US09678572B2
An apparatus and method for turning pages of an electronic-book (e-book) in a portable terminal having an e-book function. The method includes executing the e-book function, displaying a right lateral side of the e-book and receiving a inclination value from a 3-axis sensor when a touch event is detected in a right User Interface (UI) active area of the e-book, determining whether the inclination value greater than or equal to a threshold is detected in a left direction, and upon detection of the inclination value greater than or equal to the threshold in the left direction, displaying a next page to a screen on a single-page basis at a speed in proportion to the inclination value detected in the process of detecting the inclination greater than or equal to the threshold in the left direction.
US09678571B1
An electronic device receives, at an application-independent module, from an application-specific module that is associated with a first application, information about an input directed to the user interface of the first application. An operation performed in the user interface of the first application in response to detecting the input is associated with a tactile output pattern specified by the application-specific module. The information about the input includes information indicating a magnitude of the operation performed in the user interface in response to detecting the input. The device generates a tactile output that corresponds to the operation performed in the user interface of the first application. The tactile output has the tactile output pattern specified by the application-specific module. The tactile output has an amplitude determined in accordance with the magnitude of the operation performed in the user interface of the first application in response to detecting the input.
US09678567B2
Embodiments disclosed herein provide methods, systems, and computer readable storage media for indicating eye tracking information during a real-time communication session. In a particular embodiment, a method provides receiving first eye tracking information captured by a first computing system operated by a first user during the communication session with a second computing system operated by a second user, wherein the first eye tracking information represents a first location on a display of the first computing system to where eyes of the first user are directed. The method further provides determining a second location on a display of the second computing system that corresponds to the first location and instructing the display of the second computing system to display a first indication of the second location in real-time with the communication session.
US09678561B2
In the invention, a first processor that controls operation of a predetermined controlled unit and a second processor are operated in a first mode, a second mode, and a third mode, in the first mode the first processor and second processor are operable respectively, in the second mode respective amounts of power supplied to the first and second processors are lower than that in the first mode, in the third mode respective amounts of power supplied to the first and second processors are an amount between that in the first mode and that in the second mode and at least the predetermined controlled unit is operable, and in the second mode, the first processor puts a process related to the first processor before a process related to the second processor until the second mode is transited to the third mode.
US09678559B1
A decision engine executing on an electronic device may determine, using sensor data captured by multiple sensors of the device, whether a user is present in an environment that includes the device. If the user is determined to be present in the environment, the device may transition from a first state to a second state. The first state may be a first power state of the device in which the device is powered off or an idle or dormant state in which the device is powered on but a display of the device is powered off. Correspondingly, the second state may be a second power state of the device in which the device and the display are powered on and content is being rendered on the display. If the decision engine cannot make a determination based on the sensor data, a context engine may adjudicate the user presence determination.
US09678551B2
The present disclosure is directed to visual field replacement unit (FRU) identification and retaining FRU status information of one or more field replaceable units in a host system device when one or more of the field replaceable units is removed from the host system device disconnecting host power to the removed field replaceable unit(s). The one or more field replaceable units may be located on a carrier printed circuit board assembly and the host system device may contain multiple field replaceable units and/or multiple carrier printed circuit board subassemblies. Once the host power is disconnected from the carrier, an alternate power source continues to provide power to keep the FRU indicator illuminated for repairs or replacement. The FRU indicator is illuminated long enough for a service technician to place the carrier on a bench or table top and recognize the failed FRU from the remaining FRUs.
US09678545B2
Product-to-product variation, routing conflicts and undocumented product design changes in commercial off-the-shelf components are accommodated using additive manufacturing to modify interfaces for such components on a pre-fabricated component connection and interface structure. Radio frequency waveguides, printed circuit structures and additive twisted pair technology allow adaptive re-routing or shielding of signal lines on the design of the interface structure. Connectors and signal routing for power, radio frequency signals, and data signals may be adapted to enable interoperability of the off-the-shelf components.
US09678542B2
Flexible hinge spine techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a flexible hinge is configured to communicatively and physically couple an input device to a computing device and may implement functionality such as a support layer and minimum bend radius. The input device may also include functionality to promote a secure physical connection between the input device and the computing device. One example of this includes use of one or more protrusions that are configured to be removed from respective cavities of the computing device along a particular axis but mechanically bind along other axes. Other techniques include use of a laminate structure to form a connection portion of the input device.
US09678537B2
A mobile device case having a first port and a second port, both for interfacing with a mobile device and a third port electrically connected to both the first port and the second port, the third port for interfacing with a peripheral. In one embodiment, the first port may be for power and the second port may be for data, and the third port may be a circular port having rings of conductive material electrically connected to either the first port or the second port. In one embodiment, the third port may further be recessed into a back surface of the case, and walls of the recessed segment may be used as a portion of a support system for removably fixing peripherals to the third port.
US09678529B2
One aspect of the disclosure provides a computer system. In one embodiment, the computer system comprises a clock generator, at least one processor, and a clock frequency controller. The clock generator is configured to provide a clock signal at a clock frequency. The at least one processor is configured to receive the clock signal and to operate at a speed dependent on the clock frequency. The clock frequency controller is configured to receive efficiency information indicating a current efficiency of the at least one processor. The clock frequency controller is further configured to receive a request from the processor for a target number of processor instructions to be handled in a particular time period. The clock frequency controller is further configured to output a frequency control signal to the clock generator for controlling the clock frequency in dependence thereon.
US09678526B2
A current generation circuit including a first and a second bipolar transistors, a current distribution circuit that makes a first current and a second current flow through the first and second bipolar transistors, respectively, the first current and the second current corresponding to a first control voltage, a first NMOS transistor disposed between the first bipolar transistor and the first current distribution circuit, a second NMOS transistor disposed between the second bipolar transistor and the first current distribution circuit, a first resistive element, a first operational amplifier that outputs the second control voltage to the gates of the first and the second NMOS transistors according to a drain voltage of the first NMOS transistor and a reference bias voltage, and a second operational amplifier that generates the first control voltage according to a drain voltage of the second NMOS transistor and the reference bias voltage.
US09678525B2
A method for smoothing current consumed by an electronic device is based on a series of current copying operations and on a current source delivering a reference current. The reference current is delivered in such a manner that current consumed as seen from the power supply depends on the reference current.
US09678515B2
The present disclosure provides a lightweight two-stage pressure regulator for controlling the flow of gas from a high pressure source. The two stage pressure regulator comprises a gas inlet, a first piston pressure regulator stage, a second piston pressure regulator stage and a gas outlet. The first piston pressure regulator stage and the second piston pressure regulator stage are arranged to be coaxial such that the gas flow path is substantially along the axis of the first and second piston regulator stages.
US09678514B2
A double port regulator assembly includes a first fluid port and a second fluid port. A fixed valve seat assembly is disposed proximate the first fluid port and a floating valve seat assembly is disposed proximate the second fluid port. A first valve plug cooperates with the fixed valve seat assembly to open and close the first fluid port and a second valve lug cooperates with the floating valve seat assembly to open and close the second fluid port. The floating valve seat assembly includes a floating valve seat that is movable with respect to the fixed valve seat.
US09678508B2
A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle. Data relating to a plurality of proposed vehicle locations is received and a simulated vehicle path based on the received data is generated. A simulated vehicle orientation for at least one point on the simulated vehicle path is determined and presented in a user-discernable form. User verification of the simulated vehicle orientation for at least one point on the simulated vehicle path is received. Approved vehicle control commands from the simulated vehicle path and simulated vehicle orientation are produced such that the approved vehicle control commands control the autonomous vehicle to follow the simulated vehicle path and the simulated vehicle orientation.
US09678501B2
Systems and methods for fuel cell stack part serialization and tracking. In an embodiment, a barcode may be applied to a fuel cell stack part which may identify the fuel cell stack part. In an embodiment, the barcode may be applied as ink on a green fuel cell stack part prior to sintering. In an embodiment, a portion of a fuel cell stack part may be imaged and pattern recognition techniques may be utilized to identify the fuel cell stack part based on the unique features of fuel cell stack part. In an embodiment, portion of a fuel cell stack part may be measured to generate one or more series of unique volume/area values and one or more series of unique volume/area values may be utilized to identify the fuel cell stack part.
US09678497B2
Multiple parallel slave processes and a master process are assigned to a node executing an operating system such that the operating system maintains a ready queue comprising a list of one or more processes that are ready to be executed by at least one processing core. A parallel slave process takes an action that causes the operating system to keep the parallel slave process out of the ready queue. Based on receiving an indication that the parallel slave process is to be kept out of the ready queue, the master process sets the parallel slave process to a blocking state, selects a second parallel slave process that is in a runnable state but is currently kept from being in the ready queue, and takes an action that causes the operating system to add the parallel slave process that is in the runnable state to the ready queue.
US09678492B2
A controller module, method, and a non-transitory computer program product are disclosed for the dynamic configuration of an industrial control system, which can include a current settings receiver configured to receive current configuration and security settings of the industrial control system, a changed settings receiver configured to receive changed configuration settings of the industrial control system, a settings analyzer configured to determine, based on the current configuration and security settings and the changed configuration settings, updated configuration and security settings of the industrial control system, and a dynamic activator configured to dynamically establish at least one communication path in order to activate updated configuration and security settings of the industrial control system.
US09678489B1
A device includes a case for holding a mobile computer against a user's body so that a camera of the mobile computer faces away from the user's body. The device includes a wedge assembly, including a hinge and a wedge piece for contacting the user's body. The mobile computer can cause the wedge piece to rotate about the hinge, thereby positioning the case to an angle with respect to the user's body.
US09678469B2
A collected toner container includes a container with a collecting port receiving a collected toner on one end in a longitudinal direction and a conveying member convey the toner collected from the collecting port from the one end toward the other end. The conveying member includes a plurality of forward conveyance sections and a plurality of reverse conveyance sections configured to convey the toner in a direction opposite to the forward conveyance section. The reverse conveyance sections are arranged alternately with the forward conveyance sections in an axial direction and a length of a downstreammost reverse conveyance section, in the direction of conveyance of the forward conveyance sections, is formed to be longest among the plurality of reverse conveyance sections.
US09678468B2
There is provided a cleaning apparatus including a cleaning member configured to collect developer on an image bearing member, and a storage chamber configured to store the developer, wherein cross-sectional areas of a lengthwise center and an end portion of the storage chamber in a lengthwise direction of the storage chamber are different, the cross sections being orthogonal to the lengthwise direction.
US09678457B2
A cartridge includes a coupling member, a transmitted member, and a rotary member. The transmitted member includes an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the coupling member, and a protruded portion integrally formed with an inner wall of the accommodating portion and protruding from the inner wall toward an inside of the accommodating portion. The coupling member includes a free end portion having a rotational force receiving portion that receives a rotational force, a connected portion connected to the transmitted member in such a manner that at least a part of the connected portion can be accommodated in the accommodating portion, and a recessed portion provided at the connected portion so that the protruded portion can enter. An inclination angle of a rotation axis of the coupling member relative to a rotation axis of the transmitted member is variable.
US09678456B1
An image forming unit includes an image carrier; a first roller that is in contact with and charges the image carrier; a second roller that is in contact with the first roller and obtains toner from or supplies toner to the first roller; an exposure section that irradiates the charged image carrier with light to form an electrostatic latent image; a development section that develops the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image; a transfer section that transfers the toner image to a transfer member; a control section that performs control such that the toner moves from the image carrier to the first roller and to the second roller or such that the toner to moves from the second roller to the first roller and to the image carrier; and a collecting member that collects the toner that has moved from the first roller to the image carrier.
US09678453B2
A semiconductive roller (1) is formed from a semiconductive rubber composition which contains a rubber component including 15 to 80 mass % of an epichlorohydrin rubber, and has an oxide film (5) formed in its outer peripheral surface (4). The arithmetic average roughness Ra of the outer peripheral surface is 1.0 to 3.5 μm, and the ratio S/S0 of a measured surface area S per unit area of the outer peripheral surface to a theoretical surface area S0 per unit area of the outer peripheral surface determined assuming that the outer peripheral surface is a smooth surface is 2.0 to 5.0.
US09678451B2
Provided is a toner that has a plurality of toner particles. Each toner particle can include a binder resin core and a shell disposed about the binder resin core. The binder resin core can include at least one binder resin. The shell can include a plurality of metal nanoparticles. The binder resin core can be prepared by forming an aggregate of the binder resin in which metallic nanoparticles are not present.
US09678446B2
A electrophotographic photoconductor is provided. The electrophotographic photoconductor includes a conductive support, an undercoat layer overlying the conductive support, and a photosensitive layer overlying the undercoat layer. The undercoat layer includes a metal oxide particle, binder resin, and a compound having a urea group.
US09678431B2
The present disclosure provides an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography process. The process includes loading a wafer to an EUV lithography system having an EUV source; determining a dose margin according to an exposure dosage and a plasma condition of the EUV source; and performing a lithography exposing process to the wafer by EUV light from the EUV source, using the exposure dosage and the dose margin.
US09678422B2
Methods and materials for making a semiconductor device are described. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a middle layer comprising a floating additive polymer (FAP) at an upper surface of the middle layer, the FAP chemically bound to a photoacid generator (PAG) and including a fluorine-containing material over the substrate, forming a photoresist layer over the middle layer, exposing the photoresist layer and the middle layer to an exposure energy to produce acid bound to the middle layer in the exposed areas of the middle layer, and developing the photoresist layer.
US09678419B2
The invention provides a multifunctional panoramic head, including a horizontal rotating device, a vertical rotating device, a transverse arm and a vertical arm, the vertical rotating device includes a rotary disc, a vertical indexing disc and a locating component, the rotary disc and the vertical indexing disc are set on the upper part of the vertical arm, the locating component is set within the vertical arm, and the locating component includes a locating component body, a plurality of locating pins which are assembled together with the locating component body and a locating switch handle which can control the locating pins to stretch out and draw back. The invention also provides a panoramic image capture system. The invention can achieve precise angular positioning of a camera and lens, enhancing the stability of the head, reducing image blurring and hence improving success rate of panoramic image creation and stitching efficiency.
US09678418B2
A light source unit includes a light source which emits a light bundle in one direction; a polarizing unit which is formed to selectively transmit a certain polarized light of a certain wavelength in the light bundle; and a reflection unit which is formed so as to delay the phase of the polarized light so that the polarized light is reflected by the polarizing unit, convert one part of the wavelength of the polarized light, and reflect the polarized light toward the polarizing unit.
US09678409B2
An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes an actuator moving a mover including at least one lens receiving an optical image of an object; andan actuator driving unit controlling the actuator to drive the mover to a forward direction or to a reverse direction, wherein a separate direction bit is to drive a first search section and a second search section, in a case a search section driving the mover to the forward direction is defined as the first search section, and a search section driving the mover to the reverse direction is defined as the second search section.
US09678392B2
A liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer arranged between the first and second substrates, and a secondary spacer. The secondary spacer has a bottom face fixed to the first substrate and a top face forming a gap with respect to the second substrate. The top face of the secondary spacer is provided with a first electrode and the second substrate is provided, at a location corresponding to the top face of the secondary spacer, with a second electrode. When the liquid crystal panel is driven and depressed, the first electrode electrically engages the second electrode so that a pixel electrode of the liquid crystal display panel at the depressed site is electrically connected to the ground thereby eliminating a high voltage difference between the pixel electrode and a common electrode.
US09678384B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a film capable of giving a necessary retardation without degrading the contrast. The present invention provides a retardation film formed from a composition which includes a polymer compound, a rod-like liquid crystal compound and a photo-reactive compound, wherein the polymer compound has a side chain which has one or more azo groups and/or cynnamate groups, and 3 or more and 10 or less arylene groups; the side chain further has an optionally substituted amino group, or a hydrocarbon group at the terminal; an absolute value of difference between an SP value of the polymer compound and an SP value of the photo-reactive compound is 1.1 or less; and an in-plane retardation of the film at wavelength of 550 nm is 10 nm or more and 200 nm or less.
US09678374B2
The embodiments of the present invention disclose an array substrate, a liquid crystal display panel and a display device. Low temperature compensation circuits one-to-one corresponding to the data lines are added to the peripheral area of the array substrate; each low temperature compensation circuit comprises a first branch and a second branch connected in parallel; wherein the first branch comprises a divider resistance; the second branch comprises a diode and a capacitance connected in series; in the second branch the position of the diode and the position of the capacitance can be interchanged. Since the voltage difference between the both terminals of the diode rises with the temperature decreasing, the voltage difference on the route comprising the diode and the capacitance rises when the temperature decreases; a divider resistance is used in the route to divide the voltage of the voltage signal inputted at the data signal receiving terminal, reducing the voltage signal inputted to the input terminal of the data line. The reduced voltage signal brings a higher transmittance, compensating the integral shift of the voltage-transmittance curve in low temperature environment, such that the voltage-transmittance curve at low temperature is kept in accordance with that at normal temperature.
US09678368B2
To provide a self-dimming system including: a main body section which is configured by a pair of transparent substrates arranged to face each other and to be separated from each other, and a frame body holding the pair of transparent substrates and forming a gap together with the pair of transparent substrates; a dimming section which is arranged in the gap and provided with a dimming element whose optical properties are reversibly changed by hydrogenation and dehydrogenation of the dimming element; a power-generating equipment which is arranged in the main body section; a hydrogen suction and discharge section which, when receiving electric power generated in the power-generating equipment, generates hydrogen by performing electrolysis and supplies the hydrogen to the gap and which, when not receiving electric power generated in the power-generating equipment, generates electric power by using the hydrogen in the gap; and control means which controls whether or not electric power generated in the power-generating equipment is supplied to the hydrogen suction and discharge section.
US09678361B2
Techniques and mechanisms to power automatic accommodation by an eye-mountable device. In an embodiment, the eye-mountable device includes an accommodation actuator to change an optical strength of the eye-mountable device. Control logic of the eye-mountable device is to transition a supply voltage between different levels to drive operation of the accommodation actuator, including the control logic to perform a step-wise transition of the supply voltage from a first voltage level to a second voltage level. In another embodiment, the control logic includes a bidirectional direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter. During the step-wise transition of the supply voltage, the bidirectional DC-DC converter is configured to aid in recharging a battery of the eye-mountable device with charge from the accommodation actuator.
US09678360B2
Eyeglasses that include a frame and temple members, wherein the temple members are hinged to the frame by a resilient member and hinge structure so that the temple members are preferentially retained in open or closed position. In some embodiments, the resilient member and hinge structure act as a spring to restore temple members that have been over-extended to their preferred open orientation.
US09678359B2
Eyewear with interchangeable magnetically-held stems and strap connectors utilize overlapping magnets with aligned magnetic poles where the poles are orthogonal to the axes of insertion of the magnets. A hook or pawl can be added to one of the magnetics and an indentation added to the other to create a physical as well as magnetic connection.
US09678355B2
In one embodiment, the optical device for generating an illumination pattern has a beam splitter and a pattern generator mounted in series and optically coupled one with the other. The beam splitter and the pattern generator are configured to cooperate one with the other in formatting an incident light beam into the illumination pattern. The illumination pattern has a plurality of diffraction patterns each resulting from a corresponding portion of the incident light beam being split from other portions of the incident light beam by the beam splitter. Each diffraction pattern has a zero-order beam. Each diffraction pattern overlaps with at least one of the other diffraction patterns and forms at least one overlapping region therewith, wherein the plurality of zero-order beams of the plurality of diffraction patterns are separated from one another in the illumination pattern.
US09678343B2
A method for operating virtual reality glasses involves displaying at least one virtual object from a first virtual viewing position by the virtual reality glasses and displaying the virtual object and a first position symbol at a point corresponding to the first virtual viewing position and at least one further position symbol at a point corresponding to a further virtual viewing position by an external display unit. If a predetermined confirmation action in relation to the further position symbol displayed on the display unit has been detected, a virtual position change is performed by the virtual reality glasses from the first virtual viewing position to the further virtual viewing position, whereupon the virtual object is displayed from the further virtual viewing position by the virtual reality glasses.
US09678340B2
A vehicular display apparatus includes a light source unit that emits laser light; a first optical system that uses a first projection surface, onto which a display image is projected, to make a virtual image discernible; a second optical system that uses a second projection surface, onto which the display image is projected, to make a real image discernible; a controller; and a switching mechanism that switch the two optical systems. The distance between the light source unit and first projection surface is smaller than the distance between the light source unit and second projection surface.
US09678337B2
A viewer includes a multifocal lens capable of setting one of a plurality of focal lengths. When a measuring section detects a change in gazing point distance, a selection section selects a focal length to be set among the plurality of focal lengths, and a determiner determines a time duration before a focal length of the multifocal lens is changed. A controller changes the focal length of the multifocal lens when a detector detects a blink or saccadic eye movement of the user before the determined time duration elapses.
US09678335B2
In a mirror drive device, a first actuator section and a second actuator section are arranged on both sides of a mirror supporting section that supports a mirror section so as to sandwich the mirror supporting section. The upper electrode of a first actuator section includes a first electrode section and a second electrode section, and an upper electrode of a second actuator section includes a third electrode section and a fourth electrode section. The arrangements of the electrode sections correspond to stress distribution of principal stresses in the piezoelectric body in resonant mode vibration, and in a piezoelectric body portion that corresponds to positions of the first electrode section and the third electrode section and a piezoelectric body portion that corresponds to positions of the second electrode section and the fourth electrode section, stresses in opposite directions to each other are generated.
US09678334B1
An image forming apparatus performs periodic line based image transformation in order to correct for irregularities in a mirror and for mechanical disturbances that may occur during the rotation of the mirror. The irregularities of the mirror and the mechanical disturbances that occur during the rotation of the mirror may be measured at installation or may be measured during an operation of the image formation apparatus. The characteristics of the mirror are stored as configuration data, which is referenced by a direction of rotation. The image forming apparatus adjusts image data according to the configuration data. The adjustment may occur through data manipulation in stored image data. Alternatively, the adjustment may occur through the control of a pixel rate used to modulate the image data into a transmitted laser beam. The image data may be received by a host device or the image data may be generated by a scanner.
US09678332B2
To optionally forming a multilevel light intensity distribution on an illumination pupil plane, the illumination apparatus implements Köhler illumination on an illumination target surface, using as a light source the light intensity distribution formed on the illumination pupil plane on the basis of light from a light source. The illumination apparatus has a spatial light modulator, a condensing optical system, and a controller. The spatial light modulator has reflecting surfaces which are two-dimensionally arranged and postures of which can be controlled independently of each other. The condensing optical system condenses light from the reflecting surfaces to form a predetermined light intensity distribution on the illumination pupil plane. The controller controls the number of reflecting surfaces contributing to arriving light, for each of points on the illumination pupil plane forming the light intensity distribution, according to a light intensity distribution to be formed on the illumination pupil plane.
US09678331B1
An optical path switching device is configured to selectively direct electromagnetic radiation toward one detector of a plurality of detectors. The switching device includes a platform, a mirror mount rotatably mounted on the platform by a bearing, a mirror coupled to the mirror mount, and an active actuator configured to rotate the mirror mount with respect to the platform a predetermined amount to direct electromagnetic radiation toward a desired detector.
US09678325B2
An analysis apparatus includes a two-dimensional coordinate detecting unit and a three-dimensional coordinate determining unit. The two-dimensional coordinate detecting unit is configured to detect, with respect to a captured image group obtained by capturing an analysis specimen including an analysis target object at a plurality of focal depths, a two-dimensional coordinate candidate being a candidate of a plane coordinate of the analysis target object in each captured image. The three-dimensional coordinate determining unit is configured to determine, based on a position relationship of the plane coordinate candidates between the captured images, a three-dimensional coordinate candidate being a candidate of a three-dimensional coordinate of the analysis target object.
US09678306B2
A compact, low-profile, low-cost imaging lens with an F-value of 2.5 or less and a wide field of view which corrects aberrations properly. Its elements are arranged from an object side to an image side: a first positive optical element group including a first positive lens having a convex object-side surface, a second negative lens having a concave image-side surface, and a third positive lens having a convex object-side surface; a second positive optical element group including a fourth positive lens having a convex image-side surface; and a third negative optical element group including a fifth negative double-sided aspheric lens having a concave image-side surface. The fifth lens image-side surface has at least one pole-change point off an optical axis. A double-sided aspheric aberration correction optical element with virtually no refractive power is located in an air gap nearer to the image plane than the first optical element group.
US09678304B2
A five-piece optical lens for capturing image and a five-piece optical module for capturing image, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, include a first lens with refractive power having an object-side surface which can be convex; a second lens with negative refractive power; a third lens with positive refractive power; a fourth lens with positive refractive power; and a fifth lens which can have negative refractive power, wherein an image-side surface thereof can be concave, and at least one surface of the fifth lens has an inflection point; both surfaces of each of the five lenses are aspheric. The optical lens can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.
US09678302B2
An adjustment apparatus (20) for an optical element (12) of an optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided comprising a drive (32), a cam disk (22) rotatable by the drive (32) and a transmission element (26) which is in contact with a periphery of the cam disk (22) and is connected to the optical element (12) in order thus to convert a rotary movement of the cam disk (22) into an adjustment movement of the optical element (12). In this respect, the cam disk (22) is manufactured from metal in an etching technology.
US09678297B2
A conduit for housing an optical waveguide is described comprising a rectangular cross-sectional exterior configuration and a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical interior bore. Also described is a method of installing a fiber optic conduit system, including forming a bundle of said conduits arranged as a stack one conduit in width, and forming a trunk line and at least one branch line. Also disclosed is a node housing for an optical waveguide network and a junction protector for an optical waveguide network installation comprising a hollow structure configured to retain a plurality of waveguide conduits, said protector comprising a trunk portion having open ends to receive first and second waveguide conduits, and a branch portion having an open end to receive a third wave guide conduit.
US09678285B2
An optical fiber connector and method for assembly and use are disclosed. The optical fiber connector is configured to have a small footprint so that the connector may be pushable or pullable through a conduit if use of a conduit may be needed. The connector may include a first number of connector components configured to fit through a conduit, and a second number of connector components that are configured to be installed to the first components, for example, after the connector is pushed or pulled through a conduit.
US09678271B2
A chip package includes an optical integrated circuit (such as a hybrid integrated circuit) and an integrated circuit that are proximate to each other in the chip package. The integrated circuit includes electrical circuits that modulate data, communicate data, and serialize/deserialize data, and the optical integrated circuit communicates optical signals with very high bandwidth. Moreover, a front surface of the integrated circuit is electrically coupled to a top surface of an interposer, and a top surface of the integrated circuit is electrically coupled to a front surface of the optical integrated circuit. Furthermore, a bottom surface of the optical integrated circuit faces the top surface of the interposer, and the front surface of the optical integrated circuit is optically coupled to an optical-fiber receptacle, which in turn is optically coupled to an optical-fiber connector.
US09678268B2
A display device includes a lower frame arranged on a side opposite to a display surface of a display panel. The lower frame includes a bottom wall portion, and a side wall portion that is formed so as to surround the bottom wall portion at an edge thereof. The display device also includes a plurality of light sources arranged along the side wall portion of the lower frame and a heat sink configured to dissipate heat generated from the plurality of light sources. The heat sink includes a plurality of groove portions that are formed along the bottom wall portion in a direction extending from the plurality of light sources.
US09678265B2
A light guide plate, a backlight module and a display device employing the same. The light guide plate is configured to guide light emitted from an LED lamp on an LED lamp strip, and a light incident surface of a side portion of the light guide plate is provided with an indentation; when the LED lamp is locked in the indentation, a light emitting center line of the LED lamp coincides a light incident center line of the light guide plate. The backlight module includes a light guide plate, and the display device includes the above backlight module.
US09678259B2
An optical filter device includes an interference filter and a housing. The interference filter includes a fixed substrate, a movable substrate joined to the fixed substrate, a fixed reflective film provided on the fixed substrate, and a movable reflective film provided on the movable substrate and opposed to the fixed reflective film across an inter-reflective film gap. The housing includes a base substrate on which the interference filter is arranged. A fixing member is arranged between the movable substrate and the base substrate. The movable substrate is fixed to the base substrate by the fixing member in one place excluding a region where the movable reflective film is provided.
US09678255B2
A display apparatus with improved light-transmitting property in transparent mode is presented. The apparatus includes a substrate, a plurality of display devices disposed on the substrate, and color filters, wherein the plurality of display devices are interposed between the color filters and the substrate, the color filters transmitting visible rays of a predefined wavelength band only when ultraviolet (UV) rays are received, and transmitting visible rays when no UV rays are received.
US09678253B2
A manufacturing method of a Blazed diffraction grating configured to diffract incident light and made of a CdTe or CdZnTe crystal material includes the step of forming a plurality of grating grooves in a processed surface of a work through machining using a processing machine for the Blazed diffraction grating. The forming step forms the grating grooves so that among surfaces of gratings formed by the forming step, a surface that receives the incident light most is set to a (110) plane as a crystal orientation of the crystal material.
US09678249B2
A polarizing plate protective film contains a compound represented by general formula (II-1) or (II-2). In general formulas (II-1) and (II-2), X represents a 6-membered cyclic acetal group; n represents an integer of 2 or more; and a plurality of Xs may be identical or different. In general formula (II-1), Z2 represents a linking group having a valence of n; R1 represents a substituent, when there are a plurality of R1s, at least two of the plurality of R1s may be taken together to form a ring, R1s in different benzene rings may be taken together to form a single bond; m represents an integer of 0-4; and the plurality of R1s may be identical or different. In general formula (II-2), Z3 represents an alkylene group having a valence of n, provided that Z3 does not have a ring structure.
US09678237B2
According to aspects of the present disclosure, systems and methods for optimizing deep resistivity measurements are described herein. The method may include obtaining one or more first multi-component measurements from a downhole tool disposed in a borehole. The downhole tool may comprise multi-component antennae. A relative structural dip angle, Φ, of the downhole tool relative to formations may be determined, for example, through the use of an additional downhole tool, or computationally using the one or more first multi-component measurements. A tilt angle of at least one of the multi-component antenna may be adjusted, with the adjusted tilt angle being based on the dip angle. The method may further include obtaining one or more second multi-component measurements associated with the adjusted tilt angle, and determining a formation characteristic based, at least in part, on the one or more second multi-component measurements, without including or considering formation anisotropy effects.
