US09018452B2
The present invention relates to a Cucumis melo seed designated 34-765 RZ, which may exhibit a medium to dark greyish green color of the young fruit, a circular fruit shape in longitudinal section, a green ground color of the fruit skin with medium intensity and a yellowish hue, a small to medium size of the pistil scar, a reddish orange flesh color, and intermediate resistance to powdery mildew Podosphaera xanthii (Px) race 1, race 2, race 5. The present invention also relates to a Cucumis melo plant produced by growing the 34-765 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the melon cultivar, represented by melon variety 34-765 RZ.
US09018446B2
This invention is intended to be used to search for a transcription factor having novel functions of increasing the weight of an individual plant, increasing the weight of a given tissue per individual plant, or improving the productivity of a given substance per individual plant and to improve such properties in the plant. The weight of an individual plant is increased, the weight of a given tissue per individual plant is increased, the productivity of a given substance per individual plant is improved, or the content of a given substance per given tissue of a plant is increased via expression of a transcription factor that has been modified to suppress transcription accelerating activity.
US09018440B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods useful for detecting and/or measuring, e.g., intracellular signaling in vivo. More particularly, compositions and methods are provided, which include transgenic animals, that are useful in mapping and examining, e.g., calcium fluctuations in vivo between and within populations of cells in real time. Methods for screening for candidate compounds that effect, e.g., intracellular calcium signaling are also provided.
US09018425B2
The present invention relates to the use of at least one sulfonic acid for recovering glycerol resulting from a reaction crude from transesterification of glycerides, in particular of triglycerides of vegetable and/or animal origin.The invention also relates to a process for purifying glycerol obtained as a by-product of triglyceride transesterification during the preparation of fatty acids, fatty esters and/or fatty acid salts, and also to a combined process for preparing, on the one hand, fatty acids, fatty esters and/or fatty acid salts and, on the other hand, glycerol, from triglycerides, using at least one sulfonic acid.
US09018419B2
A library of macrocyclic compounds of the formula (I) where part (A) is a bivalent radical, a —(CH2)y— bivalent radical or a covalent bond; where part (B) is a bivalent radical, a —(CH2)z— bivalent radical, or a covalent bond; where part (C) is a bivalent radical, a —(CH2)t— bivalent radical, or a covalent bond; and where part (T) is a —Y-L-Z— radical wherein Y is CH2 or CO, Z is NH or O and L is a bivalent radical. These compounds are useful for carrying out screening assays or as intermediates for the synthesis of other compounds of pharmaceutical interest. A process for the preparation of these compounds in a combinatorial manner, is also disclosed.
US09018418B2
A method for preparation of an aryl poly(oxalkyl) quaternary ammonium compound is provided, said method comprising steps of: 1) reacting a phenol with a dihalopolyalkylene ether under the action of a phase transfer catalyst, to obtain an arylpoly(oxalkyl) halide; 2) reacting said arylpoly(oxalkyl) halide with an amination reagent under the action of a phase transfer catalyst, to obtain an arylpoly(oxalkyl) amine; 3) reacting said arylpoly(oxalkyl) amine with an alkylation reagent, to obtain an aryl poly(oxalkyl) quaternary ammonium compound; wherein R1 is H or a C1 to C16 alkyl group, located in the ortho, meta or para position; n is an integer of 2 to 6; R2 is H or a C1 to C16 alkyl group; R3 is H or a C1 to C16 alkyl group; R4 is a C1 to C16 alkyl group; X1 is Br or Cl; X is Cl, Br, or I. The preparation method according to the present invention requires low temperature and low pressure, the reaction time is short, and an overall yield can reach 75%. The operation is simple, the cost is low, and the product can be separated easily and have a purity of pharmaceutical grade, thereby facilitating the large-scale production.
US09018414B2
The present application relates to novel 3-phenylpropionic acid derivatives, to processes for their preparation, to their use for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases and to their use for preparing medicaments for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases, in particular for the treatment and/or prevention of cardiovascular disorders.
US09018413B2
The invention relates to a method for producing monocarboxy-functionalized dialkylphosphinic acids, esters, and salts, characterized in that a) a phosphinic acid source (I) is reacted with olefins (IV) in the presence of a catalyst A to obtain an alkylphosphonous acid, the salt or ester (II) thereof, and b) the obtained alkylphosphonous acid, the salt or ester (II) thereof is reacted with an oxidizing agent or with an oxidizing agent and water or with oxygen and water in the presence of a catalyst B to obtain the alkylphosphonic acid derivative (III), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 are identical or different from each other and independently represent, inter alia, H, C1-C18-alkyl, C6-C18-aryl, C6-C18-aralkyl, C6-C18-alkylaryl, X and Y are identical or different from each other and independently represent H, C1-C18-alkyl, C6-C18-aryl, C6-C18-aralkyl, C6-C18-alkylaryl, Mg, Ca, Al, Sb, Sn, Ge, Ti, Fe, Zr, Zn, Ce, Bi, Sr, Mn, Cu, Ni, Li, Na, K and/or a protonated nitrogenous base, and catalysts A and B are transition metals and/or transition metal compounds and/or catalyst systems composed of a transition metal and/or a transition metal compound and at least one ligand.
US09018408B2
The present invention generally relates to a condensed process for producing terephthalic acid and terephthalic esters from a dialkyl cyclohexane-2,5-dione-1,4-dicarboxylate; a chemoselective process for preparing a substantially bicyclic-lactone-free dialkyl cyclohexane-2,5-diol-1,4-dicarboxylate; and compositions of matter prepared thereby.
US09018407B2
The present invention provides methods of making stereo-enriched ansa-metallocene compounds using an unchelated amine compound. Generally, these methods result in a rac:meso isomer selectivity of the stereo-enriched ansa-metallocene compound of greater than 4:1.
US09018403B2
Disclosed is a method for producing a tetrahydropyran compound represented by general formula (5) shown in the scheme. Accordingly, a tetrahydropyran derivative is obtained in high yield and with high selectivity without using a highly toxic reagent, and an industrially useful method for producing a tetrahydropyran derivative and an intermediate thereof can be provided. In formulae (1) to (5), R1 and R2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group, or an aromatic group which may have a substituent, and R1 and R2 may be combined to form an alkylene group, thereby forming a ring; and R3 and R4 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group, and R3 and R4 may be combined to form an alkylene group, thereby forming a ring.
US09018402B2
Stable, bio-compatible, 1,2,4-Trioxolane compounds are produced and applied to living tissue, teeth, and hair, for the cosmetic purpose of bleaching or whitening.
US09018401B2
A process for obtaining (ethyne-1,2-diyl)bis(isobenzofuran-1,3-dione) is disclosed. In the disclosed process chloro-, bromo-, or iodoisobenzofuran-1,3-dione is reacted with ethyne in a solvent in the presence of a dissolved homogenous palladium catalyst, optionally a copper salt, a base, and optionally a solvent distinct from said base. Subsequently the obtained (ethyne-1,2-diyl)bis(isobenzofuran-1,3-dione) may be washed with a washing agent, such as a carboxylic acid, a polar aprotic solvent, or chloroform.
US09018388B2
This document discloses molecules having the following formulas (“Formula One” & “Formula Two” and “Formula Three”) The Ar1, Het, Ar2, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are further described herein.
US09018380B2
The present invention relates to compounds and methods which may be useful as inhibitors of HIF pathway activity for the treatment or prevention of cancer and other hypoxia-mediated diseases.
US09018377B2
The invention provides compounds of formula I F-L-Q (I) where F comprises a fluorophore capable of absorbing energy at an excitation wavelength and, in the absence of a quencher, emitting energy at an emission wavelength, which is different than the excitation wavelength; Q comprises a quencher; L comprises a linker moiety having two ends, one end being covalently bound to F and the other end being covalently bound to Q. The compounds are capable of undergoing a reversible reaction (1), provided below: (1) where Q+ is an oxidized form of Q representing the absence of a quencher, Ox comprises an oxidizing agent, which is capable of oxidizing Q to its oxidized form Q, and Red comprises a reducing agent, which is capable of converting Q back to its reduced form Q. The compounds can undergo photo-induced electron transfer when irradiated with energy and when Q exists in its oxidized form, Q+. The invention also provides methods of detecting and determining the presence of analytes and/or hydrogen peroxide in a sample, as well as a substrate that comprises the compound of formula I.
US09018375B2
The present invention provides PI3K protein kinase modulators of formula (I): wherein R, R1, R2, L1, Cy1, Cy2 and n are as described herein, methods of preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and methods of treatment, prevention and/or amelioration of kinase mediated diseases or disorders with them.
US09018370B2
The present invention relates to compounds and their use in competitive protein binding assays, for example for use with glycosyl transferase and/or glycoprocessing proteins. The present application also provides kits and apparatuses for use in the assays. In particular, the present invention provides a compound of the formula (I): wherein n is 1, 2 or 3; R1 is selected from —OH, —OPO3H, —OR4, —NHR4, R6; R2 and R3 are each independently selected from —H, —OH, optionally substituted —O-alkyl and —O-alkanoyl; R4 is selected from an optionally substituted mono or polysaccharide, -alkyl, -alkenyl, -alkynyl, and L-Z, where L is a linking agent and Z is a binding agent; R6 is an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group; A is either (i) a substituted heteroaryl group, the substituent on the heteroaryl group having a double bond conjugated to the heteroaryl group, or (ii) a substituted aryl group, the substituent on the aryl group having a double bond conjugated to the aryl group.
US09018364B2
Nucleic acids, compositions, and methods that allow for the excision of one or more loci from the genome of a host cell are provided herein. In particular, provided herein is an excisable nucleic acid construct comprising, in a 5′ to 3′ orientation: a first tandem repeat nucleic acid, a first homing endonuclease recognition site, a target nucleic acid, a second homing endonuclease recognition site, and a second tandem repeat nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the excisable nucleic acid construct is integrated into the host cell genome, and the target nucleic acid can be excised from the host cell genome by contacting the homing endonuclease recognition sites with one or more appropriate homing endonucleases.
US09018360B2
The present invention provides a modified biotin-binding protein comprising an amino acid sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 2 or its modified sequence and having a biotin-binding activity and replacement selected from the group consisting of: 1) replacement of the 36th serine residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 2) replacement of the 80th tryptophan residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a hydrophilic amino acid residue; 3) replacement of the 116th aspartic acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 4) replacement of the 46th proline residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a threonine, serine, or tyrosine residue and replacement of the 78th threonine residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond; 5) replacement of the 46th proline residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a threonine, serine, or tyrosine residue and replacement of the 116th aspartic acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid that does not form a hydrogen bond; and 6) replacement of the 46th proline residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with a threonine, serine, or tyrosine residue, replacement of the 78th threonine residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid residue that does not form a hydrogen bond, and replacement of the 116th aspartic acid residue of SEQ ID NO: 2 with an amino acid that does not form a hydrogen bond.
US09018356B2
A fully human antibody or antigen-binding fragment of a human antibody that specifically binds and inhibits or interferes with at least one activity of human angiopoietin-like protein 3 (hANGPTL3) is provided. The human anti-hANGPTL3 antibodies are useful in treating diseases or disorders associated with ANGPTL3, such as hyperlipidemia, hyperlipoproteinemia and dyslipidemia, including hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, chylomicronemia, and so forth. Furthermore, the anti-hANGPTL3 antibodies can be administered to a subject in need thereof to prevent or treat diseases or disorders, for which abnormal lipid metabolism is a risk factor. Such diseases or disorders include cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery diseases; acute pancreatitis; nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); diabetes; obesity; and the like.
US09018343B2
Disclosed herein is a polyamide-imide copolymer film, comprising a copolymer resin in which a unit structure derived from TFDB (2,2′-bistrifluoromethyl-4,4′-biphenyl diamine), a unit structure derived from 6FDA (4,4′-(hexa-fluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride), a unit structure derived from BPDA (3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride) and a unit structure derived from TPC (terephthaloyl chloride or 1,4-benzenedicarbonyl chloride) are copolymerized, wherein the copolymer resin has a weight average molecular weight of 10,000˜400,000.
US09018330B2
The use of curable mixtures comprising (A) at least one phosphonic diester and/or at least one diphosphonic diester and (B) at least one compound containing at least two condensable silane groups, as coupling agents, particularly as coupling agents in laminates comprising at least one substrate, at least one coating, at least one adhesive layer, and at least one sheet, and also a new process for producing such laminates using the coupling agents, the laminates which are producible using the coupling agents, and thermally curable mixtures comprising the coupling agents and at least one thermally curable polyester (C).
US09018326B2
A two-part acrylic adhesive composition comprising at least one organoborane-amine complex initiator and at least one multifunctional maleimide crosslinker.
US09018324B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing pentabromobenzyl acrylate through the reaction of pentahalobenzyl halide with a salt of acrylic acid in water-immiscible solvent, wherein said salt is in aqueous form and the reaction is carried out in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst. A process for polymerizing the pentabromobenzyl acrylate in halogenated aromatic solvent and the poly (pentabromobenzyl acrylate) obtained are also disclosed.
US09018319B2
A radical-curable hot-melt urethane resin composition includes 100 parts by mass of a hot-melt urethane (X) having a (meth)acryloyl group and 0.5 to 5.0 parts by mass of a radical polymerization initiator (Y), wherein the hot-melt urethane (X) is obtained by introducing, using a (meth)acrylate compound (D) having an active-hydrogen-containing group, a (meth)acryloyl group into a hot-melt urethane prepolymer (C) that has isocyanate groups at its terminals and is obtained by a reaction of a polyol (A) and an alicyclic polyisocyanate (B), the polyol (A) containing an aliphatic polycarbonate polyol (a1), an alicyclic polycarbonate polyol (a2), or an aliphatic polyether polyol (a3), in an amount of more than 50 mol % and 100 mol % or less of the total number of isocyanate groups of the urethane prepolymer (C).
US09018317B2
A method for producing a pigment dispersion composition having excellent image density, dispersibility, and storage stability, has high resolubility, and forms an ink film having excellent marker resistance and scratch resistance. The method includes bringing a pigment (I) having a surface acidic group and a basic compound (II) having two or more ammo groups selected from a primary amino group and a secondary amino group in its molecule, into contact with each other in an aqueous medium to prepare a pigment having an unreacted surface amino group, bringing the pigment into contact with a polyisocyanate polyurethane resin (III) having two or more isocyanate end groups so that the pigment and the polyisocyanate polyurethane resin are bonded via a urea bond to prepare a dispersion of a polyurethane resin-bonded pigment (A), and heating the dispersion of the polyurethane resin-bonded pigment (A) at 40 to 100° C. for 1 to 30 days.
US09018316B2
A rapidly degradable polyester polymer and its preparation methods and applications are disclosed. The polyester polymer of the present invention is made by poly-condensation of repeat structure units, each of which consists of a non-degradable block A and degradable block B. The polyester polymer not only has good machinery processing performance, but also can be quickly degraded in appropriate of environment, thereby effectively resolve the environment pollution problems resulted in the used of polyester polymers. It satisfies the wide application demands and especially ensures such polymer can be used for beverage bottle, food package films, shopping bags and other food package containers. In addition, the method of preparation in present invention is simple, low-cost, and the raw materials are easily obtainable at low price. It is suitable for volume production and has practical value and application potentials.
US09018308B2
PBI compositions include solutions comprising PBI and acrylate monomer and coatings comprising PBI and polyacrylate. The solutions may also include polymerization initiator, solvent, co-polymers. The coatings are thermally resistant, electrically insulating (dielectric), and adhesive. The PBI compositions are used in the manufacture of microelectronics and related products. Methods for applying the PBI compositions are also discussed.
US09018307B2
The invention provides an adhesive composition for conduction between electrical elements, comprising 25 to 46 parts by weight of nitrile-butadiene rubber with Mooney viscosity ranged from 50 to 75 (ML 1+4@100)° C., 25 to 45 parts by weight of acrylic oligomer, 16 to 32 parts by weight of thermoplastic resin, two organic peroxides having different one-minute half-life temperatures from each other, and a coupling agent. The thermoplastic resin is selected from the group consisting of phenoxy resin, poly(methyl)methacrylate copolymer, polystyrene copolymer and Novolak resin.
US09018306B2
There is provided a curable fluorine-containing polymer composition which is rapidly cured at relatively low temperature by hydrosilylation reaction to form a coating film having not only high hardness and flexibility but also water- and oil-repellency, thereby giving stain-proofing effect for a long period of time, especially maintaining property of removing and wiping-off stain. The curable fluorine-containing polymer composition comprises a fluorine-containing polymer comprising a fluorinated ethylenic monomer unit and an un-fluorinated ethylenic monomer unit, in which a part or the whole of the un-fluorinated ethylenic monomer units are units represented by the formula: where R1 is hydrogen atom or methyl group; R2 is a hydrocarbon group having ethylenic C═C; X is —C(O)NH— or —C(O)—; R3 is —O—, —O[CH(R4)]mO—, —(CH2)mO—, —OC(O)—(CH2)nO— or —(CH2)mOC(O)—(CH2)nO—, where R4 is —H, —OH, —CH2OH or —O—X—R2, a siloxane compound having hydrogen atom bonded to silicon atom, a catalyst for hydrosilylation reaction, and a siloxane compound having no hydrogen atom bonded to silicon atom.
US09018301B2
A process for preparing an aqueous pigment dispersion suitable for use in an ink jet printing ink comprising the following steps in the order I) followed by II): I) providing a dispersion having a sodium chloride critical coagulation concentration of no more than 2.0M, said dispersion comprising a pigment, an aqueous liquid medium and a dispersant having one or more ionic group(s); and II) reducing the hydrophilicity of the dispersant by reacting at least some, but not all of the ionic group(s) in the dispersant with the one or more hydrophobic compound(s).
US09018299B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a colored liquid with superior separability from polar solvents for use with an electrowetting or electrofluidic device that uses a coloring agent added as a colorant to a nonpolar solvent. A colored liquid according to the present invention contains a nonpolar solvent and a colorant, and the colorant is a modified pigment containing a pigment (A) and a polymer (P) formed on a surface thereof by polymerizing a polymer (B) soluble in a nonaqueous solvent and at least one polymerizable unsaturated monomer (C) that is soluble in the nonaqueous solvent and that becomes insoluble or poorly soluble in the nonaqueous solvent after polymerization. A multi-phase liquid colored composition according to the present invention contains the colored liquid and a polar solvent immiscible with the colored liquid.
US09018293B2
A polymer composition, stretched and unstretched articles and processes to make stretched and unstretched articles from that composition are set forth wherein the composition comprises a blend of a polyamide wherein the amino to carboxyl end group ratio of the polyamide polymer is less than 1.0 when the relative viscosity of the polyamide polymer is less than 2.0, and less than 0.30 when the relative viscosity is in the range of 2.0 to 2.3 and less than 0.20 when the relative viscosity is greater than 2.3, a crystallizable polyester and an interfacial tension reducing agent.
US09018290B2
The present disclosure is directed to tire rubber compositions containing at least one rubbery polymer (with 10 to 100 weight percent of monomer units derived from conjugated diene monomer having between 4 and 8 carbon atoms and 0 to 90 weight percent of monomer units derived from vinyl aromatic monomer); 0.5 to 100 phr of silica filler; 0.05 to 20 phr of a bi-functional silica coupling agent; and 1 to 30 phr of a non-elastomer reactive filler reinforcing agent capable of interacting with at least two silica particles. The bi-functional silica coupling agent and the filler reinforcing agent are utilized in a weight ratio of from 1:100 to 1:0.2. Also disclosed are methods for preparing the tire rubber compositions.
US09018287B2
A composition for inhibiting oxidation includes an anionic, hydrophilic, water soluble polymer, an anionic surfactant, and water.
US09018281B2
Set of compositions for preparing system-in-package type semiconductor device. The composition set consists of underfill composition for preparing underfill part and encapsulation resin composition for preparing resin encapsulation part. 1) A cured product of the underfill composition has a glass transition temperature, Tg, ≧100° C. and is the same with or differs from a Tg of a cured product of the encapsulation resin composition by ≦20° C. 2) Total linear expansion coefficient of the cured product of the underfill composition at a temperature not higher than (Tg−30)° C. and a linear expansion coefficient of the cured product of the encapsulation resin composition at a temperature not higher than (Tg−30)° C. is ≦42 ppm/° C. 3) A ratio of the linear expansion coefficient of the cured product of the encapsulation resin composition to the linear expansion coefficient of the cured product of the underfill composition ranges from 0.3 to 1.0.
US09018273B2
A polishing pad, having a polishing layer comprising a thermoset polyurethane foam, wherein the polishing layer has an in-plane variation of 12 or less in microrubber A hardness, the variation being obtained by measuring the polishing layer from a polishing surface side of the layer, the thermoset polyurethane foam contains, as raw material components, an isocyanate component and active-hydrogen-containing compounds, and the active-hydrogen-containing compounds comprise a trifunctional polyol having at least one terminated hydroxyl group that is a secondary hydroxyl group, and having a hydroxyl group value of 150 to 1,000 mg KOH/g in an amount of 10 to 50 parts by weight for 100 parts by weight of the active-hydrogen-containing compounds.
US09018272B2
A flexible polyurethane foam comprises the reaction product of an isocyanate component and an isocyanate-reactive component in the presence of a blowing agent. The isocyanate component comprises a polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate component and a monomeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate component. The monomeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate component comprises 2,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate. The flexible polyurethane foam is substantially free of supplemental flame retardant additives and exhibits flame retardance under flammability tests according to California Technical Bulletin 117 regulations.
US09018266B2
Provided is a defoamer for fermentation which has excellent dispersibility in water and forms neither a precipitate nor oil droplets when the dispersion is heated, and which is highly effective in defoaming fermentation media. This defoamer contains a reaction product obtained by mixing a fat or oil having an iodine value of 40 to 130 with glycerin or like in a molar ratio of from 3/2 to 1/2 to obtain a mixture, causing 4 to 17 mol of propylene oxide to add to 1 mol of the mixture, and then causing 20 to 40 mol of ethylene oxide and 70 to 110 mol of propylene oxide to block-wise add thereto in this order, the reaction product having an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide molar ratio of from 1/4 to 2/5.
US09018260B2
Novel indansulfamide derivatives or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof such as N-[(1S)-2,2,5,7-tetrafluoro-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl]sulfamide, N-[(1S)-2,2,4,7-tetrafluoro-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl]sulfamide, (+)-N-(2,2,4,6,7-pentafluoro-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl)sulfamide, have an action of improving Seizure Severity Index (Score) in mice kindling model. Thus the compounds or the salt thereof are expected as a drug for treating epilepsy.
US09018250B2
The disclosure relates to a pharmaceutical composition for oral administration, containing, as active principle, a benzofuran derivative having antiarrhythmic activity, in particular dronedarone and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and at least one lipid carrier, said pharmaceutical composition being intended to be used in unit dosage form of the capsule type, in particular with a hard shell. This pharmaceutical composition and the dosage form comprising such a composition aim to limit the meal time effect following oral administration in humans. The lipid carrier allows: the solubilization of the active principle of the invention; and the shielding thereof from the negative effects of pH in the intestinal tract, thereby allowing same to be spared from the meal effect to a significant extent.
US09018248B2
The present disclosure relates to fatty acid derivatives of green tea catechins including epicatechin (EC), epicatechin gallate (ECG), epigallocatechin (EGC), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and their epimers (e.g., catechin, catechin gallate, gallocatechin, gallocatechin gallate) or their mixtures and/or green tea extracts.
US09018247B2
A composition for use in making commercial food and skin products comprising S-equol or mixtures, including both a non-racemic mixture and a racemic mixture, of S-equol and R-equol. The composition can be used to make articles of commerce such as food supplements, pharmaceuticals, and medicaments. The compositions are useful in a method of delivering S-equol to a mammal to prevent or treat a disease or associated condition, including hormone-dependent diseases or conditions such as cardiovascular disease, lipid disorder, osteopenia, osteoporosis, liver disease, and acute ovarian estrogen deficiency. The S-equol enantiomer can be produced in a biological synthesis from the metabolism of an isoflavone by an organism.
US09018245B2
The purpose of the present invention is to elucidate a relationship between deregulation of signaling by CD22 and a rapid response of B cells by IgG-BCR and the like, and to provide a method capable of inducing a rapid immune response and defending against infection instead of vaccine. The present invention relates to a method for promoting an immune response causing such a strong proliferation of clones and production of a large amount of antibody-producing cells as those seen in the memory immune response even in the naive B cells expressing IgM-BCR and IgD-BCR by inhibiting the CD22 function in B cells; and to a method for screening a substance capable of promoting the immune response based on a change in the CD22 function in B cells.
US09018237B2
The present disclosure relates to compositions for and methods of improving wound healing, including compositions for and methods of treating chronic wounds, and compositions for the inhibition and treatment of necrosis and extended quiescence that result in cellular necrosis instead of normal proliferation. The methods for wound healing administer one or more compositions including hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein with cells derived from umbilical cord blood.
US09018235B2
Insecticide compositions which comprise one or not less than two kinds of compounds being selected from a compound represented by the formula [I]: or a salt thereof, and a neonicotinoid compound represented by the formula [II]: The insecticide compositions can produce higher insecticidal effects than would be expected when each of the active ingredients is used singly, namely a synergistic effect, thus enabling reductions in the rate or number of application of agrochemicals and pesticides to be realized.
US09018217B2
This invention is directed to compounds, which are PDE10A enzyme inhibitors. The invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The present invention also provides processes for the preparation of the compounds of formula I. The present invention further provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a neurodegenerative disorder comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I. The present invention also provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a drug addiction comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I. The present invention further provides a method of treating a subject suffering from a psychiatric disorder comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I.
US09018213B2
Disclosed are alicyclic[c]benzopyrone derivatives and use thereof. The alicyclic[c]benzopyrone derivatives are compounds represented by formula I or their salts. The present compounds not only significantly improve high activity induced by MK-801, but also effectively improve clambering symptom induced by Apomorphine and do not cause EPS within effective dose. These in vitro targets and in vivo pharmacological models are closely related to diseases of the nervous system caused by dopamine dysfunction, especially schizophrenia. Therefore the present compounds can be used for the treatment of central nervous system diseases, especially schizophrenia. ED50 is lower and effect is stronger in two animal models i.e. high activity induced by MK-801 and clambering symptom induced by Apomorphine, while ED50 is higher and therapeutic index is greater in animal models of catalepsy.
US09018206B2
The present invention relates to novel carboxamide compounds and their use for the manufacture of a medicament. The carboxamide compounds are inhibitors of calpain (calcium dependant cysteine proteases). The invention therefore also relates to the use of these carboxamide compounds for treating a disorder associated with an elevated calpain activity.The carboxamide compounds are compounds of the general formula I in which R1, R2, R3a, R3b, R4, Q, Y, A and X have the meanings mentioned in the claims and the description, the tautomers thereof and the pharmaceutically suitable salts thereof. In particular, the compounds have the general formula Ia and Ib in which R1, r, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4, Y and X have the meanings mentioned in the claims, including the tautomers thereof and the pharmaceutically suitable salts thereof. Of these compounds those are preferred wherein Y is a moiety CH2—CH2, CH2—CH2—CH2, N(Ry#)—CH2, N(Ry#)—CH2—CH2 or CH═CH—CH═, each optionally having 1 or 2 H-atoms replaced with identical or different radicals Ry, wherein Ry and Ry# have the meanings mentioned in the claims.
US09018200B2
Substituted piperidinyl compounds of the formula (I): are disclosed as useful for treating or preventing type 2 diabetes and similar conditions. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts are included as well. The compounds are useful as agonists of the g-protein coupled receptor GPR-119.
US09018198B2
Prodrugs of steroidal C-17 benzoazoles, pyrimidinoazoles (az-abenzoazoles) and diazines. Methods of synthesis are also described, whereby a prodrug group is substituted for a functional group at A ring portion of the ABC ring structure of the steroid. Suitable pro-drug groups include amino acid groups, succinate groups, phosphate groups, or sulfamate groups. The prodrugs of the disclosed compounds allow for improved oral bioavailability of the compounds that are inhibitors of human CYP 17 enzyme as well as potent antagonists of both wild type and mutant androgen receptors (AR). The compounds and the corresponding prodrugs are useful for the treatment of conditions such as human prostate cancer, breast cancer, and prostate hyperplasia.
US09018183B2
The invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment/and or prevention of eye conditions related to high levels of expression and/or activity of the vanilloid-1 receptor (TRPV).
US09018179B2
Methods and compositions are provided for modulating, e.g., reducing, expression of a target sequence in mammals and mammalian cells. In the subject methods, an effective amount of an RNAi agent, e.g., an interfering ribonucleic acid (such as an siRNA or shRNA) or a transcription template thereof, e.g., a DNA encoding an shRNA, is introduced into a target cell, e.g., by being administered to a mammal that includes the target cell, e.g., via a hydrodynamic administration protocol. Also provided are RNAi agent pharmaceutical preparations for use in the subject methods. The subject methods and compositions find use in a variety of different applications, including academic and therapeutic applications.
US09018175B2
The compounds of Formula (1), in which A, R1, R2, R3 and R5 have the meanings as given in the description, are novel effective inhibitors of type 4 and 5 phosphodiesterase.
US09018165B2
A method for synchronizing ovulation in sows and gilts without heat detection by a single injection of hormones is disclosed. A hormone, gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), analogues, derivatives, agonists or combinations thereof is administered to an open sow post weaning at a specific time to stimulate ovulation of mature responsive follicles. The sow is then bred without heat detection at a specific subsequent timed interval after injection with hormone, with one or two artificial or natural breedings. In gilts, the hormone is injected at a timed interval from onset of estrus or at a specific timed interval following Prostaglandin F2a for those gilts which have been held in a state of pseudopregnancy.
US09018163B2
This invention relates to PCIFl and its use as a target for the improvement of pancreatic islet β cell mass and function in diabetes. Specifically, the invention relates to the use of compounds capable of modulating the expression or function of PClFl and their effect on the function of Pdx-1.
US09018154B2
A method for softening laundry employs a softening composition, which includes at least one thickener containing a cationic polymer obtained by polymerization: of a cationic monomer; of a monomer with a hydrophobic nature, of formula (I): wherein R1=H or CH3 R2=alkyl chain having at least 16 carbon atoms X═O, m≧5, y=z=0, or X═NH, m≧z≧5, y=0, or X═NH, m≧y≧5, z=0, of a nonionic monomer.
US09018147B2
Methods of making particulates for use in a subterranean application comprising: providing particulates of a settable composition comprising a cementitious material, a filler material, and an activator of the cementitious material; and pre-curing the particulates until the particulates reach a crush strength of about 50 psi or greater; and curing the pre-cured particulates at a temperature in the range of about 230° F. to about 600° F., so that at least a portion of the particulates comprise a newly formed crystalline phase.
US09018143B2
A method for breaking the viscosity of an aqueous fluid gelled with a water soluble polymer or a VES is disclosed. The method includes providing an aqueous fluid. The method also includes adding to the aqueous fluid, in any order: a water soluble polymer in an amount sufficient to form a gelled aqueous fluid having a viscosity, a water soluble oxidizing agent configured to generate free radicals and a plurality of metallic particles to produce a mixture comprising dispersed metallic particles dispersed within the gelled aqueous fluid, the metallic particles configured to dissolve in the gelled aqueous fluid and provide a reducing agent to accelerate the generation of free radicals. The method further includes dissolving the metallic particles in the gelled aqueous fluid to provide a source of at least one transition metal ion in an amount effective accelerate the generation of free radicals and reduce the viscosity.
US09018142B2
Aqueous well treatment fluid compositions with biocidal activity are disclosed comprising a polymer for modifying fluid viscosity in the aqueous fluid, an organic monocarboxylic peracid being present in an anti-microbial amount of about 1 ppm to about 1000 ppm, and a controlled amount of hydrogen peroxide also being present. Peracetic acid is the preferred peracid. The viscosity-modifying polymer in the aqueous well treatment fluid composition may serve to reduce friction in the fluid or increase fluid viscosity. A method of using such compositions is also disclosed.
US09018141B2
Methods of treating a gas field fluid or oil field fluid is provided, the method comprising: a) adding glutaraldehyde to the gas field fluid or oil field fluid in an amount effective to reduce or inhibit microbial activity; and b) after a delay, adding 3,5-dimethyl-1,3,5-thiadiazinane-2-thione to the gas field fluid or oil field fluid.
