US08728279B2
Scale formation on the electrode(s) of a liquor sensor can be prevented by continuously delivering a water-soluble scale inhibitor or dispersant into the vicinity of the electrodes of a liquor sensor device. Scale inhibitors include, for instance, polymers that are derived from acrylic acid, maleic acid, acrylamide acid, phosphonate, and combinations thereof. An aqueous mixture of scaling inhibitor continuously delivered to the probe tip of the liquor sensor that was placed in a kraft pulping liquor allowed the sensor to operate accurately for over a month without having to be cleaned of scale.
US08728273B2
The present invention relates to a process for the production of a composition wherein the process comprises pre-treating cellulosic fibers by mechanical, chemical and/or enzymatic treatment, mixing the pre-treated cellulosic fibers with pigments forming a dispersion and dispersing the dispersion of pre-treated cellulosic fibers and pigments whereby a composition comprising microfibrillated cellulose is formed. The invention further relates to a composition produced according to the process.
US08728272B2
Although a microfibrillated cellulose has been conventionally added to a resin molded article for the purpose of improving the properties of resin such as strength, it is only possible to achieve the same level of strength as that of the resin itself. The object is to provide a resin molded article of greater strength. A molded article can be produced by blending resin with a microfibrillated cellulose having a type-II crystalline structure produced by treating a microfibrillated cellulose with an alkali solution. The molded article can be largely increased in tensile strength or flexural strength, tensile strain at break or flexural strain at break, and fracture toughness (work-of-fracture) compared to a molded article produced with resin containing a conventional microfibrillated cellulose.
US08728270B2
A method of preparing water-resistant corrugated paperboard includes providing a corrugated medium treated with a water-proofing agent on both sides thereof, and providing a liner treated with the water-proofing agent on at least an inner surface thereof. The liner and corrugated medium are adhered, with the inner surface of the liner adhered to the corrugated medium. The liner and corrugated medium are adhered with an adhesive composition comprising carrier starch, uncooked pearl starch, borax, a water-proofing resin, a penetration-enhancing additive, and water. The carrier starch comprises cooked starch and uncooked starch. The liner and corrugated medium are treated with the water-proofing agent prior to adhering the liner and corrugated medium. Due to the use of the particular adhesive composition for adhering the liner and the corrugated medium, use of liner treated with the water-proofing agent is possible with acceptable bonding and preservation of Cobb ratings.
US08728265B2
An apparatus and method of manufacturing a skeg protector to cover a motorboat skeg to prevent damage to the skeg and to the propellers. The SkegProtector™ apparatus is made of a composite of non-stainless steel woven material of high material strength and durability, such as carbon fiber, Kevlar®, fiberglass, titanium, and polyethylene fiber. It is affixed over the skeg using marine grade underwater adhesive, and without installing bolts or other mechanical means to secure it. Methods of manufacture comprise the use of curing using a heated platen press on aluminum molds encasing multiple layers (7) of woven material and a mandrel.
US08728259B1
An inflator 10 is provided whereby the interstitial cavities found within the inflator 10 are packed with one or more decomposition additives 26 that decompose in the presence of heat. As such, the decomposition additives 26 fluidly and/or conductively communicate with the hot gases generated upon activation of the inflator 10. As the decomposition additive 26 decomposes, heat may be mitigated while resultant gaseous decomposition products are liberated.
US08728258B2
Aluminum castings having increased elongation and tensile strength are obtained by sequential aging a solutionized casting followed by rapid heating to nucleation temperature followed by rapid cooling, then reheating to precipitate growth temperature.
US08728252B2
A process for treating a non-ferrous metal component, comprising placing the component into a process chamber at an elevated temperature, biasing the component to have a potential capable of attracting ions, introducing oxygen into the chamber at a pressure such that a glow discharge comprising oxygen ions is generated, the process chamber additionally comprising a glow discharge ionization enhancing means, and activating the glow discharge ionization enhancing means thereby increasing charged species density of the glow discharge, the oxygen ions flowing towards the component and colliding the surface thereof at least some of which diffuse into the component.
US08728244B2
A method for descaling a metal strip, in which the metal strip is guided in a direction of conveyance through at least two plasma descaling units, in which it is subjected to a plasma descaling, where the plasma descaling is followed directly or indirectly by an operation in which the metal strip is coated with a coating metal by hot dip galvanizing of the metal strip. The metal strip is coated with the coating metal by a vertical passage process. The coating metal is retained as a coating bath in a coating tank by an electromagnetic seal. The metal strip preheated by the plasma descaling is guided, without exposure to air, from the plasma descaling into a protective gas atmosphere of a continuous furnace necessary for the coating.
US08728242B2
Apparatus and method for vapor deposition of a uniform thickness thin film of lubricant on at least one surface of a disk-shaped substrate. The invention has particular utility in depositing thin films of polymeric lubricants onto disc-shaped substrates in the manufacture of magnetic and MO recording media.
US08728241B2
An apparatus for combinatorial site-isolated thin film deposition may include a source of a liquid precursor, a nebulizer configured to convert the liquid precursor to an aerosolized mist of particles, a first deposition cell configured to direct an aerosolized mist of particles onto a first selected region of the substrate, and a second deposition cell configured to direct an aerosolized mist of particles onto a second selected region of the substrate. A method for combinatorial site-isolated thin film deposition may include providing a liquid precursor, converting the liquid precursor to an aerosolized mist of particles, transporting the aerosolized mist of particles to a first deposition cell and a second deposition cell in proximity to a surface of a substrate, and depositing the transported aerosolized mist of particles onto a first selected region and a second selected region of the surface of the substrate.
US08728234B2
The present invention discloses methods to create higher quality group III-nitride wafers that then generate improvements in the crystalline properties of ingots produced by ammonothermal growth from an initial defective seed. By obtaining future seeds from carefully chosen regions of an ingot produced on a bowed seed crystal, future ingot crystalline properties can be improved. Specifically, the future seeds are optimized if chosen from an area of relieved stress on a cracked ingot or from a carefully chosen N-polar compressed area. When the seeds are sliced out, miscut of 3-10° helps to improve structural quality of successive growth. Additionally a method is proposed to improve crystal quality by using the ammonothermal method to produce a series of ingots, each using a specifically oriented seed from the previous ingot. When employed, these methods enhance the quality of Group III nitride wafers and thus improve the efficiency of any subsequent device.
US08728231B2
Compositions and methods are directed to a cement composition for use in a subterranean formation. In an embodiment the cement composition comprises: (A) cement; (B) water; and (C) a polymer, wherein the polymer: (i) consists essentially of a monomer or monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, esters of acrylic acid, maleic acid, methacrylic acid, esters of methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, fumeric acid, citraconic acid, mesoconic acid, and any alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, or ammonium salt of any of the foregoing, and any combination of any of the foregoing.
US08728228B2
Multilayer pearlescent pigments based on platelet-shaped transparent substrates with an optically active coating, where the optically active coating includes at least a) a nonabsorbing high-index layer A having a refractive index n≧1.8, b) a low-index layer B having a refractive index n<1.8 having an optical layer thickness >150 nm, c) an absorbing high-index layer C having a refractive index n≧1.8 and also, d) optionally an outer protective layer D, wherein the multilayer pearlescent pigments have a cumulative frequency distribution of the volume-averaged size distribution function, with the indices D10, D50, D90 and a span ΔD of 0.7-1.4, the span ΔD being calculated in accordance with the formula ΔD=(D90−D10)/D50. The disclosure further relates to a method for producing these multilayer pigments, and to their use.
US08728225B2
The invention relates to a composition and to a method for the production thereof, comprising quaternary amino-functional organosilicon compounds, in particular in the form of oligomers and polymers, which can be present ranging from partially hydrolyzed form to completely hydrolyzed form, and which are in particular soluble in water, have a low VOC content, and to the use thereof.
US08728222B2
A wet type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner is provided. The wet type dust collecting apparatus of a vacuum cleaner includes a first separating unit configured to filter out and discharge dust by rotating air which is inlet via a first air inlet, and a plurality of a second centrifugal separating units configured to filter out dust from the air which is discharged from the first separating unit, and configured to eliminate dust from the inlet air via water which is filled inside of the second centrifugal separating units.
US08728220B2
A CO2 recovery system according to the present invention includes: a cooling tower that uses cooling water to cool a CO2-containing exhaust gas discharged from industrial equipment such as a boiler or a gas turbine; a CO2 absorber that brings the cooled CO2-containing exhaust gas into contact with a CO2-absorbent that absorbs CO2, thereby removing the CO2 from the exhaust gas; and a first absorbent regenerator and a second absorbent regenerator that release CO2 from a CO2-absorbent that has absorbed CO2 (rich solution), thereby regenerating the CO2-absorbent. A second lean solution at the outlet of the second absorbent regenerator is subjected to vacuum flash vaporization, and the resulting vapor is inputted to the first absorbent regenerator.
US08728200B1
A system for recycling a work gas used in a thermal reactor for treating sample materials includes a thermal reactor using a work gas from a first source mixed with carrier gases. The work gas has a boiling point higher than the carrier gases. The system includes a pump, a condenser which converts the work gas into a liquid, and a scrubber.
US08728197B2
A metron refers to a molecule which contains a pre-defined number of high affinity binding sites for metal ions. Metrons may be used to prepare homogenous populations of nanoparticles each composed of a same, specific number of atoms, wherein each particle has the same size ranging from 2 atoms to about ten nanometers.
US08728191B2
A generally rectangular tractor cab air filter housing arrangement (20) has a main body portion with inlet zones (20a) at each end through which air enters the housing, a first outlet aperture (20c) in the housing over which a filter element (18) is supported, and a second aperture in the housing in which a door (21) is pivoted to provide access to the filter for maintenance. The inlet zones (20a) are formed as chambers which are structurally interconnected by side portions (20d) of the housing so that the housing can be formed as a single piece hollow plastics molding. The door (21) may also be a hollow single piece plastics molding. Both the housing and/or the door may be formed by blow molding or rotational molding.
US08728184B2
A cutting tip for a drilling tool includes a cemented carbide cutting base, a diamond element supported by the cutting base, and a bonding layer formed between the cutting base and the diamond element in order to bond them. The bonding layer includes diffusion layers and in which one or two or more metals selected from a group consisting of Fe, Ni, Co, Ti, Zr, W, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and Hf diffuses into at least one of the diamond or the cement carbide.
US08728171B2
The invention relates to an orthopedic foot device with a connection part for the lower leg, a swivel joint (5) acting as an ankle joint (7) by means of which a foot part (10) is rotatably connected in the direction of dorsiflexion and the direction of plantar flexion to the connection part, with a damping arrangement (17) influencing the rotational movement about the swivel joint (5), with a sensor arrangement for detecting action states of the orthopedic foot part, and with a control unit connected to the sensor arrangement which controls the damping arrangement (17). The object is achieved by the fact that the sensor arrangement has an ankle-angle sensor which measures the angle between the connection part and the foot part (10), an absolute-angle sensor (20) relating to the plumb line and a moments sensor (21) for determining the torque on the ankle joint (7) or a force effecting a torque on the ankle joint (7).
US08728166B2
An implant made of at least two different materials. The implant may include materials with varying radiolucency and mechanical properties. Such a hybrid implant may offer controlled radiographic visibility and optimized structural properties for implant placement, including placement for use in spinal arthrodesis.
US08728165B2
The present invention provides cervical implant (30) comprising an upper surface (38), a lower surface (40), a posterior portion (34) and an anterior portion (36) and including a perimeter (42) and one or more apertures (44,46) within said anterior portion for receiving securing means, said apertures having respective longitudinal axes M1, M2, characterized in that said axes extend in a direction substantially through said anterior portion (36) and converge at a point in a plane outside of said perimeter (42).
US08728162B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods for spine surgery employ a guide wire temporarily anchored to a contralateral side of an intervertebral disc. The guide wire establishes a reliable pathway for passage and actuation of cannulated instruments or implants through a small working channel leading to an ipsilateral side of the disc. The guide wire may be disconnected and removed from the disc after use.
US08728154B2
A prosthetic aortic valve includes an annular, annulus inflow portion that is designed to reside in or near the patient's native aortic valve annulus, and an annular, aortic outflow portion that is designed to reside in the patient's aorta downstream from at least a portion of the valsalva sinus. The annulus inflow portion and the aortic outflow portion are connected to one another by a plurality of connecting struts that are confined to regions near the commissures of the patient's native aortic valve. The connecting struts are designed to bulge out into the valsalva sinus to help anchor the prosthetic valve in place. The valve is circumferentially collapsible to a relatively small diameter for less-invasive delivery into the patient. The valve circumferentially expands to a larger operational diameter when deployed at the implant site.
US08728153B2
The sheath is configured for use in the vascular system and has utility in the introduction and removal of implant delivery catheters. The access route is through the ventricular myocardium, more specifically at the left ventricular apex, into the aortic root. The distal end of the sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration during advancement to the arteries into the aorta. The distal end of the sheath is subsequently expanded using a radial dilatation device, which is removed prior to the introduction of implant delivery catheters. In an exemplary application, the sheath includes a supported proximal end, a supported distal end, and a collapsible center section. Certain configurations of the sheath are capable of being inserted in a first, small cross-sectional configuration, being expanded diametrically to a second, larger cross-sectional configuration, and then being reduced to a diametrically small size for removal.
US08728152B2
A woven aortic sinus prosthesis has a first substantially cylindrical section position away from a patient's heart, which optionally passes into an aortic arch of the patient, a second section having a greater diameter than the first section and forming a bulb, which second section is connected to the first section, and optionally a third substantially cylindrical section close to the heart, which is connected to the bulb section, wherein the prosthesis is continuously woven and has a constant number of warp yarns over its axial length, whereby there is a greater distance between the warp yarns in a region of the bulb section than in the first and third cylindrical sections.
US08728149B2
A polymeric tube is positioned on a polymeric mandrel and then laser cut to form an implantable medical device, such as a stent. The assembly and method reduces contamination of the inner surface of the stent, which would be caused if conventional glass or metal mandrels are used, while simultaneously reducing damage to the inner surface of the stent due to the shielding effect of the polymeric mandrel.
US08728140B2
Intra-vaginal devices and methods are disclosed for a broad range of applications in the women's health field. The devices and methods provide for placement in the cervical region, and for transferring heat to a cervical region, a barrier contraception method, collection of menstrual fluid, and release of drugs and/or hormones intra-vaginally. The device also can address multiple women's health issues.
US08728134B2
An implantation pin for implantation in a target structure has a pinhead and a shaft. The pinhead comprises a pinhead moulding portion comprising a moldable material which can be liquefied by application of mechanical energy such as ultrasonic vibration energy. A channel extends through the pinhead and the shaft, the channel connecting the pinhead molding portion to a discharge opening located at the shaft. The moldable material can be liquefied by applying mechanical energy in the form of ultrasonic vibrations via a fixation device including an ultrasonic sonotrode and a vibrating tip. The pressure applied by the vibrating tip can be transmitted via the border of the pinhead to the target structure while the liquefied mouldable material can be forced through the channel and the discharge opening into a gap between the implantation pin and a recess in a target structure thereby fixing the implantation pin in the target structure.
US08728131B2
A bone plate used in conjunction with various procedures to correct certain deformities, such as a Latarjet procedure. The bone plate is provided with a plurality of spikes having a truncated, pyramidal shape with a plurality of sides or faces that converge to a tip line. The height of each spike is of about 2.5 to about 3 mm. The design of the spikes allows the plate to stay in the right position by simply pressing the plate with the fingers on the bone or using a specific instrument (before the fixation holes are drilled and the fixation devices such as screws are secured). The bone plate may be provided with side, lateral faces that have a non-uniform width (i.e., a wedged profile) to allow for orthograde placement of the fixation device, even in the case of angled bone surfaces.
US08728128B2
An orthopedic device includes an implant member with a thru-bore having an entry diameter, an intermediate diameter, and an exit diameter. According to one embodiment the intermediate diameter of the thru-bore is larger than both the entry diameter and the exit diameter. Additionally, the orthopedic device includes a screw assembly configured to be coupled to the thru-bore, including a thread portion and a selectively expandable head portion. The selectively expandable head portion includes both an expandable ring and a pull-lock pin configured to selectively expand the expandable ring as the pull-lock pin is pulled from said screw assembly.
US08728125B2
A spinal rod having first and second end members. The end members may be flexible or rigid. An expandable intermediate section is positioned between the first and second end members. The intermediate section may be axially expandable upon the introduction of a substance into a port that may be located in either of the first and second end members or the intermediate section. The intermediate section may be expandable between a first size, where the first and second end members are spaced a first distance apart, and a second enlarged size, where the first and second end members are spaced a second greater distance apart.
US08728122B2
The present invention is directed to a suture locking device comprising a longitudinal retaining member having first and second ends; a support member having first and second recesses that are diametrically opposite to each other and have center points that are coaxial, where the first and second ends of the retaining member are releasably positioned within the first and second recesses of the support member. Alternatively, the suture locking device comprises a longitudinal retaining member having first and second ends; a support member having first and second recesses that are diametrically opposite to each other and have center points that are coaxial, where the support member is releasably secured to hold the first and second ends of the retaining member within its first and second recesses.
US08728120B2
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a biomechanical fastener is provided and includes a backspan defining an upper surface, a lower surface and a pair of side surfaces; at least a pair of legs depending from the backspan; and at least one contact pad extending from the lower surface to the upper surface of the backspan. At least one of the pair of legs contacts at least one of the contact pads upon a formation thereof.
US08728111B2
A surgical guide wire or K-wire and method of use are provided. The K-wire, or guide wire, has opposite end portions and a shank portion in between. One end portion has a deformable end portion that, once outside of a confining guide passage, can be deformed to present a projected forward facing area that is larger than the transverse cross section of the K-wire, or guide wire, while in the passage. The increased area will provide increased resistance to additional forward axial movement into the surgical site.
US08728108B2
In various embodiments, a pneumatic system valve for a surgical console may be controlled by a controller configured to adjust a valve duty cycle (VDC) of the valve to reduce a difference between the valve's differential pressure and a desired differential pressure. In some embodiments, average differential pressures may be detected and relayed from a pressure sensor, coupled to one or more ports of the valve, to the controller. The controller may compare the measured average differential pressure against the desired average differential pressure (e.g., received from the user). The controller may then determine a modified VDC to reduce a difference between the desired average differential pressure and the measured average differential pressure. In some embodiments, the desired average differential pressure may be determined based on input received from a user of the surgical console.
US08728106B2
Methods, devices, and systems for extracting vessel occluding material are provided. An embodiment of a vessel occluding material extractor includes a host structure, a plurality of expandable members, a slide mechanism, and a circumferential member. The host structure has an elongate axis. The expandable members are connected to the host structure arrayed radially around the elongate axis. The slide mechanism is connected to the expandable members and adjacent the host structure, and is slidable in the direction of the elongate axis. The circumferential member is connected to the expandable members between the connection of the slide mechanism and the host structure to the expandable members.
US08728101B2
An apparatus for assisting in a vascular procedure includes an obturator that interfaces with a surface of tissue, the obturator including a shaft and a groove that can guide one or more tips of a medical device into a targeted region. In more specific embodiments, the targeted region is an aortic hole. The obturator can include a knob that stabilizes the medical device laterally on a surface of the targeted region. The obturator can also include a flange element that extends beyond the knob onto an outside surface of the targeted region. The knob can include a chamfer feature that can provide room for the tips of the medical device to enter the targeted region at an angle without bumping into the knob. In still other embodiments, the tips are sharp needle tips of the medical device and the groove is a V-shaped groove.
US08728096B2
A ligating band dispenser for attachment to an endoscope having sliding elements that are positioned on the outer surface of a support structure of the ligating band dispenser. The sliding elements may be slidably engaged to the support structure. For example, the sliding elements may slide along a groove on the outer surface of the support structure. The sliding elements are advanced forward along the groove, causing the sliding elements to impact a ligating band and push the ligating band forward until it is deployed off the dispenser.
US08728094B2
Devices and methods for percutaneously treating and removing aneurysms or other anomalous tissue associated with vascular, intestinal, or other body tissue.
US08728087B2
A patella clamping device has a handle having a first arm and a second arm, the arms each having a first gripping end and a second clamping end. The clamping ends are movable towards the opposite arm by action on the gripping end of each arm. The clamping ends of the first and second arms comprise opposed clamping surfaces. The clamping end of each arm has a body portion having spaced first and second surface defining the opposed surface of each arm. A plurality of pins extend from the first to the second surface. A rotatable toothed jaw member is pivotally mounted on each of the pins. The jaw member has at least one tooth extending outwardly of the opposed surface of each arm for engaging the patella. Each body has a third surface spaced from the second surface to create a slot for receiving a saw blade.
US08728075B2
Multi-directional deflectable catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present application, for example, is directed to apparatuses, systems, and methods that incorporate a catheter treatment device comprising an elongated shaft. The elongated shaft is sized and configured to deliver a thermal element to a renal artery via an intravascular path. Thermally or electrical renal neuromodulation may be achieved via direct and/or via indirect application of thermal and/or electrical energy to heat or cool, or otherwise electrically modulate, neural fibers that contribute to renal function, or of vascular structures that feed or perfuse the neural fibers.
US08728071B2
This disclosure relates generally to electrosurgical methods and devices. In one embodiment, an electrosurgical device is provided suitable for applying phase controlled RF energy to a treatment site. The electrosurgical device comprises a multi-electrode electrosurgical probe electrically coupled to a plurality of RF generators. Also provided are methods of use of such an electrosurgical device, as well as other electrosurgical devices. The methods and devices disclosed herein find utility, for example, in the field of medicine.
US08728070B2
According to some embodiments, a method of treating a subject having diabetes or symptoms associated with diabetes is provided. The method includes delivering a neuromodulation catheter within a vessel (e.g., hepatic artery) having surrounding nerves that innervate the liver (e.g., sympathetic nerves of the hepatic plexus). The method may also include modulating (e.g., disrupting, ablating, stimulating) the nerves by mechanical compression, energy delivery, or fluid delivery.
US08728058B2
A telescopic device comprising a first telescopic member and a second telescopic member, where the second telescopic member is displaceably arranged within the first telescopic member in a first and a second axial direction along the longitudinal axis of the first telescopic member, a coupling arrangement for limiting the displacement of the second telescopic member relative to the first telescopic member where the coupling arrangement has a first and a second coupling configuration.
US08728028B2
With the subject invention, a container for an injection device with an injection needle is provided. The container includes a body having a compartment formed therein to accommodate the injection device in both a pre-use and a post-use condition. The body defines a first opening through which the injection device in its pre-use condition may be accessed, and the body defines a second opening into which the injection device may be directed in its post-use condition. A closure is provided for closing the first opening. The container also includes a retainer proximate the second opening for retaining the injection device in the container in its post-use condition preventing access to the injection needle after the injection device has been used to administer an injection. Advantageously, the container of the subject invention may accommodate an injection device both before and after use thereby providing not only a pre-use packaging for the injection device, but also a post-use sharps container for the injection device.
US08728022B2
A tampon applicator assembly with an insertion end and a rear end containing a tampon made from absorbent material and an applicator comprising an outer tube and an inner tube able to slide in it in a telescopic arrangement, and the outer tube has at its insertion end at least two integrally formed, inwardly directed closure portions, and the tampon protrudes out from the insertion end of the inner tube by means of its insertion end and is completely accommodated inside the outer tube. The internal surface of the outer tube is smooth-walled from the closure portions to at least half the length of the outer tube without any inwardly extending projections. This assembly is extremely simple to manufacture. During use, the tampon is pushed forward by pushing the inner tube forward in the outer tube until it forces the closure portions of the outer tube outwards and protrudes out of the outer tube by an amount. When the inner tube is then pulled back, the tampon is held firmly in its pushed-forward position by the closure portions of the outer tube.
US08728020B2
In an infusion apparatus, an infusion line (4) connects a container (2) of an infusion fluid to an extracorporeal blood circuit (23). A first valve (6) closes the infusion line downstream of an infusion pump (5). An expansion chamber (9), provided with a pressure sensor (10), is arranged between the infusion pump and the first valve. A second valve (8) closes a vent line (7) of the expansion chamber. The processor closes the first valve when the container is emptied. After replacement with a new and full container, the processor restarts the pump and selectively opens the first valve or the second valve according to the increase in pressure measured in the expansion chamber.
US08728018B2
A hinge brace for supporting and restricting the range of motion of a patient's joint and methods of using the brace. The hinge brace includes a hinge with a first setting arm and second setting arm, corresponding, respectively, to a maximum angle of extension and maximum angle of flexion of the joint. The hinge can be adjusted using a single hand or finger. The hinge can be fitted to a variety of patients by using a telescopic extension mechanism.
US08728007B2
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for managing patient data. In one aspect, the invention relates to a system for managing patient data having many instruments. The instruments have a sampling member for sampling a body fluid from a patient and are in direct communication with at least one other instrument.
US08728005B2
A biopsy needle system includes a carrier. A trocar is inserted into the carrier for percutaneous insertion to a biopsy site. A biopsy needle is inserted into the carrier, replacing the trocar, for removal of a tissue biopsy specimen. A biopsy needle and a method for obtaining a tissue biopsy specimen with the system, are also provided.
US08727999B2
A pulse measurement device for more precisely measuring a pulse, including a sensing unit to sense a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal and an acceleration signal obtained from a user, a pressure control unit to control pressure applied to the sensing unit, and a signal determination unit to determine an optimum pressure range by analyzing the PPG signal varying with a change of the pressure applied to the sensing unit by the pressure control unit and to determine an exercise level of the user by using the acceleration signal.
US08727998B2
The shear stiffness of a subject's spleen is measured using elastography techniques such as ultrasound elastography or a magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) acquisition with an MRI system. A relationship between splenic shear stiffness and portal venous blood pressure is modeled and is used to calculate portal venous blood pressure non-invasively from the measured splenic shear stiffness.
US08727996B2
A delivery device for implanting a medical device that includes an expandable fixation member adapted to fix the position of the medical device within a lumen of a human body. The delivery device has an inner shaft rotatably disposed in a tubular outer shaft. A retention member is secured to and rotatable with the inner shaft and has a free end and a retainer portion adapted to protrude outwardly through an exit aperture in the outer shaft to extend circumferentially about the exterior of the outer shaft. The fixation member of the medical device may be retained on the tubular shaft in a low profile configuration by the outwardly protruding retainer portion and may be released to expand upon retraction of the retainer portion in response to rotation of the inner shaft.
US08727989B2
Certain embodiments provide an automatic diagnosis support apparatus includes extracting a plurality of parameters associated with a predetermined object by using medical information acquired by a medical image diagnosis apparatus and extracting the plurality of parameters for each disease associated with a disable-bodied person by using medical information associated with the disable-bodied person, calculating a ruler associated with each disease case by executing an MT system using the plurality of parameters for each disease associated with the disable-bodied person, calculating a distance between the object and a state space of the disable-bodied person associated with the each disease by executing the MT system using a plurality of parameters associated with the object, determining a disease type of the object by using the ruler and a distance between the object and a state space of a disable-bodied person, and generating diagnosis support information based on the determination result.
US08727988B2
Devices and methods for penetrating from a vessel lumen in which a catheter device is positioned to a target location outside of that vessel lumen. A tissue penetrator advances from a catheter positioned within the vessel lumen to the target location when properly aimed. An imaging transducer fixedly mounted on or within the catheter body provides an imaging signal from which an image of the target location can be obtained. An imageable marker may be present on the catheter to form on the image obtainable from the imaging signal to predict the path that will be followed by the tissue penetrator when the tissue penetrator exits from the catheter. Alternatively, or addition thereto, the imaging transducer may comprise a plurality of imaging elements which are located so that the penetrator path indication can be obtained electronically without use of an imageable marker on the catheter.
US08727987B2
A mechanical manipulator (10) for controlling the movement of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) transducers, especially for medical use, such as in the treatment of cancers. A base harness having two or three legs (12) is mounted on the treatment table. A central shaft mounted on the base harness carries a diagnostic probe as well as a plurality of treatment probes. The treatment probes may be moved through three degrees of freedom using computer controlled motors. The treatment probes may be moved linearly, in jaw motion and in a pitch motion.
US08727983B2
A catheter-based medical device includes a catheter that is configured and arranged for at least partial insertion into a patient and that defines at least one lumen that is configured and arranged to receive a first fluid. A conductive-fluid detector is coupled to the at least one lumen and is configured and arranged to detect when a second fluid is disposed within the at least one lumen that is more conductive than the first fluid. The conductive-fluid detector includes a plurality of axially-positioned bodies, each body defining a lumen. The lumens of the axially-positioned bodies are aligned to form a shared lumen in fluid communication with the at least one lumen of the catheter. Spaced apart electrodes are disposed within the shared lumen.
US08727979B2
A system and method for allowing a patient to access an automated process for managing a specified health problem called a disease. The system performs disease management in a fully automated manner, using periodic interactive dialogs with the patient to obtain health state measurements from the patient, to evaluate and assess the progress of the patient's disease, to review and adjust therapy to optimal levels, and to give the patient medical advice for administering treatment and handling symptom flare-ups and acute episodes of the disease. The medical records are updated, the progression of the disease is stored and tracked, and the patient's preferences for treatment are stored and then used to offer medical advice based on the current state of the disease. A prestored general disease trend curve is compared against a patient specific disease trend curve, and the system makes an automated response such as adjusting therapy.
US08727976B2
A system and method for allowing a patient to access an automated process for managing a specified health problem called a disease. The system performs disease management in a fully automated manner, using periodic interactive dialogs with the patient to obtain health state measurements from the patient, to evaluate and assess the progress of the patient's disease, to review and adjust therapy to optimal levels, and to give the patient medical advice for administering treatment and handling symptom flare-ups and acute episodes of the disease. The medical records are updated, the progression of the disease is stored and tracked, and the patient's preferences for treatment are stored and then used to offer medical advice based on the current state of the disease. A prestored general disease trend curve is compared against a patient specific disease trend curve, and the system makes an automated response such as adjusting therapy.
US08727963B2
Described are methods, implants, insertion tools, and related systems and kits, for placing an implant to treat urinary incontinence; the implants include soft tissue anchors that are capable of engaging needles of the insertion tools, and the implants are designed to place a central support portion at a location to support a urethra with extension portions and soft tissue anchors extending to tissue at regions of an obturator foramen.
US08727948B2
The present invention provides a method for creating an exercise history for an exerciser to create an exercise program substantially in real-time, wherein personal exercise information is gathered to create the exercise history during an exercise event in an exercise environment having one or more exercise units. The present invention provides a method for creating an exercise program and a method for controlling an exercise event. The present invention also provides a device arrangement and a device which are arranged to perform the method of the invention.
US08727935B2
A system and method for fixing a fan drive gear system carrier to a torque frame are disclosed. The carrier and torque frame respectively have a hole and an aperture which are aligned with one another. A retainer pin is inserted in to the aligned hole and aperture in an interference fit relationship with at least one of the hole and aperture.
US08727928B2
A vehicle power transmission device includes: a first power transmission member including a cylindrical shaft end portion rotatably supported via a first bearing on an inner circumferential side of a non-rotating support wall; and a second power transmission member supported on the inside of the cylindrical shaft end portion via a second bearing radially overlapping with the first bearing by the cylindrical shaft end portion to be rotatable concentrically and relatively to the first power transmission member, the second power transmission member including a circular disc gear portion protruded to an outer circumferential side at a predetermined distance from the second bearing in a shaft center direction of the second power transmission member, at a portion facing the first bearing, the gear portion having an annular inner circumferential guide protruding portion for guiding to the first bearing a lubricant oil that passes through the second bearing for lubrication, that enters into a gap between the second bearing and the gear portion, and that travels to the outer circumferential side due to the centrifugal force.
