed. The reflector stack is formed over a substrate, and includes an adhesion layer, a patterned reflector layer over the adhesion layer, and a smoothing layer over the patterned reflector layer. The patterned reflector layer has a substantially flat top surface. A conformal passivation layer covers the reflector stack. An absorbing layer is situated above the reflector stack and separated from the reflector stack. The absorbing layer is supported by vias over the substrate. The absorbing layer is connected to at least one resistor, where a resistance of the at least one resistor varies in response to light absorbed by the absorbing layer. The vias are disposed on via landing pads on the substrate. |
| US09377347B2 |
Sensor arrangement and method for producing a sensor arrangement
A sensor arrangement (10) has a vibration sensor (11), which includes a cable (13) and is free of a metal housing, and a holding device (12), which is joined detachably to the vibration sensor (11) and is configured and arranged to protect mechanically and fix in place the vibration sensor (11). |
| US09377345B2 |
Food product scale
A scale includes a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed, an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations and a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information. The operator interface may be in the form of a touch-screen display that is used to facilitate ease of use and scale adjustment. |
| US09377344B2 |
Electronic sphygmomanometer and blood pressure measurement method
An electronic sphygmomanometer includes a cuff to be attached to a blood pressure measurement site, a pump and a valve for adjusting a pressure to apply on the cuff, a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the cuff, a central processing unit (CPU) for calculating a blood pressure value from the cuff pressure, a memory for recording the blood pressure value, and an operation unit for performing a blood pressure measurement. Further, the CPU acquires information on an application voltage of the valve or the pump at a time of blood pressure measurement, and the information on the application voltage is stored in the memory. The CPU corrects the application voltage so that control of the valve or the pump is carried out based on the application voltage stored in the memory. |
| US09377343B2 |
Apparatus for determining and/or monitoring a predetermined fill level
An apparatus for determining and/or monitoring at least one fill level of a medium in a container comprising: a capacitive or conductive probe unit having at least one electrode; and a control/evaluation unit. The electrode is a hollow body, that an end region of the electrode protruding into the container is embodied as an oscillatable membrane. On an inner side of the membrane a driving/receiving unit is arranged, which excites the membrane to execute mechanical oscillations and receives mechanical oscillations therefrom and converts such into an electrical, received signal. The control/evaluation unit supplies the electrode at least at times with a voltage and determines the fill level of the medium capacitively or conductively, and/or that the control/evaluation unit supplies the driving/receiving unit at least at times with an exciter signal and determines from the electrical received signal the fill level of the medium. |
| US09377339B2 |
Frame support for a hood vent measurement device
A frame for supporting installation of an air measurement device over the opening of a duct or vent opening in the air circulation system of a building. |
| US09377338B2 |
Dispenser with variable-volume storage chamber, one-way valve, and manually-depressible actuator
A dispenser has a housing, and a variable-volume storage chamber formed within the housing and defining a substantially fluid-tight seal between the chamber and exterior of the housing for storing a substance to be dispensed. A piston is mounted within the housing, and a one-way valve is mounted within the housing and coupled in fluid communication with the variable-volume storage chamber. A compression chamber is coupled in fluid communication between the piston and one-way valve, and at least one of the piston and valve is manually depressible relative to the other between (i) a first position in which the piston is located at least partially outside of the compression chamber for permitting substance to flow from the variable-volume storage chamber into the compression chamber, and (ii) a second position in which the piston is located at least partially within the compression chamber for pressurizing substance within the compression chamber above a valve opening pressure and, in turn, dispensing substance through the one-way valve and out of the dispenser. |
| US09377336B2 |
Apparatus and method for measuring the flow-rate of different fluids present in multiphase streams
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for measuring the flow-rate of different fluids present in a plurality of distinct multiphase streams (C), in transit, each through a respective main flow pipe (2). The apparatus (1) comprises a measuring unit (3) for each pipe (2). Each measuring unit (3) comprises a sampling device (4). Each measuring unit (3) comprises first and second measuring means (5) of the differential pressure type situated downstream of the respective sampling device (4). The apparatus (1) comprises a phase separator (8) associated with the measuring unit (3). The apparatus (1) comprises selection means (18) interposed between the measuring unit (3) and the separator (8) for putting the latter in communication with one of the sampling devices (4) envisaged. The apparatus (1) comprises third measuring means (12) associated with the separator (8) for measuring the outgoing flow-rates of the different fluids separated and data processing means suitable for receiving and processing the data revealed by the measuring devices (5, 7, 12). |
| US09377334B2 |
Flowmeter having an interchangeable elongate member attached to the inner surface of a pipe section having a radius of curvature
A flow meter for measuring the flow of fluid through a pipe. The flow meter has an elongate member attached to an interior surface of the pipe. The elongate member has a leading end, a trailing end, a longitudinal axis, a first side, and a second side. The first side extends from the leading end to the trailing end and defines a cylindrical cross-sectional shape with a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of the pipe and extending along an arc of less than 180 degrees. The second side extends from the leading end to the trailing end and is exposed to the interior of the pipe. The second side forms a constriction in a cross-sectional area of the pipe. Pressure sensors determine a pressure differential caused by the elongate member which is used to determine the volume of fluid flowing through the pipe. |
| US09377331B2 |
Device and method for measuring a non-compressible fluid
Device for measuring out a non-compressible fluid, characterized in that it comprises a first fluid inlet and a second fluid inlet, the two first and second liquid inlets being in liquid contact with one another, downstream of the respective inlets; a first outlet of the device and a second outlet of the device, the two first and second outlets being in fluid contact with one another upstream and downstream of the respective outlets, the first outlet having a first outlet valve giving access to the first outlet, the second outlet having a second outlet valve giving access to the second outlet, the second outlet having a flowmeter between said second outlet valve and the connection between outlets downstream thereof. |
| US09377327B2 |
Magnetic field direction sensor
A magnetic direction sensor, comprising a first array of magneto-resistive elements, said array having a first array primary direction and wherein some but not all of the magneto-resistive elements are wholly or partially provided at a first angle to the primary direction, and the remaining elements are also inclined with respect to the primary direction. |
| US09377322B2 |
Method for operating an optical display device of a vehicle
A dataset is determined as a function of a specified navigation information, where the dataset includes a specified metadata structure which is suitable for textually characterizing the navigation information. The dataset is transmitted by way of a specified communication interface. As a function of the dataset received by way of the communication interface, pixel values are determined for at least a portion of pixels of a digital image and/or of a graphic element. Furthermore, a signalization signal is determined for signalizing the pixel values of the pixels by means of the optical display device. |
| US09377320B2 |
Generating turn-by-turn direction previews
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to generating turn-by-turn direction previews. In one aspect, one or more computing devices, may receive a request for a turn-by-turn direction preview. The one or more computing devices may generate a set of turn-by-turn directions based on a series of road segments connecting a first geographic location and a second geographic location. Each direction in the set of turn-by-turn directions may be associated with a corresponding waypoint. The one or more computing devices then identify a set of images corresponding the series of road segments between two adjacent waypoints of the set of turn-by-turn directions, and determine a subset of the set of images to include in the turn-by-turn direction preview. Subsequently, the one or more computing devices may generate the turn-by-turn direction preview based on at least in part on the determined subset of the set of images. |
| US09377317B2 |
Method and device for determining a height of a fluid level in a fluid container
A method for guiding a vehicle driver along a travel route includes: ascertaining the travel route; identifying a traffic sign which is arranged along the travel route and which displays directions indicating an alternate route, the directions deviating from a recommended route according to the travel route; outputting the recommended route upon or prior to reaching the traffic sign; and outputting information relating to the deviation between the directions and the recommended route. |
| US09377310B2 |
Mapping and positioning system
A mapping and positioning apparatus may include an IMU module for monitoring movement through an environment, a scanner module, and a control unit. The IMU module is configured to monitor movement on the basis of detecting steps taken by a transporter. The scanner module may be configured to employ laser scanning to determine distances to objects or boundaries in the environment as the transporter moves the apparatus through the environment. The control unit may be configured to receive data from at least the IMU module and the scanner module and make an environmental determination to classify the environment. The control unit may be configured to generate map data based on the data received from the IMU module and the scanner module. The control unit may be configured to adaptively adjust processing of the data received from the IMU module and the scanner module based on a classification of the environment. |
| US09377309B2 |
Global positioning system (GPS) self-calibrating lever arm function
A method to calibrate at least one lever arm between at least one respective global positioning system (GPS) antenna/receiver and a communicatively coupled inertial navigation system is provided. The method includes receiving signals from the at least one GPS antenna/receiver at the inertial navigation system communicatively coupled to a Kalman filter; and estimating, in the Kalman filter, at least one fixed lever arm component while accounting for a bending motion of the lever arm based on the received signals. |
| US09377308B2 |
Indoor map data as a recalibration source for low-cost MEMS inertial navigation
A computer-implemented method for determining an estimated user location performed on a computer system programmed to perform the method includes determining in physical sensors, movements in response to movement of the computer system, determining in a processor a physical context, in response to the movements, determining in the processor whether the physical context is substantially similar to a map-based context associated with a location on the map, when a map-based context is substantially similar to the physical context, the method includes determining in the processor the location on the map associated with the map-based context, determining in the processor a graphical user interface in response to the location on the map, and displaying the graphical user interface on a display of the computer system. |
| US09377302B2 |
Distance finder apparatus and system
The present invention is a distance finder apparatus and system operable to project a laser beam spread in a line across a plane, and to determine the distance between a lens and objects that points of the spread laser beam contacts. The present invention comprises: a rangefinder incorporating an optical plate operable to cause an invisible laser beam to be spread, and a visible laser beam to be scattered, in a line along a plane, and the rangefinder is operable to measure distances at points where beams contact one or more objects; a visible pointer laser; and one or more display units. Locations where the spread beam contacts the one or more objects may be at variant distances, and measurements may be determined at any point along the scattered beam. |
| US09377299B2 |
Sensor device, recording apparatus, and position adjustment method of optical axis
A sensor device according to the invention includes a transmission type sensor pair that includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit, an optical axis alignment mechanism that aligns optical axes of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, and a fixing frame that is adjusted by the optical axis alignment mechanism, and in which the sensor pairs are fixed in a state in which the optical axes of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit are aligned. |
| US09377298B2 |
Surface determination for objects by means of geodetically precise single point determination and scanning
A method for surveying an object for and/or using a geodetic surveying device that include a derivation of an item of surface information at least for one object region, at least one geodetically precise single point determination for the object region, wherein a position of at least one object point is determined geodetically precisely, and an update of the item of surface information based on the determined position of the at least one object point. In some embodiments a scan to derive the item of surface information may be performed using object-point-independent scanning of the object region by progressive alignment changes of the measuring radiation, with a determination of a respective distance and of a respective alignment of the measuring radiation emitted for the distance measurement for scanning points lying within the object region, and having a generation of a point cloud which represents the item of surface information. |
| US09377291B2 |
Image registration, averaging, and compounding for high speed extended depth optical coherence tomography
An optical coherence tomography (OCT) system including a source of broadband optical radiation and a beamsplitter coupled to the source is provided. The beamsplitter divides the source radiation into a reference path and a sample path. The reference path includes an optical switch to switch the reference path between a first path having a first reference reflector at a first reference optical path length and a second path having a second reference reflector at a second reference optical path length, different from the first reference optical path length. The system further includes a beam combiner that mixes source radiation reflected from a subject in the sample path with source radiation returned from the first reference reflector during a first time interval and the second reference reflector during a second time interval. A detection system detects a first wavelength dependent interferogram during the first time interval and a second wavelength dependent interferogram during the second time interval. A processor preconditions the first and second wavelength dependent interferograms; multiples the first preconditioned wavelength dependent interferogram and the second preconditioned wavelength dependent interferogram; and computes a first A-scan from the first wavelength dependent interferogram; a second A-scan from the second wavelength dependent interferogram; a spatial offset between the first and second A-scans derived from the multiplicative product of the preconditioned first and second wavelength dependent interferograms; and a combined A-scan from the first and second A-scans. |
| US09377290B2 |
Method and apparatus for performing optical imaging using frequency-domain interferometry
An apparatus and method are provided. In particular, a radiation can be provided which includes at least one first electro-magnetic radiation directed to a sample and at least one second electro-magnetic radiation directed to a reference, whereas a frequency of the radiation varies over time. An interference between at least one third radiation associated with the first radiation(s) and at least one fourth radiation associated with the second radiation(s) can be detected to generate an electrical first signal. A second signal associated with at least one phase of at least one frequency component of the electrical first signal can be obtained. Further, comparison data can be generated by comparing the second signal to at least one particular information. |
| US09377280B2 |
Detonator roll call
A detonator roll call method wherein each detonator is assigned a unique identifier and, at each detonator, in response to an enquiry signal to all the detonators a count is incremented and compared to the roll call identifier and, if the comparison is positive, a reply is sent by the detonator. |
| US09377276B1 |
Handheld anti-riot device
A handheld anti-riot device for throwing a catching net unit in a firing direction includes a cylindrical body, pressurized gas releasing unit, resilient ball, electric shock unit and illumination unit. The cylindrical body has therein a receiving chamber, limiting chamber and air passage in communication with each other. A net holder which holds the catching net unit is fixed to an opening of the receiving chamber. The pressurized gas releasing unit is disposed in the air passage. The resilient ball is snugly disposed in the limiting chamber. The electric shock unit generates a high-voltage electric arc. The illumination unit emits a blinding light ray in the firing direction. The pressurized gas releasing unit is triggered to release a pressurized gas into the air passage. The resilient ball gets compressed under the pressure inside the air passage to therefore move into the receiving chamber, thereby fire the catching net unit. |
| US09377274B2 |
Coupling firearm accessories to a firearm
A system for coupling various types of firearm accessories to a firearm having an accessory rail may include a coupling member. The coupling member may include a head and a threaded body. The head may have a diameter that fits through a first region of an accessory rail of a firearm but not through a second region. A method of coupling a firearm accessory to a firearm may include inserting the head of the coupling member through the first region of the accessory rail and moving the threaded body into the second region of the accessory rail. The method may further include driving the threaded body into the threaded hole such that the coupling member and firearm accessory are compressed against the accessory rail. |
| US09377272B2 |
Bow sight apparatus having multiple lasers
A multiple laser sight system for an archery bow or the like configured so that the multiple laser systems can be calibrated together and having features such that the user can use one laser system during the day and one laser system during the light. The laser sight is further configured to not interfere with the optional use of conventional sighting pins and the use of evening infrared systems, like the prior art use of night vision goggles. |
| US09377271B2 |
Firearm laser sight alignment assembly
A firearm laser sight alignment assembly includes a laser module for emitting a beam along an optical axis, the laser module having an outer seat. The alignment assembly encompasses a resilient grommet mechanically engaging the outer seat in a first adhesive free interference fit. The grommet includes an external seat sized to form adhesive free interferences fits with a laser cover and the housing, as the laser cover engages the housing to retain the grommet with respect to the housing and the laser cover. Upon operable assembly, the interference fits substantially preclude axial and longitudinal movement between the grommet and the laser module as well as the grommet and the laser cover and housing, while allowing angular movement of the laser module to a desired alignment position. |
| US09377264B2 |
Vertical hanging device for AR-15/M4 style rifles
Relating to the field of rifle storage, the invention allows an AR or other similarly styled rifle to be hung and stored vertically, thus eliminating the need for large, expensive and obtrusive equipment. Constructed of ¼″ diameter steel rod bent in a unique fashion that touches the rifle in only two places—on the forward portion of the magazine well and on the upper portion of the buffer tube/buttstock area. The invention provides a way to reliably hang a rifle perpendicular to the floor, using its top-heavy center of gravity in a way that uses the rifle's weight to secure the rifle without any moving parts. This allows the user to hang a rifle from any horizontal fixture that can support the weight of the rifle. |
| US09377263B1 |
Muzzle brake concussion reducing device for firearms and associated muzzle brakes and compensators
This invention is directed to muzzle devices for firearms and, in particular, to muzzle brakes and compensators (“Muzzle Devices”). More specifically, but without restriction to the particular embodiments hereinafter described in accordance with the best mode of practice, this invention relates to a concussion reducing device (“CRD”) associated with said Muzzle Devices. |
| US09377262B2 |
Barrel with cam followers
A barrel for a semiautomatic firearm operating under the short recoil system has one or more cam followers projecting outwardly to engage one or more cams positioned on an inner surface of a slide surrounding the barrel. Interaction between the cams and the cam followers controls the angle between the longitudinal axis of the barrel and the axis of motion of the slide to prevent the breech end of the barrel from moving too far as the barrel tilts as it unlocks from the slide, ensuring that the extractor will engage the rim of a spent casing and extract it from the chamber during recoil. |
| US09377256B2 |
Firearm having a dual cam, cock on close bolt action
A bolt action firearm that cocks the firing pin upon closing the bolt and includes a cam pin with dual heads for a high velocity rimfire cartridge. In one embodiment, actuating the main spring while closing the bolt, instead of while opening the bolt, more uniformly distributes the physical energy required by the user over the bolt actuation cycle. The dual heads of the cam pin provide symmetric reactive forces with dual cam slots, thereby preventing the cam pin from skewing or canting within the cam slots. A safety system is provided for the trigger mechanism and a robust connecting systems for the stock. |
| US09377255B2 |
Multi-caliber firearms, bolt mechanisms, bolt lugs, and methods of using the same
Firearms with bolt mechanisms, ambidextrous functionality, and/or isolated receivers are disclosed herein. A multi-caliber ambidextrous firearm can have a receiver and a bolt mechanism with a bolt that seats against one or more load bearing surfaces of the receiver. The load bearing surfaces can be configured to maintain proper contact before, during, and/or after a firing event. A bolt head of the bolt mechanism can be replaced to use the bolt mechanism with different cartridges. |
| US09377253B2 |
Connection device for multiple non-parallel heat exchangers
A heat exchange system is provided that may include a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger spaced apart from the first heat exchanger, a connection device provided between the first and second heat exchangers to guide refrigerant into the first and second heat exchangers, and one or more connection pipes that couple the connection device to the first and second heat exchangers, the connection pipes including at least one bent portion. |
| US09377251B2 |
Thermal ground plane for cooling a computer
A method for cooling a computer uses thermal coupling for conveying heat from powered components of an electronic system. A fluid heat-exchanger is attached to the surface of the electronic system and filled with fluid coolant. A vacuum is applied between the heat-exchanger and the surface to seal the heat-exchanger to the electronic system. The fluid coolant is circulated through the heat-exchanger to convey heat from the fluid to an external cooling apparatus. |
| US09377250B2 |
Cross-flow heat exchanger having graduated fin density
The heat transfer capacity of a cross-flow heat exchanger can be increased by changing or graduating the density of the fins that form a row of hot passages in the direction normal to those fins. In accordance with some embodiments, the fin density in each row of hot passages is lower in a first region near the cold air inlets than it is in a second region located between the first region and the cold air outlets. This has the beneficial effect of increasing the rate of flow of hot air through hot passages adjacent or near to the cold air inlets of the heat exchanger, i.e., where the temperature of the cold air is coldest. As cold air flows along each cold passage, the cold air is heating up, becoming less capable of cooling the hot air in the adjacent hot passages as it gets closer to the cold air outlets. In addition or alternatively, the cold passages may have a non-uniform fin density that increases heat transfer capacity. |
| US09377249B2 |
Fin stock material
A fin stock material from an 3xxx-series aluminum alloy and including at least 0.5% to 2.0% Mn, and furthermore a purposive addition of one or more wetting elements selected from the group of: Bi 0.03% to 0.5%, Pb 0.03% to 0.5%, Sb 0.03% to 0.5%, Li 0.03% to 0.5%, Se 0.03% to 0.5%, Y 0.03% to 0.05%, Th 0.03% to 0.05%, and the sum of these elements being 0.5% or less, with the remainder including aluminum and tolerable impurities. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a heat exchanger assembly incorporating such a fin stock material. |
| US09377245B2 |
Heat exchanger life extension via in-situ reconditioning
A method of in-situ reconditioning a heat exchanger includes the steps of: providing an in-service heat exchanger comprising a precipitate-strengthened alloy wherein at least one mechanical property of the heat exchanger is degraded by coarsening of the precipitate, the in-service heat exchanger containing a molten salt working heat exchange fluid; deactivating the heat exchanger from service in-situ; in a solution-annealing step, in-situ heating the heat exchanger and molten salt working heat exchange fluid contained therein to a temperature and for a time period sufficient to dissolve the coarsened precipitate; in a quenching step, flowing the molten salt working heat-exchange fluid through the heat exchanger in-situ to cool the alloy and retain a supersaturated solid solution while preventing formation of large precipitates; and in an aging step, further varying the temperature of the flowing molten salt working heat-exchange fluid to re-precipitate the dissolved precipitate. |
| US09377243B2 |
High pressure steam injection heater assembly
The claimed invention teaches direct contact steam injection heater capable of handling steam pressure in excess of 300 psi. Specifically, the invention provides: a fixed upper seal assembly situated between the diffuser base and the diffuser which is designed to prevent the flow of steam around the regulating member into the diffuser. |
| US09377242B2 |
Method for treating waste gases from plants for pig iron production
A method and a system for treating waste gases (4) from plants (32, 33) for pig iron production, wherein a first sub-stream (51) of the waste gas is subjected to an at least partial conversion of CO into CO2 after the addition of water and/or water vapor (10) and the waste gas (4) is then subjected to CO2 capture. To be able to set a variable H2/CO ratio in the waste gas, a further sub-stream (52) of the waste gas is not subjected to a conversion of CO into CO2, but is subjected to CO2 capture separately from the first sub-stream (51). |
| US09377240B2 |
System and method for recovering turpentine during wood material processing
A system, method and configuration for recovering turpentine during the manufacturing of wood chips, wood pellets or other substances that may include turpentine. In general, a turpentine recovery system is used to capture turpentine from exhaust of a dryer as wood chips are being dried. Advantageously, application of the various techniques disclosed herein can result in the recovery of turpentine that can then be sold to generate revenue and, may contribute to a reduction in the capital and operation costs for emission controls for the dryer exhaust. |
| US09377239B2 |
Dual-refluxed heavies removal column in an LNG facility
A liquefied natural gas facility employing a heavies removal column having multiple reflux streams. The reflux streams can have different compositions and can be operable to reduce the critical pressure of the fluids within the heavies removal column in order to permit the column to operate at higher pressures without adversely affecting the horsepower requirements of plant compressor/driver systems. |
| US09377233B2 |
Ice maker for french door bottom mount refrigerator
A dedicated, hermetically sealed ice maker is provided. The ice maker includes a compartment including an ice tray and an ice bin disposed at least partially in the compartment. A dedicated ice maker circuit is disposed at least partially within the compartment and includes a microcompressor, condenser, expansion device, and evaporated. The dedicated circuit is used to cool air inside the ice maker compartment for forming ice in the ice tray in the compartment and for preventing melting of formed ice cubes in the ice bin. The ice maker may be used within or outside of a refrigerator. When used within the refrigerator, the ice maker will have its own dedicated hermetically sealed unit, including the plurality of thermally insulated walls. The ice maker may also be connected to a dispenser of a refrigerator for dispensing the formed ice. |
| US09377230B2 |
Controller, method of operating a water source heat pump and a water source heat pump
A controller, a water source heat pump and a computer useable medium are disclosed herein. In one embodiment the controller includes: (1) an interface configured to receive operating data and monitoring data from the water source heat pump and transmit control signals to components of thereof and (2) a processor configured to respond to the operating data or the monitoring data by operating at least one motor-operated valve of the water source heat pump via a control signal. |
| US09377229B2 |
Broadband heat pump system
Provided is a broadband heat pump system including: a heat pump module including a plurality of heat pumps that supply hot water with different levels of temperature; a heat source supply module that introduces a heat source from one heat source or selectively introduces a heat source from one or a plurality of heat sources among heat sources with different levels of temperature so as to produce a heat source with a desired temperature; and a controller that controls the heat pump module and the heat source supply module to select one from the plurality of heat pumps to be appropriate to a temperature of hot water requested by a demand source and to receive a heat source with a necessary temperature from the heat source supply module so that the selected heat pump is able to supply hot water with the requested temperature. |
| US09377228B2 |
Receiver drier for vehicle air conditioner with improved filter