US09018138B2
The present invention provides DNA libraries, libraries of viral clones and libraries of infectious viral particles and methods of generating and screening these libraries.
US09018135B2
A pesticidal composition comprising (a) a pesticidal effective amount of at least one compound of formula I in which Q is i or ii or iii or an agrochemically acceptable salt or an N-oxide thereof, and (b) a plant growth regulator, where the ratio of compound of formula I to plant growth regulator is from 20:1 to 1:25.
US09018130B2
A honeycomb structural body and a method for the manufacturing thereof. The manufacturing method includes (i) providing a plurality of silicon carbide honeycomb segments, each having a cell structure and at least one outer wall; (ii) subjecting the honeycomb segments to an oxidizing thermal treatment forming a surface layer of silicon oxides on the at least one outer wall; and (iii) bonding the plurality of oxidized honeycomb segments so as to form the honeycomb structural body in the substantial absence of organic binders with the interposition of a sealing material including a mixture of one or more silicon carbide powders, one or more ceramic fibers, and one or more inorganic binders.
US09018129B2
Disclosed is an exhaust gas purifying catalyst in which grain growth of a noble metal particle supported on a support is suppressed. Also disclosed is a production process for producing an exhaust gas purifying catalyst. The exhaust gas purifying catalyst comprises a crystalline metal oxide support and a noble metal particle supported on the support, wherein the noble metal particle is epitaxially grown on the support, and wherein the noble metal particle is dispersed and supported on the outer and inner surfaces of the support. The process for producing an exhaust gas purifying catalyst comprises masking, in a solution, at least a part of the surface of a crystalline metal oxide support by a masking agent, introducing the support into a noble metal-containing solution containing a noble metal, and drying and firing the support and the noble metal-containing solution to support the noble metal on the support.
US09018128B2
A catalyst support solution for improving the attrition resistance of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, the solution comprising: crystalline silica and at least one chemical promoter selected from alkali metal bases, wherein the support solution has a pH of greater than or equal to about 7. A structurally promoted catalyst comprising: crystalline silica; at least one basic chemical promoter; and iron; wherein the catalyst comprises SiO2:Fe in a ratio of from about 2:100 to about 24:100. A method of producing a structurally promoted precipitated iron catalyst, the method comprising: forming the structural support solution described above; stirring the support solution for a time to dissolve the silica in the solution; adding the support solution to a precipitated iron catalyst slurry to form an attrition resistant catalyst slurry; and drying the attrition resistant catalyst slurry to yield the structurally promoted precipitated iron catalyst.
US09018125B2
[Object]To improve heat stability of diethylzinc which is used for a catalyst of polymerizing, an organic synthetic reaction reagent and a raw materials for providing a zinc film by MOCVD. And to offer the diethylzinc composition being superior in heat stability, even if it handles for a long term a metal zinc particle does not precipitate.[Solving Means]Use a diethylzinc composition added a compound which is added an aromatic compound as an additive which has isopropenyl group bonded as a side chain.
US09018124B2
An improved process for preparing a slurry catalyst for the upgrade of heavy oil feedstock is provided. The process employs a polar aprotic solvent to mix with the inorganic metal precursor feed to form an oil-dispersible inorganic metal precursor, at a weight ratio of solvent to inorganic metal precursor of 1:1 to 10:1; the oil-dispersible inorganic metal precursor is subsequently sulfided forming the slurry catalyst. In one embodiment, the sulfiding is in-situ upon mixing the oil-dispersible inorganic metal precursor with a hydrocarbon diluent containing a heavy oil feedstock under in-situ sulfiding conditions.
US09018121B2
The invention is directed to a bimetallic catalyst system adapted for the manufacture of xylenes, a process for making said catalyst system, and to the process of manufacture of xylenes using said catalyst system, providing, in embodiments, improved selectivity by at least one of higher ethylene saturation and low xylene loss, decreased susceptibility to poisoning from feedstream impurities, and ability to operate at less severe conditions.
US09018112B2
Disclosed herein is a nonwoven fabric comprising within the range of from 50 to 99 wt %, by weight of the composition, of a reactor grade propylene-α-olefin copolymer possessing within the range of from 5 to 35 wt %, by weight of the copolymer, of units derived from one or more of ethylene and/or C4 to C12 α-olefins; a melt flow rate (230° C./2.16 kg) within the range of from 500 to 7500 g/10 min; and a weight average molecular weight of less than 200,000; and a second polypropylene having a melting point, Tm, of greater than 110° C. and a melt flow rate (230° C./2.16 kg) within the range of from 20 to 7500 g/10 min; wherein the fabric has a CD Elongation value of greater than 50% (measuring the fabric of 35 g/m2 basis weight). The fabric described herein can be used in structures comprising one or more layers of the fabric described herein, and can include any number of other fabric layers made from other materials.
US09018104B2
There is provided a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including forming an insulating film having a prescribed composition and a prescribed film thickness on a substrate by alternately performing the following steps prescribed number of times: supplying one of the sources of a chlorosilane-based source and an aminosilane-based source to a substrate in a processing chamber, and thereafter supplying the other source, to form a first layer containing silicon, nitrogen, and carbon on the substrate; and supplying a reactive gas different from each of the sources, to the substrate in the processing chamber, to modify the first layer and form a second layer.
US09018103B2
A method for etching features in a stack is provided. A combination hardmask is formed by forming a first hardmask layer comprising carbon or silicon oxide over the stack, forming a second hardmask layer comprising metal over the first hardmask layer, and patterning the first and second hardmask layers. The stack is etched through the combination hardmask.
US09018102B2
When performing plasma assisted etch processes for patterning complex metallization systems of microstructure devices, the probability of creating plasma-induced damage, such as arcing, may be reduced or substantially eliminated by using a superior ramp-up system for the high frequency power and the low frequency power. To this end, the high frequency power may be increased at a higher rate compared to the low frequency power component, wherein, additionally, a time delay may be applied so that, at any rate, the high frequency component reaches its target power level prior to the low frequency component.
US09018097B2
A method of forming an interconnect structure for a semiconductor device includes forming a lower antireflective coating layer over a dielectric layer; forming an organic planarizing layer on the lower antireflective coating layer; transferring a wiring pattern through the organic planarizing layer; transferring the wiring pattern through the lower antireflective coating layer; and transferring the wiring pattern through the dielectric layer, wherein unpatterned portions of the lower antireflective coating layer serve as an etch stop layer so as to prevent any bubble defects present in the organic planarizing layer from being transferred to the dielectric layer.
US09018088B2
Growing spin-capable multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) forests in a repeatable fashion will become possible through understanding the critical factors affecting the forest growth. Here we show that the spinning capability depends on the alignment of adjacent MWCNTs in the forest which in turn results from the synergistic combination of a high areal density of MWCNTs and short distance between the MWCNTs. This can be realized by starting with both the proper Fe nanoparticle size and density which strongly depend on the sheet resistance of the catalyst film. Simple measurement of the sheet resistance can allow one to reliably predict the growth of spin-capable forests. The properties of pulled MWCNTs sheets reflect that there is a relationship between their electrical resistance and optical transmittance. Overlaying either 3, 5, or 10 sheets pulled out from a single forest produces much more repeatable characteristics.
US09018083B2
In an example of a method for controlling the formation of dopants in an electrically actuated device, a predetermined concentration of a dopant initiator is selected. The predetermined amount of the dopant is localized, via diffusion, at an interface between an electrode and an active region adjacent to the electrode. The dopant initiator reacts with a portion of the active region to form the dopants.
US09018071B2
Methods for forming an electrostatic discharge protection (ESD) clamps are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes forming at least one transistor having a first well region of a first conductivity type extending into a substrate. At least one transistor is formed having another well region of a second opposite conductivity type, which extends into the substrate to partially form a collector. The lateral edges of the transistor well regions are separated by a distance D, which at least partially determines a threshold voltage Vt1 of the ESD clamp. A base contact of the first conductivity type is formed in the first well region and separated from an emitter of the second conductivity type by a lateral distance Lbe. The first doping density and the lateral distance Lbe are selected to provide a parasitic base-emitter resistance Rbe in the range of 1
US09018070B2
The present invention discloses a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) circuit, and a diode device therefor and a manufacturing method thereof. The TVS circuit is for coupling to a protected circuit to limit amplitude of a transient voltage which is inputted to the protected circuit. The TVS circuit includes a suppressor device and at least a diode device. The diode device is formed in a substrate, which includes: a well formed in the substrate; a separation region formed beneath the upper surface; a anode region and a cathode region, which are formed at two sides of the separation region beneath the upper surface respectively, wherein the anode region and the cathode region are separated by the separation region; and a buried layer, which is formed in the substrate below the well with a higher impurity density and a same conductive type as the well.
US09018068B2
A nonvolatile resistive memory element includes a novel switching layer and methods of forming the same. The switching layer includes a material having bistable resistance properties and formed by bonding silicon to oxygen or nitrogen. The switching layer may include at least one of SiOx, SiOxNy, or SiNx. Advantageously, the SiOx, SiOxNy, and SiNx generally remain amorphous after thermal anneal processes are used to form the devices, such as ReRAM devices.
US09018067B2
A semiconductor device includes a first pocket region and a second pocket region. The source region includes a first extension region having a concentration peak located at a first depth from a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the first pocket region has a concentration peak located deeper than the first depth, and the drain region includes a second extension region having a concentration peak located at a second depth from the surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the second pocket region has a concentration peak located shallower than the second depth.
US09018056B2
A device with N-Channel and P-Channel III-Nitride field effect transistors comprising a non-inverted P-channel III-Nitride field effect transistor on a first nitrogen-polar nitrogen face III-Nitride material, a non-inverted N-channel III-Nitride field effect transistor, epitaxially grown, a first III-Nitride barrier layer, two-dimensional hole gas, second III-Nitride barrier layer, and a two-dimensional hole gas. A method of making complementary non-inverted P-channel and non-inverted N-channel III-Nitride FET comprising growing epitaxial layers, depositing oxide, defining opening, growing epitaxially a first nitrogen-polar III-Nitride material, buffer, back barrier, channel, spacer, barrier, and cap layer, and carrier enhancement layer, depositing oxide, growing AlN nucleation layer/polarity inversion layer, growing gallium-polar III-Nitride, including epitaxial layers, depositing dielectric, fabricating P-channel III-Nitride FET, and fabricating N-channel III-Nitride FET.
US09018046B2
An area efficient distributed device for integrated voltage regulators comprising at least one filler cell coupled between a pair of PADS on I/O rail of a chip and at least one additional filler cell having small size portion of said device is coupled to said I/O rails for distributing portions of said device on the periphery of said chip. The device is coupled as small size portion on the lower portion of said second filler cell for distributing said device on the periphery of said chip and providing maximal area utilization.
US09018044B2
In one embodiment, a chip-on-lead package structures includes an electronic chip having opposing major surfaces. One major surface of the electronic chip is attached to first and second leads. The one major surface is electrically connected to the first lead, and electrically isolated from the second lead. The other major surface where active device are formed may be electrically connected to the second lead.
US09018036B2
A method of forming patterns on a substrate, the method including: placing a mask having an opening defining a portion of one surface of a substrate on which patterns are to be formed on the substrate; forming a first modification layer in the opening by ejecting a surface modification ink onto a surface of the substrate through the opening; ejecting a target ink having droplets of sizes larger than those of a surface modification ink such that the target ink is distributed on the first modification layer in the opening; and removing the mask.
US09018031B2
A single crystal silicon layer is formed on a principal surface of a first wafer by epitaxial growth. A silicon oxide layer is formed on the single crystal silicon layer. Next, a defect layer is formed inside the single crystal silicon layer by ion implantation, and then, the second wafer is bonded to the silicon oxide layer on the first wafer. After that, an SOI wafer including the silicon oxide layer formed on the second wafer and the single crystal silicon layer formed on the silicon oxide layer is formed by separating the first wafer including the single crystal silicon layer from the second wafer including the single crystal silicon layer in the defect layer. Then, a photodiode is formed in the single crystal silicon layer. An interconnect layer is formed on a surface of the single crystal silicon layer which is opposite to the silicon oxide layer.
US09018018B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for determining the cell activation of a target cell by an activator, said method having the following steps: provision of a probe measuring device with a probe sample arrangement having a measuring probe and a sample holder; loading of the probe sample arrangement with a target cell and with an activator assigned to the target cell, the measuring probe being loaded with the activator, and the sample holder being loaded with the target cell, or vice versa; relative mutual displacement of the measuring probe and the sample holder until contact is made between the target cell and the activator by means of a displacement apparatus of the probe measuring device; recording of measurement values, indicating binding between the target cell and the activator, for the measuring probe with the probe measuring device during the relative displacement of the measuring probe and the sample holder; and determination of a dimension for the cell activation of the target cell from the measurement values recorded.
US09018017B2
Methods and devices for reducing interference from leukocytes in an analyte immunoassay are provided. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising the steps of amending a biological sample such as a whole blood sample with one or more leukocidal reagents that reduce or eliminate the metabolic activity of leukocytes, and performing an immunoassay on the amended sample to determine the concentration of analyte in the sample. Preferably, the sample is amended with one or more enzymes and optionally one or more enzyme substrates and cofactors.
US09018008B2
A scaffold having a reinforced tissue regeneration ability and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The scaffold is formed in a lattice form by alternately stacking biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layers. In this case, the biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layer is formed by disposing a plurality of biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel units including a biodegradable synthetic polymer and a hydrogel at a predetermined gap.
US09018006B2
The present invention provides materials and methods related to culturing stable Treg cells or in vivo expansion of stable Treg cells, the cells made by the methods, treatments for various inflammatory/autoimmune pathologies and transplant/graft rejection, and related materials. Ex vivo induction and expansion of the stable Tregs is described, including use of inducing compositions, such as certain mAbs and other compounds, along with expansion medium comprising IL-2. In vivo expansion of stable Treg cells and treatments for various inflammatory/autoimmune pathologies and transplant/graft rejection are described, including the use of mAbs and their variants.
US09017999B2
The inventors demonstrate that mRNA sorting to the mitochondrial surface is an efficient way to proceed to such an allotopic expression, and that this mRNA sorting can be controlled by selecting appropriate mitochondrion-targeting sequence (MTS) and appropriate 3′UTR sequences. The CDS sequence which codes for the protein to be delivered into the mitochondrion is guided by these appropriate MTS and 3′UTR sequences from the nuclear compartment to the mitochondrion-bound polysomes (where the CDS is translated), and aids in an efficient translocation of a mature functional protein into the mitochondria. Appropriate MTS and 3′UTR sequences correspond to those of nuclearly-transcribed mitochondrially-targeted mRNAs. The inventors demonstrate that, to obtain a stable therapeutically-effective importation, both an appropriate MTS and an appropriate 3′UTR should preferably be used.
US09017998B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for culturing cells which may comprise two or more culture compartments and a pooling compartment, wherein each of said two or more culture compartments may be separated from the other culture compartments; each of said two or more culture compartments which may comprise a port for the addition or removal of medium; and the pooling compartment communicates with said two or more culture compartments. The present invention also relates to a stand for apparatus for culturing cells.
US09017996B2
A bacteria analyzer comprising: a sample preparing section for preparing a measurement sample from a specimen; a detector for detecting bacteria contained in the measurement sample prepared by the sample preparing section; and a controller including a memory under control of a processor, the memory storing instructions enabling the processor to carry out operations, comprising: obtaining the distribution state of bacteria detected by the detector; setting a bacteria count region according to the obtained bacteria distribution state; and counting the number of bacteria contained in the set bacteria count region is disclosed. Method for analyzing bacteria, and a computer program product for bacteria analyzer are also disclosed.
US09017995B2
A liquid-transport device has a liquid-tight support (12) on which there is applied a start zone (24; 24′) for applying transport liquid to be transported and a target zone (26, 28; 26a-e) into which the transport liquid is to be transported and also a conduction zone that extends between the start zone (24, 24′) and the target zone (26, 28; 26a-e) and that has a microporous transport layer (14) in which the transport liquid flows by capillary force from the start zone (24; 24′) to the target zone (26, 28; 26a-e). The conduction zone has a multiplicity of open flow channels separated from one another by microporous bridges having open-pored side walls.
US09017989B2
The invention relates to yeasts expressing the gene BDH1 coding for Bdh1p, characterized in that they catalyze, in an alcoholic fermentation medium, the reduction of acetoin into 2,3-butanediol by a rate at least twice higher than that of the initial stem. The invention can particularly be used for the fermentation of fruit juice and for producing 2,3-butanediol.
US09017971B2
The invention provides improved methods for investigating nucleic acid sequences, wherein at least one additional probe is used which is specific for a (pseudo)gene variant of a target nucleic acid.
US09017964B2
Methods and devices for preparing a biological sample for analysis are described. The biological sample from an organism has at least macromolecule having a primary structure that naturally degrades after the sample is removed from the organism. The method includes causing the biological sample to adopt a shape to permit rapid and uniform heating. The shaped sample is then rapidly and uniformly heated, thereby altering a secondary structure of the macromolecule while preserving its primary structure.
US09017959B2
Disclosed is an immunoassay method whereby a 5.9 kDa peptide which results from the degradation of the α-E chain and α chain of human fibrinogens and which is used as a peptide marker for diagnosing hepatic disease can be specifically assayed in a biological sample containing contaminating peptides by bringing antibodies that recognize the N terminal of said peptide marker and antibodies that recognize the C terminal of said peptide marker into contact with said peptide marker, forming immune complexes of said peptide marker and the two antibodies, and immunoassaying the obtained immune complexes.
US09017958B2
The invention provides a method for detecting heparin-induced antibodies comprising a) binding a PF4-heparin antigen to a solid surface; b) incubating the bound PF4-heparin with a sample comprising heparin-induced antibodies to be detected; c) contacting the sample with at least two labeled secondary antibodies, wherein the secondary antibodies bind to heparin-induced antibodies present in the sample; d) detecting the presence of the labeled secondary antibodies using flow cytometry or a suitable method, wherein the heparin-induced antibodies bound to the secondary antibodies are identified. In one embodiment, the at least two secondary antibodies are anti-human antibodies which specifically bind to heparin-induced antibodies and are selected from the group consisting of Ig, IgG, IgA, and IgM.
US09017952B2
A set of agents is provided for probing/detecting the activation of Rho-associated protein kinase I and II individually encoding their amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:1 for ROCKI and SEQ ID NO:2 for ROCKII) in biological samples. The agents include one antibody to specifically recognize ROCKI Ser1333 phosphorylation and one antibody to specifically recognize ROCKII Ser1366 phosphorylation. The agents can be used for pathological analysis in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, neurological diseases or other diseases/disorders involving ROCKs and also for basic medical research. Moreover, the agents can be used for screening inhibitors against ROCKI and II.
US09017949B2
The present invention relates to a method for identifying a metabolic stabilizing compound by: a) contacting a candidate compound with GPR43, and b) determining whether GPR43 functionality is modulated, where a modulation in GPR43 functionality is indicative of the candidate compound being a metabolic stabilizing compound. In addition, the invention relates to a method for identifying a metabolic stabilizing compound, comprising: a) contacting a candidate compound with GPR43, and b) determining whether GPR43 functionality is increased, wherein an increase in GPR43 functionality is indicative of the candidate compound being a metabolic stabilizing compound. Further, the invention relates to a method for identifying a metabolic stabilizing compound, comprising: a) contacting a candidate compound with GPR43, and b) determining whether GPR43 functionality is decreased, wherein a decrease in GPR43 functionality is indicative of the candidate compound being a metabolic stabilizing compound.
US09017944B2
The present invention relates to modified and genomic sequences, to oligonucleotides and/or PNA-oligomers for detecting the cytosine methylation state of genomic DNA, as well as to a method for predicting the disease free survival and/or response of a subject with a cell proliferative disorder of the breast tissues, to endocrine treatment.
US09017940B2
The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the diagnosis and treatment of solid cancers. The invention also provides methods of identifying inhibitors of tumorigenesis.
US09017938B2
This invention concerns the use of MicroRNA-199b-5p in medical and diagnostic fields. Particularly, this invention concerns the use of the miR199b-5p in the anti-cancer therapy and as a histophatological and metastasis marker.
US09017937B1
The invention relates to devices and methods for nanopore sequencing. The invention includes arrays of nanopores having incorporated electronic circuits, for example, in CMOS. The invention includes devices having sample and reference pores connecting sample, measurement and reference chambers, wherein potential measurements in each chamber is used to provide an accurate determination of current through a sample nanopore, improving nanopore sequencing.
US09017936B2
Methods and kits for identifying candidate anti-megakaryocyte agents are disclosed.
US09017935B2
Isolated, latently infected T cell lines are provided that can be utilized in high throughput screening to discover compounds capable of activating HIV-I. The T cell lines harbor a latent HIV-I derived vector pro virus, which upon activation expresses a marker for late viral gene expression due to the insertion of the marker gene in the position of HIV-I envelope.
US09017928B2
A resin structure for the formation of a micro-structure is manufactured by (A) applying a composition comprising a polymer, a photoacid generator, an epoxy compound, and an organic solvent onto a substrate, (B) heating the composition to form a sacrificial film, (C) exposing imagewise the film to first high-energy radiation, (D) developing the film in an alkaline developer to form a sacrificial film pattern, (E) exposing the sacrificial film pattern to UV as second high-energy radiation, and (F) heating the substrate at 80-250° C. The exposure dose of first high-energy radiation in step (C) is up to 250 mJ/cm2. At the end of step (F), the sacrificial film has a sidewall angle of 80°-90° relative to the substrate.
US09017927B2
A method of patterning a conductive polymer includes providing a conductive polymer layer coated over a first support followed by pattern-wise transferring a layer containing polyvinyl acetal from a second support onto the conductive polymer to form a mask with at least one opening. The masked conductive polymer is subjected to treatment through the opening that changes the conductivity of the conductive polymer by at least one order of magnitude in areas not covered by the mask.
US09017925B2
A method for forming a pattern includes forming a photosensitive film by coating a photosensitive resin composition on a substrate, exposing the photosensitive film to light through a mask that includes a light transmission region and a non-light transmission region, coating a developing solution on the photosensitive film, and forming a photosensitive film pattern by baking the photosensitive film, wherein the photosensitive resin composition includes an alkali soluble base resin, a photoacid generator and a photoactive compound.
US09017924B2
A resist composition which generates acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid, including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under action of acid, the base component (A) including a polymeric compound (A1) containing a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1) shown below. In the formula, W1 represents a group which is formed by polymerization reaction of a group containing a polymerizable group; Y1 and Y2 each independently represents a divalent linking group; Y3 represents a carbonyl group or an alkylene group; R2 and R3 each independently represents a fluorine atom or a fluorinated alkyl group; Mm+ represents an organic cation having a valency of m; and m represents an integer of 1 or more.
US09017922B2
A chemically amplified resist composition comprising a base polymer and an amine quencher in the form of a β-alanine, γ-aminobutyric acid, 5-aminovaleric acid, 6-aminocaproic acid, 7-aminoheptanoic acid. 8-aminooctanoic acid or 9-aminononanoic acid derivative having an unsubstituted carboxyl group has a high contrast of alkaline dissolution in rate before and after exposure and forms a pattern of good profile at a high resolution, minimal roughness and wide DOF.
US09017913B2
A toner for electrostatic image development having sufficient low-temperature fixing properties, and excellent heat resistant storage stability and crush resistance is provided. In toner particles containing at least a binder resin, the binder resin contains a polymer having a structural unit represented by a general formula (1), wherein R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, or an alkoxy group, or two adjacent groups of R1, R2, and R3 combine to form —O(CH2)iO—, where i represents an integer of 1 or 2, provided that at least one of R1, R2, and R3 is an alkoxy group, or two adjacent groups combine to form —O(CH2)iO—; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, a hydroxyl group, or an alkoxy group.
US09017911B2
In the present invention, provided is an electrophotographic toner in which low temperature fixing is achieved, and high storage stability is obtained without generating tacking with respect to fixed images to be formed. It is a feature that this electrophotographic toner possesses at least a binder resin, a colorant and a releasing agent, wherein the releasing agent comprises an ester compound and an aliphatic hydroxycarboxylic acid compound.
US09017909B2
The present disclosure is drawn to electrostatic printing. In an example, a coated photoconductive substrate can comprise a photoconductive substrate, the photoconductive substrate including a substrate having a charge generation layer and charge transport layer adhered thereto; and a top coating adhered to the photoconductive substrate. The top coating can comprise a cross-linkable polymer, a cross-linker, and a charge transport material, where the charge transport material is dispersed throughout the top coating and may be present in the top coating in an amount ranging from 20 wt % to 50 wt %.
US09017905B2
In a chemically amplified positive resist composition comprising (A) a base resin, (B) a photoacid generator, (C) a thermal crosslinker, and (D) an organic solvent, the base resin is a specific polymer and the crosslinker is a siloxane compound. A coating of the composition is readily developable in aqueous alkaline solution. On heat treatment, it forms a cured resist pattern film of satisfactory profile.
US09017899B2
Fluorine containing ionomer composite with ion exchange function, preparation method and use thereof
Provided is a composite which is comprised of one or more ion exchange resin(s) and fluorine containing polymer fiber, wherein the fiber and the film-forming resin form a triazine-ring crosslinked structure, so that the film prepared from the composite is of good airtightness and stability, as well as high ion exchange capacity and high conductivity. The preparation method of the composite, the product prepared from this composite and the use thereof are also provided.
US09017894B2
A fuel cell is provided with a separator that supports an electrolyte/electrode assembly sandwiched therebetween. The separator is provided with: first and second fuel gas supply parts in the center of which fuel gas supply holes are formed; first and second cross-link parts connected to the first and second fuel gas supply parts; and first and second surrounding support parts connected to the first and second cross-link parts. Each first surrounding support part is provided with a set of fuel gas exhaust passages that discharge fuel gas that has gone through a fuel gas passage and been used. The cross-sectional areas of the fuel gas exhaust passages are larger on the downstream sides than on the upstream sides, in terms of the direction of fuel gas flow.
US09017891B2
The present invention relates to a hydrogen fed power system comprising: a high-pressure hydrogen container (150), at least one hydrogen driven energy converter such as a fuel cell (159) connecting to the hydrogen container (150), pressure converter (158) for hydrogen gas, located between the high-pressure hydrogen container (150) and the lower pressure energy converter (159). The invention also relates to a vehicle as well as to a stand-alone electric power unit provided with such an hydrogen fed power system. Furthermore the present invention relates a method for use of the hydrogen fed power system and to a method for filling up the high-pressure hydrogen container of the hydrogen fed power system.
US09017877B2
A current collector for a nonaqueous solvent secondary battery, which includes: a first metal layer; and a second metal layer stacked on a surface of the first metal layer, is composed so that a Young's modulus (E1), Vickers hardness (Hv1) and thickness (T1) of the first metal layer and a Young's modulus (E2), Vickers hardness (Hv2) and thickness (T2) of the second metal layer can satisfy the following Expression: (E1>E2 or Hv1>Hv2); and T1
US09017866B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte battery using a lithium-containing metal oxide containing manganese as a positive electrode active material, which can suppress the elution of manganese from the positive electrode active material. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a negative electrode capable of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions, a positive electrode containing a lithium-containing compound as a positive electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte in which a lithium salt is dissolved in an organic solvent. The lithium-containing compound is a lithium-containing metal oxide containing manganese, and the non-aqueous electrolyte contains a fluorosilane compound: R1 to R3 each represents a 1-8 carbon alkyl group, a 2-8 carbon alkenyl group, a 5-8 carbon cycloalkyl group, a 6-8 carbon aryl group or a fluorine atom, and R4 represents a 1-8 carbon alkylene group or a 4-8 carbon alkylene group having an ether group.
US09017865B2
The lithium primary battery comprises: a positive electrode; a negative electrode including lithium or a lithium alloy; a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte. A surface of the negative electrode on a side of the carbon material layer has first ruggedness and adheres to a surface of the carbon material layer on a side of the negative electrode. A surface of the carbon material layer on a side of the separator has second ruggedness. The first ruggedness and the second ruggedness correspond to each other. The first ruggedness and the second ruggedness may be ruggedness formed by pressing the carbon material layer onto the surface of the negative electrode, thereby deforming the carbon material layer and the surface of the negative electrode.
US09017861B2
In one embodiment, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes an electrode group, a battery container, an insulation member, and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The electrode group includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The insulation member, which insulates the positive electrode and the negative electrode from the battery container and absorbs vibration, includes a resin and an inorganic material and has a bending elastic modulus between 600 MPa and 1,500 MPa, a specific heat between 0.25 cal/° C.·g and 0.40 cal/° C.·g, and a thermal conductivity between 0.3 W/m·K and 0.6 W/m·K.
US09017859B2
A secondary battery structure includes a jar body, a conductive stacked structure, and two end covers. The conductive stacked structure is configured in the jar body and at least includes a battery unit. The two end covers are respectively fixed at two ends of the jar body. The end covers are assembled to the jar body by inward compression in order to eliminate dimension errors of the conductive stacked structure in the jar body. The diameter of each end cover is smaller than or substantially equal to the inner diameter of the jar body.
US09017858B2
A conductor for connecting first and second terminals includes a first plate-shaped part made of a first metal, a second plate-shaped part made of a second metal, a first region with the first metal exposed, and a second region with the second metal exposed. The second metal is also exposed at a third region which is opposite to the second region. A boundary between the first and second regions has no step difference in a thickness direction, and the first plate-shaped part is directly connected to the first terminal.
US09017855B2
Disclosed herein are a connection member for electrically interconnecting a plurality of battery cells in a battery pack in which the battery cells are mounted, wherein the connection member includes at least two terminal contact parts, which are connected to electrode terminals of neighboring battery cells, and a connection part for interconnecting the terminal contact parts, and wherein the terminal contact parts are lower in height, by a size corresponding to the thickness of a pack case, than the connection part such that the connection member connects the electrode terminals of the battery cells while the connection member is mounted on the outer surface of the pack case, and a battery pack including the same. Consequently, the connection member according to the present invention has the effect of effectively interconnecting the electrode terminals of the battery cells through a simple assembly process. Also, the connection member according to the present invention can be directly mounted on the pack case without using an additional auxiliary member.
US09017850B2
A secondary battery includes a plurality of electrode assemblies; a case receiving the electrode assemblies; at least one electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assemblies and being exposed out of the case; and a hollow member, which is parallel to at least one surface of each of the electrode assemblies, passing through the case.
US09017846B2
A cylindrical battery includes a pair of female terminals. One of the pair of female terminals is placed at the axial center of the battery, and provided to recede from one end surface of the battery. The other terminal is placed in a position away from the axial center, to recede from the one end surface of the battery. A male thread portion is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the battery. A handle portion is provided on another end surface of the battery. A female thread portion to be threadedly engaged with the male thread portion is provided in an inner peripheral surface of the battery box. A pair of male terminals are provided on a bottom surface of the battery box. The battery is designed to be detachably mounted inside the battery box by being rotated inside the battery box.
US09017845B2
An electric energy storage device (10) for a motor vehicle, in particular a high-voltage energy storage device for a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, having a housing (11) and having storage modules (12) accommodated in the housing. The housing (11) has a housing top part (15), a housing bottom part (16) and a supporting element (17) with an annular supporting frame (18). The housing bottom part (15) and the housing top part (16) are connected detachably to the supporting frame (18), which is positioned between them. The annular supporting frame (18) has fastening sections (19, 20) for detachably connecting the electric energy storage device to a body structure of a motor vehicle.
US09017843B2
A prismatic secondary battery includes a prismatic hollow outer body having a mouth and a bottom and storing an electrode assembly, a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode collector, and an electrolyte, a sealing plate sealing up the mouth of the prismatic hollow outer body, and a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal attached to the sealing plate; the sealing plate includes a gas release valve at the center between the positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal and includes an electrolyte pour hole on one side of the gas release valve and, on the other side on the front face, a concaved flat face with a height lower than that of the peripheral portion; and the concaved flat face is formed with an identification code.
US09017839B2
An all-solid lithium secondary battery which uses a sulfide-based solid electrolyte material and has a power-generating element that has formed therein an oxide layer containing substantially no moisture, which is produced by oxidation of the sulfide-based solid electrolyte material in a zone where the electrolyte-containing layer containing at least the sulfide-based solid electrolyte material is in contact with an external air.
