US08020597B2
The invention is directed to increasing the endurance of a tire by providing an oxidation shield strip located in the vicinity of a critical area of the tire. The oxidation shield strip acts as a local oxygen diffusion barrier.
US08020596B1
The present device is an integrated automotive wheel for electric vehicles which substantially reduces energy loss due to tire flex and energy loss from a conventional drive train. The wheel includes an axle, a hub, two composite sidewalls, a low pressure inner chamber with shock absorbing hub protector, and at least one outer high pressure pneumatic chamber with tread. The hub can contain an electric hub motor which rotates the wheel, propelling the vehicle. The sidewalls include at least one pressurized chamber which position the outer tread ring and enable the wheel to simulate an energy efficient high pressure pneumatic wheel, experiencing little deformation when under smooth road conditions. When road conditions are rough, the sidewalls can temporarily buckle in response to the increased road forces, simulating a low pressure conventional tire having ample space for deformation, with suspension and shock absorption capability built in. The sidewalls and outer ring chamber can be filled with high pressure closed cell foam to prevent flats.
US08020588B2
A tire repair solution can includes a body and a cap closed on the body. The cap is provided with an intake, an outlet, and a guide tube extending from the underside of an intermediate portion into the body. Then an exterior tube is connected with the intake and also with an air compressor. A one-way air valve is fitted in the intake, and the guide tube has a through hole in its wall, and a slide block is fitted on the through hole to close it up. The outlet has a back-pressure valve fitted inside, and is connected with a connect tube for connecting with a joint to be connected with an air valve of a tire. Then the tire repair solution can is possible to be used in a normal position and in an inverted position, convenient to operate and saving time and labor largely.
US08020582B2
An excess flow valve having a housing, a valve seat, a poppet and an adjusting ring. The adjusting ring lies within a bore in the housing and there is an opening through the housing permitting access to the adjustment ring from outside the bore of the housing. Rotation of the adjusting ring controls the maximum travel distance between the poppet and the valve seat. In an embodiment a travelling valve guide is rotatably mounted within the adjustment ring to change the maximum travel distance between the poppet and the valve seat. A spring may bias the poppet and the valve seat away from each other.
US08020581B1
A secondary drainage funnel for use in combination with a laundry box having a bottom wall with a drain opening formed therein includes a generally hollow body having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end includes an inlet opening for receiving a secondary drainage discharge tube. The lower end has a discharge opening formed therein and is shaped to be supported on the lower wall of the laundry box proximate the drain opening with the discharge opening in fluid communication with the drain opening while leaving sufficient access to the drain opening to allow a laundry drain hose to be inserted therein.
US08020571B2
A multi-chambered deposition pin wash station is provided. The wash station includes a lower chamber and an upper drain basin connected by a plurality of wash tubes. Cleaning fluid is provided to the lower chamber and passes through the cleaning tubes into the upper drain basin. The cleaning tubes are adapted to clean a single deposition pin with a single tube per wash cycle.
US08020568B2
The present invention relates to a dishwasher. A dishwasher includes a washing tub in which dishes are placed, a steam generator that generates steam and a nozzle part in which a flow direction of the steam is diverted at least one time to allow the steam exhausted to the washing tub.
US08020559B2
The invention relates to a device for angularly positioning a member of a patient lying on an operating table (TO), comprising means for positioning a cradle (Be) supporting the member of the patient relative to lateral guide rails (RG1, RG2) of the operating table (TO). Said positioning means comprise: means (MS1, MS2, MS3) for fixing the cradle positioning means (Be) on either of the two lateral guide rails (RG1, RG2) of the operating table (TO), and; means for positioning this cradle (Be) along an axis (?3) contained in a plane parallel to that defined by the operating table (TO), and perpendicular to the principal axis (Δ) of the operating table (TO).
US08020558B2
An open system provides breath-synchronized, flow-targeted ventilation to augment respiration by a self-breathing patient. A sensor detects a physical property of a patient's respiratory cycle. A processor monitors the sensor and controls a gas source to deliver oxygen-containing gas through a tube extending into the patient's airway with the flow rate varying over each respiratory cycle in a predetermined non-constant waveform synchronized with the respiratory cycle to augment the patient's spontaneous respiration. Gas is delivered at a flow rate sufficient to significantly mitigate the airway pressure the patient must generate during spontaneous breathing and thereby reduce the patient's work of breathing.
US08020556B2
Respiratory apparatus comprising a ventilation mask (10) and means for supplying breathable gasses, under pressure, thereto and means for exhausting gases therefrom, is wherein the pressuring means is provided substantially at the inlet of the mask (10), thereby substantially reducing the length of the air supply hose to a ventilation mask (10), so that problems associated with high pressures and large volumes of dead space can be alleviated.
US08020553B2
An oxygen concentrator comprises an oxygen reservoir and adsorbent columns that each have an inlet, an outlet, and a bed of adsorbent material. The concentrator also comprises an air inlet, an exhaust outlet, and a vacuum pump for pumping nitrogen rich gas from one of the column inlets to the exhaust outlet. A product control pump pumps oxygen rich gas from one of the column outlets to the oxygen reservoir. A control valve controls flow in and out of the columns by selectively connecting the air inlet to one column inlet, connecting the vacuum pump to another column inlet, and connecting the product control pump to a column outlet. A motor drives the vacuum pump and control valve to produce vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) cycles in which oxygen-rich product gas is separated and accumulated in the reservoir.
US08020550B2
A device for recovering, harnessing and reutilizing heat from along a side wall of a cooking vessel, a cooking vessel comprising such device, and a method of using such device. The device can be constructed as part of the cooking vessel or can be an accessory that attaches to different sized cooking vessels via adjusting means. Specifically, the device is made of a highly conductive and durable metal or metal alloy and comprises a skirt-like body, extending from the side of the cooking vessel and attached to a perforated slip-like portion that may be attached to or integrated into the side wall of the cooking vessel. The device harnesses and reutilizes heat from the underside of the body and safely and efficiently transfers the heat to the cooking vessel through conduction. The device can further comprise diffusers, a bottom portion with a plurality of ventilation openings, and a heat shield.
