US08614003B2
A hydrophobic coating having a contact angle of at least about 150 degrees is disclosed herein, which coating comprises: a polymer substrate comprising a first linker incorporated therein at a specified surface density of from about 3×10−4 to about 9×10−8 units per nm2; a first polymer layer in contact with said first linker; a second linker in contact with said first polymer layer; and a second polymer layer in contact with said second linker. Also disclosed herein are methods for producing the hydrophobic coating. This hydrophobic coating is useful for making microfluidic devices having a hydrophobic coating on the microfluidic channels, as well as other uses in the field of microfluidics.
US08614002B2
The present invention provides a both surfaces-laminated polyester film having a coating layer excellent in easy adhesion property to a hard coat layer and another coating layer having an ability of preventing precipitation of oligomer.A both surfaces-laminated polyester film comprising: a polyester film, a first coating layer which is formed on one surface of said polyester film and comprises a polymer containing ammonium base, an acrylate polymer containing polyethylene glycol and a crosslinking agent, and a second coating layer which is formed on another surface of said polyester film and comprises a polyurethane resin and a crosslinking agent.
US08613995B2
A colored web material comprising a plurality of discrete extended elements. The colored web material comprises a colorant incorporated in the material itself or a colorant disposed on at least one surface of the web material. The discrete extended elements comprise thinned portions at the distal ends and/or along the sidewalls of the discrete extended elements. In one embodiment, the discrete extended elements have a diameter of less than about 500 microns. In one embodiment, the colored web material comprises at least about 95 discrete extended elements per square centimeter. In one embodiment, the discrete extended elements have an aspect ratio of at least about 0.2.
US08613994B2
A thermoplastic foil has an embossed three-dimensionally structured surface (2) in the external cover layer. The cover layer is configured as a foamed layer and has a foam density that varies across the layer thickness thereof and increases toward the surface.
US08613987B2
An ink-jet recording medium comprising: a support including a base paper, a first polyolefin resin layer disposed on one side of the base paper, and a second polyolefin resin layer disposed on the other side of the base paper, and an ink receiving layer including inorganic particles and a water-soluble resin, the ink receiving layer being disposed on one side of the support, wherein a first surface of the support at a side that is opposite to a side at which the ink receiving layer is disposed has a centerline average roughness (Ra) of from 0.5 μm to 1.0 μm when measured in accordance with JIS-B-0601 with a cutoff value of 0.8 mm, and an average surface roughness (Sra) of 0.3 μm or less when a cutoff value is from 1 μm to 25 μm.
US08613986B2
The present invention relates to an optical film comprising an aromatic based unit including 5 to 10,000 of units represented by Formula 6; a (meth)acrylate-based unit which is a copolymer of a (meth)acrylate derivative and maleimide; and a styrene-based unit which is a copolymer of a styrene derivative and maleimide, and a polarizing plate.
US08613985B2
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal/polymer complex includes a liquid crystal material, a polymer, and a chiral agent. The liquid crystal material exhibits blue phase and contains liquid crystal molecules that are spirally arranged to form liquid crystal molecular cylinders having a spiral arrangement. The polymer maintains the arrangement and has a dendrimer-type structure including a dendrimer unit and a polymerizable unit bonded to an end of the dendrimer unit. The dendrimer unit contains a central atom and at least two branched structures bonded to the central atom and has a generation of two or more. The polymerizable unit contains a polymerizable group which can bond to a polymerizable group.
US08613980B2
The present invention refers to a method for the preparation of a reinforced thermoset polymer composite, said thermoset polymer composite comprising coated fibers, the coating being used as a vehicle for the introduction of carbon nanotubes into the thermoset polymer, the preparation of said reinforced thermoset polymer composite comprising the following steps: —providing fibers; —preparing a coating comprising carbon nanotubes and a polymeric binder; —applying said coating to said fibers to obtain coated fibers; —impregnating said coated fibers with a precursor of a thermoset polymer and letting part of the carbon nanotubes transfer from the coating into the precursor of the thermoset polymer; —curing said precursor containing the coated fibers and the transferred carbon nanotubes to achieve the reinforced thermoset polymer composite.
US08613963B2
A nutritional supplement specifically designed to lower cholesterol that addresses multiple mechanisms including hepatic synthesis and release, intestinal absorption of cholesterol, while, at the same time, including ingredients that mitigate the side effects of the constituents and increase their efficacy by affecting emotional factors that influence compliance such as a sense of well-being and euphoria on the one hand, or an increased overall metabolism and desire for the product stemming from its coloration on the other hand. The nutritional supplement can be prepared as a powder that can be added to a food item by a human subject, a concentrate that can be mixed with water or another beverage, or incorporated into a baked good for ingestion by the human subject.
US08613961B1
A dermatological cream includes between about 8% and about 25% by weight of a healing oil; between about 3% and about 8% by weight of an herbal extract; between about 0.1% and about 0.6% by weight of vitamin E; a microencapsulated ingredient selected from the group consisting of: about 0.6% by weight capsaicin, between about 2% and about 2.5% by weight capsiscum, about 6% by weight methylsulfonylmethane, about 2% by weight collagen peptides, about 5% by weight azealic acid, between about 2% and about 15% by weight ibuprofen, between about 4% and about 10% by weight sulfur, between about 2% and about 15% by weight zinc oxide, between about 5% and about 8% by weight vitamin C, between about 0.5% and about 1% by weight vitamin A, between about 4% and about 8% by weight menthol, between about 3% and about 6% by weight camphor, about 0.5% by weight nicotinic acid, between about 3% and about 5% by weight amino acids, and between about 3% and about 6% by weight tea tree oil; and at least 43.4% by weight water.
US08613958B2
A method for delivering nitric oxide therapy to a subject can include administering a composition including a nitric-oxide releasing agent and silica to the subject and releasing a therapeutic amount of nitric oxide from the composition.
US08613957B2
A scaffold material for wound care and/or other tissue healing applications and methods for making the same is described. The scaffold material is constituted of a decellularized extracellular matrix from fish skin. The scaffold material may also include lipids from the lipid layer of the fish skin. Methods for making and using the scaffold material are also described.
US08613955B2
Methods of producing microparticles, and especially chitin microparticles (CMP), are disclosed that involve reducing the size of (larger) particles using a (high shear) microfluidising instrument.
US08613953B2
The invention provides a novel method for obtaining solid micro- or nanoparticles with a homogeneous structure. A method is provided for obtaining solid micro- or nanoparticles with a homogeneous structure having a particle size of less than 10 μm where the processed solid compound has the natural, crystalline, amorphous, polymorphic and other features associated with the starting compound. In accordance with the invention a method which also makes it possible to obtain solid micro- or nanoparticles with a substantially spheroidal morphology is provided.
US08613950B2
The present application relates to novel drug formulations of vardenafil which dissolve rapidly in the mouth and lead to increased bioavailability and to a plateau-like plasma concentration profile, and to processes for their preparation.
US08613944B2
In one aspect, methods for separating biological tissue are described herein. In some embodiments, a method for separating tissue comprises providing a first composition comprising a polymerizable material, providing a second composition comprising a polymerization initiator, disposing the first composition at a first site beneath a first tissue layer, disposing the second composition at the first site, polymerizing the polymerizable material at the first site, and separating the first tissue layer from a second tissue layer.
US08613940B2
Carbonates of anti-aging ingredients, in particular anti-oxidants and skin illuminating phenol ingredients, have been prepared as derivatives of these ingredients with enhanced physical properties. It has been demonstrated that these carbonates will hydrolyze under enzymatic catalysis to release the parent ingredient. In contrast, esters of the phenolic groups in many cases do not hydrolyze under the same conditions.
US08613918B2
A method of utilizing the chymotrypsin level of an individual as a measure of the success of secretin, other neuropeptides, and peptides or digestive enzyme administration to such individuals, and in particular, as a prognosticative of potential secretin, other neuropeptides, peptides, and digestive enzyme administration for persons having ADD, ADHD, Autism and other PDD related disorders.
US08613910B2
The invention relates to the use of at least one flavonoid having an uncharged flavan skeleton as synergist for enhancing the action of self-tanning substances, such as trioses and tetroses, in cosmetic and dermatological formulations and to corresponding novel compositions and to the preparation thereof.
US08613905B2
The invention provides an agent comprising an amino acid sequence for use in a method of diagnosis of a synucleinopathic disease.
US08613902B2
Hydrogen (“H2”) is produced when ammonia borane reacts with a catalyst complex of the formula LnM-X wherein M is a base metal such as iron, X is an anionic nitrogen- or phosphorus-based ligand or hydride, and L is a neutral ancillary ligand that is a neutral monodentate or polydentate ligand.
US08613900B2
The present invention provides for a composition comprising a nanostructured transition metal oxide capable of oxidizing two H2O molecules to obtain four protons. In some embodiments of the invention, the composition further comprises a porous matrix wherein the nanocluster of the transition metal oxide is embedded on and/or in the porous matrix.
US08613896B2
A process is disclosed for the removal of nitrous oxide from a gas stream having a contaminating concentration of nitrous oxide to provide a gas stream with a significantly reduced concentration of nitrous oxide. The process includes passing the feed gas stream through a first heat transfer zone that is in heat exchange relationship with a product stream whereby heat is transferred from the product stream to the feed gas stream to thereby provide a heated gas stream; passing said heated gas stream to a reaction zone containing a N2O decomposition catalyst and optionally a combination of other catalyst that provides for the decomposition of nitrous oxide or other contaminants and yielding therefrom a product stream having a reduced concentration of nitrous oxide; and passing the product stream to the first heat transfer zone to provide a cooled product stream.
US08613894B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses for anaerobic digestion of waste fibrous material and the recovery of nutrients are provided. Methods, systems, and apparatuses disclosed herein provide mechanisms to release dissolved gases from anaerobic digester effluent. Methods, systems and apparatuses disclosed herein can recover one or more nutrients from anaerobic digested effluent using a range of temperatures, aeration rates, aeration times, pH ranges, and settling times.
US08613887B2
Methods of producing metal nanowires, compositions, and articles are disclosed. Such methods allow production of metal nanowires with reproducibly uniform diameter and length, even in the presence of catalyst concentration variation. Such metal nanowires are useful for electronics applications.
US08613869B2
A practical novel phosphor material composed of an α-type silicon nitride, i.e., an α-type silicon nitride phosphor containing a fluorescence-emittable element throughout an α-type silicon nitride particle from the surface to the inside, is provided. Portions having a high emittable element concentration are preferably present like islands, and the fluorescence-emittable element is preferably a lanthanide metal. A powder composed of a fluorescence-emittable element is added to silicon diimide (Si(NH)2) or an amorphous silicon nitride powder obtained by thermally decomposing silicon diimide (Si(NH)2), the powders are mixed, and the mixture is fired in a non-oxidizing atmosphere, whereby the phosphor material is obtained.
US08613868B2
The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formula I, In Formula I, R1 and R2 are each independently selected from hydrogen, and optionally substituted hydrocarbyl, provided that at least one of R1 and R2 is selected from optionally substituted hydrocarbyl (e.g., tertiary butyl); n is 0, 1 or 2, and each R3 is independently selected from optionally substituted hydrocarbyl; L1 is a divalent linking group, such as a bond or —C(O)O—; each L2 independently represents a flexible segment, such as divalent linear or branched C1-C25 alkyl; each L3 independently represents a rigid segment including, for example, optionally substituted phenylen-1,4-diyl groups; t is from 1 to 4; m and p are each independently from 0 to 4 for each t, provided that the sum of m and p is at least 1 for each t; and E can be, for example, C5-C18 aryl. The present invention also relates to compositions, such as liquid crystal compositions, and articles, such as optical elements, that include the compound represented by Formula I.