US09017836B2
A battery pack that can easily combine battery cells stacked in a plurality of layers with each other and easily combine the battery cells with protection circuit devices while reducing manufacturing costs and while providing a compact design suitable for powering small electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablet PCs. The battery pack includes a plurality of first battery cells electrically connected to a first circuit board, a plurality of second battery cells electrically connected to a second circuit board, the second circuit board being electrically connected to the first circuit board and a circuit module electrically connecting the first and second circuit boards to an outside.
US09017833B2
A patterned magnetic media is disclosed. The patterned media includes etched recording portions including etched portions of a soft magnetic underlayer. In illustrated embodiments, the soft magnetic layer is etched to form recording bits or etched soft magnetic segments to enhance magnetic field strength in the magnetic recording portions. In other embodiments, soft magnetic layers are deposited in etched regions or areas of the media.
US09017829B2
The present invention relates to a material for an organic electroluminescent device, including a phenanthrocarbazole-based compound having a specific structure, and an organic electroluminescent device including the same. More specifically, the phenanthrocarbazole-based compound is applied as a material for a phosphorescent and fluorescent organic electroluminescent device, thereby providing an organic light emitting device with improved light emitting efficiency, luminance, thermal stability, driving voltage, lifetime and the like.
US09017803B2
A multi-ply paper substrate is provided, which comprises at least two plies bonded to one another by an adhesive; a basis weight of 80-200 gsm; an internal bond of 10-180 milli-ft.-lb/sq. in. as measured by TAPPI method 541; an MD tensile of 20-300 lbf/inch width as measured by TAPPI method 494; and a CD tensile of 10-300 lbf/inch width as measured by TAPPI method 494. Methods of making and using the paper substrate, products made therefrom, and uses of the paper substrate are also provided.
US09017800B2
Polymer compositions containing a polyoxymethylene polymer are disclosed that are receptive to paints and ink coatings. The polymer composition contains a polyoxymethylene polymer having a relatively high functional group content in combination with a coupling agent, a texturizing agent, and optionally a thermoplastic elastomer. The polymer composition can be molded into various articles at a mold temperature less than about 125° C., such as from about 60° C. to about 120° C. and then painted or printed with an ink composition. The polymer composition has been found to dramatically improve adhesion between the molded article and the ink or paint coating.
US09017796B2
An automotive assembly comprises a sheet molding composite (SMC) element comprising an SMC sheet body shaped into a generally smooth functional section and at least one generally planar bonding section. The bonding section comprises a textured surface impressed as a result of molding the SMC sheet body in a compression molding tool having a corresponding textured pattern. The textured surface has a predetermined surface roughness for increasing the effective surface area of the bonding section relative to a non-textured surface. The predetermined surface roughness is in a range from 0.25 Ra (μm) to 8.5 Ra (μm). A second element has a secondary bonding surface adjoining the bonding section of the SMC element. An adhesive joins the secondary bonding surface to the bonding section without requiring any pre-treatment of the bonding section.
US09017793B2
A light diffusion sheet usable, for example, in backlight units, includes a transparent substrate layer, and a light diffusion layer overlaid on a front face of the substrate layer. The light diffusion layer includes resin beads and a resin binder, the resin beads being provided as monodisperse beads having a mean particle size of 1.5 μm or greater and 5 μm or less. A weight ratio of the monodisperse beads to the binder is 2.5 or greater and 3 or less, and an amount of the overlaid light diffusion layer is 3 g/m2 or greater and 10 g/m2 or less. An acrylic resin may be used as the substrate polymer of the monodisperse beads and binder. A coefficient of variation of particle size distribution of the monodisperse beads is preferably equal to or less than 0.2. Advantageously, a gravure coating method is employed for forming the light diffusion layer.
US09017779B2
The present invention provides an ink jet recording medium which is capable of uniform coating with an ink-receiving agent without a surface treatment step for a usual plastic film used as a base material, and which, due to excellent adhesion , does not cause the problem of peeling after ink jet printing, and does not cause the problem of ink binning, fading, dropout, or peeling or peeling of an ink-receiving layer and an over-coating layer, and also provides a printed material formed by ink jet printing on the ink jet recording medium. The ink jet recording medium including a first layer containing a polyolefin resin as a main component, a second layer containing an acid-modified olefin resin, and an ink-receiving layer is used, the ink-receiving layer being formed by applying an ink-receiving agent on the second layer after the first and second layers are laminated by a coextrusion laminating method.
US09017777B2
A method for manufacturing thin films for a battery device. The method includes vaporizing a precursor material from a liquid source to form droplets ranging from, for example, about 10 microns to about 20 microns. Thereafter, the method includes subjecting the droplets from about 10 to about 20 microns to a megasonic energy source to cause formation of a plurality of smaller droplets ranging from, for example, about 0.25 micron to about 5 microns which are then directed to a heated substrate, where through a heterogeneous reaction a film of material overlying the surface region is formed. The method includes irradiating (e.g., ultra-violet, infra-red, or plasma) the film of material using electromagnetic radiation to process the film to cause a recrystallization of the film to form larger sized crystalline materials. Optionally, the method includes sequentially performing the vaporizing, reacting/releasing, and irradiating to build up a thickness of the film of material.
US09017772B2
Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for forming intermediate transfer belts (ITBs) by combining a dip-coating process with a UV-curing process. In an embodiment, an ITB substrate can be immersed into a liquid coating composition contained in a dip tank and then withdrawn from the liquid coating composition. When exiting the dip tank, the coated substrate can enter a UV-curing chamber for a UV-curing process. Multiple cycles of dip-coating and UV-curing can be performed such that a desired ITB substrate coating layer thickness can be obtained. After coating the ITB substrate, the UV-cured coating composition can be released from the ITB substrate, wherein the UV-cured coating composition released from the ITB substrate forms the intermediate transfer belt.
US09017771B2
Electron beam and gamma radiation crosslinked, silicone gel adhesives are described. Both nonfunctional and functional poly diorganosiloxanes are used. Methods of forming the adhesives, and medical articles incorporating such adhesives are also described.
US09017767B2
A dust preventing crust on an exposed surface of a mass of a dusting material is formed from a dried liquid solution of a non-ionic cellulose ether, a surfactant, and water. The strength of the crust is increased by adding a plasticizer to the liquid solution prior to drying the liquid solution on the mass of dusting material. The strength of the dust preventing crust is increased over a strength of a dust preventing crust produced from drying a fluid solution comprising the non-ionic cellulose ether, the surfactant and water prior to adding the plasticizer.
US09017763B2
An injector for forming films respectively on a stack of wafers is provided. The injector includes a plurality of hole structures. Every adjacent two of the wafers have therebetween a wafer spacing, and each of the wafers has a working surface. The hole structures respectively correspond to the respective wafer spacings. The working surface and a respective hole structure have therebetween a parallel distance. The parallel distance is larger than a half of the wafer spacing. A wafer processing apparatus and a method for forming films respectively on a stack of wafers are also provided.
US09017761B2
Carbon-carbon composites made by needling together woven or nonwoven fabric made from carbon-containing fibers followed by carbonizing the fabric preforms are described. The carbon fiber preforms can be needled either in a carbonized or in an uncarbonized state. The uncarbonized fiber preforms would go through a carbonization/heat-treat step following the needling process. Final preform thickness and fiber volume is also controlled at carbonization, for instance by varying the level of pressure applied to the preforms during carbonization. For example, the preforms may be unconstrained during carbonization (i.e., no pressure is applied to them) or the preforms may be constrained during carbonization, typically by means for applying pressure (e.g., weight placed on top of the preforms). The preforms are then infiltrated via CVD/CVI processing in order to increase their density, resulting in a carbon-carbon composite which is suitable for use as, for instance, a brake disc or pad in aircraft and automotive brake systems.
US09017753B2
Provided is an oil or fat composition rich in diacylglycerol, including a high content of oleic acid in a constituent fatty acid thereof and having a good appearance at normal temperature. Specifically, the oil or fat composition satisfies the following items (1) to (4): (1) the oil or fat composition includes diacylglycerol in an amount of 20 mass % or more; (2) constituent fatty acids of the diacylglycerol include oleic acid in an amount of 30 mass % or more; (3) the mass ratio of the content of (B) 1,3-dipalmitin diacylglycerol to the content of (A) 1,2-dipalmitin diacylglycerol, [(B)/(A)], in the diacylglycerol is 1.45 or less; and (4) the mass ratio of the content of (D) 1,3-diacylglycerol to the content of (C) 1,2-diacylglycerol, [(D)/(C)], in the diacylglycerol is 1.2 or more.
US09017752B2
The present invention relates to a shortening system for use as dough fat or filling fat. The shortening system contains unhydrogenated or non-hydrogenated vegetable oil, such as a highly unsaturated, non-hydrogenated or unhydrogenated vegetable oil, e.g., soybean oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, ricebran oil, or cottonseed oil and a minimum or minor amount (e.g., by weight about 3-10%, advantageously about 3-7%, more advantageously about 3-6% or about 3-5% or less than about 6% or less than about 8%) of an emulsifier composition The emulsifier composition comprises a monoglyceride and/or diglyceride, an alpha tending emulsifier and an ionic emulsifier. Methods for making and using such a shortening system and products from the use of such a shortening system are also disclosed.
US09017746B2
The invention relates to a method for obtaining a product in the form of deep-frozen granules, particles of beads having a high dissolved-gas content from a liquid, semi-liquid or paste-like matrix, that comprises two subsequent steps: a matrix gasification step that comprises the incorporation of gas at a pressure higher than 2 bars; and a quick deep-freezing step using a cryogenic fluid.
US09017744B2
A method for reducing blood glucose level increase is provided that includes: providing a reducer of blood glucose level increase, wherein the reducer comprises isomaltulose; having an individual ingest the reducer; and having the individual consume a carbohydrate having an α-1,6-glucosyl bond ratio of from 0% to less than 50% relative to the total bonds among constituent saccharides, wherein the reducer is ingested before or after or simultaneously with consuming the carbohydrate, and wherein the reducer reduces an increase in the individual's blood glucose level caused by consuming the carbohydrate. The reducer of blood glucose level increase includes isomaltulose (PALATINOSE™) as an active ingredient so that when the reducer is ingested and a carbohydrate having an α-1,6-glucosyl bond ratio of from 0% to less than 50% relative to the total bonds among constituent saccharides is consumed, an increase in blood glucose level caused by ingesting the carbohydrate is reduced.
US09017742B2
A method of increasing a prostate specific antigen (PSA) doubling time in treating a patient. A subject with rising serum PSA is selected. A composition is administered to the subject comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a pomegranate extract comprising a higher content of high molecular weight polyphenol compared to pomegranate juice from arils. The therapeutically effective amount increases a prostate specific antigen doubling time. The pomegranate extract is formed from an insoluble byproduct component obtained by placing pomegranate solids in an aqueous solution, heating the aqueous solution to between about 60° F. to about 210° F., adding at least one enzyme to the aqueous solution, and removing residual insoluble solid materials from the aqueous solution.
US09017738B2
The composition for treating hemorrhoids includes dry components: oleander (nerium oleander), myrtle (myrtus communis) and bay laurel (laurus nobilis), which are then mixed into a homogenous solution with olive oil. In the preferred embodiment, the composition for treating hemorrhoids includes the following components: 30%-70% by weight of olive oil, 27%-44% by weight of oleander (nerium oleander), 15%-25% percentage by weight of myrtle (myrtus communis) and 5%-15% percentage by weight of bay laurel (laurus nobilis). For the most preferred embodiment, for 1 liter (about 1000 cubic centimeters) of olive oil, 1000 cubic centimeters (cc) of the dry components of the composition may include 70% percentage by weight of oleander (nerium oleander), 20% percentage by weight of myrtle (myrtus communis), and 10% percentage by weight of bay laurel (laurus nobilis).
US09017732B1
Methods are provided for isolating and using a whole-saliva leech extract. The methods can include feeding a phagostimulatory agent to a leech; inducing a regurgitation in the leech, the inducing including placing the leech in an environment having a temperature of less than about 0° C.; and, collecting an unrefined, whole saliva in the regurgitation of the cooled leech. The methods can include revitalizing the leech by warming it at a temperature ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. Stable, lyophilized, whole-saliva extracts of a leech are also provided, the extract having a stable activity when stored for use at a temperature below about −20° C., the extract maintaining at least 70% of the activity for at least 6 months. The extracts can be used to treat solid tumors, treat liquid tumors, treat diabetes, treat a viral disease, treat a parasitic disease, treat an antibacterial disease, or serve as an anti-oxidant.
US09017730B2
Improved synthetic copolypeptide antimicrobials contain cationic amino acid residues and may be based on a blocky sequence. These antimicrobials show low mammalian toxicity and may undergo directed self-assembly. The inventive synthetic copolypeptides are useful in treatment of wounds and other infections.
US09017725B2
Topical drug delivery systems for ophthalmic use including mixed nanomicellar formulations of water-insoluble drugs and methods of treating diseases affecting the posterior ocular segments are disclosed. In an embodiment, an aqueous ophthalmic solution includes nanomicelles in a physiologically acceptable buffer, having a pH of 5.0 to 8.0, wherein a corticosteroid at a concentration from about 0.01% w/v to about 1.00% w/v is solubilized through entrapment in a mixed micellar hydrophobic core with a corona composed of hydrophilic chains extending from the hydrophobic core, wherein the nanomicelles comprise vitamin E TPGS at a concentration ranging from about 3.0% w/v to about 5.0% w/v stabilized with octoxynol-40 at a concentration ranging from about 1.0% w/v to about 3.0% w/v.
US09017720B2
The present invention is directed to seamless capsules and methods for making seamless capsules having a high oil content as described herein. More specifically, the present invention is directed to seamless capsules, and methods for making seamless capsules, made from a process involving the steps of: (a) preparing an emulsion comprising oil, water, an emulsifier, and at least one of a water-soluble monovalent metal salt, polyvalent metal salt, and an acid, wherein said oil is present in an amount of at least 50% by weight of said emulsion; with the proviso that said emulsion does not contain marmelo mucilage; and (b) adding portions of said emulsion to an aqueous gelling bath comprised of at least one ionic polysaccharide thereby encapsulating said portions of said emulsion in a polysaccharide gel membrane, and optionally (c) drying the resulting capsules by removing water.Improved methods are described for preparing seamless capsules comprising oil and water emulsions containing high concentrations of oil, where the emulsions are suitable for encapsulation into capsules of a polysaccharide gel. Of particular interest are emulsions of oil and water, where the oil is present in an amount of at least 50% by weight of the emulsion and the capsule is, for example, an alginate gel. Oils that are a pharmaceutical active agent, a nutritional supplement or a food; or oils that act as a carrier therefore, are also of particular interest. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the emulsion may contain further solid or liquid or gaseous components and be mixed to a dispersion before the encapsulation. The capsules of the invention are suitable for a variety of applications, e.g., pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, veterinary, agricultural, cosmetic, or food applications.
US09017712B2
The present invention relates to a filler composition for tissue reinforcement, including hyaluronic acid and alkylene diamine crosslinked hydrogel. The filler composition exhibits the positive physical properties required for tissue reinforcement, such as biocompatibility and swelling ability, as well as useful effects in that the same can remain in vivo for a long time.
US09017710B2
The present invention relates to injectable compositions comprising biocompatible, swellable, hydrophilic, non-toxic and substantially spherical microspheres useful for tissue bulking. The invention also relates to methods of tissue bulking, particularly for the treatment of Gastro-esophageal reflux disease, urinary incontinence, or urinary reflux disease, using the injectable compositions.
US09017699B2
The present invention relates to a method for potentiating a specific immune response to an antigen in a mammal in need thereof. The method comprises administering to the mammal an effective amount of Ov-ASP, or at least one subunit of Ov-ASP, and an antigenic moiety.
US09017694B2
The technology relates in part to modified influenza viruses useful for vaccine development. Polypeptides, polynucleotides, methods, compositions, and vaccines comprising influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase variants are provided.
US09017690B2
The invention herein disclosed is related to epitopes useful in methods of diagnosing, treating, and preventing coeliac disease. Therapeutic compositions which comprise at least one epitope are provided.
US09017677B2
A preventive or therapeutic agent for sensitized T cell-mediated diseases comprising an interleukin-6 (IL-6) antagonist, for example an antibody directed against IL-6 receptor, an antibody directed against IL-6, an antibody directed against gp130, and the like.
US09017675B2
Humanized or chimeric anti-CD47 monoclonal antibodies are provided. The antibodies bind to and neutralize human CD47, and find use in various therapeutic methods. Preferred are non-activating antibodies. Embodiments of the invention include isolated antibodies and derivatives and fragments thereof, pharmaceutical formulations comprising one or more of the humanized or chimeric anti-CD47 monoclonal antibodies; and cell lines that produce these monoclonal antibodies. Also provided are amino acid sequences of the antibodies.
US09017673B2
The object of the present invention is analogues of peptides or parent proteins, these peptide analogues, comprising at least one aza-β3 aminoacyl residue, and also their uses in pharmaceutical compositions or for the diagnosis of pathologies wherein the aforesaid peptides or parent proteins are involved.
US09017666B2
A nutritional supplement is provided containing two broccoli based components that are combined and, when ingested, react in the intestines to provide sulforaphane. Processes for producing the broccoli components of the nutritional supplement are also provided. The broccoli components are treated separately using supercritical fluid extraction to remove oils. The temperature and pressure of the supercritical extraction processes are controlled to provide broccoli components having the desired properties for the nutritional supplement.
US09017664B2
An adhesive material for medical use comprising gelatin and a non-toxic cross-linking material such as transglutaminase. An optional embodiment of the invention includes dressings in which a layer of a transglutaminase is sandwiched between a first and second layer of gelatin. The hemostatic products are useful for the treatment of wounded tissue.
US09017659B2
Systems for pathotropic (disease-seeking) targeted gene delivery are provided, including viral particles with extremely high titers. In particular, the viral particles are engineered to specifically deliver therapeutic or diagnostic agents to a disease site, such as cancer metastic sites. Personalized dosing regimens are also provided to treat diseases such as cancer efficaciously with reduced adverse side effects.
US09017649B2
A method of stabilizing silica-containing anionic microparticles upon mixing of the silica-containing anionic microparticles with hard water comprising adding one or more hardness-abating additives to the hard water prior to mixing of the hard water and the silica-containing anionic microparticles; or adding an effective stabilizing amount of one or more hardness-abating agents to the silica-containing anionic microparticles prior to mixing of the hard water with the silica-containing anionic microparticles and a stabilized composition comprising silica-containing anionic microparticles and an effective stabilizing amount of one or more hardness-abating additives.
US09017648B2
The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable medium, (i) a supramolecular compound that may be obtained by reaction between: —at least one oil bearing at least one nucleophilic reactive function chosen from OH and NH2, and —at least one junction group capable of establishing hydrogen bonds with one or more partner junction groups, each pairing of a junction group involving at least three hydrogen bonds, the said junction group bearing at least one isocyanate or imidazole reactive function capable of reacting with the reactive function borne by the oil, the said junction group also comprising at least one unit of formula (I) or (II): (ii) and at least one additional ingredient preferably chosen from: —silicone elastomers, —polyesters that may be obtained by reacting: a tetraol containing from 4 to 10 carbon atoms; a saturated, linear or branched monocarboxylic acid containing from 9 to 23 carbon atoms; a cyclic dicarboxylic acid containing from 6 to 12 carbon atoms; and an aromatic monocarboxylic acid containing from 7 to 11 carbon atoms, —film-forming agents chosen from silicone resins and film-forming polymers, preferably chosen from the group comprising: a film-forming block ethylenic copolymer, a vinyl polymer comprising at least one carbosiloxane dendrimer-based unit, a dispersion of acrylic or vinyl radical homopolymer or copolymer particles dispersed in the said liquid fatty phase, —structuring agents chosen from semicrystalline polymers and thickeners comprising at least one group and preferably at least two groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions, chosen from: polymeric thickeners, and organogelling agents. The invention also relates to a cosmetic treatment process comprising the application of the said composition.
US09017645B2
This invention relates to homoglutamic acid derivatives suitable for labeling or already labeled with 18F or 19F, methods of preparing such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, kits comprising such compounds or compositions and uses of such compounds, compositions or kits for diagnostic imaging.
US09017639B2
In the method for making graphene, an electrolyte solution is formed by dissolving an electrolyte lithium salt in an organic solvent. Lithium ions are separated out from the electrolyte lithium salt in the electrolyte solution. Metal lithium and graphite are disposed in the electrolyte solution, and the metal lithium and the graphite are in contact with each other. In the electrolyte solution, lithium ions and organic solvent molecules jointly insert between adjacent layers of the graphite to form a graphite intercalation compound. The graphene is peeled off from the graphite intercalation compound.
US09017636B2
A deposition method of fine particles, includes the steps of irradiating a fine particle beam formed by size-classified fine particles to an irradiated subject under a vacuum state, and depositing the fine particles on a bottom part of a groove structure formed at the irradiated subject.
US09017630B2
The invention relates to a method for producing hydridosilanes from halosilanes by a) reacting i) at least one halosilane of the generic formula SinX2n+2 (with n≧3 and X═F, Cl, Br and/or I) with ii) at least one catalyst of the generic formula NRR'aR″bYc with a=0 or 1, b=0 or 1, and c=0 or 1, and formula (I), wherein aa) R, R′ and/or R″ are —C1-C12 alkyl, —C1-C12 aryl, —C1-C12 aralkyl, —C1-C12 aminoalkyl, —C1-C12 aminoaryl, —C1-C12 aminoaralkyl, and/or two or three groups R, R′ and R″ (if c=0) together form a cyclic or bicyclic, heteroaliphatic or heteroaromatic system including N, with the proviso that at least one group R, R′ or R″ is unequal —CH3 and/or wherein bb) R and R′ and/or R″' (if c=1) are —C1-C12 alkylene, —C1-C12 arylene, —C1-C12 aralkylene, —C1-C12 heteroalkylene, —C1-C12 heteroarylene, —C1-C12 heteroaralkylene and/or —N═, or cc) (if a=b=c=0) R═≡C-R′″ (with R′″═—C1-C10 alkyl, —C1-C10 aryl and/or —C1-C10 aralkyl), while forming a mixture comprising at least one halosilane of the generic formula SimX2m+2 (with m>n and X═F, Cl, Br and/or I) and SiX4 (with X═F, Cl, Br and/or I), and b) hydrogenating the at least one halosilane of the generic formula SimH2m+2 while forming a hydridosilane of the generic formula SimH2m+2. The invention also relates to the hydridosilanes producible according to said method and to their use.
US09017629B2
In method of crystal growth, an interior of a crystal growth chamber (2) is heated to a first temperature in the presence of a first vacuum pressure whereupon at least one gas absorbed in a material (4) disposed inside the chamber is degassed therefrom. The interior of the chamber is then exposed to an inert gas at a second, higher temperature in the presence of a second vacuum pressure that is at a higher pressure than the first vacuum pressure. The inert gas pressure in the chamber is then reduced to a third vacuum pressure that is between the first and second vacuum pressures and the temperature inside the chamber is lowered to a third temperature that is between the first and second temperatures, whereupon source material (10) inside the chamber vaporizes and deposits on a seed crystal (12) inside the chamber.
US09017621B1
Systems and methods for preparing a sample for further analysis are provided. The system can include an enclosure. A membrane can be disposed within the enclosure. First and second reservoirs can be disposed within the enclosure, and at least one of the first and second reservoirs can be adapted to have a reagent disposed therein. A valve can be disposed within the enclosure and in fluid communication with the first or second reservoirs or both. The valve can also be in fluid communication with the membrane. The valve can be adapted to selectively regulate the flow of the reagent from the first reservoir, through the membrane, and into the second reservoir.
US09017614B2
In an internal combustion engine, inside of an engine exhaust passage, an NOx adsorption part and an NOx purification part are arranged. The NOx purification part has the property of reducing NOx which is contained in exhaust gas if the concentration of hydrocarbons is made to vibrate by within a predetermined range of amplitude and within a predetermined range of period. When NOx is to be desorbed from the NOx adsorption part, the current NOx which is contained in the exhaust gas and the NOx which is desorbed from the NOx adsorption part are reduced by making the concentration of hydrocarbons of the NOx purification part vibrate by the amplitude and period which are set for the current engine operating state, at least of which (ΔT·k) has been corrected so that the amount of hydrocarbons becomes greater.
US09017613B2
In order to disinfect and to detoxify a fluid, a photoreactor contains at least two light sources. One light source activates the catalytic function of a semiconductor material in the fluid to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the fluid, such as by breaking down organic contaminants into non-toxic compounds. A second light source acts directly on living biological entities to sterilize or kill them and thereby disinfect the fluid, and can also serve to activate a semiconductor photocatalyst that in turn causes further damage to biological contaminants. The semiconductor photocatalyst is desirably attached to an optically transmitting fiber substrate in the fluid. The second light source in one embodiment is external to the fluid and illuminates the photocatalyst through transmitting surfaces in a fluid containment vessel. The light sources can comprise respective sets of plural LEDs.
US09017610B2
Systems and methods analyzing body fluids such as blood and bone marrow are disclosed. The systems and methods may utilize an improved technique for applying a monolayer of cells to a slide to generate a substantially uniform distribution of cells on the slide. Additionally aspects of the invention also relate to systems and methods for utilizing multi color microscopy for improving the quality of images captured by a light receiving device.
US09017607B2
A system for decontaminating a medical device includes a decontamination chamber configured to retain the medical device and a chemical dispersion assembly configured to deliver a decontaminating fluid to the decontamination chamber. A pressure control assembly is connected to the decontamination chamber and configured to control the pressure in the decontamination chamber. The system also includes a system controller configured to control the decontamination chamber, chemical dispersion assembly, and pressure control assembly. A pressure in the decontamination chamber is reduced to within a sub-atmospheric pressure range in a first evacuation step and add a decontaminating fluid into the decontamination chamber at a first rate while increasing the pressure in the decontamination chamber. Adding the decontaminating fluid increases a relative humidity in the decontamination chamber to a level that improves the efficacy of the decontaminating fluid.
US09017601B2
An iron-based sintered alloy of the present invention is an iron-based sintered alloy, which is completed by sintering a powder compact made by press forming a raw material powder composed of Fe mainly, and is such that: when the entirety is taken as 100% by mass, carbon is 0.1-1.0% by mass; Mn is 0.01-1.5% by mass; the sum of the Mn and Si is 0.02-3.5% by mass; and the major balance is Fe. It was found out that, by means of an adequate amount of Mn and Si, iron-based sintered alloys are strengthened and additionally a good dimensional stability is demonstrated. As a result, it is possible to suppress or obsolete the employment of Cu or Ni, which has been believed to be essential virtually, the recyclability of iron-based sintered alloys can be enhanced, and further their cost reduction can be intended.
US09017591B2
A method capable of efficiently manufacturing a high-quality seamless belt for electrophotography is provided. The method is a method for manufacturing a seamless belt for electrophotography including a base layer having a thermoplastic resin composition, and a surface layer, wherein the method includes: (1) forming an energy curable coated film having a glass transition temperature on an outer surface of a test tube-shaped preform including a thermoplastic resin; then blow molding the preform to obtain a blow bottle; (2) irradiating the blow bottle with an energy ray to cure the coated film to thereby form the surface layer; and (3) cutting out a seamless belt from the blow bottle obtained in (2) and having a surface layer.
US09017576B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for NiPt nanoparticles, compositions and supports including NiPt nanoparticles, methods of making NiPt nanoparticles, methods of supporting NiPt nanoparticles, methods of using NiPt nanoparticles, and the like.
US09017562B2
The present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a particle source, comprising: placing a metal wire in vacuum, introducing active gas and catalyst gas, adjusting a temperature of the metal wire, and applying a positive high voltage V to the metal wire to dissociate the active gas at the surface of the metal wire, in order to generate at a peripheral surface of the head of the metal wire an etching zone in which field induced chemical etching (FICE) is performed; increasing by the FICE a surface electric field at the top of the metal wire head to be greater than the to evaporation field of the material for the metal wire, so that metal atoms at the wire apex are evaporated off; after the field evaporation is activated by the FICE, causing mutual adjustment between the FICE and the field evaporation, until the head of the metal wire has a shape of combination of a base and a tip on the base; and stopping the FICE and the field evaporation when the head of the metal wire takes a predetermine shape.
US09017561B2
A piezo-resistive MEMS resonator comprising an anchor, a resonator mounted on the anchor, an actuator mounted to apply an electrostatic force on the resonator and a piezo-resistive read-out means comprising a nanowire coupled to the resonator.
US09017558B2
A process according to various approaches includes flushing an intermediate transfer line at first flow rate during a first portion of the step-time interval. The process also includes flushing the intermediate transfer line at as second different flow rate during a second portion of the step-time interval so that a greater volume of fluid is flushed from the intermediate transfer line during one of the first portion and the second portion of the step-time interval than during the other of the first portion and the second portion of the step-time interval.
US09017553B2
An apparatus, method, and system for treatment of industrial waste water and/or marine vessel bilge water before discharge into waterways, said waste water having hydrocarbon, and synthetic oils, chemical or surfactant based hydrocarbon emulsions, and water soluble hydrocarbons, containing hydrocarbon coated organics and fine suspended particulate matter, said treatment utilizing a hydrocarbon sorbing pre-filter media together with filter structural elements to first remove hydrocarbon contaminated organics and particulate, coalesce then bifurcate and adsorb heavier hydrocarbon elements; the remaining liquid entering the second stage of filtration wherein a cryogenically pulverized recycled tire powder material removes the remaining hydrocarbons, synthetic oils, hydrocarbon emulsions, and water soluble hydrocarbons, providing a highly clarified and oil free effluent at high flow rates and with substantially reduced filter system maintenance. Said invention may further contain a third stage utilizing another layer of hydrocarbon sorbing materials. It may be combined into an oily water separation system.
US09017549B2
A debris catching device for surge tanks in swimming pool circulation systems prevents debris from building up within a surge tank. The debris catching device includes a net member for capturing the debris before it enters the surge tank and an elongate main body that is adjustably extendable to select lengths for proper installation. A drawstring cord extending through the length of the elongate main body and around the lining of the net member is provided for cinching the net member closed around the exterior of the gutter drain pipe so that the captured debris doesn't spill out of the net and into the surge tank. A support cord attached to the elongate main body and having opposite ends attached to the lining of the net member may be used for holding the net member in an upright position.
US09017546B2
A method for decomposing an asphaltene particle includes contacting the asphaltene particle with an intercalating agent; and reacting the intercalating agent to increase a distance between asphaltene molecules in the asphaltene particle to decompose the asphaltene particle. In a method for producing decomposed asphaltene, the method includes disposing an intercalating agent in an oil environment; contacting an asphaltene particle in the oil environment with the intercalating agent; reacting the intercalating agent to produce product molecules; and decomposing the asphaltene particle to produce decomposed asphaltene.
US09017532B2
An electroplating system and components thereof facilitate an efficient electroplating process which in part reduces or eliminates the number of clips used on electroplating racks. Some electroplating racks may use skewers on which multiple plastic pieces are typically mounted. The plastic pieces may also be configured to be joined to form an assembly which is mounted on an electroplating rack. The configurations help reduce the time spent loading and unloading pieces on the racks.
US09017529B2
An apparatus for the electrolytic splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen gases is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: (i) a first hemi-enclosure; (ii) a second hemi-enclosure; (iii) a diaphragm electrode array positioned between the first hemi-enclosure and the second hemi-enclosure comprising: (a) a diaphragm, that passes ions and impedes the passage of gases, comprising a first side and a second opposed side; (b) a first plurality of electrodes in a first vicinity of the first side of the diaphragm; and (c) a second plurality of electrodes in a second vicinity of the second opposed side of the diaphragm; (iv) a fastener, for leak-tight fastening of the first hemi-enclosure, the diaphragm electrode array, and the second hemi-enclosure, whereby a leak-tight enclosure is formed; (v) contacts, for electrically powering the first and second pluralities of electrodes, and; (vi) pathways, configured to remove hydrogen and oxygen gases from the enclosure.
US09017525B2
In a method for forming a metal fluoride film, a metal fluoride film is formed on a substrate by sputtering using a metal target and a mixed gas containing O2 gas and a reactive gas being a fluorocarbon gas.
