US08283051B2
A plated product made of a substrate having formed thereon an alloy barrier thin film for preventing copper diffusion contains metal B, which has barrier properties in relation to copper and enables displacement plating with the copper ions contained in an electroless copper plating solution, and metal A, which tends to have less ionization than metal B in an electroless copper plating solution at a pH of 10 or higher; the alloy barrier thin film for preventing copper diffusion has a composition wherein metal A constitutes between 15 and 35 at % of the atoms; and a copper thin film is formed on the alloy barrier thin film by electroless plating using an electroless copper plating solution at a pH of 10 or higher.
US08283050B2
The present invention provides an aluminum alloy material which is used as a core material for an aluminum alloy brazing sheet and has superior strength at a high temperature. The aluminum alloy material of the present invention is used as a core material C1 for an aluminum alloy brazing sheet B31 (or B32) which has a filler alloy F formed on at least one side of the core material C1. The aluminum alloy material contains more than 2.5% by mass and 3.5% by mass or less of Cu, and the balance being made of aluminum and unavoidable impurities.
US08283036B2
A composite nanoparticle comprising a nanoparticle confined within a cross-linked collapsed polyelectrolyte polymer wherein the nanoparticle comprises a charged organic ion.
US08283022B2
A man-made, molded article is provided. The article includes a profile including a planar wall, and an adjacent integral molded depression having a contoured wall extending downwardly from the planar wall. The contoured wall includes a bead portion, a cove portion, and a ledge between the bead and cove portions. The articles are stackable, one above another for transport, in a nestable relationship in which multiple contact zones are present between the contoured walls of an adjacently stacked pair of the molded articles. The contact zones include an arcuately extending contact interface zone between the bead exterior and interior surfaces. The depression has a substantially uniform thickness varying by no more than about +1 percent to about −11 percent in relation to a thickness of the planar wall. Related methods and assemblies are also provided.
US08283021B2
An object of the invention is to provide a leather-like sheet having excellent water absorbability (sweat absorbability, defined the same hereinafter), providing a natural leather-like touch, and suitably used as a ball covering or a non-slip covering, without lowering surface wear resistance. An aspect of the invention is directed to a leather-like sheet including a base material having an entangled fiber sheet; and a porous elastic resin layer laminated on a surface of the base material. The porous elastic resin layer has a concave-convex surface. The concave-convex surface of the porous elastic resin layer includes a projection having a top surface and a side surface, and a recess having a bottom surface contiguous to the side surface. The top surface of the projection has openings with a diameter from 10 to 500 nm at a density of 1,000 openings/mm2 or more.
US08283014B2
Disclosed herein is an optical recording medium, including: a substrate; and an information recording layer formed on the substrate, an information signal being recorded and reproduced in and from the information recording layer by radiation of a light; wherein the information recording layer includes a reflecting layer, a dielectric layer formed on the reflecting layer, and a recording layer formed on the dielectric layer, the dielectric layer includes a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer, and a thermal conductivity of the second dielectric layer located on the reflecting layer side is higher than that of the first dielectric layer located on the recording layer side.
US08283007B2
A system for making blow molded receptacles is disclosed generally comprising two mold portions that, when positioned adjacent each other, at least partially enclose a cavity defined by a molding surface, against which the walls of a blow molded receptacle are blown. One of the portions is a mold core, which has a base surface and a raised portion extending out from the base surface into the cavity. The raised portion has an outer surface and a side surface, which results in a corresponding, inner sidewall on the blow-molded receptacle. The raised portion houses a punch partly disposed in an opening in the side surface for punching a hole in the sidewall. In some embodiments, the side surface is substantially perpendicular to the seal between the two mold portions, and an actuator displaces the punch in a direction substantially parallel to the seam.
US08283001B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal composition suitable for producing a liquid crystal electrooptical element which can be driven at a low voltage in a wide temperature range and has high display quality. Also disclosed is a liquid crystal electrooptical element produced by using the liquid crystal composition. Further disclosed is a liquid crystal compound useful in preparing this composition.
US08282986B2
A method of applying a phosphor coating is described. The method comprises forming a suspension of a phosphor and a polymer binder dissolved in a solvent, the phosphor comprising at least one of a nitridosilicate or an oxonitridosilicate phosphor, the polymer binder being capable of decomposing thermally; applying the suspension to a substrate to form a coating; drying the coating; and baking the coating in an inert atmosphere to thermally decompose the polymer binder to form the phosphor coating, preferably at a temperature less than about 400° C. in a nitrogen atmosphere. A preferred polymer binder is polyisobutyl methacrylate
US08282985B2
A preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to support structures such as spacers used to provide a uniform distance between two layers of a device. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the spacers may be formed utilizing flow-fill deposition of a wet film in the form of a precursor such as silicon dioxide. Formation of spacers in this manner provides a homogenous amorphous support structure that may be used to provide necessary spacing between layers of a device such as a flat panel display.
US08282977B2
Provided herein are compositions and methods for preparing foods and beverages that contain additives, such as nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and supplements, such as essential fatty acids, including omega-3 fatty acids, omega-6 fatty acids, conjugated fatty acids, and other fatty acids; phytochemicals, including phytosterols; other oils; and coenzymes, including Coenzyme Q10, and other oil-based additives.
US08282976B2
The present invention relates to cocoa-containing powders with an isomaltulose fraction, in particular for producing instant ready-made beverages.
US08282975B2
The present disclosure relates to a soft frozen liquid egg product including liquid egg, and at least one of incorporated air amount and at least one functional ingredient; wherein the soft frozen liquid egg product comprises a temperature ranging from about −25° F. to about 31° F. prior to heating. Methods of making the soft frozen liquid egg product are also disclosed. The soft frozen liquid egg product can be used to make various food products. Methods of making various food products comprising the disclosed soft frozen liquid egg product are also disclosed.
US08282973B2
Provision of a packaged milk coffee beverage having excellent hypertensive effects. A packaged milk coffee beverage satisfying the following conditions (A) to (C): (A) from 0.01 to 1 wt % of chlorogenic acids, (B) less than 0.1 wt % of hydroxyhydroquinone based on a content of the chlorogenic acids, and (C) a pH of from 5.0 to 6.4.
US08282971B2
The present invention provides gum base compositions and chewing gum compositions having non stick or reduced-stick properties and/or increased degradability. Methods of preparing the gum base and chewing gum compositions, as well as methods of use, are provided.
US08282958B2
The present invention concerns a method for coating granules comprising mesalazine, with a coating mixture comprising two polymers, polymer I and polymer II; said polymer I being selected to allow formation of a closing membrane around said granules in the absence of said polymer II, and said polymer II being selected to act as a water-soluble pore former in said coating mixture; wherein a) the amount of polymer I is adjusted to provide a closing membrane in the absence of polymer II, and b) the amount of polymer II in said coating mixture is adjusted to obtain coated granules which exhibit controlled release of mesalazine. The invention further concerns a product obtainable by the coating method.
US08282952B2
The invention relates to insect attractants containing compounds with pentagonal heterocyclic structures that are effective in attracting fruitflies.
US08282946B2
Provided are a water-soluble ginger root extract which is a water extract or a hydrous alcohol extract of a ginger root and is substantially free of gingerols; and a hair growth inhibitor and a preparation for external use each containing the extract. The water-soluble ginger root extract of the present invention causes less skin irritation because of being substantially free of gingerols, and has excellent body-hair growth inhibiting effects, so that it is useful as a hair grown inhibitor and a preparation for external use, each having a high degree of safety.
US08282944B2
The invention is directed to providing a compound for treating cancer, the compound comprising a metal complex having predetermined characteristics, and which may be incorporated into a polymeric nanoparticle or other delivery system for delivering the metal complex for action on tumor cells. The metal complex for treating cancer wherein the metal complex is a silver(I) salt, a silver(I) macrocyclic metal complex, a silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbene or mixtures thereof. The invention is also directed to a silver(I) macrocyclic metal complex and a silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbine, and methods of treating cancerous cells in a mammal including the steps of administering an effective amount of a silver(I) metal salt, such as by incorporating the material into a biodegradable polymeric nanoparticle.
US08282939B2
The invention provides a recombinant rabies viruses comprising three copies of a mutated G gene wherein each G gene encodes a rabies virus glycoprotein having the amino acid 194 mutated to a serine and the amino acid 333 is mutated to a glutamic acid. The recombinant rabies virus is nonpathogenic in immunodeficient mammals and can be used in a vaccine to induce an immune response protect mammals from infection by rabies virus as well as clear a pre-existing rabies virus infection from neural tissues.
US08282938B2
The present invention provides an avian influenza vaccine containing a peptide-bound liposome wherein; the peptide contains: (1) an amino acid sequence shown by any one of SEQ ID NO:1 to 9, or (2) an amino acid sequence shown by any one of SEQ ID NO:1 to 9 wherein one or two amino acids are substituted, has a length of 9 to 11 amino acids, and is capable of inducing HLA-restricted cytotoxic T lymphocytes; wherein the liposome contains a phospholipid having an acyl group with 14 to 24 carbon atoms and one unsaturated bond or a hydrocarbon group with 14 to 24 carbon atoms and one unsaturated bond, and a liposome stabilizer; and wherein the peptide is bound to the surface of the liposome.
US08282937B2
The cold-adapted master strain A/Ann Arbor/6/60 7PI (H2N2) and progenitor wild type E2(3) viral strains have been deposited and their genomic sequences identified. Seven nucleotide differences were found between the sequences identified herein and the previously published sequences for cold-adapted A/Ann Arbor/6/60 genes. The cold-adapted live influenza virus of the present invention can be reasserted with a variety of epidemic wild type influenza viruses and used to produce vaccines to prophylactically and therapeutically treat influenza.
US08282928B2
The present invention relates to compositions for ameliorating the symptoms of celiac disease or gluten sensitive enteropathy comprising egg yolk antibodies against gluten, including gliadin, high molecular glutenin, low molecular glutenin and mixtures of the three peptides. The antibodies may be produced by immunizing laying hens with immunogenic preparations of gluten and harvesting the eggs and egg yolks.
US08282927B2
The invention relates to the production of compositions containing IgA for use as a food additive. More specifically, it relates to a process to prepare an IgA-enriched milk product extract composition and to such compositions.
US08282926B2
The present invention relates, e.g., to an isolated peptide comprising a sequence of contiguous amino acids that is at least about 60% identical (e.g., at least about 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95%, 98% or 100% identical) to the sequence E-W-Q-K-E-G-L-V-T-L-W-L (SEQ ID NO:1), or an active variant of an isolated peptide comprising SEQ ID NO:1. Neutralizing antibodies generated by, or specific for, such peptides are also described, in particular antibodies which are specific for the HIV co-receptor, CCR5, and which inhibit infection of a host cell by HIV. Neutralizing single strand and complete human monoclonal antibodies against CCR5 are described. Methods of using such peptides or antibodies, for inhibiting infection by HIV, are also described.
US08282923B2
The present invention discloses inhibitory antibodies against Factor VIII with modified glycosylation, either by enzymatic deglycosylation or by site directed mutagenesis. Said antibodies with modified glycosylation have equal affinity for FVIII but show different inhibiting properties. The use of one or a mixture of said antibodies allow modulation of the inhibition of factor VIII to levels between 40 and 95%. The present invention further discloses pharmaceutical compositions comprising inhibitory antibodies against Factor VIII with modified glycosylation, combinations of these antibodies and methods for treating haemostasis disorders using said antibodies and antibody mixtures.
US08282916B2
Disclosed herein are methods for treating a mammal harboring a solid tumor which expresses higher levels of High Affinity Laminin Receptors (LAMR) than normal cells of the same lineage comprising systematically administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a Replication Competent (RC) Sindbis virus vector, wherein said vector encodes a suicide gene.
US08282914B2
The present invention provides polypeptides including MCP1 fused, optionally, by a linker, to an immunoglobulin. Methods for using the polypeptides to treat medical disorders are also covered.
US08282911B2
The present relates to the field of dental and bone surgery. In particular, the invention relates to fibrous pharmaceutical compositions; fibrous webs, yarns and woven fabrics of such pharmaceutical compositions; to implant material essentially consisting of fibrous pharmaceutical compositions; to the manufacturing and use of such fibers/webs/implant materials.
US08282910B2
The present invention provides a composition for skin or hair which achieves an excellent UV absorption in a wide range of UV wavelength from the UV-A to the UV-B without inhibiting the effect of the alkyl β,β-diphenylacrylate and the α-cyano-β,β-diphenylacrylate (e.g. octocrylene) which serve to improve the photostability of dibenzoylmethane derivative. The composition for skin or hair comprises: (a) a dibenzoylmethane derivative, (b) an alkyl β,β-diphenylacrylate and/or an α-cyano-β,β-diphenylacrylate (e.g. octocrylene), and (c) a specific benzalmalonate derivative (e.g. di(2-ethylhexyl)-4-methoxybenzalmalonate).
US08282902B2
This apparatus for producing trichlorosilane, includes a reactor provided with gas inlets and gas outlets, a plurality of silicon seed rods held in the reactor, a heating apparatus that is provided in the reactor and heats the silicon seed rods, and a raw material gas supply system that is connected to the gas inlets and capable of selecting and supplying one of a first raw material gas for depositing polycrystalline silicon which contains trichlorosilane and hydrogen gas and a second raw material gas for producing trichlorosilane which contains silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen gas, wherein when the raw material gas supply system supplies the second raw material gas into the reactor, the silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen gas are reacted to produce a reaction product gas containing trichlorosilane.
US08282898B2
A process for formulating high purity potassium chloride from a carnallite source. The process takes advantage of solubility differences and saturation levels in a multiple salt system generated upon dissolution of carnallite. In the system, the sodium chloride is kept in solution and the magnesium chloride present in the system is controlled to be in a concentration range of between 12% and 25% by weight. This avoids co-precipitation of sodium chloride with the potassium chloride during crystallization and therefore prevents the sodium chloride from contaminating the potassium chloride. The result is high grade potassium chloride.
US08282897B2
A process for the recovery of high purity boehmite with controlled pore size from spent hydroprocessing catalyst includes the step of treating the spent hydroprocessing catalyst composition in order to get recovery of the aluminas after extracting the valuable metals. The process permits easy and resourceful recovery of high quality boehmite from waste catalyst, which can be further used as hydroprocessing catalyst carrier having a pore structure almost identical or better than that used in heavy oil hydroprocessing catalysts. Such catalyst carrier is required to have high pore volume, macro-porosity, high strength and optimum surface area for active metal dispersion. The treating steps include process steps such as decoking, roasting, leaching, dissolving, digestion, precipitation, washing, stripping, and the like. The recovery steps include digestion, hydrothermal treatment, flocculation or precipitation, filtration, drying, calcination and the like. The precipitated and hydrothermally treated resulting solid is well crystallized boehmite and has a surface area, pore volume and pore diameter distribution for reuse in the preparation of active catalysts and catalyst supports.
US08282896B2
Carriers or holders for holding microfluidic devices are provided. Some of the carriers that are provided include a hydration control device and/or a source of controlled fluid pressure to facilitate use of the carrier in conducting various types of analyses.
US08282886B2
An improved process and system for the endothermic dehydrogenation of an alkane stream is described. The process and system for catalytic dehydrogenation comprise a back-mixed fluidized bed reactor. The alkane stream is dehydrogenated in a single reactor stage by contacting the alkane stream with a back-mixed fluidized bed of catalyst. Deactivated catalyst is withdrawn from the back-mixed fluidized reactor and heated to produce hot regenerated catalyst. The hot regenerated catalyst is returned to the back-mixed fluidized bed reactor at a rate sufficient to maintain the back-mixed fluidized bed reactor at substantially isothermal conditions.
US08282872B2
It's object is to provide a (meth)acrylate compound excellent in photocurability, a curable composition comprising the compound and excellent in all of pattern accuracy, peelability, surface hardness, elasticity recovery and solvent resistance, an optical nanoimprint composition and a cured product of the curable composition and a method for producing it, especially to provide a composition favorable for a permanent film for flat panel displays, etc. A (meth)acrylate compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2 represents a substituent having carbon atoms of 2 to 6 and having a carbon-carbon double bond, X represents an organic group having carbon atoms of 1 to 10, m and n each are an integer of 1 to 3.
US08282870B2
Disclosed is a safety connector (100; 200; 300) for a hot runner (600) having a valve stem (104) and an actuation assembly (102), the safety connector (100) including: a shear member (106) releasably interlocking the valve stem (104) with the actuation assembly (102), once the shear member (106) has interlocked the valve stem (104) with the actuation assembly (102), the valve stem (104) becomes movable in response to movement of the actuation assembly (102), and the shear member (106) being configured to shear destructively, and responsive to a predetermined undesired force acting on the shear member (106), the shear member (106) shears and the valve stem (104) becomes released from the actuation assembly (102).
US08282865B2
Method for shaping a material with a reticular structure, plant for performing same and reticular material resulting from the method.This method is applicable for handling a reticular tubular structure, in particular one of those obtained by extruding a synthetic plastics material, wherein its filaments, which form the sides of the net mesh, have a greater thickness at the crossover points than the actual thickness of the filaments.This method consists in the synthetic plastics material with a reticular tubular structure being subjected, while hot and with its tubular flattened shape, to two-dimensional molecular orientation operations, through drawing and widening, followed by an operation to equal the thicknesses of the reticular tubular flattened structure, already oriented, by laminating it in a calendering machine.
US08282862B1
A triphenylmethane-based complex dye, a photosensitive resin composition, and a color filter, the triphenylmethane-based complex dye being represented by the following Chemical Formula 1:
US08282858B2
Disclosed are photoluminescent formulations, comprising an effective amount of photoluminescent phosphorescent materials, which exhibit high luminous intensity and persistence. Also disclosed are photoluminescent objects formed by applying at least one photoluminescent layer, formed from photoluminescent formulations, to preformed articles. Further disclosed are methods for creating photoluminescent objects.
US08282848B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes: a film which is made of an insulative material and constructs a surface of a sample stage on which a sample is put; a disk-shaped member whose upper surface is joined with the film in a lower portion of the film and which is made of a heat conductive member; heaters which are arranged in the film and arranged in a center portion and regions of its outer peripheral side of the film; coolant channels which are arranged in the disk-shaped member and in which a coolant for cooling the disk-shaped member flows; a plurality of power sources each of which adjusts an electric power to each of the heaters in the plurality of regions; and a controller which adjusts outputs from the plurality of power sources by using a result obtained by presuming a temperature of the upper surface of the disk-shaped member.
US08282843B2
A method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic head having a writing element that writes magnetic information to a recording medium includes forming a main magnetic pole part generating a magnetic field on a substrate; removing at least a part of the substrate and a material existing at a circumference of the main magnetic pole part to expose an entire circumference of the main magnetic pole part at a surface that becomes an opposing medium surface (ABS) opposite to the recording medium; forming a shield gap film that is made of a nonmagnetic material so as to cover the entire circumference of the main magnetic pole part at least at the surface that becomes the ABS; and forming a shield layer so as to cover an entire circumference of the shield gap film at least at the surface that becomes the ABS.
US08282840B2
A method of removing oil from a mixture of tool steel swarf granular material and oil. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
US08282838B2
A method and apparatus is provided for removing fluids, particularly entrained and/or adherent fluids, from drill cuttings created during the well drilling process. An apron assembly collects drill cuttings and deposits such cuttings on a central rotor having multiple distinct chambers. A first chamber is loaded with drill cuttings. The central rotor thereafter cycles to a second position wherein a pressure seal is formed around the loaded first chamber. An air knife or similar device is used to blast compressed gas at the cuttings in the sealed chamber and force the cuttings against a screen. Solid components of the cuttings remain in the sealed chamber, while liquid components pass through the screen and are collected using an auger assembly. Following such separation, the rotor is cycled again, allowing dried cuttings to empty from the first chamber. The process is repeated for each chamber of the rotor.
US08282837B2
The invention proposes a method of destruction of volatile organic and inorganic compounds in wastewater, this method includes following stages: stripping the aforementioned volatile compounds in a stripping-chemisorption column; preliminary heating the gaseous medium containing these volatile compounds in a first heat regenerator; thermal, flare or thermo-catalytic oxidation of the volatile compounds in circulating gaseous medium; cooling the gaseous medium in a second heat regenerator; chemisorption of acidic gases from the gaseous medium in the stripping-chemisorption column with stripping at the same time additional amount of the volatile compounds from the wastewater. After specific period, direction of the gaseous medium flow is alternated. The proposed method can be executed at elevated temperature. The invention includes as well systems realizing the proposed method.
