US08075779B2
This invention is directed to an integrated process and system for water treatment, in particular, an integrated process and system for water treatment in the beverage manufacture cycle. The water treatment process is directed to treating an influent water solution, a low sugar concentration solution, and a high sugar concentration solution. The water treatment system is directed to a system for treating an influent water solution, a system for treating a low sugar concentration solution, and system for treating a high sugar concentration solution.
US08075777B2
A process for separating the diastereomers of a compound such as dihydrodecafluoropentane by using an ionic liquid to increase separation efficiency. The process may involve separation of the threo and erythro diastereomers of HFC-4310mee by liquid-liquid extraction wherein at least one ionic liquid is used as the extractant.
US08075771B2
This invention relates to apparatus for carrying out continuous or batch centrifugation solid-liquid separation processes in which the solid-liquid mixture is subjected to magnetic field gradients and centrifugation.
US08075768B1
A liquid chromatograph device was provided wherein operations inside a thermostatic chamber can be safely performed even while a heat block is being heated. The liquid chromatograph device comprises: a thermostatic chamber; outer doors and that are disposed at the front surface of the thermostatic chamber; a heat block; heater for heating said heat block; temperature sensor for the heat block; flowing means for flowing air between the inside and outside of the thermostatic chamber; a control means for controlling the supply of power to the heater based on the result of the temperature sensor; and an inner door between the outer door and the heat block, the inner door comprising a hollow inner door main body, a heat-insulating material that is housed within the inner door so as to form an air chamber between the heat-insulating material and the surface of the outer door of the inner door main body and inlet/outlet slits and that are formed in the inner door main body. These slits and the flowing means causes air within the inner door to flow out, thus reducing the temperature of the inner door.
US08075764B2
An exemplary apparatus (100), for removing buoyant pollutants from a polluted coolant, includes a collecting device (10) and a removing device (20). The collecting device includes a pollutant collecting structure (11) and a bi-directional pump (12). The pollutant collecting structure includes a hollow tub (112) and a collecting module (113) slidable relative to the hollow tub. The bi-directional pump communicates with the hollow tub and the removing device. The removing device includes a filter (21) and a pollutant removing structure (22) disposed on the filter. The filter includes a filtrating unit (211). The filtrating unit is partitioned into a first cavity (2132) and a second cavity (2133) by a partition sheet (213). The partitioning board defines a communicating gap (2131) for the first cavity and the second cavity to communicate with each other. The pollutant removing structure includes a removing member (221) for removing the buoyant pollutants out of the filter.
US08075761B2
The invention provides a hydrocarbon composition for use in CI engines, said composition comprising a blend of hydrocarbons derived from a LTFT and from a HTFT process, said LTFT derived hydrocarbon being blended with said HTFT derived hydrocarbon in a volumetric ratio of from 1:20 to 20:1. The invention further provides a process for the production of the hydrocarbon composition and a the fuel composition including, in addition to the hydrocarbon composition, one or more component selected from the group including a crude oil derived diesel fuel, a crude oil derived naphtha, a lubricant or light cycle oil (LCO).
US08075759B2
A procedure to calculate the Lambda value with a wideband Lambda sensor of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is thereby characterized, in that from the measured pumping electricity and the sensitivities of the wideband Lambda sensor as well as the gas concentration ratios, in the lean operation an oxygen concentration and in the rich operation an oxygen deficit are determined and from these respectively a conclusion is drawn about the Lambda value using the Pischinger Formula.
US08075757B2
Various apparatuses and methods for producing ammonia are provided. One embodiment has uses a plurality of environments and an electrode configured to be exposed to the plurality of environments. The electrode is configured to receive hydrogen while being exposed to one of the environments, reduce nitrogen while being exposed to another environment, and allow the hydrogen and nitrogen to react with each other to form ammonia. Other embodiments provide for simultaneous hydrogen oxidation and nitrogen reduction at the same electrode, which in turn react for formation of ammonia.
US08075744B1
A cutting tool insert is formed from a substrate selected from cemented carbide, cermet, ceramics, cubic boron nitride based material or high speed steel. The insert includes a hard and wear-resistant coating formed from laminar polycrystalline metal nitrides layers. The laminar polycrystalline metal nitrides layers have a repetitive form . . . A/B/A/C/A/B/A/C/ . . . with a total thickness of about 0.5 μm to about 5 μm.
US08075742B2
An apparatus and process for the separation of refrigerant mixtures is provided. The apparatus includes a first distillation column, a first condenser, and a first collection vessel. The apparatus also includes a sorter vessel that includes a sorter agent, wherein the sorter vessel is fluidly connected to the first distillation column.
US08075739B2
System for drying a tissue or hygiene web. The system includes a permeable structured fabric carrying the web over a drying apparatus. A permeable dewatering fabric contacts the web and is guided over the drying apparatus. A mechanism is used to apply pressure to the permeable structured fabric, the web, and the permeable dewatering fabric at the drying apparatus. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08075729B2
A pedestal assembly and method for controlling temperature of a substrate during processing is provided. In one embodiment, the pedestal assembly includes an electrostatic chuck coupled to a metallic base. The electrostatic chuck includes at least one chucking electrode and metallic base includes at least two fluidly isolated conduit loops disposed therein. In another embodiment, the pedestal assembly includes a support member that is coupled to a base by a material layer. The material layer has at least two regions having different coefficients of thermal conductivity. In another embodiment, the support member is an electrostatic chuck. In further embodiments, a pedestal assembly has channels formed between the base and support member for providing cooling gas in proximity to the material layer to further control heat transfer between the support member and the base, thereby controlling the temperature profile of a substrate disposed on the support member.
US08075728B2
A flow equalizer plate is provided for use in a substrate process chamber. The flow equalizer plate has an annular shape with a flow obstructing inner region, and a perforated outer region that permits the passage of a processing gas, but retains specific elements in the processing gas, such as active radicals or ions. The inner and outer regions have varying radial widths so as to balance a flow of processing gas over a surface of a substrate. In certain embodiments, the flow equalizer plate may be utilized to correct chamber flow asymmetries due to a lateral offset of an exhaust port relative to a center line of a substrate support between the process volume and the exhaust port.
US08075722B2
In a manufacturing apparatus of an absorbent product, extended elastic yarns to be a first middle elastic member and extended elastic yarns to be leg elastic members are bonded between a first sheet and a second sheet and arranged crossing each other in manufacturing an outer covering sheet. A first middle elastic member and an inclined part of the leg elastic members crossing the first middle elastic member are simultaneously and reliably cut in a crossing area of the both elastic members by first cutting blades tilted relatively to a direction where the first middle elastic member is positioned and second cutting blades tilted relatively to a direction where the inclined part is positioned. Thus, it is possible to easily form the outer covering sheet which maintains elasticity in a required portion and has high flexibility.
US08075717B2
A composite wood product and its method of manufacture. The wood product comprises aligned, substantially straight wood strands cut from veneer, disposed side by side lengthwise in substantially parallel relationship with adhesive bonding together the strands. The product is produced in a billet having a width in the range of about 3 ft. to 12 ft. and with a thickness in the range of about 1.1 inches to 2 inches. The strand ends are distributed in a specific pattern that approximates maximizing the minimum distance between strand ends. The wide sides of the billet are coated with a dark colored resin. The billet may be sawn lengthwise into sizes used for joists and rafters. Such a sawn product (e.g. 1.5″ by 9.25″) has the wide sides a dark resin color and the narrow sawn sides mostly wood colored. The strands are parallel to its length.
US08075712B2
A system for coating a surface comprising providing a source of amorphous metal that contains more than 11 elements and applying the amorphous metal that contains more than 11 elements to the surface by a spray. Also a coating comprising a composite material made of amorphous metal that contains more than 11 elements. An apparatus for producing a corrosion-resistant amorphous-metal coating on a structure comprises a deposition chamber, a deposition source in the deposition chamber that produces a deposition spray, the deposition source containing a composite material made of amorphous metal that contains more than 11 elements, and a system that directs the deposition spray onto the structure.
US08075710B2
A process for the manufacture of soft magnetic composite components is provided including the steps of: die compacting a powder composition including a mixture of soft magnetic, iron or iron-based powder, core particles of which are surrounded by an electrically insulating, inorganic coating, and an organic lubricant in an amount of 0.05 to 1.5% by weight of the composition, the organic lubricant being free from metal and having a temperature of vaporization less than the decomposition temperature of the coating; ejecting the compacted body from the die; heating the compacted body in an inert atmosphere to a temperature above the vaporization temperature of the lubricant and below the decomposition temperature of the inorganic coating for removing the lubricant from the compacted body, and subjecting the body obtained after heating the compacted body in an inert atmosphere to heat treatment at a temperature between 300 and 600 in water vapor.
US08075707B2
A method for preparing a rare earth permanent magnet material comprises the steps of disposing a powder on a surface of a sintered magnet body of R1aTbAcMd composition wherein R1 is a rare earth element inclusive of Sc and Y, T is Fe and/or Co, A is boron (B) and/or carbon (C), M is Al, Cu, Zn, In, Si, P, S, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sn, Sb, Hf, Ta, or W, said powder comprising an oxide of R2, a fluoride of R3 or an oxyfluoride of R4 wherein R2, R3, and R4 are rare earth elements inclusive of Sc and Y and having an average particle size equal to or less than 100 μm, heat treating the magnet body and the powder at a temperature equal to or below the sintering temperature of the magnet body for absorption treatment for causing R2, R3, and R4 in the powder to be absorbed in the magnet body, and repeating the absorption treatment at least two times. According to the invention, a rare earth permanent magnet material can be prepared as an R—Fe—B sintered magnet with high performance and a minimized amount of Tb or Dy used.
US08075699B2
A paper-roll core that is a soluble, disposable carrier for cleaning and/or disinfecting chemicals. The paper-roll cores are toilet paper roll cores and paper towel roll cores and are rapidly soluble in water and may release cleansers, disinfectants, colors, etc., upon dissolving. Described are: methods of using, manufacturing, advertising, and distributing the paper-roll cores; and methods of advertising and distributing such paper-roll cores to children, who will particularly enjoy the novelty; and methods of modifying existing paper-roll core manufacturing equipment to manufacture soluble cleanser-dispensing paper-roll cores.
US08075696B2
This invention relates to a method for removing fouling from a heat transfer surface, such as a heat exchanger. The method involves conducting a vapor containing a scouring material to the heat transfer surface and contacting the scouring material with the foulant, the heat transfer surface, or both. Scouring material and removed foulant can be recovered and conducted away.
US08075693B2
A crucible heating apparatus and a deposition apparatus including the same. The crucible heating apparatus includes: a crucible including a main body to house a deposition material, and a cover disposed on the main body, having a nozzle; a band coupled to the crucible, through contact parts; a thermocouple coupled to the band; a housing to house the crucible and the band; and a heater disposed inside the housing, to heat the deposition material.
US08075690B2
An apparatus and method for supporting a substantial center portion of a gas distribution plate is disclosed. At least one support member is capable of engaging and disengaging the diffuser with a mating connection without prohibiting flow of a gas or gases through the diffuser and is designed to provide vertical suspension to a diffuser that is supported at its perimeter, or capable of supporting the diffuser without a perimeter support. In one aspect, the at least one support member is a portion of a gas delivery conduit and in another embodiment is a plurality of support members separated from the gas delivery conduit. The at least one support member is capable of translating vertical lift, or vertical compression to a center area of the diffuser. A method and apparatus for controlling gas flow from the gas delivery conduit to the gas distribution plate is also disclosed.
US08075678B1
A portable water extracting and purification system for converting filtered ambient air moisture into water may include a free-standing support frame and a reservoir removably engaged to the support frame and provided with a handle. The system may further include a mechanism for filtering ambient air prior to entering the support frame. Additionally, a mechanism may be included for extracting moisture from the filtered ambient air by inducing condensation to form and deposit water into the reservoir. An additional mechanism may be included for automatically toggling the moisture extracting mechanism between operating and non-operating modes upon detecting first and second triggering events respectively.
US08075674B2
A method of pulse cleaning filter media in panel, cylindrical, conical, or V-pack style filter in an opening of a tubesheet is provided. The method includes directing a fluid pulse at the filter media at an angle that is: (i) not normal to a plane of the opening of the tubesheet; and (ii) not in line with the general direction of the filtration flow through the filter media. An air cleaner is provided including a housing including a dirty air inlet, a clean air outlet, and an interior. A tubesheet is in the housing interior having a plurality of openings. In the plurality of openings of the tubesheet are mounted filters with filter media. There is a plurality of blow pipes, with each blow pipe being pointed to direct at a fluid pulse a respective one of the filters at an angle that is: (i) not normal to a plane of the opening in the tubesheet; and (ii) not in line with the general direction of filtration flow through the respective filter media.
US08075665B2
A reduction treatment apparatus can include a reduction furnace configured to reduce zinc and/or iron oxide through heat treatment of zinc-containing iron oxide or zinc oxide or iron oxide, with a reducing material. The reduction treatment apparatus also has an oxide inlet configured to supply to the reduction furnace the zinc-containing iron oxide or zinc oxide or iron oxide. The reduction treatment apparatus further has a reducing material inlet configured to supply to the reduction furnace the reducing material. The reducing material can comprise at least one of ASR, shredder dust of home electric appliances, waste plastics, refuse derived fuel, refuse paper and plastic fuel, sludge, oil mud, chips of wood, thread debris, rubber debris, and animal and plant residues. The reduction furnace can be configured to use the reducing material as a heating material and reduce the zinc-containing iron oxide or zinc oxide or iron oxide without auxiliary fuel.
US08075660B2
Preferred aspects of the present invention provide ammonium nitrate compositions comprising ammonium nitrate and at least one stabilizing agent, and preferably a third compound. In certain preferred embodiments, the stabilizing agent, together with third compound, is present under conditions and in amounts effective to substantially reduce the detonation sensitivity of the composition and/or to otherwise improve a desired property of the composition.
US08075658B2
A filter element has a zigzag-shaped fold pack of folds. At least one terminal element is folded parallel to the folds of the fold pack. The at least one terminal element has a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg. The first leg is arranged substantially perpendicularly to a flow direction of a medium flowing through the filter element. The first, second and third legs are delimited by folds of the at least one terminal element. The first and second legs are positioned substantially at a right angle relative to one another. The third leg projects laterally away from the filter element to form a peripheral seal.
US08075657B2
An inertial gas-liquid impactor separator has a de-icer for preventing ice accumulation at the acceleration nozzles. A heater heats a nozzle plate to minimize plugging of acceleration nozzles otherwise due to icing.
US08075656B2
A separator assembly for removing material that is entrained in a gas stream. The separator assembly comprises a housing having inlet and outlet ports for the gas from which material is to be removed. The inlet and outlet ports are located toward the upper end of the housing. A flow director is positioned so that gas flowing into the housing flows over the flow director so that the incoming gas is made to follow a generally helical path within the housing. The separator assembly also comprises a shield which extends across the housing towards the lower end thereof so as to leave a collection space between it and the lower end in which material that is separated from the gas stream can collect. There is at least one opening in or around the shield through which the material can flow past the shield into the collection space. The face of the shield which is directed towards the upper end of the housing is bowl-shaped.
US08075655B2
An internal combustion engine gas-oil separator is provided by one or more rotative inertial impactor separators in an interior chamber of the engine and mounted to a rotating engine shaft in such interior chamber.
US08075648B2
A method of cleaning a filter element includes directing a jet of pressurized gas from a nozzle onto a filter element, with the jet having a non-round cross-sectional shape that is a same general cross-sectional shape as the opening in a tube sheet holding the filter element. The nozzle has a channel for the pressurized gas that is obstruction-free. A method of designing a nozzle arrangement for directing a jet of pressurized gas onto a filter element includes designing a nozzle arrangement to generate a jet of pressurized gas having a non-round cross-sectional shape that is a same general shape as a non-round shape of an aperture in a tubesheet holding the filter element. The nozzle arrangement includes at least one nozzle, each nozzle has an unobstructed flow channel, and each nozzle is cylindrical in shape and has at least one open slot. A pressurized gas generator includes a compressed air manifold storing pressurized gas, a valve in fluid communication with the manifold, and a nozzle arrangement. The nozzle arrangement includes at least a single nozzle connected to the valve. Each nozzle has either a cylindrical wall or a lobed wall and defines an interior channel. The interior channel is obstruction-free. The wall defines at least one open slot.
US08075645B2
A system for producing hydrogen features a reactor including a reaction channel adapted to receive a reaction stream including a mixture of supercritical water and a hydrocarbon fuel. A catalyst is positioned in the reaction channel so that a product stream containing hydrogen is produced by a reaction in the reaction channel when the mixture is exposed to the catalyst; wherein the catalyst contains a catalytically active metal and a promoter in a metal format, selected from the group consisting of potassium, sodium, rubidium, lithium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium.
US08075641B2
Processes of converting to feedstocks comprising hydrocarbons to compositions comprising light hydrocarbon products are described herein. Also described are processes and methods of producing and refining compositions comprising terpenes from biomass that can be suitable as a fuel product.
US08075640B2
A surface-mountable electrolytic capacitor with improved volumetric efficiency includes an electrolytic capacitor element, anode and cathode terminations, an encapsulation material and external terminations. The capacitor element has first and second opposing end surfaces and an anode wire extending from the first end surface that is electrically connected to a first anode termination portion. A first cathode termination portion is conductively adhered to a surface of the capacitor element, and a second portion is perpendicular to the first portion and parallel to the second end surface of the capacitor element. Encapsulating material surrounds the capacitor element to form a device package that is subsequently diced to improve volumetric efficiency and optionally expose the anode and cathode terminations on opposing end surfaces. First and second external terminations may be formed over the exposed portions of anode and cathode terminations to wrap around to one or more given surfaces of the device package.
US08075633B2
An Active Ankle Foot Orthosis (AAFO) is provided where the impedance of an orthotic joint is modulated throughout the walking cycle to treat ankle foot gait pathology, such as drop foot gait. During controlled plantar flexion, a biomimetic torsional spring control is applied where orthotic joint stiffness is actively adjusted to minimize forefoot collisions with the ground. Throughout late stance, joint impedance is minimized so as not to impede powered plantar flexion movements, and during the swing phase, a torsional spring-damper (PD) control lifts the foot to provide toe clearance. To assess the clinical effects of variable-impedance control, kinetic and kinematic gait data were collected on two drop foot participants wearing the AAFO. It has been found that actively adjusting joint impedance reduces the occurrence of slap foot, allows greater powered plantar flexion, and provides for less kinematic difference during swing when compared to normals.
