US08987429B2

Disclosed herein is a GO-Gd-DTPA (gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic-graphene oxide) complex, which is formed by an ester bond of graphene oxide (GO) and gadopentetic acid (Gd-DTPA). Since the GO-Gd-DTPA can stably exist in the body because it has high stability in water, it is expected that it can be effectively used as an MRI contrast agent.
US08987421B2

The present invention concerns chimeric or humanized antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof that comprise specific CDR sequences, disclosed herein. Preferably, the antibodies or fragments comprise specific heavy and light chain variable region sequences disclosed herein. More preferably, the antibodies or fragments also comprise specific constant region sequences, such as those associated with the nG1m1,2 or Km3 allotypes. The antibodies or fragments may bind to a human histone protein, such as H2B, H3 or H4. The antibodies or fragments are of use to treat a variety of diseases that may be associated with histones, such as autoimmune disease (e.g., SLE), atherosclerosis, arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, edema, sepsis, septic shock, hyperinflammatory disorder, infectious disease, inflammatory disease, immune dysregulatory disorder, GVHD, transplant rejection, atherosclerosis, asthma, a coagulopathy, myocardial ischemia, thrombosis, nephritis, inflammatory liver injury, acute pancreatitis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, stroke, cardiovascular disease, and burn.
US08987412B2

The present invention relates to peptides having one or more stable, internally-constrained HBS α-helices, where the peptide is capable of interacting with Ras and related proteins.
US08987410B2

Process for preparing a macromonomer, in which a starting compound H2C═CR1—C6H4-s(R4)s—R3—OH or H2C═CR2—CO—NH—R3—OH, where R1 and R2 are each H or a linear or branched alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R3 is a linear or branched alkylene, aralkylene radical which has from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and can contain one or more hydroxy groups and the radicals R4 are each, independently of one another, a linear or branched alkyl, aralkyl, alkoxy or aralkoxy radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms and s=0-4, is, after partial deprotonation, reacted with at least one hydroxy-functional oxirane compound in the presence of an inhibitor of free-radical polymerization with opening of the oxirane ring, where the molar ratio of the molar amounts used n(starting compound):n(oxirane compound) is in the range from 1:100 to 1:1.Macromonomers which can be obtained by the process, polymers which can be obtained therefrom and their use as additives in coating compositions, plastics and cosmetics.
US08987409B2

The present invention relates to a composition that can be used to manufacture an impermeable, sealing, tight envelope, to a process for manufacturing an impermeable envelope, and to a tank. The composition of the invention comprises in % by weight relative to the total weight of the composition: from 70 to 90% of a monomer (I); from 0.1 to 1% of an activator (II), in which R is chosen from the group comprising CnH2n+2, n being an integer chosen from 1 to 10; —OH; —OCn H2n+2, n being an integer chosen from 1 to 10; and —NHR′ where R′ is either CnH2n+2, n being an integer chosen from 1 to 10, or an amine functional group; from 2 to 6% of a catalyst (III), in which X is chosen from the group comprising MgBr, MgI, Li and Na; and from 10 to 20% of an additive (IV), with: This composition can be used, for example, to manufacture elements that are impermeable to fluids, for example impermeable envelopes, for example that can be used in the manufacture of type IV tanks or hydraulic accumulators.
US08987408B2

A method for the production of solid polyester polymer particles comprising: a) polycondensing a molten polyester polymer composition in the presence of a polycondensation catalyst composition comprising antimony species; b) continuing the polycondenzation of the molten polyester polymer composition to an It.V. of 0.68 dL/g or more; and c) after reaching an It.V. of 0.68 dL/g or more, adding a catalyst stabilizer or deactivator to the polymer melt; and d) after reaching an It.V. of 0.68 dL/g or more, solidifying the melt into solid polyester polymer particles which do not contain organic acetaldehyde scavengers. In a further embodiment, after solidification of the polyester from the melt phase polycondenzation process: e) the amount of residual acetaldehyde in the particles in the solid state is reduced to a level of 10 ppm or less without increasing the It.V. of the particles by more than 0.03 dL/g. Such particles having an AA (acetaldehyde) generation rate of 20 ppm or less upon being melted after solidification following the melt phase production and a free AA level reduced after melt phase production to 10 ppm or less are introduced into a melt processing zone to make articles such as bottle preforms having acceptable levels of residual AA.
US08987400B2

Polypropylene having a melting temperature (Tm) of at least 151.0° C., a melt flow rate MFR2 (230° C.) of more than 2.0 g/10 min, a xylene cold soluble fraction (XCS) of not more than 1.5 wt.-%, <2,1> regiodefects of equal or more than 0.4 mol.-% determined by 13C-spectroscopy, and a number average molecular weight (Mn) of not more than 110 kg/mol.
US08987397B2

Disclosed is a fluorine-containing copolymer comprising a copolymer of a polyfluoroalkyl alcohol(meth)acrylic acid derivative represented by the general formula: CnF2n+1(CH2CF2)a(CF2CF2)b(CH2CH2)cOCOCR═CH2   [I] (R: a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, n: an integer of 1 to 6, a: an integer of 1 to 4, b: an integer of 1 to 3, c: an integer of 1 to 3) and a polysiloxane containing a terminal (meth)acryloyloxy group represented by the general formula: (R1: a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R2: a C1-C6 linear or branched divalent alkylene group, R3: a C1-C30 linear or branched alkyl group, R4 and R5: a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, or a phenyl group, m: an integer of 1 to 200).
US08987393B2

The invention relates to a new catalyst component for the polymerization of olefins comprising a compound of formula CyLMZp, wherein M is a Group 4-6 metal, Z is an anionic ligand, p is the number of anionic ligands, Cy is a mono- or poly-substituted cyclopentadienyl-type ligand and L is a guanidinate ligand of the formula wherein: each A is independently selected from nitrogen or phosphorus and R, R1, R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydrocarbyl, silyl and germyl residues, substituted or not with one or more halogen, amido, phosphido, alkoxy, or aryloxy radicals. The invention also relates to a catalyst system for the polymerization of olefins and a process for the polymerization of at least one olefin having 2 to 20 carbon atoms.
US08987390B2

A system and method for polymerizing olefin in the presence of a chain transfer agent in a first reactor to form a first polyolefin, discharging from the first reactor a transfer slurry having the first polyolefin and the chain transfer agent, and processing the transfer slurry in a separator to remove chain transfer agent and to provide a fluff slurry having the first polyolefin and a lower content of chain transfer agent than in the transfer slurry. The system and method provide for feeding the fluff slurry to a second reactor, polymerizing olefin in the second reactor to form a second polyolefin, and discharging from the second reactor a slurry having the second polyolefin.
US08987389B2

The present invention relates to a process of preparing a polyethylene in a loop reactor in the presence of antifouling agent comprising the steps of: a) feeding into said loop reactor diluent, monomers, optionally hydrogen, and optionally one or more co-monomers to produce a liquid phase; b) introducing antifouling agent into said loop reactor, c) introducing a catalyst into the liquid phase to produce a slurry; and d) polymerizing the monomers and optional co-monomers to form the polyethylene, characterized in that the time difference between introduction of the antifouling agent and introduction of the catalyst is at most 3 hours.
US08987380B2

The present invention relates to an innovative method for controlling the viscosity of, for example, adhesives or coating formulations. The method for controlling viscosity allows very rapid thermoplastic curing of a formulation even at room temperature and a significant reduction in the viscosity at higher temperatures, thereby regaining the capacity for simple processing and allowing, for example, the originally bonded substrates to be separated from one another again with ease. A particular aspect in this context is that a plurality of cycles of thermoplastic curing and a significant reduction in the viscosity are possible with the present system.
US08987374B2

The present invention provides a non-aqueous composition containing a particulate solid, an organic medium and a polyurethane dispersant having an essentially linear backbone and laterally attached solvent-solubilizing side chains of a polyester, a polyether, a polyacrylate or a polyolefin including mixtures of such side chains.
US08987372B2

The present invention is directed to adhesives suitable for application using a hot melt process at a relatively low temperature in the range of about 110° C. to about 130° C. Such adhesives exhibit desirable viscoelastic properties and are suitable for bonding an elastic attachment in the manufacture of disposable articles, such as disposable diapers.
US08987368B2

The present invention relates to a polymer (P1) obtainable by reaction of at least one component a) with at least one component b), wherein a) is at least one polyolefin (A), which is grafted with at least one compound (G), and b) is at least one compound (B) containing at least two epoxy groups.
US08987359B2

A flame retardant polyamide resin composition includes (A) about 40 to about 60% by weight of a crystalline polyamide resin, (B) about 10 to about 20% by weight of polyphenylene sulfide resin, (C) about 5 to about 15% by weight of flame retardant containing phosphinic acid metal slat compound, (D) about 20 to about 40% by weight of glass fiber and (E) about 0.1 to about 1% by weight of phosphite antioxidant. The flame retardancy polyamide resin composition can have excellent mechanical properties such as impact strength, flexural modulus, flexural strength and/or tensile strength and can exhibit reduced gas blistering on a surface of a specimen thereof.
US08987356B1

A composition that sets to produce a concrete includes Portland cement; a polymerizable material having bubbles dispersed in the polymerizable material; an aggregate; and water in a sufficient amount such that the composition sets to a concrete. A method for making a concrete article uses a paste that includes Portland cement and a polymerizable material having bubbles dispersed in the polymerizable material. The paste is added to an aggregate to create a settable composition, and the settable composition is allowed to set to a concrete article.
US08987330B2

There is provided pharmaceutical compositions suitable for topical application to the nail for the treatment of nail diseases such as onychomycosis, comprising a urea-based component, a diol component, such as propylene glycol, an organic acid component, such as lactic acid, and a triol component, such a glycerol. There is further provided methods of improving the storage stability of a pharmaceutical composition suitable for topical application to the skin and/or nails comprising such urea-based components, diol components, organic acid components, and, optionally, an aqueous base, which method comprises adding a triol component, such a glycerol, to that composition prior to said storage.
US08987309B2

A 2-aryl-pyridylazole compound and derivatives useful in slowing the growth of cancer cells are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of synthesizing the compound, methods of using pharmaceutical compositions containing the compound as an ingredient to slow the growth of cancer cells, and methods of treating cancer patients with pharmaceutical compositions containing the compound as an ingredient.
US08987307B2

This invention relates to novel 3-aminopyridines of the formula wherein B1, B2 and R1 to R6 are as defined in the description and in the claims, as well as pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds are GPBAR1 agonists and can be used as medicaments for the treatment of diseases such as type II diabetes.
US08987305B2

The present invention provides therapeutically effective 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazole compounds, methods of preparing the same, and compositions comprising the compounds alone or in combination with other agents. The present invention further provides for the use of the compounds as anti-microbial agents. The anti-microbial properties of the compounds include anti-bacterial and/or anti-fungal activity.
US08987301B2

Novel hetarylaminoquinoline derivatives of formula (I) wherein X, Z, Het, R1, R2, R3 and R4 have the meaning according to claim 1, are inhibitors of ATP consuming proteins, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumors.
US08987294B2

The present invention is directed to novel compounds that are able to inhibit the interaction of paxillin or its paralogues, including leupaxin or Hic-5, with alpha.4 integrin or its binding partners that regulate signaling events downstream of the paxillin-.alpha.4 interaction. The present invention further relates to methods for therapeutic use of such compounds and pharmaceutical compositions of such compounds for the treatment of a disease or condition.
US08987283B2

Described herein is pyrrolo{2,3-d}pyrimidine compounds, their use as Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions containing this compounds, and methods for the preparation of these compounds.
US08987280B2

Compounds of Formula I, and including stereoisomers, geometric isomers, tautomers, solvates, metabolites and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, are useful for inhibiting lipid kinases including p110 alpha and other isoforms of PI3K, and for treating disorders such as cancer mediated by lipid kinases. Methods of using compounds of Formula I for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such disorders in mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions, are disclosed.
US08987271B2

The invention relates to a chemotherapeutic cancer treatment in which compounds (BH3Is) are administered to a mammal to treat B-cell Lymphoma or other hematopoietic cancers, including diseases associated with MCL-1. The invention also provides a method for treating types of hematopoietic cancers, such as B-cell lymphoma, using a combination of one or more disclosed compounds in combination with other therapies, for example, 26S proteosome inhibitors, such as, for example, Bortezomib. The invention also relates to autoimmune treatment with pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more disclosed compounds. The invention also relates to methods for identifying compounds, for example, compounds of the BH3 mimic class, that have unique in vitro properties that predict in vivo efficacy against B-cell lymphoma tumors and other cancers as well as autoimmune disease. Illustrative compounds are those of Formula II:
US08987270B2

The invention provides compositions and methods utilizing low concentrations of selective α-2 adrenergic receptor agonists, preferably, brimonidine. The invention provides contact lens solutions and methods of using these solutions for pre-soaking contact lenses to achieve reduction of redness and/or increase in whitening of eyes. The invention also provides compositions including a selective α-2 adrenergic receptor agonist in a combination with an ocular medical device, including but not limited to a bandage lens. The invention also provides combination compositions including a selective α-2 adrenergic receptor agonist and another active agent for the treatment of an ocular condition, including but not limited to glaucoma and/or a condition associated with eye redness.
US08987256B2

The present application relates to novel carboxylic acid derivatives having an oxo-substituted azaheterocyclic partial structure, processes for their preparation, their use for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, and their use for producing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially for the treatment and/or prevention of cardiovascular disorders.
US08987252B2

The aryloxy- and heteroaryloxy-substituted tetrahydrobenzazepine derivative compounds of the present invention are represented by formulae (I) (A-E) having the following structure where the carbon atom designated * is in the R or S configuration and the substituents X and R1—R9 are as defined herein.
US08987246B2

The present invention relates to the field of autism. More specifically, the present invention provides methods for treating individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides methods for treating patients with autism spectrum disorder. In one embodiment, a method for treating an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a patient comprises the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of cholesterol to the patient. In more specific embodiments, the ASD is autism, Asperger's disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Rett's syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder. In one embodiment, the patient has autism.
US08987245B2

A method of reducing caloric intake or food intake in a mammal in need thereof. The method including delivering an effective amount of a compound comprising manganese [III] tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (MnTBAP) or analogs thereof to a mammal over a period of time sufficient to induce a reduction in caloric intake or food intake of the mammal.
US08987242B2

The present invention provides a compound of Formula (I) as described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more said compounds, and methods for using said compounds for treating or preventing a thromboses, embolisms, hypercoagulability or fibrotic changes.
US08987234B2

Disclosed are complexes of an antipneumocystic compound and an antimalarial compound, processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions and methods of using said complexes or compositions for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of parasitic infections.
US08987228B2

Clinical finding shows that twice daily administrations of 2 mg of 1-deoxy-1-[N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenin-9-yl]-N-methyl-β-D-ribofuronamide (IB-MECA) (total daily administration of 4 mg) to subjects having moderate to severe psoriasis, was significantly more effective in treatment of the psoriatic plaques than treatment of psoriasis at two administration doses of 1 mg or 4 mg (total daily doses of 2 or 8 mg, respectively). A pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of psoriasis includes as the active ingredient IB-MECA in an amount suitable for a total daily dose administration of about 4 mg. In one preferred embodiment, IB-MECA is administered twice a day to a subject in need of psoriasis treatment, the pharmaceutical composition including an administration dose of 2 mg.
US08987226B2

It is intended to provide a polynucleotide that is resistant to RNase and has an RNA interference effect, etc. The present invention provides a single-stranded polynucleotide that is derived from a double-stranded polynucleotide comprising a sense strand polynucleotide corresponding to a target gene, and an antisense strand polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence complementary to the sense strand polynucleotide, and has a structure in which the 5′-end of the antisense strand and the 3′-end of the sense strand are linked via a phenyl group-containing linker to form a phosphodiester structure at each of these ends.
US08987224B2

A novel network of tumorigenic prognostic factors is identified that plays a critical role in advanced pancreatic cancer (PC) pathogenesis. This interactome is interconnected through a central tumor suppressive microRNA, miR-198, which is able to both directly and indirectly modulate expression of the various members of this network to alter the molecular makeup of pancreatic tumors. When this tumor signature network is intact, miR-198 expression is reduced and patient survival is dismal; patients with higher miR-198 present an altered tumor signature network, better prognosis and increased survival. Further, MiR-198 replacement reverses tumorigenicity in vitro and in vivo. embodiment of the disclosure is a method of treating cancer in an individual, comprising the step of increasing the level of active microRNA-198 molecules in the pancreatic cancer tumor cells of the individual by an amount sufficient to cause an improvement in the pancreatic cancer in the individual.
US08987223B2

Reduction of HSP27 expression is in beneficial in the treatment of pleural and pulmonary fibrosis and in particular subpleural fibrosis and IPF. Pharmaceutical compositions for this purpose contain an inhibitor of HSP27 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08987219B1

The invention includes a method of treating an intraocular disorder in a mammal, the method comprising administering to the mammal a Very Late Antigen-4 (VLA-4) antagonist for the treatment of selected ocular disorders.
US08987216B2

The invention relates to polysulfated glycosides of formula (I), the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as the pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds as active ingredients. Furthermore the invention provides a method of preventing, treating or alleviating the symptoms of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders of the airways of mammals—including asthma and asthma-related pathologies.
US08987210B2

This application is directed to chemokine-immunoglobulin fusion polypeptides and chemokine-polymer conjugates. The fusion polypeptides and conjugates can be used for treating chemokine receptor-mediated disorders and modulating inflammation, inflammatory cell motility, cancer cell motility, or cancer cell survival.
US08987202B2

Gla domain variants of human Factor VII or human Factor VIIa, comprising 1-15 amino acid modifications relative to the human Factor VII or human Factor VIIa sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein a hydrophobic amino acid residue has been introduced by substitution in position 34; or having an amino acid substitution in position 36; and use of the variants for the treatment of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) or trauma.
US08987200B2

The present invention provides methods and kits for treating hyperparathyroidism, bone disease and/or hypercalcemic disorders. In particular, methods for lowering serum PTH and serum calcium using polycationic calcium modulator peptides are provided. The calcium modulator peptides can be used to treat subjects having, for example: primary, secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism; hypercalcemia of malignancy; metastatic bone disease; or osteoporosis.
US08987195B2

The present invention relates to hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease inhibitors containing a spirocyclic moeity, uses of such compounds, and synthesis of such compounds.
US08987192B2

The present invention provides a family of non-naturally occurring polypeptides having cholesterol efflux activity that parallels that of full-length apolipoproteins (e.g., Apo AI and Apo E), and having high selectivity for ABAC1 that parallels that of full-length apolipoproteins. The invention also provides compositions comprising such polypeptides, methods of identifying, screening and synthesizing such polypeptides, and methods of treating, preventing or diagnosing diseases and disorders associated with dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia and inflammation.
US08987185B2

The invention discloses a laundry article used for both cleaning and conditioning fabrics comprising a water-insoluble nonwoven substrate and coated thereon into at least one zone each a detergent composition and a fabric conditioning composition. The fabric conditioning composition comprises a quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant, an alkoxylated fatty alcohol and a fatty acid.
US08987177B2

A biodegradable lubricating oil composition includes (A) an ester being obtained by reacting a saturated aliphatic carboxylic acid, a straight-chain aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol together, the ester having a kinematic viscosity in a range from 400 mm2/s to 1000 mm2/s at 40 degrees C. and an acid value of 0.5 mgKOH/g or less; (B) an ester being obtained by reacting a straight-chain saturated aliphatic carboxylic acid with a polyhydric alcohol, the ester having an acid value of 0.5 mgKOH/g or less; and (C) a phosphate amine salt being obtained by reacting an acidic phosphate with an alkylamine.
US08987170B2

A compound represented by formula (1): is effective for controlling Pythium spp., and it is useful for controlling Pythium spp. and protecting crops from pythium diseases.
US08987167B2

The present invention relates to a salt comprising an anionic pesticide and a cationic polyamine of the formula (A) or (B) as described in the description. The invention further relates to an agrochemical composition comprising said salt. It also relates to a method for preparing said salt comprising combining the pesticide in its neutral form or as salt, and the polyamine in its neutral form or as salt. In addition, the invention relates to a method of combating harmful insects and/or phytopathogenic fungi. It also relates to a method of controlling undesired vegetation. Finally, the invention relates to seed comprising said salt.
US08987165B2

The present invention relates to a synthesis method for unsupported and supported ruthenium base (RuS2) catalysts from a ruthenium complex precursor, which is decomposed and activated by a simple activation process; these steps provide a catalyst with very high catalytic activity, in addition the incorporation of ruthenium complex precursor to a support by methods of incipient and wet impregnating is described; the obtained catalytic activities in this invention are in the order of 100 times the molybdenum sulfide catalyst without support and without promoter, 14 times the industrial supported catalyst, and 5 times the activity of the currently most active commercial unsupported catalyst.
US08987163B2

Disclosed is a process for the production of lower olefins by the conversion of a feed stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and catalysts as used therein, such as a Fischer-Tropsch process. By virtue of the invention, lower olefins can be formed from synthesis gas, with high selectivity, and low production of methane. The catalysts used herein comprise an α-alumina support, and a catalytically active component that comprises iron-containing particles dispersed onto the support in at least 1 wt. %. The majority of the iron-containing particles is in direct contact with the α-alumina and is well-distributed thereon. Preferably, the iron-containing particles have an average particle size below 30 nm, and most preferably below 10 nm. The supported catalysts not only show a high selectivity, but also a high catalyst activity and chemical and mechanical stability.
US08987146B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: forming a film on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including: supplying a raw material gas to a substrate in a process chamber, exhausting the raw material gas remaining in the process chamber through an exhaust line, supplying an amine-based gas; and exhausting the amine-based gas through the exhaust line with the supply of the amine-based gas stopped. A degree of valve opening of an exhaust valve disposed in the exhaust line is changed in multiple steps in the process of exhausting the amine-based gas.
US08987139B2

Methods of patterning low-k dielectric films are described. In an example, In an embodiment, a method of patterning a low-k dielectric film involves forming and patterning a metal nitride mask layer above a low-k dielectric layer. The low-k dielectric layer is disposed above a substrate. The method also involves passivating the metal nitride mask layer by treating with a plasma based on O2/N2/SixFy. The method also involves etching a portion of the low-k dielectric layer.
US08987137B2

A method of manufacturing a through-substrate-via structure. The method comprises providing a substrate having a front-side and an opposite back-side. A through-substrate via opening is formed in the front-side of the substrate. The through-substrate-via opening does not penetrate an outer surface of the back-side of the substrate. The through-substrate-via opening is filled with a solid fill material. Portions of the substrate from the outer surface of the back-side of the substrate are removed to thereby expose the fill material. At least portions of the exposed fill material are removed to form a back-side through-substrate via opening that traverses an entire thickness of the substrate. The back-side through-substrate via opening is filled with an electrically conductive material.
US08987136B2

A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing a local interconnect structure for a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming removable sacrificial sidewall spacers between sidewall spacers and outer sidewall spacers on two sides of a gate on a semiconductor substrate, and forming contact through-holes at source/drain regions in the local interconnect structure between the sidewall spacer and the outer sidewall spacer on the same side of the gate immediately after removing the sacrificial sidewall spacers. Once the source/drain through-holes are filled with a conductive material to form contact vias, the height of the contact vias shall be same as the height of the gate. The contact through-holes, which establish the electrical connection between a subsequent first layer of metal wiring and the source/drain regions or the gate region at a lower level in the local interconnect structure, shall be made in the same depth.
US08987135B2

A method of forming a metal semiconductor alloy that includes forming an intermixed metal semiconductor region to a first depth of a semiconductor substrate without thermal diffusion. The intermixed metal semiconductor region is annealed to form a textured metal semiconductor alloy. A second metal layer is formed on the textured metal semiconductor alloy. The second metal layer on the textured metal semiconductor alloy is then annealed to form a metal semiconductor alloy contact, in which metal elements from the second metal layer are diffused through the textured metal semiconductor alloy to provide a templated metal semiconductor alloy. The templated metal semiconductor alloy includes a grain size that is greater than 2× for the metal semiconductor alloy, which has a thickness ranging from 15 nm to 50 nm.
US08987132B2

Multiple injections of molten solder are employed to form double solder bumps having outer layers that melt at lower temperatures than the inner portions thereof. During a flip chip assembly process, the reflow temperature is above the melting temperature of the outer layers and below the melting temperature of the inner portions of the solder bumps. As the inner portions of the solder bumps do not collapse during reflow, a flip chip assembly can be made at relatively low temperatures and have a high stand-off height. A structure having double solder bumps facilitates flip chip assembly.
US08987127B2

The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising: forming a gate stacked structure on a silicic substrate; depositing a Nickel-based metal layer on the substrate and the gate stacked structure; performing a first annealing so that the silicon in the substrate reacts with the Nickel-based metal layer to form a Ni-rich phase of metal silicide; performing an ion implantation by implanting doping ions into the Ni-rich phase of metal silicide; performing a second annealing so that the Ni-rich phase of metal to silicide is transformed into a Nickel-based metal silicide source/drain, and meanwhile, forming a segregation region of the doping ions at an interface between the Nickel-based metal silicide source/drain and the substrate. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device according to the present invention performs the annealing after implanting the doping ions into the Ni-rich phase of metal silicide, thereby improving the solid solubility of the doping ions and forming a segregation region of highly concentrated doping ions, thus the SBH between the Nickel-based metal silicide and the silicon channel is effectively reduced, and the driving capability of the device is improved.
US08987124B2

A silicon carbide substrate having a main face is prepared. By applying thermal oxidation to the main face of the silicon carbide substrate at a first temperature, an oxide film is formed on the main face. After the oxide film is formed, heat treatment is applied to the silicon carbide substrate at a second temperature higher than the first temperature. An opening exposing a portion of the main face is formed at the oxide film. A Schottky electrode is formed on the main face exposed by the opening.
US08987123B2

After the completion of the transport of a semiconductor wafer into a chamber, the flow rate of nitrogen gas supplied into the chamber is decreased. In this state, a preheating treatment and flash irradiation are performed. The flow rate of nitrogen gas supplied into the chamber is increased when the temperature of the front surface of the semiconductor wafer is decreased to become equal to the temperature of the back surface thereof after reaching its maximum temperature by the irradiation of the substrate with a flash of light. Thereafter, the supply flow rate of nitrogen gas is maintained at a constant value until the semiconductor wafer is transported out of the chamber. This achieves the reduction in particles deposited on the semiconductor wafer while suppressing adverse effects resulting from the nonuniform in-plane temperature distribution of the semiconductor wafer.
US08987110B2

A fabrication method for a semiconductor device structure is provided. The device structure has a layer of silicon and a layer of silicon dioxide overlying the layer of silicon, and the method begins by forming an isolation recess by removing a portion of the silicon dioxide and a portion of the silicon. The isolation recess is filled with stress-inducing silicon nitride and, thereafter, the silicon dioxide is removed such that the stress-inducing silicon nitride protrudes above the silicon. Next, the exposed silicon is thermally oxidized to form silicon dioxide hardmask material overlying the silicon. Thereafter, a first portion of the silicon dioxide hardmask material is removed to reveal an accessible surface of the silicon, while leaving a second portion of the silicon dioxide hardmask material intact. Next, silicon germanium is epitaxially grown from the accessible surface of the silicon.
US08987102B2

Methods of forming a metal silicide region in an integrated circuit are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of forming a metal silicide region in an integrated circuit includes forming a silicide-resistive region in a first region of a substrate, the substrate having the first region and a second region, wherein a mask layer is deposited atop the substrate and patterned to expose the first region; removing the mask layer after the silicide-resistive region is formed in the first region of the substrate; depositing a metal-containing layer on a first surface of the first region and a second surface of the second region; and annealing the deposited metal-containing layer to form a first metal silicide region in the second region.
US08987101B2

A method of forming strained source and drain regions in a P-type FinFET structure is disclose. The method comprises depositing an isolation layer on the FinFET structure; applying a lithography and etching process to expose the isolation layer in two areas on opposite sides of the gate over the source/drain region of the FinFET, and etching through the exposed isolation layer to expose the semiconductive material of the source/drain region in the two areas; forming a recess in each of the source/drain region from the exposed semiconductive material; selectively epitaxially growing another semiconductive material in the recesses to increase the source/drain strain; and removing the rest of the isolation layer.
US08987099B2

The present disclosure provides a method for making an integrated circuit in one embodiment. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate having an active region and a first gate stack disposed on the semiconductor substrate in the active region; forming in-situ phosphorous-doped silicon carbide (SiCP) features on the semiconductor substrate and disposed on sides of the first gate stack; replacing the first gate stack with a second gate stack having a high k dielectric material layer; and thereafter performing a millisecond annealing (MSA) process with a thermal profile having a first thermal wavelet and a second thermal wavelet.
US08987098B2

The technology relates to a damascene word line for a three dimensional array of nonvolatile memory cells. Partly oxidized lines of material such as silicon are made over a plurality of stacked nonvolatile memory structures. Word line trenches are made in the partly oxidized lines, by removing the unoxidized lines from the intermediate parts of the partly oxidized lines, leaving the plurality of oxidized lines at the outer parts of the plurality of partly oxidized lines. Word lines are made in the word line trenches over the plurality of stacked nonvolatile memory structures.
US08987097B2

High performance thin-film, transistors are entirely processed at temperatures not exceeding 150° C., using amorphous multi component dielectrics based on the mixture of high band gap and high dielectric constant (K) materials. The sputtered or ink jet printed mixed dielectric materials such as Ta2O5 with SiO2 or Al2O3 or HfO2 with SiO2 or Al2O3 are used. These multicomponent dielectrics allow producing amorphous dielectrics to be introduced in high stable electronic devices with low leakage currents, while preserving a high dielectric constant. This results in producing thin film transistors with remarkable electrical properties, such as the ones produced based on Ga—In—Zn oxide as channel layers and where the dielectric was the combination of the mixture Ta2O5:SiO2, exhibiting field-effect mobility exceeding 35 cm2 V−1 s−1, close to 0 V turn-on voltage, on/off ratio higher than 106 and subthreshold slope below 0.24 V dec−1.
US08987095B2

The disclosure relates to integrated circuit fabrication and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device with a high-k gate dielectric layer. An exemplary structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate and a gate structure disposed over the substrate. The gate structure comprises a dielectric portion and an electrode portion that is disposed over the dielectric portion, and the dielectric portion comprises a carbon-doped high-k dielectric layer on the substrate and a carbon-free high-k dielectric layer adjacent to the electrode portion.
US08987093B2

Method of forming multi-gate finFETs with epitaxially-grown merged source/drains. Embodiments of the invention may include forming a plurality of semiconductor fins joined by a plurality of inter-fin semiconductor regions, depositing a sacrificial gate over a center portion of each of the plurality of fins, forming a first merge layer over a first end of each of the plurality of fins to form a first merged fin region, forming a second merge layer over the second end of each of the plurality of fins to form a second merged fin region, etching a portion of the first merged fin region to form a first source/drain base region, etching a portion of the second merged fin region to form a second source/drain base region, forming a first source/drain region on the first source/drain base region, and forming a second source/drain region on the second source/drain base region.
US08987085B2

A method of forming an integrated circuit includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a metallization layer over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the metallization layer comprises a metal feature in a low-k dielectric layer and extending from a top surface of the low-k dielectric layer into the low-k dielectric layer, performing a treatment to the low-k dielectric layer to form a hydrophilic top surface, and plating a cap layer on the metal feature in a solution.
US08987082B2

