最新美国发明专利第2018-07-10期 - 专利汇|PatentHub专利检索|专利查询网|发明专利查询分析

Document	Document Title
US10018785B2	Optical fiber modal distribution conditioner There is provided a modal distribution conditioner comprising the combination of a mandrel-wrapped optical fiber and an adjustable and fixable loop of optical fiber. It is noted that light entering the modal distribution conditioner is to be generally overfilled compared with the target encircled flux function (as defined by the Standard). The mandrel wrapping introduces macrobends to the optical fiber, inducing modal pre-filtering that roughly transforms the initially overfilled modal distribution to be close to compliance with the appropriate Standard. However, the modal distribution of light having traversed the fixed mandrel typically remains somewhat overfilled. The adjustable loop provides for the fine-tuning of the modal distribution, in conformity with the Standard. Once the requirements defined by the Standard are met, the adjustable loop may be secured in place such that modal distribution becomes fixed and remain stable.
US10018778B2	Liquid crystal display device Provided is a liquid crystal display device. The liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal display panel; a light source under the liquid crystal display panel; a light guiding plate; a reflecting plate; a guide mold; and a supporting member. The light guiding plate is in contact with one surface of the light source. The reflecting plate is disposed under the light guiding plate. The guide mold accommodates the light source, the light guiding plate, and the reflecting plate therein. The supporting member is disposed under the reflecting plate and supports at least a part of one surface of the reflecting plate.
US10018777B2	Circuit board and lighting device and board housing module having the circiut board A circuit board, and a lighting device and board housing module having the circuit board. The circuit board includes a support substrate having a first region and a second region bent from the first region, light emitting devices disposed on the first region, and a protective support portion protruding more than the light emitting devices from the support substrate of the first region.
US10018776B2	Illumination device, illumination equipment, and display device An illumination device (11) includes a light guide plate (15) and a light source unit (10) which includes a substrate (12) and a plurality of LED chips (16) disposed on the substrate (12), and which is disposed in a position at which emitted light of the LED chips (16) enters a light entrance portion (15a) of the light guide plate (15). The LED chips (16) are disposed to form a plurality of rows on the substrate (12), and are disposed to line up in a direction which orthogonally intersects the rows between each of the rows.
US10018770B2	Lighting device for vehicles A lighting device having a first lighting unit comprising a first light source and a first optics element, disposed upstream thereof in the main beam direction, for generating a first lighting function. The lighting device also has a second light source and a second optics element, disposed upstream thereof in the main beam direction, for generating a second lighting function. The first optics element, disposed in front of the first light source in the main beam direction, is designed as a flat waveguide having a narrow-side light intake surface, having a narrow-side light output surface, and having opposing flat sides connecting the light intake surface and the light output surface. The light intake surface of the flat waveguide is disposed at such a spacing to the first light source that a lateral light beam emitted by the first light source strikes the second optics element in order to illuminate said optics element.
US10018766B2	Light guide plate, backlight module and display device The present invention discloses a light guide plate, a backlight module and a display device. In the light guide plate, a plurality of triangular pyramid dots are provided; two of four surfaces of each of the triangular pyramid dots are light receiving surfaces facing a backlight source, and are reflective mirror surfaces, so that incident light reaching the two light receiving surfaces from the backlight source is converted into emergent light exiting in two different directions, and then the emergent light is emitted out from the upper surface of the light guide plate. In the solution, as the triangular pyramid dots capable of converting incident light from a backlight source into emergent light exiting in two specific directions are provided in a light guide plate, the effect of dual-view backlight can be realized while providing a light guide plate or dual-view backlight module with simpler structure and lower cost.
US10018764B2	Illumination of optical analytical devices Optical analytical devices and their methods of use are provided. The devices are useful in the analysis of highly multiplexed optical reactions in large numbers at high densities, including biochemical reactions, such as nucleic acid sequencing reactions. The devices include optical waveguides for illumination of the optical reactions. The devices further provide for the efficient coupling of optical excitation energy from the waveguides to the optical reactions. Optical signals emitted from the reactions can thus be measured with high sensitivity and discrimination using features such as spectra, amplitude, and time resolution, or combinations thereof. The devices of the invention are well suited for miniaturization and high throughput.
US10018761B2	Compensation film and method of manufacturing the same A compensation film includes an elongation film having an elongation rate of greater than or equal to about 200% in a uniaxial direction and having a surface energy of about 40 mJ/m2 to about 65 mJ/m2 and a liquid crystal layer disposed on one side of the elongation film and including liquid crystals.
US10018758B2	Single-sensor hyperspectral imaging device The present disclosure generally relates to hyperspectral spectroscopy, and in particular, to systems, methods and devices enabling a single-sensor hyperspectral imaging device. Hyperspectral (also known as “multispectral”) spectroscopy is an imaging technique that integrates multiples images of an object resolved at different narrow spectral bands (i.e., narrow ranges of wavelengths) into a single data structure, referred to as a three-dimensional hyperspectral data cube. Data provided by hyperspectral spectroscopy allow for the identification of individual components of a complex composition through the recognition of spectral signatures of individual components within the three-dimensional hyperspectral data cube.
US10018757B2	Multilayer polymeric reflector A multilayer polymeric reflector is provided which comprises: a) a plurality of first optical layers, each first optical layer comprising a polyester having terephthalate comonomer units and ethylene glycol comonomer units, the polyester having a glass transition temperature, where each first optical layer is oriented, and b) a plurality of second optical layers disposed in a repeating sequence with the plurality of first optical layers, each second optical layer comprising a blend of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), where the blend has a glass transition temperature less than the glass transition temperature of the polyester comprising the first optical layers, and where the amount of PVDF in the PMMA/PVDF blend is greater than and not equal to about 40% and not more than about 65%. Articles comprising the multilayer polymeric reflector are also provided.
US10018756B2	Display apparatus and electronic device A display apparatus and an electronic device are provided, which belong to the field of display technology. The display apparatus comprises a light-converging layer configured to refract the light in a first designated direction, wherein the first designated direction is a direction whose angle with a straight ahead direction of the display apparatus is less than a designated angle, and the straight ahead direction is a direction perpendicular to a plane where the light-converging layer is located; and a light-emitting layer positioned below the light-converging layer and configured to emit light.
US10018755B2	Light diffusion member and display device This light diffusion member includes: a substrate having light transmissivity; a plurality of light shielding layers formed on one face of the substrate; and light diffusion portions formed on the one face of the substrate at regions other than the regions where the light shielding layers have been formed. The light diffusion portions have a light-emitting end surface coming into contact with the substrate, a light incident end surface which faces the light-emitting end surface and has a larger area than the area of the light-emitting end surface, and a reflecting face coming into contact with the light-emitting end surface and the light incident end surface, and reflecting light entering from the light incident end surface. The height from the light incident end surface to the light-emitting end surface of the light diffusion portion is greater than the thickness of the light shielding layers. A scattering intensity at an azimuth ϕ0+Δϕ and a scattering intensity at an azimuth ϕ0−Δϕ across a strong scattering azimuth ϕ0 as a center axis are generally the same.
US10018754B2	Sheet-form transparent molding, transparent screen comprising same, and image projection device comprising same Provided is a sheet-form transparent molding for use for a transparent screen, satisfying both visibilities of a projected light and a transmitted light by anisotropically scattering and reflecting the projected light emitted from a light source. A sheet-form transparent molding according to the present invention comprises a transparent light scattering layer comprising a resin and bright flake-form microparticles.
US10018752B2	Diffusion sheet, backlight module and liquid crystal display device A diffusion sheet, a backlight module and a liquid crystal module are disclosed. The diffusion sheet comprises a paper fiber layer (1) with surfaces on two sides both disposed with a light-transmissive protection layer (2, 3). The diffusion sheet can well diffuse light passing through the diffusion sheet, and hence improve uniformity of light passing through the diffusion sheet. A paper fiber layer (1) is employed in the diffusion sheet for diffusion, which makes a paper fiber layer (1) be prepared at a low cost and have a small weight, and hence reduce the preparation cost and weight of a diffusion sheet to provided convenience for transfer of a product.
US10018747B2	Measurement while drilling system and method A measurement while drilling (MWD) system for use in a drilling string, the MWD system comprises: a resistivity module that is configured to generate resistivity information about a resistivity of a formation that is drilled by the drilling string; a near bit sub that is configured to generate inclination information about an inclination of a drill bit of the drilling string; a MWD module; a first wireless communication module that is configured to wirelessly send the resistivity information from the resistivity module to the MWD module; a second wireless communication module that is configured to wirelessly send inclination information from the near bit sub module to the MWD module; and wherein the MWD module is configured to participate in a transmission of the inclination information and the resistivity information towards an upper surface of the formation.
US10018746B2	Restorable antennae apparatus and system for well logging An apparatus includes a sub with recesses along an exterior wall to receive inserts, an antenna case including a coil surrounded by a sacrificial wear portion of a material through which signals between the coil and a formation of interest may pass. An eroded outer wall of the sacrificial wear portion is restorable by application of an uncured restorative material to the antenna case. A method includes securing an antenna case having a coil there within onto a sub, surrounding the coil with a metal sleeve shield, and radially receiving and securing a multi-piece sacrificial wear member intermediate the antenna case and a retainer ring having a threaded bore. The multi-piece sacrificial wear member is replaceable after use by unthreading the retainer ring to release the sacrificial wear member for radial removal from the sub.
US10018744B2	Foreign object detection in wireless energy transfer systems Systems and methods for detecting foreign object debris around a wireless power transfer system include a plurality of detectors, each detector featuring one or more loops of conducting material, and a controller configured to measure at least one of a voltage and a current in each detector and to determine, based on the measurements, whether foreign object debris is present around the wireless power transfer system, where at least some of the plurality of detectors include a first number of loops of the conducting material, and at least some of the plurality of detectors include a second number of loops of the conducting material larger than the first number.
US10018743B2	Deep towed seismic source string Seismic source modules are combined into seismic source strings that are grouped into seismic source arrays. The seismic source array includes a plurality of seismic source strings arranged in parallel and towed behind a seismic source vessel. Each seismic source string includes a plurality of seismic source modules coupled in series along the seismic source string. Each seismic source module includes a protective cage, at least one seismic source disposed within the protective cage and decoupled from the protective cage and a pair of couplers in communication with the protective cage. The seismic source string also includes a plurality of tethers attached to couplers between adjacent pairs of seismic source modules in the series of seismic source modules.
US10018742B2	Skid structure for underwater seismic exploration The present disclosure is directed to a skid structure for underwater seismic exploration. The system can include an underwater vehicle comprising a skid structure. A conveyor is provided in the skid structure. The conveyor includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end. A capture appliance is provided at the first end of the conveyor. The capture appliance includes an arm to close to hold a case storing one or more ocean bottom seismometer (“OBS”) units, and to open to release the case. The capture appliance includes an alignment mechanism to align an opening of the case with the first end of the conveyor. A deployment appliance can be at the second end of the conveyor. The deployment appliance can place an OBS unit of the one or more OBS units onto the seabed to acquire seismic data from the seabed.
US10018740B2	Coupling device for seismic sensors A coupling device is provided for a sensor unit having at least one sensor located within a housing. The coupling device includes at least one supporting portion, wherein the supporting portion is configured for maintaining the sensor unit in a stable position, with the coupling device either resting on or being buried into the ground, and at least one rod, arranged in a plane which is essentially perpendicular to a peripheral surface of the supporting portion and linked to the supporting portion. The coupling device further includes a fastener for connecting the sensor unit to the coupling device. The supporting portion maintains the sensor unit in a stable position when resting on the ground, while the rod provides an additional stiffness to the housing.
US10018739B1	Curved vacuum cassette assembly for imaging applications A curved vacuum cassette assembly including a rigid or semi-rigid curved structural backing that is porous or semi-porous to air flow such that one or more imaging detectors (e.g. film layers or CR plates), intensifying screens, and/or other layers may be affixed to the curved structural backing in a secure and conformal manner when a vacuum is applied to the structural backing. All of these structures are encapsulated within an airtight barrier and, optionally, another suitable rigid or semi-rigid housing.
US10018737B2	Method of processing a particle spectrum A method is provided for processing a spectrum, obtained using a particle detection system, so as to reduce spectrum artifacts arising from unresolved particle events in the detection system. An input spectrum is obtained which contains artifacts due to “pile up” in the detector. A first effect upon the input spectrum of pairs of unresolved particle events is evaluated and a first corrected input spectrum is generated which comprises the input spectrum with the first effect removed. The effect of a pairs of unresolved particle events is then evaluated for this first corrected input spectrum so as to generate a second corrected input spectrum which comprises the input spectrum with the second effect removed. An output spectrum is then generated based upon a combination of the first and second corrected input spectra. The use of the method in improving sum spectra is also discussed.
US10018733B2	Portable and wearable composite dosimeter A portable and wearable radiation dosimeter has a wearable housing.There is an optically stimulated luminescent (OSL) radiation sensing element removably mounted in the wearable housing so that the OSL radiation sensing element can be removed and read by an external OSL reader. There is also a fluorescent nuclear track detector (FNTD) radiation sensing element removably mounted in the wearable housing so that the FNTD radiation sensing element can be removed and read by an external FNTD reader. At least one on-board reader for at least one of the OSL and FNTD radiation sensing element for determining information about the radiation exposure of the sensing element while the sensor remains mounted in the housing, preferably using a different mode of reading than either OSL or FNTD.
US10018732B2	Information processing apparatus and information processing system A portable terminal includes a GPS unit configured to receive a GPS signal, a GPS processing section configured to detect GPS accuracy at an interval and detect the position of a vehicle on the basis of the GPS signal received by the GPS unit, and an information processing section configured to detect entrance timing, which is timing when the GPS accuracy is detected when the vehicle is located at an entrance point of a multi-storey parking structure, on the basis of transition of the GPS accuracy detected by the GPS processing section at the interval.
US10018723B2	Dual-axis scanning mirror Optical apparatus (64) includes a stator assembly (47), which includes a core (78, 90, 91) containing an air gap and one or more coils (80, 92, 94, 116, 120) including conductive wire wound on the core so as to cause the core to form a magnetic circuit through the air gap in response to an electrical current flowing in the conductive wire. A scanning mirror assembly (45, 83, 85, 130) includes a support structure (68), a base (72), which is mounted to rotate about a first axis relative to the support structure, and a mirror (46), which is mounted to rotate about a second axis relative to the base. At least one rotor (76, 132) includes one or more permanent magnets, which are fixed to the scanning mirror assembly and which are positioned in the air gap so as to move in response to the magnetic circuit. A driver (82) is coupled to generate the electrical current in the one or more coils.
US10018720B1	Adaptive optical sensor for container presence and motion A unit load device (ULD) sensor for detecting presence and movement of cargo within an aircraft includes a light source designed to generate light as pulses with pulse intervals between the pulses and having a source lens designed to focus the light towards a first point that is a first distance away from the source lens. The ULD sensor also includes a light receiver having a light detector designed to receive a reflection of the light and a receiver lens designed to focus the reflection of the light towards a second point that is towards the light detector and a second distance away from the receiver lens. The second distance is different than the first distance and the detected reflection of the light is usable to determine the presence and the movement of the cargo.
US10018719B2	Systems and associated methods for producing a 3D sonar image Provided are a sonar system and transducer assembly for producing a 3D image of an underwater environment. The sonar system may include a housing having a transmit transducer that may transmit sonar pulses into the water. The system may include at least one transducer array in the housing that receives first, second, and third sonar returns with first, second, and third transducer elements and converts the first, second, and third returns into first, second, and third sonar return data. A sonar signal processor may then generate a first and second set of 2D sonar data based on the sonar return data, generate a third set of 2D sonar data based on a correlation of the first and second set of 2D sonar data, and generate a 3D mesh data based on the third set of 2D sonar data. An associated method of using the sonar system is also provided.
US10018718B1	Artifact reduction within a SAR image The various technologies presented herein relate to reducing and/or filtering undesired artifacts in a SAR image, wherein the artifacts are generated by RF interference resulting from a communication signal being included in a radar return which also comprises radar clutter. The radar return is separated into two subapertures, a first subaperture comprising radar clutter only, and a second subaperture comprising radar clutter and the communication signal. The communication signal is extracted from the second subaperture and reapplied to the initially received radar return. Reapplication of the communication signal to the radar return enables any undesired artifacts arising from the communication signal to have their return strength reduced or minimized, while maintaining any desired radar returns in the SAR image.
US10018715B2	Radar sensor for motor vehicles A radar sensor for vehicles, including a group antenna, having a linear array of antenna elements, a feed unit for feeding transmission signals having a settable phase relationship into the antenna elements, a control unit controlling the feed unit, and an evaluation device evaluating received radar echoes and angle-resolving locating of objects. The group antenna includes at least two non-interleaved subgroups, the feed unit supplies in-phase transmission signals to the elements, while the transmission signals for the various subgroups have a settable phase difference, the control unit periodically changes the settable phase difference so that the transmission signals have a base phase difference in one measuring cycle and a phase difference in another measuring cycle which differs by a fixed absolute value from the base difference. The control unit sets the base difference based on levels of the received radar echoes to maximize the level difference between the measuring cycles.
US10018711B1	System and method for field calibrating video and lidar subsystems using independent measurements A system uses range and Doppler velocity measurements from a lidar subsystem and images from a video subsystem to estimate a six degree-of-freedom trajectory of a target. The video subsystem and the lidar subsystem may be aligned with one another, and hence calibrated, by determining, for example, a centroid of an iris determined from the lidar subsystem and a centroid of the iris determined from the video subsystem and determining a calibration offset between the two centroids.
US10018709B2	Radar target detection via multi-dimensional cluster of reflectors A target detection system and a method of performing radar target detection are described. The system includes a radar system to obtain radar echoes from a target with multiple point reflectors. The system also includes a processor to obtain a cluster of multi-dimensional point spread function from the radar echoes, each multi-dimensional point spread function being associated with a reflection from one of the multiple point reflectors, and also to perform object detection based on three or more dimensions of each of the multi-dimensional point spread functions of the cluster.
US10018703B2	Method for stop sign law enforcement using motion vectors in video streams A method for enforcing traffic signal compliance includes acquiring a series of temporal related image frames including a target area. Each image frame includes pixel data representative of the target area. The method includes generating one or more motion vectors between two or more of the image frames. The motion vectors are the type produced by compressing the pixel data associated with the two or more image frames. The method includes associating a cluster of motion vectors with a vehicle. The method further includes tracking a position of the vehicle across the two or more image frames. Using the tracking results, the method includes determining whether the vehicle stops in the target area. For the vehicle being determined as not stopping, the method includes signaling an occurrence of noncompliance.
US10018696B2	Magnetic lensing for beta emission imaging In beta emission imaging, magnetic lensing allows a lower resolution detector to detect the spatial distribution of emissions at a higher resolution. The sample is placed in a magnetic field with field lines at a given density, and the detector is placed away from the sample where the magnet field lines diverge, resulting in a lesser density. Since the beta emissions travel along the field lines, the divergence of the field lines from the sample to the detector result in lensing or magnification. Using positron attenuation tomography to detect annihilation in the detector allows for correction due to self-absorption by the sample. The correction and lensing are used together or may be used independently.
US10018694B2	Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method of magnetic resonance imaging. The preferred MRI system is of lower weight and/or uses less power than conventional MRI systems, due to one or more of magnet design, transmit and receive coil design, selection of RF pulse sequence, synchronization methods, and image reconstruction methods. Preferably, the MRI system is portable.
US10018686B1	Ultra-low noise sensor for magnetic fields An ultra-low noise sensor for magnetic fields comprises a mechanically resonant structure having a magnetized proof mass. The displacement of the proof mass due to a magnetic field provides a high resolution and highly amplified measurement of magnetic field fluctuations near the resonance frequency. A flux modulator may be used with the resonant structure to amplify magnetic fluctuations in a non-resonant frequency band. The resonant structure, combined with a high resolution readout device and a frequency-compensating numerical processor, can amplify magnetic fluctuations in a broad range of frequencies. A solenoid coil surrounding the resonant structure may be used to null the quasi-static earth's magnetic field and thereby increase the dynamic range of the sensor. Cryogenically cooling the resonant structure can improve the resolution of the sensor. A magnetometer that embodies features of the present invention is miniaturized and has improved amplification and resolution at room temperature.
US10018683B2	Apparatus and method for estimating open circuit voltage The present disclosure relates to an open circuit voltage estimating apparatus capable of estimating an open circuit voltage even when a battery cell does not have a rest time. The open circuit voltage estimating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a current measuring unit configured to measure a charge/discharge current of a battery cell; a current integrating unit configured to integrate the current measured by the current measuring unit starting from an initial time; a time calculating unit configured to calculate a critical time, that is a time in which the integrated current value integrated by the current integrating unit is within a critical range; a cell voltage measuring unit configured to measure a voltage of the battery cell; and an open circuit voltage estimating unit configured to estimate an open circuit voltage of the battery cell by calculating an average value of the voltage measured by the cell voltage measuring unit during an operation time starting from the initial time to the critical time.
US10018681B2	Cell manufacturing using liquid-based thermal system A method of manufacturing cells includes: assembling cells that include at least electrodes and electrolyte contained in a housing; after assembly, storing the cells in contact with a liquid-based thermal system; circulating liquid in the liquid-based thermal system at least while the cells are in contact with the liquid-based thermal system, the liquid having a first temperature; after storing the cells at the first temperature, and while the cells have at least a partial charge, performing a first open circuit voltage (OCV) test on the cells; after the first OCV test, storing the cells at a second temperature lower than the first temperature; after storing the cells at the second temperature, performing a second OCV test on the cells; and for each of the cells, discarding or keeping the cell based at least in part on the first and second OCV tests.
US10018680B2	Semiconductor device, battery monitoring system, and method for activating semiconductor device A semiconductor device, a battery monitoring system, and a method for activating the semiconductor device that may reduce current consumption in standby state. An integrated circuit (IC) of the semiconductor device includes an activation circuit that uses a ground of the IC as ground and a power source voltage of the IC as its power source, and a driving circuit that uses the power source voltage as ground and a boosted voltage output from a boosting circuit as its power source. In the IC, only the activation circuit enters an operation state in a standby state, and when recovered from the standby state, causes the activation circuit to make inner circuits of the IC enter the operation state based on an activation signal. When all the inner circuits enter the operation state, the driving circuit outputs the activation signal to the activation circuit of an upper IC.
US10018676B2	Electromagnetic switch interlock system and method One embodiment describes an interlock for an electromechanical switching system, which includes a housing; a first camming lockout member disposed in the housing and that contacts an auxiliary operator of a first electromechanical switching device; a second camming lockout member disposed in the housing and that contacts an auxiliary operator of a second electromechanical switching device, which the first camming lockout members contacts the second camming lockout member when the first camming lockout member is moved to an actuated position by the first electromechanical switching device to prevent movement of the second camming lockout member to an actuated position.
US10018673B2	Semiconductor device and current control method of semiconductor device According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises an integrated circuit having a plurality of current modes different in operation current; a voltage sensor that detects a voltage in use by the integrated circuit; a BIST control circuit that generates BIST patterns different in the operation current and creates a flag indicating the success or failure of a BIST corresponding to the operation current based on the result of detecting the voltage while the integrated circuit is made to operate based on the BIST pattern; and a storing unit that stores the flag. The integrated circuit sets the current mode based on the flag.
US10018672B2	Reducing power requirements and switching during logic built-in-self-test and scan test A number of switching transitions of flip-flops during testing is kept below a threshold. Scan-in test data is applied to the flip-flops. Testing result data scanned-out from the flip-flops is captured, and a prediction is made of a number of switching transitions of the flip-flops between a current capture clock cycle and a next capture clock cycle. Furthermore, the testing setup values are modified before the next testing cycle is executed based on the prediction.
US10018670B2	Wireless probes Disclosed is a probe card for testing a wireless module on an integrated circuit die contained on a wafer. The probe card includes a connector and a plurality of probes. The connector connects the probe card to test equipment. The plurality of probes connects the probe card to a wafer containing a plurality of integrated circuit dies. The probe card additionally includes an antenna configured to transmit a wireless test signal to be received by at least one of the integrated circuit dies, and/or to receive a wireless signal transmitted by at least one of the integrated circuit dies.
US10018669B2	Electrical contactor and electrical connecting apparatus An electrical contactor of this invention includes: a first plunger to contact one member, the first plunger including a tip portion formed into a plurality of chevron shapes; a second plunger to contact a counterpart member, the second plunger working in cooperation with the first plunger to form electrical conduction between the one member and the counterpart member; and a spring part to couple the tip portion of the first plunger and a tip portion of the second plunger while the tip portion of the first plunger and the tip portion of the second plunger are pointed in opposite directions. The spring part covers an outer periphery of a part where the first plunger and the second plunger are coupled and supports the first plunger and the second plunger in a manner that allows the first plunger and the second plunger to slide relative to each other.
US10018666B2	Partial discharge monitoring system and partial discharge monitoring method A partial discharge monitoring system includes: electromagnetic wave detection sensors disposed in insulating gas enclosures being objects to be monitored, converting devices, and an interface device. The interface device includes: a detecting part detecting a zero cross point of a voltage signal synchronous with a voltage signal applied to conductors disposed in the insulating gas enclosures, and deciding a sampling timing of signals of electromagnetic waves; a transmitting part notifying the sampling timing decided by the detecting part to the converting devices; an integrating part integrating digital data which are received from the converting devices on per converting device basis; and a transmitting part transmitting the integrated digital data to a monitoring device.
US10018665B2	Power conversion apparatus, status detection device, and method for status detection A power conversion apparatus includes a power conversion device connected to a 3-phase AC power source, a first fuse positioned on a first phase of the source between the conversion device and the source, a second fuse positioned on a second phase of the source between the conversion device and the source, a first voltage detection device which detects first voltage between a third phase and the first phase of the source on the conversion device side with respect to the first fuse, a second voltage detection device which detects second voltage between the third and second phases of the source on the conversion device side with respect to the second fuse, and a status detection device connected to the first and second voltage devices such that the status device detects status of the first and second fuses based on comparison between detection result of the first and second voltage.
US10018663B2	Apparatus and method for inspecting electrical equipment of vehicle An apparatus for inspecting electrical equipment of vehicle include: a robot unit having a plurality of joints, an actuating unit configured to move and rotate the robot unit such that the robot unit becomes close to the vehicle or moves away therefrom, an operation unit which is connected to a free end of the robot unit and configured to operate a button or a display portion in the vehicle, a photographing unit which is connected to the free end of the robot unit and positioned close to the operation unit and configured to photograph a predetermined portion in the vehicle, a sensing unit which is connected to the free end of the robot unit and configured to detect a target object, and a control portion configured to control operations of the robot unit, a moving unit, the photographing unit, and the sensing unit.
US10018662B2	Networked electrostatic discharge measurement A first electrostatic discharge measurement is received from a first sensor. The first sensor utilizes a wireless network to send the first measurement from a first stage of the assembly line of electronic components susceptible to electrostatic discharge damage. A second electrostatic discharge measurement is received from a second sensor. The second sensor utilizes the wireless network to send the second measurement from a second stage of the assembly line. An electrostatic discharge history is updated for the first assembly stage based on the first electrostatic discharge measurement. The electrostatic discharge history is updated for the second assembly stage based on the second electrostatic discharge measurement. A potential electrostatic danger condition is determined based on the electrostatic discharge history.
US10018661B2	Capacitive sensor, method for reading out a capacitive sensor field and method for producing a capacitive sensor field A capacitive sensor (20) includes a capacitive sensor field (2), the capacitive sensor field (2) having a plurality of discrete electrodes (4) which are coupled to discrete leads (8). The leads (8) of a first electrode (41) are guided such that they are capacitively coupled with at least one second electrode (42). A first signal (Cm1) is detected at a first lead (8) which is coupled with the first electrode (41), and a second signal (Cm2) is detected at a second lead (8) which is coupled with a second electrode (42). The capacity (Cf1, Cf2) of the first electrode (41) or of the second electrode (42) is determined using a predetermined calculation formula which takes the first signal (Cm1), the second signal (Cm2) and the capacitive coupling between the second electrode (4) and the first lead (8) coupled with the first electrode (41) into account.
US10018659B2	Frequency characteristic measurement method A power transmission-side measurement tool is installed in a power transmitting apparatus that applies an AC voltage stepped up by a step-up transformer to an active electrode and a passive electrode. The power transmission-side measurement tool includes a measurement active electrode that faces the active electrode and a measurement passive electrode that faces the passive electrode, and the measurement active electrode and measurement passive electrode are shorted together. Frequency characteristics of a serial resonance circuit formed by leakage inductance of the step-up transformer and capacitors are measured in a state where the power transmission-side measurement tool is placed on the power transmitting apparatus.
US10018657B2	Current measuring circuit, battery and motor vehicle A current measuring circuit for redundantly measuring electrical current includes a measuring resistor, a magnetic field sensor, and an evaluation circuit on an evaluation circuit board. The evaluation circuit is used to determine electrical current using the measuring resistor. The magnetic field sensor on the evaluation circuit board and the evaluation circuit board are arranged in direct proximity to the measuring resistor such that the magnetic field sensor is configured to detect the magnetic field from the current-carrying resistor. A battery includes the current measuring circuit and a motor vehicle includes the battery.
US10018656B2	Device, arrangement, and method for measuring a current intensity in a primary conductor through which current flows A device, an arrangement, and a method for measuring a current intensity in a primary conductor through which current flows are disclosed. In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic field-generating element configured to generate a reference magnetic field; and a magnetic field angle-sensitive element configured to measure an orientation of a total magnetic field, the total magnetic field is produced by overlapping of the primary magnetic field and the reference magnetic field in space, wherein the primary magnetic field and the reference magnetic field are not parallel to one another at a location of the magnetic field angle-sensitive element, and wherein the current intensity of the current flowing through the primary conductor is determinable from the orientation of the total magnetic field in space.
US10018652B2	Short contact in a testing apparatus for wireless integrated circuits An electrical contact for use in an integrated circuit testing apparatus with a very short conducting contact pin. The shortness of the contact pin is made possible due to the unique design and coupling of the contact pin with an elastomer, and both supported by a housing in such a way that the contact pin test height is brought down to 0.5 mm, while providing a deflection of 0.1 mm with is sufficient in order to provide adequate penetration to matte tin plated devices. The contact pin of this invention looks almost like the letter “F”, rotated 90° to the left, so that it lies on its left side. The rectangular shaped elastomer is placed between the prongs of the “F”. The bottom part of the “F” is curved upwards so that it is almost parallel to the prongs.
US10018651B1	Pitot tube velocimeter system An apparatus and method for sensing position according to flow velocity includes at least two pitot tubes each defining a central axis is along mutually orthogonal axes. Each of at least two pressure sensors is positioned in fluid communication with a corresponding one of the at least two pitot tubes. A controller receives outputs from the at least two pressure sensors and analyzes to determine at least one of an angular and translational velocity according to the outputs. A distance traveled is then determined according to the at least one of an angular and translational velocity. Corresponding methods of use and calibration are also disclosed.
US10018647B2	Velocity interferometer for any reflector with variable sensitivity range and time resolution The present disclosure relates to a velocity interferometer. The interferometer described herein, comprises of two optical cells, one partially containing a liquid. The light entering the interferometer is amplitude split and made to propagate through the two cells in such a way that the apparent path lengths of the beams are equal, thereby fulfilling the condition necessary for obtaining single wide fringe in the interference pattern of the two beams. However, due to difference in the physical path traversed by the two beams, a finite delay time exists between them. The two beams, after reflection from end-mirrors or cube corner prisms in the two cells are recombined to form interference fringe patterns on active areas of multiple detectors. Doppler shifted light resulting from reflection of light from a moving projectile generate fringe shifts on the detector planes thereby producing voltage signals proportional to instantaneous velocity of fast moving projectile. The voltage signals are recorded with multi-channel digital oscilloscope and processed in a processor/controller of a computing unit to obtain velocity time history of the projectile. Controlled motion of the cube corner reflectors placed at the ends of two cells using stepper motors and piezoelectric actuators ensures that the time delay between the interfering beams is controlled accurately thereby changing the sensitivity range and time resolution of the velocity measurements.
US10018645B2	Immunodiagnostic test element having weakened foil layer An immunodiagnostic test element includes a support member, at least one test column containing a test material, and a wrap, such as an adhesively-attached foil wrap, covering the top of the at least one test element. The wrap includes a weakened portion directly above each test column, in which each weakened portion is formed by pre-stressing the portion, but not to the point of puncturing the wrap to enable the wrap to be punctured by a fluid aspirating/dispensing element, such as a metering tip, permitting access to the contents of the test column.
US10018644B2	Cartridge for dispensing a fluid, automatic analyzer and method of analyzing a biological sample A cartridge for dispensing a fluid is presented. The cartridge comprises a reservoir chamber for receiving the fluid. The reservoir chamber has a fluid outlet. The cartridge further comprises a controllable dispenser component for dispensing a dispensing volume of the fluid from the reservoir chamber. The dispenser component is connected to the fluid outlet of the reservoir. The cartridge further comprises a single compressible fluid pump with a single elastic pumping element and a conduit extending from the fluid pump towards the fluid outlet. The fluid pump discharges a mixing volume of the fluid from the conduit into the reservoir chamber upon compression of the elastic pumping element. The mixing volume depends on the degree of compression of the elastic pumping element. The fluid pump sucks in the mixing volume from the reservoir into the conduit upon decompression of the elastic pumping element.
US10018643B2	Systems and methods for multi-analysis Systems and methods are provided for sample processing. A device may be provided, capable of receiving the sample, and performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing multiple assays. The device may comprise one or more modules that may be capable of performing one or more of a sample preparation, sample assay, and detection step. The device may be capable of performing the steps using a small volume of sample.
US10018640B2	Optical imaging system and methods for using the same Aspects of the present disclosure include methods and systems for assaying a sample for an analyte. Methods according to certain embodiments include illuminating a sample with a slit-shaped beam of light, detecting light transmitted through the sample, determining absorbance of the transmitted light at one or more wavelengths and calculating concentration of the analyte based on the absorbance to assay the sample for the analyte. Systems for practicing the subject methods are also described.
US10018636B2	Method for diagnosing fibromyalgia The invention provides methods, kits and reagents for diagnosing fibromyalgia (FM) in an individual by determining whether the levels of one or more cytokines in the individual are altered, as compared to control levels. The altered level(s) or patterns of expression of the cytokines measured in the affected individual compared to the level from the control is predictive/indicative of FM in the individual.