US08075628B2
Modular bone implants, means of assembly, and their method of use are presented.
US08075618B2
Systems and methods for repairing annulus defects include at least one blocking member positionable in or adjacent to the annulus defect, at least one attachment portion for securing the blocking member to adjacent tissue, and instruments for placing and engaging the blocking member in and/or adjacent to the annulus defect. The blocking member extends at least partially across the annulus defect for repair of the defect and/or retention of nucleus material, one or more implants, bio-compatible materials or device, and/or other objects positioned in the disc space.
US08075616B2
A device for reshaping a cardiac valve (26), which is elongate and has such dimensions as to be insertable into a cardiac vessel (24). The device has two states, in a first state (K) of which the device has a shape that is adaptable to the shape of the vessel (24), and to the second state (k′) of which the device is transferable from said first state (K). Further, the device comprises a fixing means (22,23;22a,23a) for fixing the ends of the device within the vessel (24), when the device is first positioned therein, a shape-changing member (20;20a) for transferring the device to the second state (K′) by reshaping it, and a delay means (21;21a) for delaying said reshaping until the fixing of the ends of the device has been reinforced by keeping said device in said first state (K) until the delay means (21;21a) is resorbed.
US08075615B2
A prosthetic stented heart valve which includes a compressible and expandable stent structure having first and second opposite ends, an expanded outer periphery, and a compressed outer periphery that is at least slightly smaller than the expanded outer periphery when subjected to an external radial force. The valve further includes a valve segment comprising a dual-layer sheet formed into a generally tubular shape having at least one longitudinally extending seam, and a plurality of leaflets formed by attachment of an outer layer of the dual-layer sheet to an inner layer of the dual-layer sheet in a leaflet defining pattern. The valve segment is at least partially positioned within the stent structure. The valve may further include at least one opening in the outer layer of the dual-layer sheet that is spaced from both the first and second ends of the stent structure.
US08075611B2
A surgical sutureless valve that is attached to a stent frame for delivery to a location in a patient using percutaneous implantation devices and methods.
US08075610B2
Endoprosthesis is provided, which includes a plurality of annular elements, each annular element connected to an adjacent annular element at least one connection location. Each annular element includes an interconnected series of strut members, at least one strut member connected to a first circumferentially adjacent strut member at a first longitudinal apex and to a second circumferentially adjacent strut member at a second longitudinal apex, the first apex and the second apex being on longitudinally opposite sides of the annular element. The at least one strut member includes a first end portion at a first end of the strut member, the first end extending to the first apex, an intermediate portion hingedly connected to the first end portion, and a second end portion hingedly connected to the intermediate portion and extending to the second apex.
US08075609B2
An expandable stent comprising a proximal end and a distal end in communication with one another, a tubular wall disposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the tubular wall having a longitudinal axis and a porous surface defined by a plurality of interconnected struts, the interconnected struts comprising a gradient of strut thickness from a first end to a second end of the tubular wall, the stent being expandable from a first, contracted position to a second, expanded position upon the application of a radially outward force on the stent. The stent is ideally suited for applications in which a tortuous pathway must be followed to the stenosis or blockage and in which high radial rigidity of the expanded stent is required e.g., the treatment of ostial stenosis.
US08075605B2
Methods for treating a migraine by cooling a patient's nasopharyngeal cavity are described. In one method, a cooling assembly is inserted into a nasal cavity through a patient's nostril. The cooling assembly includes a flexible balloon defining a chamber and a first elongate tubular member having a lumen in fluid communication with the chamber. A liquid having a temperature between about −20° C. and about 37° C. is infused through the lumen of the first elongate tubular member into the chamber, wherein the flexible balloon expands to place it in contact with the nasal cavity. In another method, an elongate member having a plurality of ports is inserted into the nasal cavity. A perfluorocarbon spray and a gas are then delivered onto a surface of the nasal cavity through the plurality of ports.
US08075603B2
The fastening system consists of the polyaxial ball and socket joint used in conjunction with a bone screw having threads on one end for use in anchoring to the spine and a spherical connector on the other end operating as a pivot point about which a connecting assembly moves in a polyaxial fashion. A substantially U-shaped connecting assembly has a lower receptacle that operates as a socket for housing an upper retainer ring and a lower split retaining ring. The socket is receptive to the spherical connector which is inserted through the lower split retainer ring causing a momentary displacement thereof which allows for the positioning of the spherical connector between the upper and lower retainer rings. A resilient component positioned between the upper retainer ring and the connecting assembly permits relative predetermined placement and retention of the spherical connector relative to the connector assembly due to the force generated by the resilient component and frictional engagement between the surfaces of spherical connector, the upper and lower retainer rings and the connector assembly. The polyaxial ball and socket can be locked into a fixed position.
US08075602B2
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a bone plate assembly that includes a bone plate, bone screw(s) received in aperture(s) in the bone plate, and screw fixation member(s). The screw fixation member(s) may, alone or in conjunction with the bone plate, fix the bone screw(s) in place when such bone screw(s) are inserted in the aperture(s) in the bone plate. In one example (which example is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive) when the bone screw(s) have been received by the bone plate and inserted into bone and/or tissue, the bone plate assembly can be used to fuse anatomical structures together (such as adjoining bones) and/or to heal a fracture in bone.
US08075591B2
Methods and devices for implanting spinal fixation implants and devices are provided. In one embodiment, a method for implanting a spinal fixation system is provided and it includes the steps of positioning a spinal fixation element to extend along a patient's spinal column adjacent to one or more vertebrae, determining an implant site on at least one vertebra, implanting at least one spinal anchor at the implant site on at least one vertebra, and coupling the spinal fixation element to each implant.
US08075585B2
A device for the occlusion of a vascular defect includes a first sheet and a second sheet which may be formed from a material which is the same as or different from the first sheet. At least one sheet functions as a securement member, and at least one sheet functions as an occluding member. The first sheet may be replaced by an alternative securement structure. At least one sheet may be coated with a biocompatible material for promoting integration with the vasculature and/or healing of the vascular defect.
US08075577B2
Various obesity treatment tools and methods are described herein, as well as treatments for other gastric-related diseases, e.g., GERD. Treatment includes reducing the size of the stomach pouch to limit the caloric intake as well as to provide an earlier feeling of satiety. This may be done by creating a smaller gastric pouch within the stomach directly from the interior of the stomach itself. The smaller pouches may be made through the use of individual anchoring devices, rotating probes, or volume reduction devices. A pyloroplasty procedure may also be performed to render the pyloric sphincter incompetent. A gastric bypass procedure may additionally be performed using atraumatic magnetic anastomoses devices so that sugars and fats are passed directly to the bowel while bypassing the stomach. Many of these procedures may be done in a variety of combinations. Treatment may create enforced behavioral modifications by discouraging the ingestion of high-caloric foods.
US08075574B2
A surgical knot pusher device allows a prepared knot to be pushed down a length of suture without deforming or collapsing the knot. The surgical knot pusher device includes a handle portion and an elongate body extending from the handle portion. The elongate body has a curved tip that is tapered and has a groove along a length of the tip. The tip also includes a central channel extending from the groove to a distal end of the tip.
US08075573B2
Provided is an endoscopic suturing system for joining internal body tissues in a variety of procedures. The system comprises a suturing capsule releasably mountable to the distal end of an endoscope and capable of forming multiple stitches in tissue at a plurality of locations without requiring withdrawal of the capsule from the patient between stitches. Also enclosed is a suture lock to secure the placed stitch that is delivered by a device introduced through the working channel of the indwelling endoscope. Suitable control handles for the suturing capsule and for the suture lock delivery device positioned at the proximal end of the endoscope are provided to facilitate operation by the user.
US08075568B2
An improved system for mammography analysis and methods of using the same. In one aspect, the present invention provides a biopsy instrument having a side opening that generally coexists or is aligned with a central portion of a cyst, tissue or otherwise for deploying a marking device to the central region of the same. In another aspect, the present invention provides an encasement, adapted to receive a marking clip, for deployment into a tissue region for marking and/or treatment of the same.
US08075565B2
Spinal surgical systems, instruments and methods include a surgical instrument with a first member mountable to a first vertebra and a second member mountable to a second vertebra. The first and second members are coupled to one another with a coupling mechanism that allows translation of the first and second members relative to another along a predetermined path. The coupling mechanism also provides a pivot axis about which the first and second members are manipulated relative to one another to deliver forces to the first and second vertebrae.
US08075563B2
Disclosed is a guided orthopedic bone reamer (10a) for cutting a profile relief shape (21a) into a joint bone (20). The reamer (10a) has a cutting head (30a) and an axial guide assembly (70). The cutting head (30a) has a profile cutting form (24a) with a rim (34) and an apex (38a). The apex (38a) connects to the cutting form (24a) by a set of struts (94). An axial guide assembly (70) has one end (44a) fixed to the apex (38a) and at the other end has a bayonet mechanism (76) connectable to a drive handle. Rim cutting teeth (36a) are set into the rim (34) to cut a cylindrical profile (21a), and bevel cutting teeth (96) integral to the struts (94) cut a bevel (25) onto the cylindrical form (21a) cut into the bone (20). A guide pin bore (12a) passes through the apex (38a) and the guide assembly (70) concentric with the axis of rotation (18) to receive a guide pin (14) to guide the reamer (10a) in cutting alignment relative to the joint bone (20) to be cut.
US08075560B2
An external fixator for a fractured distal radius including a first plurality of vertical passages for pins extending downward from a first pin mounting block into one or more bone fragments and one or more frame element apertures extending from an elongated frame element for pins extending downward from the device into the shaft of the radius. In addition, the elongated frame element includes a sliding pin slot with a sliding structure allowing a single pin to be moved to provide extension between the fragments and the shaft. A sliding internal plate including holes aligned with the first plurality of vertical passages is moved by a pair of setscrews to clamp the pins extending through the first plurality of vertical passages. The device also includes a second pin mounting block that extends downward parallel to the pins extending from first pin mounting block to hold pins directed laterally into the fragment(s).
US08075558B2
An electrosurgical working end and method for sealing and transecting tissue. An exemplary working end provides curved jaw members that are positioned on opposing sides of the targeted anatomic structure. The working end carries a slidable extension member having flange portions with inner surfaces that slide over the jaw members to clamp tissue therebetween. The working end carries an independent slidable cutting member that is flexible to follow the curved axis of the jaws. The electrosurgical surfaces of the jaws include partially-resistive bodies for carrying a current or load which modulates ohmic heating in the engaged tissue to prevent charring and desiccation of tissue to create a high strength thermal seal.
US08075556B2
A catheter apparatus includes a hollow needle having an open, sharpened tip at its distal end. A cannula is telescopically disposed within the needle. The cannula has a closed, blunt tip at its distal end, a hollow lumen, and an open proximal end. The cannula is made of a flexible metal material and has an insulating material covering except at its distal portion defining the distal end. A metallic wire capable of transmitting radio frequency (RF) energy is telescopically disposed within the cannula. The cannula lumen has a seating surface for accommodating the distal end of the wire. The cannula distal end is capable of extending beyond the needle so that the blunt tip may be seated in a critical treatment region in a patient's spinal canal without damaging any nerves. A method of treating a patient's pain includes a step of inserting the catheter apparatus into a critical treatment region in the spinal canal of the patient. Once the needle is located near the treatment region, the cannula is advanced until the blunt tip extends beyond the needle's distal end. RF energy is then transmitted through the wire, the cannula's blunt tip, and to the treatment region.
US08075553B2
An ophthalmic surgery illuminated directional laser probe has a handle and a rigid tubular tip projecting from the handle, and has an illumination optic fiber and a laser optic fiber that extend through the handle and the tip. A mechanism on the handle is operable to extend distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber from the distal end of the instrument tip, and to retract the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber back into the interior of the tip. At least one of the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber is held in a curved configuration. The distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber are secured to each other, whereby both the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber curve into a bent configuration as the distal ends of the illumination optic fiber and the laser optic fiber are extended from the distal end of the instrument tip.
US08075551B2
The present invention relates to a surgical coupling device for detachably connecting a handpiece end to a portion of a surgical instrument, the handpiece end being provided with a recess into which a coupling portion of the instrument can be detachably slid, an interior wall of the recess having formed thereon a locking recess with which a snap type element can be brought into detachable engagement that is supported on the instrument, characterized in that the snap type element is formed on a double-sided rocker which extends substantially in axial direction and has one end on which the snap type element is arranged and has its other end in engagement with a pivot element.
US08075546B2
Methods and apparatus for air content and pressure measurement of sample fluid, especially sample fluid in association with an infusion pump. Volume change in a chamber as the chamber transitions between negative and positive pressure relates to the air content in the chamber. In particular, in an infusion pump, the volume change of infusion fluid as it transitions between being under negative pressure and positive pressure within a cassette central chamber, e.g., pumping chamber, relates to the air content in the infusion fluid. The outlet pressure of the cassette central chamber, e.g., blood pressure, can be monitored based on the cassette central chamber pressure.
US08075535B2
A prefilled ready-to-use syringe, including a tubular body having, at its distal end, a tip to take a needle and, at its proximal end, a flange, a piston able to slide inside the tubular body and defining, with the tubular body, an internal working volume at least partially filled with a liquid, a rod for actuating the piston extending beyond the proximal end of the tubular body, characterized in that a rigid cover is attached and fixed in a definitive way to the flange and has a central opening for the free translational passage of the actuating rod, and the said cover forms a stop for the actuating rod in the proximal direction, and a plug is arranged to translate freely in the tubular body between the piston and the proximal end of the body, the plug being resistant to puncturing with a needle.
US08075534B2
A drive and dosing module for an injection device, and an injection device including the module, wherein the module includes a dosing member which can be displaced into one of several dosing positions in relation to a drive member to set a product dose, wherein one of the dosing or drive members forms several dosing stops at axially different heights and rotational stops that are associated with the dosing stops and the other member forms at least one selection element, and wherein the drive member can be moved in relation to the dosing member until it reaches a trigger position in which the at least one selection element attains one of the dosing stops and, in said trigger position, the selection element and the rotational stops combine to lock the rotation of the dosing member in both directions.
US08075532B2
Devices, systems, and methods for accessing tissue, including the internal and external tissues of the heart, are disclosed. At least some of the embodiments disclosed herein provide access to the external surface of the heart through the pericardial space for localized delivery of leads to the heart tissue. At least some of the embodiments disclosed herein provide access to the pericardial space for removal of accumulated fluid. In addition, various disclosed embodiments provide devices, systems, and methods for engaging a tissue, for removing fluid from a space within a body, and for the delivery of substances to a targeted site for therapeutic purposes.
US08075521B2
A tracheo-oesophageal fistula catheter (1) comprises an elongate conduit (2) having a proximal and a distal end, the conduit (2) comprising a plurality of lumens commencing adjacent to the proximal end; means (8, 9) for substantially sealing a tracheo-oesophageal fistula, the means being attached to the conduit (2) adjacent to the proximal end and comprising two elements (8, 9) to be placed on either side of the fistula; and at least one expandable balloon (7) attached to the conduit (2) adjacent to the distal end, and in fluid connection with at least one of said lumens; wherein at least one lumen is a gastric lumen, the gastric lumen extending along the full length of the conduit and having an outlet (6) at the distal end of the conduit (2), and wherein at least one element of the means for sealing the fistula comprises an expandable balloon in fluid connection with at least one of said lumens.
US08075519B2
A catheter for delivering an agent to an injection site in a wall of a patient's body lumen, with an elongated shaft having a needle-through lumen slidably containing a needle therein, and an expandable member on the distal shaft section which has a collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. In the radially expanded configuration, the expandable member supports the shaft in a position spaced away from the body lumen wall, and the needle slidably exits the needle-through lumen in the extended configuration through the port spaced away from the body lumen wall as a portion of the expandable member maintains the position of the port section of the shaft in the body lumen. The expandable member typically has an open-walled, helical, or lobed configuration providing a perfusion path along the expandable member.
US08075515B2
A disposable injector with a housing that has at least one compression hook, which has at least one support surface respectively in the region of its free end. A piston-actuating plunger rests on the support surface. The locking position of the compression hook is secured by an actuating element positioned in a locked position. The actuating element has a locked position, in which it rests securely on a sealing cap. The actuating element has a triggering position, which effects lateral retreat of the compression hook when the piston-actuating plunger is released.
US08075511B2
Systems and methods for treating ocular disorders are disclosed. One system has an implant and a delivery device. The implant has inlet and outlet portions, a lumen extending therebetween and communicating with inlet and outlet ports. The implant is sized so that in use aqueous humor flows from an anterior chamber of an eye through the implant and into a uveal scleral outflow path of the eye. The delivery device is configured to advance the implant from within the anterior chamber, with the outlet portion leading the inlet portion, to a location where the outlet and inlet ports respectively communicate with the uveal scleral outflow path and the anterior chamber. One method involves advancing an implant from within the anterior chamber, and draining fluid from therein such that fluid flows into an implant inlet port and out through an implant outlet port and into the uveal scleral outflow path.
US08075504B2
Ultrasound medical systems and related methods are described.
US08075503B2
A wound treatment system includes a distribution manifold, a reduced pressure source, a fluid delivery source, and an ultrasonic energy transducer. Reduced pressure and fluid delivery may be applied to the wound through the distribution manifold. The ultrasonic energy transducer is configured to deliver ultrasonic energy to the wound to debride the wound. The ultrasonic energy transducer may be either a piezoelectric transducer or a surface acoustic wave device. The ultrasonic energy transducer may be placed adjacent to the distribution manifold to deliver ultrasonic energy directly to the wound or may be coupled to an acoustically-conducting membrane positioned between the distribution manifold and the wound.
US08075501B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for design of a foot orthotic, and a foot orthotic device designed in accord therewith. More specifically described is an individualized foot orthotic device to correct and/or restore the ideal alignment and/or positioning of foot structures. In the method, sequential pressure is applied to regions on a plantar foot surface, and positional information is obtained about each region. Based on the positional information, an orthotic profile is determined, for design of one or more custom, individualized foot orthotic devices for a subject.