US08727919B1
An illuminated game projectile with external switch access with a casing, a light source structure within the casing, and an actuating rod or other mechanism for actuating an actuation mechanism of the light source structure from external to the casing. The game projectile casing can be spherical, and the actuation switch can be a depression switch. The actuating rod can have a first end adjacent to the exterior surface of the casing and a second end adjacent to the switch. The casing can alternatively be disk shaped as with a hockey puck or football shaped with first and second ends and a bulbous mid portion. With a puck shape, actuation can be effected by pressing on a face of the puck to press the switch. With a football shape, actuation can be effected by pressing on an end of the football to press the switch.
US08727914B2
A baseball training apparatus includes a bat mounting portion mountable on a barrel of a baseball bat, and a glove mounting portion attachable to a baseball glove. The glove mounting portion is connected to the bat mounting portion. The bat mounting portion may include an elongated, flexible, mounting strap including a hook-and-loop fastener. The glove mounting portion may include at least one elongated, flexible connector strap extending outwardly from opposite edges of the mounting strap and including a hook-and-loop fastener. The baseball training apparatus mounts the baseball glove on the baseball bat.
US08727900B2
A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
US08727893B2
Computer-implemented systems, computer-readable storage media encoded with software, and methods utilizing a first processing device configured to generate and deliver an ad for an online property, the ad delivered to an application executing on a second processing device, the ad providing an immersive interactive experience and tour of the online property in response to a user interaction, provided that the immersive interactive experience and tour of the online property are provided within the application executing on the second processing device.
US08727883B2
A messaging system includes a web server computer and at least two video game systems. Each game system is configured to connect to the web server computer via the Internet and to communicate status data indicative of an activity engaged in by a user thereof. The web server computer generates a session file indicative of user status and the status of each of two or persons on a buddy list of the user.
US08727881B2
A portable wagering game machine includes a signal receiver and motion sensors. The signal receiver receives signals from a signal emission device that are used to determine the position and orientation of the portable wagering game machine relative to a gaming establishment devices and locations. The position and orientation information may be used to determine a gaming establishment device or location aimed at by the portable wagering game machine. The portable wagering game machine may then access or interact with a service associated with the device or location, or interact with the device itself.
US08727879B2
An inclination of a first unit is detected based on an output from a first acceleration sensor provided in a first unit of a controller, and an inclination of a second unit is detected based on an output from a second acceleration sensor provided in a second unit separate from the first unit. A difference between the inclinations of the first unit and the second unit is detected, and game control is performed using the detected difference. Thus, with a game apparatus using a plurality of acceleration sensors or a plurality of sensors capable of detecting a motion or a posture, a dynamic play is made possible with a high degree of freedom of motion and an intuitive motion input is realized.
US08727878B2
One particular implementation of the present invention may take the form of a video game controller that provides multiple inputs to a video game system. The controller may be compatible with multiple video game systems and may interface with multiple video games. More particularly, the controller may include a flat tablet-like device and a stylus that allows the user to draw within the video game environment. The tablet may recognize pressure applied by the stylus or by the user's fingers to map the position of the pressure applied and provide that information to a video game console such that the user may interact with a video game. Other embodiments may include a series of overlays that cover the controller device. The overlay may be specific to a particular video game and provide the user with a interface to press certain areas on the tablet to interact with the video game correctly. The overlay may also allow the user to interact with a pre-existing video game system through the controller.
US08727874B2
An apparatus for playing gambling type games having a display device. The apparatus is further capable of producing coupons comprising steps performed by one or more players of the games.
US08727873B2
Gaming machines and methods providing for control of gaming machines and gaming networks via a wireless device. A gaming machine includes a one or more cabinets enclosing interior components of the gaming machine. Access to each cabinet may be controlled with a locking mechanism. A communication interface of the gaming machine communicates with the wireless device and a network server. One or more processors of the gaming machine are configured to receive requests from the wireless device for access to a cabinet, facilitate verifying by the network server whether a user associated with the wireless device has access to the cabinet, and upon obtaining verification from the network server that the user has access to the main cabinet, unlock the appropriate locking mechanism. In some implementations, different cabinets require different security levels for the user.
US08727865B2
In an embodiment, a gaming system includes a plurality of gaming devices and a controller configured to communicate with the gaming devices. The gaming system enables a plurality of players to play an interactive game in a non-competitive mode and in a competitive mode. If at least two players play the interactive game in the competitive mode, for a competitive wagering event, which includes a competition between two players, the gaming system determines a winning player and a losing player. The gaming system causes the winning player to contribute a winning player portion toward a wager associated with the competitive wagering event and causes the losing player to contribute a losing player portion toward the wager associated with the competitive wagering event. The losing player portion is less than the winning player portion. The gaming system randomly determines and provides any awards to the winning player based on the wager.
US08727861B2
The present invention relates to a gaming device and method having a bonus game, where the bonus game displays a target set including a plurality of player selectable symbols. At least one of the symbols is designated as a target symbol in a target set. The gaming device provides a predetermined number of picks to begin a bonus game and enables a player to use the picks to pick symbols from the target set. If the player picks a symbol that is not a target symbol, a relationship indicator indicates the relationship between the target symbol and the picked symbol. The player continues to pick symbols in the target set until the player picks the target symbol. If the player picks a target symbol, the gaming device enables the player to pick symbols from a new target set. The player continues to pick symbols in target sets until the player has no picks remaining. Preferably, the gaming device provides an award for each picked target symbol.
US08727860B2
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage to allow players to wager on video games. The method disclosed herein can allow players to win or lose money while partaking in any video game previously played for entertainment purposes. A player can purchase play time on a game, play the game and earn monetary prizes during the game, and then redeem the monetary prizes for real cash.
US08727852B1
A programmed computer for executing a poker game including transmitting draws of cards to players; receiving from each player a location of each card from the draws in one of three rows for each player, the first row holding a maximum of three cards, and the second and third rows each holding a maximum of five cards; displaying the cards from the draws such that the suit and rank of cards and card locations for one player are visible to another player; comparing the corresponding rows of each player and generating a score for each player; and determining whether any player is eligible for bonus treatment in the following round.
US08727850B2
A system for computer gaming includes a processor configured to provide a first table of a first group of players grouped together to play a first hand and provide to each of the first group of players one or more cards for the first hand. The system includes an interface couple to the processor and configured to receive from a first player of the first group of players a request to fold the one or more cards of the first player. The processor is also configured to automatically move the first player to a second table of a second group of players grouped together to play a second hand.
US08727849B2
A board game includes a plurality of game pieces, a plurality of reward cards, and a game board, where the game board includes a travel path on the game board, said travel path including a plurality of instruction spaces, a plurality of hidden cache spaces, and a plurality of open cache spaces, where one of said plurality of hidden cache spaces and one of said plurality of open cache spaces are associated with one of said plurality of game pieces, and at least one instruction space includes directions to add one of said plurality of reward cards to one of said plurality of open cache spaces that is associated with one of said plurality of game pieces.
US08727844B2
A ventilation member 13 includes a gas-permeable sheet 6 and a support body 11 in which a through-hole 11h is formed. One opening of the through-hole 11h is closed by the sheet 6. As a face to which the sheet 6 is to be attached, the support body 11 has a ring-shaped opening end face 12 parallel to the in-plane direction of the sheet 6. In an outer peripheral region 12j of the opening end face 12, the sheet 6 is welded to the support body 11, forming a ring-shaped welded portion 15. The sheet 6 is not welded to the support body 11 in an inner peripheral region 12k of the opening end face 12. The inner peripheral region 12k is surrounded by the welded portion 15.
US08727840B2
A method of cutting a pork loin creating an anterior portion, a center portion, and posterior portion of a pork loin to provide pork products having enhanced value. The method includes cutting an anterior portion of a pork loin to form a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including a substantially intact spinalis dorsi and multifidus muscles, and a substantially intact longissimus dorsi in the second portion. The method also includes cutting a posterior portion of a pork loin in a manner that results in a substantially intact gluteus medius muscle such that the resulting pork product resembles a pork loin filet in appearance and shape.
US08727827B2
A method for making field emission electron source comprises following steps. An insulating layer is coated on outer surface of a linear carbon nanotube structure. A field emission electron source preform is formed by locating a plurality of conductive ring on outer surface of the insulating layer, wherein the plurality of conductive ring is space from each other, and each conductive ring comprises a first ring face and a second ring face opposite to the first ring face. A plurality of field emission electron source is formed by cutting off the plurality of conductive ring, the insulating layer, and the linear carbon nanotube structure, wherein each field emission electron source comprises at least one conductive ring, and a ring face of the conductive ring, end surface of the insulating layer, and end surface of the linear carbon nanotube structure are coplanar.
US08727824B2
An air vent for a floating board such as a paddleboard, which includes a tubular vent member that has an upper end and a lower end. A mounting supports the tubular vent member in a vertical orientation with the upper end of the tubular vent member protruding above an upper surface of the floating board. The tubular vent is mounted in a central zone comprising a central one third of the floating board, and along a crown positioned between a first side and a second side of the floating board.
US08727823B2
There is provided a water jet propulsion device 10 for a water vehicle, comprising a main duct 12 having a main inlet 14 that is arranged to be submerged in use and a main outlet 16; a pump disposed between the main inlet 14 and the main outlet 16; and a plurality of injection nozzles 40, 50, 60, 70 each arranged to selectively eject a jet of fluid into a different region A, B, C, D susceptible to cavitation, so as to re-energise the fluid flow in that region.
US08727816B2
A connector includes a plurality of metal terminals, a connector housing and a spacer. The connector housing respectively receives the metal terminals, has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers which are aligned in parallel therein and are partitioned with a partition wall each other, and has a first outer wall which is formed with a first opening and a second outer wall which is formed with a second opening. The spacer is inserted into the plurality of terminal accommodating chambers through the first opening so as to hold the plurality of metal terminals so that the metal terminals are prevented from withdrawal from the connector housing, and has a superposing wall which extends toward the second outer wall. The superposing wall superposes on the partition wall and a distal end portion of the superposing wall is located within the second opening.
US08727812B2
Various embodiments of low profile male connectors are described. In one embodiment, a connector includes a plug housing having a depth and an interior cavity designed to accommodate pins that extend within the interior cavity in a direction of the depth. The plug housing may be designed to be fully insertable into a receptacle connector of an electronic device, and to have a rear surface that conforms with a shape of an exterior surface of the electronic device. The pins arranged in the plug housing may include various features, such as connecting portions protruding from the plug housing at an angle of approximately 90 degrees for coupling to a cable, bases including cutouts for extending a length of an elongated shaft of the pin, barbs for engaging the plug housing, and limit stops for distributing a force applied to the elongated shaft upon engagement with a receiving pin.
US08727802B2
A method and apparatus are described for generating a synthetic tactile sensation in a connector in an electronic device. In the described embodiments, a sensor is coupled to a receptacle for the connector and configured to sense a mating of the receptacle and a plug for the connector. An actuator is coupled to the receptacle, and a processing subsystem is coupled to the sensor and the actuator and configured to use the actuator to generate a synthetic tactile sensation based on information received from the sensor.
US08727796B2
An electrical power connector can include a connector housing having a front end defining a mating interface that includes a receptacle defined by opposing first and second surfaces. The interface can further include a plurality of first dividers that extend from the first surface and into the receptacle, and a plurality of second dividers that extend from the second surface and into the receptacle. The connector can further include a first row of contact beams and a second row of contact beams supported by the housing. Each contact beam of the first and second rows extends at least partially into the receptacle. The contact beams of the first row are separated from each other by the first dividers, and the contact beams of the second row are separated from each other by the second dividers such that a minimum creep distance between adjacent contact beams is greater than 1.0 mm.
US08727783B2
A distributed drilling simulation system includes a choke manifold, a high pressure manifold, a blowout preventer console, a choke console, a remote console, a driller console, a teacher console and a graphic projecting unit, wherein the driller console, the remote console, the blowout preventer console, the choke console, the choke manifold, and the high pressure manifold are interconnected through a PPI (processor/peripheral interface) protocol. The teacher console is connected with the PPI protocol through a PPI interface. A communication program and a main control program run on a main control computer and a graphic processing program runs on a graphic computer. The invention has the advantages of realizing high-degree top driving drilling simulation, enhancing the field sense for teaching and training, shortening the training period and reducing the training cost.
US08727778B2
Systems and methods provide tactile assistance to a consumer completing a transaction at a point of sale terminal. A tactile overlay, either permanent or removable, couples with a consumer interface such as a touch screen of the point of sale terminal. The tactile overlay includes one or more overlay inputs that provide a distinct tactile impression in comparison with the remainder of the overlay. For example, the overlay inputs can be depressions, apertures, protrusions, dimples, or the like, or provide a different texture such as a rougher or smoother texture than the surrounding overlay. The overlay inputs are configured to correspond with underlying touch screen inputs such that the consumer using the tactile overlay can discern the proper location on the touch screen for providing the desired input.
US08727770B1
The dental appliance is a generally L-shaped, with a vertical section and a horizontal section. The horizontal section extends from the main body section of the vertical section. The horizontal section has a smooth and continuous upper surface and lower surface which extends from a first end to a second end. The horizontal section extends from the first end on the facial side of the teeth toward the second end on the lingual side of the teeth, stretching across the occlusal surfaces.
US08727765B2
Hydraulically powered injection molder constructed from non-brittle steel channel members, instead of cast iron. It uses threaded vertical rods to support machine components, and threaded nuts to secure the components to the rods. Hydraulic cylinders used are single acting and self-contained, and compression die springs are used to retract the piston after an injection stroke.
US08727751B2
A vacuum pumping arrangement comprises a turbomolecular pumping mechanism and a molecular drag pumping mechanism connected in series. A rotor of the molecular drag pumping mechanism is supported by the rotor blades of the turbomolecular pumping mechanism.
US08727747B2
A bearing/stator set retainer structure includes a base seat, a stator set and a retainer member. The base seat has a bearing cup having an internal bearing hole in which a bearing is disposed. The stator set is assembled on the base seat and has an abutment section on one side distal from the base seat. The retainer member has at least one latch section for fixedly assembling the retainer member on the bearing cup. The retainer member further has at least one protrusion section in abutment with the abutment section and at least one inner flange section in abutment with the bearing. Accordingly, the retainer member can be easily disassembled from and reassembled with the bearing cup to facilitate reworking. Also, the retainer member is able to fix the bearing and the stator set at the same time to simplify the assembling process and prolong lifetime of the fan.
US08727746B2
A method is disclosed for producing a mini-fan that includes a fan wheel equipped with fan blades (80) and, in order to drive said fan wheel (64), an electric drive motor (61). The latter has an internal stator (90) and an external rotor (62). The latter has a supporting part (64) made of plastic and connected to a shaft (60), which part is implemented integrally with the fan blades (80). The external rotor (62) furthermore has at least one permanent magnet (72; 72′) having hard ferromagnetic particles (74). The plastic supporting part (64) is connected by plastic injection molding to the shaft (60), and by two-component injection molding to a plastic in which the hard ferromagnetic particles (74) of the rotor permanent magnet (72; 72′) are arranged, so that at least a portion of the transition zone (76) between the supporting part (64) and rotor permanent magnet (72; 72′) is formed by a materially engaging connection. The pre-assembled external rotor (62), thus formed, is inserted into the mini-fan.
US08727742B2
A compressor is provided. The compressor includes a housing, a valve plate, a cylinder block, piston units, a cam element, a driving shaft and a motor. The valve plate is fixed to one end of the housing. The cylinder block is rotatable relative to the valve plate and has cylinder bores disposed in a circumferential direction. A portion of the cylinder block is received in the valve plate. The piston units are disposed the cylinder bores. The cam element is fixed to the housing and is in contact with one end of the piston unit. The cam element has an inclined cam surface. One end of the driving shaft is coupled to the cylinder block. The motor is fixed to an opposite end of the housing, while a rotating shaft is coupled to an opposite end of the driving shaft.
US08727739B2
A liquid pump that includes a cylinder (2), an inlet valve (4) for feeding liquid into the cylinder, and a discharge valve (5) for discharging the liquid out of the cylinder. The liquid pump also includes a piston (3) sliding in said cylinder so as to draw said liquid into said cylinder and to expel the same outside the cylinder. Additionally, the liquid pump includes an electric circuit (7) for heating the cylinder, with at least one resistor (70, 71) for electrically heating the liquid in the cylinder. The resistor (70, 71) may be made in the form of an electrically conducting thin track deposited on or in the wall (20) of the cylinder (2). The heating may be initiated before the introduction of the liquid into the cylinder, and interrupted before the full discharge of the liquid out of the cylinder.
US08727738B2
A jet pump assembly according to an example embodiment of the present invention includes an inlet body arranged in proximity with a throat structure so as to provide an entrainment entrance between a discharge end of the inlet body and the throat structure. A drive flow of a motive fluid is supplied at a first velocity to the inlet body and is discharged through at least one nozzle at a higher second velocity, thereby creating a pressure drop in the throat structure. The pressure drop facilitates a first entrained flow of suction fluid into the entrainment entrance and a second entrained flow of suction fluid through at least one channel passing through the inlet body. The at least one channel is configured such that the second entrained flow is isolated from the drive flow while passing through the inlet body.
US08727736B2
Systems and methods of driving a compressor are provided. The compressor can be driven by multiple electric motors, which can be controlled by an adjustable speed drive (ASD) to increase efficiency. A torque controller may also be included.
US08727735B2
A blade retainer for a gas turbine engine includes a plate-like member with an arcuate outer face, an opposed inner face, and two spaced-apart end faces. The member has an outer portion disposed adjacent the outer face, and an inner portion disposed adjacent the inner face, and a wedge-shaped recess with a concave radiused valley is formed in the inner portion adjacent each end face. The retainer is left-right symmetrical.
US08727728B2
A bearing assembly for a wind turbine includes a bearing housing and a bearing surface defining a passageway configured to receive a shaft. The bearing surface includes a stationary portion and a movable portion, the movable portion being defined by a movable member coupled to the bearing housing. The movable member is movable between a first position, wherein the movable portion is flush with the stationary portion such that the bearing surface is smooth, and a second position wherein the movable portion is spaced from the stationary portion to define a fluid cavity in the bearing surface. A method of operating a plain bearing assembly includes operating the plain bearing assembly as a hydrostatic plain bearing during low dynamic conditions and operating the plain bearing assembly as a hydrodynamic plain bearing during high dynamic conditions.
US08727722B2
A system and methods for reducing vibration in a rotatable member are provided. The system includes a blade tracking sensor, a rotatable member comprising an adjustable aspect, and a control computer. The control computer is configured to determine an axial position of each blade, determine a first blade that is displaced by a greatest distance along the axis in a first direction, modify an aspect of the first blade to facilitate reducing a vibration in the rotary blade system, determine if the vibration level in the rotary blade system is reduced, and select another rotatable member to modify such that a vibration in the rotary blade system is facilitated being further reduced.
US08727716B2
A turbine nozzle includes an array of turbine vanes between inner and outer bands. Each vane includes opposed pressure and suction sides extending between opposed leading and trailing edges. The vanes define a plurality of flow passages each of which is bounded between the inner band, the outer band, and adjacent first and second vanes. A surface of the inner band in each of the passages is contoured in a non-axisymmetric shape including a peak of relatively higher radial height adjoining the pressure side of the first vane adjacent its leading edge, and a trough of relatively lower radial height is disposed parallel to and spaced-away from the suction side of the second vane aft of its leading edge. The peak and trough define cooperatively define an arcuate channel extending axially along the inner band between the first and second vanes.
US08727715B2
A turbomachine comprising a housing defining a bearing cavity and a turbine chamber separated by a first wall, a heat shield disposed between the first wall and the turbine wheel, a heat shield cavity defined between the first wall and the heat shield. The shaft extends through a passage defined in part by a first aperture in the wall and a second aperture in the heat shield. A first seal is provided between the shaft and the first aperture. The housing defines a first gas channel communicating with the heat shield cavity for connection to a pressure source for raising pressure within the heat shield cavity. A second channel is provided between the heat shield cavity and the passage, the second channel opening to the passage on the opposite side of the first seal to the bearing assembly. A second seal is provided between the shaft and the second aperture.
US08727714B2
A method of forming and/or assembling a multi-panel outer wall (14) for a component (12) in a machine subjected to high thermal stresses comprising providing such a component (12) that includes an inner panel wall (16) having an outer surface, and an array of interconnecting ribs (38) on the outer surface of the component (12). An intermediate panel (22) is provided and preferably preformed to a general outer contour of the component (12), and is positioned over the inner panel (16). An external pressure force is applied across a surface area of the intermediate panel (22) against the outer surface of the component (12) to contour the intermediate panel (22) according to a geometric configuration formed by the ribs (38) thereby forming cooling chambers (24) between the outer surface and ribs (38) of the component (12) and the intermediate panel (22).
US08727706B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a sight tube configured to optically communicate with an interior of a rotary machine via insertion within an inspection port. The sight tube includes a window and multiple openings configured to direct purge air across the window. The system also includes a curtain tube disposed about the sight tube and configured to direct purge air from a first air source to the openings via a first passage formed between an inner surface of the curtain tube and an outer surface of the sight tube. The curtain tube includes multiple outlets configured to direct curtain air around the window, and the curtain tube is configured to direct the curtain air from a second air source to the outlets via a second passage formed between an outer surface of the curtain tube and an inner surface of the inspection port.
US08727705B2
A steam turbine 10 is provided with a double-structure comprising an inner casing 20 and an outer casing 21. A turbine rotor 22, in which plural stages of moving blades 24 are circumferentially implanted, is operatively disposed in inner casing 20. A diaphragm outer ring 25 and a diaphragm inner ring are disposed along the circumferential direction in inner casing 20. Stationary blades 27 are circumferentially provided between diaphragm outer ring 25 and the diaphragm inner ring, so that diaphragm outer ring 25, the diaphragm inner ring and stationary blades 27 form a stage of stationary blades. The stages of the stationary blades are arranged alternately with the stages of moving blades 24 in the axial direction of turbine rotor 22. A cooling medium passage 40 for passing a cooling medium CM which is supplied through a supply pipe 45 is formed between inner casing 20 and diaphragm outer ring 25.
US08727696B2
A variable geometry turbine of the kind used in a turbocharger has a variable geometry element such as a nozzle ring or an annular array of swing vanes that is operated by an actuator. The actuator has an output shaft coupled to a transmission mechanism for moving the variable geometry element. A rotary sensor device coupled to the output shaft of the actuator has a sensor wheel with a stop, slip clutch mechanism and a rotary position sensor. The device converts movement of the actuator output shaft into rotation of the wheel and the sensor generates an output signal representative of the rotary position of the wheel to provide a value indicative of the position of the variable geometry element. The actuator is calibrated to the position of the variable geometry element by rotating the sensor wheel in a first rotational direction until the variable geometry element reaches the first limit position, then rotating the sensor wheel in a second direction until the variable geometry element reaches the second limit position. The value of the output signal is logged at one of these positions as a limit value. The sensor wheel is allowed to declutch in the event that it encounters the stop in either direction of rotation. The output signal is monitored and the limit value is deducted to determine the position of the variable geometry element.
US08727692B2
A movable frame is adapted to be loaded onto and unloaded from a stationary frame mounted on a vehicle. A platform is releasably mountable onto said movable frame. The platform and movable frame may be hoisted simultaneously when being loaded and unloaded from the stationary frame. The platform includes a downwardly depending support legs which are of sufficient length to maintain the platform elevated above a first portion of the movable frame which is inserted under said platform when said movable frame is resting in a lowered position when unloaded from the stationary frame. The movable frame may be raised to engage with the underside of said platform. Interlocks cooperate between said platform and said movable frame so that the movable frame centers onto and mates with said underside of said platform.
US08727689B2
It, as shown in FIG. 11, is provided with a feed roller 31 that is movable, rotates the spiral coil 11 passing through punched holes 3a of the bundle of paper-sheets 3, and guides the spiral coil 11 to feed it toward a coil advance direction, a screw guide 49 at a movable and adjustable side that guides and conducts a forward end of the spiral coil 11 fed by the feed roller 31 toward the coil advance direction into the punched holes 3a thereof, and a control part that receives diameter-of-coil-setting information for setting a diameter of a coil of the spiral coil 11 and controls positions of the feed roller 31 and the screw guide 49 based on the diameter-of-coil-setting information. Such a configuration enables the feed roller 31 and the screw guide 49 to move to the guided positions of the spiral coil 11 indicated by the diameter-of-coil-setting information. Accordingly, it is possible to pass the spiral coils having the different diameters thereof through the holes of the bundle of paper-sheets stably.
US08727682B2
A shock absorption and restraint apparatus including a plurality of co-acting cushioned pads which create a protective shock absorbing barrier for a load in a railroad car (or other shipping container) and a set of straps which are employed to restrain the cushioned pads and the load. In certain embodiments, the cushioned pads include one or more central or connector cushioned pads and one or more side or cooperating cushioned pads. In certain embodiments, the cushioned pads include strap engaging mechanisms which are configured to be engaged by the straps. The cushioned pads are preferably lightweight, easy to handle and install, recyclable, and readily reusable. In certain embodiments, the cushioned pads are configured, sized, and constructed in such a way to protect the specific load in the railroad car.
US08727681B2
A chuck including a body having a tail section defining an annular shoulder and a nose section having an axial bore and angularly disposed passageways intersecting the axial bore. An O-ring is disposed in the annular shoulder and a plurality of jaws is slidably positioned in the passageways. A nut is rotatably mounted on the body in engagement with threads on the jaws. A first sleeve and a second sleeve each define a gripping surface thereon and one of the first and second sleeves is axially reciprocal on the body. The one of the first and second sleeves defines an annular groove on an inner surface thereof having a first shoulder and a second shoulder. The O-ring is received in the groove such that axial motion of the one of the first and the second sleeve is limited by abutment of the O-ring with said first and second shoulders.
US08727678B2
A boring head comprises a housing disposed about a central longitudinal axis and a movement transmission mechanism disposed at least one of on or in the housing. The housing includes a first end adapted to be coupled to a machine tool and an opposite second end having a cutting insert movably coupled thereto. The movement transmission mechanism comprises a rotatable member mounted to be rotatable relative to the housing, a balancing mass, and a main shaft disposed in the housing. The main shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis and operationally coupled to the ring, the balancing mass, and the cutting insert. Rotation of the rotatable member a predetermined amount causes movement of the cutting insert a corresponding predetermined amount in a first radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis and movement of the balancing mass a corresponding predetermined amount in a second radial direction opposite the first radial direction.
US08727675B2
A double-sided cutting insert includes: rectangular shaped upper and lower surfaces formed at upper and lower sides of the insert; four side surfaces of each of the upper and lower surfaces; an assembling hole perpendicular to the upper surface; major cutting edges, at corners of one side surface, and rotationally symmetrical with respect to a center of an outer shape of the insert in a plan view where the upper surface is the front and rotationally symmetrical with respect to the center in a front view where the one of the side surfaces is the front; minor cutting edges, formed at one side of each major cutting edge, and rotationally symmetrical with respect to the center in the plan view; and minor side surfaces formed on a surface where the minor cutting edges meet the side surfaces and inclined toward the center with respect to an assembling hole central axis.
US08727666B2
A pipeline insertion system (100) may include an insertion device (102) outside a tunnel that includes an insertion device frame (104) and a movable clamp device (106) in slidable engagement with the insertion device frame. A drive may cause the movable clamp device engaged with a pipeline to move between a first position (108) and a second position (110) along the frame. Inside the tunnel, the system may also include a plurality of support frames (118) remote from the insertion device and remote from each other which support the pipeline on bearings as the pipeline is pushed (or pulled) by the insertion device through the bores of a plurality of housing segments (122) mounted in the tunnel. A controller (126) is operative to control the drive and the movable clamp device responsive to transducers which measure pipeline slippage, thrust force, and clamping pressure.
US08727662B2
A system for treating influent liquid includes a treatment module having an elongated member arranged in a predetermined configuration. The elongated member has a core structure wrapped in a fabric configured for the passage of the influent liquid therethrough. Filter field medium is disposed about open areas defined by the predetermined configuration of the elongated member and is configured for receiving the influent liquid from the elongated member and passing the influent liquid therethrough. A bladder containing the treatment module has an outlet for providing treated influent liquid passing through the filter medium. A distribution conduit is coupled to the bladder and has an outlet for distributing the influent liquid to the elongated member.
US08727659B1
A manhole cover includes a cover panel formed from a first material, which may be a generally lightweight material, and an insert formed within a cutout in the first material. The insert may be formed from a higher strength material and may include one or more openings for receiving conventional cover removal tools. In one embodiment, the manhole cover includes a cover panel having a peripheral edge and defining a diameter, and further defining an opening or cutout that is spaced from the peripheral edge. The insert is disposed in the opening. The insert may include an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface, the insert defining first and second openings in the upper surface, with the first opening shaped to receive a first removal tool and the second opening shaped to receive a second removal tool.
US08727657B2
A hollow shaft coupling for connecting a shaft (3) to a hollow shaft (2), wherein the hollow shaft coupling (1) can be arranged completely in the hollow shaft (2) and can effect clamping both axially inwardly as well as axially outwardly. The coupling (1) enables a first clamping unit (5) to clamp the hollow shaft coupling (1) axially inwardly against the shaft (3) and a second clamping unit (6) which is separate from the first clamping unit (5) to clamp the hollow shaft coupling (1) axially outwardly against the inner circumferential surface (7) of the hollow shaft (3), with the two clamping units (5, 6) spaced apart from one another axially, and the two clamping units (5, 6) connected to one another via a play-free and rotationally stable coupling which is arranged between them.
US08727655B2
Devices for safely locking collapsible furniture in a fixed configuration. In particular, locks for collapsible furniture which are automatically engaged and require multiple affirmative steps to unlock.
US08727646B2
When a hold member rotates on a shaft counterclockwise in the set operation, pressing parts of a pressing member which is fitted on top end of the hold member press pressed parts of iron piece members to rotate a lock-releasing member for a first blade and a lock-releasing member for a rear blade so that the iron piece members are made to come into contact with iron-core members of electromagnets, while an engagement pin presses an arm of a connection spring to rotate a restraining member clockwise so that a restraining part of the restraining member moves into the trajectory of the movement of a restrained part of the lock-releasing member for the rear blade. When the coils of the electromagnets are not electrified and the hold member rotates clockwise, the lock-releasing member for the front blade presses a front blade locking member to make it possible to perform an open operation of the front blade, while the lock-releasing member for the rear blade cannot press a rear blade locking member because the lock-releasing member for the rear blade is restrained by the restraining member. As a result, an exposure aperture is fully opened, and it becomes possible to perform observation with electronic finder.
US08727644B2
An embodiment of the invention is a camera having a housing, a camera lens disposed at an end of the housing, a box camera mounting part provided on the housing to mount the camera in a box camera configuration, and a dome camera mounting part provided at a front end of the housing to mount the camera in a dome camera configuration. Providing the box and dome camera mounting parts on the housing of the camera enables mounting of the camera in box and dome camera configurations, and allows the user to delay the decision of choosing which configuration, thereby reducing the complexity of engineering design and installation. Furthermore, inclusion of both mounting parts facilitates purchasing and stocking only one configuration of camera, thereby simplifying management of the stocked parts and reducing costs.
US08727637B2
Fiber optic interface devices (20, 320) for electronic devices (300) are disclosed. A plug-type fiber optic interface (20) has an axially moveable multi-fiber ferrule (100) that supports optical fibers (52) or a combination of optical fibers and gradient-index lenses (600). A resilient member (150) serves to provide the ferrule with forward-bias and rear-bias positions relative to a recessed front end (22) of a housing (21). A fiber optic interface assembly (570) that includes mated plug and receptacle fiber optic interface devices (20, 320) is also disclosed.