US09678235B2
Variable depth multicomponent sensor streamer. At least some of example embodiments are methods including designing a depth profile for first portion of a sensor streamer by determining a first target depth for a first hydrophone-geophone pair, the first hydrophone-geophone pair at a first offset along the sensor streamer, the determining based on a first projected geophone noise floor at the first offset and a first expected spectral notch of a hydrophone of the first hydrophone-geophone pair; and determining a second target depth for a second hydrophone-geophone pair, the second hydrophone-geophone pair at a second offset along the sensor streamer, the second offset greater than the first offset, and determining the second target depth based on a second projected geophone noise floor in the sensor streamer at the second offset and a second expected spectral notch of a hydrophone of the second hydrophone-geophone pair; wherein the second target depth is greater than the first target depth.
US09678230B2
Method and system for improving azimuth distribution. The system includes plural streamers towed by a streamer vessel; a central source towed by the streamer vessel; first and second front sources located in front of the plural streamers along a traveling direction of the streamer vessel; and first and second large offset front sources located in front of the first and second front sources along the traveling direction. The offset distance between the first and second large offset front sources, along a cross-line direction, is larger than an offset distance between the first and second front sources.
US09678224B2
A radiation detecting system, including: plastics scintillators juxtaposed to form at least one pair of contiguous plastics scintillators; a photomultiplier associated with each plastics scintillator to provide an electrical signal representative of the light signal generated in the plastics scintillator; a calculator connected to the photomultipliers and configured to: detect pulse coincidences between two electrical pulses provided by the photomultipliers associated with a pair of contiguous plastics scintillators; for each pulse coincidence, determine the time offset between the coincidence pulses relative to the pulse having the greatest amplitude taken as a zero reference; determine the number of pulse coincidences the time offset of which is included in a time offset window.
US09678216B2
A device for determining the position and orientation of a first body with respect to a second body uses a plurality of radio frequency (RF) transmitters on the first body to transmit a short range signal to one or more RF antennas on the second body. The first and second body are near each other and can be moveably coupled. A receiver circuit on the second body uses the plurality of RF signals received by the RF antennas to determine the position and orientation of the first body with respect to the second body. In some embodiments one or more GNSS antennas mounted to the second body will provide the GNSS coordinate system and location such that the position and orientation of both the first body and the second body can be referenced to the GNSS global coordinate system.
US09678213B2
A data collection device carried on board a satellite and making it possible to localize a source of interference, without using neighboring satellites, comprises: a reception device able to receive the frequency on the ground of the interference; at least three antenna points arranged on the satellite so as to be able to receive a radiofrequency signal coming from the target surface; a processor able to determine the amplitude of the interference signal at the level of each of the antenna points; a connection device able to connect successively each of the antenna points to the processor.
US09678201B2
An ultrasonic transducer includes a substrate; and a plurality of capacitive ultrasonic cells arranged on the substrate in a predetermined direction. Thicknesses of cavities in the plurality of capacitive ultrasonic cells are determined based on locations of the plurality of capacitive ultrasonic cells in the predetermined direction.
US09678198B2
The present invention provides for a milking implement for automatically milking a dairy animal. The implement includes a measuring device for measuring a position of an object such as at least one of a displaceable element of the milking implement and a teat of the dairy animal, and a control device for controlling at least the measuring device. The control device is configured to take at least one measurement, using the measuring device, on at least one point on the object in order to obtain a position information regarding the object, compare the obtained position information with a known position information regarding the object, and calibrate the measuring device on the basis of the comparison between the obtained position information and the known position information.
US09678194B2
Disclosed are implementations that include a method, performed by a network control device, including sending a first instruction to a first device to send a first measurement signal, and sending a second instruction to a second device to receive the first measurement signal. Following receipt of a first acknowledgement signal from the target mobile device, the first and second devices change their roles so the second device sends, and the first device receives, a second measurement signal, and the first and second devices receive a second acknowledgement signal from the target device. Position of the target device is determined based on timing measurements associated with the first and second measurement signals, the first and second acknowledgement signals, and on known positions of the first and second devices. Another network device is selected to perform additional measurements upon a determination that a desired accuracy of the position determined was not achieved.
US09678191B2
An electrostatic capacitance detection circuit includes a charge amplifier that has an operational amplifier in which a capacitor is provided on a feedback path, and into which a signal including detection of electric charge of an inter-electrode capacitor of a sensor electrode and electric charge due to an external noise, and a selection switch that can switch a direction of a capacitor that is connected to input and output terminals of the charge amplifier through a feedback path that switches the direction of the capacitor depending on a direction of electric charge flowing in from a detection-side electrode of the sensor electrode, due to a drive signal applied to the sensor electrode.
US09678175B2
Eddy current detection probes and related methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the eddy current detection probes are hybrid probes, including a solid state sensor and a detection loop. In some embodiments, the eddy current detection probes include a drive coil and a detection loop, with the detection loop having a sensitive axis that is not parallel to principal axis of the drive coil. In some such embodiments, the sensitive axis of the detection loop is perpendicular to the principal axis of the drive coil.
US09678168B2
A system including a sensor circuit and comparison circuitry. The sensor circuit is configured to provide a sensed signal. The comparison circuitry is configured to receive an input signal that corresponds to the sensed signal. The comparison circuitry provides output signals that switch state at different levels of the input signal.
US09678166B2
A first part circuit and an operational amplifier form a level shift circuit, which selects either one of battery cells forming an assembled battery and extracts and holds a voltage representing an inter-terminal voltage of a selected battery cell. A second part circuit and the operational amplifier form a residual voltage generation circuit, which generates a residual voltage by amplifying a differential voltage between a conversion subject voltage and an analog voltage corresponding to a conversion result of an A/D conversion circuit and applies the residual voltage to the A/D conversion circuit as a conversion subject voltage. A switchover circuit operates the operational amplifier as either one of the level shift circuit and the residual voltage generation circuit and switches over a connection-state to apply a voltage held by the level shift circuit to the A/D conversion circuit and the residual voltage generation circuit as a conversion subject voltage.
US09678165B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for estimating a parameter of a secondary battery. The apparatus includes a sensor unit configured to repeatedly measure a voltage of a secondary battery including a blended cathode material containing at least first and second cathode materials at time intervals when the secondary battery is in an operation state or in an idle state, and a control unit configured to receive the repeatedly measured plurality of voltages from the sensor unit, identify an inflection point in a voltage change profile corresponding to the plurality of voltages, and estimate a depth of discharge (DOD) of the secondary battery by using a voltage measured after the inflection point is identified as a reference voltage.
US09678161B2
The disclosure relates to checking a rotational speed relay of a wind turbine. The wind turbine comprises a rotational speed sensor for the rotational speed of a shaft. The rotational speed sensor outputs a rotational speed signal, which is fed to a signal input of the rotational speed relay. According to disclosure, the rotational speed signal fed to the rotational speed relay is first inactivated. Then a signal generator is activated, which produces a check signal equivalent to the rotational speed signal. The check signal is fed to the signal input of the rotational speed relay. The signal generator is operated with a check signal that is beyond a rotational speed limit, and a check is performed to determine if the rotational speed relay generates a switch-off command. This allows the functional capability of the rotational speed relay to be checked reliably and at low cost.
US09678154B2
In one embodiment, a method for signal delay in a scan path comprises, in a scan mode, delaying a scan signal in the scan path by propagating the scan signal through a plurality of delay devices coupled in series, wherein a first one of the delay devices is powered by a first voltage, a second one of the delay devices is powered by a second voltage, and the second voltage is greater than the first voltage. The method also comprises, in a functional mode, disabling the delay devices.
US09678153B2
The invention relates to a method and to a switching device (4) and a measurement system (1). In the method according to the invention for determining time differences between measurement signals measured by at least two couple measurement devices (2, 3), a time basis signal is first generated for the measurement devices (2, 3). A common reference signal is further generated by a signal generator (5). The common reference signal is fed to measurement signal inputs (8, 9) of the coupled measuring devices (2, 3) via the switching device (4). A measurement signal is then fed to said measurement signal inputs (8, 9) of the coupled measuring devices (2, 3) and the time position of the measurement signals relative to the reference signal is determined in each of the coupled measuring devices (2, 3). The switching device (4), to this end, has a first measuring device connection (12) and a second measuring device connection (13) connected to the measurement signal inputs (8, 9) of the first measuring device (2) and the second measuring device (3). A reference signal is alternately fed via the measuring device connections (12, 13) of the switching device (4) to the first or the second measuring device (2, 3) by connecting the first measuring device connection (12) to the reference signal input (22) or a first measuring connection (14), or by connecting the second measuring device connection (13) to the reference signal input (22) or the second measuring connection (15).
US09678143B2
A semiconductor evaluation apparatus includes a jig for evaluation and a probe substrate. The jig for evaluation is provided such that a plurality of semiconductor devices can be placed thereon. The probe substrate is provided so as to face the jig for evaluation, and includes a contact probe. The jig for evaluation includes a plurality of housing portions divided by a frame portion such that the plurality of semiconductor devices can be separately placed on the plurality of housing portions, respectively. The semiconductor evaluation apparatus is configured such that the contact probe can be brought into contact with a plurality of elements in the state where a space is provided by bringing the frame portion and the probe substrate in proximity to each other. In this space, each of the plurality of semiconductor devices is placed between a corresponding one of the plurality of housing portions and the probe substrate.
US09678142B2
The present invention relates generally to testing of interconnects in a semiconductor die, and more particularly to testing of semiconductor chips that are three-dimensionally stacked via an interposer. In one aspect, a method for testing an interconnect in a semiconductor die comprises providing the semiconductor die, which includes a plurality of electrical contact elements formed at one or more surfaces of the semiconductor die, at least one interconnect-under-test disposed between a first electrical contact element and a second electrical contact element, and an electrical component electrically coupled between the interconnect-under-test and at least one third electrical contact element.
US09678139B2
A method and apparatus for detecting a high energy event in a transistor includes performing the steps of: monitoring a gate to source voltage of a transistor during transistor start up, continuously determining a derivative of the monitored gate to source voltage with respect to time, and detecting a high energy event when the derivative of the gate to source voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US09678133B2
A new patch cord connection in a communications network may be automatically identified by using a plug insertion/removal sensor to detect the insertion of a first plug into a first connector port of a patch panel. An electrical cable diagnostic test is used to detect an insertion of a second plug into a first connector port on a network device. It may be inferred that a new patch cord connection has been established between the first connector port of the patch panel and the first connector port of the network device based on the consecutive detections of the insertions of the first and second plugs.
US09678131B2
A controller area network (CAN) includes a CAN bus having a CAN-H wire, a CAN-L wire, and a pair of CAN bus terminators located at opposite ends of the CAN bus. The CAN further includes a plurality of nodes including controllers wherein at least one of the controllers is a monitoring controller. The monitoring controller includes a detection control routine for isolating faults on the CAN bus including measuring a CAN-H wire voltage, measuring a CAN-L wire voltage, and isolating a short fault based upon the CAN-H wire voltage and the CAN-L wire voltage.
US09678129B2
In order to detect the current state of a system component, e.g. to display whether an electrical conductor, a cable or the like, is currently live, a field generator that generates a magnetic field in the environment of the system part is provided, which generator is connected to an organic magnetoresistive OMR semiconductor element that is arranged stationary in the environment of the system component to be monitored, and a voltage source for generating an electrical voltage between two electrodes of the OMR semiconductor element is provided. The device and the method can be fitted in a simple manner and cost-effectively to almost any system part, even at a later stage to already existing systems. A corresponding display shows the desired information locally limited and in the simplest manner: if the electric conductor is currently energized, an additional evaluation is not necessary.
US09678117B2
An electrical test switch has an integral energized circuit indicator. The energized circuit indicator is integrated into the front and/or rear covers of the test switch. The energized circuit indicator is passive and senses properties of the at least one conductor of the device being tested by being placed in proximity of the device. The voltage display provides personnel a visual indication of whether the electrical device being tested is energized without requiring a physical test or direct connection to the at least one conductor of the device being measured.
US09678103B2
An atomic force microscope (AFM) comprises a physical system and a controller comprising a plurality of digital filters and configured to control the physical system. The AFM is tuned by performing automatic loop shaping on a loop response defined by a frequency response of the physical system and a frequency response of the controller, and adjusting a gain of the controller according to a peak in a magnitude of the loop response.
US09678101B2
Provided is a sensor signal output apparatus that outputs a sensor signal at times of the sensor being in steady operation and outputs the operational status of the sensor instead of the sensor signal when the sensor is at fault or in non-steady operation in order to thereby to have a receiver machine obtain a correct sensor signal. The sensor signal output apparatus includes a sensor detecting a physical quantity, a diagnosis part diagnosing the operating state of the sensor, and a communication part transmitting the result of detection by the sensor and the result of diagnosis by the diagnosis part. When the sensor is determined to be normally operating, the communication part selectively outputs the result of detection by the sensor. When the sensor is not determined to be normally operating, the communication part selectively outputs a signal indicative of the operating state of the sensor.
US09678099B2
Techniques are disclosed for providing an optical assembly to provide stereoscopic images of a reflected laser spot to a camera for wind measurement. According to certain embodiments of the invention, an optical assembly can include left and right (or first and second) subassemblies having lens groups and reflective elements that cause light traveling left and right subassemblies to follow similar paths to focus on respective left and right portions of a camera. The camera can then use left and right images of reflected laser light to determine wind based on turbulence patterns in the left and right images.
US09678098B2
A non-ferrous shaft includes multiple non-integral ferrous tooth components, thereby allowing a sensor to detect the shaft speed.
US09678093B2
An automatic analyzer provided with a roller and a reagent container shoulder presser at the position where an operator inserts a reagent container into the automatic analyzer. The reagent container is pushed while the lid of the reagent container is made to touch the upper side of the roller and the shoulder presser is made to touch the shoulder of the reagent container, and the application of upward force to the lid causes the lid of the reagent container to be half open, after which the reagent container is inserted in the analyzer.
US09678086B2
The present invention relates to the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD). More specifically, the present invention provides methods and compositions useful in diagnosing and assessing AD. In another embodiment, a method for diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in a patient comprises the steps of (a) obtaining CSF sample from the patient; (b) adding to the sample isotopically labeled peptides identical to a portion of one or more biomarker proteins, wherein the one or more biomarker proteins comprise total APP, APP isoform 751, APP isoform 770, amyloid beta 40 peptide, APOE, and Clusterin; and (c) measuring the one or more biomarker proteins in the sample using mass spectrometry, wherein the level of one or more biomarker proteins compared to a control correlates with AD in the patient.
US09678077B2
This invention relates to a triple immunostaining assay (ERG/TFF3/HMWCK) for sensitive and specific detection of prostate cancer. Positive staining for at least one of ERG or TFF3 combined with negative staining of HMWCK in a sample such as prostate tissue sample is indicative of cancer.
US09678076B2
The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to methods and devices for determining a disease state in a patient. In some embodiments, human serum albumin may be analyzed for associated molecules, wherein the associated molecules are related to a disease such as cancer. Certain aspects of the invention are generally directed to devices and methods for determining a disease state as a function of the three-dimensional structure of a blood protein, human serum albumin (HSA) or its complex with other ligands, e.g., due to binding to disease-specific ligands. HSA interacts with biomolecules associated with a disease presence, and liganded HSA may differentially partition between aqueous phases of a predetermined partitioning system, wherein the partitioning behavior differs between HSA from healthy individuals and HSA from people harboring the predetermined disease, such as breast cancer.
US09678068B2
Described herein are systems and methods for the detection of and/or determination of a measure of the concentration of analyte molecules or particles in a fluid sample. In some cases, the systems and methods employ techniques to reduce or limit the negative effects associated with non-specific binding events. Certain methods of the present invention involve associating the analyte molecules at least a first type of binding ligand and at least a second type of binding ligand, and spatially segregating the analyte molecules into a plurality of locations on a surface. The presence of an analyte molecule at or in a location may be determined by determining the presence of both the first type of binding ligand and the second type of binding ligand.
US09678055B2
A method of forming a nanopore in a lipid bilayer is disclosed. A nanopore forming solution is deposited over a lipid bilayer. The nanopore forming solution has a concentration level and a corresponding activity level of pore molecules such that nanopores are substantially not formed un-stimulated in the lipid bilayer. Formation of a nanopore in the lipid bilayer is initiated by applying an agitation stimulus level to the lipid bilayer. In some embodiments, the concentration level and the corresponding activity level of pore molecules are at levels such that less than 30 percent of a plurality of available lipid bilayers have nanopores formed un-stimulated therein.
US09678049B2
A method for processing measured values two nitrogen oxide sensors, one of which is arranged upstream of a nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter in the exhaust gas system of a motor vehicle and the other of which is arranged downstream of the nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter, involves recording and comparing measured values from the two nitrogen oxide sensors at least approximately at the same time. A sensitivity of the first nitrogen oxide sensor and/or of the second nitrogen oxide sensor is changed depending on the result of the comparison.
US09678047B2
Dye compositions comprising rhodizonate dye particles encapsulated within a shearable hydrophobic organic encapsulant composition.
US09678042B2
A surface acoustic wave sensor of the invention includes: a piezo element that propagates a surface acoustic wave; an electrode that carries out conversion of an electrical signal and a surface acoustic wave; and a porous base member into which liquid infiltrates and which comes into contact with the piezo element.
US09678039B2
An ion mobility spectrometry method comprising determining whether a sample comprises ions having a first characteristic, and in the event that it is determined that the sample comprises ions having the first characteristic, applying thermal energy together with a radio frequency, RF, electric field to parent ions so as to obtain daughter ions having a second characteristic for inferring at least one identity for the parent ions based on the first characteristic and the second characteristic.
US09678023B2
Provided is a method of determining a surface orientation of a single crystal wafer. The method of determining a surface orientation of a single crystal wafer using high resolution X-ray rocking curve measurement may determine a surface angle of the wafer and a direction of the surface angle using rocking curve measurement of a high resolution X-ray diffraction method and measuring a misalignment angle formed by a rotation axis of a measuring apparatus and a surface normal of the wafer and an orientation of the misalignment angle.
US09678019B2
A lumber check grader-actuatable interface enables a check grader to interact with grade-quality measured boards of lumber conveyed along a flow path and passing in front of the check grader. The interface accurately and continuously tracks the location of each board in front of a check grader and tracks the location of the check grader's hands relative to the boards. Gestures can, therefore, be used for a selected board to perform additional actions, such as changing the grade or changing the trims. The interface enables a check grader to walk alongside and keep pace with a board of interest as it is transported and to provide feedback to the interface about a needed change for the board of interest. By knowing which board is of interest to a check grader, the interface can display additional information for only that board without overwhelming the check grader with non-stop information overload.
US09678015B2
A method and apparatus for analyzing one or more elements of targeted moving snack food surfaces uses laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy to detect the presence, absence, or amount of an element on a heterogeneous surface, including seasoned and ready-to-eat snack foods. A laser is used to quantify the element concentration without destroying the targeted sample. An automated on-line system may be integrated into the method to create a closed-loop feedback control system, adjusting the concentration as desired.
US09678010B2
A closed path infrared sensor includes an enclosure, a first energy source within the enclosure, at least a second energy source within the enclosure, at least one detector system within the enclosure and a mirror system external to the enclosure and spaced from the enclosure. The mirror system reflects energy from the first energy source to the at least one detector system via a first analytical path and reflects energy from the second energy source to the at least one detector system via a second analytical path. Each of the first analytical path and the second analytical path are less than two feet in length.
US09678008B2
A device for measuring scattered light from a measurement volume with compensation for background signals, includes a light sensor having separately evaluable light-sensitive elements, a single imaging optical system, wherein the light-sensitive elements are arranged in the image plane and the measurement volume is arranged in the corresponding object plane of the optical system, a light transmitter with a collimated light beam, this light-sensitive element detects scattered light from the measurement volume and background light from the overlapping visual ranges behind the subject plane, and the other light-sensitive element detects no or significantly less scattered light from the measurement volume and background light from the overlapping visual areas behind the object plane, and a diaphragm that restricts the visual ranges of the light-sensitive elements behind the object plane.
US09678006B2
In an optical sensor, a light emission system emits an irradiated light of a linear polarization in a first polarization direction toward a surface of a target object having a sheet shape from an incident direction which is inclined with respect to a normal direction of the surface. A first light detection system includes a first light detector arranged on a first light path of a specular reflected light, which is emitted from the light emission system and is specularly reflected from the target object. A second light detection system includes a second light detector arranged on a second light path of a diffuse reflected light which is diffusely reflected from an incident plane on the target object. The second light detector receives second light passed by an optical element which passes a linear polarization component of a second polarization direction perpendicular to the first polarization direction.
US09678001B2
A route based analysis system includes, in one version, an infrared spectrometer subsystem configured to produce a spectrum for oil introduced to an oil sample cell. The system displays a route including assets with oil to be inspected. The type of oil used in each asset is determined. For each asset on the route, one or more oil property methods specific to the oil used in the asset are located. The spectrum of each asset's oil is analyzed using specific methods in order to produce oil properties.
US09677993B2
The present invention provides systems, devices, and methods for point-of-care and/or distributed testing services. The methods and devices of the invention are directed toward automatic detection of analytes in a bodily fluid. The components of the device can be modified to allow for more flexible and robust use with the disclosed methods for a variety of medical, laboratory, and other applications. The systems, devices, and methods of the present invention can allow for effective use of samples by improved sample preparation and analysis.
US09677992B2
A corrosion protection performance degradation detection sensor includes a detection electrode that reacts with the corrosion inhibitor dissolved in the solvent and forms on a surface thereof an electrode surface film which inhibits corrosion, a counter electrode that is disposed so as to face the detection electrode, and an AC power supply that applies an AC voltage between the detection electrode and the counter electrode. A change in concentration of the corrosion inhibitor in the solvent is detected, on the basis of a change in impedance of the electrode surface film formed on the surface of the detection electrode.
US09677991B2
An environmental testing system for environmental testing with particulate matter, such as sand and dust, is disclosed. The testing system uses a feeder to feed precise amounts of particulate matter into an injector, which injects the particulate matter into the airflow leading to a test chamber with approximately the same velocity as the surrounding airflow. The feeder may be a loss-in-weight gravimetric feeder, and the injector may be a Venturi valve actuated by compressed air. The system also includes operator protection features, such as an exhaust fan that creates negative pressure when the door to the test chamber is opened, and when particulate matter is dumped into the system. A temperature control system heats and cools the airflow during tests, a pneumatic conveying system moves fluidized particulate matter into and out of the system, and a controller provides automatic control over the system.
US09677988B1
An apparatus for collecting and integrating radiation is disclosed. In embodiments, the apparatus comprises a shell configured to at least partially surround a sample container having a liquid sample contained therein. The liquid sample can comprise one or more liquids. The shell includes one or more inner surfaces with suitable reflectance for causing radiation that is at least one of scattered, reflected, diffracted, refracted, or radiated from one or more particles within the liquid sample to be redirected within the shell until the radiation is received by a detector.
US09677987B2
A method includes measuring a leakage current through a particulate matter sample in a humidity chamber, the leakage current is measured as a relative humidity in the humidity chamber is incrementally increased, and plotting a logarithm of the measured leakage current as a function of the relative humidity. The plot of the logarithm of the measured leakage current as a function of the relative humidity has an inversion region, a low relative humidity region, and a high relative humidity region.
US09677980B2
A method of entrapping chlorine dioxide gas, including the steps of using an aqueous solution containing an alkaline substance and an iodide and bringing air containing the chlorine dioxide gas into contact with the aqueous solution.
US09677974B2
A method of assessing a condition of a wheel on a vehicle is provided and includes driving the vehicle in a generally longitudinal direction; contactlessly determining a distance to a first location on the wheel; contactlessly determining a distance to a second location on the wheel at a second time that is later than the first time; determining an indication of a tire-wearing angle for the wheel based on the distance to the first location and the distance to the second location; and outputting the indication of the tire wearing angle for the wheel.
US09677970B2
An apparatus for testing a side collision with a vehicle body connects between a side carriage for testing a side collision and a side structure which includes a roof rail part configured to be connected to an upper portion of the side carriage, a side sill part configured to be connected to a side lower part of the side carriage, and a pillar part configured to connect between the roof rail part and the side sill part and be connected to a pillar of the side carriage. The side carriage is connected to the side structure while forming a space between the side carriage and the side structure.
US09677965B2
A pressure gauge of which the presence or absence of a measurement error can be easily checked is provided. A pressure gauge includes: a piston; a first conversion mechanism converting a linear motion of the piston against an elastic force of a spring into a rotating motion about a first rotation shaft, the linear motion being caused by the pressure transmitted from a target to be measured; an index that is fixed to one end side of the first rotation shaft; a dial; momentum detecting means for detecting momentum indicating an amount of movement of the piston; and a pressure sensor measuring a pressure value or the pressure acting on the internal space of the cylinder. Determining means determines whether a difference between a first measurement value and a second measurement value exceeds a predetermined value, the first measurement, value being estimated from the momentum detected toy the momentum detecting means, the second measurement value being measured by the pressure sensor. Notifying means notifies a user if the difference between the first measurement value and the second measurement value exceeds the predetermined value.
US09677958B2
A preload device has a receiving pocket for receiving a force sensor. A tool engagement section is spaced apart from the receiving pocket in the direction of the longitudinal axis. At least one elastically flexible section is non-detachably arranged between the receiving pocket and at least one of at least two force introduction plates. Elastic bending of the at least one elastically flexible section through the application of forces to at least one of the force introduction plates and to the tool engagement section effects a reduction in the height of a relaxed state of the preload device to facilitate insertion of the preload device in a recess in a machine part or between multiple machine parts or in a drum.
US09677955B2
Provided is a contact force sensor of high sensitivity and high accuracy. This contact force sensor is fabricated by machining of a silicon semiconductor material. The contact force sensor is provided with a sensor configuration having a base part, and a contact force transmission part formed in a direction orthogonal to this base part. A stress-electricity conversion element for converting displacement of the contact force transmission part to an electrical signal, formed in the base part of the sensor configuration, is also provided.
US09677954B2
An instant response pressure sensor is disclosed. An embodiment shows no continuous gap is configured between a piezoresistor and neighboring element(s) in thickness direction. The instant response pressure sensor is able to respond immediately to an extremely small pressure applied thereupon in the early stage with an extremely small distance movement because the instant response pressure sensor without having an extra press journey to move before trigging.
US09677952B2
Input devices are provided. In accordance with an example embodiment, an input device includes an interface layer that flexes in response to pressure, a plurality of sense electrodes, a dielectric between the sense electrodes and the interface layer, and interconnecting circuitry. The dielectric compresses or expands in response to movement of the interface layer, and exhibits dielectric characteristics that vary based upon a state of compression of the dielectric. The interconnecting circuitry is to the sense electrodes and provides an output indicative of both the position of each sense electrode and an electric characteristic at each sense electrode that provides an indication of pressure applied to the dielectric adjacent the respective sense electrodes.
US09677936B2
Provided is a spectro-sensor which includes a nano antenna array. The nano antenna array includes a plurality of nano antennas which have different resonance wavelength bands and an optical detector array which includes a plurality of optical detectors that respectively detect light from the plurality of nano antennas.
US09677933B2
An optical system having an optical sensor with an ultra-short FP cavity, and a low-resolution optical interrogation system coupled to the optical sensor and operational to send light signals and receive light signals to and from the optical sensor is disclosed. The optical system may operate in a wavelength range including the visible and near-infrared range. Methods of interrogating optical sensors are provided, as are numerous other aspects.
US09677930B2
A method of interrupt control for a control unit of an electronic system includes receiving digital data; determining a value of the digital data; and sending interrupt signals to a host by the following methods according to the value: when the control unit is in a second signal sending status and after the value of the digital data increases to be greater than a first threshold and remains greater than the first threshold for a first period of time, switching the control unit to a first signal sending status; and when the control unit is in the first signal sending status and after the value of the digital data decreases to be smaller than a second threshold and remains smaller than the second threshold for a second period of time, switching the control unit to the second signal sending status. The second threshold is smaller than the first threshold.
US09677927B2
A pickup sensor is disclosed for a magnetostrictive sensing instrument for sensing position of a magnetic field. The instrument includes an elongate tube having a near end and a distal end. A magnetostrictive wire in the tube has first and second ends. The second end is operatively secured at the tube distal end. The pickup sensor comprises a housing mounted proximate the tube near end. A pair of crystals are in the housing sandwiching the magnetostrictive wire so that interaction between an electric pulse on the magnetostrictive wire and a magnetic field produces a torsional wave on the magnetostrictive wire sensed by the pair of crystals. A pair of spring elements are mounted in the housing sandwiching the crystals to provide consistent contact force between the crystals and the magnetostrictive wire.
US09677922B2
In order to determine a level and the flow speed of a medium, FMCW transmission signals and CW transmission signals are emitted alternately. Using the Doppler effect, the flow speed of the medium can be determined from the reflected CW signal. The level is determined from the reflected FMCW signal.
US09677919B2
A gauge system comprises a sensor that produces a sensor signal as a function of a sensed parameter. The gauge system also comprises a motor and a gauge having a scale and a movable indication needle that is driven by the motor and displays a measurement value of the sensed parameter based upon position of the needle relative to the scale. The gauge system further includes a position sensor that produces a position feedback signal representative of a sensed position of the needle and a controller that provides drive commands to the motor based on the sensor signal and the position feedback signal.
US09677918B2
A light housing for propagating light therethrough is disclosed. The light housing includes a base surface, indented surfaces extending from and connected to the base surface, and roof portions extending from and connected to the base surface. The indented surfaces form openings for light emission through the openings. Each roof portion extends over one of the openings. An instrument cluster assembly for a motor vehicle including the light housing is also disclosed.
US09677915B2
Means are provided for the support of the automated process of supplying beverages. More particularly, the detection of the presence and the contents of exchangeable supply packs in beverage dispensing machines is automated. A pack-in-place detection is provided by emitting light and measuring the presence of the emitted light on one light detector, the system determines the absence or the correct/incorrect placement of the supply pack. A product availability detection is provided by detecting the intensity of light coming through a transparent element in the supply pack by another light detector, the system identifies the degree of product presence in the supply pack.
US09677914B2
An optoelectronic sensor for recognizing object edges of objects comprises at least three light transmitters which are arranged such that at least two different spacings result between two respective light transmitters. For recognizing an object edge, an evaluation unit is configured to carry out a common evaluation of an image taken by a light receiver of a light spot generated by the transmitted light beams of a first light transmitter and of an image taken by a light receiver of a light spot generated by the transmitted light beams of another light transmitter. The pair of light transmitters to be used for the common evaluation can be selected in dependence on a selection criterion from at least two differently spaced apart pairs of light transmitters.