US10018632B2	Microfluidic devices for the capture of biological sample components Methods and systems for selectively capturing analytes, such as cells, e.g., circulating tumor cells (CTCs), from fluid samples are disclosed. The methods include contacting the sample with an analyte binding moiety that selectively binds to the analytes; optionally separating first components of the sample including a majority of the analytes bound to the binding moieties from second components of the sample using size-based separation, e.g., in a microfluidic channel; adding to the first components of the sample a plurality of binding agents under conditions that enable a plurality of the binding agents to be linked to the analyte binding moieties to form multivalent tagging agents bound to the analyte; passing the first components of the sample past a surface to which is attached a plurality of capture agents that selectively bind to the binding agents; and capturing the analytes by providing conditions that enable the multivalent tagging agents bound to the analytes to bind to one or more of the capture agents.
US10018630B2	Cancer stem cell isolation An objective of the present invention is to provide: a cancer stem cell isolated using a cell marker; a substantively homogeneous cancer stem cell population including said cancer stem cell; and a method of preparing said cancer stem cell population. Another objective of the present invention is to provide: a method for separating cancer stem cells with a high proliferative potential and those with a low proliferative potential; a method for inducing cancer stem cells to have a different proliferative potential; and cancer stem cells separated or induced by these separation or induction methods. A further objective of the present invention is to provide: a method of screening for pharmaceuticals using said cancer stem cell or cancer stem cell population; a method for detecting the presence of said cancer stem cell or cancer stem cell population and for identifying or quantifying the same. The present inventors discovered that highly pure colon cancer stem cells (CSC) can be obtained in a large quantity, and identified two types of states of colon CSCs distinguishable through Lgr5 expression.
US10018627B2	Method for sealing substances, method for detecting target molecule, array, kit, and target molecule detection device A technique for efficiently sealing many substances, such as beads, nucleic acid, protein, virus, cells, and lipid membrane complex, into an array is provided.The present invention provides a method for sealing a substance, including: (i) a step of introducing a first solvent containing a substance on a substrate on which a plurality of receptacles capable of storing the substance are formed separated from each other by a side wall; and (ii) a step of introducing a second solvent having a greater specific gravity than that of the first solvent onto the first solvent, the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).
US10018626B2	Methods and compositions for detecting multiple analytes with a single signal Compositions, methods, and devices for the detection of multiple analytes with a single signal are provided.
US10018622B2	Methods and kits for differential staining of abnormal urinary system cells Methods and kits for identifying abnormal urinary system cells in a sample, by contacting the cells or the sample containing same with a combination of an extract from a Ficus plant, or one or more components thereof, an acidic dye and a basic dye.
US10018617B2	Carbopyronone compounds useful as diagnostic adjuvants Described herein are fluorescent compounds and methods and comprising these compounds. The compounds disclosed herein are carbopyronine reagents that fluoresce in the red portion of the UV/VIS spectrum and provide bright fluorescence intensity, uniform cell staining, and good retention within live cells as well as low toxicity toward cells.
US10018611B2	Soil compaction system and method The invention relates to a method of, and system for, obtaining an indication of the soil strength of soil over which a compactor roller travels. The method includes determining the depth to which a drum of the compactor roller penetrates into and depresses the soil when the compactor roller travels over a soil surface. The system includes a compactor roller, a measuring arrangement and a processor which is operatively connected to the measuring arrangement and which is configured to process data received from the measuring arrangement. The measuring arrangement includes an inertial measurement unit which is operatively connected to the compactor roller, wherein the arrangement is configured to obtain an indication of the soil strength of soil over which the compactor roller travels during operation, by determining the depth to which the drum penetrates into and depresses the soil over which it travels.
US10018609B2	Infrared-based ice formation detection systems and methods Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods using infrared imaging modules to image and detect phase transitions of water, such as ice formation, in a scene. An ice formation detection system may include one or more infrared imaging modules, a logic device, and a communication module. The infrared imaging modules may be positioned to image a scene in which ice formation is to be detected. The logic device may be adapted to process captured infrared images to detect ice formation in the scene. The logic device may also be adapted to use the communication module to report detected ice formation to an indicator, a display, a user interface, and/or an ice formation mitigation system.
US10018606B2	Device for detection of a partial pressure and method for its operation In order to provide a device for detection of a partial pressure of a measurement gas contained in a surrounding gas, comprising a measurement space with at least one inlet opening to admit surrounding gas into the measurement space and at least one outlet opening to discharge surrounding gas from the measurement space, a quantity that characterizes the partial pressure of the measurement gas in the measurement gas sensor sensitive to the measurement gas to measure a quantity that characterizes the partial pressure of the measurement gas in the measurement space, as well as readout device to read out the measurement gas sensor as well as a method for its operation, which permit metrological detection of the partial pressure of a measurement gas contained in a surrounding gas with improved chronological and spatial resolution, it is proposed that means to determine a response characteristic of device be provided.
US10018605B2	Method for measuring dissolved oxygen of oxygen water A method for measuring an amount of dissolved oxygen contained in a liquid sample, including the steps of: (1) adding a deoxygenating amino compound to a liquid sample to prepare the liquid sample having a predetermined concentration of the deoxygenating amino compound; (2) after Step (1), heating the liquid sample containing the deoxygenating amino compound at a temperature of 80° C. or more; (3) after Step (2), measuring the concentration of the deoxygenating amino compound contained in the liquid sample; and (4) calculating the amount of the dissolved oxygen contained in the liquid sample in Step (1) from the amount of the reacted deoxygenating amino compound by comparing the concentration of the deoxygenating amino compound measured in Step (3) and the concentration of the deoxygenating amino compound measured in Step (1).
US10018604B2	Connector unit and connecting system for connecting capillaries, in particular for high-performance liquid chromatography A connector unit for connecting capillaries, for high-performance liquid chromatography includes a connector capillary, a connector housing, and an annular sealing element. The connector capillary projects through a bore of the connector housing. The annular sealing element is provided on a front end region of the connector capillary and which is composed of a plastically and/or elastically deformable material. The connector capillary has an inner shell composed of a plastically and/or elastically deformable material and an outer shell which engages around the inner shell. The inner shell has a radially outwardly extending front end region which, on its own or together with the annular sealing element can generate a seal between the front end region of the connector capillary and a bushing unit.
US10018601B2	Acoustic emission sensors with integral acoustic generators Example acoustic emission sensors with integral acoustic generators are disclosed. Example apparatus disclosed herein include an acoustic receiver, an acoustic generator, and a wear plate. The acoustic generator is disposed adjacent to the acoustic receiver. The wear plate is acoustically coupled to the acoustic receiver and to the acoustic generator. The wear plate is to convey acoustic energy from the acoustic generator to the acoustic receiver through a structure under test to which the apparatus is coupled. The wear plate includes first acoustic isolation to impede transmission of acoustic energy from the acoustic generator to the acoustic receiver through the wear plate.
US10018600B2	System for non-destructive inspection of structural components A system for non-destructive inspection of structural components comprising an ultrasonic probe having a contact face for contacting a surface of a structural component to be inspected and being adapted to emit ultrasonic energy into the structural component when the contact face abuts on a surface of the structural component, a thermal imaging camera adapted to inspect a portion of a surface of the structural component to detect region of the surface of the structural component where an increase of the temperature occurs, and a control unit connected to the ultrasonic probe and the thermal imaging camera. The contact face extends in a plane and is provided with at least two bars which are arranged in parallel and have a common separation distance from each other.
US10018599B2	Capacitive transducer and method of manufacturing the same The present inventions provide a capacitive transducer that can reduce film damage on a substrate surface on a vibration film side due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficient between a through wiring and a substrate and a method of manufacturing the same. The capacitive transducer consists of a plurality of cells with each cell comprising a first electrode and a vibration film on a first surface side of a substrate having a through wiring that penetrates the substrate from a first surface to a second surface of the substrate, the vibration film including a second electrode that is formed with a gap from the first electrode. A holding member that holds a leading end of the through wiring is provided on the first surface side of the substrate.
US10018594B2	Fixing device for acoustic emission test sensors for rock damage testing A fixing device for acoustic emission test sensors for rock damage testing, the device including: a fixing frame, installation bases operating to accommodate the acoustic emission test sensors, respectively, fixing assemblies operating to fix the acoustic emission test sensors in the installation bases, and installation mechanisms operating to install the installation bases on the fixing frame. The fixing frame is an integrated loop-shaped frame. Each of the installation bases is a cylinder structure which includes: a cavity corresponding to an outer edge of each of the acoustic emission test sensors, and a wall including a gap for leading out wires of each sensor. The installation mechanisms are adapted to automatically and axially adjust positions of the installation bases. The installation mechanisms are four in number. The four installation mechanisms are disposed on a same section plane of the fixing frame and every two installation mechanisms are oppositely disposed.
US10018593B2	Duel mode ion mobility spectrometer An ion mobility spectrometer (100) comprising a first ion source (102-1, 108-1) for providing positive ions to be analyzed, an electric field applier arranged to provide an electric field configured to move the positive ions in a first direction towards a first ion detector (106-1, 110-1) adapted for detecting the positive ions, and a second ion source (102-2, 108-2) for providing negative ions to be analyzed, wherein the electric field applier is arranged to move the negative ions in a direction opposite to the first direction, towards the first ion source (102-1, 108-1) and towards a second ion detector (106-1, 110-1) adapted for detecting the negative ions.
US10018588B2	Method of measuring pH of analyte solution, and pH measuring device A simplified, rigorous and accurate method of measuring pH of an analyte solution with extreme precision, which does not cause errors against actual pH through compensating a pH variation by a liquid temperature or a concentration of potassium chloride of an internal liquid in a glass electrode or a reference electrode when pH is measured with respect to various analyte solutions such as a sample solution having a high concentration of salts, a sample solution contaminated with salts and a sample solution having a low concentration of salts.
US10018580B2	Apparatus and method for detecting water or ice The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting the presence of water or ice on a structure, for example on the surface of an aircraft. One or more separate heaters are thermally coupled to a structure (for example on the back of wing leading edge skins). A controller applies power to the heaters to heat the different regions of the surface of the structure. The controller detects the presence of water or ice by comparing the power required to achieve the desired surface temperature, and a reference power, where the reference power is the power required to heat the surface of the structure to the same temperature if the structure were in a dry air environment (i.e. an environment devoid of water). If the power consumed by the heater is greater than the reference power, the presence of water or ice is inferred.
US10018577B2	Methods and systems for imaging bulk motional velocities in plasmas A method and apparatus for imaging the distribution of bulk motional velocities in plasmas such as inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions. This method and apparatus use multiple narrow-band x-ray crystal imaging systems, one or more of which have a bandpass tuned to lie within the Doppler-broadened emission line profile of a suitable plasma emission line. Crystals tuned on the one end of the profile will preferentially reflect x-rays from plasma ions moving towards the crystals, while crystals tuned to another end of the profile will preferentially reflect x-rays from plasma ions moving away from the crystals.
US10018574B2	Optical method and system for defects detection in three-dimensional structures An inspection system and method are presented for inspecting structures having a pattern formed by an array of elongated grooves having high aspect-ratio geometry, such as semiconductor wafers formed with vias. The inspection system comprises an imaging system and a control unit. The imaging system is configured and operable for imaging the structure with a dark-field imaging scheme and generating a dark-field image. The control unit comprises an analyzer module for analyzing pixels brightness in the dark-field image for identifying a defective groove, being a groove characterized by pixels brightness in the dark-field image lower than nominal brightness by a predetermined factor.
US10018573B2	Dual-function wafer handling apparatus A dual-function wafer handling apparatus for handling a wafer includes an aligner for rotating the wafer, an ID reader disposed corresponding to an edge of the wafer for reading an ID of the wafer, and an optical defect inspection unit for capturing images to analysis.
US10018566B2	Partially encapsulated waveguide based sensing chips, systems and methods of use Optical readers and alignment tools for detecting the level of an analyte. Described herein are small, disposable partially-encapsulated sensing chips for detecting an analyte level from a fluid sample (e.g., a blood sample) having an edge of the integrated sensing chip exposed to directly expose a plurality of excitation and a collection waveguides, as well as optical readers and methods of operating them. A fluid sample maybe applied to a sensing surface of the sensing chip in the housing so that an analyte level can be optically detected. Also described are methods of sensing an analyte using these devices and systems including an optical detector.
US10018565B2	Micro photoluminescence imaging with optical filtering A method that includes: illuminating a wafer with excitation light having a wavelength and intensity sufficient to induce photoluminescence in the wafer; filtering photoluminescence emitted from a portion of the wafer in response to the illumination; directing the filtered photoluminescence onto a detector to image the portion of the wafer on the detector with a spatial resolution of 1 μm×1 μm or smaller; and identifying one or more crystallographic defects in the wafer based on the detected filtered photoluminescence.
US10018562B2	Biochip including side emitting-type light-emitting device and fabrication method thereof The present disclosure a biochip including a side emitting-type light-emitting device, in which the bio-chip includes: a light-emitting device for emitting light from a fluorescent material; reflective layers provided over and under the light-emitting device so as to emit light from the sides of the light-emitting device; and reaction regions formed by etching of flanking regions of the light-emitting device. In the biochip, light emitted from the sides of the light-emitting device causes a biochemical reaction in the reaction regions. According to the present disclosure, light emitted from the light-emitting device moves only laterally without being transferred to the top or bottom of the bio-layer, and is transferred to the reaction regions formed by etching of flanking regions of the light-emitting device, so that a biochemical reaction in the reaction regions can be more efficiently performed.
US10018557B2	Terahertz wave measuring device The terahertz wave measuring device includes a pulsed laser light generation unit 1, a seed light generation unit 2, a terahertz wave generator 5 that generates terahertz waves, a terahertz wave detector 8 on which the terahertz waves that are generated from the terahertz wave generator and that have interacted with a measurement object 7 and the pump light are incident and that generates terahertz wave detection light 9, an interference optical system 11 that multiplexes the terahertz wave detection light and reference light 14 of the same wavelength as the terahertz wave detection light to generate a plurality of interfering light beams 12, a plurality of light detectors 13 that detect the interfering light beams, and a signal processing unit 16 that outputs an intensity signal and/or a phase signal of the terahertz waves by performing arithmetic operations on the outputs of the plurality of light detectors.
US10018556B2	Gas detecting device including light emitter, light receiver, and an optical member A device includes a light emitting element, a light receiving element, an electronic part capable of processing a signal output from the light receiving element, an optical member covering the light emitting element and the light receiving element, and a board on which the light emitting element, the light receiving element, the electronic part, and the optical member are mounted. The board includes conductor wiring electrically connected to the light receiving element.
US10018549B2	Rapid measurement of formed blood component sedimentation rate from small sample volumes Devices and methods are described for measuring formed blood component sedimentation rate. Some of the methods may use (1) centrifugal techniques for separating red blood cells from plasma and (2) video and/or still imaging capability. Both may be used alone or in combination to accelerate formed blood component sedimentation and to measure its rate. In one example, the method may advantageously enable rapid measurement of sedimentation rate using small blood sample volumes. Automated image analysis can be used to determine both sedimentation rate and hematocrit. Automated techniques may be used to compensate for effects of hematocrit on uncorrected sedimentation rate data.
US10018548B2	Measurement device, measurement system, and measurement method for measuring particle and gas A measurement device includes a first flow passage, a heating unit provided on one end side of the first flow passage, a gas detection unit provided on one end side of the first flow passage and capable of detecting a gas through heat applied from the heating unit, and a particle measurement unit which optically measures, at an upper side than the heating unit of the first flow passage, particles passing through the first flow passage.
US10018546B2	Propellant gauging at microgravity within the pressure-temperature-density inflection zone of xenon A method that is stored in tangible form and accessible by a data processing system for determination of xenon propellant remaining in a tank for a defined life condition. A heater controller establishes a first stable temperature of a propellant tank. A measurement is performed of a temperature and a pressure at the first stable temperature of the propellant tank. A second higher stable temperature is provided in the propellant tank. A measurement is performed of a temperature and a pressure at a second stable temperature. A computer processor computes a mass based on density and volume in accordance with measurements of temperature and pressure at the first stable temperature and the second stable temperature.
US10018542B2	Apparatus and method for processing biological samples A method and an automated apparatus for processing at least one biological sample arranged on a slide. At least one capillary staining module has a slide rack holder configured to detachably hold a slide rack configured to hold slides, and a capillary lid rack holder configured to detachably hold a capillary lid rack configured to hold capillary lids, wherein the slide rack can be removed independently of removing the capillary lid rack. A first fluid container has a first fluid. The apparatus being configured to automatically rotate the one or more slides, and to move the lids towards the slides to automatically form a capillary gap between each slide and each capillary lid, said capillary gap functioning as a capillary chamber; and to supply an amount of the first fluid to the slide.
US10018537B2	Portable device for collecting particles and microorganisms A portable device for collecting particles and microorganisms is provided. The device includes a cyclone enclosure for centrifuging air, external air inlet for admitting air into the enclosure, and air outlet connected by a coupling to an air inlet filter of an individual motorized respiratory protection appliance.
US10018535B2	Thin-slice manufacturing device and thin-slice manufacturing method A thin-slice manufacturing device is a thin-slice manufacturing device for cutting an embedding block in which a biological sample is embedded by paraffin using a cutting blade relatively moved with respect to the embedding block along a virtual plane to cut out thin slices, the thin-slice manufacturing device includes a vertical illumination part configured to radiate light to the embedding block, and an inclination estimation part configured to detect a boundary line between a cutting surface cut along the virtual plane and a non-cutting surface based on reflection of light generated by the light radiated to the embedding block by the vertical illumination part, and estimate inclination information showing information related to inclination of the embedding block based on the detected boundary line.
US10018532B2	Method and apparatus for furnishing a filtered air system state variable in a control unit of an internal combustion engine A method is provided for identifying an averaged sensor value of a state variable of an air system for an internal combustion engine in a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: acquiring and temporarily storing sensor values at a predefined sampling interval during a segment duration of the state variable, the segment duration corresponding to one period of a pulsation of the state variable; determining an average of the sensor values acquired within the segment duration; correcting the average of the sensor values that has been determined, using a correction variable that depends on the time difference between the segment duration and a multiple of the sampling interval.
US10018524B2	Load determining system for a rolling element bearing A load determining system having a sensorized rolling element bearing in a hub unit for wheels. The bearing includes a first ring and a second ring as an inner and outer ring. The first and second ring may be the inner ring, the other ring being the outer ring. The system includes at least two magnetic sensors attached to the first ring interact with a target wheel attached to the second ring. The system includes a signal processing unit configured to receive the magnetic sensor output of the at least one magnetic sensor, to determine at least axial forces acting on the bearing based on the amplitude of the magnetic sensor output and to calculate averages value of the outputs of the at least two magnetic sensors and to calculate a logarithm of a ratio of the average values to determine a load acting on the bearing.
US10018521B2	Solid-state shear-stress sensor A sensor systems including solid-state shear-stress sensors are presented. A solid-state shear-stress sensor system may include a substrate, a first layer of sensing material disposed on a first surface of the substrate, and at least two electrodes forming an electrode pair. The at least two electrodes may include a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode may be disposed in a first plane and the second electrode may be disposed in a second plane. The first and second planes may be associated with a first direction and may be substantially parallel to one another and the first surface. The first and second electrodes may be at least partially offset in the first direction. The sensor system may be configured to generate an output signal in response to a shear stress within the sensing material.
US10018519B2	Method of estimating the temperature of the fuel leaving a turbomachine exchanger A method for estimating the temperature of the fuel entering a turbomachine injector, the turbomachine including engine spaces and an oil/fuel exchanger upstream of the injector, the engine spaces and the oil/fuel exchanger having oil passing through them, the oil/fuel exchanger having an efficiency, the engine spaces including a high-pressure spool, the method including (a) measuring the temperature of the oil entering the engine spaces; (b) measuring the rotational speed of the high-pressure spool; (c) calculating the temperature of the fuel leaving the oil/fuel exchanger using the temperature of the oil entering the engine spaces and the rotational speed of the high-pressure spool.
US10018518B2	Overheat detection device for electric motor equipped with multiple PTC thermistors The overheat detection device for an electric motor of the present invention includes: PTC thermistors each attached to the coil of a different phase of a three-phase AC electric motor and connected in series; an overheat determination unit for determining overheat of coils based on the output voltage from the serially connected circuit of the PTC thermistors; and, an output voltage control unit that controls the output voltage from the PTC thermistors in accordance with the electric angle or magnetic phase of the three-phase AC electric motor.
US10018516B2	Foreign matter detection device A foreign matter detection device of the present invention is provided with a temperature detection means that detects a temperature distribution in a magnetic field that is formed by a power-supplying device that transmits power wirelessly to a power-receiving device; and a signal processor that, based on a detection result from the temperature detection means, detects a conductive foreign matter in the magnetic field.
US10018513B1	Thermowell extension The Thermowell extension is an adaptor that works in concert with a Thermowell and an applicable instrument. The adaptor is a male to female coupling that is adapted to interface between an opening of the Thermowell and an existing plug of the Thermowell. The adaptor raises the actual location of the opening into which the existing plug of the Thermowell is affixed in order to accommodate an insulation layer provided over an applicable pipe or conduit. The instrument is still able to extend to the closed end of the Thermowell.
US10018509B2	Apparatus for temperature measurements of a molten bath in a top submerged injection lance installation A temperature measuring apparatus for a top submerged lancing installation, for use in measuring the temperature of a molten bath that includes a slag phase, during a pyro-metallurgical operation conducted in a reactor of the installation, includes a top submerged injecting top submerged injecting lance having at least an outer pipe and an inner pipe. A bore is defined by the inner pipe and an annular passage is defined in part by an inner surface of the outer pipe. The apparatus further includes a pyrometer device of which at least a sensor head part is mounted in relation to the top submerged injecting lance and operable both to receive infrared energy passing longitudinally within the lance from an outlet end of the lance. The sensor head part also is operable to focus the received infrared energy to enable generation of an output signal or display indicative of the temperature of a molten bath in which an outlet end portion of the lance is submerged and from which the infrared energy is received.
US10018507B2	Electromagnetic detector Electromagnetic detectors and methods for manufacturing electromagnetic detectors are described. The electromagnetic detectors include at least one electromagnetic sensor, where each electromagnetic sensor includes a conductive part having a perimeter, a first connection point on the perimeter of the conductive part, a second connection point on the perimeter of the conductive part, a connection point axis extending between the first and the second connection points, a secondary axis perpendicular to the connection point axis extending through a midpoint between the first and second connection points, the secondary axis dividing the conductive part into two portions that are asymmetrical to one another. The electromagnetic detector also includes a voltage detector coupled to the first and the second connection points to detect voltages produced by the conductive part when exposed to electromagnetic waves.
US10018506B2	Multifunctional infrared module A multifunctional infrared (IR) module is configured for multiple IR applications without an additional microcontroller to be integrated into a computing device and is able to utilize voltage control instead of current control. The multifunctional IR module includes an IR light emitting diode (LED), and an IR receiver (e.g., photodiode or phototransistor). In one embodiment, the multifunctional IR module includes a resistor that is connected to the cathode of the IR LED and the drain of a transistor, with the source of the transistor grounded. In some embodiments, the multifunctional IR module additionally includes a red LED. Various configurations of the multifunctional IR module are able to perform one or more of the following functions: IR in (receiving IR signals), IR out (generating IR signals), heart rate sensing, SpO2 (oxygen saturation) sensing, distance/proximity detection, gesture detection, LED control, and ambient light detection.
US10018501B2	Measuring apparatus for measuring vibration or displacement and method for measuring vibration or displacement A measuring apparatus for contactlessly measuring vibration or displacement of a measurement target includes a light source configured to emit a continuous wave of light frequency-modulated to arrange a measurement site of the measurement target within a correlation peak, a divider configured to divide the continuous wave of light into first and second divided-waves of light, a light receiver configured to receive interfering light of the first divided-wave of light reflected by the measurement target and the second divided-wave of light, and a calculator configured to calculate the vibration or displacement of the measurement target using an electric signal output from the light receiver.
US10018499B2	Balance with windproof structure isolating the weighing pan from the weighing sensor A balance has a draft shield provided therefor. The shield has a base with upper and lower base covers (5, 6). The upper cover has a central hole in the middle thereof. A windproof ring is placed above the upper cover around a weighing pan of the balance. A shield (7) that is placed between the upper cover and the lower cover receives a weighing sensor (8) of the balance. A wind shield is placed above the base and a weighing compartment for receiving the weighing pan is placed between the wind shield and the upper cover. The windproof structure also has an isolation baffle (2) that is placed between the weighing pan and the upper cover. The high-accuracy balance of the present invention may effectively prevent air flow disturbances inside the balance.
US10018496B2	Hopper and combination scale comprising the same A hopper has a gate pivotable to open and close the lower opening of a hopper body, wherein opposing side parts more spaced apart than a width of the body are extending from the gate, and the opposing side parts of the gate are externally fitted pivotably to fulcrum shafts protruding from outer side surfaces of the hopper body. The hopper further includes regulating members interposed between the outer side surfaces of the body and the opposing side parts of the gate. The regulating members are configured to regulate movements of the gate in pivotal directions thereof and are detachably engaged with the fulcrum shafts circumferentially around the fulcrum shafts.
US10018495B2	Radar-based fill-level measuring device having a synthesizer circuit A radar-based fill-level measuring device comprising at least one synthesizer circuit having a plurality of circuit components for producing phase controlled microwave signals for a travel-time measurement and at least three electrical potentials for supplying the synthesizer circuit, wherein the synthesizer circuit has at least three circuit groups. Each circuit component is associated with at least one circuit group, wherein each of the at least three circuit groups is fed by means of at least one potential difference between two of the at least three different potentials.
US10018494B2	Temperature compensated transmission line based liquid level sensing apparatus and method A sensor having a transmission line acting as a probe and an electronic circuit measures liquid levels. The sensor circuit uses a periodic signal generator to produce a carrier wave, which stimulates the transmission line, through a complex network coupling element. The complex impedance network forms a voltage divider with the transmission line, wherein the output of the voltage divider, is demodulated with an AM demodulator, such as a thermally compensated peak detector. This demodulated signal is related to the dielectric constant, and thus the liquid level of the material surrounding the partially submerged transmission line probe. The liquid level and the demodulated signal may be offset, scaled and linearized with a microcontroller containing signal processing routines, linearizing equations, stored calibration constants and look up tables.
US10018493B2	Flow sensor circuit for monitoring a fluid flowpath A flow sensor circuit for a fluid flowpath having a self-heated thermistor situated in a fluid flowpath. The flow sensor circuit is configured to energize the thermistor sufficiently to heat the thermistor, calculate the slope of the leading edge of the rise in temperature of the thermistor when the thermistor is energized, and equate the slope to the state of the fluid flowing through the fluid flowpath. In another embodiment, the flow sensor circuit is configured to energize the thermistor, measure and calculate the average and standard deviation of the thermistor temperature, and determine the state of the flowpath using the thermistor temperature average and standard deviation.
US10018492B2	Thermal flow meter with drainage passage at inlet of bypass passage Provided is a thermal flow meter through which a measurement with high accuracy and has a discharge function. In a thermal flow meter 300 of the invention, a part of a measurement target gas 30 flowing through the main passage 124 flows into a bypass passage. A drainage passage 3528 is provided in the bypass passage to communicate a bypass passage 4232 on the inlet port (between the inlet port 350 and the measurement surface 430 serving as the air flow sensing portion) and a bypass passage 4234 on the outlet port (between the measurement surface 430 serving as the air flow sensing portion and the outlet port 352). The drainage passage 3528 includes a through hole 3512. The through hole 3512 includes an inlet port 3542 which penetrates a wall surface 4212 forming the bypass passage 4232 on the inlet port and is opened in the bypass passage 4232 on the inlet port, and an outlet port 3544 which is opened in a rear surface 4213 of the wall surface. Water 3552 flowing into the bypass passage is guided to the through hole 3512, and guided to the bypass passage 4234 on the outlet port through the drainage passage 3528, and discharged to the main passage 124. Therefore, an influence of the water flowing into a measuring portion can be reduced, and the measurement accuracy can be improved.
US10018490B2	Flow meter for use with a ventilator A turbulator adapted to be mounted to or inserted in an inlet portion of a flow meter for a ventilator is disclosed. The turbulator is adapted to create a turbulent gas flow in the inlet portion downstream of the turbulator upon passage of a gas flow therethrough. A flow meter for a ventilator is provided. The flow meter may comprise such turbulator. The turbulator may be arranged in the inlet portion of the flow meter. A membrane for a ventilator flow meter is provided, as well as a flow meter comprising the membrane. A flow meter comprising a turbulator and a membrane is disclosed.
US10018489B2	Miniature differential pressure flow sensor A fluid flow velocity sensor using a differential pressure measurement includes a stack having a tip pointing in a first direction, the stack including first and second plates arranged in parallel one another along the first direction; and a pressure-sensitive diaphragm arranged between the first and second plates along the first direction, the pressure-sensitive diaphragm being spaced apart from the first plate by a first cavity and from the second plate by a second cavity. The first cavity is entirely sealed, except at the tip of the stack, so as to be under a stagnation pressure during operation of the fluid flow velocity sensor. The second cavity is opened so as to be under a reference pressure during operation of the fluid flow velocity sensor. The fluid flow velocity sensor includes a detector to measure a parameter representative of the differential pressure between the first and the second cavities.
US10018485B2	Scale and position-measuring device having such a scale A scale for an optically scanning position-measuring device includes a carrier and a reflective layer disposed on the carrier. A transparent spacer layer is disposed on the reflective layer. The spacer layer has a patterned, partially transparent layer thereon which defines a bright/dark pattern in which regions having the partially transparent layer appear dark and regions without the partially transparent layer appear bright. A sealing layer is disposed on the patterned, partially transparent layer. Products of refractive index and layer thickness are the same for the spacer layer and the sealing layer, or differ by an odd multiple.
US10018475B2	Water depth detection for vehicle navigation Methods and apparatus are disclosed for vehicle navigation with water depth detection. An example disclosed method includes determining a current and a projected water depth for road segments of and around a current route to a destination. Additionally, the example method includes, in response to the current or the projected water depth of the road segments of the current route exceeding a first threshold, determining an alternate route to the destination.
US10018474B2	Method and system for using offline map information aided enhanced portable navigation The navigation solution of a portable device may be enhanced using map information. Sensor data for the portable device may be used to derive navigation solutions at a plurality of epochs over a first period of time. Position information for the device may be estimated at a time subsequent to the first period of time using the navigation solutions. Map information for an area encompassing a current location of the portable device may also be obtained. Multiple hypotheses regarding possible positions of the portable device may be generated using the estimated position information and the map information. By managing and processing the hypotheses, estimated position information for at least one epoch during the first period of time may be updated. An enhanced navigation solution for the at least one epoch may be provided using the updated estimated position information.
US10018473B2	Vehicle position detecting device A vehicle position detecting device includes an ECU that acquires a wheel speed of a wheel of a vehicle corresponding to rotation of the wheel, detects a skid of the wheel, calculates, when the skid is not detected, a vehicle body speed corresponding to the speed of a vehicle body of the vehicle based on the wheel speed, and corrects, in response to detection of the skid, the wheel speed based on correction information and calculates the vehicle body speed based on the corrected wheel speed. The ECU further calculates the position of the vehicle based on the vehicle body speed depending on the presence of the skid.
US10018472B2	System and method to determine traction of discrete locations of a road segment A computer system operates to determine a traction value for each of a plurality of regions of the road network. A region of the road network for which the traction value is unknown is identified. A vehicle is directed to operate over the region of the road network to obtain additional data that is indicative of a current traction value.
US10018471B2	Selecting routes A method of providing route information to a plurality of users by means of a data processing device, the method comprising: receiving a first location and a second location; analyzing mapping services and/or geographical or other databases or information and thereby determining a pair of routes, each route comprising a start point, an end point and a defined path from the start point to the end point, the step of analyzing comprising determining the routes such that (a) a first one of the routes is in the vicinity of the first location and a second one of the routes is in the vicinity of the second location and (b) the routes are of comparable difficulty for the users to complete; and providing the first route to a first one of the users and providing the second route to a second one of the users.
US10018468B2	Physical-quantity detection circuit, physical-quantity sensor, and electronic device A physical-quantity sensor is configured to be used with a physical-quantity sensor element that outputs a sensor signal in response to a physical quantity. A physical-quantity detection circuit of the physical-quantity sensor includes a signal generating unit for generating a detecting signal and a multiplier that multiplies the sensor signal by the detecting signal. The signal generating unit converts a first phase of a predetermined signal having a frequency corresponding to a frequency of the sensor signal, into a second phase, and calculates an amplitude value corresponding to the second phase as to generate the detecting signal. This physical-quantity sensor improves accuracy of phase adjustment without increasing a sampling frequency.
US10018466B2	Bra fitting method The present invention relates to a bra fitting method for determining and presenting customized advice for bras. Compared to existing methods the present method is based on an optimized fitting of the bodily dimensions with the functional characteristics of a bra model. Applying a given technique, the present invention incorporates the functional characteristics, and in particular the lifting, shaping and covering of the bra in the brassiere measurement method. As such the method of the present invention results in a customized advice, allowing users to gain insights in the fitting requirements and providing them with a confidence to seek and identify a correctly fitting bra.
US10018464B2	System and method for structured light illumination with frame subwindows A structured light imaging (SLI) system includes a projection system, image sensor system and processing module. The projection system is operable to project a single SLI pattern into an imaging area. The image sensor system is operable to capture images of a 3D object moving through the imaging area. The image sensor system outputs a subset of camera pixels corresponding to a subwindow of a camera frame to generate subwindow images. The processing module is operable to create a 3D surface map of the 3D object based on the subwindow images.
US10018463B1	Shadow Moiré with topside infrared heating A shadow moiré system (herein ‘system’) includes a glass grating that is disposed above a sample in an oven top and glass lid assembly of an oven such that the glass grating is vertically adjustable. Further, the system includes shadow moiré optics that is disposed above the glass grating. Furthermore, the system includes a vertical motion assembly that is disposed in an oven bottom assembly of the oven along with a sample support to vertically move the sample support and the sample disposed thereon. Additionally, the shadow moiré system includes a top heater assembly that is disposed in the oven top and glass lid assembly above the glass grating and a bottom heater that are separately controllable to generate and apply heat to the sample to observe any changes in flatness in a surface of the sample with temperature change.