The present invention provides a receiver drier for a vehicle air conditioner including: a tubular body into which a desiccant bag is inserted, and on the outer side of which a refrigerant inlet, through which a refrigerant is introduced from a condenser, and a refrigerant outlet, through which a liquid refrigerant flows out into a sub-cooling zone, are formed, the body having an opening at the lower portion thereof; a filter installed in the body; and a cap having a cap body inserted in and coupled to the opening of the body, wherein a lower part of the filter is inserted into the upper peripheral surface of the cap body, and a guide member protrudes from the top surface of the cap body toward the inner side of the filter and guides the refrigerant supplied through the refrigerant inlet to smoothly flow out through the refrigerant outlet. |
| US09377227B2 |
Refrigerator with vacuum insulation housing a liquid-gas interchanger
A refrigerator includes an inner case, an outer case, a vacuum space, and a liquid-gas interchanger. The inner case defines an exterior appearance of a storage space. The outer case is spaced apart a predetermined distance from the inner case. The vacuum space is provided between the inner case and the outer case, and maintains a vacuum to insulate the inner case from the outer case. The liquid-gas interchanger is arranged in the vacuum space to generate heat exchange between a refrigerant after it is exhausted from an evaporator and a refrigerant before it is drawn into an evaporator. |
| US09377226B2 |
Evaporator and turbo chiller including the same
An evaporator and a turbo chiller including the evaporator are provided. The evaporator may be a falling film evaporator which may distribute refrigerant to a heat pipe uniformly and which may also control two-phase flow by lowering dynamic pressures of gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and separate the liquid refrigerant and the gas refrigerant from each other to enhance heat exchange efficiency. |
| US09377221B2 |
Variable heat pump using magneto caloric materials
A heat pump system is provided that uses multiple stages of MCMs with different Curie temperature ranges. An adjustable fluid flow path is used whereby the number of stages through which a heat transfer fluid passes can be varied depending upon e.g., the amount of heating or cooling desired. In certain embodiments, a magnetic field used to activate the MCMs can be manipulated so that the number of stages of MCMs that are activated also be adjusted. These and other features can improve the operating efficiency of the heat pump. |
| US09377220B2 |
Cooling device for a super conductor and super conducting synchronous machine
A super conductor is disclosed, in particular a high temperature super conductor of a synchronous machine, including a cooling circuit for a coolant. The liquefied coolant in the cold head provided with a condenser is guided to the super conductor which is to be cooled, in particular in the rotor of the synchronous machine and is returned to the condenser in a gaseous form. In order to guide the coolant from the condenser to the super conductor, pressure generated by a component of the coolant evaporated by a heat source is used. |
| US09377217B2 |
Solar concentrating systems
A solar concentrating system for concentrating sunlight by tracking the sun, including concentrator support structure, an annular track mounted on an upper surface of a base, the center of mass of the concentrator support structure being off-axis relative to curvature center of annular track, enclosures provided at comers and comprising a wheel positioned on the track, the enclosure connected to a piston connected to a guiding element placed on the track; a fastening element that when moved towards the track, the guiding element is fastened to the track, and when the fastening element is moved away from the track, the guiding element is released, when the first piston elongates or contracts, the first guiding element is fastened to the track, the second guiding element is released, the wheels of the enclosures rotate from a first location on the track to a second location, thereby rotating the concentrator support structure. |
| US09377211B2 |
Outdoor unit and air-conditioning apparatus
An outdoor unit includes a compressor that compresses a flammable refrigerant, a heat source side heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air in an unconditioned space, an outdoor unit air-sending device disposed at a position where the air is enabled to flow out of a housing to the outside, the outdoor unit air-sending device being driven to maintain the concentration of the refrigerant in the housing at or below a predetermined concentration, and an outdoor unit controller that controls an operation of the compressor and an operation of the outdoor air-sending device. The outdoor unit controller allows the outdoor unit air-sending device to operate in order to maintain the concentration of the refrigerant at or below the predetermined concentration even when the compressor is stopped. |
| US09377209B2 |
Systems and methods for controlling the temperature of a room based on occupancy
An environment control system for controlling the temperature in a room, the system comprises a heating and cooling system; a thermostat for monitoring the temperature within a room and controlling the heating and cooling system; a motion sensor for detecting whether a door or window to the room has been opened; a presence detector for detecting whether the room is currently occupied; and a control system in communication with the thermostat, the motion sensor, and the presence detector, the control system being configured to control the room's temperature via the thermostat based at least in part on signals received from the thermostat, the motion detector and the presence detector. |
| US09377208B2 |
Floating type humidifier
Provided is a floating type humidifier, and more particularly, a floating type humidifier capable of humidifying an indoor area by using an external water source while floating on water due to use of a floating unit of a hollow type so that the floating type humidifier discharges water droplets or vapour in a floating state. The floating type humidifier includes a floating body having a hollow and a water inlet hole in a lower portion through which water is introduced from the outside so that the floating body floats in a water container; an ultrasound vibrator inserted in the water inlet hole of the floating body to change the water introduced from the water container into water particles or vapor; a guide coupled to an upper end portion of the water inlet hole of the floating body to guide the water particles or the vapor generated by the ultrasound vibrator to the outside, and formed like a pipe having a guide hole in a side surface; and a discharge unit provided on the floating body under the guide hole so as to guide the water particles or the vapor from the guide to the guide hole and to discharge the water particles or the vapor to the outside. |
| US09377204B2 |
Oven door
A domestic oven door includes an inner glass sheet intended to be the glass sheet closest to the compartment of the oven, and an outer glass sheet, the glass sheets being held rigidly connected and being separated by an air gap, the inner glass sheet possessing a chemical composition which includes the following constituents, in an amount by weight within the limits defined hereinafter: SiO255-70% Al2O312-25% B2O3 0-0.5% Li2O 0-2% Na2O + K2O 0-5% MgO 0-10% CaO 0-15% SrO 0-15% BaO 0-15% ZnO 0-5% RO 5-25% where RO = MgO + CaO + SrO + BaO + ZnO TiO2 0-3% ZrO2 0-4%. |
| US09377201B2 |
Forged fuel injector stem
A gas turbine engine fuel injector stem includes a single piece of material with a flange, a center body, a gas gallery, and a fluid passage. The flange includes a cylindrical shape, a plurality of mounting holes and a handle hole. The center body extends from a flange cap in the flange axial direction. The gas gallery is adjacent the center body and distal to the flange. The gas gallery includes a ring shape oriented transverse to the flange and includes a gallery opening. The fluid passage extends through the flange, center body, and gas gallery and is in flow communication with the gallery opening. |
| US09377200B2 |
Turbomachine combustion chamber shell ring
A turbomachine combustion chamber shell ring in which dilution holes in the turbomachine combustion chamber shell ring are covered with inserts defining chambers around same on an inner face of the shell ring. Ventilation holes, through the insert, induce ventilation of portions of the shell ring surrounding the dilution holes, cool the portions, and prevent crack formation. |
| US09377198B2 |
Heat shield for a combustor
A heat shield includes a panel having a forward face and an aft face, a circumferential outer side and a circumferential inner side such that the panel subtends a predetermined arc, and a first radially extending side and a second radially extending side each extending from the circumferential outer side to the circumferential inner side. The panel defines an opening extending between the forward face and the aft face, a lip projecting from the forward face and extending around the opening, a rail projecting from the forward face and extending around the lip to define a cavity region between the lip and the rail, and a plurality of holes in the cavity region. Each of the plurality of holes extends from the forward face to the aft face. A region of the panel extending from the lip to the circumferential outer side is free of any aft-projecting features. |
| US09377197B2 |
Gas turbine combustion chamber
A gas turbine combustion chamber has a housing (1), a flame tube (2) received therein, and a perforated plate (3) which at least partially surrounds the latter and which is fastened at both of its end faces (3.1, 3.2) to the housing. |
| US09377195B2 |
Inertial electrode and system configured for electrodynamic interaction with a voltage-biased flame
A combustion system includes a subsystem for electrically biasing or charging a flame and a virtual electrode launcher configured to launch a virtual electrode in proximity to the flame or combustion gas produced by the flame. |
| US09377194B2 |
Scrubber
A scrubber includes: a first body for burning toxic gas introduced into a combustion chamber, using a flame generated by a cathode electrode and an anode electrode, and auxiliary gases including hydrogen and oxygen; a second body which is connected with the first body and serves to induce complete combustion of the burned toxic gas in an in-chamber and indirectly cool the toxic gas; and an electrolysis unit serving to produce hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis and supply the produced hydrogen and oxygen as auxiliary gases to the first body. In the scrubber, a high combustion rate can be achieved even at relatively low power by a combination of high energy, obtained by the combustion of hydrogen and oxygen, with combustion heat caused by plasma, and toxic gas can be more efficiently treated by increasing treatment temperature. |
| US09377190B2 |
Burner with a perforated flame holder and pre-heat apparatus
According to an embodiment, a combustion system is provided, which includes a nozzle configured to emit a diverging fuel flow, a flame holder positioned in the path of the fuel flow and that includes a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, and a preheat mechanism configured to heat the flame to a temperature exceeding a startup temperature threshold. |
| US09377188B2 |
Oscillating combustor
An oscillating combustor may support a time-sequenced combustion reaction having rich and lean phases. The rich and lean phases may be determined according to a flame position relative to a diverging fuel jet. The flame location may be modulated responsive to an interaction between applying a constant voltage or charge rate to a fuel stream or flame, and modulating continuity between a conductive or semiconductive flame holder and an activation voltage. |
| US09377187B2 |
Adjustable vortex flame device
An adjustable vortex flame device includes a control head. The control head delimits an opening and includes a flow guiding mechanism including a plurality of vanes and a control mechanism delimiting a hole. The plurality of vanes is disposed along a circumference of the opening one after another, with two adjacent vanes including a spiral air passage formed therebetween. The hole has a diametrical size which varies with respect to different sizes of vortex flames of the adjustable vortex flame device. The hole corresponds to and is in communication with the opening. The hole has a smaller diametrical size than the opening. A hollow and transparent shield is disposed above the control head and adjacent to the control mechanism. The shield delimits a space in communication with the hole of the control mechanism. |
| US09377186B2 |
End cap for a tubular light source
An end cap (104) for a tubular light source (102), the tubular light source (102) configured to be arranged in a lighting fixture (106) comprising at least one socket (108), wherein the end cap (104) comprises, a first housing portion (202), two connector pins (208) at least partly arranged on an outside of the first housing portion (202) and adapted to fit in the socket (108), and a switch assembly comprising a switch element, wherein the switch assembly being adapted to form a conductive path between the socket (108) and the tubular light source (102) through a depression of the switch element in combination with a relative rotational motion of the first housing portion (202) in relation to the tubular light source (102) as the tubular light source (102) is mounted in the fixture (106). |
| US09377184B2 |
Light bulb holder module with function of sharing wireless network
A light bulb holder module with a function of sharing wireless network is disclosed. The light bulb holder module is embedded into a light bulb slot and is externally connected to a light bulb. The light bulb holder module includes a light bulb holder, an electronic switch, a control unit, a network input port, a wireless transmission chip, and an antenna unit. The network input port is connected to a modem via a network wire to receive network services. The wireless transmission chip receives and converts network signals and then transmits the network signals out via the antenna unit. The wireless transmission chip is electrically connected to the control unit so that external control signals are received by the wireless transmission chip and controlled by the control unit to control the electronic switch to be turned on or turned off, thus lightening or extinguishing the light bulb. |
| US09377181B1 |
Illumination device and method for illumination with plurality of simulated candle flames
An artificial candle has a delicate glowing shroud or sock that can flutter like a candle flame, and the shroud may surround a “wick” that can be seen through the shroud to glow. Such a diaphanous shroud can be actuated by a fan, air pump, solenoid or conductor, which can be provided adjacent to the shroud or distanced from the shroud, for example in a central body of a chandelier. The wick may be lighted by a light emitting diode (LED), and the shroud can include fluorescent material that absorbs and reradiates some of the light from the wick. The wick and the shroud can be coupled to a shaft that simulates a wax candle body. A standard threaded fitting can be provided so that the artificial candle can thread into a socket to replace a light bulb. |
| US09377180B2 |
Luminous flux control member, light emission device, and illumination device
Light flux controlling member includes first light flux controlling member, second light flux controlling member and holder having a substantially cylindrical shape. At least part of light emitted from light-emitting element is incident on first light flux controlling member, and first light flux controlling member emit the light toward second light flux controlling member. Second light flux controlling member reflects part of light arriving from first light flux controlling member while allowing remaining part of the light to pass therethrough. Holder allows light reflected by second light flux controlling member to pass therethrough. Recess that controls the emission direction of light passing through holder is formed on the external peripheral surface of holder. |
| US09377171B2 |
Lens system and method for eliminating sun focusing thermal effects in lamps
An infrared energy reflecting lens system for a lamp subjectable to sunlight is provided. The lens system includes a lens having an exterior surface and a dichroic coating on the exterior surface of the lens so that at least a portion of the infrared energy content of sunlight is reflected from entering the lens. |
| US09377170B2 |
Motor vehicle lighting device with an optical fiber having a coupling lens and a transport and conversion lens
A motor vehicle lighting device is proposed, having a light source, and having an optical waveguide, which has a coupling lens, which has at least one reflector, wherein the optical waveguide has first and second planes that are perpendicular to one another, and intersect, and wherein the lines of intersection are each defined by a light beam emitted from the reflector. The device is distinguished in that a transformation by the coupling lens occurs such that an aperture angle of propagation directions of the light beams lying in the second planes is reduced, and the aperture angle of propagation directions lying in the first planes is not altered, or is altered less strongly, and in that the optical waveguide has a transport and transformation lens, wherein the coupling lens and the transport and deflection lens are separate components. |
| US09377169B2 |
Headlight system incorporating adaptive beam function
A light source system comprising a projection lens, which is capable of producing a far-field image of a light source. The light source comprises a photoluminescent material that when illuminated by light from laser emitters of a first waveband emits light of a second or more wavebands of longer wavelength. The resulting light emission produces a color perceived as white. The light source is illuminated by a plurality of laser emitters arranged to illuminate the light source in an array-like manner from the front side. Control of the output of one or more of the laser emitters results in a variation of the spatial emission distribution from the light source and hence a variation of the far-field beam spot distribution via non-mechanical means. An optical system is arranged to image light emitted from the photoluminescent material into the far-field, which optical system comprises a converging lens. |
| US09377163B2 |
Method of manufacturing a hydrogen storage device
A method of manufacturing a hydrogen storage device includes the steps: (1) mix metal powder, backbone binder and wetting agent to make a canister shell feedstock; (2) mix metal powder, salts, backbone binder and wetting agent to make a porous structure feedstock; (3) feed the canister shell feedstock in an injection molding machine to form a green part of canister shell; (4) feed the porous structure feedstock in the green part of canister shell to form a green part of porous structure integral with the green part of canister shell by injection molding; (5) dissolve the salts out of the green part of porous structure to form pores; (6) remove the wetting agent from the green parts of canister shell and porous structure; (7) remove the backbone binder from the green parts of canister shell and porous structure to form the hydrogen storage device. |
| US09377161B2 |
Bracket for mounting to one or more sheets
A bracket orients and/or supports a guest object from a host structure that includes one or more sheets that may overlap. The sheets may include a fastener. For example, a bracket may orient a video camera/recorder supported by an article of clothing worn by a law enforcement officer. The bracket bears at least part of the weight of the object and maintains an orientation of the object. Friction between the bracket and one or more of the host sheets may resist movement of the bracket with respect to the sheet. The bracket may be installed by passing a portion of the bracket through an orifice of the sheet. When used with an overlapping arrangement of two sheet edges, friction between the bracket and each sheet edge may resist movement of the bracket with respect to each sheet edge. Consequently, the bracket may further serve to mechanically couple the two sheet edges, align, and/or maintain the alignment of the two sheet edges. When located over a fastener of the host structure, the fastener may locate, position, and/or align the bracket to the host. A bracket may provide a surface for mounting the guest to the bracket and one or more additional surfaces or braces for maintaining the bracket in generally parallel alignment with a surface of the host. The bracket consequently maintains a surface of the guest in general parallel alignment with a surface of the host. |
| US09377158B2 |
Articulating amplifier stand
Improvements in a tilting, lifting stand are presented. The tilt, lift stand is for a musical instrument stand or to elevate/tilt a speaker and or amplifier and rigidly supports a sousaphone brass type instruments, speaker or amplifier in an in a stored and in a playable or elevated position. The stand supports all or the majority of the weight of the instrument or speaker or amplifier in a static position to relieve the weight of the musical instrument or speaker or amplifier. The stand has legs that are extendable to rest on multiple levels as might be found in a stadium. The stand further has a securing mechanism that gently grasps a tubular section to hold the musical instrument. The speaker stand can be easily collapsed for transportation and storage. |
| US09377157B1 |
Camera stand having an unlimited range of motion along an axis of rotation
This application discloses a stand assembly that includes a receiving element for physically receiving a module, and a base assembly for supporting the receiving element. The receiving element further includes a module holding structure, an extended portion, and a first fastener structure coupled to an end of the extended portion. The base assembly includes a base, and a second fastener structure coupled to the base at a joint and configured to mate with the first fastener structure. The first fastener structure and the joint are configured to respectively provide a first degree of freedom of motion and a second degree of freedom of motion of the receiving element with respect to the base. The movement of the receiving element at the first degree of freedom is unlimited in a first direction of travel associated with the first degree of freedom. |
| US09377149B2 |
Systems and apparatus for inhibiting a compressed pipe liner from retreating into a host pipe
A lock block for attaching to a diameter-reduced pipe liner pulled through a host pipe which braces the pipe liner and inhibits it from fully retreating into the host pipe when longitudinal tension is reduced and the pipe liner experiences length reduction. |
| US09377132B2 |
Enclosure hanger assembly and cable management system
A component is disclosed. In one aspect, the component can be adapted to be secured to an aerial strand which provides support for aerial cables. The component can include an aerial enclosure unit having a housing with first and second housing pieces. The first housing piece can be pivotally moveable relative to the second housing piece about a hinge pivot axis between an open configuration and a closed configuration. The housing having opposite minor sides that extend longitudinally between the first and second ends and opposite major sides that extends longitudinally between the first and second ends and also extends between the opposite minor sides. The component can include a linkage arrangement that couples the aerial enclosure unit to the aerial strand. The linkage arrangement having a first operating state in which the housing is positioned adjacent to and directly beneath the aerial strand with the major sides oriented generally horizontally and a second operating state in which the housing is spaced a sufficient distance from the aerial strand to permit the first and second housing pieces to be pivoted from the closed configuration to the open configuration without interference from the aerial strand. |
| US09377130B2 |
Singulation of valves
A method and apparatus for the singulation of valve plates and/or assembled valves from a lead-frame are described. The method and apparatus utilizes an electric current to fuse tabs which join the valve plate and/or the assembled valve to the lead-frame. The valve comprises a first and second valve plate with offsetting apertures and a flap disposed and movable between the first and second plates. |
| US09377129B2 |
Condensate discharge device for compressed gas systems
The invention relates to a condensate discharge device for compressed gas systems, comprising a housing (21), which has a condensate collecting chamber (22) that can be connected to the compressed gas system by means of a condensate feed (23) and which has a condensate drain (24) that can be closed by means of valve assembly (25), and comprising a tubular body (32) protruding into the condensate collecting chamber (22) for accommodating at least one electronic filling level measuring device (31), by means of which the condensate filling level in the condensate collecting chamber (22) can be detected, wherein the housing (21) can be mounted in a first, vertical mounting position and a second, horizontal mounting position and the longitudinal axis of the tubular body (32) extends at an angle to the condensate feed direction (34). |
| US09377127B2 |
Ball valve with square bore and quarter turn component
The invention relates to a turned regulating ball valve, which comprises a ball valve body, a ball and a stem mechanically fixed with the ball, the ball can be rotated by 90 degrees in the ball valve body using the stem as an axis, a first side and a second side of the ball valve body are respectively provided with an inlet seat and an outlet seat, the ball valve body and the inlet seat are provided with an inlet fluid passage, the ball valve body and the outlet seat are provided with an outlet fluid passage, the ball is placed between the inlet seat and the outlet seat, a first part of the ball, which is close to the inlet seat, is provided with a control assembly, and a second side of the ball, which is close to the outlet seat, is provided with a plurality of hole fluid channels which communicate with the control assembly. The turned regulating ball valve has the advantages that are: enlarging a fluid flow area at an entrance of the ball; enabling accurate regulations; allowing regulations under a high pressure differential. |
| US09377123B2 |
Solenoid valve
A solenoid valve is provided with a valve main body having a valve chamber communicating with an inlet port and a first outlet port, a valve body arranged within the valve chamber, a valve holder retaining the valve body, a coil spring energizing the valve holder, a pipe member having a second outlet port communicating with the valve chamber, a suction element surrounding the pipe member, a coil bobbin winding an electromagnetic coil, and a mold cover surrounding a whole of the coil bobbin, integrated with the valve main body, and defining the valve chamber. The valve holder has a tube body facing to the suction element, and a small tube portion formed smaller in diameter than the tube body, pierced a fluid insertion hole in an intermediate portion, and having a retention portion retaining the valve body in an inner side of a leading end. |
| US09377120B2 |
Ball valve with anti-rotational pressure plate
A ball valve having an anti-rotational pressure plate that allows for a balanced pressure load on a valve member is provided. Additionally, the pressure plate can also fix the rotation of an adjacent flow disk, allowing for angular-orientation specific flow characterizing features to be used with the flow disk. By fixing the rotation of the flow disk, the ball valve can characterize flows using a greater variety of flow disk geometries, including angular-orientation dependent and angular-orientation independent flow disks. Further, the pressure plate could also be directly in the form of a flow disk that has anti-rotation features. |
| US09377119B2 |
Solenoid actuated butterfly valve
A butterfly valve and a valve system using the butterfly valve are disclosed. The butterfly valve includes a valve body and a valve disk disposed in the body such that the valve disk may be rotated between at least a first position and a second position using a linear actuator. The actuator may be a linear solenoid coupled to the valve disk spaced a distance from the axis of rotation of the valve disk. |
| US09377117B2 |
Pressure reducing valve
In a pressure reducing valve, a valve rod forms one portion of a side wall of a piston, and is connected to the piston inwardly of a sliding contact area, which is held in sliding contact with an inner wall of a body. More specifically, a connection location between the valve rod and the piston is located at the interior of the piston. |
| US09377116B2 |
Valve and method of relieving overpressure in a fluid supply system
A valve is provided. The valve includes a housing including an interior and a side wall at least partially delimiting the interior, a valve element within the interior of the housing and configured to be selectively operable between an open position and a closed position. The valve element includes an interior and a side wall at least partially delimiting the interior of the valve element. The valve also includes a series of pressure relief devices within the side walls of the housing and the valve element. The series of pressure relief devices include at least one check valve and are configured to provide flow communication from the interior of the housing to exterior of the housing upon actuation of the at least one check valve. |
| US09377114B2 |
Pressure control valve for reactive adhesives
A pressure control valve for reactive adhesives includes a valve housing with a liquid recirculation passage communicating with a conduit leading to a dispensing apparatus and an adhesive pump, a valve element mounted within the valve housing, and a biasing member for biasing the valve element towards a valve seat in the liquid passage. The pressure control valve also includes a flexible seal with a first end fixedly coupled to the valve element and a second end fixedly coupled to the valve housing. The flexible seal also includes an intermediate portion that flexes or deforms as the first end of the flexible seal follows movements of the valve element, thereby preventing liquid adhesive in the liquid recirculation passage from contacting the biasing member. The flexible seal may include an arch-shaped compression seal or a thin flexible annular membrane. |
| US09377111B2 |
Butterfly valve
The invention relates to a butterfly valve, comprising a passageway, a valve seat enclosing the passageway, a rotatable valve shaft which has an axis of rotation spaced from a plane through the valve seat, a valve plate member fixed to the valve shaft and being located in the passageway, and seal enclosing the valve plate member. The valve plate member has an open position and a closed position. At least in a plane through the seal in the open position, the width of the passageway adjacent to the valve seat as viewed from the valve seat in the direction of the axis of rotation is larger than the width of the passageway at the valve seat. Due to this configuration leakage via the seal in the closed position is avoided, because of minimal deformation of the seal in the open position. The butterfly valve has good resistance against irradiation and high-temperature necessary for enabling disinfection of the butterfly valve and a container to which it can be fixed and which is suitable for storage of sterilized products. |
| US09377110B2 |
Fluid control valve having an adjustable valve stem and piston assembly
Fluid control valves having an adjustable valve stem and piston assembly are described herein. An example fluid control valve includes a piston to control a flow of fluid through a valve body, a bonnet having a threaded bore and a housing to be removably disposed within and threadably coupled to the bonnet. The housing includes a first portion to be disposed in the bonnet, a roller assembly to be pivotally mounted to the first portion, the roller assembly to engage the piston to control a position of the piston. The housing including a second portion with a threaded outer surface to couple to the threaded bore of the bonnet. A valve stem is to move through the housing to control the movement of the roller assembly and the piston. |
| US09377108B2 |
Variable stiffness compliant plate seal
A compliant plate seal assembly for a turbo machine includes a rotor and a stationary component. A plurality of compliant plates are coupled circumferentially to the stationary component. A natural frequency of each compliant plate varies from a natural frequency of adjacent compliant plates and/or gaps between adjacent plates to produce a zero-oscillation state between adjacent compliant plates in flow. |