US09017524B2
A vacuum film formation method for forming at least one inorganic layer on a support, which comprise transporting a support of which the area of the surface to be coated with an inorganic layer formed thereon is a (unit: cm2) into a first vacuum tank having a capacity of at most 100a (unit: cm3) under atmospheric pressure, degassing the first vacuum tank into a vacuum, transporting the support from the first vacuum tank to a second vacuum tank while the vacuum condition is kept as such, and forming at least one inorganic layer on the support in the second vacuum tank.
US09017516B2
A web product having at least two plies is disclosed. One of the at least two plies has a continuous pillow area disposed upon a surface thereof. A first portion of the continuous pillow area has a first width, W1, and a length, L1, and a second portion of the continuous pillow area in contacting engagement and in fluid communication with the first portion has a second width, W2, and a length, L2, wherein, W1≠W2 and L1=L2. The web product has a Basis Weight, BW, value greater than 51.6 gsm and a Dry Bulk, DB, value greater than 15.5 cc/g.
US09017514B2
Method for production of cellulose and hemicellulose fibers from lignocellulose biomass obtained from sugarcane leaves and buds by applying a process comprising the stages of: a) Diminishing the particle size of the lignocellulose biomass to a range between 3 and 15 mm, b) Subjecting the product obtained to treatment with one or more solvents and/or a mixture of specific catalysts, c) Carry out sudden decompression to an atmospheric pressure, d) Collecting the pretreated material in a cyclone, e) Optionally separating the liquid and solid fractions through washing and filterung f) Optionally, treating the solid fraction in a reactor with a mixture of ethanol and chlorine dioxide, d) Wash the product obtained to achieve cellulose efficiency above 50% and of lignin of 5 to 7%, fiber lengtht in a range to 1,5 to 2,7 mm, breaking length (km) of 7,0 -8,9, Burst index (kPam2/g) of 4,5-7,2 and Tear index (mNm2/g) of 8,2-8, The obtained high-resistance cellulose and hemicellulose is especially suitable for the paper production and polymer-type plastics.
US09017513B2
A plasma processing chamber is provided comprising one or more process gas inlets, one or more exhaust gas outlets, plasma generating hardware configured to generate a process gas plasma in a plasma processing portion of the plasma processing chamber, a wafer processing stage positioned in the plasma processing chamber, and a plasma monitoring probe assembly. The plasma monitoring probe assembly comprises an electrically conductive probe and an insulator sleeve assembly positioned about the electrically conductive probe. The insulator sleeve assembly comprises a plasma-side sleeve portion and a subterranean sleeve portion positioned about distinct portions of a longitudinal probe axis of the electrically conductive probe of the probe assembly. The plasma-side sleeve portion of the insulator sleeve assembly is constructed of material that is more resistant to plasma-based degradation than is the material of the subterranean sleeve portion of the insulator sleeve assembly, while the subterranean sleeve portion of the insulator sleeve assembly is constructed of material that is more electrically resistant than the material of the plasma-side sleeve portion of the insulator sleeve assembly.
US09017497B2
A method of manufacturing laminated core segments including: a process to blank and laminate, wherein the segment core sheets formed in the adjacent virtual lines are aligned so that directions of the segment core sheets alternate, each of the segment core sheets are blanked and formed by a die device, and the laminated core segments are formed by laminating the blanked segment core sheets in the die device; a process to eject, wherein each of the laminated core segments formed by blanking and laminating in each virtual line is ejected from the die device; and a process to identify a blanking position, wherein the distinguishing marks are provided for the laminated core segments to identify the virtual lines therefor.
US09017491B2
A hot-forged copper alloy part which has a tubular shape, in which an alloy composition contains 59.0 mass % to 84.0 mass % of Cu and 0.003 mass % to 0.3 mass % of Pb with a remainder of Zn and inevitable impurities, a content of Cu [Cu] mass % and a content of Pb [Pb] mass % have a relationship of 59≦([Cu]+0.5×[Pb])≦64, a shape of the forged part satisfies a formula of 0.4≦(average inner diameter)/(average outer diameter)≦0.92, 0.04≦(average thickness)/(average outer diameter)≦0.3, and 1≦(tube axis direction length)/(average thickness))≦10, a forging material which is to be hot-forged has a tubular shape and satisfies 0.3≦(average inner diameter/average outer diameter)≦0.88, 0.06≦(average thickness)/(average outer diameter)≦0.35, and 0.8≦(tube axis direction length)/(average thickness))≦12, and 0%≦(degree of uneven thickness)≦30%, 0≦(degree of uneven thickness)≦75×1/((tube axis direction length)/(average thickness))1/2 in any location in a tube axis direction.
US09017489B2
The method for surface inclusions detection, enhancement of endothelial and osteoblast cells adhesion and proliferation and sterilization of electropolished and magnetoelectropolished Nitinol implantable medical device surfaces uses an aqueous solution of chemical compounds containing halogenous oxyanions as hypochlorite (ClO−) and hypobromite (BrO−) preferentially 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO).
US09017479B2
The apparatus has a crucible for storing a solution; an inner container for storing a crucible; a heating container for storing the inner container, the heating container including heating elements, a container body provided with the heating elements and a lid combined with the container body; and a pressure vessel for storing the heating container and for charging an atmosphere comprising at least nitrogen gas. The lid also has a fitting surface to the container body that is inclined to a horizontal plane.
US09017474B2
The present invention relates to the novel material fluorographene (FG), methods of making fluorographene, and its applications in electronics and related fields. The fluorographene also finds use in improving the properties of composite materials by incorporating the fluorographene of the invention with one or more materials such as fluoropolymers (FP) and the like. Conventionally, FP inter-chain interactions are very weak but spread over the area of FG, FG is able to act as a very effective and compatible reinforcement.
US09017471B2
The invention relates to an ester AB of a polypropylene glycol A with fatty acids B, which ester AB can be added in the form of an aqueous emulsion to an aqueous coating composition, and a method of use of the ester AB as defoamer additive.
US09017466B2
An erasable inkjet ink composition includes an ink vehicle including a solvent, and a colorant added to the ink vehicle. The colorant is chosen from an iron-based ionic complex, an iron-based ionic complex in combination with a dye, a non-ascorbic acid based complex, and a dye-blend mono-based colorant.
US09017460B2
An air dryer includes a supporting base, a drying agent container, and an outer cover. The supporting base includes an inlet for receiving compressed air to be subject to a drying process and an outlet for delivering the processed compressed air that has undergone the drying process. The drying agent container is a container supported on the supporting base, contains a drying agent in the interior, and enables the drying process to be performed by passing the compressed air from the inlet through the drying agent. The outer cover surrounds the outer side of the drying agent container on the supporting base and defines a chamber for storing the compressed air between itself and the drying agent container. The supporting base includes first and second mounting surfaces, which are oriented in different directions, and a plurality of inlets, which are oriented in different directions and receive the compressed air.
US09017456B2
A device recovers water from an ambient airstream. The device includes a chamber having a group of trays that hold respective amounts of liquid desiccant. A foam media element in each tray absorbs the desiccant to increase an exposed surface of the desiccant to the airstream. Fans and valves are used to control airflow through the device. A charge cycle circulates air through the device to remove water vapor from the airstream. A subsequent extraction cycle removes water collected in the liquid desiccant by a condenser communicating with the chamber. An integral heat exchanger adds heat to the chamber during the extraction cycle. A controller is used to integrate and control device operation. The desiccant trays may be selectively configurable in an array to best suit the intended installation. The trays may be arranged in column and row configurations, along with adjustable airflow patterns between each of the trays.
US09017449B2
Nanomaterial preparation methods, compositions, and articles are disclosed and claimed. Such methods can provide nanomaterials with improved morphologies relative to previous methods. Such materials are useful in electronic applications.
US09017445B2
A method of making metal nanoparticles and carbon nanotubes is disclosed. A mixture of a transition metal compound and an aromatic polymer, a precursor of an aromatic polymer, or an aromatic monomer is heated to form a metal nanoparticle composition, optionally containing carbon nanotubes.
US09017442B2
A composition of matter comprising: a combination of a phytate and a plurality of microorganisms comprising a Trichoderma virens fungus, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium, and one or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi that is placed in the vicinity of a plant root in a manner that allows the microorganisms in the composition of matter to colonize said plant root; and a method for increasing plant yield comprising: placing a combination of a phytate and a plurality of microorganisms comprising a Trichoderma virens fungus, a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacterium, and one or a plurality of mycorrhizae fungi in the vicinity of a plant root in a manner that allows the microorganisms in the composition of matter to colonize said plant root.
US09017419B1
Linear actuators that allow for improved self-locking properties without sacrificing axial response are provided. A linear actuator can have two screws extending from opposite ends of the actuator. The screws are joined by and threadably coupled to an elongate rotating nut. An elongate magnet is disposed around and coupled to the nut, and a stator including coils surrounds the magnet and nut. The magnet and nut are not axially fixed with respect to the stator. Rotation of the nut causes axial displacement of both screws, causing the screws to move closer together or farther apart. A pitch of the screw threads can be selected to enhance self-locking properties.
US09017410B2
A four-component artificial intervertebral disc may provide six degrees of movement: flexion, extension, lateral bending, axial rotation, axial deflection, and anterior/posterior translation. The disc may include a superior endplate, a superior core, an inferior core, and an inferior endplate. The superior endplate may include a concave mating surface, and the inferior endplate may include a spherical mating surface. The superior endplate may roll across the superior core to provide flexion, extension, and lateral bending. The superior endplate may twist or rotate atop the superior core to provide axial rotation, and the superior endplate may slide over the superior core to provide anterior/posterior translation. The superior core may be connected to the inferior core, and the inferior core may be connected to the inferior endplate. The inferior core may be made from a flexible material that may enable the artificial disc to expand or compress vertically.
US09017407B2
One implementation of the present disclosure may take the form of a sacroiliac joint fusion system including a joint implant, an anchor element and a delivery tool. The join implant includes a distal end, a proximal end, a body extending between the proximal and distal ends, and a first bore extending non-parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body. The anchor element includes a distal end and a proximal end and is configured to be received in the first bore. The delivery tool includes an implant arm and an anchor arm. The implant arm includes a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the implant arm is configured to releasably couple to the proximal end of the joint implant such that a longitudinal axis of the implant arm is substantially at least one of coaxial or parallel with the longitudinal axis of the body of the joint implant. The anchor arm includes a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the anchor arm is configured to engage the proximal end of the anchor element. The anchor arm is operably coupled to the implant arm in an arrangement such that the longitudinal axis of the anchor element is generally coaxially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the first bore when the distal end of the implant arm is releasably coupled with the proximal end of the joint implant and the distal end of the anchor arm is engaged with the proximal end of the anchor element. The arrangement is fixed and nonadjustable.
US09017401B2
A method for inserting a lens into a corneal pocket or flap includes providing a lens inserter device, opening a first leaf and a second leaf of the device, positioning a slot of each one of a first and a second lens shaped portion over a post on a packaging of the lens, positioning the lens between the first leaf and the second leaf, inserting the lens into the corneal pocket, and releasing the lens from the lens inserter device.
US09017396B2
A prosthetic valve in the form of a flap valve which includes one or more flaps arranged to allow movement of liquid through the valve only in one direction, in which the or each flap is made of a flexible open work structure of a medically acceptable metal such as titanium or a titanium alloy.
US09017393B2
A releasable top cap system for a delivery device having an emergency release includes a top cap having a top portion and a bottom portion releasably attached to the top portion, the bottom portion having two adjacent side portions. A cannula is positioned distal to the top cap having a proximal end and a distal end. A connector is attached to the proximal end of the cannula. A pair of wire components extend throughout the length of the cannula. Each wire component has a distal end and a proximal end. The proximal end of each wire component is attached to the male luer lock component and the distal end of each wire component is attached to the side portions of the top cap assembly.
US09017392B2
Switching power supplies made in accordance with the disclosed technology drive flash lamps of dermatologic treatment devices to emit a sequence of relatively small light pulses that are aligned with particular locations within the waveform of the AC line source. Such power supplies not only enable sufficient light energy in aggregate to therapeutically heat target chromophores in a skin region without causing undesired damage to surrounding tissue, but also provide the added benefit that the corresponding electrical energy need not be substantially drawn from any charged capacitor. The disclosed power supply further compensates for performance degradation of the flash lamps during their usable life, by modifying its operation based on predetermined values that are indicative of flash lamp aging/efficiency characteristics. The flash lamps and their associated stored values are preferably incorporated into a replaceable cartridge that facilitates user maintenance of the dermatologic treatment device.
US09017387B2
An apparatus, system and kit of components useful as a stabilization or correction system for a spinal column, especially in the field of pediatrics. A threaded rod is used that can be straight, rigid, bent or flexible depending on the body condition to be addressed. The rod may be bent or flexible to achieve varying degrees of lordosis (backward curvature) or kyphosis (forward curvature) before being affixed to the anchoring means and apparatus. The straightness, curvature, bent, or flexibility of rod depends upon the location along the spinal column. Once installed to the vertebrae, the rod provides the proper, desired curvature and stabilization for the spinal column. Sharp edges and corners of the apparatus are eliminated by rounding the edges and corners.
US09017384B2
Disclosed is a spinal rod that includes an elongated flexible component and a reinforcing component. The reinforcing component is resistant to damage from compressive forces. The reinforcing component may be disposed circumferentially around at least a portion of the flexible component so as to define at least one compression slot. The reinforcing element may include an upper bracket, an opposing lower bracket, and a connecting pin extending therebetween.
US09017370B2
The present disclosure relates to an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members and a knife body. The first and second jaw members have a curved configuration and are disposed in opposed relation to each other. One or both of the jaw members include a ledge, a first knife channel and a second knife channel. The ledge is disposed along the length of one of the jaw members. The first knife channel is defined along the length of a portion of the ledge. The second knife channel is defined along the length of a portion of the jaw member, and below a bottom portion of the ledge such that the ledge covers a portion of the second knife channel. The knife body includes a knife blade at a distal end thereof and a recessed portion proximal to the knife blade.
US09017369B2
The invention relates to a tubular medical instrument having a hollow shaft, a handle positioned on the proximal end of the shaft and equipped with at least two gripping members, and at least one push-pull rod that is positioned in the hollow shaft and has on its distal end a tool consisting of at least two jaw members, wherein for opening and closing at least one jaw member of the tool, the push-pull rod can be coupled with at least one rotatable gripping member of the handle and wherein the push-pull rod and the handle can be detachably connected to one another by a coupling mechanism that is configured as at least one clamping device comprising at least one clamping claw characterized in that the at least one clamping claw can rotate in a guide track mounted between a closed position and an open installation position. To create a coupling mechanism that is easy to handle, it is proposed according to the invention that the at least one clamping claw is mounted in a guide track so that it can rotate between a closed clamping position and an open installation position.
US09017363B2
A filter unit (3) for inserting into a blood vessel (1) is disclosed, the filter unit (3) comprising: —a stent-like body (2) having a superior end (4) and a inferior end (5), the stent-like body (2) being able to expand in order to engage a wall of the blood vessel (1), —two cone-shaped units (6, 7) each having a base opening (8, 9) and a tip (10, 11), one base opening (8) being operatively connected to the superior end (4) of the stent-like body (2), the other base opening (9) being operatively connected to the inferior end (5) of the stent-like body (2), wherein the tips (10, 11) of the cone-shaped units (6, 7) point towards each other.
US09017357B1
A puncture apparatus includes a puncture needle for puncturing living body tissue of a living body, and a vaginal-insertion assembly positionable in a vagina of the living body. The vaginal-insertion assembly includes a vaginal-insertion member and an inserter connected to the vaginal-insertion member. The inserter is connected to the vaginal-insertion member so that the distal-most end portion of the inserter is located distally beyond the distal-most end portion of the vaginal-insertion member. The size of distal-most end portion of the inserter is less than the size of the distal-most end portion of the vaginal-insertion member. The vaginal-insertion member and the distal-most end portion of the inserter are movable relative to each other to reduce the distance between the distal-most end of the inserter and the distal-most end of the vaginal-insertion member after inserting the vaginal insertion assembly into the vagina.
US09017347B2
Suture clip deployment devices for applying suture clips to sutures are described. Some embodiments can include a generally tubular main body and a vacuum port located at the distal end, a hollow inner body longitudinally slidable within the main body and extending from the main body at its distal end, and a suture recess located in the generally tubular main body. At least one suture clip configured to frictionally fit on an outer surface of the inner body is deployed during use. Clip deployment can occur after a vacuum source is applied to the device so as to draw the suture into the device. The suture lines can be retrieved through the suture recess, and the device can be actuated so as to deliver the suture clip off the delivery device and onto the suture, locking the suture in place.
US09017343B2
Tools and methods of use for removing biological units from a body surface utilizing a removal tool are disclosed. The tool incorporates a retention member configured to impede movement of the biological unit in the direction of a distal end of the tool and to improve retention of the biological unit in the tool. The retention member is radially movable within the lumen of the biological unit removal tool. The distal tips of the tools are desirably configured to reduce the chance of transection of a biological unit.
US09017341B2
A leadless intra-cardiac medical device (LIMD) includes an electrode assembly configured to be anchored within a first wall portion of a first chamber of a heart. The electrode assembly includes an electrode main body having a first securing helix, an electrode wire segment extending from the body, and a first segment-terminating contact positioned on the electrode wire segment. The device further includes a housing assembly configured to be anchored within a second wall portion of a second chamber of the heart. The housing assembly includes a body having a second securing helix, a housing wire segment extending from the body, and a second segment-terminating contact positioned on the housing wire segment. The device also includes a connector block that electrically connects the electrode wire segment to the housing wire segment by retaining the first and second segment-terminating contacts.
US09017332B2
A surgical milling cutter includes a milling cutter holder, a locking device, a locking seat, and a main machine. The milling cutter holder includes a fixing seat with a through hole. A finger guider with an L-type holder on a top end thereof is arranged at an upper part of the fixing seat. A distal end of a short side of the L-type holder is disposed with a downward projection, and a lowest point of the projection is lower than that of a cylindrical head when the milling cutter works normally. A bolt with a central through hole is fixed in a cavity of the finger guider. A pressing disk is arranged at the upper part of the fixing seat, and a nut is connected to the bolt through a hole in the pressing disk.
US09017331B2
A new shape changing staple and instrument for the fixation of structures to include bone tissue and industrial materials. This new staple stores elastic mechanical energy to exert force on fixated structures to enhance their security and in bone affect its healing response. This staple once placed changes shape in response to geometric changes in the materials structure, including healing bone tissue. The staple is advanced over prior staples due to its: 1) method of operation, 2) high strength, 3) method of insertion, 4) compressive force temperature independence, 5) energy storing staple retention and delivery system, 6) compatibility with reusable or single use product configuration, 7) efficient and cost effective manufacturing methods, and 8) reduction in the steps required to place the device. In addition to the staple's industrial application an embodiment for use in the fixation of the musculoskeletal system is shown with staple, cartridge, and extrusion handle.
US09017320B2
Transducer-based systems and methods may be configured to display a graphical representation of a transducer-based device, the graphical representation including graphical elements corresponding to transducers of the transducer-based device, and also including between graphical elements respectively associated with a set of the transducers and respectively associated with a region of space between the transducers of the transducer-based device. Selection of graphical elements and/or between graphical elements can cause activation of the set of transducers associated with the selected elements. Transducer activation characteristics, such as initiation time, activation duration, activation sequence, and energy delivery characteristics, can vary based on numerous factors. Visual characteristics of graphical elements and between graphical elements can change based on an activation-status of the corresponding transducers. Activation requests for a set of transducers can be denied if it is determined that a transducer in the set of transducers is unacceptable for activation.
US09017313B2
An implant for use in spinal surgery comprises a resilient element having an inflatable cavity. It is formed of a biologically compatible material and is arranged for placement between end plates of adjacent vertebra. The implant may also include a wound disc replacement element. A method of performing spinal surgery on a patient comprises securely mounting a patient onto a patient support table; imaging a spinal region of the patient; building up a three-dimensional image file of the spinal region of the patient; storing the image file; and utilizing the image file for planning and carrying out computer controlled spinal surgery on the patient utilizing the implant. A computer-controlled surgical implant system comprises a steerable endosurgical implanting assembly operative to install the implant at a desired location in a patient; and a computerized controlled, which operates the steerable endosurgical implanting assembly.
US09017302B2
A composite wound dressing and delivery apparatus includes a substantially transparent dressing layer having a lower surface that is coated with a pressure sensitive for applying the dressing layer over a wound to define a reservoir in which a negative pressure may be maintained. A substantially transparent backing layer adhered to the lower surface of the dressing layer in a releasable manner, and a vacuum port is centrally located on the dressing layer. The vacuum port is adapted to provide fluid communication between a vacuum source and the reservoir through the dressing layer. A targeting grid associated with either the dressing layer or the backing layer includes regularly spaced reference marks along at least two axes extending from the vacuum port.
US09017291B2
The invention relates to a drug delivery device comprising a container for a product, said container comprising a distal tip having a longitudinal axis A and a channel providing a passageway for the transfer of said product, the outer surface of said distal tip comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion linked to each other by a coupling portion, said proximal portion, distal portion and coupling portion being aligned on said longitudinal axis A, wherein the greatest external diameter of said coupling portion is greater than the greatest external diameter of said distal portion on a length L measured along said longitudinal axis A at least equal to 1 mm. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising such a drug delivery device and an adaptor.
US09017290B2
A securement system (100) includes a device which permits a portion of a catheter or similar medical article to be easily anchored to a patient, desirably without the use of tape or needles and suture. A securement system for an elongated medical article comprises an anchor pad (110) and a retainer (120) mounted upon the anchor pad. The retainer (120) includes a channel (130) that has at least one abutment surface (160) corresponding to a contact surface on the medical article and a groove (210) configured to receive a spline (40) of the medical article. The medical article is placed into the channel (130). The medical article is secured within the channel by retaining at least one spline (40) and contact surface on the medical article.
US09017277B2
An implantable dialysis device with a related medical system for intracorporeal dialysis and ultrafiltration of blood, and methods of use are described. The medical system includes an extracorporeal module, a cutaneous module, and an implantable module. Features of the implantable module facilitate delivery and flow of blood and dialysate through the medical system. A filter pack within the implantable module performs dialysis and ultrafiltration of blood. System cleansing is also described.
US09017275B2
A distal perfusion sheath (DPS) is provided for cases where blood perfusion is needed for downstream arteries (distal) to the insertion point of the DPS within the target artery. The ability to provide distal perfusion with the DPS allows the DPS to be positioned in the target artery for long periods without causing lack of blood flow (ischemia) to an extremity that the target artery supplies. In embodiments, the DPS can still be used for surgical arterial access while allowing blood flow downstream. In addition, embodiments of the DPS configured with longer perfusion shunts can allow a contra-lateral extremity downstream to a large DPS to have blood flow while the sheath is in place.
US09017264B2
An electronic blood pressure meter includes a cuff, an inflation control unit that controls a pump for outputting a fluid into the cuff so that a pressure in the cuff is increased at an inflation speed target in accordance with a driving voltage, a pressure detection unit that detects a cuff pressure signal indicating a cuff pressure, a blood pressure calculation unit that calculates a blood pressure value based on a pulse wave superimposed on the detected cuff pressure signal, and a target changing unit that varies the inflation speed target during an inflation process in which the cuff pressure begins to increase at an initial inflation speed target and continues to increase. The target changing unit varies the inflation speed target so that the driving voltage measured during the inflation process stays within a voltage range corresponding to a range in which the pump is capable of output.
US09017240B2
A transporting apparatus for transporting flat, sheet-like material through one or more processing stations of a sheet-processing machine includes at least one upper conveying apparatus and at least one lower conveying apparatus with conveying devices which are in contact with one another. The upper and lower conveying apparatuses are fastened in such a way that they can be altered freely in length. A sheet-processing machine with a transporting apparatus is also provided.
US09017238B2
An assisted chin/dip exercise apparatus has a main frame and an assist or foot bar pivotally mounted on the frame and linked to a weight stack or resistance for assisting a user standing on the foot bar during performance of chin and dip exercises. The main frame has a first, overhead handle assembly and a second, dip handle assembly below the first handle assembly. The first handle assembly includes a pair of adjustably mounted handles freely pivotable between a first, chin-up position in which the handles extend towards one another at a rearward angle with a small spacing between the handles and a second, pull-up position in which the handles extend in a forward direction and are spaced apart by a larger spacing sufficient to provide head clearance for a user stepping onto the foot bar or while performing a dip exercise.
US09017237B2
An exercise apparatus that lies flat on the floor having a back rest rises up when supported by two springs. The lower part of the back and buttocks lie horizontal while the upper part of the back is inclined at an angle to the horizontal. When not in use, the upper back rest folds down flat so that the device can be stored under a bed. The two springs provide back support when the individual is in the reclining position. However, as a person goes from a sitting position to a reclining position, when his or her shoulders contact the back rest, the springs compress and then expand to assist the individual in rising up. The device has two specially designed positionable foot rests with straps to provide a place for the individual to place his or her feet.
US09017223B2
The present invention relates to a standup exercise apparatus that simulates walking and jogging with arm exercise. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise machine having separately supported pedals for the feet and arm exercise coordinated with the motion of the feet where the pedal stride length is determined by the movements of an operator. Crank arms are positioned on the framework forward the operator at a height comparable to the pedals. A hydraulic crossover assembly causes the handles to move in opposing directions.
US09017211B2
The invention relates to a power shift transmission (10). The power shift transmission comprises an input shaft (18), a first output shaft (20) arranged coaxially to the input shaft (18), a planetary transmission (22) having a planet gear carrier (28), which is connected to the input shaft (18), and at least one dual-stage planetary gear set (30), the dual-stage planetary gear set (30) engaging on the input side with an input-side sun gear (52) and on the output side with an output-side sun gear (44) in each case, and at least two shift elements (24, 26). To produce a variable power shift transmission for several pairings of various operation modes, the first output shaft (20) can be connected to the output-side sun gear (44) of the dual-stage planetary gear set (30) by means of a first shift element (24) and the first output shaft (20) can be directly connected to the input shaft (18) by means of a second shift element (26), the input-side sun gear (52) of the dual-stage planetary gear set (30) being non-non-rotatably connected to a housing (12) of the power shift transmission (10).
US09017208B2
Infinitely variable motion control (IVMC) provides motion control without any requirement for changing gears or use of a clutch. A bevel or spur gear transgear, defined as a system having an input, an output and a control, a variable pitch cam having an eccentric inner and outer cam assembly, a driver and a one-way clutch or ratchet bearing assembly may be used to form a cam controlled speed converter converting a given input to a variable or constant output speeds and further having direction control. All IVMC's, cam controlled IVMC, input compensated IVMC and pitch controlled IVMC may be utilized to form various embodiments of infinitely variable generators, transmissions and compressors/pumps.
US09017206B2
A gear device includes an outer cylinder, a plurality of crank shafts, a carrier which rotatably supports the plurality of crank shafts and rotates relative to the outer cylinder in synchronization with the rotation of the crank shafts, a plurality of spur gears fixed coaxially with the crank shafts at portions extending toward an outer side of the carrier in the crank shafts, an input gear which includes a gear part that engages with the plurality of spur gears, and transmits rotational drive force to each of the spur gears, and washer means comprising washers disposed outside the carrier. The input gear is regulated from moving in a radial direction of the input gear by engaging with the plurality of spur gears at a position outside the carrier in an axial direction, and regulated from moving in an axial direction of the input gear by the washers.
US09017201B2
A bicycle drive unit includes a motor, a transmission mechanism and a torque combining member. The motor includes a crank axle receiving hole. The transmission mechanism includes a plurality of selectable gear ratios. The torque combining member is operatively coupled to the motor and the transmission mechanism to combine an output of the motor and an output of the transmission mechanism together.
US09017200B2
A powertrain includes a first electric motor, a second electric motor and a transmission. The first electric motor includes an interchangeable winding set to provide the required power for the specific propulsion configuration utilized to propel the vehicle, i.e., a hybrid propulsion configuration or a full electric propulsion configuration. The transmission is operable in different powerflows to support operation of the powertrain in either of the hybrid propulsion configuration or the full electric propulsion configuration. The same powertrain may be used for either the hybrid propulsion configuration or the full electric propulsion configuration by switching the specific winding set installed into the first electric motor.
US09017198B2
A vehicle has a motor-gear unit, a trailing wheel of the vehicle being connected the output shaft of the gear and an input shaft of the gear being connected to a motor. The gear has an outer wheel, an inner wheel and a traction means extending between the outer wheel and the inner wheel. A revolving transmitter is also provided which lifts the traction means off the outer periphery of the inner wheel and pushes it against the inner periphery of the outer wheel.
US09017197B2
A hydraulic damper for providing fluid damping to a tensioner in a drive system that includes a damper cup, which is mounted to the tensioner and configured to rotate about a central axle in tandem with the tensioner, an end plate having an outer face and an inner face, which is attached to the damper cup forming a fluid chamber, a peg attached to the end plate and extending away from the inner face and toward the damping cup, a damping fluid, which is contained within the fluid chamber, a plurality of shear plates housed within the fluid chamber comprising alternating fixed plates engaged with a fixed component of the tensioner and rotatable plates engaged with a rotatable component of the tensioner where the peg extends through openings in each of the shear plates allowing for rotation of the rotatable plate with the rotation of the peg.
US09017194B2
A distributed drive includes a frame, a main sprocket, and a plurality of drive assemblies mounted therearound for rotation of the main sprocket. The main sprocket has a circumferential drive rim around which the drive assemblies are mounted in driving engagement with the drive rim so as to selectively rotate the main sprocket relative to the frame. Each drive assembly includes at least two auxiliary sprockets lying substantially in the plane of the main sprocket. An endless belt is mounted around the auxiliary sprockets so that a span of the endless belt spans between a pair of the auxiliary sprockets in an arc-of-contact with the drive rim. At least one of the two auxiliary sprockets is a selectively driven drive sprocket for selective rotation of the main sprocket.
US09017185B2
A golf club set comprises golf clubs with different club lengths, each golf club comprising a hollow golf club head, the golf club head with a face portion having a clubface for hitting a ball, the face portion comprising a central thicker portion, a toe-side thinner portion with a thickness smaller than that of the central thicker portion, and a heel-side thinner portion with a thickness smaller than that of the central thicker portion, wherein in a front view of the club head under a standard state, the toe-side thinner portion is provided so that a centroid thereof is placed upward than a center of the clubface, the heel-side thinner portion is provided so that a centroid thereof is placed downward than the center of the clubface.
US09017180B2
In one embodiment, a distributed bowling center system includes two or more computing devices associated with respective bowling center peripherals. The bowling center peripherals are any electronic or mechanical device in a bowling center capable of detecting a bowling event or receiving input. Example bowling center peripherals include a pinsetter, a monitor, a bumper, a keypad, or a touchscreen. The bowling center peripherals are configured to perform at least one bowler center function. The computing devices are configured to execute at least one process related to a bowler center function of the associated peripheral. Each computing device is located physically closer to the peripheral than the other computer device. The computing devices are in communication via a network. The computing devices are configured to access a process map defining the communication, which is responsive to the at least one bowler center function.
US09017174B2
A slip clutch, including: a flywheel; and a vibration damper including: first and second cover plates; a flange; and at least one spring engaged with the cover plates and flange. The clutch includes a slip assembly, with a first plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces: fixedly connected to the flywheel or formed with the flywheel; and at an acute angle with respective to a circumferential line, and a second plurality of circumferentially aligned surfaces: formed by a portion of the first cover plate radially outward of the spring; at an acute angle with respective to a circumferential line; and in contact with the first plurality of surfaces, or engaged with the first plurality of surfaces via an intermediate element in contact with the first and second pluralities of surfaces. The slip assembly includes a resilient element applying a force to the first cover plate in an axial direction toward the flywheel.
US09017173B2
A gaming system including a tracking system or a player tracking system and plurality of gaming machines. The gaming machines include at least one display device and a plurality of player preferences selections. These player preference selections enable a player to choose one or more elements of the background or an entertainment setting of the gaming machine while they are playing a game at the gaming machine. The gaming machine enables the player to enter identification information at the gaming machine and choose at least one preference. The gaming machine tracks all of the preference selections made by the player. Upon meeting certain promotional criteria, the gaming machine determines a promotion to provide the player based on the preferences of that player. That is, the player does not directly select any promotions. The gaming system determines personalized promotions for the player based on the preference selections made by that player.
US09017170B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed for enabling interactive gameplay across multiple platforms.