A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a sacrificial layer above a semiconductor layer. Portions of the sacrificial layer are selectively removed to define a first set of spaced apart sacrificial fins over a first region of the semiconductor layer, and a second set of spaced apart sacrificial fins over a second region of the semiconductor layer. An isolation trench is formed in the semiconductor layer between the first and second regions. The isolation trench and spaces are filled with a dielectric material. The first and second sets of sacrificial fins are removed to define respective first and second sets of fin openings. The first set of fin openings is filled to define a first set of semiconductor fins for a first conductivity-type transistor, and the second set of fin openings is filled to define a second set of semiconductor fins for a second conductivity-type transistor.
US08987076B2

A method of manufacturing a transistor with suppressed characteristic variations caused by gate current, and a method of manufacturing an amplifier using such a transistor are provided. The transistor includes a SiC substrate, an AlGaN barrier layer, and a GaN buffer layer grown on the SiC substrate, a source electrode and a drain electrodes located on the AlGaN barrier layer, and a gate electrode connected to the AlGaN barrier layer via a Schottky junction. In a burn-in step, a gate voltage is applied to the transistor to cause a drain current Id to flow, and a drain voltage is applied to the transistor to heat the transistor to reduce the gate current of the transistor compared to the gate current before the burn-in.
US08987069B1

A substrate with two SiGe regions having different Germanium concentrations and a method for making the same. The method includes: providing a substrate with at least two active regions; epitaxially depositing a first SiGe layer over each active regions; epitaxially depositing a Silicon layer over each SiGe layer; epitaxially depositing a second SiGe layer over each Silicon layer; forming a hard mask over the second SiGe layer of one of the active regions; removing the epitaxially deposited second SiGe layer of the unmasked active region, removing the hard mask, and thermally mixing the remaining Silicon and SiGe layers of the active regions to form a new SiGe layer with uniform Germanium concentration for each of the active regions, where the new SiGe layer with uniform Germanium concentration of one of the at least two active regions has a different concentration of Germanium than the new SiGe layer with uniform Germanium concentration of the other SiGe layer.
US08987066B2

A processing unit comprises a plurality of individual integrated circuits (ICs) electrically connected to one another via a common configuration of electrical interconnects (e.g., through-silicon vias). At least two of the ICs may be configured for a different function. In some examples, the processing unit is formed by selecting the ICs from stored groups of ICs. The stored ICs can be, for example, modular ICs in that the ICs can be mixed and matched in any suitable number or type in order to meet a particular set of functional requirements for the processing unit, which may depend on the application for the processing unit. Electrical coupling of these individual ICs via the electrical interconnects of the ICs results in a single processing unit that is configured to perform functions specifically suited for a particular application or set of applications.
US08987063B2

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device of a thin resin sealed multichip rectangular package having wire connection between the chips, wherein: at least one chip is fixed to a die pad thinned more than a die pad support lead, the die pad is supported by die pad support leads arranged to respectively connect a pair of long sides of the rectangle, and sealing resin is introduced from one side of the pair of long sides when resin molding is performed.
US08987049B2

A method is provided for fabricating a thin-film transistor (TFT). The method includes forming a semiconductor layer over a gate insulator that covers a gate electrode, and depositing an insulator layer over the semiconductor layer, as well as etching the insulator layer to form a patterned etch-stop without losing the gate insulator. The method also includes forming a source electrode and a drain electrode over the semiconductor layer and the patterned etch-stop. The method further includes removing a portion of the semiconductor layer beyond the source electrode and the drain electrode such that a remaining portion of the semiconductor layer covers the gate insulator in a first overlapping area of the source electrode and the gate electrode and a second overlapping area of the drain electrode and gate electrode.
US08987047B2

A thin film transistor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an oxide semiconductor. A source electrode and a drain electrode face each other. The source electrode and the drain electrode are positioned at two opposite sides, respectively, of the oxide semiconductor. A low conductive region is positioned between the source electrode or the drain electrode and the oxide semiconductor. An insulating layer is positioned on the oxide semiconductor and the low conductive region. A gate electrode is positioned on the insulating layer. The insulating layer covers the oxide semiconductor and the low conductive region. A carrier concentration of the low conductive region is lower than a carrier concentration of the source electrode or the drain electrode.
US08987046B2

Non-volatile storage elements having a reversible resistivity-switching element and techniques for fabricating the same are disclosed herein. The reversible resistivity-switching element may be formed by depositing an oxygen diffusion resistant material (e.g., heavily doped Si, W, WN) over the top electrode. A trap passivation material (e.g., fluorine, nitrogen, hydrogen, deuterium) may be incorporated into one or more of the bottom electrode, a metal oxide region, or the top electrode of the reversible resistivity-switching element. One embodiment includes a reversible resistivity-switching element having a bi-layer capping layer between the metal oxide and the top electrode. Fabricating the device may include depositing (un-reacted) titanium and depositing titanium oxide in situ without air break. One embodiment includes incorporating titanium into the metal oxide of the reversible resistivity-switching element. The titanium might be implanted into the metal oxide while depositing the metal oxide, or after deposition of the metal oxide.
US08987045B2

Memory devices having a plurality of memory cells, with each memory cell including a phase change material having a laterally constricted portion thereof. The laterally constricted portions of adjacent memory cells are vertically offset and positioned on opposite sides of the memory device. Also disclosed are memory devices having a plurality of memory cells, with each memory cell including first and second electrodes having different widths. Adjacent memory cells have the first and second electrodes offset on vertically opposing sides of the memory device. Methods of forming the memory devices are also disclosed.
US08987041B2

Certain embodiments provide method for manufacturing a solid-state imaging device, including forming an electrode and forming a second impurity layer. The electrode is formed on a semiconductor substrate including a first impurity layer of a first conductivity type on a surface. The second impurity layer is a second conductivity type and is formed by implanting an impurity of a second conductivity type into the first impurity layer in an oblique direction with respect to the surface of the semiconductor substrate on the condition that the impurity penetrates an end portion of the electrode, based on a position of the electrode. The second impurity layer is bonded to the first impurity layer to constitute a photodiode, and a portion of the second impurity layer is disposed under the electrode.
US08987033B2

A method includes forming a blocking layer over a substrate, and etching the blocking layer to form a trench in the blocking layer. A dielectric layer is formed, wherein the dielectric layer comprises a first portion over the blocking layer, and a second portion in the trench. After the step of forming the dielectric layer, an implantation is performed to implant an impurity into the substrate to form a deep well region. After the implantation, the dielectric layer and the blocking layer are removed.
US08987026B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type layer, a light emitting layer, a p-type layer, and a transparent electrode. The n-type layer includes a nitride semiconductor and has a thickness not more than 500 nm. The light emitting layer is provided on the n-type layer. The p-type layer is provided on the light emitting layer and includes a nitride semiconductor. The transparent electrode contacts the n-type layer. The n-type layer is disposed between the transparent electrode and the light emitting layer.
US08987011B2

A method for determining the structure of a transistor having at least one first layer including GaN, one second layer including AlxGa1-xN disposed on the first layer, and one fourth layer including a metal or an alloy disposed on the second layer. The method includes setting the layer thickness of the second layer, setting the aluminum content x of the second layer, producing at least the second layer and the first layer, determining the surface potential of formula (I) and/or the charge carrier density n, and/or the charge carrier motility μ after producing the second layer and the first layer, and selecting the material of the fourth layer as a function of the at least one measurement result.
US08987010B1

Systems and methods are provided for developing usable chip images in order to detect and screen defects or anomalies in a manufacturing environment. More specifically, a method is provided for manufacturing at least one wafer or chip. The method includes obtaining image data of the at least one wafer or chip. The method further includes correcting the image data to remove normal variation within the image data. The method further includes comparing the corrected image data to image data for at least one other wafer or chip to determine whether the corrected image data for the at least one wafer or chip shows a defect or anomaly beyond that of the normal variation. The method further includes placing the at least one wafer or chip into a category of fabrication based on the comparison.
US08987006B2

A magnetic junction usable in a magnetic memory and a method for providing the magnetic memory are described. The method includes providing a pinned layer, providing an engineered nonmagnetic tunneling barrier layer, and providing a free layer. The pinned layer and the free layer each include at least one ferromagnetic layer. The engineered nonmagnetic tunneling barrier layer has a tuned resistance area product. In some aspects, the step of providing the engineered nonmagnetic tunneling barrier layer further includes radio-frequency depositing a first oxide layer, depositing a metal layer, and oxidizing the metal layer to provide a second oxide.
US08987000B2

Provided is a heat dried reagent composition that is dry, methods of making it, and methods of using it. The heat dried reagent composition can be characterized by one or more of stability to the heat drying conditions; storage stability of the heat dried reagent composition; fast rehydration time; rapid assay kinetics; and assay precision. The reagent composition is useful detecting and/or assessing free chlorine in an aqueous sample, such as pool water.
US08986995B2

The present invention provides a method of generating definitive endoderm, mesoderm, or ectoderm cells. The method includes culturing embryonic stem cells, parthenogenetic cells, or induced pluripotent stem cells in the presence of a demethylation agent, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, or a combination thereof, and thereafter, culturing the stem cells in the absence of the agent or combination of agents, to produce definitive endoderm cells, mesoderm, or ectoderm cells.
US08986988B2

The present invention provides systems for cell separation based on cell rolling on surfaces along edges of regions coated with cell adhesion molecules. A variety of designs of coated regions and edges are disclosed.
US08986980B2

A technique is provided for a structure. A substrate has a nanopillar vertically positioned on the substrate. A bottom layer is formed beneath the substrate. A top layer is formed on top of the substrate and on top of the nanopillar, and a cover layer covers the top layer and the nanopillar. A window is formed through the bottom layer and formed through the substrate, and the window ends at the top layer. A nanopore is formed through the top layer by removing the cover layer and the nanopillar.
US08986975B2

A method of producing sulfur-free nanoparticles involves growing yeast in a growth medium containing a source of an element in a bio-reducible oxidation state (e.g. Se(Vl), and, precipitating nanoparticles containing the element in a lower oxidation state (e.g. Se(O)) than the oxidation state of the element in the source. The method advantageously can provide substantially spherical nanoparticles at high production efficiencies.
US08986969B2

The present invention relates to polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase I activity and polynucleotides having a nucleotide sequence which encodes for the polypeptides. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the nucleic acid constructs as well as methods for producing and using the polypeptides.
US08986964B2

The present disclosure relates to methods and compositions for engineering photoautotrophic organisms to convert carbon dioxide and light into fatty acid esters and other molecules, including biofuels. The molecules are then secreted by the organism into a growth medium.
US08986959B2

The present invention provides for a novel system and method for amplification and detection of nucleic acids within a microfluidic device wherein multiple nucleotides capable of priming PCR are present within the system and substantially sequestered within separate hydrogel posts therein.
US08986958B2

Provided herein are compositions and kits for single-stranded nucleic acid probes, and methods for making the single-stranded nucleic acid probes, where the single-stranded nucleic acid probes comprise a probe region having a predetermined sequence which is flanked by a 5′ region having a first restriction enzyme recognition sequence and flanked by a 3′ region having a second restriction enzyme recognition sequence, and a region which hybridizes to a capture nucleic acid molecule. The single-stranded nucleic acid probes are useful for solution-based capture methods.
US08986952B2

[Task] To provide an anti-human NGF antibody or an antigen-binding fragment thereof that is excellent in safety by reducing the risk of side effects such as effects on a fetus and thrombus formation while maintaining high neutralizing activity, and to provide means for preventing or treating various diseases in which human NGF is involved in the formation of pathological conditions, by using the antibody or the antibody-binding fragment thereof.[Means for Resolution] An anti-human NGF antibody Fab′ fragment comprising a heavy-chain variable region consisting of an amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO:6 and a light-chain variable region consisting of an amino acid sequence shown by SEQ ID NO:4.
US08986946B2

The invention relates to a method for real-time detection of viable microorganisms comprising: a. addition of a cell-permeable, phototautomeric compound to a micro-organism or other living cell; and b. measuring the fluorescent emission of said phototautomeric compound. Preferably the phototautomeric compound is salicylic acid, 2-hydroxy-1-naphtoic acid or 1-hydroxy-2-naphtoic acid. Further, the assay can he used to assess the antibiotic effect of a test compound. This test can be used as a high—throughput screening for compounds with antibiotic activity. Also part of the invention is the use of a cell permeable phototautomeric compound in a method for determining the viability of micro-organisms and for assessing the antibiotic effect of a test compound.
US08986938B2

A compound selected from the group consisting of 4-quinolone and derivatives thereof, homoserine lactone derivatives, and indole and derivatives thereof, and salts thereof have an action of a microbial activity improvement agent, and when it is used for a microbial activity improvement method and a biological waste treatment method, the compound or the salt thereof is useful to achieve the improvement in the treatment capacity that transcends the limit of improvement in the treatment capacity of conventional biological waste treatment facilities.
US08986932B2

The invention relates to devices and methods for nanopore sequencing. The invention includes compositions and methods of nucleic acid sequencing using a single polymerase enzyme complex comprising a polymerase enzyme and a template nucleic acid attached proximal to a nanopore, and nucleotide analogs in solution comprising charge blockade label that are attached to the polyphosphate portion of the nucleotide analog such that the charge blockade labels are cleaved when the nucleotide analog is incorporated into a growing nucleic acid and the charge blockade label is detected by the nanopore to determine the presence and identity of the incorporated nucleotide and thereby determine the sequence of a template nucleic acid.
US08986931B2

Methods of detecting two or more nucleic acids in a multiplex branched-chain DNA assay are provided. Different nucleic acids are captured through cooperative hybridization events on different, identifiable subsets of particles or at different selected positions on a spatially addressable solid support. Compositions, kits, and systems related to the methods are also described.
US08986918B2

The present invention relates to a hybrid photoresist composition for improved resolution and a pattern forming method using the photoresist composition. The photoresist composition includes a radiation sensitive acid generator, a crosslinking agent and a polymer having a hydrophobic monomer unit and a hydrophilic monomer unit containing a hydroxyl group. At least some of the hydroxyl groups are protected with an acid labile moiety having a low activation energy. The photoresist is capable of producing a hybrid response to a single exposure. The patterning forming method utilizes the hybrid response to form a patterned structure in the photoresist layer. The photoresist composition and the pattern forming method of the present invention are useful for printing small features with precise image control, particularly spaces of small dimensions.
US08986915B2

According to one embodiment, a toner includes at least one encapsulated particle containing a color developable compound, color developer and a color eraser and polymeric particles. The at least one encapsulated particle and the polymeric particles being aggregated and fused in dispersion liquid.
US08986913B2

According to one embodiment, a method of inspecting a mask substrate for defects, includes acquiring a defocus image of a partial region of a mask substrate using a dark-field optical system, acquiring a just-focus image of the partial region using the dark-field optical system, generating a set composed of first signals obtained from the defocus image and having signal intensities equal to or higher than a first threshold value, excluding, from the set, the first signals pertaining to parts in which signal intensities of signals obtained from the just-focus image are equal to or higher than a second threshold value, determining an inspection threshold value for signal intensities, on the basis of the first signals not excluded from, and remaining in, the sea.
US08986911B2

A composite mask suitable for multiple-patterning lithographic processes and a multiple-patterning photolithographic process utilizing the mask are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment includes receiving a mask having a plurality of sub-reticles and a substrate having one or more regions. A first sub-reticle of the plurality of sub-reticles is aligned with a first region of the one or more regions. A movement pattern is designated relative to the substrate. A first photolithographic process is performed including exposing the substrate using the mask to form a first exposed area on the substrate. An alignment of the mask relative to the substrate is shifted according to a first direction determined by the movement pattern. A second photolithographic process is performed including exposing the substrate using the mask to form a second exposed area on the substrate such that the second exposed area overlaps the first.
US08986908B2

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an anode for a fuel cell. The method includes: synthesizing a fuel cell catalyst used to oxidize a fuel for the anode in an electrochemical manner; forming an electrode for the anode by use of the synthesized fuel cell catalyst; and synthesizing an electrolysis catalyst, which is used to electrolyze water, on the electrode as the electrolysis catalyst is loaded into the anode. By introducing the electrolysis catalyst on the fuel cell electrode that has already been formed, deformation of the structure of the electrode is minimized and performance of the electrode is improved.
US08986907B2

Provided is a porous electrode substrate having high mechanical strength, good handling properties, high thickness precision, little undulation, and adequate gas permeability and conductivity. Also provided is a method for producing a porous electrode substrate at low costs. A porous electrode substrate is produced by joining short carbon fibers (A) via mesh-like of carbon fibers (B) having an average diameter of 4 μm or smaller. Further provided are a membrane-electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that use this porous electrode membrane. A porous electrode substrate is obtained by subjecting a precursor sheet, in which short carbon fibers (A) and short carbon fiber precursors (b) having an average diameter of 5 μm or smaller have been dispersed, to carbonization treatment after optional hot press forming and optional oxidization treatment.
US08986906B2

The present invention provides a method for preparing nanoporous Pt/TiO2 composite particles, nanoporous Pt/TiO2 composite particles prepared by the above preparation method, and a fuel cell comprising the nanoporous Pt/TiO2 composite particles. The nanoporous Pt/TiO2 composite particles according to the present invention have a catalytic effect similar to that of commercially available Pt/carbon black and, thus, can be applied to a fuel cell.
US08986902B2

A pair of gaskets is integrally formed with seal lips corresponding to each other and extending in the longitudinal direction of the gasket, and side portions disposed on either sides or one side of the seal lip and having a height lower than that of the seal lip. The plate-shaped attachment member includes a through-hole provided at a position where the side portions of the pair of gaskets communicate with each other so as to be formed therethrough in the thickness direction, and the pair of gaskets is integrally formed through the through-hole. An opening shape of the through-hole is set to be an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction of the gasket so as to make a width dimension of each of the side portions as small as possible.
US08986892B2

A separator includes a non-woven fabric substrate having pores, fine thermoplastic powder located inside the pores of the non-woven fabric substrate, and a porous coating layer disposed on at least one surface of the non-woven fabric substrate. The fine thermoplastic powder has an average diameter smaller than that of the pores and a melting point lower than the melting or decomposition point of the non-woven fabric substrate. The porous coating layer includes a mixture of inorganic particles and a binder polymer whose melting point is higher than the melting or decomposition point of the fine thermoplastic powder. In the porous coating layer, the inorganic particles are fixedly connected to each other by the binder polymer and the pores are formed by interstitial volumes between the inorganic particles. Previous filling of the large pores of the non-woven fabric substrate with the fine thermoplastic powder makes the porous coating layer uniform.
US08986891B2

An electricity-storing device electrode includes a current collector foil, an active material layer formed on a surface of the current collector foil, and a high-resistance layer formed on the surface of the current collector foil so as to be adjacent to and in direct contact with the active material layer. At at least a portion of the interface between the active material layer and the high-resistance layer, mixed phase is formed where constituents from the two layers intermingle.
US08986885B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a lithium ion battery which is excellent in properties at large current and can be applied to applications requiring high output power even when the mixture layers are made thick. The present invention provides a lithium ion battery including a positive electrode including a positive electrode mixture layer formed on a current collector, a negative electrode including a negative electrode mixture layer formed on a current collector and an electrolyte, the positive electrode and the negative electrode being disposed through the intermediary of a separator, wherein the positive electrode includes as a positive electrode active material a lithium composite oxide represented by LiNiaMnbCOcMdO2 (in the formula, M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Fe, V, Ti, Cu, Al, Sn, Zn, Mg, B and W, a+b+c+d=1, 0.2≦a≦0.8, 0.1≦b≦0.4, 0≦c≦0.4 and 0≦d≦0.1), the negative electrode includes graphite as a negative electrode active material, the interlayer distance (d002) of the graphite is 0.335 nm or more and 0.338 nm or less, the one-side thickness A (μm) of the positive electrode mixture layer is 60 or more and 85 or less, the product A×B between the one-side thickness A and the density B (g/cm3) of the positive electrode mixture layer is 160 or more and 220 or less, the one-side thickness C (μm) of the negative electrode mixture layer is 40 or more and 75 or less, and the product C×D between the one-side thickness C and the density D (g/cm3) of the negative electrode mixture layer is 65 or more and 105 or less.
US08986882B2

The present invention relates to a current collector including a base portion with a flat face, primary projections projecting from the flat face, and secondary projections projecting from the top of the primary projections. The present invention also relates to a current collector including a base portion with a flat face and primary projections projecting from the flat face, wherein the roughening rate of the top of the primary projections is 3 to 20. By using such a current collector, separation of the active material from the current collector can be inhibited when using an active material that has a high capacity but undergoes a large expansion at the time of lithium ion absorption.
US08986881B2

An energy storage element, wherein a non-aqueous electrolyte contains lithium difluorobis(oxalato)phosphate that is a first additive represented by Formula (1): and lithium tetrafluorooxalatophosphate that is a second additive represented by Formula (2): wherein the amount of the first additive to be added is not less than 0.3% by weight and not more than 1.0% by weight based on the total weight of the non-aqueous electrolyte, and the amount of the second additive to be added is not less than 0.05 times and not more than 0.3 times the amount of the first additive to be added.
US08986880B2

A nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes: an electrode group including a positive electrode and a negative electrode; and a nonaqueous electrolyte including an electrolytic solution, the electrode group including an insulating layer, the insulating layer containing a ceramic, the electrolytic solution including an electrolyte salt and an additive, the electrolyte salt including the compound of formula (1), and the additive being at least one of the compounds of formulae (2) to (14), and the compound of formula (1) being contained in 0.001 mol/L to 2.5 mol/L with respect to the electrolytic solution.
US08986877B2

A battery (100) provided by the invention includes an electrode assembly (30) having a current collector forming a positive electrode and a current collector forming a negative electrode; and a flat terminal (10a, 10b) joined to each current collector. The flat terminal (10a, 10b) has a flat portion (12) including a joint area (11) joined to the corresponding the current collector, and the flat terminal has a first curved portion (14) that is formed away from the joint area along the longitudinal direction (13) of the flat terminal.
US08986874B2

A wound electrode body is fabricated by laminating and winding positive and negative electrode sheets together with a separator therebetween for insulation. On both positive and negative electrode side ends of the wound electrode body, laminates of current-collecting foil layered portions of the electrode sheets are bent or folded f toward the outer peripheral side to be separated into two. The separated laminates and forked connector leaves are overlapped and clamped between an ultrasonic chip and an anvil. Then, they are welded. The forked connector leaves are arranged such that no opposing forked connector leaf is present in the direction of a line normal to the forked connector leaf, so that the anvil does not have to be cantilevered. This allows welding by using the ultrasonic chip and the anvil without interfering with the collector rs. As a result, the quality of welding is improved.
US08986868B2

In one aspect, a rechargeable battery for efficiently controlling a composite thickness on both edges of a coated unit when an uncoated region on an edge of an electrode plate is used for an electrode assembly is provided. The rechargeable battery can include: an electrode assembly including electrodes with opposite polarities on both ends of a separator; and an electrode terminal connected to the electrode assembly wherein the electrode includes a coated unit coated with a composite on an electrode plate and an uncoated region set on an edge of the electrode plate exposed on the coated unit.
US08986861B2

An electricity accumulation device includes an electricity accumulation element, an outer jacket material configured to house the electricity accumulation element, and a deformation sensor disposed on an expansive surface of the outer jacket material. The deformation sensor includes a sensor membrane having a base material made of an elastomer or a resin and conductive fillers filling the base material, the sensor membrane being subjected to bending deformation along with expansion of the outer jacket material, and a pair of electrodes connected to the sensor membrane. A three-dimensional conductive path is formed in the sensor membrane through contact between the conductive fillers. An electric resistance is increased along with an increase in amount of deformation of the sensor membrane from a natural state. The electricity accumulation device senses expansion of the outer jacket material on the basis of variations in electric resistance along with bending deformation of the sensor membrane.
US08986857B2

Provided is a novel compound which can be used for a transport layer or as a host material or a light-emitting material in a light-emitting element and with which a high-performance light-emitting element can be manufactured. A dibenzo[c,g]carbazole compound in which an aryl group having 14 to 30 carbon atoms and including at least anthracene is bonded to nitrogen of a dibenzo[c,g]carbazole derivative is synthesized. By use of the dibenzo[c,g]carbazole compound, a light-emitting element having very good characteristics can be obtained.
US08986851B2

A heat shielding material and method for manufacturing thereof is provided. The method for manufacturing the heat shielding material, includes: providing a tungsten oxide precursor solution containing a group VIII B metal element; drying the tungsten oxide precursor solution to form a dried tungsten oxide precursor; and subjecting the dried tungsten oxide precursor to a reducing gas at a temperature of 100° C. to 500° C. to form a composite tungsten oxide. The heat shielding material includes composite tungsten oxide doped with a group I A or II A metal and halogen, represented by MxWOy or MxWOyAz, wherein M refers to at least one of a group I A or II A metal, W refers to tungsten, O refers to oxygen, and A refers to a halogen element. The heat shielding material also includes a group VIII B metal element.
US08986840B2

Polycrystalline ultra-hard materials and compacts comprise an ultra-hard material body having a polycrystalline matrix of bonded together ultra-hard particles, e.g., diamond crystals, and a catalyst material disposed in interstitial regions within the polycrystalline matrix. The material microstructure is substantially free of localized concentrations, regions or volumes of the catalyst material or other substrate constituent. The body can include a region extending a depth from a body working surface and that is substantially free of the catalyst material. The compact is produced using a multi-stage HPHT process, e.g., comprising two HPHT process conditions, wherein during a first stage HPHT process the catalyst material is melted and only partially infiltrates the precursor ultra-hard material, and during a second stage further catalyst material infiltrates the precursor ultra-hard material to produce a fully sintered compact.
US08986838B2

Elastic and ultra-lightweight hollow carbon fine particles and a method for producing such hollow carbon fine particles are to be provided. In the method, fine droplets are formed from a mixed solution containing a water soluble organic substance and lithium carbonate; composite fine particles of the water soluble organic substance and the lithium carbonate are prepared by drying the fine droplets formed from the mixed solution; and the composite fine particles are decomposed at a temperature in a range of 500° C. to 900° C.
US08986837B2

A method for preparing precipitated silica includes the reaction of sodium metabisulfite or sodium sulfite with sand, wherein a) sand is mixed with sodium metabisulfite or sodium sulfite; b) the mixture thus obtained is melted to produce solid sodium silicate and sulfurous anhydride; c) the solid sodium silicate is dissolved in water to provide a sodium silicate aqueous solution, d) the sulfurous anhydride is reacted with the sodium silicate aqueous solution to provide a mixture containing precipitated silica; and e) the precipitated silica is separated from said mixture.
US08986819B2

A non-catalytic palladium precursor composition is disclosed, including a palladium salt and an organoamine, wherein the composition is substantially free of water. The composition permits the use of solution processing methods to form a palladium layer on a wide variety of substrates, including in a pattern to form circuitry or pathways for electronic devices.
US08986817B2

A plunger for fuel injection assembly is provided. The plunger includes a nitrided surface. The nitrided surface includes a damaged area. An electroless material is coated on the damaged area.
US08986812B2

Presently described are optical films, such as a brightness enhancing film, having a polymerized microstructured surface disposed on a preformed polymeric film wherein the film has a thickness of no greater than 3 mils and the polymerized microstructured surface consists of the reaction product of a substantially non-brominated polymerizable resin composition.
US08986810B2

Ballistic resistant composite articles that are resistant to both backface deformation and ballistic penetration. Multiple composites are attached to each other such that fibers in each adjacent composite are oriented at different angles. Each composite has an areal density of at least about 100 g/m2 wherein the areal density of the strike face composite is greater than half of the total areal density of overall multi-composite article.
US08986804B2

A narrow prepreg sheet 20N is bonded along a ridge C, and wide prepreg sheet 20W is bonded to other portions, whereby the wide prepreg sheet 20W having no cut line is bonded to both side portions of the ridge C.In a portion in which a spar 10 is curved, the narrow prepreg sheet 20N is bonded in an axial direction of the spar 10 while divided into plural pieces, and a length of the narrow prepreg sheet 20N is adjusted according to a radius of curvature of the curved portion in the axial direction of the spar 10, whereby various radii of curvature are easily dealt with.
US08986797B2

Composite article includes a generally cylindrical body having an internal grid structure interleaved with casing layers formed of reinforcing fibers disposed in a resin matrix. The composite article may be utilized in a fan case containment system for aircraft engine applications. Methods for fabricating the composite article are also provided.
US08986793B2

A method of producing a metal element of an electronic device on a substrate, including the steps of: forming a mixture of a material comprising metal atoms with a liquid, depositing the material from the liquid mixture onto a substrate, and then irradiating at least part of the deposited material with light to increase the electrical conductivity of the deposited material. A method of producing one or more elements of an electronic device, including the steps of: providing a substrate including one or more underlying elements of the electronic device and a thermally patternable layer overlying said one or more underlying elements; and using said one or more underlying elements to locally generate heat and thereby selectively induce a change in corresponding portions of said thermally patternable layer; and wherein either the change selectively induced in said corresponding portions directly results in the definition of one or more elements of the electronic device in a position determined by that of said one or more underlying elements, or alternatively including the additional step of using the change selectively induced in said one or more corresponding portions to facilitate the formation of one or more elements of the electronic device in a position determined by that of said one or more underlying elements. A method of producing an element of an electronic device, including the steps of: (a) providing a substrate; (b) depositing on said substrate a layer of a switchable material, which changes its physical or chemical properties upon irradiation with light or heating causing a change of its surface energy properties; (c) irradiatively inducing at selected regions of a layer of switchable material a change in physical or chemical properties that alters the surface energy of said selected regions and thereby forming a surface energy pattern on its surface; and (d) without removing said layer of switchable material in either irradiated selected regions or non-irradiated regions from the substrate depositing over the surface energy pattern produced in step (c) a material for forming an element of the electronic device such that the surface energy pattern controls the deposition of said material.
US08986791B2

The present invention relates to aqueous coating compositions having low gloss for treating natural or synthetic leather. These aqueous coating compositions contain one or more water soluble poly(ethylene oxide) resins having the general formula [—CH2CH2O—]n and one or more polymer binders.
US08986787B2

The invention relates to a method for producing a coating, in regions, on a substrate, said coating being based on a formulation, in the form of an active color-change motif, which contains bacteriorhodopsin color-changing pigment, and to coatings produced using a method of this type and to articles having coatings of this type. Here, the method comprises the following steps: a) printing of the substrate with the formulation, in the form of a motif, containing bacteriorhodopsin color-changing pigment; b) partial drying of the printed substrate; c) optionally repetition of steps a) and/or b); calendering of the printed and partially dried substrate; e) complete drying of the coating.
US08986781B2

With the subject invention, a method is provided for preparing a filter membrane including the steps of dispersing a liquid which is generally hydrophobic into the pores of a porous membrane, and applying a solution containing lipids onto at least a first surface of the porous membrane containing the liquid. Advantageously, the subject invention allows for filter membranes to be prepared which can be stored for periods of time without degradation in performance. The subject invention may have applicability in various contexts, but is well-suited for preparing filter membranes for permeability screening, particularly Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeability Assay (PAMPA).
US08986774B2

An expanded food product made using supercritical fluid extrusion is disclosed. The food product comprises particular characteristics that demonstrate a light, porous, crispy texture has been obtained.
US08986771B2

A dendritic emulsifier for forming an oil-in-water emulsion includes an anhydride-modified phytoglycogen or glycogen-type material. A method of preparing an oil-in-water emulsion includes: (a) combining oil, water, and a dendritic emulsifier; and (b) mixing a combination of the oil, water, and dendritic emulsifier. A method of preparing a dendritic emulsifier includes reacting an anhydride with a phytoglycogen or glycogen-type material in solution, thereby forming an anhydride-modified phytoglycogen or glycogen-type material.
US08986770B2