US09677913B2
Inductive displacement sensors and methods of using them may be useful in a variety of contexts. For example, systems for precisely measuring linear or angular motion may use inductive displacement sensors to measure changes in position. An apparatus, such as a sensor, can include a primary inductor. The apparatus can also include a first secondary inductor that is field-coupled to the primary inductor. The apparatus can further include a second secondary inductor that is field-coupled to the primary inductor. The first secondary inductor and the second secondary inductor can be configured as coordinated inductors to detect motion of a coupler. The coordinated inductors can be configured to provide a reference signal and a measurement signal, wherein the reference signal has a constant amplitude across a range of motion of the coupler.
US09677910B1
Disclosed is an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system, used in a power system that comprises a high-voltage power supplying switch, at least one transformer and at least one smart meter. Each transformer has one end connected to at least one smart meter and has another end connected to the high-voltage power supplying switch or at least another transformer. The AMI system comprises a plurality of power line bridges and at least one data concentrator unit (DCU). Each power line bridge is connected to the transformer in parallel. The DCU has one end electrically connected to the power line bridge. The power line bridge has one end electrically connected to the smart meter, and another end electrically connected to the DCU. The power line bridge communicates with the smart meter via the narrowband power line communication (NPLC), and communicates with the DCU via the broadband over power line communication (BPLC).
US09677902B2
Devices, methods and systems are disclosed herein to describe a range marker for a navigation system. The range marker may delineate a bounded area within a navigation map that a vehicle may travel based on the amount of fuel remaining. As the fuel continues to decrease during operation of the vehicle, the range marker may become smaller and smaller indicating a shrinking range since the fuel remaining decreases, thereby allowing the driver to easily identify which gas stations may be within a range of the vehicle (based on a current vehicle fuel level) and which gas stations might not be within the range of the vehicle.
US09677888B2
A method and system are provided for improved pedestrian dead reckoning. In an embodiment, the crab angle of a device, i.e., the angle by which the device direction of travel differs from the device orientation, is determined via the processing of measurements from a vector accelerometer. The measured acceleration vector is rotated so that one component is vertical, and the crab angle is then found by determining a horizontal direction having the greatest energy. Correlations between the two horizontal acceleration components and the vertical acceleration component may be computed to determine the user's gait, further improving dead reckoning, e.g., for improving indoor position resolution.
US09677877B2
A current problem with 3D scanners using structured light patterns is choosing a single light pattern to accommodate all possible object/range conditions. Objects far from the 3D scanner often require different patterns than objects that located close to the 3D scanner. In addition, large objects often require different patterns than small objects. To automatically sense and adapt to a wide variety of size/range conditions, the present invention embraces a 3D scanner for dimensioning that has two projectors for projecting two different light patterns. Based on the scanning requirements for a particular object, one of the two projected patterns may be used to obtain information regarding the shape of an object. In one possible embodiment, this shape information is used to obtain the object's dimensions.
US09677869B2
Various embodiments of systems and methods are described herein for obtaining wide field OCT images and other types of image data from at least one portion of a sample. Various embodiments of systems, and methods are described herein for assessing a degree of differentiation for a second region of an OCT image of a tissue sample with respect to another first. Various embodiments of a sample container are also described herein for containing a tissue sample and maintaining the tissue sample in a defined orientation during imaging or handling.
US09677868B2
A tip clearance measurement system (TCMS) includes a probe and sensing circuitry. The probe directs microwave signals toward a turbine blade and receives microwave signals reflected by the turbine blade. The sensing circuitry includes a switch having a first state in which a main frequency is provided at an output of the switch and a second state in which a reference frequency is provided at an output of the switch. The sensing circuitry further includes a first conditioning circuit that receives a frequency provided at the output of the switch and provides a conditioned frequency to the probe and a second conditioning circuit that receives both the conditioned frequency provided by the first conditioning circuit and a reflected frequency received by the probe, and provides a conditioned output based on the conditioned frequency and reflected frequency.
US09677866B2
An impact initiated attachment device for attachment to a target, comprises a housing having a front face which abuts against the target in use, one or more fasteners, a drive mechanism for driving the fasteners(s) from a first position within the housing to a second position protruding from the front face of the housing, and a trigger mechanism for triggering activation of the drive mechanism comprising a trigger extending from the front face of the housing. The device is particularly useful in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and demolition for attaching one or more disrupters to a target for disposal.
US09677865B2
A pistol magazine holster may comprise a body capable of retaining a pistol magazine, a support structure coupled to the body and adapted to secure the body to a compartment, and a snag member coupled to the body. The snag member may be adapted to retain the body within the compartment as the magazine is withdrawn.
US09677860B2
Shot shells with enhanced performance due to inclusion of an absorber between the shot wad and the shot payload. The absorber reduces the pressure within a shot gun's chamber during firing of the shell, such as by absorbing energy generated during the firing process, and may thereafter return some of the energy to the pellets as the absorber and pellets are propelled along the firearm's barrel. Accordingly, the absorber enables a shot shell to generate shot payload velocities that are greater than would be achieved without the absorber, typically at a lower internal chamber pressure. In some embodiments, the absorber has (1) a Young's Modulus of less than 2,000 psi (137.9 bar), (2) a compressive strength of at least 100 psi (6.9 bar) and/or less than 10,000 psi (689.5 bar), and/or (3) a tensile strength of at least 145 psi (10 bar) and/or less than 10,000 psi (689.5 bar).
US09677855B2
A protective glove includes an inner liner having a soft pliable material configured to cover a front side and a back side of a user's hand. A protective layer is attached to an exterior surface of the inner liner and disposed over at least the front side of the user's hand. The protective layer includes a wire mesh panel that is configured to protect the user's hand from cuts, abrasions, and punctures and that has an edge portion with a plurality of wire ends. An edge protector is disposed over the edge portion of the wire mesh panel and substantially conceals the wire ends to prevent the edge portion from fraying and the plurality of wire ends from piercing the inner liner. An outer layer is attached to the exterior surface of the inner liner and is disposed over the protective layer.
US09677851B2
Methods and systems for aligning a point of aim with a point of impact for a projectile device are disclosed. Using a superposition device coupled to the projectile device, at least one optical reference point is superposed within a first target area with at least one beam from the superposition device. A position of at least one of the optical reference points is noted. A projectile is expelled from the projectile device at a second target area, while the position of the at least one optical reference point is maintained, to create the point of impact. The point of aim for the projectile device is adjusted to align with the point of impact while the position of the at least one optical reference point is maintained.
US09677850B2
A device for aligning a telescopic sight includes two opposing reference cards connected to each other within a common plane by a connecting bar and a level indicator on a surface of at least one card. The alignment device is attached to the front or rear scope base of a firearm, so that the front surfaces of two opposing reference cards appear on either side of the reticle. Once the alignment device is secured to the scope base of the firearm, the reticle may be aligned with the bore axis by rotating the telescopic sight until the horizontal cross hair is parallel with any corresponding pair of reference lines of the reference cards. The alignment device can also include an adapter that allows the alignment device to be mounted to a firearm by coupling to a corresponding slot of a mounting platform.
US09677845B2
A handguard comprising a plurality of layers of composite material. At least one of the layers is a ceramic matrix composite and at least one of the layers, and preferably the outer later, is a carbon fiber reinforced composite. In addition, the outermost layer is preferably a woven fabric carbon fiber reinforced composite. In one embodiment, one or more ceramic matrix composite layers is sandwiched between layers of carbon fiber reinforced composite. In another embodiment, an innermost layer is a ceramic matrix composite and the outermost layer is a carbon fiber reinforced composite.
US09677843B2
An apparatus including a plurality of coaxially nested tubes, a respective spring-loaded retainer located on a first end of some tubes, each retainer having an outer edge wherein release of the control aperture causes a spring of the retainer to urge the outer edge radially outwards into the recess of the second end of the next adjacent outside tube; and a control rod having a button on one end and a tapered tip on the opposing end, the control rod engages the control aperture of each of the tubes in the stowed position to retain the outer edge of the respective retainers in the retracted position and as the plurality of tubes are extended, the tapered end of the control rod disengages the control aperture thereby causing the button to abruptly pop outwards from the marginal edge of the outer most tube.
US09677839B1
A suppressor assembly for reducing noise from a ballistic fired from a firearm muzzle is provided. The suppressor assembly includes an inlet cap having a cap inlet end, a cap outlet end, and a cap body extending therebetween. A baffle assembly is integrally coupled to the inlet cap, wherein the baffle assembly includes a baffle inlet end, a baffle outlet end, and a body extending continuously therebetween. An outlet cap is removably coupled to the baffle outlet end and includes another cap inlet end, another cap outlet end, and another cap body extending therebetween. The suppressor assembly includes a housing removably and pressurably coupled to the inlet cap and to the outlet cap.
US09677823B2
Heat exchanger having a housing, having a first fluid port and having a second fluid port, wherein the housing is in fluid communication with a fluid source via the fluid ports, wherein the housing can be traversed by a flow of a fluid, wherein the housing is of multi-part design and has a housing upper part and a housing lower part, wherein the housing upper part and/or the housing lower part has a base region and an at least partially encircling turned-up edge region, wherein housing the two parts are formed from a plastic or a fiber composite material.
US09677822B2
A temperature-forcing system, for controlling the temperature of an electronic device under test, comprising— a temperature-forcing head, including a face configured to be put in thermal contact with the device and an evaporator, in direct or indirect thermal contact with the face; and a refrigerant circulation subsystem, including a compressor, a condenser and a metering device; wherein the subsystem is configured to circulate a bi-phase refrigerant, in closed loop fashion, through the evaporator so that, during circulation, the refrigerant is maintained at high pressure between the compressor and the metering device and at low pressure while flowing through the evaporator. More specifically, in the disclosed system the refrigerant, while flowing through the evaporator at a low pressure, is operative to dissipate heat therefrom by evaporation and the evaporator or any part thereof is formed as a heat exchanger.
US09677817B1
Ammonium carbamate-based methods and systems for management of thermal loads, particularly low-quality, high-flux thermal loads. The increase in temperature in heat sensitive devices is mitigated by the endothermic decomposition of ammonium carbamate into carbon dioxide and ammonia gases. This process has an energy density an order of magnitude greater than conventional thermal management materials and is particularly useful for temperatures between 20° C. and 100° C. Systems incorporating ammonium carbamate may be controlled by regulating the fluid flow, overhead pressure, temperature, or combinations thereof.
US09677815B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling suspension (8) in a suspension smelting furnace (1), to a suspension smelting furnace, and to a concentrate burner (2). The method comprises feeding additionally to pulverous solid matter (6) and additionally to reaction gas (7) reducing agent (13) into the suspension smelting furnace (1), wherein reducing agent (13) is fed in the form of a concentrated stream of reducing agent (13) through the suspension (8) in the reaction shaft (2) onto the surface (9) of the melt (10) to form a reducing zone (15) containing reducing agent (13) within the collection zone (14) of the melt (10).
US09677812B1
The clothes dryer vent airflow system is configured to work in between an exhaust port of an existing clothes dryer and an exhaust line that extends outside of a dwelling. The clothes dryer vent airflow system includes a fan housing that includes a dryer exhaust port on a first side while an intake port and fan housing exhaust port are provided on a second side of the fan housing. The fan housing includes a fan therein, which is adapted to receive accelerated clothes dryer exhaust air from the clothes dryer via the dryer exhaust port as well as ambient air via the intake port.
US09677808B2
An ice support and storage tray includes one or more cavities having upwardly facing spherical surface portions that support spherical pieces of ice. The tray is preferably made of a material having a low thermal conductivity to reduce melting of the spherical pieces of ice. The spherical support surfaces minimize melting points that could otherwise cause the spherical pieces of ice to melt and develop irregular surface shapes. The ice tray may be used in a freezer having an ice maker that transports spheres of ice to the ice support cavities. The ice storage tray may be configured to permit removal of spheres of ice without tipping the tray upside down and/or twisting/deforming the tray.
US09677798B2
A refrigerating device includes a compressor, a temperature detector and a protection control section. The compressor compresses a refrigerant. The temperature detector detects a temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor on an outside of the compressor. The protection control section judges that a transition following a starting of the compressor is in effect and that a steady state following an end of the transition in which a state of the refrigerant is stable is in effect, performs protection control on the compressor when a detected temperature detected by the temperature detector exceeds a first determination temperature during the transition, and performs the protection control on the compressor when the detected temperature exceeds a second determination temperature during the steady state.
US09677795B2
Methods and systems to manage refrigerant levels in a chiller system are provided. An evaporator of the chiller system may be configured to have a spill over port allowing oil containing refrigerant to spill over through the spill over port. The spill over port may be positioned at a place that corresponds to a desired refrigerant level in the evaporator. The spill over refrigerant may be directed into a heat exchanger that is configured to substantially vaporize refrigerant of the spill over refrigerant to a slightly superheat temperature. A method of maintaining a proper refrigerant level in the evaporator may include regulating a refrigerant flow to the evaporator so that the vaporized refrigerant of the spill over refrigerant is maintained at the slightly superheat temperature.
US09677790B2
A multi-room air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit, a relay unit connected to an outdoor unit by first and second connection pipes, and a plurality of indoor units connected to the relay unit. The outdoor unit includes a second gas-liquid separating device provided on the suction side of the compressor. The suction side of the compressor and the second gas-liquid separating device are connected to each other by a gas-side outlet pipe and a liquid-side outlet pipe.
US09677789B2
A refrigerator having a refrigerating circuit with a compressor, a condenser and two evaporators placed in different compartments of the appliance comprises valve means for alternatively directing refrigerant flow towards one of the evaporators. One of the evaporators is in heat exchange relationship with a phase change material.
US09677776B2
The wireless wall thermostat of the present invention utilizes a push-contact mechanical system that allows a user to raise or lower the temperature within a space by applying a force on the top or bottom center of the front of the thermostat. The perpendicular force applied by the user generates a moment arm around pivot connectors, which rotates the thermostat clockwise or counter-clockwise. When rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise, contact buttons attached to the back of the thermostat come into contact with the trigger tabs of a stationary trigger plate mounted to a wall through use of an electromagnetic attraction between a steel disc and a magnet. When the trigger tabs press the contact buttons, the contact buttons send a signal to the central processing unit of the thermostat's internal circuit board to modulate the temperature setting. In addition, the wireless wall thermostat can be detachable by utilizing a magnetic release smart mount.
US09677771B2
The present invention provides an oven appliance and for operation of an oven appliance. The oven appliance and a method for operating the oven appliance include features such that the door of the oven appliance remains locked unless a cooking cycle is initiated or a door unlocking element is utilized.
US09677764B2
The method for adjusting a natural gas temperature for a fuel supply line of a gas turbine engine includes measuring by infrared analysis the natural gas percentage content of methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H10), carbon dioxide (CO2), calculating the nitrogen (N2) percentage content as the complement to 100 of the measured percentage content of methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H10), carbon dioxide (CO2), calculating an index indicative of the natural gas energy content and adjusting the natural gas temperature on the basis of the index.
US09677759B2
An air/gas premix burner is disclosed. The air/gas premix burner includes a fan for sending an air/gas mixture towards a combustion head and a gas valve for regulating the introduction of combustible gas. The air/gas premix burner also includes an air/gas mixer, which comprises a localized pressure loss device, and a combustion head. The air/gas mixer includes two channels. One of the channels is provided with two hinged flaps that are designed to open and close for regulating the flow rate of the mixture.
US09677756B1
A door having a front face with a transparent portion and a decorative insert set behind. The decorative insert presents a thematic scene as desired by the user that may be easily changed. The door further enhances the display of the decorative insert by providing selectively controlled illumination and an accompanying audio presentation related to the insert's theme.
US09677753B2
In various embodiments, a lighting device may include at least one heat sink and a base configured to accommodate at least one light source and at least one device connected to the lighting device configured to generate a cooling media flow, wherein the cooling media flow runs predominantly parallel to the plane of the base of the heat sink.
US09677751B2
A multi-functional heat sink includes a top portion and a skirt portion extending down from the top portion. When a light source is attached to the top portion on an underside of the multi-functional heat sink, the skirt portion reduces risk of rain water from reaching the light source and prevents light emitted by the light source from exiting the multi-functional heat sink in an upward direction. The multi-functional heat sink is made from sheet metal.
US09677747B2
An illustrative remodel light assembly for installation from a front side surface of a ceiling or wall panel, such as drywall, includes a collar inserted though and secured to a panel cutout with bendable fingers, a light housing, a light trim including a trim flange, the flange for abutting a front side surface of the panel, and a plurality of self-actuating spring clips coupled to an outer periphery of one of the light housing and light trim, the self-actuating spring clips engaging the collar. The collar provides a secure structure that lines the cutout and upon which the trim flange and self-actuating spring clips secure the light assembly.
US09677739B2
Provided is an optical diffuser apparatus, for use adjacent a light engine in a lighting fixture for producing desired color-mixed light output. The apparatus includes a first diffuser panel and a second diffuser panel connected to the first diffuser panel. The first diffuser panel and the second diffuser panel are configured and arranged so that, when the apparatus is positioned for operation within the fixture, light emitted by the light engine at greater than a pre-determined threshold angle with respect to a centerline of the engine will pass through both the first diffuser panel and the second diffuser panel, thereby mixing colors of the light toward the desired color-mixed light output.
US09677735B2
A lamp for a vehicle is provided and includes a first lamp module having an interior lens and at least one first light source. The first light source is configured to emit light toward the interior lens. Additionally, a second lamp module is disposed on a first side of the first lamp module and emits light and a third lamp module is disposed on a second side of the first lamp module and emits light and has an emission area that is different from the second lamp module.
US09677730B2
A car lamp includes a housing provided with an optical reflecting surface for reflecting light produced by LED lamps to have the light passing through an optical panel and projected outward. The car lamp has a heat-dissipating member fixed between the housing and the optical panel and installed thereon with LED lamps. The heat-dissipating member has its front end disposed with an auxiliary heat sink that extends in a reserved space of the optical panel and firmly combined with the optical panel. Thus, the auxiliary heat sink is able to directly contact with normal-temperature outside air for elevating heat dissipation effect and prolonging service life of the car lamp.
US09677722B2
Lighting assembly comprises an optical fiber light guide panel member having a light conducting core cladded on opposite sides by cladding made of optically transparent material having a lower index of refraction than the light conducting core to cause total internal reflection of conducted light within the light conducting core at the core-cladding interface. Disruptions at one or more areas of the cladding cause conducted light within the light conducting core to be emitted from one or more areas of the panel member. Electrical circuitry is bonded to one or both sides of the cladding. One or more LEDs embedded in the panel member are in electrical conduct with the electrical circuitry and optically coupled to the light conducting core.
US09677714B2
Cryogenic injection compositions, systems and methods for cryogenically modulating flow in a conduit
Provided are cryogenic injection compositions, methods and systems to introduce a cryogenic injection composition into a fluid within a conduit such that at least a portion of the temperature of the fluid is reduced to a temperature below which at least a portion of the fluid becomes a solid thereby reversibly plugging the conduit. Also provided are methods and systems for cooling or freezing a conduit and a fluid therein using a pressurized fluid cryogen as a thermal transfer fluid for controlled removal of thermal energy from a thermal conducting metal conduit and a fluid contained therein.
US09677712B2
A compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station module is provided. The module includes a vault for below grade installation, the vault comprising a compressor for compressing natural gas, a storage tank for holding compressed natural gas, a dispenser for dispensing compressed natural gas, each of the compressor, the storage tank and the dispenser in fluid communication with each other. Secured to the vault is a canopy for above grade orientation, the canopy comprising a CNG fuel nozzle in fluid communication with the dispenser and an interface for allowance purchase of the CNG.
US09677704B1
A device adapted to hold and display a mobile telephone or digital device and formed into an operative shape comprising a front face set upon a first plane oriented at an acute first angle from horizontal, a back face set upon a second plane oriented at an acute second angle from horizontal, a sill disposed horizontally and joined to the front face, and a reveal disposed at an upward acute angle from horizontal and operatively joined to the sill, such that the front face, sill and reveal form a trough and that a mobile device lays against and is supported upon the front face, and the reveal retains the mobile device in the trough.
US09677700B2
Induction heating apparatus and methods are presented for pipe end heating using a solenoid coil to heat a controlled length of a pipe workpiece by adjusting the relative positions of the solenoid coil with a flux diverter positioned relative to the pipe end to divert flux from the coil to control inductive heating of the pipe workpiece end.
US09677697B2
A breakaway coupling with system-tight end flanges on the first and second coupling halves is provided. The end flanges have oblique or conical surfaces and are embraced there by ring segments, which in turn are pressed against the oblique or conical surfaces by a pre-stressing element. With an excessive pull or tension on the coupling halves, the latter can separate counter to the force of the pre-stressing element.
US09677691B2
In one example embodiment, a bracket for a sprinkler fitting is provided having a first flange, a second flange connected to the first flange, and a mounting flange connected to at least one of the first and second flanges. The mounting flange may for example be substantially orthogonal to the first and second flanges. One of the first and second flanges has a preferably circular hole formed therethrough, and the other has a polygonal opening formed therethrough and aligned with the circular hole. An adapter having a polygonal end is inserted in the bracket such that the polygonal end aligns with the polygonal opening so as to limit rotation of the adapter with respect to the bracket, the adapter disposing a sprinkler coupled thereto with respect to a finished ceiling surface of a structure.
US09677669B2
Disclosed is a shaft seal device comprising: a seal body made by layering a plurality of thin-plate seal pieces in the circumferential direction of the rotor, and a housing that is fixed to the stator, holds the seal body so as to surround the same from radially outside, and includes a first facing surface that faces the high-pressure-side edge of the seal body and a second facing surface that faces the low-pressure-side edge of the seal body. The high-pressure-side clearance between the seal body and the first facing surface is smaller than the low-pressure-side clearance between the seal body and the second facing surface, and a slope part that slopes gradually toward the high-pressure side toward the tip end, which is on the rotor side, is formed in the low-pressure-side edge of each thin-plate seal piece of the seal body.
US09677664B2
Differential case includes multiple oil intake holes being respectively at positions offset from intermediate point between two pinions adjacent peripherally in the case toward the pinions, the holes passing through outer peripheral wall of the case in inside-outside direction and being capable of taking lubricant oil into the case. The holes are formed such that as seen in projection plane orthogonal to rotation axis of the case, axes of the holes extending from inner to outer opening ends of the holes are inclined forward in rotational direction of the case when vehicle travels forward. As seen in the projection plane, the pinions are placed outside areas between first and second imaginary lines, the first imaginary lines joining the axis and one peripheral ends of the inner opening ends, the second imaginary lines joining the axis and the other peripheral ends thereof.
US09677662B2
The present disclosure provides a lubricating system for a dual splined hollow shaft. A fluid dam is formed circumferentially within the hollow shaft to control the lubrication of the dual splines. The fluid dam includes a pair of sidewalls extending radially inward from the inner wall of the hollow shaft to a height defined by a top wall. A channel formed through the pair of sidewalls permits the movement of lubricant between splines of the hollow shaft. An egress port extends from the top wall of the dam through the outer wall of the hollow shaft to permit lubricant to exit the hollow shaft.
US09677657B2
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are directed to drive mechanisms that may be used in, for example, power transmission and/or speed reduction applications. Exemplary embodiments of the invention may include a housing within which is located a wheel. A portion of a wave generator and a portion of an output element also reside within the chamber and are in communication with the wheel. Rotation of the wave generator causes a rotation of the wheel in a slipping manner and, thus, with a reduced rotational speed. Rotation of the wheel causes a rotation of the output element.
US09677655B2
A hybrid vehicle driving device includes: a first differential mechanism connected to an engine and transmitting a rotation of the engine; a second differential mechanism connecting the first differential mechanism and a drive wheel; engagement devices changing a speed of the first differential mechanism; and a valve arranged in a hydraulic circuit and regulating the engagement devices from simultaneously engaging. The second differential mechanism includes a first rotation element connected to an output element of the first differential mechanism, a second rotation element connected to a first rotating machine, and a third rotation element connected to a second rotating machine and the drive wheel. The valve regulates the engagement devices from simultaneously engaging at a time of traveling with the engine, and tolerates the engagement devices from simultaneously engaging at a time of traveling with the first rotating machine and the second rotating machine.
US09677653B1
A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a main housing and a housing cap sealed to the main housing to form a sump wherein a pump and motor are rotatably disposed. A pump mount is located in the sump and engaged to the housing cap. The housing cap also includes a motor mount for an axial piston motor, and hydraulic fluid passages for connecting the pump to the motor. A pocket is located in the housing cap to rotationally support a swash plate for the pump.
US09677649B2
A hydraulic auto-tensioner includes a plunger fitted to a bottom end portion of a rod so as to be slidable along a radially inner surface of a valve sleeve and a radially outer surface of the rod. The plunger has a bottom plate formed with a valve hole. A first leakage gap is defined between sliding surfaces of the plunger and the valve sleeve, and a second leakage gap of which the flow resistance is lower is defined between sliding surfaces of the plunger and the rod such that while the engine is running normally, oil in a pressure chamber leaks into a reservoir chamber through the second leakage gap, and when starting the engine by actuating a starter/generator, the plunger rises until the valve hole is closed so that oil in the pressure chamber leaks into the reservoir chamber through the first leakage gap.
US09677641B2
A vibration damping system for machining parts uses magneto rheological radial squeeze film damper technology to reduce part vibration, enhance tool lifecycles, and to improve part surface finish. In the described embodiment, the damping system includes a pair of damping cylinders affixed to a machine tool fixture, each cylinder containing a solid core concentrically situated within an internal sleeve portion of the cylinder. Rheological fluid contained within a radial space between the core and sleeve defines a radial squeeze channel for the fluid. Fluid stiffness is controlled in real time by varying an electric current to modulate a magnetic field passing through the fluid to dampen vibrations in accordance with at least one predetermined algorithm. As material is removed from the part during machining, the fluid damping characteristics are actively managed by a machine tool controller as a function of a combination of dynamically changing and predetermined algorithmic inputs.
US09677633B2
An assembly is described for braking and indexing rotating components, including guide rollers of balers. A wheel is attached to a rotating component and is surrounded, at least in part, by a traction device. A tensioning assembly with a lost motion linkage is attached to the traction device and to a frame. A counterforce assembly is also attached to the traction device and to the frame. When a portion of the tensioning assembly is moved in a braking direction, the stop prevents further movement of the lost motion linkage to apply a tensioning force to the traction device. The tensioning force is resisted by the counterforce assembly to impose a braking force on the wheel and thereby brake the rotating component. Moving the portion of the tensioning assembly in a release direction moves the lost motion linkage away from the stop, thereby reducing the braking force on the wheel.
US09677631B2
Disclosed is an electro-mechanical brake device, including: a disk; a pair of brake pads respectively disposed at both sides of the disk; a caliper respectively disposed inside the pair of brake pads; a brake module portion disposed at one side of the caliper; and a parking brake portion that is disposed to be perpendicular to a motor shaft of the brake module portion and is connected to a parking brake switch that is operated by a driver, and selectively controls a rotation of the motor shaft depending on the operation of the parking brake switch.
US09677621B2
The invention relates to an friction assembly (1) comprising a plurality of inner discs (2) and a plurality of outer discs (3), the inner discs (2) and the outer discs (3) being arranged alternately in an axial direction (4), and wherein between the inner discs (2) and the outer discs (3) respectively at least one freely rotational friction ring (11) is arranged, and wherein the inner discs (2) and/or the outer discs (3) can be adjusted relative to one another in axial direction (4) to form a frictional connection with the friction rings (11). The friction rings (11) are made from at least one resin, containing at least one additive, or a sintered material, wherein the friction rings (11) on a surface (19) facing an inner disc (2) and on a surface (18) facing an outer disc (3) comprise respectively at least one compacted area (20) and at least one non-compacted area (21) and/or at least one area (21) that is less compacted than the compacted area (20).
US09677620B2
A system and method that includes a device that is used in a particular method to install bearings into a lift cylinder yoke bore. The device includes use of a hollow bore hydraulic push cylinder that maneuvers a push plate along a threaded rod. The push plate sinks or sets into the bearing and applies pressure through the movement of the hydraulic push cylinder to place the bearing into a fit position without the abrasion that is usually associated with the installation of bearings into the lift cylinder yoke bore. The threaded rod attaches to a threaded bushing that is inserted into the bore and secured with the use of a pin. The threaded rod extends out of the bore opening and allows for the attachment of a bearing, push plate, hydraulic push cylinder, washer and nut.
US09677618B2
A bearing assembly includes a housing having an interior cavity, an opening, and an inward facing seal mounting surface. The assembly includes a bearing and a shaft mounted in the bearing for rotation about a central axis. The assembly includes a seal positioned axially between the interior cavity and the exterior of the housing to inhibit contaminants from entering the housing and damaging the bearing. The seal has a bearing side, an opening side, and a gap surface facing a corresponding surface that is either an outward facing surface of the shaft or thee inward facing seal mounting surface of the housing. The gap surface is spaced from the corresponding surface by a clearance gap. The width of the clearance gap increases from the bearing side to the opening side to direct fluid in the clearance gap away from the interior cavity as the shaft rotates.
US09677615B2
A bearing ring comprising at least one jamming bead of a seal, each bead protruding relative to a radial surface of the ring, in an orthoradial direction relative to a central axis of the ring.
US09677613B2
A slide member provided with a substrate; and a slide layer provided in a surface side of the substrate is disclosed. The slide layer includes a soft layer in the surface side and a DLC layer in the under surface side of the soft layer. The soft layer has a Young's modulus E ranging from 6 to 30 GPa, hardness Ht ranging from 0.2 to 3.0 GPa, and a value of ratio [E/Ht] of the foregoing ranging from 10 to 30. The DLC layer has a hardness Hd ranging from 5 to 60 GPa.