US09017168B2
A button structure includes a base frame longitudinally defining an arc-shaped guide slot, a button body pivoted to a front end of the base frame, a sliding part transversely defining a guide channel, and a rotating part with a guide pillar protruded thereon. The sliding part is longitudinally slidably mounted on the base frame and abuts against the button body under the elasticity of an elastic part. The rotating part is rotatably mounted under the base frame and the guide pillar passes through the guide slot to be inserted in the guide channel. In use, the sliding part can longitudinally slide on the base frame by the push of the button body and the elastic part, and the sliding of the sliding part drives the guide pillar to slide rearward and forward along the guide slot and the guide channel and further drive the rotating part to rotate.
US09017166B2
A server device receives a request for participation in a network game through a communication line, integrates user information of each user terminal from which the server receives the participation request, generates matching information of each user participating in the same network game to be started at the same time, and notifies the generated matching information to each terminal device. The matching information is different for each terminal device of notification destination so as to be displayed as if the terminal device of the notification destination made the earliest participation request, regardless of order of the participation request.
US09017165B2
Wagering game, gaming machine, networked gaming system and method with a simultaneous secondary game
A system, apparatus, and method are disclosed in which a gaming machine provides both a base game and a side game which may be played and wagered upon concurrently or according to some play sequence. The base game may be one type of game displayed on a portion of a primary display of the gaming machine and the side game may be a different type of game displayed on a remaining portion of the primary display.
US09017160B2
A method for use with a gaming machine arranged to provide a spinning reel game in which symbols are spun up on a plurality of reels to form at least one outcome and, if a winning outcome occurs, the gaming machine awards an award. The method includes (a) if at least one specified symbol is spun up and displayed in a resultant position on a reel, holding the specified symbol in the resultant position for at least one further game in which at least the reel carrying the specified symbol is re-spun; and (b) awarding the award if a winning outcome occurs, wherein a specified symbol comprising part of a winning outcome has the effect of increasing the award if the specified symbol is adjacent at least one other specified symbol.
US09017151B2
A filling machine for sausages, having a filling tube and a unit for removing a filling material plait exiting the filling tube end during a filling process interruption, where the removing unit includes a separator element by means of which the filling material plait can be removed when a relative movement is executed between the filling tube end and the separator element, the separator element including at least one filling material adhesion surface to which filling material is transferable and adherable, and the adhesion surface has associated therewith a cleaning device.
US09017148B2
A portable cutting apparatus (1) for the in situ truncation of railway rails (9) comprises a rail saw (2) having a motor (3) with a cyclic movement output member (4), a plate holder (5) adapted to carry an abrasive blade (6) and a movement transmitter (7) engaging the motor output member (4) and the plate holder (5) to set the plate holder (5) in a cyclic movement, a linkage structure (27) with a rail connector (29) and a saw connector (31) and a sawing position alternator (45) to autonomously and alternately move the plate holder (5) to and fro.
US09017145B2
The present invention provides a polishing solution distribution apparatus capable of reducing distribution deviation of polishing solution even when leveling for installation is insufficient or inclination of an installation location varies and a polishing apparatus having the same. The polishing solution distribution apparatus includes a cone-shaped branch body in which a solution pan to store supplied polishing solution is formed and in which plural flow passages radially connected to a side face of the solution pan respectively and having a delivery port to supply polishing solution to a position lower than the connected position are formed, a support portion to support the branch body, and a universal joint mechanism to support the branch body via the support portion at a position being higher than the gravity center of the branch body.
US09017136B2
An apparatus includes a housing, a rotational motor situated within the housing, an eccentric load adapted to be rotated by the rotational motor, and a plurality of legs each having a leg base and a leg tip at a distal end relative to the leg base. The legs are coupled to the housing at the leg base and include at least one driving leg constructed from a flexible material and configured to cause the apparatus to move in a direction generally defined by an offset between the leg base and the leg tip as the rotational motor rotates the eccentric load.
US09017132B2
A simplified modularized contact type of conductive building block includes: a brick, at least one pair of conductive pieces, a circuit board and a base. The brick includes at least one pair of studs projected from a top thereof. The conductive piece has an insertion electrode and a connection electrode respectively disposed at two ends thereof and a contact electrode disposed between the insertion electrode and the connection electrode. The conductive pieces are inserted through the insertion through holes of the circuit board. The circuit board includes a positive electrode circuit and a negative electrode circuit respectively contacted with the at least one pair of the conductive pieces. The conductive pieces are further inserted through the through holes of the base. The circuit board and the base are fixed in the brick.
US09017126B2
A convertible emergency device for enabling a user to deploy a floatation device from a wearable structure in an emergency situation. The convertible emergency device comprises in one embodiment waist pack which can convert to an inflated life vest by actuation of a pull cord. Such actuation of the pull cord causes portions of the body of the waist pack to automatically inflate with air from a gas cylinder canister. The convertible emergency device comprises in another embodiment a backpack configured to convert into an inflatable life boat having a pair of oars. When in the backpack state, the uninflated life boat is releasably attached to the shoulder strap and the oars, with the pair of oars disposed on the either side of the uninflated life boat. When a pull cord is pulled, the life boat is inflated to enable it to provide a floating vessel for a user.
US09017107B2
A plug-type connector for producing at least one electrical contact, in particular charging plug or heavy-duty plug, having a housing and at least one first contact element arranged in the housing, wherein the housing has a plugging-side end, which is designed for plugging connection to a complementary plug-type connector, and wherein the at least one first contact element has a free end, which faces the plugging-side end, wherein at least one first contact element of the plug-type connector and at least one part of the housing are movable relative to one another between a first position, in which the first contact element is withdrawn into the housing, and a second position, in which the free end of the first contact element is exposed.
US09017103B2
A modular connector assembly includes a housing having a mating end and a mounting end opposite the mating end. The mating end is configured to be mated with a header connector and the mounting end is configured to be mounted to a circuit board. The housing has a plurality of individual chambers separated by chamber walls. Contact assemblies are received in corresponding chambers. Each contact assembly has a dielectric body holding a differential pair of receptacle signal contacts configured to be terminated to the circuit board and mated with corresponding header signal contacts of the header connector. Each contact assembly has a ground shield coupled to an exterior of the dielectric body providing electrical shielding for the differential pair of receptacle signal contacts from other pairs of receptacle signal contacts.
US09017102B2
A port assembly comprising an outer housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the outer housing is configured to receive a coaxial cable through the second end, wherein the outer housing is configured to mate with a coupling member of a corresponding coaxial cable connector, a clamp disposed within the outer housing, the clamp including a first compression surface, a second compression surface, wherein the second compression surface opposingly corresponds to the first compression surface, and wherein the first compression surface and the second compression surface cooperate via axial compression to secure an outer conductor of the coaxial cable is provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
US09017097B2
Disclosed in the present disclosure is a data line, with two ends of the data line being provided with a first interface and a second interface respectively, and the first interface and the second interface being used for connecting to devices, wherein at least one end of the data line is provided with a first connection apparatus, with the first connection apparatus being connected to the other end of the data line or a second connection apparatus provided at the other end of the data line, so that the data line forms a circular shape by way of the connection of the first connection apparatus. By way of the present disclosure, the problem in the related art that is inconvenient to carry the data line is solved, so that the user experience is improved.
US09017096B2
Connector assembly for electrical power supply or transmission in vehicles, comprising first and a second connector devices to be mated according to a mating axis. The first connector device comprises at least one spring device terminated by at least one electrically conductive head, movable in a spring load direction. The second connector device comprises at least one interlock terminal including an electrical conductor and an insulation cap arranged in such a way that, during the mating sequence, the at least one head touches first the insulation cap on one or several insulating areas and then contacts the electrical conductor on one or several conducting areas. Each of the one or several insulating areas is offset laterally with respect to each of the one or several conducting areas, according to a lateral direction perpendicular to the mating axis and to the spring load direction.
US09017093B1
An electric meter socket assembly for an electric meter includes a female electrical contact defining a slot for receiving a male electrical contact of an electric meter to electrically connect to the electric meter. In one example, the male contact guide is in thermal contact with the female electrical contact and is configured to facilitate insertion of the male electrical contact of the electrical meter into the slot defined by the female electrical contact. The male contact guide includes a plurality of heat sink fins configured to dissipate heat generated from resistive heating of the female electrical contact. In another example, an anti-rotation stop configured to inhibit rotation of the female electrical contact relative to a mounting member on which the female electrical contact is to be mounted.
US09017091B2
A cable assembly comprises a housing including an upper cover and a lower cover assembled with each other and a pair of first and second printed circuit boards (PCBs) received in the housing and sandwiched between the upper and lower cover. The upper cover defines a number of protruding portions formed therein. Each of the protruding portion defines two steps thereon. The first and second PCBs are spaced apart from each other along a vertical direction by the two steps of each of the protruding portions. The first and second PCBs respectively define a plurality of first and second openings cooperating with corresponding protruding portions.
US09017088B2
An electric connector includes a housing having an opening and a bottom. The housing has a recess formed at the bottom and at least one electric terminal projects through a bottom of the recess into the housing. A sealant layer composed of cured light-curing resin at least partially fills the recess.
US09017084B2
Disclosed a memory card connector including a case body having a memory card storage portion which allows insertion of either a memory card having single row of signal pad portions and a memory card having front and rear rows of the pad portions, the case body having rear-row signal contacts coming into abutment with the rear-row signal pad portions of the memory card and contacts that establish electric contact by coming into abutment with the single row of signal pad portions or the front-row signal pad portions. Each the rear-row signal contact has two contact ends to abut only with the case portion of the card when the card having single row signal pad portions is stored in the storage portion, and to abut only with the rear-row signal pad portion of the card when the card having the two rows of pad portions is stored in the storage portion.
US09017083B2
A vehicle grounding device includes an attachment member electrically conductive with a vehicle body, an attached member in which an electrical component is incorporated, and an insulator configured to include a conductor being electrically conductive with the electrical component, an insulative member covering the conductor, and a grounding terminal being electrically conductive with the conductor and protruded from the insulative member. The insulator is configured to be attached to the attached member. The grounding terminal is attached to the attachment member together with an attachment portion of the attached member by fastening with a conductive fastening member in a state that the grounding terminal is overlaid on the attachment portion of the attached member, so that the electrical component is grounded to the attachment member through the grounding terminal and the fastening member.
US09017081B2
A socket for electric part which suppresses a warp of a floating plate caused by the bias power of the spring even if a bending stiffness of the floating plate is low. The socket for electrical part according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a unit body being located on a interconnection substrate and having through holes into which the contact terminals are inserted, a floating plate holding an IC package and vertically movably supported at the upper part of the socket body, a rivet put in the floating plate to guide a vertical movement of the floating plate, and a spring located between a part of the socket body and the rivet to biases the floating plate upward via the rivet.
US09017076B2
A method, and handpiece for performing the method, for controlling a drive device for moving a root canal instrument having a drive shaft and at least one cutting edge for preparing a root canal, and at least one drive motor being operated by a control unit. The root canal instrument is moved in at least one reciprocal movement in a first direction of rotation over a predetermined first angle of rotation and subsequently in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation over a predetermined second angle of rotation. After the at least one reciprocal movement, the root canal instrument is rotated over at least one third angle of rotation.
US09017075B1
A bone implant includes an implant having an implantation end and a connection end. A blind hole is formed in the connection end and extends in an axial direction, defining an abutment receiving section and a locking section. The abutment receiving section includes an anti-rotation portion having a minimal inner width perpendicular to the axial direction. An abutment includes an elastic, deformable portion, a connection portion, and a prosthesis engagement portion. The abutment further includes a bore extending in the axial direction. The elastic, deformable portion includes resilient plates, with a slit formed between two adjacent resilient plates. The elastic, deformable portion has a maximal outer width larger than the minimal inner width. The elastic, deformable portion is aligned and engages with the anti-rotation portion. An abutment screw includes a head end positioned in the bore of the abutment and a locking end engaged with the locking section.
US09017072B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods of developing and tracking delivery and patient progression through an orthodontic treatment plan. One method includes identifying deviations from an orthodontic treatment plan, including receiving a digital representation of an actual arrangement of a patient's teeth after an orthodontic treatment plan has begun for the patient and prior to completion of the orthodontic treatment plan. The method further includes comparing the actual arrangement to a pre-determined planned arrangement to determine if the actual arrangement substantially deviates from the planned arrangement, the comparing comprising matching teeth from a previously segmented model to a surface of an unsegmented representation of the actual arrangement; and calculating one or more positional differences between the actual and planned arrangements of at least some of the corresponding teeth.
US09017067B2
A premix burner arrangement for safely oxygen-enriching a premix air-fuel combustion system is disclosed. In the disclosed burner arrangement, a first conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a first gas stream. The first gas stream is a self-reactive or self-flammable premixture comprising air and a combustible gas. At least one second conduit is arranged and disposed to provide a second gas stream circumferentially around the first gas stream. The second gas stream includes oxygen. The premix burner arrangement is configured to combust or react the first stream at a temperature at least 1000° F. greater than the temperature of the second stream. A method and combustion system including the premix burner arrangement are also disclosed.
US09017063B2
A hot runner injection molding apparatus comprising: a machine injection unit with a machine nozzle, a first machine platen fixed to a machine base, a second machine platen movable with respect to the first machine platen, a hot runner manifold, a plurality of hot runner nozzles, a movable valve pin plate connected to plurality of valve pins, at least one moving device for moving the movable plate with the valve pins (37) between at least two positions, whereupon the valve pins are displaced between at least two positions, wherein the first machine platen has a chamber within which the hot runner manifold, the movable valve pin plate and the moving device are arranged.
US09017057B2
A device for producing pellets that has a perforated plate for extruding a melt into a process chamber, and a cutting device for cutting the melt into pellets. The process chamber can have an inlet and an outlet. A conveying device can deliver a process fluid through the inlet, and carry the process fluid and pellets through the outlet. The inlet can have an inlet opening and an inlet channel. A three-way valve can be located between the inlet channel, a process fluid supply line, and a process fluid discharge line, and below the inlet. The outlet can have a discharge opening and an outlet channel. A pneumatic device can provide compressed air to the process chamber for emptying and expelling the process fluid.
US09017056B2
An apparatus for uniformly curing resin is described herein. The apparatus includes at least a lamp system that is to emit ultraviolet (“UV”) light. The lamp system is to emit the UV light from a light-emitting diode (“LED”) light source, which is to be energized and controlled by an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit may be provided as part of a circuit board which has power delivered thereto from a power cord. The lamp system can further include a handle having an attachment device so that the lamp system may be securely engaged with a glass surface. The lamp system may be adapted to be coupled with a resin injection system. When engaged with the resin injection system, the lamp system can deliver UV light to the injected resin so that the injected resin may be quickly and uniformly cured.
US09017041B2
A variable displacement lubricant pump includes a first plunger which pushes a shiftable control ring into a high pumping volume direction. A pump rotor comprises radially slidable vanes which rotate in the control ring. A pressure control system comprises a first pressure control chamber wherein a first plunger is axially moveable. A first pressure conduit connects a pump outlet port with the first pressure control chamber. A first pressure control valve controls a pressure in the first pressure control chamber. A second pressure control valve between an outlet opening in a side wall of the first pressure control chamber and a low pressure source controls the outlet opening and is a centrifugal valve mechanically connected with the pump rotor which closes at a high rotational speed of the pump rotor. The outlet opening is closed by the first plunger in a low pumping volume position and opened in a high pumping volume position.
US09017038B2
The design of a high efficiency, variable performance vaneaxial fan, requires the utilization of typical fan and single stage compressor design methodologies. To be able to replace multiple fans, the variable vaneaxial fan design must be capable of operation at several different flow rates and total pressures. These operation points can be met by varying motor revolutions per minute (RPM) or geometric parameters such as the hub diameter, tip diameter, as well as blade geometry including number of blades, pitch, spacing, and length. An ideal design with variable performance can replace a family of current fan designs by providing the capability for efficient operation over a range of flow rates and total pressures. This level of variability would not only allow the fan to respond to changing environmental conditions but also to be fit into systems with different characteristics.
US09017036B2
A turbomachine blade with a localized dihedral feature has a high order polynomial shaped curve region.
US09017034B2
An upwind wind turbine comprising blades extending radially from a rigid hub on a main shaft having a horizontal axis is described. The blades and hub constitute a rotor with a rotor plane. The main shaft is pivotally mounted in a nacelle on top of a tower which pivots around the vertical axis of the tower. The rotor plane adjusts in relation to wind direction, so during normal use the rotor is positioned on the upwind side of the tower. Each blade has at least a first leeward supporting mechanism having first and second ends. The first end connects to the blade at a first leeward mounting point positioned in a radial distance from the horizontal axis. The second end connects to a second leeward mounting point at a rotatable part and is positioned in an axial distance from the rotor plane on the leeward side of the rotor.
US09017026B2
A turbine airfoil includes pressure and suction sidewalls extending along a span from a base to a tip. Spanwise spaced apart trailing edge cooling holes in the pressure sidewall end at corresponding spanwise spaced apart trailing edge cooling slots extending chordally substantially to the trailing edge. Each cooling hole includes a plug extending downstream through at least a portion of a spanwise diverging section leading into the slot. The plug may be spanwise centered in the hole and may include a plug dome rising up from a plug base extending along a suction sidewall surface of the suction sidewall. The cooling hole may further include an inlet leading to a metering section with a constant area and constant width flow cross section upstream of spanwise diverging section. Lands may be disposed between the trailing edge cooling slots forming slot floors between lands.
US09017022B2
A shell of a stator for a module of an aircraft turbo-engine including a plurality of through openings each configured to house a stator blade, each opening forming a skeleton extending between a first end configured to house the trailing edge of the blade and a second end configured to house the leading edge of the blade. At least one of the openings is associated with a mechanical load transfer slit passing through the shell, and arranged facing and at a distance from the first end of the opening along the direction of the skeleton.
US09017017B2
A variable-vane assembly for a variable nozzle turbine comprises a nozzle ring supporting a plurality of vanes affixed to vane arms that are engaged in recesses in the inner edge of a unison ring. The unison ring is rotatable about the axis of the nozzle ring so as to pivot the vane arms, thereby pivoting the vanes in unison. A plurality of guide pins for the unison ring are inserted into apertures in the nozzle ring and are rigidly affixed therein such that the guide pins are non-rotatably secured to the nozzle ring with a guide portion of each guide pin projecting axially from the face of the nozzle ring. Each guide portion defines a shoulder radially overlapping the inner edge of the unison ring such that the unison ring is restrained by the guide pins against excessive movement in both radial and axial directions.
US09017012B2
A ring segment for a gas turbine engine includes a panel and a cooling system. The cooling system is provided within the panel and includes a cooling fluid supply trench having an open top portion and extending radially inwardly from a central recessed portion of the panel. The cooling system further includes a plurality of cooling fluid passages extending from the cooling fluid supply trench to a leading edge and/or a trailing edge of the panel. The cooling fluid passages receive cooling fluid from the cooling fluid supply trench, wherein the cooling fluid provides convective cooling to the panel as it passes through the cooling fluid passages.
US09017009B2
A handling unit for relocating parts, comprises a base part and a handling arm, wherein the handling arm is guided in a linear direction along a first axis of movement and along a second axis of movement which extends transversely with respect to the first axis of movement such that it can be adjusted with respect to the base part, and wherein for guiding the handling arm, a guiding cam is provided on the base part and at least one cam follower is provided on the handling arm, wherein a first drive is provided for adjusting the handling arm along the first axis of movement and a second drive is provided for adjusting the handling arm along the second axis of movement.
US09017007B2
The invention provides for a pallet turntable (1). The turntable (1) comprises a stationary bottom part (2) and a movable top part (3) comprising a platform (4) suitable for receiving a pallet (5), wherein the movable top part (3) is arranged linearly displaceable in a vertical direction with respect to the stationary bottom part (2). The turntable (1) further comprises guide means (6) for guiding an angular displacement around a direction of the vertical linear displacement in dependency of the linear displacement, at least when the movable top part (3) is being vertically linearly displaced in a direction towards the stationary bottom part (2). The invention further provides for a method for turning a pallet (5) and use of a pallet turntable (1).
US09017003B2
A loading device for incorporation into a vehicle, such as an ambulance, for loading and unloading a stretcher. The loading device has a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. The loading device being predisposed to the extended configuration. The loading device may include a hoist assembly to counteract the predisposition to the extended position and move the loading device to the retracted configuration.
US09017000B2
The present invention as disclosed herein is an improved vehicle parking structure and method for using the same. The vehicle parking structure provides for the automated storage and retrieval of vehicles in response to user inputs. In one aspect, the vehicle parking structure comprises one or more transfer rooms in which a vehicle operator may deposit and later retrieve a vehicle, a plurality of parking spaces of either fixed or variable dimensions, and one or more vehicle transporters used to move vehicles from the one or more transfer rooms to the plurality of parking spaces. The one or more vehicle transporters are in turn each preferably comprised of one or more vertical stabilizers, one or more tractors, one or more lifts, a lifting platform, and a dolly. The vehicle transporters move the lifting platform and dolly so that the dolly may be positioned to access a vehicle located in a transfer room or parking space.
US09016998B2
A load lock having a reduced volume, thereby allowing faster pumping and venting, is disclosed. The load lock uses a movable bottom wall to modify the volume of the chamber to be pumped. In a first position, the movable wall is disposed so as to create a small internal volume. In a second position, the bottom wall is moved downward, allowing the workpiece to be in contact with a process chamber or an exit aperture. The bottom wall may be sealed in the first position through the use of a sealing mechanism, such as a magnetic clamp. The bottom wall may also include a workpiece holding mechanism. The top wall may be a removable cover, which is moved by an actuator. A robotic mechanism may supply workpieces to the load lock while the top wall is in the open position.
US09016997B2
Safety apparatuses for objects having at least one nut are disclosed. Contemplated apparatuses comprise a base, one or more nut caps, and one or more electronic sensors configured to acquire data related to a corresponding nut, wheel or tire. In some embodiments, a physical nut rotation indicator that can readily be observed by an operator is included, and a retention wall disposed on the base can operate in conjunction with the physical nut rotation indicator to block a rotation of a nut. Apparatuses are preferably configured to remain stable in harsher environments.
US09016996B2
A threaded metal sleeve includes a core and a thread provided on the outside of the core, with the thread profile having a flank angle within the range from 25° to 35°. The pitch (h) of the thread is 0.1-fold to 0.4-fold of the outer diameter of the threaded sleeve, and the thread depth of the thread is 0.02-fold to 0.2-fold of the outer diameter of the threaded sleeve.
US09016991B2
A generator stator core through-bolt tensioning device that automatically tightens the nut on the through-bolts that hold together and compress laminate plates of the stator core in a high voltage generator. A controller receives a signal from a measuring device, such as a fiber Bragg grating that measures the strain on the bolt, and based on that signal determines whether the nut needs to be tightened. If the controller determines that tightening is necessary, it will cause the tensioning device to automatically tighten the nut while the generator is in service, and use the measuring device to provide feedback of the tensioning of the through-bolt to know when to stop the device from tightening the nut.
US09016983B2
A method for preventing shield jamming by excessive frictional resistance in earth pressure balance shield which involves real-time monitoring of earth pressure signal for earth pressure on the shield body through sensors on the shield machine. Combined with the known parameters, resistance in the shield machine is calculated. The friction F1 between the shield body and the stratum is calculated by CPU module in PLC according to the earth pressure signals on a real-time basis. Then the friction F1 is determined whether it is less than or equal to the difference between the quotient of dividing total propulsion force Ft by correction coefficient Kxz and total resistance of F2, F3, F4 and F5; if so, it is under normal propulsion; if not, the warning device alarms.
US09016980B2
An apparatus for protecting against environmental contamination at a drilling site is disclosed. The apparatus is used to form a perimeter around the drilling site, the interior of which is covered by a geomembrane. The portion of the geomembrane found along the perimeter is placed in the groove of the apparatus's base. A key block is then fit into the grove, thereby holding the geomembrane in place by the tension created between the base and the key block. At those perimeter locations that will be traversed by vehicles and equipment, two ramp pieces replace the key block in holding the geomembrane tight against the base.
US09016974B2
A coupling device releasably couples tubes of a pole dancing pole. The coupling device includes a body, and a mechanism comprising a first threaded element and a screw member mating with each other, the mechanism being arranged to apply a force to an interior surface of at least one of the tubes by turning the screw member with respect to the first threaded element. The mechanism is further arranged such that, during operation of the mechanism to increase the force applied to the interior surface of at least one of the tubes, a screw axis of the first threaded element and a screw axis of the screw member remain substantially aligned with each other. Also disclosed is a pole dancing pole and a pole dancing pole kit including the coupling device.
US09016973B2
A method for improving joint strength between a first and second member comprising the steps of: applying a sealant material including a matrix material at least partially encasing rigid components to the first and second members; joining the first and second members upon an application of force that is applied through the use of one or more fasteners; wherein a compressive force is applied to the exterior surface of both the first and second members by the one or more fasteners while the rigid components apply an internal tension force acting opposite of the compression force to the interior surface of both the first and second members proximate to the fastener to form a mechanical lock thereby reducing slippage and generally maintaining the joint in position.
US09016963B2
The present invention provides a color film developing apparatus, which is used to uniformly develop photoresist on the surface of a substrate as manufacturing a liquid crystal panel, comprising a developing chamber. The developing chamber comprises a first developing chamber and a second developing chamber respectively set inclined to a horizontal plane; the inclined directions of the first developing chamber and the second developing chamber inclined to the horizontal plane are contrary to each other. The color film developing apparatus according to the present invention can avoid the secondary development of the photoresist on the inclined substrate caused by the developer flowing from top to bottom when the substrate passes the developing chamber and proceeds to develop; enhance the uniformity of the development of the substrate; improve the uniformity of the in-plane process; narrow the differences; improve the quality of the product.
US09016962B1
A cover surrounds an imaging apparatus of capturing an image. The cover includes a first section that forms a part of the cover and includes a first joint end, a second section that forms a part of the cover and includes a second joint end, and a joint that is provided between the first joint end of the first section and the second joint end of the second section. An incidence angle of light which is adapted to be incident to the joint from the imaging apparatus is smaller than a predetermined angle which does not cause total reflection.
US09016956B2
An optoelectronic transmission module is applied in an optoelectronic connector for data transmission. In the present invention, one flexible circuit board and two hard circuit boards are in electrical connection, among which the first circuit board is electrically connected with an optoelectronic module for connecting with an optical fiber. With this structure, the second and the third circuit boards can transmit or receive data through the optical fiber of the first circuit board. In this manner, this invention can conduct bidirectional data transmission so as to save significantly the consumption of manufacturing cost of the optoelectronic module.
US09016952B2
A roller bearing that includes a number of rolling elements located between an inner ring and an outer ring, a housing component to which the outer ring is non-rigidly attached, wherein the outer ring is designed in a single piece and comprises a track section that abuts against the housing component, a spring section comprising radial inner and radial outer spring rods and a flange that is bolted to the housing component, wherein the radial inner springrods are connected together with the radial outer spring rods by way of a single connecting ring.
US09016949B2
A bearing unit having an axis of rotation and provided with a stationary ring and a rotatable ring arranged coaxially with respect to one another, a magnetic encoder fixed onto the inner ring and extending in front of an annular surface of the stationary ring; and a protective cover mounted on the external ring to protect the encoder and close off a space defined between the two rings; an annular channel being formed in the stationary ring and sealing means being arranged between the side wall and the axial lug within the annular channel so as to seal the cover and prevent the infiltration of impurities between the cover and the axial lug.
US09016939B2
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a stacked integrated chip structure having a thermal sensor that detects a temperature of one or a plurality of integrated chips. In some embodiments, the stacked integrated chip structure has a main integrated chip and a secondary integrated chip located on an interposer wafer. The main integrated chip has a reference voltage source that generates a bias current. The secondary integrated chip has a second thermal diode that receives the bias current and based thereupon generates a second thermal sensed voltage and a second reference voltage that is proportional to a temperature of the secondary integrated chip. A digital thermal sensor within the main integrated chip determines a temperature of the secondary integrated chip based upon as comparison of the second thermal sensed voltage and the reference voltage.
US09016933B2
A balance wheel for timepiece movement, which obeys the following condition: D5·f/I≦20·10−2m3kg−1s−1 where D is the diameter of the balance wheel, f is the frequency and I is the moment of inertia.
US09016924B2
According to some aspects, a light-emitting module that is small and easy to produce may be provided. On the surface of a board, a light-emitting element and an electrical connection portion electrically connected to the light-emitting element are provided. In some examples, in a position close to the electrical connection portion of the board, a through-hole that penetrates the board is formed. Through the through-hole of the board, an electric wire for supplying electric power to the light-emitting element may be inserted from the back surface of the board to the front surface to be electrically connected to the electrical connection portion.
US09016917B2
An electronic device includes a housing, a first light guide plate, a second light guide plate, and a first adhesive member. A first hole in position to a first light-emitting source and a second hole in position to a second light-emitting source are formed on the housing. The first light guide plate has a first projection to be inserted into the first hole. The second light guide plate has a main-body plate portion to be superposed on the first light guide plate with the first projection penetrating therethrough and a second projection to be inserted into the second hole. The second light guide plate blocks out the light of the first light-emitting source with the main-body plate portion. The first adhesive member is inserted between the second light guide plate and the housing, and attaches the main-body plate portion to the housing.
US09016912B1
A mud flap that is fitted with a number of LED lights that illuminate the mud flap and any designs that may be on the flap. The lights also provide a safety feature, as the illuminated mud flaps help make a vehicle easier to see in dark driving conditions. Moreover, it is possible to connect the mud flap circuits into the brake light system to illuminate a set of red lights when braking to improve visibility. The mud flap is built up using a front rubber piece, a back rubber piece and a clear plastic insert that provides spacing for the LED bulbs. The back rubber piece is thicker at the top to maintain the proper spacing and shape. The mud flap is held together by rivets or glue, depending on the material used.
US09016911B2
A bicycle light includes a body and a fixture tool for fixing the body to a bicycle. The body includes a light-emitting portion, a substrate unit having an electronic circuit controlling a light-emitting state of the light-emitting portion, a lens for obtaining desired light distribution from light received from the light-emitting portion, a lens cover, a battery case and a battery lid forming a closed space for storing the light-emitting portion and the substrate unit, a bar switch relatively movable with respect to the substrate unit for varying the operational state of the electronic circuit by partially pressing the substrate unit and a guide hole guiding movement of the bar switch. The fixture tool includes a contact portion coming into contact with the bar switch for moving the bar switch and a flexible portion for pivoting the body on the fixture tool.
US09016909B2
An ornamental fixture includes a monolithic frame member having a plurality of integral bendable members, and a plurality of ornaments supported on the integral bendable members. The plurality of generally bendable members has a first portion and a second portion. At least a portion of the first portion is bent so that the second portion forms a post receivable in a first opening of a passageway within the ornament, and forms a distal portion extending from a second opening out of the passageway of the ornament. The distal portion is bent to inhibit movement of the ornaments off of the post.
US09016907B2
An air cooled double ended high pressure sodium lamp fixture for growing plants in confined indoor spaces. The fixture seals the lamp and heat generated by the same to a reflector interior. Flow disruptors create turbulence in a cooling chamber thereby enhancing thermal transfer into a cooling air stream that flows over and around the reflector's exterior side thereby convectively cooling the lamp using the reflector as a heat sink. The lamp is effectively maintained at operational temperatures and the fixture housing is insulated from the hotter reflector by a gap of moving cooling air, allowing use of the double ended HPS lamp in confined indoor growing spaces.
US09016906B2
An example electronic device includes a printed circuit board having a first row of light sources coupled to a first surface of the printed circuit board and a second row of light sources coupled to a second surface of the printed circuit board; a panel having a plurality of visual indicators; an first housing having a first row of chambers each having a first opening to receive one of the first row of light sources and a second opening to communicate light from the one of the first row of light sources to one of the visual indicators; and a second housing having a second row of chambers each having a third opening to receive one of the second row of light sources and a fourth opening to communicate light from the one of the second row of light sources to a second one of the visual indicators.
US09016902B1
An illuminating building block with high light transmission includes a base, a top cover, a circuit board and at least one illuminating member. The illuminating building block uses electric connection members connected with the circuit board to electrically connect with the adjacent illuminating building block. Because the electric connection members are disposed by the top cover and a side wall, the electric connection members do not block the light emitted from the illuminating member. Thus, the illuminating building block is provided with the characteristic of high light transmission. Moreover, due to elasticity of the electric connection members, the electric connection members are pressed against the circuit board of the adjacent illuminating building block. Therefore, the electric connection between connected illuminating building blocks is more secure.