Shown is a process for manufacturing a fabricated leaf tea product. The process includes the steps of: (i) providing a concentrated liquid tea composition; (ii) providing a base leaf tea; (iii) combining the concentrated liquid tea composition with the base leaf tea to form a tea mixture having a total soluble solids content of at least 50% by dry weight of the mixture; and (iv) drying the tea mixture. At least 20% by weight of the base leaf tea has a particle size of +16 mesh and/or the tea mixture is sorted according to particle size to yield a fraction wherein at least 20% by weight of the fraction has a particle size of +16 mesh; and the time between forming the tea mixture (step iii) and drying (step iv) is at least 5 minutes.
US08986767B2

An additive manufacturing system for printing a chocolate confection, the system comprising a platen, a print head, and a cartridge configured to be removably secured to the print head, wherein the cartridge contains a supply of the chocolate material.
US08986765B2

A carbonated beverage container includes a bottle having a flexible sidewall of generally circular cross section, a cap for closing a top opening of the bottle, pairs of coupling elements provided on diametrically opposite portions of the sidewall respectively and configured to be pushed towards each other and couple together, thereby partially collapsing the bottle and expelling a predetermined amount of air therefrom. A method of preserving the taste of carbonated beverage in a container is also disclosed.
US08986762B2

A sealed capsule contains a beverage ingredient in powder form, in particular, ground coffee. The capsule comprises a base body (4) and a foil member (5) tightly attached to the base body (4), the foil member (5) being made from a material allowing the production of a multitude of perforations in the foil member (5) when the foil member (5) is thrust, via the pressure caused by injecting a liquid or a liquid/gas mix into the capsule, against a relief plate of a beverage production machine, wherein the capsule is provided with a flow control porous member (80), the flow control porous member (80) being positioned between at least a portion of ingredients (3) and the foil member (5). The flow control porous member provides a faster and more consistent flow of the liquid extract through the capsule and significantly reduces the resurgence of non-soluble solids.
US08986759B2

The present invention relates to a method to increase the growth velocity of a human infant, said method comprising the enteral administration to said infant of recombinant human bile-salt-stimulated lipase (rhBSSL). Such method has particular utility for underweight or preterm human infants, particular those in medical need of increasing their growth velocity. The invention also relates to compositions, including infant feeds, kits, packaged-pharmaceutical-products and pharmaceutical compositions, and also to methods to prepare infant feeds. In another aspect, the present invention relates to methods to: (X) protect the small bowel mucosa of a human infant from damage; to (Y) protect an immature intestinal epithelium of a human infant from the deleterious effects of incompletely digested and/or excess fat and/or lipid; and/or to (Z) limit accumulation of incompletely digested and/or excess fat and/or lipid in the ileum of a human infant; said methods in each case comprising the step of enteral administration of rhBSSL.
US08986753B2

A beverage composition for weight loss is provided which includes cayenne pepper; a palate enhancing agent selected from the group consisting of fruits, herbs, vegetables and mixtures thereof, the agent including pulp of the fruits, the herbs, the vegetables or the mixtures thereof; a least two spices selected from the group consisting of black or white pepper, ginger, cinnamon, mustard seed and mixtures thereof; and water in an amount from 80 to 99% by weight of the composition; and wherein the composition has a total calorie content from 0 to 100 based on 100 gram of the composition.
US08986750B2

The present invention provides a use of traditional Chinese medicine composition for manufacturing a health food or medicament for preventing and alleviating physical fatigue. The composition consists of 5-90 parts by weight of Radix Panacis Quinquefolii, 5-160 parts by weight of Ganoderma, 1-90 parts by weight of fermented Cordyceps sinensis powder and/or 1-120 parts by weight of Cordyceps, and these ingredients are made from Chinese crude drugs or from Chinese crude drug extracts in amounts equivalent to those of the Chinese crude drugs. The composition may further contain 5-90 parts by weight of Flos Rosae Rugosae. The present invention also relates to the use of said composition in the manufacture of prophylactic or therapeutic health foods or medicaments for reducing blood lipids, for resisting oxidation, and for enhancing anoxia endurance. The medicine composition of the present invention can be prepared into any conventional dosage forms by adding any pharmaceutically acceptable auxiliary agents.
US08986749B2

A pomegranate pulp extract is disclosed. The pomegranate pulp extract is effective in relieving women's menopausal symptoms, anxiety disorders, depression or attention deficit disorders due to the presence of a large amount of ellagic acid. Further disclosed is a method for further improving the relieving effect of the pomegranate extract on women's menopausal symptoms, anxiety disorders, depression or attention deficit disorders. The method includes increasing the content of ellagic acid in the pomegranate extract.
US08986745B2

There is provided a skin rejuvenation composition which comprises at least one oxidant, at least one photoactivator capable of activating the oxidant, and at least one healing factor chosen from hyaluronic acid, glucosamine and allantoin, in association with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08986741B2

A sunscreen composition for application for plants comprises Titanium Dioxide (TiO2), Zinc Oxide (ZnO), Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), a surfactant, wetting agent, dispersant (SWD) and water. The composition forms a suspension concentrate when combined that when diluted in water provides a solution that provides uniform coverage using convention spraying equipment. A method of protecting plants including turfgrass from ultraviolet radiation, heat stress and/or sunburn comprises combining TiO2, ZnO, SiO2, SWD and water to form a suspension concentrate. The suspension concentrate is then diluted in water and applied to an area in which sun protection is desired.
US08986739B2

Urinary incontinence is treated by administration of pharmaceutical compositions containing at least one nitrone spin trap such as α-phenyl t-butyl nitrone (PBN) and derivatives thereof. Preferred compositions and methods of treatment further comprise at least one adjunctive ingredient including fatty acid esters of ascorbic acid such as ascorbyl palmitate and ascorbyl stearate, and polyenylphosphatidylcholine.
US08986738B2

A medical aid for the direct transport of at least one drug into lung regions of a patient, wherein provided as the carrier for at least one active substance is at least one semifluorinated alkane in which the at least one active substance is purely physically dissolved in a homogeneous phase.
US08986731B2

Pharmaceutical pegylated liposomal formulations for photodynamic therapy are presented. The pegylated liposomal formulation provides therapeutically effective amounts of the photosensitizer for intravenous administration. At least one of the phospholipids in the liposomes has been linked with poly ethylene glycol (PEG) as an integral part of the phospholipids. The formed pegylated liposomes contain the hydrophobic photosensitizer within the lipid bilayer membrane. Pegylation of liposomes carrying the hydrophobic photosensitizer helps to maintain the drug level within the therapeutic window for longer time periods and provides the drug a longer circulating half life in vivo. Further the pegylated formulation of hydrophobic photosensitizers shows improved pharmacokinetics over standard non-liposomal formulations thus enhancing the efficacy of PDT with the pegylated liposomal formulations.
US08986723B2

A composition comprising (a) a non-aqueous pourable fluid, (b) droplets dispersed in said pourable fluid (a), wherein said droplets comprise (i) a non-aqueous continuous phase that is a solid or that is a liquid of high viscosity and (ii) solid particles dispersed in said continuous phase (i), wherein said solid particles (ii) have median size as measured by the largest dimension of 100 micrometers or less, and wherein said solid particles (ii) comprise one or more cyclopropene compound and one or more molecular encapsulating agent. Also, a method of treating plants or plant parts involving bringing such a composition into contact with plants or plant parts.
US08986720B2

Disclosed is a topical skin care composition and corresponding methods for its use comprising water, a cationic surfactant, an occlusive skin conditioning agent, a humectant skin conditioning agent, and a silicone containing compound. The composition is dermatologically acceptable and is capable of moisturizing skin for at least twelve hours after topical application to skin even after multiple washings of the skin.
US08986715B2

Methods and compositions for stimulating the growth of hair are disclosed wherein said compositions include a cyclopentane heptanoic acid, 2-cycloalkyl or arylalkyl compound represented by the formula I wherein the dashed bonds represent a single or double bond which can be in the cis or trans configuration, A, B, Z, X, R1 and R2 are as defined in the specification. Such compositions are used in treating the skin or scalp of a human or non-human animal. Bimatoprost is preferred for this treatment.
US08986702B2

Provided herein are various processes for the improved production of antibody producing organisms, antibody producing tissues, antibody producing cells and antibodies. In certain embodiments, provided herein are methods for rapidly producing antibody producing organisms, tissues, cells and antibodies derived from humans, organisms, plants or cells that are genetically altered to over-express certain proteins.
US08986693B1

The invention describes methods of treating erosive polyarthritis comprising administering a TNFα antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof. The invention also describes a method for testing the efficacy of a TNFα antibody, or antigen-binding portion thereof, for the treatment of erosive polyarthritis.
US08986687B2

The present invention is concerned with compounds inhibiting CD95 signaling in pancreatic cancer cells. Furthermore, contemplated by the current invention are medicaments comprising such a compound for the prevention and/or treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as the use of such a compound for the manufacture of a medicament for the prevention and/or treatment of pancreatic cancer, the prevention of migration of cancer cells, and/or the prevention and/or treatment of an inflammatory reaction. The present invention also refers to a method for the identification of a compound inhibiting CD95 signaling, as we to a method for the manufacture of a medicament comprising the steps of the method for the identification of a compound inhibiting CD95 signaling and the further step of formulating the inhibiting compound as a medicament.
US08986680B2

Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
US08986676B2

The present invention provides methods for inducing differentiation of an embryonic stem cell into a motor neuron using a motoneuronotrophic factor (MNTF) or its peptide analogs. The present invention further provides a method for isolating a population of stem cell derived motor neurons and a population of cells comprising the differentiated neural cells. Additionally, the present invention is directed to a method of enhancing the survival of the differentiated neural cells in long term cell cultures. Finally, the present invention provides compositions containing MNTF or its peptide analogs for therapeutic use in conjunction with stem cells.
US08986674B2

The present invention concerns methods and compositions for the treatment of cancer and cancer cells using altered poxviruses, including a vaccinia virus that has been altered to generate a more effective therapeutic agent. Such poxviruses are engineered to be attenuated or weakened in their ability to affect normal cells. In some embodiments, methods and compositions involve poxviruses that possess mutations that result in poxviruses with diminished or eliminated capability to implement an antiviral response in a host. Poxviruses with these mutations in combination with other mutations can be employed for more effective treatment of cancer.
US08986673B2

The invention relates to the field of nucleic acid amplification, particularly to quality control materials for use in viral RNA assays. It specifically relates to the construction of a recombinant Pestivirus by the identification of a region in the 3′NTR of the viral RNA genome where additional sequence elements can be stably inserted. Chimeric Pestivirus with sequence insertions in the 3′ nontranslated region (3′NTR) of the viral RNA genome were stable in replication and capable of forming infectious, RNase resistant virus particles. This chimeric Pestivirus with a 3′NTR insertion can be utilized as a quality control material in analytical assays for RNA targets, including external, internal controls, quantitative standards in PCR and NAT nucleic acid assays.
US08986663B2

Described are skin care compositions comprising an aqueous dispersion comprising a metallocene catalyzed polyolefin, an ethylene acrylic acid copolymer, or a combination thereof.
US08986662B2

Disclosed is the use of silane and siloxane bis(biphenyl)triazine derivatives of formula (1), wherein n is a number from 1 to 4; if n=1, X is *-L-Sil; or a radical of formula (11′), L is a linker selected from a radical of formula (2); R1, R2, R3 independently from each other are C1-C22alkyl; C6-C20aryl; C1-C22alkoxy; or O—C6-C20aryl; R4, R5, R6 and R7 independently from each other are hydrogen; C1-C22alkyl; C6-C20aryl; C1-C22alkoxy; or O—C6-C20aryl; b is a number from 0 to 30; c is a number from 0 to 6; and d is a number from 0 to 1; p is a number from 1 to 250; q is a number from 0 to 250; and Sil, Sil1 and Sil2 independently from each other are a silane-, oligosiloxane or polysiloxane moiety; if n=2, X is a bivalent radical of formula (1a); or (1b); x is a number from 2 to 250; y is a number from 0 to 250; and z is a number from 1 to 50; if n=3, X is a trivalent radical containing a silane-, oligosiloxane or polysiloxane moiety; If n=4, X is a tetravalent radical of formula (1c); and A is a radical of formula (111′) as UV absorbers.
US08986661B2

The invention relates to sun protection compositions for application on the skin, containing special polyurethanes and special sun filter combinations, and to the use of said polyurethanes and sun filter combinations for producing sun protection products.
US08986659B2

A diamond dust polishing agent for home use and professional use in the care of natural tooth enamel and dental veneers comprised of a quantity of diamond dust coated with a lubricant in conjunction with a paste for carrying the lubricant coated diamond dust, or other semi-precious, non-toxic abrasive dust, said diamond dust being of a size of approximately 500 nanometers or less to a size of approximately 5 nanometers. The size of the dust of both the diamond and the semi-precious stone may vary, depending on the degree of abrasiveness and the lubricant employed. The diamond dust (and semi-precious dust) polishing agent permits the user to maintain the polish and luster of the natural tooth enamel and veneer at home without adversely abrading or damaging the surface thereof.
US08986654B2

The present invention relates to certain labelled or un-labelled pyrrolyl-oxadizolyl-diazabicyclononane derivatives and their medical use. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of said derivatives in their labelled form in diagnostic methods, in particular for in vivo receptor imaging (neuroimaging).
US08986650B2

The present invention concerns a Ga68 complex of formula FOLATE-(LINKER)i-NOTA-Ga68 in which: 1) FOLATE is a folate compound or a derivative thereof capable of targeting a folate receptor, 2) NOTA is a chelate capable of complexing Ga68 having a NOTA scaffold or derivatives thereof 3) LINKER is a chemical group linking FOLATE and NOTA 4) i is an integer chosen between 0 and 1 wherein NOTA is complexing Ga68.
US08986648B2

The present invention relates to a method for continuously preparing mineral particles by means of the thermolysis of mineral precursors in an aqueous medium, comprising contacting: a reactive flow, including mineral precursors at a temperature lower than the conversion temperature thereof; and a heat transfer flow that is countercurrent to said reactive flow and contains water at a temperature that is sufficient to bring the precursors to a temperature higher than the conversion temperature thereof, the mixture flow that results from said reactive flow and said heat transfer flow then being conveyed into a tubular reactor, inside of which particles are formed by gradually converting the precursors, and where the reactive flow and the heat transfer flow are placed in contact with each other inside a mixing chamber, inside of which the reactive flow and the heat transfer flow are fed by supply pipes having outlet cross-sections that are smaller than the maximum cross-section of said mixing chamber. The invention also relates to a device for implementing said method.
US08986635B2

Methods are disclosed for reducing or preventing a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst disposed on a first substrate monolith in an exhaust system of a lean-burn internal combustion engine from becoming poisoned with platinum group metal (PGM) which may volatilize from a catalyst composition comprising PGM disposed on at least one second substrate monolith upstream of the SCR catalyst. The methods comprise adsorbing volatilized PGM in at least one PGM trapping material, which is disposed on a third substrate monolith disposed between the first substrate monolith and the second substrate monolith.
US08986617B2

An apparatus and method for processing different feeds in a fluid catalytic cracking unit are disclosed which result in improved yields of C3, C4 and gasoline range hydrocarbons as compared to conventional systems. The process comprises injecting a main hydrocarbon feed into a catalyst-containing riser reactor through a plurality of main feed injectors, and injecting a light hydrocarbon feed into the riser reactor at a location upstream from the main feed injectors and downstream from a control valve such as a regenerated catalyst slide valve, the light feed being injected in a region having a high density of catalyst particles. The light feed is injected in a dispersed way such the amount of feed injected corresponds to the density of catalyst particles at that particular point, with greater amounts of feed being injected at locations having a large number of catalyst particles. Also, a heavy hydrocarbon feed or a heavy recycle stream from the same FCC unit can be injected at the same elevation as the main feed injectors but through separate injectors.
US08986615B1

A molecular concentrator comprising a thermal ratchet for driving molecules from one place to another. A plurality of conducting wires are arranged on or suspended above a substrate. Each of the wires is configured to strongly sorb a vapor of interest when the wire is at room temperature and to rapidly desorb the vapor when the wire is at an elevated temperature. By selectively heating and cooling the wires, vapor molecules incident on the wires can be directed in a desired manner, e.g., from the wires closest to the vapor-containing environment to a sensor.
US08986611B2

A sample analysis apparatus configured to automatically press a start button upon installation of a sample tube is provided. The sample analysis apparatus includes: a body of the sample analysis apparatus; a door housing which may be provided in an opened state or a closed state, and configured to be coupled to the body of the sample analysis apparatus by a hinge; a tube accommodating unit included in the door housing and configured to accommodate the sample tube; a start button included in the body of the sample analysis apparatus and configured to start analysis of the sample; and an operating member positioned at a first position which is distant from the start button the sample tube is not installed in the tube accommodating unit, and a second position which is configured to operate the start button when a sample tube is installed and the door housing is closed.
US08986608B2

Sterilization of medical devices can be performed by stacking packages containing the medical devices. The packages are arranged in a partially-overlapping orientation which is at an oblique angle to the direction of irradiation. The partially-overlapping orientation and oblique angle are predetermined for high sterilization throughput and tight control of irradiation. Instead arranging the packages directly on a sterilization platform at a sterilization facility, the packages can be stacked in the partially-overlapping orientation into a transport box at a location remote from the sterilization facility. The transport box maintains the orientation of the packages. Thereafter, the transport container is placed on the sterilization platform, which results in greater uniformity in radiation exposure while maintaining a high level of sterilization throughput.
US08986601B2

A method of ironmaking using full-oxygen hydrogen-rich gas which includes hot transferring and hot charging the high-temperature coke, sinter and pellet into the ironmaking furnace through transferring and charging device, and injecting oxygen and hydrogen-rich combustible gas at a predetermined temperature into the ironmaking furnace through the oxygen tuyere and the gas tuyere disposed at the ironmaking furnace, respectively. It also provides an apparatus for ironmaking using full-oxygen hydrogen-rich gas which includes a raw material system, a furnace roof gas system, a coke oven gas injecting system, a dust injecting system, a slag dry-granulation and residual heat recovering system and an oxygen system. Additionally an apparatus and method for hot transferring and hot charging of ironmaking raw material is disclosed.
US08986596B2

A method of preparing particles comprises forming by optical lithography a topographic template layer disposed on a surface of a substrate, which is suitable for spin casting. The template layer comprises a non-crosslinked template polymer having a pattern of independent wells therein for molding independent particles. Spin casting a particle-forming composition onto the template layer forms a composite layer comprising the template polymer and the particles disposed in the wells. The composite layer is removed from the substrate using a stripping agent that dissolves the template polymer without dissolving the particles. The particles are then isolated.
US08986571B2

The present invention aims to provide lithium composite compound particles which can exhibit good cycle characteristics and an excellent high-temperature storage property when used as a positive electrode active substance of a secondary battery, and a secondary battery using the lithium composite compound particles. The present invention relates to lithium composite compound particles having a composition represented by the compositional formula: Li1+xNi1−y−z−aCoyMnzMaO2, in which the lithium composite compound particles have an ionic strength ratio A (LiO−/NiO2−) of not more than 0.5 and an ionic strength ratio B (Li3CO3+/Ni+) of not more than 20 as measured on a surface of the respective lithium composite compound particles using a time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer.
US08986570B2

The present invention discloses a method for producing a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery constituted by a lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese complex oxide with a lamellar structure, the method including: (1) a step of preparing a starting source material for producing the complex oxide including a lithium supply source, a nickel supply source, a cobalt supply source, and a manganese supply source; (2) a step of pre-firing the starting source material by heating at a pre-firing temperature that has been set to a temperature lower than 800° C. and higher than a melting temperature of the lithium supply source; and (3) a step of firing the pre-fired material obtained in the pre-firing step by raising a temperature to a temperature range higher than the pre-firing temperature.
US08986567B2

Disclosed is a magnetic body composition, including a resin and a magnetic nanoparticle, the magnetic nanoparticle including an oxide of at least one kind of metal selected from the group composed of Ga, Zn, and Sn and an FeCo oxide.
US08986555B2

A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board having a bump is disclosed. The method includes preparing a first carrier having a first circuit formed thereon, compressing the first carrier to one surface of an insulation layer such that the first circuit is buried, stacking an etching resist on the first carrier in accordance with where the bump is to be formed and forming the bump by etching the first carrier. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the difference in height between a bump and its adjacent bump in a printed circuit board can be reduced, and thus electrical connection between an electronic component and the printed circuit board can be better implemented.
US08986544B2

A filter cartridge has a shell defining an upper portion with an upper interior volume and a lower portion with a lower interior volume. The cartridge is for use in gravity-fed water treatment systems having an upper untreated supply and a lower filtered container. A hydrophilic porous particulate carbon powder block filter in a polymeric binder is disposed in the cartridge. The filter has a central opening and is open on both ends. The top end of the block is fitted with an air vent tube. The lower end of the block is fitted into a rubber gasket to direct water flow into the lower container. As water flows through the filter cartridge, air is vented through the block filter central opening and out through the vent tube.
US08986543B2

A chromatography column distribution system (101) comprises a set of first bed support ribs (107) extending radially from a inner, first radial position (R1) near the centre of the plate to a outer radial position nearer to the periphery (109) of the plate and at least one set of intermediate bed support ribs (117, 119) starting at an intermediate radial position (R2, R3) and extending to an outer radial position nearer to the periphery (109) of the plate (101), whereby channels are formed between adjacent bed support ribs (107, 117, 119). The desired local effective channel height is intended to vary in accordance with a predetermined formula from said first radial position (R1) to said outer radial position, and in accordance with the present invention the transverse cross-sectional areas of said ribs (107, 117, 119) or said channels are adapted such that the actual local effective channel height is within 15% of the desired local effective channel height over portions of the distribution system situated between said first radial position (R1) and said outer radial position, wherein the total length of said portions correspond to at least 80% of the distance between said first radial position (R1) and said outer radial position.
US08986542B2

A device and method for making a microfluidic separation device. A microfluidic separation device could include a microfluidic column having an inlet, the microfluidic column being configured to hold a first fluid and the microfluidic column including a porous portion, and an outlet attached to the microfluidic column, the outlet being configured to output a second fluid. The method may include providing a microfluidic column having an inlet, configuring the microfluidic column to hold a first fluid, forming a porous portion in the microfluidic column, and attaching an outlet to the microfluidic column.
US08986538B2

A cutting fluid filtering device having a filter washing function drives a pump to supply a cutting fluid to a filter when the fluid level of a tank that stores the cutting fluid filtered by the filter becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined height. In addition, the cutting fluid filtering device issues an instruction to execute washing of the filter when the operation times of the pump are totalized and the total value becomes equal to or longer than a preset washing operation interval time of the filter.
US08986532B2

Methods for the photoreduction of molecules are provided. The methods use diamond having a negative electron affinity as a photocatalyst, taking advantage of its ability to act as a solid-state electron emitter that is capable of inducing reductions without the need for reactants to adsorb onto its surface. The methods comprise illuminating a fluid sample comprising the molecules to be reduced and hydrogen surface-terminated diamond having a negative electron affinity with light comprising a wavelength that induces the emission of electrons from the diamond directly into the fluid sample. The emitted electrons induce the reduction of the molecules to form a reduction product.
US08986530B2

Embodiments of analysis systems, electrophoresis devices, and associated methods of analysis are described herein. In one embodiment, a method of analyzing a sample containing an electrolyte includes sequentially introducing a leading electrolyte, a sample electrolyte, and a trailing electrolyte into a extraction channel carried by a substrate. The extraction channel has a constriction in cross-sectional area. The method also includes applying an electrical field to separate components of the sample electrolyte into stacks and to concentrate the separated components by forcing the sample electrolyte to migrate through the constriction in the extraction channel. Thereafter, the applied electrical field is removed and the separated and concentrated components of the sample are detected in a detection channel carried by the substrate.
US08986525B2

A device for sensing a property of a fluid comprising a first substrate having formed thereon a sensor configured in use to come into contact with a fluid in order to sense a property of the fluid, and a wireless transmitter for transmitting data over a wireless data link and a second substrate having formed thereon a wireless receiver for receiving data transmitted over said wireless link by said wireless transmitter. The first substrate is fixed to or within said second substrate. Additionally or alternatively, the device comprises a first substrate defining one or more microfluidic structures for receiving a fluid to be sensed and a second substrate comprising or having attached thereto a multiplicity of fluid sensors, the number of sensors being greater than the number of microfluidic structures. The second substrate is in contact with the first substrate such that at least one of the sensors is aligned with the or each microfluidic structure so as to provide an active sensor for the or each structure, and such that one or more of the sensors is or are not aligned with any microfluidic structure and is or are thereby redundant.
US08986524B2

A nanodevice includes a reservoir filled with conductive fluid and a membrane separating the reservoir. A nanopore is formed through the membrane having electrode layers separated by insulating layers. A certain electrode layer has a first type of organic coating and a pair of electrode layers has a second type. The first type of organic coating forms a motion control transient bond to a molecule in the nanopore for motion control, and the second type forms first and second transient bonds to different bonding sites of a base of the molecule. When a voltage is applied to the pair of electrode layers a tunneling current is generated by the base in the nanopore, and the tunneling current travels via the first and second transient bonds formed to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base. The motion control transient bond is stronger than first and second transient bonds.
US08986521B2

Disclosed is a segmented contact bar for use boarding an electrolytic cell. The segmented contact bar has contact pieces made of electrically conductive material and being in spaced apart relation along the capping board, each of the contact pieces defining a segment for supporting and electrically connecting an anode and a cathode in the electrolytic cell. The segmented contact bar also has connection members including an insulating material and provided in between pairs of adjacent segments for providing insulating interconnection of the segments. There is also an electrolytic refining apparatus including adjacent electrolytic cells; a capping board positioned on the adjacent electrolytic cells; anodes and cathodes extending in spaced apart alternate positions into the each of the adjacent electrolytic cells along the capping boards; and a segmented contact bar.
US08986515B2

A combined production-functionalization process for producing a chemically functionalized nano graphene material from a pre-intercalated, oxidized, or halogenated graphite material, comprising: (A) Producing exfoliated graphite from the pre-intercalated, oxidized, or halogenated graphite material, wherein the graphite material is selected from the group consisting of natural graphite, artificial graphite, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, carbon fiber, graphite fiber, carbon nano-fiber, graphitic nano-fiber, meso-carbon micro-bead, graphitized coke, and combinations thereof; (B) Dispersing the exfoliated graphite and an azide or bi-radical compound in a liquid medium to form a suspension; (C) Subjecting the suspension to ultrasonication with ultrasonic waves of a desired intensity for a length of time sufficient to produce nano graphene platelets and to enable a chemical reaction to occur between the nano graphene platelets and the azide or bi-radical compound to produce the functionalized nano graphene material.
US08986512B2

Provided in this invention is a process for producing chemically functionalized nano graphene materials, known as nano graphene platelets (NGPs), graphene nano sheets, or graphene nano ribbons. Subsequently, a polymer can be grafted to a functional group of the resulting functionalized graphene. In one preferred embodiment, the process comprises a step of mixing a starting nano graphene material having edges and two primary graphene surfaces, an azide or bi-radical compound, and an organic solvent in a reactor, and allowing a chemical reaction between the nano graphene material and the azide compound to proceed at a temperature for a length of time sufficient to produce the functionalized nano graphene material.
US08986510B2

It is intended to provide a method whereby a target to be analyzed can be easily decomposed in a micro region and a decomposition apparatus. In the decomposition method of decomposing the target to be analyzed and the decomposition apparatus, the target is allowed to coexist with a microparticle and then the microparticle is put into the high-energy state. Then, the target located in the vicinity of the surface of the microparticle is decomposed due to the energy transfer from the high-energy microparticle toward the target. Thus, the target can be easily decomposed in a micro region.
US08986508B2

A thermal desalination system adapted to produce distilled water from feed water which may be sea water, based on a forward feed evaporator made up of a main water feed line, a vapor feed line, a distilled water main line and any number of effect groups. The effect groups include any number of effects which in turn include vapor inlets, water inflow lines, concentrate outflow lines that drain into a common concentrate drainage line, a vapor and water outlet in fluid communication with the distilled water main line, and heat transfer means that condense part of an inlet vapor to produce the distilled water.
US08986502B2

A photodegradable paper including cellulose fibers and, if applicable, fillers, additives and/or other kind of fibers is described. Also described, is a paper particularly in the field of packaging, tissue papers or cigarettes.
US08986501B2

A method for treating a cellulosic material comprising extracting the cellulosic material with an extractant to selectively extract hemicellulose therein and separating the extracted hemicellulose to form a cellulosic product comprising less hemicellulose than the cellulosic material. The extractant comprises an amine oxide and a non-solvent. The cellulosic product retains the cellulosic fiber morphology.
US08986500B2

The arrangement and method for the steam pre-treatment of chips during the production of cellulose pulp avoids the blow-through of gases in the steam pre-treatment vessel. This prevents foul-smelling gases from being released into the atmosphere. The inlet of the vessel has an inclined feeder device in a feeder-housing. In the event of the initiation of the risk for blow-through of steam, the feeder housing is sprayed with cooling liquid in order to increase condensation capacity of the chips being fed into the vessel. Ultimately the feeder housing is filled with liquid that establishes a liquid lock, and preferably at the same time as the feeder drive (M) is shut off. This avoids the emission of gases from the chip bin when interruptions in the process occur so that the release of odors into the surroundings is minimized.
US08986492B2

A method for forming an array area with a surrounding periphery area, wherein a substrate is disposed under an etch layer, which is disposed under a patterned organic mask defining the array area and covers the entire periphery area is provided. The patterned organic mask is trimmed. An inorganic layer is deposited over the patterned organic mask where a thickness of the inorganic layer over the covered periphery area of the organic mask is greater than a thickness of the inorganic layer over the array area of the organic mask. The inorganic layer is etched back to expose the organic mask and form inorganic spacers in the array area, while leaving the organic mask in the periphery area unexposed. The organic mask exposed in the array area is stripped, while leaving the inorganic spacers in place and protecting the organic mask in the periphery area.
US08986486B2

The present invention relates to a film for semiconductor device production, which includes: a separator; and a plurality of adhesive layer-attached dicing tapes each including a dicing tape and an adhesive layer laminated on the dicing tape, which are laminated on the separator at a predetermined interval in such a manner that the adhesive layer attaches to the separator, in which the separator has a cut formed along the outer periphery of the dicing tape, and the depth of the cut is at most ⅔ of the thickness of the separator.
US08986485B2

A fabrication method of a touch panel is provided. In the fabrication method, the two substrates are provided, and a plurality of touch units are formed on each of the substrates. A sealant and a plurality of first spacers are provided between the substrates, and the substrates are bonded through the sealant, so that the touch units are sealed between the substrates. The touch units and the first spacers are surrounded by the sealant. The substrates are thinned. The thinned substrates are cut into a plurality of sub-mounts separated from one another. Each of the sub-mounts has one of the touch units thereon.
US08986483B2

A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes panels having sheet metal outer side walls and polymer inner side walls. The polymer inner side walls are heat-sealed to a layer of polymer material laminated to a flat sheet metal blank to form vacuum cavities. The blank is then bent along fold lines to form a cabinet structure.
US08986482B2

A composite part is formed by a composite tape application machine that lays up a plurality of tapes on a substrate. The lateral position of the tapes may be adjusted as the tapes are being laid up.
US08986480B2