US08727631B2
A retainer provides torque reduction. The retainer is formed by two annular retaining plates each including semispherical swelling portions arranged at predetermined intervals along a circumferential direction. The semispherical swelling portions face each other and form pockets for retaining balls. Each of the pockets has ball-facing surfaces each including a ball non-contact portion, and a contact area in each of the pockets with respect to each of the balls is reduced by from 15% to 30% by the ball non-contact portion. Each of the seal members serves as a contact seal having a seal lip portion coming into contact with another of raceway, and a material of at least a distal end of the seal lip portion includes a high-abrasion material which is prone to abrasion.
US08727628B2
A system for removing oil from a bearing compartment has a port connected to an end wall of the compartment through which the oil exits the compartment, a scavenge scoop connected to the port for collecting the oil, and a separation device connected to the scavenge scoop for creating an oil collection region.
US08727626B2
A method and a device for adapting a bearing clearance in a ceramic-hybrid bearing having rolling elements in the form of balls or rollers made from a ceramic material and an outer and an inner bearing shell made from ferromagnetic material. In order to be in a position to adapt the bearing clearance also during operation, a magnetic flux is introduced into an outer side of the stationary, non-rotating bearing shell and exits again at the opposite outer side of the bearing shell, with a magnetic field and an associated magnetic flux being generated, and that a deformation of the bearing shell in the sense of a decrease or increase in the circumference of the bearing shell is brought about due to the resulting magnetostrictive effect from a change in the magnetic flux.
US08727620B2
A storage bag has first and second closure profiles adjacent to an opening to the interior of the bag. The first and second closure profiles are provided with dimples that are aligned opposite to each other. The dimples of the first closure profile are formed as a concave surface on the side of the first closure profile facing the interior of the bag and a convex surface on the side of the first closure profile facing the outside of the bag. The dimples of the second closure profile are formed as a convex surface on the side of the second closure profile facing the interior of the bag and a concave surface on the side of the second closure profile facing the outside of the bag. The dimples of the first closure profile are at least partially within the dimples of the second closure profile when the bag is being sealed.
US08727618B2
A medical treatment suite and method of use is described, having a projection X-ray apparatus mounted to a robot. The robot positions the projection X-ray apparatus with respect to a patient and data is taken in a form that is suitable for synthesizing computed tomographic images. The patient may be supported by a patient support apparatus, which may be mounted to another robot, which cooperates with the other robot so as to position the patient according to a selected treatment protocol. Each of the robots may be mounted to one of a floor, a ceiling or a wall of the room.
US08727613B2
A dual parameter sensor for sensing temperature and mechanical or chemical or related information is disclosed. The sensor is formed of an optical waveguide suitable for use in-situ in a high temperature environment having a Bragg grating written into a core region thereof with short-pulsed electromagnetic radiation. By noting the thermal Black Body radiation level above 650° C., wavelength shifts due to temperature can be decoupled from wavelength shifts due to the other parameter being sensed. Advantageously the thermal radiation can be used as an optical source to probe the Bragg grating, considerably simplifying the interrogating apparatus, removing the need for an extrinsic optical source to probe the sensor.
US08727611B2
Provided according to one or more embodiments is a thermostat having a housing, the housing including a forward-facing surface, the thermostat comprising a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor disposed inside the housing for sensing occupancy in the vicinity of the thermostat. The PIR motion sensor has a radiation receiving surface and is able to detect the lateral movement of an occupant in front of the forward-facing surface of the housing. The thermostat further comprises a grille member having one or more openings and included along the forward-facing surface of the housing, the grille member being placed over the radiation receiving surface of the PIR motion sensor. The grille member is configured and dimensioned to visually conceal and protect the PIR motion sensor disposed inside the housing, the visual concealment promoting a visually pleasing quality of the thermostat, while at the same time permitting the PIR motion sensor to effectively detect the lateral movement of the occupant. In one embodiment, the grille member openings are slit-like openings oriented along a substantially horizontal direction.
US08727608B2
A moisture meter with non-contact temperature measurement capability having a housing, a moisture-detecting device coupled to or contained at least partially in the housing, and having an output related to measured moisture parameters, a non-contact, optically-based temperature sensing device coupled to the housing, having an output related to sensed temperature, an output display contained in the housing, for displaying measurements to a user, and circuitry contained in the housing for processing both the moisture-detecting device output and the non-contact temperature sensing device output, and transmitting the processed outputs to the output display. The moisture-detecting device can be either one or both of a contact-type moisture-detecting device such as a pad on the rear side of the housing, and a pin-type moisture-detecting device in a hand-held probe, and electrically coupled to the circuitry in the housing through a cord.
US08727605B2
A single-use mixer or homogenizer is provided that includes a container provided with a lid which is provided as a compression element (29) for substances (45) in the container (1). The compression element (29) is rotatably arranged in relation to the container (1). The substances (45) are pressed and ground through the sieve (13) into the collecting chamber (27) by the rotation of the compression element (29), and can be removed by a pipette (43) which passes through both the compression element (29) and the cover on the sieve (13).
US08727599B2
The present invention provides a light guide plate and a side-edge backlight module using the light guide plate. The light guide plate includes a plurality of air barrier walls formed therein. The air barrier walls divide the light guide plate into a plurality of sections. With the arrangement of air barrier walls between independent sections of the light guide plate according to the present invention, by means of total reflection, light incident into each independent section is blocked from penetrating through the air gaps and is thus confined within the independent section. Thus, brightness sectioning and independent control of sectionalized brightness of the light guide plate can be realized and improved light isolation result, improved yield, being mass producible, and low cost can be achieved. The side-edge backlight module uses the light guide plate so as to realize brightness sectioning and independent control of sectionalized brightness of the backlight module.
US08727589B2
A vehicular lamp includes a vehicular component part that is molded by charging molten resin into a cavity defined by a first die that has a mirror surface-molding portion and a semi-gloss surface-molding portion and a second die that is movable relative to the first die and cooling the molten resin. The vehicular component part includes a mirror surface-formed portion having a mirror surface that is formed by the mirror surface-molding portion and a semi-gloss surface-formed portion having a semi-gloss surface that is formed by the semi-gloss surface-molding portion. A step surface is provided between the mirror surface and the semi-gloss surface of the vehicular component part. The semi-gloss surface-formed portion is protruded on a first die side relative to the mirror surface-formed portion.
US08727582B2
Recessed-lighting fixtures having features to facilitate alignment between adjacent fixtures. According to one embodiment of the present invention, alignment means are provided on downwardly directed walls of a recessed lighting tray, ensuring alignment between adjacent fixtures. In another embodiment, apertures on the tray permit relative movement between the tray and a recessed lighting pail, allowing the tray to be quickly and easily repositioned relative to the pan. In yet another embodiment, cavities are provided on the tray for insertion of the trim assembly's alignment tabs to facilitate alignment between the trim assembly and the tray,
US08727575B2
A light source unit is equipped with a light source having a discharge lamp and a converging mirror, and a light guide formed of a liquid core fiber which is held by a light guide holding portion. The light source and the light guide are held in a casing made of a metal, and an infrared cut filter is provided in a cylindrical light shielding body surrounding an optical path in the interior of the casing. The light shielding body forms a stray light preventing member which prevents stray light from going out of the casing, and a light quantity adjusting member is provided between an opening of the light shielding body on a light guide side and a light incident port of the light guide. The light shielding body and the light guide holding portion are thermally insulated from each other by a heat insulating material portion.
US08727572B2
Provided is a lighting apparatus that is suitable as a substitute for a conventional halogen lamp when positively utilizing leaked light. The lighting apparatus comprises: a heat dissipator 12 that is in one of a bottomed cylindrical shape and a bowl shape, and that has a bottom portion, a circumferential wall portion, and an opening; and a light-emitting device 18b that is provided inside the heat dissipator 12 at the bottom portion and is operable to emit light, wherein the heat dissipator 12 has one or more windows 19 for leaking the emitted light outside the heat dissipator 12.
US08727570B2
The present invention discloses an illumination device comprising a base, a yoke connected to and rotatable relative to the base and a head connected to and rotatable relative to the yoke. The head comprises at least one light source generating light and the yoke comprises at least one yoke shell part and at least one motor connected to a bearing through a belt. The yoke shell part comprises belt tensioning means adapted to tighten the belt upon mounting of said yoke shell part. The present invention discloses further a method of manufacturing such illumination device. The method comprises the steps of arranging at least one motor on the yoke, arranging at least one bearing on the yoke, connecting the motor and the bearing by arranging a belt there between and arranging a yoke shell part on the and tightening the belt using said belt tensioning means.
US08727565B2
A white light LED-based lighting device may comprise a light assembly including a plurality of white-light LEDs disposed on a substrate. The LEDs may cover the substrate top surface in a density of greater than 50 individual LEDs per square inch. An electrical driver board is electrically connected to the LEDs. A heat sink is thermally connected to the substrate and the LEDs. A reflector assembly may be disposed on the heat sink such that its focal plane is disposed generally adjacent to the LEDs. The device may have a continuous operating temperature of 65 degrees Celsius or lower in a room temperature environment. The LEDs may comprise a top surface area of less than 2 mm2 and be arranged in a series of concentric rings on the substrate with each LED oriented along the circumference thereof. The reflector assembly may be filled at least partially with an impact-resistant polymer material.
US08727558B2
Provided is a medical headlamp including a main body put on a head, a driving unit installed and connected to one side of the main body and to provide a driving force, a location adjustment unit installed and connected to one side of the driving unit, a lamp unit installed and connected to one side of the location adjustment unit to move along with a movement of the location adjustment unit, and irradiate light onto one side of a front end thereof, a capturing unit installed and connected to one side of the main body and to capture eye locations, a control unit installed and connected to the driving unit and the capturing unit to analyze an image captured by the capturing unit, calculate the eye locations, and operate the driving unit according to the calculated eye calculation, and a power supply unit installed and connected to the control unit, the driving unit, and the lamp unit and to apply a current thereto.
US08727556B2
Embodiments include a method and apparatus for an integrated illumination device mount and for mounting the integrated illumination device and mount to a firearm or helmet. In some embodiments, the integrated illumination device mount is a low profile mount. In some embodiments, the integrated illumination device mount allows rigid mounting of an illumination device to a rail of a firearm. In other embodiments, the integrated illumination device allows pivotal mounting of the illumination device to a rail of a firearm. In yet other embodiments, the integrated illumination device mount allows pivotal mounting of the illumination device to a rail of a helmet.
US08727555B2
A lawn or patio umbrella with an integral lighting system that utilizes cold cathode ray tubes, light emitting diodes (LED's), or florescent lights, to provide relatively bright outdoor light for reading and other activities that require relatively high light intensities is provided. In one embodiment, a modular, electrically powered lawn or patio umbrella in which lighting systems, such as those utilizing cold cathode tubes, LED's, or florescent lights; cooling systems, such as those utilizing electric fans or misting systems; and motorized retraction systems; can be selectively interchanged is provided.
US08727531B2
A spectacle lens is disclosed. The disclosed lens provides a vision correcting area for the correction of a wearer's refractive error. The viewing correction area provides Correction for non-conventional refractive error to provide at least a part of the Wearer's vision correction. The lens has a prescription based on a wave front analysis of the wearer's eye and the lens can further be modified to fit within an eyeglass frame.
US08727526B2
In an inkjet printing apparatus capable of automatic duplex printing, time required to fix ink is shortened and throughput is improved without producing uneven fixing. The inkjet printing apparatus includes a printing unit that prints onto a sheet, a fixing unit that heats a sheet printed by the printing unit, a conveying unit that conveys a sheet with respect to the printing unit and the fixing unit, and a controller that controls the conveying unit such that a printing region of a sheet printed on the first side by the printing unit passes through the fixing unit, and afterwards, the conveyance direction of the sheet is reversed in order to print on the second side and the printing region once again passes through the fixing unit. The controller variably controls the conveyance speed of the sheet when the printing region once again passes through the fixing unit.
US08727520B2
After one ink of a white ink or a silver ink is ejected in a predetermined position of a recording medium such as a piece of recording paper to form a base layer, the other ink thereof is ejected on the base layer to form an intermediate layer, and a clear ink is ejected on the intermediate layer to form an epidermal layer.
US08727519B2
Provided are an inkjet printing apparatus and a method of controlling an inkjet printing apparatus whereby the performing of a suction discharge operation, for air bubbles that have penetrated inside an ink supply line, can be suppressed to a minimum necessary number of times, and whereby the ink discharge volume that accompanies air bubble suction discharge operations can be kept low. The volume of an air bubble that penetrates into an ink supply line is estimated on the basis of an elapsed time since the last air bubble suction discharge operation, and in addition, the volume of an air bubble that penetrates into the ink supply line during main tank installation is predicted. The suction discharge operation (choke suction operation) for suctioning out and discharging air bubbles is conducted when the sum of these estimated volumes becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
US08727513B2
A system for automatic cleaning in a liquid ink printing system includes an ink tank, a pump which is configured pump a carrier liquid from the ink tank as a pressurized carrier liquid flow. A filter is configured to remove particulates from the pressurized carrier liquid flow to produce a filtered carrier liquid flow. A sprayer is configured to receive the filtered carrier liquid flow and spray the filtered carrier liquid flow into an interior of the ink tank. The pump recirculates the filtered carrier liquid flow through the filter and the sprayer. A method for automatic cleaning in a printing system is also included.
US08727511B2
A coupling for distributing fluid to a printhead, the coupling having a housing, a port plate movably mounted on the housing by a shaft, the port plate having a plurality of ports for receiving respective fluid spouts of the printhead, a seal member mounted on the housing between the housing and the port plate, the seal member having a plurality of seals which align with respective ones of the ports of the port plate and a compression spring mounted on the shaft by a washer so as to be compressed between the washer and the port plate.
US08727508B2
A print head including a jet stack can be formed using semiconductor device manufacturing techniques. A blanket metal layer, a blanket piezoelectric element layer, and a blanket conductive layer can be formed over a semiconductor substrate such as a semiconductor wafer or wafer section. The piezoelectric element layer and the blanket conductive layer can be patterned to provide a plurality of transducer piezoelectric elements and top electrodes respectively, while the metal layer forms a bottom electrode for the plurality of transducers. Subsequently, the semiconductor substrate can be patterned to form a body plate for the print head jet stack. Forming a print head jet stack using semiconductor device manufacturing techniques can provide a high resolution device with small feature sizes.
US08727501B2
A liquid dispenser includes a first liquid chamber and a second liquid chamber. The first liquid chamber includes a nozzle. A liquid supply channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber. A liquid return channel is in fluid communication with the second chamber. A heater is associated with the second liquid chamber. A flexible membrane is positioned to separate and fluidically seal the first liquid chamber and the second liquid chamber relative to each other. A liquid supply provides a liquid that flows continuously from the liquid supply through the liquid supply channel through the second liquid chamber through the liquid return channel and back to the liquid supply.
US08727488B2
Apparatus for capturing aerosols are disclosed. An example apparatus described herein includes a corona wire, and a nonconductive housing comprising a first cavity to expose a first portion of the corona wire, a second cavity to expose a second portion of the corona wire, and a chamber between the first and second cavities. A third portion of the corona wire is located within the chamber between the first and second portions of the corona wire.
US08727482B2
The invention provides a cap of a liquid discharge head that discharges liquid from nozzle holes, can come in contact with a nozzle hole surface, and has an opposite surface opposite the nozzle hole surface, in which the opposite surface has protrusions.
US08727481B2
A printhead module includes a substrate and a head mount. The substrate includes a bottom surface having a plurality of nozzles formed therein and a top surface on a side of the substrate opposite the bottom surface. The substrate includes a plurality of actuators. Each actuator of the plurality of actuators is configured to cause a fluid to be ejected from a nozzle of the plurality of nozzles. The head mount is secured to the substrate and extends over the top surface of the substrate. The head mount includes a first side surface extending upwardly from the bottom surface and a groove formed in the first side surface. The groove is sized and shaped to cause fluid on the first side surface to be drawn by capillary action into the groove.
US08727475B2
A method is described wherein one or more parameters are measured that affect the nozzle velocity at which a printing fluid is ejected from a pumping chamber through a nozzle. The printing fluid is contained in the pumping chamber actuated by deflection of a piezoelectric layer. A surface area of an electrode actuating the piezoelectric layer is reduced based at least in part on the measured one or more parameters. Reducing the surface area of the electrode reduces the actuated area of the piezoelectric layer.
US08727462B2
An inner peripheral surface of a tube-shaped inner casing has a regular hexagonal shape when viewed from the axial direction, a plurality of pins are arranged in the inner casing so as to take a posture parallel to the axial direction of the inner casing, and in this arrangement, a plurality of rows of the pins arranged in a predetermined direction are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the row direction of the pins, the adjacent pins of the adjacent rows are offset from each other in the row direction of the pins, and each pin contacts the pins adjacent thereto.
US08727456B1
A draw-out control compartment including a drawer housing open opposite a drawer housing rear wall to define a front opening. A control component support structure is received within the drawer housing and supported on drawer slides. A cable storage compartment is adjacent a rear wall of the drawer housing on the exterior side thereof, and opens into the housing interior. A control cable is attached to the control component support structure and extends into the cable storage compartment. The control cable has a length which permits the drawer-like control component support structure to be pulled out of the drawer housing with the control cable remaining attached, with excess length of the control cable when the control component support structure is all the way within the drawer housing being stored within the cable storage compartment.
US08727438B2
A seat back frame and associated vehicle seat are provided for effectively reducing an input load applied onto a reclining mechanism at the time of rear surface collision, the frame and seat having an energy absorbing member fixed to a coupling portion of a lower frame for coupling left and right side frames on the lower side. Since the energy absorbing member is plastically deformable by pressing from the backrest front surface side, the energy absorbing member absorbs shock energy at the time of the rear surface collision to reduce an input load imposed onto a reclining mechanism.
US08727435B2
A tray apparatus includes a bib portion and a tray portion. The bib portion is sized and dimensioned to be positioned about an individual. The tray portion substantially surrounding the bib portion so as to provide a surface for providing a sanitary barrier. The tray apparatus further includes a loop member connected to the tray portion for keeping the tray portion taut or for collapsing the tray apparatus.
US08727431B2
A sunshade stopper is provided at a housing connecting a pair of guide rails that slidably supports a sunshade on a ceiling of a vehicle interior. The sunshade stopper includes a corresponding portion arranged at a position corresponding to an end portion of the sunshade during the sunshade is at the closed position, at least one contact portion provided on the corresponding portion that makes contact with at least a portion of the end portion of the sunshade during the sunshade is at the closed position, the contact portion formed with a form fitting the end portion of the sunshade that makes contact with the contact portion, and an attaching portion configured to be fixed to a vehicle, provided at a position in a direction opposite to where the ceiling is provided relative to the corresponding portion and extending in a direction in which the sunshade opens.
US08727420B2
The frontal crash load is transmitted from a front pillar to a center pillar in a reliable manner so that a bending moment caused by the frontal crash load is favorably supported, and the deformation of the door is avoided. A beam member attached to an inner panel includes a S shaped cross section member. An upper channel section of the S shaped cross section member extends along the lower edge of a window opening, and a lower channel section extends adjacent to and in parallel to the lower edge of a window opening in a rear part of the door and is offset toward a lower part of the vehicle body in a rear part of the door, with a front end being located at a same elevation as an upper door hinge.
US08727412B2
To avoid wind noises and to reduce soiling of mirror glass during travel in the rain, the exterior rear view mirror for a motor vehicle has a droplet channel in a first circumferential region of the mirror housing that includes the housing top and a separation edge in a second circumferential region on the housing bottom. The droplet channel and the separation edge overlap in a lateral region. Rain droplets that strike the mirror housing during travel flow both on the bottom housing side and on the top housing side toward the rear edge of the housing. Water droplets flowing on the bottom are collected by the separation edge and are blown away by the air flow which is directed down at the separation edge. On the housing top side, the droplets are collected by the droplet channel and conducted away laterally toward the housing bottom.
US08727411B2
Improved covers for floor-located vehicle identification numbers (VINs) are disclosed. Exemplary VIN cover embodiments may be of a simple one-piece design and may include tabs or other retention elements along underside edges thereof. The retention elements engage the vehicle carpet and trap the carpet when the cover is installed into a VIN viewing window provided in the carpet. The underside of the cover may also include a carpet gripping mechanism that engages the carpet surface and helps to maintain the position of the cover after installation. A section of vehicle carpet removed to permit viewing of the VIN may optionally be retained and installed to the underside of the cover so as to reside in the window area when the cover is in place.
US08727404B2
A device for preventing a door with an automatic locking mechanism from locking and for propping a door in an open position is provided. The device includes a bar with a first surface and an opposing second surface. One or more magnets are connected to the first surface by glue. A foam layer is also connected to the first surface.
US08727403B2
A lid striker assembly is configured to mate with a latching assembly having a pawl. The lid striker assembly includes a plate, and at least one spring beam extending from the plate. The spring beam(s) is integrally formed with the plate as a single unit and is configured to exert a resistive force into the latching assembly when the lid striker assembly is secured to the latch assembly.
US08727402B2
An exterior handle assembly for a vehicle door includes a movable handle member and a mounting structure. The mounting structure includes a predefined fracture line or line of weakening, whereby the reinforcing structure fractures along the line of weakening in the event a large external force is applied to the reinforcing structure. The handle assembly also includes a push surface that pushes against an inertia lock lever after fracture of the reinforcing structure to thereby push the inertia lock lever into a locked position to prevent unlatching of a vehicle door.
US08727401B2
An inside door handle device includes: a handle base (10) fixed to an inner panel that composes a door interior of an automobile; an opening portion (11) formed of a through hole formed on one side of the handle base (10); an operation recessed portion (12) that has a recessed shape and is arranged adjacent to the opening portion (11) on the other side of the handle base (10); fixation portions (17) formed in the operation recessed portion (12) and fixed to the inner panel; a handle body (20) in which a grip portion (22) located on a tip end side is urged and held onto the operation recessed portion (12) while a base end side is being swingably supported on the opening portion (11) with handle support portions (14a) interposed therebetween; and a support beam (13) protruded on the opening portion (11) and formed into a fixed-fixed beam shape bent into an L-shape.
US08727389B2
A coupling for attaching a fuel canister to an appliance such as a torch comprises a first connector on the canister. The first connector comprises a first set of screw threads where the first set of screw threads are interrupted to define a shape. A second connector on the appliance comprises a locking element. The locking element has a matching shape that matches the shape such that the locking element closely receives the first connector when the first connector is in a first orientation relative to the second connector.
US08727386B2
A connecting device for connecting a hose in a fluid-conveying system including a nipple and a compression sleeve. The nipple has a rotation-symmetrical hose-receiving section and, at a distance therefrom, an anti-twist section that is configured in a non-circular manner, at least after a connection has been established between said hose and the nipple. The compression sleeve is configured to extend over the hose-receiving section and over the anti-twist section. The compression sleeve is further configured for a positive-locking engagement with respect to a relative rotation in the anti-twist section. The anti-twist section is configured as a non-circular deformation of at least part of the nipple. A method for establishing an anti-twist connection between a nipple and a hose using a compression sleeve is also disclosed.
US08727375B2
There are provided a side air bag device, an occupant protection device and an occupant protection method. The side air bag device that expands a side air bag member and a curtain air bag member between a side door and a passenger in a widthwise direction of a vehicle so as to protect the passenger from a shock caused by a side impact on the side door. The side air bag member is expanded such that a first chamber of the side air bag member directs toward a compartment in the widthwise direction of the vehicle.
US08727374B1
A vehicle seatback assembly includes a seatback side support that has a frame member that extends. A suspension component extends forward from the side support to define a peripheral gap. An airbag module is operably coupled to the frame member. A first trim piece conceals a rear area of the frame member and extends forward over the airbag module. A second trim piece is coupled to a forward portion of the frame member and is detachably coupled with the first trim piece along a seam. The airbag module is deployable forward through the seam to move the second trim piece into the peripheral gap.
US08727369B2
Sliding hitch assemblies including a rail assembly, a support assembly disposed upon and configured to translate between at least two positions along the rail assembly, a hitch head assembly mounted on the support assembly, and a translation lock mechanism including a locking assembly coupled to the support assembly and configured to selectively lock the support assembly in one or more of the at least two positions on the rail assembly, and an actuating assembly configured to actuate the locking assembly, where the actuating assembly is operably coupled to the locking body by an anti-binding assembly. The support assembly may be disposed upon the rail assembly via a glide block that includes a composite material.
US08727368B1
A bicycle including front and rear wheels, a main frame that has a mounting bracket, and a front fork that connects the main frame to the front wheel. The bicycle also includes a rear sub-frame that connects the main frame to the rear wheel and that is movable relative to the main frame, and a shock that is positioned to dampen movement between the main frame and the sub-frame. The shock has a front mount that is secured to the mounting bracket and that defines a space between the front mount and the main frame, and a bicycle accessory is positioned in the space.
US08727362B2
A wheel suspension element for a motor vehicle which comprises a supporting structure (1) for an axle of a motor vehicle and at least a rod for guiding, with the rod, at least an articulated wheel carrier (2) which can be connected to the supporting structure (1). The supporting structure (1) is formed from a fiber composite material. The rod of the wheel suspension element is designed as an elastic spring rod (3, 4) and is formed from a fiber composite material as one element with the supporting structure (1).
US08727355B2
A semiconductor fabrication device welded bellows of an accordion structure is characterized in that a plurality of annular bellows plates having faces curving in a radial direction are connected alternatingly at the outside diameter side and inside diameter side, wherein the annular bellows plates are provided with a treatment-side bellows plate and a non-treatment-side bellows plate, a gas layer disposed between the two bellows plates, the treatment-side bellows plate being of lesser thickness, and the non-treatment-side bellows plate being of greater thickness. The bellows are highly resistant to damage caused by foreign matter; or, in the unlikely case that the treatment-side bellows plate becomes damaged, the damage can be compensated for by the non-treatment side bellows plate.
US08727354B2
A brush seal assembly is disclosed that includes bristles arranged circumferentially about an axis to provide a bristle assembly. First and second plates are secured about the bristle assembly to provide a subassembly. A circumference of the subassembly is pressed into a retaining ring to provide the brush seal assembly. The circumference need not be machined. A perimeter weld is no longer needed to secure the first and second plates and bristle assembly to one another to provide the brush seal assembly.
US08727348B2
An air-blowing assembly of game table, which is installed in a table frame of the game table, includes a face board, an inner board and an air space defined between the boards. One or more flow guide members are arranged in the air space, each flow guide member has multiple lattices arranged in rows. At least one air guide channel is formed on each flow guide member so that at least one lattice row has longitudinal notches and/or lateral notches. Accordingly, the flow guide member has longitudinal and/or transverse airflow passages. A fan is used to blow air into the air space. Under the guide of the air guide channels, the air flows out of the face board from fine orifices thereof.
US08727345B2
A sheet discharging device includes: sheet discharging rollers that receive each of sheets conveyed thereto and discharge the sheets one by one; a shift tray on which the sheets discharged by the sheet discharging rollers are to be stacked; an air blower; and a CPU. The air blower forms an air layer between the shift tray and a sheet when the sheet is discharged onto the shift tray by the sheet discharging rollers, or between a sheet and the sheet that is already placed on the shift tray when the sheet is discharged. The CPU controls an air velocity of air to be delivered by the air blower based on sheet information, thereby causing the air layer to extend to the entire surface of the sheet.
US08727341B2
Flat item feeding apparatus (10) having a delivering section (12) for receiving a large batch of flat items on a transport surface (24, 26a, 26b) and a singulating section (14) for extracting these items one by one and transferring them downstream. The delivering section includes a transport device (22) for conveying the stacked on edge flat items towards the singulating section, a pushing device (30) for jogging the stacked on edge flat items during the conveying. The transport device has an endless belt (26a, 26b) protruding a transport deck (24) within a conveying zone B of length d of the delivering section and located a distance d2 from a downstream pulley (29a, 29b) and a distance d1 from an upstream pulley (27a, 27b), the distances d1 and d2 respectively defining determined conveying zone A, C in which the at least one endless belt remains below the transport deck.
US08727338B2
A supply device includes a supply roller, a prevention member, a restriction member, and a rotatably supported rotary member. The supply roller supplies a medium. When in a first posture, the prevention member prevents the medium from being supplied by the supply roller. When in a second posture different from the first posture, the prevention member allows the medium to be supplied by the supply roller. When located at a determined position, the restriction member restricts a shift of the prevention member from the first posture to the second posture. When rotated, the rotary member moves the restriction member located at the determined position and releases the restriction on the prevention member imposed by the restriction member, and thereafter moves the supply roller and brings the supply roller into contact with the medium.
US08727318B2
A camera dolly or camera crane has an arm pivotably attached to a chassis, and a hydraulic system including a hydraulic cylinder for raising the arm, a hydraulic valve and a valve control. The hydraulic valve has a normal operation mode where opening and closing of the valve is controlled by the valve control. The hydraulic valve is also provided with a float down mode, where the valve remains partially open providing an intentional slight leakage, regardless of operation of the valve control. In float down mode, as soon as the arm reaches its highest point, the arm automatically and instantaneously reverses direction and starts to move back down, in a smooth continuous movement. The hydraulic system may optionally also include a fast down valve, to allow the arm to move down quickly, even when minimally loaded.
US08727315B2
A ball valve includes a first ball clamping assembly that defines a first seat surface in contact with an exterior of the ball. A second ball clamping assembly defines a second, sealing seat surface in contact with and adapted to seal with the exterior of the ball. The second ball clamping assembly is coupled to the first ball clamping assembly to clamp the ball between the first and second seat surfaces. The second ball clamping assembly includes a seat ring holder and a seat ring carried by the seat ring holder. The seat ring of the second ball clamping assembly has a sealing seat surface. A springing member is provided between the seat ring and the seat ring holder and springingly biases the seat ring toward the ball. The seat ring holder has a shoulder that supports the seat ring against fully compressing the springing member.
US08727314B2
The disclosed embodiments include ball valves having integrated seats. The integrated seats are included in a ball body assembly of a valve body. The ball body assembly may rotate with respect to the valve body to open or close the valve. The integrated seats may contact walls of a bore to sealingly close the valve.
US08727308B2
An adjustable electromagnetic fluid flow control valve includes: a tubular member of non-magnetizable material. One end of the tubular member is forming an inlet and serves as the main entry port for: gases or other fluids entering the valve. The opposite end of the tubular member is forming an outlet The valve includes at least one annularly configured electromagnetic coil which is surrounded from outside and partially inside by a core preferably built from ferrous laminations. The coil is connected to a power supply and can be energized by the power supply under control of a controller: A disk occluder of a magnetic material has diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the tubular member. The occluder is disposed Within the tubular member and occludes the fluid flow when is positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. The occluder rests on a supporting non-magnetic-member with at least one passageway for fluid flow. The occluder is pressed against the supporting member by a spring. All spring-loaded members of the valve are locked In place between two inner locking members rigidly mounted within the tubular member. The magnetic torque, exerting influence on the occluder increases or decreases With changes in the electric power to the coil and this changes the cross-sectional area of the flow pass.
US08727305B2
A diaphragm valve is used to perform opening/closing operations to switch between a state where two flow paths 14a and 15a communicate with each other and a state where the flow paths 14a and 14b are blocked from communicating with each other. A diaphragm unit 31 which is disposed in a valve housing 13 has a hollow valve body 32 capable of being reciprocated in the axial direction, the diaphragm unit 31 is formed with a communication flow path 32a through which two flow paths 14a and 14b are communicated with each other. A first diaphragm 34 is provided to one end portion of a hollow valve body 32, and a second diaphragm 36 is provided to the other end of the hollow valve body 32, when the hollow valve body 32 is moved in its axial direction and abuts on a valve seat portion 42, the communication flow path 32a is closed.
US08727304B2
A pinch bar for a pinch valve is comprised of a coil spring coupled to one end of an actuating rod. An opposite end of the rod is formed with, or is coupled to a device or surface, which applies a pinch force. The actuating rod slides through a fixed-in-place rod actuator. The rod actuator, spring and actuating rod thus provide a mechanism that applies a closing force inwardly, into or directed toward a cabinet attached to which is a valve body for the pinch bar and against which the pinch bar could exert a tube-closing force.