US09016899B2
A luminaire comprising a base, a heat sink modularly connected to the base, and a heat-generating element in thermal communication with the modular heat sink. The heat sink may include a heat-generating element contacting portion, and a plurality of heat sink segments connected to and extending outwardly therefrom. Each of the heat sink assemblies segments may comprise at least one fin assembly. Each heat sink segment may pass through a respective plurality of passageways in the top portion of the base so that the heat sink segments may matingly engage the medial portion of the base. A method for forming a heat sink comprises fabricating a heat-generating element contacting portion, constructing a plurality of heat sink segments, and assembling the plurality of heat sink segments to connect to and extend outwardly from the bottom surface of the heat-generating element contacting portion.
US09016890B2
An optical semiconductor-based tube type lighting apparatus capable of enlarging light distribution to have improved assembly characteristics. The lighting apparatus includes an elongated light-transmitting tube, and a plurality of optical semiconductor modules arranged along a circumference of the light-transmitting tube and separated from each other in a cross-sectional view of the light-transmitting tube. Each of the optical semiconductor modules is placed on a point, which is not on a central axis line of light emitted from other optical semiconductor modules, so as not to face another optical semiconductor module at an opposite side thereof.
US09016878B1
An optical element is described that is a single molded piece. It includes a parabolic mirror configured to reflect substantially collimated light incident along a first axis. The reflected light converges towards a virtual focal point located along a second axis. The piece also includes a plane turning mirror positioned with respect to the parabolic mirror such that the converging light hits a surface of the plane mirror after traveling a distance less than a focal length of the parabolic mirror. The plane mirror reflects the incident converging light outward as exit light, which focuses at a final focus point located a nonzero distance from the plane mirror. The final focus point is located in a plane defined by the second axis and a third axis, and is offset at a nonzero angle from the third axis relative to a point on the surface of the plane mirror.
US09016868B2
An image projection apparatus for projecting an image on a projection plane includes a light source; a light source housing to encase the light source; a ventilation unit to send air to the light source; and a flow path set between the light source housing and a side face of the image projection apparatus. A part of the air sent to the light source, by using the ventilation unit, is flowed into the flow path.
US09016863B2
The different illustrative embodiments provide a method, computer program product, and apparatus for manufacturing a scleral contact lens. A number of dimensions for the scleral lens is generated based on a shape of an eye. An alteration to a first wavefront of light caused by the first wavefront of light traveling through a pupil of the eye is identified. A modification configured to be made to a posterior surface of the scleral lens is generated based on the alteration. The modification removes the alteration for a second wavefront of light traveling through the scleral lens and the pupil of the eye.
US09016859B2
Ophthalmic lenses for the treatment of presbyopia may be improved to enhance the visual experience of the patient. By adjusting the optical design of presbyopic lenses to account for changes in pupil size due to the degree of myopia or hyperopia, an enhanced visual experience may be achieved independent of the level of ametropia.
US09016852B2
An image forming apparatus includes a housing having an access cover, a paper feed tray, and a paper discharge tray provided on a side thereof in a rotatable manner. A rotation pivot of the paper feed tray and a rotation pivot of the access cover are arranged on the same axis, and a rotation pivot of the paper discharge tray is arranged with a shift from the rotation pivot of the access cover.
US09016847B1
An inkjet ink set comprising: a color ink including a photocurable compound, a photopolymerization initiator, a gelling agent, and a colorant, the color ink undergoing a sol-gel phase transition depending on the temperature; and a clear ink including a photocurable compound, a photopolymerization initiator, and a gelling agent, the clear ink undergoing a sol-gel phase transition depending on the temperature. The viscosity (η) (CL) of the clear ink at 25° C. is less than ½ the viscosity (η) (CO) of the color ink at 25° C., and the viscosity (η) (CL) of the clear ink is 1×103 mPa·s or greater. Provided is an inkjet ink set by which a printed image offering both high image quality and surface gloss can be formed.
US09016843B2
A determiner determines whether a total ink amount in an ink circulation passage calculated by an ink amount calculator is less than an ink circulation necessary amount being an amount necessary for circulation of ink in the ink circulation passage, when a liquid level detector detects that a liquid level of the ink in an ink tank is lower than a liquid level corresponding to an ink circulation standard amount being a standard for ink circulation. A controller performs ink supply amount control to supply the ink from an ink bottle to the ink tank in such an amount that the total ink amount is kept below the ink circulation standard amount, when the determiner determines that the total ink amount is less than the ink circulation necessary amount.
US09016842B2
A liquid container and an apparatus in which the liquid container is mountable are provided, the liquid container and the apparatus enabling the presence or absence of remaining liquid to be checked without the need for a power source and even after the liquid container is removed. The pressure in a communication path is maintained while ink in a containing section is not supplied to the exterior. Thus, the displacement state of a detection valve which is displaced depending on the pressure in the communication path can be maintained even after removal of an ink tank.
US09016819B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a droplet discharging head that includes nozzle rows; a light emitting unit that irradiates a droplet with laser light emitted in a direction intersecting a discharging direction of the droplet; a light-receiving unit that receives scattered light scattered when the droplet is irradiated by the laser light and outputs a signal corresponding to an amount of the scattered light; and a droplet discharge detecting unit that detects a droplet discharging status of the nozzles based on the signal. The laser light is emitted with an optical axis shifted from middle between two adjacent nozzle rows; and the droplet discharge detecting unit selects two nozzles adjacent in a direction intersecting the nozzle rows as detection target nozzles, and detects the droplet discharging status of the detection target nozzles based on the scattered light scattered when droplets are simultaneously discharged from the detection target nozzles.
US09016811B2
The invention is a device for concealing personal items comprising a release, a pivot, a drawer cradle, and a support. The pivot is fixedly connected to the support and rotatably connected to the drawer cradle. The drawer cradle may be in an activated position or a deactivated position. When the release is activated gravity operates to rotate the drawer cradle about the pivot.
US09016809B2
A track for a tracked vehicle includes two or more track shoes. The track shoes include one or more links having a first link end and a second link end, one or more pins received by one or more links and movable between an installed position and a dislodged position, and one or more pockets positioned adjacent to the pin and formed to receive a hydraulic jack. A first link end of a first track shoe is configured to pivotally couple with a second link end of a second track shoe, and a second link end of a first track shoe is configured to pivotally couple with a first link end of a third track shoe. The track may also include a pin removal system configured to dislodge the pin from the track.
US09016808B2
In a vehicle brake device, a port is provided at a hydraulic chamber of a master cylinder and communicates with a reservoir tank. A piston movable in the hydraulic chamber for closing the port is provided with at least one piston-side port that faces on the port when at a first position. When a brake pedal is stepped on from a retracted state to move the piston from the first position to a second position spaced from the first position by a predetermined distance, the hydraulic chamber is blocked from the communication with the reservoir tank. The at least one piston-side port is provided therein with an orifice, so that the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber is raised at the time of a quick stepping of the brake pedal but is allowed to flow to the reservoir tank without being raised at the time of a non-quick stepping.
US09016807B1
An electric-hydraulic antilock braking system (ABS) installed in a trailer is coupled with a tow vehicle to facilitate controlled braking of the trailer. A trailer in-cab controller (TIC) monitors vehicle networks for diagnostic information used in determining appropriate braking actions to be taken. A communication network can interconnect the TIC, a trailer actuator controller (TAC), and an ABS controller. The ABS controller receives current tow vehicle speeds and current trailer wheel speeds, and dynamically adjusts the brakes based on the differences in the speeds. A three-way solenoid valve or an equivalent valve structure thereto allows for the ABS system to be quickly activated and deactivated.
US09016805B2
A vehicle brake system includes a brake pedal unit (BPU) coupled to a vehicle brake pedal and including an input piston connected to operate a pedal simulator during a normal braking mode, and coupled to actuate a pair of output pistons during a manual push through mode. The output pistons are operable to generate brake actuating pressure at first and second outputs of the BPU. A hydraulic pressure source for supplying fluid at a controlled boost pressure is included. The system further includes a hydraulic control unit (HCU) adapted to be hydraulically connected to the BPU and the hydraulic pressure source, the HCU including a slip control valve arrangement, and a switching base brake valve arrangement for switching the brake system between the normal braking mode wherein boost pressure from the pressure source is supplied to first and second vehicle brakes, and the manual push through mode wherein brake actuating pressure from the BPU is supplied to the first and second vehicle brakes.
US09016803B2
Axle mounting assemblies including an object, an axle, and a bushing assembly that operatively couples the object to the axle. The bushing assembly includes a bushing portion that extends at least partially through and engages a hub of the object, a fastener operatively retained relative to a bore defined by the bushing portion and positioned around the end region of the axle, and a force-receiving portion configured to selectively receive an installation force for operatively positioning the fastener over the end region of the axle.
US09016799B2
A method of increasing a dwell time of a slurry facility at a given ore processing location by using a mobile oil sands mining system. The method involves coordinating the operation of at least two mining conveyors to facilitate mining at least one arc-shaped sector of ore that otherwise would not be within operational reach of the slurry facility at the ore processing location. The method increases the slurry facility's operational time at the ore processing location before relocation thereof is required to keep the slurry facility within operational reach of at least one receding mine face.
US09016784B2
A vehicle seat assembly includes a seat defining a seating area. An internal flex member is disposed in the seat. An external flex member is proximate a forward edge of the seat. A first actuation assembly is operably coupled to the internal flex member to raise a portion of the seat. A second actuation assembly translates the external flex member between a retracted position and an extended position that enlarges the effective seating area.
US09016779B2
A seat (10, 20, 30, 70, 80, 90, 110) of a manual or powered ride on vehicle, the seat including at least one resilient elastomeric web seat portion (4, 24, 34, 78, 94, 114) suspended in tension between first (5, 25, 79a,119) and second (6, 26, 78, 79b, 87,118) supports, the suspended web(s) supporting a rider when sat on by the rider with the elastomeric web(s) resiliently stretching with increasing reactive tension under rider weight to react rider weight and give elastomeric tension seat support to the rider.
US09016778B2
A vehicle seating assembly comprises a base having an upper rim and a receptacle below the rim, a seatback having upper and lower sections operable at an intermediate hinge between opened and closed positions and frame members operably coupling the base with the seatback, and operable between a use position, wherein the seatback is above the base, and a stowed position, wherein the seatback is in front of and below the rim.
US09016775B2
A lightweight construction element (2) for a body of a motor vehicle (1) with a support frame (3) having four frame parts (5, 6, 7, 8), which essentially spans a square and with panelling (4) mounted on the support frame (3). The the support frame (3) is made of a fiber-reinforced plastic and has at least two intersecting braces (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20) that are designed according to bionic aspects and in which the intersection or intersections (15, 18) are connected and each of which join two of the frame parts (5, 6, 7, 8) perpendicular to one another with one another.
US09016759B2
A utility bed includes a bed frame, a side wall, and a door. The door at least partially defines a passageway and is pivotally coupled with the side wall and pivotable between an opened position and a closed position. A securing portion is configured for selective routing through the handle and releasable coupling to an adjacent portion of the utility bed.
US09016756B2
Provided is a vehicle floor mat reducing a load on a mat main body. The vehicle floor mat includes at least one fastening device for fastening the mat main body to a vehicle. The fastening device includes a first fastening member fixed to the vehicle and a second fastening member fixed to the mat main body. The first fastening member includes a vertical rotating knob, and the second fastening member includes: an insertion receiving section for the rotating knob to be inserted thereinto and engaged therewith; and upper and lower half bodies sandwiching the mat main body and being connected to each other through a half body connecting portion for the rotating knob to be inserted thereinto and at least one outer connecting portion disposed outside the half body connecting portion provided around the insertion receiving section, thus improving a connecting strength between the upper and lower half bodies.
US09016754B2
An embodiment of the present invention discloses an agricultural work vehicle comprising a cabin and at least a cladding element (105) for delimiting an internal space of the cabin, in which the cladding element (105) comprises an opening (135) able to place the internal space of the cabin in communication with a compartment (140) in which at least a seat (205) is housed, the seat (205) being mobile with respect to the cladding element (105) between a rest position, in which it is completely contained in the compartment (140), and a use position, in which it is horizontally orientated and projects at least partially into the internal space of the cabin.
US09016747B2
At least two reinforcing members are provided apart from each other in a vertical direction, a connecting member formed integrally with or separately from a door mirror reinforcement is provided, and the connecting member interconnects the two reinforcing members vertically at a position which is located in back of front ends of the two reinforcing members. Accordingly, the better visibility can be provided, the attachment rigidity can be increased, and the door strength can be properly improved.
US09016731B2
The system includes a collar (10) and a washer (28), the collar having a tightenable band (12) suitable for co-operating with bearing surfaces (16, 18) of the interconnected tubes (1, 2) via its inside periphery defining a setback (14). The washer (28) is secured to the collar and the system further includes first pre-fitter (38) for acting when the collar is in the non-tightened state to secure the collar to the first tube when the bearing surface (16) of the first tube is engaged in the setback (14). The clamping system further includes second pre-fitter (40) for acting, when the collar (10) is secured to the first tube (1) by the first pre-fitter (38), to secure the collar to the second tube (2) when the bearing surface (18) of the second tube (2) is also engaged in the setback (14).
US09016721B1
A front airbag assembly deployable from a steering wheel or instrument panel of a vehicle. The airbag assembly includes an airbag cushion and an outer panel that is coupled to the airbag cushion to form a channel. The venting capacity of some airbag assemblies can be modulated without input from an electrical sensor. In some circumstances, the venting capacity of the airbag assembly can vary based on whether and where a vehicle occupant strikes the outer panel of the airbag assembly.
US09016718B2
In a vehicle occupant restraint, a sub bag is inflated and deployed in an early stage at a high pressure prior to a main bag as a gas that is discharged from an inflator to the sub bag is supplied to the main bag via a communication opening. Accordingly, a lower section of the sub bag can favorably be interposed in a narrow space between a waist of a occupant and a console box. In addition, an upper section of the sub bag is supported by a top surface of the console box, and this the sub bag is firmly supported by the console box. Therefore, the main bag is supported to a same degree as when the console box is extended upward by a height of the sub bag.
US09016713B2
The invention relates to a ski binding (1) for fastening a ski boot, comprising a front retainer (2); a rear retainer (3); a tensioning mechanism (20) acting between the front and the rear retainer whereby the ski boot can be clamped between the front (2) and the rear (3) retainer in such a way as to allow the heel to be lifted freely; a front sole support device (6) arranged at or by the front retainer (2), the front sole support device being pivotal about the horizontal transverse axis (7) relative to the front retainer (2); and a locking element (8) adapted to fix the front sole support device (6); wherein the locking element (8) is adapted to lift the front sole support device (6) into contact with the front part of the ski boot such that the front sole support device (6) is fixed between the locking element (8) and the front part of the ski boot.
US09016707B2
A mounting bracket cantilevers a support arm off the side of a receiver tube of a hitch, using flats on the receiver tube or receiver tube lip to support the cantilevered weight. The support arm is configured to receive and support one or more mating electrical connection structures, with a plug/unplug direction matching the fore/aft direction of the towing vehicle. Flanges of the mounting bracket are pulled toward each other around the receiving tube using mounting bolts which extend on right and left sides of the receiving tube. The mounting bracket is preferably formed from stamped and bent sheet metal.
US09016697B2
A spacer and gasket assembly is shown for receipt between a static structure having an outer and inner surface and fastener holes therethrough and a removable structure having a base with fastener holes and an upper surface and a lower surface. The static structure and removable structure are engaged through a multiplicity of fasteners having a shaft diameter. The fasteners are adapted to apply a compression on the gasket between the static structure and the removable structure. The static structure and the removable structure have opposed, typically flat, facing walls. The spacer and gasket assembly comprising a substantially non-compressible spacer adapted for receipt between the static structure and the removable structure having a spacer thickness. A gasket has a deformable, flowable, elastomeric body and a skeleton having a skeleton thickness, the skeleton substantially integral with the body. The gasket has an uncompressed gasket thickness. The spacer and the gasket are adapted to be placed substantially between the facing walls of the static structure and the removable structure and the removable structure will compress and deform the gasket when the fasteners are torqued down.
US09016696B2
An air seal for a server rack installed in a data center which delivers cool air to the fronts of racks and removes warm air at the back, where one or more of the racks are elevated by wheels or legs. A seal support member of rigid plastic and of right angle cross section has a horizontal portion and a vertical portion. The horizontal portion is adhesively secured to a downwardly facing surface at the bottom front and/or back of the rack. The horizontal portion is recessed at opposite ends to accommodate wheels or legs at opposite sides of the rack. The vertical portion extends across the full width of the rack and projects downward. A sealing strip of EPDM foam is adhesively secured to the vertical portion and is held flexed against the floor, forming a seal against the flow of by-pass air underneath the rack.
US09016695B2
A seal assembly for a nozzle in a gas turbine engine includes a connector having a first hinge portion for attaching to the nozzle, a flat portion for sealing against a wall of the engine; and a first hinge for attaching the connector to the flat portion wherein the connector is adapted to rotate relative to the nozzle and the flat portion is adapted to rotate relative to the connector.
US09016694B2
A spherical annular seal member 40 includes: a spherical annular base member 38 which is defined by a cylindrical inner surface 34 defining a through hole 33 in a central portion, a partially convex spherical surface 35, and annular end faces 36 and 37 on large- and small-diameter sides of the partially convex spherical surface 35; and an outer layer 39 formed integrally on the partially convex spherical surface 35 of the spherical annular base member 38.
US09016691B1
One embodiment of a liquid splat game kit includes a plurality of squirt bottles for storing water, a plurality of water coloring tablets for transitioning the water into a colored liquid, a plurality of playing cards, and a game-play manual.
US09016690B2
A sheet conveying device includes an apparatus main body with a wall portion, a sheet conveyance path, a conveyor roller pair, an opening/closing unit and a cleaning unit. The conveyor roller pair includes a first roller and a second roller. The opening/closing unit is openable and closable relative to the apparatus main body. The opening/closing unit defines a part of the sheet conveyance path and brings the first roller into contact with the second roller in a closed state. The opening/closing unit separates the first roller from the second roller in an open state. The cleaning unit includes a cleaning member and a support frame. The cleaning member cleans a surface of the second roller. The support frame supports the cleaning member and moves the cleaning member toward and away from the surface of the second roller in association with the movements of the opening/closing unit.
US09016682B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for loading at least one media item into a media item container. The apparatus includes at least one rotatable member comprising an outer surface including a plurality of apertures connected to at least one chamber where a negative pressure is selectively provided. The apparatus also includes a guide that guides each incoming item of media transported to the rotatable member. The rotatable member is rotatable when negative pressure is provided at the chamber region to locate a media item secured to the rotatable member by suction from the guide into the media item container.
US09016681B2
To provide a sheet storage apparatus for enabling sheets that are carried out of an image formation apparatus or the like on the upstream side to be loaded and stored in a predetermined position with a correct posture neatly at high speed, a sheet discharge roller and a reverse roller spaced a distance are disposed in a sheet discharge outlet and a tray, a kick member is provided to be swingable in a vertical direction passing a sheet discharge path of a sheet discharged from the sheet discharge outlet, and a posture of the kick member is controlled by shift means. The shift means controls the kick member among a waiting posture retracted upward from the sheet discharge path, an engagement posture for imposing a load on the sheet to engage, and an actuation posture dropping onto the tray together with the sheet.
US09016680B2
A mechanism capable of changing an upper limit number of sheets for a post-process is provided. To achieve this, a control method for controlling a sheet processing apparatus which performs the post-process for the sheets on which images are formed, comprising: storing, in a storage unit, the upper limit number of sheets to which the post-process can be performed; and changing the upper limit number of sheets stored in the storage unit is provided.
US09016678B2
A dual-toggle-type mobile platform structure comprises a base, a motor, a ball screw, a linear slide, a first toggle link rod, a second toggle link rod, a guide rail and a work platform. The second toggle link rod has an end coupled to the first toggle link rod and the other end coupled to the work platform. A connecting position of the second toggle link rod and the first toggle link rod is designed with an optimal configuration to provide a smaller footprint than the conventional dual-toggle-type mobile platform structure, and the advantages of a larger stroke of the work platform and a smaller feed resolution difference, and the structure serves as a reference of an optimal manufacturing area.
US09016677B2
A loading container (10) for a washing machine (60) comprises a containing body (12) to support and position objects to be washed inside the washing machine (60) or washing devices (20, 22) containing the objects to be washed. The container (10) also comprises a base body (14), located below the containing body (12), and a rotation unit (45) to connect rotatably the base body (14) and the containing body (12) so as to allow a selective reciprocal angular positioning of the containing body (12) and the base body (14).
US09016675B2
An apparatus for supporting a workpiece during processing of the workpiece is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: a chassis having a vacuum chamber that is connectable to a vacuum source; a supporting device rotatable relative to the chassis, the supporting device having a hollow compartment and a supporting surface for holding the workpiece; and at least one sealing device arranged between the chassis and the supporting device, to provide an air-tight seal between the chassis and the supporting device while allowing for rotation of the supporting device with respect to the chassis, so as to form a vacuum passage extending from the supporting surface of the supporting device through the hollow compartment of the supporting device and the vacuum chamber of the chassis to the vacuum source, to thereby hold the workpiece to the supporting surface of the supporting device during processing of the workpiece.
US09016670B2
The present invention is a froth wand for an espresso machine that can generate a high velocity stream of steam to foam a beverage at the beverage brewing apparatus. The wand includes an adapter for attaching to the beverage brewing machine at a steam supply outlet, and a conduit for communicating the steam to a steam tube. The steam tube has a cylindrical body with an annular recessed exit, and is surrounded by a cylindrical sheath. The sheath includes a cylindrical plug with a small longitudinal aperture that fits into the outlet of the steam tube. The mating of the sheath's plug and the steam tube forces the steam through the aperture, accelerating the steam at the exit.
US09016666B2
A load sensing transmission device in which when a rotation is transmitted to a sun gear, and planetary gears are rotated, if the rotation of an internally-toothed ring gear disposed at an outer circumference of the planetary gears is restricted in at least one direction, a decelerated rotation is output from a planetary carrier by revolution of the planetary gears. When the internally-toothed ring gear is rotated without being restricted, and simultaneously rotated together with the revolution of the planetary gears the rotation which is not decelerated is output from the planetary carrier. Existence and non-existence of the restriction of the rotation of the internally-toothed ring gear are switched by sensing a load by the load sensing mechanism and performing the engagement and disengagement by an engagement pawl. The rotation of the planetary carrier is output through a plate with slider, load springs, and a plate with cam.
US09016657B2
The present disclosure discloses a fixed connection of an operating space frame of a machine, comprising: a machine frame; an operating space frame mounted on the machine frame and having a plurality of posts, wherein a first connecting plate is fixedly connected respectively at a lower portion of at least two adjacent posts, the first mounting plate is fixedly connected to the machine frame via a connecting member, and a stopper is provided between the first mounting plate and the machine frame. The fixed connection improves the connection strength between the operating space frame and the machine so as to suppress deformation of the operating space frame subjected to an impact of an external force and thus provide protection for the operator and equipments therein. The present disclosure further relates to a machine having the above fixed connection.
US09016655B2
The present invention achieves a slide rail device for a vehicle in which it is possible to smoothly eject out objects that have fallen into the lower rail by using the upper rail, even if slide-restriction lugs, for restricting the slide position of the upper rail with respect to the lower rail, are formed by being cut and raised, and in which it is possible to reduce deterioration in rigidity of the lower rail.The solution is a slide rail device including slide-restriction lugs formed on a lower edge of each downward-extending portion of the lower rail by being cut and raised, the slide-restriction lugs superposing the stopper lug of the upper rail in a forward/rearward direction when viewed from the front.
US09016651B2
A beverage container holder adapted to hold a wide variety of containers including cups, bottles, mugs, and tumblers. The device preferably includes a base, an upright extending upward from the base, and a receiver near the top of the upright. The receiver preferably includes a cup holder which is preferably made detachable so that it may be washed in a dishwasher. The height of the receiver with respect to the base is adjustable in the present invention. The rotation of the receiver with respect to the base is preferably also made adjustable. The adjustment mechanism may preferably be activated using only one hand.
US09016650B2
A container holder has a base, a container holding top positioned above the base, and a floor which is horizontally slideably mounted between the base and top at an intermediate position above the floor of the base and movable between a first position in which the sliding floor forms an upper floor support and a second position in which the floor of the base supports a container to increase the depth of the container holder.
US09016646B2
A display supporting apparatus is connected to a display, and includes: a mounting member formed with a through hole extending through inner and outer side surfaces thereof along an axis; a pivoting member having a pivot portion abutting against the outer side surface of the mounting member and aligned with the through hole; a connecting unit including a positioning ring abutting against the inner side surface of the mounting member and aligned with the through hole, and a plurality of connecting members extending through the through hole to interconnect the positioning ring and the pivot portion, such that the mounting member is rotatable relative to the pivoting member about the axis; and a supporting member connected to and supporting the pivoting member.
US09016638B2
An aircraft flap system and an associated method are provided to facilitate ground roll breaking without compromising in-flight performance. The aircraft flap system includes a first flap and a panel pivotally attached to the first flap, such as to a rearward portion of the first flap. The aircraft flap system also includes an actuator configured to controllably position the panel in a stowed position and in a deployed position. In the stowed position, the panel serves as a continuation of the first flap, thereby contributing to the lift provided by the first flap during flight. Conversely, in the deployed position, a panel is articulated relative to the first flap, thereby reducing or eliminating the lift otherwise provided by the flap, following landing of the aircraft.
US09016633B2
A de-icing system and method. An electromechanical actuator heat sink is operable to receive heat from an electromechanical actuator, and a heat distribution element is operable to distribute heat to a surface. A heat transportation device is operable to transport heat from the electromechanical actuator heat sink to the heat distribution element.
US09016623B2
A flaperon mechanism that provides jam protection while preventing the component departing from the airplane or causing unacceptable collateral damage. The jam protection feature comprises a controlled failure (fused) mechanism that is associated with the flaperon and flaperon hinge panel and maintains functional movement of the devices. Additional features can be added to the mechanism to block, shield, allow runout and shed other obstruction avenues.
US09016613B2
A system for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose. A first portion of the hose is disposable about the drum and a guide arm engages a second portion of the hose. An actuator assembly rotates a cage and the guide arm so that the guide arm rotates relative to the cage such that the hose is rotated. Relative rotation in one direction causes the first portion of the hose to uncoil from the drum and displace along the guide arm and causes a third portion of the high pressure hose in an output port to displace out of the output port away from the guide arm. Relative rotation in an opposite direction causes the second portion of the high pressure hose to coil about the drum and causes the third portion of the high pressure hose to displace into the housing.
US09016609B2
A hose deployment and retrieval system is described that includes a modular reel assembly. The modular reel assembly includes a reel having a hub around which a hose may be wound and a wheel assembly on either side of the hub and spaced to accept the hose there between. The reel assembly also includes an axle in the center of the hub around which the hub can spin and a base holding the axle. A deployment fork assembly includes a reel assembly mount for engaging with the modular reel assembly and a drive mechanism to spin the reel when the deployment fork assembly is engaged with the modular reel assembly, wherein the deployment fork assembly is adapted to mount to a vehicle.
US09016602B2
A jet regulator (1), including an annular or sheath-shaped jet regulator housing (2), the outlet end face (3) of which is designed as a hole structure, grate structure, and/or mesh structure having passage openings (6) surrounded by flow-guiding walls, wherein the hole structure, grate structure, and/or mesh structure on the outlet end face is made of a manually deformable, dimensionally elastic plastic material (7) at least in some sections and at least at the surface. The jet regulator (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the outlet end face (3) of the jet regulator housing (2) is designed as an outlet disk (8) that can be inserted into the jet regulator housing (2) and that supports the hole structure, grate structure, and/or mesh structure. The separate design of the outlet disk (8) and of the jet regulator housing (2) makes it easier to separately produce said jet regulator components (2, 8) even from materials that cannot be welded or otherwise connected to each other, optionally in different production methods.
US09016599B2
A fluid dispensing device comprises a housing body, a reciprocating piston fluid pump, a primary drive element, a wobble assembly and a spray tip. The reciprocating piston fluid pump has a piston disposed within a pumping chamber inside the housing body. The primary drive element is coupled to the housing body to provide a rotary input. The wobble assembly connects the primary drive element to the reciprocating piston fluid pump to convert the rotary input into reciprocating input to the piston. The spray tip connects to an outlet of the pumping chamber.
US09016595B2
A transducer type liquid sprayer in which a storage tank for storing spray liquid can be easily replaced together with a core for soaking up the spray liquid from the storage tank is provided. The liquid sprayer includes a spray liquid storage unit and a main body for supporting the spray liquid storage unit and a power supply unit. The spray liquid storage unit includes a core for soaking up spray liquid and the main body includes a lid member attached to a support member for supporting the spray liquid storage unit so that the lid member can be opened and closed. A spray hole is formed in the lid member and a transducer is also disposed inside the lid member and electrically connected to the power supply unit. The transducer disposed inside the lid member is in close contact with and pressed against the core.
US09016594B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a freestanding landscape waterfall assembly which reduces the weight of the waterfall as compared to conventional cast block waterfalls. In one embodiment, a freestanding landscape waterfall includes a face plate having an elongated aperture, a manifold having an outlet configured to direct water through the aperture, and an engagement feature configured to suspend the face plate such that the elongated aperture is in a horizontal orientation. In another embodiment, a freestanding landscape waterfall assembly includes a freestanding landscape waterfall, an overhead support system configured to suspend the freestanding landscape waterfall, and a catch basin positionable below the freestanding landscape waterfall. In yet another embodiment, a freestanding landscape waterfall assembly kit includes a catch basin, a freestanding landscape waterfall configured to be suspended over the catch basin, and a pump system configured to pump water between the catch basin and the freestanding landscape waterfall.
US09016592B2
An RFIC element includes a capacitance therein. By this capacitance and an inductance of a loop-shaped conductor, an LC resonant circuit is provided. When UHF-band high-frequency power is supplied to the loop-shaped conductor from the RFIC element, the loop-shaped conductor is coupled to a flat conductor in an electromagnetic field by a current flowing through the loop-shaped conductor, and induced currents flow through the flat conductor. By propagation of the induced currents through the flat conductor, the flat conductor acts as a radiation element. It is preferred that the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the flat conductor be a half wavelength of the used frequency band. Accordingly, the flat conductor acts as a half-wave radiation element.
US09016590B2
A method for producing a data storage medium body for a portable data storage medium having a core layer and at least one top layer, wherein the core layer contains a chip module. The chip module has a surface which is adverse to lamination and has an adhesive deposit applied on the module surface; a recess is provided in the core layer and the chip module is inserted into the recess such that the module surface having the adhesive deposit is situated towards the open side of the recess; a top layer is applied over the module surface; then the above arrangement is laminated. The adhesive deposit combines intimately with the adjoining top layer.
US09016588B2
A wireless IC tag, to which data can be written by using an IC tag introducing machine, the wireless IC tag can ensure the communication distance required for writing and reading data in the wireless IC tag formed in a dimension that does not intensively affect the strength of the material for building a construction and is provided with antennas with performance of excellent directionality, is provided. The wireless IC tag including an RFID tag module, a plate-shaped ferrite core to which the] RFID tag module is mounted, a primary antenna wound around a circumferential surface of the plate-shaped ferrite core, the primary antenna being connected with the RFID tag module, and a pair of secondary antennas, each of the pair of secondary antennas being wound around a circumferential surface of the plate-shaped ferrite core and being connected with the RFID tag module.
US09016585B2
Wireless devices such as sensors, interactive displays and electronic article surveillance (EAS) and/or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags including integrated circuitry and an antenna and/or inductor printed thereon, and methods for making and using the same, are disclosed. The device generally includes an integrated circuit on a substrate and an antenna, directly on the substrate and/or the integrated circuit, in electrical communication with the integrated circuit. The method of making a wireless device generally includes forming an integrated circuit on the substrate and printing at least part of an antenna or antenna precursor layer on the integrated circuit and/or substrate. The present invention advantageously provides a low cost wireless device capable of operating at MHz frequencies that can be manufactured in a shorter time period than conventional devices.