US08075493B2
A winding unit for an air tube provided to a blood pressure monitor includes a reel body rotatably supported by a case body, and a helical spring that biases the reel body in the direction in which the air tube is wound. The air tube includes a wound portion wound by the reel body, a fixed portion immovably fixed to the case body, and a freely movable portion that freely moves as the reel body rotates. The reel body has a housing containing the freely movable portion. A second free-movement end is disposed at an eccentric position relative to a rotational center of the reel body. The winding unit is thus configured to prevent bending of the air tube in the winding unit and to be downsized.
US08075489B2
Pressure distribution on a surface of an ultrasonic probe can be measured directly. Piezoelectric sensors, in which a piezoelectric thin film is formed on a film-like substrate, are arranged in the form of an array on the surface of an ultrasonic probe, and a sensor output signal processing unit outputs pressure measured for each piezoelectric sensor S1, S2 to S9 based on output signals from each of the piezoelectric sensors to an image processing unit. The image processing unit generates a histogram of the measured pressures for piezoelectric sensors S1, S2 to S9, and displays the histogram, while plotting the piezoelectric sensors on the X axis and the measured pressures on the Y axis, along with the resulting ultrasound tomographic image, on a monitor.
US08075483B2
A device (1) for use in measuring and/or analyzing at least one parameter of an external portion of a body comprises at least one surface (3) configured to be placed in the vicinity of said external portion. The device is either a) configured to be able to be modeled over said external portion and made of a material comprising inorganic material, or b) configured to not be able to be modeled over said external portion and made essentially of at least, one inorganic material. When the device (1) is configured to not be able to be modeled, and when material defining the surface (3) is not in at least one of a fibrous form and a particulate form, the surface comprises an inorganic material other than glass.
US08075481B2
An internal retraction system for use in minimally-invasive surgical procedures includes, among other features, an elongated applicator that has proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the applicator includes a grasper and the proximal end includes a mechanism or actuator for moving the grasper from an open position to a closed position. A plurality of anchor clips are slidably mounted on the elongated applicator and are initially in a stored position. Each clip includes spring biased upper and lower jaws for grasping tissue. The internal retraction system also includes a structure associated with the applicator for deploying the anchor clips from the stored position to a deployed position at a desired location. Moreover, the internal retraction system includes a mechanism associated with the applicator for removing the anchor clips from the deployed position and returning the clips to the stored position.
US08075476B2
A cannula coupled to a displacement limiting coupling. The cannula includes at least one rigidizable segment and means for rigidizing the rigidizable segment. The displacement limiting coupling couples to an insertable device and aligns the axes of the insertable device and the cannula and establishes limits on the relative axial displacement between the cannula and the insertable device. The insertable device may have a steerable tip that maintains an overlap with the rigidizable segment due to the axial displacement limits.
US08075463B2
An exercise device for achieving desired abdominal contractions during exercise movement includes a back support and a pair of leg blades removably attached to the back support. The device includes an adjustable back blade attached to the back support and extending upward from the lower end along a centerline of the back support, and a neck support assembly attached to the back blade.
US08075451B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring and encouraging health and fitness. In accordance with a first aspect, an apparatus is provided that is adapted to assist in weight loss and exercise. The apparatus comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) having computer program code adapted to assist in at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. The PDA also includes computer program code adapted to display historical data regarding at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. Numerous other embodiments are provided, as are methods, systems and computer program products.
US08075449B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for lower-limb rehabilitation training of a patient with lower limb paralysis. The invention measures the usage of the paralyzed lower limb, and based upon the measurement, forces patients with lower limb paralysis to use partially paralyzed muscles which they are not likely to use. The apparatus can measure the weight load and the angle of the joint, and by using the measure values as variables, display the condition of paralysis to the patient so that he/she can recognize his/her present condition of paralysis, and enable the user to training through feedback. The joint includes all of knee joint, ankle joint and hip joint of the lower limb, and the movement of important muscles of the lower limb can be detected. With the apparatus attached, the patient can perform a balance training of alternatively raising the paralyzed lower limb and the normal limb, a standing training of bending and straightening both knees of the lower limbs and a walking training of using the both lower limbs.
US08075444B2
A friction drive device has first and second rollers, in which the ratio of the transmission power and the pressing power is nearly constant regardless of the magnitude of the transmission power. The rollers have center axes that are spaced apart by prescribed radial distance, and arranged relative to an x y coordinate system when the rollers are not under load such that the x y coordinate system has an origin corresponding to the center axis of the first roller, and the y-axis passes through the center axis of the second roller. The cam surface is located in a first quadrant of the x y coordinate system, and has a concave arc with a single radius, such that the concave arc has a cam surface center located in a third quadrant of the x y coordinate system near or on an imaginary arc defined by the prescribed radial distance.
US08075425B2
A basketball dribble device is provided that has two legs, with each leg; and a rigid cross-member extending between the tops of the legs. A method of teaching a player to cross-dribble uses the basketball dribble device.
US08075421B2
A golf club head comprises a face portion of which front face defines a club face, wherein at least a part of the face portion is formed by a unidirectionally rolled plate of a titanium alloy having alpha phase such as alpha titanium alloys and alpha+beta titanium alloys, and the unidirectional rolled direction of the plate is oriented in the toe-heel direction of the head. At least 50% in area of the face portion is formed by the unidirectionally rolled plate. The angle (theta) between the rolled direction and the toe-heel direction is not more than 15 degrees.
US08075419B2
A golf club head having a striking wall having a front surface, and a rear surface, a top surface, and a sole portion extending rearwardly from the rear surface, the sole portion having a forward end, a rearward end, an upper surface and a lower surface. The intersection of the upper surface and the rear surface defines an interior sole line. The intersection of the upper surface and the rearward end defines a trailing edge. A region on the upper surface includes variation of the height of the trailing edge or exterior sole line relative to the height of the interior sole.
US08075416B2
A golf club head with a body and a pivotable alignment aide non-removably housed on a top surface of the body is provided. The pivotable alignment aide is pivotable relative to the top surface and about an axis of rotation transverse to the top surface. The pivotable alignment aide may be coupled to the remainder of the golf club head through a resistive connection and may be shifted to assist a golfer in squaring the face of the golf club face to a perceived eye line and resulting in the golfer being able to better square the golf club head with the eye line at a point of contact. The golf club head may be a golf club head for a putter.
US08075403B2
A system and method for selectively updating remote devices is described herein. A method incorporating at least some of the present teachings may include, for example, receiving a communication from a client application executing on a remote device. The communication may indicate a condition of a game character being played in a massively multi-party online game. The method may also include developing a filtered manifest that includes a list of files needed by the client application and associated with the condition. A portion of the collection may be identified for communication to the client application, and communication of the portion may be initiated.
US08075397B2
Methods and apparatus for servicing wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, wagering game network, service information originating from a wagering game machine, wherein the wagering game machine is configured to receive a wager associated with a wagering game. The method can also include, based on the service information and a service plan associated with the wagering game machine, determining a service action. The method can also include performing the service action.
US08075385B2
A gaming machine and method are disclosed. A selected symbol is displayed in a non-revealed manner, for example on a display, a player having nominated at least one characteristic of the symbol. If the selected symbol is revealed to have the nominated characteristic a prize is awarded to the player, and if the symbol is revealed to be a special symbol a game controller awards the player a feature outcome that comprises a plurality of bonus plays of a feature game that includes at least one special symbol. Progression to the next bonus play in the plurality of bonus plays is dependent on selection of the special symbol.
US08075379B2
In a game device that can be played by a plurality of players at the same time, playing of a game by more than the plurality of players assumed to be playing the game device is prevented. A setting for a number of a plurality of players to participate in the game is received and the game takes place using the set number of the plurality of players. The players constituting the plurality of players participating in the game is then detected during the game. The detected number of the players and the set number of the players are then compared, and the difficulty level of the game is changed when the detected number of players exceeds the set number of players. For example, continuation of the game is made difficult by increasing the difficulty level, and the time for which a cheating can take place is shortened. Further, the game can be made less interesting by lowering the difficulty level, and the time for which a cheating can take place can be made shorter.
US08075378B2
In a horse race gaming machine 1, a performance point is calculated on each of the player's racehorses, based on the results of respective racing games (S501). The number of wins, the number of races, a winning percentage, best time, etc. by the racehorses are taken into consideration when calculating the performance point. If the performance point satisfies a predetermined condition (S502: YES), an expense that was paid about that the player is an owner of a racehorse is refunded to the player (S503). The expense includes, for example, a credit amount which is required of the player to purchase a racehorse, or includes a credit amount or the points which is required of the player to make a race entry in a racing game for the player's racehorse.
US08075372B2
The invention provides a polishing pad for chemical-mechanical polishing comprising a polymeric material comprising two or more adjacent regions, wherein the regions have the same polymer formulation and the transition between the regions does not include a structurally distinct boundary. In a first embodiment, a first region and a second adjacent region have a first and second non-zero void volume, respectively, wherein the first void volume is less than the second void volume. In a second embodiment, a first non-porous region is adjacent to a second adjacent porous region, wherein the second region has an average pore size of about 50 μm or less. In a third embodiment, at least two of an optically transmissive region, a first porous region, and an optional second porous region, are adjacent. The invention further provides methods of polishing a substrate comprising the use of the polishing pads and a method of producing the polishing pads.
US08075368B2
A brassiere includes two cups for the breasts, a contact strip positioned under the cups that encircles an area below the bust, two shoulder straps connected to, and extending upwardly from, the cups, and connected to a rear panel, a middle panel positioned between the two cups, and side panels extending from the cups to the rear panel. Inner layers of the cups having a vertical elasticity of at least 60% with respect to a total vertical height of the cups, and at least 15% of the total area of the inner layers configured to contact the skin. The middle panel has a horizontal elasticity of at least 20%. The adherence capacity of the inner layers of the cups can be increased by a silicone material that has a high friction coefficient.
US08075365B2
The invention is an improved yo-yo that has two side units and a string-formed response system incorporated into each side unit. In its most basic form, the response system employs a string that is threaded through spaced-apart apertures in a side unit to form at least one tether engagement pad. The pad may be contacted by the yo-yo's tether in order to cause a return of the yo-yo to a user's hand.
US08075361B2
A constitution that conductive members respectively having micropatterns are arranged in high density is manufactured in high accuracy. A conductive film is formed on a substrate, a negative photosensitive resin is applied, the applied resin is exposed by using a first mask having plural fine-width apertures extending in Y direction, and the resin is then exposed and developed by using a second mask having plural apertures extending in X direction perpendicular to Y direction, thereby forming a first resist. After the conductive film is etched by using the first resist as a mask, a negative photosensitive resin is again applied, and exposure and development are performed as shifting the second mask in Y direction, thereby forming a second resist. The conductive film is etched by using the second resist as a mask to eliminate unnecessary areas, thereby forming the conductive film having minute-lines extending in Y direction.
US08075354B2
A marine vessel is constructed with a submerged front rotor/turbine that shields the vessel hull from water motion induced resistance force to a degree without significantly increasing the vessels water resistance while abstracting hydrodynamic energy from the vessel motion displaced water that would otherwise be dissipated/lost and couples or connects the resulting rotorary energy through mechanical or electrical means to assist in driving the vessel.
US08075352B2
Disclosed is a connection terminal for a storage battery for coupling the storage battery of a car with a connection wire. The connection terminal includes: a fixing plate having a hole of a predetermined size formed at the center thereof; a fixing member vertically mounted in the hole of the fixing plate; an insertion part mounted at a side of the fixing plate and formed in a round shape opened at a side thereof for inserting a post terminal of the storage battery; a cover for covering the insertion part; and a tightening member for coupling the insertion part with a post terminal of the storage battery by changing a diameter of the insertion part. The tightening member may be formed by tapered walls of the cover, which is connected to the fixing member by a hook or a hinge.
US08075350B2
A plug connector and a method of coding of same is characterized by first and second coding elements that are pre-mountable as a unit on at least one of a pair of plug connector components. The other plug connector component is configured so that when the connector components are initially connected together in an axial direction, one of the coding elements is connected with one of the components and the other coding element is connected with the other component. When the components are separated axially, the respective coding elements are separated so that each are retained on the component with which it was originally connected.
US08075342B1
Disclosed is an amplifying connector. The amplifying connector comprises (a) a connector body; (b) an op amp forming an amplifier mounted to the connector body; (c) a power supply circuit mounted to the connector body and coupled to the amplifier; (d) a connector output on the connector body coupled to an amplifier output of the amplifier; and (e) a connector input on the connector body coupled to an amplifier input of the amplifier. An input electrical signal on the connector input is buffered by the amplifier to generate an output electrical signal on the connector output to reduce effects caused by an impedance of the cable. The amplifier may be powered by a power supply circuit powers that draws a portion of the current or voltage from the input signal of a source electronic device, or by an on-board dedicated low power battery power supply.
US08075330B1
A mounting apparatus for mounting a memory card includes a socket, a locking member attached to one end of the socket, and an operation member movably attached to the locking member. The operation member is used for operating the locking member to lock or release the memory card.
US08075328B2
A connector 100 for use in accepting a base-plate, the connector 100 comprising; a housing 110; an actuator unit 120 which is rotatably attached to the housing 110; and a contact 130 which has a first clipping portion 131a and a second clipping portion 132a, wherein the actuator unit 120 has; a rotary axis 123 which is located in a direction transverse to an inserting direction X of the base-plate T1; an action point portion 122 which is rotatable around the rotary axis 123; and an operating point portion 124 which is rotatable around the rotary axis 123, wherein at least one of the first clipping portion 131a and the second clipping portion 132a functions as the contact point between the contact 130 and the base-plate T1, wherein the operating point portion 124 is located on a back side X2 of the clipping portions 131a, 132a in the inserting direction X of the base-plate T1.
US08075325B1
An electrical connector assembly that detaches and mates in wet or contaminated environments is disclosed. The electrical connector assembly is configured for displacing and draining water and other contaminants from contact pins and surrounding surfaces during the connection process. As the electrical connector assembly is mated, water and other containments are removed from the contact pins and the surfaces surrounding the contact pins. This prevents contact pins from electrically shorting with other contact pins as a result of undesired current flow through the water collected on the surface.
US08075317B2
An improved surgical assistance system provides a chronological listing of instructions, including surgeon-specific preferences, for use by a surgical scrub during a surgical procedure.
US08075314B2
A method of teaching thinking skills and knowledge acquisition using an educational toy is disclosed. In a first step, a user chooses at least one idea variable. In a second step, the user chooses a process from a group having a distinctions process, a systems process, a relationships process, and a perspectives process. In a third step, the process is carried out on the idea variable. In a fourth step, the user determines whether any additional processes need to be carried out and if yes, the user returns to selecting a process.
US08075310B2
An intraoral device includes a one-piece, flexible, injection molded body made of a single homogeneous material. The body includes upper front and rear flaps, and lower front and rear flaps. Upper edges of the front flaps and lower edges of the lower flaps are sealed by respective upper and lower parts of a patient's mouth to form upper and lower evacuation channels when the body is disposed within the patient's mouth. Evacuation holes in the flaps are in communication with the evacuation channels. A connection section is in communication with the evacuation channels and is configured to extend outside of the patient's mouth to connect with a vacuum source for evacuating fluid from the patient's mouth through the evacuation holes and the evacuation channels.
US08075309B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for intra-oral delivery of drugs. One method embodiment includes providing a dental device with one or more reservoirs, supplying at least one of the reservoirs with the one or more substances, and fluidly releasing the one or more substances from at least one reservoir into an oral structure at different preselected doses at different predetermined time periods and in a predetermined sequence.
US08075300B2
A system and method is provided for vapor smoothing a rapid manufactured three-dimensional object. A cabinet housing has a sealable interior. A heated vapor chamber in the interior of the cabinet housing contains solvent that is vaporizable to fill the vapor chamber with vapor for smoothing the object when the object is placed in the vapor chamber. A drying chamber is also provided in the interior of the cabinet housing that is separate from the vapor chamber for drying the object when the object is moved from the vapor chamber to the drying chamber.
US08075296B2
Provided is an injection molding machine using a built-in type motor as a measuring electric servomotor. In order to reduce the entire length of the machine (the injection molding machine), the metering electric motor is exemplified by a hollow built-in type motor, which includes a cylindrical stator, and a cylindrical rotor positioned in the stator. A sleeve is fixed in the rotor of the built-in type motor, and a member fixing the rear end portion of a screw and the sleeve are connected/fixed. Moreover, a nut member as a straight portion of a ball screw mechanism for converting the rotation of an injecting electric motor into linear motions and the sleeve are connected/fixed.
US08075285B2
An electrohydraulic aggregate for converting electric energy into mechanical energy, comprising an electric motor with a stator and with a rotor, comprising magnets or electric windings that produce electromagnetic fields, at least one connecting component for connecting the windings to at least one energy supply, with the connecting component extending through at least one through-hole, the through-hole is provided in an accommodating member accommodating electrohydraulic valves as well as at least one piston pump for the energy supply of a slip-controlled brake system, the piston pump being connected to the electric motor by a gear, and a rotor mounting support comprising at least two spaced rotor bearings, of which at least one so-called A-bearing supports a shaft in the accommodating member, and a so-called B-bearing that is supported in a pot-shaped motor housing.
US08075274B2
A fan blade for a turbine engine includes an exterior surface defining an airfoil that is provided by leading and trailing edges, opposing generally chord-wise surfaces interconnecting the leading and trailing edges, and a tip. The airfoil extends from a root. A fan rotor includes a slot that receives the root. A spar is constructed from a first material and includes opposing sides. The spar provides at least a portion of the exterior surface. A sheath is constructed from a second material different than the first material. The sheath is arranged on both of the opposing sides to provide at least a portion of the exterior surface at the opposing surfaces.
US08075272B2
A steam turbine rotating blade for a low pressure section of a steam turbine engine is disclosed. The steam turbine rotating blade includes an airfoil portion. A root section is attached to one end of the airfoil portion. A dovetail section projects from the root section, wherein the dovetail section includes a skewed axial entry dovetail. A tip section is attached to the airfoil portion at an end opposite from the root section. A cover is integrally formed as part of the tip section. A part span shroud is attached at an intermediate section of the airfoil portion between the ends thereof. The blade includes an exit annulus area of about 47.7 ft2 (4.43 m2) or greater.