US08282836B2
Water intake structures for power plants and other industrial facilities may include an inflow channel, a deep well, an outflow channel, and an intake channel These structures may include a fish screen, such as a wedge-wire screen or the like, positioned between the deep well and the intake channel to separate fish, fish larvae and fish eggs from water supplied to the intake channel from the deep well. These structures may further include one or more circulating or sweep flow pumps positioned proximate an outlet of the outflow channel. The sweep flow pumps may be used to maintain a sweep flow through the deep well of the intake structure to help sweep fish, fish larvae and fish eggs away from the fish screen and into the outflow channel.
US08282828B2
A method and a system for regenerating a body fluid, such as a peritoneal dialysis fluid. The body fluid is removed into an extracorporeal circuit comprising an electrofilter for removing charged ions from the body fluid, a nanofilter for removing large molecules, such as Dextran 40, and a reverse osmosis filter for concentrating the body fluid, for producing a synthetic urine to be discarded. The removed ions and large molecules are returned to the patient together with pure water from the reverse osmosis filter through an ultrafilter.
US08282826B1
A waste treatment method includes the concentration of selected strains of bacteria in a selected medium in the presence of nutrients and water, under aerobic conditions. This concentrated batch is discharged for downstream applications in wastewater remediation. A cultivation chamber having inlet ports and a circular vent port allows for adequate air introduction and heat release. Aeration is achieved by recirculation of the fluid medium from the top of the apparatus through a pipe that runs the length of the inner wall and is specially configured at the top to minimize cell damage. Fluid can be routed tangentially in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The conical bottom has an orifice allowing for recirculation of the fluid medium tangentially to the sidewalls. Upon completion of the batch cultivation, the medium and bacteria are discharged for downstream applications in wastewater remediation of paper mill, chemical plant, oil refinery, and other industrial effluents.
US08282824B2
A fuel filter having a filter element for filtering out particles and water from a fuel flowing through the fuel filter and having a water drainage unit for conveying filtered-out water out of the fuel filter, in which the water drainage unit is embodied as a stand-alone unit that may be separated from the filter element as needed. Also a semipermeable membrane that is permeable to water rests flat on a support. Alternatively or in addition, the water drainage unit is provided with a porous element for the evaporation of the separated water. In another embodiment two water-permeable semipermeable and hydrophilic membranes are provided. Finally, the filter element is embodied essentially in the form of a hollow cylinder in which at least part of the water drainage unit may be situated on the interior of the hollow cylinder.
US08282823B2
A modular water purification system is optimized for versatility and weight using a pump component that is mountable by standardized fittings into alternative prime mover modules that can receive and power the pump. The pump can be a heavy high pressure pump for a reverse osmosis stage, interchangeably mounted on an internal combustion engine module or an electric motor module. The pump is enclosed and protected by a frame with end plates, elongated bar handles and a standardized base that fits into and is fixed by a sliding flange and clamping structure, locating the pump precisely to engage a rotational fitting on the pump shaft with a complementary fitting coupled to the prime mover.
US08282814B2
One exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be a fired heater for a hydrocarbon conversion process. The fired heater includes inlet and outlet headers or manifolds, a set of heater tubes with each heater tube having an inlet and an outlet, at least one restriction orifice adjacent the inlet of at least one heater tube. The restriction orifice may be within the inlet manifold and adjacent the inlet of a heater tube, or between the inlet manifold and the inlet to the heater tube. A process may include passing a hydrocarbon stream through the fired heater described herein during the course of operating a hydrocarbon conversion process.
US08282801B2
Disclosed are methods for passivating metal substrates, including ferrous substrates, such as cold rolled steel and electrogalvanized steel. The methods comprise the steps of depositing an electropositive metal onto at least a portion of the substrate, followed immediately by electrophoretically depositing on the substrate a curable, electrodepositable coating composition. The present invention also relates to coated substrates produced by the above methods.
US08282796B2
A carbonaceous substrate of the present invention is such that an X-ray diffraction pattern thereof is a complex profile and includes at least two (002) diffraction lines; and the substrates contains crystallites with different interlayer spacings. Further, in the X-ray diffraction pattern, (002) diffraction lines between 2θ=10° and 2θ=30° have an asymmetric shape; and the X-ray diffraction pattern includes at least two pattern components which are a diffraction line whose center is at 2θ=26° and a diffraction line whose center is at a lower angle than 2θ=26°. Further, the carbonaceous substrate contains crystals wherein the periodic distance d002 is 0.34 nm or more and the crystallite size Lc002 is 20 nm or less based on the X-ray diffraction lines. An electrodes for fluorine electrolysis of the present invention includes the carbonaceous substrate on which a conductive diamond thin film is formed.
US08282792B2
The present disclosure relates to processes and systems for purifying technical grade trichlorosilane and/or technical grade silicon tetrachloride into electronic grade trichlorosilane and/or electronic grade silicon tetrachloride.
US08282787B2
A system and process for gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock uses pyrolysis to produce a gas product, which may include methane, ethane, and other desirable hydrocarbon gases, and a solids product, which includes activated carbon or carbon. The gas product may then be filtered using at least a portion of the activated carbon from the solids product as a filtering medium. In an embodiment, at least some of the noxious chemicals are sequestered or removed from the gas product in one or more filtering steps using the activated carbon as a filtering medium. In a further embodiment, the filtering steps are performed in stages using activated carbon at different temperatures. A high-temperature pyrolysis system that produces activated carbon may be combined with another high-temperature pyrolysis system that does not produce activated carbon to provide filtering of noxious compounds using activated carbon from the first high-temperature pyrolysis system. A high-temperature pyrolysis system may be combined with one or more low-temperature feedstock conversion processes such that waste heat from the high-temperature pyrolysis system is used to operate the low-temperature process. A novel non-wetting carbon having pores fused with silica can be produced from using the system and process.
US08282783B2
A papermaking belt having an embryonic web contacting surface for carrying an embryonic web of paper fibers and a non-embryonic web contacting surface opposite said embryonic web contacting surface is disclosed. The papermaking belt comprises a reinforcing structure having a patterned framework disposed thereon. The patterned framework has a continuous network region and a plurality of discrete deflection conduits. The deflection conduits are isolated one from another by the continuous network region. A plurality of pores is randomly disposed within the continuous network region. The pores have one opening disposed upon the embryonic web contacting surface and one opening disposed upon the non-embryonic web contacting surface. Each of the pores provides at least one pathway between the embryonic web contacting surface and the non-embryonic web contacting surface.
US08282781B2
A sheet of material is received at a sensor assembly, which includes a sensor operable to measure a property of the sheet. An air flow is generated that is substantially tangential to the sheet in order to at least partially control a position of the sheet relative to the sensor assembly. For example, the sheet may be associated with an upstream boundary layer of air and a downstream boundary layer of air. At least part of the air from the upstream boundary layer could be removed and used to provide an air flow forming at least part of the downstream boundary layer. Also, the air flow could be provided between a surface of the sensor assembly and the sheet to at least partially control a distance of the sheet from the surface of the sensor assembly and/or an angle at which the sheet passes the surface of the sensor assembly.
US08282779B2
A method for producing webs of transversely extensible fibrous material, in particular paper, characterised by causing a web (12) of pliable fibrous material having a water content between 20% and 80% to adhere to at least one continuous elastic band elastic (6, 26, 31, 46, 66) adhering to the lateral surface of a first rotating roller, provided on its lateral surface with at least one circumferential cavity and to temporarily and locally pre-stretched said band by making it to enter into said at least one cavity for interference from at least one second rotating roller having its axis parallel to the axis of the first roller.
US08282776B2
Wiping products are disclosed containing an additive composition that enhances the cleaning properties of the product. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid. The additive composition increases various properties of the product including the ability of the product to quickly absorb oil. For instance, the additive composition can decrease the Oil Absorbency Rate by from about 20% to about 80% and can decrease the Reverse Osmosis Oil Wet Out time by from about 10% to about 80%.
US08282773B2
A mechanical pulping method including: defibrating a comminuted cellulosic material; mechanically refining the defibrated cellulosic material in a primary refining step; introducing to the cellulosic material at least one of a chemical agent and a biological during the defibration step or the mechanical refining step, and producing pulp from the refined and defibrated cellulosic material.
US08282769B2
A shower head is provided, in a processing chamber in which a substrate is processed, to face a mounting table for mounting the substrate thereon. The shower head includes: a facing surface that faces the mounting table to supply a gas to the substrate in a form of shower through a plurality of gas injection holes formed on the facing surface; an opposing surface provided opposite to the facing surface; and a plurality of bar-shaped heat transfer columns standing on the opposing surface. Here, the heat transfer columns have varying lengths and/or thicknesses to adjust heat capacities thereof. The heat transfer columns are made of one of aluminum, stainless steel, and copper.
US08282759B2
A centrifuge rotor includes a rotor body having a central hub and first and second bucket receiving spaces defined on diametrically opposed sides of the rotor body. A first pair of bucket supports is supported by the rotor body for pivotally supporting a swing bucket in the first bucket receiving space, and a second pair of bucket supports is supported by the rotor body for pivotally supporting a swing bucket in the second bucket receiving space. The rotor further includes reinforcing material wound around oppositely disposed ones of the first and second pairs of bucket supports.
US08282750B1
Gas generating compositions include a combination of melamine and maleic hydrazide as a primary fuel; and a primary oxidizer consisting of ammonium nitrate and potassium chlorate. Gas generators and vehicle occupant protection systems incorporating the present compositions are also described.
US08282747B2
A cooling method of steel plate able to raise a cooling uniformity in a steel plate conveyance direction comprising, at a front stage part of a cooling apparatus, not spraying while a front end region of steel plate is passing, spraying by successively increasing the cooling water rate from 80 to 95 vol % (Qfront) of a standard water density when the front part region passes so that the amount of cooling water becomes the standard water density when a boundary part of the front part region and a center part region arrives, and continuing spraying by the standard water density while the center part region is passing, then, at a rear stage part of the cooling apparatus, spraying by making the amount of cooling water 80 to 95 vol % of the standard water density while the front end region of the steel plate is passing, successively increasing the amount of cooling water rate from 80 to 95 vol % of the standard water density when the front part region passes so that the amount of cooling water becomes the standard water density when the boundary part of the front part region and the center part region arrives, and continuing spraying by the standard water density while the center part region is passing.
US08282744B2
Disclosed is to supply processing liquid having a predetermined flow rate and concentration to substrate processing units of a substrate processing apparatus with high accuracy. The substrate processing apparatus, which processes substrates in the substrate processing units using the processing liquid supplied from a processing liquid supply part, sequentially carries the substrates to the respective substrate processing units, and controls the processing start time such that if the flow rate of the processing liquid used in one of the substrate processing units is less than the control flow rate that is controllable at the processing liquid supply part, the substrates are carried to the plurality of substrate processing units until a flow rate of the processing liquid reaches the control flow rate that is controllable at the processing liquid supply part and then the processing liquid is used simultaneously in the plurality of the substrate processing units.
US08282742B2
An industrial vacuum system which is contained in a portable container having a bottom and an open end and includes an extension unit having a first end operatively connected to the portable container and a second end that is selectively extendable away from the container, a collection unit rotatively coupled to first ends of the extension unit, a transportation unit coupling the extension unit to the container, the transportation unit having one end rotatively coupled to the end of the extension unit the transportation unit including a plurality of wheel units, and a trolley guidance unit having a rail attached to the bottom of the container and engaging the wheels of the wheel unit. Where the collection unit and extension unit completely move into the portable container via the transportation unit, the rails of the trolley guidance unit include a shelf having an upper surface and a lower surface, and the wheel units include at least two upper wheels in contact with the upper surface of the transportation guide unit and at least two lower wheels in contact with the lower surface of the shelf.
US08282739B2
Delivery of additives in a smoking article is provided through thermally degradable, robust immobilized additive inserts. Additives can be immobilized in an elongated device or an insert, wherein the elongated device or the insert is sufficiently robust to allow the elongated device or the insert to be manually or machine inserted into a smoking article while maintaining the structure of the elongated device or the insert. By providing additives in the form of thermally degradable immobilized additive inserts, migration and/or loss of the additives in a smoking article prior to smoking can be reduced.
US08282729B2
A multilayer effect pigment includes a transparent substrate, a layer of high refractive index material on the substrate, and alternating layers of low refractive index and high refractive index materials on the first layer, the total number of layers being an odd number of at least three, all adjacent layers differing in refractive index by at least about 0.2 and at least one of the layers having an optical thickness which is different from all of the other layers. The resulting multilayer effect pigment is not a quarter-wave stack. The present effect pigments may be used in cosmetic and industrial applications.
US08282728B2
Embodiments of compositions comprising materials satisfying the general formula AM1−xM′xM″yO3+y are disclosed, along with methods of making the materials and compositions. In some embodiments, M and M′ are +3 cations, at least a portion of the M cations and the M′ cations are bound to oxygen in trigonal bipyramidal coordination, and the material is chromophoric. In some embodiments, the material forms a crystal structure having a hexagonal unit cell wherein edge a has a length of 3.50-3.70 Å and edge c has a length of 10-13 Å. In other embodiments, edge a has a length of 5.5-7.0 Å. In particular embodiments, M′ is Mn, and Mn is bonded to oxygen with an apical Mn—O bond length of 1.80 Å to 1.95 Å. In some embodiments, the material is YIn1−xMnxO3, x is greater than 0.0 and less than 0.75, and the material exhibits a surprisingly intense blue color.
US08282726B2
A modelling composition, in which there is no cracking likely to cause the modelling composition to disintegrate either during drying or during drying of the objects made from said composition, contains a compound made up of the components starch, an adhesive agent, common salt, water, calcium chloride, sodium benzoate, potassium hydrogen sulphate, liquid paraffin, propylene glycol and bittern.
US08282725B2
The invention provides a self-dispersion pigment including a pigment, an ionic group directly bonded to the pigment and a nonionic molecular chain bonded to the pigment through an amide bond.
US08282724B2
An ink composition for inkjet printing by the continuous deflected jet technique, which is liquid at ambient temperature, comprising: a) a binder; b) one or more dyes and/or pigments; and c) a solvent, in which: said solvent comprises at least 10% by weight—relative to the total weight of the ink composition—of at least one noncyclic acetal, and at least 5% by weight of one or more other organic compounds capable of dissociating the ionizable species that are found in the ink.
US08282721B2
An arylidene-pyrazolone dye of the following formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 each independently represent a monovalent substituent; n indicates an integer of from 0 to 4; when n is 2 or more, plural R3's may be the same or different; and R1 and R2 may bond to each other to form a cyclic structure.
US08282717B2
Embodiments of oxygen concentrators having a sieve bed that includes a vessel filled with a separation medium are disclosed. The sieve bed vessel at least partially supports one chassis component of the oxygen concentrator with respect to another chassis component. of the oxygen concentrator.
US08282715B1
Carbon dioxide-containing feed stream such as flue gas is treated to produce a high-purity carbon dioxide stream by a series of steps including removing SOx and NOx with activated carbon, carrying out subambient-temperature processing to produce a product stream and a vent stream, and treating the vent stream by pressure swing adsorption or by physical or chemical absorption to produce a product stream which is recycled to the feed stream.
US08282713B2
A filter media including a scrim, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) media substrate upon the scrim, and a layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane adhered to the PTFE media substrate on the scrim. The filter media is pleatable and has air permeability of approximately 3-10 cubic feet/min at a 0.5 inch H2O pressure drop and an original filtration efficiency greater than 99.0% when tested in an unused, unpleated condition with a 0.3 micron challenge aerosol at a flow rate of 10.5 feet/min and when tested after a cleanable dust performance test according to ASTM D6830.
US08282710B2
The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide absorbent, an ionic liquid obtained by reacting amide and an organic acid and a method of using the same. The amidium-based ionic liquid of the present invention has excellent CO2 absorption capability, which is hardly reduced even with repeated use, is easy to synthesize and has low manufacturing cost thus being useful as a CO2 absorbent.
US08282702B2
After a reducing agent is added to a water reaction system containing silver ions to deposit silver particles by reduction, the silver particles are dried to obtain a silver powder which is heat-treated at a temperature of higher than 100° C. and lower than 400° C. The silver powder thus heat-treated has a maximum coefficient of thermal expansion of not greater than 1.5% at a temperature of 50° C. to 800° C., and has no heating peak when the silver powder is heated from 50° C. to 800° C. The silver powder has an ignition loss of not greater than 1.0% when the silver powder is ignited until the weight of the silver powder is constant at 800° C. The silver powder has a tap density of not less than 2 g/cm3 and a BET specific surface area of not greater than 5 m2/g.
US08282696B2
An apparatus for purifying and humidifying air which enables separate supply of purified air and humidified air and controls the amount of humidified air discharged and which includes dual flow paths to increase the efficiency of air transfer. The apparatus includes a case having a suction port through which external air is introduced thereinto and a discharge port through which the introduced air is discharged, a circulation fan for causing the introduced air to flow toward the discharge port, a filter unit disposed in the case to filter the introduced air, a humidification unit disposed at a low position in the case to supply the air passed through the filter unit with moisture, and a flow path control unit disposed between the suction port and the humidification unit to control flow of the air passed through the filter unit.
US08282693B2
The invention provides a method of operating a thermal installation comprising a combustion chamber fed with a fuel contaminated with vanadium, with sulphur and possibly with sodium. In particular, the combustion chamber is also fed with boron and with magnesium, in quantities such that the sodium molar ratio s=Na2SO4/V2O5, the magnesium molar ratio m=MgO/V2O5 and the boron molar ratio b=B2O3/V2O5 satisfy the equation m≧3+2b−s, so that the combustion products comprise magnesium orthovanadate, mixed magnesium boron oxide and possibly sodium borate. The invention also provides for the use of such a method to inhibit corrosion of the thermal installation by vanadium oxide, possibly in the presence of sodium.
US08282685B2
This surgical apparatus comprises, on the one hand, means for spatial marking-out of the kneecap and femur of a patient to be operated on, and, on the other hand, means for simultaneous and relative representation of this kneecap provided virtually with a patellar implant of the prosthesis, and of this femur provided virtually with a femoral implant of the prosthesis, in a sagittal plane passing both through the kneecap and through the trochlea of the aforementioned femoral implant. Using this apparatus, the surgeon can easily and quickly check the antero-posterior size of the prosthesis in order to reduce the risks of subsequent dislocations of the kneecap fitted with the prosthesis.
US08282684B2
The Instant Face-Lifter is an intra-scalp beautifying device that stretches the face's skin creating a younger appearance with minimum scarring. It consists of an oval-shaped device made of solid medical grade silicone, typically measuring 5 12/16″ long×4 12/16″ wide, with sloping edges and an ever increasing thickness in the direction from border to center, starting at a negligible thickness at the borders and increasing to a varying maximum thickness (i.e. ½″, ¾″, 1″, 1 ½″, etc.) at its center as to be able to provide the user the desired amount of skin-stretching effect. The upper design of the invention follows a curve which parallels the shape of the skull so that it remains unnoticed from the outside. The invention is slided in the space between the scalp and the galea aponeurotica through a 3″ to 4″ incision on the parietal area using local anesthesia.
US08282682B2
This invention relates to a spinal fusion system and method for use as a prosthetic implant. The system and method includes a housing dimensioned to be situated between adjacent spinal bones, such as adjacent vertebrae. The housing cooperates with the spinal bones to define a graft area for receiving graft material, which may be inserted anteriorly into the housing during a surgical operation such as a vertebrectomy or discectomy. A housing may have various features such as migration preventers to prevent the housing from migrating posteriorly towards a spinal column and can be used with a cover that permits the housing to “float” relative thereto. Screws are provided in one embodiment and are dimensioned or configured to lock against each other to retain the screws and, consequently, the cover in place.
US08282679B2
Stent designs for use in vessels, such as the carotid and coronary arteries, are disclosed. The stents consist of a plurality of radially expandable cylindrical elements generally aligned on a common longitudinal stent axis and interconnected by one or more interconnecting members placed so that the stent is flexible in a longitudinal direction. The cylindrical elements form a generally serpentine wave pattern transverse to the longitudinal axis between alternating valley portions and peak portions. The interconnecting members are attached to the double-curved portions to connect a cylindrical element to an adjacent cylindrical element and interconnecting members are attached to the inverted double-curved portions to connect the cylindrical element to the other adjacent cylindrical element. The stent designs include both a six crown and an eight crown stent which exhibit flexibility and sufficient radial strength to support the vessel.
US08282676B2
An orthopedic fastener is disclosed, with a cylindrical shank having pre-selected diameter, the shank also providing adjacent unthreaded and threaded portions. The threaded portion is configured to secure the orthopedic fastener into cortical bone. The shank further has a thread root transition zone providing a tapered thread root profile between the unthreaded and threaded portions. The thread root transition zone is positioned on the shank such that, when the orthopedic fastener is operably secured into a specimen of cortical bone, the thread root transition zone is located outside of the specimen of cortical bone.