US09016580B2
A method of reading multiple two dimensional barcodes includes the steps of obtaining an image including a plurality of positioning patterns and the two dimensional barcodes, defining a reading area within the image according the positioning patterns, dividing the reading area into a plurality of reading blocks, which contain the two dimensional barcodes, respectively, and reading the two dimensional barcodes in the reading blocks individually.
US09016576B2
Method of and system for reading bar code symbols using a hand-supportable laser scanning bar code symbol reading system supporting an improved level control over the length and intensity characteristics of laser scan lines projected onto scanned objects, at any instant in time, in a manner dependent the detected location, distance or range of the scanned object in the scanning field of the system during system operation. The system includes a laser scanning module that projects the laser scanning beam through a light transmission window, and across a laser scanning field in which an object is located, while the laser scanning beam is blanked out during the laser scanning cycle according to a laser source blanking function that is determined by the estimated distance, or data representative thereof.
US09016575B2
Indicia are imaged at a workstation having windows arranged in intersecting planes. The workstation also has solid-state imagers with fields of view that are split into intersecting subfields that look out through the windows, as well as illumination assemblies each having multiple light sources that illuminate each subfield with illumination light over an illumination field that overlaps a respective subfield. Light-modifying elements, such as lenses or baffles that are radially offset from the multiple light sources, condition the illumination light from the multiple light sources to be generally uniform in light intensity over at least one illuminated subfield.
US09016573B2
A sensor unit is disclosed which includes a sensor and an information module. The sensor exhibits an optical behavior dependent on at least one variable of a sample. Sensor related information can be emitted by the information module as optical radiation. In embodiments the sensor related information includes calibration data for the sensor. The sensor related information may additionally include identification data for the sensor. In embodiments the information module measures at least one ambient parameter, and emits the measurement value in an optical signal. The measurement value is taken into account when determining at least one variable of a sample by means of the sensor unit. In embodiments the information module may also transmit status information of the sensor unit. Furthermore a method for determining a variable of a sample with a sensor unit and a measurement system is disclosed.
US09016564B2
A product quality monitoring system includes: an RFID tag which is attached to a first packing container in which a product is packed, and transmits atmospheric history information and an identifier for a product distribution history; a QR code which is attached to a second packing container and stores the identifier and address information of a product quality predicting server; a product distribution history DB which stores the atmospheric history information and the identifier which are received from the RFID tag; a user terminal which connects with the product quality predicting server corresponding to the address information stored in the captured QR code, and requests a quality index of the product; and the product quality predicting server which calculates the quality index of the product or a time when the product has a specific quality index, from the atmospheric history information.
US09016553B2
Disclosed therein are an apparatus for and a method of welding a flange to a guide thimble tube in a nuclear fuel assembly. The automatic welding apparatus includes a welding unit located on an axially conveying line of a tube for welding a surface of the tube inserted thereinto and a surface of a flange, a flange supplying unit for supplying the flange at a tube inlet of the welding unit onto the axially conveying line, and a conveying unit mounted on the axially conveying line in such a way as to move the tube and the flange on the axially conveying line, so that they are inserted into and drawn from the welding unit.
US09016535B2
A fiber cleaver is provided in which a circular blade can be efficiently used without increasing the workload imposed on the worker. The fiber cleaver includes a main body supporting a slider such that the slider is movable in the front-back direction. A disc-shaped circular blade configured to make a flaw in an optical fiber is rotatably provided to the slider. A columnar protrusion stands on a base of the main body. An engaging member engaging with a gear that rotates together with the circular blade is provided at the upper end of the columnar protrusion. The columnar protrusion is connected to an engaging member, which engages with the slider, with a spring interposed therebetween. The base has first to third recessed portions each anchoring the engaging member. The angle of rotation of the circular blade is changed among three angles with the position where the engaging member is anchored.
US09016529B2
The present invention relates to a container for dispensing a predetermined volume of liquid wherein the container comprises: a liquid deposit chamber having an open first end and an opposing closed second end, a nonconcentric liquid withdrawal chamber having a open first end and an opposing closed second end, one or more apertures between said deposit and withdrawal chambers adapted to selectively permit liquid communication in controlled doses from the liquid deposit chamber to the liquid withdrawal chamber, a liquid stabilization chamber surrounding the liquid withdrawal chamber, and a base cap having a nonconcentric cavity in axial alignment with the liquid stabilization chamber and in liquid communication with the liquid deposit and withdrawal chambers.
US09016528B2
A beverage dispensing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a container containing a beverage to be dispensed. Pressurizing means are provided for increasing the pressure in the interior of the container. A dispensing duct brings in fluid communication the liquid beverage contained in the container with the exterior environment and draws the beverage out of the container. The dispensing duct comprises a dispensing pipe opening to ambient via a valve, and a pressure reducing channel with an opening connecting in fluid communication the interior of the container with the dispensing pipe. The pressure reducing channel is disposed in a housing made of two half bodies joined together. Each body includes a matching open channel forming the closed pressure reducing channel upon joining. At least one of the half bodies is an integral part of either the container's closure or the chime.
US09016515B2
A removable handle assembly for a cooking vessel a gripping body, a front end of which forms a flared jaw. The flared jaw has projections adapted to clamp the wall of a vessel. The projections are substantially linear in shape in directions that intersect in front of the gripping body. A flared mobile jaw is mounted on the gripping body to rotate about a first axis between a release position and a clamping position. The flared jaw has two projections (504) of substantially linear shape in directions that intersect in front of the gripping body. An actuating lever mounted on the gripping body rotates about a second axis between a deployed position and a retracted position. A mechanism actuated by the actuating lever locks the mobile jaw in the clamping position.
US09016510B2
A drinking glass holding apparatus for holding a glass relative to a plate includes a body member having opposed first and second ends. A first clamping assembly is operatively coupled to the body member first end and includes an upper plate pivotally coupled to a lower plate and movable between a closed configuration at which distal ends thereof bear against one another and an open configuration at which the distal ends thereof are displaced from one another. A second clamping assembly is operatively coupled to the second end of the body member and includes a first portion pivotally coupled to a second portion and movable between a closed configuration at which distal ends thereof are proximate one another and an open configuration at which the distal ends are displaced from one another.
US09016508B1
A container has a movable bottom plate to facilitate dispensing material from the container and accessing material remaining within the container. The container has an inner chamber, further having an upper inner chamber and a lower inner chamber. The bottom plate slidably engages the inner surface of the inner chamber. A user can reach a handle on the bottom plate through an aperture at the bottom end of the container. The bottom plate is a plunger that can be moved from a lower inner chamber of the container to an upper inner chamber to remove material from the container. The bottom plate can be moved from the lower end towards the upper end of the container to dispense a product or to expel air from the container through vents positioned on the bottom plate and on the container wall towards the upper end of the container.
US09016507B2
A container for holding product therein during shipment and being returned for reuse has a body, track assemblies attached to opposite sides of the body, and a plurality of support assemblies extending between the track assemblies. Outer members of the support assemblies have notches which enable the support assemblies to slide along the track assemblies to move parts supported by dunnage suspended by the support assemblies.
US09016497B2
The present invention relates to a method for forming a package by moulding a cardboard blank in such a manner that a margin area (2) of the blank, surrounding a middle portion (1) of the blank, is bent upwards to form side walls of the package while the middle portion forms a bottom of the package. The cardboard blank prior to moulding is provided with at least one area (4) of reduced bending stiffness being located in a transition zone (3) between the side walls and the bottom. The package is moulded from the blank so that the at least one area (4) of reduced bending stiffness is located in the bended areas between the side walls and the bottom and extend in the running direction of the bend. The invention further relates to a package and a package blank that can be used for forming said package.
US09016495B2
A trash storage method for a package of goods which attaches a layer of material to a package thereby providing a volume for storing trash generated from the goods as the goods are removed from the package and consumed or used.
US09016488B1
A compartmentalized mixing bottle for storing and selectively introducing a soluble mix to a predetermined quantity of fluid is disclosed. Such a compartmentalized mixing bottle preferably includes a primary compartment having a plurality of primary conduits, a secondary compartment having a secondary conduit and spaced apart from the primary compartment. The compartmentalized mixing bottle further includes a mechanism for selectively isolating the primary compartment from the secondary compartment. Such a selectively isolating mechanism is in continuous fluid communication with the secondary conduit and is removably engaged with the primary and secondary compartments respectively. In this manner, bi-directional rotation (clockwise and counter clockwise) of at least a portion of the selectively isolating mechanism, relative to the primary compartment, isolates and fluidly communicates the primary compartment with the secondary compartment, respectively.
US09016479B2
A device and a method of screening for individual balls are provided. The device for screening for individual balls has a supply device, a slope, and a recovering part jointed to a gas-tight chamber, and has a pressure reducing device for decompressing and maintaining the pressure of the gas-tight chamber lower than 1000 Pa in the gas-tight chamber. The supply device is used for supplying the balls, the slope is used for enabling the balls to roll down, and the recovering part is used for recovering the balls from the slope. Further, the method for screening for individual balls includes supplying the balls from the supply device to the slope, rolling the balls down the slope, screening for the balls according to the speed is difference and/or the direction difference of the balls, and recovering the balls in the recovering part, in the gas-tight chamber with the pressure below 1000 Pa.
US09016475B2
A packing box comprises a peripheral portion and two end portions are respectively connected to two ends of the peripheral portion. A shock-absorbing device has two support members located on the two ends of the peripheral portion, and the two support members each are bent to be a U-shaped member and linearly movable toward the end portion corresponding thereto. At least one positioning portion is connected to each of the support members so as to retain an object. The object can be moved with the support members so as to absorb the vibration and impacts.
US09016470B2
A device for closing a container, in which to contain a first component to be introduced into the container in addition to a second component, comprising a tank for the first component, a mobile thruster by means of which to determine the opening of the tank, a closing portion stably associated with the tank and provided with closing means able to cooperate with a neck of the container to determine a releasable clamping. The closing portion houses slidingly inside it at least a part of the mobile thruster and has an opening for the passage of the mobile thruster toward the tank. The mobile thruster is selectively mobile between a first raised position of non-interference with the tank and a second lowered position in which it determines the opening of the tank to allow the passage of the first component inside the container. The mobile thruster is made by molding in a single piece with the closing portion, defining a profile of preferential breakage connecting said mobile thruster and said closing portion. A safety element is also provided, made in a single piece both with respect to said mobile thruster and also with respect to the closing portion, to prevent an accidental reciprocal movement of said mobile thruster with respect to said closing portion.
US09016468B2
The invention relates to a device for distributing or bringing together conveyance flows, in particular a conveyed-goods distributor, comprising at least one conveying element (4) which can be adjusted, and at least one adjustment drive (5) for at least the conveying element, the adjustment drive (5) comprising at least one drive means (10) and a redirecting transmission (12), the redirecting transmission (12) being designed as a crank drive and being coupled to at least one mechanical energy store (19) as an auxiliary drive for at least one of the adjustment motions of the conveying element (4). According to the invention, the energy store is a spring element (19), one end (20) of which is accommodated in a rotationally fixed manner and the other end (21) of which is rotatably connected to a crank arm (14) of the crank drive.
US09016461B2
A workpiece-separating device includes a rotating assembly, a moving assembly, and a driver. The rotating assembly includes a limiting board and a rotating shaft, wherein the limiting board defines a through groove, and the rotating shaft defines a plurality of grooves. A distance between two adjacent grooves changes along a circumferential direction of the rotating shaft. The moving assembly includes a number of first moving blocks for mounting workpieces. Each first moving block is slidably mounted in the through groove and a corresponding groove. The driver drives the rotating shaft to rotate, allowing the first moving blocks to move along the grooves and the through groove to separate the workpieces.
US09016457B2
A medium storage and feeding device and a medium processing device that may prevent occurrences of faults more reliably than the related art. A drum (21) is provided that winds up a banknote BL nipped by pairs of tapes (28L, 28R, 30L and 30R) together with the pairs of tapes. Torque limiters (25L, 25R, 27L and 27R) are separately provided at each of tape reels (24L, 24R, 26L and 26R). The torque limiters control torques between the tape reels and reel rotation axle shafts (22 and 23), such that tensions applied to the tapes between the tape reels (24L, 24R, 26L and 26R) and the drum (21) are constant. Thus, tensions on the tapes between the respective tape reels and the drum may be kept constant, banknote nipping stability may be improved, and occurrences of faults may be prevented more reliably than in the related art.
US09016446B2
A magnetic spring utilizing spatially modulated magnetic field patterns of magnetic regions for both stator and slider, allowing custom force curves over the range of motion. Also disclosed is a magnetic spring whose slider can be rotated relative to the stator on the axis, such that the alignment of the spatially modulated magnetic field patterns of the slider and the stator is altered, resulting in changeable force curve for the spring, selected by rotating the slider.
US09016444B2
The invention relates to an immobilizer for a transport trolley, whereby a magnetic field is used for alternately activating and deactivating said immobilizer. In an embodiment of the invention, the deactivating magnetic field can be weaker than the activating magnetic field.
US09016442B2
An abutment-plate portion of a main body portion of a biasing member, which faces a disc rotor in an axial direction, includes a pad-return portion for biasing a friction pad in a direction separating apart from the disc rotor, and upper and lower claw portions which are located separately on the upper and lower sides of the pad-return portion. The upper and lower claw portions of the biasing member are brought into abutment against upper and lower groove portions respectively with a frictional resistance When a lining of the friction pad is worn away and the friction pad is pressed in a direction approaching to the disc rotor in accordance with the wear of the lining, the movement of the entire biasing member in the direction approaching to the disc rotor inside a pad guide is allowed by the upper and lower claw portions serving as wear-following portions.
US09016435B2
This disclosure describes embodiments of novel line dispensing devices and methods for dispensing and retracting a line of a line dispensing device.
US09016423B2
A platform system for an articulated machine is disclosed. The platform system can include a first platform which can be pivotally supported by a front frame of an articulated machine. The front frame of the articulated machine can be pivotally coupled to a rear frame of the articulated machine at an articulation joint. A second platform can be pivotally supported by the rear frame of the articulated machine. The second platform can include a first edge which can be positioned adjacent to a first edge of the first platform. Each of the first edge of the first platform and the first edge of the second frame platform can have a radial profile which can be aligned with a path of pivotal movement between the first platform and the second frame platform.
US09016422B2
A saddle-ride type vehicle which includes catalyst devices in left and right exhaust flow passages can suppress effect of the catalyst devices on the reach to the ground even if the sizes of catalysts are large. The vehicle includes: exhaust flow passages connected to a multi-cylinder engine and disposed independently on left and right sides of a vehicle body; a first catalyst device provided in a middle of the left exhaust flow passage; a second catalyst device provided in a middle of the right exhaust flow passage; a swing arm pivotally supporting a rear wheel such that the rear wheel is swingable, the saddle-ride type vehicle includes silencers connected to portions of the exhaust flow passages downstream of the first catalyst device and the second catalyst device, and the first catalyst device and the second catalyst device are arranged side by side below the swing arm.
US09016420B1
A snowmobile has a frame with an engine compartment and a tunnel, a front suspension, at least one ski, an engine, a bracket having a first portion joined to the engine and a second portion having an aperture defined therein, an output shaft, a countershaft passing through the aperture, a motion decoupler disposed around the countershaft and being supported by the second portion of the bracket, the countershaft being rotationally supported in the motion decoupler, a driving pulley disposed on the output shaft, a driven pulley disposed on the countershaft, a drive belt looped around the driving and driven pulleys, and an endless drive track. The driving pulley, the driven pulley and the drive belt together form a continuously variable transmission.
US09016416B2
A vehicle front structure according to the present invention includes: a bumper reinforcement disposed on a vehicle front end side with a vehicle width direction as its longitudinal direction; and paired front side members disposed on respective sides of a vehicle front portion with a vehicle front-rear direction as their longitudinal direction. Front ends of the front side members in the vehicle front-rear direction are connected to the bumper reinforcement via paired crash boxes. A plurality of vulnerable portions provided at intervals in the vehicle front-rear direction are formed in each of the crash boxes. Further, a vehicle cooling device is disposed between the paired crash boxes. Paired support members configured to support the vehicle cooling device are connected to the respective crash boxes between the vulnerable portions adjacent to each other when viewed from the vehicle width direction.
US09016412B2
A vehicle is provided including a battery module, a DC/DC converter module portioned from the battery module, a duct, one blower, and a jumper duct. The battery module includes inlet and outlet ports. The DC/DC converter module includes inlet and outlet ports. A duct is arranged to direct cooling air into each of the inlet ports. The blower is arranged to draw cooling air from the duct, through the modules, and out the outlet ports. The jumper duct is arranged up stream of the blower with the converter outlet port, and configured to reduce an effective cross sectional area of the converter outlet port to define a flow rate of the cooling air into the battery inlet port.
US09016407B2
A drill bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations comprises a bit body including a cone region, a shoulder region, and a gage region. In addition the bit comprises a first primary blade and a second primary blade. Further, the bit comprises a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted to the first primary blade in different radial positions. Still further, the bit comprises a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted to the second primary blade in different radial positions. Moreover, a first primary cutter element of the plurality of primary cutter elements on the first primary blade and a first primary cutter element of the plurality of primary cutter elements on the second primary blade are each positioned in the cone region and are redundant. The shoulder region has a total cutter redundancy percentage that is less than a total cutter redundancy percentage in the cone region.
US09016401B2
Modular actuators, steering tools, and rotary steerable drilling systems are presented herein. A modular actuator is disclosed for use in directing a drill string, which includes a housing proximate a drive shaft. The modular actuator includes a cartridge that is configured to couple to the outer periphery of the housing. A fluid reservoir is contained within the cartridge. A hydraulically actuated actuator piston, which is slidably disposed at least partially inside the cartridge, is movable between activated and deactivated positions. A hydraulic control system is also contained within the cartridge, fluidly coupling the fluid reservoir to the actuator piston. The hydraulic control system is configured to regulate movement of the actuator piston between the activated and deactivated positions such that the actuator piston selectively presses against and moves the drive shaft and thereby changes the direction of the drill string.
US09016399B2
A well bore is drilled in the formation. Cuttings are retrieved from the well bore while drilling the formation and a hyperspectral image of the cuttings is continuously obtained. The hyperspectral image of the cuttings is analyzed to determine formation characteristics.
US09016394B2
A power tool includes a drive motor and at least one auxiliary device, which is coupled to the drive motor, for activating at least two different operating states. The drive motor and the at least one auxiliary device are controllable using at least one operating device. The output of the drive motor is changed when the at least one auxiliary device is activated. As a result, the operating forces are reduced when switching between operating states, and the load on components is reduced.
US09016393B2
A spraying head, especially a spraying head intended for fire extinguishing, which comprises a frame part, an inlet for extinguishing medium and at least two nozzles. At least one first nozzle (9) is arranged in a spraying head part (2), for which first nozzle (9) the medium passage from the inlet of the spraying head is always open and that at least one second nozzle (4) is arranged in a sprinkler part (1) which comprises a triggering means (5), whereby the passage of medium from the inlet to at least one second nozzle (4) is closed when the triggering means (5) is non-activated, and that the passage of medium for at least one second nozzle (4) is open when the triggering means (5) is activated. The invention also relates to a method.
US09016392B2
A two-phase liquid/inert gas flow inerting fire suppression system is provided having improved liquid fire suppressant distribution within the inert gas flow. The system includes a flow distribution network having a first pipe interconnected with a second pipe at a flow splitting tee. A liquid flow redistribution device is disposed in the first pipe upstream with respect to fluid flow of the flow splitting tee.
US09016391B1
A swellable packer includes a base pipe; a swellable sealing element disposed around the outer diameter of the base pipe; and at least one internal backup ring disposed within the swellable sealing element. It may be manufactured by disposing the internal backup ring on the base pipe; applying an elastomeric material over a section of the base pipe and the internal backup ring; and applying a bonding agent over the section of the base pipe and the at least one internal backup ring. It may be used to isolate a section of a well by disposing a swellable packer in the well, and exposing the swellable packer to a fluid, wherein the fluid exposure causes the elastomeric material to radially expand into contact with a well wall.
US09016382B2
A fingerboard latch assembly includes a latch configured for operational engagement with a fingerboard for lockingly retaining at least one tubular to the fingerboard. The latch is movable within a range of motion extending from at least a locked position to an unlocked position. A positioner operatively engaged with the latch is communicably couplable to a process control network (PCN), and is sized and shaped for receipt within a latch channel of the fingerboard. The positioner is configured to move the latch within the range of motion in response to signals received from the PCN, to capture position data for the latch, including the position of the latch at a plurality of points within the range of motion, and to communicate the captured position data to the PCN.
US09016379B2
A method of fracing a wellbore includes sealing a tubular within a wellbore at two locations and defining an annular space between the tubular, the wellbore and two seals. The method further includes opening at least two ports providing fluidic communication between an inside of the tubular and the annular space, flowing fluid from inside the tubular to the annular space through a first of the at least two ports while flowing fluid from the annular space to inside of the tubular through a second of the at least two ports, closing the second of the at least two ports, and pressuring the annular space through the first of the at least two ports.
US09016378B2
A method for performing shale gas operation is disclosed. The method may include drilling a first well, performing a fracturing operation in the well, recovering shale gas from the first well, supplying at least part of the shale gas recovered from the well to an electrical generator, generating electricity using the generator, and transferring the generated electricity to drilling equipment used to drill a second well.
US09016377B2
A chopper mechanism for providing a fiber to a fluid at an oilfield. The chopper mechanism may be employed to process the fiber from an uncut form to a cut form in order to provide a mixture of the fluid and the fiber with flowback inhibiting character. Techniques of employing the chopper mechanism may be utilized at the site of an oilfield for applications such as fracturing, cementing, and drilling. Additionally, the chopper mechanism itself may be made available as a large high capacity chopper assembly, or a smaller handheld chopper gun for slower rate fiber supply operations.
US09016375B2
A method of treating a portion of a well of a well. The method includes the step of forming a treatment fluid comprising: (i) a continuous aqueous phase; (ii) a viscosity increasing agent selected from the group consisting of diutan, clarified diutan, water-soluble derivative of diutan, and any combination thereof, wherein the viscosity-increasing agent is dissolved in the aqueous phase; and (iii) a breaker comprising oxalic acid, wherein the oxalic acid is dissolved in the aqueous phase. The viscosity of the treatment fluid breaks to less than 3.0 cP in less than 72 hours when in a temperature range of 180° F. (82.2° C.) to 220° F. (104.4° C.). The method also includes the steps of introducing the treatment fluid into the portion of the well and flowing back from the portion of the well.
US09016372B2
A completion system for arrangement in a borehole including a lower completion, an upper completion string, and an intermediate assembly engaged between the lower completion and the upper completion string. The intermediate assembly includes a single barrier valve only. The barrier valve is operatively arranged to be transitionable to an open position when engaged with the upper completion string and transitions to a closed position via the upper completion string when the upper completion string is pulled out of the borehole.
US09016370B2
A method for treating a hydrocarbon containing layer in a subsurface formation is described. The method may include removing at most about 20% by weight of the nahcolite from one or more intervals in the hydrocarbon containing layer that include at least about 40% by weight nahcolite. Heat may be provided from a plurality of heaters to the hydrocarbon containing layer such that at least some hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing layer are mobilized. At least some mobilized hydrocarbons may be produced through at least one production well.
US09016365B2
A sand control screen assembly selectively positionable within a wellbore. The sand control screen assembly comprises a pipe having an internal flow path, an external fluid collection subassembly in fluid communication with the internal flow path, a filter medium disposed in a fluid path between the exterior of the sand control screen assembly and the internal flow path, a biasing mechanism, configured to bias the fluid collection subassembly towards a wall of the wellbore, disposed between the fluid collection subassembly and the pipe, and a retaining mechanism configured to release the biasing mechanism in response to a trigger.
US09016363B2
A frustoconical member includes a metal composite that has a cellular nanomatrix comprising a metallic nanomatrix material; a metal matrix disposed in the cellular nanomatrix; and a first frustoconical portion. A process of making the frustoconical member includes combining a metal matrix powder, a disintegration agent, and metal nanomatrix material to form a composition; compacting the composition to form a compacted composition; sintering the compacted composition; and pressing the sintered composition to form the frustoconical member having a tapered portion on an outer surface of the frustoconical member. The frustoconical member can be used by contacting a frustoconical portion of the frustoconical member to a tapered surface of an article; applying pressure to the frustoconical member; urging the frustoconical member in a direction relative to the article to expand a radial dimension of the article; and contacting the frustoconical member with a fluid to disintegrate the frustoconical member.
US09016359B2
An apparatus and method for controlling power delivered to a pulsed power system which includes a command charge switch for controlling when power produced by a primary power system is fed into a cable. The command charge switch also controls the power delivered to the pulsed power system in a bottom hole assembly.
US09016354B2
Cooling performance of a cooler for pre-cooling humid gas supplied to a gas turbine power generation plant, etc. is improved by increasing heat transfer efficiency between the humid gas and cooling liquid flowing in heat exchanger tubes with utilization of condensed liquid generated due to the cooling of the humid gas. In a heat exchanger for cooling humid gas a flowing surrounding heat exchanger tubes 8 of the tube groups 9a and 9b by flowing cooling liquid r in the tubes, the liquid droplets cl generated by condensation of moisture contained in the humid gas are gathered and sprinkled or fallen in drops on a part of the heat exchanger tube group 9b, which results in increased heat exchange efficiency.
US09016347B2
A looped-cord system includes a beaded cord having a set of beads connected in series to form a loop with a space between each pair of adjacent beads. In one embodiment a stop sized to fit within the space between a pair of adjacent beads is attached to a housing. A resilient finger located opposite the stop pushes a portion of the beaded cord adjacent to and not engaging the sprocket against the stop so the stop is within a space between a pair of adjacent beads, thereby preventing movement of the cord loop. Applying tension to the cord loop overcomes the resilient finger and moves the cord away from the stop enabling movement of the cord loop. In another embodiment a key engages the sprocket preventing the sprocket from turning until tension is applied to the cord loop by proper installation of the tensioner on the cord loop.
US09016345B2
A rotary lamination apparatus has a die assembly rotatable about an axis and a mounting table received in an axial hole extending through the die assembly. Through rotation of the die assembly, punched core pieces are mounted on the mounting table while being rotatively offset. A drive mechanism is employed to rotate the mounting table integrally with the die assembly about the axis of the die assembly.
US09016341B2
Bicycle tires with at least one reinforcement layer that contains strength supports and that is arranged between carcass and tread rubber and/or between carcass layers below the tread rubber and/or within the tread rubber. For a high resistance to puncturing with low weight, the reinforcement layer contains multifilament threads of more than 30 polyester/polyarylate filaments, and the filaments are spun from molten liquid-crystal polymer.
US09016337B2
A pneumatic tire is provided with a main groove extending along a tire circumferential direction in a tread. A side wall of a land portion facing the main groove extends so as to be inclined with respect to a tire circumferential direction between a pair of corner portions. The corner portion positioned in an inner side in a width direction of the main groove is set to an inner corner portion and the corner portion positioned in an outer side is set to an outer corner portion. In the inner corner portion, the side wall is formed by a stepped surface expanding to the outer side in the width direction toward a groove bottom and an expansion to the outer side in the width direction in the stepped surface is made smaller from the inner corner portion toward the outer corner portion.
US09016336B2
A non-pneumatic tire includes a plurality of springs. Each spring includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and an arching middle portion. Each spring is interwoven with at least one other spring thereby forming a toroidal structure extending about an entire circumference of the non-pneumatic tire. The toroidal structure is at least partially coated with an elastomer. One end portion of at least one spring is wrapped around a first bead structure adjacent a rim.
US09016329B2
A gas filling system (1) includes a gas tank (30); a gas filling device (2) that fills gas into the gas tank (30); and a controller (24) that calculates a temperature increase ΔT and a pressure increase ΔP in the gas tank (30) during a predetermined period of time (t seconds) that elapses from a start of gas filling. The controller (24) selects a filling rate map (Ma, Mb) from a prepared filling rate map group on the basis of the calculated temperature increase ΔT and the calculated pressure increase ΔP. The gas filling device (2) carries out gas filling using the filling rate map selected by the controller (24).
US09016323B2
A pipeline regeneration pipe, with which necessary strength can be ensured by way of the inserted regeneration pipe itself without the necessity of grouting, includes an inner wound flexible resin layer 5d which constitutes the inner layer of a straight pipe part 5b, an outer wound flexible resin layer 5e laminated on the outer surface of the inner wound flexible resin layer and constitutes the outer layer of the straight pipe part, and a protruded rim part 5c helically formed on the outer surface of the outer wound flexible resin layer, the protruded rim part 5c being configured by a rigid-resin core 5g helically wound, and a core-covering part 5f integrated with the outer wound flexible resin layer so as to surround the rigid-resin core.
US09016320B1
The present invention is an intelligent flow control valve which may be inserted into the flow coming out of a pipe and activated to provide a method to stop, measure, and meter flow coming from the open or possibly broken pipe. The intelligent flow control valve may be used to stop the flow while repairs are made. Once repairs have been made, the valve may be removed or used as a control valve to meter the amount of flow from inside the pipe. With the addition of instrumentation, the valve may also be used as a variable area flow meter and flow controller programmed based upon flowing conditions. With robotic additions, the valve may be configured to crawl into a desired pipe location, anchor itself, and activate flow control or metering remotely.
US09016319B2
A compact, reliable, and easily manufacture relief valve capable of resolving pressure issues within a fuel cell system and its components or devices. The relief valve comprises a valve body having a first cap, a valve housing and a center post; and an elastomeric member or sealing member contained within the valve body and being secured to the valve body at one end and forming a seal with the valve body at the other end. The seal opens in response to a threshold pressure being exceeded. In one embodiment, the elastomeric member is secured to the interior of the first cap and/or valve housing and forms a seal with the outer diameter of the center post. The elastomeric member may be supported by a reinforcing member.
US09016316B2
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a stopcock including a housing element defining at least first, second and third ports, a handle element which is selectably positionable relative to the housing element, at least one fluid passageway communicating between at least two of the at least first, second and third ports, the at least one fluid passageway being selectably defined by at least one of the housing element and the handle element, the at least one fluid passageway being configured for enabling flushing an internal volume of at least one of the first, second and third ports by a fluid flow which does not flow entirely through the port whose internal volume is being flushed.
US09016309B2
A protective cover 10 is mounted to the outer surface of a yoke 2 of a canister vent solenoid valve 1 installed near a rear wheel of a vehicle body. A guide groove engaged with fringes of a yoke mounting board 3 is provided in the inner walls of opposite side plates 10b of the cover 10. On the sides of the plates 10b opposite a top plate 10a are provided mounting sections 12 projecting in a direction parallel to the guide groove. At the tips of the sections 12, there are provided claw sections 12a locking edges on the rear of the yoke 2 when the cover 10 is mounted along the groove 11 from the front of the yoke 2. The top plate 10a of the cover 10 is provided with a connector hole 13 passing through a power source connector 5 of the valve 1.
US09016304B2
A horizontally-triggerable inflation connector includes a casing, a packing unit, and a pull bar. The packing unit is received in the casing. The pull bar is arranged outside the casing and coupled to the packing unit. The pull bar is horizontally and reciprocally movable between a released position and a secured position. When the pull bar is at the released position, the packing unit is set in a released condition and when the pull bar is at the secured position, the packing unit is set in a compressed condition. Thus, the horizontally-triggerable inflation connector is operable to selectively secure or release an air valve so as to achieve convenience of operation.
US09016298B2
A hunting blind is presently disclosed that includes a central support comprising a main body and an extendable portion, the extendable portion configured to maintain the hunting blind in an upright position, a gun rest secured to the main body of the central support opposite the extendable portion, a plurality of ribs pivotally secured to the main body of the central support, the ribs configured to rotate between an open configuration and a closed configuration, and a screen comprising a plurality of opaque screen sections, each screen section secured to at least one rib and at least one other rib or the main body of the central support, each screen section comprising a flexible material such that the screen sections are collapsible, wherein when the ribs are in the open configuration, the screen is configured to obscure a hunter from a target.