US08075270B2
A system for providing variable pitch to a rotor blade of an aircraft engine includes a rotatable hub; at least one blade mounted on the rotatable hub; a gear mechanism operably connected to the rotatable hub; a timing ring rotatably and operably connected to the gear mechanism; and a pitch arm operably connecting the timing ring and the at least one blade mounted on the rotatable hub. In the operation of the system, the gear mechanism facilitates the rotation of the timing ring to vary the pitch of the at least one blade mounted on the rotatable hub.
US08075269B2
The present invention relates to a helicopter provided with a main rotor (1) having at least two blades (10, 20), each blade (10, 20) being provided with attachment means (11, 21) attaching it to a hub (2) of the rotor (1). The helicopter is provided with one lift element (12, 22) per blade (10, 20), said lift element being provided with a tiltable tab (19, 29), each lift element (12, 22) being mechanically connected to a single blade (10, 20) to vary the pitch of said single blade (10, 20).
US08075264B2
A straightener blade for a turbomachine, comprising a platform arranged at a radially external end of the blade and adapted to be engaged in a annular groove of a housing, and a threaded rod radially extending outwardly from the platform and adapted to pass through an orifice of the housing in order to receive a fixing nut, the upstream and downstream edges of the platform each comprising a protrusion extending in the plan of the platform in order to limit the rotation of the platform in the groove when the nut screwed on the threaded rod is tightened.
US08075251B2
A hydraulic seal is defined between a rotating member such as a turbocharger shaft and a stationary member such as part of a bearing housing of a turbocharger. The members define a projecting annular disc that is received in an annular channel that is filled with hydraulic sealing fluid such as oil. Rotation of the rotary member applies a centrifugal force to the fluid thereby ensuring that it is retained in the channel between walls thereof and the disc. This annulus of fluid provides a hydraulic seal around the shaft between the bearing housing and the compressor or turbine housing. The oil is delivered into the channel from a supply in the rotary member. One of the walls of the channel serves as a weir whereby when the channel has an excess supply of oil is overflows the wall and passes the drain. The arrangement provides an effective seal against blow-by across the turbine end seal and restricts gas flow from the relatively high pressure regions of the compressor and turbine housings into the relatively low pressure area of the bearing housing. It also ensures that there is a continuous flow of oil across the seal so as to prevent it degrading in the high temperature environment.
US08075247B2
An internal heating arrangement for a centrifugal impeller for a gas turbine engine is provided having at least one heating passage extending through into the rotor for directing air bled from the rotor exit along the backface and forwardly through the impeller.
US08075241B2
A method of operating a working machine of the kind including a body, a ground engaging structure, the body carrying a superstructure which is rotatable relative to the body about a first generally upright axis, the superstructure providing a mounting for a working arm which permits the working arm to be pivoted up and down about a generally horizontal axis and to be rotated about a second generally upright axis, the working arm including a mounting structure for releasably carrying at an outermost end thereof, a working implement, the method including providing on the machine a working implement holding device, and rotating the superstructure relative to the body about the first generally upright axis, and manipulating the working arm about the generally horizontal axis and the second generally upright axis to bring the working implement carried by the working arm into holding engagement with the holding device whereby the holding device holds the working implement, releasing the working implement from the mounting structure, and manipulating the working arm to move the mounting structure away from the holding device.
US08075234B2
An expandable collet body and anchor system incorporating a collet body anti-rotation feature and preferably collet body translation arresting means are disclosed. The collet body includes a first end, a first wall portion having at least two fingers, a second end including a head, a second wall portion, an annular protrusion and anti-rotation means where the anti-rotation means engages with an auxiliary structure defining a hole having an internal surface adapted to translationally accept the collet body and operatively function with the collet body anti-rotation means. The auxiliary may include a work piece to be optionally joined to another structure or a sleeve insert locatable in a hole defined by a work piece. Because the collet body is relatively free to translate within the auxiliary structure, a wide spectrum of work piece depths can be engaged with a single length collet body with the use of a stud to radially expand the fingers, thereby engaging a distal structure.
US08075231B2
A mechanically actuated, air release, binding device adapted for use on trucks or trailers, commonly known as a load binder, comprises a horizontally aligned frame, truck air brake cylinder, lever arm and attachment connection. The air brake includes an internal piston and exposed drive shaft which are spring driven outwards from the cylinder. Application of compressed air to the cylinder drives the piston and drive shaft inwards, rotating the lever arm and providing a fully slack condition in binding straps or chains attached to the binder. Release of all or part of the cylinder compressed air draws in upon the lever arm rotating it to a full or floating binding condition automatically. A ratchet and pawl secured to the lever arm mechanically locks the binder and adjusts when the binder becomes slack due to load shift or transportation conditions. The pawl is fully released to permit the binder to provide full load strap slack for attachment or removal.
US08075228B2
The invention relates to a milling cutter head having a number of blade supports (11) which are inserted in recesses of a base body (10) and have blades (12), wherein each blade support can be axially displaced by a wedge and fixed in the milling cutter head by clamping elements. According to the invention, the blade supports each have a shank which is arranged in a receiving bore of the base body and can be fixed via a centrally (13) located clamping piece (18).
US08075225B2
The method of protecting two subsea pipelines which cross each other in a subsea environment from damaging one another when subsea currents slide the upper pipeline along the upper surface of the lower pipeline by providing roller around the upper pipeline and rollers around the lower pipeline which are connected together by a rotatable connection which allows the sets of roller to match the angle of the pipeline.
US08075224B2
A method for in-situ repair of old underground pipes is disclosed. A breaking tool with a drive or a pipe section is pulled from a typical inspection shaft to the next inspection shaft (machine shaft) by a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit which has a housing that is at least partially located inside the old pipe. The extremely limited interior space of the machine shaft is thereby kept essentially free from machine parts.
US08075220B1
A curb covering device for covering a portion of a curb featuring a generally flat panel; a first folding line, a second folding line, and a third folding line, wherein the first folding line is positioned about halfway between the third side edge of the panel and the fourth side edge of the panel, the second folding line is positioned between the first folding line and the fourth side edge of the panel, and the third folding line is positioned between the third side edge of the panel and the first folding line. The folding lines function to allow the panel to be folded over the portion of the curb.
US08075218B2
The invention relates to a shaft and hub connection (20) for transmitting torque, a common longitudinal axis (X-X) comprising the following components: a shaft (22) which rotates about the longitudinal axis (X-X) and comprises an entraining longitudinal section having an untrue outer contour (26), and a hub (24) that is coaxial to the shaft (22) and encloses the shaft (22) with its internal contour (28) at least in the area of the entraining longitudinal section. The invention is characterized in that the outer contour (26) of the entraining longitudinal section of the shaft (22) and the inner contour (28) of the hub (24) have the shape of a perfect cone to such a degree that, when the shaft (22) and the hub (24) are assembled, they automatically self-lock, thereby holding the shaft and hub connection (20) together. The connection also comprises connecting means which prestress the shaft (22) and the hub (24), when assembled, in the direction of the longitudinal axis (X-X).
US08075216B2
An oral care implement may include a tufted insert and a base configured to define a cavity for housing an active insert. The active insert may comprise an active agent. The head of the oral care implement may be configured so that the active insert can be in fluid communication with a membrane or an aperture.
US08075210B2
A patient wristband tag production apparatus for printing and producing a tag precursor that includes a printing unit, a print medium web, an information acquisition unit, a printing control unit, and a cutter. The print medium web can have a perforation running along a length of the web and dividing the web into a tag printing area and an insertion tab area, the web being configured to produce tag precursors. The tag precursors produced from the web can have a printed tag part formed from the tag printing area on which patient identification information is printed such that the tag precursor is configured to be stored in a tag storage part of a patient wristband, and an insertion tab part formed from the insertion tab area that is detachably connected to the printed tag part and is configured to be used for inserting the printed tag part into the tag storage part.
US08075207B2
There is disclosed a lightweight portable printer having a frame or housing with a print head and a cooperable platen roll mounted in the housing. The housing pivotally mounts a subassembly. The subassembly mounts an electric motor and gearing driven by the motor for driving the platen roll. The subassembly is resiliently urged to press the print head against the platen roll. The printer has a front door which provides access to the inside of the housing. The front door mounts the platen roll, a label delaminator, a pressure roll, a holder for mounting a supply roll of labels or tags, and a latch for latching the door to the housing and for camming the pressure roll into and out of cooperation with the platen roll.
US08075200B2
A connecting part (1) for an optical connection of a first optical fiber (2) to a second optical fiber (3) comprises a sleeve-like cable mount (4) having a first cable receiving section (5), in which the first optical fiber (2) can be housed, and a second cable receiving fiber section (6), in which the second optical fiber (3) can be housed. The optical fiber ends (23, 24) of the two optical fibers (2, 3) can be welded together. Therefore, the second cable receiving section (6) is designed along the median longitudinal axis (L) in such a way, that it can be assembled and comprises a casing part (10, 10′) pivotable about a hinge (1). The weld joint is located within the pivoting range of the casing part. The cable mount comprises a screw-on coupling sleeve (8) for covering and fixation.
US08075198B2
A connector assembly for reversibly terminating an optical fiber comprises a housing having a cavity extending along a longitudinal axis. An elongate member having a groove extending along a surface thereof is provided within the cavity. An end portion of the fiber is aligned with a fiber stub within the groove such that the stub's splicing face is positioned opposite the fiber's splicing face. A splice anvil is mounted about the member with the anvil's clamping surface overlapping the abutting stub and fiber splicing faces. The clamping mechanism comprises step surfaces arranged along the member's surface adjacent the groove. When the anvil is moved from the released position to the clamped position, the anvil's inner surface is moved along the step surfaces in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis towards the groove, the anvil's clamping surface bringing a clamping force to bear on the abutting fiber and fiber stub.
US08075197B2
An exemplary fiber optic connector includes four converging lenses and a main body. The main body includes a first surface and a opposite second surface. The first surface defines four receiving holes for receiving four optical fibers. The converging lenses are arranged on the second surface and align with the respective receiving holes. The second surface defines two receiving slots for fixedly receiving two fixing protrusions of a complementary fiber optic connector, as well as two buffer slot. The two buffer slots each are located between the converging lens and the receiving slot, and are configured for allowing two portions of the main body to be bendable, such that precise alignment of the converging lens and the receiving slot is maintained.
US08075196B2
A spherical outer diameter tapered roller bearing pillow block system (100) for supporting the rotating main shaft of a wind turbine. The bearing system is configured with a unitized construction and factory set preload bearing settings to facilitate installation and setup. A spherical outer diameter surface (114) is formed on the outer race (116) of a tapered roller bearing assembly disposed about the rotating main shaft of the wind turbine. The bearing assembly is secured to a stationary support structure of the wind turbine through a pillow block housing assembly (102) providing a matching spherical housing seat (112) to form a ball and socket interface between the tapered roller bearing assembly (118) and the pillow block housing assembly (102). The ball and socket interface accommodates static and dynamic misalignments between the wind turbine main shaft and the supporting structure, while the bearing assembly (118) accommodates radial and axial loads.
US08075191B2
An exemplary bearing assembly includes a turbine side journal bearing with helical grooves along an inner journal surface where each helical groove includes a lubricant opening and opposing arms where each arm terminates at a respective axial surface of the journal bearing; a compressor side journal bearing with helical grooves along an inner journal surface where each helical groove includes a lubricant opening and opposing arms where each arm terminates at a respective axial surface of the journal bearing; and a spacer to space the turbine side journal bearing and the compressor side journal bearing along an axis. Various other exemplary devices, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08075187B2
The invention relates to 2 closure kit comprising two extra elements (200, 250) which can successively engaged and separated, and a cursor (100) comprising a base (110), two lateral side plates (120, 130), a central wall (140) and a sole (142) linked to the central wall (140), characterized in that at least one of the two elements (200, 250) comprises a structure (210, 260) forming a stop for the sole (242) in order to prevent doe cursor (100) from retreating as a result of the effect of a stair tending towards tearing.
US08075175B2
Method for thawing frozen water-containing products by heating and stirring in a horizontal mixer.
US08075171B2
A lamp device is provided that is capable of performing a first actuation and a second actuation. At the first actuation, the lamp device pivots a lamp about a first axis relative to a support, and, at the second actuation, the lamp device pivots the lamp about a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, relative to the support. The lamp includes a first supporting portion that is located on the first axis and at a side of the lamp and a second supporting portion that is located on the first axis and at the other side of the lamp. The first supporting portion is supported by the support to be pivotable about the intersection point of the first axis and the second axis. The second supporting portion is joined to a movable joint member. The movable joint member is supported by the support so as to be movable along a second actuation axis.
US08075167B2
An optical film and an illuminating device having the optical film are provided. The optical film may include a first surface including a plurality of peaks and valleys formed from the plurality of peaks, a second surface opposite the first surface and a plurality of scattering patterns on the second surface. One of the scattering patterns may correspond to 3 to 6 peaks of the plurality of peaks on the first surface.
US08075161B1
A lighting system include a point light source, a tubular color adjustment means, and a light-collecting and mixing element. The color adjustment means has a color-converting tubular structure and an adjusting rod. The tubular structure is made of a light-transmitting medium doped with a wavelength-converting material. The adjusting rod is operably connected to and for adjusting the tubular structure. In operation, the point light source emits light of a first wavelength or hue. The color adjustment means adjustably intersects, through the use of the adjusting rod, the light of the first hue and converts at least a portion of the light of a first hue into a light of another hue. The light-collecting and mixing element collects and mixes the light of a first hue and the light of another hue, and directs the mixed light out the open end.
US08075158B2
The invention relates to a lighting tube with light emitting diodes (LEDs) that can be disassembled and repaired. The present invention presents substantial advantages and innovative characteristics as well as other advantages related to organization and construction. The invention is centered on a lighting tube which, while preferably adopting the standardized dimensions of commonly used fluorescent tubes, as well as a similar system for lateral attachment and connection, is different. It is provided inside the transparent tubular body that forms it with a lighting system based on light emitting diodes or LEDs, giving the tube the advantages of this lighting system, essentially based on a greater illumination intensity with a considerably lower consumption, the possibility of repairing the tube and a much longer useful lifetime.
US08075152B2
A hermetic light-emitting device includes a heat dissipation member including a first surface, a second surface and a first through-hole formed between the first and second surfaces. A circuit substrate has a plurality of conductive traces and a second through-hole disposed corresponding to the first through-hole. A light-emitting element is disposed on the circuit substrate and electrically connected to the plurality of conductive traces. A plurality of electrical wires pass through the first and second through-holes and connect to the plurality of conductive traces to externally supply electrical power to the light-emitting element. A sealing material fills the first and second through-holes. A seal pad member includes a pad opening and is disposed on the first surface of the heat dissipation member and surrounding the circuit substrate. A cover member is disposed over the light-emitting element and against the seal pad member.
US08075146B2
A fixing device for position regulating mechanisms for external rear-view mirrors for motor vehicles, applicable to external rear-view mirrors of the type which are comprised of a support (1), attached to which is a housing (6) which encases or is part of the aforementioned position regulating mechanism (2), to which a mirror support plate is affixed, it being possible to operate the same, manually or electrically, from the interior of the vehicle. The support (1) comprises elastic pressure exertion means (4) comprising a portion of the base (5) arranged on the support (1) and are provided with at least one tab (7), which pressure exertion means (4) are intended to withstand the pressure of the housing of the regulating mechanism when the latter is attached to the support by means of the fixing means, said pressure means being elastically distorted in such a way that they exert an effort force on the housing against the fixing means.
US08075129B2
A method adjusts operation of a printer in accordance with an analysis of image content used to generate printed images. The method includes measuring image content of a first print image, comparing the measured image content to a predetermined threshold, and altering a print process parameter to adjust operation of a printer component in response to the measured image content exceeding the threshold.
US08075120B2
An ink jet print head is capable of creating a state where the direction of ink-drop ejection is not likely to be influenced by air currents generated by the ink ejection, and is capable of printing an image without causing the shifting of dots. To this end, air currents generated by the ejection of ink and the interference among the air currents are reduced by blowing out gas in a direction parallel with the direction of the ink ejection. Accordingly, even with a print head that ejects, at high ejection frequency, ink from multiple ejecting openings formed densely, the advancing direction of the ink drops is unlikely to be deflected. As a consequence, a high-quality, uniform image can be outputted.
US08075117B2
A printing-fluid container includes a reservoir having a leading surface with an outer perimeter. Redundant interface elements are recessed from the leading surface interior the outer perimeter.
US08075084B2
Methods and systems are provided to increase or optimize the illumination used with a sensor to measure printed ink colors on a substrate at high speed (up to 3 m/s) and high resolution. By modifying the number of light sources, their wavelengths and/or their relative intensities, the optical contrast can be increased or optimized to yield a higher signal-to-noise ratio and improved accuracy for the measurement of multiple colors. In one implementation, multiple LEDs with selected output peak wavelength may be used to achieve higher contrast imaging for each color.
US08075080B2
According to the present disclosure, a printer apparatus may include a chuck configured to support a substrate thereon, a rail spaced apart from the chuck, a printhead carriage frame coupled to the rail and containing a printhead carriage housing at least one printhead therein, a first camera assembly configured to capture image data of the printhead and provide the image data to a computer, and a computer receiving the image data from the first camera assembly and configured to determine a deviation between a desired position of the printhead and an actual position of the printhead.
US08075079B2
An ink cartridge for an inkjet printer having a laminated wall. The laminated wall defines: an air inlet; a regulator channel having a first end communicating with the air inlet and a second end defining a bubble outlet; and a wetting system for maintaining liquid in the regulator channel so as to ensure that air entering a headspace of the cartridge first passes through said liquid. The regulator channel is dimensioned to control a Laplace pressure of air bubbles drawn from the bubble outlet as result of supplying ink to a printhead, and thereby regulates a hydrostatic pressure of the ink.