US08613861B2
A method of manufacturing vertical transistors includes steps of: forming a conductive layer on the surface of a substrate with a ditch and two support portions; removing the conductive layer on the bottom wall of the ditch and top walls of the support portions via anisotropic etching through a etch back process; forming an oxidized portion in the ditch; and etching the conductive layer to form two gates without contacting each other. By forming the conductive layer on the surface of the ditch and adopting selective etching of the etch back process, the problem of forming sub-trenches caused by lateral etching or uneven etching rate that might otherwise occur in the conventional etching process is prevented, and the risk of damaging metal wires caused by increasing etching duration also can be averted.
US08613850B2
A system for electrochemical quantitative analysis is provided. The system includes a measuring apparatus having a plurality of analysis modes. Each of the analysis modes is for quantitatively analyzing different biochemical substance. The system further includes a plurality of test strips. Each of the test strips has a different identification component for a different analysis mode. When one of the plurality of test strips is selected to electronically connect to the measuring apparatus, the measuring apparatus executes one of the plurality of analysis modes according to the identification component of the selected test strip to quantitatively analyze a corresponding biochemical substance.
US08613849B2
Substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions. The substantially anhydrous electropolishing electrolyte solutions described herein do not use water as a solvent; instead, such electropolishing electrolyte solutions use anhydrous alcohols and/or glycols as a solvent. For example, an electropolishing electrolyte solution, as described herein, may include an alcohol, at least one mineral acid, and phosphorous pentoxide (“P2O5”). Methods of electropolishing metal articles using such electropolishing electrolyte solutions are disclosed herein as well.
US08613848B2
A device for the concurrent oxygen generation and control of carbon dioxide for life support system involves two stages, where a first stage removes CO2 from an exhalent side of a ventilation loop and a second stage employs Ceramic Oxygen Generators (COGs) to convert CO2 into carbon and O2. The first stage includes a plurality of chambers and means to switch the ventilation loop through at least one of the chambers, where CO2 removal is carried out before discharge of the CO2 depleted gas to an inhalant side of the ventilation loop, and to exclude the ventilation loop from the remaining chambers of the first stage, where these chambers are placed in communication with the second stage. The second stage has two portions separated by the COGs such that CO2 and the formed carbon remain on an intake portion from the O2 rich atmosphere on the exhaust side, which is plumbed via a metering valve to introduce the O2 rich atmosphere to the inhalant side of the ventilation loop.
US08613838B2
One or more computer implemented systems for continuously processing used oils are provided. The system can include a feedstock tank containing feedstock. The feedstock tank can have a sparger and a level sensor. The feedstock tank can be in fluid communication with a first pump, a first filter, a heater, a second filter, first flow meter, a primary nozzle, a secondary nozzle, a motionless inline static mixer, and a first reactor.
US08613837B2
The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the specific microorganisms present in a particular potion of a papermaking processes. The method involves obtaining a sample from the process which is such that little or no live examples of the microorganism remain. However because DNA from the organisms is still present, an analysis which identifies portions of DNA specific to the particular organism will correctly identify the microorganism present. This allows for analysis of infestations present on felts or paper sheets which typically no longer have many live microorganisms on them when samples are taken for analysis.
US08613834B2
A paper coating or binding formulation comprises an aqueous polymer dispersion comprising a copolymer obtained by polymerization of an unsaturated monomer and a carbohydrate derived compound and a tetrasulfonate-based fluorescent whitening agent. The carbohydrate derived compound can be selected from the group consisting of dextrins, maltodextrins, and mixtures thereof. Methods of preparing a paper coating or binding formulation and improving the whitening properties of paper are also provided. Furthermore, paper including a copolymer obtained by polymerization of an unsaturated monomer and a carbohydrate derived compound and a tetrasulfonate-based fluorescent whitening agent is also disclosed.
US08613833B2
Aqueous slurries of finely divided fillers which are at least partly covered by anionic latices, the slurries being obtainable by treating aqueous slurries of finely divided fillers with at least one anionic latex with a glass transition temperature of −5 to −50° C., preparation of the aqueous slurries and their use as an additive to the paper stock in the production of filler-containing paper, filler-containing cardboard or filler-containing board by draining the paper stock.
US08613828B2
The present invention concerns a procedure for the production of a plasma that is at least co-produced in the vacuum chamber (1a) of a vacuum recipient (1) of a device suitable for plasma processing with at least one induction coil (2) carrying an alternating current, where the gas used to produce the plasma is fed into the vacuum chamber (1a) through at least one inlet (3) and the vacuum chamber (1a) is subject to the pumping action of at least one pump arrangement (4), and where a possibly pulsed direct current is also applied to the induction coil (2) in order to influence the plasma density.
US08613827B2
A plasma treatment system for treating a workpiece with a downstream-type plasma. The processing chamber of the plasma treatment system includes a chamber lid having a plasma cavity disposed generally between a powered electrode and a grounded plate, a processing space separated from the plasma cavity by the grounded plate, and a substrate support in the processing space for holding the workpiece. A direct plasma is generated in the plasma cavity. The grounded plate is adapted with openings that remove electrons and ions from the plasma admitted from the plasma cavity into the processing space to provide a downstream-type plasma of free radicals. The openings may also eliminate line-of-sight paths for light between the plasma cavity and processing space. In another aspect, the volume of the processing chamber may be adjusted by removing or inserting at least one removable sidewall section from the chamber lid.
US08613822B2
A low emissivity and EMI shielding transparent composite film typically for use in association with window glazing and comprising a transparent film substrate having on one side thereof an underlayer of abrasion resistant hardcoat material with at least one infrared reflective layer covering the underlayer, typically a metallic layer which may be encased in metal oxide layers, which is then covered with a thin external protective top coat of a cured fluorinated resin.
US08613812B2
A method of making a Zr-rich amorphous alloy article includes providing a Zr-rich master alloy made of an Zr—Cu—Al—Ni—Nb alloy, in which the purity of the raw Zr is substantially in a range of 98% to 99.9%; providing a vacuum induction furnace, and melting the Zr-rich master alloy in the furnace at a temperature in a range of 1100 degrees Celsius to 1200 degrees Celsius; cooling the master alloy to a temperature in a range from 800 degrees Celsius to 900 degrees Celsius in 30 min to 40 min; casting the master alloy into ingots, and then cooling the ingots to a temperature in a range from 200 degrees Celsius to 350 degrees Celsius; and die casting the alloy ingots to obtain Zr-rich amorphous alloy articles with thicknesses in a range of 0.5 mm to 2 mm. A Zr-rich amorphous alloy article made by the above-mentioned method is further provided.
US08613811B2
The present invention provides a graphene-coated member of a novel structure, and a process for producing such graphene-coated members. A graphene-coated member according to a first invention is a graphene-coated member that has a graphene film on a surface of a metallic base of a desired shape. The base includes carbon in a solid-solution state, and the graphene film is formed from solid-solution carbon precipitated at the base surface.
US08613794B2
A process for producing a pressurized CO2 stream in a power plant integrated with a CO2 capture unit, wherein the power plant comprises at least one gas turbine (1) coupled to a heat recovery steam generator unit (2) and the CO2 capture unit comprises an absorber (18) and a regenerator (21), the process comprising the steps of: (a) introducing hot exhaust gas exiting a gas turbine into a heat recovery steam generator unit to produce a first amount of steam and a flue gas stream (17) comprising CO2; (b) removing CO2 from the flue gas stream comprising CO2 by contacting the flue gas stream with absorbing liquid in an absorber (18) to obtain absorbing liquid enriched in CO2 (20) and a purified flue gas stream; (c) contacting the absorbing liquid enriched in CO2 with a stripping gas at elevated temperature in a regenerator (21) to obtain regenerated absorbing liquid and a gas stream enriched in CO2 (23); (d) pressurizing the gas stream enriched in CO2 using a CO2 compressor (24) to obtain the pressurized CO2 stream, wherein a first part of the steam produced in the heat recovery steam generator unit is used to drive the CO2 compressor (13).
US08613790B2
A lance for injecting a solid material into a vessel, such as a direct smelting vessel for producing molten iron, has a core tube assembly comprising a passageway for solid material. The core tube assembly has an inlet for receiving solid material at a rear end and an outlet for discharging material at a forward end. The core tube assembly comprises an outer tube of a structural material and an inner tube of a wear resistant material that are bonded together. A method of manufacturing the core tube assembly may include spin casting the outer tube of the structural material; spin casting the inner tube of the wear resistant material onto the inner surface of the outer tube; and metallurgically bonding the tubes together.
US08613783B2
A process for refining raw materials containing oil and/or bitumen includes supplying water and the raw materials to an expulsion stage and/or an expulsion stage and a downstream gasification stage to obtain solids containing non-evaporated fractions of heavy hydrocarbons and to expel hydrocarbonaceous vapor. The expelled hydrocarbonaceous vapor is supplied to a processing stage and is further processed to expel hydrocarbonaceous vapor to obtain processing stage products which are separated and withdrawn. The solids from the expulsion stage and/or the expulsion stage and the downstream gasification stage are introduced into a combustion stage. The non-evaporated fractions of heavy hydrocarbons are burned in the combustion stage to obtain hot solids which are recirculated from the combustion stage into the expulsion stage and/or the downstream gasification stage. An oxidizing atmosphere of the combustion stage is separated from an atmosphere of the expulsion stage and/or the downstream gasification stage using a blocking device.
US08613782B2
A rotating heat regenerator is used to recover heat from the syngas at it exits the reactor vessel of a waste or biomass gasifier. In some embodiments, three or more streams are passed through the heat exchanger. One stream is the dirty syngas, which heats the rotating material. A second stream is a cold stream that is heated as it passes through the material. A third stream is a cleaning stream, which serves to remove particulates that are collected on the rotating material as the dirty syngas passes through it. This apparatus can also be used as an auto-heat exchanger, or it can exchange heat between separate flows in the gasifier process. The apparatus can also be used to reduce the heating requirement for the thermal residence chamber (TRC) used downstream from the gasification system.
US08613778B2
The present invention is related to an oxidative colouring composition for keratin fibres especially human hair. The present invention is a composition comprising at least one hair dye and at least one magnesium salt. Furthermore, it is the use of at least one magnesium salt in a composition comprising at least one hair dye for preventing warming up and increase of its volume upon mixing with an aqueous composition comprising at least one oxidizing agent. Present invention is at the same time on the process for colouring keratin fibres with the use of the compositions.
US08613776B2
An extracellular matrix (ECM)-based scaffold suitable for artificial skin as well as other structures can be formed using a bioreactor fabricated with a pattern that introduces desired structural features, on the microscale and/or nanoscale, to ECM-precursors gelled in the bioreactor. The bioreactor can produce a finely patterned scaffold—over clinically relevant size scales—sufficiently robust for routine handling. Preformed ECM-based scaffolds can also have microscale and/or nano-scale structural features introduced into a surface thereof. ECM-based scaffolds may be formed with well-defined structural features via microetching and/or remodeling via ‘contact degradation.’ A surface-activated pattern can be used to degrade the ECM-based scaffold at contact regions between the pattern and the ECM. The produced ECM-based scaffolds can have structures of dimensions conducive to host tissue ingrowth while preserving the fibrous structure and ligand density of natural ECMs.
US08613760B2
A dynamic fixation medical implant having at least two bone anchors includes a longitudinal connecting member assembly having an elongate core and an outer sleeve. The core may be substantially cylindrical, of one-piece construction, and includes end portions for attachment to the bone anchors. A portion of the core extending between the bone anchors has at least one slit. The outer sleeve may include compression grooves. The sleeve surrounds the core and extends between the pair of bone anchors, the sleeve being compressible in a longitudinal direction between the bone anchors.
US08613758B2
An insert for establishing a desired spacing between a pair of succeeding vertebrae and having a body including an extending end for supporting a location associated with a first selected lumbar vertebrae. An opposite extending end supports a spaced apart and opposing location associated with a second successively positioned lumbar vertebrae. Upon pre-positioning the body in an open space established between the vertebrae, an actuating input causes the first extending end to displace outwardly relative to the second end and into contacting support with the vertebrae.