| US09377106B2 |
Ramped filter vessel
A filter vessel has a housing and a lid which together define an internal chamber for carrying a filter. A gasket is positioned between the lid and the housing. In a locked position, the lid and the housing are in sealed contact with the gasket. |
| US09377104B2 |
Method and system for controlling driving of vehicle
A method of controlling driving of a vehicle may include determining whether a vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed, determining whether a signal of an accelerator position sensor (APS) is input as a signal of an accelerator pedal, determining whether a signal of a brake position sensor (BPS) is input as a signal of a brake pedal, determining whether the signal of the BPS is input while overlapping the signal of the APS for over a predetermined time in a state where the signal of the APS is being input, determining whether the signal of the APS is input while overlapping the signal of the BPS for over a predetermined time in a state where the signal of the BPS is first being input, driving an engine in a first smart pedal control mode, and executing a second smart pedal control mode. |
| US09377101B2 |
Method for electronically controlling a bicycle gearshift and electronically servo-assisted bicycle gearshift
A device (42, 50, 70, 75, 80, 85) for manually inputting commands for an electronically servo-assisted bicycle gearshift (8) comprises a lever (54, 86) configured to actuate a first switch (60) when it is rotated by a first predetermined angle, and to actuate the first switch (60) and a second switch (61) when it is rotated by a second predetermined angle after the rotation by the first predetermined angle. A command input requesting gearshifting in a first direction is considered to be valid when only the first switch (60) is actuated, and a command input requesting gearshifting in a second direction is considered to be valid only when both of the switches (60, 61) are actuated. |
| US09377099B2 |
Transmission system
A transmission system includes a housing having a sump, the housing containing a crown wheel and a pinion. The transmission system further includes an oil reservoir and a pump selectively operable to pump fluid from the oil reservoir to the sump for lubricating the crown wheel. The pump is selectively operable to pump fluid from the sump to the reservoir. |
| US09377091B2 |
Shaft assemblies suitable for circuit breakers and related circuit breakers
Shaft assemblies include an elongate shaft having a plurality of closely spaced apart external notches with wall segments having a greater outer diameter than an outer diameter of the notches residing therebetween and at least one self-retaining locking ring that engages one of the notches to axially lock into position on the shaft and provide a pull out force that is between about 100 lbf to about 1000 lbf. The notches can have a width that is between about 0.010 inches to about 0.020 inches, on average, and a depth that is between about 0.001 inches to about 0.010 inches, on average. |
| US09377089B2 |
Chain tensioning device
A chain tensioning device is basically provided with a main body, a chain guide, a rotary fluid damper unit and a rotational resistance adjustment device. The main body is configured to be mounted to a bicycle. The chain guide is pivotally coupled to the main body to rotate around a rotational axis with respect to the main body. The rotary fluid damper unit is operatively connected between the main body and the chain guide to provide rotational resistance to the chain guide around the rotational axis. The rotational resistance adjustment device is operatively connected to the rotary fluid damper unit to change a rotational resistance setting of the rotary fluid damper unit with the rotational resistance adjustment device in an operative state. |
| US09377088B2 |
Chain drive tensioner spring force control mechanism
A tensioner which adjusts the mean tensioner force to keep the chain tension as low as possible without sacrificing chain control, significantly improving drive efficiency as the chain wears and is subject to low dynamic loads. |
| US09377086B2 |
Multi-stage transmission
The multi-speed transmission comprises four planetary gear sets, eight rotating shafts and six shifting elements, whereas the sun gear of the first planetary gear set is connected to the fifth shaft, which is connectable to the input shaft through a first clutch and is attachable to a housing through a third brake, whereas the drive shaft is, through a second clutch, connectable to the seventh shaft connected to the bar of the fourth planetary gear set and the ring gear of the third planetary gear set and is connected to the sun gear of the second planetary gear set, whereas the sixth shaft is connected to the ring gear of the first planetary gear set, the bar of the second planetary gear set and the ring gear of the fourth planetary gear set and the third shaft is connected to the sun gear of the third planetary gear set and the sun gear of the fourth planetary gear set, and is attachable to the housing through a first brake, whereas the fourth shaft is connected to the bar of the first planetary gear set, is attachable to the housing through a second brake and, through a third clutch, is detachably connectable to the eighth shaft connected to the ring gear of the second planetary gear set and whereas the output shaft of the transmission is connected to the bar of the third planetary gear set. |
| US09377084B2 |
Automated manual transmission with dynamic torque transfer device
A transmission system includes an input that is operable to receive torque, and a multi-speed gear train including a final output for transferring torque to a final drive. A clutch interconnects the input and the multi-speed gear train. When disposed in an engaged position, the clutch connects the input and the final output in torque communication therebetween. When disposed in a disengaged position, the clutch disconnects torque communication between the input and the final output. A dual planetary torque transfer device, which includes a pair of planetary gear trains coupled together, and interconnects the input and the final output. The dual planetary torque transfer device is disposed in a parallel relationship with the clutch, between the input and the final output. The dual planetary torque transfer device transfers torque between the input and the final output when the clutch is disposed in the disengaged position. |
| US09377083B2 |
Multiple-output transmission
A multiple-output transmission includes a drive motor and one or more stacked layers. Each layer includes one or more output gears, a drive gear, coupled to be driven by the drive motor, at least one idler gear, engageable with the drive gear, and means for indexing the at least one idler gear between multiple selectable indexing positions, thereby to selectively engage one or more of the output gears. |
| US09377076B2 |
Magneto-rheological damping system for preventing stratification
A magneto-rheological (MR) damping system for preventing stratification of MR fluid is disclosed. The MR damping system has a housing, a piston, and a stir band. The piston operably reciprocates within the housing and includes a circumferential portion. The circumferential portion has a groove. The stir band is disposed in the groove of the piston and includes an outer periphery and a plurality of flexible protrusions. The flexible protrusions have a head portion and a tail portion. The head portion is fixed to the outer periphery. The tail portion extends from the head portion and is disjointed from the outer periphery and is substantially flexible relative to the head portion. Therefore, the stir band diverts a flow of MR fluid in one of a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction about the circumferential portion of the piston, during a reciprocatory movement of the piston. |
| US09377071B2 |
Pad spring for disk brake
A pad spring for a disk brake includes a mounting portion configured to be elastically mounted onto radial outside portions of pad support members of the disk brake; a pressure portion having a pair of pressure arms configured to elastically press outer circumferential edges of circumferential-direction one-end portions of back plates of pads of the disk brake inwardly in a radial direction of a rotor of the disk brake; and a held plate section formed between torque transmission surfaces of the back plates and torque receiving surfaces of the pad support members. The pad spring is formed by bending an elastic and corrosion-resistant metal plate so as to elastically press the pads in the radial direction. |
| US09377070B2 |
Vehicle disc brake
Each pad return spring includes a lug piece attachment portion that is attached to a corresponding lug piece, and a pad return portion. The lug piece attachment portion of each pad return spring includes a first piece that is disposed on a first surface, on a disc rotor side, of the corresponding lug piece, a second piece that is disposed on a second surface, on the opposite side to the disc rotor side, of the corresponding lug piece, and a connection piece that connects the first piece and the second piece. The lug piece attachment portion of each pad return spring has a substantially U shape in section. The lug piece attachment portions are formed with engagement claw portions, and the lug pieces are formed with engagement grooves. |
| US09377068B2 |
Brake lining for a piston-actuated disc brake of a rail vehicle or a utility vehicle
A brake lining for a disc brake of a rail vehicle or utility vehicle with a lining plate carrier and a friction lining fastened thereon designed such that at least one reinforcing rib having a greater thickness than the adjacent region is provided at least on that side of the lining carrier plate which faces the friction lining. |
| US09377067B2 |
Device for fitting and removal of brake calipers and method for fitting and removing such a brake caliper
A method and a device for fitting and removal of brake calipers (2), the device having a frame portion (38) connected to a fastening portion (40) for fastening the device (36) on the brake caliper (2). The frame portion (38) is provided with a lifting device (42), (44). The fastening portion (40) has connecting portions (18) engaged with at least one fastening point (20) for a component. A brake caliper bracket (16) which cooperates with the brake caliper (2). The connecting portions (18) of the fastening portion (40) are of substantially the same geometrical shape as the brake caliper bracket's connecting portions (18) which connect with the brake caliper (2). |
| US09377066B2 |
Transmission hydraulic retarder control system and method of operating
A method of operating a hydraulic retarder including directing fluid from a retarder pump to the retarder when the retarder is turned on. Fluid from a main pump is directed to a torque converter, which fluid is directed to at least one of a lube operation, a tank or a cooler when the retarder is turned off. Fluid from the main pump by way of the torque converter is directed to the retarder when the retarder is on, but not filled, and to the tank or the lube operation when the retarder is filled. |
| US09377062B2 |
Clutch characteristic adjusting method for DCT
A method of correcting a clutch characteristic of a DCT may include a torque situation determining step that determines whether a torque is applied to any one or both of a first clutch and a second clutch, a slip determining step that determines whether an amount of slip of a clutch receiving the torque is equal to or more than a predetermined reference value, and a correcting step that corrects a T-S curve of the clutch in accordance with situations determined in the torque situation determining step, if the amount of slip of the clutch is equal to or more than the predetermined reference value. |
| US09377059B2 |
Vibration damper for a drivetrain
A vibration damper and a drive shaft comprising a vibration damper having a small radial extent is provided. A first shaft part is provided with a sleeve and a second shaft part is provided with an inner part which extends axially into the sleeve. The sleeve and the inner part include longitudinal rotary drivers that engage negative profiles of an damping part which is elastically deformable in the direction of shaft rotation and includes at least one decoupling ring and at least one pair of rotation limiting rings. |
| US09377057B2 |
Rolling bearing and its packaging method
To provide a rolling bearing in which a favorable antirust performance can be obtained while reducing an amount of antirust oil than before, after removing chloride ions and sulfate ions from the entire surface of the bearing, antirust oil is provided to adhere thereto at an average film thickness of 4.5 μm to 10 μm, and the entire bearing is covered with a volatile corrosion inhibitor film such that a space between the volatile corrosion inhibitor film and the bearing is kept in a pressure-reduced condition. |
| US09377053B2 |
Rolling bearing device
A rolling bearing device has an oil supply unit which includes: a lubrication oil tank with a discharge port of a lubrication oil; a pump which sucks the lubrication oil from the lubrication oil tank and discharges the lubrication oil; and an electric power source section for driving the pump. The oil supply unit is disposed inside the rolling bearing or inside a spacer which is placed adjacent to the rolling bearing, and the pump is operated intermittently. The electric power source section for driving the pump includes: a power generator section which generates power by temperature difference between inner and outer rings in the rolling bearing; and a charging section which stores the electric power from the power generator section. The pump is driven when a voltage in the charging section attains a driving voltage for the pump. |
| US09377050B2 |
Retainer of linear guideway
A retainer of a linear guideway comprises a retaining member a supporting member. The retaining member has a base portion and two side wing portions integrally extended from the base portion. The base portion has a receiving groove, and each side wing portion has a positioning opening. One positioning opening is offset with respect to the receiving groove along a first direction, and another positioning opening is offset with respect to the receiving groove along a second direction opposite to the first direction. One side portion of the supporting member is wedged to the receiving groove of the base portion. Thus, the instant disclosure provides the retainer for positioning two staggered circulation tubes. |
| US09377049B2 |
Linear guideway
A linear guideway includes an end cap and a resilient sheet. The end cap includes a main plate, a surrounding plate, and two side positioning pillars. The surrounding plate and the side positioning pillars are perpendicularly extended from the main plate. The inner edge of the main plate has two protruding segments facing with each other. The side positioning pillars are respectively arranged adjacent to the first protruding segments. The resilient sheet has two first side positioning holes respectively sleeving the two first side positioning pillars, and the resilient sheet is disposed on the main plate. Thus, by the cooperation of the first side positioning pillar and the first side positioning hole, the resilient sheet is firmly received in the end cap and the first side positioning pillars support the inner edge of the resilient sheet. |
| US09377046B1 |
Fastener assembly
A fastener assembly is provided that includes a female insert having a head and a sleeve which extends from the head. The head of the female insert abuts a first panel, with the sleeve extending through a first preformed hole in the first panel. The distal end of the sleeve thus protrudes from the first preformed hole of the first panel and is then crimped around a washer to mechanically connect the female insert to the first panel. The female insert may also include one or more adhesive receptacles to further adhere the female insert to the first panel. A second panel with a second preformed hole is aligned with the first panel, and a male fastener having a base and a shank that extends from the base is inserted through the second preformed hole and into the female insert to connect the first panel and the second panel. |
| US09377045B2 |
Wood screw
A wood screw includes a plurality of cutting areas radially disposed on a conical bottom surface of a head and a smooth area formed between the cutting areas. Each cutting area has at least two grooves, each of which has a base different from each smooth area and two rib walls protruding from the base. The rib walls of two adjacent grooves meet to form a first cutting edge. Each cutting area further has two outer walls protruding from the smooth area. Each outer wall meets one rib wall of the adjacent groove on a second cutting edge. The cutting edges cut and scrape off burrs attached to a drilled hole. The cutting edges cooperate with the grooves to permit a continuous cutting action simultaneously with an increasing accommodation area for scraped burrs and prevent the burrs from sticking out from the head. Thus, the fastening effect is promoted. |
| US09377040B2 |
Manufacture and method for forming structures and the structures resulting therefrom
A clip for assembling corners of hollow members such as the rails and stiles of an extruded aluminum door. The clip has an L shape and may feature a double L shape. A portion inserts into the hollow of a first member and is attached thereto. Another portion extends into the other hollow member for attachment thereto to form a sturdy joint without welding. Pairs of clips may be used at each corner. |
| US09377037B2 |
Lock device and method of use
The present invention, and inventive system, describes a lock system that is designed to be attached to an existing cast iron loose grate and or manhole covers that sits in a cast iron or other material frame allowing the loose grate to be locked into the frame so it cannot be removed from the frame accidently or on purpose without the proper tool to unlock the security locking bolt. In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention does not need a frame and interacts with the wall holding the cover directly. In at least one embodiment the present invention operates by an upper and lower section. The lower section may have multiple bars that operate independently of each other. These lower sections can rotate about a screw which is located in a hole drilled through a grate or manhole, such that the lower sections can rotate across the manhole cover and extrude past the radius of the manhole cover. |
| US09377030B2 |
Auxiliary power units and other turbomachines having ported impeller shroud recirculation systems
Embodiments of a turbomachine, such as a gas turbine engine, are provided. In one embodiment, the turbomachine includes an impeller, a main intake plenum in fluid communication with the inlet of the impeller, and an impeller shroud recirculation system. The impeller shroud recirculation system includes an impeller shroud extending around at least a portion of the impeller and having a shroud port therein. A shroud port cover circumscribes at least a portion of the shroud port and cooperates therewith to at least partially define an impeller recirculation flow path. The impeller recirculation flow path has an outlet positioned to discharge airflow into the main intake plenum at a location radially outboard of the shroud port when pressurized air flows from the impeller, through the shroud port, and into the impeller recirculation flow path during operation of the turbomachine. |
| US09377028B2 |
Tensioning device extending beyond component
A system for applying tension to a component for use in molten metal processing. Preferably, the component includes an outer core and at least one tension rod positioned partially within the outer core. The component is preferably elongated, such as a support post or an impeller shaft. The tension rod applies compression to the outer cover, which makes the outer cover more resistant to breakage if it strikes, or is stricken by, an object. |
| US09377026B2 |
Electric device including an electric fan and a control unit for controlling the electric fan
An electric device has a casing with an air-inlet and an air-outlet, a main unit disposed inside the casing, a first temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the casing, a second temperature sensor for detecting the temperature outside the casing, an electric fan, and a control unit. The control unit rotates the electric fan at the time of the low-temperature startup such that the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor is lower than a preset first threshold value, while the temperature detected by the second temperature sensor is higher than the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor. |
| US09377015B2 |
Tube pump, tube clamp, perfusion set and system comprising a tube pump and a tube clamp
The invention concerns a tube pump comprising a cradle (1) with a cavity (11) suitable for the accommodation of a tube clamp (2). It further concerns a tube clamp (2) for a flexible tube, the tube clamp being suitable for accommodation in a tube pump, the tube clamp having a mobile part and an immobile part (20) designed to penetrate at least partly into a housing (11) realized in the tube pump. The invention also concerns a perfusion set. Finally, the invention concerns a system comprising a tube pump and a tube clamp. In order to provide a system comprising a tube pump and a tube clamp with improved operation safety, the tube pump has a cavity (11) with at least one protrusion (14) and the tube clamp (2) has means (21) for snapping attachment of the tube clamp behind the protrusion (14). This arrangement allows to fix the tube clamp (2) safely in the cavity (11) and to give furthermore a feedback to the user because he feels (and he might in addition hear) that the tube clamp has snapped behind the protrusion. A further advantage resides in the fact that the solution according to the present invention can be put in place without significantly increasing the costs of the parts involved in the invention. |
| US09377014B1 |
Intermittent start compressor
A switch (10, 200) is provided for installation in the air conditioning (A/C) system (12) in a vehicle (16) for intermittently operating the clutch (20) in the A/C system (12) each time the control (44) in the A/C system (12) provides power to operate the clutch (20) to prevent slugging. This turns the compressor (14) a few turns each time the clutch (20) is energized during intermittent operation to purge liquid refrigerant and lubricant from the compressor (14) to prevent slugging. The switch (10, 200) can be installed in existing vehicles by connecting the switch (10, 200) in the wiring harness (18) of the A/C system (12) to the power lead (38) from the control (44) to the clutch (20) and between the ground lead (40) from the clutch (20) and a ground. The switch (10, 200) can include a microcontroller (52) for controlling the operation of a power transistor (70) to intermittently ground the clutch to provide the intermittent operation. A battery (202) can be provided to power the microcontroller (52) for a set period of time after an initial intermittent operation. This prevents additional intermittent operation for the set period of time. |
| US09377013B2 |
Oil injection device for variable-speed scroll refrigeration compressor
The oil injection device according to the invention includes an oil pump designed to be rotationally coupled to the electric motor of a compressor and including inlet and outlet ports, an oil injection duct connected to the first outlet port and designed to supply a compression stage of the compressor with oil, and an oil return duct connected to the first outlet port and designed to return the oil into an oil sump of the compressor. The pressure losses in the oil injection duct are primarily singular pressure losses proportional to the square of the oil flow rate passing through the oil injection duct. The pressure losses in the oil return duct are primarily pressure losses due to friction proportional to the oil flow rate passing through the oil return duct. |
| US09377010B1 |
Hydraulic pump jack system for oil and gas wells
A hydraulic pump jack cylinder is coupled with a closed loop hydraulic circuit, which includes a hydrostatic pump that delivers hydraulic fluid under pressure to the pump jack cylinder. The pump jack cylinder includes an inner extension piston area and an outer retraction piston area which are configured to have substantially the same area to establish a cylinder ration at 1:1. The hydrostatic pump drives the cylinder rod connected to the oil well sucker rod at a constant velocity in both the extension and retraction strokes with a quick sinusoidal turn-around at the ends of the strokes to provide a change in stroke direction. The swash plate in the hydrostatic pump brake the flow of fluid from the pump jack cylinder during retraction to prevent free-fall. A programmable logic controller controls the swash plate angles to switch stroke direction before the cylinder rod bottoms out. |
| US09377006B2 |
Vertical wind turbine with articulated blades
A vertical wind turbine to catch the wind force characterized by its system of aerodynamic panels are provided with blades fixed into horizontal axis that open and close simultaneously and symmetrically upward and downward due the gears like the butterfly wings rotated by 90° of its normal position, it is like opens an umbrella horizontally to receive on one side the wind buoyancy or pressure and in the other side close by the action of the wind. The top and bottom blades works as counterweight one to another both to open and close (flatness) which makes your weight null in relation to the effort of wind to open or close them independent of the self-weight of the blades what propitiate the maximum use of the wind force in the traction side without loss to the return of the blades to the traction position driving a vertical axis. |
| US09377002B2 |
Electrodes for multi-point ignition using single or multiple transient plasma discharges
A device for providing ignition of a fuel-air mixture using a transient plasma discharge is provided. The device includes an anode coupled to receive a voltage; and a cathode disposed in proximity to the anode and coupled to a ground, wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode includes a protrusion that enhances an electric field formed between the anode and the cathode, the protrusion forming a sharp edge defining a plurality of points, each point forming a path of shortest distance between the anode and the cathode. |
| US09377001B2 |
Spark plug for internal combustion engine
A spark plug has a housing, a pair of center and ground electrodes configured to define a spark gap therebetween, a guide member and an oblique surface. The ground electrode has a standing portion that stands distalward from a distal end of the housing. The guide member is configured to guide the flow of an air-fuel mixture in a combustion chamber of an engine to the spark gap. The guide member protrudes distalward from the distal end of the housing at a different circumferential position from the ground electrode. The oblique surface is formed at the distal end of the housing so as to be circumferentially positioned between the guide member and the standing portion of the ground electrode. The oblique surface is oblique to the axial direction of the spark plug so that the radial distance between the oblique surface and the center electrode decreases in the distalward direction. |
| US09376997B1 |
EFI throttle body with side fuel injectors
An electronic fuel injection throttle body unit has a core body with two side components. The two side components each including a fuel delivery passage. Four air intake passages extending vertically through the throttle body. Valves are rotatable within the air intake passages. The valves being connected to valve shafts that rotate about respective valve shaft axes. The valve shaft axes and the fuel delivery passages are perpendicular to each other. |
| US09376996B2 |
Engine device
A problem exists that in the case that a prior injection (a pilot injection B or a previous injection C) before a main injection A is executed when an engine is driven at a low load, a defective ignition and a defective combustion tend to be caused, an amount of carbon monoxide (CO) in an exhaust gas becomes excessive, and the carbon monoxide is discharged as white smoke. An engine device is mounted to a working vehicle, and a common rail type fuel injection device which injects fuel to the engine at multiple stages during one combustion cycle. The common rail type fuel injection device does not execute the prior injections B and C coming before the main injection A in the case that a load applied to the engine is in a low load state in which a load is lower than that at a working time by the working vehicle. |
| US09376991B2 |
Passive venturi pump for leak diagnostics and refueling
Systems and methods for operating a hybrid electric vehicle with a passive venturi pump are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises: during vehicle motion, passing air through a venturi coupled to the vehicle to generate vacuum; storing the generated in an accumulator; and, in response to a condition, discharging the stored vacuum to a vacuum consuming system of the vehicle. |
| US09376989B2 |
Fuel tank pressure relief valve cleaning
Methods and systems for cleaning a pressure relieve valve for a fuel tank are disclosed. In one example approach a method for cleaning a pressure relief valve that is normally activated at a preset negative pressure in a fuel system comprises, during a test cycle, reducing fuel system pressure to a predetermined pressure which is higher than the preset pressure, and measuring pressure changes in the fuel system; and when not in the test cycle, periodically reducing the fuel system pressure to a third pressure which is less than said preset pressure. |
| US09376987B2 |
Thruster and spacecraft
A thruster designed to produce thrust by introducing a propellant to a catalyst layer from a propellant valve via a propellant introduction member and spurting out a gas resulting from decomposition of the propellant occurring on the catalyst layer, wherein the thruster comprises a chamber of an Ni alloy for holding the catalyst layer inside, the propellant introduction member is made of an Ni alloy and connects the propellant valve and the chamber, and a propellant valve flange of a Ti alloy with a plurality of columns of a Ti alloy is arranged between the chamber and the propellant valve to support the chamber by the columns. |
| US09376983B2 |
Operations support systems and methods with acoustics evaluation and control
An operations support system is provided for an engine. The system includes a diagnostics module configured to receive engine data from the engine and to generate diagnostics data based on the engine data using a thermodynamic model, the thermodynamic model being based on component maps associated with the engine; an acoustics module coupled to the diagnostics module and comprising an acoustics calculation unit, the acoustics calculation unit configured to receive the diagnostics data and to determine an acoustics level for the engine based on the diagnostics data; and a graphical user interface coupled to the acoustics module and configured to display the acoustics level. |
| US09376982B2 |
Control apparatus for fuel injector
In consideration of a force acting on a valve, wear in the valve or in a valve seat is suppressed and thereby the frequency of lifetime use of a fuel injector is increased. In a control apparatus for controlling a driving current that is allowed to pass to a fuel injector including a solenoid, after a first injection pulse width for injecting fuel is finished and before a second injection pulse width, which is to be output subsequently to the first injection pulse width for injecting the fuel, is started, a third pulse width 421 for allowing the driving current to pass through the solenoid is output and the driving current that is to be allowed to flow through the solenoid by the third pulse 421 is controlled in accordance with one of a measurement value and a predictive value of a fuel pressure. |
| US09376977B2 |
Rail pressure control strategy for common rail fuel system