US10018461B2	Reference signal filter for interferometric system The invention provides a method and apparatus for applying spatial filtering the optical beam of a free space optical coherence tomography (OCT) system substantially without problematic reflections back to the optical source. The invention teaches spatially filtering the reference beam of the OCT system which is typically designed to provide isolation of the optical source from undesirable optical feed-back, thereby achieving spatial filtering without generating undesirable reflections back to the optical source. Various embodiments are taught.
US10018455B2	Firearm cleaning shell An apparatus is disclosed including a bore cleaning device configured to clean a bore of a firearm. The device includes a propellant providing a force to push the projectile down the bore of the firearm, a fibrous cup, a dense material within the fibrous cup, and a frame including a bore forward disk configured to press against a bottom surface of the fibrous cup. The dense material includes one of a dense granulated material and a dense, viscous paste. The dense material is configured to deform and press radially outwardly against the cup as the propellant provides propelling force to the dense material.
US10018454B2	Miniature locator device for use with hunting arrows A hunting arrow for tracking target animals is disclosed and described. The arrow can include a chamber. The arrow may also include a transmitter housing that is installable into the chamber. A pair of bores extending through the transmitter housing and chamber may be configured and adapted for receiving a pair of shear pins. The shear pins may secure the housing in the chamber. The transmitter housing may comprise an animal engagement member, such as a hook. The transmitter housing is ejected from the chamber when the arrow strikes a target animal and the hook stops the forward momentum of the transmitter housing with sufficient force to shear the shear pins, thereby ejecting and embedding the transmitter housing in the hide of the animal. The transmitter within the housing may broadcast the location of the animal to the hunter to enable easy tracking of the animal, if wounded.
US10018453B1	Lightweight monolithic warhead and a method of manufacture A fragmentable package for use in an explosive armament, is disclosed having individual fragments formed by additively depositing layers, of at least one of selected metal type and a composite that includes a selected metal type, to create interconnected individual fragments to form a plurality of voids around an individual outer surface of the individual fragments defining a separation of fragments when detonated, the individual fragments providing structural stiffness and strength. A method is also disclosed.
US10018449B2	Target system transmitting feedback to shooter An active target has a target face that is backlit by LEDs, where a detection layer behind the target face detects a new projectile hole in the target, such as from a gun or an arrow. The detection layer may be formed of one or more resistive layers, and the detected increase in resistance due to a new projectile hole being created is sensed and correlated to an XY position of the hole. The location of the new hole is transmitted via an RF signal to the shooter's portable device, such as a smartphone, and the shooter sees the location of the hit relative to the target face in real time. The LEDs may be dynamically controlled. The target is disposable and is supported by a support base containing the control electronics and transmitter.
US10018447B1	Hinged holster for a firearm A firearm holster has a plate, a firearm enclosure configured to carry a firearm, and an elastic hinge. The hinge couples the plate to the enclosure and allows for relative motion between the plate and enclosure about the hinge. This relative motion about the elastic hinge during use allows for parts of a hand of a user to be inserted between the plate and enclosure when establishing or maintaining a grip on a firearm carried by the holster.
US10018445B2	Firearm with handguard Provided is a firearm, comprising a receiver; a barrel; an upper handguard, a lower handguard, an upper barrel clamp and a lower barrel clamp, configured to be affixed to the receiver, wherein the upper barrel clamp and the lower barrel clamp are configured to be fastened together, affixing the upper barrel clamp and the lower barrel clamp to the barrel at a back-end of barrel; and wherein the upper handguard and lower handguard slide onto and are configured to be affixed to the upper barrel clamp and the lower barrel clamp, thus affixing the upper handguard and the lower handguard to both the barrel and the receiver such that the upper and lower handguards attach to the barrel solely at the back-end of the barrel.
US10018443B2	Bow for a crossbow The invention relates to a bow or prod of a crossbow, said prod having a spring limbs connected with a crosspiece and a working rotatable elements guiding a bowstring and/or cable, and the bowstring and/or the cable, wherein the working rotatable elements guiding the bowstring and/or the cable are located at both ends of the spring limbs, respectively. In one embodiment of the prod, the rear ends of the spring limbs (2) are fastened to both rear ends of the crosspiece (1) by the holders (9) fastened rotatably on the pivots (7a), and the working rotatable elements (3) guiding the bowstring (6) are rotatably fastened to the rear ends of the crosspiece (1) and coaxially with said holders (9), said bowstring (6) is fastened at the fastening point (5) with its for receiving the rear working to the first front end of the crosspiece (1), and similarly with its second end to the second opposite front end of the crosspiece (1). The bowstring (6) runs from its for receiving the rear working through first front working rotatable element (8) guiding the bowstring (6), located on the same side of the prod, and connected coaxially by the pivot (7b) with the holder (9) of the for receiving the rear working of the first spring limb (2), towards the first rear working rotatable element (3) guiding the bowstring (6), located on the same side of the prod, and next towards the second rear working rotatable element (3) guiding the bowstring (6), located on the opposite side of the prod, and further towards the second front working rotatable element (8) guiding the bowstring (6) and connected coaxially with the holder (9) of the front end of the second spring limb (2), and further passing over said second front working rotatable element (8) guiding the bowstring (6), it ends its course at the second front end of the crosspiece (1) with its second end fastened at the fastening point (5). The bowstring (6) runs passes over all the working rotatable elements (3, 8) guiding the bowstring (6).
US10018441B1	Handgun display stand A stand displays and stores a handgun on a horizontal surface. The stand is formed from a single piece of plastic coated wire that is bent into five segments. Two of the segments hold the handgun while the other three segments form a stable base. The angle the first segment makes to the second segment is adjustable and determines the angle at which the handgun leans when displayed.
US10018439B2	Hammer block for a firearm A hammer block for a firearm is disclosed. The firearm includes a firing pin and a hammer. The hammer is pivotally attached to a hammer pin within a trigger house of a lower receiver. The hammer block includes a body comprising an upper portion and a lower portion. The hammer block also includes a central gap forming two downwardly facing legs in the lower portion of the body. The body is positioned within the trigger housing in front of the hammer with the two downwardly facing legs positioned on the sides of the hammer and the central gap positioned over the hammer so that the hammer rotates into the body and is prevented from engaging the firing pin.
US10018432B2	Cleaning apparatus for cooling tube array A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a cooling tube array of a heat exchanger, including a triangular truss beam supported to be movable in a first direction, which direction is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the truss beam, a nozzle carriage movably held on the truss beam, the nozzle carriage being movable along the longitudinal direction of the truss beam, and a plurality of cleaning nozzles mounted to the nozzle carriage, the truss beam having two tubular top chords and one tubular bottom chord that is arranged centrally below the top chords, and bracings that connect the chords, and the nozzle carriage having at least one bottom chord roller that is arranged for traveling on the bottom side of the bottom chord; and a cleaning apparatus having a square truss beam.
US10018430B2	Heat transfer system and method incorporating tapered flow field A heat transfer system including a fluid inlet; a fluid outlet; and a substrate in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and fluid outlet, the substrate including a heat exchange region having a heat transfer surface and a flow field adjacent the heat transfer surface, the flow field including a fluid flow area including an open region at the inlet, a heat transfer region in thermal communication with the heat exchange region, and a taper of the flow field cross-sectional area in the flow direction, wherein the flow field heat transfer region includes a plurality of spaced apart open enhancement features from 1 micron to 3 mm in size, and method for enhancing the heat transfer performance of an apparatus is disclosed.
US10018427B2	Vapor chamber structure A vapor chamber structure includes an upper metal casing, a lower metal casing, a partition plate and a working fluid. The lower metal casing is engaged and sealed with the upper metal casing, and a containing chamber is formed between the upper metal casing and the lower metal casing. The partition plate is laid inside the containing chamber and includes a gas channel configured to be facing the upper metal casing. The working fluid is filled in the containing chamber. Therefore, the gas evaporated in the vapor chamber will move along a fixed path to prevent the occurrence of turbulence effectively.
US10018423B2	Heat exchanger A heat exchanger for cooling particulate matter from a high-temperature industrial process or warming material from a cryogenic process is disclosed. The heat exchanger comprises a structure comprising a rectangular frame, piping that is supported by the rectangular frame and completes at least one circumference around the rectangular frame, and a fan. The piping is supported to the frame on a series of moving supports. The piping comprises an inlet end and an outlet end, and the piping contains external cooling fins. The structure is sealed except for where the finned piping is located.
US10018422B2	Cooling module A cooling module including a first heat exchanger cooling a first heat exchange medium, a second heat exchanger cooling a second heat exchange medium, a third heat exchanger cooling a third heat exchange medium, and a fan and shroud assembly arranged in parallel in an air flow direction, wherein a flow of the first heat exchange medium inside first tubes forming the first heat exchanger is perpendicular to a flow of the second heat exchange medium inside second tubes forming the second heat exchanger and parallel with a flow of the third heat exchange medium inside third tubes forming the third heat exchanger. The cooling module capable of sufficiently securing the first heat exchange medium condensing performance, the third heat exchange medium cooling performance, and the second heat exchange medium cooling performance and being miniaturized.
US10018420B2	Metal wire heat treatment method using heat treatment jig The present invention provides a heat treatment jig. A metal wire as a heat treatment target is to be wound around the jig. The jig comprises a cylindrical tubular body whose outer wall surface has a helical groove formed along a circumferential direction to wind the metal wire. A depth of the groove is larger than a length at which the metal wire will isolate from the groove when the metal wire wound along the groove at room temperature is thermally expanded by being heated to a predetermined heat treatment temperature.
US10018419B2	Solids injection lance A solids injection lance includes (a) a tube that defines a passageway for solid feed material to be injected through the tube and has an inlet for solid material at a rear end and an outlet for discharging solid material at a forward end of the tube and (b) a puncture detection system for detecting a puncture in the solids injection tube.
US10018417B2	Hand dryer The present invention relates to a hand dryer for drying a user's hands by means of an airflow discharged through an air outlet on the hand dryer. The airflow is generated by a motor-driven fan unit, the airflow exiting the fan unit through a fan outlet on the fan unit. The fan unit is mounted to a fixed part of the hand dryer by means of an inflatable mount secured to the fixed part. The mount incorporates at least one inflatable duct connecting the fan outlet to the air outlet, which inflatable duct is, in use, inflated by the airflow passing from the fan outlet to the air outlet to provide pneumatic support for the fan unit.
US10018415B2	Integrated solar energy drying system An integrated solar energy drying system, including: a solar greenhouse, a solar energy storage bed, an air condenser, a wet dust collector, pipes, valves, and blowers. The solar greenhouse includes: a top side, three sunny sides, a shady side, floorboards, a gas inlet, and two gas outlets. The solar energy storage bed includes: an upper air box, a lower air box, a plurality of solar heat collecting-storing pipes, and a sealing chamber. Each solar heat collecting-storing pipe includes an air pipe. The air condenser includes: an air inlet, an air outlet, two gas chambers, and a bundle of gas pipes. The solar greenhouse, the solar energy storage bed, the air condenser, the wet dust collectors are connected via pipes. The valves and the blowers are disposed on the pipes.
US10018414B2	Method for the production of low pressure gaseous oxygen A method for the production of low pressure gaseous oxygen includes providing a system of distillation columns and a heat exchanger, wherein the system of columns comprises a lower pressure column, a higher pressure column, an auxiliary column, the auxiliary column having a distillation section, a first reboiler, and a second reboiler, wherein the LP column and the HP column are thermally integrated via a top reboiler/condenser disposed on top of the HP column. A cooled air stream is rectified within the system of columns such that the auxiliary column produces a cold oxygen fluid that is then warmed in the heat exchanger to produce a low pressure oxygen product. The cooled air stream provides reboiling duty for the first reboiler prior to rectification within the system of columns, and a compressed nitrogen stream received from a cold end of the heat exchanger provides reboiling duty for the second reboiler.
US10018412B2	Method and system for providing supplemental refrigeration to an air separation plant A system and method for providing supplemental refrigeration to an air separation plant is provided. A closed loop supplemental refrigeration circuit that can be easily retrofitted or added onto an air separation plant that increases the liquid product production capability of the air separation plant. The supplemental refrigeration capacity of the supplemental refrigeration circuit is controlled by removing or adding a portion of the refrigerant in the supplemental refrigeration circuit to adjust the inlet pressure while maintaining a substantially constant volumetric flow rate and substantially constant pressure ratio across the compressor. Removing the refrigerant from the supplemental refrigeration circuit decreases the refrigeration imparted by the supplemental refrigeration circuit and thus provides the capacity to turn-down liquid product make without shutting down the compressors and turbo-expanders in the supplemental refrigeration circuit.
US10018411B2	Simplified method for producing a methane-rich stream and a C2+ hydrocarbon-rich fraction from a feed natural-gas stream, and associated facility A method comprising the cooling of the feed natural-gas (15) in a first heat exchanger (16) and the introduction of the cooled feed natural-gas (40) in separator flask (18). The method further comprising dynamic expansion of a turbine input flow (46) in a first expansion turbine (22) and the introduction of the expanded flow (102) into a splitter column (26). This method includes sampling at the head of the splitter column (26) a methane-rich head stream (82) and sampling in the compressed methane-rich head stream (86) a first recirculation stream (88). The method comprises the formation of at least one second recirculation stream (96) obtained from the methane-rich head stream (82) downstream from the splitter column (26) and the formation of a dynamic expansion stream (100) from the second recirculation stream (96).
US10018410B2	Refrigeration or freezing cabinet with lighting device arranged on cabinet door A refrigeration or freezing cabinet includes a cabinet corpus having an interior space configured for storing goods to be chilled or frozen, and a cabinet door which is attached to the cabinet corpus so as to be pivotable about a vertical axis of pivoting. In one embodiment, there is arranged or formed, on the inside of the door, a pair of rib members which extend vertically at a distance from one another and support one or more door shelving elements. In this embodiment, there is attached to one of the rib members of the pair, which rib member is located closer to the axis of pivoting, an illuminating strip designed with a plurality of lighting elements arranged vertically one above another. The illuminating strip is attached to that lateral face of the rib member in question which faces towards the interior space of the refrigerator when the door is open.
US10018403B2	Refrigerator A refrigerator includes a door including a rotation part protruding outward from a side surface of the door, and a protection member configured to face a side surface part of the door and having at least some parts disposed between the rotation part and the main body when the door is closed, such that a user's finger is prevented from being caught between the main body and the door during rotation of the door. No magnet is installed in the gasket, a separate magnet member is provided while spaced apart from the gasket, thereby reducing the thickness of the gasket, improving the energy efficiency of the refrigerator. A seating member for seating a hot pipe thereon is provided in a partition wall of the refrigerator, thereby minimizing cool air of a storage chamber leaking to the outside.
US10018401B2	Vehicle heat pump with defrosting mode If an exterior heat exchanger is sensed to be frosted while a heat pump device is operating in a first heating operation mode in which two interior heat exchangers are used, the operation modes are switched into a second heating operation mode in which one interior heat exchanger is used, and then switched into a defrosting operation mode.
US10018395B2	Beverage cooling or heating device A beverage cooling or heating device includes a sealed housing, a first chamber within the housing that contains a thermal agent, a second chamber within the housing that contains an activating agent, for endothermically or exothermically reacting with the thermal agent, and a barrier between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the barrier is configured to keep the thermal agent separate from the activating agent, and is further configured to be ruptured upon activation of the device such that the thermal agent and activating agent come into contact with and react with each other. The thermal agent may be a cooling agent, such as urea, and the activating agent may be water. The thermal agent may alternatively be a heating agent.
US10018394B2	System for calibration of a compressor unit in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system The present invention provides for a system for calibrating operation of a compressor unit in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A measuring device measures an operating parameter of the HVAC system at a position where the measuring device is mounted on a refrigerant line of the HVAC system. The measuring device switches states when the value of the measured operating parameter reaches a switching value. A controller estimates a value of the first operating parameter at the position where the first measuring device is mounted on the refrigerant line, and the controller determines whether the estimated first operating parameter is within a threshold percentage of the switching value.
US10018392B2	System and method for controlling a variable-capacity compressor A climate-control system is provided that includes a variable-capacity compressor unit and a control module controlling the compressor unit. The compressor unit is operable in a first capacity mode and in a second capacity mode that is higher than the first capacity mode. The control module may be configured to switch the compressor unit among a shutdown state, the first capacity mode and the second capacity mode based on a demand signal and a number of times that the compressor unit has been switched into the shutdown state within a predetermined time period.
US10018391B2	Air conditioner An air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit sometimes sets an evaporation temperature or a condensation temperature that is different from a value that any of the indoor units has requested from the outdoor unit. The indoor units have indoor-side controllers that perform capacity control that adjusts capacity based on a degree of superheating or a degree of supercooling, an air volume, or an evaporation temperature or a condensation temperature while calculating a requested capacity that is determined from a current room temperature and a set room temperature. The indoor-side controllers, when performing the capacity control, determine at least one of the air volume and a target value of the degree of superheating or the degree of supercooling based on the evaporation temperature or the condensation temperature that is set by the outdoor unit.
US10018389B2	Air-conditioning apparatus An air-conditioning apparatus including a refrigeration cycle configured by connecting one or more load-side units including a load-side heat exchanger and a load-side expansion device with a heat-source-side unit including a heat-source-side heat exchanger and a compressor and by causing refrigerant to circulate through a refrigerant circuit including the load-side heat exchanger, the load-side expansion device, the heat-source-side heat exchanger, and the compressor, controls, during a heating operation, the opening degree of the load-side expansion device, based on the discharge pressure of the compressor, so that the pressure of refrigerant at the outlet of the compressor becomes equal to a target pressure, in the case where the operation capacity of the compressor is approximately at the maximum value of the operation capacity of the compressor.
US10018387B2	Reversing valve A reversing valve comprising a valve body having an internal cavity therein and an input port, output port and first and second reversing ports. A baffle is located within the internal cavity and is configured to rotate around a pivot point within the internal cavity. At least one electromagnet is coupled to the valve body. The electromagnet is configured to cause the baffle to rotate in one of the clockwise direction or counter-clock wise direction when a voltage is applied to the electromagnet.
US10018384B2	On-door ice maker cooling A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator compartment disposed within the refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerator compartment door for providing access to the refrigerator compartment, an ice maker on the refrigerator compartment door, a thermoelectric cooler associated with the ice maker and operatively connected to the refrigerator compartment door, the thermoelectric cooler having a first side and an opposite second side, and a cooling loop operatively connected to the refrigerator compartment door and configured for cooling the thermoelectric cooler.
US10018383B2	Triple effect absorption chiller The present invention relates to a triple-effect absorption chilling apparatus adopting a structure of an anti-parallel cycle in which an absorber and a first regenerator are connected in series, a second regenerator and a third regenerator are connected in parallel with the first regenerator, and the solution through the second regenerator and the third regenerator is returned to the absorber. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve efficiency by acquiring a higher coefficient of performance than conventional absorption refrigerators, and to reduce energy consumption.
US10018382B2	Six-way directional valve, outdoor unit for air conditioner having the same, and air conditioner A six-way directional valve (100), an outdoor unit (1000) having the same and an air conditioner are provided. The six-way directional valve (100) includes: a valve body (1), defining a valve cavity (5) therein, the valve cavity (5) having a first side wall (11) and a second side wall (12) disposed oppositely to each other, the valve body (1) being provided with a first connecting pipe (A) to a sixth connecting pipe (F); a valve spool (2), movably disposed in the valve cavity (5), a first chamber (21) being defined between the valve spool (2) and the first side wall (11), a second chamber (22) being defined between the valve spool (2) and the second side wall (12), and a third chamber (23) being defined between the valve spool (2), the first side wall (11) and the second side wall (12); and a pilot valve assembly (4).
US10018381B2	Cryogenic refrigerator A disclosed cryogenic refrigerator includes a first refrigerator including a compressor, a regenerator which performs intake or ejection of a refrigerant gas relative to the compressor, and a pulse tube whose low temperature end is connected to a low temperature end of the regenerator; a second refrigerator having an output smaller than the first refrigerator; a connecting pipe which performs intake and ejection of the refrigerant gas relative to a high temperature end of the pulse tube and the second refrigerator; and a flow control valve which is provided in the connecting pipe and performs a flow control of the refrigerant gas flowing inside the connecting pipe.
US10018378B1	Solar thermal lamps and globes for heating water in a water tank A solar thermal lamp used for heating water inside a tank. The thermal lamp includes a transparent glass bulb with a threaded male coupling for attaching to a female coupling in the tank. The lamp also includes a heat tube with an enlarged water heating condenser. The condenser is received inside the tank. The heat tube can include a copper coil, copper fins, a glass coil, a copper lamp, a glass lamp, and the like for receiving solar energy and conducting the heat to the heating condenser for heating the water inside the tank. Also, the invention can be in the form of a solar thermal globe. The solar globe is self-contained and includes a water tank. Another embodiment of the globe tracks with the daily movement of the sun and change with seasons.
US10018377B2	Solar light (heat) absorption material and heat absorption/accumulation material and solar light (heat) absorption/control building component using the same A solar light (heat) absorption material which has an excellent solar light (heat) absorbing ability and a simple structure, and may be used as a low-cost and high-performance heat absorption/accumulation material. Also, a solar light (heat) absorption/control building component including the solar light (heat) absorption material that allows for easy change of its solar light (heat) absorption/control ability. The material includes particles dispersed into a liquid medium having a specific heat ranging from 0.4 to 1.4 cal/g/° C. and a melting point of 5° C. or lower. The dispersed particles have L*value of 30 or less as determined by the CIE-Lab color system (light source D65).
US10018375B2	Electric water heater The present disclosure provides an electric water heater, including a casing, an inner tank, a drain valve and a protection cover. The casing defines an opening. An inner tank is disposed in the casing and defines a drain outlet. A drain valve is mounted at the drain outlet and exposed from the opening. A protection cover is detachably fixed on the casing or the drain valve and covers the drain valve. The protection cover of the electric water heater according to embodiments of the present disclosure may be detached from the casing during the sewage discharge and fixed on the casing again after the sewage discharge. Because of the protection of the protection cover, the drain valve is no more exposed so as to avoid the potential safety risk. In addition, the protection cover may further improve the integrity and the aesthetics of the appearance of the casing.
US10018372B2	Method to control a communication rate between a thermostat and a cloud based server A communication rate between a cloud-based server and an HVAC controller located within a building may be controlled based on the amount of power available at the HVAC controller. The cloud-based server may notify a user if the amount of power available at the HVAC controller is determined to be low.
US10018370B2	Economizer/DCV controller with manual sensor calibration An economizer controller with sensor calibration. A controller sensor may be used to measure a parameter. At the same time at the same location of the measurement with the controller sensor, a measurement of the same parameter may be made with a precision sensor. The difference between the two measurements may be saved to a controller memory as an offset. The offset may be used to compensate future measurements of the same parameter by the controller sensor. Additional offsets at various magnitudes may be obtained between the precision and the controller sensors for compensating subsequent measurements by the controller sensor. Measurements with the compensated sensor may be used for calibrating sensors in other economizer controllers, for example, at remote locations in the field.
US10018368B2	Snow proof roof vent There is disclosed a snow proof roof vent for ventilating the roof of a building to the atmosphere. The improved roof vent includes a flange portion dimensioned and configured to lay against the roof, the flange portion having a central opening to let air vent from the attic. The roof vent further includes a collar portion extending from the flange portion and enclosing the central opening and a cap dimensioned and configured to cover over the collar portion and cover over the central opening. The cap is dimensioned and configured to provide a passage through which air can pass between the atmosphere and the central opening. The collar portion also includes a filter plate enclosed by the cap and interposed between the central opening and the passage, the filter plate having a pore size sufficient to permit air to pass through but block the passage of snow.
US10018367B2	Air conditioner An air conditioner (100), comprising a compressor (110), a reversing assembly (120), an outdoor heat exchanger (130), an indoor heat exchanger (140), an electric control heat sink assembly (150), a first unidirectional throttle valve (160) and a second unidirectional throttle valve (160′). The electric control heat sink assembly (150) comprises an electric control component (151) and a heat dissipation assembly (152). The first unidirectional throttle valve (160), on the flow direction from a first valve port (161) to a second valve port (162), is completely turned on. On the flow direction from the second valve port (162) to the first valve port (161), the first unidirectional throttle valve (160) is a throttle component. The second unidirectional throttle valve (160′), on the flow direction from a third valve port (161′) to a fourth valve port (162′), is completely turned on. On the flow direction from the fourth valve port (162′) to the third valve port (161′), the second unidirectional throttle valve (160′) is a throttle component.
US10018366B2	Learning-based recirculation and temperature setpoint control system A method for saving energy by shutting down unnecessary equipment in a water heating system and setting back temperature setpoints to reduce energy losses. The present method is aimed at reducing energy wastage due to unnecessary external recirculation and overly high temperature setpoint for the external recirculation flow when no demands exist for an extended period of time.
US10018365B2	System and method for mounting undercabinet ventilation hood A method for installing a ventilation hood to an underside of a wall cabinet including providing a ventilation hood having a housing, a removable utility structure with an aligning mechanism and at least one hanger stud. The removable utility structure is placed proximate the wall cabinet in at least one measuring position, wherein the aligning mechanism of the removable utility structure locates anchorage points of the ventilation hood. Hanger studs are secured in the anchorage points. The removable utility structure is secured to the housing in a structural position at least partially covering an electrical system of the ventilation hood. The housing is placed on the hanger studs to secure the ventilation hood proximate the wall cabinet. Electrical power is connected to the electrical system while the housing is secured on the hanger studs. The housing of the ventilation hood is then secured to the wall cabinet.
US10018361B2	Pintle-swirl hybrid injection device A pintle-swirl hybrid injection device according to embodiments of the present disclosure is an injection device which is installed inside a housing that defines a combustion chamber to inject propellant toward the combustion chamber, and it includes a body in tubular shape, being installed in the housing, forming a passage through which the propellant is introduced, and being partially exposed to the combustion chamber, and an injection tip coupled with an end of the body exposed to the combustion chamber to inject the propellant introduced through the passage in a radial direction of the body, and at the same time, to inject the propellant to a direction of a central axis of the body.
US10018352B1	Fire tube boiler system with ion transport membranes A fire tube boiler system including a plurality of oxygen transport reactors that heats a working fluid. Each oxygen transport reactor has a first inner tube with an ion transport membrane that receives air from a first supply line, extracts oxygen from the air, and evacuate oxygen depleted air through a first exhaust line, a second inner tube that surrounds the first inner tube that receives the oxygen from the ion transport membrane and a mixture of fuel and carbon dioxide from a second supply line and produces a oxy-combustion, and an peripheral tube that surrounds the second inner tube and evacuates the exhaust gases produced by the oxy-combustion and transfer heat from exhaust gases to the working fluid and the ion transport membrane.
US10018350B2	Container apparatus and method of using same A container apparatus includes a container and a light assembly. The light assembly can include four elongate light members. The container can include a rectangular base and a rectangular sidewall extending upwardly from the base. The sidewall defines four corners of the container, and four elongate recesses are formed in the sidewall proximate the four corners of the sidewall to receive the elongate light members. The recesses are sized and shaped to conform to the elongate light members so that the light members can be releasably retained within the elongate recesses.
US10018347B2	Bulb lamp structure having a bulb housing, heat dissipater and inlet and outlet ventilation holes formed in seat and upper portion of bulb housing A bulb lamp structure includes a base, a seat, a circuit board, and a bulb housing, and further includes a plurality of chips on which LEDs are mounted, a heat dissipater, and a double-sided board. The seat has a lower rim in which an air inlet opening is formed. The heat dissipater has a lower portion forming an annular hood that has an upper end on which a plurality of plate-like substrates is arranged to circumferentially delimit a chamber in communication with the air inlet opening of the seat. The chips are respectively mounted on outside surfaces of the substrates. The bulb housing has a top end having a central portion in which a ventilation hole is formed to correspond to an air outlet opening formed in a top of the heat dissipater. A large illumination angle can be effectively realized and automatic production can be facilitated.
US10018346B2	Lighting device and lighting method A lighting device comprising first and second groups of solid state light emitters, which emit light having peak wavelength in ranges of from 430 nm to 480 nm, and first and second groups of lumiphors which emit light having dominant wavelength in the range of from 555 nm to 585 nm. In some embodiments, if current is supplied to a power line, a combination of (1) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of emitters, and (2) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the first group of lumiphors would have a correlated color temperature which differs by at least 50 K from a correlated color temperature which would be emitted by a combination of (3) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the second group of emitters, and (4) light exiting the lighting device which was emitted by the second group of lumiphors.
US10018345B2	LED kit Various implementations of an LED kit include a housing and at least one LED unit. The LED unit is coupled to an outer surface of at least one wall of the housing. Inner surfaces of the housing walls define a channel that includes a first opening at one end of the housing and a second opening at the other end of the housing. A central axis of the channel is orthogonal to a light output direction of the LED unit. A heat sink structure extends from the inner surface of at least one of the walls, and at least one electrically powered cooling device (e.g., a fan) is disposed adjacent the first opening. The cooling device causes air to flow through the channel from the first opening to the second opening, or vice versa, along the central axis and across the heat sink structure orthogonally to the light output direction.
US10018344B2	Plug-in bulb coupling structure The present invention relates to a plug-in bulb coupling structure, comprising a lamp cap provided on a bulb and a plug-in lamp holder provided on a power line, wherein a plug-in end of the plug-in lamp holder is provided with plug-in holes and raised barbs, and conductive tubes connected to a lead are provided in the plug-in holes; the plug-in end of the plug-in lamp cap is provided with conductive bars and barb holes, and the conductive bars are connected to a drive circuit board in the plug-in lamp cap. With the coupling structure of the present invention, the drive circuit board and the SR of the power line can be assembled and connected to each other quickly. The operation is easy, convenient and quick and does not require any tools.
US10018341B2	Method and apparatus for a light collection and projection system A method and apparatus for collecting and projecting light into a specified target illuminance. A lens may be mounted or otherwise paired to a carrier to form a lens/carrier combination, which may then be mounted to a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) containing a light emitting diode (LED). The lens/carrier combination may establish an optimum optical relationship between the LED and the lens, such that a predetermined photometric distribution of the LED is collected by the lens, while the remaining photometric distribution of the LED is rejected by the carrier. The lens may include a first pair of opposing surfaces forming a first focus and a second pair of opposing surfaces forming a second focus. The first and second foci may cause light to be subtended into one or more of collimated light focused light, diffused light, and shifted light. The carrier may include an obstruction extending toward the PCBA.
US10018338B2	Luminaire with articulated LEDS Described is a method for controlling the movement of LED devices in luminaires, specifically to a method relating to allowing both synchronized and independent pan and tilt movement of LED light modules in a light curtain. The LEDs may be mounted in a plurality of modules. The modules may be in a linear arrangement. The LEDs may be mounted in a plurality of modules that are arrayed in a two dimensional array. The modules in the linear arrangement or in the two dimensional array may be mounted in groups forming modular group assemblies where modular group assembly are independently articulated to pan and/or tilt the modules mounted thereon independent of other modular group assemblies.
US10018336B2	Engagement mechanism and method for mounting lighting fixture Provided is a device configured for attachment to a lighting fixture. The device includes an engagement mechanism that allows the lighting fixture to be mounted within a recess of a substantially flat surface. The engagement mechanism is constructed to facilitate movement of a tension mechanism from a maximum tension position to a minimum tension position. Movement of the engagement mechanism is in response to an applied force generated by contact of the engagement mechanism with a first side of the substantially flat surface. Also provided is a method for mounting the lighting fixture using the engagement mechanism.
US10018334B2	LED lighting fixture assembly Various embodiments of the present invention provide a light emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture and methods of installing the same. In various embodiments, an LED lighting fixture may comprise: at least one socket comprising a socket opening; at least one LED positioned substantially within the socket opening; at least one shield member positioned adjacent the at least one socket such that the shield substantially encloses the socket opening; at least one decorative light shade; at least one cover comprising a neck portion having an internal surface, the internal surface defining a cover opening. The cover opening is configured to receive there-through at least a portion of a socket and substantially engage the socket. At least a portion of the cover is configured to substantially engage the decorative light shade. Also, at least a portion of the cover is configured to substantially enclose the LED and shield.
US10018330B2	Light flux control member, light-emitting device, and illumination device This light flux control member comprises: two entry surfaces disposed on two sides of a virtual plane serving as a boundary and containing the optical axis of the light-emitting element; a first protruding strip disposed between the two entry surfaces and along the virtual plane, into which light that has exited the light-emitting element enters; two total reflection surfaces, each formed at a position facing the light-emitting element with one of the entry surfaces sandwiched therebetween; two light-guide portions disposed at opposite positions with the first protruding strip sandwiched therebetween; and an exit surface formed on the external surface of each of the light-guide portions. A second light flux control member is disposed so as to cover the first protruding strip and includes a diffuse transmission portion whereby light that has entered and exited the first protruding strip is transmitted while being diffused.
US10018328B2	Light emitting module and image surveillance device thereof A light emitting module includes a lens and first and second light sources aligning with the lens. The lens includes a first biconcave section having a first light-entrance concave surface and a first light-exit concave surface, a second biconcave section having a second light-entrance concave surface and a second light-exit concave surface, and a shared section having a light-exit shared surface. A tangent slope of the shared section where the light-exit shared surface is connected to the first light-exit concave surface is less than a tangent slope of the first biconcave section where the first light-exit concave surface is connected to the light-exit shared surface. A tangent slope of the shared section where the light-exit shared surface is connected to the second light-exit concave surface is larger than a tangent slope of the second biconcave section where the second light-exit concave surface is connected to the light-exit shared surface.
US10018325B2	Light device of vehicle Disclosed herein is a light device of a vehicle including: a light emitting diode module emitting light; and a light guide plate having a side on which the light emitted from the light emitting diode module is incident and emitting the light incident on the side to perform surface emission upwardly, in which the light guide plate has a plane shape including at least one concave portion and the light emitting diode module is installed in the at least one concave portion. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when the light guide plate used in the light device installed at the rear of the vehicle to perform the surface emission is formed in a horseshoe shape or a ring shape, the light emitting diode module may be installed at a concave position of the horseshoe shape or the light emitting diode module may be installed along a ring-shaped inner side, thereby uniformly performing the surface emission over the whole of the light guide plate.
US10018324B2	Light source unit with light emitting module, sealing part and lens part A light source unit of one embodiment includes a socket housing, a light emitting module, a substrate, a sealing part, and a lens part. The sealing part seals the light emitting element and the conductive part to the substrate. A lens part is formed on the sealing part. Alastic modulus of the lens part is higher than that of the sealing part.