US08075065B2
A quick-release system for a quick-release device, in particular for a cycle, such as a bicycle, the device being of the type including an axially extending skewer and an end support element mounted on a first end of the skewer adapted to be supported on a first tightening surface of the cycle. The quick-release system includes a tightening sub-assembly including a support surface and an actuation sub-assembly including a movable actuating mechanism, capable of axial rotation around the skewer and configured to transmit a tightening torque to the tightening sub-assembly when the device is being tightened. The system includes tightening torque limiting mechanism making it possible to limit the torque transmitted by the actuation sub-assembly to the tightening sub-assembly.
US08075063B2
In an automotive machine (1) for producing carriageways by stabilizing insufficiently stable soils or by recycling road surfaces, with a machine chassis (4) supported by a running gear (2), a working drum (20) mounted to pivot in relation to the machine chassis (4), the shaft of which is mounted in pivoting arms (42) and runs transversely to the direction of travel, a cover (28) surrounding the working drum (20), a combustion engine (32) supported by the machine chassis with at least one output shaft (34) for the drive power required for driving the working drum, whereby at least one mechanical power transmission device (36) transfers the drive power from the output shaft (34) to the working drum (20), it is intended that the combustion engine (32) is arranged in a fixed manner at the machine chassis (4) between the pivoting arms (42) and that the at least one mechanical power transmission device (36), together with the working drum (20) mounted in the pivoting arms, can pivot about the axis of the output shaft (34) of the combustion engine (32).
US08075060B2
A plastic headrest sleeve receiving a headrest rod and comprising a tube fitted at its top end with a flange within which a slider is displaceably supported between a locked position, wherein it locks the headrest rod, and a release position, the wall of the said tube being fitted between its ends with at least one resilient clamping segment, a spring being mounted on the tube outside and biasing the resilient segment toward the tube inside, and a drive element displaceably resting on the tube, said drive element being operationally connected to the slider and the clamping segment in a manner that the spring's action on the clamping segment shall be reduced or eliminated when the slider is displaced into the release position.
US08075056B2
An office chair has a seating element with an upright tubular element (3) and a base, the seating element being connected to the base by means of the support element (1) so as to be swiveled and reset. Rubber buffers (19, 24) are provided between a connecting element (2) of the base, ring discs (11) and (17) and a tubular element (8) extending from the seating element downward and allow an oscillating movement of the seating element. The rubber buffers at least partially enclose the connecting element (2), thereby retaining the same. A pneumatic spring (4) allows to adjust the height of the seat. A thumb screw (16) allows to adjust the restoring force by compressing the rubber buffers (19, 24) to a greater or lesser extent.
US08075047B2
An automotive vehicle body structure including a dash panel separating an engine room from a passenger compartment, a front pillar extending vertically along each outboard edge of the dash panel and a wheel house portion connected between an outboard edge of the dash panel and an opposing side of a lower part of the front pillar, a reinforcing member extends along a boundary between the outboard edge of the dash panel and wheel house portion and defines a closed cross section jointly with the dash panel and wheel house. The wheel house portion has a three dimensional contour bulging toward the passenger compartment and relatively high rigidity to reinforce the dash panel by reinforcing the boundary between the wheel house portion and dash panel. The impact load applied to the dash panel during a frontal crash is evenly distributed to various structural parts and a favorable crash safety is achieved.
US08075040B2
A vehicle includes a vehicular frame, a utility bed, a seat back, and a seat bottom. The utility bed is coupled with the vehicular frame. The utility bed comprises a bed frame, a bed floor, and an end wall. The bed floor comprises first and second floor portions. The first floor portion is pivotable between an upright position and a cargo support position. The second floor portion is coupled with the frame. The end wall is movably coupled with the bed frame and is moveable between an erected position and a collapsed position. The seat back is coupled with first floor portion. The seat bottom is coupled with the end wall. When the first floor portion is in the upright position with the end wall in the collapsed position, the seat back and the seat bottom cooperate to provide a seat.
US08075030B2
The present invention is a foldable device for retrieving golf, tennis, or other balls. The invention comprises an elongated shaft having handles at one end and a pair of elongated arm members hinged to the shaft at an opposite end. When fully deployed, the arm members form a V-shaped collection member adapted to be moved along the surface of a putting green or tennis court to gather scattered balls within a first region of the collection member and then collect the gathered balls within a second region of the collection member for eventual lifting and transport.
US08075026B2
An automatically or manually operable closure system for a closing flap on a transport container is situated on the container frame and a docking stand at an unloading station. A rotating device for moving the closing flap is provided on the docking stand and a locking device for locking the closing flap in the closed position is provided on the container frame. A flap shaft, whose other end is mounted rotatably in the container frame and is implemented as a first connection element, engages axially to the rotational axis of the closing flap. The first connection element is axially coupled using a torsion-fixed tongue-groove pair to an axially displaceable second connection element. Formfitting coupling elements are provided on the second connection element and on the driveshaft for moving the closing flap.
US08075025B2
A crown-type probe seal for a female hydraulic coupling member has one or more pressure-energized seals for sealing between the probe seal and the body of the coupling member which retains the probe seal. The generally ring-shaped probe seal has one or more annular fluid chambers in the wall of the seal's body. Each annular fluid chamber is open to the outer circumference of the probe seal. Hydraulic fluid under pressure may enter an annular fluid chamber through its opening and exert a generally radial force as a result of a pressure differential. This radial force can act to increase the sealing effectiveness of the probe seal both to the body of the coupling member retaining the probe seal and to the probe of a male coupling member inserted in the receiving chamber of the female member.
US08075024B2
A coupling assembly for releasably interconnecting a fluid joint. The fluid joint includes confronting ends of a pair of fluid conveying members, each of which has a ferrule fixedly attached thereto, and a sleeve circumferentially surrounding the ferrules. The coupling assembly includes a pair of coupling members, a hinge assembly configured to hingedly connect the first ends of the coupling members to permit them to rotate relative to each other between an open position and a closed position where the coupling members surround the sleeve, a pair of bonding wires, each of which is coupled to a respective coupling member and configured to electrically bond the respective coupling member to the ferrules of respective fluid conveying members, and a releasable latching assembly configured to releasably secure the second ends of the coupling members together when they are in their closed position.
US08075007B2
An all-terrain vehicle including a frame having longitudinally-spaced ends defining a first longitudinal axis, and an engine supported by the frame. The engine includes a crankshaft defining a second longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis.
US08075006B2
A system and method for a skateboard and for propelling the skateboard. The skateboard system includes a board including a first end and a second end, the first end offset from the second end, and the second end defining a board plane. The skateboard system also includes a truck assembly attached near the first end of the board, and a caster assembly attached near the second end of the board. The caster assembly has a caster pin at an angle with respect to the board plane. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08075002B1
A suspension system for a wheeled vehicle includes hydraulic actuators associated with each of the vehicle's wheels, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic accumulator, a compressible hydraulic fluid, and a hydraulic manifold including control valves that open and close to control the hydraulic fluid flow and pressure to each of the hydraulic actuators. The control valves are regulated by a control system including a processor running an algorithm that receives data from switches and sensors providing information regarding the vehicle's state and mode of intended use or storage.
US08074997B2
An improved air-riding seal system for turbine engines is presented. The seal system includes a movable primary seal assembly, a stationary secondary seal assembly, and at least one structure to increase the stiffness of a thin film between the primary seal and a rotating component. The primary seal assembly includes an annular seal ring and an arcuate support arm. The annular seal ring has a cross section that is substantially L-shaped and a surface with a step face and a circumferential dam. The arcuate support arm has a tooth at one end adjacent to an outermost circumferential surface along the seal runner, which could include an optional notch. The tooth and outermost circumferential surface are separated by a gap. The secondary seal ring is disposed between and contacts the primary seal assembly and housing structure so as to form a bore seal and a face seal therewith. A plurality of hydrodynamic pockets disposed along the circumferential dam and/or a plurality of radial dams disposed along the surface in an outward radial arrangement from the circumferential dam are provided to improve the stiffness of the thin film. Features of the invention allow for higher operating speeds.
US08074996B2
An sealing gasket is shown for use in forming joints of plastic pipe. The gasket has a bulbous region which is bisected by a planar region which forms a pair of oppositely extending wing-like flaps. These features of the gasket allow it to be more reliably seated on the working mandrel used to bell a female, thermoplastic pipe end. The wing-like flap portions of the gasket form wiper surfaces for a subsequently installed male, spigot pipe end as the joint is formed.
US08074991B2
Let Me Roll Sic Bo is a dice game blended Sic Bo with traditional craps game. It is using three regular dice (cubes). Each die has six sides and different number of spots on it (from one to six). Each player will take a turn to shoot the dice follow the clockwise. Players can wager on nine main designed betting areas to win different odds.
US08074984B2
A sheet stacking apparatus includes a stage, a driving unit to drive the stage, and a sheet detection device to detect that a sheet exists on the stage. Operation of the sheet stacking apparatus is controlled so that the stage descends in accordance with an amount of sheets to be stacked, and when a job executed in an image forming apparatus is completed, the stage automatically moves to a sheet removing position. The sheet stacking apparatus is controlled so that sheets of a mixing prohibition job are not stacked with sheets of another job, by detecting that a sheet of another job exists on the stage.
US08074983B1
An automatic document feeder includes an outer casing, an upper cover, a first pressing roller set and a separating device. The first pressing roller set is installed in a receiving member, which is arranged at a terminal side of the outer casing. The first pressing roller set includes a first rotating shaft and a first pressing roller. The separating device is sheathed around the first rotating shaft and exposed outside the receiving member. When the upper cover is opened, the upper cover is contacted with the separating device, so that the separating device is moved to shift the first rotating shaft.
US08074979B2
A sheet feeding tray includes a frame member, and freely upwardly swingable plural bottom plates arranged on the frame member side by side perpendicular to a sheet feeding direction. The bottom plates cooperatively support a stack of envelope recording mediums. A lifting device having plural curvature sections is provided. The plural curvature sections are respectively arranged below the bottom plates to scuff and lift the lower surface of the plural bottom plates at a section downstream of the sheet feeding direction. The plural curvature sections each include a different outline in accordance with a difference of a decreasing amount of a thickness of the stack during sheet feeding. The different outlines enable the topmost surface of the stack to be almost horizontal.
US08074964B2
A connector is described which includes a valve housing comprising a valve housing base and a valve cap, the valve housing defining an inlet port, and an outlet port, the valve housing further including a fluid path from the inlet port to the outlet port, the fluid path including a channel formed in an inner wall of the valve housing. A valve insert in the valve housing defines a bowl sealed by a diaphragm, such that the sealed bowl forms an inner volume in the valve housing. A valve plug operable seals the inlet port when the connector is in an unactuated state thereby closing the fluid path through the connector. Upon actuation of the connector the valve plug deforms the diaphragm into the inner volume thereby unsealing the inlet port and opening the fluid path through the connector. Because of the arrangement of the valve plug, valve insert and diaphragm, the connector has a low priming volume and has positive fluid displacement characteristics upon actuation.
US08074963B2
A fluid flow shut-off or control valve or device, for use within the field of irrigation, has at least one end shaped so as to allow coupling of the body with a rotatable ring nut provided with a female thread adapted to be screwed onto a corresponding male thread of a component.
US08074956B2
A support stand includes a support member, a friction member, a first connecting bracket, and a second connecting bracket. The support member includes a base portion and two arched plates extending from an end of the base portion. The friction member is rotatably clamped by the arched plates. The first connecting bracket connected to a first end of the friction member. The second connecting bracket connected to a second end of the friction member opposite to the first end. The second connecting bracket is detachably attached to the first connecting bracket.
US08074953B1
The present invention includes a collapsible book holder adapted to hold a book in an open position. The present invention preferably is adapted to be folded into a flat or substantially flat position where it may be conveniently placed in a pocket or purse, or placed in a book as a book mark.
US08074951B2
A device mounting platform apparatus having a reconfigurable biasing mechanism. The device mounting platform apparatus includes a frame member capable of being mounted in a vehicle and having a device mounting surface facing generally upward. A clamp member is slidably interconnected to the frame member along a first direction. A biasing mechanism is coupled between the frame and clamp members. The biasing mechanism is reconfigurable for urging a jaw portion of the clamp member along the first direction heading either toward or away from the frame member. The biasing mechanism is thus reconfigurable for either urging the clamp member open or urging it closed. A plurality of different jaw portions are interchangeably coupleable to the frame and clamp members in opposing relationship across the device mounting surface of the frame.
US08074950B2
A wall affixed vertically articulated flat panel display mount having a first frame assembly secured to a wall and a second frame assembly operatively connected to the back of a flat panel display. Two pairs of horizontally spaced parallel links extend between the first and second frame assemblies and have respective ends pivotally connected thereto. A pair of pneumatic springs and a linear actuator are connected between the first and second frame assemblies. Knob clamps are provided for holding the mount in a desired position.
US08074946B2
A hose hanger assembly includes a tubular support, at least one mount, a flange structure, and a cover structure. The tubular support defines a first end, a second end, and a storage compartment located therebetween, the first end of the tubular support defining an access opening aligned with the storage compartment. The at least one mount is attached to the second end of the tubular support. The flange structure includes (i) an inner ring member attached in fixed relation to the first end of the tubular support, (ii) an outer ring member spaced apart from the inner ring member, and (iii) and a plurality of links interconnecting the outer ring member and the inner ring member so as to define a plurality of windows, the flange structure being configured to resemble a wheel rim flange. The cover structure is movable between (i) a first position in which the cover structure is located to cover the access opening, and (ii) a second position in which the cover structure is located to expose the access opening. The cover structure possesses a facade structure that includes (i) a first portion configured to resemble a hub cap, and (ii) a second portion configured to have a plurality of protrusions each being configured to resemble a drive portion of a lug nut. The plurality of protrusions is positioned to surround the first portion.
US08074936B2
A system and method of generating and distributing power includes one or more microwave power transmitters at locations on Earth adjacent natural fuel or power resources such as natural gas, oil, solid fuel, or geothermal energy. The fuel or energy source is converted into electricity on site, and the electricity is then converted into microwave power beams transmitted from the microwave power transmitter towards a redirector satellite in orbit about the Earth. The redirector satellite then sends one or more microwave beams to rectennas located in consumer nations at appropriate sites for feeding the power grid or to additional redirector satellites for directing to rectennas located on the far side of the Earth.
US08074925B2
An aircraft attitude control configuration enables control surfaces to provide attitude control for an aircraft at hover or low air speed conditions. The aircraft attitude control configuration includes a plurality of thrusters mounted to an aircraft for thrusting air, a first control surface kinematically coupled to the aircraft at a position downstream of a first thruster to enable a first vector force to be generated by a portion of the thrusted air from the first thruster on the first control surface, and a second control surface kinematically coupled to the aircraft at a position downstream of a second thruster, the first and the second control surfaces being displaced symmetrically on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the aircraft, the second control surface being configured to be independently and differentially movable with respect to the first control surface to enable a second vector force to be generated by a portion of the thrusted air from the second thruster on the second control surface.
US08074915B2
A container for holding an edible liquid has a storage chamber for holding the liquid. The storage chamber has at least one outlet. The container also has an ingredient chamber separate from the storage chamber and for holding a flavor enhancing ingredient. A grinder is provided to communicate with the ingredient chamber for grinding the flavor enhancing ingredient. The grinder has at least one opening for dispensing the flavor enhancing ingredient on the opposite side of the grinder from the ingredient chamber.
US08074913B2
A combination thermoforming trim press and comminuting apparatus is provided. The combination includes a horizontal trim press, a comminuting apparatus, and a height-adjustable delivery chute. The trim press has an exit for downwardly delivering a scrap web of thermoformable sheet material. The comminuting apparatus is provided beneath the exit and has an entrance for receiving the scrap web. The height-adjustable delivery chute is provided between the trim press exit and the comminuting apparatus entrance and includes a first section, a second section telescopically received relative to the first section to provide height adjustment, and a fastener for securing the chute at a selected height to substantially close any gaps between the trim press exit, the comminuting apparatus entrance and the delivery chute to eliminate any need for a shielding cage to prevent internal finger and limb access by an operator.
US08074911B2
A liquid level sensing assembly employs an inductive or magnetic coupling to wirelessly communicate a plurality of signals based on a changing level of wastewater in a tank to a first coil of a pump/alarm control circuit in the grinder pump. The assembly includes at least one liquid level sensor operable in response to the changing level of the wastewater, a second coil positionable adjacent to the first coil in the grinder pump, and a transponder for extracting electrical energy using the second coil in response to the first coil. The transponder is operably connected to the at least one liquid level sensor and operable to wirelessly transmit from the second coil to the first coil the plurality of signals based on the state of the at least one liquid level sensor due to the changing level of the wastewater in the tank.
US08074906B2
A method of milling a powder comprising introducing a gas stream containing a cryogenic liquid and a drug carrier gas into a jet mill, and milling a powder with the jet mill in one or more milling passes. A product produced by the method. A milling apparatus comprising a cryogenic gas input system, a powder feeder, a main jet-mill, and at least one output port for collecting the powder.
US08074905B2
The invention relates to a device for comminuting and sorting polycrystalline silicon, comprising an instrument for feeding a coarse polysilicon fraction into a crushing system, the crushing system associated with a sorting system for classifying the polysilicon fraction, wherein the device is provided with a controller which allows variable adjustment of at least one crushing parameter in the crushing system and/or at least one sorting parameter in the sorting system.
US08074898B2
Disclosed is a windshield wiper reservoir system for cleaning a windshield of a vehicle. The reservoir system includes a first reservoir, a second reservoir, a motor system, and a plurality of wiper tubes coupled to the motor system. The first reservoir is configured to store a wiper fluid and the second reservoir is configured to store a de-icing fluid. The motor system is configured to drive at least one of the wiper fluid from the first reservoir and the de-icing fluid from the second reservoir. Each of the plurality of wiper tubes includes a spray head. Further, the each of the plurality of wiper tubes is configured to receive the at least one of the wiper fluid and the de-icing fluid. Furthermore, the spray head is configured to spray the at least one of the wiper fluid and the de-icing fluid onto the windshield of the vehicle.
US08074891B2
A combined position and information code, which could be applied on a base, comprises a position code, which comprises a plurality of coding marks and which codes a plurality of positions. Each position in the position code is coded by a predetermined number of coding marks. Groups of coding marks are defined in the position code. The number of coding marks in each group is larger than the predetermined number of coding marks. At least some of the coding marks in each group are used for coding an information item. When decoding the combined code, part areas of the combined code are imaged. A position is decoded from each imaged part area, whereas the information item has to be decoded from at least two part areas.