US08020549B2
A telescoping downdraft ventilator with a system for self-aligning a vent within a housing is provided. The telescoping downdraft ventilator of the present invention comprises a housing with a track, a vent sized to fit within the housing, a drive assembly that moves the vent along the track, and a guide attached to the vent for engaging the track, wherein the guide is operably coupled with a biasing element. In one embodiment, a pair of guides is respectively coupled with pair of compression springs and is positioned on opposite sides of the vent along a line that is substantially perpendicular to a pair of tracks.
US08020543B2
Disclosed in a dry fire arrestor for a crossbow having a trigger mechanism operable to fire an arrow or bolt, that includes a spring plate, trigger sear connected to the trigger mechanism, an anti-dry fire bar for engaging and disengaging the trigger sear. The dry fire arrestor utilizes tension provided by the spring plate to allows anti dry fire bar to automatically engage the trigger sear, precluding movement of the trigger when an arrow in not properly inserted in the dry fire arrestor.
US08020535B2
An accessory for a fuel burning or processing engine or machine is provided. The accessory comprises a core formed of a material having ferri-magnetic properties. The core is of elongate form and defines a recess adapted to receive a high tension lead. The accessory further comprises a clamping device for clamping the high tension lead and retain it in the recess. The core is retained within a housing formed of a non-ferrous material. The housing is provided with a device for receiving calibrating elements formed of a material with high magnetic permeability at low field strength and low hysteresis loss.
US08020530B2
A piston and internal combustion engine therewith constructed in accordance with the present invention has a piston body with an upper crown having a substantially cylindrical outer surface depending from a top surface along a central axis. At least one annular ring groove extends radially into the outer surface to provide a top land extending from the ring groove to the top surface. A plurality of waves are formed circumferentially about the top land. Each of the waves has a valley extending radially into the outer surface of the top land and extending from the top surface to the ring groove. The waves traverse from the top surface to the ring groove and are configured in substantially non-overlapping relation with one another and in a predetermined orientation relative to at least one of a fuel spray stream, a pin bore axis or a thrust axis of the piston.
US08020529B2
Piston pin for a connecting rod in a reciprocating internal combustion engine, wherein the piston pin carries at least in the area of the running surface a thermal sprayed slide layer of a metallic bearing material or slide bearing material, as well as reciprocating internal combustion engine with a connecting rod with small and with large connecting rod eye, wherein at least the running surface of one of the piston pins is formed of a thermal sprayed slide layer of a metallic bearing material, which exhibits a lower hardness than the running surface of the corresponding connecting rod eye and process for manufacturing a described piston pin with the steps of a extrusion molding or machining a piston pin preform, introduction of a recess in the area which will later become the running surface, roughening the outer surface in the area of the recess, application of a coating of a bearing material by a thermal spray process.
US08020528B1
An engine structure is provided with a bedplate and an oil pan. The bedplate is configured to have an integrally formed balance shaft bearing support. A bearing cap is either a separate component or a component that is formed as an integral part of the oil pan. The bearing cap and the balance shaft bearing support structures are attachable to each other to capture the bearing portions of the balance shafts therebetween.
US08020527B2
A valve timing control is executed by an ECU that controls an engine and an electric-motor ECU that controls an electric motor. The ECU and the electric-motor EDU serve different functions. The ECU sets the target phase of an intake valve based on the engine operating state, and prepares a rotational speed command value for the electric motor that serves as an actuator such that a phase feedback control loop, in which the intake valve phase is caused to match the target phase, is formed. The electric-motor EDU forms a feedback control loop for the motor speed, in which the electric power supplied to the electric motor is controlled such that the electric motor rotates in accordance with the rotational speed command value.
US08020521B2
An attractant apparatus for use by animals. This apparatus is characterized as having surfaces on which the animal can play, scratch, and rub and a retainer for an animal attractant, such as catnip, used to induce such activity. The retainer may be opened to allow for the introduction and removal of the attractant. This cover is characterized as permitting odors emanating from the catnip to pass through, so as to induce play in the animal. An overlay partially covers the retainer to restrict direct access by the animal to the attractant held within the retainer, but allows partial access near the retainer and an additional surface and area for playing.
US08020516B2
A device and method for the sea-based culture of sea urchins and abalones includes two parallel lateral elements, where each one of their ends has a groove and a hole for the installation of four braces. The center areas of the braces have a plurality of parallel and equidistant guides for the installation of a plurality of vertically inserted plates, forming spaces between the plates that permit housing sea urchins or abalones on both faces of such plates. At the bottom of the device a horizontal tray holds algae for feeding sea urchins and the abalones; wherein, both the plurality of plates and the tray are enclosed in an elongated mesh, wherein the ends of the mesh are joined to the ends of the lateral walls of the tray, such that the length of the mesh wraps around the plurality of plates.
US08020515B2
A fish habitat which provides a habitat for fish to congregate consisting of individual strands of a buoyant material, such as polyethylene, secured to a body for installation on the bed of a body of water.
US08020512B2
A pattern formation device includes a conveyance table, a pair of guide rails, a carriage, a plurality of droplet discharge heads, an inspection camera, a camera base, a linear motor, a motor housing case, a moving cable, and a cable housing case. The motor housing case is disposed along the guide rails to accommodate the linear motor and has a guide opening configured and arranged to guide the camera base. The cable housing case is disposed along the motor housing case to accommodate the moving cable and has a window section through which a distal end of the moving cable follows a reciprocal operation of the inspection camera. The cable housing case or one of the guide rails has an exhaust vent to discharge air around the carriage by suction through the window section of the cable housing case or the guide opening of the motor housing case.