In an assembly station a carcass sleeve and an outer sleeve manufactured along respective building lines are mutually coupled. Integrated into the assembly station are engagement devices that can be alternatively coupled to an auxiliary drum carrying an outer sleeve and to a building drum carrying a carcass sleeve. A grip unit picks up the outer sleeve from the auxiliary drum associated with the engagement devices in order to position it to a location radially external to the carcass sleeve carried by the building drum associated with the engagement devices in place of the auxiliary drum. Shaping devices that can be operatively coupled to the building drum cause radial expansion of the carcass sleeve so as to enable the latter to be coupled to the outer sleeve retained by the grip unit.
US08986472B2

The present invention is directed at metal alloys that are capable of forming spinodal glass matrix microconstituent structure. The alloys are iron based and include nickel, boron, silicon and optionally chromium. The alloys exhibit ductility and relatively high tensile strengths and may be in the form of sheet, ribbon, wire, and/or fiber. Applications for such alloys are described.
US08986471B2

A high strength and high thermal conductivity copper alloy tube contains: Co of 0.12 to 0.32 mass %; P of 0.042 to 0.095 mass %; and Sn of 0.005 to 0.30 mass %, wherein a relationship of 3.0≦([Co]−0.007)/([P]−0.008)≦6.2 is satisfied between a content [Co] mass % of Co and a content [P] mass % of P, and the remainder includes Cu and inevitable impurities. Even when a temperature is increased by heat generated by a drawing process, a recrystallization temperature is increased by uniform precipitation of a compound of Co and P and by solid-solution of Sn. Thus, the generation of recrystallization nucleuses is delayed, thereby improving heat resistance and pressure resistance of the high strength and high thermal conductivity copper alloy tube.
US08986470B2

A nickel material, which comprises by mass percent, C: 0.003 to 0.20% and one or more elements selected from Ti, Nb, V and Ta: a total content less than 1.0%, the contents of these elements satisfying the relationship specified by the formula of “(12/48) Ti+(12/93) Nb+(12/51) V+(12/181) Ta—C≧0”, with the balance being Ni and impurities, does not deteriorate in the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance even when it is used at a high temperature for a long time and/or it is affected by the heat affect on the occasion of welding. Therefore, it can be suitably used as a member for use in various chemical plants including facilities for producing caustic soda, vinyl chloride and so on. Each element symbol in the above formula represents the content by mass percent of the element concerned.
US08986465B2

A piston ring comprising upper face, a lower face, an inner perimeter wall, and an outer perimeter wall that extends around the piston ring from the upper face to the lower face, where the outer perimeter wall has upper corner region disposed adjacent the upper face, a lower corner region disposed adjacent the lower face, and a band of a nitrided conversion layer extending between the upper corner region and the lower corner region, and where a PVD nitride layer is disposed on the upper corner region and on the lower corner region.
US08986464B2

A semiconductor substrate includes: single crystal silicon; a mask material formed on a surface of the single crystal silicon and having an opening; a silicon carbide film formed on a portion exposed in the opening of the single crystal silicon; and a single crystal silicon carbide film formed so as to cover the silicon carbide film and the mask material. The mask material has a viscosity of 105 Pa·S or more and 1014.5 Pa·S or less in a temperature range of 950 to 1400° C.
US08986463B2

A dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, includes a domestic-appliance door which has at least one front operating panel and an internal door element. A seal is arranged at least in one area between the operating panel and the internal door element and includes a sealing element and a sealing bed, with the sealing element and the sealing bed forming a one-piece structural unit.
US08986462B2

A method for cleaning a water purifier comprising: a filtering unit; a water tank unit for storing purified water having passed through the filtering unit; and a discharging unit for discharging out the purified water stored in the water tank unit, the method comprises: a cleaning water supplying step of supplying cleaning water in which a cleaning agent is dissolved to the water tank unit; a cleaning water discharging step of discharging the cleaning water when a predetermined time has lapsed; a rinsing water supplying step of supplying rinsing water to the water tank unit when the cleaning water discharging step has been completed; and a rinsing water discharging step of discharging the rinsing water when a predetermined time has lapsed. In the method, cleaning and rinsing processes for a water purifier are automatically executed by a series of consecutive processes. Accordingly, a user can directly clean the water purifier if necessary without requiring a Codi's visit.
US08986459B2

A method of producing a sugar liquid includes concentrating an aqueous cellulose-derived sugar solution with a nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane, wherein the concentration is carried out after adding a water-soluble anionic polymer to the aqueous cellulose-derived sugar solution to remove a fermentation inhibitor(s) into a permeate side of the nanofiltration membrane and/or reverse osmosis membrane.
US08986457B2

An evaporation source assembly used for depositing film on a substrate is provided, the evaporation source assembly comprises: a body comprising a top element, a bottom element and side walls defining a hollow chamber together, the bottom element comprises a plurality of inlet openings communicating with the chamber; a plurality of nozzles located at the top element and communicate with the chamber; a plurality of evaporators for containing and evaporating the evaporating material, which are positioned below the body and correspond to inlet openings respectively; each evaporator has an opening through which the evaporators is connected with corresponding inlet openings; and a plurality of connecting pipes for connecting the opening of the evaporators with the inlet openings, the connecting pipes are tapered pipes with a broad top and a narrow bottom to improve the vapor pressure of the evaporating material in the body to reach pressure balance.
US08986451B2

Described is a linear batch CVD system that includes a deposition chamber, one or more substrate carriers, gas injectors and a heating system. Each substrate carrier is disposed in the deposition chamber and has at least one receptacle configured to receive a substrate. The substrate carriers are configured to hold substrates in a linear configuration. Each gas injector includes a port configured to supply a gas in a uniform distribution across one or more of the substrates. The heating system includes at least one heating element and a heating control module for uniformly controlling a temperature of the substrates. The system is suitable for high volume CVD processing of substrates. The narrow width of the deposition chamber enables a uniform distribution of precursor gases across the substrates along the length of the reaction chamber and permits a greater number of substrates to be processed in comparison to conventional deposition chambers.
US08986450B1

Generation of adhered materials in a space over a gas guide of a shower head is inhibited. A substrate processing apparatus includes a process chamber; a buffer chamber including a dispersion unit; a process gas supply hole installed in a ceiling portion of the buffer chamber; an inert gas supply hole installed in the ceiling portion; a gas guide disposed in a gap between the dispersion unit and the ceiling portion, the gas guide including a base end portion disposed at a side of the process gas supply hole, a leading end portion disposed closer to the inert gas supply hole than to the process gas supply hole, and a plate portion connecting the base end portion and the leading end portion; a process chamber exhaust unit; and a control unit.
US08986448B2

To provide a method of manufacturing a single crystal 3C-SiC substrate that can dramatically reduce surface defects generated in a processing of epitaxial growth and can secure a quality as a semiconductor device while simplifying a post process. The method of manufacturing a single crystal 3C-SiC substrate where a single crystal 3C-SiC layer is formed on a base substrate by epitaxial growth is provided. A first growing stage of forming the single crystal 3C-SiC layer to have a surface state configured with a surface with high flatness and surface pits scattering in the surface is performed. A second growing stage of further epitaxially growing the single crystal 3C-SiC layer obtained in the first growing stage so as to fill the surface pits is performed.
US08986446B2

This invention provides an Si doped GaAs single crystal ingot, which has a low crystallinity value as measured in terms of etch pit density (EPD) per unit area and has good crystallinity, and a process for producing the same. An Si-doped GaAs single crystal wafer produced in a latter half part in the growth of the Si doped GaAs single crystal ingot is also provided. A GaAs compound material is synthesized in a separate synthesizing oven (a crucible). An Si dopant is inserted into the compound material to prepare a GaAs compound material with the Si dopant included therein. The position of insertion of the Si dopant is one where, when the GaAs compound material is melted, the temperature is below the average temperature. After a seed crystal is inserted into a crucible for an apparatus for single crystal growth, the GaAs compound material with the Si dopant included therein and a liquid sealing compound are introduced into the crucible. The crucible is set in the apparatus for single crystal growth, where the mixture is heat melted and, while stirring the liquid sealing compound, the melt is solidified by a vertical temperature gradient method and the crystal is grown to prepare an Si doped GaAs single crystal ingot. In this case, an Si doped GaAs single crystal wafer is also produced in the latter half part of the growth of the ingot.
US08986436B2

The present invention relates to a new family of luminescent pigments consisting of a salt of two ruthenium(II) complex ions of opposite sign charges comprising N-chelating heterocyclic ligands and to their use in security applications to prevent counterfeiting. The invention also refers to ink compositions and to the security documents or secured goods comprising said luminescent pigments.
US08986430B2

Heat is removed from a process liquid of a direct contact condenser in waste gas cooling using two separate and distinct cooling devices that provide cooled process liquid to at least two separate sections in the direct contact condenser. Most preferably, the sections are liquidly isolated and provide the heated process liquids to the respective cooling devices. However, in other embodiments, the sections are liquidly coupled to each other so to allow transfer of the process liquid from one section to another section. One of the two cooling devices uses a lower-cost or higher-availability coolant that the other. It is generally preferred that one of the cooling devices is an air cooler and that another one of the cooling devices employs a cooling medium other than air.
US08986426B2

The invention relates to a method for operating a plant (100) for on-site production of medical gas, such as air or oxygen, comprising a main gas line (10) comprising, in series, a first vessel (A) for storing gas and a second vessel (B) for storing purified gas, and a secondary line (20) fluidically connected to the main line (10), downstream of the first vessel (A) for storing gas, and comprising a third vessel (C) for storing gas, the main gas line (10) and the secondary line (20) each supplying at least one gas consumer site (30), in particular a network of pipes in a hospital.
US08986425B2

A method for recovering rare earth compounds, vanadium and nickel from waste vanadium-nickel catalysts, comprising steps of: acid leaching, by soaking waste vanadium-nickel catalysts into a sulfuric acid solution and obtaining a mixture containing alumina silica slag; sedimentation, by filtering out the alumina silica slag from the mixture to obtain a filtrate, and then adding a salt into the filtrate to precipitate rare earth double salts followed by isolating a sediment of rare earth double salts and a liquid solution via filtration; and extraction, by providing and adding an alkali into the sediment of rare earth double salts followed by further soaking the rare earth double salts in an acid solution to precipitate rare earth oxalate or rare earth carbonate, and adding an oxidizer into the liquid solution to adjust the pH value thereof and then extracting vanadium and nickel from the liquid solution via an ion-exchange resin.
US08986418B1

An agricultural fertigation method includes the continuous charging of crop-quality-enhancer-feedstock comprised of one or more crop-quality enhancers (fertilizers, soil amendments and the like) to an irrigation system upstream of the agricultural field being irrigated. The crop-quality-enhancer-feedstock is diluted upon so charging to a level within the system solubility limits and the stream of flowing irrigation water dampens the resultant dissolution exotherm. A system wherein crop-quality enhancers are efficiently continuously fed to the irrigation system main line or a side-arm mixing chamber efficiently implements the method.
US08986417B1

An agricultural fertigation method includes the continuous charging of crop-quality-enhancer-feedstock comprised of one or more crop-quality enhancers (fertilizers, soil amendments and the like) to an irrigation system upstream of the agricultural field being irrigated. The crop-quality-enhancer-feedstock is diluted upon so charging to a level within the system solubility limits and the stream of flowing irrigation water dampens the resultant dissolution exotherm. A system wherein crop-quality enhancers are efficiently continuously fed to the irrigation system main line or a side-arm mixing chamber efficiently implements the method.
US08986416B2

The invention relates to a fertilizing compound for application to plants and crops, especially fruits, intended for increasing the amount of calcium and subsequently improving the state of health of the plants and the preservation thereof after harvesting. The compound consists of a combination of components such as calcium nitrate, calcium lignosulfonate, organic acids, menadione sodium bisulphite, amino acids and water. The compound is in the form of a liquid preparation, packed in containers of between 20 and 1000 liters, is water-soluble and is applied by fertigation, spraying or in a localized form by border irrigation.
US08986415B2

The present media is to be used with a particulate base having particles of a first maximum diameter for growing plants. The media includes granules which are of biodegradable recycled material and have a diameter relative to the first maximum diameter to penetrate further into the particulate base with each watering. The granules include plant nutrients and are of a material which coagulates after watering and adheres to the particulates of the base. The diameter of the granules may be in the range of 1/16 to ⅛ of an inch.
US08986412B2

A tube for the conduction or discharge of wet flue gases subjected to a scrubbing has a helically formed guide element on an inner surface of the tube and having a plurality of turns. A film trap is provided on the inner surface of the tube between adjacent turns of the guide element.
US08986409B2

An abrasive article includes a body having abrasive particles contained within a bond material. The abrasive particles can include a majority content of silicon nitride and a minority content of sintering material including at least two rare-earth oxide materials. In an embodiment, the rare-earth oxide materials can include Nd2O3 and Y2O3. In a particular embodiment, the abrasive particles comprise a content (wt %) of Nd2O3 that is greater than a content of Y2O3 (wt %).
US08986397B2

The present invention discloses an instrumented prosthetic foot for use with an actuated leg prosthesis controlled by a controller, the instrumented prosthetic foot comprising a connector to connect the instrumented prosthetic foot to the leg prosthesis, an ankle structure connected to the connector, a ground engaging member connected to the ankle, at least one sensor for detecting changes in weight distribution along the foot, and an interface for transmitting signals from the sensor to the controller.
US08986394B2

An artificial dura biomedical device and a brain surgery method utilizing the same are disclosed. The steps includes: fixing an artificial dura to a partial skull; and fixing the partial skull with the artificial dura to a cut hole of a whole skull. The artificial dura biomedical device includes an artificial dura and a connecting element. The connecting element fixes the partial skull with the artificial dura.
US08986389B2

A device to space vertebral members with first and second members that may have at least one ramped section. The first and second members may be positioned in a vertically overlapping arrangement with interior sides of the members facing together. The device may be positionable between a first orientation with the ramped section of the first member positioned away from the ramped section of the second member, and a second orientation with the ramped section of the first member positioned against the ramped section of the second member. The device may include a greater height measured between the exterior sides in the second orientation than in the first orientation.
US08986385B2

An expandable implant for treating bone preferably in a minimally invasive manner includes a preferably cylindrical core element extending along a longitudinal axis and preferably a plurality of nestable, expandable sleeves extending along a longitudinal axis for placement radially about the core element. The plurality of nestable sleeves are sequentially insertable over the core element in such a manner that a first nestable sleeve is inserted over the core element and each subsequently inserted nestable sleeve is received between the core element and the previously inserted nestable sleeve such that the insertion of each additional sleeve causes each previously inserted sleeve to outwardly expand.
US08986382B2

A system and method for securing an implantable medical device to an anatomical feature, such as bony structures and/or soft tissues near the spine. The system includes a tissue fixation device and a tissue fixation device delivery tool. The tissue fixation device includes at least one bone or tissue anchor and a connecting element coupled thereto. The tissue fixation device optionally includes a flexible anchoring strap for engaging the implantable medical device. The bone or tissue anchor are configured to be deployed into the anatomical feature, and the connecting element is tightened to secure the implantable medical device to the anatomical feature.
US08986367B2

A radially expandable stent comprising a plurality of spaced band-like elements and intersecting links is disclosed. The band-like elements have a generally serpentine configuration to provide continuous waves of generally sinusoidal character to each band-like element. The waves are characterized by a plurality of peaks and troughs taking a generally longitudinal direction along the cylinder such that the waves in the band-like elements open as the stent is expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter. The intersecting links are substantially U-shaped and terminate in first and second shanks. The first shank of a link emanates from a region between a peak and trough on a band-like element and the second shank of the link emanates from a region between a peak and trough on an adjacent band-like element.
US08986358B2

A method and system for controlling and adjusting light in interstitial photodynamic light therapy (IPDT) in a subject is disclosed. More particularly, a method for controlling the light in interstitial tumor photodynamic light therapy is described using a calculation method for determination of status of tissue during the PDT treatment. The status is used in a feedback loop to control the continued PDT treatment. Methods are disclosed that constitute pre-treatment and realtime dosimetry modules for IPDT on the whole prostate glandular tissue. The method includes reconstruction of the target geometry, optimization of source fiber positions within this geometry, monitoring of the light attenuation during the treatment procedure and updating individual fiber irradiation times to take into account any variation in tissue light transmission. A control device that is arranged to restrict delivery of therapeutic light treatment at least temporary in dependence of at least one attribute of one of photodynamic treatment parameters. In comparison to no treatment feedback, a significant undertreatment of the patient as well as damage to healthy organs at risk are avoided.
US08986348B2

The sacral-iliac joint between an iliac and a sacrum is fused either by the creation of a lateral insertion path laterally through the ilium, through the sacral-iliac joint, and into the sacrum, or by the creation of a postero-lateral insertion path entering from a posterior iliac spine of an ilium, angling through the sacral-iliac joint, and terminating in the sacral alae. A bone fixation implant is inserted through the insertion path and anchored in the interior region of the sacrum or sacral alae to fixate the sacral-iliac joint.
US08986344B2

A retractor assembly for defining a working channel to a surgical site for conducting minimally invasive spinal surgery includes a plurality of relatively articulable components. Temporary interconnections are formed between adjacent sidewalls of the components to hold the components in a desired configuration, such as in a closed triangular form. The components are articulable relative to each other for adjusting the working channel or for performing surgical functions.
US08986339B2

A dilatation balloon is fabricated according to a process that forms cavities and indentations in the balloon and/or catheter sections. A length of tubing is axially elongated and radially expanded in a form to provide the requisite biaxial orientation and strength. Then, an excimer laser or another type of laser or mechanical material removal tool is used to remove the polymeric material, virtually without thermal effects. Cavities in the sleeve sections of the balloon are defined and if desired, indentations in the cone sections are defined. Material removal, particularly near the balloon sleeves enables a thinner, more flexible bonding area between the catheter shaft and the balloon. Further, the indentations along the cone sections enables tighter wrapping of the balloon for a reduced delivery profile. Rigidity near the sleeves is reduced for better maneuverability of the catheter in tortuous passageways.
US08986334B2

A tissue removal device is disclosed. In one arrangement, the tissue removal device includes a cutting member operatively connected to an actuator assembly and a fixed member. The cutting member is configured to slide with respect to the fixed member in a reciprocating manner. The fixed member includes an upwardly extending foot plate that defines a contact surface that is configured with an uneven texture that serves as a grip to operatively retain material to be cut when the cutting member is moved toward the foot plate.
US08986315B2

An aiming arm can include at least a pair of radiographic markers that define a first radiographic image characteristic when a radiographic image source is not adequately aligned with the aiming arm, and a second desired radiographic image characteristic when the radiographic image source is adequately aligned with the aiming arm. Once the radiographic image source has been aligned with the aiming arm, the position of the aiming arm relative to an underlying implant can be visually inspected to determine whether the aiming arm is aligned with the underlying implant.
US08986311B2

A method of treating a patient's joint having opposing joint surfaces includes providing an elongate member having a proximal end, a distal end and an expandable member near the distal end. The expandable member is positioned in the joint between the joint surfaces and expanded so as to separate the joint surfaces away from one another into a distracted position. The joint is manipulated while in the distracted position so that the joint is distracted and in flexion. A diagnostic or therapeutic procedure is then performed on the joint while maintaining the joint in the flexed and distracted position.
US08986308B2

A method of reinforcing a femoral neck comprises creating a bore proximate to at least one of a Ward's triangle and a greater trochanter, creating at least one cavity in a cancellous bone region of the femoral neck, inserting a substantially collapsed support structure through the bore and into the at least one cavity, expanding the support structure, and allowing at least a portion of the load from the femoral neck bone to be transferred to the support structure. The support structure compresses at least a portion of the cancellous bone upon expansion. A cavity created by the expansion is adapted to receive a filler material such as, but not limited to, bone cement.
US08986306B2

A method of surgically preparing a patella for implantation of a patella prosthetic component is disclosed.
US08986303B2

An electrophysiologic catheter with an improved control handle is provided. The catheter includes a heat transfer assembly to better dissipate heat in the control handle. The heat transfer assembly includes a pump, a reservoir containing a coolant, a heat transfer member, and a coolant transport network transporting coolant between at least the reservoir and the heat transfer member. In one embodiment, the heat transfer member is located within the control handle as a heat exchanger on the circuit board to receive the coolant for transferring heat from the integrated circuits to the coolant. In another embodiment, the heat transfer member is located on the circuit board directly surrounding the integrated circuits to internally cool the integrated circuit within the control handle. A second heat transfer member is located outside of the control handle as a heat exchanger.
US08986302B2

A surgical device control circuit. The control circuit may comprise a first circuit portion comprising at least one first switch. The first circuit portion may communicate with a surgical generator over a conductor pair. The control circuit may also comprise a second circuit portion comprising a data circuit element. The data circuit element may be disposed in an instrument of the surgical device and transmit or receive data. The data circuit element may implement data communications with the surgical generator over at least one conductor of the conductor pair.
US08986294B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for thermally-induced renal neuromodulation. Thermally-induced renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal energy to heat or cool neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers. In some embodiments, parameters of the neural fibers, of non-target tissue, or of the thermal energy delivery element, may be monitored via one or more sensors for controlling the thermally-induced neuromodulation. In some embodiments, protective elements may be provided to reduce a degree of thermal damage induced in the non-target tissues.
US08986288B2

A high-frequency output apparatus and an ultrasound output apparatus, which are medical apparatuses, each has a CPU, a communication circuit and a speaker. Each CPU transmits, when an output volume level of a sound outputted from its own speaker is changed, information about the changed output volume level to the other medical apparatus from the communication circuit, and controls output volume of the sound outputted from its own speaker on the basis of output volume information about a sound outputted of the speaker of the other apparatus, which has been received in the communication circuit.
US08986283B2

The invention generally relates to a continuous anesthesia nerve conduction apparatus and method thereof, and more particularly to a method and system for use in administering a continuous flow or intermittent bolus of anesthetic agent to facilitate a continuous or prolonged nerve block. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end. The sheath also includes an embedded conductive element for transmitting an electrical signal from a proximal portion of the sheath to a distal portion of the sheath. A cannula is arranged in the at least one lumen of the sheath and has a distal end protruding from a distal portion of the sheath. The cannula is electrically coupled to at least a portion of the embedded conductive element and is configured to provide nerve stimulation.
US08986277B2

A connector is configured to be connected to a syringe assembly provided with at least one syringe having an outer cylinder with a protruding tube-shaped port, and a holder which holds the syringe. The connector includes a connector main body mountable on a container containing a medical solution; a tube-shaped fitting section protruding from the upper section of the connector main body for receiving the syringe to connect the inside of the syringe and the inside of the container when the syringe port is fitted in the fitting section; and fixing means having a lock mechanism that fixes the syringe assembly to the connector main body when the syringe port is fitted in the fitting section, an operating section to release the fixed state provided by the lock mechanism, and a push-out section that pushes out the syringe assembly when the fixing releasing operation is performed.
US08986275B2

An outer cover for a disposable absorbent article. The outer cover includes an elastic material joined to an extensible material to form a laminate. At least two different areas of the laminate are simultaneously activated in different directions by a single pair of intermeshing activation rolls. At least a portion of the two different areas of activation on the outer cover are spatially separated by a buffer zone.
US08986261B2

A resettable drug delivery device includes a body, a cartridge holder for receiving a cartridge, and a releasable coupling connecting the cartridge holder to the body or the dose setting mechanism. During an initial rotational coupling movement of the cartridge holder relative to the body or the dose setting mechanism the cartridge holder is caused to move in a first axial direction relative to the body or the dose setting mechanism and during a continued rotational coupling movement of the cartridge holder relative to the body or the dose setting mechanism the cartridge holder is caused to move in a second, contrary axial direction.
US08986260B2

A dose setting mechanism comprising a dose setting member and a drive member for driving a piston rod in a distal direction during dose dispensing. The drive member comprises a proximal drive member and a distal drive member. A first clutch releasably coupling the proximal drive member and the distal drive member. A spring means biases the proximal drive member and the distal drive member in the coupled state during dose setting and dose dispensing. Engaging means are provided associated to the proximal drive member and to the dose setting member, wherein the engaging means are designed and arranged such that the proximal drive member entrains the dose setting member in the distal direction during dose setting but allows a relative axial movement of the proximal drive member with respect to the dose setting member in the proximal direction.
US08986256B2

A manufacturing method for a porous microneedle array includes: forming a plurality of porous microneedle arrays, each having at least one microneedle and a porous carrier zone lying beneath it on the face of a semiconductor substrate; forming an interlayer between a non-porous residual layer of the semiconductor substrate located on the back side of the semiconductor substrate and the carrier zone, which has greater porosity than the carrier zone; detaching the residual layer from the carrier zone by breaking up the interlayer; and separating the microneedle arrays into corresponding chips.
US08986244B2

A method of treating a prostate condition, including the steps of providing a needleless injector that includes a body at a proximal end, an injection shaft extending from the body to a distal end of the injection shaft, an injection orifice at the distal end of the injection shaft and positioned for fluid ejection in a lateral direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the injection shaft, a pressure source in communication with the fluid chamber, and an extendable tissue tensioner located at the distal end of the injection shaft proximal to the injection orifice; inserting the injection shaft into a urethra so the injection orifice is located within the prostatic urethra; actuating the tissue tensioner to contact urethral tissue, and injecting fluid from the injection orifice into the prostate.
US08986230B2

An enteral tube includes a built-in Gastric Residual Volume (GRV) detection sensor at the distal end and a GRV indicating device at the proximal end for indicating the current GRV without requiring the aspiration of any stomach contents. The enteral tube with integrated GRV detection sensor is flexible and long enough to be looped around within the stomach. Weights may be employed to keep the sensor located generally at the lowest portion of the gastric cavity. The GRV detection sensor may include a sealed air column terminating with a flexible membrane. When the enteral tube and sealed air column are inserted into the stomach and submerged in gastric contents, pressure is exerted against the flexible membrane, and therefore against the sealed air column. A pressure sensor detects the pressure within the sealed air column and provides a signal or level representative of the amount of gastric contents in the stomach.
US08986213B2

An ultrasonic probe includes: a plurality of piezoelectric elements separated from each other by a gap; and an acoustic matching layer formed of a rubber elastic material on a surface of each of the plurality of piezoelectric elements. An acoustic impedance of the rubber elastic material is smaller than an acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric elements and larger than an acoustic impedance of a subject. The acoustic velocity of the rubber elastic material has a value of 1650 msec or less.
US08986210B2

Ultrasound imaging apparatus including a two-dimensional array of plural transducer elements distributed two-dimensionally and transmits and receives ultrasonic waves while scanning an area to be imaged to create an ultrasound three-dimensional image. Transducer elements are divided into plural element blocks including a first element block of which a size in a second direction of an arrangement surface of the two-dimensional array is larger than a size in a first direction of the surface, and a second element block of which a size in the first direction is larger than a size in the second direction. Each of the element blocks is divided into a predetermined number of groups to form a transmit beam and plural receive beams in the area to be imaged. Further included is a selecting means for making transmit/receive channels of the transducer elements grouped to be one channel in each of the groups.
US08986203B2

A surgical port includes a port body having a lumen extending therethrough and a plate having an opening. The port body may be made from foam. The port is configured such that rotation of the plate with respect to the port body aligns the opening and lumen defining a passage therethrough for the insertion of surgical instruments.
US08986195B2

A medical operation device is attachable to an insertion portion of a medical instrument for observation. The medical operation device includes: rotary cylinder rotatably disposed in device main body that has insertion portion inserting hole through which insertion portion is inserted; insertion portion pressing member that presses insertion portion inside rotary cylinder; insertion portion mounting section cover provided inside insertion portion inserting hole that prevents insertion portion directly touching inner face of insertion portion inserting hole, vicinity of opening of insertion portion inserting hole, and insertion portion pressing member; switching instruction portion that switches whether insertion portion pressing member presses insertion portion to specify state where rotary cylinder and insertion portion are united and state where insertion portion moves forward/rearward with respect to rotary cylinder; and rotation mechanism that, when rotary cylinder and insertion portion are united, rotates rotary cylinder to rotate insertion portion unified with rotary cylinder around insertion portion axis.
US08986183B2

A system for transferring tubular blanks to a packing machine includes an apparatus intermittently positioned in a zone (Z) situated in front of the line with an open tubular blank (150) hooked to a retainer (22). The apparatus includes a rotating member (510), activated in phase with the line movement, arranged between longitudinal walls (490), and having a series of transfer devices (525), angularly equidistanced along a circumference tangential to an upper line branch. The transfer devices have dynamic seating (460) for encountering in zone (Z), a tubular blank flap (1C). The tubular blank is freely inserted in the dynamic seating (460), and subsequently by hooking the seating, the transfer means are deactivated in proximity to the upper branch (470) in phase with the arranging of segments from radial to vertical first delimiting the dynamic seating (460) and a compartment (450) corresponding to the dynamic seating.
US08986178B2

A portable human balance training device for improving the human proprioceptive system, athletic performance, athletic speed, athletic agility, athletic vertical leap, athletic eye/hand coordination, spatial awareness, left/right brain organization and increasing the muscular development of a user. The balancing device has an elongated suspended support structure spanning the length of the device. The balancing device also has an end support structure at each end for suspending and stabilizing the support structure. A flexible line is mounted to the end supports and spans the length of the support structure. The user places all or part of their body weight on the suspended support band and attempts to balance.
US08986175B2

The total body exercise apparatus comprises a unique movable structure to provide resistance for a variety of exercises. In one or more embodiments, the exercise apparatus comprises arms rotatably secured via a joint that allows the arms to provide resistance in virtually any direction. The exercise apparatus utilizes this capability to resist motions of various exercises and body motions to tone and strengthen a user's muscles. The resistance provided may be adjustable by an adjustable resistance assembly or by a cuff and socket assembly that applies variable force to a spherical head of the joint of the exercise apparatus.
US08986172B2

Embodiments are described for an exercise sled including an upper portion detachably coupled to a lower portion through telescoping leg assemblies located at the corners of the sled. The upper portion includes a flat jumping surface to facilitate jumping or step-up type exercises, and the lower portion includes a sled rail portion to facilitate sliding across a surface, and a weight platform for the addition of plate weights. A number of attachment hooks facilitate the use of cords or handles to perform resistance exercises using the sled as an exercise platform.
US08986171B2

A boxing game machine includes a punch bag, a frame, a rocker, a catch, a latch and a spring. The rocker is pivotally connected to the frame between an idle position and an active position. The punch bag is secured to an end of the rocker. The catch is secured to another end of the cocker and formed with a radial edge. The latch is movably supported on the frame and formed with an edge for sliding into contact with radial edge of the catch so that the latch engages with the catch. The spring biases the latch into engagement with the catch to keep the rocker in the idle position.
US08986168B2

A fitness equipment for use in hip lift and treading, including a casing. The casing has therein a power source. The power source is a motor. A center axle of the motor rotates to drive a transmission shaft. The transmission shaft drives first and second independent shafts to rotate. Rotational mechanical energy of the first and second independent shafts is transmitted to first, second, third and fourth eccentric blocks, such that first, second, third and fourth spindles, first and second U-shaped supports, and first and second rests together move vertically and alternately along an elliptic track so as for a user standing on the first and second rests to tread and for the user sitting on the first and second rests to perform hip lift.
US08986167B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus for exercising the human body comprising a stiff frame accommodating at least two guide tracks and at least one carriage in each guide track, at least one resistance unit, preferably attached to the frame, and for each carriage: a substantially inelastic cord drive system connecting said carriage with said at least one resistance unit, and an elastic cord drive system connecting the substantially inelastic cord drive system with the frame. Specific use of the apparatus according to the invention imitates the pattern of movements in cross-country skiing.
US08986166B2