US08613754B2
A filter to be placed in a flow of blood through a vessel. The filter includes a hub disposed along a longitudinal axis and a plurality of anchor members extending from the hub. Each anchor member includes either a cranial extension or a caudal extension at a distal end thereof. At least one anchor member distal end is spaced from the hub at each of a first, second, and third distance along the longitudinal axis. The filter also includes a plurality of locator members extending from the hub, the locator members alternatingly interposed between the anchor members.
US08613747B2
A percutaneous and minimally invasive instrument for inserting an interspinous process spacer into a patient is disclosed. The insertion instrument includes a first assembly connected to a handle assembly. The first assembly includes an inner shaft located inside an outer shaft; the inner and outer shafts being configured for relative translational motion with respect to each other to thereby deflect at least one prong formed on one of the inner or outer shafts wherein such deflection causes engagement with a juxtapositioned interspinous spacer. The instrument further includes a driving tool configured for removable insertion into a proximal end of a passageway of the instrument. The driving tool has a distal spacer engaging portion configured to engage that part of the spacer requiring activation for deployment of the spacer from at least one undeployed configuration to at least one deployed configuration and vice versa.
US08613744B2
System and methods for channeling a path into bone include a trocar having a proximal end, distal end and a central channel disposed along a central axis of the trocar. The trocar includes a radial opening at or near the distal end of the trocar. The system includes a curveable cannula sized to be received in the central channel, the curveable cannula comprising a curveable distal end configured to be extended laterally outward from the radial opening in a curved path extending away from the trocar. The curveable cannula has a central passageway having a diameter configured allow a probe to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path.
US08613743B2
A high-frequency surgical testing device for testing a neutral electrode during treatment, particularly during monopolar coagulation of biological tissue using a high-frequency current. The neutral electrode includes at least one first electrically conductive electrode segment having a first cable for connecting to a high-frequency generator, and a second electrically conductive electrode segment having a second cable for connecting to a high-frequency generator, the first and second electrode segments contacting the tissue. The test device includes an encoding element having a code for describing the neutral electrode and a measurement device for capturing the code describing the neutral electrode. The test device allows an identification of the neutral electrode to ensure safety.
US08613741B1
Described is a device for driving a dermatological laser. The system includes a first diode, an inductor, a switch, and a photodetector. A first end of the inductor is coupled to an end of the first diode, and a second end of the inductor is coupled to a flashlamp. An electrical control of the switch is coupled to a control system, a first end of the switch is coupled to a power source, and a second end of the switch is coupled to the first end of the inductor and the end of the first diode. The photodetector is adapted to measure at least one of output energy or output power of a laser medium pumped by the flashlamp. The photodetector is in communication with the control system for modulating a flashlamp that drives current to maintain a predetermined value of the measured output energy or output power.
US08613737B2
The present invention is directed to a disposable absorbent article. The disposable absorbent article has a longitudinal centerline, a lateral centerline, an outer surface and an inner surface. The absorbent article is folded before use along the lateral direction. The disposable absorbent article comprises a liquid pervious topsheet, a liquid impervious backsheet, an absorbent core disposed therebetween, and an elasticized outer leg cuff. The elasticized outer leg cuff is disposed adjacent to a longitudinal side edge of the absorbent article. The elasticized outer leg cuff has a base and a gasket cuff supported by the base at a joint of the base to the gasket cuff. The gasket cuff is provided with elasticity and has a top gasket cuff surface, an inner cuff extending laterally inwardly from the joint and an outer cuff extending laterally outwardly from the joint. Before use of the absorbent article, the elasticized outer leg cuff is folded laterally inwardly onto the inner surface of the absorbent article such that the top gasket cuff surface faces upwardly.
US08613734B2
A wound closure system and method having a porous pad for providing a reduced pressure to a tissue site is disclosed. The porous pad comprises a porous material formed by spraying a chemical substance that cures to form the porous material which has a body and an outer surface. Both the body and the outer surface have pores wherein the average size of the pores in the outer surface is smaller than the average size of the pores in the body. The porous pad further comprises a pathway formed within the porous material that is adapted to fluidly communicate with a source of reduced pressure.
US08613729B2
An anchor for maintaining a portion of a therapy delivery element within a desired location of a patient has (i) a first opening, (ii) a second opening, (iii) a body member formed of elastic material disposed between the first and second opening, (iv) and a lumen extending though the body member from the first opening to the second opening, and (v) a retention element secured to or integrally formed with the body member for retaining the anchor within a tissue location of a patient.
US08613727B2
A surgical access device, such as a trocar, includes a pendent valve having an elongate structure extending from a proximal end to a septum valve disposed at a distal end. In operation, the elongate structure follows the angle of the instrument to pre-position the septum valve into the path of the instrument where it is not significantly challenged during instrument insertion or manipulation. The pendant valve can be made to float at both the proximal end and the distal end of the elongate structure, to further reduce the vulnerability of the septum valve. Since the valve is less vulnerable to instrument insertion, it can be formed to minimize friction and maximize the functional range of the access device.
US08613722B2
A multilayer balloon catheter is formed to have an inner layer and an outer layer, where the outer layer is adapted to resist shredding and premature rupture. The outer layer is formed of a material having a glass transition temperature that is lower than the transition or melting temperature of the inner layer. By forming the balloon on a mold at a temperature between the glass transition temperature of the outer layer and the glass transition or melting temperature of the inner layer, the outer layer will undergo a thermal relaxation that will alleviate some of the axial orientation of the polymer chains that develop during the formation of the multilayer balloon. This relaxation leads to a resistance to shredding when the balloon is expanded during operation.
US08613718B2
A tampon applicator having an outer member adapted to house a tampon and receive an inner member. The outer member includes a fingergrip region having an indentation region that extends inwardly from the outer surface of the outer member. The indentation region has a depth dimension that is measured from the outer surface of the outer member to a lowest point of the indentation region. The indentation region comprises a first raised portion and a second raised portion, each of which having a height dimension that is measured from an individual raised portion's base to an individual raised portion's highest point, wherein the height dimension is less than the depth dimension. The first raised portion is a different size and a different shape as compared to the second raised portion.
US08613716B2
A custom device and method for fabricating the custom device includes marking a body with reference points and/or other indicators. Multiple images of the body from multiple angles are then obtained. The images are used to determine the contours of the body and the other markings are located and used to design the custom device. The custom device can be fabricated as a single piece structure or in multiple pieces that are assembled to complete the custom device.
US08613714B2
Disclosed is an autonomically functioning, battery-powered apparatus for non-invasive delivery of transcranial ultrasound. Insonation is directed by electronic circuitry and programmable instructions in memory and is modulated to achieve stereotemporal modulation of insonation so as to eliminate the need for assisted cooling. The apparatus is provided with registration members to facilitate stereotactic placement of transducer arrays and does not require diagnostic imaging guidance during setup and operation. Insonation is directed by electronic circuitry and programmable instructions in memory and is modulated to achieve stereotemporal modulation of insonation so as to eliminate the need for assisted cooling.
US08613713B2
The present invention generally relates to a medical surgical device and specifically a wire guide for percutaneous placement within a body cavity. The flexibility of the wire guide may be varied while it is in place within the body vessel.
US08613709B2
An ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitor with a jumpered sensing electrode and method of use for female and large-girthed patients is provided. Self-powered ECG sensing circuitry is fully enclosed in a housing with electrode receptacles on a bottom surface. A flexible and stretchable electrode mounting panel is provided with a layer of skin adhesive. A standoff pad is placed between the housing and the electrode mounting panel. Sensing electrodes are mounted on opposite ends of the mounting panel. Each sensing electrode includes an electrode pad facing the skin contacting surface and an oppositely-facing electrode plug. Each plug is removably and pivotably couplable into the receptacles. A jumper wire assembly includes a jumper plug electrically connected to a jumper receptacle. The jumper plug is removably and pivotably couplable into the receptacles and the jumper receptacle is removably and pivotably couplable into the plugs on the mounting panel opposite from the standoff pad.
US08613707B2
A method for monitoring cardiac output (pulmonary blood flow) of a subject, the method including: measuring a first net pulmonary uptake or elimination of a breathed gas species by the subject and a first partial pressure of the gas species at a first time, and at a second time later than the first time, determining a first pulmonary blood flow of the patient at the first time, and determining a pulmonary blood flow of the subject at the second time on the basis of the first pulmonary blood flow, the first net pulmonary uptake or elimination, the second net pulmonary uptake or elimination, the first partial pressure, and the second partial pressure.
US08613705B2
An implantable system for monitoring a hydration state of a patient and adjusting fluid removal from the patient includes a pressure sensor implantable within an inferior vena cava of the patient and a processor. The pressure sensor senses and generates an output representative of a baseline inferior vena caval pressure value of the patient and chronically senses and generates outputs representative of an inferior vena caval pressure value of the patient. The processor compares differences between the baseline inferior vena caval pressure value and subsequent inferior vena caval pressure values. The processor can reside in another implantable device or in an external device/system.
US08613688B2
In a gearbox, a stationary gear component such as a ring gear of a planetary gear comprises a tooth trace correction that varies along the tooth trace so as to provide for superior load distribution in the gearbox. In some illustrative embodiments, the gearbox is a component of a wind power plant wherein the circumferentially varying tooth trace correction of the stationary ring gear results in superior durability and performance.
US08613681B2
A hydraulic control system in a transmission includes a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and a compensator valve in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and a torque transmitting device. The compensator valve is operable to allow communication of the hydraulic fluid from the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the torque transmitting device to release the torque transmitting device. A regulation valve is in communication with the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and the torque transmitting device. The regulation valve is moveable between a first position that prevents the hydraulic fluid from communicating with the torque transmitting device and a second position that allows the hydraulic fluid to communicate with the torque transmitting device to engage the torque transmitting device. An override feature is operable to prevent the compensator valve from communicating the hydraulic fluid to the torque transmitting device when the torque transmitting device is engaged.
US08613679B2
The proposed device enables to improve cushioning properties, increase ball flying speed, improve twisting of a ball. The said technical effect is achieved owing to that the proposed bat comprises a base, a handle and an elastic pad connected to the base outer surface. Protrusions on the elastic pad are distributed evenly. The said protrusions are made T-shaped, in the form of a leg and a head combined with the said leg. The legs are connected to the elastic pad. The heads of the neighboring T-shaped protrusions are brought into contact therebetween.
US08613672B2
A game system includes an image output device connected to a display device via wiring and a game apparatus capable of wirelessly communicating with the image output device. The game apparatus performs a game process and generates an image based on the game process. The generated image is transmitted to the image output device. The image output device receives the image transmitted by the game apparatus. The received image is outputted from the image output device to the display device and displayed on the display device.
US08613667B2
A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting an indication to initiate a lighting presentation on a wagering game machine of a bank of wagering game machines. The operations can also include determining a position offset associated with the wagering game machine based, at least in part, on a position of the wagering game machine within the bank of wagering game machines relative to a reference wagering game machine of the bank of wagering game machines. The operations can further include determining a position-based time delay for initiating the lighting presentation on the wagering game machine based, at least in part, on the position offset associated with the wagering game machine, and initiating the lighting presentation on the wagering game machine after the position-based time delay associated with the wagering game machine.
US08613665B2
A game controller includes a plurality of LEDs formed on the rear of a case. The plurality of LEDs are arranged two-dimensionally in its layout area. The game controller has a plurality of PWM control units which are provided inside the case and control the lighting of the plurality of LEDs, respectively. The PWM control units control the lighting of the LEDs based on a control signal from a game apparatus. The game apparatus acquires a captured image of the game controller, and acquires the position of the game controller in the captured image based on the positions of the LEDs in the captured image.