US08020505B1
A method and apparatus for securing a surface water vessel to a floating station. The surface water vessel may be an unmanned surface vehicle, and the floating station may be attached to a larger parent ship. According to the invention, the surface water vessel includes a forwardly projecting elongated probe and the floating station includes a receiver having a receiver opening for receiving the elongated probe therein. The elongated probe includes a spherical tip having a circumferential groove. The receiver includes movable spheres that are moved into engagement with the circumferential groove, thereby locking the probe within the receiver. This locking arrangement secures the surface water vessel to the floating station.
US08020496B1
The device would be a metal or heavy-duty plastic retractable loading platform, designed to bridge the gap between the train car and the station platform. When not in use, the retractable platform would be retracted into a position of concealment beneath the door(s) of the train car. At the station, the device would move outward, either abutting or overlapping the station platform, just prior to the train door(s) opening.
US08020493B2
The present disclosure provides an apparatus for switching a vehicle from a first track to a second track. The track-switching device may be rotated by a motor, and may have a drive axle and a primary axle. The drive axle may have a barrel located at one end of the drive axle, the barrel having a plurality of switch tracks located thereon and a braking assembly connected to the drive axle and spaced from the barrel. The primary axle may have a flywheel and a clutch assembly. The drive axle may then be driven by the primary axle upon engagement of the clutch assembly via the motor and the energy stored in the flywheel. A method for switching a vehicle from a first track to a second track is also provided.
US08020491B2
A method and apparatus for defending against airborne assault ammunition. The assault ammunition is located with at least one position-locating device. The flight path of the assault ammunition is iteratively calculated using the determined ballistic coefficient of the assault ammunition. A firing control solution is determined for firing a fragmentation-type defense ammunition, which is fired with a large-caliber weapon, especially one having a caliber of at least 76 mm. A fuse of the defense ammunition is set after the firing and/or the defense ammunition is remotely detonated, and after the firing the defense ammunition is ignited or remotely ignited at an ignition time point TZ. Alternatively, the ignition of the defense ammunition is initiated by a proximity igniter disposed in the defense ammunition.
US08020489B2
A squib includes an SCB chip connected to electrode pins so as to ignite by externally applied electric current, and a capacitor electrically connected to the electrode pins in parallel with a thin film resistor on the SCB chip. The capacitor is arranged above the header, and the SCB chip is directly mounted on the capacitor so that the thin film resistor on the SCB chip and the capacitor are electrically connected through electrodes provided on a substrate of the SCB chip, while the size of the SCB chip is smaller than that of the capacitor. In this way, the invention provides the squib which effectively eliminates surface unevenness when the capacitor is located, and enables the connection of the SCB chip and the capacitor to the electrode pins only by one reflow process, and further makes it possible to use an even smaller chip than those used in the prior art.
US08020479B2
A trimming apparatus includes a base, a ridge portion protruding from the base, a sliding block mounted on the base, a fixing member, and a trimming tool. The base defines a sliding groove. The sliding block is slidably engaged in the sliding groove and defines a holding groove receiving a workpiece to be trimmed. The fixing member is fixes the sliding block in the sliding groove. The trimming tool is arranged over the base. The trimming tool has a main body and a blade facing and aligned with the ridge portion, and moves toward the ridge portion to trim the workpiece.
US08020477B2
A cutting machine includes a main body in which a rotary blade is included, a base over which a workpiece is to be placed, and a guide fence mountable to the base. The main body is provided above the base in such a manner that the main body is movable upward and downward, and a longitudinal direction of the guide fence is perpendicular to the rotary blade as viewed from top when the guide fence is mounted to the base. The guide fence provides a guide surface that extends in the longitudinal direction of the guide fence and is configured to be rendered perpendicular to a top face of the base when the guide fence is mounted to the base. The guide fence includes a stopper that is configured to project from the guide surface, to be movable upward and downward, and to be fixed at any level.
US08020476B2
A plate dividing-system includes a first advancing device for moving plate-shaped workpieces, the first advancing device having a first support and a plurality of first gripping mechanisms, the plate dividing-system having a second advancing device for moving plate-shaped workpieces, the second advancing device having a second support and at least a second gripping mechanism. In addition, the plate dividing-system features a feed area that extends transversely to the advancing device, in which feed area the workpieces to be moved are arranged. The second support is arranged laterally outside the feed area and is movable in the direction of feed.
US08020473B2
The present invention discloses a handle of a hand tool, which comprises a handle body and grinding members. The grinding member is mounted on the handle body, and the grinding member contains abrasive particles and has at least a grinding face, so that the user can grind the sharp edge of articles straightly by grinding member possessed by the handle. Also the user can easily replace a new grinding member when the old one is out of use. Furthermore, the abrasive particles of grinding members have average diameter being different from each other so as to grind the article to have different fine degrees.
US08020472B2
A nut capturing socket assembly includes a socket, an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The socket has a non-circular shaped interior opening to receive a nut and a circular cylindrical outer surface area. The inner sleeve has a circular cylindrical opening at one end sized to slidingly receive the socket. The inner sleeve has a non-circular shaped opening at an opposite end of the same size and configuration as the non-circular shaped interior opening of the socket. A first abutment element is fixed relative to the socket and a second abutment element is fixed relative to the inner sleeve. An elastic element is positioned between the first and second abutment elements to bias the inner sleeve rotationally relative to the socket. The outer sleeve surrounds the inner sleeve is sized to engage the inner sleeve to co-rotate therewith. The outer sleeve captures the elastic element internally of the socket assembly. All of the components of the socket assembly are permanently assembled together such that no components can become detached from one another.