An electromechanical system for selecting weights in fitness station weight towers, wherein a vertical hollow rod, fixed to the cursor which fastens to the steel cable, which lifts the plates of unit weight, extends traversing central holes of these plates, traversing the upper wall of the base of the tower, which is hollow, this rod having a rotating shaft or screw that moves the weight selector upwards and downwards, mounted on the rod by bearings, and projecting below this bearing where it has at the end radial teeth that incase between protrusions existing in a circular low relief of a pulley, which is mounted on a bearing whose shaft is collinear to the rod and fixed to the lower face of the base, this pulley having a channel for a belt, driven by an electric motor fixed to the base.
US08986157B2

An assembly for an automatic transmission includes a casing, a carrier of a planetary gear set, a hydraulically actuated brake that driveably connects the carrier and the casing mutually when the brake is engaged in reverse drive and disconnects the carrier from the casing when the brake is disengaged in forward drive, and an overrunning clutch including an outer race driveably connected to the casing, an inner race driveably connected to the carrier, and multiple rockers carried on the inner race that pivot toward engagement with the cam surfaces, contact of the clutch with the casing providing a reaction to a force tending to engage the brake.
US08986156B1

A planetary gear train may include an input shaft, an output shaft, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a first rotation shaft directly connected to one rotation element of the first planetary gear set and one rotation element of the second planetary gear set, and selectively connected to the input shaft, a second rotation shaft directly connected to another rotation element of the second planetary gear set and directly connected to the output shaft, a third rotation shaft directly connected to another rotation element of the first planetary gear set and the other rotation element of the second planetary gear set, and selectively connected to the input shaft or to a transmission housing, and a fourth rotation shaft directly connected to the other rotation element of the first planetary gear set, and selectively connected to the input shaft through two paths or to the transmission housing.
US08986153B2

A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission may include a first planetary gear set outputting a negative rotation speed by using a rotation speed selectively input from the input shaft, a second planetary gear set outputting a reduced rotation speed by using the rotation speed selectively input from the input shaft or to selectively become a direct-coupling state together with the first planetary gear set, a compound planetary gear set having four rotation elements by combining third and fourth planetary gear sets, seven rotational members including two rotation elements connected to each other or one rotation element among the rotation elements of the first and second planetary gear sets and the compound planetary gear set, and six friction members including clutches, and brakes.
US08986143B2

In a transmission chain, guide plates are provided on opposite ends of guide rows. In a guide row, both of the guide plates can be contact guide plates arranged to contact sides of the transmission sprocket teeth. However, some of the guide rows are formed with one guide plate configured for contact with the sprocket teeth and the opposite guide plate configured so that it does not contact the sprocket teeth. The sprocket tooth-contacting plates can be on one side of the chain in some of the guide rows and on the opposite side of the chain in other guide rows. The guide plates in still other guide rows are configured so that they never contact the sides of the sprockets.
US08986142B2

Longitudinal grooves having rectangular cross-sections are formed by surface pressing in the front and/or back surfaces of the metal base plate of a chain guide. In the case of a chain guide for a roller chain, the grooves can be positioned so that they are located opposite the parts of the shoe surface that is contacted by the link plates on both sides of the chain.
US08986138B2

A golf ball 2 has a core 4, an inner cover 6 positioned outside this core 4 and an outer cover 8 positioned outside the inner cover 6. The core 4 has a spherical center 10 and a mid layer 12 positioned outside this center 10. The center 10 is formed by crosslinking a rubber composition. The mid layer 12 is formed by crosslinking a rubber composition. The inner cover 6 is made of a thermoplastic resin composition. The outer cover 8 is made of a thermoplastic resin composition. The center 10 has a diameter of 1 mm or greater and 15 mm or less. The center 10 has a central point having JIS-C hardness H1 of 20 or greater and 50 or less. A difference (H4−H3) between a hardness H4 of a surface of the core and a hardness H3 of an innermost part of the mid layer is equal to or greater than 10. A hardness H5 of the inner cover is smaller than a hardness H6 of the outer cover.
US08986136B2

A method of making a golf ball may include molding at least one core layer and molding an outer cover layer radially outward of the at least one core layer, from an outer cover layer material, including forming one or more grooves extending radially inward from an outer surface of the outer cover layer. The method may also include molding a groove material within the one or more grooves, the groove material having a compressibility that is different from a compressibility of the outer cover layer material. In addition, molding the groove material may include forming the groove material such that an outer surface of the groove material extends radially outward beyond the outer surface of the outer cover layer.
US08986119B2

A twist amount is calculated based on an angular velocity around a Z-axis of an input device when a player performs a shoot operation. Based on a value of a difficulty level stored in an external main memory, a minimum successful twist amount and a maximum successful twist amount are determined. As a result, the higher the difficulty level is, the narrower a successful range of the twist amount becomes. Further, the twist amount of the input device, which is obtained when the player performs the shoot operation for a first to a fourth shots, is stored in the external main memory. When the player performs the shoot operation for a fifth shot or thereafter, the twist amount of the input device at the time of the shoot operation for the fifth shot and thereafter is corrected with the use of the twist amount of the first to fourth shots.
US08986116B1

Participation in an online game through a plurality of different social network platforms may be facilitated. This may include enabling an individual user to log in to the online game, which may take place in a virtual space, through a plurality of different social network platforms, thereby extending the accessibility of the online game with respect to the individual user. The online game may be provided to users through different social network platforms such that a first user accessing the online game through a first social network platform may access a common instance of the online game (and/or the virtual space) with a second user accessing the online game through a second social network platform.
US08986109B2

The present invention relates to an electronic gaming and/or gambling machine, in particular to a slot machine which is coin operable or is operable by monetary equivalents, comprising a display apparatus for the display of at least one game and optionally additional information, with the display apparatus having at least a first and a second screen on which at least one screen display, preferably a main game, and one second screen display, preferably a bonus game and/or additional information, can be displayed as well as a control panel for the actuation of the gaming and/or gambling machine. In accordance with the invention, the electronic gaming and/or gambling machine is characterized in that a switching device is provided which is actuable by a machine user by an input device for the switching of the first screen representation from the first screen to the second screen and of the second screen representation from the second screen to the first screen or to a further screen and/or vice versa.
US08986100B2

In one embodiment, the gaming device and method disclosed herein provides a player one or more modifiers to apply to different components or characteristics of a game. In one such embodiment, the gaming device enables a player to selectively apply or associate a plurality of modifiers to a single game component or apply the plurality of modifiers across the plurality of game components. For each game component with at least one applied modifier, the gaming device disclosed herein modifies said game component based on each applied modifier. The gaming device generates any awards based on any modified game components and any unmodified game components and provides any generated awards to the player.
US08986096B2

The invention relates to systems and methods of selecting and placing real-world wagers responsive to one or more wager triggers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through the interactive media to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user interactions even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers and were determined before the user interactions. The system may a reveal a payout using different measures of value. For example, the system may reveal the payout as a cash reward (e.g., “defeat an enemy in a game and win two dollars”), an in-game reward (e.g., “defeat an enemy in a game and win a thermite bomb”), a multimedia reward (e.g., “defeat an enemy in a game and win two music downloads”), and/or other value.
US08986092B2

A gaming machine for playing a card-based wagering game. The gaming machine includes a wager input device for receiving inputs from a player during the wagering game. The inputs include a wager amount. At least one display is also included in the gaming machine. The display displays a plurality of cards, such that the plurality of cards is arranged in a hand. The hand indicates a randomly selected outcome selected from the plurality of outcomes, which include a qualifying-hand outcome corresponding to a qualifying hand and a plurality of winning hand outcomes corresponding to winning hands. The plurality of winning hands range from a lowest winning hand to a highest winning hand and the qualifying hand is greater than the lowest winning hand. In response to the randomly selected outcome being the qualifying-hand outcome, the gaming machine awards a player a bonus hand.
US08986091B2

A card game monitor manages play of a game with a video feed of casino table game play. A dealer deals a game using a card-handling device that randomizes and dispenses cards, which may be grouped into sets of hands by the card-handling device. A card recognition system recognizes card information including rank and suit of each card dispensed by the card handling device while each card is under control of the card-handling device. A camera captures a video feed of casino table game play, which is transmitted to a computing device operated by a player. A control system receives the card information from the card recognition device and manages control of the game using hand information associated with players. Player action elections from the computing device are displayed to a dealer The player provides a player action through the computing device, which is used to facilitate play of the casino table game.
US08986090B2

An interactive game designed for learning to play a guitar. A guitar may be connected to a computer or other platform, capable of loading music and displaying notes and chords and other feedback and visual learning aids on a display screen, allowing a user to read music and play along. The goal of the software or interactive game engine is for players to learn how to play a guitar. Users may operate the game in a number of modes with different goals, playing mini-games throughout the levels of the game. The game provides feedback and statistics to help users learn how to play the guitar.
US08986087B2

A structure is provided for protecting a Radio Frequency Remote Head (RRH). The structure includes a solar head and a solar body. An upper side of the solar head is sloped to prevent an inflow of rainwater and has at least one solar panel, and a lower side thereof has at least one round cable hole surrounded by a rubber material. The solar body is situated on a lower end of the solar head and includes a plurality of solar panels, a side of each of which is sloped to prevent an inflow of rainwater and is openable upward. An upper end of the solar body has an air outlet formed to exhaust air, and a lower end thereof has an air inlet formed to receive air. The air outlet and the air inlet each have a plurality of supports arranged at specific intervals and connected by a protection net.
US08986083B2

A coin feeding device (70) includes: a rotary disc (72) that is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical direction; a hopper member (74) configured to define a coin storage space (73) for storing coins between the hopper member (74) and a surface (72b) of the rotary disc (72); and a plurality of protruding members (78) disposed on the surface (72b) of the rotary disc (72). Coins in a lower area of the rotary disc (72) are transported by the respective protruding members (78) to an upper area of the rotary disc (72) along with a rotation of the rotary disc (72). A first guide member (80) is located nearer to a center of the rotary disc than the respective protruding members on the rotary disc (72), with a slight gap being defined between the first guide member and the surface (72b) of the rotary disc (72). The first guide member (80) is configured to guide, in the upper area of the rotary disc (72), the coins transported by the respective protruding members (78), to a coin transport mechanism (76).
US08986082B2

A processing apparatus for poultry is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes one or more transfer units placed intermediate of, conveying poultry from, a first line to a subsequent second line, wherein both the first line and the second line are selected from the group including a slaughtering line, an evisceration line, a chilling line, a sorting line and a cutup line. Each transfer unit is embodied with a circulating support that includes material that is magnetically conductive and transfer devices are provided with at least one magnet so as to induce eddy currents in the circulating support that counteracts relative motion between the transfer devices and the circulating support.
US08986081B2

The present invention relates to a device for processing carcasses of livestock such as cattle, pigs and sheep, comprising: at least two dressing tools for performing a dressing process on livestock carcasses, and a robot arm carrying the dressing tool. The invention also relates to a method for processing carcasses of livestock using such a device.
US08986080B2

A method and apparatus for removing fat from one face of a meat cut, where a knife tool cuts a layer of fat and possibly skin from the face. The knife tool is adapted to cut across the entire width of said meat cut along a desired trimming interface. The knife tool includes at least two controllable blade parts, each having a cutting edge, the blade parts extending between the first face and a fat-to-lean interface without intersecting said first face. The position of said cutting edges and the angle of the blade parts are continuously adapted, by controlling the at least two controllable blade parts, to cut following the desired trimming interface, whereby the fat and possible skin is trimmed from the lean in one single piece of fat.
US08986076B2

The present invention is an original direct motor-drive portable angle grinder with a disc type motor installed in a position adjacent to the grinding wheel and an outer motor rotating part coaxially and directly driving the grinding wheel. By means of the direct drive, the present invention prevents the emission of noise made by angle type transmission devices. Moreover, an inertial body is installed on the rotating housing that is integrated with the rotating part to form a flywheel or the rotating housing and the inertial body are integrated into a single reinforced structure to enable a flywheel function in order to improve the grinding, polishing and machining or cutting abilities of the grinding wheel.
US08986070B2

A method for trimming two working layers including bonded abrasive applied on mutually facing sides of an upper and a lower working disk of a grinding apparatus configured for simultaneous double-side processing of flat workpiece includes providing at least one trimming apparatus including a trimming disk, a plurality of trimming bodies and an outer toothing. The upper and lower working disks are rotated. The trimming apparatus is moved between the rotating working disks using a rolling apparatus and the outer toothing on cycloidal paths relative to working layers of the working disks. The working layers and the trimming body are brought into contact so as to release abrasive substances from the trimming bodies and so as to effect material removal from the working layers. The direction of the drives of the grinding apparatus is changed at least twice during trimming.
US08986069B2

A polishing apparatus polishes a periphery of a substrate. This polishing apparatus includes a rotary holding mechanism configured to hold the substrate horizontally and rotate the substrate, plural polishing head assemblies provided around the substrate, plural tape supplying and recovering mechanisms configured to supply polishing tapes to the plural polishing head assemblies and recover the polishing tapes from the plural polishing head assemblies, and plural moving mechanisms configured to move the plural polishing head assemblies in radial directions of the substrate held by the rotary holding mechanism. The tape supplying and recovering mechanisms are located outwardly of the plural polishing head assemblies in the radial directions of the substrate, and the tape supplying and recovering mechanisms are fixed in position.
US08986064B2

Modular tracks for model vehicles are disclosed. In some embodiments, a track of the present disclosure includes a plurality of track sections, each track section including at least one upper and lower surface and at least one end. In some embodiments, a first track section of the plurality of track sections includes a female connector and a male connector located in a first track section end region and a second track section of the plurality of track sections includes a male connector and a female connector located in a second track end region. In some embodiments, the female connector of the first track section correspondingly interconnects with the male connector of the second track section and the female connector of the second track section correspondingly interconnects with the male connector of the first track section to interconnect the first track section and the second track section.
US08986059B1

A marine propulsion device includes an engine, an exhaust passage, a porous body, a retainer mat, and a stopper portion. The engine includes an exhaust port. The exhaust passage connects to the exhaust port. The porous body is disposed in the exhaust passage. The retainer mat covers the outside peripheral face of the porous body. The retainer mat retains the porous body. The stopper portion is disposed inside the exhaust passage. The stopper portion is disposed downstream of the porous body and spaced apart from a downstream-side end portion of the porous body. The stopper portion extends inwardly in the radial direction, past the outside peripheral surface of the porous body.
US08986048B2

The invention relates to an apparatus for testing an integrated circuit of an electronic device.
US08986047B2

An expansion module, for electrically connecting an interface card to a circuit board, includes an electrical connector and a frame. One side surface of the electrical connector is disposed on the circuit board and an electrical slot is disposed on the other side surface of the electrical connector for one end of the interface card to be inserted therein. The frame includes a main body, a fixing portion, and a securing portion. The fixing portion and the securing portion are integrally extended from the main body. The fixing portion is detachably installed to the circuit board, and the securing portion is for the other end of the interface card to be detachably fixed thereon, so as to arrange the interface card upright on the circuit board and reduce area on the circuit board occupied by the interface card.
US08986045B2

A connecting structure of a shield braided part includes a shield shell that accommodates a connector housing which accommodates a terminal fitting connected to an end portion of an electric wire, and the shield shell including a tubular part which covers an outer periphery of the end portion of the electric wire, and a shield ring that is attached to an outer periphery of the tubular part of the shield shell and sandwiches an end portion of a tubular shield braided part covering the outer periphery of the electric wire between an outer peripheral face of the tubular part and the shield ring. A protruding part which protrudes toward the shield braided part is formed in the shield ring. A braided part insert hole is formed in the protruding part.
US08986041B2

A connector comprises a housing and a terminal assembly accommodated in the housing. The housing has two sidewalls in a lateral direction and a coupling portion. Each of the sidewalls has a through hole, an upper sidewall and a lower sidewall. The through hole pierces the sidewall in the lateral direction. The upper sidewall is located on the through hole while the lower sidewall is located under the through hole. The coupling portion is located at a front side of the through hole. The upper side wall and the lower sidewall of each of the sidewalls are coupled by the coupling portion. The terminal assembly has a shell formed with a protrusion. The protrusion is visible through the through hole from outside in the lateral direction.
US08986030B2

An assembly for forming two bridge connections between two contact members has two bridge conductors and two U-shaped spring clips which hold contact arms at the ends of the bridge conductors against contact members to form two separate electrical connections between the contact members. An insulating housing surrounds the conductors and clips.
US08986026B2

An engaging member moved upward by an urging force of a spring member built in a bottom part of a rotatable-side member has a fitting groove for allowing a top end of the spring member to be fit thereto; and engaging parts of the engaging member and engageable parts of a fixed-side member, which are engaged with each other to provisionally fix the rotatable-side member, are formed at one neutral position and at an opposite position opposite thereto.
US08986024B2

A power supply circuit disconnection device includes: a first connector housing (10); a second connector housing (20); a lever (30); a main circuit switch (SW1) that is switched off at a first operation position of the lever, and is switched on at a connector fitting operation position and second operation position of the lever; a signal circuit switch (SW2) that is switched off at the first operation position and connector fitting operation position of the lever; a first lock portion (LK1) that locks the lever at the second operation position; a second lock portion (LK2) that locks the lever at the connector fitting operation position; and a lock release operation portion capable of releasing, by an operation thereof, a lock state of the second lock portion.
US08986023B2

A slim type electronic connector for receiving a plug therein includes a half socket, a covering lid, a holding seat, and a recovering element. The covering lid has a main body, a sheltering portion extended from the main body, and a pair of rotating axles formed at one end of the main body. An inserting space is formed between the half socket and the holding seat. When the covering lid rotates to a covered position, the sheltering portion extends beyond a front edge of the holding seat. When the covering lid rotates to an opening position, the sheltering portion moves away the front edge of the holding seat to allow for inserting the plug. When the plug is inserted between the half socket and the holding seat, the recovering element pushes the sheltering portion to engage the plug for preventing from moving outside.
US08986021B2

An example electrical connector includes a non-electrically-conductive housing carrying at least a pair of opposed flexible, electrically-conductive push-in type contacts. The contacts each having a first end configured to receive and grip an electrical conductor, and a second end having a contact portion to releasable electrically couple with a corresponding conductive strip housed on opposite sides of an upper rail of a corresponding low voltage direct current grid member. In one example, a strain relief mechanism is coupled to the housing and is adapted to mechanically couple to the inserted electrical conductor and to assist in retaining the inserted electrical conductor in the push-in type contact. The housing may also define at least a pair of first interior spaces enclosing the first end of each of the contacts and for receiving and gripping the electrical conductor.
US08986020B2

An inter-terminal connection structure includes a circuit board terminal to be mounted on a circuit board; and a connection connector for connecting the circuit board terminal. The circuit board terminal includes a base portion, a pair of contact pieces extending from the base portion, and a pair of locking pieces extending from the base portion. Each contact pieces includes an elastic arm portion, and each locking pieces includes a locking portion having a locking protrusion. The connection connector includes a connection terminal having a plate shape portion sandwiched between the contact pieces and the locking pieces, and a housing that holds the connection terminal. The plate shape portion includes a locked portion, so that the locking protrusion is situated in the locked portion with a play to be movable when the connection connector is attached to the circuit board terminal.
US08986018B2

There is provided a rotary connector device in which a flat cable is wound and accommodated in an annular space between a rotating rotor and a fixed stator. The rotor is provided with a rotor main body made of a PBT resin, and a rotor cover portion made of a polyacetal resin and overlapping the rotor main body to ensure strength of the rotary connector device and reduce sliding noises between the flat cable and the rotor. The rotor cover portion is provided with an opening portion for pulling the flat cable in the annular space out of the rotor main body, and a concave portion is formed in a disc portion of the rotor cover portion for improving work efficiency at the time of assembling the rotor main body and the rotor cover portion.
US08986015B2

A method and system are presented to address quantitative assessment of social cues sensitivity of a subject, where the method comprises the steps of: (1) presenting at least one scene, comprising a single facial expressions and a background, to a subject on a display; (2) adjusting the facial expression on the scene; (3) receiving feedback from the subject via at least one input device; (4) quantitatively refining the received feedback; (5) modulating the adjusted facial expression relative to the accuracy of the quantitatively refined feedback; (6) transforming the modulated facial expression; (7) calculating a critical threshold parameter; and (8) recording a critical threshold parameter onto a tangible computer readable medium.
US08986001B2

A burner and an improved heat recuperator for a burner. The heat recuperator has a tubular body including a plurality of fins extending radially outward from the tubular body. The plurality of fins are disposed in a plurality of segments arranged longitudinally along the tubular body with the plurality of fins in each segment being disposed about a circumference of the tubular body. Adjacent segments of fins being circumferentially offset with one another.
US08985998B2

An injection system, in an apparatus for injection-molding plastics, comprises a manifold plate (2) having an injection nozzle (3) closed by a valve stem (7) commanded by a dual-effect pneumatic linear actuator (8, 9) wherein a piston cylinder (8) is compressed between a back plate (10) and a hot runner manifold (5). The piston cylinder bounds an annular gap into which the compressed air that drives the actuator can flow.
US08985990B2

An apparatus for shaping plastic preforms into plastic containers may include a conveying device on which a plurality of blowing stations are arranged. Each of the blowing stations encompasses a blow mold, within which a plastic preform can be shaped into a plastic container. The apparatus further includes a clean chamber, within which the plastic preforms can be conveyed. The zone of the conveying device in which the blowing stations are arranged is located in the clean chamber, and at least one additional zone of the conveying device is located outside the clean chamber.
US08985970B2

A ventilator (1) comprises an electric motor (2) comprising a casing (4), a rotor rotatable inside the casing (4) about an axis of rotation (R), a shaft (5) integral with the rotor and having at least one end portion (6) protruding from the casing (4); the ventilator (1) comprises a fan equipped with a plurality of blades (7), a hub (8) for mounting the blades (7) and comprising a bottom wall (9) for coupling to the shaft (5) and at least one perimeter portion (11) extending from the bottom wall (9) to define a base for connecting the blades (7); the hub (8) is defined by a rigid disc (8) and comprises a plurality of bases (11a) which extend from the bottom wall (9) at each of the blades (7) to define a connecting surface for joining each blade (7) to the bottom wall (9).
US08985969B2

A magnetic-drive coupling pump configuration including an attachment/detachment mechanism allowing simple and reliable positioning and fixation is provided. Thrust-direction positioning and radial-direction positioning are achieved, respectively, by surface contact of a convex portion of a pump unit (10) inserted up to a predetermined position in a concave portion (31) of a drive motor unit (30), and contact between an outer circumferential surface of the convex portion (11) and an inner circumferential surface of the concave portion (31). A claw (15) protruding on the outer circumferential surface of the pump unit (10), an engaging portion (32) protruding upward from an upper outer circumferential portion of the drive motor unit (30) to restrict, by engagement, claw upward movement when the pump unit (10) is rotated with the convex portion (11) inserted up to the predetermined position in the concave portion (31), and a locking mechanism (50) holding the pump unit (10) at an engagement position of the claw (15) and the engaging portion (32) are included.
US08985966B2

A jet pump apparatus for mixing a higher pressure gas and a lower pressure gas, includes an inlet section, an outlet section, a diffuser section and a mixing section. Inlet section includes a higher pressure inlet and a lower pressure inlet. Mixing section includes a plurality of separated mixing chambers. The diffuser section includes diffusers for receiving mixed gases from the mixing chambers. The outlet section receives mixed gases from the diffuser section and conveys those gases to an outlet. The inlet section includes a higher pressure inlet which receives higher pressure gas, and a lower pressure gas inlet which receives lower pressure gas. Each of the mixing chambers has a primary nozzle for introducing primarily higher pressure gas from to a respective mixing chamber, and a secondary inlet for introducing primarily lower pressure gas to each of the mixing chambers.
US08985965B2

A cyclonic elevator tube comprising a manifold which supplies fluid under pressure via an annular transition ring with multiple, circumferentially spaced jet orifices. These orifices are set at inwardly and circumferentially directed compound angles for ejecting vortex jets of pressurized fluid through the elevator, to ultimately cause transportation of fluid material through the tubes. This apparatus comprises: a cylindrical chamber; a plurality of helically shaped venturi tubes spaced around the internal circumference of the chamber; a manifold connected to the inlet ends of the venturi tubes; and a high pressure gas supply connected to the manifold. The helix can be right or left handed and preferably the venturi tubes extend for less than one turn of the helix. The angle that the tangent of the helix makes with the longitudinal axis of the chamber is between 1° and 89°. The internal circumference of the chamber may be larger at the inlet end than at the outlet end.
US08985952B2

A fan for an aircraft turbine engine, including an intake cone including a balancing system including a plurality of mass accommodation holes and at least one balancing mass mounted in one of the holes. The balancing system further includes an attachment mechanism exerting pressure that flattens the balancing mass against the bottom of its mass accommodation hole, the accommodation hole being made blind in the intake cone, so as to open out inside the intake cone.
US08985951B2

The present application includes a main rotor assembly for an aircraft. The rotor assembly has a main rotor mast configured for rotation about a mast axis and two yokes pivotally connected to the mast for rotation therewith about the mast axis. Each yoke is independently pivotable relative to the mast about at least one flap axis that is generally perpendicular to the mast axis. In at least one embodiment, a torque splitter connects the yokes and allows for limited rotation of the yokes relative to each other about the mast axis. Each yoke is configured for the attachment of rotor blades extending generally radially relative to the mast axis.
US08985950B2

Damper device for damping relative movements of two elements of a mechanical system. The damper device comprises a damping chamber filled with a hydraulic fluid, a rod (4) having a piston (3) movable in the damping chamber so as to define two hydraulic compartments (1, 2), at least one calibrated orifice (10) provided in the piston (3) for throttling the hydraulic fluid flowing from one hydraulic compartment (1, 2) to another hydraulic compartment, at least one compression peak-limiting valve (11) and a traction peak-limiting valve (12), throttling the hydraulic fluid flowing from one hydraulic compartment (1, 2) to another hydraulic compartment. The damper has additional hydraulic means that are active in compression and in traction when the piston (3) reaches the end of its stroke, so as to constitute a progressive hydraulic abutment damping the end-of-stroke jolts.
US08985941B2

An elongate fireseal having two ends joined by a longitudinal axis. The fireseal comprises at least two portions having D-shaped cross section and adjacent portions share a common dividing wall. Each end of the fireseal is configured to interlock with a complementary opposite end of the same or a further fireseal.
US08985935B2

A calibrated mass damper for use with end effectors for semiconductor wafer handling robots is described. The calibrated mass damper reduces vibrational response in an end effector carrying a semiconductor wafer without requiring modification of the end effector structure.
US08985930B2

A plant for storing products including at least a pair of vertical stores (40) facing one another, each being provided with opposite flanks (4) which are provided with pluralities of guides (6) located such that a pair of opposite guides which face one another on the same horizontal plane define end rests for single drawers or trays (5). Housings for the drawers or trays are defined between the pairs of guides and the contiguous pairs of guides, each of which is transferable between a load/unload configuration of the products and a storage configuration in which the drawer or tray is inserted with ends thereof on a pair of opposite guides and vice versa. An elevator (9) is provided, mobile along a development direction (A) of the vertical stores such as to move the drawers or trays. The opposite flanks of the stores are provided with profiled uprights (4a).
US08985922B2

An improved e-track connector, or lockdown, is presented that can be installed in single locations instead of provided in tracks as in the industry. It also possesses a finished slot that accepts logistics straps buckles. The slot is a complete rectangle with no excess material folded under it and has been deburred and finished smooth. The device also possesses a drain slot along the side of the tang and drain holes in the buckle receiver such that liquid will drain out of the connector when it is mounted horizontally.
US08985920B2

A blade holding apparatus for holding one end of a wind turbine blade during handling, which blade holding apparatus includes a support structure including an opening for accommodating one end of the wind turbine blade, a clamping arrangement arranged in the opening, which clamping arrangement is realized to exert a clamping force on the wind turbine blade, and a locking arrangement for locking the clamping arrangement relative to the support structure. A method of operating such a blade holding apparatus during a handling procedure of a wind turbine blade is also provided.
US08985916B2

A tool cartridge for a material removal tool has a cartridge body with, among other things, a recess extending through at least a portion of the cartridge body from a first side toward a second side, a long axis of the recess non-parallel to a long axis of the cartridge body and at least a portion of the recess open to a bottom side of the cartridge body, and a threaded opening for a differential screw proximate a second end of the tool body and positioned longitudinally between an opening for a clamping screw and at least a portion of a seat for a cutting tool insert. A thread axis of the threaded opening is at an angle G relative to a long axis of the tool cartridge. A material removal tool, a tool, and a method of adjusting a cutting tool insert are also disclosed.
US08985901B2

A process of dewatering tailings is provided comprising providing overburden having a moisture content ranging from about 15 wt % to about 25 wt % and comminuting the overburden to a first size; providing tailings having a solids content ranging from about 10 wt % to about 60 wt %; adding the tailings to the first sized overburden to form treated overburden and comminuting the treated overburden to a second size; and depositing the second sized treated overburden to produce a solidified deposit.
US08985895B2

An auxiliary member for pavement construction, including: a cylinder, a base plate and a leveling bolt; the cylinder includes a first cylinder part and a second cylinder part which are connected and communicated with each other, the first cylinder part is provided with a sling installing member and a slurry inlet, bottom of the second cylinder part is connected with the base plate, the base plate is provided with a bolt extending hole and multiple slurry discharging holes which are communicated with the inner cavity of the second cylinder part, the leveling bolt includes a bolt head and a screw, the screw extends through the bolt extending hole, the bolt head is arranged in the second cylinder part and the bolt head is smaller than the inner diameter of the second cylinder part. The present invention further provides a concrete slab and a method for pavement construction.
US08985894B1

A method of constructing a pump island protector to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base, and a pump island protector constructed by the method. Using an adjustable form system and the combination of stainless steel members and new concrete, the existing pump island is re-wrapped with the stainless steel member and the new concrete.
US08985892B1

A method of constructing a pump island protector to alleviate continuous maintenance required for a deteriorating existing steel pump island base, and a pump island protector constructed by the method. Using an adjustable form system and the combination of stainless steel members and new concrete, the existing pump island is re-wrapped with the stainless steel member and the new concrete.
US08985891B1

A road safety barrier having a plurality of ropes supported by posts rigidly mounted on or in the ground is described. Each rope is held in tension against the posts and supported in a notch or groove in a side of the posts. The ropes are released from a post and the post is not pulled from the ground when a vertical force is exerted on the rope. The ropes when weaved are tensioned against the posts and this gives use to a combined frictional resistance to displacement of the ropes relative to each post along the length of the safety barrier. The structure of at least some of the posts and/or their mounting with respect to the ground defines a minimum bending yield strength in a direction along the length of the barrier. This minimum bending yield strength is greater than the bending moment resulting from the combined frictional resistance forces acting on the post.
US08985887B2

A wobble joint fitting for an adjustment device of a motor vehicle seat comprises a first fitting part, a toothed eccentric gear that has an eccentric hole and a collar, and an eccentric comprising a rotatable drive part, a control part and wedge segments, the control part comprising control surfaces that come to abut against the wedge surfaces. The fitting further comprises a second fitting part that is adjustable with respect to the first fitting part. A latching part is provided which has at least one latching tooth, biased only in an actuation position of the latching part into engagement with a latching recess, and having an actuating flank. The control part comprises an actuating portion which abuts against the actuating flank and, during a rotary movement of the control part, presses the latching tooth into abutment against the collar, and biases it into engagement into a latching recess.
US08985878B2