US10018317B2	Lighting device for a motor vehicle headlamp The invention relates to a lighting device (1) for a headlamp, in particular a motor-vehicle headlamp, comprising a plurality of light sources (100), a light-guiding device (10) with a plurality of light-guiding elements (11, 12, 13), and a downstream imaging optical element (200), wherein each light-guiding element (11, 12, 13) has a light infeed face and a light exit face, wherein the light-guiding elements (11, 12, 13) are arranged in at least one row, wherein the light-guiding elements of at least one row are configured as main beam light-guiding elements (11) and form a main beam row, wherein each main beam light-guiding element (11) comprises a lower light-guiding face (24), wherein the lower light-guiding face (24) has, at least in the region in which the light beams (52) are reflected, structures (25) at least in regions.
US10018313B2	Kinetic flame device An apparatus creating a flickering flame effect. The apparatus includes a housing with an interior space with first and second stages. A drive mechanism generates a time varying electromagnetic field extending into the first stage. A first pendulum member is pivotally mounted in the interior space of the first stage and includes first and second magnets on first and second ends, with the first end proximate to the drive mechanism such that the first magnet interacts with the varying electromagnetic field to cause movement of the pendulum member. The apparatus includes a second pendulum member pivotally mounted in the second stage with a magnet on a first end proximate to the second end of the first pendulum member. A flame silhouette element extends from the second pendulum member, and a light source transmits light onto the flame silhouette, which is moving due to the magnetic coupling of the pendulum members.
US10018308B2	Expansion tank with a predictive sensor An expansion tank which comprises a tank having a predetermined volume capacity; an expandable elastomeric bladder in the tank, partitioning tank volume into a liquid-containing portion for holding liquid and a gas-containing portion for holding a gas under a pressure that defines a normal pressurized gas volume when the liquid-containing portion holds a predetermined liquid volume; and a proximity sensor mounted to the tank at the gas-containing portion thereof and adapted to emit an alarm signal when volume of the gas-containing portion is reduced.
US10018307B2	Thermal management system for a natural gas tank A thermal management system for a natural gas tank includes a container, and a cooling mechanism operatively positioned to selectively cool the container. A method for minimizing a loss of natural gas storage during refueling is also disclosed herein. In an example of the method, a cooling mechanism, which is operatively positioned to selectively cool a container of a natural gas storage tank, is initiated prior to a refueling event. This cools the container to a predetermined temperature.
US10018305B2	Heater with replaceable cartridge A catalytic tank heater includes a removably attached catalytic heater cartridge having catalytic material. The heater is attached to an LPG tank to position the catalytic heater cartridge to face the tank. The catalytic heater cartridge covers a plenum chamber of the catalytic tank heater. A fuel distribution header and heating element are positioned within the plenum chamber and are controlled to initiate combustion of the catalytic material to heat the tank. Vapor from the tank is provided as fuel to the catalytic tank heater, and is regulated to increase heat output as tank pressure drops. The catalytic heater cartridge can be replaced with a new cartridge while at the location of the tank on a property.
US10018303B1	Method and system for transfer of natural gas Systems and methods are disclosed that may be configured for transferring a fluid. The fluid may be transferred from a fluid source by which the fluid is under a first differential pressure to a container via use of a pressurizer that can increase the pressurization of the fluid to a second differential pressure. A controller may be used to coordinate operations of various components to allow the pressure generated by the pressurizer to be used to augment the pressure generated by the first differential pressure. Additional embodiments may include use of a mobile fueling unit that may facilitate transfer of the fluid from the container to a vehicle.
US10018301B2	Drain valve A drain valve including a housing having a float chamber, a piston chamber, and a plenum communicating with the piston chamber through a seat. The housing has a liquid inlet passage, and an outlet port. The drain valve has a tube passage communicating with the piston chamber. The drain valve includes an annular float. The drain valve includes a seal body connected to the float and rising away from the tube passage when liquid is in the float chamber. The drain valve includes a piston slidably mounted in the piston chamber having a head that moves away from the seat when gas enters the piston chamber. The piston includes a valve element that moves as the piston head moves to expose the liquid inlet port and allow liquid to flow from the liquid inlet passage through the plenum and into the liquid outlet passage.
US10018300B1	Demountable adjustable coupling system A retainer with an essentially semicircular internal track having angularly spaced detent stops about a centrally located post, and a first surface, which may be affixed to an electronic device. An essentially circular mounting plate, selectively engages the detent stops for angular positioning with respect to the retainer and is configured for affixing to a second surface, which may be a convenient point of access or the user directly.
US10018298B2	Exercise machine and method for use in a supine position An exercise machine has a mobile base and an upright support extending upwards from the mobile base. An upper support assembly extends forward from an upper portion of the upright support and an exercise device is suspended from the upper support assembly at a location spaced forward from the upright support. The mobile base has caster wheels and can be positioned from either side of a bed so as to extend partially under a bed with the upright support located on one side of the bed and the exercise device suspended over the bed in a position accessible by a patient lying supine in the bed for performing exercise. An anchoring system resists movement of the base for stability when exercise is performed.
US10018297B2	Turn plate assembly and translation mat A turn plate assembly for support of the steered wheels of a vehicle on a precision planar surface. The assembly includes an approach plate establishing a planar surface to within an established measurement tolerance. The approach plate is coupled to a base plate underlying a bearing assembly consisting of a plurality of ball bearings retained between the base plate and an underside of a rotating support disc. An upper surface of the rotating support disc is coplanar with an upper surface of the approach plate. Resting on the upper surface of the rotating support surface, a translational surface or mat is temporarily secured in place by magnetic adhesion. During use, translational forces exerted on the translation surface or mat by a vehicle wheel assembly may overcome the magnetic adhesion, enabling the translational surface or mat to translate relative to the underlying rotating support disc.
US10018295B2	Boring device A pipe boring device (1) including a housing (2)for receiving a self-tapping ferrule insert and a strap (3, 4) for securement around a pipe (10) to enable a hole to be bored into the pipe(10) by the ferrule insert. The strap (3, 4) includes first and second strap portions(3, 4) pivotally secured at a first of their ends (30, 40) by a connector (5). The first strap portion (3) includes a pair of slots (35a, 35b) along its length, which terminate at a second end (34) of the first strap portion (3) to form slot ends (36a, 36b). The second strap portion (4) includes three pairs of hooks (45a, 45b, 46a, 46b, 47a, 47b) along its length, which are receivable within the slots (35a, 35b) and configured to engage the slot ends (36a, 36b). The strap (3, 4) is configured to be wrapped around a pipe (10) with the first strap portion (3) overlapping the second strap portion (4) such that the second strap portion (4) is between the first strap portion (3) and the pipe (10) and one of the hook pairs (45a and 45b, 46a and 46b, 47a and 47b) is in engagement with the slot ends (36a, 36b). Each hook pair (45a and 45b, 46a and 46b, 47a and 47b) is spaced one from the next along the length of the second strap portion (4) such that the strap (3, 4) defines an opening for receiving the pipe (10) that is dependent upon which of the hook pairs (45a and 45b, 46a and 46b, 47a and 47b) is in engagement with the slot ends (36a, 36b).
US10018293B2	Male fluidic connecting element and connector comprising such an element and a female mating element A male connecting element and a connector comprising the male connecting element and a female connecting element are disclosed. The male connecting element comprises a tubular body and a tubular plug, for the passage of fluid, having a flange for hooking up one or more claws of a female element. The body includes a sleeve that is axially movable around the plug between a first position where it is away from the flange, and a second position where it is closer to the flange or in abutment to the flange. The sleeve allows the male element to move axially away then radially clearing each claw of the flange before removal of the male element out of the female element. Advantageously, the claws avoid abutting against the flange of the male element upon uncoupling, thereby minimizing wear and tear of the claws against the flange.
US10018291B2	Air aspiration device Embodiments of the invention provide a removable clamp for coupling an adaptor to a pipe delivering a solution, the removable clamp having a button in order to maintain an angular relationship between the adapter and the pipe. Other embodiments of the invention provide a fluid delivery system having clamps with buttons coupling a tee adaptor to sections of a boom in order to maintain an angular relationship between the sections of the boom.
US10018290B2	Pressing ring, joint, and valve A first projection is formed on the outer periphery of a bulb part, a second projection is formed on the socket rear end of the bulb part, a tapered part is formed with a decreasing diameter from the inner periphery of a heel part to the inner periphery of the second projection, and a third projection is formed on the tapered part. A first dimension B from the first projection to the third projection in an inclination direction opposite to an inclination direction G of the tapered part is smaller than a second dimension C from the first projection to the second projection in a radial direction A.
US10018289B2	Elongate tape element and method An elongate tape element, a flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The tape element (508) has a cross-sectional profile comprising a body portion (510) for being positioned between collapse resistant tape windings (501) such that each body portion (510) lies at least partially in a gap (512) between adjacent collapse resistant tape windings (501); and at least one wing portion (516) extending from an end region of the body portion, the at least one wing portion configured to span the gap and respectively abut with a radially inner surface of an adjacent collapse resistant tape winding.
US10018287B2	Weather barrier for a building penetration There is provided a weather barrier for an opening in a wall of a building and a utility that passes through the opening. The weather barrier has a sheet of flexible and water resistant non-elastic material, which has an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter that defines a central passage that is larger than an outer diameter of the utility. A sheet of elastomeric material is sealably attached to the sheet of non-elastic material at the inner perimeter. The sheet of elastomeric material extends inward from the inner perimeter and defines a central opening that is smaller than the outer diameter of the utility. When the sheets of non-elastic and elastomeric material are disposed in a flat position, the sheet of non-elastic material defines a plane and the sheet of elastomeric material is parallel to and in line with the plane of the sheet of non-elastic material.
US10018285B2	Method for connecting a bottom pipe and a riser pipe A facility and a method for connecting a bottom submarine pipe (14) and a riser submarine pipe. The riser submarine pipe has an upstream end (62) with a fitting (66) on the end thereof, while the bottom submarine pipe (14) has a downstream end (46) provided with a connecting end piece (50). The method includes the following steps: a) an anchoring support (38) is supplied; b) the upstream end (62) and the downstream end (46) are held, while the fitting (66) extends facing the connecting end piece (50); and c) the fitting (66) and the connecting end piece (50) are brought towards each other for connection. The fitting (66) of the upstream end (62) is held still in relation to the anchoring support (38), and the connecting end piece (50) is moved towards the fitting (66).
US10018284B2	Laying device and method for laying a pipeline on the bed of a body of water A laying device configured to lay a pipeline on the bed of a body of water having a frame; a movable member mounted on the frame and configured to be placed in contact with a pipeline extending along a longitudinal axis and equipped with special parts; and at least one actuator configured to transmit rotation to the movable member to apply corrective torsion on the pipeline.
US10018275B2	Sealing arrangement for an underwater mountable thruster of a marine vessel A sealing arrangement is used when mounting a thruster in a well box attached to a hull of a marine vessel. The well box has an axis, a bottom flange, a top flange, an annular wall therebetween and hoisting pipes fastened parallel with the axis to the bottom flange radially outside the annular wall. Both the well box and a mounting flange have at least one surface acting as a sealing surface between the well box and the thruster. At least one of the surfaces has a groove for a seal for preventing water from entering the well box. The well box has a rotationally symmetric wall with an internal guide surface and the mounting flange of the thruster has an axially extending rotationally symmetric part provided with an outer surface having means for sealing the mounting flange in relation to the well box.
US10018272B2	Scavenger pump seal and radial shaft seal assembly therewith A scavenger pump seal and radial shaft seal assembly therewith are provided. The scavenger pump seal includes an inner case configured for fixed attachment to a shaft for conjoint rotation with the shaft and an outer case configured for fixed receipt in a housing in which the shaft rotates. The inner case has an innermost wall sized for a press fit on the shaft and an outermost wall. An absorbent member is fixed to the inner case with the outermost wall overlying the absorbent member, thereby preventing the absorbent member from moving radially outwardly. The outer case has an outermost wall sized for fixed receipt in the housing, and facilitates preventing the egress of oil to the external environment.
US10018267B2	Vehicle transmission control module reset detection and mitigation A system and method for controlling a vehicle include a manual transmission operated by a controller in communication with shift actuators and programmed to, in response to each controller reset less than a threshold number of resets, control each shift actuator that was not moving at the time of the reset based on respective shift actuator positions stored prior to the reset, and to control the shift actuators to limit available gear ratios in response to the reset exceeding the threshold number of resets.
US10018263B2	Drive transmission mechanism A drive transmission mechanism includes plural gears having meshing teeth and a recessed or projecting portion provided on a side surface of at least one of the gears. The side surface crosses a rotation axis of the at least one of the gears. The recessed or projecting portion is at least one of a cavity and a protrusion having a ridge that extends so as to follow an outline of at least one of the teeth and that serves as a marking for measuring wear of the at least one of the teeth.
US10018262B2	Hydrokinetic torque coupling device having turbine-piston lockup clutch, and related methods A hydrokinetic torque coupling device features a casing (12) including an impeller shell (18), a casing shell (20), and an intermediate casing component (22) connecting the impeller and casing shells. The intermediate casing component (22) includes a casing wall portion and a piston engagement portion (26) extending inward from and being non-rotatable relative to the casing wall portion. The device further features an impeller (30) including the impeller shell (20). The turbine-piston (32) is coaxially aligned with and hydrodynamically drivable by the impeller (30), and includes a turbine-piston shell (35) having a turbine-piston flange (38) with an engagement surface that is movable axially toward and away from an engagement surface of the piston engagement portion to position the hydrokinetic torque coupling device respectively into and out of a lockup mode.
US10018258B2	Actuator having an associated locking device and torque limiter The invention relates to an actuator comprising a stationary structure and an actuating element that is movable relative to the stationary structure, a device for locking the actuating element in position which is mounted on the stationary structure and has a state for locking and a state for releasing the actuating element. The locking device comprises, successively, a stress limiter and at least one locking element so arranged as to be butting against one surface of the actuating element, in order to oppose a motion of the actuating element in a predetermined direction. The actuator comprises a member for controlling the locking device in the releasing state thereof and a member for resiliently returning the locking device to the locking state thereof.
US10018257B2	Roller screw mechanism and associated manufacturing method A roller screw mechanism comprises a screw having an outer thread and a nut disposed around and coaxially with the screw. The nut comprises an inner thread. A plurality of rollers are disposed radially between the screw and the nut; each roller being provided with an outer thread engaged with the outer and inner threads of the screw and of the nut and with two outer gear teeth. The mechanism also comprises two synchronizing gear teeth that are each engaged with one of the gear teeth of the rollers. An outside diameter of each gear teeth of each roller is less than a diameter of a root of the thread of the roller. Each tooth of the gear teeth of the rollers comprises planar faces that engage with the synchronizing gear teeth.
US10018254B2	Belt drive system for an internal combustion engine A belt drive system for rotatably coupling an internal combustion engine to an electric machine is described. The belt drive system includes a serpentine belt and a hydraulic strut tensioner, wherein the hydraulic strut tensioner is disposed to exert a tension force on the serpentine belt. A controller is operatively connected to the electric machine and includes an instruction set that is executable to periodically induce a reduction in torque output of the electric machine.
US10018253B2	Transmission for a vehicle A transmission for a motor vehicle includes a first planetary gear set with at least three central gears which are formed by a ring gear and two sun gears or by two ring gears and one sun gear. A second planetary gear set includes two central gears which are formed by one ring gear and one sun gear. One of the central gears of the second planetary gear set is constantly connected in a torque-proof manner to one of the central gears of the first planetary gear set. The one of the central gears of the first planetary gear set differs from and is arranged in a common gear set plane with the one of the central gears of the second planetary gear set. A carrier of the first planetary gear set is constantly connected in a torque-proof manner to a carrier of the second planetary gear set.
US10018252B2	Double-clutch gearbox of countershaft design A dual-clutch transmission includes four gear levels, which form discrete spur gear transmission ratio stages. A planetary gear set is connected or connectable to one of a first input shaft and a second input shaft. The planetary gear set is connected or connectable to one of the four gear levels such that at least a first forward gear and a second forward gear are shiftable as winding path gears with a simultaneous load switching capability of at least the first three forward gears.
US10018248B2	Synchronous belt with tough fabric A belt having an elastomeric body, a tensile cord embedded therein, and a tooth fabric having an increased value of Fabric Tensile Toughness as defined herein. The Fabric Tensile Toughness may be derived from properties of the yarns making up the fabric, such as yarn linear density, yarn ultimate elongation, yarn tensile strength, yarn packing density and weave ratio. The Fabric Tensile Toughness may be greater than 60 mJ/mm2. The belt may be a toothed belt of cast polyurethane with carbon fiber tensile cord. Also disclosed is a method of improving a known tooth cover fabric for a toothed power transmission belt involving selecting a different fabric having a higher Fabric Tensile Toughness than the known fabric and orienting the different fabric so the direction of highest Fabric Tensile Toughness is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the belt.
US10018247B2	Fabric for toothed power transmission belt and belt A fabric for reinforcing a power transmission belt including fibers of polyarylene sulfide and a belt utilizing the fabric. The fabric may have textured or elastic core wrapped stretch yarns in the longitudinal direction. Longitudinal yarns may include PPS and textured transverse yarns include nylon. Yarns may include blends of high performance fibers and nylon or other fibers.
US10018241B2	Vibration isolator Provided is a vibration isolator (10) including a partition member (15) configured to partition a liquid chamber of a first attachment member (11) into a main liquid chamber (16a) disposed at one side in an axial direction and a subsidiary liquid chamber (16b) disposed at the other side in the axial direction, and a movable plate (18) displaced according to a pressure difference between the main liquid chamber (16a) and the subsidiary liquid chamber (16b), wherein an accommodating chamber (29) configured to accommodate the movable plate (18), a first communication hole (23) configured to bring the accommodating chamber (29) in communication with the main liquid chamber (16a), and a second communication hole (24) configured to bring the accommodating chamber (29) in communication with the subsidiary liquid chamber (16b) are formed in the partition member (15). An opening area in the partition member (15) of the first communication hole (23) is larger than that in the partition member (15) of the second communication hole (24).
US10018240B2	Servicing procedure for single-stage mixed fluid/gas shock strut Methods for servicing shock struts are provided. In various embodiments, a method for servicing a shock strut may comprise deflating the shock strut; compressing the shock strut until the shock strut is in a fully compressed position; and charging the shock strut with a liquid until a pressure of the liquid decreases a volume of a residual air located inside of the shock strut. In various embodiments, charging the shock strut with liquid under pressure may reduce the volume of trapped air inside of the shock strut to a negligible volume, eliminating the servicing variations.
US10018239B2	Travel control for a gas spring and gas spring having very short travel modes A gas spring capbale of having long and short travel modes is described. The gas spring uses liquid in combination with pressurized air to affect the travel length. Unlike conventional gas springs, the gas spring according to the invention may have its travel reduced more than for example, by 50%.
US10018236B2	Attachable high-Mn steel brake disk An attachable high-manganese steel brake disk includes a first disk member including air vents disposed radially therein to be spaced apart from each other, and a pair of second disk members installed to be attached to two surfaces of the first disk member and having a braking surface in contact with a brake pad. Between the first disk member and the second disk members, at least the second disk members are provided as high manganese steel members.
US10018234B2	Apparatus for controlling coasting operation in hybrid vehicle, system including the same, method thereof An apparatus and a method for controlling a coasting operation in a hybrid vehicle are provided. The apparatus includes: a coasting operation control mode entrance time point determination unit to determine a time point at which a subject vehicle enters a coasting operation control mode; a target vehicle speed reach time point calculation unit to calculate a target vehicle speed of the subject vehicle and a time point, at which the subject vehicle reaches the target vehicle speed, when the subject vehicle enters the coasting operation control mode; and a creep torque variation control unit to control creep torque of the subject vehicle using a difference between the target vehicle speed and a present vehicle speed of the subject vehicle.
US10018228B2	Split boot with zipper closure A split boot design for applications that contain Constant Velocity (CV) joints and/or other bearing assemblies where boots and/or covers are employed for, e.g., protection from the outside environment, assisting in retaining lubrication for the assembly, etc. A split boot design in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes zippers along one or more axial seams, providing easier replacement of the boot and decreased manufacturing costs.
US10018227B2	Electrical food preparation device comprising a working tool that removably engages on a drive mechanism An electrical food preparation device including a drive mechanism (3) rotated by a motor and a working tool (4, 5, 6, 7) including a bushing that removably engages on the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism including a section provided with at least one drive ramp that mates with a complementary drive ramp carried by said bushing in order to rotate said working tool, the drive ramp having an inclination designed such that the rotation of the drive mechanism in the direction of rotation of the motor generates a force on the bushing that tends to keep it engaged on the drive mechanism, the drive mechanism also including at least one retaining surface (33) that comes into contact with a stop carried by the working tool when the drive mechanism rotates in the reverse direction, the retaining surface and the stop having shapes that mate each other to prevent the bushing from rising back up along the drive mechanism when the motor stops suddenly, wherein the retaining surface is provided on a different part of the drive mechanism from the section supporting the drive ramp.
US10018226B2	Linear motion guide unit A linear motion guide unit includes a guide rail and a slider. A carriage of the slider has a central portion located above the guide rail, and wing portions which extend downward from widthwise opposite ends of the central portion. Shoulder portions of the carriage located in inner boundary regions between the central portion and the wing portions of the carriage have first inclined surface so that the shoulder portions have padding portions. Corner portions of the guide rail located between an upper surface and longitudinal sides of the guide rail have second inclined surfaces which face the first inclined surfaces of the carriage and extend in the longitudinal direction parallel to the first inclined surfaces. The first inclined surfaces have an inclination angle substantially the same as an inclination angle of the nose surfaces of threaded holes formed in the carriage for attachment of a counterpart member.
US10018222B2	Sliding member A resin coating layer in a sliding member has a surface shape indicated by a shape line. This shape line is divided into recessed sections and protruding sections by an average line for uneven areas. The inclination R of a straight line connecting the bottom of these recessed sections and the peak of these protruding sections is classified into Ra: R<0.02, Rb: 0.02≤R≤0.04, and Rc: 0.04
US10018219B2	Hollow drive shaft and method for manufacturing same Provided are a hollow drive shaft and a method for manufacturing the same in which a concentrated load to a weak point which may be occurred by differences of sectional thicknesses and outer diameters of the shaft is dispersed so that the strength may be uniform throughout the whole length of the drive shaft. The hollow drive shaft includes: one or more small-diameter portion having a hollow shape; and a large-diameter portion which is disposed in a vicinity of the small-diameter portion and has an outer diameter relatively greater than the small-diameter portion. A sectional thickness of the large-diameter portion is less than a sectional thickness of the small-diameter portion, and a first sectional portion from an outer surface to a point corresponding to 35% to 60% of a sectional thickness of the large-diameter portion is carburized to have a first hardness.
US10018215B2	Fastener for installation tool for roof truss framing and construction system An installation tool fastener is particularly adapted for fastening a top plate to a roof support member and other structural connections and is particularly adapted for use with an installation tool. The installation tool fastener has a head with a maximum head diameter and a recess for coupling with a drive coupler. The shank of the head has an unthreaded portion and a uniform thread which has a major diameter approximately equal to the maximum diameter of the head. The head preferably has a slight taper. The thread preferably has a 7.5 thread per inch pitch and a thread angle from approximately 25° to 45°. In one embodiment for a 6 inch fastener, the thread length is approximately 5 inches and extends along the tapered distal tip.
US10018214B2	Fastener, in particular for fastening vehicle trim panels to a support A fastener includes a head and snap-engaging portion that includes: —a shank projecting from the head and having a proximal end connected to the head and a distal end spaced from the head, and—two elastic arms in the form of a V, with respective first ends connected to the distal end and respective second ends arranged in the proximity of the head and spaced in the transverse direction on opposite sides of the shank, so as to form an arrow head shape, wherein the snap-engaging portion includes a substantially U-shaped retaining structure having two open ends connected integrally to the respective second ends of the elastic arms and a rounded portion which surrounds without contact the distal end of the shank, wherein the retaining structure has two snap-engaging seats which are open outwards, each being situated between the rounded portion and a respective open end.
US10018213B2	Expansion anchor having a high-strength expansion sleeve in certain areas An expansion anchor is provided having a stud and at least one expansion sleeve that surrounds the stud, whereby, on the stud, there is an expansion cone that radially widens the expansion sleeve when the expansion cone is pulled into the expansion sleeve. It is provided that the expansion sleeve has a hardness of more than 350 HV in the area of its front end facing the expansion cone, whereby the hardness of the expansion sleeve decreases towards its rear end. A production method for such an expansion anchor is also provided.
US10018212B1	Blind bolt and tool combination A blind bolt and tool is used for fastening a bolt through a hole in a structure when only one side of the structure is accessible. A receiver is formed on the tip end of a bolt shaft opposite from a bolt head. Internal threads are formed within the receiver proximate an outward end, and a hex socket is formed in the inward end of the receiver. External threads and a guide are formed on a tip of the tool, and the external threads mate with the internal threads in the receiver to hold the bolt during installation. A hex key on one end of the tool engages the hex socket in the receiver so that the tool may impose a torque on the bolt when a nut is being tightened on the bolt. In another embodiment, a splined tip is formed on the end of the bolt. The tip is designed to shear off when a sufficient torque is applied. Also, a shim is configured to fit between structures held together by the blind bolt.
US10018207B2	Arrangement for charging an accumulator An arrangement for charging an accumulator with hydraulic fluid is provided. The accumulator is used in a hydraulic boom suspension system for a lift arm of a vehicle and the arrangement includes a first hydraulic pump arranged to supply hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic cylinder system of the lift arm, and a second hydraulic pump arranged to supply hydraulic fluid to a second hydraulic system. The second hydraulic pump is further arranged to supply hydraulic fluid for charging the accumulator.
US10018206B2	Impeller having balance compensation The invention relates to an impeller (1) for a fan, in particular an axial or radial fan having a hub (2) for connecting the impeller (1) to a drive motor and having fan blades (6) which are arranged circumferentially around the hub (2) and having pockets (9) in the hub region, having balance weights (15) which can be fastened therein, aligned in the axial direction. The balance weights (15) are made of U-shaped, bent weight clips made of spring-elastic material, having at least two opposite clip legs extending parallel to each other which are connected to each other via a bend section, and comprise a clamping gap between the clip legs. One of the clip legs extends within the pockets (9) and the other clip leg extends outside of the pockets (9), such that there is a clamping seat on a pocket wall (12) extending in the clamping gap.
US10018205B2	Impeller shaft A connected impeller and shaft is provided. The shaft has a first part which provides a threaded portion carrying a thread which screws onto a corresponding threaded portion of the impeller. The shaft also has a second part which provides an abutment surface for engaging a corresponding abutment surface of the impeller when the threaded portions are screwed together, thereby tightening the threads to provide a rotationally fixed connection between the impeller and the shaft. The first part is rotationally fixed relative to the second part at a joint. The threaded portion of the shaft is axially spaced a first distance from the abutment surface of the shaft. The threaded portion of the shaft is axially spaced from the joint by a second distance which is greater than the first distance. The threaded portion of the shaft and the joint are on the same side of the impeller.
US10018204B2	Fan and fan module The invention relates to a fan and a fan module, wherein the fan comprises: a fan hub which comprises a fan rotation axis to rotate in a predetermined direction, a plurality of fan blades comprising a lower end and an upper end, wherein each fan blade is attached with its lower end to the fan hub and extends radially outwardly from the fan hub, wherein each fan blade comprises a lower back sweep portion and an upper forward sweep portion, wherein a maximum ratio r/R of the lower back sweep portion is at least 0.90, wherein r is the local radius of a point of the fan blade edge, and R is the radius of the upper end of the fan blade.
US10018203B2	Al alloy cast impeller for compressor and process for producing same An aluminum alloy cast impeller has a stable high-temperature strength (e.g., 0.2% proof stress value of 260 MPa or more) at about 200° C. A boss part, blade parts, and a disc part have secondary dendrite arm spacings of 20 to 50 μm, 10 to 35 μm, and 5 to 25 μm, respectively, and satisfy the relationship Amax>Bmax>Cmax, where Amax, Bmax, and Cmax are the maximum values of the secondary dendrite arm spacings of the boss part, the blade parts, and the disc part, respectively. During casting, Al alloy molten metal is pressure injected into a 200 to 350° C. plaster mold. A 100 to 250° C. chill occurs on a surface in contact with an impeller disc surface, so that the chill temperature (° C.)<(plaster mold temperature−50° C.).
US10018201B2	Fan and mould for making the same Embodiments of the application disclose a fan and a mold for making a fan blade structure for the fan. An embodiment of the fan comprises a fan blade structure and the fan blade structure comprises a mounting ring and a plurality of fan blades provided on the mounting ring, wherein mounting ring and the fan blades are integrally formed. The mold comprises a mounting ring and a plurality of fan blades provided on the mounting ring, the mold comprising a cavity having a ring-shaped channel configured for forming the mounting ring and a plurality of fan blade channels configured for forming the plurality of fan blades, in order to integrally form the fan blade structure.
US10018200B2	Self-contained cold plate for cooling electronic components of an electric fan A fan (10) includes: an external ferrule (12), whose internal surface (20) delimits a vein of air (14), a wheel (26) provided with blades (28) rotatably mounted in the ferrule (12) for setting into motion the vein of air, a motor (22) for driving the wheel (26), an electric circuit (40) including components (44) for controlling and powering the motor (22), which circuit (40) includes elements for cooling the components (44) by circulating air taken from the vein of air (14), wherein the cooling elements include a downstream area intake tapping aperture (52) and an upstream tapping aperture (54, 56) for reintroducing air formed through the internal surface (20) of the ferrule (12), and at least one continuous cooling conduit (50) connecting the upstream and downstream tapping apertures isolating the components (44) of the electric circuit from the air circulating in the cooling conduit.
US10018199B2	Variable displacement pump A variable displacement pump includes: a first pressure control chamber; a second pressure control chamber; a spring arranged to urge the cam ring in a second swing direction; a hydraulic pressure supply valve arranged to be opened by a predetermined hydraulic pressure, and thereby to introduce a control hydraulic pressure to the first control chamber; a connection passage formed in the housing or the cam ring, and arranged to connect the first pressure control chamber and the second pressure control chamber; and a relief circuit arranged to connect the second pressure control chamber and a low pressure side, to be opened or closed in accordance with a swing position of the cam ring, and to be closed when the cam ring is swung by a predetermined amount in the first direction.
US10018193B2	Peristaltic submersible pump A system for displacing fluid inside of a tubular member includes at least one peristaltic pump. Each peristaltic pump includes an elongated core member with a longitudinal axis located within the tubular member. A flexible member surrounds, and is concentric to, the elongated core member. The flexible member has a plurality of circular bands disposed along a length of the flexible member, each circular band being moveable between a contracted condition with a minimal radius and an expanded condition with a maximal radius. An outer membrane covers the circular bands, forming a first fluid cavity between an outer surface of the outer membrane and an inner surface of the tubular member. The outer membrane is operable to generate peristaltic waves in the first fluid cavity by selectively moving each circular band between the contracted condition and the expanded condition.
US10018192B2	Piston pump arrangement for hygienic processing applications A membrane arrangement to be placed between a product chamber and a hydraulic oil chamber is provided. The membrane arrangement comprises a first membrane and a second membrane. Between the membranes in a membrane interior space a marker liquid is placed. By using a sensor it can be detected when product or hydraulic oil enters the membrane interior space, which in turn means that a rupture of any of the two membranes may be detected in a reliable and cost efficient way.
US10018191B2	Cylinder apparatus Apparatus configuration in which: a piston (10) is inserted into a housing (1) ascendably and descendably; and pressurized oil supplied to and discharged from a driving chamber (11) arranged above the piston (10). An output rod (15) inserted into an upper wall (2) of the housing (1) protrudes upward from the piston (10). A descent-detecting first detection valve (31) and an ascent-detecting second detection valve (32) arranged outside the periphery of the output rod (15) and in the upper wall (2), circumferentially spaced apart at a predetermined interval. Each first detection valve (31) and second detection valve (32) has an operated portion (49) (79) which faces the piston (10) from above. The apparatus is configured so that pressurized air for detection is supplied through a first supply passage (B1) and a second supply passage (B2) inlets (31a) (32a) of the first detection valve (31) and the second detection valve (32), respectively.
US10018186B2	Wind turbines and methods Wind turbines are provided comprising a support structure having a tower and a nacelle mounted on the support structure. A first region (damper region) of the wind turbine including at least a first part of the nacelle is flexibly coupled to a second region (to be damped) of the wind turbine including at least the support structure. Methods are also provided for determining a suitable stiffness of the flexible coupling of the damper region to the region to be damped of any one of said wind turbines. These methods comprise determining a modal mass of the region to be damped depending on a given tower bending mode; and determining the stiffness of the flexible coupling of the damper region to the region to be damped depending on the calculated modal mass of the region to be damped and on the mass of the damper region.
US10018183B2	Rotating system for a wind turbine A rotating system (1), such as a gear system or a bearing supporting system, for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotating system (1) comprises a housing (2) arranged to substantially enclose the rotating system (1), said housing (2) defining a lubricant drain (5) towards the exterior of the housing (2), and a rotating part (3) accommodated in an interior part of the housing (2) in a manner which allows rotational movements of the rotating part (3) relative to the housing (2), and in such a manner that lubricant can be contained between the housing (2) and the rotating part (3). The housing (2) and/or the rotating part (3) is/are arranged to provide a pumping action forcing lubricant arranged in an interior part of the housing (2) towards the lubricant drain (5) during rotational movements of the rotating part (3) relative to the housing (2). Excess lubricant is quickly and efficiently removed from the rotating part (3) and led to the lubricant drain (5). Thereby a slip stream of lubricant is reduced. Accordingly, the friction occurring in the rotating system (1) is considerably reduced, and the efficiency of the rotating system (1) is therefore increased. Simultaneously, the outer dimensions of the rotating system (1) can be minimized because it is not necessary to generally increase the distance between the rotating part (3) and the housing (2) in order to avoid a lubricant slip stream. Furthermore, a method for operating such a rotating system (1) is disclosed.
US10018182B2	Turbine driven by wind or motor and method for generating electricity A turbine for generating electrical power includes oppositely rotating wheels which can be driven primarily by wind for driving a plurality of electrical power generators, or by a motor which may be a diesel, solar, electrical, or alternative fuel motor. One or more of the generators can also function as motors for driving the wheels. A method for generating electrical power involves a pair of wheels which rotate oppositely on a central shaft and a plurality of generators driven by the rotation of the wheels for generating power. The rotation of the wheels can be adjusted to a desired speed having regard to the current velocity of the wind and by means of a motor which is connected to the wheels so as to impart rotation thereof.