US08613664B2
A gaming system includes a wagering interface that may include a plurality of player-selectable quick-bet elements with each quick-bet element indicating a different total wager for a spin of the plurality of reels. Each total wager is divided among a plurality of paylines associated with positions on the reels. A window is configured to display a subset of the plurality of quick-bet elements. A quick-bet element selection slider is configured to allow each of the plurality of player-selectable quick-bet elements to be displayed within the window. The selection slider is movable to a plurality of positions along a slider path such that the position of the selection slider on the slider path determines the subset of quick-bet elements to be displayed in the window. A wagering interface may include a toggling element for switching from a wagering interface having a plurality of player-selectable quick-bet elements to a classic-bet wagering interface.
US08613655B2
Techniques are describe for providing group play events with multiple game devices. Group play events are triggered by any game device that qualifies to participate, so that when any qualifying game device triggers a group play event, all qualifying game devices participate in the group play event. In some situations, a probability for triggering a group play event is adjusted to accommodate for a dynamically changing number of game devices that qualify over time.
US08613651B2
A gaming device method and apparatus is disclosed, and is based on simulated movement of a train, or a vehicle, on a route from an origination point to a destination point. In a preferred embodiment, a random number generator is used to assign speed limits that bound the safe movement of a train in a scenario, and/or to select the actual speed of the train in the scenario. A winning scenario is defined by the train reaching its destination, and occurs when the train maintains its actual speed within the safe speed limits. This gaming concept could be implemented as a primary gaming device, or as a bonus game in a traditional gaming machine. In an alternate embodiment, a spinning wheel, controlled by a random number generator, is used to select a destination for a train approaching a track juncture. At least one destination is pre-defined as a winning destination.
US08613644B2
A tool for moving an abrasive media can include a tool body and a drive system housed in the tool body. The drive system can include an output member. A retaining member can be disposed on the tool body. A first platen having a first attachment hub can be selectively coupled with the retaining member in an installed position. The first platen can have a first rotatable member that selectively attaches to the output member in a first mode of operation. A second platen having a second attachment hub can selectively couple with the retaining member in an installed position. The second platen can have a second rotatable member that selectively attaches to the output member in a second mode of operation.
US08613642B2
Various systems, tools, and methods are described for rendering regions of coated pipe suitable for receiving press fittings. The systems, tools, and methods may also be applicable for transforming regions of pipe, coated or uncoated, and which are otherwise unsuitable for sealingly engaging press fittings, so that reliable and leak-proof seals can be made between the pipe and press fittings.
US08613640B2
A system for magnetorheological finishing of a substrate. An integrated fluid management module (IFMM) provides dynamic control of the rheological fluid properties of the MR fluid on a conventional MR finishing apparatus, and dispensing of the fluid to the wheel. A magnetically shielded chamber charged with MR fluid is in contact with the carrier wheel. A transverse line removes the spent MR fluid from the wheel as the ribbon leaves the work zone. Replenishment fluid is added to the chamber via a dripper, and preferably an electric mixer agitates MR fluid in the chamber. A grooved magnetically-shielded insert at the exit of the chamber forms a polishing ribbon on the carrier wheel as the wheel is turned. A sensor sensitive to concentration of magnetic particles provides a signal for control of MR fluid properties, particularly, water content in the MR fluid. Means is provided for cooling fluid within the chamber.
US08613636B2
The present invention is a Low-Drag Fin and Foil System for Surfboards (10), particularly including cambered fin foils (40; 42). The invention (10) also discloses low-drag, directionally unstable fin positions wherein the lesser of negative angle of attack of a trailing fin (50), versus the higher or positive angle of attack of a forward fin (48), makes the board (12) highly maneuverable by creating a yawing moment that aids the rotation of the board (12) as it is turned. The system particularly utilizes fins (40) having foil (42) shapes in which either the cambered side (74) or the non-cambered side (76) is provided with a combination of a convex curvature (68) and a concave curvature (70) to result in an oscillating curvature (72) which has a positive effect on control and acceleration.
US08613634B2
One embodiment of the invention comprises a method for controlling a marine vessel having a first steerable propulsor, a corresponding first reversing device, a second steerable propulsor and a corresponding second reversing device. The method comprises receiving a first vessel control signal corresponding to a rotational movement and no translational movement command, generating at least a first actuator control signal and a second actuator control signal in response to the first vessel control signal, coupling the first actuator control signal to and controlling the first steerable propulsor and the second steerable propulsor, and coupling the second actuator control signal to and controlling the first reversing device and to the second reversing device. The method creates rotational forces on the marine vessel with substantially no translational forces on the marine vessel.
US08613632B1
An electrical connector assembly includes a cage member with walls that define an upper port and a lower port. The cage member has openings in a front thereof for receiving pluggable modules. A receptacle connector is received in the cage member proximate to a rear thereof. The electrical connector assembly includes a printed circuit board having a first surface and a second surface. The printed circuit board has at least one thermal vent that extends therethrough between the first and second surfaces. At least one thermal vent provides cooling for the lower port.
US08613628B2
A card edge connector includes an elongated housing; upper and lower stage contacts and held by the housing; and arm members for pressing, toward a connector mounting surface, a memory module to be displaced in a direction away from the connector mounting surface. Inserting an arm inserted portion of each arm member in an insertion groove of the housing allows the housing to hold each arm member freely swingable about the arm inserted portion with respect to the housing. Hemispherical projections for securing at least a predetermined amount of gap amounts of swing gaps are provided in the swing gaps and formed in the longitudinal direction of the housing between the arm member within the insertion groove and the housing.
US08613623B2
A radical-polymerizable acrylic insulating adhesive for NCF-bonding an electronic part to a circuit board includes a (meth)acrylate monomer, a film-forming resin, an inorganic filler, a silane coupling agent, and a radical polymerization initiator. The amount of the inorganic filler is 70 to 160 parts by mass with respect to a total of 100 parts by mass of the (meth)acrylate monomer and the film-forming resin. A radical polymerization cured product of the acrylic insulating adhesive exhibits a glass transition temperature of 150 to 185° C., a linear expansion coefficient (α1) of 30 to 35 ppm in a temperature range that is lower than the glass transition temperature, and a linear expansion coefficient (α2) of 105 to 125 ppm in a temperature range that is equal to or higher than the glass transition temperature. Further, α2/α1 is greater than or equal to 3.4.
US08613621B2
An artificial body wall is disclosed herein. The artificial body wall may include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is substantially formed of a silicone rubber and includes at least one of an artificial epidermis-dermis layer or an artificial subcutaneous layer. The second layer extends along and below the first layer and is substantially formed of a silicone rubber. The second layer includes at least one of an artificial fascia layer or an artificial muscle layer. At least one of the first layer or second layer may be vascularized.
US08613618B2
A rinsing instrument (1) including a vibration part (30) and a spraying part (20) which can be coupled to each other. The spraying part includes a hollow cylindrical body (21) with an input end (23) and a narrow needle (25); an axially displaceable piston (22) arranged in the interior of the body, which at its free side directed away from the spraying mouth is provided with a coupling member (27) for coupling to the vibration part, for instance a threading. The vibration part includes a housing (31) which at an end is provided with a coupling member (32) for coupling to the spraying part, for instance a threading; a vibration generator (34) mounted in the housing, for instance a motor; a battery chamber (39) for receiving a battery (35) providing electrical supply to the vibration generator; a user-controllable switch (36) mounted in the housing for actuating the vibration generator.
US08613615B2
The food product machine with a food supply, a rotary food pump connected to the food supply, a molding mechanism having a mold plate and a knockout drive, and a the mold plate configured to be driven to reciprocated between a fill and a discharge position. The knockout drive is reciprocating a knockout plunger to discharge molded food products from a cavity in the mold plate, the mold plate being reciprocated by a mold plate drive between a cavity fill position and a cavity discharge position. The machine further includes a manifold connected an outlet of the food pump and having an outlet passageway connected to an inlet of the molding mechanism for filling the cavity of the mold plate.
US08613610B2
A variable displacement pump includes a pump structural member configured to change volumes of a plurality of working chambers by rotation of a rotor, so as to introduce oil through an inlet port into the working chambers and to discharge the oil through a discharge port, and further configured to oscillate a cam ring by a discharge pressure introduced into a control oil chamber. A first coil spring is provided to force the cam ring in a direction for increasing of a rate of change of the working-chamber volume. A second coil spring is provided to force the cam ring in a direction for decreasing of the rate of change of the working-chamber volume. The first and second coil springs are laid out on both sides of an arm portion of the cam ring in a manner so as to be opposed to each other.
US08613608B2
An outer rotor of a progressive cavity pump includes at least one inner helical rotor with Z external thread starts and at least one adapted outer rotor with a helical cavity with Z+1 internal thread starts. The at least one outer rotor is assembled from several concentric rotor inserts axially following closely one after another, with helical cavities and Z+1 internal thread starts. Each rotor insert is closely surrounded by and concentrically fixed in a common rigid rotor sleeve. There is detachably connected to the rotor sleeve at least one removable end piece with a principally concentric hollow axially extending through it. The through hollow of the end piece or end pieces forms a gradual transition between a principally circular cross section furthest out and a cross section adapted to the helical cavities of the rotor inserts nearest to them.
US08613606B2
A bellows pump having a pump body including a suction path and a discharge path for a fluid and a bellows which is placed in a state where a basal end flange is airtightly fixed to the pump body to form a pump chamber with respect to the pump body. The bellows pump further comprises an actuation plate which is attached to a head portion of the bellows so as to cause the bellows to expand and contract with respect to the pump body. The bellows is further configured so that an airtight space is formed with between the actuation plate and a cup shape section formed in the head portion, such that a pressure rise can be absorbed and relaxed by contraction of the space portion caused by elastic film deformation of the thin head portion which faces the space portion.
US08613600B2
A vacuum pump system includes a vacuum pump with a brushless, multi-phase, synchronous motor with a permanently magnetically excited rotor, and a pump type recognition element, a control unit for controlling the vacuum pump and having a drive microcontroller and a final stage, and a further microcontroller that monitors a rotational speed of the motor and turning off the final stage in case the rotational speed of the motor exceeds a maximum allowable rotational speed of the motor, and that forms part of the control unit.
US08613590B2
An article of manufacture has a body formed in part of a first metal alloy and in part of a second metal alloy, the second metal alloy having a thermal coefficient of expansion that is less than the thermal coefficient of expansion of the first metal alloy. A BOAS segment for a gas turbine engine is disclosed wherein the formation of cracks due to thermal mechanical fatigue in the body of the disclosed BOAS segment is minimized, if not eliminated, through a unique construction of the disclosed BOAS segment, whether original equipment manufacture or a repaired blade outer air seal. A method for manufacture of a BOAS segment and a method for modifying a BOAS segment are disclosed.
US08613584B2
A system for transferring and moving elements removably associable with a packaging machine comprises at least a transferring unit provided with a movement arrangement suitable for receiving and supporting the elements, the movement arrangement being movable for transferring and/or removing the elements to and/or from the machine; a method for transferring and moving elements removably associable with a packaging machine provides supporting and conveying the elements using at least a transferring unit and transferring and/or removing the elements to and/or from the packaging machine using the movement arrangement of the transferring unit.
US08613576B2
The invention relates to a cutting insert having two working surfaces facing away from each other and having a through hole extending between the working surfaces for receiving a fastening bolt, having a peripheral cutter rim having a cutting edge on each working surface and a central recess surrounded annularly by the cutter rim, having a number of segment-like molded parts corresponding to the number of different cutter positions of a working surface, for positioning the cutting insert in the corresponding cutting position.
US08613574B2
A cutting tool having an outer surface with a plurality of inserts connected to a distinct pocket extending generally radially on the outer surface. The cutting inserts are arranged in a helical array on the outer surface in a manner that at least one cutting edge of each cutting insert is spaced in an angular circumferential direction from the pocket of the next adjacent cutting insert. The spacing of the inserts is such that a distinct point on the each one of the one or more cutting edges define part of a layout line having a non-uniform slope.