US08020465B2
A parallel spherical mechanism with two degrees of freedom for connecting a body to a fixed base in such a manner as to enable it to be oriented in three dimensions by turning about a first axis that is fixed relative to said fixed base, and about a second axis that is fixed relative to said body for orienting, these two axes intersecting at a center of spherical motion situated in said body for orienting, wherein: it comprises at least four links, each of said links being connected to said fixed base via a first connection point and to said body for orienting via a second connection point, and each link belonging to a first type or a second type, there being at least one link of each type, in which: in the link(s) of the first type, the first connection point is at any point of said fixed base, and the second connection point coincides with said center of spherical motion situated in said body for orienting: and in the link(s) of the second type, the first connection point lies on said first axis and the second connection point lies on said second axis, but does not coincide with said center of spherical motion; each connection point of said links lying on said first and/or second axis presents at least one degree of freedom in rotation about said axis.
US08020463B2
A rotation/linear motion converting mechanism includes a shaft 1 having an external thread 1a on an outer circumferential surface, a nut 2 having an internal thread 2a on an inner circumferential surface, and a roller 3 arranged between the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 1 and the inner circumferential surface of the nut 2. The roller has a thread 3a threaded to the external thread 1a and the internal thread 2a. A spur gear 3b and a spur gear 3c are provided in portions of the roller 3. A spur gear 1b is provided in a portion of the shaft 1. The spur gear 1b is meshed with the spur gear 3b of the roller 3. Internal teeth 4a are provided in a portion of the nut 2. The internal teeth 4a are meshed with the spur gear 3 of the roller 3. This improves the lead accuracy of the shaft 1 when the nut 2 is rotated.
US08020460B1
An in-line inspection tool comprising sensors and sensor housings is disclosed. Each sensor housing may contain at least one sensor. The tool may further comprise a structure comprising a central axis and a plurality of sensor mounts distributed circumferentially about the central axis. Each sensor mount may support a different sensor housing. The plurality of sensor mounts may support the sensor housings such that the first end of each sensor housing circumferentially overlaps the second end of an adjacent sensor housing. By overlapping, sensor housings may support sensors with substantially uniform spacing around the circumference of the inspection tool in normal operation and still allow sensor housings to move relative to one another to accommodate changes in the dimension of the circumference.
US08020450B2
The invention relates to a pressure gauge having a cylindrical housing to which a bushing is fixed, which penetrates the housing. The pressure gauge is furthermore provided with a pressure sensor together with an allocated electronic evaluation unit, said sensor is operatively connected to a pressure port coaxially positioned to the longitudinal axis of the housing. A turnable adjustment pin to engage with an adjustment device of the electronic evaluation unit in the pressure gauge is accommodated in the bushing in a liquid-proof manner, and is equipped with holding means by means of which it is undetachably secured to the bushing.
US08020447B2
In an ultrasonic sensor, a first receiving device is configured to be sendable and receivable an ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic wave sent from the first receiving device is transmitted through a vibration-reducing member disposed between the first receiving device and a second receiving device, and the second receiving device detects the ultrasonic wave. The ultrasonic sensor self diagnoses whether the second receiving device is operated without malfunction based on a detection signal of the second receiving device.
US08020442B2
An inertial measurement unit is disclosed which includes a system of gyros for sensing angular rates, a system of accelerometers for sensing angular accelerations, an integrator for deriving gyro-less angular rates from the sensed angular accelerations, and a complimentary filter for blending the sensed angular rates and the gyro-less angular rates to produce a virtual angular rate output for the inertial measurement unit.
US08020436B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a fiber optic seismic sensing system for permanent downhole installation. In one aspect, the present invention includes a multi-station, multi-component system for conducting seismic reservoir imaging and monitoring in a well. Permanent seismic surveys may be conducted with embodiments of the present invention, including time-lapse (4D) vertical seismic profiling (VSP) and extended micro-seismic monitoring. Embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to map fluid contacts in the reservoir using 4D VSP and to correlate micro-seismic events to gas injection and production activity.
US08020433B2
A fluid collection device comprising a body comprising a capsule interface, and a capsule configured to interface with the body via the capsule interface and configured to hold a sample receiving chip. The sample receiving chip comprises a substrate that receives an aliquot volume of a sample fluid, wherein the substrate is operatively shaped to receive the aliquot volume of sample fluid through capillary action, and a sample region of the substrate, sized such that the volume of the sample fluid is sufficient to operatively cover a portion of the sample region, whereupon energy properties of the sample fluid can be transduced to produce a sample fluid reading.
US08020422B2
A tubular product comprises a side section having outer surfaces disposed along a parallelogram and a bottom section formed on one end of the side section. The outer surfaces of the side section are pressure formed by a roller. The tubular product preferably is manufactured from a tubular material by a process comprising the use of a device having a roller that is configured to engage with a side section of the tubular material. The device also comprises a mandrel configured to position the tubular material so that the roller can apply pressure against at least a portion of the outer surfaces of the side section and can extend the side section of the tubular material to form the product.
US08020421B2
A pusher device 4 includes a cylinder device 30 and a pusher mandrel 34. The cylinder device 30 includes a cylinder shaft 32. The pusher mandrel 34 is attached to the tip end of the cylinder shaft 32. The tip end of the pusher mandrel 34 is abutted against the rear end of a billet 20. The cross sectional area Sp of the pusher mandrel 34 and the cross sectional area Sb of the billet 20 satisfy Expression (1). The length Lp of the pusher mandrel 34 and the cross sectional area Sp of the pusher mandrel 34 satisfy Expression (2). The moving distance Lc of the tip end of the cylinder shaft 32 during piercing and rolling and the outer diameter Dc of the cylinder shaft 32 satisfy Expression (3). Therefore, the pusher device 4 can restrain the wall thickness deviation of the tip end part of a produced hollow shell. 0.3≦Sp/Sb (1) Lp/Sp≦1.2 (2) Lc/Dc≦45 (3)
US08020416B2
A safe which is attachable to a motor vehicle. The safe may have a door bearing a lock which is centered on the door so that access to the lock is equal from opposed sides of the safe. The safe may have a slide-out drawer which rides on a track, in which case the track and drawer are centered within the safe. The drawer may be locked by a lock which is centered within one face of the drawer. The safe may have a mounting flange bearing at least one hole for engaging a retention element such as threaded fasteners or a tether.