US10018181B2	Airflow power installations A stationary power installation for conversion of wind airflow energy is proposed, including a cylindrical body having a top rim radially protruded from the body's walls. The rim includes —a groove on its upper surface, —guide rollers, —support rollers peripherally mounted on the groove's bottom. The installation includes an upper level mounted above the body, having columns supporting a roof, a net screen peripherally surrounding the upper level's inner space, support members supporting an air compressor associated with a compressed air storage, a compressor gear conveying rotation to the compressor, a top shaft, a shutter including a lateral arc member having a bottom edge mounted in the groove and movable between the guide and support rollers, a nave situated above the roof, top bridge rods fixed to the top of arc member, a counter-load mounted diameteraly opposite to the arc member, a flat wind vane, and a brake mechanism.
US10018180B2	Wind power plant with reduced losses The present invention relates to a method for controlling a wind power plant, the wind power plant comprising a plurality of wind turbine generators, each wind turbine generator comprising at least one power converter for providing active power and/or reactive power to an electrical grid, wherein the method is determining a required amount of reactive power provided by the plurality of wind turbine generators, and grouping the plurality of wind turbine generators into a first set of wind turbine generators and a second set of wind turbine generators based on a demand for reactive power; and supplying reactive power to the grid (20) from the first set of wind turbine generators and disconnecting the second set of wind turbine generators from the electrical grid (20) in response to a control demand, in order to minimize active power losses. The present invention also relates to a wind power plant arranged to perform the method.
US10018176B2	System comprising a vertical turbine with flow guides Vertical electrical energy generators are described. A vertical wind turbine system contains one or two vertical turbines, paired aside each other, and a frontal fluid flow diverter for diverting of the running fluid flow, as well as a cover, which covers the upper part of the turbine(s). The system includes an additional rear fluid flow diverter, which is installed behind one or both turbines and is configured so as to divert fluid flow running above the cover to the rear part of the turbine(s), creating secondary fluid flow in the blades of the turbine(s).
US10018170B2	Integrated arrangement of a high-pressure valve and an injection rail An arrangement of a high-pressure valve at the end of a common rail of a fuel injection system, a high-pressure channel of the rail opening out at one extremity of the rail, includes a throttle stopper arranged at the extremity of the rail. An output orifice restricts a section of the high-pressure channel and a valve seat is positioned in the throttle stopper. The output channel is fully formed inside the valve body.
US10018167B2	Combustion chamber assembly with an air swirler and a fuel injector having inter-engaging faces A combustion chamber includes an upstream end wall having an aperture and a fuel injector. An air swirler is mounted such that the air swirler is movable radially with respect to the aperture. An inner wall of the air swirler has a first portion. A fuel injector head of the fuel injector is arranged coaxially within the air swirler. An outer wall of the fuel injector head has a first portion. The inner diameter of the first portion of the air swirler is less than the outer diameter of the first portion of the fuel injector head. One of the first portions is elastically radially deformable to allow the fuel injector head to be installed and removed from the air swirler. The inner wall and the outer wall have inter-engaging radially and axially extending faces to align the fuel injector head axially and radially within the air swirler.
US10018166B2	Fuel filter of an internal combustion engine and filter element of a fuel filter A filter (10) with a filter element (36) are described. A housing (12) includes at least one fuel inlet, fuel outlet (18) and a water outlet (30) for water separated from the fuel. The filter element (36) within the housing separates the fuel inlet (26) from the fuel outlet (18). The filter element (36) includes a hollow body filter medium (38) flowed through radially. A water separation unit (56) with a hollow body hydrophobic fuel-permeable separating medium (66) separates water contained in the fuel and includes at least one support structure disposed in the flow path (78) in such a way that a precipitation gap (74) is realized between the filter medium (38) and the separating medium (66). The precipitation gap (74) is connected with the water outlet (30).
US10018165B1	Fuel lines having multiple layers and assemblies thereof A layered fuel line for an engine fuel system includes a plurality of layers. The fuel line includes an inner layer and an outer layer material having a relatively high temperature resistance. The fuel line can include a barrier layer and intermediate layers. The fuel line can be included in a fuel line assembly that includes fittings capable of connecting to engine fuel system components. Silicone boots wrapping the fittings can increase the high temperature resistance of the assembly.
US10018164B2	Gas compressor pressure relief noise reduction A gas compressor assembly configured to pressurize an airflow received from the ambient for delivery to an internal combustion engine having a cylinder includes a compressor housing. A compressor wheel is disposed inside the compressor housing and configured to pressurize the airflow. A compressor bypass is configured to direct the pressurized airflow away from the cylinder. A pressure relief valve is configured to selectively open and close the compressor bypass to thereby limit pressure of the pressurized airflow and minimize surge of the compressor wheel. A baffle arranged inside the compressor bypass is configured to dissipate energy of a sound wave generated by the pressurized airflow upon an initial opening of the pressure relief valve. An internal combustion engine employing such a turbocharger is also disclosed.
US10018160B2	Variable capacity, configurable hydrocarbon emissions trap Methods and systems are provided for a vapor canister couple to a fuel tank of a vehicle. A series of fluidically coupled, variable capacity bleed elements, externally coupled to a sidewall of the vapor canister, capture the bleed emissions resulting from desorption of fuel vapors from an adsorbent material inside the vapor canister. The series of bleed elements may be fluidically coupled through flow paths passing through the vapor canister wall, connecting through a first flow path to a chamber inside the vapor canister and connecting through a second flow path to a vent port of the vapor canister.
US10018155B2	System and methods for extracting water from a mechanical air conditioning system for water injection Methods and systems are provided for adjusting an amount of friction brake effort and an air conditioning compressor load to collect water for water injection into an engine. In one example, a method may include adjusting the AC compressor load of a mechanical air conditioning system and an amount of friction brake effort based on a water level in a water storage tank of the water injection system. Further, the method may include adjusting a ratio of the AC compressor load to friction brake effort to deliver a driver demanded brake effort.
US10018154B2	Fuel system for bi-fuel vehicle and method of filling bi-fuel vehicle with LPG fuel using the same A fuel system for a bi-fuel vehicle, which is provided with an engine and an LPG tank connected to each other through a fuel supply line and a fuel return line through which liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel passes, includes: a 3-way valve which is installed in the fuel return line, and selectively opened and closed to move returning LPG fuel to a canister connected with a fuel tank; and a return tube, which branches off from the fuel return line, installed so that the returning LPG fuel passes through the canister in accordance with an operation of the 3-way valve, allowing the LPG fuel of which the temperature is decreased by heat exchange while the LPG fuel passes through the canister to move to the fuel return line.
US10018152B2	Turbojet engine nacelle including a thrust reversing device with doors, including inner flanks on the sides of an opening A turbojet engine nacelle includes a thrust reversing device having doors that swing to brake a direct gas flow, guiding it through counter-thrust openings, and the inside of each door has, at the front, a cavity receiving a spoiler turned towards the front when this door is open. The nacelle includes a fixed structure upstream from each door supporting a deflection edge that partially covers the cavity. In particular, the fixed structure supports, on each side, counter-thrust openings, a flank disposed in the continuation of the deflection edge and extending behind the cavity, which is incorporated into a leaf of the door.
US10018151B2	Methods and apparatus to vary reverse thrust of aircraft engines Methods and apparatus to vary reverse thrust of aircraft engines are disclosed. An example cascade apparatus disclosed herein includes a cascade frame having a first end, a second end, and a fixed structure extending between the first end and second end, where the cascade frame defines a slot. A cascade forms a reverse thrust flow path and at least a portion of the cascade is slidably coupled to the frame via the slot. The cascade slides relative the frame between a first position to produce a first reverse thrust and a second position to produce a second reverse thrust, where the first reverse thrust is different than the second reverse thrust.
US10018150B2	Integrated TEC/mixer strut axial position A turbine exhaust case (TEC) of a turbofan aeroengine includes a mixer for mixing exhaust gases with a bypass air stream, the TEC comprising an annular hub and the mixer surrounding the hub, and a plurality of deswirling struts circumferentially spaced apart with respect to a central axis of the TEC and located entirely within an axial length of the mixer. The mixer defines a trailing edge having one or more upstream-most locations thereof where the mixing of the exhausted gases and the bypass air stream begins to take place. The deswirling struts each extend radially across the annular exhaust gas duct and interconnect the mixer and the hub, defining a trailing edge positioned upstream of and axially spaced away from the one or more upstream-most locations of the trailing edge of the mixer.
US10018149B2	Differential thermodynamic machine with a cycle of eight thermodynamic transformations, and control method The present invention refers to the technical field of thermodynamic engines, and more specifically to a heat engine that operates with gas in closed loop in differential configuration which is characterized by performing a thermodynamic cycle eight transformations or otherwise explain, it performs two thermodynamic cycles simultaneously, each with four interdependent, additional transformations, two of these transformations “isothermal” and two “adiabatic” in mass transfer in phases of adiabatic processing to provide a new performance curve no longer dependent solely on temperature but the mass transfer rate which allows the construction of machines with high yields and low thermal differentials.
US10018147B2	Piston for engine A piston for an engine includes a skirt part, and a resin coating film and a recess formed on a surface of the skirt part. A plurality of the resin coating films are discretely arranged in spots on the surface of the skirt part, and a mesh-like groove is formed by the recess provided between the resin coating films. The recess formed on the skirt part between the resin coating films adjacent to each other in a piston circumference direction is set to be adjacent to another resin coating film in a piston moving direction. An end part of the resin coating film in the piston moving direction is formed in a concave shape when seen in a piston radius direction.
US10018146B2	Piston with advanced catalytic energy release A piston capable of reducing undesirable “knock,” reducing hydrocarbon emissions, and providing more complete combustion, is provided. The piston includes a multilayer coating having a thickness of 500 microns or less disposed on an upper combustion surface. The coating includes a bond layer including nickel disposed on the upper combustion surface. A thermal barrier layer including a ceramic composition is disposed on the bond layer. A sealant layer formed of metal is disposed on the thermal barrier layer. A catalytic layer including at least one of platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, and iridium is disposed on the sealant layer. The catalytic layer can be disposed on select regions or the entire upper combustion surface to promote combustion through a catalyzed reaction.
US10018145B2	System and method for in-cylinder thermal energy recovery and controlling cylinder temperature Methods and systems are provided for an in-cylinder thermal energy recovery device that utilizes the Rankine Cycle to recover energy from exhaust gasses that may be used to produce additional work in the vehicle. In one example, a method may include outfitting the head area of each cylinder of an engine with a tube array comprising one or more tubes passing through the combustion chamber of the corresponding cylinder. Each tube array may receive an injection of working fluid that is based, in part, on the temperature of the tube array's corresponding cylinder, which may then be utilized to recover heat energy.
US10018139B2	Fuel injection device A fuel injection device is used in an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber partitioned by a cylinder head, a cylinder, and a piston crown surface so that at least one of the amount of NOx, Pmax, and a thermal efficiency η is maintained at a predetermined value. The fuel injection device includes a fuel injection change unit. The fuel injection change unit virtually divides the combustion chamber into N number of combustion zones where N is a natural number of 2 or more, and can change a fuel injection method according to the respective combustion zones. The fuel injection change unit divides the combustion chamber into the N number of combustion zones, thereby being capable of eliminating a difference of heat in the respective combustion zones, and precisely controlling an in-cylinder pressure P in the combustion chamber. As a result, the amount of NOx and the thermal efficiency can be optimized. Therefore, both of a reduction in the amount of NOx and the high thermal efficiency can be achieved.
US10018137B2	Control device for fuel injection system A control device for a fuel injection system includes a CPU which generates a drive signal for instructing execution of compression by a fuel pump; a fuel pump drive circuit which controls application of electric power to a solenoid of the fuel pump based on the drive signal; a boost circuit provided with a capacitor for storing electric power to be used for driving an injector; a charging circuit which leads a current generated when the application of electric power to the solenoid is stopped to the capacitor; and an excess electric power consumption circuit which consumes excess electric power of the capacitor. While fuel injection from the injector is stopped, the CPU counts the number of times the fuel pump is driven and turns off the drive signal so as to stop driving the fuel pump as soon as the drive count has exceeded a predetermined count value.
US10018136B1	Method and control system for controlling a marine internal combustion engine A method for controlling a marine engine for propelling a marine vessel includes receiving user input as a user input device to control acceleration of a marine vessel, detecting a rapid acceleration command based on the user input, and determining an advanced spark timing based on at least one of engine speed and engine load, wherein the advanced spark timing adjusts a base spark time by a spark advance offset. A fuel increase is then determined based on the spark advance offset, and then an increased fuel injection amount is determined by increasing a base fuel injection amount by the fuel increase. Spark and fuel delivery are then controlled for one or more cylinders of the marine engine based on the advanced spark timing and the increased fuel injection amount.
US10018135B2	Method for controlling engine RPM A method for controlling engine revolution per minute (RPM) includes: a frequency deriving process for deriving a frequency from change in engine RPM detected by a detector by a controller during driving of the engine; a frequency conversion process for converting a derivation frequency derived in the frequency deriving process into a conversion frequency via a predetermined conversion process by the controller; a frequency comparison process for comparing an amplitude of the conversion frequency at which engine RPM is to be changed among conversion frequencies converted in the frequency conversion process with an amplitude of a reference frequency pre-inputted to the controller; and a fuel injection amount adjusting process for deriving a correction value based on a result derived in the frequency comparison process, for applying the derived correction value, and for controlling an injector by the controller to adjust a fuel injection amount.
US10018128B2	Variable-speed supercharger for highly diluted internal combustion engines An engine control system includes an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders. An intake manifold is connected to the internal combustion engine. An exhaust manifold is connected to the internal combustion engine. A supercharger is connected to an air intake passage and the intake manifold and includes a variable speed drive. A throttle valve is disposed in the air intake passage. An exhaust passage is in connection with the exhaust manifold. A passive selective catalytic reduction catalyst system is in communication with the exhaust passage. An exhaust gas recirculation passage is in communication with the exhaust passage and the air intake passage and includes an exhaust gas recirculation valve. A controller controls the variable speed drive of the supercharger and the throttle valve and the exhaust gas recirculation valve based upon engine conditions.
US10018126B2	System and method for operating a diesel engine A power generating set includes an engine operable in response to a flow of fuel to produce a flow of exhaust gas, a generator coupled to the engine and operable in response to operation of the engine to produce a total electrical power, and a primary load electrically connected to the generator to receive a portion of the total electrical power, the primary load having a cyclical pattern. A battery bank is selectively connected to the generator to receive a portion of the total electrical power and an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is positioned to selectively transition between a connected state and a disconnected state. The battery bank is connected to the generator to charge the battery bank when the IGBT is in the connected state and is disconnected from the generator when the IGBT is in the disconnected state.
US10018117B2	Fluid circuit in a turbine engine A device for controlling feed of fluid to equipment, such as a heat exchanger, the device including: a fluid slide valve mounted in a fluid circuit including a slide movable between two positions, a first position in which it allows the fluid to flow through the equipment, and a second position in which it prevents the fluid from flowing through the equipment; a laminar flow constriction arranged in the fluid circuit upstream from the slide valve; and a drive mechanism moving the slide of the slide valve between its two positions by head loss of the fluid in the laminar flow constriction.
US10018116B2	Gas turbine engine buffer system providing zoned ventilation A gas turbine engine includes a first zone and a second zone downstream from the first zone. A buffer system can communicate a buffer cooling air to at least the first zone. A bleed source can communicate a bleed air to the second zone.
US10018115B2	System and method for high efficiency power generation using a carbon dioxide circulating working fluid The present invention provides methods and system for power generation using a high efficiency combustor in combination with a CO2 circulating fluid. The methods and systems advantageously can make use of a low pressure ratio power turbine and an economizer heat exchanger in specific embodiments. Additional low grade heat from an external source can be used to provide part of an amount of heat needed for heating the recycle CO2 circulating fluid. Fuel derived CO2 can be captured and delivered at pipeline pressure. Other impurities can be captured.
US10018114B2	Pressure reduction system A system for reducing pressure and extracting energy from natural gas pipelines or the cryogenics industry can include an electrolyzer that produces hydrogen, a heating device adapted to heat the natural gas in the pipeline, and a device adapted to extract energy from expansion of the natural gas. The extracted energy can be used to power the electrolyzer and/or heat the natural gas. The system can be used to extract energy from gas expansion.
US10018110B2	Double bar single wheel rotary combustion engine and the components thereof The inventive rotary engine comprises a cylindrical chamber inside a casing wherein there is a concentric rotatable power shaft and a rotatable asymmetric main wheel mounted eccentrically enough as such to avoid contact with the wall of cylindrical chamber. Additionally two bars traversing the main wheel radially further having a wiping contact with the cylindrical chamber wherein one bar is fixed with power shaft and other bar is hinged with said power shaft. A combustion process is in action within a demarcated combustion chamber whereby the combustion chamber rotatably travels from a bottom dead volume to a top dead volume and hence a power, generated during this path of rotational travel, is subsequently available for delivery at the concentric power shaft.
US10018109B2	Momentum driven fuel injection of steam and fuel vapor for compression ignition engines The present invention directly affects two primary limitations of diesel fuel: poor vaporization and ease of auto-ignition. Superheated fuel is injected within a cone of steam. As a result, fuel is fully vaporized and steam controls ignition by momentarily isolating fuel from air. In order to achieve high vapor velocities, the present invention uses momentum of circulating fuel and water to propel them through the injector. Momentum is preserved by transfer valves that transfer moving liquids between through paths and injection paths. Momentum is further preserved by an injector design that minimizes turbulence that would absorb energy and reduce injected velocity. The fuel and water may be superheated before injection to convert to steam and vapor upon the release of pressure when injected into the combustion chamber. The injector may also be used to achieve high injection velocity for liquid fuel injection without heating.
US10018106B2	Engine system with rotatable intake port An engine system is provided. The engine system includes a rotatable intake port circumferentially surrounding at least a portion of a stem of an intake valve coupled to a cylinder, the rotatable intake port having a first curved section extending inward toward or outward from a rotational axis of the rotatable intake port. The engine system further includes an intake port actuator coupled to the rotatable intake port configured to rotate the rotatable intake port about the rotational axis based on engine operating conditions.
US10018105B2	Engine structure for vehicle The present disclosure provides an engine structure for a vehicle. The engine structure includes: an intake port, a port plate provided in the single flow path of the intake port, and an injector. The port plate is longitudinally parallel to the flow path of the intake port so as to divide the flow path of the intake port into upper and lower flow paths, and the port plate includes an extension portion formed on part of a downstream end of the port plate such that the extension portion of the downstream end of the port plate extends longer than other portion of the downstream end of the port plate. In particular, the injector is provided in the intake port, and sprays fuel beyond the extension portion so as to inhibit the fuel from adhering to the port plate.
US10018104B2	Combustion ignition device for an internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine includes a combustion chamber formed by cooperation of a cylinder bore formed in a cylinder block, a cylinder head and a piston. A combustion ignition device is disposed in the combustion chamber and includes a nozzle defining a pre-chamber, a barrier discharge plasma igniter, including a tip portion disposed in the pre-chamber and a plurality of apertures disposed in the nozzle. The pre-chamber is in fluidic communication with the combustion chamber via the plurality of apertures. A controller is in communication with the engine and the barrier discharge plasma igniter.
US10018100B2	Internal combustion engine An internal combustion engine has a cooling jacket defined in the cylinder block for cooling at least an exhaust side of the cylinder. The cooling jacket at least partially surrounds the cylinder and includes a first cooling passage positioned between the exhaust passage and the first auxiliary exhaust passage, and a second cooling passage positioned between the exhaust passage and the second auxiliary exhaust passage. The cooling jacket on at least the exhaust side of the cylinder comprises an upper portion and a lower portion which are in fluid communication with each other via at least one of the first cooling passage and the second cooling passage.
US10018097B2	Methods and systems for exhaust gas heat recovery Methods and systems are provided for exhaust flow in an engine system including a split-exhaust manifold for expediting exhaust catalyst light-off and engine warm-up while reducing condensation in the engine system. In one example, a method may include, before exhaust catalyst light-off, flowing all or more exhaust gases, via a first exhaust valve and a first exhaust manifold, to an exhaust catalyst by passing a heat exchanger. Further, after light-off but before engine coolant warms up to a threshold temperature, all or more exhaust may be delivered to the heat exchanger, via a second exhaust valve and a second different manifold, prior to flowing to the exhaust catalyst; and exhaust gas recirculation may not be provided until the coolant reaches the threshold temperature to reduce condensation.
US10018094B2	Catalyst unit, method for producing the same, and exhaust gas catalyst A catalyst unit for an exhaust gas catalyst, having a ceramic catalyst body, and a metallic housing which encloses the catalyst body at least in some sections perpendicular to a gas throughflow direction. At least one bearing mat positioned between the catalyst body and the housing perpendicular to the throughflow direction. The catalyst body is retained in the housing via a force-closed press fit with the intermediate arrangement of the or each bearing mat such that, when seen in the throughflow direction of the catalyst body, the press fit between the housing and the catalyst body is formed exclusively at defined axial positions, the housing having groove-like depressions at the defined axial positions for reducing in some sections the inner cross-section of the housing, and the press fit between the housing and the catalyst body being formed exclusively in the region of the groove-like depressions.
US10018091B2	Exhaust system Methods and systems are provided for SCR devices cascaded along an exhaust passage. In one example, a method may include adjusting a reductant injection pressure based on a temperature of one or more of the SCR devices.
US10018090B2	Filter cartridge for a reducing agent delivery device and delivery device and motor vehicle having a filter cartridge A filter cartridge for a delivery device for a reducing agent includes at least one filter wall and at least one supporting wall together forming an interior space. The at least one supporting wall has an outflow opening and a bypass opening. The outflow opening can be coupled to the delivery device and the bypass opening bypasses the filter wall. A delivery device and a motor vehicle having a filter cartridge are also provided.
US10018087B2	Turbomachine accessory gearbox equipped with an air/oil separator The invention relates to an accessory gearbox (10) for a turbomachine, said gearbox being equipped with an air/oil separator (12) and comprising a casing (24) in which intermeshing pinions are mounted, one (18) of which is solidly connected to a coaxial shank (22) for driving at least one membrane filter (35) of the separator, characterized in that the membrane filter is mounted directly on a web of the pinion (18) inside the casing.
US10018086B2	Filter A filter for an internal combustion engine is used to separate liquid suspended particles from a gas discharged from a crankcase of the internal combustion engine to avoid a rise in engine crankcase pressure. The filter includes at least one filter portion for coarse separation, at least one filter portion for fine separation, and at least one drainage layer arranged within the at least one filter portion for fine separation.
US10018085B2	Method for preventing a premature ignition in an internal combustion engine and internal combustion engine Methods for preventing a premature ignition of a cylinder charge in advance of a planned ignition point in an internal combustion engine are provided. In one method, a pressure in a crankcase of the internal combustion engine is adjusted so as to prevent lubricating oil constituents from being transported from the crankcase to a combustion chamber of a cylinder of the internal combustion engine due to a pressure ratio between the crankcase and the combustion chamber. In another method, an ignition point for a cylinder of the internal combustion engine is adjusted in a given operating range of the internal combustion engine in such a way that the adjusted ignition point brings about a knocking combustion in the cylinder. Internal combustion engines having a device for preventing a premature ignition of a cylinder charge in advance of a planned ignition point are also provided.
US10018082B2	Variable valve mechanism A variable valve mechanism includes a cam shaft, a cam unit, a guide portion and a shift pin. The guide portion includes a guide plate provided on an outer periphery of a cam unit, a first stopper and a second stopper. The guide plate is pivotally supported at a first part such that a second part of the guide plate is inclined toward a first side or a second side. The first and second stoppers abut with the second part from the first side and the second side, respectively, so as to hold the second part at a first position and a second position, respectively. The first part includes two arms projecting toward the first side and the second side. The two arms are configured to swing the guide plate.
US10018081B2	Engine cylinder head push rod tube configuration A cylinder head and push rod tube configuration for an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The cylinder head includes a first end comprising a recessed rocker arm cavity. The cylinder head also includes a second end opposite the first end and defining an upper end of a combustion chamber. The recessed rocker arm cavity has a lower surface with a pair of push rod tube bores therethrough. The second end of the cylinder head has a pair of push rod tubes positioned in the push rod tube bores between the recessed rocker arm cavity and the second end. An intake port and an exhaust port each extend through the cylinder head to the combustion chamber.
US10018080B2	Method of recycling energy in process of butadiene preparation Provided is a method for recycling energy in process of butadiene preparation, which includes, in the process of preparing butadiene using oxidative dehydrogenation reaction, steps of: a) supplying part or all of a light gas discharged from a solvent absorption tower to a turbine to produce electricity; b) passing the light gas passed through the turbine through one or more device units provided with a heat exchanger; and c) feeding the light gas passed through the device units provided with the heat exchanger into a reactor, according to which more economical butadiene preparation process is provided, by reducing net energy value required in process of butadiene preparation using oxidative dehydrogenation reaction.
US10018078B2	Apparatus for recovering energy from water Apparatus for recovering energy from water is disclosed. Water is heated by application of electrical energy to heaters and contacting the water with the heaters in a manner and under pressure and temperature conditions such that it is instantaneously converted to gas.
US10018076B2	Modular mount assembly A mount assembly is described. The mount assembly may comprise a base unit having a surface, an extension unit stacked on and connected to the surface, and a clamp unit stacked on and connected to the extension unit.
US10018075B2	Methods for positioning neighboring nozzles of a gas turbine engine Methods for positioning neighboring nozzles of a gas turbine engine are provided. A method includes assembling a first nozzle assembly. The first nozzle assembly includes a first nozzle and a first nozzle support structure. The method further includes assembling a second nozzle assembly. The second nozzle assembly includes a second nozzle and a second nozzle support structure. The method further includes adjusting the first nozzle assembly and the second nozzle assembly such that an engineering dimension between the first nozzle and the second nozzle is within a predetermined engineering tolerance, and joining the first nozzle support structure and the second nozzle support structure together.
US10018073B2	Method for controlling a bistable shutoff valve for an aircraft engine There is proposed a method for controlling a bistable shutoff vale for an aircraft engine, involving the steps of: emitting a closure signal on one of the control channels—emitting an open signal on the other control channel, the method being characterized in that—the amplitude of the close signal is designed to cause the vane to move into a first position constantly in a given period of time,—in the same period, the amplitude of the open signal fluctuates between a value designed to urge the valve toward a second position and a rest value, the actuating values of the two signals being adapted to one another in order to keep the vane immobile when the two signals received by the valve simultaneously adopt said actuation values.
US10018068B2	Blade outer air seal with cooling holes A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a turbomachine can include a BOAS body including a plurality of cooling holes defined in substantial conformance with a set of Cartesian coordinates as set forth in Table 1 herein, wherein the Cartesian coordinates are provided with respect to a point P which is at the center of an arc W and co-planer with a machined surface V. A blade outer air seal (BOAS) for a turbomachine can include a BOAS body including a plurality of cooling holes defined in substantial conformance with a set of Cartesian coordinates as set forth in Table 2 herein, wherein the Cartesian coordinates are provided with respect to a point P′ which is at the center of an arc W′ and co-planer with a machined surface V′.
US10018067B2	Suction-based active clearance control system A clearance control apparatus for a gas turbine engine including an annular turbine case having opposed inner and outer surfaces; an annular manifold surrounding a portion of the turbine case, the manifold including: an inlet port in fluid communication with the manifold and the outer surface of the turbine case, and an exit port; and a bypass pipe having an upstream end coupled to the exit port, a downstream end coupled to a low-pressure sink, and a valve disposed between upstream and downstream ends, the valve selectively moveable between a first position which blocks flow between the upstream and downstream ends, and a second position which permits flow between the upstream and downstream ends.
US10018064B2	Floating panel for a gas powered turbine A foil assembly for a gas powered turbine includes a plurality of floating wall sectors arranged circumferentially about an axis defined by a flowpath. Each of the floating wall sectors includes a first flowpath strut component, a second flowpath strut component, a floating wall panel connected to the first flowpath strut component by a first clamp seal at a first axial joint and connected to the second flowpath strut component by a second clamp seal at a second axial joint, and a plurality of leading edge structures fore of the plurality of floating wall sectors. Each of the leading edge structures is configured to define a foil profile in conjunction with a first flowpath strut component of a first floating wall sector and an adjacent flowpath strut component of a second floating wall sector.
US10018063B2	Anti-rotation knife edge seals and gas turbine engines including the same Anti-rotation knife edge seals and gas turbine engines including the same are provided. The anti-rotation knife-edge seal includes a first end portion having at least one knife edge, an opposing second end portion including an outside peripheral edge having a nut anti-rotation feature and an inside peripheral edge having a shaft anti-rotation feature, and an intermediate portion extending between the first end portion and the opposing second end portion. The first end portion, the opposing second end portion, and the intermediate portion form a one-piece annular seal member. A method is also provided for substantially preventing rotation of a stack nut against an adjacent rotatable component.
US10018060B2	Method of designing guide vane formations A computer-based method of designing a guide vane formation is provided. The vane formation is for use in a gas turbine engine which has a cascade of circumferentially arranged identical guide vane formations. The vane formation has radially inner and radially outer chordal seals. The method allows the elimination of “saw-tooth” leakage gaps between inner chordal seals of neighboring vane formations and between outer chordal seals of neighboring vane formations even when the inner and outer chordal seals are axially offset from each other.
US10018057B2	Method of mounting a turbine wheel axial retention device A technique for mounting a turbine retention device is provided. The technique comprises forming openings in a diffuser, aligning a mounting bracket with the openings, and installing fasteners through the openings and the mounting bracket. A turbine retention device mounted to a diffuser may is also provided. The turbine retention device may comprise a bullet, wings coupled to the bullet, mounting brackets coupled to the wings, and fasteners disposed through the mounting brackets and openings formed in the diffuser.
US10018056B2	Abrasive coating and manufacture and use methods A method for applying an abrasive comprises: applying, to a substrate, the integral combination of a self-braze material, an abrasive, a matrix in which the abrasive is at least partially embedded, and an intermediate layer between the self-braze material and the matrix; and heating to cause the self-braze material to braze to the substrate.
US10018052B2	Gas turbine engine component having engineered vascular structure A component according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a wall and a hollow vascular engineered lattice structure formed inside of the wall. The hollow vascular engineered lattice structure has an inlet hole and an outlet hole that communicate fluid into and out of the hollow vascular structure. The hollow vascular engineered lattice structure further has at least one resupply inlet hole between the inlet hole and the outlet hole to communicate additional fluid into the hollow vascular engineered lattice structure.
US10018048B2	T-shaped platform leading edge anti-rotation tabs Anti-rotation tabs for the platforms in the fan section of a gas turbine engine are provided. The anti-rotation tabs interface with the trailing edge of the spinner, thereby preventing the platform from rotating and twisting.
US10018039B2	Fast-setting retrievable slim-hole test packer and method of use A well test assembly sized for use in a slim-hole of a subterranean well includes an inner moveable sleeve having an inner circulation port and an inner fluid passage port. An outer housing has a first outer circulation port, an outer fluid passage port, and a second outer circulation port. A middle sleeve has: a middle circulation port aligned with the inner circulation port and the first outer circulation port when the assembly is in a lowering position; a middle fluid passage aligned with the inner fluid passage port and the outer fluid passage port when the assembly is in a collection position; and a fluid injection port aligned with the second outer circulation port when the assembly is in a retrieval position. A packer assembly seals an annulus between the middle sleeve and an inner diameter of the slim-hole when the assembly is in a setting position.
US10018036B2	Distributed sensing systems and methods with I/Q data balancing based on ellipse fitting A system includes an optical fiber and an interrogator to provide source light to the optical fiber. The system also includes a receiver coupled to the optical fiber. The receiver includes at least one fiber optic coupler that receives backscattered light and that produces optical interferometry signals from the backscattered light. The receiver also includes photo-detectors that produce an electrical signal for each of said optical interferometry signals. The system also includes at least one digitizer that digitizes the electrical signals. The system also includes at least one processing unit that calculates I/Q data from the digitized electrical signals, corrects the I/Q data based on ellipse fitting, determines phase values based on the corrected I/Q data, and determines distributed sensing parameter values based on the phase values.
US10018034B2	Density measurement using a piezoelectric sensor in a non-compressible medium A system, method and apparatus for determining a parameter of a fluid is disclosed. Measurements are obtained of a temperature of the fluid and a pressure of the fluid. A material is disposed in the fluid, and an actuator applies a stimulation pulse at a selected frequency to the material to generate an oscillation in the material. A measurement device measures a parameter of oscillation of the material in response to the stimulation pulse, the parameter of oscillation being affected by the fluid in which the material is disposed. A processor determines the parameter of the fluid from the measured parameter of the oscillation, the temperature measurement and the pressure measurement.
US10018033B2	Downhole distributed sensor arrays for measuring at least one of pressure and temperature, downhole distributed sensor arrays including at least one weld joint, and methods of forming sensors arrays for downhole use including welding A downhole sensor array includes sensor housings, and each sensor housing contains one or more of a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor. Cable segments connect the sensor housings. A weld joint bonds a sensor housing to a jacket of a cable segment, and a conductor of the cable segment and the jacket of the cable segment may be separated by a void proximate the weld joint. Methods relate to forming such sensor arrays.
US10018026B2	System and apparatus for geothermal pyrolysis Herewith are methods and embodiment of an apparatus for using geothermal heat for pyrolysis. In some embodiments, a pyrolysis reaction chamber is lowered into a well, where the pyrolysis reaction can be driven by geothermal heat. In some embodiments the reaction chamber is connected to second chamber to contain the gas reaction products produced by the pyrolysis reaction. In some embodiments, the reaction chamber and the gas collection chamber are separated by some distance in the well, and are connected by a long hose or conduit. A spallation drilling apparatus is also disclosed that uses jets of hot fluid for drilling. This is compatible with drilling wells in high temperature zones, such as a lava dome. A simplified pyrolysis reactor for use in a lava dome is also disclosed, in which the dome functions to contain the reaction, and the apparatus to facilitate pyrolysis is far more compact.