US08613564B2
A quick disconnect device for detachably holding a long gun or other elongated emergency tool (EET). The quick disconnect device receives and captures the ball of a ball-and-stem structure that is attached to the EET. The quick disconnect device may allow the EET to rotate about the central axis of the stem, but otherwise prevents relative translational and rotational motion between the EET and the quick disconnect device. The quick disconnect device is especially suitable for mounting to clothing, such as a utility belt or a ballistic vest. the quick disconnect device allows the EET to be inserted without requiring the user to directly manipulate the quick connection device, but requires the user to manipulate some sort of mechanism on the quick connect device in order to release the EET.
US08613557B2
The rolling bearing comprises an inner ring 1, an outer ring 2, at least one row of rolling elements and at least one seal 7 provided between said outer and inner rings. The seal 7 has, in cross section, the overall shape of a H and comprises internal lips 21, 22 and external lips 23, 24 forming the two substantially parallel branches of said H. The inner and outer rings 1, 2 comprise opposite radial ribs 25, 26 located axially between the internal and external lips 21 to 24 to axially retain the seal.
US08613556B2
A constant velocity joint support bearing system having a bearing assembly supporting a first shaft connected to one member of the constant velocity joint. A first labyrinth seal on one axial side of the bearing assembly is formed by a shoulder that is unitary with the outer member of the constant velocity joint and by a radially inward projection on a bearing support bracket holding in place the outer race of the bearing assembly. A second labyrinth seal is formed between a cylindrical section of the bearing support bracket and an annular member that axially retains the bearing on the first shaft. Both the bearing support bracket and the annular member are formed from stamped sheet metal. The shoulder and the annular member are shaped to promote centrifugal slinging of contaminants away from the bearing assembly.
US08613554B2
A self-aligning bearing assembly utilizing PDC buttons for forming opposing circumferential arrays of bearing surfaces, is particularly suitable for use in a fluid environment, such as being immersed in flowing water when supporting the rotor of a hydroelectric turbine. One bearing surface is supported for rotation with the rotor. The opposing bearing surface is supported by a spherical joint in a stationary housing. When the rotor is subjected to hydraulic loading, the opposing bearing surface can be tilted to self-align with the rotor axis.
US08613546B2
One or more techniques and/or systems are described herein for cleaning a portion of a radiographic examination apparatus whereon debris may accumulate. Typically, the portion being cleaned is within a scanning field of the radiographic examination device (e.g., within a portion of the radiographic examination device through which radiation traverses). Activation of a cleaning mechanism, or a portion thereof, may be timed to miss radiation emitted during a scan, and thus not interfere with a scan. Also, the cleaning mechanism, or a portion thereof, may be located so as to not attenuate radiation. If radiation is attenuated by the cleaning mechanism corrective techniques can be implemented to account for such attenuation.
US08613545B2
The present invention describes a scan adiabatic resistive calorimeter (SARC) 1 with ohm heating of the sample 20, which measures the heating enthalpy and is formed of an inner cylinder 11 and a couple of pistons 15 and 16, thus forming said elements a cylindrical chamber hermetically closed 10, which avoids that during its operation can be material losses by leaks. Pistons 15 and 16 have, in one of their ends an electrode 31 and 36 respectively and they pass the electrical heating flow through the sample 20. In reference to this electric flow, the applied power is calculated and therefore, the supplied heat to the sample 20, which is equal to the specific enthalpy. To assure that the whole of the electric flow is conducted through the sample 20, the inner cylinder 11 is electrically isolated. The SARC 1 with ohm heating of the sample 20 is formed additionally of a spring with which the pressure of the experiment can be controlled and of instruments that include actuators 60, sensors and the necessary conditioning to make available in a computer 81, added to the calorimeter, the control objects and the controlled variables.
US08613544B2
A band, a wristwatch with the band and a method of making the band are described. The band includes a strip-like body with a series of holes provided therein along a length thereof for adjusting an effective length thereof. The body includes a band-shaped support layer of woven or knit fabric of bundles of one or more kinds of fibers, the fibers being selected from a group including carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers and boron fibers. The body also includes a first resin layer adhering closely to one surface of the support layer, and a second resin layer adhering closely to the other surface of the support layer. The fibers of the support layer extend at a predetermined angle to longitudinal and transverse directions of the body.
US08613543B2
An on-board auxiliary tank system for supplying makeup water and chemical additives to a transit concrete mixing vehicle is disclosed. The system includes a water tank having a sloped, generally concave upper section, spaced sides and a bottom designed for deployment nested beneath a mixing drum of a transit concrete mixing vehicle and defining a water compartment and a pair of elongate support block members for supporting the water tank situated beneath the sides of the tank and adapted to be attached thereto by removable latch fasteners. The block members include elements suitable for fastening the blocks to a concrete mixing vehicle.
US08613541B2
A backlight module includes a light guide plate and a plurality of light sources. The light guide plate includes a wedge-shaped light incident part and a flat panel. The wedge-shaped light incident part and the flat panel have a common bottom surface. The height of the wedge-shaped light incident part is greater than that of the flat panel. The wedge-shaped light incident part includes a light incident surface perpendicular to the bottom surface and a sloped surface sloping relative to the light incident surface and connects to the flat panel. The sloped surface defines a plurality of V-shaped grooves for preventing light leak. The flat panel includes a light emitting surface opposite to the bottom surface. The plurality of light sources is positioned adjacent to the light incident surface.
US08613540B1
The present invention provides a light guide plate having reduced hot spots comprising an input surface for receiving light from a plurality of discrete light sources, an output surface for emitting light, a bottom surface opposing to the output surface, and an end surface opposing to the input surface.
US08613534B2
The improvements include an illuminator for a gun comprising a manually manipulated and storable external IR filter with a plurality of radially directed circumferential tabs integrally extending from the frame to allow a manual torque to be applied to the frame to manually screw it into and out of the bezel in the field. A high g-force diaphragm shock mount for the lamp includes a receptacle which positions the longitudinal axis of the lamp on the optical axis of the reflector. The field serviceable lamp assembly is an integrated or modular and sealed unit. A field serviceable electronics module is accessed by removing the rear bezel. The illuminator handle includes a double locked latch lever. A T-Slot to Picatinny adapter allows a SureFire T-rail fitting of the handle to fit a conventional Picatinny rail.
US08613533B2
A light emitting device package is disclosed. The light emitting device package includes a body having a cavity, a light source mounted in the cavity, and at least one optical sheet located on the body to cover the cavity. The optical sheet includes a first layer and a second layer formed on the first layer, wherein the second layer includes a plurality of linear prism parts. At least one of the first layer and the second layer contains a light diffusive member. The light emitting device package has enhanced light emission efficiency and light distribution uniformity.
US08613531B2
To provide a light emitting device that realizes a similar light distribution state to that of a conventional incandescent light bulb even though the light emitting device has a structure with a light emitting element such as an LED placed on a substrate. In the light emitting device in which the LED is placed on the substrate, the light emitting device includes the light guiding member, into which light emitted from the LED enters, while the light guiding member having the launching surface (i.e., the facing-substrate launching surface and the side launching surface) from which the entered light is launched. Meanwhile, the launching surface has the facing-substrate launching surface including a total reflection surface for totally reflecting light incident in the launching surface at a critical angle, in a direction tilted toward a side of the substrate than a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the light emitting device. Furthermore, the launching surface also has the side launching surface including a refractive surface for refracting and launching light, totally reflected by the facing-substrate launching surface, in a direction toward the side of the substrate.
US08613529B2
There is provided a lighting fixture 11 capable of efficiently radiating heat of a lamp device 14 attached to a socket device 13. By attaching the lamp device 14 to the socket device 13, a cap portion 38 of the lamp device is brought into contact with a fixture body 12, and pressed against and brought into contact with the fixture body 12 by an elastic body 30. Heat generated by lighting of LEDs 35 of the lamp device 14 is conducted from the cap portion 38 to the fixture body 12 and efficiently radiated.
US08613528B2
Light fixtures including at least an enclosure, a heat sink, and a light-emitting diode. In one embodiment the heat sink has a first portion having fins (that protrudes outside of the enclosure) and a second portion to house and mount the LEDs (that is positioned within the enclosure). Certain embodiments also provide for gaskets and other structure to prevent leakage between the heat sink and the enclosure, such that the light fixture is water-resistant.
US08613523B2
A lamp comprises a lighting module mounted on a front housing, an electric power supply device connected to the lighting module, a rear pressing part, and means for fixing. The latter comprise a flexible link fixed to the rear pressing part, a securing device having gripping means, means for tensioning, and sliding means of the link designed to move the front housing and the rear pressing part towards one another. The flexible link is formed by a cord, a lace, or a flexible wire, and the gripping means of the securing device are centralized on the rear pressing part.
US08613513B2
A plus power unit and a minus power unit apply a positive voltage and a negative voltage, respectively, to respective charging rollers. A positively charged area and a negatively charged area each of which is equivalent to the width of a short roller in length in a direction vertical to a conveying direction are alternately formed on a surface of a conveying belt. It is ensured to adsorb a leading end and a trailing end of printing paper with a charge pitch width (the width of the positively charged area and the negatively charged area).
US08613494B2
A print device for moving a print head in a scanning direction and printing image data onto a print medium includes a color nozzle row, which is a nozzle row in which nozzles for ejecting P (where P is an integer 2 or higher) types of color ink are arranged side by side in a direction intersecting with the scanning direction, wherein the color nozzle row is constituted of P color nozzle groups, and a black nozzle row, which is a nozzle row in which nozzles for ejecting black ink are arranged side by side in parallel with the direction intersecting with the scanning direction and in parallel with the color nozzle row, wherein the black nozzle row is constituted of P black nozzle groups.
US08613493B1
A method of printing with a mobile printing apparatus having an array of marking elements, the method includes moving the mobile printing apparatus to an initial starting position; providing a first swath of data; printing a first printed swath corresponding to the first swath of data using a first portion of the array of marking elements while moving the mobile printing apparatus along a scan direction; printing a first set of position reference marks using a second portion of the array of marking elements while moving the mobile printing apparatus along the scan direction; providing a second swath of data; sensing the first set of position reference marks; and printing a second printed swath corresponding to the second swath of data, wherein operation of the mobile printing apparatus for printing the second printed swath is guided, at least in part, by the first set of position reference marks.
US08613492B2
In an inkjet apparatus using an inkjet head ejecting multiple types of inks different in viscosity after evaporation of solvent, a replacement timing for a component is judged by using a consumption amount of each type of ink and a generation rate in amount of ink droplets. Accordingly, in the case of using a large amount of ink strongly susceptible to fixed adhesion and increase in viscosity, the component is replaced at an earlier timing, which prevents fixed adhesion from influencing the print performance and the printing apparatus main body. By contrast, in the case of using a large amount of ink less susceptible to fixed adhesion and increase in viscosity, the component is replaced at a later timing and thus can be used until reaching its lifetime.
US08613482B2
A chair chassis is revealed. The chair chassis includes a seat base, a middle base and an adjustment member. A sliding plate is connected to each side of the seat base. A sliding slot is arranged at a front and a rear end of each sliding plate and a pulley is arranged transversely between two sliding slots. The two pulleys connect to a tilting board. The middle base between the two sliding plates connects to the tilting board and the two sliding plates by the pulley on the front end. A third pulley slides over a slant part of the middle base. The adjustment member includes a rack, a locking piece and a lock adjustment rod for control of movement of the locking piece to be engaged with and separated from the rack. Thus users with various weights can use the same chair chassis and operate the chair chassis easier.
US08613477B2
Multi-piece vehicle bed rail covers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a vehicle bed rail cover includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has at least one end that includes a raised feature, and the second portion has at least one end that is free from raised features. The first and the second portions are illustratively joined together in such a manner that a seam is concealed at least in part by the raised feature. The vehicle bed rail cover can also include additional raised features that may be perpendicular or angled with respect to a length of the bed rail cover. Furthermore, the vehicle bed rail cover may include one or more locking mechanisms to join the different portions together, and the vehicle bed rail cover may be made in part by utilizing injection molding.