US08074890B2
A flexible antenna capacitively coupled to related circuitry components for an active wearable data transceiver electronic location and identification device. Wearable data transceivers (WDXs) are employed as bracelets, badges, and may be incorporated with back pack straps and clothing at locations such as collars, cuffs, and hems. They employ various colors. Active transceiver communication devices are also mounted on objects for real time location tracking and identification. Body-mounted WDXs match the body with the antenna for sending and receiving signals. WDX power includes coplanar battery cells and circuitry has radio transmitter and radio receiver components.
US08074889B2
The present invention discloses a system and methods for biometric security using biometrics in a transponder-reader system. The biometric security system also includes a biometric sensor that detects biometric sample and a device for verifying biometric samples. In one embodiment, the biometric security system includes a transponder configured with a biometric sensor. In another embodiment, the system includes a reader configured with a biometric sensor. The device for verifying samples compares the biometric samples with information stored on the databases.
US08074883B2
An advanced voting system is provided that includes one or more computing devices. The computing devices receive input of authentication data and utilize the authentication data to determine whether a voting session by a voter is authorized and to unlock ballot information specific to the voter or a group of voters. Furthermore, same device used to unlock said ballot information. In addition, the receive accessibility input data on the same device used to unlock said ballot information. In addition, the computing devices present ballot questions to the voter if the voting session is authorized based on the received authentication data and receive interactive voter selections from the voter. Furthermore, the system includes a record generator that generates records containing the voter selections.
US08074870B2
An animal herding device has an elongate tubular body portion adapted to avoid kinking thereof, a hand gripping member at one end and a noise making member at the other end. The body portion may be internally reinforced with a rope or like means. The body portion may also be optionally fitted with padding for specified uses.
US08074863B2
The invention relates to a device for heat sealing two layers of foil material. To that end, the device comprises two blocks arranged opposite each other and conveying means for guiding the foil material between these blocks. Between the blocks, at least one heating element is provided, for heating the foil locally, and at least one circulating belt (20), which, in use, is guided along the blocks. The circulating belt (20) is built up from at least one layer of resilient material, so that a force applied by the blocks to the foil material is uniformly distributed over the sealing seam to be formed. The invention further relates to a circulating belt for use in a device according to the invention.
US08074860B2
A hollow tissue inosculation apparatus is to inosculate two hollow tissues to each other with a staple having a plurality of elastically deformable bent staple pins. The hollow tissue inosculation apparatus includes a staple holder to hold the staple, a curvature control mechanism to control curvature of the staple pins of the staple held in the staple holder, an incision mechanism to incise the hollow tissues, and a gap control mechanism to control gaps between the staple holder and the hollow tissues. The curvature control mechanism substantially straightens the staple pins. The gap control mechanism reduces the gaps to cause the substantially straightened staple pins to penetrate through the hollow tissues. The incision mechanism includes two cutters to incise the hollow tissues, respectively. The staple holder holds the staple so that the blades of the cutters do not come into contact with the staple.
US08074854B2
A safety nailing device of the present invention includes a main body, an actuator, a striking plate and a disengaging means. The main body defines a chamber therein, and an opening is defined on a bottom surface of the main body to communicate with the chamber. The actuator is disposed on the main body and has a controlling end. The striking plate is disposed in the chamber and is movable between a safety position, a starting position and a striking position. The striking plate has a protrusive end and a controlling groove. The protrusive end selectively protrudes out of the chamber from the opening, and the controlling groove is selectively engaged with the controlling end. The disengaging means is for moving the striking plate to the safety position to disengage the controlling end from the controlling groove, so that the travel of the actuator will not lift the striking plate.
US08074845B2
A fluid dispenser member for mounting on an opening (90) of a fluid reservoir (9), said member comprising: a body (1) inwardly defining a chamber (15) of variable volume, said body defining a bottom end (10); an actuator rod (7) that can be reciprocated axially in said body, and comprising a top portion defining a top end (79); a peripheral bearing collar (52) extending radially outwards, and including a bottom face (51) designed to come into abutment, at least indirectly, against an edge (911) of the opening (90) of the fluid reservoir; and a neck gasket (2) disposed in contact with the bottom face (51) of the collar so as to be compressed between the collar (52) and the edge (911) of the opening, the axial height HS1 axially separating the bottom face of the collar from the top end of the actuator rod being substantially equal to the axial height HI1 axially separating the bottom face of the collar from the bottom end of the body.
US08074844B2
A piston pump with a piston coaxially slidable in a chamber for dispensing fluid out of a discharge tube which extends normal to the axis about which the piston is slidable in the chamber with a stroke stop member rotatably journalled on the discharge tube for pivoting between different positions in which the stroke stop member limits inward sliding of the piston into the chamber to different extents.
US08074834B2
A method of dispensing and resealing a moisture curable medical material against moisture intrusion is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a moisture-impervious product container comprising an elongate sleeve sealable to prevent entry of moisture, providing an elongate medical material positioned in the sleeve, sealing the medical material in the sleeve against entry of moisture until use, providing a dispensing carton within which the sleeve and medical material positioned therein is contained, and bearing a tab against the length of the sleeve devoid of medical material and into a laterally-extending opening in the sealing member to form a doubled thickness of the sleeve having a sealing fold therein to form a seal that is resistant to moisture intrusion into the sleeve.
US08074824B1
A trash receptacle apparatus comprising a first vertical pole, a second vertical pole, a third vertical pole, a fourth vertical pole, a first top bar, a second top bar, a third top bar, a fourth top bar, a first roller pole, a second roller pole, a third roller pole, a fourth roller pole, and a base wherein the poles and base altogether form a frame; a housing for temporarily enclosing the frame; and a plurality of wheel disposed on the bottom panel; wherein a trash bag can be folded over the top poles; wherein a user can pull the trash bag out of the trash receptacle apparatus through the frame without having to lift the trash bag above the trash receptacle apparatus.
US08074819B2
A multi-chamber reservoir includes an upper and a lower body welded into unitary reservoir. A pressure relief device is interposed between a pressure chamber and the overflow chamber of the reservoir. A snap-in siphon tube is mounted into the reservoir and includes an orientation feature enforcing a desired alignment. A snap lock feature retentively mounts the siphon tube in alignment during reservoir welding.
US08074806B2
A banknote handling apparatus including a receiving unit that receives banknotes to be counted, a recognition unit that recognizes attributes of the banknotes, a storing unit that stores the banknotes sorted based on a recognition result by the recognition unit, an operation unit for selecting a counting mode and a setting for stacking, and a verification counting process control unit that executes a first counting process when the operation unit selects a verification mode as the counting mode, stores the banknotes in stacking units in a designated first setting for stacking, executes a verification counting process to the banknotes stacked in the first setting for stacking, stores the banknotes in stacking units in a designated second setting for stacking that is different from the first setting for stacking, and determines match/mismatch of the number of banknotes of each denomination in the first counting process and the verification counting process.
US08074796B1
A paint brush container (10) is disclosed which includes has a base (11) and a lid (12) pivotally coupled to the base through an elongated hinge (13). The base has a bottom wall (15) with a linear array of first mounting holes (22) and second mounting holes (23). The base also includes a brush handle holder (24) and two laterally spaced, removably mounted restricting walls (26) which include a pair of mounting posts (27) configured to be releaseable received within the first and second mounting holes (22) and (23). The brush container also includes a pair of latches (41) which enable the lid to be releaseably held to base.
US08074793B2
A conveyor system and method of assembling same in which parts are fastened without the use of welding, clamps, or threaded fasteners such as bolts and screws is provided. A bracket and slot mechanism is used to attach one conveyor component to another. The bracket and slot mechanism allows components to be easily attached/detached by merely applying force to slide the bracket into the slot. Moreover, when engaged, the bracket is held securely in the slot so that the components do not become detached during normal operation of the conveyor assembly.
US08074792B2
Arrangements are for use with interconnected conveyor sections, such as push beams, commonly found in mining applications. In one embodiment, a mechanism includes an elongated dog-bone shaped coupler having a first and second end for insertion between the conveyor sections. A first end of the coupler is secured to a first conveyor section, while a second end of the coupler is received in a recess formed in a second conveyor section. A pivotally mounted cam includes a recess for mating with the upwardly projecting, flared portion of the second end of the coupler. The cam pivots automatically upon being engaged by a free end of the coupler to allow it to pass and then pivots to capture it in place, thereby simply establishing a secure manner of connection. In another, the ends of the conveyor sections are specially adapted to form an articulating joint.
US08074785B2
A device and a method for the optical scanning of a machine-readable label applied to an object are proposed. The device has at least one belt conveyor (1) and one receiving tray, which are located sequentially spaced apart. A scanning device (3) is located between the belt conveyor (1) and the receiving tray. An additional conveyor device (4) is provided close to the belt conveyor (1) and the scanning device (3) which has several carriers (7) running perpendicular to the direction of travel of the belt conveyor (1). Between two carriers (7) there is a space (12) to accommodate an object. The conveying device (4) covers the scanning device (3) completely and the belt conveyor (1) at least partially. An object is placed on the belt conveyor (1) between two carriers (7) with the side carrying the label and taken across the scanning device (3) by the carriers (7). Then the object is taken to the receiving tray by the carriers (7).
US08074784B2
A testing table that allows testing lights along its length. The testing table can be used to convey lights along the direction, and to test the lights at different locations along the direction along the conveying. The lights can be cleaned and tested. Empty tubs can be returned.
US08074782B2
Centrifugal feeder device having an outer enclosure (2) which accommodates a ring (3) mounted rotatably in the enclosure (2) and lying in an approximately horizontal plane, and a disc (4) rotatable in the ring (3). The axis (5) of rotation of the disc (4) is inclined with respect to the axis (6) of rotation of the ring (3), the disc (4) and the ring (3) approximately tangent to each other in a transfer area (10) and distant from each other in a loading area (8). The ring (3) is surrounded by a lateral guide (15). The ring (3) supplies an outlet channel (13) whose inlet is situated above a part of useful width of the ring, the ring (3) is provided with approximately radial notches (3a), and the device includes a mechanism for adjusting the useable width of the ring (3).
US08074777B2
A disengagement/disconnect assembly for disengaging a generator from a gear box includes an inner ball screw having an angled threading on an outer surface thereof and surrounding and operatively engaged to a rotating generator drive shaft to cause rotation of the inner ball screw, the inner ball screw having axial dog teeth engaged to corresponding teeth of the gear box drive shaft, an outer ball screw surrounding and normally rotating with the inner ball screw and having a spherical ball and an angled ball track between the inner and outer ball screws, a lock, and a brake for slowing or stopping rotation of the outer ball screw so that the inner ball screw rotates relative to the outer ball screw along the ball track and slides axially toward the lock thereby disengaging the generator from the gear box drive shaft.
US08074776B2
An all-terrain straddle type vehicle includes, inside a wheel, a disc rotor that rotates as the wheel rotates, a caliper for clamping the disc rotor to brake the rotation of the wheel, and a scraper for scraping out dirt, mud, sand, snow and other debris deposited on a rim of the wheel. An edge of a scraping surface of the scraper extends obliquely from upstream toward downstream of a rotation direction of the wheel with respect to a rotation plane of the wheel.
US08074774B2
A master cylinder for a bicycle hydraulic disc brake comprises a housing defining a cylinder, the cylinder having a first and a second end along its axis. A hydraulic fluid reservoir has a port between the hydraulic fluid reservoir and the cylinder, the port having an opening between the first and second cylinder ends. A piston having a seal resides in the cylinder with the seal between the piston and the cylinder. The seal has a leading seal edge with the leading seal edge being movable solely between the first cylinder and the port opening to vary the dead band distance between the leading seal edge and the port opening with the piston in a starting position. A lever is pivotably associated with the housing and operatively associated with the piston for moving the piston within the cylinder between the starting and a pressurized position as the lever is actuated between a rest position and an actuated position. A reach adjustment is operatively associated with the lever for varying the rest position of the lever relative to the master cylinder housing independent of movement of the leading seal edge relative to the port as the reach adjustment varies the rest position of the lever.
US08074772B2
An applicator (10) for applying a friction modifying material to the top of rails (12). The wayside applicator includes an applicator bar (26) that has a dam for holding friction modifying material.
US08074759B2
The present invention concerns a method for designing and manufacturing a snowmobile platform. The method entails designing and manufacturing a group of tunnel subassemblies, designing and manufacturing a group of engine cradle subassemblies, and designing and manufacturing a group of front suspension subassemblies. Next, one tunnel subassembly, one engine cradle subassembly, and one front suspension subassembly are selected from each respective group. Then, the tunnel subassembly is connected to the engine cradle subassembly at a rear portion thereof. Finally, the front suspension subassembly is connected to the engine cradle subassembly at a front portion thereof to create the snowmobile platform. The present invention also concerns a snowmobile platform constructed according to this method, which combines, among other elements, a tunnel subassembly, an engine cradle subassembly, and a front suspension subassembly.
US08074753B2
A drive device of a vehicle includes a motor generator, a lubricant circulating mechanism lubricating and cooling the motor generator, a power control unit controlling the motor generator, arranged on a circulation path of a lubricating oil and being in contact with the lubricating oil for transferring and receiving a heat to and from the lubricating oil, and a casing accommodating the motor generator, the lubricating mechanism and the power control mechanism, and provided with the circulation path. Preferably, the power control unit includes a power control element and a board (120) having a first main surface on which the power control element is mounted. The board (120) is provided on its second main surface side with a radiator fin (390, 392 and 394) for contact with the lubricating oil in the circulation path.
US08074748B1
Embodiments of the invention relate to thermally-stable polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) elements, polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”), and methods of fabricating such PCD elements and PDCs. In an embodiment, a PCD element includes a PCD body comprising bonded diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions. The PCD body includes a first volume having a first portion of the interstitial regions and a second volume having a second portion of the interstitial regions. The PCD body further includes an infiltrant that is disposed in the first portion of the interstitial regions and the second portion of the interstitial regions is substantially free of the infiltrant. The infiltrant comprises a glass, a glass-ceramic, silicone, a thermal decomposition reaction product of silicone, a ceramic having a negative coefficient of thermal expansion, or combinations thereof.
US08074745B2
A tool for crushing coke includes a casing which in the operational state is connected to a drill rod and on or in which is arranged at least one cutting nozzle and one drill nozzle for drilling coke and at least one valve for controlling a direction of flow of water flowing through the drill rod and the casing through the cutting nozzle and the drill nozzle.
US08074736B2
A pneumatic tool with an improved soundproof device includes a housing whose rear end has a screw hole for supplying a high-pressure gas. The input high-pressure gas drives a pneumatic motor before it leaves the rear end of the housing. A cover covers the rear end of the housing. The cover has a penetrating hole. A guiding element has a guiding section that gradually expands outwards. The guiding element goes through the penetrating hole. An annular ventilation space is formed between the guiding section of the guiding element and the penetrating hole. A gas inlet connector is disposed in the screw hole. The shoulder part of the gas inlet connector stops the guiding element, so that the gas in the ventilation space is guided by the guiding section of the guiding element to escape.
US08074727B2
A tilling implement has a front row of concave disc blades having a front right portion and a front left portion symmetrically disposed about a centerline of the implement. A rear row of concave disc blades has a rear right portion and a rear left portion symmetrically disposed about the centerline of the implement. The rear right portion follows behind the front right portion in a right path and the rear left portion follows the front left portion in a left path when the implement is displaced through a field. The implement includes no ground engaging tool in the right path between the front right portion and the rear right portion, and no ground engaging tool in the left path between the front left portion and the rear left portion. A ground engaging tool is disposed generally along the centerline of the implement between the right and left paths.
US08074711B2
A tubular member handling apparatus including a tubular member running tool, an elevator, first actuators each extending between the running tool and the elevator, and second actuators each extending between the running tool and a corresponding first actuator. The running tool includes a slotted member having a plurality of elongated slots, a recessed member slidably coupled to the slotted member and having a plurality of recesses, and a plurality of rolling members each retained between one of the recesses and one of the slots. Each rolling member partially extends through an adjacent slot when located in a shallow end of a corresponding recess, and retracts to within an outer perimeter of the slotted member when located in a deep end of the corresponding recess.
US08074706B2
A heat spreader comprising a casing, a micro-structure layer, a support device, and a working fluid is provided. The casing has an inner surface and is defined by a sealed chamber where the working fluid circulates therein. The micro-structure layer is formed on the inner surface of the casing, wherein the micro-structure layer comprises a first structure layer which is formed by the first metallic mesh. Specifically, the first metallic mesh forms the first structure layer on the inner surface through diffusion bonding so that the working fluid can circulate within the micro-structure layer by capillary action. In addition, the support device is disposed in the sealed chamber for supporting the casing. Thus, a heat spreader with a composite micro-structure can not only enhance the capillarity but also reduce the flowing resistance during operation.
US08074705B2
A fastener assembly for securing a heat sink to a printed circuit board, includes a sleeve, a bolt inserted into the sleeve and a resilient component surrounding the bolt. The sleeve comprises a hollow body, a bottom plate at a bottom thereof and an engaging cylinder extending downwardly from the bottom plate. The engaging cylinder has inner thread and a deformable latching protrusion projecting radially outwardly. The bolt includes a shaft, a head and a threaded part for threadedly engaging with a retainer of the printed circuit board. The head is received in the sleeve above the bottom plate. The shaft is received in the through hole of the sleeve whilst the threaded part is held beneath the engaging cylinder of the sleeve. The resilient component is compressed between the head of the bolt and the bottom plate of the sleeve.
US08074693B2
A processing apparatus that performs processing on a workpiece continuous in a transport direction, and performs processing on the workpiece at a predetermined processing pitch in a rotational direction of a rotating body that rotates about an axis, includes: a first processing section that is disposed at a predetermined position in the rotational direction so as to oppose an outer circumferential face of the rotating body, second processing sections at each predetermined angle in the rotational direction on the outer circumferential face of the rotating body, which perform the processing on the workpiece in cooperation with the first processing section when a second processing section opposes the first processing section, and a support section that supports the workpiece between the second processing sections, and in which it is possible to change, depending on the processing pitch, a position at which the support section supports the workpiece.