A common rail fuel system includes a common rail supplied by an inlet metered high pressure pump and fluidly connected to a plurality of zero-leak fuel injectors. An electronic controller controls pressure in the common rail predominantly responsive to a rail pressure error when outside of an overshoot avoidance condition corresponding to the error being less than a first threshold and a time rate of change of the error being greater than a second threshold. Pressure in the common rail is controlled predominantly responsive to the time rate of change of the error during the overshoot avoidance condition. |
| US09376975B2 |
Stochastic pre-ignition prediction and mitigation systems and methods
An engine control system for a vehicle includes a timer module, a stochastic pre-ignition (SPI) mitigation module, and a boost control module. The timer module tracks a period of operation of an engine where vacuum within an intake manifold is less than a first predetermined vacuum. The SPI mitigation module generates an SPI signal when the period is greater than a predetermined period and the vacuum is less than a second predetermined vacuum. The second predetermined vacuum is less than the first predetermined vacuum. The boost control module reduces output of a turbocharger in response to the generation of the SPI signal. |
| US09376974B2 |
Method and system for controlling fuel injection for vehicles
A method and system for controlling fuel injection for vehicles controls fuel injection amount according to change in kinetic energy of the vehicle or performs fuel cut control so as to improve fuel economy. The method may include setting a first energy line corresponding to energy loss due to running resistance when deceleration, setting a second energy line corresponding to energy loss due to engine friction, determining whether kinetic energy of the vehicle is above the first energy line after a predetermined time has elapsed, and injecting fuel by an amount generating energy corresponding to a sum of engine friction energy and braking energy in a case that the kinetic energy of the vehicle is above the first energy line. |
| US09376969B2 |
Air intake system hydrocarbon trap purging
Methods and systems for passively purging a hydrocarbon trap in an engine intake in a vehicle are disclosed. In one example approach, a method comprises, in response to an ambient temperature decrease during an engine off condition while a fuel tank is sealed from atmosphere, delivering fuel stored in a hydrocarbon trap in an intake of the engine to a fuel vapor canister coupled to the fuel tank in an emission control system. |
| US09376964B2 |
Control system
A control system for at least one of steam turbines, gas turbines or power plants includes a sensor system configured to monitor predefined operating parameters, the sensor system including redundant sensors. A central processor arrangement of the control system has an input side configured to receive measurement data from the sensor system and an output side configured to communicate with operation control elements of the turbines or power plants. A sensor side processor circuit is assigned at least to the redundant sensors, the processor circuit being configured to continuously check the sensors for error-free operation, to protect or block the input side of the central processor arrangement from erroneous signals, and to only respectively forward or further process signals from a sensor that has been identified as error-free in one channel. |
| US09376961B2 |
System for controlling a flow rate of a compressed working fluid to a combustor fuel injector
A system for controlling air flow rate of a compressed working fluid to a fuel injector of a combustor includes an outer casing that defines a high pressure plenum around a portion of the combustor, an extraction port in fluid communication with the high pressure plenum and an inlet port. The combustor includes a plurality of fuel injectors arranged around a combustion liner, an inner flow sleeve, an outer air shield that surrounds the plurality of fuel injectors and the inner flow sleeve. The outer air shield defines an injection an air plenum between the outer air shield and the inner flow sleeve and an inlet to the injection air plenum. An external fluid circuit provides fluid communication between the extraction port and the inlet port. A baffle extends between the outer casing and the outer air shield to provide flow separation between the inlet and the high pressure plenum. |
| US09376956B2 |
Turbocharging apparatuses and vehicles using the same
There is provided a turbocharging apparatus and vehicles using the same. The turbocharging apparatus comprises a wind collecting device, a first turbine and a second turbine. The wind collecting device comprises a first opening and a second opening and an air flow channel for connecting the two openings. A cross-sectional area of the air flow channel decreases as the air flow channel extends from the first opening towards the second opening. The first turbine comprises a first turbine housing, a first impeller rotatably located in the first turbine housing, a wind inlet communicated with the second opening, and a wind outlet. The second turbine comprises a second turbine housing, a second impeller rotatably located in the second turbine housing, an air suction inlet and an air outlet communicated with a throttle valve of the internal combustion engine. The second impeller can, driven by the first impeller, rotate along with the first impeller. The turbocharging apparatus according to the present invention relies on normal-temperature gas flow as a motive power source, substantially reduces production costs and maintenance costs, and meanwhile better ensures stability, high efficiency and durability of the turbocharger. |
| US09376953B2 |
Forced air blower bypass system
A cooling air bypass prevents premature failure of an engine in the event that cooling air from an external blower is somehow obstructed or shut off. The cooling air bypass includes a normally-closed valve in a wall of a conduit. During proper operation of the blower, the conduit conducts cooling air from the blower to the engine. If the blower malfunctions, however, such that airflow from the blower is impeded or stops, the valve opens to provide an auxiliary airflow path through the valve in the wall of the conduit and into the engine. |
| US09376950B2 |
Reducing agent tank and work vehicle
A container main body of a reducing agent tank stores a reducing agent. A suction pipe has a suction port positioned in the container main body, and guides the reducing agent from the suction port to outside of the container main body. The strainer is provided at the suction port of the suction pipe. The strainer includes a surrounding portion and a facing portion. The surrounding portion has a filter portion which surrounds an internal space to partition the internal space and an external space of the strainer and allows the reducing agent to pass through between the internal space and the external space. The facing portion extends into the internal space of the surrounding portion to face with the filter portion through a gap space communicating with the suction port in the internal space and partition the gap space and the external space. |
| US09376945B2 |
Two circuit adjustable PCV valve
A two circuit manually adjustable PCV valve has threaded control means for adjusting the blow by gas flow in idle (high) and cruise (low) vacuum conditions. A third adjustment means for controlling the crossover flow rate between the channels in certain modes of operation renders the vacuum pressure transition point susceptible to manual control. The three adjustment means create a control system for more efficient vehicle engine operation. |
| US09376943B2 |
Oil sump and axle carrier with an oblique flange face
An oil sump and an axle carrier of an internal combustion engine in a vehicle having obliquely inclined flange faces for fastening to one another. The flange faces being obliquely inclined relative to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle or a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. |
| US09376941B2 |
Method and apparatus for resetting valve lift for use in engine brake
A method and apparatus for resetting a valve lift for use in an engine brake. A brake piston (160), and a hydraulic fluid passage (214) are arranged within a rocker arm (210) or a valve bridge (400) of an engine. A resetting valve arranged between the rocker arm (210) and the valve bridge (400) is driven by a change in the distance between the rocker arm (210) and the valve bridge (400). When the valve lift of an engine exhaust valve (300) reaches a maximum, a reset fluid passage (219) is opened, the hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic fluid passage is released, the brake piston (160) is reversed by one interval, the motion transmission between a cam (230) and the engine exhaust valve (300) is partially disengaged, and the valve lift of the engine exhaust valve (300) is reduced. Also, during a returning process of the valve lift of the engine exhaust valve (300) after reaching the maximum position, repositioning of the reset valve is used to maintain a supply of pressure within the hydraulic fluid passage, the brake piston (160) is allowed to be positioned at an extended position, and the motion transmission between the cam (230) and the engine exhaust valve (300) is resumed. The apparatus for resetting the valve lift can be integrated within an engine exhaust valve brake, and is structurally simple, convenient to install and to adjust, thereby improving safety and reliability. |
| US09376938B2 |
Waste heat power generator
The waste heat power generator (G) includes: an evaporator (1) configured to produce steam of a working medium; a power-generating device (2, 2a, 2b) configured to generate electric power while expanding the steam; a condenser (3) configured to condense the steam which has passed through the power-generating device (2, 2a, 2b); and a pump (5) configured to send the condensed working medium to the evaporator (1). A bottom portion (BT) of the power-generating device (2, 2a, 2b) is provided with a discharge port (8) configured to discharge the working medium liquefied inside the power-generating device (2, 2a, 2b), to the outside thereof. A discharge pipe (6) is provided in which one end thereof is connected to the discharge port (8) and the other end thereof is disposed in a channel for the working medium between the condenser (3) and the pump (5). |
| US09376936B2 |
Exhaust gas turbocharger housing
A turbine housing of an exhaust gas turbocharger, includes an outer housing in which an inner housing with a tubular nozzle and an outlet duct for connection to an exhaust gas system is arranged. The outlet duct is coupled with the tubular nozzle for movement relative to the nozzle via a seal ring. The seal ring is inwardly everted and pushed onto the nozzle and embraced by an inner-housing support ring, so that a fluid tight fit on the inner housing nozzle is ensured. The seal ring is further pushed onto the outlet duct and there also coupled onto the outlet duct with an outlet duct support ring in a fluid tight manner so that an especially durable connection is created. Both support rings are additionally coupled in a materially bonded manner with the seal ring and the outlet duct nozzle or with the inner housing. |
| US09376932B2 |
Turboengine water wash system
A system for cleaning gas turbine engines is described. More specifically, methods and apparatuses for cleaning stationary gas turbines and on-wing turbofan engines found on aircraft are disclosed that includes a trailer-mounted, automated low-pressure water delivery system, additive and detergent injection system, nozzle and manifold technology, and active waste water effluent collector system. The system will deliver the liquid cleaning medium at a specific pressure, temperature, and flow rate to optimize the atomization that occurs at the nozzles. |
| US09376928B2 |
Power system enclosure
A power system enclosure is provided. The power system enclosure includes a housing accommodating a power source. The power system enclosure further includes an enclosure inlet connected to the housing to allow entry of an intake fluid into the housing. An enclosure exhaust is connected to the housing to route fluid from the housing. Further, a relief damper is disposed in the enclosure exhaust. At least a portion of the relief damper is configured to open when a pressure within the housing exceeds a predetermined threshold value. |
| US09376926B2 |
Gas turbine engine fan blade lock assembly
A gas turbine engine fan blade lock assembly includes a fan hub that has blade slots each configured to receive a root of a fan blade. The fan hub includes circumferentially spaced first slots. A lock ring is configured to move between unlocked and locked positions. The lock ring includes circumferentially spaced second slots aligned with the first slots in the locked position, and multiple discrete pins. Each pin is configured to be slidably received in paired first and second slots in the locked position to prevent rotational movement of the lock ring relative the fan hub. |
| US09376920B2 |
Gas turbine engine cooling hole with circular exit geometry
A gas turbine engine component includes a structure having an exterior surface. A cooling hole extends from a cooling passage to the exterior surface to provide an exit area on the exterior surface that is substantially circular in shape. A gas turbine engine includes a compressor section and a turbine section. A combustor is provided between the compressor and turbine sections. A component in at least one of the compressor and turbine sections has an exterior surface. A film cooling hole extends from a cooling passage to the exterior surface to provide an exit area that is substantially circular in shape. A method of machining a film cooling hole includes providing a component having an internal cooling passage and an exterior surface, machining a film cooling hole from the exterior surface to the internal cooling passage to provide a substantially circular exit area on the exterior surface. |
| US09376914B2 |
Rotary machine
A rotary machine (1) in the form of an expander is shown. The Expander Induces a housing (5) having a cavity (9), inlet and outlet ducts (11, 12) communicating with the cavity (9), a rotor (2) having a rotor axis (A), a number of vanes (15a, 15b, 15c) movably received in respective grooves (18) in the rotor (2) and articulately connected about an axis (C) to one end of a control arm (14a, 14b, 14c) and in the other end rotatable supported in a fixed shaft (24) extending centrally through the cavity (9) in the housing (5), and at least one working chamber (9a) which is part of the cavity (9), The housing (5) includes an internally cylindrical intermediate part (5c), which part interact with the rotor (2) and the vanes (15a, 15b, 15c). The rotor (2) forms a reel configuration having respective radially extending flange portions (2a′, 2b′) which are rotatable together with the vanes, and against which the respective end surfaces of the vanes act. |
| US09376911B2 |
Chisel holder, and chisel holder system comprising a chisel holder and a base part
A chisel holder comprises a body zone (12) having a chisel receiving opening (18) that is open at least in the direction of a chisel insertion end (14) of the body zone (12), and also comprises a fastening shaft (26) which extends from a supporting end (20) of the body zone (12) and has a longitudinal shaft axis (LB), the body zone (12) having a first supporting surface region (22) at its supporting end (20). Said chisel holder is characterized in that the body zone (12) has a second supporting surface region (24) at its supporting end (20), said second surface region (24) extending at an angle from the first supporting surface region (22), or/and the first supporting surface region (22) comprises a first supporting surface (28) and a second supporting surface (30) extending at an angle from the first supporting surface (28). |
| US09376903B2 |
Method and apparatus for resonant over-pressured well fracturing
The method for enhancing of forming at least one fracture having a required width r and length L in the formation surrounding fracturing around a wellbore in the regime of resonance by means of applying vibrations to the formation which is undergoing pressurizing exceeding the fracture gradient pressure of the formation. |
| US09376902B2 |
Method to optimize perforations for hydraulic fracturing in anisotropic earth formations
The subject disclosure relates to determining an optimum orientation for perforations around the circumference of a subsurface borehole and optimum wellbore fluid initiation pressure for hydraulic fracturing in anisotropic formations. |
| US09376901B2 |
Increased resource recovery by inorganic and organic reactions and subsequent physical actions that modify properties of the subterranean formation which reduces produced water waste and increases resource utilization via stimulation of biogenic methane generation
Methods of resource recovery include reagents placed in a subterranean formation. The reagents generate heat, hydrogen gas and alkalinity which changes fluid flow characteristics. The forces of the reactions create fractures and cracks far from the well bore. These cracks and fractures are sealed if water is being transmitted through or near the reactions. As a result, the targeted fluids more efficiently flow to the well, along with decreased amounts of water waste, while stimulating generation of biogenic gases in the subterranean formations. |
| US09376897B2 |
RF antenna assembly with feed structure having dielectric tube and related methods
An RF antenna assembly may be positioned within a wellbore in a subterranean formation for hydrocarbon resource recovery. The RF antenna assembly includes first and second tubular conductors and a feed structure therebetween defining a dipole antenna to be positioned within the wellbore, and an RF transmission line extending within one of the tubular conductors. The feed structure includes a dielectric tube, a first connector coupling the RF transmission line to the first tubular conductor, and a second connector coupling the RF transmission line to the second tubular conductor. |
| US09376896B2 |
Bottomhole assembly for capillary injection system and method
A method of treating production fluid in a wellbore includes deploying a capillary string into the wellbore. The capillary string has a plurality of injection valves. The method further includes pumping treatment fluid through the capillary string and into the wellbore. The injection valves have a cumulative set pressure greater than or equal to a hydrostatic pressure of the treatment fluid. |
| US09376895B2 |
Method and apparatus for removing liquid from a gas producing well
A method and apparatus is used for pumping fluid at a wellhead. The apparatus has a support structure that supports a pumping assembly and removes liquid from the well site through a small diameter pipeline as a continuous flow at a constant flow rate. |
| US09376894B2 |
Control and supply unit
A control and supply unit for an actuating device of a choke, a valve, a blow-up preventer or some other device applied in the field of oil and natural gas production includes at least an auxiliary power supply which is specially rechargeable, and a connecting means used for an exchange of data and/or for the purpose of voltage supply. To improve such a control and supply unit, such that the respective connecting means satisfy a relevant standard and has a compact structural design and is also easily accessible from outside, the control and supply unit includes, as a connecting means, a communication interface for connecting thereto a field bus and a voltage supply connection for connecting thereto a voltage supply line. |
| US09376893B2 |
Subsea hydrocarbon production system
A subsea oil and/or gas production system comprises a host production facility and a plurality of subsea wells. A fluid conveying network is provided that connects each subsea well to the host production facility. A separate electrical power and data network is provided for conveying direct current electrical power and data, operatively connected to each subsea well for providing each subsea well with data transfer and electrical power services. The use of direct current ensures that the electrical power and data network can provide power over much greater distances than currently available, and the use of separate networks for conveying fluids and for providing electrical power and data transfer allows for a much more flexible system. |
| US09376889B2 |
Downhole valve assembly
A downhole valve assembly operable to control production fluid flow around an obstruction in a production tubing string. The obstruction may be caused by another valve or valve assembly located in the production tubing string, where the valve is closed and blocks flow through the production tubing. The downhole valve assembly comprises a tubular body that includes an axial passage extending through the body and one or more ports extending substantially radially through the body. The downhole valve assembly also includes one or more actuating members operable to move relative to the body. Movement of the actuating members selectively opens the ports such that a fluid flow path through the ports is defined between an annulus region outside of the valve assembly and the axial passage such that the blockage can be bypassed. |
| US09376885B2 |
Enhanced geothermal systems and reservoir optimization
Systems and methods can include maximizing energy recovery from a subterranean formation. According to one embodiment, a selected subterranean open-hole interval is isolated and at least one fracture is stimulated in the isolated subterranean open-hole interval. |
| US09376884B2 |
Packing element
A sealing element for a packer is described. The sealing element comprises an annular body having an internal surface defining a throughbore, the internal surface adapted to engage a mandrel having a mandrel diameter. The annular body internal surface defines first and second regions, the throughbore diameter of the regions being less than the mandrel diameter. |
| US09376883B2 |
Systems, methods, and devices for isolating portions of a wellhead from fluid pressure
A wellhead system is provided. In one embodiment, the wellhead system includes a bypass sleeve for temporarily isolating portions of a wellhead assembly from pressurized fracing fluid. The bypass sleeve may include a generally tubular body having a tool interface, a lock ring disposed at least partially around the body, and an anti-rotation device coupled to the body. In some embodiments, the anti-rotation device includes a resilient member disposed in a cavity in the body, and an anti-rotation member biased away from the body by the resilient member. The anti-rotation member of some embodiments extends radially outward from the body. |
| US09376876B2 |
Bore selection apparatus
A bore selection device for use with a dual bore subsea system is disclosed. The bore selector (18) can be remotely actuated to provide selection between a production bore (12) and an annulus bore (16) without a rotating mechanism or flapper valve. Embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment a pair of rams (20) having a ram head (20a, 20b) defining parts of a guide funnel (30a, 30b) are hydraulically actuatable so that when the rams are actuated and closed the guide funnel (30) is formed which couples a part of the production bore (126) to the annulus bore (16a). |
| US09376875B2 |
Wellbore annular pressure control system and method using gas lift in drilling fluid return line
A system and method include pumping drilling fluid through a drill string extended into a wellbore extending below the bottom of a body of water, out the bottom of the drill string and into the wellbore annulus. Fluid is discharged from the annulus into a riser and a discharge conduit. The riser is disposed above the top of the wellbore and extends to the water surface. The discharge conduit couples to the riser and includes a controllable fluid choke. A fluid return line is coupled to an outlet of the choke and extends to the water surface. Gas under pressure is pumped into the return line at a selected depth below the water surface. The controllable fluid choke may be operated to maintain a selected drilling fluid level in the riser, the selected fluid level being a selected distance below the water surface. |
| US09376874B2 |
Pump positioned at a drill bit
An ejector or jet pump is provided for use in the drilling of wells to prevent the total fluid pressure at the bottom of the borehole from reaching a level which constitutes a risk of cracking the rock or sediment being drilled, thus resulting in leakage and circulation failure. The pump is placed between the drill bit and the drill string and provided with nozzles directed in such a way that low pressure is established externally at the drill bit. The pump is operated by the drilling fluid which is supplied in the normal way through the drill string. The pressure difference across the pump is used to draw a secondary flow of drilling fluid from the borehole through internal bores in the pump to the nozzles in the drill bit. This fluid flow provides necessary cleaning of the drill bit and drilling surface. |
| US09376872B2 |
Tubing hanger orientation spool
A subsea well installation assembly for installing a tubing hanger in a subsea well includes a spool with a spool orientation feature and a running tool connectable to the tubing hanger with a running tool orientation feature. The tubing hanger is rotatable to the predetermined orientation by movement of the running tool with respect to the spool such that the running tool orientation feature engages the spool orientation feature, and the tubing hanger is landable in the predetermined orientation by movement of the running tool with respect to the spool such that the running tool orientation feature engages the spool orientation feature. |
| US09376863B2 |
High efficiency roller shade
A motorized roller shade is provided. The motorized roller shade includes a shade tube in which a motor unit, a controller unit and a power supply unit are disposed. The controller unit includes a controller to control the motor. The power supply unit includes at least one bearing rotatably coupled to a support shaft. The motor unit includes at least one bearing, rotatably coupled to another support shaft, a DC gear motor and a counterbalancing device. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to a mounting bracket. |
| US09376861B2 |
Winding device and cordless roller blind incorporating the same
A winding device for a cordless roller blind includes a mounting seat, a winding unit and a connecting mechanism. The mounting seat is mountable on a supporting structure. The connecting mechanism is for connecting removably the winding unit to the mounting seat in such a manner that the winding unit is upright when connected to the mounting seat. The connecting mechanism includes a first connecting set that is disposed on one of a casing of the winding unit and the mounting seat, and at least two second connecting sets that are disposed on the other of the casing and the mounting seat. The first connecting set is removably engageable with one of the second connecting sets so as to connect removably the winding unit to the mounting seat. |
| US09376858B2 |
Device comprising protective netting, suitable for use as a barrier for any type of opening located at a height
The invention relates to a device comprising protective netting suitable for use as a barrier for any type of opening located at a height. The device uses a set of specially designed aluminum sections that can be produced in series and are easy to handle, as well as comprising mobile anchoring elements that engage with guides provided on the section in order to mount the mesh-type safety net that can be used as a containment barrier, preferably for balconies, windows and staircase, which reduces the risk of falls by children and/or careless people, in a secure, cost-effective and aesthetically pleasing manner. |
| US09376856B1 |
Hollow core door with internal air flow
Hollow core door apparatus for preventing the build up of pressure in a room having a register through which air flows into the room and the door includes an inside door skin and an outer door skin, and the door skins includes openings in which a box is disposed. The box includes a center panel and a single opening through the center panel; the box also includes an inside panel and an outside panel, both of which panels are secured to and spaced apart from the center panel. The inside and outside panels have peripheral openings and which peripheral openings define areas at least as great as the area of the opening in the center panel and are offset from the opening in the center panel to provide for a non-linear flow of air through the door to prevent the build up of pressure in the room. An embodiment combining a noxious gas absorbent material with the pressure build up prevention capability is also illustrated. |
| US09376851B2 |
Barrier operator feature enhancement
A barrier operator feature enhancement device is designed to provide one or more features found in modern barrier operator devices and to incorporate those features into a previously installed barrier operator system. To facilitate ease of use, the barrier operator feature enhancement device can communicate with a large variety of barrier operators. Such communication may be wireless or wired, depending on the communication protocol implemented by a particular previously installed barrier operator. To facilitate the ease of installation, the device is designed to configure itself to operate with the communication protocol of the previously installed barrier operator. Once configured to be able to communicate with the previously installed barrier operator, the feature enhancement device works with the barrier operator to provide one or more additional features to enhance the capabilities of the previously installed barrier operator. |
| US09376849B2 |
Door or window assembly
A door or window assembly (10) is provided. The door or window assembly (10) includes: a track assembly (12); a first leaf (14) slidable along the track assembly (12) in a plane of the first leaf (14) between a first position and a second position; a second leaf (16) moveably coupled to the track assembly (12); and a third leaf (20) pivotally coupled to the second leaf (16). The first leaf (14) is arranged to engage the second leaf (16) to form a combined leaf (86) when the first leaf (14) is in the second position and the combined leaf (86) is arranged to be foldable against the third leaf (20). |
| US09376845B2 |
Hinge device and housing
There is provided a hinge device that supports a first member and a second member to be rotatable. The hinge device includes a first guide groove and a second guide groove that are formed on the first member substantially parallel to each other, and a first pin that is provided on the second member and is slidably engaged with the first guide groove and a second pin that is provided on the second member and is slidably engaged with the second guide groove. The first guide groove includes a first end portion with which the first pin rotatably comes into contact, and the second guide groove includes a second end portion where a movement space in which the second pin is disposed so as to rotate around the first pin when the first pin is disposed at the first end portion is formed. |
| US09376844B2 |
Gliding doorstop
A gliding doorstop having a substantially sinusoidal cross sectional shape, with a central trough configured to accept the bottom of a door and two curved ends configured to slide along a floor. The gliding doorstop is configured to retain the door in a set position against routine amounts of environmental forces, but be slideable such that the door can be manually moved by a user into a new set position without removing the gliding doorstop from underneath the door. |
| US09376837B2 |
Multisided key and lock
A system includes a multisided key with three or more sides, where all the sides of the multisided key are identical. Further, the system includes a cylindrical lock with inner and outer cylinders and a locking vane residing radially outward in a void spanning the inner and outer cylinders. The locking vane includes an inner portion including a first protrusion and a second protrusion corresponding to two levels of the multisided key and an outer portion separated from the inner portion by a gap, wherein at least a part of the outer portion is disposed in the outer void. When the multisided key is inserted into the lock, the gap of the locking vane aligns with an interface between the inner and outer cylinders, allowing the inner cylinder to rotate within the outer cylinder. |
| US09376833B2 |
Door handle