US08613475B1
A device for assisting access to motor vehicles having a grip handle moveable between at least one stored position and a deployed position for assisting a user to climb up onto the tailgate and bed of a pickup truck is disclosed. A handle arm having the grip handle at one end thereof is pivotally mounted at the other end thereof onto a mounting bracket which itself is installed at the rear and on one side of a pickup truck bed. The handle arm is pivotally moveable between a deployed position extending rearwardly over the tailgate of the pickup truck and at least one stored position within the bed of the pickup truck.
US08613470B2
A seat belt system configured for use in a vehicle includes a seat belt buckle assembly that is configured to determine the both the latch condition of the seat belt buckle assembly with the seat belt tongue, and the tension applied to the seat belt webbing in a seat belt system. The seat belt buckle assembly includes a latch configured to receive and engage the seat belt tongue, a magnet, and a magnetic sensor configured to determine relative displacement of the magnet. The seat belt buckle assembly is configured to cause a first displacement between the magnet and the magnetic sensor in response to engagement of the seat belt tongue with the latch and cause a second displacement between the magnet and the magnetic sensor in response to tension on the seat belt webbing via the seat belt tongue. The first displacement is distinct from the second displacement.
US08613468B2
This disclosure discloses a side-collision airbag apparatus comprising: a side-collision airbag; an inflator configured to inject gas; and an inflator holder configured to support the inflator; wherein: the inflator comprises: an inflator main body portion that is substantially cylindrical in shape and produces the gas; an injecting portion that protrudes from a tip end of the inflator main body portion; and a clasp portion positioned between the inflator main body portion and the injecting portion; the inflator holder comprises: a holding portion configured to hold the inflator; and a diffuser portion having a diffuser tube that has a cross-section substantially elliptical in shape; and the diffuser tube comprises a contraction opening at an end portion in an injection direction of the gas, and is provided so that an end portion opposite the injection direction of the gas faces to the radial outer peripheral side of the clasp portion.
US08613467B2
A pair of right-and-left center pillars, a pair of right-and-left roof side rails, and an inflator provided on the inside, in a vehicle width direction, of the roof side rails and capable of supplying a gas pressure to an airbag are provided. A roof reinforcing member which extends in the vehicle width direction over respective upper end portions of the center pillars or respective nearby portions to upper ends of the center pillars is provided, which includes a front concave portion and a rear concave portion which are concaved downward respectively. The inflator is arranged such that at least a portion of the inflator overlaps with the roof reinforcing member, and a depth of the rear concave portion overlapping with the inflator is shallower than that of the front concave portion positioned nearer the center pillars.
US08613451B2
The present invention provides a cloth seal for use with turbine components. The cloth seal may include a number of cloth layers, a shim positioned between the cloth layers, and an end seal positioned at an end of the cloth layers so as to block a leakage flow path through at least one of the cloth layers.
US08613448B1
A tactile slide puzzle comprises a puzzle support structure, and a plurality of pieces that are slidably disposed on or within the puzzle support structure. The plurality of pieces, when properly configured, form a completed puzzle having a plurality of shapes which protrude outwardly from a surface of said plurality of pieces. Each of said sliding pieces includes a portion of at least one of said plurality of shapes, and each of said plurality of shapes has a textured top surface. The slide puzzle may further include a solution key disposed on the slide puzzle, and the solution key has the same tactile feel as does the completed puzzle. An audible or visual indicator may be included to provide an indication that the puzzle has been properly completed.
US08613447B2
According to various embodiments, an apparatus may laser project a customized ordering of numbers onto a roulette wheel.
US08613445B2
A drive transmission device includes a gear train and a movable gear locking device. The gear train transmits rotational drive to a drive target, and includes a first gear train forming a first transmission path for transmitting the drive to the target, a second gear train forming a second transmission path for transmitting the drive to the target as drive opposite in rotation direction to the drive transmitted by the first gear train, and a movable gear movable between a first drive transmission position whereat the movable gear forms a part of the first gear train to transmit the drive to the target and a second drive transmission position whereat the movable gear forms a part of the second gear train to transmit the drive to the target. The movable gear locking device locks the movable gear at an idle position.
US08613441B2
A sheet transport device and an image forming apparatus using the sheet transport device are disclosed. The sheet transport device includes a transport belt rotating around rollers that transports a sheet by attaching the sheet to the transport belt by an electrostatic force, and charging unit that is unitized by including a charging member for charging the transport belt. The charging unit includes a unit case containing springs for pushing the charging member onto the transport belt. An Ac bias voltage is applied to the transport belt via the charging member.
US08613436B2
In a cover feeding device (1) for feeding covers (13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3) separated from a magazine (3, 3′) to book blocks (14.1, 14.2, 14.3) that are transported while being clamped in book block grippers (2), it is proposed that the magazine (3, 3′) features at least a first lateral stop (6.1) that is arranged such that it can be fixed transverse to the withdrawal direction (12) and against which different covers (13, 13.1, 13.2, 13.3) intended, in particular, for book blocks (14.1, 14.2, 14.3) of different thickness can be jointly placed, and that at least the magazine (3, 3′) can be adjusted transverse to the withdrawal direction (12) such that an edge (17) of the spine region of the respective cover to be separated is withdrawn essentially in alignment with the rigid gripping jaw (2 a).
US08613435B2
A folding line is pressed using both a first and second pressing members of press roller pairs. Further, positions of the first and second pressing members are shifted from each other. When the number of the sheets included in a booklet is a predetermined number or less, the folding line is pressed by only the first pressing member. When the number of the sheets is more than the predetermined number, the folding line is pressed by both the first and second pressing members.
US08613433B2
A self adjusting toggle clamp includes a mounting body, mounting apparatus carried by the mounting body and a clamping link movably attached to the mounting body. An actuating lever having a link element is pivotally coupled to the clamping link and movably coupled to the mounting body by a self adjusting toggle mechanism. The self adjusting toggle mechanism includes a guide carried by the mounting body, a locking element carried by the guide for reciprocal and canting movement, an element pivotally coupled to the link element, and a cam element pivotally coupled to the element and pivotally coupled to the locking element. The cam element is movable between a first condition permitting the locking element to reciprocate along the guide and a second condition bearing against the guide and canting the locking element into frictional engagement with the guide.
US08613419B2
A faucet (10) includes a spout (12), a passageway that conducts fluid flow through the spout (12), a electrically operable valve (22) located within the passageway, a manual valve (20) located within the passageway in series with the electrically operable valve, and a manual handle (14) that controls the manual valve (20). The faucet (10) also includes a first touch sensor (26) on the manual valve handle (14), a second touch sensor (28) on the spout (12), a capacitive sensor (30) directly coupled to one of the first and second touch sensors (26, 28) and capacitively coupled to the other of the first and second touch sensors (26, 28), and a controller (24) coupled to the capacitive sensor (30). The controller (24) is configured to monitor the output signal from the capacitive sensor (30) and to distinguish between a user tapping one of the spout (12) and the manual valve handle (14), a user grabbing the spout (12), and a user grabbing the manual valve handle (14). The controller (24) is also coupled to the electrically operable valve (22) to control the electrically operable valve (22) is response to the output signal from the capacitive sensor (30).
US08613418B2
The present invention relates to an adjustable slump mold for molding a clay slab into a ceramic object. The mold includes a plurality of elongate members. The mold also includes a plurality of connectors connected to and extending from first ends of the elongate members, respectively. Each connector is shaped to slidably receive an adjacent one of the elongate members. The elongate members are thereby slidably connected together via the connectors. The elongate members so connected together form an adjustable mold shape.
US08613416B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus employing two or more members arranged in a mounting configuration to pierce a ceiling and reconfigurable into a deployment configuration to suspend a load from the ceiling.
US08613415B1
A dish lifting device configured to secure to an object and support a communication dish. The dish lifting device can deploy a communication dish connected with a pivoting planar segment. The dish lifting device can stow the communication dish for transport.
US08613413B2
A compact type fine-tuning lifter, which may have a volume of 8 cm×5 cm×4 cm and is able to support an article with the weight of several hundreds of kilograms, and can achieve a fine-tuning of micrometer scale. The lifter can achieve the efficacies of miniaturization, fine-tuning and low-cost by utilizing the combination of simple mechanisms comprising a base, a sliding seat, a sliding block and an adjustable screw bolt to perform the fine tuning in X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions, respectively, to position the adjustable screw bolt. The present invention also relates to a use of the lifter.
US08613410B2
A device detects an occupied state or a free state of a track section and has a transmitter for feeding a transmission signal in the form of an alternating voltage into the running rails of the track section and at least one receiver for receiving a reception signal which is brought about by a transmission of the transmission signal via the running rails of the track section. In order to be able to detect faults in the device, in particular cable faults, particularly reliably and at the same time cost-effectively, the device accordingly is configured to determine a phase shift between the transmission signal and the reception signal. A method for operating such a device is further disclosed.
US08613404B2
The present invention relates to a take-up device for thrust forces (14) for an aircraft engine attachment pylon (4), comprising a first fitting (194) attached to a rigid structure (108) of the attachment pylon, and two lateral connecting rods (14a) for take-up of thrust forces. It also comprises an axis system (190) bearing three first ball joint organs (192a, 196a) arranged along the latter and belonging respectively to a primary ball joint (192) and two secondary ball joints (196) arranged on either side of the primary ball joint, the first fitting (194) integrating a second ball joint organ (192b) cooperating with the first organ (192a) of the primary ball joint (192), and an end of each of the two connecting rods (14a) integrating a second ball joint organ (196b) cooperating respectively with the first organs (196a) of the two secondary ball joints (196).
US08613400B2
A nozzle assembly that produces a cone-shaped spray pattern of entrained liquid droplets is disclosed. The nozzle includes an ultrasonic atomizer for atomizing a liquid on an atomizing surface located at the end of an atomizing stem. The nozzle assembly is supplied pressurized air that is directed to the atomizing surface by intercommunicating ports, chambers and/or channels. To provide the cone-shaped spray pattern, the ports, chambers and/or channels cause or direct the pressurized gas to rotate about the atomizing stem. When the rotating pressurized gas exits the nozzle assembly via proximate the atomizing surface, atomized liquid droplets become entrained in the gas. The rotating pressurized gas propels the droplets forward and moves at least some droplets circumferentially outward in the cone-shaped spray pattern. In various embodiments, the pressure of the gas can be adjusted to control the size and shape of the cone-shaped pattern and the distribution of droplets.
US08613392B2
A contactless reader includes a housing with a front wall oriented to face users of contactless identification tokens. The front wall has an outer surface that bears a first indicia indicating a location at which the contactless identification tokens are to be presented. The contactless reader also includes an antenna and electronic components within the housing for wirelessly sending data to and receiving data from contactless identification tokens. In addition, a casing is provided that attaches to the housing to cover the front wall of the housing and to cover the first indicia, wherein the casing has an outer surface bearing a second indicia that indicates the location at which the contactless identification tokens are to be presented.
US08613389B2
A method of packaging financial transaction instruments includes preparing a batch of cards, where each card is provided with a first piece of machine readable information, and where the cards in the batch are in an order. A batch of packaging blanks is prepared, where each packaging blank is provided with a second piece of machine readable information. Each packaging blank is provided with a third piece of machine readable information, which is recorded onto a magnetic stripe carried by the packaging blank. A card is picked from a first ordinal position in the batch of prepared cards. A packaging blank is picked from a position, corresponding to the first ordinal position, in the batch of prepared packaging blanks. The picked card in the picked packaging blank is enclosed if and only if a matching condition is verified between the first and second pieces of information is verified.