US09677606B2
A bidirectional bearing, a drive train, a planetary gear and a wind generator having a bidirectional bearing are provided. A bidirectional bearing comprises an outer bearing shell having a first intermediate bearing shell, which is coupled to the shaft and which cooperates with the outer bearing shell. The bidirectional bearing further comprises a second intermediate bearing shell, which is arranged opposite to the outer bearing shell with respect to the first intermediate bearing shell. The second intermediate bearing shell is configured to take up a first load having a first direction from the first intermediate bearing shell. Furthermore, the first second intermediate bearing shell is configured to receive a second load having a second direction, which is substantially opposite to the first direction. The first intermediate bearing shell receives the second load from the second intermediate bearing shell and is configured to transfer this second load to the outer bearing shell.
US09677598B2
A pad structure includes a main body made of soft material. The main body has an axial surface, a suction surface, and a peripheral surface. The axial surface is provided for being pressed by a pressing member of the sucking disc. The suction surface is provided for sucking on a target object. The axial surface includes a lifting portion and a pressure bearing block. The pressure bearing block is hard and circular shaped. The portion of the main body between the lifting portion and the pressure bearing block is defined as a deformable portion. The portion of the main body below the pressure bearing block is defined as an undeformable portion. The undeformable portion is located at the outer periphery of the main body. The deformable portion is located between the lifting portion and the undeformable portion.
US09677595B2
[Problem] The present invention aims to provide, without an increase in cost, a directional indication structure for threaded bodies that enables the visual and tactile distinction between left-hand thread and right-hand thread threaded bodies, enables the identification, from the external appearance and the external surface, of which direction a threaded body should be rotated in order to be tightened or loosened, enables mass production and the like, has a good external appearance, and has form properties that do not impinge the properties inherent in the threaded body or the strength, etc. thereof.[Solution] Directional indicators are asymmetrically provided, in association with the direction of rotation of the threads, to the outer surface of a solid body constituting a threaded body, said directional indicators having corner portions which indicate the forward direction in the direction of rotation, and corner portions which indicate the direction in which the threaded body will advance when rotated in the forward direction in the direction of rotation.
US09677589B2
A fastening device and method thereof is described. According to an embodiment of the present invention there is a fastening device comprising an insertion component and a receptacle component. The insertion component and the receptacle component, each includes a barbed outer surface. The insertion component comprises two sections of its barbed outer surface, separated by a flange, such that one section of the insertion components is configured to be inserted inside the receptacle component. A method of fastening a first substrate to a second substrate using a fastening device according to an embodiment is provided comprising pushing the insertion component into a hole in the first substrate, pushing the receptacle component into a hole in the second substrate, and pushing the insertion component into the receptacle component.
US09677585B2
A beam clamp for securing a first beam to a second beam where the first and second beams are arranged in crossing fashion and define one or more quadrants, the beam clamp including a first clamping portion having a first clamping surface configured to engage a beam flange, a second clamping portion having a second clamping surface configured to engage a beam flange and being arranged in opposing relation to the first clamping surface defining a mouth, a base portion extending between the first and second clamping surfaces and having a wedge shape for engaging a corner defined by flanges of the crossing beams, and a securing mechanism configured for extending from one of the first and second clamping surfaces, into the mouth, to engage a surface a beam flange thereby pinching the flanges of the crossing beams together.
US09677581B2
A closure device for connecting to parts with each other is provided. The closure device includes a first closure part which includes a first base body and a first form-fit portion stationarily arranged on the first base body, and a second closure part which includes a second base body and a second form-fit portion stationarily arranged on the second base body. For closing of the closure device the first closure part and the second closure part can be attached to each other, whereby the second form-fit portion of the second closure part can be brought in engagement with the first form-fit portion of the first closure part in a direction of engagement, so that in a closed position the form-fit portions positively are in engagement with each other. A recoil element is arranged on one of the closure parts and is elastically shiftable along the direction of engagement.
US09677580B2
A family of Radar energy Absorbing Deformable Low Drag Vortex Generators (RAD-LDVG) is described herein. This family of devices are fabricated in such a way that it can conform to aircraft surface features while reducing radar returns from structural details. Vortex generators (VGs) are typically used to reattach or smooth gross flowfields over aircraft surfaces. By doing so, an airfoil or wing can maintain attached flow at higher angles of attack and/or higher lift coefficients than one without the VGs. These devices are also used to reattach and/or smooth flows that encounter crossflow-induced instabilities and/or adverse pressure gradients on the upper surfaces of wings or near aircraft boattails. Other uses include reduction of buffet, vibration, flutter, cavity resonance or general bluff-body pressure drag reduction. Although conventional rigid VGs do generate vortical aerodynamic structures, two major problems are often experienced: i.) the inability to conform to curved surfaces, ii.) the generation of radar cross-section spikes produced by the VGs themselves.
US09677577B1
A hydraulic manifold may be used with a dredge. The hydraulic manifold may have a body with a mounting surface, a front surface located opposite the mounting surface, a top surface located between the mounting and front surfaces, a bottom surface located opposite the top surface, and end surfaces located opposite each other and connecting the mounting, front, top, and bottom surfaces. The manifold may also have at least one drain port and at least one supply port in at least one of the end surfaces, at least one valve port in the top surface, at least one consumer port in the top surface, and at least one transponder port in the bottom surface.
US09677575B2
A valve (18), for a valve assembly (10) for regulating the pressure of a fluid guided in a hydraulic system for supplying pressure to at least one hydraulic consumer (12a, 12b), includes a pilot control stage (48) and a main control stage (38) for at least partially clearing or blocking a fluid path from a supply connection (P) to an outflow connection (T). A relief stage (54) for pressure relief of a fluid chamber is arranged between the pilot control stage (48) and the main control stage (38). The relief stage (54) compares the existing load pressure at load terminal (LS) dedicated to the hydraulic consumer (12a, 12b) with the outflow pressure at the outflow connection (T), clearing the pressure relief if both pressures are approximately the same. The relief stage (54) can be directly connected to the load connection (LS) and can be charged with load pressure.
US09677571B2
A filter fan, with a blower, for fitting in a mounting opening in a wall. The filter fan has a basic casing, a design cover. An aeration grid with lamellar elements is held on the opposed side walls of the design cover and a filter mat is placed between the basic casing and the fan grid. A grid element is placed on the air outlet side of the filter fan for the passage of air above an air outlet. The grid element has an ascending section and a planar section, whereby the ascending section changes into the planar section and a full surface section is provided on the planar section.
US09677569B2
A fluid machine in communication with a thrust bearing fluid source includes a housing having a bearing portion receiving fluid from the fluid source. A bearing chamber is formed in the bearing portion. An extension of a rotor is positioned within the bearing chamber so that a first pocket is disposed adjacent to a first side of the extension and a second pocket is disposed adjacent to a second side of the extension. An extension lateral side is adjacent to the bearing chamber lateral side. The extension comprises a first channel extending from a first half of the extension lateral side to the first pocket. The extension comprises a second channel extending from a second half of the extension lateral side opposite the first channel to the second pocket. The bearing chamber receives fluid from the bearing channel which is communicated to the first and second channels and the pockets.
US09677565B1
A powered fan is provided having a fan housing, a plurality of fan blades, a motor, and an electrical generation system. The fan blades are mechanically coupled to the motor, both being contained within the fan housing. Rotatably affixed to an exterior portion of the fan housing, and mechanically coupled to the electrical generator, is a hand crank. Electrically coupled to the motor and affixed to some portion of the fan housing is a rechargeable battery. Manipulation of the hand crank generates electricity for powering the motor and/or charging the rechargeable battery. A control pad located on the fan housing allows a user to selectively control the functioning of the fan.
US09677561B2
A side channel machine arrangement comprises a side channel machine (1) and a fluid connection device (2). The side channel machine (1) has a housing (5), side channels arranged in the housing (5) and fluid inlet openings (11) provided in said housing, which have a flow connection to the side channels to introduce a fluid to be conveyed into the side channels, at least one fluid outlet, which is provided on the housing (5) and has a flow connection to the side channels to discharge the fluid from the side channels, and an impeller that is mounted so that it can be rotatably driven in the housing (5). The fluid connection device (2) is used to connect the side channel machine (1) to a fluid supply line. It comprises a first fluid connection mechanism (3), which is provided on the housing (5) and has a flow connection to the fluid inlet openings (11), and a second fluid connection mechanism (4), which has a fluid inlet piece (29) for connection to the fluid supply line.
US09677560B1
A centrifugal pump impeller support system and apparatus is described. A centrifugal pump includes an impeller including an impeller eye skirt extending axially from an eye of the impeller, and in certain stages, a balance ring skirt, and an impeller support insert secured around an outer diameter of at least one of the impeller skirts, each of the at least one impeller support inserts including a sleeve extending tubularly around the impeller skirt, and a flange extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the centrifugal pump shaft. A diffuser stacked adjacent to the impeller includes a bushing secured around an inner diameter of the diffuser flow exit outward of the impeller eye skirt support insert or a bushing secured around an inner diameter of the flow entrance outward of the balance ring skirt support insert.
US09677559B2
A bearing includes a bridge land geometry having a finger cut that defines a width ISW, a center of the width ISW displaced from a shaft axis a radial distance ISR, a ratio of ISW/ISR between 0.074-0.293, to reduce cavitation and pressure ripple.
US09677555B2
A peristaltic pump, and related system method are provided. The peristaltic pump includes a cam shaft, first and second pinch-valve cams, first and second pinch-valve cam followers, a plunger cam, a plunger-cam follower, a tube receiver, and a spring-biased plunger. The first and second pinch-valve cams are coupled to the cam shaft. The first and second pinch-valve cam followers each engage the first and second pinch-valve cams, respectively. The plunger cam is coupled to the cam shaft. The plunger-cam follower engages the plunger cam. The tube receiver is configured to receive a tube. The spring-biased plunger is coupled to the plunger-cam follower such that the expansion of the plunger cam along a radial angle intersecting the plunger-cam follower as the cam shaft rotates pushes the plunger cam follower towards the plunger and thereby disengages the spring-biased plunger from the tube. A spring coupled to the spring-biased plunger biases the spring-biased plunger to apply the crushing force to the tube.
US09677532B2
An ignition control device according to one embodiment of the present invention is configured to, based on a pulse signal to be induced in an ignition coil in accordance with rotation of an internal combustion engine, cause a voltage to be supplied to an ignition plug included in the internal combustion engine, to be generated in the ignition coil. The ignition control device includes: a switching element configured to energize the ignition coil; a biasing unit configured to bias control terminals of the switching element so that the switching element is turned on when the pulse signal is induced; a state detecting unit configured to detect a biased state of the switching element; and a control unit configured to set a timing for controlling de-energization of the ignition coil in response to a result of detection performed by the state detecting unit, and to control the switching element to be turned off in accordance with the timing.
US09677529B2
A vehicle diagnosis system includes an abnormality determiner for determining whether a vehicle having an abnormality regarding a temporal engine stop function or a power regeneration function is caused in a mode that cancels a greenhouse gas reduction effect of the engine. When an abnormality that cancels, due to disablement of the temporal engine stop function or the power regeneration function, such an abnormality is quickly notified to a driver of the vehicle by the vehicle diagnosis system so that the abnormality is quickly fixed.
US09677519B2
A device for decreasing fuel pulsation of an LPG vehicle may include a bombe storing LPG fuel therein, a regulator connected to the bombe and adjusting a temperature and pressure of the LPG fuel, an injector spraying the LPG fuel supplied from the regulator to an engine, a fuel line connecting the bombe, the regulator, and the injector to supply or collect the fuel, and a pulsation damper provided between the regulator and the injector in the fuel line and have a plurality of pistons slidably coupled each other for decreasing the fuel pulsation.
US09677515B2
An air flow measuring device includes a sensor assembly, a thermistor, and an end terminal. The sensor assembly includes a sensor portion and a sensor circuit. The sensor portion and the sensor circuit are integrated with each other and configured to measure an air flow quantity. The thermistor is equipped independently from the sensor assembly. The thermistor is configured to measure an air temperature. The end terminal is electrically connected with the sensor assembly and the thermistor. An external connection terminal in the sensor assembly is electrically connected with the sensor portion and the sensor circuit to function as the end terminal.
US09677512B2
A method for a fuel system is provided. A vacuum is applied to a fuel vapor canister side of the fuel system, and hydrocarbon breakthrough is indicated responsive to a fuel vapor canister side pressure inflection point indicative of a decay in fuel vapor canister side vacuum. In this way, an evaporative leak check module may perform a leak check on a fuel vapor canister, while hydrocarbon breakthrough from the fuel vapor canister may be indicated without requiring a dedicated hydrocarbon sensor in the canister vent line.
US09677509B2
A power plant is provided and may include an engine configured to receive charge air and produce exhaust. A first turbo machine may be driven by the exhaust and may drive a compressor that receives air and produces the charge air. A second turbo machine may receive the exhaust and may rotationally drive a pump in response thereto. The pump may receive an EGR from the exhaust and may introduce the pumped EGR to the charge air.
US09677503B2
The present invention relates to improved rocket engine systems. In one embodiment, an improved rocket engine system includes a propellant source, at least one power source, at least one power source motor, a rocket engine, and at least one pump. The improved rocket engine system may further include at least one of the following: at least one controller, at least one propellant valve, and a propellant pressurizing source.
US09677500B2
A piston for an internal combustion engine is provided. The piston includes a piston body which is made of steel. The piston body has a crown portion with an upper combustion surface, a pair of skirts which depend from the crown surface, a pair of pin bosses for receiving a wrist pin and a plurality of pin boss bridges which extend from the pin bosses to the skirts. Each of the pin boss bridges extends axially to a lower end which is opposite of the crown portion and has a rib with an increased thickness at its lower end. At least one of the pin boss bridges has a generally flat counter-bore surface for providing a reference location for machining of the piston body.
US09677499B2
There is provided a control device of an engine that includes a turbo-supercharger and a variable valve mechanism, the control device including: a valve timing change means; an ignition timing change means; a fuel injection amount change means; an acceleration request detection means; a supercharging pressure detection means; and an acceleration control means that corrects, when the acceleration request is detected, retarding of ignition timing in a low supercharging region where the supercharging pressure is lower than a predetermined value, that completes the correction of the retarding of the ignition timing in a high supercharging region where the supercharging pressure is equal to or higher than the predetermined value to provide a valve overlap and that changes the fuel injection amount such that an air-fuel ratio at which a mixture air of a scavenging gas and an exhaust gas is easily burned within an exhaust passage is provided.
US09677491B2
Methods and systems are provided reusing processed sensor data to identify multiple types of sensor degradation. In one example, a central peak of a distribution, such as a generalized extreme value distribution, of sensor readings is re-used to identify asymmetric sensor degradation and stuck in-range sensor degradation.
US09677490B2
An internal combustion engine comprises an exhaust purification catalyst which can store oxygen, controller for controlling the air-fuel ratio of exhaust gas to become a target air-fuel ratio, and a downstream side air-fuel ratio sensor. An abnormality diagnosis system performs an active air-fuel ratio control which alternately controls the target air-fuel ratio to rich and lean air-fuel ratios, and diagnoses abnormality of said exhaust purification catalyst based on the output air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel ratio sensor. The abnormality diagnosis system judges that the exhaust purification catalyst is abnormal when the output air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel ratio sensor reaches a rich judgment air-fuel ratio and a lean judgment air-fuel ratio during the active air-fuel ratio control, and judges that said air-fuel ratio control is abnormal when the output air-fuel ratio reaches only one of the rich and lean judgment air-fuel ratios.
US09677481B2
Methods are provided for improving boost pressure control in a boosted engine system. In one example, in response to an operator actuated tip-in of an accelerator pedal, an air bypass around an air compressor supplying air to an air inlet of an engine may be opened for a predetermined time, and after the predetermined time, said air bypass may be increased in response to a ratio of outlet pressure to inlet pressure of said compressor being at or around a hard surge limit. In this way, by increasing the opening of the air bypass, compressor operation may be moved out of a hard/soft surge region.
US09677478B2
A cylinder deactivation arrangement and method of cylinder deactivation are disclosed for an internal combustion engine having a number of cylinders with at least one intake valve and at least one exhaust valve per cylinder. Each intake valve includes two different lifting levels, wherein the cylinder deactivation arrangement has an even number of cylinders. A first set of cylinders constituted by half of the even number of cylinders have intake valves configured for fully opened and partly opened lifting levels, and a second set of cylinders constituted by the other half of the even number of cylinders have intake valves configured for fully opened and closed lifting levels. The first set of cylinders have exhaust valves configured for fully opened lifting levels and the second set of cylinders have exhaust valves configured for fully opened and closed lifting levels.
US09677477B2
A fuel system includes: a constant-volume pump and a centrifugal pump increasing the pressure of fuel to be supplied to an engine for aviation and discharging the fuel; an operation controller configured to select in accordance with the operation state of the engine, one of a constant-volume pump-using mode of increasing the pressure of fuel using the constant-volume pump and a centrifugal pump-using mode of increasing it using the centrifugal pump; and a speed changer connecting the engine and the centrifugal pump, changing the rotational speed of rotational power output from the engine and transmitting the rotational power to the centrifugal pump, and being capable of adjusting the speed-changing ratio of the rotational speed.
US09677475B2
A gas turbine engine includes a turbine section that includes a turbine rotor arranged in a plenum. A compressor section includes a compressor rotor assembly that has spaced apart inner and outer portions that provide an axially extending cooling channel. Compressor blades extend radially outward from the outer portion which provides an inner core flow path. A rotor spoke is configured to receive a first cooling flow and fluidly connect the outer portion to the cooling channel. The compressor rotor assembly has a coolant exit that is in fluid communication with the cooling channel. The compressor rotor assembly is configured to communicate the first cooling flow to the turbine rotor. A bleed source is configured to provide a second cooling flow. A combustor section includes an injector in fluid communication with the bleed source. The tangential onboard injector is configured to communicate the second cooling flow to the turbine rotor.
US09677470B2
A ballistic cover system that embodies a novel ballistic blanket and method for containing energy and fragmentation projected during a supercharged engine explosion is provided. The ballistic cover system enables the ballistic blanket to react to the engine explosion, positioning itself from a racing configuration to a ballistic configuration. A plurality of restraint straps are attached to the supercharger, keeping it along a controlled path during the explosion. Moreover, two of the restraint straps act as mounting rails that the ballistic blanket rides along when reactively moving from the racing configuration to the ballistic configuration.
US09677469B2
A reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine having a hydraulic adjustment mechanism which is assigned to a connecting rod and which comprises at least one eccentric, for adjusting at least one variable compression ratio in at least one cylinder of the reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine by means of a change in an effective length of a connecting rod. Also proposed is a method for changing the effective length of a connecting rod.
US09677468B2
A two-cycle engine that includes a high pressure fuel pump that pressurizes fuel to produce pressurized fuel and pumps the pressurized fuel from a fuel controller to a fuel injector. The fuel injector injects the pressurized fuel into a cylinder. A high pressure air pump pressurizes air to produce pressurized air and pumps the pressurized air from an air controller to an air injector. The air injector injects the pressurized air into the cylinder.
US09677464B2
A single-shaft dual expansion internal combustion engine includes an engine block, a cylinder head, a single crankshaft, a control shaft and first, second and third multi-link connecting rod assemblies. First and second power cylinders and an expander cylinder are formed in the engine block. First and second power pistons are moveable in the first and second power cylinders and are connected to respective first and second crankpins of the crankshaft. An expander piston is moveable in the expander cylinder and is connected to a third crankpin of the crankshaft. First and second multi-link connecting rod assemblies are coupled to first and second swing arms of the control shaft. A third multi-link connecting rod assembly is coupled to a third swing arm of the control shaft.
US09677463B2
An object is to provide an axial-flow turbine for a turbocharger in which low-temperature outside air or lubricant oil does not flow backward into a gas flow path from a gap between an upstream end face of a hub part and a housing end face. An axial-flow turbine for a turbocharger includes a bearing, a rotational shaft supported rotatably by the bearing, a hub part disposed on an axial end of the rotational shaft, a turbine wheel having a plurality of rotor blades protruding outwardly in a radial direction from a circumferential face of the hub part; and a housing which houses the turbine wheel and which at least includes a rotational shaft housing section accommodating the rotational shaft, a scroll part which swirls gas having been introduced into the housing around the rotational shaft, and a bend section which is formed around the rotational shaft housing section and configured to direct gas having flowed out from an outlet of the scroll part in an axial direction. The housing includes a bypass flow path disposed at an upstream side with respect to a housing end face facing an upstream end face of the hub part of the turbine wheel and through which the bend section and the rotational shaft housing section are in communication with each other.
US09677457B2
A vehicle has at least one component which is cooled by a cooling air mass flow delivered from a conveying device such as a fan or a spoiler. A nominal value is predetermined for the cooling air mass flow which, for an assumed maximum thermal loading of the component, cools adequately for operation of the component. A control device controls an intensity of the cooling air mass flow and dimensions it, taking into consideration thermal demands of the component at least in an upper driving speed range, such that a sum of a power consumption of the component, of the conveying device and of a portion of a traction power of the vehicle that is allotted to the delivery of the cooling air mass flow is smaller than a sum of the power consumption of the component, the conveying device and the portion that is allotted to the delivery of the cooling air mass flow at the predetermined nominal value thereof, of a traction power of the vehicle.
US09677455B2
An exhaust system component includes stacking features that prevents binding among adjacent components in a stack. The stacking features are arranged along a shell of the exhaust system component, such as along a sidewall extending from a panel of the shell. The stacking features can be arranged to define a gap between opposing surfaces of stacked shells. The stacking features can be in the form of indentations and can be formed in curved portions of the sidewall to conserve material thickness, which can be critical in exhaust system applications. The stacking features can result in a stack of components with uniform spacing among the components of the stack.
US09677451B2
An electronic control module for operating an internal combustion engine is disclosed. The electronic control module is configured to monitor a first air-fuel equivalence ratio of engine exhaust gases upstream of a NOx trap, and to activate a diagnostic routine for the NOx trap when the first air-fuel equivalence ratio is smaller than one. The diagnostic routine enables the electronic control module to monitor a second air-fuel equivalence ratio of engine exhaust gases downstream of the NOx trap, to use the first and second air-fuel equivalence ratios to calculate an index that is representative of the conversion efficiency of the NOx trap, and to identify a failure of the NOx trap when the efficiency index is lower than a predetermined threshold value.
US09677447B2
An aftertreatment module is disclosed for use with an engine. The aftertreatment module may have an inlet housing at least partially defining an inlet passage for exhaust, and at least one mixer disposed in the inlet passage. The aftertreatment module may also have an outlet housing at least partially defining an outlet passage for exhaust, and a catalyst housing removably connected between the inlet housing and the outlet housing. The aftertreatment module may further have a plurality of catalyst substrates configured to be mounted in the catalyst housing, to receive exhaust from the inlet passage in parallel, and to discharge exhaust to the outlet housing in parallel.
US09677446B2
System for storing an internal combustion engine exhaust gas liquid additive, the said system comprising a tank for storing the additive and an “immersed” baseplate (1) positioned through an opening made in the bottom wall of the tank, the said baseplate comprising at least one orifice through which a system for injecting the said additive into the exhaust gases can be fed, and also incorporating at least one other active component of the storage system and/or of the injection system.
US09677434B2
A disk rotary valve assembly for reciprocating piston positive displacement machines, the disk rotary valve having a pair of oppositely arranged fronts, the forces on the pair of oppositely arranged fronts due to the high pressure inside the chamber cancel each other leaving the supports of the disk rotary valve unloaded and improving the sealing quality.
US09677433B2
A phase control apparatus in a variable cam timing (VCT) system of an engine is described herein. The phase control apparatus includes a locking pin coupled to a vane, the locking pin extending into a locking pin recess in a cover plate in a locked configuration, the locking pin and locking pin recess having a backlash and a housing at least partially enclosing the vane and spaced away from the vane forming a gap in the locked configuration.
US09677417B2
A fan containment system has a fan case having an annular casing element for encircling an array of fan blades and a hook projecting generally radially inwardly from the annular casing element. An annular fan track liner is positioned substantially coaxial to the annular casing element, and positioned such that a forward end of the fan track liner is axially spaced from the hook so that there is a gap between the hook and the fan track liner. A bridge member spans the gap between the hook and the fan track liner, wherein the bridge member is connected to the hook and contacts a radially inner surface of the forward end of the fan track liner. The bridge member fails when impacted by a fan blade released from a hub so that the released fan blade can impact the hook and be contained by the fan containment system.
US09677411B2
A stack ring is formed by an outer ring and an inner ring and is inserted in an annular gap formed between an inlet sleeve and an inner casing. The outer periphery of the outer ring and the inner periphery of the inner ring each have a land part having a flat face and taper faces formed on upper and lower sides of the land part. A ratio of L1 to L0 is 0.3 to 0.7 where L1 is a length of the land part and L0 is a total length in the up-down direction. A ratio of S to S0 is not less than 0.95 where S is an area of the cross sectional shape of the outer ring or the inner ring and S0 is an area of a virtual rectangle BCDE and the taper faces have an inclined angle of 1° to 10°.
US09677404B2
A one-block bladed disk includes blades, a leading edges of which has sweep and dihedral angles, both strongly variable and increasingly large upon approaching a connection to a hub to improve mechanical strength of the whole and obtain good distribution of gas flow over the height of the blade.
US09677403B2
A securement system for securing an attachment portion of at least one rotor blade or rotor blade segment in a mounting site of a rotor base. The securement system has at least one holder element and a second holder element, each of which has a holding portion and a connecting portion. The connecting portions can be introduced into the mounting site so as to establish a clip connection and can be locked together in the mounting site. The holding portions are configured so as to fasten the attachment portion of the at least one rotor blade or of the rotor blade segment in the mounting site in the locked state of the connecting portions. Further disclosed is a method for securing an attachment portion of at least one rotor blade or rotor blade segment in a mounting site of a rotor base and a rotor having a securement system.
US09677401B1
The radial piston rotary device with compact gear drive mechanism includes a base, a casing mounted to the base, and a gearbox coupled to the casing. The casing houses a piston assembly with a pair of first radial pistons and a pair of second radial pistons coaxially mounted to the first radial pistons with each pair rotating at asynchronous, cyclically varying velocities. During a power cycle, a leading pair of radial pistons powers the associated gear assembly, and the gear assembly drives a flywheel assembly. A drive shaft axially extends from the flywheel assembly outside the gearbox to be selectively coupled to a driven component. The flywheel drives the pair of lagging radial pistons. During operation, each pair of radial pistons rotate at cyclically varying angular velocities out of phase with each other, yet produce a uniform output to the drive shaft.
US09677395B2
Method and deployment device for a downhole tool. The device includes a body; a door rotatably attached to the body and configured to have an open position for allowing at least a portion of a fishing neck of the downhole tool to contact the body and a close position that secure the at least a portion of the fishing neck inside the deployment device; a bend restrictor attached to the body and configured to receive a logging cable of the downhole tool; and a locking mechanism for securing the door in the close position.
US09677393B2
A method of performing a stimulation operation at a wellsite is provided. The wellsite has a wellbore penetrating a formation having fractures therein. The method involves predicting placement of proppant parameters in the fractures based on wellsite data, generating an asperity model based on the predicted placement, predicting aperture change for a prescribed closure stress using the asperity model, and determining fracture conductivity based on the predicted aperture change. The method also involves placing into the fractures with a stimulation fluid by injecting the stimulation fluid having the proppant therein into the formation based on the determined fracture conductivity and producing fluid from the reservoirs and into the wellbore through the propped fractures.
US09677392B2
A method of hydraulic fracturing is provided which uses metal silicides to generate significant pressure inside a wellbore. The method comprises injecting a fracturing fluid and an aqueous or reacting fluid into the wellbore to react with the fracturing fluid. The fracturing fluid comprises metal silicide, which may be uncoated or coated, and hydrocarbon fluid. The aqueous fluid comprises water. The reacting fluid comprises water or a solvent. A method of removing buildup in pipelines such as subsea pipelines which uses metal silicides to generate heat and pressure inside the pipeline is also provided. The method comprises injecting an organic slug and an aqueous slug. The organic slug comprises metal silicide and hydrocarbon fluid. The aqueous slug comprises water. Alternatively, there is also provided a method for purifying flowback water produced from a hydraulic fracturing process comprising adding metal silicide to the flowback water produced from a hydraulic fracturing process. The metal silicide in any of these methods may be alkali metal silicide or another metal silicide.
US09677384B2
Aspects of the disclosure can relate to a system that includes an input shaft to be driven by a variable fluid flow, and an output shaft coupled with the input shaft to drive a generator. The generator can be an alternator, and the input shaft can be coupled with a turbine to be driven by drilling fluid or another fluid. The system also includes a drive mechanism mechanically coupling the input shaft to the output shaft to drive the generator at a predetermined rotational speed. The system further includes a secondary input mechanically coupled with the drive mechanism, where the secondary input is driven at a variable input speed to drive the generator at the predetermined rotational speed. The drive mechanism can be a full freedom epicycloids gear train, and the secondary input can be a speed correction motor, a mechanical actuator driven by variable fluid flow, and so forth.
US09677379B2
A method of completing a well includes, positioning at least one valve within a tubular, closing the at least one valve, pressuring up against the closed at least one valve in a first direction, actuating a tool or treating a formation, opening the at least one valve without intervention, and flowing fluid past the at least one valve in a second direction.
US09677377B2
Failsafe control system for a safety valve having a condition sensing and chemical injection feature
A control system for a Subsurface Safety Valve (SSSV), includes an actuating piston mounted in a housing with at least one seal and connected to the SSSV. The actuating piston having a first end and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with a control line; a primary pressure reservoir in fluid communication with the second end of the actuating piston, the reservoir configured to contain a fluid under an amount of pressure selected to act against a prospective hydrostatic pressure expected in the control line based upon the selected position of the control system in a downhole environment. An equalizing piston in fluid communication with both the control line and with the second end of the actuating piston, the equalizing piston remaining in a closed position during shifting of the actuating piston with pressure applied or removed from the control line, the equalizing piston movable to an open position upon a control system failure that reduces pressure in the primary reservoir to below a threshold value; and a condition sensing and chemical injection assembly in fluid communication with the primary reservoir. A method for operating a control system for a Subsurface Safety Valve (SSSV).
US09677374B2
A system including a hydraulic tool configured to energize a lock ring system and a seal assembly with a hydraulic fluid, wherein the hydraulic tool including a hydraulic body configured to couple to a hydraulic fluid source, a first piston configured to move axially with respect to the hydraulic body to energize the seal assembly, and a second piston configured to move axially with respect to the hydraulic body to energize the lock ring system, wherein the first and second pistons are simultaneously exposed to the hydraulic fluid in an opening in the hydraulic body.