US08020411B2
A method of manufacturing a single mode optical fiber formed of a silica-based glass and including a glass part having a central core and a cladding region. The method including heating an optical fiber preform in a heating furnace including a first heater to melt the optical fiber preform, and fiber drawing an optical fiber from the molten optical fiber preform. The method further comprises continuously cooling the drawn optical fiber starting with a meniscus portion in which diameter is decreased from 90% of the preform diameter to 5% of the preform diameter to a portion where the drawn optical fiber has a temperature of 1,200° C. at a cooling rate of 1,000 to 3,000° C. /sec.
US08020410B2
A method of making an optical fiber preform includes depositing silica glass on the inside of a tube substrate via a plasma chemical vapor deposition (PCVD) operation. The parameters of the PCVD operation are controlled such that the silica glass deposited on the interior of the tube substrate contains a non-periodic array of voids in a cladding region of the optical fiber preform. The optical fiber preform may be used to produce an optical fiber having a core and a void containing cladding. The core of the optical fiber has a first index of refraction and the cladding has a second index of refraction less than that of the core.
US08020409B2
An apparatus 10 for producing a plate glass, comprising a bath 14 for float-forming for reserving a molten metal 16 for forming a band-shaped plate glass having a predetermined thickness by feeding a molten glass ribbon 20 in a predetermined direction on the molten metal 16, and a pair of partition walls 46 provided substantially above left and right edges 22 of the molten glass ribbon 20 and substantially along the edges 22 to partition a space above a bath surface of the molten metal into an upper space A above a region covered with the molten glass ribbon 20 and upper spaces B above regions not covered with the molten glass ribbon 20; wherein the partition walls 46 each has a vertically dividable structure dividable into an upper partition wall 46A and a lower partition wall 46B, and the lower partition wall 46B is constituted by strip-shaped lower strip members 58 provided continuously to each other in a lateral direction, and the strip members 58 are configured to be removable or openable from the upper partition wall 46A.
US08020399B2
A high pressure mister cooling system having an electric fan, a high pressure pump mounted on the fan, an eccentric on the fan motor shaft, and mister nozzles mounted on the fan guard. A pump shaft is reciprocated by the eccentric when the fan is operated. A pump body includes a pump piston and bore, an inlet valve that opens when supply pressure exceeds 20 psi, a pump outlet valve that opens when pump pressure exceeds 120 pounds, and a pressure limiting valve that opens when pump pressure exceeds 1000 pounds. Water flows only when an inlet supply is attached and the fan is operating, and outlet pressure to the mister nozzles is controlled at about 1000 psi.
US08020396B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a heat pump system comprising a heat pump so arranged as to permit the taking up of thermal energy from outdoor air and the giving off of thermal energy to another medium, and an external space adapted to permit heating of the outdoor air by the use of solar radiation, the system being so arranged as to conduct the outdoor air to the heat pump via the external space. The invention is characterized in that the heat pump system comprises means for regulating the flow of the outdoor air to the external space.
US08020394B2
Disclosed here is an air conditioner and the control method thereof comprising an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger for the heat exchanging of the outdoor air and refrigerant; at least one indoor unit corresponding to the outdoor unit and having indoor heat exchanger for the heat exchanging of the room air and refrigerant; an expansion valve installed on the refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and expanding the refrigerant; and a control device controlling the opening speed of the expansion valve in accordance with the operation modes of the indoor unit.
US08020386B2
A mechanism included in a convergent-divergent nozzle connected to an aftward portion of a gas turbine engine, which mechanism includes at least one actuator configured to be connected to the aftward portion of the engine and to move through one or more positions, a first link pivotally connected to the at least one actuator, a convergent flap pivotally connected to the first link, a divergent flap rotatably connected to the convergent flap and configured to be kinematically connected to an annular ring connected to the at least one actuator, and at least one track configured to extend from the aftward portion of the engine and to movably and pivotally receive the pivotal connection between the convergent flap and the first link.
US08020359B2
The present invention relates to a method of using a combination permanent partial decoration and temporary decoration to mass customize refillable glass vessels. The method comprising: decorating a glass vessel with a permanent partial decoration, receiving the glass vessel at a filling facility, washing the glass vessel in caustic solution to remove presence of a temporary decoration, filling the glass vessel with a product contents, printing the temporary decoration on the glass vessel, distributing the glass vessel to a marketplace for use by a consumer, receiving the consumer used glass vessel at the filling facility, and recycling the glass vessel by returning to the step of washing. Other embodiments include not using the permanent partial decoration and printing the temporary decoration on the glass vessel, wherein at least some of the temporary decoration is printed on top of a background region to increase the luminance qualities of the temporary decoration.
US08020353B2
In polymer building products, such as polymer siding, polymer roofing, j-blocks, gable vents, etc., characterized by fastener apertures each comprising an elongate slot bounded by a peripheral wall defining the slot, the peripheral wall having a height, a fastener centering-guide comprising a layer of material extending into the elongate slot from the peripheral wall thereof, the layer of material having defined therein (a) an elongate opening that is generally parallel to, but of smaller transverse dimensions than, the elongate slot, and (b) a predetermined location, defined intermediate the length of the elongate opening, for receiving a fastener therethrough, and wherein further the layer of material is characterized by a thickness that is less than the height of the peripheral wall and sufficiently thin so as to permit relative movement between a fastener extending through the centering guide and the polymer building product.