A rig for supporting a camera. A left rod and a right rod, each rod extending generally forwards and having a front end and a back end. Each rod configured to be operably connected to the other rod via a support structure that is configured for supporting a camera, each rod having a sliding element configured to operably connect each rod to the support structure, each sliding element being configured to be moveable towards and, alternatingly, away from the back end. Each rod is equipped with a spring positioned to bias each sliding element toward a registration position in relation to the back end, so that forward movement of the sliding element from the registration position develops a backward bias in the spring, and backward movement of the sliding element from the registration position develops a forward bias in the spring.
US08985872B1

An optical-electrical converting module includes a housing and a PCB with electrical terminals, optical-electrical converting components, and a reflector. The housing includes a first end surface and an opposite second end surface, and defines a receiving space including a first opening defined in the first end surface and a second opening defined in the second end surface. The PCB is received in the receiving space, the PCB includes a first end adjacent to the first opening and a second end adjacent to the second opening. The electrical terminals are arranged on the second end and are electrically connected with the optical-electrical converting components. The reflector is mounted on the first end, and includes a first optical surface facing the first opening, a second optical surface facing the optical-electrical converting components, and a reflective surface titled relative to the first optical surface and the second optical surface.
US08985867B2

An optical fiber connection system includes a first and a second optical fiber, each with end portions that are terminated by a first and a second fiber optic connector, respectively. A fiber optic adapter connects the first and the second fiber optic connectors. A fiber alignment apparatus includes V-blocks and gel blocks. Each of the fiber optic connectors includes a connector housing and a sheath. The end portions of the optical fibers are positioned beyond distal ends of the respective connector housings. The sheath is slidably connected to the connector housing and slides between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration. The sheath covers the end portion of the respective optical fiber when the sheath is at the extended configuration and exposes the end portion when at the retracted configuration. The end portions of the optical fibers are cleaned when slid between the V-blocks and the gel blocks.
US08985864B2

A fiber optic alignment device includes two alignment blocks and two gel blocks. A fiber passage is adapted to receive a first optical fiber through the first end and a second optical fiber through the second end. An intermediate portion is adapted to align the first and the second optical fibers between the first and the second alignment blocks. A first portion of the fiber passage extends between the first alignment block and the first gel block. A second portion of the fiber passage extends between the second alignment block and the second gel block. End portions of the first and the second optical fibers may be cleaned when slid between the alignment blocks and the gel blocks. The fiber passage may include an undulating portion.
US08985863B2

A method of manufacturing an optical cable including plural waveguides each including plural optical channels and each of the waveguides and the optical channels having a first end and a second end. A central portion of each of the waveguides is displaced along a central longitudinal axis of the waveguides which traverses a central bifurcation line of the first and second connectors. A first optical channel connection pattern is formed on the first connector by the first ends of the optical channels of the waveguides connected thereto; and a second optical channel connection pattern formed on the second connector by the second ends of the optical channels of the waveguides connect to the second connector. The first optical channel connection pattern is a different pattern than the second optical channel connection pattern in relation to a connection hole pattern which is the same for both the first and second connectors.
US08985862B2

An adapter housing for receiving a plurality of multi-fiber connectors includes a rectangular, box-like housing structure having opposing side walls and a back wall that to adapted to mount in a 2-U space in an equipment rack, wherein the housing structure has a width of no greater than about 17.75 inches and a height of no greater than about 3.50 inches. A bank of adapters is provided for receiving multi-fiber connectors. The bank of adapters includes individual connector-adapter-connector locations that together receive at least 200 multi-fiber connector pairs within the housing structure.
US08985861B2

Device for the coaxial connection of fiber-optic cables, comprising a single-piece coupling housing (10) and a single-piece sleeve mount (20), the sleeve mount (20) being designed with at least one latching nose (21) and the coupling housing (10) being designed with at least one latching mount which complements the at least one latching nose (21), wherein the latching mount is designed with at least one latching hook (14) and at least one stop (15).
US08985852B2

A CT scanner gantry comprises a base with a tiltable frame holding a rotating part, the rotating part having a rotation axis and drive means for tilting the tiltable frame with respect to the base. Furthermore, a tilt drive control unit is provided to control the drive means. In inclination sensor is provided at the tiltable frame to indicate the inclination of the tiltable frame with respect to the center of gravity of earth to the tilt drive control unit.
US08985842B2

An apparatus for mixing tank contents including sedimentary material is disclosed. The apparatus includes an agitator connected to a support including a plurality of detachable sections. The apparatus further includes a frame adjacent an opening in a top of the tank. The apparatus also includes an actuatable connector for interconnecting the frame to the support. The connector is configured to be actuated in order to lift a first portion of the support above the frame while a second portion of the support below the frame is maintained, to thereby cause a gap between the first portion and the second portion enabling at least one of the detachable sections to be inserted into the gap. The apparatus also includes at least one actuator for causing the connector to lift the first portion in order to cause the gap, and for lowering the first portion and the second portion.
US08985837B1

A concrete vibrator for a hopper which feeds concrete to a slip form is mounted to the outer surface of the hopper wall. The vibrator is fixed to the end of a tube which extends into the hopper through a hole in the hopper wall. A rubber isolator molded on the tube is clamped between flanges one of which is welded to the outer surface of the hopper wall.
US08985823B2

A vehicle lamp includes a lamp body having an opening, a front cover attached to the lamp body to close the opening, and a first optical unit disposed inside a lamp chamber defined by the lamp body and the cover. The first optical unit includes a printed wiring board having a first section formed with a first conductor pattern and a second section formed with a second conductor pattern electrically coupled to the first conductor pattern, an LED mounted on the first section of the printed wiring board, and a lighting control circuit provided on the second section of the printed wiring board to control a lighting of the LED. The first optical unit further has a bracket supporting the printed wiring board in a horizontal manner, and a drip-preventive cover covering the lighting control circuit. The drip-preventive cover is provided on the bracket.
US08985808B2

A planar sample, particularly of the type used in biological laboratories for detection and sometimes analysis of two-dimensional arrays of proteins, nucleic acids, or other biological species, is illuminated by epi-illumination using optically filtered line lights that are arranged along opposing parallel sides of a rectangle in which the sample array resides, with two coaxial line lights on each side of the rectangle, and the two on any given side being separated by a gap whose optimal width depends on the wavelength band transmitted by the optical filter. Surprisingly, the gap eliminates the peak in intensity at the center of the sample area and the decrease that occurs from the center outward that would otherwise occur with a single continuous filtered line light, producing instead a substantially uniform intensity along the direction parallel to the line lights.
US08985806B2

A back panel for use in a light emitting diode (LED) lighting assembly is disclosed. An extruded substrate formed of a thermally conductive material is provided, the substrate having a plurality of fins extending from a first side of the substrate, each of the fins having a substantially rectangular shape oriented so that a longitudinal axis of the fin is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the substrate. At least some of the fins include a hole formed through the fin to enable heated air to rise through the fins. A plurality of LEDs are mounted on a second side of the substrate, and oriented in a longitudinal orientation with the fins oriented parallel to the bottom edge of a surface to be illuminated, such that heat rises perpendicular to the surface of the fin.
US08985798B2

A backlight unit and a display apparatus using the same are disclosed. The backlight unit includes a first reflector, a second reflector partially having an inclined surface, a plurality of light sources disposed between the first reflector and the second reflector, and a third reflector disposed between adjacent light sources.
US08985792B2

Disclosed is an improved backlit indicator knob.
US08985786B2

Provided is an image projection apparatus, such as a projector, including a light source; an image generating element such as a DMD that receives light from the light source and forms an image; an image generating unit that irradiates the image generating element with the light from the light source; a first optical system including multiple transmission refractive optical elements; a second optical system arranged on an optical path of outgoing light of the first optical system and including a reflection optical element; and a projection optical system that enlarges and projects an image conjugate to the image generated by the image generating element as a projected image. The light source, the image generating unit, and the first optical system are arranged side by side in series in a direction parallel with the projected image plane.
US08985785B2

A projection system is provided. The system includes a first light source emitting light at a first polarization. A second light source is provided adjacent the first light source, the second light source emitting light at a second polarization. A digital mirror device (DMD) is provided having a first axis. A mirror optically is disposed adjacent the DMD between the first light source, the second light source and the DMD. The first light source and second light source emit light that is reflected onto the DMD.
US08985780B2

Disclosed is a liquid cooling system for use with MRI positioned video projectors to dissipate heat from the projector light source through liquid cooling. The system includes a heat sink body for mounting to the projector light source, the heat sink body constructed of a material to transfer heat away from the projector light. A remotely mounted motor-driven pump provides fluid circulation, the pump is constructed and/or mounted so as to not to be effected by the MRI magnetic field. The pump is coupled to the heat sink block by use of flexible tubing that is constructed and arranged to provide heat transfer to the environment thereby maintaining the projector light source temperature at a reduced level. A liquid reservoir is fluidly coupled to the pump intake for use in maintaining liquid levels at an optimum position.
US08985776B2

A projector for projecting light onto a projection surface includes a first group (1) with a negative meniscus, a second group (2) with positive refractive power, a third group (3) with a single lens, a fourth group (4) with a lens with positive refractive power, and a field lens (5) with positive refractive power, such that the light passes through the projection objective from the fourth to the first group. In order to be provide a high image quality with a small number of optical components and the smallest dimensions, the projector is configured so the common focal width of the fourth group (4) and the field lens (5) is smaller than twice the image circle diameter (9) of the projection objective and the maximum free diameter (8) is smaller than the overall focal width, and in particular smaller than 0.8 times the overall focal width of the projection objective.
US08985772B2

An ophthalmologic photographing apparatus includes: an optical coherence system for obtaining a tomographic image of an examinee's eye, having an optical scanner for scanning the eye with measurement light and a detector for detecting an interference signal of the light and reference light; an observing optical system for acquiring a front image of the eye; a scan controller for controlling the optical scanner to scan with the light different transverse positions set on the image, and acquire first interference signals at the positions; a display controller for displaying on a monitor an image created in response to the first interference signal; and an image recapture setting unit for setting a rephotographing transverse position in response to an operation signal from an operating unit for the image on the monitor. The scan controller scans the eye with the light at the rephotographing transverse position, and acquires a second interference signal.
US08985769B2

A method determines an optical property (S, C) of a patient eye with an intraocular lens. The patient eye and the intraocular lens define a system. In the method, a measured value of the optical property of the system is determined at a measurement time (tM) after injecting the intraocular lens into the patient eye. The measured value and the associated measurement time (tM) are compared to a known time profile of the values of the optical property for the lens. The known time profile since unfolding the intraocular lens was determined experimentally before the lens is injected and is made available in the form of measurement series or data derived therefrom. A value for the optical property of the system is determined at a different time than the measurement time (tM), according to the known time profile of the values of the optical property for the lens.
US08985759B2

An image forming apparatus includes a first power source configured to supply power for driving a load to be used for image formation via a first power line, a load control circuit configured to control driving of the load, a control circuit configured to output control data for the load control circuit to control the load, a second power source configured to supply power for the load control circuit via a second power line provided separately from the first power line, a superimposing circuit configured to superimpose the control data output from the control circuit onto the second power line, and a separation circuit configured to separate the control data from the second power line, on which the control data is superimposed and sent, and to output the control data to the load control circuit.
US08985757B2

An ink-based digital printing system includes an imaging member having an imaging surface; a dampening fluid metering system, the dampening fluid metering system being configured to apply a layer of dampening fluid to the imaging surface; an inking system, the inking system being configured to apply radiation-curable ink to the imaging surface of the imaging member after the dampening fluid layer is patterned according to digital image data using a laser imaging system; and an offset member, the offset member forming a first ink transfer nip with the imaging member, the imaging member and the offset member being configured for transferring the ink image from the imaging surface to an offset member surface of the offset member.
US08985754B2

A liquid container may be connected to a liquid consuming unit. The liquid container includes an ink holder containing an ink composition, and an ink delivering portion through which the ink composition flows out of the ink holder. The ink composition contains an aqueous medium and a water-resistant metal pigment that includes pigment particles whose surfaces are covered with a coating and reacts with the aqueous medium to generate hydrogen gas. The amount of hydrogen gas generated per day from the ink composition in the ink holder is lower than or equal to the amount of hydrogen gas permeating per day through the ink holder, in an environment of 25° C.
US08985745B2

A liquid jet head includes an actuator portion having a first recessed portion, a second recessed portion, sidewalls made of a piezoelectric material and forming grooves provided between and communicating with respective ones of the first and second recessed portions, drive electrodes provided on respective ones of the sidewalls, and electrode terminals for transmitting a drive signal to respective ones of the drive electrodes. A cover plate has a first liquid chamber communicating with the first recessed portion for supplying liquid to the grooves and having a second liquid chamber communicating with the second recessed portion for discharging liquid from the grooves. A nozzle plate has nozzles communicating with respective ones of the grooves for ejecting liquid supplied to the grooves due to deformation of the sidewalls upon transmission of a drive signal by the electrode terminals to respective ones of the drive electrodes.
US08985742B2

There is provided a liquid ejecting head in which a flow path width Wc of a pressure chamber is equal to or larger than 60 μm, and when a-50% average particle diameter of a quasi-diameter obtained based on a maximum projected area of glitter pigment is assumed to be R50, a maximum particle diameter of the quasi-diameter is assumed to be Rmax, and a thickness of the glitter pigment for the quasi-diameter is assumed to be Z, equations of 0.8≦R50≦1.1, 0.2>Z/R50≧0.02, and Rmax/Wc<0.1 are satisfied.
US08985735B2

The present disclosure is related to deposition of print treatments. In an example, treatment is to be deposited on substrate dot locations to receive ink according to selected treatment-to-ink regimes. The selected treatment-to-ink regimes include a variable treatment-to-ink regime and a constant treatment-to-ink regime. The variable treatment-to-ink regime is for depositing a variable amount of treatment dependent on the amount of ink to be deposited in a substrate dot location when the ink amount in the substrate dot location is below a threshold. The constant treatment-to-ink regime is for depositing a selected constant amount of treatment in a substrate dot location and an area surrounding the substrate dot location when the ink amount in the substrate dot location is above the threshold. Other examples are illustrated herein.
US08985731B2

A liquid ejection apparatus includes feeding mechanism that feeds a recording medium in a first direction, a head including nozzles that eject liquid; and a humidifying mechanism. The humidifying mechanism includes a humidified air generating device that generates humidified air, an output portion that outputs the humidified air generated by the humidified air generating device, and a receiving portion that receives the humidified air output from the output portion. The output portion includes a first opening and a second opening. An area of the second opening is greater than an area of the first opening, and the first opening is separated from the second opening in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The head is disposed between the output portion and the receiving portion in the first direction.
US08985718B2

A door locking assembly for a refrigerator includes a pivoting shaft (20) mounted on the door (80) of a refrigerator along a vertical direction. A rotating member (30) defines a first end (31) pivotably connected with the pivoting shaft (20) and a second end (32). The elastic member (40) defines a first end (41) fixed on the door (80) and a second end (42) connected with the rotating member (30) so as to apply a force on the rotating member (30). A stopping member (10) is disposed on the door (80) and configured to stop the rotating member (30) at a predetermined position. The positioning member (50) is disposed on the cabinet (90) of the refrigerator and configured to engage with the second end (32) of the rotating member (30) so as to lock the door (80) onto the cabinet (90) when the door (80) is closed.
US08985717B2

Hinge assembly for household appliances having an horizontally-pivoted front door, and which comprises: a first coupling element; a second coupling element; and a door-weight balancing device; the door-weight balancing device in turn comprising a supporting rod; a compression-preloaded elastically-deformable member which is fitted to the supporting rod so as to have a first end firmly fixed to the distal end of the supporting rod and a second end; a linking mechanism which connects the proximal end of the supporting rod to the second coupling element, so that the supporting rod is axially moved to further compress the elastically-deformable member when the second coupling element rotates from the first to the second working position; and an adjustable spacer element which is structured so to allow a manually-operated adjustment, thus varying the compression preload of the elastically-deformable member fitted on the supporting rod.
US08985716B2

The present invention relates to console modules and modular console systems. In one aspect, a console module unit is provided comprising a frame, the frame comprising first and second spaced apart frame sections, each frame section comprising two spaced apart side supports and two spaced apart lateral supports, each lateral support disposed between and forming junctions with corresponding ends of the side supports, and a plurality of cross supports interconnecting the first and second frame sections, wherein at least one of the side, lateral, and cross supports is in the form of an extrusion, the extrusion defining at least one re-entrant channel extending in a direction of its longitudinal axis, the at least one re-entrant channel for receiving at least a portion of a coupler. In another aspect, a modular console system comprising at least two console modules is provided.
US08985715B2

The invention relates to a dishwasher (1), in particular to a domestic dishwasher, having a washing cavity (2) in which at least one crockery basket (3) is arrangable, wherein the at least one crockery basket (3) can be moved forth and back between an inserted position and a pull out position, wherein a door (4) is arranged at the front side (5) of the dishwasher (1) which can be arranged in an open (0) and in a closed (C) position and wherein means (6) are arranged to prevent that the crockery basket (3) is pulled out of the washing cavity (2) too far, wherein the means (6) comprise at least one hook element (7) which is firmly connected with the crockery basket (3), wherein the at least one hook element (7) is designed to cooperate with a stop element (8) which is formed at or in a lower edge (15) of the door (4) or at or in an adjacent part (12) of a lower edge (15) of the door (4), preferably wherein the at least one hook element (7) is designed to grip below said stop element (8).
US08985713B2

Vehicle brake system comprises a hydraulic brake device, a regenerative brake device to drive wheels driven by a generator-motor and a brake control device for cooperatively controlling the hydraulic brake force and the regenerative brake force in response to an operation amount of a brake operation member. This vehicle brake system further includes a differential amount calculating portion calculating a differential amount by subtracting a regeneration execution brake force obtained by execution of the generator-motor from a regeneration request brake force, a regenerative range judging portion for judging whether the regeneration request brake force is within a range of a re-generable brake force which is executable by the generator-motor and a hydraulic pressure restricting portion for restricting increase of the hydraulic brake force when the differential amount is a positive value and the regeneration request brake force is within the range of the re-generable brake force.
US08985709B2

An improved vehicle wheel, including a rim, a hub with a central axle and an outer flange, a plurality of spokes extending between the rim and hub and a connecting element connected to at least one of the spokes. The spoke is a generally slender element with a longitudinal axis with a span portion between the rim and hub and a tensile axis of applied tensile load along the span portion. At least one of said rim and hub constitutes a bracing element. The connecting element includes an external surface and an internal cavity with an internal surface adjacent said spoke. The connecting element is joined to the spoke by means of a crimped joinder such that said external surface is pressed inwardly to plastically deform said connecting element to displace the internal surface toward the spoke. The crimped joinder supports tensile load through an engagement interface.
US08985704B2

A material extraction system is provided for an underground mine. The mine includes a roadway entry and a draw-bell entry intersecting the roadway entry and affording access to a draw-bell. The system generally includes a loader movable from the roadway entry into the draw-bell entry for removing material from the draw-bell, a sizer coupled to the loader for sizing the removed material, a material collector operable to collect the sized material, and a shuttle car operable to receive the collected material from the material collector. The material collector has a loading end and a discharge end, and material transport device extending therebetween. The shuttle car is movable along the roadway entry for transferring the collected material so as to facilitate a substantially continuous extraction of the material.
US08985703B2

A continuous material extraction system for a mine. The mine includes a roadway entry and a draw-bell entry intersecting the roadway entry and affording access to a draw-bell. The system generally includes a conveyor extending along the roadway entry, roadway rails extending along the roadway entry, and a material collector moveable along the roadway rails. The material collector is operable to crush material and deposit crushed material onto the conveyor. The system also includes a loading machine that is moveable along the rails and from the roadway entry into the draw-bell entry for removing material from the draw-bell and transferring material removed from the draw bell to the material collector. A bridge conveyor extends between the loading machine and the material collector.
US08985702B2

In an automotive road milling machine (1) for milling ground surfaces (3), with a machine frame (2), a milling drum (4) with a quick-change system arranged at the machine frame (2) in a drum housing (11), a driving device (6) for driving the milling drum (4), a reduction gear (8) arranged between the driving device (6) and the milling drum (4), where the milling drum (4) is arranged between drum housing walls (12,13) of the drum housing (11) running orthogonally to the axis of rotation of the milling drum (4), where the quick-change system is provided with a basic drum body (14) and at least one milling tube element (10) capable of being pushed onto the basic drum body (14), where the drum housing wall (13) opposite the drive-side drum housing wall (12) is easily removable for the quick exchange of alternatively usable milling tube elements (10), it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the housing (9) of the reduction gear (8) is attached to the machine frame (2) in a torsionally rigid fashion, inside the machine frame (2), between the driving device (6) and the drum housing wall (12) at the drum housing (11).
US08985700B2

Methods and equipment have been developed that combine the use of continuous miners, flexible conveyor trains, and longwall mining techniques to provide flexible and efficient removal of resources from subterranean formations. Some systems for use in a mining operation include: a continuous miner configured to cut material from a face; a plurality of powered roof supports positioned along the face; and a guidance system operable to receive a location signal based on relative location of the continuous miner along the face and to send a control signal to the plurality of powered roof supports positioned along the face.
US08985696B2

A vehicle seat comprising a fastened member and a fastening member. The fastened member comprising a fastened member-side base section formed from metal, and a fastened member-side reinforcement section formed from fiber reinforced plastic (FRP), laminated in a sheet thickness direction over the whole of the fastened member-side base section so as to reinforce the fastened member-side base section. The fastening member comprising a fastening member-side base section formed from metal, and a fastening member-side reinforcement section formed from FRP, laminated in a sheet thickness direction over the whole of the fastening member-side base section so as to reinforce the fastening member-side base section. The fastening member is fastened to the fastened member by bringing the fastening member-side base section into contact with the fastened member-side base section.
US08985695B2

A backrest is provided, whereby a frame-shaped base structure of which is made of a dimensionally stable plastic, The base structure being formed from beams. The frame-shaped base structure includes at least one functional element between the beams, and the at least one functional element is made only of a plastic and/or as a plastic-coated insert. Injection molding is proposed as a production method.
US08985693B2

An upright sleep support system incorporates a head cushion having a face relief aperture to receive the eyes, nose, mouth and chin of a passenger placing his or her face against the head cushion with a hinged support structure for angular adjustment, sleeves that open in front to support the passengers arms, and a chest cushion on the back of the device. The chest cushion receives the passenger's chest in a forward leaning position. The head cushion is deployable from a backpack and the chest cushion is integrated into the back of the backpack.
US08985685B2

A vehicle seating assembly having a seat back including a polymeric body portion defining a forward support frame having a plurality of forwardly extending connection pins on a front surface thereof. A flexible comfort carrier is disposed on the polymeric body portion and includes a plurality of slots configured to receive the plurality of forwardly extending connection pins. A seat includes a seat pan that is rotatable over a seat bin between open and closed positions. The seat pan includes a forward upwardly-rounded hump configured to lessen the potential of a passenger to slide forward in the seat. The seat pan includes a storage compartment on an underside thereof that includes a latchable lid.
US08985673B2

A door frame structure of a vehicle door includes an upright pillar sash and an upper sash that are joined together at a corner portion. An opening is formed in a tubular enclosed frame body portion of one of the upright pillar sash and the upper sash, at the corner portion, into which a tubular enclosed frame body portion of the other of the upright pillar sash and the upper sash is inserted. A longitudinal-end surface of the other of the upright pillar sash and the upper sash is brought against an inner surface of the frame body portion of the one of the upright pillar sash and the upper sash. An insertion part of the other of the upright pillar sash and the upper sash is fixed and welded to the one of the upright pillar sash and the upper sash.
US08985665B2

A motor vehicle with a seat bench which includes a seat surface which is approximately horizontal in a normal position and a backrest which is approximately vertical in the normal position, wherein the seat surface and the backrest are adjustable into a partition position in which the seat surface and the backrest adopt an at least approximately vertical position and the backrest is arranged above the seat surface. The backrest upper edge is in contact with the roof of the motor vehicle in the partition position, such that the backrest together with the seat surface forms a partition which separates the region behind the partition in the direction of travel from the region in front of the partition in the direction of travel.
US08985663B2

A mounting structure for a vehicular interior member is provide and includes an opening flange formed by joining an outer flange of an outdoor-side panel and an inner flange of an indoor-side panel to each other at the peripheral edge of a door opening, an opening trim fitted to the opening flange, and an interior member that covers the vehicle indoor side of the indoor-side panel. An insertion piece extending from the edge part back surface of the interior member, together with the opening flange, is pinched by the opening trim. At the tip end of the insertion piece, a protrusion capable of being locked to the edge end of the opening flange is formed, and by fitting the opening trim to the opening flange in the state in which the protrusion is locked, the edge part of the interior member is fixed to the opening flange.
US08985659B2

A hand-held remote access device, such as a netting tool, includes a jaw portion having a pair of nets movable relative to each other between fully clamped and fully opened positions thereof, a handle portion spaced apart from the jaw portion by a bendable central portion that has a hollow, corrugated member having alternating ridges and grooves that is bendable so as to attain a predetermined shape.
US08985658B2

A carabiner comprising a body having an opening, a closure movably coupled to the body, the closure being movable to an open position, and to a closed position in which the opening is closed by the closure such that the body and the closure define a closed shape, and an actuator, coupled to the closure and operatively connected to the body, the actuator being configured to cause the closure to move to the closed position in response to loading of the carabiner, and to cause the closure to move from the closed position to the open position in response to unloading of the carabiner.
US08985657B1

A spill-proof platter apparatus is arranged to minimize spillage of items supported thereon during transport and use. The platter apparatus employs connector fixtures secured to a holder plate at one or more locations in a predetermined pattern. Receivers taking the form of beverage container braces, plates, bowls, and the like are removably engaged to the connector fixtures to locate beverage and food related items at a fixed position of the platter apparatus.
US08985653B1

A waste collector having a body and a scooper, the scooper having a trap door that opens in one direction to allow waste to move through the door into the body, but prevents the waste from coming back out of the body in the opposite direction, thereby securely containing the waste. The scooper is movably attached to the body to allow the scooper to be opened from the body to discard the waste. The body comprises a back door to allow the waste to be discarded through the back end. The scooper comprises a plurality of openings to allow re-usable litter to pass through while containing the waste. The body has a slot to hold a roll of bags configured to fit inside the body to give the user the option of lining the interior of the body with a bag for easier disposal of the collected waste.
US08985652B1

A system for protecting a pedestrian during impact with a vehicle, the system having a bumper adapted for attachment to an end of the vehicle, wherein the bumper is comprised of a plurality of air sacs, wherein the bumper has a horizontal thickness extends from the end of the vehicle, wherein at least some of the plurality of air sacs stretch and then burst during impact between the bumper and a pedestrian causing deceleration along the horizontal width of the bumper during the impact, wherein the bumper undergoes plastic deformation during impact with the pedestrian as the at least some of the air sacs burst during impact, and wherein the bursting of some of the plurality of air sacs reduces spring back of the bumper on the pedestrian.
US08985649B2

A material handling vehicle includes a laminated bumper that provides both durability and reduced energy transmissibility. The laminated bumper includes at least a first bumper layer and a second bumper layer, such that at least one of the first bumper layer and second bumper layer of the laminate bumper are allowed to translate upon bumper contact with an object.
US08985644B2

A barrier release mechanism for a construction including a barrier and frame has a latch biased towards an unlatching position. An actuation device adjacent the construction is movable, under pressure from a fluid pressure source, into an engaged position in abutment with the latch to urge the latch against the bias to cause constraining of the barrier. Reduction of the pressure allows the actuation device to move to a disengaged position wherein the bias moves the latch to the unlatching position in which the barrier is not constrained.
US08985643B2

A position-limiting mechanism includes a first position-limiting element, a second position-limiting element, and a knob. The first and second position-limiting elements and the knob are slidably configured on a main body. A first component and a second component are secured to the main body by the first and second position-limiting elements, respectively. The knob is movably connected to the first and second position-limiting elements. When the knob slides relatively to the main body along a first direction, the knob drives the first position-limiting element to release the first component. When the knob slides relatively to the main body along a second direction, the knob drives the second position-limiting element to release the second component.
US08985639B2

Luer connector including a primary Luer male connector having a secondary female section extending from a top distal part of the primary Luer male connector back towards a proximal part thereof, the primary Luer male connector including a first inner fluid flow channel extending from a proximal end thereof to the secondary female section, the primary Luer male connector being configured to mate with a primary Luer female connector having a secondary male section including a second inner fluid flow channel.
US08985630B2

A cradle assembly for a vehicle having an underbody is provided. The cradle assembly includes a cradle body attachable to the underbody of the vehicle by at least one fastener. The cradle body may define at least one pathway, which may have a first pathway portion and a second pathway portion between which the at least one fastener is movable. The at least one fastener may be positioned in the first pathway portion to enable the cradle body to be secured to the underbody, and in the second pathway portion to enable the cradle body to be separated from the underbody. The cradle body is configured to move with respect to the at least one fastener when an applied load on the vehicle is at or above a threshold magnitude.
US08985627B2

In a steering system that includes: an intermediate shaft on a steering wheel side; a pinion shaft on a steered wheel side; and a cross joint by which the intermediate shaft and the pinion shaft are rotatably connected to each other on a plane intersecting with each of the shafts, and that steers steered wheels by transmitting steering torque of a steering wheel from the intermediate shaft to the pinion shaft, a weakened portion is formed in a joint spider of the cross joint. The weakened portion can be identified in advance as a portion that breaks first. This makes it possible to realize a failure mode in which a vehicle is able to run by itself for a certain period of time after a failure.
US08985614B2

The present disclosure relates to a single piece base portion (10) for a locking mechanism (30) for a ski binding (1), in particular a cross country or touring ski binding. The base portion (10) comprising: a planar resting portion (11); one or more, preferably two, support sections (12) extending out of the plane of the planar resting portion (11). In particular, each of the support sections (12) comprises an axle pin hole (13) for receiving an axle (21) of a part associated with the locking mechanism (30). Further, the lowest section (14) of the axle pin hole (13) is aligned with the upper surface (15) of the planar resting portion (11).
US08985606B2

A side bar and steps attached to the side bar attached to a vehicle or to the side of the vehicle by welds, brazing, or bolting to brackets welded to the side bar or vehicle. A step is constructed by attaching a curved or flat member to the top of an L-shaped support bar that is in turn connected to the side bar or vehicle. The steps are movably affixed to a tab that is welded to the side bar or vehicle. The L-shaped supports have a plurality of engagement points so that the step can be adjusted upward and downward using the different attachment points. In this manner steps can be moved for different users depending on the height of the vehicle or user preference. The L-shaped support bars may be flared outward and provided with a plate for mounting the step thereon.
US08985605B2

A rear shock absorber mounting structure for a vehicle includes a rear shock absorber upper cover which may be mounted on a wheel housing and on which a rear shock absorber may be engaged and supported, an inner dual rail member which may be mounted on an inner surface of the wheel housing, which may be oriented toward a vehicle interior along a width direction of a vehicle, and an outer dual rail member which may be mounted on an outer surface of the wheel housing, which may be oriented toward an outside of the vehicle interior along the width direction of the vehicle, and thereby, the rear shock absorber mounting structure may be configured by a simple structure, and mounting stiffness of the rear shock absorber may be increased.
US08985595B2