US10018025B2	Hydraulic fracturing system and method A hydraulic fracturing system and method for enhancing effective permeability of earth formations to increase hydrocarbon production, enhance operation efficiency by reducing fluid entry friction due to tortuosity and perforation, and to open perforations that are either unopened or not effective using traditional techniques, by varying a pump rate and/or a flow rate to a wellbore.
US10018023B2	Method of microbially assisted water alternating gas injection as a means of enhanced oil recovery by supplementing the immiscible water injection cycle with nutrients to improve oil release in oil-containing rock formations A method for enhancing oil and oil residue recovery from oil-containing rock formations by supplementing a water cycle of a water alternate gas process with nutrients such that the formation resident microorganisms are stimulated as an additional oil release mechanism is provided. The method alters three-phase relative permeability in order to increase displacement efficiency while increasing oil release by microbially assisted water alternate gas processing.
US10018019B2	Multilateral junction with mechanical stiffeners An example multi-bore junction assembly includes a connector body having an upper end and a lower end, the lower end providing a main bore leg receptacle and a lateral bore leg receptacle, a main bore leg coupled to the main bore leg receptacle and extending longitudinally therefrom, a lateral bore leg coupled to the lateral bore leg receptacle and extending longitudinally therefrom, wherein the main and lateral bore legs are round, tubular structures, and a first mechanical stiffener arranged on the main bore leg and a second mechanical stiffener arranged on the lateral bore leg, wherein the first and second mechanical stiffeners each exhibit a generally D-shaped cross-section.
US10018018B2	System and method for providing a resilient solid fuel source in a wellbore A system, method and apparatus for providing a fuel source in a wellbore is disclosed. A tool is placed into a wellbore. A primary charge is associated with the tool. A secondary charge associated with the tool is provided. The secondary charge includes a resilient solid propellant.
US10018017B2	Low dosage kinetic hydrate inhibitors for natural gas production systems Copolymers containing acryloylmorpholine and vinylimidazole, and optionally vinylcaprolactam and/or n-vinyl pyrrolidone, have shown superior results in hydrate inhibition tests at conditions of 7° C. subcooling dosed at 1 vol % based on the water cut of the system fluids. The copolymer product has also passed high TDS (total dissolved solids) brine compatibility tests and secondary property tests including foaming and hot injection tests which make it useful as a kinetic hydrate inhibitor in gas production systems susceptible to the formation of natural gas hydrates.
US10018016B2	Wireline fluid blasting tool and method A wireline deployed fluid blasting tool for removing obstructions from oil and gas wellbore tubing is disclosed. The tool has an inner tubular mandrel retaining a releasable outer sleeve creating an annular fluid passage in communication with fluid ejection ports. Resilient seals seal the annulus between the tool and the wellbore tubing allowing fluid pressure above the tool to advance the tool through the tubing. Fluid enters the annular fluid passage through fluid perforations in the outer sleeve to exit the fluid ejection ports to create a fluid blast to remove obstructions. The outer sleeve shifts along the inner mandrel by fluid pressure to open fluid inlet passages into the inner mandrel allowing fluid to enter and exit through the mandrel while bypassing the annular fluid passage and fluid ejection ports to facilitate pulling the tool from the tubing.
US10018010B2	Disintegrating agglomerated sand frack plug The frack plug has a sealing element that reforms when set to hold differential pressure. The element is granular with adhesive to hold the granular particles together but allow the shape to reform under setting force. The adhesive can be broken down with a chemical agent or in other ways to allow the seal to reform to the sealing position at the desired depth. As a result the structural components can disintegrate and the seal assembly can fragment into small pieces that can be circulated out of the well or allowed to drop to the hole bottom. The seal can have particles of controlled electrolytic materials (CEM), natural or synthetic sand, swelling or non-swelling rubber. The assembly can contain pellets that selectively release to initiate the breakdown of the structural components of the frack plug.
US10018008B2	Composite fracture plug and associated methods On a wellhead, a well component, such as a casing head, has a bowl with a first shoulder and a groove defined therein. A hanger for supporting casing positions in the bowl, and a latch assembly on the hanger latches the hanger in the groove. The latch can have a traveling ring and a latch ring supported on the hanger's exterior surface. The traveling ring engages the first shoulder in the bowl and pushes the latch ring against a portion of the hanger, such as a second shoulder. The latch ring has a joint at a split in the latch ring, and the joint holds the latch ring in a compressed state about the exterior surface. When the latch ring moves with the engagement of the traveling ring against the hanger portion, the joint is disjointed, and the latch ring expands outward into the groove to latch the hanger in the bowl.
US10018007B2	Systems and methods to visualize component health and preventive maintenance needs for subsea control subsystem components Systems and methods to visualize component health and preventive maintenance needs for subsea control subsystem components are provided. Embodiments can include energizing one or more solenoids, detecting a solenoid firing event, detecting activity in blowout preventer components downchain from the solenoids, and incrementing a cycle count for the one or more solenoids and each downchain blowout preventer component activated. Embodiments can include projecting a replacement date for the solenoid or any of the downchain blowout preventer components based on the cycle count and user-defined thresholds. In embodiments, a user is provided with an interactive graphical representation of a blowout preventer including selectable blowout preventer components thereby to visualize component health and preventive maintenance needs.
US10018006B2	Method and device for activating and deactivating a GS-tool This invention relates to a method for activating and deactivating a GS-tool (2) having grippers (22), tool housing (32), spindle (22), and main spring (50) arranged to pre-tension the gripper (44) towards a deactivated position as the GS-tool (2) is displaceable in a wellbore (10) in the ground. The method includes the steps of coupling the spindle (22) of the GS-tool (2) to an actuator mandrel (12) of an actuator (4); arranging an activating sleeve between the tool housing (32) and an actuator housing (14); and displacing the actuator mandrel (12) and thereby the spindle (22) relative to the tool housing (32) in a direction from the GS-tool (2) until the grippers (44) have reached activated positions by overcoming the force from the main spring (5). A GS-tool for implementing the method is also described.
US10018004B2	Method and apparatus for casing entry According to one aspect of the disclosure, an intercept well for penetrating an existing tubular is drilled. A casing entry tool is provided in the intercept well and operated to form at least one aperture in the wall of the existing casing. The casing entry tool may be oriented toward the target tubular. In some embodiments, a generally concave notch may be positioned on the casing entry tool and adapted to engage with the convex outer surface of the target tubular. In some embodiments, a locking mechanism may retain the orientation of the casing entry tool within the intercept well.
US10018002B1	Method and system for maintaining constant back pressure during managed pressure drilling This system maintains bottom hole pressure and constant well bore pressure profile for a period of time in event of loss of power to rig pumps, rig pump failure or other loss of pressure to the primary flowline. The back pressure system diverts mud into the primary flowline to maintain pressure. The system provides time to get the diesel powered cement unit on line to maintain pressure or get the power reinstated to the rig pumps. The mud discharged into the primary flowline can be recovered back into the housing via the housing inlet line and the housing can be recharged via the N2 high pressure bottle rack. The back pressure system installs upstream of the MPD chokes with interfaces to the primary flow line to divert the drilling mud to the primary flowline.
US10017998B2	Drill bits and earth-boring tools including shaped cutting elements and associated methods Cutting elements for an earth-boring tool include a substrate base and a cutting tip. The cutting tip may include a first generally conical surface, a second, opposite generally conical surface, a first flank surface extending between the first and second generally conical surfaces, and a second, opposite flank surface. The cutting tip may include a central axis that is not co-linear with a longitudinal axis of the substrate base. The cutting tip may include a surface defining a longitudinal end thereof that is relatively more narrow in a central region thereof than in a radially outer region thereof. Earth-boring tools include a body and a plurality of such cutting elements attached thereto, at least one cutting element oriented to initially engage a formation with the first or second generally conical surface thereof. Methods of drilling a formation use such cutting elements and earth-boring tools.
US10017996B2	Magnetostrictive motor for a borehole assembly A motor includes: a rotor including an undulated surface; a rod disposed about the rotor; and a coil disposed about the rod to induce shape changes in the rod, which in turn impart forces to the undulated surface to rotate the rotor.
US10017994B2	Boring apparatus and method An apparatus for boring a wellbore, including a bit body having a first end, an inner cavity, and a second end. The first end is connected to a workstring that is configured to deliver a rotational force to the bit body. The inner cavity contains a profile having a first radial cam surface. The second end includes a working face containing a cutting member. The apparatus also includes a pilot bit rotatively connected within the inner cavity. A second radial cam surface is contained on a first end of the pilot bit. The first and second radial cam surfaces are operatively configured to deliver a hammering force. A second end of the pilot bit may include an engaging surface configured to engage a formation surrounding the wellbore. The bit body rotates relative to the pilot bit.
US10017993B2	Exploration drilling system and method for supplying power thereto A drilling system, comprising: a plurality of drilling drive systems; a fracturing drive system; a centralized power supply system electrically coupled to said drilling drive systems and said fracturing drive system to supply power thereto; and a plurality of distributed power supply systems electrically coupled to said drilling drive systems to supply additional power thereto during peak loading of a respective one of the plurality of drilling drive systems.
US10017992B2	Radial ball bearing and method A bearing section for a mandrel at least partially disposed within an inner bore of a housing. A radial bearing and a thrust bearing are each disposed around the mandrel and within the inner bore of the housing. The radial bearing includes an outer cylindrical member, an inner cylindrical member, and a series of spherical members disposed within a space between an inner surface of the outer cylindrical member and an outer surface of the inner cylindrical member. One of the inner surface of the outer cylindrical member or the outer surface of the inner cylindrical member includes a flat profile and the other includes a series of circumferential grooves. The flat profile allows relative axial movement between the inner and outer cylindrical members without the radial bearing absorbing any thrust load.
US10017989B1	Anti-slip ladder shoe adapter An adapter configured to removably affix to an existing shoe of a ladder provides traction on icy and other surfaces exhibiting similar friction coefficients. Each adapter is provided with a serrated bottom surface in a first embodiment or a spiked bottom surface in a second embodiment to provide superior traction.
US10017986B2	Winding device for a windable screen and closure or sun-protection home-automation installation including such a device A winding device for a windable screen of a closure or sun-protection home-automation installation, includes: a winding tube movable around a rotation axis; a hollow sleeve positioned at one of the two ends and inside the winding tube; a tubular electromechanical actuator inserted inside the hollow sleeve; and two supports, each support being positioned across from one of two ends of the winding tube. The tubular electromechanical actuator includes: a case, and a closing off element positioned at one end of the case. The closing off element has a front face positioned in a plane parallel to a wall of one of the two supports, and includes first fastening elements cooperating with second fastening elements of the support. The hollow sleeve includes a first stop cooperating with a stop of the closing off element, and a second stop cooperating with the end of the winding where the sleeve is inserted.
US10017985B2	Window treatment control using bright override A system includes a window treatment adjacent to a window of a room. At least one motor drive unit is associated with the window treatment, for varying the position of the window treatment. A sensor measures a light level (e.g., an outdoor light level) at the window. A controller provides signals to the motor drive unit to automatically adjust the position of the window treatment so as to control a penetration distance of sunlight into the room when the window treatment is partially opened. The controller is configured to position the window treatment in a bright override position if the measured light level is at least a bright threshold value. The controller is configured to select the bright threshold value from among at least two predetermined values. The selection depends on an angle of incidence between light rays from the sun and a surface normal of the window.
US10017983B1	Header assembly and method for installing retractable screens A header assembly and method for installing built-in retractable screens. A header assembly is installed after the structure's framing is completed but before the wall finishes are applied. The header assembly includes opposing end boxes and a header board. The side tracks from the screen unit are installed so that the upper ends open into the bottom of the end boxes. This defines a cavity customized to the selected screen unit. With the header assembly and side tracks in place, the wall surfaces can be applied around them. After the wall surfaces are completed, the screen unit is placed inside the header assembly through an access opening, which is then covered with a cover panel. Thus, the present invention eliminates the need to apply wall finishes around an undefined space, which requires multiple measurements and often results in expensive mistakes in the finished cavity dimensions.
US10017969B2	Door handle assembly for an automobile A door handle assembly for an automobile comprising a grab section being manually actuatable from the outside or the inside of the door of an automobile, which grab section is moveably mounted between a resting position and an opening position on a bearing component to be mounted on the door, and which is connected to an actuating lever, which is also moveably mounted on the bearing component such that the actuating lever upon a movement of the grab section between its resting position and its opening position is also moved between a resting position and an opening position, wherein the grab section is biased into its resting position and wherein the grab section or the actuating lever can be coupled with a lock of the door such that the lock is opened when the grab section is moved from its resting position into its opening position, further comprising a fly weight which is moveably mounted between a releasing position in which it allows a movement of the grab section into its opening position and at least one locking position in which it effects a locking of the grab section against a movement into its opening position, wherein the fly weight is biased into the releasing position and wherein the fly weight is moved into the locking position when a predefined acceleration acts on the door handle assembly which effects an opening force onto the grab section, wherein the fly weight is a metal ball, wherein a bearing section is provided with a pathway receiving the metal ball, wherein the metal ball is moveable along the pathway between the releasing position and the at least one locking position, and wherein the metal ball in the locking position cooperates directly or via a locking element with the grab section or the actuating lever for locking the grab section.
US10017967B2	Apparatus and method for hold open feature in a latch A latch is disclosed herein. The latch having: a fork bolt movably mounted to the latch for movement between an open position and a closed position; a detent lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a latched position and a released position, wherein the detent lever prevents the fork bolt from moving from the closed position to the open position when the detent lever is in the latched position; a bellcrank lever movably mounted to the latch for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the bellcrank lever moves the detent lever from the latched position to the released position as the bellcrank lever moves from the first position to the second position; and a hold open feature movably mounted to the latch for movement between a first position and a second position, wherein the hold open feature is configured to engage and retain the bellcrank lever in the second position when the hold open feature is in the first position and wherein the hold open feature allows the bell crank lever to travel from the second position to the first position when the hold open feature is in the second position.
US10017965B2	Chain lock A chain lock is provided. The chain lock includes a lock body and a linkage chain. The lock body has a lock core and a lock body side surface. The linkage chain is formed via linking a plurality of link plates and has a first end and a second end. The first end is joined with the lock body. The second end can be inserted into a socket and secured by the lock core. The linkage chain can be wound around the lock body when the second end is unlocked, and wherein at least one of the plurality of link plates, except the link plates serving as the first end and the second end, engages the lock body side surface when the linkage chain is wound around the lock body.
US10017964B2	Latch mechanism for an exit device A latch assembly is configured to be operable within a door latch system where the door latch system releasably secures a door in a door frame. The latch assembly comprises a housing and a latch pivotally mounted in the housing. The latch includes a lock-out feature. A translating bar is connected to the latch and is moveable by at least one actuation mechanism to selectively pivot the latch from an extended position wherein the door is secured in the door frame to a retracted position wherein the door is released from the door frame. A deadlatch is coupled to the latch. A bracket assembly is coupled to the latch and deadlatch, wherein the bracket assembly engages the lock-out feature when the deadlatch is in an engaged position to prevent pivoting of the latch.
US10017962B2	Symmetrical uni-directional single action centered cylinder keyless deadbolt door lock assembly for right or left hand hung doors A door lock assembly operates a deadbolt between unlocked and locked positions. It includes a key cylinder having a central axis, a torque blade extending from said cylinder upon said center axis, an actuator interlock mechanism operatively connected with the door lock assembly and provided for pivoting upon the torque blade, a ring, pivotally mounted to the door lock assembly, and incorporating a post, the actuator interlock mechanism having a radially extending arm, being bifurcated at its end, for locating upon the ring post, such that upon turning of the ring the actuator interlock mechanism turns the torque blade; a latch bolt assembly, including a deadbolt, the torque blade extending through the latch bolt assembly, and pivoting a latch operator that extends the deadbolt for shifting into a locked or unlocked position, during usage of the door lock assembly.
US10017960B2	Key box A key box (1) has a housing (10) and a cooperating door (11) which, in combination, form a secured space (9) when the door (11) is closed, wherein the door (11) is locked by means of an electric locking system. The locking system comprises an electric locking mechanism (21), an electronic control unit (22) and a wireless communication unit (23). The electronic control unit (22) is configured to communicate wirelessly with a mobile unit (40) by means of the wireless communication unit (23). The electronic control unit (22) is configured to verify access rights relative to the mobile unit (40) and, if the access rights are authenticated, to cancel the locking effect of the locking mechanism (21). The control unit (22) and the wireless communication unit (23) are accommodated within the secured space (9).
US10017959B2	Lock arrangement The present invention is directed to a lock arrangement where a cylinder type lock with a skirt can be correctly positioned and orientated in a door latch by the use of complementary profiles that enable insertion in only one position and thereby provide ease of use and confirmation that the lock has been correctly inserted and locked.
US10017955B2	Mobile base having telescopic foot pedal Disclosed is a mobile base having a telescopic foot pedal. The mobile base comprises a base frame, a counterweight block, and a base cover; wherein the base frame is cooperatively provided with a lifting primary arm, one end of the lifting primary arm rotatably mating with a guiding rod, a lower end of the guiding rod mating with a track locking member fixed on the base frame, the other end of the lifting primary arm rotatably mating with a U-shaped support on the base frame, an end portion on the lifting primary arm proximate the guiding rod is cooperatively provided with a telescopic foot pedal, the other end of the lifting primary arm being connected to a group of lifting secondary arms, the lifting secondary arms respectively rotatably mating with the base frame, bottoms of the lifting secondary arms being fixedly provided with universal wheels.
US10017948B2	Building panel with a mechanical locking system A set of essentially identical panels (1, 1′), such as building panels, provided with a mechanical locking system including a displaceable tongue (30), which is arranged in a displacement groove with a first opening at a first edge of a first panel (1). The displaceable tongue is configured to cooperate with a first tongue groove (20), with a second opening at a second edge of an adjacent second panel (1′), for vertical locking of the first and the second edge. The height of the first opening is greater than a second height of the second opening.
US10017946B2	Roof membrane bonding plate marking tool A tool for marking the location of a bonding plate concealed beneath a roof membrane. The tool has a magnetic attraction to the bonding plate and causes a marking assembly to vertically lower toward the roof membrane and rotate on an axle. Rotation of the marking assembly and vertical lowering causes the marking implement to come into contact with the roof membrane at a location corresponding to the location of the bonding plate beneath the roof membrane. A brake restricts the rotation of the marking assembly on the axle by coming into contact with an inner edge of a chassis. Contact between the marking implement and the roof membrane and the restriction of rotation of the marking assembly by the brake cause the marking implement to create a visible mark at a position corresponding to the location of the bonding plate beneath the roof membrane.
US10017934B2	Systems and methods for bracket configurations of a framing assembly A framing assembly is disclosed. The framing assembly includes a bracket defining a first bracket section and a second bracket section aligned in perpendicular relation relative to the first bracket section along a bracket bend. The bracket includes a first slit and a second slit formed along the second bracket section. The first slit and the second slit define a tapered or triangular shape. The first bracket section includes a plurality of linear sides and corners defined along the linear sides. The first bracket section may be coupled to a joist by disposing the first bracket section within an interior portion of a joist defined by a web, flanges, and returns of the joist. The linear sides and the corners of the bracket facilitate the bracket to snap in place within the interior portion of the joist and the first slit and the second slit receive the returns of the joist.
US10017928B1	Dual-flow flapper valve assembly A dual-flow flapper valve assembly is presented having a flapper and a stopper that extends through an opening in a central portion of the flapper. In some embodiments of the present invention, a guide assembly extends downwardly from a bottom of the flapper and the stopper having a shaft that is received and extends through the flapper and the guide assembly, such that a top end of the shaft extends above the flapper and a bottom end extends below the guide assembly. In some arrangements of the present invention, the shaft has a plug adjacent the top end of the shaft and a stop at the bottom end.
US10017922B2	Hydrant device with vacuum breaking function A hydrant device includes a faucet body, a rotation shaft, an upper rotation cap, a check valve, a switch valve, a lower fixed cap, and a water intake seat. The faucet body is provided with a rotary knob connected with the rotation shaft which is connected with the upper rotation cap. A first elastic member is biased between the rotation shaft and the upper rotation cap. A second elastic member is biased between the upper rotation cap and the check valve. The check valve is provided with a stop face. The switch valve is combined with the upper rotation cap. The water intake seat is mounted on the faucet body. Thus, the stop face forms an anti-reverse state to seal the switch valve, thereby preventing water from being gathered in the switch valve.
US10017918B2	Working machine Provided is a working machine capable of regenerating and utilizing surplus energy. The working machine related to the present invention is provided with a branching flow path (150) through which hydraulic oil flows between a hydraulic actuator (24) and a hydraulic pump-motor (14), an accumulator (30) arranged in the branching flow path, a first opening/closing valve (31) arranged between the accumulator and the hydraulic pump-motor, and a second opening/closing valve (32) arranged between the accumulator and the hydraulic actuator. A control device (41) selectively introduces the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic actuator and the hydraulic oil from the hydraulic pump-motor to the accumulator and accumulates the same by controlling opening/closing of the first opening/closing valve and the second opening/closing valve.
US10017916B2	Earth working apparatus An earth working apparatus, for laying a pipe or cable underground. The earth working apparatus comprises a plurality of trenching modules. Each trenching module is arranged sequentially in a first plane and comprises a cutter in communication with a conveyor. In a second aspect, each trenching module cuts a layer of earth and conveys said layer of earth to a collection device or to a collection area.
US10017915B2	Support frame for an implement A frame for supporting an implement (e.g. a plow) on a vehicle is disclosed. The support frame extends longitudinally and generally comprises, at its rear end, a rear attachment mechanism for removably mounting the support frame to the underside of the vehicle, and at its front end, a front attachment assembly for supporting the implement. The frame comprises a rear section and a front section hingedly connected together such that the front section can pivot upwardly with respect to the rear section. The support frame also comprises a biasing assembly or mechanism, generally comprising a resilient member engaging the front and rear sections, such as to downwardly bias the front portion. By overcoming the downward bias of the biasing assembly, the front section can be further raised with respect to the ground surface, thereby providing greater clearance.
US10017914B1	Excavator four-bar linkage length and angle offset determination using a laser distance meter An excavator calibration framework comprises an excavator, a laser distance meter (LDM), and a laser reflector. The excavator comprises a chassis, linkage assembly (LA), sensor, implement, and control architecture. The LA comprises a boom, stick, and four-bar linkage (4BL) with the sensor on a 4BL dogbone linkage. The control architecture comprises a controller programmed to execute an iterative process at successive implement curl positions. The iterative process comprises generating a measured dogbone angle θDFMeasured, determining a height Ĥ and a distance {circumflex over (D)} between an implement node and the LDM, and determining an implement node position. The iterative process further comprises determining an estimated implement angle θGHEstimated and generating a mapping equation comprising linkage angle inputs (θDFMeasured, θGHEstimated) and n unsolved 4BL linkage length and angle offset parameters. The controller is programmed to generate and solve a set of m mapping equations comprising the n unsolved parameters.
US10017912B2	Work vehicle with improved loader/implement position control and return-to-position functionality A method for automatically controlling the operation of a lift assembly of a work vehicle may generally include receiving an input associated with moving loader arms and/or an implement of the lift assembly to a pre-defined position and monitoring a position of the loader arms and/or the implement relative to the pre-defined position. In addition, while a reference point associated with the loader arms and/or the implement is located outside an outer threshold boundary associated with the pre-defined position, the method may include transmitting a first command signal(s) to move the loader arms and/or the implement towards the pre-defined position. Moreover, when the reference point is moved within the outer threshold boundary, the method may include transmitting a second command signal(s) in order to ramp down a movement velocity of the loader arms and/or the implement as the loader arms and/or the implement is moved closer to the pre-defined position.
US10017911B2	Municipal solid waste landfill barrier system capable of prolonging breakthrough time of leachate and manufacturing method thereof The invention relates to a MSW (municipal solid waste) landfill barrier system capable of prolonging breakthrough time of leachate and a manufacturing method thereof. The system comprises a leachate collection and removal layer, a first HDPE (high-density polyethylene) geomembrane infiltration proof layer (2), a clay liner (5) and a groundwater collection and removal layer (6) which are sequentially stacked from top to bottom. The clay liner (5) is composed of a lower clay liner (51), a middle clay liner (52) and an upper clay liner (53) which are sequentially arranged, wherein the middle clay liner (52) is filled with a medium-fine sand layer (7) laid with sands of particle sizes ranging from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm and of water content ≤3%, wherein the saturated hydraulic conductivity of the medium-fine sand layer (7) varies from 1×10−5 to 1×10−3. A method of manufacturing the MSW landfill barrier system capable of prolonging breakthrough time of leachate is also provided.
US10017910B2	Apparatus and methods for underground structures and construction thereof Described herein are apparatus, systems and methods useful in forming underground vertical structures. Methods are described for constructing an underground vertical structure, comprising the steps of excavating soil to a sufficient depth to create a circular void to accommodate a plurality of segments; assembling a ring shaped structure comprising the plurality of segments; connecting the outside surface of the ring shaped structure with the soil in said circular void, thereby securing the ring shaped structure to the soil; excavating earth beneath the ring shaped structure to accommodate a second ring shaped structure; and repeating steps b-d thereby forming one or more additional ring shaped structures downward into the earth below already formed ring shaped structures until a predetermined depth is reached; thereby forming the underground vertical structure. Systems to perform the above methods are also disclosed.
US10017908B2	Floating lake system and methods of treating water within a floating lake The present invention relates to floating lakes and to the treatment of the water in such lakes. The present invention further relates to large floating lakes that can be installed within a natural or artificial water body to improve water conditions that are unsuitable for recreational uses. The floating lake can be provided with a chemical application system; a filtration system including a mobile suctioning device and filters; a skimmer system, and optionally a coordination system.
US10017904B2	Temporary turf marking system A temporary turf marking system is disclosed. The temporary turf marking system includes a material spreader, the material spreader having a foam dispenser fixed thereto. A dispenser actuator actuates the foam dispenser, such that foam is dispensed from the dispenser onto the turf, forming a foam trail.
US10017903B2	Industrial mats having side protection An industrial mat that has a support core configured and arranged to support other components of the mat; and upper and lower layers that provide upper and lower surfaces of the mat and that protect the support core. The support core includes a frame of longitudinal side members, end members and cross members each of which is made of steel or a thermosetting plastic material. The frame can include wood, plastic or elastomeric internal members or materials to fill internal open areas of the frame, with the upper and lower layers and the sides and ends of the frame retaining the internal members or materials therein. The mat preferably includes lifting elements of D-shaped rings, O-shaped rings, chains, or cables attached to the upper or lower layer or the support core to provide certified overhead lifting of the mat for installation and reclamation thereof.
US10017901B2	Non-woven fabric made with binder system The present invention concerns a method for the production of high-filled, preferably wet-laid non-woven fabrics, in particular non-woven glass fiber fabrics, which have a very low binder content, as well as the non-woven glass fiber fabrics produced according to this method and the use thereof.
US10017899B2	Method to produce a pile textile product and a textile product resulting from the same A method for manufacturing a textile product includes the steps of providing an intermediate product formed by a backing having a front surface and a back surface, and yarns applied into the backing, the yarns extending from the front surface of the backing material, feeding the intermediate product along a body having a heated surface, the back surface being pressed against the heated surface, to at least partly melt the yarns present in the intermediate product to form the textile product, wherein the part of the back surface that is pressed against the heated surface has a relative speed with respect to the heated surface, and a device enabling applications of this method and to a floor covering incorporating such a textile product connected to a dimensionally stable carrier sheet using thermo reversible covalent interactions.
US10017892B2	Washing apparatus and controlling method thereof A washing apparatus including an AC motor configured to generate a rotating force, a clutch unit configured to selectively transmit the rotating force to a rotating tub and a pulsator, a speed detector configured to detect a rotating speed of at least one of the AC motor and the clutch unit, and a controller configured to repeat power supply and power cut-off to the AC motor according to the rotating speed. The washing apparatus can control the power supply and power cut-off to the AC motor based on the rotating speed.
US10017888B2	Sewing data generating apparatus, sewing data generating method, recording medium for storing program, and sewing system A sewing data generating apparatus acquires information with respect to an embroidery frame. The sewing data generating apparatus acquires an image including a base cloth mounting a sewing target and mounted on the embroidery frame, and analyzes a correspondence between acquired information with respect to the embroidery frame and the image of the embroidery frame thus acquired. The sewing data generating apparatus generates outline data for the sewing target based on the analysis result, and generates sewing data based on the outline data thus generated. The sewing data generating apparatus transmits the sewing data thus generated to a sewing machine. The sewing machine receives the sewing data from the sewing data generating apparatus. The sewing machine executes sewing for the outline of the sewing target according to the sewing data thus received. This allows an applique to be sewn at an accurate position without a need to prepare dedicated data.
US10017880B2	Bulked continuous filaments with trilobal cross-section and round central void and spinneret plates producing filament Briefly described, embodiments of the present disclosure include trilobal bulked continuous filaments (BCFs) with a generally round central void, spinneret plates with a capillary design for producing the BCFs of the present disclosure, articles and carpets produced from the BCFs of the present disclosure, methods of producing the trilobal BCFs of the present disclosure, and the like.
US10017878B2	Growth method of graphene The present invention provides a growth method of grapheme, which at least comprises the following steps: S1: providing an insulating substrate, placing the insulating substrate in a growth chamber; S2: heating the insulating substrate to a preset temperature, and introducing a gas containing catalytic element into the growth chamber; S3: feeding carbon source into the growth chamber and growing a graphene thin film on the insulating substrate. The present invention adopts a catalytic manner of introducing catalytic element, and rapid grows a high quality graphene on the insulating substrate, which avoids the transition process of the graphene, enables to improve the production yield of the graphene, reduces the growth cost of the graphene, and thus the mass production can be facilitated. The graphene grown by the present invention may be applied in the field of novel graphene electronic devices, graphene transparent conducting film, transparent conducting coating and the like.
US10017877B2	Silicon carbide crystal growth in a CVD reactor using chlorinated chemistry A silicon carbide growth method for growing a silicon carbide crystal on a substrate in a hot wall reaction chamber heated to a temperature between 1600° C. and 2000° C. Process gases enter the reaction chamber utilizing at least a primary gas flow, a secondary gas flow, and a shower gas flow. The shower gas flow is fed substantially perpendicularly to the primary and secondary gas flows and is directed towards the substrate. The primary and secondary gas flows are oriented substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate. A silicon precursor gas is entered by the primary gas flow. A hydrocarbon precursor gas is entered in at least one of the primary gas flow, the secondary gas flow, or the shower gas flow. Hydrogen is entered primarily in the secondary flow and the shower head flow. A CVD reactor chamber for use in processing the method.
US10017875B2	Nickel manganese composite hydroxide particles and manufacturing method thereof, cathode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and manufacturing method thereof, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery Provided are nickel manganese composite hydroxide particles having a small and uniform particle size and having a double structure which enables to obtain a cathode active material having a hollow structure, and a manufacturing method thereof. When obtaining the nickel manganese composite hydroxide by a reaction crystallization, using an aqueous solution for nucleation, which includes at least a metallic compound that contains nickel, a metallic compound that contains manganese and an ammonium ion donor and controlling the pH value that is measured at a standard solution temperature of 25° C. is 10.5 to 12.0, nucleation is performed in an oxidizing atmosphere in which the oxygen concentration is greater than 1% by volume, and then nuclei are grown by switching the atmosphere from the oxidizing atmosphere to a mixed atmosphere of oxygen and inert gas in which the oxygen concentration is 1% by volume or less.
US10017873B1	Method for forming coating layer containing magnesium on metal support, catalyst support and catalytic converter, including coating layer containing magnesium formed by the same method An embodiment of the invention provides a method for forming a magnesium (Mg)-containing coating layer on the surface of a metal support, which comprises a first step of preparing a precursor solution containing a magnesium component, a second step of forming a precipitate on the surface of a metal support by immersing and aging the metal support in the precursor solution prepared in the first step, and a third step of forming a magnesium-containing coating layer on the surface of the metal support by calcinating the precipitate formed in the second step.
US10017871B2	Electrodepositing apparatus and preparation of rare earth permanent magnet An electrodepositing apparatus is provided comprising an inner tank (1) filled with an electrodepositing solution, an outer tank (3), a feedback means (4), a rectifying member (5) disposed in the inner tank (1), a means (8) for holding an article (p), a counter electrode (6), and a power supply (9). The electrodepositing solution is circulated in such a way that it overflows the inner tank and is fed back from the outer tank to the inner tank by the feedback means, the flow of the solution is rectified by the rectifying member to keep flat the solution surface in the inner tank, a selected portion of the article is immersed in the solution, and the coating agent is electrodeposited on the selected portion of the article.
US10017869B2	Electroplating apparatus for tailored uniformity profile Methods of electroplating metal on a substrate while controlling azimuthal uniformity, include, in one aspect, providing the substrate to the electroplating apparatus configured for rotating the substrate during electroplating, and electroplating the metal on the substrate while rotating the substrate relative to a shield such that a selected portion of the substrate at a selected azimuthal position dwells in a shielded area for a different amount of time than a second portion of the substrate having the same average arc length and the same average radial position and residing at a different angular (azimuthal) position. For example, a semiconductor wafer substrate can be rotated during electroplating slower or faster, when the selected portion of the substrate passes through the shielded area.
US10017867B2	Electrorefining of magnesium from scrap metal aluminum or magnesium alloys The invention comprises methods and apparatuses for the electrorefining of Mg from Al or Mg alloy scrap. The invention utilizes the density and charge features of Mg present in a melted alloy to continuously extract Mg and Mg alloys from a melted Al alloy feed.
US10017865B2	Electrochemical method for producing pure-oxygen gas and oxygen-lean gas from oxygen-containing gas mixtures The present invention relates to an electrochemical method for continuously producing a pure-oxygen gas and an oxygen-lean gas from an oxygen-containing gas mixture. At least two water electrolyzer units and two power supply units are used, of which each former solely corresponds to each latter, respectively. The two power supply units are at least one power supply unit of recycling hydrogen energy and an externally-connected power supply unit. The power supply unit of recycling hydrogen energy consists of hydrogen fuel cells, and the externally-connected power supply unit is comprised of at least one of the following cells and/or power supply, e.g. (a) solar cell(s), (a) direct methanol fuel cell(s), and/or an AC grid. In terms of the electrical circuit, each power supply unit is solely connected with the corresponding water electrolyzer unit. Hydrogen produced by all the water electrolyzer units is delivered to feed the hydrogen fuel cells as a fuel, and oxygen produced by the water electrolyzer units is the pure oxygen of target product. A negative electrode and a positive electrode of the hydrogen fuel cells of the power supply unit of recycling hydrogen energy are fed by the hydrogen gas and an oxygen-containing gas mixture, respectively. The inlet hydrogen gas is connected with a cathode of hydrogen chamber of the water electrolyzer unit through a pipe. A gas-liquid separation is performed at the outlet of positive electrode, of which the outlet gas is produced as an oxygen-lean gas. By means of the present invention, a high-purity oxygen gas can be stably and continuously produced from air at low cost for any indoor and outdoor sites or a remote area.