US08020344B2
The invention provides a method of growing at least three plants simultaneously in mineral wool growth substrate, the method comprises positioning the plants for growth in mineral wool growth substrate so that the roots of each plant are positioned in a growth region, and irrigating the plants with irrigation water over a period of at least three days, wherein during the irrigation period at least one water content parameter as measured in the growth regions surrounding the plant roots varies over the set of all growth regions by not more than 45%, and wherein the growth substrate comprises binder and wetting agent, the wetting agent comprising ionic surfactant.
US08020338B2
A surface floating fishing lure including a forwards facing concave surface located at the water line, designed to scoop, redirect, and “spit” water into the air to subsequently splash unto the surface of the water when the fishing lure is tugged sharply, whereby a surface disturbance is created to attract fish hiding under cover of lily pads and other floating weeds or debris. This fishing lure shall include at least one fish hook rigged to be weedless, containing a flexible member deflecting weeds and debris away from each barbed point, a forwards facing concaved surface oriented in a manner predetermined to be suitable to redirect and splash a spray of water across the water surface, a floating body, a fish line connecting means at the forwards end of said fishing lure, and may, in some embodiments, further include at least a portion of said floating body in the form of a soft polymer flexible body in a shape resembling natural fish prey such as worms, frogs, minnows, centipedes, and etc.
US08020337B1
The automatically setting fishing hook assembly includes two hooks pivotally secured to a common shaft with their bends oriented opposite one another. The shanks of the hooks are offset from the shaft by short arms that pivot on the shaft. A coil spring is installed on the shaft between the hooks, with the opposite ends of the spring engaging the shanks of the hooks to urge the bends of the hooks outwardly from one another. A latch is affixed to the shank of one hook, and engages the shank of the other hook to hold the two hooks together. The latch is disengaged from the second hook when a fish strikes the assembly, with the bends of the two hooks springing apart to automatically set the two hooks in the mouth of the fish to reduce the chance of the fish slipping the hooks and escaping.
US08020327B2
A rollable display (101) is wearable on a sleeve (103). The display (101) is part of a wrist-based device with a “U” shape. A part of the device is on top of the sleeve (103). The display (101) can be rolled out for use as needed. The device itself may be flexible or bendable i.e. have a x-rigid, U-shape or may allow the “U” shape to be folded out, for example by a hinge or sequence of connected segments that can be rotated freely, but which keep their position after being moved. The display (101) may be rolled out from under the sleeve (103) and then over the sleeve (103) along a predefined curve by means of a guiding mechanism. The device is easy to use, allows the use of large displays that may always be visible and allows freedom in the display design with respect to the direction in which the flexible display (101) is rolled out.
US08020324B2
A spacing assembly kit, for use with an implement assembly of a machine, includes a spacing element having a bore and a recess coaxial with the bore, the spacing element being positionable on an implement coupling pin to reduce an implement coupling width, and a spring clamp positionable within the recess and configured to inhibit movement of the spacing element along an implement coupling pin. An implement assembly includes an implement having a body and spaced apart pin supports, with a pin positionable within the pin supports and having an implement coupling width defined by an exposed portion of the pin. Spacing elements are positionable on the pin between the pin supports and configured to reduce the coupling width, spring clamps further being provided which are configured to inhibit movement of the spacing elements when the clamps are engaged about the pin.
US08020321B2
A snowshoe having a pivot axle for pitch rotation of the footbed platform relative to the snowshoe frame is supported from the frame in a manner that provides for significant lateral flexing, i.e. pivoting on the roll axis, to accommodate use of snowshoes on side hill terrain. Instead of a relatively rigid support from the snowshoe frame, the footbed platform is supported by left and right tension bands that are connected to the snowshoe frame and to left and right ends of the transverse pivot rod that provides pitch rotation. Preferably the connection to each end of the pivot rod is with a rotatable spindle over which the tension band engages, such rollers being connected at right angles to the two ends of the pivot rod. A rotation limiter can be included to limit free rotation of the binding in the pitch direction to a selected arc. The footbed support system can be employed on any type of snowshoe, whether a tubular frame, non-tubular frame or molded composite snowshoe.
US08020320B2
An article of footwear including an upper formed of a flexible upper material and a sole formed of a flexible sole material, wherein the sole is rolled, folded, or collapsed onto itself to reduce the volume of the article of footwear. The article of footwear in a collapsed state can then be packaged in a container. This container can be dispensed by a vending machine in a convenient urban area.
US08020317B1
A shoe structure specifically designed to more securely fit a wider range of feet widths and proportions by providing an integrated resilient heel device in the rearfoot region of the upper. The heel device extends upward and rearward toward the back of the foot to avoid the bulbous end of the calcaneus but also to engage the area just above the heel bone. The heel device has opposing portions that are biased toward one another and provide a secure but comfortable engagement of the shoe onto the wearer's heel. The heel device is smaller than the size of the shoe into which it is incorporated to enhance the biasing effect of the opposing portions.
US08020313B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the separation of volatile components from a feed material.
US08020311B2
A tape measure having a winding drum or reel rotatably mounted on a support structure, and a measuring tape attached to the drum so as to be coilable thereon. The support structure comprises a handle that extends radially beyond an upper half of the coiled tape and a bottom edge portion that extends radially beyond a lower half of the coiled tape, the bottom edge portion comprising a hand grip.
US08020297B2
A method for disassembling a boiler supported and suspended by a supporting structure which includes the steps of cutting off a lower part of a furnace unit to provide an enlarged opening; fixing a first support to the furnace unit at approximately same height as a lower end of a heat recovery area; fixing a second support to the lower end of the heat recovery area; providing a first jacking apparatus and a second jacking apparatus under the first support and the second support, respectively; detaching the boiler from the suspending structure; lowering the first support and the second support by the first jacking apparatus and the second jacking apparatus, cutting a lower part of the boiler, repeating the lowering and the disassembling steps until the first support and the second support are lowered to a maximum extent; and disassembling a remaining upper part of the boiler.