US09677373B2
A downhole tool including a mandrel, a sealing element, a cone, a plurality of fingers, and a slip. The sealing element may be positioned around the mandrel. The sealing element is configured to expand radially-outward from a contracted state to an expanded state. The cone may be positioned around the mandrel and proximate to the sealing element. The plurality of fingers may be positioned at least partially around the mandrel. The fingers may be axially-aligned with at least a portion of the sealing element. The fingers are coupled to a base and configured to break away from the base at a weak point when the sealing element expands into the expanded state. The slip may be positioned around the mandrel and proximate to the cone. The slip may include a tapered inner surface configured to slide along a tapered outer surface of the cone.
US09677371B2
A well treatment for treating a well includes discrete stop loss elements to seal a fluid loss opening of a well. The discrete stop loss elements include polymer resistive to deformation with an initial stiffness in response to an initial strain rate of the polymer to produce a specified initial pressure signal and deformable with a subsequent, lower stiffness in response to a subsequent, lower strain rate of the polymer to produce a subsequent, different specified pressure signal.
US09677363B2
A system can include multiple explosive assemblies, each assembly comprising an outer housing, an explosive component rotatable relative to the housing, and a selective firing module which causes detonation of the component in response to a predetermined signal. A method can include assembling multiple explosive assemblies at a location remote from a well, installing a selective firing module, an electrical detonator and an explosive component in a connector, and connecting the connector to an outer housing, and then transporting the assemblies from the remote location to the well. A well perforating method can include assembling multiple perforating guns, each gun comprising a gun body, a perforating charge, and a selective firing module which causes detonation of the charge in response to a predetermined signal. The guns are installed in a wellbore, with the charge of each gun rotating relative to the respective gun body.
US09677362B2
A casing cutting tool including a top mandrel operatively coupled to a conveyance; a first retractable wedge operatively coupled to the top mandrel; a jetting tool operatively coupled to the retractable wedge, the retractable wedge thereby interposing the top mandrel and the jetting tool, wherein the jetting tool has one or more jetting nozzles arranged thereon; and a bottom terminal operatively coupled to the jetting tool, the jetting tool thereby interposing the retractable wedge and the bottom terminal.
US09677352B2
An assembly to grip a tubular member in a wellbore includes a main body, a plurality of jaw assemblies, and a cover plate to retain the jaw assemblies within the main body. The main body includes a chuck ring and at least one rotation assembly. The plurality of jaw assemblies are configured to simultaneously engage the tubular member in the wellbore as the chuck ring is rotated in a first direction about an axis of the main body by the at least one rotation assembly.
US09677347B2
A shock absorber (29) for downhole use comprises an elongate, hollow member defined by a series of mutually aligned, plastically deformable perforated members (38) having aligned perforations that define the hollowness of the elongate, hollow member that are spaced from one another in the direction of elongation by respective relatively rigid spacer members (39) that are secured to the perforated members. The elements of each pair of perforated members (38) of the series are so spaced from one another by one or more of the spacer members (39) such that on compression of the shock absorber (29) the perforated members (38) deform plastically to a lesser extent in regions at which the spacer members (39) are secured than at other regions. The arrangement of the perforated members (38) and the spacer members (39) causes compression to occur substantially parallel to the length of the shock absorber (29).
US09677343B2
A fixed bladed drill bit has a working face that includes a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, each blade having a leading face and a trailing face, and at least one row of cutting elements disposed on at least one of the plurality of blades proximate to the leading face of the blade, where the row of cutting elements includes at least one pointed cutting element having a cutting end with a rounded apex and at least one shearing cutter. The at least one shearing cutter includes a first shearing cutter positioned proximate to a periphery of the working face.
US09677337B2
A drilling procedure is operated such that a formation around the wellbore being drilled is fractured and then reservoir fluids from a hydrocarbon reservoir contained in the formation are flowed into the wellbore where the flow of the reservoir fluids is tested. Production predictions for the wellbore are processed from the measurements made on the flow of reservoir fluids and decisions regarding further drilling operations are made based upon the reservoir fluid measurements. By testing reservoir fluids prior to completing the wellbore, drilling operations such as, for example, continuing to drill the wellbore may be made without tripping the drillstring from the wellbore.
US09677334B2
An aerial ladder assembly for a fire apparatus includes a base rail extending along a longitudinal direction, a hand rail elevated from the base rail and extending along the longitudinal direction, a first lacing member and a second lacing member coupling the hand rail to the base rail, the first lacing member and the second lacing member each including an end that engages the base rail at an interface, and a gusset positioned to reinforce the interface. The first lacing member and the second lacing member each define a slot that receives the gusset, and the gusset extends through the first lacing member and the second lacing member to the base rail.
US09677327B1
A smart window-based security system is provided. The system includes a plurality of smart windows, each smart window of the plurality of smart windows having at least one electrochromic window and at least one sensor integrated into the smart window. The plurality of smart windows are coupled together in a system having at least one processor configured to detect a personal or property security threat, such as an intruder or fire based, on information from sensors of the plurality of smart windows.
US09677326B2
A system for controlling escape of pets during emergency, such as a fire, smoke, gas or odor emission, includes a passageway from the inside of the enclosure to the outside thereof. The passageway is normally closed by a door and an apparatus is provided for enabling opening of such door during emergency. A pre-recorded message urges the pet or pets to the open passageway only when the alarm device annunciating such emergency is intermittently disabled. A control apparatus is also provided for enabling passage of the pet or pets through the passageway and annunciates location of the pet or pets with respect to interior or exterior of the enclosure. A method is disclosed for remote operation of the controlled pet door to enhance safety of the pet owner attempting to enter residential dwelling.
US09677324B2
Seal a fenestration opening that contains a gap having a width of greater than 1.6 millimeters by providing a dispersion having the following components dispersed in an aqueous phase: (i) a film-forming polymer binder having a glass transition temperature in a range of −100 degrees Celsius to −20 degrees Celsius; (ii) a shear thinning rheology modifier at a concentration sufficient to cause the dispersion to have a Brookfield viscosity greater than 300,000 centiPoise as measured using spindle #3 at 0.3 revolutions per minute; and (iii) optionally, a filler; and then spraying the dispersion directly onto the building elements within the fenestration opening so as to form a continuous coating over the building elements and gap within the fenestration opening; wherein there is an absence of reinforcement or sealing material filling or spanning the gap prior to spraying the dispersion over the gap.
US09677319B2
Disclosed is a method for assembling insulating glass panes filled with a gas other than air. According to said method, two glass sheets provided with a spacer are arranged in a vertical or inclined position and facing each other, gas that is different from air is introduced into a chamber from below and the insulating glass pane is formed by moving the glass sheets closer to each other after reaching a desired gas filling level. According to the invention, the gas is homogenized before said gas is introduced through said gap.
US09677318B2
The invention is directed to a hatch arrangement for a motor vehicle, the hatch arrangement having a hatch leaf movable between an open hatch position and a closed hatch position, and a cinching catch for engaging a cinching striker of the motor vehicle, which cinching catch is movably coupled to the hatch leaf, and a hatch drive arrangement for moving the hatch leaf. The hatch drive arrangement is coupled with the cinching catch for moving the cinching catch. The invention is also directed to a hatch drive arrangement for such a hatch arrangement.
US09677314B2
A lift gate system includes a gate, a first pole, a second pole, a header and an internal operator. The first pole is configured to attach to the ground on one side of the gate and includes a first track attached approximate to a first top. The second pole is configured to attach to the ground on the opposite side of the gate from the first pole and includes a second track attached approximate to a second top. The header interconnects the first top with the second top. The internal operator is configured for lifting the gate, where the internal operator is inside the first pole, the second pole, and/or the header.
US09677305B2
A motor vehicle door lock comprising a locking mechanism (1, 2) and a mechanical lever gear (4, 5) as well as a motor-driven opening unit (7 to 9), which are respectively individually arranged for opening of a locking mechanism (1, 2), wherein in the normal mode, the motorized opening unit (7 to 9) provides a free movement of the lever gear (4, 5) in relation to the locking mechanism (1, 2) and the engagement of the lever gear with the locking mechanism (1, 2) in the opening mode.
US09677288B2
Embodiments of the disclosed technology are directed to a light fixture and a method of assembly thereof. The light fixture is generally formed of two opposing side rails joined to two opposing caps. The fixture has two panels: an upper panel and a lower panel. The upper panel is formed of a generally flat, deflectable elongated section having a plurality of lights disposed on or in a surface thereof. The upper panel is deflected to form a substantially curvilinear panel, the edges of which are engaged into a slot on the side rails and/or the end caps. The lower panel is also generally flat and formed of a transparent or translucent material. The lower panel is disposed below the upper panel, such that the light projected from the lights on the upper panel projects through the lower panel.
US09677280B2
A method of installing a wind-resistant roof underlayment is disclosed that includes providing a wind-resistant roof underlayment having a lower surface including an adhesive medium. The wind-resistant roof underlayment includes an upper surface having a first non-release liner portion with a width of at least three inches. A second release liner portion is provided having a width of at least eight inches. The second release liner portion is disposed in an overlapping relationship with an upper surface adhesive medium coupled to the upper surface. The method includes coupling the lower surface to a roof deck, with a portion of the second release liner portion at a position substantially adjacent to an eave of the roof deck, removing the second release liner portion, thereby exposing an adhesive strip of the upper surface adhesive medium, and coupling a plurality of shingles to the strip of the upper surface adhesive medium.
US09677275B2
The invention relates to an anchor, more particularly a fixed anchor, for a tensioning device designed for attachment on a construction for holding tensile cords, such as wires, rods, more particularly tensile wires, tension rods, or the like on the anchor, with a multi-part anchor head, wherein the anchor head has an anchor plate in the form of a perforated disc with a feed-through for separately guiding a tensile cord, wherein the feed-through is one of a number of feed-throughs and the tensile cord is one of a number of tensile cords, as well as an intermediate disc mounted on one side of the perforated disc and having a further feed-through for separately guiding the tensile cord, wherein the further feed-through is one of a number of further feed-throughs in the intermediate disc and the tensile cord is the one of the number of tensile cords. According to the invention it is proposed that the intermediate disc is formed as a transition plate which supports at least in the further feed-through a security sleeve which is designed to anchor the tensile cord automatically under tension.
US09677273B2
A concrete-filled steel tubular column for high load capacity, usually required in tall buildings, includes an outer longitudinally extending generally vertical tubular shell and an inner longitudinally extending perforated tubular steel shell disposed within said outer longitudinally extending vertical tubular shell and coaxial therewith. Further, a plurality of relatively small diameter vertically extending perforated tubular steel members are disposed around said inner longitudinally extending tubular shell between said outer longitudinally extending tubular steel shell and said inner longitudinally extending steel shell with axes parallel to said coaxial axes. The concrete-filled steel column wherein said inner steel shell is centrally disposed within the outer longitudinally extending vertical tubular steel shell and wherein the volume between the outer steel shell and the inner shell is filled with high strength concrete. The perforated inner shell and members have a plurality of meltable polymer plugs or caps on perforations to prevent plastic cement from flowing into or closing the openings during concreting. In the event of fire the plastic or polymer plugs or caps melt and allow gases and smoke to flow into the pipes and up through the inner member and out therefrom at the top of the column The inner vertical tubular shell and members may be subsequently used for injecting grout through the perforations (which get opened during fire by melting of polymer caps) for strengthening the post fire damaged concrete).
US09677272B2
Structural columns are fastened to one another vertically. Wall panels may be fastened to the structural columns so that load is transferred through the structural columns rather than vertically between the wall panels.
US09677268B2
An isolator system for preventing the conduction of thermal energy between the metal components of a wall assembly comprising isolator plates adapted to be placed between the metal components of a wall assembly and made of an insulating material. The isolator plates include at least one opening for receiving a fastener, said opening has an annular shoulder adapted to extend into an opening for receiving said fastener in a metal component of a wall assembly. Also disclosed herein is a thermal isolation washer and a girt for use with polymer panel construction.
US09677267B2
A semi-interlocking construction block system may include blocks having prism shaped male and female fittings configured for semi-interlocking interaction. When mated the male and female fittings may engage along their respective interfacing upper bases and lower ends of their respective lateral side faces. Gaps may be defined between upper ends of their respective lateral side faces. The fittings may include arcuate edges which may be quarter rounded.
US09677266B2
A system configured to anchor a cover plate over an interface formed between substantially coplanar substrates includes a sleeve capable of being anchored in a first substrate; a spring located in the sleeve; a post located in communication with the spring; and a fastener secured onto the post. A head of the post is located in the sleeve, and an end of the post opposite the head of the post extends out of the sleeve to receive the fastener. The fastener is secured onto the post over the cover plate located on the first substrate such that the cover plate extends over the interface formed between the first and second substrates when they are positioned to be substantially coplanar.
US09677258B1
A system for mounting a sink under a countertop including one or more flexible supports and anchors to secure a sink wherein sealant may not be required.
US09677238B1
A conventional pneumatic fender has an outer protection cover composed of used tires and steel chains. Due to the high friction coefficient at the tire side surfaces and the ship motion induced high impact forces, the lateral friction forces could be very high. These high friction forces not only increase the wearing damages at the tire side surfaces, but also cause scratching damages to the paints on the ship outer shell. A new type of outer protection cover using plastic plates is utilized to replace used tires and steel chains in order to reduce the wearing damages to the fender and to reduce the scratching damages to ship outer shell paints. Such reduction should be able to help the shipping industry achieve cost savings from decrease of scheduled ship re-paintings in dry docks.
US09677236B2
A mobile electric field monitor with a floatable housing, an electric field probe, and a computer processor to measure the electric field generated by an electrofisher while the electrofisher is being used in a body of water, this mobile electric field monitor is coupled to computing system to generate a three dimensional map of electric field.
US09677233B2
A pedestrian barrier system includes first and second barriers each having first and second sides, first and second ends, and an upper hand guide positioned along the first side. The first end of the first barrier is pivotally connected to the second end of the second barrier, wherein the first and second barriers are pivotable between at least a linear configuration wherein the first sides of the first and second barriers are co-planar and an orthogonal configuration wherein the first sides of the first and second barriers are perpendicular, and wherein the upper hand guide of the first and second barriers are continuous when the first and second barriers are in the linear and orthogonal configurations.
US09677227B2
A railway nipper machine is provided that includes a nipper frame having a pair of nipper hooks for performing a nipping operation, and a position feedback device having a central control module configured for controlling the nipping operation based on a depth signal and a time signal. Further included in the nipper machine is a depth sensor connected to the position feedback device for generating the depth signal relative to a nipper actuator connected to the nipper frame, wherein the depth sensor transmits the depth signal to the position feedback device. A timer is provided for generating the time signal, and the nipper machine is actuated by the nipper actuator in response to a determination value generated by the position feedback device based on the depth signal and the time signal.
US09677223B2
Cable structures of security systems may include multiple subassemblies having different cut-resistant characteristics. One system includes, inter alia, a portable article, a support, and a length of a cable assembly extending between a first cable end coupled to the portable article and a second cable end coupled to the support, where the cable assembly includes a first cable subassembly extending along at least a portion of the length of the cable assembly, and a second cable subassembly extending along at least the portion of the length of the cable assembly and adjacent to the first cable subassembly, and where the first cable subassembly includes a first cut resistant characteristic and the second cable subassembly includes a second cut resistant characteristic that is different than the first cut resistant characteristic.
US09677218B2
A method is provided for controlling a motor speed (v) of a motor (16) in a laundry dryer during a drying cycle, which motor (16) is provided for driving a laundry drum (20) and an air stream fan (14) of the laundry dryer. The drying cycle is subdivided into a first part and a second part. During the first part of the drying cycle the motor speed (v) takes a value of a first predetermined motor speed (v1). During the second part of the drying cycle the motor speed (v) takes a value of a second predetermined motor speed (v2). The value of the second predetermined motor speed (v2) is higher than the value of the first predetermined motor speed (v1) and allows laundry tumbling inside the drum (20). The drying cycle changes from the first part to the second part, when laundry dryness (38) of laundry inside the laundry drum (20) has reached a predetermined value.
US09677216B2
A laundry dryer includes a body having air discharge openings in an upper region, a clothes drum disposed in the body, and a heat exchanger to condense process air from the drum. The heat exchanger is positioned in the body below the drum and has a cooling air outlet. Further provided is an air duct having an air inlet which is connected to the cooling air outlet and an air outlet which is positioned above the heat exchanger. The air duct is arranged to discharge cooling air from the air outlet in an upward direction into the body.
US09677215B2
A laundry treating apparatus is provided that may include a laundry accommodation device that provides a space in which laundry may be accommodated, the laundry accommodation device having an exhaust device that exhausts air and a supply device that supplies air; a circulation passage that guides air exhausted from the exhaust device to the supply device, the circulation passage having an inlet that communicates with the exhaust device; a heat exchanger provided in the circulation passage; a filter frame provided between the heat exchanger and the inlet; a filter fixed to the filter frame and provided in the circulation passage; and a filter washer fixed to the filter frame, that supplies washing water to the filter.
US09677205B2
A process is described wherein pile yarn is woven with cotton weft and warp yarns to produce terry fabrics, such as towels. The fabric is then washed in warm water to dissolve the PVA fibers. The amount of fibers dissolved, depends upon the count of the yarn or yarns used. By dissolving the PVA fibers, a hollow air space is produced throughout the pile yarn, corresponding to an increase in the air space in the pile yarn. By increasing the air space in the pile yarn, the resulting towels are softer and bulkier than standard cotton towels. The present invention further relates to pile yarn in terry woven fabric (warp yarn), or weft yarn, in the case of flat fabrics.
US09677204B2
A sun control textile with high transmittance and a manufacturing method thereof. In the manufacturing method of the sun control textile, a high-performance sun control film is processed into slender filaments. The slender filaments are woven and assembled with other yarns by a weaving device to together form a sun control textile. The different connection manners of the sun control film yarns lead to different visible light transmittance and sun control effect of the sun control textile, whereby an excellent sun control textile with high transmittance can be achieved.
US09677196B2
Process for manufacturing carbon fibers, includes a first spinning step of a fiber of PAN precursor and a second oxidation/carbonization step of the fiber and the plant thereof. The spinning and oxidation/carbonization steps are performed directly in line and continuously, and hence without any stocking buffer area of a PAN precursor between the two steps. The spinning step is performed at low speed, so that the output speed from the spinning step, downstream of the stretching operations, is a speed falling within the range of the suitable processing speeds in the subsequent oxidation/carbonization step. Moreover, the spinning step is performed in a modular way on a plurality of spinning modules aligned in one or more rows, each spinning module having a productivity not above 10% of the overall productivity of the spinning step. In any individual spinning module, the fibers downstream of the spinning area follow zig-zag, rectilinear paths.
US09677193B2
In one embodiment, a sheet production apparatus comprises a vessel configured to hold a melt of a material. A cooling plate is disposed proximate the melt and is configured to form a sheet of the material on the melt. A first gas jet is configured to direct a gas toward an edge of the vessel. A sheet of a material is translated horizontally on a surface of the melt and the sheet is removed from the melt. The first gas jet may be directed at the meniscus and may stabilize this meniscus or increase local pressure within the meniscus.
US09677189B2
A plating apparatus that can obtain each one of electric resistances of plural inner contacts of a substrate holder is disclosed. The plating apparatus includes a resistance-measuring device configured to measure a combined resistance of two electric contacts selected from the plural electric contacts, repeat measuring of a combined resistance of two electric contacts while changing a combination of two electric contacts until a same number of plural combined resistances as the plural electric contacts are measured, create linear equations by coupling each of the plural combined resistances to two variables with use of an equal sign, the two variables representing electric resistances of the corresponding two electric contacts, and solve the linear equations to determine each one of electric resistances of the plural electric contacts.
US09677175B2
Atomic layer deposition (ALD) type processes for producing metal containing thin films comprise feeding into a reaction space vapor phase pulses of metal containing cyclopentadienyl precursors as a metal source material. In preferred embodiments the metal containing cyclopentadienyl reactant comprises a metal atom that is not directly bonded to an oxygen or halide atom. In other embodiments the metal atom is bonded to a cyclopentadienyl compound and separately bonded to at least one ligand via a nitrogen atom. In still other embodiments the metal containing cyclopentadienyl compound comprises a nitrogen-bridged ligand.
US09677166B2
The invention relates to a method for modifying piece surfaces consisting in bringing pieces into contact with at least one type of a modifying agent in such a way that the modification of the surface is carried out.
US09677159B2
A method of manufacturing a martensitic stainless steel sheet by allowing ingot steel to pass through two casting rolls rotating in opposing directions through a twin roll strip caster is provided. The method includes rolling a steel sheet cast between the casting rolls at a temperature of 1000 to 1200° C. and a draft percentage of 25 to 50% with a first roller, and rolling the steel sheet at a temperature of 800 to 1000° C. and a draft percentage of 5 to 15% with a second roller.
US09677158B2
Copper-free aluminum alloys suitable for high pressure die casting and capable of age-hardening under elevated temperatures are provided. The allow includes about 9.5-13 wt % silicon, about 0.2 to 0.6 wt % Magnesium, about 0.1 to 2 wt % iron, about 0.1 to 2 wt % manganese, about 0.1 to 1 wt % nickel, about 0.5 to 3 wt % zinc, and 0 to 0.1 wt % strontium, with a balance of aluminum. Methods for making high pressure die castings and castings manufactured from the alloy are also provided.
US09677153B2
A method for the hydrometallurgical recovery of lithium from the fraction of used galvanic cells containing lithium, iron and phosphate is disclosed. According to the method, lithium-iron-phosphate-containing fraction is introduced into sulfuric acid and/or hydrochloric acid, and hydrogen peroxide is added in an amount that is at least stoichiometric relative to the iron content to be oxidized of the lithium-iron-phosphate-containing fraction.
US09677150B2
A high strength hot dip galvanized steel strip including, in mass percent, of the following elements: 0.10-0.18% C, 1.90-2.50% Mn, 0.30-0.50% Si, 0.50-0.70% Al, 0.10-0.50% Cr, 0.001-0.10% P, 0.01-0.05% Nb, max 0.004% Ca, max 0.05% S, max 0.007% N, and optionally at least one of the following elements: 0.005-0.50% Ti, 0.005-0.50% V, 0.005-0.50% Mo, 0.005-0.50% Ni, 0.005-0.50% Cu, max 0.005% B, the balance Fe and inevitable impurities, wherein 0.80%
US09677148B2
A method for manufacturing a galvanized steel sheet includes heating a base steel sheet in a heating zone such that the surface of the base steel sheet is heated at a temperature of 600° C. or higher and 790° C. or lower while a furnace temperature T° C. in the heating zone of an annealing furnace is controlled based on the water vapor partial pressure PH2Oin Air of air fed into the heating zone, the base steel sheet having a chemical composition consisting of, by mass %, C: 0.05% or more and 0.25% or less, Si: 0.1% or more and 3.0% or less, Mn: 0.5% or more and 3.0% or less, P: 0.001% or more and 0.10% or less, Al: 0.01% or more and 3.00% or less, S: 0.200% or less, and the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, heating the base steel sheet in the heating zone such that the surface of the base steel sheet is heated at a temperature of 630° C. or higher and 850° C. or lower in an atmosphere containing hydrogen gas having a partial pressure PH2O of 1000 Pa or more and 50000 Pa or less, water vapor gas having a partial pressure PH2O of 610 Pa or less, and the balance being N2 and inevitable impurities, and galvanizing the base steel sheet.
US09677144B2
The present invention relates to an improved method for the purification of crude sugar beet juice. The present invention relates moreover to methods for the manufacture of non-sucrose substance combinations from crude sugar beet juice, as well as two devices for the purification of crude sugar beet juice. The measures according to the invention allow a reduction of lime consumption during the purification.
US09677143B2
Methods of identifying inhibitors of retroviral propagation, tRNA used in the methods, and kits, including the tRNA, which can be used in the methods, are disclosed. Methods of treating or preventing retroviral infections by administering an effective amount of the inhibitors, and pharmaceutical compositions including the inhibitors, are also disclosed. The methods involve forming a mixture comprising a linear sequence of a tRNA anticodon stem loop fragment that is not capable of forming a stem-loop, a target nucleic acid molecule capable of binding to the tRNA anticodon stem loop fragment, and a test compound. The mixture is incubated under conditions that allow binding of the tRNA anticodon stem loop fragment and the target nucleic acid molecule in the absence of the test compound. Assays can then be performed that detect whether or not the test compound inhibits the binding of the tRNA anticodon stem loop fragment and the target nucleic acid molecule.
US09677131B2
The present invention relates to the use of a conjugate of a non-analyte-specific binding protein coupled to a nucleic acid as a blocking reagent in a probe-based detection assay, which uses a probe comprising a proteinaceous analyte-binding partner coupled to a nucleic acid domain to detect an analyte in a sample.
US09677128B2
The present invention relates to methods and kits for the detection of 5-hydroxymethylcytosme (5hmC). In some embodiments, the present invention relates to methods and kits for detection of 5hmC in nucleic acid (e.g., DNA, RNA). In some embodiments, the present invention relates to detection of 5hmC in genomic DNA, e.g., mammalian genomic DNA.
US09677123B2
The present invention relates to novel degenerate nucleobase analogs and degenerate nucleobase oligomers derived therefrom, and methods of using such degenerate nucleobase oligomers.
US09677115B2
The present invention relates to the visualization of acidic organelles based upon organelle enzyme activity. The organelle substrates of the invention are specific for enzyme activity of the organelle and label these organelles, such as lysosomes, rendering them visible and easily observed. Substrates of the present invention include substrates that produce a fluorescent signal. The fluorogenic acidic organelle enzyme substrates of this invention are designed to provide high fluorescence at low pH values and are derivatized to permit membrane permeation through both outer and organelle membranes of intact cells and can be used for staining cells at very low concentrations. They can be used for monitoring enzyme activity in cells at very low concentrations and are not toxic to living cells or tissues.
US09677100B2
PHB-deficient Sphingomonas strains having improved sphingan yield are provided. Certain of the Sphingomonas strains are diutan-producing strains that exhibit a dramatic improvement in productivity and yield due to a combination of certain genetic modifications that affect PHB and sphingan synthesis. Moreover, the sphingans produced from such strains have superior characteristics including improved filterability, clarity, and improved rheology-modifying characteristics. The sphingans provided are, thus, highly desirable in a variety of commercial and industrial uses, including personal care items, cement applications, and oilfield applications.
US09677094B2
The invention relates to a process of producing a fermentation product in the presence of pyridoxamine.
US09677092B2
Integrated processes are disclosed for the anaerobic bioconversion of syngas to alcohol.
US09677085B2
Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to methods and compositions for the production of heterogeneous tissue from human induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cells.
US09677084B2
Down-regulation of a homeodomain-leucine zipper I-class homeobox gene for improved plant performance
Methods for modulating plants using optimized ZmME293 down-regulation constructs are disclosed. Also disclosed are nucleotide sequences, constructs, vectors, and modified plant cells, as well as transgenic plants displaying increased seed and/or biomass yield, improved tolerance to abiotic stress such as drought or high plant density, improved nitrogen utilization efficiency, increased ear number and/or reduction in time to scenescence.
US09677079B2
Disclosed are yeast cells expressing a polypeptide comprising a signal sequence and a human amyloid beta protein. Also disclosed are methods of screening yeast cells to identify compounds that prevent or suppress amyloid beta-induced toxicity and genetic suppressors or enhancers of amyloid beta-induced toxicity. Compounds identified by such screens can be used to treat or prevent neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
US09677077B1
Cationic acrylamide copolymers have been designed and synthesized for highly efficient delivery of nucleic acids to cells in biological systems, specifically for in vitro cell transfection research.
US09677074B2
The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 (IRS2) polynucleotides, in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Insulin Receptor Substrate 2 (IRS2) polynucleotides and Transcription factor E3 (TFE3). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of IRS2.
US09677068B2
Methods are provided for, inter alia, detecting nucleic acid molecules resistant to degradation, such as a plurality of RNA molecules bound to a ribosome, using various technologies including deep sequencing.
US09677057B2
Presented herein are polymerase enzymes for improved incorporation of nucleotide analogs, in particular nucleotides which are modified at the 3′ sugar hydroxyl, as well as methods and kits using the same.
US09677050B2
The present invention relates to methods for culturing human retinal progenitor cells under low oxygen conditions to allow the cells to retain the ability to differentiate into photoreceptors following transplantation. The described methods provide cells that can treat a number of ocular diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.
US09677049B2
The disclosure relates to a cotton variety, designated PHY333WRF, the plants and seeds of the cotton variety PHY333WRF, methods for producing a cotton plant, either varietal or hybrid, produced by crossing the cotton variety PHY333WRF with itself or with another cotton plant, hybrid cotton seeds and plants produced by crossing the variety PHY333WRF with another cotton variety or plan, methods for producing a cotton plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes, and the transgenic cotton plants produced by that method. This disclosure also relates to cotton varieties derived from cotton variety PHY333WRF, to methods for producing other cotton varieties derived from cotton variety PHY333WRF, and to the varieties derived by the use of those methods.
US09677046B2
Disclosed is a hydrogel composition loaded with a base that regulates and maintains the pH of cell culture media. The invention particularly discloses in situ pH managing hydrogels (pHmH) loaded with base Mg(OH)2 for pH control in small scale cultures comprising adherent mammalian cells, suspended mammalian cells, microorganisms, a microorganism with plasmids and the like thereof.
US09677017B2
The present invention concerns a reactor (1) for the gasification of organic material included in composite raw material and the separation of gasified organic material from inorganic material included in the composite raw material, the reactor comprising at least one reaction chamber (2) and at least one rotor (3), said reaction chamber (2) comprising at least one housing (6, 6a, 6b) that is sealed in relation to the surroundings and has at least one inlet opening (8a, 8b, 8c) and at least one outlet opening (9a, 9b) and said rotor (3) comprising at least one shaft (5). Said housing (6, 6a, 6b) is in heat exchanging contact with at least one channel (20) intended to convey gas for heat exchange between the gas and said housing (6, 6a, 6b). Said housing (6, 6a, 6b) is preferably cylindrical and has a primarily circular cross-section in a plane that is primarily perpendicular to a principal direction of extension of said at least one shaft (5), said channel (20) being in contact with at least one-third of the radial external envelope surface of said housing (6, 6a, 6b) and in addition entirely or partly surrounding said at least one inlet opening (8a, 8b, 8c). At least a first part of said rotor (3) is situated in said housing (6, 6a, 6b) and said shaft (5) extends in only one direction from said first part through and out of said housing (6, 6a, 6b). The present invention also concerns a method of increasing the efficiency in the reactor (1) and the use of the reactor (1).