US08727301B2
A built-in home appliance includes a panel, a rear foot group having a foot shaft, an adjustment shaft which rotates the foot shaft of the rear foot group, and an adjustment mechanism having a movement transfer mechanism to transfer a rotational movement of the adjustment shaft to the foot shaft. The movement transfer mechanism is provided on a rear part of the panel to adjust a height of the rear foot group. A guiding member having a bearing receives the adjustment shaft and is fixed by a fixation piece to the panel to provide the supporting of the adjustment shaft so that the adjustment shaft essentially extends in a parallel relation to the panel and so that the adjustment shaft extends between a rear part and a front part of the panel.
US08727298B2
An offroad whip mount as disclosed includes a mounting element that may be secured to a standard mounting location on any suitable vehicle. A closure plate is secured to the mounting element using a tongue, sized and dimensioned to engage a corresponding groove in the mounting element and the closure plate is secured to the mounting element with a threaded fastener. The mounting element and the closure plate each have two corresponding half-cylindrical grooves that form two independent whip receptacles. The engaging tongue and groove combined with the threaded fastener serve to clamp one or two whips into the whip mount.
US08727286B2
Systems and methods for controlling air vehicle boundary layer airflow are disclosed. Representative methods can include applying electrical energy bursts and/or other energy bursts in nanosecond pulses in the boundary layer along a surface of an air vehicle. In a particular embodiment, electrical energy is discharged into the boundary layer to reduce the tendency for the boundary layer to separate and/or to reduce the tendency for the boundary layer to transition from laminar flow to turbulent flow. Representative actuators discharging the energy can be arranged in a two-dimensional array of individually addressable actuators.
US08727282B2
A safety system for reducing the explosion risk of a fuel tank comprises at least one fluid source and at least one fluid container with an inlet and an outlet for a fluid, wherein the fluid container has a structure that is flexible at least in some regions and is designed in such a manner that it can be positioned in a hollow space of the fuel tank, which hollow space is situated above the fuel, with said fluid container when fluid flows into the hollow space essentially occupying the space up to the top of the fuel tank. In this way it is possible to avoid the presence of a free air volume in the fuel tank, which counteracts any formation of a potentially explosive mixture and in this way reduces the explosion risk.
US08727279B2
A method of configuring a mount or of controlling sway in an object to be mounted includes configuring isolators of the mount to put a center of elasticity of the flexible mount at a desired height relative to a base of the mount. This desired distance may be at a location of expected minimum clearance between the object to be mounted and the structure expected to surround the object to be mounted and is the center of rotation of the flexible mount. The location of the center of elasticity also may be farther from the base than a center of mass or gravity of the object to be mounted. An equation relating the location of the center of elasticity as a function of isolator material properties and of angle between the isolators and the base may be used to analytically predict the location of the center of elasticity and the center of rotation.
US08727276B2
An anchoring harpoon intended in particular for an aircraft, capable of cooperating with an anchoring grate of a platform, includes jack elements including a cylinder element containing mobile piston elements provided with a rod that extends beyond the cylinder element, the free end of which includes a harpoon head (7) that is hooked in the grate and includes retaining fingers (8, 13, 14) that can be moved between a retracted position and an active position by control elements (9). The control element (9) for controlling the movements of the fingers include a control piston (18) which can slide inside the rod of the jack and which is associated with a bistable actuator (19) of the fingers, capable of moving between a retracted position and an active position in which the fingers are deployed with the application of successive pressure pulses in the jack elements.
US08727274B2
A method of managing a ground connection of an aircraft having landing gear with wheels that are subjected to static loads, some of which wheels are fitted with respective braking devices and others are fitted with respective independent drive devices, the method including the step of causing a modification to a distribution of the static loading to which the wheels of the landing gear are subjected in such a manner as to: increase the loading on at least some wheels fitted with respective braking devices, during a braking stage; and increase the loading on at least some wheels fitted with respective independent drive devices, during an independent drive stage.
US08727271B2
An air vehicle incorporating a hybrid propulsion system. The system includes a gas turbine engine as a first motive power source, and one or more battery packs as a second motive power source. Through selective coupling to a DC electric motor that can in turn be connected to a bladed rotor or other lift-producing device, the motive sources provide differing ways in which an aircraft can operate. In one example, the gas turbine engine can provide operation for a majority of the flight envelope of the aircraft, while the battery packs can provide operation during such times when gas turbine-based motive power is unavailable or particularly disadvantageous. In another example, both sources of motive power may be decoupled from the bladed rotor such that the vehicle can operate as an autogyro.
US08727269B2
A mounting system and method capable of reducing backbone deflection in a high-bypass turbofan engine. The system includes a rigid structure and a linkage mechanism having at least first and second links that are each pivotally connected to the rigid structure and adapted to be pivotally connected to an engine support structure of the aircraft. The first and second links are configured to define a focal point thereof at a location that is a distance from a centerline of the engine of not more than 15% of an inlet diameter at an inlet of the engine, and is located aft of a vector of an inlet load to which the engine is subjected when the aircraft is in a climb maneuver. The location of the focal point is such that a moment of a thrust load of the engine and a moment of the inlet load oppose each other, thereby reducing backbone bending of the engine during the climb maneuver.
US08727267B2
A nacelle assembly includes an inlet lip section having a highlight diameter and a throat diameter. One of the highlight diameter and the throat diameter is fixed and the other of the highlight diameter and the throat diameter is selectively adjustable in each of a first direction and a second direction relative to the inlet lip section to influence a contraction ratio associated with the inlet lip section.
US08727262B2
In some embodiments, a cable spool includes a hub having an outer surface that is retractable and expandable, and a single end plate affixed to an end of the hub. In other embodiments, an apparatus includes an assembly of cascaded, temporarily interlocked spools that can be used for simultaneous despooling or spooling of multiple cable coils.
US08727254B2
A radially projecting member (e.g., a paddle assembly) including a pin having a head; a paddle pivotally engaged to the head; and a shear member engaged to the head and to the paddle, the shear member being constructed and arranged to fracture to permit pivotal rotation of the paddle relative to the head.
US08727249B2
A roller mill for grinding particulate material such as for example cement raw materials, cement clinker and similar materials, said roller mill comprising a mill housing enclosing a grinding table and a set of rollers rotatable about a vertical shaft. The set of rollers are configured for interactive operation with the grinding table and comprising a number of rollers each rotating about a roller shaft which is connected to the vertical shaft via a hinged connection with a center of rotation which allows a free circular movement of the roller in upward and downward direction in a plane comprising the centerline of the roller shaft. The center of rotation of the hinged connection in a vertical plane is located under the centerline of the roller shaft. The grinding table is rotatable about the vertical shaft and the roller mill may include mechanisms or devices that are sized and configured to introduce gases into the mill housing and may also include mechanisms or devices configured to allow for continuously diverting ground material suspended in gases out of the mill housing.
US08727237B2
An adjustable sprinkler system distributes water from a garden hose through a feed housing to a pair of pivotally attached arms. There is a sprinkler unit attached near the end of each arm. Each sprinkler unit has an interchangeable spray head attached that is specific to the desired watering pattern. By pivoting the arms away from one another, the sprinkler system is placed on either side of the base of the shrub or tree to be watered. This adjustable sprinkler system accommodates newly planted and existing small to large and short to tall trees and shrubs, provides a multitude of spray patterns at varying water volumes, and minimizes water waste.
US08727231B2
A sealed microfluidic conduit assembly is fabricated by forming a joint through which a first conduit fluidly communicates with a second conduit, by bringing the first conduit into contact with the second conduit. A layer of malleable material surrounding one or both conduits is compressed against the joint to fluidly seal the joint, by applying a radial force to an outer surface of a jacket surrounding the conduits and malleable layer. The respective compositions and/or sizes of the first conduit and second conduit may be different.
US08727230B2
The invention relates to a system for fastening a rail to a sleeper with a baseplate, which includes at least one side portion and a bearing surface adjoining the side portion for the rail to be fastened, and with at least one guide plate that sits on the side portion. In order to simplify the installation on the respective sleeper in such a system, the invention provides that the guide plate is held on the baseplate by a catch connection formed in the region of the side portion.
US08727227B2
In a method for determining a substantially optimized fluid flow distribution in a structure configured to be cooled by a fluid moving device, an indication to activate the fluid moving device according to a reference temperature setpoint of a plurality of sensors is outputted. In addition, conditions detected in multiple areas of the structure with the plurality of sensors are received, a master sensor among the plurality of sensors based upon the detected conditions is identified; and a master reference temperature setpoint for the master sensor that substantially optimizes fluid flow distribution in the structure based upon conditions detected by the plurality of sensors in response to changes in a characteristic of fluid flow supplied to the plurality of sensors is determined.
US08727225B2
A method of mapping the location of at least one object in three dimensional space, relative to an initial point in three dimensional space by an EIR terminal which contains a microprocessor, memory, a scanning device, a motion sensing device, and a communication interface. The method includes scanning a signal of decodable indicia located at a pre-defined area of a physical object, locating the decodable indicia within this signal, decoding the decodable indicia into a decoded message. The decoded message is an identifier for said physical object, which is then displayed. After receiving an interface command, the EIR terminal is placed in mechanical contact with the pre-defined area of the physical object and a first spatial position is stored as a point of origin in the EIR terminal.
US08727224B2
An embedded electronic device and a method for manufacturing the same wherein the embedded electronic device is composed of a printed circuit board, having a top surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of circuit components attached to the top surface of the printed circuit board having a plurality of standoffs on the bottom surface of the printed circuit board, a bottom overlay attached to the bottom surface of the printed circuit board, a top overlay positioned above the top surface of the printed circuit board and a core layer positioned between the top surface of the printed circuit board and the top overlay.
US08727218B1
A checkout system includes a workstation having a first workstation window located in a generally horizontal plane and a second workstation window located in a generally upright plane. The workstation includes a data capture arrangement for capturing through at least one of the workstation windows target data of targets associated with the products. The workstation also includes a rear cover having a first opening and a second opening. The first opening and the second opening are located on opposite side-walls of the rear cover and substantially identical in size. The first opening allows light from additional targets entering an accessory reader from an accessory window facing the bagging area, but the second opening is covered by a side cover.
US08727217B2
A method of detecting a signal in radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder (FIG. 1) is disclosed. The method includes receiving a signal (FIG. 7) having a first time in a first logic state (high) and having a second time in a second logic state (low). A weight (700, 702) is determined in response to the first time and the second time. An output signal (from A2D) is produced in response to the weight and one of the first and second logic states.
US08727210B2
A transaction card includes an audio circuit, a housing, a switch, and an account identifier. The audio circuit is configured to capture an audio file and to transform a pitch of the audio file. The audio circuit includes a speaker configured to play the captured audio file as transformed by the audio circuit with a different pitch than the pitch originally captured for the audio file. The housing substantially encloses the audio circuit. The switch is movable by a bearer of the transaction card external to the housing. When the bearer interacts with the switch, the audio circuit is activated to transform the pitch of the audio file to the different pitch. The account identifier is fixedly coupled to the housing, and the account identifier links the transaction card to an account or record, wherein the account identifier is machine readable.
US08727209B1
A verifying system includes an object to be verified and a verifying end. The object to be verified includes an identifying code covered with a one-time removable and opaque shielding layer, and an object tag is disposed on the shielding layer, the object tag corresponding to the identifying code. The verifying end includes a database storing object information corresponding to the identifying code. After the shielding layer is removed to expose the identifying code, and an electronic device is utilized to read the identifying code, the electronic device connects to the verifying end in accordance with the identifying code, so that the verifying end compares the identifying code with the object information, so as to generate a verifying information and transmit the verifying information to the electronic device.
US08727205B2
A reclosable pack according to the invention has a container with a covering film or foil as a closure part which covers a removal opening, which closure part is at least partially connected to the container, by a permanent adhesive, via an edge region adjoining the removal opening, and is made from a flexible material. Advantageously it is therefore possible to detach the closure part in order to release the removal opening by pulling in the pulling direction of the container and to place it back on the container in the opposite direction in order to reclose the removal opening. The container is surrounded by an outer pack which can be displaced in relation to the container in the pulling direction and in the opposite direction, and the closure part is fastened to the outer pack such that the release and reclosing of the removal opening can be controlled by displacing the outer pack in the pulling direction or in the opposite direction.
US08727199B2
A surgical fastener applying apparatus comprising a cartridge section having a cartridge containing a plurality of fasteners, an anvil section having an anvil for receiving the fasteners when advanced from the cartridge, the cartridge and anvil sections clamping tissue therebetween. The first and second cam members are movable within the cartridge section to fire the fasteners. A cam member supporting member fixed within the cartridge section has an upper surface on which the cam members are slidable. The upper surface of the cam member supporting member has a first upper surface portion on a first plane and a second lower surface portion in a different substantially parallel second plane such that the first and second cam members slide in offset planes on the upper surface to fire the fasteners.
US08727192B2
A handset holder includes a holder, a strap means and a positioning member. The holder has a coupling portion at a rear end with external threads formed thereon. The coupling portion has an indented chamber to hold a chuck. The strap means includes a seat and a strap fastened to the seat. The seat has a ball head at a front end held in the chuck and a retaining slot threaded through by the strap. The positioning member mates the coupling portion and is fastenable therewith by screwing. The handset holder can be fastened to any type of vehicle tubular members through the strap. The holder is adjustable to a desired angle via the ball head and formed a firm positioning by tightly clamping the chuck via the positioning member. It is simpler to install and remove and provides wider applicability and improved practicality.
US08727191B2
A stroller apparatus can comprise a handle having two side segments, a tray assembled between the two side segments, and a cup holder movably mounted with the tray. The cup holder is adjustable between a first position retracted close to the tray to limit access to the cup holder, and a second position deployed away from the tray to facilitate access to the cup holder.
US08727181B2
Trash receptacles are rarely cleaned. These containers can contain germs and disease in them in many situations. This liquid dispensing device will spray a liquid of choice with in the interior of the trash receptacle automatically every time it is emptied and replaced onto the support surface. These liquids may drastically reduce the amount of bacteria, germs, insects, and disease with in the container. This device will provide this sanitation service automatically. This liquid dispensing device may be attached to industrial dumpsters as well as to residential trash containers. This device does not require a power supply.
US08727177B2
A grinder container (10) to be inserted in a coffee grinder comprises a lid (20) having a center inlet hole (26). The lid (20) rests on an opening rim (18) of the grinder container (10) with a peripheral lid rim (21). A peripheral web (30) projects into the interior of the grinder container (10) at a distance to the peripheral lid rim (21) and is opposite an inner wall (X) of the grinder container (10). In order to level out any dimensional tolerances regarding the height of grinder containers, the lid (20) consists of a deformation-resistant center lid part (24) which is produced of a rigid plastic material and comprises the center inlet hole (26) and of an elastically deformable lid part (22) which is produced of a soft rubber material, said lid part being connected to the center lid part (24) and comprising the peripheral web (30).
US08727176B2
A lid assembly for a beverage container having a lid housing, a seal assembly and a trigger member. The seal assembly has one or more drink seals that engage a corresponding one or more drink apertures to close the drink apertures. The seal assembly is rotatedly connected to the lid housing and movable between a use position and a cleaning position for cleaning. The trigger member is connected to the lid housing and is capable of engaging the seal assembly in the use position, but not in the cleaning position. The trigger member is connected to the seal assembly such that the vent aperture is opened during a first portion of the operation of the trigger, and the drink apertures are opened during a second portion of the operation of the trigger so that the vent aperture is opened before the drink apertures.
US08727175B2
A wide-neck drum of thermoplastic material has a removable cover and a clamping ring closure. The drum is provided with an arrangement of a bung socket of a filling and discharge bung of the cover which is outwardly offset relative to the center point of the bung cover. The bung is provided at a flat or slightly curved bottom which has an upwardly protruding cover rim for fastening the bung cover on the drum opening rim.
US08727170B2
A locking device for a portable terminal includes a body; a battery cover; and a locking unit for allowing the battery cover to be selectively attached or detached from the bottom of the body, wherein a locked or locking-released position of the battery cover provided by the locking unit is located to be concealed within the interior of the body, so that the locked or locking-released position is not exposed to the outside.
US08727169B2
The present invention describes a beverage container end closure that utilizes less material and has improved internal buckle strength based on the geometric configuration of a chuck wall, inner panel wall, outer panel wall, and central panel and that utilizes an outwardly oriented countersink.
US08727161B2
A rim seal system between the outer periphery of an internal floating roof and the bulk liquid tank wall including a laterally deployed first resilient or flexible seal member and a second laterally deployed rigid seal member interposed between the distal end of the first seal member and the tank wall where the rigid seal member provides protection from abrasion of the resilient or flexible seal member by frictional contact with the tank wall. An outwardly expanding hanger assembly mounted above the seal system maintains the rigid seal member in contact with the tank wall.
US08727158B2
A collapsible bin container having a base portion and side walls hingedly connected to the base portion. At least one of the side walls includes an integrally formed hinge lug having a first generally cylindrical portion and a second flat angled portion. The base portion includes a corresponding hinge slot having an opening configured to receive the hinge lug only when the side wall is positioned at a first angle with respect to a horizontal surface.
US08727154B2
The technical problem to be solved by this invention is to design bottle walls having such a shape as to inhibit cave-in deformation into a dented wall shape caused by recessed areas for fingerhold. The object of this invention is to provide a synthetic resin square bottle which is usable without anxiety, is excellent at firm hold, and has a high vacuum-absorbing function.In a synthetic resin square bottle comprising a body formed by multiple panel walls disposed on the body in a circumferential direction, and a waist portion made of a peripheral groove dented at a roughly middle height position of the body so as to divide each panel wall into an upper panel and a lower panel, recessed areas for fingerhold use are formed in at least a pair of opposing panel walls in a certain area ranging from the waist portion to an upper end portion of the lower panel of each panel wall, and a pair of side ribs is formed on right and left sides of, and in the vicinity of, each recessed area in the lower panel.
US08727150B2
A device attaches a figurine with a cylindrical base part onto a beverage bottle. A combination of such a device and a figurine as well as a beverage bottle made of plastic forms a sales unit with such a device and such a figurine. In order to enable the figurine to be joined separably to the beverage bottle to form a sales unit in a simple, aesthetical and sales-promoting manner, the device includes a body having means for separable attachment of the figurine and having a recess for holding a screw cap and a neck part provided with an outside thread of the beverage bottle.
US08727138B2
A rail for toolless installation between first and second vertical rack rails. The rail comprises a telescoping rail body having a first and second ends, and an inside surface having a shelf, wherein a latch assembly is disposed at each end of the rail body. Each latch assembly comprises a flange secured to an end of the rail, a latch arm, a release handle, and a retractable pin. The latch arm is pivotally secured to the rail body, distally extends from the flange, and is biased toward a latched position. The release handle is on the inside surface of the rail body for movement from a latched position to an unlatched position. The retractable pin distally extends from each end and is biased toward a distally extended position, wherein the pin is stepped from a first diameter portion to a second larger diameter portion for adapting to different sized holes.
US08727137B1
A filter housing having a vessel portion that has an inlet and a first outlet. The filter housing also includes a lid that is sealingly mateable to the vessel portion and the lid has a second outlet. A cage is designed to be fit within the vessel portion. The cage has upper and lower plates that are held apart at a fixed distance by a sidewall with an inlet. The plates are sealed against the inside of the vessel portion. Fluid can enter the vessel between the plates when the cage is installed in the vessel portion. Filters are designed to be sealed within apertures in the upper and lower plates of the cage and the filters span between the plates. When fluid enters between the plates of the cage it is forced to travel through the filters to exit from between the plates.
US08727127B2
A screening apparatus includes beams and screen panels forming a broad screening surface. Each panel is mounted to a pair of beams along opposite side edges to bridge between two adjacent beams. The panels are mounted to an upwardly facing edge of the beams by elongate fixing members extending in the longitudinal direction of the beams. The fixing members engage opposite side edges of the panels and include a pair of projections that extend into openings provided in the edge of the beams. Each projection is engaged by a locking clip to prevent release from the openings. The openings into which the projections extend are of greater diameter than the outside diameter of the projections providing a loose fit within the openings, to allow movement of the fixing rails and the screen panels before the projections are engaged by a locking clip.
US08727120B2
Packaging comprises a blister pack (12) and a cover (14) slidably mounted to the pack. The blister pack has a base (16) defining a pocket (18) for receiving a plurality of items and a closure sheet (24) overlaying a front face of the base. A discrete opening region (26) is defined in the closure sheet. The cover (14) has a dispensing aperture (40) and is movable between a dispensing position in which the dispensing aperture (40) is aligned with the dispensing opening region (26) and a closed position in which the dispensing aperture (40) is offset from the dispensing opening region (26). In one embodiment, the opening region (26) is defined by means of lines of weakness (28) formed in the closure sheet and the inner surface of the cover (14) is bonded to the closure sheet so that on first movement of the cover (14) to the dispensing position, the material in the dispensing opening region (26) is removed to form a dispensing opening in the closure sheet which aligns with the dispensing aperture.
US08727117B2
Packages comprising a syringe and a blister package are described. The blister package incorporates elements that allow one-handed opening. Also described are methods of removing a syringe from a package using only one hand.
US08727116B2
A protection cover for a portable terminal preferably includes a rear cover, on and from a surface of which the portable terminal is mountable and removable, and a front cover pivotally coupled to the rear cover to open or close access to the portable terminal mounted on the rear cover. Friction members may be provided on at least one of the rear cover and the front cover, respectively, in which the front cover is disposed at a predetermined angle with respect to the rear cover while facing another surface of the rear cover to support the friction members on a planar surface, thereby opening the portable terminal and cradling the portable terminal inclinedly with respect to the planar surface. The protection cover provides both a cradle and a cover in one device.
US08727114B2
Embodiments of golf bags with an extensible bag stand having a retention system and methods to manufacture golf bags are generally described herein. Other embodiments of golf bags with an extensible bag stand having a retention system may be described and claimed.
US08727105B2
A roller insert for a conveyor roller tube includes a cartridge housing having an inside end and an outside end, an outside bearing positioned proximate to the outside end of the cartridge housing, where the outside bearing has an inner race and an outer race, and a stub axle. The stub axle includes an elongate body portion having a drive interface portion positioned distally from the outside end of the cartridge housing. The roller insert also includes a bushing coupled to the inner race of the outside bearing, where the bushing includes a bore portion extending along the inner race of the outside bearing. The roller insert further includes a jacket at least partially surrounding an outer perimeter of the cartridge housing and extending in an axial direction to at least partially encapsulate the outer race of the outside bearing in the axial direction.
US08727102B2
At least one single link of a conveyor chain is configured to support a tension load cell. A main body portion of the link includes a central cavity sized to contain the load cell, which has been inserted therein through an opening of the main body portion, and at least one auxiliary cavity to contain at least one battery cell and circuitry. A cap portion of the link closes off the opening into the cavity to enclose the load cell therein. One or both of the main body and cap portions may include a bore to receive a fastener for attaching to an end of the inserted load cell, and both portions include a bore oriented to receive a pin of a mating dual link of the conveyor chain. The cap portion may also include anti-rotation surfaces to mate with one or both of: the load cell and the opening.
US08727100B2
The disclosure is directed at a system for conveying apparatus over a conveyor belt assembly. The system includes a set of pallets which support the apparatus and travel within parallel driving conveyors of the conveyor belt assembly. While the pallets in both driving conveyors are capable of rotation, only the pallets in one of the driving conveyors may move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel so that the apparatus may be centred over the conveyor belt assembly when the pallets are in motion.
US08727095B2
A handrail with handrail elements is moved past a sensor support with at least one sensor. Each handrail element has, for example, a collar, which extends into the adjacent handrail element. The handrail elements, which are pivotably fastened to a second transport chain, can move relative to the adjacent handrail elements without a gap then arising between two adjacent handrail elements. Merely a segment groove with such a small depth that fingers are not caught arises between two adjacent handrail elements. The sensor can recognize each segment groove as well as defective handrail elements. Operating magnitudes such as speed, acceleration and deceleration of the handrail are ascertainable and/or risk-laden operating states are recognizable by means of the sensor signal.
US08727080B2
A shock absorber having a valve controlling the flow rate of fluid between a compression chamber and a rebound chamber in a housing and separated by a piston. The valve has an orifice component and a blocker component, one of which has a permanent magnet, and the other of which has a magnetically permeable material. Upon the application of sufficient fluid pressure, the blocker component is forced away from the orifice component, despite the magnetic bias that tends to attract the two structures. Because the magnetic force decreases as the two components are spaced farther apart, the shock absorber has excellent performance characteristics. Alternatively, a mechanical spring urges the blocker closed, and magnetic attraction between the blocker and a spaced opener mitigates the increased force of the compressed spring tending to close the valve.
US08727070B2
A Helmholtz damper, including an enclosure, a neck extending from the enclosure, and a pipe for inserting into the neck. The portions of the pipe inserted into the neck is adjusted to regulate a resonance frequency of the Helmholtz damper.
US08727069B1
The oscillating tube (10) includes a first end (12), an opposed second end (16), and a fluid conduit (18) defined by the tube extending between the opposed ends (12, 16). A segmented damping coating (20) covers in intimate contact a covered or coated portion (22) of the tube (10) so that the coated portion (22) of the tube includes at least about ten percent of an axial length of the tube and an uncoated portion (34, 36) that is not covered by the segmented damping coating (22) includes greater than about ten percent of an axial length of the tube (10). The segmented damping coating (20) may include polymers, polytetrafluoroethylene, single composition polymers, ceramic fibers, polymer fibers, reinforced polymer fibers including a polytetrafluoroethylene, ceramics, including monolithic and matrix ceramics, thermoplastics, carbon/graphic materials, silicon materials, metal rings or clamps, and combinations thereof.
US08727061B2
A pedestrian airbag arrangement for a vehicle includes an airbag covering at least a part of the windscreen and/or at least a part of at least one A-pillar of the vehicle when it is in deployed state, an inflator in fluid connection to the airbag, and a retraction means for retracting the airbag. The retraction means includes a triggering means and a retractor retracting the airbag when released by the triggering means. In order to provide an automatic retraction of the airbag, the triggering means is activated by the airbag.
US08727056B2
Systems and methods for generating and using moving violation alerts are disclosed. A navigation device located in a vehicle determines the vehicle's present location and present speed, and generates a moving violation alert. The moving violation alert comprises at least one of time information, location information, road segment information, and sensor information. A tracking device coupled to the navigation device provides the moving violation alert on a network. The network connection is configured to transmit the moving violation alert from the navigation device to a recipient outside the vehicle. Moving violation alerts may be stored and analyzed by the recipient.
US08727054B2
A movable grille shutter for a vehicle includes a fin adapted to be provided at a grille opening portion and being operated so as to freely open or close the grille opening portion through which ambient air is taken in, a drive source for driving the fin, a driving force transmitting mechanism for transmitting a driving force from the drive source to the fin and a flexible member being linked to the driving force transmitting mechanism and being deformed for operating the fin to open the grille opening portion in a case where a load that is equal to or more than a predetermined value is acted thereon.
US08727053B2
In the case where a vehicle 3 runs forward, when both two electric motors 2A, 2B power the vehicle, an oil pressure controller 48 releases hydraulic brakes 60A, 60B; when both the two electric motors 2A, 2B perform a regenerative braking, actuates the hydraulic brakes 60A, 60B. When one of the two electric motors 2A, 2B powers the vehicle and the other motor performs regenerative braking, the oil pressure controller 48 controls releases or actuates the hydraulic brakes 60A, 60B based on a power driving torque and a regenerative braking torque.
US08727051B2
A hybrid vehicle has a first drive apparatus for driving wheels on a first axle by an internal combustion engine and a second electrical drive apparatus with two electrical machines for driving wheels on a second axle. At least one electrical energy store can be discharged when the two electrical machines are operated as a motor and can be charged when the electrical machines are operated as a generator. The two electrical machines of the electrical drive apparatus are combined with a respectively associated gearbox in an electrical axle to drive the individually suspended wheels on the first axle via universally jointed shafts. Two electrical converters are associated respectively with the two electrical machines and are combined in one converter unit, such that a basic module has the mechanical link to a bodywork structure, the link to a cooling circuit and the electrical link to an electrical energy store.
US08727047B2
A tractor configuration includes a mainframe structure, a control station having a means of controlling the tractor, an undercarriage system having one left side and one right side track assembly, a wheel mechanism containing one or more wheels located forward of the track assemblies, a power train for forcing both track assemblies to travel at the same or different speeds, a controller responsible for exerting force to transfer vertical load back and forth between the front portion of the track assemblies and the wheel mechanism and controlling the amount of weight carried by the wheel mechanism. The controller causes or allows the wheel or wheels of the wheel mechanism to follow the tractor's curved path caused by track speed difference.
US08727036B2
This disclosure relates in general to a method and system for controlling a drilling system for drilling a borehole in an earth formation. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for controlling dynamic interactions between the drilling system for drilling the borehole and an inner surface of the borehole being drilled to steer the drilling system to directionally drill the borehole. In another embodiment of the present invention, data regarding the functioning of the drilling system as it drills the borehole may be sensed and interactions between the drilling system for drilling the borehole and an inner surface of the borehole may be controlled in response to the sensed data to control the drilling system as the borehole is being drilled.
US08727031B2
Described herein are an inerting method as well as an inerting system (1) for preventing and/or extinguishing fire, wherein a gas separation system (3, 4) is provided to set and/or maintain a predefinable oxygen content, which is reduced compared to normal ambient air, in the spatial atmosphere of an enclosed room (2), said system separating off at least a portion of the oxygen contained in an initial nitrogen/oxygen gas mixture and thereby provide a nitrogenated gas mixture at the outlet (4a) of the gas separation system (3, 4). In order to achieve the setting and maintaining of a predefined inerting level with the lowest possible expenditure of energy, the description herein provides for a control device (5) designed to control the gas separation system (3, 4) such that the residual oxygen content of the nitrogenated gas mixture is changed as a function of the oxygen content prevailing at that moment in the spatial atmosphere of the enclosed room (10).
US08727025B2
A downhole tool includes, a body having a recess, a first seal bore, a second seal bore, and a tool disposed at the body that is responsive to differential pressure across a piston. The downhole tool is configured to allow a differential pressure to form across the piston in response to a first plug sealing to and located at the first seal bore by the recess and preventive of forming a pressure differential across the piston in response to a second plug sealing to and located at the second seal bore by the recess.
US08727024B2
An apparatus and method for supporting a tubing bundle during installation or removal. The apparatus includes a clamp for securing the tubing bundle to an external wireline. The method includes deploying the tubing bundle and wireline together, The tubing bundle is periodically secured to the wireline using a clamp.
US08727018B1
A charging unit, system and method are provided. The system includes an activation unit and a charging unit. The activation unit includes a pump unit, a pressure circuit with an unloader valve to selectively permit fluid to pass from the pump unit to the wellsite component, and an accumulator bank operatively connectable to the pressure circuit to store the fluid under pressure for passage to the wellsite component whereby the wellsite component is selectively activated. The charging unit includes a charging circuit operatively connectable to the pressure circuit to selectively receive the fluid from the pump unit, a charging accumulator operatively connectable to the charging circuit to store the fluid under pressure, and a pressure reducing valve operatively connectable to the charging circuit to selectively pass the fluid from the charging accumulator to the accumulator bank whereby an activation pressure of the fluid provided to the wellsite component is maintained.