US08020296B2
A method for the production of secondary fluid ducts for a turbomachine, especially for fluid supply or fluid removal to/from a flow-wetted surface of the turbomachine, with the secondary fluid ducts being produced by an electrochemical machining process.
US08020295B2
Gas turbine engines systems and related methods involving dimensionally restored fasteners are provided. In this regard, a representative method for dimensionally restoring a mechanical fastener for a gas turbine engine includes: providing a mechanical fastener; and relocating existing material of the fastener such that a dimension of the fastener is restored.
US08020293B2
The invention relates to a method of machining the bearing seats of main and rod bearings (HL, PL) of crankshafts (1), in which the bearing seats (30) of the main and rod bearings (HL, PL), after the primary forming of the crankshaft (1) by forging or casting, are subjected to the following processing operations: forming by machining with a specific cutting edge, deep rolling all fillets or recesses of the main and rod bearings, straightening of the crankshaft (1), precision machining with an end-milling cutter (12) in each case by high-speed roughing-cut turn-milling and finishing-cut turn-milling, smooth rolling of the bearing seats of the crankshaft after the finishing-cut turn milling, wherein the roughing-cut turn-milling and the finishing-cut turn-milling is effected during in each case an essentially complete revolution of the crankshaft (1) without longitudinal feed and without tangential feed of the end-milling cutter (12).
US08020288B2
In a method for producing an electronic subassembly, at least one electronic component is fixed in place on an insulating layer of a conductive foil in a first step, the conductive foil with the electronic component is laminated onto a circuit board substrate, and a circuit track structure is then developed by structuring the conductive foil. The expansion coefficient of the insulating layer lies between the expansion coefficient of the circuit board substrate and the expansion coefficient of the circuit track structure, and/or electronic components that require small passages for contacting with the circuit track structure are pressed deeper into the insulating layer than electronic components that require larger passages in the insulating layer.
US08020286B2
One objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic component mounting system and an electronic component mounting method that can prevent a mounting defect due to a positioning error in the direction of the thickness of a substrate, and that can deliver a specific mounting quality. According to an electronic component mounting system, which is constituted by coupling a plurality of apparatuses used for mounting electronic components, the height measurement device 22 of a printing inspection apparatus measures the heights at height measurement points, designated on the upper face of a substrate, and outputs the measurement results as substrate height data. Then, once the substrate has been delivered to an electronic component placing apparatus, the substrate height measurement apparatus again measures the height of the substrate at specific height measurement points to obtain substrate height correction data, and based on the initial substrate height data and the substrate height correction data, updates a control parameter for controlling the component placing operation performed by a loading head. In this manner, discrepancies in the positions of the heights of individual substrates can be accurately corrected, and mounting defects due to positioning errors in the direction of the heights of the substrates can be prevented.
US08020269B2
An apparatus enables a turbine nozzle, including at least two turbine nozzle singlets to be fabricated. Each singlet includes inner and outer bands and a vane extending therebetween. The vane also includes first and second sidewalls coupled together at a leading edge and a trailing edge. The apparatus comprises a fixture, and at least two support members extending from the fixture. Each support member has first and second abutment surfaces, wherein a first of the at least two support members contacts at least one of the leading and trailing edges of a first of the vanes. At least two locating features extend from the fixture, wherein a first of the locating features contacts one of the first and second sidewalls of the first vane. At least two biasing members are coupled to the fixture, wherein a first of the biasing members biases the first vane against the first locating feature.
US08020259B2
A cable clamp has a body, at least one front binding hole, at least one rear binding hole, multiple front connecting elements, multiple rear connecting elements, a first lateral connecting element and a second lateral connecting element. The front and the rear connecting elements are formed on the body, and the rear connecting elements correspond respectively to the front connecting elements. The first lateral and the second lateral connecting elements are formed on the body, and the second lateral connecting element corresponds to the first lateral connecting element. Each cable clamp is capable of attaching to another cable clamp rather with connecting the front connecting element of the cable clamp to the rear connecting element of another cable clamp or with connecting the second lateral connecting element of the cable clamp to the first lateral connecting element of another cable clamp.
US08020257B2
An apparatus and a method relating to a handle having a neck portion having a throat extending along an axis and having a reduced axial opening and a slit extending along the throat and alongside the axial opening are disclosed.
US08020256B2
A pivot device has a first hinge part and a second hinge part pivotably connected to the first hinge part about a pivot axis. A blocking device secures the first and second hinge parts in a pivoted position relative to one another against backward and forward pivoting out of the pivoted position. The blocking device has first and second friction surfaces that, when pivoting the first and second hinge parts relative to one another, glide across one another and move axially relative to one another in an axial direction of the pivot axis as a pivot angle between the first and second hinge parts increases.
US08020252B2
An upright vacuum cleaner having dual cleaning motor and fan units is provided having a cleaning head engagable with a floor and a suction nozzle and a brush roller rotatably mounted therein. A first motor and fan unit is mounted in the vacuum cleaner for producing suction in the suction nozzle and is operatively connected to the brush roller for rotating it. An upright housing is connected to the cleaning head, the housing having a handle for moving the vacuum cleaner along the floor during floor cleaning use. Contained in the housing are a dirt storage container, a passageway leading from the suction nozzle in the cleaning head to the storage container and a second motor and fan unit operatively associated with the storage container for drawing dirt laden air from the cleaning head through the passageway and into the storage container simultaneously with operation of the first motor and fan unit.