US08282675B2
Methods and devices for locking a fastener in a thru-bore are provided herein. In one exemplary embodiment, a spinal anchor is provided that includes a bone engaging fastener, an anti-backout mechanism, and a locking mechanism. The anti-backout mechanism can be movable between a retracted position in which it is disposed within the fastener and a deployed position in which is extends from the bone engaging fastener. The locking mechanism can be matable to the bone engaging fastener and can be configured to move the anti-backout mechanism from the retracted position to the deployed position. In the deployed position, the anti-backout mechanism can prevent the bone engaging fastener from backing out of a thru-bore in a spinal plate.
US08282674B2
A substantially rigid plate is secured to a medial portion of a clavicle relative to a fracture in the clavicle. The plate is positioned so that it extends at least partially over a distal portion of the clavicle relative to the fracture. The plate has surfaces that define a first opening through which a suture can pass. A hole is formed in the clavicle. A washer may be positioned at a side of the plate opposite the clavicle. Alternatively, the plate may include suture holes or edge features for securing a suture. A suture is secured to the washer, to at least one suture hole or to at least one edge feature, and extends through the first opening, through the hole in the clavicle and is secured to the coracoid process.
US08282671B2
This invention is an implantable device and system that allows post-operative, non-invasive adjustment of members of the skeletal system. It includes extension-resisting members and a compression-resisting member that connect members of the skeletal system. Post-operative, non-invasive adjustment of the tensions, lengths, widths, and/or torsions of the extension-resisting members changes the relative movement, position, or both movement and position of members of the skeletal system. The compression-resisting member may act as a fulcrum. This invention can help to pioneer the evolution of “smart” orthopedic devices that adjust skeletal biodynamics to address changing clinical needs and changes in patient activity over time. Some promising applications include: dynamic stabilization of the spine; correction of scoliosis; and bone elongation.
US08282667B2
A balloon dilation catheter includes a substantially rigid inner guide member and a movable shaft coupled to a balloon that is slidably mounted on the substantially rigid inner guide member. To treat a sinus cavity of a subject using the balloon dilation the substantially rigid inner guide member is advanced into a drainage pathway of the sinus (e.g., frontal recess) of the subject via a nasal passageway. The shaft and balloon are advanced in a distal direction over the substantially rigid inner guide member to place the balloon in the drainage pathway. The balloon is inflated to expand or otherwise remodel the drainage pathway.
US08282661B2
A multi-blade curette tool for use in spinal surgery. The curette tool includes an elongated member having a first end and a second end. A handle is disposed at the first end. A curette head is disposed at the second end. The curette head is generally tapered toward the first end and the second end. The curette head includes a convexly-shaped and generally tapered nose portion, a base portion, and a plurality of blades. Each blade extends between the base portion and the nose portion, and each of the plurality of blades is provided with at least one cutting element. A drive stem connects the handle and the curette head. At least one cutting element of each blade is adapted to remove spinal disk material upon rotation of the curette tool in at least one direction.
US08282656B2
A method for passing suture through tissue and a suture passing instrument having a first jaw coupled to an end of an elongated shaft, a second jaw coupled to the first jaw, and formed with a holder for supporting a suture, and a needle slidably disposed within the first jaw, having a hook on a side for releasably capturing a portion of a suture, is provided. The first jaw defines a channel for receiving the needle and a ramp for deflecting the needle transversely of the shaft when advanced to an extended position.
US08282651B2
A cannulated fastener system is provided for orthopedic applications that include attaching bone plates to bone. The bone fastener has a cannulation with an inner shape. One or more screwdrivers is provided with a shaft having a shape that matches the cannulation of the fastener to rotationally fix the fastener to the screwdriver. In addition, the screwdrivers have a cutting blade that begins the drilling of a hole for the bone fastener. The screwdrivers may either be for use with a single fastener or have multiple fasteners loaded within a retaining sleeve for automatic or controlled dispensing.
US08282649B2
An instrument for use in removal of a prosthetic implant having a hollow generally hemispherical portion having a peripheral rim, the implant for use performing arthroplasty. The instrument includes a body and a first member connected to the body. The first member includes a contact portion for engagement with the rim of the implant at a first position. The instrument also includes a second member connected to the body, the second member being moveable with respect to the first member, the second member including a contact portion for engagement with the implant at a second position, spaced from the first position. The instrument also includes an urging member for urging the contact portion of the first member toward the contact portion of the second member and for urging the contact portion of the first member away from the contact portion of the second member. The urging member includes a first linking member pivotally coupled to the body and the first member, a second linking member pivotally coupled to the body and the second member, a third linking member coupled to the first and second linking members, and a shaft having a longitudinal axis and coupled to the third linking member, such that as the shaft is moved along the longitudinal axis, the first and second linking members pivot relative to the body, thereby causing the first and second members to pivot relative to the body.
US08282647B2
A guide for positioning a femoral tunnel during an ACL repair. The device may include a shaft having a lumen, the lumen defining a longitudinal axis, and a distal offset projection, at least a portion of the distal offset projection extending distally from the elongated shaft, wherein the distal offset projection and the shaft are moveable relative to each other.
US08282644B2
An assembly and method for performing a bone shortening osteotomy are provided. An assembly for performing a shortening osteotomy on a bone may include a main guide configured to be coupled to the bone and to guide at least one cut into the bone. The assembly also may include at least a first interchangeable bone resection guide configured to engage the main guide and guide at least one cut into the bone wherein the cuts formed using the main guide and the first interchangeable bone resection guide cooperate to define two bone segments. The two bone segments may then be compressed together and affixed to promote healing of the bone.
US08282640B2
The present invention provides an osteotome for sinus lifting and dental ridge expansion which includes an osteotome shank, a trepanelevation tip member, and a head. The trepanelevation tip member provides a cavity at a tip end and a prominence protruded from the bottom of the cavity. In this manner, during dental ridge expansion, the sharp edge of the trepanelevation tip member will secure the position and provide initial splitting of bones of sinus floor. Subsequently, the prominence will provide appropriate pressure for bone lifting. By applying the splitting force and compaction force alternatively in the same tip, the edge and prominence of the osteotome can lift the sinus in a much safer and more effective manner.
US08282630B2
Skin tissue is subjected to thermal energy that creates heating of the area being treated causing pores and follicle ducts to open so that excess oil, sebum, fatty deposits, or other unwanted deposits can be removed. A vacuum device is used to direct suction to the treated skin area helping to remove the unwanted deposits. Patterned thermal modification of tissue is used to expedite healing and minimize pain. The heating is controlled so that no skin tissue is damaged while still providing enough heat to the skin to alter the flow of sebum and destroy bacteria in the treated area.
US08282628B2
Disclosed are vertebroplasty methods that include cauterizing an inner cavity of a vertebra of a mammal, such as a human, and injecting bone cement into the vertebra. Systems and kits for performing such methods are also disclosed.
US08282620B2
A container for housing a fluid therapeutic composition includes a rigid housing, a collapsible bag and a seal. The housing has an opening and an interior surface. The interior surface forms a cavity having a volume. The bag is disposed in the housing and is expandable to contact the interior surface of the housing and occupy the entire volume of the cavity when filled with the fluid therapeutic composition. The bag has an opening that is fixed in proximity to the opening of the housing. The seal is configured to prevent air from entering the bag via the bag opening and to prevent air from entering the cavity of the housing via the housing opening.
US08282617B2
[Problems] To improve the air permeability of a waist portion of a disposable diaper[Means for Solving Problems] In an underpants type disposable diaper, including: a ventral-side outer sheet 12F and a back-side outer sheet 12B which are not connected but separated at a crotch portion; an absorber 20 having a liquid impervious sheet and a crotch outer sheet 12M laminated on an underside of the liquid impervious sheet in the absorber so as to be exposed on an external surface of a product, assuming that the number of sheets disposed on the underside of the liquid impervious sheet is B1 at the intermediate portion 23, A1 at front- and back-side outer overlap sections X and Z, and C1 at the front- and back-side outer nonoverlap sections 20F and 20B, there is established a relationship of B1
US08282610B1
The subcutaneously implantable vascular access port has two parts including a body and a wing. The body supports a chamber covered by a septum, with a septum held in place over the chamber by a collar. The chamber is coupleable to a vascular structure, such as through tubing extending from the body, for delivery of medical preparations. The body is preferably elongate in form. The wing is configured to be adjustable in width. In one embodiment the wing rotates relative to the body and has an elongate form similar to that of the body. When the wing is rotated it extends laterally from the body and enhances a stability of the body. In another embodiment, the wing is provided as a deformable wing which can expand laterally out of side openings of a cavern in the body into which the deformable wing is inserted.
US08282607B2
Novel micro-encapsulated topical analgesics are provided to treat pain and may be applied via sleeves having dosed therapeutic sections, especially to joints and extremities. Sleeves may be prepared inside-out and inverted when positioned by the wearer.
US08282604B2
A cannula assembly includes a housing and a cannula member connected to the housing. The cannula member has leading and trailing ends and defines a longitudinal axis. The cannula member further includes a main body, a seal adjacent the leading end and a flexible portion disposed between the main body and the seal. The seal is capable of receiving an instrument therethrough while maintaining a substantial sealed relation with the instrument. The flexible portion is configured to permit movement of the seal relative to the longitudinal axis during manipulation of the endoscopic instrument. The flexible portion of the cannula member may include one or more bellows. The one or more bellows may form a goose neck configuration. Alternatively, the one or more bellows define a series of ridges and grooves.
US08282600B2
A body-insertable device is introduced into a desired part in a body for injecting a liquid medicine stored in a casing into the desired part. The body-insertable device includes a projecting portion which projects an injection needle injecting the liquid medicine toward the desired part; a detecting unit which detects a position relation between a biological tissue surface in the desired part and the injection needle; and a control unit. The control unit controls an amount of projection of the injection needle according to the position relation detected by the detecting unit, and controls a puncture depth of the injection needle from the biological tissue surface.
US08282595B2
A contrast media injection system detects the absolute position of the syringe ram using a non-contact sensor. A series of magnets and Hall-Effect sensors may be used or an opto-reflective system. Illuminated knobs that are connected to the drive mechanism for the syringe ram rotate with the drive and provide visual feedback on operation through the illumination. Analog Hall-Effect sensors are used to determine the presence or absence of magnets that identify the type of faceplate being used. The faceplates include control electronics, connected to the powerhead through connectors, which may be interchangeably used by the two faceplates. The faceplate electronics include detectors for automatically detecting the capacity of pre-filled syringes. Additional features include using historical data to provide optimum pressure limit values during an injection protocol, a removable memory device for storing and transferring information such as injection protocols and injector statistics, and password protection of such protocols.
US08282594B2
An ophthalmic phacoemulsification irrigation sleeve 26 includes an elongated resilient tubular body portion 28 having a distal end 30 and a proximal end 32 for surrounding a portion of a shaft of a phacoemulsification needle. An enlarged section 34 is formed on the proximal end 32 for surrounding a hub of a needle and for connection to a phacoemulsification handpiece. Adjacent to the tubular body portion distal end 30 at least one non-circular irrigation port is formed. The shape of the port includes a radiused leading edge closest to the distal end 30 and has tapering, trailing sides 40 resulting in a trailing end 42 having smaller radius than the leading edge radius.
US08282588B2
An orthopedic device includes a rigid or substantially rigid frame element having a first thickness and a periphery, and an overmolded portion surrounding at least a peripheral segment of the frame element periphery. The overmolded portion encases the thickness of the peripheral segment and interlocks with the frame element without fastener elements. The combination of the frame element and the overmolded portion are adapted to secure against an anatomical portion.
US08282587B2
A joint therapy system and method is shown for proving thermal therapy and joint stability in dual modes of operation. In some embodiments, a treatment system is shown utilizing an orthopedic support for supporting a joint region and having one or more of temperature control capabilities, compression capabilities, and bracing capabilities that may, for example, be used to reduce recover time, limit edema, and protect joints from improper movement while healing from orthopedic surgeries.
US08282582B2
A chest physiotherapy device which allows self administered chest physiotherapy to assist in transfer of airway passage secretions.
US08282580B2
The disclosure describes techniques for data rejection for posture state analysis. The techniques may include storing posture state data sensed by a medical device for a patient, rejecting any portion of the posture state data that was stored during a session that was shorter than a session threshold, and generating posture state output for the patient based on a portion of the posture state data that was not rejected.
US08282572B2
In a tissue removal device for receiving and removing body tissue from an interior portion of a body in a minimally invasive surgical procedure, the tissue removal device including a tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end and defining a lumen therethrough, a bag support structure configured and dimensioned to be receivable within the lumen of the tubular body, wherein the bag support structure has a first configuration for positioning within the lumen of the tubular body and a second configuration for opening a bag operatively coupled thereto, and a bag operatively coupled to the bag support structure, the bag including a first end portion defining an open end.
US08282566B2
A pressure sensing catheter having a pressure sensor and an antenna that is coupled to the pressure sensor, e.g., by a connector, are provided. The pressure sensor can be adapted to measure a pressure surrounding the catheter, and the antenna can be adapted to telemetrically communicate the measured pressure to an external device. In an exemplary embodiment, the antenna, pressure sensor, and/or connector are hermetically sealed, e.g., by the catheter and/or a coating, to prevent the antenna, pressure sensor, and connector from coming into contact with fluid, thereby allowing the catheter to be permanently implanted or otherwise used for long term use. Exemplary methods for manufacturing and using pressure sensing catheters are also provided.
US08282564B2
The methods and systems for estimating cardiac output and total peripheral resistance include observing arterial blood pressure waveforms to determine intra-beat and inter-beat variability in arterial blood pressure and estimating from the variability a time constant for a lumped parameter beat-to-beat averaged Windkessel model of the arterial tree. Uncalibrated cardiac output and uncalibrated total peripheral resistance may then be calculated from the time constant. Calibrated cardiac output and calibrated total peripheral resistance may be computed using calibration data, assuming an arterial compliance that is either constant or dependent on mean arterial blood pressure. The parameters of the arterial compliance may be estimated in a least-squares manner.
US08282560B2
A frame averaging circuit adapted for a color blood flow frame in a medical ultrasound imaging system. The frame averaging circuit comprises two sections, i.e., a recursive calculation section and a non-recursive section. The recursive calculation section employs an IIR filter in combination with a look-up table, and is adapted for dealing with the cases where no change occurs to the blood flow velocity direction. The non-recursive section compares the blood flow velocity, the energy and the energy prior to wall filtering of the color blood flow echo signal to various threshold values. Different from the recursive calculation section, the non-recursive section is employed when a change occurs to the blood flow velocity direction.
US08282557B2
A method and system for managing at least one animal is disclosed. The method can include imaging, such as ultrasound imaging, a lung of a live animal, such as a ruminant or bovine. The imaging can be performed to determine a degree of respiratory damage from past respiratory illness. After imaging, information regarding respiratory damage can be used to select at least one aspect of the treatment, care or disposition of the animal. For example, the information can be used to select the amount or type of feed provided to the animal at a feedlot. The information also can be used to select how long the animal should be housed at the feedlot prior to slaughter. If an animal is diagnosed with a respiratory illness, information about its degree of respiratory damage from past respiratory illness also can be used to select the appropriate medical treatment or lack of treatment.
US08282550B2
A system is provided for monitoring glucose in a host, including a continuous glucose sensor that produces a data stream indicative of a host's glucose concentration and an integrated receiver that receives the data stream from the continuous glucose sensor and calibrates the data stream using a single point glucose monitor that is integral with the integrated receiver. The integrated receiver obtains a glucose value from the single point glucose monitor, calibrates the sensor data stream received from the continuous glucose sensor, and displays one or both of the single point glucose measurement values and the calibrated continuous glucose sensor values on the user interface.
US08282547B2
A surgical access apparatus includes a housing member defining a housing axis and a passageway therethrough, a first seal member mounted across the passageway and having at least one expansible segment adapted to facilitate radial movement of the seal passage during manipulation of the object within the first seal member and a second seal member mounted across the passageway distal of the first seal member and being arranged about a second seal axis radially displaced from the first seal axis. The second seal member includes at least one expansible segment dimensioned to facilitate radial movement of the seal passage of the second seal member during manipulation of the object.
US08282544B2
Spectral characteristics are controlled with high accuracy using a variable-spectrum device provided at the tip of a long insertion portion of an endoscope, thereby acquiring a sharp observation image. An endoscope system, at least a portion of which is to be inserted into the body cavity of a living organism and which acquires an image of an observation target in the body cavity, includes, at a leading end of the portion inserted into the body cavity, a variable-spectrum device whose spectral characteristics are changed by changing a gap between two facing optical elements that are separated by the gap; an actuator that changes the gap between the two optical elements in accordance with an input driving signal; a sensor that detects the gap between the two optical elements; and an electrical circuit to which the output of the sensor is input, which includes an active device, and which outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the output of the sensor.
US08282542B2
The invention generally relates to surgically implantable supportive slings. More specifically, in various embodiments, the invention is directed to multilayer mesh slings formed from a tubular mesh material.
US08282537B2
Several implementations of a fan folding mechanism for folding flaps of a case into a fan fold arrangement are disclosed and described. In one implementation, the fan folding mechanism comprises four shoes, arranged to allow one shoe to contact a flap on each of four sides of the case. A finger, carried by each of the four shoes is configured for movement between a retracted position and an extended position, such that in the retracted position, each finger is in contact with a leading corner of a different flap of the case and the flaps are in an open position and in the extended position, each finger is in contact with the same leading corner of the same flap, and the flap is in the closed position. Four suction cups, each configured for releasable attachment to a trailing corner of a flap, may inhibit contention between flaps.
US08282532B2
A vehicle drive apparatus for supplying oil pressure to a hydraulic servo at restart of an engine. The vehicle drive apparatus includes an accumulator that accumulates the oil pressure, an electromagnetic switching valve that retains oil pressure of the accumulator when an oil pump is stopped, a switching valve control unit that controls opening and closing of the electromagnetic switching valve, and a restart determining unit that determines whether or not to restart the vehicle drive source from a stopped state. When it is determined by the restart determining unit to restart the vehicle drive source, the switching valve control unit is started so as to supply the oil pressure accumulated in the accumulator to the hydraulic servo. As a result, engine friction engagement elements are quickly engaged to enable starting of a vehicle.
US08282528B2
A method of operating a vehicle drive train (1) comprising a combustion engine (2), a turbo charger (22) assigned to the combustion engine, a mechanism for the injection of additional compressed air into an air intake system (8) of the combustion engine (2), a start and shift clutch (60), and a transmission (62). To optimally prepare and execute a start procedure of such an equipped vehicle, additional compressed air is only injected into the air intake system (8) of the combustion engine (2) if, depending upon the actual operating situation of the vehicle, the injection of additional compressed air benefits the safety of the driver, fuel consumption, drive comfort and/or the clutch wear.
US08282522B2
A mechanical-hydraulic continuously variable transmission and a transmission for vehicle are provided. The mechanical speed changing components of such transmission includes an eccentric mechanism (2), a pushing disc (4), a fixing disc (3), and a driving disc (5). The eccentric mechanism can adjust the eccentric amount between the pushing disc and the power input shaft based on the load of the driving disc. The hydraulic speed changing components of such transmission include a pump runner (6) and a turbine (7) fixed to the driving disc. A power output shaft is coupled to the turbine and extended out of the housing. Based on the advantage of high torque ratio of the mechanical speed changing components at low speed ratio, the turbine of the hydraulic speed changing components can be actuated and accelerated quickly. When the speed ratio reaches a certain value, the main power transmitting path is from the pump runner to the turbine of the hydraulic speed changing components. Therefore, present patent application combines the merits of the mechanical and hydraulic speed changing components and has the advantage of high transmitting efficiency in various operating conditions.
US08282521B2
To enhance durability of a gear transmission mechanism by eliminating play in a gear engagement due to the backlash between the gears (gear clearance) of the gear transmission mechanism in a variable pitch mechanism of blades or a nacelle turning mechanism and further to reduce damages to a gear tooth surface caused by slide of the tooth surface or impact thereon due to slight vibration, the gear transmission mechanism is constructed such that a first pinion gear 20a and a second pinion gear 20b are provided to mesh with a gear wheel 18 respectively and rotated by a first drive motor 32a and a second drive motor 32b respectively, and a controller 36 controls so as to eliminate play in the engagement of the internal gear and the pinion gear due to backlash between the internal gear 18 and the first pinion gear 20a, thereby avoiding generation of a slide and impact force on the gear transmission mechanism even when the external force or the wind acts on the blade 16.