US08613386B2
Systems and methods are described for using topographic and/or contrast spot scanning to facilitate various types of functionality in context of a data storage library. A robotic mechanism includes a hand assembly that has one or more integrated spot scanners. The hand assembly is configured to travel in at least two directions and to rotate, thereby locating and/or pointing the spot scanner in desired locations throughout the data storage library. By sweeping the spot scanner across a scan window, contrast and/or topographic data can be acquired and decoded to generate a profile of a region. The profile can be interpreted to facilitate functions, such as calibration of robot location with respect to media cartridges, targeting, proximity detection, empty cell detection, etc.
US08613385B1
A docking system is provided and configured to receive swappable media players. Docking stations provide location-dependent information that the swappable media players may utilize to determine access permissions with respect to content stored on, or otherwise accessible to, the media players. Such content may include media content, product request/order applications, and the like. The location-dependent information may be obtained by the media player from docking station, after which the media player restricts or allows access to certain content based on the location-dependent information. A docking system may be used on an aircraft and can provide location-dependent information based on the location of a docking station relative to a seat, cabin, or other compartment. A cable-less connection may be used between the docking station and media player, which connector may float. A plenum provided along one or more surfaces of the media player allows airflow to cool the media player.
US08613381B2
The present invention relates to a truck mixer with at least one extension chute which for transport can be received on a holding means in a locked manner, wherein the holding means can be swiveled rotatorily and/or translatorily between a transport position and a removal position.
US08613370B2
A mounting device comprising a sleeve carrying thereon a receiving means, the sleeve having internally thereof holding means to enable, in use, the sleeve to be mounted on the neck of a bottle, or the like article, in manner such that removal of the sleeve from the neck is resisted, and the receiving means comprising a flange extending outwardly of the sleeve to, in use, provide means whereby an article may be held to the sleeve, the internal diameter of the sleeve being such that the sleeve may be passed onto the neck of a bottle or the like.
US08613364B2
A modular datacenter includes a server rack, a main beam, and an attachment member. The server rack is configured to hold a plurality of servers. The main beam is configured to hold the server rack in a specific location within the modular datacenter. The attachment member is coupled to the main beam and connected to the server rack. The attachment member is configured to apply a force to the server rack to put the server rack under compression or tension, and to change the natural frequency of the server rack based on the compression or the tension and on the location of the attachment member with respect to the server rack.
US08613358B2
A container structure is provided for detachable coupling of at least two containers. The detachable coupling structure of a first container includes a top portion with an upstanding perimeter having radial protrusions extending from a surface of the upstanding perimeter, and a container bottom portion having a complementary structure to engage the radial protrusions of the top portion of a second container for the purpose of detachably coupling two or more containers end to end. In one embodiment, two containers placed end to end with their respective structures aligned to be engaged are rotated in opposite directions to fully engage the protrusions of one container with the complementary structure of the other. A rim around the top portion of a container in a second embodiment has a larger diameter than the top portion. The rim may be pushed through a flexible opening into a recess in the bottom of another container.
US08613355B2
A positioning unit, comprising: a support for a member to be positioned; an actuator for moving the support between a plurality of predetermined working positions; a position selector comprising a plurality of spacers that can be moved into an operative position positioning a stem of the actuator corresponding to a said predetermined working position of the support, wherein the position selector is coupled to the actuator such that movement of the actuator during actuation drives the operation of the position selector. The positioning unit has particular application to the positioning of guides of a conveyor of articles.
US08613344B2
Power distribution is managed between a regenerative drive (10) connected to an elevator hoist motor (12), and a primary power supply (20) and electrical energy storage (EES) system (36) connected to the regenerative drive. A state-of-charge (SOC) of the EES system and a primary current flow between the primary power supply and the regenerative drive are measured. A direction and magnitude of secondary current flow between the EES system and the regenerative drive is then controlled as a function of the primary current flow and the SOC of the EES system. SOC of the EES system is maintained in a limited range except as necessary to maintain primary current flow below a threshold current.
US08613342B2
A wheel hub assembly for use in powered lawn equipment is disclosed. The wheel hub assembly has a receiving member which is coupled to an intermediate shaft having an intermediate gear. The intermediate gear is coupled to an output shaft having an output gear. The output shaft is connected to an output hub; the intermediate shaft gear meshes with the output gear such that when the receiving pulley is rotated in one direction, the output hub rotates in the opposite direction.
US08613339B2
In an automatic transfer apparatus, a carriage tractor and a carriage are respectively equipped with connecting portions and through which the carriage tractor is connected near the substantial center of the bottom of the carriage. The automatic transfer apparatus is provided with displacement restricting means for restricting lateral displacement of the carriage tractor or the carriage with respect to the running direction thereof when the carriage tractor runs in the traverse direction while towing the carriage. Therefore, the carriage tractor is capable of running in the forward-reverse direction and the traverse direction while simplifying and downsizing the structure of the carriage tractor.
US08613321B2
A ported completion and method for use in fracturing multi-zone wells. A casing assembly having a plurality of casing lengths and one or more collars positioned so as to couple together the casing lengths. The collars may be a tubular body having an inner flow path, one or more fracture ports configured to provide fluid communication between an outer surface of the collar and the inner flow path, one or more valve holes intersecting the fracture ports, one or more valve vent holes positioned to provide fluid communication between the valve holes and the inner flow path, and one or more valves positioned in the valve holes for opening and closing the fracture ports. The valves are configured to open when a pressure differential is created between the fracture ports and the valve vent holes. The valve vent hole may be an annulus around the perimeter of the tubular body.
US08613319B2
A composition comprises: a treatment fluid comprising a lost-circulation material, wherein the lost-circulation material comprises asphalt, and wherein the lost-circulation material has a median particle size in the range from about 0.001 millimeters to about 25.4 millimeters. According to another embodiment, the composition comprises: a treatment fluid comprising a lost-circulation material, wherein the lost-circulation material comprises asphalt, and wherein the median particle size and the concentration of the lost-circulation material is selected such that the treatment fluid has a sealing pressure of at least 30 psi (0.2 MPa). A method of eliminating or reducing lost circulation from a well comprises: introducing the treatment fluid into at least a portion of the well.
US08613317B2
A method, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, for operating a positive displacement pump of a downhole tool comprises supplying a hydraulic pressure to the pump to actuate a two-stroke piston to displace fluid at least partially through the downhole tool; moving the piston in a first stroke direction; and reversing the direction of the piston upon completion of the first stroke of the piston. Completion of a stroke may comprise a head of the piston substantially abutting an end wall of a chamber of the pump.
US08613316B2
A downhole steam generation system may include a burner head assembly, a liner assembly, a vaporization sleeve, and a support sleeve. The burner head assembly may include a sudden expansion region with one or more injectors. The liner assembly may include a water-cooled body having one or more water injection arrangements. The system may be optimized to assist in the recovery of hydrocarbons from different types of reservoirs. A method of recovering hydrocarbons may include supplying one or more fluids to the system, combusting a fuel and an oxidant to generate a combustion product, injecting a fluid into the combustion product to generate an exhaust gas, injecting the exhaust gas into a reservoir, and recovering hydrocarbons from the reservoir.
US08613314B2
The invention discloses a method of treating a subterranean formation of a well bore, including the steps of providing a first treatment fluid substantially free of macroscopic particulates; pumping the first treatment fluid into the well bore at different pressure rates to determine the maximum matrix rate and the minimum frac rate; subsequently, pumping the first treatment fluid above the minimum frac rate to initiate at least one fracture in the subterranean formation; providing a second treatment fluid comprising a second carrier fluid, a particulate blend including a first amount of particulates having a first average particle size between about 100 and 2000 μm and a second amount of particulates having a second average particle size between about three and twenty times smaller than the first average particle size, such that a packed volume fraction of the particulate blend exceeds 0.74; subsequently, pumping the second treatment fluid below the minimum frac rate; and allowing the particulates to migrate into the fracture.
US08613312B2
The invention provides an apparatus and method for stimulating a borehole of a well. The invention provides an apparatus that generates low-frequency seismic type elastic waves that propagate to the geologic formation and in order to enhance the movement of fluids in the geologic formation toward a well. The apparatus may operate automatically driven by a power source that may be located on the ground surface. The regime of operation may be determined by user input. Operation of the apparatus may carried out while production of a natural resource is ongoing.
US08613310B2
A spooling apparatus for use with a well intervention system. The spooling apparatus comprises a pressure vessel capable of being maintained at the same pressure as the well, a flexible line housed in the pressure vessel such that it can be spooled into or out of the pressure vessel, and guidance means directing the flexible line to the outlet. The guidance means is arranged so as to decouple the angle of the flexible line to the outlet from the windings of the flexible line in the pressure vessel. Moreover, the apparatus can be incorporated into wellhead equipment.
US08613307B2
A finned tube heat exchanger includes a plurality heat-transfer fins and a plurality of heat-transfer tubes. The heat-transfer fins are disposed along an airflow direction. The plurality of heat-transfer tubes are inserted into the heat-transfer fins and arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the airflow direction. Each of the heat transfer fins includes a plurality of sets of cut-and-raised parts with each set being straightly aligned from the upstream side toward the downstream side. At least one set of cut-and-raised parts is connected by a straight line sloped relative to the airflow direction. Each of the heat transfer fins includes a plurality of concavities with each concavity formed on a periphery of one of the heat-transfer tubes at least partially below a horizontal plane that passes through a center axis of the heat-transfer tubes and lies on an upper surface of the heat transfer fin having the concavity formed therein.
US08613304B2
A device for driving and turning the slats of a Venetian blind, with a bearing housing, a winding spool for a carrier band, a turning mechanism for tilting the slats, an abutment flange for fixing the angular end position for the slats and an actuating element, which can be brought into operative connection to the turning mechanism by means of a lost motion mechanism, for arresting the slats in a working position during lowering of the Venetian blind, at least the winding spool, the turning mechanism, the abutment flange, the actuating element and the lost motion mechanism being arranged in a common bearing housing.
US08613295B2
A combined hydraulic control valve is disclosed, the valve includes a modularized pilot control valve assembly (101), a modularized two-way cartridge valve control assembly (201), and a valve block body (301); the modularized pilot control valve assembly (101) and the modularized two-way cartridge valve control assembly (201) are connected to the valve block body (301) to constitute the combined hydraulic control valve. The pilot control valve assembly (101) is mounted on the upper mounting surface (14) of the valve block body (301); the two-way cartridge valve control assembly (201) consists of a valve seat main stage (211) and a control cover plate (221) which is assembled at a side of the valve seat main stage (211), and the valve block body (301) has a mounting hole (251) for inserting the valve seat main stage (211) of the cartridge valve control assembly (201).
US08613277B2
The present invention is a knock-down design of an outdoor heater. An outdoor heater without resorting to knock-down designs is heavy and bulky. It is costly to ship due to its sheer size and heavy weight. A knock-down design on the other hand resorts to innovative designs in using light weight components with structural reinforcements to increase load bearing capacities thus achieve the same effect as using heavier traditional materials. A knock-down design also resorts to innovative designs in reducing component size so as to occupy a small footprint for ease of packaging and shipment. Consequently, a knock-down design heater can be packaged in a footprint many times smaller than a full size heater and it weights much less than a traditional outdoor heater. It provides cost advantages in pre-sale shipment and general distribution, post-sale transportation convenience as well as ease of relocation during subsequent years of usage.
US08613274B2
A spark ignition type internal combustion engine of the present invention comprises a variable closing timing mechanism able to change a closing timing of an intake valve after intake bottom dead center and an EGR mechanism making a part of the exhaust gas flow again into a combustion chamber as EGR gas. The EGR mechanism is controlled so that the amount of EGR gas is reduced when the closing timing of the intake valve is at a retarded side, compared with when it is at an advanced side. Due to this, occurrence of variation among cylinders in the air-fuel ratio and intake resistance along with blowback of intake gas can be suppressed.