US09677016B2
Processes and catalyst systems are provided for dewaxing a hydrocarbon feedstock to form a lubricant base oil. A layered catalyst system of the present invention may comprise a first hydroisomerization dewaxing catalyst disposed upstream from a second hydroisomerization dewaxing catalyst. Each of the first and second hydroisomerization dewaxing catalysts may be selective for the isomerization of n-paraffins. The first hydroisomerization catalyst may have a higher level of selectivity for the isomerization of n-paraffins than the second hydroisomerization dewaxing catalyst. At least one of the first and second hydroisomerization dewaxing catalysts comprises small crystallite zeolite SSZ-32x.
US09677005B1
A gas to liquids process with a reduced CO2 footprint to convert both natural gas and a renewable feedstock material into fuels or chemicals. In one embodiment of the invention, a natural gas feed is converted into synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A minor portion of the hydrogen is thereafter extracted from the synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is converted to hydrocarbons in a Fischer Tropsch reaction. The Fischer Tropsch hydrocarbon product and a renewable feedstock are hydroprocessed with the extracted hydrogen in order to produce fuels and/or chemicals. Waste products from the renewable feed are recycled to produce additional synthesis gas for the Fischer Tropsch reaction.
US09676999B2
The present invention relates to an Mn4+-activated complex fluoride phosphor with improved moisture resistance due to modification of the particle surface, and a light emitting element and light emitting device having excellent color rendering properties and stability due to the use of this phosphor.The phosphor of the present invention is characterized in that it is represented by the general formula: A2MF6:Mn4+, wherein element A is an alkali metal element comprising at least K, element M is one or more metal elements chosen from among Si, Ge, Sn, Ti, Zr and Hf, F is fluorine, and Mn is manganese, wherein the phosphor comprises Ca in a concentration range of at least 20 ppm and at most 10,000 ppm or Cl in a concentration range of at least 20 ppm and at most 300 ppm.
US09676986B2
Provided is an adhesive composition for a heat dissipating adhesive tape, the adhesive composition comprising a (meth)acrylic acid ester based photocurable resin, a thermal conductive filler, and a benzotriazole-based compound.
US09676985B2
The present invention relates, in part, to heat transfer and refrigerant compositions and methods that include HFC-32; HFO-1234ze and HFC-125.
US09676982B2
A particulate material having a body including a first phase having at least about 70 wt % alumina for a total weight of the first phase, and a second phase comprising phosphorus, wherein the body includes at least about 0.1 wt % of the second phase for the total weight of the body, and wherein the second phase has an average grain size of not greater than about 1 micron.
US09676979B2
Disclosed is a liquid coagulant which can be injected into the inside of a tire without the need of removing the tire from a rim and which can prevent the scattering of a residue of a tire puncture sealing material when the tire is removed from the rim. The liquid coagulant can coagulate an emulsion that contains natural rubber latex and/or a synthetic resin emulsion. The liquid coagulant contains a foaming agent capable of foaming the emulsion. Also disclosed is a tire puncture sealant set including the coagulant and a method of coagulating a tire puncture sealant.
US09676968B1
A heat resistant adhesive sheet is provided that does not easily develop deformation of an adhesive sheet due to heating. Such an adhesive sheet made by laminating an adhesive layer to a substrate is provided, characterized in that the substrate is heat shrinkable and the adhesive layer contains a (meth)acrylate copolymer, a photopolymerizable compound, a polyfunctional isocyanate curing agent, and a photopolymerization initiator and does not substantially contain a tackifying resin. This adhesive sheet is not deformed even when heated. Since the adhesive does not substantially contain a tackifying resin, softening of the adhesive layer does not occur even when the sheet is heated.
US09676964B1
A coating composition which includes a photocatalyst to generate singlet oxygen when exposed to ambient oxygen and light, an emulsifier comprising a polyethylene oxide repeat unit, an organosilane binder, and a calcium salt.
US09676962B2
Exemplary embodiments provide anti-wetting, low adhesion coatings for use with aqueous ink jet printheads. Exemplary embodiments directed to aqueous ink jet printheads with the anti-wetting, low adhesion coating on the front face thereof and methods for reducing drooling, wetting or adhesion on a front face of an ink jet printhead configured for ejecting aqueous ink are also described.
US09676958B2
A copolymer dispersion is described comprising a copolymer derived from a monomer mixture comprising: (a) 88.5 to 94% by weight of at least one vinyl ester of a saturated carboxylic acid; (b) 5 to 10.5% by weight of ethylene; (c) 0.5 to 5% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated acid and/or an anhydride thereof and/or a salt thereof; and (d) 0.5 to 5% by weight of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one crosslinkable functional unit. The weight ratio of vinylester units to ethylene units in the copolymer is between 89:11 and 94:6 and the dispersion is stabilized with at least 1% by weight of an emulsifier, wherein the amounts of monomers and emulsifier refer to the total amount of monomers in the copolymer.
US09676953B2
Reversible thermochromic and photochromic ink compositions and markers, pens or writing instruments that use them are herein disclosed.
US09676948B2
The invention is directed to a detectable and stable composition comprising an organofunctional silane and/or hydrolyzate and/or partial or complete condensate thereof, a colloidal metal oxide, a water soluble organic dye having a positive charge and a counterion derived from a carboxylic acid of from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and water. The invention is also directed to a method for determining the uniformity and film thickness of a detectable composition applied to a substrate comprising applying to the surface of the substrate the detectable composition and measuring an optical property of the applied coating, the resulting measurement being related to the uniformity of the applied composition.
US09676947B2
Provided is a heat curable conductive paste used to form a conductive coating. The heat curable conductive paste comprises a conductive powder, a heat curable epoxy resin and a curing agent. In the conductive powder, an aliphatic polyvalent carboxylic acid is adhered on a surface of a powdered metal core. The epoxy resin comprises a bifunctional or higher polyfunctional epoxy resin and a monofunctional epoxy resin, and the polyfunctional epoxy resin and the monofunctional epoxy resin have a mass ratio of 90:10 to 20:80.
US09676933B2
Regarding a durability test of a moisture-curing composition, it is difficult to both suppress foaming in the inside of a cured product and to stably maintain the physical properties of a cured product.A moisture-curing composition containing the components (A) to (D), the moisture-curing composition containing 0.5 to 5.0 parts by mass of the component (C) relative to 100 parts by mass of the component (A): Component (A): an oligomer which has a polymer of (meth)acrylic monomers as a main chain and which has a hydrolyzable silyl group in the molecule Component (B): specific polydialkylsiloxane Component (C): silicate Component (D): a curing catalyst.
US09676921B2
The present disclosure provides an ink comprising a latex comprising a photoinitiator and at least one unsaturated polyester, which is suitable for use in an indirect printing method.
US09676905B2
The invention relates to a method for producing polyether carbonate polyols by attaching alkylene oxides and carbon dioxide to one or more H-functional starters in the presence of a double-metal cyanide catalyst, characterized in that (alpha) a suspending agent which contains no H-functional groups is provided in a reactor, (ss) optionally, a moiety of alkylene oxide is added to the mixture from step (alpha) at temperatures of 90 to 150 DEG C., and the addition of the alkylene oxide compound is then interrupted; and (gamma) one or more H-functional starters are continuously metered into the reactor during the reaction.
US09676900B2
A polymer comprising a repeat unit of formula (I): (I) wherein Ar6 and Ar7 each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted aryl or heteroaryl group; Sp represents a spacer group comprising a chain of at least 2 aliphatic carbon atoms spacing Ar6 from Ar7; m is at least 1; and if m is greater than 1 then —(Ar7)m forms a linear or branched chain of Ar7 groups in which Ar7 in each occurrence may be the same or different.
US09676898B2
The invention relates to curable compositions comprising at least one epoxy resin and at least one hardener wherein the hardener is a compound of formula (I) or (II) where R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group of substituents having the formula —(CH2)x—NH2 and x is in each case independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, to surfaces comprising such compositions, to methods comprising applying a coating material comprising such compositions and to the use of such compositions as surface protection.
US09676893B2
In an example, a process of forming a polyurethane material is disclosed. The process includes forming carboxylic acid-terminated aliphatic polyol molecules from an epoxidized plant oil. The process also includes chemically reacting the carboxylic acid-terminated aliphatic polyol molecules with an azide material to form monoisocyanate-functionalized aliphatic polyol molecules. The process further includes polymerizing the monoisocyanate-functionalized aliphatic polyol molecules to form a first polyurethane material.
US09676890B2
A local probe storage array is provided that includes a substrate, and a polymeric layer over the substrate, the polymeric layer comprising a crosslinking agent comprising at least three alkyne groups.
US09676884B2
Copolymers of alpha-olefins are generally disclosed, including methods of making such copolymers. In some embodiments, copolymers of alpha-olefins and certain unsaturated ester compounds are also disclosed, including methods of making such copolymers. Lubricant compositions including copolymers of alpha-olefins are also disclosed, as well as methods of using such compositions in certain lubricant applications.
US09676875B2
The present teachings show that it is possible to polymerize 1,1-disubstituted alkene compounds in a solution (for example using one or more solvents). Polymerization of 1,1-disubstituted alkene compounds in an solution provides opportunities to better control the polymerization compared with bulk polymerization. The solution polymerization techniques can be employed for preparing homopolymers, copolymers (e.g., random copolymers), and block copolymers.
US09676874B2
Disclosed herein are metallated aminosilane compounds for use as functional initiators in anionic polymerizations and processes for producing an aminosilane-functionalized polymer using the metallated aminosilane compounds to initiate anionic polymerization of at least one type of anionically polymerizable monomer. Preferred use of the metallated aminosilane compounds results in rubber compositions for use in tires comprising an aminosilane functionalized polymer. A telechelic polymer may result from use of the metallated aminosilane compound and a functional terminator.
US09676870B2
The technology described herein is directed to methods of treating cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
US09676867B2
The invention provides scFv antibodies and monoclonal antibodies that bind to and decrease an activity of Carbonic Anhydrase IX (G250). Also provided are methods of treating and/or preventing cancer, such as renal clear cell cancer. Also provided are methods of identifying a carbonic anhydrase IX (G250) protein. The invention additionally provides methods of modifying immune effector cells, and the immune effector cells modified thereby.
US09676860B2
The present disclosure relates to compositions of daclizumab suitable for subcutaneous administration and methods of manufacturing thereof.
US09676856B2
Presented herein are therapeutic agents that modulate one or more immune functions and uses of such therapeutic agents in the prevention, treatment and management of diseases. In one aspect, the therapeutic agents modulate one or more signal transduction pathways induced by the binding of B7-H7 to B7-HrCR, or the binding of B7-H2 to either ICOS, CD28, or CTLA-4. In another aspect, the therapeutic agents modulate the binding of B7-H7 to B7-H7CR, or the binding of B7-H2 to either ICOS, CD28, or CTLA-4. The therapeutic agents can be used in the prevention, treatment and/or management of diseases in which it might be useful to modulate one or more immune functions (e.g., cancer, infectious disease, autoimmune disease, and transplantation rejection). In another aspect, presented herein are methods for identifying receptor-ligand interactions.
US09676852B2
The present invention provides antibodies directed against ICOS or a derivative thereof which neutralize ICOS engagement on Treg by inhibiting the fixation between ICOS and ICOS-L and abrogate proliferation of Treg induced by plasmacytoid dendritic cells. The present invention further provides antibodies directed against ICOS or a derivative thereof which induce IL-10 and IFNγ production, induce CD4+ T cells proliferation, reduce Tconv proliferation, and increase the immunosuppressive function of Treg.
US09676847B2
The disclosure relates to antibodies against human IL-17 which act as antagonists of IL-17, and their use in the diagnosis or treatment of IL-17 mediated diseases.
US09676841B2
The present disclosure relates to immunoglobulins with reduced aggregation and compositions, methods of generating such immunoglobulins with computational tools and methods of using such immunoglobulins particularly in the treatment and prevention of disease.
US09676840B2
Compositions and methods are provided for treating diseases associated with CD100, including certain autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, and cancers. In particular, anti-CD100 monoclonal antibodies have been developed to neutralize CD100.
US09676839B2
The present disclosure relates to the antibody engineering field and, more particularly, to a process for the screening of antibodies and/or the modulation of the agonistic/antagonistic activity of antibodies. More particularly, the disclosure concerns a process of improving the antagonistic activity of a monoclonal antibody directed against a specific target molecule, or a divalent functional fragment or derivative thereof, the antibody being capable of inhibiting one or more of the biological activities of the target molecule, wherein the process comprises a stage of reconfiguration of the hinge region consisting of a modification of the amino acid sequence of the hinge region by the deletion, the addition or the substitution of at least one amino acid. The disclosure also relates to polypeptides useful for such a modulation method and the obtained antibodies.
US09676833B2
Complexes containing one or more modular recognition domains (MRDs) and MRDs attached to scaffolds including antibodies are described. The manufacture of these complexes are the use of these complexes to treat and diagnose diseases and disorders are also described.
US09676823B2
A polypeptide with a predominantly hydrophobic sequence long enough to span a membrane lipid bilayer as a transmembrane helix (TM) and comprising one or more dissociable groups inserts across a membrane spontaneously in a pH-dependant fashion placing one terminus inside cell. The polypeptide conjugated with various functional moieties delivers and accumulates them at cell membrane with low extracellular pH. The functional moiety conjugated with polypeptide terminus placed inside cell are translocated through the cell membrane in cytosol. The peptide and its variants or non-peptide analogs can be used to deliver therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging, gene regulation, cell regulation, or immunologic agents to or inside of cells in vitro or in vivo in tissue at low extracellular pH.
US09676816B2
In one aspect, affinity tags for recombinant protein purification are described herein which, in some embodiments, can mitigate or overcome disadvantages of prior affinity tag systems. In some embodiments, for example, affinity tags described herein permit efficient elution of desired recombinant proteins with simplified solution systems, such as alkali metal salt solutions. An affinity tag described herein comprises an amino acid sequence including a repeating amino acid unit of BXXXBXX, wherein B is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of histidine, lysine and arginine and X is an amino acid selected from the group consisting of amino acids other than histidine, lysine and arginine.
US09676815B2
The present invention relates to a novel process for the synthesis of abiraterone and in particular abiraterone acetate, a compound of formula (I) reported below: having pharmacological activity suitable for slowing down the progression of advanced stage prostate cancer. The process is characterized by the fact that the intermediate triflation step is carried out on prasterone (DHEA) or its 3-acetate using Ar—N(OTf)2 as the triflation reagent, but where Ar is not phenyl, and by the fact that the base used in this step is an alkali metal alcoholate.
US09676804B2
Methods for isolating 9-{(R)-2-[((S)—{[(S)-1-(isopropoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amino}phenoxyphosphinyl)methoxy]propyl}adenine (compound 16): a method for preparing in high diastereomeric purity, intermediate compounds 13 and 15: and a method for preparing intermediate compound 12: 9-{(R)-2-[((S)—{[(S)-1-(isopropoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amino}phenoxyphosphinyl)methoxy]propyl}adenine has anti-viral properties.
US09676803B2
The present invention relates to an efficient process for the separation of diastereomers of 9-[(R)-2-[[(R,S)-[[(S)-1-(Isopropoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amino]-phenoxyphosphinyl]methoxy]propyl]adenine and to a process for preparing 9-[(R)-2-[[(R)-[[(S)-1-(Isopropoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amino]phenoxyphosphinyl]methoxy]propyl]adenine and 9-[(R)-2-[[(S)-[[(S)-1-(Isopropoxycarbonyl)ethyl]amino]phenoxyphosphinyl]methoxy]propyl]adenine.
US09676802B2
The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: Q-G-A-L-B—Z—W (I), which inhibit RNA-containing virus, particularly the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.
US09676800B2
Disclosed herein are methods for recovering diphosphonite-containing compounds from mixtures comprising organic mononitriles and organic dinitriles, using multistage countercurrent liquid-liquid extraction. Recovery is enhanced with one or more method steps. In a first step, a portion of the heavy phase from the settling section of the first stage is recycled to the settling section of the first stage. In a second step, a portion of the light phase from the settling section of the first stage is recycled to the mixing section of the first stage. In a third step, the first stage takes place in a mixer-settler, a Lewis base is introduced into the settling section of the first stage, and a complex of Lewis acid and Lewis base is formed in this settling section. In a fourth step, a polyamine is added to the first stage.
US09676790B2
The present invention in one embodiment provides a compound of Formula I: (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein Y1, Y2 and Y3 are each independently selected from hydrogen and deuterium; R1, R2, and R3 are each methyl and are independently substituted with 0 to 3 deuterium; and R4 is t-butyl and is substituted with 0 to 9 deuterium; provided that if R1, R2 and R3 are each —CH3, and R4 is —C(CH3)3, then at least one of Y1 and Y2 is deuterium.
US09676781B2
The present invention relates to new substituted glycinamides of general formula (I) wherein D, M, R3, R4 and R5 are defined as in the specification, the tautomers, enantiomers, diastereomers, mixtures and salts thereof, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids or bases, which have valuable properties.
US09676779B2
Novel CFTR corrector compounds that are effective in rescuing halide efflux, delF508-CFTR protein processing, and apical functional chloride ion transport in a cell are provided. Also provided are methods for treating protein folding disorders (e.g., cystic fibrosis). The methods include administering a CFTR corrector compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or prodrug thereof. Methods of rescuing halide efflux in a cell, correcting a processing defect of a delF508-CFTR protein in a cell, and correcting functional delF508-CFTR chloride channels in a cell are also provided.
US09676778B2
The present disclosure provides compounds of formula (I) wherein the variables are as defined herein that are JAK3 inhibitors and therefore useful for the treatment of diseases treatable by inhibition of JAK3 such as cancer and inflammatory diseases. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and processes for preparing such compounds.
US09676776B2
Provided herein are isoergoline compounds and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. In other embodiments, provided herein are methods of treatment, prevention, or amelioration of a variety of medical disorders such as, for example, migraine using the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein. In still other embodiments, provided herein are methods of agonizing receptors such as, for example, the 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B and 5-HT1D receptors without agonizing the 5-HT2B receptor using the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein. In still other embodiments, provided herein are methods of antagonizing the 5-HT2B adrenergic alpha2A and/or the alpha2B receptors using the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein. In still other embodiments, provided herein are methods of antagonizing the D2 and D3 receptor using the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions disclosed herein.
US09676766B2
The present invention relates to triazolopyridine compounds of general formula (I) which are Monopolar Spindle 1 kinase (Mps-1 or TTK) inhibitors: Formula (I), in which R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are as given in the description and in the claims, to methods of preparing said compounds, to pharmaceutical compositions and combinations comprising said compounds, to the use of said compounds for manufacturing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment or prophylaxis proliferative of diseases, as well as to intermediate compounds useful in the preparation of said compounds.
US09676757B2
The present invention relates to heterocyclic compounds, and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, useful as Nav1.6 inhibitors.
US09676756B2
Provided are substituted pyrimidinyl compounds for inhibition of JAK and/or Syk kinase, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, methods for inhibiting JAK and/or Syk kinase activity, and methods for treating conditions mediated at least in part by JAK and/or Syk kinase activity.
US09676751B2
The present invention is directed to 2-amino-3-ester pyridyl compounds which are antagonists of orexin receptors. The present invention is also directed to uses of the 2-amino-3-ester pyridyl compounds described herein in the potential treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders and diseases in which orexin receptors are involved. The present invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds. The present invention is also directed to uses of these pharmaceutical compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which orexin receptors are involved.
US09676750B2
The present disclosure describes bicyclic aromatic carboxamide derivatives, as well as their compositions and methods of use. The compounds inhibit the activity of the Pim kinases, and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to the activity of Pim kinases including, e.g., cancer and other diseases.
US09676743B2
Catalysts and methods for the carbonylation of epoxides to substituted 3-hydroxy-δ-lactones and β-lactones are disclosed.
US09676742B2
The invention provides processes for preparing intermediates useful for preparing compounds of the formula: or a tautomer or salt thereof, where R1-R5, a, b, X and P2, are as defined in the specification.
US09676739B2
The present invention relates to a novel acid dianhydride, a method for preparing the same, and a polyimide prepared therefrom. More specifically, the acid dianhydride according to the present invention is useful as a colorless transparent polyimide unit exhibiting excellent thermal stability and a low dielectric ratio, and the polyimide of the present invention has excellent solubility to an organic solvent compared with the conventional polyimide.
US09676729B2
The present invention relates to oxygen-comprising amine salts of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, to a method of producing said amine salts and to the use of said amine salts in the production of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors.
US09676727B2
This disclosure relates to antiviral compounds disclosed herein and uses related thereto. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to pharmaceutical compositions. Typically, the pharmaceutical composition comprises a compound of formula I: or salt, prodrug, or ester thereof wherein X, Y, and R1 and R10 to R13 are described herein.
US09676725B2
Disclosed are a new S crystal form of ivabradine hydrochloride, and preparation method and pharmaceutical composition thereof. The S crystal form of ivabradine hydrochloride has a powder diffraction pattern having characteristic peaks at degrees two-theta positions of 8.5±0.2, 11.5±0.2, 14.6±0.2, 15.3±0.2, 16.1±0.2, 17.1±0.2, 17.4±0.2, 17.8±0.2, 18.6±0.2, 19.3±0.2, 21.6±0.2, 21.9±0.2, 27.2±0.2, and, by DSC measurement, has an endothermic crystal transformation peak as a characteristic peak at 111.6° C. and an exothermic crystal transformation peak as a characteristic peak at 136.9° C., and a melting decomposition peak as a characteristic peak at 194.9° C. The S crystal form products are easy to dry, have high purity and stability, and are convenient for long-term storage without particular temperature and humidity requirements. The preparation method thereof facilitates industrial production, and has great application value and market value.
US09676723B2
The present invention provides a compound of Formula (I) and pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more said compounds, and methods for using said compounds for treating or preventing thromboses, embolisms, hypercoagulability or fibrotic changes. The compounds are selective Factor XIa inhibitors or dual inhibitors of Factor XIa and plasma kallikrein.
US09676722B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of Ivacaftor intermediates. The present invention is also provides industrial applicable, commercially and eco-friendly viable process for the preparation of Ivacaftor.
US09676721B2
The present invention relates to compounds and compositions for the inhibition of NAMPT, their synthesis, applications and antidotes. An illustrative compound of the invention is shown below.
US09676719B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a compound having strong human S1P2 antagonistic activity in order to develop a useful medicament for therapy of a S1P2-mediated disease such as a disease resulting from vascular constriction, fibrosis and respiratory disease. The compound represented by the general formula (I), wherein all the symbols have the same meanings as described in the specification, has a halogen atom or a haloalkyl group and a phenoxy group at certain substitution sites, and thus has strong human S1P2 antagonistic activity. Therefore, the compound can be a therapeutic agent for a S1P2-mediated disease, such as a disease resulting from vascular constriction, fibrosis and respiratory disease.
US09676717B2
Provided is an organic electroluminescence device including a pair of electrodes composed of an anode and a cathode, a light emitting layer between the electrodes and an organic layer which is adjacent to the light emitting layer between the light emitting layer and the cathode, on a substrate, and the light emitting layer contains at least one compound having a carbazole structure and the organic layer adjacent to the light emitting layer contains at least one hydrocarbon compound having a specific structure.
US09676716B2
The present invention relates to thermoplastic high-Tg polycarbonates and molding materials which are distinguished by improved thermal properties and improved mechanical properties, in particular by reduced thermal expansion. The present invention furthermore relates to a process for the preparation of these polycarbonates. In particular, this invention relates to polycarbonates which the structural unit which derives from phthalimide of the formula (I) and polycarbonate compositions and molding materials therefrom as well as a process for the preparation of these polycarbonates, and the use thereof, in particular as reflectors and display substrates.
US09676715B2
Novel bis-indolic derivatives, processes for their preparation, and their potential use as new antibacterial drugs.
US09676711B2
The present invention relates to novel sulfoperoxycarboxylic acid compounds, and methods for making and using them. The sulfoperoxycarboxylic compounds of the invention are storage stable, water soluble and have low to no odor. Further, the compounds of the present invention can be formed from non-petroleum based renewable materials. The compounds of the present invention can be used as antimicrobials, and bleaching agents. The compounds of the present invention are also suitable for use as coupling agents.
US09676709B2
Amines and amine derivatives that improve the buffering range, and/or reduce the chelation and other negative interactions of the buffer and the system to be buffered. The reaction of amines or polyamines with various molecules to form polyamines with differing pKa's will extend the buffering range, derivatives that result in polyamines that have the same pKa yields a greater buffering capacity. Derivatives that result in zwitterionic buffers improve yield by allowing a greater range of stability.
US09676707B2
A total green, eco-friendly process for the synthesis of new acceptor molecule [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid pentyl ester (PC61BP) in high yields is carried under aerobic conditions showing better performance as acceptor in organic solar cells. More importantly this process causes the low cost synthesis of PC61BP in good yield without involving harmful and costly catalysts or chemicals.
US09676705B2
A compound of the formula SbxFe1Oy (I) in which x varies from 0.4 to 1 inclusive and y varies from 1.6 to 4 inclusive, may be used as a catalyst for catalyzing the ammoxidation reaction of an alcohol of following formula (II) CH2═C(R1)—CH2—OH (II) in which R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl radical, to give nitrile of following formula (III) CH2═C(R1)—C≡N (III) in which R1 has the same meaning as in above formula (II), the said reaction being carried out in the gas phase, the said gas phase comprising at least oxygen and ammonia. The present invention also relates to the process for the ammoxidation of an alcohol of formula (II) employing a compound of formula (I) as catalyst.
US09676700B2
The present invention is directed to methods for preparing a fluorosulfonate ester or a salt thereof, through a reaction of a dissolved sulfonyl fluoride (RFSO2F) with alkoxide anion (RO−) optionally in the presence of an aprotic base (B), where RF is fluorine or a C1-C8 perfluoroalkyl group, and R is a primary alkyl or alkoxyalkyl. Alkoxide anion (RO−) can be generated from a precursor such as an alcohol or silyl ester.
US09676694B2
A process for producing acetic acid is disclosed in which the water concentration is controlled in the side stream between two columns. Controlling the water concentration by the liquid light phase recycle controls the hydrogen iodide concentration in the side stream to be less than 50 wppm.
US09676692B2
There is provided a novel intermediate for producing pesticides. A method for producing the compound of Formula (3) comprises reacting an aromatic ketone compound of Formula (4) and a substituted acetophenone compound of Formula (5) as starting raw materials in an organic solvent or water in the presence or absence of an additive in the presence of a base in a suspended state. A method may comprise dehydrating the compound of Formula (3). A method for producing compound (2) in one step comprises reacting compound (4) and compound (5) to obtain compound (3). Further, a method for producing an isoxazoline compound of Formula (1) comprises reacting compound (2) and a hydroxylamine in an aliphatic or an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent which is optionally substituted by a halogen atom by adding an additive selected from a phase-transfer catalyst, a C1-C6 alcohol and an aprotic polar solvent in the presence of a base and water.
US09676690B2
Described herein are high yield methods for making magnolol derivatives, together with novel intermediates and uses thereof.
US09676689B2
A multistage tubular reaction system and method for preparing methylol derivatives of an aldehyde includes a tubular reaction system with a plurality of successive reactor stages comprising a plurality of jacketed reaction tubes provided with a cooling system adapted to control flow of a cooling medium through said jacketed reaction tubes. The cooling medium flow is controlled independently in different stages in response to temperature measurements in the reaction system to regulate temperature. In order to further reduce temperature spikes and byproduct generation, aldehyde is stepwise added to the production stream at a plurality of feed ports proximate to reaction tubes equipped with tube inserts to enhance mixing and heat transfer.
US09676687B2
The invention relates to a process to prepare tetrahalopropenes, such as 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (1233xf). The process comprises atomizing a feed material, such as 1,1,2,3-tetrachloropropene (1230xa) and the like, and mixing it with superheated HF to form a vaporized composition of feed material and HF with substantially instantaneous contact with a vapor phase fluorination catalyst. The invention extends catalyst life and forestalls catalyst deactivation.
US09676682B2
Provided is a Group 9 novel metal catalyst complex further comprising a ketone-containing cocatalyst. The metal catalyst complex is useful in generating olefins from alkanes with great efficiency. In one embodiment, provided is an iridium catalyst complex useful in the dehydrogenation of alkanes comprising a ketone-containing cocatalyst and iridium complexed with a tridentate ligand. Also provided is a novel dehydrogenation method which utilizes the catalyst composition. In other embodiments, a novel process for preparing oligomers from alkanes utilizing the catalyst composition is provided.
US09676675B2
The present disclosure relates to multi-effect tree dripping liquid and usage thereof. The dripping liquid includes coconut, astragalus and ephedra root extract, glucose, coenzyme A, adenosine triphosphate, vitamin B1, vitamin C, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, seaweed essence, brassinolide, boric acid, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, a plant growth hormone, their volume percentages are 20% to 30% of coconut fumet, 5% to 13% of coconut meat extract, 28% to 38% of astragalus and ephedra root extract, 10% to 15% of 50% glucose injection, 2% to 7% of 99.8% seaweed essence, 5% to 11% of 0.0016% brassinolide, 2% to 7% of potassium sorbate, boric acid, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate, plant growth hormone, a trace amount of preservative, distilled water. The multi-effect tree dripping liquid can achieve the purposes of supplying nutrients, balancing the water content inside the bodies of seedlings, preventing water transpiration, fast healing trauma root wounds, promoting early rooting, and preventing infection.
US09676671B2
The invention concerns a method for fabricating an orange, zirconia-based article, characterized in that it includes the series of steps consisting in creating a first mixture comprising a zirconia powder, 3 to 20% by weight of at least one stabilizer chosen from the group of oxides comprising yttrium oxide, magnesium oxide, and calcium oxide, alone or in combination, 0.1% to 5% by weight of at least one element intended to form a vitreous phase, and chosen from the group comprising silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, lithium oxide and yttrium oxide, alone or in combination, 1% to 6% by weight of a cerium oxide powder; creating a second mixture including said first mixture and a binder; creating a granulated mixture by granulating said second mixture; forming a green body by giving said second granulated mixture the shape of the desired article; air sintering for at least thirty minutes at a temperature comprised between 1,250 and 1,500° C. and annealing the desired article at a temperature comprised between 700° C. and 1,350° C. for a period comprised between 30 minutes and 20 hours in a reducing atmosphere, and polishing said sintered green body.