US08727016B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus and methods for enhanced well control in slim completions. An embodiment can include an electrical submersible pump (“ESP”) positioned within a casing and having at least a portion thereof extending outwardly from a production tubing positioned within the casing. The production tubing terminates adjacent a distal end portion of a pump discharge to thereby provide greater interstitial space between outer surfaces of the portion of the pump disposed to extend outwardly from the production tubing and inner walls of the casing. This increased interstitial space, for example, can assist in cost savings by reducing the rate of erosion damage to the ESP. Embodiments of the present invention can further include a valve connected to inner walls of the casing and positioned distal from the ESP to control the flow of hydrocarbons.
US08727004B2
Methods relating to servicing fluids that comprise gelled liquefied petroleum gas or servicing fluids that comprise a conventional gelled hydrocarbon fluid with liquefied petroleum gas are provided. In one embodiment, the methods of the present invention comprise providing a LPG servicing fluid comprising LPG and a gelling agent; pressurizing the LPG servicing fluid with one or more high-pressure pumps; introducing proppant particulates into at least a portion of the LPG servicing fluid using one or more high pressure pumps; and introducing the LPG servicing fluid comprising proppant particulates into at least a portion of a subterranean formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to create or enhance at least one or more fractures therein. In one embodiment, a gelling agent may be metered into the LPG on-the-fly.
US08726999B2
The present disclosure is directed to a thermothickening composition comprising: a surfactant; and a thermothickening polymer that is the product of at least the following monomers: a non-ionic hydrosoluble unsaturated amide monomer; an ionic monomer; and an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid half ester having a heat sensitive functional group.
US08726997B2
A method of cooling a downhole tool. A first step involves providing a cooling chamber in the downhole tool. The cooling chamber is positioned in proximity to components to be cooled. A second step involves ports through defining walls of the downhole tool. The ports must be adapted to allow liquids from a well bore, in which the downhole tool is positioned, to communicate with the cooling chamber. A third step involves providing means to circulate liquids from the well bore in through the ports into the cooling chamber and out through the ports back into the well bore, such that the liquids in the cooling chamber are continually being replaced. A heat exchange takes place between the liquids in the cooling chamber and the components to be cooled. The liquids are continually being replaced dissipating heat into the well bore.
US08726991B2
Methods are circulated degradable material assisted diversion (CMAD) for well treatment in completed wells. A slurry of solid degradable material is circulated in the well with return of excess slurry, a plug of the degradable material is formed, a downhole operation is performed around the plug diverter, and the plug is then degraded for removal. Degradation triggers can be temperature or chemical reactants, with optional accelerators or retarders to provide the desired timing for plug removal. In multilayer formation CMAD fracturing, the plug isolates a completed fracture while additional layers are sequentially fractured and plugged, and then the plugs are removed for flowback from the fractured layers.
US08726986B2
A method for heating a hydrocarbon resource in a subterranean formation having a laterally extending wellbore therein may include supplying radio frequency (RF) power at a settable frequency from an RF radiator positioned within the laterally extending wellbore to heat the hydrocarbon resource and start formation of a steam bubble adjacent the laterally extending wellbore while sensing an impedance matching value of the RF radiator. The method may also include lowering the settable frequency at least one time based upon the sensed impedance matching value as the steam bubble grows. The frequency may rise after the steam bubble is formed and induction heating operation occurs.
US08726982B2
A method and apparatus for producing gaseous and liquid components from one or more multi-phase streams in one or more pipelines. The method includes passing a first multi-phase stream along a first pipeline, and passing the first multi-phase stream through a first slugcatcher system to provide a first gaseous component stream and at least one first liquid component stream. The method also includes selectively opening a first branch pipeline from the first pipeline upstream of the first slugcatcher system to pass at least a fraction of the first multi-phase stream through the first branch pipeline to provide a first branch multi-phase stream, and passing at least a fraction of the first branch multi-phase stream to a first gas/liquid separator to provide an overhead gaseous stream and a bottom liquid stream.
US08726980B2
A technique facilitates the employment of an electric submersible pumping system or other well system downhole into a wellbore. The electric motor system is coupled with a signal carrying cable for conveyance to a desired downhole location in the wellbore. The signal carrying cable is constructed with sufficient strength to solely support the electric motor system during deployment and use in the wellbore without addition of a separate supporting mechanism.
US08726979B2
A heat exchange apparatus has four fluid ports through which a heat exchange fluid is pumped into and out of the heat exchange apparatus. First and fourth ones of the fluid sorts are on a first side of the heat exchange apparatus and second and third ones of the fluid ports (are on a second side of the heat exchange apparatus. At least two fluid pumps form a double flow circuit fluid pumping device for pumping the fluid in the first direction from the first fluid port to the second fluid port and in the second direction from the third fluid port to the fourth fluid port. One or more of a temperature detecting device, humidity detecting device, and gaseous or liquid state fluid composition detecting device are installed at a position capable of detecting the temperature, humidity, and fluid composition changes of the exchange fluid. The detected signals are used as references for modulating the pumping flow rate of exchange fluid.
US08726975B2
An air-supplied dry cooler for the condensation of water vapor includes at least one direct-flow condenser and at least one counter-flow condenser (dephlegmator), wherein heat exchanger pipes of the counter-flow condenser are connected to an upper suction chamber, and wherein a cover reducing the discharge cross-section of at least one heat exchanger pipe is provided with cover orifices. The sum of the cross-sectional surfaces of the cover orifices corresponds to no more than the cross-sectional surface of a suction pipe connection to the suction chamber.
US08726971B2
A shutter (S) including a plurality of support portions (10) provided in array in a sliding direction of the shutter, a hinge portion (20) for connecting adjoining two support portions (10), and slide supporting portions (30) provided at both ends of each support portion (10) so as to face a pair of guiderails. Each slide supporting portion (30) has a pair of first and second abutting portions (32 and 34) formed in array in the sliding direction for slidably engaging with the guiderail. Each support portion (10) is supported by the pair of guiderails at three or more out of a total of four first and second abutting portions (32 and 34) when a load is applied to the shutter from the outside.
US08726966B1
An adhesive substance removing tool is provided with a cracking tool and a scrapping assembly which are removably coupled to a base. The cracking tool is used to crack the adhesive substance by forming breaking lines on the surface of the adhesive substance, and then the scrapping assembly is used to scrape off the adhesive substance by starting from the breaking lines. The combination of the cracking tool and the scraping assembly allows the user to remove adhesive substance easily and completely. Besides, the cutting assembly of the cracking tool is able to move freely both in straight-line or circular fashion, and the cracking tool can be prevented from rotating or disengaging once it is positioned in place on the base. Hence, convenience and safety of use can both be assured.
US08726964B2
Apparatus for decorating objects including a heating device for heating an object wrapped in a transferring support bearing a sublimable image and a conveying device for conveying the object into, and removing the object from, the heating device, the conveying device being mainly movable in a substantially vertical direction. The conveying device is provided with a supporting element such as to convey one object at a time to the heating device via inlet and outlet openings on the same side of the heating device.
US08726956B2
A heat-expandable rubber layer is provided to an inner all of a pneumatic tire when the tire is in an uncured state. The rubber layer is expanded when the tire is in a vulcanized state. Once expanded, the rubber layer is capable of reducing rolling noises of the tire. The rubber layer includes an elastomer composition based on at least an elastomer, e.g., natural rubber or butyl rubber; a reinforcing filler, e.g., silica and/or carbon black; between 10 and 80 phr of a blowing agent, e.g., an azodicarbonamide compound; and between 10 and 50 phr of a hot-melt compound with a melting point between 70° C. and 150° C., e.g., urea. The combination of the blowing agent and the hot-melt compound, at recommended high contents, makes it possible to very greatly reduce an expansion ratio and therefore a thickness of the rubber layer once the pneumatic tire is vulcanized, without affecting noise absorption properties provided by the blowing agent.
US08726955B2
A self-balancing pneumatic tire is provided having a built-in balancing gel system. In one embodiment, the tire, before cure, includes a green pneumatic tire assembly having an uncured tread defining an outermost layer; a first barrier layer; a second barrier layer situated adjacent the first barrier layer and intermediate the first barrier layer and the tread; and first and second gel precursors. The gel precursors are non-flowable prior to cure but flowable after cure. The gel precursors are respectively contained within spaced-apart first and second circumferential regions defined by confronting, non-contacting surfaces of the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer, each circumferential region further situated proximate opposing sidewalls of the tire and having a width of about 5 percent to about 25 percent of a final tread width obtained upon curing of the uncured tire assembly. In one example, the first and/or second barrier layers can be discontinuous.
US08726952B2
A wallet for a handheld device includes a base having a front and a back, an elastic pocket fixed to the front of the base, an adhesive on the back of the flexible base, and an adhesive backing over the adhesive. The elastic pocket is stretchable to accommodate multiple cards and folded bills. The elastic pocket is made of a different material than the base.
US08726950B2
A mis-fuel inhibitor in an inlet neck assembly of a vehicle fuel system discriminates between nozzle diameters, allowing entrance of nozzle diameters at or greater than a predetermined minimum diameter while inhibiting entrance of nozzles having diameters less than the predetermined minimum diameter. An actuator responsive to nozzle diameters opens and closes shutters blocking nozzle entrance.
US08726932B2
A pipe connector is provided with a valve cartridge. The pipe connector can be modified so as to meet requirements for a variety of uses without changing the basic design of the connector body by simply replacing the valve cartridge with another valve cartridge having valve functions meeting a desired use. The pipe connector includes a tubular connector body 10 through which a fluid flows, and a valve cartridge 30 capable of being fitted in the connector body and of controlling the flow of the fluid.
US08726926B2
A method and apparatus for installing water control is disclosed in which a universal template is provided to permit installation in all water providing arrangements with minimal configuration modifications. Replacement begins with a rough plate through which the water pipe extends. The rough plate is adjustable to accommodate a plurality of sizes of pipes. The rough plate is secured in its position with respect to the wall and water pipe extending through the wall. A cover plate fits onto the rough plate to provide a visually appealing presentation. A cover tube fits in the trim plate and surrounds a stem housing which attaches to the water pipe extending from the wall. The cover tube includes a stop position for the stem housing to prevent hot water from being delivered that exceeds a predetermined temperature. An external handle fits over the cover tube and attaches to the stem housing to control water flow from the shower head or bath faucet.
US08726925B2
A back pressure regulating valve includes a valve body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a central bore, a bonnet housing a load spring operatively coupled to a diaphragm, and a chamber in flow communication with the fluid inlet. A valve cartridge includes a housing sized to fit within the central bore and including a first portion, a second portion, a valve guide, and a flow passage. A valve seat is disposed in the housing, and a valve plug is shiftable between an open position permitting flow and a closed position preventing flow. The valve plug engages a valve guide, and a spring biases the valve plug toward the open position. A retainer is disposed adjacent the first portion of the housing and engages a portion of the valve plug to retain the valve plug in the housing.
US08726922B2
Provided is a system and method for an articulating walker. The system includes a generally vertical first support in a first plane and a generally vertical second support in a second plane generally parallel to the first plane. An interconnector is also provided and pivotally attached between the first support and the second support. An articulator is structured and arranged to maintain the generally parallel relationship between the first plane and the second plane as the first support and the second support move relative to each other about the interconnector. An associated method of use for providing a normal walking motion is also provided.
US08726920B2
A telescopic tube structure for automatic umbrellas includes a tube assembly comprised of an outer tube, a middle tube, and an inner tube, which are telescopically interconnected; wherein a plug is fixedly fitted into a top portion of the middle tube, a bullet-shaped element is provided in the tube assembly, a runner string is connected to the bullet-shaped element at a first end thereof, and is sequentially looped around a first runner-string pulley at a top portion of the tube assembly and a second runner-string pulley of a runner and then connected to a cap at a second end thereof, an outer-tube string is connected to the bullet-shaped element at a first end thereof, and is looped around an outer-tube string pulley of the plug and connected to a bottom portion of the outer tube at a second end thereof. The structure may allow umbrellas to be operated more conveniently.
US08726918B2
The present invention provides: a nanofluid generating apparatus that has relatively simple construction, is capable of stably generating nanobubbles, is easy to handle and makes it possible to reduce manufacturing cost; and a cleaning apparatus that uses nanofluid. An apparatus for generating nanofluid containing nanobubbles, wherein the nanobubbles are gas bubbles with diameter less than 1 μm, comprising: a gas-liquid mixing chamber 7 for mixing gas and liquid; and a pressurization pump 4 and an air intake valve 21 for supplying the pressurized gas and liquid to the gas-liquid mixing chamber, wherein the gas-liquid mixing chamber comprises therein: a turbulence generating means Z having projecting lines 9 and grooves 10, 12, and a conical section 11, for forcibly mixing the supplied gas and liquid by generating turbulence therein; and a nano-outlet 20 for turning the forcibly mixed gas and liquid mixture into nanofluid having nano bubbles and discharging the nanofluid.
US08726917B2
A dental cleaning article comprising a band of expanded fluoropolymer that is highly distensible at room temperature, such that it can be stretched from a first state to a second state is described. The diameter of the band of expanded fluoropolymer may be increased by stretching by, in some embodiments, two times or more the original first state diameter. Likewise the cross sectional area of the band of expanded fluoropolymer may be reduced upon stretching to less than one quarter the first state cross sectional area. The band of expanded fluoropolymer provides the user with the ability to stretch the band a desired amount, such that they may more effectively clean between their teeth. Furthermore, the band may be regular or irregularly shaped, and in some embodiments may comprise higher density regions.
US08726911B2
Various embodiments of a wirelessly detectable object to be used in medical procedures are provided. The object may include a piece of absorbent material, a transponder to wirelessly receive and transmit signals, and a cover. The cover is attached directly to the piece of absorbent material to retain the transponder. Methods of manufacturing wirelessly detectable objects are also provided.
US08726904B2
A larynx tube (10) for ventilation has a tube shaft (12), which has a ventilation lumen (18), having an oesophageal cuff (28) which is arranged on the tube shaft (12) for blocking the esophagus (14) and having a drainage channel (46) which has a drainage opening (48′) which is arranged distally in respect of the oesophageal cuff (28). The drainage channel (46) is formed by a drainage pipe (44) which is arranged in a longitudinal groove (42) of the tube shaft (12) which is provided on an outer side (40) of the tube shaft (12). The drainage pipe (44) is adhesively bonded and/or welded to the tube shaft (12). The tube shaft (12) has a proximal and a distal longitudinal shaft portion (56, 58) which are adhesively bonded and/or welded to each other. The distal longitudinal shaft portion (58) is constructed as an injection-molded component.
US08726890B2
An intake air heating apparatus may include an air pump, an intake chamber, an air heater, and a delivery pipe associated with an intake manifold. When intake air is heated, a throttle valve may be closed, the air pump may be started, and electrical power may be supplied to the air heater. The air flowing from the intake chamber may be heated by the air heater. Thereafter, the air may flow from the delivery pipe into branch pipes and circulate to the intake chamber. At that time, since the throttle valve may be closed, and an intake valve or an exhaust valve of an engine may be closed, the heated air may not flow out and the air temperature in the intake manifold and the intake air heating apparatus may increase.
US08726889B2
A charge air cooler arrangement, a charge air cooler tank, and method are disclosed. The charge air cooler arrangement includes a charge air cooler having an operable thermal transfer area configured to transfer heat from inside the charge air cooler to outside of the charge air cooler. The charge air cooler arrangement may also include a valve configured to change the operable thermal transfer area from a relatively large area to a relatively small area.
US08726882B2
An engine includes a throttle assembly, a governor, and an actuator. The throttle assembly is designed to at least partially control a fuel flow rate of the engine. The governor is designed to sense a speed of the engine and at least partially control the throttle assembly as a function of the engine speed. The actuator is designed to sense a manifold vacuum pressure of the engine and at least partially control the throttle assembly as a function of the vacuum pressure.
US08726869B2
An internal combustion engine for a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, includes a crankcase, two banks of cylinders projecting from the crankcase in a 56-57 degree V-configuration, a plurality of pushrods, and a plurality of camshafts supported by the crankcase. The two banks of cylinders include a first cylinder bank that projects from the crankcase to a first cylinder head, and a second cylinder bank that projects from the crankcase to a second cylinder head. The plurality of intake and exhaust valve pushrods extend between the crankcase and the first and second cylinder heads, driven by one intake camshaft and two exhaust camshafts.
US08726867B2
The inventive phase varying apparatus (50) has a drive rotor (51) driven by the crankshaft of the engine, a phase angle varying mechanism (54) for varying the phase angle of the camshaft relative to the crankshaft, and a self-locking mechanism (56) for preventing a gap in phase angle between the drive rotor and the camshaft due to an externally input disturbing torque. The self-locking mechanism has a cylinder section (69) mounted on the drive rotor, a circular eccentric cam (64) integrated with the camshaft and having inside thereof a cam holding groove (68a), and a lock plate (68) rotatably supporting the periphery of the circular eccentric cam and having on the outer periphery thereof at least four radial abutment protrusions (74-77) that are adapted to abut against the inner periphery (69a) of the cylinder section (69) to perform self-locking.
US08726865B2
A camshaft phaser includes a housing with an array of internal splines formed within a bore. A harmonic gear drive unit is disposed within the housing and includes a circular spline and a dynamic spline, a flexspline disposed within the circular spline and the dynamic spline, a wave generator disposed within the flexspline, and a rotational actuator connectable to the wave generator. One of the circular spline and the dynamic spline is fixed to the housing. A hub is rotatably disposed within the housing and attachable to the camshaft and fixed to the other of the circular spline and the dynamic spline. An oil passage is provided for receiving oil from an internal combustion engine for lubricating the harmonic gear drive unit.
US08726862B2
A rocker arm for engaging a cam is disclosed. An outer arm and inner arm are configured to transfer motion to a valve of an internal combustion engine. A latching mechanism includes a latch, sleeve and orientation member. The sleeve engages the latch and a bore in the inner arm, and also provides an opening for an orientation member used in providing the correct orientation for the latch with respect to the sleeve and the inner arm. The sleeve, latch and inner arm have reference marks used to determine the optimal orientation for the latch.
US08726859B2
A two-stroke cycle combustion engine of an air scavenging type includes one or more scavenging passages (13, 14) for communicating a crank chamber (2a) and a combustion chamber (1a) with each other, an air passage (10) for supplying an air (A), an introducing passages (16) for introducing the air (A) from the air passage (10) into an upper portion of each scavenging passage (13, 14) from a direction radially outwardly of a cylinder block (1), and a covering member (21) for covering the introducing passage (16) from an outer side. The covering member (21), the upper portion of each scavenging passage (13, 14) and a part of the introducing passage (16) are formed integrally with each other by a scavenging block (20).
US08726842B2
An animal memory training system with a closed rotary maze comprises a maze device and a stimulating device. A rotary wheel (6) driven by a motor (4) is provided on the bottom of the case (1) of the maze device. The motor (4) is set in a central column, and its output shaft is tightly connected with the rotary wheel (6) along the central column shaft direction, thus the rotary wheel (6) is driven by the motor (4) to rotate around said central column. A number of pulleys (12) are set on the lower periphery of the frame of the case (1) to support said rotary wheel (6), and a sieve-like supporting net (5) is arranged above the rotary wheel (6). The stimulating device includes an automatic manipulator stimulating device and a remote control stimulating device. Compared with the existing maze model, the rotary drive action of the training system's rotary wheel is moderate, and is more coincident with the movement actual of animals' normal physiological behavior. Further, the stimulating device can respectively realize the rewards and punishments for the experimental animals, and has the characteristics of accurate positioning, timely stimulation, complete stimulation variety, no ravage and convenient operation. The training system has overtaken the existing shortcomings of unilateral dominance in the detection of the present maze training systems, such as Y-maze and T-maze detection.
US08726830B2
Exemplary robots and corresponding exemplary operating methods for a painting system are disclosed. In one example, the robot is a handling robot for opening and closing doors or bonnets of motor vehicle bodies. A robot element of a handling robot that is susceptible to dirt retention, e.g., a handling tool, may be arranged away from the spray jet of a paint during the painting operation and is applied to the component that is to be painted. The robot may include a cleaning device for cleaning or for keeping the robot element of the handling robot that is susceptible to dirt retention clean from paint that is applied with spray jet in the painting operation.
US08726829B2
A chemical bath deposition apparatus is presented to prepare different thin films on continuous flexible substrates in roll-to-roll processes. In particular, they are useful to deposit CdS or ZnS buffer layers in manufacture of thin film solar cells. This apparatus deposits thin films onto vertically travelling continuous flexible workpieces delivered by a roll-to-roll system. The thin films are deposited with continuously spraying the reaction solutions from their freshly mixed styles to gradually aged forms until the designed thickness is obtained. The substrates and the solutions are heated to a reaction temperature. During the deposition processes, the front surfaces of the flexible substrates are totally covered with the sprayed solutions but the substrate backsides are remained dry. The reaction ambience inside the reactor can be isolated from the outside atmosphere. The apparatus is designed to generate a minimum amount of waste solutions for chemical treatments.
US08726825B2
A servo-assisted steering device for vehicles includes a manual control member that is connected to a pump or the like manually driving it when the control member is rotated. The pump is connected at its delivery and suction side to one of the two chambers of one or more steering actuators through hydraulic pipes, feeding a pressurized fluid alternately to one or the other of the two chambers depending on moving direction, in particular the rotation of the control member. Assist control means for the steering actuators include a hydraulic fluid tank and automatic pumping means, which are driven and connected to the hydraulic pipes when the steering wheel is operated and which, by increasing the amount of pumped fluid, increase the pressure exerted by the pump to reduce resistance when steering the control member. The number of revolutions of the motor driving the automatic pumping means may be adjusted.
US08726823B2
A boat hull form includes a dual circular curved outer surface area that is circular concave relative to the plane of symmetry of the hull when viewed horizontally parallel with the plane of symmetry of the hull, and circular convex relative to the plane of symmetry when viewed vertically parallel with the plane of symmetry of the hull, with the hull outer surface area extending in a vertical sense from a lower area extending in a direction that tangentially intersects the plane of symmetry or optionally a plane extending parallel with the plane of symmetry on the same side of the plane of symmetry as the dual circular curved outer surface area and upwardly in a direction tangentially intersecting the waterline plane of the hull or a plane extending parallel to the waterline plane.
US08726814B1
A convertible work station is operable to convert between an operating configuration and a storage configuration. The work station comprises: right and left base shoulder elements; right and left horizontal base members for supporting the work station on a surface, pivotally connected to the shoulder elements and constrained to pivot along a horizontal plane and lockable in position relative to the shoulder elements; right and left first support members spaced apart from each other and having first and second ends and the support members being pivotally connected to the respective right and left shoulder elements at their first ends and constrained to pivot in one direction. The support members are lockable in position relative to the shoulder elements. A work station component is pivotally connected to the second ends of the right and left support members.
US08726809B2
A perforating system is disclosed having a perforating gun containing a plurality of radially-oriented shaped charges disposed along the longitudinal axis of the gun. Each charge, when detonated, produce a jet whose penetration velocity exceeds the acoustic velocity of the formation (i.e., target) material to be perforated. A method of operating such a perforating system is also provided, as is a shaped charge having the described characteristics.
US08726808B1
An initiator assembly that includes a header body, an insulating spacer that is coupled to the header body, an initiator, a plurality of terminals that extend through the header body, a plurality of contacts, an input charge, an output charge and a cover that includes an axially threaded portion into which the output charge is housed. The initiator includes a plurality of electric interfaces and is disposed on a side of the insulating spacer opposite the header body. The contacts electrically couple the electric interfaces to the terminals. The input charge is formed of a secondary explosive and is disposed proximate the initiator so as to be capable of detonating to release energy upon activation of the initiator. The cover is coupled to the header body and cooperates with the header body to house the insulating spacer, the initiator chip, the contacts, the input charge and the output charge.
US08726798B2
A radiant liquid heating device includes a container for holding a liquid. The container includes an opening for dispensing the fluid and a closed bottom. A base member is mounted relative to the closed bottom. The base member is spaced a predetermined distance relative to the closed bottom to provide an air gap there between. The base member is exposed to a heat source wherein the base member shields the bottom of the container from being in direct contact with the heat source to provide a source of radiant heat for maintaining a liquid disposed within the container at a predetermined temperature.
US08726796B2
Provided is a sliding grill fixing apparatus, which is installed on a sliding grill. The sliding grill fixing apparatus includes an actuating lever that runs across a sliding grill in a horizontal direction between opposite inner faces of the sliders and has a grip in the middle thereof, actuating legs that protrude downward from opposite ends of the actuating lever, actuating hinges that are disposed between the actuating legs and the opposite inner faces of the sliders in a horizontal direction, driving brackets that are moved in one direction by rotation of the actuating legs, actuating brackets that move together with the driving brackets to be inserted into the fixing recesses, and fixing hinges, each of which is disposed between each actuating bracket and the outer face of each slider and is hinged to the outer face of each slider such that each actuating bracket can rotate.
US08726786B2
A stack valve 1 includes an ascending dividing valve 14 which is provide on an ascending junction path 23 and controls the flow rate of a pressure fluid supplied to a head-side chamber 4a of a bucket cylinder 4, an ascending branched path 24 which is branched from the ascending junction path 23 and connected to an unloading path 21, and an ascending cancellation switching valve 19 which is provided on the ascending branched path 24 to close or open the ascending branched path 24. The ascending dividing valve 14 and the ascending cancellation switching valve 19 are provide in the same dividing section 83.
US08726781B2
Described embodiments include a system, device and method. A described device includes a first material configured to reflect a substantial portion of a specified incident air blast wave energy. The first material has an acoustic impedance substantially mismatched to air's acoustic impedance. The device includes a second material configured for wearing proximate to a human body and having attenuating-regions. A first attenuating-region has a first inelastic response to the specified incident air blast wave energy. A second attenuating-region has a second inelastic response to the specified incident air blast wave energy. At least a portion of a back surface of the first material is proximate to at least a portion of a front surface of the second material.
US08726778B2
This disclosure generally relates to high-volume and cost-effective methods for producing non-spherical metal particles, particularly methods for producing metal cubes having rounded edges. The metal cubes having rounded edges are useful as ballistic shot in shotshell loads for hunting, where the particle shape imparted by the disclosed process packs to a higher density than spherical shot in the same volume.
US08726772B2
A self-centering steady rest (1) for clamping a workpiece (4) on a turning machine, with three holding elements (5, 6, 7) mounted in a housing (2) and held adjustably in a common plane, the two outer holding elements (5, 7) being configured as swivelling angled levers supported in the housing (2) and in a mirror-image arrangement with one another, and the middle holding element (6) is guided in the housing (2) by means of middle piece (8) in a driveable connection with a drive unit (61) to be axially moveable in the direction of the workpiece (4), with control surfaces (9) being provided on the middle piece (8) wherein the two outer holding elements (5, 7) interact with the control surfaces (9) to achieve clamping movements of the three holding elements (5, 6, 7) and are performed by means of a drive device (21, 61) which is operated electrically, and which performs rotational movement that is converted into an axial advance and return movement performed by the middle piece (8).
US08726771B2
Provided is an insert that has good positioning precision and sufficient rigidity. Said insert is rod-shaped and has: a shank part; cutting blades formed on both sides of the shank part; and raised surfaces that are positioned between the cutting blades and the shank part and bulge such that parts farther away from the cutting blades are progressively closer to the outer surface of the shank part. In a side view, the rake face of the cutting blade on one side and the raised surface on the other side are disposed in the same direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the shank part.
US08726770B2
There is provided a work supplying apparatus for automatically and smoothly supplying workpieces having various shapes and sizes from a rear end of a hollow spindle in a machine tool or assembling machine. The work supplying apparatus has a work pushing means for pushing the workpiece held by a holding means into a chuck, and a pusher for pushing and holding the workpiece supplied to a work receiver in the direction of the holding means.
US08726767B2
In one embodiment, a valve wrench for rotating a knob may include a handle and a jaw assembly coupled to the handle. The jaw assembly may include a fulcrum member, a hook member and a bias member. The hook member may be pivotably coupled to the fulcrum member and may be aligned to the fulcrum member at a pivot angle. The fulcrum member and the hook member can form an opening there between to accept the knob. The bias member may be disposed between the fulcrum member and the hook member to bias the hook member towards the fulcrum member when the jaw assembly is engaged with the knob.
US08726764B2
A sommelier's corkscrew having an elongated first shaft (1) hingedly connected at one end with a second shaft (2) including a tool (2.1) for opening crown caps and an extension (2.2) having a formed step adapted to engage the top edge of a bottle mouth during the corkscrew lifting step, and a helically shaped third shaft (3) hingedly connected to the first shaft. The corkscrew further includes a mechanical element (10, 20) adapted to engage the third shaft and actuate it automatically to move the third shaft from the closed position of the corkscrew, where the third shaft is contained between the first and second shafts, to the open position where the third shaft is substantially perpendicular to the first and second shafts aligned in the open position.
US08726761B2
A steering wheel for a vehicle includes a hollow shell with a first interior chamber. The steering wheel further includes an outer skin on an exterior of the hollow shell. An interior filler may be positioned in at least the first interior chamber. The hollow shell may be molded.
US08726759B2
A pedal arrangement (1) with a standing pedal (2) features a friction element (9) which can be pressed against a housing wall (8) of the housing (6) accommodating the associated parts; the friction element is formed by an actuating lever (10) with two lever arms (12 and 13) arranged on both sides of its pivot bearing (11). The actuating lever (10) cooperates simultaneously with one or a plurality of restoring springs or compression springs (7) which cause a backward adjustment of the actuating lever (10) after cessation or reduction of the force on the pedal (2) and via a transmission element (19) of the pedal (2). The actuating lever (10) or one of the lever arms thereof thus itself forms the friction element (9) which reduces the number of required parts.
US08726755B2
In a shift lever device, a first-link is held at a permitting-position due to a release button being operated. Therefore, when a shift lever is operated from a “P” shift position, when a second-link is pushed toward a vehicle right side by the shift lever, even if a magnet is not energized, the second-link is rotated in a state where sliding of the first-link toward a vehicle right is impeded. Operation of the shift lever from the “P” shift position is thereby forcibly permitted. Here, the first-link is disposed at the permitting-position that is an initial-position, and, due to the release button being operated, the first-link is held at the permitting-position. Therefore, there is no need to move the first-link by operation of the release button, and the operation load and operation stroke of the release button can be made to be small.
US08726752B2
A shift securing device of a manual gearbox that is shifted by a selector shaft disposed axially parallel to the gearbox shafts. The selector shaft slides axially and rotates about the longitudinal axis of the selector shaft and can be selectively coupled to a shift fork guided on a shift rail and/or rocker. An axially fixed and rotatable locking body supports locking elements for form-locking the uncoupled shift rail and/or rocker. The locking body is a box frame having two transverse and two longitudinal members. The transverse members have bearing holes in which the selector shaft is accommodated in an axially movable manner. The locking body is rotationally fixed to the selector shaft by a carrier that engages in one of the longitudinal members in a form-locking manner. The locking body is fixed to the housing by an axial bearing disposed on a transverse member.
US08726746B2
The invention relates to a method for checking the state of a pipette, which pipette includes a suction tube and a pipette tip. According to the invention, ultrasound is coupled into the wall of the suction tube and the damping of the ultrasonic signal is measured as a function of the frequency. The measured frequency-dependent damping is compared with at least one reference measurement or a calibration curve based on the reference measurements, in order to determine whether the pipette is in a functional condition and/or whether the pipette contains or has made contact with fluid. Furthermore, the invention relates to a pipetting method which uses the inventive method for checking the state, a suction tube arrangement for a pipetting device for pipetting fluid, and a pipetting device with which the inventive methods can be carried out.
US08726742B2
A torque sensing system having a torque sensor, and a steering system, are provided. The torque sensor includes a first rotor having apertures extending therethrough and bar magnets disposed in the apertures. The torque sensor further includes a second rotor defining an interior region with the first rotor being disposed in the interior region. The second rotor has tooth members extending toward the first rotor. The torque sensor further includes first and second Hall effect sensors disposed in an open region of the second rotor proximate to the first rotor. The first and second Hall effect sensors generate first and second signals, respectively, indicative of an amount of torque applied between the first rotor and the second rotor.