US08282511B2
A multiple player team sport, rules and equipment combining features of volleyball, dodge ball, hand ball and table tennis. Two player teams are positioned opposite one another with multiple elevated playing surfaces between them. A tennis ball sized spheroid having a leather cover and resilient inner core for bounce is initially served by one team from one of its elevated playing surfaces toward and onto the opposing team's playing surface. The defending team may then strike the ball with any part of the body to return it, or it may be passed from one teammate to another to set up a kill shot onto either the opposing teams playing surface or by attempting to strike one of the opposing team's players. When the ball is not successfully returned, the last team successfully striking the ball is awarded a point. During play the ball may only be struck by a player's hand or body. The elevated playing surfaces are at least two relatively long opposed tables with provisions allowing players to approach the center line to be in positions for a kill shot, including rounded corners and tapered shapes to provide suitably large strike areas for the ball to be played onto while not restricting the players' ability to move forward and attack the opposing court.
US08282508B1
A method of making a golf ball comprising: providing a core, optionally forming at least one intermediate layer about the core, forming a cover layer about the core or the at least one intermediate layer, wherein at least one of the core, the at least one intermediate layer, and the cover comprises at least one of an ionomer and an acid copolymer, is treated with an organometallic composition, and forms a treated golf ball component having at least one treated region wherein the at least one treated region comprises a reaction product of the organometallic composition and the at least one ionomer and/or acid copolymer; the at least one treated region having an internal property gradient; or at least two treated regions, in tandem, having an external property gradient; or the at least one treated region and an untreated region, in tandem, have an external property gradient.
US08282506B1
An iron-type golf club head having a rear cavity with an undercut portion is disclosed herein. The undercut portion is present in less than 360 degrees of the rear cavity. Further, the undercut portion is preferably discontinuous. Further, the under portion preferably has sharp angles at segments of the rear cavity.
US08282503B2
Embodiments of multiple flex shaft systems are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also presented herein.
US08282502B1
A golfing training system consists of a trace mat made of non-resilient fiber material that shows the path of a golf club head brushed across it. The trace mat is mounted in a rectangular rubber frame with a top surface of artificial grass. Two string spools are mounted under the trace mat. A string alignment plate can be set to a training angle, then the trace mat is put in place over the alignment plate. Two alignment strings can be laid out. Then the player takes his swing, recording the club head path on the trace mat in relation to his two alignment strings.
US08282489B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system includes a method of conducting a wagering game. The method includes identifying a player as a member of certain group, and offering the player options related to the wagering game. The options are unavailable to players who are not members of the certain group.
US08282487B2
Orientation in an external reference is determined. An external-frame acceleration for a device is determined, the external-frame acceleration being in an external reference frame relative to the device. An internal-frame acceleration for the device is determined, the internal-frame acceleration being in an internal reference frame relative to the device. An orientation of the device is determined based on a comparison between a direction of the external-frame acceleration and a direction of the internal-frame acceleration.
US08282482B2
Disclosed herein is a system and method for virtual martial arts sparring using a network. The system includes a user terminal, a network server, data management means, and a network administrator terminal. The user terminal accesses the Internet to exchange user information with a network server, receives sparring partner information to retrieve and select a discipline, a grade, an area and sex-specific sparring conditions, receive sparring progress information according to the selected sparring condition, and perform a sparring function. The network server includes user information management means, sparring partner information management means, sparring progress information management means, image information management means. The data management means includes a user information database (DB), a sparring partner information DB, a sparring progress information DB, and an image information DB, and inputs and outputs the information. The network administrator terminal accesses the network server to exchange network administrator information, and manages the system.
US08282469B2
A gaming machine of the present invention comprises: a gaming portion where plural dice roll and stop; a memory; a station having an input device accepting a normal BET and a side BET that can be placed on the order of whether the total value of the outcomes of the dice in each game of a plurality of games is even or odd; and a controller programmed to execute the processing of (F) determining whether the total value of the outcomes of the plurality of dice is even or odd, (G) storing even-odd information showing the even or odd value determined in the processing (F) into the memory, and (H) offering a special payout, when the accepted side BET matches the order of even or odd values determined by the stored even-odd information.
US08282466B2
A wagering game system is provided and includes a gaming system for playing a wagering game, including an input device adapted to receive an input from a player of the wagering game, a processor configured to determine a wagering game outcome, and a gambling feature incorporating a game in which a player is statistically more likely to win than to lose, wherein the gambling feature is enabled by a wagering game outcome that includes a winning combination.
US08282455B2
A system for measuring the performance of participant in a game, wherein the game is comprised of a series of discrete trials where for each trial the participant receives a score selected from one of a finite set of discrete scores based on the participant's performance for each trial. The system may be configured to receive over the network a set of counts corresponding to the numbers of each score from the discrete set received by the participant for each trial during the game. The system may compute a weighted score based on an assigned set of weight factors for each type of score and an entered set of counts. Users of the system may be entered into a tournament based on the users' weighted score rankings and a winner is determined based on the weighted score. A method for ranking golf courses by their level difficulty is provided.
US08282452B2
An air handler (or air handler section) includes an enclosure containing various internal HVAC components and a bi-directional alignment system that during factor assembly of the enclosure helps align the enclosure's entire roof to the internal components. To help align the roof in a widthwise direction, a tapered lead-in edge in the upper corners of a block-off panel for an evaporator, filter rack, damper, fan and/or other HVAC component engages a roof rail that runs along the length of the roof. The upper corners of the block-offs also include a landing edge that engages the underside of the roof rail to help support the weight of the roof. Cross rails attached to the underside of the roof and extending along the width of the enclosure include an inclined lead-in flange that engages the upper edge of the various internal HVAC components, thereby helping align the roof in a lengthwise direction.
US08282449B2
A cutting valve for portioning a paste-like mass, having a partitioning piston which is drivable in a portioning chamber with an inlet relative to the inlet and which comprises a cutting edge which during partitioning is movable to sweep over the inlet, the partitioning piston is drivable in the partitioning process to perform a helical movement with simultaneous translatory and rotatory movement components, so that the cutting edge carries out a draw cut in the mass strand.
US08282441B2
A brassiere includes a take-up member having an inner and an outer take-up segment. The take-up segments follow the outer curvature of the upper portion of the brassiere cup. The lower ends of the take-up segments are attached at or near the ends of the lower edge of the cup, which extends side to side, below the breast. The lower edge of the cup can comprise an uplifting wire, a support strip, a bent support strip or a simple seam.
US08282433B2
A support for a subsea riser decouples the function of the riser into two separate functions: the load transfer function which supports the hung weight of a subsea riser configuration to a supporting floater (such as the buoy of a disconnectable fluid transfer system) and the fluid transfer function which provides a continuous flow path for the fluid coming to or from the riser.
US08282431B1
An electrical connector includes a lengthwise housing and two rows of terminals. The housing defines two rows of passageways running through opposite first surface and second surface thereof to load with terminals. Each terminal includes a middle portion and two contacting arms extending from opposite ends of the middle portion. The two contacting arms of the terminals respectively extend beyond the first and second surfaces and curving inwards. Each terminal further includes a stopping rib and a spring rib at opposite lateral sides of the middle portion. Each passageway defines a first stopping shoulder adjacent to the second surface and a second stopping shoulder adjacent to the first surface. The stopping ribs are lodged against the first stopping shoulder or the spring ribs are lodged against the second stopping shoulder so that the terminals are moveable limited in the passageways.
US08282428B2
In a contact base with a plurality of contact springs for making contact with electronic components, in particular ICs, the contact springs each have an elongate contact blade, the longitudinal center plane of said contact blade being situated parallel to the bending plane of the spring arm of the contact spring. Furthermore, the spring arm is formed in such a way that, when a pin is pressed, the contact blade moves in a direction which differs from the feed direction of the component in such a way that the contact blade moves along the pin.
US08282422B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a connector having a connector housing and contacts held by the connector housing, where the contacts defining a separable mating interface for mating with a mating component. An actuator engages the contacts and is movable between an actuated position and an unactuated position. The contacts are deflected relative to the connector housing when the actuator is moved to the actuated position. An actuation device is configured to move the actuator between the actuated position and the unactuated position.
US08282421B2
A backplane connector has a housing and multiple terminal assemblies. The housing has a top, a bottom and an expansion slot defined in the top. The terminal assemblies are mounted in the bottom of the housing and each terminal assembly has a first insulating base, a second insulating base and two pairs of signal transmission terminals. The first and second insulating bases are connected to each other. The pairs of the signal transmission terminals are mounted respectively through the first and second insulating bases. Each signal transmission terminal has a curved guide element and an angled protruding element. The curved guiding elements smoothly contacts and guides an electrical connecting portion of a PCB expansion card to move so that the PCB expansion card is installed easily in the expansion slot of the backplane connector.
US08282410B2
A deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter assembly may include a deadbreak-to-loadbreak bushing having a first end and a second end, and an annular shoulder portion located between the first end and the second end. The first end may include a loadbreak interface for connecting to a loadbreak device and the second end may include a deadbreak interface for connecting to a deadbreak bushing. A bailing element may be provided for securing the deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing to a housing in which the deadbreak bushing is installed via a securing force applied to the shoulder portion of the deadbreak-to-loadbreak adapter bushing.
US08282406B2
An electrical connector having electrostatic discharge protection comprises a body and an electrostatic discharge dissipative element. The body defines a socket having electrical contacts configured to make electrical contact with electrical contacts along a bottom surface of a component module when the component module is inserted in the socket. The electrostatic discharge dissipative element is configured to make contact with the electrical contacts along the bottom surface of the component module before the electrical contacts along the bottom surface of the component module make contact with the electrical contacts of the socket.
US08282393B2
A system and method are provided in which a laminar flow of pressurized gas from a curved slit in a chamber is directed across a surface to propel a laminar flow of a liquid, below the laminar flow gas, across the surface to prevent surface contamination or remove contaminants from the surface. In a particular application, the system and method are employed in a self-cleaning dental mirror tool including a dental mirror attached to a handle, wherein the gas is air, the liquid is water, and the surface is the reflective surface of the dental mirror.
US08282390B2
A cooking appliance equipped with at least one regulating valve having a rotary regulator organ. The rotary regulator organ has an actuating shaft a plurality of peripheral openings adapted for regulating a flow of gas through the regulating valve. In a first angular position the rotary regulator organ is adapted to supply a constant flow Qmin of a first type of fuel through a first peripheral opening. In a second angular position, successive to the first angular position, the rotary regulator organ is adapted to supply a constant flow Qmin of a second type of fuel through a second peripheral opening. In one implementation a feature that rotates with the actuating shaft is adapted to engage a feature on the cooking appliance to limit the rotation of the rotary regulator organ to the first angular position.
US08282383B2
The present invention is directed towards a system for expelling a gas positioned between a substrate and a mold, the substrate and the mold further having a liquid positioned therebetween.
US08282377B2
In a method for producing a three-dimensionally shaped object, (i) a solidified layer is formed by irradiating a light beam on a specified portion of a powder layer to sinter or melt the specified portion. Further, (ii) another solidified layer is formed by placing a new powder layer on the solidified layer obtained in step (i), and irradiating the light beam on a specified portion of the new powder layer to sinter or melt the specified portion of the new powder layer. The steps (i) and (ii) are repeated to produce a three-dimensionally shaped object. In the method, a gas is supplied to a mirror used in scanning the light beam.
US08282375B2
A device for shaping of an article of composite material. The device includes a tool including a top surface and side surface for shaping at least one blank of composite material into an article having a predetermined profile; and a air-tight foil. The device further includes at least one support arranged to be in supporting contact with the underside of the protruding part of the blank.
US08282368B2
A check valve. An illustrative embodiment of the check valve includes a valve body, a plurality of discharge port openings having at least one of a non-uniform width and a non-uniform position extending through the valve body and a flexible valve disk disposed generally adjacent to the valve body.
US08282363B2
An air compressor includes a compressor unit having a motor with a motor housing, a pump operably coupled to the motor and having a pump housing formed as a single piece with a portion of the motor housing, and a first tank fluidly connected to the pump to receive pressurized air from the pump when operated by the motor. The air compressor also includes a tank unit removably coupled to the compressor unit in a stacked arrangement. The tank unit includes a second tank fluidly connected to the pump to receive pressurized air from the pump when operated by the motor.
US08282362B2
A power plant that outputs energy in the form of heated, compressed gas functions as a gas compressor, a motor, or a heater. The compression is accomplished by combusting a gas in a chamber and selectively diverting the high pressure exhaust to a container or conduit and selectively sealing the combustion chamber from the chamber when the chamber is reloaded with combustible gas.
US08282360B2
A pneumatically operated reciprocating pump comprises two opposed pumping chambers, in each one of which a respective flexible bellow slides under the control of a pneumatically operated shuttle valve capable to alternatively let a gaseous fluid in one of the two chambers for expanding the respective flexible bellow, each one of the two chambers being connected to at least one respective suction valve and to at least one respective delivery valve. Each delivery valve is provided with a compensating elastic means capable to compensate variations of rate of fluid that is pumped by the respective chamber. The pneumatically operated shuttle valve comprises a shaped spool sliding between two limit positions within a perforated cylinder, which shuttle valve is connected, for each chamber, to one or more delivery ducts and to one or more ducts for respectively letting and discharging gaseous fluid in and from the respective chamber.
US08282356B2
A disk includes a disk lug and a wear element. The disk lug includes an outer surface, an inner surface radially inward of the outer surface, and a plurality of lateral surfaces between the outer surface and the inner surface, wherein the outer surface is wider than the inner surface. The wear element is disposed on at least one of the plurality of lateral surfaces, and the wear element creates a raised surface on at least one of the plurality of lateral surfaces. A method for installing a wear element to a disk lug includes machining a slot into the disk lug and inserting the wear element at least partially into the slot so that the wear element creates a raised surface on the disk lug.
US08282348B2
A cooling fan having a fan housing, a motor which is positioned within the fan housing and a plurality of electronics components which are associated with the motor includes at least one strut which extends radially between the motor and the fan housing and on which the electronics components are mounted.
US08282347B2
An example impeller includes: an impeller body in which an internal channel is formed, the internal channel extending inside the impeller body in a direction of a rotation axis spirally about the rotation axis to connect an inlet and an outlet; and at least one centrifugal vane provided in the impeller body. The internal channel including the inlet and the outlet has a predetermined passage diameter. An external channel is formed so as to continue to the outlet and go around the circumferential surface of the impeller body, the external channel being defined by the centrifugal vane and being recessed inward in the radial direction from the circumferential surface of the impeller body. At least a part in a flow direction of the external channel has a channel width in the direction of the rotation axis smaller than the width of the outlet.
US08282345B2
A heat dissipating device includes a receiving bracket adapted to be mounted in an electronic device enclosure and a fan module accommodated in the receiving bracket. The fan module includes a fan and a mounting bracket connected to the fan. The fan is secured to the mounting bracket via a plurality of fasteners. Each fastener has a securing head. A plurality of vibration absorbers is disposed between the fan and the fastener. Each vibration absorber includes two isolating walls. One of the isolating walls is sandwiched by the fan and the mounting bracket, and the other isolating wall is sandwiched by the mounting bracket and the fastener securing head, so as to isolate the mounting bracket, the fan, and the fastener.
US08282344B2
A balancing group (22) is described for the rotor of a fluid rotary machine (10), wherein the rotor is of the type comprising at least one shaft (16) equipped with an internal pass-through hole (20) which develops along the longitudinal axis (A) of the shaft (16). The balancing group (22) includes at least a first inner element (24) and at least a second outer element (26), the first inner element (24) being suitable for being engaged by interference, in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A), inside the second outer element (26). The balancing group (22) thus formed is suitable for being inserted, in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A), inside the pass-through hole (20) of the shaft (16).
US08282332B2
A conveying and lock system (10) for introducing a bulk material into a reactor (14) with exclusion of gas and while preventing gas exchange at low pressure differences has a screw shaft (44) on which first windings (46) and second windings (48) are formed. A winding-free section (50) is disposed between the first and the second windings (46, 48) in which the conveyed bulk material is compacted. The compacting causes a bulk material plug which is substantially gas free and, during bulk material transport, the bulk material plug is constantly formed in the conveying and lock system (10) by the screw shaft (44) to prevent gas exchange between the product inlet and the product outlet of the conveying and lock system.
US08282331B2
A method and system for moving a large temporary building from a first location to a second location, while the building remains erect, are disclosed. The invention is particularly suited for moving such a building during the remediation of a contaminated waste site.
US08282329B2
A fastener includes an adjustable insert that disposed a receptacle having a first end facing a grommet and the insert is connected to the receptacle for movement relative to the receptacle. The insert has a central opening and diametrically opposed cam and locking surfaces open to said central opening. A stud, having cross pins, extends into said central opening, and said cross pins being engageable with said cam and locking surfaces. A bore in the insert is radially disposed relative to a longitudinal axis of the insert and the bore having an opening at the outer periphery of the insert facing the receptacle. An engagement member disposed within the bore and moveable therein laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the insert toward and against the receptacle to fix the insert against movement relative to the receptacle. The engagement member is moveable laterally relative to and toward the central opening of the insert to allow movement of the insert relative to the receptacle.
US08282323B2
A rotary cutter lifting apparatus comprising a table plate having an opening and an upper surface, a carriage disposed beneath the table plate and adapted for supporting the rotary cutter, and an adjustment mechanism positioned entirely below the table plate upper surface and operable through the opening. A method of operating a rotary cutter lifting apparatus comprising the steps of positioning the rotary cutter lifting apparatus having a carriage and an adjustment mechanism entirely below a table plate upper surface having an opening, and operating the adjustment mechanism through the opening.
US08282321B2
A chuck, adapted to secure a power tool bit to a power tool, includes an output operably coupled to a motor to receive torque from the motor. The output at least partially supports therein the power tool bit. The chuck also includes an outer body having a cavity and rotatable relative to the output, and a lever coupled to the outer body and movable between a first position, in which the lever is at least partially retracted into the cavity, and a second position, in which the lever is extended from the cavity.
US08282315B2
A method of installing an underwater riser includes anchoring an installation to the seabed; coupling a tubular pipe to the installation; equipping the installation with a submersible float; submerging the float and the pipe, while the float and the pipe are being held from a surface vessel; a cable and a return device are installed on the seabed installation so that the cable can be connected to the pipe; attaching a submerged hauling buoy to the hauling cable; then removing ballast from the float in order to compensate for the tensile forces corresponding to the weight of the float and the pipe and to some of the load applied to the cable; and finally, anchoring of the hauling buoy to the installation and gradually releasing the float.
US08282308B2
A fastener (11) in the form of a strip (12) of material in the form of a ring which in plan view is profiled to conform to an annular gap (H) between a first component (A) bounded by the fastener (11) and a second component (B) bounding the fastener (11); the ring member having ends providing a gap (G) in plan view; the strip of material having a first side (14) and a second side (15); and having a series of integral fingers (16-23) spaced along the length of the ring and projecting, in plan view, outwardly from the ring whether from the first side (14), the second side (15), or both sides thereof. In a further version the ring includes a further series of discrete projections formed integrally from the strip and lying around the ring member in between members of the series of fingers.
US08282307B1
A furniture joinery, comprises a slide rail and a slide block. The slide block includes a cut extending therethrough. The slide block receives a fastener and when the fastener passes through the cut, slides on the slide block become misaligned in the slide rail thus retaining the slide block therein.
US08282301B2
Described is a luffah having of a series of ruffles wherein a substantially dry, water-soluble, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is present on the ruffles at a center portion of the luffah. Enough cleaning agent or moisturizer is present to allow the luffah to be used at least once. A method of forming a luffah herein includes injecting a substantially wet, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent at, or near, a core of a luffah which is then compressed around the injected cleansing and/or moisturizing agent. The substantially wet, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent is then allowed to dry into a generally dry, water-soluble, cleansing and/or moisturizing agent at the core of the luffah.
US08282296B2
A printer and a module for supporting a paper roll therefore, the module comprising: a body for housing the roll; a first supporting member for the roll before that the roll is unwound for the printing operation; a second supporting member for the roll, after the roll has been wound at the end of printing operations; and a first engaging member carried by said body and disposable in a first configuration wherein it is coupled with a second engaging member carried by the printer to secure the module on the printer; the first engaging member is further disposable in a second configuration, wherein it is released from the second engaging member to permit the extraction of the module from the printer.