The invention relates to a wheel suspension for vehicles, with a vehicle body and wheels articulated on the vehicle body by means of wheel suspension parts. The wheel suspension parts of each wheel oscillate during the driving mode, and contain a wheel carrier supporting the wheel rotatably about a wheel axle and links connecting said wheel carrier to the vehicle body. The relative movement between the vehicle body and wheel suspension parts can be detected by means of detecting means. Articulation positions of the same and/or other wheel suspension parts can be automatically changed by at least one actuating means depending on the relative movements detected by the detecting means. At least one first and at least one second detecting means are respectively assigned to first and second vehicle sides of a vehicle axle.
US08985588B2

The seal arrangement (1) for piston compressors comprises a deformable ring support (2) and a first and a second endless sealing ring (3a, 3b), wherein the ring support (2) has a longitudinal axis (L) which extends perpendicularly with respect to its circumferential direction, and wherein the ring support (2) has a gap (2i) with play in its circumferential direction, and wherein each sealing ring (3a, 3b) has a longitudinal axis (3c, 3d) which extends perpendicularly with respect to its circumferential direction, and wherein the sealing rings (3a, 3b) are arranged in such a way that the ring support (2) encloses them from the outside, and wherein the two sealing rings (3a, 3b) are arranged next to one another in the direction of extent of the longitudinal axis (L), and wherein the ring support (2) and the sealing rings (3a, 3b) are designed to be adapted to one another in such a way that the first sealing ring (3a) bears on one side against a first side wall (2d) of the ring support (2) and forms a first gap (S1) to the ring support (2) on the opposite side with regard to the longitudinal axis (3c) of the first sealing ring (3a), and wherein the second sealing ring (3b) bears in a diametrically opposed manner on one side against a second side wall (2l) of the ring support (2) and forms a second gap (S2) to the ring support (2) on the opposite side with regard to the longitudinal axis (3d) of the second sealing ring (3b), wherein the first and second side walls (2d, 2l) are arranged so as to lie opposite one another with regard to the longitudinal axis (L), with the result that the ring support (2) can in each case bring about a prestressing force (5a, 5b) on the first and second sealing rings (3a, 3b) respectively via the first and second side walls (2d, 2l) respectively, wherein the prestressing forces (5a, 5b) extend in an opposed manner.
US08985576B1

Disclosed are systems and methods that allow for concurrent leading edge registration and side edge registration of print media sheet(s). Specifically, segmented scuffer disk(s) are mounted to an axle above a tray. The disk(s) can each comprise multiple segments and, as the axle rotates, these segments can engage a print media sheet in the tray (e.g., the top print media sheet on a stack in the tray) and can continuously force that print media sheet in a first direction against a leading edge registration guide. The segments can also be independently flexible in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. This independent flexibility allows tamper(s) to perform a tamping process in the second direction at the same time as the print media sheet is forced in the first direction, thereby avoiding any slippage of the print media sheet away from the leading edge registration guide.
US08985573B2

Disclosed is an image forming system including: the relay apparatus; the image forming device which is connected to the first communication control unit of the relay apparatus and which acquires the sheet interval information of the downstream post-processing device through the first communication system; and the second post-processing device which is connected to the second communication control unit of the relay apparatus, the second post-processing device being compliant with the second communication system.
US08985561B2

A beverage carbonation system, container, carbonator and method for carbonating a beverage are provided. The beverage carbonation system has a container that is removably engageable with a carbonator. The container has a container outlet valve and a container inlet valve that are fluidly engageable with a carbonator outlet port and carbonator inlet port, respectively. At least one pump transfers liquid and carbon dioxide gas between a container chamber and a carbonation chamber when the container is engaged with the carbonator, thereby carbonating the liquid. When the container is disengaged from the carbonator, the container outlet valve and the container inlet valve are closed to fluidly seal the container containing the carbonated liquid.
US08985560B2

According to one specific embodiment, an oxygen humidifier includes a container that defines an interior space. The oxygen humidifier also includes a top portion that is permanently coupled to the container. The top portion includes an opening for accessing the interior space of the container. The humidifier further includes a lid portion that is movably coupled to the top portion. The lid portion is configured to move between a closed configuration and an open configuration. In the closed configuration, the lid portion seals the opening, and in the open configuration, the lid portion allows access to the interior space through the opening. The oxygen humidifier additionally includes an oxygen diffuser positioned within the interior space.
US08985559B2

A heat exchanger plate includes a corrugated sheet of stiff material configured in a repetitive series of elongated corrugations. Each corrugation has a first corrugation segment, a second corrugation segment disposed offset from and extending parallel to the first corrugation segment and an intermediate corrugation segment. The first and second corrugation segments extend vertically. The intermediate corrugation segment is disposed between and interconnects the first corrugation segment and the second corrugation segment and extends obliquely relative to the first corrugation segment and the second corrugation segment to form a continuous, uninterrupted offset corrugation. A plurality of the heat exchanger plates are connected together to form a fill pack.
US08985556B2

At least one electric atomizing fan is mounted on a portable land craft or a raft. An electric pump delivers pond water to the land craft or raft to evaporate the pond water. A land based power supply powers the pump and the atomizing fans. The either (submersible) pump sends the pond water to a dissipater adjacent the electric atomizing fan to produce a micro droplet mist. Preferably no additional evaporation chamber or heater is used. One embodiment uses a berm/platform to mount a plurality of land craft thereon. Either system could be mounted on a single trailer.
US08985554B2

An apparatus of the present invention is used for movable objects upwardly and downwardly relative to a fixed surface. The apparatus includes a lifting device presented by a pair of blocks movable relative one and the other. A carriage device is supported by the blocks. The carriage device is connected to object to be lifted relative the fixed surface. An actuator is connected to the blocks. As the actuator moves the blocks relative one and the other, the blocks move above the carriage device relative the fixed surface at various distances lift and lower the objects.
US08985544B1

An anti-theft apparatus for gripping mobile phones and other handheld items to allow secure marketing display of the handheld products. The anti-theft device grips a handheld product in legs, which are manually screwed tight by rotating a specially shaped key that fits into a similarly shaped slot aligned on the axis of a draw pin. The draw pin tightens and loosens the legs around the handheld device.
US08985539B2

A modular assembly for mounting electronic control modules is disclosed. The modular assembly comprises a generally planar bracket having a main portion having a first side and a second side opposite of the first side, and at least mounting three feet extending from said main portion. At least four mounting points are located near a perimeter of each of the first and second surfaces. At least one electronic control module is attached to the mounting points on the first surface and at least one electronic control module is attached to the mounting points on the second surface.
US08985537B2

A support arm includes a bracket supported by a support, a bracket arranged away from the bracket, a parallel link arranged between the bracket and the bracket and coupled pivotally to the bracket and the bracket, and a self-weight compensation device producing a force that cancels a force of gravity acting on the parallel link. The parallel link has an upper shaft and a lower shaft arranged in parallel to each other with spacing, the spacing being changed with a pivoting movement of the parallel link. The upper shaft and the lower shaft are arranged offset with respect to each other in a direction of an axis on which the parallel link is pivoted. With such a structure, a support arm for which a large movable range is achieved is provided.
US08985536B2

A suspending arm comprises a multifunction head provided with a main transversal slide able to receive the engagement of a secondary slide of an electrical appliance, and a main electrical plug coupled with a longitudinal slide arranged so as to move the plug longitudinally between a retracted position in which it is retracted and an advanced position in which it protrudes so that it can be engaged with a secondary electrical plug of the electrical appliance, and thus ensure the mechanical and electrical connection between the multifunction head and the electrical appliance. An equipment for an operating room comprises a suspending arm supporting an electrical appliance comprising a secondary slide and a secondary electrical plug.
US08985533B2

A clamp block assembly for securing hydraulic pipes, the clamp block assembly comprising one or more unitary clamp blocks of deformable material each having a through hole for receiving a respective pipe, and a clamp adapted to apply a predetermined load around the clamp block(s).
US08985528B2

Embodiments described herein comprise a cable system. The cable system has a plurality of cables and a plurality of cable hangers. The cable hangers are configured to support the plurality of cables in a building. The plurality of cable hangers have one or more cable supports configured to hold at least one of the plurality of cables and a support configured to couple the cable support to the building.
US08985526B2

A mechanism for coupling a switch point to a point detector box having a point detector bar includes a first portion structured to be slidably coupled to the point detector bar and a second portion structured to be slidably coupled to the switch point.
US08985512B1

Fuselages according to the present disclosure include a structural frame and a skin operatively coupled to the structural frame. In some embodiments, the skin includes a plurality of core sections that extend circumferentially around the fuselage and that are spaced-apart longitudinally along the fuselage. In some embodiments, the inner side of the skin generally undulates longitudinally along the fuselage. Methods of constructing fuselages also are disclosed.
US08985504B2

A system comprising an aerial vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) configured to control pitch, roll, and/or yaw via airfoils having resiliently mounted trailing edges opposed by fuselage-house deflecting actuator horns. Embodiments include one or more rudder elements which may be rotatably attached and actuated by an effector member disposed within the fuselage housing and extendible in part to engage the one or more rudder elements.
US08985502B2

An aircraft (1) provided with a main gearbox (3) fastened to a load-bearing structure (2) via at least three suspension bars (5). An active vibration absorber (10) is fastened around each suspension bar (5), each vibration absorber (10) being provided with a first mass (11) connected to the associated suspension bar (5) via first resilient means (21), and with a second mass (12) connected to the first mass (11) via second resilient means (22), said vibration absorber (10) having a force generator (15) interposed between the first mass (11) and the second mass (12) and inputting a control force on being instructed by a control unit (16) as a function of information coming from at least one first measurement sensor (17) for sensing monitoring parameters for monitoring the associated suspension bar.
US08985501B2

A vibration control system includes four mass discs located at a central axis and rotatable thereabout. Each mass disc includes a mass secured thereto wherein rotation of the four mass discs creates a vibratory force output. A power transfer assembly is located between adjacent mass discs of the four mass discs and is configured to transfer rotational energy between the adjacent mass discs. The power transfer assembly includes a power transfer shaft rotatable about a power transfer shaft axis and a power transfer disc connected to the power transfer shaft and in frictional contact with each of the adjacent mass discs at a contact point. When the power transfer shaft is rotated, a radial location of the contact point at each of the adjacent mass discs relative to the central axis is changed, altering the vibratory force.
US08985500B2

A system and method of minimizing the attitude hump phenomenon of a rotary wing aircraft is provided. The rotary wing aircraft includes upper pitching-stabilizer and at least one lower pitching-stabilizer. The lower stabilizer is positioned in a wake of the upper stabilizer generated by a stream of air passing through the rotary wing and impacting against the upper surface of the upper stabilizer.
US08985499B2

The present invention is realized by apparatus and methods for placing a large rigid buoyant platform in the low stratosphere of earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 20 km, above clouds, moisture, dust, and wind. The platform can serve several uses, either individually or in any combination. These uses include uninterrupted radio and light communications, radar and optical observation including very powerful radars and solar power electricity generation. Long, strong and light tethers connect the buoyant structure to the ground which hold it in position against wind forces. The electricity output from a photovoltaic array is used to power platform uses and can also be coupled to high voltage transmission lines which transmit power from the platform to the earth's surface during daylight hours. Power can also be transmitted up to the platform during darkness to power facilities mounted on the platform ensuring continuous operation.
US08985497B2

A payout tube for enabling payout of a consumable filament from a consumable assembly that is configured for use with an additive manufacturing system, the payout tube comprising a tip end having an inlet opening, a base end having an outlet opening, and a tube body having an average effective outer diameter that is substantially greater than an effective inner diameter of the inlet opening.
US08985493B2

A fishing-reel reel unit includes a main body member; a first outer member, and a first inner member. The first outer member is mounted on the main body member, and the first outer member includes a corrosion-resistant coating formed thereon. The first inner member is formed in a tubular shape, when the first inner member is fixed to an inner periphery of the first outer member. The first inner member has a first inner peripheral surface on which a first bearing is mounted, and the first inner member is made of a corrosion-resistant material.
US08985490B2

A chopper pump with scissoring back cutters and having a housing with an intake opening and an outlet opening, both in fluid communication with an internal chamber, and an impeller assembly positioned within the chamber, is disclosed. Generally speaking, the impeller assembly comprises an impeller attached to a rotatable pump shaft and includes a back shroud. An insert cutter positioned on a surface of the shroud opposite the impeller includes a cutting edge configured for shearing operation, while a stationary back plate having a surface adjacent to and facing the back shroud includes a cutting rib having a cutting edge configured for shearing operation. The insert cutter and cutting rib work jointly to create a cutting action as the impeller in the chamber.
US08985489B2

A food waste disposer has a food conveying section that receives food waste and water; a grinding section including a grinding mechanism, and a motor section including a motor. The grinding section is disposed between the food conveying section and the motor section. The grinding mechanism includes a stationary grind ring and a rotating shredder plate assembly that rotates in the grind ring to grind food waste to form ground matter that combines with the water to form a slurry. The slurry passes into a discharge area in an upper end bell below the shredder plate assembly. The food conveying section includes a housing having a food waste deflecting band with an angular profile at a lower end of the housing.
US08985487B2

The present invention provides an apparatus for selectively separating polyurethane foam and fiber from Automobile Shredder Residue (ASR). The apparatus includes a first separator, a second separator, and a third separator. The first separator primarily separates fine particles, such as dirt or glass pieces, from the ASR at a front portion thereof and separates large-sized polyurethane foam and fiber from the ASR at a rear portion thereof. The second separator grinds remaining materials after the primary separation of the first separator. The third separator separates medium-sized polyurethane foam and fiber from the remaining materials after the separation of the first separator and secondarily separates plastics, rubber, and other materials.
US08985482B1

A tank holding a quantity of liquid releasably connects to an electric pump module through a connector to provide a portable sprayer. The tank connects to a feed line that supplies spray nozzle with the liquid. The connector combines a quick disconnect connector with a pressure relief valve. The electric pump module includes an electric pump, a switch assembly, and a check valve. The electric pump module directs gas through the check valve into the connector to increase the gas pressure in the tank and force the liquid in the tank to flow through the feed line and out the spray nozzle. The switch assembly turns off the electric pump when the gas pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined limit while maintaining the flow of liquid through the spray nozzle.
US08985481B2

Disclosed is a rapidly deployable guard for rotary, stationary and pop-up type sprinklers, wherein a guard having an upstanding deflector surface connects around the sprinkler riser using a pair of deformable arms and a connector therebetween. The deflector blocks spray from the sprinkler in a given direction, while the attachment arms provide a readily deployable connector around the riser of an existing sprinkler. The connector preferably comprises a removable zip tie fastener that extends through apertures in the attachment arms, or is alternately a zip tie fastener attached to the distal ends thereof. In an alternate embodiment, the deflector shield includes an extension member having an overhang portion for blocking spray from multiple orientations around the circumference of the sprinkler spray pattern.
US08985475B2

A laundry transport apparatus and method includes a container defining an interior area configured to accommodate a plurality of laundry carts, the container having a door movable between closed and open configurations to selectively allow access to said interior area. The apparatus includes a ventilation network to pass air to and from the interior area, the ventilation network including a pathogen identification and containment apparatus to detect, isolate and treat potentially harmful material within the soiled laundry. At least a portion of intake and outlet ducts are immediately adjacent one another to influence temperature of air passing through each duct, warmer air passing through one of the intake duct or the outlet duct becoming cooler and cooler air passing through another of the intake duct or the outlet duct becoming warmer.
US08985457B2

A system and method is provided wherein a device can be reprogrammed utilizing one or more programming symbols. A device subject to reprogramming can be a portable device. In one embodiment a device subject to reprogramming can be a portable symbol reading device capable of reading programming symbols.
US08985455B2

Embodiments are disclosed herein that relate to the use of active tag codes that change as a function of time to incorporate a greater amount of data into the tag code compared to a static tag code of similar configuration. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of presenting an active tag code to a receiving device. The method includes presenting a first portion of the active tag code at a first time, the first portion of the active tag code encoding a first subset of information of a set of information encoded in the active tag code. The method further includes presenting a second portion of the active tag code at a second, later time, the second portion of the active tag code encoding a second subset of information of the set of information encoded in the active tag code.
US08985454B2

An imaging engine includes a multi-functional structure. This structure functions as an optics barrel. In other words, at least one lens is positioned within the structure. In addition, the structure functions as an attachment/mounting apparatus for an image sensor board, an illumination board, and possibly an illumination/targeting lens structure as well. The structure may also provide a mechanism for attaching/mounting the imaging engine to another structure, such as the housing of a graphical code reader.
US08985441B2

An analysis system for analyzing biological samples, such as body fluids, methods implemented by the analysis system, and a computer program product for implementing the analysis system are disclosed. The system may include first and second lab devices, at least one of the lab devices may have a user identification component for identifying a user, a device identification component for identifying the lab device, and an interface component for sending a user identifier of the identified user and a device identifier of the lab device. The system may include a server computer having a server interface component for receiving the user identifier and the device identifier, and a processing component for determining a step of a workflow to be executed by the identified user, wherein the server interface component is operable to send a signal being indicative of a determined workflow to the lab device identified by the device identifier.
US08985440B2

A method and system for control of bailment inventory is disclosed. The method includes receiving a customer identifier from a customer, receiving from the customer at least one customer item for bailment, associating the customer identifier with the at least one customer item, storing the at least one customer item, and returning the at least one customer item to the customer.
US08985436B2

Methods, systems, and apparatuses for testing radio frequency identification (RFID) readers are described. A network communications capability of a first reader may be tested. A second reader may be instructed to perform testing of a radio frequency (RF) communications capability of the first reader. The second reader may include a reader test module. The reader test module includes a first logic module configured to test a forward link of the first reader, and a second logic module configured to test a backward link of the first reader.
US08985434B2

A ballot box for collecting ballot envelopes, includes a horizontal bottom wall, vertical walls attached to the bottom wall, and a horizontal top wall forming a lid that is provided with an opening for inserting a ballot envelope into the inner space. The insertion opening forms a vertical guiding passage having a rectangular cross-section delimited by two large parallel surfaces and two side surfaces, the opening including a hatch actuated by a motor, wherein the hatch can assume a position for blocking the opening or a released position. The box includes an element for checking one of the physical parameters of the ballot envelope, which is capable of controlling the motor of the hatch in order to clear the opening if the envelope is acceptable, or to otherwise block the opening, the checking element including a monitoring and control unit (4) to which the motor is connected.
US08985422B2

An accumulating apparatus (4) has an upper arm (51) in which a plurality of upper rollers (511) are arranged, and a lower arm (52) in which a plurality of lower rollers (521) are arranged. An upper gear (61) is fixed to the upper arm and a lower gear (62) is fixed to the lower arm. The upper gear is engaged with the lower gear so that the upper arm and the lower arm are simultaneously moved in opposite directions with respect to a vertical direction. Therefore, when moving the lower arm in the vertical direction, influence of the weight of the lower arm is canceled by the weight of the upper arm, and a force to move the lower arm upward can be reduced. As the result, an air cylinder (63) for changing a distance between the upper arm and the lower arm can be downsized.
US08985420B2

The present invention is directed to a tactical carrying pack for back-supported transport of a payload, comprising a vertical base plate having a front and a back and having an upright support connection section thereon. There is also a left shoulder bar having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion of the left shoulder bar extending forward in an inverted hook shape for hooking over a shoulder. The left shoulder bar is hingedly connected at its bottom portion to the upright support connection section so as to at least rotate through an arc from a first position to a second position and from the second position to the first position. The first position is a substantially vertical position and the second position is a non-vertical position. There is also a right shoulder bar having a top portion and a bottom portion, the top portion of the right shoulder bar extending forward in an inverted hook shape for hooking over a shoulder. The right shoulder bar is hingedly connected similarly to the right shoulder bar. There is a payload-receiving member connected to the vertical base plate extending rearward away from the vertical base plate back for supporting a payload in which a user may hook the shoulder bars over one or both shoulders.
US08985417B2

A hanged garment device can semi-permanently attach to the back of a bicycle to securely stow hanged garments in a removable, aerodynamic pod. Because the hanged garment device is shaped to reduce wind resistance and can rotate to accommodate change in wind direction, the hanged garment device does not hinder bike stability during travel. The hanged garment device does not disrupt bicyclist stability during shifts in the wind while allowing hanged garments to be stowed securely on the bicycle, typically behind the bicyclist during travel.
US08985403B2

A lightweight applicator system for efficient extrusive dispensing of work material from a cartridge is provided. The applicator system includes a body having a cartridge frame portion coupled to a base frame portion. The cartridge frame portion includes first and second elongate frame members projecting longitudinally from a bracing member extending transversely therebetween to define a cartridge loading compartment. At least a portion of the bracing member is received in conformed manner by the base frame portion. A drive portion is coupled to the body, which includes a drive member selectively displaceable responsive to user actuation for extruding work material from a cartridge retained within the cartridge frame portion.
US08985398B2

A product dispensing system includes an overcap that has a locking element extending therefrom. A container has a product disposed therein. A bracket is attached to the container. The bracket includes at least one flange and at least one slot. The at least one flange extends toward the at least one slot. A resilient member is disposed within the locking element.
US08985397B2

A system for spraying, according to various aspects of the present invention, includes a shuttle and a trigger switch. The shuttle and the trigger switch cooperate with discontinuous mechanical coupling. The trigger switch provides a discontinuity in bias against operation of the trigger switch by the user. Consequently, the user experiences tactile feedback before spray is released. Prior to tactile feedback, the system establishes a communication link. When spray is released, the system transmits a notice via the communication link. Such a system when equipped with pepper spray aerosol is advantageous for self-defense.
US08985391B2

A hot melt dispensing system including a container for storing adhesive pellets, a feed system for transporting adhesive pellets from the container, and a blower. The blower is positioned with respect to an inlet of the feed system for applying a flow of air for agitating the adhesive pellets and moving the adhesive pellets toward the inlet.
US08985389B2

A medicine feeding device is configured by providing a first rotor that rotates around a first shaft, a second rotor that rotates around a second shaft, a partition wall extending from the second rotor towards the first rotor, a medicine discharge port provided on the outside of the second rotor, a medicine guide section located in the downstream of a movement section in the medicine transport direction, and a height regulator disposed between the movement section and medicine guide section. In addition, the width regulator that is disposed between the medicine guide section and the height regulator is further provided. Also, a medicine counting device is further provided with a medicine detection means for detecting the medicine that is supplied from the medicine discharge port, and a counting means (central control unit) for counting the medicines based on the detection performed by the medicine detection means.
US08985388B2

Present invention discloses a dispenser having means to dispense desired number of pills from a bulk supply of pills contained in the dispenser. The dispenser comprises of storage compartment having bulk supply of pills and having a discharge port emptying into counting compartment. The counting compartment contains first and second conveyors moving at first and second speed; wherein the second speed is greater than the first speed thereby enabling pill separation; the second conveyor discharges pills into dispensing compartment. Sensors are strategically placed along the conveyors to count pills discharged into dispensing compartment. A pill recovery system and apparatus is disposed inside the dispenser having means to recover pills remaining on first and second conveyors upon completion of a dispensation cycle and there after deposit recovered pills back into the storage compartment for use in future dispensation cycles.
US08985387B2

In order to provide a card case in which cards can be automatically and promptly discharged one by one, the case has a case body capable of accommodating more than one cards inside, a card discharging plate mounted so as to proceed from and retreat into the case body via a card discharging opening provided on a side portion of the case body, with a card being placed on its upper surface, and an elastic piece for movably urging the card discharging plate in one direction.
US08985380B2

Various embodiments provide a self-sealing system comprising a visco-elastic sealant material, an enclosed multi-cell structure surrounding the visco-elastic sealant material, and an integral pressure reservoir configured to maintain positive pressure within the enclosed multi-cell structure and provide potential energy to move the visco-elastic sealant material. In one embodiment, the enclosed multi-cell structure can have first and second skins, and an outer edge configured to contain visco-elastic sealant material between first and second skins. In one embodiment, the enclosed multi-cell structure can also have a plurality of nodes configured to connect first 100 and second skins. In one embodiment, at least one of the nodes has elasticity and can function as a tension spring. In one embodiment, at least one of nodes is loaded with releasable tension to provide a portion of the potential energy to move the visco-elastic sealant material.
US08985367B2

A hair dye mixing assembly comprises a bowl comprising at least one arm and an opening and at least one support member arranged about said bowl, and attached to the bowl through the bowl arm. The support members can be immovably fixed to the bowl, movably connected to the bowl to move or rotate in different directions, or a combination thereof.
US08985366B2

An interlocking container for tattoo ink includes a body defining a reservoir for retaining ink and first and second spaced interlocking members, each having a particular size and shape. The members extend outwardly from the container and define a space therebetween adapted to receive a similarly shaped and sized interlocking member from another container. An assembly of containers arranged in many different configurations can be formed by interlocking multiple containers together.
US08985363B2

A food/drink container includes a receptacle, a lid removably secured to the receptacle and a handle movably coupled to the container such that the handle may move between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, at least a portion the handle is disposed below the receptacle and in the second configuration, at least a portion of the handle is rotatable with respect to receptacle.
US08985353B2

A mobile lift crane includes a carbody; a rotating bed; a boom; a moveable counterweight unit; at least one linear actuation device; and at least one arm pivotally connected at a first end to the rotating bed and at a second end to the linear actuation device. The arm and linear actuation device are connected between the rotating bed and the counterweight unit such that extension and retraction of the linear actuation device changes the position of the counterweight unit compared to the rotating bed. In one method of operation, the counterweight unit is never supported by the ground during crane pick, move and set operations other than indirectly by the ground engaging members on the carbody.
US08985349B2

A corner shelf system may include a support assembly and a shelf. The support assembly may include at least two support members coupled at about a 90° angle. The support members may be coupled together by a ratchet mechanism. The about 90° angle at which the support members are coupled may be adjustable by way of the ratchet mechanism. At least two of the support members may each include a channel that slideably receives an edge of the shelf.
US08985334B2

The present disclosure includes a nestable containing for storing and dispensing wipes. The nestable container includes a container body comprising a bottom wall, side walls, and a corner region including an interior surface and an opposing exterior surface. The nestable container includes a first ledge and a second ledge. The first and second ledges each have a proximal end region and a distal end region. The proximal end region of the first ledge is connected with the exterior surface of the corner region. The proximal end region of the first ledge comprises a groove and the distal end region of the first ledge comprises a ridge. The proximal end region of the second ledge is connected with the interior surface of the corner region. The proximal end region of the second ledge comprises a groove and the distal end region of the second ledge comprises a ridge.
US08985333B1

A tablet holder includes a generally square base having a protuberance formed in each side of the base, each protuberance extending radially outwardly with respect to a center of the base. Each protuberance is recessed relative to the base, creating a channel having a bottom wall and upstanding sidewalls. A detent plate is mounted in each channel and has a range of travel relative to the bottom wall. A raising and lowering assembly raises and lowers the detent plate. Guide rails are formed in each channel and a holder is slideably mounted to the guide rails. Each holder has a slotted bottom plate, guide rail housings for slideably receiving the guide rails, on opposite sides of the slot, and an upstanding end wall adapted to abuttingly engage a tablet. Each holder is slideably adjustable or locked against sliding when the detent plate is elevated or lowered, respectively.
US08985325B2

An iron case includes: a table where an iron is placed; a receiving case that surrounds the iron and has a lower opening that is closed by the table; and a locking mechanism that detachably combines the table with the receiving case, in which the locking mechanism includes: a locking portion formed on the sides of the table; a locking body formed at the receiving case and engaged with the locking portion; an operating button disposed to be movable outwardly on the outer surface of the receiving case and operating the locking body; and a locking spring disposed in the receiving case and biasing the operating button to the table. Therefore, malfunction of the locking mechanism is prevented while usability when the receiving case is separated is improved.
US08985323B2

Articles having a plurality of pouches present in a single article, the pouches separately containing chemical materials which are capable of providing a reactive mixture mixed, that cures over time to provide a polymeric coating in certain embodiments. The chemical materials are maintained in separate pouches that are separated by one or more frangible seals. When a frangible seal is broken, such as by application of pressure to the article, the chemical materials in the separate pouches come into contact with one another and may be mixed together. Subsequent to their mixing, the mixture formed is removed from the article, such as by cutting the article with scissors, and applied to any substrate that is desired to be coated, when the chemical materials are selected to be capable of forming a cured coating subsequent to their mixture.
US08985321B2

The present invention is directed to a shipping container convertible into a display configuration at a point of sale which comprises a display base and a removable cover base. The removable cover base is integrally attached to the display base through two pairs of non-linear zipper perforations lines to form the shipping container convertible into a display configuration. The shipping container convertible into a display configuration comprises opposite side walls each having a length and a top edge and a bottom edge and opposite end walls each having a width and a top edge and a bottom edge. Top major and minor flaps are foldably joined to the top edges of the side walls and end walls, and bottom major and minor flaps are foldably joined to the bottom edges of the side walls and end walls.
US08985309B2

The invention relates to a device for transporting bottles or similar containers between a transfer position and a discharge position, comprising a transport element that may be driven in a rotating manner about at least one vertical machine axis and several container receptacles provided on the transport element and having, for example, a gripper-like design for picking up and holding in each case one container during the transport thereof from the transfer position to the discharge position.
US08985304B2

A cleanable shoe-type diverter belt having narrow translatable pushers forming article-diverting shoes covering little or none of the belt's conveying surface. Cam followers on the shoes below the pushers follow selectively actuated or fixed guides under the belt to translate the shoes along a transverse track across the width of the belt. Cam followers of different lengths are programmed to follow different paths by multi-level guides.
US08985296B2

A clutch unit includes lever-side clutch portion for controlling transmission and interruption of rotational torque to an output side through lever operation and a brake-side clutch portion for transmitting torque input from the lever-side clutch portion to the output side and for interrupting torque reversely input from the output side. The lever-side clutch portion has an outer centering spring provided between a lever-side outer ring to be rotated through the lever operation and a cover restricted in rotation, for accumulating an elastic force obtained by torque input from the lever-side outer ring and for restoring the lever-side outer ring to a neutral state with the accumulated elastic force through releasing of the torque input from the input-side member. The outer centering spring has a band plate-like spring member having a C-shape.
US08985290B2

A clutch for a torque converter, including: a piston axially displaceable to open and close the clutch; and a seal plate engaged with the piston and including: a main portion radially located between inner and outer circumferences of the seal plate and having a first thickness in an axial direction; and a seal retaining portion extending radially inward or outward from the main portion and including: first and second walls extending axially beyond the main portion; a weld fixedly connecting the first wall to the main portion; and a slot at least partially formed by the first and second walls and opening radially inward or radially outward. The slot is arranged to accept a seal element. The seal element is arranged to seal the seal plate to a cover for a torque converter or to a component fixedly secured to a cover for a torque converter.
US08985289B2

An electrically powered mining vehicle including a frame rollingly supported on a surface for movement over the surface. An electric motor is coupled to the frame for proving power to the vehicle. A cable is electrically coupled to the electric motor for supplying electricity thereto and a cable management system is coupled to the frame and arranged to receive and payout the cable as the vehicle moves over the surface. A sheave bracket is coupled to the frame and arranged to direct the cable into the cable management system and includes a lower plate arranged substantially horizontally, a plurality of vertical rollers that are coupled to the lower plate and are arranged to guide the cable into the cable management system, and a horizontal roller that is coupled to the lower plate and arranged to elevate the cable above the lower plate.
US08985288B2