A door handle (1) is adapted to apply liquid or gel (liquid/gel) to a user's hand. The handle (1) comprises a handle grip (2) and a liquid/gel reservoir (6) associated with the handle (1). A liquid/gel displacement device is arranged in the grip (2) and a non-return valve (53) is provided to allow liquid/gel to flow from the reservoir (6) to the displacement device. A hollow trigger (8) is displaceably mounted on the grip (2) and adapted to actuate the displacement device when the handle (1) is gripped for displacement of liquid/gel from the displacement device, into the trigger (8) and then on to a hand or its digits gripping the trigger (8). |
| US09376831B2 |
Foundation system for charging poles
A device for mounting of a charging pole (1) has a foundation member (9) configured to be installed below ground level (6), and anchoring means (10) by which the charging pole (1) is mountable to the foundation member (9). The anchoring means (10) has a detachable adapter element (11) configured to fit a charging pole (1) to the foundation member (9). Such a mounting device (7) promotes deployment of infrastructure for charging of electric vehicles by providing a low-cost, future-proof platform for fitting charging poles (1) from any supplier using virtually any charging technology. |
| US09376829B2 |
Self-contained shelter
We disclose a portable protection shelter that may be easily transported and set up as needed. The shelter provides protection from deadly weather, including storms, hail, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Additionally, it may be used as a survival pod or as protection from assailants or aggressive animals. The shelter can be transported as required, including through doors, and assembled and disassembled on demand using common handheld tools. |
| US09376827B2 |
Production method for a mast arm and concrete-distributing mast
A method produces a mast arm with a mast arm body and with at least one pipe holder for a concrete-distributing mast for use on stationary and mobile concrete pumps with a plurality of mast arms which are connected to one another so as to be pivotable on articulated joints about an axis of articulation and which hold a concrete-conveying line which has at least one rotary joint which has an axis of rotation aligned with an axis of articulation of an articulated joint. The at least one pipe holder here has a pipe support section which serves for receiving the concrete-conveying line at a holding point which has a location predetermined by the position of the axis of articulation. The mast arm body is premanufactured with a receiving intersection and the at least one pipe holder is premanufactured with a fastening section which has a connecting intersection. |
| US09376814B2 |
Systems and methods for insulating a pipe
A pipe insulation product including a core of insulating material and a laminate. The core includes a cylindrical outer surface; a cylindrical inner surface; and a wall extending between the cylindrical outer surface and the cylindrical inner surface. The laminate includes a metallized polymeric film sheet layer forming an inner layer, a scrim, a porous media sheet layer, and a polymeric film sheet layer forming an outer exposed layer bonded together via an adhesive. The laminate is coextensive with and bonded to the cylindrical outer surface of the core and the laminate and core are flexible so that the core and laminate can be opened, placed about a pipe, and closed without degrading the laminate. |
| US09376808B2 |
Front adjustable wall panel mounting device
A front adjustable wall panel mounting device that is adjustable from the front of a wall is disclosed. The front adjustable wall panel mounting device has a fixed channel configured to be coupled with a wall frame and a moving channel configured to be coupled with wall panel mounting hardware. The fixed channel and the moving channel are configured to be nested together. The tilt of the wall panel is adjusted by turning first or second adjustment bolts. The depth of the wall panel can be adjusted by turning both the first and second adjustment bolts in the same direction, by the same amount. The vertical height of the wall panel can be adjusted by turning the third adjustment bolt. A thin wrench can be inserted into the wall panel gap, engage and turn the adjustment bolt. |
| US09376807B2 |
Passive structures with high stiffness and high damping properties
A passive structural system includes a structural element which may be subjected to energy which gives rise to vibration in the element. At least one bi-stable sub-structure is coupled to the element. Each bi-stable sub-structure has two stable equilibrium states between which the sub-structure can physically transition when subjected to a sufficient amount of energy which gives rise to vibration in the element, with each bi-stable sub-structure arranged to dissipate at least a portion of the energy and thereby damp the vibration in the structural element when it transitions from one equilibrium state to the other. The passive structural system may also be intentionally mistuned such that when subjected to energy which gives rise to vibration, the vibration energy is substantially confined to localized regions within the system. The bi-stable structures are then located in the localized regions and arranged to dissipate the localized vibration energy. |
| US09376803B1 |
Flood vent trigger systems
A flood vent includes a door pivotable within a frame between a closed position and an open position. A fluid trigger that is triggerable by a fluid to allow the door to pivot from the closed position to the open position includes a retainer and a fluid modifiable material. The fluid modifiable material is positioned between the door and the retainer thereby obstructing the door from pivoting from the closed position to the open position until the fluid modifiable material is modified by contact with the fluid. |
| US09376799B2 |
Transportable building and foundation beams therefor
The transportable building is made of side-by-side building sections mounted on parallel foundation beams. Each building section has a skate clamp mounted thereto for sequential sliding and clamping engagements to one of two foundation beams. In another aspect, each of the beams has a removable receiving end attached thereto. Each receiving end has a V-shaped trough on an upper surface thereof to facilitate the alignment of building sections onto the foundation beams during the assembly of the transportable building. In yet another aspect, each foundation beam has workable jacks at each end thereof and a series of self-adjusting jacks mounted thereto between the workable jacks for supporting the transportable building on an uneven ground surface. |
| US09376797B2 |
Bolted steel connections with 3-D jacket plates and tension rods
A three-dimensional jacket-plate connector connects at least two members. The jacket-plate connector comprises first and second three-dimensional jacket plates. Each jacket plate comprises a single continuous side web and segments of combined flanges perpendicular to, and located around the perimeter of, the side web. With all interior flanges notched out, the side web and perimeter flanges envelopes a void interior space without obstacles against accommodation of I-beam members installed from all directions. |
| US09376793B2 |
Single use, foldable dispenser for an adhesive lavatory treatment composition
Disclosed is a single use foldable dispenser for storing, and dispensing a quantity of an adhesive laboratory treatment composition. |
| US09376792B2 |
Plumbing fixture with integrated mixing valve
A plumbing fixture includes a body and a mixing valve provided within the body. The mixing valve includes a first inlet for receiving a first fluid, a second inlet for receiving a second fluid, and a mixing chamber having a fluid outlet for outputting the first fluid or the second fluid or a mixture thereof. The mixing valve includes a first flow control valve for controlling the flow of the first fluid into the mixing chamber and a second flow control valve, separate from the first flow control valve, for controlling the flow of the second fluid into the mixing chamber, wherein at least one of the first or second flow control valve includes at least two separate outlets into the mixing chamber. |
| US09376787B2 |
Hydraulic valve device
A hydraulic valve device includes a first and a second engine port to a double acting hydraulic motor, a pump, a hand valve which has two open positions, wherein in the first open position the pump is fluidly connected to the first engine port and the tank is fluidly connected to the second engine port; and wherein in the second open position the pump is fluidly connected to the second engine port and the tank is fluidly connected to the first engine port, with a first nonreturn valve, arranged between the pump and second engine port. A piston which by way of the load pressure in the first engine port via a line governs the first nonreturn valve, and a second nonreturn valve arranged, as long as the hand valve is in its first open position, to connect the first engine port to the second engine port. |
| US09376779B2 |
Control gates and valves
The invention discloses an overshot control gate for use with trapezoidal irrigation channels. A gate has a rigid rectangular section adapted to, in use, be pivotally mounted to a base of a trapezoidal irrigation channel. A pair of triangular sections are pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the rigid rectangular section. Each of the triangular sections are divided into first and second triangular sections with a common apex at the base of the trapezoidal irrigation channel. Each of the first triangular sections are rigid and adapted to, in use, be pivotally mounted to opposite side walls of the trapezoidal irrigation channel. Each of the second triangular sections including the pivotal mounting on opposite sides of the rigid rectangular section are formed of a flexible material. Also disclosed is a pipe flow meter and a duckbill valve. |
| US09376778B2 |
Flood barrier system
A flood barrier system includes vertical elements and panels extending between such vertical elements, the foregoing components having various features for inhibiting passage of flood water therethrough. One or more vertical elements may have a multi-layer base plate which forms a watertight seal with vertical gaskets disposed on the vertical elements. One of the vertical elements of the system may comprise a stanchion post which may be formed of extruded aluminum. Another vertical element which may find potential use in certain applications may be secured to a store front mullion. The panels in such system may include specially adapted gaskets to reduce instances of leakage. The vertical elements and panels allow the present flood barrier system to be flexible and readily deployable as a barrier to flood or flood risk. |
| US09376770B2 |
Roll cleaning apparatus
A roll cleaning apparatus for a paper making machine has a cleaning member that is mounted to a support member that extends lengthwise relative to a first roll. The cleaning member has a pad and is moveable between an engaged position against the roll during operation, and a disengaged position spaced away from the roll in a non-operating condition. The roll cleaning apparatus includes a drive connected to cause linear reciprocation of the cleaning member and a drive or actuator mounted to move the cleaning member between the engaged and disengaged positions, and operable to bias the cleaning member against the roll in use. |
| US09376769B2 |
Homogeneously branched ethylene polymer carpet backsizing compositions
Disclosed herein are carpets and carpet tiles comprising a primary backing material having a face and a back side; a plurality of fibers attached to the primary backing material and extending from the face of the primary backing material and exposed at the back side of the primary backing material; and an adhesive composition. The adhesive composition generally comprises at least one homogenously branched ethylene polymer. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing the disclosed carpets and carpet tiles. |
| US09376767B2 |
Plastic tub for a washing machine or a washer dryer
A plastic tub for a washing machine includes a cylindrical casing; and an end face wall sealing the cylindrical casing. The end face including a bearing mount for a shaft of a laundry drum and radially-aligned reinforcing ribs molded into the end face wall. The reinforcing ribs begin at the bearing mount and branch in a Y-shape along their radial extent. |
| US09376756B2 |
Inhibition of corrosion in boiler systems with etheramines
Aminoethers are used as corrosion inhibitors in boiler systems in which a working fluid comprising water with an aminoether corrosion inhibitor is circulated from a heater to a utilization site at which the working fluid gives up energy and decreases in temperature. A preferred class of aminoethers are the alkoxytriethyleneglycol-tert-alkylamines such as methoxy triethyleneglycol-tert-butylamine. |
| US09376755B2 |
Method and composition for electroless nickel and cobalt deposition
An electroless plating bath composition of matter and corresponding method are described. The plating bath is an aqueous solution including an amino acid having at least one amino moiety and at least one carboxylic acid moiety or a polypeptide thereof, and having a molar ratio of amino moieties to carboxylic acid moieties of 1 or greater, a nickel-containing or a cobalt-containing salt, and a boron-containing reducing agent. The composition of matter is used in a method of electroless nickle-boron and cobalt-boron coating of substrates. |
| US09376751B2 |
Plasma processing device and operation method
An operation method of a plasma processing device, includes performing a plasma process on a workpiece by supplying first high frequency power of a predetermined output to an electrode and generating plasma; and performing a charge storage process before the plasma process when a time interval from an end of a previous operation of the plasma processing device exceeds a predetermined interval, the charge storage process including supplying, to the electrode, second high frequency power of a lower output than the predetermined output. |
| US09376749B2 |
Method for the chemical vapor infiltration of refractive substances
Method for chemical vapor infiltration of refractory substances, wherein a porous structure is subjected in a reaction zone to the flow of a gas containing at least one gaseous precursor, wherein the partial pressure of the precursor and the dwell time of the gas are set at a given temperature in such a manner that a deposition reaction of the precursor occurs in the porous structure in the partial pressure range of the saturation adsorption and the reaction of the precursor is limited in each stage of the infiltration in such a manner that during the flow through the reaction zone no more than 50% of the precursor are deposited as a solid phase in the porous structure, and the exposure of the porous structure to the flow occurs in a stack of superimposed layers through ring-shaped vertical circumferential gaps (A, B) as well as through transverse gaps (C) which are open towards the circumferential gaps (A, B). The outer circumferential gap (A) is open both towards the inlet side and towards the outlet side of the reaction zone, while the inner circumferential gap (B) is closed towards the inlet side and towards the outlet side and has a gap width that is greater than the outer gap (A). |
| US09376744B2 |
Phase-difference element having birefringent film containing TiO2 and Ta2O5
A phase difference element has a transparent substrate and a birefringent film with tantalum oxide and titanium oxide obliquely deposited on one surface of the transparent substrate. The birefringent film has a first photorefractive film and a second photorefractive film laminated to each other and having different oblique deposition directions. The ratio of titanium atoms to the total of titanium atoms and tantalum atoms in the birefringent film is 4.0 atomic % or higher to 30 atomic % or lower. |
| US09376742B2 |
Wear-resistant member made of titanium metal
A wear-resistant titanium metal member includes a substrate having a carburized layer formed by plasma carburizing and a polished surface having a surface roughness Ra of 0.01 to 0.80 μm formed on the surface of the carburized layer, a titanium oxide layer superposed on the polished surface, and an amorphous carbon (GLC) layer superposed on the titanium oxide layer. The GLC layer is rigid and has a flat and smooth surface, so that it is free of stress concentration. By adjusting the plasma carburizing temperature and the concentration of the carburizing gas, carbon ions can penetrate the polished surface and form the carburized layer under the polished surface. |
| US09376741B2 |
Articles comprising ferritic stainless steels
An article of manufacture comprises a ferritic stainless steel that includes a near-surface region depleted of silicon relative to a remainder of the ferritic stainless steel. The article has a reduced tendency to form an electrically resistive silica layer including silicon derived from the steel when the article is subjected to high temperature oxidizing conditions. The ferritic stainless steel is selected from the group comprising AISI Type 430 stainless steel, AISI Type 439 stainless steel, AISI Type 441 stainless steel, AISI Type 444 stainless steel, and E-BRITE® alloy, also known as UNS 44627 stainless steel. In certain embodiments, the article of manufacture is a fuel cell interconnect for a solid oxide fuel cell. |
| US09376738B2 |
Hot forging use non-heat-treated steel and hot forged non-heat-treated steel part
The present invention provides hot forging use non heat-treated steel where controlled cooling after shaping by hot forging is used to make the main structure of the steel martensite even without subsequent reheating and heat treatment by quenching and tempering and thereby give a steel part with a high strength and high toughness and superior machineability and a hot forged non heat-treated steel part made of that steel, in particular provides a martensite type hot forging use non heat-treated steel characterized by containing, by mass %, C: 0.10 to 0.20%, Si: 0.10 to 0.50%, Mn: 1.0 to 3.0%, P: 0.001 to 0.1%, S: 0.005 to 0.8%, Cr: 0.10 to 1.50%, Al: over 0.1 to 0.20%, and N: 0.0020 to 0.0080% and having a balance of substantially Fe and unavoidable impurities and a hot forged non heat-treated steel part made of such steel and characterized in that the steel structure of the entire cross-section at part or all of that part is substantially a martensite structure with an effective crystal grain size of 15 μm or less. |
| US09376736B2 |
Method for separating and recovering rare-earth elements
A method for separating and recovering a plurality of rare-earth elements, the method including a step of introducing, into a liquid, a mixture containing a rare-earth oxychloride and a rare-earth chloride, the rare-earth oxychloride constituted from a rare-earth element different from a rare-earth element constituting the rare-earth chloride, thereby obtaining an insoluble matter containing the rare-earth oxychloride and a liquid in which the rare-earth chloride is dissolved, a step of recovering the rare-earth oxychloride from the insoluble matter, and a step of recovering the rare-earth chloride from the liquid in which the rare-earth chloride is dissolved. |
| US09376734B2 |
Indium extraction agent and indium extraction method
Provided are an extraction agent and extraction method that selectively extract and, at a low cost, recover indium from an acidic solution containing indium and zinc. The indium extraction agent comprises an amide derivative represented by general formula (I). In the formula, R1 and R2 each indicate the same or different alkyl group, R3 indicates a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, and R4 indicates a hydrogen atom or any given group, other than an amino group, bound to the α-carbon as an amino acid. The general formula preferably has a glycine unit, a histidine unit, a lysine unit, an aspartic acid unit, or an N-methylglycine unit. By extracting indium from an acidic solution containing indium and zinc by means of solvent extraction using the extraction agent, it is possible to selectively extract indium. |
| US09376732B2 |
Electric arc furnace dust recycling apparatus and method
The present technology provides an illustrative apparatus for recycling electric arc furnace (EAF) dust and method of use related to the same. The apparatus has a heat controlling region coupled to a separation volume and includes at least one magnet and a cooling region. The heating controlling region operates at a temperature sufficient to transform at least some of the EAF dust into a mixture of gaseous zinc and one or more additional metals. The magnet separates the iron-rich material from the mixture of gaseous zinc and one or more additional metals and the cooling region condenses the gaseous zinc. |
| US09376729B2 |
Compositions comprising at least one compound containing a carbamoyl sulfonate group and use of the same as tanning agents
Aqueous composition containing a) at least one compound containing carbamoylsulphonate groups and b) at least one nonionic alkoxylated polyol containing ester groups and having an HLB value of at least 13 (b1) and/or alkylglycoside (b2). |
| US09376725B1 |
Methods of screening for compounds for treating muscular dystrophy using human ALPHA7 integrin mRNA translation regulation
The present invention provides compounds and assays for the identification and validation of compounds for use in the treatment of muscular mystrophy (MD), or a form thereof, in which said compounds increase the post-transcriptional expression of a target gene (i.e., mIGF1, ITGA7, or UTRN). |
| US09376724B2 |
Method for identifying neonates at risk for necrotizing enterocolitis
The invention provides a method for identifying a neonatal subject at risk for NEC, said method comprising (a) profiling the microbiota in a sample from the GI tract of said subject prior to a conclusive diagnosis of NEC and/or prior to full onset of NEC, (b1) comparing said profile to a standard microbiota profile obtained from corresponding samples from neonatal subjects with NEC or subjects which later developed NEC and determining the degree of correlation between said profile and the standard profile(s), and/or (b2) comparing said profile to a standard microbiota profile obtained from corresponding samples from neonatal subjects which did not develop NEC and determining the degree of correlation between said profile and the standard profile, and (c) identifying the subject as being at risk of NEC if significant correlation is observed in (b1) and/or significant correlation is not seen in (b2). An oligonucleotide probe set for use in the method of the invention, and kits containing the same, are also provided. |
| US09376722B2 |
Oral care methods and systems
This, intention relates to methods of assessing the bioflora of the mouth and of providing appropriate treatment utilizing a basic amino acid in accordance with the assessment. |
| US09376720B2 |
Method to assess prognosis and to predict therapeutic success in cancer by determining hormone receptor expression levels
The present invention is related to a method of classifying a sample of a patient who suffers from or being at risk of developing cancer, said method comprising the steps of determining in said sample from said patient, on a non protein basis, the expression level of at least one gene encoding for a hormone receptor selected from the group comprising estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and/or androgen receptor in said sample; comparing the one or more expression level(s) determined with one or more expression level(s) of one or more reference genes, and classifying the sample of said patient from the outcome of the comparison into one of at least two classifications. |
| US09376717B2 |
Compositions and methods for multiplex biomarker profiling
Provided herein are compositions and methods for identifying or quantitating one or more analytes in sample. The composition can comprise an affinity molecule reversibly conjugated to a label moiety via a double-stranded nucleic acid linker or via an adaptor molecule. The affinity molecule and the label moiety can be linked to different strands of the double-stranded nucleic acid linker. Compositions can be used in any biological assays for detection, identification and/or quantification of target molecules or analytes, including multiplex staining for molecular profiling of individual cells or cellular populations. For example, the compositions can be adapted for use in immunofluorescence, fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, western blot, and the like. |
| US09376715B2 |
Methods for detecting mutations in the catalytic subunit of the phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PIK3CA) gene
The present invention relates to means and methods for the identification of non-responders to a HER2 inhibitor, whereby one or more mutations in exon 9 of Phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PIK3CA) indicate non-responsiveness. |
| US09376711B2 |
Multimodal methods for simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple nucleic acids in a sample
Described herein are approaches for the detection, identification, and/or quantification of target nucleic acids, including, but not limited to partially, substantially randomly, degraded target nucleic acids, in a biological sample, such as a formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sample. These approaches provide a means of detecting, identifying, and/or quantifying target nucleic acid molecules, including DNA and RNA molecules, further including RNAs of different classes, from the same sample, and in the same reaction, by using “expander oligonucleotides,” as the term is defined herein, to convert fragments of target nucleic acids into discretely sized DNA fragments, each with a chosen length characteristic for the target nucleic acid from which it is derived. |
| US09376701B2 |
Method for secretory production of protein
A novel technique for improving secretory production of a heterologous protein by coryneform bacteria is described, and thereby a method for secretory production of a heterologous protein is provided. A coryneform bacterium is cultured so that it secretes a heterologous protein, the bacterium having a genetic construct which includes a promoter sequence that functions in the coryneform bacterium, a nucleic acid sequence coding for a signal peptide that functions in the coryneform bacterium, which is ligated downstream from the promoter sequence, and a nucleic acid sequence coding for a fusion protein having an amino acid sequence that includes Gln-Glu-Thr and the heterologous protein, which is ligated downstream from the nucleic acid sequence coding for the signal peptide. |
| US09376700B2 |
Methods of modifying N-termini of a peptide or protein using transferases
The invention includes a selective method of modifying the N-terminus of a protein using an aminoacyl tRNA transferase. In certain embodiments, the method comprises contacting a solution of the protein or peptide with a transferase and a derivative of a molecule, whereby the N-terminus of the protein or peptide is derivatized with the molecule. |
| US09376696B1 |
Compositions and methods for producing benzylisoquinoline alkaloids
The present invention relates to host cells that produce compounds that are characterized as benzylisoquinolines, as well as select precursors and intermediates thereof. The host cells comprise one, two or more heterologous coding sequences wherein each of the heterologous coding sequences encodes an enzyme involved in the metabolic pathway of a benzylisoquinoline, or its precursors or intermediates from a starting compound. The invention also relates to methods of producing the benzylisoquinoline, as well as select precursors and intermediates thereof by culturing the host cells under culture conditions that promote expression of the enzymes that produce the benzylisoquinoline or precursors or intermediates thereof. |
| US09376691B2 |
Fusion proteins useful for producing pinene
The present invention provides for a modified host cell comprising a heterologous pinene synthase (PS), or enzymatically active fragment or variant thereof, and optionally a geranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GPPS), or enzymatically active fragment or variant thereof, or a fusion protein comprising: (a) a PS and (b) a GPPS linked by a linker. |
| US09376688B2 |
Method of producing cyclamen with multi-petaled flowers
A method of producing a multi-petaled cyclamen plant having an increased number of petals, including at least inhibiting the function of a transcription factor involved in morphogenesis of a floral organ of cyclamen. |
| US09376687B2 |
Algal elongase 6
Provided herein are exemplary isolated nucleotide sequences encoding polypeptides having elongase activity, which utilize fatty acids as substrates. |
| US09376684B2 |
Anticoagulant fusion protein anchored to cell membrane
The invention relates to the inhibition of blood coagulation, especially during organ rejection, and in particular the inhibition of delayed vascular rejection. The invention provides anticoagulant proteins which are anchored to cell membranes. The anticoagulant function is preferably provided by heparin, antithrombin, hirudin, TFPI, tick anticoagulant peptide, or a snake venom factor. These anticoagulant proteins are preferably prevented from being constitutively expressed at the cell surface. In particular, expression at the cell surface is regulated according to cell activation, for instance by targeting the protein to a suitable secretory granule. Expression of these proteins renders cells, tissues and organs less vulnerable to rejection after transplantation (e.g. after xenotransplantation). |
| US09376678B2 |
Method of preparing libraries of template polynucleotides
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a library of template polynucleotides and use thereof in methods of solid-phase nucleic acid amplification. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for preparing a library of template polynucleotides that have common sequences at their 5′ ends and at their 3′ ends. |
| US09376677B2 |
Arrays and methods of use
Methods are provided for producing a molecular array comprising a plurality of molecules immobilized to a solid substrate at a density which allows individual immobilized molecules to be individually resolved, wherein each individual molecule in the array is spatially addressable and the identity of each molecule is known or determined prior to immobilization. The use of spatially addressable low density molecular arrays in single molecule detection and analysis techniques is also provided. Novel assays and methods are also provided. |
| US09376676B2 |
Method of breaking down biological material
In various embodiments, a method of breaking down biological material is provided. The method may include providing a sample comprising the biological material in a liquid. The method may further include providing a gas such that the gas forms an interface with the liquid. The method may also include breaking down the biological material by applying acoustic waves in a plurality of sequential bursts to the interface. |
| US09376675B2 |
Method for preserving components of pancreatic juice in a sample, and kit for preserving components of pancreatic juice in a sample
The present invention provides a method for preserving biological components in pancreatic juice, and a kit suited for this method. The method involves adding, to a pancreatic juice-containing biological sample, at least one sulfonyl fluoride-containing protease inhibitor and at least one trypsin-like serine protease inhibitor belonging to a group of amino acid chloromethyl ketones. |
| US09376674B2 |
Process to prepare a stable thrombin composition
The stable thrombin composition comprises purified thrombin, human albumin and a neutral salt, the resulting product being stable when stored as a lyophilisate or frozen and is adjusted to a nominal strength of 500 IU of thrombin or more per ml of solution, the human albumin being in a concentration of over 0.05% (w/v) and preferably between 0.1% (w/v) and 1% (w/v). |
| US09376672B2 |
Coagulation factor IX compositions and methods of making and using same
The present invention relates to compositions comprising factor IX coagulation factors linked to extended recombinant polypeptide (XTEN), isolated nucleic acids encoding the compositions and vectors and host cells containing the same, and methods of making and using such compositions in treatment of coagulation factor-related diseases, disorders, and conditions. |
| US09376671B2 |
Method of making protease that decomposes proteins recalcitrant to proteolysis with Streptomyces