US08282294B2
The present invention provides a barrier unit structure that can avoid not only ruining the appearance of a barrier unit due to a vertical misfit of blades that contact with each other at their edges when closed but also interfering with smooth movement of the blades due to their unintentional overlap.The barrier unit includes: a base, which defines a first window; a cap, which defines a second window and which is arranged so that the second window faces the first window; and a number of blades, which are arranged between the base and the cap so as to open or close with respect to the first and second windows. In a space between the base and the cap, clearance e left in the vicinity of a first position, where the blades contact with each other at their edges when closed, is smaller than clearance d left at a second position, which is different from the first position.
US08282290B2
A connector configured to communicatively couple different components. The connector includes a base frame that extends along a longitudinal axis between a pair of frame ends and moveable first and second mating arrays comprising respective mating surfaces having terminals arranged thereon. The connector also includes a coupling mechanism supported by the base frame. The coupling mechanism holds the first and second mating arrays and moves the first and second mating arrays between retracted and engaged positions. The first and second mating arrays are spaced apart from a select component when in the corresponding retracted position. The first and second mating arrays are communicatively coupled to the select component when in the corresponding engaged position. The coupling mechanism initiates movement of the first mating array from the retracted position toward the engaged position while the second mating array remains stationary with respect to the base frame.
US08282275B2
There are provided an electrically-conductive connecting plate that connects electrode terminals of a plurality of battery cells; a fastening member that fastens the connecting plate and each of the electrode terminals together; temperature-detecting means that is placed near a fastened portion between the connecting plate and the corresponding electrode terminal which are fastened together with the fastening member, and detects temperature around the fastened portion; and abnormality-judging means that judges abnormality in the battery cells or the fastening member on the basis of temperature detected by the temperature-detecting means.
US08282274B2
A temperature sensing device for remotely detecting the temperature of a subject having an identifying feature and a target zone in a fixed relationship to the identifying feature comprising: a distance sensor which measures the distance between the subject and the distance sensor; a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature difference in a sensing zone; a digital image capture device for capturing a digital image of the subject; a means of tilting at least the temperature sensor along at least one axis, and preferably tilting and panning along two axes; a controller that actuates the tilting means; and a support for supporting the distance sensor, the temperature sensor and the digital image capture device; wherein the controller tilts the distance sensor using the tilting means to reduce the distance between the target zone and the sensing zone; and a temperature sensor that measures a temperature difference proximate to the target zone, to detect elevated temperature illness in humans or animals.
US08282271B2
This timepiece has a case (8) enclosing a horological movement (10), and a transmission mechanism for transmitting constant-velocity rotary movements between two stems (1a, 1b) on parallel axes, connecting the outside of the case (8) to the horological movement (10) through a hole in the case (8). The adjacent ends of the two stems (1a, 1b) are connected to two respective sliding elements (3, 6) having defined cross sections engaged with two respective slide-ways (4, 7) having cross sections complementary to those of the sliding elements, having sliding planes perpendicular to said axes, the two slide-ways (4, 7) being connected to a common linking member (5) and being oriented at an angle of 90° to each other.
US08282269B2
A vessel in which a fluid is received and agitated by using an internal fluid-agitating element driven by a non-contact coupling with a motive device external to the vessel. In one aspect, the vessel is a bag including a first receiver for receiving and holding a fluid-agitating element at a home location. The first receiver may be in the form of an inwardly-projecting post having an oversized portion for capturing the fluid-agitating element, but various other forms are disclosed. In another aspect, the vessel or bag further includes a second receiver for receiving a portion of an external structure, such as a motive device, and aligning the vessel relative thereto. Related methods are also disclosed.
US08282268B2
Food processing apparati including magnetic drives are described herein. According to one exemplary embodiment, a food processing apparatus may include a motor having a motor shaft, a rotor rotatably mounted on the motor shaft, and a stator producing an electromagnetic field for interacting with the rotor. The rotor may magnetically drive a drive plate coupled to an impeller inside a food-contact chamber.
US08282255B2
A window intended to be assembled over an opening defined in an outside wall having on the one hand an outer partition and on the other hand an inner partition. This window includes a glazing, means making it possible to hold the glazing in the opening of the outside wall, while ensuring a watertightness at the outer partition, and a connection crosspiece between the outer partition and the inner partition. The crosspiece is implemented so as to make it possible to guide light having passed through the glazing toward the inner partition. Means making it possible to diffuse the light guided by the crosspiece are arranged at the inner partition.
US08282253B2
A mirror reflective element sub-assembly for an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a mirror reflective element, a mirror back plate having a generally planar portion and a display receiving portion, and a display element. The generally planar portion of the mirror back plate is attached at the rear surface of the mirror reflective element. The front surface of the display receiving portion is generally coplanar with the front surface of the mirror reflective element. The display receiving portion is configured so that at least a portion of light emitted by the light source of the display element passes through the display receiving portion and exits the display receiving portion at an angle relative to the front surface of the display receiving portion so that, when the light source is activated, the light emitted by the display element is directed generally toward the driver of the vehicle.
US08282250B1
A light assembly includes a cover, a base and a housing coupled between the housing and the base. A first circuit board is disposed within the housing. The first circuit board has a plurality of light sources thereon. The housing comprises an inner wall defining a first volume therein and an outer wall spaced apart from the inner wall. The housing comprises a plurality of spaced apart fins extending between the inner wall and the outer wall define a plurality of channels having a first end proximate the cover and a second end proximate the base. The channels have a first cross sectional area proximate the first end greater than a second cross-sectional area proximate the second end. An elongated control circuit board assembly is electrically coupled to the light sources of the first circuit.
US08282249B2
A luminaire comprises a lamp holder, a lamp cover, a light-emitting module, and a light guide element. The lamp cover is assembled to the lamp holder to define an accommodating space therebetween. The lamp holder has a platform part protruding into the accommodating space. The light-emitting module is mounted to the platform part, and includes a circuit board and at least one LED disposed on the circuit board. The light guide element is mounted to the platform part, and covers the light-emitting module. The light guide element has an outer diameter longer than that of the platform part. The light guide element is shaped to allow light emitted from the LED to be transmitted out of the lamp cover through the light guide element in a lateral direction, and thus the view angle of the luminaire is increased.
US08282246B2
A stage light fixture is provided with: a main body extending along a longitudinal axis; a light source arranged inside the main body at a first end of the main body and suitable to emit a light beam substantially along the longitudinal axis; an objective lens arranged at a second end of the main body; light beam adjusting means, which are arranged between the light source and the objective lens for intercepting the light beam; a frame; a carriage which is movable with respect to the frame along the longitudinal axis of the main body, and supports the light beam adjusting means; at least a first power cable to power at least a first electric device mounted on the carriage; and a compensation device suitable to keep the first power cable under tension for each working position of the carriage.
US08282245B2
Spot illumination apparatus and methods are described. According to one implementation a spot luminaire includes a light source for emitting a beam of light and a projection lens configured to project the beam of light towards a distant target. A first field stop, through which the beam of light passes, is positioned between the light source and the projection lens. A filter apparatus is positioned proximate the first field stop and is adapted for selectively moving at least one variable density filter across the beam of light. A relay lens group is positioned between the first field stop and the projection lens. The relay lens group is configured to prevent the at least one variable density filter from being imaged by the projection lens. Methods for providing stage lighting are also described.
US08282229B2
Provided is a light emitting module, which includes a module board, at least one light emitting diode, a metal layer and a resin material. The module board includes a photo solder resist (PSR) layer, an electrical conduction layer under the PSR layer, an insulation layer under the electrical conduction layer, and a plurality of diode holes passes through the PSR layer, the electrical conduction layer, and the insulation layer. The light emitting diode is disposed inside the plurality of diode holes and is contacted to the metal layer exposed through the plurality of diode holes.
US08282222B2
An image projection device for displaying an image onto a remote surface. The image projection device employs a scanner to project image beams of visible light and tracer beams of light onto a remote surface to form a display of the image. The device also employs a light detector to sense at least the reflections of light from the tracer beam pulses incident on the remote surface. The device employs the sensed tracer beam light pulses to predict the trajectory of subsequent image beam light pulses and tracer beam light pulses that form a display of the image on the remote surface in a pseudo random pattern. The trajectory of the projected image beam light pulses can be predicted so that the image is displayed from a point of view that can be selected by, or automatically adjusted for, a viewer of the displayed image.
US08282218B2
A projector includes a light source device; an exhaust fan configured to take air in the vicinity of the light source device in and discharge the same; a power supply device configured to supply electric power to components of the projector; an outer casing configured to accommodate the light source device and the power supply device in the interior thereof and provided with an exhaust port formed thereon; and a first duct configured to guide the air discharged from the exhaust fan to the exhaust port, and the power supply device includes a second duct configured to guide the air in the interior of the power supply device toward the first duct, and an air incoming port configured to take the air discharged from the second duct into the first duct is formed with the first duct.
US08282212B2
Various embodiments of methods and systems for improving and enhancing vision are disclosed. Adjustable lenses or optical systems may be used to provide adaptive vision modification. In some embodiments, vision modification may be responsive to the current state of the user's visual system. Certain embodiments provide correction of the subject's near and far vision. Other embodiments provide enhancement of vision beyond the physiological ranges of focal length or magnification.
US08282209B2
Systems and methods for automated testing and/or training of a subject's visual ability at varying distances are provided. A near display device may display visual indicia possessing characteristics. After receiving an input identifying a visual characteristic possessed by the displayed indicia, a second indicia may be displayed on a far display device. After receiving an input identifying a characteristic of the indicia displayed on the far display device, further testing may proceed alternating between the near display device and the far display device. More than two display devices may be utilized, with the display devices being located at differing distances or positions relative to a subject.
US08282206B2
A display unit includes a slide mechanism slidable in a lateral or vertical direction to a housing. A maintenance opening formed in the housing can be covered and uncovered. When the opening is uncovered, a user can access at least apart of a print section in the housing from the opening and perform maintenance.
US08282205B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to move in a crossing direction to cross a printing medium feeding direction and to form an image on the printing medium, and a kicker to move together with a movement of the image forming unit and to feed the printing medium.
US08282202B2
An aqueous inkjet printing fluid composition for use in an inkjet printer comprising a silicon-based material which contacts the aqueous printing fluid composition, comprising in a concentration sufficient to inhibit corrosion of the silicon-based material when contacted by the aqueous printing fluid composition a soluble metal ligand complex of Formula (I): wherein M represents a divalent or a trivalent metal; Z represents OH or CO2H; n represents an integer from 1-4; each Y may independently be chosen from the group consisting of halogen, cyano, carboalkoxy, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, hetaryl, carboxy, hydroxy, sulfo and phospho, or any two of Y on adjacent carbons may be combined together to form a 5-7 atom carbo- or heterocyclic ring; and the number of ligands y is 2 or 3; with the proviso that at least one Y comprises a solubilizing group capable of imparting water solubility to the complex. The useful lifetime of microelectromechanical fluidic devices based on silicon fabrication is extended.
US08282196B2
A MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) device and a method of manufacturing the same, in which an detection indicator is formed on a chamber layer stacked on a substrate such that a user easily inspects whether the chamber layer has a required thickness. The MEMS device can include two detection indicators that are formed on the chamber layer and have different depth from each other, or an detection indicator which is formed on the chamber layer and has a tapered sectional shape in which an upper surface of the detection indicator is gradually narrowed in a downward direction such that a user can easily inspect whether the chamber layer has a required thickness. The user can precisely determine whether the chamber layer is planarized to a required thickness by planarizing the detection indicator formed on the chamber layer, and inspecting the detection indicator by using an optical microscope, thereby facilitating inspection for a thickness of the chamber layer.
US08282193B2
A method of printing executes a software instruction using a print system controller to measure a vertical position of each row of an array of jets, having at least one offset subset of the array offset in a movement direction, adjusts timing of firing intervals for the offset subset such that the offset subset fire after a longer interval than other jets, and fires jets other than the offset subset at a predetermined firing interval. A print head has an array of transducers, an ink chamber to store ink arranged adjacent the array of transducers, and an array of jets arranged adjacent the ink chamber such that when selected ones of the array of transducers are activated, ink from the chamber exits a jet corresponding to the selected ones of the transducers, the array of jets having at least one subset of the array offset in a vertical direction relative to the other jets. A print system has a print head having an array of jets through which ink can be emitted, the array of jets having at least one subset of the array offset in a vertical direction relative to the other rows, an array of transducers arranged adjacent the array of jets to cause the jets to emit ink when activated, and a controller electrically coupled to the array of transducers to control the activation of the transducers.
US08282192B2
A head chip unit comprises a first head chip having a first ink chamber configured to contain first ink and having a first channel in communication with the first ink chamber for receiving the first ink from the first ink chamber and via which the first ink is discharged in an ink supply direction of the head chip unit. A second head chip is laminated with the first head chip along a laminating direction generally orthogonal to the ink supply direction. The second head chip has a second ink chamber with an ink supply part configured to receive second ink different from the first ink, a second channel in communication with the second ink chamber for receiving the second ink from the ink supply part and via which the second ink is discharged in the ink supply direction, and an ink supply hole through which the second ink is supplied into the ink supply part of the second ink chamber, the ink supply hole extending in the laminating direction so that the ink supply hole does not overlap the first ink chamber and the first channel of the first head chip.
US08282191B2
The invention prevents and suppresses wasteful expenditure of ink which occurs when recovering nozzles. In greater detail, a plurality of head units arranged in a direction which intersects a transportation direction of a printing medium is provided, a plurality of cleaning units is disposed to face the plurality of head units, and at least one of the plurality of cleaning units is selected and moved so as to be in close contact with the corresponding cleaning unit. By such a method, only the cleaning head unit which faces the head unit of which nozzles need to be recovered is selected and is brought into contact with the head unit, and liquid is sucked in from the nozzles of the head unit.
US08282183B2
An inkjet printer includes a media support defining a surface; an inkjet printhead oriented to eject ink toward the defined surface; a carriage that is movable along a carriage scan direction; a light source directed at the defined surface and positioned on a first side of the defined plane to provide an illuminated portion of the plane extending substantially along the carriage scan direction; a light sensing device mounted on the movable platform on a second side of the defined plane that is opposite the first side, which sensing device functions to sense media type by sensing light emitted from the light source and transmitted across the defined plane and to light sensing device; memory for storing patterns representing particular media types; and a processor for comparing signals from the light sensor to patterns stored in the memory in order to identify media type.
US08282182B2
Methods and systems herein provide for reducing artifacts during printing. One printing system is operable to prepare a continuous tone image (CTI) for printing onto a print medium by generating an initial half tone image (HTI) based on the CTI. The printing system includes a printer and a print controller. The print controller filters the initial HTI and the CTI with a perceptual filter and determines an error between the filtered CTI and the filtered HTI. The print controller prints the HTI via the printer to determine printer artifacts and processes a scanned version of the printed HTI to determine an error between the filtered CTI and the scanned and filtered HTI. This processing updates the initial HTI and reduces the error between the filtered CTI and the filtered HTI.
US08282174B2
A post member for securing a plurality of enclosure panels together. The post member includes a first end having at least one fixation hole configured to engage an alignment member of a first one of the enclosure panels, and a centering pin configured to engage the first one of the enclosure panels. The post member also includes a second end having at least one aperture configured for engagement with at least one other of the enclosure panels.
US08282170B2
An adjusting structure of an armrest of a chair contains a first body having a bottom plate and a fitting tube; a vertically moving mechanism inserted in the fitting tube and including a second body, an actuating member, a controlling member, and a lip; a retaining mechanism including an engaging member and locking panel inserted in the through hole of the second body; a support element fitted onto the fitting tube and including a cutout to receive a pressing member; a resilient element secured in the support element and one end thereof being biased against an inner side of the support element, and another end of the resilient element abutting against the pressing member and the control end of the controlling member, the pressing member being used to compress the resilient element.
US08282166B2
A chair comprising, a base structure including two rear tubular elements open at the top, a backrest having two tubular portions open at the bottom and aligned to said tubular elements of the base structure, and two elastic devices, each of which has a top support inserted in a tubular portion of the backrest, a bottom support inserted in the corresponding tubular element of the base structure, and an elastic element flexurally deformable to enable tilting between the top support and the bottom support, wherein each of said elastic devices comprises a plurality of sectors stacked on top of one another and arranged between the top support and the bottom support, and wherein, in a resting position of the elastic element, a plurality of slits are formed on the rear side of each elastic device between each pair of adjacent sectors.
US08282161B1
A car seat catch all and storage device of a resilient deformable material adapted to fill the gaps between the front seats of a vehicle and the center console. The device has an interior for trapping and retaining items and debris therein and conforms to the width of the gap. The device is reversible so that it can conform and fill each gap in the vehicle.
US08282149B2
An active suspension seat is mounted to a floor of a vehicle with a floor plate having a lower portion through which is formed a first plurality of apertures positioned about the lower portion to correspond to the manner in which mounting features are positioned about the floor of the vehicle, and having an upper portion through which is formed a second plurality of apertures positioned about the upper portion to correspond to the manner in which apertures are positioned about a lower frame of the active suspension seat, and to enable the active suspension seat to be coupled to the floor plate by inserting fasteners through the second plurality of apertures from locations external to the lower frame.
US08282146B2
Provided is an automotive rear vehicle body structure which increases the amount of energy that can be absorbed, improves the safety of the vehicle occupant and protects a fuel tank in a reliable manner at the time of a rear end collision while allowing a spare tire to be placed within a cabin. In an automotive rear vehicle body structure having a H-type torsion beam wheel suspension system (12) pivotally supported by side sill extensions (2a, 3a) on either side of the vehicle body, the wheel suspension system including a pair of trailing arms (13, 14) and a torsion beam (15) connecting intermediate parts of the trailing arms with each other, a pair of rear side frames (6, 7) extend rearwardly from side sills (2, 3), and a spare tire pan (10) is defined by downwardly bulging a part of a rear floor panel (11) located between the rear side frames (6, 7). A pair of rear center frames (21, 22) extending in a fore-and-aft direction are located behind the torsion beam (15) and attached to the lower surface of a bottom wall (10a) of the spare tire pan (10).
US08282142B2
A latching system includes a handle, a latch, a release rod, an arm portion, and a finger portion. The handle is attached to the door assembly and includes an escutcheon and a grip portion movable relative to the escutcheon between a first position, a second position, and a third position. The latch is attached to the door assembly and the release rod extends from the latch. The arm portion rotates relative to the escutcheon in response to moving the grip portion. The finger portion pivotally extends from the arm portion to an engagement member that is disengaged from the release rod when the pull grip is in the first position, engages the release rod when the pull grip is in the second position, and moves the release rod away from the handle and toward the latch to operate the latch when the pull grip is in the third position.
US08282137B2
An end piece for a corrugated hose contains a bushing having a front region and a rear region opposite of a longitudinal direction. The rear region is located inside the hose in a mounted state of the bushing. The front region has a collar forming a groove for receiving the free end of the hose. The rear region has a plurality of flexible tongues, which have a relief direction that is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bushing and directed toward the outer chamber of the bushing. A portion of the flexible tongues contains a radially projecting detent protrusion for implementing an engagement active in the longitudinal direction of the bushing. A retaining sleeve, received by the bushing with precise fit and, in the mounted state of the end piece, extends in an inner chamber enclosed by the bushing, limits the radial play of the flexible tongue.
US08282136B2
Methods, gaskets, and couplings for connecting two pipes are disclosed. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of placing the assembled coupling over one end of a pipe, aligning the second pipe with the first pipe, sliding the coupling off the end of the first pipe so that a portion of the coupling is around each pipe, and securing the coupling.
US08282135B1
A hydraulic hose coupler for enabling an operator to easily connect and disconnect a hydraulic hose from a spool valve. The hydraulic hose coupler generally includes a tube member having a first portion, a joint and a second portion, wherein the first portion and second portion extend away from the joint at an approximate 135 degree angle with respect to each other. The first portion of the tube member will generally include a threaded first end for removably connecting to a hydraulic connector. The second portion of the tube member will generally include a threaded second end for removably connecting to a hydraulic hose. An ergonomic handle will preferably extend around the second portion of the tube member. After connecting the coupler between the hydraulic connector and hose, the operator may grip the handle and easily connect and disconnect the hose from a spool valve.
US08282134B2
An apparatus and method of assembling a thermally responsive fluid coupling of a pressure reducing fuel regulator is provided. The fuel regulator includes an inlet conduit having a longitudinally extending ridge. A generally annular bushing is positioned over the inlet conduit. The bushing includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced figures and a cutout dimensioned to receive the ridge of the inlet conduit. A fluid-carrying member is positioned at least partially within the inlet conduit. A collar is positioned over the inlet conduit. The collar includes a first end adapted to be releasably connected to a cooperative fluid coupling and a second end. The second end of the collar is secured between the plurality of fingers of the bushing and the inlet conduit for preventing axial movement between the collar and the fluid-carrying member.