US08726739B2
A torsional sensor including a high-pressure sealing mechanism for sensing at least one parameter of a high-pressure fluid. The torsional sensor includes a torsional portion including a torsional rod sensor, a reference portion coupled to the torsional portion and including a transducer device and a high-pressure sealing mechanism coupled to the reference portion and the torsional portion and in sealing arrangement therewith. The high-pressure sealing mechanism is configured to provide for sealing therein the transducer device and allow for protrusion therethrough of a torsional rod sensor. At least a portion of the torsional sensor is mountable for immersion in the high-pressure fluid and operable to propagate a torsional wave that interacts with the high-pressure fluid along the at least portion of the torsional sensor so as to affect propagation of the torsional wave in a manner dependent on the at least one parameter of the high-pressure fluid.
US08726735B2
A pressure difference measurement transmitter comprising: a pressure difference sensor; a first process connection flange; and a second process connection flange. The pressure difference sensor is clamped between the first process connection flange and the second process connection flange, and between a first and a second seal. The pressure difference sensor is contactable by a first media pressure via the first process connection flange and by a second media pressure via the second process connection flange; and a housing, which contains an electronic evaluating circuit. The housing has an input opening, through which the evaluating circuit is connected to the pressure difference sensor; and wherein the housing has at least one appendage, which extends between the first and the second process connection flanges; wherein the appendage is clamped in parallel with the pressure difference sensor between the flanges, so that the housing is held by the clamped appendage.
US08726730B1
A bulk micromachined vibratory gyro in which a proof mass has a bulk substrate thickness for a large mass and high inertial sensitivity. In embodiments, optical displacement transduction is with multi-layer sub-wavelength gratings for high sensitivity and low cross-talk with non-optical drive elements. In embodiments, the vibratory gyro includes a plurality of multi-layer sub-wavelength gratings and a plurality of drive electrodes to measure motion of the proof mass induced by drive forces and/or moments and induced by the Coriolis Effect when the gyro experiences a rotation. In embodiments, phase is varied across the plurality gratings and a multi-layer grating having the best performance is selected from the plurality.
US08726720B2
A particulate monitoring system includes a conduit in which to a pass a fluid sample from an input port to an output port. The particulate monitoring system receives a fluid sample inputted to the conduit through the input port. The fluid sample can include different sizes of particulate matter. The particulate monitoring system controls a flow of the fluid sample through the conduit to age the particulate matter. Gravitational forces cause a portion of the particulate matter in the fluid sample to fall into a basin as opposed to being exhausted through the output port, which is disposed at a vertically higher level of the conduit than the input port. Thus, the particulate monitoring system outputs a portion of the original particulate matter in the fluid sample (e.g., particulate matter that does not drop into the basin out due to gravity) for analysis.
US08726710B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a method of coordinating vessel shaping style and decoration, the method comprising receiving a vessel in a decoration operation, the vessel having a formed shape style, determining the formed shape style, selecting based in part on the formed shape style a decoration style, and decorating the vessel with selected decoration style.Other embodiments include selecting the decoration style based in part on the vessel top form style, selecting the vessel top form style based in part on the decoration style, and selecting a pathway to index the vessel across the operation wheel through the shaping operation.
US08726705B2
A door opening and closing device for a vehicle is provided in which a pivoting force of a rotor pivoting in response to a key operation of a cylinder lock is transmitted to a key operating force input member side of a door lock device via a pivot rod, wherein pivoting force transmission means (18) is provided between a pivot rod (17) and the key operating force input member, the pivoting force transmission means (18) being formed by housing within an extension case (103) a driven-side pivot member detachably linked to the key operating force input member in a relatively non-pivotable manner, a drive-side pivot member detachably linked to the other end part of the pivot rod (17) in a relatively non-pivotable manner, and a transmission member transmitting a pivoting force from the drive-side pivot member to the driven-side pivot member, and the extension case (103) is detachably mounted on a casing (25A) of a door lock device (16A) so as to extend from the casing (25A). This enables the degree of freedom in layout of a lock/unlock switching mechanism with respect to the cylinder lock to be increased without causing any increase in the dimensions of the lock/unlock switching mechanism.
US08726696B2
A stirring device 100 comprises a chamber 101, and a stirrer 102 for stirring molten glass 7 in the chamber 101. The stirrer 102 has a shaft 105 as a rotation axis, and blades 106a-106e disposed in a plurality of tiers on a side wall of the shaft 105. The blades 106a-106e have support plates 108 and ancillary plates 109. The ancillary plates 109 create, in the molten glass 7, a flow in the radial direction of the shaft 105.
US08726695B2
A manufacturing apparatus for a thin glass sheet includes a forming member main body configured to form the thin glass sheet by fusing together, at a lower end portion of the forming member main body, streams of molten glass, which have overflown from an overflow trough to both sides of the forming member main body, under a state in which the streams of the molten glass are caused to flow down along outer surface portions having a substantially wedge shape. The manufacturing apparatus also includes a pair of covering members fitted onto both widthwise end portions of the forming member main body, respectively, the pair of covering members forming restricting wall portions for restricting widthwise spread of the streams of the molten glass flowing down along the outer surface portions of the forming member main body.
US08726676B2
In one embodiment of the disclosure, an apparatus is provided for fueling a device using a cryogenic fluid. The apparatus may comprise: a cryogenic fluid supply container; a vessel connected to the supply container with an entrance valve to regulate flow of cryogenic fluid from the supply container; a heat transfer system capable of transferring heat from a device to the vessel to heat gas in the vessel; and an accumulator connected to the vessel with an exit valve to regulate flow of gas from the vessel to the accumulator. The accumulator may be capable of being connected to a device. In other embodiments, methods are provided of controllably mixing at least one fluid within a fluid mixing device.
US08726675B2
A scalloped flexure ring. An illustrative embodiment of the flexure ring includes a ring body having a first ring body edge and a generally scalloped second ring body edge and a plurality of spaced-apart ring fingers provided in the second ring body edge.
US08726673B2
Apparatuses are provided for reducing noise generation from a dead ended conduit in a gas turbine engine. In particular A scooped bellmouth is provided that comprises a bellmouth within a surface having an outer perimeter an inner perimeter and a ramp diverging from the surface at a first end, the ramp extending radially through the outer perimeter of the bellmouth at a second end. The ramp diverts an airflow away from the bellmouth thereby preventing the development of a low pressure area at the bellmouth without affecting the efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
US08726671B2
A method of transitioning from a first operating mode to a second operating in a gas turbine engine. An amount of fuel provided to a primary fuel injection system of the combustor apparatus is reduced. An amount of fuel provided to a secondary fuel/air injection system of the combustor apparatus is reduced, wherein the secondary fuel/air injection system provides fuel to a secondary combustion zone downstream from a main combustion zone. A total amount of air provided to the combustor apparatus is reduced, wherein portions of the air are provided to each of the injection systems. Upon reaching operating parameters corresponding to the second operating mode, the amount of fuel provided to the primary fuel injection system is increased, the amount of fuel provided to the secondary fuel/air injection system is reduced, and the total amount of air provided to the combustor apparatus is increased.
US08726663B2
In one embodiment, a component for a power generation system includes an interior volume for containing steam condensate or gas turbine exhaust gas. A phase change material is disposed around an external surface of the combined cycle power generation system component.
US08726660B2
A supercharger compressor includes a plurality of rotors rotatably mounted in a housing, a first inlet for air, a second inlet for recirculated exhaust gas, and a flow separator. The flow separator is arranged interior the housing and configured to form a slideable seal with at least one rotor of the plurality of rotors, the slideable seal fluidically isolating the first inlet from the second inlet, at least in part, and retarding pressure equalization therebetween.
US08726659B2
An intake system of an engine may include an intake line supplying an engine with air, an exhaust line that exhaust gas combusted in the cylinder is exhausted, a housing disposed on the intake line and a compressor is disposed therein, the compressor is operated by a turbine disposed on an exhaust line, a recirculation line that recirculates the air from the intake line of a downstream side of the compressor to the intake line of an upstream side of the compressor, and an anti surge valve disposed on the recirculation line to open/close the recirculation line, wherein a length of a first section (l) that is straight from the anti surge valve is longer than two times the outlet diameter (d) of the anti surge valve in the recirculation line that is formed from the anti surge valve to an upstream side of the compressor.
US08726658B2
Methods and systems are provided for an engine including a first turbocharger having a first compressor and a second turbocharger having a second compressor. An EGR differential between the first compressor and the second compressor may be increased under a condensation condition, and decreased under a surge condition. The EGR differential may also be decreased when a compressor outlet temperature exceeds an outlet temperature threshold.
US08726653B2
A method of cooling a first region that is above the transition temperature of a phase change material having a cold phase and a warm phase and that is proximal to a second region into which heat may be exhausted. The method utilizes an article of the phase change material, and starting in the cold phase, places the article into thermal contact with the first region, thereby causing the phase change material to undergo a phase transition, changing size. When the phase transition is substantially complete, the article is taken out of thermal contact with the first region and is placed into thermal contact with the second region. At this point, force is applied to the article, causing it to transition to the cold phase, thereby exhausting heat into the second region. The process is begun again, by placing the article, once again, into thermal contact with the first region.
US08726652B1
A rotational actuator assembly employs a drive torque actuator having a shape memory alloy (SMA) tube with a first trained twist direction and a return actuator having a SMA tube with an opposite trained twist direction collinear with the drive torque actuator with abutting proximal ends. A central fitting joins the proximal ends. A control system employs a position sensor for the drive torque actuator and the torque sensor for the return actuator for combined antagonistic rotation of the central fitting.
US08726648B2
A hydraulic drive device for a construction machine includes an engine stopping unit and a discharge rate control unit. The engine stopping unit stops the engine when a predetermined state of the construction machine has continued for a predetermined period of time. The discharge rate control unit controls a discharge rate control pressure being input to the regulator, when an exhaust emission control device performs regeneration control, or performs warm-up control, and the gate lock lever is in the open position.
US08726646B2
A hydraulic system, and associated method of control, includes an operator input device, a source of hydraulic fluid flow, and a plurality of actuators. At least one valve associated with each actuator for controlling a flow of fluid to and from the actuator. A controller is responsive to a signal from the operator input device to calculate a hydraulic pressure to be supplied to each of the actuators. The controller controls the source of hydraulic fluid flow and the valves for powering the actuators with the calculated hydraulic pressure. The controller also monitors a sensed parameter to determine whether the actuators can be powered with the calculated hydraulic pressure, and in response to a determination that the actuators cannot be powered with the calculated hydraulic pressure, calculates a discrepancy ratio and modifies actuation of the actuators with the discrepancy ratio.
US08726641B2
A method is provided for controlling injection of Diesel Exhaust Fluid into an exhaust pipe of an internal combustion engine equipped with a Selective Reduction Catalyst. The method includes, but is not limited to monitoring a value of a control parameter influencing an operation of the Selective Reduction Catalyst, injecting a quantity of Diesel Exhaust Fluid, controlling the quantity of Diesel Exhaust Fluid to be injected employing a closed loop procedure or an open loop procedure, switching between the closed loop procedure and the open loop procedure, when value of the control parameter crosses a first threshold value of the control parameter.
US08726630B2
A pulse detonation device contains a pulse detonation combustor which detonates a mixture of oxidizer and fuel. The fuel is supplied through fuel ducts and the fuel flow is controlled by fuel flow control devices. Oxidizer flow is provided through a main inlet portion and a flow control device directs the oxidizer flow to either the combustor or to a bypass duct, or both. The combustor further contains an ignition source. Each of the flow control devices, fuel flow control devices and ignition source are controlled by a control system to optimize performance at different thrust/power settings for the device.
US08726626B2
A combustor in a gas turbine engine has a wall which forms a gap with an outer nozzle guide vane platform. A closure mechanism is operable to open or close the gap. Opening of the gap, for example during cruise conditions, reduces the mass flow rate of air through an open end of the combustor, so enriching the air fuel ratio and improving flame stability and combustion efficiency. Under high power conditions, the gap is closed, causing an increase in air flow rate through the open end to achieve a lean burn air fuel ratio when the fuel flow rate is increased.
US08726621B2
A sensor arrangement for an agricultural harvesting head comprises a sensor attached to a cutter bar in the place of a skid shoe.
US08726613B2
The present invention relates to a composite honeycomb sandwich panel equipped with a composite rail aluminum I-shaped side insert, and more specifically, to an improved structure of a hybrid composite sandwich panel having a laminated composite skin and an aluminum honeycomb core which is mechanically improved in terms of assembly, strength and weight. The composite honeycomb sandwich panel includes: a planar honeycomb core; a composite rail which is wrapped around the periphery of the honeycomb core and has therein a hollow space that is open on opposite sides thereof; an I-shaped center rail insert which is fitted into the hollow space of the composite rail so that the sandwich panel is connected to an adjacent sandwich panel by bolting through the I-shaped center rail insert; and laminated composite skins which cover upper and lower surfaces of the honeycomb core having the composite rail wrapped around.
US08726611B2
A roofing membrane includes first and second layers. The first layer includes a low surface energy polymer. A method of installing the roofing membrane includes, along an edge of a first membrane, mechanically removing a portion of the first membrane extending vertically to include the first layer and a portion of the second layer to leave a flap of the first membrane, placing an edge of a second membrane to overlap the first membrane, and bonding the first membrane to the second membrane. The underside of the edge of the second membrane overlies the flap of the first membrane.
US08726605B2
An end wall panel for an arch-style steel building is disclosed. The end wall panel is fabricated from metal sheet and consists of a plurality of upper flanges spaced apart from one another. The upper flanges are connected to lower flanges by a web section extending at an angle from the upper flange. Flange stiffeners also extend at an angle from the outermost upper flanges. The end wall panel provides increased strength in an arch-style steel building and can withstand critical wind loads without additional stiffeners. The end wall panel is also inexpensive to manufacture and install into an arch-style steel building.
US08726602B2
A flexible interlocking floor tile having a dual construction with an interlocking mechanism allows for easy installation of multiple tiles. The dual construction can include recycled material and new material. The tile also includes an adequate support at the corner of the tile when assembling multiple tiles. The tile has a single interlocking structure or groove to keep the entire tile joint tight with other tile joints, instead of interrupted interlocking structure which can lead to functional and aesthetic flaws in the entire floor. The single continuous interlocking structure allows for a one-step easy removal of any excess material or flashing from the tile after the molding process.
US08726600B1
A concrete re-entrant corner crack inhibiting device for implantation into a re-entrant corner of a casted concrete structure serves to inhibit stress fractures from developing at the cured concrete re-entrant corners. The device includes a re-entrant corning brace for cornering and embedding onto the re-entrant corner, a radial arm radiating outwardly from the brace so to extend into the cement structure and a fracture interrupting unit transversely connected to the radial arm so as to intercept, interrupt and inhibit the development and spread of stress fractures emanating from a cured cement re-entrant corner.
US08726598B2
An insulating panel structure for application to the exterior of a building, the panel structure having an inner surface to be attached to the building and an outer surface to be attached to an exterior load such as cladding material. The panel structure has external stringers along the outer surface of the panel for attachment of the exterior load, connectors extending perpendicularly from the internal surface to the external stringers to transmit compressive forces from the exterior load to the building, lateral connectors that run diagonally upward from the external stringers to the inner surface to transmit tensile forces from the weight of the exterior load from the external stringers of the panel to the building, and insulating foam embedded in the space defined between the inner and outer surfaces.
US08726597B2
An anchoring system for cavity walls is disclosed and includes a wall anchor and a high-strength veneer tie. The anchor includes nonconductive thermally-isolating components that maintain the insulation R-values. The anchor features seals located at insertion points in the layers of the interior wythe that stabilize the wall anchor and protect against the entry of liquids and vapor. The veneer tie utilizes a ribbon connector 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 veneer tie, when part of the anchoring system, interengages with the wall anchor and is dimensioned to preclude significant veneer tie movement and to preclude pullout.
US08726595B2
An irregularly-shaped building unit includes a front surface, a rear surface opposite of the front surface, and an outer contour surface that extends generally perpendicularly from the front surface to the rear surface. The outer contour surface is irregularly shaped. A plurality of mating sides are disposed on the outer contour surface, where at least two mating sides intersect with a major axis, and at least two mating sides intersect with a minor axis. The major axis and the minor axis are generally perpendicular to each other. Each mating side is a centered rotation about the respective axis that the mating side intersects with.
US08726591B1
A corner piece for covering or capping a structure corner adjacent shake shingle siding characterized by a lineally variable contour includes a field modifiable trim strip for reflecting and accommodating the contour of the siding adjacent the structure corner. A method of siding a structure with the new corner piece and a siding system including the new corner piece and lineally variable contour siding panels are also disclosed.
US08726584B1
A mobile elevated building assembly is configured to be compactly transportable in a transportation mode yet readily reconfigured to an installed mode after set-up with a building held many meters off of the ground by a tower supported off of the ground by outriggers. A flat-bed trailer is used to transport the assembly while in its transportation mode, and the trailer can optionally remain attached to the bottom of the tower in the installed mode. A foldable stairway and top-of-stairs platform can form a subassembly that can be pivotally attached where they connect to one-another, and this connection can be supported by a horizontal upper member of the tower. The platform can include one of at least two horizontal support members for holding the building on top of the tower. Methods are provided for reconfiguring the assembly and subassemblies between their transportation mode and their installed mode.
US08726583B2
In one embodiment, a modular dwelling comprises a beam connector comprising a body and multiple arms that extend out from the body, structural beams comprising outer sides that define elongated channels that extend along a length of the beams, each beam being connected to an arm of the beam connector, a locking means that secure the structural beams to their associated beam connector arms, and a structural panel that comprises multiple edges, at least one edge of the panel being received by a channel of at least one structural beam.
US08726580B1
A system and method for installing a roofing system on a structure, said system comprising: means for installing a plurality of cementitious roof panels adjacent to one another to produce a roof surface having a plurality of substantially vertical oriented seams; means for placing a cementitious seam insert in each seam and attaching each said seam insert to the adjacent cementitious roof panels; and means for coating said cementitious roof panels and said cementitious seam inserts with a coating.
US08726571B2
A preformed decorative wrapper for covering a flower pot has an open upper end, an open lower end, and a sidewall extending therebetween. At least a portion of the preformed decorative wrapper extends beyond an upper end of the pot and at least a portion of a lower end of the flower pot extends through the open lower end of the preformed decorative wrapper.
US08726569B2
A floral sleeve having a body and an insert or extension attached thereto is used to cover a pot. The sleeve may have a detachable upper portion for enclosing a floral grouping disposed within the pot.
US08726567B1
The invention provides a hand-held electronic device for injecting an agent into a tree with continuous pressure sensing technology for real-time measurements of the pressure within the tree. The pressure measurement information is conveyed to an onboard central processing unit for data collection, analysis and optimization of the speed of injecting the agent into the tree. By continually monitoring the pressure and injection power, the injection pressure can be modified to adapt to back pressure fluctuations. In one embodiment of the invention the agent is injected into the tree under a preprogrammed pressure profile. In another embodiment of the invention the agent is injected into the tree under a variable pressure profile until the fastest injection time is obtained. The invention also provides methods to identify a problem related to the health of the tree by comparing the measured pressure profile resulting from the injection of an agent into an individual tree with the typical pressure profile, stored in a database, for a tree injected under a comparable set of conditions.
US08726555B2
A magazine safety assembly configured for use in a firearm includes a pivot point assembly. A lever assembly, including a first portion and a second portion, is configured to pivot about the pivot point assembly from an engaged position to a disengaged position. When positioned in the engaged position, the first portion of the lever assembly releasably engages a trigger assembly of the firearm. When positioned in the disengaged position, the second portion of the lever assembly releasably engages an ammunition magazine assembly positioned within a magazine well of the firearm. A spring assembly is configured to bias the lever assembly into the engaged position when the ammunition magazine assembly is not positioned within the magazine well the firearm.
US08726549B2
Embodiments described herein include a single-use beverage container assembly having a beverage container which includes an inner surface defining a chamber capable of receiving a liquid, an opening configured to provide access to the chamber and an outer surface comprising a receiving cavity. In certain embodiments, the beverage container further includes an informational attachment including promotional information. The receiving cavity can be configured to receive the informational attachment such that the informational attachment can be stowed in the receiving cavity. The beverage container assembly can also be configured to permit the informational attachment to be at least partially removed from the receiving cavity such that the informational attachment can be separated from the beverage container.
US08726544B2
A boiler having a shell enclosing a space and an inlet for letting water into the shell space. The shell space has two separate sections, wherein a first section is located such as to receive a supply of fresh water to the boiler and wherein a second section is located such as to receive water from the first section when overflow of the first section takes place under the influence of a continuous supply of fresh water. A steam generating process takes place in the second section. Due to the fact that the second section is only indirectly filled with water, it is possible to have an undisturbed process. In particular, the water may be heated in the first section before reaching the second section. The first section may for example include an inner space of a container which is arranged inside the shell, for example.
US08726542B2
Disclosed is a shoe including a sole support, a midsole and an outsole, wherein the edge of the sole support has one or more bridges at the left and right toe area and heel, respectively.
US08726529B2
A sensor assembly for measuring relative rotary movement about a pivot joint having an axis of rotation between a first member and a second member.
US08726521B2
An apple wedger for cutting fruits or vegetables into wedges or other desired shapes includes a slicer and a pusher, in which the slicer has a peripheral frame and internal cutting blades. The pusher is configured to be used to push at least partially sliced food items through the gaps between cutting blades. In some versions, the pusher is pivotally attached to the slicer.
US08726504B2
The present invention relates to a method of producing turbine blade, which comprises, (a) forging a plurality of turbine blades in a state where the plurality of turbine blades are integrally connected in a longitudinal direction, (b) heat treating the plurality of turbine blades in the integrally connected state, (c) machining the plurality of turbine blades in the integrally connected state, and (d) separating the plurality of turbine blades into individual turbine blades. According to the method, the number of processes for the forging work can be decreased, and forging efficiency can be enhanced. Moreover, an amount of burr which occurs during the forging work can be reduced, and hence, a yield of material can be improved, as compared with a case where the turbine blade is forged as a single body.
US08726501B2
A method for depositing material on a turbine airfoil having a tip wall extending past a tip cap, wherein the tip wall includes a first alloy with a single crystal microstructure. The method includes: depositing a second alloy on at least a portion of the tip wall to form a repair structure, wherein a high temperature oxidation resistance of the second alloy is greater than a high temperature oxidation resistance of the first alloy, and wherein the repair structure has a crystallographic orientation that is substantially the same as a crystallographic orientation of the tip wall.
US08726496B2
Present embodiments include a remanufactured bandage-type medical sensor having an optical assembly with an emitter adapted to transmit one or more wavelengths of light and a photodetector adapted to receive the one or more wavelengths of light transmitted by the emitter. The sensor also includes a laminate assembly having an electrically conductive adhesive transfer tape (ECATT) layer disposed over the photodetector, and the ECATT layer is adapted to shield the photodetector from electromagnetic interference (EMI). A nonconductive layer supports the emitter, the photodetector, and the ECATT layer within the sensor. At least a portion of the optical assembly is from a used bandage-type medical sensor, and at least a portion of the laminate assembly is new.
US08726492B2
Coating an elongate, uncoated conductive element with a substantially continuous barrier layer. The substantially continuous barrier layer is formed through relative movement of the conductive element to a frame between sequential coatings of a barrier material.
US08726489B2
An adjustment method of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a cooling and excitation step in which work of transporting a superconducting magnet to a facility different from a facility where the superconducting magnet is to be installed, cooling a superconducting coil of the superconducting magnet with a refrigerant, and supplying a current from an external power supply for excitation is repeated until a predetermined rated current flows; a demagnetization and transportation step of demagnetizing the superconducting coil and transporting the superconducting magnet to the facility where the superconducting magnet is to be installed in a state where the superconducting coil is cooled by the refrigerant; and an installation step of installing the superconducting magnet in the facility where the superconducting magnet is to be installed and supplying a predetermined rated current from an external power supply to the superconducting coil in order to excite the superconducting coil.
US08726480B2
A method of separating a length of single-strand wire at a notch location includes forming at least one notch in the length of single-strand wire at the notch location. The notch location is subjected to tensile strain until the notch location ruptures at the notch to separate the length of single-strand wire into a first single-strand wire and a second single-strand wire. After separation of the length of single-strand wire, the first and second single-strands each present a generally tapered end that corresponds to the notch location.
US08726473B2
A clipping fixation device for assembling two elements such as automotive panels or other components in a manner that provides a secure connection of the elements in an assembly direction while permitting relative longitudinal and transverse positioning of the two elements in directions orthogonal to the assembly direction. The clipping fixation device may include a first clip member and a second clip member, wherein the first clip member has a pin extending to a head and the second clip member includes two clipping arms defining a receiving space into which the first clip member can be inserted under force. The first and second clip members are dimensioned such that the pin may slide along the receiving space in the transversal direction and move in the longitudinal direction by flexing of at least one of the clipping arms without disengagement of the head from the clipping arms.
US08726470B2
A fastening system for fastening garment elements, with the garment comprising a button closure comprised of a button and a buttonhole. The fastening system is comprised of two fastening members, each of which has a base element. A base element of a first member is integrated with hook elements of a hook and eye fastener and the base element of the second member is integrated with eye elements of the hook and eye fastener. A fastener button is fixedly attached to a side of a base element of one of the two members, on a side obverse to the integrated hooks or eyes thereon. The other of the two members comprises an engaging fastener aperture, which extends through the base element and the integrated hooks or eyes thereon. The engaging fastener aperture permit the garment button to pass therethrough, effecting a holding engagement between the member and a garment element.
US08726464B1
A luggage handle structure includes two pull rods having linkage rods therein, a handle unit connected between the two pull rods and having an accommodation hole leading to two ends thereof, and a press unit. The press unit includes a press rod assembly which is movably disposed in the accommodation hole. The press rod assembly has two ends as press portions which are exposed out of the accommodation hole and push portion corresponding in position to the two pull rods. Each push portion has two first inclined planes to form a V shape against the upper end of the corresponding linkage rod. No matter either press portion is pressed, the push portions of the two ends will push the two pull rods simultaneously to release a locking mechanism.
US08726461B2
A home cleaning appliance comprises a housing, an airstream suction source, a cyclone main body, and a dirt cup. The housing includes a main suction opening. The airstream suction source is mounted to the housing and includes a suction airstream inlet and a suction airstream outlet. The suction source selectively establishes and maintains a flow of air from the main suction opening, via the airstream inlet, to the airstream outlet. The cyclone main body is supported by the housing and is in communication with the main suction opening. The cyclone main body has a uniform outer circumference and includes a first stage separator, and a plurality of downstream second stage separators. The first stage separator has a longitudinal axis offset from a longitudinal axis of the cyclone main body in order to accommodate the second stage separators. The dirt cup is connected to the cyclone main body. The dirt cup includes a first particle collector and a second particle collector. The first particle collector communicates with the first stage separator for collecting dust particles from the first stage separator. The separate second particle collector communicates with the plurality of second stage separators for collecting dust particles from the second stage separators.
US08726455B2
A surface cleaning apparatus comprises a fluid delivery system including a supply of cleaning fluid stored in a fluid supply chamber and a fluid recovery system for drawing dirty cleaning fluid using suction from the surface to be cleaned. The apparatus has an inline fluid heater having a metal body with an embedded heating element and a polymeric cover provided with a fluid inlet fitting and a fluid outlet fitting. The fluid inlet and fluid outlet fittings are preferably integrally molded with the polymeric cover.
US08726454B2
A surface treatment robot includes a chassis having forward and rear ends and a drive system carried by the chassis. The drive system includes right and left driven wheels and is configured to maneuver the robot over a cleaning surface. The robot includes a vacuum assembly, a collection volume, a supply volume, an applicator, and a wetting element, each carried by the chassis. The wetting element engages the cleaning surface to distribute a cleaning liquid applied to the surface by the applicator. The wetting element distributes the cleaning liquid along at least a portion of the cleaning surface when the robot is driven in a forward direction. The wetting element is arranged substantially forward of a transverse axis defined by the right and left driven wheels, and the wetting element slidably supports at least about ten percent of the mass of the robot above the cleaning surface.
US08726453B2
A suction cleaning apparatus or suction cleaning horn is a generally cylindrical barrel or sleeve with an insertion cone to control and direct the distal tip of a suction tool into the bore of the barrel. A stylet is secured within the suction cleaning barrel and aligned on the longitudinal axis of the bore such that insertion of the suction tool into the cleaning barrel inserts the stylet into the channel of the suction tool to mechanically clear any obstructions of the suction tool. The distal end of the suction cleaning horn may also include one or more holes or vents to permit cleaning liquid to be drawn into the bore of the cleaning horn and into the suction tool channel to help clear obstructions in the suction tool.
US08726448B2
Provided is a core/sheath composite filament for toothbrushes which exhibits excellent hardness, durability and feeling of use when used in toothbrushes, is less prone to falling out when tufted into the tufting plate, and makes it possible to improve stain-removal properties. Also provided is a toothbrush using said core/sheath composite filament. A toothbrush is configured using bundles of bristles configured from core/sheath composite filaments that have a quadrangular cross section in the plane perpendicular to the lengthwise direction and comprise a core (2), which is formed from a synthetic resin fiber, and a sheath (3), which integrally covers the core (2) and is formed from an elastomer that is compatible with the synthetic resin constituting the core (2). Tufts configured from a plurality of the core/sheath composite filaments (1) are tufted in the center portion of a tufting plate.
US08726441B1
A floor sweeper for recovering material from a surface to be cleaned comprises a handle assembly pivotably attached to a foot assembly. The foot assembly comprises a housing forming a brush chamber having a bottom opening. The foot assembly comprises a pair of driving gears and a split brush assembly rotatably mounted within the brush chamber and adapted to contact the surface through the opening. The brush assembly comprises two separately-rotatable halves each corresponding to one of the driving gears, with each half comprising a brush core, brush paddles or bristles affixed to an exterior of the brush core, and a brush gear adapted for rotation with the brush core. Each brush gear is driven by a corresponding driving gear to the corresponding brush core as the floor assembly is moved across the surface in order to drive the brushes to cleaning of the surface.
US08726439B2
A multi tool with a handle arranged along a longitudinally aligned axis. The handle has a first end and a second end and a housing for containing a first tool. The multi tool also has a prop which interoperates with the first handle and provides stability against overturning of the multi tool when supporting a device. The multi tool also has a mount which is interoperable with either the handle or the prop. The mount will maintain a device in an upright position.
US08726438B2
The invention provides a corrugated mattress and method for making. The mattress comprises an corrugated foam core, a middle cushioning layer and outer cover layer. The corrugated foam core includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate and a fluted middle substrate the flutes fixed to the upper and lower substrates providing three-dimensional support for the user. The middle cushioning layer may comprise a second corrugated foam product, a cotton batting layer, densified polyester or foam including polyurethane, polyester, polypropylene or polylactic acid and the like. The outer cover layer may comprise cotton or laminated foam comprising, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene, polylactic acid and the like, the laminate comprising a film independently selected from polyurethane, polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene or polylactic acid and the like. In various embodiments the polymers are food grade polymers such that the mattress is non-toxic.
US08726435B2
A pillowcase having one or more pockets is provided. In one embodiment, the pillowcase includes a first panel, a second panel, an open end adapted to receive a pillow, and a pocket. The pocket is coupled to the pillowcase to form a pocket cavity, and an entry thereto. The pocket cavity is adapted to receive, through the entry, an appendage of a user.