The invention provides novel biologically pure cultures of microorganisms high in protease activity and capable of decomposing proteins recalcitrant to proteolysis as contained in garbage, waste water, organic waste liquids, industrial wastes and the like, a protease produced by such microorganisms and capable of decomposing proteins recalcitrant to proteolysis, and a method of utilizing the same. The novel culture is of a soil-derived microorganism belonging to Streptomyces sp., or a strain derived therefrom, which produces a protease capable of efficiently decomposing proteins recalcitrant to proteolysis as contained in waste water, organic waste liquids, industrial wastes and so forth. |
| US09376669B2 |
Methods and products for expressing proteins in cells
The present invention relates in part to nucleic acids encoding proteins, therapeutics comprising nucleic acids encoding proteins, methods for inducing cells to express proteins using nucleic acids, methods, kits and devices for transfecting, gene editing, and reprogramming cells, and cells, organisms, and therapeutics produced using these methods, kits, and devices. Methods and products for altering the DNA sequence of a cell are described, as are methods and products for inducing cells to express proteins using synthetic RNA molecules. Therapeutics comprising nucleic acids encoding gene-editing proteins are also described. |
| US09376667B2 |
Protein having NADH and/or NADPH oxidase activity
Water-forming NADH oxidase derived from Streptococcus mutans should be further improved in terms of stability for practical use in industrial production. An object of the present invention is to provide an enzyme that is obtained through modification of a water-forming NADH oxidase, which is useful as an NAD+ regeneration system for stereoselective oxidation catalyzed by an oxidoreductase, by protein engineering techniques so that the enzyme can withstand long-term use without exhibiting a reduction of its activity for the regeneration of NAD+, that is, an enzyme having improved stability, and to provide a method for efficiently producing a useful substance such as an optically active alcohol or amino acid. The present invention relates to an enzyme modification method that can improve the stability of water-forming NADH oxidase derived from Streptococcus mutans by appropriately introducing mutation. |
| US09376666B2 |
Nanofibers with high enzyme loading for highly sensitive biosensors
The invention provides high enzyme loading nanofibers and processes utilized in their fabrication, the nanofibers suitable for use as a new class of highly sensitive and stable biosensors capable of monitoring glucose at low levels. The biosensors, comprising nanofiber enzyme materials fabricated from organic solvent-based polymer-enzyme systems, can be used effectively in non-invasive transdermal biosensing applications. |
| US09376659B2 |
Personal care composition containing yeast/polyphenol ferment extract
Disclosed is a yeast/polyphenol ferment extract, and a personal care composition including the yeast/polyphenol ferment extract. Also disclosed is a method for preparing and using the yeast/polyphenol extract and the personal care composition. |
| US09376657B2 |
Culture device
A culture device containing a culture vessel for culturing a cell, in which the culture device includes a thermostatic vessel having a stacker containing a plurality of culture vessels for culturing a cell, and an observation portion arranged to be isolated from an atmosphere at inside of the thermostatic vessel and having an object lens, an object lens drive portion, and a camera portion to observe a cell at inside of the culture vessel installed at an observation position at inside of the thermostatic vessel. |
| US09376648B2 |
Foam manipulation compositions containing fine particles
A foam manipulation stabilizing composition for use in consumer products includes a plurality of surface-modified particles in combination with at least one surfactant. The particles have an average particle size greater than 100 nm up to about 50 μm and a hydrophobicity measured by a contact angle between about 20° to 140°. The ratio of particles-to-surfactant may be between about 1:20 to about 20:1. The surface modification may include grafting pH or temperature switching functional groups to the particles or to a composition, such as a polymer, coated on the particle. A method for reducing the level of foam in a rinse solution is also described. |
| US09376634B2 |
Hydrocarbon resource processing device including radio frequency applicator and related methods
A hydrocarbon resource processing device may include a radio frequency (RF) source and an RF applicator coupled to the RF source. The RF applicator may include a base member being electrically conductive, and first and second elongate members being electrically conductive and having proximal ends coupled to the base member and extending outwardly therefrom in a generally parallel spaced apart relation. The first and second elongate members may have distal ends configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therebetween. In another embodiment, the RF applicator may include an enclosure being electrically conductive and having a passageway therethrough to accommodate a flow of the hydrocarbon resource and a divider being electrically conductive and positioned within the enclosure. |
| US09376626B1 |
Turbulent mesophase pitch process and products
A process for producing mesophase pitch using a long tube reactor is disclosed. An aromatic rich feed, preferably a petroleum pitch having a softening point above 100° C., is preheated to a temperature above its softening point and mixed with a vapor, preferably steam, in a long tubular reactor under intense mixing conditions, preferably fully developed turbulent flow such as mist annular flow, with a residence time at least an order of magnitude less than prior art processes and preferably less than 10 seconds. Preferably the reactor is heated by electric resistance or induction heating or by immersion in a heated fluid or in a fired heater. Mesophase pitch with a high coking value and a surprisingly low quinolone insoluble content is produced. The byproducts of thermal polymerization and thermal dealkylation have less than 50% as much olefin and diene content as compared to similar byproducts from prior art processes. |
| US09376625B2 |
Hybrid system and process for converting whole tires and other solid carbon materials into reclaimable and reusable components
A system and method of converting tires or other solid carbon based material is disclosed, including providing a chamber, feeding the solid carbon based material into the chamber, rotating the chamber, heating and reducing the material in the chamber, collecting solid residue from the chamber, collecting vapor from the chamber, and converting vapor collected from the chamber to a liquid. In an embodiment, the material includes a whole tire. The tire is heated in the chamber causing the tire to collapse and liquefy, exposing the metal in the tire which aids in grinding the carbon material in the tire as it tumbles, collecting solid residue, for example tire carbons, and collecting vapor, for example vaporized oil, and benzene and methane gas from the chamber and converting the oil. The chamber may be heated to a temperature from about 500° F. to about 1000° F. using gases reclaimed from the material. |
| US09376623B2 |
Compositions including polymers aligned via interchain interactions
The present invention provides compositions, devices and methods related to the alignment of materials including polymers. In some cases, the present invention comprises the assembly of molecules (e.g., polymers) via intermolecular interactions to produce extended networks, which may have enhanced properties relative to the individual molecules. Such networks may be advantageous for use in electronics, photovoltaics, sensor applications, and the like. In some embodiments, the present invention may enhance the performance of certain optical devices, such as liquid crystal displays (e.g., color liquid crystal displays) by providing enhanced contrast ratio, faster response times, and/or lower operating voltage. |
| US09376617B2 |
Fluorescent material and light-emitting device
A fluorescent material according to an aspect of the present disclosure mainly comprises a compound represented by AB0.5-w-x-y-zCwEuxSmyLnzW0.5O3. A is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals and mainly contains Ca. B is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of divalent metals and mainly contains Mg. C is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and mainly contains Li, Na, or Li and Na. Ln is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements excluding Eu and Sm. w, x, y, and z meet the following conditions: 0.05≦w≦0.25, 0.05≦x+y≦0.25, 0.0≦y≦0.02, and w=x+y+z. |
| US09376613B2 |
Magnetic microspheres for use in fluorescence-based applications
Microspheres, populations of microspheres, and methods for forming microspheres are provided. One microsphere configured to exhibit fluorescent and magnetic properties includes a core microsphere and a magnetic material coupled to a surface of the core microsphere. About 50% or less of the surface of the core microsphere is covered by the magnetic material. The microsphere also includes a polymer layer surrounding the magnetic material and the core microsphere. One population of microspheres configured to exhibit fluorescent and magnetic properties includes two or more subsets of microspheres. The two or more subsets of microspheres are configured to exhibit different fluorescent and/or magnetic properties. Individual microspheres in the two or more subsets are configured as described above. |
| US09376612B2 |
TCDA/zinc oxide nanocomposites and film sensors
Novel TCDA/ZnO compositions in which the ZnO particles have an average particle size less than 100 nm are disclosed. Reversible thermochromatic sensors employing the TCDA nanocomposites and methods of printing TCDA/ZnO nanocomposite thin films forming the reversible thermochromatic sensors using inkjet printing techniques are also disclosed. |
| US09376611B2 |
Acid-in-oil emulsion compositions and methods for treating hydrocarbon-bearing formations
Disclosed herein is an acid-in-oil emulsion composition comprising an emulsifying agent; a dispersion agent; a base oil; and an acid, wherein the acid-in-oil emulsion composition is substantially devoid of priority pollutants. Disclosed herein too is a method for treating a hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising blending an emulsifying agent, a base oil and an acid to produce an acid-in-oil emulsion, the acid-in-oil emulsion being substantially devoid of priority pollutants; and discharging the acid-in-oil emulsion into a downhole hydrocarbon-bearing well formation, where the acid-in-oil emulsion is operative to stimulate hydrocarbon production. |
| US09376605B2 |
Thermally-controlled packaging device and method of making
A phase change device for controlling temperature within a confined environment, comprising a foam material, a phase change material, the phase change material being absorbed into the foam, and a protective covering encasing the foam material/phase change material. A method for making a phase change device for controlling temperature within a confined environment, comprising providing a phase change material, providing a foam material, absorbing the phase change material into the foam material, and sealing the foam material/phase change material within a protective covering. |
| US09376599B2 |
Adhesive article comprising an acrylic foam layer
The present disclosure provides an adhesive article comprising a foam layer having first and second major sides and a pressure sensitive adhesive layer associated with at least one of the major sides for the foam layer, said pressure sensitive adhesive layer comprising a cross-linked rubber and wherein the foam layer comprises an acrylic polymer obtainable by polymerization a polymerizable composition comprising one or more alkyl acrylates having an average of 3 to 14 carbon atoms in the alkyl groups, one or more polar monomers and one or more multi-functional monomers having at least two free radical polymerizable groups. |
| US09376595B2 |
Method and apparatus for fabricating separator assembly
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for fabricating a separator assembly. The method comprises: providing a central core element comprising at least one concentrate exhaust conduit and at least one permeate exhaust conduit; disposing a first portion of a membrane stack assembly comprising a permeate carrier layer, a membrane layer, and a feed carrier layer within the central core element such that the concentrate exhaust conduit and permeate exhaust conduit are separated by the first portion of the membrane stack assembly; radially winding a second portion of the membrane stack assembly around the central core element; and sealing the wound assembly comprising two opposing end surfaces made of the membrane stack assembly by applying an adhesive on both end surfaces of the wound assembly; and applying a negative pressure inside the central core element so that the adhesive penetrates into the membrane stack assembly. |
| US09376594B2 |
Polishing composition
There is provided a polishing composition capable of suppressing formation of a stepped portion caused by etching of a surface of a polishing object including a portion containing a group IV material when the polishing object is polished. The present invention relates to a polishing composition for polishing of a polishing object including a portion that contains a group IV material, and the polishing composition contains an oxidizing agent and an anticorrosive agent. Preferably, the anticorrosive agent includes at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds in which two or more carbonyl groups contained in a molecule are bonded through a carbon atom in the molecule. To be more specific, preferably, the anticorrosive agent includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a 1,3-diketone compound, a 1,4-diketone compound, and a triketone compound. |
| US09376583B2 |
Ink composition, recording apparatus, and recording method
An ink composition, which is recorded on a heated recording medium, includes: a color material; water; a first polymer particle; and a second polymer particle, in which the first polymer particle has a core-shell structure including a first core polymer and a first shell polymer, the second polymer particle has a core-shell structure including a second core polymer and a second shell polymer, each of the first shell polymer and the second shell polymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 40° C. or higher, and the glass transition temperature Tg of the first shell polymer is higher than that of the second shell polymer. |
| US09376582B1 |
Printing on water-impermeable substrates with water-based inks
A method of printing with water-based inkjet inks on a water-impermeable, low-surface-energy substrate, includes: a) modifying surface properties of the substrate to increase the surface energy; b) coating the modified surface of the substrate with a first layer comprising a colorless water-based tie-layer composition; c) coating over the first layer with a second layer including a colorless and transparent water-based ink-receptive composition including: i) a water-soluble multivalent metal salt; and ii) a hydrophilic binder polymer; d) depositing directly on the surface of the second layer one or more water-based ink compositions containing an anionically stabilized pigment colorant, wherein the one or more water-based ink compositions are deposited in a predetermined pattern with an inkjet deposition system in response to electrical signals; and e) drying the first and second coated layers and the deposited inks to substantially remove the water. |
| US09376578B2 |
Stripping composition
A stripping composition that includes a dicarboxylic acid diester is described. The composition is useful and particularly efficient for stripping paint. |
| US09376575B2 |
Method of making paint composition for concrete and masonry surfaces
The present invention is directed to a water-based paint composition for concrete and masonry surfaces, a method of coating a concrete or masonry surface, and a corresponding method of preparing a coated concrete or masonry surface. The paint composition includes about 10-50% by weight water, about 5-40% by weight colloidal silica particles, about 40-85% by weight of an inorganic pigment, and about 1-10% by weight of a polymer binder. The paint composition provides the coated surfaces with excellent resistance to a wide variety of weather conditions, and alleviates health and safety concerns associated with long-term exposure to conventional organic-based paints. |
| US09376573B2 |
Coatings, composition and method related to non-spalling low density hardface coatings
A heterogeneous composite body that is spall resistant and comprises a substantially discontinuous cermet phase in a substantially continuous metal rich matrix phase. The heterogeneous composite body is typically bonded to a substrate to form a hardfacing on the substrate. The heterogeneous composite body exhibits ductile phase toughening with a strain to failure of at least about 2 percent, a modulus of elasticity of less than about 35 million pounds per square inch, and a density of less than about 7 grams per cubic centimeter. The metal rich matrix phase between the ceramic rich regions in the heterogeneous composite body has an average minimum span of about 0.5 to 8 microns to allow ductility in the heterogeneous composite body. The heterogeneous composite body has a Vicker's hardness number of greater than approximately 500. The ceramic rich regions exhibit high hardness as compared with the matrix phase. |
| US09376568B2 |
Dyes for labelling molecular ligands
Cyanine dyes with improved fluorescence intensity and photostability. |
| US09376562B2 |
Thermoplastic composition, method of producing the same, and articles made therefrom
A thermoplastic composition comprising from 60 percent to 99 percent by weight of one or more thermoplastic polymers; and from 40 percent to 1 percent by weight of an additive comprising a crosslinked (meth)acrylate polymer, wherein the crosslinked methylmethacrylate polymer comprises at least 99.5 percent by weight derived from methyl methacrylate units, and from greater than zero to less than 0.5 percent by weight derived from one or more multifunctional crosslinking monomers; wherein the crosslinked (meth)acrylate polymer has a volume average particle size of equal to or less than 1.0 micron; and wherein an article produced from the scratch-resistant thermoplastic composition has a hardness of greater than F is provided. Also provided are a method of making the thermoplastic composition, articles made from the polycarbonate composition, and a method of making the articles. |
| US09376561B2 |
Abs compositions with improved surface after heat-moisture storage
Described herein are polymer compositions comprising at least one inorganic salt comprising a cation selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and aluminum, and an anion selected from the group consisting of chloride, sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, acetate and formate, in a concentration of 100 to 5000 mg/kg, based on the composition, and wherein the salt is present in the composition exclusively in dissolved form or in the form of amorphous and/or crystalline inclusions having a size of not more than 60 μm. Compositions of the present invention are distinguished by an improved surface after heat-moisture storage and are suitable in particular for the production of moldings with a high gloss finish that demand a class A surface, which have optionally been subjected, in whole or in part, to a further surface treatment step involving e.g. lacquering, in-mold decoration, or metallization by vacuum deposition or galvanization. |
| US09376559B2 |
Reverse staged impact copolymers
This invention relates to processes to prepare impact copolymers having an ethylene content of greater than 20 wt % using a process where ethylene polymer is made in the first stage and propylene polymer is made in the second stage. |
| US09376557B2 |
Process for preparing polyethylene blend comprising metallocene produced resins and chromium produced resins
A process for preparing a homogeneous polyethylene product can include producing a first polyethylene resin in the presence of a metallocene catalyst in a reactor. The first polyethylene resin can have a density of from 0.942 to 0.970 g/cm3 and an HLMI of from 0.5 to 150 g/10 min. The process can include separately producing a second polyethylene resin in the presence of a chromium catalyst in a reactor. The process can include physically blending together the first polyethylene resin and the second polyethylene resin to produce the homogeneous polyethylene product. The homogeneous polyethylene product can include at least 25% by weight of the first polyethylene resin. |
| US09376556B2 |
Multi-layered golf ball with triple core
Disclosed is a highly functional multi-layered golf ball which prevents interlayer separation of a dual core, transfers force to an inner core without loss when hit by a golf club to provide strong repulsive elasticity, is not easily broken due to reinforcement of various physical properties and exhibits a suitable spin force and excellent hitting feel. The multi-layered golf ball includes a core and a cover covering the core, wherein the core includes a triple core including an inner core, an outer layer having a lower hardness than that of the inner core, and a binder layer bonding the inner core to the outer layer, the binder layer having a greater hardness than that of the outer layer. |
| US09376551B2 |
Cross-linked organosilicon polysulfides
The present invention relates to new crosslinked organosilicon polysulphides, to processes for preparing them and to their use as additives for plastics and/or rubbers. |
| US09376550B2 |
Mixed pellet
Provided is a masterbatch in which blocking in a masterbatch of a hindered amine compound and a benzoate compound, which is caused by long-term storage under a high-temperature environment, is improved. Also provided is a mixed pellet comprising a mixture of (A) a masterbatch pellet that comprises not less than 30 parts by mass of a hindered amine compound represented by the following Formula (1) with respect to 100 parts by mass of a polyolefin resin and (B) a masterbatch pellet that comprises not less than 30 parts by mass of a benzoate compound represented by the following Formula (2) with respect to 100 parts by mass of a polyolefin, the mixed pellet wherein not less than 70% by mass thereof as a whole is composed of the masterbatch pellets of (A) and (B): |
| US09376549B2 |
Film with low OCS gel index
Process for providing a polypropylene composition comprising a branched polypropylene in which a polypropylene with a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) of more than 1.0 g/10 min is reacted with a thermally decomposing free radical-forming agent and optionally with a bifunctionally unsaturated monomer obtaining thereby the branched polypropylene, wherein the polypropylene composition has a F30 melt strength of more than 5.8 cN and a v30 melt extensibility of more than 200 mm/s. |
| US09376548B2 |
Polyolefin composition with increased resistance to ClO2-containing water
The present invention relates to a polyolefin composition comprising a polyolefin base resin and an antioxidant, characterized in that said polyolefin composition has a lifetime of at least 200 h in a test measuring the resistance against ClO2-containing water at 90° C. and at a concentration of ClO2 of 4 ppm wherein the equipment used is according to ASTM F2263-03.The present invention further relates to a pipe comprising the polyolefin composition according to the invention, to the use of the polyolefin composition for the production of a pipe, and to the use of a particularly selected antioxidant for increasing the resistance of a polyolefin composition against degradation caused by contact with ClO2-containing water. |
| US09376541B2 |
Non-conductive film and non-conductive paste including zinc particles, semiconductor package including the same, and method of manufacturing the semiconductor package
A non-conductive material layer, selected from a non-conductive film and a non-conductive polymer paste, and containing a dispersion of zinc (Zn) particles is disclosed, together with semiconductor packages including the non-conductive material layer. The non-conductive material layer contains zinc (Zn) particles having an average particle diameter of about 1 nm to about 200 nm in a non-conductive polymer base material of a film type, and a semiconductor package includes the non-conductive film. By using the non-conductive film and/or the non-conductive paste containing the zinc dispersion, e a semiconductor package having excellent electric connection properties and high reliability may be manufactured through simple processes at low manufacturing costs. |
| US09376540B2 |
Particles with designed different sized discrete pores
Polymeric porous particles have a continuous solid phase and at least two sets of discrete pores that are isolated from each other within the continuous phase and that have different average sizes. One set of discrete pores has a larger average size than another set of discrete pores by at least 50%. At least one set of discrete pores is free of detectably different marker materials. There porous particles can be prepared using evaporative limited coalescence techniques with especially chosen discrete pore stabilizing hydrocolloids to protect the pores during formation and to provide the different average sizes. |
| US09376538B2 |
Method for the production of polymeric membranes having an ordered arrangement of high-aspect-ratio nanopores, by means of heavy ion bombing
A nanoporous polymeric membrane is obtained by bombing a polymer film by means of high energy focused heavy ion beams and subsequently performing chemical etching to remove the portions of the polymer film in the zones degraded by the ion bombing, in such a manner to obtain pores passing through the polymer film. The heavy ion bombing is performed after interposing between the source of ions and the polymer film, adjacent to the film, an amplitude mask having an ordered arrangement of nanopores and having sufficient thickness to prevent the passage of the heavy ions that are not directed through the pores of said amplitude mask, in such a manner to obtain in the polymer fill an ordered arrangement of nanopores having an aspect-ratio at least exceeding 10 and preferably exceeding 100. |
| US09376532B2 |
Quaternary ammonium salt compound
The present invention provides a novel quaternary ammonium salt compound that is excellent in atomization of a pigment dispersion and storage stability, a dispersant containing the quaternary ammonium salt compound, a use of the quaternary ammonium salt compound, and a process for producing the quaternary ammonium salt compound. The present invention relates to [1] a quaternary ammonium salt compound represented by the general formula (I); [2] a dispersant containing the compound of the above [1]; [3] a use of the compound of the above [1] for dispersing a pigment; and [4] a process for producing a quaternary ammonium salt compound represented by the general formula (I), including a step of reacting a halogenated alkyl ester compound represented by the general formula (II) with a polyamine compound represented by the general formula (III). |
| US09376531B2 |
Polycarbonate polyol compositions and methods
In one aspect, the present disclosure encompasses polymerization systems for the copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides comprising 1) a catalyst including a metal coordination compound having a permanent ligand set and at least one ligand that is a polymerization initiator, and 2) a chain transfer agent having two or more sites that can initiate polymerization. In a second aspect, the present disclosure encompasses methods for the synthesis of polycarbonate polyols using the inventive polymerization systems. In a third aspect, the present disclosure encompasses polycarbonate polyol compositions characterized in that the polymer chains have a high percentage of —OH end groups and a high percentage of carbonate linkages. The compositions are further characterized in that they contain polymer chains having an embedded polyfunctional moiety linked to a plurality of individual polycarbonate chains. |
| US09376528B2 |
Latent catalyst for curable compositions
A curable composition including (a) at least one divinylarene dioxide; (b) at least one polyol; and (c) at least one latent cure catalyst. |
| US09376523B2 |
Poly(vinyl alcohol)-poly(vinyl ester) block copolymers
Copolymers comprising a block of polyvinyl alcohol) and a block of a polyvinyl ester. Copolymers comprising a block of polyvinyl haloalkanoate) and a block of a polyvinyl ester). Methods of making copolymers comprising a block of polyvinyl alcohol) and a block of a polyvinyl ester. Methods of making copolymers comprising a block of polyvinyl haloalkanoate) and a block of a polyvinyl ester). The copolymers may be incorporated into aqueous dispersions to form micelles or hydrogels. Some copolymers are biodegradable and have surfactant properties. |
| US09376522B2 |
Elastic terpolymer including diene group and preparation method thereof
The present invention relates to an elastic terpolymer which can satisfy excellent processability and elasticity (flexibility) at the same time, and a preparation method thereof. The elastic terpolymer is a copolymer of 40 to 70 weight % of ethylene, 15 to 55 weight % of a C3-C20 alpha-olefin, and 0.5 to 20 weight % of a diene obtained in the presence of a group 4 transition metal catalyst, of which i) the weight average molecular weight measured by GPC is 100,000 to 500,000, and ii) the Mooney viscosity (ML) and the Mooney relaxation area (MLR) measured by a Mooney viscometer (1+4+2 {circle around (a)}125° C.) can satisfy a specific relation. |
| US09376521B2 |
Polymer composition with saliva labile aversive agent
For a polymer composition, a polymerizable aversive agent is chemically coupled to a substrate element. The chemical coupling is labile to saliva. |
| US09376519B2 |
Transition metal compound, catalytic composition including the same, and method for preparing polymer using the same
The present specification describes a transition metal compound having a novel structure, a catalytic composition including the same, and a method for preparing a polymer using the same. |
| US09376517B2 |
Polymerisation process
Process for the polymerization of monomer in a polymerization system having at least one component attached thereto which is flushed with a flush medium which enters the polymerization system. Initially, the component is flushed with a first flush medium, and subsequently the component is flushed with a second flush medium which differs in composition from the first flush medium. A flush gas containing monomer is used as the flush medium when the polymer production rate is above 10 Te/h. |
| US09376512B2 |
Production of vinyl terminated polyethylene
This invention relates to processes to produce polyethylene involving contacting ethylene with a metallocene catalyst system; wherein the catalyst system comprises: a stoichiometric activator; and a metallocene compound. The metallocene catalyst system is also disclosed. |
| US09376511B2 |
Polymerization catalysts and polymers
A method comprising contacting a support material with a transition metal compound to produce a mixture; thermally treating the mixture in the presence of oxygen at a temperature in a range of from about 100° C. to about 500° C. for a period of from about 1 hour to about 10 hours, wherein at least a portion of the transition metal sublimes onto the support material to produce a support material comprising a dispersed transition metal; and thermally treating the support material comprising the dispersed transition metal in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature in a range of from about 550° C. to about 900° C. for a period of from about 1 hour to about 10 hours to produce a polymerization catalyst. |
| US09376510B2 |
Emulsifying agent for emulsion polymerization
A reactive emulsifier comprising a compound of formula (I), which makes polymerization stability satisfactory and is capable of improving the water resistance etc. of the polymer film to be obtained. In the formula (I), D represents a polymerizable unsaturated group represented by the chemical formula D-1 or D-2; m1 represents a number of 1 or larger; R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms; m2 represents a number of 0 to 4; and the sum of m1 and m2 is 1 to 5. R2 represents a hydrocarbon group having 6 to 30 carbon atoms; A represents either an alkylene group or a substituted alkylene group which has 2 to 4 carbon atoms; and n is in the range of 0 to 1,000. X represents a hydrogen atom or an anionic hydrophilic group which is —(CH2)a—SO3M etc. R3 represents a hydrogen atom or methyl. |