US08282110B2
A cargo container system is provided having selectively deployable support and wheel assemblies. The support and wheel assemblies are capable of being stowed within a recess formed in the underside of the cargo container system during storage or shipment of the cargo container system (e.g., by ship, rail, and/or the like). At an appropriate time (e.g., the cargo container system is about to placed onto the ground by a crane), the support and wheel assemblies are then selectively deployed downwardly and/or outwardly from the recess of the underside of the cargo container system to provide a fully functional cargo container system/trailer combination that is immediately capable of being engaged to a truck/tractor and driven away. The deployment system can include a screw system that, when rotated in a first direction is operable to raise the support and wheel assemblies and then, when rotated in a second direction is capable of lowering the support and wheel assemblies.
US08282106B1
A gland packing which is made of a material configured by windingly laminating an expanded graphite tape into a spiral shape. In the gland packing, ring-like projected parts are disposed on end faces of a die mold packing part made of an expanded graphite tape windingly laminated into a spiral shape so as to be integrated with the part. Ring-like seal members are brought into tight contact with the end faces of the die mold packing part excluding the ring-like projected parts in such a manner that the ring-like projected parts are projected in an axial direction beyond the outer faces of the respective ring-like seal members.
US08282103B2
A flight stand apparatus for use in playing a airplane combat game including a deck having a first attachment device and a deck top surface, a base having a first opening, and an altitude pole having a first end and an opposing second end. The altitude pole and the base may be configured so that the first end of the altitude pole is adapted to be inserted into the first opening of the base, and the altitude pole is thereby temporarily fixed to the base so that the altitude pole is substantially at a right angle with respect to the base. The first attachment device of the deck is configured to temporarily fix the deck on the altitude pole between the first end and the second end of the altitude pole, so that the deck top surface is substantially at a right angle with respect to the altitude pole and substantially parallel to the base.
US08282092B2
To provide an image forming apparatus that can highly accurately position and convey, even if an inter-sheet distance of sheets to be conveyed is reduced, the sheets from registration rollers to a transfer position when a toner image on an image bearing member moving at process speed is transferred onto the sheet in the transfer position. A sheet fed from a paper feeding cassette by a pulse-motor driven paper feeding roller is conveyed to pulse-motor driven registration rollers by pulse-motor driven conveying rollers. When the sheet is conveyed to the transfer position according to restart of the registration rollers, the sheet is conveyed by the registration rollers at sheet conveying speed different from the process speed before the leading end of the sheet reaches the transfer position and is conveyed at the process speed after that.
US08282079B2
A wire installation tool having a handle with a first opening for receiving a wire attached to a tube having a second opening for evacuating the wire. In one embodiment, the handle has a lip with external radius larger than that of the tube allowing the tube to be inserted in the drill hole of a structure with the handle engaging the structure. This configuration allows a technician to easily feed cabling through the drill hole in the inner wall of an existing structure. The tool is particularly useful for safely feeding wiring through a drill created through the first and second wallboards of an inside wall.
US08282070B2
Apparatus and methods for manual override operation of a linear actuator are described. An example apparatus includes a base to be mounted to an actuator. A drive member is operatively coupled to the base and selectively engagable to a stem of the actuator to enable manual operation of the actuator in a first direction and a second direction.
US08282068B2
A tool, has a tool shell having a top side for shaping a fiber-reinforced component, and an underside, wherein said tool shell is dimensionally stable and is provided with an integrally moulded ribbed structure on said underside to provide a dimensional stability.
US08282065B1
A compact, collapsible, self-erecting stand and a method of making the stand are disclosed. The stand is constructed for placement upon a supporting substrate to prop a hand-held electronic device to be placed on the supporting substrate and includes an elongate strip of material having resiliently flexible characteristics biasing the strip toward a substantially flat configuration. A plurality of substantially rigid plates are affixed to the strip and located along the strip to establish a corresponding plurality of panels. A hinge section of the strip is interposed between adjacent panels, each hinge section being unitary with the strip and biasing corresponding adjacent panels toward the substantially flat configuration of the strip such that the panels are movable selectively into a collapsed configuration, wherein the panels are folded about the hinge sections into overlapping juxtaposition for compact carrying, and are released selectively to be moved into an erect configuration in response to biasing forces at the hinge sections to elevate certain ones of the panels relative to a basal one of the panels for providing a prop for an electronic device to be placed on the supporting substrate.
US08282060B2
An auxiliary fastening apparatus for engaging with tablet electronic device is provided, including a receiving unit, an angle adjustment mechanism and a support unit. The apparatus may further include an auxiliary belt. The receiving unit is for placing the tablet PC on, and the angle adjustment mechanism and the support unit are to enable the receiving unit to stand in either portrait or landscape mode. The auxiliary belt can be wrapped around the wrist to prevent the handheld tablet PC from slipping and falling to the ground. The unique structure of the support unit allows the tablet PC to tilt a small angle when placed on a desk top for convenient use. The auxiliary fastening apparatus of the present invention provides convenient use of the tablet PC in various occasions.
US08282057B2
A sucker attachment device includes a support base, a pivot seat pivotally mounted on the support base, a sucker mounted on the pivot seat, a rotation disk swivelably mounted on the support base, and a receptacle assembly mounted on the rotation disk. The pivot seat has a spherical universal connector pivotally mounted on the support base. The support base has an end portion formed with a spherical pivot recess, and the universal connector is rotatably mounted in the pivot recess of the support base. Thus, when the support base is pivoted relative to the universal connector, the universal connector is rotated in the pivot recess through 360° so that the support base is pivoted relative to the pivot seat to change the angle and direction between the sucker and the receptacle assembly freely.
US08282055B2
The invention relates to a tripod head having an inclination apparatus (2) having universal joint (5) and having a holding apparatus (100), which can be secured on the universal joint, for holding a camera, a pair of binoculars, a spotting scope or such an optical instrument with a removable disk (101).
US08282035B2
The present invention relates to a mechanical device (1) suitable for combining first and second pitch control orders for controlling the blade pitch of at least one rotary assembly, the device comprising a carrier structure (10) suitable for being fastened to a support (5) by at least one main fastener pin (13) about which said carrier structure (10) is capable of performing a pivoting movement. In addition, the device includes at least one connection lever (20, 30) per rotary assembly, and at least one secondary fastener pin (25, 35) per connection lever (20, 30), said secondary fastener pin (25, 35) being secured firstly to said carrier structure (10) and being fastened secondly by rotary means (26, 36) to the connection lever (20, 30).
US08282026B1
A method and apparatus for dispensing animal bedding material is provided for use in an industrial livestock production facility. Bedding material is delivered to the site in a primary dispensing vehicle, which is configured with a walking floor conveyor for allowing a smaller secondary dispensing vehicle to be loaded with the animal bedding material directly from the primary vehicle. The process includes distributing the animal bedding material evenly over the area to be treated directly from the rear of the secondary vehicle in one or more passes along the bedding area. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08282022B2
A sprinkler nozzle includes a nozzle plate having at least one orifice formed therein. A stream deflector is rotatably mounted adjacent the nozzle plate and has a plurality of flutes formed therein that face the nozzle plate. Each flute has an inner portion that can momentarily align with water flowing through the orifice in the nozzle plate during rotation of the stream deflector relative to the nozzle plate. Water flowing through the orifice will be channeled in a generally radial direction by the flute to form a stream of water that is ejected from the stream deflector. The flutes have a plurality of different tangential trajectories relative to the orifice in the nozzle plate so that in combination the streams of water successively ejected from the stream deflector establish a predetermined shape of coverage.
US08282010B2
A security element has a housing assembled from two housing members, and an IC card placed between the two housing members. The IC card is a detachable part of a larger base card within which it is disposed in a recess and to which it is connected via bars provided with a rated breaking point. The internal contour surrounding the recess in the base card encloses a surface area which is equal to or larger than the cross-sectional area of the housing at the level of the seat. The assembly of the security element can be so carried out that the IC card is broken out of the base card only after the housing members are joined to form the finished housing.
US08282009B2
A mobile device and related power management method are disclosed. The power management method includes detecting a level of residual battery power, and selectively enabling the provision of power to the smart card and the RF chip in accordance with the detected level of residual battery power.
US08282004B2
There is described a focusing apparatus having a deformable membrane that at least partially defines a cavity and an optical fluid disposed in the cavity. An actuator assembly can be provided for imparting a force to the deformable membrane. In one embodiment, the actuator assembly can include a piezoelectric actuator.
US08282003B2
An apparatus, device, method, computer program product, and system that identifies an item having a presence within a geographic locale in response to a signal indicative of the item, obtains a first instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a first source and obtaining a second instance of a supply-chain assistance corresponding to the identified item from a second source; and aggregates the first supply-chain assistance and the second supply-chain assistance.
US08281998B2
An apparatus for effecting commercial transactions with a server using a transaction card via a communication device is provided. The apparatus includes a transaction device coupled with the communication device for capturing information from the transaction card and a controller for converting the captured card information into an encrypted audio signal and for transmitting the audio signal to the communication device. The communication device delivers the audio signal to the server for processing the commercial transaction.
US08281989B2
An automated banking machine system operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system is operative to read a financial card bearing account indicia with a card reader. A user is enabled to perform at least one banking operation responsive to account indicia read from the card. Such banking operations may include dispensing cash and accessing financial accounts. While a user operates the system to dispense cash or perform other banking operations, the system may further permit at least one portable wireless device to wirelessly access the system to conduct transactions.
US08281987B2
TIM System is the system that will allow people around the world to wire money more efficiently and more sufficiently. There is no more waiting in line and/or for the hours of operation of Money Transfer Companies such as Western Union, Money Gram and etc. TIM System is capable to wire money in matter of minutes on any day at any time including the major holidays just by using ATMs. TIM System is the unique program that is setup in financial institutions and allows its ATMs to operate the money wire transactions worldwide. TIM System program is an extra feature that works along with or communicates to ATMs and gives people an opportunity to send (wire) and/or receive (withdraw) money through it when it is most needed. Simply by using a major credit or debit card via TIM System anyone can request a money wire transaction at any ATM and its financial institutions.
US08281983B2
A method and apparatus for storing and verifying serial numbers using a smart label in an image production device is disclosed. The method for storing may include receiving a signal to query a smart label for serial number information, querying the smart label for serial number information, receiving the serial number information from the smart label, and storing the serial number information in a memory. The method for verifying may include receiving a signal to query a smart label for serial number information, querying the smart label for serial number information, receiving the serial number information from the smart label, determining if the serial number matches a serial number stored in the image production device, wherein if it is determined that the serial number matches the stored serial number performing requested image production device operations, otherwise sending an error signal.
US08281979B1
A dispensing carton and method for dispensing beverage cans is disclosed. The carton enables end-users to easily remove cans from the carton without the common problem of additional cans inadvertently falling out. After removing tear outs, the dispenser flap is folded upon itself and then onto the lower panel to keep cans from rolling out. Optional locking tabs can be used to keep the flap folded. Optional thumb grips and added slits can make tear out removal easier and less trouble prone. The new carton uses existing size carton blanks and requires no added components and no added cost for materials or labor. Furthermore, no changes to manufacturing equipment or manufacturing processes in making carton blanks, assembling the cartons, filling the cartons or transporting the filled cartons are needed.
US08281978B2
Disclosed herein is an electronic apparatus produced using a high-temperature lead-free solder alloy which makes it possible to form soldered joints having no variations in strength and which has an excellent balance between strength and solderability. The lead-free solder alloy is an alloy which is made of an element A and an element B and which has a composition composed of AmBn being a stable phase and the element B in an equilibrium state at room temperature. When the lead-free solder alloy is solidified by quenching, the element A is dissolved in a room-temperature stable phase of the element B so that a supersaturated solid solution is formed, and when melted for soldering and then solidified, the alloy returns to its equilibrium state and has a composition composed of the stable phase AmBn and the element B and therefore maintains strength due to the presence of the stable phase AmBn even when reheated to a soldering temperature.
US08281972B2
A surgical stapler is provided that maintains the jaws of the stapler in an open position and prevents firing of staples when a cartridge is not loaded in one of the jaws. Distinct positioning and sequencing of the jaws, capture pin and firing of the staples are provided by a latch mechanism. Such locking and latching mechanisms ensure proper operation of the stapler.
US08281970B2
A backpack including a pack portion having a top, a bottom, a front, a rear and two sides. A strap arrangement can also be included for carrying the pack portion as a backpack. The strap arrangement can have a pair of carrying straps. Each carrying strap can be secured to the pack portion at about the bottom and extend upwardly along respective sides of the pack portion, and redirected at about the top of said respective sides to extend around to the rear of the pack portion, and being redirected at about the top of the rear to extend downwardly for securement at about the bottom of the pack portion at the rear. The strap arrangement can redirect forces to support a load in the pack portion from the sides of the pack portion.
US08281961B2
A device (10) and method for aseptically or non-aseptically accessing a fluid in a container (210) using an existing container opening (211). The device (10) includes a sanitary fitting (12) for attaching the device to the container over the existing container opening, and a sample coupling (14) associated with the sanitary fitting. The sanitary fitting (12) includes a first port (32), and the sample coupling (14) includes at least two second ports (52). The sample coupling (14) is rotatable relative to the sanitary fitting (12) in one direction to cause the first port (32) to successively align with each of the second ports (52), and thereby allows access to the fluid through the aligned first and second ports (32,52).
US08281950B2
A beverage container carrier includes a parallelepiped-shaped insulated body with an internal space that can be variously configured by orienting internal panels, some of which are sewn along one side to the body, to form rectangular spaces for holding respective containers. Two panels can be held together along respective internal edges using Velcro™, with the panels cooperating structurally to provide their own support.
US08281943B2
A shelving system includes a frame with vertical frame members and cross braces, a shelf with three-sided perimeter groove and under-shelf groove, a wire perimeter shelf support engaging the perimeter groove and vertical frame members, and a wire under-shelf support constructed to engage the under-shelf groove and the vertical legs in a stable arrangement. The assembled shelving system does not require tools or separate fasteners for assembly, and assembly is quick, easy and intuitive, yet allows for flexibility, customization, and adaptation for different uses and desired aesthetics. A variety of very different shelving systems can be constructed by purchasing different frames, shelves, and accessories. The system can be leaned against a wall at an angle, or fastened vertically against a wall. Shelves are angularly adjustable, height adjustable, and replaceable. A pair of systems angled against each other form a free standing arrangement, and can support a header panel therebetween.
US08281939B2
The positioning rack for electrothermo straps includes a base with multiple arms extending radially from the base and each arm is connected with a board. Two engaging members each have a neck connected to the arm and an enlarged block IS connected to the neck. Each board is made of thermal insulation material and has multiple positioning recesses defined in two sides thereof. Each board has two holes and two secure slots which communicate with the two holes respectively. The block passes through the hole and the neck is moved to be engaged with the secure slot to connect the board to the arm. At least two electrothermal straps are engaged with the positioning recesses and spirally mounted to the boards. The boards can be easily replaced without use of rivets.
US08281929B2
A label for a prescription pharmacy bottle includes a panel, a tab, and a flange. The panel defines a first side edge, a second side edge, and an aperture extending through the panel and positioned adjacent the second side edge. The tab extends from the first side edge away from the panel and rotates about the first side edge to selectively move between a first position, in which the tab substantially covers the panel, and a second position, in which the tab extends away from the panel. The flange is initially formed to extend from the second side edge away from the panel and defines a substantially planar surface coated with an adhesive. The flange is folded about the second side edge to extend behind the panel such that the adhesive on the flange extends across and is exposed through the aperture. Other labels, combinations, and methods are also disclosed.
US08281924B2
A portfolio-style protective cover for portable electronic devices is disclosed.
US08281917B1
Manufacture of electronic devices is usually accomplished through automated assembly lines using automated conveyors. These automated conveyors, typically comprising metallic components, cannot convey electronic devices into an RF chamber for testing (e.g., RF) during manufacture without compromising the efficacy of the shielding provided by the RF chamber. Thus, although electronic devices are assembled on automated assembly lines, a device is typically removed from the automated assembly line for testing, transported manually into an RF chamber, powered on, and then tested. After testing, the electronic device is powered down, manually removed from the RF chamber, and returned to the assembly line. Described herein are embodiments of a system and method to automatically transport electronic devices under power through an RF isolated chamber for testing (e.g., RF) as part of an automated assembly line process resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of electronic devices that can be tested.
US08281912B2
A stampable thrust washer for a torque converter including an inner circumference, an outer circumference, and a plurality of cutouts disposed in the thrust washer, wherein the cutouts are in fluid communication with the inner and outer circumferences when said thrust washer is engaged between two rotationally engaged components.
US08281908B2
The disclosure relates, in one aspect, to a friction brake cooling system for a machine. The cooling system includes at least one pump connected to at least one reservoir containing cooling fluid. A controller is configured to divert a cooling fluid flow through a valve to a first friction brake system and to a second friction brake system based on the use of the systems. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method of cooling a first friction brake system and a second friction brake system including diverting a flow of brake cooling fluid to the systems based on the use of the systems.
US08281903B2
A braking device for vehicles comprises a body (12), a lever (13) hinged to said body that can be operated by a user of the vehicle, a hydraulic cylinder (17) having a cylinder-shaped chamber integral with the body (12) for connecting to a hydraulic braking circuit of the vehicle, the cylinder (17) comprising a piston (25) sliding in the chamber (24) and moving as a result of the action of said lever (13) to control vehicle braking. The lever (13) acts on the piston to cause the braking action by means of a cam mechanism (20, 21).
US08281902B2
A vehicle braking assembly for a wheel includes a braking member arranged to move relative to the main body of the wheel between an inoperative and an operative position, a resilient biasing member for urging the braking member into the inoperative position, and a latch for causing the braking member to move to the operative position, the latch being operable by coded message passed by a separate transmitter as electromagnetic radiation and the assembly is provided with an EMR sensor.
US08281890B2
The present invention relates to a drive system for vehicles with at least two drivable vehicle axles (V, H), in particular for utility vehicles and farm tractors. The drive system has an infinitely variable transmission with no intermediate axle differential comprising at least a first (11) and a second (12) motor. The first motor (11) in this case is propulsively connected to a first vehicle axle (H) and the second motor (12) is propulsively connected to a second vehicle axle (V). Furthermore the drive system has a clutch (20), by which a propulsive connection can be made between at least the first (H) and the second (V) vehicle axle, wherein the position of the clutch is adjustable (20) in a range between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a control unit (30), which actuates the clutch (20) in such a manner that its torque transmission capacity is adjusted as a function of a driving state of the vehicle.
US08281888B2
A storage or conveying system includes an electromagnetic surface-area motor which moves one or more conveying devices, especially movable pallets, cars, or containers mounted on wheels or rolls. The surface-area motor is equipped with a plurality of electromagnets which can generate suitable magnetic fields for moving the conveying device. The conveying device is designed in a passive manner with respect to the driving action of the surface-area motor. The transformers can be separated from one another and can be arranged to form desired geometries of the surface-area motor. At least one metal detecting apparatus is integrated into the surface-area motor.
US08281882B2
A drill bit has an axis of rotation and a working face with a plurality of blades extending outwardly from a bit body. The blades form, in part, an inverted conical region, and a plurality of cutters with a cutting surface is arrayed along the blades. A jack element is coaxial with the axis of rotation and extends within the inverted conical region within a range defined by the cutting surface of at least one cutter.
US08281876B2
A reamer includes a mandrel defining a mandrel axis and arms extending radially from the mandrel. Each arm has a proximal end and a distal end. The reamer includes a cutting head disposed on the distal end of each arm and cutting teeth disposed on each cutting head. The cutting heads are arcuately spaced about the central mandrel to allow the movement of debris axially along the central mandrel and at least one of the arms defines a square cross-sectional shape.
US08281874B2
Gel-like material or viscoelastic polymer is placed in a portion having a three-dimensional shape. A power tool driving force transmission mechanism transmits a rotary driving force from a rotary drive source to operate the power tool; and a housing provides an outer shell for the power tool. A tail cover is provided at at least a region of the housing, held by an operator; and gel-like material, enclosed by a resin film into a gel pack, is placed between the tale cover and the housing. The tail cover is composed of an elastomer member and a resin member, which is integrally formed with the elastomer member and has a higher hardness than the elastomer member. A portion receiving the gel pack is composed of the elastomer member, and a portion connected to the housing is composed of the resin member. The gel pack may be substituted with viscoelastic polymer.