US09676670B2
A handle substrate is composed of a translucent alumina sintered body containing a sintering aid including at least magnesium. A concentration of magnesium at a bonding face of the handle substrate to a donor substrate is half or less of an average concentration of magnesium of the handle substrate.
US09676666B2
The invention concerns a process for the preparation of a calcium silicate hydrate and ettringite containing hardening accelerator composition by reaction of a water-soluble calcium compound, silicate compound, aluminum compound and a sulfate compound, wherein the molar ratio of silicon to sulfate is from 2/1 to 30/1 and the reaction of the four compounds being carried out in the presence of an aqueous solution which contains a comb polymer suitable as a plasticizer for hydraulic binders. Also concerned are the use of said accelerators in building material mixtures, the building material mixtures containing said accelerators and a process for the preparation of a sprayable binder composition in which said accelerators are used.
US09676665B2
Refrigerated hydraulic cement compositions comprise a mixture of (a) β-tricalcium phosphate powder, (b) monocalcium phosphate comprising monocalcium phosphate anhydrous (MCPA), monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM), or a combination thereof, wherein a 0.1 g/ml saturated aqueous solution of the monocalcium phosphate has a pH less than 3.0, (c) non-aqueous water-miscible liquid, and (d) an aqueous hydrating liquid. The aqueous hydrating liquid is included in an amount of about 1-50 volume percent, based on the combined volume of the non-aqueous water-miscible liquid and the aqueous hydration liquid, and the refrigerated hydraulic cement composition is storage stable for greater than one day, without setting. Methods of forming hardened cements in vivo and/or for forming implants for use in vivo employ the hydraulic cement compositions.
US09676659B2
A manufacturing method that enables stably making a high-quality optical fiber is provided. The manufacturing method of the present invention comprises: a softened portion falling step in which an optical fiber preform is heated in a heating furnace and a dropping part of softened portion of the preform thus heat-softened is allowed to drop; and a drawing step for drawing the preform such that the softened glass is drawn into a fiber by applying a tension with a take-up means after the softened portion falling step, whereas the preform is rotated about its axis at the softened portion falling step.
US09676656B2
Provided is lithium disilicate crystalline glass containing cristobalite crystal phase for high strength and aesthetic traits and its manufacturing process thereof. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide the high strength and aesthetic lithium disilicate crystalline glass, one kind of dental restoration materials, and its manufacturing method which induces the growth of the different crystal phase, cristobalite, from glass with lithium disilicate crystal.
US09676646B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus for blow-molding a glass bottle, and more particularly, to an apparatus for blow-molding a glass bottle in which molding air is injected into a pair of mold bodies such that molten glass accommodated in the mold bodies is formed into a glass bottle and a groove is formed at the center of the inner side of the bottom surface of the glass bottle. The apparatus for blow-molding a glass bottle of the present invention uses a blow mold (10) configured to include: a pair of mold bodies (11) forming a tubular body; a base mold (12) which molds the bottom surface of the glass bottle; and a blowing head (13) which are arranged in the upper portions of the mold bodies (11) and into which molding air is injected such that the glass bottle is expanded after primary molding and closely contacts the inner walls of the mold bodies (11) and the base mold (12). A groove molder (20) is provided on the inner circumferential edge portion of the blowing head (13) such that a groove portion (15) can be molded on the inner side of the bottom surface of the glass bottle (14).
US09676635B2
A method for producing an aqueous zirconium chloride solution includes: grinding zircon sand to an average particle diameter of 10 μm or less; adding a sodium compound to the ground zircon sand to thereby obtain a mixture; firing the mixture in an iron container at 400° C. or less to thereby obtain a decomposed product; firing the decomposed product in a stainless-steel container at 400 to 1,100° C. to thereby obtain a fired product; dispersing the fired product in water to prepare a dispersion, and washing the fired product with water while adjusting the temperature of the dispersion to 70° C. or less, thereby obtaining a water-washed cake; washing the water-washed cake with hydrochloric acid with a pH of 1 to 6 to thereby obtain zirconium hydrate; and dissolving the zirconium hydrate in hydrochloric acid, and then removing insoluble components to thereby obtain a salt solution.
US09676627B2
Methods of growing boron nitride nanotubes and silicon nanowires on carbon substrates formed from carbon fibers. The methods include applying a catalyst solution to the carbon substrate and heating the catalyst coated carbon substrate in a furnace in the presence of chemical vapor deposition reactive species to form the boron nitride nanotubes and silicon nanowires. A mixture of a first vapor deposition precursor formed from boric acid and urea and a second vapor deposition precursor formed from iron nitrate, magnesium nitrate, and D-sorbitol are provided to the furnace to form boron nitride nanotubes. A silicon source including SiH4 is provided to the furnace at atmospheric pressure to form silicon nanowires.
US09676621B2
The disclosure provides a field-effect transistor (FET)-based biosensor and uses thereof. In particular, to FET-based biosensors using thermally reduced graphene-based sheets as a conducting channel decorated with nanoparticle-biomolecule conjugates. The present disclosure also relates to FET-based biosensors using metal nitride/graphene hybrid sheets. The disclosure provides a method for detecting a target biomolecule in a sample using the FET-based biosensor described herein.
US09676612B2
A component which can be produced at wafer level has a first chip and a second chip connected thereto. The connection is (at least partially) established via a first and a second connecting structure and a first and a second contact structure of the second chip. An adaptation structure between the first chip and the first connecting structure equalizes a height difference between the first and the second contact structure.
US09676602B2
A safety device for an aerial lift (10) having operator controls (23) for maneuvering its basket (20) to a desired location and including at least one passive normally closed safety switch (30)(130), e.g. an emergency switch, operable to cut electrical supply and prevent further movement of the basket (20), the safety device comprising a switch activation device (27,160,170) extending across the basket proximate to the controls (23) and an auxiliary safety switch (26) connected in series with the safety switch (30,130) with its contacts C1 normally closed (switch on) unless caused to open (switch off) by operation of the switch activation, thereby cutting off the electrical supply.
US09676598B1
A gravity activated lifting claw for help in moving and gripping a wide range of objects of various sizes and shapes. The gravity activated lifting claw includes a link and slide structure that allows for configurations with varying number of gripping arms. The gravity activated claw is self-opening when the claw is slacked. The embodiments of the lifting claw are cheaply and easily configurable with a wide range of material handling machinery.
US09676593B2
A belt for an elevator system and a method for making the same is provided. The belt includes a plurality of tension members that extend along a length of the belt and a jacket. The jacket substantially retains the plurality of tension members. The jacket maintains a desired spacing and alignment of the tension members relative to each other. The jacket includes a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of second fibers. The jacket defines at least one exterior, traction surface of the belt. The first fibers are at least partially disposed between the tension members and the traction surface of the belt. The second fibers are fill fibers. The first fibers have at least one property that distinguishes them from the second fibers.
US09676586B2
A method of converting a supply of sheet stock into a relatively less dense dunnage product, including the following steps of (i) providing a stack of fan-folded sheet material having fold lines parallel to a width dimension; and (ii) drawing sheet stock material from the stack in a direction parallel to the width dimension.
US09676580B2
A recording-medium ejecting device includes a first rotating member that rotates and a second rotating member that faces the first rotating member and that is rotated by rotation of the first rotating member. At least one of the first rotating member or the second rotating member is provided with projections and recesses at both ends thereof. The projections and recesses are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction. The projections extend continuously from a rotating member body in an axial direction and have a diameter greater than that of the rotating member body. The recesses extend continuously from the rotating member body in the axial direction and have a diameter smaller than that of the rotating member body. The projections at one end of the rotating member body and the projections at the other end of the rotating member body are at the same positions in a circumferential direction.
US09676579B2
A manufacturing method for a glass roll includes drawing a glass film downward vertically from a forming device, converting a delivery direction of the glass film from a vertical direction to a horizontal direction, continuously delivering the glass film to a downstream side by a horizontal conveyance section, and rolling the glass film into a roll shape on a downstream side of the horizontal conveyance section. While the glass film is supported in surface contact by an endless belt serving as a support section, which is provided in the horizontal conveyance section, a rolling force equal to or less than a static friction force, which is generated by a self-weight of the glass film between the glass film and the endless belt, is imparted to the glass film.
US09676577B2
A sheet handling apparatus includes a sheet transport path, a pinch and drive mechanism disposed at an entry side of the transport path for conveying the sheets in a transport direction X along the transport path, at least one liftable pinch and drive mechanism disposed at the transport path downstream of said entry side pinch and drive mechanism, a sheet alignment mechanism disposed further downstream at the transport path and arranged to impart a movement in a direction Z normal to the transport direction X to at least a part of a sheet that passes through, and a controller arranged to receive a sheet length signal and to control said at least one liftable pinch and drive mechanism in accordance with the sheet length.
US09676575B2
The image forming apparatus includes a plate movable up and down, a control cam that moves the plate up and down, a stepping motor that derives the control cam, a sheet feeding roller that contacts the sheet on the plate moved up by the control cam to feed the sheet held in contact with the feeding unit through rotation caused by drive from the stepping motor, and a control unit that controls the stepping motor. The control unit rotates the stepping motor at a first speed so that the control cam moves the plate up. After the sheet feeding roller is rotated, when the sheet feeding roller is stopped to stop the stepping motor, the control unit changes the rotational speed of the stepping motor from the first speed to a second speed.
US09676573B2
A sheet handling apparatus comprising a rotary drum having an outer peripheral wall with perforations, and a number of separate chambers, a suction system for controlling a flow of air through the perforations, thereby to attract sheets to the peripheral wall of the drum, and a stationary shutter member for blocking the flow of air through the perforations when they pass through a predetermined angular range. The number of separate chambers extend in axial direction and are distributed over the periphery of the drum. A disk-shaped manifold at the first axial end of the drum is co-rotatably with the drum. The manifold forms a number of radial channels each connected to one of said chambers and having an opening at a radially inward end of each channel. The stationary shutter member is arranged for blocking an opening of a channel to block air flow from a radially inward end of a channel.
US09676566B2
A multi-level product sortation system includes sortation apparatuses interconnected on a conveyor and a station controlling loading and unloading thereof. Each apparatus includes a rack formed by a bottom wall, spaced-apart opposite side walls extending upright therefrom and a compartment above the bottom wall, between the side walls and being open at top and opposite ends. Each apparatus includes at least two carriers disposed in the compartment at different levels therein, and a product discharge control mechanism operable to selectively retain a product on and release a product from the respective carrier. One carrier is disposed above the other carrier and both extend longitudinally between open opposite ends of the compartment and laterally between opposite side walls of the rack. Each carrier is tiltable relative to the rack between a product support position and a product discharge position angularly displaced therefrom.
US09676561B1
A system for holding one or more bags. The system includes a cart, a first chute disposed on the cart, and a second chute also disposed on the cart. The first chute includes a first edging along each side of the first chute. The second chute includes a second edging along each side of the second chute. The second chute is intertwined with the first chute. The system may further include a third chute and a fourth chute disposed on the cart. The third chute may include a third edging along each side of the third chute, and the fourth chute may include a fourth edging along each side of the fourth chute. The top and bottom of the first chute and the top and bottom of the second chute are positioned on opposite ends of the cart at about 180 degrees apart, while the top and bottom of the third chute and the top and bottom of the fourth chute are positioned on opposite ends of the cart at about 180 degrees apart.
US09676560B2
A conveyor arrangement for conveying containers in a container treatment system, including a conveyor track, at least one conveyor element movably arranged on the conveyor track and used for conveying one or a plurality of containers, a conveyor element servicing device connected to the conveyor track, and an open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit, where the conveyor track and the conveyor element are configured such that the conveyor element can be guided along the conveyor track in an individually controllable manner by means of the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit, and where the open-loop and/or closed-loop control unit is configured to supply the conveyor element to the servicing device depending on at least one state parameter of the conveyor element.
US09676558B2
A method of production of a conveying wire that includes a fiber wire with disc-shaped conveying members, the fiber wire including twisted strands each made from synthetic plastic threads or fibers, includes coating at least one section of the fiber wire with an outer jacket by a continuous injection molding process and connecting disc-shaped conveying members by injection molding directly onto the at least one section of the outer jacket or directly onto the fiber wire, and connecting opposed end parts of each section of the outer jacket to opposed end parts of disc-shaped conveying members, while maintaining the fiber wire under tension during unwinding and during winding.
US09676557B2
A grain elevator system and method are disclosed, where the grain elevator system includes a grain elevator, a grain elevator paddle, and/or a grain elevator paddle insert. When the grain elevator system includes a sensor attached to a side of the grain elevator, the grain elevator paddle may be configured to include a divider piece for biasing grain towards the side of the grain elevator having the sensor attached. When the grain elevator system includes a sensor attached to a side of the grain elevator, a grain elevator paddle insert may be positioned on top of the grain elevator paddle for biasing grain towards the side of the grain elevator having the sensor attached.
US09676548B2
A container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse has guides containing generally L-shaped slotted tracks having horizontal and vertical portions. A plurality of dunnage supports extend between the tracks. Dunnage is suspended by the dunnage supports. The dunnage supports have narrowed portions engaged with the slotted tracks.
US09676543B2
A packaging assembly is provided with a base that is sized to receive at least one shower door glass pane. At least one shower door glass pane is received within the base. A handle is mounted to the base. A plurality of projections extends from a bottom surface of the base to rest upon an underlying support surface and to reduce friction between the packaging assembly and the underlying support surface. The base includes a box with an opening formed in opposed surfaces of the box to expose a portion of the at least one shower door glass pane.
US09676541B2
A storage container which allows a user to easily take out sheets from a dispensing opening when the number of sheets is small. A storage container includes: a container body including a top plate where a dispensing opening for taking out the sheets is provided, and an opening formed opposing the top plate; and a bottom lid which is formed of an integrally-molded resin, is detachably mounted to the container body, and closes the opening. The bottom lid includes: a flat plate portion; and an expanding/contracting part transformable from a first state where it protrudes from the flat plate portion up to a first height toward the inside of the container body, to a second state where it protrudes from the flat plate portion up to a second height higher than the first height, toward the inside of the container body.
US09676522B1
A cooler has a contoured bottom to allow items placed within to aggregate to one side. The cooler is equipped with a spout to enable a controlled drainage of liquids from within the cooler, located at a bottom central portion of the contoured bottom at the perimeter edge thereof. The cooler is further provided with wheels and a retractable handle to facilitate the transportation thereof.
US09676516B2
A thermoformed hollow plastic body, which is formed by two plastic shells welded to one another around the periphery, with at least one hollow chamber, into which at least one dimensionally stable plastic body is placed, and a method for producing such a thermoformed hollow plastic body wherein a first sheet of plastic is thermoformed into a first plastic shell while forming at least one open hollow chamber.The outer contour of the plastic body is made to match an inner contour of the hollow chamber and is connected by its surface in full area contact and with a material bond to neighboring inner surfaces of the plastic shells.
US09676515B2
This invention relates to a collapsible container and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a collapsible container for use in packaging and transportation. The collapsible container includes a number of panels each having a panel body, with elongate tubular members secured to edges of the bodies. Each of the tubular members has at least one recessed section that forms interlocking engagement means.
US09676513B2
A pull-tab sealing member for a container containing an upper laminate forming a pull-tab bonded to a lower laminate capable of being heat sealed to a container's mouth or opening. The upper laminate defines the pull tab wholly within a perimeter or circumference of the seal. The sealing member further includes a sub tab layer or member under the gripping tab for concentric structural support.
US09676512B2
A forming device and method for use in a packaging machine of the type where packages are produced from a tube. The forming device comprises two opposing sealing elements between which the tube is arranged to be flat-laid and squeezed to heat the thermoplastic and obtain a first transverse seal of the tube. It further comprises two volume control elements. The forming device is characterized in that it is arranged to displace the first transverse seal off-center in relation a longitudinal axis of the first portion of the tube in a displacement direction essentially perpendicular to the first transverse seal to enable later shaping of a corresponding final package with a wall arranged with a predetermined angle of inclination in relation to the displacement direction. The invention also relates to a machine, a process and a packaging laminate.
US09676510B2
Unitary blank can include a first body portion, a second body portion joined to the first, a third body portion joined to the second, and a fourth body portion joined to the third. A first flap can extend from the fourth body portion and can have a first engagement portion adjacent to the fourth body portion, a second engagement portion opposite the fourth body portion, and a central portion defined therebetween. At least one inwardly folding panel can be disposed between adjacent body portions along a corresponding body fold line. First, second, third, and fourth base portions can extend from the first, second, third, and fourth body portion, respectively. Food containers and methods are also provided.
US09676509B2
A tray for transferring a panel is disclosed. The tray includes a tray mold frame including acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (“ABS”) resin, a receiving member, a supporting member and a slot member. The tray mold frame includes four extrusion bars and four molding members. The molding members combine with the extrusion bars. Each of the molding members include a first protruding part on a side surface. The receiving member is disposed inside of the tray mold frame. The supporting member is disposed on a lower surface of the receiving member. The supporting member combines with the extrusion bars configured to support the receiving member. The slot member includes a first groove combining with the first protruding part. The slot member is disposed on the receiving member. Thus, when the panel is transferred by the tray, a fault of the panel during transferring may decrease.
US09676508B2
An in-bottle aerator for mixing the oxygen in the air with wine as the wine is poured from its bottle. The aerator has at least one air ingress channel extending from one end of the aerator to the other, allowing air into the bottle to displace wine exiting the bottle. Air mixing channels draw air from outside the bottle and direct that air to lateral channels that intersect a central flow channel extending from one end of the bottle to another. The air mixing and air ingress channels are preferably arranged to allow the user to pour and aerate wine at the same time and with the bottle in any orientation about its axis. The aerator may be a separately formed component that can be inserted into the bottle by the bottle manufacturer, by a wine bottler or by an enduser. Alternatively, the aerator may be wholly or partly formed as part of the neck of the bottle. A completely and integrally formed aerator may be formed as a part of a plastic wine bottle. For plastic or glass wine bottles, aeration channels may be formed on the internal surface of the neck of the bottle, and an insert can be used to complete the within bottle aerator by the insertion (by the bottle manufacturer, by a wine bottler or by an enduser) of an aerator component having additional channels formed therein.
US09676507B2
In one aspect, a stretch wrap system configured to separately wrap a plurality of loads in film comprising a plurality of stretch wrapping machines, each machine comprising at least one sensing mechanism configured to sense the presence of a load, and a control box electrically coupled to sensing mechanisms, the control box comprising a start button configured to start the machines when sensing mechanisms detect load. In another aspect, a process of operating a system for stretch wrapping comprising positioning at least one load to be wrapped in front of at least one of a first and second machine wherein the first machine includes a sensing mechanism electrically coupled to a control box and wherein the second machine includes a second sensing mechanism electrically coupled to the control box, inputting a start signal through the control box, transmitting a signal from the control box to each of the sensing mechanisms, determining the presence or absence of a load within an operational space of each of the plurality of stretch wrapping machines and wrapping each present load using a respective one of the plurality of stretch wrapping machines.
US09676505B2
A twister assembly for use in connection with bundling one or more objects with a length of wire may cut, grip, eject, and twist the length of wire. The twister assembly includes a main shaft driven by a main shaft motor and a twister shaft driven by a twister motor. The main shaft may be operatively coupled to a gripping mechanism, which is operable between an open and a closed position, a cutting mechanism, and an ejector mechanism. The twister shaft may be operatively coupled to a twisting mechanism, where the twisting mechanism includes a plurality of gears configured to rotate a twister pinion. The twister pinion is further configured to engage the length of wire and twist a portion of the length of wire to form a knot. Related twister assemblies and methods are also provided.
US09676496B2
A system may include an aerial vehicle, a perch platform configured to receive the aerial vehicle, and a ground station coupled to the aerial vehicle via a tether. The ground station may include a winch including a winch drum configured to move laterally and spin in a manner such that the tether is wound onto on the winch drum in a repeating pattern, possibly utilizing a fixed position levelwind. The system may additionally include a tower around which the winch and the perch platform can rotate about a vertical axis relative to the tower. The system may further utilize the tether forces on the levelwind to help move the perch platform around the vertical axis or be driven actively by a motor.
US09676494B2
A combined anti-collision and navigation light unit for an aircraft includes a light source, having at least one LED and having a source-side light intensity distribution, and a lens cover with a shape that is configured to transform the source-side light intensity distribution into an output light intensity distribution of the combined anti-collision and navigation light unit.
US09676493B2
A system for damage tracking and monitoring during ground handling of aircraft includes a ground service communication network configured to transmit communication data between ground support equipment, GSE, and aircraft; a database configured to store configuration data and status data of GSE and aircraft; and a computer-based system configured to communicate with the ground service communication network and the database. The computer-based system is configured to update the configuration data and the status data of GSE and aircraft stored in the database on basis of communication data received from the ground service communication network. The computer-based system is further configured to estimate a damage source among the GSE for a damage inflicted on the aircraft by one of the GSE by correlating damage characteristics of the damage with the configuration data and the status data from the database.
US09676492B2
A dehumidifier comprises: a first channel for transporting air at a first pressure; a second channel for transporting air at a second pressure lower than the first pressure; and a graphene oxide barrier separating the first channel and the second channel. The relatively lower pressure of air in the second channel causes water vapor to be drawn out of the air in the first channel.
US09676477B1
This disclosure describes an unmanned aerial vehicle that may be configured during flight to optimize for agility or efficiency.
US09676476B2
A lightweight skid shoe assembly comprises a body of wear resistant, non-metallic or partially metallic material; and a structure coupling mechanism; wherein the body prevents friction-related damage to the structure. Another lightweight skid shoe assembly comprises a body of wear resistant, non-metallic or partially metallic material selected from the group consisting of: a polyamide or polyimide impregnated carbon fiber layup, a peek or PEI injection mold with carbon fiber, compression molded carbon fiber or fiberglass, a resin infusion with carbon fiber preform fabric, a fiber reinforced thermoset, acetal resin, machined acetal or thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic, or a metal-matrix composite; wherein the body prevents friction-related damage to a structure. Another lightweight skid shoe assembly comprises a body of wear resistant, non-metallic or partially metallic material; and a shear-bearing mechanism; wherein the shear-bearing mechanism directs shear forces away from the body; and wherein the body prevents friction-related damage to the structure.
US09676467B2
An object is to provide a technique related to a small watercraft that can prevent water from entering an inboard section through air intake ports. A small watercraft for leisure use is configured to obtain thrust by driving a propeller with an engine serving as a power source and includes an air intake port configured to introduce air into an engine room in an inboard section from the outside, and a radar arm configured to support a radar. The air intake port is positioned on the inner side with respect to the radar arm.
US09676464B2
Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to provide stabilized directional control for a vehicle. A directional control system for an embodiment may include a logic device adapted to receive directional data about a vehicle and determine nominal vehicle feedback from the directional data. The nominal vehicle feedback may be used to adjust a directional control signal provided to an actuator of a vehicle. The directional control signal may be limited to a value below an actuator rate limit before a directional control signal is adjusted by the nominal vehicle feedback. A directional control system may include a logic device, a memory, one or more sensors, one or more actuators/controllers, and modules to interface with users, sensors, actuators, and/or other modules of a vehicle.
US09676463B1
A transmission is for a marine propulsion device having an internal combustion engine that drives a propulsor for propelling a marine vessel in water. An input shaft is driven into rotation by the engine. An output shaft drives the propulsor into rotation. A forward planetary gearset that connects the input shaft to the output shaft so as to drive the output shaft into forward rotation. A reverse planetary gearset that connects the input shaft to the output shaft so as to drive the output shaft into reverse rotation. A forward brake engages the forward planetary gearset in a forward gear wherein the forward planetary gearset drives the output shaft into the forward rotation. A reverse brake engages the reverse planetary gearset in a reverse gear wherein the reverse planetary gearset drives the output shaft into the reverse rotation.
US09676460B2
Propulsion unit (11) for propulsion and maneuvering of a maritime vessel, which includes a nozzle (12) wherein a propeller section (13, 13a) is arranged, which propeller section (13, 13a) is electrically or hydraulically driven, which propulsion unit (11) includes a fastening device (16) arranged for arrangement to hull of the vessel or to a steering device arranged for steering and/or moving the propulsion unit (11). The fastening device (16) is formed by two stems (17a-b) extending in parallel or laterally reversed about an vertical central axis from an upper surface of the nozzle (12) of the propulsion unit, which stems (17a-b) end in a fixing flange (18) for thereby providing an opening (19) which provides the propulsion unit (11) with improved hydrodynamic performance.
US09676456B2
The present invention relates to an arrangement for containment of liquid natural gas (LNG) in a hull compartment of a marine construction, comprising a self-supporting primary barrier, a second barrier surrounding the self-supporting primary barrier, and an access space between the self-supporting primary barrier and the secondary barrier. The self-supporting primary barrier is a liquid-tight self-supporting LNG tank and is connected with the hull compartment by support devices penetrating the secondary barrier. The secondary barrier is a liquid-tight thermal insulation connected with the interior surface of the hull and is sealed to the support devices by a flexible liquid tight seal, so that the self-supporting primary barrier and the secondary barrier are separately connected with the hull compartment to prevent transfer of forces between the primary barrier and the second barrier.
US09676446B2
The present invention relates to a bicycle derailleur gear, particularly a front derailleur gear, with improved reliability that comprises a kinematic mechanism in the form of a four-bar linkage with a base body and a mobile body connected together through a pair of connecting rods hinged to the base body and to the mobile body at four pin elements, the mobile body carrying a chain guide, the four-bar linkage-kinematic mechanism being associated with derailleur gear actuation means suitable for deforming the four-bar linkage-kinematic mechanism so as to determine a displacement of the mobile body with respect to the base body and consequently a displacement of the chain guide, the derailleur gear actuation means being of the motorized type and comprising a motor casing and an outlet shaft that projects directly from said motor casing and characterized in that the actuation means command a translation in the axial direction of the outlet shaft with respect to the motor casing and are mounted between distinct components of the four-bar linkage-kinematic mechanism through interposition of at least one tilting interface about a fifth pin element substantially parallel to the pin elements.
US09676431B2
A shoe for a crawler track includes a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends, a roller path axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second ends. The intermediate portion includes a roller-engaging portion disposed along the roller path axis, the intermediate portion including four successive faces that form a parallelogram when viewed from a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, two of the four faces being disposed at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis.
US09676422B2
The invention relates to an air guide (10) particularly for a cooling module (12) of a front-end module (11) of a vehicle with an air guide body (20) which comprises an air inlet opening (21) and an air outlet opening (22) in order to guide air from the outside to the inside with regard to the vehicle. To this end, the invention provides that the air guide body (20) is configured from such a material (30) that the air guide body (20) can be transferred in the mounting state (I) and in the transport state (II) wherein the air guide body (20) assumes a significantly greater volume in the mounting state (I) than in the transporting state (II).
US09676411B2
An electric drive retrofit kit includes a rear entry electric drive motor module that includes an electric drive planetary gear assembly and a second electric drive planetary gear assembly which can be inserted into a rear final drive cavity of a frame housing for a tracked tractor with a high track drive. The electric drive retrofit kit may further include a generator, a cooling package, an additional water pump, a steering pump, a steering motor, power inverters with control modules, and electric cables.
US09676409B2
A control system for a steering system is provided, and includes an acceleration module, a scaling module, and a final command module. The acceleration module determines a hand wheel acceleration. The scaling module determines a rejection command. The rejection command is based on the hand wheel acceleration and a road wheel frequency. The final command module determines an adjusted assist command that is based on a normal assist command and the rejection command.
US09676403B2
A vehicle control system and method determine one or more designated speeds of a trip plan for a trip of a vehicle system along a route. The trip plan can designate the one or more designated speeds as a function of one or more of time or distance along the route for the trip. Geometry of the route that the vehicle system will travel along during the trip is determined, as well as one or more prospective forces that will be exerted on the vehicle system during movement of the vehicle system along the route for the trip based at least in part on the geometry of the route. The trip plan is revised to reduce at least one of the prospective forces by reducing at least one of the designated speeds of the trip plan based on the one or more prospective forces that are determined.
US09676400B2
Provided is a guide device for a rail-guided vehicle that is guided to travel along a travel track, the guide device including: guide wheels that roll in contact with guide rails arranged on both sides of the travel track; steering arms that steer the vehicle; guide wheel support members; and shock-absorbing members. One end of each guide wheel support member is supported at the tip end of a steering arm with shock-absorbing members interposed therebetween, and the other end of each guide wheel support member rollably supports a main guide wheel and a diverging guide wheel. The shock-absorbing members are disposed between each guide wheel support member and the corresponding steering arm, and mitigate the impact load transmitted from the guide wheels to the steering arms.
US09676398B2
A side entrance includes a step, a door frame, a door leaf, and a door pocket. A vertical frame included in the door frame and located close to a bogie includes: an upper vertical frame portion located above a floor surface; and a lower vertical frame portion located under the floor surface. The lower vertical frame portion is located closer to an inner side of the door frame than the upper vertical frame portion. A width of an upper step portion of the step in a car longitudinal direction is larger than a width of a lower step portion of the step in the car longitudinal direction.
US09676395B2
Biometric data is received from a wearable device. The biometric data concerns a vehicle operator measured by at least one sensor in the wearable device. A load score is determined. The load score is a measurement of operator capacity to operate the vehicle based at least in part on the biometric data from the wearable device. At least one vehicle component is actuated based at least in part on the load score.
US09676394B2
A road paver with at least one operating module to enter operating commands. The operating module comprises a plurality of buttons that can each be pressed in a contact-based way to enter the respective operating commands in order to activate relevant operating functions of the road paver. According to the disclosure, the road paver further comprises a sensor unit that is designed to detect a distance of an operator to the operating module, whereby this distance determines a space from the operating module to any body part of the operator. The sensor unit is connected to a control unit of the road paver that is configured to already activate at least one of the operating functions of the road paver by means of the output signal as soon as the operator undercuts a predetermined threshold distance in relation to the operating module.