| US09376503B2 |
Cellulose-based composite materials
Provided are cellulose nano-material based composite and foam articles. |
| US09376502B2 |
Acetylated cellulose ether and articles including same
Provided are acetylated cellulose ether and an article including the same. The acetylated cellulose ether has a molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 1,000,000 Daltons, a contact angle of about 20 to about 45 degrees (°), and a tensile strength of about 50 to about 100 MPa. |
| US09376500B2 |
Conjugation methods
This invention describes a method of conjugating a cell binding agent such as an antibody with an effector group (e.g., a cytotoxic agent) or a reporter group (e.g., a radionuclide), whereby the reporter or effector group is first reacted with a bifunctional linker and the mixture is then used without purification for the conjugation reaction with the cell binding agent. The method described in this invention is advantageous for preparation of stably-linked conjugates of cell binding agents, such as antibodies with effector or reporter groups. This conjugation method provides in high yields conjugates of high purity and homogeneity that are without inter-chain cross-linking and inactivated linker residues. |
| US09376499B2 |
PAR-1 activation by metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1)
Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) play many important roles in normal and pathological remodeling processes including atherothrombotic disease, inflammation, angiogenesis and cancer. This invention relates to the activation of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1) by endogenous platelet MMP-1 collagenase on the surface of platelets. Exposure of platelets to fibrillar collagen converts the surface-bound pro-MMP-1 zymogen to active MMP-1, which promotes aggregation through PAR-1. MMP-1 is shown to cleave the PAR-1 extracellular domain at a novel site, which then strongly activates Rho-GTP signaling pathways, cell shape change and motility, and MAPK signaling. Blockade of MMP-PAR1 suppresses thrombogenesis under arterial flow conditions and inhibited thrombosis in animals. These studies provide a link between matrix-dependent activation of metalloproteases and platelet-G protein signaling and identify MMP-1/PAR-1 as a new target for the treatment and prevention of arterial thrombosis and other thrombotic diseases. |
| US09376495B2 |
Deimmunized serum-binding domains and their use in extending serum half-life
The present invention is directed to a polypeptide (for example, an antigen-binding molecule) that comprises a polypeptide portion of a deimmunized serum-binding protein capable of binding to said serum protein. The presence of the serum-binding protein extends the serum half-life of the polypeptide, relative to the serum half-life of the polypeptide if lacking the polypeptide portion of the deimmunized serum-binding protein. The invention also pertains to methods and uses that employ such molecules. |
| US09376493B2 |
Antibodies directed against ICOS and uses thereof
The present invention provides antibodies directed against ICOS or a derivative thereof which neutralize ICOS engagement on Treg by inhibiting the fixation between ICOS and ICOS-L and abrogate proliferation of Treg induced by plasmacytoid dendritic cells. The present invention further provides antibodies directed against ICOS or a derivative thereof which induce IL-10 and IFNγ production, induce CD4+ T cells proliferation, reduce Tconv proliferation, and increase the immunosuppressive function of Treg. |
| US09376489B2 |
IL-18 binding molecules
Interleukin 18 (IL-18) participates in both innate and acquired immunity. The bioactivity of IL-18 is negatively regulated by the IL-18 binding protein (IL18BP), a naturally occurring and highly specific inhibitor. This soluble protein forms a complex with free IL-18 preventing its interaction with the IL-18 receptor, thus neutralizing and inhibiting its biological activity. The present invention discloses binding molecules, in particular antibodies or fragments thereof, which bind IL-18 and do not bind IL-18 bound to IL-18BP (IL-18/IL-18BP complex). Apart from its physiological role, IL-18 has been shown to mediate a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The binding molecules of the inventions may be used as therapeutic molecules for treating IL-18-related autoimmune and inflammatory diseases or as diagnostic tools for characterizing, detecting and/or measuring IL-18 not bound to IL-18BP as component of the total IL-18 pool. |
| US09376487B2 |
Protective vaccine based on Staphylococcus aureus SA2493 protein
The present invention relates to methods of inducing an immune response to Staphylococcus comprising administering a composition comprising an SA2493-related polypeptide from Staphylococcus aureus as well as derivatives or fragments thereof. The present invention also encompasses methods of treating and/or reducing the likelihood of a Staphylococcus infection by administering a composition comprising an SA2493-related polypeptide or an antibody that specifically binds to an SA2493 polypeptide, derivative or fragments thereof. Compositions administered in the methods of the invention can include one or more additional antigens including, but not limited to, IsdB. Compositions used to practice the methods of the invention are also encompassed. |
| US09376483B2 |
Universal fibronectin type III binding-domain libraries
Fibronectin Type III (FN3) polypeptide libraries are described, along with their use in identifying fibronectin-type binding peptides having high binding affinities, e.g., greater than 300 nM, for VEGFR2 or Axl proteins. |
| US09376478B1 |
DNA and recombinant plasmid
Disclosed is a recombinant plasmid having a gene which encompasses at least the entire coding region of human fibroblast interferon messenger RNA and a method for preparing such plasmid. |
| US09376475B2 |
Gene overexpressed in cancer
Disclosed are a protein encoded by a gene having a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 65 or a fragment thereof, an antibody recognizing the protein or antigen-binding fragment thereof, and a polynucleotide having a sequence comprising at least 12 consecutive nucleotides of a nucleotide sequence represented by any of SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 65 or a nucleotide sequence complementary thereto. The gene and the protein of the invention is useful for diagnosing and treating cancer. |
| US09376471B2 |
HIV consensus envelope sequences and methods for using the same
Improved anti-HIV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed. Immunogens disclosed include those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype A Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype B Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype C Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype D Envelope protein, those having consensus sequences for HIV Subtype B consensus Nef-Rev protein, and those having consensus sequences form HIV Gag protein subtypes A, B, C and D. Improved anti-HPV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; improved anti-HCV immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; improved hTERT immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them; and improved anti-Influenza immunogens and nucleic acid molecules that encode them are disclosed as well methods of inducing an immune response in an individual against HIV, HPV, HCV, hTERT and Influenza are disclosed. |
| US09376462B2 |
Process for preparing delta-7,9(11) steroids from Ganoderma lucidum and analogs thereof
Processes for preparing lanostane triterpenes from the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum, and related compounds are described. Compounds, compositions, and methods for treating cancer are also described. |
| US09376460B2 |
Method of polyphosphate synthesis
The subject of the invention is a new method of the synthesis of polyphosphate analogs, such as nucleosides, oligonucleotides, carbohydrates, peptides and proteins, which are of biological importance and are used in organic chemistry, molecular biology and biotechnology. Polyphosphate analogs, including in particular nucleoside 5′-triphosphates, display high biological activity and are responsible for the provision and storage of energy in live organisms. The method relates to the synthesis of organic polyphosphates of general formula (1), where n has a value of 0 to 2, while X stands for an organic radical, in particular nucleoside, oligonucleotide, peptide-carbohydrate or a protein radical. |
| US09376458B2 |
Methods for the preparation of HIV attachment inhibitor piperazine prodrug compound
A method for making the compound is set forth utilizing the starting material |
| US09376457B2 |
Hydrophobic, functionalized particles
The present invention relates to a stable mixture comprising surface-modified particles which are obtained by reacting metal oxide or semimetal oxide particles with at least one compound selected from among silicon-comprising compounds bearing one, two or three alkoxy radicals and at least one solvent, at least one surface-active substance or a mixture thereof, the use of these particles in systems in which they are brought into contact with at least one solvent, where the mass ratio of solvent to modified particle is greater than 500, and also the use of these particles in agglomeration-deagglomeration cycles. |
| US09376452B2 |
Rab7 GTPase inhibitors and related methods of treatment
This invention relates to compounds and their use as inhibitors or activators of Rab7 GTPase to treat or prevent the onset of Rab 7 GTPase-associated disorders such as neuropathies, cancer, metabolic diseases of bone and lipid storage. The invention is also applicable to infectious diseases where Rab7 is inactivated or its protein-protein interactions are modulated to facilitate intracellular survival of pathogens. The compound described acts as a competitive inhibitor of nucleotide binding and as such also has utility as a scaffold for targeting other small GTPases. In one aspect, methods of treatment of the invention are used to treat or prevent the onset of hereditary sensory neuropathies such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2B disease. Related pharmaceutical compositions, assays, and drug screens are also provided. |
| US09376451B1 |
Method for selectively preparing evoglucosenone (LGO) and other anhydrosugars from biomass in polar aprotic solvents
A method to produce 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is described in which a reactant including cellulose, lignocellulose, or a combination thereof, in a reaction mixture of a polar, aprotic solvent and an acid is reacted for a time, at a temperature, and at a hydrogen ion concentration wherein at least a portion of the cellulose or lignocellulose present in the reactant is converted to HMF. The reaction mixture is initially substantially devoid of water. As the reaction proceeds, dehydration of intermediates causes the water concentration in the reaction mixture to rise to no more than about 2.0 wt % water. |
| US09376450B2 |
Heteroaryloxyheterocyclyl compounds as PDE10 inhibitors
Heteroaryloxyheterocyclyl compounds, and compositions containing them, and processes for preparing such compounds. Provided herein also are methods of treating disorders or diseases treatable by inhibition of PDE10, such as obesity, non-insulin dependent diabetes, schizophrenia, Huntington's Disease, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the like. |
| US09376443B2 |
Triazolo[4,5-D] pyramidine derivatives and their use as purine receptor antagonists
Compounds of formula (I) that are capable of acting as purine receptor antagonists, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of making the compounds, are disclosed. The compounds and compositions can be used in treating or preventing disorders related to purine receptor hyperfunctioning. |
| US09376441B2 |
Substituted pyrrolidines as SYK inhibitors
The present disclosure relates to compounds that are Syk inhibitors and to their use in the treatment of various disease states, including cancer and inflammatory conditions. In particular embodiments, the structure of the compounds is given by Formula I: wherein X1, X2, X3, R2, R3, R4, R5, and Y are as described herein. The present disclosure further provides pharmaceutical compositions that include a compound of Formula I, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and methods of using these compounds and compositions to treat conditions mediated by Syk. |
| US09376438B2 |
Pyrazolopyrimidine derivatives as tyrosine kinase inhibitors
The present disclosure provides compounds of Formula (I)and pharmaceutically acceptable salts that are tyrosine kinase inhibitors,in particular BLK, BMX, EGFR, HER2, HER4, ITK, Jak3, TEC, Btk, and TXK and are therefore useful for the treatment of diseases treatable by inhibition of tyrosine kinases such as cancer and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, and the like. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and processes for preparing such compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts. |
| US09376437B2 |
7-benzyl-4-(2-methylbenzyl)-2,4,6,7,8,9-hexahydroimidazo[1,2-a]pyrido[3,4-e]pyrimidin-5(1H)-one, salts thereof and methods of using the same in combination therapy
This disclosure relates, at least in part, to a method of treatment. In one embodiment, the method of treatment comprises administering to a subject in need of such treatment a first therapeutic agent including compound (1): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with a second therapeutic agent, wherein the first therapeutic agent and the second therapeutic agent are administered either simultaneously or sequentially. |
| US09376435B2 |
Chromophores for the detection of volatile organic compounds
Aromatic diimide chromophores and methods for using the chromophores for the detection of volatile organic compounds are described. The chromophores are able to reversibly change colors in the presence or absence of volatile organic compounds. |
| US09376434B2 |
Antiparisitic dihydroazole compounds and compositions comprising same
The present invention relates to novel dihydroazole of formula (I) and salts thereof: Wherein R1, A1, A2, G, X and Y are as defined in the description, compositions thereof, processes for their preparation and their uses to prevent or treat parasitic infections or infestations in animals and as pesticides. |
| US09376433B2 |
(AZA-)isoquinolinone derivatives
Compounds of the formula I in which R1, X, Y and n have the meanings indicated in claim 1, are inhibitors of Tankyrase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system injury and different forms of inflammation. |
| US09376428B2 |
Methods for producing organic light emitting diode (OLED) materials
Methods of producing OLED materials containing fluorene ring systems in which two alkyl substituents at the 9-position of fluorene ring are alkyl substituted through key intermediates generically represented by the formula: where X represents a substituent that increases the acidity of the hydrogen atoms on the adjoining methylene group (which is immediately adjacent the fluorene ring systems 9 -position). |
| US09376427B2 |
Process for preparing rivaroxaban using intermediates
The present inventors have surprisingly found that rivaroxaban of formula I can be prepared in a one-pot process, in high purity and with high yield, by reacting 5-chlorothiophene-2-carboxylic acid or a salt thereof with a sulfonylating agent to produce a sulfonyl ester intermediate, which is then condensed with 4-[4-[(SS)-5-(aminomethyl)-2-oxo-1,3-oxazolidin-3-yl]phenyl]morpholine-3-one or an acid addition salt thereof to produce rivaroxaban. |
| US09376423B2 |
PKC-epsilon inhibitors
The present invention relates to new AGC kinase inhibitors, in particular to compounds of Formula I or II or a stereoisomer, tautomer, racemic, metabolite, pro- or pre-drug, salt, hydrate, or solvate thereof, wherein Ar, Cy, R1, R3, p and n have the meaning defined in the claims. In particular, the present invention relates to more specifically AGC kinases inhibitors, compositions, in particular pharmaceuticals, comprising such inhibitors, and to uses of such inhibitors in the treatment and prophylaxis of disease. |
| US09376421B2 |
Compounds and methods for myotonic dystrophy therapy
The invention provides rationally designed multi-targeting therapeutic agents for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), an incurable neuromuscular disease that originates in an abnormal expansion of CTG repeats (CTGexp) in the DMPK gene. The rationally designed small molecules target the DM1 pathobiology in three distinct ways: (1) binding the expanded trinucleotide repeat, CTGexp, and inhibiting its transcription to the toxic CUGexp RNA, (2) binding the CUGexp RNA and releasing sequestered muscleblind-like protein (MBNL1), and (3) cleaving the toxic CUGexp in an RNase-like manner. Importantly, the compounds can reduce the levels of CUGexp in DM1 model cells and reverse two separate CUGexp-induced phenotypes of DM1. |
| US09376418B2 |
Substituted pyridine spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) inhibitors
The invention provides certain substituted pyridines of the Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, Rcy, Cy, and t are as defined herein. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using the compounds for treating diseases or conditions mediated by Spleen Tyrosine Kinase (Syk) kinase. |
| US09376414B2 |
Process and intermediates for the production of furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid or derivatives thereof
Disclosed is a method of making 5-formyl-2-furoic acid and furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid. The method involves the use of 5-keto-aldonic acids as intermediates, as these can be subjected to ring formation by a cyclodehydration reaction under mild conditions. The 5-formyl-2-furoic acid or carboxylic derivative thereof is subjected to oxidation so as to form furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid. The 5-keto-aldonic acid intermediates can be obtained by isomerization of uronic acids which can be obtained from sugar beet pulp, chicory pulp, fruit peals including orange peels, or non-terrestrial sources like seaweeds. A preferred source is sugar beet pulp. |
| US09376411B2 |
Solute-enhanced production of gamma-valerolactone (GVL) from aqueous solutions of levulinic acid
A method to produce levulinic acid (LA) and gamma-valerolactone (GVL) from biomass-derived cellulose or lignocellulose by selective extraction of LA using GVL and optionally converting the LA so isolated into GVL, with no purifications steps required to yield the GVL. |
| US09376409B2 |
Methods for making oxetan-3-ylmethanamines
This invention relates to methods for making oxetan-3-ylmethanamines having the formula (I) wherein R1? and R2? are as defined herein. The methods of the invention provide the compounds of formula (I) in high yields and under conditions amenable for large-scale commercial production. |
| US09376404B2 |
Pentamethylene diisocyanate, method for producing pentamethylene diisocyanate, polyisocyanate composition, polyurethane resin, and polyurea resin
A Pentamethylene diisocyanate is obtained by phosgenating pentamethylenediamine or its salt obtained by a biochemical method, and contains 5 to 400 ppm of a compound represented by the general formula (1) below and a compound represented by the general formula (2) below in total: |
| US09376401B2 |
Preparation of 1,3-(substituted-diaryl)-1,2,4-triazoles and intermediates therefrom
The invention in this document is related to the field of preparation of 1,3-(substituted-diaryl)-1,2,4-triazoles and certain intermediates derived therefrom, where said intermediates are useful in the preparation of certain pesticides disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,178,658. |
| US09376399B2 |
Fluorescent pyrazine derivatives and methods of using the same in assessing renal function
The present invention relates to pyrazine derivatives such as those represented by Formulas I and II. X1 to X4 of Formulas I and II may be characterized as electron withdrawing groups, while Y1 to Y4 of Formulas I and II may be characterized as electron donating groups. Pyrazine derivatives of the present invention may be utilized in assessing organ (e.g., kidney) function. |
| US09376395B2 |
Pharmaceutical compositions
The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising: (a) a cyclopolysaccharide and (b) a compound of Formula (I) or its pharmaceutical acceptable salt: wherein X1, X2, Q, Z, and m are defined herein. Also disclosed is a method for treating a neoplastic disease or an immune disease with these compositions. |
| US09376394B2 |
Preparation of bendamustine and its salts
The present application relate to processes for the preparation of bendamustine and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts. |
| US09376392B2 |
2-(tert-butoxy)-2-(7-methylquinolin-6-yl) acetic acid derivatives for treating AIDS
The invention provides compounds and salts thereof as d herein. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound disclosed herein, processes for preparing compounds disclosed herein, intermediates useful for preparing compounds disclosed herein and therapeutic methods for treating an HIV infection, treating the proliferation of the HIV virus, treating AIDS or delaying the onset of AIDS or ARC symptoms in a mammal using compounds disclosed herein. |
| US09376391B2 |
Difluoromethyl-nicotinic-tetrahydronaphthyl carboxamides as fungicides
The present invention relates to novel difluoromethyl-nicotinic indanyl carboxamides, to processes for preparing these compounds, to compositions comprising these compounds, and to the use thereof as biologically active compounds, especially for control of harmful microorganisms in crop protection and in the protection of materials. |
| US09376390B2 |
Methods of isolating (4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenyl)boronates and methods of using the same
Methods of isolating a 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronate include adding carbon dioxide gas or carbon dioxide solid (dry ice) to a solution comprising a 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronate, an inert organic solvent, and at least one lithium salt to react the at least one lithium salt with the carbon dioxide gas or carbon dioxide solid (dry ice) and form a mixture comprising the 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronate, the inert organic solvent, and a precipitated solid. The precipitated solid may be removed from the mixture. Methods of using 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronates to produce methyl-4-amino-3-chloro-6-(4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenyl)pyridine-2-carboxylates are also disclosed. A 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronate produced by one of the methods of isolating a 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronate is also disclosed, wherein the 4-chloro-2-fluoro-3-substituted-phenylboronate may be obtained at a yield of greater than or equal to about 90%. |
| US09376387B2 |
Oxidisable pyridine derivatives, their preparation and use as anti-alzheimer agents
A compound of formula (I) in which the dotted lines indicate the presence of at least one double bond; n=0 to 4; R3 and R4 are H, or when n=1, R3 and R4 can also form together a double bond between the carbon atoms, and m=0, 1 or 2, Z is CH or N or Z is C and —CHR3— is ═CH— linked by the double bond to cyclopentanone; or −(−)m- is absent, and Z is NH, >N-alkyl, >N-phenyl, >N-benzyl or >N heteroaryl; R8 is alkyl, aryl or heteroaryl which can be optionally substituted; EWG represents an electron withdrawing group selected from the group comprising COOR, COSR, CONRR′, CN, COR, CF3, SOR, SO2R, SONRR′, SO2NRR′, NO2, halogen, heteroaryl; and the pharmaceutical salts and stereisomers thereof. The compounds of formula (I) are potent in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. |
| US09376385B2 |
Solid-phase supports and uses thereof
The present disclosure relates to solid-phase azide supports, methods for making solid-state azide supports, and methods for capturing alkynes using the same. The present disclosure also relates to kits for solid-phase azide supports. |
| US09376382B2 |
N-substituted isopropyldimethyl azulene sulfonamide derivatives, and preparation method and use thereof
The present invention provides an N-substituted isopropyldimethyl azulene sulfonamide derivative as represented by formula (I), and preparation method and uses thereof, wherein R1 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, amino, or a substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, and amino. The N-substituted isopropyldimethyl azulene sulfonamide derivative can be used in treating gastric ulcer. |
| US09376380B2 |
Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) inverse agonists and therapeutic potential for multiple myeloma and osteoporosis bone diseases
Cannabionid receptor-2 inverse antagonists include compounds represented by Formula IV, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein: R1 and R2 are independently H, alkyl, or alkenyl; R3 is alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, aralkenyl, heterocyclyl, heterocyclylalkyl, heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl; R4 and R5 are independently a bond, alkylenyl, or alkenylenyl; each R6 and R7 is independently selected from the group consisting of OH, F, Cl, Br, I, (C1-C6)alkyl, alkoxy, amino, COOH, CONH2, SO3H, PO3H2, CN, SH, NO2 and CF3; and p and q are independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. Such compounds may be used to treat osteoporosis or multiple myeloma. |
| US09376379B2 |
Process for the synthesis of tetrafluoroethanesulfonic acid
The present invention provides a process for preparation of tetrafluoroethanesulfonic acid. |
| US09376376B2 |
Substitute diphenylamine compounds use thereof as antitumor agents
The invention relates to substituted diphenylamine compounds using as antitumor agents. The structure of the compounds is represented as the general formula (I): The groups are as defined as specification.The compound represented by formula (I) showed potent antitumor activity, especially to cure or alleviate the cancer causing by cancer cells of human tissue or organ. The preferred cancers are: colon cancer, liver cancer, lymph cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, central nervous system cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, renal cancer, leukemia, prostatic cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, rectal cancer, osteosarcoma, nasopharynx cancer or stomach cancer. |
| US09376373B2 |
Vinyl monomers having chelating functionality
The present invention provides novel polymerizable monomers having chelating functionality and processes to make them. In particular, the novel monomers are ethylenically unsaturated aminocarboxylates and are prepared by reacting ethylenediamine triacetic acid or its salt with an ethylenically unsaturated monomer. The ethyleneically unsaturated monomer may be a polymerizable vinyl monomer selected from (o-, p-, m-)DVBMO, allyl glycidyl ether, and glycidyl (meth)acrylate. |
| US09376371B2 |
Triphenylamine derivative, method for manufacturing the same, and electrophotographic photosensitive member
A triphenylamine derivative is represented by General Formula (1). In General Formula (1), OR1 represents an alkoxy group having 2 to 8 carbon atoms. R2 to R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms. Ar1 and Ar2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 6 to 20 carbon atoms and optionally substituted with an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group having 3 to 10 carbon atoms, or a 3- to 10-membered heterocyclic group. Note that the case where Ar1 and Ar2 are both a hydrogen atom is excluded. |
| US09376364B2 |
Acid/salt separation
The invention provides a method for preparing a succinic acid, which method includes the steps of: providing magnesium succinate; acidifying the magnesium succinate with hydrochloric acid (HCl), thereby obtaining a solution including succinic acid and magnesium chloride (MgCl2); optionally a concentration step, wherein the solution including succinic acid and MgCl2 is concentrated; precipitating succinic acid from the solution including succinic acid and MgCl2, thereby obtaining a succinic acid precipitate and a MgCl2 solution. The addition of HCl to a magnesium salt of succinic acid and subsequent precipitation of succinic acid from the solution leads to a very efficient separation of succinic acid from a magnesium succinate solution. |
| US09376362B2 |
Method for the high-yield production of P-(R-oxy)calix[9-20] arenes
A process for the high-yield preparation of p-(R-oxy)calix[9-20]arenes from a mixture of a base, a phenol, a source of formaldehyde and a organic solvent, p-(R-oxy)calix[9-20]arenes obtained from such a process, and uses of such p-(R-oxy)calix[9-20]arenes. |
| US09376359B2 |
Process for preparing a para-linear alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound
Disclosed herein is a process for preparing an isomeric mixture comprising a major amount of a para-linear mono-alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound. The process involves the steps of: (a) providing an isomeric mixture comprising a major amount of a para-di(alkyl-substituted)aromatic compound; wherein a first alkyl substituent is a C3 to C8 alkyl moiety and a second alkyl substituent is a C4+n to C8+n linear alkyl moiety, wherein n is 0 to 42 and further wherein the second alkyl substituent is at least one carbon atom greater than the first alkyl substituent; (b) subjecting the isomeric mixture comprising a major amount of a para-di(alkyl-substituted)aromatic compound to oxidation conditions in the presence of an oxygen-containing source, thereby converting the first alkyl substituent which is a C3 to C8 alkyl moiety to a hydroperoxide-containing substituted moiety to produce an isomeric mixture comprising a major amount of a para-linear alkyl-substituted, hydroperoxide-containing substituted aromatic compound; and (c) converting the hydroperoxide-containing substituted moiety to a hydroxyl moiety thereby providing an isomeric mixture comprising a major amount of a para-linear mono-alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound. |
| US09376358B2 |
System and method for removal of heavy metal ions from a rich hydrate inhibitor stream
Method and system for removal of heavy metal ions from a rich hydrate inhibitor stream, wherein the method comprises a) adding a selective heavy metal reactant to the rich hydrate inhibitor stream, forming a fluid stream comprising heavy metal salt particles, b) separating the obtained fluid stream in three streams a hydrocarbon stream, a recovered rich hydrate inhibitor stream, and a slurry comprising the heavy metal salt particles, c) separating remaining hydrate inhibitor from the slurry thereby obtaining a concentrated rest comprising the heavy metal salt particles. |
| US09376355B2 |
Method and systems for processing lignin during hydrothermal digestion of cellulosic biomass solids while producing a monohydric alcohol feed
Digestion of cellulosic biomass solids may be complicated by release of lignin therefrom. Methods for digesting cellulosic biomass solids may comprise: providing cellulosic biomass solids in the presence of a digestion solvent, molecular hydrogen, and a slurry catalyst capable of activating molecular hydrogen; at least partially converting the cellulosic biomass solids into a phenolics liquid phase comprising lignin, an aqueous phase comprising a glycol derived from the cellulosic biomass solids, and an optional light organics phase; wherein at least a portion of the slurry catalyst accumulates in the phenolics liquid phase as it forms; combining the glycol with the phenolics liquid phase, thereby forming a combined phase; and heating the combined phase in the presence of molecular hydrogen; wherein heating the combined phase reduces the viscosity of the phenolics liquid phase and transforms at least a portion of the glycol into a monohydric alcohol. |
| US09376353B2 |
Method of producing aromatic hydrocarbons and olefin from hydrocarbonaceous oils comprising large amounts of polycyclic aromatic compounds
This invention relates to a method of producing aromatic hydrocarbons and olefin from hydrocarbonaceous oils including large amounts of polycyclic aromatic compounds having two or more rings via partial hydrogenation in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst and catalytic cracking in the presence of a catalytic cracking catalyst. |
| US09376352B2 |