US08281868B2
A well drilling tool has a tubular member connected into a casing string that serves as a drill string. A load shoulder is located within the bore of the tubular member. The load shoulder has a torque transferring portion that extends from a lower terminus to an upper terminus. The load shoulder has an axial force transferring portion that faces upward. A bottom hole assembly is lowered through the casing string and lands on the load shoulder. The bottom hole assembly has a mating profile to the load shoulder so that it will be supported by the load shoulder and will receive torque transferred from the load shoulder.
US08281866B2
A tubing drain valve in a production tubing string, positioned above a pump, is operated to open drain ports in the housing for draining produced fluids from the production tubing when the pump is shut off. The drain valve incorporates a check valve assembly which is freely moveable within the drain valve to shift a sleeve to open and close the drain ports. An uphole end of the check valve assembly is above the sleeve and seals to the top of a sleeve to shift the sleeve downhole and open the drain ports. A downhole end of the check valve is positioned below the sleeve in the valve. When the pump is turned on, the downhole end of the check valve assembly moves uphole to seal to the sleeve, creating a positive force to lift the sleeve to block the drain ports. The produced fluids flow through the valve and the production tubing to surface. The positive force minimizes the effect of fouling of the valve due to debris above the valve which might otherwise result in failure to shift the sleeve uphole, leaving the drain ports open.
US08281854B2
A subterranean screen system features openings in a base pipe and sleeve sections of a porous material that preferably swells in the borehole to span an annular space around the base pipe. Retainers are mounted to the base pipe in a desired location and mechanically fixated using an internal grip system actuated through the wall of the retainer. A wedging action of slip segments is initiated by an angularly advancing assembly through the wall of the retainer. The retainer can have end rings extending past one or both ends over which the screen sleeve extends. Flat or ridges on the exterior of the retainer or end rings make assembly easier with hand tools to allow for rapid field assembly, if needed. Filtration occurs through the sleeves that abut the borehole wall and into the base pipe openings and to the surface.
US08281848B2
A heat exchanger assembly includes a first heat exchanger having a pair of mounts attached to one of the tanks of the first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger having a pair of brackets attached to one of the tanks of the second heat exchanger. The brackets are freely insertable into the mounts when the two heat exchangers are at an acute angle with respect to each other. When the two heat exchangers are parallel with each other, an interference condition exists between the brackets and the mounts. The opposite side of the heat exchangers is secured using a retainer on one heat exchanger extending through a strap on the other heat exchanger.
US08281843B2
An actuator mechanism for window coverings, such as, Venetian blinds that eliminates the use of pull cords and tilting wands is provided. The actuator mechanism includes a stop member engageable with at least one of the slats to stop tilting movement thereof and a clutch arrangement between a drive axle and a tilt control mechanism, responsive to the stop member engaging at least one of the slats, to disengage the tilting force applied to a ladder cord supporting the slats.
US08281839B2
A coupled portion of mutual laminate films sufficiently contributes to the formation of a packaging bag in that the coupled portion itself has excellent air tightness and liquid tightness. The tensile strength required for the laminate film is given to the coupled portion, whereby a temporary stop of a packaging apparatus is useless when a connecting portion of the laminate film is passed through the apparatus, thereby enhancing the operation efficiency and improving the yield of the material. Oriented base film layers are joined in a mitre form at the coupled portion between a rear end portion and a front end portion of laminate films comprising oriented base film layers and sealant layers.
US08281836B2
Provided is a run flat tire having an enhanced ride comfort in running on general road surfaces and an enhanced driving stability on snowy road surfaces at the time when the tire is not punctured, as well as an enhanced maneuverability, particularly starting ability, on icy road surfaces in run-flat running where the tire is punctured. Three belt layers (8, 9, 10) are disposed on an outer circumferential side of a carcass layer (6) in a tread portion (4). In addition, as to the three belt layers, the cord angle α of the innermost belt layer (8) with respect to a circumferential direction of the tire is set at 15° to 30°, the cord angle β of the intermediate belt layer (9) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire is set at not less than 40°, and the cord angle γ of the outermost belt layer (10) with respect to the circumferential direction of the tire is set at 35° to 70°.
US08281835B2
A run-flat support assembly for a wheel rim of a pneumatic tired wheel and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a tubular support structure is positioned in a tire cavity of the pneumatic tired wheel and coupled to the wheel rim to turn concurrently with an axis of rotation of the wheel rim. A skeletal structure is disposed within the tubular support structure. Circumferentially spaced linkages are displaceably secured to respective mounting races of a body of the skeletal structure. Each of the circumferentially spaced linkages is adapted to plastically fail at a pre-determined moment load in a run-flat condition, thereby pivoting relative to the respective mounting race.
US08281831B2
A tire for All Terrain Vehicles includes the first ribs located within a central area of the tread, which are non-continuously arranged, and the second ribs which are next to the ATV. The first ribs are separated by first gaps and the second ribs are separated by second gaps, the first and second gaps are located alternatively to each other.
US08281820B2
Methods for loading a compressed fluid, such as natural gas, into and discharging the compressed fluid out of containment are provided. The compressed fluid is injected into a bottom portion of a container system for storage and/or transport until a target pressure is reached after which gas is withdrawn from an upper portion of the container system at a rate to maintain the target pressure while the compressed fluid is injected in the bottom portion. The compressed fluid is cooled through an expansion valve and by refrigerated chillers or by injecting a cold liquid of the same chemical composition as the compressed fluid, such as liquid natural gas, into the compressed fluid prior to injection into the container system. Withdrawal or discharge from the container system to a receiving facility begins with blow down from the bottom portion of the container system without a displacement fluid and continues until pressure falls below an acceptable differential pressure. The discharge stream is passed through a separator and a light gas from the separator is pressurized and injected into an upper portion of the container system to drive the compressed fluid out the bottom. The light gas is pressurized using either a compressor or a heated tank system, where two vessels operate in parallel, trapping and heating the light gas and then discharging to the container system from one while filling the other and alternating the operation between the two.
US08281812B2
Embodiments of the present invention feature a method and device for controlling the flow of fluid. One embodiment of the device for controlling the flow of fluid comprises a rotor, stator and compression means. The rotor has a rotor fluid communication means and at least one rotor load bearing surface. The rotor load bearing surface sealably engages a stationary load bearing surface. The rotor is capable of assuming a first position and a second position by rotation. The stator has a stationary load bearing surface having stator fluid communication means. The stationary load bearing surface sealably engages the rotor load bearing surface and permits rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator. At least one of the rotor bearing surface and said stator load bearing surface has a diamond-like carbon-silica coating.
US08281803B2
A gas regulator includes an actuator, a valve, and a balanced port housing disposed within the valve for flow conditioning to convert turbulent flow within the valve to laminar flow when the fluid reaches the sensing point of a Pitot tube disposed within the outlet of the valve. The balancing port housing includes an opening through a sidewall and disposed between a valve port of the valve and the outlet. The opening may include a partial obstruction, such as baffles or a mesh screen over which the fluid flows to convert the turbulent flow to laminar flow. The regulator may further include balanced trim having a balancing diaphragm in fluid communication with the upstream pressure to apply a force to a valve disc of the valve in the opposite direction of the force applied to the valve disc by the upstream pressure so that the upstream pressure does not affect the regulator's control of the downstream pressure.
US08281788B2
A cardiopulmonary resuscitation device that combines ventilation of a patient's lungs with chest compressions on the patient's sternum area. The device includes a self-inflating bag having a flat top side as a proper position on the self-inflating bag for applying force to the top side of the self-inflating bag, a flat bottom side on the self-inflating bag for properly positioning the bag on the patient's sternum area, an outlet port through which the content of the bag is forced when the flat top side of the bag is pushed toward the flat bottom side of the bag, a connector connecting the bag with a tube extending from the outlet port, a headband face mask for placement over the patient's mouth and nose, and a second connector positioned between the tube and the face mask.
US08281783B2
A thermal absorber including a light-transparent reservoir having an alkali metal received therein, a housing sealingly coupled to the reservoir to define an enclosed volume, the housing including a thermal barrier wall that divides the volume into a cold chamber and a hot chamber, the cold chamber including a sump having a drain hole in fluid communication with the hot chamber, and at least one AMTEC cell supported by the cell supporting surface, the AMTEC cell extending through the cold chamber and the hot chamber.
US08281781B2
A dual fuel heater can couple with one of two fuel sources operating at different pressures. The dual fuel heater can have a first fuel line, a second fuel line, a fluid flow controller, and a combustion chamber. The fluid flow controller can selectively permit flow of a first fuel to either the first fuel line or flow of a second fuel to the second fuel line. The first fuel line can be in communication with a first oxygen depletion sensor orifice and the second fuel line can be in communication with a second oxygen depletion sensor orifice.
US08281776B2
The invention pertains to a weapon that provides a range control (2), by means of which it is possible to set firing velocity, and thus impact velocity, of the ammunition or active bodies (10) to a distance to be discharged in such a way that, in particular, the non-lethal ammunition (10) continues to have a non-lethal effect. To this end, a type of pneumatic weapon (1) is described that, with the use of a shot pressure control, e.g. by means of a proportional pressure regulator (3), and/or additionally in combination with breech technology and valve technology, has a continuously variable range control.
US08281767B2
The invention relates to a high-pressure injection system, in particular for auto-igniting internal combustion engines, with at least one high pressure pump and a high pressure reservoir, through which at least one fuel injector is supplied with a fuel under pressure. The high-pressure injection system comprises at least one pressure booster unit which has at least two pressure boosters, each with a high pressure piston which can be driven independently of the other.
US08281745B2
A management system for managing animals on a dairy farm includes a receiving element (12) provided for receiving, for each of the animals, a value of a protein content and a value of a fat content of milk from the animal as milked on the dairy farm; a calculating element (19) provided for calculating, for each of the animals, the ratio of the values of the protein and fat contents of milk from the animal; a comparison element (20) provided for fetching, for each of the animals, from a database (18) a reference protein/fat ratio, and for comparing the calculated protein/fat ratio with the reference protein/fat ratio; and a notifying element (21-23), preferably a display unit (21) or a loudspeaker (22), provided for notifying, for each of the animals, a dairy farmer (24) of the dairy farm depending on the outcome of the comparison.
US08281743B2
An apparatus for milking an animal provides a milking parlor (1) with a robotic manipulation device (25) and a milking stall (5) provided on a platform (3) moveable relative to the robotic manipulation device (25). An electric control system is adapted to vary the movement of the platform in response to the performance of the robotic manipulation device (25) in servicing the milking stall (5).
US08281730B2
A watercraft that uses a hybrid hull that has two asymmetrical front hull sections that gradually transition rearward and form two symmetrical rear hull sections separated by a tunnel. The two front hull sections are longitudinally aligned on opposite sides of the hull's center axis and form a front pickle. Each front hull section includes a flat, vertically aligned inboard surface that intersects with a conical shaped span deck that extends along the bottom of the hull and terminates at a transversely aligned front landing door or front transom. The lower edge of each front hull section gradually curves rearward and downward forming a shape keel. The two rear hull sections are v-shaped longitudinally aligned with the two front hull sections with a narrow tunnel formed between them that communicates with the span deck. Formed on each rear hull section is a delta surface with a skeg attached thereto.
US08281728B2
A case of a helm device is provided with a steering shaft. A rotation of the steering shaft is detected by a helm sensor. A friction generating mechanism is disposed in the case. The friction generating mechanism includes a rotor disposed on the steering shaft, an inner disk configured to rotate together with the rotor, an outer disk opposed to the inner disk, an electromagnetic actuator, and an armature configured to be driven by the electromagnetic actuator. An assist spring is disposed in the case. The assist spring urges the armature in such a direction as to press the disks against each other.
US08281725B2
A direct drive electric seed metering system is provided for use with a row crop planter or seed planter that intakes a volume of multiple seeds from a seed hopper, draws individual seeds from the volume of multiple seeds and discharges them into a seed furrow formed in an agricultural field. The direct drive electric seed metering system includes a meter assembly having a meter housing and a seek disk rotatably mounted concentrically in the housing for singulating the seeds. A direct drive mechanism is mounted to the meter assembly for interfacing and driving the seek disk at an angular velocity which corresponds to the travel velocity of the seed planter. A single seed planter can have multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems, and each of the multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems preferably has its own prime mover to effectuate driving the seek disk.
US08281724B2
A volumetric metering system for a seeding machine is provided with a plurality of movable inserts each insert defining a ledge over which the seed falls to the meter outlet. The inserts are selectively movable between an open position in which seed is allowed to flow over the ledge and a closed position in which the inserts close the product flow to the outlet. By locating the product shut-off after the meter but before product enters the distribution system, there will only be a short delay in stoppage of product flow once the shut-off is closed.
US08281719B2
A method for providing electrical energy to a self-destruct fuze for submunitions contained in a projectile is provided. The method including: using a firing acceleration of the projectile to deform at least one elastic element to store mechanical energy in the elastic element; converting the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy; and providing the electrical energy at least indirectly to the self destruct fuze for detonation of the self destruct fuze. Alternatively, the firing acceleration can lock the elastic element in the deformed position and an expulsion acceleration of the submunitions from the projectile can be used to unlock the elastic element and convert the stored mechanical energy to electrical energy.
US08281718B2
An exploding foil initiator is disclosed and is comprised of a substrate having a conductive bridge, a flyer, a barrel adjacent the flyer and an explosive packed sleeve adjacent the barrel. The flyer is comprised of a material which does not become more ductile upon a rise in temperature, for example a silicon dioxide material. The sleeve is comprised of a thermally compliant material, such as a silicone. The bridge is provided with a necked down section having a defined thickness which is less than the remainder of the bridge deposition.
US08281710B2
A tunnel pasteuriser comprises forward movement means (2) for moving products (3) to be pasteurised forward on a forward movement path along which there is a heating zone (4), a heat treatment zone (5) and a cooling zone (6). Each of said zones is divided into two or more sub-zones equipped with spraying means (10) for spraying a treatment liquid (11) onto the products (3) in transit in the sub-zone, and at least one tank (12) for collecting the liquid (11) that was sprayed on the products (3). In each heat treatment sub-zone (9) there are also means (20) for collecting the liquid (11) which wet the products (3) being treated. The collecting means (20) can be switched between a first operating condition in which they direct the liquid (11) collected towards the collection tank (12) of the relative heat treatment sub-zone (9), and a second operating condition in which they prevent the liquid (11) collected from reaching the tank (12) of the relative heat treatment sub-zone (9).
US08281708B2
A sip and cookie dipper apparatus. The sip and cookie dipper apparatus is made up of a straw holder, a detachable cookie holder, and a cookie holder attachment mechanism. The straw holder defines a through bore with open opposite ends. At least one straw stabilizing member is located inside the through-bore. The cookie holder attachment mechanism is attached to the bottom end of the straw holder and is used to reversibly attach the detachable cookie holder to the straw holder. In one embodiment, the detachable cookie holder includes first and second outer slots and a central slot, wherein removable side-inserts fit into the first and second outer slots. Optional images of interest are disposed on the side-inserts. In another embodiment, detachable cookie holder is a one-piece detachable cookie holder lacking first and second outer slots and the central slot, and has permanent sides in place of removable side-inserts.
US08281707B2
A piston for a hydraulic motor including a body having a guiding and sealing surface, a base, and a top, which top is providing with a cradle-shaped recess. The base is provided with an additional cradle-shaped recess whose concave surface faces in the direction in which the concave surface of the recess in the top faces.
US08281699B2
The invention comprises an improved recoil control device comprising a bolt head and an inertia block or slider for use in a variety of firearms. In one embodiment, the bolt head and inertia block are articulated so that the displacement of the bolt head results in a force component outside the firing axis of the barrel of the firearm. The device can be incorporated into firearms of a variety of sizes and configurations to produce recoil reduction and/or weight reduction advantages.
US08281697B2
An air-based vertical launch system is described by means of which ballistic missile defense can be achieved effectively from a large aircraft. A method for ensuring safe missile egress is proposed. A method for ensuring that the missile strikes the ballistic missile payload section is also proposed. Together, the air basing method employing vertical (or near-vertical) launch and semi-active laser guidance yield an affordable and operationally effective missile defense against both tactical and long-range ballistic missiles. The affordability of missile defense is enhanced by the ability of an aircraft equipped with a vertical launcher to simultaneously carry out several defensive and offensive missions and to provide other capabilities such as satellite launch at other times. Methods for employing an aircraft equipped with a vertical (or near-vertical launcher) and one or more of the proposed egress assurance mechanisms in offensive ground attack missions, mine laying, and satellite launch missions are also proposed.
US08281686B2
An eddy-current actuated balancer includes a barrel having a locating wall at one end thereof; two balancing wheels mounted around the barrel and carrying a respective counterweight at the border, a washer set between the balancing wheels, an elastic ring and a lock ring and a pulsed magnetic field generator mounted on each balancing wheel. The balancing wheels, the washer and the elastic ring are clamped between the locating wall of the barrel and the lock ring. Each pulsed magnetic field generator is controlled to generate a pulsed magnetic field acting upon the associating balancing wheel during its rotation for inducing an eddy current that causes the associating balancing wheel to make an angular displacement relative to the barrel for balance adjustment.
US08281685B2
A pedal is rotated in a forward rotational direction by a pedal force applied from a driver and is rotated in a reverse rotational direction by a restoring force exerted from a double coil spring arrangement. A friction member generates friction between the pedal and the friction member. The friction member includes a sliding part, a holding part and a resiliently deformable part. The sliding part slidably engages the pedal, and the holding part is held by a housing. The resiliently deformable part is resiliently deformable between the sliding part and the holding part to permit displacement of the sliding part relative to the holding part.
US08281683B2
A remote manipulation arm comprising a master arm (5) mechanically separated from a slave arm (1) with the slave arm comprising a tubular segment and a manipulation tool 12 at one end thereof and further comprising an interface system including a control portion (7) and a mechanical power portion (8) for driving the slave arm (1) through a mechanical transmission (26,27) of the slave arm wherein the mechanical power portion (8) comprises a stationary motor, a stationary casing, a drum attached to the tubular segment and a transmission capable of rotating the tubular segment (3) and wherein the remote manipulation arm further comprises a winder (32) of electrical cables leading to control motors and a circular arc shaped part between the drum and a cylindrical portion of the stationary casing.
US08281658B2
A gyroscope sensor includes a gyro disk. A first light source is configured to provide a first light beam adjacent to a first edge of the gyro disk. A first light receiver is configured to receive the first light beam for sensing a vibration at a first direction of the gyro disk.
US08281650B2
When a rotation fluctuation amount of an engine exceeds a predetermined threshold, it is determined that there is a possibility that a misfire has occurred. Then, when a rotation fluctuation pattern of the engine coincides with a first rotation fluctuation pattern, it is determined that a misfire has occurred; whereas, when the rotation fluctuation pattern does not coincide with the first rotation fluctuation pattern, it is determined whether the rotation fluctuation pattern coincides with a specific rotation fluctuation pattern in consideration of a lock-up state of a lock-up clutch or whether an engine rotational speed is lower than a threshold. When the determination is affirmative, occurrence of a misfire is determined on the basis of whether the rotation fluctuation pattern of the engine coincides with a second misfire determination pattern that is defined to be smaller in variation of a rotation fluctuation amount than the first rotation fluctuation pattern.
US08281647B2
A device for measuring physical and/or chemical parameters of water circulating in a treatment circuit of a leisure pool comprises: a main body (12) through which a measurement channel (13) passes; a connector (14a, 14b) for connecting the measurement channel (13) to the treatment circuit (8); at least two measurement sensors (18a, 18b) fitted to the main body in order to be in contact with the inside of the measurement channel (13); and an acquisition unit (20) connected to the measurement sensors and comprising a self-contained electric power source (32) and wireless communication means (45) for communicating with a central unit (5).
US08281644B2
A hydrostatic tester is provided with an elevated test surface allowing tests to be made inside sleeves, pants legs or other hard to reach locations of completed garments. A constant force spring is engaged by way of a straight line clamp to apply pressure and maintain a consistent and constant force on a sandwich seal. A clamping mechanism can be moved to the left or right of test area to provide a clear unobstructed access to position test item. A raised gasket on the test surface prevents hard contact between test surface and seal ring avoiding damage to test items. A blood pressure bulb is used as a pressure source to force water from a reservoir to the test area. A low pressure gauge is positioned for easy viewing to monitor test pressure.
US08281643B2
A minute amount of fuel is injected into a combustion chamber during fuel cut, and a cylinder pressure is detected when the minute amount of fuel is being combusted. Then a combustion ratio is calculated based on the detected cylinder pressure, and a determination crank angle, which is used for determining a cetane number based on the combustion ratio, is determined. The cetane number is determined based on the determination crank angle.
US08281641B1
A Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) regulator is tested using a breath simulator having (i) a cup-shaped housing defining an interior volume and an open end, and (ii) an empty syringe with a plunger disposed therein and terminating in a dispensing tip coupled to the housing for sealed fluid communication with the interior volume thereof.