US08613269B2
An internal combustion engine is provided. The engine comprises at least one combustion chamber. The engine is suitable for various types of fuel. The engine, depending on fuel type, may have at least one spark plug. The engine uses an external source of compressed oxidant, such as air, which is delivered from a compressor and/or pressurized storage tank. Compressed oxidant, such as air, is delivered directly into the combustion chamber. Fuel is delivered directly into the combustion chamber. Oxidant and fuel mixture is ignited either by means of a spark plug, laser ignition, or by other means, or ignites spontaneously, depending on fuel type and pressure in the combustion chamber. The engine may comprise at least one cylinder, or may be of rotary or other type. A hybrid vehicle based on such an engine is provided. An automatic parking system for such a vehicle is provided.
US08613267B1
Embodiments relate to valves comprising a member such as a plate or poppet, that is moveable relative to a stationary seat. The state of the member may be maintained against opposing forces with relatively little expenditure of energy. According to one embodiment, a poppet displaced from seating in the valve seat, may be held in position against opposing forces tending to close the valve, until a desired flow of gas through the valve has taken place. The poppet may then be released as desired, such that those opposing forces serve to passively close the valve. The valve may be secured in position utilizing mechanical, magnetic, electromagnetic, pneumatic, electrostatic, or hydraulic approaches. Valve embodiments may be particularly suited to controlling gas flows for compression and/or expansion in an energy storage system.
US08613259B1
A dust-free litter box system for capturing stray particles generated when a pet uses a litter box features an inner tray with a plurality of slots. A fan notch is centrally located in a posterior tray wall for receiving a fan assembly. The inner tray features motion sensors connected to a power source. An air tube assembly is located around an outer perimeter of the inner tray close to an inner tray top edge. The air tube assembly features perforated tubing connected to the plurality of slots and an air tube manifold connected to a fan shroud. A fan aperture is centrally located in a posterior outer tray wall for receiving a fan filter and a protective grill. The inner tray is located in the outer tray.
US08613252B2
A caul plate system for a laminate structure includes a plurality of layers of curable caul plies disposed over a laminate structure and substantially conforming to a surface of the laminate structure. A resin is applied to the plurality of layers of caul plies. Co-curing of the plurality of layers of caul plies with the laminate structure hardens the plurality of layers of caul plies such that a normal pressure is applied to the laminate structure during cure of the laminate structure.
US08613249B2
A cooking apparatus facilitates cooking with a heated/boiling liquid of a food item by utilizing a cooking bag, a cooking tray, and/or a cooking film. A food product that utilizes the cooking apparatus and food items produces cooked food that may be plateable.
US08613244B2
A beverage concentrate system (10) includes a brewer (12), a heat exchanger (24) and pump (22). Beverage concentrate is pumped by pump (22) from a receptacle (14), and through the heat exchanger (24), for combining with water via a dispenser (28) to form a finished beverage.
US08613238B2
A control knob for a vehicle has an improved outward appearance by forming a boundary line between two different materials in a portion that is not visible and preventing abrupt differences in color due to light refraction. The control knob is produced by dual injection molding of two different materials, is installed on one end of a shift lever, and functions as a handgrip. The control knob includes an portion of opaque and transparent materials, an overlapping portion opaque and transparent materials, and a coated portion formed of paint applied to portions of the transparent portion that do not overlap with the opaque portion. A boundary surface between the opaque and transparent portions is such that a refractive index of light passing through the transparent portion from the overlapping portion is close to a refractive index of light passing through the transparent portion from the coated portion.
US08613232B2
A force sensor of the present invention corrects the output voltages of Hall elements without using a temperature sensor in response to changes in the characteristics of a magnet and the Hall elements.
US08613219B2
Active air-fuel ratio control is performed to alternately control an air-fuel ratio in an area located upstream of a catalyst between a lean side and a rich side. Switching is carried out between lean control and rich control at the same time when an output from a post-catalyst sensor reaches a threshold. Whether the catalyst is normal or abnormal is determined based on the rate of a change in the output from the post-catalyst sensor between a first point of time when a pre-catalyst air-fuel ratio reaches stoichiometry after the output from the post-catalyst sensor reaches the threshold and a second point of time when the output from the post-catalyst sensor reaches the threshold next time.
US08613216B2
There is provided a method for thermally focusing the elution times of compounds of a liquid chromatography system comprising a pre-column and a separation column as well as to provide a liquid chromatography system, wherein the chromatographic separation of a mixture of substances is optimized.
US08613210B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring the wear of manual pliers. The principles focus on manual pliers, in which press elements can be pressed onto a workpiece and the degree of pressing that can be achieved by actuating the manual pliers can be adjusted with a presetting device. A reference position of the presetting device is measured prior to a first use of the manual pliers, this measurement involving actuating the manual pliers. By an adjustment of the presetting device, the press elements are brought into a position with a reference degree of pressing. Next, after use, the wear position of the presetting device is measured in the same manner, to bring the press elements into a position with the degree of pressing. A message is output when the degree of the wear position deviates from the degree of the reference position by more than the degree of wear permissible.
US08613200B2
Disclosed embodiments include systems for heating and cooling the interior climate of a vehicle. In some embodiments, the system comprises a conduit having a first fluid channel, a second fluid channel, a fluid diversion channel configured to divert fluid flow between the first and second channels, and a thermoelectric device operatively connected to the fluid conduit. In certain embodiments, the thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of thermal zones. In some embodiments, the plurality of thermal zones comprises a first thermal zone connected to a first electric circuit switchable between a first polarity and a second polarity and a second thermal zone connected to a second electric circuit switchable between the first polarity and the second polarity independent of the polarity of the first electric circuit.
US08613188B2
Coaxial micronozzles are disclosed. Embodiments of the present disclosure include coaxial micronozzles with center-body geometries to exploit pressure thrust. Some embodiemnts include a generally cylindrical centerbody extending through at least a portion of the flowpath and extending into the exit so as to form a generally annular throat, wherein the microthruster is adapted and configured such that the Reynolds number through the throat is less than about one thousand. Some embodiments show a potential threefold increase in specific impulse under vacuum and near vacuum conditions.
US08613187B2
A combustor may include a number of nozzles, a first fuel source with a low reactivity fuel therein, a second fuel source with a high reactivity fuel therein, and a primary valve for varying the flow of the low reactivity fuel and the high reactivity fuel delivered to the nozzles.
US08613186B2
Provided in one embodiment is a two-shaft gas turbine that exhibits improved reliability, output power, and efficiency. The turbine operates stably by establishing a balance between the driving force of a compressor and the output power of a high-pressure turbine in the case where the two-shaft gas turbine is applied to a system, in which the flow rate of a fluid flowing into a combustor is higher than a simple cycle gas turbine. A portion of the fluid driving the high-pressure turbine is allowed to flow not into the high-pressure turbine but into a low-pressure turbine.
US08613175B2
A high-strength ribbon pintle and cavity wall anchoring system employing the same is disclosed. The ribbon pintle is a wire formative construct that is cold-worked with the resultant body having substantially semicircular edges and flat surfaces therebetween. The edges are aligned to receive compressive forces transmitted from the outer wythe. The ribbon pintles hereof, when part of the anchoring system, interengage with receptor portions of a wall anchor and are dimensioned to preclude significant movement lateral with or normal to the inner wythe.
US08613171B2
A flood barrier system for windows for inhibiting a water breach into a residential or commercial structure. The flood barrier is adapted to fit within a retaining wall cavity using an expansion member to assist a mechanical seal so as to stop water intrusion. The barrier operates with an extruded frame having vertical reveal members and high strength glass. A sealing joint is fitted about the retaining wall and the flood barrier's vertical reveal members for inhibition of flood seepage. The sealing joint, having at least three surfaces forming an open end and a tapered end, is anchored at the bottom wall of the extruded frame member and about the glass flood barrier's vertical reveal members at least 12 inches above the base flood elevation level. Alternatively, a flood panel can be installed in front of the windows for additional protection against water intrusion into the residential or commercial structure.
US08613156B2
A method of providing a shelf-attached tag holder defining an upwardly-open slot for receiving a main price tag and further having a slip-fit top attachment system; and placing a main price tag into the upwardly-open slot in a visible position. The method also includes temporarily attaching a supplemental information tag by sliding a top edge of the supplemental information tag into the downwardly-open front throat with a folded attachment flange providing positive engagement with the slip-fit top attachment system, with the supplemental information tag being positioned in front of the main price tag. The method also includes, after the step of temporarily attaching, a step of pulling the supplemental information price tag downwardly with sufficient force to overcome the positive engagement of the folded attachment flange to thus remove the supplemental information tag without disturbing the main price tag.
US08613149B2
An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a shell and a core. The shell has a ground portion and a footbed portion, with a periphery of the footbed portion being secured to the ground portion to define a cavity between the ground portion and the footbed portion. The core is located within the cavity. Whereas the shell may be formed from a composite material, the core may be formed from a polymer foam material.
US08613143B2
A method of assembling a planetary gearset includes die-forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart teeth on a sun gear, a planet gear and a ring gear. Each tooth includes a pair of tooth flanks in a final net form for engagement with mating gear teeth. The sun gear teeth have a conical shape to allow a first die to linearly move relative to a second die after the gear teeth are die-formed. The planet gears are mounted on a carrier. The sun gear and the planet gear are oriented such that the conical shapes of the respective gear teeth taper in opposite directions from one another and the planet gear teeth meshingly engage with both the ring gear teeth and the sun gear teeth.
US08613136B2
A printed wiring board is manufactured by a method in which a laminate body having a first insulation layer and a conductive film is provided. An alignment mark is formed in the laminate body by removing at least a portion of the conductive film. An electronic component is placed on an adhesive layer provided on the first insulation layer at a position determined based on the alignment mark. After the electronic component is enclosed inside an opening of the second insulation layer, a via hole exposing a terminal of the electronic component is formed at a position determined based on the alignment mark used to determine the position of the electronic component. A via conductor is formed in the via hole, and a conductive layer is formed on the conductive film and patterned to form a conductive circuit connected to the via conductor.
US08613133B2
An improved lead foil formation operation procedure for photovoltaic module manufacture is disclosed. The procedure includes lifting a lead foil to form a loop, pulling the loop through a hole in a plate, cutting the loop to form two ends, separating the ends, and folding the ends onto the plate.
US08613130B2
The present invention is directed to a fence or enclosure (165) and related methods for making a fence panel (65) and for connecting the panel (65) to other panels (65) to form a modular type fence (165). The invention preferably includes a generally planar section (70) of fencing material formed from spaced-apart wires (10, 15), and at least two non-parallel stiffening portions (80, 85) deforming the fence section (65) from the aforementioned generally planar configuration (70).
US08613120B2
A cushioning device with an upper foam layer and a lower positioned foam layer, with the upper foam layer having multiple thickness zones defined by different height projections from one zone to another as to provide a thickness variation pattern, one side of the upper foam layer is less contoured when not yet assembled in the cushioning device and a second side is comprised of the multiple thickness zones such that, upon connection of the multiple thickness zones to the lower positioned foam layer, the height differential along a length of the upper foam layer is transmitted as to form a non-planar, crown configuration in the upper surface of the upper foam layer. A method includes roller contouring different height and shaped projection zones including zones with different ratios of peak height to overall zone height.
US08613117B2
There are provided sanitary assemblies (101) comprising a toilet cistern (103) and conveying means, including a pump (107), for conveying waste water into said cistern (103) from an article of sanitary ware such that said waste water can be re-used. Also provided are toilet assemblies comprising such sanitary assemblies and methods for their use.
US08613115B2
A monitoring device and method are provided for monitoring a vacuum toilet, as well as a personal transport vehicle, in particular an aircraft, which uses a monitoring device for vacuum toilets. The monitoring device has a position detector for detecting the position of a toilet lid, a mechanical latching device and a flushing control unit. The latching device is designed to latch the toilet lid in an open position based on the weight of a person acting on a toilet seat. The flushing control unit is further designed to control the flushing operation based on the toilet lid position, and to block the flushing operation upon detection of the toilet lid in the open position. This makes it possible to improve both the comfort and hygienic conditions for the toilet user while using the vacuum toilet.