US08726428B2
A skimmer cover assembly includes a cover that is adapted to fit over the face flange of the skimmer or pool wall to prevent water from entering the skimmer assembly. The cover is secured to the skimmer by use of a draw bolt that is threaded at one end and includes a thumb screw or wing nut at a second end. The threaded end is adapted to be threaded into a support brace that is braced against an inside surface of the skimmer housing or to the skimmer housing itself. Tightening the draw bolt with the thumb screw draws the cover tightly against the face flange of the skimmer. The cover includes a gasket seal about its perimeter to form a watertight seal with the face flange of the skimmer. The draw bolt also has an o-ring that is positioned between the thumb screw and the cover to prevent water from leaking past the cover.
US08726420B1
A visor configuration for inside the brim of a baseball cap, that solves the problem of discomfort due to pressure against a baseball cap wearer's forehead, by providing a mechanism that enables a single, continuous piece of visor material with a T-shaped cut out space in the visor's middle section and two arched shaped cut out spaces in the visor's sides to have a cushioning effect as a result of newly allowed motion.
US08732857B2
Systems, methods and computer program products for controlling access to electronic content on a client device are provided. Whether access to electronic content is allowed or blocked is based on information and processes performed at the client device. Controlling access to electronic content on a client device can involve locally determining whether access to the electronic content will be allowed, blocked, or will depend upon further analysis performed by a remote device, such as a server. If a webpage is requested, for example, a client device may compare the URL address of the requested webpage, along with keywords and phrases found on the webpage, to locally-stored updateable lists of banned URL addresses and banned keywords and phrases to determining whether access to the electronic content will be allowed, blocked, or will depend upon further analysis.
US08732856B2
A secure database appliance leverages database security in a consistent framework provides consistent, flexible, and adaptable security using mandatory access controls in addition to user and role based security for access control and accountability. A database system communicatively connected to a plurality of network domains, each network domain having a level of security, the database system comprises at least one database accessible from all of the plurality of network domains, the database comprising data, each unit of data having a level of security and access control security operable to provide access to a unit of data in the database to a network domain based on the level of security of the network domain and based on the level of security of the unit of data.
US08732855B2
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for receiving a request to retrieve electronic resources that correspond to a first network address. The resources are retrieved from a cache. The retrieved resources are responsive to the received request, correspond to the first network address, and are configured to activate a first web application. Activation of the first web application requires that the computing device be authenticated. Instructions that are in the retrieved resources and are for activating the first web application are executed. The execution includes determining that the computing device is not authenticated to activate the first web application, and requesting to retrieve electronic resources that correspond to a second network address and that are configured to activate a second web application. Activation of the second web application does not require that the computing device be currently authenticated.
US08732854B2
Apparatus and methods for protected content access, browsing and transfer over a network. In one embodiment, the network comprises a premises (e.g., residential) LAN, and the apparatus comprises a server and renderer consumer premise equipment (CPE). The renderer CPE scans the network to search for a server CPE that implement a compatible security framework. The renderer authenticates itself with the server, and the server allows content browsing and selection access only to an authorized and authenticated renderer. A negotiation and exchange protocol comprises messages exchanged between the renderer and the server that include one or more of device identification, encryption key exchange, digital certificates and information regarding security package used by each CPE.
US08732849B2
A content server device includes a request section for requesting a key server to transmit key data for decrypting encrypted content data to a client side in response to the content distribution request from the client side and a control unit which prohibits the transmission of the encrypted content data in response to the content distribution request when the reception number of notification received from the client side and indicating the reception of the key data from the key server is not less than the transmission number of key data to the client side by the key server and which transmits the encrypted content data in response to the content distribution request when the number of reception is not more than the number of transmission.
US08732848B2
A file-distribution apparatus includes a file-distribution unit configured to distribute an image file received from an image-forming device to a terminal device, a source-reference-information storage unit configured to store source-reference authorization information, and a security-management unit configured to determine whether a source-apparatus identifier corresponding to the image file is included in the source-reference information, and thus permits distribution of the image file if the determination is affirmative, and denies distribution of the image file if the determination is negative.
US08732843B2
A software validity period changing apparatus includes a password information storage unit, an input device, an authentication unit, and a validity period changing unit. The authentication unit calculates a first hash value of the password stored in the password information storage unit, calculates a second hash value of a password input via the input device, and determines whether the first hash value matches the second hash value. The validity period changing unit decompresses an installation package into components, the installation package including a validity period and version information on each of the components, detects a position of the validity period if it is determined that the first hash value matches the second hash value, changes the validity period identified by the position to a validity period input through the input device, changes the version information, and combines the components to reproduce the installation package.
US08732838B2
Evaluating a threat model for structural validity and descriptive completeness. A threat modeling application provides a progress factor or other overall score associated with the structural validity and descriptive completeness of the threat model being evaluated. The structural validity is evaluated based on a data flow diagram associated with the threat model. The descriptive completeness is evaluated by reviewing descriptions of threat types in the threat model. The progress factor encourages modelers to provide effective models to a model reviewer, thus saving time for the model reviewer.
US08732832B2
Routing apparatus and method for detecting a server attack are disclosed. The routing apparatus includes: a reception unit configured to receive a packet transmitted in a network; a transmission unit configured to transmit the packet along a transmission path; a memory unit configured to store data and/or information required for an operation; and a controller configured to set the transmission path of the packet in the network and perform packet switching along the set transmission path, wherein the reception unit receives server state information from servers at every certain time, the memory unit stores the received server state information, and the controller calculates a change in the state of the servers based on the received server state information, and determines that a server is attacked when a change in the state of the server is greater than a certain threshold value.
US08732826B2
A method and system to verify active content at a server system include receiving, at the server system a communication (e.g., an e-mail message or e-commerce listing) that includes active content that is to be made accessible via the server system. At the server system, the active content is rendered to generate rendered active content. The rendered active content presents a representation of information and processes to which an end user will be subject. At the server system, the rendered active content is verified as not being malicious.
US08732822B2
Techniques are described for device locking with activity preservation at a specified level within a multi-level hierarchy of device states. Such locking enables a user to share a device with another user while specifying a particular level of access to the device, such as access to a particular class of applications, a specific application, or a specific task within an application. Determination of the authorized activity may be based on a currently active application, or on the particular user gesture. The level of functionality made available may be based on the number of times a user gesture is repeated. Gestures may include a selection of a hardware or software control on the device, issuance of a voice command, and the like.
US08732814B2
According to one embodiment, an apparatus may receive a hard token that identifies a device and a subject token indicating that a user is a high priority user. The subject token may include a user identifier associated with the high priority user. The apparatus may apply a token-based rule that facilitates packet prioritization in response to receiving the subject token. In response to applying the token-based rule, the apparatus may communicate a notification token to at least one network component. The notification token may include the user identifier associated with the high priority user, the device identifier associated with the device, and instructions to prioritize any packet communications associated with the user identifier or the device identifier. The apparatus may then communicate at least one token to facilitate the provisioning of a container to the device associated with the high priority user.
US08732813B2
A data control system allows non-point of sale devices (135, 155) on the LAN to receive data from an external network (160) when established conditions are met. The data control system may allow the data to be sent to a non-point of sale device (135, 155) only if the data has not been received via a secure connection reserved for point of sale devices (125, 145). The secure connection is, for example, a virtual private network connection. The data control system may also allow the data to be sent to a non-point of sale device (135, 155) only if the data is associated with a communication session initiated by the non-point of sale device (135, 155). The data control system may also allow the data to be sent to the non-point of sale device (135, 155) only if it is not received from a restricted source. The restricted source may be, for example, a payment host (170), a secure host (180) or any unidentified source.
US08732810B2
A persistent connection is used for real-time or near real-time data transfer from a push platform on a network to a mobile station. To establish and maintain the persistent connection between the mobile station and push platform on the network, various protocols are defined over a packet connection between the mobile station and push platform. The real-time or near real-time data is pushed or sent by the push platform to the mobile station, as the data becomes available from a data source. In particular, heartbeat messages are used to determine whether or not the persistent connection is alive and available for real-time or near real-time data transfer. When the persistent connection is lost, the mobile station uses a retry connection scheme based on the number of connection attempts made by the mobile station for establishing a new persistent connection to the push platform.
US08732807B2
A method and system for securing a user transaction involving a subscriber unit (“SU”) (having a processor, memory, and a display configured to accept user input), a credential information manager (“CIM”) (having a processor and memory), and a transaction service provider (“TSP”) (having a processor and memory). A cyber identifier (“CyberID”), a subscriber identifier (“SubscriberID”), and subscriber information, each associated with the user, is stored in the CIM. A transaction request is sent from the SU to the TSP, which creates a transaction identifier (“TID”), stores it in the TSP memory and transmits it to the SU. The SU transmits an authentication request, the TID, and SubscriberID to the CIM, which authenticates the SubscriberID and verifies the TID to the TSP. The TSP verifies the TID and reports it to the CIM, which transmits the CyberID and subscriber information to the TSP, and transmits a transaction authorization to the SU.
US08732802B2
A social networking system enables a third party application to request user data based on action types and aggregations of a user's data corresponding to an action type with respect to multiple objects. Users of the social networking system may provide privacy or accessibility of their information based on the action type associated with the information (e.g., a user may allow a particular application to access all actions of a certain type, regardless of the source of those actions). The third party application may use this accessed information to generate personalized content for a user based on aggregations of the user's data and then publish the personalized content back to the social networking system.
US08732789B2
The present invention provides a portable security policy and environment, which can accompany a user conveniently, wherever the user goes. The portable security policy and environment involves authenticating the identity of a client end, checking the security environment of the client end, generating policy based on the security environment, and delivering policy to network devices.
US08732779B2
A system is provided that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from a program guide. The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of a package of pay programs. If the selected program is part of a package, information regarding the package is provided to the user so that the user may decide whether to purchase the package. If the selected program is part of several packages, information for all packages is provided. The system automatically sets reminders for packages containing repetitive programming. The system monitors whether the user has watched any of the programs in such packages. When the user watches a program from the package, the remaining reminders are cancelled. If a user does not watch any programs in a package of any type, purchase of the package is cancelled and the user is provided with the opportunity to reschedule.
US08732778B1
A mobile broadcast service center and a mobile wireless network to deliver broadcast video to mobile wireless devices. When the mobile broadcast service center receives a request to deliver a broadcast video channel to a target mobile wireless device, it designates as target an intermediate node in the network that serves the target mobile wireless device. The mobile broadcast service center first determines if an existing channel bundle is routed to the target intermediate node. If this first determination is negative, the mobile broadcast service center routes a new channel bundle to the target intermediate node, including the requested broadcast video channel. If the first determination is positive, the mobile broadcast service center then determines if the requested broadcast video channel is in the existing channel bundle. If this second determination is negative, then it adds the requested broadcast video channel to the existing channel bundle.
US08732769B2
A technique is offered which is applied to a system for wirelessly sending and receiving control commands and which permits mutual communications owing to the control commands between a wireless video transmitter and wireless video receivers to be operated stably with low delay. The transmitter makes a decision as to whether commands received from the receivers are certain commands. If so, the transmitter assigns transmissible periods, in which the receivers can send commands, more preferentially to the wireless video receiver that has sent out the certain commands than the other wireless video receivers.
US08732766B2
Methods, and systems, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable storage mediums, including a method for presenting a video content item in a first display area; concurrently presenting, with the video content item in the first display area, objects that are displayed during the presentation of the video content item in a second display area, wherein the objects persist in the second display area after the object is no longer displayed during the presentation of the video content item in the first display area; receiving an indication identifying one of the objects presented in the first display area or the second display area; and processing a tag associated with the object, the tag comprising a reference to a media item, wherein the processing comprises: accessing the media item referenced by the tag; and presenting the media item at least partially in the first display area or the second display area.
US08732762B2
An ECG server, which provides program contents-related ECG information to a television terminal and a user terminal, comprises a storage unit that stores the program contents-related ECG information, a configuring unit that configures an ECG module in correspondence to the program contents, made up with a plurality of sets of ECG information including tuning information to be used to allow the television terminal to select the program contents, a setting unit that sets timing information, which will allow the ECG module to be provided to the user terminal by linking with consignment of the program contents and a providing unit that provides, in conformance to the timing information, the ECG module to an user terminal capable of providing the tuning information to the television terminal. By utilizing the ECG server, the ratings of the program contents can be improved and the program contents can be more easily selected.
US08732761B2
A system may include a client and a home media server in communication with the client. The home media server may be configured to receive a request for media content from the client; determine content restrictions associated with the client; discover at least one other home media server; receive content listings of media content from the at least one other home media server; aggregate the received content listings to create a unified content listing including instances of media content stored on multiple home media servers; filter the unified content listing according to the content restrictions; and send the filtered unified content listing to the client.
US08732754B2
Systems, methods and computer program products utilize a content receiver to generate a dynamically modifiable expanded programming guide with a grid containing a plurality of regions. Each region is associated with a plurality of channels over a timeframe. The content receiver transmits the expanded programming guide to a content display. The grid may be utilized to navigate through regions and therefore across a large amount of programming information associated with a wide range of channels and timeframes. The content receiver may transmit a magnified view of the expanded programming guide and may display content-related information associated with a subset of regions for the associated channels and timeframes.
US08732753B2
A system controller for operating one or more controllable devices in dependence upon commands received from a mobile device includes a first communication interface for receiving a command from the mobile device and a second communication interface for receiving a message from a controllable device. One or more processors are configured to determine whether the mobile device that sent the command is authorized to operate a target controllable device to which the command pertains, and generate a command identifier for identifying the command, and send an instruction corresponding to the command and including the command identifier to the target controllable device when the mobile device is authorized to operate the target controllable device. The system controller replies to a pending command identified by a particular command identifier with a response indicating transaction complete when the message from the controllable device acknowledges the particular command identifier.
US08732750B2
This invention discloses a method for displaying advertisements transmitted to a user unit, the method includes receiving, at the user unit, at least one advertisement tagged with a delay tag indicating whether display of the at least one advertisement can be delayed and only if the delay tag allows delaying display of the at least one advertisement, storing the at least one advertisement at the user unit, retrieving the at least one advertisement and displaying the at least one advertisement. A billing system for reporting a commercial broadcast to a multiplicity of users is also disclosed.
US08732728B2
A mobile device having a camera application is provided. The mobile device includes a camera and a controller coupled to the camera. The controller is configured to launch a first plug-in application within the camera application. The controller is also configured to launch a second plug-in application within the camera application. The first and second plug-in applications communicate with the camera application through an application programming interface. The controller is further configured to receive, from a user of the mobile device, a selection of one of the first and second plug-in applications. Based on the selection from the user of the mobile device, the controller is configured to update a user interface of the camera application to correspond to the selected plug-in application.
US08732725B2
A parallel computer includes nodes, each having main memory and a messaging unit (MU). Each MU includes computer memory, which in turn includes, MU message buffers. Each MU message buffer is associated with an uninitialized process on the compute node. In the parallel computer, managing internode data communications for an uninitialized process includes: receiving, by an MU of a compute node, one or more data communications messages in an MU message buffer associated with an uninitialized process on the compute node; determining, by an application agent, that the MU message buffer associated with the uninitialized process is full prior to initialization of the uninitialized process; establishing, by the application agent, a temporary message buffer for the uninitialized process in main computer memory; and moving, by the application agent, data communications messages from the MU message buffer associated with the uninitialized process to the temporary message buffer in main computer memory.
US08732711B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for scheduling thread execution in a multi-threaded processing environment. A two-level scheduler maintains a small set of active threads called strands to hide function unit pipeline latency and local memory access latency. The strands are a sub-set of a larger set of pending threads that is also maintained by the two-leveler scheduler. Pending threads are promoted to strands and strands are demoted to pending threads based on latency characteristics. The two-level scheduler selects strands for execution based on strand state. The longer latency of the pending threads is hidden by selecting strands for execution. When the latency for a pending thread is expired, the pending thread may be promoted to a strand and begin (or resume) execution. When a strand encounters a latency event, the strand may be demoted to a pending thread while the latency is incurred.
US08732707B2
A computer-implemented method for automatically and dynamically composing and executing workflow-based service processes may include receiving a request, the request including a user-selected service type, guided by one or more rules for questionnaire creation, dynamically generating a sequence of one or more electronic inquiries in accordance with the user-selected service type, receiving information based on the sequence of the one or more electronic inquiries, based on the information received, creating a goal for the request by constructing logical state representations of a current state constituting a pre-condition of the goal and of a target state constituting a post-condition of the goal and generating a service process by determining a sequence of services which together fulfill the goal, where the services are selected from a plurality of services such that pre-conditions and post-conditions associated with the selected services together match the pre-condition and the post-condition of the goal.
US08732704B2
A method and system for supporting personal computing in a public computing infrastructure. The system includes a plurality of computers to be used by patrons of the public computing infrastructure. The system includes a server coupled to the plurality of computers via a network connection. Each of the plurality of computers includes a virtual machine monitor, which includes a plurality of base virtual machine images. Each of the base virtual machine images is customized for a particular hardware and software configuration representing a specific computing environment. The virtual machine monitor launches one of the plurality of base virtual machine images, arbitrates access to system resources via the launched virtual machine image, stores the changes in the state of the virtual machine image when a user terminates a session, and returns a computer to an appropriate state to enable the user to resume the terminated session in subsequent sessions.
US08732682B2
Systems and methods for detecting and tolerating atomicity violations between concurrent code blocks
The system and methods described herein may be used to detect and tolerate atomicity violations between concurrent code blocks and/or to generate code that is executable to detect and tolerate such violations. A compiler may transform program code in which the potential for atomicity violations exists into alternate code that tolerates these potential violations. For example, the compiler may inflate critical sections, transform non-critical sections into critical sections, or coalesce multiple critical sections into a single critical section. The techniques described herein may utilize an auxiliary lock state for locks on critical sections to enable detection of atomicity violations in program code by enabling the system to distinguish between program points at which lock acquisition and release operations appeared in the original program, and the points at which these operations actually occur when executing the transformed program code. Filtering and analysis techniques may reduce false positives induced by the transformations.
US08732675B2
A system and method for analyzing the real-time performance of a communication device. An aspect of the present invention records information input to the communication device during real-time operation of the communication device. A playback device or module may execute a model of the communication device in a non-real-time environment according to the recorded real-time input information. System execution in the non-real-time playback environment may, therefore, be equivalent to the original operation of the communication device that occurred in real-time. Accordingly, situations that occur in real-time may be efficiently recreated in non-real-time playback. An operator may analyze the past real-time performance of the communication device using the playback device or module, the recorded real-time input information, and a debugger utility if desired, without conducting additional trials to reproduce the desired operational situation.
US08732674B1
A target program is instrumented during execution by using statements in high-level programming languages, without restarting the target and without modifying the compiled binary of the target on disk. The target and the analysis program modifying it may each include managed code. The target program is presented by an instrumentation API as a queryable database, rather than a mere sequence of processor-level instructions. An instrumentation context for the target program's execution image is obtained, with identifications of functions, individual instructions, and other instrumentable items that satisfy criteria specified in a query. Functions and low-level instructions may be identified as satisfying the query regardless of whether they have executed yet. High-level statements transform query-satisfying items in the target's execution image, by appending code, injecting a fault, replacing an individual instruction, or replacing an individual operand. Instrumentation transformations may be reverted without restarting execution and without reverting to the pre-execution image.
US08732671B2
A processing device executing an application analyzer analyzes a call stack having a plurality of stack frames to identify potential return addresses for the plurality of stack frames. The processing device records a value of each of the potential return addresses and records a location on the call stack for each of the potential return addresses. The processing device then determines which of the potential return addresses are actual return addresses based on debugging information and the recorded locations of the potential return addresses. The processing device generates a stack trace based on the actual return addresses.
US08732669B2
A method for detecting defects in a computer program. The method steps include obtaining source code and a potential defect definition; identifying, based on the potential defect definition, a set of program objects associated with a potential defect in the source code; extracting an executable program slice having the potential defect from the source code; generating, by a processor, an abstracted model of the program slice by: modeling, using data abstraction, the set of program objects as data-abstracted variables, identifying, within the program slice, a set of control statements including predicates necessary for evaluating the set of control statements, modeling, using predicate abstraction, the predicates as predicate-abstracted Boolean variables, and creating, based on the data-abstracted variables and the predicate-abstracted Boolean variables, a finite state machine (FSM) model of the program slice; and identifying an error state of the FSM indicating an occurrence of the potential defect within the program slice.
US08732667B2
A computer system displays an interactive development environment including a domain specific language (DSL) grammar input receiving area that allows the user to view and interact with DSL grammar inputs, a DSL language input receiving area that allows the user to view and interact with DSL language inputs and a parse output area that allows the user to view the current state of the DSL parser. The computer system begins stepping through each DSL language input to determine whether the DSL language inputs have created an error relative to the DSL grammar. The computer system also presents the resulting output for each DSL language input, so that as the user provides subsequent step inputs, the interactive development environment successively steps through each DSL language input and presents, at each step, the DSL grammar inputs, the DSL language inputs and the corresponding output in the parse output area.
US08732660B2
Methods and computer program product relate to user input auto-completion. The methods and product are executable on a processing device in a computing system environment so as to provide an auto-completion scheme with enhanced capabilities that improve user efficiency when performing a task.
US08732654B2
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the maintenance and execution of a software offering. During operation, the system obtains model data associated with a multidimensional model of the software offering. Next, the system uses the model data to calculate a set of dependency scores representing levels of dependency among a set of service components and a set of resources used by the software offering. Finally, the system uses the dependency scores to facilitate management of the software offering.
US08732650B2
A method for emulating a circuit design includes receiving, at an emulation interface, signal values associated with probed signals from a verification module of a custom prototype board which can be described by at least one board description file and can comprise at least one field programmable gate array for emulating the circuit design. The method can also include processing, the probed signal values associated with a portion of the circuit design being emulated, the emulation interface being capable of being configured to provide timing and control information to at least the verification module, and can comprise a controller and a memory device, with the controller being capable of being configured to receive the probed signal values. The method can further include storing the processed information and transmitting it to the host workstation.
US08732649B2
A method and a system for determining the observability of faults in an electronic circuit include a processor that simulates, in a simulation phase, a behavior of the electronic circuit using a simulation model, and that determined, in an analysis phase, based on the simulation, and for each of a plurality of elements of the electronic circuit, time periods in which an occurrent fault could cause a deviation in analysis output signals, where the occurrent fault is determined not to cause any deviation in output signals in other time periods.
US08732648B2
Embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for extracting impedance for a circuit design are disclosed herein. Some of the disclosed embodiments are computationally efficient and can accurately compute the frequency-dependent impedance of VLSI interconnects and/or intentional inductors in the presence of multi-layer conductive substrates. In certain embodiments, the resulting accuracy and CPU time reduction are a result of a Green's function approach with the correct quasi-static limit, a modified discrete complex image approximation to the Green's function, and a continuous dipole expansion to evaluate the magnetic vector potential at the distances relevant to VLSI interconnects and intentional inductors.
US08732640B1
Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing multi-scenario physically-aware design of electronic circuit design(s). In some embodiments, the method captures layout dependent effect(s) when a critical component instance, which corresponds to multiple candidate configurations, is being created in a physical design to enable a designer to create partial layout(s) from layout alternative(s) and to extract parameter(s) from the partial layout(s) in different layout contexts. The method may extract parasitics between components and analyzes impact(s) of layout dependent effect(s) on an electronic design by performing simulation(s) with layout dependent effect(s) in the schematic domain and may perform some partial routing based on some routing style(s) in each of the different layout contexts to generate just enough interconnects that may affect the electronic design.
US08732603B2
User interface that enables a user to manipulate visual representations of non-linear business logic to define and run data-centric “what-if” simulations. The visual interface models non-linear calculations based on the mapping of an input value in a non-linear domain to a score range, which score range can be continuous or non-continuous. The interface presents variable graphical indicator representations, as well as proximity and sensitivity visualizations. Different models can be developed and tested using live data feeds and aggregated dependent data feeds. The visual interface employs recursive scoring, and facilitates collaborative interface interaction.
US08732597B2
A system that displays content on a computer display. During operation, the system displays the content items within a display area on the computer display, wherein content items surrounding a current point of interest are displayed within a visible region of the display area. If the visible region has insufficient space to display some of the content items, the system selects a portion of the content items to be collapsed. Next, the system collapses the selected content items into one or more folds within the display area, wherein a fold is a compact representation of a contiguous group of adjacent content items and is located in place of the contiguous group of adjacent content items. For each fold, the system then displays a summary of the collapsed content items in the fold.
US08732596B2
There is provided a method of creating computer instructions for transforming inbound instances, being instances of a hierarchical inbound data format, into outbound instances, being instances of at least one hierarchical outbound data format, wherein each inbound instance is transformed into zero, one or more outbound instances, the inbound and outbound data formats each having a number of segments arranged in a hierarchical manner, the method using a computing device having at least a processor, a memory, a display device and an input device, and the method including: retrieving from the memory and providing on the display device a number of operation icons each representing at least one operation to be performed on data; and enabling a user of the computing device to select and arrange at least some of the operation icons on the display device.
US08732590B2
In a method of ranking or filtering new content items for presentation to members of a group of users of a social-networking service, content items that are candidates for presentation to the members are received. A user of the social-networking service is enabled to serve as a curator of the candidates, with the enabling including enabling the user to scroll through subsets of the candidates in a carousel user interface to indicate an opinion of the user with respect to an importance to the group of each of one or more candidates. One or more of the candidates are presented to the members of the group based on the opinion of the user with respect to the candidates.
US08732585B2
Members of Internet community websites, such as for example, social networking sites, photo sharing sites, review site, and other community sites, regularly make updates to the websites. Therefore a member of those sites is constantly checking those sites for new updates. In one embodiment, an application module of a sidebar provides an indicator, such as, for example, a new item in the application module, to the sidebar user when an update is made to a community website by another member of the site.
US08732584B2
A system and method for generating an information stream summary using a display metric is provided. An information stream including a plurality of information stream items is received. A display metric is calculated for each of the plurality of information stream items. The information stream items are grouped into one or more summary objects. A size is assigned to each of the one or more summary objects and the one or more summary objects are displayed based on the assigned size.
US08732578B2
Methods and systems are provided for the controlled cursor's behavior. According to one example method, any desired data may be linked to a cursor and a desired cursor behavior could be defined to convey the linked data using the cursor. When a change in the linked data is detected, the example method includes using the desired cursor behavior to convey the changed data independent of a location where the cursor is placed on a screen.
US08732571B2
Systems, methods and articles of manufacture for generating and displaying a preview image of a content area are described herein. An embodiment includes rendering an image representing the content area requested by a browser, providing the rendered image to the browser for display, and enabling the browser to display the requested content area in place of the rendered image when the content area is received by the browser. The method further includes updating language defining the requested content area to reference the rendered image and to enable transition from a display of the rendered image to a display of the requested content area, and providing the updated language to the browser to enable the browser to display the rendered image while the requested content area is being provided to the browser.
US08732569B2
A method and system for predicting a next navigation event are described. Aspects of the disclosure minimize the delay between a navigation event and a network response by predicting the next navigation event. The system and method may then prerender content associated with the next navigation event. For example, the method and system may predict a likely next uniform resource locator during web browsing to preemptively request content from the network before the user selects the corresponding link on a web page. The methods describe a variety of manners of predicting the next navigation event, including examining individual and aggregate historical data, text entry prediction, and cursor input monitoring.
US08732566B2
In one aspect, the invention provides a content handling system that comprises a digital data store containing a plurality of instruction sets, each defining a content handling workflow. The system further includes a content handling engine in communications coupling with the store, wherein the content handling engine identifies an embedded code in an article of content. The engine executes on at least that article of content one or more of the instruction sets associated with the embedded code. The instruction set can specify, for example, one or more destinations for articles of content (e.g., e-mail addresses, local or network file system folders, and on-line data stores).
US08732564B2
A method which makes use of the syndrome information at each iteration, combined with the bit reliability information available at a FEC decoder, to extract the minimum estimated bit error configuration, i.e. the block which is closest to the transmitted codeword during the decoding process, and to select such block if the result at the final decoding iteration has a higher number of estimated bit errors.
US08732562B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for media defect detection. Data pre-processing is operable to pre-process a symbol based detected output to yield a suspect symbol indicator, and data detection is operable to provide a defect indicator corresponding to a probable defect identified based on the suspect symbol indicator.
US08732554B2
According to one embodiment, a data storage device includes a read module, an ECC module, and a controller. The read module is configured to read data to be accessed and designation data designating the data, from nonvolatile memories. The ECC module is configured to perform an error check and correction process on the data and designation data read by the read module. The controller is configured to correct the designation data if the ECC module cannot correct the designation data and to perform an error detection process based on the designation data corrected.
US08732551B2
A memory validation manager reserves a block of time for exclusive accesses to a memory bank having lines of memory for which validation codes provide a degree of error detection and correction for each memory line. The memory validation manager reads, processes, and corrects at least some of the contents of each memory line based on indications of validity encountered for each memory line. New data is written in response to a validation code. Likewise, a valid field for each line can be updated and a new validation code written for a memory when the valid field indicates that a validation code has not yet been written for a memory line. The memory validation manager processes data read from a first memory line while either reading or writing to another memory line to minimize the latency of the process of scrubbing memory lines.
US08732546B2
A receiving apparatus for receiving a radio signal through an antenna. The radio signal is transmitted by a moving transmitting apparatus and has a frame configuration which includes at least a main information portion that includes information main part based on an image signal and an added portion that includes synchronization information and parameter information specific to the transmitting apparatus. The receiving apparatus includes a detecting unit that is configured to detect, from the received radio signal, an arrangement position of the parameter information in a frame configuration in which an error-correcting code is added immediately after the parameter information to be transmitted in a predetermined arrangement position of the frame configuration. A parameter information error correcting unit is configured to perform error correction on the parameter information with the error-correcting code that is added immediately after the detected arrangement position of the parameter information. An image processing unit is configured to perform image processing on the image signal of the main information portion using the corrected parameter information.
US08732533B2
Methods, apparatuses and systems are disclosed involving a memory device. In one embodiment, a memory device is disclosed that includes a command error module of the memory device operably coupled to at least one of a command signal and an address signal and configured to detect and report a parity error on the command signal, the address signal, or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, a memory device may include a temperature sensor operably coupled to a mode register. The temperature sensor may be configured to sense a device temperature and report a temperature status. Furthermore, the memory device may be incorporated into a memory module, which may be included in an electronic system.
US08732529B2
Disclosed is a method for testing an application in a testing agent which resides on an application layer of a mobile communication terminal mounted with a platform designed so that applications of the application layer operate independently from each other and a command is not directly transferred between the applications. The method includes: receiving a command for testing a test target application from a testing apparatus; generating an event corresponding to the transferred command; and registering the generated event in a window manager positioned on a framework layer in order to transfer the generated event to the test target application.
US08732528B1
This disclosure is directed to measuring test effects using adjusted outlier data. Test data and control data may include some outlier data (i.e., right-side tails of distribution curves), which may bias the resultant data. The outlier data may be adjusted to reduce bias. A cutoff point is selected along the distribution of data. Data below the cutoff is maintained and used to determine an effect of the data below the cutoff point. The effect of the data above the cutoff may be processed as follows. Predictor data is identified from the data below, but near, the cutoff point. The predictor data may then be used determine the effect of the outlier data that is above the cutoff point. In some embodiments, the predictor data may be weighted and combined with a weighted portion of the outlier data to determine an effect of the data above the cutoff point.
US08732527B2
A system and method is disclosed for recovering a boot image from a secure location. Hardware instructions initiate a sequence of boot cycles to launch a computer operating system on a computer-enabled device. During the boot cycles, multiple levels of boot code are verified and a determination is made whether each level is usable by the device. If a level of boot code is determined to be unusable, a secure copy of the boot code is loaded from a secure read-only location to repair the unusable code to launch the computer operating system.