US08020247B2
A rear spoiler includes a depth end wall, which bounds an accommodation space, which accommodates a wiper blade upon positioning of the wiper blade in a stop position. A distance between the depth end wall and the wiper blade in the stop position measured in a direction generally parallel to a surface of a window glass, which is wiped by the wiper blade, is set such that the distance between the depth end wall and a first longitudinal side of the wiper blade, which is opposite from the pivot axis, is larger than the distance between the depth end wall and a second longitudinal side of the wiper blade, which is opposite from the first longitudinal side of the wiper blade.
US08020246B2
A non-articulated wiper blade (10), which is constructed of a wiper strip (12) having a wiper lip (14), two spring rails (30, 32) and a connecting device (22), wherein the spring rails (30, 32) engage in lateral longitudinal grooves of the wiper strip (12) that are open towards the outside and are clasped by claw feet (28, 68, 76, 108) of a sheet metal claw (24, 64, 72, 106) of the connecting device (22) from an outer narrow side. The claw feet (28, 68, 76, 108) are bent around the narrow sides of the spring rails (30, 32) during the assembly of the sheet metal claws (24, 64, 72, 106), wherein at least one layer (70) and/or an intermediate layer (48, 84) of plastic are provided between the claw feet (28, 68, 76, 108) on the one hand and the spring rails (30, 32) on the other hand, which layers are manufactured separately from the wiper strip (12) and are adapted to the claw feet (28, 68, 76, 108) as well as have a high coefficient of friction on their surface towards the sheet metal claw (24, 64, 72, 106) and towards the spring rails (30, 32).
US08020240B2
A substrate treatment apparatus includes a substrate holding mechanism for holding a substrate, a brush made of an elastically deformable material and having a cleaning surface formed in a shape tapered toward one side in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to one surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism and inclined with respect to the perpendicular direction, a brush moving mechanism for moving the brush with respect to the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism, and a control unit for controlling the brush moving mechanism so that the cleaning surface is pushed to a peripheral area on the one surface and a peripheral end face of the substrate held by the substrate holding mechanism.
US08020237B2
A brush, as well as a method for cleaning a process surface using the brush, having: a hollow cylinder having a closed first end, a closed second end, and a peripheral wall with an internal and external surface; with bristles arranged on the external surface of the peripheral wall thereof; wherein the hollow cylinder has a plurality of apertures formed in the peripheral wall for permitting a gas or liquid to emerge from the interior of the hollow cylinders to the vicinity of the bristles; wherein the apertures are arranged in a staggered multi helical pattern having from about 3 to about 15 helix; and wherein the peripheral wall has a surface area ratio of from about 6 to about 30.
US08020233B2
An inflatable tube (10) in a fascine is provided with a cover (11) of a braided material to provide significant strength. An outer cover (12) of KEVLAR™ may also be provided. The braided cover (11) and the inflatable tube (10) are held at the ends of the tube by a clamping mechanism (17, 18, 19) and a cylinder (40) of inflation gas is supported within the tube (10), when the tube (10) is inflated.
US08020230B2
An aspect of the present invention relates to a method and system of receiving information of a user's support facility comfort requirements; using a software application to determine a proper support facility firmness configuration to match the user's requirement; selecting foam springs with the proper user required firmness as determined by the software application; and configuring the selected foam springs within the support facility to match the user's firmness requirements.
US08020228B2
A shoulder surgery attachment for a surgical table having an articulated leg section with accessory attachment rails on opposite sides. An upright chair back assembly is supported at its base or bottom end thereof for attachment to the accessory attachment rails and the chair back assembly includes a headrest assembly positioned above a back support. The headrest assembly includes a removable neck support and a head fixation assembly. The headrest assembly is adjustably moveable up and down the chair back assembly. The neck support is positioned below the head fixation assembly and protrudes from the front of the headrest assembly for engagement with the back of the patient's neck. The head fixation assembly includes a forward protruding U-shaped forehead clamp having two distal rearwardly extending free ends that are adjustably secured to the headrest assembly whereby the head clamp may be adjusted for engaging the forehead of the patient to clamp the patient's head against the headrest assembly.
US08020225B2
Methods and apparatus to occlude openings and spaces of side rails are provided. One embodiment includes a pad body panel having attachment openings each defining a pivot axis. The embodiment includes follower slots in the pad body panel each to receive a bracket pivot of a pivot arm, each follower slot having a configuration centered on the attachment opening of the pivot axis.
US08020221B2
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a toilet seat lifting device (10), comprising a pneumatic system employing a piston (48) connected to the toilet seat (6), the system being adapted to lift the toilet seat (6) by applying mechanical force on the piston (48) in the corresponding direction (upwards, in the example herein), and to gradually lowering the toilet seat by gradually releasing air from the pneumatic system. The device may further comprise a valve (56), for causing a fall in air pressure in the pneumatic system, thereby causing an accelerated lowering of the toilet seat. The device may further comprise: a sensor, for sensing lowering of toilet seat (6); and a mechanism for activating flushing the toilet bowl upon detecting by the sensor that the seat has been lowered, such as a handle of a tap providing water to the flush tank (8) thereof.
US08020219B2
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a strap anchor system and method are provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a helmet body, a support structure substantially disposed within the helmet body, and a strap anchor housing coupled to the support structure and substantially disposed within the helmet body. The strap anchor housing is operable to receive a strap anchor after formation of the helmet body. The strap anchor is operable to couple a strap to the strap anchor housing so that a load on the strap is transferred to the support structure before being transferred to the helmet body.
US08020217B2
An infant wrap and a method for using such a wrap are provided. In one example, the wrap includes a main body folded with an outer surface of part of the main body facing itself to form at least a partial pouch. The wrap further includes a neck portion having first and second ends coupled to an upper edge of the main body to define a neck hole for the user, and a hood attached to a lower edge of the main body. Fasteners may be used to removably couple various portions of the baby wrap.