US09676392B1
A driving analysis server may be configured to receive vehicle operation data from vehicle sensors and telematics devices of a first vehicle, and may use the data to identify a potentially high-risk or unsafe driving behavior by the first vehicle. The driving analysis server also may retrieve corresponding vehicle operation data from one or more other vehicles, and may compare the potentially high-risk or unsafe driving behavior of the first vehicle to corresponding driving behaviors in the other vehicles. A driver score for the first vehicle may be calculated or adjusted based on the comparison of the driving behavior in the first vehicle to the corresponding driving behaviors in the other vehicles.
US09676389B2
Systems and methods use cameras to provide autonomous navigation features. In one implementation, a driver assist navigation system is provided for a primary vehicle. The system may include at least one image capture device configured to acquire a plurality of images of an area in a vicinity of the primary vehicle; a data interface; and at least one processing device. The at least one processing device may be configured to: locate in the plurality of images a leading vehicle; determine, based on the plurality of images, at least one action taken by the leading vehicle; and cause the primary vehicle to mimic the at least one action of the leading vehicle.
US09676380B2
The brake cylinder comprises a cylinder body comprising an annular flange and a non-pressure head. The annular flange of the cylinder body defines a plurality of openings. The non-pressure head has an annular flange and a head portion extending from the annular flange. The annular flange of the non-pressure head has a plurality of bosses and a plurality of openings corresponding to and aligned with the plurality of openings in the annular flange of the cylinder body. At least one vent is positioned in one of the plurality of bosses. The cylinder body and the non-pressure head are secured to each other at the respective flanges. The vent is positioned in the boss disposed opposite a mounting portion so that when the brake cylinder is mounted to a railway vehicle, the vent is oriented in a bottom position on the cylinder body with respect to a ground surface.
US09676376B2
A vehicle brake fluid pressure control apparatus includes a control unit including a memory part for storing a valve closing map which shows a relationship between a differential pressure between an upstream side and a downstream side of a pressure regulator valve and an output current value for closing the pressure regulator valve and a valve opening map which shows a relationship between the differential pressure and an output current value for opening the pressure regulator valve. The control unit executes a current value switching control in which the output current value of the valve closing map is changed to that of the valve opening map and thereafter, the output current of the valve opening map is changed to an output current value which lies somewhere between the output current values of the valve closing map and the valve opening map.
US09676363B1
The present disclosure relates to a multi-chambered airbag system employing the use of baffle vents to achieve pressure differentials between the different chambers and methods of using the same.
US09676362B1
The present disclosure relates to a multi-chambered airbag system employing the use of baffle vents to achieve pressure differentials between the different chambers and methods of using the same.
US09676356B2
A monitoring system for a vehicle having a seat and a restraint with seatbelt webbing includes a webbing length sensor coupled with the restraint, a position sensor, and a processor. The processor is in communication with the webbing length sensor and the position sensor and is programmed to output a signal based on a determination that an extended webbing length is outside an acceptable range of webbing length for an occupant size category assigned using the position sensor.
US09676354B2
A bumper absorber structure comprising a bumper reinforcement; a bumper cover that is equipped with an air intake opening; an air introduction path that is disposed on a rear side of the bumper cover and that introduces air from the air intake opening toward the vehicle rear side; a grille shutter that is disposed at the air introduction path and on a rear side of the bumper reinforcement and that opens and closes the air introduction path; and a bumper absorber that is attached to a front side of the bumper reinforcement, that is spaced apart from the bumper cover, that forms, together with the bumper reinforcement, a part of the air introduction path, and that has a front side surface on which is formed a raised portion that is in contact with or in close proximity to a back surface of the bumper cover.
US09676342B2
An assembly having a cover, adapted for closing an aperture of a storage volume, and a flap moveable between a storage position and a use position outside the storage volume. The assembly includes a connection between the cover and the flap. Movement of the flap causes a displacement of the cover towards a position in which the aperture is open.
US09676339B2
A storage system for a motor vehicle includes a floor panel, a cargo space overlying the floor panel, a storage compartment underlying the floor panel and a versatile tonneau cover. The tonneau cover is displaceable between a storage position in the storage compartment and at least one use position in the cargo space. A shelf support is provided in the cargo space above the floor panel. In one use position, the tonneau cover rests on the shelf support forming a shelf to hold different items.
US09676334B2
A rearview assembly having a mounting structure configured to be operably coupled with a vehicle. A housing is operably connected with the mounting structure and a rearward viewing device is supported by one of the housing and the mounting structure. The rearward viewing device provides a rearward view to a vehicle driver and includes a front substrate and a rear substrate. The entire front surface of the front substrate is exposed and the entire rear substrate is positioned behind the front substrate. A concealing layer is disposed about a periphery of the rearward viewing device between the front substrate and the rear substrate. A partially optically transparent bezel is disposed adjacent to both the rearward viewing device and the housing, the optically transparent bezel having an edge radius greater than 2.5 mm and the optically transparent bezel being substantially flush with the front surface of the front substrate.
US09676322B2
This invention relates to a light linking system, which includes a plurality of casings and lamps, and two binding members as main components combined together. Said casing is a hollow shell structure provided with a first housing and a second housing, said first housing has a first inner recessed annular wall which is in line with the shape of the lamp, the first housing is provided with a first hinge mount and a second hinge mount set correspondingly on both sides of the first housing, to connect the first hinge mount and second hinge mount of adjacent casings correspondingly. Said first hinge mount and second hinge mount set with the limiting members(s) to get a pre-determined angle range and limit the bending angle range of adjacent casings. Said second housing has a second inner recessed annular wall which is in line with the shape of the lamp for clamping the lamp together by the first inner recessed annular wall of first housing and the second inner recessed annular wall of second housing. Said binding members are set on both sides of the light bar formed by a plurality of casing. Therefore, this invention can be installed in all kinds of vehicles or lighting tools, and the angle of adjacent lamps can be adjusted by the hinge casings, so that, according to the requirement, the beam of the light bar can be adjusted focus or diffusion to obtain the most extensive and most clear irradiation range.
US09676318B2
A step-and-guide apparatus that aids on centering a boat on a boat trailer and assists an operator in boarding and exiting the boat when on the water or on land is disclosed. The step-and-guide apparatus has first and second guide mechanisms positioned on opposing sides of a trailer frame, and each apparatus includes a trailer mount assembly, a bracket arrangement, an arm having a first end and a second end, with a first end of the arm being rotatably coupled to the bracket arrangement, and a step-and-guide board affixed to the second end of the arm and that is oriented lengthwise along the boat. The arm and the step-and-guide board are rotatable between a first position and a second position defined by the bracket arrangement, with the step-and-guide board functioning as a step when in the first position and as a boat guide member when in the second position.
US09676314B2
A trailer for a tugger train having a frame, which has a lifting apparatus with a lift platform. An inner wagon to be transported rests in a raised state on the lift platform. The lifting apparatus has a pull/push rod and at least one triangular lever. Each triangular lever is mounted pivotably with a first end on the frame, a second end on the lift platform and a third end on the pull/push rod, wherein the lift platform can be adjusted in height using the triangular lever(s), with which the lift platform performs an arc-shaped pivot movement, and with a lowering movement is lowered to such an extent that the inner wagon is released from the lift platform and is pushed out of the frame, transverse to the lowering direction, by a predetermined path.
US09676310B2
A vehicle seat includes seat pads included in seat bottoms and seat backs. The seat pads are configured to provide both a cold sensation and a warming sensation to an occupant sitting on the seat pads. According to the present disclosure, a vehicle seat includes an occupant-support base. The occupant-support base includes a cushion cover defining a cushion-receiving space and a cushion positioned to lie in the cushion-receiving space.
US09676308B2
A ventilating device is provided that includes at least one air guidance device and a heater resistor and/or a heat conducting pipe. The at least one air guidance device has at least one channel segment that is swingable relative to at least one additional channel segment. At least one of the channel segments carries the heater resistor and/or the heat conducting pipe to control a temperature of air streaming through the at least one air guidance device.
US09676302B2
An adjustable footrest assembly adapted to a car safety seat is provided. The car safety seat includes a seat body. The adjustable footrest assembly includes a footrest and two flexible connection structures. The two flexible connection structures are connected to two ends of the footrest. The footrest is adapted to be connected to the seat body through the two flexible connection structures, and a length of each of the flexible connection structures is adapted to be adjusted to change a distance between the footrest and the seat body. In addition, a car safety seat having the adjustable footrest assembly is also provided.
US09676297B2
An attachment device is provided for securing a first workpiece to a second workpiece. The attachment device includes an attachment head and a receiver. The attachment head includes a cantilever snap tab, a first outboard locator tab and a second outboard locator tab. The receiver includes an opening for receiving and holding the cantilever snap tab, the first outboard locator tab and the second outboard locator tab.
US09676295B2
An electric vehicle accomplishes speed changes through the use of electronically controlled, multiple electric motor configurations that are coupled to an output drive shaft instead of a speed change transmission. A parallel-coupled motor configuration includes at least two motors that are each coupled to the output drive shaft through respective gear arrangements, each gear arrangement having a respective gear ratio. In a serially-coupled motor configuration, the stator of the second motor is coupled to the rotor of the first motor, where the rotor of the second motor is coupled to the output drive shaft. The required torque to reach or maintain a desired vehicle speed can be obtained by selective energization of either one or both of the motors (in both multi-motor configurations). Two motors are also coupled to a differential gear so that the rotational speed contributed by both motors are additive at the output shaft.
US09676288B2
A battery management system for a vehicle includes a controller programmed to apply a current pulse to reverse a current flow through a battery to reduce or remove cell polarization. After the current pulse, an open-circuit voltage is measured as the terminal voltage of the battery. The settling time for the terminal voltage to approach the open-circuit voltage is reduced after the current pulse. The magnitude of the current pulse is based on a battery state of charge, a battery temperature, and a current magnitude prior to the current pulse.
US09676286B2
A device having a charging unit and being configured for inductive power transmission from the charging unit to a vehicle, in which the charging unit comprises a primary coil and the vehicle comprises a secondary coil and in which the primary coil generates a magnetic transmission field in a transmission range between the primary coil and the secondary coil, wherein the vehicle has a sensor unit for temperature monitoring in the transmission range, the charging unit comprises a control unit and in a charging operation the transmission power can be controlled by the control unit as a function of a result of temperature monitoring.
US09676284B2
The first molded part and the second molded part are molded products of synthetic resin materials. The first molded part is made of a synthetic resin material having a higher creep resistance than a synthetic resin material forming the second molded part. The second molded part is made of a synthetic resin material higher than a synthetic resin material forming the first molded part in adhesion to a material forming the receiver contact.
US09676281B2
A hybrid battery system for an electric vehicle includes a lithium battery module including a plurality of lithium battery cells, a lead storage battery module including a plurality of lead storage battery cells, a first sensing unit including a sensor for measuring a temperature and a voltage of the lithium battery module, a second sensing unit including a sensor for measuring a temperature and a voltage of the lead storage battery module, a control circuit connected to the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit, the control circuit configured to measure a state of charge of each of the lithium battery module and the lead storage battery module by using the temperature and the voltage measured in the first sensing unit and the second sensing unit and to generate a control signal by comparing the temperature of the lithium battery module with a reference temperature and comparing the voltage of the lead storage battery module with a reference voltage, and a charging/discharging circuit connected to the lithium battery module and the lead storage battery module, the charging/discharging circuit including a switch for selectively discharging the lithium battery module or the lead storage battery module in response to the control signal.
US09676280B2
A system for managing braking torque in a machine uses a first braking system, a second braking system that is independent of the first braking system and a controller that monitors activity in both braking systems. The controller selectively reduces torque in the first braking system as torque in the second braking system increases to limit undesired effects of possible over-braking.
US09676266B2
A hybrid powertrain mechanism includes: a first epicyclic train having first and second sun gears and a planetary gear to be coupled to the first and second sun gears; a second epicyclic train having third and fourth sun gears and a planetary gear to be coupled to the third and fourth sun gears; a first electric machine having one end coupled to the second sun gear; a second electric machine having one end coupled to the fourth sun gear; a first clutch having one end coupled to another end of the first electric machine; a second clutch having one end coupled to another end of the first clutch and another end coupled to the third sun gear; and an engine coupled to the first sun gear. Various driving modes are provided by changing the states of the first and second clutches and the operating modes of the first and second electric machines.
US09676264B2
An active engine mount has a liquid chamber for keeping liquid in a housing. The active engine mount includes a separation plate that is disposed in the liquid chamber, has a space at its center, and divides the liquid chamber into an upper liquid chamber and a lower liquid chamber. At least one primary flow path connects the upper liquid chamber and the lower liquid chamber. An orifice plate is disposed under the space at the center of the separation plate and has at least one bypass flow path connected with the lower liquid chamber. An air chamber is disposed between the orifice plate and the space at the center of the separation plate, and is configured to open or close the at least one bypass flow path by changing its size.
US09676260B2
A cover for a truck bed that can be horizontally traversed between expanded and collapsed positions is shown. Since the cover is horizontally traversed, the person manipulating the cover need not lift the cover vertically in order to reconfigure the cover between the expanded and collapsed positions. Women and elderly people who are generally not as strong as men can manipulate the cover.
US09676255B2
A top of a convertible vehicle includes a linkage, wherein, by using the linkage, at least one top element is displaceable between a closed position for spanning a vehicle interior and a cleared position for clearing the vehicle interior to the top. By using the linkage, a rear window, which, in relation to a vertical longitudinal center plane of the top on each of its two sides, is connected to the linkage via a rear window link, is displaceable between a lifted viewing position and a lowered storage position, in which the rear window is arranged in a storage space, as well as comprising a detection apparatus. The detection apparatus identifies an obstacle in the storage space when the rear window is being displaced from the viewing position in the direction of the storage position and which interacts with a control apparatus of the top. The rear window is part of the detection apparatus.
US09676252B2
The invention proposes a device for attaching an actuator (2) to a housing (4), in particular for an automotive vehicle, the actuator being provided for driving a movable equipment (41) disposed within the housing. The device comprises attaching means for attaching the actuator on the housing. The mounting means comprise two conjugated connection flanges (20, 40), respectively mounted on a connexion face (28) of the actuator (28) and on a connection face (48) of the housing. The connexion flanges are adapted to be assembled according to a male/female type connection at the outside of the housing.
US09676250B2
Embodiments of apparatus and methods for adaptively controlling air quality in a vehicle compartment are described. In embodiments, an apparatus may include a sensor interface configured to interface with one or more sensors, disposed at one or more locations at one or more sides or in an interior space of a vehicle compartment, and configured to measure one or more indicators of air quality at the one or more locations. The apparatus may further include one or more airflow controllers configured to adaptively control a plurality of ventilation components of the vehicle compartment to regulate airflow in the interior space, based at least in part on the measured indicators of air quality. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09676238B2
A first signal transmission is received from a transmitter external to the monitor, the first signal having a transmission characteristic. Based upon the transmission characteristic of the first signal transmission and not any data in the first transmission, a corresponding at least one protocol is determined. A data resolution based upon the transmission characteristic is determined. A second data transmission is formed according to the corresponding at least one protocol, and the sensed data is inserted into the second data transmission according to the resolution. The second data transmission is transmitted.
US09676233B1
A bicycle hub apparatus may include a hub body, a driving ring, a freewheel body, and a ratchet unit. A plurality of driving teeth are sequentially formed around an inner periphery of the driving ring. Since the separated distances between two adjacent driving teeth is smaller, the driving ring comprises more driving teeth, and the number thereof is up to 155 teeth. Also, the ratchet unit comprises a plurality of engaging pieces, and each of the engaging pieces has numerous engaging teeth, and the sizes thereof are corresponding to the driving teeth. As a result, the bicycle hub apparatus in the present invention improves the efficiency of engaging process between the engaging teeth and the driving teeth, and further lowers the possibility of missing step and the risk of use.
US09676232B2
A wheel hub (1) having a radially extending wheel flange (17) which has fastening holes (3), having a cylindrical projection which extends from the wheel flange (17) axially on the vehicle side and which serves for at least partially receiving a rolling bearing, and having a centering device which is mounted axially on the wheel side. A high rigidity of the wheel hub (1) and/or of the wheel bearing unit is realized with little material usage. One possibility arises by the centering device of a wheel hub being regarded as the product of the compromise between rigidity and possible material removal. In this regard, a particular arrangement of the webs that form the centering device is provided which leads to a particularly advantageous solution, specifically by virtue of the webs (7) being oriented in the same radial direction (A, B) as the fastening holes (3) of the wheel flange (17).
US09676223B2
A secure document receptacle for use in file cabinets having slidable drawers with laterally spaced support rails for removable supporting file folders. The secure document receptacle has a single support brace along the top edge with downwardly opening channels for removable engagement with the drawer support rails. The receptacle has a closed top edge and openings to the interior of the receptacle on the side edge or the bottom edge of the receptacle. Documents can only be inserted and removed via the open side or bottom edges. The receptacle must be partially or completely removed from the drawer support rails before a document can be removed from the receptacle. This interrupts contact between the brace channels and the support rails, an event which can be detected by cabinet sensing circuitry.
US09676220B2
A data carrier having a magnetizable authenticity feature provided in the data carrier, which feature is personalizable under irradiation with a high-energy beam by changing physical and/or chemical properties. A magnetic feature is provided as a further personalizable second-level feature in a functional layer, which feature is based on an opto-magnetic process which permits writing of information, such that macroscopically measurable magnetism is brought about at the irradiated location, for example, by microscopic spin coupling of the metal-organic compounds which are arranged as complexes and give rise to a macroscopically measurable magnetism, based on supramolecular coupling of the spin of a molecule or a molecule structure.
US09676218B2
The invention relates to a heat-sensitive recording material having a flat support, a thermal reaction layer on at least one face of the flat carrier, and optionally an intermediate layer formed between the flat support and the respective thermal reaction layer, and optionally other layers, a crosslinked biopolymer material in the form of nanoparticles being used as a binder in at least one of the layers. The invention also relates to the production and the use thereof.
US09676214B2
A docking station for a removable printer mechanism is provided, together with methods for providing a removable printer mechanism. The docking station may have a base with parallel side arms adapted to be fixed to an interior of a printer housing. Side walls may extend from each of the parallel side arms. The side walls may be adapted to guide the printer mechanism into a docked position in the printer and to removably fix the printer mechanism in the docked position. A bridge element may extend between the parallel side arms at a rear of the base. A clamping element may be fixed to the bridge element and be adapted to hold a printer-side cable connector in position to accept a corresponding cable connector of the printer mechanism. The printer mechanism may easily be slid into and out of the docking station for repair or replacement.
US09676207B2
A table-side hospitality device includes an integral printer mechanism, such as a thermal printer. The device comprises a general purpose processing unit on which a mobile- or embedded-device operating system, such as Android, executes. A control program (the device application) executing on the processing unit facilitates ordering, order management, invoicing and payment. When the application needs to print, it interacts with the printer directly, preferably using the general purpose input-output (GPIO) bus of the processor. In particular, during the print operation, the processor (via the general purpose I/O) outputs, as a set of control signals, a bit-map of the desired graphics (text, images, or the like), and these control signals drive the printer directly without requiring a dedicated micro-controller or OS-specific printer drivers.
US09676195B2
In one example, a wiper for wiping the face of a movable printhead includes a stationary blade oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel of the printhead and spanning the path of the printhead.
US09676181B2
A method for stabilizing a refilling speed within a predetermined range even with various physical properties of liquid to be ejected is provided for a liquid ejection head using a thermal system. To achieve this, a drive pulse is controlled for each nozzle array according to the combination of a predetermined material and structure of a bubble-generating chamber and the physical property of the liquid to be ejected such that an amount of an overshoot and the refilling speed are within a predetermined range.
US09676179B2
The present disclosure is directed to a printing assembly that includes an image transfer station and a blower configured to intermittently provide a cooling stream of air to a product being printed upon. The blower may include a centrifugal fan and may have a single plenum providing air to two nozzles. The nozzles may be positioned such that the air targets the edges of the product to facilitate removal of the intermediate transfer media from the targeted areas and reduce the occurrence of flash. The blower may be configured to provide air when the product is expelled from the transfer assembly or while the intermediate transfer media is peeled from the product, but not to provide air when the product is being received by the transfer assembly. The printing assembly may include sensors and control circuitry for detecting the position of the product and controlling the blower accordingly.
US09676165B2
A structural batten provides a longitudinally extending first layer having a plurality of passages extending between opposing sides of the first layer and transverse to the longitudinal extent of the first layer. A longitudinally extending solid body layer is attached to the first layer along the first layer's longitudinal extent.
US09676163B2
A plastic injection molded part is provided, including a first portion having a front surface and a rear surface, the front surface including border formations defining a space, and having at least one bleed hole in communication with said rear surface; and a second portion disposed within the space defined by the border formations and including areas filling the at least one bleed hole, such that when the part is formed, molten plastic forming the second portion enters the space through at least one bleed hole.
US09676161B2
An aircraft collapsing device that collapses a fuselage of an aircraft inward, the system includes a gate-shaped shell formed to cover a circumference of both sides and an upper portion of a fuselage of an aircraft body from which horizontal wings and a vertical wing have been decoupled; a wedge-shaped pressing member that is mounted on an upper portion of the shell to press at least one portion of a circumference of at least one of annular frames juxtaposed in a longitudinal direction of the fuselage toward a center of the fuselage; a pair of sidewall pressing members that is mounted on both sides of the shell to press the fuselage simultaneously from two directions crossing a pressing direction of the wedge-shaped pressing member at the center of the fuselage after pressing by the wedge-shaped pressing member; and a moving unit that moves the fuselage of the aircraft and the shell relative to one another, wherein each of the pair of sidewall pressing members includes a plate-shaped pressing plate, and a projection member extends in a longitudinal direction of the fuselage and is formed on the pressing surface side of the plate-shaped pressing plate.
US09676158B2
Method of manufacturing a container (2) by stretch-blow molding in a mold (8) from a blank (3) of plastic material, which comprises the operations consisting of: measuring the pressure prevailing inside the blank (3) during a pre-blowing phase; detecting an instant corresponding to a local minimum pressure in the blank (3); placing in memory the instant at which said minimum pressure occurs as well as the corresponding pressure prevailing in the blank (3); comparing the instant and the pressure of the detected minimum with, respectively, a predetermined instant and pressure of a theoretical minimum pressure; if the measured minimum and the theoretical minimum do not coincide, ordering a modification of at least one of the following parameters: pre-blowing pressure, pre-blowing flow rate, stretching speed, heating temperature.
US09676152B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a tire puncture sealing agent that has excellent freeze resistance and that also exhibits excellent sealing properties even in a small liquid amount. The tire puncture sealing agent of the present invention contains: a rubber latex and/or a resin emulsion; a glycol ether represented by Formula (1) below; and a surfactant. In Formula (1), R11 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group. R12 represents an alkyl group. p represents an integer of 1 or greater.
US09676145B2
The present disclosure provides three-dimensional (3D) printing methods, apparatuses, systems, and non-transitory computer-readable medium. The disclosure delineates real time manipulation of three-dimensional printing to reduce deformation. The present disclosure further provides 3D object formed using the methods, apparatuses, and systems.
US09676139B2
A method for ejecting a vessel (12), carried by a transporting device (10), the vessel (12) being provided with a neck (16) including a mouth (18), the transporting device (10) including: —a mobile support (28); —a gripping mandrel (30) that grips by vertical engagement with the neck (16); —an ejection face (64) mounted on the mobile support (28), the gripping mandrel (30) being mounted vertically slidable relative to the ejection face (64) to allow the gripping mandrel (30) to be extracted from the neck (16) when it slides via contact between the ejection face (64) and a bearing face (24) of the neck (16); characterized in that the bearing face (24) of the neck (16) is formed by a shoulder face that protrudes radially towards the outside relative to the mouth (18) and is arranged under the mouth (18) in the vertical direction.
US09676138B2
A holding device for holding plastic containers and in particular plastic parisons with a holding section which can be introduced into a mouth of the plastic containers, wherein the holding section has at least one first holding element and one second holding element which are movable relative to one another and which in each case have a section which can be applied to an inner wall of the mouth. According to the invention an expansion body which supports the two holding elements at least intermittently is disposed between the holding elements, wherein a replaceable expansion element is disposed on this expansion body, wherein this expansion element is located at least in some sections between the expansion body and the holding elements.
US09676129B2
A double-layer injection molding casing and a method for manufacturing the same, an electronic apparatus are provided by this invention, which adapts to an injection molding field and can solve the problems of a conventional double-layer injection molding casing such as complicated manufacturing process and low production efficiency. The double-layer injection molding casing of this invention includes an outer layer and an inner layer. A locating structure integrally formed with the inner layer is located at an inner surface of the inner layer. The method for manufacturing the double-layer injection molding casing includes: applying a multiple injection molding process, wherein the locating structure of the double-layer injection molding casing is integrally formed with the inner layer in the same injection molding step. The electronic apparatus of this invention includes the double-layer injection molding casing. The double-layer injection molding casing can be used as a casing of the electronic apparatus.
US09676121B2
Certain polyamide beads or granules are useful as a sustaining material for underground natural or artificial cracks of the earth's crust essentially employed for the extraction of hydrocarbons such as crude oil or natural gas; such polyamide beads have a spherical or ellipsoidal shape and have a surface free of concave portions, advantageously having a uniform shape, and having a mean diameter lower than or equal to 1.7 mm and a porosity lower than 0.1 ml/g, and are produced using a particular cutting device/extruder.
US09676119B2
The subject matter of the invention is a method for producing a concrete component (1), wherein a plurality of layers of a dry mixture consisting of at least one silicate former and one hydraulic binder are deposited one atop another on a base (7), wherein after applying each layer the respective layer is mixed with water, wherein the contour of the area that is mixed with water correlates with the desired shape of the concrete component (1) at the level of the respective layer to be applied.
US09676103B2
A plurality of motors, which drive plurality of axes of multi-axis robot, respectively; plurality of power converters, which control operation of plurality of motors, respectively, by supplying and controlling electric power to plurality of motors; drive circuits, each of which drives first semiconductor switching elements included in a corresponding one of power converters by outputting drive signals to control terminals of first semiconductor switching elements in accordance with control signals for controlling operation of the motors; shut-off circuit provided at non-end position in an electrical path, through which first operating power is supplied to drive circuits; and shut-off control circuit, which outputs shut-off signals to shut-off circuit. The shut-off circuit includes second semiconductor switching elements, which are inserted in an electrical path in series to each other, second semiconductor switching elements turning off in accordance with shut-off signals, respectively, to shut off the electrical path.
US09676089B2
A combustion-operated setting tool (10) for driving-in fastening elements includes a setting piston (14) displaceable in a guide cylinder (13), a combustion chamber (15), a fuel inlet (23) opening into the combustion chamber (15) for feeding fuel therein and an ignition element (26) for igniting the fuel in the combustion chamber (15). Both, the fuel inlet (23) and the ignition element (26), are located at the first end (31) of the combustion chamber (15) adjacent to the guide cylinder (13), and a motor-driven ventilator (16) supported on a rear wall (30) of the combustion chamber (15) at the second end (32) of the combustion chamber (15) remote from the guide cylinder (13).
US09676083B2
A dual purpose flip-out and T handle ratchet is able to be used in an L or modified L-handle orientation as well as a T handle orientation. The dual purpose flip-out and T handle includes a handle portion and a ratchet head and neck portion. The handle portion is coupled to the neck portion at a lockable hinge. The hinge allows the head and neck portion to rotate to an L or modified L-handle orientation or to a T handle orientation. When properly oriented the tool is able to be used to tighten or loosen objects such as screws or bolts.
US09676082B1
A hand wrenching tool includes a first handle having a socket head at one end thereof configured to receive a collar of a fastener. A second handle is pivotally connected to the first handle and has a jaw at an end thereof. A collar engaging cam surface of the jaw pushes the collar into teeth of the socket as the first and second handles are pivoted towards one another, facilitating the removal of the collar from a threaded pin of the fastener as the hand wrenching tool is manually rotated.
US09676081B2
A chuck is composed of a body (2), gripping jaws (10) provided on the body (2), and feed structures (20) disposed in containing chambers (4) of the body (2), and the feed structure (20) is composed of a cylindrical body (21) having a male screw portion (22) formed thereon, a first receiving body (27) fitted in one end side of the cylindrical body (21), a second receiving body (35) fitted in the other end side of the cylindrical body (21), an eccentric shaft (40) consisting of an base shaft portion (41) and an eccentric portion (42), an external gear (45) having a through hole (46) formed to extend from front to rear through an central portion thereof and having the eccentric portion (42) of the eccentric shaft (40) inserted in the through hole (46), an internal gear (50) having a teeth portion partially meshing with a part of a teeth portion of the external gear (45), a screw body (55) composed of a screw member (56) and a flange member (60), and a coupling body (65) disposed between the first receiving body (27) and the external gear (45).
US09676075B2
Various particular embodiments include a method for controlling chemical mechanical polishing, including: polishing a semiconductor wafer in a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) tool; measuring a resistance of a resistive pathway through the semiconductor wafer while the semiconductor wafer is undergoing polishing in the CMP tool; and terminating the polishing of the semiconductor wafer when the measured resistance reaches a target resistance.
US09676072B2
A machining device is provided with a machine tool, a pallet to which a workpiece is secured, a pallet changer configured to move and change the pallet, and a workpiece attaching unit configured to attach and detach the workpiece to and from the pallet. Further, the machining device is provided with a visual sensor configured to capture an image of the pallet, and contaminants that may possibly cause jamming as the workpiece is supplied to the pallet are detected from the image captured by the visual sensor. A workpiece supply operation for the pallet is suspended if the contaminants are detected.
US09676061B2
A method of fabricating a precoated steel plate is provided. The method includes coating a steel plate by dipping the steel plate in a molten bath to obtain a precoat upon the steel plate. The precoat consists of an intermetallic alloy layer and a metal alloy layer, the intermetallic alloy layer is topped by the metal alloy layer. On at least one face of the plate, the metal alloy layer is removed in an area at a periphery of the plate using a laser beam, while at least part of the intermetallic alloy layer is left in the area. The step of removing includes measuring a characteristic of the laser or an area where the metal alloy area is to be removed to obtain a measured value, comparing the measured value with a reference value and stopping a removal operation to leave the at least part of the intermetallic alloy in place as function of the comparing step. Additional methods are also provided.