US08732520B2
An apparatus comprising a first of a plurality of array modules and a second of a plurality of array modules. The first of the plurality of array modules may be configured to connect a first one or more of a plurality of host devices to a first one or more of a plurality of storage arrays. The first array module may comprise a primary controller and a secondary controller. The second of the plurality of array modules may be configured to connect a second one or more of the plurality of host devices to a second one or more of the plurality of storage arrays. The second array module may comprise a primary controller and a secondary controller. Control of access to the storage arrays may be transferred to the secondary controller of the first array module during a failure of the primary controller of the first array module.
US08732518B2
A storage system provides highly flexible data layouts that can be tailored based on reliability considerations. The system allocates reliability values to logical containers at an upper logical level of the system based, for example, on objectives established by reliability SLOs. Based on the reliability value, the system identifies a specific parity group from a lower physical storage level of the system for storing data corresponding to the logical container. After selecting a parity group, the system allocates the data to physical storage blocks within the parity group. In embodiments, the system attaches the reliability value information to the parity group and the physical storage units storing the data. In this manner, the underlying physical layer has a semantic understanding of reliability considerations related to the data stored at the logical level. Based on this semantic understanding, the system has the capability to prioritize data operations on the physical storage units according to the reliability values attached to the parity groups.
US08732516B2
An approach for supporting automated fault isolation and recovery is provided. A notification configuration option is transmitted to a browser interface utilized by a user associated with a customer network that is monitored by a service provider, wherein the user selects the notification configuration option to input notification information. The notification information is received, via the browser interface, from the customer. A notification message is received from a platform configured to create a workflow event in response to an alarm indicative of a fault within the customer network, wherein isolation and recovery of the fault is performed according to the workflow event, the notification message including information about the customer network during the fault isolation and recovery process. The notification message is transmitted in accordance with the stored notification information.
US08732511B2
An apparatus comprising a reference circuit, a resistor ladder, and an output circuit. The reference circuit may be configured to generate a reference signal in response to (i) a clock signal, (ii) a first phase signal and (iii) a second phase signal. The resistor ladder circuit may be configured to generate a tap voltage in response to the reference signal. The tap voltage may be generated by enabling one or more of a plurality of tap resistors. The output circuit may be configured to generate an adjusted clock signal in response to (i) the tap voltage, (ii) the clock signal, (iii) the first phase signal, (iv) the second phase signal, and (v) a reset signal. The adjusted clock signal may have an adjusted phase with respect to the clock signal.
US08732507B2
A circuit for uninterruptible power supply, wherein the circuit can be connected to an energy supply and a load and includes a capacitive energy store, a changeover switch, a charging device, a charging control device, a voltage monitoring device, and a discharge device.
US08732504B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates reducing static power consumption of a processor. During operation, the system receives a signal indicating that instruction execution within the processor is to be temporarily halted. In response to this signal, the system halts an instruction-processing portion of the processor, and reduces the voltage supplied to the instruction-processing portion of the processor. Full voltage is maintained to a remaining portion of the processor, so that the remaining portion of the processor can continue to operate while the instruction-processing portion of the processor is in reduced power mode.
US08732501B1
A method is provided in one example embodiment and includes generating a message to be communicated over a network to a plurality of entities that reside in a domain. The message includes data relating to energy use. The message can be generated by one or more computing devices belonging to the domain. A selected one of the computing devices can control power consumption for the entities in the domain. In more specific embodiments, a formatting of the message is done at an application level. The formatting of the message is independent of a transport protocol of the message.
US08732485B2
A method according to one embodiment includes defining a new encryption band with a length that is consistent with a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) parity strip; freeing a working extent in a working stride on the RAID. In an iterative process until each stride in a source band is depleted of data: marking a source extent in a source stride from which to gather data to be re-encrypted; marking parity inconsistent in the working stride in the new encryption band; performing a second iterative process; and freeing the working extent. The second iterative process is performed until each extent in a source stride is depleted of data. Additional systems, methods and computer program products are also presented.
US08732476B1
Securing a network is disclosed. A monitored session between a client and a network resource is provided. It is determined whether the client is attempting an authorized command. If the command is determined to be unauthorized, the command is intercepted. Optionally, remedial action is taken if it is determined that the client is attempting an unauthorized command.
US08732475B2
Systems and methods are described that relate to authentication and/or binding of multiple devices with varying security profiles. In one aspect, a first device with a higher security profile may vouch for the authenticity of a second device with a lower security profile when the second device requests access for content from a content provider. The vouching process may be implemented by allowing the first device to overlay its digital signature on a registration request that has been signed and transmitted by the second device. The second device with the lower security profile may access content from the content provider or source for a predetermined time period, even when the second device does not access content through the first device.
US08732469B2
A network monitor device 20 includes: a communication cutoff unit 21 to cut off at least a part of communications performed by a quarantine target node 90; a redirect unit to make the quarantine target node 90 establish a communication connection for a quarantine process with a quarantine server 30 which executes the quarantine process of the quarantine target node 90; a cancel request receiving unit 24 to receive, when the quarantine target node 90 receives a ticket indicating completion of the quarantine via the communication connection for the quarantine process from the quarantine server 30, a cutoff cancel request ticket transmitted by the quarantine target node 90; and a cutoff canceling unit 26 to cancel the cutoff by the communication cutoff unit 21 when receiving the cutoff cancel request.
US08732467B2
A method for creating and authenticating a digital signature is provided, including selecting a first session parameter k and generating a first short term public key derived from the session parameter k, computing a first signature component r derived from a first mathematical function using the short term public key, selecting a second session parameter t and computing a second signature component s derived from a second mathematical function using the second session parameter t and without using an inverse operation, computing a third signature component using the first and second session parameters and sending the signature components (s, r, c) as a masked digital signature to a receiver computer system. In the receiver computer system, a recovered second signature component s′ is computed by combining a third signature component with the second signature component to derive signature components (s′, r) as an unmasked digital signature.
US08732463B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a data transmitting apparatus including an authenticator generating unit and a communicating unit. The authenticator generating unit generates a first authenticator by using a first encryption key and generates a second authenticator including a first to an n-th fragment information items by using a second encryption key. The communicating unit transmits a first packet including the first authenticator and the first fragment information item to a destination device and, after the first packet is transmitted, if a response indicating successful authentication is not received from the destination device within a certain period, sequentially transmits an i-th packet (i is an integer being 2 or more and n or less) including the i-th fragment information item to the destination device.
US08732462B2
This disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for securely and easily sharing data over a communications network. As communications services on a communications network are continuously becoming cheaper, faster, and easier to use, more users are becoming receptive to the idea of sharing data over the communications network. However, although E-mails and web folders, to a certain degree, provide easy-to-use or secure data sharing mechanisms, none of the existing data sharing methods is both easy-to-use and highly secure. This disclosure provides methods and apparatus for easily and securely sharing data over a communications network.
US08732458B2
A method, system and terminal device implement locking a terminal device onto a network. This method comprises a procedure of locking onto the network during accessing the network, namely performing locking-onto-network configuration verification in a network accessing authentication process, and if the locking-onto-network configuration verification is successful, allowing for verification for an authentication certificate, or else refusing the terminal device of access to the network. The method, system and terminal device in the present invention perform locking-onto-network configuration verification when performing authentication, and the terminal device and server uniformly configure a locking-onto-network character string, and thus it has a great security. Besides, the present invention also can implement unlocking and locking again after accessing the network via an air interface management in the OTA way, and thus it has high flexibility and applicability, and can satisfy the requirements of 4G networks such as the WiMAX network and LTE network.
US08732454B2
A key setting method executed by a node transmitting and receiving a packet through multi-hop communication in an ad-hoc network among ad-hoc networks, includes receiving a packet encrypted using a key specific to a gateway and simultaneously reported from the gateway in the ad-hoc network; detecting a connection with a mobile terminal capable of communicating with a server retaining a key specific to a gateway in each ad-hoc network among the ad-hoc networks; transmitting to the server, via the mobile terminal and when a connection with the mobile terminal is detected, the encrypted packet received; receiving from the server and via the mobile terminal, a key specific to a gateway in the ad-hoc network and for decrypting the encrypted packet transmitted; and setting the received key specific to the gateway in the ad-hoc network as the key for encrypting the packet.
US08732452B2
An email security system is described that allows users within different organizations to securely send email to one another. The email security system provides a federation server on the Internet or other unsecured network accessible by each of the organizations. Each organization provides identity information to the federation server. When a sender in one organization sends a message to a recipient in another organization, the federation server provides the sender's email server with a secure token for encrypting the message to provide secure delivery over the unsecured network.
US08732448B2
A system and method of delaying power-up of an information handling system is disclosed. According to an aspect, a method of powering an information handling system can include detecting a delay power-up setting within a basic input output system (BIOS) of a particular information handling system using a management controller. The management controller can be configured to delay power-up of the particular information handling system. The method can further include enabling a power-up of the particular information handling system in response to the delay power-up setting using the management controller.
US08732446B2
Provided are a booting apparatus and method using a snapshot image. A snapshot image may be divided into a plurality of blocks. Each of the blocks may be stored in a nonvolatile memory in a compressed or non-compressed format. The snapshot image may be incrementally loaded in units of the blocks during booting. The loading and decompression of the blocks may be performed in parallel.
US08732435B1
An input data stream is received for processing at an integrated circuit (IC) through multiple channels. The input data stream is interleaved and the interleaved input data stream is stored in a memory buffer associated with the IC. An addressing scheme is defined for reading and writing data samples from and to the memory buffer within the IC. The addressing scheme includes determining a current increment by analyzing a pattern associated with data samples within the memory buffer and determining the memory address for each data sample within the memory buffer using the current increment. A data sample for a frame is read from a corresponding address within the memory buffer using the addressing scheme and a subsequent data sample from the interleaved input data stream is written into the corresponding address of the memory buffer. The current increment and the addressing scheme are stored in the memory buffer. The current increment is dynamically determined by analyzing data samples in the memory buffer after processing of each frame of data and is used in redefining the addressing scheme for subsequent data processing.
US08732419B2
Provided are techniques for maintaining instant virtual copies. A request to perform an instant virtual copy operation to create an instant virtual copy from a first volume to a new volume is received. It is determined that the first volume has not been modified since a last instant virtual copy operation has been performed. It is determined whether an intermediate volume and an intermediate map have already been created. In response to determining that the intermediate volume and the intermediate map have not already been created, the intermediate volume and the intermediate map are created, the intermediate volume is made dependent on the first volume in a dependency chain based on the intermediate map, and the new volume is made dependent on the intermediate volume in the dependency chain.
US08732418B1
This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for backing up and restoring a registry. In some embodiments, this includes detecting one or more changes to a registry by a first thread of a backup application, wherein the backup application runs a plurality of threads, wherein a buffer is associated with each thread, generating a snapshot of the changes, storing the snapshot to the buffer associated with the first thread, synchronizing the first thread and one or more other threads in the plurality of the threads, and writing the snapshot from the buffer to a file.
US08732408B2
A circuit contains a shared memory (12), that is used by a plurality of processing elements (10) that contain cache circuits (102) for caching data from the shared memory (12). The processing elements perform a plurality of cooperating tasks, each task involving caching data from the shared memory (12) and sending cache message traffic. Consistency between cached data for different tasks is maintained by transmission of cache coherence requests via a communication network. Information from cache coherence requests generated for all of said tasks is buffered. One of the processing elements provides an indication signal indicating a current task stage of at least one of the processing elements. Additional cache message traffic is generated adapted dependent on the indication signal and the buffered information from the cache coherence requests. Thus conditions of cache traffic stress may be created to verify operability of the circuit, or cache message traffic may be delayed to avoid stress.
US08732403B1
A storage system comprises a cache for caching data blocks and storage devices for storing blocks. A storage operating system may deduplicate sets of redundant blocks on the storage devices based on a deduplication requirement. Blocks in cache are typically deduplicated based on the deduplication on the storage devices. Sets of redundant blocks that have not met the deduplication requirement for storage devices and have not been deduplicated on the storage devices and cache are targeted for further deduplication processing. Sets of redundant blocks may be further deduplicated based on their popularity (number of accesses) in cache. If a set of redundant blocks in cache is determined to have a combined number of accesses being greater than a predetermined threshold number of accesses, the set of redundant blocks is determined to be “popular.” Popular sets of redundant blocks are selected for deduplication in cache and the storage devices.
US08732386B2
A Sharing Data Fabric (SDF) causes flash memory attached to multiple compute nodes to appear to be a single large memory space that is global yet shared by many applications running on the many compute nodes. Flash objects stored in flash memory of a home node are copied to an object cache in DRAM at an action node by SDF threads executing on the nodes. The home node has a flash object map locating flash objects in the home node's flash memory, and a global cache directory that locates copies of the object in other sharing nodes. Application programs use an applications-programming interface (API) into the SDF to transparently get and put objects without regard to the object's location on any of the many compute nodes. SDF threads and tables control coherency of objects in flash and DRAM.
US08732380B2
In a path determination unit of a SAS expander connected to a SAS initiator and connected via first and second paths to a SAS target, an SSP controller receives an SSP command frame received from the SAS initiator; a requested-data-length manager stores a requested data length of the SSP command frame in a requested-data-length storage unit; and a data-transfer-amount manager selects one of the first and second paths having a smaller one of the data transfer amounts stored in a data-transfer-amount storage unit, and adds the requested data length to the data transfer amount of the selected path. The SSP command frame is transmitted to the SAS target via the selected path. Upon receipt of an SSP response frame responding thereto, the requested data length is deleted from the requested-data-length storage unit, and the requested data length is subtracted from the data transfer amount of the selected path.
US08732371B2
An application process operates at a privilege level lower than that of the kernel code of the operating system in which the process executes. When the application process requires performance of an operating system service for which the process lacks sufficient privileges to perform directly, rather than repeatedly requesting the service by issuing separate software interrupts, the process instead accumulates the data corresponding to the different service requests in a data container block and defers performance of the service. Whenever the process needs to complete the service, rather than deferring its performance, the process issues a single software interrupt that causes the kernel to use the accumulated data in the data container block to perform each of the N accumulated service requests. This reduces the number of interrupts that must be handled from N to one, thereby greatly reducing the overhead imposed by interrupt handling.
US08732370B2
An arbiter is provided for arbitrating for access to a shared resource by a plurality of requesters and by a background requester in a processing system. A priority value is assigned to each of the plurality of requestors. A multilayer arbitration contest is performed to resolve each conflict in transaction requests to the shared resource, however, a requester of the plurality of requesters having a highest priority value does not always win an arbitration contest. An arbitration contest will be overridden whenever the background requester initiates a transaction request, such that the background requester always wins the overridden arbitration contest. The shared resource is accessed by the winner of each arbitration contest.
US08732366B2
In response to a reset condition, the state of a steady-state signal at an I/O pin of the serial communication port of an integrated circuit die is determined. The serial communication port is configured to support one of the plurality of serial communication protocols based upon the detected steady-state condition.
US08732348B2
An electronic device comprises a performance level indicator configured to determine an operational performance level for the electronic device based on a power capability of a power adapter coupled to the electronic device at least while the electronic device is non-operational.
US08732345B2
A disclosed image forming apparatus includes an image processing device including plural image processing units; a control device configured to control the plural image processing units; and a connection unit configured to connect the image processing device to the control device. Each of the plural image processing units is connected to the control device by one of plural channels; the image processing device is connected to the control device by a first bus including the channels; and the connection unit is provided on the first bus so that the image processing device is connected to the control device by a single connection unit.
US08732337B2
A system and method for targeting content to users of a device or network of user-operated devices. In an embodiment, profile information is determined about a user's media consumption activities. One or more inputs are received from an external source to specify what content to target to the user. One or more content items are selected to target to the user based on the profile information and the one or more inputs. The selection of content items is performed without communicating the profile information outside of the user's device or network of user-operated devices.
US08732336B2
A distributor's apparatus generates distribution information including basic distribution information and extended distribution information which sets the correspondence between a plurality of output modes and a plurality of operating states of a predetermined application program in a recipient's apparatus and transmits the distribution information to the recipient's apparatus via a network. The recipient's apparatus receives the distribution information and detects the operating state of its own. The recipient's apparatus determines the output mode based on the detected operating state and the extended distribution information and outputs the distribution information in accordance with the determined output mode.
US08732328B2
A wireless peripheral mode is provided by a host system that communicates to a WiFi infrastructure and, utilizing the same WiFi RF subsystem, also communicates to peripherals. The host system may employ additional RF channels for communicating with high bandwidth peripherals, such as display devices, where high levels of QoS may be managed locally. The host system may be a conventional desktop computer system, a notebook computer system, a multi-media access point, a cell phone, a game machine, a portable game machine, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a smart phone or any other type of device that benefits from accessing both a WiFi infrastructure and local peripherals.
US08732326B2
A method and apparatus for the dynamic adjustments of video streams sent from a server to a client is provided. Using both short term and long term thinning mechanisms, the server reduces its data transfer rate when bandwidth is reduced and increases its data transfer rate when bandwidth is available. In the short term mechanism, the server will dynamically adjust the transmission rate of the video or the quality of the video based on parameters returned by the client. These parameters include currently-buffered data-size, buffered-data duration, and packet loss rate. In the long term mechanism, the server will adjust the current maximum quality level allowed depending upon the round trip times of data packets transmitted. This invention decreases client rebuffering and packet loss and increases the efficiency of available bandwidth.
US08732324B2
In an embodiment, a method is performed by one or more processors and comprises obtaining a hiatus declaration that indicates that a network device will be incommunicable; suspending communication with the network device until expiration of a hiatus time period during which the network device is expected to be incommunicable; resuming communication with the network device in response to any of: determining that the hiatus time period has expired; obtaining a keep-alive message from the network device; or obtaining other indication that the network device can communicate.
US08732313B2
In one embodiment, a method receives current latency values from a plurality of host computers where a current latency value is calculated by a respective host computer based on an amount of time spent in the respective host computer's issue queue by an IO request most recently removed from the issue queue of the respective host computer. The issue queue of the respective host computer is used to transmit IO requests from the respective host computer to a storage system. The method then calculates a combined average latency value based on the current latency values and sends the combined average latency value to the plurality of host computers. Each respective host computer adjusts a size of the respective host computer's issue queue based on the combined average latency value, and the size controls a number of IO requests that are added to the respective host computer's issue queue.
US08732311B1
A networked object delivery system for a personal computing device includes a network, a personal computing device at least part time coupled to the network, and a service agent server at least part time coupled to the network. The personal computing device is preferably a PDA or the like, but can also include personal computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, etc. The personal computing device locally operates on a requested document with at least one downloaded application module from the network. The service agent server will download a requested document and at least one application module to the personal computing device over the network in response to a request for the document and in response to a desired action to be performed on that document.
US08732309B1
A system, method and computer-readable medium for request routing based on cost information are provided. A client request processing a resource identifier for requested content transmits a first DNS query to a content delivery network service provider. The content delivery network service provider transmits an alternative resource identifier in response to the client computing device DNS query. The alternative resource identifier is selected as a function of cost information. The client computing device then issues a second DNS query to the same content delivery network service provider. The content delivery network service provider can then either resolve the second DNS query with an IP address of a cache component or transmit another alternative resource identifier that will resolve to the content delivery network service provider. The process can repeat with the content delivery network service provider's network until a DNS nameserver resolves a DNS query from the client computing device.
US08732306B2
Systems and methods for transfer of data including establishing two separate connections, the two separate connections including a high speed connection and a high integrity connection. Blocks of data are exchanged over the high speed connection while the high integrity connection facilitates communication of descriptor data regarding data received over the high speed connection. As such, the data transfer speed of the high speed connection is utilized while communication via the high integrity connection allows for data reliability features not provided by the high speed connection.
US08732294B1
A method and a system for managing a configuration management environment in a large organization are provided. A Configuration Management (CM) system is installed in infrastructure devices used by users in the configuration management environment. These users are distributed in a geographically wide area. Information is collected relating to development processes executed in the configuration management environment. This information further includes information regarding performance, management and configuration of the infrastructure devices. The collected information is collated, organized and links corresponding to various information are also provided. Further, the collected information is provided through an access point to the users, to manage the configuration management environment.
US08732293B2
The current invention relates to a system and method for tracking or locating a target entity on a data network, such as the public Internet, by analyzing network traffic and communication among interacting network nodes. The invention describes a system of creating an information set of data related to the traffic patterns associated with a specific entity over a time period, and comparing the information set to other information related to the traffic patterns associated with a group of entities over the same time period. By excluding information that is common to both the specific entity and the group of entities from the information set, the information set is left with only the information that helps identify the specific entity on the network.
US08732291B2
The workload profiler and performance interference (WPPI) system uses a test suite of recognized workloads, a resource estimation profiler and influence matrix to characterize un-profiled workloads, and affiliation rules to identify optimal and sub-optimal workload assignments to achieve consumer Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees and/or provider revenue goals. The WPPI system uses a performance interference model to forecast the performance impact to workloads of various consolidation schemes usable to achieve cloud provider and/or cloud consumer goals, and uses the test suite of recognized workloads, the resource estimation profiler and influence matrix, affiliation rules, and performance interference model to perform off-line modeling to determine the initial assignment selections and consolidation strategy to use to deploy the workloads. The WPPI system uses an online consolidation algorithm, offline models, and online monitoring to determine virtual machine to physical host assignments responsive to real-time conditions to meet cloud provider and/or cloud consumer goals.
US08732285B2
A method to provide at least one of a scalable, a replaceable, and an upgradeable device via remote access solution virtual media includes emulating a physical plug-and-play universal serial bus device to a managed host server system as a virtual media device using firmware in a service processor and a virtual media engine of a remote access solution comprising a remote access card disposed in the managed host server system, the physical plug-and-play universal serial bus device disposed in the remote access card, proxying data communications between the physical plug-and-play universal serial bus device and the managed host server system through the service processor, and allowing remote access to the physical plug-and-play universal serial bus device by a remote management client using the firmware in the service processor and the virtual media engine via an out-of-band dedicated remote access card network interface card disposed in the remote access card.
US08732266B2
A method includes receiving an upload request to retrieve a master image. The method further includes retrieving the master image in response to the upload request. The method also includes storing the retrieved master image. The method further includes generating a composite image file using the retrieved master image. The composite image file can be used to create a plurality of images derived from the master image.
US08732263B2
A network interface card may issue interrupts to a host in which the determination of when to issue an interrupt to the host may be based on the incoming packet rate. In one implementation, an interrupt controller of the network interface card may issue interrupts to that informs a host of the arrival of packets. The interrupt controller may issue the interrupts in response to arrival of a predetermined number of packets, where the interrupt controller re-calculates the predetermined number based on an arrival rate of the incoming packets.
US08732259B2
A method is disclosed for providing notification of network alarms using a plurality of distributed layers. A message is received that indicates an event occurred at a primary entity. The event is bound to a managed object, which represents the primary entity, to create a bound event. An overall condition is determined for the primary entity, based at least in part on the bound event, to create one or more condition notifications. The impact of a particular condition notification on one or more entities, which are related to the primary entity, is analyzed to create one or more impact notifications. One or more first alarms, which indicate the one or more related entities are impacted by a particular impact notification, are created. One or more second alarms are created based on the one or more first alarms.
US08732248B2
A method of processing multi-media service requests received at a multi-media services provider computer system, including a processor coupled to a media gateway controller and to a media server. The method includes receiving a message from a SIP INVITE-enabled communication device at the media gateway controller. The message is processed at the media gateway controller for generating an instruction message with unique indicators, which is communicated to the media server in a SIP INVITE format. The media server processes the instruction message to provide media services and collect user-information from the communication device. The media server processes the user-information and generates a first message in an HTTP form POST format with unique indicators, which includes the user-information and which can be processed at the processor. In this manner, the multi-media services provider computer system is compatible with the SIP INVITE-enabled device.
US08732245B2
In a computer system, a system, method and computer program product for pre-selecting a folder for a current message. The system, method and computer program product involve (a) providing a folder pre-selection cache having n configurable entries, n being a predetermined positive integer greater than one, each configurable entry being configured to include an associated pre-selection criterion for matching with the current message, and an associated folder identification for identifying an associated folder in the plurality of folders; (b) for at least one entry in the folder pre-selection cache, comparing a comparison criterion, obtained from the current message, with the associated pre-selection criterion to determine a matching entry in the folder pre-selection cache; and, (c) pre-selecting the folder identified by the associated folder identification of the matching entry when the message comparison module determines the matching entry in the folder pre-selection cache.
US08732243B2
The present invention discloses a method and a system for application layer link control. The method comprises: judging whether the number “a” of links which have been established between an exterior IP and a multimedia messaging service gateway (MMSG) in current granularity is less than a threshold number “A” of links for establishing a connection with the MMSG in the current granularity (S1); if it is determined to be “yes”, subtracting the “a” from the “A” to obtain a threshold number “B” of links for establishing a connection with the MMSG in a next granularity (S2), wherein B=A−a; and otherwise, obtaining the threshold number “B” of links for establishing a connection with the MMSG in the next granularity, wherein B=0, and rejecting a request that the exterior IP initiates to establish a connection with the MMSG in the next granularity. With the present invention, effective control for establishing a link with the MMSG is realized, the MMSG link resource is distributed fairly and perfect distribution of the link resource is realized.
US08732233B2
An electronic flight bag apparatus includes an electronic flight bag (EFB) system installed in an aircraft and which interfaces with a ground network, and a portable EFB device connectible with the EFB system via a trusted secure connection. This apparatus makes it possible for a flight crew member to remove the portable device from the aircraft, enter flight information into the device in a convenient manner, and transfer the information to the installed EFB system. Auxiliary crew members may use the portable device during flight to assist the flight crew.
US08732223B2
A function that represents data points is derived by creating a matrix (e.g., a Hankel matrix) of an initial rank, where the matrix contains the data points. Singular values are derived based on the matrix, and it is determined whether a particular one of the singular values satisfies an error criterion. In response to determining that the particular singular value does not satisfy the error criterion, the rank of the matrix is increased and the deriving and determining tasks are repeated. In response to determining that the particular singular value satisfies the error criterion, values of parameters that approximate the function are computed.
US08732221B2
According to a preferred embodiment, there is provided a computer program for use in the creation and editing of multimedia works which provides a much simplified method of selecting and placing multimedia clips, with a length of less than about 20 seconds, into a longer composition. In one preferred embodiment, the user is provided with a graphical user interface where he or she can add to or modify the multimedia content contained therein by simply clicking the mouse above an empty track location, with the replacement clips being chosen and inserted into the work automatically. In another embodiment, the user will specify the screening criteria for a plurality of tracks, which tracks will then be automatically populated with clips according to the user's rules to generate a multimedia work.
US08732217B2
A method for identifying data for relocation in a multivolume file system. The method includes generating a file location map, the file location map containing a list of the locations of files that occupy space on each of a plurality of volumes of the file system, wherein The file system comprising least a first volume and a second volume. The method further includes updating the file location map in accordance with changes in a file change log for the file system, and identifying data residing on the first volume of the file system by scanning the file location map. Using the identified data, a ratio of per-file activity during a first time period relative to overall file system activity over a second time period is calculated to derive a file activity ratio for each of the files of the identified data. Files are then selected for relocation based on the file activity ratio.
US08732214B2
A system and method for searching a product model number database having a plurality of product model numbers stored therein receives a string to be searched in the product model number database from a client device. Multiple queries are then created based on the string and the model number database is queried using the created queries. Query results responsive to the created queries are then received from the model number database and transmitted to the client device.
US08732213B2
A method of operating a query system includes retrieving objects from a data source, wherein each of the retrieved objects includes (i) data and (ii) metadata describing the data. The method includes dynamically creating a cumulative schema by inferring a schema from each of the retrieved objects and merging the inferred schema with the cumulative schema. The method includes storing the data of each of the retrieved objects in a storage service. The method includes receiving, from a user, a query, and responding to the query based on data stored by the storage service.
US08732209B2
Computerized systems and methods for dynamically rendering reports in a healthcare environment are provided. In accordance with one method of the invention, two XML files are provided. The first XML file contains data representing information to be presented in the report. The second XML file contains data representing a format for the report. The second XML file is converted to an XSL stylesheet and applied to the data contained in the first XML file to create a third XML file. The third XML file contains the data representing the information to be presented in the report and the data representing the format for the report. The report is rendered using the third XML file.
US08732204B2
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) data are generated using Community-based Question Answering (CQA) data. A thematic hierarchy generation module receives multiple data sources and generates a thematic hierarchy of the data source, where a data source has one or more topics and a topic has one or more themes. A feature classifier classifies multiple CQA data into one or more themes based on the thematic hierarchy, where a CQA data contains multiple question-answer pairs. A selection module selects multiple question-answer pairs from the CQA data based on the classification, measures the quality of the selected question-answer pairs and generates FAQ data using the selected question-answer pairs of the CQA data.
US08732203B2
An image forming apparatus includes a first storage medium to store a storage target file, without storing storage management information of the storage target filed. The image forming apparatus may also have a controller to control storing the storage management information of the storage target file separately from the storage target file. Therefore, without the storage management information that is indispensable for accessing the storage target file the file is secure regardless of detaching the first storage medium from the image forming apparatus.
US08732201B2
Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for automatically deriving web service permissions based on XML structure permissions. A call for a web service operation is received from a client at a web service runtime engine. XML data objects from a database of XML data objects located on an XML server implicated by the called web service operation are identified. The XML data objects have corresponding XML data structures. Access permissions for the user for the identified XML data objects are retrieved from the XML server, the access permissions for the web service having been generated automatically from access permissions based on the XML data structures for corresponding XML data objects. The called web service operation is either permitted or prohibited based on a determination, at the web service runtime engine and based on the retrieved access permissions. Thus, data access requests are handled in the “higher” web service layer.
US08732190B2
Compliance with a privacy database and call-specific applications is provided within a network. A service control function (SCF), in communication with a privacy database, selectively establishes a call between an origin and a destination. Based on origin or destination identifiers, call parameters are determined for further operations associated with the call. A server, responsive to the call parameters, performs monitoring of the call or post-call disposition to update the privacy database.
US08732183B2
Techniques for comparing character strings include identifying a first character string having a first string length, and a second character string having a second string length greater than the first string length; parsing the first character string into one or more first sub-groups of characters; parsing the second character string into one or more second sub-groups of characters; comparing each of the one or more first sub-groups of characters against the one or more second sub-groups of characters; determining a ratio of a number of characters in the one or more first sub-groups of characters that match the one or more second sub-groups of characters and the second string length; and based on the ratio being greater or equal to a threshold, preparing at least one of the first or second character strings for display, the threshold including a variable value based on the first string length.
US08732182B2
The disclosure provides a system and method for a client connected to a server to a resource in a network. For the system a virtual machine module is provided to access a library and to create virtual machine templates and to create virtual machines from the virtual machine templates. The virtual machine module provides to a host machine in the network access to machines, user profile settings and instances of an application in the network and to multiple operating systems. The client has: access to an instance of the resource; an access module to provide the client with communication to access to the server using load balancing algorithms to access the file using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) commands; and an authentication module providing access to a directory structure accessed by the server using Microsoft Group Policy Objects (GPOs) and Active Directory (AD) services to authenticate the client with the server.
US08732177B1
A search query is received. One or more listings is identified responsive to the search query. For each of the one or more of listings, the following are determined: a relevancy score based on one or more parameters in the search query, an expected click through rate, and at least one of a content density boost that is based on one or more fields that are included in or excluded from the listing and a geography type boost that is based on a comparison of one or more geography parameters of the query to one or more geography parameters of the listing. For each of the one or more listings, a performance score is calculated based on the relevancy score, the expected click through rate, and at least one of the content density boost and the geography type boost.
US08732174B2
Method and system to search for data objects are provided. The method comprises generating an attribute index and a content index. The attribute index comprises entries associated with respective access control information for a set of data objects and generating. The content index comprises words from the set of data objects. A search query directed at the set of data objects is processed by searching the content index, searching the attribute index, and obtaining a search result based on the results of searching of the content index and the attribute index.