US08074686B2
Transport pipe for high viscosity materials, in particular for concrete. The transport pipe includes an inner pipe (10) made of an abrasion-resistant plastic, at least one metallic joint element (12), as well as a reinforcing jacket (14) which envelops at least the internal pipe. In order to ensure a reliable and enduring joint between inner pipe and joint element, it is proposed in accordance with the invention, that the radially projecting collar of the joint element is defined by a ring-shaped end face (20) and by a thereto joined ring step (22) extending radially towards the inside of the pipe and recessed axially from the ring-shaped end face, and wherein the plastic material of the inner pipe (10) engages in the ring step (22) from the inside of the pipe.
US08074684B2
The present invention relates to a leveling valve including a first port, a second port, a third port, a valve, and a clutch. The clutch is provided with an engaged position and a disengaged position. At least a portion of the clutch may move relative to the valve when the clutch is in the disengaged position. The clutch moves the valve when the clutch is in the engaged position. The valve is movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position. When the valve is in the first position, the valve blocks a first pathway, which extends from the first port, from connecting with a second pathway, which extends from the second port. When the valve is in the second position, the valve allows the first pathway to connect with the second pathway. When the valve is in the third position, the valve allows the second pathway to connect with a third pathway, which extends from the third port.
US08074677B2
A method and apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system are provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for delivering gases to a semiconductor processing system includes a plurality of gas input and output lines having inlet and outlet ports. Connecting lines couple respective pairs of the gas input and gas output lines. Connecting valves are arranged to control flow through the respective connecting lines. Mass gas flow controllers are arranged to control flow into respective inlet ports. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a manifold having at least a plurality of inlet that may be selectively coupled to at least one of a plurality of outlets, flowing one or more gases through the manifold to a vacuum environment by-passing the processing chamber prior to processing or to a calibration circuit, and flowing the one or more gases into the processing chamber during substrate processing.
US08074672B2
An ejector is provided for an induction system in a vibratory system generating vibration, including a dust ejector for an air induction system of an internal combustion engine. An ejection valve is provided by an inertial mass inertially activated and driven by the vibration to discharge contaminant from the induction system.
US08074669B2
The invention envisions a multi-purpose expandable-collapsible frame apparatus that may be used as a bed frame. The apparatus utilizes a telescoping central support apparatus designed such that when a force is applied to the central support apparatus a plurality of floating arm assemblies expand outwardly from the central support apparatus. Furthermore, support straps and a covering member add stability and utility to the frame apparatus.
US08074663B2
A flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette which aims to contain the combustion process to the cigarette. The flame-retardant and fireproof cigarette has a filter that is aligned with a tobacco body. A flame-retardant and fireproof covering is positioned over at least a portion of the tobacco body and isolates the open fire associated with the consumption of the tobacco during the course of smoking or burning the cigarettes. Such a cigarette reduces the risk of undesired, inadvertent, and latent ignition of adjacent materials.
US08074662B2
A system operable to assist in a surgical procedure. The system can include a surgical navigation system that can be used to assist in determining a position of the surgical instrument, an information of an anatomical body, information regarding an anatomical structure, or combinations thereof. The system can further display the positional information or the anatomical or physiological information on a display.
US08074661B2
A method and apparatus for ablating material. The material is preferably a heterogenous or composite material, such as animal tissue. A table top laser system can be employed in the invention. Alternatively, a larger laser, such as a free electron laser can be employed.
US08074657B2
A surgical drape with a functional interface for engaging surgical instruments, including a flexible, tube-like sleeve for creating a sterile barrier around a non-sterile holding arm. The drape is open at a proximal end, and has a hub at a distal end for connection to a distal end of the holding arm. The hub has sterile external surfaces that allow surgical instruments to be easily removably attached in a variety of directions and orientations, providing sufficient mechanical strength to transmit forces from the instruments to the holding arm. The hub includes an externally accessible, sterile actuator for actuating an electronic circuit local to the holding arm on the non-sterile side of the barrier.
US08074655B2
Methods and devices to prevent and/or treat breathing disorders (e.g., upper airways disorders) in mammals related to impaired airflow are described. Methods and devices apply force to soft tissue that avoids obstruction of airflow in the mammel's airway. Breathing disorders that are avoided by the methods and/or devices include apnea.
US08074649B2
Current methods of drug administration to the lungs are inefficient. ‘Endotracheal Tube with Aerosol Delivery Apparatus III’ is specifically designed for uniform intrapulmonary delivery of aerosolized medication in patients on mechanical ventilation. As opposed to the current methods of drug delivery where aerosol particles are generated at the proximal end of the ETT, with majority of the particles adhering to the endotracheal tube during delivery, this invention bypasses the endotracheal tube by generating aerosol particles at its distal end. The invention consists of two coaxial hollow tubes fused to each other. The inner coaxial tube and/or one or more secondary cannulation(s) in the wall of the outer coaxial tube terminate at proximal and as MDI adapters and at the distal tip as a single or multiple micrometric orifices. The device generates one or more aerosol plumes with different geometries, velocities and orientations made possible by variations in the ID, shape, trajectory and orientation of secondary cannulation(s) and the distal orifice(s) to ensure effective aerosol delivery to respiratory system.
US08074648B2
A respiratory device includes a face seal and a unitary body that forms an interface with the face seal and includes a lens and a chassis. The chassis includes at least one port for fluidic connection.
US08074619B2
An engine arrangement comprising a first assembly including a first piston in a first cylinder interconnected with a second assembly including a second piston in a second cylinder. Each of the first and second assemblies include an inlet valve for supplying a fuel mixture, and an outlet valve for removing exhaust gases. The first and second assemblies being adapted for cooperation with a gear unit to convert a translation movement into a rotary movement. The engine arrangement so includes two additional assemblies including a third piston in a third cylinder interconnected with a fourth piston in a fourth cylinder and associated valves. The two additional assemblies being adapted for cooperation with the gear unit to convert a translation movement into a rotary movement. An outlet valve of the first cylinder is connectable to an inlet valve of a third cylinder, and an outlet valve of the second cylinder is connectable to an inlet valve of the fourth cylinder, and the outlet valves of the third and the fourth cylinders are intended for removing exhaust gases.
US08074613B2
A variable compression ratio apparatus may include a connecting rod rotatably connected to the piston so as to receive the combustion force therefrom, a pin link mounted to the crankshaft and rotatably connected to the connecting rod so as to receive the combustion force from the connecting rod and rotate the crankshaft, a connecting link rotatably coupled to the pin link and changing a rotation trace of the pin link with respect to a rotation axis of the crankshaft, an eccentric camshaft provided with first and second shaft portions eccentric from each other and configured to rotate by a predetermined angle according to a driving condition of the engine, a sub control link rotatably connected to the eccentric camshaft about the first shaft portion and rotatably connected to the connecting link, and a main control link rotatably connected to the eccentric camshaft about the second shaft portion and rotatably connected to the connecting link.
US08074608B1
The cat climbing apparatus provides for cats to scratch, stretch, climb, and position themselves at an elevated height. The sturdiness of the apparatus mounting brackets insures cat use, as cats hesitate or simply refuse to use scratching and climbing posts that are not sturdily anchored, one reason why cats often choose furniture over poorly designed cat implements. The apparatus provides for a user to arrange tubes, angles, and at least one platform as desired, thereby best fitting spaces available as well as providing aesthetic appeal and cat intrigue. The rope wrap of the tubes is durable and inviting to a cat.
US08074601B2
A feeder pan for poultry has a sunk bottom and an edge surrounding the bottom, the bottom being resiliently transformable and the edge being rigid. The bottom can be made of a relatively soft plastic, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, whereas the edge can be made of a relatively hard plastic, such as a polyolefin or a polyamide. The edge may present a profile and may present a closed section.
US08074597B2
In a first aspect, a substrate carrier is provided that includes an enclosure adapted to be sealable and to house at least one substrate. The substrate carrier includes a first port leading into the enclosure and adapted to allow a flow of gas into the enclosure while the substrate carrier is closed. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08074591B2
A manufacturing process and resultant medical devices and components thereof wherein one or more individual laces (12) is placed within an embroidered structure (10) using an automated process allowing for the manufacture of embroidered surgical implants containing laces to be mass produced repeatably and cost effectively.
US08074587B2
A quilting tool for use with commercial quilting machines with a base, a pair of handles and a narrow strip of the hook portion of hook and loop type fastener. The base is planar and rectilinear and has a plurality of spaced apart grooves that are defined on the bottom surface. The first grooves on each long edge of the base are spaced one quarter of an inch from the long edge. The second grooves from each edge are spaced one half of an inch from the first grooves. The two medial grooves are spaced apart one inch. The handles are dowel-like and extend upwardly from the top of the base and are spaced apart from each other by approximately two and three quarter inches. The hook strip portion adhesively attached between the grooves on the underside of the base and aligned to be directly under the handles.
US08074581B2
A conferencing assembly for use with at least one computer, the assembly including a table top forming a table top opening, a leg support structure, a display screen supported adjacent the top surface, a switcher for controlling input to the display screen, a plurality of handsets, each hand set including a selector button usable to send a signal to the switcher thereby causing the switcher to link a computer associated with the selector button to the display, a plurality of handset cables, each handset cable having first and second ends linked to the switcher and an associated selector button, respectively, for passing signals from the selector buttons to the switcher, a take up assembly including a separate weight for each of the handset cables, the take up assembly disposed below the top member and aligned with the top opening, each handset cable linked to an associated weight, each weight applying a force tending to pull the second end of the associated handset cable into the opening.
US08074579B1
A magnetically levitated transport system moves a suspended cargo such as passengers and freight. A linear motor uses a track stator about which a “rotor” moves linearly. Stator and rotor circuits interact electromagnetically to maintain a gap between the moving and fixed elements. Tractor coils are embedded within the track to produce thrust through electromotor action with magnets aboard the rotor. The rotor is configured in a triangular shape as is the track with opposing electromagnets positioned for creating mutual repulsion forces. A pulsed direct current in the stator circuit, derived from conventional alternating current taken from the power grid, is used to create an induced current in the rotor, which, in turn is used to energize rotor electromagnets.
US08074578B2
A system is disclosed that controls the power flow to Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) stators for a vehicle transport system. This invention allows multiple vehicles to operate in close proximity in a guideway without requiring an excessive number of separate controllers. It can be used in conjunction with schemes now in use and is particularly useful in elevator hoistways or for automated people movers near stations.
US08074575B2
The invention relates to a machine for positioning and squaring crossties of railway tracks, formed by at least one wagon (1), provided with its own means for traveling over the rails (2) of the railway track under construction in which the crossties (3) have not yet been aligned, which laterally has respective metal profiles (4) arranged longitudinally at the level of the crossties (3) of the track, supported to the main structure of the wagon by means of angled arms (5), which on their inner face have a series of equidistant positioning wedges (7), which are in charge of coming into contact and positioning the crossties previously distributed in the layout, such that the wedges are located between them, pushing them laterally and longitudinally until leaving the crossties in the correct position: centered and perpendicular to he center line, aligned and separated from one another by a uniform distance.
US08074567B2
A container compression device and a method for associating a beverage container with the container compression device is provided, wherein the container compression device is configurable between an extended configuration and a compressed configuration, container compression device including a first handle portion, wherein the first handle portion includes a plurality of first handle portion linking members pivotably associated with the first handle portion. The container compression device also includes a second handle portion, wherein the second handle portion includes a plurality of second handle portion linking members pivotably associated with the second handle portion. Additionally, the plurality of second handle portion linking members are rotatably connected to the plurality of first handle portion linking members via at least one releasable locking device, wherein the at least one releasable locking device is configurable between an engaged configuration and a disengaged configuration.
US08074558B2
An axial piston device for use with a hydraulic system is disclosed. The axial piston device may have a body defining at least one bore and having a central axis, a pump piston disposed within the at least one bore to at least partially define a pumping chamber, and a tiltable plate biased into engagement with the pump piston. The axial piston device may also have an actuator configured to selective tilt the plate relative to the central axis of the body to thereby vary a displacement of the pump piston within the at least one bore. The actuator may have a control piston operatively connected to move the tiltable plate, a rotary motor, and a valve driven by the rotary motor to control fluid communication between the control piston and a source of pressurized fluid to move the control piston.
US08074556B2
Locking systems for use with firearms are described. An example locking system for use with a firearm includes a breechblock carrier and a lock spring mechanism that includes a piston. The breechblock carrier is configured to interaction with the piston. Additionally, the example locking system includes a first aperture. The piston is configured to expel fluid through the first aperture when the breechblock carrier retracts.
US08074555B1
A method and system for improving precision and accuracy of weaponry according to which angular position information of the fire control device and optical location information of the optical signals emitted during the flight of a projectile are processed in a computer using software to calculate and provide a precise aim point for firing one or more subsequent projectiles.
US08074547B2
An automatic slicing apparatus reduces the likelihood of failure to make a sliced piece specimen even if continuously operated. The apparatus, on the basis of an exchange command signal, detaches a sample block attached to a cutting base and attaches a new sample block to the cutting base. The apparatus cuts a sliced piece of a predetermined thickness by moving a knife with respect to the sample block having been attached to the cutting base. The apparatus also observes the sliced piece having been cut and judges the sliced piece by comparing an observation data obtained by the observation means and a sample block cut face data. When the apparatus judges that the sliced piece is good, the apparatus transmits an exchange command signal.
US08074542B2
A configurable tooling block for a CNC turret lathe holds a plurality of tools at a single index position of the turret. The tooling block includes a main body, a mounting flange, and a coolant manifold removably mounted on the main body on either a first side face or a second side face of the main body. The main body has a plurality of tool-receiving openings, at least one of which is a rectangular opening for receiving an OD tool. The manifold may be provided with individually operable valves for controlling coolant flow to output ports associated with the tool-receiving opening, and may be made of a material that is lighter than the material used to form the main body to reduce overall weight.
US08074539B2
A socket device with an indication portion comprises a colored sleeve; the sleeve being made by high molecular organic plastics; a socket; the sleeve being rotatable installed on the socket; an indication portion on a surface of the sleeve for indicating a value about the size of the socket. The socket has an annular recess for receiving the sleeve. The sleeve may be an annular ring; or the sleeve is a C ring; or the sleeve has a protrusion and the protrusion is received in the annular recess.
US08074519B2
A method for monitoring a system, in which a plurality of acoustic images are recorded and compared at defined intervals of time over a period of time extending several weeks. A large system can be monitored reliably and with little complexity if the acoustic images each contain a plurality of acoustic image areas which are arranged in a spatially different manner, and, between respective recordings of the image areas of an acoustic image, an acoustic sensor is aligned with an image area, which is to be recorded, of a next image area by being moved.
US08074516B2
Methods and apparatus for non-axisymmetric radome according to various aspects of the present invention include a non-symmetric housing for a forward portion of a projectile. Multiple sensors may be positioned in an off-axis configuration within the non-symmetric housing reducing the possibility of one sensor interfering with the operation of another sensor. The non-symmetric housing may also be configured with a strengthening member suitably adapted to provide additional resistance to bending moments caused by external loading along a surface of the non-symmetric housing.
US08074511B2
The downhole tool disclosed herein comprises a body, a flexible member attached to the body, and a transducer housed in the body. The flexible member compresses against one side of the wellbore and urges the body against the other side. The transducer emits a signal to the flexible member reflectable from the flexible member back to the transducer. The signal travel time from the transducer to the flexible member and back is analyzed for estimating the distance between the body and the flexible member. The standoff distance can be estimated from the distance between the body and the flexible member. From the standoff distance, the wellbore diameter is estimated. The tool may also obtain wellbore dimensions by obtaining near side wellbore standoff and using a magnetic ruler to determine bowspring flexing. The magnetic ruler results may be used in conjunction with or without the far side standoff data.
US08074507B2
Tire module for the detection of tire state quantities which includes a printed circuit board and a piezoelectric transducer with a housing and at least one transducer element, wherein the transducer element is coupled to piezoelectric material or consists of piezoelectric material, and wherein the piezoelectric transducer is executed as a surface-mounted device (SMD) and as such is mounted on the printed circuit board by terminal areas and is electrically connected to the printed circuit board.
US08074502B2
A part to be mounted into force or pressure sensors includes an annular measuring element made of piezoelectric material. First and second electrodes rest against respective opposite sides of the measuring element and are provided with wires. An electrically insulating transmission member laterally adjoins the first electrode, across from the measuring element. Another electrically insulating insulation member laterally adjoins the second electrode, across from the measuring element. All components are mounted within the part in such a way as to be centered relative to each other. The external face of the transmission member and the external face of the insulation member which face away from and run parallel to the electrodes are designed in a very planar manner, having a levelness of less than 10 μm.
US08074500B2
The present invention relates to a method and a system for calculating carbon dioxide emission of a steam turbine CHP plant, and according to the method of calculating carbon dioxide emission of the present invention, the total fuel emission of a plant is calculated. The total greenhouse gas emission is calculated from the total fuel consumption. System thermal efficiency is calculated from the total fuel consumption. Fuel consumption for thermal generation is calculated from the system thermal efficiency. Fuel consumption for power generation is calculated from the system thermal efficiency. Power generation efficiency is calculated from the fuel consumption for power generation. The total carbon dioxide emission in thermal generation is calculated from the fuel consumption for thermal generation. The total carbon dioxide emission in power generation is calculated from the fuel consumption for power generation. According to the method of calculating carbon dioxide emission of the present invention described above, it is possible to separately obtain carbon dioxide emission when generating heat and electricity.
US08074499B2
Embodiments of the present invention may provide real-time monitoring of a compressor section to determine the possibility of a crack forming on a rotating blade. The present invention does not require the shutdown of the machine. The present invention may be configured to automatically raise an alarm if the acoustic signature of the compressor changes in way that may be consistent with the cracking of a blade.
US08074496B2
The apparatus comprises an actuator (23) that can be pushed from an extended position to a depressed position. When doing so, the actuator (23) first releases an impact body (32) to impinge against the sample (2), and then a catcher (40, 42) to be moved to the released impact body (32) for bringing it back. The passage of the impact body (32) is detected by a reed switch (28), which wakes up the processing circuitry and switches the same between two modes of operation. In the first mode, the circuitry displays a device status, and in the second mode a measuring result.