US09016294B2
A washing unit for machines that clean ophthalmic glass (1) or other substrates. It includes, on one hand, two washing lines (22, 23), each able to issue a high-pressure jet of washing liquid in a flared shape of a width substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of the glass to be cleaned, said lines (22, 23) being parallel and mounted opposite each other on each side of the glass (1) to be cleaned so that the two streams of liquid (30) are located at the same level and come into contact on the concave (10) and convex (11) surfaces respectively of said glass (1); and, on the other hand, supports (4) intended to hold the glass (1) in a stable position during the washing operation and the means (2′) to allow movement of said lines (22, 23) or the glass (1) in order to perform simultaneous bathing of the concave (10) and convex (11) surfaces of the glass by the respective strains of washing liquid (30).
US09016288B2
A mascara system comprising, in combination: (a) a mascara applicator comprising a substantially longitudinal stem having a major axis A and a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom, wherein at least two adjacent protrusions are spaced from one another at a distance R at the base of the stem; (b) a mascara composition comprising primary particles that are at least about 5 microns in equivalent diameter; and (c) a dermatologically acceptable carrier. The mascara applicator is a molded applicator, the distance R is from about 0.75 mm to about 3.0 mm, and at least one of the primary particles is a wax primary particle composed primarily of one or more waxes.
US09016275B2
The present invention relates to a modified nebulizing device for generating a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and addition of nebulized drug which can be carried out simultaneously and in synergy without loosing a substantial amount of nebulized drug. Further, the present invention also discloses a nebulizing device and a nebulizing attachment device usable in a system for generating continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and simultaneously and in synergy adding of nebulized drug without loosing a substantial amount of nebulized drug.
US09016273B2
The present invention provides an inhaler aid which maximizes utility of an inhaler for the minute powdery curative medicine, and which is used by being attached to the inhaler so that people including a user can objectively ascertain in each case whether an inhalation operation has been correctly performed. In the present invention, the inhaler aid with the reed for the minute powdery curative medicine has a configuration characterized in that the reed is fitted into a right side of a main unit made of silicon rubber, and the inhaler aid is attached to a mouthpiece portion of a conventionally used inhaler for the minute powdery curative medicine such that the aid equipped with the reed is placed between the inhaler for the minute powdery curative medicine and a mouth of a patient, and when an intake operation has been correctly performed, a sound is produced.
US09016272B2
The invention describes an aerosol generator for inhalation therapy devices, in which an oscillatable assembly, consisting of at least a membrane and an oscillation generator, is mounted in an encapsulating means such that at least the membrane is exposed for the supply of liquid and the generation of an aerosol, whereas the remaining parts of the oscillatable assembly are protected. Mounting occurs by means of a flexible passage such that the oscillatory motions of the oscillatable assembly are not negatively affected.
US09016266B2
A valve device for an internal combustion engine includes a multi-part housing. A drive unit generates a rotational moment. The drive unit is arranged in a motor chamber. A transmission unit is arranged in a transmission chamber. An eccentric is configured to be driven by the transmission unit. A valve rod is configured to be displaceable in translation. The valve rod extends into a valve rod displacement chamber. A coupling element converts a displacement of the eccentric into a translational displacement of the valve rod. A valve seat is arranged between an inlet and an outlet. A valve closing body is attached to the valve rod. The valve closing body is configured to be lowered onto the valve seat and lifted off the valve seat. A cover is disposed between the eccentric and the coupling element. The cover is configured to separate the transmission chamber from the valve rod displacement chamber.
US09016256B2
A concentric cylinder engine includes a toroidal outer cylinder having an inner cylinder contained therein, the inner cylinder wall comprising a sleeve assembly acting as a transfer valve. Each cylinder contains a piston, the two pistons being connected to a single crankshaft. The inner and outer piston crank throws are at least generally opposite one another, with the two pistons traveling in opposite directions during engine operation. The outer piston provides intake and compression functions, while the inner piston simultaneously provides power and exhaust functions. The concentric cylinder engine thus provides the four separate and distinct intake, compression, power, and exhaust phases of conventional Otto cycle engine operation during a single revolution of the crankshaft. The concentric cylinder engine may be constructed in multiple cylinder configurations having spark or compression ignition, in either liquid or air cooled embodiments.
US09016238B2
A teat cup has a nozzle in a head portion of a flexible liner of the teat cup for delivering fluid internally of the teat cup. The nozzle is directed so as to discharge fluid towards the discharge end of the teat cup. When milking is terminated, treatment fluid is injected through the nozzle into the head portion of the liner just prior to and/or as the teat cup is being withdrawn from the teat and, the teat cup wipes the fluid down the teat so as substantially to coat the teat. When the teat cup falls into an inverted rest position, after take-off, the interior of the liner may be flushed and dried with disinfectant, water and compressed air discharged upwardly into the liner by the nozzle. The discharge end of the teat cup may be fitted with a shut-off valve which can be actuated to prevent ingress of treatment and cleansing fluids into the milk tubes during the treatment and cleansing cycle.
US09016233B1
A reactor assembly having vertically adjustable flow cells is provided. The vertically adjustable flow cells include passageways for distributing a fluid to a reaction region isolated below a bottom surface of corresponding flow cells. The adjustable flow cells enable another dimension of variability for combinatorial processing. Thus, additional data may be gathered for effects on process parameter variations, material variations, process sequence variations, etc., for semiconductor processing operations.
US09016227B2
Method and an array of streamers that prevent/slow down marine animals to attach to the streamers. The array includes at least one streamer including plural sections; and a net provided over at least one section of the at least one streamer.
US09016224B2
A boat hull cleaning system including at least one flexible line having a central portion to which a plurality of cleaning elements attach in spaced engagement disposed between a first grippable portion and a second grippable portion.
US09016223B2
The invention concerns a ship comprising at least one hold, and at least one ventilation apparatus for ventilation of the hold, which has at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet connected to the air inlet by means of a passage. In particular the invention concerns a ship having a ventilation apparatus, wherein the passage has at least one portion arranged above the air inlet. The invention further concerns a ventilation apparatus for ventilation of the hold of a ship.
US09016217B2
A carpet and method for producing same that comprises an enhanced seam suitable for separation of an installation portion of the carpet and sacrificial edge portions of the produced carpet.
US09016210B2
A tower ride is disclosed with suspended cars mounted on rails that that forms track that is a complete double helix path for the car without having to turn the car or switch tracks. The car is suspended from a four truss track, riding on the two bottom rails for stability. Another embodiment is a roller coaster track mounted on a tower.
US09016206B2
A projectile designed to penetrate a liquid filled vessel and react with the liquid contained within the vessel. The projectile is formed of a narrow tapered nose portion with a thin liquid soluble casing which contains a reactive material. The nose portion is formed of spent radioactive material and is connected to an axially extending centrally positioned rod having a pressure plate on its distal end. The projectile casing contains potassium or other material which reacts with water or other liquid to create an explosion once the casing has dissolved within the vessel.
US09016200B2
An apparatus and method for positioning and aligning one or more pre-punched printing plates on a cylinder for imaging a plate in a computer-to-plate drum imaging device. The apparatus includes an imaging cylinder and a registration device connectable to the cylinder. The apparatus includes at least one groove and one pair of register pins, with a first register pin in a fixed position, and a second register pin movable in the groove to a second position, and collinear with the first register pin in the axial direction of the cylinder, arranged such that when connected to the cylinder, the registration device allows a plurality of pre-punched printing plates with variable widths to be positioned and aligned on the cylinder with simplicity.
US09016197B2
A light receiving section 27b receives a measurement beam, which is cast from a light projection section 27a and partially blocked by cream solder 19 scraped up by a squeegee 16, whereby a sensor 27 measures a one-dimensional size of a predetermined region of a cross sectional profile of the cream solder 19 as a cross sectional paste length and takes the cross sectional paste length as an index for an amount of residual cream solder 19. The amount of residual cream solder 19 can be numerically grasped at all times, so that versatility and accuracy in detecting the amount of residual cream solder 19 can be assured.
US09016196B2
A fruit and vegetable juicer has a motor above which is a filter basket that is surrounded by a collection chamber. A feed tube is supported above the filter basket and is integral with a lid to the collection chamber. In preferred embodiments, the separation chamber comprises a central liquid collection portion and a pulp collection portion that surrounds it. In particularly preferred embodiments, the inside diameter of the interior sidewall that separates the pulp collection chamber from the juice collection chamber is tapered toward a central axis of rotation. The smaller diameter end of the sidewall is adjacent to an upper rim of the filter basket.
US09016195B1
An apparatus for preparing a melon juice concentrate, such as watermelon juice concentrate, includes a finisher with brushes for separating melon flesh from melon rind including leaving at least 1/16 inch flesh on the rind and screens for separating juice from flesh. The apparatus also includes a steamer to reduce bacteria count on whole melon, a chopper for chopping melons into pieces less than about 16 inches square, an extractor for extracting juice from the flesh, and an evaporator for concentrating melon juice to form melon juice concentrate. The steamer includes a cylinder frame, steam jets directing steam through apertures in the cylinder frame at whole melon therein, and a motivator to move the whole melon along the cylinder frame. The apparatus can also process cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and other melon.
US09016194B2
A sandwich cookie dipper for dipping sandwich cookies in milk includes a handle, a cookie cradle and a transition element that interconnects to and sets off the cookie cradle from the handle. The cookie cradle comprises a thin, resilient rod-like member configured to substantially conform to a part of an outer circumference of a crème layer sandwiched between two disk-like cookie members of a sandwich cookie. The sandwich cookie secured thereby is less likely to dislodge as it is dipped and brought to the cookie eater's mouth.
US09016188B2
A firearm having a gas piston system includes a bolt carrier, an adjustable gas piston block located forward on the firearm and an over-the-barrel spring and guide rod arrangement, all of which is housed and contained in a top rail that runs the length of the firearm and that maintains the alignment of these firearm components. The firearm also includes an ambidextrous, non-reciprocating charging handle located forward on the firearm and positioned within the top rail for charging the firearm.
US09016184B2
An improved cartridge case completely produced net shape on a progressive cold former that includes a trim to lengthy station with an internal shearing tool.
US09016180B2
A tile saw includes a base, a frame assembly disposed on the base, a first rail disposed on the frame assembly, the first rail having a longitudinal axis. A table is slidingly disposed on the first rail and a support assembly is disposed on the base. A saw assembly is supported by the support assembly and includes a motor, and a cutting wheel driven by the motor. The saw assembly is pivotable about a bevel axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis between two pivoted positions and is lockable in at least one of the two pivoted positions. The bevel axis is not coplanar with the upper surface.
US09016161B2
A working vehicle attachable an implement such as front loader includes a steering wheel, a steering column frame which supports the steering wheel and has a shape that is long in lengthwise direction, a joy-stick control lever which is disposed in a lateral side of the steering wheel, and a valve which is disposed on an outside face of the steering column frame and is connected to the joy-stick control lever. Accordingly, since the valve is disposed on the outside face of the steering column frame, it becomes easy to perform an assembling work, maintenance check work and the like with respect to the valve.
US09016157B2
A gear train with at least first and second spur gears (1, 2) which have a tooth width (b), mesh with one another and each have helical teeth (3, 4). The first spur gear (1) has a tooth profile with a crown circle diameter and the second spur gear (2) has a tooth profile with a root circle diameter. The first spur gear (1) has at least one projection (5) on the tooth profile that extends partially along the tooth width and beyond the crown circle diameter, and the at least one projection (5) has at least one contact face (5a) in the axial direction.
US09016152B2
An actuator arrangement comprises a rotatable shaft, a nut mounted upon the shaft and translatable along the shaft upon rotation of the shaft relative to the nut, and a lock arrangement operable to lock the shaft and nut against relative rotation, the lock arrangement comprising a lock component mounted upon one of the shaft and the nut for axial movement relative thereto but held against angular movement relative thereto, the lock component being co-operable with an abutment provided on the other of the shaft and the nut, or a component associated therewith, to lock the shaft and nut to one another against relative rotation.
US09016140B2
A valve includes a body having upstream and downstream ports to measure upstream and downstream pressures and configured on a common axis, and a ball arranged in the body to rotate re the common axis between open and closed positions to allow for fluid flow and no fluid flow. The ball has a calibrated member having a calibrated orifice to allow fluid flow and has a flow coefficient and upstream and downstream pressure taps located upstream and downstream of the calibrated orifice and in fluidic communication with the upstream and downstream ports to measure upstream and downstream pressures when in the open position and angled re the common axis, so a direct flow measurement of fluid flow is determined based on a measured pressure differential between upstream and downstream pressure taps re the flow coefficient of the calibrated orifice when in the open position.
US09016136B1
Apparatus for testing adhesion of an adhesive tape to a bonding surface under an applied load includes a test surface of a predetermined configuration to which a test tape may be adhered, a clamping device for grasping a free edge of the test tape, a guide for constraining the clamping device to move linearly relative to the test surface, and an actuator arrangement for driving the clamping device along the guide at a selected speed and with a selected force to apply the force to the test tape. The actuator arrangement includes a first and second linear actuators operable to generate differing ranges of force values, a motor for driving the linear actuators, and a selector arrangement for connecting the motor alternately to the first and second linear actuators according to the selected force to be applied.
US09016135B2
A stress sensor (1) for detecting mechanical stress in a semiconductor chip (2) has a Wheatstone bridge formed by four integrated resistors R1 to R4, the resistors R1 and R4 being p-type resistors and the resistors R2 and R3 being n-type resistors.
US09016125B2
A nano electro-mechanical system (NEMS) formed on a substrate is provided including at least one fixed part associated with the substrate and at least one movable part in relation to the substrate, the system including a transduction component configured to excite the movable part to confer on it a movement and/or to detect a movement of the movable part, the transduction component including at least one electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material is made of an AlSi alloy based deposition, the deposition being supported at least in part by the movable part of the system.
US09016120B2
A method of determining a testing volume for a micronaire measurement by containing a fiber sample within a micronaire chamber having a length and at least one movable end wall. A flow is initiated along the length of the micronaire chamber. The fiber sample is compressed within the micronaire chamber by advancing the movable end wall, and the advancement of the movable end wall is stopped when at least one property of the flow attains a set point. The position of the movable end wall defines the testing volume. In this manner, there is provided a convenient method of setting a testing volume and acquiring the information needed to take a micronaire measurement.
US09016116B1
Embodiments relate to tire characterization systems and methods for combining direct tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) and tire resonance analysis in indirect tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) for the extraction of tire characteristics to characterize other tire parameters. In embodiments, iTPMS and methods that utilize anti-lock braking system (ABS) sensed signals coupled to an electronic control unit (ECU) that may comprise circuitry and/or controllers to process the sensed signals using a resonance frequency analysis (RFA) technique can be combined with direct tire pressure sensor measurements from direct TPMS systems. Because direct TPMS systems deliver a precise value of a tire characteristic (for example, tire pressure), one of the unknown parameters that influence the resonance effects can be removed. As a results, the detected resonance can be used to characterize another tire parameter that would not be accessible without knowledge of the precise value of the tire characteristic delivered by the direct TPMS system.
US09016112B2
A method for determining the moisture content in an absorbent sanitary product, in particular a diaper, incontinence pad or incontinence briefs, or sanitary towel, wherein liquid is first applied to the sanitary product under preferably predetermined conditions and subsequently the article is spread out in a planar fashion. A plurality of zoned measurement areas is defined over the planar extension of the spread-out sanitary article, and a measured value is taken in each measurement area or with respect to each measurement area.
US09016110B2
The invention is directed towards methods and apparatus for accurately detecting the presence and concentration of an oxidant in a turbid water sample. This method is very helpful in allowing accurate and efficient (not too much nor too little) amounts of microbe killing oxidants to be introduced to water supplies that require oxidants but which at present cannot be measured properly. The method comprises the steps of: passing the water through at least one filter array, passing the filtered water to an analyzer, and then returning from the analyzer a measurement of the concentration. The filter array comprises at least one filter constructed and arranged to remove turbidity inducing material but not oxidant from the water sample. The analyzer can be a commonly commercially available analyzer that currently cannot accurately measure the oxidant concentration if the water had not been so filtered. This method allows users to apply easily available oxidant measuring technology to applications such as paper mill water where it is needed but was previously was not applicable.
US09016109B1
Exemplary embodiments provide a packing leak detection system for leaks or discharge of a volatile material which discharge into the environment is subject to regulation. The system contains a compressor apparatus including a compressor cylinder, a compressor piston, a compressor piston rod positioned in a packing case, wherein a volatile material being compressed by the compressor apparatus leaks from the packing case. Also provided is a leak detector sized and configured to detect and monitor leaks of the volatile material from the packing case. Methods of assessing leaks of a volatile material subject to environmental regulation are also provided.
US09016107B2
A method of calibrating a voltage for use with an ultrasonic transducer of a wire bonding machine in a constant voltage mode is provided. The method includes: (1) determining an impedance value associated with operation of the ultrasonic transducer; and (2) establishing an adjusted voltage level for use with the ultrasonic transducer in the constant voltage mode based on the determined impedance value.
US09016105B2
A method for measuring the strain of material using a short cavity fiber laser, includes steps of: a) arranging the short cavity fiber laser, which laser comprises sequentially coupled laser diode pumping source, a wavelength division multiplexer, a fiber bragg grating, an active fiber and a loop mirror; b) fixing the short cavity fiber laser on the material whose strain will be measured, and matching the stretching direction of the fiber of the short cavity fiber laser with the direction of the strain produced by the material to be measured; c) measuring the drift amount of longitudinal mode output by the short cavity fiber laser; and d) calculating and obtaining the strain of the material to be measured.
US09016098B2
A process of forming the wall of the mouth of a cylindrical, metal container or packaging from a tubular ring that may or may not be molded that has to accommodate a sealing lid equipped with an elastic seal secured by a vacuum created in the container is characterized essentially by the use of a single element, the head carrying out the deformation of the internal diameter of the container by expansion to produce a bead together and simultaneously with a contraction that produces shrinkage above the bead of the mouth, the head comprising an expansible stationary part and a moving part that turns around the stationary part, the parts of the head being coaxial, which has the effect of compressing the metal and hardening it by organizing the metal molecules under two simultaneous stresses, which hardens the packaging and allows it to withstand the vacuum applied thereto.
US09016091B2
A glass layer 3 is irradiated with laser light L2 for temporary firing in order to gasify a binder and melt the glass layer 3, thereby fixing the glass layer 3 to a glass member 4. Here, an irradiation region of the laser light L2 has regions A1, A2 arranged along an extending direction of a region to be fused R and is moved along the region to be fused R such that the region A1 precedes the region A2. The region A2 irradiates the glass layer 3 before the glass layer 3 molten by irradiation with the region A1 solidifies. This makes the glass layer 3 take a longer time to solidify, whereby the binder gasified by irradiation with the region A1 of the laser light L2 is more likely to escape from the glass layer 3.
US09016088B2
A system and method for removing nitrogen and producing liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) from methane without the need for external refrigeration. The invention also relates to a system and method for removing nitrogen from methane and for producing liquefied nitrogen in addition to LNG. The system and method of the invention are particularly suitable for use in recovering and processing comparatively small volumes of methane from coal mines or from flash gas captured at an LNG loading site.
US09016083B2
An air refrigerant type freezing and heating apparatus has a compressing mechanism that compresses an air refrigerant. As the air refrigerant is heated by a first heat exchanger and further heated by a heater, the temperature of the air refrigerant is increased to more than 200° C. and the air refrigerant is supplied to an oven. Heat of the air refrigerant outputted from the oven is recovered by a second heat exchanger, and supplied to a high-temperature side of the first heat exchanger. The air outputted from the second heat exchanger is cooled by a cooler and a third heat exchanger, is adiabatically expanded by an expansion turbine to be cooled to −85° C., and is supplied to a freezer. The air of the freezer is recovered to be supplied to the low-temperature side of the third heat exchanger, and then is supplied to the compressor.
US09016082B2
A condensing unit has a fan selectively operable to draw air through the condensing unit along an airflow path, a first row of condenser tubes disposed along the airflow path, and a second row of desuperheater tubes disposed along the airflow path downstream relative to the first row of condenser tubes. A condensing unit has an airflow path, a desuperheater heat exchanger disposed along the airflow path, and a condenser heat exchanger disposed along the airflow path. A method of desuperheating a refrigerant includes causing air having a first air temperature to encounter a condenser tube comprising refrigerant having a first refrigerant temperature, raising the temperature of the air to a second air temperature, and causing the air having the second air temperature to encounter a desuperheater tube comprising refrigerant having a second refrigerant temperature higher than the first refrigerant temperature.
US09016075B1
An environmental control system including a turbomachine assembly having a shaft, motor, turbine and compressor, the compressor outputting a compressed air stream, a first valve that splits the compressed air stream into first and second compressed air streams, a heat exchanger to cool the first compressed air stream and output a cooled air stream, a second valve positioned to receive the cooled air stream and split the cooled air stream into first and second cooled air streams, wherein the first cooled stream is expanded in the turbine to produce an expanded air stream that is combined with the second compressed air stream and the second cooled air stream to provide a combined air stream having a temperature and a flow rate, and a controller that communicates control signals to the compressor, motor and first and second valves to control the temperature and flow rate of the combined air stream.
US09016074B2
A system and method for heating water are provided. The system includes a first subcooler for receiving a first water flow, a second subcooler for receiving a second water flow, a first condenser in fluid communication with the first subcooler and the second subcooler for receiving water from both subcoolers, and a second condenser in fluid communication with the first condenser. The method involves receiving a flow of water, and transferring heat to the water using the system.
US09016073B2
An ice making module includes a conductive ice tray having a bottom surface and a barrier coating on at least a portion of the conductive ice tray. An electrical circuit in electrical communication with the conductive ice tray includes a power source and a capacitor. A switch is configured to move between a charging position, wherein the capacitor stores an electrical charge, and a pulse position, wherein the capacitor releases the electrical charge. A conductive material disposed proximate the conductive ice tray is in selective electromagnetic communication with the conductive ice tray. The electrical charge released by the capacitor generates an induced electrical current through the conductive material and a repelling electromagnetic force between the conductive ice tray and the conductive material. A water dispensing mechanism disposes water into the conductive ice tray. A cooling apparatus decrease the temperature of the water in the conductive ice tray.
US09016071B2
An air-conditioning apparatus for an electric vehicle, which includes a main core disposed on a ventilation channel, and a thermoelectric device having a first surface and a second surface performing heat generation or heat absorption. An air-conditioning channel through which cooling water circulates around the first surface of the thermoelectric device and the main core is also provided along with a waste heat channel through which the cooling water circulates around the second surface of the thermoelectric device and an electric component A controller configured to control the thermoelectric device so that the first surface and the second surface serve as a heat generating surface and a heat absorbing surface, respectively, and control circulation through the air-conditioning channel or the waste heat channel in a heating mode.
US09016069B2
A condensate water removing apparatus for vehicle air conditioners which quickly removes condensate water generated from a thermoelement assembly. The apparatus includes: a thermoelement assembly installed in an air channel that guides air sucked and blown by a blower fan for heating or cooling; a partition plate placed to come into contact with the thermoelement assembly so that it guides air when sucked air passes through the thermoelement assembly so as to become cooling or heating air, the partition plate partitioning the air channel into an air supply channel and an air discharge channel; and a moisture absorbing material covering the thermoelement assembly and extending from the air supply channel to the air discharge channel so that the moisture absorbing material absorbs condensate water generated from the air supply channel and guides the condensate water to the air discharge channel, thereby removing the condensate water in the air discharge channel.
US09016053B2
A device for varying the stroke of first and second hydraulic machines. At least one piston is functionally connected to axes of the hydraulic machines. Depending on power demanded by a driver, the piston can be acted upon, via position and high pressure control valve units of a valve system, with pressures that correspond to a pressure present in the hydraulic machines and that act in a first adjustment direction of the hydraulic machines axes. Pressure in the hydraulic machines is controlled by the position control valve unit and is limited by the high pressure control valve unit. The piston can be acted upon by the valve system with pressures that correspond to the pressure present in the hydraulic machines and that act in a second adjustment direction of the axes of the hydraulic machines, and action of the position control valve unit can be reversed.
US09016052B2
According to the present disclosure, a hydraulic control apparatus for construction machinery comprises: hydraulic pumps; first and second control valve units which control the flow directions of working oil discharged from the hydraulic pumps to supply the working oil to first and second work machines, respectively, and which control the degree of opening of flow channels which interconnect the first and second work machines and the hydraulic pumps, respectively; and a control unit which controls the first and second control valve units in accordance with operating signals inputted from first and second operating units. The control unit determines whether the current work mode is a general work mode or a preferential work mode, and if the mode is determined to be a general work mode, calculates a first degree of opening of a normal channel in accordance with the operating signal inputted from the first operating unit and outputs the calculated first degree of opening of a normal channel to the first control valve unit, and if the mode is determined to be a preferential work mode, calculates a second degree of opening of a normal channel in accordance with the operating signal input from the second operating unit, outputs the calculated second degree of opening of a normal channel to the second control valve unit, and outputs a control signal to the second control valve unit such that the degree of opening of the second control valve unit is smaller than the first degree of opening of a normal channel, so as to preferentially ensure the flow of the working oil being supplied to the first work machine.
US09016041B2
A gas turbine engine includes: a front fan having at least one rotor carrying fan blades disposed within a fan duct, and drivingly connected to a low pressure turbine, the front fan including at least one row of outer fan blades disposed outwardly of and connected to the fan blades, the outer fan blades extending across an outer bypass duct which circumscribes the fan duct; a core engine located between the front fan and the low pressure turbine; an aft fan disposed downstream of the low pressure turbine, having at least one rotor carrying aft turbine blades disposed within an aft turbine duct, the aft turbine further including at least one row of aft fan blades disposed outwardly of and connected to the aft turbine blades, and extending across an aft fan duct that surrounds the core engine; and apparatus operable to selectively throttle flow through the outer bypass duct.
US09016039B2
A combustor includes a combustion chamber that defines a longitudinal axis. A primary reaction zone is inside the combustion chamber, and a secondary reaction zone inside the combustion chamber is downstream from the primary reaction zone. A center fuel nozzle extends axially inside the combustion chamber to the secondary reaction zone, and a plurality of fluid injectors circumferentially are arranged inside the center fuel nozzle downstream from the primary reaction zone. Each fluid injector defines an additional longitudinal axis out of the center fuel nozzle that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the combustion chamber.
US09016029B2
A method of erecting, and a method of servicing or dismantling, a wind energy plant with a hub height of at least 140 meters makes provision that a heavy-duty lifting device is temporarily disposed on a tower top for any installing, exchanging, or disassembling purposes, and subsequently is dismantled immediately, with all these operations being carried out without using an external crane. A light-duty lifting device attached to the tower serves for erecting the tower, so that no external large-scale cranes are required. For disassembling or exchanging the large components, an auxiliary lifting device is able to transport the heavy-duty lifting device to the top of the tower and is also capable of lowering the heavy-duty lifting device from there.
US09016028B2
A shim for providing extra space between a garage door track and a garage door wall. The shim may be mounted in between the garage door wall and a track bracket that supports the garage door track. The shim may be inserted prior to mounting the garage door track or after mounting the garage door track. The shim may include a screw guide slot so that a screw may secure the bracket and the shim to the garage wall.
US09016025B2
A constructing method for a concrete cylinder of a construction steel bar of a high-rise steel structure adopts a constructing method of supporting inside and climbing outside. The outside of the cylinder adopts hydraulic mutual-climbing adhesive lifting scaffold creeping formwork system (100), and also has an outside wallboard mechanical formwork erection function and an outer frame protection function. For the inside of the cylinder, except that an appropriate structure is left for later processing according to a schedule requirement, beam walls all adopt a steel cylinder support to perform formwork erection, so as to greatly reduce the workload of repeatedly mounting/dismantling the scaffold and the formwork at a high place. The scaffold itself carries the formwork erection system, so formwork erection and formwork removal can be mechanized, thereby reducing the risk of formwork erection and formwork removal at a high place.
US09016022B2
Embodiments provide apparatus for supporting at least one utility cable for spanning above ground, the apparatus comprising a centrifugally cast prestressed concrete pole, a structural adapter, and a cable support structure including an open lattice frame.
US09016017B2
A system for air sealing of leaks in building corners in a wall portion made up by a framework, including a cover element with two overlapping and plane flexible film portions, which are connected to each other along a first edge portion. The film portions include linear folding lines to enable unfolding of the cover element for forming a three-dimensional geometry including a main surface and a collar which projects from the main surface and is formed integrally therewith and which corresponds to three sides of the beam portion.
US09016016B2
An innovative insulated perimeter curb positioned along the perimeter of a roof, a deck, or other like platform structure is disclosed herein. The insulated perimeter curb is generally comprised of an upwardly facing U-shaped sheet metal receiving track fastened along the perimeter of the roof or deck. The receiving track includes a bottom web and a pair of spaced apart and upwardly extending sidewalls. The receiving track retains and holds a composite beam. In addition, a sheet metal cap (e.g., flat stock or C-shaped stud) is generally positioned on top of the composite beam. The innovative perimeter curb enables (i) the quick and integral construction of a temporary safety rail system, (ii) the construction of a concealed gutter system, and (iii) the construction of a cantilevered curb.
US09015995B2
An invention is provided for a security shutter assembly. The security shutter assembly includes a shutter door having a plurality of operable louvers pivotally mounted between vertical stiles. A locking element is attached to the first vertical stile, and can be set in a locked position that secures the shutter door closed, and an open position that allows the shutter door to be opened. The locking element includes a louver flange portion that extends over the louvers when the louvers are in the closed position and the locking element is in the open position. However, the louvers block the louver flange from being positioned over the louvers when the louvers are in the open position, thus preventing the locking element from being placed in the open, and unlocked, position while the louvers are in the open position.
US09015992B1
A prevegetated blanket is formed, grown, and transported to an installation site in a tray specifically suited for this purpose. Growth in a tray system offers an improved and protected root system and provides for ease of transport and installation. The tray has side walls and a t-grid floor to permit growth of the blanket. The tray also has interlocking capabilities for nestable or non-nestable stacking. After growth in a controlled environment, the prevegetated blanket with the tray is transferred to a specific site and installed immediately after soil is prepared. Due to the tray design, the product is light weight and facilitates ease of handling with minimal disturbance of the root structure.
US09015967B2
An adjustable blade rake includes a mounting plate configured to mount to a machine. A backup plate is coupled to the mounting plate and includes a plurality of slots. A moldboard is attached to the backup plate. A plurality of tines are slidably located in the plurality of slots adjacent the rear side of the moldboard. A crossbar couples the plurality of tines together and a lifting device is operatively coupled to the plurality of tines and is configured to slide the plurality of tines in the plurality of slots.
US09015963B1
A shoe wedge includes a support structure. The support structure includes two longitudinally extending wall portions that are biased towards one another such that the wall portions define a channel extending between the wall portions and an opening that extends from an upper surface of the support structure to a lower surface of the support structure. The opening has a larger cross sectional area at the upper surface than at the lower surface. The shoe wedge further includes a body portion that extends from the support structure. The body portion is configured with a surface that substantially conforms to a portion of a sole of a shoe.
US09015958B2
A controller is coupled to a plurality of moisture sensors positioned within the grain bin at various spaced-apart locations. The controller determines a grain moisture level adjacent each moisture sensor and compares the grain moisture level to a predetermined maximum moisture level. The controller is coupled to a grain spreader that is configured to selectively distribute incoming grain into the grain bin and operates the spreader to distribute incoming grain to create a shortened airflow path through the grain that encompasses the moisture sensors having determined grain moisture levels above the predetermined maximum moisture level. The controller is coupled to a fan that is coupled to the grain bin and configured to provide airflow through the grain in the grain bin. The controller operates the fan to provide greater airflow through the grain along the shortened airflow path than is provided along airflow paths outside the shortened airflow path.
US09015953B2
A touch probe (1; 1′; 1″; 1′″) for applications in machine tools or measuring machines includes a support frame (2) with a protective casing (3), and a movable armset (5) with a feeler (11) to touch a part to be checked (13). The probe includes a detection device (23) with a laminar piezoelectric transducer (25) made of polymeric material, such as polyvinylidene fluoride, which is connected to the support frame and fixed at a bearing and locating area (7), on which the movable armset rests in a position defined by an isostatic rest system (17). Conditioning electronics (30) connected to the support frame include processing means for processing a force signal (M) provided by the detection device, comparing it with a threshold value (S) and generating a touch signal (T). The conditioning electronics include differential charge amplifiers (3) and a processing system (55) to dynamically vary the threshold value depending on the most recent values of the force signal detected.