US08281637B2
Provided are tools, tool kits, and associated methods for forming and/or clasping needs associated with, for example, jewelry making activities. The tools herein releasably secure forming pegs and restrain lateral movement of the forming pegs to a first line of action. The tools also translate an actuation force along a second line of action to relative lateral movement of the forming pegs along the first line of action.
US08281615B2
Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems and heat exchangers are provided which include manifold configurations designed to promote mixing of vapor phase and liquid phase refrigerant. The manifolds contain flow mixers such as a helical tape, sectioned volumes, and partitions containing apertures. The flow mixers direct the flow of refrigerant within the manifold to promote a more homogenous distribution of fluid within the multichannel tubes.
US08281601B2
A system and method for reintroducing gas turbine combustion bypass flow. The system may include a combustor body, wherein the combustor body includes a reaction zone for primary combustion of fuel and air, and a casing enclosing the combustor body and defining an annular passageway for carrying compressor discharge air into the combustor body at one end. The system further may include a reintroduction manifold for receiving combustor bypass air extracted from the compressor discharge air in the annular passageway, and one or more reintroduction slots in communication with the reintroduction manifold for injecting the combustor bypass air into the combustor body downstream of the reaction zone. The method may include extracting combustor bypass air from the annular passageway, transporting the combustor bypass air to a reintroduction manifold, and reintroducing the combustor bypass air into the combustor body through one or more reintroduction slots in communication with the reintroduction manifold.
US08281594B2
A fuel injector in a combustor apparatus of a gas turbine engine. An outer wall of the injector defines an interior volume in which an intermediate wall is disposed. A first gap is formed between the outer wall and the intermediate wall. The intermediate wall defines an internal volume in which an inner wall is disposed. A second gap is formed between the intermediate wall and the inner wall. The second gap receives cooling fluid that cools the injector. The cooling fluid provides convective cooling to the intermediate wall as it flows within the second gap. The cooling fluid also flows through apertures in the intermediate wall into the first gap where it provides impingement cooling to the outer wall and provides convective cooling to the outer wall. The inner wall defines a passageway that delivers fuel into a liner downstream from a main combustion zone.
US08281589B2
For operating an internal combustion engine having a throttle situated in an exhaust line or exhaust return line, in which a heat engine is driven by a quantity of heat produced by the internal combustion engine, in a first non-heating operating mode of the internal combustion engine, a first setpoint value is preset, a first operating parameter that characterizes a temperature of the internal combustion engine is detected, a first triggering value is determined for the triggering of the at least one throttle as a function of the first setpoint value and the first operating parameter, the at least one throttle is triggered in accordance with the first triggering value, and the at least one heat engine is driven by the resulting quantity of heat.
US08281588B2
A turbomachine system comprises a first turbocharger comprising an exhaust gas flow first turbine for location in an exhaust path and a first compressor driven by said first turbine; a turbomachine for location in the exhaust path upstream or downstream of said first turbocharger and comprising an exhaust gas flow second turbine and a second compressor driven by said second turbine. The first turbine has an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the second turbine. One of said first and second turbines is a radial outflow turbine. The arrangement provides for a relatively compact package. The radial outflow turbine may have a particular structure in which there is provided a deflector member at or near its inlet for directing the gas outwards, a stator for introducing swirl and a downstream turbine rotor. A shroud is fixed to blades of the turbine rotor to prevent leakage and to provide additional structural rigidity.
US08281587B2
A control system for engine braking for a vehicle powered by a turbocharged engine uses a supercharger to assist a turbocharger compressor to boost turbocharger air flow into the engine cylinders. An engine driven air pumping device draws ambient air, or alternately exhaust gas through the pump inlet, compresses the air, and delivers the compressed air through the pump outlet to the turbocharger compressor inlet or alternately the turbocharger compressor outlet. The increased air flow into the cylinders and out of the cylinder exhaust valves increases retarding power of the vehicle.
US08281579B2
An exhaust system for use with a combustion engine is disclosed. The exhaust system may have a passage connected to receive exhaust from the combustion engine, and a cooling device located external to the passage to create a thermal gradient across a flow area of the passage that causes particulates within the exhaust to agglomerate on a wall of the passage. The exhaust system may also have a filtration device located to separate agglomerated particulates from the exhaust.
US08281572B2
Various embodiments of an apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for controlling NOx conversion in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. According to one representative embodiment, an apparatus includes a duty cycle factor module and a NOx conversion mode selection module. The duty cycle factor module is configured to determine a duty cycle factor of an internal combustion engine where the duty cycle factor represents predicted driving conditions of a vehicle in which the internal combustion engine is housed. The NOx conversion mode selection module is configured to command NOx conversion in the SCR system according to a first NOx conversion mode if the duty cycle factor is within a duty cycle factor range and according to a second NOx conversion mode if the duty cycle factor is not within the duty cycle factor range.
US08281563B2
A gas-turbine bearing oil system with an oil supply arrangement includes at least one oil pump 5 supplying oil from an oil tank 1 to the bearing chambers 2, 3, 4 and at least one scavenge pump unit 6 returning oil from the bearing chambers 2, 3, 4 to the oil tank 1 At least one additional electric scavenge pump 7 is used to return oil from at least one bearing chamber 2, 3, 4 to the oil tank 1.
US08281560B2
A treeless western saddle comprising a flexible base coupled to an underside of a flexible substrate. A seat section is integrally formed in the flexible substrate. A pommel section is integrally formed in the flexible substrate. The flexible base has an upper stirrup aperture and a lower stirrup aperture formed in a lateral side of the flexible base. The underside of the flexible substrate has a cavity formed in a lateral side of the underside of the flexible substrate, the cavity to extend from the upper stirrup aperture to at least the lower stirrup aperture.
US08281553B2
Disclosed is an automated medicine storage and medicine introduction/discharge management system, which includes a main body in which a plurality of receiving shelves is arranged, the main body having a door to enable user access, a medicine introduction/discharge unit installed in one side region of the main body to introduce or discharge a medicine product into or out of the main body, a robot transfer unit installed in the main body to transfer the medicine product, introduced via the medicine introduction/discharge unit, to each receiving space of the main body, or to discharge the medicine product received in the receiving space, and a control unit to control operations of the main body, the medicine introduction/discharge unit, and the robot transfer unit. The system is able to store a variety of medicine in a single main body and to achieve enhanced security for special medicine and efficient management of stock.
US08281548B1
A method and a device for installing a rigid panel parallel to a flat building structure and between rafters while providing a ventilation gap between the rigid panel and the flat building structure.
US08281547B2
In one aspect, a method of making a selected structure using composite materials is disclosed, which method in form includes providing a plurality of members each comprising a composite material, wherein each member is configured to be coupled to at least one other member in the plurality of members along a longitudinal side; coupling onsite the plurality of members along their longitudinal sides to form a base enclosed structure; and reinforcing onsite the base enclosed structure to form the selected structure.
US08281543B2
A method of ballasting a cover of a sludge digester that is comprised of a storage tank and the cover. The method includes placing a ballast into the storage tank in a first predetermined position, placing the cover onto the storage tank, lowering a lifting member of a lifting device through an access port in the cover and into the storage tank, securing the lifting member to the ballast, using the lifting device to lift the lifting member and the ballast until the ballast is in a second predetermined position that is substantially above the first predetermined position, engaging a support bracket attached to the cover with a support member; and securing the ballast to the cover with the support member while the ballast is in a third predetermined position that is substantially below the second predetermined position.
US08281541B2
A hold down connector is provided for securing together multiple building members. The hold down connector resists movement of the building members when connected to an elongated tie member. In one embodiment, the hold down connector includes a transverse portion connected to first and second elongated legs with at least one aperture at elongated connections between the transverse portion and the first leg and between the transverse portion and second leg. In another embodiment, the hold down connector includes a transverse portion connected to first and second elongated legs with the transverse portion partially supported by transverse extensions of the first and second legs. A hold down connector in accordance with embodiments results in increased load bearing properties, construction from thicker materials, and easy installation.
US08281538B2
The present invention provides a wallboard patching and repair system and method that are quick and easy to install and provides a stronger wall repair than available systems. The system allows a wall to be repaired with or without the use of mechanical fasteners. The invention comprises a system comprising, patch support members that are placed behind the edges of a damaged opening in wallboard and where a portion of each member is placed behind the wallboard at the edge of the opening and the remaining portion extends into the opening to support a wallboard patch. In one embodiment the invention is a kit comprising system components.
US08281534B2
A built-up beam fabricated a plurality of profiled steel plates is disclosed. The built-up beam includes a first lower profiled steel plate including a bottom portion, a side-vertical portion bent upwardly and vertically from one lateral edge of the bottom portion, a supporting portion bent horizontally from an upper end of the side-vertical portion, and a first center-vertical portion bent vertically and upwardly from the other lateral edge of the bottom portion. A second lower profiled steel plate is arranged symmetrically about the first center-vertical portion of the first lower profiled steel plate and connected to the first lower profiled steel plate. The second lower profiled steel plate has a cross-section symmetrical or asymmetrical to the first lower profiled steel plate. The built-up beam includes a first upper profiled steel plate including a top face portion and a second center-vertical portion bent vertically and downwardly from one lateral edge of the top face portion, the first upper profiled steel plate being connected to one upper side of the first center-vertical portion of the first lower profiled steel plate. A second upper profiled steel plate is arranged symmetrically about the second center-vertical portion of the first upper profiled steel plate and connected to the other upper side of the first center-vertical portion of the second lower profiled steel plate. The second upper profiled steel plate has a cross-section symmetrical or asymmetrical to the first upper profiled steel plate. Thus, a slab can be placed within the depth to thereby reduce the story height.
US08281523B2
Object of the invention is a system composed of a special Tile, adequate to cover the whole roof, thermally insulating, ventilated, with no environmental impact, producing solar and photovoltaic energy, adequate for the production of hot water and/or electrical energy. The two functions, thermal and photovoltaic, are meant to be operated in synergy, obtaining the best result, or independently. For instance, the photovoltaic can help the thermal system, in case the covered surfaces are too small for the heating needs of the building, or in non-ideal climates, sending part of the electrical energy to electrical water heaters positioned in the boiler, to complement hot water production during low irradiation seasons. The roof thus obtained is optimal in any climate; in areas subject to snowfall the snow will melt on the tiles that anyway develop heat; in hot areas during the summer very high temperatures will be achieved, thus it will be possible to transform with heat exchangers the heat produced in cooling, obtaining air conditioning or cold water below the floor. Also, it will be possible to obtain heated water for pools from the excess of hot water both in the summer and in the winter.
US08281516B2
An all-natural fiber biodegradable generally planar mat for use in the germination, growth enhancement and propagation of plants and trees and the suppression of weed growth is provided. The present invention comprises a generally planer layer of at least one or a combination of natural fibers including, but not limited to, human hair, animal hair, coconut fiber, seaweed, kelp, cotton, corn silk and peat moss, and alternatively may incorporate a plurality of man-made fibers. Such mat may be constructed using needle punching, hydro-entanglement, or aero-entanglement. The generally planar mat in a wide variety of constructions is used in various methodologies of promoting seed germination, root growth, spot growth on existing plantings, landscaping under-laminate, soil additive, and as a weed control and pest deterrent in the horticultural field. Within such context, the present invention is useful for the retention of moisture and both the active and passive fertilization of the plant(s) with which it is associated either under, within or on the surface of the soil.
US08281501B2
A vapor-permeable and waterproof sole for shoes, including at least one first load-bearing component, including at least one vapor-permeable or perforated portion, including a vapor-permeable or perforated filler, at least one second component, predominantly arranged below the first component with a tread provided thereon. The second component includes through perforations at the vapor-permeable or perforated portion of the first component. Below the vapor-permeable or perforated portion and above the tread a membrane water impermeable and of water vapor permeable material is provided. The first component is constituted by a plastic midsole. The midsole is rigidly coupled to the membrane and to the filler by molding before providing the tread. A single peripheral seal is provided on the membrane formed by the molding of the midsole; the midsole surrounds peripherally the membrane.
US08281499B2
A mobile surface drying apparatus includes a vacuum and blower assembly. The vacuum and blower assembly includes a vacuum head and a blower head. The vacuum head suctions moisture through an inlet of the vacuum and blower assembly, and the blower head communicates airflow through an outlet of the vacuum and blower assembly.
US08281496B1
The present invention relates to a multi-function electrician level. In one embodiment, the body has a first face enabling the tool to level either a switch or a dual three-prong outlet. A second face can be used to level a rectangular outlet, such as a GFCI outlet. In this regard, the second face can have depressions providing clearance to reset buttons. Both faces have walls that mate with the respective type of outlet. The tool can also be used as a traditional level. Levels are provided on two perpendicular surfaces, and are observable through both faces. A laser projector can be provided for fanning a leveling line outward from the tool. A light such as a LED light can also be provided for use as a flashlight. The light can also illuminate the levels.
US08281494B2
A surgical blade adapted to be typically used in medical procedures is disclosed. The blade is provided with markings located near the cutting edge. The markings are configured to be indicative of the depth of the blade and/or of the cutting edge during the incision of an organic tissue. The markings are configured to substantially follow the shape of the cutting edge such as to indicate the depth of the blade substantially independently of the orientation thereof.
US08281491B2
A shaving blade unit includes a housing having a front edge, a rear edge and side edges extending between the front and rear edges. The housing has an aperture located between the front and rear edges. One or more shaving blades are positioned between the front edge and the rear edge and the one or more blades have cutting edges arranged to define a first cutting region. A clip is arranged to retain the one or more shaving blades on the housing. The clip has a leg received by the aperture, the leg having a bent portion defining a curvature to secure the clip to the housing.
US08281485B2
A method for producing a circuit board layer, in particular for a multilayer circuit board, a ceramic foil upon which a carrier foil is disposed being used, the carrier foil being perforated by laser to form at least one circuit trace, and/or the carrier foil and the ceramic foil being perforated together by laser to form at least one feedthrough, the circuit trace and/or the feedthrough subsequently being created by printing, the carrier foil constituting a printing screen, and the carrier foil subsequently being removed from the ceramic foil.
US08281484B2
A pick-up jig is adapted to be dismountably mounted to an electronic component which has two buckling blocks. The pick-up jig includes a pick-up board and two buckling arms. The pick-up board is against a top of the electronic component. The pick-up board has a flat top surface for the convenience of the pick-up jig being picked up by a SMT machine. The two buckling arms perpendicularly extend downward from two opposite ends of a bottom surface of the pick-up board. An inside of each of the buckling arms protrude inward to form two blocking pillars spaced from each other to define a fastening groove therebetween. A buckling hook is protruded at a bottom of the buckling arm. The buckling blocks slide over the corresponding buckling hooks to be buckled in the corresponding fastening grooves and the buckling hook grappling a bottom of the corresponding buckling block.
US08281483B2
An align fixture for aligning an electronic component having a receptacle adapted to receive the electronic component, the receptacle having a first abutting section and a second abutting section, the align fixture further having an elastic unit, one of the first abutting section and the second abutting section is flexibly mounted via the elastic unit, and the other one of the first abutting section and the second abutting section is fixedly mounted; the first abutting section and the second abutting section each form a stiff member and are adapted to engage the electronic component, the elastic unit is adapted to exert two force components on one of the first abutting section and the second abutting section, the force components being angled relatively to one another.
US08281467B2
A piezoelectric vibration element that includes a piezoelectric substrate formed of a thickness shear based piezoelectric material and a metal layer formed on a surface of the piezoelectric substrate. In the piezoelectric vibration element, a surface of the metal layer is covered by a layer formed by chemical absorption with a material having a nonbonding electron pair.
US08281462B2
A bundle tie or strap has a locking device provided with a through-going channel, in which locking device there is secured an elongate strip. The strip and the channel have counterdirected teeth, whereby the strip is insertable in the channel but not withdrawable therefrom. For infeed of the strip in the channel and for tightening, there is pivotally connected to the locking device a feeder crank with teeth on a circle sector shaped portion. The bundle tie is manufactured in its entirety in the opened state by injection moulding in one single continuous piece.
US08281460B2
A handle assembly for mounting to a door of an appliance includes a main body member having first and second end portions separated by an intermediate portion. Each of the first and second end portions includes a cavity adapted to receive an end insert formed of soft material. Each of the end inserts includes an attachment member. The handle is mounted to a front face of the door through interengagment of the attachment members and base members provided on the door without scratching the surface of the door.
US08281459B2
A locking hinge that includes a first hinge element including a body defining a first hole and a second hinge element including a body defining a second hole. The locking hinge also includes a dowel assembled through the first hole in the first hinge element and the second hole in the second hinge element defining a hinge joint axis permitting translation of the second hinge element relative to the first hinge element along a first axis and a second axis, and rotation of the second hinge element relative to the first hinge element.
US08281457B2
A grommet assembly for installation in an opening of a vehicle body component is provided. The opening is dimensioned to receive a pipe therethrough. The grommet assembly comprises a first relatively stiff component and a second relatively flexible component. The first component has retention elements formed therewith to secure the pipe to the grommet assembly. The second component is sized to be securely mounted in the body component opening. The second component is at least partially overmolded onto the first component. The grommet assembly is pre-mounted on the pipe and is configured to keep the pipe generally centered in the body component opening.
US08281455B2
A vacuum cleaner is provided. The vacuum cleaner may include a main body, a dust collector, at least one pressing member, and a driver. The dust collector may be detachably attached to the main body and may include a dust storage chamber. The at least one pressing member may compress dust stored in the dust storage chamber. The driver may be disposed in the dust collector and actuate the at least one pressing member.
US08281444B2
A cleaning pig for a pipeline for long-distance transportation of a fluid material is advanced in the pipeline in a travel direction by the fluid material transported in the pipeline. The cleaning pig has a pig body and two collars connected to the pig body and spaced apart from one another. The pig body and the collars fill a pipe cross-section of the pipeline. An intermediate space is delimited between the two collars. A pressure opening is arranged at a trail end of the pig body in the travel direction. A pressure conduit connects the pressure opening to the intermediate space. A suction device is arranged in the intermediate space. A suction outlet is connected by a suction conduit to the suction device. The pressure conduit is connected to at least one jet opening directed with a jet action against an inner wall of the pipeline.
US08281442B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a blade maintenance vehicle. The blade maintenance vehicle includes a self-contained balance configured to stabilize the blade maintenance vehicle on an upwardly facing edge of a horizontally positioned wind turbine blade.
US08281439B2
A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has operational control over activators and deactivators for members of the additives group. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle and operating the activators and deactivators at selected times during the wash cycle.
US08281435B2
A compact, pre-formed, reversible wedge-shaped pillow for supporting the head of a baby or, interchangeably, for supporting a bottle for a baby, is provided. The pillow includes a contoured, wedge-shaped body comprising a first longitudinal side, a second longitudinal side, a third longitudinal side, and two opposing angular ends. The first longitudinal side is configured with a head-receiving contour for isolating and supporting the baby's head during sleeping, feeding, or traveling in a car seat—thus reducing flat head syndrome. The third longitudinal side is configured with a bottle-receiving contour. If used in combination with a second pillow of the present invention, the head of the baby can rest within the head-receiving contour of the first pillow, while the bottle to feed the baby can rest within the bottle-receiving contour of the second pillow; thus assisting with proper digestion during feeding by elevating the head above the stomach level.
US08281423B2
A multi-functional handheld hygienic device with a J-shaped nozzle and attachment options for alternate use externally on either the genital area as a bidet or the rectal area as a wash and for use internally in the genital area as a douche and the rectal area as an enema. A temperature controlled water tank or water diverter attached to a combined hot and cold faucet supplies temperature controlled water to the nozzle.
US08281419B2
An orthopedic protective assembly is disclosed. The orthopedic protective apparatus includes a foam shaped collar to conform to a user's neck area. The foam shaped collar comprises a multi-layer polymer material having a pliable outermost protective layer to absorb initial impact energy and additional layer(s). The additional layer(s) require(s) greater impact energy to deform than those of the pliable outermost protective layer. In one embodiment, shim extension(s) customize(s) impact energy absorption properties of the foam shaped collar by filling a gap between an underside of the foam shaped collar and a shoulder region of a user.
US08281413B2
A grommet locking device, which combines the advantages of both a grommet and a cord lock in a single unitary device. The grommet locking device allows a user to tighten a cord with one hand. The grommet locking device includes a front piece having a locking mechanism and a back piece that are attached together with a piece of fabric therebetween. A cord is moveable within the locking mechanism between a first locked position and second unlocked position in order to tighten or loosen a portion of the garment, such as a hood of a jacket.