Start-up method of bubble column slurry bed reactor
A start-up method of a bubble column slurry bed reactor for producing hydrocarbons includes: a first step that fills into a reactor a slurry in which a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction catalyst particles are suspended in a slurry preparation oil with a 5% distillation point of 120 to 270° C., a 95% distillation point of 330 to 650° C., and a sulfur component and an aromatic component of 1 mass ppm or less, and a second step that, in a state where synthesis gas that is primarily hydrogen and carbon monoxide is introduced into the slurry filled into the reactor, raises the temperature of the reactor and starts the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction. As the slurry preparation oil, one containing predetermined components in preset amounts is used. In the first step, the slurry is filled into the reactor in an amount in which airborne droplets do not flow out. |
| US09376347B2 |
Porous ceramic article and method of manufacturing the same
The present disclosure relates to porous ceramic articles and a method of making the same. The porous ceramic articles have microstructure of sinter bonded or reaction bonded large pre-reacted particles and pore network structure exhibiting large pore necks. The method of making the porous ceramic articles involves using pre-reacted particles having one or more phases. A plastic ceramic precursor composition is also disclosed. The composition includes a mixture of at least one of dense, porous, or hollow spheroidal pre-reacted particles and a liquid vehicle. |
| US09376346B2 |
Use of a combination of iron monoxide and spinel oxides as a sensitive material for detecting infrared radiation
The invention relates to the use of a material having a spinel ferrite/iron monoxide structure as a sensitive material in the form of a thin film for the bolometric detection of infrared radiation, the chemical composition of said structure, excluding doping agents that may be present, having empirical formula (I): (Fe1−zMz)xO, where x is strictly less than 1 and strictly greater than 0.75. The invention also relates to a bolometric device for infrared radiation detection and infrared imaging, comprising at least one sensor provided with a sensitive element in the form of a thin film as defined above. |
| US09376339B2 |
Optical glass, preform for precision press molding, and optical element
Provided is a medium-refractive-index low-dispersion optical glass that may be precision press-molded, that has a high water resistance, and that has a low specific gravity, as well as a preform for precision press molding and an optical element which use such an optical glass. The optical glass has a composition including, in % by mass, SiO2: 35 to 55%, B2O3: 12 to 27%, Al2O3: 6 to 16%, Li2O: 5 to 12%, MgO: 0 to 10%, CaO: 5 to 17%, ZrO2: 0 to 7%, La2O3: 0 to 7%, ZnO: 0 to 5%, TiO2: 0 to 5%, Nb2O5: 0 to 5%, and Ta2O5: 0 to 5%. SrO and BaO are not included. |
| US09376329B2 |
Continuous Fe(III) production at atmospheric pressures
A method oxidizes ferrous iron to ferric iron. The method includes providing a liquid, which includes the ferrous iron, and a gas, which includes an oxidizing agent, such as oxygen and/or chlorine; providing two separate mixes, with both mixes including the gas and the liquid; and colliding the separate mixes, thereby obtaining the ferric iron. |
| US09376326B2 |
Method for modifying a hot wall ammonia reactor with vessel having a partial opening
Method for modifying a hot wall ammonia reactor con vessel (2) having partial opening, comprising: assembly directly inside the vessel (2) of a catalytic cartridge (7) with modular elements, said modular elements being of a size compatible with introduction into the vessel through a pre-existing partial opening (6) of the vessel, and each comprising at least one panel (11); the panels (11) of said modular elements forming a substantially cylindrical outer wall (7a) of said cartridge (7), and an annular flux space (8) between said outer wall of the cartridge and an inner wall of the vessel; said panels (11) being provided with a respective heat insulation layer (13) before introduction into the vessel (2). |
| US09376323B2 |
Method for producing tetrafluoroborate
An object of the invention is to provide a tetrafluoroborate producing method that allows high-yield, high-efficiency production of a tetrafluoroborate by a continuous process, a tetrafluoroborate-containing electrolyte, and an electrical storage device including such an electrolyte. The invention provides a method for producing a tetrafluoroborate, which includes: a first step including dissolving boron trifluoride gas in an organic solvent; a second step including adding, to the organic solvent, a fluoride (MFn, wherein M represents a metal or NH4, and 1≦n≦3) in an amount stoichiometrically equivalent to or less than the amount of the boron trifluoride so that a tetrafluoroborate solution is produced; and a third step including circulating the tetrafluoroborate solution through the first step so that the boron trifluoride gas is dissolved in the tetrafluoroborate solution instead of the organic solvent. |
| US09376320B1 |
Method of manufacturing carbon nanotubes and fibers using catalytic magnesium oxide nanoparticles
A method for producing carbon nanotubes and/or fibers, such as carbon nano-tubes, involves sparging a gas (such as carbon dioxide) through a liquid hydrocarbon (such as crude oil) in the presence of an effective amount of magnesium oxide (MgO) particles (such as MgO nanoparticles having a size in the range from about 2 nm to about 10 microns, and which may have a bimodal particle size distribution) at a temperature in a range of between about 70 to about 90° C. to produce carbon nanotubes and fibers having a size range of from about 50 nm to about 20 microns. |
| US09376318B2 |
Conversion of carbonaceous fuels into carbon free energy carriers
A system for converting fuel is provided and includes a first reactor comprising a plurality of ceramic composite particles, the ceramic composite particles comprising at least one metal oxide disposed on a support, wherein the first reactor is configured to reduce the at least one metal oxide with a fuel to produce a reduced metal or a reduced metal oxide; a second reactor configured to oxidize at least a portion of the reduced metal or reduced metal oxide from the said first reactor to produce a metal oxide intermediate; a source of air; and a third reactor communicating with said source of air and configured to regenerate the at least one metal oxide from the remaining portion of the solids discharged from the said first reactor and the solids discharged from the said second reactor by oxidizing the metal oxide intermediate. |
| US09376314B2 |
Method for manufacturing a micromechanical system
A method for manufacturing a micromechanical system includes forming in a Front-End-of-Line (FEOL) process transistors in a transistor region; after the FEOL-process, forming a sacrificial layer; structuring the sacrificial layer to form a structured sacrificial layer; forming a functional layer at least partially covering the structured sacrificial layer; and removing the sacrificial layer to create a cavity. |
| US09376312B2 |
Method for fabricating a transducer apparatus
An improved MEMS transducer apparatus and method. The method includes providing a movable base structure having a base surface region overlying a substrate and a center cavity with a cavity surface region. At least one center anchor structure and one spring structure can be spatially disposed within a substantially circular portion of the surface region. The spring structure(s) can be coupled the center anchor structure(s) to a portion of the cavity surface region. The substantially circular portion can be configured within a vicinity of the center of the surface region. At least one capacitor element, having a fixed and a movable capacitor element, can be spatially disposed within a vicinity of the cavity surface region. The fixed capacitor element(s) can be coupled to the center anchor structure(s) and the movable capacitor element(s) can be spatially disposed on a portion of the cavity surface region. |
| US09376306B2 |
Methods of dispensing
Methods of dispensing an ingredient and measuring an amount of the ingredient dispensed, e.g., at a customer's location usually as the ingredient is used by the customer, in order to improve the dispensing process by adjusting future dispense cycles, accurately dispensing the ingredient, predicting an amount of ingredient to be dispensed. |
| US09376304B2 |
Tilter for holding a container in a progressively less tilted orientation while receiving a beverage from a dispensing system
A tilter for holding a container in a tilted position for receiving a beverage being dispensed from a dispensing system such as a beer faucet, which holds the container, such as a cup or mug, in an initial highly tilted orientation for receiving the dispensed beverage, and which progressively reduces the degree of tilt as the container fills. The tilter can operate in cooperation with the lever or other actuator of a dispenser to automatically be tilted to the initial highly tilted orientation when the actuator is operated to initially dispense, and to automatically operate the actuator to stop the dispensing of the beverage when a final reduced degree of tilt is reached and present the filled container for removal from the tilter. |
| US09376301B1 |
Adjustable cap sorter
A cap sorter comprising: first and second belts traveling along a closed loop belt path substantially adjacent and parallel to each other, the belt path defining a non-vertical cap receiving section, a sorting section extending substantially upwardly therefrom, a discharging section provided above the sorting section and a return section extending from the discharging section and returning to the cap receiving section; a cap providing element provided above the cap receiving section for discharging the caps on the cap receiving section; and first and second belt actuators for moving respectively the first and second belts along the belt path. The first and second belts are each provided with a plurality of cleats mounted outside of the first and second belts, each of the cleats extending across both the first and second belts, the cleats being alternately secured to the first and second belts. |
| US09376298B2 |
Battery powered forklift
A forklift including a fork on a front of a body to which front and rear wheels are attached, a counter weight on a rear of the body, and a driving electric motor allowing the body to travel, the forklift includes: a battery on the body above the rear wheel; a cargo-handling electric motor generating oil pressure on operating oil operating the fork; a controller controlling the cargo-handling electric motor and the driving electric motor; and a storage space in the body, below a bottom of the battery, and above a bottom of the body, wherein the controller and a charging device charging the battery are arranged in the storage space on both sides in a widthwise direction of the body, respectively and an operating oil tank and the cargo-handling electric motor are arranged along a longitudinal direction of the body between the controller and the charging device. |
| US09376297B2 |
Reach truck
Reach truck 1 with a control system 2 for controlling the lowering movement of a fork 10, the control system 2 comprising a height sensor 20, for determining the lifting height h of the fork 10 of the reach truck 1, a proportional electrical hydraulic valve 50 connected to a lifting cylinder 70 of the reach truck 1, for controlling an oil flow of the lifting cylinder 70, and a control unit 30, connected to the height sensor 20 for receiving the actual lifting height h signal and controlling the proportional electrical hydraulic valve 50, wherein the control unit 30 automatically decreases the maximum lowering speed v of the fork 10, by controlling the proportional electrical hydraulic valve 50, according a predetermined maximum speed v curve depending on the lifting height h of the fork 10, and in some embodiments only on the lifting height h of the fork 10, such that the fork 10 is softly stopped at the ground. |
| US09376294B2 |
Brake, shear and cable management system and method
A brake, shear and cable management system and method, which is attachable adjacent to a reeling-type drum to effectively brake and cut cable, such as drilling line, boring line, electrical line, fiber optic line or the like. The brake, shear and cable management system includes a cable management assembly, a cable brake assembly and a cable cutting assembly used in conjunction to manage, retain and sever a spent portion of cable upon the drum. |
| US09376293B2 |
Method of assembling a crane and coupling section, telescopic boom and crane
The invention relates to a method of assembling a crane having a telescopic boom which has a coupling section, a telescopic cylinder supported therein and at least one telescopic section, wherein at least one telescopic section is transported to the site of deployment separately from the coupling section and the at least one separately moved telescopic section is drawn, in particular drawn slowly, into an outer section, in particular into the coupling section, in the assembly position by the telescopic cylinder by means of an auxiliary assembly head. |
| US09376291B2 |
Heavy lifting apparatus and method
A crane apparatus and method are described for lifting a heavy load such as a wind-turbine generator unit 46 on to a wind-turbine tower 1. The crane is designed to climb up cables 3 attached to the top of the tower, carrying with it the cables 45 and lifting gear 31 which will be required for the main lifting operation. The crane comprises a pair of jib-frames 20 with boom arms 26, 27 which can be retracted during lifting and then deployed to a pivotable, loadbearing position once the crane is mounted at the top of the tower 1. Hydraulic strand jacks 31 and heavy-duty strands 45 are preferably used for the heavy lifting. In a preparation step, a load-bearing bracket assembly 13, 14, to which the jib-frames 20 will be secured, is hoisted up and fitted to the top of the tower 1. Once the lifting operations are complete, the crane assembly and the bracket assembly 13, 14 are lowered from the tower 1 and removed from site. |
| US09376290B2 |
Enhanced computer rack having an integrated lift rail and/or tool design
An enhanced computer rack having sides is provided. The rack is used for housing electronic components and comprises in one embodiment of a lift rail having a plurality of multipurpose frame members capable of being engageably connected to at least one of the rack sides such that the frame members can be retracted into or extended out from the rack. In an alternate embodiment, a lift tool is provided for hoisting object into the rack. The lift tool is connected to at least one side of the rack and is capable of being retracted inside or being extended out from the rack. The two embodiments can also be combined to provide an enhanced rack with an integrated lift rails and lift tool design. |
| US09376287B2 |
Sheet conveying device, image forming apparatus, sheet thickness detection system
A sheet conveying device includes a conveying roller provided on an inner side of a curved part of a conveying path of a sheet; a driving unit configured to rotate the conveying roller; a drive control unit configured to control a rotation speed of the conveying roller by the driving unit; a rotation speed detecting unit configured to detect the rotation speed of the conveying roller; a conveying unit configured to convey the sheet laid across the conveying roller and the conveying unit; a conveying speed detecting unit configured to detect a conveying speed of the sheet; and a sheet thickness detecting unit configured to detect a thickness of the sheet based on the conveying speed of the sheet detected by the conveying speed detecting unit and the rotation speed of the conveying roller detected by the rotation speed detecting unit. |
| US09376285B2 |
Sheet-stapling apparatus that staples center-fold sheets by staple, and image-forming system using the same
A sheet-stapling apparatus mounts a center-fold booklet and staples the booklet at a fold of the booklet by a staple. The sheet-stapling apparatus has a supporting member that mounts the center-fold booklet, pushing members that push the booklet to the supporting member, a stapler that penetrates the staple through the booklet and a clincher that clinches legs of the staple to bind the booklet. Each pushing member has a pushing recess portion for pushing the fold of the booklet. The pushing recess portion spreads from a booklet-positioning angle to a booklet-pushing angle to prevent the booklet from shifting. |
| US09376282B2 |
Surface winder having a cam-controlled core inserter
A surface winder for winding a log of web material convolutely about a core is disclosed. The surface winder has a frame providing the web material with a path therethrough, a first winding roll rotatably mounted in the frame on one side of the path, a stationary finger mounted on the frame on the other side of the path adjacent the first winding roll and spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to receive the core to be wound in the path, the first winding roll cooperating with the stationary finger means to rotate the core, a cam-controlled core insertion device for a surface winder, and a second winding roll rotatably mounted in the frame on the other side of the path and downstream in the direction of web advance from the stationary finger means and forming a nip with the first winding roll. |
| US09376279B2 |
Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus
A sheet feeding device includes a manual bypass tray, a pair of side-fences and restricting members. On the manual bypass tray, a sheet conveyed to an apparatus main body is placed. The pair of side-fences are arranged slidable in a width direction orthogonal to a conveying direction of the sheet so as to mutually approach/separate on the manual bypass tray. The restricting members are arranged attachable to/detachable from the pair of side-fences. Each of the restricting members includes a first engaging part and a preventive portion. The first engaging part is engaged with the manual bypass tray to restrict slide of each of the pair of side-fence in the width direction. The preventive portion is arranged so as to be separated upwardly from the manual bypass tray to prevent the sheet on the manual bypass tray from uplifting. |
| US09376273B2 |
Automatic loading/unloading apparatus for automatically loading/unloading flat articles stacked on edge, a sorting machine for sorting flat articles, an unloading method, and a postal sorting method
Automatic loading/unloading apparatus (1) for automatically loading flat articles (200) stacked on edge into storage trays (300) and for automatically unloading flat articles (200) stacked on edge therefrom, each of the storage trays (300) having a bottom plate (301) provided with a through window (306), said automatic loading/unloading apparatus having a stationary actuator (4) in register with said window and a moving actuator (5) that receives said storage tray (300) and that is mounted to move between: a waiting position in which said stationary actuator (4) is set back from said moving actuator (5) and is not in contact with said flat articles (200); and an unloading position in which said stationary actuator (4) passes through said window (306) while carrying said flat articles (200) until it comes flush with said stacking zone (3) suitable for receiving said flat articles (200) without said storage tray (300) being interposed between said flat articles (200) and said stacking zone (3). |
| US09376271B2 |
Article transport facility
An article transport facility allows transport carriages to travel with sufficient stability while avoiding damages to any transport carriage when the connection to another adjacent transport carriage is disengaged. Each of a plurality of transport carriages, which forms a carriage sequence, includes a carriage main body, a wheel which rolls on a travel surface formed along the travel path, a first connecting portion provided to a forward end portion of the carriage main body, and a second connecting portion provided to a back end portion of the carriage main body. The first connecting portion is connected to the second connecting portion of another transport carriage that is immediately in front so as to be pivotable about a carriage pivot axis extending along a vertical direction. The wheel is provided in the forward end portion of the carriage main body. |
| US09376263B2 |
Vibration detection system, apparatus and method
A system for monitoring an endless belt conveyor, comprising a sensor for sensing a vibration of an idler roller and generating a signal corresponding to the sensed vibration, at least one of the frequency and amplitude of the generated signal being indicative of a condition of the idler roller, the sensor being integral with the endless belt conveyor. |
| US09376249B2 |
Sanitary dispensing package
A package having a sanitary dispenser is depicted and described. The package generally includes a dispenser that is sealed from environmental contaminants by a feature or portion of the package. The sealed dispenser portion of the package is accessed prior to use and the user is able to access the contents of the package through the sanitary dispenser. The dispenser may be inverted prior to use and deployed prior to use. A frangible portion may be provided to the dispenser. The dispenser may be re-sealable in the package. A straw may further be provided to the dispenser and be deployable by the user for access to the package contents. |
| US09376248B2 |
Package having unitary body including a break-off cap
A package (1000) for containing a fluidic product. In one embodiment of the invention, the package comprises a first laminate sheet (200) and a second laminate sheet (300) thermoformed together to form a unitary body (100). The unitary body (100) has a product containing portion (110) having a product cavity containing a fluidic product, a nozzle portion (120) for dispensing the fluidic product from the product cavity, and a break-off cap (130) sealing a dispensing orifice of the nozzle portion (120). Each of the first and second laminate sheets (200, 300) includes a layer of polyethylene (PE) and a layer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The layer of PE has a first thickness and the layer of PET has a second thickness, the second thickness being less than or equal to the first thickness. |
| US09376241B2 |
Clog-resistant closures for adhesive containers
A closure for a glue bottle including a cap having a body and a tip, wherein the body is adapted to be attached to a bottle or container, and wherein the bottle or container is adapted to store water-based glue; and an insert disposed at least partially within the tip of the cap, wherein the insert further includes a one-way valve for dispensing glue from the bottle or container when pressure is applied to the exterior of the container and preventing backflow of the glue into the cap when the pressure is released; at least one hydrophobic material; wherein the at least one hydrophobic material is operative to encourage the water-based glue to flow back into the container after the pressure has been released and when the container is stored in a vertical position. |
| US09376231B2 |
Carton with container
A carton for containing at least one product. The carton comprises a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around an interior of the carton. The plurality of panels comprises a front panel, a back panel, and a bottom panel. The carton has a container removably attached to at least one panel of the plurality of panels. The container is for containing the food product after removal of the food product from the interior of the carton. |
| US09376229B2 |
Circular expandable stationary stand-alone single-use disposable garbage and trash bag holder and bag for outside activity
A single-use disposable method of making a circular expandable multi-plastic and aluminum ring with locking ring connectors with a bag attached to the inner parts of the rings with a cardboard base inside and outside the bag is presented. The invention includes multiple progressively larger light-weight rings held in a stable position by multiple and equidistant positioned locking connectors and connection at the bottom to a cardboard base, with a bag positioned inside and outside the ring-connector-base structure. The invention is most useful for garbage and trash disposal in picnic, camping, family reunion, barbecue, outside gatherings and outings type areas where conventional garbage and trash disposal units are not available. |
| US09376228B1 |
Apparatus and method for a pressurized dispenser refill system
A sustainable system for refilling a pressurized fluid dispenser comprises a container body having a first fluid dispenser that includes a valved opening, a pouch mounted within the container body for storing a fluid composition and fluidly coupled with the valved opening of the container for dispensing the contents of the pouch and a fluid refill system. A pressurized gas can be provided between the pouch and the container body for pressurizing the contents of the pouch. The fluid refill system includes at least one reservoir having a fluid composition therein and a second fluid dispenser having a fitting that is adapted to dispense the fluid composition from the at least one reservoir into the pouch. A controller can be programmed to respond to input signals to position the container with the fluid refill system and to dispense the fluid composition under pressure into the pouch. |
| US09376212B2 |
Aircraft with at least one pressurized fuselage area and at least one unpressurized area and method for ventilating of an unpressurized area of an aircraft
An aircraft includes, but is not limited to at least one fuselage with at least one pressurized fuselage region and at least one non-pressurized region and at least one air conditioning system for air conditioning the at least one pressurized fuselage region. The non-pressurized region includes, but is not limited to an air inlet and an air outlet connected to an air source from the pressurized fuselage region. Consequently it is possible to avoid the use of blowers, outlet valves and ram air flaps for ventilating non-pressurized regions of an aircraft. |
| US09376206B2 |
Tiltrotor aircraft with inboard wing mounted fixed engine arrangement
A rotor system for tilt rotor aircraft comprises an engine disposed at a first fixed position on a wing member, and a prop-rotor pylon mechanically coupled to the engine along a drive path extending through the wing member. The engine is disposed adjacent a fuselage of the tilt rotor aircraft, and the prop-rotor pylon is configured to selectively rotate between a vertical position and a horizontal position. The prop-rotor pylon is coupled to a plurality of rotor blades. |
| US09376203B2 |
Device for mechanical connection of a control surface to a fixed structural element of an aircraft and aircraft wing element equipped with said device
A device for mechanically connecting a control surface to a fixed structural element of an aircraft, including a rotary actuator for driving an element that is securely connected to the control surface in rotation in relation to an element securely connected to the fixed structural element, around an articulation axis, as well as articulation elements for articulating this control surface around this axis. These articulation elements are able to support the control surface independently of the rotary actuator. This arrangement permits taking benefit from the advantageous properties of rotary actuators while allowing removal of the rotary actuator without having first to remove the control surface. |
| US09376202B2 |
Pitch control of contra-rotating airfoil blades
A pitch control mechanism for an open rotor gas turbine engine is provided, the engine having a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly, with a plurality of airfoil blades circumferentially mounted on each rotor assembly, and arranged in contra-rotational relationship to each other. The pitch control mechanism includes an actuator assembly configured to be secured to a non-rotating frame of the engine, the actuator assembly having a first actuator and a second actuator, with the actuator assembly being rotationally isolatable from and couplable to the first and second rotor assemblies such that, in use, an actuation signal from the first or second actuator induces a corresponding desired change in pitch of the airfoil blades of the respective first or second rotor assembly independently of the pitch of the airfoil blades of the second or first rotor assembly. |
| US09376201B2 |
Dual boarding system for aircraft
A method and apparatus for boarding an aircraft. Passengers may be lined up in a first line and a second line relative to a doorway for the aircraft. A flow of the passengers in the first line and the second line may be controlled through a corridor connecting the doorway to a first aisle and a second aisle in an interior of the aircraft. The flow of the passengers may pass through a number of spaces in the corridor. The number of spaces may be reserved for a number of crew members during an emergency operation in which the passengers exit the aircraft. |
| US09376193B1 |
Marine outboard engine angular position limitation system and method
A method for limiting motion of at least one outboard engine of a watercraft to at least one desired limit position in at least one direction is disclosed. The method comprises initiating a calibration process by inputting a sequence of at least one state of at least one switch, moving the at least one outboard engine about at least one axis in the at least one direction until the at least one desired limit positions is reached, sensing a position of the at least one outboard engine about the at least one axis when the at least one outboard engine is at the at least one desired limit position, and recording the sensed position to be a limit position. A method for limiting motion of a plurality of outboard engines, and a watercraft are also disclosed. |
| US09376191B1 |
Outboard motor with lightweight midsection housing
An outboard motor to be coupled to a transom of a marine vessel includes a midsection housing having a front side configured to face the transom, a back side opposite the front side, a left side, and an opposite right side. An engine having an engine block is mounted directly to and supported by the midsection housing. A driveshaft is coupled in torque transmitting relation with a crankshaft of the engine, and a portion of the driveshaft is located exterior to the midsection housing. An exhaust pipe that conveys exhaust gas from an exhaust gas outlet of the engine downwardly away from the engine is also located exterior to the midsection housing. In one example, the midsection housing serves as a sump for engine oil. |
| US09376190B1 |
Oarlock system
An improved oarlock system having a sleeve that is attached to an oar, a set of cam blocks installed in the sleeve that can be moved to adjust the inboard of an oar, an oarlock that is positioned over the sleeve so that it contacts the cam blocks. There are several combinations of sleeve type and cam block available for use. The oarlock can be fitted to different sized pins. Pitch of the oar can be easily adjusted using the oarlock and sleeves. Improvements in the use of the sleeves, cam blocks and oarlock permit replacement of worn parts and increased stability of the components when in use as well. |
| US09376187B2 |
Power module for use in marine vessel, and wind-propelled vessel provided with said power module
Provided is a power module for use in a marine vessel and a wind-propelled vessel provided with such a power module. The power module includes: a sail storage housing which has at least a portion thereof arranged below a deck of a marine vessel and having an opening on an upper end thereof; a sail which is movable between a storage position located inside the sail storage housing and a use position at which the sail projects from the deck in the vertical direction; and a sail movement unit which is configured to move the sail between the storage position and the use position. |
| US09376186B2 |
Marine tunnel thruster
Marine tunnel thruster includes a duct, within which at least a propeller is fitted that is operatively connected to a rotational drive system. The duct is composed of three sections, which include a first central section and two end sections. The first central section has a specific length and a specific diameter, while the two end sections have a specific length and a specific diameter greater than the diameter of the central section. |