US08074492B2
Disclosed is a method for detecting a leak gas in a flushing device (10), comprising the following steps: the flushing device (10) is disposed on a part (201) that is to be tested; a flushing gas is conducted through the flushing device (10); and the leak gas is detected in the flushing gas that is discharged from the flushing device (10) with the aid of a detector device (30). In order to conduct the flushing gas through the flushing device (10), a predetermined main flushing gas flow (QH) is generated, and said main flow (QH) is separated into a system flow (QS) and a partial flow (QT) on a dividing device (40), the system flow (QS) being fed into the flushing device (10). Also disclosed is a leak testing apparatus (100) for detecting a leak gas in a flushing device (10).
US08074484B2
The invention relates to a manipulation device (3) for manipulating a workpiece (4) on a bending press (2), comprising multiple successive moving elements (17), in particular articulated arms (18), connected to one another via articulated joints (19), wherein one moving element (22) has a rotary head (23) which is rotatable about a rotational axis (24) which at least approximately coincides with a center axis (25) of the moving element (22), and comprising a gripping device (27) connected thereto having a gripping zone (34), formed by one or more gripping elements (32), by means of which the workpiece (4) may be held. According to the invention, the gripping device (27) is connected to the rotary head (23) via a boom element (26), by means of which a midpoint (35) of the gripping zone (34) is situated at a distance (36) from the rotational axis (24), and by means of an adjustment device (40) on the boom element (26) the position and/or angular orientation of the gripping device (27) and the gripping zone (34) with respect to the boom element (26) may be adjusted in at least two different working positions.
US08074474B2
A method for forming an optical fiber includes drawing the optical fiber from a glass supply and treating the fiber by maintaining the optical fiber in a treatment zone wherein the fiber is cooled at a specified cooling rate. The optical fiber treatment reduces the tendency of the optical fiber to increase in attenuation due to Rayleigh scattering, and/or over time following formation of the optical fiber due to heat aging. Methods for producing optical fibers along nonlinear paths incorporating fluid bearings are also provided thereby allowing for increased vertical space for the fiber treatment zone.
US08074470B2
A cooling element with a sorption agent, that under vacuum can sorb a vapor-like working agent that evaporates from a liquid working agent in an evaporator and with a regulator organ in a working agent vapor channel between the sorption agent and the evaporator, wherein the entire cooling element is hermetically enclosed by a gas-tight multi-layer film, the multi-layer film has a flexible construction and is under vacuum so encloses the regulator organ, the working agent vapor channel and the evaporator, that the evaporator and the working agent vapor channel remain flexible and the working agent vapor can flow to the sorption agent only through the regulator organ.
US08074469B2
A refrigerator includes a first compartment, a second compartment and a multi-functional compartment that is disposed between the first compartment and the second compartment and is adjustable between temperature modes selected from the group consisting of a fresh food temperature mode, a soft freeze mode, a freezer mode and a chiller temperature mode.
US08074468B2
A movement structure for a drawer of a refrigerator is provided that allows a storage box to be automatically withdrawn from or inserted into a main body of the refrigerator. The structure may include a rolling mechanism that rolls along a guide mechanism coupled to the storage box to facilitate and guide the movement of the storage box and maintain alignment relative to the main body of the refrigerator. A drive motor may provide a rotational force to the rolling mechanism to automate the movement of the storage box.
US08074460B2
A device for adjusting a temperature and a humidity using a wind power is provided. The device includes an inlet; an outlet connected to the inlet; a sprayer spraying a nebulized liquid into the device; and an airflow sensor electrically connected to the sprayer for activating the sprayer when an airflow passes through.
US08074459B2
A heat pump system (10) includes a compressor (20), a reversing valve (30), an outdoor heat exchanger (40) and an indoor heat exchanger (50) coupled via refrigerant lines (35, 45, 55) in a conventional refrigeration circuit, a refrigerant to liquid heat exchanger (60), a refrigerant to liquid heat exchanger bypass valve (130), an outdoor heat exchanger bypass valve (230), and an indoor heat exchanger bypass valve (330). A controller (100) is provided to selectively control the respective positioning of the valves (30, 130, 230 and 330) between their respective open and closed positions so as to selectively configure the refrigerant circuit for operation in one of an air cooling only mode, an air cooling with liquid heating mode, an air heating only mode, an air heating with liquid heating mode, and a liquid heating only mode.
US08074449B2
Impeller and turbine wheels form a toroidal working chamber of a hydrodynamic clutch filled with working medium. A throttle plate extends circumferentially near a central diameter of the working chamber The throttle plate moves axially, from an inactive position with little or no throttling effect on a circular flow of the working medium, to an active position with a greater throttling effect on the circular flow. The working chamber is without a center wall, such that the throttle plate is directly enclosed by the flow zone of the working chamber in both the active and inactive position of the throttle plate. The inactive position is located in the area of a separation gap between the impeller and the turbine wheel.
US08074447B2
The invention concerns a procedure to determine the sulfur removal of a NOx storage catalytic converter in an exhaust gas aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine, whereby conditions, in which a surplus of the reducing agent is generated in the internal combustion engine, are adjusted in the internal combustion engine for the sulfur removal, whereby a SOx removal amount is determined in a SOx removal calculation using a model from the reducing agent flow and from additional operating parameters of the internal combustion engine. In so doing, dynamic effects during the desulferization of the NOx storage catalytic converter can be better taken into account for the SOx removal calculation; and in so doing, the subsequent effect of the NOx storage catalytic converter on the reduction of the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas can be more accurately predicted, which makes the process management more streamlined and consequently more fuel efficient.
US08074430B2
A twin layer packaging machine is disclosed for packing cartons with articles such as beverage cans in two layers, a top layer overlying a bottom layer. The packaging machine has a selector flight defining selector bays, a can flight defining can bays, and a carton flight transporting cartons to be packed, all synchronously movable with each other. A single infeed assembly at the upstream end of the machine directs first groups of cans into selector bays on the selector flight, sweeps them into adjacent can bays, and directs second groups of cans into the same selector bays, all on the same level. The selector flight and the second groups of cans in its selector bays then ramps up to an elevated level, from where the second groups of cans are swept from the selector bays into the adjacent can bays atop the already loaded first groups of cans. The thus staged twin layer cans are then pushed into open cartons on the carton flight, whereupon the cartons are closed and sealed.
US08074410B1
The present invention provides an improved interlocking rail and sash slot system that optimizes resistance to sash movement and corresponding air leakage during negative pressure loads, improves energy efficiency and aesthetics of the window design, and provides for wood grain option applications. The improved system may include a window sill and a rail extending from the sill. The rail may include a body portion and a head portion. The head portion may be wider than the body portion in an embodiment. The system may further include a window sash defining a slot. The slot may be configured to receive the head portion. The shape of the head portion of the rail may promote engagement of the head portion with the slot in order to lock the window sill and window sash together when the window is in a closed position.
US08074406B2
A modular containment system for forming a defined perimeter around liquid storage tanks or the like. The containment system generally includes a plurality of wall panels, a corner joint removably connecting adjacent corner wall panels in angular disposition, wherein the corner joint includes an anchor pad for placement beneath and for being connected to the corner wall panels, and a support unit comprised of a gusset and anchor pad for connecting and supporting the wall panels along a straight line. The wall panels, corner joint, and support unit are each preferably comprised of an integral one-piece structure and a galvanized steel material. The wall panels, corner joint, and support unit are removably connected via interlocking wedges. A liner is generally secured along an interior of the wall panels via a retaining cap. Various braces and brackets are also used to removably connect the components of the containment barrier.
US08074404B2
A double-layer cable-strut roof system includes a central structure and an edge structure, a plurality of sets of first diagonal struts and a plurality of sets of second diagonal struts provided between the two structures, each set of first diagonal struts being arranged alternately with one set of second diagonal struts. Or a plurality of sets of diagonal struts are provided between the two structures, each of which including a plurality of first diagonal struts and second diagonal struts joined together node to node, each first diagonal strut being arranged alternately with one second diagonal strut The roof structure may cover the underlying building space in its entirety or, alternatively, may cover a perimeter portion of the building space leaving the center area uncovered, or may be constituted by a plurality of structural units, which is adapted for spanning large areas devised for a wide range of building shapes.
US08074402B2
Window sash counterbalances using curl springs and holders can increase resistance to sash drop without causing sash hop by using a high coefficient of friction bearing surfaces against which curled up coils of curl springs slide when uncurling or re-curling. The higher friction bearing material produces more frictional resistance to spring uncurling than to spring re-curling and thus resists drop without causing hop. This allows a wider range of sash weights to be counterbalanced by a fewer number of counterbalance forces, saves manufacturing cost.
US08074389B2
A printer processible wristband has a cinch slot at one end and an imaging area at another, connected with a strap therebetween. The imaging area is shaped like a shovel and the cinch slot is shaped like a “D” and sized so that the imaging area interference fits through the cinch slot to thereby join the wristband about the wrist. The imaging area may have one of its ends adhered to the strap to clamp it in place and further secure the wristband or it may be left loose to act as a hang tag. Alternate embodiments are disclosed including providing a self adhering label to attach to the imaging area, providing a layer of laminate to laminate the printed information or label, providing a second imaging area along with a second strap, and providing a snap closure to further attach the wristband.
US08074382B2
A device for guiding bundles of parallel ropes, cables, or pipes according to a three-dimensional (or non-planar) path in an earth-digging machine of the type in which provided downstream of the winder assembly (9) for the ropes are at least two sets (5, 7) of guiding sheaves; at least one (7) of the two sets is made up of sheaves of different diameters.
US08074377B2
A shoe sole of the present invention includes a first member 10 including a first deformable portion 11, and a second member 20 including a second deformable portion 21. In a non-worn state, a first lower surface 10d of the first deformable portion 11 and a second upper surface 20u of the second deformable portion 21 are substantially spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction. Under a first load, the first deformable portion 11 deflects downward, whereby the first lower surface 10d can approach the second upper surface 20u until the first lower surface 10d contacts the second upper surface 20u. Under a second load, the deformable portions 11 and 21 both deflect downward with the engagement elements 12 and 22 of the deformable portions 11 and 21 engaging with each other.
US08074376B1
A spinning shoe having an upper and sole member in which the sole member has a spinning assembly in the forefoot. The spinning assembly is placed within a recess in the forefoot region of the sole member. Thus, the user may walk about in the spinning shoe in a normal mode or spin about a vertical axis by placing the user's weight on the forefoot region and then spin about on the vertical axis.
US08074371B2
Evaporator apparatus (1) for the treatment of viscous media comprised of at least a feed chamber (2) having a perforated tray (3), a tube-bundle heat exchanger (4) connected thereto having perpendicularly arranged tubes (8) and a devolatilization chamber (5) connected thereto, a discharge unit (6) for the product and a vapor take-off (7) for removing volatile components, the tubes (8) of the heat exchanger (4) having a rectangular cross section over the greater part of their length.
US08074369B2
A pivot joint has a first structure comprising a ball mounted in a receptacle, wherein the location of the ball is held with respect to the receptacle, and a second structure mounted on and movable with respect to the ball, wherein the second structure has at least one bearing surface which defines its position with respect to the ball. The ball may be held in location by contact with the receptacle at at least two positions. At least one of the positions of contact may be adjustable.
US08074359B2
An automated assembly, system and method for a narrow-gap Electroslag-welded moment connection welded between horizontal beam to vertical column flanges includes vertical column doubler plates affixed to the column web and horizontal beam doubler plates affixed to the beam web with alignment of the respective webs/doubler plates to carry the moment load through the vertical support columns. An embodiment includes a radius in each horizontal beam doubler plate. The assembly, system and method is readily applicable to overdesign moment load factors.
US08074358B2
A method for the production of panel-type components having at least three layers of boards disposed parallel to the plane of the component, with the boards being connected to one another without glue by dowels extending substantially transversely to the plane of the component, includes disposing a plurality of layers of boards on top of each other in different orientations, providing a plurality of bores in these boards which penetrate the layers, and pressing dowels into the bores. An especially high strength is achieved by tensioning layers of the boards during drilling and insertion of the dowels, the tensioning including applying compressive forces. Also, the dowels are preferably compacted in a radial direction before insertion in the bores.
US08074356B2
According to the preferred embodiment, an improved method and apparatus for the manufacturing of an aluminum tube and aluminum fin heat exchanger that includes steps for pneumatic cleaning, thermal cleaning, and uncontrolled-atmosphere open-flame autobrazing of hairpins to return bend fittings. The method uses a tube lubrication system that is adjustable to control amount of lubrication applied to the tube prior to final expansion. The method uses a pneumatic coil cleaning station that is adjusted to reduce the residual oil particulate from the expansion process required to be thermally cleaned.
US08074352B2
A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board is disclosed. The method may include: sequentially stacking an acid-resistant first cover layer and an alkali-resistant second cover layer over a copper foil, for a copper clad laminate that includes the copper foil stacked over one side of an insulation layer; forming an intaglio groove by removing portions of the second cover layer, the first cover layer, and the copper clad laminate; stacking a seed layer over the intaglio groove and the second cover layer; removing a portion of the seed layer stacked over the second cover layer, by stripping the second cover layer; forming a plating layer, by plating an inside of the intaglio groove; stripping the first cover layer; and removing the copper foil exposed by the stripping of the first cover layer.
US08074341B2
A method for manufacturing a boundary acoustic wave device includes the steps of preparing a laminated structure in which an IDT electrode is disposed at an interface between first and second solid media and reforming the first medium and/or the second medium by externally providing the laminated structure with energy capable of reaching the inside of the first medium and/or the second medium and thus adjusting a frequency of the boundary acoustic wave device. The above provides a boundary acoustic wave device manufacturing method that enables frequency adjustment to be readily performed with high accuracy.
US08074340B2
A method of operating a clamp (100) that includes a first clamping jaw (102), a support element (104) to which the first clamping jaw is attached and a trigger handle (118) pivotably mounted to a clamp body (112). The method includes actuating the trigger handle causing the first clamping jaw to experience incremental motion and varying the incremental motion as a function of a load encountered by the support element by varying an effective lever arm of the trigger handle by moving a fulcrum point into contact or out of contact with the trigger handle based on the load.
US08074331B2
An apparatus and method of removing scale from the surfaces of processed sheet metal and tubular metal employs a scale removing medium propelled by counter-rotating pairs of wheels positioned in close proximity to the metal surfaces.
US08074330B2
A method for preparing a needled preform comprises transporting, cutting and needling a textile tape. The method further comprises cutting through a portion of the textile tape with a cutting device. The textile tape remains substantially contiguous after the cutting. The method further comprises needling the textile tape into a needled preform after cutting the textile tape, and the needling utilizes needles having working surfaces oriented in a direction to transfer fiber segments from a selected fiber orientation into a z-direction. In an embodiment, a system for enabling z-fiber transfer in a textile tape comprises a textile support configured to transport the textile tape, a cutting device configured to cut a portion of the textile tape, and a needling device configured to needle the textile tape into a needled preform after the cutting device cuts the textile tape.
US08074323B2
A portable electronic device with an inverted-type hinge has a cover connected to a stationary bracket, a side shell connected to a tilting assembly, a cover connected to an inverting assembly and a sliding assembly being eccentric to a tilting shaft. With cooperation between the inverting assembly and the tilting assembly, the cover may be inverted to reveal a display that leans against the base. Therefore, the user easily touches the display without pivoting the cover. Furthermore, the sliding assembly lifts the cover while the cover is opened relative to the base to prevent the cover from impacting the base.
US08074313B2
A self-forming mattress cover including a mattress gusset with a drawstring is provided. The gusset includes a sleeve attached to the gusset along a fold location. A drawstring is disposed within the sleeve. Ends of the drawstring are pulled into tension, thereby reducing the perimeter of the gusset at the fold location and drawing the gusset inward toward the center of the mattress. The gusset is formed to corner positions of the mattress by stretching and/or bunching of gusset material as tension is applied. The ends of the drawstring are secured to retain the tension state. A cushioned quilt top is attached to a free edge of the gusset. The self-forming mattress cover conforms to corner positions of a mattress without the need for mitering, ruffling, pleating, or sewing seams at the corner positions. The self-forming mattress cover also ensures proper alignment of the cushioned quilt with the mattress body.
US08074312B2
A device for correcting the shape of an infant's abnormally-shaped cranium by applying external forces over time with the growth of an infant to achieve normal shaping of the infant's head. The device applies inwardly-directed external forces only to areas of bony prominence and minimizes (or altogether eliminates) these forces on the areas of the skull that are less prominent (or flattened). Because the present invention is non-conforming to the shape of an abnormal skull, the exerted forces cause accelerated expansion of the skull in less prominent (flattened) areas coincident with brain and skull growth. This causes the cranium to return to a normal symmetric cranial shape. The material that contacts the infant's cranium is semi-rigid, relatively non-flexible, and maintains its overall shape under stress. For an infant with an already normally-shaped cranium, the device causes the infant's cranium to grow evenly and maintain its normal shape, and thus prevents abnormal cranial shaping.
US08074302B1
A toilet seat and lid quick release hinge system utilizing a toilet seat and lid hinge hold-down screw with a release lever at the bottom. The hold-down screw has a head flange with diametrically opposed, outwardly extending projections. These projections engage a slot in the hinge mount of a toilet seat and lid hinge assembly, thereby releaseably holding the seat and lid hinge assembly to the toilet bowl.
US08074297B2
A headwear garment is used for retaining a wearer's hair. The headwear garment has a head covering and a hair retaining sleeve. The head covering is open on one side for allowing a wearer to wear the head covering. The head covering has inner and outer surfaces with a channel formed through the inner and outer surfaces. The hair retaining sleeve has an opening formed in one end. The sleeve is affixed to the head covering and positioned to align the opening in the sleeve with the channel through the inner and outer surfaces of the head covering. When the head covering is worn by a wearer, the wearer's hair is able to be passed through the channel and into the sleeve through the opening.
US08074296B1
A hair retaining headwear system for efficiently covering a user's head and retaining their ponytail outside of the headwear. The hair retaining headwear system generally includes a body adapted to be worn over a head of a user, wherein the body includes a forward end adapted to extend around a forehead and a rearward end opposite the forward end. A retaining element extends from the rearward end, wherein the retaining element includes a receiver opening to receive and retain hair extending from underneath the body away from the body.