A valve for a magnetorheological fluid is formed with a duct through which the magnetorheological fluid can flow and which can be exposed to a variable magnetic field such that the flow resistance of the duct can be set using the magnetic field in the duct. The magnetic field can be lastingly generated using a magnet device that is made at least in part of magnetically hard material. The magnetization of the magnet device can be lastingly modified by a magnetic pulse of a magnetic field generation device in order to lastingly change the magnetic field in the duct and thus the flow resistance of the duct. A valve of the invention requires energy only to change settings while a specific setting can be lastingly maintained without supplying energy.
US08985280B2

In a method for limiting loading of an elevator assembly, a limit value for a maximum permitted loading is set for one or more parts of the elevator assembly, and a loading of the one or more parts of the elevator assembly is determined. A movement magnitude value of the elevator car in the movement profile of the elevator car is modified to limit the loading of the one or more parts of the elevator assembly if the loading of the one or more parts of the elevator assembly exceeds the limit value for the maximum permitted loading.
US08985278B2

A tank includes a tank discharge passageway at least partially within a tank body. A segmented anti-back flow structure is mounted adjacent to the tank body and the tank discharge passageway.
US08985271B1

An exhaust muffler for a vehicle includes a muffler body that is connected to an exhaust pipe and that includes therein a plurality of expansion chambers. The muffler body has an upstream side cover that has an exhaust entrance connected to the exhaust pipe and that closes an upstream side opening of the muffler body, and a communication pipe that couples one of the plurality of expansion chambers positioned in a most upstream side part of an exhaust flow path and the exhaust entrance to each other. The exhaust pipe and the communication pipe are integrally joined to a peripheral portion of the exhaust entrance by a common welding bead.
US08985260B2

A vehicle includes a frame, an engine, and an exhaust system. The frame includes a main frame and a sub-frame movably attached to the main frame. The sub-frame includes an exhaust bracket that includes a hollow collar. The engine includes an engine casing and an exhaust port. The engine is releasably attached to the sub-frame. The exhaust system includes a conduit, a conduit bracket, and a muffler. The conduit includes an upstream end and a downstream end. The upstream end is connected to the exhaust port. The conduit bracket includes a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to the conduit at a location intermediate the upstream end of the conduit and the downstream end of the conduit. The second end of the conduit bracket is movably attached to the hollow collar. The muffler is attached to the downstream end of the conduit.
US08985257B2

A pedestrian airbag apparatus received in a storage portion of a vehicle between a left front pillar and a right front pillar. The pedestrian airbag apparatus includes an air bag and an inflator. The airbag protrudes from the storage portion when an inflation of the air bag is started and includes a traversal inflation portion that is formed in a generally rod-shape extending along a left and right direction of a lower portion of a front wind shield which is arranged on a rear side of the hood panel in a state where the inflation of the air bag is completed, and two longitudinal inflation portions that are formed in a shape extending rearward from both ends of the transversal inflation portion in the left and right direction to cover front surfaces of the left and right front pillars.
US08985253B2

A vehicle includes a generator coupled with an internal combustion engine and configured to produce generated electrical power in response to operation of the internal combustion engine. The generator includes a rotor, a stator, and a clutch configured to selectively disengage the rotor. The vehicle also includes a controller coupled with the generator, a power receptacle, and an operator control device. Generators are also provided.
US08985250B1

A method for managing a drive mode of a tracked vehicle, including reading an output of a sensor and, in response to the output of the sensor, performing a control action to manage the drive mode of the vehicle. An apparatus for managing a drive mode of a tracked vehicle is also provided and comprises a sensor outputting a signal that conveys information that can be used to manage the drive mode.
US08985247B2

The present application presents a cutter element fabricated from a material harder than the surface to be cut having a fluted cube that continuously presents an acute angle to the cutter edge thereby prolonging the wear of the cutter as the cutter element wears. Six-sides of the cutter element can provide four, five or six fluted sides and the flutes can be parallel on opposing sides or could provide perpendicular flutes on each of the four, five or six sides. In an alternative embodiment, two of the six sides of the cube can be concave thereby providing a chip breaker indentation in the cube to remove cuttings from the surface being scrapped or cut.
US08985246B2

A mill cutting structure is differently configured in three zones. Those zones are the center, the outer edge and in between. At the center has highly wear resistant material that has good temperature bond strength and high impact resistance. The outer periphery can have a material that is highly resistant to wear and impact. In between can be inserts such as used in the Metal Muncher® mills using sintered carbide shapes that resist tracking and create a chipping rather than a grinding action. The shapes should have high edge retention capability and shapes such as a double sided pyramid can be used. The wear patterns of prior designs are addressed to allow longer and faster milling of the fish.
US08985243B2

A composite drill bit with a bit body configured at its upper extend for connection into a drillstring, comprising: a bit body (1) with at least one bit leg (3), at least one scraping-wheel (2) set with a cutter-row (4), and a set of cutters fixed thereon. The scraping-wheel (2) is mounted for rotation on the corresponding bit leg (3) with a large angular deflection α in the range of 20°≦|α|≦90°. The cutters on the scraping-wheel break rock by means of successive scraping, forming a cross-cutting area on the bottomhole accompanied by the cutters on the fixed cutting unit, thus achieving high rock-breaking efficiency, even wear, high cooling performance, and a longer service life for the cutters, bearings and the drill bit.
US08985240B2

The present invention provides a handheld driver having a housing with a handle and a trigger that drives a set of gears to rotate a shaft having a fitting for a socket, screwdriver bit or drill bit.
US08985239B1

An improved base structure for a derrick mast of a pivotal portable drilling rig structure provides at least two A-frame support members affixed to a rig side of the derrick mast, the drilling rig structure being elevated to a point slightly forward from vertical position towards a well side, with the A-frame support members held in a drilling position by respective support member stanchions which apply static force below the A-frame support members during use of the drilling rig structure applying enhanced drilling forces and stability applied during the drilling process. A rig side secondary locking support structure secured to an elevating drilling rig platform provides additional stability to the drilling rig structure when the drilling rig is in an operational position subsequent to the positioning of the A-frame support members and the support member struts.
US08985237B2

A power screwdriver is disclosed, having a drive for driving a tool spindle having a controller for controlling the drive, having a monitoring device for monitoring the rotation speed or the torque, and having a monitoring device for monitoring a switch-off criterion, which monitoring device is coupled to the controller, in order to switch off the drive when the switch-off criterion is reached, with the controller being programmed such that (a) the drive is first of all accelerated until the rotation speed has reached a specific first rotation speed; (b) if the rotation speed then falls by at least a specific amount within a specific time increment, or the torque rises by at least a specific amount within a specific time increment, the drive is braked until the rotation speed has reached a specific second rotation speed, which is lower than the first rotation speed; (c) the drive is then regulated at the second rotation speed for a specific time; and (d) after step (c), the drive is accelerated again at most until the rotation speed reaches the first rotation speed.
US08985229B2

A sealing arrangement and method for dynamic sealing around a drill stem (50) in water-carrying, drilling fluid-carrying or hydrocarbon-carrying wells, comprising at least one dynamic sealing (35a) which is arranged to envelop the drill stem (50), and a receiver unit (30) arranged to receive the at least one sealing (35a), with the dynamic sealing being arranged to be driven into the receiver unit (30) with the help of the drill stem, and to be securely locked in the receiver unit, and also that internal pressure support in the sealing arrangement is provided corresponding to at least the surrounding pressure. The receiver unit (30) is arranged in an area in or near the drill deck of a drilling rig or vessel and in a riser, landing string or in another connection between drill deck and a well to close the return side of the drilling fluid between the drill stem and upper part of the riser, with the receiver unit (30), in connection with a floating rig or drilling ship, being arranged below the compensating unit (21) of the riser to make movement compensation possible between riser (20) and surface vessel (10), or that the receiver unit (30) in connection with a fixed installation, is arranged as a part of the riser connection (20).
US08985221B2

A system and method for lifting reservoir fluids from reservoir to surface through a wellbore having a first tubing string extending through a packer in a wellbore casing. The system includes a bi-flow connector in the first tubing string, a second tubing string in the first tubing string below the bi-flow connector, and a third tubing string in the first tubing string above and connected with the bi-flow connector. A fluid displacement device in the third tubing string is configured to move reservoir fluids to the surface. The first tubing string allows pressured gas to move from the surface through the bi-flow connector to commingle with and lift reservoir fluids through annuli defined by the first and second tubing strings and defined by the casing and the first tubing string. The bi-flow connector is configured to allow simultaneous and non-contacting flow of the downward pressured gas and lifted reservoir fluid.
US08985216B2

A sliding sleeve has an associated shock absorber to limit shock loading to the shifting apparatus when the end of travel is reached. An adjacent sleeve defined an annular cavity in a manner that does not reduce the drift dimension of the shifting sleeve. The cavity has a fluid in it and the movement of the shifted sleeve causes the movement of the shock absorber sleeve to reduce the fluid volume in the annular cavity. The volume reduction forces fluid through a restriction to regulate the speed of the sliding sleeve as a travel stop is reached. The fluid can be a gas, an incompressible fluid or grease. The restriction can be temporarily covered such as with a rupture disc. Room to compensate for thermal expansion can be provided in the annular space.
US08985213B2

A subterranean zone surrounding a well bore is fractured with a fracturing fluid. Micro proppant of 200 mesh or smaller is pumped into far field fractures of the subterranean zone and props the far field fractures open.
US08985210B2

A method of severing at least a first object comprises: positioning a severing device adjacent to the first object, wherein the first object is a wireline or a tubular, and wherein the severing device comprises: a first reactant, and a second reactant; initiating a reaction, or allowing a reaction to occur, between the first reactant and the second reactant, wherein the reaction is an exothermic reaction, and wherein heat evolved from the reaction has a temperature greater than or equal to the melting point of the first object; and directing at least a portion of the heat from the outside of the first object through the first object.
US08985205B2

An in situ extraction process for heavy oil reservoirs using solvent comprises removing liquids and gases from areas contacting with the heavy oils to increase an interfacial area of unextracted heavy oil contactable by the solvent. Solvent vapor is injected into the areas to raise the reservoir pressure until sufficient liquid solvent is present to contact the increased interfacial area. The reservoir is shut in for a sufficient time for the solvent to diffuse into the unextracted oil across the interfacial area in a ripening step to create a reduced viscosity blend of solvent and oil. One or more reservoir characteristics is measured to confirm the extent of solvent dilution that has occurred of the unextracted oil in the reservoir. Gravity drainage based production is commenced from the reservoir upon the blend having a viscosity low enough to permit the blend to drain through the reservoir to a production well.
US08985204B2

The invention describes a method for treating near-wellbore zones involving the steps of injecting a magnesium metal with a catalyst into the desired area of the formation to be treated. Subsequently, combustive-oxidizing solution (COS) is injected into the zone of the formation to be treated. The COS initially reacts with the magnesium, which in turn initiates a vigorous oxidation reaction of the COS. The reaction gases and heat produced by the COS oxidation reaction are harnessed to enhance the productivity of the well by creating fractures in the treatment zone and by melting of paraffin and resin deposits in the treatment zone. As a final step, acid is injected into the formation to react with the formation thereby further enhancing the porosity of the fractures. In one embodiment, the COS uses ammonium nitrate as the oxidizer, and in another, urea or ethylene glycol may be added as a reaction fuel.
US08985200B2

A shock sensing tool for use with well perforating can include a generally tubular structure which is fluid pressure balanced, at least one strain sensor which senses strain in the structure, and a pressure sensor which senses pressure external to the structure. A well system can include a perforating string including multiple perforating guns and at least one shock sensing tool, with the shock sensing tool being interconnected in the perforating string between one of the perforating guns and at least one of: a) another of the perforating guns, and b) a firing head.
US08985193B2

A heat exchanger having at least one collecting tank which extends in a longitudinal direction and which comprises a plate and a cover, wherein the plate has, at least one of its edge regions running in the longitudinal direction, a rim by means of which the plate engages at the outside over an edge region, which runs in the longitudinal direction, of the cover, or wherein the cover has, at least one of its edge regions running in the longitudinal direction, a rim by means of which the cover engages at the outside over an edge region, which runs in the longitudinal direction, of the plate. The respective rim have, in the longitudinal direction, a multiplicity of calked portions by means of which said rim, in the region of each individual calked portion, is deformed in the plate and the cover to one another.
US08985184B2

For regenerating the sand, which is obtained from sand molds and/or sand cores, which are produced from the sand and soluble glass as a binder and are used in metal casting, the sand obtained from the sand molds and/or sand cores is subjected to a mechanical regeneration stage and a thermal regeneration stage. During or after the mechanical regeneration stage, the obtained sand is mixed with a hardener for soluble glass.
US08985180B2

A folding accordion sweep partition assembly is presented. The partition has a plurality of partition panels, the panel having a front face, a rear face, a bottom edge, and two opposing open sided panel keyway channels. A hinge having two side walls, the side wall terminating in a hinge key hinges two panels by having a first hinge key slidably received and retained in a first partition panel keyway channel and a second hinge key slidably received and retained in a second partition panel keyway channel. The partition panel has a mounting bracket affixed to it, a bottom bracket removably retained to the mounting bracket, and a sweep affixed to the mounting bracket.
US08985179B2

A mechanical link is provided to lessen or eliminate air infiltration between a topmost lamella of a rollup door and the lintel of the doorway. The link is deployed in an unfolded configuration to support the topmost lamella against deflection caused by application of a force perpendicular to the plane of the door. The link components are folded into a storage position upon rolling up of the door upon a series of take-up discs.
US08985176B2

A system for manufacturing an optical display device includes providing a roll of a belt-shaped sheet material including an optical film and a release film, which has score lines previously formed by cutting layers of the material other than the release film. The optical film is bonded to a rectangular optical display unit of the display device. In the bonding steps, a first optical film is divided by the score lines into pieces each having a length corresponding to a long side of the display unit, and a second optical film is divided by the score lines into pieces each having a length corresponding to a short side of the display unit. The first optical film has a first polarizing plate whose longitudinal direction is parallel to its absorption axis, and the second optical film has a second polarizing plate whose longitudinal direction is parallel to its absorption axis.
US08985174B2

A reusable vacuum bag for processing parts is made by encapsulating a generally rigid frame within a flexible diaphragm.
US08985173B2

It is an object to provide a homogeneous semiconductor substrate in which defective bonding is reduced. Such a semiconductor substrate can be formed by the steps of: disposing a first substrate in a substrate bonding chamber which includes a substrate supporting base where a plurality of openings is provided, substrate supporting mechanisms provided in the plurality of openings, and raising and lowering mechanisms which raise and lower the substrate supporting mechanisms; disposing a second substrate over the first substrate so as not to be in contact with the first substrate; and bonding the first substrate to the second substrate by using the raising and lowering mechanisms to raise the substrate supporting mechanisms.
US08985170B2

A pneumatic tire is provided which includes a plurality of drainage grooves positioned on each side of a tire equator line that extend at an angle in a direction opposite a rotating direction while curving outward in a tire width direction in a tread portion, with an end of a leading edge closed and an end of a trailing edge open to a tire side. A plurality of sub grooves extending from the drainage grooves in the rotating direction is provided, where an end of the leading edge is closed. The drainage grooves and the sub grooves are arranged so that spacings W1, W2, and W3gradually increase outward in the tire width direction, groove area ratios RA to RE satisfy the relationships |RB−RA|≦9%, RA>RC>RD, and RB>RE, and a groove depth of the drainage grooves in the center region is greater than that in the shoulder portion.
US08985169B2

A pneumatic tire capable of improving snowy road performance while controlling the occurrence of uneven wear of the tire due to buckling deformation. A tire 10 having a block pattern is provided with raised bottom portions 19 in lug grooves 15 extending in a direction intersecting with a main groove 13 and shoulder grooves 12, 14. The raised bottom portion 19 crosses the shoulder groove defining the center blocks 16 and shoulder blocks 17. The height of the raised bottom portion 19 is in a range of 10 to 20 percent of the groove depth of the shoulder groove. As a result, the edge components in the circumferential direction of the tire are increased and the rigidity in the axial direction of the tread 11 is uniformized without causing a decline in the draining characteristics.
US08985161B2

Method of controlling a container filling machine comprising a plurality of filling elements. Each of the filling elements has a flow measuring device which is used to measure the volume of filling material dispensed from its filling element. During filling, the time that a first filling element is open to dispense a predetermined volume of filling material is measured. A second filling element is then opened for essentially the measured time to thereby dispense essentially the predetermined volume of filling material into a second container. As an alternative, a time may be calculated from the measured times of a plurality of filling elements, which calculated time may be used to determine for how long another filling element is opened.
US08985157B2

Provided is a restoration pipe pulling-in method which can easily determine whether pilling-in of a restoration pipe is possible wherein the restoration pipe has a diameter as much as large relative to a deteriorated drainage channel, and which can pulling a restoration pipe into a sewer pipe wherein the gap between the restoration pipe and the sewer pipe is shorter. The restoration pipe pulling-in method comprises preparing a dummy restoration pipe 30′ which imitates the restoration pipe; attaching a determination jig 10 for determining whether pulling-in of the restoration pipe is possible to an insertion-side leading end portion of the dummy restoration pipe 30′; pulling the dummy restoration pipe 30′ with the determination jig 10 into the existing pipe 1; after confirming completion of passing-through of the dummy restoration pipe 30′ with the determination jig 10, attaching a pull-in jig to a leading end portion of the restoration pipe; and arranging the restoration pipe over an entire length of the existing pipe 1, by inserting the restoration pipe with the pull-in jig, through an upper opening 2b of the existing pipe 1, into the existing pipe 1, and by pulling the pull-in jig with a wire.
US08985142B2

The invention relates to a flow volume regulator (1) having at least one throttle body (2) which is composed of elastically deformable material and which is arranged in the throughflow duct (3) of a regulator housing (4) and which delimits a control gap (5) between itself and a regulating profiling provided on an inner circumferential and/or outer circumferential duct wall, the clear throughflow cross section of which control gap (5) can be varied as a result of the throttle body (2) which can be deformed under the pressure of the medium flowing through, with the regulating housing (4) bearing on its outer circumference a clamping edge region for clamping the flow volume regulator (1) between two line sections or line components which are connected to one another. The flow volume regulator (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the regulator housing (4) is arranged in the ring opening of a sealing ring (6) and in that the end surfaces (7, 8) on the inflow and outflow sides of the sealing ring (6) form the clamping edge region. The flow volume regulator (1) according to the invention can be easily installed into a sanitary supply line even under restricted spatial conditions, with the sealing ring (6) which is provided as a clamping edge region of the regulator housing (4) sealing off the end sides, which face toward one another, of the line sections to be connected to one another.
US08985136B2

A component with sealing grooves for receiving facial seals and with protective arrangements to protect such seals is provided. In one embodiment, the component is a ball valve including a flow control assembly with two closure members having outer surfaces with sealing grooves and protective ridges. The protective ridges facilitate separation of the two closure members from two connectors of a fluid conduit during installation of the body between the two connectors. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.
US08985135B2

A system for dosing a stream of fluid with at least one active substance is provided. The system includes a housing which defines a chamber having an inlet and an outlet to enable the flow of fluid through the chamber. The system also includes a block containing the active substance, the block including a body having an outer surface and a passage therethrough defining an inner surface. The block is positioned within the housing chamber in an operative position between the inlet and the outlet so that in use fluid flows over the inner and outer surfaces of the block to dissolve and/or erode the block.
US08985131B2

A conduit coupling can have a male portion and a female portion, with each portion having an internal biasing member. When the male portion is disconnected from the female portion, the internal biasing member in the male portion can cause a seal on a moveable plug to be biased against a lip of a stationary wall member to seal liquid from leaking out of the male portion. Also, the internal biasing member in the female portion can cause a lip of a moveable wall member to be biased against a seal that is connected to a stationary plug. Both the stationary plug and moveable plug can be connected to retaining portions by strips that are disposed away from an axis of the conduit coupling.
US08985127B2

An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.
US08985125B2

A paint roller cleaner has a base for resting in a sink and a knob for receiving on its outside surface the inside surface of a paint-laden paint roller. The knob is adjustable relative to the base, and/or the roller is adjustable relative to the knob, so that the roller is vertical and water filing the roller will evenly and uniformly overflow and clean the roller outer surface. The knob may be an upstanding, tapered, hollow cylinder that rotates about a horizontal axis at its base to adjust its angle relative to the base, wherein the tapered cylindrical surface allows the cleaner to cooperate with variously-sized rollers. In another version, the knob is a hollow sphere, with its top end truncated, and with several spaced-apart vertical slits in its side, like a collet, for flexing/bending to various diameters to cooperate with variously-sized rollers. In another version, the knob is a sphere.
US08985120B2

A first embodiment can be a method to reduce SLOSH energy absorption within an organism by reducing the inelastic collisions. A fluid containing organism can utilize an embodiment of the method wherein one or more of reversibly increasing pressure within the organs or cells, reversibly increasing the volume within the organs or cells, reversibly altering vascular, molecular, or cell wall stiffness, or reversibly altering vascular, molecular, or cell wall configuration within said organism may reduce these collisions.
US08985115B2

A nasal interface including a hard base and a soft pad portion with angled butterfly wing portions. The soft pad portion is connected to the hard base portion, and in some arrangements, can be removed from the hard base portion. The soft pad portion includes a bellows positioned between a lower boarder and the butterfly wings.
US08985111B2

An oscillating positive expiratory pressure apparatus having a housing defining a chamber, a chamber inlet, a chamber outlet, a deformable restrictor member positioned in an exhalation flow path between the chamber inlet and the chamber outlet, and an oscillation member disposed within the chamber. The deformable restrictor member and the oscillation member are moveable between an engaged position, where the oscillation member is in contact with the deformable restrictor member and an disengaged position, where the oscillation member is not in contact with the deformable restrictor member. The deformable restrictor member and the oscillation member move from the engaged position to the disengaged position in response to a first exhalation pressure at the chamber inlet, and move from the disengaged position to an engaged position in response to a second exhalation pressure at the chamber inlet.
US08985097B2

A device and method of its production for a micro-channel thermal absorber to be used as a solar thermal collector, heat collector, or heat dissipater, extruded or continuously cast in one piece or in modular segments from a metal, plastic, or glass and assembled into panels of different structures seamlessly integrated into the envelope of a building as covering layers or structural elements. The micro-channel thermal absorber comprises an active plate, a back plate adjacent to the active plate, and a plurality of micro-channel walls arranged substantially perpendicular to the active plate and the back plate to define a plurality of fluid transport micro-channels configured to allow fluid flow there-along, wherein the micro-channel walls constitute supporting elements between the active plate and the back plate to provide structure.
US08985096B2

A heat exchanging structure of a solar heat exchanger 3 includes a housing 5 and a pipe 11. The solar heat exchanger includes a heat-resistant container 8 having an open top and containing a low-melting-point metal 9 and a light receiving plate 10. The housing accommodates the solar heat exchanger. The pipe passes a heat carrier H. The pipe is arranged in a space between the housing and the solar heat exchanger in such a way as not to touch the solar heat exchanger. The heat carrier is surely heated by radiant heat from the solar heat exchanger that is heated to very high temperatures. The light receiving plate has a container-like shape having an open top, and therefore, has a large light receiving area to heat itself to higher temperatures compared with a flat light receiving plate.
US08985090B2

A method is provided for operating an ignition device for an internal combustion engine, which ignition device includes an ignition coil configured as a transformer, a spark plug connected to the secondary winding of the ignition coil, an actuable switching element connected in series to the primary winding of the ignition coil, and a control unit connected to the control input of the switching element, wherein the control unit provides an adjustable supply voltage for the ignition coil and an actuating signal for the switching element as a function of the currents through the primary and the secondary windings of the ignition coil and the voltage between the connecting point of the primary winding of the ignition coil to the switching element and the negative terminal of the supply voltage, as a result of which firstly operation of the spark plug by way of alternating current is possible and secondly regulation of said current is possible, which leads to more reliable ignition with a lower wear of the spark plugs.
US08985083B2

The invention relates to a crankshaft comprising at least: a journal; a first crankpin; a second crankpin; a first arm connecting the first crankpin to the journal; a second arm connecting the second crankpin to the journal; a first pipe extending away from the first crank pin toward the journal and leading onto the surface of the first crankpin on the transverse median plane thereof, and substantially passing to the center of the median plane of the second arm; and a second conduit extending away from the second crankpin toward the journal and leading onto the surface of the second crankpin on the transverse median plane thereof, and substantially passing to the center of the median plane of the second arm, characterized in that the shape of the crankshaft is such that it cannot also comprise a diametric pipe within the transverse median plane of the journal fluidly adjoining the first pipe and the second pipe, and the crankshaft comprises a third non-diametric pipe within the transverse median plan of the journal fluidly connecting the first pipe and the second pipe.
US08985078B2

A combustion chamber structure by using a preheating net and a spark plug to ignite includes a cylinder. The cylinder is connected with a connection seat. The connection seat has a threaded hole. A spark plug is fixedly connected in the threaded hole. A preheating net is transversely disposed under the spark plug. A certain distance is defined between the spark plug and the preheating net. When electrified, the spark plug and the preheating net will generate an electric arc to rise the temperature of the preheating net and to preheat the mixing oil gas in the combustion chamber. The present invention enhances the burning efficiency. The oil gas in the combustion chamber is complete combustion to enhance horsepower and to save oil. Besides, the present invention can decrease the exhaust gas so it is environment-friendly.
US08985077B2

Embodiments may provide a valve train for an engine including a valve stem configured for reciprocating movement to open and close a port in a combustion chamber of the engine. The valve train may also include an elastomeric element coupled with the valve stem, and a mass may be coupled with the elastomeric element and able to move relative to the valve stem.
US08985075B2

In a valve timing control system of an internal combustion engine employing both an electric-motor-driven intake valve timing control device for changing intake valve timing and an electric-motor-driven exhaust valve timing control device for changing exhaust valve timing, the intake valve timing control device includes a less-friction roller speed reducer having a toothed gear and configured to transmit torque by repeated relocations of each of rollers rolling and relocating from one of two adjacent teeth of the toothed gear to the other. In contrast, the exhaust valve timing control device includes a planetary-gear speed reducer having a friction greater than a friction of the roller speed reducer and configured to transmit torque by meshed-engagement of toothed gears in mesh with each other.
US08985074B2

A system for controlling variable valve actuation in an automobile engine is disclosed. A first cam has a first lift profile and a second cam has a second lift profile, both profiles having a base circle portion and a lift portion. A rocker arm assembly engages the cams having a first arm for riding on the first cam, and a second arm for riding on the second cam. The second arm has an activatable latch capable of securing the second arm to the first arm when latched. The latch may only be latched while the arms are riding on the base circle portion of the cams. When the first arm is secured to the second arm, the rocker arm assembly achieves a first lift profile and when the first arm is not secured to the second arm, the rocker arm assembly achieves a second lift profile. A non-contact sensor mounted adjacent the rocker arm assembly is adapted to monitor and create data indicative of whether the first arm is secured to the second arm. An engine control unit (ECU) for controlling functioning of at least one aspect of said engine operation receives the signal from the non-contact sensor and control functioning of the at least one aspect of said engine operation based upon the received signal from the non-contact sensor.
US08985068B2

A system for operating a rotating component. The system includes a rotating component, a motor driving the rotating component, a sensor detecting a stimulus related to the rotating component, and a controller. The controller receives an indication of the magnitude of the stimulus from the sensor and is configured to adjust a speed of the rotating component when the stimulus indicates the rotating component is operating at a resonant frequency.
US08985062B1

A post-surgical animal garment which fits over, above, and about the animal's body, and optionally, fastens along the back of the animal. The garment has a head opening and leg portions with openings for the legs of the animal. The rear portion of the garment fits around the animal's tail. The garment has a forwardly folding flap which can be attached to the belly side of the garment for the animal to readily perform its bodily functions without the flap getting in the way. Once the animal is finished, the flap is readily put back in place to protect the surgical site. The garment can include a collar which fits about the neck of the animal as well as sleeves which extend partially along the legs of the animal. Optionally, the termini of the leg portions are foot coverings.
US08985059B2

An insecticide impregnated strip configured for convenient and reliable attachment to conventional animal ear tags. The insecticide strip comprises an elongated integrally molded member having a key-hole shaped aperture formed in an upper portion thereof, enabling the elongated strip to be pendularly suspended from the ear tag. Various methods are disclosed for attaching the strip to different types of known ear tags.
US08985057B2

A device and method for delivering drugs or sending or receiving information to or from a lab test animal over a long period of time without having the cords attached to the animal tangle as it moves around in its enclosure.
US08985039B2

A system for attaching handles to a workpiece, such as for attaching handles to a border material for a mattress. The system includes a pair of sewing heads movably mounted along a sewing area. The sewing heads can be moved from a first position for sewing the handles to the border in a first orientation, such as a horizontal orientation extending along the length of the border, to a second position for sewing the handles to the border in a different orientation, such as a vertical orientation extending across the width or height of the border.
US08985033B1

A portable and adjustable tattoo work station, comprising several components, in combination. There is a work platform which has a recess therein. There is a work platform connector and a shaft. The work platform connector couples the work platform and the shaft. There is a clamp coupled to the shaft. Lastly, there is a magnetic positive recess plug, which is coupled to the clamp.
US08985027B2

A zip line or trolley system kit for propelling a person or an object using gravity along an extended cable line suspended between two trees or towers. The zip line system having a frame with one or more wheels, an adjustable length seat, a handle and a braking system for slowing the speed of descent of the zip line system. The trolley system having at least two wheels spaced apart at a suitable distance to increase ride smoothness and improve sliding of the zip line system along the extended cable. An actuator of the braking system allows for the rider to control of the speed of descent of the zip line system.
US08985019B2

A method for making a flexographic printing master includes the steps of providing a flexographic printing support; applying image-wise on the flexographic printing support subsequent layers of radiation curable liquid by an inkjet printing device whereby one or more applied layers are immobilized using a curing device before one or more subsequent layers are applied, such that a relief with a top hat profile is obtained; and grinding the relief so that the height DT of a top hat segment is reduced. An imaging apparatus includes structure to perform the above method.
US08985006B1

A trigger assembly for use with a firearm has a hook carried by and pivotal with a selector to engage an aft tab of a hammer in the safe position of the selector.
US08985004B2

Shotshell type ammunition includes a hull, a sabot disposed within the hull, and at least one projectile disposed within the sabot. The hull has a rimless first end that includes a primer for firing the ammunition. The hull also has a seat surface for seating the hull against a complementary seat surface in a firing chamber of a firearm. The seat surface is located a distance from an outer end surface of the hull at the rimless first end. The hull further includes an outer cylindrical side surface extending from the rimless first end of the hull to the seat surface of the hull. Methods of fabricating such ammunition includes forming such a hull, providing one or more projectiles within a sabot, and disposing the sabot with the one or more projectiles therein at least partially into the hull. Shotgun type firearms are configured for firing such ammunition.
US08984997B2

Equipment for stabilizing rotation of a blade in a circle saw and for staying at the wanted sawing line which equipment comprises the formation devices (1,2); (7,8); (10,11) of a magnetic field in connection with a ferrous metallic circle saw blade (3) and equipment for adjusting the intensity of the mentioned magnetic field, such as a sensor (14) that measures the sideway position of a control center (13) and a circular blade (3). Of the formation devices of the magnetic field metallic parts (1); (7) or (10) that direct at least magnetic flux in the last resort to the circle saw blade (3) or part of them are located in relation to the circle saw blade (3) outside its toothing (4), at the location of the teeth essentially to the level of the circle saw blade (3).
US08984995B2

A mechanical device for the fast exchange of jaws in a lathe plate providing an intermediate jaw support attached to the jaw holder with a straight support face and providing with a guide wherein the jaw is positioned and fixed precisely and eliminating the clearances found in the conventional method.
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