US10017862B2	Stainless substrate having a gold-plating layer, and process of forming a partial gold-plating pattern on a stainless substrate The process of forming a partial gold-plating pattern on a stainless substrate includes a first plating step, a second plating step, and a stripping step. In the first plating step, pretreatment is applied to a stainless substrate including opposite main planes and a processing site formed of a plane different from the main planes, after which a first gold-plating layer is formed all over the surface of the stainless substrate using a hydrochloric acid plating solution. In the second plating step, mask plating is used to form a second gold-plating layer on the first gold-plating layer that covers the processing site in a desired pattern, and in the stripping step, a portion of the first gold-plating layer in an area where there is none of the second gold-plating layer is stripped off using an alkaline stripping solution.
US10017861B2	Zirconium pretreatment compositions containing a rare earth metal, associated methods for treating metal substrates, and related coated metal substrates Disclosed are methods for treating metal substrates that include contacting the substrate with a pretreatment composition comprising a rare earth metal and a zirconyl compound. The present invention also relates to coated substrates produced thereby and further to substrates additionally coated with an electrophoretically applied coating composition.
US10017859B2	Polymer articles, ink compositions, and methods for selectively metalizing polymer articles Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a polymer article. The polymer article includes a polymer matrix and a metal compound dispersed in the polymer matrix. The metal compound is a compound represented by formula (I): AxCuy(PO4)2 (I). In formula (I), A represents at least one element selected from Group IIA of the periodic table of elements, x/y=0.1 to 20, x+y=3.
US10017857B2	Method and apparatus for controlling plasma near the edge of a substrate Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for processing a substrate includes a process chamber having an internal processing volume disposed beneath a dielectric lid of the process chamber; a substrate support disposed in the process chamber and having a support surface to support a substrate; an inductive coil disposed above the dielectric lid to inductively couple RF energy into the internal processing volume to form a plasma above the substrate support; and a first inductive applicator ring coupled to a lift mechanism to position the first inductive applicator ring within the internal processing volume.
US10017855B2	Process kit for a high throughput processing chamber A processing chamber for processing a substrate is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the processing chamber includes a liner assembly disposed within an interior volume of the processing chamber, and a C-channel disposed in an interior volume of the chamber, circumscribing the liner assembly. In another embodiment, a process kit disposed in the interior volume of the processing chamber is disclosed herein. The process kit includes a liner assembly, a C-channel, and an isolator disposed in the interior volume. The C-channel and the isolator circumscribe the liner assembly. A method for depositing a silicon based material on a substrate by flowing a precursor gas into a processing chamber is also described herein.
US10017849B2	High rate deposition systems and processes for forming hermetic barrier layers A method of forming a hermetic barrier layer comprises sputtering a thin film from a sputtering target, wherein the sputtering target includes a sputtering material such as a low Tg glass, a precursor of a low Tg glass, or an oxide of copper or tin. During the sputtering, the formation of defects in the barrier layer are constrained to within a narrow range and the sputtering material is maintained at a temperature of less than 200° C.
US10017848B2	Crucible A crucible includes a tank and an inner cover. The tank has a cavity. The inner cover is disposed in the cavity of the tank and has a first bottom surface and at least one hole. The first bottom surface faces a bottom of the tank and protrudes toward the bottom of the tank. A vertical distance between the bottom of the tank and the first bottom surface of the inner cover is gradually decreased from an edge toward a center of the first bottom surface.
US10017833B2	Method and tool for hardening a hollow profile of a steel workpiece Disclosed herein is a method and tool for hardening a hollow profile of a steel workpiece having an interior space. The method includes the steps of providing a workpiece having a hollow profile, heating the hollow profile, placing the hollow profile of the steel workpiece in a hardening tool, and cooling the hollow profile from the inside by way of a cooling core having an exterior shape that is complimentary to that of the structural shape of the interior space of the hollow profile.
US10017831B2	Bacterial cultures of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and their use in the treatment of materials containing sulfur-compounds Bacterial cultures of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans are isolated, maintained and identified and used in the treatment of materials containing sulfur-compounds, such as contaminated and/or spent catalysts with elemental sulfur (S). Bacterial cultures of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans exhibit sulfur-oxidizing activity particularly useful in the transformation of elemental sulfur (S) to sulfates (SO4), a compound soluble in water (H2O) and usable in industry. The bacterial cultures of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans are mainly used as a biological or biotechnological procedure for the treatment of contaminated and/or spent catalysts with elemental sulfur (S) hazardous contaminated wastes that are mainly, but not exclusively, from the Claus process that operates at environmental conditions; does not impact the environment or ecosystem; and recovers 91-100% of the elemental sulfur (S) in sulfate form (SO4).
US10017828B2	System and method for analysis of plant material for a set of unique exogenous genetic elements This disclosure concerns a system and method for detecting heterologous DNA in plant materials.
US10017827B2	Herbicide-resistant sunflower plants with multiple herbicide resistant alleles of AHASL1 and methods of use Herbicide resistant sunflower plants comprising two different herbicide-resistant alleles of the sunflower acetohydroxyacid synthase large subunit 1 (AHASL1) gene are described. Methods for making these sunflower plants and methods for controlling weeds or other undesired vegetation growing in the vicinity of these sunflower plants are disclosed. Such methods involve the use of acetohydroxyacid synthase-inhibiting herbicides. Methods for controlling parasitic weeds growing on sunflower plants are also described. Additionally provided are methods for determining the genotype of sunflower plants for AHASL1 gene.
US10017826B2	Method for producing RNA The present invention relates to a method for producing RNA. In particular, the present invention relates to a method for producing RNA, which is scalable and provides RNA at a high purity. The present invention provides a method for producing RNA under GMP and/or cGMP-compliant conditions. The invention further provides specific processes for use as a quality control in the manufacturing of a template DNA and/or in a method for producing RNA, in particular by in vitro transcription.
US10017818B2	Multiplex detection of DNA that originates from a specific cell-type The present invention relates to methods to detect an amount of DNA that originates from cells of a given type, where the sample comprising such DNA in admixture with DNA that does not originate from such cells. Such methods are based on different methylation, at certain regions, of the DNA that originates from the given type of cells compared to the admixed DNA. Such methods have particular application in the detection, from a biological fluid from a pregnant female, of cell free DNA that originates from a foetus or the placenta of a foetus, or the detection, from a biological fluid from an individual, of cell free DNA that originates from cells of a tumor. Accordingly, such methods have diagnostic, prognostic and/or predictive utility for detecting an increased risk of an individual suffering from or developing a medical condition such as preeclampsia or cancer, and/or to aid subsequent diagnostic, prognostic and/or predictive methods such as the detection of chromosomal trisomy in a foetus, including for twin-pregnancies. The present invention also relates to compositions, kits, computer program products and other aspects that are used in, useful for or related to the practice of such methods.
US10017813B2	Differentiation of macromolecules and analysis of their internal content in solid-state nanopore devices Provided are solid-state nanopore platforms for fast, electronic, label-free and high-resolution analysis of biomolecules.
US10017811B2	Methods and compositions for multiplex PCR The present invention provides methods, compositions, kits, systems and apparatus that are useful for multiplex PCR of one or more nucleic acids present in a sample. In particular, various target-specific primers are provided that allow for the selective amplification of one or more target sequences. In one aspect, the invention relates to target-specific primers useful for the selective amplification of one or more target sequences associated with cancer or inherited disease. In some aspects, amplified target sequences obtained using the disclosed methods, kits, systems and apparatuses can be used in various downstream processes including nucleic acid sequencing and used to detect the presence of genetic variants.
US10017810B2	Methods for determining a nucleotide sequence contiguous to a known target nucleotide sequence The technology described herein is directed to methods of determining oligonucleotide sequences, e.g. by enriching target sequences prior to sequencing the sequences.
US10017806B2	Method for determination of microorganisms The present invention relates to determination of the microorganism content in material comprising cellulose within the pulp and paper industry. The material comprising cellulose is enzymatically pretreated and microorganisms are determined using PCR based technology.
US10017800B2	Clean sugar and lignin from non-chemically pretreated lignocellulosic biomass Methods of producing clean (e.g., low sulfur and metal ion content, and free of fermentation inhibitors) sugar and lignin-rich streams, and downstream conversion products, from lignocellulosic biomass, may include obtaining non-chemically pretreated, milled lignocellulosic biomass, reacting the milled lignocellulosic biomass with an enzymatic agent to produce a slurry that includes converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and lignin-rich residuals, and separating the slurry into a sugar stream that includes the converted monomeric lignocellulosic sugars and a lignin-rich stream that includes the lignin-rich residuals. The sugar stream, not including water, includes at least 75% monomeric lignocellulosic sugar, less than 0.20% sulfur, and less than 3.0% metal ion content, and the lignin-rich stream includes at least 35% lignin and less than 0.50% sulfur. Some methods include producing fermentation products such as alcohols and/or organic acids from the sugar stream, and/or use of the lignin residuals in fuels.
US10017799B2	Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIA) producing microbes, and methods of making and using the same Aspects of the invention include host cells that are engineered to produce benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). The host cells include heterologous coding sequences for a variety of enzymes involved in synthetic pathways from starting compounds to BIAs of the host cell. Also provided are methods of producing the BIAs of interest by culturing the host cells under culture conditions that promote expression of enzymes encoded by the heterologous coding sequences of the host cells. Aspects of the invention further include compositions, e.g., host cells, starting compounds and kits, etc., that find use in methods of the invention.
US10017798B2	E. coli engineering bacteria producing 1,5-pentanediamine through whole cell catalysis and application thereof The present invention discloses an E. coli engineering bacteria producing 1,5pentanediamine through a whole cell catalysis and its application. The engineering bacteria according to the present invention, is Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain B or its derivative strains with the overexpression of a lysine decarboxylase gene and a proper expression of a lysinecadaverine antiporter gene cadB. The engineering bacteria according to the present invention is the engineering bacteria producing 1,5pentanediamine through the whole cell catalysis constructed from Escherichia coli B derivative strains, which has an overexpression of a lysine decarboxylase gene cadA and a proper expression of the lysinecadaverine antiporter gene cadB; The present invention further discloses a method of producing a 1,5pentanediamine catalyzed by the engineering bacteria, the yield and production intensity of 1,5pentanediamine in biobased production could be significantly improved through the method, hence it could be applied to mass production and convenient for extending applications.
US10017791B2	Coryneform bacterium transformant and process for producing 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or salt thereof using the same A transformant constructed by introducing a gene which encodes an enzyme having chorismate-pyruvate lyase activity into a coryneform bacterium as a host is capable of efficiently producing 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or a salt thereof from a sugar. When the transformant is cultured under aerobic conditions where the transformant does not grow, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid or a salt thereof can be produced in a particularly efficient manner.
US10017789B2	System and method for feedback control of gas supply for ethanol production via syngas fermentation using pH as a key control indicator According to an embodiment, there is provided herein a system and method wherein knowledge of the syngas fermentation is combined with standard instrumentation to provide a stable control of gas supply to automatically poise the fermentation to provide both high conversion of CO and H2, and high selectivity for production of ethanol. The control is based on an automatic feedback loop that corrects for operational imbalance and maintains a stable continuous fermentation required for commercial operation. In a further embodiment, feed of syngas to ethanol fermentation can be optimally controlled using the pH of the broth as the input variable for flow control of the gas. This concept will automatically maintain the correct supply of syngas to the fermentation, and provide stable operation at optimal rates.
US10017784B2	Gene transfer into airway epithelial stem cell by using lentiviral vector pseudotyped with RNA virus or DNA virus spike protein The present inventors successfully introduced genes into stem cells of airway epithelial tissues using simian immunodeficiency virus vectors pseudotyped with F and HN, which are envelope glycoproteins of Sendai virus. Gene transfer into airway epithelial tissue stem cells using a vector of the present invention is useful for gene therapy of genetic respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis. Furthermore, it is possible to select respiratory organs such as the lungs as production tissues for providing proteins that are deficient due to genetic diseases.
US10017782B2	Immune cells modified by transient transfection of RNA RNA prepared by in vitro transcription using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-generated template can be introduced into a cell to modulate cell activity. This method is useful in de-differentiating somatic cells to pluripotent, multipotent, or unipotent cells; re-differentiating stem cells into differentiated cells; or reprogramming of somatic cells to modulate cell activities such as metabolism. Cells can also be transfected with inhibitory RNAs, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) or micro RNA (miRNA), or combinations thereof to induce reprogramming of somatic cells. For example, target cells are isolated from a donor, contacted with one or more RNA's causing the cells to be de-differentiated, re-differentiated, or reprogrammed in vitro, and administered to a patient in need thereof. The resulting cells are useful for treating one or more symptoms of a variety of diseases and disorders, for organ regeneration, and for restoration of the immune system.
US10017781B2	Rhizomania-resistant gene The present invention provides a new nucleic acid molecule which encodes a polypeptide that is able to convey a resistance to a pathogen, in particular to “Beet Necrotic Yellow Vein Virus” in a plant, in particular a plant of the Beta genus, in which the polypeptide is expressed, and also a preferred nucleic acid molecule encoding the RZ-3 gene of Beta maritima, derivatives and homologues thereof. Further aspects of the invention include vectors, transgenic plant cells, transgenic plants, methods for production thereof, and methods for identifying a resistance-conveying nucleic acid molecule.
US10017779B2	Gene implicated in abiotic stress tolerance and growth accelerating and use thereof The present invention provides a method for improving the tolerance of a plant to an abiotic stress and a method for promoting growing of a plant, comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding the AtSRP (Arabidopsis thaliana stress related protein) of a plant. The present nucleotide sequence is involved in abiotic stress tolerance such as drought, low-temperature and salt stresses of plants. Therefore, the overexpressing transgenic plants have excellent tolerances to these abiotic stresses, whereby they may be useful as novel functional crops which are affected by climates and environments of the cultivated areas. In addition, where the plants are transformed with the present nucleotide sequence, the growth abilities of the transgenic plants are remarkably enhanced, whereby they may effectively used for cultivating the plants with novel function of rapid growing, and biomass.
US10017778B2	Means and methods for the reduction of photorespiration in crops The present invention relates to the field of plant molecular biology and concerns methods for enhancing the abiotic stress tolerance in plants by modulating the expression of the glyoxylate reductase gene. The present invention also provides chimeric constructs useful in the methods in the invention. In addition, the invention provides transgenic plants having an enhanced abiotic stress resistance, in particular an enhanced tolerance to high light conditions and an improved CO2 fixation.
US10017776B2	Transgenic plants with altered nitrate levels in leaves The present invention relates to genetic constructs, which can be used in the preparation of transgenic plants. The constructs can have the ability of reducing nitrate concentration in the plant, in particular the plant's leaves. The invention extends to plant cells transformed with such constructs, and to the transgenic plants themselves. The invention also relates to methods of producing transgenic plants, and to methods of reducing nitrate content in plants. The invention also relates to harvested plant leaves, for example tobacco leaves, that have been transformed with the genetic constructs, and to various tobacco articles, such as smoking articles, comprising such harvested plant leaves.
US10017769B2	MGMT-based method for obtaining high yeilds of recombinant protein expression The present invention relates to a novel enhancer of protein production in host cells. It discloses a vector for expressing recombinant proteins in these cells, comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a) a secretion peptidic signal, b) a 6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase enzyme (MGMT, EC 2.1.1.63), a mutant or a catalytic domain thereof, and c) a recombinant protein. Said MGMT enzyme is preferably the so-called SNAP protein.
US10017768B2	Method of treatment of chlamydial infections with selected EGFR inhibitors The present invention provides compositions and methods of use in the treatment/prevention of chlamydial infection and/or diseases and disorders associated with chlamydial infection in a subject.
US10017766B2	SiRNA and their use in methods and compositions for inhibiting the expression of the FLAP gene The invention relates to si RNA molecules and their use in methods and pharmaceutical compositions for inhibiting the expression of the FLAP gene. The invention also relates to the use of said si RNAs molecules in the treatment and/or prevention of an eye condition characterized by increased expression and/or activity of FLAP gene, preferably said eye condition is conjunctivitis and/or an ocular allergy such as seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, perennial allergic conjunctivitis, vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis, and giant papillary conjunctivitis.
US10017764B2	Oligomeric compounds comprising bicyclic nucleotides and uses thereof The present invention provides oligomeric compounds. Certain such oligomeric compounds are useful for hybridizing to a complementary nucleic acid, including but not limited, to nucleic acids in a cell. In certain embodiments, hybridization results in modulation of the amount activity or expression of the target nucleic acid in a cell.
US10017761B2	Methods for preparing cDNA from low quantities of cells Methods for preparing cDNA libraries from single and low quantities of cells are disclosed. The methods are based on the principles of multi-strand displacement amplification or semi-random primed polymerase chain reaction. The methods typically include a step of reverse transcription and subsequent amplification of cDNA. The methods can be adapted for preparation of cDNA libraries that are representative of mRNA or whole RNA expressed by the cell or cells. The cDNA is suitable for sequencing or microarray analysis.
US10017758B1	Protein-protein interaction guided mating of yeast The invention relates to methods and compositions useful for detection of protein-protein interactions between cell surface proteins.
US10017744B2	Methods for reprogramming somatic cells The invention provides methods for reprogramming somatic cells to generate multipotent or pluripotent cells. Such methods are useful for a variety of purposes, including treating or preventing a medical condition in an individual. The invention further provides methods for identifying an agent that reprograms somatic cells to a less differentiated state.
US10017739B2	Methods of expanding and assessing B cells and using expanded B cells to treat disease Provided herein are methods of expanding B cells, and in particularly B10 cells capable of producing IL-10, ex vivo. The methods include incubation of harvested B cells in the presence of IL-21. Compositions comprising the ex vivo expanded B cells and methods of using the expanded B cell-containing compositions to treat diseases or conditions are also provided. Methods of assessing B10 cell function in a subject are also provided.
US10017735B2	Cell culture of corneal endothelial cells The invention relates to a dual-media approach for culturing isolated corneal endothelial cells. Isolated corneal endothelial cells are first contacted with a proliferative medium to propagate and/or expand the endothelial cells followed by a maintenance medium to preserve the morphology and/or characteristics of the corneal endothelial cells. The invention includes the proliferative medium and the maintenance medium and also a combination of the two medium.
US10017728B2	Methods for making ribosomes A platform for preparing a sequence defined biopolymer in vitro is disclosed. The platform includes a ribosome-depleted cellular extract ribosomal RNAs prepared by in vitro transcription and purified ribosomal proteins depleted of ribosomal RNAs. A method of synthesizing and assembling ribosomes in vitro for use in the platform is provided, as well as a method for preparing a sequence defined biopolymer in vitro using assembling ribosomes and the platform.
US10017727B2	Method for fermentation and culture, fermented plant extract, fermented plant extract composition, method for producing lipopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide In order to provide a method for culturing an immunopotentiator-containing organism having the experience of being eaten, inexpensively without requiring usage of a component derived from an animal, Acetobacter, Gluconobacter, Xanthomonas, Zymomonas or Enterobacter which is an edible gram-negative bacterium having an immunopotentiation function is cultured using a culture solution composed mainly of wheat or bean curd refuse. Thereby, Acetobacter can be obtained inexpensively and safely, and also a low molecular weight lipopolysaccharide which is the immunopotentiator can be obtained inexpensively and safely. Furthermore, no impurity derived from animal components is mixed.
US10017726B2	Ultrasonic method with short pulses for monitoring monolayers of cultured cells A method for monitoring a cell culture, where the method includes measuring pulse-echo ultrasonic waveforms from the cell culture, and analyzing the pulse-echo ultrasonic waveforms to monitor the cell culture.
US10017722B2	Fermentation cooling system A fermentation system having a vessel defining a chamber for holding liquids and including a lower aperture. An insulating jacket is disposed around the vessel. A cooling fluid is disposed between the insulating jacket and the vessel. The cooling fluid is in fluid communication with a fluid pump. A refrigerant line is wrapped around the vessel and is configured to cool the fluid and the vessel, resulting in cooling of liquids disposed in the chamber. A beverage line operably couples the lower aperture with a dispensing spigot. The beverage line is wrapped around the vessel and is at least partially submerged in the fluid. A sediment drain line is disposed below the lower aperture and configured to drain sediment that accumulates on a bottom of the vessel.
US10017720B2	Sulfoperoxycarboxylic acids, their preparation and methods of use as bleaching and antimicrobial agents The present invention relates to novel sulfoperoxycarboxylic acid compounds, and methods for making and using them. The sulfoperoxycarboxylic compounds of the invention are storage stable, water soluble and have low to no odor. Further, the compounds of the present invention can be formed from non-petroleum based renewable materials. The compounds of the present invention can be used as antimicrobials, and bleaching agents. The compounds of the present invention are also suitable for use as coupling agents.
US10017715B2	Fabric softener The present invention concerns the use of a C16-C22-alkyl or C16-C22-alkenyl amido alkyl betaine derivatives as a fabric softener, notably for fabric softening compositions. The invention also concerns a method of treating fabric which comprises the step of contacting said fabric in the rinse cycle of a fabric washing machine with an aqueous medium containing a composition as defined herein.
US10017709B2	Multiple function dispersant viscosity index improver The present invention provides a multiple function dispersant viscosity index improver, a method of making the multiple function dispersant viscosity index improver, and a lubricating oil comprising the multiple function dispersant viscosity index improver. The multiple function dispersant viscosity index improver comprises two different functional groups, each directly grafted to a polymer backbone having graftable sites. The first functional group comprises the reaction product of an acylating agent and a first amine, the first amine comprising an aromatic primary amine, and the second functional group comprises the reaction product of an acylating agent and a second amine, the second amine comprising an aliphatic primary amine. The first functional group provides the dispersant viscosity index improver with soot handling performance attributes and the second functional group provides the dispersant viscosity index improver with sludge and varnish control performance attributes.
US10017708B2	Lubricant and fuel dispersants and methods of preparation thereof This disclosure relates to a composition for use as an additive for fuels and lubricants including a reductive amination product of a vinyl terminated macromonomer (VTM) based aldehyde. Optionally aldehyde is reacted with the amino compound under condensation conditions sufficient to give an imine intermediate, and the imine intermediate is reacted under hydrogenation conditions sufficient to give the composition. The aldehyde is formed by reacting a VTM under hydroformylation conditions sufficient to form the aldehyde. A reductive amination method for making a composition for use as an additive for fuels and lubricants. The method includes reacting a VTM based aldehyde with an amino compound containing at least one —NH— group under condensation conditions sufficient to give an imine intermediate, and reacting the imine intermediate under hydrogenation conditions sufficient to give said composition. The aldehyde is formed by reacting a VTM under hydroformylation conditions sufficient to form the aldehyde.
US10017706B1	Additive for combustion enhancement of liquid hydrocarbon fuels A stabilized composition comprising a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, such as JP-8, and a fuel additive, wherein the fuel additive comprises a graphitic carbon compound functionalized with a plurality of alkyl groups, wherein at least one alkyl group at each site of alkyl functionalization on the graphitic carbon compound has 8 or more carbon atoms, for example, poly(octadecyl)-graphene oxide. A method of increasing the energy density of a liquid hydrocarbon fuel involving adding to the fuel one or more alkyl-functionalized graphitic carbon compounds. The stabilized composition is useful for enhancing the properties of combustion processes, including energy density, thrust, flame speed, or a combination thereof, without introducing undesirable combustion effects, emissions, or combustion signature.
US10017705B2	Fuels hydrocracking with dewaxing of fuel products This invention relates to a process involving hydrocracking and dewaxing of a feedstream in which a converted fraction can correspond to a majority of the product from the reaction system, while an unconverted fraction can exhibit improved properties. In this hydrocracking process, it can be advantageous for the yield of unconverted fraction for gasoline fuel application to be controlled to maintain desirable cold flow properties for the unconverted fraction. Catalysts and conditions can be chosen to assist in attaining, or to optimize, desirable product yields and/or properties.
US10017703B2	Process intensification in hydroprocessing A multi-stage hydrotreating process obtains ultra-low sulfur diesel boiling range hydrocarbon having less than 10 ppm sulfur with elimination of external hot high pressure separator and avoids the formation of recombinant mercaptans by removing excess hydrogen sulfide formed during hydroprocessing reaction. The process includes mixing a diesel boiling range hydrocarbon feedstock with hydrogen and sending to the first predominantly liquid phase hydroprocessing reaction stage. Effluent from the first hydroprocessing reaction stage is sent to first separator zone of open and empty space in the upper part of the second hydroprocessing reaction stage to flash off the dissolved reaction products hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Liquid part of the effluent of first hydroprocessing reaction stage is passed to the second predominantly liquid phase hydroprocessing reaction stage. The process is repeated until the liquid product sulfur level of less than 10 ppm is attained and the liquid product is sent to further processing.
US10017702B2	Thermal cracking of crudes and heavy feeds to produce olefins in pyrolysis reactor Systems and processes for efficiently cracking of hydrocarbon mixtures, such as mixtures including compounds having a normal boiling temperature of greater than 450° C., 500° C., or even greater than 550° C., such as whole crudes for example, are disclosed.
US10017699B2	Process for recovering bitumen from froth treatment tailings A method for processing a froth treatment tailings separated from a bitumen froth produced in a process for recovering bitumen from oil sand ore, includes subjecting the froth treatment tailings to a first solvent extraction process to produce a first extract including bitumen, and a first raffinate, subjecting the first raffinate to a separation process to produce a fine mineral material fraction including fine solid mineral material having a particle size less than 44 microns and a coarse mineral material fraction including a coarse mineral material having a particle size equal to or greater than 44 microns, subjecting the coarse mineral material fraction to a froth flotation process to produce a heavy mineral concentrate and a coarse mineral material tailings, and subjecting the heavy mineral concentrate to a second solvent extraction process to produce a second extract including bitumen and a second raffinate including a debitumenized heavy mineral concentrate.
US10017698B2	Single solvent method and machine for separating bitumen from oil sand A single solvent method and machine for separating bitumen from oil sand ore are disclosed. The method includes the use of a single light paraffinic solvent, such as propane or butane as the agent to separate the bitumen from mined oil sand ore. Since light paraffinic solvents are vapors at atmospheric pressure and temperatures, the ore is placed in a pressurized container so that the solvent remains in a liquid state. When the container is pressurized, by the addition of the solvent itself, the liquid solvent is mixed with the ore to effect separation. The proposed machine settles more than 80% of the solids out under gravity in a modest period of time. The solvent-bitumen mixture is drained after the cleaning cycle, the container is depressured to a vapor recovery system and the remaining solids dumped out. The fine solids, drained with the liquids, are separated from the liquid mixture with relative ease by the use of current technology in other downstream equipment.
US10017697B2	Thermosetting composition with photo-alignment property, alignment layer, substrate with alignment layer, retardation plate, and device An embodiment of the present invention provides a thermosetting composition with a photo-alignment property, including a copolymer containing a photo-alignment constitutional unit represented by the following formula (1) and a thermal cross-linking constitutional unit. In the formula (1), X represents a photo-alignment group causing a photo-isomerization reaction or a photo-dimerization reaction, L1 represents a single bond, —O—, —S—, —COO—, —COS—, —CO—, —OCO—, —OCO(CH2)nCOO—, —OCOCH2CH2OCH2CH2COO—, —OCOC6H4O—, —OCOC6H10O—, —COO(CH2)nO—, —COOC6H4O—, —COOC6H10O—, —O(CH2)nO—, —OC6H4O—, —OC6H10O—, or —(CH2)nO—, n represents 1 to 4, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group, and k represents 1 to 5.
US10017694B2	Liquid crystal medium containing 2,4-diflurophenyl compounds and use Disclosed is a liquid crystal medium containing a 2,4-diflurophenyl compound and the use thereof. The liquid crystal composition comprises the compounds as represented by formula I and formula II. The liquid crystal composition has a low rotary viscosity, good chemical and thermal stability and a fast response speed, it is suitable for a liquid crystal display device and particularly suitable for the use in an active matrix display of a TN, IPS or FFS mode.
US10017692B2	Method for manufacturing quantum dots A method for manufacturing a quantum dot includes a method of manufacturing a quantum dot including heating a first mixture including a Group II precursor and a Group III precursor, adding an organic solvent to the first mixture and cooling the resultant under an inert gas atmosphere, adding a Group V precursor solution to the cooled resultant including the first mixture and the organic solvent to prepare a second mixture and heating the second mixture, and adding a mixture of a Group V precursor and a Group VI precursor to the second mixture to prepare a third mixture and allowing third mixture to react.
US10017690B2	Photochromatic composition for 3D printing Compositions relating to three-dimensional (3D) printing. In particular, a photochromatic composition for use in 3D printing comprising a photochrome core with polymeric resin shell disposed thereon and a polymeric component.
US10017686B1	Proppant drying system and method A method of dehydrating proppant is achieved by pressurizing a proppant silo that is filled with proppant and injecting gaseous nitrogen into the proppant silo. The gaseous nitrogen is used to exhaust moisture from the proppant silo until the proppant is in a bone-dry condition. The moisture is exhausted from the proppant silo while maintaining a back pressure within the proppant silo. The bone-dry proppant can be mixed with a stimulation fluid and injected into a hydrocarbon bearing reservoir.
US10017679B1	Plugging agent for improving formation bearing capacity and preparation method thereof The present invention relates to the field of reagents for oil and gas wells, and discloses a plugging agent for improving bearing capacity and a preparation method of the plugging agent, wherein, the plugging agent contains water, bridging granules, packing granules, and a cementing material, and, based on 100 parts by weight of water, the content of the bridging granules is 3-15 parts by weight, the content of the packing granules is 5-23 parts by weight, and the content of the cementing material is 4-11 parts by weight. The plugging agent in the present invention can improve the bearing capacity of the formation during well plugging, is applicable to shielded temporary plugging against serious leakage loss during extra-deep well drilling, has efficient and quick plugging performance, and is especially applicable to plugging against serious leakage loss in a formation where the well depth is greater than 3,000 m and conventional plugging agents can't attain a satisfactory plugging effect.
US10017677B2	Heat-conductive fluorinated curable composition, cured product thereof, and electric/electronic part A heat-conductive fluorinated curable composition is provided comprising (A) an alkenyl-containing linear polyfluoro compound, (B) a fluorinated organohydrogensiloxane having a fluorinated organic group and SiH groups, (C) a platinum catalyst, (D) a heat-conductive filler, and (E) a fluorinated organosilicon compound having a fluorinated organic group and an alkoxy group. The composition allows for heavy loading of the heat-conductive filler and cures into a cured product having improved oil resistance and thermal conductivity.
US10017670B2	Clean release, stretch releasable tape Adhesive tape for bonding that can be detached without leaving residue and without damaging the surface of a substrate when stretched in a direction of a bond plane. An adhesive tape includes an elastomeric backing having opposing first and second surfaces an acrylate pressure sensitive adhesive disposed on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the backing. The backing includes a copolymer selected from the group consisting of polyether-polyester, polyether-polyamide, and a combination thereof and from about 20 to 60 wt % of a tackifier, based on the total weight of the backing. The backing has an elongation at break greater than 500%.
US10017669B2	Polishing composition, polishing method, and method for producing polishing composition A polishing composition includes crystalline metal oxide particles as abrasive grains, wherein the full width at half maximum of a peak portion having the maximum diffracted intensity in an X-ray powder diffraction pattern of the metal oxide particles is less than 1°. Thus, a polishing composition and a polishing method have high polishing speed and suppress defect generation such as a scratch and dishing, which causes to degrade reliability of a semiconductor apparatus in a polishing process of a semiconductor substrate, particularly in a chemical mechanical polishing process of a semiconductor substrate with a metal layer having tungsten, etc.; and a method produces the polishing composition.
US10017668B2	Surface-treating agent for vulcanized rubber A surface-treating agent for vulcanized rubber, comprising 10 to 160 parts by weight of a wax having a softening point of 40 to 160° C. and 10 to 160 parts by weight of fluororesin particles based on 100 parts by weight of the total amount of isocyanate group-containing 1,2-polybutadiene and an OH group-containing fluororesin composition that has the following formulation: a copolymer [I] of (A) a perfluoroalkylalkyl (meth)acrylate and (B) a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate, a polymer [II] of an acrylic acid alkyl ester, a polymer [III] of a fluorinated olefin, and a curing agent [IV]; wherein the weight ratio of the isocyanate group-containing 1,2-polybutadiene and the OH group-containing fluororesin composition is 50:50 to 95:5.
US10017666B2	Polyimide resin composition and varnish produced from terminal-modified imide oligomer prepared using 2-phenyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether and thermoplastic aromatic polyimide prepared using oxydiphthalic acid, polyimide resin composition molded article and prepreg having excellent heat resistance and mechanical characteristic, and fiber-reinforced composite material thereof An imide resin composition including a terminal-modified imide oligomer of General Formula (1) and a thermoplastic aromatic polyimide of General Formula (2). (In Formula (1), either R1 or R2 shows a phenyl group and the other shows a hydrogen atom; R3 and R4 show a divalent residue of aromatic diamine; R5 and R6 show a tetravalent residue of aromatic tetracarboxylic acid; m and n satisfy relationships of m≥1, n≥0, 1≤m+n≤20, and 0.05≤m/(m+n)≤1; and an arrangement of repeating units may be either a block or random.) (In Formula (2), R1 and R2 show a divalent residue of aromatic diamine; R3 shows a tetravalent residue of aromatic tetracarboxylic acid; m and n satisfy relationships of m≥1 and n≥0, and an arrangement of repeating units may be either a block or random).
US10017663B2	Polyurethane/acrylic hybrid for elastomeric wall coatings A polyurethane/acrylic hybrid dispersion comprising a polyurethane dispersion, acrylic monomers and ethylenically unsaturated phosphorus containing monomers. The weight ratio of the solid content of the polyurethane dispersion to the acrylic monomers and the ethylenically unsaturated phosphorus containing monomers is from 3:7 to 7:3. A process of making the polyurethane/acrylic hybrid dispersion.
US10017661B2	Sealing and finishing porous panel products and methods of production Methods of sealing porous panel products and finishing the sealed porous panel products are described. The methods comprise applying to a porous panel product at least one UV curable coating and curing by UV light the at least one UV curable coating to 50% to 100% cure to produce a sealed porous panel product. The methods further modifying the surface of the sealed porous panel product, for example by etching or embossing, after which the sealed porous panel product may be stained. Due to the claimed process of sealing the porous panel product, any strain may be used, such as water-based or solvent-based stains.
US10017658B2	Aqueous coating composition, aqueous coating material kit and article having coated film To provide an aqueous coating composition with which a coating film having a sufficient self-cleaning function can be formed even in a case where an aqueous fluorinated resin dispersion is blended as an aqueous synthetic resin dispersion or a case where an isocyanate compound is contained as a curing agent can be formed; an aqueous coating material kit with which the aqueous coating composition can be obtained; and an article having a coated film having a sufficient self-cleaning function.An aqueous coating composition, which comprises an aqueous synthetic resin dispersion and a urethane polyol, wherein the urethane polyol is a reaction product of a polyoxyalkylene diol having as units an oxyalkylene group of a structure such that an oxygen atom is bonded to one end of a branched alkylene group, and an aliphatic diisocyanate.
US10017657B2	Binder composition and a paint formulation made thereof The present invention provides a binder composition comprising a first binder comprising by dry weight based on total dry weight of the first binder, from 5% to 98% of polymer particles, from 0.3% to 10% of a first polysaccharide, from 0.01% to 5% of a crosslinker, from 0.3% to 6% of a water-soluble metal cation, and from 0.05% to 3% of a cationic polyelectrolyte. The binder composition may further comprise a second binder comprising by dry weight based on total dry weight of the second binder, from 0.3% to 20% of the first polysaccharide, from 0.5% to 20% of a second polysaccharide. And in that case, the wet weight ratio of the first binder to the second binder is from 1:20 to 20:1. The present invention further provides a paint formulation comprising the binder composition.
US10017653B2	Ink composition, ink jet recording method, and colored substance An aqueous pigment ink composition having high scratch resistance and good ejection properties and redispersibility, an ink jet recording method using the aqueous pigment ink composition, and a colored substance including the aqueous pigment ink composition. The ink composition includes a colorant, a resin, and water. The colorant includes a coloring matter that is substantially insoluble in water. The resin is a polymer produced by polymerization of at least one monomer represented by the following formula (1) in which R1 denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 denotes a methyl group, a C8 alkyl group, or the like.
US10017650B2	Reactive surface coating having chemical decontamination and biocidal properties Reactive compositions are provided, having biocidal and chemical decontamination/neutralization properties, comprising a hygroscopic polymer and an active, which are useful in a variety of commercial, healthcare and military applications and a wide variety of contaminants, including without limitation chemical and biological warfare agents. The reactive compositions are renewable or rechargeable after use by exposure to an additional application of the active and do not require removal, disposal or replacement of the originally applied composition. Methods for preparing and applying the reactive compositions are disclosed.
US10017649B2	Tunable materials One or more techniques are disclosed for a method for functionalized a graphitic material comprising the steps of: 1) providing a graphitic material; 2) providing a first molecule comprising a first group, a spacer, and a second group; 3) providing a second molecule comprising a third group, a spacer, and a fourth group, wherein the third group is a different group from the first group; and 4) bonding the first molecule and the second molecule to the graphitic material. Also disclosed is a tunable material composition comprising the functionalized carbon nanotubes or functionalized graphene prepared by the methods described herein.
US10017648B2	Sag resistant, formaldehyde-free coated fibrous substrate The present invention relates to an improved formaldehyde-free coated fibrous substrate. The coating includes a crosslinked binder system which forms three dimensional networks when heat cured. After the coating is applied to the back of fibrous substrate and cured, the coating is capable of hygroscopic expansion which imparts excellent anti-sag properties. The coating is compatible with other coating systems with neutral or mild alkaline pH. The improvement being the binding system is neutralized with a volatile base so that it evaporates quickly so as not to hinder the cross-linking reaction.
US10017646B2	Composition for forming silica layer, method for manufacturing silica layer, and electric device including silica layer A composition for forming silica layer includes a silicon-containing polymer and a solvent, wherein a weight average molecular weight of the silicon-containing polymer ranges from about 2,000 to about 100,000 and a branching ratio (a) of the silicon-containing polymer calculated by Equation 1 ranges from about 0.25 to about 0.50. η=k·Ma [Equation 1] In Equation 1, η is an intrinsic viscosity of a silicon-containing polymer, M is an absolute molecular weight of a silicon-containing polymer, a is a branching ratio, and k is an intrinsic constant.
US10017645B2	Metal azo pigments The novel yellow metal azo pigments based on at least three metal azo compounds which differ at least in the type of metal have improved color strengths and are of excellent suitability for pigmentation of pigment preparations for a broad field of use.
US10017639B2	Polyester-ether resin blends The present application relates to novel polyester-ether compositions and their use as oxygen scavenging materials in polyester resins.
US10017636B2	Use of low molecular weight lignin together with lignin for the production of a phenol-formaldehyde binder composition The present invention relates to a method for producing a binder composition, wherein the method comprises the following steps: (i) forming an aqueous composition comprising reactant components including lignin molecules of 11-60 lignin units, lignin molecules of 1-10 lignin units, polymerizable substance and crosslinking agent in the presence of a catalyst; and (ii) cooking the composition at a temperature of 60-95° C. for polymerizing the reactant components until a binder composition with a predetermined viscosity value is formed.
US10017634B2	Pneumatic tire and run-flat tire Provided is a pneumatic tire including a sidewall that has a good balance of excellent handling stability, rolling resistance, and durability and further has excellent flex crack growth resistance. The sidewall is formed from a modified cellulose fiber-containing rubber composition that is allowed to simultaneously achieve excellent rigidity, excellent tensile properties, and low energy loss by improving the dispersibility of the cellulose fiber in rubber. The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire including a sidewall formed from a modified cellulose fiber-containing rubber composition, the modified cellulose fiber-containing rubber composition containing a modified cellulose fiber (A) obtained by adding a C15 or higher cyclic polybasic acid anhydride (a) containing a hydrophobic group to a cellulose fiber through esterification, a dispersing polymer (B) having a softening point of 135° C. or lower, and a rubber component (C).
US10017633B2	Method of measuring viscosity of gums A method of determining the viability of a gum for use in making a product has been achieved by (a) mixing a sample of the gum in a solvent comprising one or more hydroxy moiety containing solvent compound to form a solution with the gum; (b) measuring the viscosity of the solution and comparing against a predetermined target viscosity for a product; and (c) comparing the viscosity of the solution and the predetermined target viscosity and discarding gum which is outside the predetermined target viscosity; and (d) using the gum which has a viscosity within the predetermined target to prepare a product; wherein another hydroxy moiety containing solvent is used if water is used as a solvent. Also described are compositions comprising the gum and solvent comprising one or more hydroxy moiety.
US10017632B2	Functionalized graphene sheets having high carbon to oxygen ratios Functionalized graphene sheets having a carbon to oxygen molar ratio of at least about 23:1 and method of preparing the same.
US10017631B2	Radar cover-use resin composition, and radar cover and radar apparatus obtained therefrom The present invention provides a resin composition for a radar cover. The resin composition includes carbon nanotubes and a polymer resin. The resin composition does not interfere with the transmission of signals from a radar while protecting the radar from the surroundings.
US10017628B2	Flame retarded thermoplastic moulding composition The invention relates to a flame retarded thermoplastic moulding composition comprising (A) a polyamide (B) a flame retardant system comprising a metal salt of a phosphinic acid and/or a diphosphinic acid; and either (C) a fibrous reinforcing agent; or (D) an inorganic filler; or a combination of (C) and (D), wherein (A) consists primarily of a semi-crystalline semi-aromatic polyamide (A1) with a melting temperature of at least 310° C. and consisting of repeat units, predominantly derived from terephthalic acid and diamines selected from C2-C8 diamines and having a molar average number of carbon atoms of at most 7.
US10017626B2	Borosilicate nanoparticles and method for making the same Borosilicate nanoparticles and method of making borosilicate nanoparticles. Advantages of the method include making the borosilicate nanoparticles at temperatures not greater than 200° C. The nanoparticles made are useful, for example, as fillers in coatings, adhesives, and composite articles.
US10017624B2	Rheology modifying agents for slurries Rheology modifying agents and methods of modifying the rheology of a slurry are disclosed, in addition to methods for the prevention of fouling. The slurry can be a lime slurry or a magnesium oxide slurry. The rheology modifying agent can be a low molecular weight anionic polymer, a high molecular weight polymer, a mixture of a low molecular weight anionic polymer and a high molecular weight polymer, a mixture of a high molecular weight polymer and a chelating agent, and a mixture of a chelating agent, a high molecular weight polymer, and a low molecular weight anionic polymer.
US10017620B2	Method for manufacturing fibrous particles of polylactic acid resin, colloid composition for forming foam sheet, foam sheet, and method for manufacturing foam sheet The present invention relates to a colloid composition for forming a foam sheet including: polylactic acid resin particles having an average diameter of 1 μm to 100 μm obtained by pulverizing fibrous particles of a polylactic acid resin.
US10017615B2	Curable composition and molded article comprising the composition There is provided a curable composition comprising (A) a cyclic olefin; (B) a metathesis catalyst for polymerizing the cyclic olefin; (C) 0.1-30 wt. % of a compound comprising at least one vinyl group; and (D) 0.1-10 wt. % of a curing agent for compound (C), wherein the wt. % are relative to the total weight of the composition. The composition provides a desirable combination of workability, toughness and heat resistance. Also provided is a molded article comprising the composition and reinforcing fibers, and a method of manufacturing the same.
US10017613B2	Method of producing carbon fiber-reinforced polyarylene sulfide A carbon fiber-reinforced polyarylene sulfide has both dynamic characteristics and molding cycle characteristics and can be produced with high productivity by preparing a polycarbodiimide-modified polyarylene sulfide using a polyarylene sulfide and a polycarbodiimide as raw materials, then melting the resulting polycarbodiimide-modified polyarylene sulfide, and combining the polycarbodiimide-modified polyarylene sulfide with carbon fibers at a specific ratio to produce a composite.
US10017612B2	Rubber composition A rubber composition obtained by dry-mixing a rubber wet masterbatch A containing a carbon black A having a nitrogen adsorption specific: surface area (N2SA) of NA (m2/g) with a rubber wet masterbatch B containing a carbon black B having a nitrogen adsorption specific surface area (N2SA) of NB (m2/g),wherein the content ratio of the rubber wet masterbatch A to the rubber wet masterbatch B is from 5/95 to 40/60, andwhen the content proportion of the carbon black A in the rubber wet masterbatch A is represented by LA, and that of the carbon black B in the rubber wet masterbatch B is represented by LB, the specific expressions are satisfied.
US10017609B2	Batch process for preparing polyamides Polyamides based on dicarboxylic acids and on diamines are produced in a batch process by 1) feeding the entire amount of monomer composed of dicarboxylic acids, of diamines, and, if appropriate, of further polyamide-forming monomers, in the desired stoichiometry, in a closed stirred-tank reactor, 2) heating the monomer mixture in the stirred-tank reactor, with stirring, and with setting of a certain pressure, to a desired reaction temperature for the production of a prepolymer, 3) if appropriate, completely or partially depressurizing the reaction mixture from stage 2), 4) if appropriate, carrying out further thermal treatment of the reaction mixture from stage 2) or 3), and 5) reacting the reaction mixture from stage 2), 3), or 4) in the melt in a vented extruder for further increase of the molecular weight, with discharge of water vapor, and without use of additional polyamide-forming monomers or of polyamides.
US10017607B2	Composition crosslinkable by real michael addition (RMA) reaction The present invention relates to a crosslinkable composition crosslinkable by Real Michael Addition (RMA) reaction comprising a component with at least 2 activated unsaturated groups (hereafter referred to as the RMA acceptor groups) and a component with at least 2 acidic protons C—H in activated methylene or methane groups (hereafter referred to as the RMA donor groups) which components can react to form a crosslinked network.
US10017604B2	Modified phenolic resin, method for producing modified phenolic resin, modified epoxy resin, method for producing modified epoxy resin, curable resin composition, cured product of same, and printed wiring board Provided are a modified epoxy resin and a modified epoxy resin whose cured products exhibit good heat resistance and dielectric properties, methods for producing these, a curable resin composition, a cured product of the curable resin composition, and a printed wiring substrate. A modified phenolic resin comprises a phenolic resin structure (A), wherein at least one aromatic nucleus (a) in the phenolic resin structure (A) has, as a substituent, a structural segment (1) represented by structural formula (1) below: In the formula, Ar each independently represent a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, or a structural segment having, on an aromatic nucleus of a phenyl or naphthyl group, at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, a phenyl group, and an aralkyl group.
US10017597B2	Biodegradable polyester A substantially gel-free and substantially linear biodegradable polyester obtainable by reaction with a radical initiator starting from a precursor polyester provided with an unsaturated chain terminator, wherein the terminator has the formula: T-(CH2)n-CH═CH2, wherein “T” is selected from hydroxylic, carboxylic, amine, amide or ester group, and “n” is an integer comprised between 0 and 13. The content of the unsaturated chain terminator is between 0.01 and less than 1% by moles with respect to the moles of repetitive units of the polyester precursor; and the content of the radical initiator is less than 0.08 wt % with respect to the quantity of the precursor polyester.
US10017592B2	Dual catalyst systems for producing polymers with a broad molecular weight distribution and a uniform short chain branch distribution Disclosed herein are ethylene-based polymers having a melt index less than 50 g/10 min, a ratio of Mw/Mn from 4 to 20, a density from 0.90 to 0.945 g/cm3, and a substantially constant short chain branch distribution. These polymers can be produced using a dual catalyst system containing a boron bridged metallocene compound with a cyclopentadienyl group and an indenyl group, and a single atom bridged metallocene compound with a fluorenyl group.
US10017589B2	Low density ethylene-based polymers with high melt strength The invention provides a composition comprising a first ethylene-based polymer, formed by a high pressure, free-radical polymerization process, and comprising the following properties: a) a Mw(abs) versus I2 relationship: Mw(abs)
US10017588B2	Process for the production of water and solvent-free halobutyl rubbers The present invention relates to water and solvent-free halogenated butyl rubber products as well as a process for the production thereof.
US10017587B2	Process for producing (meth)acrylic resin composition A method for producing a (meth)acrylic resin composition, the method comprising continuously feeding a polymerizable monomer component comprising 50 to 100% by mass of methyl methacrylate, 0 to 20% by mass of an acrylic acid alkyl ester and 0 to 30% by mass of an additional monomer, a chain transfer agent, and a radical polymerization initiator to a tank reactor; conducting bulk polymerization of the polymerizable monomer component at a polymerization conversion ratio of 40 to 70% by mass to obtain a liquid containing a (meth)acrylic resin; continuously feeding the liquid to a vented extruder to separate a volatile component from the (meth)acrylic resin; continuously feeding the separated volatile component to a distillation column to obtain a fraction containing methyl methacrylate; adding a polymerization inhibitor to the fraction; and reusing the fraction which contains the polymerization inhibitor as part of the polymerizable monomer component.
US10017585B2	Methods and compositions for promoting hair growth Methods and compositions related to promoting hair growth are described.
US10017583B2	Synthesis of nanostructured carboxycelluloses from non-wood cellulose Disclosed herein is an improved process for the preparation of nanostructured oxidized/carboxy cellulose with high carboxy content and high yield, by subjecting non-wood, lignocellulose, sugarcane bagasse derived a-cellulose or cotton cellulose to oxidation at suitable temperature, wherein the particle shape is spherical, particle size of synthesized carboxy cellulose is in the range of 1-100 nm and degree of polymerization (DP) is in the range 50-70 Further the present invention provides pharmaceutical composition comprising of nanostructured oxidized/carboxy celluloses preferably 6-carboxy cellulose, and 2,3,6-tricarboxycellulose alone or in association with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carrier(s) or excipient(s) for treatment of microbial infections. The carboxycelluloses were efficient in stabilizing multi-walled carbon nanotubes and single-walled carbon nanotubes in aqueous media.
US10017582B2	Compositions and methods comprising histidyl-trna synthetase splice variants having non-canonical biological activities Isolated histidyl-tRNA synthetase splice variant polynucleotides and polypeptides having non-canonical biological activities are provided, as well as compositions and methods related thereto.
US10017581B2	Methods and compositions for treatment of Pompe disease In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides compositions and methods for treating Pompe disease.
US10017579B2	Anti-cancer antibodies with reduced complement fixation The invention provides modified antibodies directed against GD2 that have diminished complement fixation relative to antibody-dependent, cell-mediated cytotoxicity, which is maintained. The modified antibodies of the invention may be used in the treatment of tumors such as neuroblastoma, glioblastoma, melanoma, small-cell lung carcinoma, B-cell lymphoma, renal carcinoma, retinoblastoma, and other cancers of neuroectodermal origin.
US10017578B2	Methods of treating cancer in a patient by administering anti-folate-receptor-1 (FOLR1) antibodies The invention generally relates to antibodies that bind to human folate receptor and diagnostic assays for folate receptor 1-based therapies. Methods of using the antibodies to monitor therapy are further provided.
US10017572B2	Anti-tigit antibodies and methods of use The invention provides anti-TIGIT (T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains) antibodies and methods of using the same.
US10017569B2	Interleukin-10 peptides and antibodies thereof for inhibiting adverse effects of protozoan infection The present disclosure is directed to interleukin-10 (IL-10) peptides and isolated antibodies that specifically bind to the IL-10 peptides. The IL-10 peptides and the isolated antibodies may be administered alone or as an animal feed additive to treat gastrointestinal protozoan infection in animals.
US10017566B2	Growth differentiation factor (GDF) for treatment of diastolic heart failure The methods and uses described herein relate to the treatment of age-related conditions, e.g. by administering an agent that inhibits the interaction of GDF11 and follistatin. In some embodiments, the agent can bind to an epitope of GDF11 as described herein.
US10017565B2	Modulators and methods of use Novel modulators, including antibodies and derivatives thereof, and methods of using such modulators to treat hyperproliferative disorders are provided.
US10017563B2	Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG/dPNAG)-binding peptides and methods of use thereof The present invention relates to peptides, particularly human monoclonal antibodies, that bind specifically to poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG), such as Staphylococcal PNAG, in acetylated, partially acetylated and/or fully deacetylated form. The invention further provides methods for using these peptides in the diagnosis, prophylaxis and therapy of infections by bacteria that express PNAG such as but not limited to Staphylococci and E. coli. Some antibodies of the invention enhance opsonophagocytic killing and in vivo protection against bacteria that express PNAG such as but not limited to Staphylococci and E. coli. Compositions of these peptides, including pharmaceutical compositions, are also provided, as are functionally equivalent variants of such peptides.
US10017561B2	Neutralizing molecules to influenza viruses The present invention concerns methods and means for identifying, producing, and engineering neutralizing antibodies against influenza A viruses, and to the neutralizing antibodies produced. In particular, the invention concerns neutralizing antibodies against various influenza A virus subtypes, and methods and means for making such antibodies.
US10017560B1	Nanobody against begomoviruses A nanobody directed against begomoviruses is capable of selectively binding to ToLCSDV viral particles, TYLCV particles, and/or other begomoviruses. The nanobody includes an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
US10017558B2	Consumable cryopreserved cells transiently overexpressing gene(s) encoding drug transporter protein(s) The present invention discloses cryopreserved recombinant cells for screening drug candidates that transiently overexpress one or more drug transporter proteins and/or drug metabolizing enzymes. Advantageously, such cells provide a cost-efficient consumable product that streamlines the process of screening whether drug candidates are substrates or inhibitors of drug transporter proteins and/or drug metabolizing enzymes.
US10017554B2	Neuropeptide Y-derived peptides The present invention discloses peptide fragments derived from neuropeptide Y (NPY), which are capable of selective binding to the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and inducing neuroplastic and neuroprotective effects, and the use of said peptide fragments as neuritogenic agents for treatment of pathological conditions in which neuroprotection and neuroplastic changes are desired, such as brain and retina disorders.
US10017553B2	Splice variants of GDNF and uses thereof The present invention relates to Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (GDNF) protein and gene and is, in particular, directed to a novel splice variant of GDNF protein, which is encoded by a novel splice variant pre-(γ)pro-GDNF, and secreted under biological regulation.
US10017552B2	Methods of using a composition comprising leukolectin for cosmetic skin treatment The present invention relates to cosmetic compositions comprising polypeptides obtained or obtainable from Salmonidae hatching fluid, methods of producing said compositions and their use in various cosmetic applications to the skin, particularly for improving the cosmetic appearance of skin of a mammalian animal.
US10017547B2	Adhesin as immunogen against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli The inventive subject matter relates to the methods for the induction of immunity and prevention of diarrhea resulting from Escherichia coli. The inventive subject matter also relates to the use Escherichia coli adhesins as immunogens and to the construction of conformationally stability and protease resistant Escherichia coli adhesin constructs useful for inducing immunity to Escherichia coli pathogenic bacteria. The methods provide for the induction of B-cell mediated immunity and for the induction of antibody capable of inhibiting the adherence and colonization of Escherichia coli, including enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, to human cells.
US10017545B2	Compositions and vaccines comprising vesicles and methods of using the same The disclosure relates to compositions, pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines, and methods of making and using the same. The compositions of the disclosure are useful to stimulate an antigen-specific immune response and, in some embodiments, a protective immune response in an animal after challenge to pathogens. The compositions of the disclosure are also useful for treatment and prevention of disease in a subject such as cancer.
US10017542B2	Antimicrobial peptides and methods of use thereof Aspects of the present invention relate to peptides having antimicrobial activity. In certain aspects, the invention relates to peptides having potent antimicrobial activity, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and/or the ability to kill otherwise antibiotic-resistant microbes, or microbes protected by biofilms.
US10017541B2	Cyclosporin a form 2 and method of making same Disclosed herein are methods of making cyclosporin A Form 2.
US10017535B2	Amphiphilic compounds with neuroprotective properties Amphiphilic compounds with tetradecahydrophenanthrene skeleton and their enantiomers, exhibiting neuroprotective effects, their use in methods of treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders associated with an imbalance in glutamatergic neurotransmitter system, such as ischemic damage of CNS, neurodegenerative changes and disorders of CNS, affective disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and diseases related to stress, anxiety, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders, pain, addiction, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, glioma, and a pharmaceutical composition containing compound.
US10017532B2	Platinum (IV) complex with increased anti-tumor efficacy The invention relates to a new platinum (IV) complex with substantially increased antitumor efficacy. The invention further discloses a process for preparing of said complex and a pharmaceutical composition for the therapy of tumor diseases containing said complex.
US10017531B2	Lipid-based platinum-N-heterocyclic carbene compounds and nanoparticles The present disclosure is in relation to the field of nanotechnology and cancer therapeutics. In particular, the present disclosure relates to carbene compounds, particularly platinum containing carbenes and corresponding nanoparticles thereof. The disclosure further relates to synthesis of said platinum containing carbenes, nanoparticles and compositions comprising said platinum containing carbenes/nanoparticles. The disclosure also relates to methods of managing cancer by employing aforesaid platinum based compounds, nanoparticles and compositions.
US10017528B2	Controlled synthesis of polymeric perylene diimide and applications thereof Perylene diimide phosphoramidite derivatives and methods for polymerization of perylene diimide phosphoramidite derivatives and applications thereof are provided. Compounds comprise at least an electronically active base surrogate and may also include a solubilizing functionality. The base surrogate may be comprised of an electrochemically active perylene diimide (PDI) molecule, the solubility chain may comprise a PEG functionality, and the PDI may further comprise a phosphoramidite functionality as an imide substituent. The phosphoramidite functionality may be used as a chemical coupling handle for use with established nucleic acid synthesis protocols and/or automated synthesis. One or more aromatic core functionalizations may be incorporated into the PDI molecules to allow for tuning the molecule's electronic and optical properties. One or more functional terminal groups may be incorporated into the PDI molecules, such as, for example terminal thiols for attachment to gold substrates and terminal ferrocenes for electrochemical measurements, among others.
US10017524B2	Compound and pharmaceutical composition for neuropsychological disorder or malignant tumor The present invention provides a compound and a pharmaceutical composition for neuropsychological disorders or malignant tumors, the use of the compound and the pharmaceutical composition, or a method for preventing, improving, inhibiting the development of, and/or treating neuropsychological disorders or malignant tumors with the use of the compound and the pharmaceutical composition. One or more embodiments disclose a compound expressed by the following general formula (I) or (II) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound:
US10017521B2	Chromone oxime derivative and its use as allosteric modulator of metabotropic glutamate receptors The present invention provides a novel chromone oxime derivative of formula (I), which is a modulator of nervous system receptors sensitive to glutamate and, furthermore, presents an advantageously high brain penetration upon oral administration. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing this compound, and to its use for the treatment or prevention of conditions associated with altered glutamatergic signalling and/or functions, or conditions which can be affected by alteration of glutamate level or signalling, particularly acute and chronic neurological and/or psychiatric disorders.
US10017515B2	Stable amorphous ticagrelor and a process for its preparation The present invention relates to a stable amorphous ticagrelor and a process for its preparation.
US10017514B2	6,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-α]pyrazin-4(5H)-one compounds and their use as negative allosteric modulators of mGluR2 receptors The present invention relates to novel 6,7-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrazin-4(5H)-one derivatives as negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 2 (“mGluR2”). The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, to processes for preparing such compounds and compositions, and to the use of such compounds and compositions for the prevention or treatment of disorders in which the mGluR2 subtype of metabotropic receptors is involved.
US10017509B2	Macrocylic pyrimidine derivatives The present invention relates to substituted macrocylic pyrimidine derivatives of Formula (I) wherein the variables have the meaning defined in the claims. The compounds according to the present invention have EF2K inhibitory activity and optionally also Vps34 inhibitory activity. The invention further relates to processes for preparing such novel compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds as an active ingredient as well as the use of said compounds as a medicament.
US10017507B2	Diaza-benzofluoranthrene compounds Disclosed are a series of diaza-benzofluoranthrene compounds. The present invention particularly relates to a compound represented by formula (I), pharmaceutically acceptable salts or tautomers thereof.
US10017506B2	ATX modulating agents Disclosed are bicyclic aryl compounds of formula (I), that can modulate the activity of the autotaxin (ATX) enzyme. This invention further relates to compounds that are ATX inhibitors, and methods of making and using such compounds in the treatment of demyelination due to injury or disease, as well as for treating proliferative disorders such as cancer.
US10017505B2	Crystalline forms of a BACE inhibitor, compositions, and their use The present invention provides four crystalline forms of verubecestat, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, each of which may be useful in treating, preventing, ameliorating, and/or delaying the onset of an Aβ pathology and/or a symptom or symptoms thereof. Non-limiting examples of such Aβ pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease, are disclosed herein.
US10017504B2	Piperidine isoxazole and isothiazole orexin receptor antagonists The present invention is directed to piperidine isoxazole and isothiazole orexin compounds which are antagonists of orexin receptors. Such compounds are of the general structural formula I: wherein the variables are defined herein. The present invention is also directed to uses of the compounds described herein in the potential treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which orexin receptors are involved. The present invention is also directed to compositions comprising these compounds. The present invention is also directed to uses of these compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which orexin receptors are involved.
US10017503B2	Compounds, compositions, and methods for increasing CFTR activity The disclosure encompasses compounds having e.g., Formula (Ia) or (Ib), compositions thereof, and methods of modulating CFTR activity. The disclosure also encompasses methods of treating a condition associated with CFTR activity or condition associated with a dysfunction of proteostasis comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of a compound of Formula (I) or (Ib).
US10017497B2	Pyrrolidine GPR40 modulators for the treatment of diseases such as diabetes The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I) or a stereoisomer, a tautomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or a solvate thereof, wherein all of the variables are as defined herein. These compounds are GPR40 G protein-coupled receptor modulators which may be used as medicaments.
US10017491B2	Compounds and uses thereof for the modulation of hemoglobin Provide herein are compounds and pharmaceutical compositions suitable as modulators of hemoglobin, methods and intermediates for their preparation, and methods for their use in treating disorders mediated by hemoglobin and disorders that would benefit from tissue and/or cellular oxygenation.
US10017490B2	Endoparasite control agent and method for using the same An object of the present invention is to provide a novel endoparasite control agent as a parasiticide, an antiprotozoal or the like. Provided is an endoparasite control agent comprising a carboxamide derivative represented by the general formula (I): or a salt thereof as an active ingredient.
US10017483B2	Epoxidation using peroxygenase The invention relates to enzymatic methods for epoxidation of a non-cyclic aliphatic alkene, or a terpene.
US10017466B2	Process for purifying astaxanthin and canthaxanthin The present invention relates to a process for purifying the xanthophylls astaxanthin and canthaxanthin.The process comprises suspending the xanthophyll in an organic solvent or solvent mixture, treating the suspension of the xanthophyll in the organic solvent or solvent mixture at elevated temperature, and subsequent separation off of the xanthophyll from the solvent by a solid-liquid separation, wherein the organic solvent is selected from ketones of the general formula (I) and mixtures of ketones of the general formula (I) where R1 is C1-C4 alkyl and R2 is selected from C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, phenyl and benzyl, wherein the phenyl rings in the two last-mentioned radicals are unsubstituted or can have 1 or 2 methyl groups, or R1 and R2 together are linear C4-C6 alkylene, which can bear 1, 2 or 3 methyl groups as substituents.
US10017465B2	Method for producing astaxanthin from astacin The invention relates to a method for the non-stereoselective and also for the stereoselective synthesis of astaxanthin from astacin. For this purpose, a reducing agent is used selected from the group of hydrogen, a secondary alcohol, formic acid and also the salts of formic acid or from a mixture of at least two representatives of the compound classes stated above. The invention further relates to the use of astacin as starting compound for the synthesis of astaxanthin.
US10017464B2	Process for preparing cyclic alpha-keto alcohols from cyclic alpha-keto enols The invention relates to a method for preparing a cyclic α-ketoalcohol, particularly a 6-hydroxycyclohexenone from a cyclic α-ketoenol, particularly a 6-hydroxycyclohexadienone, using a reducing agent. This reducing agent is selected from hydrogen gas; a secondary alcohol, formic acid and the salts of formic acid or a mixture of at least two representatives of these compound classes. The invention further comprises the use of an α-ketoenol, in particular a 6-hydroxycyclohexadienone, as intermediate for preparing astaxanthin.
US10017463B2	Inhibitors of deubiquitinating proteases Disclosed are small molecule inhibitors of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), and methods of using them. Certain compounds are selective for particular ubiquitin-specific proteases (USPs).
US10017452B2	Distillation process comprising at least two distillation steps to obtain purified halogenated carboxylic acid halide, and use of the purified halogenated carboxylic acid halide The present invention concerns a process for the obtention of a halogenated carboxylic halide having a reduced content of impurities, a fraction of the halogenated carboxylic halide having a reduced content of impurities, and its use in the manufacture of agriculturally and pharmaceutically active compounds.
US10017451B2	Lactic acid extraction A method for recovering lactic acid from an aqueous mixture including the steps of: providing an aqueous mixture including lactic acid and at least 5 wt. % dissolved magnesium chloride, based on the total weight of water and dissolved material in the aqueous mixture; extracting the lactic acid from the aqueous mixture into a first organic liquid including an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of C5+ ketones, diethylether and methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether, thereby obtaining an organic lactic acid solution and an aqueous waste liquid including magnesium chloride; and extracting the lactic acid from the organic lactic acid solution into an aqueous liquid, thereby obtaining an aqueous lactic acid solution and a second organic liquid. The method according to the invention allows a combined purification and concentration step for feed solutions of lactic acid.
US10017447B2	Processes for making azelaic acid and derivatives thereof Methods of making azelaic acid, or derivatives thereof, from unsaturated monobasic acids or esters are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the unsaturated monobasic acids or esters are C10-17 unsaturated monobasic acids or esters.
US10017446B2	Acid/salt separation The invention provides a method for preparing a carboxylic acid, which method includes the steps of providing magnesium carboxylate, wherein the carboxylic acid corresponding with the carboxylate has a solubility in water at 20° C. of 80 g/100 g water or less; acidifying the magnesium carboxylate with HCl, thereby obtaining a solution comprising carboxylic acid and magnesium chloride (MgCl2); optionally a concentration step, wherein the solution comprising carboxylic acid and MgCl2 is concentrated; precipitating the carboxylic acid from the solution comprising the carboxylic acid and MgCl2, thereby obtaining a carboxylic acid precipitate and a MgCl2 solution.
US10017445B2	Deuterated idebenone The present invention in one embodiment provides a compound of Formula I:(I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein the variables shown in Formula I are as defined in the specification.
US10017442B2	Method of using dihydro-resveratrol or its stilbenoid derivatives and/or chemical variants in treatment of tumorous pathologies The present invention relates to a polyphenol derivative of the stilbenoid family, namely trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxybibenzyl, also known as dihydro-resveratrol, as a remedial agent. In particular, the present invention presents the usage of dihydro-resveratrol or its derivatives/chemical variants in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of tumors or cancers. The dihydrostilbenes can be used in the treatment or delay of progression of a cancer in a patient or used in a pharmaceutical formulation for the aforementioned purposes.
US10017441B2	Direct anti-markovnikov addition of acids to alkenes A method of making an anti-Markovnikov addition product, comprises reacting an acid with an alkene or alkyne in a dual catalyst reaction system to the exclusion of oxygen to produce said anti-Markovnikov addition product; the dual catalyst reaction system comprising a single electron oxidation catalyst in combination with a hydrogen atom donor catalyst. Dual catalyst composition useful for carrying out such methods are also described.
US10017440B2	Method for controlling cleavage of hydroperoxides of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons A method of producing phenol and acetone can include: alkylating benzene with a C2-6 alkyl source in the presence of a zeolite catalyst to produce a C8-12 alkylbenzene; oxidizing the C8-12 alkylbenzene in the presence of an oxygen containing gas to produce a C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide; cleaving decomposing the C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce phenol, a C3-6 ketone, and undesirable side products such as, but not limited to acetaldehyde, DMBA, acetophenone, AMS, AMS dimers, unidentified heavies, or a combination including at least one of the foregoing; and monitoring a concentration of the C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in a process stream of a reactor in real time at a temperature and a pressure of the process stream; and in real time, controlling a parameter of the reactor and/or the cleaving decomposing in response to the concentration of the C8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide.

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